I brought a 223 Browning X Bolt Composite Stalker for the purpose of having another light weight rifle for ground hog hunting. After some load development I had the rifle shooting in the 1/2 moa range off the bench with H4895, 50 Nolsers, Federal 205 match primers, and Winchester brass. The rifle was almost perfect for what I wanted with one exception, I couldn't get the trigger lighter than 4 pounds despite it being "adjustable". Because of this heavy pull, I had difficulty shooting accurately off my shooting sticks so I took it to my rifle smith and he did a trigger job on it getting down to a crisp 2.5 pounds. I was now ready to field test it. 
Yesterday I took it out, they had just cut fields about three days ago. I had one of those days were everything just went right.
First hog I dropped was a crawler at 192 yards, perfect shot just behind the shoulder. I reversed my set up to watch the opposite tree line.
About thirty minutes later a hog appeared at 217 yards. There was a slight rise so I had to wait until he stood up to get a clear shot. The hog keep bobbing up and down. I usually don't do well in that situation since I tend to jerk the trigger. Any way, I held at the ready on the sticks waiting for him to rise again telling myself over and over to squeeze the trigger in quick positive manner. When he stood a few minutes later I sent to 50 Nosler at him. I held the classic thump. I couldn't wait to later, I had inspect the scene. I walked down and it was perfect shot, center mass in the sternum.
At the other end of the field now, I set up to watch the opposite side. It didn't take long for hog number 3 to come crawling out of a wooden area. The problem was he was 372 yards - too far for me with this rifle and shooting off a shooting stick - this was definitely 22 250 distance, at least for me. He was a monster hog. I sat there for about 15 minutes watching him - it was driving me nuts. What the hell I figure, let's see if I can sneak up on this guy. Walking along the tree line where I had been sitting I made it to the other tree line to my right without the hog spooking. I walked straight on, hugging the tree line expecting any moment the hog to spook but he was busy filling his fat belly. Occasionally he'd stand up and look around, I'd freeze and when he went back to his feast I moved forward. I managed to close to within 221 yards without him spooking. I figure I'd tested fate enough. I slowly unfolded my light aluminum sportsman's chair, sat down then placed the rifle in the shooting sticks and took careful aim at the crawler. I sent the 50 Nosler and again heard that great sound, THUMP. The monster hog rolled over. Upon inspection, another perfect shot, just behind the shoulder. I'm really feeling good now.
When this field when cold I moved to another field that has a 300 yard weed field adjacent to it. The hog boys have there holes in those high weeds which are never cut. So the game is to set up along this field and watch those weeds for emerging hogs coming out to feast on the alfapha. As I approached this field sure enough a hog was out. This guy however spooked and made a dash for the weeds and disappear. Undaunted, I set up and waited figuring he may not have had his fill. Twenty minutes later I saw a head pop out of the weeds. He sat there for about 10 minutes then came crawling out. Ranged him at 187 yards. I place the cross hair on his shoulder as soon as he stopped to start munching and squeezed the trigger - The "THUMP" again. Another near perfect shot, however this one was slightly right and blew his guts out- result the same - another hog down.
Four hogs is a good day around here with so many fields lost to corn. I was quite pleased with the 223 X Bolt, it handles superbly, shot terrific and is a joy to carry. It really shined!
PS - I just love hunting hogs - just can't get enough of it.
Yesterday I took it out, they had just cut fields about three days ago. I had one of those days were everything just went right.
First hog I dropped was a crawler at 192 yards, perfect shot just behind the shoulder. I reversed my set up to watch the opposite tree line.
About thirty minutes later a hog appeared at 217 yards. There was a slight rise so I had to wait until he stood up to get a clear shot. The hog keep bobbing up and down. I usually don't do well in that situation since I tend to jerk the trigger. Any way, I held at the ready on the sticks waiting for him to rise again telling myself over and over to squeeze the trigger in quick positive manner. When he stood a few minutes later I sent to 50 Nosler at him. I held the classic thump. I couldn't wait to later, I had inspect the scene. I walked down and it was perfect shot, center mass in the sternum.
At the other end of the field now, I set up to watch the opposite side. It didn't take long for hog number 3 to come crawling out of a wooden area. The problem was he was 372 yards - too far for me with this rifle and shooting off a shooting stick - this was definitely 22 250 distance, at least for me. He was a monster hog. I sat there for about 15 minutes watching him - it was driving me nuts. What the hell I figure, let's see if I can sneak up on this guy. Walking along the tree line where I had been sitting I made it to the other tree line to my right without the hog spooking. I walked straight on, hugging the tree line expecting any moment the hog to spook but he was busy filling his fat belly. Occasionally he'd stand up and look around, I'd freeze and when he went back to his feast I moved forward. I managed to close to within 221 yards without him spooking. I figure I'd tested fate enough. I slowly unfolded my light aluminum sportsman's chair, sat down then placed the rifle in the shooting sticks and took careful aim at the crawler. I sent the 50 Nosler and again heard that great sound, THUMP. The monster hog rolled over. Upon inspection, another perfect shot, just behind the shoulder. I'm really feeling good now.
When this field when cold I moved to another field that has a 300 yard weed field adjacent to it. The hog boys have there holes in those high weeds which are never cut. So the game is to set up along this field and watch those weeds for emerging hogs coming out to feast on the alfapha. As I approached this field sure enough a hog was out. This guy however spooked and made a dash for the weeds and disappear. Undaunted, I set up and waited figuring he may not have had his fill. Twenty minutes later I saw a head pop out of the weeds. He sat there for about 10 minutes then came crawling out. Ranged him at 187 yards. I place the cross hair on his shoulder as soon as he stopped to start munching and squeezed the trigger - The "THUMP" again. Another near perfect shot, however this one was slightly right and blew his guts out- result the same - another hog down.
Four hogs is a good day around here with so many fields lost to corn. I was quite pleased with the 223 X Bolt, it handles superbly, shot terrific and is a joy to carry. It really shined!
PS - I just love hunting hogs - just can't get enough of it.
