In early May I checked the sighted in of my relatively new Browing X Bolt Composite Stalker 223 which I intended to use as one of my walking around varmint rifle this summer. This rifle is very accurate for a sporter weight barrel shooting under 1/2 moa (off the bench) with 25.0 grains of Benchmark and 50 grain Nosler BT's.
Well I never got around to using it since I was doing so well with my old trusted Model 7 Remy 223 as my stalker rifle - didn't want to mess with my success - didn't want to change the Karma
With the season winding down I decided to take the Browning out and give it a try. Spotted a ground hog 125 yards in high hay, sitting on his hole which was at about a 40 degree angle down a steep hill. All I could see was his head and shoulders. Took my time and sent the 50 grain Nosler. Hog disappeared - surelly I got him, not a difficult shot. When I went down to retrieve him - no hog - no blood - a miss!
Wallked over and checked two other fields - saw none - worked my way back to field where I missed - this was about 7:00 PM, there he was - on his hole again. Slowly set up to take the shot - about the same distance,125 yards. Figured reason I missed first time was that I shot over him due to the downward slope thus a shorter distance - aimed a tad lower this time and sent the round. Same thing happen as before - he disappeared - no hog - no blood - a miss.
I'm NOT Daniel Boone but I rarely miss at that distance off the shooting sticks - something was a miss - excuse the pun. :-[
Next day I headed to the range - bingo - 3/4 inch five shot group off the sticks at 100 yards - accuracy good - BUT - 3" high. ( I sight in for 1.5 inches high off the sticks at 100 yards).
Adjusted scope - when back the next day, sat at top of hill, same distance and waited - 45 minutes later he came out. I swear he was smiling at me or maybe I've been ground hog hunting for too many years and I'm imaging things, anyway this time I nailed that hog right though the neck.
Hog Lesson 101 (which shame on me I know better) - Sighting in at 50 degree in dense air and hunting tiny critters in 90 degrees ain't too smart - check your sight in when the temperture / air density changes that much. Don't know for sure if that was the reason but what ever - point of impact had changed significantly - should have checked it.
Shot three more the next time out with the Browning, 145 yards, 168, and 131 yards. ;D
Well I never got around to using it since I was doing so well with my old trusted Model 7 Remy 223 as my stalker rifle - didn't want to mess with my success - didn't want to change the Karma
With the season winding down I decided to take the Browning out and give it a try. Spotted a ground hog 125 yards in high hay, sitting on his hole which was at about a 40 degree angle down a steep hill. All I could see was his head and shoulders. Took my time and sent the 50 grain Nosler. Hog disappeared - surelly I got him, not a difficult shot. When I went down to retrieve him - no hog - no blood - a miss!
Wallked over and checked two other fields - saw none - worked my way back to field where I missed - this was about 7:00 PM, there he was - on his hole again. Slowly set up to take the shot - about the same distance,125 yards. Figured reason I missed first time was that I shot over him due to the downward slope thus a shorter distance - aimed a tad lower this time and sent the round. Same thing happen as before - he disappeared - no hog - no blood - a miss.
I'm NOT Daniel Boone but I rarely miss at that distance off the shooting sticks - something was a miss - excuse the pun. :-[
Next day I headed to the range - bingo - 3/4 inch five shot group off the sticks at 100 yards - accuracy good - BUT - 3" high. ( I sight in for 1.5 inches high off the sticks at 100 yards).
Adjusted scope - when back the next day, sat at top of hill, same distance and waited - 45 minutes later he came out. I swear he was smiling at me or maybe I've been ground hog hunting for too many years and I'm imaging things, anyway this time I nailed that hog right though the neck.
Hog Lesson 101 (which shame on me I know better) - Sighting in at 50 degree in dense air and hunting tiny critters in 90 degrees ain't too smart - check your sight in when the temperture / air density changes that much. Don't know for sure if that was the reason but what ever - point of impact had changed significantly - should have checked it.
Shot three more the next time out with the Browning, 145 yards, 168, and 131 yards. ;D
