I got my 2nd groundhog ever this morning. Like the first one, no tales of long range marksmanship. I went back out to my friend's farm where I KNEW there was one living among the barns and silos. I've been trying to get it for a week, but it's been hiding from me. Sometimes, I can see it behind one of the barns as I'm driving up the road, but when I get out of the car, I can never find it. Perhaps it knows the sound of the gravel driveway...and that it means people?
But I stopped by this morning to see if I could get it. There are several barns and multiple silos. I know where 3 holes are. So I came around the corner of one barn to view one of the holes, knowing I'll be camo'd by piles of farm junk and equipment. And finally I SEE it through the junk. I freeze....but it sees me, and bolts 15 feet to it's hole...but stands right next to it. I take a slow step back, out of view, unsling my gun, then take a slow step forward. I can see it...about 40 yards away. There's nothing for me to brace or rest against, this will have to be an offhand shot. There is a piece of farm equipment 20 feet in front of the hog, and I can see everything but it's head. (partially obscured) I have my 17hmr, and I'm told it's best to go for head shots with it. But I don't have a choice. If I move for a clear head shot, he'll see me (he already knows I'm there), he'll run down the hole. So I decide to take a heart/lung shot.
1 shot is all I'll get....I got him.....
I go to inspect the hog, and there's a lot of blood on the ground. I find the entrance wound, it's about 1/2 the size of a pencil...no blood at all. It looks more like a scratch. I had a moment of disbelief that it was actually the entrance wound. I turn it over and there's a huge exit wound. (it is still rimfire after all) It's aorta and part of it's heart have been blown out of the body. (now I know the reason for all the blood) I simply wasn't expecting this out of a rimfire. What an awesome round. I won't feel comfortable shooting it past 150 yards. (less than 3 inch drop at that distance) But within that, it's awesome! Sorry, forgot to take my camera. I would have liked to show the contrast between entrance and exit wounds.
And this is only my 2nd shot with the 17 without ear protection...and I'm surprised at how much louder it is than a 22.
But I stopped by this morning to see if I could get it. There are several barns and multiple silos. I know where 3 holes are. So I came around the corner of one barn to view one of the holes, knowing I'll be camo'd by piles of farm junk and equipment. And finally I SEE it through the junk. I freeze....but it sees me, and bolts 15 feet to it's hole...but stands right next to it. I take a slow step back, out of view, unsling my gun, then take a slow step forward. I can see it...about 40 yards away. There's nothing for me to brace or rest against, this will have to be an offhand shot. There is a piece of farm equipment 20 feet in front of the hog, and I can see everything but it's head. (partially obscured) I have my 17hmr, and I'm told it's best to go for head shots with it. But I don't have a choice. If I move for a clear head shot, he'll see me (he already knows I'm there), he'll run down the hole. So I decide to take a heart/lung shot.
1 shot is all I'll get....I got him.....
I go to inspect the hog, and there's a lot of blood on the ground. I find the entrance wound, it's about 1/2 the size of a pencil...no blood at all. It looks more like a scratch. I had a moment of disbelief that it was actually the entrance wound. I turn it over and there's a huge exit wound. (it is still rimfire after all) It's aorta and part of it's heart have been blown out of the body. (now I know the reason for all the blood) I simply wasn't expecting this out of a rimfire. What an awesome round. I won't feel comfortable shooting it past 150 yards. (less than 3 inch drop at that distance) But within that, it's awesome! Sorry, forgot to take my camera. I would have liked to show the contrast between entrance and exit wounds.
And this is only my 2nd shot with the 17 without ear protection...and I'm surprised at how much louder it is than a 22.
