6 Nov 03

Report from the 2003 Pig Hunt in OH:

We just completed our annual pig hunt. We all gathered at a hunting preserve in southern Ohio. We took nine hogs this year, ranging in weight from 150 to 400lbs. There were nine of us. We were all successful, to one degree or another. There was one Benelli Super-90 shooting Foster slugs, one 44Mg Ruger lever gun, one 6mm bolt gun, one 303Br SMLE Enfield, one 308 bolt gun w/scout scope, one 30-06 bolt gun, one G20 10mm pistol w/six-inch barrel, one 45-70 lever gun w/Cor-Bon 350gr SP, and I used a Chinese Kalashnikov in 7.62X39 (30 Soviet). I didn't personally witness all shots that were fired, but I saw most.

This kind of hunting is fast. Targets come and go quickly and always seem to appear when not expected. Windows are typically no more than two seconds. Hunting terrain is such that ranges are ten to a maximum of fifty meters. Pigs are dense, tough, amazingly quick, and close to the ground. They don't usually "topple" when hit, and multiple hits are difficult, even with an autoloader. Your first hit better be good!

Observations:

Iron sights work well, but scout scopes work well too! A forward-mounted, low-profile, low-magnification scope is well suited for pig hunting. By contrast, high magnification, close-eye-relief scopes are counterproductive, indeed close to useless. Most of us used iron sights.

In profile shots, the best place to aim is the point of the shoulder. Nearly all "instant" stops involved hits here. A bullet passing through this point breaks the shoulders and jars the spine. When thus struck, most pigs drop on the spot or run only a short distance. By contrast, gut shots, from any caliber, will guarantee a long chase and maybe a lost animal. I've never seen a gut shot put an animal down quickly. Heart/lung shots are effective, eventually, but the animal nearly always runs afterward, sometimes a good distance. The 6mm shooter hit a pig just behind the shoulder (fifty meters). The 100gr SP bullet went through and through, and the pig left a substantial blood trail, but his legs still worked, and he ran and ran!

The 10mm pistol round was disappointing. The shooter had a good hit (which I personally witnessed). The bullet struck from the front and went into the right shoulder, just to the side of the jaw. It was a 180gr WW Black Talon. I could see the pig was hit, but he still ran and ran. He was obviously uncomfortable, but he kept going. The shooter finally (after five minutes) had to borrow the Ruger 44 Carbine to ultimately stop the flight. Inadequate penetration.

Instant stops were registered with the 12ga slug, the 45-70, the 44mg carbine, and the 308. Good calibers and competent shooters. All went through and through, except the 44Mg. I was presented with an angle-away shot at twenty meters. My first bullet hit just behind the rib cage and ranged forward (125gr Federal SP, no exit). I caught the link and tried to get a second hit, but the pig was gone. He ran fifty meters before collapsing.

I like this kind of hunting, because it gives me the opportunity to fellowship with my friends, but it also reminds me that I need to be observant, reactive, and decisive, and that I won't get a second chance to be competent.

Fooling around with inadequate calibers in an effort to "push the envelope" is something that doesn't interest me, and it interests me less every time I see it. A bullet needs velocity, mass, penetration, expansion, and structural integrity (doesn't come apart). Inadequacy in any category negates the rest. Ask me how I know this!

/John

6 Nov 03

Report from the 2003 Pig Hunt in OH:

We just completed our annual pig hunt. We all gathered at a hunting preserve in southern Ohio. We took nine hogs this year, ranging in weight from 150 to 400lbs. There were nine of us. We were all successful, to one degree or another. There was one Benelli Super-90 shooting Foster slugs, one 44Mg Ruger lever gun, one 6mm bolt gun, one 303Br SMLE Enfield, one 308 bolt gun w/scout scope, one 30-06 bolt gun, one G20 10mm pistol w/six-inch barrel, one 45-70 lever gun w/Cor-Bon 350gr SP, and I used a Chinese Kalashnikov in 7.62X39 (30 Soviet). I didn't personally witness all shots that were fired, but I saw most.

This kind of hunting is fast. Targets come and go quickly and always seem to appear when not expected. Windows are typically no more than two seconds. Hunting terrain is such that ranges are ten to a maximum of fifty meters. Pigs are dense, tough, amazingly quick, and close to the ground. They don't usually "topple" when hit, and multiple hits are difficult, even with an autoloader. Your first hit better be good!

Observations:

Iron sights work well, but scout scopes work well too! A forward-mounted, low-profile, low-magnification scope is well suited for pig hunting. By contrast, high magnification, close-eye-relief scopes are counterproductive, indeed close to useless. Most of us used iron sights.

In profile shots, the best place to aim is the point of the shoulder. Nearly all "instant" stops involved hits here. A bullet passing through this point breaks the shoulders and jars the spine. When thus struck, most pigs drop on the spot or run only a short distance. By contrast, gut shots, from any caliber, will guarantee a long chase and maybe a lost animal. I've never seen a gut shot put an animal down quickly. Heart/lung shots are effective, eventually, but the animal nearly always runs afterward, sometimes a good distance. The 6mm shooter hit a pig just behind the shoulder (fifty meters). The 100gr SP bullet went through and through, and the pig left a substantial blood trail, but his legs still worked, and he ran and ran!

The 10mm pistol round was disappointing. The shooter had a good hit (which I personally witnessed). The bullet struck from the front and went into the right shoulder, just to the side of the jaw. It was a 180gr WW Black Talon. I could see the pig was hit, but he still ran and ran. He was obviously uncomfortable, but he kept going. The shooter finally (after five minutes) had to borrow the Ruger 44 Carbine to ultimately stop the flight. Inadequate penetration.

Instant stops were registered with the 12ga slug, the 45-70, the 44mg carbine, and the 308. Good calibers and competent shooters. All went through and through, except the 44Mg. I was presented with an angle-away shot at twenty meters. My first bullet hit just behind the rib cage and ranged forward (125gr Federal SP, no exit). I caught the link and tried to get a second hit, but the pig was gone. He ran fifty meters before collapsing.

I like this kind of hunting, because it gives me the opportunity to fellowship with my friends, but it also reminds me that I need to be observant, reactive, and decisive, and that I won't get a second chance to be competent.

Fooling around with inadequate calibers in an effort to "push the envelope" is something that doesn't interest me, and it interests me less every time I see it. A bullet needs velocity, mass, penetration, expansion, and structural integrity (doesn't come apart). Inadequacy in any category negates the rest. Ask me how I know this!

/John

6 Nov 03

OC Advice from an SA Patrolman of many Years:

"Tactical plans always have two parts: The first is to actually have a plan or 'blueprint of action.' The second is always having a means of im plementing your plan. This second part is where lots of people see their plan fail. Without it, your 'plan' remains just a theory.

To this end I have a simple routine that I always follow when performing traffic stops. I make sure both my pistol and my OC are ready for instant u se upon exiting my vehicle. This procedure has spilled into my private life. I always make sure that my OC is handy whenever I bring my vehicle to a stop, in other words, whenever I drive my vehicle. I recommend 'practical' O C, like Fox, that is of a size that it is easily concealed in your hand with a nozzle tha t can be 'aimed' by feel. I have seen more than one officer accidentally spra y himself, because he had no 'felt aim' on his OC bottle.

I also wear a sleeveless jacket. These normally have big pockets. I designate one of them my 'OC pocket.' Nothing goes into that pocket except my OC. Surprising how readily your OC bottle comes to hand (in the correct orientation) when you make alertness and readiness a habit!"

/John