09Nov05

Rifle/Bullet performance:

I just finished day of hog hunting in OH. This is an annual event, and I got a big male this time. He'll be in our freezer (in selected cuts) short ly.

I used my JLD/PTR (domestically produced copy of the HK-91 in 308), and it worked superbly. Mine is the short version with a folding stock. Compact and easy to transport in a low-profile manner. After breaking it in, I had the

extractor spring replaced, and it has been working flawlessly ever since. Excellent "car gun," a role in which it is functioning right now.

I used Cor-Bon's DPX ammunition, and it worked as advertised. I lov e Barnes bullets. They expand well and do not break up. I don't like bulle ts that break up. This round is top drawer, both for hunting and for serious/socia l work. I keep a magazine full of it in the rifle all the time.

After a long stalk, my guide and I were able to get within forty meters of our quarry. He was browsing and moving slowly. From behind a tree, using stock, iron sights, I aimed in. It was late in the afternoon and getting d ark. Presentation was straight broadside. My black front sight got lost as I pu t it on the side on the black pig! I had to move the sight picture off the pig one onto nearby light-colored leaves in order to find the front sight o nce more. I then moved the front sight back onto the pig's side.

I still could not see it clearly, but I put it, as near as I could, on the point of the shoulder and took up the slack. When the shot broke, the pig was moving forward, and the bullet struck slightly to the rear of where I wanted it, but it was still a solid hit. The link snapped in audibly, and I followed him, ready for the first follow-up shot. The pig went right down with the first shot and started thrashing around. My guide said, "He=80 s down. He's not going anywhere." Halfway through his second sentence, my secon d shot broke. It hit low, breaking a front leg. I delivered a third, but it was not necessary.

Subsequent examination revealed the first bullet entered the chest wall jus t to the rear of the shoulder, breaking one rib. Penetration was ten inches. Damage was extensive. The wound was not survivable. Bullet expanded perfectly.

My favorite 308 rifle is still the DSA/FAL, but this JLD, after some tweaking, has demonstrated that it is a reliable and robust military rifle i n 308 caliber. Recommended!

Cor-Bon DPX is hard to beat! Excellent ammunition for a wide variety of purposes. Also recommended!

/John