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First pig with the .430 SJS!!!
Best friend and I went out after pigs last night. Trying to take advantage of the large moon, we headed out at 9:30 and arrived at the fields around 10:00. The moon had just risen above the clouds when I looked out across the field and saw a band of about 10-12 pigs (*) in one corner and two larger pigs (*) off in the middle. We had our targets..........we were going after the two in the middle.
Grabbed our gear, left the truck (#1), and headed off across the field to the dry tank I suspected they would be heading towards. Stopped just past the tank (#2) and waited to hopefully ambush them. With the moon up, we were able to easily keep an eye on their progress. After about 20 minutes, the two pigs started heading towards the band instead of towards us. Then, the clouds moved in and took our moon. So, we started our stalk. Angling to stay down wind (blue arrow = wind direction) we flanked them and once directly down wind, we slowly crept in for the shot.
Obviously, I was using the .430 SJS with an AimPoint. My buddy was using an AR in .223 with an AimPoint as well.
Creeping closer and closer we made it to 72 yards (#3) and set up for the shot. We had already agreed I would shoot the one on the right and he would shoot the one on the left as that was the order of our position during the stalk. Eventually, they both turned broadside facing left and I began the count.
5....4....3....BANG!
Our shots rang out.........or rather.........mine did. His was more of a "Ppppfffftttt!" and both pigs fell over in a heap. The larger band took off for safer locals and we sat up.
"I forgot you didn't have a can on your gun." my friend replied. "That sucked."
We had been laying side by side in a close manner in order to hear the count. I had......out of courtesy moved slightly forward to get the blast out in front. Guess it wasn't enough. Anyway...........
My pig was squealing up a storm and kicking. Due to the height or the wheat and angle...........and the fact my pig was shorter than my buddies (shut up CPJ).........I had to aim for a high shoulder shot while they fed along. Obviously we both spined our pigs. But, mine was thrashing a bit more than I liked, so I started moving forward. At about 50 yards, I saw mine roll to get it's feet under it. Then, it was off to the races as she darted for the trees.
BANG!
And over she fell once again.
Arriving at the original location (#4), my buddy put another round in the head of his as she was "still among us" and all was quiet. Now the fun began. We walked back to the truck (#1) and drove down the road to another gate (#5) where we took my new game cart back to the pigs and hauled them, one at a time, back to the truck. That cart is AWESOME!
Back at the house, we weighed them at 204 pounds for his and 172 pounds for mine. And the butchering commenced.
.430 SJS
Yellow arrow is entrance of first shot. Red arrow entrance of second shot (angling forward).
First shot went through the front of the on side scapula.
Then through the top of the spinal column.
No severing the spinal cord, but close enough, is what initially dropped the pig then allowed her to get up and run.
The second shot entered the back of the ribs ( taking out 3) angling forward as she ran. It took out the front of the paunch and passed through the liver.
Perforated the diaphragm and (amazingly) passed behind the lungs (bruising them) to lodge between ribs under the hide behind the off side shoulder.
Yellow arrow indicating exit of first round in front of the off side shoulder.
I recovered the second bullet and will post pictures of it once I get it cleaned up and weighed.
I am very pleased with the results of the .430 SJS, considering my shots. Neither bullet blew up on impact, regardless the jug video results and both shots dropped the pig. I just didn't place them perfectly and that was my bad. No stinking moon! But, the gun worked like a champ. The cartridge worked like a champ. And, the bullet (240gr Hornady XTP) worked like a champ.
WIN!!!
Grabbed our gear, left the truck (#1), and headed off across the field to the dry tank I suspected they would be heading towards. Stopped just past the tank (#2) and waited to hopefully ambush them. With the moon up, we were able to easily keep an eye on their progress. After about 20 minutes, the two pigs started heading towards the band instead of towards us. Then, the clouds moved in and took our moon. So, we started our stalk. Angling to stay down wind (blue arrow = wind direction) we flanked them and once directly down wind, we slowly crept in for the shot.
Obviously, I was using the .430 SJS with an AimPoint. My buddy was using an AR in .223 with an AimPoint as well.
Creeping closer and closer we made it to 72 yards (#3) and set up for the shot. We had already agreed I would shoot the one on the right and he would shoot the one on the left as that was the order of our position during the stalk. Eventually, they both turned broadside facing left and I began the count.
5....4....3....BANG!
Our shots rang out.........or rather.........mine did. His was more of a "Ppppfffftttt!" and both pigs fell over in a heap. The larger band took off for safer locals and we sat up.
"I forgot you didn't have a can on your gun." my friend replied. "That sucked."
We had been laying side by side in a close manner in order to hear the count. I had......out of courtesy moved slightly forward to get the blast out in front. Guess it wasn't enough. Anyway...........
My pig was squealing up a storm and kicking. Due to the height or the wheat and angle...........and the fact my pig was shorter than my buddies (shut up CPJ).........I had to aim for a high shoulder shot while they fed along. Obviously we both spined our pigs. But, mine was thrashing a bit more than I liked, so I started moving forward. At about 50 yards, I saw mine roll to get it's feet under it. Then, it was off to the races as she darted for the trees.
BANG!
And over she fell once again.
Arriving at the original location (#4), my buddy put another round in the head of his as she was "still among us" and all was quiet. Now the fun began. We walked back to the truck (#1) and drove down the road to another gate (#5) where we took my new game cart back to the pigs and hauled them, one at a time, back to the truck. That cart is AWESOME!
Back at the house, we weighed them at 204 pounds for his and 172 pounds for mine. And the butchering commenced.
.430 SJS
Yellow arrow is entrance of first shot. Red arrow entrance of second shot (angling forward).
First shot went through the front of the on side scapula.
Then through the top of the spinal column.
No severing the spinal cord, but close enough, is what initially dropped the pig then allowed her to get up and run.
The second shot entered the back of the ribs ( taking out 3) angling forward as she ran. It took out the front of the paunch and passed through the liver.
Perforated the diaphragm and (amazingly) passed behind the lungs (bruising them) to lodge between ribs under the hide behind the off side shoulder.
Yellow arrow indicating exit of first round in front of the off side shoulder.
I recovered the second bullet and will post pictures of it once I get it cleaned up and weighed.
I am very pleased with the results of the .430 SJS, considering my shots. Neither bullet blew up on impact, regardless the jug video results and both shots dropped the pig. I just didn't place them perfectly and that was my bad. No stinking moon! But, the gun worked like a champ. The cartridge worked like a champ. And, the bullet (240gr Hornady XTP) worked like a champ.
WIN!!!
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Replies
Shot entered the shoulder and passed through the scapula.
Completely bypassed the thoracic cavity, it centered the spine and severed the spinal column. Then, passed through the front of the off side shoulder muscle and lodged under the skin on the off side.
Bullet (64gr Speer Gold Dot) was recovered and will be posted once cleaned and weighed.
A second shot to the head on approach was used to send the porker on.
Muzzle Velocity: 2,354 fps
Impact Velocity: 2,058 fps
Left is from 50 yard impact on pig. Right is from 50 yard water jug testing (penetrated 3 jugs).
Instead of butchering and doing the post mortem on the ground wherein my back is killing me by the end of the process.................I spread a tarp out on my truck bed with the tailgate down. Now, I can use the tailgate as a table and just flip or spin the pig around to butcher without bending over.
The 240gr Hornady XTP-- You had a 60% weight retention at 2058fps which is 158fps above their recommended velocity and hitting bone first thing coming in. To compare, my kid's deer was hit with the same bullet last year, hit 3 ribs going in, and had 89% weight retention with a 1780fps impact velocity.
That is a tough bullet!
Sub MOA.............
I might have stumbled upon a better load than I anticipated.
Nice porkers. They ain't wisin' up to stay out of that field are they? :tooth:
I expected that the Hornady .44 bullet might perform well, but I'm really surprised at how well the 64 gr. Gold Dot performed.
Yep. It's real.
Nope, they are still plowing up the ground there. A few more encounters and they will likely move on. Or, at least change times of visitation.
I have more than one load with XTPs.
That's two animals taken with that cartridge and it definitely has the thump. Hope you can shoot a few more with it under better conditions to get the bullet placed where you want it; shooting at night even with good moonlight is a tough proposition.
Shooting from prone position I'd bet you threw up a dust cloud with the muzzle blast! :roll2:
― Douglas Adams
The 64gr Gold Dot is a bonded bullet, but I'm still impressed it held together after a scapula, spine and shoulder muscle penetration.
No noticeable deviation or tumbling. Just straight penetration.
I use it in several .44 Mag revolvers as well. Very pleased with the results.
Dad 5-31-13
Yep. I was initially expecting a science project in bullet blow up. Really expected a mess and possible surface bomb. Such wasn't the case.
Yeah, this just became my main "Pig Killer"! I see a few more in its future.
Ground was was a little damp, so it didn't kick up any noticeable dust. Recoil wasn't bad either. I was able to shoot, recover, and watch them falling over with feet in the air. Surprised me.
Like I said to TennMike, I expected a lesson in bullet blow up too.
The performance of your SJS is impressive, and as other said the .223 even more so. As long as I have lived in Florida countless people have said that .223 is too small for hogs.
Congrats
I was thinking the exact same thing. Very similar results. Maybe I haven't given enough credibility to water jug testing. Of course, it might not always work that way, but it's cool to see how similar the two results were.
There is no doubt we are on the edge of reason with the XTP bullet. I mean, 2,354 fps is stinking fast for its intended use. But, it's cool pushing the envelope and seeing exactly how much a bullet can take.
That is exactly what I thought as well. Obviously it can't tell us what would happen if a bullet collided with heavy bone. But, for a thoracic cavity hit, it seems pretty darn close in comparison. Ribs don't really amount to much resistance.
I think it is a tad more viable testing venue than just cool footage now.
Neither are a long range endeavor. But, within their limits and with the right bullet, they just flat out work.
I wouldn't have a problem pushing the .430 SJS to 200 yards. The .233 Remington, I'd probably keep under 150 yards for body shots.
If you can't blind them with brilliance...........baffle them with BS!
;-)
Really pleased with the XTP's performance. Not sure if I was surprised since I didn't have any expectations.
Sort of expected this out of the Gold Dot.
Glad you and your BF were able to get out and play.
"The Un-Tactical"
We had a good time. We've got the system down pat. But, with the addition of the game cart, this was the fastest start to finish we've had.
Every time I hear you talking about you using a game card it just makes me smile
"The Un-Tactical"
http://vid26.photobucket.com/albums/c106/lovinmycaitlynn/Shooting/240gr%2050yrd%20Test_zpsjzlpwvd6.mp4
Now, imagine those jugs being that pig on the second shot at 50 yards...............