© 2009, 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
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I had shot that three hundred pounder right through the cheekbone.
We had been hunting hog at a friend's ranch an hour or so from where I lived. We had been carefully stalking this bad boy for the better part of two hours. There were sows and piglets to contend with, mosquitoes, and the occasional pygmy rattle thrown in for fun. Actually, I was pretty sure those damned chiggers were, at that very moment, digging into my tender flesh and making themselves at home.
Skirting palmetto clumps, and patches of scrub oak, we finally got into position with out spooking him. I took off my leather hat, laid it in front of me, and used it as a rest for my hog hunting rifle, a 30/06 Weatherby Eurosport. I wanted an instant kill; I had had enough of chiggers, ticks and skeeters for the day, so I carefully lined up for a spinal shot. I was certain of my shooting ability, and I have complete confidence in my weapon and the ammo I use.
180 grains of copper clad and partitioned lead went right under his left eye, through his sinus cavity, and smashed right into his spinal column where it demolished nine inches of bone and nerves, disrupting much of his motor functions. But it wasn't enough. By the time I had crossed the forty or so yards between us, he had regained some use of his body. His jaws worked to and fro, slashing at the under growth, hooking roots, branches and the occasional shrub. Apparently he could use his back legs, and had some use of his front right one. He stumbled as he tried to charge me.
I had stoked the Weatherby with another Remington Safari Grade Swift A-Frame before I was even up. As I raised the Weatherby for a follow up shot, Matt put his hand on my shoulder. "Wait, don't waste the bullet, let me finish him with my .22." Moments later the big hog was down.
And what a hog! Scarred and cut up from slugging it out with the other males, he was a brute; three inches of whetted tusks stuck out either side. I had him mounted, but unfortunately over the years he has deteriorated to the point that it was, in my mind, disrespectful to his memory to have him displayed in that condition. So he now resides sealed in a large bin with a desiccant package and a pest control devise. Maybe, when times are a little better, I can have him refurbished, and he can take place of pride over my desk again.
I really need to get out hog hunting...
But that's not why I tell the tale. Cooking, that's what I want to talk about.
It all started, innocently enough, when I happened upon Miss Jamie's blog Borderland Adventures: Her Perspective and her post Stinky Little Pigs.
Now I like pigs. I like them as livestock, pets, and wildlife. I like them alive and I like them roasted. Now Miss Jamie is actually writing about the New World equivalent of the pig, that being the peccary also known as the javelina. Miss Jamie does an excellent job of explaining their natural history and taxonomy; and she does it with great humor. In addition you will find great narratives of the border area, posts on cooking both in the home and out in the field, and a product review. Not only that, but she has some great photography too! I heartily recommend visiting her Blog Borderland Adventures: Her Perspective.
Now back to the cooking. As it turns out both peccaries and that big ol' hog I took, have similarities. They both stink real bad. As in rank.
I don't like to waste game. But a rank old hog is unpalatable. Simple as that; just plain inedible. I had Matt carve out the tenderloins, if that's not a misnomer I don't know what is. I also got the two roasts. Matt got the rest to grind up for sausage.
When I got home I threw a box of coarse salt over the meat and ice in the cooler. I figured that would buy me enough time to figure out what I was going to do.
I've got one of those big enameled roasting pan, and I always have a lot of garlic. Work with what you got I always say. As I was trying not to pass out from the testosterone induced odor, I remembered reading somewhere that instant coffee neutralized the odor and helped to tenderize the meat. I couldn't remember how much was recommended, so I dumped a big handful in there. I mean I poured it into my hand and dumped it over the roast. With that done, I took a knife skewered that roast and stuffed garlic into every hole I made. I doused it thoroughly with some white wine, the cheap stuff I keep for those meddlesome neighbors, and put the cover on it.
I set the oven on low (325 F) and came back to it about four hours later.
Holy smokes! It worked! The smell was gone, and in its place a delectable and genuinely delicious aroma of cooked pork with subtle tones of garlic. After due deliberations though it was decided that a couple of more hours wouldn't hurt. I cut up some more garlic, potatoes, carrots, and celery, and poured in some more wine and water.
A couple of hours later we were sitting around the table enjoying a tender and tasty roast.
I've tried it out with other cuts of tough meat both wild and domestic with similar results. Oh and there is no taste of coffee either. What is in the instant coffee that does that is unknown to me. All I know is that it works.
Amazing what you can do with some coffee...
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
Update:
While cruising the Blogsphere this morning, I came upon this "The Bacon Weave." For those of you that don't have enough cholesteral in your diet, this is a sure fire way to get it up there! Brought to you by the fellows at BBQ Addicts!
AAR
Showing posts with label hog hunting rifle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hog hunting rifle. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Hog Hunting Rifles: Pt II
© 2009 Albert A Rasch
Well, Otto had time to mull his decision over. I wasn't in any hurry to leave, and Mike was working, if you can call it that.
"I've decided." He finally said.
Mike and I waited for the verdict. I figured he would go for the H&R in .308, or maybe even the 45/70.
"The Mossberg in 30/30!" Was his definitive answer.
Oops, my bad.
"Good choice!" Exclaimed Mike in his usual over exuberant way. Did I note a hint of self congratulatory smugness in his voice?
Glancing at Mike with some suspicion, I turned to Otto and asked, "That's a great choice! Now tell me, why did you pick the Mossberg?" I wanted to hear his logic for choosing it, I wanted to know if he was listening.
And why he didn't go for a .45 bore.
Otto ticked off three facts on his fingers. "One: It's a handy rifle for Florida habitat. Two: I can use the 30/30 on anything I might decide to hunt for. Three: It's affordable, and so is the ammo, so that means I can practice more."
"Good sound reasoning!" I said as a slapped him on his back; he was listening. "Mike, hand the man his rifle will you?" Mike was already reaching for it, but I thought a little motivating from me might make it happen quicker.
“So Otto, those are good reasons for picking the Mossberg leveraction, but now I want to know why you didn't decide to get the Weatherby, the H&R, or either of the Marlins."
"Well sir," he started, "I'm not sure I want to risk it all on one shot, so that pretty much ruled out the single shots for me. The price is right on the H&Rs but I'm not really liking them that much."
I can’t disagree with him too much one the aesthetics. I have a sixties vintage 10 gauge slug gun whose bluing rivals that of any other gun I have, and the stock is as pretty as any. She’s plain, but pretty.
"Now, I like the Weatherby, and if I had more money, I probably would have chosen it. But I really want to be able to practice so I'll need the money for the ammo. That and I'll need other stuff too."
"I really liked the Marlins, don't get me wrong, but I don't think I'm ready for the 45/70. What you said about respecting the game, I understand what you mean and I don’t want to be a bad shot and make a mistake while I’m out there. I don't reload my own ammo; so I can't make the 45 Colt ammunition. If I understood you correctly the stock factory ammo isn’t best for hunting hogs, and that Corbon is pretty expensive stuff. And the truth is, I like the way the Mossberg feels in my hand. That pretty much did it for me."
"That is pretty good reasoning." I responded. "Mike, what do you think? Has he got the smarts to outwit a big boar hog?"
"I think so." He replied and then added, "If he practices, stays honest to himself and the game, he'll do fine. You think you can do it kid?"
"Yes sir I sure can!" Came Otto's sincere reply.
"Alright, there's only one thing left for you to do, and that's to schedule some range time with Mike here." I turned to Mike, "Can you get Mr. Broward to help Otto out?" Mr Broward is an older gentleman who runs the range. He's real old school, and enjoys helping out younger folk getting started. He's half deaf so it's always a lot of fun when he's presiding over the range.
"I'll make sure he's here when Otto comes in." Mike’s as good as gold when it comes to getting someone started right.
"That'll be great." I added, "Otto, Mr Broward is an old cuss who will teach you more in an hour of range time, than most people can learn in a year of shooting, so mind your manners and pay attention."
"Yes sir I will."
Well I felt pretty good on this one. I’ve had them when they wouldn’t listen to reason, and get something completely ill suited for their skill level and the quarry they where after. Mike has to tread a thin line between pleasing the customer and advising.
If only more kids were as amenable as Otto was!
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
Well, Otto had time to mull his decision over. I wasn't in any hurry to leave, and Mike was working, if you can call it that.
"I've decided." He finally said.
Mike and I waited for the verdict. I figured he would go for the H&R in .308, or maybe even the 45/70.
"The Mossberg in 30/30!" Was his definitive answer.
Oops, my bad.
"Good choice!" Exclaimed Mike in his usual over exuberant way. Did I note a hint of self congratulatory smugness in his voice?
Glancing at Mike with some suspicion, I turned to Otto and asked, "That's a great choice! Now tell me, why did you pick the Mossberg?" I wanted to hear his logic for choosing it, I wanted to know if he was listening.
And why he didn't go for a .45 bore.
Otto ticked off three facts on his fingers. "One: It's a handy rifle for Florida habitat. Two: I can use the 30/30 on anything I might decide to hunt for. Three: It's affordable, and so is the ammo, so that means I can practice more."
"Good sound reasoning!" I said as a slapped him on his back; he was listening. "Mike, hand the man his rifle will you?" Mike was already reaching for it, but I thought a little motivating from me might make it happen quicker.
“So Otto, those are good reasons for picking the Mossberg leveraction, but now I want to know why you didn't decide to get the Weatherby, the H&R, or either of the Marlins."
"Well sir," he started, "I'm not sure I want to risk it all on one shot, so that pretty much ruled out the single shots for me. The price is right on the H&Rs but I'm not really liking them that much."
I can’t disagree with him too much one the aesthetics. I have a sixties vintage 10 gauge slug gun whose bluing rivals that of any other gun I have, and the stock is as pretty as any. She’s plain, but pretty.
"Now, I like the Weatherby, and if I had more money, I probably would have chosen it. But I really want to be able to practice so I'll need the money for the ammo. That and I'll need other stuff too."
"I really liked the Marlins, don't get me wrong, but I don't think I'm ready for the 45/70. What you said about respecting the game, I understand what you mean and I don’t want to be a bad shot and make a mistake while I’m out there. I don't reload my own ammo; so I can't make the 45 Colt ammunition. If I understood you correctly the stock factory ammo isn’t best for hunting hogs, and that Corbon is pretty expensive stuff. And the truth is, I like the way the Mossberg feels in my hand. That pretty much did it for me."
"That is pretty good reasoning." I responded. "Mike, what do you think? Has he got the smarts to outwit a big boar hog?"
"I think so." He replied and then added, "If he practices, stays honest to himself and the game, he'll do fine. You think you can do it kid?"
"Yes sir I sure can!" Came Otto's sincere reply.
"Alright, there's only one thing left for you to do, and that's to schedule some range time with Mike here." I turned to Mike, "Can you get Mr. Broward to help Otto out?" Mr Broward is an older gentleman who runs the range. He's real old school, and enjoys helping out younger folk getting started. He's half deaf so it's always a lot of fun when he's presiding over the range.
"I'll make sure he's here when Otto comes in." Mike’s as good as gold when it comes to getting someone started right.
"That'll be great." I added, "Otto, Mr Broward is an old cuss who will teach you more in an hour of range time, than most people can learn in a year of shooting, so mind your manners and pay attention."
"Yes sir I will."
Well I felt pretty good on this one. I’ve had them when they wouldn’t listen to reason, and get something completely ill suited for their skill level and the quarry they where after. Mike has to tread a thin line between pleasing the customer and advising.
If only more kids were as amenable as Otto was!
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Hog Hunting Rifles: Part I
© 2009 Albert A Rasch
I’ve wanted the Marlin 1895 Cowboy for what seems like an eternity. I bet it would be a fantastic boar hunting rifle. With its long octagonal barrel and a good vernier tang sight I could swat a hog a couple, maybe three hundred yards away. And to top it all off, it holds half a box of 45-70 ammo in its feed tube! How's that for capacity; it's a fightin' man's rifle is what it is!
I was perusing the racks at the neighborhood gunshop, when an overlong levergun on the racks caught my wandering eye. Could it be? I wondered.
Indeed it was; a Marlin 1895 Cowboy.
After handing me that long sought after pig slayer, Mike the good natured salesman that he is, was trying mightily to encourage me to part with my hard earned money. But with stoic resignation I explained to him that I was not in the position to purchase it. At least not today. Things are tough. We were chatting when I commented on looking forward to a little hog hunting sometime this late winter or early spring. A young fellow who had been engrossed with the revolvers in the case, looked up at the mention of hog hunting. Mike and I were busy trading some stories and the conversation drifted to calibers, I being a big bore proponent, and Mike a dyed in the wool 30 caliber man.
The young man had sidled himself up the counter. He turned to me and asked, “What do you consider a good boar hunting rifle?” I raised an eyebrow at the interruption; Mr. Marlin, Mike, and I were in deep consultation at that very moment. But the fellow was serious, as serious as an untested warrior girding for battle might be. “I, um, I want to hunt hog, and I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation…Sir.” I handed the Marlin back to Mike and nodded my head. It was a fine piece of equipment. Maybe later.
I looked Junior over. Six foot plus, 200 pounds plus, solidly built, (What the devil are they feeding these kids now-a-days anyway?) and polite, even if he had to think about it.
“What’s your name kid?” I asked. “Otto…Sir.” He replied. I nodded my head in acknowledgment; it’s important to reinforce good behavior.
“So you want to hunt wild pig, huh? Get yourself a trophy tusker maybe?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Well tell me what you got. Do you already have a rifle?”
“I don’t have a rifle yet, and I’m here trying to figure out what to get. My friend’s dad says I need a 338 Winchester Magnum, while on the internet they say a 45/70 is better.” He must have read one of my pieces. Good for him, obviously comes from a good family. He continued, “My dad’s got a 7MM Magnum, I think it’s a Winchester. And we have a Ruger 10/22. I shoot it some.”
“Ok buddy I think I got it.”
What we have here is a young man who wants to go hunting but doesn’t have the experience or equipment to do so. Lucky for him he met me. I didn't ask him how much he wanted to spend. I was going to let him experience the whole gamut of choices and then let him decide what he wanted.
“Otto,” I started, ”this is not a bad place to start. It’s a single shot in 308, it won’t kick you too hard, and it will be a little easier on the wallet than some of the others. Ammo is pretty reasonable too.” I broke the action and handed it to him. "The H&Rs come in a variety of calibers from .22 long rifle to 45-70 government. They even have one in 45 Long Colt that I wouldn't mind having, and I do have one in 10 bore with rifle sights. It's got a hole on the end of it that your thumb will fit into!"
“I was kinda looking for a good bolt action.” He said handing it back to me. “And isn’t the 308 sort of light for hogs?”
Fair enough question. “Otto, I wrote a long article for a blog called The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles, here let me write it down for you.” Mike passed me a piece of scrap paper. "There's an article by the name of Boar Hunting: Rifle Calibers, read it. It has a lot of information in it that will help you decide which cartridge you need." I scribbled down the pertinent web site addresses.
“The 308 is a great cartridge,” I paused,”for the hunter who is deliberate in his shooting. That is to say, a hunter who picks his shots and hits where he aims each and every time.” He looked at me. Before he could open his mouth though. I asked, “How good a shot are you? Tell me honest.”
“Ok… I guess.” Was his reply
“Well this would be a great rifle if you learn to shoot better than just Ok.” I wondered where his dad was. He should be here and in the conversation. “Listen to me, it is very important that you understand this. To harvest game, to kill an animal, requires from you the dedication to learn to shoot well. That is the respect that you must show the animal." Mike nodded sagely from behind the counter. I didn't want him to get the wrong impression though. "That's not to say that you need a bigger caliber gun for hunting or that a bigger gun will kill any better; no, what I am saying is that using a .308 requires you to be more selective in the shots you take." As I handed the H&R back to Mike he mentioned, “I’ve got a used one in 45-70 by the way.” I nodded.
“Mike let me have that #1 over there, please.” Mike put up the H&R and pulled a Ruger #1 from the rack. Not one of those stainless steel models, but a nice, properly blued model 1-B. Time for sticker shock! $850.00 I almost keeled over. I haven't bought a new rifle in five years.
“Now Otto, this is a gentleman’s rifle. This is the Ruger #1 in 30/06. This and a box of Remington Safari Grade ammo and you can take any hog, deer, or for that matter bear , if you do your part.” Mike piped up, "Hey Albert, Remington came out with a proprietary H-mantle now. It's called Premier A-Frame. I don't believe they use the Swift A-Frame anymore." "Really? I'll have to look into that." I responded. I handed the Ruger to Otto and he levered the action open. “Nice, isn’t it. I own a couple; one in 45-70, and the other, my main wild boar rifle is in 458 Winchester Magnum. Still don’t have that 416 Rigby though.”
Teasing me Mike said. “I can get it for you anytime!” I know Mike, I know.
“It sure is nice, but I don’t know…” Otto drifted off.
“Buddy," I interrupted, "you have to go with what you feel is right for you. You’re among men now, men who respect you and your decisions. You want to be a hunter right? Well we hunters know that you’ll make the right choice when you pick a gun… and when you pull the trigger. So don’t sweat it Ok?” He looked surprised and relieved.
"If you have your heart set on a bolt action, there are two things to know. One is controlled round feeding, and two, push feed." Mike grabbed his stool and sat down. I looked at him like, what, I’m long winded or something?
“Listen here Otto, controlled round feed is where the cartridge is captured by the extractor, like a claw sort of, and held through the whole cycle in and out. Push feed actions push the cartridge from the magazine into the chamber and then the extractor snaps over the rim. Got it?”
Otto was lost.
“Mike you got a 700 floating around?” Dumb question I know. He pulls a Remington model 700 BDL and hands it to me. I look at the tag and I see it’s a 300 Remington Ultra Mag. Not my favorite cartridge. I like the 700s just not in magnum cartridges. If I was going to build up a tactical rifle, I would probably do it on a 700 action.
“Otto, see how the bolt face is round and only has this small thing here? That’s the extractor. These have a reputation for breaking, at least a few years ago they did. Mike? What’s the verdict on this?” I love putting him on the spot.
“Pretty much resolved; I’ve been selling these (RUMs) since early 2003, and I’ve never had one returned.” If Mike says so then it must be.
While Mike was speaking I picked up a surplus 98. When did they get so pricey? “Now see this here? That’s the extractor. Notice how much bigger it is. If you’re smacking hogs, or maybe you’re dreaming of Alaskan brown bear, I would stick to the controlled round feed. It secures the cartridge as it picks it up from the magazine. He nodded in agreement. Mike rolled his eyes. "My Weatherby Mark V has a very similar extractor." Mike patiently traded rifles with me. This time a Weatherby Vanguard in 300 Weatherby Magnum.
(Good, I got another one on the CRF bandwagon! That argument between CRF and push feed has been going on for I don’t know how long. We writers need to keep the pot stirred up.)
Otto really liked the Weatherby, but then again, who wouldn't. "This is chambered in the 300 Weatherby Magnum." I said "Probably one of the top ten cartridges ever designed." Mike grabbed his stool again. My turn to roll my eyes. "The .300 is as flat shooting as any other cartridge made for hunting, can kill just about anything given the proper bullet, and the recoil is still well within the realm of reasonable. Truth is, it is a little excessive for hunting hogs up close, but if you are hunting and not just shooting, and you're using good ammo, you will pick your shots, and do fine." I went on, "This rifle and cartridge are not for a first timer though. The recoil is more than you are accustomed to, so without practice and a coach, you might get bad habits that are difficult to get rid of."
I'm pretty sure he had his boar hunting rifle. Until he looked at the tag; the price was more than he had bargained for, about $700.00.
"Boy, they sure are expensive." He mumbled.
"You got that right kid! But you get what you pay for." He was getting dejected.
"Come here, let's look at some of the lever guns."
Mike has a good selection of leverguns both new and used. "Mike," I said, "do you have a Marlin 94 in 45 Long Colt?"
"I sure do." He flipped tags until he found what I asked for.
"This might just be the most practical Florida hog hunting gun you will find. With practice you can shoot this out to one hundred yards, ammo is relatively inexpensive, and if you handload, you can cut that cost even further. Not only that, but if you roll your own, you can increase the power exponentially. But that's a conversation for another day!" He looked it over thoughtfully. "Mike, you have any Cor-Bon ammo?" I could see the boxes, but I couldn't see the letters or numbers. "Just the 45-70." He said, and then added, "Look on the table, there's some LBT bullets there." I walked over and after a quick search found what I was looking for. It was a box of 300gr 45 caliber wide flat nose bullets. Mike read my mind and got some generic 45 reloads with 200gr round nose flat points on it.
"Otto, these round noses are good for practicing and shooting at the range, but for hunting hog you really should move up to these hard cast solids. For deer you can get the Winchester Silvertips if you want. But on hogs I would avoid the hollow points at all costs."
"Why's that?" He asked.
"Well, on a wild pig, penetration is the most important factor. I big boar hog will have a thick, hardened, shield over his front quarters that protects him from other boar's tusks. This gristle and fat will also stop a light bullet, or a hollow point that opens to much. A tough solid though, will go through and do what it's supposed to. And that's to scramble its insides enough that he doesn't want to slice and dice you. "
"Now let's say you get into handgun hunting, You can get yourself a Ruger Bisley in 45 Long Colt, and you only have to carry one type of ammo." I could tell he liked that idea.
Mike butted in at this point. "Watch out kid, if it's not a .45 Albert thinks it's a squirrel gun! How about a 30/30? " Mike went back to the racks and pulled what I thought was a Winchester Model 94.
He continued, "This is the new Mossberg 464. It's less than a year old."
I was dumbfounded. "Mossberg? I didn't realize they were making a levergun."
"Ahhh, so you don't know everything!" He retorted.
"Look wiseguy, I'm a busy man. If Mossberg's board of directors forgot to call me, I can't be held responsible! I'm calling them as soon as I get home." Otto wasn't sure how serious we were.
"Don't mind him kid," he said with a chuckle, "Albert knows more than anyone I know, but I love it when he doesn't." I was working on a full blown case of pseudo-sulks.
"Now Mike, you know I have a lot of respect for the 30/30." I turned to Otto, "The 30/30 is a fine cartridge, provided you don't try to make it do something it's not supposed to. Back in the day it used a 160 to 170 grain round nosed soft point. That killed an awful lot of deer, bears, and elk, to say nothing of all the outlaws, cutthroats, and bandits it put six feet under. The reason it was and still is so successful is because it pushes a lot of lead at a sedate speed. The bullets don't blow up, split into pieces, or veer too far off mark. It hits, and keeps on going until it runs out of steam."
"Sooo... You think this is a good boar gun?" Otto asked innocently looking the Mossberg over.
"Otto, You have to decide that for yourself! Neither Mike nor I can tell you what is the best rifle is. We can recommend which firearm might be suitable for the game you're pursuing, but we can't tell you what is best for you." Mike chimed in, "You see kid, Albert here is a single shot fan. He would much rather make that one shot kill, than shoot the biggest animal out there. His idea of a successful hunt is one where he stalks or waits for that one shot. It's the challenge he's after not the animal." I continued, "If you where going out west after pronghorn for instance, we would recommend a bolt action in a 6.5 mm or 25 caliber. If you told us you where heading out for grizzly, I wouldn't let you go with anything less than 45/70 loaded to the hilt, whereas Mike here might let you go with a popgun like a 375 Holland and Holland! So it really comes down to what you think is best, after analyzing how you hunt, how recoil tolerant you are, what your skill level is, how comfortable you are with your gun, and most importantly why you hunt."
Otto thought about that for a couple of minutes. He was nervously chewing his bottom lip. "You know, I really like these leverguns. I like the idea of having more bullets..." "Cartridges." I corrected. "Cartridges. I like having more cartridges to shoot." He paused, looked around some and asked, "What other choices do I have?"
Well, I paused for a moment, "There used to be pump rifles... I think Remington made one, and it was pretty popular up north and with the cops."
Mike added, "They still make it, it's the Model 7600. But I haven't had a call on one in years."
"I stand corrected, again!" I laughed! "Ok, everyone have their fun!"
"Then there's the automatics, the ARs and the Browning."
"Not my favorite type of firearm for hunting to be honest. Now I wouldn't say they don't have there place under certain circumstances, like maybe varmint hunting with the AR, or a situation where recoil must be better managed. But I don't know or appreciate them as hunting weapons. As weapons systems yes, but as hunting arms no."
"Ok, last but not least..." I turned back to Mike, "You can pull up your stool now. Last but not least, drumroll please, are the double guns and the combinations. These are the rifles and shotguns of the true sportsman and the professional hunter." I added, "I hope you have bags of money if you decide on this route!."
"Mike let me borrow that Ruger side by side, if you don't mind."He slapped it across my palm, It was the Gold Label in 12 gauge. Closeing the action, I shouldered the shotgun and welded my cheek to the stock. "Imagine if you will, I wily boar hog, two foot at the shoulder tall, and tusks like the curved daggers the bedouins wear." I took a step forward. "You've stalked him for hours and now you have in your sights. Carefully you line up the sights and as he turns he presents you a picture perfect target. You gently, ever so carefully squeeze the trigger, and BOOM! The shot goes off." I lifted the muzzle skywards. "As you pull the rifle back down, the boar has closed the distance between you and him by half. Without thinking, or wondering why he's still moving, you finish pulling the rifle down and with a second to spare, pull the trigger, the second barrel goes off and the 450gr slug slams into the wild pig, putting him down for good." With a dramatic flourish, I broke the action, removed two imaginary spent 500 Nitro express hulls that my imaginary semi-ejectors lifted from the chamber, and put them in my pocket. I blew in the chambers and drew two more imaginary cartridges from my belt and dropped them in the now empty gun.
Not for nothing, I was in rare form; even my heart was beating faster. Otto's eyes were wide; he looked suitably impressed. Mike on the other hand was trying his hardest not to laugh.
Holland & Holland Round Action Sidelock
"That's when the bags of money you paid for a doublegun makes it worthwhile. Double guns are the professional hunter's gun of choice when after dangerous game. You have two very powerful shots immediately available to you. But it's unlikely that you will find a double rifle here or at any local gunshop. They're rare and usually available through specialty dealers." Mike added, "I could probably order you one though, if you got the money."
"About $95,000.00" I stage whispered. Otto's eyes opened wider.
"Having said that, I found a German drilling in Virginia a couple of months ago. It is one of the rare times where I have berated myself long and hard on not having done better. A drilling is most commonly two shotgun barrels side by side with a rifle barrel centered below. This one in particular was two sixteens with an 8X57R underneath."
"What would that be good for?" Otto asked perplexed once again.
"In Europe the game belongs to the land owner. He or she could be walking and come across pheasant, quail, a fox, wild boar, or a stag. With a drilling he could be ready for any of them. Bird shot for the birds, buckshot for the fox, and the rifle for a boar or stag. Here in the States, I think if you are carrying it, you're doing it just to be different!"
"Or you're an eccentric!" Mike said. I ignored the barely hidden finger he was using to point at me.
"Well, eccentric maybe, but I have a friend that owns land with great dove and quail habitat, along with wild boar and deer. I could see where a combination gun could be real handy."
"I'll grant you that," he replied, "but you would still be an eccentric, if not a full blown loon."
"I'll take that as a compliment sir." I said with a flourish and a bow.
I was pretty much at the end of my discourse. Oh I could have gone on for hours. There are cape guns, shotguns, black powder guns, all sorts of handguns, bows, spears, knives even sharpened sticks. Otto had been tutored on rifles, now it was up to him to make a decision.
We will finish up with Otto and his decision in Hog Hunting Rifles Part II.
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
Nebraska Hunting Company CupidFish.com Scott Croner
I’ve wanted the Marlin 1895 Cowboy for what seems like an eternity. I bet it would be a fantastic boar hunting rifle. With its long octagonal barrel and a good vernier tang sight I could swat a hog a couple, maybe three hundred yards away. And to top it all off, it holds half a box of 45-70 ammo in its feed tube! How's that for capacity; it's a fightin' man's rifle is what it is!
I was perusing the racks at the neighborhood gunshop, when an overlong levergun on the racks caught my wandering eye. Could it be? I wondered.
Indeed it was; a Marlin 1895 Cowboy.
After handing me that long sought after pig slayer, Mike the good natured salesman that he is, was trying mightily to encourage me to part with my hard earned money. But with stoic resignation I explained to him that I was not in the position to purchase it. At least not today. Things are tough. We were chatting when I commented on looking forward to a little hog hunting sometime this late winter or early spring. A young fellow who had been engrossed with the revolvers in the case, looked up at the mention of hog hunting. Mike and I were busy trading some stories and the conversation drifted to calibers, I being a big bore proponent, and Mike a dyed in the wool 30 caliber man.The young man had sidled himself up the counter. He turned to me and asked, “What do you consider a good boar hunting rifle?” I raised an eyebrow at the interruption; Mr. Marlin, Mike, and I were in deep consultation at that very moment. But the fellow was serious, as serious as an untested warrior girding for battle might be. “I, um, I want to hunt hog, and I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation…Sir.” I handed the Marlin back to Mike and nodded my head. It was a fine piece of equipment. Maybe later.
I looked Junior over. Six foot plus, 200 pounds plus, solidly built, (What the devil are they feeding these kids now-a-days anyway?) and polite, even if he had to think about it.
“What’s your name kid?” I asked. “Otto…Sir.” He replied. I nodded my head in acknowledgment; it’s important to reinforce good behavior.
“So you want to hunt wild pig, huh? Get yourself a trophy tusker maybe?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Well tell me what you got. Do you already have a rifle?”
“I don’t have a rifle yet, and I’m here trying to figure out what to get. My friend’s dad says I need a 338 Winchester Magnum, while on the internet they say a 45/70 is better.” He must have read one of my pieces. Good for him, obviously comes from a good family. He continued, “My dad’s got a 7MM Magnum, I think it’s a Winchester. And we have a Ruger 10/22. I shoot it some.”
“Ok buddy I think I got it.”
What we have here is a young man who wants to go hunting but doesn’t have the experience or equipment to do so. Lucky for him he met me. I didn't ask him how much he wanted to spend. I was going to let him experience the whole gamut of choices and then let him decide what he wanted.
"Ok pal, let's see what Mike has behind the counter." The first gun I asked for was the Harrington & Richardson single shot. Mike pulled an Ultra Hunter in 308 Winchester. Price tag was a little over $300.00.
“Otto,” I started, ”this is not a bad place to start. It’s a single shot in 308, it won’t kick you too hard, and it will be a little easier on the wallet than some of the others. Ammo is pretty reasonable too.” I broke the action and handed it to him. "The H&Rs come in a variety of calibers from .22 long rifle to 45-70 government. They even have one in 45 Long Colt that I wouldn't mind having, and I do have one in 10 bore with rifle sights. It's got a hole on the end of it that your thumb will fit into!"“I was kinda looking for a good bolt action.” He said handing it back to me. “And isn’t the 308 sort of light for hogs?”
Fair enough question. “Otto, I wrote a long article for a blog called The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles, here let me write it down for you.” Mike passed me a piece of scrap paper. "There's an article by the name of Boar Hunting: Rifle Calibers, read it. It has a lot of information in it that will help you decide which cartridge you need." I scribbled down the pertinent web site addresses.
“The 308 is a great cartridge,” I paused,”for the hunter who is deliberate in his shooting. That is to say, a hunter who picks his shots and hits where he aims each and every time.” He looked at me. Before he could open his mouth though. I asked, “How good a shot are you? Tell me honest.”
“Ok… I guess.” Was his reply
“Well this would be a great rifle if you learn to shoot better than just Ok.” I wondered where his dad was. He should be here and in the conversation. “Listen to me, it is very important that you understand this. To harvest game, to kill an animal, requires from you the dedication to learn to shoot well. That is the respect that you must show the animal." Mike nodded sagely from behind the counter. I didn't want him to get the wrong impression though. "That's not to say that you need a bigger caliber gun for hunting or that a bigger gun will kill any better; no, what I am saying is that using a .308 requires you to be more selective in the shots you take." As I handed the H&R back to Mike he mentioned, “I’ve got a used one in 45-70 by the way.” I nodded.
“Mike let me have that #1 over there, please.” Mike put up the H&R and pulled a Ruger #1 from the rack. Not one of those stainless steel models, but a nice, properly blued model 1-B. Time for sticker shock! $850.00 I almost keeled over. I haven't bought a new rifle in five years.
“Now Otto, this is a gentleman’s rifle. This is the Ruger #1 in 30/06. This and a box of Remington Safari Grade ammo and you can take any hog, deer, or for that matter bear , if you do your part.” Mike piped up, "Hey Albert, Remington came out with a proprietary H-mantle now. It's called Premier A-Frame. I don't believe they use the Swift A-Frame anymore." "Really? I'll have to look into that." I responded. I handed the Ruger to Otto and he levered the action open. “Nice, isn’t it. I own a couple; one in 45-70, and the other, my main wild boar rifle is in 458 Winchester Magnum. Still don’t have that 416 Rigby though.”
Teasing me Mike said. “I can get it for you anytime!” I know Mike, I know.
“It sure is nice, but I don’t know…” Otto drifted off.
“Buddy," I interrupted, "you have to go with what you feel is right for you. You’re among men now, men who respect you and your decisions. You want to be a hunter right? Well we hunters know that you’ll make the right choice when you pick a gun… and when you pull the trigger. So don’t sweat it Ok?” He looked surprised and relieved.
"If you have your heart set on a bolt action, there are two things to know. One is controlled round feeding, and two, push feed." Mike grabbed his stool and sat down. I looked at him like, what, I’m long winded or something?
“Listen here Otto, controlled round feed is where the cartridge is captured by the extractor, like a claw sort of, and held through the whole cycle in and out. Push feed actions push the cartridge from the magazine into the chamber and then the extractor snaps over the rim. Got it?”
Otto was lost.
“Mike you got a 700 floating around?” Dumb question I know. He pulls a Remington model 700 BDL and hands it to me. I look at the tag and I see it’s a 300 Remington Ultra Mag. Not my favorite cartridge. I like the 700s just not in magnum cartridges. If I was going to build up a tactical rifle, I would probably do it on a 700 action.
“Otto, see how the bolt face is round and only has this small thing here? That’s the extractor. These have a reputation for breaking, at least a few years ago they did. Mike? What’s the verdict on this?” I love putting him on the spot.
“Pretty much resolved; I’ve been selling these (RUMs) since early 2003, and I’ve never had one returned.” If Mike says so then it must be.
While Mike was speaking I picked up a surplus 98. When did they get so pricey? “Now see this here? That’s the extractor. Notice how much bigger it is. If you’re smacking hogs, or maybe you’re dreaming of Alaskan brown bear, I would stick to the controlled round feed. It secures the cartridge as it picks it up from the magazine. He nodded in agreement. Mike rolled his eyes. "My Weatherby Mark V has a very similar extractor." Mike patiently traded rifles with me. This time a Weatherby Vanguard in 300 Weatherby Magnum.
(Good, I got another one on the CRF bandwagon! That argument between CRF and push feed has been going on for I don’t know how long. We writers need to keep the pot stirred up.)
Otto really liked the Weatherby, but then again, who wouldn't. "This is chambered in the 300 Weatherby Magnum." I said "Probably one of the top ten cartridges ever designed." Mike grabbed his stool again. My turn to roll my eyes. "The .300 is as flat shooting as any other cartridge made for hunting, can kill just about anything given the proper bullet, and the recoil is still well within the realm of reasonable. Truth is, it is a little excessive for hunting hogs up close, but if you are hunting and not just shooting, and you're using good ammo, you will pick your shots, and do fine." I went on, "This rifle and cartridge are not for a first timer though. The recoil is more than you are accustomed to, so without practice and a coach, you might get bad habits that are difficult to get rid of."
I'm pretty sure he had his boar hunting rifle. Until he looked at the tag; the price was more than he had bargained for, about $700.00.
"Boy, they sure are expensive." He mumbled.
"You got that right kid! But you get what you pay for." He was getting dejected.
"Come here, let's look at some of the lever guns."
Mike has a good selection of leverguns both new and used. "Mike," I said, "do you have a Marlin 94 in 45 Long Colt?"
"I sure do." He flipped tags until he found what I asked for.
"This might just be the most practical Florida hog hunting gun you will find. With practice you can shoot this out to one hundred yards, ammo is relatively inexpensive, and if you handload, you can cut that cost even further. Not only that, but if you roll your own, you can increase the power exponentially. But that's a conversation for another day!" He looked it over thoughtfully. "Mike, you have any Cor-Bon ammo?" I could see the boxes, but I couldn't see the letters or numbers. "Just the 45-70." He said, and then added, "Look on the table, there's some LBT bullets there." I walked over and after a quick search found what I was looking for. It was a box of 300gr 45 caliber wide flat nose bullets. Mike read my mind and got some generic 45 reloads with 200gr round nose flat points on it.
"Otto, these round noses are good for practicing and shooting at the range, but for hunting hog you really should move up to these hard cast solids. For deer you can get the Winchester Silvertips if you want. But on hogs I would avoid the hollow points at all costs."
"Why's that?" He asked.
"Well, on a wild pig, penetration is the most important factor. I big boar hog will have a thick, hardened, shield over his front quarters that protects him from other boar's tusks. This gristle and fat will also stop a light bullet, or a hollow point that opens to much. A tough solid though, will go through and do what it's supposed to. And that's to scramble its insides enough that he doesn't want to slice and dice you. "
"Now let's say you get into handgun hunting, You can get yourself a Ruger Bisley in 45 Long Colt, and you only have to carry one type of ammo." I could tell he liked that idea.
Mike butted in at this point. "Watch out kid, if it's not a .45 Albert thinks it's a squirrel gun! How about a 30/30? " Mike went back to the racks and pulled what I thought was a Winchester Model 94.
He continued, "This is the new Mossberg 464. It's less than a year old."I was dumbfounded. "Mossberg? I didn't realize they were making a levergun."
"Ahhh, so you don't know everything!" He retorted.
"Look wiseguy, I'm a busy man. If Mossberg's board of directors forgot to call me, I can't be held responsible! I'm calling them as soon as I get home." Otto wasn't sure how serious we were.
"Don't mind him kid," he said with a chuckle, "Albert knows more than anyone I know, but I love it when he doesn't." I was working on a full blown case of pseudo-sulks.
"Now Mike, you know I have a lot of respect for the 30/30." I turned to Otto, "The 30/30 is a fine cartridge, provided you don't try to make it do something it's not supposed to. Back in the day it used a 160 to 170 grain round nosed soft point. That killed an awful lot of deer, bears, and elk, to say nothing of all the outlaws, cutthroats, and bandits it put six feet under. The reason it was and still is so successful is because it pushes a lot of lead at a sedate speed. The bullets don't blow up, split into pieces, or veer too far off mark. It hits, and keeps on going until it runs out of steam."
"Sooo... You think this is a good boar gun?" Otto asked innocently looking the Mossberg over.
"Otto, You have to decide that for yourself! Neither Mike nor I can tell you what is the best rifle is. We can recommend which firearm might be suitable for the game you're pursuing, but we can't tell you what is best for you." Mike chimed in, "You see kid, Albert here is a single shot fan. He would much rather make that one shot kill, than shoot the biggest animal out there. His idea of a successful hunt is one where he stalks or waits for that one shot. It's the challenge he's after not the animal." I continued, "If you where going out west after pronghorn for instance, we would recommend a bolt action in a 6.5 mm or 25 caliber. If you told us you where heading out for grizzly, I wouldn't let you go with anything less than 45/70 loaded to the hilt, whereas Mike here might let you go with a popgun like a 375 Holland and Holland! So it really comes down to what you think is best, after analyzing how you hunt, how recoil tolerant you are, what your skill level is, how comfortable you are with your gun, and most importantly why you hunt."
Otto thought about that for a couple of minutes. He was nervously chewing his bottom lip. "You know, I really like these leverguns. I like the idea of having more bullets..." "Cartridges." I corrected. "Cartridges. I like having more cartridges to shoot." He paused, looked around some and asked, "What other choices do I have?"
Well, I paused for a moment, "There used to be pump rifles... I think Remington made one, and it was pretty popular up north and with the cops."
Mike added, "They still make it, it's the Model 7600. But I haven't had a call on one in years.""I stand corrected, again!" I laughed! "Ok, everyone have their fun!"
"Then there's the automatics, the ARs and the Browning."
"Not my favorite type of firearm for hunting to be honest. Now I wouldn't say they don't have there place under certain circumstances, like maybe varmint hunting with the AR, or a situation where recoil must be better managed. But I don't know or appreciate them as hunting weapons. As weapons systems yes, but as hunting arms no."
"Ok, last but not least..." I turned back to Mike, "You can pull up your stool now. Last but not least, drumroll please, are the double guns and the combinations. These are the rifles and shotguns of the true sportsman and the professional hunter." I added, "I hope you have bags of money if you decide on this route!."
"Mike let me borrow that Ruger side by side, if you don't mind."He slapped it across my palm, It was the Gold Label in 12 gauge. Closeing the action, I shouldered the shotgun and welded my cheek to the stock. "Imagine if you will, I wily boar hog, two foot at the shoulder tall, and tusks like the curved daggers the bedouins wear." I took a step forward. "You've stalked him for hours and now you have in your sights. Carefully you line up the sights and as he turns he presents you a picture perfect target. You gently, ever so carefully squeeze the trigger, and BOOM! The shot goes off." I lifted the muzzle skywards. "As you pull the rifle back down, the boar has closed the distance between you and him by half. Without thinking, or wondering why he's still moving, you finish pulling the rifle down and with a second to spare, pull the trigger, the second barrel goes off and the 450gr slug slams into the wild pig, putting him down for good." With a dramatic flourish, I broke the action, removed two imaginary spent 500 Nitro express hulls that my imaginary semi-ejectors lifted from the chamber, and put them in my pocket. I blew in the chambers and drew two more imaginary cartridges from my belt and dropped them in the now empty gun.
Not for nothing, I was in rare form; even my heart was beating faster. Otto's eyes were wide; he looked suitably impressed. Mike on the other hand was trying his hardest not to laugh.
Holland & Holland Round Action Sidelock"About $95,000.00" I stage whispered. Otto's eyes opened wider.
"Having said that, I found a German drilling in Virginia a couple of months ago. It is one of the rare times where I have berated myself long and hard on not having done better. A drilling is most commonly two shotgun barrels side by side with a rifle barrel centered below. This one in particular was two sixteens with an 8X57R underneath."
"What would that be good for?" Otto asked perplexed once again.
"In Europe the game belongs to the land owner. He or she could be walking and come across pheasant, quail, a fox, wild boar, or a stag. With a drilling he could be ready for any of them. Bird shot for the birds, buckshot for the fox, and the rifle for a boar or stag. Here in the States, I think if you are carrying it, you're doing it just to be different!"
"Or you're an eccentric!" Mike said. I ignored the barely hidden finger he was using to point at me.
"Well, eccentric maybe, but I have a friend that owns land with great dove and quail habitat, along with wild boar and deer. I could see where a combination gun could be real handy."
"I'll grant you that," he replied, "but you would still be an eccentric, if not a full blown loon."
"I'll take that as a compliment sir." I said with a flourish and a bow.
I was pretty much at the end of my discourse. Oh I could have gone on for hours. There are cape guns, shotguns, black powder guns, all sorts of handguns, bows, spears, knives even sharpened sticks. Otto had been tutored on rifles, now it was up to him to make a decision.
We will finish up with Otto and his decision in Hog Hunting Rifles Part II.
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
Nebraska Hunting Company CupidFish.com Scott Croner
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