Pork in the freezer via 1894
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Pork in the freezer via 1894
I have been wondering around on a new place for the past two weeks and it has sign all over it. I have jumped hogs and deer 3 or 4 times, both times I have walked it previously.
Tonight I went prepared, 4 wheeler and all. I have an 1894 Marlin 357 Mag, rescued from a pawn shop, that had yet to draw blood, but I precede myself.
I took the Marlin and headed out for the back (north) side of this 130 acre tract. It is about 2/3 wooded but is leased for grazing and there are cattle on it. I scouted a couple of trap locations, found fresh rooting and wallows and a spot where they have been rubbing mud, a little gully with the sides all slicked up. Then a few rubs on trees.
So I hike all around the woods to the places where I had jumped hogs before and man am I tiptoeing like Hiawatha. Quiet like a little mouse. I cover most of the back side and run into a few head of cattle after jumping 3 deer, so I turn around and head for the truck, figuring I'm skunked for today. I console myself with the fact that I learned what I came for and that was the trap locations- one on each side of the creek. Well, it's nigh 'bout 6:30 and I'm striding for the truck at a pretty good pace along the edge of the woods.
For some reason I stop and take a breather and as I look over into the woods, there is a hog, just rooting along undisturbed. I take a look through the Weaver and pause for a better shot. She takes a few more steps and gives me a perfect broadside at not more than 30 yds. The 357 barks and she takes off in a big looping circle towards me, passes within 10 ft and I hear the crash a few seconds later. I step off into the woods and two little watermelons come running past me. I rip off a shot at one- a miss and he hits another gear. Mom left a fine blood trail from the pass through shot and is down in the bottom of a little draw, 30 yds from the edge of the treeline. I huff and I puff and I drag her out. I then complete the trek to the truck, unload the 4 wheeler, go load her up (barely), reload the 4 wheeler, pig and all and head for the house.
Don't know how she ran. One shoulder was completely destroyed, both lungs were goners. She will go 125 lbs and is black. I am using 158 gr Speer flat points over a max load of 18 grains of Li'l Gun. Safe in my gun. Use at your own peril. The Marlin wears a Weaver 1-3x 20 so my 55 yr old eyes can hit what I see and vice versa. It is sighted dead on at 50 yds and groups 5 shots under 2 inches. If I would take the time to do some improving on the trigger it would do even better.
First blood drawn with the Marlin. Pork is in the freezer, destined for sausage.
Sorry about the dark pics, but it was late when I got home.
Tonight I went prepared, 4 wheeler and all. I have an 1894 Marlin 357 Mag, rescued from a pawn shop, that had yet to draw blood, but I precede myself.
I took the Marlin and headed out for the back (north) side of this 130 acre tract. It is about 2/3 wooded but is leased for grazing and there are cattle on it. I scouted a couple of trap locations, found fresh rooting and wallows and a spot where they have been rubbing mud, a little gully with the sides all slicked up. Then a few rubs on trees.
So I hike all around the woods to the places where I had jumped hogs before and man am I tiptoeing like Hiawatha. Quiet like a little mouse. I cover most of the back side and run into a few head of cattle after jumping 3 deer, so I turn around and head for the truck, figuring I'm skunked for today. I console myself with the fact that I learned what I came for and that was the trap locations- one on each side of the creek. Well, it's nigh 'bout 6:30 and I'm striding for the truck at a pretty good pace along the edge of the woods.
For some reason I stop and take a breather and as I look over into the woods, there is a hog, just rooting along undisturbed. I take a look through the Weaver and pause for a better shot. She takes a few more steps and gives me a perfect broadside at not more than 30 yds. The 357 barks and she takes off in a big looping circle towards me, passes within 10 ft and I hear the crash a few seconds later. I step off into the woods and two little watermelons come running past me. I rip off a shot at one- a miss and he hits another gear. Mom left a fine blood trail from the pass through shot and is down in the bottom of a little draw, 30 yds from the edge of the treeline. I huff and I puff and I drag her out. I then complete the trek to the truck, unload the 4 wheeler, go load her up (barely), reload the 4 wheeler, pig and all and head for the house.
Don't know how she ran. One shoulder was completely destroyed, both lungs were goners. She will go 125 lbs and is black. I am using 158 gr Speer flat points over a max load of 18 grains of Li'l Gun. Safe in my gun. Use at your own peril. The Marlin wears a Weaver 1-3x 20 so my 55 yr old eyes can hit what I see and vice versa. It is sighted dead on at 50 yds and groups 5 shots under 2 inches. If I would take the time to do some improving on the trigger it would do even better.
First blood drawn with the Marlin. Pork is in the freezer, destined for sausage.
Sorry about the dark pics, but it was late when I got home.
Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. - John Steinbeck
Hobie- I went to the woods straight from work. I was hot & sweaty and I did get some blood on the back of my jeans. Can't help it when lifting dead critters, just happens every time.
IIRC that load is one I got from you off of this site. The Marlin and the load work very well, at least so far.
IIRC that load is one I got from you off of this site. The Marlin and the load work very well, at least so far.
Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. - John Steinbeck
Warhawk- that's a straight 1894, vintage 1980 or 81, I think. I have an 1894C that I bought new. It has checkering, which I really prefer to do without. The 1894 has no sling swivel studs; another plus in my book.
Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. - John Steinbeck
- Iron_Marshal
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This was great and thanks for the lovely narrative. I agree with the last poster, LeverBob, when he said that is the kind of post I ilike to read.
I have egg on my face though....I just bought a .44 because I wasn't sure a .357 would drop a feral hog...Guess you showed me.
I have egg on my face though....I just bought a .44 because I wasn't sure a .357 would drop a feral hog...Guess you showed me.
Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter.
Ernest Hemingway, "On the Blue Water," Esquire, April 1936
Ernest Hemingway, "On the Blue Water," Esquire, April 1936
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Irish Cop- don't fret about the 44. Give it a whirl and if you like it, that's all that matters. I have shot several other hogs and one deer with a little different set up: an NEF Handi in 30-30. Since it is a single shot I am using those new fangled pointy bullets- 150s. It has dropped everything I have hit with a single round. Literally no running at all. The deer took a few steps and called it quits. The hogs were unaware of me and unafraid- no adrenaline and took zero steps. I use (again a max) 32.0 gr of H-335 and it does the trick. I killed my 2006 buck with the same load behind 150 gr Speer flat points out of my 30TK. It's an 18.5 inch version of a 336. I posted pictures back then so you might be able to do a search if you want. I think you will like the Marlin. I like my 3.
Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. - John Steinbeck
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Nice story and tasty-looking bacon. These posts sure me jealous of you guys that live in hog country (at least I have never heard of feral pigs in New England)!
Michael in NH
Michael in NH
"The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental." -- John Steinbeck