Its a start. **PIC**

[woodchuckchucker]

The temp hit 57° this afternoon so I decided to head over the near hill to take the rifle for a walk. I had just crested the hill barely 300 yds from my front door when I spotted Mr. Hawg enjoying the warm sun. He blended in to his surroundings but the Leo WindRiver Bino/Rangefinder managed to pull him out of his camo. I went prone, set the sticks up and rested the Savage Model 40 into the cradle. The glass with the tiny dot, a 6-20 Weaver Grand Slam, managed the 149 yard shot as if it was nothing. BTW, this Hornet loves 50 gr V Max over a charge of 13.3 grs of Lil-Gun and started by pistol primers. I crimp the pills too. I walked a tad more, but didn't see another, so headed home to clean the Svg. Thanks for listening. Bill...................
http://photos.imageevent.com/b_cmurphy/2008chucks/websize/ChuckNumberOneOf2008.JPG

[Craigyboy]

Nice start to the season, what scope is that uptop? Metopa tactical? How do you find it?

[Sonny Pruitt]

Congrats Bill, that's a start alright. I love those Grand Slams 6x20 with the tiny Dot reticle for reaching out to those groundhogs. I bought another one here while back, just because I could. I still have my Micro Hunter 22 Hornet, but have been experimenting with a couple of 17 Ackley Hornets here lately, one of them is even built on the Micro Hunter action. They are truly the cat's meow. Have you ever tried one of them? They are addicting.

[TXNinVA]

Very nice.

[woodchuckchucker]

I have given it some thought, but I've not put one in my budget yet. I love every Hornet I own, and this pictured Savage didn't even leave the safe last year. Too many toys in there. Lord willing, I'll live long enough see the Grandson carry on the Hornet courtship. I'll have to beg mother for more allowance so I can try to find that Browning.
I do have an observation about shooting Hornets. I hear others talk about the Hornet being hard to handload. I've never found that to be the case. As far as I'm concerned, the Hornet is about as easy to load for as anything I have. Could it be that I try harder just because the Hornet is such a fun round to use? I don't know! I used 40 gr pills for years, but since this Savage didn't like the 40s, I used what I had available on the shelf. The 50 Vs were in the book with the same powder charge as the 40s, so I figured what the heck. Worth a try. It truly loves the 50 V-Max. Loves em I tell you. They carry well and given my 200 yd limit at whistle-pigs, perform admirable. That kill kicked about twice and went still. No exit wound. What more could I ask for. I hunt the short fence rows of south central Penna. Two hundred yards is plenty long enough. Oh well, off my soap box. Have a good'n. Bill.....................

[frank c.]

Good shooting Bill.It is starting to warm up here in southern Michigan 65 degrees sat,Yahoo.:D It has been a long winter. Take care,frank c.:)

[Mushmouse]

Only had the camera

[Varmint Don]

Bill -

Congrats on your first for the season. A good hit and clean kill.

I prefer the V-Max bullet in the 223s and 243 but my Savage 11FNS 204 shoots the Federal Premium Sierra 39 BlizKing more accurately than the V-Max. Having said that, I got #6 last Friday with the 204 at 87 yards, had to shoot at his mid-section through some downed branches, and the BlitzKing went right through him and he crawled ten yards fortunatlely not back to the hole. IMHO the V-Max is more frangible than the BlitzKing.

LOL and good shooting.

[Sam in Va.]

Way to go! Nice looking rifle there! I'm sure you'll be adding many more to the count. You'll be taking your grandson w/ ya before ya know it. Sam

[popgun]

I wondered when you would start the annual count. Glad you got out there and got started on your ample population of hogs. Stay after them!
Your hunting buddy,
Chris