Successful black powder range trip

[MCgunner]

Just got the guns cleaned up, major job in itself. Bein's I've been planning this hog huntin' thing, I wanted to take the ol' smoke pole out and shoot it. I haven't messed with it in literally years. Yakkin' on this forum and reading about the black powder only hog hunting area I wanna try out got me back into the smell of sulfur.

I put up two targets at 50 and one at 100 and cleaned the bore with a bore brush and soapy water every two shots. I was able to keep 'em all inside 3 1/2 inches at 100 yards centered fine except the wind was carrying it to the left. Had about a 25 mph cross wind. At 50 I had a 2" five shot group. So, I figure that's good enough for hogs. I took an off hand shot on the fifty yard target and got it well into the kill zone. It was cutting the 8 ring of a 100 yard small bore target. So, I was happy with that.

Then, I whipped out the back up, my Old Army and put five shots into four inches using a field position sitting with my elbows on my knees. All shots at 50 yards were in the black. I have to use a strange sight picture to shoot that thing, front sight ain't tall enough, but it gets 'er done.

I got to lookin' and I've got six or seven boxes of those 385 grain Hornady conicals. Then I remembered, some years ago during inventory time Walmart had a stack of five of 'em left on sale for a buck fifty a box and I picked up the whole mess. Not too many black powder shooters in this little town, not sure why they were carrying the things, but I was greatful to find 'em.

 

[eagle24]

MCgunner, You don't need no smoke stick for hunting hogs. Buddy of mine was down in Florida a few summers ago doing some construction work. He started frequenting a local pub in the evenings and got to know some of the regulars. They invited him to go hog hunting one weekend and he accepted. He was told to meet them at the Bar around 6:00 PM the evening they were going hunting. They showed up in a beat up old jeep with a winch bumper on the front and huge cooler of beer in the back. Went out to an area that he described as acres of sage fields and small trees (palmettos or whatever). They would take turns riding on the front of the jeep until a hog was spotted, at which time the driver would chase the pig with the jeep and the guy on the front would bail off on the hog and dispatch (or try to) the swine with a bowie knife. My buddy declined his turn on the front and elected to ride in the back, observe, and drink beer. Save your Goex and balls and break out the bowie knife.

 

[Manyirons]

The 'smith kills wild boar, with spear and pistol, black powder. Only with pistol, he induces em to charge, waits to 20 yards before drawing! Calls him 'hair eezvazzer' i does! Means 'mr icewater' and in my hick midohio accent it just kills him! Like nails on a chalkboard!

 

[MCgunner]

I've been pig stickin' with dogs before. Dogs pin the hog, you walk up with a nice, sharp filet knife and slit its throat. I know a guy with a scar the length of his belly from a hog doing this. I'd rather take 'em with the smoke pole, thanks.

 

[only1asterisk]

I know a guy with a scare the length of his belly from a hog doing this. I'd rather take 'em with the smoke pole, thanks.

That guy's lucky he's still a guy.

David

 

[Manyirons]

That would be a cheap NASTY vasectomy!