Swamp Huntin'

[E Poffinbarger]

As some of you know each year I go south to hunt those nasty tempered pigs in the Mississippi swamp, with my (2)two caplock .54's.

Two years ago I hunted and shot a running 450 pound boar eight feet away broadside and he kept going for another 40yards or shall we say he found me and I shot him in self-defense.

Last year I changed to a heavier nicely pointed, .425gr, solid lead, hollow butted, whop-arse bullet, unfortunately I saw nothing of acceptable size to shoot.

This year on the second day as darkness closed in I had a head-on view of an even bigger one peeking though the thick palmettos at me, not knowing whether he was about to bolt or charge I shot him in the face.

To make a long story short, that night I followed the blood trail 200+yards though the deep mud and thick undergrowth until my courage failed me. The next day I continued the search until the rains came and wiped out the trail.

Man, I really, really hate losing.

Osage

 

[rabjr]

Not sure I'd use a nicely pointed bullet for this. I'd much rather use a heavy widest meplat bullet I can get for that sledge hammer effect.

 

[nchawkeye]

You think you felt bad...How do you think he felt??? :grin:

Might have been like "Bloody Ban" following the Swamp Fox...He might have been laying in ambush for you, just ahead of where you stopped....

 

[cptleo1]

I have been hunting east of the Mississippi for many years.

I have yet to meet the critter that could go head to head with a .54 PRB with 100gr of FF behind it.


He might be out there,just haven't met him.

 

[E Poffinbarger]

Thinking back, my courage faded with the thought that at any moment while in knee deep mud and no climbable trees I might encounter either a really upset pig or a ill tempered gator.

As for big enough bullet, after the first experience I changed from a rather blunt 380gr solid lead projectile to the bone crushing 425gr Minie.

Even though wild hogs have what is known as a "shield" protecting the torso and a rather hard skull, neither shot on the two pigs was well placed, my mistake.

However, I still hate losing.

Osage