I took the 243 Striker out today for more practice and to try and reduce
the charlie population a little. The first charlie was an easy score. I
had checked the hole out earlier in the week and it was showing some
activity. It's above the pond by about 20 yards in a fence line. I snuck
up the lower dyke of the pond and crawled the last little bit over the
rim. He never saw me set up. The shot was about 50 yards across the
water and to the fence line.

The second charlie was taken from a stump in the fence line between the
junkyard and an alfalfa field. It's just about chest high and about 18"
across. Just right for a rest. A 182 yard head shot had number 2 in the
books. I had not walked 10 steps from confirming the kill and I see
another pasture grizzly looking at me form a grassy knoll. I very slowly
move about 10 feet to my left to gain just a little elevation for the
setup. I get to where it looks like a shot can be made over the grass
and very slowly ease to the ground. I look thru the scope and see too
much grass. I carry a short piece of 2X4 and put that under the bipods,
then stack the ammo wallet, camera, and sand bag under the grip. The
barrel is just above the grass but it's going to be a real scorcher. At
the shot I see a poof of dust come off the coat of the charlie. If I
have learned anything it's to reload right after the shot and take a
good look around as it can sometimes make another charlie standup and
look to see what the noise was. Sure enough back towards the hedgerow
along the junkyard is a charlie. I turn 90* and set up for another shot.
Everything felt good as the trigger broke and I figured number 4 was
down. I leave the 2X4 in the grass to mark my spot and pace out to
confirm the third shot. At 51 yards number 3 was down. I go back and
pick up the 2X4, then pace down to the fourth charlie. At 115 yards I
find a 3 foot blood trail back to the hole. It was a hit but no charlie.
I don't count them as a kill unless I can recover the chuck. I'll assume
from the amount of blood he didn't suffer long.

I make a sweep of the junkyard but it yields no action. I did get a good
recon of hole activity. I usually hunt the junkyard from a different
direction and the info will help with future hunts. I then make my way
back to the stump that shot number two was taken from. I set up and
glass the field. I wait about twenty five minutes and had just about
decided to throw in the towel when I see a little brown spot beside a
clump of orchard grass. I dial the scope up to 20X and adjust the AO for
about 120 yards. There it is, a little brown head looking right at me. I
get a good solid sight picture then slowly ease back until the field of
view is about 50%. BANG!! I check the distance at 113 yards and find #4
confirmed kill for the day. Poor charlie took that one right in the
mouth, a little gruesome... LOL<LOL

So far for the season I have 11 charlies with 13 shots. That's 85% shots
on target and an average distance of 108 yards.

Good write-up, Tigger, but ah, mmm, .....er,,,,WHERE'S THE PICS!!!!!

Good shootin' anyway

Maybe ya need a LOTT!!

B B

Thanks

I took a few pics but have not uploaded them yet. I'll see what I can do.

In a younger time I might need a LOTT, but I'm too old and tired for the big boomers anymore.

I do have some brass and dies for a Lott under the bench. They have been there for a while.

There you go BOB, pictures do help tell the story. I'm using a 75gr V-Max and it ahchors the chucks right on the spot.

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!!!

What twist barrel is on the Striker?
I use a lot of the 65gr V-Max in my 6MMAI
Serious rat-wreckage with that one at 4150 fps

Thanks
Bob

I'm not sure what twist it has. I'll assume 1:10 as that is standard for the 243.

I'll check it and let you know.

Great shooting Tigger! You have got me beat, the furthest I shot one this year is 140 yds with a pistol. I missed one at 208 and another at 225. TC contender in 22 hornet.
Click to view attachment

140 is a decent distance with the Hornet. I have a 15" 218 BEE barrel for my Encore. I don't usually push it over 150 yards.

I was hoping to go over 200 with the Striker, but nothing has presented a shot that far out .....YET!!

I should have hit those other 2 but I must be getting old and sloppy(I hate when that happens). AL

Good story, Tigger.
1. You may have solved what has occasionally bugged me. Sometimes I'll notice a dust "poof" at a shot, but on close examination of the carcass, can find no evidence of an exit wound. Never thought it could possibly be from just the dust on the dirty little bugger's coat!
2. I've started counting the unfortunate occasional crawler as a kill, especially if there's any evidence of gore along with blood. They ain't gonna live. Spent an evening last summer fishing around a hole for a carcass with a pole pruner until I figured it was time to get a life. Did go back the next sunny day with mirrors and shot the beam down the hole to finally see a few unmoving tail hairs. Surprised to see the dead critter had been dug out by something a week later - probably a buzzard because there was little disturbance of the dirt.

deathwindII-- Check out the groundhog vids I've posted. You'll get to see several dust/blood poofs in them.