Down Under Hunter
Well-Known Member
A few weeks ago I had a great opportunity at a nice stag as it travelled to its night feeding grounds.
It was about 20 min before dark when I spotted something that didn't look right. Guess what , a big stags rear end from behind a large tree. Quickly ranging the deer at 875 mts and a downhill cos of .96 I quickly dialled the 22.5 up and set the rifle up. Due to there being no wind I allowed zero windage and broke the trigger.
Watching the deer react through the scope he hoped forward as they tend to do with a lung shot and slowly disappeared in the dogwood. Now due to the fact that it was now almost dark and I was 1000 yards away, I decided to wait till first light for the recovery.
Well guess what, it poured rain all night and when I got to the spot everything was completely washed out. I looked for around 4 hours with no luck, but felt sure that he was hit well and I would eventually recover him.
Thankfully the day arrived some 3 weeks later and I found the neat 26 " stag in a nasty tangle of terribly thick scrub about 150 meters from the strike.
On analysing the event I believe the shot was well placed and had I not had all the sign washed out on the night, I'm sure I would have recovered him quickly. I will probably try next time to break the front legs rather than in the pocket behind the front leg. You just cant help bad luck !
This first kill for the rifle illustrates the devastating potential of the 338 EDGE on Sambar deer and what opportunity a quality long range system can deliver.
I'll posts some pics of the head when it gets cleaned up some more.
It was about 20 min before dark when I spotted something that didn't look right. Guess what , a big stags rear end from behind a large tree. Quickly ranging the deer at 875 mts and a downhill cos of .96 I quickly dialled the 22.5 up and set the rifle up. Due to there being no wind I allowed zero windage and broke the trigger.
Watching the deer react through the scope he hoped forward as they tend to do with a lung shot and slowly disappeared in the dogwood. Now due to the fact that it was now almost dark and I was 1000 yards away, I decided to wait till first light for the recovery.
Well guess what, it poured rain all night and when I got to the spot everything was completely washed out. I looked for around 4 hours with no luck, but felt sure that he was hit well and I would eventually recover him.
Thankfully the day arrived some 3 weeks later and I found the neat 26 " stag in a nasty tangle of terribly thick scrub about 150 meters from the strike.
On analysing the event I believe the shot was well placed and had I not had all the sign washed out on the night, I'm sure I would have recovered him quickly. I will probably try next time to break the front legs rather than in the pocket behind the front leg. You just cant help bad luck !
This first kill for the rifle illustrates the devastating potential of the 338 EDGE on Sambar deer and what opportunity a quality long range system can deliver.
I'll posts some pics of the head when it gets cleaned up some more.