Hunting on the Edge(338)

Tikkablk

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2018
Messages
17
Location
New Zealand
Have been testing and putting through a few rounds on targets, steel and goats getting things right with a awesome load worked out shooting the 285gr ELD-M, I was running Berger Elite hunters 300gr but had mixed results in terminal performance with some penciling through. I needed more instant dead before they hit the ground ammo and the 285gr eld sure does that if you don't mind pelt and meat damage.

A first round hit on steel with a cold barrel, all ready for another hunt.

50087707561_e0a77861a8_b.jpg


Asked a mate if he was keen on a meat hunting trip into spot X but because of the week days he had work commitments. Oh well solo mission again and my trusty hound dog.
5am we left the truck park 45 minutes latter the dog was winding I pulled him off and carried on 5m-10m and looked back up the bank 5 red hinds only 20m away. By mid day we were at our campsite set up tent and set up the 338 Edge for some action. Didn't take long before spotting hinds 340m- 1300m with most of them bedded down. We needed water so if we do that I might as well shot a delicious yearling hind since they are in the same area. Job done easy 360m shot, we headed over boned it out into ziplock bags and dropped back down into the creek and put the bagged meat in there to stay cold.
During the trip we spent a lot of time glassing seen plenty of deer even 5 fallow deer that aren't that common in this area, all of the grass everywhere is chewed down, also heaps of goats too for long range practice ( aim small miss small ).
Shoot another deer and spook a couple more on the climb to retrieve the meat was a common experience this trip. In the end we had 6 deer from 360m to out past a K for 5 days on the hill.
The best shot was the last shot on a hind in a group of 6 from our camp, she was ranged at 1046m with a up hill 14 degree inclination from the Geovid HD-B which the same ballistics out to 800m after that you need a APP or a Kestrel ballistics meter. The Kestrel gave me a 27.8 MOA hold and 1 MOA hold for wind, set the bipod on top of some logs to get the rifle elevated enough and dialup the turret, next move the dog around and down the hill a bit and put his Mut Muffs on to save his hearing, go back re-range hind and adjust turret if needed, adjust magnification to max 16 power, now the most important job steady rifle and squeeze the trigger.
Boom then 1.5 seconds latter a solid hit with hair flying of the hinds shoulder. The easy part done, now to find a deer over a km away in amongst trees on the side of a steep hill. I yelled out the the dog to come and said it's his job now find a hind.
On the way up and over the dog stalked onto a hind 4m away and he was 6m in front of me, with no time to waste and meat on the ground we are in a hurry and spooked it then bolted. On the climb up we spooked another 3 deer, on the sidel across we spooked 4 more yearlings before getting to the downed hind smacked in the exact spot I was aiming at.
First deer down at 360m
50185960118_3fedc0ffb2_b.jpg

Fallow deer below our camp
50185960238_3c23c49832_b.jpg

saveloys and coffee for lunch
50185961223_464d7700b9_b.jpg


Red Deer bedded down
50185963978_c1622c1521_b.jpg

479m red hind
50186507316_7a4aaa99b6_b.jpg

Easy shooting, 480m to top of clearings
50186508186_bb2f36d8be_b.jpg

A small scubby red 8 pointer 660m
50186762847_0990e9f5b9_b.jpg

This Vizsla is pretty soft and doesn't like the cold.
50186763557_69a46a97d1_b.jpg

1200m to top of pic
50185966653_5fd2d196bc_b.jpg

The long range hunting essentials, I poke the walking stick into the ground and sit the binos on top for steady glassing than free hold.
specs:
Rem 700 ultra mag rebarreled ,to a 26" 1:9 stainless fluted ultra match barrel 338EDGE
Gen 1 terminator T3 brake
TriggerTech special
ATACR 4-16x42 F1 MOAR in a Spuhr ring mount
285gr ELD-M @ 2900fps with retumbo
This rig has now taken 20+ this year
50185967183_7bf75522e6_b.jpg

The dog backed away from the canon wearing his Mut Muffs ready for the shot.
50186511071_0e381f4650_b.jpg




The 1046m red deer shot from camp, it was a relatively easy find thanks to the dog and a quick kill.



50185968343_63d983efe7_b.jpg




Exit wound damage from the 285gr eld-m 338Edge it still had 1860 f/lb energy remaining at that distance of 1046m.



50186512286_378d3c063a_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
Great writeup! Excellent shooting.Great time for you and your dog. Like the idea of using the stream to keep bagged meat cool.

Wish we had goats for varmint shooting rather than jackrabbits.
 
Warning! This thread is more than 4 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.
Top