boar + recovered Hornady 110 grain CX

[Bobby Tomek]

For weeks, there has been no sign of hog activity on our farm. But today, the wind was right for a little "baiting" as it was carrying towards a known bedding area. So I drove out into the pasture around 4:30 this afternoon and activated a can of Hog Bomb (sow in estrous) aerosol .

Sure enough, a boar showed up not long after dark. He was working a small grove of huisaches where the spray originated from and then turned right and headed towards a clearing. He was about 170 yards out when he stopped and gave me a strong, frontal quartering presentation. That's exactly what I had been hoping for as I have been wanting to recover a Hornady .30 caliber 110 grain CX from game. Yes, I've recovered them from hogs before as I used that bullet (and its predecessor GMX) in a 24" 30-30 barrel. But now I was pushing them 400 fps faster in a mid-range load from my Savage .308 WCF, so my interest in a recovery was high. So as soon as the crosshair from the SightMark Wraith Mini thermal settled onto the prescribed spot, I touched off a round.

With the bull barrel and the weighted B&C stock, recoil with the 110 grain load is minimal, so I was able to recover quickly and was rewarded to see the hog on its side and unmoving. After watching for a couple of minutes, I decided all was well and drove down to retrieve the hog.

The bullet entered the front of the shoulder and wound up under the hide near the hip. It damaged the plumbing above the heart and wrecked the bottom of one lung before continuing through the liver and edge of stomach en route to the hip. There was an exit mid-body from one of the bullet's petals. It was nearly large enough for me to think this was the exit of the full bullet, but a cheap, hand-held metal detector that I treated myself to recently told me otherwise and alerted at the hip.

The bullet, launched at 3217 fps MV, nearly turned itself inside out and created quite the impressive wound channel. It was intended for Blackout speeds but has proven to me to be quite the impressive performer when launched from my 20"-barreled .308 WCF.

I know that technically this is not the correct forum for this post, but the 110 grain CX is something I've been promoting for use in Contender rifles and pistols as it opens nicely at low velocities. It along with the Barnes 110 and 120 grain Tac-Tx breathes new life into old timers like the Herrett and 30-30.

Also, please pardon the poor quality phone pictures. My live-in photographer (our son Andy) wasn't home tonight to pose and photograph the hog. And the pose I had to use did not do justice to the size of this boar. I did not get to weigh him, either, but would estimate he was pushing 235 pounds as he had serious girth through the shoulders.

https://i.postimg.cc/0N3zjnD5/hdy110cx-boar-12-25-2023.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


https://i.postimg.cc/9fz4cK4N/hdy110cx-boar-12-25-23.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/fL9J9dfc/boar-12-25-2023.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[J A XSP]

Nice work, Bobby, as usual. :)
I had high hopes when I found some Superformance 6.8 SPC ammo with the 100 grain version of that bullet. Hornady factory ammo loaded with the 110 V-Max shoots sub-MOA and I was hoping for similar performance with the CX. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, that has been the only bullet that won't group well in my barrel. It's not the lighter weight because 90 grain TNT hollow points group extremely well with every powder I've paired them with. You seem to have such success with them that I may be tempted in the future to grab a box of the 6.8s or the 30 cal and play around with them. :)

[Bobby Tomek]

Had someone ask me about the attractant. It's an aerosol can, and right now, they are on clearance at Academy for 6.99. Normally they are about $10. The fine mist travels quite a ways on the wind and has proven effective for me on numerous occasions.

Also, the bullet measured .523 at its widest point despite the petals being folded back. The narrowest part of the mushroom was .509". After cleaning it up a bit, the bullet weighed 96 grains.

https://i.postimg.cc/Gh64Qq9W/hog-bomb-aerosol.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Bobby Tomek]

Nice work, Bobby, as usual. :)
I had high hopes when I found some Superformance 6.8 SPC ammo with the 100 grain version of that bullet. Hornady factory ammo loaded with the 110 V-Max shoots sub-MOA and I was hoping for similar performance with the CX. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, that has been the only bullet that won't group well in my barrel. It's not the lighter weight because 90 grain TNT hollow points group extremely well with every powder I've paired them with. You seem to have such success with them that I may be tempted in the future to grab a box of the 6.8s or the 30 cal and play around with them. :)

Thanks. As to the 6.8 version, I don't recall the details of your barrel, but it may be related to the twist rate as those mono bullets are quite long. Or maybe a handload with a different powder will do the trick. They are definitely worth checking out.

[Bobby Tomek]

JA-I don't have a 6.8, but here's a video I found of someone testing the 100 grain GMX, the predecessor of the CX. He used a 16" barrel, factory ammo and shot into gel at 50 yards with it and the 120 grain SST. A friend uses the 120 SST in his 6.8 SPC and loves it. He has taken quite a bit of game with it. But that 100 grain GMX/CX sure looks promising.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVy7Ljj1SME

[sunnysmarine]

I think some magazine ought to pick you up as a short story writer, I know that means work ( nasty four letter word )
Thank you for sharing with us your exploits

[J A XSP]

Thanks. As to the 6.8 version, I don't recall the details of your barrel, but it may be related to the twist rate as those mono bullets are quite long. Or maybe a handload with a different powder will do the trick. They are definitely worth checking out.

No doubt it's the length, shape and weight distribution of these bullets. I'm not certain of my barrel twist but it doesn't mind 130 grain bullets - I'm seeing quarter-to half-inch group sizes at 100 yards with speeds in the 2300-2400 fps range.

[Bobby Tomek]

You're really making me want a 6.8! It won't offer anything more than my other barrels already do, but it sure would be interesting haha. Might become a Spring project at some point if I ever decide to part with one of the 6.5s.

[toddtd]

mmmmmm........bacon.............

nice shooting!!!

[J A XSP]

You're really making me want a 6.8! It won't offer anything more than my other barrels already do, but it sure would be interesting haha. Might become a Spring project at some point if I ever decide to part with one of the 6.5s.

I'd almost rather have it in a nice short-action bolt gun so I could ease my mind about potential over-pressure in the Contender but I've been very pleased with it. I'll take it up to my son's ranch later this week and see if I can get a deer or two with it. :)

[Bobby Tomek]

Good luck, JA! I'll be waiting to see pictures!