A second favorable opportunity to hunt in the Bonicelli estate of Ceresole d'Alba (CN) came to test a respectable backhoe consisting of a rifle Browning X-Bolt long range in .300 Win. Mag., From optics Swarovski Z8i 2,3-18 × 56 and the new cartridges also from Browning equipped with the 155 grs BXR bullet.
The heat now arrived after so much rain has just dried here and there the mud that until a few days before made the hunting ground a treacherous and slippery surface: in such situations rubber boots are a must, especially with Vibram soles. with a remarkable seal to avoid unpleasant falls. A preventive conciliabolo brings us to the day of the faunal situation: the various females of fallow deer followed the instinct and, under the pressure of Mother Nature and some males present in the area until a couple of months ago, they found themselves pregnant and so it is really a grave sin to touch them. Of the males mentioned, only one remains, a binello or fusone if you prefer, beautiful and clearly distinguishable not only for the sketches of the boxes already clearly visible, but also for the knobs that distinguish the mantle. The subject is imbued with the pitfalls which he has so far escaped and therefore putting him under fire will not be easy. We study the different areas where we can settle for appearance, trusting in the erratic nature of the animal that comes and goes as it pleases, taking advantage of the shaded areas, the shelters of the bushes, the shelters of plants and compact vegetation along a stream.
In the meantime, let's prepare the necessary and the superfluous, but to which it is good to pay close attention: we always hope that the first shot will suffice, but having more spare cartridges is a must just in case. So we put some charges in the cartridge belt, placing it on the belt and then filling the detachable magazine, convenient because you arrive in the hunting area with everything ready and in complete safety: the molded polymer realization of this detail makes it light and resistant, the decidedly rounded shape it does not get caught in the pocket in which it is placed, the rotating system exploits the width so that it does not protrude from the profile of the frame. One last look inside the barrel and we move towards the designated point, at the edge of a large clearing, next to the wood that borders it on that side. Lorenzo Verra, owner of Tenuta Bonicelli, has already provided us with the extendable tripod pole, practical and comfortable for standing shots: we will put it in the right configuration soon. We are about in the middle of the ideal base of a triangle placed in a marked slope to our left and descending, until it is level, to the right: the sides are delimited on the upper side by low shrubs and in the lower one by dense vegetation, mixed with shrubs and some tall trees. In the vertex opposite to us, our prey could reveal itself, emerging from a slight relief that hides what is behind from view: with the Swarovski EL Range we detect the useful distances that are not those that the rifle and the scope could access, but the territory and the consequent shooting posture impose certain limitations and we will verify how favorable the range of possibilities offered will be. The background is at 158 m and the two possible routes that the deer can take are along the sides of the triangle: both offer good shooting possibilities with the upper one dotted with low bushes while in the lower one the tall grass hides the first part of the journey, provided that the animal chooses to flank the stream on this side and not cross it otherwise we will be out of the game. The divergence of the two courses with respect to our position means that the engagement distance is almost constant, with the variation of a few tens of meters in the closest point of the lower and flat part.
In the meantime we have inserted the magazine and chambered the cartridge, a powerful one .300 wins. Mag. of the new series presented by Browning with two versions of the ball: the 185 grs BXC and the 155 grs BXR: we opted for the second one, specific for soft-skinned and medium-sized ungulates as indicated by the appropriate signs placed on the box where the white tail deer and mule deer concentrate and exemplify the most classic prey for the North American hunter. A panoramic look at the scenario of the hypothetical expulsion and in a moment the hypothesis becomes reality: the fallow deer has chosen the low path where a hollow and tall grass have hidden it just enough to show it almost halfway and, moreover, it must have smelled the snare and jumps on stiff legs with the classic gait of the species. We are immediately in the tappet and the magnifications positioned on 8x grant a wide field of view facilitating the maintenance of the subject in the optics. Everything takes place in a few seconds and we are already afraid that the race will not stop making the animal continue in the adjacent forest: obviously shooting in motion is not a solution, but the consummate profession of Lorenzo Verra comes into play with a simple and loud whistle that stops the running of the fallow deer. [amazon_link asins = 'B00RPCW4TQ' template = 'ProductAd' store = 'it-1 ′ marketplace =' IT 'link_id =' 1d8a2375-9a7a-11e8-b474-b7d859f0ac5a ']
The substantial Mc Millan stock of this model of the Browning X-Bolt in the meantime, it has allowed us to master the situation well following the subject with the necessary wide angular displacement, always keeping him in aim and with the finger ready on the trigger; direct shooting Featherweight it then reveals itself decisive with its sincerity thanks to which there is a clear perception of the weight and of the release moment, without jerks and without retraction collapse. The moment of arrest is fatal and the ball arrives in the right side and for a few seconds the prey remains motionless, giving us just the time to rearm, then it is on the ground. Having found that no further interventions are necessary, we unload the rifle and, after the honors and the last green, we check the result: the entrance hole on the right side corresponds to a large exit outlet on the left and the internal passage cerziora on the correspondence of the ball to the promises of the manufacturer. As on the same occasion, the lungs and liver were affected: of the latter we are able to recover a beautiful half with which to prepare a pate that will be much appreciated. The morning is about to end and we reconsider all the equipment we had available starting from Swarovski optics with the EL Range 8 × 42 binoculars and the Z8i 2,3-18 × 56 rifle scope both at the top of their categories, from the X-Bolt long range rifle in which Browning of Herstal has condensed its very high technology to a quotation very interesting, again the same brand that in the US headquarters has produced the cartridges equipped with the new bullets that combine high ballistic performance with speed, grazing, precision together with a very respectable terminal effect.
The lunch is always of excellent quality and falls within the characteristic notes of the company to which we dedicate a particular mention. In the afternoon we leave the Bonicelli estate considering how favorable this location is, less than half an hour from our house, where it ranges with smooth and striped reeds on a hilly area of easy access for anyone and with an elegant, friendly and professional welcome.
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