I was out at the range doing load development with my just delivered 375 H&H. The load development was going fine, my loads were all printing close to an inch.
I had one round left when a woodchuck crawled up on the berm where I had my target set up. The woodchuck sat up straight without a care in the world and I decided why not. My rifle was shooting accurately and the last couple of rounds showed a nice cloverleaf.
I moved my rest so that I could place the crosshairs on the center of his chest. I was imagining what the 375 would do to the woodchuck as I squeezed off the last round. After the dust cleared, the woodchuck was still sitting there. No way I could have missed. The rifle was rock solid and the trigger squeeze was perfect.
Well, we all miss once in a while. I had fired 30 rounds and I could have flinched since that was the first time I had fired that caliber. I still couldn't believe that I missed. That woodchuck was still sitting there and I imagined that he was grinning at me for missing.
I rounded up my gear and put it in the car. I had to go and pick up my target, and the woodchuck was still sitting there. Most likely laughing his ass off at me.
The closer I got to retrieving my target, he was still there. I pulled the target frame from the ground and he still hadn't moved. The least he could have done was to have scooted off, but no, he just sat there with that typical groundhog look on his face.
I climbed to the top of the berm and he didn't move. I poked him with my finger and he rolled all the way to the bottom of the berm. Deader than a doornail. I couldn't believe that I shot a woodchuck with the almighty 375 H&H and he didn't even move. Next time the 458 Lott
