Living and working in the heart of rural America, I have experienced firsthand the damage feral pigs can wreak on farmland. These invasive pests not only devastate crops but also destroy native vegetation and contribute to soil erosion. My buddies and I at Black Sheep Outdoors are committed to protecting the pastures and the environment from these nuisances. Armed with state-of-the-art Pulsar thermals, we regularly embark on nocturnal hunts to keep these pigs in check, ensuring that farmlands remain productive, and the livestock remain safe.
When it comes to pig hunting, most hunters would scoff at the idea of using a .22LR. It’s typically considered underpowered for such dense game, especially at longer ranges. But it's cheap, and extremely quite when using subsonic rounds and shooting suppressed. While I typically use .308 for all of my pig hunting, I wanted to mix it up and decided to give the ole .22 a shot. My weapon of choice for the night was the Christensen Arms MPR Rimfire, chambered in .22LR and loaded with subsonic CCI Suppressor 45gr LHP rounds. While it might sound like an improbable setup for taking down a pig, I had a secret weapon that would tip the scales in my favor: the Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro thermal riflescope. This marvel of engineering not only allowed me to see heat signatures in the inky darkness but also integrated a laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator, ensuring my shots landed true, no matter the distance.
As the evening deepened into night, we positioned ourselves at a vantage point known for frequent pig activity. The air was cool, and the surroundings were cloaked in darkness, save for the faint glow of the moon. My rifle rested securely on a Kopfjäger K800 tripod with a Mag Series head, providing the stability needed for precise long-range shots. Scanning the field through the Pulsar Thermion, I marveled at the clarity of the sharp black and white terrain through my scope. We saw a sounder several yards away and stalked up to close the distance. At around 70 yards the four of us opened fire, immediately downing multiple pigs while the rest ran off. However, as we were assessing the situation and cleaning up, the group that had run away popped back up into view in the distance. I noticed a sow running around looking to gather up all the scattered piglets. I measured her to be at 254 yards with the built-in laser rangefinder. My heart quickened. This was it. The moment where my equipment and strategy would be put to the ultimate test.
I activated the Thermion’s ballistic calculator, a feature I had come to trust implicitly. With a single press of the rangefinder button, the scope instantly measured the distance to the target and added a holdover mark to show the precise hold required for my .22LR round at that distance. This showed up as a line below the reticle, indicating where I needed to aim to account for bullet drop over the 254-yard distance (12.48 mills). In traditional hunting, such calculations would require manual adjustments and significant guesswork, especially with a .22LR. The chances of making a clean shot at this range would be slim. But with the Thermion’s real-time calculations, the odds had shifted in my favor.
With my target in sight and the ballistic calculator providing real-time holdover, I took a deep breath and steadied my aim. The pig, unaware of the impending threat, continued to move slowly across the field. Tracking its movement through the thermal scope, I waited for the right moment. The key to success was timing and precision. Subsonic .22LR rounds have a slower velocity, and at such a distance, any slight error in calculation or timing could mean a missed shot. But the Thermion’s guidance gave me the confidence I needed. The pig never stopped moving, so I held above and in front of it. I gently squeezed the trigger. The suppressed rifle's quiet ping echoed through the night, and I watched as the sow crumpled to the ground, the shot perfectly placed.
In disbelief, I hiked over to the fallen animal, the reality of my achievement sinking in. The Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro had turned what would have been an impossible shot into reality. As I approached the pig’s carcass, the reality of the achievement started to sink in. Dropping a moving pig at 254 yards with a .22LR was a feat of marksmanship I never imagined possible, especially with subsonic ammunition.
The exhilaration of the night didn’t end there. We captured the entire hunt on video, showcasing not just the successful shot but the incredible technology behind it. For those curious to witness this extraordinary hunt and see the Pulsar Thermion in action, check out our YouTube video below:
As I reflect on that night, I am reminded of the power of innovation in hunting. The Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro transformed a simple .22LR rifle into a formidable tool for precision shooting. The integration of a ballistic calculator into the thermal scope not only made long[1]range shots possible but did so with a level of accuracy that defied conventional expectations.
As the boys from Black Sheep Outdoors reflect on that night, we’re reminded of the power of innovation in hunting. The Thermion transformed a simple .22LR rifle into a formidable tool for precision shooting, defying expectations. And as we continue our efforts to protect our pastures from feral pigs, I'm more confident than ever in the power of blending tradition with technology to accomplish our goals.