Making the Shot: How I prepared the CMMG Mk3 DTR2 in 6.5 Creedmoor for hog hunting

Hitting a running sow at 400 yards sounds like a difficult shot, but tracking and pulling the trigger takes only a few seconds. It’s the final proof that months of testing and gear prep have paid off.

Equipment List:
1. CMMG Mk3 DTR2 in 6.5 Creedmoor
2. Bushnell HDMR-II FFP Rifle Scope:
3. Warne X-Skel 34mm 20-MOA Mount:
4. UTG Recon Flex Bipod (M-Lok):
5. UTG Recon Flex Bipod (Keymod):
6. Protektor Rear Bag:

Handloaded Ammunition Components:
1. Federal Champion Brass
2. Hornady 140-grain BTHP Match Bullets
3. Alliant Reloder 16 Powder (RL16)
4. CCI BR-2 Primers

Reloading Equipment:
1. RCBS Chargemaster Lite Powder Dispenser:
2. RCBS FL Die Set 6.5 Creedmoor:
3. Lee Ultimate 4-Die Set 6.5 Creedmoor:

Other Ammo:
1. Federal American Eagle 140-grain OTM
2. Federal Gold Medal Berger 130-grain OTM

Once I zeroed the scope I began the painstaking process of finding a high-performance handload using Reloder 16 and Hornady 140-grain BTHP match bullets. Match bullets are not designed for hunting, but based on tests I had seen in the past I expected the bullet to perform well anyway – a suspicion that proved correct on the day of the hunt. Once I had a solid optimized load developed for the rifle, I created a complex ballistics chart using Using those figures, I tested the gun and scope in a series of challenges, including long range shooting and moving targets.

On the day of the hog hunt we didn’t have time to set up a solid position. Billy spotted the herd of pigs to the right of our moving truck, and we scrambled out to take positions on the hood, roof, and bed. Billy dropped the first little piggy, and the rest broke and ran. Using the calculations I had memorized from the ballistics chart, I estimated a distance of 400 yards and started shooting using the lines and dots of the Horus H59 reticle to eventually put round number three straight through the running sow’s vitals.

Most shooters will probably choose to shoot factory ammo instead of handloads, and that’s just fine. They may also pick another type of scope and reticle. But if I can make a few general recommendations, I would say this: First, know your ballistics and trust them. Make a chart, and memorize key portions of it. Second, try to buy an FFP scope if you can afford it. FFP makes it possible to keep consistent angular measurements no matter your magnification. Third, practice, practice, practice. When the shooting started I didn’t have time to think about fundamentals. I simply relied on them being ingrained in my mind and muscles.

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Kyle Broderick, The Social Regressive