Thread: The 284 bites back….last hunt for 2024

The Tikka 284 was pretty jealous as the 22-250 was getting all the recent attention but an upcoming Wapiti hunt meant I needed to give it some love. I’d reloaded a few more 162ELDXs in preparation and an evening hunt to end 2024 and look for a pig or goat was just the ticket to see it was still shooting well.

I drove to the forestry block, and opened the gate about 6.30pm. Tikka seemed happy as I screwed on the DPT and pocked in the 5 shot mag I save for pest control. No bipod today to simulate my mountain hunting where I use a daypack instead for a rest. Nothing in the first few spots, and it was very very windy so I parked up the ute and walked down to a cutover block and spotted some goats. I sneaked in with the wind covering my noise and was in two minds whether to shoot or really try for a pig. I got to about 30m from the main goats when two more came over a ridge and spotted me. One barked like a hind and they all bolted. These were pretty flighty goats but I followed them and found a nice stump to rest on. They stopped about 200yrds away so I lined up on the biggest black Billy and boom, whacked it. I lined up on another Billy and was about to shoot when it turned away but I thought what the heck and sacked that also. Most disappeared, but two Billy’s ran higher and the tree stump rest was difficult to use. One more down and one Billy left who was higher still. I hadn’t realised the 284 was so angry with me and as I let the stock go under my armpit to get a bead on its shoulder, I stupidly pulled the trigger and got a scope to the head…..blood dripping down my face. I did get the goat and here it is next to a seedling pine tree I was protecting.



This was the biggest of the goats as I couldn’t find the first black one where it dropped.



And this is my head…..I won’t be able to hide this one at home unfortunately.



I shot another 3 after this and the good news is the Tikka 284 might be a bit moody, but it’s still shooting good.

Happy New year everyone

A day ya don't bleed is a day ya ain't working hard enough

Good work keeping the pests down

"Bones heal. chicks dig scars and the US has the best daredevil to Doctor ratio in the world"

Nothing likes a 162h projectile, not even a forehead!

Weatherbrow.

That was a good bit of excitement to end the year. Gotta love those ELDX bullets, very efficient.