I was able to get a couple hours of charlie hunting in after work tonight. The XP is like a death ray, everything I point it at dies.
First victum was at 40 yards in the cow pasture. He never knew I was there. Dropped at the shot 5 feet from his hole.
As I made my way to the hay field thru the junk yard I spooked one down his hole under an apple tree. I stopped, slowly reached down and dialed the scope to 2.5X, slipped the safe off and readjusted my grip. Sure enough after about 7 minutes he pops back out of the hole and looks right at me. I slowly raise the XP till I have him in the crosshairs and BANG! Number 2 for the night freehand at 11 yards. I then continue to the hedgerow where there is a cherry tree with a huge crook in it. Big enough for the XP and a sandbag. I scan the field and see a charlie hiding beside a large clump of grass. I steady the XP and let another bullet fly. Sure enough 60 yards away is another grass bandit down for the count.
I then decide to head across the hayfield for the top end. Usually I can get to the edge of the woods and use the rock piles for shooting platforms. I get about halfway across and spot a head sticking out of the ground. I dial the scope back and hold as steady as possible. BANG!! Another freehand shot at 28 yards. That makes 4 charlies for the night. I then decide it's time to head home for supper and load the truck with firewood for a customer to deliver tomorrow after work. I walk no more than 50 yards and I see another head sticking out of the ground off to my right. I ease the XP up and hold steady. BANG! A 30 yard head shot. Must be all the winter league practice at the gongs freehand is paying off.
That's 9 shots and 9 charlies harvested so far. The XP is smoking!!! This is great practice for big game season this fall.