I wish I could take you hunting in New Zealand! Suppressors are really common as there are no legal restrictions around using them. Most popular cartridges are probably 270 or 308 - seen as powerful enough for the game and terrain, relatively cheap and easy to find, a level of noise and recoil people can handle. Lethality is perceived to be about the same across most sensible centrefire cartridges - shot placement being more important than caliber. Lightness and durability (ie stainless) is appreciated in the steep terrain and wet climate. People usually don't like a lot of odd projections on their rifles, such as yours has, as they are seen as getting tangled up easily when moving through thick forest.
I've been watching several NZ hunting videos. Your popular choices are what I see most but also add in the 708. I have all 3. What I found interesting is one of the loads for the 708 was the 162 Hornady ELDX. It certainly did the job. I load 140 and 150 grain bullets for mine
@@chrisgunsandguitars1403 I just commented last week on a NZ hunt video about the rifle used. It belonged to the guide and it was a stainless 700 in 7RemMag with a suppressor
Tip for dope card of you have a newer iphone… have a wallpaper for my lock screen of my go to load’s drop every 25 yards that gives drop in inches and mrad! Range and seconds later I can have my dope without digging for an app. Always on display has it ever ready
If you need a dope card to hunt you need to be better at hunting especially in 25yd increments. There's no reason to be shooting that far, also your holds should be second nature to you.
I shoot two rifles: a sako 30 06 made in 1968 and a ruger M77 1986 rebarrelled in 280. Both are insanely accurate with plain old 3 by 9 leupold scopes and both hold zero. In fact I can't remember when I had to adjust the 06 set up. I'm a 'keep it under 400 yards' shooter so these are all I'll ever need. Does all this tech nowadays really make a difference to the average guy hunting normal distances? My motto is keep it simple. The more dials and parts the more can go wrong....
Take a bow for a video where shooting tight groups is not the goal. A rifle that puts a single bullet where you want it with a cold barrel makes the difference between success and failure.
So true! Tight groups is good in that you know everything is tight and right with the rifle set-up. But you want that first shot from a cold barrel to hit exactly where you're aiming! You're spot on!
Modern hunters need to focus more on being better hunters rather than better shooters. If you plan on shooting over 400 on the regular you need to be a better hunter.
My thoughts exactly!!! Don’t know where hunting got sidetracked, probably by the manufacturers wanting to sell new products. Sixty years of hunting all the North American big game, taken everything, nothing over 275 yards. Saddens me to see what has happened to hunting. 😢
Yep. Follow the money. I think there are a lot of tacticool goons who got tired of that scene and brought their gun/gear obsession to hunting. 😂 And before I get shit, I've always been a fudd so... You're in my world now 🤣
I just signed up for the Buffalo hunt (harvest) up here in Northern Utah.. excited to meet you Jim. Spoke with the operator twice. Out of all my high powered rifles to choose from. He thought my M1 Garand 30-06 (open sights) would be cool for all to see. I also have a Springfield 1903A3 sporterized 30-06 with 3-9 scope. 2 of 6.5 PRC's and a 270 win all with 3-15 Scopes. The operator told me shooting distance would be 50-100 yards most likely. Note: the Bison hunt is already full now, so it seems.
@@JimHarmer I never hunted Turkeys before this May, got my bearded Tom 2nd day out. On a roll for this season. Live in Ogden, might draw a cow Moose or cow Elk this season. BTW. My M1 has killed 1 Bull Moose, 2 cow Moose and countless Elk here in Utah. Also got my Mtn. goat in 2010, not using the M1 but a friend's 300 Win Mag.
It was funny how he let the other guys talk about their rifles for a moment, and went into his own rifle in gory detail. Yes, Jim, we know you like your setup.
Jim, you did it backwards. You shoot the distance confirmation first to see if you can hit something at distance. Then you check to see if your zero is still on. Of course everyone hit the long distance shot, they all got to see where their zero had shifted at 100 yards before taking it long. Still really liked the video. I'm always worried about my zero while hunting. Usually in the middle of the day I'll take a shot at 100 yards just to check. After several days, if the zero doesn't move, I get more comfortable.
Wow, that's surprising. I hunt for two weeks in the woods with the rifle on an ATV often and I have never had it move. Plus, I don't check it that often. Only at the range off-season.
Get a quality, robust, PROVEN scope and mounts all locktited on properly and stop chasing your ass! Its amazing when you get that figured out and the mysterious zero shift go away! We should NEVER have to re zero! Check it occasionally, yes.
Good stuff, sir. Scopes losing or never having proper zero is way more common than most people think. Bad scopes, bad mounting hardware, loose action screws, etc, etc.
My CZ has a magazine lock switch. The mag will not come out unless you unlock it. I don't understand why other gun makers don't put this feature on there hunting rifles.
Video brought to you by guys that learned about hunting and guns from RUclips and the sponsors. Average American that is hunting for meat can’t afford (nor need) any of that nonsense. They hunted with bolt action 30-06s and lever action 30-30s and most importantly learned real hunting skills and shooting and weren’t trying to be sharp shooters or snipers.
I got a Seekins HavaK in 7PRC . I love it so much. Ordering another one for my wife in 6.5PRC very soon. To me it is as close as you can get as a custom rifle as you can get.
I have 2 rifles in 35 Whelen one is a limited edition with beautiful walnut stock I bring out for show and tell the other is a CVA stalker single shot with a bull barrel I have added weight to the stock and brought it up to 9 lbs now this is the unbelievable part I bought a BSA deer hunter scope for 19.00 dollars from Rual King I thought it would fly apart after the first shot but this is the crazy part I have shot this thing over a hundred times using my reloads 220 gr game kings and off sand bags it will put them through the same hole all day long now it’s not going to hit something at distance with a 4 power fixed scope but the whole rig cost less than $300.00 as Brandon would say “ Come on man “.
If I had $3K to spare, I would definitely put my name in the hat for the buffalo harvest shindig. I know, it’s a BISON, but at sixty plus years, I am not changing my dialect and learning pronouns! Haven’t had it yet, but I hear the meat is lean, healthy, and delicious. I will slide on down into Florida, and you all have fun. Make sure that you video the adventure so that the rest of us can feel like we also went…❤ Ultra-Mega-MAGA 🙏🏼🎉🥳
Gave up my 7 rm 40 years ago for a 340wby.Last 14 custom 338Nm,march,lone wolf, proof,Defiance.I rolled my jeep and held zero NF ultras and rail with oversized screws.Shot my large spring cinnamon with a defiance, proof,NForce,3-20 mil,22'',6.5prc,pic rails on mine and atlas or my light tripod, its getting su pressed.I know my drops to 900 as I shoot 2 rifles and caves match til that distance, easy with mils.My 6.5 is 6 # barehand sleek, your has lot areas to snag brush,I hunt lot of wilderness,alders thick.
At 64 years old around when I was in my late teens, I found in a pawn shop the rarest of all Mausers the Brevex Mauser that had been barreled in 8mm-378 Wby mag. After buying the Brevex Mauser I also had it barreled to 8mm-378 Wby mag so that is my No.1 prized long range rifle using a Leupold 6.5x20 scope with 30 mm tube. The Brevex has also been a part of my guide operations from the Pacific NW to Alaska taking down all kinds of large game to dangerous Brown bears from my clients that have used it. I also own a commercial Mauser 98 in 300 Wby mag and a Weatherby V-5 in 300 Wby mag that just got a new Pac Nor SS super match 27 inch barrel & muzzle break + fluted barrel. There are new 300s but the old 300 Wby mag still gets the job done with brutal authority! I own many more rifles, but these are the ones that get the most used.
Absolutely love your channel and reviews -- hate your Reaper Hunting contraption. What is the weight of all that combined: tripod, bipod, suppressor, Leupold scope ? You like the idea of the folding stock (less to tangle when hiking through brush) but seriously, you are schlepping so many add ons that I wonder what is the advantage. I know you are going to come around and get back to basics: Winchester Model 70 SS All Weather or Tikka TSX SS .30-06 w/ Vortex 2.5 x 10 x 44mm Viper. Or really man-up and go with traditional 3x9 or 4x fixed scope and use holdover reticle. Bipod, tripod stuff is for girlie-men. If you are hiking with poles, those become your shooting sticks. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE honor the tradition of stealth, use what nature provides for shooting rest, improvise, overcome & adapt !
Kuiu makes a sweet rifle cover very similar to that one. But it is specifically cut for a scoped rifle and has cordura to protect your scope ends. It fits a lot of rifles really well and is able to be used on a suppressed rifle
Jim, Serious Question. Why do you come across as a 6.5 Creedmoor hater yet, by your admission, you’re basically shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor due to the shorter barrel. I’m new to hunting, bought a 6.5 CM (which I’ve yet to fire), and I’ve scoured the Internet looking for information about it. I’ve seen ever video of yours that will pop, based on a 6.5CM RUclips search. Most of time you try to be careful with your words but, it’s clear that you’re not a fan. Despite your family loving it. From what I understand you’ve never lost an animal you’ve shoot with it. I’m just curious, why do you HATE the 6.5 CM?
Leupold Standard rings (Gross windage rings) are not made for calibers above .30-06. If you call Leupold and ask them about which rings that he should have on that rifle they would recommend their Dual Dovetail rings or the pic-rail mounted rings. Those rings are great and they have been around forever with people using them on everything... but Leupold doesn't recommend them on large caliber rifles.
Jim Your content always improving !! Great practical advise in real hunting situations.. Bring the rifle you shoot the best !! ITS NOT THE ARROW , ITS THE INDIAN !!! I have two Tack drivers for hunting I depend on... Factory Tikka Veil 7 mm Rem mag Rem 700 GA Precision 300 WSM Leupold Glass with Badger one piece rings ... Factory ammo for me
I have a gunwerks 6ti and while it's extremely lightweight, it's louder than I would like. I have 2 harvester evo's and they're 400 dollars less than my 6ti and only weigh 4 ounces more and are way quieter.
Incredible setup man. I’d consider welding a small, paper thin plate between the level gauge and the top turret. Or, find a translucent paint, that would allow great visibility on the rifle, but dampen glare so anyone over 100 meters away wouldn’t see it.
I’ve been hunting elk , moose , deer , bears and goats for over ten years . I run mid range vortex and bushel scope and the only time I’ve had a scope get knocked off is when I had my 35 whelen fall out of the truck and land directly on the scope . If you use good rings and torque properly your scope should never go out of zero without a fairly major hit
Great content, design and invitations, I would encourage you to do variations on this theme where all the rifles are different. All the shooters are different and you learn from each one.
No such thing as "the perfect rifle"im 72 and have hunted my whole life. Last season I harvested a 600lb cow elk at 425 yards with a .300WSM. The "best" hunting rifle is the one the shooter can shoot accurately and confidently. I have owned and shot many great firearms, they would all kill in the right situation. As a range master at our local range, what I see are people shooting huge calibre rifles at extreme ranges thinking that the rifle/calibre will make up for poor shooting/sportsmanship. Remember "just cuz you can don't mean you should." Semper Fi
Awesome realistic video 👍 I like the fact of using what you are comfortable with. I think this important especially if you are counting on you and your gun coming through in once in a lifetime situation .
Great video! I'm just getting into hunting and looking to buy my first hunting rifle, this has helped me adjust what I'm looking for. So good to see a video about that first shot, cold barrel. Appreciate the advice about getting what you're comfortable with and can already shoot well. I thought the dude rocking the no-frills wood stock was awesome! Might just do the same myself as that's what I'm used to.
Why all the magnum calibers? My 14 year old son just took his first black bear with a 6mm Creedmoor (basically a 243win) at 400 yards. 1 perfect shot, slightly quartering towards him... bullet entered mid shoulder, went through both lungs, and exited behind the offside shoulder. The bear rolled into the bushes below, less than 25 yards from where it dropped. This was a 5 year old Idaho boar, not a small bear. I would also point out that this was not a fluke. He doesn’t miss with this rifle. 2 weeks prior on a different hunt, i had given him one bullet to shoot a 1 inch diameter dot on a rock at 400 yards across the canyon we were hunting. His shot (after dialing) impact was touching the white dot he aimed at... I would also add, this rifle had been carried over 70 hiking miles this spring, many hundreds of miles of dirt roads both on atvs and in vehicles... and the scope i set up never lost zero. The bare rifle only weighs 4.25lbs, and 7lbs including suppressor, tripod, scope, mag, rings, and a folding stock. So it is very easy for a kid to handle effectively. 18 inch fluted barrel 108 ELD Match bullets 2875fps MV with N555 Ultra7 suppressor NF NXS 2.5-10x42 MacBros element action Hnt26 chassis Bullet is still traveling over 2000fps at 625 yards. Plenty of range. Very low recoil. Very shootable. Very lightweight. Very reliable. Very compact
Here I am hunting in South Africa and using one of the guides rifle and bullets. A Tikka 308. It gets the job done but how I wish for my own rifle.from home I am familiar with. I wouldnt be fumbling over the safety an wondering if the power of the 7 mm mag would have made to animals stay down after the shot. Cannot beat being familiar with your rifle. It goes along way
Not taken into account is that the first shot in many rifle's often shoot to a different point of impact to the next shot and that is why some hunters fire a fouling shot. I have had several that had this issue.
I like a Kenton Ballistic LR Hunter cut for my hand loads and the conditions where I’m hunting. Much faster than a ballistic app. The same as your ballistic tags on the Leupold. Always use a hinged floor plate on a hunting rifle.
This is a VERY good video !.. I especially enjoyed seeing the VASTLY different platforms.. Saying that, I much prefer a drop magazine and recently purchased a 300 PRC (seekings HAVAK)
Can’t be better said. I built a custom rifle last year decked out. Lone peak ti action in 7SAUM 22in proof carbon barrel XLR MG chassis thunder beast ultra 7 suppressor. It does shoot better than my tikka in 7 rem mag but not enough to matter, won’t make you a better shooter in the end.
Its amazing how simple life becomes if you use a PROVEN reliable, robust (not the most features, or lightest^^) scope and bulletproof mounts, all installed properly with degreasing and locktite and enough torque! Its insane that it has been accepted that we have to check and move zero every freaking hunt if we travel! Its also crazy how many scopes lose zero just riding on a truck seat!
Only one of those rifles “might” fit in a scabbard horseback! My choice this year is a 7prc w/ 168 Berger handloads with no turrets. Zero at 250 and max pbr for 6” group out to 400 yards. 3200 fps lazer! Nice video just my 2c’ts. Horses really screw up guns and might be the ultimate test!!!
Wow I never hear about warne scope mount. I have been very happy with their mono mount for my bench gun. Glad to see you using them on your personal rig.
The BEST hunting rifle is the LIGHTEST rifle that I can shoot accurately to 600 yards (but also is durable, reliable, lowest recoil, compact, suppressed, and short barreled.) 1st round hits on target every time is what counts!
Can u please recommend me one, i just can’t find one, i have a tikka t3x veil, but i need lighter, i need one with 24 inch barrel, 7mag,6.5cm,300winmag, anything
@syednoori3799 I would first recommend you consider a shorter barrel... one of my best lightweight rifles is a tikka 6.5creedmoor that i had the barrel cut down to 16 inches. With handloads, I can still get 2650fps with 140eld bullets, which gets me to 575 yards before it drops below 2000fps. I started with a tikka stainless superlite model (from Sportsmans Warehouse) with the fluted barrel. Cost $850 for the rifle, plus $160 to cut/thread the barrel so I can run my suppressor. $386 gets you a stockys VG Carbon stock on sale. A few mods to that stock can get it down to the 20oz range. Or, I've got an HNT26 chassis I put mine in and made my own uberlite folder stock for it... comes out about 20oz as well. I also had the bolt aggressively fluted by LRI and put on a Ti bolt knob. A few other ti parts like trigger screw shave a few more grams... bare rifle comes out around 4.75lbs. I put a Trijicon Credo 2.5-15x42 scope and DNZ Game Reaper 1 piece rings on it, plus a suppressor and diy tripod, I'm about 8lbs including the mag. Sub MOA accuracy, easy to load for, and even my 12 year old daughter shoots it well (took her 1st cow elk with it last fall, 275 yards, 1 shot). 6 kids took their deer/elk with it last season... all one shot kills, out to 375 yards. If you want a cheaper option, I also have a kimber hunter 6.5creedmoor that is a shooter. I had that rifle cut down to 18 inches, and then I cut the forend of the stock down and built up the grip with dense foam to make a vertical grip. It's a lot uglier than the svelte tikka... but is a bit lighter, was cheaper to build, and shoots just as well. Only issue I have with the kimbers is, there is very little by way of aftermarket parts available... although the folks at Stockys have told me they are working on a mold for the 84m Action... so that would be awsome to have a VG stock for a kimber!
@@buzby80 it depends on the caliber... an 8.5-9lb rifle setup (6lb tikka with 24oz of scope/rings, plus 10oz of suppressor, 8oz of bullets and mag, and 12oz of bipod) in 223rem, 243win, 6mmCM, 6.5CM, 260rem or 7mm-08 is not too much recoil. Shave a pound or a pound and a half off of that weight, and recoil likely won't affect accuracy up to at least the 6.5creedmoor class of cartridges.
@@ultralightoutdoors he said he wants lighter than a tikka! Rifles lighter than that are not forgiving. 9-10lbs makes for a very nice shooting 6.5cm. Better to drop that weight somewhere else in your system.
It's interesting that so many use Vortex scopes. I prefer Leupold for lighter weight and better image resolution at distance. Vortex has been really disappointing in both those areas.
I find it kind of weird that the Blaser R8 is so popular in Europe, espessialy here in the scandinavian countries. But no one seems to have it in the states? Is the price point to high for it over there?
@@backfireI bought one last year for 7k USD in Norway, it's quite pricey but the market for custom rifles here is really small. And it's hard to beat the straight pull on the Blaser :)
I just removed my Leopold rings like Brandon and fitted a pic rail. Changed everything! Those rings are rubbish. They move every I travel. Not anymore!
Even pic rail rings (and even the pic rail itself) can move if not installed correctly. Try using rings that the manufacturer allows for higher torque on ring and mounting screws. Try using 1 piece instead of 2 piece rings. (Think DNZ Game Reaper or NF). Before you install, degrease all screws and points of contact between the scope, rings, rail, and rifle. Use a torque wrench/driver, go to max torque allowed by specs. Put a dab of blue loctite on each screw. After install, try adding a dab of nail polish to various points of contact between screws and rings and rings and scope. If the rings ever slip, you will be able to tell. It goes without saying... start with quality time tested and durable optics... like SWFA, Nightforce, and Trijicon. Too many stories of Leopold, vortex, etc not holding zero... and it doesn't matter how well you mount your scope if it won't hold zero no matter what.
@@ultralightoutdoors yeah I bedded the pic rail and torqued with firearm torque screwdriver and blue loctited and torqued my new rings like we did in f class. I bought this setup from shop, so the lesson is do it yourself. Never trust a shop.
i would go for the 300 PRC thats Sebastian has in this video... The gun is just setup best in my opinion, its light enough to carry comfortably, suppressed to protect shooter's hearing and a bigger cartridge for energy delivery. You are BEAR hunting, the concept of bring enough gun comes into play. Being from South Africa, we dont have bears but i would NOT wanna go after our larger land predators with something as small as 6.5. but thats just personal preference.
I wish I could take you hunting in New Zealand!
Suppressors are really common as there are no legal restrictions around using them. Most popular cartridges are probably 270 or 308 - seen as powerful enough for the game and terrain, relatively cheap and easy to find, a level of noise and recoil people can handle. Lethality is perceived to be about the same across most sensible centrefire cartridges - shot placement being more important than caliber. Lightness and durability (ie stainless) is appreciated in the steep terrain and wet climate. People usually don't like a lot of odd projections on their rifles, such as yours has, as they are seen as getting tangled up easily when moving through thick forest.
I've been watching several NZ hunting videos. Your popular choices are what I see most but also add in the 708. I have all 3. What I found interesting is one of the loads for the 708 was the 162 Hornady ELDX. It certainly did the job. I load 140 and 150 grain bullets for mine
When I hunted NZ I used the guides Model 700 in 7mm RemMag and it had a suppressor. I didn’t want to pay baggage fees x 4 to the airlines.
@@chrisgunsandguitars1403 I just commented last week on a NZ hunt video about the rifle used. It belonged to the guide and it was a stainless 700 in 7RemMag with a suppressor
@derekmcmurry4263 same guide maybe?
@@simonholdsworth6867 could be. his user her is chase the wild NZ
Tip for dope card of you have a newer iphone… have a wallpaper for my lock screen of my go to load’s drop every 25 yards that gives drop in inches and mrad! Range and seconds later I can have my dope without digging for an app. Always on display has it ever ready
If you need a dope card to hunt you need to be better at hunting especially in 25yd increments. There's no reason to be shooting that far, also your holds should be second nature to you.
@@jsaction33chill. Nobody agrees with you.
That’s actually a good idea.
I put one on my stock. It’s easy to see covered in clear plastic. No batteries needed. You do you happy hunting!!!
What a great idea for when the tape to the stock falls off in the rain.
I shoot two rifles: a sako 30 06 made in 1968 and a ruger M77 1986 rebarrelled in 280. Both are insanely accurate with plain old 3 by 9 leupold scopes and both hold zero. In fact I can't remember when I had to adjust the 06 set up. I'm a 'keep it under 400 yards' shooter so these are all I'll ever need. Does all this tech nowadays really make a difference to the average guy hunting normal distances? My motto is keep it simple. The more dials and parts the more can go wrong....
Take a bow for a video where shooting tight groups is not the goal. A rifle that puts a single bullet where you want it with a cold barrel makes the difference between success and failure.
So true!
Tight groups is good in that you know everything is tight and right with the rifle set-up.
But you want that first shot from a cold barrel to hit exactly where you're aiming!
You're spot on!
Modern hunters need to focus more on being better hunters rather than better shooters. If you plan on shooting over 400 on the regular you need to be a better hunter.
Amen!! I agree completely 👍
My thoughts exactly!!! Don’t know where hunting got sidetracked, probably by the manufacturers wanting to sell new products. Sixty years of hunting all the North American big game, taken everything, nothing over 275 yards. Saddens me to see what has happened to hunting. 😢
Yep. Follow the money. I think there are a lot of tacticool goons who got tired of that scene and brought their gun/gear obsession to hunting. 😂 And before I get shit, I've always been a fudd so... You're in my world now 🤣
Yup 😑🤙💯
100%. I have never had to make a shot over 150 yards.
I just signed up for the Buffalo hunt (harvest) up here in Northern Utah.. excited to meet you Jim.
Spoke with the operator twice. Out of all my high powered rifles to choose from. He thought my M1 Garand 30-06 (open sights) would be cool for all to see. I also have a Springfield 1903A3 sporterized 30-06 with 3-9 scope. 2 of 6.5 PRC's and a 270 win all with 3-15 Scopes.
The operator told me shooting distance would be 50-100 yards most likely. Note: the Bison hunt is already full now, so it seems.
Cool! Will be fun to meet you!
@@JimHarmer I never hunted Turkeys before this May, got my bearded Tom 2nd day out. On a roll for this season. Live in Ogden, might draw a cow Moose or cow Elk this season.
BTW. My M1 has killed 1 Bull Moose, 2 cow Moose and countless Elk here in Utah. Also got my Mtn. goat in 2010, not using the M1 but a friend's 300 Win Mag.
@@danblumelcongrats on the turkey!
This is the kind of video I like. Real world hunter test. The first shot is the one that counts when you’re hunting.
It was funny how he let the other guys talk about their rifles for a moment, and went into his own rifle in gory detail. Yes, Jim, we know you like your setup.
What a time to be alive, there's so many great rifles and scopes out there to choose from!
Savage model 99 .308. Stone cold killer.
Jim, you did it backwards. You shoot the distance confirmation first to see if you can hit something at distance. Then you check to see if your zero is still on. Of course everyone hit the long distance shot, they all got to see where their zero had shifted at 100 yards before taking it long.
Still really liked the video. I'm always worried about my zero while hunting. Usually in the middle of the day I'll take a shot at 100 yards just to check. After several days, if the zero doesn't move, I get more comfortable.
Wow, that's surprising. I hunt for two weeks in the woods with the rifle on an ATV often and I have never had it move. Plus, I don't check it that often. Only at the range off-season.
Get a quality, robust, PROVEN scope and mounts all locktited on properly and stop chasing your ass! Its amazing when you get that figured out and the mysterious zero shift go away! We should NEVER have to re zero! Check it occasionally, yes.
@@montuckyman4982 Agreed. People play with this shit way too much. Checking zero in the middle of the day? That's just silly.
@@Dusdaddythats the difference between buying cheap rings/scope and quality ones
@@holynuman Agreed. If I had to make an adjustment to my zero mid-day or even mid-season, I'm dumping that mount and ring set-up.
Good stuff, sir.
Scopes losing or never having proper zero is way more common than most people think. Bad scopes, bad mounting hardware, loose action screws, etc, etc.
When you have rifle that you just know & feel at home with, Thats a good feeling
Great video! The Seekins team is always awesome at Hunt Expo. May go that route for the next rifle
I love the closing statement. Good video, Jim!
Glad you enjoyed it
It always goes back to which rifle you know best and works for you best.
My CZ has a magazine lock switch. The mag will not come out unless you unlock it. I don't understand why other gun makers don't put this feature on there hunting rifles.
Video brought to you by guys that learned about hunting and guns from RUclips and the sponsors. Average American that is hunting for meat can’t afford (nor need) any of that nonsense. They hunted with bolt action 30-06s and lever action 30-30s and most importantly learned real hunting skills and shooting and weren’t trying to be sharp shooters or snipers.
I got a Seekins HavaK in 7PRC . I love it so much. Ordering another one for my wife in 6.5PRC very soon. To me it is as close as you can get as a custom rifle as you can get.
I have 2 rifles in 35 Whelen one is a limited edition with beautiful walnut stock I bring out for show and tell the other is a CVA stalker single shot with a bull barrel I have added weight to the stock and brought it up to 9 lbs now this is the unbelievable part I bought a BSA deer hunter scope for 19.00 dollars from Rual King I thought it would fly apart after the first shot but this is the crazy part I have shot this thing over a hundred times using my reloads 220 gr game kings and off sand bags it will put them through the same hole all day long now it’s not going to hit something at distance with a 4 power fixed scope but the whole rig cost less than $300.00 as Brandon would say “ Come on man “.
i love the energy and enthusiasm
If I had $3K to spare, I would definitely put my name in the hat for the buffalo harvest shindig. I know, it’s a BISON, but at sixty plus years, I am not changing my dialect and learning pronouns! Haven’t had it yet, but I hear the meat is lean, healthy, and delicious. I will slide on down into Florida, and you all have fun. Make sure that you video the adventure so that the rest of us can feel like we also went…❤ Ultra-Mega-MAGA 🙏🏼🎉🥳
Those hi tech rifles are awesome, but I loved that beat up ol’ 700. He looked like a marine sniper firing that thing!!
A pro guide letting someone else set up their rifle for a major hunt and not make sure it’s absolutely 110% before you leave?????? 🤔🤦♂️
I’m glad I am not the only one that caught that.
Really like these kind of videos!! Great job 👍🏼
Looks like a heck of a lot of wind too.
I think this speaks wonders for the premium leupold optics more than anything
Gave up my 7 rm 40 years ago for a 340wby.Last 14 custom 338Nm,march,lone wolf, proof,Defiance.I rolled my jeep and held zero NF ultras and rail with oversized screws.Shot my large spring cinnamon with a defiance, proof,NForce,3-20 mil,22'',6.5prc,pic rails on mine and atlas or my light tripod, its getting su pressed.I know my drops to 900 as I shoot 2 rifles and caves match til that distance, easy with mils.My 6.5 is 6 # barehand sleek, your has lot areas to snag brush,I hunt lot of wilderness,alders thick.
Love the epic music in the beginning
Dude just saw them turret tags and had to have them ! Definitely better idea than a ballistic tape !
At 64 years old around when I was in my late teens, I found in a pawn shop the rarest of all Mausers the Brevex Mauser that had been barreled in 8mm-378 Wby mag.
After buying the Brevex Mauser I also had it barreled to 8mm-378 Wby mag so that is my No.1 prized long range rifle using a Leupold 6.5x20 scope with 30 mm tube.
The Brevex has also been a part of my guide operations from the Pacific NW to Alaska taking down all kinds of large game to dangerous Brown bears from my clients that have used it.
I also own a commercial Mauser 98 in 300 Wby mag and a Weatherby V-5 in 300 Wby mag that just got a new Pac Nor SS super match 27 inch barrel & muzzle break + fluted barrel.
There are new 300s but the old 300 Wby mag still gets the job done with brutal authority!
I own many more rifles, but these are the ones that get the most used.
Absolutely love your channel and reviews -- hate your Reaper Hunting contraption. What is the weight of all that combined: tripod, bipod, suppressor, Leupold scope ? You like the idea of the folding stock (less to tangle when hiking through brush) but seriously, you are schlepping so many add ons that I wonder what is the advantage. I know you are going to come around and get back to basics: Winchester Model 70 SS All Weather or Tikka TSX SS .30-06 w/ Vortex 2.5 x 10 x 44mm Viper. Or really man-up and go with traditional 3x9 or 4x fixed scope and use holdover reticle. Bipod, tripod stuff is for girlie-men. If you are hiking with poles, those become your shooting sticks. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE honor the tradition of stealth, use what nature provides for shooting rest, improvise, overcome & adapt !
Kuiu makes a sweet rifle cover very similar to that one. But it is specifically cut for a scoped rifle and has cordura to protect your scope ends. It fits a lot of rifles really well and is able to be used on a suppressed rifle
Best video on this subject matter by far!
Jim,
Serious Question. Why do you come across as a 6.5 Creedmoor hater yet, by your admission, you’re basically shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor due to the shorter barrel.
I’m new to hunting, bought a 6.5 CM (which I’ve yet to fire), and I’ve scoured the Internet looking for information about it. I’ve seen ever video of yours that will pop, based on a 6.5CM RUclips search. Most of time you try to be careful with your words but, it’s clear that you’re not a fan. Despite your family loving it. From what I understand you’ve never lost an animal you’ve shoot with it. I’m just curious, why do you HATE the 6.5 CM?
Leupold Standard rings (Gross windage rings) are not made for calibers above .30-06. If you call Leupold and ask them about which rings that he should have on that rifle they would recommend their Dual Dovetail rings or the pic-rail mounted rings.
Those rings are great and they have been around forever with people using them on everything... but Leupold doesn't recommend them on large caliber rifles.
Jim Your content always improving !! Great practical advise in real hunting situations.. Bring the rifle you shoot the best !! ITS NOT THE ARROW , ITS
THE INDIAN !!! I have two Tack drivers for hunting I depend on... Factory Tikka Veil 7 mm Rem mag Rem 700 GA Precision 300 WSM Leupold Glass with Badger one piece rings ... Factory ammo for me
I have a gunwerks 6ti and while it's extremely lightweight, it's louder than I would like. I have 2 harvester evo's and they're 400 dollars less than my 6ti and only weigh 4 ounces more and are way quieter.
This is definitely one of the best hunting videos I've ever seen, the hunter is awesome!
Good one Jim
Winchester Model 70
Incredible setup man. I’d consider welding a small, paper thin plate between the level gauge and the top turret. Or, find a translucent paint, that would allow great visibility on the rifle, but dampen glare so anyone over 100 meters away wouldn’t see it.
Love the constant positive outlook videos
I’ve been hunting elk , moose , deer , bears and goats for over ten years . I run mid range vortex and bushel scope and the only time I’ve had a scope get knocked off is when I had my 35 whelen fall out of the truck and land directly on the scope . If you use good rings and torque properly your scope should never go out of zero without a fairly major hit
Great content, design and invitations, I would encourage you to do variations on this theme where all the rifles are different. All the shooters are different and you learn from each one.
Great Video, Excellent info! Scope mounts are very important. Keeping bring good content!
No such thing as "the perfect rifle"im 72 and have hunted my whole life. Last season I harvested a 600lb cow elk at 425 yards with a .300WSM. The "best" hunting rifle is the one the shooter can shoot accurately and confidently. I have owned and shot many great firearms, they would all kill in the right situation. As a range master at our local range, what I see are people shooting huge calibre rifles at extreme ranges thinking that the rifle/calibre will make up for poor shooting/sportsmanship. Remember "just cuz you can don't mean you should." Semper Fi
I didn’t realize James Pumphrey started hosting backfire!
Awesome realistic video 👍 I like the fact of using what you are comfortable with. I think this important especially if you are counting on you and your gun coming through in once in a lifetime situation .
Loved it. I totally agree that the absolutely perfect rifle is the one YOU shoot well.
Very cool topic for this video. Great hunting party as well considering every one of you hit at 400 yards. Thanks for sharing
Great video, thanks for sharing!
That is a beautiful Tikka.
Great video!
I'm just getting into hunting and looking to buy my first hunting rifle, this has helped me adjust what I'm looking for. So good to see a video about that first shot, cold barrel. Appreciate the advice about getting what you're comfortable with and can already shoot well. I thought the dude rocking the no-frills wood stock was awesome! Might just do the same myself as that's what I'm used to.
This video was a test of the sighting systems. Scope, rings etc. Most rifles group well enoug, but will be let down by a scope that loses zero
15:00 Least smooth bolt I've ever seen.
Why all the magnum calibers? My 14 year old son just took his first black bear with a 6mm Creedmoor (basically a 243win) at 400 yards. 1 perfect shot, slightly quartering towards him... bullet entered mid shoulder, went through both lungs, and exited behind the offside shoulder. The bear rolled into the bushes below, less than 25 yards from where it dropped. This was a 5 year old Idaho boar, not a small bear. I would also point out that this was not a fluke. He doesn’t miss with this rifle. 2 weeks prior on a different hunt, i had given him one bullet to shoot a 1 inch diameter dot on a rock at 400 yards across the canyon we were hunting. His shot (after dialing) impact was touching the white dot he aimed at... I would also add, this rifle had been carried over 70 hiking miles this spring, many hundreds of miles of dirt roads both on atvs and in vehicles... and the scope i set up never lost zero.
The bare rifle only weighs 4.25lbs, and 7lbs including suppressor, tripod, scope, mag, rings, and a folding stock. So it is very easy for a kid to handle effectively.
18 inch fluted barrel
108 ELD Match bullets 2875fps MV with N555
Ultra7 suppressor
NF NXS 2.5-10x42
MacBros element action
Hnt26 chassis
Bullet is still traveling over 2000fps at 625 yards. Plenty of range. Very low recoil. Very shootable. Very lightweight. Very reliable. Very compact
Here I am hunting in South Africa and using one of the guides rifle and bullets. A Tikka 308. It gets the job done but how I wish for my own rifle.from home I am familiar with. I wouldnt be fumbling over the safety an wondering if the power of the 7 mm mag would have made to animals stay down after the shot. Cannot beat being familiar with your rifle. It goes along way
My good ole 7mm rem mag
Not taken into account is that the first shot in many rifle's often shoot to a different point of impact to the next shot and that is why some hunters fire a fouling shot. I have had several that had this issue.
I like a Kenton Ballistic LR Hunter cut for my hand loads and the conditions where I’m hunting. Much faster than a ballistic app.
The same as your ballistic tags on the Leupold.
Always use a hinged floor plate on a hunting rifle.
I just signed up for June 21st hunt!!!! See you next month!!!
Yeehaw!
I did the 20th, I'll comment here the same night.
This is a VERY good video !.. I especially enjoyed seeing the VASTLY different platforms.. Saying that, I much prefer a drop magazine and recently purchased a 300 PRC (seekings HAVAK)
Looks like your front ring is right up against the scope bell
Chose it for manageable recoil after shoulder surgery.
Chose a magnum.
Can’t be better said. I built a custom rifle last year decked out. Lone peak ti action in 7SAUM 22in proof carbon barrel XLR MG chassis thunder beast ultra 7 suppressor. It does shoot better than my tikka in 7 rem mag but not enough to matter, won’t make you a better shooter in the end.
Bear Hunting with a flippin' creedmore
The fierce ‘s grip stock and barrel are carbon fiber. And it has an ambi thumb shelf carbon grip which is rare.
Its amazing how simple life becomes if you use a PROVEN reliable, robust (not the most features, or lightest^^) scope and bulletproof mounts, all installed properly with degreasing and locktite and enough torque!
Its insane that it has been accepted that we have to check and move zero every freaking hunt if we travel!
Its also crazy how many scopes lose zero just riding on a truck seat!
That bison "hunt" would be cool. If I lived in the rockies, I'd be all over it
I'm doing it, see my other post. I live 50 miles away.
I disagree with you about the fear of the magazine falling out, all our military weapons have magazines and never did i have one fall out.
Agreed. Magazine fear is fudd lore.
I don't need any of the newest stuff because I am already very used to my old guns and I am extremely confident using them.
Grayboe Phoenix is a great stock rock solid.
Only one of those rifles “might” fit in a scabbard horseback! My choice this year is a 7prc w/ 168 Berger handloads with no turrets. Zero at 250 and max pbr for 6” group out to 400 yards. 3200 fps lazer! Nice video just my 2c’ts. Horses really screw up guns and might be the ultimate test!!!
Excellent video! Something we all should do!
Great video enjoyed it
Great video, totally agree.
Wow I never hear about warne scope mount. I have been very happy with their mono mount for my bench gun. Glad to see you using them on your personal rig.
I have looked at bison prices $3000 for a cow is average, you can even find them for $2500
Cool video. I really enjoyed it
The BEST hunting rifle is the LIGHTEST rifle that I can shoot accurately to 600 yards (but also is durable, reliable, lowest recoil, compact, suppressed, and short barreled.) 1st round hits on target every time is what counts!
Can u please recommend me one, i just can’t find one, i have a tikka t3x veil, but i need lighter, i need one with 24 inch barrel, 7mag,6.5cm,300winmag, anything
@syednoori3799
I would first recommend you consider a shorter barrel... one of my best lightweight rifles is a tikka 6.5creedmoor that i had the barrel cut down to 16 inches. With handloads, I can still get 2650fps with 140eld bullets, which gets me to 575 yards before it drops below 2000fps. I started with a tikka stainless superlite model (from Sportsmans Warehouse) with the fluted barrel. Cost $850 for the rifle, plus $160 to cut/thread the barrel so I can run my suppressor. $386 gets you a stockys VG Carbon stock on sale. A few mods to that stock can get it down to the 20oz range. Or, I've got an HNT26 chassis I put mine in and made my own uberlite folder stock for it... comes out about 20oz as well. I also had the bolt aggressively fluted by LRI and put on a Ti bolt knob. A few other ti parts like trigger screw shave a few more grams... bare rifle comes out around 4.75lbs. I put a Trijicon Credo 2.5-15x42 scope and DNZ Game Reaper 1 piece rings on it, plus a suppressor and diy tripod, I'm about 8lbs including the mag. Sub MOA accuracy, easy to load for, and even my 12 year old daughter shoots it well (took her 1st cow elk with it last fall, 275 yards, 1 shot). 6 kids took their deer/elk with it last season... all one shot kills, out to 375 yards.
If you want a cheaper option, I also have a kimber hunter 6.5creedmoor that is a shooter. I had that rifle cut down to 18 inches, and then I cut the forend of the stock down and built up the grip with dense foam to make a vertical grip. It's a lot uglier than the svelte tikka... but is a bit lighter, was cheaper to build, and shoots just as well. Only issue I have with the kimbers is, there is very little by way of aftermarket parts available... although the folks at Stockys have told me they are working on a mold for the 84m Action... so that would be awsome to have a VG stock for a kimber!
@@syednoori3799you don’t need lighter than a Tikka. Less weight, just means more recoil. You will not shoot better with more recoil.
@@buzby80 it depends on the caliber... an 8.5-9lb rifle setup (6lb tikka with 24oz of scope/rings, plus 10oz of suppressor, 8oz of bullets and mag, and 12oz of bipod) in 223rem, 243win, 6mmCM, 6.5CM, 260rem or 7mm-08 is not too much recoil. Shave a pound or a pound and a half off of that weight, and recoil likely won't affect accuracy up to at least the 6.5creedmoor class of cartridges.
@@ultralightoutdoors he said he wants lighter than a tikka! Rifles lighter than that are not forgiving. 9-10lbs makes for a very nice shooting 6.5cm. Better to drop that weight somewhere else in your system.
The best advice is to imagine yourself taking the shot and what you’d need. Crawling kneeling bipod tripod etc
Great show 👍😄💯😄😄💯💯💯👌👌👌👌👌👍👍👍
It's interesting that so many use Vortex scopes. I prefer Leupold for lighter weight and better image resolution at distance. Vortex has been really disappointing in both those areas.
I can't believe how filthy your gun is😮, obvious signs of a good time!!
That seekins action is yummy. Really love the ph2
Great video! Element optics are a very underated company, in my opinion.
I find it kind of weird that the Blaser R8 is so popular in Europe, espessialy here in the scandinavian countries. But no one seems to have it in the states? Is the price point to high for it over there?
It’s around $6-9k in the US, and we can get a very nice semi-custom for $2-3k. So it’s a tough market for us in the US.
@@backfireI bought one last year for 7k USD in Norway, it's quite pricey but the market for custom rifles here is really small. And it's hard to beat the straight pull on the Blaser :)
Wish I lived closer. I'd be all over that deal
Tell about how you setup your zero, did you go with short range 100 yard, or a longer range zero of 200 or even more?
I couldnt agree with your closing statement any more. Also great video
Try dry lube for your action, its gonna slip better than dry, and debrits don't stick to it like it would with oil or grease
I just removed my Leopold rings like Brandon and fitted a pic rail. Changed everything! Those rings are rubbish. They move every I travel. Not anymore!
Even pic rail rings (and even the pic rail itself) can move if not installed correctly. Try using rings that the manufacturer allows for higher torque on ring and mounting screws. Try using 1 piece instead of 2 piece rings. (Think DNZ Game Reaper or NF). Before you install, degrease all screws and points of contact between the scope, rings, rail, and rifle. Use a torque wrench/driver, go to max torque allowed by specs. Put a dab of blue loctite on each screw. After install, try adding a dab of nail polish to various points of contact between screws and rings and rings and scope. If the rings ever slip, you will be able to tell.
It goes without saying... start with quality time tested and durable optics... like SWFA, Nightforce, and Trijicon. Too many stories of Leopold, vortex, etc not holding zero... and it doesn't matter how well you mount your scope if it won't hold zero no matter what.
@@ultralightoutdoors yeah I bedded the pic rail and torqued with firearm torque screwdriver and blue loctited and torqued my new rings like we did in f class. I bought this setup from shop, so the lesson is do it yourself. Never trust a shop.
Great vid bud... thanks
I still think Weatherby perfected the hunting stock. If it fits you nothing else compares. It’s so quick. Even have a Camilla women’s stock.
lol no
where did you get the turret stickers...
i would go for the 300 PRC thats Sebastian has in this video... The gun is just setup best in my opinion, its light enough to carry comfortably, suppressed to protect shooter's hearing and a bigger cartridge for energy delivery. You are BEAR hunting, the concept of bring enough gun comes into play.
Being from South Africa, we dont have bears but i would NOT wanna go after our larger land predators with something as small as 6.5. but thats just personal preference.
I like 7 mag brass. I make it into 257 weatherby cases
How does this MTR compare with Sako 90 Crust? Which one is better?
Good, Thx
Different topic but same thing kind of. Matt Grainger, a photographer, has said many times. What is the best camera? The one that is in your hand.