2026 NRL Hunter Thread

[Okie_Poke]

What barrel contour are you running to make OL with a triple pull?? Sweet setup!

Also curious.

 

[Juan_ID]

What barrel contour are you running to make OL with a triple pull?? Sweet setup!

It is relatively easy to make weight for OL with a triple pull. The lrt fat trimmer saves you about 3oz from the factory head if I remember correctly. Here is my factory barreled ctr (that’s been spiral fluted) and a triple pull with lrt fat trimmer. This is also with a 7oz brake and heavier xlr rubber grip. Could probably be 8oz lighter by switching to a titanium brake and lighter grip.

 

[Lawnboi]

It is relatively easy to make weight for OL with a triple pull. The lrt fat trimmer saves you about 3oz from the factory head if I remember correctly. Here is my factory barreled ctr (that’s been spiral fluted) and a triple pull with lrt fat trimmer. This is also with a 7oz brake and heavier xlr rubber grip. Could probably be 8oz lighter by switching to a titanium brake and lighter grip.
View attachment 1048036

Is this your go to triple pull setup over all the other options?

 

[Hazarmaveth]

So is this a gear game, or is it possible to go out and have a good time an reasonable results with a factory .308 and factory ammo? I have basic binos and rangefinder, and I look at all the pics that are posted and just think I'm going to be a duck out of water at one of these events.

 

[43.6N]

So is this a gear game, or is it possible to go out and have a good time a reasonable results with a factory .308 and factory ammo? I have basic binos and rangefinder, and I look at all the pics that are posted and just think I'm going to be a duck out of water at one of these events.

Not at all.
Plenty of people show up to test themselves with their “hunting” rigs.

Just go, shoot, learn, smile, and come back with a mindset of self improvement.

 

[id_jon]

So is this a gear game, or is it possible to go out and have a good time an reasonable results with a factory .308 and factory ammo? I have basic binos and rangefinder, and I look at all the pics that are posted and just think I'm going to be a duck out of water at one of these events.

Yes and no. You can have a good time with reasonably sound gear. The top 20 or so guys at any given match would probably place very similar regardless of gear simply because of the experience they have in the game, but you'll also notice that they all make certain gear choices that make competing much easier.

 

[Juan_ID]

Is this your go to triple pull setup over all the other options?

For all competition use yes. I also have the r3d legs but haven’t used them enough to want to use them for competition use just yet.

 

[Hazarmaveth]

Not at all.
Plenty of people show up to test themselves with their “hunting” rigs.

Just go, shoot, learn, smile, and come back with a mindset of self improvement.

That's what I'm hoping. I have considered it, but I see all these pics of people hauling around thousands of dollars in gear, and I figured there was no point. As long as people are cool, and patient, with newbs like myself, I think it would be fun.

 

[TX_Diver]

So is this a gear game, or is it possible to go out and have a good time a reasonable results with a factory .308 and factory ammo? I have basic binos and rangefinder, and I look at all the pics that are posted and just think I'm going to be a duck out of water at one of these events.

Yes to both. Totally a gear game but you can also show up and have fun with what you have. I shot my 9lb t3x with a 3-9 scope, 3 rd mags, and Harris bipod at a few matches last year and it was a ton of fun still.

People were extremely helpful and offered to loan me stuff, let me try their tripods, binos. etc. shoot skills so you can find and range targets before hand (handheld RF is probably the biggest disadvantage) and go give it a try

 

[Okie_Poke]

So is this a gear game,

Yes, to be competitive (I’m not).

or is it possible to go out and have a good time an reasonable results with a factory .308 and factory ammo?

But also yes. Take what you have. You probably aren't going to win regardless. So the only person you’re really competing against is yourself. To me, the biggest difference between my first and second match was not blanking as soon as the timer started because I developed a work flow. Having more gear wouldn’t have helped at that first match for sure, at least not much.

I have basic binos and rangefinder, and I look at all the pics that are posted and just think I'm going to be a duck out of water at one of these events.

You’ll be slower than some (many). But that’s okay. Just develop a work flow and learn to use it. Folks aren’t going to judge you or make fun of you for showing up with what you have. Shoot in skills and don’t worry about it—that division is designed for extra patience.

Just make sure you have a method to shoot supported from prone, seated, kneeling, and maybe higher, on and off terrain features, whatever that method may be. You don’t have to have a ton of gear, but you do need to be able to solve those various positions. If your plan for shooting over brush is to shoot standing unsupported, you’re going to get frustrated unless you’re Matthew Quigley. But you’ll be better off showing up and using what you have, and maybe borrowing something to try, than buying stuff and then replacing it because it doesn’t match your work flow.

 

[Juan_ID]

So is this a gear game, or is it possible to go out and have a good time an reasonable results with a factory .308 and factory ammo? I have basic binos and rangefinder, and I look at all the pics that are posted and just think I'm going to be a duck out of water at one of these events.

I would say it’s 50/50, I shot my first few matches with separate bino and rf and my hunting tripod. I did ok considering I was a brand new shooter with my hunting gear but felt I needed to make some changes if I wanted to be a legitimate competitor. Since then I’ve optimized my gear to try and maximize my efficiency as much as possible.

 

[Hazarmaveth]

I never planned to win, but I think it would be good practice. I'm trying to just accelerate my learning, and I think it could be a way to get some practice doing something other than shooting steel on a flat range.

 

[Okie_Poke]

Hey, if you’re good with your 308, you can do well with it.



*Results not typical.

 

[KY_coop]

Everyone ive met at nrl matches are more then willing to help new shooters and very nice. If you go looking to learn and have fun, then what you have will work fine. If you shoot skills you can have the RO help you in almost any way( showing you targets prior to stage, wind calls, shot corrections, position help). Most of the ones with fancy setups are purpose built to do better and try to place or win(myself included). If your just wanting some shooting practice in diverse terrain, wind, and positions then bring what ya got and have some fun.

 

[wind gypsy]

Agree with others, just go. If you're shooting skills and missing a crucial piece of gear, i'm sure someone would lend you necessities.

I've shot with @rharbaugh and @Jimbee when they used true hunting setups and shot off packs without tripods or super long bipods. They hit plenty of targets and it was probably better practice for how folks actually hunt. There can be stages where a guy is pretty SOL without a tripod and a guy shouldn't have issue borrowing one for such a stage - you wouldn't know ahead of starting the stage unless shooting skills though.

 

[Justin Crossley]

What bullet are you shooting? Wondering how many people moved to the 25 cal Atips.

I've been shooting the 134 ELD-M since I built it last year. They seem to work well for me.

What barrel contour are you running to make OL with a triple pull?? Sweet setup!

It is a Lilja factory contour with heavy fluting.

This is their description;
Tikka model 595 Continental varmint profile; 1.120″ dia. shank for 2.5″ the taper over 7″ to .810″ then taper to .785″ at muzzle

 

[ddowning]

Hey, if you’re good with your 308, you can do well with it.

View attachment 1048265

*Results not typical.

Guessing Jim shot a 308 and did pretty well? Yeah, results not typical. Jim can shoot.

 

[schmidty3]

That's what I'm hoping. I have considered it, but I see all these pics of people hauling around thousands of dollars in gear, and I figured there was no point. As long as people are cool, and patient, with newbs like myself, I think it would be fun.

You're gonna be a much better shooter after 1 match then you would be if you hadn't gone...

***big caveat...assuming your zero is good. And your system works. Had a guy in my squad this year with a 308. He shot 12 points on day 1 (i had like 80) and he didnt show up for day 2....the 308 wasnt the problem. Its a brutal game if your gun isnt behaving.

 

[schmidty3]

What barrel contour are you running to make OL with a triple pull?? Sweet setup!

My 25 prc makes it with plenty to spare. Im at 11-1/2# with a triple pull. I was at like 10# with the harris

Also its a 23.25" pbb tikka hybrid lite with helical flute . 2# 5 oz barrel. The peak 44 also helps. It was 22 oz before I bedded it. Bedded and with an arca at the CG and the arca/pic adapter at the front its 28 oz.

Ive got a 26" 25 prc barrel in .810 taperless with helical flute coming too. It should be about 3#6 oz. So it "should" make weight.

If it doesnt I just picked up a 36" hatch that will be mainly for hunting, but will be my nrl weight loss plan. it seems pretty slick.

 

[Hazarmaveth]

You're gonna be a much better shooter after 1 match then you would be if you hadn't gone...

***big caveat...assuming your zero is good. And your system works. Had a guy in my squad this year with a 308. He shot 12 points on day 1 (i had like 80) and he didnt show up for day 2....the 308 wasnt the problem. Its a brutal game if your gun isnt behaving.

I'll have to see if I can swing a match. I'm so new to shooting, I don't know if I'd score even 12 points, but quitting after one day isn't the way to get better. I'm always trying to get better, but I do know those people that won't shoot at anything farther than 100 yards from a bench. I've started trying to learn tripod, and I've taken a couple different classes to better understand shooting at distance.