Just randomly decided to post about my build for anyone like minded. Figured id outline my use case and how I arrived at this to maybe save some others some money and time in experimentation for what ultimately has worked for me. Likewise id be happy to here peoples 2 cents.
Rig
Scope: Vortex razer LHT 3-15x44, G4 reticle
Action/barrel: Tikka T3lite 6.5 Creedmoore
Chassis: MDT HNT 26 carbon /w Arca rail and folding stock
Goal: Lightweight, Accurate, Compact
Hunting conditions: Vancouver Island Blacktail, Mainland Mule deer, Lower eastern bc White tail. Treestands, blinds, truck hunting, spot and stalk, still hunting.
Due to the infrequency of hunting Moose, and Elk I was content to have a caliber that is dedicated for animals of a smaller class. I have a Tikka 7mm rem mag in the event these opportunities open up. Additionally when going through my past hunting experiences I noticed a-lot of my shots were off precarious tripods or branches in order to get a clear LOS to the animal. This informed my build a lot in that I wanted something that could be directly fired off an Arca rail and allowed for quick addition or removal of a bipod. A lower recoil rifle fires off a tripod a lot nicer and makes it easier to stay on target.
Personal maximum ethical range: 400 yards
This is honestly the biggest deciding factor in my build. I've only spent a little over a decade hunting and during those years I've taken roughly 20 animals. So far the furthest shot has been 300 yards. While I intended to work on my skills to push further and further, juggling work and family life the time at the range building to shoot past 400 yards has never lined up with a ethical shot opportunity. After being long range curious I've decided its just not for me and if I'm being honest I'll likely never have the time to spend at the range for a 600 yard shot to ever be ethical. However I essentially am building a long range platform.
So based on these two points I arrived at the 6.5 creedmoore. The cartridge itself adds a lot of the long range stability that you still benefit from within 400 yards and due to the BC of the bullet, once I added my 400 yard range limit it allows for a really short barreled gun. Currently my 6.5 is cut down to a 18" barrel.
Until you've shot off a Chassis its really hard to justify spending the money on one. I purchased the MDT Field Stock after shooting a buddies PRS rig and realized how much of the struggles sitting behind the scope come from just the shear lack of ergonomics of most stocks. They work, they work great but they ask a lot of you to make the stock work, where as a chassis system is designed to work for you. And when reflecting on my times shooting at game the shot often is entirely at odds with you trying to implement good shooting principles. Shooting off stumps and branches, tripods being sunk into the earth and breathing being at odds with contorted shooting positions. All of those experience made me realize two really significant takes. 1) I shoot off something to get above ground brush a lot 2) If you don't have a system to quickly implement answers to those problems you often spend a lot of time moving and screwing around to troubleshoot those challenges. And when you leave the house thinking tonight will be a chip shot at 100 yards you have no clue when a longer shot opportunity arrives. I'm okay with my personal shooting limitations dictating how far of a shot I can take but letting my equipment rob me of an opportunity.
I decided for the folder for a lot of none typical hunting reasons. I use a gun bearer and lots of my hunting approaches start with hiking and I've tripped and slammed that rifle butt on the ground often. Pushing through the thick steep brush to get to sub alpine has really made that 6 inches of below waist stock a pain in the ass. Its a great system for when you're in a hunt-able environment and covering ground but I found it to leave a lot desired when you're climbing over dead fall and moving through dense bush. Its entirely doable with a fixed stock but Its always caused a lot of shocks to my rifle that have left me concerned about loosing zero or damaging my rig. With a folding rifle this will be a breeze on those no free hands steep alpine pushes. Additionally it makes for an awesome packability in the truck. For the times a trail head for recreational hikers meets my launching off point for a hunt Ill be able to disappear my rifle entirely. I wish that didn't matter to me but it does. If I didn't value the truck packability and the ability to put my entire rifle in my pack I don't think it would be worth it. Additionally it makes my rifle fit in my flight safe bow case.
Cons
-Tikka use a same size action so a SA tikka means your carrying a LA amount of receiver, if you care about having the lightest gun possible the Tikka isn't it.
-Folder is expensive AF and if you don't have very specific uses in mind for it I would prefer a non folding stock.
-None fluted Tikka barrel adds some weight but for me adding fluting just seemed to add a variable for incredibly small gains. I'm skeptical anyone could tell the difference between the two barrels in hand and given that I wanted to cut it down it was just not adding value.
-Vortex LHT its not the best scope on the planet but after some lack luster experience with Maven and Leopold given my scope is my most smacked optic having the idiot proof warrantee is worth it for me. There is better glass but it's light and I really like it.
Money wasting purchases or alterations to arrive at this system.
Vortex razer scope 4-16x50mm - too heavy, was part of my original interest in longer range shots, however I'm not taking 600 yard shots, its simply not needed.
MDT field Stock - It taught me the value of a chassis but its size and weight made it a pain in the ass to bring up the mountain. Ultimately its a plastic chassis that works well but plastic and heavy isn't a sweet combo.
Tikka T3 stock w/ Arca rail modification and shortened LOP - DIY threaded lugs added to the stock and cutting the LOP made for a compact rifle that was easy wielding and could mount into my tripod, However the limitations of a plastic stock with a modified Arca rail and the cons of a shorter LOP ultimately just made for an "almost" shooter experience. It was worth it and it works and for 90% of my hunts it works just fine, however dealing with some of the slop a DIY system brings it was always a nagging feeling leaving the house with this gun. I will say though for my use case a cut down barrel and stock and adding a Arca rail to the Tikka stock brings you 90% of the utility at 1/10 of the cost.
Tikka .270 /w Muzzle Break - Purchased this when starting out and listened to a friend that boasted about the perks of a muzzle break. Initially wanted to be a one gun guy. 270 is a great cartridge but if you find yourself looking to add a break to a 270 your trying to jam a square peg in a round hole. The 270 is an awesome cartridge and if you're striving to be a one gun guy this can do it. However being a hunter who the f wants just one gun. Once I acquired more rifles I really just lost the niche of where this rifle sits. The 6.5 works within my ethical range and is a joy to shoot, and its a kid/new shooter friendly cartridge. The 7mm Rem mag is just a better tool for killing larger game and after seeing Elk and Moose eat magnum shots in the correct spots why not bring a larger caliber if its in your safe.
Current Gun safe and use case
Tikka 270 Winchester /w tikka stock - Dust collector/back up rifle, Awesome gun, just works but I don't use it. But wont sell it.
Tikka 6.5 CM /w HNT 26 folder - 95% of the time I leave the house with this, lightweight compact, super stable platform
Tikka 7mm Rem mag /w tikka stock - Moose and Elk, Only use it if the LEH gods allow it. Given the nature of how I've hunted these game animals shooting off a tripod just hasn't been needed. I'm sure for some they would want a chassis or folder but for me its just not needed. I've done float trips and dense AF bush calling for these critters.
Pre 94 Winchester /w Red dot - Bush gun or bike gun, Fun to shoot, and if I'm in the woods not hunting its in the truck, or if I'm mountain bike road hunting in the thick stuff I bring this. If I think I might dump out of the truck because a black tail moved into the salal this gun is in its happy place.
Ill add pics later
Rig
Scope: Vortex razer LHT 3-15x44, G4 reticle
Action/barrel: Tikka T3lite 6.5 Creedmoore
Chassis: MDT HNT 26 carbon /w Arca rail and folding stock
Goal: Lightweight, Accurate, Compact
Hunting conditions: Vancouver Island Blacktail, Mainland Mule deer, Lower eastern bc White tail. Treestands, blinds, truck hunting, spot and stalk, still hunting.
Due to the infrequency of hunting Moose, and Elk I was content to have a caliber that is dedicated for animals of a smaller class. I have a Tikka 7mm rem mag in the event these opportunities open up. Additionally when going through my past hunting experiences I noticed a-lot of my shots were off precarious tripods or branches in order to get a clear LOS to the animal. This informed my build a lot in that I wanted something that could be directly fired off an Arca rail and allowed for quick addition or removal of a bipod. A lower recoil rifle fires off a tripod a lot nicer and makes it easier to stay on target.
Personal maximum ethical range: 400 yards
This is honestly the biggest deciding factor in my build. I've only spent a little over a decade hunting and during those years I've taken roughly 20 animals. So far the furthest shot has been 300 yards. While I intended to work on my skills to push further and further, juggling work and family life the time at the range building to shoot past 400 yards has never lined up with a ethical shot opportunity. After being long range curious I've decided its just not for me and if I'm being honest I'll likely never have the time to spend at the range for a 600 yard shot to ever be ethical. However I essentially am building a long range platform.
So based on these two points I arrived at the 6.5 creedmoore. The cartridge itself adds a lot of the long range stability that you still benefit from within 400 yards and due to the BC of the bullet, once I added my 400 yard range limit it allows for a really short barreled gun. Currently my 6.5 is cut down to a 18" barrel.
Until you've shot off a Chassis its really hard to justify spending the money on one. I purchased the MDT Field Stock after shooting a buddies PRS rig and realized how much of the struggles sitting behind the scope come from just the shear lack of ergonomics of most stocks. They work, they work great but they ask a lot of you to make the stock work, where as a chassis system is designed to work for you. And when reflecting on my times shooting at game the shot often is entirely at odds with you trying to implement good shooting principles. Shooting off stumps and branches, tripods being sunk into the earth and breathing being at odds with contorted shooting positions. All of those experience made me realize two really significant takes. 1) I shoot off something to get above ground brush a lot 2) If you don't have a system to quickly implement answers to those problems you often spend a lot of time moving and screwing around to troubleshoot those challenges. And when you leave the house thinking tonight will be a chip shot at 100 yards you have no clue when a longer shot opportunity arrives. I'm okay with my personal shooting limitations dictating how far of a shot I can take but letting my equipment rob me of an opportunity.
I decided for the folder for a lot of none typical hunting reasons. I use a gun bearer and lots of my hunting approaches start with hiking and I've tripped and slammed that rifle butt on the ground often. Pushing through the thick steep brush to get to sub alpine has really made that 6 inches of below waist stock a pain in the ass. Its a great system for when you're in a hunt-able environment and covering ground but I found it to leave a lot desired when you're climbing over dead fall and moving through dense bush. Its entirely doable with a fixed stock but Its always caused a lot of shocks to my rifle that have left me concerned about loosing zero or damaging my rig. With a folding rifle this will be a breeze on those no free hands steep alpine pushes. Additionally it makes for an awesome packability in the truck. For the times a trail head for recreational hikers meets my launching off point for a hunt Ill be able to disappear my rifle entirely. I wish that didn't matter to me but it does. If I didn't value the truck packability and the ability to put my entire rifle in my pack I don't think it would be worth it. Additionally it makes my rifle fit in my flight safe bow case.
Cons
-Tikka use a same size action so a SA tikka means your carrying a LA amount of receiver, if you care about having the lightest gun possible the Tikka isn't it.
-Folder is expensive AF and if you don't have very specific uses in mind for it I would prefer a non folding stock.
-None fluted Tikka barrel adds some weight but for me adding fluting just seemed to add a variable for incredibly small gains. I'm skeptical anyone could tell the difference between the two barrels in hand and given that I wanted to cut it down it was just not adding value.
-Vortex LHT its not the best scope on the planet but after some lack luster experience with Maven and Leopold given my scope is my most smacked optic having the idiot proof warrantee is worth it for me. There is better glass but it's light and I really like it.
Money wasting purchases or alterations to arrive at this system.
Vortex razer scope 4-16x50mm - too heavy, was part of my original interest in longer range shots, however I'm not taking 600 yard shots, its simply not needed.
MDT field Stock - It taught me the value of a chassis but its size and weight made it a pain in the ass to bring up the mountain. Ultimately its a plastic chassis that works well but plastic and heavy isn't a sweet combo.
Tikka T3 stock w/ Arca rail modification and shortened LOP - DIY threaded lugs added to the stock and cutting the LOP made for a compact rifle that was easy wielding and could mount into my tripod, However the limitations of a plastic stock with a modified Arca rail and the cons of a shorter LOP ultimately just made for an "almost" shooter experience. It was worth it and it works and for 90% of my hunts it works just fine, however dealing with some of the slop a DIY system brings it was always a nagging feeling leaving the house with this gun. I will say though for my use case a cut down barrel and stock and adding a Arca rail to the Tikka stock brings you 90% of the utility at 1/10 of the cost.
Tikka .270 /w Muzzle Break - Purchased this when starting out and listened to a friend that boasted about the perks of a muzzle break. Initially wanted to be a one gun guy. 270 is a great cartridge but if you find yourself looking to add a break to a 270 your trying to jam a square peg in a round hole. The 270 is an awesome cartridge and if you're striving to be a one gun guy this can do it. However being a hunter who the f wants just one gun. Once I acquired more rifles I really just lost the niche of where this rifle sits. The 6.5 works within my ethical range and is a joy to shoot, and its a kid/new shooter friendly cartridge. The 7mm Rem mag is just a better tool for killing larger game and after seeing Elk and Moose eat magnum shots in the correct spots why not bring a larger caliber if its in your safe.
Current Gun safe and use case
Tikka 270 Winchester /w tikka stock - Dust collector/back up rifle, Awesome gun, just works but I don't use it. But wont sell it.
Tikka 6.5 CM /w HNT 26 folder - 95% of the time I leave the house with this, lightweight compact, super stable platform
Tikka 7mm Rem mag /w tikka stock - Moose and Elk, Only use it if the LEH gods allow it. Given the nature of how I've hunted these game animals shooting off a tripod just hasn't been needed. I'm sure for some they would want a chassis or folder but for me its just not needed. I've done float trips and dense AF bush calling for these critters.
Pre 94 Winchester /w Red dot - Bush gun or bike gun, Fun to shoot, and if I'm in the woods not hunting its in the truck, or if I'm mountain bike road hunting in the thick stuff I bring this. If I think I might dump out of the truck because a black tail moved into the salal this gun is in its happy place.
Ill add pics later
