Exterra Precision Hunter Rings Review

[Justin Crossley]

Hey guys, @mtnwrunner (Randy) and I are both testing out the Exterra Precision Hunter Scope Rings. Randy will write a full review later, but we wanted to get this thread started so you all could ask questions and give feedback.



I received my Tikka rings last week and got them mounted per the instructions.





My plan was to take the rifle up into the mountains and do some legit testing, but there were a bunch of trees down, so I was limited to a morning at the range.



I am competing in the NRL Hunter match this weekend, so I'll bring this rifle along for some testing as well. I'll try to do a drop test if I have time on Thursday.


@Fred@Exterra @robby denning

 

[robby denning]

looks good JC,

does the QR code give torque specs?

 

[Fred@Exterra]

looks good JC,

does the QR code give torque specs?

It better

But we had to be a little judicious on how we recommend torque specs on the top caps… some scope manufacturers recommend a very low torque spec in order to protect their tubes, especially on light weight scopes with very thin walls. What might work for a 14 ounce Nikon would be entirely inappropriate for a 35 ounce Nightforce & vis versa.

On some scopes we go as high as 27 inch pounds, on others it may be as low as 15 inch pounds. We’ve have gone to much higher torque without ring or screw

failure.

We’ve done a bunch of testing on this topic & designed geometry on the ID of the scope ring to increase grip & decrease the possibility of scope pinch.

Here’s a few of the misc scopes we are using right now… minus the scopes that are stuck on hunting rifles for tomorrow

 

[basko152]

These look great. Following for review information.

 

[Justin Crossley]

looks good JC,

does the QR code give torque specs?

Yep. It takes you to the full installation instructions.

 

[RWT]

Curious. When are we dropping these things? Very interested to see how they would perform on the drop test after being LT380’d to the action.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Curious. When are we dropping these things? Very interested to see how they would perform on the drop test after being LT380’d to the action.

I'm planning to do some shooting next Saturday, so I will try to get it done.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I took the 6.5 CM out last Saturday and performed a short version of the drop test.

First, I checked zero, all good.

Then I dropped it from waist height onto my shooting mat, once on each of the three sides, with a shot after each drop. The rifle is still zeroed and ready to go. I wouldn't have any worries taking these rings on a hunt where I'd have to travel and wouldn't be able to check zero before hunting.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Along with Justin, I also received a set of these rings to give a go.
Mounted them up on a tikka sporter in 6.5 creedmoor. 4.2 ounces.



Very detailed paper instructions including all torque specs.



One very nice feature is that Exterra gives you the sight height above your bore which is engraved on the bottom of the one piece mount. In this case, medium rings showed 1.810 inches for a tikka t3x and this was spot on.

 

[Fred@Exterra]

Along with Justin, I also received a set of these rings to give a go.
Mounted them up on a tikka sporter in 6.5 creedmoor. 4.2 ounces.

View attachment 1071641

Very detailed paper instructions including all torque specs.

View attachment 1071642View attachment 1071643View attachment 1071644View attachment 1071645

One very nice feature is that Exterra gives you the sight height above your bore which is engraved on the bottom of the one piece mount. In this case, medium rings showed 1.810 inches for a tikka t3x and this was spot on.

View attachment 1071657

Which stock is that, I like the lines.


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[naked wombats]

Which stock is that, I like the lines.

Tikka Sporter
Euro optic still has a few of those rifles in stock. They are proud of them though.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Yes, tikka sporter.

 

[naked wombats]

Yes, tikka sporter.

How do you like it?

 

[slowelk]

I’m interested in these as an alternative to the UM tikka rings. Hoping for more reports of reliability. Interesting that they are the same listed weight as the UM rings at 4.2oz, I would think these would have quite a bit more material.

 

[naked wombats]

Are yall bonding these rings to the action, or screws only?

 

[mtnwrunner]

How do you like it?

Very much, especially the grip.

 

[mtnwrunner]

I have not bonded these as I will be switching them between several rifles.
So far, they have been reliable and ive been shooting them for a week or so (no issues whatsoever) during our annual rockchuck safari and I will also be using them the next couple of weeks at the shoot2hunt classes.

Randy

 

[Fred@Exterra]

I’m interested in these as an alternative to the UM tikka rings. Hoping for more reports of reliability. Interesting that they are the same listed weight as the UM rings at 4.2oz, I would think these would have quite a bit more material.

I did quite a bit of FEA (finite element analysis) to optimize the geometry for weight while still maintaining the structural strength. That, coupled with using 7075 aluminum allows us to keep the weight pretty low.


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[Fred@Exterra]

Are yall bonding these rings to the action, or screws only?

Bonding the rings to the action should not be needed. We use a combination of four custom 17-4 H900 shoulder screws and two tapered pins that fit into the lugs on the Tikka action. This, combined with the one piece design, prevents the catastrophic shear failure & movement that can cause issues on rings & bases that use four mild steel fasteners.


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