NRL Hunter

[Justin Crossley]

Who has done an NRL Hunter match? @Travis Bertrand and I have shot a couple and they are a blast! Tons of great practice in two days of shooting. The matches force you into scenarios that make you think and make you a better shooter.

 

[XLR]

The different ways to tackle situations is one of my favorites too! I feel like this series has highlighted the different benefits of using tripods! Glassing off them, shooting over the top of the brush, or even using them for rear support! Definitely, a fun way to brush up on your shooting skills!!

 

[Lawnboi]

Wish we had some closer, next year I’m going to try to make one either in Wyoming or east of as my big match for the year.

You guys who have shot them, how much of a disadvantage would you be at to shoot with a bdl setup? My only Lighter rifle that makes power factor easily is a bdl that will hold 5 down. I know there is the skills division but if I’m traveling for a match I want to compete.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Wish we had some closer, next year I’m going to try to make one either in Wyoming or east of as my big match for the year.

You guys who have shot them, how much of a disadvantage would you be at to shoot with a bdl setup? My only Lighter rifle that makes power factor easily is a bdl that will hold 5 down. I know there is the skills division but if I’m traveling for a match I want to compete.

That would be a big disadvantage since you have to load on the clock. Travis did it once and said it sucked.

 

[ID_Matt]

I have been to a few. They are a blast. Shot as a team at the last one and that is really fun! I think it is about as good of practice for hunting scenarios as it gets. You can game it and treat it like a true competition or pack what you would for hunting and get great practice. Really forces you to get creative with getting a stable position on the clock just like in hunting.

 

[Lawnboi]

That would be a big disadvantage since you have to load on the clock. Travis did it once and said it sucked.

Dang, did you time out at all?

I don’t think I can make power factor with my 20” 6.5cm, but I can try.

Otherwise I’ll be stuck with the bdl on a 3006.

I can’t justify another lighter chassis quite yet.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Dang, did you time out at all?

I don’t think I can make power factor with my 20” 6.5cm, but I can try.

Otherwise I’ll be stuck with the bdl on a 3006.

I can’t justify another lighter chassis quite yet.

I did time out on one stage between the two matches but it was my first ever stage so that wasn't surprising. I've had a few others that I finished with only a second or two left. Time is/can be a huge factor, especially if you have any trouble finding the targets or have to move to four different positions.

Power factor isn't considered if you shoot factory ammo out of your 6.5cm, so that's an option.

 

[hereinaz]

Dang, did you time out at all?

I don’t think I can make power factor with my 20” 6.5cm, but I can try.

Otherwise I’ll be stuck with the bdl on a 3006.

I can’t justify another lighter chassis quite yet.

Just shoot what you want without regard to weight class, or shoot factory ammo with the 6.5. The 30-06 would suck with BDL.

 

[Lawnboi]

Just shoot what you want without regard to weight class, or shoot factory ammo with the 6.5. The 30-06 would suck with BDL.

I’ll have to give 147s a go and see if I can get 2600. The thought of 40 plus a box for factory ammo that may or may not shoot for me isn’t appealing but who knows where we will be next year.

My normal match rifle won’t be making weight even in the heavy class.

I do think a weekend behind a suppressed 3006 would get old.

 

[XLR]

I’ll have to give 147s a go and see if I can get 2600. The thought of 40 plus a box for factory ammo that may or may not shoot for me isn’t appealing but who knows where we will be next year.

My normal match rifle won’t be making weight even in the heavy class.

I do think a weekend behind a suppressed 3006 would get old.

You could always do the loaner rifle program!

 

[wind gypsy]

I’ll have to give 147s a go and see if I can get 2600. The thought of 40 plus a box for factory ammo that may or may not shoot for me isn’t appealing but who knows where we will be next year.

My normal match rifle won’t be making weight even in the heavy class.

I do think a weekend behind a suppressed 3006 would get old.

BERGER AMMO 6.5 CREEDMOOR 140g(LRP) HYB-TGT 20b 10c - Graf & Sons

The Berger 6.5mm 140gr Hybrid target bullet is one of the top performing bullets in long range precision rifle target style competitions. It has quickly become one of Berger’s top selling bullets, and for a reason. It is an optimized hybrid design that has a very high BC for its weight and...

www.grafs.com

 

[Lawnboi]

BERGER AMMO 6.5 CREEDMOOR 140g(LRP) HYB-TGT 20b 10c - Graf & Sons

The Berger 6.5mm 140gr Hybrid target bullet is one of the top performing bullets in long range precision rifle target style competitions. It has quickly become one of Berger’s top selling bullets, and for a reason. It is an optimized hybrid design that has a very high BC for its weight and...

www.grafs.com

I wish I could justify 2 cases of that stuff like I could when it was $26 a box.

I’m going to see what 147s do in the 20”. Iv got everything to load but the bullets. I won’t be doing any nrl till next year so Iv got time to be picky. Hard for me to spend 2+ a round when I got brass primers and 30 pounds of h4350. I don’t see 2600 being a problem with them.

On a side note where are all the 140 hybrids if they are pumping out ammo with them.

 

[Hondo64d]

The way NRL decided power factor is very frustrating. There is nothing in the lower 48 I wouldn’t or couldn’t kill with a 6.5 CM, yet with handloads from a 24” barrel it just barely makes their required “power factor” and it needs to launch a 140gr or heavier bullet to do that. It greatly favors heavy bullets. I’ve killed a bunch of stuff with 120s to 130s from the 6.5x47 and the 6.5 Creedmoor and they work fine. I also find it curious that by using factory ammo, you don’t have to make power factor. Talk about inconsistencies…

John

 

[Justin Crossley]

The way NRL decided power factor is very frustrating. There is nothing in the lower 48 I wouldn’t or couldn’t kill with a 6.5 CM, yet with handloads from a 24” barrel it just barely makes their required “power factor” and it needs to launch a 140gr or heavier bullet to do that. It greatly favors heavy bullets. I’ve killed a bunch of stuff with 120s to 130s from the 6.5x47 and the 6.5 Creedmoor and they work fine. I also find it curious that by using factory ammo, you don’t have to make power factor. Talk about inconsistencies…

John

I think people would complain no matter what the power factor requirement. If 6mm were allowed, people would ask why they couldn't use their 22 Creedmoor with 77-grain TMK's.

 

[wind gypsy]

I think people would complain no matter what the power factor requirement. If 6mm were allowed, people would ask why they couldn't use their 22 Creedmoor with 77-grain TMK's.

Agreed.

The power factor thing seems reasonable to me. They basically said 6.5 creed is the basement and wanted to make sure folks with a 6.5 creed who don't reload weren't left in the dark.

With a 24" 6.5 creed a handloader shouldn't have to push it that hard to get over the 2715 FPS threshold. A look a the precision rifle blog "what the pros use" data shows the vast majority of 6.5 creed and even 6.5x47 IIRC loads already used in competition would qualify for power factor. I don't know how much lower they could go and still have power factor even be worth having?

 

[hereinaz]

Pretty much my read is that the power factor is set up so no 6mm could compete without saying 6mm couldn't compete. They genuinely wanted to make it more hunting realistic and avoid the 6mm trap of PRS and NRL. But they had to add factory ammo for the 6.5 creed because power factor was too high for shorter factory barrels.