B_Reynolds_AK
WKR
I arranged a Hike & Shoot with fellow Rokslider’s @Marty and @Marbles in the local mountains yesterday.
With their families in tow, we started hiking into the Alpine to my favorite long range shooting area.
The wind was ripping. 12-20 mph with gusts to 30. We engaged steel plates at 450-1000+
Marbles with his .243 Tikka Rokstok/AB Raptor 8
Marty with his 7 PRC Element 4.0 /Banish Backcountry
and I with my 6 CM HNT 26 / Scythe-Ti
The Rokstok is beautiful in person, in a functional Rokslider type of way.
We all swapped rifles multiple times and shot in a large variety of field positions for a total of appx 150 rounds.
Example below of where the HNT 26 on a tripod can be used to build a very good shooting position in difficult terrain. Multiple first round hits were fired from here at 750-850 yards.
The natural feel of the Rokstok is very good. I’ve always loved the Clymr and this is just that much better. The length of pull is just fine for my 5’6” shorter stature and reach. This is something I was concerned about. Non issue like @Formidilosus said.
The negative come feels nice, but with such a light recoiling cartridge, I’m not sure I really felt like it was making a difference in spotting my shots compared to the HNT 26.
A 40 lb 6 yr old girl and a 10 ft lb recoiling gun in the Rokstok.
My 8 lb 6 CM, including Scythe-Ti. Barnes 112 Match Burner’s going 2950 fps from the 18” barrel.
This Rokstok had the Pic/Spartan fore end. I attached it to my RRS tripod for a number of shots. Being so far out towards the muzzle, it was a bit of a reach to control the head.
My Takeaway’s:
For the hunting I do, the HNT 26 wins out over the Rokstok in 2 key areas:
Many of the positions I shoot from, and have killed sheep in ( 8 now) , are made possible by the use of a tripod set up in terrain that would make it very difficult or even impossible without one. Ie. Shooting away from a steep slope. The full length Arca fore end on the HNT 26 is fantastic for this.
The folding ability of the stock is very useful for having it strapped to the pack while bushwhacking in Alaskan brush, alders and deadfall. IYKYK
Suppressors:
Scythe-Ti was the clear winner in sound suppression.
Banish Backcountry on the 7 PRC is good, but with all that extra powder, was the loudest.
AB Raptor 8 7.62 was very good, just a bit louder than the Scythe on both the 243 and 6 CM.
My AB Raptor 8 .375 was still hearing safe when tried on both smaller guns, but had a louder pop and even some muzzle flash out the end. It’s ridiculously quiet on my 9mm MP5k though. On the 338 Fed, which wasn’t here this time, it’s probably the best lightweight option available.
Thanks @Marbles and @Marty
for a great evening. Marbles, his 6 y/o daughter and I camped out there.
Our respective DCF shelters shook violently through the night as the wind gusted to 40+.
We hiked out in heavy rain this morning.
With their families in tow, we started hiking into the Alpine to my favorite long range shooting area.
The wind was ripping. 12-20 mph with gusts to 30. We engaged steel plates at 450-1000+
Marbles with his .243 Tikka Rokstok/AB Raptor 8
Marty with his 7 PRC Element 4.0 /Banish Backcountry
and I with my 6 CM HNT 26 / Scythe-Ti
The Rokstok is beautiful in person, in a functional Rokslider type of way.
We all swapped rifles multiple times and shot in a large variety of field positions for a total of appx 150 rounds.
Example below of where the HNT 26 on a tripod can be used to build a very good shooting position in difficult terrain. Multiple first round hits were fired from here at 750-850 yards.
The natural feel of the Rokstok is very good. I’ve always loved the Clymr and this is just that much better. The length of pull is just fine for my 5’6” shorter stature and reach. This is something I was concerned about. Non issue like @Formidilosus said.
The negative come feels nice, but with such a light recoiling cartridge, I’m not sure I really felt like it was making a difference in spotting my shots compared to the HNT 26.
A 40 lb 6 yr old girl and a 10 ft lb recoiling gun in the Rokstok.
My 8 lb 6 CM, including Scythe-Ti. Barnes 112 Match Burner’s going 2950 fps from the 18” barrel.
This Rokstok had the Pic/Spartan fore end. I attached it to my RRS tripod for a number of shots. Being so far out towards the muzzle, it was a bit of a reach to control the head.
My Takeaway’s:
For the hunting I do, the HNT 26 wins out over the Rokstok in 2 key areas:
Many of the positions I shoot from, and have killed sheep in ( 8 now) , are made possible by the use of a tripod set up in terrain that would make it very difficult or even impossible without one. Ie. Shooting away from a steep slope. The full length Arca fore end on the HNT 26 is fantastic for this.
The folding ability of the stock is very useful for having it strapped to the pack while bushwhacking in Alaskan brush, alders and deadfall. IYKYK
Suppressors:
Scythe-Ti was the clear winner in sound suppression.
Banish Backcountry on the 7 PRC is good, but with all that extra powder, was the loudest.
AB Raptor 8 7.62 was very good, just a bit louder than the Scythe on both the 243 and 6 CM.
My AB Raptor 8 .375 was still hearing safe when tried on both smaller guns, but had a louder pop and even some muzzle flash out the end. It’s ridiculously quiet on my 9mm MP5k though. On the 338 Fed, which wasn’t here this time, it’s probably the best lightweight option available.
Thanks @Marbles and @Marty
for a great evening. Marbles, his 6 y/o daughter and I camped out there.
Our respective DCF shelters shook violently through the night as the wind gusted to 40+.
We hiked out in heavy rain this morning.
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