S2H course - June 2026

[RancherJohn]

Dang, hearing all of this gets me excited to sign up for this course. Hoping to sign up for next year or the year after. It sounds like a blast and love hearing all of the growth people have had.

Has anyone in this or a previous course used a tikka 6 arc as their trainer? I just had one put together as my do all rifle and have been debating picking up either a 223 or a 6cm as a second rifle. I live in WA so there is a 6mm minimum, but my group consistently draws tags for ID and MT. Wondering if anyone has any insight on what would be the preferred second rifle to bring to the course.

Is anyone using wiser quick sticks in this course or are the trekking pole straps more advantageous some how?

How important is a solid bino adapter for the tripod spotting shots at distance in the wind? Currently using a Field Optics Research Rapid-Release. It does the job, but it definitely doesn't lock the binos down and they have a little wiggle to them even though the tripod head and arca attachment are solid. Bumping them with your nose or the wind will induce a little wiggle which I can see making spotting splash more difficult. Hasn't been a big deal for me spotting game, but just curious.

Is it recommended to bring a tripod and big binos/spotter to glass? Is anyone using Sig Zulu's of higher mag instead? On some back country hunts this year I'm opting to leave my big glass and tripod at home and run some Sig's so if I showed up to class without a tripod would that hinder me in any way?

When you guys adjust the turrets from hunting ammo to practice ammo are you slipping the turrets the difference or are you just mentally adding the difference to the dial amount and keeping track of that?

Do you really need the molinator and jelly fish? I assumed the backpack was your front bag so why do you need a bag on a bag (bag inception?) and is the rear bag actually touching the rifle or is it mainly just a gap filler so you can get a firm hold with your hand?

Thanks for the insight!

I would rent a .223 trainer before shooting a 6mm all week. You'll be working with a partner at times and it's very handy to have the same mags and ammo as them (everything supports the shooter in their task, that may mean giving them a reload or just handing them your rifle).

I have not shot with the quick sticks, if you have them already I would bring them but be open to using the straps as well. Most of the course is not about specific gear being the only way, it is about a foundation that good gear will build upon.

For spotting shots, a 10x set of binos will not cut it (this isn't only in the class, it's a real-life thing too). You will not be SOL without something with more mag, but it will hold you back at times on giving good feedback as a spotter. Do not feel the need to buy additional binos before the course. The mounting method should be fast and secure, you will be deploying the tripod and binos a lot under time constraints. Bring the tripod, you will need it for the flat range work.

You will do multiple things with your turrets, don't get lost in minutia like hunting ammo vs training ammo and when to slip them. You'll be tearing your rifle down and doing a new zero anyways.

The molinator and jelly fish are handy bags to have for the range work, and the molinator goes well on your pack. They are not required if you have other small shooting bags, but they are both good bags to have in general.

There is a lot of good info in this thread and the others that cover the S2H courses. The biggest thing is don't overthink it, pack like you would for a hunt (there's a packing list/recommended gear list, follow it). If you're driving, bring the extra stuff you would on a hunt. If you're flying you can ship things like tripods if you don't have the room. You aren't going to 'game' the gear, you can switch your gear mid day and try new things. You'll be encouraged to test anything you'd like to against the clock, gear choices will reveal themselves to be good or bad based on time and accuracy.

You may learn more from 'bad' gear choices than you do from good ones; both your own choices and that of your classmates.

 

[ckt3]

Has anyone in this or a previous course used a tikka 6 arc as their trainer? I just had one put together as my do all rifle and have been debating picking up either a 223 or a 6cm as a second rifle. I live in WA so there is a 6mm minimum, but my group consistently draws tags for ID and MT. Wondering if anyone has any insight on what would be the preferred second rifle to bring to the course.

I’m also in WA and using 6 ARC as my primary rifle. The ARC barrel life is great so I don’t mind training with it and replacing the barrel if I ever shoot it out.

I have a Tikka 223 ordered though because I have kids that’ll shoot it one day and it’s fun so why not. I’ll probably end up buying bulk ammo for that and training a lot with it too. Should have some ammo savings that add up there.

For what it’s worth, Form stated some thoughts on 6 ARC here:

Post in thread '6ARC Tikka'

Oct 2, 2024

So I had toyed around with 6arc in the past. I picked up a howa mini but wasn’t fond of the action or trigger. I currently have a 223 and 6.5 prc tikka, and I know tikka doesn’t make a 6arc factory (nor a 6mm creed either) but it got me thinking:
-Legal to hunt anywhere that allows centerfire (unlike the 22 cals)
-in most areas it’s a 6-700 (depending on where it gets to 1800fps) yard gun
-same BC bullet as the 6 creed, just slower out the muzzle (at least with factory rounds)
-cheaper ammo ($.99/round for 108 eldm on ammo seek)
-long barrel life (maybe not as high as a 308 but pretty...

• Formidilosus

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[dreamingWest]

What's the latest choice for Tikka magazines by S2H instructors?

IMO, the factory magazine is the weak link. My factory 6.5 PRC magazine is unusable. I guess I could get Beretta to replace it, likely a bad spring. The Sako metal one I bought requires smashing it in to fit the factory stock. I bought a 3-rd factory Tikka magazine and it's the best of the three, but since the ammo is so short in the magazine, I can see this being a Murphy issue during a hunt.

My factory .223 magazines have been okay.
I just got a 6 Creed and the M+ factory mag which seems okay.

 

[ckt3]

What's the latest choice for Tikka magazines by S2H instructors?

IMO, the factory magazine is the weak link. My factory 6.5 PRC magazine is unusable. I guess I could get Beretta to replace it, likely a bad spring. The Sako metal one I bought requires smashing it in to fit the factory stock. I bought a 3-rd factory Tikka magazine and it's the best of the three, but since the ammo is so short in the magazine, I can see this being a Murphy issue during a hunt.

My factory .223 magazines have been okay.
I just got a 6 Creed and the M+ factory mag which seems okay.

I’m wondering the same. Looks like Mambamags are no longer available. Considering going to an AICS bottom metal

 

[Ajsomp]

I fully understand that there is no way online would be as good as in person but i was really hoping the online version would still happen. Being in Aus the cost of travel and time and renting rifles and buying ammo as i wouldnt be able to fly with all my own gear makes it pretty much not achievable for me. Was hoping to see an interactive version where you could film yourself a submit for review. But i get thats a pretty big ask of the instructors

I believe there’s something in the works for New Zealand. Do some instruction then get some field experience shooting critters. But not sure of timeline