This is the WHY........

[mtnwrunner]

Recently did a 18 day backcountry hunting trip in a tough mountainous area which wrecked havoc on my rifle.
Tikka 6 creed, rokstock, ACE barrel, UM rings, maven RS 1.2, UM OG supressor.
Didn't count them, but I and the rifle fell about 8 times, used my rifle as a trekking pole for about a mile (some dumb ass left them as he was after a buck) and basically beat the shit out of it. Even tossed it while grabbing brush trying not to go over a small cliff.
Never had a doubt about it's zero because of the system. Took a buck on day 15.
Checked it's zero today......this is WHY I use equipment that is proven and reliable.


Randy

 

[Steve300xcw]

congrats?

 

[RWT]

We need a Tv Crew and editor to break down the video to show the stumbles and bumbles of a week long hunt. Edit it down to a 30 minute only showing the UHOH moments. This will help “sell” the system.

I am assuming there are only 30 mins of those scenarios. Knowing my knees I would need a mini series to show how often I am on the ground.

 

[98XJRC]

There's a reason why so many come to this forum. Beyond the basic knowledge that's on this forum is also the real world testing a small percentage of members here put gear through on a fairly regular basis. What works ok for day trips/ range days doesn't mean that it'll hold up to heavy use and or abuse when on trips.

There's a reason why Spot Hogg is overbuilt, Trijicon RMR was the king of the pistol red dot market for years, Aimpoint, Nightforce, etc. Those companies have built their reputation on being durable and able to withstand the rigors of whatever are thrown at them and still perform as intended without the need to re-zero and be ready when the time comes that we need them. They are the benchmark that most others are trying to achieve.

Congrats on a great hunt and a well built rifle.

 

[Marbles]

But, I was previously assured by team Leupold I just needed to do granny exercises and I wouldn't fall any more. Apparently sit to stands are better than full depth pistol squats at helping with such things.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Real world versus Internet theory strikes again! Great post!

I’ve had to rezero 4 guns in the last week in Minnesota. Looking at 2 more here in a bit now that I’m in Wyoming.

Gun 1 Culprit. Loose at the scope base to action mount. Ruger number 1.

Gun 2 Culprit. Barrel touching stock causing shifts. Winchester model 70.

Gun 3 Culprit. Vortex Viper sitting in a safe for a year is all I can muster. Likely lost zero during week long rifle season. I zeroed it last November. Was off 3 MOA at 100 yards.

Gun 4 Culprit. Burris Fullfield sitting in a safe for a year is all I can muster. Likely lost zero during week long rifle season. I zeroed it last November. Was off 2.5 MOA at 100 yards.


Meanwhile, my guns all rode loose in the backseat and back floor of my truck with other gear, jackets, etc. Most of which have only ever been rezeored because of new ammo lots, new barrels, or changing suppressors.

They all rode almost 2,000 miles that way. Showed up in nearly 100 degree colder weather from when they were zeroed, and none of them had lost their 100 yard zero. All guns dope confirmed with good hits out to just under 900 yards.

 

[amassi]

I think the disconnect between your experience and subsequent gear choices and those who will be along shortly to poopoo it is you just did more serious hunting in 15 days then they will do in 15 lifetimes. Que the fella from the other day using his gear “hard” shooting on a flat range off a sloped “roof”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ID_Matt]

All that rock climbing and falling in the high country just to shoot one off the beach LOL

 

[woods89]

I've mentioned it before, but in 2023 I and a buddy were headed up to hunt early one morning. I hit a patch of ice and rolled my 4runner on it's top.

Laying loose in the back was my 6.5 CM with a Nightforce SHV 3-10. That scope, and my mounting system and techniques (torqued, loctited, witness marked) had been selected because of some of the guidance I had read on here.

That afternoon we went and checked zero after the wreck had been dealt with. Still zeroed......

That was a confidence builder.

 

[JohnJohnson]

I put together a rifle to resist zero shifts for an AZ hunt I just got back from. I didn't know I'd be testing it so quickly. On the second day of a 5 day hunt my rifle dropped off my pack and landed on some rocks from about 3-4 feet up. First on the suppressor and then onto the scope (7-35 ATACR). I checked zero and it was right where I left it.

 

[Schmo]

Nice work Randy! Here’s where I insert the Fudd line “I don’t drop my rifle”. Yeah, sure you don’t. The only guys who never drop their rifle are the ones with a 100 yard walk from the truck to the blind.

But I gotta say, the drop evals are meaningless! There’s no significant difference between Maven/SWFA/Nightforce and a Leupold.

I KID!

I love how using the proven scopes, rings, and mounting techniques, gives us these types of results regularly. I worry very little about my zero shifting, because my system is set up good.

 

[mt terry d]

All that rock climbing and falling in the high country just to shoot one off the beach LOL

"Hunt smarter not harder".

It takes many decades to reach the level of patience and intelligence required to accomplish this.
Many, many many.....................................

Nicely done

 

[HuntHarder]

Nice work Randy! Here’s where I insert the Fudd line “I don’t drop my rifle”. Yeah, sure you don’t. The only guys who never drop their rifle are the ones with a 100 yard walk from the truck to the blind.

But I gotta say, the drop evals are meaningless! There’s no significant difference between Maven/SWFA/Nightforce and a Leupold.

I KID!

I love how using the proven scopes, rings, and mounting techniques, gives us these types of results regularly. I worry very little about my zero shifting, because my system is set up good.

Honest question, Do you fall often on hunts? I set my rifles up to handle a fall, but honestly can not remember falling, ever on my rifle. Maybe I will when I get older, but at this point, I can not remember falling. Maybe it's the terrain I hunt, or the typical lack of icy conditions. .

Some guys seem to fall multiple times on hunts. Can we attribute this to lack of agility training or age? Over packed packs, weight shifting in packs. I often wonder how much agility training guys put in through out the year to prepare for their hunts.

We read about preparing your rifle system for a fall, but rarely read about preparing your body to prevent a fall. Admittedly, it is much easier to set your rifle up to survive a fall, vs. Setting up your body to try and prevent one.

 

[pacoalcracker]

Nice, however there are many other brands of everything mentioned out there that will accomplish the very same task of reliability. Let's be realistic. I know, you have to be a RS salesman too. We all get that. I think the better point is that you have to be mindful to use only quality components and put them together in a solid, proper fashion. I like that comment about getting your body in the same reliable shape as your gear. Agility methods/practice are used by every pro and college sports team, because they work.

 

[handwerk]

I've fallen bad 2x the last year or so, both hard landings for my customized Kimber 6.5 CM/Nightforce NXS,
in Montana helping a friend pack a bull out as I walked across a rockface a dead limb caught my pant's cuff resulting in me and my rifle doing a faceplant on a rockface= bloody nose/black eye.
This fall while packing a bear out on a rockslide a rock shifted and my whole body landed in the rocks on top the rifle. Even with the dreaded Talley LWTs. I've not had to re-zero my scope.
At 59 I still consider myself fairly agile.

 

[mt terry d]

I think strength is a big factor in not falling/traction/balance
Busting a leg a few years ago took a toll, atrophied muscles don't rebuild
quickly or easily when you're approaching 70.

I've found screwing sheet metal screws into my soles helping almost as
much as trekking canes.

However it's just a natural reaction to attempt to protect the rifle when going down,
not that it's always possible

 

[Marbles]

Honest question, Do you fall often on hunts? I set my rifles up to handle a fall, but honestly can not remember falling, ever on my rifle. Maybe I will when I get older, but at this point, I can not remember falling. Maybe it's the terrain I hunt, or the typical lack of icy conditions. .

Some guys seem to fall multiple times on hunts. Can we attribute this to lack of agility training or age? Over packed packs, weight shifting in packs. I often wonder how much agility training guys put in through out the year to prepare for their hunts.

We read about preparing your rifle system for a fall, but rarely read about preparing your body to prevent a fall. Admittedly, it is much easier to set your rifle up to survive a fall, vs. Setting up your body to try and prevent one.

It is terrain and conditions, move over rough enough country and it is simply a question of when you fall. If your body and brain are not prepared, you aren't likely accessing the country to start with.

The gym can help with the body part, it is not going to train your central nervous system to move across the ground safety, or to fall in such a way that it is just part of the walk.

This is one of those things were if you have to ask, you simply lack a conception of the places some people comfortably move through.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Good shooting and good plug for maven!

 

[N2TRKYS]

Are the pics that you posted an example of the rough terrain that you kept falling down in?

 

[Brontosaurus]

Honest question, Do you fall often on hunts? I set my rifles up to handle a fall, but honestly can not remember falling, ever on my rifle. Maybe I will when I get older, but at this point, I can not remember falling. Maybe it's the terrain I hunt, or the typical lack of icy conditions. .

Some guys seem to fall multiple times on hunts. Can we attribute this to lack of agility training or age? Over packed packs, weight shifting in packs. I often wonder how much agility training guys put in through out the year to prepare for their hunts.

We read about preparing your rifle system for a fall, but rarely read about preparing your body to prevent a fall. Admittedly, it is much easier to set your rifle up to survive a fall, vs. Setting up your body to try and prevent one.

Have you ever walked any substantial amount in steep heavy deadfall? Pack or not stumbling in that terrian is simply a given for me. But yeah if your stumbling hiking up a regular hill you got more things than your rifle system to worry about.