This is my first post on here. I hope it’s not too redundant, as somewhat similar questions have been asked, but I have recently moved to the west, and would like some advice and opinions on rifle and set up.
For background, I’ve been hunting for 30 years or so, almost entirely whitetails, quite a bit in Texas, a few in Oklahoma and Arkansas, but mostly in Virginia. My only practical rifle that I currently own is a T/C Compass (first generation) chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. It is currently wearing a Vortex Diamondback HP 4-16 x 42 scope, mounted in Weaver rings on the stock dovetail bases. The only modifications to the gun itself, is an Mcarbo trigger spring and an aftermarket oversized bolt handle. Oh, and the sponge paint job on the stock by yours truly!
I am quite comfortable with this rifle, having shot it nearly exclusively for the past six years. I’ve shot one coyote and one turkey, both around the 300 yard mark, countless deer at ranges from 15 to 440 yards, and 2 late season cow elk in Montana at 359 and 409 yards respectively. Going forward with the prospect of hunting antelope, mule deer and elk around my home on a consistent basis, I find myself in a delightful rifle dilemma, that I welcome any comments or opinions on! I should probably mention that I have a wife and five kids, and the hunting budget is fairly thin.
These are the options I am considering:
1. Continue to use this rifle as is, and never think another thing about it. This is probably the wisest choice, but extremely boring!
2. Start saving money in minds of buying a high-end rifle somewhere down the road, when experience will have taught me what I think I truly need
3. Dump money into my current gun. In some ways, this is the most appealing option to me. Perhaps upgrade scope and mounting system. I do not like the flimsy, plastic stock, and I thought about putting an MDT Oryx chassis on it. Really the only other option I’ve come across for an aftermarket stock is a Boyds, and for reasons I can’t totally explain, that does not really appeal to me.
I really do like this rifle, and it has never let me down. It’s far more accurate than I can shoot, and has the three position safety very similar to the Winchester model 70’s that I first started hunting with when I was a teenager. Everything about action and barrel feels real solid, I just have the question if a cheap gun like this is worth investing more money in.
A suppressor is on the short list, regardless what route I take.
I apologize for the length of this post. Any thoughts and opinions are very welcome. Thank you!
For background, I’ve been hunting for 30 years or so, almost entirely whitetails, quite a bit in Texas, a few in Oklahoma and Arkansas, but mostly in Virginia. My only practical rifle that I currently own is a T/C Compass (first generation) chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. It is currently wearing a Vortex Diamondback HP 4-16 x 42 scope, mounted in Weaver rings on the stock dovetail bases. The only modifications to the gun itself, is an Mcarbo trigger spring and an aftermarket oversized bolt handle. Oh, and the sponge paint job on the stock by yours truly!
I am quite comfortable with this rifle, having shot it nearly exclusively for the past six years. I’ve shot one coyote and one turkey, both around the 300 yard mark, countless deer at ranges from 15 to 440 yards, and 2 late season cow elk in Montana at 359 and 409 yards respectively. Going forward with the prospect of hunting antelope, mule deer and elk around my home on a consistent basis, I find myself in a delightful rifle dilemma, that I welcome any comments or opinions on! I should probably mention that I have a wife and five kids, and the hunting budget is fairly thin.
These are the options I am considering:
1. Continue to use this rifle as is, and never think another thing about it. This is probably the wisest choice, but extremely boring!
2. Start saving money in minds of buying a high-end rifle somewhere down the road, when experience will have taught me what I think I truly need
3. Dump money into my current gun. In some ways, this is the most appealing option to me. Perhaps upgrade scope and mounting system. I do not like the flimsy, plastic stock, and I thought about putting an MDT Oryx chassis on it. Really the only other option I’ve come across for an aftermarket stock is a Boyds, and for reasons I can’t totally explain, that does not really appeal to me.
I really do like this rifle, and it has never let me down. It’s far more accurate than I can shoot, and has the three position safety very similar to the Winchester model 70’s that I first started hunting with when I was a teenager. Everything about action and barrel feels real solid, I just have the question if a cheap gun like this is worth investing more money in.
A suppressor is on the short list, regardless what route I take.
I apologize for the length of this post. Any thoughts and opinions are very welcome. Thank you!
