New Stalker - First rifle - Advice

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CarlHoward said:
I've reviewed all comments made Emilio. I appreciate your input.
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Yet you do nothing with the input and go for the few exceptions that prove you are going the right way.
Conclusion: you just really want the gun. Go buy it. What is the worst that could happen? That ypu ate left with a perfectly fine range gun and have to buy another riffle? Not really punishment if you ask me, just a solid excuse... 😁
 
As most people over the last six pages have tried to tell you - a stalking rifle and a 500m target rifle are two opposites that cant be combined in one rifle - mostly weight and barrel length.

If you are a new stalker, personally Id buy a stalking rifle, use it a bit (there is nothing to stop you using it at 500m) and add the target rifle later. Its a buyer's market at the moment and very good second hand stalking rifles are cheap. Guntrader currently lists 633 .308s for sale across the UK. There will be one out there ideal for your type of stalking, screwcut or short barrels or whatever and many will offer a try-before-you-buy or returns. Tikka t3x are excellent
 
Emilio said:
Yet you do nothing with the input and go for the few exceptions that prove you are going the right way.
Conclusion: you just really want the gun. Go buy it. What is the worst that could happen? That ypu ate left with a perfectly fine range gun and have to buy another riffle? Not really punishment if you ask me, just a solid excuse... 😁
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To be honest now I'm partly just winding up all the bombastic folks. I had plenty of advice days ago. If there was a way to close the thread I would do.
 
muddy42 said:
As most people over the last six pages have tried to tell you - a stalking rifle and a 500m target rifle are two opposites that cant be combined in one rifle - mostly weight and barrel length.

If you are a new stalker, personally Id buy a stalking rifle, use it a bit (there is nothing to stop you using it at 500m) and add the target rifle later. Its a buyer's market at the moment and very good second hand stalking rifles are cheap. Guntrader currently lists 633 .308s for sale across the UK. There will be one out there ideal for your type of stalking, screwcut or short barrels or whatever and many will offer a try-before-you-buy or returns. Tikka t3x are excellent
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I know the general philosophy is to just buy more and more rifles but if I wanted one more I'd need to change over my safe which I don't really want to do because it took me some time to fit correctly to begin with. And I'm not sure they'd all get used enough.
 
muddy42 said:
As most people over the last six pages have tried to tell you - a stalking rifle and a 500m target rifle are two opposites that cant be combined in one rifle - mostly weight and barrel length.

If you are a new stalker, personally Id buy a stalking rifle, use it a bit (there is nothing to stop you using it at 500m) and add the target rifle later. Its a buyer's market at the moment and very good second hand stalking rifles are cheap. Guntrader currently lists 633 .308s for sale across the UK. There will be one out there ideal for your type of stalking, screwcut or short barrels or whatever and many will offer a try-before-you-buy or returns. Tikka t3x are excellent
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I'm going to be buying a Tikka T3X one way or the other Muddy.
 
Bowland blades said:
Target rifles do what the name implies. Hunting rifles are the same . Go big , heavy , for targets , Go light and fast handling , for Stalking . Cross over guns are neither one or the other and a less good in both camps .
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Indeed - are you Bowland, Lancashire? I did my DSC1 at Bolton Hall Estate.
 
CarlHoward said:
I've reviewed all comments made Emilio. I appreciate your input.
Click to expand...
The ace game is a good rifle I have one and an ace target I have used both for stalking. I will continue to use the Ace game as a stalking rifle. I also have a couple of light rifles when the ground dictates. For context I am used to carrying heavy rifles over undulating ground, stalking is stalking not an operational tour. If you are treating it like a patrol packing let you are doing it wrong. You also don’t need a long range precision rifle to do it well.

The arguments against are very true, and the reality is that it is heavy to stalk with, it is also cumbersome with the chasis, it is also no more accurate than a tikka in a PSE stock, the ETAC will also provide a suitable platform for target shooting, as will the KRG and MDT options for less weight likewise a tikka lite or a Mauser 12, if you are set on 308 buy used and get two one for stalking and one for target shooting.

The Ace game also does not have the ideal barrel profile as a target rifle the target does.

No matter what way you go one rifle is a compromise for two disciplines that’s an indisputable fact. One rifle can do it all however multiple rifles will do each task better.

However no matter what is said on this thread you are going to buy the rifle you want to buy. You will either love it or hate it. The decision is entirely yours.
 
topscots1 said:
The ace game is a good rifle I have one and an ace target I have used both for stalking. I will continue to use the Ace game as a stalking rifle. I also have a couple of light rifles when the ground dictates. For context I am used to carrying heavy rifles over undulating ground, stalking is stalking not an operational tour. If you are treating it like a patrol packing let you are doing it wrong. You also don’t need a long range precision rifle to do it well.

The arguments against are very true, and the reality is that it is heavy to stalk with, it is also cumbersome with the chasis, it is also no more accurate than a tikka in a PSE stock, the ETAC will also provide a suitable platform for target shooting, as will the KRG and MDT options for less weight likewise a tikka lite or a Mauser 12, if you are set on 308 buy used and get two one for stalking and one for target shooting.

The Ace game also does not have the ideal barrel profile as a target rifle the target does.

No matter what way you go one rifle is a compromise for two disciplines that’s an indisputable fact. One rifle can do it all however multiple rifles will do each task better.

However no matter what is said on this thread you are going to buy the rifle you want to buy. You will either love it or hate it. The decision is entirely yours.
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Thank you Topscots - wise words
 
topscots1 said:
The ace game is a good rifle I have one and an ace target I have used both for stalking. I will continue to use the Ace game as a stalking rifle. I also have a couple of light rifles when the ground dictates. For context I am used to carrying heavy rifles over undulating ground, stalking is stalking not an operational tour. If you are treating it like a patrol packing let you are doing it wrong. You also don’t need a long range precision rifle to do it well.

The arguments against are very true, and the reality is that it is heavy to stalk with, it is also cumbersome with the chasis, it is also no more accurate than a tikka in a PSE stock, the ETAC will also provide a suitable platform for target shooting, as will the KRG and MDT options for less weight likewise a tikka lite or a Mauser 12, if you are set on 308 buy used and get two one for stalking and one for target shooting.

The Ace game also does not have the ideal barrel profile as a target rifle the target does.

No matter what way you go one rifle is a compromise for two disciplines that’s an indisputable fact. One rifle can do it all however multiple rifles will do each task better.

However no matter what is said on this thread you are going to buy the rifle you want to buy. You will either love it or hate it. The decision is entirely yours.
Click to expand...
Nice to hear someone has bought 2 and still has them. I am not walking miles Foxing as I can use the UTV or 4x4. The Ace is just a nice looking firearm in my eyes, that will do all I need. Excellent value for money, new, zero barrel wear or abuse, full length Arca for perfect mount position on a tripod and bipod position can be altered in a second when required. It can be adjusted to fit my body without changing the stock. I can fit a different stock (e.g. carbon fibre ) if if I ever wish to for whatever reason and it is a treat to have something new occasionally.
You can always sell the chassis for a very good price in the future, if say you wish to fit a PSE stock for example.

It is a tool for a job and as we all know, it is not so easy to miss with modern equipment / optics and generally quarry is not very far away. There is a waiting list of 3-6 months for GMK to supply the dealer unless they have the spec. you require on the shelf.
 
I've read through all the comments and you've been given good advice from many experienced stalkers. The telling comment you made was that you didn't appreciate being made to feel an idiot, unfortunately you will have to get used to that feeling if go stalking with a rifle that looks like that. I honestly don't mean to be negative for the sake of being negative.
 
ShotKam 0 said:
Nice to hear someone has bought 2 and still has them. I am not walking miles Foxing as I can use the UTV or 4x4. The Ace is just a nice looking firearm in my eyes, that will do all I need. Excellent value for money, new, zero barrel wear or abuse, full length Arca for perfect mount position on a tripod and bipod position can be altered in a second when required. It can be adjusted to fit my body without changing the stock. I can fit a different stock (e.g. carbon fibre ) if if I ever wish to for whatever reason and it is a treat to have something new occasionally.
You can always sell the chassis for a very good price in the future, if say you wish to fit a PSE stock for example.

It is a tool for a job and as we all know, it is not so easy to miss with modern equipment / optics and generally quarry is not very far away. There is a waiting list of 3-6 months for GMK to supply the dealer unless they have the spec. you require on the shelf.
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I do have a PSE EVO on order which the game will slot in to nicely. The target I will keep as a target rifle. I currently have a 308 supervarmint barreled action in the classifieds which drops easily in to the chasis. I took it to the range Saturday to zero it in the game chasis. As a crossover rifle the 20 inch SV in the game chasis with Zeiss V4 or similar light scope would be a good compromise. Still heavier than ideal but more than manageable.

I do however have multiple rifles, if I were heading on on paid stalks I would be utilising a tikka lite or a Sako. The ace game as it sits also has a Leica PRS on it not light by any means, it is in use for shooting over clearfell where the weight and precision are an advantage. It is a tool for a task.

The ACE target is also fantastic, shoots single ragged hole groups, as does the game. I went with the 24 inch game and 26 inch target.
 
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CarlHoward said:
I do wonder if to some (clearly not all) it is a tradition vs innovation thing. It looks I guess like an American youtuber's rifle to a degree rather than a bearded ghillie in tweed.
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It’s not an aesthetic thing at all, it purely down to the practicalities as seen by those who have seen or tried it in the field.

There are some who make it work and like it, most know there are better options out there and go with those. I don’t want to have a specific ruck sack to enable me to carry a rifle, that jus seems daft to me, but doesn’t mean it won’t work for others. Although I cat see how a rifle can be as quickly deployed and on sticks ready to shoot from a Vorn as it can from a standard sling.

Not many on this thread are suggesting wood and blued is the way to go, other than from a cost point of view, it’s more the shape and weight.

As has been said, you have already made up your mind, so just go for it and see how you get on. People are only trying to offer you advice based on there own experiences, you have asked the question because you don’t have that same level of experience, it is entirely your call whether or not to follow the advice.
 
Electric Ian said:
I've read through all the comments and you've been given good advice from many experienced stalkers. The telling comment you made was that you didn't appreciate being made to feel an idiot, unfortunately you will have to get used to that feeling if go stalking with a rifle that looks like that. I honestly don't mean to be negative for the sake of being negative.
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You've rather proved my point Ian.
 
25 Sharps said:
It’s not an aesthetic thing at all, it purely down to the practicalities as seen by those who have seen or tried it in the field.

There are some who make it work and like it, most know there are better options out there and go with those. I don’t want to have a specific ruck sack to enable me to carry a rifle, that jus seems daft to me, but doesn’t mean it won’t work for others. Although I cat see how a rifle can be as quickly deployed and on sticks ready to shoot from a Vorn as it can from a standard sling.

Not many on this thread are suggesting wood and blued is the way to go, other than from a cost point of view, it’s more the shape and weight.

As has been said, you have already made up your mind, so just go for it and see how you get on. People are only trying to offer you advice based on there own experiences, you have asked the question because you don’t have that same level of experience, it is entirely your call whether or not to follow the advice.
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" Although I can't see how a rifle can be as quickly deployed and on sticks ready to shoot from a Vorn as it can from a standard sling. "

This is how on an EV45 - The EV30 is smaller and the LT12 is much smaller :


vorn-equipment.com

Info QRR - VORN EQUIPMENT EN

QRR – How it works QRR – How to use it QRR – Benefits for you QRR – The technology behind it
vorn-equipment.com vorn-equipment.com
 
Please no more comments - I heard what I needed to hear days ago.

And contrary to the various patronising comments I haven't "already made up my mind, so just go buy the silly rifle"

Anyone replying now will get a more belligerent response. There's some real dicks on here.
 
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