New Stalker - First rifle - Advice

[Heym SR20]

Thanks for your input Heym

your welcome.

Where a heavy target type rifle really becomes a pain is once you have squeezed the trigger and now need to get the beast to a point of recovery, and both hands are needed on drag ropes etc etc.

 

[25 Sharps]

It's a fair point - the issue is both cost and getting variations.

It's primarily a stalking rifle - I saw a video of the Ace Game and thought it seemed like a reasonable compromise given its based on the T3X

Other than barrel weight bolt actions are all much of a muchness, what varies for the intended use is the stock, and to certain extent barrel length.

I get the cost and variation thing but if you don’t want to go the 2 rifle route get one designed for your primary use and accept that you’ll participate but not necessarily have a competitive set up for the occasional secondary use.

 

[CarlHoward]

your welcome.

Where a heavy target type rifle really becomes a pain is once you have squeezed the trigger and now need to get the beast to a point of recovery, and both hands are needed on drag ropes.

In all honesty I couldn't feel any material difference in weight between the Ace Game and a Tikka T3X Lite

 

[CarlHoward]

Other than barrel weight bolt actions are all much of a muchness, what varies for the intended use is the stock, amd to certain extent barrel length.

I get the cost and variation thing but if you don’t want to go the 2 rifle route get one designed for your primary use and accept that you’ll participate but not necessarily have a competitive set up for the occasional secondary use.

Yes, that makes sense although in truth I felt the compromise with the Ace Game was a reasonable one, accepting it may be cold in the hand when hunting

 

[HonestJohn]

What about a Bergara B14² Crest

 

[takbok]

I'd go with the T3X lite or similar.

The ace game looks like it will be almost 1kg heavier. It will be unwieldy and a pig to carry for stalking IMO.

Remember that you still have to add over 1kg for moderator and scope.

 

[Navarone]

I think you are best off here putting in for two rifles one for target and one for stalking. But a cheap secondhand stalking rifle (anything from a Parker hale to a tikka-can be had for much less that 1000 full setup) and then buy the target rifle you want that will actually do what you need it to.

What you will do is go an buy the ace, you’ll then eventually decide you don’t want to carry it about and put in for and then look for a stalking specific rifle in your flavour-wood and blue-cerakote and pse/mdt field stock etc etc.

Just do that in the first place I think. Stalking rifles second hand are incredibly cheap, just look through the classifieds.

 

[Rob-E]

Hello folks,

Hoping to tap the combined knowledge here as I spec my first stalking rifle in 308.

I've narrowed down to the Tikka T3X, either in the traditional Lite iteration, or the Ace Game. I'm leaning towards the Cerakoted Ace Game in 20" barrel because I would occasionally like to shoot targets at 200yds and 500yds at my full bore club.

Spec I'm thinking is.....

• Rifle - Tikka T3X Ace Game 20" chambered in 308
• Moderator - Wildcat Evo
• Scope - Hik Micro Alpex Pro LRF

Really keen to hear views from those more experienced than me as it's a big investment and I want to get it right.

View attachment 471892

I have both an ace game and a lite.

The lite got put in a GRS stock which improved it greatly but I’ve not shot it further than about 250m.

The ace game was good to go out the box. I found with stalking I needed to removed the hand rest off the bottom of the stock to be able to use sticks with it. The ace game with moderator (magnum) and scope with the 24” barrel weighs less than my 243 varmint. 4.5kg vs 5.4kg

Scope wise: My lite has S&B Precision hunter 4-16x50 with Mil-dots. They don’t have a proper turret (stops at 32 clicks) which means you’d be limited out to 350m with a full clicks and hold over. My 243 (varmint) has a 4-16x50 Zeis V4 on it. Much better turrets and you could dial out way further but it’s SFP not FFP like the S&B.

My ace game (7mm) has a 5-25x50 vortex on it with ballistic turrets. This is about to be for sale as I got a good deal on a PM2.

Moderators - I run Stalon Mods on all 3 rifles and find their customer service exceptional.

Out of the two I would choose an ACE Game and either a 4-16 or 5-25 scope if going to be used for both target and stalking

 

[25 Sharps]

Yes, that makes sense although in truth I felt the compromise with the Ace Game was a reasonable one, accepting it may be cold in the hand when hunting

A better compromise would probably be a tikka in a varmint style stock with adjustable combe. But .308 for F class needs a long barrel ideally so you’ll be at a disadvantage whichever stock you have, which is fine as long as you accept that.

 

[25 Sharps]

I think you are best off here putting in for two rifles one for target and one for stalking. But a cheap secondhand stalking rifle (anything from a Parker hale to a tikka-can be had for much less that 1000 full setup) and then buy the target rifle you want that will actually do what you need it to.

What you will do is go an buy the ace, you’ll then eventually decide you don’t want to carry it about and put in for and then look for a stalking specific rifle in your flavour-wood and blue-cerakote and pse/mdt field stock etc etc.

Just do that in the first place I think. Stalking rifles second hand are incredibly cheap, just look through the classifieds.

Loads of good SH options for stalking rifles in .308 and it’s not hard on barrels so that’s less of a concern.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I have both an ace game and a lite.

The lite got put in a GRS stock which improved it greatly but I’ve not shot it further than about 250m.

The ace game was good to go out the box. I found with stalking I needed to removed the hand rest off the bottom of the stock to be able to use sticks with it. The ace game with moderator (magnum) and scope with the 24” barrel weighs less than my 243 varmint. 4.5kg vs 5.4kg

Scope wise: My lite has S&B Precision hunter 4-16x50 with Mil-dots. They don’t have a proper turret (stops at 32 clicks) which means you’d be limited out to 350m with a full clicks and hold over. My 243 (varmint) has a 4-16x50 Zeis V4 on it. Much better turrets and you could dial out way further but it’s SFP not FFP like the S&B.

My ace game (7mm) has a 5-25x50 vortex on it with ballistic turrets. This is about to be for sale as I got a good deal on a PM2.

Moderators - I run Stalon Mods on all 3 rifles and find their customer service exceptional.

Out of the two I would choose an ACE Game and either a 4-16 or 5-25 scope if going to be used for both target and stalking

Those GRS stocks are stupidly heavy. I stuck my lite in a b+c which weighed a fraction more than the factory stock but with the benefits of a chassis. The result? A light, compact stalking rifle that you don't notice is on your back!

A vast difference between that and my heavy barrel PRC which isn't pleasant to carry long distances.

 

[CarlHoward]

I have both an ace game and a lite.

The lite got put in a GRS stock which improved it greatly but I’ve not shot it further than about 250m.

The ace game was good to go out the box. I found with stalking I needed to removed the hand rest off the bottom of the stock to be able to use sticks with it. The ace game with moderator (magnum) and scope with the 24” barrel weighs less than my 243 varmint. 4.5kg vs 5.4kg

Scope wise: My lite has S&B Precision hunter 4-16x50 with Mil-dots. They don’t have a proper turret (stops at 32 clicks) which means you’d be limited out to 350m with a full clicks and hold over. My 243 (varmint) has a 4-16x50 Zeis V4 on it. Much better turrets and you could dial out way further but it’s SFP not FFP like the S&B.

My ace game (7mm) has a 5-25x50 vortex on it with ballistic turrets. This is about to be for sale as I got a good deal on a PM2.

Moderators - I run Stalon Mods on all 3 rifles and find their customer service exceptional.

Out of the two I would choose an ACE Game and either a 4-16 or 5-25 scope if going to be used for both target and stalking

Thank you for replying Rob - your detailed response is very helpful

 

[CarlHoward]

I'd go with the T3X lite or similar.

The ace game looks like it will be almost 1kg heavier. It will be unwieldy and a pig to carry for stalking IMO.

Remember that you still have to add over 1kg for moderator and scope.

It didn't feel noticeably heavier to me to be truthful

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Thanks - do you think I will struggle to find one scope for both stalking and target shooting?

Yes, I've been looking for a one scope that does it all for over 20 years. I haven't found one yet. Currently I stalk with a target scope (Mils and FFP), but I'm still looking.

Regards

JCS

 

[Dave_45]

Crossover scopes and rifles do neither of the two different disciplines to their best potential.

I’ve tried it and you just end up with a rifle generally not heavy enough for target and one too heavy for stalking /culling.

The PSE was used by Irish prs shooters and lasted only a season until they switched to heavy chassis

Much better with a tikka in whatever calibre you like , spend as much as you can on glass and rings.

Ed bewsher is good to talk to about these things

 

[Sol]

Standard stalking rifles weigh in about 8lbs the heaviest I've ever handled was 15lbs + It was more for foxing however
14lbs at the base will be near 20lbs with attachments scopes, bipods and moderators add weight quickly.

Logistically what Is stopping the idea of just buying that gun for entirely range work, why try make it do two jobs? Big long barrels, and big heavy stocks arent needed in stalking 90% of the time.

308 Isn't an uncommon calibre and being 6ft I cant imagine there should be too much issue In locating a gun you enjoy for effectively pennies, and whilst good glass Is nice for morning and night It isn't nessicery either a very cheap second hand scope will do.

 

[Mr. Gain]

You can always reduce the mag

I do about half of my stalking in woodland, and 4x can be too much.

The persistent point here is that ill-defined use cases result in broad compromises.

However, if the primary criterion is to have just one rifle and optic, for economy, space-saving, consistency, simplicity, or whatever, and if that criterion is met, any shortcomings, inconveniences, or discomforts that arise in specific situations thereafter are just the costs of that benefit.

 

[CarlHoward]

Crossover scopes and rifles do neither of the two different disciplines to their best potential.

I’ve tried it and you just end up with a rifle generally not heavy enough for target and one too heavy for stalking /culling.

The PSE was used by Irish prs shooters and lasted only a season until they switched to heavy chassis

Much better with a tikka in whatever calibre you like , spend as much as you can on glass and rings.

Ed bewsher is good to talk to about these things

Thanks Dave

 

[CarlHoward]

Standard stalking rifles weigh in about 8lbs the heaviest I've ever handled was 15lbs + It was more for foxing however
14lbs at the base will be near 20lbs with attachments scopes, bipods and moderators add weight quickly.

Logistically what Is stopping the idea of just buying that gun for entirely range work, why try make it do two jobs? Big long barrels, and big heavy stocks arent needed in stalking 90% of the time.

308 Isn't an uncommon calibre and being 6ft I cant imagine there should be too much issue In locating a gun you enjoy for effectively pennies, and whilst good glass Is nice for morning and night It isn't nessicery either a very cheap second hand scope will do.

Thanks Sol

 

[CarlHoward]

I do about half of my stalking in woodland, and 4x can be too much.

The persistent point here is that ill-defined use cases result in broad compromises.

However, if the primary criterion is to have just one rifle and optic, for economy, space-saving, consistency, simplicity, or whatever, and if that criterion is met, any shortcomings, inconveniences, or discomforts that arise in specific situations thereafter are just the costs of that benefit.

Very true