TAC A1 for hunting

[User00040]

Got my new hill rifle ready, not a chasis so I should be OK according to this forum!

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

I think its very subjective what will and won't be ideal for an individual.
Myself, I prefer a heavier rifle that I am confident I can shoot with a very high degree of accuracy as I nearly always shoot off quad sticks or prone while stalking or improvised off tree stumps, walls etc.

I have stalked using a MDT ESS chassis, in the setup it was in at that point it was roughly 19lbs, it was comfortable to carry for a day, however I did find it was slower to get onto quad sticks than a stock.

My current hill rifle is a similar weight to what that was at 18.5 lbs with a McMillan A3-5 stock and varmint barrel setup. This is very easily carried with a good sling and is quick to get onto sticks.

If you have the fitness to handle a heavier rifle it has many benefits, certainly where accuracy is concerned.

Use what you're comfortable with in essence!

Ben

 

[Ronin]

Think this correlated to the older you get the lighter the rifle is likely to be

Main rifle is 13.5
The lighter one 13

 

[Muir]

for those of you who ‘couldn’t imagine why’ the answer is i had an interminable wait for a barrel and the only rifle i had conditioned for deer was my Tiktac
From a highseat you don’t notice the weight, dragging it and a carcass across a muddy field you notice little else.
I also took it after goats which was an experience id rather not repeat.
as someone said above its cold to the touch, Its covered in sharp edges, and nooks and crannies which make it take an age to clean. its also a real pain to crawl with.
a spectacular rifle, literally the poor man’s AI, But id take anything else stalking

It is a target rifle. I can't imagine the mind set it would take to drag one afield when not an absolute necessity. (as in your case) Great from a fixed position. Hell in your shoulder. Mine is the one rifle I own that I have never practiced with off-hand. I will never need to make that shot with that rifle. ~Muir

 

[Muir]

If you have the fitness to handle a heavier rifle it has many benefits, certainly where accuracy is concerned.



Ben

Don't think so.
Since when is a heavy rifle more accurate than a lighter one?
This is two consecutive 3-shot groups fired from my 7 pound Tikka.
Not accurate enough?~Muir

 

[Heym SR20]

Don't think so.
Since when is a heavy rifle more accurate than a lighter one?
This is two consecutive 3-shot groups fired from my 7 pound Tikka.
Not accurate enough?~Muir
View attachment 220288

Nope - you have three distinct holes on each target. You need better accuracy when trying to put a bullet through the left eye of the tick that is on the Stags bollocks at 765.43 metres.

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

Don't think so.
Since when is a heavy rifle more accurate than a lighter one?
This is two consecutive 3-shot groups fired from my 7 pound Tikka.
Not accurate enough?~Muir
View attachment 220288

Apologies if i have been too general about my terminology/explanation, a heavier rifle makes it easier to shoot accurately consistently including from less than ideal conditions.
Having had a similar weight rifle to yours in .308 I know it is possible to shoot small groups with a light rifle, although it isn't anywhere near as easy as with a heavy one!


Heavier rifles also allow for easier recoil management, my hill rifle is a .300 WSM and it is a pussy cat to shoot due to the weight, no worse than a .308 IMHO, it means I keep sight picture when I fire and see my strike each time.

I personally like to have that extra weight that makes it very easy, plus I don't struggle to carry it!

Ben

 

[paultap]

The bare rifle is over 11lb in weight, by the time you add mounts, a scope, a moderator and possibly a bipod, you are very easily looking at 14lb or more, why would you carry all that extra weight around when it is not necessary. I walked into a Gunshop a couple of years back where a customer had just purchased a Tikka T3 Tac A1 for foxing in .223 cal. I would think it would be ok for shooting off a vehicle roof/bonnet, but I certainly wouldn't want to lug all that unnecessary extra weight around.

Each to his own though. My synthetic Sako 85 and Tikka T3 lite tip the scales at about 6.5lb each for the bare rifle.

 

[MarkD123]

Not many, if any, poor reports on this rifle in any calibre.
My view is that it’s a lovely looking rifle.
If I had one, would I go stalking with it - yes- absolutely - I’m 6’4” and ‘not thin’ and the weight wouldn’t bother me carrying it all day whatsoever. If it’s properly accurate, it’s properly accurate and for an ethical kill, that’s what matters the most to me.
An 11st chap may struggle with the weight and therefore disagree with the portability element though.
My concern would be that with being a mil-type build, all the nooks and crannies that it possesses and therefore would make cleaning a royal pita afterwards.
It’s one of those, each to their own.

 

[User00040]

My concern would be that with being a mil-type build, all the nooks and crannies that it possesses and therefore would make cleaning a royal pita afterwards.

It does make one wonder how long weapons cleaning takes for all those fancy sniper chasis systems?!

Probably the last thing in mind of the brass who approve the purchase

 

[MarkD123]

It does make one wonder how long weapons cleaning takes for all those fancy sniper chasis systems?!

Probably the last thing in mind of the brass who approve the purchase

I have to admit, mine is a bore snake once in a while……..

 

[User00033]

...but superb for "overwatch" style hunting.

I like that expression. Overwatch... Yes, that works for me.

The funny thing is that we frequently hear the usual suspects being all sarky about "deer sniping" and all that. Yet I've never guided a committed "stalker" who didn't absolutely love his day of overwatch hunting.

But the heavy chassis rifles are a pain in the arse to carry. Not because they are heavy, but because the forend sling mount is too low in relation to the weight above it - a heavy 24" or 26" barrel with a suppressor tips around all over the place. That drives me mad in steep hill country and when pushing through the scrub when using a typical sling.

So on days when I'm walking between overwatch positions instead of using the bike, I use a dual sling over both shoulders, and this works just fine.

 

[carl6555]

Thanks for responses guys. To be honest I was thinking of using one in .223 as a foxing setup as I already have a stalking rifle that I wouldn't want to change.

I have this set up for foxing, great rifle