KillDozerForPrimeMinister
New member
- Location
- Annapolis Valley, NS
Hello all.
Preface:
This is a thread for me to document for the purposes of my memory and for advice and critiques. I will be updating and checking it as regularly as I can. I’m always looking for input as to my mistakes and suggestions for my equipment and techniques.
Background:
My entire life I’ve only shot budget rifles only at deer season and between rifle malfunctions and poor shooting habits I’ve had a lot of issues.
So this year I set the goal to:
1. Go to the range biweekly and practice shot execution and familiarize myself with my chosen hunting rifles.
2. Find and purchase a deer rifle
3. Find a nice scope for said rifle.
The Rifle:
So I sat down in January and made my yearly budget and sat aside 4000$ for this rifle and scope. To some that may be “Budget” rifle money but for me it is definitely not.
Purpose of the rifle:
To both function in the thick brush and fields of central NS and also be able to someday reach out to 400 yards on a moose in NFLD. Also will be used routinely at the range at all yardages and windages to further my skill as a marksman.
The Hunt is on:
I researched long and hard on different makes and models for rifles around 2000$ new or used. So after plenty of that research I settled between a Tikka T3x or Weatherby Mark V just based on specs alone. I went to a local Cabelas and they had both rifles on the rack. Although an amazing rifle the T3x just didn’t “fit” me so the Weatherby was where I was leaning.
Fast forward a week on a lunch break at work I found a lightly used Weatherby Mark V Hunter in .308 win on a sales page for a more than fair deal which was also below my budget. So I purchased the rifle and it was shipped to me.
The Scope:
Just as a preface to to this part I was completely ignorant to all the intricacies of magnified optics and this was the largest learning curve of this whole experience at the point of me writing this. As I did with the rifle I extensively researched scopes. All the different reticles, features, objective size, brand reviews was quite overwhelming but finally after 2 weeks of research I was comfortable enough with the knowledge I obtained to purchase. I went to multiple local gun stores and looked though lots of different brands of scopes. I decided with all the options I had found locally although not the most recommended pick Vortex seemed to cover the most of the features I desire. Finally I settled and purchased a Vortex Strike Eagle 3-18x44 in MOA with Vortex Precision medium height 34mm rings.
Receiving and assembling:
After the rifle and scope arrived, I went out and purchased a torque screwdriver and a scope level. Firstly I fully disassembled, cleaned, lubed and reassembled the rifle torquing all the screws to factory specifications with thread locking compound as I didn’t know what was done previously. Lastly I mounted my scope to the rifle which was the first time I had done it myself.
Current state of affairs:
Have an appointment booked at my local DNR 100 yard range to sight in. I am leaning toward switching my medium height rings out for a low set. I have the sunshade installed on the scope just to try but will most likely be removing it for the purposes of size.
Update 11/06/23:
After some deliberation and all of your advise I’ve decided to sell the vortex and look into something small and change my mounting style. 3-9 or 3-10 with a 40-50mm objective with the talley direct fit rings. Scope is on EE and currently looking into Leupold’s, Zeiss’s and Swarovski’s offerings.
Update 15/06/23:
Worked out a deal on a 3.5-9x50 Leupold VX-3i, going to go with the Talley mounts but waiting for scope to arrive so I can measure for height.
Preface:
This is a thread for me to document for the purposes of my memory and for advice and critiques. I will be updating and checking it as regularly as I can. I’m always looking for input as to my mistakes and suggestions for my equipment and techniques.
Background:
My entire life I’ve only shot budget rifles only at deer season and between rifle malfunctions and poor shooting habits I’ve had a lot of issues.
So this year I set the goal to:
1. Go to the range biweekly and practice shot execution and familiarize myself with my chosen hunting rifles.
2. Find and purchase a deer rifle
3. Find a nice scope for said rifle.
The Rifle:
So I sat down in January and made my yearly budget and sat aside 4000$ for this rifle and scope. To some that may be “Budget” rifle money but for me it is definitely not.
Purpose of the rifle:
To both function in the thick brush and fields of central NS and also be able to someday reach out to 400 yards on a moose in NFLD. Also will be used routinely at the range at all yardages and windages to further my skill as a marksman.
The Hunt is on:
I researched long and hard on different makes and models for rifles around 2000$ new or used. So after plenty of that research I settled between a Tikka T3x or Weatherby Mark V just based on specs alone. I went to a local Cabelas and they had both rifles on the rack. Although an amazing rifle the T3x just didn’t “fit” me so the Weatherby was where I was leaning.
Fast forward a week on a lunch break at work I found a lightly used Weatherby Mark V Hunter in .308 win on a sales page for a more than fair deal which was also below my budget. So I purchased the rifle and it was shipped to me.
The Scope:
Just as a preface to to this part I was completely ignorant to all the intricacies of magnified optics and this was the largest learning curve of this whole experience at the point of me writing this. As I did with the rifle I extensively researched scopes. All the different reticles, features, objective size, brand reviews was quite overwhelming but finally after 2 weeks of research I was comfortable enough with the knowledge I obtained to purchase. I went to multiple local gun stores and looked though lots of different brands of scopes. I decided with all the options I had found locally although not the most recommended pick Vortex seemed to cover the most of the features I desire. Finally I settled and purchased a Vortex Strike Eagle 3-18x44 in MOA with Vortex Precision medium height 34mm rings.
Receiving and assembling:
After the rifle and scope arrived, I went out and purchased a torque screwdriver and a scope level. Firstly I fully disassembled, cleaned, lubed and reassembled the rifle torquing all the screws to factory specifications with thread locking compound as I didn’t know what was done previously. Lastly I mounted my scope to the rifle which was the first time I had done it myself.
Current state of affairs:
Have an appointment booked at my local DNR 100 yard range to sight in. I am leaning toward switching my medium height rings out for a low set. I have the sunshade installed on the scope just to try but will most likely be removing it for the purposes of size.
Update 11/06/23:
After some deliberation and all of your advise I’ve decided to sell the vortex and look into something small and change my mounting style. 3-9 or 3-10 with a 40-50mm objective with the talley direct fit rings. Scope is on EE and currently looking into Leupold’s, Zeiss’s and Swarovski’s offerings.
Update 15/06/23:
Worked out a deal on a 3.5-9x50 Leupold VX-3i, going to go with the Talley mounts but waiting for scope to arrive so I can measure for height.
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