I have mentioned many times my affinity for hunting American Pronghorn. Today I bring you another story of my family-based hunting exploits in the west, and again this one is a story of an antelope hunt. We take every opportunity given to hunt, both in my own state of Utah and elsewhere. This year my wife drew a single tag, for a buck Pronghorn. And this is the story.
Background
Like most women who end up married to a hunting addict, my sweet wife often gets opportunities to hunt herself. She seems to have enjoyed her own success, I say seems because it could just be she enjoys spending time together in such beautiful places.
Though not from a hunting background herself, she has freely embraced the life I like to consider one of successful hunters. Becoming accustomed to the taste of venison and the challenging elements to obtain it, has come surprisingly natural to her.
Our adventures together have taken us all over the west, chasing various animal quarries. Most of her experience has been after Mule deer and hunting Pronghorn antelope. Its an interesting phenomenon to see how she calmly takes her time to make sure she gets every shot right.
The Withered Desert
Our summer has been overwhelmingly hot and dry, with fires burning and sun parching what the fires missed. It seems that the wildlife has also been heavily affected, with a noticeably smaller population compared to normal. Spending time in these places observing the landscape has shown far fewer Pronghorn than in years past.
But she had drawn the tag, and we were going to make an honest try. Despite some recent taxing life experiences of her own, my wife was bright eyed and optimistic about the hunt. And as the sun began to climb that morning, we watched the desert come alive with light.
from another time, when the desert wasn’t so inhospitable
We spotted a few pairs of does here and there, and even put an honest stalk on a decent buck that seemingly had somewhere to be. But after nearly two hours of shooting light, we had seen surprisingly few animals. But as the the sun light grew stronger, we found ourselves closer to the success we were after.
We spotted a pair of bucks, feeding and wandering near a single doe. The larger of the two was the better of the bucks we had seen, and to be honest I wasn’t sure we’d find anything better in the time we had. Our target buck had to be one that she could physically get to, and make a shot. This buck met those criteria, so we decided to make an effort on him.
We decided to approach him from the opposite side of a series of hills, hoping to get into a position we could shoot. As we snuck quietly through one of the low spots cresting the edge, we kept peeking over the crispy dry vegetation that concealed us. The dry and soft clay underfoot made staying quiet easy, but also could put up visible dust signatures in the gentle breeze.
We kept tabs on the buck as we closed the distance, but I was nervous as the younger buck was seen significantly further away than we expected, and moving further still. The larger buck on the other hand seemed to be working directly towards us, which was also a problem, as it presented the possibility of him cresting a high point before us, giving him the better perspective. We hustled quickly to the highest point we had between us, and suddenly the doe popped up on another directly infront of us. We held still, and prepared the rifle for possible imminent action.
A Change in Plans
The doe had appeared much closer than we expected, almost too close. I was hoping to keep distances far enough that we could whisper comfortably, and make small movements with impunity. But with the doe just over a hundred yards away, we froze to avoid busting her.
Laying behind the rifle, my wife prepared for a potential shot. Loading the rifle quietly and getting a sight picture. Almost as if on queue, the buck we were after climbed up the small hill. Clearly he wanted to shew her in another direction, but he was unaware that his guiding desire had been mislead.
As he walked next to the doe, and pushed her downhill and away from us, he made his last mistake; giving us a perfect broadside view of his side. My wife and I had spent the previous evening discussing the perfect white line that God had painted down the side of the Pronghorn. It was a perfect reference point for a double lung shot, and as he stopped and looked back at us, the crosshairs settled on his.
seconds before the shot
Knowing that he was likely a second or so from bolting, I whispered out the call. And she pressed the trigger. The suppressed report of the rifle was the first significant sound we had heard all morning in this arid and desolate landscape. Before the buck could even flinch it seemed, I saw a puff of gray dust in the distance behind him. He bolted down after the doe, disappearing in less than a second. The two of them circled around the bottom of the hill they’d just climbed, and came back up a few dozen yards to our right. I was grinding through thoughts, did she miss? Is he hit? Why is he moving as though he hadn’t been touched?
My eyes recaptured his movement as he popped up again the few seconds later to our right. And as soon as I saw him, I felt a warm feeling of security. He appeared to be confused, as if he was having an internal dialogue. But just that fast, he began stumbling backwards and tumbled back down the way he came.
Aftermath
Having seen the same thing as me through the scope, my wife was unsure about the dust impact in the distance. But the shot had hit exactly where she had aimed, just behind his left shoulder. After watching the buck go down, I smiled and told her he was down. Relived and excited, we grabbed our gear, and made our way to the downed buck.
The 131 Sierra Match King had perfectly perforated the buck, turning his lungs into a useless red paste. When we came upon him, he lay with his head downhill in a puddle of blood. The incredibly bright red contrast in the dry desert soil as the most vibrant color for miles.
We admired the buck, and took a moment to render him his due respect. After which we cleaned him up for the trip home. As we usually do, he was immediately skinned and washed out with fresh cool water. Before going into the cleaned cooler on ice to chill for a few days.
Just like all the others, this Pronghorn buck will be turned into various delicious meals for our family. Particularly a large batch of spicy Italian sausages to be enjoyed throughout the year. Until the next time we get the opportunity to go again.
I hope that mother nature brings more water and life back to these heat withered plains, just as this experience has brought vitality back into our hearts.
you can see the bullet hole in his side along the bisecting white line
One of the companies that is flooding the optics market with dozens of different great optic products is Athlon Optics. I have been fortunate to use several different products from the company, and I must say I haven’t been let down. So it is my pleasure to bring you another riflescope review from Athlon; this time it’s the Athlon Midas HMR Gen2 2-12×42.
fresh out of the box with all its factory accessories
The Athlon Midas HMR Gen2 2-12×42
The Midas HMR 2-12 is a compact rifles scope optimized for precise shooting, and lending itself heavily to hunters. The Midas is built on a 30mm tube, which offers a larger range of internal travel. Up front you will find a 42mm objective lens that captures your image without being oversized and heavy.
In the middle of the scope is the erector housing that features an exposed elevation turret, a capped windage turret, as well as a parallax adjustment and illumination control. Pretty standard setup for todays market. The elevation turret has 10 MRAD per rotation with a total of 29 MRAD of turret travel.
Athlon makes several first focal plane (FFP) 2-12 scopes, but the Midas HMR Gen 2 is not one of them. Second focal plane (SFP) scopes are usually more affordable, I expect they are simpler to make as well. As such, the Midas’s APRS-H2 reticle stays the same regardless of magnification, which some folks prefer.
The occular housing of the Midas has a ring to adjust the magnification range of the scope, with the number 12 highlighted in red. This indicates where the reticle values are accurate for measuring use. Also on the magnification ring there is a removable throw lever that threads into the ring. This gives better purchase when cranking quickly on the magnification adjustment.
the APRS-H2 SFP IR MIL reticle of the Midas, note illuminated center dot (inset)
Inside, the reticle itself also offers some great features. With MRAD subtensions marked in whole and half MIL’s out to 4, and .2 and whole MIL’s out to 10. Windage is similar but ending at 6 MIL instead of 10. This gives you the shooter some dexterity in your aiming and correction plans. The center dot illuminates when powered up, giving an almost red dot feel to the scope.
Specifications
Manufacturer
Athlon Optics
Model
Midas HMR Gen2
SKU
213057
Magnification
2-12×
Objective Lens
42 mm
Tube Diameter
30 mm
Reticle
APRS-H2 SFP IR MIL
Focal Plane
Second Focal Plane (SFP)
Illumination
Illuminated
Adjustment Type
MIL / MRAD
Click Value
0.1 MIL
Parallax
Side focus, 10 yards–∞
Field of View @ 100 yd
55.7–9.6 ft
Eye Relief
3.62 in
Length
12 in
Weight
19 oz
Tube Construction
One-piece aircraft-grade aluminum
Lens Coating
Fully multi-coated
Purging
Argon
Waterproof
Yes
Fogproof
Yes
Shockproof
Yes
Turret Style
Exposed
Precision Zero Stop
Yes
Battery
CR2032
Finish
Black / hard-anodized
Ideal Application
Hunting / long-range shooting
Mounting the Midas 2-12
I would end up using the Midas on a couple different host rifles, but first up I would put it on my CVA Cascade SB. This is a short barreled 18-inch 6.5 Creedmoor, which is real handy for hunting. And with the Midas on top, it would be a perfect little combination.
I settled the Midas into a set of Wheeler 30mm rings and torqued everything down evenly. I adjusted the diopter at the rear of the ocular housing for the best image of the reticle, before bore-sighting the scope and heading to the range.
I must start by saying; I am huge fan of rifle scopes. And some people might think that high power rifle scopes are the bee’s knees. I myself quite enjoy lower power scopes like this 2-12. One advantage to lower power scopes is their simplicity, they may not make your target look as big, but they also don’t magnify flaws. Your flaws or the flaws of the scope itself.
At 2X the Midas is wide-open, meaning you can see everything including the muzzle of your rifle. This might be very handy for a close range rifle where things could be close, like something you might shoot at a charging animal. And at 12X you have enough power to make shots that are out there a lil’ bit. My son for example took his first Mule Deer at 480 yards last year using 12X.
Zero
I boresighted the scope to the host rifle, using my tool-less technique. After which I sat down behind the rifle to shoot a few shots on paper. After a couple shots and adjustments, I was hitting where I wanted it to. It was then time to zero the turret. I was a little irritated because it seemed the Allen wrench included was not the right size for the tiny set screws. But once I’d found the right one it was pretty straightforward.
With the turret unlocked (lifted) I unscrewed the single screw in the top of the turret so the turret itself could be lifted off. Underneath there is an interesting little star piece that looks similar to a WWI iron cross. Its four corners are cut to interface with a tooth on the ring of the elevation turret. One of its corners is cut to prevent turning past it, so when you set that corner against the tooth at zero, you cannot dial below that point. When dialing up, the tooth hits the iron cross, and rotates it allowing you to continue dialing upwards.
From there it was pretty easy, once reassembled. The turret would not rotate below the 100-yard zero of the rifle, but would go up to the mechanical maximum of the scopes erector. Which depending on the scope setup could vary greatly. Adding a 20 or 30 MOA canted based would give additional room more mechanical movement.
Adjustments
Adjusting the turrets to their high and low extremes with the rifle clamped in a vise allowed me to see how consistently the reticle moved. Dialing up, right, down and back to the left seeing how it returns to its zero location is a good way to evaluate a scopes reliability.
In the Field
the Midas controls were smooth and very serviceable
Optical Clarity
At only 12X, the Athlon Midas HMR isn’t a particularly high power scope. But it does very well at clearly magnifying the image from downrange. I enjoyed the sharp contrast of the reticle against the clearly focused target area. This is easier to do I suppose with a second focal plane scope with relatively low magnification, but it is great to have none the less.
this setup has a date with a mule deer next month, the Anechoic Suppressor keeps things polite
Early mornings and right before sunset are always the challenge for best performance, and the image of Midas HMR was surprisingly good. Comparable to scopes that cost significantly more.
Reliability
During our testing, the Athlon Optics Midas HMR functioned perfectly. Never noticed any skips or hangups in reticle or turret movement. All the controls worked as expected, and the only unpredictable issue was the reticle illumination coming on during transport.
that is the Grayboe UMC chassis, all together a nice setup with the CVA and Athlon
Controls
The turrets of the Midas HMR are just right; perfect resistance, clean crisp clicks. Conversely, the parallax adjustment is a bit stiffer than I would like but still quite serviceable. With parallax adjustable down to 10 yards there is some great dexterity in use as well.
I was unsure if I’d like the push-button reticle illumination or not. Changing the brightness settings and on/off feature of the reticle are all done by pushing the button on the center of the parallax turret. On at least one occasion I did find the reticle was on without my doing, I can only assume that it got pressed somehow in the rifle case while maneuvering. In the end I think I’m ok with the push button, its simple and I don’t need it often.
I like the addition of the throw lever on the magnification ring, it makes it quick to adjust. And if you don’t need it, it can be threaded out.
Value
I have always found Athlon Optics to be a good value. Their quality and features are often above average when compared to similarly priced scope from other manufacturers. They have a great warranty also should you ever need to use it.
Pros and Cons
Great Lens Quality
Inadvertent Illumination issue I mentioned
Simple Second Focal Plane Design
Zero-Stop could be easier
Great Turret Quality
Reliable, Repeatable Turret Operation
Great Reticle for Corrections
Compact and Lightweight
Removable Throw-lever
Available in both MRAD and MOA
Why Should you Pick The Midas 2-12
If you are looking for a low power variable scope for a rifle that you anticipate shooting some distance, this scope would be a good option. I imagine myself hunting bears where shots might be up close and personal or perhaps five-hundred yards away. This scope would do well in that scenario. It has a relatively small footprint for a hunting rifle, and its 42mm objective allows mounting it low to the barrel. And its 10 MRAD turrets give plenty of room for corrective long-range shooting. All this with good quality lenses and a crisp, clear sight picture. In a field of scopes that vary greatly in price, the Athlon Midas HMR Gen II is worth taking a look at.
Getting into the hunting lifestyle might be a daunting task if you were not raised in a hunting family. The wild calls us however, and whether or not you were brought up hunting, you might find yourself drawn to it. Maybe your father or other family members were either too old or unavailable to teach you when when the time came. Regardless of the reasons why, today I want to share how I recommend you begin down the path of becoming a venerable hunter. Not just for the results, but for the experience and to satisfy the natural drive of participating in the circle of life. Learning to hunt is about going from the novice in the group, to the mentor of one.
Why We Hunt
Hunting is not just about killing, nor is it only about food. Hunting is a natural activity that mankind has taken part in for thousands of years, and part of what put us to the top of the food chain. Despite much of our society not understanding or even needing to participate in obtaining their own food, it remains at the top of our important survival instincts. And those that keep that edge will be better off when it matters.
Eating the spoils of a hunt double the pleasure
For most hunters in the western world, hunting is less of a need and more of a hobby. But that does not make it any less valuable a skill. Drawing a carbon arrow tipped with razor sharp steel from a treestand, you share some of the same values and skills as our ancestors drawing a handmade wooden arrow tipped by bone in a jungle. And I expect that the practice can be understood between distinct peoples despite all other misunderstanding.
a combination of family and friends makes an excellent team
Some hunt for sport, some hunt just for the meat. While others simply hunt for the prestigious bones to hang on the wall. Whatever your reason, make it a good one based on principle. For more on that topic, I went into detail here.
Find Your Passion
Some people are drawn to primitive weapons, while others like myself prefer using cutting edge equipment. As long as it is legal where you live I suppose your chosen tool matters only to you. So whether you like rifle hunting, muzzleloaders, archery or even a spear, pick a practice that intrigues you.
I learned much of hunting from my Father, who enjoyed both archery and rifle tackle, but was also passionate for waterfowl and bird hunting as well, read more about that here
If you are just getting started in hunting, it might be best to stay a little bit mainstream. You can always move towards different hunting methods later. Most hunters will either end up using either firearms or archery, both are well established and respectable practices. And both have huge industries with large support networks to learn about both equipment and skills. Varmint hunting is an easy way to dip your toe in the hunting world, you can see more about how here.
Join a Team
The best thing I can recommend at that point, is to find a group of friends or family that shares your passion. If you are young, I would recommend finding a group of good ‘ol boys that hunt in a way you would like to emulate. Long time hunters have a set of skills and wisdom that has been learned and passed down for generations. There is a value in this wisdom that cannot be quantified.
my brothers have always been part of my hunting group, its incredible how we once were incredibly unsuccessful, and how that has changed over the years
Understanding the habits of local wildlife and ways to encounter them are far better learned from these folks than any published information ever could. Those of us who spent countless days hunting on our own without the help of others only to come up empty-handed know what I speak of. Even a little guidance from those who have been doing it long-term is incredibly valuable.
I would consider it wrong to not make your own kids part of your team
It always surprises me during hunting season as so few people find success on the same mountains where we are always so successful. I think it is because of our groups intimate familiarity with these mountains and the animals that live there. That and our consistent presence every year learning more about herd migrations and activity.
Put in the Work
You might be surprised how quickly you find yourself adopted to a group by simply offering an open backpack and a willing set of legs. Old guys love having young helpers to pack out meat. Even if all you have to offer is that physical effort, there are plenty of folks who would be willing to help you become successful.
Some of my best hunting partners began just that way. Finding each other deep in the back of some snowy cold canyon, and helping pack out hundreds of pounds of elk meat. And years later we remain great friends. I have a whole list of friends that are almost strictly hunting friends, people who I might communicate with once or twice a year. Until hunting season starts, where we communicate almost daily, sharing information on animals and where we might help each other. Often the information we share is the most valuable tips of all when it comes to each of us being successful.
Share the Bounty
I love hunting, and I love getting what we are after. Being successful in a hunt is often more important to me than getting some kind of trophy animal. Sharing exploits of our hunts is often a great source of camaraderie, if six of us go hunting, and only four are successful, everybody goes home with something. All of us are rewarded with experience, meat, and stories that will bring us back next season.
some of my very favorite hunts have been helping new hunters learn the practice
A good group of hunters will help you learn what it takes to be successful. And will also try to ensure you walk away with at minimum enough reward to try it again. And once you find yourself becoming one of the mentors of a group, its important for you to do the same. Pass along what you know, and help those coming up around you to be successful too. Not every trophy gained during a hunt goes home in a cooler, its often lessons and memories.
Last Thoughts
If you made it this far, I expect you genuinely wish to learn more. I hope some of what I’ve said is helpful for you, and can help you move towards your goal. I’ve tried to put a great deal of information together that will also help you here on this website, follow the links listed here to a few additional topics that I hope you will find valuable.
Prism sights are nothing new exactly, but they have certainly taken off in the last decade or so. When Trijicon brought the ACOG to the market, and it began showing up on military weapons, other manufacturers started paying attention. With their compact size and etched reticles, prism sights quickly became popular aided by their clarity and easy sight picture with magnification. One of the reasons they are so durable is because of their simple fixed magnification, some would also consider that a down sides of prisms. Today we are taking a look at one new option from Apex Optics, and this one carries a variable magnification feature. It also carries a few other feathers in its cap, so lets get into the Apex Optics Vapor 1-4×22 prism sight.
The Apex Optics Vapor Prism
The Apex Vapor is a variable zoom prism sight designed with CQB shooters in mind. Or maybe 3-gun if you are a civilian. With its 1 to 4 power zoom, it gives a great sight picture for those shooting fast and on the move. According to the manufacturer it provides unmatched clear magnification in a compact professional grade optic.
One of the main appeals of prism optics over a traditional LPVO is they eye box. Prisms have a more forgiving eye box that doesn’t require such a refine eye relief. This is ideal for someone who can go from shooting within the room to hundreds of yards downrange in the same engagement. And especially when lives are on the line.
The Vapor incorporates an adjustable diopter to focus the reticle, as well as a capped windage and elevation adjustment. The reticle is lit red by a variable rheostat on the left side, with 11 different brightness settings. The etched FIRE™ reticle has a fine aimpoint as well at a large ring for bracketing close targets. And for targets that are a bit further out, there are several holdover points on the reticle for corrective holdovers.
Specifications
Magnification
1–4×
Objective
22 mm
Ocular Lens
35 mm
Eye Relief
3.64″ / 88 mm
Field of View @ 100 yd
127.53 ft @ 1× / 34.94 ft @ 4×
Parallax
Fixed at 100 yd
Reticle
FIRE™ etched prism
Focal Plane
Second focal plane (SFP)
Adjustment
½ MOA per click
Adjustment Range
80 MOA
Clicks/Revolution
60
Length
5.5″ / 140 mm
Weight
13.9 oz optic only / 15.8 oz with mount
Body
6061-T6 aluminum
Battery
CR2032
Waterproof
IPX7
Shock Rating
1,000 G
Operating Temperature
−4°F to 140°F
Objective Coating
7-layer proprietary coating
Glass
Japanese ED apochromatic glass
Light Transmission
99.7% per lens
Mounting
RMR-pattern red-dot mounting capability
And if all that wasn’t enough, the Vapor also incorporates a built-in piggyback option for your favorite RMR footprint red dot. Many short range combat weapons incorporate something similar to allow an up close zero parallax aiming option. Additionally Apex Optics offers a 45-degree mounting plate so you can add the red dot sight to the side of the Vapor if you don’t want it on top.
Mounting the Vapor can be done a few different ways. There is a picatinny clamp option that uses several screws to clamp the foot of the optic to your rifle. They also have a QD option that allows you to clamp the optic in place, or remove it with a quick motion.
changing out the picatinny clamp foot
Additionally they have different heigh foot spacers that allow you to mount the Vapor in a high or low position to better fit your needs. After unboxing the Vapor, I took a few minutes to familiarize myself with these different options and swapped a few things around. I was surprised they even installed stub screws into the screw holes to prevent them getting damaged or filled with crud.
stub-screws that keep the threaded bosses protected
I also took a moment to mount the 45-degree red dot mounting plate with the provided fasteners. Since I had it, I installed an Apex Optics Atom red dot with its compatible RMR footprint.
On the Range
I would end up using the Apex Vapor on a few different rifles, all semi-automatic carbines. Various trips to the range. Shooting distances as close as 20 yards and as far away as 400 yards.
Optical Clarity
Even from the very first time I lifted the vapor to my eye, it was impressively clear. Prisms are usually impressively clear and sharp for their size, and the Vapor was no different. At all points in its magnification zoom, it looked fantastic with sharp detail.
illumination of the reticle
Reticle
After shooting with the Apex, I did a little looking around on what others are saying. I was surprised to see how many people have a problem with the reticle, as I found it to be quite useful. People will always argue over minutiae and their preferences for subtensions and hold-over points.
I found the Fire reticle to be perfectly useful, with a typical large ring around the central portion of the reticle. This large ring creates a much smaller one when the Vapor is zoomed out to 1X, making a nice small point to put on your target while squeezing the trigger. And when zoomed-in, the large circle allows you something to bracket the target.
the reticle offers a variety of hold-over points for further ranges
The various hold-over points on the lower elevation of the reticle give you repeatable marks to hold on your further targets. The indicated values in the manual are handy, but at the end of the day I just see where each point coincides with a given distance and keep those results tabulated.
Controls
The only significant controls on this optics are the zoom feature, and the brightness settings for the reticle. The brightness is similar to everything else you’ve ever tried, there are 11 settings with an off between them.
The zoom feature on the other hand is a bit unorthodox, with a throw lever attached to the magnification ring up front. It does feel a bit odd reaching to the front of the optic to adjust the magnification. But because its so small though, its not a far reach. I did find one thing that I wouldn’t call a problem, but felt weird. The throw of the lever is pretty short, and when it reaches the end of either end, there is a solid stop. So you don’t want to get too aggressive pressing on it.
Durability
Obviously time and use is the best way to test a products durability. While I fully plan on giving the Vapor a solid wringing out over the next year or so, that takes time. Fixed prism sights in general are tougher than variable magnification optics, but the Vapor itself is also variable. So it stands to reason that it might be less durable than a fixed prism sight. Time will tell.
here you can see the magnification throw lever up front
Value
The Apex Vapor is not what I would consider an inexpensive optic, with an MSRP of $950 it is certainly not entry level either. Additionally, the Vapor has a relatively specific purpose, which makes purchasing the Vapor a very deliberate choice. If you are looking for a variable zoom prism though, there aren’t so many options.
Perhaps it would be somewhat comparable to evaluate it against a 1-4 power LPVO. Of which there are many options and you can probably get them for a lot less than the Apex Vapor. But a bunch of cheap 1-4 LPVO’s does not equate to what this optic offers you. In fact, comparing it to some of the nicer 1-4 LPVO’s like those from Steiner, Trijicon and Leupold would be a better comparison. The Vapor is cheaper than those options, and other than tactical style turrets it has many of the same benefits in a more compact sight.
next to a small LPVO riflescope, the Vapor has a smaller footprint
There are a couple larger 4x and 5x prism sights from companies like Steiner and Burris, but they are fixed power. And depending on the model they might be only slightly cheaper.
Mounting Options
The Apex Vapor is available with a couple different spacers to change the optic height. Additionally you can get it with either a screw clamp foot or a QD foot. One can give you fast optic swap, and one is more compact and less likely to get snagged on your gear. Both of them give a solid interface with the host weapon.
you can choose the Vapor with either a screw-clamp foot or the QD lever foot.
Pros and Cons
Compact Size
Costlier than Most Smaller Prism Sights
Sharp and Clear Image
Very Usable Reticle
QD Foot for Faster Install and Removal
Short 45-Degree 1-4X Throw
Easily Mounted Piggy-back Red Dot
Tethered Caps That Double as Tools
Etched Reticle
the 45-degree mount for a red dot rotates perfectly into place for point-blank shooting
Final Thoughts
I really quite like the Apex Optics Vapor. I’ve been on an LPVO kick for a few years now, and the Vapor’s size is refreshing while still bringing the sighting options. The images seen through the optic are fantastic and clean, and its factory piggy-back red dot options make it easy to pick. And Apex Optics thought through the Vapor, with variable mounting heights and QD mount. If you are considering a high quality 1-4 power sight for your carbine, it certainly is worth taking a look at before making your decision.
As a precision rifle junkie, I have a hard time knowing when to say when with my rifle collection. Today’s topic descends from my desire to have a perfect rifle for every situation. And as a hunter of these Rocky Mountains, I wanted a custom rifle that would be perfect for just about any hunt that may occur here. Follow along as I take you through another custom rifle build, this one is a Bergara Premier action carbon fiber 7mm PRC.
Bergara Premier Action
At the heart of every rifle is the action itself, the mechanical part of the rifle that feeds and fires cartridges. The Bergara Premier Action is one of many clones of the famous Remington 700 action, popularized by its easy adaptability and performance.
The Premier Action builds on the best qualities of the 700, and adds a great deal of function and improvements of its own. All while maintaining the conformity to the 700’s footprint and accessories that make up the majority of the aftermarket.
The Premier Action is a rotating bolt, with a 90-degree throw, to engage its dual bolt-lugs. The conical bolt face incorporates dual ejector plungers, and a sliding ejector housed in one side of the face. The Nitride firing pin assembly is of the bayonet design, allowing removal with no jigs or tools, by just twisting the bolt-shroud a 1/4 turn and pulling to the rear. At the front of the action you will find a pinned recoil lug for perfect alignment, and on top it uses oversized 8-40 mounting screws to secure the scope mounts.
Bergara began selling the Premier Actions recently, and also sell them as barreled actions if you wish to buy them complete. Requiring only a few additional accessories to have a complete rifle. My experience with previous Bergara Premier rifles made me want to try one of these actions on this next build.
A Barrel to Match
A good action needs a good barrel to match, for that I selected an Osprey Barrel Works carbon wrapped barrel. Osprey barrels feature a six groove bore, the additional grooves make an overall smaller cut into the bullet. Like other modern rifling techniques , this is a superior design. And also is better for shooting monolithic copper solid bullets. The 416R stainless barrel is wrapped in carbon fiber and double stress relieved before being lapped and gauged.
The 7mm PRC chamber was cut, and the barrel finished at twenty-inches. That may seem a bit short for some folks, but I like short gun performance. And the 7mm PRC cartridge has plenty of performance to use.
Inside the barrel is a one-in-eight twist rate, this is a slightly aggressive twist rate optimal for some of the more modern 7mm bullet designs. My plan was to shoot some of my favorite .284 bullets like the Hornady 162 ELDM, and the Sierra 183 Match King. As well as the solid copper Cayuga 167 hunting bullet.
At the muzzle end, the barrel was cut and threaded 5/8-24 for attaching muzzle devices like brakes or more likely a suppressor. All machine work was done at Patriot Valley Arms in Pottstown Pa.
A Chassis Following the Theme
Since I was focusing on lighter weight, and maximum portability. I selected a carbon fiber stock/chassis from Pure Precision, which is designed for the Remington 700 footprint. Which of course the Bergara fits nicely. The aluminum block molded inside the carbon made a perfect match to the action.
A detachable 3-round magazine system from Hawkins Precision fits perfectly in the chassis. And to round everything off, I installed a Trigger Tech 2-stage trigger for a crisp and adjustable break.
With all those parts assembled, I installed the Warne Vapor 20-MOA scope rail to the receiver. This lightweight rail comes with both sizes of screws for 700 style actions, allowing a solid base for mounting a scope.
I selected my US Optics LXR 4-24 riflescope for this project, the broad spectrum of magnification are optimal for hunting. Whether I am sneaking through the tight Tamarak pines of Montana forests at 4-power, or zoomed in to 24-power to get the best view of a distant Pronghorn on Utah’s dry western desert. The bright clear image matched with excellent tracking make this scope an easy choice.
Custom Rifles and Custom Loads
Custom rifles, like most rifles, can benefit greatly from handloaded ammunition. The whole purpose of this rifle was to be accurate, compact and light, yet still bring enough power for animals like Rocky Mountain Elk. That would require some custom handloading, which luckily I’ve been addicted to for some time.
Per my usual approach to loading a cartridge, I started out with a couple bullets I know work well. For this project I selected the Sierra Bullets 183 Match king, the Hornady 162 ELDM, and the PVA Cayuga 167. The latter being a copper solid, resulting in very high ballistic coefficient for its weight. I have used them in various calibers with excellent results.
I acquired a set of Redding Premium 7 PRC dies, which allowed exact precision with a micrometer seating die. Making customizing my ammunition both quick and easy.
one of the very first groups from the PVA Cayuga bullets
Finding a great shooting load for each of them was a trial and error, but I ended up with an accurate load and good velocity. I have noticed that with these Cayuga bullets, it doesn’t take much to get a good rifle shooting half MOA or better groups.
Field Shooting
Taking this rifle into the high Rocky Mountains where it was meant to be was a priority. So with ammo loaded, I headed into the spring mountains. As you can see, winter hasn’t exactly let go of us up here in the high country. For both comfort and anonymity, I installed my Banish Backcountry suppressor. It did a fine job of keeping the 7 PRC quiet enough for my tatses.
The wide open spaces combined with the natural antagonist’s of wind, angles, and cold all made for excellent practice. And I was excited to see what this beauty was capable of. Since it was zeroed, and I had good velocity numbers in hand. I punched it all into my ballistic solver to come up with a few firing solutions.
A long-range Test
I’d setup my shooting position overlooking a long mountain valley. It was littered with snow patches, melting runoff, and a few conspicuous piles of dirt from wintering rodents. After measuring the distance to a few, I came up with one target at 565 yards and another at 980 yards. Both of them measured around 14-inches tall. This gave me roughly a similar sized target to the vitals of the Rocky Mountain Elk I intended to hunt with this rifle.
My calculator indicated just over two MRAD for the nearer target, so I dialed the LXR to 2.1 and settled behind the scope. I watched the mirage downrange, and counter-judged the wind I felt against the back of my neck. After holding a correction for the wind, I took up the slack in the trigger, and began my press while holding steady. The shot burst from the rifle, and I watched as the scope resettled on the target to wait for the impact. Half a second later, the little dirt hill exploded sending fresh soil scattering across the snow behind it.
For a change, after taking a few more shots, I shifted to the further target. I adjusted both the power and parallax setting on my scope before I settled the reticle on the further dirt mound. After extrapolating a wind hold from my first shots, I held into the wind after dialing 5.6 MRAD for the distance. I was happily surprised as the next three shots went solidly through my target. The flying dirt giving witness after each shot.
As it happens, I jumped on the opportunity for a last minute spring bear hunt in Western Montana. Hunting Black Bears in the spring there can be very challenging and rewarding. The moist climate never stays stable for more than a few hours, and in a single afternoon you can experience heavy sweating, rain, and snow.
After putting in hundreds of miles through the forests there, and carrying this rifle on my shoulder for an average 5-6 miles a day I was quite happy with it. My efforts to keep the gun short and light were very helpful as the miles stacked up. And at random points throughout the hunt I was able to take a shot here and there to confirm accurate shot placement. And despite coming up empty-handed for a spring bear, I was able to bag a few Marmots that tempted my dry spell.
Pros and Cons
With custom rifles its almost more of a do’s and don’ts than a pros and cons. With nearly unlimited options its more about selecting which attributes you want in a rifle and whether or not you want to pay for them.
the Cole-TAC Python suppressor cover keeps mirage down when shooting multiple shots, and also protects your suppressor from getting scratched up during rough hikes
Having said that, I can certainly say that most of my selections were on point. The Premier action is an outstanding platform to build on. Its smooth operation is matched by positive extraction and robust build. I don’t regret for a second spending the money on a good trigger, that makes a huge difference for me. The carbon fiber Osprey barrel shoots great and pushes my preferred bullets at an acceptable velocity for the purposes of this rifle. The Pure Precision stock is very comfortable and lightweight. I do wish I had splurged a touch more for the adjustable comb though. Even so, adding a Triad Tactical stock pack kills that bird and another by giving me additional ammo storage and comfort.
the Triad Tactical stock pack is a very comfortable and adjustable option, with a zip-pouch for storing additional ammo and/or snacks
I may have been a touch aggressive on the shortness of the rifle, I think if I did it again I would have gone for a 22-23-inch barrel, just for the velocity.
Final Thoughts on this Project
While I am quite happy with how this custom rifle turned out. But the true test will be after I finish out my hunting season this fall. I have plans for both deer and elk hunting, and perhaps a pronghorn antelope thrown into the mix. Once those hunts have concluded, I will likely have a much better hindsight on how this project came together. But so far I am quite please with the performance, and I look forward to those hunts with intense excitement.
Taurus has long been known for making handguns, going all the way back to WWII times. During their long lifetime of production the company has produced hundreds of different models totaling likely tens of millions of handguns worldwide. All that to say they aren’t new at manufacturing pistols, but today we are taking a look at one of their newer handguns released last year. Out topic today is the Taurus GX2 pistol, a compact polymer-framed, striker-fired 9mm pistol.
the flat-faced trigger feels great on the pad of your finger
The Taurus GX2
With an MSRP of only $310.99, the GX2 is certainly reachable by most any aspiring gun owner. But economy is not always the most important thing, value is only advantageous with adequate performance. Taurus’ GX2 has a feature set that matches its price appeal.
Before adding any accessories to the GX2
Its polymer frame incorporates comfortable angles and tactile textures. Despite its small size, it still packs 13-rounds. And low profile sights that still pop are matched with a TORO optics cut to accept RMS red dots. For those that desire there is also a low-profile safety, as well as a typical picatinny accessory rail under the slide.
Specifications
Caliber
9mm Luger
Action
Single-action, striker-fired
Capacity
13+1 rounds
Barrel Length
3.38″
Overall Length
6.14″
Overall Height
4.89″
Overall Width
1.18″
Weight
20.6 oz.
Frame
Stainless-steel alloy chassis with polymer grip/frame
Slide
Alloy steel
Barrel
Stainless steel
Sights
Fixed front; drift-adjustable rear
Trigger Safety
Yes
Firing Pin Block
Yes
Loaded Chamber Indicator
Visual
Manual Safety
Yes
Magazine Release
Reversible
Accessory Rail
MIL-STD-1913 / Picatinny
Finish
Matte black / matte stainless steel, depending on model
factory fresh
Unboxing
I was unsurprised that the GX2 came in the typical orange Taurus box, with one mag and a safety lock. A small instruction manual also came explaining its use. I lifted it from the box to get my first impressions, and was surprised. Taurus has upped their game in recent years, and it shows in the GX2 design and feel.
The grip feels fantastic, thin where it needs to be and thick where it can be. The texture is great, allowing good purchase with either or both hands. The flat-faced trigger and safety-blade meet the pad of your finger nicely, spreading out pressure as you press.
Pulling the slide was a little stiff, but that is expected with little 9mm pistols like this. It has both front and rear slide cuts for gripping, which is great. A serrated rear sight lines up nicely with a white dot front sight, and it comes with a plastic optics footprint cover like other Taurus pistols. An external extractor is tucked neatly into the slide, and the brushed stainless steel barrel contrasts handsomely against the matte black finish. Closer inspection show that the chamber has a loaded chamber indicator cut into the top, which is nice touch for CCW enthusiasts.
removing the plastic optics cover to install a red dot, also note chamber indicator slot in top of chamber
And the GX2 is obviously built for that purpose, its petite size make it perfect for tucking into your belt. I’m not big on safeties for CCW guns, but this one is actually just the way I would want a safety if it had one; Easy off, and hard to engage. A swift swipe with the thumb puts the pistol into firing mode, while applying the safety requires a focused effort. Enough at least that you won’t be putting it on by accident.
Shooting the GX2 Pistol
I was eager to get the GX2 on the range, and with a few friends we would quickly get comfortable with it. I brought one of my new red dot sights along to try with the GX2, this one is from Nutrek Optics called the Blade. Its RMS footprint fit perfectly on the GX2 slide with nothing but the screws that were already there. It lined up perfectly with the rear sight, and its built-in notch almost felt made for the GX2.
Both indoor and outdoor shooting was done, with and without the red dot. I also added a Streamlight TLR8 to the GX2 for carrying at night. And I have been carrying the pistol for several weeks now, and I must say I have been very happy with its comfortable fit. And its great shooting performance.
Shootability
Much like my TX22 and TX9, the GX2 grip feels great. And I couldn’t help but think this pistol felt strangely similar to a P365 in both size and handling. I already mentioned the safety function (which I didn’t use much), but the other controls are great too. The trigger is a touch stiffer than I am used to, but thats to be expected from a CCW pistol. But the break is clean, as is the reset, both offering a firm and audible snap.
The magazine release is easy to find quickly, and not in the way to get pressed accidentally. The slide release is a little bit stiff, but not bad enough to be a big deal. All of the controls are low profile, not likely to snag on clothing or other things.
Reliability
The GX2 chewed easily through magazine after magazine, which would have been nice to have another. The magazine looks very similar to the TX9 magazine, just smaller. I really like the loaded chamber indicator, its easily seen even by my aging eyes.
I disassembled the GX2 to see how it ticks, and I was surprised to find slide-rails that ran 2/3 the length of the frame. This is a stark difference from most pistols of this type, as they usually have just two small front and rear slide-rails. The GX2 shares many of the design features of the TX9, almost as if the trigger and sear pack can be removed and installed in another frame.
The guts of the GX2 look to be of high quality. With thick slide facets, and robust extractor and ejector. It does not feel like it was cheaply designed and made, which is confusing because the pistol is not particularly expensive. Putting your life on the line with a pistol though, takes some time to justify, and this one will get additional testing before I would pin that ribbon on it.
Accuracy
I found the GX2’s accuracy to be acceptable for its size and price. Shooting targets at typical 7-10 distances proved to more than adequate to hit what I was aiming at. I really liked the enhanced feeling of the Nutrek Blade red dot.
a couple groups from our testing
The trigger and standard sights made the GX2 easy to shoot well even without the red dot. And might certainly make it less cumbersome to carry.
Ergonomics
I was very happy with the feel of the GX2 in the hand. Even with full-size man hands the grip isn’t too small, and is still petite enough for my wife’s hands. The square trigger-guard and undercut both look good and function nicely, giving perfect space for a weapon light and its controls. Shaved edges on the slide reduce snag factor, while making the pistol more comfortable to tuck into your jeans.
13-round magazines is nice to have in a small pistol
Value
Taurus firearms are known for their affordability, sometimes to a fault. The GX2 does a great job at improving the quality impression and the shooting performance of the brand. And yet it is still impressively affordable. With street prices around $230 it is hard to argue against this little pistol as good of a time as I’ve had with it.
Seekins Precision has been a well known name in the precision rifle community for a long time. From small beginnings, Seekins has built a massive name for themselves among precision shooters, law enforcement/military and the hunting public. Today we will be taking a look at one of Seekins popular rifle models marketed towards hunters; the Seekins Havak PH3. This model happens to be chambered in 7mm PRC, though it is available in a variety of others.
the Havak PH3 in its happy place
The Havak is by no means an entry level rifle, more likely to be purchased by dedicated hunters who take their shooting very seriously. Furthermore, the caliber change ability of the PH3 Action allows the user to incorporate additional calibers to the same rifle. All this to say the Havak is worth sticking around to the end to see what makes it so useful to you as a hunter.
The Seekins Havak PH3
Seekins released the Havak in 2017, as a production premium hunting rifle. All kinds of custom rifle features were built into the rifle, particularly helical fluting, precise bedding process and quality triggers.
the PH3 came in a simple plastic case
Later in 2025 the PH3 model replaced the previous model. The new PH3 incorporated a sixty-degree bolt-throw due to its six-lug bolt design. Additionally, the PH3 added Seekins own switch-barrel system.
the PH3 Action, a fantastic design
PH3 Action
Its bolt can be completely disassembled without tools, which also allows you to change the bolt-head for different sized cartridges. The barrel can also be changed by loosening a tension screw on the side of the action, then threading the barrel out of the action. Reversing the process with a different barrel and bolt-head render the Havak PH3 a whole different rifle. More on this later.
the disassembled PH3 bolt, using no tools
Unlike the first generation of the Havak, the PH3 does not share the Remington 700 footprint. But it does use the same style triggers which is a nice touch. The bolt-release is opposite the bolt-handle on the left side of the action, and also acts as a key to keep the bolt from rotating unless in battery.
lots of lightening cuts, and of course the Trigger Tech
Chassis
The Havak uses a mini chassis to perfectly mate the action to the stock, made from a machined piece of aluminum incorporated to the stock itself. This model comes with adjustable comb, and features M-Lok rails in the forend to attach your favorite accessories.
here you can see the M-Lok center rail, and QD cup locations
The comb-height can be adjusted on the fly, which is a nice feature. As are the four integrated QD sling cups to attach your favorite sling. For scope mounting, the Havak uses a built-in 20-MOA canted scope base, which is ideal for long-range shooting.
Specifications
Caliber
7mm PRC
Barrel Length
22 inches
Barrel Twist Rate
1:8″
Barrel Material
Fluted & threaded stainless steel
Muzzle Thread
5/8×24 (includes muzzle brake)
Action Type
3-lug bolt with a 60-degree throw
Rifle Weight
Approximately 7.8 lbs
Overall Length
42 inches
Stock Material
Carbon composite with mini chassis
Stock Adjustments
Adjustable cheek riser
Trigger Type
Adjustable TriggerTech Primary
Magazine System
Detachable box magazine (3-round capacity)
Optic Mount
Integrated 20 MOA Picatinny rail
Accessory Mount
Full-length M-LOK rail on fore-end
Special Features
Quick Change Barrel System
Unboxing and Setup
As I opened the box I was pleased to see the Havak came in a simple plastic hard case. Nothing fancy, but nice enough to throw the gun in the bed of the truck. Inside the case I found the rifle and a fired cartridge in a small plastic tube, this is handy for those looking to handload.
PH3 Action and Barrel
After installing the bolt, and ran it back and forth a few times. It was smooth and easy to lift due to its three-lug bolt. There was a lower than anticipated amount of friction when closing and opening the bolt, which I expect will make cycling cartridges more fluid. The Trigger Tech as usual feels fantastic, with a clean break and a two position safety.
At the top of the action you can see the built-in picatinny rail. It is interrupted in the middle, and also has machined out the center of the picatinny section. This is an obvious weight savings technique, and it looks very well done.
The bolt-release is easily actuated to remove the bolt from the rear of the action. Removing the barrel is a little more intense of an operation that I will go into a little later. Helical flutes adorn the 22-inch barrel for a handsome look, and at the front you’ll find a radial muzzle brake mounted on 5/8-24 threads.
the 5/8-24 threaded muzzle and radial muzzle brake
Havak PH3 Stock
The stock was also impressive, with its built-in mini chassis and M-Lok rail. The precisely machined mini chassis perfectly fits the bottom of the action, and the stock closely fits the entire barreled action. On the bottom of the stock, there is a full-length forearm M-Lok rail that sits in a groove down the forend centerline. The aluminum magazine well is sandwiched under the rail, and the mini chassis.
The Amend 2 polymer magazine holds 3-rounds, and it fits securely in the Seekins magwell. The mag release is inside the triggerguard, and does require a fair amount of pressing to release the magazine.
here you can see the precise fitting of the action and mini chassis
Adjusting the comb-height of the Havak stock was surprisingly easy. I thought there would be a thumb-wheel or something to tighten. But there is a simple push-button that when depressed, allows you to raise or lower the comb. I like that the front end of the adjustable comb has a void to allow removing the bolt regardless of comb-height. There is a soft rubber recoil pad at the rear which works great to reduce the recoil of this magnum rifle with its light weight.
the comb-height can be adjusted by pushing the button in, and raising or lowering the comb. I love the cutout for the bolt, so you don’t have to change the comb-height to remove the bolt from the action
Setup
For my initial tests, I decided to mount some quality accessories. First off was the brand new Steiner H6Xi 2-12×42, a scope with a focus on hunters and their needs. With its 30MM tube and single rotation elevation turret, it would give more than enough travel for some long-range elk hunting later this year. I mounted the H6Xi in a set of matching 30mm Steiner rings, with just enough room to clear the rifle features.
Under the stock I put a Magpul M-Lok sling mount up front so that I could install a Harris bipod. A simple sling could also be added using the various QD cups on the stock of the Havak. Lastly I would for sure run the rifle suppressed, first with the SilencerCo Scythe Ti. And later using the SilencerCo Omega 36M just to get a little variation.
Initial Shots
First shots from the PH3 were done at a rifle range, to get it zeroed and baseline accuracy. For that I fired a couple different loads; some 162 ELDM handloads, as well as some 180gr Hornady Match and some Barnes VOR-TX 160gr ammunition.
I boresighted the scope before settling down behind the rifle on a bench. A couple shots was all it took to correct point of impact, and get a couple groups on paper. After which I zeroed the turrets of the little Steiner so it would be ready for bigger country.
As the morning went on, I shot additional rounds to evaluate how the PH3 functions and to familiarize myself with it.
Field Testing the Seekins Havak PH3
Later on a another day we would shoot the PH3 in the Rocky Mountains where it was meant to be. Bringing additional ammunition sources to see it the Havak has a preference for them. Here in the 10k density altitude, the 7 PRC is a monster of a cartridge. And up here is exactly the kind of place it will be used this fall during hunting season. With additional shooters to get behind the Seekins, we’d be able to generate additional feedback on the PH3.
Seekins is known for their precision rifles, and that is where I expected the PH3 to excel. It was a relief to see how quick the rifle was to group well. And with additional shooting it seemed to tighten up even more. It also showed a preference for Hornady’s Precision Hunter 175 ELDX ammunition, printing 3-shot groups under .5 MOA. (albeit 200FPS slower than the box said 🤥)
a couple typical groups from my first range trip
Shootability
The PH3 action is outstanding. The short bolt-lift and smooth throw make it fast and nearly automated. Muscle memory runs the operation on the back-burner while you focus on the target and firing solution.
The one thing that stood out to me about the PH3 action was it seems to have significantly lower friction when opening the bolt after firing. Lower than what I’m used to anyways, which was a very refreshing sensation. The Trigger Tech was immaculate as always, making clean shots every time.
Ergonomics
Resting on the stock of the Havak PH3 was quiet comfortable. I love the adjustable comb, allowing us to get a perfect sight picture through the scope. The angle of the grip feels very natural and gives a perfect angle for trigger engagement. Every thing feels in the right spot and functions just how you would like it to. But there is one thing, that I must give a demerit for on this rifle. The magazine release feels significantly stiffer than it need be. If it was an outside the trigger-guard type, I’d be okay with it. But being an inside the trigger guard, it requires more effort than I’d like. I found it challenging to operate without breaking shooting position significantly. This did give me the impression that reloading magazines hastily might be a challenge.
the Steiner H6Xi 2-12 was a perfect fit for the lightweight hunting rifle
It’s fair I suppose to assume Seekins designed it this way to avoid magazines from getting inadvertently released while hiking down some God-awful canyon. And for a hunting rifle I would favor too hard to remove over too easy, for that very reason. Its not a huge deal, but one I figured deserves mentioning.
Reliability
Staying on the magazine topic; we had zero malfunctions with the polymer Amend 2 magazine. I appreciate how compact the magazine is, and its slippery polymer lips that feed flawlessly. But the magazine did feel a tiny bit petite, like it could be broken easier than I’d like.
Feeding cartridges was all but flawless, a couple times I noticed someone’s first shots on the rifle it didn’t feed but only because they hadn’t fully seated the magazine. Extraction and ejection are smooth and predictable.
even with all the added accessories the PH3 was still managable
The stiff stock of the Havak PH3 kept the rifle reliably accurate, even as the barrel heated up some. Shots didn’t wander from point of aim. It was a great performance, crossing all my t’s and dotting i’s.
Value
I mentioned at the top, I don’t feel like the Havak is an entry level rifle. But if you can afford it as your first hunting rifle, you’ll likely never need another. Street prices for the Havak hover between $1700 and $1900, which is not insignificant. But when compared to other big name custom shop production rifles, it is still quite reasonable.
And with the Seekins name on it, you can trust they will take care of the product for life. I’ve dealt with some of the people at Seekins and they have always been informative and honest. Thats the kind of company that deserves your investment, and speaking of value, let us not forget the next topic.
Modular Seekins Switch-barrel System
This feature deserves it’s own section. Seekins has been making switch-barrel options for some time, you may have seen it in my review of the Seekins Havak HIT. The design is simple and reliable; barrels thread into the face of the action by hand, and are clamped secure using a single cross-bolt. This allows the user to remove their own barrel, and change it out to another should they choose. Additionally Seekins open sources their barrel design allowing you to have your local gunsmith cut you a custom barrel for your Seekins rifle.
here you can see the barrel clamp that keeps the barrel secure between swaps
If you find yourself changing to a smaller cartridge, you can swap out the bolt head to a different one by disassembling the bolt. This can be done by hand, no tools required. The system allows you to completely convert your Havak from the 7 PRC shown here to something like a 6.5 Creedmoor should you choose. All this done by you, at home, no special tools required (maybe a torque wrench if your’e a stickler). As a bit of a multi-caliber rifle guy myself, that is a value that is hard to put a price on.
Pros and Cons
Smooth reliable Action
The Magazine thing I mentioned
Built-in Picatinny Scope Rail
Lightweight Design and Balance
Great Accuracy out of the box
Barrel/Caliber Change Option
Adjustable Stock
Built-in Mini Chassis
Excellent Trigger
M-Lok Forend
QD Cups where you want them
Threaded Muzzle and Brake
Sexy AF
Conclusion
I was confident that the Seekins would be a solid buy, not just because of my past experiences with Seekins rifles but because they have built a good reputation in the market. I am glad this rifle stood up to my expectations, and I look forward to seeing it laying against the bloodied side of our prey later this year. The Seekins Havak PH3 offers an accurate and reliable rifle that will standup for life, and accompany you into the dark and damp parts of the forest. Its the kind of rifle that will ride on your shoulder for weeks at a time, and make the perfect shot when it matters. I love rifles like that, and if you find yourself looking for one too, give the Havak an honest look.
There are few bigger names in the suppressor industry than SilencerCo at the moment. SiCo has been around for quite a while, and has dominated much of the suppressor market for some time. At the top of the food chain, we can expect some cool and innovative products from SiCo, and today I bring you one of them; The SilencerCo Scythe Ti suppressor. The company offers two different Scythe models, the Ti we are looking at today, and the Scythe STM.
Fresh out of the box with its service tools for modular changes and mounting
The SilencerCo Scythe
Of the two Scythe models there is a bit of a split in purpose. The Ti model is made completely from titanium, a first for SilencerCo. The STM model is made from stainless steel, and has a two stage design that allows you to use it in a short or long configuration. Both models use an anchor brake at the front of the muzzle end to help reduce recoil.
SilencerCo pioneered the hub system that nearly every manufacturer uses today. This allows you the ability to change the way you mount your suppressor, whether it be direct thread, QD mount with an ASR suppressor mount or otherwise.
Our Scythe Ti was focused more for activities like hunting, where its compact size and lightweight make it optimal for long hikes. And the Scythe is rated for up to 300RUM cartridges which covers most of what a typical American hunter would use.
As I unboxed the Scythe Ti, the immediate impression was how incredibly light it is. At just over 6-ounces it almost feels fake, but I can assure you it is not. The raw titanium color looks great in my opinion, and the smooth welds are so fine they look more like tool marks.
recoil from magnums like this 7 PRC are tamed by the Scythe’s brake
It came with a couple tools for servicing the Scythe, as well as a 5/8-24 threaded hub for mounting. But like most cans these days, you can install another hub if you’d rather use one of the the QD devices or muzzle brakes.
In the Field
Using the Scythe in the field was done both on a public rifle range as well as in the Rocky Mountains where I typically spend my time. I would end up using the Scythe on several different rifles of various calibers. Myself and the friends that came along would take turns between shooting and listening to the report.
the modular mounting of the Scythe and its caliber compatibility allows it to be mounted on various firearms. This is a custom Remington 700 mounted in the Grayboe Flagstaff chassis
Sound Suppression
On .308 Winchester sized cartridges the sound suppression was excellent. Even for other shooters near the muzzle of the rifle the report was tolerable. And from any distance of five or so yards away it sounded as pleasant as could be. Regardless of where we were, I felt no reason to use hearing protection with the Scythe. Of course that is not what most people would recommend, for safety sake anyways.
Shooting through the Scythe on the range, and in the cold and wet Rocky Mountains gave excellent insight to the Scythe’s suppression. I would happily use it on any of my sub 30-caliber rifles, it sounds fantastic.
Recoil Reduction
With its built-in anchor brake, the Scythe also helps reduce recoil. By diverting the escaping gas perpendicular to the bore axis, it reduces the force pushed against the shoulder of the shooter. Again this is a design that SiCo explored and has done very well with on several of their other suppressors like the Omega 300, you can see more about that one here.
the anchor brake of the Scythe keeps recoil down diverting muzzle blast to the sides
Smaller cartridges like 308 Winchester, 260 Remington and 6.5 Creedmoor are not particularly heavy recoiling. But with the Scythe installed they feel like a child’s rifle, with hardly any recoil at all. Grant me this though, several of the rifles used during testing were heavier than a typical hunting rifle. That likely helped with recoil as well.
Removing the anchor brake from the Scythe can further reduce weight, and length, but c’mon… The Scythe is already incredibly light, and the brake portion so short that it seems silly to change it out for a traditional end cap. It seems I’m not the only one who thinks so, as a search of the internet show hardly any images of the Scythe without its brake in place.
Accuracy
Like most suppressors in my experience, the Scythe had no ill affects on the accuracy of the rifle. If anything it helped improve accuracy by increasing the mass of the rifle making it more anchored. Additionally, the recoil reduction helps keep you on target, which helps spot hits or misses on the target. Both of these facets will increase the amounts of hits you make.
Suppressors typically strip high pressure waves from the bullet as it leaves the muzzle. Much like a boat traveling through a protected harbor that keeps the big waves out. As the bullet passes through each baffle in the suppressor, it travels through more and more calm air. This allows the bullet to start its flight with less interference and they typically shoot better.
Modularity
With its 1.375×24 TPI hub, the Scythe can use any number of different mounting solutions. There are various SiCo brake options but you don’t need to stop there, as even other manufacturers hub mounts will fit the Scythe. Though it comes with a simple and lightweight 5/8-24 direct-thread hub, you can change it to better fit your purposes should you desire.
short cans are better for maneuvering, here you can see how compact the Scythe is
Again, I saw no reason to remove the anchor brake from the Scythe, and it would appear most people don’t.
Value
With an MSRP of $1174 the Scythe Ti isn’t exactly an entry level suppressor. But it is well worth the extra bit of cheddar you pay. Its hard to find a lighter can in this category, as most popular models are around 2 ounces or more heavier.
So if you are a hunter looking for the most compact and lightest suppressor you can get for your hunt, you should definitely be looking at the Scythe.
Its popularity also means that it flaws can be shown. SilencerCo says the Scythe has a very low rate of failure, but there are enough reports of failure to not be insignificant for those looking. And SilencerCo appears to be very quick to repair or replace them.
Pros and Cons
Extremely Light
Not Inexpensive
Modular Mounting System
Some Reports of Broken Welds
Recoil Reducing Brake
Heats up Quickly
Low Reflective Surface
Compact Design
Fully Welded Construction
Excellent Sound Suppression
Caliber Compatibility (5.56-300Rum)
Rapid Cooling Time
The Scythe adds minimal weight and length to your rifle
My Verdict
Shooting with the SilencerCo Scythe has proven to be very pleasant. It provides great sound suppression without adding a bunch of weight and length to your rifle. You can also configure the Scythe to mount in various ways that best fit your application. And on some of the heavier calibers it really helps reduce recoil, while smaller cartridges recoil is reduced to minimal. This performance does come at a slightly higher cost than many other options, but worth it in my opinion.
