Hunting Gear

An oblong box marked “Burris Veracity” showed up at my door weeks ago, so I couldn’t wait to sight it in after mounting it on a Montana Rifle Extreme X2 6.5 Creedmoor with Warne scope mounts. The plan was to shoot sage rats in eastern Oregon. Nosler’s 129-grain AccuBond Long Range bullet provided the motivation.

Veracity means accuracy and correctness; there is a lot of room to adjust accuracy for windage and elevation in a 30mm tube. When adjustment travel ran out after the fourth bullet, a user’s manual along with a supplied Allen wrench allowed for loosening the elevation cap and resetting travel adjustment to find the bullseye. I keep a journal of each bullet fired with this rifle. I sighted the bore using a sandbag rest, and finally zeroed with bullet No. 12.

On a Texas hunt, the side-adjustable parallax was frequently used as axis deer, hogs or jackrabbits might offer targets at anywhere from 10 to 500 yards. Bullet No. 18 was for a feral hog, broadside in dry grass at 20 yards. The next evening, the rifle was handed to my friend Sam Pyke when a big, silver boar appeared in a brush-hogged shooting lane in failing light. In the mesquite-shaded tunnel, Pyke picked up the animal and let it keep coming until it turned sideways at 61 paces.

I liked that this scope could be dialed down to 2x for Minnesota black bears at 12 paces, and could be turned up to 10x for deer out to 600 yards. The reticle is in the first focal plane, which means it appears to change size with the magnification, but ballistic reticles can be used at any setting. The reticle fills the field of view at 6x, and at 10x the reticle appears in clearest detail.

With the Ballistic Plex zeroed at 200 yards, the hunter can employ MOA hold-overs out to around 600 yards. Hold-overs extend left and right of the vertical wire with the endpoints representing the hold-off points for a 5-mph crosswind. The cascading dots to each side represent the hold-off for a 10-mph wind. For a 20-mph wind, double the distance.

The ultimate test of a telescopic sight is in evening light. On a coyote hunt, a dog responded to the call in seven minutes. When it circled, then stopped behind a bush in shadow, it was picked up at 6x and dropped 160 yards distant – bullet No. 23 was its unlucky number. MSRP $719.    burrisoptics.com

– Gary Lewis

Hornady 6.5 PRC ELD-X Precision Hunter

The 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC) was designed to achieve great accuracy, a flatter trajectory and extended range performance in a sensibly designed, compact package. Utilizing moderate powder charges that result in repeatable accuracy, low recoil and reasonable barrel life, the 6.5 PRC produces high velocities with performance beyond 1,000 yards. Riflemakers currently chambering the 6.5 PRC include GA Precision, Gunwerks, Horizon Firearms, PROOF Research, Stuteville Precision and Seekins Precision.

Dubbed the big brother to the 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6.5 PRC fits in short or medium actions with a standard magnum bolt face (.532 inch). It’s case geometry features a long cartridge case neck and 30-degree cartridge case shoulder. Verified by Doppler radar, the tip of the 143-grain ELD-X bullet minimizes the effects of aerodynamic heating and retains its shape to maintain a high ballistic coefficient over its entire trajectory.

With high velocity, 0 to 400-yard impact, the bullet continually expands throughout its penetration path. The thick shank of the jacket and high InterLock ring on the ELD-X bullet keeps the core and jacket together, providing 50 to 60 percent weight retention.

Upon low velocity, 400-plus yard impacts, the Heat Shield tip drives backward into the bullet to initiate expansion. Exhibiting controlled expansion with a large mushroom and 85 to 90 percent retained weight, the bullet provides deep penetration and large wound cavities. The bullet is available as a component or in factory loaded Precision Hunter ammunition.    hornady.com

Koola Buck Hide Ripper

The Koola Buck Hide Ripper was created to eliminate the tedious and time-consuming task of hand-skinning deer. This portable machine attaches to any vehicle equipped with a trailer-hitch mount, and sets up easily in minutes. Once assembled, skinning a deer is an easier task.

To use it, skin the back legs or neck of the deer, and insert the included gambrel. Next, use one of the powerful 1,000-pound winches to lift the animal upright, then use the second winch to rip the hide off; it is just like pulling your shirt over your head.

The Hide Ripper is constructed of all-steel square tubing with heavy-duty pins and weighs 95 pounds. It disassembles into a footprint of 54x20x6 inches, making it convenient for transportation and use in remote locations. MSRP $399.

koolabuck.com