Ak wilderness hunter. scythe failure and first timer thoughts.

[Leinad]

Just finished my first NRL match here in AK. Had a silencerco scythe fail as well. Thought I’d post a few thoughts.

First, shout out to the match directors, the amount of work to get the permitting, build the stages, order the steel…..for those who attended you know the logistics of AK are different and that was awesome!!

Went up the night before the match and thought I’d confirm dope at my local range. Scythe blew apart at the third weld, about 1200 rounds through it. ( I mentioned this to Tyler Freel briefly and he clued me in that there have been quite a few failures) All factory .308. So, drove home and grabbed a spare can. Caught a rough zero at range closing and away we went.

To sum up the match. If I could shoot another one tomorrow I would. If you are on the fence about it just do it. Do it for you. Me and a friend entered this match in skills division. We had seen some YouTube videos and had the usual skepticism about all the gadgets and big tripods. We don’t hunt with that stuff. So we shot this exactly as we would on a day hunt. No shooting tripods, no match calibers, lightweight rifles. I’m rocking my beat up tikka .308 cut to 16 inches, and my friend was using his factory savage lightweight 7PRC. He single loaded rounds through the top to complete stages.

We had an absolute blast! And learned a crapload. If, like me, you feel that the kit the competitors use looks out of the realm of real world hunting, just go with what you have! We shot the entire match with no tripods. We borrowed a tripod for 1 of the 20 stages. We primarily used our packs. And my buddy used his bipod. It’s doable. If you are a hunter, this is a no brainer.

What I observed, is that the “mandatory” shooting tripod, in some cases, seems to put people in a box. “I have this tool, I’m gonna use it on every stage”. Is it helpful in some stages? Yes, absolutely. Required to make hits? No.

Must haves:
Dope
Solid zero
Something to write with. I used medical tape on top of my bino harness.
Rifle gone through and lock tighted and torqued. (I witnessed action screws falling out). That would be a hunt ender. This is a great way to test your gear and yourself.

Long story long, a good time was had by all. We finished solidly mid pack. Among all shooters, skills and otherwise. And we met great people, awesome community of individuals.

I’ll post a couple pics.
Cheers!

 

[Leinad]

My gear feeling inadequate……lol.
On that note though, I felt my basic rf binos were super helpful. Recent purchase, had not really tested them fully or hunted with them yet. In my mind the new standard. Mine are just “dumb” rf binos but game changer for me.

 

[hereinaz]

Great write up.

True, shoot with what you have, have fun and challenge yourself.

Rangefinding binos are a must for NRL hunter types, even if “dumb”. The speed and ease of use is valuable for time.

There are extremes to everything, and I bet the tripod usage was contrived many times. I bet there was a lot of unpracticed use of tripod. You certainly don’t need a tripod to get hits. But, what if a tripod produced the most solid position?

What would you say if a person practiced almost exclusively off a tripod to have one consistent tool? Like “fear the man with one gun, he knows how to use it”— from prone to standing, could you imagine “fear the man with one shooting tool (a tripod), he knows how to use it.”

Many agree that the tripod is the most valuable shooting tool to come into usage.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

The tripod is a giant step backwards to the 16th century. You are making yourself slower, often downright static, and less dynamic. Use one if you want, but it seems to me to be a massive crutch that limits you, physically and mentally, more than it assists you.

OP, good on you for just going out and doing it. I have been to events where it was clear that other people had done more preparation or had better gear, but I also saw that the gear became a mental requirement for them. The ability to just do it with what you have is part of what makes a great hunter (but that attitude is pernicious to those who sell gear).


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Leinad]

Great write up.

True, shoot with what you have, have fun and challenge yourself.

Rangefinding binos are a must for NRL hunter types, even if “dumb”. The speed and ease of use is valuable for time.

There are extremes to everything, and I bet the tripod usage was contrived many times. I bet there was a lot of unpracticed use of tripod. You certainly don’t need a tripod to get hits. But, what if a tripod produced the most solid position?

What would you say if a person practiced almost exclusively off a tripod to have one consistent tool? Like “fear the man with one gun, he knows how to use it”— from prone to standing, could you imagine “fear the man with one shooting tool (a tripod), he knows how to use it.”

Many agree that the tripod is the most valuable shooting tool to come into usage.

I would agree. My intent was not to bash shooting tripods. Clearly a valuable aid. More just to encourage other hunters or “hunt curious” to just get out and do it.

Not let lack of gear or budget to acquire it be a holdback. Is this Rusty? If so thanks for the class and the coaching. I’m not sure who is who on Rockslide.

 

[Leinad]

I should also mention this was a great opportunity to “try before you buy”. There was a lot of sweet kit in use, and the community of individuals were more than happy to let you try it.
Just overall super positive experience.

 

[hereinaz]

The tripod is a giant step backwards to the 16th century. You are making yourself slower, often downright static, and less dynamic. Use one if you want, but it seems to me to be a massive crutch that limits you, physically and mentally, more than it assists you.

OP, good on you for just going out and doing it. I have been to events where it was clear that other people had done more preparation or had better gear, but I also saw that the gear became a mental requirement for them. The ability to just do it with what you have is part of what makes a great hunter (but that attitude is pernicious to those who sell gear).


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

LOL, 16th century…

Being good with a rifle is what makes a good hunter. Learn how to use the tools you have. You definitely don’t have to use a tripod to be a successful hunter or have fun.

Tripods are merely adjustable shooting platforms. If you can’t see a place for that in your philosophy of use, that’s cool. I think it is silly dismissing tripod use based on the reasons expressed.

I would agree. My intent was not to bash shooting tripods. Clearly a valuable aid. More just to encourage other hunters or “hunt curious” to just get out and do it.

Not let lack of gear or budget to acquire it be a holdback. Is this Rusty? If so thanks for the class and the coaching. I’m not sure who is who on Rockslide.

No, I am not Rusty, but I have learned from him too.

Thanks for the post, it helps get more people involved.

Agree 100% with you. That’s what’s fun—taking your hunting gear to challenge yourself and learn. Definitely don’t take a tripod for the first time and try to use it and expect to be smooth with it.

When it comes to any piece of gear, training and realistic practice is required to be proficient—which is what you guys did. I mean, single feeding the 7 prc is not ideal, but it is realistic. And, he definitely learned from it. Getting a new rifle with bigger magazines is better for matches, but not necessary.

NRL Hunter is supposed to be fun and doable with hunting gear. It is gamified for the winners and regulars. But, shooting a match like you did is so much fun.

As far as the tripod, it can be a good tool, not to dismiss it based on something you might have witnessed.

 

[hereinaz]

I should also mention this was a great opportunity to “try before you buy”. There was a lot of sweet kit in use, and the community of individuals were more than happy to let you try it.
Just overall super positive experience.

This is why I love them. Community is fun.

Anyone considering it, just go with whatever you have, and do it now.

 

[wind gypsy]

The tripod is a giant step backwards to the 16th century. You are making yourself slower, often downright static, and less dynamic. Use one if you want, but it seems to me to be a massive crutch that limits you, physically and mentally, more than it assists you.

Yeah, disagree. If you're using it for glassing already it's useful and with practice it's not nearly as slow as you may think. If you need to get the rifle a couple feet + elevated a tripod can be a big benefit.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Yeah, disagree. If you're using it for glassing already it's useful and with practice it's not nearly as slow as you may think. If you need to get the rifle a couple feet + elevated, it's a huge benefit.

If you want to use a tripod, go for it. By all means, it has a place if you have already carried it up to your glassing spot and committed yourself to a static position. But it isn’t “new game-changing technology.” And I have known a lot of people who are wedded to certain gear, which can play serious mind games with them if they cannot use it. And I have known plenty of others whose dependence on a piece of gear is physical. They lack the ability to do the required task without the gear. That’s not just a comment on tripods. It applies in all walks of life. And that’s not an aspersion on anyone in this thread. No need to get all defensive.

I was just commending the OP for not feeling limited by the absence of a piece of gear and demonstrating a great attitude. Enthusiasm and adaptability will take a person pretty far in life.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[hereinaz]

If you want to use a tripod, go for it. By all means, it has a place if you have already carried it up to your glassing spot and committed yourself to a static position. But it isn’t “new game-changing technology.” And I have known a lot of people who are wedded to certain gear, which can play serious mind games with them if they cannot use it. And I have known plenty of others whose dependence on a piece of gear is physical. They lack the ability to do the required task without the gear. That’s not just a comment on tripods. It applies in all walks of life. And that’s not an aspersion on anyone in this thread. No need to get all defensive.

I was just commending the OP for not feeling limited by the absence of a piece of gear and demonstrating a great attitude. Enthusiasm and adaptability will take a person pretty far in life.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

You made objective assessments about the tripod as 16th century backwards step, without any of the caveats you clarified.

And, the tripod is a game changer… if you practice with it like every other tool.

 

[wind gypsy]

No need to get all defensive.

You made a statement, I disagreed. No defensiveness.

 

[hereinaz]

@Leinad

What was one thing you learned that will help you kill better? I always like to hear these tidbits.

 

[9.3koolaid]

I shot it as a team, first nrl match for us too. Biggest take away by far: I gotta get out and shoot in wind and natural terrain more, which I kinda knew. There was a clear delineation around ~600 yards where my confidence went from "got it" to "I'm gonna send it and hopefully see trace to send another" and my hit rate past 600 reflected that.

But it was incredibly fun and I'd do another tomorrow if I could.

 

[Leinad]

@Leinad

What was one thing you learned that will help you kill better? I always like to hear these tidbits.

For me my takeaways were my lack of great wind calls, and building positions efficiently. My lack of practice was evident. My focus will be building stable positions with what I have. Getting my process down.
The reps of returning to zero after every stage will help me avoid a missed shot in the field. I have had that snafu at the flat range and am trying to get rid of that user error! Lol.
I think my big takeaway was refining my process is important. Order of operations, consistent placement of mags, gear…….I have had this mentality in the CQB environment. But never really introduced the stress of a time limit with my hunting kit.
Also, 2 is one, one is none. As demonstrated by the can failure. Which in hindsight, though it sucked, I’m happy it failed when it did and not halfway through the match!

 

[Leinad]

I guess those are things I learned I need to improve. Lol Sorry.
So, What I learned that will help me kill was this: focus, trust my dope, break a clean shot.

 

[Leinad]

One thing to add. I found initially, the first day, I was thinking about the time limit throughout, thinking about the fact I had 3 more positions or targets. Not focusing completely on the moment. When I realized this I mentioned it to my buddy and he agreed.
We decided our personal goal from that point was to make one clean hit on one target from the first position. Narrow our focus to the moment. If successful, switch focus to next target/position and execute as perfectly as we could.
This helped us a ton. Slowing things down mentally. I would totally recommend that mindset to first timers and wish I’d caught myself earlier.

 

[hereinaz]

One thing to add. I found initially, the first day, I was thinking about the time limit throughout, thinking about the fact I had 3 more positions or targets. Not focusing completely on the moment. When I realized this I mentioned it to my buddy and he agreed.
We decided our personal goal from that point was to make one clean hit on one target from the first position. Narrow our focus to the moment. If successful, switch focus to next target/position and execute as perfectly as we could.
This helped us a ton. Slowing things down mentally. I would totally recommend that mindset to first timers and wish I’d caught myself earlier.

Took me a couple months of local PRS matches years ago to figure this out. Solid advice. Look at the scores, and if you can get clean shots that impact, you can place pretty high and never get shots at all the targets.

 

[Pilsner]

If you want to use a tripod, go for it. By all means, it has a place if you have already carried it up to your glassing spot and committed yourself to a static position. But it isn’t “new game-changing technology.” And I have known a lot of people who are wedded to certain gear, which can play serious mind games with them if they cannot use it. And I have known plenty of others whose dependence on a piece of gear is physical. They lack the ability to do the required task without the gear. That’s not just a comment on tripods. It applies in all walks of life. And that’s not an aspersion on anyone in this thread. No need to get all defensive.

I was just commending the OP for not feeling limited by the absence of a piece of gear and demonstrating a great attitude. Enthusiasm and adaptability will take a person pretty far in life.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

I am a cardiac patient who can't shoot prone because when I go prone the compression on my chest/lungs/heart makes my pulse top out at over 140 BPM. This is very counter to doing box breathing and trying to get my pulse under 60 BPM for optimal shooting. So I am learning to shoot seated, kneeling, and standing via tripod, pack, etc. My goal is to be competitive in NRL-H in the 26 season at least on a local level.
My question is: What percentage of shots during a typical course of fire can be done, and done well, shooting prone?
I was just at the match in Kansas last weekend and I didn't see any single stage where shooting prone was optimal. I DID see several folks who tried to shoot prone who failed at their tasks due to inability to get comfy fast at shooting kneeling or standing however.

 

[hereinaz]

I am a cardiac patient who can't shoot prone because when I go prone the compression on my chest/lungs/heart makes my pulse top out at over 140 BPM. This is very counter to doing box breathing and trying to get my pulse under 60 BPM for optimal shooting. So I am learning to shoot seated, kneeling, and standing via tripod, pack, etc. My goal is to be competitive in NRL-H in the 26 season at least on a local level.
My question is: What percentage of shots during a typical course of fire can be done, and done well, shooting prone?
I was just at the match in Kansas last weekend and I didn't see any single stage where shooting prone was optimal. I DID see several folks who tried to shoot prone who failed at their tasks due to inability to get comfy fast at shooting kneeling or standing however.

Stages rarely allow for prone unless it is the really long range shots.

One match I shot everything off my tripod that I could. They had a prone that I used my tripod on low. Match directors will accommodate you as needed.

I have figured out how to do what I call old man prone, lol. Seated with a tripod front and sticks in rear. I went 3 straight at 1000 once @NSI and @mxgsfmdpx got my wind call.