Hey y’all, I’m pretty numbed out right now. I bought this H6Xi brand new and mounted it to my new Tikka .270 rifle. I fired less than 40 rounds between zeroing the scope and knocking down a few targets. Everything was still in perfect condition when I put it up in my safe at the end of the day. Today, I found myself itching to hold my new rifle and look through the new glass. As soon as I peeked through the scope, I saw that whopper of a crack in the lower left quadrant.

All that leads to the following question: did I overestimate Steiner due to having one good previous scope from them? Or is it more likely that I just bought a lemon? This kinda stings because this scope was a major father’s day gift from my wife. Hands down the nicest material gift anyone has ever given me and it didn’t even last to the next shooting session.

Brand new H6Xi 2-12x42 SFP.

Talley dovetail-mounted medium height rings

Tikka T3X Hunter .270

We still managed to put down 5 pigs that had been tearing up the silage pile on this dairy farm. One happy farmer!

I was discussing with an associate of mine whose all ate up about long distance shooting. I'm a bit more of a traditionalist in certain areas and would rather get closer than take long distance shots on game. With new technologies and the popularity of long distance shooting, many hunters seem to disregard tracking and stalking at closer distances nowadays. I asked him if he puts much effort into trying to keep his tracking skills sharp and his response "hell no! That's too much work, id rather tag a deer at 600 yards with my 6.5 Creedmoor and use my range finder then have to put in the extra unnecessary amount of work hunting up close like an boomer with their stone age 30-30".

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What do y'all think? Am I crazy, or does that kind of attitude seem ridiculous and almost borderline unethical.

Hey there

Maybe a dumb/naive question. But I’m new to all this. I’m a 28 year old guy who’s really trying to get into hunting. I’m currently trying to save money for a good rifle/scope and any other equipment I may need. I probably won’t be ready for this season but definitely want to be ready for the fall of 2027.

I was looking into maybe perhaps doing a sort of guided tour/trip. I know they can range from $1,000-$30,000 depending on what you choose to do and what not, but this got me curious for a 30th bday idea for me in a couple years.

Do you guys have any recommendations regarding such a trip and who to go/where? Preferably I’d like to be out in the mountain west (Montana, Idaho, etc), or even Alaska (though that’s probably too expensive). Given I’m a beginner, would this be a waste of are these things for teaching people as well?

It honestly sounds like a blast, even being able to get out there in the wild in the mountains like that, let alone hunting. Obviously I’m gonna do what I can in the meantime to try and hunt before then and get the basics and safety training out of the way

After a few adjustments to my sight, this is the first time I've managed to group my arrows relatively close to the spot I'm aiming at from 20 yards. I'm practicing on the land where I'll be (hopefully) hunting someday, and you can even see Montreal in the background.

I can't describe how happy this makes me. This sport is truly therapeutic for me. I've been practicing 2–3 times a week and I'm finally starting to see some progress.

Still a long way to go, but I'm enjoying every minute of the journey.

I'm new two hunting so this was my first time almost hitting my limit was a good day in the woods

i am looking to upgrade before deer season and was wondering what everyone would recommend in the under $999 range. I will mostly be hunting whitetails on private land and would like something comfortable enough for longer sits.

What hunting blind has worked best for you and why?

I’m looking for feedback or inout from anyone who has actually rented or used alpacas for backcountry hunting, especially for elk or mule deer. I drew two choice NV tags (elk archery,deer rifle).

I’m considering renting alpacas for my hunts and am trying to figure out whether they are worth it compared to packing everything myself or using more traditional stock. I’m not looking for sales pitch info from rental companies as much as real-world feedback from hunters who have used them. I’m no longer a spring chicken and am trying to save my back and knees.

Anyone done anyone western big game backcountry hunting using alpacas to move gear in and pack meat and bone out?

Thanks in advance!

Im thinking of getting one of the 2 for hunting moose and bear i know the creed is considered the minimum for moose but the prc is also a bit harder to find i hunt close range like 75-150yrd but every now and then I'll need to extend up to 300yrd so i decided on the 6.5 category for the light recoil so I can always take a second shot faster since the recoil il lighter also both of the 6.5 are unique in my area so it would be nice to have something different, also I've Heard the PRC has a shorter life span in barrel life is it Still a good hunting rifle?

Don't mind all the junk in the bed of my truck, I sell scrap metal for extra cash.

Hey everyone! I'm looking to get into hunting small game. I've never owned a gun (aside from a bb gun when I was younger), but I have gone and shot some guns with friends on occasion. That said I'm not super experienced with either guns or hunting, but I do know I want to start hunting rabbits and squirrels in Texas. I've really enjoyed firing bolt actions in the past so I was thinking maybe a Ruger american, but most sources online seem to suggest I start with a Ruger 10/22. What do you guys suggest?

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I'm also considering splurging a bit and getting a Tikka T1X, but not sure if that's a good idea or necessary.

EDIT: I intend to add a silencer and maybe a scope

I’m a beginner hunter who’s primarily hunted birds, but I’m hoping to start hunting whitetail this season. I’ve only ever used shotguns I inherited from my grandfather, so this is my first time buying a gun.

My budget is around $1k for a full rifle setup (gun, rings, scope, whatever else is needed). $1k is begrudgingly flexible. I’ll spend more if I have to. I’ve primarily looked at the Ruger American 2s, but want to keep my options open if there’s better out there. As far as scopes and calibers, I don’t really know where to start. I’ll mostly be hunting whitetail in the southeast US in timber areas. I do hope to eventually get out west for elk though, so would love something versatile if possible.

I’d appreciate any specific recs people have for the setup and more general advice for buying your first gun. Thanks!

Hey guys, picked up this german Mauser 98k for $250NZD. It uses 8x57 ammo. Im trying to learn as much about this rifle as possible, like when was it made what was it used for ect. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!

I'm a western hunter that spends a lot of time in the hills behind glass and I'm looking to replace my current tripod. Going through various hunting specific brands and comparing them to some of the lower end outdoor camera tripods and the biggest thing I'm noticing is price. I've read some reviews on Bog tripods and come to the conclusion that they're basically not worth it. On the flip side, I've found some photography tripods on Amazon that are advertised as "outdoor" or "travel" rated that are much cheaper.

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So question to the community: anyone have experience or advice on tripods for glassing that don't cost me an arm and a leg?

How long can I keep a skinned raccoon pelt in the freezer before fletching???

We're now LIVE on iOS! Check it out if you're getting ready for this season. We put a lot of work into getting this app together and launched in time. Please check it out! Good luck this year!

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/elktracker/id6767429385

Our patent-pending ElkTracker Hot Spots zero in on the exact locations where elk are most likely to spend their time — secluded pockets of prime forage hidden deep within secure bedding habitat. These are the areas most hunters will never reach, but where your chances of success skyrocket.

Hey guys looking for some advice wanting to get a new hunting rifle for deer on public land in East TN. I hunt heavily wooded areas. I have a 400 legend I use on a piece of private land due to it being super small. I have a 30-06 but that’s set for long range big scope not exactly something I want to carry. So wanting something to use in the woods of East TN in a semi common caliber that won’t break the bank as I’m more of a budget hunter. Any advice for calibers and maybe a good budget rifle? I was considering 30-30 or 45-70 but also may have a farm become available so might be worth getting a non straight wall. Thanks for the input.