Just got back from a great outdoor experience down in Manti La Sal. Saw plenty of animals, but they were exposed for only half a second or less every time, and I got a chance to get acquainted with the area. A fellow forum member and good friend invited me, so I couldn't pass that up.
5 Day Elk Hunt in Manti La Sal National Forest
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5 Day Elk Hunt in Manti La Sal National Forest
NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.comTags: None
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NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com
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DAY 1:
Arrive in camp. Get settled quickly, and confirm zeroes on as many rifles in camp as possible-there were 7 of us, including 2 youth hunters.
We set up and lased a little 50yd zero range, ensuring proper backstop. This identified some issues with 2 of the rifles, which were easily rectified with adjusting the zero on one, and re-mounting the scope on another. I had my Wheeler FAT Wrench and Loc tite for just such a contingency, so no problems, got the guns dialed in for a nice 200yd zero.
I then took a target stand out to 200yds, lased, and put up an IPSC sil with shoot n see hi viz targets to confirm 200yd zero.
There were a lot of hunters up there already on Friday, which is good for pushing the elk.NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com
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The 18" Lightweight 6.5 Grendel is a very easy long gun to carry around in the mountains. I had some 94.3gr trimmed down Hornady GMX's loaded up on 33.9gr of CFE. My last day there, I shot them into some timber down at camp to see what kind of expansion, penetration, and weight retention they would exhibit in dense material like that.
They ended up retaining more weight than a 7mm Rem Mag with 165gr soft points, which didn't surprise me. The 7mm Rem Mag just lead showered the wood, with a small core of lead left in the material at the same depth as the 94gr GMX. Recoil on the 7mm Rem Mag is substantial without a brake, but you lose your sight picture no matter what anyway. The 7mm Rem Mag is really a long range hunting cartridge ideal for a static target, which you just don't get during season here.
Off season, these animals appear domesticated to the tourist, and there are idiots who have tried to put their kids on the backs of elk in Colorado up at Estes Park, which is a beautiful place to visit if you haven't been by the way.
After seeing this area, I wouldn't recommend anything larger than a 7mm-08 and go semi-auto, unless you are setting up in a static position only for long shots and are well-versed in long-range hunting, with a lot of trigger time behind your rifle, MOA cant base, higher end optics with good turrets, premium barrel, etc.
It really pays to have a light rifle that balanced well, and I used the telescoping stock adjustability regularly, to include riding on ATV's, static versus stalking, youth, etc.NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com
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We had the kids practice some shooting at 200yds with the JP .223 Wylde AR15, which recoils less than a factory 10/22 Ruger.
NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com
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Very nice.
Beautiful camera work too.Knowing everthing isnt as important as knowing where to find it.
Mark Twain
http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showt...2-Yd-Whitetail
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Originally posted by jeff556 View PostLooks awesome!
Looks like you're using a Manfrotto tripod, yes? Which head do you have on it?
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That's awesome looking terrain! Glad to see the Grendel out doing some elk hunting, to bad you didn't get a chance to harvest one.12.5" SBR Grendel - Need Barrel
Surge - Rugged Suppressor
Been a fan of the Grendel from the very beginning and haven't second guessed that choice one time.
Aim small, miss small!
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I'm using a Vanguard heavy tripod with the PIG Saddle on it for when I took the tripod out. It's a carry over from my DM and Long Range Courses, and a must really for shooting in terrain for me at least, since you never get the prone up here, or many other places for that matter.
Manfrotto is the way to go for a lightweight tripod, whereas I like the heavier Vanguard since I can walk away from it and not have it blow over in the wind during a course.NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com
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