Pendleton Stock Field Test

[Dinny]

1 DEC (Day 2): Snow flurries and an average temp of 34deg. The rain had stopped overnight but the damage was done. The creeks and small river had swelled and made several areas inaccessible for the type of hunting. No one (not even some of the dogs) enjoy crossing frigid, fast-moving waters several times a day. Two sets of other hunters took dogs in on the opposite mountain ridge from the day before. Again, my job was to watch for dogs crossing the road and running bears off that mountain. After a 3-4 hours hours everyone packed it in for the day and headed back to camp. That afternoon I drove to Monterey to check out the bustling metropolis. Anyone who knows Monterey, VA knows it's anything but a metropolis.

[Dinny]

2 DEC (Day 3): Clear, windy and am average temp of 34 deg. This was the big day! We had fair weather and the waters were down. I drove with another hunter to the top of Shenandoah Mountain. We ascended down the mountain from an elevation of 3800ft to US Hwy 250. Our dog ran off about half way through our 5 mile hike and was heard barking almost a mile ahead of us. The GPS collars helped locate and keep the dog safe while he crossed US Hwy 250 in hot pursuit of a bear. About an hour later the dog showed treed and a couple of other dogs were turned loose to accompany it. We arrived a little while later to a ~90lb yearling in the tree. After a few pictures we walked off and let it to meander off on it's own.



Shortly thereafter I was driven back up the mountain and took off on another hike with a different hunter. What I thought would be a repeat of the morning hike (mostly a downhill hike) turned into much more than I bargained for. We walked down a high ridge and walked around in the bottom of a hollow for almost two hours looking for signs of bear or good food sources still available. Two of the dogs had struck a scent trail and took off. They left us in the dust and were a good 2 miles ahead of us running another bear. From there we had to walk back up the ridge to get back to the mountain road. My legs felt like jello around 1500 and I was dragging my behind. We got to the truck and started heading down the mountain when a call came through the CB radio that the dogs had circled back towards us and were showing treed only about 1.5 miles behind us (further up the mountain road). We were driving down the mountain in search of a place to turn around when someone ahead called saying there was a bear cub next to the trail past where we were parked. We drove up and got out looking over this tiny cub. It probably didn't weigh anymore than 25lbs. We suspect it was either sick or it's mother had been killed and it was dying of hunger. Someone called a family member who works at a nearby animal rehab clinic and the cub was later picked up.

[Dinny]

Continued...

While this was happening, the dogs had treed and we got the trucks moved into a closer position. We hiked a mile down the side of the mountain and found the dogs actually had two bears treed in the same tree. The sow could have tipped over 200lbs but her yearling cub was maybe 75lbs. We left them both to wander off after we left. The exit from this location was another half mile down the ridge to an old logging trail. Once there, we walked another 1.5 miles back to the trucks and called it a day.

I estimate that I walked somewhere between 9 and 12 miles from elevations as low as 1800ft to as high as 3800ft. This all happening from 0730 until 1800. The rifle was slung sideways across my back nearly the entire time I was hiking. The only times it came off my back were when I had to fight my way through the thick laurels that were growing in the areas that had been previously clear cut.



Last year I hunted the same basic locations. The first day I carried a 7.5lb Rem Model 7 in 35 Rem. At the end of the day I felt as though that rifle weighed a ton and was glad to get it off my back. The second and third days I carried a 7lb Tradition G2 Outfitter and it felt noticeably lighter. Earlier this year I carried a Ruger 44 Carbine. I'm not sure how much it weighs but I can say it was no fun to carry around the mountains. The Pendleton Stock weighs only 1lb 1.6oz and I feel that made a huge difference in my ability to continue longer. I definitely felt less fatigued that night than I had other nights after walking less miles and less incline. At no time had the stock ever felt like it had flexed any. I watched the barrel gap at the end of the fore stock several times throughout the 3 days to see of the gap space changed. It hadn't.

I enjoyed the hunt even if we didn't kill any bears. Anytime I can get away from the hustle and bustle of Hampton Roads and enjoy the beauty of the mountains is a good time. I have no doubt the 6.5 Grendel would have done it's job had I been given a bear to shoot.

Tomorrow I'm heading to the range and will zero the rifle at 100yds. I'll post my range report results later this weekend.

Thanks, Dinny

[biodsl]

Great report, Dinny. Glad you enjoyed yourself.

[Lemonaid]

Great to hear that the light weight rig is making a noticeable difference. Great pics! One question about what you do for your rifle after hunting through the rain. I have noticed on my rifles after rain exposure is that it is necessary to remove the action from the stock and dry them out or rust will quickly form. Putting a layer of wax on the metal helps quite a bit to preserve the bluing.
Best of luck on the hunt!

[Dinny]

My rifle has been coated with Cerakote. I may take it apart later today to see if it needs a wipe down. I left it sitting muzzle down overnight and that's how all my rifles sit in the safe. Thanks for the wax tip. I have been told Ezox does the same.

Thanks, Dinny

[Rosecrans1]

Wonderful report Dinny. That looks pretty thick and steep! Though we don't hunt bears with dogs, the terrain you're in is what I hunt right now in Central PA. No bears this year but lots of deer seen! We avoided the rains you had to our south though I would have taken them since we are in a serious drought watch right now.
I dropped the weight of my deer/bear gun this year as you did. Not using the RAP Grendel right now. Maybe for stand hunting next week. Can't use the AR Grendel in Pennsylvania to hunt big game period plus it weighs a ton!
I bought a used Savage Model 16 Light Weight Hunter, Stainless/Synthetic chambered in 7mm08. Much better carry during drives in laurel and side hills. Should have lightened my hunting rifles years ago. Loaded, scoped and sling, it weighs 6.8 lbs. And it's accurate! The Grendel RAP weighs in at 9.1 lbs with scope and sling + mag. NOT LOADED!
It makes a huge difference carrying all day. Especially with my old back with two surgeries on it! Can't tell you how many times I literally was stuck and "suspended" in a laurel thicket.
The Ruger American, (Not the Predator), really looked tempting to me but wouldn't be lighter or as light as this Savage. That stock you bought may have me throwing money into another Grendel from scratch! Incredibly light specs.

Will be waiting for the range reports, Dinny!

[Dinny]

[Dinny]

[Stinky Coyote]

nice build

[Dinny]

Due to a lack of time before the hunt, I elected to just drop my action into this stock without any additional bedding. There are steel pillars built in. I think it definitely would benefit from glass bedding to increase consistency.

Today's 100m accuracy was a bit less than what I got from my bedded B&C stock, but still plenty accurate for all but the most discriminating riflemen.

Thanks, Dinny

[Rosecrans1]

I'm shocked the Federal Fusions grouped so well. I couldn't get them to group in either Grendel I have and the Fusion 7mm bullet only offerings were worthless in two 7mm-08 rifles I own when handloading them.

[Stinky Coyote]

any fusion factory ammo i shot in a .270 or .243 were about as accurate as anything i've ever shot and more accurate than most everything i've ever shot, i don't reload though

[Dinny]

Wayne has updated his website with Timney Trigger and Pendleton Stock info for the Howa Minis. Give him a call or shoot him an email if you want something.

http://www.oregunsmithingllc.com/

Thanks, Dinny

[Harpoon1]

Wayne has updated his website with Timney Trigger and Pendleton Stock info for the Howa Minis. Give him a call or shoot him an email if you want something.

http://www.oregunsmithingllc.com/

Thanks, Dinny

Nice!

What scope are you using and what does it weigh?

I’ve been hunting Highland County for 35 years now, from one end to the other. Love the place.

[Dinny]

Not sure of the weight but it's a Leupold VX3i 3.5-10×40.

Thanks, Dinny

[Harpoon1]

Not sure of the weight but it's a Leupold VX3i 3.5-10×40.

Thanks, Dinny

Roger that!

Edited: according to Optics Planet and Amazon, they both agree, it weighs 12.6 oz.

[Stinky Coyote]

what barrel length do you have?

your rig looks almost too good, i've sold one of my howa's but i'm looking at the other right now and doing nearly what you did, my action i've already had slabbed and bolt fluted with bolt handle hollowed which dropped 3 oz in total, and when i knock the 22" barrel back to 18" will be about 3.0 lbs or 3 lb 1 oz, that stock bedded at say 18 oz, i never have seen a listed weight for the aluminum bottom metal kit so i'll assume 5 oz for now, the talley 1" low rings will be a touch over 2.0 oz, and i think i'd go full ultralight carbine mode with leupold vx3i 1.5-5x20 at 9.3 oz....total build should be about 5.2 lbs all up and about 35.5" long, would feel like a kids .22 from the early 1900's lol

[Dinny]

My barrel is 22". Wayne York specializes in lightweight rifles and will know the weight of his bottom metal. Good luck with your build. Mine is quickly becoming a favorite.

Thanks, Dinny

[Stinky Coyote]

thanks, helps visualize from your pics on end of page 1, fantastic pics btw