Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, rifles, archery, and more. You name the outdoor activity and were probably into it!
In addition to the time spent outside, Ryan is also a total gear junkie (part of the curse of being an engineer). He’ll share his passion and knowledge. around rifles, rifle cartridges, and other hunting and fishing gear as well.
Follow along with us as we share our love of the outdoors!
I am a big fan of using heavy power 8'6" salmon rods for pike. They are especially nice if you have to travel as all of them are 2 piece. I was lucky enough to score to brand new St Croix Legend Elites in 8'6" heavy recently and truly believe they are one of the best tools for the job. St Croix also offers Pike specialized rods but I find the handles tad too short on must models.
That’s a really cool idea - I may need to try that out! I did pick up a legend pike rod and really liked it - they do run a bit shorter handle than musky rods, but I used the swim bait special and had no complaints!
It’s probably top notch in an 06 case without a doubt. Im building one now as we speak. My gun smith thinks my version I want built is just about right. 280 AI is definitely the best AI and then the 25-06 AI both are the two best AIs ever. I can’t wait till my 280 AI is done.
It’s one of those cartridges that really gets the most out of the AI version. 257 Roberts and 22-250 in short action are a couple of those rounds that really benefits. Opens some cool opportunities with different barrel twists and reloading options too!
This review should definitely be done by a saltwater angler these reels are only used by freshwater anglers using them to throw heavy lures so you’re only putting pressure on the clutch when using these reels you don’t really experience the full drag experience like in salt
A different RU-vid channel that’s doing more saltwater fishing is welcome to do it - I simply wanted to share my experience in freshwater with those interested. Tight lines!
Ooooo, I like that! Especially if you can push your COAL to closer to 3” - could really have a sweet cartridge if a person wanted to go with a bigger bullet!
I agree with your assessment. But I'm not into recoil. I'm going to look at the 280 AI as my perfect all around. Handloading makes it better than buying commercial offerings
Love that round! I have a lightweight setup in 280 AI - it recoils harder than my 300 win mag, but it’s more a function of a 7lb build vs a 9lb build than a cartridge difference!
Thanks Steve! I need to get back to making them - I had a few weeks fishing in Canada that I’m trying to edit and get posted, but need to stay on the cartridge overviews!
Just found your channel. Really digging it. This video basically explains exactly my thought process on my new lightweight rifle build for western, Elk hunting. I got a question. We are building a lightweight rifle. What scope we looking at to keep it lightweight? I'm thinking a 4-12. Looking for your thoughts. A video would be even better
@@stevewealthy6120 thanks for the nice comment! I’m a bit behind in development, but I actually did build two lightweight rifles to compare these decisions - one is off this video, a 280 Ackley in a Kimber Montana. I paired it with a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x32. It’s a bit beefier scope, but I was able to keep the rifle, scope, and ring weight to exactly 7lb. I also put together a 6lb all in 6.5 Creedmoor in a Kimber Montana and used a Leupold VX3HD 2.5-8x36. I really like that Leupold for keeping the gun light, and would imagine a higher zoom scope in that line up would perform well. I’ve found that outside of load development I’ve never needed or used above ~8 power while hunting out to 500yd. I’ve learned a lot with the two rifles and will work on getting the 6lb vs 7lb mountain rifle video out as soon as I can! I’m working through a ton of video from a Canada fishing trip and it’s taken me a bit longer than I expected! Thanks again!
@stienfamilyoutdoors . Thank you for the response. I had been looking at the Leopold Freedom series in the 4-12. I will definitely look at the 2.5-8x36. You have a great day sir. I am now a subscriber, and look forward to more content
Hey! These are from Kifaru - I use the medium size for my first aid kit and the XL size for my rain gear! kifaru.net/products/500d-pullouts?variant=44662862840110
Just think, if 7x57 a DG and varmint cartridge was all there was, we would probably never be out of factory ammo primers, powder, and brass. It is a fantastic and extremely versatile round.
@stienfamilyoutdoors I call it the laser. Inside 500 yards, it's point and squeeze. I have not had the opportunity to open it up past 500 yet. But in the real world, I am hunting inside 400 most of the time.
When we get to that final push between 6.5cm, 7-08, or 308 with the bullet weights listed, I haven’t noticed a substantial difference. It’s a good piece of data I will include going forward though! It will really stand out when we look at the extremes.
Good video. Thanks for posting! I use a 7x57 to hunt white tail on the East Coast. Mine is a Model 98 and it loves to digest heavier bullets. I currently shoot 162 gr Hornady SST bullets on top of 42 gr of IMR 4350. It produces 1 in groups at 200 yds. I was shooting 140 gr bullets but was having trouble with excessive drop at 200 yds (12 - 18 in!). I switched to a .260 Rem for a while using 140 gr Hornady ELD-X bullets but was getting too many thru and thru shots that would knock down game but not kill them nor leave a sufficient blood trail to follow so its on the shelf until I can work up new loads with new bullets. Currently working up a CG 1916 6.5 Swede. Point Blank on that rifle is 300 yds open sights! Still working on customizing it so its not field ready yet. Ran out of cash and time for improvements.
I like your style on rifles! I like my Winchester, but am considering doing a “heirloom build” on a 1909 Argentine I have that has already been sporterized.
Beautiful rifle. Wish you would have shown some accuracy results on some targets. I shoot a 7x57 in Ruger M77. I have always loved the cartridge. It will do everything a 308 will do. I also have a custom built Swedish Model 96 mauser in 6.5x55, beauty wise, as nice a looking rifle as you will ever see. Shoots sub MOA at 100 with just all ammo I've tried but likes the Federal Power Shok and the Nosler Accubond, both in 140 gr at around 2650fps.
I’ll include more range time in videos going forward. Wish I had a private range I could use - it’s tough to get good audio at the range with shooting going on, but may use it to voice over some results going forward.
This is supposed to be a minimalist day pack. I wouldn't be packing in a tripod, spotting scope, and huge binos. Just essentials. But that's my opinion.
Totally fair - and for that purpose it may work great! I noticed there wasn’t a lot of use case videos on the pack aside from at its release, and my style of hunting for deer, we typically glass them in the morning from a high vantage point and like to size them up from a distance, so the optics are a big part of it. Could probably ditch the spotter and just pack the 15s some days though!
100% For me the 300 win mag, 30-06, and 300wsm are the trio of “pick one and be happy” all around rifles. I think the 300 win mag and 30-06 do a bit better with the heavy hunting bullets (200-220 grain partitions) and give them the nod over the 300wsm for that reason.
I can see that - if a person is going to chamber a 338-06, you might as well go all the way into “niche” cartridge and get max advantage out of it. Not like you’re going to be buying ammo off the shelf with that cartridge choice anyways!
I’m glad it’s worked well for you! I really try to avoid playing fish too long, and the medium light rod would make it tough to get fish landed as quick as I’d like to. I’ve caught a few in the mid-30” range on my walleye setup that’s similar to your pike rod. Not my favorite way to fish, but to each their own!
I had a Ruger M77/270 re-barreled to a .275 Rigby with a Shilen 24 inch barrel. I have worked a load so far that pushes a 154 grain bullet at an average velocity of 2758 fps. It's a beautiful rifle I hope to harvest much game with.
The 280 Ackley Improved is all you need loaded right. Don’t forget that with a 1 in 8 barrel twist and a minimum 24 inch barrel length you can use 175 grain and up .284 caliber bullets.
It’s a rhetorical question. Nosler smokes the shit. That being said, I’m on 6.8 western, a scant 7.8 thousandths smaller diameter than a 7mm, (2 sheets of paper)
Liked your video, really wanting to get a 280ai, would love one in Tikka,but they don’t make.what brand would you recommend that would shoot comparable to Tikka?
Actually been looking very closely at the 257 Weatherby. The build plan as it is now is a coup de gras action, Hart 26" barrel and a Trigger Tech Diamond trigger all nestled into a Woox Superleggera chassis. Did wonder is a 12:1 twist would help this become a good distance bench shooter. I know next to nothing about the effects of changing twist rates. Current ammo choice would be a 100 or 115 grain projectile I plan to load myself. Oh yeah I'm also new to reloading.😂 Other current project which is coming along quite well is a Sharps 25-45, upper for my AR I'm open to any suggestions about this build and especially barrel twist... Thanks for the video.
Saw the other comment on the hook set and I agree, but wanted to ask, how do Walleye fight where you live at, the walleye in my state, or at least my area seem lazy as fuck lol
Nice walleye. If u guys ever get at chance...go fish Otisco lake in upstate ny. Its near skanaetles, ny. Great walleye and muskie fishing. Trust you wont regret it. Walleye & Muskies get massive there cause of all the live bait chilling in the lake.
Which 7mm is King? …??? Any 7mm that works for the shooter..wouldn’t you agree there Mr Wales? Cartridge comparisons is/has been around for decades..astonishing how nowadays everything is “The Next Best Mom’s Apple Pie”..!! Why don’t people just learn how to shoot whatever chambering works for them?? There was a time the 300 Savage was the cartridge to have for bear..polar bears no less…and anything else that walked in North America!! From 7 Mauser to 284 Winchester to 280 Remington to 7mm RemMag…put in the right hands with practice snd “Decent” hunting skills and knowledge…who cares!! Walk into a ammo store…what cartridge do you suppose is more easily found? ??? 7mm RemMag and it’s performance is AOK!! Not perfect…but no 7mm is. Eh?
