With NRL Hunter quickly gaining popularity and the Precision Rifle Series adding a sportsman division, there are more opportunities than ever to compete with practical weight rifles. This makes rifles that are able to cross over between competition and hunting increasingly attractive. Crossover rifles often result in compromises in one or both of their roles. Here are some considerations to help make your crossover rifle both an excellent hunting rifle and great match rifle.
Weight
Traditionally, a huge difference between hunting rifles and match rifles is their weight. Match rifles aim to minimize recoil and maximize accuracy. This leads to extremely heavy rifle systems, often weighing 20 lbs or more. These rifles are simply too heavy for practical hunting use outside of a blind.
However, over the last five years, new match formats emerged which mandate practical weight rifles. NRL Hunter’s Open Light division has a 12lb weight limit for your rifle system without a magazine. Additionally, this year the PRS has added the Sportsman division requiring rifles weigh 13lbs or less with a magazine. While still heavier than most hunting rifles, these weight limits are much closer to what most hunters carry in the field.
These new divisions allow hunters to use rifles weighing 8-9lbs in the field, and then add weights and accessories for matches to get closer to the weight limits. In order to do this, need the ability to accessorize.
Stocks and Chassis
Being able to add weights and accessories to your rifle is important to be able to successfully cross over between both roles. The easiest systems to do this are full length ARCA rails and MLOK attachment points. Additionally, having magazines available in 10-12 round capacities as well as 3-5 round capacities allows for changing the rifle profile by swapping magazines. This essentially requires the use of AICS compatible stocks and chassis.
Some good options are the KRG Bravo, MDT Field Stock, MDT HNT26, MDT Carbon, and XLR Element. All of these stock options allow for the addition of weights, bipods, tripods, and have flat forends that will ride well on a bag. Which one is the best choice depends largely on your budget and how light you need the rifle to be when used for hunting.
Cartridge
The next consideration for a crossover rifle is what cartridge to chamber it in. There are only a few options that make sense. Minimizing recoil is important in order to spot your misses and not beat yourself up during a day long match. However, the rules and the terminal requirements of hunting eliminate the smaller 22 centerfires and 6mm cartridges. If you plan to shoot the PRS sportsman division, the choice is made for you; the division requires the 6.5 Creedmoor. This is a solid choice, as the 6.5 Creedmoor also is close to the minimum to make power factor for NRL Hunter. In addition, at this point the 6.5 Creedmoor has more than proved itself as an effective hunting cartridge.
For handloaders another great option is the 25 Creedmoor. Stout handloads are able to make power factor, particularly with a longer barrel. There are slight ballistic advantages in going with the 25 Creedmoor over the 6.5. That said, if you want a shorter barrel or quality factory ammo, the 6.5 Creedmoor will still be the better choice.
Optic
Next, you will need to pick an optic. This is a delicate balance, as for long range match shooting FFP optics with exposed turrets and a max magnification of at least 15 power are best suited. In order to be useful at low magnification in low light hunting scenarios, illumination is strongly recommended and the optic can’t be too heavy. Popular crossover scopes are the Leupold Mark 5HD, Leupold Mark 4HD, Nightforce NX8, Nightforce NX6, and Vortex Razor LHT 4.5-22×50. Which is best depends largely on reticle preference and how much value is placed on locking turrets.
Barrels
Finally, picking a barrel for a crossover rifle can be challenging. There are quality steel and carbon barrels from a number of manufacturers. Carbon allows for a beefier contour at a lighter weight, but some carbon barrels exhibit POI shift during long strings. One important feature on any barrel is that it is threaded. The ability to use a brake or suppressor has a meaningful impact in your ability to spot your misses.
Closing Thoughts
In closing, building a crossover rifle is difficult but not impossible. By picking lightweight but full featured components and selecting a stock with provisions to add weight, a rifle can effectively fill both roles. These new competitions offer excellent opportunities for hunters to get hundreds of high pressure shots down range before the season. If you’re serious about improving as a rifleman and a hunter, put together a rifle and get out and shoot. I’ll see you at a match or in the field.