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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 866 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 866 Likes: 1 |
After many elk hunts plus a couple Canadian and Alaskan hunts using horses I'd never want a big scope or exposed turrets on my rifle. Unless you have a custom made scabbard that'd accommodate them! My favorite horseback rifle is a 30/06 that has a 22" barrel and a fixed 6x36 Leupold.
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 997
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 997 |
Don't own any, didn't grow up with any, and can barely stay on one. Did survive a small rodeo in Idaho once upon a time.
Do know that horses wreck stuff. They are teally good at bendjng things. Even if you're careful.
Trying to put together a rifle for horseback now. Tryong to talk myself into a barrel longer than 22 inches.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,950 Likes: 21
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,950 Likes: 21 |
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,263
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,263 |
or you can cheat and put on a neoprene cover..... This.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,274 Likes: 22
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,274 Likes: 22 |
Yep, slinging rifles while operating animal power is a no-go. Just plain dangerous.
Same with backpacks...... I've done it quite a bit. Definitely prefer a scabbard if I am riding in a ways and not just hunting from the back of the horse. Big packs tend to get tangled up in the brush and can be a PIA in other ways. It is nice to rest the lumbar pad on the cantle though... I think I am at 3 fishing poles, 1 rifle and 1 shotgun stock that have been snapped in two due to rodeos. It is something a guy just has to accept at some point. PVC fishing pole cases have eliminated broken poles, but they're heavier than I'd like. That's the horse's problem though As far as turret caps, most standard scabbards will be too tight for them, IME. If you really want to take a rifle so scoped, that's fine but have the wranglers pack it in a hard case on a pack saddle. They may or may not agree to due to the weight and bulk.
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,149 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,149 Likes: 1 |
Check out a Trailmax scabbard.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 29,383
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 29,383 |
Check out a Trailmax scabbard. That looks like a winner and cheap insurance on a hunt.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 904
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 904 |
tape them and use a neoprene cover
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,887 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,887 Likes: 1 |
I’ve guided horse back hunts for 18 years. Given an oversized scabbard, which we actually have some for our hunters to use, the problem isn’t the rifle on the horse. It’s the hunter using the long range rig. It may be my number one red flag.
And I’d never let a hunter ride with his rifle slung. I’ve seen hunters fall off the most gentle dude horses around.
Last edited by Ralphie; 07/14/20.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,730 Likes: 17
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,730 Likes: 17 |
A low mounted 6x36 LR Leupold is my favourite scope. Horseback hunts are part of that reason. My brother and I have carried our rifles with that scope for literally hundreds if not thousands of miles in a scabbard and have never had that scope shift zero. There have even been a few wrecks along the way.
Last edited by pathfinder76; 07/15/20.
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 997
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 997 |
That's the point. I can seem to be able to do it.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,274 Likes: 22
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,274 Likes: 22 |
Another option for you, for packing turrets. It's not glamorous, but it works.
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,980
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,980 |
I often tape the turrets, it only takes a second to rip it off if I get time to set up for a long shot and dial
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 9,589 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 9,589 Likes: 1 |
tape them and use a neoprene cover I didn't use a neoprene cover, but I did tape my turrets when hunting from a horse last fall. Like the OP, I was using a 2.5-10x42 NXS. Mine was in Tally lightweights atop a New Haven M70 SS Classic Fwt in a Brown Precision stock (270Win). I took my deer @ 560yds with one shot in the waning hours of the last afternoon of our hunt. The rifle was in/out of the scabbard and logged many miles that week with 0 issues when it was time to put the rifle to work.
Last edited by horse1; 07/22/20.
I can walk on water.......................but I do stagger a bit on alcohol.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 12,168 Likes: 16
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 12,168 Likes: 16 |
Yep, slinging rifles while operating animal power is a no-go. Just plain dangerous.
Same with backpacks...... Yup.
John Burns
I have all the sources. They can't stop the signal.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,438
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,438 |
"I can't be canceled, because, I don't give a fuuck!" --- Kid Rock 2022
Holocaust Deniers, the ultimate perverted dipchits: Bristoe, TheRealHawkeye, stophel, Ghostinthemachine, anyone else?
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 869
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 869 |
Exactly my recommendation mtn boomer. It’s a huge scabbard and fits my LR rifles with nightforce exposed turrets. I also use a scopecoat over the scope.
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 869
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 869 |
NW Montana company. I sell that rifle scabbard and everyone has been happy after using it. I use it as my main rifle case for my long range rigs. My buddies 300rum is 26” plus brake with McMillan game hunter and NF 56mm and its tight but fits. Only non pelican type hard case that rifle fits in whether strapped to a horse or not.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,438
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,438 |
I'm tempted to get one. My 7mm with suppressor is every bit of 53". Only thing else I have seen, and considering, are a few 60" drag bags. Not horse bound and undecided...
"I can't be canceled, because, I don't give a fuuck!" --- Kid Rock 2022
Holocaust Deniers, the ultimate perverted dipchits: Bristoe, TheRealHawkeye, stophel, Ghostinthemachine, anyone else?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,085 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,085 Likes: 1 |
The only horse back riding was for running my trapline 30 yrs ago and I left the rifle home and packed a 22 handgun. Duke wouldn't put up with shooting off his back but if I got off and stood in front of him and he could see the pistol he could care less. Now I do carry a scabbard on my back when I'm hiking, skiing, bicycling or on the MC chasing coyotes. I tried a scope with tall turrets, what a pain and gave it to my granddaughter.
Last edited by erich; 10/04/20.
After the first shot the rest are just noise.
Make mine a Minaska
Heaven has walls and rules, H-ll has open borders
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