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The Ascent in 270WSM to me seams about right! It took several trips and different rifles to get the light weight mountain rifle.
The kimberlite Ascent of the shelf is just about spot on. Light, durable, accurate. Initialy I thought the price wasn't worth it and looked at building a NZ mountain rifle. Couldn't get anywhere near the Ascent price in a build.
Calibre - I had previously used the 270WSM and liked how it performed and decided to stay with it. Other considerations were 280 Ackley and 270. If the Ascent came in 264 that would have been my choice. All these cals would have worked fine.
Durability - all the rifles I've taken over the ditch show how tuff the country is with well worn synthetic stocks covered in scratches and wear marks. The hollow sound the stock makes when its knocked or bounced off a bit of NZ is terrible but it has held zero very well. The Ascent has significant wear from monkey scrub where it was exposed thru the removable cover. Didn't even notice it until I got home.
Brake - Im not a fan but use it in NZ as it makes for accurate longer shots. The noise is horrific and in a rush this trip I fired it twice with out hearing protection. Couldn't hear for two days
Interesting when we were climbing to glass tahr Chris and I use a quick release rifle cover to keep the rifle and scope protected. Unreal in the monkey scrub and Watto will have one next time we go over. Watto and Chris both picked up my ascent and appreciated the light weight.
Chris had trouble in heavy rain and snow with his action freezing after shots, very frustrating ..................
Have thought about going lighter and taking the Barrett field craft over in 308. Would it work certainly but the terrain allows for Houdini acts by hit bulls very quickly and I appreciate the extra bit of grunt from the 270WSM and hope that it drops them on the spot.
Learn more each trip and will eventually have enough experience to narrow down what works and what doesn't.
Should have went with crampons a couple of trips back. Hit some ice sheets and decided that they were not required. To lazy to put them on..... That changed after a few slides on my arse. Scary moments!
Confidence went thru the roof, bouncing around like a fool and had a large slip fall on thin slab rock, covered by sheet ice.
Chris went with shoe chains and had a bad fall for about 7m and was lucky that the chute he was in didn't go to a drop off. Watto watched it all happen and felt helpless as Chris slid down the chute! He's going to take crampons next trip. And have the ice axe ready. The chains worked well in the steep wet tussocks.
MIA tent........... Awesome is the only way to describe it. Being able to sit up, cook , dress get ready to hunt in reasonable comfort makes the trip a lot easier. Watto and Nat were in a 3 man Mac pac tent and shared our tent for cooking socialising etc.......
Rough weather in a tunnel tent or extended time in a tunnel tent is not enjoyable.
The group after us had atrocious weather with only two days of their week hunt able. They appreciated the MIA.
We did two trips in by 500 and both loads were under weight so could have taken more gear. Next time ill take wood rather than coal as the stove is designed for wood.
Going to get sorrel boots for around camp. Had dramas keeping my feet warm this year. Had temps in the minus. Felt for the other NT guys in Arbor ridge. They reckon it gets bugger all sun.
Nat is a chef and we ate very well, with no freeze dry meals . The young tahr and nannies are one of the better meats I've tried.
Im looking forward to the next trip. Bring on the ballot for 2020 Cheers Mick

Edited by 264 (02/10/19 12:09 PM)

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