By Terry Houin
The only positive about my current situation is the fact that I don’t have to worry about the Gunwerks ClymR 6.5 PRC lashed to my pack. You see I’ve kind of F’d myself by thinking I can just scramble up the side of this hill and get in place to get a shot at this deer we spotted from below.
What I failed to throw into the equation matrix was my current location and the hostile environment I am in. Unlike the manageable terrain of the Rocky Mountains where a quick climb up 1,000 feet can suck some oxygen but is generally not a big deal if you’ve done a mediocre amount of training.
Where I am now is a pure shit show. Alders that grab at your legs and entangle you like a full-on Jiu Jitsu session. Non-stop rain, which only makes the already wet and slippery mountainside feel like I’m trying to climb out of the party pit at a P-Diddy White Party.
Gunwerks ClymR 6.5 PRC
As I fall for the umpteenth time and scramble to get my head above my feet, I find a certain bit of relief in the fact that I don’t have to concern myself with my gear. The Gunwerks ClymR is built tougher than the Kuiu shorts that started as pants. If I get myself out of this mess with even a sliver of daylight left and that Blacktail Buck is still feeding on the hillside, I know the ClymR and Revic Optics will find him and seal the deal.
This is the scenario that constantly runs through my mind as I sip my Black Rifle Coffee and sit in the warm sun on my back deck. You see I have yet to pursue Coastal Blacktail in Alaska, but I have read the stories and watched the films of those that have and I know it won’t be easy and I expect a full dose of type 2 fun when the Field Ethos crew joins Capt Scott of Reel Alaska Fishing Charters in late Oct.
The Gear and Why I Picked This Setup
Here we go, the truth behind my rifle selection and setup. It’s easy, I want a lightweight, accurate rifle system that’s dependable but also compact in overall size. I know this Gunwerks CylmR rifle system will be exposed to constant humidity and salt spray around the ocean as we transit and look for deer. I would even through a couple grand on Polymarket that I will end up underwater at some point.
The 16-inch 6.5 PRC ClymR starts off under 6.5 pounds before adding about 8 ounces for the 6IX Ti suppressor to preserve what’s left of my hearing, and around 32 ounces for the proven Revic Acura RS18i. So this tight little package can be strapped to the side of the pack without snagging every god forsaken alder branch.
Based on my research from the warm and dry confines of my couch, paired with a couple ranch waters, I anticipate my shots being under 300 yards along the beach, maybe slightly longer if we have to get above tree line, or nice and close in the timber. For those shooting scenarios I know the 6.5 PRC loads from Gunwerks are more than capable of putting the stocky blacktails down quickly. And in these situations, the Revic RS18i’s advanced coatings and 44mm objective lens will pull light other scopes lose and allow me to cut through the hazy, wet conditions to find those wise old bucks that hide in the thick timber.
Uncle T’s Takeaway
The Gunwerks ClymR rifle system is my top choice for any hunt that requires scrambling up mountains, potentially a few tumbles down those same mountains, and situations where I need a precision rifle but not necessarily a long-range rifle.
The only change I would make to this rifle that sits in front of me looking longingly into my eyes like a puppy that wants to go outside to play would be to swap the stock for the folding stock that Aaron and the crew developed and sent us on the Tiny AF rifle.
