Which Bolt Gun for Thermal?

T

trook

New member
I am considering purchasing a dedicated 308 bolt gun with thermal for hog hunting. I am looking at the Ruger American Predator right now as a low-cost but effective rifle.

It seems as if I previously read issues with eye relief on the bolt actions and thermal requiring some type of picatinny rail rear extension, but I cannot find those threads. If eye relief is a concern, can anyone share those issues with me and provide me with recommendations/concerns/solutions?

I will be using the Bering Optics Super Hogster, and I plan on using a suppressor.

Thanks in advance
 
Anything as long as it has an adjustable cheek piece on the stock or a chassis for proper cheekweld....
 
Yup I went with a begara ridge .243 then ended up with it in hmr stock. It's tough getting your cheek up where it needs to be.
 
People who mount their thermals too far back and don't have enough rail will have POI issues. The two main choices for a bolt are to go with a thermal such as the Pulsar Thermion with more of a traditional glass shape. The other option is to find an extended rail that can get your scope far enough back. You also have to watch out that the bolt does not interfere with the position of the scope.

I use a riser, but this makes the cheek weld more of an issue on many guns. Mine is in a chassis with an adjustable stock so I can push it back or forward and raise it for a proper cheek weld. There are some that don't like having a riser on the gun due to the extra elevation off bore and the cheek positioning. It works for me but everyone is different.

I use the following riser. Hopefully someone else who runs this exact gun can chime in.

As for recoil, most of the Bering scopes are rated for a .308. In reality, Bering says they can handle more, but they want to under-promise and over-deliver. I use this chart a lot when people ask recoil questions.
 
Personally, I wouldn't buy the Ruger American. Yes, they are cheap and some of them are absolute tack drivers, but their rotary magazines are complete trash unless you don't mind having a single shot bolt action. Haven't had any experience with ones shipped in the last year but all the ones prior left a lot to be desired. Super Hogster is $3,200 and suppressor is $1000 and you're looking at a $450 cheaply built rifle?
 
Originally Posted By: superDUECE22Personally, I wouldn't buy the Ruger American. Yes, they are cheap and some of them are absolute tack drivers, but their rotary magazines are complete trash unless you don't mind having a single shot bolt action. Haven't had any experience with ones shipped in the last year but all the ones prior left a lot to be desired. Super Hogster is $3,200 and suppressor is $1000 and you're looking at a $450 cheaply built rifle?

The new ruger american predators use an AI mag
 
Originally Posted By: KirschPeople who mount their thermals too far back and don't have enough rail will have POI issues. The two main choices for a bolt are to go with a thermal such as the Pulsar Thermion with more of a traditional glass shape. The other option is to find an extended rail that can get your scope far enough back. You also have to watch out that the bolt does not interfere with the position of the scope.

I use a riser, but this makes the cheek weld more of an issue on many guns. Mine is in a chassis with an adjustable stock so I can push it back or forward and raise it for a proper cheek weld. There are some that don't like having a riser on the gun due to the extra elevation off bore and the cheek positioning. It works for me but everyone is different.

I use the following riser. Hopefully someone else who runs this exact gun can chime in.

As for recoil, most of the Bering scopes are rated for a .308. In reality, Bering says they can handle more, but they want to under-promise and over-deliver. I use this chart a lot when people ask recoil questions.

Thanks, Kirsch. Can you tell me what type of chassis/adjustable stock you use? I will be using the super hogster.
 
Originally Posted By: superDUECE22Personally, I wouldn't buy the Ruger American. Yes, they are cheap and some of them are absolute tack drivers, but their rotary magazines are complete trash unless you don't mind having a single shot bolt action. Haven't had any experience with ones shipped in the last year but all the ones prior left a lot to be desired. Super Hogster is $3,200 and suppressor is $1000 and you're looking at a $450 cheaply built rifle?

Do you have a recommendation for a rifle, superDUECE22?
 
trook,
I started my Hogster on a Rem 700 22-250. I mounted that in an MDT chassis, which has a cheek riser on it, and worked great. This also allows you to have m-lok slots for the battery pack etc... I had no problems with the rearward mounting. I mounted it on the pic scope base so the entire mount was on the rail, no issues. Is this a BR set up...no, but I was on a tripod and panning and it worked great. I'm on an AR now, only to play with semi auto and run that for awhile. MDT does make a chassis for the Ruger American. My buddy runs one in 22-250 and it runs flawless, 3 yrs now.
 
I’ve got my super yoter on a Rem 700 22-250 in the Grayboe Neo chassis. I found that removing all of the spacers from the recoil pad made it to where I could comfortably get my eyes close enough to the scope without an extended rail. The multiple rail slots are also great for battery packs and rangefinders if you use them.
 


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