Further Information

What he sent me was a .50 caliber Traditions VORTEK model, topped with one of the 3-9x40mm Nikon BDC (Bullet Drop Compensating) multi-reticle Omega muzzleloader scopes. The rifle was identical (an almost exact duplicate) to a VORTEK rifle I often use as a test rifle. The only real difference in these two rigs was that mine is topped with one of the Hi-Lux Optics 3-9x40mm TB-ML multi-reticle muzzleloader scopes - which I developed for that company

What really sets the newer versions of the ART system apart from the military ART models of the 1960's is the cam system which automatically allows for the trajectory of the round being shot.  Let's face it, the original ART scopes were set up to allow tactical shooters to keep hits on a man-sized target out to around 600 yards ... shooting rifles chambered for the U.S. military rifle cartridges of the time - the 5.56x45mm NATO (.223 Remington) and the 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Winchester).

The Hi-Lux M40 scope is very true to the original scope used by the Marine Corps. For years, many tactical shooters have wanted to build a clone of the 1960's M40 sniper rifles. Remington even came out with an M40 version of the Model 700 center-fire rifle, in .308 Winchester, a few years back ... but there simply was not a proper scope in production.

I think I'm really going to like this rifle!  This next week, I'll be loading the same 45-grain charge of Accurate 2520 behind some of the 168-grain A-MAX bullets...to see if they perform as well.  I'll also do some shooting to determine bullet drop at 300...400...500 yards.  In two weeks, the Montana deer and elk season opens, and my first hunt will be for mule deer...or whitetails...in the Missouri Breaks.  There's one river-bottom hay field on the ranch that can call for shooting to 700 or 800 yards.  Once I know my "hold over" to 500 yards, I most definitely would have no problem taking the shot with this rig out to that distance.  I'll then refine my hold over for still longer ranges through the winter.

As I begin to wring out some of the newer Hi-Lux long-range scope models, you are sure to see more of this rifle on this blog.

In some Midwestern states, hunting whitetails with a center-fire rifle has never been allowed.  Instead these hunters have had to rely on a shotgun that shoots a slug with some reasonable degree of accuracy, limiting shots to under 200 yards.  Today, an ever growing segment of those hunters are moving away from the smooth-bored...