Backfire: What to Look for in a Rifle (Jim Harmer Interview)

[@Ultimatereloader]

Hi everyone! If you want to help support Backfire, check out their recoil reducing buttpad! backfirestore.com/product/backstop/

[@backfire]

Thanks for the conversation, Gavin!

[@js7127]

I appreciate your attention to the "root" details of a rifle Jim. If it doesn't fit/ you cannot shoot it well and will not cycle, bug hole groups at the range won't help on a hunt.

[@Ultimatereloader]

That was fun, and it was great to have you at the Rock Chuck Olympics!

[@tonygslc801]

Great points you bring up, Jim! My Utah Brotheren 👊😎🇺🇸🦅

[@thethinbrownduke6412]

Great interview, looking forward to the rest of the interviews

[@guyminer3168]

Jim cracks me up! His enthusiasm for hunting is terrific. Good points - and gosh - I got to make a cameo appearance in this video with my Oregon elk! Am excited for this year's big game hunting seasons.

[@donaldanderson3249]

I love how Jim talks about the hunting side way more than the target side of thing 😊 Great job guys

[@michaeldunn150]

Haha! I loved this interview with Jim....... Jim keeps it real or his excitement of pulling the trigger for a kill.. awesome!

[@bradh74]

Nice job guys! Pointing out the stuff that used to be more common sense again to help everyone remember what really matters is great!

[@bww1970]

Feeding is so important. I had a complete build go south due to the 6.5 PRC not feeding.

[@countryboysteve]

I love that jims favorite rifle the mossberg patriot was advertised right by his head in the thumbnail

[@gregpace4676]

Tikka: Checks all the boxes

[@dtmelanson]

Great discussion and combination of views. Thank you.

[@kcv5716]

Love your channels. Have learned a lot from reloading to guns to accessories to buy.

[@rodgerthackeray7978]

We need more affordable bipod options for ARCA. I really like the idea of the ARCA system. The ARCA itself is not expensive, but the available attachments for it are. I have found a sitting height bipod to be the best size for hunting in the steep mountains where I hunt in Utah. There isn't much options in this height. I don't need to carry around an extra tripod using 27"-29" double pull bipods. The MDT Triple Pull would perfect, but $1000 is hard to swallow for a bipod. Even $300 is hard. Less than $200 is more ideal for a bipod of this height, but there seems to be only really cheap ones that breaks easy, or overly expensive one that most cannot afford.

[@MarkSmith-bd5zv]

I appreciate your channel and backfire. I have to say, that was the only time I can recall Jim mentioning Browning rifles, and he said something complementary about them. I've been thinking about buying one in 280 AI, and they are about the only manufacturer making it in a long barrel with 1:8 twist.

[@phild9813]

I kind of poo poo Browning a bit too. They had to be forced to fix the sticky duratouch stocks a few years ago, as opposed to just treating people right and fixing them voluntarily. And, I haven’t been impressed with their customer service. Their rifles any more certainly have all the features I like to see though. I’d consider buying one again I suppose.

[@jessr9974]

Agree MarkSmith. Jim has rarely mentioned Browning. Not loyal to the brand, but own a couple. Agree with Jim in prior posts that Browning’s bolt action triggers might be too heavy for really accurate shots (lawyers weighing in on trigger pull?) and I’m not a fan of replacing triggers. A buddy and I both wanted and bought 280 Ackley Improved rifles a couple of years ago at about the same time for an upgrade for longer range elk and moose. I’ve got a Savage ultralite (1 in 9 twist) and he went with a Browning x-bolt Long Range McMillan (1 in 8 twist). Both ended up in great results. My buddy with the Browning is a solid sub MOA and he probably has only cycled factory ELDX. I’ve cycled several different bullets through the Savage and have consistently been in the 0.3 to 0.7 MOA with a 150gr copper that was absolutely devastating at 300yrd on my last elk hunt (1 shot to the lungs). The 280 AI is a great one.

[@MarkSmith-bd5zv]

I really appreciate the feedback.

[@HowManyLegsItHas]

HOLY COW THE DUO!

[@kenrossiter297]

Always solid advice guys, follow you both. Appreciate the info, thanks for sharing 👍

[@Ultimatereloader]

Thank you!

[@johnparker9139]

Outstanding conversation points.

[@koryrude3891]

Jim, I think you guys need to do a collaboration where you go to the store and buy a lower end(your favorite lower end) rifle and show us how you would ditch the sling studs and attach your favorites as well as some other minor items. Then Gavin can do the same on his version.

[@sha6mm]

Are you kidding Me a Remington 700 BDL or Model 70 are perfect. IMHO.

[@gregpace4676]

I own 7 Rem 700s, I have had to rebuild all of them in one way or another, last one I bought was a .308 stainless, I went to a Timney trigger, match barrel because it shot 3: groups with every cartridge I tried, and the cheap plastic stock had to go. I see Remington has addressed this problem with their new $1,500 rifle, BUT Tikka will shoot out of the box and you don't have to change anything for under $800

[@forteka81]

Very good points

[@blackie1of4]

Great video guys.. I think we all pick the cartridge and go from there.. and none of us want anything to do with a inaccurate firearm 😊

[@ronws2007]

All good points and probably the most contested would be shootability. Rifle weight versus recoil impulse. You need to shoot the gun a lot to get good with it. So, especially with bigger rounds, you need recoil pads better than factory. There is the cheap Limbsaver slip on. It works but it also slips around, which could throw the next shot off. More expensive about 160 USD + tax + s/h is the Falcon Strike hydraulic. The nice and affordable alternative is the Backstop. Most importantly for me is that they make one for the chassis. In fact, you don't need brand of rifle so much if using a chassis. Because the butt of the stock is the same. So, you get one for MDT/Oryx, it is going to fit. And it is very affordable. No, I am not affiliated with Jim or BackfireTV. There have been times when I have had a difference of opinion or experience. But this is how I learn. So, I have a 7 PRC in an Oryx and now it has a Backstop. I have a .308 in another Orxy and another .308 in an MDT LSS Gen 2 with a folding adapter and the SCS stock. Which would also take a Backstop. So, I need to budget for two more.

[@armstrong2052]

The dude got the lineup of lineups.

[@FranciscoGarcia-ni9eg]

Nice job ,excellent information 😊

[@keithprinn720]

totally agree on feeding, then is the calibre one that is comfortable for what you need, is the recoil being handled, is the weight of rifle good for purpose eg weight to suit hunt style and length and weight to handle recoil. then calibre for reloading. totally agree with classic stocks but adjustability can be good. using a fine built and recoil friendly rifle aids joy of hunting. explains why the 6.8 western is on the outer.

[@hekkenschutz]

Nice Thank you for the good information

[@adamritch]

Gavin, I loved this series as I just binged the entire thing while home sick today. I need a Rock Chuck Olympics t-shirt. My whole family shots them off our deck here in North Idaho. I love both of your suggestion for slings and arca rail and when my Ruger American Predator Gen II 6.5 creedmoor arrives I will be adding both to it. PS does your wife still have the Alltrack?

[@wallacerose7499]

Jim have you had a chance to check trigger on browning’s X bolt 2 , I know you been critical of their triggers! Thanks 🙏

[@dougrybarczyk4449]

Are the new "modern designed" cartridges more accurate than those that been around for a long time, like 30 06?

[@jerrybobteasdale]

Good one.

[@REVELN]

Totally agree!!

[@awsome869]

Travels on a bull.... you blew my mind 🙏

[@cabochris100]

How about stainless v.s. blued, control feed, smooth bolt and lift height, factory v.s. semi-custom, break or not? What about scope power and size? Floorplate or detachable mags, or ADL style? Best cartridge for all around use?

[@WHOTEEWHO]

💯💯💯

[@laynepeterson1704]

injoy your content, good job.ALERT:: Don't shoot reloads in a Bergara rifle it voids all warrantys

[@patrickborgerding8681]

My REM 700 .30-06 fails to feed fairly often. Scores the case sides and notches the rim. Do you have a resource that explains how it is supposed to work? Usual fixes? Thanks!

[@JD.307]

Quality magazine fed action with an integral rail, as heavy as you can tolerate free-floated 416R barrel hand lapped & nitrided ✌🤠

[@Canberrahunters]

Help: I am looking for long range hunting gun 7mm mag and I am struggling to choose between below rifles. Help me choosing which one is accurate and better quality around $1500 USD. 1. Bergara B14 squared Crest 2. Sako S20 Hunter 3. Tikka Veil 4. Browning Xbolt speed Or else ? Thanks

[@worland89]

I just want to know if there will be a rock chuck 2024?

[@guyminer3168]

No plans for Rock Chuck Olympics in 2024. Plenty of other good stuff though!

[@stevenlehman2408]

I have a Tikka T3 lite in 300 Win Mag, needless to say you don"t take too many practice shots to make sure the scope and rifle are sighted in and I love to shoot but not that one!

[@daveenriquez7790]

Question, What is your guys opinion on overall rifle finished weight including scope,rings and rifle on a 7mm PRC hunting rifle? I know I don't want ultra light, and not to heavy eiether.

[@colbykinney5633]

Ive been hunting for 30 years and never seen anyone hunting with an empty chamber. That has to be a western thing.

[@ryanswanson1150]

You said it 100% better than i could have put it, and it’s not that complex. Hate to see him hunt with a blackpowder rifle.

[@ThePleasedDoge]

What to avoid: "boutique" manufacturers with sloppy proprietary folding stock designs that allow vertical movement in the mechanism. Just because it costs $5000 doesn't mean it's going to be designed that way.

[@sergeantdwz5783]

I haven't even watched this yet and I'll bet anyone 10$ he says qd flush cups at least once

[@sergeantdwz5783]

Omg. Just watched this video. I knew it 😂😂😂😂😂. Jim is a sucker for QD flush cups

[@jcjustice3786]

Looks like Jim lost a little weight. Thank you both young men for your feedback

[@recklessjunkie]

Why does he only shoot stock guns every time I see him with a rifle none are in chassis ?

[@lenzadlberger]

He has some Chassis Guns as Well but normaly Chassis are heavier (when you look at Hunting less weight is preferable) or way more Expensive, and a really good Stock like the Sako 90 Quest he has on the higher Priceend or some others you dont get really much better Accuracy out of a Chassis or for example a Anschütz 1782 which has a build in Mini Chassis in a classic Walnut (if you have a real cheap Plastic yes a Chassis is a big improvement but a really good Stock that also have good ergo isnt bad either / look at the F Class Guys nobody there shoots a Chassis Rifle, if you have a real good bedding and Fit you doesnt need a Metalchassis to get a accurate Rifle)

[@tiputipu777]

Backfire is the kind of dude who picks Tikka T3x variants that dont come with a muzzle thread as standard and then makes a video to complain that it doesnt come with muzzle threads as standard. Kinda like not checking the leather seat option when specing out a new car and then complaining it didnt have leather seats.

[@JeepsCafe]

You have a problem, too many toys! 🤣🤣

[@mftoutdoors7483]

That must’ve been a great day

[@Bergara65]

Love backfire!

[@wickedtrutharms57]

Wickedtrutharms will be at the nra gun show 2024 Dallas TX. New patented chassis system

[@ottokittel709]

that was cool topic, seem like Jim was critical of rifles that were not barrel threaded and funkie recoil pads, maybe I wrong. I am critical of new rifle cartages that become obsolete in just few years and can't get brass, or even loaded ammo, like 270 wsm. (norma dropped out recently) and 35 Remington and list go's on. after chunking out 2k plus on a nice rifle, you find that you were sold out by ammo manufactures and gun writers pushing the new and greatest. Hornady 7mm prc ammo. shooting 200 feet per sec less that the 3000 fps advertising. seems like someone is not telling the real truth. unless their test rifle had 36 inch barre.

[@Mrgunsngear]

🇺🇸

[@TheSuburban15]

What do they call the shot through the butt. "Texas heart shot," is one but there's a funny one that's slipping my mind..

[@farleyjj1]

I use the safety so I don't have to walk around with an empty chamber!🙄

[@Sqwan2]

Well, 300 Win Mag isn't exactly a big cartridge. It kicks a bit more than a 6.5, but it doesn't hurt. Even a 375HH isn't that bad. There is more to it. For me, an 8x68 is worse than 375HH. Somehow even the 6.5x68 is worse. The worsed cartridge I have ever shot was 378 Wth Mag...

[@cademarti1365]

First off let me say your content is pretty factual, not a whole lot left to opinion. The product reviews are generally feeding into the sales side of the vendor, but what gets me is I was watching some go fast tv show 20 years ago that was hosted by Stacey David and I'd been watching it for 20-30 minutes and a single tool hadn't been used the entire episode, no wrenches or rachets to be seen, all product reviews and guys bs-ing. When was the last time ultimate reloader actually presented ammo handloading and then testing it with a firearm and showed groups? Moved way past your original content Gavin. You guys literally talked about rifle accessories for several minutes..

[@Ultimatereloader]

Like this one from last week? kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6LJhaOdob6BoNk (shot and showed groups at 100y)

[@cademarti1365]

@@Ultimatereloader touché....it appears I'm eating crow. Missed that one, but I'm watching it as I type this. Keep up the great content broseph

[@Ultimatereloader]

Loading + Groups was 50 bmg a few weeks back

[@cademarti1365]

@@Ultimatereloader dang, youtube isn't sending notifications to my subscribed content. I wonder how many viewers you're missing?!

[@Bowhunter66]

Not all East Coast shots are worthy of buck shot. I killed my largest bodied buck ( a Unicorn Buck 10pt) a year ago at 475yds on National Forest lands here in Virginia. Yeah I've found one of those secret spots.

[@eskimoreloader]

This is why I'm into Tikka

[@cw2a]

👊🏽😜🤘🏼

[@abbeybremner4162]

Come on…. Most rifles give a cheek weld ( scrunch your shoulders.) You think theyve kept making style of rifle where noone gets a weld?

[@pjbarney9580]

uhhh... wasn't the rock chuck Olympics last year....

[@Ultimatereloader]

Yes, and we recorded these interviews while everyone was on site!

[@leandrodelgiudice]

Why don´t professionals, not youtubers...

[@elkhuntr2816]

Even supposed 0.5 MOA rifles really are more like 1.5 MOA if you shoot a 20-30 shot group (with cooling every 3 shots). MOA guarantees are bogus. We need better testing of rifles to really see what they are capable of. 20 shot minimum groups by superimposing 7-10 3 shot groups that take into account not only group size, but point of impact changes. I think most people would be surprised to see their half MOA rifle actually shooting over an inch and a half. We probably should all be switching to mean radius rather than extreme spreads to determine probability that our shot will hit where we are aiming.

[@rodgerthackeray7978]

Yes, shooting any gun over 10 rounds (less in a thin profile barrel) will cause the barrel to heat up, and it will start moving all over. 10 shot strings are not likely in hunting scenarios, and 1-3 shots are the norm. I think you will find more realistic accuracy for hunting if you did the 20-30 shot group, but let the barrel cool every 5 rounds.

[@elkhuntr2816]

@@rodgerthackeray7978 Obviously you have to let the barrel cool between groups. What I am referring to would be 10 three shot groups with cooling between each group. Then superimpose all groups, lining them up with point of aim. Shooting a 5 shot group sub MOA doesn't mean you have a MOA gun. Even if all 10 3 shot groups are sub MOA, if point of aim shifts even by half an inch, now you are at 1.5. Hornady did a podcast on this very subject.

[@mattyv7499]

A hunting gun and a range gun are two different things. They DO NOT and will not ever cross over proper. Pistol grips and flat uncomfortable flat stock geometries are not hunting guns. Tripods and ark rails are not hunting guns. If you cant shoot it comfortably from the sitting un-supported position then it dosent belong in the hunting fields. Bipods are redundant as grass and other stuff will make the useless.

[@Ultimatereloader]

To each his own! For me, things are different! Tripod is my preferred hunting rifle support when prone is not possible, and I love using a PRS type rifle for hunting (albeit light weight) see: kzbin.info/aero/PLApPU7t86M4sIzmeYl1FFy8RitXQD6h-g&si=qIDmPg1OIIqgTSgP

[@Hobo-Henry]

Backfire is a hack with a fat wallet that can't shoot. Gavin associating him is bad. Maybe there was a $$$ made ?

[@nunyabeezwax1413]

🙄

[@eggbert191]

Can't stand this guy. Greasy lawyer vibes with a side of snake oil salesman thrown in

[@saltymofo5870]

Fair warning, any video with lil Jim stretched out like a playboy model is going to get an automatic 👎🫃

[@patrickjoseph5028]

Jim, you’re working way too hard at being a media shooting guru….the gun industry is constantly trying to reinvent a better wheel…(new cartridges , platforms, and shooter interface systems)…this all has already been sorted out by the 1980s…by a host of now dead serious innovators, experimenters and fanatics…