COLDBORE EXCLUSIVE: The latest entry into the 'open-country' hunting rifle market has reportedly been unveiled, and while manufacturers tout its capability for ethical game harvesting, initial field reports suggest its optimal deployment mirrors a PRS finale more than a solo trek through the wilderness. Tipping the scales at an astonishing 38.7 lbs unloaded, the 'Apex Predator Pro' — built on a Bighorn Origin action chambered in 6 Dasher, fed by an MPA Matrix Pro chassis — requires a minimum two-person team for effective deployment on anything beyond a flat-range target stand.
Equipped with a 36-inch Bartlein M40 contour barrel, 1:7.5 twist, and a Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 with the Mil-XT reticle, this "hunting" specific rig comes standard with a fully integrated Kestrel 5700 Elite and a magnetic cold bore shot indicator. Its developers claim unparalleled precision for ethical kills, though the recommended engagement protocol for a 100-yard whitetail includes a minimum of 15 minutes for environmental readings (density altitude, Coriolis effect, spin drift calculation, geomagnetic interference), a comprehensive DOPE card check, and a three-point positional barricade sequence. One early adopter recounted needing to true his velocity data for a stationary squirrel at 75 yards, citing fluctuating SD/ES readings across a 20-round shot string of 110gr ATIPs as critical for first-round impact.
The rifle’s dedicated ‘Pre-Hunt Planning Module’ software integrates satellite terrain data and predicted wind changes, requiring a certified data analyst for optimal pre-shot solution generation. Competitors are already speculating if this over-engineered system is merely a proof-of-concept for future 4,000-yard PRS stages, designed to push shooters into integrating full meteorological stations and orbital mechanics into their stage planning. Initial feedback indicates that while the rifle is capable of sub-0.1 MOA at 300 yards, users are struggling to find a hunting pack large enough to carry its necessary support equipment, including a tripod-mounted spotting scope and a full set of barricade bags.
