UPDATED WITH NEW SETUP CONSIDERATIONS:
Guys I just wanted give you a little more updated info if you’re considering a setup like this. I’ve acquired and used new packs since the original write up.
In all honesty if I could do it again instead of the warhammer I would go with the Eberlestock f1 mainframe combined with their batwing accessory pounces
Or
The F1 mainframe with the f2 transformer pack.
Reason being is as follows:
I got the F1 with transformer for my hunting buddy and he uses a traditional rifle with the kifaru gun bearer and the reason I would go this way if I could do it over, is because upon killing the animal, the first pack out you can take some meat with all your gear back to the truck, then dump the batwings or f2 transformer pack to shed weight and only have to carry the mainframe back in to get the rest of the meat.
With the warhammer I can’t shed the weight so I’m carrying all my gear back and forth.
Also of note: IF YOURE ATTEMPTING TO CARRY AN 18+ lbs rifle (AXMC or similar, my AXMC as pictured in this hunt was at 19.2 lbs on a luggage scale)
I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE MYSTERY RANCH CABINET. For the sole reason that I find the Hip belt and load lifters better for carrying massive weight. Again though, you can’t unzip and detach some of the weight like you can with the F1 and an added pack.
Hey guys, wanted to share my experience hunting with my AXMC in case anyone was thinking about doing something similar, or was just genuinely curious about how it might go.
I was invited on a hunting trip with a friend over Christmas weekend. Now, last minute trips are usually the ones that turn into shit shows because nothing is ready, and if you’’re like me half your gear is being tinkered with and the other half hasn’t been used in a while so you just hope it works.
So I got all my gear ready, went to reach for my SRS Covert (usually I hunt with that rifle) and realized I hadn’t zeroed it. We were going to leave in a couple days and the ranges were closed so no dice on a last minute zero. Then I looked over at my AXMC and thought, “well it can’t be that bad it’s only 5 pounds heavier than my SRS.” So I packed it up, and instantly started kicking myself thinking, “Hey idiot this is what you get for messing with your gear all the time.” “Now you get to lug around what’s probably one of the heaviest guns ever hunted with as a penance.” (A little tongue in cheek, but still heavy as a cows ass) I used a lot more inappropriate language, but you get the point. Plus it was now past the point of no return so off we went.
We left Thursday the 21st and arrived that evening to where we would set up camp. We felt the cold as soon as we got there and I knew in the morning that rifle was going to get cold. And to top it off, I had forgotten my gloves. Last minute trips, IÂ’ll tell ya.
So now ItÂ’s Friday morning and what's shaping up to be a beautiful day to be out looking for boar.
I get my rifle out of the case and am reminded of the boat anchor I’m about to lug up and down these hills for the next 4 Miles. I tell myself “suck it up, you brought this on yourself” and off we go.
As a quick side note, I had my pack set up to carry my SRS which is still heavier than traditional hunting rifles, so that worked out in my favor. IÂ’ll get to my setup a little later.
So anyway, we start walking and glassing and walking and glassing and lo and behold there's pigs!!! But they are about 4k yards away and going away from us. No dice on catching those guys. So we keep walking.
It's cold, but a good cold. The kind of cold that feels refreshing and wakes you up. Makes you realize you're in God's country enjoying a beauty not everyone gets to see.
We get to one of our usual stoping spots on top of a large hill where we can see a full 360 degrees below us. We glass for a bit and then I realize something quite startling, I hadn't felt the weight of my rifle at all!!
We're about 1-1.5 Miles in already, going up and down and up and down this terrain like a six flags rollercoaster and I havent felt the weight at all. I thought to myself no way, must be adrenaline from seeing the pigs earlier or something. After we scan for a bit we decided to push forward to the next big hilltop.
We get to that hill and rinse and repeat our methods. Scanning and scanning. Then we decide to push even further which would put us out the furthest we've gone. Off we go. Determined.
We get there and setup shop. By this time we've doubled what we usually cover when hunting this area and I'm fine carrying the big ol AI. I sit there and think, "I'll be damned, this gear set up might actually be working."
Now the gear I was using for those wondering, is the Eberlestock Warhammer pack with the new Intex II frame and the butt bucket attached to the hip belt on the right side. I carry the AXMC with the stock folded in the butt bucket. And wrap the provided lash around the hand guard so I can effectively hike with hands free.
We sit at the top of the hill for hours, waiting, watching, and waiting some more. And then I discovered that not only is the Warhammer a great multi-use pack, but it's also a great chair! While wearing the pack, just sit down as lean back. The shape of the frame really acts as a great backstop.
As the hours get on we concede that we won't be getting a porker that day. So we head back. When we got to camp, yea I was tired but nothing compared to what I thought I would be with having to carry the AXMC.
We went out the next morning covering the same ground as the previous day and it yields us the same results. No pigs.
Unfortunately it wasn't a successful hunt, but that was ok. It was a great experience to see that the gear setup worked.
A few take aways with the rifle:
A) because it was cold all the metal parts on the rifle got pretty cold. And without gloves it sucks, but I also noticed that AI put plactic pieces on most everything you typically touch when shooting. So even though the rifle was cold I didn't feel it much. Very well thought out.
B) the action runs and runs. No matter how much gritty dust got in it from the wind it cycled.
C) there's just something badass about carrying around the AXMC in general. It has a quality that oozes confidence. I've had my mag fall out on my DTA a couple hunting trips ago. No chance of that with this rifle.
And more than that, it was actually ok carrying the AXMC. I truly believe I'd do it again. Yea maybe it's not for everyone, but I do know I have the utmost confidence in the rifle and if there was one rifle I had to bet my life on it's this one. I'm well aware I'm only hunting not tactically operating in a tactical operation in a tactical area; but I don't want to have a big buck, pig, elk, or anything else ready to go in the freezer only to have a rifle failure at the most important moment.
ETA: hey guys so a couple questions people had for me.
I was shooting in 300WM this particular trip. With that much open space I want to make sure I’ve got enough lead for a longer shot.
Next, yes those are Home Depot wooden dowels as leg extensions. I had to make my since no one makes them for the 5H. If I remember correctly they are the ones about 15†in length and 3/4†wide. I had to file down the end that goes in the 5H leg just a little to get it to fit. And the other end I just sharpened so it would catch in ground.
Got the inspiration from a great member who did this for the regular atlas and someone linked the thread here a couple posts down.
Reason I went with wooden dowels is if I forget them or break them or something it’s all of $2 I’m leaving out there so not a big deal.
And someone asked where this was, this was out here in California. We have the shittiest gun laws but lots of open beautiful space to use the toys they do let us have.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Guys I just wanted give you a little more updated info if you’re considering a setup like this. I’ve acquired and used new packs since the original write up.
In all honesty if I could do it again instead of the warhammer I would go with the Eberlestock f1 mainframe combined with their batwing accessory pounces
Or
The F1 mainframe with the f2 transformer pack.
Reason being is as follows:
I got the F1 with transformer for my hunting buddy and he uses a traditional rifle with the kifaru gun bearer and the reason I would go this way if I could do it over, is because upon killing the animal, the first pack out you can take some meat with all your gear back to the truck, then dump the batwings or f2 transformer pack to shed weight and only have to carry the mainframe back in to get the rest of the meat.
With the warhammer I can’t shed the weight so I’m carrying all my gear back and forth.
Also of note: IF YOURE ATTEMPTING TO CARRY AN 18+ lbs rifle (AXMC or similar, my AXMC as pictured in this hunt was at 19.2 lbs on a luggage scale)
I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE MYSTERY RANCH CABINET. For the sole reason that I find the Hip belt and load lifters better for carrying massive weight. Again though, you can’t unzip and detach some of the weight like you can with the F1 and an added pack.
Hey guys, wanted to share my experience hunting with my AXMC in case anyone was thinking about doing something similar, or was just genuinely curious about how it might go.
I was invited on a hunting trip with a friend over Christmas weekend. Now, last minute trips are usually the ones that turn into shit shows because nothing is ready, and if you’’re like me half your gear is being tinkered with and the other half hasn’t been used in a while so you just hope it works.
So I got all my gear ready, went to reach for my SRS Covert (usually I hunt with that rifle) and realized I hadn’t zeroed it. We were going to leave in a couple days and the ranges were closed so no dice on a last minute zero. Then I looked over at my AXMC and thought, “well it can’t be that bad it’s only 5 pounds heavier than my SRS.” So I packed it up, and instantly started kicking myself thinking, “Hey idiot this is what you get for messing with your gear all the time.” “Now you get to lug around what’s probably one of the heaviest guns ever hunted with as a penance.” (A little tongue in cheek, but still heavy as a cows ass) I used a lot more inappropriate language, but you get the point. Plus it was now past the point of no return so off we went.
We left Thursday the 21st and arrived that evening to where we would set up camp. We felt the cold as soon as we got there and I knew in the morning that rifle was going to get cold. And to top it off, I had forgotten my gloves. Last minute trips, IÂ’ll tell ya.
So now ItÂ’s Friday morning and what's shaping up to be a beautiful day to be out looking for boar.
I get my rifle out of the case and am reminded of the boat anchor I’m about to lug up and down these hills for the next 4 Miles. I tell myself “suck it up, you brought this on yourself” and off we go.
As a quick side note, I had my pack set up to carry my SRS which is still heavier than traditional hunting rifles, so that worked out in my favor. IÂ’ll get to my setup a little later.
So anyway, we start walking and glassing and walking and glassing and lo and behold there's pigs!!! But they are about 4k yards away and going away from us. No dice on catching those guys. So we keep walking.
It's cold, but a good cold. The kind of cold that feels refreshing and wakes you up. Makes you realize you're in God's country enjoying a beauty not everyone gets to see.
We get to one of our usual stoping spots on top of a large hill where we can see a full 360 degrees below us. We glass for a bit and then I realize something quite startling, I hadn't felt the weight of my rifle at all!!
We're about 1-1.5 Miles in already, going up and down and up and down this terrain like a six flags rollercoaster and I havent felt the weight at all. I thought to myself no way, must be adrenaline from seeing the pigs earlier or something. After we scan for a bit we decided to push forward to the next big hilltop.
We get to that hill and rinse and repeat our methods. Scanning and scanning. Then we decide to push even further which would put us out the furthest we've gone. Off we go. Determined.
We get there and setup shop. By this time we've doubled what we usually cover when hunting this area and I'm fine carrying the big ol AI. I sit there and think, "I'll be damned, this gear set up might actually be working."
Now the gear I was using for those wondering, is the Eberlestock Warhammer pack with the new Intex II frame and the butt bucket attached to the hip belt on the right side. I carry the AXMC with the stock folded in the butt bucket. And wrap the provided lash around the hand guard so I can effectively hike with hands free.
We sit at the top of the hill for hours, waiting, watching, and waiting some more. And then I discovered that not only is the Warhammer a great multi-use pack, but it's also a great chair! While wearing the pack, just sit down as lean back. The shape of the frame really acts as a great backstop.
As the hours get on we concede that we won't be getting a porker that day. So we head back. When we got to camp, yea I was tired but nothing compared to what I thought I would be with having to carry the AXMC.
We went out the next morning covering the same ground as the previous day and it yields us the same results. No pigs.
Unfortunately it wasn't a successful hunt, but that was ok. It was a great experience to see that the gear setup worked.
A few take aways with the rifle:
A) because it was cold all the metal parts on the rifle got pretty cold. And without gloves it sucks, but I also noticed that AI put plactic pieces on most everything you typically touch when shooting. So even though the rifle was cold I didn't feel it much. Very well thought out.
B) the action runs and runs. No matter how much gritty dust got in it from the wind it cycled.
C) there's just something badass about carrying around the AXMC in general. It has a quality that oozes confidence. I've had my mag fall out on my DTA a couple hunting trips ago. No chance of that with this rifle.
And more than that, it was actually ok carrying the AXMC. I truly believe I'd do it again. Yea maybe it's not for everyone, but I do know I have the utmost confidence in the rifle and if there was one rifle I had to bet my life on it's this one. I'm well aware I'm only hunting not tactically operating in a tactical operation in a tactical area; but I don't want to have a big buck, pig, elk, or anything else ready to go in the freezer only to have a rifle failure at the most important moment.
ETA: hey guys so a couple questions people had for me.
I was shooting in 300WM this particular trip. With that much open space I want to make sure I’ve got enough lead for a longer shot.
Next, yes those are Home Depot wooden dowels as leg extensions. I had to make my since no one makes them for the 5H. If I remember correctly they are the ones about 15†in length and 3/4†wide. I had to file down the end that goes in the 5H leg just a little to get it to fit. And the other end I just sharpened so it would catch in ground.
Got the inspiration from a great member who did this for the regular atlas and someone linked the thread here a couple posts down.
Reason I went with wooden dowels is if I forget them or break them or something it’s all of $2 I’m leaving out there so not a big deal.
And someone asked where this was, this was out here in California. We have the shittiest gun laws but lots of open beautiful space to use the toys they do let us have.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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