Has anyone gotten hands on the new Les Baer Tactical Recon or the Nighthawk Tactical Rifle? Im looking closely at the Nighthawk due to the option to throw a surgeon long action in there. They both look sweet and the prices are right.
New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
- Thread starter stownhooligan
- Start date
Re: New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
we have a nighthawk sitting at the shop, they make unbelievable weapons, if i didn't already have a 338 i'd be tempted to get this one. I wouldn't think twice about buying from them.
we have a nighthawk sitting at the shop, they make unbelievable weapons, if i didn't already have a 338 i'd be tempted to get this one. I wouldn't think twice about buying from them.
Re: New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
I've got a Les Baer. He's an old friend who's built me a number of guns over the years and I wanted to try the bolt gun.
I set it up with an NSX5.5X22X50 and shot it for a year. The hardware was beautifully finished and it shot great--sub .5MOA consistently.
Two issues. The B&C stock didn't fit me as well as I'd like and the Wyatt's mags were a pain to load. I solved both by putting the barreled action into a Manners T5A/mini chassis setup.
I suppose I should have gone fully custom after all that. On the other hand if the B&C works you get one he'll of a rifle without the wait
I also have a Nighthawk tactical shotgun which is fabulous. I'd think their rifles are just as good.
Seems to me you can't lose either way
I've got a Les Baer. He's an old friend who's built me a number of guns over the years and I wanted to try the bolt gun.
I set it up with an NSX5.5X22X50 and shot it for a year. The hardware was beautifully finished and it shot great--sub .5MOA consistently.
Two issues. The B&C stock didn't fit me as well as I'd like and the Wyatt's mags were a pain to load. I solved both by putting the barreled action into a Manners T5A/mini chassis setup.
I suppose I should have gone fully custom after all that. On the other hand if the B&C works you get one he'll of a rifle without the wait
I also have a Nighthawk tactical shotgun which is fabulous. I'd think their rifles are just as good.
Seems to me you can't lose either way
Re: New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
You could build the Les Baer yourself.
It is nothing more than a Shilen barreled action in a B&C stock with a wyatts DBM.
Stiller makes the actions for Shilen, they install one of their fine barrels on it, add a shilen trigger and install in stock of your choice with bottom metal of your choice.
You could build the Les Baer yourself.
It is nothing more than a Shilen barreled action in a B&C stock with a wyatts DBM.
Stiller makes the actions for Shilen, they install one of their fine barrels on it, add a shilen trigger and install in stock of your choice with bottom metal of your choice.
Re: New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
I do not know about the Nighthawk rifle, but I had LB 1911 Stinger with some problems. based on the customer service and attitude recieved I would not recommend them. My 2 cents. Z
I do not know about the Nighthawk rifle, but I had LB 1911 Stinger with some problems. based on the customer service and attitude recieved I would not recommend them. My 2 cents. Z
Re: New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
I don't own a Nighthawk rifle but I've shot one of our T&E rifles a lot. I took it through the Badlands basic long range class a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't be happier with the performance. Micheal May is the riflesmith here at Nighthawk and he does an outstanding job. He builds every rifle like it was for his best friend that he'll be shooting next to at the range. He stresses over every detail and he sincerely cares that you're happy with your rifle. He's a very talented riflesmith and I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot more about him in the future.
I don't own a Nighthawk rifle but I've shot one of our T&E rifles a lot. I took it through the Badlands basic long range class a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't be happier with the performance. Micheal May is the riflesmith here at Nighthawk and he does an outstanding job. He builds every rifle like it was for his best friend that he'll be shooting next to at the range. He stresses over every detail and he sincerely cares that you're happy with your rifle. He's a very talented riflesmith and I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot more about him in the future.
Re: New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
I recently decided to get my first true custom. I spoke with several custom rifle builders including Nighthawk. They were very professional and returned emails promptly. What it came down to was cost. They're priced at the same price point as other proven builders. I decided to take my chances on the known rather than the unknown with all other factors being equal like cost and components. If they were less expensive I might have been swayed to give them a chance.
I recently decided to get my first true custom. I spoke with several custom rifle builders including Nighthawk. They were very professional and returned emails promptly. What it came down to was cost. They're priced at the same price point as other proven builders. I decided to take my chances on the known rather than the unknown with all other factors being equal like cost and components. If they were less expensive I might have been swayed to give them a chance.
Re: New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
Not quite. It has a Stiller tac 30 action, a custom barrel built by Les and your choice of trigger groups. The bdm is from Wyatt's and the stock is a B&C medalist . if that works for you its a turnkey setup without wait times which is why I went with it to begin with. As such it shoots as good as any custom out there. Unfortunately the stock didn't work for me and the mags were a pain which led me to the more customized solution that I now have.
One can draw several conclusions--go custom to begin with or accept the tradeoffs that go with a great shooting but not perfectly fitting but immediately availble rifle
Not quite. It has a Stiller tac 30 action, a custom barrel built by Les and your choice of trigger groups. The bdm is from Wyatt's and the stock is a B&C medalist . if that works for you its a turnkey setup without wait times which is why I went with it to begin with. As such it shoots as good as any custom out there. Unfortunately the stock didn't work for me and the mags were a pain which led me to the more customized solution that I now have.
One can draw several conclusions--go custom to begin with or accept the tradeoffs that go with a great shooting but not perfectly fitting but immediately availble rifle
Re: New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fdkay</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You could build the Les Baer yourself.
It is nothing more than a Shilen barreled action in a B&C stock with a wyatts DBM.
Stiller makes the actions for Shilen, they install one of their fine barrels on it, add a shilen trigger and install in stock of your choice with bottom metal of your choice. </div></div>
Not that there is anything wrong with a Shilen barrel, but I know for a fact the Les Baer is not a Shilen. It has a cut rifled barrel by Les on it. It seems to be a great system. Les spends the time it takes to put the system together and verify it works too. Dont dismiss the actual assembly and building of the gun. That is why GAP, Les and others are out there. If doing it yourself, make sure you have the expertise necessary to make it all work together.
PS. We build lots of actions for lots of OEMS, some public knowledge, some not. Not all the OEM actions have the same specs as our TAC30/300. Not saying they are better or worse, just sometimes a little different.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fdkay</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You could build the Les Baer yourself.
It is nothing more than a Shilen barreled action in a B&C stock with a wyatts DBM.
Stiller makes the actions for Shilen, they install one of their fine barrels on it, add a shilen trigger and install in stock of your choice with bottom metal of your choice. </div></div>
Not that there is anything wrong with a Shilen barrel, but I know for a fact the Les Baer is not a Shilen. It has a cut rifled barrel by Les on it. It seems to be a great system. Les spends the time it takes to put the system together and verify it works too. Dont dismiss the actual assembly and building of the gun. That is why GAP, Les and others are out there. If doing it yourself, make sure you have the expertise necessary to make it all work together.
PS. We build lots of actions for lots of OEMS, some public knowledge, some not. Not all the OEM actions have the same specs as our TAC30/300. Not saying they are better or worse, just sometimes a little different.
Re: New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
Thanks guys, anybody know the build time on either guns?
Thanks guys, anybody know the build time on either guns?
Re: New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
Not sure on the Nighthawk, but the Les Baer should be a off the shelf gun. Not made to order.
Not sure on the Nighthawk, but the Les Baer should be a off the shelf gun. Not made to order.
Re: New Nighthawk and Les Baer bolt guns?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbuck88</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not sure on the Nighthawk, but the Les Baer should be a off the shelf gun. Not made to order. </div></div>
Not true. As Mr. Stiller mentioned Les' rifles are very carefully made and come with purpose built barrels. He will also add special items (brakes for example). That all adds time. I'd estimate 6 weeks or so for a build.
I consider myself an old friend of Les' and I'm waiting to complete a project with him. Should be a couple of months. Would be much longer if I (or you) had to wait on things like a custom stock. My t5A for a bolt gun took almost 5 months. I suspect that's the tradeoff here. The hardware and build quality is excellent-you just don't wait for stocks or barrels made by other people.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbuck88</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not sure on the Nighthawk, but the Les Baer should be a off the shelf gun. Not made to order. </div></div>
Not true. As Mr. Stiller mentioned Les' rifles are very carefully made and come with purpose built barrels. He will also add special items (brakes for example). That all adds time. I'd estimate 6 weeks or so for a build.
I consider myself an old friend of Les' and I'm waiting to complete a project with him. Should be a couple of months. Would be much longer if I (or you) had to wait on things like a custom stock. My t5A for a bolt gun took almost 5 months. I suspect that's the tradeoff here. The hardware and build quality is excellent-you just don't wait for stocks or barrels made by other people.
