MIKE WINTHER | HUNT ADVISOR
In the hunting world today, there is no shortage of options for hunters looking for their next rifle. As the quality of available rifles continues to increase, I—like many of you out there—am always looking for a product that not only meets but exceeds those ever-increasing standards. I want a gun that is light enough to carry many miles into the backcountry, accurate enough to be ethical at longer ranges, and rugged enough to withstand all the mountains have to throw at me. When I first discovered the line of rifles offered by Pure Precision, I knew I’d found a serious contender for my next hunting rifle.
What can I say about my experience with Pure Precision? It has been nothing short of impressive! From our first meeting with their team and touring their facility to dinging steel at ranges I thought were out of my wheelhouse, the experience has been incredible. Their line of rifles and muzzleloaders should be a strong contender for anyone looking for a lightweight, accurate hunting rifle. These are firearms that deliver accuracy right out of the box, without the need to develop custom handloads, change out parts, or spend excess time that many of us simply do not have. If you are like me, I would rather spend my time off hunting than tinkering with a rifle to make it accurate. Pure Precision offers the type of high-quality product that can help us do just that.
Let’s start with the team. John Hokes has built a team of professionals around him that is as passionate about rifles as I am about filling tags. From the moment we walked through the door, we could see and feel the enthusiasm everyone there has for their products. From machining components to assembling finished rifle systems, pride exists at every step. They’ve been very eager to get their name out there and show the world exactly why they are a serious contender in the long-range hunting rifle domain—and for good reason.
The small team at Pure Precision wants each customer to come away with the rifle or muzzleloader that suits their exact needs, not a cookie-cutter solution that works for “most” people. When you call in, you will be talking to the team that lives and breathes these rifles instead of an outsourced customer service line or someone who doesn’t use their products. You’ll also find that they are ready to go to work for you and customize with different brands, components, and optics based on your individual preferences. Getting that personalized attention and feedback from a real person often feels like a thing of the past, but not in this case.
Now for the firearms themselves. I have had the pleasure of shooting their SKLTN Ascent Rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC. The first thing I noticed was how light but balanced this rifle felt, coming in at 6.8 pounds without an optic and 9.5 pounds with a larger riflescope and accessories installed. Their line of SKLTN Carbon Ascent rifles is also available for those looking to really cut ounces. At first, I was slightly concerned about the weight, as I feel that really light rifles can be difficult to shoot accurately. That was not the case here—this gun shoots! Within the first day of shooting this rifle, the Huntin’ Fool team was consistently ringing steel at 1,100 yards. As often happens when you get a group of hunters together, things quickly became competitive. The guys at Pure Precision guided us through a shooting course that put us in real hunting scenarios that forced us to locate targets, get a range, and build a stable shooting position all while being timed and getting heckled by our coworkers. It was a great day, full of fun and learning, and the Pure Precision rifles were nothing short of incredible.
In addition to being well-built yet surprisingly lightweight, these rifles are full of other practical features that make them a dream to shoot and maintain. Let’s start with the action. As you look over this rifle, you can tell Pure Precision thought through every detail of the action to make it high-performing while still shaving off ounces. It uses a Remington 700 footprint, providing broad compatibility with a variety of components. This allows for a high level of customization, which the team at Pure Precision uses to build a rifle that suits each individual customer. It features a seventy-five-degree bolt lift that is very smooth to run, cycling rounds without hiccup every time. This has allowed me to stay in the scope, concentrate on my impacts, and make adjustments to my shots without the need to fumble around with a sticky action. I have been using their stainless steel action, but it is also available in titanium for those who wish to save even more weight. All Pure Precision rifles will feature TriggerTech triggers, which have always performed flawlessly for me in the field. I also appreciate the tool-less bolt disassembly. I took this rifle up to Alaska at the end of this summer, and being able to keep parts clean and oiled in the rain and mud proved to be essential.
The rifle I am shooting was built with a Manners stock, but Pure Precision has recently released their new Altitude 1.5 carbon fiber composite stock, which we got to try out during our time with them. The Altitude stocks felt surprisingly solid and balanced while still coming in at a mere twenty-seven ounces. In spite of how light they are, they do not feel weak or hollow. The vertical handgrip was comfortable and allowed me to stay very steady on those long-distance shots at the range. There is also a defined thumb shelf to ensure consistent hand and thumb placement so you can eliminate as many variables as possible on that shot of a lifetime. While these rifles are intended to be used in the mountains pursuing big game, I felt benchrest solid shooting from the prone position with a bipod on the front rail.
The accuracy I have been able to achieve with this rifle is impressive. Pure advertises their rifles as sub-MOA, which was never close to being an issue for this rifle. I shot a variety of ammo through this gun during testing, and although some did group better for me than others, they all performed well. A true testament to this was our first day in the field, running through the shooting course with the Pure Precision team. Having shot the rifle for less than a day, we were able to get first-round impacts on targets over 1,000 yards. No handloads. No extended learning curve. Just rifles that performed.
The SKLTN Ascent I have been using this year has already accompanied me on a rain-filled trip to Alaska and will be slung over my shoulder on even more hunts this fall, ranging from mountain mule deer in Idaho to desert bucks in New Mexico. The rifle has exceeded expectations thus far, and I have no reason to think it won’t continue to impress me on the hunts to come.
Pure Precision offers a lineup of rifles and muzzleloaders that each offer something unique, depending on your needs, but share one commonality: quality. Besides the SKLTN Ascent, their offerings include the SKLTN Carbon Ascent, the Integrally Suppressed SKLTN Rifle, and the SKLTN Muzzleloader. The SKLTN Carbon Ascent is great for those looking to save as much weight as possible without sacrificing accuracy. The Integrally Suppressed Rifle is an innovative design that maximizes noise and recoil reduction, making it a dream for both new and experienced shooters alike. This would make an ideal rifle for younger or smaller-framed shooters who are shy of recoil. Finally, since we all know how hard it can be to draw coveted rifle tags, the SKLTN Muzzleloader brings the sub-MOA accuracy you’d expect from Pure while allowing you to hunt the more accessible, limited-range weapon tags that many of us are turning towards these days.
If you have any questions on the lineup of rifles offered by Pure Precision, don’t hesitate to give us a call here at Huntin’ Fool. We are always happy to spend some time diving into your hunt style and specific needs, and we can help you decide which rifle is best for that dream hunt you have been waiting for.
The Pure Precision SKLTN Ascent rifle is designed for the long-range hunter and shooter who desires the utmost accuracy, durability, and reliability. With a barrel ranging from twenty to twenty-six inches, an Altitude carbon fiber composite stock, pillar and glass bedding, a TriggerTech Trigger, and a SKLTN Stainless Steel or SKLTN Titanium action, the SKLTN Ascent gives the shooter a platform guaranteed to perform on the most grueling hunts.
Visit www.pureprecision.com for more information about the SKLTN Ascent Rifle.
MSRP: Starting at $5,150.00
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