Pure Precision Rifles manufactures high-quality actions, stocks, bottom metals, and custom rifles. What got me interested in having a lighter-weight precision rifle built is their new SKLTN action. I interviewed Landon Gines in a previous video and he talked a lot about the design of the SKLTN action and what makes is great and I wanted in. (See interview here) This is an overview of a great build and the performance that it was able to demonstrate.
The Components
This rifle is built around a stainless steel Pure Precision SKLTN action and a 24″ Helix 6 Precision carbon fiber barrel. The barreled action is fitted with a Triggertech Primary trigger, is bedded into the carbon fiber altitude stock also by Pure Precision, and a Hawkins Hunter DBM. It has a 20MOA pined scope base topped with a Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50mm scope and a self timing muzzle brake by Meraki Machine.
Pure Precision SKLTN Action
The SKLTN action from Pure Precision is a new action that’s packed with great features at a very reasonable price. The SKLTN action comes in Stainless Steel or Titanium, long action or short, and both right and left hand. The short action Stainless weighs in at 21oz and the Titanium version is coming in at 16oz with the long action versions coming in just a little bit more than that. The action features a 75-degree bolt lift, an anti-bind rail, toolless bolt disassembly, an integrated recoil lug, and profitable precision.
This particular rifle is built with the stainless steel version of the SKLTN action. Overall the action feels very smooth and fed rounds out of the Hawkins Hunter DBM with no problems. A shorter bolt throw generally creates a heavier lift since the same work to cock the rifle is being done in a shorter distance than a traditional 90 degree. I noticed a slightly heavier lift but the benefits of the 70 degree throw far outweigh the slight increase. Having the additional room between the scope and my hand is really nice and the hand off to the trigger sear is buttery smooth. The anti-bind rail works great since I never experienced any noticeable binding during normal use and I had to really try to bind the bolt to slow it down. I love this action and would absolutely consider it again on future builds.
Helix 6 Precision Carbon Fiber Barrel
Helix 6 Precisions is based out of Vancouver WA and manufactures premium carbon fiber barrels. The unique Carbon Fiber application is a structural component of the barrel that allows a gunsmith to cut the barrel to any desired length. The combination of how the base barrel is contoured and the application of the carbon fiber seem to create large and forgiving accuracy nodes. In the initial ammuntion testing I had 6 different loads and managed a .520 MOA average group size over 12 different groups. Another cool feature is the high carbon fiber to resin ratio increases the ability to dissipate heat and preserve barrel life on longer range sessions. This is a premium barrel but I feel like you get what you pay for. This is my 3rd bolt action rifle built with a Helix 6 Precision barrel and they all shoot great.
Pure Precision Altitude Stock
The Altitude stock is made of carbon fiber and functions well as a “hybrid” stock. I say hybrid because it’s shaped to help a shooter be comfortable in a precision application but is light and nimble enough to excel in a hunting environment. The Altitude stock is custom cut to fit your specific action and barrel contour giving a precise free-floating fit. The carbon fiber composite ensures dimensional stability in hot or cold environments and it looks great under the painted texture.
I tend to prefer precision shooting with a rear bag and bipod, so the vertical pistol grip and angled bag rider are my favorite features. The elevated cheekpiece was high enough to line my eye up perfectly with the Nightforce NX8 2.5-20 that was mounted in medium Nightforce rings. If you are someone who prefers a larger scope with a higher mount then there is an adjustable cheek riser option for you. This stock is painted with the Mojave paint scheme and came with a Picatinny rail mounted in place of standard sling swivels.
Performance
Out of the box, this is probably the best shooting rifle I’ve had the chance to play with. In an effort to get reviews and videos out faster, I started filming right after getting the rifle zeroed. The first task was to just find out what ammunition this particular rifle shot best. In the initial testing, I took 5 different factory loads and 1 random handload to see what this rifle liked and it turned out everything shot pretty well. The Hornady 147gr TAP, 144gr Berger, 130gr Berger, and handload from a different rifle shot best with center-to-center groups ranging from .203 – .5MOA (as seen above). Out of 12 total 3 shot groups fired, I ended up with 6 groups under .5MOA with an average group size of .520 MOA. Just an amazing build.
Conclusion
Any rifle should perform great when you combine premium components with quality gunsmithing. There are a lot of great gunsmiths out there who consistently create great shooting rifles. In the end, if you can have equal performance from a rifle, what sets them apart is the relationship you have with the builder. The Chad Drayer and John Hakes at Pure Precision Rifles and Jon Beagle at the Helix 6 Precision have always been good to me and other customers they work with. I can’t say enough good about either company and the products they consistently deliver. This is a premium rifle at over $5000, but if you have the money, the rifle performance won’t disappoint and you’re supporting some great people in the process.