What’s in your hunting kit?

I have a rare opportunity to repurchase most of my hunting gear. My pickup was robbed in my driveway and I lost a custom 300win mag with vx64-24, a savage mkii 22lr with redfield scope, a Sig p220r pistol, my good binoculars and harness, backup binoculars, optics doubler, Sig laser rangefinder, Kestrel wind meter, a couple knives, flashlights and magazines. Insurance paid for the loss so I get to rethink my hunting kit.

So far I've purchased a set of Sig kilo 3000 rangefinder binos and a Kestrel 5700 AB with link to communicate with the binos.

I have other rifles that I'll use this year, but I'm thinking I'll build another 300win mag, this time with carbon wrapped barrel and carbon fiber stock.

I had to get a rangefinder ASAP and I wanted to try the Sig binos so it seemed like a good opportunity. I also needed a wind meter and this was a good chance to upgrade from my Kestrel 4000. I liked the idea of the optics doubler for a lightweight spotting scope alternative, but the image was pretty dark in low light. I'm probably not going to replace that one. I didn't loose my spotting Scope or tripod so I'm good there. What would you recommend next?

What would you do in this situation? What parts of your hunting kit do you see as essential and what parts could you live without?

Buy the EXO pack on here for $500.

Probably would pick up an Ingram knife and some kind of havalon for caping. If you are righthanded, I'd probably have to buy one of the semi custom ready to go rifles that are being built these days. Toss on a Nightforce NX8 or NXS scope. Buy a Kifaru pack of your choosing. Probably a Glock 20 to replace the Sig, though I like the 220 a lot.

And I'd not leave anything in my truck if possible again.

Following! this is bound to produce some good info

KurtB said:

Probably would pick up an Ingram knife and some kind of havalon for caping. If you are righthanded, I'd probably have to buy one of the semi custom ready to go rifles that are being built these days. Toss on a Nightforce NX8 or NXS scope. Buy a Kifaru pack of your choosing. Probably a Glock 20 to replace the Sig, though I like the 220 a lot.

And I'd not leave anything in my truck if possible again.

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What do you mean by "simi -Custom" I'm not a big knife guy. I appreciate a good knife but I haven't ventured into custom knife territory.

A case trapper knife is the only knife I take along and use it for everything.
Good idea combining binos rangefinder that link to kestrel
I just had a 7rm built with a proof carbon barrel and It's awesome. Personally to go with full carbon I'd have to build it in a wussier caliber to shoot be able to shoot it really well lol

Canhunter35 said:

A case trapper knife is the only knife I take along and use it for everything.
Good idea combining binos rangefinder that link to kestrel
I just had a 7rm built with a proof carbon barrel and It's awesome. Personally to go with full carbon I'd have to build it in a wussier caliber to shoot be able to shoot it really well lol

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I have a small lone wolf "Benchmade" knife that isn't much different from a case trapper and it works great for every field dressing / quartering task. It's not the best knife for butchering, but I do that at home with a butcher knife anyway. I'll definitely be using a large muzzle brake on the 300win hopefully that will take the sting out of it.

Timnterra said:

What do you mean by "simi -Custom" I'm not a big knife guy. I appreciate a good knife but I haven't ventured into custom knife territory.

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Hey Tim, The semi custom was in referral to the various rifles that are being made these days in the $1500 to $2000 range. Heck even the Cooper stuff is plug and play with an accuracy guarantee. You may want to look at the 7mm Remington shooting 180 scenar right at 3000 fps. Its been incredible for us to very long range on game and less felt recoil. None of ours are braked.

The Ingram knife is super nice with S30V steel. Holds an edge great and can be found used for $225 to $300. Not a necessity but a very nice knife.

Best of luck rebuilding your setup. Take your time and think it through well.

Timnterra said:

I have a small lone wolf "Benchmade" knife that isn't much different from a case trapper and it works great for every field dressing / quartering task. It's not the best knife for butchering, but I do that at home with a butcher knife anyway. I'll definitely be using a large muzzle brake on the 300win hopefully that will take the sting out of it.

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I had a knife obsession for awhile lol but they all work. Now I use the ones that sharpen easy and hold an edge well, they separate themselves just like accurate rifles.
I have a 4 port area 419 brake on my 7rm and it does a good job of managing recoil. It's quite pleasant to shoot but has a laminate stock, if I dropped more weight I think it would jump a little more than I'd like
The carbon barrel balances so well without the brake I'd consider an aluminum or titanium brake and the most effective one you can find

Maybe I'm lazy and I know I'm not the best knife sharpener in the world. But I've been using the outdoor edge with the replaceable blades. Nice to have a sharp knife all the time. Would have to replace the pistol, would probably look at the Glock. Have had good luck with them, but I'm sure there are many others just as good. The rifle for me would have to be another 300 wm, something in the 6 to 6 1\2 lb. range with a good brake. Not sure how well your insurance company treated you, but I would like to have the rifle built by reputable Smith. Scope, I probably look at the vx6hd in the 3x18. But sounds like you may prefer a little more power. Definitely need a good 22lr. So many choices and so long since I've even looked at them. Have lately drooled over the sporter model of anschutz. Sorry for your lost, and these are just my ideas. I'm sure you have your own ideas and will come up with a plan that suits your needs. Good luck and I know you will have fun making your decisions.

dmj said:

Maybe I'm lazy and I know I'm not the best knife sharpener in the world. But I've been using the outdoor edge with the replaceable blades. Nice to have a sharp knife all the time. Would have to replace the pistol, would probably look at the Glock. Have had good luck with them, but I'm sure there are many others just as good. The rifle for me would have to be another 300 wm, something in the 6 to 6 1\2 lb. range with a good brake. Not sure how well your insurance company treated you, but I would like to have the rifle built by reputable Smith. Scope, I probably look at the vx6hd in the 3x18. But sounds like you may prefer a little more power. Definitely need a good 22lr. So many choices and so long since I've even looked at them. Have lately drooled over the sporter model of anschutz. Sorry for your lost, and these are just my ideas. I'm sure you have your own ideas and will come up with a plan that suits your needs. Good luck and I know you will have fun making your decisions.

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I have good insurance that really takes care of me, they paid replacement cost on all that was stolen minus $1k for my deductible and the adjuster looked around and found the highest prices online so it made up for the deductible because I didn't pay full retail for anything. I have one of the outdoor edge knives with razor blades, I keep it in my pack as a backup because it's light, but don't use it often because I feel like it is a hassle to clean the fat out of all the gaps.

The frustrating thing is, up till last month I owned both a Glock 20 10mm and the Sig p220 and I decided to keep the Sig and sell the Glock to a friend for a bear protection side arm. Now I'm left with a 9mm or 38 neither of which I would trust in the woods with a predator bigger than myself.

Yes they can be a little bit of a hassle. But I've got it all figured out or maybe just spoiled. One blade usually gets me through one animal easily. And when I get back to camp I just pull it apart and put it on the counter and when my wife does dishes she cleans it up

For a replacement side arm take a look at the newish Springfield armory XDm 10mm.
Has real good reviews and to me a bit more comfortable than the Glock....
It will be my next firearm perchase.