It was both the accuracy potential of the newer projectiles and the growing market for high quality rifled slug guns that caught the imagination of a benchrest quality gunsmith, Randy Fritz of TarHunt Custom Rifles. Mating an entirely custom made bolt action to a precision rifled barrel and McMillan synthetic stock, Fritz has given the hunting and law enforcement communities what currently can be considered the ultimate slug rifle. And it is a beauty!
The heart of Fritz's rifle is a precision made, magazine fed, three-shot bolt action, drilled and tapped for scope sights. To a rifle lover, this is a fine rifle action in every respect.
Among its many features are a massive, dual lugged, rear-locking bolt fitted with a nicely contoured cocking piece gas shield, dual extractors, and a handsome swept down bolt handle. Additionally, the fully adjustable trigger and rocking safety are first class. The action takes one in the chamber and two in the magazine box. Feeding, extraction and ejection proved perfect throughout a 120 round test.
The 21-1/2 inch barrel looks massive but has a pleasing tapered contour and in spite of its exterior dimensions, is light and handy considering the 0.730 groove diameter hole down its middle. Overall weight without a scope is a pleasant 7-3/4 pounds. At this time, the standard twist being used in the industry is 1-in-34 or 1-in-36 inches; however, Fritz is beginning to experiment with a variety of faster twists and newer slug designs like Kaswer's jacketed 12 guage soft points -- the Game Grabbers.
The McMillan synthetic stock is shaped along the contours of their standard silhouette model and is surprisingly pleasant and easy to mount in the field. Fitted with a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad, the design handles recoil very well. For those who favor the more traditional, a modern classic shaped stock is currently in the works at McMillan.
Fitting the new TarHunt slug rifle with a 4x scope and firing the Federal 12 gauge sabot round which chronographed at 1415 fps., I consistently shot groups of 1 inch at 50 yards and 2-1/2 inches at 100. If you've never used a sabot round, you will be delighted with its accuracy and surprised at how mild the recoil is compared to a typical lead slug.
Fritz also produces a 12 gauge cleaning rod, jag, and bore guide which assist greatly in cleaning this big bore.
In short, the TarHunt slug gun is a classy, uncompromising 12 gauge rifle that is made like a fine rifle, feels like a fine rifle, and shoots like a fine rifle. It is much better than the slug ammo available today, although I have a hunch we will see new and better projectiles very shortly.
And best of all, the TarHunt is a production rifle. It is available with a variety of options and state-of-the-art finishes. It is worth every penny considering the quality and craftsmanship that go into it.
Randy Fritz would like to see the establishment of an NRA type silhouette course of fire out to 200 yards for slug gun shooters. If so, I would hate to go up against a TarHunt rifle with anything less.
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