Hunting Trophy Rams in East Tennessee

Published on November 10, 2021
Duration: 14:01

This video documents a hunting trip for exotic rams in East Tennessee, featuring two distinct rifle platforms: a customized Romanian PSL chambered in 54R and a Daniel Defense DD5 V4 in 7.62x51mm NATO. The hunters discuss their rifle setups, including optics and ammunition choices, and share their experiences and observations during the hunt, highlighting the performance of their chosen firearms and ammunition against the rams.

Quick Summary

During a ram hunt in East Tennessee, a customized Romanian PSL with 150-grain 54R soft point ammunition performed exceptionally well. The Daniel Defense DD5 V4 in 7.62x51mm NATO used 180-grain Speer Gold Dot LE, which was noted to be less effective for this game compared to the PSL's load. Illuminated Arken optics were beneficial in low light.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the Hunt
  2. 00:41Rifle Setup: Romanian PSL
  3. 01:36Rifle Setup: Daniel Defense DD5 V4
  4. 02:48Hunting Rams for the First Time
  5. 04:15Settling into the Stand
  6. 05:33The First Shot
  7. 06:14Successful Ram Harvests
  8. 07:06Optics Performance Review
  9. 08:16Another Ram Appears
  10. 09:05Second Ram Harvest
  11. 10:02Post-Hunt Reflections
  12. 10:33DD5 V4 Press Check Issue
  13. 11:16Ammunition Performance Discussion
  14. 13:06Thanks and Future Content

Frequently Asked Questions

What firearms were used for hunting trophy rams in East Tennessee?

The hunt featured a customized Romanian PSL chambered in 54R, equipped with a Marvin the Martian muzzle brake and a Texas Weapon Systems top cover mount. It was paired with an Arken 6-24x50 scope. The other rifle was a Daniel Defense DD5 V4 in 7.62x51mm NATO, also utilizing an Arken scope.

How did the ammunition perform during the ram hunt?

The 150-grain soft point ammunition in the 54R PSL performed exceptionally well on the rams. In contrast, the 180-grain Speer Gold Dot LE ammunition used in the 7.62x51mm NATO rifle was noted to be less impressive for this specific application, possibly due to its design for barrier penetration.

What were the key takeaways regarding optics for hunting?

The Arken optics, specifically the 6-24x50 models with illuminated first focal plane reticles, were found to be effective for hunting. The illuminated reticle proved particularly useful in low-light conditions, enhancing aiming capability.

What hunting challenges or mistakes were encountered?

A significant mistake involved a press check on the Daniel Defense DD5 V4 where the bolt did not fully seat into battery, causing a failure to fire. This underscores the importance of verifying bolt closure on AR-10 platforms before a shot.

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