Building a Rifle for Antelope Using CyberScout | By Kurt Martonik

Bill Thompson, the founder of Spartan Forge, tasked me with building him a rifle using CyberScout exclusively. I am trained as a gunsmith and have hunted pronghorn antelope many times, so I will be using my judgment to help with the selections throughout this build.

The goal for this rifle was to make all of the selections based on recommendations given by CyberScout. If you are unfamiliar with CyberScout, it is your ultimate outdoor guide. Unlike typical search engines, Spartan Forge’s CyberScout is powered by an advanced natural language model that selectively pulls information from reputable sources, including scientific research, academic studies, and official documents from state fish and game agencies. This ensures that the guidance and data you receive are both reliable and relevant to your outdoor pursuits. If you want to learn more about what it is and how to use it, please check out this article explaining what it is and how to get the most of it.

For this project I was starting from scratch, asking general questions then dialing in to more detail from there. 

I started with the simple question;

I have an antelope hunt in Wyoming this fall. What should I look for in a rifle?

This questioned yielded a pretty broad response covering caliber choice, rifle action type, optics, fit, and rifle weight and ergonomics. Each of these touch points were covered with a one paragraph summary that introduces some points to think about when picking a rifle for an antelope hunt. Each of these subjects are intentionally brief at first. At this point you can dive in deeper and get more precise answers and explanations of each topic.

Caliber/cartridge choice was the first bullet point that CyberScout provided me, and for a good reason. The choice of cartridge will dictate everything else with this rifle. While ballistics are obviously one of the most important factors in choosing a cartridge, the cartridge dimensions will determine what action length and bolt face diameter you will need for that rifle. Therefore, picking the cartridge was the first step in this build.

Ballistically speaking, CyberScout informed me of all the conditions that I should be looking to counter with an antelope specific hunt. Namely, the high winds and open country that make ranging the small bodied pronghorn very difficult. A flat shooting cartridge was a necessity. Aside from having a flat-shooting ballistically-efficient caliber, it also had to be something that is readily available. I decided that the classic 270 Winchester would fit the bill.

Next, CyberScout wanted us to look at the action type, recommending a bolt action. There are endless options on the market from just about every major manufacturer out there. CyberScout will narrow down your options for you recommending a couple great models to look at. Having had my hands on a lot of different factory rifles, I know which ones I like and which ones to avoid. Luckily for me, CyberScout didn’t recommend a single rifle that I typically avoid. I decided to go with a Tikka T3X, as I have had great results with them so far. 

Lastly, we needed to look at optics and optics mounting options. I had to find a scope before I looked at mounting options, as the ring height and diameter will be affected by the choice of optic. When I asked CyberScout “What scope would be best for this hunt?” It responded with a few different options explaining why it thought they would be a good choice given the circumstances. 

We went with the Vortex Viper HS-T 4-16x44mm as it was a great option all around for the plains of Wyoming. A high 16x magnification, a 44mm objective lens that will serve well and low light but won’t weigh the rifle down too much. Additionally, the reticle is simple enough to avoid any confusion when doing holdovers at longer ranges.

Now that I had a scope picked out, I asked CyberScout to recommend a mounting solution. Again, CyberScout surprised me by recommending Talley rings (my personal favorite) as well as a few other quality brands. I decided that the aluminum base ring combo would be the best option for this build.

When it came time to put it all together I couldn’t have been more pleased with the results. The rifle was lightweight and handled very naturally. When I took it to the range to sight it in for a 200 yard zero I was blown away as it held a ½” 3-shot group! That is 1/4 MOA out of a factory rifle!! 

This is just one of the countless ways you can use CyberScout to help with your planning and preparation for a hunt. 

Try CyberScout for yourself on desktop.

By: Kurt Martonik

Kurt is a researcher at Spartan Forge and avid outdoorsman. He flew as Boom Operator in the USAF for just shy of 7 years and following his service attended gunsmithing school at the Colorado School of Trades. After graduating there he moved to Montana and was a stockmaker/gunsmith for C. Sharps Arms. He currently resides in his home state of Pennsylvania and operates his gunsmithing shop, Highland Custom LLC on the side.