This week Jay sits down with Jaden from West Elk Precision to nerd out on all things custom rifles, precision shooting, and long-range hunting. Jaden shares his journey from a Colorado kid hunting with a factory Remington 700 to attending gunsmithing school and launching his own custom rifle shop focused on the rapidly growing pre-fit barrel market.
They dive deep into the philosophy of building the perfect hybrid hunting/competition rifle, the rise of the 25 Creedmoor, and why negative comb stocks are going to change the way hunters shoot. Jay also shares his controversial take on why you should never buy a mid-tier spotting scope, and they discuss how shooting NRL Hunter matches with heavy gear can actually make you more lethal in the backcountry.
Whether you're looking to upgrade your factory Tikka with a pre-fit barrel, trying to figure out barrel break-in procedures, or just want to know how to build a better shooting position using a tripod as a rear rest, this episode is packed with actionable advice for the precision-minded hunter.
🎁 THE GIVEAWAY: Only three weeks left! Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry earns you one entry to win a fully custom guided hunt with Mindful Hunter Outfitting — BC Black Bear or Mule Deer, Alberta Archery Mule Deer, or Rifle Coues Deer in Mexico.
🏕️ OUTFITTING: Mindful Hunter Outfitting South is now live — fully guided rifle Coues deer hunts on private ranches in Old Mexico during the rut. Just get yourself to Tucson and we handle everything else. Email jay@mindfulhunter.com for details.
🏕️ 2026 BC OPENINGS: Jay just opened four new spots — Archery Mule Deer, Early Season Alpine Mule Deer, Alpine Black Bear, and a late September Float Bear hunt. Email j@mindfulhunter.com to book.
Timed Chapters
0:00:00 Intro & The Final Week of the Giveaway
0:01:11 Meet Jaden: Colorado Mule Deer & Gunsmithing School
0:15:21 What Does "Blueprinting an Action" Actually Mean?
0:23:28 Launching West Elk Precision & The Pre-Fit Barrel Market
0:30:29 The New "Hybrid" Guided Hunter
0:33:29 Why You Should Never Buy a Mid-Tier Spotting Scope
0:40:15 Top Scope Recommendations for 600-Yard Hunting
0:47:44 Rifle Barrels: Contours, Carbon Fiber vs. Steel, and Weight
0:55:07 Why You Need to Spot Your Own Shots (Recoil Management)
0:58:11 The Future of Rifle Stocks: Negative Comb Explained
1:00:52 Building a Hybrid Rifle for NRL Hunter Matches
1:11:00 Using a Tripod as a Rear Rest (Modified Prone)
1:12:42 Why You Should Carry a 1-Pound Shooting Bag on a Hunt
1:16:08 How to Build a Shooting Position Correctly
1:20:06 Caliber Talk: Is the 25 Creedmoor the Sweet Spot?
1:31:20 Barrel Break-In & Cleaning Philosophy
1:34:25 Outro & Where to Find West Elk PrecisionJay Nichol
Jaden Miller
https://www.instagram.com/west_elk_precision/
https://westelkprecision.com/
jay@mindfulhunter.com
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop
Newsletter
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact
IG
https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/
Podcast
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast
Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide
Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools
Forged Ultimate Guided Hunt Sweepstakes
No purchase required. Contest begins on May 17, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on July 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A custom guided hunt with Mindful Hunter Outfitting including travel and tip (APR) $$10,000.00 CAD); Skill testing question required. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes. No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/the-ultimate-custom-guided-hunt-giveaway-open-until-july-17-2026
