PROOF Research

“Backpack Tahr Hunt

Himalayan tahr aren’t native to New Zealand. They were introduced from the Himalayas in the early 1900s, and today they thrive in the steep, unforgiving peaks of the Southern Alps. With incredible balance, rubber-like hooves, and thick winter coats, they’re built to live where few other animals can.

To hunt them, you have to earn every step.

This adventure started by crossing a raging glacier-fed river in a raft before climbing more than 3,000 vertical feet into some of the roughest country we’ve ever hunted.

When we finally spotted a mature bull, everything came together. After the shot, my bull tumbled nearly 50 feet off a cliff into terrain so dangerous our guide, Paddy, wouldn’t even let us attempt the recovery. Instead, “Paddy the Baddy” climbed down the cliff, field-dressed the tahr while balanced on the mountainside, and packed every bit of it back to us. One of the most impressive displays of mountain skill I’ve ever witnessed.

Just after shooting mine, another mature bull appeared, busy rutting a group of females. Aaron jumped behind the 25 Creedmoor, made the shot, and just like that we had two mature bulls on the ground within minutes of each other. It was one of those surreal hunting moments you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

The excitement wasn’t over yet. On the hike out, our buddy Trystan lost his footing and started tumbling toward the edge of the mountain. Thankfully, a small branch stopped his fall before the mountain had other plans.

The mountains have a way of reminding you who’s really in charge.

The tahr were incredible, but it’s the adventure that will stay with us forever - the river crossing, the brutal climb, the sketchy recovery, the back-to-back bulls, the close call on the hike out, and the friendships forged through every challenge.

New Zealand gave us an experience we’ll never forget.” 🇳🇿🏔️ - Erik Van Woerkom

Same Destination. Different Path.

One of the most common misconceptions we’ve seen since launching PXT is that this exact rifling has been done for decades.

Traditional gain twist barrels have historically utilized a linear progression, while conventional barrels maintain a constant twist rate from chamber to muzzle. PXT takes a different approach, utilizing an exponential twist profile that dramatically changes how twist is introduced and progresses through the bore.

The graph shown here compares four different twist profiles in a 24” barrel:

• Constant Twist (7.5–7.5)
• Traditional Gain Twist (11–7.5)
• Extreme Linear Gain (350–7.5)
• Exponential Twist (500–7.5)

All four examples arrive at the same final 1:7.5 twist rate.

The difference isn’t where they end.

It’s how they get there.

That distinction is fundamental to PXT and the reduced engraving forces, lower rifling lead angles, and barrel life improvements we’ve documented during testing.

Take a look at the graph and let us know what questions you’d like answered next.