Why do Tikka rifles keep working when others choke in snow, dirt, and real hunting conditions?

In this episode, I sit down with Jared Smethurst from Beretta to break down the mechanical and manufacturing reasons behind Tikka and Sako reliability. We cover action design, bolt tolerances, primary extraction, magazine systems, safety design, cold hammer forged barrels, and why some modern cartridges—especially PRCs—can introduce feeding issues.

The Selway Spring Bear Hunt April 16th-23rd, 2026 Mentioned: https://pursuitwithcliff.com/training-hunts/#idahobears

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/Experiences

Merch
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/shop/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter

This conversation with Briggs Pittman breaks down what actually kills elk on hard, public land hunts. Not theory, not gear hype, but decision-making, preparation, and execution.

Briggs and Cliff cover why smelling elk is a non-negotiable stop, how elite hunters manage time in the woods, why mindset mathematically affects success, and how rifle hunters should think more like bow hunters. They dive deep into rifle setup, bipod selection, shooting positions, dry fire training, backpack weight discipline, food strategy, and why most hunters quietly sabotage themselves long before they miss a shot.

Briggs on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/briggs_pittman/

The Selway Spring Bear Hunt April 16th-23rd, 2026 Mentioned: https://pursuitwithcliff.com/training-hunts/#idahobears

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/Experiences

Merch
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/shop/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter

This episode breaks down how elk actually respond to hunting pressure and why most hunters misunderstand where mature bulls survive once seasons open.

Cliff talks with a self-taught elk hunter, Dan Vinson, who learned the hard way, without mentors or shortcuts. The conversation centers on pressure, access, and human behavior, not elevation gain or how far someone is willing to hike. Elk do not disappear when pressure increases. They compress into small, unattractive pockets where hunters walk through but never slow down enough to hunt.

The episode also covers bivy hunting, decision-making under uncertainty, and the cost of overcommitting to camps or rigid plans. A detailed solo bull encounter highlights how quickly things unravel after the shot, why blood trails are not guaranteed, and how emotional load compounds when hunting alone.

This is a realistic look at elk hunting as it actually happens for most do-it-yourself hunters.

Resources from Dan Vinson
Wild Gym | All Things Rucking: https://www.wildgym.com/
Dan's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wilddanvinson

The Selway Spring Bear Hunt April 16th-23rd, 2026 Mentioned: https://pursuitwithcliff.com/training-hunts/#idahobears

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/Experiences

Merch
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/shop/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter