I didn't know about it until 3-4 years ago. Honestly, I hadn't even noticed it at the Shot Show before. After all, manufacturers of precision rifles for shooting and hunting have grown significantly in English-speaking countries in recent years, and Hardy has built a solid reputation in Great Britain. Hardy Rifle was founded in early 2006 by Dan Hardy, then a gunsmith in the New Zealand Army. In December 2007, Dan left the army to devote himself fully to his project. Over the following years, Hardy Rifle, based in Roslyn, South New Zealand, has grown steadily, developing and manufacturing world-class rifles, silencers, precision barrels, and muzzle brakes. The company has since expanded, boasting a large team with diverse experience, qualifications, and skills. In 2022, Hardy Rifle acquired carbon fiber stock manufacturer Kroseg Precision (formerly Hi Tec Composites), introducing a new standard of high-quality carbon fiber stocks.
This specific Hybrid model is, indeed, a hybrid rifle—a modular, customizable, high-performance, and technologically advanced gun designed to offer precision, reliability, and adaptability in any shooting situation, especially for hunting in high mountains and at long range. Its caliber also speaks for itself: the .300 Precision rifle cartridge, a modern magnum developed by Hornady in 2018, derived from the .375 Ruger case. Designed for heavy bullets with a high ballistic coefficient, it offers flat trajectories and superior accuracy, outperforming the .300 Winchester magnum. It guarantees precise headspace thanks to its 30-degree shoulder.
The qualities of the cane
The barrel is match-grade, manufactured using rigorous CNC processes and finished by hand. It's wrapped in carbon fiber, a solution that saves weight (40%) while reducing fatigue and increasing rigidity, reducing barrel vibration, which can improve accuracy. Barrels constructed this way often cool faster, allowing for tighter patterns, and have better thermal stability, which means reduced vertical dispersion during longer shooting sessions. Of course, aesthetics also matter...
The barrel is 660 millimeters long with a 24 mm muzzle diameter, a “tight” 1:9” rifling twist to stabilize the heavy .300 PRC caliber bullets, and weighs 1.305 grams. It is threaded and equipped with a four-stage directional muzzle brake, made of 400 grade stainless steel, to reduce recoil and improve control, weighing 103 grams.
The lightweight alloy action is long, with an integral Picatinny rail, canted at a 20° angle. At the front end, on the right side, the action features a three-screw Torx clamp, which securely holds the barrel and allows for interchangeability with other calibers in just a few minutes without changing the headspace or using special tools, except for the supplied torque wrench. The Hybrid is available in a wide range of calibers, from the small .223 Remington to the large .338 Lapua Magnum. Given the variety of sizes, complete interchangeability may also require changing the magazine and bolt head.
The locking action occurs directly in the breech of the barrel, and the barrel is always locked in the same position thanks to a relief positioned just outside the breech. The five staggered, asymmetrical lugs, split 3/2, while still requiring a 90-degree bolt opening, provide a larger contact surface for locking the rifle in the barrel. The bolt handle is teardrop-shaped. On the right side of the bolt face is a hook-type extractor, while on the opposite side of the action ejection port is a piston-type ejector. This extraction technology reduces the risk of malfunctions and increases the life of the components.
Highly customizable
The bolt feeds cartridges into the chamber from a 4-round, AICS-compatible, sheet steel Accurate Mags magazine with a polymer follower. The trigger pull is adjustable between 450 and 1.600 grams, and the trigger features a curved blade with vertical serrations. The integrated mechanical safety protrudes from the right side of the top of the action: in the forward position for fire, in the rear position for safety, but without a bolt lock. On the block, the firing pin tail serves as a cocked striker indicator.
The Kroseg Precision carbon fiber stock is lightweight, rigid, durable, and quiet, with aluminum bedding. The near-vertical pistol grip features an ambidextrous bulge. The stock measures 356 mm (14 inches) to the buttplate, which can be shim-adjusted. Quick-detach sling attachment points are located under the stock and on the forend behind the Picatinny rail. The adjustable cheekpiece provides a comfortable head position directly behind the scope. The stock has a matte finish that is pleasant to the touch, with a contrasting gray texture that breaks up the shape, but you can still feel the carbon fiber texture beneath the green, brown, and white mottled paint.
The lightweight Hardy carbon fiber bipod with a Picatinny rail mount provides stability, with a wide cant range and a stable base. Brass and stainless steel hardware ensures durability and high performance.
Superior quality
The overall construction style and dimensions follow the Remington 700 model, but with a significantly higher standard of quality, thanks to innovative materials and manufacturing processes. All visible mechanical workmanship is precise, with an impeccable surface finish on both external and internal components.
I fired a good series of rounds at the TSN test bench in Codogno (Lombardy). The Hardy carbon fiber barrel impresses with its thermal stability. The rifle is stable and doesn't punish the shoulder. The trigger is precise and the magazine feed is smooth, extraction/ejection is flawless, and lifting the bolt handle doesn't compromise the aiming stability in the slightest.
The 220-gram Norma Golden Target match bullets reach a velocity of 850 m/sec and 5168 joules, and at 200 meters, the group remained within one MOA. Undoubtedly, ammunition reloaded specifically for the Hardy Hybrid would have yielded even better results, given the manufacturing standards, which are closer to those of a custom-built weapon. But the rifle is undoubtedly convincing. The price is commensurate with the quality.
Data Sheet
Manufacturer : Hardy Rifle Engineering, hardyrifle.com
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Exclusive distributor for Italy : Riva & Brutti srl, Via Casnedi 58, 23868 Valmadrera (LC), tel. +39 349 8550737, [email protected] , upgradeyourrifle.com
Model : Hybrid
Caliber : .300 PRC (available from .223 to .338 Lapua magnum, various actions)
Feeding : 4-round double-stack detachable magazine
Barrel : Steel wrapped with carbon fiber, 660 mm long, rifling pitch 1:9”
Trigger : Adjustable trigger tech from 450 to 1.600 g
Safety : two-position manual; cocked firing pin warning
Sights : none, Picatinny rail inclined 20° integral with the action
Materials : Ergal action, carbon steel bolt, carbon fiber stock
Finishes : black anodized frame, stock with Forest pattern ceramic-based paint
Total length : 1.250 mm
Weight : 3.373 grams (without bipod which weighs 312 grams)
Indicative price : 8.000 euros, VAT included
