Traditions Outfitter G3 in .360 Buckhammer: Full Review

Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.

Goose Creek Outfitters has a reputation for guiding hunters to trophy whitetail and mule deer in the Sandhills region of north-­central Nebraska. Several friends have taken monster bucks from that area’s rolling hills and mixed grass prairies, so when I signed on for a hunt during the rut last mid-­November, I hoped to follow suit.

The Rifle

I carried a Traditions Outfitter G3 chambered in .360 Buckhammer. A lot of people are talking about this straight-wall cartridge, so a Nebraska deer hunt was the perfect excuse to take it afield. 

The Outfitter G3 is a break-­action, single-­shot centerfire rifle introduced at the 2020 SHOT Show. It was initally offered in .300 Blackout, .350 Legend, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .35 Remington, .35 Whelen, .450 Bushmaster and .45-70. It features a 22-­inch, chromoly steel, fluted barrel finished in Tungsten Cerakote and complete with an 11-­degree target crown. At just 6¼ pounds, the steel-­framed Outfitter G3 is lightweight and wieldy, making it a good choice for spot-and-stalk hunts.

The Outfitter G3’s quick-detach (QD) forend is removed with the press of a button, providing easy takedown for storage or transport. The barrel has M18x1 metric threads. The Outfitter G3 is manufactured in Spain, so the metric threads don’t surprise me. There are adapters available on the aftermarket if you want to suppress it. Larger chamberings, including the .350 Legend, 450 Bushmaster, .45-70 Government, .35 Whelen, and .360 Buckhammer come with the muzzlebrake installed, which is effective at reducing felt recoil.

The Outfitter G3 includes the Elite XT trigger system and rebounding hammer. The design allows the action to be opened with the safety engaged. To open, press the button in front of the triggerguard and pull down on the barrel. Close the action by bringing the barrel up until it locks into place. To fire a chambered round, disengage the safety, cock the hammer, and press the trigger.

The Cartridge

The .360 Buckhammer was introduced by Remington in 2023. It’s an intermediate, straight-­walled rifle cartridge designed for use in states such as Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, which previously banned hunting deer with centerfire rifles, but passed laws to allow them if chambered in a straight-­walled cartridge. This is the reason for the recent enthusiasm for firearms that chamber cartridges such as the .30-30 Winchester, .35 Remington, .350 and .400 Legend, .450 Bushmaster, .45-70 Gov’t and .450 Marlin, to name a few — and the .360 Buckhammer.

Straight-­walled cartridges are often used in short ­range situations, typically less than 300 yards. The fact that the trajectory curve drops off quickly makes them well suited for densely populated hunting regions. After zeroing the Outfitter G3, I rung steel at 300 yards, but, realistically, the cartridge and bullet profiles were optimized for use out to 200 yards. 

I went to Nebraska with Remington’s .360 Buckhammer Core-Lokt load. Core-­Lokt bullets are known for their high weight retention and controlled expansion. This soft-point bullet is available in 180-­ and 200-­grain versions. I would be using the 180-­grain bullet for a flatter trajectory. With a muzzle velocity of 2,399 feet per second (fps), the projectile drops about 8 inches at 200 yards while retaining about 970 foot-pounds (ft.-lbs.) of energy. At 200 yards, that’s more retained velocity and energy than Remington’s Core-Lokt loads for the .30-30, .350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster.

The Optic

The Outfitter G3 is drilled and tapped to accept a scope. I topped mine with a Burris Veracity PH in 3-­15x44mm, I realize it cost more than the rifle, but it was an opportunity test its elevation compensating Programable Elevation Knob (PEK) technology. PEK allows the shooter to dial the distance to a target (according to a rangefinder) using the click-­less elevation turret. The heads-­up display (HUD) allows us to stay focused on the target as we dial for yards, meters, or MOA. The rifle’s cant, inclination angle, distance-­accurate wind hold, and battery level are also displayed. The Veracity PH even has Bluetooth connectivity, allowing us to pair it to the Burris app on a smartphone or tablet to create a ballistic profile.

The Veracity PH is also available as a 2.5-12x42mm and 4-20x50mm. For all three, the illuminated Rapid Cross MOA reticle uses Progressively Thick Crosshairs (PTC), numbered wind holdoffs, and numbered holdovers for bullet drop compensation. Extra-­low dispersion (ED) glass enhances light transmission, providing clear edge-­to-­edge viewing. This helps whether you’re hunting in direct sunlight, dim light, or anything in between.

I also carried Burris’ Signature LRF rangefinding binoculars with the app. The Veracity PH greatly simplified the aiming process, enabling me to focus on the task at hand.

The Hunt for Whitetail

Unlike the previous year’s rut where I was told temperatures fell below zero in the Sandhills, I found myself hunting in t-­shirt weather. While warm weather can make for a more comfortable hunt, deer tend to move less. The likelihood of encountering one was less.

My Nebraska hunting license permitted either a whitetail or mule deer buck, and I was game for either. My guide was Matt Church who was intimately familiar with the terrain and animal behavior of the region. He was patient and worked to put me on a nice buck.

The hunt started at the Dismal River that, despite its name, is anything but depressing. Much of the land along the river is privately owned and consists of grassy hills overlooking tree-­lined riverbanks. Deer are plentiful along the river, but the bucks we saw were not mature. A spike allowed us to approach within about 15 yards before he decided to meander away. Another young buck emerged from the river and walked to within about 30 yards as we sat under the shade of a tree. While I didn’t get a shot at, or even see a mature buck, the day was enjoyable. I learned a lot by picking my guide’s brain.

Others in camp, who each hunted in a different area, had similar experiences. All saw bucks, but they were mostly young. The few large bucks were well out of range. According to those who had hunted with Goose Creek Outfitters before, the bucks were small compared to previous years.

Weather greatly reduced the odds of harvesting a big buck like those depicted in the photos on the lodge’s walls. I didn’t care. I simply wanted to harvest a mature buck.

Day 2

Before dawn, Church got me set up in a blind overlooking a hayfield. I used my 10x42 Signature LRF binoculars to practice ranging fences, trees and rocks. I established a mental perimeter so I’d know when a deer was within 200 yards. That was the maximum range I set for myself. After a couple of hours, two does emerged from the trees and walked along a fence to my right, 175 yards away. I monitored them for an hour or so, hoping they’d attract a buck. Finally, a mule deer buck came calling. For several minutes, the muley rubbed his antlers against the fence. Then, he approached the does.

I watched the buck move from 350 yards to 250 yards. I tried to control my excitement as he closed the distance to 173 yards. I decided it was time to monitor him through the scope instead of the binoculars.

I braced my rifle against the blind’s wooden windowsill and dialed the yardage using the turret. PEK technology adjusted my holdover for the distance. I took a couple of deep breaths, steadied myself, and disengaged the crossbolt safety. I cocked the hammer and took the slack out of the trigger. Filled with anticipation as I tried to control the reticle over the buck’s heart, the wall broke and the gun fired. 

I missed. The buck didn’t seem to care that I just took a shot at it. I suspect he had other things on his mind. Everything felt right, so I was baffled. Once I collected myself, I saw that the buck was uninterested in what had happened and thought, I still have a chance. I quickly opened the action and loaded another round. The buck continued toward the does, which had moved closer to me. I had the wherewithall to take another reading of the distance. The buck stopped again at 132 yards, according to the HUD in the rangefinding binoculars. I made a correction to the scope’s PEK, took a few deep breaths and settled down. When he turned to face the does, I centered the scope’s crosshair just behind the buck’s right front shoulder. When I fired, I watched the buck drop. He never took a step. Though I had nearly spoiled this opportunity with my first miss, the bullet did its job.

I climbed out of the blind and inspected the buck, motionless. In fact, my previous attempt was high and impacted the spine. It’s hard to explain the miss on his vitals. Perhaps I wasn’t as smooth on the trigger as I could have been, or maybe it was my anticipation. It could have been a combination of factors, but one fact was certain. I got my buck.

He was not a monster, but it was my first Nebraska mule deer. As required in the state during November, Church and I hauled the deer to a local check station. There, an official from Nebraska Game & Parks estimated his age at 4½ years by examining his teeth. It was a good local representation of the species, and a great way to explore the effectiveness of Traditions’ Outfitter G3, Remington’s 360 Buckhammer cartridge, and Burris’ PEK technology in its Veracity PH scope and Signature laser rangefinding binocular.

Next Season

If you plan to hunt whitetails or mule deer in a state that requires straight-­walled cartridges, you have options. The Outfitter G3 is an excellent platform to explore the performance of cartridges such as the .360 Buckhammer without making a significant investment. I reinvested my savings in upgrading to take the latest optic technology afield. Even with the Burris Veracity PH mounted, the package was lightweight, and the rifle was soft-­shooting. Inside 300 yards, the .360 Buckhammer certainly delivers the accuracy potential and sufficient energy to get the job done. 

Traditions Outfitter G3

• Type: Break action, single shot
• Cartridge: .360 Buckhammer (tested)
• Capacity: 1 rd.
• Barrel: Lothar Walther, 22 in., 1:12-in. twist, chromoly steel, tapered, fluted, muzzlebrake
• Length: 37.5 in.
• Weight: 6 lbs., 10 oz.
• Stock: Synthetic, TPF recoil pad
• Finish: Tungsten Cerakote (steel)
• Sights: None; scope (optional)
• Trigger: Elite XT, 3 lbs., 5 oz.
• Safety: Crossbolt, captive half cock, rebounding hammer
• MSRP: $610
• Importer: Traditions Performance Firearms, 860-388-4656, traditionsfirearms.com

---