Join Phillip Velayo and Andrew of Tenacity Firearms for a full breakdown of what it actually takes to build a high-end custom hunting rifle, get it in your hands fast, and run it with confidence in the backcountry. The conversation covers Tenacity’s no-wait business model, the full component stack behind the Tenacity X, and the philosophy behind building a rifle system around how hunters actually operate in the field.

They walk through every layer of the build: the McMillan Mountain Hunter stock with integrated Arca and Picatinny rails, the Tenacity-branded Defiance Anti-X action, Proof Research and Hell’s Canyon Armory barrel options, and TriggerTech’s role in a reliable, adjustable trigger system. The discussion gets into cartridge selection strategy, why factory ammo availability matters more than most hunters realize, and how scope mount height influences your ability to run the rifle cleanly under pressure. Phillip draws direct parallels between competition shooting fundamentals and backcountry hunting performance, including what the pre-shot and post-shot process looks like when an animal is in front of you.

Whether you’re specing your first custom hunting rifle, tired of waiting two years for a build, or looking for a modular platform that grows with your skill level, this episode gives you a blueprint for what a purpose-built precision hunting rifle should look like.

Listen to us on: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/0WhBQn3hUE1XarAFwAd2OU Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cadre-podcast/id1806120803

TRAIN WITH US: https://www.thecadretraining.com DOWNLOAD OUR EQUIPMENT KIT: https://www.thecadretraining.com/kit Download The Cadre DOPE Card: https://www.thecadretraining.com/resources

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Introduction | The Cadre x Tenacity Firearms Collaboration
2:12 – Custom Rifle Industry | Wait Times, Market Saturation, and the Tenacity Model
6:08 – Tenacity X Breakdown | McMillan Stock, Arca Rail, and Modular Design
11:47 – Action, Barrel, and Trigger | Defiance, Proof Research, and TriggerTech
17:25 – Cartridge Selection | What to Run and Why Factory Ammo Availability Matters
22:43 – Scope Mount Height and Modern Technique | Minimizing Rifle Influence
45:04 – Competition Shooting for Hunters | Why the Range Makes You Better in the Field
53:49 – Troubleshooting and Customer Support | Knowing Your System When It Matters
1:04:09 – Future Goals | New Configurations, Price Points, and Product Development

CONNECT WITH THE TEAM:
Follow Tenacity Firearms: https://www.instagram.com/tenacity_firearms/
Follow Andrew: https://www.instagram.com/andrew_whitney/
Follow Phillip: https://www.instagram.com/velayo_0317
Follow The Cadre: https://www.instagram.com/thecadre.training

Precision Through Chaos.