Horizon Firearms Iota Outdoors Vandal Carbon II .300 Win Mag 22 inches

About this product

The Horizon Firearms Iota Outdoors Vandal Carbon II .300 Win Mag 22 inches is a purpose-built, lightweight long-range bolt-action rifle engineered for backcountry hunters who demand .300 Winchester Magnum ballistics without a punishing carry weight. It achieves this through a radical, modern construction that replaces most steel components with carbon fiber composites, resulting in a rifle that weighs just 6.06 lbs—a figure that challenges your expectations for the cartridge. This isn't a bench rest gun; its design DNA prioritizes mobility and rapid target engagement in uneven terrain where every ounce counts against you.

What is the Vandal Carbon II .300 Win Mag used for?

The Vandal Carbon II is used for long-range precision hunting and shooting in remote, mountainous terrain. It's engineered to deliver the terminal energy of a .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge—capable of ethically taking elk, moose, and bear beyond 700 yards—from a package that you can carry all day without debilitating fatigue. The 1:8 twist rate barrel stabilizes heavy-for-caliber, high-BC match projectiles like the 225-grain Berger Elite Hunter or 212-grain Hornady ELD-X, making it effective for both target shooting and harvesting game at extreme distances where trajectory and wind drift become critical factors.

How does the Vandal Carbon II compare to a Stevens 334 Rifle?

The Vandal Carbon II is a purpose-built, high-performance system where the Stevens 334 Rifle is an entry-level, generalized tool. The primary difference, beyond the nearly $2,600 price gap, is weight and constituent materials: the all-steel Stevens 334 in .308 Win weighs 7.25 lbs, making the carbon-fiber Vandal over a pound lighter despite chambering a significantly more powerful and physically larger cartridge. The Stevens 334 is better for a new shooter learning fundamentals on a capable budget platform, while the Vandal Carbon II is objectively better for the demanding hunter who needs to shave ounces off their pack for a multi-day alpine stalk.

What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?

The rifle weighs 6.06 lbs (2.75 kg) as shipped, without optics, rings, or a magazine. Its overall length is 42.5 inches from the butt pad to the crown of the 22-inch barrel, which itself has a major diameter of 0.75 inches, or roughly 19mm. The Iota EKO X carbon fiber stock has an average forend width of 1.58 inches, providing a stable surface for a bipod, and features a length of pull adjustable between 13 and 14.25 inches to accommodate different shooters and layering choices. The magazine well accepts standard AICS-pattern short-action magazines with a capacity of 3 rounds, with a standard loadout of cartridges adding approximately 0.5 lb to the total system weight.

Who is this NOT for?

This rifle is not for a shooter who prioritizes extreme, sub-MOA target accuracy from a static bench or a novice who is recoil-sensitive and still building fundamental marksmanship skills. The aggressive weight reduction comes with inherent harmonics and potential for increased barrel whip; while accurate, it may not consistently deliver the tiny groups of a 12-lb, steel-barreled .300 PRC purpose-built for competition. It is also not for someone on a tight budget—this is a premium tool requiring premium optics (plan for a scope and mount system costing $1,500+) and ammunition, making a package like the Stevens 334 Rifle a more financially responsible entry point.

What's in the box?

The rifle ships with the barreled action installed in the stock, the installed Iota Sim Brake muzzle device, and a single 3-round AICS-pattern polymer magazine. TriggerTech triggers are installed and factory-set to a pull weight of 2.5 lbs, though the shoe is adjustable for both weight and travel. You will not find any lens cleaning kits, basic scope rings, or gun oil in the box—this is a tool-grade purchase. The rifle itself arrives in a standard commercial cardboard box with high-density foam cutouts, which is not a long-term storage or transport solution.

Is the Vandal Carbon II worth it at $3,399?

At $3,399, the Vandal Carbon II is worth it for the specific, experienced user who has the skill to exploit its advantages and the physical need for its weight savings on a multi-day backcountry hunt. You are paying for the engineering and material science required to make a .300 WM platform this light and reliable; the carbon fiber barrel and stock alone represent a significant manufacturing cost over traditional steel and laminate. If your hunting involves hiking fewer than 5 miles from a truck or you primarily shoot from established blinds, a heavier, less expensive rifle will serve you just as well and save you over a thousand dollars for ammunition and training.