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Feature Articles
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 Shooting a 223 to a Mile Accurately
By Jerry Teo
This project began last year after some very heated debates on a couple of shooting forums. The general consensus was that it is impossible, a huge waste of time and I was a little bit off my rocker. Sounded like a nice challenge to me. The quest is simple, can I get a 223 using new high BC bullets to reach out to a mile (1760yds) AND arrive accurately (initial goal was 2MOA or less)....Read More >>
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 Coyote Hunting Predatorial Series #3 - Coyote In The Crosshairs
By Greg Ballard
We have covered the basic behavior of the coyote in Predatorial 1 and we covered the basic of the calls in Predatorial 2. In this Predatorial we are going to cover another tool of this business. A tool that is deadly serious. Deadly for the coyote, that is. We are going to cover our shooting equipment. This will include various pieces of equipment that we will use to shoot or to help us shoot more coyotes.... Read More >>
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 Varmint Hunting With The AR-15 Type Rifle - Part I
By L.P. Brezny
It was about 7:00 a.m. when the lone male ’yote came running in from the far side of a deep draw. As he reached a fence he hesitated just enough to allow me to get a sight picture centered on his wide chest, then touch off a round from the AR-15 I was shooting that morning. The gun was a Les Baer original. As the bullet slapped the ’yote head on at about 200 yards he turned and started to move off down the steep canyon. ...Read More >>
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 A Testing Process
By Matthew Cameron
The process we call load development, in my opinion, consists of two distinct phases that may be described as the research and development phase and secondly the shooting phase. In the first instance we choose the cartridge and projectile to suit the task we have set out to achieve followed by the choice of powder and primer. Conversely we may attempt to adapt a rifle we already own by changing the type of bullet and/or its weight.... Read More >>
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 Long Range Rabbit Hunting
By Shane Green
This year my personal challenge was to make a long range shot on a rabbit at 1000 yards plus. The area I shoot over in the South Island of NZ allows various types of hunting the numerous rabbits occupying the hill country. One type is a team effort of a couple of shot gunners walking the gullies with a rifleman on each slope above. The smooth bores flush out bunnies ahead which usually head uphill allowing the rifles to get their share as well....Read More >>
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 What Happens When You Fire A Gun
By M.L. McPherson
I do not intend to cover the intricacies of internal ballistics. In this work, I am more interested in what happens to the gun, the bullet, and the cartridge case when we fire a gun. These subjects are tied together because of the intimate nature of the process. I will try to cover each subject separately and without too much repetition....Read More >>
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 Nightforce Ballistic Targeting Software
By Ward W. Brien
You know, there are and have been a lot of “fads” or what many have thought are fads. But thank goodness people haven’t stopped trying to figure out a better way to do things. I remember back in the mid seventies when the “Mil-dot” reticle came out. I have heard “hunters” say… “What the heck do you need that for? I just aim at the deer and drop’em.” Or, “who has time to pull out a protractor and figure the angle you’re holding on?” “What the heck are you talking about?”... Read More >>
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 The Last Minute Elk --- The Story Of "ole crooked horn"
By Allen Jones
It was around 1985, I think, when I had this happen. I had scouted pretty hard the 2 weekends leading up to the opening day of the Colorado archery elk season and found several bunches of elk. The bulls had just started doing a little bugling and were starting to feel their oats...Read More >>
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 How To Camouflage Paint Your Rifle
By Greg Ballard
In this article we are going to show you how to camouflage paint your rifle for your predator hunting. This will enable you to blend in better with your surroundings, reduce shine and glare from your weapon, protect it from the elements, and it just looks darn nice to boot... Read More >>
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 Those Tiresome Rifle Maintenance Chores
By Darrell Holland
How many times have we neglected our rifle maintenance over the years? Tired and wet, we return home to hibernate and replenish those vital body fluids lost during the hunt. Oftentimes we toss aside our most trusted friend in our selfish desire to seek comfort on the home front. Sound familiar?...Read More >>
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 Dwell Time And Your Trigger
By Darrell Holland
In most Cultures men can do 3 things "Really" well! Those being; drive like Michael Schumacher, make love better than Casanova and out shoot Daniel Boone in 3 out of 5 matches! Unfortunately, when the lights dim, when we buckle up or grab our trusty rifle, the results are less than admirable?... Read More >>
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 RCBS Chargemaster 1500 Review
By Jim Brown
For approximately a year or so now I have been using a RCBS Chargemaster 1500 for all my reloading, a simple tool to use in spite of its complicated appearance. This review will discuss my experience with it. The RCBS Chargemaster 1500 is a fairly pricey piece of reloading gear with prices ranging from $300 to as little $260 when on sale...Read More >>
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 Coyote Hunting Predatorial Series #2 - Calls Of The Wild
By Greg Ballard
The one most basic need of the coyote that you will be exploiting in your hunting will be the absolute need of the coyote to eat. It doesn’t matter the time of the year or the weather or any other thing … to be able to survive a coyote has to eat.... Read More >>
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 Can I Come With Dad? – First African Hunt
By Dave Schenck
How often have we not heard our youngsters asking this question as we make our arrangements to get into the veld with the manne for a week of hunting and catching up and how often has our answer been an emphatic “No!”? There is no better place than the outdoors for them to get back to basics and find their feet. The veld treats everyone the same and it is amazing how fast one learns to “swim”....Read More >>
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 How To Photograph Your Big Game Trophy
By Troy Adams
The hunting part of your quest is now over and your trophy is lying on the ground. After you have completed your “happy dance” and before you start to field dress the animal it is important to take time to capture the memory of the day on film. Some hunters give little thought to this important part of the hunt. A person only has “ONE” chance to take field photos at the location the animal was taken... Read More >>
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 Following Up After The Shot
By Shawn Carlock
One of the more common questions I get after people watch one of my long range hunting videos is, “How do you get over there and find the animal?” Usually this question is followed by a story of a well placed long shot where the animal takes a good hit and moves some small distance from the point of impact and the hunter has a very difficult time of recovery. Although I’ve had a few misses over the years I have yet to lose a hit animal at distance...Read More >>
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 Coyote Hunting, Predatorial Series #1 - "Basic Behavior "
By Greg Ballard
It has been years since I shot my first coyote. I could hear the coyote’s approach through the leaves. When it sounded like the coyote was close enough Dad turned on his light with the red lens on it and at the end of the beam of light were two big eyes glowing and the bead of the shotgun moved to the shoulder of the coyote and I squeezed the trigger...Read More >>
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 Long Range Bowhunting
By Lorenzo Young
The waiting is the hard part for me. Always has been. Yet, I knew I had to move slowly. I examined the steep hillside again. I stood in the shadows of a small band of dark pines. I was on a narrow ridge in a high crisp alpine basin. The setting sun was pushing long cool shadows across the clearing ahead. I eased forward another foot, and waited while my hair turned grey.... Read More >>
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 Hunting For Prairie Dog Towns
By Jim Eid
As prairie dog trips go, this one stunk. Eric and I had shot fewer than 50 rounds in the first two days of our trip. The rain was turning every road that wasn't paved into gumbo, keeping us from getting into the back country to dog towns I had shot before. So there we sat in the protection of the pickup, watching the only tiny dog town we could get to, listening to the radio and getting more frustrated with each drop of rain that hit the windshield. At the top of the hour the weather report didn't offer any hope. Rain for the next couple of days.... Read More >>
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 Wind Doping Basics
The Varmint Hunters Association
Many shooters think that reading the wind requires a touch of magic, some witchcraft, and no small amount of luck. That is far from the truth. The wind can be mastered by any shooter who takes the time to learn what Mother Nature is doing. It is not a secret reserved for those who commune with the spirits or drink magic elixirs.... Read More >>
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 Killing Phone Books - Bullet Performance
By Ian McMurchy
There is one aspect of hunting and shooting that is a “black-hole” for most sportsmen – terminal bullet performance. This is also called terminal ballistics. When hunting season approaches we take “old-Betsy” out to the range and shoot some holes in paper targets. The idea is to get the holes where we want them and as close together as possible. This is called sighting-in and it is about the only bullet testing most people do....Read More >>
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 What Is Parallax And How To Adjust For It?
By Chris Farris
That has to be one of the most common questions concerning scopes. Scope manufacturers' explanations might as well be written in a foreign language because you often find you’re even more confused after reading their definition.....Read More >>
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 338 Edge - History and Development
By Shawn Carlock
I developed and named the 338 Edge in 2001. Now I am sure I was not the first person to neck up the 300 Ultra (RUM) case to .338”. But I have in all probability spent considerably more time with the round than anyone else. The 338 Edge is simply a 300 Ultra Mag necked up to .338”. This is a simple process requiring no more work than a standard reload..... Read More >>
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Degrees Of Rifle Accuracy
By Ian McMurchey
Rifle accuracy is an interesting topic since we all have different opinions on what rifle accuracy is. I know people who fire three shots at a paper target at one hundred yards and if two hit anywhere on the paper they consider the rifle ready to go. I also know individuals who expect every bullet to be touching or overlapping in their one hundred yard groups.... Read More >> |
 Coyote Calling In The Wind --- Bring It On
By Justin Shireman
Out here in western Oklahoma, the wind can sometimes be downright treacherous and this affects coyote calling tremendously.We all know wind is a killer for a planned day of coyote calling. All excitement for your coyote hunt can be washed away 30 minutes after sunup if that wind gets to howling louder than a coyote... Read More >>
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 Equipment And Planning For Backpack Hunting
By Allen Jones
Having been on a couple of backpack hunts that turned into survival ordeals instead of pleasant outings to reminisce about, I feel somewhat qualified to speak with a little authority on this subject. A few items carried along can literally mean the difference between life and death when situations turn critical....Read More >>
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 Buffalo Hunting
By Lance J. Kuck
Today in the United States and Canada there are well over 500,000 buffalo in private and public herds. While this number can’t rival the herds originally present on the plains before the great buffalo hunt it is a true success story rivaling that of the re-population of the White-tailed Deer. The vast majority of buffalo today are on private ranches and are raised for hunting and meat production as it is a lean and healthy meat....Read More >>
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 Angle Shooting - Correcting for the effects of gravity
By Ward W. Brien
There is a physical ballistic problem encountered when shooting on angles that causes the bullets point of impact to hit high. Sheep hunters and deer hunters alike know all too well, that if their target is up or down on an angle, that they must aim low because the bullet will impact high.... Read More >> |
 Texas Turkey Hunting As I Know It
By Ian McMurchy
I am NOT a bird hunter of any note. As a matter of fact I rarely shoot shotguns since rifles take up so most of my time. Despite this lack of shotgunning and bird-hunting experience I get to go on occasional hunts. I usually view these opportunities as new experiences more than hunts.... Read More >> |
 Reticle Perpendicularity
By Darrell Holland
Long range shooters go through great pains to properly set-up their rifles for long range shooting. Bipods, muzzle brakes, cosine indicators and a host of other widgets often adorn their newly created thunder stick. How many of them actually check to see that their scope reticle is perpendicular to the bore?
...Read More >>
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 Remington XR100 in .204 Ruger
By Shane Green
This is the best rabbit cartridge on the market. The one caveat would be that one isn’t shooting for meat! I have been shooting rabbits in Australia and New Zealand for 25+ years and have used a variety of calibres and firearms with great satisfaction from muzzle distance off to many 100’s of meters....Read More >> |
 When Gadgets Fail - Range Finding Reticles
by Darrell Holland
It’s great living in a technological society. The shooting world has been blessed with its share of techno-gadgets in recent years. Wind meters, laser range finders and sophisticated ballistic programs have taken the guess work out of most of our honed and practiced skills. But what do we do when our laser flat-lines due to snow, rain, fog and or poor reflectivity... |
 Long Range Hunting Ambush
by Shawn Carlock
In recent years long range hunting has come into style. While the coupling of flat shooting high energy rounds and precision rifles is common place today, I find that many people are lacking in techniques for their use. The most common use of the purpose-built long range hunting rifle today seems to be, spot it, range it and shoot it. This style of hunting seems to be most common from a vehicle or ATV. Here in the northwest the long range hunting rifle has given the rifleman a way to hunt areas that were effectively unhuntable before... |
 Long Range Rifle On A Budget
by Jerry Teo
So, you are interested in building a long range rifle but are intimidated by the cost of some of the custom rigs that are built by members of this board. I would like to share with you my experiences in building economical rifles that shoot very well out to a mile. First off, let's define a few parameters in what is a long range hunting rifle so that we know when we get there. A long range rifle is not just the part that makes noise and launches lead... |
 Precision Reloading For Long Range Hunting
by Jerry Teo
When reloading for long range hunting, we want to make ammo that is as consistent and accurate as benchrest ammo but as functionally reliable and deadly as factory hunting ammo. Let's first look at the basic components and then what it takes to make up superb ammo...
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Long Range Tricks And Toys
By Ian McMurchy
Much emphasis is placed on high performance rifles, state-of-the-art scopes and the latest magnum cartridge design when the discussion of long range hunting comes up in gun-shops and hunting camps. That equipment is essential. But there is another level of gear - and some specialized techniques - that play a vital role in making long shots... |
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 Setting Up For The Long Range Hunting Shot
By Shawn Carlock
Long range hunting shots are like snowflakes, a few may be similar but no two are really alike. While each shot is unique the preparation for each shot is mostly the same. For the sake of this article let us assume that you have a rifle and scope combination that shoots very well and you have a developed and confirmed drop chart for your home practice shooting range. Now we will go afield and run through the steps for making a solid first round hit on your hunt... |
 Low Priced Long Range Scopes
By Ian McMurchy
Long range shooting is my passion. I have accumulated a nice selection of incredible rifles and long range scopes for this specialized challenge. Scopes like Leupold’s Mark 4, Nightforce NXS, U.S. Optics and Schmidt and Bender tend to spoil a person. Fortunately, there are a couple of reasonably priced long range scopes that work well for long range shooting... |
 Quest For Ballistics Software
By Gustavo F. Ruiz
“…The world's first electronic digital computer was developed by Army Ordnance to compute World War II ballistic firing tables…” Yes, we are talking in relation to ENIAC the first modern computer in history, and please note what it was built for. The outlook of technology is so overwhelming that we hardly ever reflect on the past of computing and what sparked its advance in the first place... |
 F-Class Competition As Training For The Hunt
By Jim Collier
The antelope was about 800 yards away and the wind was gusting between 18 and 25 miles per hour. The 115 grain Berger missed so badly that not a hair was cut. I could see the wind whipping the dried grass all around the doe and feel it buffeting me around. ...
So Jimm and I got to discussing winds and how we could sharpen up our wind reading skill and both decided that F-class was the answer... |
The Ultimate Shooting Challenges - Long Shots and Movers
Part One - Long Range Hunting
By Ian McMurchy
Far off across the open prairie a whitetail doe sneaks out of the end of a coulee. She tip-toes towards a small dugout for a drink before heading to nearby fields to forage. Moments after she appears a huge buck swaggers on her trail - nose to the ground, tail up he strides deliberately across the pasture. ...This scenario is NOT impossible, given the superb rifles, scopes and ammo available today... |
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 Reading The Wind
by Shawn Carlock
If you are new to long range hunting or an experienced veteran, most will agree that the ability to accurately read the wind is what separates a fair shooter from an exceptional one. I have had a fair number of successes in long range competition and in long range hunting and I will cover what works for me. The way I read wind and apply that info to my shooting may not work for everyone but check out the information and use it as you see fit... |
 Things I Learned Shooting Crop Damage Deer
By Dave King
When I was first approached to shoot crop damage deer I was elated, I initially thought this was an opportunity to hunt whitetail deer year-round. I began to consider how I went about shooting pests and varmints: groundhogs, gophers and such, I didn’t wander into their territory to shoot them but rather I found a vantage point from which to observe their territory and shot them as they went about their daily routine.By adapting my crop damage deer hunting to more closely resemble my varmint shooting it wasn’t long before I had increased my success ratio by at least ten-fold... |
 Long Range Targets
By Ian McMurchy
Far across the huge valley a tiny vertical white object looked out of place in the green vegetation. Although our target frame was over fifteen feet tall and four feet wide at seven hundred yards it was small – very small. Invisible to the naked eye are two six-inch round ShootNSee targets positioned at the top of the target paper. These are our aiming points for an interesting exercise as we determine our long-range bullet drops... |
 Do-It-Yourself Western Hunt
By Jim Brown
A lot of "how-to's" on western hunting deal with the logistics of the hunt. Equipment, transportation, caliber choice, physical condition and so on are all very important and without attention to these details the hunt could be one you would rather forget. Here the focus will be on sources to tap for inexpensive hunts on private land.
How would it sound to gain access to 50 square miles of ranch for a couple of cases of soda pop and a couple of cases of beer... |
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 Wapiti Hunting In New Zealand
By Greg Duley
My annual pilgrimage to the Fiordland Mountains hunting wapiti (elk) during the bugle took me to the Loch Burn block this year. Hunting in this wilderness area requires extreme fitness and mountain knowledge due to the rugged terrain and atrocious weather that may be encountered. Starting from the edge of Lake Te Anau which is about sea level, you then have to carry everything you need for two weeks on your back 5,000 to 6,000 feet up into the mountains... |
 The Great Western Hunt
By Jim Collier
Free At last! As the pages on the calendar slowly peeled away and I approached 30 years of civil service, I begin to think of journeying back out to the Rocky Mountains for a 1,000 yard bull elk kill... In reading through Dan Lilja’s website I was astonished to see that he openly talked about shooting animals at 1,000 yards. Only weird people like me would shoot those kinds of distances and certainly no one ever admitted it in public... |
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