The State of Optics for Practical Long-Range Rifle Shooting [2009] -  Over the last five years, interest in practical long-range shooting has bloomed. This type of long-range shooting involves making first-round hits on arbitrary-distance long-range targets while moving through the field. The scope is the instrument used to specify the elevation and windage corrections that are critical to making long-range hits-- and choosing the right scope is critical.

Colorado Multigun 2009 Steel Safari Practical Rifle Match -  The 2009 Steel Safari was a tough match with tough competition. Although there was overall a little less wind speed than in '08, the wind changes made up for it. With a few procedural tweaks to ensure fair competition and less confusion, shooters were put to an extremely tough mental, physical, and marksmanship challenge. The competitor who had the skill, preparation, and luck locked down the match title.   [more >>]

7.62x39 Ammunition: Improving the Military Standard -  It's sometimes hard to look past the most common loading to see a cartridge's full potential. The 7.62x39 mm is a good example of this phenomenon. The ubiquitous military loadings of the 7.62x39 were state of the art in the 1940's but have lackluster performance today. In this article I'll show you three strengths of the 7.62x39 which are largely ignored by its users: good performance in short-barreled rifles (SBR); the use of modern and heavy projectiles which have near ideal terminal performance; and heavy subsonic loads for suppressed use. (2009 Book of the AK-47)

Stag Varminter and Charles Daly Defense M-4 - Here's a look at a pair of rifles from two manufacturers who are relative newcomers to the AR-15 market: Stag Arms and Charles Daly Defense (CDD). How do these stand up against the wide array of AR-15s on the market? Let's find out. (Shotgun News)   [more >>]

2008 Rocky Mountain 3-Gun Nationals -  Once again, JJ and Denise Johnson have put on an excellent Rocky Mountain 3-Gun Nationals. RM3G is the best conventional 3-Gun match in the country due to use of geographical features in stage design, facilities, and stage difficulty. After taking over the match from prior management in 2007 and doing a great job, 2008 was their second year and they showed they can consistently administer a world-class, challenging national 3-Gun event.   [more >>]

Colorado Multigun 2008 Steel Safari Practical Rifle Match -  The 2008 Steel Safari was extra tough this year for two reasons: extreme wind and extreme heat. With more target opportunities, shooters were put to an extreme tough mental, physical, and marksmanship challenge. The competitor who had the skill, preparation, and luck locked down the match title, but all those that finished were treated to a prize table better than any prior year's match   [more >>]

The Nordic Components AR22 .22LR Trainer -  Ammunition costs have become downright painful, with no relief in sight. This hits the competition and tactical shooters particularly hard. Maintaining a high level of proficiency requires constant practice but the prospect of burning a couple hundred dollars in ammunition costs for a day training session can be prohibitive. Nordic Components came up with the idea of taking a Ruger 10/22 barreled action and wrapping it in a chassis that replicates the geometry of the AR-15 as closely as possible and accept AR-15 stocks, grips, float tubes, and optics. This idea was realized in the Nordic Components AR22 10/22 conversion kit.   [more >>]

Battle of the Budget .50 BMG Rifles -  The big .50 BMG has captured shooters' imaginations since its invention almost a hundred years ago. The last thirty years have seen the potential of the .50 BMG round wrung out by both civilian and military long-range precision shooters, and it's fair to say we're in the "golden age" for the .50 BMG. Here I look at some entry-level rifles from Watsons Weapons, Ligamec Corp, and Safety Harbor Firearms. (Pending publication in Shotgun News)   [more >>]

Evolution of the 3-Gun Practical Rifle -  The concept and execution of the practical rifle has come a long way over the last twenty-five years as old designs and prejudices gave way to new equipment and new realizations about what a carbine can accomplish. The modern 3-Gun rifle represents a format combining reliability, accuracy, and compact size which is applicable to both competition and tactical use. (2008 Book of the AR-15)   [more >>]

6.5x47 Lapua Tactical TackDriver (6mmBR.com Gun Of The Week) -  Shooters who compete in "practical" rifle matches have been migrating to 6.5mm calibers for several years. While "tactical" shooters can be a dogmatic bunch, practical competitors are in it to win. Lapua's newest entry to the field, the 6.5x47 Lapua, is a natural choice. With the help of AccurateShooter.com, we set out to build the 6.5x47 Tactical Rifle.   [more >>]

Practical Long-Range Rifle Shooting, Part I - Rifle & Equipment - Practical precision rifle shooting involves engaging small and/or distant targets at the limit of weapon, ammunition, and shooter capability under time pressure in field settings. This article lays out the rifle and equipment a shooter needs to make long-range hits.   [more >>]

Practical Long-Range Rifle Shooting, Part II - Optics -  What kind of scope do you need for practical long-range rifle shooting in the field? This article discusses the desired capabilities and their tradeoffs, going into minute detail in every aspect of rifle scope selection.   [more >>]

Practical Long-Range Rifle Shooting, Part III - Shooting - You have the rifle, good optics, and all the gear. This article brings it all together by stepping through what a shooter has to do to make long-range hits in the field, starting from establishing a zero and progressing to shooter/spotter communication and wind management.   [more >>]