Long Range Archive

AllTerra Arms is a semi-custom rifle manufacturer in my home state of Idaho that used to be known as “Axial Precision.” These guys produce some top-tier hunting rifles with 1/2 and even 1/4 MOA guarantees, and I finally got my hands on one. The Mountain Shadow Steel is one of their steel barreled options, and it happens to be the model that I’m testing.

The answer to, “What is the best budget long-range rifle scope?” is definitely up for debate, along with other related topics. Because of this, let’s discuss why I think Vortex’s Strike Eagle 5-25×56 is the clear winner of its division.

When choosing a hunting rifle, caliber is an important criteria. Hunting in the west, I want something that can take down deer, elk, black bear, moose, and anything else that I may go out after. Because of the terrain, I also need a caliber that will retain energy to take game at distances beyond 500 yards.

Consider a Boyds Pro Varmint as a replacement for the Mossberg Patriot Predator Stock as a modular solution for shooting from a prone position.

Performance Center (think Smith & Wesson) using Thompson Center components has created a new chassis rifle that has just upped the stakes for a budget-get in-the-long-range-game-rifle. The price point is truly incredible when you consider that the MSRP of the rifle at $1211 is less than what I paid for my first aluminum chassis stock over 15 years ago.

What are you doing later this month?  Nothing?  Well, why don’t you change that by signing up for the National Rifle League (NRL) Silent Night precision rifle match in Ninnekah, Oklahoma?

Optics leader Leupold is selling a special run of Mark 4 2.5-8×36 MR/T TS-30A2 scopes at this year’s NRA Annual Meeting.

Competing in the Extreme Tough Man Division of the Mammoth Sniper Challenge is a test of both shooter and gear. This 3-day event held each January requires competitors to carry all their gear 25+ miles between stages and campsites, camp out, and engage precision rifle targets out to 800+ yards. Many of the lessons learned are applicable to hunting and backcountry scenarios. Here are a few of those I discovered over the years.

The Marines are adopting the Mk 13 Mod 7, a semi-custom bolt-action rifle chambered for .300 Winchester Magnum with an effective range of 1,500 yards.