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.

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)

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)

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 >>]

German Sport Guns' GSG-5: A .22 MP5 -  German Sport Guns has a passion for .22 and airsoft versions of famous military and law-enforcement weapons. In cooperation with Amchar, they've brought a new rifle to the U.S.- the GSG-5, which is a .22LR version of the infamous HK MP5. I got my hands on one of the very first ones in the country. Here's a brief review of the GSG-5 after a week with the gun.   [more >>]

6.5mm Shootout: .260 Remington vs. 6.5x47 Lapua vs. 6.5 Creedmoor -  It's been a good year for 6.5 mm. The .260 Remington has hit full stride in practical long-range matches; Lapua burst on the scene with its 6.5x47, designed for 300 meter CISM competition; and Hornady developed the 6.5 Creedmoor as a turn-key solution for NRA HP Long-Range matches. How do these three mid-size 6.5 mm cartridges stack up against one another? I spent much of 2007 figuring out the answer to that question.   [more >>]

6.5 Creedmoor - .260 Done Right? -  Long-range shooters gravitate towards calibers which provide great ballistics and accuracy along with low recoil. However, to get match-winning performance, you need to reload. This presents a barrier for entry into the sport for would-be new shooters. Hornady's 6.5 Creedmoor was developed to provide a cartridge with accuracy and ballistics to be competitive at the top level of High-Power Long-Range competition using factory ammunition. (31 Mar 2008 Shotgun News)   [more >>]

The 6.5x47 Lapua Rifle Project -  Six point five millimeter has never been a big hit in the United States; however, this is changing as long-range shooters seek more performance with less recoil. Up until now, choices for a short-action 6.5 mm cartridge were pretty limited to .260 Remington and its wildcats like 6.5-08 Ackley. Nammo Lapua Oy, the famous Finnish component and ammunition manufacturer, recently developed the new 6.5x47 Lapua cartridge specifically for target shooting. (pending publication in Guns & Ammo)

Fighting Optics - A Short Guide -  With optics ubiquitous on fighting rifles, the old rule that long barrels - with their longer sight radius - are needed for accuracy and longer-range capability is turned on its head. It's possible to get one-moa mechanical accuracy from 18, 16, 14.5, 12.5, and even 10.5-inch barrels. The role differentiation is determined by what optic is mounted on the rail. Put another way- carbine capability is determined by its sights. (Defense Review)   [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 >>]