Nikon offers eyepieces with reticles for its flagship Monarch Fieldscopes. Eyepiece reticles help spotters call shot corrections with precise click values (MOA or Mils).
Using a spotting scope seems simple. Just point it at the target and focus, right? Well, actually, it’s not that simple. Sometimes you want to watch mirage or trace, and that involves different focus and viewing priorities. Along with resolving bullet holes (or seeing other features on the target itself), you can use your spotting scope to monitor mirage. When watching mirage, you actually want to focus the spotting scope not on the target, but, typically, about two-thirds of the distance downrange. When spotting for another shooter, you can also use the spotting scope to watch the bullet trace, i.e. the vapor trail of the bullet. This will help you determine where the bullet is actually landing, even if it does not impact on the target backer.
In this video, SFC L.D. Lewis explains how to use a spotting scope to monitor mirage, and to watch trace. SFC Lewis is a former Army Marksmanship Unit member, U.S. Army Sniper School instructor, and current U.S. Army Reserve Service Rifle Shooting Team member. In discussing how precision shooters can employ spotting scopes, Lewis compares the use of a spotting scope for competition shooters vs. military snipers. NOTE: You may wish to turn up the audio volume, during the actual interview segment of this video.
MIL-system scopes are popular with tactical shooters. One advantage of MIL scopes is that the mil-dot divisions in the reticle can be used to estimate range to a target. If you know the actual size of a target, you can calculate the distance to the target relatively easily with a mil-based ranging reticle. Watch this helpful NRA video to see how this is done:
Milliradian Definition and Yardage Ranging Formula
“MIL” or “Milrad” is short-hand for Milliradian, a unit of angular measurement. The subtension of 1 mil equals 3.6 inches at 100 yards or 36 inches at 1,000 yards. (In metric units, 1 mil equals 10 centimeters at 100 meters or 1 meter at 1,000 meters.) Knowing this subtension and knowing the size of the target (or a reference object near the target) allows the distance to the target to be estimated with considerable accuracy. The formula used to calculate range (in yards) based on MIL measurement is:
Height of Target in inches (divided by 36) x 1000, divided by the number of mils.
For example, if a 14″ tall target spans 3 mils from top to bottom, the distance is 129.67 yards calculated as follows: 14/36 x 1000 = 389, then divided by 3 = 129.67. You can also use a different conversion to find distance in meters.
Can You Estimate Range with an MOA-Marked Reticle? Yes You Can…
Reader Josh offers this handy advice: “It worth noting that the ability to measure range is not unique to mil-based systems. A MIL is just another unit for measuring angles, and any angular measurement will work. Considering that just about everybody knows that 1 MOA is about an inch per hundred yards, similar formulae can be developed for ranging with MOA marks. The advantage with mils is the precise relationship between units — the MOA-inch measurement is imprecise (being off by 0.047″) — so in principle MILs are a better unit”.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Palmetto SA — SAR9 9mm Pistol, $219.99
⏺️ Save $330 off normal retail price on good full-size 9mm pistol
This is an incredible deal for a modern, reliable 9mm pistol with better ergonomics than a Glock (at less than half the price). The lightweight polymer-framed, striker-fired SAR9 points naturally and has three insertable back straps to customize fit. We like the 20-degree grip angle which points well for most users. This is a great gun for both self-defense and IDPA and other pistol matches. The listed $219.99 sale price is for the “platinum” gray version with 4.4″ barrel. A matte black version with 5.2″ barrel and ported slide is also on sale now for $299.99 from Palmetto SA.
⏺️ Massive savings up to $900 on quality PRS/NRL tactical scopes
EuroOptic is a top-flight vendor, with fast shipping and great customer service. Right now EuroOptic is running major sale on BurrisExtreme Tactical III and Extreme Tactical Pro scopes, which work great for PRS/NRL competition. With the current Burris XTR Scope Sale, you can save up to $900.00 on a rugged, reliable FFP scope with various zoom magnification options (e.g. 3.3-18x50mm, 5-25x56mm, 5.5-30x56mm), with both 0.1 Milrad and 1/4 MOA click options.
3. EuroOptic — Tikka T3x Rifle Blow-Out Sale — Save 35%
⏺️ Tikka makes great hunting rifles now offered at major savings
With this Blow-Out Sale at EuroOptic.com, you can save $120-$530 on quality Tikka T3x hunting rifles, starting at just $599.99. Multiple models are on sale including T3x Lite, T3x Lite Compact, T3x Lite Stainless, T3x Hunter, T3x Laminated, and T3x RoughTech. Both right-hand and Left-hand versions are offered. The Hunter models feature a handsome wood stock. These rifles can deliver sub-MOA accuracy with good hand-loads.
⏺️ Many positive user reviews — good set-up for varminting and home ranges
Need a good platform for shooting in areas other than organized ranges? Check out the Caldwell Stable Table Deluxe. A bolt in the base allows position adjustment of a single leg, aligning the tabletop so that it is parallel with the horizon. The central shaft, seat, and tabletop are able to pivot (rotate) around a center axis as a single unit while keeping the tabletop parallel to the horizon. This is great for varmint hunting. Owner reviews have been very positive. This item is sold via Walmart.com but ships from Optics Planet.
⏺️ Very rugged, full-featured TSA-approved roller case
Whether flying or just transporting your rifles to the range it’s important to protect them with a rugged, quality gun case. The solidly-built HQ Issue 41″ Tactical Rifle Case (#ad) meets all the TSA requirements and can withstand tough treatment. Offered in Flat Dark Earth (tan) or Dark Gray, this waterproof case has rollers to ease movement through the airport. Handy pick-n-pluck foam allows a secure custom fit for your firearms. NOTE: This case is 41″ overall so it will NOT fit long-barrel competition rifles unless the action is separated from the stock/chassis. For larger rifles, one good option is the Eylar 53″ Protective Roller Rifle Hard Case priced at $199.99.
6. Walmart — Fingerprint Access Gun Safe, $169.99
⏺️ $100 off price on Rapid Access Gun Safe (fingerprint, keypad, key)
Need to store a few rifles or shotguns with secure yet rapid access? Consider this 5-Gun Safe with Fingerprint Access. With a $269.99 MSRP, it is now just $169.99 on sale, $100 OFF. It has three locking bolts on the door sides plus an internal LED lights. Sized 11.0″ x 11.8″ x 54″, this 64-lb safe can hold multiple long guns and pistols, along with other valuables. The main door can be opened instantly with fingerprint recognition, or use the digital keypad. The interior has foam barrel holder and carpeted floor, plus three pistol pouches on the door. NOTE: We do NOT recommend this as a primary gun safe, but it can be a good secondary safe.
⏺️ High-quality soft case big enough for Palma and F-Class rifles
Typical soft rifle cases will not fit long-barreled match rifles. But this 52″-long quality case from Champion’s Choice is big enough for most F-Class and Palma rifles. Forum members highly recommend this $85.00 Deluxe Rifle Case which has a water-resistant heavy duty 600 denier PVC outer shell. It has large outside pockets for ammo and accessories, and is well-padded with over 1″ of thick high-density foam. This case boasts a carry handle, adjustable shoulder strap, and backpack straps. The case even has an interior tube for holding a cleaning rod.
8. Amazon — Birchwood Casey .22 LR Target Rack, $30.50
⏺️ Fun, self-resetting target rack for rimfire guns
Plinking reactive targets with a .22 LR can be a lot of fun. A great way to practice is with a dynamic target such as the Birchwood Casey Steel Resetting Target (#ad). Shoot the four lower plates then hit the upper plate to reset the group. NOTE — This target is designed for .22 LR Rimfire rifles and pistols only so don’t use this with any centerfire. This Rimfire target features a twist design with no welds to break.
9. Amazon — Waterproof 200rd Rifle Ammo Case, $49.99/$39.99
⏺️ Great high-capacity waterproof ammo transport case — three versions
Keep 200 rounds of ammo securely stored in this Waterproof Ammo Case (#ad), now $49.99 on sale. Made of high-strength ABS plastic, this 11.5″ x 9.5″ x 4.5″ ammo transport case can withstand harsh environments, resist impact, and protect against scratches. Shown above is the version that holds 200 .308 Win-sized rounds. If you are traveling long distances to a major match, this is a good option. The ammo is very secure with a foam base surrounding every round.
Another model holds 200 .223 Rem rounds in the same-size case. This .223 Rem version — great for varminters or service rifle shooters — is priced $39.99 on Amazon (#ad). There is also a $39.99 double-decker KingHardCase (#ad) that holds 350 rounds of pistol ammo.
10. Amazon — Walker’s Razor Slim Muffs, $38.50
⏺ Comfortable slim NRR23 muffs with high-gain microphones
Walker’s Razor Slim Electronic Shooting Earmuffs (#ad) provide good protection against gunshot noises, while allowing you to hear range commands and voices. These non-bulky Razor Slim muffs have a good 23 dB noise reduction rating (NRR). (For optimal protection run plugs under the muffs.) The Razor series muffs feature Walker’s comfort fit headband for all-day shooting. NOTE: These have been Amazon’s #1 Best Seller in Hunting & Shooting Earmuffs. This $38.50 price is a very good deal. Other colors/patterns (e.g. orange, camo, green, tan, gray etc.) are offered for a few bucks more.
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Thousands of new products will be on display at SHOT Show 2025, the major gun industry trade show held each January in Las Vegas. The official SHOT Show Product Planner offers a “sneak peak” at 242 new-for-2025 products for hunters and shooters. More will come in the weeks ahead. Here are eight interesting new products for gun owners and reloaders. Since these are all recently-released items, we haven’t been able to test them yet. Product profiles are based on descriptions provided by the manufacturers. We will run a separate feature on new pistols and rifles that will debut in 2025.
SPACE Smart Safes offer real-time access, remote connectivity, 2-factor security, and advanced protection, making them safer and smarter than ordinary safes. The Smart Safe offers notable features: Touchscreen: The front interface offers settings for managing fingerprints, accessing PIN recovery options, and adding users. Live Video Tracking: Interior and exterior cameras accessed via mobile App show who attempts access and what they touch. Lockdown Mode: When activated, the screen becomes unusable, a loud alarm sounds, and a warning is displayed. Two-factor authentication: 2FA adds an extra layer of security and protection
HCA’s hybrid barrel-wrapping method provides the strength of parallel fiber orientation with the classic look and pressure control of filament winding. Made with high-quality, stress-relieved and cryogenically-treated 416R stainless steel barrel cores, these HCA Barrels feature a high-modulus carbon composite with a stress-free mechanical and chemical bond (HCA’s proprietary fiber orientation and hybrid wrap). With high strength-to-weight ratio, these barrels dissipate heat faster than traditional steel barrels and hold up to high shot-string volumes without degrading accuracy. Barrel are hand-wrapped and inspected visually and with precise measuring equipment. These barrels are hand-lapped and slugged to achieve less than .00015″ land/groove variation from breach to muzzle.
New Goliath™ Big Bore Bipods are purpose-built for long range precision shooting with customizable pan and tilt settings. Goliath bipods are extra wide, low, and sturdy with tactile oversized adjustments. These strong bipods are .50 Cal-rated. The UTG® Goliath Bipod features a wide, stable 60° open angle with independent tension adjustable tilting and panning up to 40° and 28°. The 3-position foldable and height-adjustable legs lock securely and have oversized rubber feet. The modular base is equipped with a tension adjustable Quick Release Picatinny mount, with future QR ARCA mount options. There are two models: TL-BPFS02Q with 8.01″ – 12.24″ height and TL-BPFS03Q with 5.90″ – 8.05″ height.
This brilliant innovation could truly be a big game-changer for handgun competitors. The new SG Sight Pro “smart shooting glasses” from Shooters Global feature a video camera that can record your shooting sessions. In addition, this advanced safety eyewear boasts a Heads-Up Display that connect to SG Shot Timer and can display various information on the lens. The built-in camera allows you to record first-person videos of your shooting sessions, with overlay of shot times and other data from SG Timer and SG Pulse. Note: The camera module can be sold separately and adjusted to different eye protection products. NOTE: This item is so new it is not yet shown on the Shooters Global website.
The hi-viz orange Action-Chek Gun Wrap serves to prevent accidental discharge of firearms. Use of these Gun Wraps will introduce a cautionary step before one puts a finger on the trigger. The Action-Chek provides a visual warning that firearms should be first checked for loaded condition before handling such as in training, target shooting, or storage settings. Observable from a distance, the Action-Chek indicates that the firearm chamber is empty in compliance with the facility, competition or other special event rules. The standard gun wrap configuration covers most controls of firearms when properly installed. The Action-Chek wrap must be removed prior to firearm use. This serves as a more significant safety protection than simple empty chamber indicators.
The AKASO Seemor is the world’s first AI-ISP full-color night vision goggle system. By combining the AI-ISP technology widely used in the automotive industry with 1/1.79″ CMOS sensors, Seemor achieves superior color reproduction and a visual range of over 1640 feet (500m), surpassing its competitors even in darker environments. Additionally, Seemor features two modes, allowing you to switch between AI full-color mode and a 7-level IR black-and-white mode, providing an exceptional night vision experience. The Seemor system provides much better color intensity compared to other night vision goggles.
The Kini Motion Sensor can tell you instantly if your firearms, laptop, or other valuable possessions have been moved. Kini’s Discreet, Versatile & Innovative Wireless Technology is designed to boost the security of your valuable or dangerous assets. The advanced, cutting-edge motion sensor delivers swift, reliable alerts to mobile devices, enabling quick responses to unauthorized access and tampering of safes and other secure storage while and ensuring peace of mind. This Motion Sensor provides Immediate SMS notifications within 10 seconds that go to your phone or mobile device. It easily pairs with Wi-Fi, no additional hardware or App required. The unit is efficient — it functions over a year on a single charge.
Thompson Grinders Inc. is a third-generation family-owned business that started in 1964. If you are looking for a company with strong values, you have come to the right spot. No matter if it’s a custom tool, resharpen or in the gun industry. Thompson Grinders, which offers a wide selection of bore reamers, was the first company in the USA that offered standard piloted bore reamers. Our method stabilizes and guides the reamer from start to finish. The best-kept secret is out, and we are honored to be a part of the Shot Show.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Graf & Sons — Berger Hybrid Bullets In Stock
⏺️ Good deal on very successful match bullets, multiple calibers
When it comes to competition bullets it’s hard to beat Berger’s Hybrid Target Bullets. These match projectiles utilize their industry-leading hybrid ogive, which blends tangent and secant designs to optimize efficiency, reduce wind-drift, and minimize sensitivity to seating depth.
2. Powder Valley — Hodgdon Powder Sale
⏺️ Great, hard-to-find powders in stock at good prices
Powder prices are still quite high compared to a few years ago, but the current Hodgdon Powder Sale at Powder Valley offers major savings. Many of the most popular powders are IN STOCK with substantial discounts so this is time to buy before prices go up next year.
3. CDNN Sports — Winchester .22 LR Wildcat, $169.99 w/rebate
⏺️ Fun rimfire rifle complete with optic — good owner reviews
With the Winchester Holiday Rebate you can get a .22 LR Winchester Wildcat (with optic) for just $169.99. That’s a steal for a reliable, semi-auto rimfire rig with a Red Dot Optic — a good choice for plinking and NRL22 matches. Now through 12/31/24 if you buy a Winchester Wildcat or Xpert rifle you get $25 back by mail-in rebate. The Winchester Wildcat takes Ruger 10/22 mags, has a good trigger, field-removable lower receiver, ambidextrous controls, integral Picatinny rail, and rear barrel access. If you don’t need the optic, you can get a basic Wildcat for just $159.99 with Strata Camo stock ($184.99 before rebate).
4. EuroOptic — ZEISS Holiday Binocular Sale
⏺️ Very high-quality binoculars with significant savings now
Hunters need good binoculars for spotting game animals. The ZEISS Terra Binoculars offer impressive performance for the price. Right now you can save $125 on these budget-friendly binoculars that combine outstanding SCHOTT ED glass elements with a compact weather-sealed housing. The 10×42 and 8×42 models are marked down from $499.99 to $374.99, a $125 discount. Focus is fast and easy and these Terra binocs offer excellent twilight performance.
⏺️ Awesome deal on two Smith & Wesson .40 S&W handguns
Here are great deals on two excellent .40 S&W defensive pistols. Right now CDNN Sports has slashed prices on quality M&P Shield .40 S&W pistols. Choose either a 4″ barrel version at $379.99 or a more compact 3.1″ model at $389.99. The larger model has fiber optic sights and no thumb safety while the shorter model has ported slide, thumb safety, and Tritium night sights. Both these handguns come with a FREE S&W Performance Center pistol cleaning kit with jags, brushes, slotted tips, t-handle, and patches.
6. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Case Trim Prep Center, $151.96
⏺️ Versatile system popular with hand-loaders — good price
The Frankford Arsenal Case Trim and Prep Center (#ad) houses the key tools you need to trim, chamfer, and deburr brass, and clean primer pockets. The case holder features an adjustable collet and bushing system that indexes the case shoulder and can be set to precisely trim brass to an exact length. Built from aluminum with a durable steel frame, the Frankford Case Trim and Prep Center is sturdy and has earned praise from purchasers. Right now it is just $151.96 on Amazon (#ad), a 24% discount.
7. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Depriming Tool, $39.99
⏺️ Convenient tool — no press needed to deprime anywhere
Decapping fired brass can be tedious when using a reloading press and decapping die. Make things easier with the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Hand Deprimer Tool (#ad). You can deprime cases while watching TV. This handheld unit features an easily removable spent primer catch tube and an assisted-ejection case holder for easy removal of deprimed cases. The handle is spring-loaded to return the deprimer to the start position automatically.
8. Palmetto State Armory — CCI 9mm Ammo, $11.49/50 rds
⏺️ Quality brass-cased 9mm ammo at an ultra-low price
The 9mm Luger is the most popular centerfire pistol cartridge. Here is a great 9mm ammo option. Grab this CCI Blazer 9mm 124gr ammo for only $11.49 per 50-rd box — the best price we’ve found on very good CCI 9mm Luger ammunition. For recreational shooting, CCI Blazer 9mm ammo delivers consistent reliability and exceptional value.
⏺️ Versatile 2-part shooting rest for pistols and hunting rifles
When sighting-in a hunting rifle or testing pistol loads, it’s really useful to have a basic rifle rest. The very affordable Caldwell Matrix Adjustable Rest (#ad) is specifically designed to work with both rifles and pistols. Use the front section by itself with a handgun, then attach the rear support for rifle shooting. An innovative spring-loaded elevation system allows for fast one-handed, no wobble adjustment.
10. Amazon — Wheeler P-Handle Tool Set, $45.78
⏺️ Big discount on very complete set of drivers
If there’s one thing everyone needs in the workroom it’s a good set of hex and torq drivers. You can grab the Wheeler 30 Piece SAE/Metric Hex and Torx P-Handle Set (#ad) for only $45.78 and have everything you need to work on guns and gear. This kit has SAE and Metric hex-type driver, plus Torx drivers, offering the full range of drivers you might need.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could put up one BIG target that would handle a myriad of important tasks at the range: Zeroing, Load Development, Click Value Verification, and Click Tracking Repeatability Tests. Well the team at Box to Bench Precision (B2B) has developed what may be the most versatile (and biggest) precision targets ever developed. With precise grid geometry, and razor-sharp printing, B2B’s targets are probably the most advanced shooting targets ever created.
B2B’s 100 Yard Long Range Load Development and Scope Tracking Target will perform many functions. This big, 30″ x 23.5″ target has specific aiming points for various tasks. In the upper left, there are 11 small orange circles for precision load testing. Over on the upper right are 7 more small, orange circles for doing a Seating Depth Comparison test.
The bottom half of the target has larger black-on-white circles that serve multiple functions. Use the corner circles to do a “Box Test” to confirm scope tracking. On the bottom row is one B/W circle to confirm zero and another to use for velocity testing. There’s another great feature on this target — running up the center of the target is a tall line that shows elevation in both MILs and MOA. That helps you confirm the TRUE click values of your optic. You’d be surprised how many scopes are slightly off — not exactly 1/4 MOA, 1/8 MOA, or 1/10 Mil as advertised. That’s why Long Range shooters absolutely need to verify their click values.
Click Tracking Grid Target
Need to test the click tracking of your optics? B2B developed an advanced target just for that task. The MOA Grid Target (shown below) provides a highly precise grid for testing elevation and windage clicks. The unique grid design has small tics denoting 1/4 MOA, 1/2 MOA, and 3/4 MOA. 1 MOA is marked with a “+” and the 5, 10, 15, 20, & 25 MOA elevation lines are bolded for better visibility. There are aiming points at 5 MOA intervals over the full grid.
Buyers Praise the B2B Targets
The B2B Targets are printed on high-quality, tear-resistant card stock. We can attest the printing is very precise — with accurate elevation and windage values. These aren’t your ordinary targets — they are LARGE — nearly three feet tall. Verified buyers praise these targets, one noting how the B2B target revealed his scope was not tracking properly:
“Thank you for talking to me about the MIL and MOA markers on your targets. They are very accurate. While using the Long Range 100-Yard Load Development/Scope Tracking target and my new scope, it helped me realize that my scope wasn’t tracking correctly (both turrets). So, I sent the scope to the manufacturer. When it came back, and using your target as my known constant… the scope is now ‘spot-on’ accurate. These targets are a great tool to gain a better understanding of your rifle, scope, turrets etc., all on one sheet.” — Stan
“Almost too nice to put holes in. I was in the printing industry for 35 years and these are really well done. Quality paper and precise printing, should be able to see bullet holes easily with these!” — Dan
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
⏺️ Buy good FFP or SFP ZeroTech scopes and get FREE binoculars
ZeroTech makes quality scopes for hunting, PRS/NRL, and general shooting. Currently when you purchase ZeroTech Thrive or Vengeance scopes you can receive a FREE set of ZeroTech Thrive HD binoculars. These 30mm-tube ZeroTech scopes are offered in both FFP and SFP versions with MIL or MOA clicks. There are a variety of reticle types, both illuminated and non-illuminated. Magnification and objective size options include 3-12x44mm, 4-16x50mm, 4-20x50mm, 4-24x50mm, 6-24x50mm, and 5-25x56mm. The FREE ZeroTech Thrive binoculars have retail values from $170 to $230.
2. Midsouth — White River Large Rifle Primers, $79.99
⏺️ Large rifle primers IN STOCK at affordable price
It’s been hard to find large rifle primers at an affordable price lately. If you’ve been waiting for the price of large rifle primers to come down here’s your chance. We found these American-made White River Large Rifle Primers on sale for just $79.99/1000 at Midsouth. These are made to tight tolerances and report from shooters and handloaders have been quite positive.
3. CDNN Sports — Walther P22 Target, $249.55
⏺️ Very good .22 LR Target/Training pistol plus 200 rds FREE Ammo
All shooters should have a quality .22 LR rimfire pistol with a good trigger, ergonomic grip, and excellent accuracy. With the Walther P22 Target Model, you can get all those things for just $249.55 at CDNN Sports, a great deal. Plus you get 200 rds (4 boxes) of FREE Federal .22 LR ammo — a $40 value. The P22 Target pistol is a very nice rimfire handgun with a 5″ barrel plus a forward ported compensator. The ergonomic grip has interchangeable backstraps.
4. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Universal Bullet Seater, $59.99
⏺️ One affordable seater serves multiple calibers
Are you tired of buying another expensive seating die every time you try a new cartridge type? With the unique Frankford Arsenal Universal Bullet Seating Die you can have one die that loads multiple cartridge types. This clever bullet-seating system includes 3 different stems and 9 sleeves allowing you to seat .224 to .338-caliber bullets with this one multi-caliber tool. Forum members using this system have praised it. NOTE: the universal seating die comes with the .308-caliber sleeve pre-installed.
5. Graf & Sons — Caldwell Bipod Sale
⏺️ Good bipods offered at very attractive prices ($33-$52)
Bipods are useful for varminters, hunters, and tactical shooters. If you need a durable, adjustable bipod at a great price, consider Caldwell Bipods now on sale at Graf & Sons starting at just $33.14. The aluminum design adds minimal weight and deploys quickly, with legs that spring out to the shooting position with the touch of a button. The Caldwell bipod legs are notched for easy indexing to a specific height.
6. Creedmoor Sports — Custom Shooting Mat Sale, $104.95
⏺️ Very high-quality shooting mat now on sale — 30+ colors
A quality shooting mat provides vital comfort and stability when shooting prone. One of the best mats on the market is the Creedmoor Custom Mat, now $104.95 on sale at Creedmoor Sports. This features durable 1000 denier Cordura Nylon with textured non-slip pads for elbow placement. Interior jute padding in the mat provides ample protection for the shooter in all positions. There are many color choices so you can pick an unique color that’s easy to spot on the firing line.
7. Amazon — Caldwell Rock Front Rest, $72.22
⏺️ Low-priced reliable rest that’s good for sighting-in and varmint work
Need a good basic front rest to sight-in a hunting rifle or do load development? Here’s a solid, functional front rifle rest at a great price. The Caldwell The Rock Deluxe Shooting Rest (#ad) adjusts for windage and elevation and is solid and stable. Save with a low $72.22 Amazon sale price. This Caldwell Rest will more than suffice for testing a hunting rifle or basic bench-work. NOTE: REST ONLY — rear bag NOT included.
8. MidwayUSA — Wheeler Gunsmithing Tool Sale
⏺️ Large variety of specialized gun maintenance tools at good prices
When it comes to firearm maintenance it pays to have the right tools or you could damage your parts. Wheeler offers a good line of specialized Wheeler gunsmithing tools. Chose among a wide assortment of firearm tools including barrel vise kits, screwdriver sets, armorer’s kits, scope mounting devices and more. You’ll see a wide range of Wheeler tool sets on sale now at MidwayUSA.
9. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Wet Tumbler, $78.74
⏺️ Very good smaller tumbler that is efficient and effective
Wet tumbling efficiently cleans cartridge brass inside and out. One of the best modestly-priced wet tumblers is the Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite. (#ad) When combined with stainless steel cleaning pins, this rotary tumbler can work faster than ultrasonic or vibratory tumbling methods. The media pins easily penetrate inside cases to deliver serious cleaning power. This 3.3-liter tumbler is ideal for cleaning small batches of brass and easily fits on any reloading bench.
10. Amazon — Lyman BrassSmith Funnel with Inserts, $31.99
⏺️ Very useful kit we use — avoids powder spills
Having a good powder funnel really helps precision reloading. The Lyman Products Brass Smith Pro Powder Funnel System (#ad) is a great little system. Unlike plastic powder funnels, the aluminum DIE cast body and CNC-turned aluminum caliber-specific inserts are static-free to eliminate powder cling. The precision fit to your case necks eliminates spilled powder. The kit includes six laser-marked, caliber-specific aluminum inserts to fit calibers 22 to 338: .22, .243/6mm, .25/6.5mm, .270/7mm, .30, and .338. The inserts can be quickly and easily interchanged when changing cartridge types.
BONUS: Get $100, $50, or $25 Rebate with Savage Rifle Purchase
Savage Sleigh Full of Savings — Purchase any A or B series Savage rifle and receive $50 Manufacturer’s REBATE. Or purchase any Rascal, 93, 93R17 and MKII and qualify for a $25 REBATE. These qualifying rifles (Promotion #R13262) must be purchased between 12/1/2024 through 12/31/2024. DEADLINE for Mail-In-Rebate (MIR) or online submission is 1/31/2025. CLICK HERE for Rebate Application Form.
There is also a $100 Rebate for Savage Impulse hunting rifles, Promotion #R13373. Purchase any Impulse rifle and receive a $100 Manufacturers REBATE. The Impulse Rifle must be purchased between 11/1/2024 through 12/31/2024, with 1/31/2025 rebate submission deadline. CLICK HERE for Impulse Rebate Form.
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Many guys getting started in long range shooting are confused about what kind of scope they should buy — specifically whether it should have MIL-based clicks or MOA-based clicks. Before you can make that decision, you need to understand the terminology. This article, with a video by Bryan Litz, explains MILS and MOA so you can choose the right type of scope for your intended application.
You probably know that MOA stands for “Minute of Angle” (or more precisely “minute of arc”), but could you define the terms “Milrad” or “MIL”? In a helpful video, Bryan Litz of Applied Ballitics explains MOA and MILs (short for “milliradians”). Bryan defines those terms and explains how they are used. One MOA is an angular measurement (1/60th of one degree) that subtends 1.047″ at 100 yards. One MIL (i.e. one milliradian) subtends 1/10th meter at 100 meters; that means that 0.1 Mil is one centimeter (1 cm) at 100 meters. Is one angular measurement system better than another? Not necessarily… Bryan explains that Mildot scopes may be handy for ranging, but scopes with MOA-based clicks work just fine for precision work at known distances. Also because one MOA is almost exactly one inch at 100 yards, the MOA system is convenient for expressing a rifle’s accuracy. By common parlance, a “half-MOA” rifle can shoot groups that are 1/2-inch (or smaller) at 100 yards.
What is a “Minute” of Angle?
When talking about angular degrees, a “minute” is simply 1/60th. So a “Minute of Angle” is simply 1/60th of one degree of a central angle, measured either up and down (for elevation) or side to side (for windage). At 100 yards, 1 MOA equals 1.047″ on the target. This is often rounded to one inch for simplicity. Say, for example, you click up 1 MOA (four clicks on a 1/4-MOA scope). That is roughly 1 inch at 100 yards, or roughly 4 inches at 400 yards, since the target area measured by an MOA subtension increases with the distance.
MIL vs. MOA for Target Ranging
MIL or MOA — which angular measuring system is better for target ranging (and hold-offs)? In a recent article on his PrecisionRifleBlog.com website, Cal Zant tackles that question. Analyzing the pros and cons of each, Zant concludes that both systems work well, provided you have compatible click values on your scope. Zant does note that a 1/4 MOA division is “slightly more precise” than 1/10th mil, but that’s really not a big deal: “Technically, 1/4 MOA clicks provide a little finer adjustments than 1/10 MIL. This difference is very slight… it only equates to 0.1″ difference in adjustments at 100 yards or 1″ at 1,000 yards[.]” Zant adds that, in practical terms, both 1/4-MOA clicks and 1/10th-MIL clicks work well in the field: “Most shooters agree that 1/4 MOA or 1/10 MIL are both right around that sweet spot.”
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Riflescopes are mechanical contraptions. One of the sad realities about precision shooting is that, sooner or later, you will experience a scope failure. If you’re lucky it won’t happen in the middle of a National-level competition. And hopefully the failure will be dramatic and unmistakable so you won’t spend months trying to isolate the issue. Unfortunately, scope problems can be erratic or hard to diagnose. You may find yourself with unexplained flyers or a slight degradation of accuracy and you won’t know how to diagnose the problem. And when a 1/8th-MOA-click scope starts failing, it may be hard to recognize the fault immediately, because the POI change may be slight.
How to Diagnose Scope Problems
When you see your groups open up, there’s a very good chance this is due to poor wind-reading, or other “driver error”. But my experience showed me that sometimes scopes do go bad. When your accuracy degrades without any other reasonable explanation, the cause of the problem may well be your optics. Here are some of the “symptoms” of scope troubles:
1. Large shot-to-shot variance in Point of Impact with known accurate loads.
2. Uneven tracking (either vertical or horizontal).
3. Change of Point of Impact does not correspond to click inputs.
4. Inability to zero in reasonable number of shots.
5. Unexpected changes in elevation click values (compared to previous known distance come-ups).
6. Visible shift in reticle from center of view.
7. Changed “feel” or resistance when clicking; or uneven click-to-click “feel”.
8. Inability to set parallax to achieve sharpness.
9. Turrets or other controls feel wobbly or loose.
10. Internal scope components rattle when gun is moved.
Even expensive scopes can fail, or start to perform erratically — and that can happen without warning, or for no apparent reason. Here are some signs that you may be having scope issues.
1. Click count has changed significantly from established zero at known range.
2. Noticeably different click “feel” as you rotate turrets, or turrets feel wobbly.
3. Inability to set Adjustable Objective or side focus to get sharp target image.
4. Shot Point of Impact is completely different than click value after elevation/windage change. For example, when you dial 2 MOA “up” but you observe a 6 MOA rise in POI.
When An Expensive Scope Goes Bad — Crazy Vertical Case Study
A few seasons back, this editor had a major-brand 8-25x50mm scope go bad. How did I know I had a problem? Well the first sign was a wild “drop-down” flyer at a 600-yard match. After shooting a two-target relay, I took a look at my targets. My first 5-shot group had five shots, fairly well centered, in about 2.2″. Pretty good. Everything was operating fine. Then I looked at the second target. My eye was drawn to four shots, all centered in the 10 Ring, measuring about 2.4″. But then I saw the fifth shot. It was a good 18″ low, straight down from the X. And I really mean straight down — if you drew a plumb line down from the center of the X, it would pass almost through the fifth shot.
Is My Scope Actually Malfunctioning or Is This Driver Error?
That was disconcerting, but since I had never had any trouble with this scope before, I assumed it was a load problem (too little powder?), or simple driver error (maybe I flinched or yanked the trigger?). Accordingly, I didn’t do anything about the scope, figuring the problem was me or the load.
Problems Reappear — Huge POI Swings Affirm This Scope is Toast
But, at the next range session, things went downhill fast. In three shots, I did manage to get on steel at 600, with my normal come-up for that distance. Everything seemed fine. So then I switched to paper. We had a buddy in the pits with a walkie-talkie and he radioed that he couldn’t see any bullet holes in the paper after five shots. My spotter said he thought the bullets were impacting in the dirt, just below the paper. OK, I thought, we’ll add 3 MOA up (12 clicks), and that should raise POI 18″ and I should be on paper, near center. That didn’t work — now the bullets were impacting in the berm ABOVE the target frame. The POI had changed over 48″ (8 MOA). (And no I didn’t click too far — I clicked slowly, counting each click out loud as I adjusted the elevation.) OK, to compensate now I took off 8 clicks which should be 2 MOA or 12″. No joy. The POI dropped about 24″ (4 MOA) and the POI also moved moved 18″ right, to the edge of the target.
For the next 20 shots, we kept “chasing center” trying to get the gun zeroed at 600 yards. We never did. After burning a lot of ammo, we gave up. Before stowing the gun for the trip home, I dialed back to my 100-yard zero, which is my normal practice (it’s 47 clicks down from 600-yard zero). I immediately noticed that the “feel” of the elevation knob didn’t seem right. Even though I was pretty much in the center of my elevation (I have a +20 MOA scope mount), the clicks felt really tight — as they do when you’re at the very limit of travel. There was a lot of resistance in the clicks and they didn’t seem to move the right amount.
And it seemed that I’d have four or five clicks that were “bunched up” with a lot of resistance, and then the next click would have almost no resistance and seem to jump. It’s hard to describe, but it was like winding a spring that erratically moved from tight to very loose.
At this point I announced to my shooting buddies: “I think the scope has taken a dump.” I let one buddy work the elevation knob a bit. “That feels weird,” he said: “the clicks aren’t consistent… first it doesn’t want to move, then the clicks jump too easily.”
Convinced that I had a real problem, the scope was packed up and shipped to the manufacturer. So, was I hallucinating? Was my problem really just driver error? I’ve heard plenty of stories about guys who sent scopes in for repair, only to receive their optics back with a terse note saying: “Scope passed inspection and function test 100%. No repairs needed”. So, was my scope really FUBAR? You bet it was. When the scope came back from the factory, the Repair Record stated that nearly all the internal mechanicals had been replaced or fixed:
Source of Problem Unknown, but I Have a Theory
Although my scope came with a slightly canted reticle from the factory, it had otherwise functioned without a hitch for many years. I was able to go back and forth between 100-yard zero and 600-yard zero with perfect repeatability for over five years. I had confidence in that scope. Why did it fail when it did? My theory is side-loading on the turrets. I used to carry the gun in a thick soft case. I recently switched to an aluminum-sided hard case that has pretty dense egg-crate foam inside. I noticed it took some effort to close the case, though it was more than big enough, width-wise, to hold the gun. My thinking is that the foam wasn’t compressing enough, resulting in a side-load on the windage turret when the case was clamped shut. This is just my best guess; it may not be the real source of the problem. Remember, as I explained in the beginning of this story, sometimes scopes — just like any mechanical system — simply stop working for no apparent reason.
Using a spotting scope seems simple. Just point it at the target and focus, right? Well, actually, it’s not that simple. Sometimes you want to watch mirage or trace, and that involves different focus and viewing priorities. Along with resolving bullet holes (or seeing other features on the target itself), you can use your spotting scope to monitor mirage. When watching mirage, you actually want to focus the spotting scope not on the target, but, typically, about two-thirds of the distance downrange. When spotting for another shooter, you can also use the spotting scope to watch the bullet trace, i.e. the vapor trail of the bullet. This will help you determine where the bullet is actually landing, even if it does not impact on the target backer.
For the next 20 shots, we kept “chasing center” trying to get the gun zeroed at 600 yards. We never did. After burning a lot of ammo, we gave up. Before stowing the gun for the trip home, I dialed back to my 100-yard zero, which is my normal practice (it’s 47 clicks down from 600-yard zero). I immediately noticed that the “feel” of the elevation knob didn’t seem right. Even though I was pretty much in the center of my elevation (I have a +20 MOA scope mount), the clicks felt really tight — as they do when you’re at the very limit of travel. There was a lot of resistance in the clicks and they didn’t seem to move the right amount.
