GUN OWNERS GAZETTE

Most shooters only care that the bullets they shoot fly with precision. But on-target precision and terminal performance are partly controlled by what bullets are made of, and what you might find interesting is that even though the construction of bullets varies, there are only a handful of materials used to make them.

About this time every year turkey hunters gather and tell the stories of the one that got away. There are lots of reasons turkey hunters are unsuccessful, but maybe the most disappointing reason is because of a miss. One reason turkeys seem to be able to slip through the cloud of shot sent their way is because hunters fail to properly pattern their shotguns. Now, when it comes to patterning, there are several approaches. Here's how to go about it the right way.

The self-defense product that’s seen the most innovation in the last several decades is the flashlight. In this 21st century, a flashlight is not just a flashlight. The question is, how do you best choose a modern flashlight for self-defense application? It’s simple, follow the rule of the five Ls; lithium, lumens, LED, lightweight, and lanyard.

In this video our good friend Matt gives you a step by step breakdown on how to properly mount a scope on your rifle to maximize its performance! This info is useful your AR-15, AR-10, or any other flat-top rifle, not just ARs. Everything is covered here from initial setup, necessary hardware, mounts, leveling your reticle, and properly torquing the fasteners. Much of this information applies to any modern magnified optic and most any modern rifle platform. It’s worth your time to review all these steps if you want a precision rifle platform!

Generally, rifle logbooks are thought to only be applicable to snipers and competitive shooters who compete at extreme distances. But I also started keeping detailed records for all my rifles. Over time it has proved extremely helpful is several ways.

The AR-15 is undoubtedly America’s most popular rifle, and for good reason. It does a ton of things well. It offers a fun day at the range without much recoil or muzzle blast, it is a good choice for hunting (when chambered correctly), and it serves as my top pick for home defense. While it doesn’t really matter how an AR is set up in those first two scenarios, any AR-15 used for self-defense needs a sling, weapon light, and optic to effective.

Few firearm components have seen as much political interest as the AR-15 magazine. Anything that draws the attention of politicians (and a potential ban) is worth understanding, owning, and voting to protect. Deciding to own a few extra AR-15 magazines is always a good idea, but the issue of which magazines to buy almost always surfaces. Do you go with 10-, 20-, 30-, or 40-rounds?

Knowing what ammunition to stuff in the magazine of an AR-15 depends on the task at hand. So often, we buy ammunition with the price exclusively in mind and give little consideration to the expectations placed on the bullet. If poking holes in paper is all that’s required, the cheapest ammunition available will certainly do. However, if pest control or home defense is the assignment, careful consideration of bullet weight and construction is a top priority.

Shooters routinely purchase shooting benches and all manner of sandbags and rests to help them shoot better, but unfortunately pay little attention to the targets they’re shooting at. Most often they’re dots drawn on a piece of paper with a marker or prints of a target secured from the office copy machine when no one was watching. Trust me, you can do better than that, and your shooting will improve in the process.

Mounting an optic on an AR-15 is a simple affair, but getting it zeroed can turn into an adventure. AR-15 parts come from a wide variety of sources and once assembled into a rifle, it’s difficult to predict where the bullets will go when they leave the muzzle. I’ve seen shooters deal with this uncertainty by pulling the target board to distances as close at 10 yards to zero. That can be difficult to do on a public range. Here’s how to boresight an AR before firing even the first round and how to zero as painlessly as possible.