Crafting the words and images that capture the spirit of the outdoor sports and the beauty that surrounds them.
Whether it’s bright sunlight that’s blocking your view through your optic, or something else, here are some tips from Duane Buckner of Telluric Training on how to handle the situation, brought to you by the fine folks at Aimpoint.
And when the U.S. Army goes with Aimpoint, you know they understand how to build and use quality optics.
By Guy J. Sagi
Today’s riflescopes are modern marvels, with engineers cramming more advanced technology into compact, rugged and combat-proven riflescopes than ever before. The performance is undeniable, but is there a performance loss in an old-school wire reticle vs. etched glass versions?
The dedication of today’s manufacturers shows in the quality, but information on their construction and effect on light transmission is relatively scarce. Thankfully, several experts were eager to fill in some of those blanks.
The reticle makes its home inside the scope’s tube, hidden somewhere between the headline-grabbing objective and eyepiece. Today, that crosshair—or point of aim—is usually wire or etched glass.
“If you just want a simple, easy to use reticle without clutter, then a wire-type reticle is what you seek—least expensive of the reticle options,”Tom Moyle, Leupold & Stevens Gold Ring Project Manager explained in an e-mail. Acquisition is fast, but the thicker size covers more of the target. “If you want intricate markings to use for holdover (elevation and windage), range estimating, measuring, then a glass reticle is for you.”
“All Nightforce reticles are [laser] etched on precision multi-coated compound glass,” said Wayne Dayberry, Nightforce Optics marketing specialist. “This ensures exact alignment and eliminates breakage. Other reticle technologies tend to wear and/or lose their accuracy over time due to the physical limitations of their construction.”
Jon LaCorte, co-founder of Tract Optics has a different opinion, though. “There are thoughts that the glass-etched reticle is more durable as there is nothing to break like can happen with a wire reticle,” he explained, “however, in the almost 20 years that I am in the riflescope business, service-related issues with reticles would not significantly support this.”
“If there is a glass reticle installed, then yes, a small amount of light transmission could be lost, Moyle said. “If you have a wire reticle installed, then no light transmission will be lost through that portion of the scope.”
The companies work tireless to minimize the effect, though. “Nightforce optical prescriptions and riflescopes are built to push image resolution and light transmission to the edge of what is physically possible,” Dayberry said. “The inclusion of smart reticle technology which incorporates intelligent information embedded within the reticle does not impede optical performance.”
Not everyone needs or wants a complicated, first-focal-plane reticle with range estimation. A simple dot is CQB fast and effective. The duplex design—where point of aim is at the intersection the horizontal and vertical lines—remains popular for its simplicity and the stadia lines draw your eyes to the crosshair.
A projectile’s trajectory begins to drop at distance, though, so companies developed bullet-drop-compensating versions with marks that reflect point of impact at known distances under ideal conditions. Leupold’s 300 Blackout reticle provides holdovers for sub-sonic loads out to 400 yards and 900 yards with supersonic ammo. It’s available with a lighted semi-circle at the center for quick target acquisition and has windage hash marks. The company’s CMR-W 7.62 is tailored for 7.62 NATO/.308 Win. owners, and with a 50-yard zero, provides holdovers out to 1,200 meters with windage adjustment up to 20 mph.
Tract’s MRAD reticle allows accurate ranging, but its design isn’t chambering-specific. With practice and patience, the version’s .5 milliradian (MRAD) increments with larger hashmarks at each mil allows shooters to dial into their specific load and barrel length for a host of environmental conditions.
Nightforce has plenty of simpler options, but it’s best known for sniper systems, including the Horus H59 reticle. It provides moving target, windage, range, speed shooting elevation holds and more. Be forewarned, though, the 12 horizontal lines, 120 horizontal hash marks on the main stadia and additional holds to engage effectively out to 1,500 meters are intimidating at first. The company’s TReMoR 2 is similarly versatile, and despite its slightly different design, probably also capable of bringing in the cat and taking out the trash at night.
If you’re choosing a new riflescope and considering all the different reticle options, technology and precision manufacturing have leveled the longevity playing field between a wire reticle and etched glass versions. The big difference, though, is the amount of detailed information the latter can provide.
The final decision is yours, but if you’re all about precision at long distance, etched is a good choice. If you’re never shooting past 1,000 meters or rarely have time to dope the wind anyway, you might save some cash and stay wired.
And, there’s a whole new breed out there now with a different flavor of reticle that relies on batteries and a display. The Sightmark Wraith features night vision, and a host of different “crosshair” options. The video below gives you a quick look at its on-screen reticles.
From Galco
Holster choice, and particularly the exact positioning on the body, is intensely personal. What’s comfortable, fast and concealable for one gun carrier may not work at all for another. That’s why Galco offers holsters for just about every position on the body, and even includes a helpful “body clock” diagram on most package labels and website product details.
For many decades, strongside behind the hip – from about 3 o’clock to 5 o’clock – was the standard carry position among Americans, and it remains exceedingly popular today. Galco IWBs suited to this position include the popular KingTuk™ series, the horsehide Royal Guard™ 2.0, the Summer Comfort™ and the supremely comfortable V-Hawk™. In belt holsters, the Combat Master™, Cop 3 Slot™, Concealable™, FLETCH™, Jak Slide™, Side Snap Scabbard™, and Stinger™ are all fine choices. If the quick on-off ability of a paddle holster is preferred, look to the PLE™, Speed Master™ 2.0 and Wraith 2 designs.
Crossdraw carry remains popular with many shooters, particularly women or men who have lost some shoulder flexibility due to age or injury. Dedicated crossdraw holsters like the Hornet™ are in the minority, but the DAO™, Phoenix™, SAO™ and Switchback™ outdoor holsters are all designed for strongside or crossdraw carry without so much as adjusting a belt clip.
None of these guidelines are written in stone, of course, and once again it comes back to the personal preferences of the shooter. Some gun carriers will, for example, place an Avenger in front of their hip and be perfectly happy with it. If that works most comfortably and efficiently with their body type, Galco fully supports them!
Finally, many Galco holsters can be adjusted for angle, from crossdraw to vertical to strongside, at the user’s discretion. This makes them the most versatile of all.
Visit galcousa.com to see Galco’s extensive line of holsters that will let you “rock
around the clock”!
[If you missed it, here’s Part I]
When the hair stands up on the back of your neck something is not quite right. It could be visible danger, a subliminal signal that something is amiss or faded memory from previous experience. It’s a powerful, genetically wired self-defense tool. Adults and teachers claiming there’s nothing to fear in the city short that circuit quickly in children, though. Add the alleged infallibility of 911 and urban two-legged predators are more dangerous than anything on four legs. Situational awareness training is lifesaving—with or without a firearm.
It doesn’t take a lot of effort to be aware of your surroundings. It does take practice, however, and quality self-defense instructors provide detailed information on things to look for.
For entertainment you can turn it into a game, of sorts. A friend of mine who was a Marine Sniper during the Vietnam War makes a point of identifying the dominant hand of diners in every restaurant he visits. That might be a little extreme, but you get the point. The Department of Justice published something more applicable a few years ago, and they make great tips on spotting someone who is carrying concealed.
Self-Defense expert Jeff Gonzales appears in the short video below to explain the importance of situational awareness. It’s the fourth video in the series from the fine folks at Brownells.
It’s great info from one of the industry’s foremost. The best criminal encounters are the ones you avoid.
I won’t pretend to have Gonzalez’s knowledge, but I have been given some great tips through the years—many of them simple and habit forming. I covered a law enforcement sniper competition a few years back and the team from Baltimore’s Police Department gave me great advice for my long drive that night. They said that whenever entering a gas station in darkness, drive around the pumps at least once before stopping. Make sure the headlights sweep the entire area and look for anyone hiding in the shadows. The extra step also lets criminals watching know you’re awake, situationally aware and not the easy kind of target they prefer. You can see one of the competitors in the sniper competition slogging his rifle through the mud and under the wire above.
Situational awareness training is lifesaving, whether or not a gun is part of your self-defense plan. If you have any simple tips, please share them with readers by posting it as a comment.
And thank you for visiting my modest blog. I hope you have a glorious, healthy and safe day.
It’s a pleasure to work with a model that knows how to pose, and photographing the Bergara B-14 Ridge Rifle for my review in Predator Xtreme magazine was a pleasure. The gun’s a pro, both in front of the camera and on the firing line.
Maybe it’s just me, but the white/gray specks on a traditionally profiled, glass-reinforced black synthetic stock look very nice in photos. It’s better in person, take my word for it.
Inspect that matte-blue finish on the barrel (threaded, by the way) and receiver. It’s not uncommon to get guns in for testing, photography and magazine review that are blemished and scarred, but this one’s finish is crazy uniform and gorgeous. Of course, I’ve grown to expect that from Bergara, even when it sends a modestly priced model.
You can’t blame manufacturers for sending mechanically sound “seconds,” especially right now. Guns are selling fast, and you practically beg for models in an editor-requested chambering.
Competent gun writers also torture gear. That’s done out of respect for the hard-earned cash readers spend on gear. Final reviews should always indicate whether the product is a long-term investment, or a short-lived trend waiting to break. I’ve trashed more stuff in testing than tantrum-throwing toddlers in fine China shops.
I’m probably alone in this, but I get tired of images that have obviously been taken in the “studio.” So, a lot of my lead photos are outdoors, where complete control is impossible. It’s where owners will be running their guns most of the time, anyway.
When I was photographing the Bergara B-14 Ridge Rifle there was a lot of stuff I wish I could have moved. Those leaves at the bottom of the photo? Well, they’re distracting for sure. They were there, though, so they stayed despite the fact though Photoshop can remove them. And what about that stick to the left? Annoying I know, but readers de
This image wasn’t quite good enough to send to the editor, but I hope you find it pleasing. The problems mentioned above are just a few of the reasons some of the most popular firearm photos photographed outdoors. This year’s bumper crop of mosquitoes, ticks and working well into headlamp hours in the woods add to the fun.
I set up the rifle and camera tripod and ceremoniously doused myself in largely ineffective insect repellent. The camera went onto the tripod and height adjusted. This angle isn’t nearly as glamorous as subsequent perspectives.
Getting it done is more of a challenge outdoors, though. Tripods and guns move slightly between takes, settling into the leaves and dirt during the process.
Pocket Wizards triggered the flashes remotely. I probably deleted a five or six dozen images because of a variety of problems, including mosquitoes in the frame and my follow-up swats.
Was it worth all the effort? Does the photo I took month’s later in the snow look better? I sort of think so but let me know what you think.
Thank you for stopping by my modest blog and I hope everyone has a glorious day.
Hit at 800 or 1,000 yards, hear that distinctive steel clang wander back in a second or two and you’ll need another fix, so to speak. Rifle practice at 1,000 meters and beyond is addicting, so I collected some expert tips on shooting long distance.
It may be a healthy “high” in knowing your gear and technique are up to the task, but doing so traditionally meant dealing in applied physics and math that bordered on hallucinogenic. Here’s some sage advice to avoid that hangover.
“For the very beginner, keep it simple and seek expert advice,” Dave Palm, Sierra Bullets Senior Process Engineer, explained in an e-mail. “Read everything you can and realize that it will all make sense when the bullet starts doing what you ask it to. Also, don’t make the mistake of choosing an overpowered cartridge. Most folks I know shooting 5,000+ rounds a year, are doing it with a 6 mm. My favorite rifle is still a good .223 bolt gun that can sling an 80-grain bullet accurately (and cheaply) out to 1,000 yards with very little recoil.”
Sounds simple enough with the right precision rifle, but “Winds are everything,” according to Todd Hodnett, the president and owner of Accuracy 1st whose precision expertise is so sought after that his schedule has been fully booked by militaries since 2006. “Most ballistics are pretty easy. Known MV (muzzle velocity), BC (ballistic coefficient) and DAs (density altitude) allow one to do pretty well, pretty fast. But wind is what separates long-range shooters.”
“It can be easier than one might think,” Hodnett—who also developed the H58, H59 and TReMoR reticles—added. “Take the wind value and the proper cosine, this is the true mathematical cosine not what one sees in some manuals. Follow these, 12:30 = 1/4 value, 1:00 = 1/2 value,1:30 = .707 or 3/4, and 2:00 is .866 or 90 percent.”
Most shooters let software handle those mental gymnastics. The free Hornady Ballistic Calculator App for example, which was released in early November for Apple and Android devices, puts the power of Hornaday’s web-based 4DOF (4 Degrees Of Freedom) system at your fingertips.
It’s different, though. “Current ballistic calculators provide three degrees of freedom in their approach; windage, elevation and range, but treat the projectile as an inanimate lump flying through the air,” said Dave Emary, Hornady Chief Ballistician. “This program incorporates the projectile’s movement in the standard three degrees, but also adds its movement about its center of gravity and subsequent angle relative to its line of flight, which is the fourth degree of freedom.”
Computations are based on Doppler radar-confirmed information and something not seen in all ballistics software—drag coefficient. “Using drag coefficient to compute trajectory solutions accounts for each projectile’s unique shape,” explained Jayden Quinlan, Hornady Ballistics Engineer. “Ballistic coefficient-based trajectory solutions are based on the shape of a standard bullet that has a similar, but not exact shape to the bullet being used.”
There are many other solutions—like Sierra’s Infinity Software—that are readily available and provide a solid foundation. If you prefer a no-power-required approach tailored to your platform and load, a high-tech circular slide rule from Accuracy 1st is one answer. “The advantages of the Ballistic Whiz Wheel is no batteries and the same accuracy,” Hodnett said. “Also, the cost is minimal and it is as fast as you can get the info. Just align DA with range and look at hold. It’s that fast.”
If it all sounds simple and easy, it is, until Mother Nature adds that fickle opponent—wind. The Weather Channel doesn’t drill its forecasts down to the firing line, which is why products like those from Kestrel become critical. Its top-of-the-line Elite 5700 Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics not only gives you an accurate reading, its advanced software determines firing solutions and can even communicate with a smartphone. Less expensive alternatives are ideal when learning the craft.
“Making a well-placed, extremely difficult shot at distance has a similar appeal to crushing a drive down the middle of the fairway,” Palm explained about the addiction. “Some will look at their friends and smile after making that shot. Others will act as if their perfect shot was exactly what they expected to happen. Long-range shooting combines a skill that is in part the physical act of shooting, and part knowledge based.”
And, don’t forget to take care of your ammo at the range. I interviewed several experts on the subject, and their tips can make the difference between connecting, and a clean miss.
Photo courtesy of Drive Tanks
Benjamin Franklin explained it in letter he penned in 1789. “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency, but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Most of us survive April 15’s hyperventilation, but there are some things every shooter should consider doing before the Grim Reaper’s unavoidable entry, stage right. Here’s my short bucket list for gun owners.
You may need to down some Dramamine before you mount up for the Aegis Academy Aerial Shooting Experience. There are other companies out there that’ll take you aloft for trigger time from altitude, but ShootingIllustrated.com contributor David Bahde recommended this one heartily. After the aerial familiarization session, he wrote, “Once loaded up, the ride of my life began. The chopper lifted, flew sideways across the parking lot, turned 90 degrees on a dime, tilted forward and flew off. Passes were made with banking turns, flying low to the ground giving a feel for shooting on the move. Unlike the live-fire exercise, we were moving fast, pulling up as you approached the fire tower.”
Why wait for standard -issue angel wings when you have this kind of fun without a nagging toe tag flapping in the breeze?
If you, too, believe the Grim Reaper is making a big mistake bringing a sickle to your final gunfight, then Gunsite needs to be on your bucket list. There you’ll learn from the pros how to run that handgun—if you prefer he gets to bad-breath distance before you execute the failure drill—wield that shotgun or drop him at 1,000 meters. It’s a pick-your-poison nirvana for firearm enthusiasts before Valhalla, with an institutional knowledge on armed self-defense that stretches all the way back to 1976.
Everything’s bigger in the Lone Star state, including the guns, at least at when you visit Drive Tanks. Get behind the wheel of a Sherman, Russian T-34, German Leopard 1A4 and more, touch off rounds, squash cars, unleash an M60 and move the goalposts for your next friend who claims he once had, “the most fun possible with your clothes on.” It’s your chance to relive the run to the Rhine.
The next time a trip to Sin City is on your schedule, ditch the annoying din of the slots for the pleasant report of an M4, AK-47, Uzi, MP5, Kriss Victor, M1919 Browning and others by putting Machine Guns Vegas on your itinerary. Las Vegas’ “most popular shooting range” even offers special packages like SEAL Team 6, Femme Fatale, The SAS Experience and a Brass and [this is a family magazine so we’re paraphrasing] Curvaceous Tailbones Bachelor Party. Visit MachineGunsVegas.com to fulfill those dreams before your big sleep.
On the other side of the nation, there’s also a facility to rent machineguns in Florida and a whole need breed of ranges sweeping the nation.
Sure, your range has an annual gathering of dozens of like-minded firearm enthusiasts. It’s a blast you look forward to all year long, but before your fat lady sings, turn things up exponentially checking off one or two items on this bucket list for gun owners.
From Source Outdoor Media
In these high-tech times of ours, summer scouting in preparation for our fall hunts often starts online. Digital maps and similar resources help us find public hunting areas and guides us to other options. If we already have access to specific lands or properties, many of us will have game cameras in place.
Both are great ways to start gathering information for the fall. When we really want to know what’s on the land, we need to be on the land. And Styrka optics can help tremendously with this in-the-field scouting.
If we don’t know the land or property, we need to at least walk the edges of it to acquaint ourselves. But what does a hunter do once that’s done? Think, distance scouting.
Hunters want to observe but not be observed or smelled. There’s no better way to accomplish this than to set up at various observation points and scan from afar with a pair of Styrka binoculars or our S7 Series Spotting Scopes.
Of course, hunters are looking for the obvious—wild game animals, where they appear and at what times of the day. Also, search out trails they use and openings between wooded areas where they cross-note sources of water and food, especially crops.
Before setting up hunting blinds, pay attention to the prevailing winds, too, and plan the blind locations to take advantage of these winds.
What happens if the area has been hunted before? Don’t assume the deer will just be there. White-tailed deer, for example, are known to get into feeding and bedding routines. However, human disturbances and changes to vegetation from year to year can have these same deer altering their travel, bedding and feeding patterns.
If hunters know these routines from past hunts, spend some time confirming them—or discovering the changes.
Styrka optics are designed and made with the hunter in mind–and that means they are ready for the field! The “Styrka Pride” warranty covers all optics. If hunters ever have a problem, the Styrka optic will be fixed or replaced. Forever. Plus, once a year, hunters can send back their optics, and the company will clean and tune it as needed.
The company released a new red-dot optic recently. So if you’re looking to improve your handgun hunting setup, here’s a quick look.
There’s a whole new generation of high-performance and flat-shooting ammo available and it’s more confusing than ever. So I asked the experts how to choose the best long-range cartridge.
Some of the answers were surprising, making is obvious that improved powders and projectile design has created the kind of downrange predictability that have bumped up the game.
“Recently, I’ve seen more shooters using 6.5 Creedmoor,” said Buck Doyle, founder and owner of Follow Through Consulting. He served in the Marine Corps for 21 years—as a sniper, team leader, ops chief, part of MARSAC and saw multiple deployments— and draws on that expertise in teaching precision shooting. He adheres to a different terminology, however, because most factory loads in that cartridge are still traveling faster than sound at 1,000 yards. “People will see my Scoped Carbine courses, which focus on the tenets of gunfighting and maximizing the capability of their rifle, and think I’m teaching long-range, precision shooting. We may be shooting out to 1,000 plus meters, but we’re staying in the supersonic realm. My definition of long range, personally, is shooting beyond transonic flight.”
Nomenclature aside, he’s not the only instructor witnessing changes at the firing line. William “Bart” Bartholomew is the lead instructor/coordinator for Bergara Academy. The former Marine Corps long-rifle instructor, sniper team leader and sniper for the Baltimore County Police Department, said, “6.5 Creedmoor seems to be the caliber of choice today with long-range shooters because of its impressive ballistic trajectory and ballistic coefficient.”
Walt Wilkinson, precision instructor at Gunsite Academy, has a slightly different take. “The primary long-range cartridge for distances out to 1,200 yards varies. In competition, it would be the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5×284 [Norma]. Outside competition it tends to be the .300 Norma and .338 Lapua [Mag.].
The former Army Special Forces Sergeant Major and four-time 1,000-Yard World Champion noted a long-term trend, though, one particularly on display in the past few year. “As with all aspects of the rifle shooting world, as new calibers come out, people drift to them,” Wilkonson said.
The 6.5 Creedmoor was originally introduced by Hornady back in 2007, and it’s extremely popular right now. The company’s never been much about resting on its laurels, though, so it wasn’t a shock when it introduced the heir apparent.
The Hornady 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) arrived late last year. “You get a 200 plus FPS improvement over the 6.5 Creedmoor,” said Neal Emery, company communications manager. Based on the .300 RCM cartridge, its bullet remains supersonic past 1,300 yards. Despite its soft-shooting demeanor, projectile impact at 1,000 yards takes only 1.4 seconds—easing those tough wind DOPE calls.
A few weeks later a new player entered the game. “The .224 Valkyrie is based on a .30 Rem./6.8 SPC case necked down to .224 caliber,” explained Mike Holm, Federal Premium Centerfire Ammunition global product lane director. “It beats the ballistics of all other MSR 15 cartridges, including the .22 Nosler, .223 Rem. and 6.5 Grendel. Plus, it offers comparable performance to larger rounds like the 6.5 Creedmoor, with roughly half the felt recoil…” It’s also remains supersonic at 1,300 yards.
Cartridge potential is one aspect, but the rifle must deliver. Every major company has introduced firearms to wring the most out of a chambering, including Mossberg with its MVP-LR (Long Range), Weatherby’s AccuMark, Savage’s Long Range, Ruger’s Precision Rifle and many others.
And the advanced instruction available today has never been better. Gunsite is the granddaddy of them all, but companies like Follow Through Consulting and newcomer Bergara Academy—more like higher education with bed and breakfast—offer different training camp flavors. Each teach the basics needed to connect at long-distance.
And regardless of the cartridge you select, it’s important you care for the ammo while afield. Here are some tips from other experts in the industry on how it needs to be done, and why.
Punching paper is traditional, but the changes in downrange scenery are noticeable and anything but subtle. The sport’s newfound youth movement has figured out how to add more excitement in target shooting and the switch to reactive targets is noticeable at ranges everywhere.
“It seems like today, all shooters—young and old—have less time than ever before,” explained Champion Traps & Targets Public Relations Manager Jake Edson. “So, whatever we can do to save them time and increase the fun at the range is what works. That’s why we’ve really focused on reactive targets like our new Center Mass Steel, VisiColor paper and the DuraSeal line.”
Birchwood Casey Brand Manager Eric Miller notes that target preference doesn’t necessarily reflect age or experience. “We do not see a large difference in generations of shooters, but it is more about shooters want to shoot year-round and want a target that is just not a bullseye or traditional style sight-in target,” he said. “Shooters are looking for interactive and reactionary targets. Our Shoot-N-C, Dirty Bird and steel targets give the shooter instant feedback via sound or by visual halos on the targets.”
Champion Traps & Targets expanded its VisiColor line not long ago with the new Real Life, Reflex, Training Silhouette and Fun Games series of reactive paper targets. “Interactivity is key to fun on the range today,” said Will Hemeyer, Product Manager for the company. “Shooters want to have fun and improve their skills with immediate feedback. With VisiColor, visual confirmation is immediate and lets you know exactly how you’re doing.”
“Paper is still king, because of the price and that you can shoot it anywhere,” Edson said. “However, steel is really taking off. More and more shooters are setting steel in locations where it’s feasible…Our new Center Mass targets are some of the first AR500 steel targets available at mass merchants such as Cabelas, etc. Previously, finding steel targets was a localized game because of the cost of shipping them.”
Miller concurs paper, or its variations, aren’t going away anytime soon. “Shoot-N-C as a family have been our best-selling targets,” he said. “The traditional bull’s eye and silhouettes are always proven sellers.”
Heavy metal options increase every month, though. Two years ago FAB Defense introduced Reactive Target Systems (RTS) Targets. Versions available can be used to hone CQB skills or stretch the distance to 300 yards. The spinners, knockdowns and stationary options are all made of non-ricochet components that make them ideal for plinking, gun ranges and law enforcement practice. The self-healing polymer can take thousands of rounds and minimizes the chances of splashback and there are even models with high-tech, wireless features.
Birchwood Casey offers a family of AR500 Steel Targets. Miller said, “The made-in-the-USA targets are manufactured with USA made AR 500 steel. Each target gives instant feedback by delivering both sound and action. Targets withstand centerfire handguns and centrefire rifles…shooters to set up different targets and at varying distances and it gives another dimension to the shooter.”
It’s not uncommon for local shops to fabricate and offer steel targets, but going cheap isn’t necessarily how to add more excitement in target shooting. I interviewed the experts and they provided some important tips to keep in mind as you shop.
As for the future, Edson explains, “Again, I go back to reactive targets and targets that make shooting an interactive experience that can be shared. Today’s consumer likes to shoot with friends and anything you can do to allow interaction, whether that’s competitive or just plain fun, is really what we’re focusing on.”
The experts agree: There’s no generation gap widening on the firing line. If anything, it’s closing. Shooters of all ages—casting their votes with their cash—appreciate the convenience and timesavings provided by modern targets. The “…satisfying ‘PING!’ with every hit” Edson said comes with steel, doesn’t discriminate by age.
The days when we were able to to head out to the back 40 for an afternoon of good old-fashioned family fun behind a trigger may be gone, but there’s a new generation of targets and they’re writing an all-new legacy.