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Painting Your Gun

December 20, 2024blogcerakote, duracoat, gun painting, painting, spray paintcoldboremiracle

Introduction

We as gun owners have a passion for customizing our firearms. The accessory and customization aftermarket is arguably as strong as the firearms market itself, but for some folks there is a line they dare not cross. Toady we are going to discuss perhaps one of the more challenging firearm customizations; painting your guns.

We’ve all seen some amazing custom paint and Cerakote jobs by custom shops. And even using cheap rattle-can you can often create some amazing looking firearms. I’ve really enjoyed custom painting a variety of firearms over the years, and I’ve had quite a few requests during the same time. So today I wanted to share my method, as well as help you take the plunge toward your own creation. With any luck, your result will be impressive and I’d love to share pictures of what you come up with below.

painting your gun — Getting a good **paint-gun** is a good idea if you are using anything but spray-paint

Why Paint Your Gun?

If you are like me, you see guns as more than just a noisy tool, it’s often an extension of our own tastes and practices. That is part of the reason you’ll find many of my guns are painted camouflage, not because I believe myself to be some kind of sniper, but because it fits into my shooting style and practice. I really doubt the camo paint on my rifles or the camo I wear while hunting is really that effective in many situations. I’ve killed as many coyotes wearing jeans and a hoodie as I have fully decked out in camo. But I like the look of a camo rifle, and that’s all the reason I need. And as important or unimportant as it might be, it sets my guns apart from others.

Custom coatings are becoming more and more common these days, whether it be your turkey shotgun or a varmint rifle. They do a great job protecting our guns from corrosion and salt-water, or whatever else you might encounter in your shooting practice. Factory jobs are pretty good looking, but they often lack some of the individuality we crave. That’s where we jump off today.

Savage, painting you gun — a few minutes with stencils and rattle-cans can make a pretty big change in your gun’s looks, this old **Remington 700** got dressed up with a custom **B&C stock** and paint

Pick Your Poison

I mentioned Cerakote, which is a bake-on ceramic coating that is extremely durable and protective to your firearm. There are many other kinds of coatings you can use that require less effort and surface prep than Cerakote, of course they are also less durable.

Having used both, I can say there are pros to going either way. For example, I like the weathered look of some paint jobs. Duracoat is a two-part coating similar to epoxy that also has very durable and protective qualities. Even the Krylon spray-paint you find at the hardware store can be effectively used to coat your firearms. Brownell’s Aluma-hyde also comes in a spray cans and creates an epoxy-like finish that is also very durable. Using one or more of these products together can create some cool effects on your guns.

my **Desert Tech SRS** has seen a variety of paint jobs

Generally I use more than one of the aforementioned coatings, like a Cerakote base followed by one of the other products. This typically gives me the protection and sometimes weathered look I desire.

Artist Block

Perhaps the hardest part is deciding exactly what you want to create. There are plenty of designs out there you can copy or imitate, the good news is that even if you try to copy something it will likely turn out different.

my son and his custom painted .260 Remington, you can read about it here

I’ll share an idea that has helped me; I have two nearly identical use rifles, but I painted them differently. One of them has a camo pattern that fits in very well to the dry desert landscape of the Great Basin where I do a LOT of shooting. The other rifle is painted to match the alpine forests where I also spend a lot of time.

desert tech, bullpup, MDRX, WLVRN, 6mm ARC — My **Desert Tech WLVRN** (left) painted for forests, and my MDRX painted for the desert

I also have other rifles that have been painted in such a way that they mix into either of those two landscapes. Honestly the way I’ve best overcome artist block is by looking at cool paint-jobs on the internet, and then coming up with something I like combining the looks of what I’ve seen. Often times I change it up in the middle of the paint booth and surprise myself.

Preparing your Guns for Painting

Cleaning

You should start with a clean gun, the cleaner the better. Mainly free of dirt an oil, so a better than typical cleaning is for sure in order. Even if the gun is brand new I like to at least clean it with solvent to remove any oils or other contaminants. Any part of the gun that will be painted or touched during painting should be clean.

I like to use something like acetone or MEK to remove everything from the gun’s surface after cleaning. Of course you should always look into the materials your gun is made of to ensure you don’t use something that will damage it.

Disassembly

Most guns will require some level of disassembly to properly paint them. If you don’t know how to disassemble your guns, this might be your first clue you’re in over your head. Make sure you research and understand the various parts and how everything goes together. Its also a good idea to see what parts don’t need to be disassembled to properly paint the gun.

desert tech WLVRN, painting guns — disassembling firearms to sub components is key, its also great to paint all possible accessories

Also something to keep in mind, if you are using a heat cured coating like Cerakote, its important to know what parts can be heated in an oven and what parts cannot. Some polymers can be safely heated to the cure temp, and some might not. There are alternative options like air curable Cerakote, the Duracoat and other spray paints. I typically try and use the same products on all parts for matching tones.

You can also break it up by doing something like painting the stock or chassis one pattern, and leaving the barrel a solid color. Lots of combinations to mix it up can create some good looks.

Surface prep

In addition to cleaning, depending on the coating or paint you intend to use, the surface may need preparation. For example when Cerakoting, metal parts need to be both clean and preferably bead blasted. The raw roughed up surface is what Cerakote adheres to. Other coatings and paints can also benefit from the same process though it may be less critical.

firearm painting — this raw bright steel barrel has been bead-blasted and cleaned, ready for coating

Anodized parts are fine as they are, in my experience most coating adhere great to anodized surfaces. Make sure all the parts you intend to coat are clean, and their surfaces ready before starting anything else.

Components

Another thing you’ll want to keep in mind while painting is the components that will go with the firearms. Whether it be a scope, a weapon light, or some other accessory. Keep it in mind while doing your prep, though I wouldn’t recommend putting your scopes and some accessories through a sand blaster or oven. Its also important to keep paint and coating out of places they shouldn’t get, like inside barrels, or other parts. The same goes for sand-blasting, make sure to seal barrels and protect threads and engravings etc. In short, cover everything you don’t want paint or sandblast grit getting into, and when in doubt cover it.

this **Sig Sauer Tango 6** matches up nicely to the rest of the rifle

Also, many of my firearms are configurable. Meaning I can change barrels, handguards, suppressors and such. So if you are going to paint the gun, paint the other components to match at the same time. That way you can ensure a good pattern and color match because they were all prepped and painted at the same time.

Stencils and Masking

Stencils and Tape

I like to use stencils for custom paint jobs, there are all kinds of stencil kits you can buy that make it easy. Different patterns and styles can be had or made yourself. I often make my own stencils using just the blue painters tape or the high-temp masking tape if you plan to bake your parts.

I usually use a plastic cutting board, and an razor knife to cut out the shapes and features I want. I usually do this as I go, cutting and adjusting my stencil shapes to fit in the space available on the gun.

Colors and Layers

After deciding on how many colors I want to use, I decide how many layers it might take. For example, with three colors I start with the base color and start making the remaining two layers of color. It’s important to be able to visualize a negative image, much like looking at camera negatives. The first color you start with will likely be the smallest shapes in your pattern, and the last color you paint will likely be the majority of your paint job.

painting guns, stencil, masking, gun painting

Every layer you cover with a stencil, will be represented by the color underneath. So if I have a base color of black, then add a stencil and paint brown, then another stencil and paint tan, the finished look after removing the stencils will give me a black/brown/tan in the shapes as they were covered.

Texture

I add more detail by adding texture to some layers by using a mesh, or leaves, or some other material. Doing this to some layers and not others gives a depth to the paint job.

Once you pull off the stencils after a safe drying period, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what it looks like underneath. The more time you take between layers the better, and there’s nothing wrong with going back over it afterwards to get the effect you desire.

gun painting, stencils, masking, cerakote, duracoat, spray paint

This humble black/brown/tan example was an old handguard I didn’t need. This took a few minutes goofing around in my garage last night. So you can imagine how much better it would look if you took your time and made it better. That’s how most of the guns pictured here have been done, just with more diligence and prep-time.

gun painting, stencils, cerakote, duracoat, aluma-hyde

Cure and Dry Time

Depending on the type of coating you use, you might need to bake your parts or just let them air dry. Using your wife’s oven for baking Cerakote will go over like a fart in an elevator so think this through before becoming single. I always like to use some level of heat, it not only speeds the process but also sets the paint better and removes the tackiness of the cheaper finishes.

In the summer time I will leave my parts out in the hot summer sun as long as possible to help bake on spray paint. Or sit them over a heating vent during the winter, but make sure you get the paint cured either with heat or time. You don’t want to be at the range a few hours later and have paint rubbing into your hands.

Final Thoughts

This is the way I paint guns, it is certainly not the only way. I’m sure some internet hero will be along shortly to tell me what I’m doing wrong, but thats ok. The only thing that matters at the end of the day is that you like your result.

That said, I would love to see what you come up with. So if you’ve managed to paint one of your guns and survived, message me how yours turned out, and maybe we’ll post it up here for everybody else to gaze upon.

-CBM

The End of Hunting as we know it

December 7, 2024blog, huntinghunting, hunting future, hunting practicecoldboremiracle

Preface

Hunting is a way of life for many of us, and for some it is their very existence. Humans have always hunted these lands for survival, even today we feed ourselves with meat taken from the wild. But as our society has matured, practices and attitudes have changed, as have our needs. I see a conundrum before us as our own practices at times seem to bring upon us the end of hunting as we know it.

We didn’t leave much for the birds and coyotes after taking this bull elk

The Need for Hunting

Speaking on the need for hunting in North America, and particularly the US, hunting has become less about survival. While those involved still feel the same passion and excitement as the generations long before them, for many people it has been sterilized of its wild ancestry.

Many reasons for this homogenization of our cherished practice exist. At least in the lower 48, most hunting is still practiced because of tradition, and because it has become a money maker for state game agencies while helping complete their mandate to manage wildlife. Its not only the state profiting either, there are many land owners using their property to make money from hunting.

I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with it, as many game animals have greatly recovered populations because of hunters. Whether it be turkeys or Whitetail deer, the profitability and pleasure of hunting makes them valuable to us and therefor a priority.

A Hunting Conundrum

After many decades of profitability and game management it seems we are reaching a point none of us are going to like; Hunting opportunities are being effected by the popularity of our passion.

Everybody seeing the potential for getting a piece of the action wants to get involved. Whether it be a retailer seeing a new stream of revenue, or a suburban outdoorsman looking to source his own food. Hunting programs on television, printed media and even websites like the one you are reading have increased popularity of hunting, but as popularity goes up, so does the demand.

We all know what happens to costs when demand goes up. And you’re lucky if you haven’t seen it affect your hunting. More money in hunting has created an elite class that has grown exponentially over the past few decades. Both public and private hunting opportunities have been curtailed to favor the higher profit margins of those who can pay for it.

We try and spread our hunting opportunities wide, different species make that possible and more exciting

Additionally, as more and more folks join the rest of us due to popularity, what opportunities there are have to be spread ever thinner for everyone to have a good experience. And the alternative of not growing and recruiting new hunters is having our practice disappear entirely due to social pressure and anti-hunting zealots.

Compounding the Issue

Not only do we face the challenge of sharing our practice with more and more people, we have to do it on smaller and more compressed parcels of land. And technology is also playing a part. It wasn’t very long ago that most hunters wouldn’t even consider shooting a big game animal beyond five-hundred yards. But again, the market has provided us with new and better tools to where shooting animals out to even a thousand yards is quite doable.

To put it simply, there are more and more hunters every year, and we are getting more and more efficient at killing game because of technology and our numbers. Better rifles and other things like thermal and night vision optics as well as sound suppressors have all given us more of an edge. With such a large population and effective tools, it doesn’t take much to upset the balance we’ve had for decades.

In my home state for example, a popular location for hunters and dedicated shooters, we have seen a reduction in numbers of animals and hunting opportunities. There is plenty of blame to go around, especially at the feet of our wildlife agency and their budget aspirations. But one or two bad winters in a row has crushed the populations of game animals, right when so many have found their passion as a hunter. Huge swings in hunting success and experiences have resulted. This conundrum seems like it will only be compounded in years to come.

Resolution

In my mind there must be some kind of balance struck. Hunting opportunities will continue to dwindle as land becomes more restricted, and more people join the fold. And unless you are one of the wealthy who can pay for what hunts there are, you will have to settle for what you can get. I’ve spent the last few decades sharpening my skills in hopes of outshooting my competition on the mountain. But even that practice will soon be eclipsed.

Every season there is a generation of new hunters, and fewer of the older generation. Which means as a group we have to figure it out while balancing our numbers and educating newcomers.

deer hunting — Passing along our hunting practices to children should be cherished

My Conclusion

I believe that like any free market, the hunting market will eventually find some balance. But we as a hunting population may not like where the balance is struck. And for that reason, and on behalf of our children’s generation and those that follow, we need to do some self policing. That might be sacrificing some hunting opportunity for some of us, or changing some rules of engagement.

In my humble opinion, I would always prefer more hunting opportunity over the trophy aspect of hunting. I would rather have the opportunity to take my family hunting every year, even if that means we are only likely to get something less spectacular. Versus going every few years hoping to get something bigger.

Regardless of our opinions, we as a hunting community need to start looking closely at what game agencies and governments are doing more closely. And come together to ensure that our land access and future hunting practice isn’t wiped out.

-CBM

Hooking New Shooters with Pistol Caliber Carbines

November 30, 2024blogcarbine, new shooters, pcc, Pistol caliber carbines, training, youth shooterscoldboremiracle

If ever there was a good time to get into shooting, it is now. Despite impending doom and political pressure to deter firearms ownership and use, the market and practice of firearms continues to maintain its upward trend. More and more people are warming up to shooting sports and the exercise of their second amendment rights, while this is a good thing, it doesn’t come without its obstacles. Today I wanted to talk about hooking new shooters with pistol caliber carbines. The Trijicon MROmade a great choice for an optic

Whether it is a child coming into the age of curiosity, a significant other who wasn’t raised around firearms, or a head of household looking for new skills to protect their property and loved ones, some people are apprehensive towards handling and shooting guns. Our duty as gun owners is to give these prospects every opportunity to learn safe, and proper firearm use.

Pistol Caliber Carbines (PCC’s) are a great way to start someone who might be intimidated. Sometimes it is the noise, sometimes the recoil, and sometimes its something else. But the gentle recoil and short report of pistol cartridges can ease those individuals into a comfortable place where they can work on the basic skills of shooting. And once they are there, stepping up their game is much less intimidating.

hooking new shooters with pistol caliber carbines. — **Adding a suppressor** to a PCC can make it even more tolerable, creating hours of fun for new shooters

PCC’s are often very lightweight and compact, this can be helpful to both young or petite shooters. Focusing on sights is very difficult if you are struggling to hold the weapon on target. A small and usually shortened weapon like a PCC eliminates that challenge.

Handguns require a touch more of respect and discipline due to their very small size, to put it bluntly, they are much easier to point at oneself or others around you. That is not a reason to avoid handguns with new or inexperienced shooters, but it is a reason to take extra caution. Using longer guns as a way to break the ice is a better option in my opinion, and PCC’s are perfect for it. Hooking new shooters with pistol caliber carbines has been easy for all of my kids, as well as some adults.

cmmg banshee — this kid loves the **CMMG Banshee** in 9mm

One of the worst things I see people do with new shooters is starting them off on some miserable six-pound magnum deer rifle. Even worse are those who like to chuckle from behind as they anticipate the overwhelmed face of a frightened shooter after the shot. This is neither funny nor helpful and probably does more to feed the fear of timid new shooters than anything else. New shooters can be embarrassed and increasingly uncertain about the whole ordeal just so Mr. Fudd can feel some sort of superiority before their greener peers.

PCC’s share many aspects with the Grandaddy of trainers, the 22 long rifle, in fact, there are many PCC options in 22. Many of America’s favorite AR-15 variants are available in 22 or can be readily converted.
One of my favorite attributes of both 22’s and other pistol cartridges is their economic advantage. With a 22, you can train new shooters all afternoon for less than a couple combo meals at your favorite burger joint. And nine-millimeter PCC’s aren’t horrendously expensive either, significantly much cheaper than shooting 5.56 ammo.

Firearms with minimal recoil are ideal for new shooters. Even the mild recoil impulse of PCC’s requires some skill to manage, and the ranges for which they are effective give the shooter immediate feedback on their trigger pull and recoil management.
Shorter distances and the visual cues on targets are very helpful to those that are new to shooting, being able to walk up to their target and inspect their shooting will also help them learn what they are doing wrong or right.

Adding a suppressor to the firearm is another helpful tool that will help new shooters ease into it. Removing the worst of the noise can help timid shooters focus on the task before them. And most PCC’s when suppressed are very quiet, much quieter than high-speed rifle rounds like the 5.56.

kriss vector — the **Kriss Vector** is another PCC, but this one in 45 ACP might be better for adults

Impressions matter, when you bring a new shooter to the firing line and show them the gun they are about to shoot, and the ammunition that it fires, something small like a pistol cartridge will be less intimidating. Generally, people that are new to firearms can be nervous about even the looks of a particular firearm, so simplicity might be another effective way to help them engage comfortably.

cz scorpion, trijicon MRO,hooking new shooters with pistol caliber carbines. — the **CZ Scorpion** has been a great tool to tech my kids to shoot

Another additional tool to go with your PCC that might aid in teaching new shooters is a simple steel target. The reactive nature of the steel gives immediate confirmation to shooters that they are doing something right, it also simplifies the task for the apprentice as there are simply hits and misses. Shooting steel targets with pistol cartridges inside one hundred yards is safer than rifle cartridges, and it’s not so hard on your steel either.

So if you find yourself lucky enough to be introducing a new shooter, or a group of new shooters, don’t overlook this great option and training tool hooking new shooters with pistol caliber carbines.

-CBM

Check out more about PCC’s here

Carbon Fiber Firearms

October 11, 2024blogcarbon fibercoldboremiracle

Introduction

I often talk about the technological advancements of our modern firearms, which have made big changes in the last 20 years. New processes like DLC finishes and 3D metal printing have become commonplace in the manufacture of our favorite firearms. But today we are going to discuss something a bit more revolutionary, nearly as revolutionary as the steel that those first arms were made from. Carbon fiber firearms have become more and more popular over the last few decades. And what was once discounted as superfluous, has now become mainstream. Today we’ll get familiar with the carbon options, and why you may or may not want to use them.

this **Bergara Crest Carbon** rifle and **Athlon Heras scope** are a fantastic lightweight combo

Carbon Copies

When I first heard about carbon wrapped barrels many years ago, I thought for sure it had to be some gimmick. That was until I was able to tour the Christensen Arms factory, where they were building aerospace parts alongside their firearms. Watching the way they made both barrels and stocks really started making sense.

Christensen arms MPR — carbon is used in both the barrel and handguard of this Christensen Arms MPR

Years later a little outfit called Proof Research also came to market, and then it seemed like every time I turned around there was another company offering carbon gun parts. The appeal of carbon is hard to deny; it is lightweight, and extremely strong and rigid. These are very appealing features for gun parts. Technology has made it possible now to make almost anything from carbon, and we as firearm owners are reaping the benefits. Let’s get into the actual parts you might see, and why you might want one.

carbon fiber — lightweight stocks like this one from **IOTA Outdoors** are super light, allowing more options

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good carbon options are available from popular manufacturers like this **Savage Impulse**

patriot valley arms Modus, 6.5PRC — This **Patriot Valley Arms Modus rifle** features a carbon fiber stock, they also offer carbon barrels

Using lighter components allows use of bigger scopes, suppressors and things like this US Optics TXH 3-18×50 and Silencer Central Banish Buck 30.

this **Springfield Armory Redline** uses a carbon fiber barrel for exceptional balance

Varmint Hunting Makes Better Hunters and Shooters

July 2, 2024blog, huntinghunting, varmintcoldboremiracle

Preface

Even decades ago, it seemed that varmint hunters had an insatiable taste for accuracy. Very precise and accurate shots are needed when you are after small targets like squirrels and prairie dogs. My old gunsmith used to tell me that when they’d shoot the little sod poodles inside five-hundred yards it had to be a headshot or they wouldn’t count it.

Varmint hunting, Desert Tech MDRX — I’ve smoked quite a few prairie dogs with my MDRX, seen here with the **US Optics FDN17X**

But can the competitive sport of shooting varmints make you a better shooter? In my experience, I think varmint hunting makes better shooters out of all of us. And that alone is good enough reason to engage in the practice.

Shooting Varmints

Varmints are typically small animals mostly of the rodent species or similar. Things like squirrels, ground hogs, and such. These varmints are often pests, and many folks enjoy eradicating them as a pass time. If you have a problem with that, perhaps knitting is a better fit for you.

ruger m77 220 swift — Varmint rifles and precision rifles share many traits, making them excellent marksman rifles. This is my Fathers **Ruger M77**

Personally I enjoy hunting marmots and prairie dogs. Marmots often provide a cunning opposition, requiring some level of stealth and strategy. The country where I hunt them is the exact same territory we hunt deer and elk in, so it doubles as exercise and reconnaissance in addition to a fun hunt. And the size of marmots (typically between 5-10 pounds) requires some degree of accurate shooting. Even deer cartridges have not acutely incapacitated a few of our marmots, so making a good shot is important.

Prairie dogs on the other hand, are much smaller animals. The pound or so they weigh is filled with small bones and lots of flesh. Their smaller size makes them a tougher target, but it also makes it a little more obvious when one is hit. The terrain they thrive in is usually flat, which draws its own challenges when ranging targets, and understanding the lay of the land. Additionally the smaller centerfire cartridges used to shoot them are more affordable to shoot.

desert tech WLVRN 5.56 — This marmot fell to me and my **Desert Tech WLVRN**, thats a **Lucid MLX scope** and **YHM suppressor**

Improving your Skillset

You may have imagined by this point how these hunting practices might make you a better shot. While an escaping prairie dog might not be the end of the world, it adds a competitive angle. As well as an opponent in the cat and mouse game. Simply having an opponent with a mind of its own automatically adds a level of challenge compared to simply shooting targets.

The sportier side of this cat and mouse game is further sharpened by the small target. Your need to make an accurate shot is paramount to your prey not escaping. The level of accuracy required to engage something like a marmot or prairie dog at ranges as far as five or six-hundred yards is demanding. And when you add the complexity of moving targets, measuring the distance to the target, and switchy winds either on the prairie or alpine forest, it gets pretty challenging.

bergara HMR 6.5 creedmoor — Varmint hunting with my deer rifle gets me more practice, this Bergara HMR took a few marmots

While these micro-hunts might not compare to the big Mule Deer hunt you’ve got planned, it is every bit as educational. A typical scenario from one of my marmot hunts might entail spotting a target from as far as half a mile or so away. It takes good spotting practice to pick out a perched chuck laying among a rock-pile. Once you find one, the effort of sneaking into a comfortable shooting distance may require a level of stalking comparable to big game. The sharp eyes of these little critters don’t miss much. And if they see you within their safe-zone, they disappear before you can even get on your scope. Once you’ve closed the distance, and used the land to keep out of sight, its time to dope for the shot and conditions. Long shots often require offsetting for wind, and considering other ambient changes.

prairie dog hunt, — My **Desert Tech SRS M2** has excellent accuracy, making one great shot after another on these PD’s

All this leads up to you taking one shot, a shot you likely wont get to followup on. So it’s with great anticipation and forethought each shot is taken. The beauty of varmint hunting is that typically you’ll get lot of chances to screw up and learn. With a kill zone about the size of a softball, practice is your ally.

Lessons and takeaways

The very things that will make you a better shot and a seasoned hunter are all in the scenario above. Mainly the following:

Honing your spotting skills
Rapidly coming up with a firing solution
Adapting to ambient conditions like wind, altitude and angles
Making every shot count (accuracy)
Keeping out of sight, or at least a minimal profile
Anticipating the moves of your prey

And perhaps the most important thing is the ability to repeat this process over and over, until you excel at it. And once you do, you will find yourself improving. And with any luck, it will make you a much better shooter and hunter all around. If you are proficient at quickly finding, ranging and engaging targets that are no bigger than a squirrel or ground hog, then doing the same on something like a deer or hog will be even easier.

25 creedmoor, 6 ARC, Howa Mini — Both of these rifle have done double duty on varmints and big game. Up front is the **Howa Mini 6ARC**, and in the back is my Tikka T3 in 25 Creedmoor

If you haven’t tried varmint hunting, let this be your invitation. Its a fun way to get better at shooting, and a great introduction to hunting in general if you are new to it. Its also a fun way to nerd out over gear and equipment, which is also becoming popular in the gun community. Let us know your favorite way to hunt varmints in the comments below.

-CBM

The Big Three Rifle Scope Adjustments: understanding how they work

June 17, 2024blog, Opticsadjustment, riflescopecoldboremiracle

Introduction

Aside from firearms themselves, rifle scopes are probably the largest investment a shooter will make. It’s not only a financial investment either, learning how to properly use a rifle scope will help you get the most value from your investment. Today we are going to talk about the big three rifle scope adjustments, and understanding how they work can help you make better shots.

The importance of understanding your scope, and how to properly set it up and use it will make your shooting experience more successful and pleasant. First of all, let’s clarify what the big three are. Windage and elevation are imperative to being able to zero a scope. Windage of course meaning the lateral movements left and right of center. And elevation is the vertical adjustment up and down. The third adjustment that is often overlooked is called parallax, and it is often disguised as a focus feature. If you’ve ever wondered why your focus adjustment has number labels on it, today we will discuss why.

This Primary Arms GLx 3-18 perfectly illustrates all the scope adjustments

Parallax and Focus

When I say focus, many people think of the adjustable diopter on the very back of the ocular (back) end of the scope. While this is important for proper shooting, we don’t often consider it part of the big three. But since it is important, we’ll address it here.

The adjustable diopter is there to focus the eyepiece on the reticle inside the scope. You can turn it to better clarify the reticle clarity, and this is best done with the scope pointing at nothing but empty sky. For the most part it only helps the sharpness of the reticle, but not the target you’re aiming at downrange.

adjusting the ocular diopter will give you crisp reticle recognition, this is the Burris Veracity PH 4-20

us optics ts25x — most tactical scopes utilize the side focus parallax adjustment, this **US Optics TS25x** also features an illuminated reticle rheostat stacked on top of the parallax adjustment

winchester model 100 leupold rifle scope — more traditional hunting rifle scopes use either fixed parallax or an adjustable objective like this **Leupold VXIII**

Once the scope is zeroed to the rifle, you can reset the elevation turret to zero, read more about this Lucid Optics MLX scope here

Some scopes like this **US Optics FDN17X** utilize tools to internally adjust the reticle

sig sauer tango MSR rifle scope — Capped turrets usually look like this Sig Sauer Tango MSR under the caps

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maven rifle scope — adjusting for impacts at various distances is a very valuable feature on this Maven RS.3

Aim Small, Miss Small: Getting the Most Out of Your Target Practice

June 11, 2024blog, huntingaim small, aimpointcoldboremiracle

Introduction

We’ve all heard the adage Aim small, miss small, it’s become more and more common as precision shooting has grown. It’s a simple idea, the smaller the target you shoot at, the smaller your margin of error. Getting the most out of your target practice can be done by using smaller and more precise aiming points.

For example, shooting paper plates to check your rifle before a hunt has long been the practice of American hunters. But if you ask me, it’s a bit sloppy and I’ll explain why. If you aim for a paper plate, you either hit it or you don’t. But if you aim for a small dot in the center of the plate, you might miss the dot but you won’t likely miss the whole plate.

Practice Makes Perfect

Most of the shooting we do could be summed up as practice, the amount of shots that “count for points” are far fewer. If you are a competition shooter, you probably fire thousands of rounds a year so that in any given competition the two hundred or so rounds all go where you want them to.

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Practice helped clear this stage of the Hornady Precision Rifle challenge with my **Desert Tech SRS**

mule deer precision rifle — refining your aim, will make more precise shots in the field, a good scope like the **Vortex Razor** surely helps

One of the reasons I love steel targets so much is that it’s so easy to tell if you hit or miss.

Picking out small rocks for targets through my **Kahles 318i**

Click here to read more about caliber selection

mossberg patriot 6.5PRC riton riflescope — Good scopes like this **Riton 3 Primal** with accompanying reticles are helpful for precise aiming

Small points of aim allow better evaluation of your shots

Hunting with an AK?

June 6, 2024blog, huntingak47, huntingcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Is the AK-47 type rifle any good for hunting purposes? This is perhaps a divisive question for many people. The Kalashnikov rifle was designed to be a fighting rifle for infantrymen, but its flourishing among American gun owners has brought it into civilian service. This has been a common practice since our countries inception, and countless military rifles have become hunting rifles. But today we will look into the subject; can we recommend hunting with an AK?

a good AK and some **American Eagle ammunition**

Hunting Purposes

Most Americans hunt for recreation and sport, chasing after deer, hogs and other animals. From a purely hypothetical perspective, the AK could accomplish many of those tasks easily. If you have adequate accuracy and energy from a given firearm, it can do the job well. That’s the rub though, does your AK have those appropriate characteristics to hunt the animals that you are after? We need to address the cartridges involved for a start.

AK-47 CARTRIDGES

A huge majority of AK-type rifles are chambered in the 7.62×39 cartridge. The short Soviet cartridge shoots .30-caliber bullets of around 120 grains in weight, at a muzzle velocity of around 2,300 FPS. While those numbers are certainly enough to handle many hunting purposes, they can also be somewhat anemic for others.