Making Sense Of Shooting-Angle Compensation

Trying to understand shooting angle compensation? Just in case there’s any confusion, this means compensating for shooting uphill or downhill. If you’re going on a hunt in the mountains, you’re going to want to know exactly what this means.

Shooting uphill or downhill can be a little confusing, but it’s really important to understand. I don’t know about you, but I would hate to miss a shot on a mountain hunt because I didn’t properly compensate for the angle at which I was going to shoot.

In this article, we will go over some of the basics to help you understand this concept.

Making Sense of Shooting-Angle Compensation

The Basics

There’s been a long standing rumor about whether you need to aim up or down when shooting uphill or downhill. It’s one of those things that’s been passed through families. I hate to break it to you, but there’s a decent chance that the rumor you’ve heard is inaccurate.

There are a couple things you have to understand before making your shot. The most obvious one is gravity. Obviously, after you fire the gun and the bullet is flying through the air, the bullet will be affected by gravity. Gravity will pull the bullet towards the ground. The effective distance of the round is effected largely by the velocity, because if a bullet is faster, it will be able to fly further before falling.

Next, you have to understand basic angles. Everyone has learned math, so we will keep it at that. However, being able to estimate about 45 degrees up or down is important.

Taking the Shot

Now that you understand the basic forces at play, let’s cover taking the shot.

Hunting in uphill and downhill

Let’s get this out of the way right at the beginning. Your bullet will hit high while shooting both uphill and downhill. Gravity affects the velocity of the bullet more than the trajectory when fired at an angle. Regardless of angle, you will be aiming a little low.

However, if your shot is at a decently close range, you won’t have to adjust your point of aim at all. Within about 175-225 meters, you won’t have to adjust the shot.

You have to start thinking about adjusting your shot if you’re shooting at a greater than 45 degree angle or at a distance greater than 200 meters. At these steep angles or longer ranges, you will have to adjust the distance that you’re shooting.

There are two basic ways to do it, and both of them require you to measure or accurately estimate angles. In order to do this, there are tools you can mount on your weapon, such as an angle cosine indicator.

You’ll need this angle to be able to accurately calculate what range you should be shooting at. If you’re using an angle cosine indicator, it will give you the cosine percentage to shoot at. If your measured range is 500 meters and your angle cosine indicator gives you 10 degrees or 98 cosine percentage, you will multiply 500 x .98 to find out you will hold at 490 meters.

The next way to do this requires less math. It’s essentially just a quick fix based on estimations. Essentially, you will guess or measure your angle. You’ll probably need a reference guide to remember the conversions, but here’s a few common ones for you. You’ll shoot 10 degrees at 98%, 20 degrees at 94%, 30 degrees at 87%, and 45 degrees at 70%.

Obviously, the angle cosine indicator will give you a much more accurate reading, so you won’t have to do any guesswork. However, for a quick shot, remembering these few numbers will allow for a much more expedient shot.

Lastly, there are some high-tech rangefinders that will spit all of this information out for you. If you commonly hunt in steep terrain, this may be a worthwhile investment for you!

Conclusion

As you can see, shooting uphill or downhill isn’t as difficult as people make it out to be. There are a few basic principles to keep in mind, and as long as you understand them, you’ll be able to make more accurate shots.

No matter which method you choose, understanding the basics will allow you to be successful.

Top 10 Most Popular Outdoor Activities In USA

On days when the weather is nice and it is sunny, it is great to spend some time outdoors. Their is all kinds of fun things you can do outside.

You may be used to spending a lot of time outside and are just looking at this article for new ideas of some things you can do, or you may be the type to not go outside much and are reading this article because you don’t know the potential of things to do outside.

Either way after reading this article, you will know 10 of the most popular things to do outside, and the best thing is it doesn’t matter where you live or your skills, you can do at least a few of these things.

Going to the Zoo

The first outdoor activity that I will include on this list is going to the zoo. At the zoo you can see all kinds of animals that you normally wouldn’t be able to see. Depending on your zoo they may also offer different programs or events on certain day to make it extra fun. The zoo is a great outdoor activity, especially if you have kids. Spending the day at the zoo can make a lot of wonderful memories for a family, that is one reason why it is so popular.

Hiking

Another outdoor activity that is popular among families is hiking. You can go out to the woods and find a nice trail to hike or you can just hike a small walking path in your city. Hiking is great because you never know what you might discover. You may see some rare birds that you have not seen before or you may see other wildlife. Also, you can find hiking areas that lead to natural springs or rivers. Hiking allows you to be right in nature and enjoy the fresh air.

Kayaking/Canoeing

Another outdoor activity that allows you to be right in nature is kayaking or canoeing. In this activity you use a special boat and paddles, and work your way down a river. The great thing is you can normally go at your own pace and stop when you would like to explore the shores. You can take food and picnic on the bank. You can see all kinds of animals while going down the river and if you are a thrill seeker you can find rougher rivers that offer white water rapids which adds to the excitement.

Camping

Camping is an outdoor activity that you can combine with some of the others already mentioned on this list or do it by itself.

If you are really adventurous you can pack a backpack with you while hiking or kayaking and canoeing and do a multiple day trip. To camp all you need is a tent and an area. It also helps to be able to know how to build a fire to cook some food and have the full experience.

If you don’t want to build a fire though and still want to eat you can take a gas stove with you. Another fom of camping is staying in a cabin, but this isn’t as outdoorsy. You can still do out door activities though even if you aren’t sleeping outside.

Long boarding

Another popular outdoor activity is long boarding. Their is different types of long board riding, but they are all fun. Some people just use a long board for transportation, which is perfectly fine, but others choose to ride it for the thrill of it.

You can do down hill long board riding which is when you go down a hill and use your body to pick up speed. You try to see how much speed you can pick up as you slice the hills. Also, you can do trick riding with long boards at a skate park ofr on the street.

You can learn how to do all kinds of flips and tricks with your board. Once you get good you can chain the tricks together and put on a whole performance to impress everyone. As begginer, i think you have best longboards for cruising, with that board, you can start your jouney!

Swimming

Moving away from outdoor activities that deal with the woods we will shift gears some and the first one with shifting gears is swimming.

You can swim at a lake or river while doing some of the other activities mentioned, but you can also swim at a local pool.

One of the main reason why swimming is such a popular outdoor activity is it helps keep you cool in the warm months. Also, since you can’t do it all year, it makes it special.

Another part of swimming is water slides and diving.

These things make swimming extra fun and anyone of any age can swim so you can spend time with your family by the pool and get some sun.

Theme Park

Talking about skate parks transitions to another outdoor activity of theme parks. Theme parks offer the same thrill as skate parks, but the thrill comes from rides instead of your own abilities on a long board. At theme parks they have all kinds of rides that provide excitement. The rides are from spinning things to massive roller coaster. One downside to a theme park though is that it is expensive and lines are long, that is why some of the other mentioned activities are better, especially if you want to do it more than once. A theme park can be fun every so often, but probably isn’t the best activity if you are looking for a constant thrill. They are still popular though and can be good for families, especially if you have older kids.

Snowboarding

So most of these popular outdoor activities mentioned have been summer or warmer month activities, but what if you are looking for something to do in the cold or snow. While you can do some of these in the cold, especially with proper gear, this next one is meant for the cold.

The next popular activity we will talk about is snowboarding. Snowboarding is similar to long boarding, since there is a board involved and a hill, but not completely the same since snowboards have no wheels, but the main point is to go down a hill. As you get good at it you can try to go faster or learn tricks. This makes it another good activity for thrill seekers.

Snowboarding can be a little challenging to learn, but with enough patients and practice anyone can get it down. That means if you like a challenge or learning new things, then it might be a great outdoor activity for you.

Skiing

Another popular snow sport is skiing. With skiing you have long skinny boards called skis that you strap to your feet. You then have polls that are used to help you pick up speed and steer. You ride the skis down a hill and can again learn yto do tricks or just see how much speed ou can gain. You can even go off jumps and things once you get good. If you can’t get snowboarding down, but still want to try a snow outdoor activity, then skiing is a great option. With both skiing and snowboarding you can also find places to stay at a winter cabin and make a whole fun vacation or trip out of it.

Scuba Diving /  Snorkeling

Last on this list of 10 popular outdoor activities is scuba diving or snorkeling. Both of these can be done in all kinds of water, but are best in the open ocean or off the coast placees. With both these activities you can see an under water world that you would never otherwise get to see. You can see a whole variety of fish as well as coral and other sea animals. With snorkeling you just wear a mask and a mouth piece and just put your face in the water to see the deeps. Scuba diving is a little more advance because you have an oxygen tank with your mask and are completely submerged, but still anyone can do it. Both these outdoor adventures are great expecially if you are on vacation and want to make life long memories.

Conclusion

All the outdoor activities mentioned here are popular and can be done by anyone with some practice. They are in no particular order and that is why there is no numbers.

You should give them all a try if you are looking for a new activity to do. If you want something fun for the family, then the zoo or theme park is great. If you are a thrill seeker, then long boarding may be the best option for you. Give all these outdoor activities a try.

They are popular for a reason and one or more might become your new favorite thing to do.

Top 5 Off Road Hunting Vehicles You Need To Know

When hunting, it doesn’t matter how good of guns you have or how skilled you are if you can’t get out into the woods or where ever the game is at that you are going after.

That is why it is essential to have a great off roading hunting vehicle.

Their are a handful of different types of vehicles that make good hunting vehicles, so after reading this article you will have a better idea what those types of vehicles are and also some recommendations in each category.

You will understand the positives and negatives of each one and will be able to determine the best hunting vehicle or best off roading vehicle for you and your needs.

Top 5 Off Road Hunting Vehicles You Need To Know

ATVs

The first category of off roading vehicle we will look at are ATVs.

ATV stands for all terrain vehicle. This means that they can go pretty much anywhere.

The advantages to an ATV is that they are small and compact compared to there off roading vehicles. This means that you might not have to park them on the edge of the woods and instead can ride them all the way to wear you are going to be posting up and waiting for the game.

ATVs come in a couple variety of types. You have some ATVs that are designed to carry a group of people as well as gear while other ATVs are only designed to carry one or two people with a smaller amount of gear.

If you go hunting with a group, then you might want to consider a larger one, but if you are a solo hunter or go hunting with different buddies, then a smaller ATV might work best for you. This is especially true if your buddies already have their own ATV.

One downside to an ATV is in some areas they are not road legal. This is because they do not have to have plates and be registered. This can be a good thing because it means you don’t have to have a listens to drive one, but depending on the area they might enforce the fact that you aren’t supposed to have them on the road.

If you are using it to go a short way in the country, no one would probably care, but if you are going a long way or thru a town or city, then it is something to keep in mind when choosing an off road vehicle for hunting.

Top ATVs

Polaris Ranger Crew 800.

Polaris Ranger Crew 800.

The first top ATV choice we will look at is the Polaris Ranger Crew 800.
This is a larger ATV that can carry multiple people as well as a good amount of gear. This ATV can go at a decent top speed of 45 miles per hour which means you can get places quickly.

It also automatically engages and disengages all wheel drive, so it is only used when needed. It can hold up to 6 adults and their is a lot of room for them.

The cargo area can hold 1000 pounds and can dump if you need it too

The down side to the Ranger Crew 800 is that on rough trails you can’t go top speed and their are only safety nets to keep you in. This means that if it is raining you will get wet, which some people may not like. Outside of that though, this is a very powerful and versatile ATV. You should have best bluetooth obd2 scanner to make sure your car is good standing.

Arctic Cat Diesel 700 Super Duty

Arctic Cat Diesel 700 Super Duty

The other ATV option that we recommend is the Arctic Cat Diesel 700 Super Duty. This is a smaller single person to two people ATV. These kind are also called 4 wheelers by some people. It has a top speed of 40 miles per hour and still can hold a lot of cargo. It also has a strong pulling power of 3000 pounds, so you can pull any game out of the woods.

The flaws with the Arctic Cat Diesel 700 Super Duty is that it has a special battery that can be hard to find and can be costly, but doesn’t need replaced to often if taken care of. Also, you still get wet riding this ATV, like you do with the other one. The ride is smooth though on this ATV even when someone is riding with you thanks to the great suspension.

Pickup Trucks

Another option for off roading hunting vehicles are pickup trucks. A pickup is a great hunting vehicle because you can hold all kinds of gear in the bed as well as be able to bring your game home in the bed. A pickup can also hold more people inside of it comfortable, then most ATVs can. One last perk to a pickup is that it is road legal, so you can drive and use it everyday.

The downside to trucks is that they are bigger meaning that you probably won’t be able to drive them all the way back to your hunting spot. You will have to park them along the road and carry and walk to the area you plan on being hunting. This shouldn’t be much of an issue though, but can be to some people. Good off roading trucks though are a great reliable option for hunting.

Top Pickup Trucks

Dodge Ram Rebel.

Dodge Ram Rebel.

The first pickup that we will look at for hunting is the Dodge Ram Rebel. This truck can come with a powerful Hemi V8 engine or a gas/diesel V6. Either one will be powerful enough for most people needs. The truck sits high and has good ground clearance for off roading. It even comes with semi-knobby road tires. The cab is large and the ride is smooth with its updated suspension. This truck is also full of technology and you can connect your phone to it.

The down side to the Dodge Ram Rebel is that it can be a little to big sometimes if you are wanting to take it down trails. Trails can get narrow and this is a bigger truck. Also, the towing power can get a little low for some peoples needs, but for some people it is fine. This truck is still a great option though and rides well.

Ford F150 Raptor.

The other pickup we will look at for off roading is the Ford F150 Raptor. This truck is extremely customizable meaning you can make it how you want it and it will meet all your hunting needs. It comes with a powerful V8 engine and this gives it a lot of towing power. It can carry a lot of gear and people and look good doing it. The Raptor has an upgraded chase that makes it great for off roading.

The downside is that it only comes as an automatic and also only comes with a gas engine. Some people out probably want manual and diesel so that it would last longer. Also, it doesn’t have all the top safety features. It is still a powerful and versatile truck though, and it can get you in and out of the woods in style.

SUV

The last option of off road hunting vehicle are SUVs. SUVs tend to be smaller compared to pickups which means they can get you deeper into the woods, but at the same time they keep you dry inside the cab. Also, they can carry about as much gear and people as a pickup can making them be able to carry more than an ATV. Also SUVs are still road legal. Sport Utility Vehicles were designed for out door hunters and adventurers in mine, so their is no reason why you shouldn’t consider one for your next hunting vehicle.

Top SUV

Jeep Wrangler

The only SUV we will look at is the Jeep Wrangler. Wranglers can carry a lot of gear and people. They have high ground clearance and a tight wheel base meaning that they are perfect for taking off road. They are extremely customizable like the pickups and the top and doors can normally come off, so you can get the fresh air like on an ATV if it is a nice day.

The downside to an SUV though is that the cargo space and passenger space is the same space. They don’t have much of a trunk and don’t have a bed like a truck. This means if you want to carry gear, then you have to sacrifice on people and vise versa. Also, any game you kill is in the vehicle with you. The tow ability can also be a little low sometimes for big game because SUVs don’t have as large of engines as a truck. They are still great off road vehicles though, and can get you where you need, if they meet your other needs.

Conclusion

So now you know the different types of off road hunting vehicles and the best off road hunting vehicles in each type. If you have a lot of gear and hunt big game, then a pick up is probably your best option. If you don’t have so much gear, but still want to have a street legal vehicle, then an SUV is probably right for you and if you just want to get around fast and don’t have far to go, then an ATV might be your best option. Now though you have a great starting point of finding the best hunting vehicle for your needs.

How Hot Does A Gun Barrel Get? How Get It Cooler Faster?

As much rifle shooters know, rifle barrels can get extremely hot. While all barrels will heat up, it is most noticeable in rifles, since the metal of the barrel is exposed. However, how hot can they actually get? What damage could this cause?

How Hot Does A Gun Barrel Get? How Get It Cooler Faster?

In this article, we will start with the basics, and eventually work into answering these questions.

The Basics – Why Does a Barrel Get Hot?

To understand this question, you have to understand how a bullet is fired. When you pull the trigger, it causes a firing pin within the weapon to strike a primer on the bullet. The primer ignites the gunpowder, which burns extremely fast. As it burns, it generates gas, which creates pressure and pushes the bullet out of the barrel at a high rate of speed.

The answer is right there. Gun powder burns and expands extremely rapidly, which is very hot. In fact, gunpowder burns near 5000 degrees Farenheit.

Repeating this process over and over again generates more and more heat. This heat transfers to the metal of the barrel, where it can’t dissipate as quickly, and the barrel will feel hot to the touch.

Okay, Cool. So What Does That Mean?

Alright, so now you understand WHY your barrel can get hot. What are the side effects?

First and foremost, a hot barrel can seriously affect your accuracy. While it depends on the exact rifle and barrel, some barrels can be extremely negatively affected by heat.

Match grade accuracy barrels are often less heat tolerant, so you will find that your shooting may be a little off. Common AR-15 and AK-47 barrels on the other hand are more heat tolerant, so you can shoot them more.

However, it could also be much worse than this. In serious situations, you could harm your barrel or your weapon. It would be very hard to do this, but it is absolutely possible to damage your weapon.

How Hot is Too Hot?

Basic reticle scope

So, how can you tell when your barrel is too hot, and how hot can they get?

While there isn’t exactly much science behind it, an extremely common recommendation is that if your barrel is too hot to touch for more than a second or two, you probably shouldn’t shoot with it. Like I said, there isn’t much science behind it, but this is the line of thought that I subscribe too.

But, as far as how hot the barrel can get, it is absolutely possible to have the barrel be glowing red. For this to occur, it would have to be around 1500 degrees Farenheit. However, in a range setting, this would be nearly impossible.

I Want to Shoot More! How Can I Cool Off My Barrel?

There are a couple tricks to cool your weapon off faster.

First, try bringing more than one rifle to the range, and alternating between the two. This will give each rifle time to cool off.

When letting your rifle cool off, take it out of the sun. You should also leave the action open, and stand it straight up and down.

You could also put a cool, damp rag on the barrel, but make sure you get any surface rust off the barrel afterwards.

Conclusion

As you can see, barrels can get extremely hot, and shooting it while it’s too hot could be detrimental to you and the barrel.

Remember, if it’s too hot to touch for a second or two, don’t shoot it! Keeping this simple rule in mind will prevent you from shooting a barrel that is too hot.

If your barrel is too hot, try leaving it in the shade with the action open and standing it up on the butt. This will help it cool off faster.

How Often Should I Clean My Gun?

Ah, the age-old question. It has been answered many times in many different ways. So, what is the correct answer to this question?

As I’m sure we’re all aware, weapons require maintenance in the form of cleaning. If you own a weapon, you’re going to have to clean it. It’s as simple as that.

Owning a gun and not cleaning it is negligent, and could potentially ruin your weapon. I don’t mean to use scare tactics, but these are the facts. Even if you aren’t shooting much, not cleaning your weapon could harm it.

How Often Should I Clean My Gun

So, let’s get into the question at hand.

The Basics: Why do I need to clean my weapon?

Simply put, because it gets dirty!

When you clean a weapon, you are cleaning some type of dirty residue. While there are many kinds, this is most often carbon. Carbon buildup occurs in your weapon each and every time you fire it. When the propellant burns, it leaves carbon behind.

Other types of residue could be trace bits of metal, which could be left behind by the bullets you are firing. However, this is somewhat uncommon, and 99.99% of the time, you are cleaning residual carbon out of the weapon.

Another reason to clean your weapon is to remove any rust from it. If you use your weapon outdoors, it is exposed to moisture. Some places are more moist, such as when you are duck hunting in a swamp, or deer hunting in the rain. However, even without precipitation, your weapon is still being exposed to water in the air.

When the metal of the weapon is exposed to any moisture, it could begin to oxidize. As a result, rust will form. Rust on a weapon is not a good thing, especially if it is inside the barrel.

By the way, you should have the best gun safe for the money for your weapons, it will protect your “wife” 🙂

What happens if I don’t clean my weapons?

Eventually, if the carbon buildup inside the weapon gets to be too much, the weapon can stop cycling properly.

If the buildup gets to be too severe in the barrel, the weapon could be similarly negatively affected. The bullet trajectory could be ruined, or worse. If there is too much rust built up, the same thing will happen.

Okay, I get it. Dirty weapons are bad. How often do I need to clean my weapons?

Now this is where it gets a little tricky. No one argues that you do have to clean your weapons, but plenty of people argue about how often it needs to be done.

To put it simply, you really can’t clean the weapon too often, as long as you are using the correct cleaning tools and not putting too much oil on it.

However, we will make a few recommendations for how often to clean your weapon.

Personally, I like to clean my weapons after each trip to the range. I find it to be soothing, but I also realize that not everyone feels this way.

Most weapons will be good for around three to four range trips, dependent on how many rounds you shoot.

My recommendation would be to clean the weapon every 250 rounds, if you don’t want to clean it each time you shoot.

If you don’t go to the range much, cleaning your weapon is still important. At the very least, you should break your weapon down and clean it twice per year, if you are never shooting at all.

should you buy or build an ar15

However, there are a few exceptions to these guidelines.

If your weapon is primarily for self defense or home defense, it is extremely important to clean it each and every time. This will ensure it will function each and every time.

For the competition shooter, cleaning a weapon each time you use it is extremely important as well.

Lastly, if you use your weapon in a swampy area or in any precipitation, you should clean it as soon as possible, to get any surface rust off of the weapon before it becomes a problem.

Conclusion

Cleaning weapons is a pretty easy and relaxing thing, but many people don’t know how often you should do it.

I would recommend cleaning your weapons each time you shoot, but not everyone likes to do this. If you prefer to wait, every 250 rounds is probably a decent guideline for you.

When cleaning your weapon, be sure to keep safety in mind. Always clear the weapon and use proper materials and cleaning techniques!

What Scope Does The Military Use?

For decades, civilian firearms fans have bought up military-style weapons, accessories, and optics. It is a near guarantee that weapons based on the current military weapons will be extremely popular. The case in point is obviously the AR-15, which has achieved firearms celebrity status as a result of being closely related to the military M4.

What Scope Does The Military Use

However, what optics are the military using? Are they commercially available?

This is a pretty broad question. The military uses quite a few different optics, and different units often use different optics. Special operations units can use separate optics than conventional forces. However, in this article, we will talk about a few of the optics used in the military, and whether or not you can buy them.

1. M68 Close Combat Optic (CCO)

First up is the M68 CCO, which is extremely commonly used in the Army. The Army has a contract with the manufacturer, and they have literally hundreds of thousands of M68s. However, the sight is used throughout most branches of the military.

On the civilian side, it is available as the Aimpoint CompM4. It is a durable and reliable sight that is extremely easy to use. They are accurate and enjoyable to shoot with.

However, not everyone in the military uses M68s. Many people prefer to shoot with other sights,

2. EOTech 553

One example is the EOTech Model 553. These EOTech sights are a very specific kind of red dot sight. They are actually a holographic sight. What this means is that the reticle is actually a hologram that is illuminated by a laser. This allows for the reticle to be smaller, which increases your accuracy.

In the civilian market, these are priced very similarly to the Aimpoint CompM4. It is another great sight, but the battery life isn’t as good. However, it is also worth mentioning that EOTech was involved in a lawsuit brought forth by the military that the sights were defective, so it may be worth checking out some of the others on our list.

3. Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG)

ACOG sights were originally mainly used by special operations units, but they are becoming more common in conventional units throughout the Army and Marine Corps. They are extremely popular, and are my personal choice for weapons optics.

Fortunately for you, Trijicon ACOG sights are widely available on the civilian market! The military uses mostly a few 4×32 versions, the TA31RCO-A4CP, TA31RCO-M150CP, and TA31RC-M4CP. Another one that is used is the ACOG/RMR combo, which is an excellent sight.

However, there are quite a few different magnification options available, so be sure to check out all of them!

My favorite thing about Trijicon ACOG sights, other than the durability, is the fact that they use fiber optics for the red dot, so you never need a battery. I find them to be extremely accurate and easy to shoot, but they are very expensive.

4. Leupold Mark 4

Now, we are transitioning away from M4 sights and onto sniper sights. These are just 2 of the common ones, but it is generally dependent on the shooter. When you get into the most advanced shooters in the military, they often choose their own optics, and there isn’t necessarily much overlap from one sniper to the next.

But, the first common optics for snipers is the Leupold Mark 4, which is available on the civilian market as well.

It is available with a pretty wide variety of magnification ranges. Leupold has come to be synonymous with quality. The Mark 4 is absolutely no different. They are crystal clear and extremely accurate. However, a hefty pricetag also comes with the Leupold name.

5. Schmidt & Bender PMII

Another one that is commonly used by military snipers is the Schmidt & Bender PMII. Just like the Leupold, there’s a huge variety of magnification ranges available. They are extremely high quality, and are even more expensively priced than the Leupold.

These optics should be saved for the most advanced shooters out there. It is of the highest quality, but you will pay for it.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are quite a few different optics that the military uses. As a reminder, this list was just a beginning. There are a few different optics used on machine guns and grenade launchers, which would make this list even longer.

Another thing to consider is that the answer may be changing from day to day. Especially for special operations units, they often change optics frequently and are using the best and newest stuff available.

What To Do When Your AR Is Not Chambering The Next Round

So, your AR isn’t cycling properly. After you fire a round, the next round doesn’t enter the chamber. What could be causing this problem?

In this article, we will talk about some of the most common reasons that this may be happening, and give some recommendations in conjunction.

All of these are very simple fixes, but could save you an embarrassing trip to the gun store.

What to do When Your AR Isn’t Chambering the Next Round

Before getting into some of these potential fixes, we are going to assume that you know how to use the weapon properly and have done the basic immediate fixes, such as tapping the forward assist.

Change the Ammunition

Are you using a different ammunition than you usually do for your ar15? This could be the cause of the issue. For various reasons, some weapons don’t like some ammunitions.

Whether it be the casing or the pressure generated by the propellant, your weapon may simply not like the ammunition you’re using. If you find that your weapon doesn’t cycle well using one ammunition, try using a different one.

This is one of the easiest fixes on the list.

Clean Your Weapon

How Often Should I Clean My Gun

Another very simple fix is cleaning your weapon.

Carbon buildup can cause your weapon to not cycle well, and it is a very easy problem to fix. If you haven’t cleaned your weapon in a few range trips, try cleaning it out and see how it cycles after that.

Note: Best ar15 scope is good for you if you are own an ar15. Check my article to find the best. https://www.dailyshooting.com/best-scope-for-ar15/

Try Different Magazines

Sometimes ammunition feeding issues can be caused by the magazine you are using.

Perhaps the lips of the magazine or the springs in the magazine are worn out.

Try it out with a different magazine, and see if that works better for you.

Check the Gas Tube

This isn’t necessarily a simple fix, but the issue could be caused by a leak in the gas blowback system.

Start where the gas tube meets the barrel, and work your way back, looking for leaks as you go.

Dependent on the exact issue, it may be a simple fix, or it may require a whole new gas system.

Buffer Spring Issues

An old buffer spring may cause the weapon to not chamber the next round properly. Similarly, a greased up buffer spring could also cause the same issue. Check out the buffer spring, and replace or clean it if need be.

Other Problems

If none of these issues are the one causing the malfunction, it may take a professional to diagnose it. There’s a chance that your bolt, bolt carrier group, or chamber are seriously damaged.

Basic reticle scope

Conclusion

These are some of the basic issues that can cause your weapon to not chamber the next round properly of ar15 rifle.

While there are some simple fixes on this list, not everyone will be familiar with them. Unfortunately, it is not always this simple, and sometimes a professional will have to handle it for you.

List 5 Home Defense Tactics You Need To Know

Owning weapons is great. Owning weapons and knowing how to use them is even better.

Many people own weapons because they are afraid of their home being broken into. However, have you actually thought about what you’re going to do if that happens?

In this article, we will go over some basic home defense tactics. We will make some basic recommendations, but the best thing you can do is have some type of plan.

For this article, we will go over some general courses of action.

Home Defense Tactics

#1 Avoid

The first course of action is to completely avoid the intruder.

To many gun owners, this may seem strange, but your best bet is to avoid the intruder. Getting into a wild wild west shootout in your living room is not your best choice.

If the intruder does not know you are in the house, barricade yourself somewhere with a weapon, contact the police, and wait it out.

However, if you have children that are in separate bedrooms or the intruder knows that you are home, this may not be your best bet.

#2 Escape

If you and your family are able to easily run from the threat, that is another viable option. If everyone can safely and quietly get out, arm yourself, leave the home, and call the police.

However, with so many homes having bedrooms upstairs, this is likely not possible for you.

#3 Fight

So, if neither of these options work for you, you are going to have to engage the intruder. Before getting into some factors to consider, we are going to assume that your weapon is easily accessible, and preferably is stored with a round in the chamber.

Once you have armed yourself, they key things to consider are cover and speed.

#4 Cover

Cover refers to something that can protect you if you are getting shot at. True cover will stop a bullet. A wall is not cover, because a bullet can travel through a wall. As you can imagine, there are very few things within a home that truly are cover. A brick fireplace or extremely thick/heavy furniture may work.

So, with a lack of cover, there are a few things to think about for protecting yourself. If you can kneel down or engage the target from somewhere other than a normal standing profile, it will help you.

Kneeling makes your body smaller, so there is less to aim at. Shooting from a different perspective (such as from upstairs) will also help, because the intruder will have to make very fast adjustments to where they have to return fire... if they are able to.

While a wall is not cover, it will hide your body and give you a significant advantage. If you can peek out from around a wall, you will be able to get a shot off from an unusual position. The intruder will likely not be able to process getting shot at, your body being hidden behind a wall, and returning fire through a wall in rapid succession.

True cover is ideal. If you can shoot from somewhere that you can’t get shot through, you should do that. However, in a house, this is extremely unlikely.

#5 Speed

The last thing to consider about engaging an intruder is the speed at which you shoot.

Speed will save your life in this type of situation. You need to be able to rapidly engage a target that will likely be moving and potentially firing back.

When I say speed, I mean being able to rapidly acquire, engage, and re-engage the target.

Having a good sight will help, as it will help you acquire the target faster than iron sights. Familiarity with the weapon will allow you quickly turn the safety off and engage the target. Having a bright light mounted to your weapon will also help, as it may temporarily blind the target and give you a little extra time to acquire and engage.

This will come from practice. When you are at the range, practice acquiring and engaging targets faster. Doing nothing but accuracy shooting off of a shooting stand will not help you. Put yourself in some uncomfortable situations, from different positions, and acquire targets as fast as you can.

You can even do dry runs in your house. If you do this, make absolutely certain your weapon is cleared.

Other Considerations

Lastly, keep in mind where you will be shooting. Like we said before, bullets will travel through walls. Make sure you are aware of exactly where everyone in the house is before shooting at anything.

If you are shooting a shotgun with the best scope, most shot will be slowed down significantly, but slugs will definitely travel through walls. 

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What Is Slice The Pie Tactic? Is It Work Well?

“Slicing the pie” is one of the most basic tactics. It is extremely useful for clearing a room, hallway, or rounding a corner.

Essentially, this tactic is best used when approaching a chokepoint, and trying to move through to the other side.

Slicing the pie tactic

A chokepoint is an area of concern in a potentially dangerous situation, and the best example is a doorway into a room.

There is only one way to enter a room: through the door.

If a shooter is inside the room, and wants to stop someone from entering the room, what’s the easiest way to do so? Simple, aim at the door and shoot anyone that walks in.

Without “slicing the pie” the most likely way to enter the room would be to waltz straight through the door.

If there was a potential shooter inside that room, you would be an extremely easy target.

Going through a chokepoint in a potentially hostile environment is extremely dangerous.

Slicing the pie allows you to be much safer as you enter the room, and if you are in a truly dangerous situation, it will allow you to engage the target before he or she can engage you.

So, ready to learn more about slicing the pie?

The Basics Slicing The Pie Tactic

This tactic is named for a much easier reason than you are probably thinking. Think about when you are slicing a pie.

The pieces of pie fan out from the center of the pie, meaning that they start very narrow, and get wider as it approaches the crust of the pie.

To apply this to clearing a room or a hallway, think of the end of the doorframe or the end of the wall before it opens up into a hallway as the center of the pie.

From there, think about the slices of pie extending out from the center.

Basically, what you are going to do is smoothly and methodically clear where you are trying to go in sections.

Slicing the Pie in a Doorway

Slowly approach the door, while walking alongside the wall. Your weapon should be shouldered and ready to go, in case there is a threat.

Once you get to the point along the wall where you can barely see into the room, you have identified your first “slice.” You will clear that one sliver of room, and then slowly inch forward.

Each time you inch forward, you will see more and more of the room. Another way to say it is that each inch forward reveals another slice of pie.

As you inch forward, clear all of these “slices” of the room, all the way from the door to as far as you can see into the room (hopefully to the back wall). Once You have made your way into the doorway, you have cleared all the “slices” of the room.

You should have gun to denfend from home, and of course you should have best gun safe for the money to make it safe.

Slicing the Pie in a Hallway and Elsewhere

You will take a very similar approach. However, rather than a doorframe, you will be inching around the corner of a wall and clearing down a hallway.

This tactic is very widely applicable. In any situation where there is some type of chokepoint with some cover, you could use this technique to slowly and safely clear the area beyond.

It is extremely useful for going around and between buildings in an urban setting.

It could be used for clearing through a window. It could be used for clearing any number of obstacles.

The basis of the tactic is extremely simple, and once you have mastered the basics, you will find that you will be able to apply this technique in many different areas.

Tips

Keep a foot or two between yourself and the wall. This will allow you to inch around the wall slower, without exposing too much of your body.

Take it slow. Your natural instinct will be to move through the motions very fast. However, going too fast is when you are most likely to miss things. Take your time, be safe, and be sure that the area you are visually clearing is actually clear.

Watch the barrel of your weapon. If you are attempting to try and take anyone in the room by surprise, be sure to keep your barrel out of the doorframe. As you are inching around and clearing the room, if your barrel is sticking into the doorway, it will be a dead giveaway that you are there.

Don’t be afraid to safely practice this technique. If you are worried that you may one day need to use this tactic, it certainly won’t hurt to take a few practice runs. Make sure your weapon is clear and no one is in the room, but maybe try clearing into your bedroom once or twice, to give you an idea what the technique should feel like.

Conclusion

“Slicing the pie” is an extremely basic tactic. However, in a situation in which you might need it, it is an absolutely vital skill to have.

If you ever find yourself having to enter a potentially dangerous room, you will be glad that you are familiar with this technique.

Knowing this could very well be the difference between life and death in an extremely dangerous situation. Remember, don’t move too fast!

Check out this YouTube video for a demonstration on how to use this technique!

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How To Sharpen A Broadhead

When it comes to bagging a deer, having a sharp broadhead is just as important as mastering the art of long range archery. Without a good blood trail, locating your kill or wounded deer can prove to be quite difficult. A sharp broadhead will puncture the flesh and skin more directly and completely then a dull one, causing more blood and faster bleed out. It’s very similar to any type of sharp knife – the sharper the blade, the harder the bleeding. Here are the best practices for how to sharpen a broadhead.

Identify which type of broadhead you are using and assemble the tools

A fact that many new archers don’t realize is that most broadheads require at least a small bit of sharpening to reach optimum performance. If you’ve bought the kind that are manufactured specifically to be incredibly sharp and not need sharpening, you’re off the hook for now.

I’d venture to say that a vast majority of broadheads will need at least a quick tune up before being ready to hit the field.

I recommend using broadhead arrows when hunting because they penetrate much better than other arrow types, and are also more accurate. Now that we’ve identified the broadhead type, let’s make sure that all necessary tools are on-hand:

• Broadhead sharpener. These can be picked up at a hunting store or online. It’s worth it to buy a decent one for the garage if you plan to bowhunt regularly. Small, cheaper ones are also available for use on the go if that’s more your style.
• Sharpening stone. If you don’t have a specified broadhead sharpener, a sharpening stone can get the job done. You’ll have to exercise more control and precision here. Obviously, you don’t want to cut yourself.

Sharpening with a broadhead sharpener

I keep a dedicated sharpener at home, as I don’t really like to do it on the fly or use equipment that isn’t meant for the task. The first step, before any sharpening takes place, is to install the broadhead onto the arrow to make sure it fits properly. Once you’ve got the head onto the arrow, we’re ready to use the sharpener. This tool allows users to hold the arrow by the end near the broadhead. You’ll want to get a secure grip on it using both hands.

• Place the arrow in the center of the two plates at the top of the sharpener. The broadhead should be on top of the plates.
• Sharpen the head by running it along the plates, much like you would a kitchen knife on one of those automatic sharpeners. It’s important not to counteract your sharpening by going back the other way.
• Run it along from the back of the broadhead in towards the tip. This always seems to give more control over the action, in addition to optimizing the sharpening process.
• Check the head for sharpness by lightly rubbing your finger along it at a perpendicular angle. Again, keep in mind that this is similar to a sharp kitchen knife- if you scrape too hard or the wrong way, you’re going to cut your finger open. I’m not going to sit here and tell you precisely when the head is ready. When it’s sharp enough, you’ll know.
• If you are using top of the line arrowheads, I highly encourage you to use a dedicated sharpener. This will improve the life of the arrowheads, maintain accuracy, and ensure the best job of sharpening is done.

Sharpening using a whetstone or other file

If you aren’t keen on spening some cash on a nice sharpener, a whetstone will do the trick. Just file the headstone as you would anything else on the whetstone. 3 pronged broadheads are tough to do on a surface like this, but other than that you shouldn’t have any problems.

I don’t recommend doing this with top-notch broadheads, for risk of damaging them and having to spend a bunch of money replacing them. But if you’re out in the field or on a camping trip, having a portable way to sharpen the heads is typically better than nothing.

A bastard file is my favorite of these. Approach it like you’re using a dedicated sharpener, with the broadhead attached to the arrow, and file like you would anything else on there. Again, pretty tough with three pronged heads, but you get the gist. You can take the bastard file anywhere: keep in your pocket or in your satchel.

Conclusion

Broadheads can be sharpened in a number of ways. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been taking the extra time to keep the heads sharp and clean. Accuracy is your best friend when out in the field, and leaving a solid trail of blood to track down the animal is going to make the entire process easier. I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on how to sharpen a broadhead. Please share on social media so that your friends and family can learn the benefits, and feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to get a discussion going.