http://www.riflescopeblog.com Expert's reviews, news, notes on rifle scopes, hunting optics, shooting, binoculars, night vision sights, gun accessories, and more Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:00:07 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2012/01/leaving-for-shot-eye-injury-and-new-daughter.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2012/01/shot-show-2012-in-vegas-opmod-and-rads-departure.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/12/happy-new-year-christmas-party-pinata-smashing-new-shooters-at-g-a-t-guns.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/12/out-first-christmas-fireplace-snow-beard-and-rads-first-gun.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/12/nikon-meeting-in-new-york-city.html http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/12/opmod-under-fire.html http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/12/opmod-spotting-scope-and-binocular-videos.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/11/some-favorite-christmas-gift-suggestions.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/11/start-your-christmas-shopping-early-at-opticsplanet-com.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/11/having-a-fun-friday-workday-at-op.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/10/alaskan-bear-hunt-with-eotech-2011.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/10/atf-confiscates-my-gun-case-in-anchorage.html http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/10/alaskan-bear-hunt-gun-case-preparation-2011.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/10/bear-hunting-with-opmod-in-alaska-2011.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/10/outdoor-ignoramus-remington-r-15-with.html http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/10/awesome-op-50.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/09/barefoot-arkansas-digiscoping-with.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/09/reticles-and-girls-riding-my-pulse-my.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/08/opticsplanet-opportunites-with-guns-and.html http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/07/new-nikon-monarch-binocular-video.html http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/07/opmod-exps2-holographic-weapon-sight.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/07/midwest-outdoors-and-product-training.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/07/happy-independence-day-with-products.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/06/yukon-twilight-digital-night-vision.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/05/atk-outdoor-products-conference-may.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/05/opmod-pvs-14-springtime-airguns-and-atk.html http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/05/happy-15th-birthday-to-our-best-friend.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/05/pittsburg-nra-show-2011.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/04/riflescopes-101-and-pittsburg-nra-show.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/04/binoculars-101-riflescopes-101-free.html The last two shots I took in Texas with my .454 Casull destroyed a lot of my hearing. Not that I have an abundance to lose. Shooting for most of my life and many years on an aircraft carrier … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/03/tinnitus-preparing-myself-for-shooting.html Just got back from Texas pig hunting, had two days of work and then out to hunt them again. Texas this time, also, but just a few miles from the Mexican border instead of mid-state. Crystal City, Texas, the … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/03/crimson-trace-texan-hogs-bloodthirsty.html Seven guys from L-3 EOTech were here last Tuesday. A few of us from OP had productive meetings with them most of the day. These were to be our hunting partners for Texas hogs. After work we went to … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/03/texas-pigs-and-coyotes-with-eotech.html Our pig killing guns and equipment cases are on their way to Texas. The above video was an impromptu thought before I shipped them. Our videographer extraordinaire, Devin, was on hand to film a taste of my reasonably disjointed babbling … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/02/pig-guns-opmod-hard-cases-and-pistols.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/02/freedom-arms-454-with-opmod-on-weaver.html Got friend Mark a Barrett REC 7 in 5.56 a couple days ago. Since the choice was up to me and I know Mark’s tastes, I knew he wouldn’t be happy with average, or even a very good product. … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/02/barrett-rec-7-556-first-report-setting.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/01/shot-show-2011.html SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) show this week in Vegas. This is my superbowl. Lots of work to do there, and I’ll bring back a year’s worth of work for here. Good shoes and a backpack with comfortable straps are … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2011/01/shot-show-next-week-bone-jewelry-and.html My mission…to provide a youth rifle in .22 for a girl’s 10th birthday gift, a full-size .22 rifle for her dad, and a .22 pistol they both can use. Lots to choose from. There’s plenty of youth single shots … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/12/father-and-daughter-guns-more.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/12/iowa-cold-nikon-m-223-on-12-gauge.html I waited until the last minute, and this is what I get. It was deer season in Illinois two weekends ago and my range was closed because of it, so I had to wait until this last weekend to sight … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/11/last-minute-sighting-in-debacle.html Here’s three of our Technical Sales Product Specialists. Trevor, Chase, and Mark. Not technically “Devil Dogs” because they’re not all dressed as Marines, but all three have period, original, authentic gear totalling around 8 grand. This is what Halloween … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/11/product-specialist-devil-dogs.html Tom and I are going to Iowa in a couple weeks for big whitetails and I just mounted the scopes on our guns. Tom and I are both using Nikon Slughunter 3-9×40 scopes with the BDC 200 reticles. His … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/11/toms-sx3-and-my-savage-with-nikon.html Our compatriot, Ryan, just picked up one of the new Savage 220F 20 gauge bolt action slug guns. I also have one. His has the beautifully done camo stock. I’m jealous because mine is black. These guns have been … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/11/savage-220-rings-and-bases-with-nikon.html My friend Mark was invited to a waterfowl hunt in Manitoba last week, his first hunt of this kind. It was sponsored by Final Approach, the waterfowler’s decoy and blind company, through our friends at Bushnell, the parent company … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/10/mark-mighty-hunter-and-final-approach.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/10/leupold-antelope-hunt-outside-casper.html I’ll be revisiting an old friend for my Antelope hunt this year, a Ruger 77 rechambered for .270 Weatherby, given to me as a wedding gift from a former employer and friend. Cleaned the tube of any powder fouling with … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/09/gun-preparation-for-wyoming-antelope.html I’ll be leaving next Monday for an antelope hunt in Wyoming. I needed a new scope. Those of you who read this blog and my forum posts are aware that I don’t like bells and whistles and unneccessary functions … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/09/actual-maximum-parallax-error-in-inches.html When we landed in our section of Texas it didn’t really seem like “Texas”. Not too many cowboy boots or hats or Skoal ads, just a lot of sprawling suburban anywhere buildings and malls dotted with Starbucks. It sure was … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/09/lonesome-texas-doves-with-breaking-and.html My last batch of elk stuffed peppers will haunt your dreams like your favorite other fantasies, if you were lucky enough to have tasted them. Ground elk with perfectly cooked rice and our garden cherry 100 tomatoes folded into … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/08/elk-stuffed-peppers-and-smoked-alaskan.html We lost my little brother Joe last Saturday. He had health and other issues most of his life, but it was still shocking and unexpected. His son Andrew just left for Afghanistan, months after enlisting in the army. The Red … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/08/my-little-brother-joseph-william-ledin.html My Shirley went on her annual visit to Colorado to play with our friend Valerie, so I and Rad played bachelor for a few days. Val was/is a former love of mine and is My Shirley’s best friend. When … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/08/my-shirley-and-val-gen-4-fishing-with.html At our company picnic a couple weeks ago a kid fell and opened the bridge of his nose down to the cartilage. I had my truck with my emergency gear in it and was able to clean him up … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/08/skin-damages-chuck-vets-nikon-monarch.html A lot of cuts from my elk last year were a bit tough, so I made some elk bourguignon a couple days ago. It was a complicated recipe, and turned out rich and complex. A whole lot was going … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/08/elk-bourguignon-princeton-tec-tactical.html I got a gun safe delivered to my office the other day. It’s a Gun Vault GV5900. A decent product at a good price, made to keep more than honest people honest. I certainly can’t get into it without … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/07/gun-vault-gv5900-safe-and-fresh-garden.html I’ve been pretty impressed with the new Weaver Tactical line of riflescope mounts and accessories. I’ve been suspect of this company since the last couple of owners screwed it up royally. Seems like ATK, the new owners, have really … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/07/weaver-tactical-mounts-and-best-scope.html Happy Independence Day! From an old Navy salt to the rest of the veterans, thanks for serving! Three day weekend coming up for some. More time for projects. Lately I’ve cleaned and mounted some turkey skulls for Mark the … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/07/happy-independance-day.html The OPMOD EXPS2-2 and EXPS2-0 EOTechs are selling like crazy. These OpticsPlanet exclusive products’ notoriety has taken off due to chat on popular gun forums and industry word of mouth. We are actively working on more OPMOD products, as … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/06/opmod-exps2-eotech-pistol-match-and.html OPMOD is an acronym for OpticsPlanet MODification. OPMOD products will encompass our own versions of go-fast products meant for the tactical crowd. OPMOD is a play on the acronym SOPMOD, which means “Special Operations Peculiar MODification”. SOPMOD is a … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/06/opmod-eotech-exps2-2-in-stock.html As a very young man, many of my fantasies seemed almost unattainable at the time. Getting a driver’s license was a pretty sure thing, but many years in the future. Losing my virginity was another one a long time … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/05/my-visit-to-leupold-and-tunnel-dream.html Monday mornings at OpticsPlanet aren’t the worst experiences in the world by far, and a lot of times are reasonably fun (for a job). Last Monday was better than most since it started with an early morning road trip … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/05/nikon-m-223-scopes-on-cmmg-guns-in.html HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RADICAL LEE von DUNDEE! 14 years young!]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/05/happy-birthday-to-my-best-friend.html A friend of mine I’ll call Mark the Turkey Hunter was invited to Kansas with Bushnell to shoot turkeys in the face. A few items from OpticsPlanet went with him. For binoculars he used the Bushnell Chuck Adams Bowhunter … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/05/fear-and-loathing-in-kansas-with.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/04/511-tactical-pants-beer-and-qatari.html My Shirley and I were perusing the estate this week after work. Rad was doing laps and peeing on things when Shirley said, “LOOK!” The dog was locked up like a statue. He hadn’t pointed a bird since he … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/04/rads-last-point-and-binoculars-101.html Continued from the previous blog: The ATN PS-40 comes in a great SKB hard case with all accessories and tools needed to mount the scope to a pic rail. The BAM mount is separate. The IR illuminator is included, … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/04/atn-ps-40-and-chuck-vets-meat.html My Savage 10 FCP McMillan has a new top end on it. It’s the ATN PS-40. After decades of professional gunstuff employment, I’m a bit jaded, and not too many items excite me extraordinarily. This unit definitely does. It’s … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/03/atn-ps-40-generation-4-night-vision.html My new 5.11 Tactical Trainers are superb. No break-in required. In Modesto, California last year at the 5.11 Dealer Symposium the Tactical Trainers were introduced. Turns out that at that time I was wearing a similar style of boot … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/03/511-tactical-trainers-and-ballistically.html Sometimes I get pretty saturated in my job, same as the cookies I soaked in milk during a midnight snack. This week was another busy one. I bring it home with me, too, but that’s okay. I would just … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/03/guns-and-ammo-and-cookies-and-milk.html The annual SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) show was in Vegas this year. Lots of miles covered carrying lots of paraphernalia. Nikon had the coolest introduction of all with their “Spot On” ballistic program. More on this outstanding data … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/02/adventures-at-shot.html The Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) show is in Vegas again this year. Leaving Monday. This is my Superbowl, this is some of what I get paid for. Pressing the flesh, establishing new contacts, and putting faces to names. Some … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2010/01/shot-show-2010.html Hope Christmas was great, and have a Happy New Year! God bless you and yours!]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/12/happy-new-year.html Not many foods can thaw a cold winter chill like a hot hearty stew made from meat with an animal you have taken. This is how I built my last batch of elk stew, courtesy of an animal taken … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/12/merry-christmas-with-steves-slow-cook.html A week or so after I fell coming down a mountain on my last elk hunt I discovered I buggered my knee. Wasn’t getting better, so I had to see someone. I filled out the form at the doctor’s … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/12/docter-shawns-weatherby-with-nikon.html December 7th, Pearl Harbor day, was the anniversary of the day I joined the Navy, thirty years ago. Dad was old Navy also. He asked if I had my flag up at home, and the answer was, “Yes, Sir!”. … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/12/pearl-harbor-anniversary-blackhawk.html Cyber Monday is here! Today officially starts the main part of our Christmas season. Hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving. My Shirley and I have been eating well, like you’re supposed to do at this time of … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/11/cyber-monday-at-opticsplanet.html One of the products I used on my last elk hunt was the Bushnell Backtrack. This personal locator/GPS is about the size of a pocket watch, and just about as easy to use. Turn it on and wait for … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/11/bushnell-backtrack-zebra-skin-rash-and.html October 28th, 6 AM. Outside John Day, Oregon. Dark. Cold. 17 degrees when we woke up. The boys dropped me off with instructions to follow a barbed wire fence for a mile or so up the mountain (as the … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/11/another-successful-elk-hunt-bushnell.html 11:30 AM Saturday, October 24th. Feels like the night before the big game. I’m waiting in my Jeep for my shooting range to open. I deep cleaned the Devil Gun and installed a Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16×42 in lapped … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/10/quesy-on-night-before-big-bushnell-game.html Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/10/burris-elk-hunt-2009.html Hunt time is here. Going to Colorado. CCCccold there right now, about 10 degrees. Talk to you next week, God willing.]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/10/gone-elk-hunting.html The Devil Gun is on its way to Burris. They’ll grab it and bring it to camp. Nice when you don’t have to fly out of O’Hare with firearms. The best thing, though, is that now I get to … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/10/devil-gun-to-burris.html The Devil gun is running fine. That’s great because I was losing confidence I could get it to shoot well enough. Yesterday groups were running around an inch, with one group about .330. Plenty good for anyone, and that … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/09/devil-gun-groups-and-yukon-spotter.html Last range session was mainly about getting small groups out of my Vanguard. The crappy groups I’ve been getting had nothing to do with the great glass on it. I’m using one of the new Burris Six-X riflescopes with … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/09/burris-six-x-tasco-world-class-plus.html The “Devil Gun”, my 9999 serial number Weatherby Vanguard just wasn’t shooting for me. I’m getting flyers like a bad habit. The stock was contacting the left side of the forearm when it arrived, but since it’s a sub-MOA … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/09/meister-brau-devil-gun-kolpin-and.html Spent a few days in Modesto, California last week on a dealer retreat with 5.11 Tactical, a favorite company of mine. It was refreshing to see such a competently run large business. 5.11 is mostly oriented towards the brick … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/09/red-and-white-wining-with-511-in.html It’s been a busy two weeks. After starting to break in a couple of guns in my basement (see “Barrel Break in Procedures…”) I planned to take four .30 caliber guns to the range. While taking the stock off … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/09/511-range-time-exercise-and-house.html I lost one of the best friends I will ever have yesterday morning. Donald E. Tipsword was a mentor to many, including me. He taught me a lot under his wing. He introduced me to the Masonic fraternity and … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/08/donald-e-tipsword-shooters-friend.html Shot a four inch, twelve shot group at 1800 meters this weekend during my barrel break in procedure. Actually, I mean millimeters, or about 6 feet. I have a Detroit Bullet Trap Super 12×12 bullet trap rated for velocities … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/08/barrel-break-in-procedures-for-1800.html I’ll be using the same gun for two consecutive hunts this October, and to facilitate the swapping of the two different riflescopes I’ll be using on these hunts, I opted to use Burris XTB Weaver style bases on my … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/08/burris-xtb-bases-and-xtr-rings-with.html Here’s an article soon to be on our website: How to Buy a Laser Rangefinder Golf and Hunting: Priority DifferencesReticles and Aiming PointsDistancePowerMagnificationPicture QualityDioptersBattery LifeSize and WeightHorizontal ModeScan ModeOther ModesConclusion Determining how your laser rangefinder will be used is … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/07/how-to-buy-laser-rangefinder.html Strange, but true. My fish is now at least 60 pounds. It grew 10 pounds even after it died last Tuesday. It continues to grow. The best thing about a dead tuna is that you can eat it. Some … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/07/amazing-blackhawk-yellowfin-tuna-grows.html I’m sitting on the fantail of the “Ocean Pearl”. I haven’t been on an ocean-going fantail for almost 30 years. It brought back a lot of memories. We’re in the gulf stream now a few hours off of Norfolk, … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/07/blackhawk-and-yellowfin.html Sometimes a practical solution looks to be ridiculous on the surface. Case in point, my latest creation for back door coyotes. It is a handy little six inch barrelled High Standard Sentinel revolver. It’s chambered in .22 Long Rifle, … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/07/night-vision-riflescope-on-high.html One of the most important jobs I have is to cater to My Shirley’s whims. Father’s day weekend is no exception. Friday after work I came home to a flooded living room and basement. Went to suck it up … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/06/expensive-whimmin-for-fathers-day-with.html Since the beginning of recorded history, humans have had existential questions on profound matters never quite answered fully or correctly. Questions about God, the afterlife, our universe, and Canada geese come to mind. First three are comparatively easy to … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/05/how-to-peacefully-co-exist-with-local.html I’m still working on my friend Jerry the instructor’s shooting package. His model 70 Heavy Varmint is lapped, recrowned, polished, mounted and ready to go. I’m configuring his gun case now. I decided on a Storm 3300 gun case. … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/05/pelican-1750-gun-case-vs-storm-3300-gun.html The first thing to know about purchasing any laser rangefinder is that the maximum ranges listed for a particular unit are for use with large, smooth, reflective targets under ideal atmospheric conditions, which means cloudy and clear. You may … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/05/my-favorite-golfing-rangefinder.html This October I have two elk hunts scheduled. The first one starts at 9500 feet and I expect this hunt to be the most demanding I’ve ever attempted. I think I may just shoot myself before I go so … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/05/elk-hunting-and-exercise.html In Riflescopes 101 class the other day I impressed upon the students the importance of safe gun handling. Most of these folks have never had any experience with firearms. Some have never been in the same room with a … Continue reading →]]> http://www.riflescopeblog.com/2009/04/pointing-dogs-and-pointing-guns.html