Hunting. It's one of the most basic and innate forms of human nature. For thousands of years, hunting meant survival. It's how society was formed. Today, there is a disconnect in how our food gets to our refrigerators and tables, and for most, hunting has become a pastime rather than a necessity. In a recent video, Leupold brought YouTube personality, 2a Activist, and lawyer Colion Noir out to experience the thrill and the hardship of the hunt. Colion Noir is best known for his YouTube channel, Colion Noir, where he reviews new products, dissects court rulings, and discusses the importance of the 2nd Amendment.ABOUT LEUPOLD OPTICSLeupold Optics is a brand that is bigger than its product line. The company and its people live, breathe, and eat the things their consumers do. Unsurprisingly, they have a facility perfect for tuning up before a big game hunt that includes rifle setup and optics sight in, a flat range proving ground, and a dynamic range to practice hiking and shooting from uncomfortable positions. Colion learns the basics of backpack hunting in the hills and mountains of the American West. For many Eastern Hunters, hiking over thousands of acres of untamed wilderness to stalk and hunt is a dream—and Colion is living it. While the exact details of the rifle are unclear, the rifle appears to be a custom action and carbon-fiber barrel sitting in an MDT HNT26 chassis. The glass, of course, is from Leupold and comes from their VX-6 line—Leupold's highest tier in their hunting line. While the video overviews an amazing experience, connecting man and beast, it also highlights Leupold's line of products—from optics and binoculars to chest harnesses that keep everything close at hand.THE HUNTHiking over rough terrain is hard. Adding the logistics of carrying everything on your back, including a rifle and handgun, makes the experience all that more exhausting. But the serenity of nature substantiates the experience—or, as Colion describes it, "beautiful misery." Conversely, the video's highlight isn't Colion talking about his youth or experiences or even the products showcased, but the cinematography of the hunt. The beauty of nature, the peace and idyllic presence of the world, and inner peace are breathtakingly captured. All of this erupts into a conclusion that can only be described as reverence—a deep respect for the game taken, the challenges that were overcome, and the momentary realization of taking life. It's that deep respect that drives hunters. It was an experience that Colion craved. It was the connection he needed. While the urban lifestyle brings the immediacy of interaction, hunting in the mountains brings something entirely beautiful—inner peace.Check out Colion Noir's epic hunt, titled Colion Noir's FIRST Elk Hunt – Leupold Behind the Core, and all of the other epic adventure videos Leupold creates. More information about the MDT HNT26 Chassis System can be found here.RECENT MDT MENTIONS! Mountains, Mullets, Merica! Shorty 6.5 CreedmoorTeam MDT Wins the PRS Rimfire National Finale!Long Range Beginners: Tips & TricksSheep Hunting in Kyrgyzstan3,000 YARD TIKKA 7 SAUM RIFLEAndy Slade Wins The 2023 AG Cup!ABOUT THE AUTHORI have worked in the firearms industry for 11 years and counting. What started as a part-time job during undergrad has become a career. In that time, I have been lucky to work with some incredible people and companies. I also completed a Master of Arts in History from Cleveland State University. When I am not shooting, reloading, or working on my firearms, I am reading, writing, and tinkering with Legos.
I remember the day precisely. It was a Sunday; the Browns were playing the Ravens (yes, I am one of those crazy diehard Browns fans who enjoys misery), and the soon-to-be-worst QB in the NFL (Deshaun Watson) somehow lifted the Browns out of the jaws (like the shark from Meg, size jaws) of defeat. But since the Browns were playing the Ravens, and DW (to that point) had been a combination of okay, terrible, and injured, my best friend's brother decided to host a bunch of people over at his property to shoot. Of course, I went. However, I quickly realized I wasn't the same type of shooter as everyone else. Let me explain. See, after years of competitive sports, long practices, and countless hours in the weight room, I go into any form of shooting like it's a practice—therefore, I went in with a purpose. This meant I had all the gear—chest rig, war belt, and other cool guy stuff—and was ready to run bill drills, work on footwork, and practice breathing control. Well, everyone kinda just stared at me like I was some tactical ninja. I was clearly overdressed for the occasion. I had forgotten that shooting is a pastime for many Americans, whereas, for me, it is more like a profession. It's not that I don't have fun shooting; it's just that I consider it a skill to become proficient at. My friends see it as something fun to do rather than watch another miserable football game (even though it was one of the best second-half comebacks in Browns history; who can predict that?). So, I sat there while everyone was blasting away, trying to remember to have that kind of fun again, the fun I had shooting as a kid on my grandfather's farm. The type of shooting that involved pop cans or a game of who can hit the smallest target. The guns I'd brought were tools: a duty-type pistol, a concealed-carry handgun, and my primary training AR-15. While all these are cool and fun to shoot, they aren't "fun guns." But, as the afternoon continued, I remembered the "fun" aspect of shooting (plus the Browns won, so all-in-all, it was a pretty perfect day). I share this story to say that, for the past two years, I have been assembling a smattering of "fun" guns to take out with friends who are new or novice shooters to have fun and engage in the shooting pastime. 300 BLK FUN GUN To me, there is nothing better than an uber-quiet rifle. The only sounds heard are the ping of the hammer hitting the firing pin and then the dull thump of a heavy slug smacking a target down range—pure joy. And nothing brings a smile to a new shooter's face than this. The bark of a firearm has always been a deterrent. To some, it's scary, and to others, it's nauseating. But a gun that is Hollywood quiet, nobody can turn away from that. So, with this idea in mind, I selected the newish Ruger American Gen II in 300 BLK (the Ranch model specifically) to be the base for a designated suppressed fun gun. But I wasn't going to leave the gun in its basic configuration. No, sir. I can't leave anything as is. I must put my own twist on it, right? Where's the fun in a basic model rifle? 300 BLK FUN GUN PARTS LIST Once purchased, I spent a bit of time acquiring the components and accessories for the rifle. Before I break it all down, here's a list of everything (with links in case you are interested): Ruger American Ranch GEN II in 300 BLK MDT Field Stock, FDE MDT GRND-POD (ARCA) MDT ARCA to M-Lok (7 in) MDT 30mm Rings Leupold VX-6 Patrol (Is this overkill? Yes.) MDT 223 Rem AICS Magazine Daniel Defense SG-30 Titanium I'll admit that the stock shipped with the American GEN II is an upgrade from its predecessor. However, it's still classified as a "budget" rifle, so it doesn't have all the features I want in a stock. My goal was to be conscientious of the budget (but after a while, does that even matter?). There are many aftermarket stock/chassis options for the Ruger American series. But the MDT Field Stock quickly caught my eye. Not only was it affordable, but it also offered the creature comforts I was looking for. For one, it was AICS compatible. Additionally, the LOP and the height of the comb were easily adjustable. It included a vertical grip, and the stock featured M-Lok along the bottom of the forend. Next came the accouterments. I planned to run ARCA to easily adapt the rifle for new, disabled, or inexperienced shooters who need additional help (like a tripod). So, a 7" strip of ARCA to M-Lok was necessary. Additionally, because I couldn't resist, I added the MDT GRND-POD to the order. The GRND-POD is the little brother to the CKYE-POD, and while it lacks some of the features of its sibling, it offers enough functionality for most shooters. Weighing 15.3oz compared to 21oz for the lightest CKYE-POD, the GRND-POD is perfect for most hunting and shooting situations for those who aren't dedicated competitors. Now, let's discuss optics. Did I go overboard? Yes. Didn't I mention keeping cost in mind? Also, yes. But as my generation used to say, YOLO. The Leupold VX-6 Patrol is my favorite LPVO (low-powered variable optic). Does it have all the functionality and features of its competitors? Not necessarily. But it does bring absolute clarity and a simple and easy-to-use reticle, and it only weighs 16.2oz. These are all things I value for this type of optic. The optic is sitting in a set of MDT Lightweight Scope Rings. Specifically, they are 30mm, and MDT's equivalent to a low height. I'm not a fan of the current super-tall optic mount trend. I still like to keep things low and close to the bore (but maybe that's just me- remember, I am a delusional Browns fan… there's always next year). Finally, perhaps the most critical piece of the puzzle is the suppressor. For this project, I decided to use my Daniel Defense SG-30 Titanium. This suppressor line was designed and built in partnership with KGM. For those unaware, KGM is one of the biggest names in suppressor manufacturing that you've never heard of. While KGM has its own line of cans, they are one of the largest OEM manufacturers, driving much of the technology we see today. I bought this suppressor for use with my 300blk AR and 6.5 PRC bolt gun. It features low back pressure capabilities and a reduced weight due to its titanium construction. Those were the features I was looking for. The build was a breeze. The only stressful part was attaching the magazine latch to the chassis after installing the barreled action. The assembly, including mounting the optic, took just over 30 minutes. The final product? A badass and incredibly quiet bolt gun. Initial testing was done at my buddy's range just before Christmas. Shooting 50 yards from a tripod was comical. There was no recoil, no noise, just a dull thud of a 208-grain slug hitting the backstop. It was euphoric. Everything functioned flawlessly. The MDT Field Stock was ergonomic, and all other accessories worked as intended. Smiles all around. Even my friend's dad, who rarely shows emotion, was overcome with joy from shooting the rifle. FINAL THOUGHTS Ultimately, did I go over budget putting together a "fun gun?" Probably. Especially considering that I could have left the rifle alone and still achieved my goal. But that wasn't the point. The point was to build a gun that all types could enjoy. It is easy to adjust, I can adapt it to a tripod or bipod, and the optic offers exceptional clarity and eye relief that any shooter can get behind it. What's better than that? I have plenty of working guns. Guns that I train or shoot competitively with. But now, when friends call and want to go out to shoot—or learn to shoot, for that matter—I have a fun option to bring. Check out the latest on our YouTube channel! SELECTED WORKS FROM CORY ROSS The Golden Age of Precision Rifle: Have We Peaked? The Rifle Keith Built The M24 Sniper Rifle: a Brief History M21 Rifle The Legacy of Army Snipers The M40 Rifle: a Brief History
MDT-supported and sponsored shooters continue to make waves in the PRS, securing top finishes in recent matches nationwide. From the snowy conditions of New York to the competitive battlegrounds of Oklahoma, these skilled marksmen showcased exceptional talent and determination. John Galati with a 1st place win! Kicking it off, MDT-supported shooter John Galati proved his prowess by taking first place at the Sheepdog Snowball Freeze Fest PRS Centerfire Regional Qualifier in the Catskills, New York. Braving the cold and challenging conditions, John delivered a stellar performance. Andrew Makos, Left, with a 1st place finish. In Pennsylvania, MDT-supported shooter Andrew Makos emerged victorious at the Frozen Scope Classic, hosted by the Mason Dixon Precision Rifle Series in Gap, Pennsylvania. The match featured difficult environmental conditions and demanding target engagements, but Andrew's skill and precision carried him to the top of the leaderboard, adding another win to his name. Ken Sanoski with a 1st place win. Down in Oklahoma, The Clay's Cartridge Co. Classic PRS Pro Series match in Leedey, Oklahoma, saw outstanding performances from multiple MDT-sponsored shooters: Ken Sanoski dominated the competition, claiming first place with an exceptional display of marksmanship. Daniel Bertocchini secured a strong 4th-place finish Joe Pask finished in the top ten, placing 9th in a highly skilled field. Reagan Stahmer earned the title of Top Junior. We caught up to Ken to ask him about the match, "Anyone who knows Clay Blackketter will agree that he's a numbers guy. He spends a ton of time planning and setting up his COF, and it shows. This match had well over 100 targets set up for the 20 stages. Each engagement was an array of big and small targets we had to engage. Clay even gave us two freebie rounds on each stage to earn your points. This is a newer format that's never been done before and ended up being challenging for the shooters to remember the sequence of target engagements. For me, it was perfect—plenty of prone positions and even extra rounds to get my impacts. I dropped only one shot on Day 1, which gave me a 1-point lead going into Day 2. On day 2, I continued shooting well, increased my lead throughout the day, and won by 5 points. Overall, my favorite stage was the TYL stage on the tires. This was a 5-target array at 425 yards. The biggest target was maybe 12" down to around 4", and shooting from 3 different tire positions with different sequencing made it challenging. I got to watch a few other really good shooters on this stage, and I knew if I was able to clean the stage, that would be enough for the win, even with 1 stage remaining. I ended up cleaning this stage without missing and then also went onto the next stage and cleaned it too to win the match." Regan Stahmer took Top Junior. As the PRS season continues, all eyes will be on these elite competitors as they push the boundaries of precision rifle shooting. Congratulations to all the winners and top finishers on their outstanding achievements! Check out the latest video on our YouTube Channel! COMPETITION RESOURCES FROM MDT NRL Hunter Gear Breakdown NRL Hunter Stage Breakdown Tricky Props | PRS Stage Breakdown Getting The Most Out Of Your Shooting Bag How To Run A Sub-30-Second PRS Barricade A Pro's Approach to Complicated Stages | PRS Stage Breakdown How To Clean A PRS Stage: Francis Colon Stage Breakdown How PRS Will Make You A Better Hunter How Pro Shooter Francis Colon Sets Up His Rifle 12 Essentials For Match Shooting In The Rain - Precision Rifle Tips Mastering The Mental Game Of PRS: An Easy Way To Achieve A Higher Score Advanced Target Acquisition - How to be a Better Shooter
As shooters, we’ve all sat in deep thought, dreaming about and contemplating our ideal gun build. It’s the classic question: What would I build if I won the lottery? Many of us consider this fantasy and never realize it (I mean, the chances to win the lottery are like 1 in the millions). Luckily, we can live vicariously through the wonders of YouTube and social media. Seeing how other people build their dream gun helps us decide what would or wouldn’t work in this hypothetical scenario. Thankfully, that’s where Precision Shooting Store and James Bass take us in their latest video. While James didn’t win the lottery, he decided to dive headfirst into building a custom rifle, a process that took two years! Previously, he spent his time shooting with an upgraded Tikka, which are great rifles, especially given their cost. But James wanted to join the custom rifle club. Unlike most, James centered his build around a chassis rather than an action. While many argue that the action is the heart of the gun, the chassis is how you interface with it. Many forget this point when outfitting a rifle. And since we are building dream guns, James selected the MDT ACC Elite chassis, the first left-handed one to arrive in Britain! Chassis in hand, a rifle build unfolded. The rest of the build is as follows: Lone Peak Fuzion action (left-handed, of course), a Proof Research in competition profile chambered in 6mm BRA, TriggerTech single-stage Diamond trigger, Gray Ops AW Mag, APA Little Bastard muzzle brake, and the impressive Kahles 525i DLR. Additionally, the rifle is adorned with weights,dampeners, a Ckye-Pod, and Baker Wings. I don’t believe it’s possible for this rifle to shoot poorly. Every component was picked for optimal performance. As discussed in the video, preferences are subjective; they exist in the eyes of the beholder. What matters is what works—and perhaps what looks best to you. What one person seeks in an action or fancies in an optic might be opposed by someone else, and that’s okay. That’s the beauty of the sport. We have options. So, the question is, how would you build your dream rifle? Check out the latest video on our YouTube Channel! COMPETITION RESOURCES FROM MDT NRL Hunter Gear Breakdown NRL Hunter Stage Breakdown Tricky Props | PRS Stage Breakdown Getting The Most Out Of Your Shooting Bag How To Run A Sub-30-Second PRS Barricade A Pro's Approach to Complicated Stages | PRS Stage Breakdown How To Clean A PRS Stage: Francis Colon Stage Breakdown How PRS Will Make You A Better Hunter How Pro Shooter Francis Colon Sets Up His Rifle 12 Essentials For Match Shooting In The Rain - Precision Rifle Tips Mastering The Mental Game Of PRS: An Easy Way To Achieve A Higher Score Advanced Target Acquisition - How to be a Better Shooter
When I recently complained about the cost of ammunition and handloading components, my helpful wife suggested I not shoot as much. Wrong answer! But it got me thinking of more realistic ways to minimize the cost of pulling a trigger. Here are a few ideas I came up with. SHOOT CHEAPER CALIBERS Even a quick glance at a store's ammunition counter will quickly reveal it costs more to shoot some calibers than others. The big magnums have the highest price point when it comes to rifles, so to save money, do most of your shooting with a cheaper, smaller caliber. For rifle shooters, the cheapest centerfire choices are .223 Remington and .308 Winchester, simply because of popularity and the fact both are "military" cartridges. And don't forget .22 rimfire or even air guns if you want to save a lot of money. Dry fire is also an excellent way to maintain your shooting skills. Firearm professionals like Paul Howe advocate for 90% dry fire and 10% live fire. Rimfire ammo isn't as cheap as it used to be, but it's a cheaper training option than centerfire. BUY LOCAL Much of what we shooters buy comes with shipping challenges. Lead, brass, and copper are heavy, while powder and primers are "explosive," ensuring specialized shipping methods are needed. This means that if manufacturers of these products are in your local area, they might provide the best deals because of significantly reduced shipping costs. And some even have factory stores where they sell blemished seconds or overruns. Those kinds of deals might even be worth a long drive. USE SUBSCRIPTIONS The opposite of buying local can save money too, just harness the power of the internet. These days, there's no shortage of online retailers offering everything we need to supply our shooting needs. Most send out regular sale bulletins offering special deals on their product lines. However, it is necessary to sign up to receive these. While we all get too much junk email, I've narrowed my selection down to a few retailers who regularly offer great deals on the products I need most often. Just last week, I got a bulletin from one of them telling me they had primers I was looking for in stock at 15% off, and they'd ship for free with a minimum order. I was all over that deal. You can save money by loading your own ammunition, especially if you can get brass for free. LOAD YOUR OWN AMMO Can a person save money by handloading? I usually say it's impossible because they just shoot more, resulting in no saving. However, it is possible to save money in some circumstances, much of which has to do with the calibers you shoot. One of the keys to shooting cheap is not buying brass but scrounging it. Like those bottle-pickers you see along the highway, it's possible to pick brass discarded by non-handloaders at the local shooting range. Since that brass case is the most expensive component of a centerfire rifle cartridge, the price to shoot goes way down if it can not only be reused but not purchased at all. Again, the easiest calibers to find are .223 Remington and .308 Winchester. I've purchased brass for almost all the rifle handloading I do, but I have never purchased a piece of .223 or .308 brass. I've scrounged it all. BUY IN BULK It's obvious manufacturers can provide savings when they deal in large volumes. But it's also true for consumers. I use this principle when buying bullets for handloading, as containers of 250 or 500 are considerably cheaper per bullet than the small 100-count boxes. Hornady offers many of its most popular products in 500-count boxes, with some even available in 6,000-count containers. Bulk buying also works when buying cleaning patches, cleaning solvents, and gunpowder. While I haven't done it recently, but I can team up with other shooters and purchase large quantities. My largest bulk purchase to date was shared with two friends many years ago when we bought 50,000 bullets at once. High-volume shooting, like varminting, requires buying in bulk to keep costs down. DON'T BUY CHEAP At this point in the discussion, there is no savings in buying poor quality products. But where do we draw the line between good value and a lousy product? That's harder to determine. For example, I've had great luck with some of the value-priced rifles currently offered by various manufacturers. They aren't fancy, but they get the job done, and there's enough money left over for upgrades like a chassis system. On the flip side, there are value-priced optics out there that aren't worth bringing home at any price. In those circumstances, it's cheaper in time and frustration to buy a higher-priced, quality product than to try and save money on something incapable of doing the job you bought it for. In that case, you're better off buying a quality used optic with a lifetime warranty. In closing, these are the best suggestions I can make for reducing shooting costs because we all know that shooting less is never an option. Check out the latest video on our YouTube! SELECTED WORKS FROM AL VOTH Common Shooting Myths Rimfire Season Optics: Parallax and Optical Center Optics: Understanding the Optical Triangle The Ethical Shot Avoid Common Gun Mistakes Hunting Drills for Success Pursuing Precision Rimfire Season Airgunning With MDT Picatinny Rails Vs. Weaver Rails How to Keep Records on Your Firearms Four Common Shooting Mistakes Hunters Make Winning and Losing Lead is Toxic - So What?
How shooting matches makes you a better hunter Shooting precision rifle matches is the best practice for hunting. Ryan McLean covers some of the similarities between shooting matches and making shots on game animals. He covers positional shooting, shooting movers, using your optic and reloading. THE GEAR Check out the gear we highlighted in the video. mdt TIMBR FRONTIER STOCK SHOP NOW MDT ACC ELITE CHASSIS SYSTEM SHOP NOW mdt lightweight premier scope rings SHOP NOW mdt 20 moa picatinny scope base SHOP NOW more from mdt watch: getting the most out of the mdt baker wings Keith Baker, Team MDT pro shooter, invented the Baker Wings to get an advantage over his competition. Your non-shooting hand can now improve target acquisition and recoil management. watch: HOW TO SET UP YOUR SCOPE FOR LONG RANGE ACCURACY An improperly set up scope can cost you points at a match or a trophy animal on a hunt. If you trust your local gun store to properly set your scope up then you’re good to go. But, if you don’t, we have Pro Shooter Keith Baker. WATCH: HOW A PRO SHOOTER SETS UP HIS .22 What is your perfect rimfire rifle build? Pro shooter Andy Slade breaks down the setup he used to reach the podium at the PRS Rimfire Series Finale in Texas.
What happens when a top senior shooter faces off against a top junior shooter?
MDT Team shooters Gage Caples (16) and Rusty Ulmer (64) go head-to-head in a friendly PRS long-range mock match. Watch to see how their styles, techniques, and mindsets compare!
Top pro shooters break down the most common mistakes they see at matches. In this video, they reveal these critical errors, explain why they cripple your score, and—most importantly—show you how to fix them so you can shoot with more confidence and precision!
If your rifle isn’t set up for you, you won’t trust it—leading to missed shots, frustration, and a zero on your stage.
A properly fitted rifle boosts confidence and eliminates guesswork. Watch our latest video as Pro Shooters Chad Heckler and Rusty Ulmer walk through the setup process step by step.
We’re at Gravestone Range for the ultimate showdown! One of the top NRL Hunter shooters takes on a PRS pro who’s never shot an NRL Hunter match. They’ll go head-to-head in two PRS and two NRL stages. With intense competition, tough terrain, and high-stakes shots, this is a match you don’t want to miss!
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