American hunters have been brainwashed into thinking they want the brightest riflescope they can buy.
They don’t.
Light-gathering ability is mainly a function of objective-lens size, which means the brightest riflescopes would be too large and unwieldy to be much help in the places most of us hunt. Picture a 65mm or an 80mm spotting scope strapped to your rifle. Bright as hell, but hugely impractical. [ Read Full Post ]
As we head deeper into spring there will invariably be rain in the forecast. This means the chance of getting stuck in muddy situations are high. Having a quality winch on your machine is important, but more importantly, you need to make sure it is installed correctly or it may not work when you need it. Or worse, it could destroy the wiring system on your ATV. If you are installing a brand-new winch, be sure to read the manufacturer’s directions and warnings carefully before you start. Here are a few tips to keep your winch’s electrical components in safe working order. [ Read Full Post ]
From the flimsy to the fortified, this year’s field of 14 full-size binos and 4 mid-size binos have something for everyone. The most interesting trend is the continuing integration of electronics into hunting optics. Three binoculars feature rangefinders. See our review of the best new hunting binoculars on the market. [ Read Full Post ]
If submissions to this year’s riflescope test are any indication, the confluence of the tactical and the sporting may finally be slowing. For the first time in several years, the number of scopes in the field designed mainly for hunting exceeded those configured specifically for shooting. [ Read Full Post ]
If you want to know whether your hunting optics are worth a spit, then look at them through the business end of a flashlight. A simple penlight – the smaller and brighter the better – will reveal flaws in coatings, indicate whether your optic was made in a competent facility, and whether you are getting your money for the glass.
This visual inspection is a skill that sharpens with repetition, but here’s how to get started. [ Read Full Post ]
Many do-it-yourself ATV and UTV owners change the exhaust on their vehicles, and for good reason: a better exhaust system will create much more power. But changing the exhaust on a carbureted machine brings on some secondary issues that need to be addressed in order to keep the engine running properly.
The exhaust pipe on your quad is tuned specifically for the machine. Not to mention, it is also custom shaped in the pattern needed to fit your machine without interfering with any other components. If this pipe or its silencer is altered in any way, (whether it is bent in an accident or manipulated by you) it can impact the engine's performance.
Here are some tips for tweaking your ATV or UTV exhaust: [ Read Full Post ]
The “mils” in a mil-dot scope refer to milliradians, which is a measurement of angle. If you picture a mil as an ice cream cone, with the tip originating at the shooter’s eye and an open end that gets ever wider the farther out it goes, you get the idea. So if the mouth of our imaginary cone is 1 mil in diameter, making it 3.6 inches across at 100 yards, it would grow to 36 inches at 1,000 yards.
Learning the principle behind mils (see illustrations), coupled with some homework on your part, can yield remarkable benefits to your shooting.
For instance, mils allow you to hold over (or hold off) a target without the need to adjust your scope turrets for elevation and windage. With a come-up at 375 yards of 15 clicks, for example, you can hold the crosshairs 1.5 mils high on the target for a direct hit.
It takes time, but once you master it, the mil-dot system is lethal and fast. [ Read Full Post ]
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