Firearms (30)

A hunter wears blaze orange and carries a rifle while walking through a field, TABK concept.

TABK: The Trick to Remembering Firearm Safety Rules

TABK is an acronym that summarizes four essential firearm safety rules: treat every gun as loaded, aim only at what you intend to shoot, keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to fire, and know your target along with what lies beyond it.

A close-up of a choke for shotguns.

How to Use Chokes for Shotgun Hunts

As a hunter, knowing the nuances of your equipment is essential. One often overlooked component in shotgun hunting is the choke. While understanding the function of a shotgun choke is relatively straightforward, knowing when to use one and how to match it to your type of hunting…

Close-up of a hunter holding a shotgun against his chest, what might cause a firearm to explode concept.

What Might Cause a Shotgun to Explode? (And How to Avoid It)

A shotgun may explode due to a catastrophic, high-pressure failure, most commonly caused by a barrel obstruction (mud, snow, or a stuck "squib" wad/shot), using incorrect ammunition (e.g., 12-gauge in a 20-gauge gun), or overloaded/improperly reloaded shells. These issues cause pressure to exceed the barrel's strength. Understanding the potential dangers…

Many rifle cartridges, different types of ammo concept.

Different Types of Ammunition (and Which One to Use)

I can appreciate the confusion hunters face when selecting the correct ammunition. When I first started hunting upland birds, considering the different types of ammunition I could use was overwhelming. Which gauge? What shot size for what bird? What shell length? What material should the…

Scope and rifle aiming in the distance, long range shooting rifle for hunting concept.

When to Use a Long Range Shooting Rifle for Hunting

Advances in cartridge design, rifle build quality, and precision optics have given the modern hunter access to unparalleled precision. Today’s long range shooting rifle is a tool that enables a hunter to harvest animals at distances that were once considered unthinkable and unethical. However, to…