TrentSwanson

How about a good middle-ground solution? I use Superior Ammunition out of Rapid City, SD. You can send your rifle to them and have them work out the best load or you can order a Sample Pack. The Sample Pack includes 20 rounds - 4 each of 5 different loads. When you call, you give them as many details as you can about when/where/what you are hunting and what type of load you would like. They then use their experience to create loads that have shot well in that caliber in the past. I did not find any factory load that shot well out of my Christensen Arms .270WSM other than 130gr Remington Core-Lokts that I didn't want to hunt with. I ordered a Sample Pack and ALL of the loads shot better than the factory loads, with a 140gr Accubond shooitng the best - a .53" 3-shot group at 100 yards. I then ordered a Sample Pack for my .300WIN and specified that I wanted to use either the 165gr TSX or 168gr TTSX. I haven't shot them yet, but am excited to! I call what they do "semi-custom loading." I know that they do not take the time to make "precision loads," and they are more expensive than buying factory loads, but the time investment for me is way less. Even an extra $20 per box means I get a load that shoots well and I don't have to make the time to learn how to reload properly or do the actual reloading.

It's refreshing to know there are quality people in the world. Acts like this make me proud to be a hunter!! Hope you find the owner...

FYI: Here's an article I wrote about the Outdoorsmans Rifle Rest and LRRS for the most recent issue of Western Hunter. Outdoorsmans Tripod Accessories: Rifle Rest and Longrange Rear Rifle Support By: Trent Swanson, Senior Editor Recently, there has been a huge interest in longrange shooting. Improved rifles, scopes, and bullets have made longrange shots possible. In addition to the quality of the components, the skill of the shooter, and the weather conditions, one of the key components to longrange shooting is the use of a solid rest. While heavy bipods have been the norm in the past, shooters have recently looked into more efficient options that cradle both the forend and butt of the rifle. Since the guys at the Outdoorsmans realize most longrange shooters will locate their quarry by the use of tripod-mounted binoculars and spotting scopes, they decided to design a longrange shooting system that can be used in conjunction with their excellent line of lightweight tripods. The Longrange Rear Rifle Support (LRRS) is an extra arm of the Outdoorsmans Tripod that supports the butt of your rifle. The angle, length, and cant of this arm are nearly infinitely adjustable. At the tip of the LRRS, there is a micro-adjustable Y-shaped rear stock cradle. Once you add the Outdoorsmans Rifle Rest to the head of your Outdoorsmans Tripod, you will have a solid platform for resting both ends of your rifle when making those long-distance shots. The adjustments are quick and easy, especially with the Outdoorsmans Pan Head. First, place your rifle into the Rifle Rest, and then use the Pan Head to aim your rifle at the intended target. When you get the sights close, tighten the Pan Head while supporting the butt of your rifle, and then move the LRRS into place. Look through your scope to verify that your sights are aligned appropriately. If you need to make fine adjustments to your windage, gently loosen the windage adjustment on the Pan Head as well as the lower attachment point of the LRRS. Move your rifle, Pan Head with Rifle Rest, and LRRS all as one unit, and then tighten down those adjustments once your sights are aligned. To make fine adjustments to the elevation, simply twist the micro-adjustment screw just below the Y-shaped rear stock cradle on the LRRS. Once your adjustments are made, you should be able to peer through your scope and gently press the trigger while cradling the rifle. On a mule deer hunt on the Eastern Plains of Colorado last year with Aaron Neilson of Global Hunting Adventures, I watched one of his friends shoot a buck off the LRRS. Lee Gazda had some health issues, which prevented him from being able to support the weight of a rifle for very long. I let him use my LRRS while we waited for a beautiful 180-class 3x4 muley to stand up. When he did, Lee dropped him with one shot! Without the LRRS, he would have been hard-pressed to make such a great shot after waiting so long. If you have a rifle capable of shooting a four-inch group at 600 yards, but can’t hold it steady enough to hit the broad side of a barn, add the Outdoorsmans Rifle Rest and LRRS to your arsenal. The weight difference is negligible, they don’t take up too much space, and they will give you the ability to hold your rifle stock-still. The LRRS can be added to existing Outdoorsmans Tripods, but requires in-house assembly. The Outdoorsmans Tripod, Rifle Rest ($169.99), and LRRS ($199.99) are sold separately. Please call the Outdoorsmans at 800-291-8065 for details.

I have yet to shoot an animal off the Outdoorsmans LRRS, but have used it extensively for sighting-in and longrange shooting. I have watched it in action while hunting - I let one friend use it to shoot a mule deer in CO and another used it to shoot an antelope in NM. Bottom line: it works great! It takes a little bit to align everything correctly, but once you do it is a very stable system. I just got back from the antelope hunt in New Mexico... We finished up early so we shot targets and rocks from 275 yards out to 880 yards. We were trying out a bunch of Zeiss optics on a variety of rifles and calibers. I shot prone with a Harris bipod, sitting with a SnipePod, and sitting with the Outdoorsmans Rifle Rest and LRRS. The scopes included the Conquest 4.5-14x44 with RapidZ-800, Victory 4-16x50 with an adujustable elevation turret, and the 6-24x56 RapidZ-V and target turrets. We ranged everything with the Zeiss RF Binoculars and watched hits with the new 65mm and 85mm Diascope. (Yes, I was in heaven with all those optics!!) The prone/Harris was the most solid, but who wants to carry a rifle with that big, heavy bipod attached? The SnipePod was the least stable, but with a good trigger press and proper sight alignment, I made hits. The SnipePod really shines for mid-range shooting. The Outdoorsmans system was the best combination. It provided a solid platform and the best part is that I always have my tripod for glassing with tripod-mounted binoculars, so will always have a great longrange system.

I agree with Coach on all points except one: if you choose to use a Leica Geovid or the Zeiss RF rangefinding binoculars that do not allow you to mount a tripod using the center hinge, the Outdoorsmans makes an awesome mount that slips over one objective lens. It is lightweight and solid, and is of course optimized to use with their tripod susytem, but it can also be used with just about any tripod plates. It is called the Ring Adapter and comes in 42mm, 45mm, or 56mm. Just for the record, I have always used Leica or Swarovski 10's around my neck (because I have to carry them somewhere when they're not on a tripod... ha!) and recently started using the 15x56 SLCs. I carry my Leica CRF 1200 in a pouch on the belt of my pack and carry a Swarovski 80mm spotter in my pack. Each tool serves a specific purpose. I think the ideal setup (short of the all-in-one optics nirvana Coach dreams about) would be tripod-mountable, lightweight 8x32s around your neck, 15x56 SLCs for true glassing, an 80mm spotter for trophy judging, and a small, lighweight, accurate rangefinder. If you get a chance, head up to the Outdoorsmans to take a look through all the different optics. At the end of the day, the best choice for you is the binocular that looks the best to YOU and feels the best in YOUR hands and against YOUR face. Good luck!

Beautiful buck Mike... but no mention of a rattlesnake in your story? Ha! It is gracious and humble sportsmen like you and your dad that make me proud to be a hunter. Congrats not only on a great buck, but also for the patience and persistence to reach your goals!

Hey guys, I was lucky enough to have David drive up to Northern Arizona to show me the new LOC JAW. Bottom line: it works! We slid it on the lower rail of my AR, tightened a few stainless steel hex screws, added an Outdoorsmans plate, and started shooting. I shot from both a standing position and a sitting position in fast, but controlled fire. Even with a pretty good crosswind, I put all the shots into less than 4" at 100 yards. I haven't had a chance to try it out on prairie dogs or coyotes yet, but I'm sure it will work perfectly. If any of you have an AR and are looking for a great solution for long distance shooting that adapts to a piece of equipment you're already carrying, check out the LOC JAW. I will also be writing a Gear Highlight on the LOC JAW for a future issue of Western Hunter. David has some videos on youtube and Amanda sells them here: LOC JAW

Great buck and congrats on getting in EBJ!

SuperiorBowHunter, I'm glad you found what YOU like! That is the most important thing. We can argue back and forth which is better, which is clearer, which has better coatings, which has better focus, etc., but at the end of the day, it's YOUR spotting scope and YOU should be happy with it. I try to tell everyone that as long as you are looking at a few different brands representing the very best quality, what it finally should come down to is what YOU think. We all have different reasons for liking different things. I'm just glad we have so many choices! Speaking of choices, I hope you are happy with your experience at the Outdoorsmans. There are plenty of places to buy optics, and even a few that support this site, but NONE of them do as much for hunters and wildlife as the Outdoorsmans. They are members and officers of conservation groups, they donate their time and money to those groups, they design products for hunters, and actually use the products in the field. The owners, managers, and salesmen at the Outdoorsmans are all hunters and shooters and know optics from that standpoint; they're not just salesmen in an office building!

MooseCoues, In addition to being the Senior Editor for Western Hunter Magazine, I am also a freelance photographer, and I would love to help. Please check your messages! Thanks,

Kowa vs. Swarovski warranty: the warranties are very similar between the two companies. Usually the issue is resolved on a case-by-case basis. The only experience I have with either company's warranty is my brother-in-law, who sent back his Kowa 66mm because he knocked over the tripod with it on top and it landed on the eyepiece, which came loose. He had to pay a little to get it fixed, but it was not a hassle at all. The Outdoorsmans helped facilitate the entire process. Keep in mind, neither warranty is as good as the Vortex unconditional warranty, but if it's their fault they fix it. If it's your fault, they fix it and do the best to take care of you and ensure you're happy. I echo RedRabbit's suggestion: the Outdoorsmans will let you take them on the front porch and compare them side-by-side to look at the mountains or up and down Cave Creek Road. When I bought my first binos from them more than 10 years ago, I must've spent two hours with a Leica and a Swarovski! Bright sunlight in the middle of summer in AZ is not the best time to compare optics, but it's far better than inside the store! Also remember that they are not IN Cave Creek; they are ON Cave Creek Road. It is still quite the drive from Queen Creek, but they are located on Cave Creek Road just north of the 7th St./Dunlap/Cave Creek 5-way intersection. The easiest way to get there would be to take 60 to I-10 to 51 North, head west on Northern, then north on 7th to Cave Creek, then northeast on Cave Creek about 3/4 mile to the shop on the west. They're about 15-20 minutes from the airport depending on the time of day. They're open from 9-6 M-F and 9-5 Sat.

I just checked with Terry at the Outdoorsmans... they have both the Swarovski 80mm ATM and STM in stock, plus the Kowa TSN-883 (angled). In addition, they have a great special going on the older Swarovski 80mm straight spotting scope (STS80) with 20-60x eyepiece - only $1999 while supplies last. Head over there to check them out or give them a call at 800-291-8065.

Don't forget Western Hunter Magazine! (The only publication that sponsors this site!!) Here's a couple other book ideas: 1. C.J. Box authors a series of mystery fiction novels revolving around a Wyoming Game Warden. Sometimes he portrays the Game Warden as a bit of a buffoon, but the books are very entertaining and all in all, hunting is represented in a good light. Plus, the storylines always have to do with outdoor-related issues. I think there are 9-10 books in the series that starts with Open Season. Check out www.cjbox.net or just head down to Barnes & Noble. 2. Unintended Consequences by John Ross. It is not a hunting book, but a great fictional history about gun rights and gun ownership in the U.S. It is one of my favorite all-time books, even if it is REALLY LONG. Check out www.john-ross.net. (You might have to find a used copy...)

That's a good price on one of the most valuable glassing tools available. It's hard for me to glass without the Dual Mount now that I've started using it. I'm surprised someone hasn't jumped at the deal!

Those Swarovski 10x50s are great, but I think they are too big and heavy. I much prefer the 10x42s from Swarovski, Leica, or Zeiss. The 10x50s are more than 1/3 heavier than the 10x42s and are 1-2" longer. As for brand, head down to the Outdoorsmans (10004 N. Cave Creek Rd.) and check them all out. They are all great, but they each feel differently in your hands and against your face. Pick the one that YOU think is the best and most comfortable!

Lat year on a Coues deer hunt, I compared them side-by-side with the Swarovski 15x56s and I could definitely tell a difference. However, they are quite a bit less expensive and the very best mid-range 15x binocular out there. If your buddy is either unwilling or unable to spring for the Swarovskis, he will be very happy with the Vortex. They do have an awesome warranty, too. When he's ready, make sure he also has a quality tripod and binocular mounting system. Have him call the Outdoorsmans (800-291-8065) with any questions!

I had the same tag last year - congratulations on drawing two tags in a row! At every tank I checked during the hunt, I either had my picture taken or there was already someone sitting there. I chased bugles the first couple days until it all but stopped. After that, I glassed. And that's probably the best thing about Unit 8 - there are plenty of places to sit water, chase bugles, or glass. You can change it up to do whatever works best or is to your liking. Besides the guys sitting tanks who I didn't talk to, I ran into a few hunters in the field, but they were all kind and friendly. I actually made a couple of new friends! However, I also didn't spend much time where there were other hunters. I prefer to hunt where there are fewer people even if it means there are fewer animals. If I meet anyone in those areas, they tend to be nice. It's great that you and your wife hunt together. You both should have a great time. I was lucky enough to have my wife glassing above me when I killed my bull last year. There's nothing like sharing the hunt with family...

Just like binoculars, all of the top brands are very good and almost indistinguishable in quality. However, each has different features and ergonomics that appeal to hunters in different ways. I have no experience with Optolyth, but if you choose any spotting scope from Swarovski, Leica, Zeiss, or Kowa, you will not lack quality. I agree with everyone here that 80mm is the way to go. The small increase in weight will more than pay for itself in low-light situations. Plus, on some spotting scopes, the magnification of the 65mm with the same eyepiece is less than the magnification of the 85mm. Zeiss is a perfect example of this; the same eyepiece on the 65mm is 15-45x, while on the 85mm it is 20-60x. Sometimes those extra "x's" on the top end come in handy without sacrificing much at the low end. If you are really concerned with size and weight, I would choose a 60mm spotter from Kowa. They are much lighter weight and considerably smaller in overall dimensions than most of the 65mm scopes and all of the larger models. The best advice I heard was from Doug (Red Rabbit): head over to the Outdoorsmans and check them all out. Those guys know a ton about optics and tripods, and you will be able to see which one you like the best!

The Pistol Grip will work just fine. A couple years ago I used it exclusively with the big Vortex Skyline 80mm that I was testing. The Vortex is quite a bit longer and heavier than the Leica and I did not have any problems. I have used it since then with the Swarvoski 80mm. It was designed to handle the weight. A couple other things that might help: 1. Keep the Pistol Grip clean - especially the ball. You can take it apart and clean it or send it back to the Outdoorsmans and they will do it for you. If you let it get all gummed up with dirt and grime, it starts to "creep" on you, especially with the longer, heavier spotting scopes. 2. If you pull the trigger on the Pistol Grip when your spotting scope is not balanced and you don't support it, the scope can fall to the side. Just keep one hand on the scope and one on the pistol grip when you are making big adjustments. I recommend you do that with your 15's, too. 3. If you plan to mostly glass with your 15's, consider getting the Panning Attachment. It allows you to pan along one plane so you don't constantly need to squeeze-move-release, squeeze-move-release. I used my Pistol Grip for years before getting the Panning Attachment and now would not give it up! You will be very happy with the Pistol Grip. Congrats and thanks for supporting the Outdoorsmans!

Thanks for choosing the Outdoorsmans! Huntin' AZ: Bob Foulkrod uses the Outdoorsmans Tripod and Rifle Rest on his Gore-Tex Outdoor Adventures Show. It is the same one that Condor referred to in his post. Good eye!

Give Travis Scott of Southwest Hunting Adventures a call at 928-859-4939. He knows that country like the back of his hand. If you get drawn, he will be able to put you on a great sheep.

The Rapid-Z reticle from Zeiss is very nice. You should be very happy with it. Note that there is a 5mph windage bar and the end of the line is for 10mph winds. I think your choice of a 3-9 is great. You may be lacking a little magnification on the longest shots you take, but you will more than make up for it with the lower magnification since most shots are taken much closer. Also, the smaller scope and lighter weight are much more handy in the field. For anyone looking at a great combination of scope and ballistic turret, take a look at the Outdoorsmans Ballistic Turret. They utilize the Swarovski BR riflescope and then custom engrave a ballistic turret to replace Swarovski's. Whatever your choice may be, give the Outdoorsmans a call at 800-291-8065.

I just pulled out my Outdoorsmans Tall Tripod with Center Post Extension and Pan Head. When all parts are fully extended, the top of the Pan Head is 78.5". It's almost as tall as you! Of course it also compresses down to 24.5" and weighs just 4.5 lbs (with the Long Range Rear Rifle Support attached). Give the Outdoorsmans a call at 800-291-8065. They have a solution for you!