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Scope Cleaning 101
When you’re using a scope, let’s be honest - you’re going to be outside… and the outside world is full of grit, grime, dust, mud, strange little fibers. There’s stuff out there, and it’s going to get on your scope. Today, we’re going to be looking at how to get your scope to look as pretty as when you first laid eyes on it.
Leatherwood ART Army Qualification - 1968
In 1968, the 9th Infantry Division in the US Army officially began their Sniper Training and Employment. During the last two days of the course, recruits were to complete the qualification firing.
We decided to try our own version of this ART qualification. To make things interesting, we put the M1000-PRO against our PentaLux TAC-VF 4-20X50 FFP scope. Additionally, we added a shot timer for induced stress.
Hi-Lux Optics Uni-Dial Scope Delivers Life-Time Hunting Experiences
... That next year, I drew an antelope tag and was lucky enough to find a Boone & Crockett buck...but he was 501 yard away. I had the confidence in the gun and your scope, so I dropped the big boy! Next was my wife's hunt where she took a Coues-Whitetail buck at 584 yards...with 7 of family and friends watching...she dropped the buck! Everybody couldn't believe it! That's the day the rifle got its neck name "Freak Nasty"! That year I also took a 3x3 desert mule deer buck at 375 yards...
All About LER (Long Eye Relief) Scopes
A few scopes are built to sit much farther away. They have a much longer eye relief than is standard. For this very simple reason, they're called long eye relief scopes. Sometimes, you'll see that written as LER.
The Essential Features to Look for in a Reflex Sight
A reflex sight (also known as a red dot sight) is an essential tool for shooters across various disciplines, from tactical and competitive shooting to hunting and self-defense. Its primary function is to provide a fast and accurate aiming solution, offering ease of use over traditional iron sights.
The Effects of Wind on a Bullet
At the range, you may hear someone ask for a wind call. This is them asking for the speed and direction of the wind, and potentially how much adjustment they’ll have to make to account for the wind.
Sandbags - Use and Function
Sandbags are wonderful and squishy bags of usefulness. On an especially long day, a proper sandbag may even serve as a quick pillow. However, for the purposes of your rifle, a sandbag is meant to provide support.
What is Illumination?
An illuminated scope does not mean night vision or infrared or a flashlight. Instead, illumination means that there’s a small light inside the scope, set up to illuminate the reticle.
Installing the M14/M1A Picatinny Rail
The M14 and M1A rifles do not normally have a Picatinny rail. They're not quite built for easy installation of a scope by other means, either. Still, these rifles are not without hope in the field of attached optics. Using the existing architecture of the rifle, it's possible to attach all the mounting equipment necessary to install a rail.
Where the Action Is
In a nutshell; the action is the portion of the rifle that performs the action of firing the round and ejecting the cartridge. The action is the mechanical structure responsible for loading a cartridge into the chamber, firing, and ejecting a cartridge. Let’s just say - this is literally where the action happens. Make all the puns you want.
Powder
Powder is the stuff that really sends the bullet flying. Once the primer sets off the reaction, powder burns. As the powder burns, the pressure and temperature in the chamber and the barrel skyrocket. The rising temperature and pressure cause more powder to burn, speeding up the process until it completes.
Straight-Wall vs Bottleneck
Cases come in many sizes, but only two general shapes: bottlenecked and straight walled.
The Gun that Won the West
The story of The Winchester 1873 rifle is not one of startling, ground sweeping change. Instead, it was a series of well-made decisions that boosted this rifle to great popularity, at a time when people in the Wild West were looking for a rifle just like it.
The Memory of Memorial Day
“We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. ... Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.”General Logan, 1868
The Long History of the 1903
The 1903 is a rifle. Chambered in .30-06 (‘thirty ought six’), it’s made of wood, metal, and a firm butt plate and weighs a bit over 8 ½ lbs. It’s a bolt action rifle that has been around since (you guessed it) 1903. Originally named the “United States Rifle, Caliber .30-06, Model 1903”, it’s now colloquially (and officially) named the “Springfield M1903.”
How to Choose a Rifle Scope
A handy set of questions for you to consider before you go picking a scope:
What is the size of your expected target?
What is the expected maximum distance?
What sort of environment and lighting conditions will you be shooting in?
Do you find metric or imperial measurements easier?
Do you want more information in the reticle, or do you prefer a cleaner view?
Is the scope’s weight or size an important factor?
The Birth of the Spider Silk Reticle
The first usable spider silk reticles were invented in either 1639, 1662, 1755, (a little before) 1785, or in 1802, each with their own unique spin. Considering that Rittenhouse and Peale’s 1776 “Riffle with a Tellescope to it” was the first recorded scoped rifle shot… and that this is a rifle scope blog... it’s reasonable that Rittenhouse would get credit for the first ‘practical’ application of a spider silk reticle.
The Totally Revamped M-1200 XLR Auto Ranging & Trajectory Scope Is NOW Available!
A couple of years back, the M-600 was replaced by the 2.5-10x44mm updated and upgraded M-1000 model. Now, the M-1200 has also been totally revamped – including a 30mm scope tube and switching to the new multi-cal “CAMputer” system, which is easier to use and more user friendly than the original Leatherwood system. The new system is also more compatible with a much wider range of popular cartridges as well – from the .223 Remington to the .50 BMG.
Old School Technology Meets New School Performance...
When it comes to recreating older style rifle scopes from the past, Hi-Lux Optics has done an outstanding job of maintaining the "Old School" look, while also incorporating modern up-to-date optics and internal construction to make the company's contemporary copies of older rifle optics far superior to the originals. One such "re-introduction" that has gotten a lot of attention, especially from "Old School" Marines, has been the re-make of the M40 USMC sniper scope - the original of which da...
Royal Army Museum WWI "Trench of Death" Reenactment
The Royal Army Museum in Belgium recently held a World War I reenactment at the Trench of Death in Dixmude, Belgium. The Trench of Death is famous for being the site at which the German Army retreated during the Battle of Yser. After sustaining heavy casualties, the Belgian Army along with French and British reinforcements, were able to successfully hold off the German Army due to torrential downpour and flooding in the German Trenches.
Scoping The Swiss K31 Rifle
Minimum eye relief of the Hi-Lux scope is 8.7″ at 7X and is perfect for the K31. Most scout scopes are low power optics good for a quick shot at shorter ranges but not so good for target shooting at distance. With a variable power scope like the Hi-Lux I have the best of both worlds. I can turn it down to 2X and hammer targets off-hand at 50 yards or I can sit at the bench at 100 yards and test my handloads at 7X.
What is a Rimfire Round?
Rimfire cases have the priming compound built into the case - specifically, around the inside of the rim. The firing pin of a rimfire rifle hits the rim of the case instead of the center. They do not have a separate priming cap at the middle of the head.
The Physiology Behind Precision
Mastering rifle accuracy goes far beyond understanding ballistics and equipment. It demands a nuanced grasp of one’s own body—its strengths, limits, and responses to physical and mental stimuli.
SHOT Show 2025
Hello everyone! Tune in here for our updates on the 2025 SHOT Show.
We're at Booth 15056
The Difference Between a Clip and a Magazine
Your rifle should be capable of holding at least one round in a ready-to-fire position in the chamber. Once that round has been fired, the case needs to be ejected out of the way so another round can be fed into the chamber. Where does the next round come from?
What is a Trigger?
The trigger is a small and highly crucial component of your rifle. You can’t reliably set off a round without some mechanism by which to do it!
Transitional Ballistics
The region of transitional ballistics is very temporary. Transitional ballistics apply in the moment when the bullet leaves the muzzle, as the expanding gasses rush out around it. It ends when the surrounding gasses have reduced in pressure to meet that of the normal atmosphere.
6X Short Malcolm with Parallax Adjustment
The latest edition of the 6X Short Malcolm scope is a studious, well-mannered look back at the era of rifle telescopes, around the years 1865-1880. Built around an old design and using the latest materials, this scope is built to help you reach out and touch something.
The M1 Garand: America's Iconic Battle Rifle
The M1 Garand's legacy as America's iconic battle rifle remains unmatched. Its revolutionary semi-automatic design and exceptional performance set new standards for firearms technology and forever changed the way wars were fought.
Exploring the World's Most Iconic Firearms
Firearms have played a significant role in shaping history, revolutionizing warfare, and becoming symbols of power, innovation, and cultural identity. From classic designs that have stood the test of time to cutting-edge modern weapons, the world of iconic firearms is as diverse as it is fascinating.
Vaudeville Rifle Trick Shots - Oakley and more
As the Wild West slowly changed into the Midwest and Southwest of the nation, the vaudeville scene was alight with gunslingers claiming to be the best. To wow the audiences and earn some notoriety, these trigger-tapping top gunners fired relentlessly at tiny targets tumbling through the air. Though it’s unlikely that we’ll see many shows like Buffalo Bill’s in the modern age, it’s fun to look back and marvel at just how much ammo they were willing to expend in the name of fame.
Wild West Quick Draw Duels - How Real Were They?
I’m sorry to say that the tall tales and cinematic moments are largely just that. While I can’t say that the Wild West was the rootinest tootinest place for a duellist, I can share a couple other notable duels.
The Easy 25 Yard Zero
To put a bullet through the target at the spot the crosshairs are covering, you'll need to zero your scope. At farther and farther distances, any small errors will compound until you're not even on paper anymore. Before we try to reach out that far for a zero, let's make sure the bullet is on the right path.
To find out the easy way to zero - the 25 Yard Zero - we’re going to have to take a look at some numbers. And some pictures. Then we'll shoot some rounds, of course.
TD3 Red Dot Sight : Overview
The TD3 is an open red dot designed for fast acquisition and a large window size (28x19mm!), while mounting with as low a profile as possible. Commonly, this red dot will be mounted on a pistol slide that is cut to fit an RMR-profile optic. Find out more about the TD3 here!
The Very Comprehensive Malcolm Interchangeable Parts Guide
Vintage scopes are just as varied and unique as scopes are nowadays - including the mounting solutions. To try to simplify these scopes and show the compatibility of parts, I've divided this Post into four sections: Tubes, Blocks, Front Rings, Rear Rings. The section on Front Rings will also include information on recoil sliding.
Removing the Spring on your Malcolm 8X USMC Scope
There are certain scenarios when you would need to remove the scope body from the externally adjusting mounts. Such as adjusting the friction screw on the mounts, or removing the return spring.
[Short Film] Trigger Treat - Hi-Lux Halloween Special
The #Pumpkin Overlord and his cronies approach. Will this be the end of Angeles Shooting Range as we know it?
How To Zero the ART Scope at 25 Yards
In this lesson we’re going to take a look at how to use our ballistic calculator or dope data from our rifle log to zero our ART scope at a closer distance. In order to obtain an equivalent 200 yard zero for the M1000 at 25 yards, we’ll first need to understand the relationship between the optic’s line of sight, the rifle’s line of bore, and the bullet’s path.
Leatherwood Uni-Dial - Designed For The Serious Long Range Rifleman
The Leatherwood Uni-Dial is a scope of conventional design, built with a very unique feature. This exceptional rifle scope can be programmed for the zero to be "on" at ten different points down range. The elevation turret features a series of (10) moveable flags, or indicators, and each can be sighted for the rifle to be "on" at different ranges.
What is Point Blank Range?
If you point your rifle directly at the center of your target - and I mean the line of the bore pointing right at the center of that piece of paper - the bullet likely will not actually hit the center. Instead, it’ll hit a bit below the center, or very far below it depending on the distance to the target.
12,000 Rounds - And Still Delivering M.O.A. Accuracy!
This past week, this particular Hi-Lux Optics TB-ML scope, with a bullet drop compensating BDC reticle, surpassed having 12,000 rounds fired under it. These weren't low recoiling target loads either, but rather stiff hunting loads. Easily 75-percent of the shots fired under this scope were with my favorite hunting load - 110-grains of Blackhorn 209 and the Harvester Muzzleloading saboted 300-grain Scorpion PT Gold.
New TAC-V PentaLux Models Ideal For Longer Range AR Rifles
Perhaps the best way to describe the new TAC-V scope models from Hi-Lux Optics is to say that they are serious tactical scopes with serious long range capability. The tactical reticle provides a lot of information for determining range, allowing for long range hold over, and even provides precise aiming points that allow for windage once the wind speed has been properly calculated...
Bullet Materials
Most bullets are made almost entirely of lead. Lead has been the top choice in bullets for hundreds of years now, and it’s all due to a few simple reasons - it’s very dense, it’s easy to cast, and it’s fairly malleable.
Newsletter - March 2025
The site underwent a pretty sizeable overhaul. The most noticeable change will be to the three key pages: Riflescopes, Vintage, Mounts and Rings.
What are Iron Sights?
In simplest terms, iron sights are sturdy pieces of metal atop your rifle that need to be visually lined up. As you’re looking at the target, your goal is to line up the iron sights with each other and to place them over the correct portion of your target.In practice, of course, there is more than one way to go about this.