Launch of the new Sniper Country (free AR-15 giveaway and more!)
Dear readers, Some of you have been reading Sniper Country since the original version in 1998! Booooy it’s been a long time! As you probably have noticed, the past few weeks have shown a lot of changes at SniperCountry. We’ve been working hard to make the blog better while keeping true to our love for ... Read more
Michael joins the SniperCountry family
Welcome Mike Helms – a firearm historian and esteemed Smith & Wesson collector! Sniper Country is delighted to introduce our latest writer to our core team, Michael (Mike) Helms. We find that Mikes are especially good at writing about firearms… Michael is a firearms historian and handgun shooting enthusiast with almost 20 years of experience ... Read more
Best AR-15 Build Kits
Are you currently looking to put together your own AR-15 with a build kit? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Best Lower Parts Kit: Geissele Automatics Lower Parts Kit The Geissele Automatics Lower Parts kit comes with nearly everything that you need to complete the lower receiver of your AR-15. The parts are ... Read more
Best .224 Valkyrie Bolt Carrier Groups (BCG)
Are you currently in the market for a new bolt carrier for your .224 Valkyrie AR-15? If so, you’ve come to the right place, because we’re going to go over the top three best .224 Valkyrie bolt carrier groups that the marketplace has to offer. Best Budget Pick: Brownells M16 6.8mm SPC Bolt Carrier Group ... Read more
Best 6.5 Creedmoor Lowers
Are you currently in the market for a lower receiver for your 6.5 Creedmoor AR-10? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Best Stripped Lower Receiver: Lewis Machine & Tool AR MWS Stripped Lower Receiver The Lewis Machine & Tool AR MWS Stripped Lower Receiver is a solid pick for a stripped lower ... Read more
Best 6.8 SPC Barrels
The 6.8 SPC is a round that is designed to maximize performance out of the AR-15 carbine or rifle in ways that the standard 5.56x45mm NATO round cannot. However, the performance of the 6.8 SPC round will really only be as good as the barrel itself is. That’s why when putting together your 6.8 SPC ... Read more
About Proposition or Prop 63
Since we live in a constitutional republic divided into fifty separate sovereign states, the laws by state can vary significantly, especially when it comes to firearms and ammunition. While all states have laws regulating firearms and ammunition, some state laws are very lax, while others are more restrictive. Even before Proposition 63 went into effect ... Read more
Rifles of the White Death – A Collector’s Guide to Finnish Military Rifles 1918-1944
A rare collector’s item, Rifles of the White Death is a comprehensive reference on the most accurate military rifles in service during the earlier 1900s. It was during the Winter War when the Russians nicknamed the Finns the ‘White Death’ because of their highly effective snow camouflage and sharp shooting. The Finnish rifles were developed ... Read more
First Woman in Combat
On 14 April 2001, 19-year old Senior Airman Jennifer Donaldson, from the Illinois Air National Guard, made history. The eight-year-old National Guard Sniper School is the only U.S. military sniper school open to women and Jennifer was the first female graduate to complete the first counter-sniper course for the Air Guard security personnel. Camp Robinson ... Read more
Accurizing An M1 Garand
In World War II, bolt-action rifles were widely used by all sides, but it was the M-1 Garand semi-automatic that really stood out. Besides firing a hard-hitting caliber .30-06 round at distant targets, the M-1 was favored by troops as it was a solid and reliable weapon that was easy to clean. While the M-1 ... Read more
Cool Under Fire & Bolt Actions Speak Louder Than Words
During March 2002, Canadian snipers were evading mortars and dodging ammunition fire in eastern Afghanistan. Worse yet, they were almost obliterated by a USA Apache helicopter, which thankfully stopped firing just in time. Canada’s sniper unit modestly deny claims they hold the highest number of confirmed kills than any other military unit in combat. Operation ... Read more
How to Choose a Rifle Bipod
It’s easy to get excited about the selection in accessories for firearms, but one ingenious accessory that’s been in use since 1930, is the bipod. This is an essential tool to stabilize a rifle in action. Bipods have been used extensively for such a long time because they work. But, there’s a bit more to ... Read more
How to Choose a Rifle Stock
A rifle stock is the most important component of a rifle. It determines the handling and feeling of the gun and it influences your shooting performance. You get left and right-handed rifle stocks, so keep this in mind if choosing a stock for someone else. Ultimately, you want to get the most out of your ... Read more
The 338 Lapua: A Brief Guide
Most shooters and hunters have heard of the .338 Lapua (8.6×70mm or 8.58×70mm), which received its status as a 1500 meter sniping round. A .338 Lapua launches 250 grain bullets over 3000fps and 300 grain bullets over 2850fps, with good hand loads and sub 1/2 moa accuracy. The .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge, designed in the ... Read more
Sniper Survival
This article summarizes techniques used by snipers to survive in the harshest of conditions, whether you’re in the arctic, a jungle, or in the desert. It focuses on a fusion of hard skills such as food gathering, dealing with exposure and dehydration, as well as soft skills that incorporate attitude, emotional stability, and a stoic ... Read more
Vapor trail and Bullet trace
It’s not uncommon to mistake a vapor trail for a bullet trace and vice-a-versa as these shooting terminologies are often used interchangeably. However, chances are that you’re mostly seeing a bullet trace because a vapor trail is quite rare and needs unique conditions to be visible. Bullet trace, vapor trail, frost trail, shock wave, these ... Read more
Technical Evaluation: ELCAN C79 Scope
Canadian manufacturer, ELCAN (Ernst Leitz Canada) produced the C79 optical scope, which has been predominantly used by the Canadian military since 1989. The scope is still being used on Canada’s C7A1 rifle and the C9A1 light machine gun. Although we think a fixed 10-power scope would be more suitable here, this scope seems to offer ... Read more
David Tubbs Final Finish
Everyone in the shooting community knows about David Tubb, one of the best competitive rifleman in history. He has an impressive record of championship titles including six NRA Long Range Rifle championships at 600-1000 yards. David’s greatest contribution to the shooting industry is his pioneering approach and innovative mind that continues to make advancements in ... Read more
.300 Winchester Magnum: A Brief Guide
In 1963, Winchester introduced the .300 Winchester Magnum, which featured a longer case than the .338, as long as what could be housed in a Winchester long action to achieve optimum velocities. The shoulder was moved forward to maximize powder capacity that created a short neck. Factory ammunition for the .300 Win Mag is loaded ... Read more
Moly Coated Bullets: A Warning
Molybdenum-disulfide, known as Moly, is a black, slick compound used to coat copper jacket bullets. It lubricates the bullet and reduces friction when the bullet travels down the bore. This is meant to facilitate a long string of shots between cleaning without affecting accuracy. However, it’s not quite that simple and moly coating has its drawbacks. It ... Read more
Sniper Training in the Military
This information is based upon the U.S. Army’s sniper training programs at Ft. Benning’s Sniper School and Ft. Bragg’s Special Operations Target Interdiction Course. What is a sniper, what are his tasks? Snipers are highly trained soldiers specializing in target shooting over long distances. But they also have to train in how to be covert, ... Read more
Rifle Testing for Dummies
A lot of time and effort goes into developing a load or in choosing a factory load. However, many of us underestimate or complicate the necessary process of testing the rifle, scope and ammunition after selecting an accurate load. Typically, it’s the novice or seasonal shooters who don’t run through the checks like noting the ... Read more
The Remington 40-X Rifle
On 6 March 2013, Merle “Mike” Walker passed away at the age of 101 years old. A renowned engineer at Remington Arms for 37 years, Mike is credited for several designs of Remington’s bolt action rifles including the Rem m700, Rem m721, and Rem m722. Additionally, he held numerous patents for trigger designs, and he ... Read more
How To Camouflage A Rifle
The Camo In nature, some animals, insects and plants have a biological defense mechanism that helps them blend into the environment to hide from predators. The military in particular mimics this clever behavior for cover and concealment in combat. By wearing certain clothing or using specific materials and equipment, soldiers and snipers can go undetected ... Read more
Best Remington 870 Upgrades and Accessories
The Remington 870 is one of the big 2 American pump action shotguns. Its only real competitor is the Mossberg 500 platform. The Remington 870 is used by both police and military forces in the United States and around the world. The Remington 870 is an extremely modular platform with options upon options for upgrading ... Read more
How to Avoid Flinching
Most shooters will at some point experience flinching, regardless whether they’re an amateur or skilled shooter. While some may not want to admit falling victim to this problem, every shooter deals with it at some point. There are a whole lot of varying factors that can affect a shooter’s reaction when firing. Everyone has a ... Read more
Rifle – Ruger M77
Most of us will think of Remington and Winchester first when it comes to naming US rifle manufacturers but in this competitive space are the Ruger rifles. In 1968, Sturm, Ruger & Co. released their Ruger M77, a bolt-action rifle. The original models came with a round top on the receiver that needed separate bases ... Read more
How to Choose a Scope Mount
There isn’t one unique and perfect solution for a scope mount because it depends entirely on your shooting skill, what you use your rifle for and how you use it. But the real big question when it comes to choosing a scope mount is: Tapered or Flat? It’s a common but incorrect assumption that a ... Read more
How to Pick a Good Spotting Scope
This article looks at several spotting scopes that were tested at 50, 100, 200, and 300 yards. All the scopes have a variable power eye piece with a minimum 60mm objective and are priced below $500, apart from the Panther being more expensive. Three types of targets used for the scope testing included a Hoppes ... Read more
Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW)
The Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) program intended to produce a lightweight weapon that was capable of firing kinetic energy projectiles and an air-bursting fragmentation munition. Its purpose was to have soldiers effectively attack targets at longer ranges, and attack targets protecting themselves from gunfire. It was to combine leading-edge technologies in miniaturized fusing, integrated ... Read more
