Browsing Category
Resource
108 posts
Where to Buy Ammo Online [Complete 2021 Guide]
Buying ammo can be almost as fun as buying the gun you’re feeding, but in a time when shelves are bare and prices are high — where can you get a decent deal these days? Shopping online can save you time, money, and give you access to the best deals! From .22 LR to .50 ... Read more
M4 Vs AR15 – Comparison
The M4 vs AR15, and the M16, and the dozens of variations of each all with their own letter and number combinations to denote their exact flavor of what is almost the same thing — it’s confusing. To make matters worse, this is one of those naming conventions that some gun owners love to pick ... Read more
Clip vs Magazine: Clearing the Confusion
Clips and magazines are two gun terms that even newbies and the general public are familiar with. Mass media tells us they are the same thing, that is, unfortunately, not the case. In the gun community, they say it’s easy to spot a beginner when they confuse clips with magazines. Moreover, calling the magazine a ... Read more
15 Best Lever Action Rifles [2021]
The lever-action rifle started as a lethal weapon during the American Civil War, but they are now collected and used by many firearms enthusiasts. Folks don’t call it America’s rifle for anything — it holds a lot of history. Lever-action rifles have a classic Western look and feel. It also makes you think about cowboys ... Read more
What is really driving up ammunition costs?
With the COVID-19 pandemic and record-high firearm sales in the United States, ammunition is in short supply, impacting the rising cost of ammunition. Despite manufacturers saying they are producing as much ammunition as possible, many gun store shelves remain empty and prices keep rising. As a result of the pandemic, social unrest, and a rise ... Read more
7th Annual Best Self-Defense Lawyer Award 2021
Sniper Country was established in 1998 to serve the gun community as a trusted resource for all things related to firearms. In the early 2000s, our editors were often asked for advice on selecting the most effective self-defense lawyers. Our little black book of the best attorneys in town led to the establishment of the ... Read more
10mm vs .45 ACP – Cartridge Comparison
When looking at the 10mm vs .45 ACP, we are looking at a cartridge that has been proven over and over for over a century, and we are looking at a cartridge that came out hot in the 1980’s, tapered off, and has been surging back into the shooting world. Both of these cartridges offer ... Read more
Military Spending of the USA: 1960-2021
Executive Summary Introduction President George Washington said in the First State of the Union Address in 1790 that “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” One implication of the American founding father’s assertion is that war, peace, and military spending are closely linked. Military expenditure of a ... Read more
A Glossary For Firearms: All Terms and Gun Lingo Explained
Anyone who uses firearms needs to have a full understanding of their anatomy, capabilities, and power. It’s also crucial to know how to discharge firearms safely, how to maintain them, and how to store them. This is why we’ve compiled this glossary which includes all of the important terms that pertain to firearms. Gun owners ... Read more
Investment piece? The $3,695 Ed Brown 1911 [Review]
Ed Brown 1911 Classic Custom in summary Ed Brown 1911, the Classic Custom, is one maker’s interpretation of what a perfect 1911 should be. Blending John Moses Browning’s genius with modern technology and a healthy dose of hand craftsmanship, the Classic Custom leaves nothing to be desired. Fun and quality come at a price: the ... Read more
Ex cops and concealed carry insurance – an interview
Concealed carry insurance. What is it? Why do I need it? Who is the best? Our readers ask us these questions often. That’s why we published an article comparing all the major concealed carry providers (updated for 2021) to help you make the right decision to choose the best concealed carry (or CCW) insurance. In ... Read more
USCCA membership: Training You Cannot Afford Not To Have [Reviewed by a firearms instructor]
Introduction Here are two scenarios. One will probably feel familiar to you. In the first scenario: you recently became a first-time gun buyer along with five million other Americans over the last year. Maybe you had been thinking about purchasing a firearm for some time, or it may have been a spontaneous decision. In either ... Read more
A Brief Guide To Handgun Powders
I am a reloader. I take the brass cases that others often toss in the trash can (or just leave on the ground), clean them, and re-use them. I admit it. I’m a pack rat of the highest water when it comes to brass. (Don’t even ask about the lead-colored items I hoard from my ... Read more
Single Action vs. Double Action Revolvers
Two does were standing, right at last light, in the stubble of a cut bean field across from our house around 80 yards away – or so I thought. I selected the nearer of the two and raised my revolver. Without a laser range finder, I made a “best-educated-guess” as to the range. I pulled ... Read more
Gunbroker.com [Review]: Fees, Laws and more…
The eBay of gun sites. That’s what Gunbroker.com has been called by those who use it. There is some validity to that point, as gunbroker.com is set up and run pretty much like an auction, except that you can list a “buy now” non-negotiable price if you want to sell something as quickly as possible. ... 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
Guide To Used Gun Values [What is it worth?]
We’ve all been there. Somehow, we acquire a handgun, rifle or shotgun that eventually just becomes a safe queen. It could have been (as in my experience) a pistol that I thought would be just the ticket for concealed carry/hunting/steel targets/etc. Yet somehow, after owning the gun a while, I decided that maybe I acted ... Read more
7.62×39 vs .308 Win – Cartridge Comparison
In this cartridge comparison, we are going to look at two cartridges that many people probably have never thought about comparing; The 7.62×39 vs the .308. This is an interesting comparison for several reasons. The 7.62×39 round is most known for its use in the AK 47, but it is becoming more commonplace in the ... Read more
.30-30 Win vs .30-06 Sprg – Cartridge Comparison
There are a plethora of cartridges available for civilians on today’s market. Deciding on which cartridge fits the hunting or shooting competitions you have in mind can be daunting, and this article is meant to provide you with an in-depth comparison of two of the more historical hunting cartridges in the US; the .30-30 vs ... Read more
The Real Benefits of Barrel Fluting
Depending on who you ask, a fluted barrel is either the solution to all your woes, or a complete waste of money. Few would deny its aesthetic appeal, but a purely aesthetic improvement can be hard to justify. Having your barrel fluted comes with certain risks too, which is why many buy an aftermarket barrel ... Read more
How To Reload Ammo [Ultimate Guide]
Why Reload? While reloading for your guns is usually thought of as a cost-savings for those of us who shoot a lot, there are other advantages involved. The common assumption is that you save money by reloading-and that is true, to a point. If you are a volume shooter or a competitive shooter, saving money ... Read more
Why & How To: Powder Coating Bullets
In spite of the growing popularity and supply of jacketed bullets, many shooters still shoot cast bullets. Cast bullets are easily made at home or are inexpensive to purchase in quantity, are economical, and don’t require an elaborate set-up or supply chain to produce. (My bullets come from plain old wheel weights that a friendly ... 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
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
