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Firearms
How to Choose the Right Big Game Hunting Bullet
It’s safe to say that hunters are spoiled by bullet selections these days. But the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. What’s the difference between “cup and core” and “soft point?” What does it mean for a bullet to be “bonded,” why do some hunters swear by “partition” bullets, and isn’t...
Jordan Sillars
Mar 17, 2023
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Featured Gear
Choosing A Gun
Big Game
Ask MeatEater: What are the Best Big Game Rifle Calibers?
At least a few times day, we get asked: “What is the best rifle caliber for big game hunting?” There’s no one answer to that question, and rifle caliber and cartridge selection is and will always be one of the most contentious debates in the hunting world. That’s not surprising considering the...
Brody Henderson
Nov 13, 2018
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Big Game
Becoming a One-Rifle-Hunter
If you could only pick one, what rifle caliber should you choose for big game hunting in North America?
This is a question we get over and over here at MeatEater, and the good news is that the average hunter can pretty much do it all with a single rifle. As fun as it might be, it’s really not...
Brody Henderson
May 16, 2017
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Firearms
The 5 Guns Every Hunter Should Own
We know you already have a list in mind. This is how we came up with ours.
Coverage is the name of the game. These five firearms allow hunters to pursue everything from wingshooting to small game to big game. The calibers we chose are relatively common and inexpensive, but also panic-proof. If you...
Jordan Sillars
Sep 1, 2020
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Big Game
The 3 Most Underrated Hunting Calibers
Rifle calibers are kind of like craft beer (hear me out). You might start your journey into the outdoors with something common, safe, and recognizable. Maybe a .22LR, .223 Rem., or a .30-06. But after a while, you’ll want to expand your horizons beyond the Pabst or Budweiser your dad first shared...
Jordan Sillars
Jul 20, 2020
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Firearms
The Best Deer Cartridge You’ve Probably Never Shot
Remember that old children’s story, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears?” Some take the moral as a warning against breaking and entering, but most folks probably remember the story’s lesson about moderation: not too hot, not too cold, not too hard, not too soft—just right.
The .257 Roberts is the...
Jordan Sillars
Mar 18, 2021
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Firearms
Is Your Deer Gun Overkill?
Does the gun you use on deer have too much power? The answer may be more complicated than it sounds.
Is your deer gun capable of taking a whitetail quickly and cleanly with minimal meat damage? Yeah, probably. Are you capable of using your deer gun to take whitetail quickly and cleanly with minimal...
Jordan Sillars
Nov 10, 2020
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Firearms
3 Best Rifle Calibers for Youth Hunters
If you have kids you want to get hooked on hunting, it’s important to think carefully before choosing their first rifle. Throwing them to the wolves with a .300 Winchester Magnum might make for a funny story when they’re older, but it’s a terrible way to recruit a future hunting buddy.
There are...
Jordan Sillars
Apr 7, 2021
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Caliber Battle
Firearms
Caliber Battle: .22 LR vs. .17 HMR
This week’s Caliber Battle pits the old school against the new.
The .22 Long Rifle (LR) has been around since your grandfather’s father was cutting his teeth on squirrels and rabbits. Developed by J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. in 1887, it’s become the most highly developed and widely used rimfire...
Jordan Sillars
Oct 26, 2020
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Firearms
Caliber Battle: .223 Rem. vs. .243 Win.
Introduced only two years apart, the .223 Remington and the .243 Winchester couldn’t have come from more different neighborhoods of the firearms world.
The .223 Rem. is a classic Army brat. It was developed in 1957 for an experimental rifle known as the AR-15. That gun’s modern military counterpart...
Jordan Sillars
Oct 6, 2020
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Firearms
Caliber Battle: 7mm Rem. Mag. vs. .30-06 Springfield
In his excellent handbook, “Cartridges of the World,” Frank C. Barnes describes the .30-06 Springfield with the kind of reverence usually reserved for religion, mom’s cooking, and secret hunting spots.
“The .30-06 is undoubtedly the most flexible, useful, all-around big game cartridge available to...
Jordan Sillars
Jan 5, 2023
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Firearms
Caliber Battle: .30-30 Win. vs. .35 Rem.
The .30-30 Winchester and .35 Remington won’t break any speed records—there’s no doubt about that. Still, much like the old man who can rattle your teeth with a punch, appearances can be deceiving.
The elder statesman of the deer woods, the .30-30 Win. hit the market in 1895 paired with Winchester’s...
Jordan Sillars
Feb 3, 2021
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Firearms
Caliber Battle: .300 Win. Mag. vs. .338 Lapua Mag.
Many cartridges that have become popular with military snipers have also made the jump to outdoor sports (and vice versa). The .300 Winchester Magnum and the .338 Lapua Magnum are among the best examples.
The .338 Lapua Mag. was developed in 1983 as a long-range sniper cartridge, and it was used in...
Jordan Sillars
Jan 19, 2021
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Firearms
Caliber Battle: .308 Win. vs. .270 Win.
Ask any American hunter to name his top three big game cartridges and chances are good that at least one of those will be the .308 Winchester or .270 Winchester.
Winchester launched the .270 Win. all the way back in 1925 for the Model 54 bolt-action rifle. At the time it offered better long-range...
Jordan Sillars
Dec 26, 2022
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Firearms
Caliber Battle: .375 H&H Mag. vs. the .416 Rigby
For many hunters, a Hemingway-style African hunt is the stuff of daydreams and social media envy. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning.
The .375 H&H Magnum and the .416 Rigby have been taking down large and dangerous game since their introductions in the early 20th century. Either would be...
Jordan Sillars
Apr 26, 2021
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Firearms
Caliber Battle: 6.5 Creedmoor vs. .264 Win. Mag.
When the 6.5 Creedmoor hit the shelves in 2007, it was met with the same mixture of acclaim and contempt that welcomes all new cartridges. Now, like it or not, the 6.5 CM is here to stay. It’s cemented the 6.5mm as a legitimate, effective caliber for U.S. hunters, and it’s by far the most popular...
Jordan Sillars
Feb 16, 2021
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Gear and Accessories
Firearms
The Hardest and Easiest Ammo to Buy Right Now
Gun owners are at the point in the ammo shortage when they’d be happy to find something—anything—to shoot. What started as a COVID-induced blip has turned into the worst ammunition shortage in recent memory, and industry insiders are predicting it will last through the end of the year.
Hunters and...
Jordan Sillars
Mar 23, 2021
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Firearms
When Will the Nation’s Ammo Shortage End?
For every American, 2020 will be remembered for COVID-19 and an insane presidential election. In addition to that, gun owners will recall 2020 (and spoiler alert, 2021) for more: the worst ammunition shortage in recent memory.
Desperate gun owners have driven hours to pick up just a few boxes of...
Jordan Sillars
Jan 12, 2021
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Firearms
The Total Guide to Buying a Suppressor
Once the territory of only the most dedicated gun nuts, suppressor use in the United States is on the rise among casual shooters and hunters alike.
“This year has seen the highest demand that we’ve ever seen, and we definitely expect to see an increase in demand around November,” said Knox Williams...
Jordan Sillars
Aug 5, 2020
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Firearms
How to Choose the Correct Rifle Scope
I killed my first Pennsylvania buck with a well-used .30-06, topped with a cheap fixed 4x scope. With only a few minutes of daylight remaining, I made a fairly long shot during a blinding, lake effect snowstorm. Between the small antlers and my limited visibility, it’s doubtful I would have even...
Brody Henderson
Jul 19, 2019
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Big Game
How to Choose a Big Game Bullet
A collection of bullets I’ve recovered from big game animals rests on a bookshelf in my house. They bring back memories of hunts past, but each one also tells a story of bullet performance. Missing from the collection are the bullets that fragmented into tiny pieces or passed clean through. I can’t...
Brody Henderson
Jul 30, 2019
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Hunting
Shotgun Shells and Shot Size: Everything You Need to Know
A new hunter walking into the store can be overwhelmed with the obscene amount of options on the shelf for shotgun shells. There are countless options to choose from and many people may not know where to start their search for what shells to buy. Here is a summary of what you need to know about...
Steven Rinella
Mar 13, 2018
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Getting Dialed
Firearms
Shooting Positions for Rifle Hunters
The only way that you’ll ever reach a high level of proficiency with your firearm is through trigger time. An intimate understanding of your weapon’s capabilities and limitations will teach how to place the bullets where you want them, The more time you spend with your gun, shooting from multiple...
Steven Rinella
Oct 11, 2018
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Firearms
Video: How to Sight in a Rifle
Getting a new gun zeroed in or on target is not as complicated as some folks might believe. But it is easy to get a few crucial steps wrong. The proper equipment will make the process easier and more reliable.
First, there’s your rifle and your scope. You can mount the scope yourself and use a laser...
Janis Putelis
Jul 14, 2020
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Firearms
4 Things Hunters Can Learn from Competitive Shooters
The first time Steve and I met, we sat on a patio discussing competitive shooting and hunting. The conversation was exciting as we connected the dots on how closely related the two really are. Competitive shooters and hunters tend to exist in separate worlds, but many of our methodologies can be...
Taylor Thorne
Feb 19, 2021
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Hunting Gear
How to Mount a Rifle Scope and Bipod
Properly mounting your scope is an important step in building an accurate hunting rifle. This is how to level the scope, set your eye relief, and torque the mounts. Additionally, a bipod improves accuracy in a variety of different shot scenarios. This video also shows the proper way to mount the...
Ryan Callaghan
May 29, 2020
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Turkey
How to Pattern a Shotgun for Turkey Hunting
When it comes to turkey shotguns, modern choke-and-load combinations are capable of throwing ultra-tight patterns out to 40 yards or more. At the same time, turkey hunters should remember that a properly outfitted scattergun’s pattern is likely no larger than a baseball at 10 to 15 yards.
I learned...
Andrew Johnson
Mar 4, 2021
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Big Game
Ask MeatEater: Will You Shoot at Running Game?
You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers (and if we don’t, we’ll make them up). Every day, fellow MeatEaters send us more than 100 emails regarding hunting, fishing, cooking, conservation, and more. So, we decided to publish a series dedicated to our favorite FAQs. This is Ask MeatEater.
Several...
Brody Henderson
Oct 7, 2020
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Off Range
Firearms
What the “Universal Background Check” Bill Means for Gun Owners
Most hunters know that purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer requires the purchaser to pass a background check conducted through the federal instant check system. In many states, however, purchasers can also buy guns in private transactions that do not require the buyer to pass a background...
Jordan Sillars
Mar 16, 2021
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Firearms
The Guns of the American Mountain Man
John Colter wasn’t about to lose his gun.
The now-famous mountain man was travelling on the Lewis and Clark Expedition in May of 1806 when his horse slipped and fell during a difficult, deep-snow trek over the Bitterroot Mountains in the Idaho panhandle. Man and horse fell into a stream, where they...
Jordan Sillars
Sep 28, 2020
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Firearms
The History of Wildcatting in America
The term “wildcatter” is most frequently used to refer to oil prospectors from the late 19th century who drilled exploration wells in search of new petroleum fields. But the word also refers to another group of optimistic entrepreneurs, folks who hope to strike it rich (or at least become famous) in...
Jordan Sillars
Apr 2, 2021
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Firearms
An Ode to Department Store Guns
It’s hard to believe today, and even harder to explain to someone under the age of 50, that there was once a time when firearms were regarded as sporting goods by major retailers. They were basically treated like baseball bats or golf clubs—selling in huge department stores that appealed to the...
David Maccar
Dec 28, 2022
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Firearms
Ask MeatEater: Pistol or Bear Spray in Grizzly Country?
You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers (and if we don’t, we’ll make them up). Every day, fellow MeatEaters send us more than 100 emails regarding hunting, fishing, cooking, conservation, and more. So, we decided to publish a series dedicated to our favorite FAQs. This is Ask MeatEater.
I have...
Sam Lungren
Aug 20, 2020
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Policy & Legislation
3 Things You Need to Know About President Biden's Gun Orders
President Joe Biden launched his first salvo at curbing gun violence this month with a slate of six executive orders aimed at regulating gun ownership, addressing mass shootings, and installing new leadership in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
In a speech announcing the orders...
Jordan Sillars
Apr 20, 2021
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Firearms
Ask MeatEater: What Do You Need to Know About Flying with Guns?
I’ve flown with firearms over 60 times in the last few decades. Let me start by telling you this: It’s OK. Airports are accustomed to it and ready for you. Although some terminals are easier to work with than others and policies vary among airlines, it’s actually pretty simple. Here’s what you need...
Janis Putelis
Sep 18, 2020
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