If an AR-15 and a traditional bolt-action hunting rifle had a baby, it’d probably look something like a Sig Cross. The Cross has a pistol grip, folding stock, and fore-end that looks a lot like the styling of an AR-15. Yet, the Cross is actually a traditional bolt-action rifle with a short barrel and no…
Thinsulate is a type of insulation used in boots to make them warmer. I have owned a few different pairs of boots with different amounts of insulation, and there is a huge difference between them. As a general rule, 800g of insulation (Primaloft or Thinsulate) is best for boots when the temperature is 32 degrees…
In 2019, the US Secret Service chose the Glock G19 Gen 5 MOS to be their new service pistol. It replaced the long-standing Sig P229 as the agency’s standard-issue sidearm. The move represents an acknowledgment by law enforcement that simpler is better and is also part of a trend back toward the 9mm Luger. The…
At Backfire, we’ve tested most of the current production factory bolt-action rifles on the market. It means we do a lot of accuracy testing. We’ve seen huge variations in accuracy between ammo brands, and thought it’d be helpful to share what we’ve seen to be most accurate across a large swath of rifles. Hornady 147-Grain…
Reloading ammunition is a popular pastime, both to save money and tailor ammunition to a shooter’s specific needs. For rifle cartridges, it’s generally very easy to produce ammunition that is both better and cheaper than the factory offerings. There are dozens of gun powders available for the reloader to choose from. None of them are…
Waterfowl season begins on October 2nd in Montana. Like the rest of the country, we have 107 short days to go out into the field and get some of the best tasting, beautiful game on the planet. For many hunters, this fall will be their first year out on the water or in the dove…
Crossbows are becoming a popular option for hunting. In most states, crossbows can be used during general big game seasons where rifles, shotguns, or straight wall cartridges are allowed. With crossbows becoming a more common option, many hunters would like to know if they can use a rifle scope on a crossbow. Rifle scopes can…
About six months ago I came across a brand new Savage 93R17 left-handed model at a discount. Being a southpaw, the pickings for guns are much more limited compared to the rest of the population, and 17HMR was a caliber I was interested in learning more about, so I put my own money down, grabbed…
The National Rifle League’s rimfire series, NRL22 and NRL22X, are quickly growing in popularity across the U.S. Based around the .22 caliber Long Rifle cartridge, NRL22 provides a precision rifle series that can be enjoyed by a wide variety of people. To participate, competitors need to bring a list of items to matches. This equipment…
Grand Traverse Bay Grand Traverse Bay is in the Northeast end of Lake Michigan. It and the area around it has a huge amount of public water open to hunting. Not only is it some of the most beautiful territory in the state, it’s also very productive for waterfowl. It’s in the Northwest corner of…