Sept 10, 2019 | Christensen Arms

There are lots of riflescopes available on the marketplace today: Some are built with very specific purposes in mind, others are meant to offer maximum versatility, and others still fall somewhere in between.

The scopes offered by Leupold are designed from the ground up to help you get the job done in any hunting situation you could ever find yourself in – from the deer woods of northern Pennsylvania, to the backcountry of the American west, to the mountains of sheep country. And since every Leupold scope is designed, machined, and assembled in the United States – and tested to identical rugged performance standards in order to guarantee a lifetime of performance – choosing the “right” one for the job might seem overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be.

Using Leupold’s Scope Finder, you can quickly narrow down your options by answering a few questions about shot distance, your budget, and just what features you’re looking for in a new optic.

Knowing your average shooting distance can help determine which magnification is right for you. Are you typically hunting in thicker forests or dense underbrush, where shots are typically less than 250 yards? You might benefit from having a scope that has a low power setting that will still allow you the field of view necessary to find game that could step out of the woods just 20 yards away. Or are you hunting open country where there’s opportunity to take longer shots that could range beyond 500 yards? Knowing where you’ll be hunting – and how far away that big game animal might be when you squeeze the trigger – is key to determining just how much magnification is right for you. And, of course, you could find yourself somewhere in between. Don’t worry – the Scope Finder will help point you in the right direction.

A big part of selecting any new piece of gear is determining just how much you’re willing to spend. When it comes to Leupold’s award-winning riflescope lines, prices are primarily based on the optic’s light management system and the versatility of the magnification range. Scopes that are on the lower end cost wise will typically feature the company’s Twilight Light Management System (which adds up to 10 extra minutes of shooting light) and standard zoom ratios. Scopes on the higher end of the price spectrum typically feature Leupold’s Twilight Max HD Light Management System (which adds up to 30 extra minutes of shooting light) and large zoom ratios. And then there are further scopes that live somewhere in between. Make no mistake – there’s still a tool for every job at every price point. You just have to determine which perks are within your budget.

Lastly, it’s time to determine which, if any, special features you’re looking for in your scope. Do you want to make use of Leupold’s Custom Dial System (CDS), or an illuminated reticle? Is there a specific reticle you’re looking for? Different features can affect the price and functionality of the scope. Once you’ve got your shot distance and budget figured out, it’ll be time to think about special features – and how you might be able to apply them in the field.

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This guest post has been contributed by Leupold & Stevens. 

Jun 16, 2019 | Christensen Arms

For me, it is really this simple: God, family, and country. As a veteran and the father of veterans, I am exceptionally proud of all my children as they champion the same values with their own families. One of the freedoms that we hold most dear, and part of the reason we chose to serve, is the opportunity to enjoy all the outdoors has to offer. We have been lucky enough to share many days together catching cutthroat trout out of a stream or following lion hounds in the fresh Utah snow to a tree with a nice tom asleep in the branches.

The passion for things outdoors is something that many are born with and one that some do not understand. I count myself as blessed, to have my kids share that passion with me. If we judge the time spent with loved ones by the “quality” of that time, I contend that there are very few other pursuits that can compare to the hours spent camping, hunting, or fishing. No screens, no internet, and often no cell phones.

Last month I traveled with my sons to spend a week in the southern alps of the South Island of New Zealand looking for Tahr. The dedicated work of American Hero Adventures helped make the experience a possibility for the three of us. When the only means of talking to the world is a satellite phone, you have a tendency to be better at first person communication. You tend to be more present. With all the hours of glassing, climbing and then relaxing at camp, you can relive old memories while making new ones. Without so many of the modern distractions you are able to return to the deeply personal aspects of being with each other. We each were fortunate enough to successfully take a bull Tahr, but the real (and to me, more important) take-away was the one on one time with the people that mean the most to me in life.

So on this Father’s Day I am grateful for God, family, and country. I am grateful for wild places to escape the day to day concerns that we all have, and I am especially grateful to be a father lucky enough to have sons and daughters that will share those experiences with me. I am grateful for the freedoms that allow us to determine what our passions are, and the latitude to pursue them as we see fit. I will always try to make the most out of the opportunities I am presented with, and express my gratitude that those opportunities are in the outdoors.

Also, as a veteran, I am mindful of those fathers that will not be home this Father’s Day. Let us remember them as well, and their sacrifices for us all.

This guest post has been contributed by Jeff Bradley—a Christensen Arms employee.

Photography courtesy of Fornever Productions.

May 12, 2019 | Christensen Arms

For my family, hunting is the tradition of generations. Long before I was a wife or a mother the sport came to me by blood in my youth, following in the footsteps of my own parents. I was eight or nine years old when I joined my mother and father on one of their mule deer hunts for the first time and discovered for myself what would become one of the longest and most important family traditions of my life. It was their passion for hunting and the guidance they offered that instilled in me the lessons I strive to teach my own children today.

Thanks to our similar upbringings, my husband and I have been hunting together since we met. We’ve been married for more than twenty years now and have been lucky enough to fill so much of that time with countless tags and memorable seasons, both good and bad. Of course as soon as our children were old enough, we wanted them to be a part of it too.

I’ve been blessed with two daughters and a son who all began coming along to hunting camp when they were only a few years old. To us, spending time in the outdoors is about the tradition. Quality family time together we know is coming every year. We do everything including the processing ourselves because I wanted to teach my children the importance of the entire experience, to know where their food comes from and to respect the outdoors and the wildlife they will someday have to cherish and preserve for their own.

It’s not just hunting either. I love shooting with my kids, and we do it all the time. I want them to be comfortable with firearms, to learn patience and discipline through proper use and practices. I hope to empower them with all of the skills and knowledge they need to be successful wherever their own interest in the sport may take them.

Not too long ago I tackled a once-in-a-lifetime goat hunt. An unforgettable experience on its own, it was made infinitely more important to me by the experience of going the distance and taking that shot with my two daughters by my side every step of the way. As a mother, there are no words to describe how proud I have been to watch my children become accomplished hunters themselves over the years.

Someday, it will be their turn to make those memories of their own with the next generation. I hope that they find it as rewarding as I have to share the outdoors with their children. Hunting is so much more than meat when we move through the field together.

This guest post has been contributed by Desirae—a Christensen Arms employee.

Feb 18, 2019 | Christensen Arms

It’s an age old question that comes up often, but the facts never change. “Where should I zero my rifle?” What are the differences between zeroing a rifle at 100, 200 or 300 yards? There are merits to each option, but as with many things, there are also certain drawbacks. Here’s how we break down the pros and cons to help you decide what is best for your personal needs:

Personally, I choose to zero all of my rifles at a distance of 100 yards. There are a few basic reasons why. First of all, it is generally easier to find a place to zero and recheck zero at that distance. Secondly, any light to moderate wind will have little to no effect on most hunting calibers at 100 yards. The third notable reason relates to my personal needs. I live and hunt in the West, where shots can be long at times. This means that I often make corrections that include a firing solution from a ballistic app, or from the ballistic solver built into my rangefinder. These firing solutions include environmental conditions.

If my rifle is zeroed at 200 or 300 yards, that zero will only be spot on at the place I zeroed that day. A 200 or 300 yard zero will include adjustment for drop, environmental conditions, as well as a correction for any wind. These corrections will include altitude, barometric pressure, temperature etc. So when I go to hunt at a different location, different altitude, or different temperature, I may no longer be zeroed. If my zero is off, that error will follow through at all distances and increase in size at longer ranges. I recently zeroed my rifle at 100 yards in Montana, then flew to Alaska for a Moose hunt. Upon arrival, I rechecked my zero in the new environmental conditions. The results were two shots touching, centered inside a 1/2″ orange dot.

Now let’s look at the possible benefits of a longer zero. Let’s say 300 yards. I will use my 6.5 Creedmoor as an example. With a 300 yard zero there would be nothing I would need to do for a shot at 300 yards. However, at 250 yards my bullet impact will be 1.2 MOA high (roughly 3.25″). Still okay and well inside the vitals on a deer, correct? At 350 yards the point of impact is 1.4 MOA low so an impact would be roughly 5″ low. Still okay, but getting to the outer edge of a deer’s vitals and that scenario does not allow for any shooter error or rifle / ammunition accuracy variables. At 175 yards, the point of impact is almost 3 MOA high, again close to 5″. If a coyote sized animal is the target, and you hold center vitals, you will likely miss just over his back.

You’ll need to consider your firearm too. There are extremely flat shooting rifles, and there are others that may be farther off in the same scenarios. You should take a look at the details, your rifle’s trajectory, and choose the option that is best for your personal needs. I generally suggest that after you zero you should take a shot closer and another shot father out and verify the actual point of impact. I hope this information is helpful and may shed a little light on things we sometimes overlook. Best of luck!

This guest post has been contributed by Jeff Brozovich of Long Range Only.com. You can continue the conversation here on their forum: 

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