Friday, August 14, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Category

Shooting

60 articles

Cold Bore Shots and First-Round Consistency: The Overlooked Skill Every Hunting Rifle Shooter Needs

Cold Bore Shots and First-Round Consistency: The Overlooked Skill Every Hunting Rifle Shooter Needs

Your hunting rifle's first shot from a cold barrel often lands differently than your warm-barrel groups. Here's how to track it, train for it, and build the confidence to squeeze when it counts most.

By HFR Staff  · July 28, 2026
Home Bullet Casting: Getting Started with Cast Lead Loads for Pistol and Rifle

Home Bullet Casting: Getting Started with Cast Lead Loads for Pistol and Rifle

Casting your own lead bullets cuts ammunition costs by 5-10x and is more achievable than most handloaders think. Here's the gear, alloys, safety practices, and process to get your first pot of bullets off the ground.

By HFR Staff  · July 23, 2026
F-Class Shooting in the Pacific Northwest: Getting Started in Long-Range Target Rifle Competition

F-Class Shooting in the Pacific Northwest: Getting Started in Long-Range Target Rifle Competition

F-Class is the long-range precision discipline that lets you shoot at 600 and 1000 yards without the added stress of field positions and cold bore shots. Here's how to get started in Oregon and Washington.

By HFR Staff  · July 21, 2026
LPVO Scopes on Hunting Rifles: Setup, Magnification, and Why Western Hunters Are Making the Switch

LPVO Scopes on Hunting Rifles: Setup, Magnification, and Why Western Hunters Are Making the Switch

Low-power variable optics started in competition but have found a genuine home on hunting rifles. Here's how to select, mount, zero, and use an LPVO for deer, elk, and pronghorn in Oregon's varied terrain.

By HFR Staff  · July 17, 2026
Rimfire Benchrest: Getting Started with Precision .22 LR Shooting in Oregon

Rimfire Benchrest: Getting Started with Precision .22 LR Shooting in Oregon

Rimfire benchrest is one of the most technically demanding and budget-friendly precision shooting disciplines available to Oregon shooters. A quality .22 LR, a good rest, and the right ammo can put you on paper at 50 and 100 yards tighter than most centerfire rigs — if you know what you're doing.

By HFR Staff  · July 16, 2026
Pistol Caliber Carbines for the Pacific Northwest: Why the 9mm PCC Deserves a Place in Your Safe

Pistol Caliber Carbines for the Pacific Northwest: Why the 9mm PCC Deserves a Place in Your Safe

Pistol caliber carbines in 9mm fill a genuine niche for Pacific Northwest shooters: suppressor-friendly, low-recoil, indoor-range legal, and capable of sharing ammo with your carry gun. Here's a complete breakdown of the top platforms, optics, ammo, and why the PCC deserves a serious look.

By HFR Staff  · July 13, 2026
Cowboy Action Shooting in the Pacific Northwest: Getting Started with SASS Single Actions and Lever Guns

Cowboy Action Shooting in the Pacific Northwest: Getting Started with SASS Single Actions and Lever Guns

Cowboy Action Shooting combines historical firearms, theatrical costumes, and timed competition on steel targets. Here's how Pacific Northwest shooters can get into one of the most welcoming and fun shooting sports around.

By HFR Staff  · July 10, 2026
Extreme Long Range Shooting: What It Takes to Hit a Mile in the Pacific Northwest

Extreme Long Range Shooting: What It Takes to Hit a Mile in the Pacific Northwest

Shooting a target at one mile — 1,760 yards — is one of the most demanding challenges in practical marksmanship. Here's what it actually takes: cartridges, rifles, optics, wind-reading, and the honest cost of entry.

By HFR Staff  · July 9, 2026
Spotting Scopes for Western Hunters: Glass, Tripods, and Magnification That Actually Work in the Field

Spotting Scopes for Western Hunters: Glass, Tripods, and Magnification That Actually Work in the Field

A quality spotting scope might be the single most underrated piece of gear a western hunter carries. Here's how to choose the right one, set it up, and use it to find more animals.

By HFR Staff  · July 7, 2026
NRL22 Rimfire Competition: Getting Started in Precision .22 LR Shooting in the Pacific Northwest

NRL22 Rimfire Competition: Getting Started in Precision .22 LR Shooting in the Pacific Northwest

NRL22 is the most accessible entry point for practical precision shooting, and Oregon clubs are running sanctioned matches year-round. If you want to get into long-range shooting without a $3,000 centerfire investment, here's everything you need — rifles, optics, ammo, local clubs, and what to expect at your first match.

By HFR Staff  · July 6, 2026
Recoil Management for Hunting Rifles: Technique, Stock Fit, and Muzzle Devices That Work

Recoil Management for Hunting Rifles: Technique, Stock Fit, and Muzzle Devices That Work

Anticipating recoil costs more hunters clean shots than any other technical problem. Here's how to diagnose the flinch, fix it through dry fire, and choose the right muzzle device for your rifle.

By HFR Staff  · July 4, 2026
AR-15 Maintenance for Pacific Northwest Conditions: Keeping Your Rifle Running in Rain, Mud, and High Desert Dust

AR-15 Maintenance for Pacific Northwest Conditions: Keeping Your Rifle Running in Rain, Mud, and High Desert Dust

Oregon splits into two worlds at the Cascades — persistent coastal moisture west, and fine alkali dust east. Both environments punish a poorly maintained AR-15. Here's a region-specific maintenance guide that keeps your rifle running in both.

By HFR Staff  · July 1, 2026