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

Shooting

60 articles

Lever Action Carbines for Pacific Northwest Hunters: Why the Old Platform Still Wins in Timber Country

Lever Action Carbines for Pacific Northwest Hunters: Why the Old Platform Still Wins in Timber Country

In Oregon's dense Coast Range and Cascade timber, a lever action carbine isn't nostalgia—it's a practical choice. Here's why experienced hunters keep reaching for them.

By HFR Staff  · June 30, 2026
Hunting Rangefinder Guide: How to Choose, Set Up, and Use Your LRF for Western Big Game

Hunting Rangefinder Guide: How to Choose, Set Up, and Use Your LRF for Western Big Game

A laser rangefinder is now as essential as your binoculars for western hunting. Here's a complete guide to choosing the right unit, understanding angle compensation, and using it in the field.

By HFR Staff  · June 29, 2026
Wet Weather Shooting: How to Protect Your Rifle, Optics, and Ammo in the Pacific Northwest

Wet Weather Shooting: How to Protect Your Rifle, Optics, and Ammo in the Pacific Northwest

Hunting in Oregon's rain means your gear takes a beating. Here's a practical guide to keeping your rifle zeroed, your optics clear, and your ammunition dry when the Pacific Northwest does what it does best.

By HFR Staff  · June 27, 2026
Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays in Oregon: A Shooter's Complete Guide to Clay Target Sports

Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays in Oregon: A Shooter's Complete Guide to Clay Target Sports

Clay target sports are the best way to sharpen your shotgun skills and have a blast doing it. Here's a practical guide to getting started in trap, skeet, and sporting clays at Oregon's best ranges.

By HFR Staff  · June 26, 2026
Steel Challenge: Getting Started in Speed Shooting in the Pacific Northwest

Steel Challenge: Getting Started in Speed Shooting in the Pacific Northwest

Steel Challenge is one of the most beginner-friendly practical shooting sports in existence — no movement, simple rules, and every skill transfers directly to hunting and defensive shooting. Here's how to get started in the Pacific Northwest.

By HFR Staff  · June 25, 2026
Chronograph Fundamentals for Handloaders: Why Velocity Data Transforms Your Reloading and Field Performance

Chronograph Fundamentals for Handloaders: Why Velocity Data Transforms Your Reloading and Field Performance

A chronograph is the single most valuable piece of equipment a serious reloader can own. Here’s how to use one, what data to collect, and how to put the numbers to work at the range and in the field.

By HFR Staff  · June 22, 2026
AR-10 Rifles for Western Big Game: Platform Selection, Calibers, and Field Upgrades That Work

AR-10 Rifles for Western Big Game: Platform Selection, Calibers, and Field Upgrades That Work

The AR-10 platform has earned a legitimate place in the western big game hunter's arsenal. Here's how to choose the right chambering, build weight, and upgrades to make it hunt as well as it shoots on the range.

By HFR Staff  · June 21, 2026
Shooting in Summer Heat: Managing Mirage, Barrel Temperature, and Load Consistency at the Range

Shooting in Summer Heat: Managing Mirage, Barrel Temperature, and Load Consistency at the Range

Summer range sessions expose problems you didn't know you had. Heat mirage bends your sight picture, hot barrels change your point of impact, and loads that grouped perfectly in February can open up by August. Here's how to work with the heat instead of against it.

By HFR Staff  · June 18, 2026
Oregon's Best Outdoor Shooting Ranges: Where Hunters and Competitors Practice Year-Round

Oregon's Best Outdoor Shooting Ranges: Where Hunters and Competitors Practice Year-Round

Good trigger time between hunting seasons requires good places to shoot. Here's a rundown of Oregon's top public and club outdoor ranges for long-range practice, competition prep, and offseason marksmanship.

By HFR Staff  · June 17, 2026
Choosing Your First Hunting Rifle for Oregon Big Game: Caliber, Action, and Platform Decisions That Matter

Choosing Your First Hunting Rifle for Oregon Big Game: Caliber, Action, and Platform Decisions That Matter

With hundreds of hunting rifles on the market, picking your first one for Oregon's varied terrain can be genuinely confusing. Here's a no-nonsense buyer's guide that cuts through the marketing and focuses on what actually matters in the field.

By HFR Staff  · June 16, 2026
Bipods and Shooting Rests for Western Hunters: Field-Proven Setups for Long Shots

Bipods and Shooting Rests for Western Hunters: Field-Proven Setups for Long Shots

A quality bipod or tripod rest turns marginal shots into makeable ones. This guide covers Harris vs. Atlas bipods, tripod shooting systems, rear bags, and how to choose the right setup for your hunting style and terrain.

By HFR Staff  · June 15, 2026
Rifle Stock Choice for Western Hunters: Chassis Systems vs. Traditional Bedded Stocks

Rifle Stock Choice for Western Hunters: Chassis Systems vs. Traditional Bedded Stocks

Should your hunting rifle wear an aluminum chassis or a traditional bedded stock? Both have real advantages in the field. Here is how to decide which makes sense for your hunting style and budget.

By HFR Staff  · June 13, 2026