Boyds will be closed on Thursday, 2/23/23, due to inclement weather in our area.Please email help@boydsgunstocks.com and we will answer questions as quickly and efficiently as possible.Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Find tips on Hunting, Firearm News, Reviews, & Training
Shooting sports can be enjoyed in all seasons, but for many spring is a time to turn to varmint hunting. As a youngster, I dispatched a bunch of rats in the corncrib with an airgun.
We owe a lot to gun writers who are good experimentalists who also have some imagination. One such writer is Warren Page, the late shooting editor for Field & Stream who is generally given credit for initial work that led to the .243 Winchester.
Growing up in a somewhat remote area, shooting sports were always important to me. First, it was with a Daisy Model 100 single shot BB gun that was cocked like a break action single barrel or double barrel firearm. Placing one BB in the muzzle completed the operation.
Is it possible that a product that predates cell phones, Facebook, and the EPA could still be taken seriously? As Gabby Hayes would have said, “Yur durn tootin!”
Featuring an article published in The Illinois Shooter Fall 2022 issue written by Jim House.
Introduced in 1912, the Winchester Model 1912 shotgun soon became known simply as the Model 12. Early in the production period of over half a century, the Model 12 was called “The Perfect Repeater.”
While I was holding the Kimber something made a light go on or perhaps something in my subconscious snapped. In either case I knew that I wanted a Kimber .45 Auto.
I grew up being very fond of Winchester firearms. The .22 I used during my youth was a Winchester Model 90 pump that shot .22 Shorts. The rifles that were used in the western movies that were so popular during my youth were Winchesters. The legendary Winchester Model 70 centerfire was introduced in the same year I was born.
Firearms last a long time and as a result they are frequently passed down from generation to generation. I am sure that many people have such special pieces even if they are no longer used for hunting or recreation. In my gun safe there is such an item.
There is no shortage of problems and the list seems to get longer on a daily basis. When it comes to shooting sports, one problem is the availability of ammunition and reloading components. However, problems may also arise when trying to get the right combination of rifle and scope.
The stock and forearm of the Mossberg were smooth and rather plain so to make the rifle elegant I turned to Boyds for the remedy. The wood furniture chosen consisted of stock and forearm made of XX walnut and with the field checkering pattern.
Introduced in 1925, the .270 Winchester might be considered to be an “old” cartridge, but with a working pressure as high as 65,000 psi the .270 can be loaded to drive a 130-grain bullet over 3000 ft/sec or a 150-grain bullet about 2900 ft/sec. Such ballistics mean that the .270 shoots flat and hits hard.
How much scope do you need? It certainly depends on the type of shooting that you will do. Those who market scopes usually try to sell models that have a higher magnification range, built in drop compensators, lighted reticules, dots or bars that indicate wind deflection, etc. In the vast majority of cases a good 2-7X or 3-9X will be all that is needed. Such scopes are often compact and light enough that the handling characteristics of the rifle are not altered drastically. One of my favorite scopes is a 1.5-4X that is exceptionally compact, lightweight, and bright. I have a 3.5-18X scope that has side focusing and a ballistic compensating turret. It cost well over $1000. It has all the features that you would expect on a scope of this type, but at this time I do not even have it on a rifle.
Got your lens covered in debris and dust? Want to learn how to clean the scope lenses properly? We have covered a step-by-step process that you should definitely go through.
Many shooters, myself included, look longingly at those beautiful custom and limited edition sporting rifles. Some of them are produced in the manufacturers’ custom shops or are built by gunsmiths, but others are just the high end models such as the Winchester Model 70 Super Grade or Ruger Hawkeye African. If you are like me, one of those rifles would probably spend most of its time in the safe and something else would be taken hunting.
The constant battle between packing everything including the kitchen sink and never having what you need after driving an hour or more to the range is one that many of us know all too well. Some of us go way too far and pack spare batteries for our spare electronic muffs, and others will often forget crucial items such as ammunition. While I am not certain whether this internal battle of carrying only the bare minimum, or bringing every tool short of a lathe to the range will ever be resolved, I do believe I have found a good compromise.
When I was growing up in a rural area, the road leading to our house was a quarter of a mile long and we lived about a long baseball throw from the end of it where my grandparents lived. As would be expected, my brothers and I frequently spent time with our grandparents. On one occasion, when I was probably five or six years of age, I was roaming about the house and saw a small handgun lying beside my grandparents’ bed. I had frequently been around firearms, but for some reason I thought that this small revolver might be some sort of toy.
Congrats! You’re pregnant! I know for a fact you have a million questions. Questions for your mom, your friends, your doctor, and everyone you meet with kids. You have tons of people to ask questions of, but who do you talk to about being able to hunt and shoot while carrying that precious cargo? Depending on your doctors, they may not agree with you going hunting.
When it comes to accessorizing your weapon, one of the biggest decisions is what optic to use. In this case, the biggest differences between a red dot sight and holographic sights fall into 3 main categories: Technology used, pros and cons, and what you need it for.
Find answers to questions with ins-and-outs of hunting permits and licensing, and a list of local agencies concerned with the licensing and permitting of hunters across all 50 U.S. states.
Now that you have acquired a precision optic and have joined the ever-growing community of precision rifle shooters, you are starting to shoot longer ranges. You quickly learn how much more the slightest inconsistency at the rifle shows up exponentially at the target. You make a conscious effort to be precise, consistent, and deliberate with everything you do behind the rifle, but you still experience inconsistency downrange. While the list of variables seems nearly endless, one major concern that you may not have considered is rifle cant.
Night vision scope is a cool device for hunters and shooters. When you want to aim at targets at night, there is no other alternative like a night vision scope for rifles.
For the most part, the design of the AR-15 is made up of several very simple and almost toy-like parts. Built of plastic and aluminum, apart from the barrel, the rifle is ultra-lightweight and can come together from parts found almost anywhere.
Nobody in the military gets to choose their service issued weapon and as you might know, service issued weapons do have some limitations. You got to arm yourself for the job you want so why not choose the weapon you deserve?
If you are new to the shooting sports or a seasoned veteran, it can be confusing at times differentiating between the numerous rounds out there and their plentiful pseudo names. Is .308 Winchester bigger than .30-06 Springfield?
Storing guns safely is one of the most crucial responsibilities of all gun owners. In the U.S., owning a gun safe was not mandatory until 2005 when the Federal Government made it illegal for all licensed gun dealers, manufacturers or importers to transfer or sell a gun unless the buyer has or purchases a secure locking device.
If you're new to hunting or shooting, or were at one point in that position, I'd wager you wouldn't make it three minutes into your research without coming across a library of articles and videos mentioning the 30.06 Springfield.
While there are many dynamic aspects of every hunt regardless of the game you are pursuing one constant for many of us is the tool of a firearm we use.
If you are a Minnesota resident and enjoy the challenge of big-game hunting, we probably don’t have to tell you that applications for the fall black bear season have officially opened up!
10 minutes, start to finish. That's how long it took to change my factory stock to a beautiful Boyds laminate stock. That might seem obvious to some, but I was surprised. As someone who is definitely not a gunsmith, and hadn't even removed a unstock before, I wasn't sure what to expect when I decided to try changing the stock out on my new Weatherby on my own.
Seeking a fully inletted stock for a Remington 788, Boyds offers multiple length-of-pull (LOP) options for each model. Read about this recent varmint hunt.
Looking to buy a rifle scope? Awesome! In this guide I’m going to show you EVERYTHING you need to know about choosing a rifle scope. Let’s get started!
The At-One adjustable gunstock has taken the mystery out of gun fit, and I imagine hunters will appreciate the company for it. For more information, visit boydsgunstocks.com.
The Boyds At-One Thumbhole design is one that is extremely popular with hunters and shooters because it allows the hand to grasp the grip of the stock more solidly and keeps the wrist flat and in a more-comfortable ergonomic position which provides better stability — is perfect for those all-day hunts.
One of the top concerns for many hunters is accuracy. Read our expert shooting tips to improve your accuracy with rifles.
Choosing the right action type for your shotgun may be challenging. Here are insights on the strengths and weaknesses of the shotgun types (actions) commonly available to hunters from an experienced hunter.
Statistically speaking, deer hunting is an exceptionally safe form of outdoor recreation. Of the millions of hunters who take to the woods each year, only a small fraction will experience any sort of injury. Read our list of common sense deer hunting safety tips to learn how to stay safe this deer hunting season.
When it comes to selecting a Boyds Hardwood Gunstock for your firearm, it can often be confusing differentiating whether you need a short-action or a long-action. We hope to clear up some of that confusion for you in this article!
One of the most important ways we can increase the chances of a clean kill is by using a firearm chambered in a cartridge of sufficient power for the game being hunted. Here are some things to consider when deciding on a big game round.
It is likely that the very first firearms were shotguns of a sort, the shotgun is as relevant to the modern hunter or home defender as it was to the 10th-century warriors.
Choosing the right rifle is paramount in staging a successful hunt and forging a prosperous new path in the sport. At first glance, it might seem like there’s a myriad of endless and intimidating choices out there, which can make getting into hunting a bit daunting for novice hunters and those new to the lifestyle. A little research can go a long way, however, in selecting the right rifle. What follows is a brief primer intended to get new hunters started on the right path to selecting an appropriate rifle.
For parents and veteran hunters alike, taking kids hunting can be one of the most rewarding experiences in outdoor life. For many, growing up learning to hunt was as natural as learning to tie their shoes or ride a bike. For others, the option to go hunting as a kid (for any number of reasons) simply didn’t exist. But, when many of those same youngsters were exposed to hunting as adults, they fell in love with the sport and became hooked for life.
Before even purchasing reloading components, a reputable data manual should be consulted. This will indicate the type of hull, primer, powder, and wad required to produce a given load, as well as the weight of the powder charge and shot payload.
A fairly common side effect of immersing oneself in the world of firearms is a sudden and uncontrollable urge to reload (or handload) ammunition. After all, it seems downright shameful to leave piles of perfectly good empty cartridge cases and shotshell hulls glinting in the sun, practically begging to be refurbished, refilled, and put back into action, only to instead end up languishing in scrap bins and trash barrels. Luckily, breathing new life into spent cases is a relatively easy process. Here’s how to get started.
Narrow down the decision-making process list of the top three user-rated hunting products hunting packs, hunting knives, optics, tree stands, & hunting blinds.
Like any major purchase, a little research goes far in making a smart decision. Below are some suggestions on selecting an entry-level firearm for novice hunters.
When it comes to planning a hunt, the options are endless. Some hunts require little more than a loose timeline, a packed lunch, and a loaded gun, but others can be much more daunting, even for an experienced hunter. A turkey hunt one county over is a far cry from stalking elk through the Rockies, but if you’ve never done either, you’re still starting from square one. That’s where hunting guides and hunting outfitters come in - someone else with the knowledge and skill to help close the gap between you and the game you chase.
We hunters like to think of ourselves as a tough bunch. After all, we take to the wilderness whenever we can to pursue our meat on its home turf while the majority of our peers endure, at worst, long lines at the supermarket checkout for theirs. It follows that we often pretend to be impervious to all the many, many, uncomfortable and even painful conditions that Mother Nature can and will throw at us on a seemingly constant basis.
In today's day and age, time seems to be in short supply. With work schedules, family activities and precious little time left for simple enjoyment or partaking in hobbies, it makes sense to maximize our best use of time.
Controlling for external factors like wind, temperature and elevation, accuracy is largely affected, for better or worse, by two general elements; the mechanical and the human. The mechanical element consists primarily of the quality of the firearm itself, but optics and sights, ammunition, and some accessories also play a major role in how accurate a given rifle is. The human element consists of factors such as aptitude, physical fitness, and mental state. A more detailed overview of how these two elements come into play follows.
If there is one thing that can get more heated than a Ford vs. Chevy debate, it is a similar argument for the best hunting rifle. Every shooter has their own preferences and in some cases these are influenced by local game, topography and local laws.
Compilation of links & general hunting season dates provide a starting point to familiarize with each state’s hunting seasons for big game & upland (non-migratory) small game species.
For some, a successful hunt means getting a big buck on the ground, out of the woods, and into the freezer. For others, it means simply getting that big buck in their cross hairs, experiencing the thrill of the hunt whether they pull the trigger or not. In both scenarios, the hunter has put his or her knowledge and skill to the test, and their efforts paid off in triumph.
The deer dropped at the crack of the rifle, anchored by an expertly placed bullet through the vital organs. The hunter knew he was lucky; there would be no tracking this time. A great deal of work lead to this moment; the months of pre-season scouting; the long, dawn to dusk days perched motionless in the deer stand, seemingly impervious to the chill of the November air.
Statistically, hunting is an exceptionally safe form of outdoor recreation. As evidence, consider that in the state of California in 2009, there were a total of 15 hunting related injuries involving firearms, eight of which were fatal. The fact that there were a total of 1,679,864 hunting licenses sold in California that same year puts the gun related hunting accident rate for 2009 at roughly .0001%.
If you’re a frequent On Target reader, you may remember a Marlin Model 336 that appeared in last year’s Hunting issue. It was a “beater” rifle when I bought it used ten years ago, and hunting with it every deer season, knocking around the dense north woods of New Hampshire,roughened the edges even more.
The Mosin Nagant is a well-known military rifle that has made its ways into the hands of many hunters, collectors, and sport shooters. This late 1800’s rifle is an affordable addition to any gun owner’s collection, including the first time buyer.
Learn more about hunter education requirements throughout the 50 U.S. states