Tag Archives: George Gardner

Dive into the “What The Pros Use” 2024 Edition, where we uncover the latest trends in precision rifle gear among the top-ranked shooters in the Precision Rifle Series. Discover the shift in preferred calibers and cartridges that are defining the competitive edge in long-range shooting. From the continued supremacy of 6mm cartridges to the intriguing shift towards 25 calibers, see what the pros are using to win at the highest levels.

Austin Orgain is the 2nd Top Shooter to be spotlighted in my new series: What The Pros Use – Top Shooter Spotlight. These do a deep dive with some of the top pro shooters in the world. Austin is a two-time PRS Season Champion, AG Cup winner, and NRL Season Champ. He has the highest total accumulated PRS points over the past 7 years, meaning he’s the most consistently dominant shooter in recent history! Austin started competing with 25-caliber cartridges this year, and this article shares all the details about his experiments with the 25x47 and 25 GT. Check it out!

This article will focus on the gunsmiths the top precision rifle competitors in the country are using. I recently surveyed the top ranked shooters in both the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and the National Rifle League (NRL) to learn what gear they’re running in long range rifle matches. (Learn about the PRS & NRL and who I surveyed.) This data represents over 150 of the best precision rifle shooters in the country. (View other What The Pros Use articles) It’s especially important with this topic to start with a balanced perspective: If a gunsmith is on this list, they are ...

Barrels are deceptively simple, yet crucial to the precision required for long-range shooting. I once visited the shop of Benchrest Hall of Famer Cecil Tucker and I recognized a unique opportunity to learn from a legend. So I asked him the million dollar question: “What is the most important thing when it comes to precision rifles?” Cecil didn’t hesitate. He seemed to have been preparing his whole life to answer that elusive question, and it was on the tip of his tongue: “The barrel and the bullet.” Deceptively simple. Retired Army Ranger Sniper, Ryan Cleckner, explains “just as the receiver is the main part of the rifle for legal purposes, the barrel is the main part of the rifle for accuracy purposes. ...

I recently surveyed the top 100 shooters in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS), and this post reviews the rifle gunsmiths who built their rifles in 2015. The PRS tracks how top competitors place in major rifle matches across the country. These are the major leagues of sniper-style competitions, with targets typically from 300 to 1200 yards. These world-class shooters represent the best of the best in terms of long-range shooting in field conditions. For more info on the Precision Rifle Series and who these guys are, or to view what other gear they’re running scroll to the bottom of this article. ...

With the release of Clint Eastwood’s movie, American Sniper, this weekend, I thought it might be fitting to look at the favorite rifles of the American hero, Chris Kyle. In his autobiography, Kyle said people ask a lot about the weapons he used as a sniper, so he talked some in the book about the specific rifles he used. Kyle described the wide range of weapons and rifle systems he used in different situations, but I wanted to focus on the few he said were his favorite sniper rifles. So, I went back and re-read his book, and scoured the ...