Friday, September 25, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Category

Shooting

74 articles

Precision Load Development from Scratch: Ladder Tests, OCW, and Confirming Your Hunting Load

Precision Load Development from Scratch: Ladder Tests, OCW, and Confirming Your Hunting Load

Working up a hunting load is more than picking the middle of the data range. A systematic approach — ladder tests, OCW groups, and field confirmation — produces a load you can trust when it counts.

By HFR Staff  · August 17, 2026
Building Your First AR-15 Lower: A Pacific Northwest Shooter's Guide to Assembly and Oregon Legality

Building Your First AR-15 Lower: A Pacific Northwest Shooter's Guide to Assembly and Oregon Legality

Building your own AR-15 lower receiver is a satisfying project that saves money and teaches you the platform inside and out. Here's a step-by-step guide for Pacific Northwest shooters, including Oregon-specific legal considerations.

By HFR Staff  · August 15, 2026
NRL Hunter Competition: Getting Started in Practical Long-Range Field Shooting in the Pacific Northwest

NRL Hunter Competition: Getting Started in Practical Long-Range Field Shooting in the Pacific Northwest

NRL Hunter brings practical long-range field shooting to competitors across the Pacific Northwest. Here’s how to get started, what to expect at your first match, and why this sport will transform your hunting accuracy.

By HFR Staff  · August 14, 2026
PCP Air Rifles for Oregon Hunters: Off-Season Practice, Small Game, and Pest Control

PCP Air Rifles for Oregon Hunters: Off-Season Practice, Small Game, and Pest Control

High-powered PCP air rifles have crossed a threshold. With enough energy to ethically take small game and pest species, and enough precision to sharpen your marksmanship year-round, they've earned a real place in the Oregon outdoorsman's toolkit.

By HFR Staff  · August 13, 2026
Scope Cant and Reticle Leveling: The Overlooked Accuracy Killer for Long-Range Hunters

Scope Cant and Reticle Leveling: The Overlooked Accuracy Killer for Long-Range Hunters

A canted scope introduces errors that grow geometrically with distance. Here's how to diagnose the problem, level your optic correctly, and verify zero — before it costs you an elk.

By HFR Staff  · August 12, 2026
Range Bag Essentials for Pacific Northwest Hunters and Shooters

Range Bag Essentials for Pacific Northwest Hunters and Shooters

What's in your range bag says a lot about how seriously you take your shooting. Here's what experienced Pacific Northwest hunters and competitors actually carry to every session.

By HFR Staff  · August 11, 2026
Diagnosing and Curing Flinch: Drills and Mental Techniques for a Better Hunting Shot

Diagnosing and Curing Flinch: Drills and Mental Techniques for a Better Hunting Shot

Flinch destroys more hunting opportunities than poor marksmanship fundamentals, bad ammo, or imperfect optics combined. Here's how to diagnose it honestly and systematically eliminate it before your season opener.

By HFR Staff  · August 10, 2026
Hunting Tripods and Shooting Sticks for Western Big Game: Carbon vs. Aluminum, Height, and Field Setups That Work

Hunting Tripods and Shooting Sticks for Western Big Game: Carbon vs. Aluminum, Height, and Field Setups That Work

At 300+ yards with a bull elk in your crosshairs, your field rest matters more than your rifle. A practical guide to hunting tripods, shooting sticks, and the systems western hunters actually need.

By HFR Staff  · August 9, 2026
Hunting Optics in the Pacific Northwest: Keeping Your Glass Clear, Fog-Free, and Reliable in Wet Conditions

Hunting Optics in the Pacific Northwest: Keeping Your Glass Clear, Fog-Free, and Reliable in Wet Conditions

Oregon and Washington hunters face some of the harshest optical conditions in North America. Rain, fog, temperature swings, and condensation can render a $2,000 scope useless at the moment of truth. Here's how to buy right and field-prep your glass for PNW conditions.

By HFR Staff  · August 7, 2026
Getting Started with IDPA Defensive Pistol Competition in Oregon: Clubs, Gear, and Your First Match

Getting Started with IDPA Defensive Pistol Competition in Oregon: Clubs, Gear, and Your First Match

IDPA is the fastest-growing defensive pistol sport in the country — and Oregon has a thriving club scene. Here's what you need to know to show up ready for your first match.

By HFR Staff  · August 4, 2026
Electronic Hearing Protection for Hunters: Best Ear Pro for the Oregon Field, Blind, and Range

Electronic Hearing Protection for Hunters: Best Ear Pro for the Oregon Field, Blind, and Range

Most Oregon hunters protect their hearing on the range but neglect it in the field. Electronic hearing protection solves that — and actually makes you a more aware, effective hunter. Here is what to choose and why it matters.

By HFR Staff  · August 3, 2026
Shotgun Patterning and Choke Selection for Oregon Duck and Goose Hunting: A Pre-Season Test Day Guide

Shotgun Patterning and Choke Selection for Oregon Duck and Goose Hunting: A Pre-Season Test Day Guide

Oregon's waterfowl season opens in October, but the work happens now. Here's how to run a complete patterning session and dial in the right choke and load combination before the birds arrive.

By HFR Staff  · August 1, 2026