In this episode, instructor Justin Lipska sheds some light on the actual importance of standard deviation, achieving sub-MOA accuracy, getting a proper muzzle velocity, and knowing the exact range of your target in terms of their real effect on long-range hit probability. Using ballistic software to play out various scenarios, we determined what variables are truly most important in getting you repeatable hits on target at distance. The results will surprise you!

We've talked about sighting in your pistol and long-range rifle, so now we need to round out the trio! In this episode, instructor Pete Schreier explains the process of sighting in an AR-15 properly. AR's are incredibly versatile. Depending on the setup, one gun can essentially accomplish any task from hunting to defending freedom, so ensuring your optic is sighted in properly is extremely important to the gun's overall effectiveness. We touch on everything from recommended sight-in distance...

Figuring out how to set up your helmet for night vision at first can be a tall task. Getting the night vision itself is confusing enough for a beginner, but integrating it seamlessly into your helmet for ease of use and proper fit to your head/face/eyes is its own challenge. In this episode, instructor Mike Griffin dives into all things related to the helmet when it comes to night vision. What type of helmet do you need and what sort of interfaces should it have? Why proper fit is paramount...

What's the best home defense firearm? Another simple question that can only be answered with the less-than-straight-forward answer of "It depends". In this episode, instructor Brennan Brennecke and Jimmy discuss the pro's and con's of a home defense pistol vs a home defense AR-15. Sorry shotgun, you didn't make the cut! Of course, choosing "both" is never out of the question, but if you only have the room or budget for one at this point, tune in for some practical comparisons surrounding...

If you listened to "Ballistics for Beginners" or already have a basic understanding of long-range ballistics, you know there's a lot of factors at play with every single shot, and even the smallest of inconsistencies can cause frustrating misses. Arguably the most difficult variable we deal with in long-range shooting and ballistic solutions is wind. In this episode, Instructor Justin Lipska talks about wind and some of the many effects it can have on your shot in both the left-right...

If you're new to long-range shooting, the idea of "ballistics", or quite simply - how to get your bullet to a target far away, is complicated to say the least. In this episode, Instructor Justin Lipska goes through some of the key elements you need to understand in order to start getting in the ballpark of hitting targets at distance. We cover terminology, how to gather the necessary data for a specific shot, and what to do with that data to make it all happen. While this is just the...

You may have seen the "Four Firearms Safety Rules" on a poster in a range somewhere, but have you ever really thought about how these apply in real-life situations from self-defensive scenarios to professional duty use, competition, and more? There's really never a time where these rules should be broken, nor is there a circumstance where following the four firearms safety rules would put you at a tactical or competitive disadvantage. In this episode, Instructor Pete Schreier breaks down each...

There are many rifles that can shoot "long-range" but not all are created equal. In this episode, Instructor Corey Eliasson talks about the different types of long-range rifles from lightweight long-range-capable hunting rifles to heavier, dedicated competition or tactical precision rifles. We often see people trying to stretch one of these types of rifles into the other's role, or buying/building rifles that try to be the "best of both worlds". As usual, there's always a tradeoff and it's on...

Shooting with your weak hand/side - is it a skill worth dedicating a lot of your training time toward? In this episode, Instructor Chris Urrutia talks about reasons why one might need to shoot with their non-dominant side, how to train for those instances, and how much time you should plan to dedicate toward this type of training for competition and/or tactical use.

Digital technology continues to improve as time goes on and now we have really impressive digital night vision, but is it as good as analog? What even is "Digital" and "Analog" night vision in the first place? In this episode, Instructor Mike Griffin talks in-depth about what makes each of these types of night vision unique, their pros and cons, and which is best overall depending on the application.

There is no amount of data, equipment, load development, or anything else that can make up for a poor zero with your long-range rifle and scope combination. All else is meaningless if that foundational component isn't rock solid. In this episode, Instructor Justin Lipska talks about the process of sighting in a long-range rifle, and why a few simple steps can ensure that all the corrections you make at distance are done from a reliable zero, therefore eliminating a pesky potential variable...

There's a scientific way of explaining the difference between MOA and MRAD, but what does any of that mean when it actually comes to shooting? Corey Eliasson breaks down the practical differences between MOA and MRAD and how they relate to long-range shooters and their equipment. Everyone learns topics like these differently, so if there's still question marks swirling around your brain about MOA and MRAD after this podcast, let us know and maybe it's material for a future podcast!

It's hard to find good pistol drills that challenge shooters at every level and don't get old after a while. Pete Schreier joins Jimmy to talk about three drills that he and the other instructors at Vortex Edge continually go back to in order to assess their skill progression and potential areas of improvement. The best part about these drills is all of them are entirely scalable in terms of difficulty and challenge so you'll never outgrow them as you develop your skill.

The process of sighting in a red dot on a handgun is new to many people and when done incorrectly, can lead to frustration with yourself and your equipment. In this episode, Brennan Brennecke talks about the sight-in process from choosing a zero distance for your pistol red dot, choosing the right target, and setting yourself up for success with fundamentals and proper form. At Vortex Edge, we believe red dots are the best sighting system available for handguns, whether they be for...

The world of night vision is nothing short of incredibly cool... And complicated... The good news is we have people like Instructor Mike Griffin who have dedicated themselves to figuring it all out and presenting it in a way that makes sense to those who are just beginning to scratch the surface. In this episode of our "New to NODS" series, Mike talks about the differences between traditional analog or "i-squared" night vision and thermal. What are the key differences, pro's and con's of each...

Maybe you're shopping for your first handgun, or even thinking about getting one for a loved one who is newer to shooting. Conventional wisdom says "Smaller is less scary" and therefore, smaller handguns will be less formidable, easier to shoot, and produce lighter recoil for yourself or the newer shooter in your life. Instructor Pete Schreier is here to explain why the exact opposite is actually true and you'd be much better off starting with a full-size handgun. This isn't to say that small...

We get it, you don't always have time, ammo, or access to go to the range and train with live fire. The good news is, you can still get some serious work done at home with no ammo at all and improve your skills tremendously with dry fire. In this episode, Instructor Brennan Brennecke, a huge proponent of dry fire, goes over some of his favorite dry fire drills and some best practices to ensure you're getting the most out of your training time. Just beware, once you listen to this episode,...

"Home Defense" by the very nature of the term, implies being on the defense of yourself and your loved ones in your home. It's easy to let emotion take over when thinking about the possible scenario of an intruder being in your home, leading to a plan that's more offensive in nature. Instructor Chris Urrutia talks about why "CQB" (Close Quarters Battle) or clearing all the rooms in your house on your own is not the best way to think about handling a home invasion. It also doesn't mean being...

We believe any responsible citizen should exercise their right to own, use, and train with a firearm, but shooting classes take time and money - are you actually ready to make the most of that investment? Instructor Mike Griffin talks about his years of experience from both the student and instructor perspective, and the things you can do to make it count. Coming in with the right expectations, doing your homework before hand, ensuring your gear won't take you out of the action, best ways to...

When it comes to buying the best Long-Range ammo, there's no "One size fits all" answer. In this episode, Instructor Corey Eliasson explains why certain types of ammo that work great for others might not work for you, and how you can find the best shooting, most consistent ammo for your rifle. We also discuss why buying in bulk from the same "Lot" of ammunition can save you the headache of dealing with inconsistencies in your ammo, even when it's all the same type from the same manufacturer.

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