Ron Spomer, Author at Guide Outdoors

News, Adventures & Links By State

Author

Ron Spomer

Ron Spomer has been photographing and writing about the outdoors for four decades. He's written seven books...

Ron Spomer has been photographing and writing about the outdoors for four decades. He's written seven books, hunted on six continents and been published in more than 140 magazines. He's currently rifles' editor at "Sporting Classics," travel columnist at "Sports Afield," Field Editor at "American Hunter," Senior Writer at "Gun Hunter," columnist at Outdoor News and TV host of "Winchester World of Whitetail." He will write on Shooting Tips monthly for sportsmansguide.com. You can read his blogs and catch some of his YouTube videos at www.Ronspomeroutdoors.com.

Bullet Penetration On Big Game

Hunters of big animals, such as elk, moose and bears, have long been instructed to shoot the heaviest bullets available in their cartridges. The benefit is deeper penetration. Today’s lighter controlled expansion bullets, however, penetrate better than heavier traditional cup-and-core bullets of yesteryear!

Call And Watch Each Shot

Hunting partners are useful. But they’re most valuable when they call your shots.

Shotgun Fit

We’ve all heard about “shotgun fit.” Most of us have been told that you don’t aim a shotgun, that its “sights” are our bodies and eyes. What we don’t understand is how this all happens. Stock fit? Comb height? Cast off? What? The good news is all this is more simple than it sounds. Anyone can understand shotgun fit merely by mounting a shotgun and looking.

Basic Rifle Scope Options

Rifles scopes used to be simple, effective aiming devices. Some still are. But others are becoming complicated computers dragging you down like the Ancient Mariner’s albatross. If you have to stop and think about your scope, it’s too complicated.

Shotgun Confusion Cleared

“Why are shotgun names and numbers so weird,” a nephew wondered. “Because ‘old fashioned’ people invented them,’ I said.

What Caliber Is Your Cartridge?

What caliber are you shooting? That’s one of the first questions other shooters ask when they meet you at the range or in the hunting fields. But it’s not what they mean. The “caliber” question is really a “cartridge” question. Caliber is the diameter of the rifle’s bore. Answering it correctly does not describe the ammunition the rifle fires. For clarity, it’s important to know the differences between bore caliber, bullet caliber and cartridge.

Real Practice

The problem with rifle practice the way too many shooters do it is they do it wrong! “Bang, bangity bang bang.” They bang away. Either they sit at a bench and punch holes in the same 100-yard target over and over or they stand using bad form and plink at cans, rocks and whatnot. Who hunts like that?

Spomer on Shooting: Barrel Weight in Rifles

Should you buy a heavy barrel, light barrel or medium-weight barrel on your centerfire rifle?

Shooting: Does Bullet Weight Matter?

As a new hunter it’s a challenge deciding which of the many, confusing cartridges and calibers to buy. It’s even more confusing when we’re asked to choose ammunition. Does bullet weight really matter? Yes! And no. Well, maybe.