The Garmin Alpha 10 device allows you to closely track up to 20 dogs’ movement in the field at a range of up to 9 miles. I put a prerelease model to the test with one German Shorthaired Pointer.

Dog-tracking collars are nothing new. Garmin has a fleet of advanced dog tracking and training systems available. Embraced by hunters who run dogs over vast expanses yet need the ability to monitor each dog’s behavior, these GPS tracking devices are powerful tools in the field.

Today, Garmin added a new tool to the box with the Alpha 10. And while the Alpha 10 might be the newest, it isn’t the biggest hammer in the box.

Instead, the Alpha 10 gives hunters (and anyone else who may want to leverage the power of real-time dog tracking) a versatile, light, effective tracker with trimmed-back features at an attractive price ($400 for the handheld; $650-700 for the handheld plus a collar).

No, that’s still not cheap. But compared with models with more robust onboard GPS mapping, it saves hundreds of dollars. So, I put one to the test way off the grid in the Colorado mountains.

In short: The Alpha 10 performs most of the functions of higher-cost GPS trackers at a lower price. The easy-to-use, accurate tool is a great option for hunters who tend to use phone apps for navigation. Finally, the training collar works well for hunters who have trained their dogs on e-collars.

Garmin Alpha 10 Review

I took the Alpha 10 into some big mountains to scout for the upcoming elk season. As it was still a month away, my wife and I took our GSP along to see if we could wrangle up some grouse for practice.

The Alpha 10 unit was pretty easy to set up initially. The instructions outlined everything from charging to pairing and basic use, and most of this was intuitive enough to do just from inspecting the product.

I paired the Alpha 10 with the TT15 Mini training collar. It allows you to communicate with the dog through tone, vibration, and electric stimulation. Thankfully, my dog is already trained to understand these, and it made for a smooth transition.

In my first use, I had the collar figured out in about 10 minutes out of the car. It took a few minutes to understand the menu system and user interface. But once I’d found and scrolled around all the screens, the product was second nature.

As my pup wove a pattern through the forest and meadows, I could follow her range and direction from the device. It displays an arrow pointing to the dog, and a distance. This makes it very easy to know your dog’s exact location.

Garmin says you can do this with up to 20 dogs at once. I haven’t tried!

In a quick first use, the Alpha 10 seems like a solid system. It allowed me to monitor my dog. And it tells me when she points, sits, lays down, or trees (more applicable to hounds than GSPs). My dog never ranged more than 200 yards during my use, but the device seemed accurate.

The only thing I disliked about the collar and handheld is that it doesn’t come with a hard case to organize the parts. For a product that costs double that of non-GPS dog-training collars from Dogtra, I’d love to see a nice case to keep your investment safe.

Alpha 10 Dog Tracker: Other Features

I got a good first look at the product. But due to its preproduction status, I couldn’t test all the features.

For instance, the Alpha 10 will pair with phones. This allows you to use the Garmin Explore app to track your hunts and even monitor dogs or other buddies who have Garmin products — all from your smartphone.

Here’s the brand’s pitch about these features, which I have not tested.

Mobile Solution

Hunters can pair the Alpha 10 with the Garmin Explore smart device app for enhanced mapping solutions. When paired, users can stow the Alpha 10 handheld in their pack and use their compatible smartphone or tablet to view their dogs’ location and track in real-time.

Garmin Explore provides added relevant information, such as hunt replay to relive your favorite moments of the hunt, robust off-grid navigation, customizable tracking lines, and saved hunt collections for easy access when you need it.

Companion Tracking

Alpha 10 users can pair their unit to a companion’s compatible Garmin dog-tracking device, such as Alpha 200i, to view their companion and companion’s dog location. Once paired, the Alpha 10 operator can make real-time decisions based on at-a-glance information, instead of waiting for verbal communication from the dog’s handler.

The two-way connectivity allows the dog handler and Alpha 10 users to view each other’s location for enhanced awareness when not in visual contact. Additionally, compatible devices can share predefined messages between units for rapid communication.

Ecosystem Compatibility

Individuals can pair the Alpha 10 with optional Garmin devices, including a compatible Garmin smartwatch, such as Instinct, fēnix, or tactix, using the built-in dog-tracking app.

For in-vehicle tracking, the Alpha 10 is also compatible with the Garmin DriveTrack system.

Also, UTV/ATV enthusiasts can pair the Alpha 10 to the Montana 700 or Tread series for additional dog-tracking capabilities.

Visit Garmin’s website to learn more or buy now.

If it’s First it Follows, If it’s Second it Stays

A rifle scope’s reticle is placed in either the first focal plane (FFP) or the second focal plane (SFP). The main difference between the two options is how the reticle behaves when adjusting the scope’s magnification. A FFP rifle scope has a variable size reticle, while a SFP rifle scope will have a static reticle at all magnifications. There are advantages and disadvantages to either option.

First Focal Plane

First focal plane rifle scopes are commonly preferred by long range target shooters. When adjusting magnification on a FFP rifle scope, the reticle your eye sees will change in size, becoming increasingly larger as magnification increases. What this means is; your units of measure per each hash mark, MOA or Mil, represent the same value regardless of the current magnification setting.

Example: a rifle scope with hash marks representing .25 MOA across the horizontal line will represent .25 MOA at all magnification levels.

First focal plane rifle scopes are starting to gain popularity with hunters who find themselves shooting their intended targets at longer distances. Knowing the hash marks represent the same value in all scenarios is an advantage in terms of speed. Speed, however, comes at a cost; the differing sizing of the reticle may be too large at certain distances coupled with magnification and can make shot placement trickier and inversely it’s also possible for the reticle to be too small. Luckily, in those scenarios, an illuminated reticle may relieve some of that pain.

Second Focal Plane

Second focal plane has been a commonly used reticle position by hunters for years. SFP is how most people expect a rifle scope’s reticle to behave, rightly so, we’ve all generally grew up looking through these scopes. The reticle stays the same size at all magnification levels which makes it easier to see at all ranges but comes at a price.

Considering the reticle isn’t variable in size, that means the hash marks on the reticle are variable in what they represent. Almost all rifle scopes default to the hashes being truly represented a full magnification, although it would be wise to double-check.

Example: Leupold’s Mark 5 HD 3.6-18×44 a second focal plane rifle scope with a magnification range of 3.6-18x, has hash marks representing 1 MOA. This is only true at its full magnification, 18x.

When the rifle scope is not at full magnification, the hash marks represent different values relative to the magnification. For example, in the above Mark 5 HD, full magnification represents 1 MOA. At half of that magnification, 7.2x, the hash marks represent double the default value; 2 MOA.

This poses an added challenge to taking a shot when you factor in having to do a bit of mental math when using hold-over hash marks.

Which one is right for me?

So, how do you choose the right rifle scope? In reality, it all comes down to preference and what style of hunting you’re finding yourself in more often. First focal plane rifle scopes are advantageous when shooting long distance where quick follow-up shots using hold-over are more likely. They are disadvantageous when you find yourself in closer ranges in dark timer considering it’s very easy to lose the smaller and thinner reticle lines against dark backgrounds.

Second focal plane rifle scopes are useful for visibility throughout all magnification ranges and when paired with a ballistics turret allow you to center punch regardless of the magnification.

If you’re having trouble pulling the trigger on a first focal plane or second focal plane rifle scope, our team at the Outdoorsmans is dedicated to finding the perfect match for you. We’ll take the time to consider your budget, hunting style, and the terrain you commonly find yourself, and we’ll marry you with a rifle scope you’ll be proud to own. Email us at [email protected] or call us at 1-800-291-8065 to get started!

UPDATED 03 NOVEMBER 2024

by Robert Ceran

Spinner fishing is one of my favorite ways to catch trout in almost any kind of water. In addition to being fun, it also regularly produces big fish that bite aggressively on these classic trout lures.

Another advantage of this technique is that it’s relatively easy to set up your gear and get started, making it an excellent technique for beginners.

In this article I’ll walk you through the basics of how to set up your gear for trout fishing with spinners, as well as the best lures, tactics and locations to help you catch more fish with this method.

Are spinners good for trout?

Yes, spinners are great for trout fishing, because their rotating blades produce strong vibrations in the water, which is very effective at triggering bites.

Another reason why these lures work so well is that the moving blades generate flashes of light in the water, creating an additional visual stimulus that resembles a small minnow behaving erratically.

These lures also make a excellent search baits, since you can easily cover a lot of water by casting while systematically moving around a lake or pond.

That’s why spinning for trout is usually my first tactic when exploring a new fishery.

Trout fishing spinner setup

The first thing you need to do is set up a good trout rod, reel and line. Here are the tackle components you’ll need:

• Rod: 6 to 7 foot, fast action, ultralight power spinning rod
• Reel: 1000 to 2000 size spinning reel
• Main line: 10 pound test braided line
• Swivel: Size 10 barrel or snap swivel
• Leader: 4 to 6 pound test fluorocarbon

The best trout fishing rod to use for this is an ultralight power rod for spinner fishing, since that will enable you to cast ultralight lures (such as a Rooster Tail) over longer distances.

If you’re going to fish in a stream with overhanging trees and bushes, it’s best to choose a shorter rod around 6 feet long.

On the other hand, if you’re going to be casting from the shore of a lake, it’s better to choose a longer rod between 7 and 8 feet, as that will increase your casting distance and will also improve your line management during lure retrieval.

My favorite size spinning reel to use for this technique is a 2000 size, since that’s light enough to work well with lightweight lines and small lures, but it’s also big enough to hold enough line for casting longer distances.

The best main line to use is a 10 lb test braid, since this has excellent casting properties, which increases your casting distance by 10 to 15% compared to other line types.

In addition to this, braid has almost zero stretch, which increases the sensitivity of the whole setup and enables you to feel every single vibration of your lure during retrieval.

If you don’t want to use braid, monofilament is also a good option as a main line for this type of fishing. Now let’s talk about the terminal tackle and leader rigging.

How to rig a spinner for trout fishing

If you’re spinner fishing for trout that aren’t line shy, you can tie your main line directly to a snap swivel, and then attach the snap to the eye of your lure.

The advantages of this rigging is that it is very easy to tie, and it’s also very easy to switch out your lures, since you just need to open and close your snap. Incidentally, this is also one of the best steelhead rigs.

However, in heavily fished lakes and rivers there’s a good chance that the fish are line shy, and this is especially true if you’re angling in clear water.

In that case it’s best to tie a 1 to 3 foot leader with 4 to 6 lb test fluorocarbon.

Fluorocarbon line has much lower visibility in the water compared to braid, and using a fluoro leader thus gives you more stealth.

Tie a size 10 swivel between your main line and the leader, and then tie the fluoro leader directly to the eye of your lure.

If you want to fish in deeper water or in a strong current, add one or more split shot weights above the swivel, which will help to get your lure down into the strike zone faster.

What is the best spinner for trout?

The 4 best trout spinners are:

• Rooster Tail: This lightweight lure works best for a slow retrieve speed. Needs additional weight if you want to fish it deep.
• Panther Martin: Heavier body than the Rooster Tail, helping to increase casting distance, and for getting it down into deeper water more effectively.
• Blue Fox Vibrax: These lures come with a vibrax blade mechanism that produces sounds by rubbing against the bell shaped body of the lure, thereby emitting stronger vibrations in the water than a regular lure.
• Mepps Aglia: A classic lure that has been around for many decades, and continues to catch fish reliably every season.

While there are many other options on the market, the ones above are my all time favorites, and have caught countless fish for me over the years.

But keep in mind that each of these fishing lure brands comes in a multitude of sizes and colors, and in general it’s best to have as many different options as possible in your tackle box.

The fish can be quite picky at times, and having the right color combination can make the difference between catching your limit or going home empty handed.

If you’re fishing in a heavy current with deep water, you may also want to try out lures with extra weight, or with a torpedo shaped body, which sink faster and are specifically designed to fish in these conditions.

What is the best size spinner for trout?

The best lure size to use depends primarily on the size of the fish you’re expecting to catch.

Spinner blade sizeWeightRecommended use 07/64 oz.Small brown and brook trout in streams 11/8 oz.Small brown and brook trout in streams 23/16 oz. Average size rainbow and brown trout 31/4 oz.Average size rainbow and brown trout 43/8 oz.Big rainbow and brown trout 57/16 oz.Big rainbow and brown trout 65/8 oz.Steelhead

Trout Spinner Size Chart

The table above shows the recommended sizes for catching different species and sizes of fish.

While you sometimes catch small trout on a big lure and vice versa, in general there’s a clear correlation between the size of the lure and the size of the fish that you catch.

So if you’re targeting trophy fish, it’s better to choose one of the bigger sizes (3, 4, or even 5).

On the other hand, if you’re targeting small brookies or brownies in a shallow stream, go with the smallest size you can get away with (0 or even 00), as these small fish have a hard time getting a big lure into their mouth.

What color spinner should you use for trout?

The two best spinner colors for trout (that consistently catch most fish) are a golden blade with black body, or a silver blade with yellow body.

With that being said, it’s necessary to keep in mind that bites can be triggered to bite on a wide range of colors, and which one works best can be very different from fishery to fishery, and even from day to day on the same lake or river.

So you may encounter situations where the colors that usually produce the most fish don’t work, and you need to mix things up in order to get bites.

Because of this complexity, it’s important to have as many different colors in your tackle box as possible, in order to be able to do some testing in order to figure out what works best on any particular day.

In general, it’s best to use more subdued colors like blue or black on bright days with clear water conditions.

On the other hand, brighter colors such as yellow, chartreuse, or pink can work better on overcast days, or in stained waters, or if you’re fishing for trout at night.

Where to use spinners for trout

The great thing about this technique is that it’s easy to cover a lot of water, which means you can use it as a search bait to find locations where you can catch trout.

Here are some of the best places to cast your lures:

• The inlets of tributary streams of lakes
• Drop off zones along weed flats
• Shore points and other underwater structure
• Old river channels in reservoirs
• Stocking areas

When searching for hungry fish, it’s important to keep in mind that they tend to be more mobile than many other fish species, and don’t usually spend the whole day in one spot. So if you don’t get any bites, just move on to the next spot.

If you know the stocking area(s) of your lake, it’s always a good idea to start there, as some fish will stay close to these spots for a long time before they disperse in the lake.

How to catch trout with spinners

The best way to catch trout on spinners is by using it as a search bait to cover a lot of water in a short time.

The most common way to do this is to cast your lure out from shore, but you can also throw it from a boat or kayak, and you can even troll it.

Spinner fishing for trout in lakes

When casting from shore, divide the water in front of you into a pie chart, and cover it systematically with a series of casts that move from one side to the other (either clockwise or counterclockwise).

After you finish covering a particular spot this way, move on to the next one.

You’ll usually get very aggressive bites on these lures, so if you don’t get a bite, that either means there are no fish around, or they don’t want to eat your spinner. Because of this it’s best to keep on moving, until you find hungry fish.

Very often trout relate to the bottom, and can be found cruising 2 to 3 feet above the bottom. Because of this, it’s usually best to fish close to the bottom.

After casting it out, let it sink to the bottom before starting to retrieve it, and then retrieve it with your rod tip down to the water.

Casting spinners for trout from a boat

If you’re using a boat, this often gives you access to deeper water than casting from shore, which can be ideal for targeting fish during the summer, when they retreat into deeper water during the day.

In order to fish in deep water, it’s necessary to add additional split shot weights above the swivel on your rig. That way you can even use lightweight options (such as the Rooster Tail) to fish in deep water.

Spinner fishing for trout in rivers

When fishing for trout in streams and rivers, it’s important to stay mobile and cover as much water as possible.

That means you’ll be finished with one location in just a few casts, after which it’s time to move on to the next spot.

The only exception to this is if you get a short strike, and then try out a different style or color to try and trigger another bite from the same fish.

When casting a lure in a stream or river, it’s usually best to cast across the current, and then let the current carry it downstream while you retrieve it, thus forming an arc.

If you want to target a specific feeding lane, it’s best to cast slightly upstream of it, and let the lure swing into that area during the retrieve, as the current pushes it downstream.

Trolling for trout with spinners

Trolling is a great technique for catching more fish in lakes, as it enables you to cover more water with less effort than if casting your lure.

If you’re trolling for stocked rainbow trout, you can use the same setup and rigging as for casting from a boat, though you may want to add additional split shot weights to get your rig deeper in the water.

However, if you want to troll in deeper water than 10 to 15 feet, refer to our guide on trout rigging for trolling to get the best setup for your specific purposes.

Venison brisket can be one of the toughest cuts on the deer. Learn how to prepare it so that it comes out tender and juicy every time!

Smoking, like many other cooking technique, gets a bad rap. It is really a very forgiving way to cook. People tend to overcomplicate the process though. Keep reading and we’ll simplify it a bit.

You will just need some planning ahead of time to make sure it comes out perfect.

What is brisket?

The brisket of the deer is found on the chest (breast), above the front legs. It is a thinner cut of meat and has more connective tissue due to the fact that this muscle works harder than other muscles in the animal.

Most of the time it ends up in the grind pile for a lot of people. We have been saving them for years. When they are slow cooked. They are absolutely delicious. Tender and very flavorful.

Smoking low and slow is a perfect way to tenderize this meat. There is very little hands on time because the smoker does all of the work. The only thing you have to possess is patience. Don’t try to rush the process.

Beef or pork have fatty briskets and are a lot larger, so they take eons to smoke. Deer briskets will smoke in a fraction of that time. Because the deer is so lean, it doesn’t require the Texas crutch that beef requires, so it’s much easier.

Trimming the venison brisket

The first key step is to trim the brisket of all silver skin and any large pockets of fat that you can see.

Season the brisket

Next make a delicious rub so that the brisket will take on a great flavor and texture. Make sure you cover it with enough rub.

Ingredients you need

• brown sugar – dark brown or light brown sugar will both work
• granulated garlic – you can substitute garlic powder but granulated has a better flavor.
• onion powder –
• cumin
• coriander
• cayenne pepper – or chili powder, chipotle powder is good too.
• Dutch cocoa powder – optional but this adds a fun mole negro type flavor.Pin
• venison brisket

How to make it

In a small bowl, mix ingredients for the rub. Generously season roast with kosher salt or sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Then season it generously with the rub.

If the rub doesn’t seem to be sticking well, drizzle a bit of olive oil on top and then rub it into the meat with your hands.

Cut a large piece of plastic wrap and tightly wrap roast. Place it on a rimmed baking sheet and put it in the refrigerator for 8-24 hours to marinate.

The next day, remove it from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature. Set up and start your smoker heating to 225°F. Don’t go over this or it will cook too quickly. You could go down to 200°F but realize that it will take a bit longer.

Place the piece of meat on a rack in your smoker. spritz with a mixture of 1 part apple cider vinegar and 2 parts of olive oil or the oil of your choice in a clean, food safe spritzer. Close the lid or door and leave it but be careful tending the heat so it doesn’t get too hot.

Pro tip: We often cook a beef brisket at the same time. If you do this, place the venison under the beef so that the fat from the beef drips on it.

Spray the meat a couple times with the vinegar and oil mixture. If your smoker is equipped with temperature probe, insert it into the thickest part of the meat.

Smoke the brisket for 2-4 hours, depending on the size. This brisket was 2¼ pounds and took about 3 hours. The time will vary according to several factors. How many times you open the door and lose heat, how accurate the thermometer is, how much the meat weighs and the particular cut you use.

Check the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer. Stick a fork into the meat. Turn it a bit. The meat should be fork tender.

Different deer populations taste and cook differently, depending on diet, predators, and terrain. See our ultimate guide to cooking deer for more information.

What type of smoker to use

You can use a wood pellet grill or smoker, an electric smoker or a charcoal smoker to make this deer brisket.

How to warm leftovers

If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator.

• Place slices or a whole chunk in a deep baking pan. Pour venison broth or chicken stock (beef is too overpowering for the mild venison flavor) in the bottom of the pan.
• Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake at 325°F about 20 minutes for slices. About 40 hour for larger chunks.

You can also warm it in the slow cooker on low for a couple of hours with some stock, BBQ sauce or other liquid.

What to serve with deer brisket

• mashed potatoes
• French fries
• coleslaw
• cornbread
• fresh veggies, like corn on the cob
• BBQ sauce

What to do with leftovers

Leftovers will last for about 4 days refrigerated. For longer storage, vacuum pack and store in freezer for about 6 months.

Venison brisket makes some great dishes with the leftovers.

• Great tacos, quesadillas and the best fajitas
• Great appetizers. Try a toasted crostini topped with cheddar cheese, brisket and grilled onions, like the ones we did in the photo below.
• Make classic mac & cheese with brisket.
• Warm some sliced brisket and make sandwiches or subs with cheese, grilled onions and BBQ sauce.
• Frittatas

More smoking recipes

• Smoked Beef Brisket
• Chipotle Peppers
• Smoked Spare Ribs
• Steelhead Trout
• Smoked Pulled Pork – Finish with Slow Cooker

Tools to use

• smoker
• meat thermometer
• chef’s knife

This venison brisket is a delicious addition to your venison recipe book. Next year don’t grind it. You’ll be happy you didn’t!

Connect with us through our social media ages! Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter.

If you have any questions or comments, please ask in the comment section below. We’d love to hear from you!

I hope you enjoyed the recipe today!

Enjoy. And have fun cooking!

Shooting aids go a long way and become a great companion for a hunter. Tree stands or deer stands are placed near a tree in a hunting spot. It gives the hunter the advantage of being able to get a steady aim at their targets. When selecting one of these brands, one needs to look for stability as well as being portable and compact.

In a hurry? My favorite is this BOG FieldPod Shooting Rests. See it at Amazon.

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Preview

Product

Price

Caldwell Stable Table Lite Shooting Rests CHECK PRICEApprox. $115.79CHECK BEST PRICE BOG FieldPod TreePod Shooting Rests CHECK PRICEApprox. $118.88CHECK BEST PRICE YPOD Shooting Rest CHECK PRICEApprox. $29.95CHECK BEST PRICE BOG FieldPod FieldPod Shooting Rests CHECK PRICEApprox. $96.99CHECK BEST PRICE Vanguard Porta Aim Gun Rest CHECK PRICEApprox. $44.99CHECK BEST PRICE

Reviewing the 5 Best Shooting Rests for Tree Stands

Caldwell Stable Table Lite Ambidextrous Fully Collapsible Rotating All-Weather Shooting Rest for Outdoor

This product is a weatherproof tabletop that comes with an all-weather seat. The seat is 17″ high, and the tabletop is 34’’Wx23″ L. The total weight of the product is 250 pounds. The best thing about this stand is that it is easy to use, foldable, easy to carry, and most reliable.

The total weight limit for the table is 250 pounds. It includes two cleaning forks, which fit into the carrying handles. The tabletop has push-activated buttons for folding. The molded carrying handles allow easy storage and transport.

Pros:

• It is lightweight and easy to carry.• Its weatherproof quality makes it very durable.• The seat is ambidextrous.• It is easy to set up in crowded ranges.• It gives a steady surface to the shooter.

Cons:

• It may seem a little costly.• The tabletop’s surface is very slippery

BOG FieldPod Adjustable Ambidextrous Outdoor Range and Hunting

BOG is a tree pod weighing around 15 pounds. This product is very versatile and has a dual frame construction. The height is adjustable from 20″ to 42″ high.

The pod gives a steady frame to shoot from a treestand and is very lightweight. The tension knob allows vertical lift of the upper frame, which provides a 180° horizontal panning ability. It also has a dual frame construction, which results in increased stability.

This tree pod rest has molded, non-marring rear stock and front forend support, this securely holds the gun without causing any damage. The rest supports placing the weapon such that it is in a ready position to aim and fire. The upper part of the rest is detachable to provide easy transport.

Pros:

• It is sturdy and very stable.• It gives a hands-free experience.• Tree pods offer bench rest accuracy.• Its versatility makes hunting comfortable for a variety of situations.• It can be used while sitting.

Cons:

• The chemicals used in the making are known to cause cancer and birth defects.

YPOD Shooting Rest

This is a Y-shaped shooting stand, just as the name suggests. The Y-pod is originally 8.5 inches high and can be extended up to 12.5 inches above the frame. The shooting rest fits for both rifles and handguns. The Y-pod can be placed on a table stand or a deer stand for a better aim.

It has custom height adjustment and allows free rotation while shooting. The product is fit for the use of youth and adults. It provides a comfortable grip for a steady shot. The function and operation are completely noise-less, so it is best designed for quiet missions.

Pros:

• The head of the Y-pod can swivel 360 degrees.• The height of the stand is adjustable.• It is very light, weighing only 8 ounces.• Very compatible and easy to carry around.• It gives a better aim and shooting position.• It elevates the barrel of a rifle. So, no hunching!

Cons:

• It needs a very steady/solid frame to rest on.

BOG FieldPod Adjustable Ambidextrous Outdoor Range and Hunting

A BOG FieldPod is a very versatile shooting gear and can be used in a variety of ways. It weighs 6 pounds, and its height can be adjusted from 20″ to 42″.

It comes with a dual-frame to provide extra stability and balance. It is foldable and comes with a carry strap to easily carry it around the hunting place. The product has a dual-frame construction.

The height of the upper frame can be customized and is fit for the use of any size rifles (including detachable magazine rifles or crossbows). It is a great choice for long-range hunting.

The tension knob allows quick and easy adjustment of the upper frame.

Pros:

• It is easy to carry and light in weight.• The range of height adjustment is huge.• It gives a hands-free experience to the shooter.• The FieldPOds are perfect for ground blind sitting.• The settings are easy to understand and operate.

Cons:

• The product chemicals are known to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Vanguard Porta Aim Gun Rest with Compact and Portable Bench Rest

It is a gun rest Porta-aim unit. This outdoor product can have a patented fast height adjustment. The height adjustment of the product ranges from 8.8-12.6″. It has a quick, single-handed, center column adjustment ring. The head swivels 360 degrees, without any vibrations.

The center column has an anti-vibration bag, which is detachable. The round movement of the column is smooth and can be locked to stay on target.

The design of the product is compact, foldable, and allows easy portability. It weighs only 1.7 pounds and is constructed using rugged black aluminum, which gives lasting durability.

Pros:

• It is very lightweight, just 1.7 pounds, and foldable.• The height and center adjustments are quick.• It is tiny and compact yet gives steady support to the rifles.• The rest acts as a shock-absorbent.• It helps with both speed and accuracy.• The adjustments are simple and convenient.

Cons:

• The fabric of the bag doesn’t last long.

Here are a few points to check before buying shooting rests for tree stands.

Lightweight:

This is the most important factor. You need a very lightweight shooting rest so that you can conveniently carry it while climbing. Always check the overall weight of the equipment before purchasing and go for the one that’s lightweight and durable at the same time.

Stable:

Different shooting rests have different stability mechanisms. So, it all comes down to your preference and the type of equipment you are using. If you are planning to use heavy guns with significant recoil, go for the most stable-shooting rest on the list.

Suitability:

As you can see, different shooting rests have different shapes and dimensions. For convenience, you need to choose the one that suits you well. If you are not a professional hunter, you should go for lightweight options that have easy fixing and removing mechanisms.

Durability:

Finally, always go for a durable product. Shooting takes its toll on the equipment, so if the shooting rest is not durable enough, it may not withstand the force for a long time. And you will end up losing money. Therefore, always put your money on durable, heavy-duty shooting rests.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tree Stands and Shooting Rests:

What is the advantage of using a tree stand, and shooting rests?

Tree stands give the shooter an advantage of moving around a little and not being seen. It provides a more extended visibility range and a better aim.

What are things that one should look for while buying shooting gear?

It should be light, easily portable, and very sturdy. One should also look at the variety of adjustments the product is giving. It should be an aid for the shooter and not a burden.

Which shooting rest is better, a standing one or a sitting one?

Both the stands give different advantages to the shooter. A standing gear will provide the shooter a better angle to look for their targets, while a sitting rest will provide ease and comfort while aiming at the targets. Consumers should choose the rest according to one’s requirement and the kind of targets one has to go after.

Conclusion:

A tree stand gives the shooter an advantage of spotting the targets earlier than the ground-level stands. It also provides the shooter with extra time to prepare and aim for their target since they spot the marks much earlier. The shooter on a tree stand is not easy to spot (not from the predators). Since treestands give so many advantages, waiting around for the targets to come around with a heavy rifle in hand can be tiring, and there these shooting rests will come to the rescue. If one is wondering which is the best shooting rest to buy before going on a hike, this is a one-stop for all the information needed.

Trying to decide between the .30-06 Springfield and 7mm Remington Magnum cartridges? Here’s what you need to know about them.

I think most hunters would agree that the 7mm Remington Magnum and .30-06 Springfield are both fantastic cartridges for hunting a wide variety of big game. Both offer certain advantages to hunters, but there are some significant differences between the 7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06 cartridges you should be aware of.

Unfortunately, important details about the cartridges sometimes get overlooked or simply lost in the shuffle. With that in mind, it’s easy to see how many people get confused about the strengths and weaknesses of the .30-06 Springfield and 7mm Remington Magnum, particularly when discussing which cartridge is best for hunting particular animals under specific conditions.

In this article, I’m going to do a detailed comparison of the 7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06 Springfield in order to show the differences between those cartridges so you can make an informed decision on which one will work best for you.

Before we get started, I have two administrative notes:

Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means I will earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to create free content that’s useful to hunters like yourself. Thanks for your support.

Additionally, I recorded an entire podcast episode on this exact subject. If you’d rather listen than read, click the appropriate link below to listen to this episode on your preferred podcasting service.

Be sure to hit that “Subscribe” button in your podcast player!

30-06 vs 7mm Rem Mag Podcast

Apple | Google | iHeart | Spotify | Stitcher

History Of The .30-06 Springfield and 7mm Remington Magnum

Still smarting from a sobering lesson regarding the effectiveness of the 7mm Mauser in the hands of Spanish troops in Cuba in 1898, the U.S. Army decided it needed a new cartridge to replace the .30-40 Krag and .45-70 Government cartridges used by American Soldiers in the Spanish American War.

Specifically, they wanted a new service rifle that could compete with the revolutionary new Mauser rifle. Among other things, they were looking for a new bolt-action rifle designed from the start with a stronger action capable of safely firing more powerful smokeless ammunition, that could be quickly loaded with 5-round stripper clips, and with a “claw” extractor for more reliable feeding and extraction.

In the end, the new 1903 Springfield was modeled heavily on (some might say copied) the 1893 Spanish Mauser rifle. They originally chambered the new rifle in the .30-03 Springfield cartridge, which fired a 220gr round nosed bullet at approximately 2,300fps. While the .30-03 did provide a modest improvement in performance over the .30-40 Krag, the Army still wasn’t completely happy with the performance of the cartridge.

For this reason, they made a few tweaks to the design of the .30-03 Springfield. Switching over to a revolutionary new 150gr “spitzer” (pointed) bullet fired at a muzzle velocity of 2,700 fps gave them the results they were looking for.

Named after the year it was formally introduced, the .30-06 Springfield was a significant improvement over previous military cartridges used during that era.

In addition to extensive use with the U.S. military, the .30-06 Springfield cartridge also rapidly caught on with the big game hunting and shooting communities in the United States during the early 20th Century.

The old .30-06 remains one of the most popular centerfire rifle cartridges in the United States (as well as many other parts of the world) to this day. Not surprisingly, the .30-06 has also served as the parent for many other cartridges (like the .25-06 Remington and .35 Whelen).

The .30-06 Springfield has also long been the standard against which new centerfire rifle cartridges are measured against in the United States.

Now let’s fast forward a couple decades from the introduction of the .30-06.

The years following World War II were a true renaissance of civilian firearm and cartridge development in the United States. That time period saw a flood of new centerfire rifle cartridges like the .223 Remington, .280 Remington, and .308 Winchester.

That same general time period also saw the start of “Magnum Era” when Winchester introduced a line of new belted magnum cartridges that utilized a modified .375 H&H case. The .458 Winchester Magnum came along first in 1956 and was quickly followed by the .338 Winchester Magnum and the .264 Winchester Magnum during the next couple of years.

All of those cartridges utilized a .375 H&H Magnum case necked down (or up, in the case of the .458 Win Mag) and shortened from 2.85″ to 2.5″ long. The designers used those shortened cases so all three cartridges would fit in a standard length rifle action (same as the .30-06 Springfield) instead of the longer magnum length action required by the original .375 H&H cartridge.

Remington took a page out of Winchester’s playbook and rolled out their own belted magnum cartridge in 1962: the 7mm Remington Magnum.

Often referred to as the 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm RM, or 7mm Mag, the new Remington cartridge also used a shortened .375 H&H Magnum case. Instead of using .264″, .338″, .458″, and later .308″ bullets like Winchester did with their magnums, Remington loaded their new cartridge with .284″ bullets.

The use of the larger case based on the .375 H&H along with the use of 7mm/.284″ bullets by the 7mm Remington Magnum resulted in a significant ballistic improvement over the .30-06.

Indeed, the 7mm Mag is capable of shooting the same weight bullet faster than the .30-06.

Additionally, the smaller diameter .284″ bullets the 7mm Mag uses have a higher ballistic coefficient and more sectional density than .30 caliber bullets of the same weight used by the .30-06 Springfield (when comparing bullets of similar construction).

For those reasons, typical 7mm Rem Mag loads have a flatter trajectory, more energy remaining downrange, and (all other things equal) will penetrate better than .30-06 Springfield loads using the same weight bullets.

The new 7mm Remington Magnum cartridge also fit in a standard length rifle action. And to top it all off, the 7mm Remington Magnum was rolled out at the same time as the now legendary Remington Model 700 rifle.

So, American hunters and shooters were immediately offered the chance to use a new high performance cartridge that was available in a well built, reasonably priced, and very accurate new rifle.

With all that in mind, it’s not surprising at all that the flat shooting and hard hitting 7mm Rem Mag quickly caught on with hunters and shooters in North America.

30-06 vs 7mm Rem Mag: Cartridge Sizes

You can see differences between the .30-06 Springfield and the 7mm Remington Magnum in the photos below.

First, the 7mm Rem Mag is physically a little larger than the .30-06.

While the .30-06 has a slightly greater maximum authorized overall length (3.34″ vs 3.29″), they are close enough in size that both cartridges are used in standard/long-action rifles. However, the 7mm Remington Magnum has a larger .532″ rim diameter while the .30-06 has a .473″ rim diameter.

At the same time, the 7mm Rem Mag has a steeper 25 degree shoulder (the .30-06 has a 17.5 degree shoulder) that also sits a tiny bit further forward than the shoulder of the .30-06.

The end result is that the 7mm Rem Mag has a much larger case capacity than the .30-06.

Bullet size is another one of the other obvious differences between the 7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06. Each cartridge uses different diameter bullets: .284″ for the Remington cartridge and .308″ for the Springfield.

Everything else being equal, the smaller diameter 7mm bullets have a higher ballistic coefficient and a higher sectional density than the larger diameter bullets of the same weight from the .30-06 Springfield. However, the .30-06 generally uses heavier bullets than the 7mm Remington Magnum.

The vast majority of 7mm Rem Mag factory loads shoot bullets in the 139-175 grain range. Of these, 140 grain, 150 grain, 160 grain, and 175 grain loads are by far the most common.

On the other hand, though it’s possible to find .30-06 ammo shooting bullets weighing as little as 110 grains and as heavy as 220 grains, most .30-06 Springfield factory loads use 150 grain, 165 grain, 180 grain, or 200 grain bullets.

The 7mm Remington Magnum is also loaded to a higher pressure than the .30-06 (61,000psi vs 60,000psi).

Note: while the powder capacity figures listed below do give a good indication of the differences between the two cartridges, exact case capacities vary slightly according to the brand of brass used.

30-06 vs 7mm Rem Mag Ballistics

Not surprisingly, the differences in the external dimensions of the 7mm Remington Magnum and the .30-06 Springfield translate into some pretty significant differences in their ballistic performance. This is illustrated in the table below comparing Hornady Precision Hunter, Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, and Winchester Deer Season XP factory ammunition.

I chose those particular factory loads because they provide a good demonstration of the performance of each cartridge when using wide spectrum of different bullets. The Winchester loads use light for caliber bullets, the Federal loads use very heavy for caliber bullets, and the Hornady loads use heavy for caliber, exceptionally aerodynamic bullets for each cartridge.

Specifically, the 7mm Remington Magnum loads use a 140gr Extreme Point (.484 BC), a 162gr ELD-X (.631 BC), and a 175gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (.407 BC). The .30-06 loads use a 150gr Extreme Point (.392 BC), a 178gr ELD-X (.552 BC), and a 200gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (.395 BC).

Note that the bullets used by 7mm Remington Magnum in each load are more aerodynamic than those used by the .30-06 Springfield for the exact same load. More on this in a minute.

All six loads used a 200 yard zero.

As you can see, the 7mm Remington Magnum has a flatter trajectory and more kinetic energy than comparable .30-06 Springfield loads at all ranges. Additionally, since it uses more aerodynamic bullets with a higher ballistic coefficient, that gap in performance grows in favor of the 7mm Mag as range increases.

Specifically, the 7mm Rem Mag has about 2-4% more muzzle energy than the .30-06 with these three particular loads. That turns into a 9-25% advantage in favor of 7mm Rem Mag at 500 yards.

At 500 yards, the various .30-06 loads have about 7-10″ (~20%) more bullet drop than comparable 7mm Rem Mag loads.

We’ll talk more about those numbers and what they mean in a minute.

The chart below compares how much a 10 mile per hour crosswind impacts those same 7mm Rem Mag and .30-06 loads out to 500 yards.

As you can see, the 7mm Remington Magnum also has a big advantage in this area as well. That makes sense since the cartridge is shooting more aerodynamic bullets at a higher velocity.

The exact details vary by load of course. Once again though, the gap in performance increases with range in favor of the 7mm Remington Magnum.

Update 25 July 2022:

What about the 175gr TBBC vs 178gr ELD-X?

I’ve received a number of questions and comments regarding the fact that the 178gr ELD-X load from the 30-06 has a flatter trajectory and more retained energy than the 175gr 7mm Trophy Bonded Bear Claw.

Those two bullets are closest in weight, so comparing those two loads is the best comparison of those cartridges, right?

Absolutely not.

Take a look at the photo below (178gr .30 cal ELD-X on the left and 175gr 7mm TBBC on the right) and the reasons why should be obvious.

For a detailed discussion on this exact subject (to include why it’s NOT appropriate to compare different bullets of the same or similar weight), check out this post on Patreon.

Moving on, let’s talk about recoil.

The table below compares the recoil produced by the handloads that approximate the performance of the Hornady Precision Hunter factory load above for each cartridge when fired from identical 8 pound rifles.

Felt recoil will vary from shooter to shooter and rifle to rifle, but free recoil energy is still a useful way to compare cartridges.

As you can see, the 7mm Remington Magnum has slightly more recoil than the .30-06. In this case, the 7mm Rem Mag produces 7.5% more free recoil energy than the .30-06.

That should not be surprising at all. After all, the 7mm Rem Mag is a heavy hitting belted magnum that burns a lot more powder and produces higher velocities.

Basically, the 7mm Rem Mag should be expected to hit a little harder on both ends, which is exactly the case.

This can be mitigated to a certain extent with the use of a suppressor, muzzle brake, or a good recoil pad. So the extra recoil of the 7mm Rem Mag isn’t necessarily a deal breaker for many people, especially since it only recoils a little more than the .30-06. All things considered, the 7mm Remington Magnum is one of the more lighter recoiling magnums (particularly when compared to the .300 Win Mag or .338 Win Mag).

Recoil is certainly worth considering though. If we’re being honest, neither cartridge is really suitable for hunters or shooters who are very sensitive to recoil.

Don’t underestimate the impact that recoil has on the ability of a person to shoot accurately either. Some people do handle recoil better than others, but all other things being equal, they will absolutely shoot more accurately with a milder recoiling cartridge.

Additionally, there are a couple of other factors that are also worth discussing though.

First, the .30-06 uses larger diameter bullets than the 7mm Rem Mag.

Specifically, the larger diameter .308″ bullets used by the .30-06 have about 18% more frontal surface area (also known as cross sectional area) than the .284″ bullets used by the 7mm Rem Mag (.0745 vs .0633 square inches). All other things being equal, a bigger bullet will make a bigger hole, cause more tissue damage, and result in more blood loss.

This is a definite, though slight, factor in favor of the .30-06.

On the other hand, as we covered earlier, those longer, heavy for caliber .284″ bullets have a higher ballistic coefficient than the most common bullets used in the .30-06 though.

The .284″/7mm bore diameter is in something of a sweet spot where it’s easier to manufacture very high BC bullets that’s aren’t especially heavy. Those aerodynamic projectiles don’t slow down as fast and are more resistant to wind drift.

The most popular 7mm bullets also have a relatively high sectional density (SD).

Sectional density (SD) is a measure of the ratio of the diameter of a projectile to its mass. All other things equal, a heavier projectile of a given caliber will be longer and therefore have a higher sectional density and consequently penetrate deeper than projectiles with a lower mass and sectional density.

Everything else being equal, the smaller diameter 7mm bullets have a higher ballistic coefficient and a higher sectional density than the larger diameter bullets of the same weight from the .30-06 Springfield. However, the .30-06 generally uses heavier bullets than the 7mm Remington Magnum.

All that being said, the 7mm Rem Mag still has a slight edge with most bullets in common use, even when compared to heavier .30 caliber bullets.

As an example, 140 grain, 150 grain, and 175 grain .284″ bullets have sectional densities of .248, .266, and .310 respectively. This compares favorably to 150 grain, 180 grain, and 200 grain .308″ bullets which have sectional densities of .226, .271, and .301 respectively.

This also applies to ballistic coefficient.

The bullets used in this comparison illustrate those differences well with the 7mm Remington Magnum using 140gr (.484 BC), 162gr (.631 BC), and 175gr (.407 BC) bullets compared to the 150gr (.392 BC), 178gr (.552 BC), and 200gr (.395 BC) bullets used by the .30-06.

What about 7mm Rem Mag vs .30-06 Springfield accuracy?

Gun writers have spilled a lot of ink comparing the accuracy of the 7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06 over the years. While picking the most accurate cartridge of the two is a relatively contentious subject, most people agree that both the 7mm Mag and .30-06 are capable of excellent accuracy.

Not surprisingly, both cartridges have seen extensive use in long range shooting competitions and both have served with distinction with military and police snipers as well as with for precision shooters.

So where do we stand with each cartridge?

7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06

The 7mm Rem Mag fires smaller caliber and lighter, but generally more aerodynamic bullets at a higher velocity than the .30-06 Springfield. The 7mm Rem Mag has a flatter trajectory, more kinetic energy at typical hunting ranges, and is also better for longer range shots, but the .30-06 has less recoil.

With a flatter trajectory, less wind drift, and more retained energy at extended range, the 7mm Rem Mag does have a definite, though not gigantic, advantage over the .30-06 Springfield in external ballistics at typical hunting ranges. This makes the cartridge a little more forgiving of range or wind estimation errors than the .30-06 Springfield.

While that’s certainly something to keep in mind, laser rangefinders and modern scopes with easily adjustable ballistic turrets (like the Leupold VX-5) make adjusting for bullet drop much simpler now than it was a few decades ago.

The most popular bullet weights for the 7mm Rem Mag also tend to be more aerodynamic than the most popular bullet weights used by the .30-06. So, the advantages the 7mm Remington Magnum cartridge has with energy, trajectory, and wind drift grow slightly at extended range.

Those 7mm bullets also tend to have a higher sectional density as well, which assists with penetration to help the cartridge “punch above its weight” in a manner similar to the 7x57mm or 9.3x62mm Mauser cartridges.

As good as the .30-06 is (and I do think it’s an excellent cartridge), the 7mm Remington Magnum just simply hits with a little more authority, especially at longer range.

On the other hand, the .30-06 has an advantage when it comes to frontal surface area (which gives a tiny bit more room for error with shot placement), uses heavier bullets, and has a little less recoil.

It might seem like I’m splitting hairs here when talking about the strengths and weaknesses of the two cartridges. That’s absolutely true to a certain degree.

While they certainly have different advantages, both cartridges are very accurate, relatively flat shooting, and hit hard enough for use on a variety of game out to several hundred yards. The 7mm Rem Mag may be a better choice for use on bigger game and/or on game at longer range, but the .30-06 is still a darn good cartridge.

However, regardless of whether you’re using a 7mm Remington Magnum or a .30-06 Springfield, no deer, elk, black bear, moose or pronghorn will go far if you put a well constructed bullet into the vitals during a real world hunting scenario.

30-06 vs 7mm Rem Mag Barrel Life

Since the two cartridges have a different bore diameter and vastly different case capacities, there can be some significant difference in barrel life with the three cartridges.

Simply put, burning more powder in a similar sized space will result in shorter barrel life.

At the same time, burning more powder is a smaller sized space will result in even shorter barrel life.

Well, the 7mm Remington Magnum has a smaller bore size and uses a much bigger powder charge.

This means that, in general, the 7mm Rem Mag will simply wear out barrels faster than the .30-06 Springfield. Exactly how fast that occurs depends on a number of factors like the quality of the barrel, the exact ammunition used, etc.

For serious target shooters, this can be a concern. However, the good news for hunters is that typical barrel life for all of these cartridges is more than enough to last for many, many years of hunting with no issues at all.

So, there isn’t a tremendous practical difference in 7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06 barrel life as far as most hunters are concerned.

7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06 Ammo

The .30-06 Springfield and the 7mm Remington Magnum are both extremely popular centerfire rifle cartridges. That said, the .30-06 is definitely the most widely used of the two in general, though the 7mm Remington Magnum is by no means rare.

So, they’re both in common use and ammo is usually easy to find for both. Availability also likely varies regionally though. For instance, more people tend to use the 7mm Remington Magnum in many western states where they’re more likely to need the advantages the cartridge provides at longer range.

In general, .30-06 ammo is typically noticeably cheaper than 7mm Rem Mag ammo.

The big ammunition manufacturers like Barnes, Berger, Browning, Federal Premium, Hornady, HSM, Nosler, Remington, Sierra, Sig Sauer, Swift, and Winchester produce an incredible variety of ammo for the .30-06 Springfield and 7mm Remington Magnum.

In each case, there is normally a good selection of bullet types and weights for each cartridge suitable for big game hunting ranging from stuff like Remington Core Lokt and Winchester Super X ammo to Federal Premium Gold Medal and Hornady Precision Hunter factory loads.

During normal times, it’s usually very easy to find ammo for both cartridges and almost any gun or sporting goods store will have a wide variety of .30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag ammo in stock.

Ammo availability is also usually excellent online and the bigger retailers typically have a good selection of quality factory ammo for both cartridges as well.

BUY SOME GREAT 7mm REM MAG AMMO HERE

BUY SOME EXCELLENT 30-06 SPRINGFIELD AMMO HERE

If you’d like to learn more about some of the various hunting ammunition choices for the 7mm Remington Magnum and 30-06 cartridges, read these articles:

Best 7mm Rem Mag Ammo For Hunting Elk, Deer, And Other Big Game

Best 30-06 Ammo For Hunting Elk, Deer, Bear, Hogs, & Other Game

Handloaders will appreciate the fact that reloading components for both cartridges are also readily available and there’s an especially wide variety of bullet choices for each cartridge. So, you should not have any trouble working up a good custom load for either one if you like to handload.

The 7mm Remington Magnum uses the same .284″ bullet size as the 7mm-08 Remington, .280 Remington, .280 Ackley Improved, 7mm WSM, 7mm STW, 7mm Weatherby Magnum, and 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum.

The .30-06 Springfield uses the same .308″ bullet size as the .308 Winchester, .30-30 Winchester, .300 Win Mag, 300 WSM, .300 Ultra Mag, and .300 PRC.

Bullets like the Barnes LRX, TSX, TTSX, and TAC-X, the Berger VLD and Hybrid Hunter, the Hornady A-Max, ELD-X, GMX, InterBond, InterLock, SST, and V-Max, the Nosler AccuBond, Ballistic Tip, E-Tip, and Partition, the Sierra GameChanger and GameKing, the Swift Scirocco and A-Frame, (just to name a few) are options for if you want to reload the 7mm Remington Magnum and the .30-06 Springfield.

7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06 Rifles

In addition to the great selection of ammunition available in 7mm Remington Magnum and .30-06, there are also many quality rifles manufactured in these cartridges.

Both cartridges are extremely common in bolt-action rifles. In fact, just about every really popular bolt-action hunting rifle in current production is available in both cartridges.

For instance, both the 7mm Remington Magnum and .30-06 Springfield are available in several different versions of the Remington Model 700 and Winchester Model 70. The same goes for the Browning X-Bolt, Browning AB3, Christensen Arms Ridgeline, Kimber Hunter, Mossberg Patriot, Ruger Hawkeye, Savage Axis, Savage 110, Tikka T3 and Tikka T3x, Weatherby Vanguard, and Winchester XPR.

That said, the .30-06 is the more popular of the two. So, there’s generally a better selection of rifles in that chambering. It’s also easier to find .30-06 rifles that are less expensive.

On the other hand, while it’s also available in a wide range of rifle models, the 7mm Rem Mag is more common with higher end rifles designed for better performance at longer ranges. That’s not a hard and fast rule though.

It’s also important to realize that gun manufacturers tend to put longer barrels on rifles chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum (and other magnum cartridges in general). This is because those cartridges need a longer barrel to effectively and efficiently burn that larger powder charge.

All things considered, rifles chambered in 7mm Rem Mag tend to be slightly longer, heavier, and more unwieldy than rifles chambered in .30-06.

The Ruger Hawkeye Hunter illustrates these differences well.

When chambered in .30-06 Springfield, the rifle has a 22″ barrel, an overall length of 42.75″, and weighs 7.4 pounds. The same rifle chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum has a 24″ barrel, is 44.75″ long, and weighs 8.1 pounds.

The rifle chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum is 2″ longer and weighs nearly a pound more than the exact same model chambered in .30-06.

Barrel lengths do vary depending on the manufacturer and exact model. However, 22″ barrels are very common with the .30-06 while 24″ and even 26″ barrels are pretty standard with the 7mm Remington Magnum.

Having a shorter and lighter rifle is more important on some hunts than on others. So, just keep that in mind.

BUY A GREAT 7mm REM MAG RIFLE HERE

BUY A NICE 30-06 SPRINGFIELD RIFLE HERE

7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06: Which Is Right For You?

Do you primarily hunt medium sized game like whitetail deer, feral hogs, or black bear at ranges within 200 yards? Both are extremely effective deer hunting cartridges and will absolutely get the job done on medium sized game if you do your part. The .30-06 in particular is a great deer hunting cartridge and remains one of the most popular North American hunting cartridges. There’s nothing wrong with using the 7mm Rem Mag on deer inside of 200 yards, but it’s really more gun than you need for that sort of work though (and it’s also a little rougher on both the shoulder and wallet).

If you’re going to be hunting in thick brush or in the tight confines of a deer stand, remember what I just mentioned about the size difference with 30-06 vs 7mm Rem Mag rifles. That extra couple of inches in overall length of a rifle can be a real headache to deal with when trying to quickly and quietly maneuver for a shot.

Are you looking for the cartridge better suited for long range hunting for game like mule deer or pronghorn in open country where you might need to take a shot at several hundred yards? Once again, they’ll both work really well in this role. The .30-06 Springfield is a very good choice for this sort of hunting, but this is where the 7mm Rem Mag really starts to shine because it carries more energy out past 200 yards. The advantages the cartridge has in terms of bullet drop and wind drift start to become much more important at longer range as well. Not surprisingly, the 7mm Rem Mag is very popular with antelope hunters in places like Wyoming where windy conditions are common.

Do you want a hunting cartridge that’s well suited for caribou, moose, elk, eland, kudu, or red stag hunting? The .30-06 Springfield is a fantastic choice for use on bigger game and there’s not a darn thing wrong with using it on one of those hunts. Personally, I lean towards the .30-06 because it uses larger diameter and heavier bullets, but there’s also a good argument to be made for the 7mm Rem Mag as well, especially on hunts were a longer range shot might be necessary. With this in mind, some people prefer the 7mm Rem Mag because it carries more kinetic energy downrange (especially at longer range) and because it uses high SD bullets that tend to penetrate a little better.

Regardless of which cartridge you choose, use a controlled expansion projectile and a heavier bullet weight for your elk or moose hunt.

Are you specifically hunting brown or grizzly bear? What if you hunt in Canada or Alaska and need a heavy hitting cartridge just in case you find yourself on the wrong end of a grizzly/brown bear attack? Neither would be my first choice for use on those hunts. That said, they will definitely work in a pinch. Of the two, I’d go with the .30-06 since it uses larger diameter and heavier bullets. Make sure you use premium, heavy for caliber 200gr or 220gr bullets if you go that route (the 200gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw I mentioned earlier is a darn good choice).

For what it’s worth, Roy Lindsley used a .30-06 Springfield to take the current Boone & Crockett record Alaska brown bear back in 1952. But then again, that hunt took place before cartridges like the 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .338 Winchester Magnum even existed.

Are you sensitive to recoil and in need of a serious low recoil cartridge? Neither is known as being a light recoiling cartridge. That said, the .30-06 does tend to have a little bit less free recoil energy than the 7mm Rem Mag.

Do you want the round that is best suited for target shooting out past 400 yards or so in a precision rifle? Both will work and have excellent reputations for precision shooting, but I lean towards the 7mm Remington Magnum here because of the advantages the cartridge has for longer range shooting.

The 7mm Remington Magnum and .30-06 Springfield are both excellent rifle cartridges. While the 7mm Remington Magnum does offer certain advantages over the .30-06 in some aspects, the old “aught six” is still getting it done well over a century after coming on the scene! All things considered, the difference between them (7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06) isn’t as great as it is sometimes made out to be and the animal will never know the difference if your shot is placed in the right spot.

So, carefully analyze your potential needs before making a decision. If you really need the advantages the 7mm Remington Magnum offers, then by all means purchase one. However, the .30-06 will work really well for most hunters. In the end, a lot of this decision comes down to personal preference. So, choose the one that you feel most comfortable with and it will probably serve you well afield. Good luck!

NEXT: 308 vs 30-06 SPRINGFIELD vs 300 WIN MAG: WHICH SHOULD YOU HUNT WITH?

Enjoy this article comparing the .30-06 Springfield and 7mm Remington Magnum cartridges? Please share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

The Lyman 50th Edition (p214-216 and p246-250) and Hornady 10th Edition (p406-411 and p510-522) reloading manuals were used as references for the history of the cartridges. I obtained the data used to compare the trajectory of the cartridges from Hornady (here and here), Federal Premium (here and here), and Winchester (here and here). Data used to calculate recoil was obtained from the Hornady reloading manual. Case capacities were obtained from Chuck Hawks (here). Maximum pressure obtained from SAAMI (p23 & 29). I used ShootersCalculator.com to compare trajectory and recoil for the cartridges.

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At long last, I’m excited to provide my review for the new Bridger 65-liter backpack from Mystery Ranch!

The Mystery Ranch Bridger is a highly anticipated pack series and I was thrilled to finally get my hands on one to test. For several years the Mystery Ranch Terraframe 65L has been my go-to backpack. So I was excited to see what innovations were included in the Bridger.

Right off the bat I could tell that the Bridger pack was something unique. The first thing my eye caught is the re-designed yoke / chest strap system. Borrowing from a running vest style pack, the Bridger has two chest straps that connect across much wider mesh straps than I typically see on a backpack.

Comfort is key

The result is an ultra-comfortable carry. The redesigned yoke system does an amazing job of spreading out the weight and the contact points that often lead to sore shoulders and hotspots around the arm pits.

Bridger compared to Osprey Atmos or Gregory Baltoro

Over the last year I have been able to test other popular packs like the Osprey Atmos and Gregory Baltoro. It’s helpful to have an understand of many of the packs on the market to be able to talk about some of the ways the Mystery Ranch Bridger 65L stands out from the competition.

Mystery Ranch claims the Bridger pack is the “Cadillac of backpacks”

According to Mystery Ranch – the Bridger 65 is the “Cadillac of backpacks.” This pack is loaded with internal and external pockets for maximum gear packing. The large pocket opens fully for easy accessibility to the gear you need more immediately, like a raincoat, additional snack, first aid kit, or that extra flask. It is a weight-conscious and durable pack that easily supports your overnight or multi-day mission.

The Bridger 65 is built around the endurance yoke. This yoke is breathable, highly ventilated, with pocketed shoulder pads and pocketed waist belt for quick access to you water bottle, snacks (all the snacks!), or sunglasses. There is dual access to the main bag, including two full-length zippers on the front of the bag, and a drawstring shroud for easy accessibility to the main part of the bag without having to fully unpack.

The pack’s removable lid converts to a hip sack for shorter adventures when you may want to leave the main pack at basecamp. The Bridger 65 is hydration-reservoir compatible for additional water when you need it. There are two large, stretch woven back pockets with inner elastic top dump pockets. The speed zip sleeping bag compartment has a removable divider and a double layer bottom for improved durability.

Field testing the Bridger backpack in Peru and South Dakota

I had an opportunity to run some miles on this backpack, as well as use the Bridger 55L, on a previous backpacking trip across the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota. The Centennial Trail in South Dakota was a great place to test the new Bridger line from Mystery Ranch. My first impression? I love it! Let’s get into the details:

How to choose a backpack?

Finding the right backpack is an essential cornerstone of your backpacking gear. The main categories to keep in mind when choosing a backpack are comfort, stability, breathability, torso fit, weight, accessibility to gear, and durability.

What are the best backpacks for hiking 2022?

Three backpacks come to mind when we talk about the best multi-day backpacks, the Osprey Atmos, the Gregory Baltoro and the Mystery Ranch Bridger. Comfort in backpacks is key to having a good experience. That is why the Mystery Ranch Bridger 65L is so different when compared to the Osprey Atmos 65L or Gregory Baltoro 65L. The yolk on the Bridger backpack is unique.

Is the Bridger backpack comfortable?

Yes! The Bridger 65 is very comfortable. Its comfort is one thing that helps it stand apart and what makes it so special. The thoughtful design of the pack, how you can adjust it to fit you perfectly, as well as the breathability of the yoke, all work to make this a pack you can comfortably wear for hours. The double strapped yoke (which I initially was skeptical of) really is very comfortable and I think is a beautiful revolution in backpacking design.

Is the Bridger breathable compared to Osprey Atmos or Gregory Baltoro?

Mystery Ranch has done a really nice job of creating an airflow chamber right through the middle of the yoke to allow hot air to escape through the back. The endurance yokes are breathable and highly ventilated with lots of air holes allowing heat and air to move easily through. The frame and the yoke work together to avoid back-to-pack contact thereby maximizing air flow. While I have hiked with backpacks that were a little bit more breathable, I have zero complaints with the breathability of this system.

How do you adjust the torso fit for the Mystery Ranch Bridger 65L?

When you purchase a backpack, no matter the brand or the size, it is important to be able to fit it to your body easily. Mystery Ranch has a smart and unique fitting system. You can achieve a personalized fit by removing the sheath stored inside, and then you break the Velcro bond by prying it with the sheath. Once the Velcro is separated, it is easy to either lift or lower the frame to get it fitted for your torso length.

How much does the Mystery Ranch Bridger 65L weigh?

The Bridger 65L is 5.5 pounds, which is a more than some of the other backpacks in this category. What you trade in weight, however, you gain in comfort, stability and durability.

How accessible is gear in the Bridger 65L backpack?

The placement of pockets and the placement of the zippers make ease of access a breeze. This is another feature that really makes Mystery Ranch packs stand apart from the crowd. Zippers and pockets create multiple entry points to the gear you need on the fly. When I hike, I like to separate the items that are important. Items like toilet paper, cat hole digging devices, and other items that I may want to keep out of the main chamber away from my food, clothes, and toiletries.

I love the ability to fully flay open my backpack. The Bridger 65L makes it easy for me to be able to spread open the bag and grab different lenses or different camera pieces. I also like the way the zipper works for the sleeping bag compartment. The Bridger 65L has a folding buckle that also contains a completely straight zipper all the way across. When you open the zipper, the compartment really opens up and it’s a very accessible, large space and it is easy to fit your sleeping bag in.

The Bridger pack has multiple compression straps to close it up and cinch it. I really like the side pockets on the Bridger packs, as these are great for water bottles trekking poles tripods.

Are Mystery Ranch packs durable?

If you are paying a premium for your backpack, you want it to last. One of the hallmarks of Mystery Ranch is that they make incredibly strong, beefy backpacks. Mystery Ranch makes packs for the military, firefighters, and people jumping out of planes. You know with the design of their backpacks rooted in this background, Mystery Ranch packs are going to last.

What is the load capacity of the Bridger backpack?

The Bridger pack can carry loads up to 55 pounds. It’s sweet spot is for carrying between 30 and 50 pounds. I have easily carried over 40 pounds and the load was surprisingly comfortable. Exceeding 50 pounds is very heavy for a backpacking trip, and if you wish to do so, that’s where other packs like the Terraframe come in.

Are the Bridger backpacks waterproof?

No. The Bridger pack is not waterproof. However, it will be able to withstand a fair bit of rain and moisture before any packed gear gets wet. The pack is made of heavy-duty nylon and treated with DWR for a water repellent finish. I’d be comfortable using this pack without a cover in intermittent rain. But if enduring consistent rain or wet conditions, use a pack cover or use dry bags inside the pack to protect your gear.

What does the Mystery Ranch Bridger 65L cost?

The Bridger 65L retailed for $349 at the time of the review. I think that’s good value for what you get. I recognize that it is a little bit on the higher end of the price spectrum when compared with the Osprey Atmos 65L and Gregory Baltoro 65L, both which currently retail for about $270 USD. But for the difference in price you get more comfort and superior stability. This pack is for both beginner and expert hikers, as both will benefit from Mystery Ranch’s innovative double sternum straps. This design has been seen before in running packs and is a game changer for backpacking as it changes how you carry the heavier loads (more stability).

Are the Bridger backpacks worth it?

The Bridger 65L will appeal to a wide audience. It is meant for the beginner backpacker who is just getting started. It is also a solid choice for the seasoned hiker who guides for a living and wants a pack to live out of that is functional and comfortable. I think that I may have found my ‘forever’ backpack. The Bridger 65 L pack is for sure my favorite pack that I have used to date! I plan to keep testing it and will do follow up posts to let you know.

Check out the NEW Bridger on the Mystery Ranch website

If you want to compare with other similar-size trekking bags I’ve reviewed, check out these other backpack reviews.

Ever dream about carrying your Glock with you everywhere?

We get it…your Glock 19 is the go-to concealed carry weapon for many.

It’s also the standard sidearm for tons of law enforcement agencies and military organizations around the world.

But if you want to carry your Glock with you, you need a holster.

The Glock 19’s popularity means there’s a huge market of compatible holsters for you to choose from.

Unfortunately, all those options can make it difficult to figure out what’s a good holster at a good price that fits your individual needs.

Fortunately, you’ve got us!

In this guide, we’ll tell you what features any holster needs to have, give you the rundown on the various holster types out there, and finally, give you recommendations for holsters in each category.

THE QUICK LIST

Choosing a Good Holster

Your holster’s most basic job is to hold your firearm when you’re not using it. But it also needs to protect your firearm — both from being dropped and from bumps and scrapes.

It also prevents accidental discharge and allows you to quickly draw your firearm when the situation calls for it…whether that’s in competition or a defensive situation.

So how do you make sure that a holster can do all that?

Comfort

Don’t underestimate how important comfort is.

It may seem secondary compared to the other qualities we’ll discuss, but if you’re not comfortable in your holster, you probably won’t wear it.

If you don’t wear your holster, you’ll still be in the position of needing to buy a holster for your Glock 19, plus you’ll have wasted money on a useless holster that just sits around taking up space.

And, if your home is anything like mine, you don’t need any more useless stuff sitting around taking up space.

So, like anything else you wear, try on a potential holster before you buy it, if at all possible. If you can’t try it on, at least make sure you can return it in case you don’t like it.

When trying on a holster, imitate the normal motions you go through during the day.

Make sure the holster doesn’t twist or rub. A little bit of rubbing may seem like it’s not a big deal, but over time it can lead to irritation, bruises, and blisters.

If your holster isn’t comfortable on your skin, you’ll need to wear a barrier between your holster and your skin or opt for a different holster entirely.

Rubbing from holsters made of hard materials will lead to more irritation, and an undershirt may not be enough to prevent it.

You also want to make sure that your holster won’t slip or shift.

Protection

Holsters constructed from durable and protective materials shield your Glock 19 against bumps and abrasion.

Most holsters are made of leather, nylon, or a polymer like Kydex, which all offer plenty of protection.

Retention

Retention just means that your holster won’t allow your gun to fall out of it.

The go-to litmus test for retention is simply turning the holster upside down. If your gun stays firmly in place, you’ve got plenty of retention.

Yes, I know most of you probably won’t be doing cartwheels or headstands in your holster, but what if you’re in an altercation and get knocked down?

The last thing you want is for your gun to slip out of your holster so your assailant can grab it before you recover.

Even outside of a defensive situation, you don’t want your gun to fall out while doing normal daily activities, like running, getting in and out of a vehicle, or using the bathroom.

Holsters use an active retention system, a passive retention system, or both at once.

An active retention system means that the user has to take steps to engage and disengage the retention system.

Common examples of active retention are thumb breaks or straps that the user must release before they can pull their weapon from the holster.

A passive retention system means the scabbard of the holster (the part that actually holds the gun) fits snugly around the gun and is molded to the shape of the gun.

This increases surface area contact, which combines to keep the gun firmly in place using friction.

Typically, passive retention holsters use screws that allow you to adjust how tightly the scabbard fits around the gun, allowing the user to adjust the level of friction and, by extension, the level of retention.

Just remember that while retention is absolutely important, you also need to be able to draw your firearm quickly.

Passive systems typically allow quicker access. But there’s a wide range of active retention holsters available as well.

Concealment

This is exactly what it sounds like…how visible is the holster when you wear it?

It’s difficult to talk about concealability briefly since holster type, shape, and material -in addition to the wearer’s build and clothing choices — all impact that.

You’ll also want to try a variety of different holster types to get an idea of what’s most easily concealed on your unique body type and under the clothes that you like to wear.

If you only plan on carrying openly, you may not need to worry about concealability.

Still, it’s nice to know that you already have a concealable holster should you ever decide that you want to carry concealed after all.

On the other hand, I don’t want to rob you of an excuse to buy another holster. You do you.

Trigger Coverage

This is another factor that’s pretty self-explanatory — your holster needs to cover your Glock 19’s trigger to stop the accidental discharge.

Not all holsters do this, but there’s no reason to risk it.

Positive Grip

This simply means that you should be able to draw your gun with one hand with a ready-to-shoot combat grip regardless of position and even in close quarters.

The holster needs to make this efficient, but you can’t expect it to carry the full burden here. You also need to consistently drill to make sure that you can do this reliably.

Holster Types

Now you know what you need from a holster, so let’s move on to holster types.

Outside the Waistband

Once again, we have something that is exactly what it sounds like.

Outside the waistband (OWB), holsters attach to your waistband or belt and are carried on the outside of it.

This is a very visible style, so it’s usually what people think of when they think of a holster, but it’s actually not a particularly popular holster, precisely because it’s so visible.

Their positioning makes them difficult to hide under clothing because they either peek out from under them or print (show a visible bulge).

On the other hand, OWB holsters tend to be quite comfortable and position your firearm where it can be quickly and easily accessed.

Inside the Waistband

And inside the waistband (IWB), holsters are similar, but they sit — you guessed it; inside of your waistband.

They’re probably the most popular holster type for concealed carry since they are easily hidden under clothing.

The cost is that they can be uncomfortable (though an undershirt goes a long way in helping this), and establishing a positive grip is more difficult.

Shoulder

If you’ve seen just about any movie about spies or law enforcement, then you’ve almost certainly seen a shoulder holster.

They’re actually a popular choice among plainclothes law enforcement in real life, too — but not so much among civilians.

They’re easily concealed under a jacket, but that obviously means that you have to keep your jacket on as long as you want to keep your firearm concealed.

They also conceal well under loose shirts, but this makes it more difficult to access your gun, especially if your shirt is tucked in.

Ankle

While ankle holsters aren’t usually the first choice for concealed carry since they can be uncomfortable, they can be used for backup guns.

With an ankle holster, you’re trading quick and convenient access for deep concealment. Also, remember that running and drawing from this holster is impossible. You will have to stop to get to your gun, which could be problematic depending on the situation.

Nevertheless, if you love a good backup gun or have no other option, this can work in a pinch.

Women-Specific Holsters

Now, women can wear any of the holster types we’ve discussed, but unless indicated otherwise, the vast majority of holsters are designed with men’s bodies in mind.

That means they may not be as comfortable on functional when worn by a woman.

You may not have encountered any problems with non-women-specific holsters, but if you do, you can find holsters of all of the above types that are actually designed for women.

There are also holster types that are generally women-specific, like thigh holsters, carry purses, and purse holsters.

For a more comprehensive look at women’s concealed carry, check out our Guide to Carrying for Women or Best Concealed Carry Gear for Women.

Best Glock 19 Holsters

You asked for it, and we listened — here’s a rundown of some of the best holsters for your Glock 19. We’ve rounded up a few of each type, so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

Best OWB Holsters

1. Fobus Tactical GLT19

The Fobus Tactical GLT19 offers a low profile for an OWB holster. So, it’s a great option if you want to practice concealed carry but aren’t a fan of IWB holsters.

It’s made of Kydex to offer complete protection and trigger coverage with a paddle-style back to keep the holster in place.

The GLT19 brings a blended retention system with a safety strap and fits Glock 19s with laser sights as well.

2. Gould & Goodrich B803 Three Slot Pancake Holster

For a more classic look, go with the G&G B803 Three Slot Pancake Holster.

It’s made of genuine, vegetable-dyed leather but is also molded to more securely fit your Glock.

The B803 is available in both left and right-handed versions and can be positioned straight or canted.

Best IWB Holsters

3. Rounded Gear IWB Kydex Holster

It’s no secret that Rounded Gear (formerly Concealment Express) holsters are popular here at Pew Pew Tactical.

This one, in particular, is lightweight, comfortable, and secure, both in how it attaches to your waistband and in how it retains your gun.

The durable Kydex provides excellent protection.

It’s great for a variety of carry positions but does especially well for appendix carry.

Check out Eric’s more complete review of Concealment Express holsters for more info, pics, and videos of them in action.

4. Tenicor Holsters

If you know you want to carry appendix carry and require the most thought-out holster…check out Tenicor’s Velo.

They shaped the Kydex into something more anatomically pleasing. And it really does feel better.

Plus, the size for their light-bearing Sagax Lux model isn’t too much larger.

Their standard T1 clip is also SUPER retentive — takes longer to put on, but it’s not coming off unless you want it to. Other more standard options are available too.

And, of course…it’s super fast on the draw.

The only downside is the price compared to other pure Kydex. But if you carry for a living and want something super comfortable in the appendix…

5. Crossbreed SuperTuck

Crossbreed’s SuperTuck is another Kydex IWB holster, but this one is a “hybrid” with a soft leather backing for improved comfort.

It can be comfortably worn with a tucked or untucked shirt and is supposed to be positioned toward the rear of your draw side.

Another one of our favorites.

Plus, the belt clips are powder-coated to protect your belt and allow for adjustable cant and ride height.

6. Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.5

As the name might tell you, the Cloak Tuck 3.5 is a holster with a lot of iteration and development behind it.

We have a complete hands-on review of the 3.0 version, and we liked it a LOT.

The 3.5 version is even better, with improved retention options and better connections to the belt.

Plus, all of the awesome things we loved in the 3.0, such as a cooling neoprene backing, hardshell holster front, and high backing to prevent the handgun from digging into your side, and it’s available for a HUGE range of guns — not JUST the Glock 19.

A great starter (or ender) into the IWB world.

7. Hidden Hybrid Holsters

Our current favorite hybrid holster uses Amish leather, which makes it super comfy.

Especially when paired with the suede backer.

They have plenty of options for the G19, such as a single clip (for appendix carry) to a double-clip if you want more comfort in the 4-5 o’clock arena. Or you just want a laser/light.

Check out our full review of Hidden Hybrid, where we’ll cover everything you might need to know.

Our Editor’s pick for the comfiest hybrid G19 holster we’ve tried so far.

What’s your take on Hidden Hybrid Holsters? Rate them below.

Best Shoulder Holsters

8. Galco Gunleather Classic Lite Shoulder Holster

The Classic Lite Shoulder Holster is exactly what you imagine when you think of a shoulder holster.

It’s made of soft leather for a classic look and comfortable fit and is available for either left or right-handed draw.

A mag holster and gear loop are on the side opposite your gun holster to add utility and keep the holster balanced.

A snap closure keeps your gun securely in place.

Best Ankle Holsters

9. Uncle Mike’s Nylon Ankle Holster

This is probably one of the most widely recommended ankle holsters.

It’s comfortable, with an adjustable velcro wrap that allows it to fit on a variety of leg sizes, while a breathable elastic calf garter keeps the holster securely in place.

A velcro closure retention strap keeps your gun secure.

The holster is also padded to make it more comfortable. All that said, carrying a G19 on your ankle will take a special effort as this gun isn’t really made for deep concealment.

We recommend a smaller Glock (like the G43 or G26) to make this one work.

Honorable Mentions

10. PHLster IWB & OWB

We couldn’t end this list without talking about PHLster holsters. This company is a smaller shop but one that is dedicated to high-quality, solid holsters that conceal really well.

We personally have tired out their Floodlight IWB and OWB models as well as the newer Enigma system, and we can’t brag enough.

Yes, these are a little pricier than some models, but they are well worth the money!

Final Thoughts

You can’t go wrong with any of these holsters. But, to find the one that works best for you, try on and handle a variety.

Whichever holster or holster you go with, you’ll also need to be sure to drill to get yourself familiar with the holster. Also, continue to practice as long as you continue to use the holster to keep up your muscle memory.

Include drills that practice both drawing and holstering your Glock 19 and, if applicable, your spare magazine or magazines.

Our go-to affordable Kydex option is Concealment Express.

While our current favorite comfortable option is Hidden Hybrid.

So what holster did you choose to carry your Glock 19? Do you use one on our list, or have another favorite? Check out our master list of Best Concealed Carry Holsters.

Jeremiah Wood, a biologist for the State of Maine, works through various aspects of fur trapping in this second part of his guest series. (Read part one, Five Reasons to Reconsider Trapping, here.)

For the uninitiated, trapping can seem disconcertingly complex. Trappers target a wide variety of fur-bearing animals all across the landscape, using very specialized tools and equipment on the trapline. Just look into the bed of a trapper’s pickup truck and try figuring out which item does what and where it’s used. The jumble of gear is enough to make your head spin. But once you figure it out, traps and their use are really not that complicated.

Traps can be broken down into three basic types: footholds, body-grips and hunting snares. Each is distinct from the others and has its own unique purpose on the trapline.

Foothold Traps

Foothold traps have been around almost since trapping began. Though some are complex, all footholds operate on a simple premise: the target animal steps on a pan in the trap’s center, tripping a trigger and causing spring-loaded jaws to close and grip the animal’s foot. Foothold traps are the most traditional, popular and effective trap used today. Every fur-bearing species can be caught with foothold traps and they come in a wide variety of styles, shapes and sizes.

The three main types of foothold traps are categorized by the springs that strengthen them. Long spring traps are the traditional footholds constructed with long, flat steel springs that power the jaws closed. Jump traps are powered by a single, short, flat steel spring situated underneath the jaws. Coil spring traps are a modern version of the jump trap, instead using coiled music wire springs to lift levers that power the jaws shut.

Foothold traps have a wide variety of applications on the trapline, from catching marten in the wilds of Arctic Alaska to beaver trapping in the swamps of Louisiana and most places in between. One significant benefit of foothold traps is that, when used properly, they allow for the unharmed release of any non-target animals. Foothold traps are the most common tool used to trap predators like foxes and coyotes, and are commonly used in wildlife management applications. In fact, footholds have been critical to the success of numerous furbearer studies and relocation efforts by state and federal wildlife biologists throughout the country.

Body-grip Traps

The body-grip trap, often referred to as the ‘Conibear,’ was revolutionized by trapper and inventor Frank Conibear in the 1950’s. It was offered as an alternative to the foothold trap in situations where a quick, humane kill of the captured animal was desired. The basic design of the trap includes two square jaws made of round steel in a box-shaped design, powered by one or two springs of the same material. When the springs are compressed, the jaws form an opening for an animal to enter, tripping a trigger in the opening when it travels through. The jaws then close shut, proving an almost instant kill.

Because of their lethal design body-grip traps aren’t useful in all situations, especially near civilization, where there’s potential to catch the neighbor’s dog or cat. They are most commonly used in water trapping, particularly for beaver, mink and muskrats, in wilderness trapping far from the beaten path and in other situations when precautions are taken to avoid non-targets. The body-grip trap was truly an innovation that filled a need in the trapping world and has greatly enhanced trappers’ ability to address animal welfare issues and capture some furbearers far more effectively.

Snares

While it appears the most simple, the snare may just be the most complex tool in the trapping industry. Type of cable and wire, diameter, orientation, breaking strength, lock types, stops, swivels, breakaways and a number of other components make snares incredibly customizable. If you know what you’re doing, you can create just the right snare for most any trapping situation.

Snares can also be fairly controversial, due to their past reputation for catching non-target animals. But advancements in snare technology have made much of that controversy a thing of the past, and many states are expanding snaring opportunities for trappers who know how to use them right. For instance, snares once would catch the occasional deer. Using a stop that limits loop size closure eliminates deer capture. When a large animal like a mountain lion or elk is captured, a breakaway allows them to power out of the snare, breaking it open and freeing them from capture.

Traditional snares used to kill some non-target animals. Using a relaxing lock instead of a kill-type lock allows a snare to hold an animal gently, effectively rendering the snare something we now call a “cable restraint.” In other situations where a quick kill is desired, springs and poles can be used to make that happen incredibly effectively. What was once a simple wire loop has now transformed into one of the most useful and adaptable tools at a trapper’s disposal.

Between footholds, body-grips and snares, a trapper’s arsenal can seem pretty complex—and perhaps it needs to be. Like everything else, trapping has changed with the times. Advances in technology have continued to make traps more efficient and effective, helping trappers continue to responsibly harvest wild fur. And if you’re looking to get into trapping, these advancements have made for a great set of tools to help start the journey.

Jeremiah is a biologist with the State of Maine and runs Trapping Today, a website dedicated to providing information and entertainment to the modern trapper. Find more from him at www.trappingtoday.com.

header image: Day Six Outdoors