Only accurate rifles are interesting
Townsend Whelen
The primary emphasis of The Everyday Marksman is on your personal skill and capabilities, but I’m not blind to the importance of good and reliable equipment for your success. The articles here cover selecting, configuring, and using your gear.

You can’t escape the work, though.
The thing I want to you remember is that your equipment only has to be good enough to be reliable. After that, it’s all about what you are capable of achieving with it. Don’t fall into the trap, as I did, of looking for mechanical solutions to software problems.
/// Equipment Archive
Choosing the Best Concealed Carry Belt for You
October 8, 2019 10 Comments
Today we’re continuing our discussion on load carriage. But now we’re moving towards the discreet end of the spectrum. I didn’t think all that much about my belt when I first received my CCW permit. It was all about the pistol and associated holster. But the truth is that a good concealed carry belt is part of a system that includes the pistol, holster, belt, and you.
How To Find the Ideal Twist Rate for Your Rifle
August 15, 2019 53 Comments
Let's talk about twist rates. Specifically, I want to dig into the purpose of rifling and how to determine the right twist rate for your rifle and cartridge.
Barrel Length, Trajectory, and Learning Your Zero
August 13, 2019 37 Comments
There's a lot of engineering voodoo that goes into making a rifle work well and fire accurately. The length of a rifle's barrel and how it affects the velocity of the bullet is one of those major factors.
The Complete Guide to Your Iron Sight Zero
August 6, 2019 29 Comments
Most articles walk you through the basic steps of getting your iron sights zeroed, but they lack an explanation of why you're doing the steps you're doing. Let's change that.
Go Shoot the Gun: A Defense of the Mighty .308
July 23, 2019 12 Comments
This post is a little more off-the-cuff than my usual, but it's something that's been weighing on my mind lately. Producing the new podcast is quite the learning experience. I don't say that just about the technical audio stuff, either, but the wisdom of the folks I'm talking to. To date, I've talked to four very experienced shooters across the tactical and competition realms. I've asked all of them about the caliber wars, and where things like .224 Valkyrie or 6.5 Creedmoor fit in. Though I keep waiting for the answer to change, it doesn't: shoot the .308.
Reinventing the Wheel [Gun]: An Interview With the Revolver Guy
July 18, 2019 6 Comments
You know, I’ve never thought about it much but I know very little about revolvers. As someone who is a confirmed ballistics and firearms nerd, I’ve never actually learned anything about an entire class of firearms that dominated the personal defense scene for most of modern history. My guest on the podcast today, Justin Carroll, is here to help with that. Justin is a former a US Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance member turned personal digital security expert. He’s also the Editor and Chief of Revolver Guy. Justin has published articles for GUNS Magazine, American Handgunner, and currently writes for Lucky ...
AR-15 Optics: Making the Best Choice for You
July 16, 2019 19 Comments
Like barrels, triggers, and all the other choices, Ar-15 optics are a challenging one. There's a lot of misunderstanding and "fluff" out there. I want to take a few moments and discuss some thoughts on optics selection.
A Builder’s Guide to the M16A5 Concept Rifle
July 9, 2019 15 Comments
The M16A5 configuration, though somewhat ambiguous, is some of the most fun you can have with the AR15 platform. You might know it as any combination of collapsible stock and 20" barrel, but there is actually a history here I wanted to get into. At the end, we'll talk about building your own version.
Does the ACOG Really Slow You Down? Part 1
June 25, 2019 7 Comments
Check on any given online forum focused on the AR-15/M4, or really any gun board, and you'll likely find a debate over using ACOGs in a world full of red dots and Low Power Variable Optics (LPVO). I decided to test it out. Internet speculation and hokey superstition are no match for cold hard data.
The Minuteman KISS Rifle: Beauty in Simplicity
May 30, 2019 31 Comments
The Minuteman Rifle, as I call it, was a commemorative reminder of my time as a Minuteman ICBM launch officer. This lightweight KISS rifle was my main AR project between 2016 and 2017, and now one of my favorites to shoot. Let's walk through the decisions I made and see if you can't get any ideas.
BCM 20″ Government Barrel: Raw Truth Review
May 21, 2019 30 Comments
This is a review of my BCM 20" Government Profile Barrel, which I purchased as part of a complete upper in 2014. To date, it's been a fantastic piece of gear, but is the 20" outdated at this point?
LaRue Tactical MBT: The Meticulously Built Trigger Review
May 7, 2019 8 Comments
The LaRue Tactical MBT is a fantastic trigger, especially when you can get it for the prices it goes on sale for. I've run one for a couple of years now, and thought it time to give it a proper review.
The Smock: Low-Profile Load Carriage Option
April 30, 2019 22 Comments
The tactical smock isn't as popular in the United States as it should be. It's a fantastic way to carry a bunch of important gear, from ammunition to shelter kits, close to the body and under a fairly low profile. In this post, let's take a closer look at it.
What’s the Difference Between Muzzle Brakes and Compensators?
April 25, 2019 12 Comments
A lot of people confuse muzzle brakes and compensators as being the same thing. Even manufacturers get the distinction wrong. They aren't equivalent, though. But it doesn't really matter for one important reason.
A Marksman’s Guide to the Shooting Sling
April 6, 2019 16 Comments
If you're new to shooting, you probably haven't been exposed to a proper shooting sling. The shooting sling is one of the most helpful tools for better marksmanship. It practically doubles my accuracy capability.
The Story of My First AR-15: The Recce
April 2, 2019 17 Comments
I would like to talk about some of my personal project builds. The intent of this post is not so much a "show and tell" as it is a discussion of what decisions I made, why I made them, and how they affected me as time went on. I'd like to think that my decision-making skills got better as time went on and I gained experience.