During the 1930s, Charley O’Neil, Elmer Keith and Don Hopkins (O.K.H.) began designing a line of cartridges that were ahead of their time and filled specific sporting cartridge voids. For today’s discussion, the 285 O.K.H. is of special interest, as it is based on the 30-06 Springfield case but necked to accept 7mm caliber bullets. Records suggest that the shoulder angle remained the same as the 30-06, but chambers were throated to accept long, heavy-for-caliber bullets seated out or with the base of the bullet even with the bottom of the neck. Another interesting feature included a small tube that was installed inside the case and designed to carry the primer ignition energy to the front of the powder charge and burn it in reverse, which Elmer called a “Duplex load.” Keith loads used a special Western Tool and Copper Works 180-grain bullet that he also designed to achieve a high ballistic coefficient (BC). Keith reported impressive velocities, primarily with 175- to 180-grain bullets. ...Read More >

I kind of backed into my most recent rifle acquisition when Hornady sent me a few complimentary boxes of 22 ARC ammunition upon the company’s announcement of the brand-new cartridge earlier in 2024. As a matter of good taste, I then felt it would behoove me to buy, borrow or build a rifle in 22 ARC to shoot the ammo for a product review. An AR-15 barrel seemed the way to go for several reasons: I could build an upper on a 22 ARC barrel for less than buying a complete upper, and because the AR-15 is the 22 ARC’s natural habitat, anyway. Besides, nobody yet had a 22 ARC rifle of any kind in production. ...Read More >

This little rifle is the epitome of the farm gun boy’s rifle. Its design is simple in the extreme, parts require no fitting and it is sold at a price competitive with imports. It is a highly desirable example of the genre and great fun for an afternoon of plinking. ...Read More >

Tract’s Japanese-made TORIC Ultra High Definition (UHD) riflescopes, in my opinion, represent one of the best all-around bargains in hunting optics. I can say this honestly after running a couple of versions for several years on a couple of my primary big-game rifles. A Tract TORIC UHD 2-10x 42mm BDC lives on my ’65 Winchester Model 70 chambered in 30-06 Springfield, while a more powerful TORIC UHD 3-15x 42mm T-PLEX graces my customized 25-06 Remington. Both scopes have been, as they say, rode hard and put away wet on many occasions, on duties as varied as conducting thorough LoadData.com load development pieces to chasing white-tailed deer and local Rocky Mountain elk. ...Read More >