Leupold Core Insider

Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Northern Utah, Wild Country Outfitters is well known as one of the premier wildlife ranches in the world for hunting fair chase elk, mule deer, and more.  Join Leupold CEO, Bruce Pettet, as he sits down with outfit owner Tom Land and his son Austin to offer advice for hunters on preparing for a big hunt, choosing the right outfitter for you, and more. Subjects Discussed: Ranch management as an ongoing conservation effort; letting the elk thrive; being patient vs. being aggressive; the most important gear for an elk hunt; enjoying the hunt experience; and more.

This is the second part of Adam’s conversation with VP of Product Development, Tim Lesser, recorded on location at Leupold HQ in Oregon. In this episode, they discuss binoculars and rangefinders. If you’ve ever wondered how to choose wisely with either of these product categories, this episode will open your eyes—pun intended—to the details that matter to you and your hunting style. Subjects Discussed: lenses, prisms, and diopter adjustments; glare reduction; laser sensitivity and accuracy; ballistic computations; how to sight-in your rangefinder; and a whole lot more. And if you haven't already, go subscribe to the Beyond The Kill Podcast for more episodes from Adam and his team at the Journal of Mountain Hunting.  

On this episode, recorded on location at Leupold HQ, Adam Janke of the Beyond The Kill Podcast sits down with VP of Product Development, Tim Lesser, to discuss rifle scope selection criteria and how to make sure you’re spending your money wisely. Subjects Discussed: zoom ratios; reticles; lenses; coatings; focal planes; design and engineering; scope testing; warranties; and field scenarios that will help you choose the best rifle scope for your unique hunting needs.

Hot off the heels of the premiere of our new limited-series, KODIAK, we caught up with Alaskan guide & owner of Adventure Mountain Hunts, Cole Kramer. Since 2002, Cole has cut his teeth in the wilderness of Alaska guiding hunters for deer, moose, sheep, caribou, & grizzly bears. On this episode, he sheds light on the life of an Alaskan guide and never-before-heard details about last years Sitka Blacktail hunt with Mike, Tim, and Brian Call as seen in the limited-series KODIAK. Subjects Discussed: Cole's tot commercial; how to get into guiding; surviving tsunami threats; being a good hunting client; the allure of Kodiak; Cole's favorites and more.

What size binoculars should I buy? How do I glass more efficiently to find animals? When should I use my spotting scope? Leupold's Shawn and Scott sat down with hunter Randy Newberg to answer these questions and get his top tips for making your glassing session as successful as possible, so you can fill the freezer this fall.  Subjects Discussed: Choosing the right optic for the right job; getting comfortable and stable; picking the right location; taking naps; being slow, methodical, and patient; taking care of your glass; and more.

Before the early 80s, soldiers still used hunting-style riflescopes in combat. But in 1984, the U.S. Army tasked Leupold with developing a fixed power optic designed specifically for combat. The scope had to withstand a drop from a helicopter (while mounted to a rifle) and also had to be submersible to 66 feet - while still maintaining peak optical performance. The result? The ULTRA, a scope that outperformed even the military's expectations. More than 30 years, and countless innovations later, Leupold’s partnership with the U.S. military continues - supporting numerous service branches with high-performance battle-ready optics. Leupold’s Shawn Skipper and Nic Kytlica sit down with fellow teammates Sam Horstman (Directory of Military Sales) and Michael Baccellieri (Military Business Development) to discuss the history of Leupold optics in the military, how the military contract process works, and what soldiers demand from our products in combat. Subjects Discussed: Leupold's military history; weapon systems a

The experience of having a truly good cup of coffee is as satisfying as sending a .50 cal. round downrange. Between multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, former Green Beret Evan Hafer worked to not only refine his firearms skills, but also his coffee roasting. What started as a vision of wanting high-quality coffee on deployments, turned into Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) - a leading premium, small-batch, roast-to-order, veteran-owned coffee company with explosive roast profiles. BRCC CEO, Evan Hafer, joins Leupold’s Bruce Pettet and Shane Meisel to talk the history of BRCC, the importance of employing and honoring veterans, and more. Subjects Discussed: Where the Black Rifle name originated; getting great results with great people; bringing passion to the mission; enhancing the customer experience; leadership vs. management; the importance of social media to business; and more.

Nearly four decades ago Sorinex was founded with the courage, and the mission, to do something different and better than ever before. Today, Sorinex is the leading innovator in American Made strength and conditioning equipment for professional teams, colleges, high schools, and military bases. Sorinex CEO, Bert Sorin, grew up steeped in the business his dad started in 1980 and spent over two decades as a competitive athlete in the strength sports arena. As a former Division 1 Track & Field All-American and lifelong outdoorsman with years of training experience, Bert sat down with Leupold's Michael Baccellieri to discuss the importance of both physical and mental exercise to provide the best chance for survival and success in the outdoors.  Subjects Discussed: Made in America brands with a similar story; bedtime hunting stories; overcoming fears with rewards; how human performance applies to the outdoors; creating innovations from personal problems; Bert's superpower; building an adult summer camp; and mor

Opening and securing public access is a key component of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s mission. Since 1984, RMEF has opened, secured or improved public access to more than 1.2 million acres of elk habitat across the country for hunters, hikers, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. Leupold CEO, Bruce Pettet, sits down with RMEF CEO, Kyle Weaver, and long-time elk hunter (and RMEF member), Randy Newberg, to talk about the future vision of RMEF, the work being done to secure more public access, and the success of the first-annual RMEF Elk Camp/Mountain Festival in Park City, UT. Subjects Discussed: Building generational value; mixing the old with the new; Randy's first Leupold scope; accessing the 9 million acres of public land that are landlocked; focusing on quality elk habitat; and more.

Elk quarters are heavy, sheep country is relentless and unlike many sports, hunting requires you to maintain your strength, speed, and stamina for multiple days. With hunting season just around the corner, the time to prepare is now. Leupold CEO, Bruce Pettet, sits down with MTN OPS co-founders, Casey and Jordan Harbertson, as well as Brian 'Gritty' Call to talk all things fitness, preparation for the fall, and how to set yourself up to succeed. Subjects Discussed: The ebbs and flows of fitness; battling procrastination; making small sustainable decisions; hike v.s. lifting; why the best ideas come during exercise; proper poops; finding your motivation; and more.  

When it comes to hunting gear, it's essential to have the right equipment at the right time. Knowing what to pack and when takes years of trial and error. Special guest, Randy Newberg, joins the podcast alongside Leupold's Lucas Burt and Riza Lesser to share his trail-tested recommendations on the best hunting gear, packing properly, and what he never leaves home without. Subjects Discussed: Randy's five essentials; creating a kill kit; food rationing and cook systems; the importance of multiple headlamps; and more.

Binoculars are one of the most useful and widespread of all optical products. If you spend enough time outdoors, you know they can quickly become your trusty sidekick. But how do you go about choosing the right pair? Why is one more expensive than another? And do you need a spotting scope, too? Lucas, Scott and Mike sit down with Observation Product Line Manager, Zach Bird, to answer these questions, unveil a new optic coming this Fall, and more. Subjects Discussed: Leupold's first binoculars; enhancing the optical design; the soup to nuts debate; proper glassing techniques; tips for cleaning your optics; and more. 

Laser rangefinder technology has come a long way in the last decade. Whereas early models would be lucky to read objects at a couple of hundred yards, enhancements in today's products have allowed them to instantly reach distant horizons thousands of yards away. How is this possible? Scott, Nic, and Shawn sit down with technology product line manager, Eric Overstreet, to discuss how a rangefinder works, new products, the evolution in technology, and debunk some common myths. Subjects Discussed: Leupold's first rangefinder; pulse rates; soft v.s. reflective targets; understanding TBR/w; battling the elements; choosing the right product; and more.  

Leupold’s legendary gold ring riflescopes are built for a lifetime of performance at the highest level, plain and simple. Why? Because the world’s most relentless hunters and shooters demand their riflescopes work, every time. That’s why, for generations, every Leupold riflescope has been designed, machined, and assembled in the United States by our 700+ American employees. Shawn Skipper and Scott Rousseau sit down with gold ring product line managers, Vici Peters and Tom Moyle, to discuss the evolution of our gold ring riflescopes, new innovations, and choosing the right optic for the right job. Subjects Discussed: Inventing the duplex reticle; how a riflescope works; narrowing down your choices; using our custom dial system; achieving low-light clarity; taking care of your optics; and more.

The mounting system is one of the most important elements of your shooting setup. Often overlooked, proper rings and bases are vital to getting and staying on target, round after round. Scott Rousseau and Nic Kytlica sit down with Product Line Manager, Pete Moe, to discuss our entire American-made mount products including the brand new aluminum Backcountry series, IMS mounts, and more. Subjects Discussed: Pete's history at Leupold; designing mounts for every firearm; aluminum v.s. steel; insane machine tolerances; using the mount finder; to lap or not; proper torque specs; and making a proper BLT.

There’s more to shooting than just pulling the trigger. An invisible mountain of physical and mental preparation, skill, and discipline goes into performing well at a Precision Rifle Competition. We sat down with 2018 NRL Champion Shooter, Jon Pynch, to talk all about his success and what it takes to perform at a high-level during competition and in the field. Subjects Discussed: NRL v.s PRS; shooting 20,000 rounds in a year; ammunition of choice; burning barrels; the design of the Mark 5HD; becoming a better marksman; choosing the right equipment; and more.  

Wild turkey hunting is the fastest growing form of hunting in the U.S. today. In Oregon, turkey hunting has grown more than ten-fold since a statewide spring season opened in 1987. So in today's hard-hunted turkey woods, you need to know what you're doing. Leupold's Michael Wunnicke sits down with avid turkey hunter and guide Beau Brooks and first-time turkey hunters Amanda Caldwell and Connor Gabbott to talk about their successes and failures in the backwoods of Oregon. Subjects Discussed: Proper calling techniques; set-up tactics; putting birds to bed; logging miles; and more.

Long range shooting is all the craze, but do you actually need a custom shooting system to ring steel at 1500+ yards? In fact, no. Coming to you live from the FTW Ranch in Texas, Leupold's Shawn Skipper and John Snodgrass talk optics, rifles, and bullets with Hornady's Neal Emery and Professional Shooter Doug Koenig. Subjects discussed: Getting started in long range; Hornady’s ballistic prodigy; choosing the right setup; wind factors; the match experience; and more.

It's that time of year when many hunters are poring over big game statistics and summary reports, trying to figure out what controlled hunts to apply for. Lucky for you, there's a resource to make your life easier here in Oregon. After local software engineer Ron Wold didn’t draw a tag he was sure he would, he created the Oregon Tag Draw Percentages website to help hunters like you figure out your chances. Subjects discussed: Understanding the preference point process; knowing your odds; out-of-state & guide quotas; common application mistakes; and more.

Answering over 100 calls a day, the Leupold Technical Service team helps customers tackle product questions, give recommendations and address warranty requests. Scott and Lucas sat down with Dane and Michael to address some of the most common questions the Tech Service team receive and give further insight into choosing the right optic for your situation. Subjects discussed: When to call in; choosing an optic for your new rifle; zeroing your rifle; lapping rings; watching for counterfeit scopes; lifetime guarantees; and more.