Resilience and Self-Discovery in the Wilderness

In this conversation, Caylen Wojcik and Mark discuss a range of topics from their backgrounds in metal fabrication and military service to the importance of wilderness experiences and self-discovery. They explore how challenging situations can lead to personal growth, the significance of teaching skills to younger generations, and the need for rites of passage in modern society. Mark shares insights from his experiences on the show 'Alone' and emphasizes the value of resilience and gratitude in life. In this conversation, Caylen Wojcik and Mark discuss the importance of rites of passage, personal growth, and the transformative experiences offered by the Silent Operator Program. They explore how challenging outdoor experiences can foster resilience, confidence, and teamwork, ultimately leading to profound personal change. The program aims to equip individuals with essential skills while emphasizing the significance of community and shared experiences in overcoming life's challenges.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Audio Setup

03:05 Wine Taps and Metal Fabrication

05:51 Skills and Experiences in the Wilderness

08:53 Mark's Background and Military Experience

11:57 Transitioning to Teaching and Business Ventures

15:00 The Impact of Wilderness Experiences

17:53 Self-Discovery Through Adversity

20:47 Raising Resilient Children

24:00 Rites of Passage and Masculinity

28:05 Rite of Passage and Personal Growth

31:01 The Silent Operator Program Overview

36:04 Transformative Experiences in Nature

43:00 Building Confidence and Overcoming Fears

50:02 Teamwork and Community in Challenging Environments

56:01 The Impact of the Silent Operator Program

Interested in the Silent Operator Program? Find out more information below:

https://www.thesilentoperator.com/

Visit Mark’s social media:

https://www.instagram.com/markdambrosio_official/

Learn more about Modern Day Rifleman and our growing community:

www.moderndayrifleman.com

Come experience an in-person Modern Day Sniper training class! Our 2025 Schedule is UP!

https://www.moderndaysniper.com/events

Carbon Fiber Barrels: What You Need to Know

In this conversation, Caylen Wojcik and Colton Bagnoli discuss Colton's diverse experiences in the outdoors, including his transition from law enforcement to becoming a fly fishing guide and a writer for firearms publications. They delve into the importance of connection to nature, the challenges of teaching outdoor skills, and the intricacies of rifle barrels, particularly carbon fiber barrels, and their performance in various shooting scenarios. In this conversation, Caylen and Colton discuss the intricacies of rifle accuracy, the critical role of barrel quality in rifle building, and their experiences hunting with 22 caliber rifles in Africa. They emphasize the importance of understanding ammunition effects, the ethical considerations in hunting, and the performance of different bullet types on various game animals. The discussion highlights the evolving perceptions of rifle effectiveness and the significance of proper shot placement and bullet composition. In this conversation, Colton and Caylen delve into the intricacies of ethical hunting practices, emphasizing the importance of shot placement and understanding bullet performance. They discuss the significance of experience in hunting, particularly in tracking wounded animals and the challenges that arise. The conversation also touches on the evolution of hunting knowledge, the impact of modern technology, and the necessity of returning to legacy skills in the face of changing hunting environments.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Adventures 

02:00 Colton Bagnoli: Background and Career 

05:31 Transitioning from Law Enforcement to Writing 

09:05 The Life of a Fly Fishing Guide 

15:54 Connection to the Outdoors and Teaching 

16:15 Rifle Barrels: A Deep Dive 

21:27 Carbon Fiber Barrels: Performance and Expectations 

31:08 Understanding Rifle Accuracy and Ammunition Effects 

37:30 The Importance of Barrel Quality in Rifle Building 

46:57 Experiences with 22 Caliber Rifles in Africa 

58:08 Hunting Ethics and Bullet Performance 

01:02:22 Ethical Hunting Practices and Shot Placement 

01:04:45 Understanding Bullet Performance and Construction 

01:06:48 The Importance of Experience in Hunting 

01:08:52 Impact Velocity and Bullet Expansion 

01:10:21 Tracking Wounded Animals and Recovery Challenges 

01:12:50 Legacy Skills in Modern Hunting 

01:16:45 The Evolution of Hunting Knowledge and Technology

Here’s some of the publications where you can find Colton’s work:

https://www.shootingtimes.com/

https://www.petersenshunting.com/

https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/review-pof-rogue-1375-inch-rifle/497151

https://www.petersenshunting.com/editorial/rimfire-training-to-improve-hunting/500889

Find Colton on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/papwinkle/

In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast we’ve brought on Galen Shea for a conversation on rifle cleaning solvents, more specifically, CLR. Galen Shea is a dedicated local shooter in the Pacific Northwest. He frequents NRL 22 matches, as well as many of the club and regional centerfire PRS matches. Galen’s professional expertise lies as a chemical engineer for the gas and oil industry, so I wanted to bring him on the podcast to talk about the cleaning solvent that initially took the precision rifle world by storm, but just as quickly fell out of favor due to lack of understanding of what the chemical is, and what it does to rifle barrel steel. By no means am I attempting to re-open a can of worms - aways follow your chosen rifle barrel manufacturer’s recommendations and instructions - I’m simply curious about the “why” so I wanted to talk with a chemist and learn more. Our conversation flows into discussing some competitive shooting mindset, and Galen’s goals for the upcoming season. I hope you enjoy this one!

Want to train with us at an In-Person class this year? There’s nothing quite like an in-person class experience, and we’ve got some awesome places to train this year! Check out our schedule, I’m sure we’re close to you somewhere!

https://www.moderndaysniper.com/events

Can’t make it into an in-person class? No sweat, we’ve got you covered with the best online training programs out there today. Monthly subscription services and digital masterclasses - those are our jam, come see what we’ve got to offer and get 14 days FREE with your membership.

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com

Looking for Community? Check out our FREE online community at the Modern Day Rifleman Network. At 10,000 members, it’s the fastest growing community out there that’s focused on long range shooting. You’ll find mountains of free information, articles, informative posts, and people like you that are dedicated to progress.

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com/

Check out our YouTube page too - we’re just getting started, but there’s a lot of great information there already.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_e_PUcPUM8G-RGHDsZEKTg

As usual, our social media pages are alos places you can follow us for information, inspiration, and notices on new stuff.

IG - @ moderndaysniper

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Landen Jones. Landen Jones is a former US Army Sniper, a current Cowlitz County Deputy Sheriff, and the lead sniper for the XXX regional SWAT team. Landen comes to Modern Day Sniper with the same goals and vision as what drives us - evolve and expand, and he wants to bring that to law enforcement sniper training, nationwide. I wanted to sit down with Landen and get to know him a little better, and explore the reason(s) that he got himself into the world of sniping. Landen is a guy who’s passionate about his craft, and dedicated to building himself into an effective and efficient communicator. We discuss Landen’s background, some of his combat experience as a sniper in the GWOT, and how he found himself in his current role at his day job, and where he’s at with us at Modern Day Sniper.

Want to train with us at an In-Person class this year? There’s nothing quite like an in-person class experience, and we’ve got some awesome places to train this year! Check out our schedule, I’m sure we’re close to you somewhere!

https://www.moderndaysniper.com/events

Can’t make it into an in-person class? No sweat, we’ve got you covered with the best online training programs out there today. Monthly subscription services and digital masterclasses - those are our jam, come see what we’ve got to offer and get 14 days FREE with your membership.

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com

Looking for Community? Check out our FREE online community at the Modern Day Rifleman Network. At 10,000 members, it’s the fastest growing community out there that’s focused on long range shooting. You’ll find mountains of free information, articles, informative posts, and people like you that are dedicated to progress.

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com/

Check out our YouTube page too - we’re just getting started, but there’s a lot of great information there already.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_e_PUcPUM8G-RGHDsZEKTg

As usual, our social media pages are alos places you can follow us for information, inspiration, and notices on new stuff.

IG - @ moderndaysniper

In this episode I sit down with Landen to discuss some debrief points from the last two Law Enforcement Sniper Skills clinics we’ve taught together. These classes are going really well and the curriculum has developed substantially over the years of teaching it. We touch on why we don’t call things “advanced” anymore - and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing either, it’s just my philosophy. Some of the topics you’ll hear a lot about are rifle setup and equipment. They’re still big points of discussion out there as we’re making attempts to shift the normal to that of modernized approaches to precision shooting. That takes time and patience, but I feel like we’re well on our way.

Want to train with us at an In-Person class this year? There’s nothing quite like an in-person class experience, and we’ve got some awesome places to train this year! Check out our schedule, I’m sure we’re close to you somewhere!

https://www.moderndaysniper.com/events

Can’t make it into an in-person class? No sweat, we’ve got you covered with the best online training programs out there today. Monthly subscription services and digital masterclasses - those are our jam, come see what we’ve got to offer and get 14 days FREE with your membership.

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com

Looking for Community? Check out our FREE online community at the Modern Day Rifleman Network. At 10,000 members, it’s the fastest growing community out there that’s focused on long range shooting. You’ll find mountains of free information, articles, informative posts, and people like you that are dedicated to progress.

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com/

Check out our YouTube page too - we’re just getting started, but there’s a lot of great information there already.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_e_PUcPUM8G-RGHDsZEKTg

As usual, our social media pages are also places you can follow us for information, inspiration, and notices on new stuff.

IG - @ moderndaysniper

In this episode, Caylen and Phil dive into the fundamentals as they discuss ways to keep your skills sharp while you’re stuck at home. The conversation covers a lot of the small details on what you should be looking for in your shooting position by elevating your level of awareness of what’s really going on with your body while you work to obtain a solid shooting position. Lots of tips in this one on the finer details of marksmanship. They also cover the upcoming release of the Modern Day Sniper Online Schoolhouse, and some other new items on the horizon.

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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MDS Instagram

In this episode, Caylen, Phil, and Ryan dive deep into the behind-the-scenes aspects of the firearm industry, offering their unique perspectives and insights on dealing with trolls and overall negativity that inherently comes with this job. Furthermore, the trio explores the concept of imposter syndrome, a phenomenon that affects many professionals in various industries, including firearms.

Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network:  School House

Modern Day Rifleman  

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Ted Karagias is the founder of American Rifle Company, a Washington based manufacturer of some of the finest rifle actions known to the precision rifle industry. Ted has been an engineer for the majority of his life and his affinity for the classic lines and design of the Mauser 98 led to the development of the Mausingfield and several other variants that include the best features of the Mauser in a modernized footprint. Ted and Caylen sit down for a conversation on rifles, engineering, and the state of our industry. 

Ted's Links:

https://www.americanrifle.com/

https://www.instagram.com/americanriflecompany/

Caylen and Phillip are back together in Yakima for a few weeks of June. They're just coming off their Win at the Granite Creek Sniper Challenge hosted in Montana underneath the Rifleman's Team Challenge. They bested over 40 teams, which some of them have years of experience shooting together. With this being Caylen and Phillip's first time shooting together, they talk about how they prepared for it, what gear, bullet and cartridge they used and what they feel made them successful on both days. Thanks for listening and keep your face on the gun.

Modern Day Rifleman Network

www.moderndayrifleman.com

Online Positional Course Masterclass

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com/plans/143968?bundle_token=0b6b7f4986679ea54a6cfbee66ca7c3a&utm_source=manual

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Caylen and Phillip are down in Virginia, teaching their courses hosted at Pigg River Precision. They’re joined by some of their students who are also active duty Sniper instructors for 2nd Expeditionary Operations Training Group Urban Sniper School. In this podcast they debrief the Intro to Long Range Competition course and how a sniper could apply lessons learned to that craft. They go around the group to talk about numerous topics such as learning and teaching styles, qualifications, wind, and everything in between. Hold onto your seats because it’s a long one but definitely some gems in there!

In this episode Caylen talks with the legendary Jacob Bynum from Rifles Only. Jacob is a true pioneer in the field of precision rifle shooting, and we are always excited to have him on the show because he brings us back to the pure fundamentals of marksmanship.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The essential aspects of marksmanship fundamentals that are crucial for hitting targets.
• Mindset techniques that are key for competitive shooting.
• An exciting new training opportunity in Leadville, Colorado, this August 19-20. Jacob and Caylen are teaming up for a collaborative class in this beautiful mountain town at 10,000 feet elevation.
• Practical advice for both beginners and advanced shooters on improving their skills.
• Real-world experiences and stories that highlight the importance of mastering the basics.

This episode is packed with valuable insights for shooters of all levels. Don’t miss out on this chance to learn from one of the best in the industry. Check out Jacob’s website at riflesonly.com for more information on training opportunities.

Enjoy the episode and until next time, evolve with every shot.

Register for the Leadville class: 

Rifles Only

Train with us In-Person:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/m...

Join our Free Online Community:

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com

Visit our website:

https://moderndaysniper.com

Follow us on IG:

@moderndaysniper

Enjoy the episode and until next time, evolve with every shot.

Caylen and Phillip have an in-depth discussion about their recent event at the Y.O. Ranch, a stunning location situated just outside of San Antonio, Texas. During their conversation, they touch upon the exciting prospects of providing training to individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets. This includes catering to both aspiring snipers and non-snipers, accommodating a wide range of experience levels. From novices who have never handled a precision rifle before, to seasoned professionals attending the course for sustainment training, the event offers a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse group of participants. They briefly talk about the Scout Sniper community and its unfortunate demise. Lastly, they talk about the opportunity to shoot with movers and their thought process behind making an intuition base lead. 

Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network:  School House

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In this episode Phil and Caylen discuss a forum comment that questioned the validity of the fundamentals of marksmanship and “machismo” military stereotypes in the current state of precision shooting. The conversation covers topics such as trigger weights, modern competition rifles, and how the gear race has directed the sport of precision rifle to be in it’s current form. Phil and Caylen debrief the Sniper’s Hide Cup from a couple weeks ago and discuss some mistakes and successes.

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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Have you ever been gifted a second chance? In this podcast, Phillip is joined by his good friend and fellow Marine Scout Sniper, Matthew Solowynsky. They talk about who Matt “Solo” is and his journey in the Marine Corps. From being court martialed to having a successful career in the Scout Sniper community, Matt talks about his lessons learned and how he bounced back from second award Private to Gunnery Sergeant of Marines. They talk about their time in service together at 1st Bn, 4th Marines and while instructors at 1st Mar Div Scout Sniper School. We hope you enjoy this episode and can hear the passion we have as Marine Scout Snipers!

Bio:

Matt has spent 17+ years in the Marine Corps infantry with four deployments between combat tours and MEUs. And has been a part of the Sniper community for 12 years and has served as a Team Leader, Chief Scout Sniper, and Platoon Sergeant. He has also held the positions of Chief Instructor for Pre-Sniper Course, Primary Marksmanship Instructor & Primary Field skills Instructor at Scout Sniper Course West, and Chief Instructor at II Expeditionary Operations Training Group (EOTG) Urban Sniper Course & Aerial Sniper Course. He has also assisted in instructing the II EOTG's Reconnaissance & Surveillance Course & Close Quarters Tactics Course, and has also contracted as a marksmanship instructor for SOF level 1 Sniper Courses throughout his career. He is also pursuing a bachelor's degree in Computer Technology with a concentration in Web Development.  He is a certified Breacher and has graduated Scout Sniper Course, Urban Sniper Course, and Aerial Sniper Course.

With the topics of tripod shooting at the forefront of the mind, Caylen and Phil discuss the nuances of tripod shooting and the pros and cons of different techniques and under what circumstances those techniques should be used. The conversation switches to wind, and the visual processing speed of the mind to derive precise corrections under time and rapidly changing conditions.  

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

MDS Training

MDS Instagram

The team sits down in Virginia after wrapping up our 4th year at Pigg River. We have John Carughi on this podcast also known as “Weapon Snatcher.” The team recaps the 4 days of training, some common trends as well as diving deep into the mental headspace of long range shooting and performance.

Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network:  School House

Modern Day Rifleman  

Modern Day Sniper 

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We hosted a very special guest for this episode, the member of the Modern Day Sniper team that makes it all run behind the scenes, Mrs. Kassandra Wojcik. Kass, Caylen, and Phil discuss the beginnings of MDS and how Kass’s knowledge of technology helped establish the Modern Day Sniper Schoolhouse. The statement of “there is no mindfulness behind the rifle without Kass” is the truth, and the trio discuss some of the high-level points of the psyche, the ego, and what you’re really doing when you sink into the moment of shooting a rifle. 

Modern Day Rifleman Network

www.moderndayrifleman.com

Online Positional Course Masterclass

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com/plans/143968?bundle_token=0b6b7f4986679ea54a6cfbee66ca7c3a&utm_source=manual

MDS Instagram

We’re back with our weekly drops with an episode that many have asked for, and we’re happy to bring Cody Carroll back to the podcast to discuss the topic of fieldcraft. Fieldcraft is a large subject and Caylen, Phil, and Cody discuss the wavetops of the core competencies, and setting the stage for future episodes that will be focused on specific tasks within the realm of fieldcraft. There’s plenty of great information in here as the team discusses everything from navigation, route planning, equipment requirements, camouflage, stalking, ghillie suits, and planning considerations. 

The Soldier’s Load and the Mobility of a Nation

https://www.instagram.com/misfit6sends/

Join our Mighty Networks Modern Day Rifleman group -

www.moderndayrifleman.com

Sign up for our San Diego County, CA PR101 Class in March -

https://moderndaysniper.mykajabi.com/offers/Ur272e3R/checkout

MDS Training

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Caylen flies solo on this episode to give his thoughts on the recent annual training week for the Mountain States Tactical Officer’s Association. The MDS crew ran a Basic and an Advanced course concurrently and the team learned some valuable lessons from the experience. Caylen discusses thoughts on curriculum development, sniper skills, how to structure training, and the points witnessed during the class regarding proficiency, weapons, gear, and mindset.

Dan Newberry joins Caylen on the show to discuss all things Optimal Charge Weight and handloads. Dan Newberry resides in Virginia and is most well known for his Optimal Charge Weight load development process that he’s been advertising for years. Dan also runs a shooting school in Virginia called Bang Steel, with an accompanying podcast series. Dan discusses his thought process on why this method of load development is ideal, and the further discoveries of patterns that he’s noticed over the years. 

http://www.bangsteel.com/

http://www.ocwreloading.com/

In this episode, Caylen, Phil and Ryan wrap up the Advanced Competition Clinic at Pigg River and discuss some trends they see from the course. They dive into reticle choice and many other topics. Ryan asks some thought provoking questions that Caylen and Phil have to dig deep to give thoughtful responses.  

Phillip flies solo on this podcast while Caylen is in the mountains for a spring bear hunt. Phillip talks about his recent Intro to Precision Rifle course that just taught in Cody. Phil talks about some of the training takeaways from the class such as rifle and ammunition considerations when taking a class, equipment manipulation and management, and aerodynamic jump. He breaks down all four days of the class and the learning objectives of each day.

Welcome back to a new episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast! During this episode I sat down with two of my great friends, David Cantu and Ken Smith. David and Ken are precision rifle competitors and hunters here in the Pacific Northwest and I’ve had the pleasure of training and watching them grow as shooters here for the last decade. David’s entry into the sport was not by fire, but by ice, as his first experience was a frigid four days in the eastern Washington no-man’s land, and Ken’s initiation wasn’t too far off. Both of these individuals have taken to this sport with an incredible desire to progress, and adhere to the foundational principles of marksmanship the whole way. They didn’t just throw gear at the process - they committed themselves to learning the fundamentals and then added the assisting bits and pieces along the way. It’s been a pleasure to watch them both grow in this sport and their progress is a testament to their dedication to the mastery of the basics. It was a great conversation with lots of nuggets of information in there, so make sure you’re present and take notes! This episode is available on all of the mainstream audio podcasting channels, along with a video version hosted on our YouTube channel. We hope you enjoy the show, and please make sure to leave us feedback on what you think. We read all of your comments and take them to heart!

If you’re not already a member at the Modern Day Rifleman Network, make sure you cruise over and get yourself a profile. With your membership, you get one month FREE access to our Modern Day Rifleman Advantage program, which is our monthly subscription service, PLUS access to our content vault with over 200 hours of high-quality and relevant content that you’re looking for. https://www.moderndayrifleman.com/ No sense not to come over and check that out, it’s like nothing you’ve experienced before with online training…. Come train with us!

In this episode, Caylen sits down with his good friend, Len Waldron to discuss hunting in Africa and WWII. Len Waldron prepares for a hunting trip in Africa and reminisces about their previous adventures. They discuss the importance of ethical hunting practices and responsible management of animal populations. Len also shares stories about their grandfather's experiences as a pilot in World War II, highlighting the challenges and dangers of combat missions. The podcast concludes with a discussion of rifle marksmanship techniques, safety protocols, and the importance of proper rifle setup and maintenance for hunting in different environments.

Find out What your Shooter Ability is here: https://survey.typeform.com/to/G3O65DID?typeform-source=www.moderndayrifleman.com 

Train with us In-Person: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/moderndayrifleman 

Join our Free Online Community: https://www.moderndayrifleman.com 

Find out more About Us: https://www.moderndaysniper.com 

Follow us on Instagram:

Modern Day Sniper - https://www.instagram.com/moderndaysniper/ 

Phillip Velayo  https://www.instagram.com/velayo_0317/ 

Caylen Wojcik - https://www.instagram.com/caylen8541/

David Baker and Owen Mulder join the team on this podcast to talk about Handloading. This was a total improv podcast that started off as a conversation while they were eating dinner. Owen talks about his ultimate goal for what he wants to get out of the long range game and how it relates to being a sniper in combat. The group talks about their handloading processes and how it has evolved with new information and their thoughts and experiences with barrel tuners. 

In this podcast Phil brings on a special guest and good friend to Modern Day Sniper, Pete Kneip. Pete is the owner of Precision Shooting Solutions who fabricates moving targets. Pete and Phil discuss Western Precision Rifle and the concept of building up the shooting community in the Montana and Wyoming area. They talk about the "Why another shooting organization?" and the tiered scoring system in 3 different classes. Because Pete builds movers, they talk about different techniques on how they like to engage movers! Thanks for listening and keep your face on the gun.

westernprecisionrifle.org

MDS Training

MDS Instagram

You asked about hand loading, so we listened! We have a special guest on the podcast who needs no introduction in the precision shooting world, Mr. Scott Satterlee. Scott is a renowned handloading “tinkerer”, and we wanted to go straight to the source for the latest information regarding handloading. Scott takes us through his process of brass preparation, when to trim and anneal cases, and his process for developing the load. There are mountains of information in this episode, so have a pen and paper handy! We’re really excited to have this opportunity to talk with Scott and to give you an opportunity to hear what he’s got to say. If you’re looking for more information on this, check out the link below to a recent article that Scott contributed to on the effects of bullet jump and accuracy written by the guys at the Precision Rifle Blog and Mark Gordon of Short Action Customs. We sincerely hope that this helps streamline your reloading process, spending less time at the bench and more time on the range.

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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Scott Satterlee: https://www.instagram.com/sstacllc/

Caylen and Phil are back on the mic talking about an upcoming live webinar that Caylen will be hosting, the year in review and a recent military course they taught for the Marines of 4th Reconnaissance Battalion down at Rifles Only with Jacob Bynum and Lindy Sisk. The course debrief points talk about training scars imparted on both the body and the brain resulting from improperly focused training. It’s a good episode with lots to glean.

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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In this episode, Caylen sits down with Carl Taylor from In Motion Targets, an experienced figure in the precision rifle community. Join us as we dive into Carl’s background, his contributions to the sniper community, and his journey through the Guardian Long Range match in Colville, Washington. Carl is one of the pioneers in the precision rifle sport, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Known for organizing challenging matches that test shooters' skills in locating, ranging, and engaging targets, Carl has been a significant influence in advancing the sport. Learn more about Carl's work at In Motion Targets.

Topics Covered:

• Introduction to Carl Taylor and his history in precision rifle shooting.
• Insights into the Guardian Long Range match and its significance.
• Carl’s experiences and contributions to sniper training in the Pacific Northwest.
• Leadership and marksmanship training tips from a seasoned expert.
• The evolution of sniper tactics and gear over the years.

Support the Guardian Long Range: 

We highly encourage everyone to check out Guardian Long Range and support their events. It’s a fantastic charity that does amazing work for kids across the nation. Find a match near you and participate to make a difference.

This episode is brought to you by Really Right Stuff tripods, the best tripods for precision shooting and long-range hunting. Discover the stability and versatility of Really Right Stuff tripods to enhance your shooting experience. Learn more about Really Right Stuff tripods here.

Train with us In-Person: 

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/m... 

Join our Free Online Community: 

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com 

Visit our website: 

https://moderndaysniper.com 

Follow us on IG: 

@moderndaysniper

Enjoy the episode and until next time, evolve with every shot.

Contrary to popular belief, we didn’t completely fall off the planet! It’s been a whirlwind of a summer for us at Modern Day Sniper and we’re going to get you all caught up on what we’ve been up to and the pace that we’ve been moving at. Consider this a catch-up episode, but we take a couple turns to talk about wind and some reloading topics with detail. Enjoy guys, and we appreciate your patience!

The Modern Day Sniper Podcast welcomes Mr. Owen Mulder, a retired USMC Scout/Sniper and MARSOC veteran. Owen’s area of expertise surrounds cognitive psychology and the  perceptual psychology of observation. His combat experience as both a conventional and special operations sniper eventually led him to be a lead instructor at the Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter Program where he trained snipers and reconnaissance Marines in tactical tracking, nonverbal behavioral profiling, and observation. Owen, Caylen and Phil take a look into the science of observation and how the brain can be trained to be a highly effective and efficient predator.

In this episode Ryan and Caylen are spending a week at the Mountain States Tactical officer’s Association annual meetings and training week. This is our 5th year consecutively supporting this effort and we’re always happy to be a part of it. In this conversation they boys turn on the mics for some after class chats about some of the trends they’re seeing in the training world, the finer points of rifle marksmanship as they relate to the body’s central nervous system, and some gas gun tidbits that stem from some projects that Ryan has been working on. 

Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network:  School House

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Phil and Caylen are physically together for the first time to record a video podcast! On this episode they catch up on a few projects both are working on. Caylen talks about the new American Rifle Company actions he received, as well as some of the features of each action. Caylen shares the builds he plans on moving forward with each action. Phil talks about his “Tikka Budget Build” project he’s been wanting to work on for the longest time! Phil and Caylen talk about Modern Day Sniper’s Basic Law Enforcement Qualification and some of the challenges Phil faced when doing the qualification. Thanks for listening! Please share with a friend if you found value in this podcast!

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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After an unpleasant hiatus from our microphones (we sincerely apologize) we’re back at with an interview with Jacob Bynum, the creator of the future Assassin’s Way rifle match, entertaining questions from a Facebook Live question and answer session. Although things went well with the content and the questions, our technology skills need some work and you can expect a better experience next go-round. In the end, Jacob answered a lot of questions; hypothetical, by third-party, and live feed via our Facebook Live event. Thanks to everyone for listening, and please reach out to Jacob direct if you have any questions!

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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https://www.facebook.com/jacob.bynum.39

https://www.facebook.com/riflesonly/

https://www.facebook.com/RiflesOnlyAssassinsWay/

https://www.instagram.com/rifles_only/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/bynum.jacob/?hl=en

Todays topic is on Scoped Carbine. Its a very loose term that possesses numerous connotations. Here the team discusses our opinions on the subject and how we define it along with our personal opinions on employment of such a rifle. As most of you know MDS is bringing Scoped Carbine to the course offerings and here's a taste of what you can expect if you attend. Thanks for listening!

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Caylen and Phil are in Rocky Mount, VA for their PR101 and Positional Clinic at Pigg River. They talk about the Pigg River Precision Facility and the true southern hospitality they've received since coming to Virginia. The Modern Day Sniper team talks about the current class and the different backgrounds the students come from. Phil talks about his experience as an "Assistant" instructor observing Caylen conduct his first few days of PR101 and the progression of the student and a lot more! Thanks for listening, and if you're in the area, don't forget to check out Pigg River Precision events for 2021! Keep your face on the gun.

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For 2025 and beyond, I’d like to bring you guys a new style of podcast for me - solo-casts. 

I haven’t been 100% comfortable in the past with sitting by myself in front of the camera. It felt a bit on the arrogant side, and for me arrogance is a tough nut to crack. I do believe that there’s a balance to it though, it’s delicate, but nonetheless a balance. So, I'm going to use this style of delivery to get comfortable with what once was - uncomfortable!

In the future you can expect to see these solo-casts on the regular as I sit and discuss topics that I’m seeing, experiencing, and coming to understand. It’s what you guys are after-raw, and real talk about the stuff you’re looking to find answers for. 

Some of it might be inflammatory, but hey, that’s on you to navigate for yourself - only you are responsible for your emotions and reactions to them. 

This is me, unplugged.

Welcome to our 100th Episode! This is a big deal for us! Today Caylen and Phillip sit down to discuss the future of Modern Day Sniper and where we’re headed for 2024 and beyond. The pair discuss the new in-person class naming convention and the reasons that they decided to make some adjustments to the curriculum. Caylen and Phil also give you the low-down on the NEW Modern Day Sniper logo and the reason behind the need to change it. We hope you all enjoy the episode and don’t forget to come see up inside the Modern Day Rifleman Network!

For those who prefer to watch podcasts, this is live on our YouTube.

In this episode we welcome Tony Blauer of Blauer Tactical Training Systems. Tony Blauer explores the vital role of fear management in personal safety and self-defense, critiquing traditional training methods in favor of understanding the psychology and physiology of fear. He stresses self-awareness in navigating violent situations and discusses how fear affects shooting and decision-making, linking neurobiology to marksmanship. Blauer distinguishes between choking and freezing under pressure, emphasizing the need for coaches to address fear blocks in students. Overall, he advocates for using fear as a catalyst for bravery and emphasizes the importance of enhancing mental speed and self-awareness in optimizing performance and safety.

Takeaways

- Understanding and managing fear is crucial in personal safety and self-defense.

- Self-awareness plays a key role in navigating violent encounters and making effective decisions.

- Fear management is essential in shooting and marksmanship, as the neurobiological response to shooting can impact performance.

- Improving self-awareness enhances critical thinking and decision-making in various aspects of life.

- Managing fear is crucial in various contexts, including self-defense and precision shooting.

- Coaches need to understand and address fear blocks in their students to help them overcome performance obstacles.

- There is a distinction between choking and freezing, with choking being a result of trained individuals not being able to access their skills under pressure.

- Self-awareness plays a key role in managing fear and improving performance.

Find Tony Blauer here:

• Blauer Tactical Training Systems: blauertrainingsystems.com
• Instagram: @tonyblauer
• YouTube: Tony Blauer's Channel

Check out some awesome deals from Tony and get sweet discounts on his programs!

1) SPEAR System® Combatives Camp:

• Date: July 27 - 28, 2024
• Location: Las Vegas, NV
• Registration Link: Register Here
• Course Outline: Click Here

2) Human Weapon System:

• Affiliate Link: HWS Program
• Discount Code: SNIPERHWS for $100 off

3) Know Fear® Seminar:

• Affiliate Link: Know Fear Seminar
• Discount Code: SNIPERKF for 50% off

Don't miss these opportunities to train with one of the best in the field!

This episode is brought to you by Really Right Stuff tripods, the best tripods for precision shooting and long-range hunting. Discover the stability and versatility of Really Right Stuff tripods to enhance your shooting experience. Learn more at Really Right Stuff.

Train with us In-Person: Join Our Classes

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Enjoy the episode and until next time, evolve with every shot.

Always a pleasure, our proper British PRS counterparts have a long overdue catch up call to talk about their recent pilgrimage to the US PRS Finale, their PRS UK Finale, and the upcoming classes we’ve got scheduled with them this coming April. Our class slots are filling fast over there and our hosts give out some information on how to travel to the UK with rifles and ammunition, as well as the cut-off date for acceptance paperwork to be filed. Most notably, Caylen managed to get James’ name correct. 

To view and register for our classes in the UK, please visit:

https://www.precisionrifleseries-uk.com/modern-day-sniper-training-courses/

Phillip is joined by the guys who head up the WyCo PRL and WPR to talk about the first season of both local leagues that stood up in the Wyoming, Montana and Northern Colorado areas. Phillip asks questions about what kind of growth they saw, how the classification system worked out for the first year and the matches for the upcoming 2022 season. The crew talks about how you can get involved if you’re interested in shooting their matches to become a well rounded rifleman or a more efficient hunter!

Links:

WyCo PRL - https://wycoprl.com/

WPR - https://www.westernprecisionrifle.org/

Caylen sits down with Tom Ryder of SPR Industries for a conversation on rifle building, the rifle building industry, and life in general. Tom has an extensive background in machining, and after he and Caylen spent time together in a sniper platoon Tom started his journey of being a custom rifle builder. Based out of Seattle, Tom is incredibly detail oriented, and the quality of his work speaks for itself in the results seen from his rifles. 

Toms Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spr_industries/

Caylen and Phil catch up and recap Phil’s trip to Ohio for the Ohio Range Day. Phil presents the question of “how long does it take to build consistency?” and “how much time does a teacher need to get students to be consistent with a precision rifle”? The pair also discuss some common trends in the precision shooting industry regarding gear and setups. They cover a lot of information and there’s plenty of bits in the episode to grab!

In this podcast, Phillip sits down with the Director of PRS Ken Wheeler and Western Precision Rifle founder Peter Kneip. They discuss the integration of the PRS Regional Series with the Western Precision Rifle community in order to further grow the sport of precision rifle in the Wyoming, Montana and South/North Dakota areas.

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Welcome to the Modern Day Sniper Podcast Episode 98, where we have a heartfelt discussion with special guest Mike Lilly, a well-known figure in the Precision Rifle Series and the National Rifle League's Hunter Series. Mike and his wife run the successful YouTube channel, "Long Range with the Lilies." In this episode, we delve into some heavy topics related to the emotions and challenges veterans face when transitioning from military service to civilian life. We hope to provide some relief and understanding for those going through similar experiences. You can find more from Mike Lilly on his YouTube channel. Enjoy the episode!

Long Range With the Lillys

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw4sQ9U-4Vqt2foS9QeTeFg

Caylen flies solo on this episode answering some listener questions. Before he dives in, he talks about the new online training courses coming together, a little deeper look into what it means to have “mindfulness behind the rifle,” and the benefits of a morning routine setting the precedence for your day. The Q&A was a great spread of questions, ranging from barrels, being wary of the man who only owns one rifle, reticles, external ballistics questions, and rifle fit. Caylen wraps it up talking about the importance of keeping a shooter’s journal and the impact it can have on your training progression.

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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Caylen and Phil are down in Volusia County for the beginning of their 2021 In-Person training season. In this podcast, they recap on the launch of their subscription service, Modern Day Rifleman/Sniper Monthly in which the first two topics of discussion were “Rifle Set Up” with Phil and “What It Means To Be Kind To Yourself” with Caylen. They talk about some good questions that came along with that during the webinar as well as dive down many rabbit holes, per usual. They finish off with recapping some of their recent matches and what it should mean as a rifleman to compete. Thanks for listening guys and keep your face on the gun.

Join our Mighty Networks Modern Day Rifleman group -

www.moderndayrifleman.com

Sign up for our San Diego County, CA PR101 Class in March -

https://moderndaysniper.mykajabi.com/offers/Ur272e3R/checkout

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In this episode Caylen and Phil welcome the boys from Precision Rifle Series UK, Andy, Trez, and John. With the PRS UK boys hosting four MDS classes this coming spring, the episode details all that will be covered in those classes, the venue we’ll be using, and some tips on traveling to the UK with rifles and ammunition. The conversation also touches on some of the challenges the PRS UK has with developing a larger shooter community and the constraints that rifle shooters face in the UK’s populated areas. 

To register for our upcoming UK classes, find the links here: 

https://www.precisionrifleseries-uk.com/modern-day-sniper-training-courses/

To register for our other stateside upcoming events, head over to:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/moderndayrifleman

In this episode Caylen and Phil spend some time catching up on recent events and things going on at Modern Day Sniper and they debrief Caylen’s successful Washington state high country mule deer hunt along with some great lessons learned. The team discusses Phillip’s preparation for his upcoming Wyoming elk hunt and some housekeeping items. Good luck to everyone out there with tags!

Caylen and Phil get together to wrap up their discussion on the NRL Hunter Finale. The conversation leads into discussions on competitive mindset, gear selection for competition and the difference between playing the game of competition vs. the practical use of the rifle for whatever application you’re using it for. They discuss the new Wilderness Land Navigation Masterclass and the newly released Prep To Hunt vlog series.

With Phil getting the Gunwerks Long Range University training season started, we invited a great friend on the podcast, Mr. Len Waldron. Len is an accomplished outdoor writer, experienced rifle hunter, and the owner of a newly patented firearms lubricant, EDC CLP. During this podcast, Caylen and Len discuss the progression of the rifle hunter over the last decade, and how new rifles, optics, and most importantly bullet design and construction allow the modern rifle hunter to ethically and responsibly extend their effective range when pursuing game. They discuss some epic hunting trips and adventures of the past and how those experiences drive training to establish new baselines.

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EDC CLP Firearms Lubricant https://edcclp.com/

Waldron Pond Outdoors https://www.youtube.com/user/fincam61/videos

IG: https://www.instagram.com/waldron.pond/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaldronPond/

The Modern Day Sniper team is in the United Kingdom doing a series of classes with the precision rifle shooters of Great Britain. They sit down with Andy Simpson and James Bass, who are attending the Intro to Precision Rifle Course to talk about their experiences with the class. Andy and James, along with Trez, are the leadership of the Precision Rifle Series UK. We discuss some training scars and “bad habits” developed over time as a result of the fast growth of the precision rifle sport and the lack of formal training courses out in the European theater. 

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Wind, the great equalizer of the long range shooter. Many of us are humbled by it on a daily basis, regardless if we’re professionals or novices. We’re overdue for a technical topic so in this episode Caylen and Phil tackle this phenomenon and talk about their process for interpreting the wind and using that information to derive a correction. They talk about the influence that terrain has on the wind, wind gradients, their experiences with over-hyped terms such as aerodynamic jump, and understanding how crosswind components are key to accurate wind calls. 

Modern Day Rifleman Network

www.moderndayrifleman.com

Online Positional Course Masterclass

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com/plans/143968?bundle_token=0b6b7f4986679ea54a6cfbee66ca7c3a&utm_source=manual

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On this episode of the podcast we invite Jeff “Skully” Escalderon and John Spurling to the show to discuss their perspective on their time serving in the Marine Corps as Scout/Snipers and as instructors. These guys hold nothing back on the podcast as they provide a candid and captivating look into the world of Marine Corps Scout Snipers. Through their personal experiences and recollections of former Scout Sniper, you’ll be taken on a journey that explores the unique culture, training, and missions of this largely misunderstood fraternity of men. From the rigorous selection process to the high-stakes operations, this episode offers an unparalleled insider's perspective on the life of a Marine Scout Sniper. Listeners will be immersed in the camaraderie, challenges, and triumphs that defined this specialized community, gaining a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices and skills required to excel in this demanding role that unfortunately no longer exists within the United States Marine Corps.

Don’t forget to check out our community at www.moderndayrifleman.com ! It’s free and there’s over 8 thousand members in there just like you sharing up to date information on the topics you want to know about!

Check out Modern Day Sniper’s In-Person Class Schedule too! Come train with us!

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/moderndayrifleman

Modern Day Sniper’s Social Media Channels:

IG: @moderndaysniper

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@moderndaysniper?si=8GC2mEc0Ia9acdjg

With Caylen and Phillip teaching at Altus Shooting Solutions, the pair sit down to have a conversation about the trends they’re seeing in class and student performance. The conversation takes off in a different direction though and they decide to take a dive into the psyche and talk about what makes us tick. With a deep dive into the mind aside, they discuss some trends in class, debrief some triggercam footage and footage taken of student performance. There’s all kinda gold in this one, on several different fronts. 

Ilya Koshkin, also known as the Dark Lord of Optics, joins us for this episode to talk about riflescopes. Ilya explains the basic mechanics of a rifle scope, what he’s looking for when he’s testing an optic and his guidelines to purchasing an optic. It was a refreshing conversation to talk about his unbiased approach to certain optics he’s tested, the pros and cons of some of the popular scope companies out there as well as recommendations on rifle scopes we personally haven’t used or seen our students use. At the end, we talk about his recommendations for his top 3 riflescope picks for certain budgets for crossover applications such as hunting and precision rifle competition!

Ilya Koshkin Links. 

www.darklordofoptics.com

www.youtube.com/c/ikoshkinDLO/

Cody Carroll joins us this week to talk about his recent elk hunt with his son in Colorado. Cody shares his experience in the mountains of Colorado, comparing and contrasting the difference between a backcountry hunt and cold weather operations versus operating as a Reconnaissance Marine in combat operations and training. The team talks about lessons learned through their experience as Snipers and how it translates over to their hunting style. Cody breaks down critical points of his hunt from the perspective as a father instead of a Reconnaissance Platoon Commander.

Cody: https://www.instagram.com/misfit6sends/

In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Phillip and Caylen discuss various topics related to shooting, including the importance of balance in life, having a solid baseline in your career, different levels of awareness and mental approach to competition, and how to break the stress response in your body. They also talk about the difference between a PRS match and a general hunter, adapting your body to different tripod heights, and the benefits and drawbacks of heavy caliber rifles. At the end of the episode we share upcoming events and In-Person classes.

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This was a great episode for us here at Modern Day Sniper because we welcomed Mr. Gary Larson from the Guardian Long Range series. The Guardian series of events is 100% non-profit and all the proceeds of these events go towards local organizations to assist with disadvantaged kids in the foster care system. The cause behind these events is beyond admirable, and supporting these events means direct, actionable change for kids out there that didn’t have a choice to be where they’re at in their lives. Please check out the Guardian series of events using the links below, and we hope to see you all at the Guardian’s Washington state event this coming May. 

https://guardianlongrange.com/

https://www.facebook.com/GuardianLongRange/

https://www.instagram.com/guardianlongrange/?hl=en

https://practiscore.com/2023-guardian-long-range-washington/register

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Caylen and Phil are back at it after a brief hiatus. This was an awesome episode of catch-up conversation and diving deep into some great topics. With the training season back into full swing, they talk about what it means to be a good student and the process of learning, which then rolls into what they define as a bad shooter, a good shooter, and what separates those from a phenomenal shooter. The pair discusses other topics such as what it means to develop a standard, and how those standards are missing the mark in places around the community. They round up the conversations discussing what “line of white” means regarding the aiming process, and the new release of the Modern Day Sniper Fundamentals of Marksmanship course at the Online Schoolhouse.

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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Caylen and Phil sit down with Mr. John Dufrense of Kinetic Consulting for another awesome talk on knowing thyself, training, and basic good-dudery. Known by most as “Duffy”, John has been to several of our classes with the intention of doing nothing more than expanding his own knowledge and proficiency as a shooter and a teacher in the firearms industry. Duffy is a consummate professional, an excellent teacher, and a fun human to be around. 

https://www.kinetic-consulting.net/

https://www.instagram.com/mochabear_actual/

Caylen and Phil invite the hilarious and articulate David Baker of the Just F’n Send It Podcast for another conversation on all things in life, kids growing up, and balancing activities. Caylen and Phil discuss some past law enforcement sniper and open enrollment classes and the teaching points from them, as well as a recap on some matches that were shot. The trio discuss the intricacies of the shooter’s process and how important being able to handle and drive the rifle is when moving and transitioning from position to position. Plenty of great bits in here to grab!

MDS Training

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Phillip and Clayton catch up and talk about setting goals for the 2023 year. Clayton talks about his training plans, what matches he wants to attend and his new 7PRC build. This is a great episode for hunters who are wanting to refine their skills at being a rifleman.

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This episode Caylen invites a special guest as a subject matter expert to discuss the hot-topic item of barrel tuners. Aaron Hipp is an accomplished PRS competitor with over a decade of experience in the sport competing at a high level. Aaron’s background in education and occupation is engineering, with his day job being that of a software engineer. Aaron and Caylen discuss the relevance of barrel tuners in the precision rifle discipline and most importantly where they’re useful, and where they’re not. Aaron discusses his point of view on scientific testing methods and compares that to what is currently available in the space regarding testing data surrounding barrel tuners. 

You can find Aaron’s product, the Adaptive Tuning System at his main website https://www.kineticsecuritysolutions.com/

This episode explores the world of precision shooting and gunsmithing. Learn about gun design, intricate barrel making, reloading techniques, and the mental focus needed for peak accuracy. Caylen and JD Thomas share insights for both enthusiasts and professionals.

Find out What your Shooter Ability is here: https://moderndaysniper.com/assessment 

Train with us In-Person:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/moderndayrifleman

Join our Free Online Community: https://www.moderndayrifleman.com

Find out more About Us: https://www.moderndaysniper.com

Follow us on Instagram:

Modern Day Sniper - https://www.instagram.com/moderndaysniper/ 

Phillip Velayo - https://www.instagram.com/velayo_0317/ 

Caylen Wojcik - https://www.instagram.com/caylen8541/

In this podcast, host Caylen Wojcik and Competitive Sky Diver V Buck Prib converse about the realities of high-level extreme sports. They discuss safety measures, rigorous training, mental preparation, costs, and more. Caylen and Prib share experiences and insights, emphasizing the importance of mastering basics and the role of visualization in performance improvement. They also share how to handle immense competition pressures and the importance of mentorship. They reflect on their mistakes as learning opportunities, underscoring the value of experience in skydiving and competitive shooting. This episode provides insight into extreme sports and valuable life lessons. Enjoy!

In this episode we welcome Ryan D’Agostino to the podcast. We invited Ryan out to our classes at Pigg River this year to help out as an adjunct instructor. We had a great conversation with Ryan, getting to know him and his viewpoints on long range shooting and teaching styles. Ryan is a former infantry Marine, security contractor, and a firearms instructor who focuses on precision rifle as a passion, and is proficient in handgun and carbine employment. 

In this episode Caylen and Phil build on the previous; going a bit deeper into their philosophy on the mindset of the sniper and the shooter. This time they dig into what it means to be a volunteer, and all the responsibility that comes with being a member of a volunteer unit. The conversation moves into touching on ego, what it is, and the cop out of telling someone to put their ego aside without fully understanding it’s meaning and how it affects performance.

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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The Field Shooting Workshop

Phillip sits down with Matt Solowynsky from R&S Solutions to discuss creating opportunities. Despite still being an active duty Marine, Matt shares how he navigates his transition process with retirement on the horizon. They explore various topics such as the importance of networking, building a personal brand, and honing transferable skills. They also discuss the challenges that young snipers may face during the transition out of the military and provide practical advice on how to overcome them. Matt emphasizes the significance of setting goals, seeking mentorship, and taking advantage of educational resources. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of proactive planning and strategic thinking to ensure a successful and fulfilling transition into civilian life.

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In this episode the MDS team takes a deep dive into what they’re learning while developing and filming our upcoming Tripod Shooting Masterclass. This is a compilation of a lot of little tidbits of discoveries that the team has been uncovering while focusing on nothing but shooting from tripods in the recent weeks. Big topics of discussion here are the effects of pressures being put into the system and how those pressures affect both accuracy and rifle movement during the process of recoil.

Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network:  School House

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In this episode, Caylen sits down with Tim Parkhurst, President of the Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation, to discuss the mission of preserving the legacy of Marine Scout Snipers. Tim shares fascinating historical insights, the foundation’s efforts to build a lasting memorial at Quantico, and the monumental task of uncovering lost history and honoring fallen snipers. They dive into the challenges and triumphs of the sniper community, the evolution of the program, and how listeners can support through initiatives like an exclusive rifle raffle, which ends Wednesday evening, November 27th, and a brick paver program. Learn how the foundation is ensuring the sacrifices and contributions of scout snipers are never forgotten. Visit scoutsniperheritage.org to get involved!

After a hiatus that lasted too long, Caylen and Phil are back at it with some big news; Phil is now an official member of the MDS team! The pair catch up on what they’ve been up to for the last month and a half which involved in-person classes, mentorship students, Phil’s budget Tikka build, Caylen’s American Rifle Company builds, an early fall bear hunt, and a local club match.

“We really apologize for the delay guys! The podcast isn’t dead by any stretch, we just had some major changes and growth to address but we’re organized and back in the saddle with more of what you guys love coming fast n furious! We’ve got so much good stuff coming in the remainder of the year!” – Caylen W.

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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Caylen and Phillip dive into a contentious topic among the sniper community; the practicality of maintaining such a high emphasis on using the mil relation formula to establish ranges to targets at the basic sniper skill level. Caylen and Phil discuss the origin and history of range estimation with milliradians and how even modern reticle designs are still not accurate enough to produce ranges to targets that reliably fall within the danger space of the currently fired projectiles.

In this episode, we host a special guest; Mr. Cody Carroll. Cody is a long-time friend of ours, and truly a wealth of information pertaining to all things regarding military operations, from strategic planning to executing small-unit guerrilla tactics. A true professional soldier and a lethal sniper, Cody has one of the most diverse military backgrounds of anyone we’ve ever met. He’s also a self-proclaimed libo hound, which we can verify with steadfast assuredness. Enjoy the listen!

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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Cody: https://www.instagram.com/misfit6sends/

Brian the podcast editor here! Caylen and Phil are back! First part of the podcast they catch up on their lives and Phil has a some exciting news! Halfway in they start chatting about wind and shooting in the mountains. Near the end they get into the love for teaching, competition shooting and all highs & lows it comes with. Then they wrap it up with future topics and some updates. You don't want to miss this one!

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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We know you guys thought we straight abandoned our podcast… Nah, just an extended hiatus! We’re back and the boys cover a lot of ground in this one as they catch up on recent trips, classes and competitions. Lots of great content here on the post-shot process, the cognitive thought process while navigating scenarios, and some class debrief points from our recent Intro to Long Range, Wind, and Moving Target clinics in Washington. Enjoy! 

In this podcast episode, Phil and Ryan take a deep dive into their experience at the NRL Hunter in Utah competition that they recently participated in as a team. They go over the various stages they encountered, including some of the obstacles they had to overcome, the techniques they used to achieve success, and the lessons they learned along the way.

Not only did they share the good moments, but they also delved into the bad ones and discussed how they could have done better. The discussion also covered the importance of preparation, teamwork, and communication in the competition.

Furthermore, Ryan will be teaching Intro to Precision and Scoped Carbine at the same venue, so they took the opportunity to do some range reconnaissance and familiarize themselves with the surroundings. They talked about the significance of knowing the range and how it can help in better performance.

Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network:  School House

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On this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast we welcome Mr. Erik Cortina to the show. Mr. Cortina is an extremely accomplished shooter in the F-Class world and is known for sharing his knowledge of attaining extreme accuracy and precision with his loads. Mr. Cortina is also known for his research and development of barrel tuners. Erik and Caylen have a great conversation surrounding general precision shooting, Erik’s background and how he got into shooting, and of course, we touch on barrel tuners. Enjoy the episode!

https://www.shootsmallgroups.com/

We had a great opportunity to get to know Ryan Cleckner in this episode. Caylen and Ryan explore Ryan’s path as a US Army Ranger sniper and how he progressed within that community. Ryan talks about how he got himself into the Army’s sniper program and how the lessons he learned as a young Ranger translate to his career today as a firearms attorney and his newly established online venture, Gun University. We enjoyed getting to know Ryan, and you can be sure to hear more from him in the future!

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

MDS Training

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Gun University: https://gununiversity.com/

Caylen, Phillip and Owen Mulder have a conversation with Zachary Burgart who is a former Reconnaissance Marine, and fellow HOG. 

Zachary recently made a trip to Ukraine with the intention of providing aid to the people by means of medical support and training, basic infantry skills training, and logistical coordination for the newly established citizen army. Zach gives us his perspective on what he witnessed and provides valuable insight as to the morale of the Ukrainian people and the overall situation as he saw it. 

If you’d like to provide any donations to the charity organizations that Zach represented on his trip, you can find those links below.

NFP - https://www.overwatchfoundationusa.org/

Training Company - https://www.slava.win/

Zachary’s Website - https://zacharyaloysius.com/

Zachary’s Instagram - @zacharyaloysius.artist

Caylen and Phil invite some special guests to the show from Ridgeline Defense, Rudy Gonsior and Alex Hartmann. Rudy is a former US Marine, and a former US Army Green Beret who served on multiple tours overseas as an assaulter and a sniper, and Alex Hartmann is the president of Ridgeline Defense, a former US Marine, and a fellow Hunter of Gunmen who has also completed several deployments as a sniper. During this episode your hosts and guests discuss training philosophy and most importantly, what you should be looking for in a shooting instructor, how their curriculum is structured, and how important it is to vet that instructor. There’s lots of bits on mindset and training in this one, enjoy!

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

MDS Training

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Contact Rudy and Alex:

https://www.ridgelineshooting.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ridgeline_defense/

https://www.instagram.com/rudesgonz/

https://www.instagram.com/hartmann_0317/

In this episode, we sit down with one of our Modern Day Riflemen, James Wazeter. We dive into his systematic approach to precision shooting, his coaching experience in the fitness industry, and his passion for long-range bolt rifles. In our discussion, we cover a range of topics from parenting to precision rifle training, techniques, and competition. We explore the importance of focused training, breaking down skills into subunits, and the psychological aspects of competitive shooting. James shares his experiences and insights on shooting competitions, and we discuss the overlap of skills between competitive shooting and hunting.

While Caylen is in the mountains chasing deer and bear, Phil takes up the mic to talk about some current events. Phil briefly discusses his podcast with Frank on the Everyday Sniper Podcast and congratulates Allison Zane for her first 2-Day national level match. Phil then dives into his current Tikka budget build rifle set up and how it's configured and what gear/caliber/equipment he plans on running for his 2021 competition season! 

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In this podcast, Phillip and Caylen discuss effective communication with students of all skill levels and shooting experience. They also provide tips on selecting the right tripod for shooting specific to their applications. Finally, they share their recent scouting and hunting experience in the mountains, offering insights into the challenges and importance of being prepared for hunting. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in precision rifle shooting and hunting!

Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network:  School House

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In this episode Caylen and Phil discuss the release of the Modern Day Sniper online Schoolhouse, and dive into what it takes to be a sniper candidate, answering the question presented by lots of listeners. They discuss the mindset needed, the physical preparations, and the personality traits and ethos the organization is looking for.

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We’re joined by a special guest this episode, Brian Bear Butler. We’re about to celebrate our 1-year anniversary and we thought it fitting to have Brian on as a guest to discuss how Modern Day Sniper’s foray into the digital space occurred, what the past year has brought us in terms of both business and personal development, and a look into where we’re going. Brian played a vital role in our podcast creation and videography and we couldn’t be more grateful to have him as part of our team.

Brian's links:

https://www.instagram.com/wherestheskoolie/

https://www.travelwestproductions.com/

Join our Mighty Networks Modern Day Rifleman group -

www.moderndayrifleman.com

Sign up for our San Diego County, CA PR101 Class in March -

https://moderndaysniper.mykajabi.com/offers/Ur272e3R/checkout

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With Phillip back from a double-header set of classes at Rifles Only in Texas, he and Caylen catch up and discuss some trends from both our last set of Virginia classes as well as our classes at Rifles Only. The conversation drifts into the mentality of being a competitor and how Caylen and Phil will be working together this upcoming shooting season as training accountability partners. We wish everyone a fantastic holiday season out there and enjoy the time with your families. 

In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen Wojcik welcomes Aaron Martin, a new addition to the Modern Day Sniper and Modern Day Rifleman cadre. They discuss Aaron's background as a precision rifle instructor and former Marine, including his time in the Scout Sniper community. They also cover topics such as the importance of understanding recoil management, the psychological aspects of shooting, and the challenges of teaching students with varying skill levels. Additionally, they touch on the recent events involving former President Trump and the need to approach such situations with caution and professionalism rather than speculation.

Check out Aaron’s website and social media channels 

Website: https://tensecondprecision.com/

IG: @tensecondprecision

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@tensecondprecision?si=mQQ19gtG4AafmI2g

Don’t forget to check out our community at www.moderndayrifleman.com ! It’s free and there’s over 8 thousand members in there just like you sharing up to date information on the topics you want to know about!

Check out Modern Day Sniper’s In-Person Class Schedule too! Come train with us!

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/moderndayrifleman

Modern Day Sniper’s Social Media Channels:

IG: @moderndaysniper

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@moderndaysniper?si=8GC2mEc0Ia9acdjg

Caylen and Phil are back on the podcast doing a recap conversation on the last couple weeks of activity at Modern Day Sniper. Saying that they’ve had a lot going on is an understatement, and the conversation starts off talking about a recap of the Modern Day Rifleman Virtual Summit and extending thanks to everyone involved. The guys cover some points on positional shooting from our last PR 101 course,  some of Phil’s learning points from their bear hunting trip last week and a discussion on long range hunting ethics. The guys wrap up the conversation by letting some of their upcoming plans out of the bag.

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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Caylen and Phil finally get back together after a couple weeks of hunting and talk about Phil’s successful Wyoming elk hunt. In this episode, we bring on Clayton Creel, who was raised in Cody, Wyoming and was the one who helped Phil out with his hunt. Clay shares with us his experiences of growing up in Wyoming, working with several outfitters and learning the craft at a young age. Phil and Clay tell the story of their scout and hunt trip, which is an experience that many dream of completing. They break down each day of the hunt and how they planned and executed the stalk and shot. Thanks for listening and keep your face on the gun.

In this episode, Phil and Caylen bring on Tristan Ivkov and Max Miller who are snipers in the Colorado National Guard and are the recent winners of the Winston P Wilson Sniper Match held by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center. They talk about what set them up for success for winning their division and what they experienced during the competition. Learn how these young snipers were able to stand out amongst a field of some of the best snipers in the nation! Thanks for listening and keep your face on the gun!

Tristan Ivkov: https://www.instagram.com/t_ivkov/

Max Miller: https://www.instagram.com/co_fzj80/

Live Webinar: Alchemy of a Rifleman

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In this episode, Caylen and Phillip circle back around to their "Why?" They talk about the progression of Modern Day Sniper and the building of the "Modern Day Rifleman" community and why it's important to them. Caylen and Phillip dive deep into the "Why?" they do what they do on social media, podcasts and In-Person courses. 

Modern Day Rifleman Network

www.moderndayrifleman.com

Online Positional Course Masterclass

https://www.moderndayrifleman.com/plans/143968?bundle_token=0b6b7f4986679ea54a6cfbee66ca7c3a&utm_source=manual

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In this in-depth conversation, Caylen Wojcik and Owen Mulder uncover the science behind elite shooting performance. They explore the neurobiology and psychology that influence a sniper's mental game, discussing key concepts like sight wobble, the startle response, and the all-important trigger control. Learn how managing stress, refining your focus, and building automaticity through structured practice can elevate your shooting skills. From archery to firearms, this episode dives into the cognitive and emotional aspects that top shooters must master to perform under pressure. Topics Covered: - Managing burnout and mental stress in high-stakes shooting - The psychology of sight wobble and the startle response - Why mastering trigger control is the key to success - How cognitive rehearsal builds muscle memory and automaticity - Expert tips on troubleshooting your shooting techniques - The emotional dynamics of shooting: staying calm under pressure Want to join our sniper community? Explore exclusive training content, events, and a thriving community at Modern Day Rifleman. Whether you're looking to enhance your marksmanship or connect with fellow shooters, we’ve got you covered! Join the community: https://www.moderndayrifleman.com/ Access Expert Sniper Education & Events Modern Day Sniper is dedicated to providing high-quality education, mentorship, and live events to help you master precision shooting. Check out our upcoming courses, live sessions, and educational resources. Visit our education portal: https://www.moderndaysniper.shop/ Reloading Evolution Event: https://www.moderndaysniper.shop/events Follow Us for More Precision Insights: Instagram: @ModernDaySniper Join the conversation, elevate your shooting, and be a part of the Modern Day Rifleman community!