"Let's be objective about this; guns aren't the real problem, the real problem is bullets. If I'm elected, I'll see there are plenty of guns for everybody, but we'll lock up all the bullets."
― Pat Paulsen
Recently, we held our Milestone event at Vortex Optics to honor employees with five or more years of service. Although my official anniversary isn't until next month, I was recognized for 25 years at the event. It's been quite a journey—from starting with Eagle Optics, which mainly served birders and overlapped with Vortex, to transitioning fully to Vortex after Eagle Optics closed at the end of 2017. What a long, strange trip it's been.
As longtime readers know, this transition required me to become familiar with firearm optics—and firearms themselves. Shooting wasn't entirely new to me; I took Hunter's Safety in middle school, and in high school (Wausau, WI) we had a two-semester marksmanship course that counted as physical education credits. Naturally, it doesn't exist today. At first, I went a bit overboard collecting guns, but eventually I sold more than half and decided to keep only the following:
From top to bottom:
- Vudoo .22 LR in MPA Chassis, Venom 5-25x56 FFP
- Tikka 6.5 Creedmoor in MDT Chassis, Razor HD II 4.5-27x56 FFP
- Winchester Model 70 6.5 Creedmoor, Viper HD 2-10x42 BDC
- Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 5.56, Razor AMG UH-1 + Micro 3x
- Glock 43x, sometimes running Defender CCW 6 MOA.
At work, we have a Range Certification Program where we test customers' optics on firearms to ensure they're functioning correctly. When an optic comes in for warranty with reported issues, our Repair Team first evaluates it. If they determine the optic is working properly, the Consumer Sales team—where I work—contacts the customer to offer a range certification. Most customers decline and accept our initial findings, so the optic is returned to them.
If the customer opts for a range certification, we select an appropriate firearm and test the optic on our indoor ranges, which offer distances of 25, 50, and 100 yards. When I need to range certify a red dot or LPVO (low-power variable optic), I typically use the 50-yard range with my Daniel Defense AR-15.
For higher-power scopes, it's off to our 100-yard range.
We have a Tikka Super Varmint in 300 Win Mag that I like to test scopes with.
The goal is test to see if an optic is holding zero and achieve the smallest possible groups—ideally at least sub-MOA (minute of angle), though I aim for around sub-quarter MOA. For those unfamiliar, 1 MOA is nearly equal to 1 inch at 100 yards. "Holding zero" means that after you've properly mounted and sighted in a firearm or optic, it continues to shoot accurately over time without the point of impact shifting. Essentially, the firearm consistently hits where you aim, even after repeated use or being carried around. This reliability is important because if a gun doesn't hold zero, your shots can start to stray off target, making accuracy unpredictable and less effective.
After a few 3-shot groups like this, I'm confident this customer's scope is truly holding zero. Whether they're a hunter, law enforcement officer, military member, or competitive shooter, it's reassuring for them to see independent results confirming their optic's reliability.
I haven't fired my Tikka since I got the suppressor for it in 2023. I occasionally use my Vudoo for 50-yard target practice to keep my marksmanship skills sharp. I haven't yet taken the Winchester to the range—it was a gift from Vortex for my 25th anniversary. While I'm proficient with my Glock, I only shoot it occasionally to stay practiced. Mostly, I use these firearms for work. I'm not a hunter, but I'm open to trying it someday. For most of it, my firearms are pretty much used only for work. As for competitive shooting, I gave it a few tries but decided it really wasn't my cup of tea. The friendly events at work were enjoyable, but the competitions outside of work just weren't my scene.
I realize some readers might be surprised, shocked, or disappointed by this, but it's my livelihood. Honestly, it's far better than working at an insurance company that was only interested in collecting premiums—they even refused to cover my brother's loans when he was diagnosed with cancer and passed away just months later, citing it as a pre-existing condition. Total snakes. Fortunately, my family took them to court—and won. Not long after that, I left CUNA Mutual and moved on—first to Wingra Technologies (email software) for a year, then to Eagle and Vortex Optics, where I've been ever since.
All images © 2025 Mike McDowell