In Episode 259 of the Long Range Shooting and Custom Rifle Building Podcast, Jamie Dodson answers a question we hear all the time: how long does it really take to become a great shooter?

Inspired by a conversation with listener Monty, Jamie breaks down why some shooters can spend 10–20 years on the range and still feel "stuck," while others make huge gains in a short time—once they learn the right fundamentals, get good coaching, and start fixing the small issues that silently wreck performance (rifle setup, ammo, optics, fundamentals, and process).

You'll also hear an update as Wolf Precision gears up for SHOT Show—including where to find us (Booth 70310) and why we're excited to show the industry what's next with the Gen 4 ACE Chamber System.

Plus: Jamie shares what's coming next on the podcast—a repost of our Fundamentals of Marksmanship series and the Four Pillars of Marksmanship, posted in order so you can follow along and build skill fast.

Want to train with us?
We have limited openings left for this year at our 3-Day Long Range Shooting School (wolfprecision.net).

Giveaway:
We're also giving away two in-person class slots for the August class—one for free followers and one for Wolf Pack members—to be drawn April 15 on Patreon..

Giveaway info & Patreon link: Check the links below and don't forget to register.

• Register to win slot number one by following us on Patreon here!
• Register to win slot number two by joining The Wolf Pack here!

Welcome back to Episode 258 of the Long Range Shooting & Custom Rifle Building Podcast presented by Wolf Precision Incorporated. Jamie Dotson wishes everyone a Happy New Year and shares what he believes is the number one reason to get into long-range shooting: it's magical.

From the unforgettable pause between the shot and the impact, to the satisfaction of steering a bullet through wind and distance, Jamie explains why ringing steel at 1,000 yards never gets old—and why stepping away from shooting for too long makes you forget just how much fun it really is. He also dives into the camaraderie of the shooting community, the friendships it creates, and why this sport has a way of making people feel like they belong.

Plus: a reminder about the two all-inclusive Long Range Shooting School giveaway slots—one for people who follow Wolf Precision on Patreon (free), and one for Wolf Pack members.

Giveaway info & Patreon link: Check the links below and don't forget to register.

• Register to win slot number one by following us on Patreon here!
• Register to win slot number two by joining The Wolf Pack here!

Winners will be randomly selected and announced April 15th, 2026

Class date is August 17-19, 2026

Class slots are transferable and have no cash value

Travel and lodging is not included

Class date will be coordinated directly with the winner

Class date may not be moved or transferred to another date

One entry per person per giveaway

Multiple accounts used to enter the same giveaway may be disqualified

In this special Christmas episode of the Long Range Shooting and Custom Rifle Building Podcast, Jamie Dodson wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and announces two all-inclusive giveaway slots for Wolf Precision's 2026 Long Range Shooting School.

Stick around to the end of the episode to learn how to register and win, including one slot with no strings attached and a second slot reserved for Wolf Pack members.

We also continue our Because You Asked series with a very common—and very serious—question: sticky bolt lift. Listener "Anthony" reached out after experiencing extremely stiff bolt lift and ultimately damaging his action while shooting suppressed during a match. Jamie breaks down:

• Why sticky bolt lift happens

• How suppressor back pressure affects bolt-action rifles

• Why rapid fire and heat make the problem worse

• How lug galling occurs—and why forcing the bolt is a costly mistake

• Practical ways to mitigate the issue, including load selection, suppressor choice, lubrication, and barrel cooling

This episode is a must-listen for anyone shooting bolt guns suppressed, especially in match or high-volume scenarios.

Jamie also reflects on gratitude, giving back, and the incredible community that surrounds long-range shooting—closing out the year with a message of humility, appreciation, and forward momentum.

Merry Christmas from Jamie and everyone at Wolf Precision—and thank you for being part of the journey.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a five-star review and share it—it helps us more than you know.

• Register to win slot number one by following us on Patreon here!
• Register to win slot number two by joining The Wolf Pack here!

Winners will be randomly selected and announced April 15th, 2026

Class date is August 17-19, 2026

Class slots are transferable and have no cash value

Travel and lodging is not included

Class date will be coordinated directly with the winner

Class date may not be moved or transferred to another date

One entry per person per giveaway

Multiple accounts used to enter the same giveaway may be disqualified

In this episode of the Long Range Shooting and Custom Rifle Building Podcast, Jamie kicks off a new series called The Simple Truth—and pulls no punches.

You can learn through trial and error, or you can learn from professionals. Both are expensive. But what most people underestimate isn't just the money—it's the time, frustration, and risk that come with assumptions and misinformation.

Jamie shares real-world stories from decades in long-range shooting, gunsmithing, and manufacturing, including:

• Why assumption is the death of good projects

• How "experience" without feedback becomes a closed loop

• The hidden dangers of DIY gunsmithing done without guidance

• Why modern "drop-in" parts often aren't drop-in at all

• How one bad component can ruin an entire rifle

• And why professional mentorship fast-tracks real progress

This episode also dives into why shooting fundamentals and rifle building must go hand-in-hand, and how Wolf Precision's Prosumer Gunsmithing School is designed to give shooters and builders the tools, knowledge, and confidence to do things the right way—safely, repeatably, and without guesswork.

Whether you're a long-range shooter, aspiring gunsmith, or someone tired of chasing problems you can't diagnose, this episode lays out the simple truth: learning correctly saves more than money—it saves time, effort, and sometimes lives.

Have a question for us?
Email contact@wolfprecision.net or reach out through WolfPrecision.net.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a five-star review and share it—it helps us more than you know.

• Rumble Account: Bedding Video
• Wolf Precision Custom Rifles: www.wolfprecision.net
• The Wolf Pack Training Center: Learn more here.
• https://www.wolfprecision.net/the-wolf-pack.html

In this episode of the Long Range Shooting and Custom Rifle Building Podcast, Jamie Dodson kicks off another installment of the Because You Asked series—this one titled "One More Question."

If you've ever called a gunsmith with "just one quick question," you already know how it goes… one more question turns into another—and another. In this episode, Jamie tackles two of the most common (and most misunderstood) issues shooters run into, especially when suppressors enter the mix.

• Why a suppressor sometimes won't thread all the way onto the barrel

• Carbon buildup, thread length differences, and how to fix it safely

• Suppressor alignment, bore rods, and how subtle misalignment kills accuracy

• Velocity increases from suppressors and barrel break-in—and how that wrecks your dope

• Why factory rifles often struggle with suppressed accuracy

• Point-of-impact shifts, re-zeroing, and when problems are "normal" vs. a red flag

Jamie also shares a real customer story from a failed hunt, explains how compounding unknowns can spiral fast, and gives you a practical checklist to troubleshoot suppressed rifles with confidence.

The episode wraps with important updates on:

• The Because You Asked video series

• The Prosumer Gunsmithing School and upcoming in-person training

• Moving content to Rumble due to repeated YouTube strikes

• Wolf Precision's return to SHOT Show 2026 and the Great American Outdoor Show

• The future of the ACE system, pre-fit barrels, and prosumer-level rifle building

If you've ever wondered why your rifle suddenly started shooting high, why your suppressor feels "wrong," or what you should be checking before blaming your scope—this episode is for you.

Have a question for the Because You Asked series?
Email contact@wolfprecision.net or reach out through WolfPrecision.net.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a five-star review and share it—it helps us more than you know.

• Rumble Account: Bedding Video
• Wolf Precision Custom Rifles: www.wolfprecision.net
• The Wolf Pack Training Center: Learn more here.
• https://www.wolfprecision.net/the-wolf-pack.html

In episode 254, we continue our Build Kit series by talking about the top tier option – a full custom Wolf Precision rifle, built turn-key and ready to shoot right out of the box. I dig into who a true full custom is really for, how it compares to our "assembled minus one" kits, and why it's the right choice for shooters who want world-class performance without having to turn a single wrench… at least not yet.

From there we jump into a couple of jaw-dropping "drop-fit" chassis disasters that recently landed on the bench – including some very high-end stocks with terrible inlets. I walk through what went wrong, why the "just bolt it in and go" myth is so dangerous, and why proper bedding is still critical if you want a true ¼-MOA rifle. This all ties into our upcoming Prosumer Gunsmithing School, the Armory, and some free "Because You Ask" videos where we'll show these problem chassis and what to look for.

Finally, I share the details of our recent YouTube strike (yes, over talking about a gunsmithing vise…) and why we're preparing to move more and more of our content over to Rumble and Vimeo so we don't get erased overnight. I'll also touch on the Wolfpack membership, access to the Armory and range time, and give an update on our 2026 long-range shooting school dates and openings.

• Bedding YouTube Vido: YouTube Bedding Video
• Rumble Account: Bedding Video
• Wolf Precision Custom Rifles: www.wolfprecision.net
• The Wolf Pack Training Center: Learn more here.
• https://www.wolfprecision.net/the-wolf-pack.html

In this episode of the Long Range Shooting and Custom Rifle Building Podcast, Jamie dives into the most popular option in the Wolf Precision Build Kit lineup—Level Two: Assembled Minus one.

Learn why this "assembled minus one" approach has become the sweet spot for shooters who want a true custom rifle, without the full custom rifle price tag. Jamie explains how Level Two gives you:

• A professionally assembled rifle built to Wolf Precision standards

• A massive cost savings by avoiding excise tax

• A simple, confidence-building first step into rifle building

• A perfect platform for learning to maintain and upgrade your rifle over time

• A gateway into the full Wolf Pack ecosystem and the new 2026 prosumer model

Whether you're brand new to custom rifles or ready to start working on your own ACE-based build, Level Two is the best of both worlds: full custom performance, DIY savings, and a hands-on learning path that sets you up for long-term success.

Jamie also shares how the Wolf Pack memberships add huge value through training discounts, ACE savings, access to the Armory, and exclusive opportunities for Alpha Pack members.

If you're looking for the smartest way to get into a world-class custom rifle without overspending — this is the episode you don't want to miss.

• Wolf Precision Custom Rifles: www.wolfprecision.net
• The Wolf Pack Training Center: Learn more here.
• https://www.wolfprecision.net/the-wolf-pack.html

In this episode of the Long Range Shooting and Custom Rifle Building Podcast, Jamie continues our deep-dive series into the Wolf Precision Rifle Build Kits—specifically the Level 1 / unassembled kit and why our professional inspection of every component matters.

Jamie shares real-world examples from 20+ years of building custom rifles, including the hidden stock and chassis issues that can damage triggers, receivers, create feeding problems, or cripple accuracy before the rifle ever sees the range. He explains why having a gunsmith inspect every component—actions, barrels, stocks, chassis, triggers, inlets, action screws and more—can save you money, time, and heartache while guaranteeing that your rifle actually performs when you put it together.

We also dive into the new Wolfpack program, how the Lone Wolf, Pack Hunter, and Alpha Pack tiers work, the massive discounts they offer, and how they integrate directly with the Level 1, 2, and 3 build kit system—plus early access to the Prosumer Gunsmithing School starting December 1st.

If you're considering building a Wolf Precision rifle, want to save money without sacrificing performance, or simply want to understand how to avoid the most common build-kit mistakes, this is a must-listen episode.

• Wolf Precision Custom Rifles: www.wolfprecision.net
• The Wolf Pack Training Center: Learn more here.
• https://www.wolfprecision.net/the-wolf-pack.html