Modern Day Sniper Podcast - podcast cover

Modern Day Sniper Podcast

The Modern Day Sniper Podcast is your ultimate source for insights and discussions on the sniper lifestyle, from active duty to life beyond the uniform. Hosted by Caylen Wojcik, join us as we explore the art and science of precision shooting, the mental and physical discipline required, and the ongoing journey of self-improvement and mastery.Caylen began his professional journey as a rifleman in the US Marine Corps, where he served as a Scout/Sniper and instructor. He trained Marines, soldiers, and Navy operatives in marksmanship and urban combat tactics. After sustaining severe injuries in 2004, Caylen passed his experience to new snipers before leaving active duty. Since then, he has taught precision rifle skills to hundreds of military, law enforcement, and civilians.

Episodes

MDS Episode #0087 Kitchen Loads in the UK

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 th...

May 04, 20231 hr 24 minEp 87Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0086: Gary Larson and Guardian Long Range

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 liv...

Apr 14, 20231 hr 6 minEp 86Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0085: Scoped Carbine

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! Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network: School House Modern Day Rifleman Modern Day Sniper MDS Instagram...

Apr 12, 20232 hr 42 minEp 85Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0084 A Legacy: The USMC Scout/Sniper

In this podcast Caylen and Phil discuss the current situation regarding the Marine Corps Scout Sniper Community, including the transition to Scout Platoons and the elimination of the 0317 MOS. They also touch on the definition of Marine scout sniper, their roles in combat and training, leadership failures, and some misconceptions about being a scout sniper in the infantry. Lastly, we discuss the impact of these changes on the community and the importance of continuing to train the next generatio...

Mar 30, 20232 hr 42 minEp 84Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Podcast Episode #0083: Setting Goals with Clayton Creel

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. Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network: School House Modern Day Rifleman Modern Day Sniper MDS Instagram...

Feb 10, 20231 hr 15 minEp 83Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0082: Dan Newberry

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 year...

Feb 07, 20231 hr 5 minEp 82Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0081: The PRS UK Boys

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 cor...

Jan 29, 20231 hr 18 minEp 81Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Podcast Episode #0080: Erik Cortina

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 ...

Jan 09, 20231 hr 27 minEp 80Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0079: Aaron Hipp

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’...

Jan 05, 20231 hr 26 minEp 79Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0078 Pigg River Advance Course

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. Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network: https://www.mdsschoolhouse.com www.moderndayrifleman.com Moderndaysniper.com MDS Instagram...

Dec 29, 20222 hr 45 minEp 78Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Podcast #0077: Pigg River with Ryan D’Agostino

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. Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network: https...

Dec 15, 20222 hr 40 minEp 77Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0076 Hunts, trends, and updates

Welcome back to another episode! Caylen and Phil are back at it, and they have an overdue catch-up conversation discussing Phil’s hunts so far this season, the upcoming Tripod Masterclass, some tidbits on reloading, and some discussion on mindset for the upcoming shooting season. Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network: https://www.mdsschoolhouse.com www.moderndayrifleman.com Moderndaysniper.com MDS Instagram...

Oct 30, 20221 hr 22 minEp 76Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0075: 2nd Chances with Matthew Solowynsky

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 an...

Sep 26, 20222 hr 17 minEp 75Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0074: PRS UK

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 popula...

Sep 09, 20222 hr 43 minEp 74Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0073: Where did the summer go?

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! Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network: https://www.mdsschoolhouse.com www.moderndayrifleman.com Mod...

Aug 10, 20221 hr 23 minEp 73Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0072: Debrief - Sniper Week at MSTOA

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. Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network: htt...

Jun 01, 20221 hr 24 minEp 72Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0071: Heart Mountain 2022 After Actions

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. Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network: https://w...

May 25, 20221 hr 6 minEp 71Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0070: Zachary Burgart and his visit to Ukraine

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 si...

May 11, 20222 hr 22 minEp 70Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0069: Tripod Techniques and Wind Calls

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. Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network : https://www.mdsschoolhouse.com www.moderndayrifleman.com Moderndaysniper.com MDS...

May 04, 20221 hr 24 minEp 69Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0068: Caylen and Phil are Back!

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! Join the Modern Day Rifleman Network : https://www.mdsschool...

Apr 29, 20221 hr 19 minEp 68Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0067: Chris Way of Riflekraft

Buckle up guys, in this episode Caylen and Phil sit down with Chris Way, the founder of Riflekraft and the Straight Dope Podcast. Chris Way comes to the sport of precision rifle from being an outdoor athlete and when he was exposed to the complexities of the discipline his analytical brain kicked into overdrive. The trio cover Chris’s journey in the sport and take a deep dive into the data-driven aspects of Riflekraft, Chris’s creation with the intention of giving shooters a more data-driven app...

Mar 03, 20222 hr 18 minEp 67Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0066: Caylen and Phil Catch Up

Caylen and Phil catch up after being on the road for classes. They discuss some after-action items that they noticed in their last batch of classes at Volusia County Gun Club. Things like rifle setup, improperly installed scope levels, and the nuances of the grip of the firing and trigger control were the trends in the Intro class. The conversation moves into the mindset of the competitor, what we should and should not be focusing on, and how to get back to center. They wrap it up with a wavetop...

Feb 23, 20221 hr 8 minEp 66Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0065: Student of the Craft with John ”Duffy” Dufrense

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.instagr...

Feb 02, 20222 hr 56 minEp 65Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0064: Altus Intro to Precision Rifle Course Debrief

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 seve...

Jan 25, 20221 hr 23 minEp 64Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0063: Ted Karagias // American Rifle Company

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 ...

Jan 08, 20222 hr 31 minEp 63Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0062: Tom Ryder // SPR Industries

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_industrie...

Jan 07, 20221 hr 8 minEp 62Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0061: Caylen and Phil Catch-Up

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. Join the Modern Da...

Dec 22, 20211 hr 17 minEp 61Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0060: Handloading with David Baker and Owen Mulder

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. Join the Modern Day Rifleman Netw...

Dec 08, 20212 hr 6 minEp 60Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0059: Intro to Long Range Competition Course After Action

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...

Dec 02, 20212 hr 23 minEp 59Transcript available on Metacast

MDS Episode #0058: WyCO PRL and WPR Season After Action

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 hunte...

Nov 25, 20211 hr 26 minEp 58Transcript available on Metacast
Modern Day Sniper Podcast - Listen or read transcript on Metacast