SURVIVAL STORE

Man fires bolt-action rifle; workshop collage includes rifles, ammo, and outdoor shooting scenes.
Practical Bolt-Action Rifle - Image 2
Scoped bolt-action rifle leaning on a backpack at the base of a tree in the forest.

Practical Bolt-Action Rifle

Price range: $300.00 through $550.00

Designed for the hunter or those who carry a bolt-action rifle for survival, this course has a strict focus on practical shooting skills. Students will be given an introduction to ballistics, rifle setup, zeroing options, shooting positions, sling use, and much more. This course is grounded in real-world hunting scenarios and students will learn how to get the most out of their centerfire rifle.

Description

Bolt-Action Rifle Skills for Hunters

Practical Centerfire Rifle Training with Kevin Estela

Train with Kevin Estela, a nationally respected wilderness survival expert and firearms instructor, in this hands-on course designed specifically for hunters and anyone relying on a bolt–action rifle for hunting or backcountry survival. This course focuses entirely on practical shooting techniques rooted in real-world application—not theory.

Whether you’re pursuing big game in rugged terrain or preparing for self-reliance in remote areas, you’ll learn how to get the most out of your centerfire rifle through expert instruction and field-proven marksmanship.

What You’ll Learn in This Rifle Course for Hunters

This immersive, skill-focused training covers everything you need to shoot more effectively in unpredictable wilderness environments:

  • Ballistics & Trajectory Fundamentals
    Learn how environmental conditions, wind, elevation, and range impact your rifle’s performance and your shooting accuracy.

  • Rifle Setup and Zeroing for Field Accuracy
    Set up your bolt-action rifle for maximum reliability and dial in your zero to match real-world conditions.

  • Shooting Positions & Sling Use
    Practice stable shooting from various positions—standing, kneeling, prone—with and without sling support, just like you’d encounter while hunting in the field.

  • Practical Marksmanship Drills
    Engage in real-life application drills that build the skills you’ll need to place accurate shots when it matters most.

Why Take This Rifle Training Course?

Hunting in the wild doesn’t allow for do-overs. Every shot counts—and this course prepares you to make them confidently. Whether you’re an experienced hunter or just stepping up your game, this class improves your ability to ethically and effectively harvest game with your bolt–action rifle under real-world conditions.

About Kevin Estela

Kevin Estela is a highly respected survival and firearms instructor with years of experience training hunters, outdoorsmen, and military personnel. He brings a no-nonsense, field-first teaching style that’s rooted in practical experience—not just theory—helping students become sharper, more capable shooters in rugged terrain.

Course Highlights

  • Bolt-action rifle skills for hunters

  • Real-world centerfire marksmanship

  • Ballistics and environmental shooting factors

  • Rifle zeroing and setup

  • Shooting positions and sling stability

  • Survival marksmanship and gear application

  • Taught by expert instructor Kevin Estela

Course Overview

  • Course: Practical Bolt-Action Rifle
  • Location: TSU Mountain Camp near Cripple Creek, Colorado
  • Class starts: 9:00 AM.
  • Class ends: 5:00 PM.
  • Required arrival for check-in: 8:00 AM, one hour before class starts.

Instructor

Guest Instructor: Kevin Estela

Before You Arrive

Arrival and Directions

Colorado campus driving directions

Arrive by 8:00 AM for check-in. Class begins at 9:00 AM. Plan your drive so you are at the meeting location one hour before instruction begins.

Course Arrangements

Students enrolled in this course may remain on the training property overnight during the scheduled program. Students staying on the property provide their own shelter and sleeping equipment, using tents, tarps, hammocks, or primitive field shelters. Use of the training property overnight is limited to enrolled students and authorized program participants. Campsites are not independently rented or offered to the general public.

Students who prefer to stay off site can choose from multiple hotels and Airbnb rentals in the surrounding area. Cripple Creek is approximately a 15-minute drive from our location, and Woodland Park is approximately 30 minutes away. Students are responsible for arranging their own lodging and making reservations directly with their chosen provider. Please call or email us before the course if you have questions about overnight arrangements.

Facilities

  • Sanitation/Hygiene: A porta potty restroom and potable water will be provided at the main camp

Food and Water

Water will be provided but students will need to bring their own food. We recommend quick field expedient meals such as freeze dried hiking meals or MRE’s. They can quickly be made at our primitive camps and won’t slow down the learning process. However, students may bring any food that they wish to cook over the campfire or on their own personal camp stove.

Food can be purchased locally at nearby facilities. Walmart and several local eateries are within a reasonable driving distance.

  • Food, water, and snacks for the day

What to Bring

We do not provide students with gear unless they have purchased it from us ahead of time. Not much gear is needed for our courses, though good equipment does speed the learning process up greatly! Gear does not have to be purchased from our store to attend the course, but we recommend survival gear of equivalent quality.

  • Clothing suitable for all weather conditions, including rain gear
  • Eye and ear protection
  • A zeroed bolt-action rifle in a centerfire cartridge, .243 caliber or larger
  • 100 rounds of ammunition (non-steel core, non-surplus)
  • Basic rifle maintenance kit, including cleaning supplies and adjustment tools
  • Notepad and writing materials (pens/pencils)

Clothing and Weather

Warm outdoor clothing, warm gloves and hat, outdoor boots and wool socks. Cotton clothing is highly discouraged in the mountains! Wool will keep you warm even when wet and synthetics will dry faster. Layers are important in Colorado. You will want a water wicking base layer, an insulating mid layer, and a waterproof breathable outer shell. Check out our Clothes Layering Basics if you are unsure of what to wear.

Course Notes

Due to the different levels of prior experience and knowledge among students in each class, individual outcomes may vary. Weather conditions can also be a factor in changing class content slightly. Nonetheless, our instructors will always endeavor to be as accommodating and consistent as circumstances will allow to ensure students get the best training experience and value for money.

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