Episodes
Back from the range, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn continue their evaluation of the good old 30-30 Winchester. Uniquely original, a first in its class, and potent deer medicine, is this more-than-century old cartridge all (most) deer hunters need? With bullet-extracting tools in hand, they circle the wagons on the gel blocks and pull projectiles for the rest of the story.
Published 02/19/24
Comfort and comradery to saving your life, the ability to reliably start a fire under any circumstance mother nature can throw at you is imperative. Expert hunter and outdoorsman Remi Warren has started a lot of fires in a wide variety of conditions (all controlled and safely put out). Learn what he’s learned and practice fire starting when it doesn’t count — so it works when it does!
Published 02/13/24
There’s a lot going on and a lot you can do with the EBR-7D reticle, but you need to know how to use it. Vortex Edge® instructor Corey Eliasson drops by to break down the EBR-7D reticle. Extremely well thought out, every feature of this reticle has purpose and meaning. Tune in to hear all about it and decide for yourself.
Published 02/12/24
Fur prices are in the tank. Perfect! There’s never been a better time to hunt raccoons. Populations have boomed, they are plentiful, and these callable critters are fun to hunt. Mark Boardman, Erik Barber, and Ryan Muckenhirn aren’t professional coon hunters, but they share what they know in this podcast and make a pact to chase coons together before the season ends. Additionally, just because you’re not selling fur, doesn’t mean you can’t put it up for personal projects. And if...
Published 02/06/24
If you’ve ever fired a shot, you used gunpowder. This substance is integral to the ultimate function of every firearm and firearm discipline. Hunting, recreational shooting, self-defense, law enforcement, military conflict — gunpowder was there. It shaped our country, kept us alive, and keeps us safe today. But how much thought have you put into this nearly magical substance? Chris Hodgdon from the Hodgdon Powder Company joins Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn to chat about all things gunpowder.
Published 02/05/24
High-stepping .17’s, your good old .223, the lightning-fast 22-250, or the dog-anchoring .243? Which of these cartridges takes the coyote crown. Or is it another? Just about every cartridge has taken a coyote at one time or another, but what’s the best coyote cartridge and why? Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and in-house coyote connoisseur, Bill Krivanek, sit down to discuss this question. Do you agree with their reasoning? Tune in to find out.
Published 01/30/24
It’s time to go ballistic – GeoBallistics® that is. You can’t shoot long range without an accurate ballistic solution. The GeoBallistics app gives you that solution in an intuitive, easy-to-operate format. Accounts for all shot influencing variables with specific modes and features optimized for your shooting application. Integrates seamlessly with select Vortex products. Tune in if you’re interested in spot-on ballistic information and precision long-range shots.
Published 01/29/24
It’s open season on Mark and Ryan as Jim peppers them with questions. What is the animal we should open a season for? Is there a definitive answer when it comes to the best shotgun for bunny busting? As per usual, there’s a bunch of in-between antics and exchanges you won’t want to miss. Can Mark eke out a win or will Jim gun down his hopes of a victory with the push of a button? Tune in to find out.
Published 01/26/24
Welcome to a #10MinuteTalk about 5 shooting-themed 10-minute talks you should listen to — or listen to again. Pistol lights with Pete to how to shoot a pistol with Jerry Miculek, these podcasts are packed with good tips to make you a better shooter. Oh, and it’s approximately 1 hr. — pretty standard for a #10MinuteTalk.
Published 01/23/24
Varmints, to home defense and military applications, the .223 Remington and .300 AAC Blackout aren’t your typical deer cartridges. But in the right scenario, are they the perfect solution? And if so, which is better? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn took a couple blasters to the range and shot gel to find out. Here’s the rest of the story.
Published 01/22/24
Rifle stock combs come in an array of heights. Why? Because a rifle’s comb height can be helping or hurting your shooting. Tune in as Mark Boardman, Jim Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn talk through different comb height styles. Is your rifle set up, right? Tune in to find out.
Published 01/16/24
Gear is fun to research and use! With 2023 in the books, a few usual suspects at Vortex® get together to chat about new-for-them gear they ran, liked, and recommend. Tune in and plan on being a few dollars lighter after.
Published 01/15/24
Vortex® Venom® and Strike Eagle® series riflescopes are incredibly capable “tactical” optics. But what’s the difference and where do they shine? We’ll tell you, but you’re going to have to listen to find out!
Published 01/09/24
Fact: You can trick out an AR-15 with more accessories than any other rifle platform. But if you had to pick three, what would they be? Liam Ward and Chris Urrutia from Vortex® join Mark Boardman and Jimmy Hamilton to boil down the bare necessities of AR accessories. Did they get it right? What would you pick?
Published 01/08/24
Putting up huge numbers of coyotes pique your interest? Wade Chandler from Ally Outdoors and the Texas Predator Hunting Podcast joins Mark Boardman to chat about, you guessed it, Texas predator hunting. If you like hunting predators and haven’t hunted Texas, this podcast might have you planning a destination hunt to this predator paradise.
Published 01/02/24
Longstanding military service to Bruce Willis in the movie “Die Hard” (ok, technically a Beretta 92 for Bruce), the Beretta M9 has a storied history. This iconic pistol is as unique as it is effective. A full-size fighting handgun and classic by today’s standards, it is still incredibly practical and capable. Used and loved by many, there are some critiques. Tune in as we chat all about the Beretta M9, and what makes it one of the greats!
Published 01/01/24
1983 was a good year for a lot of things. Mobile phones, the first iteration of the internet, and most importantly, the .357 Maximum. This cartridge isn’t popular, but it needs to be. Is it better than newly introduced cartridges seeing wide-range acceptance? Is it 6 cartridges in one? Do we need to launch a campaign to bring it back? Tune in to find out.
Published 12/31/23
The .300 Win Mag is versatile as the day is long – maybe more. Whitetails to brown bears and even professional work in the Mil/LE space, the .300 Win Mag has been there and done that. And it has done it well. Is its 60’s era belt out of fashion? Ask its resume of incredible performance. You’ll get your answer. Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn dive into the .300 Win Mag. Finally!
Published 12/30/23
The 7mm rem mag fires slippery bullets around the magical 3000 fps mark. Sound like everything folks are prioritizing in today’s modern cartridges? Have we had the 7mm solution all this time? What are its merits and detractors? Why doesn’t Ryan like this long-standing, loved-by-many cartridge? Listen to find out.
Published 12/29/23
Synonymous with Africa’s dangerous game, double rifles, and more than 100 years old, the .470 Nitro Express is still a viable factory-loaded option. This thing doles out a licking and keeps on ticking. PH’s still bet their life on the effectiveness of the .470 Nitro. Tune in as we chat about this big-bore brute and what makes it so great!
Published 12/28/23
Why did the .350 Rem Mag (our first short magnum) fall flat – more than once? Was it the rifle? Was it the cartridge itself? Was the world not ready? Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn examine the .350 Remington and why it assuredly receives lead-balloon status.
Published 12/27/23
The bottlenecked 9x25mm Dillon pistol cartridge is incredibly interesting and has a cool backstory. Innovative, effective, yet relegated to the obscure by a simple rule change, this pistol round is worth knowing about. This one’s for you Carl Volt!
Published 12/26/23
We asked for your questions, you answered with your questions, and we answered the questions you asked. Mark Boardman, Jim Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn cover all manner of topics in this podcast dedicated to listeners and what you guys wanted to know. Satirical to technical, this was a fun one we apparently didn’t want to end because it went way too long.
Published 12/25/23
Spaghetti Shootout ugly-Christmas-sweater edition (sweater vest for Mark of course) ensues. Jim gives Mark “pity points” for Christmas, gets a couple gifts himself, and the guys verbally battle important topics like, Santa’s go-to gat. Can mark pull out a win or will he be crying in his hot cocoa? Tune in to find out.
Published 12/22/23
Fast, fun, and fantastic on the table, a brace of rabbits might be exactly what you need to spice up your hunting life — or get started on your hunting path. And you don’t need a dog to do it. Accomplished with minimal gear and best done with a few good buddies, it’s tough to beat a day of beating the brush for bunnies. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn talk through some tips to get you started.
Published 12/19/23