The .300 SUPER WSM project garnered a lot of attention — and questions. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn sit down to address them. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on Instagram @vortexnationpodcast…

We loaded the Barnes 212 Gr LRX Bore Rider in a .300 WSM case. The result — impressive ballistics and payload on target at extended ranges. But what happens if we do the same thing with a .308 case? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn go back to the lab to explore the possibilities and hopefully begin unlocking another level of .308 Winchester potent…

Stalking rifle aficionado, Ian Klemm, stops by the studio with a handful of classic rifles bearing unique form factors — yet all falling under the moniker, “stalking rifle.” How can this be? Ryan Muckenhirn brings a beautiful rifle of his own, and Mark Boardman realizes he’s been hunting modern-day stalking rifles nearly his whole life. Tune in for…

Mike and Patrick discuss the status of various turkey research projects and talk about spring hunting seasons, gobbling data and wild turkey genetics. THP MERCH: https://bit.ly/30ZC1rm - Get 10% off THP Merch w/Code ZACH OPTICS - 10% off Vortex Optics w/code THP10 - https://bit.ly/3AOdKDQ TURKEY CALLS - Get 10% off Woodhaven Calls w/coupon code - T…

One turkey call for the rest of your life is one of the scariest scenarios ever conceived. The gang unites like a pack of Jakes to tackle this tough question. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on Instagram @vortexnationpodcast…

Wisconsin Conservation Warden, Michael Burns, joins the podcast to chat about the profession, myths (you still have time to hunt), exciting cases, and how you can become a Conservation Warden yourself. If you’ve ever considered the profession, give this podcast a listen. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics …

Want to hunt big game in UT? License and tag price increases may have you thinking twice. Huntin’ Fool’s Austin Atkinson joins Mark Boardman to talk through the 2025 changes, how UT distributes tags, and what your application strategy should look like moving forward. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'…

Your barrel may still have life in it. A hard carbon ring could be your accuracy culprit. Ian Klemm drops in to drop knowledge on this hot topic. Identification, to prevention and removal, Ian covers it all. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on…

Bonded bullets blend bone-crushing, deep-driving, and high-weight-retention performance with some of the raciest profiles going. We shot 6 of the most popular through deer shoulder blades. The results are in. Listen as Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn recap how each did and get their take on the projectiles tested. As always, we want to hear your …

In this episode, Zach and Aaron talk about hunting turkeys during the early season when the gobbling frequency is low. They discuss some of the things they have learned and how they approach it differently than late season turkey hunting. Topics Include: -hunting turkeys that aren't gobbling -using sign to pattern flocks of turkeys -listening for o…

Ryan Muckenhirn drops by the podcast studio to tell us how he’s dropped into your next riflescope. Vortex’s new Muck-E AI technology puts Ryan’s knowledge and expertise inside your optic. The future is now everybody. Buckle up. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ pod…

Barrel finish is a key feature on any rifle and one you should pay attention to. But what’s the difference between each type? Matt Pederson from Pederson Precision stops by to break it down for us. Tune in to find out which barrel finish is right for you. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like cover…

No, that’s not a typo in the title. Spring Bear hunting out west can require specialized gear and considerations — one of those considerations being pesky, bloodsucking, disease-carrying, ticks. In this podcast, expert hunter, guide, and Live Wild podcast host, Remi Warren, stops by to give us nuanced spring bear hunting information you can take to…

Expert reloaders Ian Klemm and Scott Parks unite in this podcast all about bullet seating depth and jump. If you’re looking for insight and opinion on the finer points of these reloading variables from a couple guys who have been there and done that with credentialed success, look no further. Sit back and relax as they jump in, jam out, hit their g…

Once again, Mark is throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks, Jimmy is being Jimmy, and Ryan is dipping into his thesaurus-like encyclopedia of knowledge to rack up points with reckless abandon. Bringing back extinct animals to alien introductions, this episode is a saucy one…spaghetti sauce that is. As always, we want to hear your fe…

John Lazzeroni blazed a trail for a new generation of “Magnum Mania” with his high stepping, hard hitting, and incredibly impressive cartridges. Catchy names like .782 Warbird, .721 Firehawk, and 6.57 Scramjet denote the single premise they were built on — velocity. The numbers his cartridges attain don’t lie. Tune in as Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilt…

Enter the Fully Loaded Full Foliage Gun Giveaway here! Silencer Central founder Brandon Maddox drops by for an in-depth discussion on the company, their model, tools they’ve developed to make getting a suppressor a headache-free process suppressor types, and more. If you’re interested in suppressors, don’t miss this podcast! As always, we want to h…

Ben Dettamanti, aka Shed Crazy, drops in to shed some light on his 50-state antler extravaganza and new regulations surrounding the ever-more popular practice of picking up antlers. Tine in for a fun conversation with the most shedicated guy we know. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on…

5 days of shooting, approximately 30 stages, all while representing your country — the World Shotgun Shoot happens every 3 years and is the Olympics of action shotgun shooting. Vortex’s Reuben Aleckson and Adam Maxwell give a detailed rundown of the event and how you can qualify to represent the USA at the next one. As always, we want to hear your …

Big game application season is in full swing. Two months into the new year, several deadlines have already come and gone. Austin Atkinson from Huntin' Fool hits us with tag draw tips and strategies to get you in the game – literally. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Natio…

The Ruger Model 44 is a fast, handy, lightweight, carbine in 44 Mag. Perfect for brush busting, deer drives and even defensive work, what’s not to like? Nothing from 1961 to 1985. So, what changed? The gang is back together chatting all about this super cool rifle, a few of its cousins, and if it has a place in our modern world. As always, we want …

Getting your scope level is a critical component of the mounting process. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn demonstrate the reverse projection method to get perfect level. This process is illuminating and the gravity of the result it yields cannot be overstated. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd lik…

After hitting the range and shooting the 17 HMR and 22 Mag into gel, all signs point to a clear winner. So why are the guys still perplexed as to which one they’d select? Tune in as they break down the results. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us…

Sheep hunting, getting lucky enough to draw a tag, and having the financial means to book a hunt with an outfitter are all difficult. Mark Boardman grabs Huntin’ Fool’s Austin Atkinson to discuss all these things ­­ — including how you can get the chance to win the entire North American Sheep Slam. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us k…

Vortex took a dedicated, intentional, and problem-solving shotgun approach to the Viper Shotgun Dot. And it worked. Sitting incredibly low for optimal cheek weld with a fully enclosed emitter, this optic is ready to take on all your shot-gunning needs. Tune in to hear about your next shotgun sight. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us k…

Mike Chamberlain, aka “The Wild Turkey Doc,” is back talking about the plight of the wild turkey, fascinating research, and what people who care about these amazing birds can do to help. Mike is a top research biologist in his field and has been studying wild turkeys for more than 30 years. As a hunter, his passion for these birds is personal and p…

Offspring of the .308, like so many great cartridges, the .358 Win offers big bullet performance in a compact package. What’s not to like? Nothing if shooting distance is moderate — particularly on critters where a large hole and increased structural damage fall firmly in the plus category. So why does this cartridge gasp for air like a trout tosse…

Vortex’s Paul Neess has hunted South Africa multiple times. He stops in to share his knowledge, experience, and perspective. Travel to taxidermy, we cover it all. Tune in for great tips so you can plan your South Africa Safari. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ pod…

Ryan’s 6mm ARC made meat this year and did so with gusto. If you tuned into the podcast on his Howa Carbon Stalker or the 6mm ARC Terminal Test episode of Cartridge Talks, you’re familiar with the tools he was working with. If you didn’t, check them out. Now, listen as Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn recount how his rig performed on two successfu…

Introduced in 1936, Winchester’s Model 70 is one of the most iconic rifle series ever created. Winchester still makes a plethora of variants to this day — a testament to its greatness. Many folks wouldn’t consider owning anything different. Ryan Muckenhirn brings in a pre-64 in Jack O’Conner’s beloved .270 and Mark Boardman a recently procured .375…

The gang’s back at it debating Big Foot, Area 51, the moon landing, and more. Who makes the strongest arguments? Are they right? Will they mysteriously disappear shortly after recording? Watch to find out…watch your back if you get too close to the truth. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like cover…

Mark Boardman grabs an AR and Ryan Muckenhirn to walk through a simple and effective way to get a solid boresight on AR platform rifles. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on Instagram @vortexnationpodcast…

Elk Hoof Disease is a painful, debilitating affliction that reduces an affected elk’s ability to forage and evade predators. Significant prevalence in southwest Washington and confirmed cases in other states have prompted researchers to take it seriously. Dr. Margaret A. Wild, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Professor in the Department of Veter…

Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn recap the second year of their Wisconsin deer camp. Fun hunt, four deer down, and fantastic farm-fresh food. Tune in to hear all about it. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on Instagram @vortex…

Shoot first and review later. Mark Boardman grabs Vortex’sChris Urrutia (Vortex Edge® shooting instructor), Adam Maxwell (high-level competitive shooter/Grandmaster), and Ian Klemm (F-Class National Champion) to find out what new gear they used in 2024. If you don’t want to miss, this podcast is one you don’t want to miss. As always, we want to hea…

Did Ryan Muckenhirn flip-flop his personal position on the puffy vest? Is he heavily invested in the puffy vest platform? Is he getting down with the down vest? Does he admit Mark Boardman has been right all along? Tune in to hear about his journey into the world of warm core, arms free, active insulation. As always, we want to hear your feedback! …

Is the .22 LR a viable self-defense solution? It’s incredibly popular and for a lot of folks might be the only rifle or pistol they have. With the right ammo, is it good enough to get the job done? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn chat with Jason Slinkard from CCI to answer this question and more. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us k…

Dustin Diefenderfer is back to help get you ready for the mountains. Tune in to get great fitness info and a look at the tools MTNTOUGH offers. Change your life and the outcome of your hunts with MTNTOUGH. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on I…

2024 is in the past, but what gear gets the nod for future hunts. Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Erik Barber highlight gear they used in 2024 that made a difference. Tune in for our annual “Gear in Review” podcast…Just make sure to hide your wallet from yourself. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us kn…

Big bullets, fits in the AR-10 platform, subsonic and supersonic loadings, an ultrafast twist rate — the 8.6 Blackout is a unique option for hunting and tactical applications. Cool? Yes. Fun? Yes. Effective? Yes. Did the world need it? The gang chats through this interesting cartridge to help answer that very question. As always, we want to hear yo…

You rarely hear about the .41 Remington Magnum. Why? Many say it’s the most versatile revolver cartridge ever created. How does this one get glossed over? Why doesn’t every revolver manufacturer have a robust line of models chambered for this capable and shootable cartridge? All good questions. Tune in to hear about the venerable .41 Rem Mag. As al…

The .30 Remington AR had everything going for it and everything going against it at the same time. Compare it to modern cartridges like .300 BLK, and it leaves one scratching their head as to why it just never took off. Timing is everything and the .30 RAR was ahead of its time. Tune in to hear about this cool cartridge few ever heard about. As alw…

The cartridge nobody asked for or had to have, the .243 WSSM was super short on perceivable performance advantages and super short lived. Was it the biggest lead-balloon cartridge of all time? Listen and decide for yourself. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcas…

Fast, flat, fits in an AR-15, great for long range shooting, an absolute predator pounder, and light recoiling. The 22 ARC lives up to its name of Advanced Rifle Cartridge. So, do you need one? Listen and find out. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by askin…

The gang is back from shooting gel out to 900 yards. Now it’s time to talk about their custom .300 WSM built entirely around the Barnes 212 grain LRX Bore Rider bullet. This project starts and ends with a bullet matched with a case and premium components, creating a perfect storm of long-range terminal performance. Is this the ultimate long range h…

This Christmas Eve, Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Jimmy Hamilton sit down for a question-and-answer sesh compliments of you. We dive into lots of great topics in this light-hearted and informative podcast for you, by you, and just in time for Christmas. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like c…

Vortex’s Mark Boardman, Erik Barber and Graham Cronin hit the December Whitetail woods in search of late-season success. Tune in for their stories, a few tips, and accounts from three different hunts. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on Instag…

Buckle up for a meatball-inspired episode of Spaghetti Shootout. That’s right, this week’s spaghetti order is loaded with extra meatballs. Old west wanted posters, pinky-up coffee drink doppelgangers, the modern weapon you’d fight WWI with and more. This is one you don’t want to miss! Can Mark take Ryan down for an unprecedented three wins in a row…

If your riflescope isn’t mounted correctly, your whole system is sunk. Mark Boardman grabs Ryan Muckenhirn and the tools needed to talk through mounting a riflescope in the podcast studio. Get the info you need to mount your riflescope the right way. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on…

Vortex’s in-house pistol professional, Adam Maxwell, talks revolvers and revolver competition. Revolvers are classic, cool, and effective for a wide variety of applications. Adam is a wealth of knowledge. Tune in for a great conversation on revolvers, revolver competition and Adam’s plans for this iconic platform. As always, we want to hear your fe…