Ever wonder how to pick just the right bullet to hunt with? This episode's for you. We take a deep dive into bullet construction and sectional density, and detail the performance of four different fundamental bullet types: 

1. Bullets for deer-size game
2. Bullets for elk- to moose-size game
3. Bullets for dangerous game
4. Bullets for pachyderms and for tracking wounded dangerous game

Plus we explain: 

• Sectional density
• How bullets mushroom (the mechanics)
• Temporary vs. permanent wound channels
• Energy as applied to terminal performance
• How bullets kill: 
  • Loss of blood
  • Loss of nervous-system function
  • Compromised vital organs

Before concluding, we suggest several different favorite bullet types, and wrap all the technical "bullet nerd" info into a simple, useful formula for picking the right hunting bullet for your task. ENJOY! 

 

BIG NEWS! We've just launched a YouTube channel. Our boy William (the ever-popular host of the Backcountry Apprentice segment) will be editing and publishing videos of our episodes. Please jump over to YouTube and give him a quick subscribe! Here's a link to make it easy:

https://www.youtube.com/@BackcountryHuntingPodcast

 

ALSO: We're at a crucial time in the growth of the show, and need all the support we can get to take it to the next level. Please join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry where you'll get access to all our bonus material and can contribute a few dollars.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE: 

www.onxmaps.com

www.barnesbullets.com

www.timneytriggers.com

https://www.portersfirearms.com/

www.browning.com

www.leupold.com

www.silencercentral.com

https://javelinbipod.com

www.gunwerks.com

www.siembidacustomknives.com

Is the .375 H&H still the most versatile cartridge in the world? Or is the .375 Ruger now a better choice? 

On the premise of picking just one cartridge to hunt everything from whitetail deer to elephant, we've chosen the two most likely candidates and pitted them against each other in this cartridge shootout-type episode. We consider: 

• Ballistic performance
• Inherent accuracy
• Available factory ammo
• Potential handloadability
• Available rifles/options/cost
• Rifle capacity & cartridge feeding charactistics
• Worldwide availability

Conclusion? You'll have to listen to find out! ENJOY! 

Also, BIG NEWS! We've just launched a YouTube channel. Our boy William (the ever-popular host of the Backcountry Apprentice segment) will be editing and publishing videos of our episodes. Please jump over to YouTube and give him a quick subscribe! Here's a link to make it easy:

https://www.youtube.com/@BackcountryHuntingPodcast

 

ALSO: We're at a crucial time in the growth of the show, and need all the support we can get to take it to the next level. Please join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry where you'll get access to all our bonus material and can contribute a few dollars.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE: 

www.browning.com

www.leupold.com

www.silencercentral.com

https://javelinbipod.com

www.onxmaps.com

www.barnesbullets.com

www.timneytriggers.com

https://www.portersfirearms.com/

www.gunwerks.com

www.siembidacustomknives.com

 

Survival gear? Elk cartridges? Shooting techniques? Long-range ethics? This episode has it all, thanks to our great reader's questions and comments. 

Also, BIG NEWS! We're launching a YouTube channel. Our boy William (the ever-popular host of the Backcountry Apprentice segment) will be editing and publishing videos of our episodes. Please jump over to YouTube and give him a quick subscribe! 

https://www.youtube.com/@BackcountryHuntingPodcast

 

FRIENDS! We're at a crucial time in the growth of the show, and need all the support we can get to take it to the next level. Please join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry where you'll get access to all our bonus material and can contribute a few dollars.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE: 

www.onxmaps.com

www.barnesbullets.com

www.timneytriggers.com

www.browning.com

www.leupold.com

www.silencercentral.com

https://www.portersfirearms.com/

www.gunwerks.com

www.siembidacustomknives.com

https://javelinbipod.com

These two new-fangled cartridges are arguably the best all-purpose hunting rounds introduced in the past 20 years. Which is best, 6.8 Western or 7 PRC? 

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the advantages of each cartridge, including: 

• Best effectiveness on a broad spectrum of non-dangerous game
• Adaptability for different types of terrain and hunting
• Which makes for the best mountain rifle
• Which is most efficient in short barrels for use with a suppressor
• Which has the least recoil for the performance provided
• How available factory rifles and ammo are for each
• How available brass and component bullets are for each

In the end, we draw some conclusions and give real-world scenarios showcasing situations in which each comes out superior. This one was fun, folks... ENJOY! 

 

FRIENDS! We're at a crucial time in the growth of the show, and need all the support we can get to take it to the next level. Please join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry where you'll get access to all our bonus material and can contribute a few dollars.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE: 

www.browning.com

www.silencercentral.com

www.leupold.com

www.siembidacustomknives.com

www.barnesbullets.com

www.timneytriggers.com

www.onxmaps.com

https://www.portersfirearms.com/

www.gunwerks.com

https://javelinbipod.com

Ever struggle to get a sharp edge on your hunting knife? This 20-minute tuturial walks step-by-step through the process of making your blade razor sharp. Plus, we discuss best benchtop sharpening stones and field stones. ENJOY! 

To watch the video of this episode, please join us on www.patreon.com/backcountry , where you'll get access to all our bonus content. 

Recorded at the recent Western Hunting & Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City, this episode digs into titanium as a suppressor material, as well as the cutting-edge new technology enabling manufacturers to make 3-D printed suppressors. Brandon Maddox of Silencer Central also gives us an inside look at the status of the E-Form system, and talks about a new conservation-driven bill that would direct funds from the $200 tax stamp required with every suppressor to benefit conservation. There's some terrific information here, folks. ENJOY! 

 

FRIENDS! We're at a crucial time in the growth of the show, and need all the support we can get to take it to the next level. Please join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry where you'll get access to all our bonus material and can contribute a few dollars.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE: 

www.silencercentral.com

https://javelinbipod.com

www.browning.com

www.barnesbullets.com

www.timneytriggers.com

www.leupold.com

www.onxmaps.com

https://www.portersfirearms.com/

www.gunwerks.com

www.siembidacustomknives.com

 

What emergency and survival gear should you have at base camp? Whether your base is a truck at the trailhead, or a big horse camp deep in wilderness country, you should have crucial backup gear and food there. 

This episode was inspired by a listener, and contains a list of what we consider important, from extra ammo or arrows to medical supplies—along with discussion of why and plenty of real-world stories of challenging experiences. ENJOY! 

 

FRIENDS! We're at a crucial time in the growth of the show, and need all the support we can get to take it to the next level. Please join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry where you'll get access to all our bonus material and can contribute a few dollars.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE: 

https://www.portersfirearms.com/

www.barnesbullets.com

www.timneytriggers.com

www.onxmaps.com

www.browning.com

www.silencercentral.com

www.gunwerks.com

www.leupold.com

www.siembidacustomknives.com

https://javelinbipod.com

This episode looks at three of the best replaceable-blade, ultralight folding hunting knives on the market: Havalon, Outdoor Edge, and Browning.    We believe every serious hunter should have a good traditional fixed-blade hunting knife and be good at sharpening it. However, there is a place for replaceable-blade knives. This discussion addresses what to pick and why. Plus, we share a couple of cautionary true stories—one that could have ended in death—of accidents with scalpel-sharp replaceable-blade knives.    ENJOY!    To see the knives showcased in the video of this episode, join us on www.patreon.com/backcountry. The $10 tier will get you access to all our member-exclusive videos and bonus content. And a HUGE thanks to those of you allready on board supporting the podcast—we can't thank you enough!

What sort of scope (or sights) will help you shoot most effectively when hunting big timber or brush country? 

This episode explores the characteristics of an optic that's ideal for fast, effective shooting inside 200 yards, and details several different scope, red dot, and iron sight models that work particularly well. 

ENJOY!

 

FRIENDS: We're at a crucial time in the growth of the show, and need all the support we can get to take it to the next level. Please join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry where you'll get access to all our bonus material and can contribute a few dollars.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE: 

www.browning.com

www.leupold.com

www.silencercentral.com

www.barnesbullets.com

www.timneytriggers.com

www.onxmaps.com

https://www.portersfirearms.com/

www.gunwerks.com

www.siembidacustomknives.com

https://javelinbipod.com

This episode showcases three terrific lever-action big game rifles. All are classic historic designs that were carried by frontiersmen; all are also still being produced! 

These three are big-bore versions suitable for hunting anything from deer to grizzlies. We'll follow up soon with an episode on top-notch .30-30 models ideal for deer and hog hunting. 

In order of appearance, here are links to the specific rifle models showcased here: 

  Winchester Model 1886 Short Rifle in .45-90 Win.    Marlin Model 1895 SBL in .45-70 Gov't.    Winchester Model 95 in .405 Win.    If you'd like to see the rifles, join us on www.patreon.com/backcountry, where you can see the film of this episode plus all our other bonus content.    ENJOY!