John Snow of Outdoor Life shares insights on modern cartridge design in this podcast interview, explaining why rounds like the 6.5 Creedmoor have a crucial edge.

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, host John McAdams welcomes John Snow, Outdoor Life’s shooting editor, for his first appearance on the show. They discuss modern cartridge design and focus on how the polarizing 6.5 Creedmoor embodies many of these design principles and how those characteristics distinguish the 6.5 Creedmoor from similarly performing cartridges like the 260 Remington and 6.5x55 Swede. They also discuss John Snow’s experiences with the cutting edge 7mm Backcountry and some of the pitfalls and potential game changing benefits of that brand new design.

The big takeaway? There's a reason why cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor are so popular and effective and it's not limited just to Hornady's aggressive and effective marketing (though that certainly plays a part too).

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Resources

Read John's article on Outdoor Life about Modern Cartridge Design here.

Follow John on Instagram @John_b_snow.

Tyler Freel shares insights on hunting big game with the 338 Lapua Magnum in this podcast interview, focusing on terminal performance, favorite loads, and recoil management.

Sponsor: Go to https://BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, host John McAdams sits down with Tyler Freel to explore the 338 Lapua Magnum—a cartridge renowned for its power and extended range performance. Unlike past discussions with Tyler on smaller rounds, this interview dives into the mighty 338 Lapua Magnum’s big game hunting potential. Tyler recounts how he first got hooked on the 338 Lapua, drawn by its long-range ballistics and ability to anchor massive animals like moose. He details a few instances of taking moose with a 285gr Hornady ELD Match (SD: 0.356) performed on moose at ranges from 200-550 yards.

Tyler compares the 338 Lapua to the 338 Win Mag and 300 PRC, noting its edge in energy retention, but also in recoil. On reloading, Tyler favors slow-burning powders like Retumbo, H1000, and RL-26 to achieve ~2,700 fps of muzzle velocity with 285-grain Hornady ELD Match bullets that slip gracefully through the air, but still perform incredibly well on even the biggest moose.

Tyler’s takeaway? The 338 Lapua isn’t for everyone, but it's a solid performer for use on really big game at extended range. Plus, it's tough to beat the cool factor that comes with this round!

Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!

Resources

Read Tyler's article on Outdoor Life about the 338 Lapua here.

Subscribe to Tyler's Tundra Talk Podcast here.

Follow Tyler on Instagram @thetylerfreel.

Ep 282: Grizzly Bear Hunting With A 6.5 Creedmoor?!? – Podcast referenced in episode

Ep 344: Moose Hunting With 22 ARC – Podcast referenced in episode

300 Win Mag vs 338 Lapua vs 338 Win Mag – Article related to episode

300 PRC vs 338 Lapua – Article related to episode

I have Gregg Ritz on the show with me again today to talk about the latest updates from Thompson/Center. T/C is literally shipping guns out the door right now and Gregg and I discuss the stuff that’s currently available, what other products will be shipping later this year, what other products are coming soon from the company, and what the future holds for Thompson/Center in 2026 and 2027.

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

Check out the Thompson/Center web site, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

How would you like it if you could find a hunting rifle that shoots accurately without an extensive barrel break-in, is lightweight and easy to carry, contains a bunch of premium features, and comes in at under $2,000? Well, the Bergara B-14 Squared Crest Carbon might just fit the bill in all of those areas. In this episode, I conduct a detailed analysis of the Bergara Crest Carbon where I tell you all about this rifle so you can make an informed decision regarding whether or not it fits your needs as a hunter.

Sign up here to receive a 10% off promo code for all products Bergara sells directly from their web site (to include, but not limited to, the Bergara Crest Carbon).

Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey by 23 March 2025 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Cabela’s gift card)

Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all my bonus material (including a larger 15% off Bergara discount code I provide to Patrons at the highest level of support) at www.patreon.com/biggamehunter 

Today we’re going to talk about two completely different rounds: the 45-70 Government and the 308 Winchester. Comparing these two cartridges is a great example of how a person who doesn’t know any better can get a wildly distorted view of how two cartridges compare to each other by simply looking at their performance on paper. We’ll discuss the overall design characteristics and performance specs of each round then compare how they stack up next to each other. I’ll also cover how they each perform in some ballistic gel tests and discuss the situations where each one excels.

Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey by 23 March 2025 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Cabela’s gift card)

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/Ebook and sign up to receive my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

45-70 vs 308: Comparing Oranges To Pineapples – Blog article referenced in podcast

Best Hunting Ear Protection For Sportsmen – Ear protection recommendations

Best Rifle Scopes For Hunting - Rifle scope recommendations

Best Hunting Rifle Slings - Rifle sling recommendations

Best 308 Hunting Ammo - 308 Winchester ammo recommendations

Best 45-70 Ammo For Hunting - 45-70 ammo recommendations

I got the chance to sit down with Hunter McWaters from The Hunter’s Quest in this episode. We discussed how he got interested in western hunting along with the story of a cool, horseback elk hunt he went on in Wyoming during 2024. Hunter lives in Virginia, so his tale may seem familiar to those of you who from that part of the country who are interested in breaking into the western hunting world.

Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Cabela’s gift card)

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/Ebook and sign up to receive my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

Follow Hunter McWaters on Instagram

Subscribe to Hunter's YouTube channel and check out the video of his New Mexico muzzleloader elk hunt

Episodes referenced:

Episode 162: Moose Hunting 101 With Joseph von Benedikt

Episode 130: Solo Caribou Hunting In Alaska With Joseph von Benedikt

Today we’re going to talk about two high octane 22 caliber centerfire cartridges: the 22-250 Remington and the 22 Creedmoor. We’ll discuss the overall design characteristics and performance specs of each round, then compare how they stack up next to each other. I’ll also cover how they each perform in some ballistic gel tests and discuss some interesting aspects of how they each performed at the range. 

Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey by 23 March 2025 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Cabela’s gift card)

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/Ebook and sign up to receive my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

22 Creedmoor vs 22-250 Remington: The Ultimate 22 Caliber Showdown – Blog article referenced in podcast

Best Hunting Ear Protection For Sportsmen – Ear protection recommendations

Best Rifle Scopes For Hunting - Rifle scope recommendations

Best Hunting Rifle Slings - Rifle sling recommendations

I have a few announcements to share with you on this unusual mid-week episode regarding our upcoming hunt for the military veteran we're conducting in June of 2025 and a special request for all listeners regarding future episodes.

See video of our previous veteran hunt here

Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Cabela's gift card)

Donate money for the veteran hunt via Venmo here (put "Matt" or "Veteran" in the memo section)

Donate money for the veteran hunt via PayPal here (put "Matt" or "Veteran" in the memo section)

I got the chance to sit down with Aaron Davidson from Gunwerks at the DSC convention in Atlanta and we discussed the ins and outs of bullet selection, external ballistics, and terminal performance. I felt like I was drinking from a firehose talking to Aaron, but he does a fantastic job of breaking down why he uses various bullets for certain situations, why he opts for certain shot placement with certain bullets, how various bullets behave differently with different impact velocities and shot placement, why Gunwerks offers certain bullets but not others in their ammo, what he thinks about the new 7mm Backcountry, and much more! And of course, he shares a couple of great stories to illustrate the points he makes as well.

Learn more about Gunwerks products on their web site, subscribe to their Long Range Pursuit Podcast, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/Ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

I discuss all of the 35 Caliber SAAMI standardized cartridges (plus a couple of other noteworthy rounds) in this episode. As always, I’ll talk about their history, design characteristics, performance specs, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. Where appropriate, I’ll also share some personal anecdotes involving these rounds as well as some observations involving various cartridges by noteworthy gun writers as well.

Cartridges covered: 348 Winchester, 357 Magnum, 35 WSL, 351 WSL, 35 Winchester, 350 Legend, 360 Buckhammer, 35 Remington, 356 Winchester, 358 Winchester, 350 Remington Magnum, 35 Whelen, 358 Norma Magnum, 350 Rigby, 35 Nosler

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/Ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material at www.patreon.com/biggamehunter 

Episode 286: 30 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 291: 270 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 297: 9.3mm and 375 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 300: 40 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 328: 25 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 329: 50, 60, & 70 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 338: 338 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 345: 7mm Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast