Vortex Nation Podcast

By Vortex Optics

What's Vortex Nation Podcast about?

Welcome to the Vortex Nation Podcast. Brought to you by lovers of hunting, shooting, public lands, the Second Amendment and dang good food.

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You Have One Handwarmer. Wh...

12.01.2023

The “Spaghetti Gang” is at it again – answering high energy questions of zero relevance. Will Mark find his slump buster, or once again fall victim to the all-mighty Muckenhirn. From the best outdoor infomercial, to bribery, cheese, and more, ...

Vortex Nation Podcast episodes:

12.01.2023 You Have One Handwarmer. Where Do You Stick It? \| Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 14 The “Spaghetti Gang” is at it again – answering high energy questions of zero relevance. Will Mark find his slump buster, or once again fall victim to the all-mighty Muckenhirn. From the best outdoor infomercial, to bribery, cheese, and more, ...
11.28.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Does Cryogenically Freezing Your Barrel Improve Performance? Cryogenically freezing barrels is a declared important step in some barrel manufacturers’ process. Entire services are available to cryo barrels for customers interested in accuracy, consistency and longer barrel life. Some say the process works wonders. Some say it’s a ...
11.27.2023 Ep. 315 \| "We Hunted the Entire Deer Season - Here's what we learned" ft. The Element Content creators and dedicated deer hunters, Tyler Jones, and K.C. Smith from The Element podcast detail their origin story, how they got linked up with the MeatEater crew, their multi-state Buck Truck deer hunting tour, and deer hunting lessons learned ...
11.21.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Peep This - Aperture Sights on Firearms and Muzzleloaders Aperture sights, commonly referred to as peep sights, are a fun and extremely accurate way to shoot an open-sighted rifle or muzzleloader. But why? What rifles do they marry well with? Mark Boardman, Jim Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn pull a ...
11.20.2023 Ep. 314 \| Hot Tent Camping – What You Need to Know That hot tent camping is SOOO hot right now (mild Zoolander movie reference). And for good reason. The ability to stay warm and get dry is critical for late-season hunts – or any hunt where inclement weather is a possibility. ...
11.14.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Red Dots on Hunting Rifles? Close quarters, fast shots, moving targets, dynamic situations, shooting with both eyes open and a high-level need for rapid target acquisition. Sound like a “tactical environment”? Could be, but it’s not. You’re on a driven hog hunt in Spain or ...
11.13.2023 Ep. 313 \| 7mm Rem Mag vs 7mm PRC — Is the King Dead? The king of the 7mm’s for decades, the 7mm Rem Mag has a reputation for performance and long-range authority. But with the rise of the 7mm PRC, is the king dead? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn dive deep into their ...
11.07.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Plant Brush — Save Mule Deer Mule deer are amazing critters. Sage brush and bitter brush are critical components of their habitat. Some areas need more to keep herds and ecosystems in optimal condition. Mark Boardman sits down with Brian McElrea from HUSH to chat about ...
11.06.2023 Ep. 312 \| Giving Back to Those Who Give so Much – Special Ops Xcursions Special Ops Xcursions (SOX) provides high quality/much needed outdoor experiences to active special ops personnel and their families. This work is critically important, life changing, and even life saving. Tune in as Scott Graves gives us the rundown on this ...
11.01.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Honoring Our Nation’s War Dogs and their Handlers — The US War Dogs Association America’s 4-legged heroes and their hero handlers need support after they retire. Enter the US War Dogs Association! This organization takes on the significant financial burden of caring for war dogs who served our country. Dogs who saved the lives ...
10.31.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Night Vision — Is it Worth it? Night Vision: It’s a crazy superpower instrumental in the success of our modern warfighters, looks cool in movies, and elevates the night hunting and shooting experience. Mounted to your face or rifle, there’s no question it is insanely awesome. Is ...
10.30.2023 Ep. 311 \| The Impact® 4000 Ballistic Rail-Mounted Laser Rangefinder — Change Your Shooting Life The Impact® 4000 Ballistic Rail-Mounted Laser Rangefinder. The name says a lot but doesn’t say it all. Vortex’s Tucker Schmidt and Nick Blough (credentialed shooters to say the least) join the podcast to expound on the game-changing capabilities of this ...
10.27.2023 Best Lie to Go Hunting? \| Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 13 Do nice guys finish last? Find out as Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn assign each other a gas station identity, determine if HEYDUDE’s or Crocs are the best camp shoe, test friendships with hunting spot betrayal, and fabricate lies to ...
10.24.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Seek One's Gear and Deer Tactics Revealed Lee Ellis and Drew Carroll from Seek One dump gear and deer knowledge in this tip-rich podcast “geared” toward getting you your next big buck. These guys are insanely dialed and meticulously detail oriented. Their track record for killing giants ...
10.23.2023 Ep. 310 \| 31 Species of Deer? “You sure about that?” “You sure about that?” According to some, we have 31 species of deer to chase in North America. Is that true? Mark Boardman joins Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Biologist Jim Heffelfinger to find out. Jim is a passionate deer expert, has written books ...
10.17.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Ryan Muckenhirn’s Howa Carbon Stalker – 6mm ARC Is it an impulse buy when you’ve been looking for a specific style of rifle for a while, then buy it the second you think you found it? Ask Ryan Muckenhirn as he walks us through his brand spanking new ...
10.16.2023 Ep. 309 \| 350 Legend vs 450 Bushmaster — Total Domination from the 350 Legend? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn sit down to pull bullets and further evaluate their 350 Legend and 450 Bushmaster gel-shooting results. Do they do their signature flip-flopping, or does the data hold up in their cartridge court? Find out right ...
10.10.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Zero Your Riflescope in 3 Shots or Less? A solid riflescope zero doesn’t have to burn tons of ammo, bruise your shoulder, and take up your entire day. It can be a simple, clean, and efficient process. With a little prework, the right tools, and confident shooting, a ...
10.09.2023 Ep. 308 \| I Waterboarded My Rangefinder – Ft. MeatEater’s Clay Newcomb Host of MeatEater’s Bear Grease Podcast, Clay Newcomb joins Mark Boardman to recount an unorthodox but effective coastal bear hunt, bear hunting in general, owning Bear Hunting Magazine, how he ended up at MeatEater as part of their all-star cast ...
10.03.2023 #10MinuteTalk - 2023 Budget Rifle Roundup – Sub $700 Rifles You Can Bank On Accurate, reliable, and economical hunting rifles are produced by nearly every major rifle manufacturer these days. Consumers are reaping the benefits of modern materials and production techniques. Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Jimmy Hamilton talk through 7 sub $700 models ...
10.02.2023 Ep. 307 \| Pro Picks: Build the Ultimate Long-Range Kit Professional military sniper, private sector Vortex Edge® instructor, and long-range shooting competition enthusiast, Corey Eliasson, has the experience to build a sleek long-range system that flat out works. His kit is no frills, all business, and meticulously thought out. He’s ...
09.29.2023 If Texas was a Firearm? \| Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 12 Mark comes out of the gate hot, Ryan desperately resorts to “your mom jokes”, we turn Texas into a firearm, Jimmy gets a mohawk, and more. Will Mark break his tradition-like losing streak or burn up like a star entering ...
09.26.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays – What’s the Diff? Insanely fun, accessible, low recoil, all ages welcome, and as casual or competitive as you want to make it — the shotgun shooting sports are king for these reasons and more. But what’s the difference between trap, skeet, and sporting ...
09.25.2023 Ep. 306 \| Making Sense of Broadheads with the Ranch Fairy Mark Boardman sits down with Troy Fowler (The Ranch Fairy) to make sense of broadheads, how they work, things to consider, how to tune your arrows to shoot with broadheads, and more. They navigate a windy conversational path to get ...
09.19.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Lead Balloon: The .338 Federal It’s time for another of Ryan Muckenhirn’s “Lead Balloon’s.” On paper the .338 Federal checks a lot of boxes hunters look for in a cartridge. Alas, it didn’t make a lot of paper for rifle and ammunition manufactures. As with ...
09.18.2023 Ep. 305 \| .300 Win Mag vs .308 – Do You Need One or Both? Will the .308 do everything you need? Do you need the raw horsepower of a .300 Win Mag to get the job done? Or do you need both? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn chat through their gel-shooting results, extract, examine, ...
09.12.2023 #10MinuteTalk - How to Choose a Spotting Scope Your style of hunting, terrain, hunt goals, the critters you chase, and more can affect your spotting scope selection. Size, weight, magnification, angled vs. straight configuration, optical quality — Mark Boardman and Paul Neess sit down to give you spot-on ...
09.11.2023 Ep. 304 \| Barrel Burnout – Does it Exist? Barrel burnout is often a big consideration for folks when selecting a cartridge. But is it as big a deal as it’s made out to be? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn discuss barrel burnout, who should it matter to, how ...
09.05.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Remi’s Favorite Spotter Just Got Updated The Razor® HD 13-39x56 spotting scope is the perfect example of, “Big things come in small packages.” It’s also Remi Warren’s favorite spotting scope. Listen to Mark Boardman and Remi talk about his extensive use of its predecessor, the incredible ...
09.04.2023 Ep. 303 \| Remi Warren’s Secrets to Finding Elk Finding elk is the most critical component of the elk hunting equation. Nothing else really matters if you can’t locate these dang things. Renowned elk hunter, guide, content creator, and all-around great guy, Remi Warren, runs through his secret tips ...
08.29.2023 #10MinuteTalk - The Ruger Precision Rifle – How Good Can It Be? Modestly priced, the Ruger RPR’s performance is anything but. In fact, it’s a standout. There was a time at Vortex when it seemed a new RPR would show up daily. The accuracy, performance and price were simply too good not ...
08.28.2023 Ep. 302 \| Choosing the Right Reticle Life can be complex. Choosing a reticle shouldn’t be. Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton, and Nick Laufenberg dive into hunting reticles. From simple plex, to more detailed first focal plane reticles with mrad or moa hashmarks and a windage tree in ...
08.25.2023 Rifle vs. Bow — Who’s the better hunter? \| Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 11 Spaghetti Shootout is back for season two and better than ever. With Jimmy Hamilton at the helm of this meatball-packed episode, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn debate audience submitted topics — most of which are frankly, a little weird. Can ...
08.22.2023 Ep. 301 \| Alaska Hunt Planning – Layered as Your Clothing System Hunting Alaska is logistically complex. Its location, remoteness, varied terrain, modes of transportation and bears add extra layers to the hunt planning process. Mark Boardman, Erik Barber, and Sawer Briel from Vortex, along with Brad Brooks from Argali, use their ...
08.21.2023 Ep. 300 \| Untold: Alders to Alpine — The Rest of the Story Crazy terrain, giant bears, extreme weather, lots of shooting, big bucks, bonking out, and a little barf — this hunt had it all. Listen to the Vortex crew to get the behind-the-scenes story of their epic Kodiak Island Sitka blacktail ...
08.15.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Archery and Hunter Education Under Federal Attack Federal funding for school-based archery and hunter education programs has been eliminated. Why? Good question. Mark grabs the Archery Trade Association’s Dan Forester to give us the backstory, along with steps you can take to help. These programs are profoundly ...
08.14.2023 Ep. 299 \| 30-06 Springfield vs .270 Winchester — The Superior Deer Cartridge Is? For years there was one cartridge question a deer hunter had to ask themselves. .270 or 30-06? Both have strong merits. Is there a right answer? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn sent rounds down range into gel to tackle this ...
08.08.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Is Your Bow Hunt Ready? There’s nothing worse than attempting to dial in your bow at the last minute. Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Erik Barber tackle a pre-season checklist to help ensure you have stories about the one that didn’t get away.
08.07.2023 Ep. 298 \| Prepping for War — On a Budget? Prepping for war on a budget. Is that even possible? Mark Boardman and Jimmy Hamilton seek the answer to this question with the help of Vortex Edge® instructors, Justin Lipska and Mike Griffin. These guys have seen some things and ...
08.01.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Hunt Ready: A Rifle Checklist Rundown A hunt-ready rifle ensures optimal performance and rock-solid confidence when the moment of truth arrives. There are several things you can check to make sure your prince of projectile precision is ready for the field this year. Some of which ...
07.31.2023 Ep. 297 \| Small Versus Large Rifle Primers - Part II The small versus large rifle primer experiment continues. Ammo was loaded, the weather machine engaged, and rounds sent down range. What did the boys see regarding accuracy, velocity, and reliability? Listen and watch to find out.
07.25.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Advantages to Using Small Rifle Primers? Maybe. A curious observation leads to multiple hypotheses and an interesting discussion on small rifle primer use in intermediate cartridges like the .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor. Could there be an advantage to bucking the trend and using small rifle primers? ...
07.24.2023 Ep. 296 \| White Deer – Should They Get Special Treatment? Some states protect albino deer, white deer, and in some instances partially white deer – prohibiting take during legal hunting seasons. Should that be the case? Most states treat white deer like any other deer. What makes white deer so ...
07.18.2023 #10MinuteTalk - How to Choose a Tripod “Team Tripod” is back. Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Paul Neess talk tripods and what a person may want to consider when making their selection. They cover lever locks, twist locks, heads, height, shooting, personal preferences, and at-release of this ...
07.17.2023 Ep. 295 \| Forever Wolf Hunt Ban? A forever ban on wolf hunting in Minnesota seems preposterous and counterintuitive to any semblance of sound wildlife management, but that’s exactly what was on the table for Minnesota residents. Lucky for all hunters, organizations like the Sportsmen’s Alliance stand ...
07.11.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Life Changing Impacts – The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation Chris Hodgdon from the Hodgdon Powder Company Joins Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn to chat about the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) and the incredible impact it has on youths who participate. This organization develops character as much as it ...
07.10.2023 Ep. 294 \| Cartridge Talks — .30-06 Springfield Vs .308 Winchester. Unpacking a Controversial Result! The 30-06 Springfield and .308 Winchester — two cartridges that have been to war, go to war in this 30-Cal. competition for ages. Shots have been fired and results tallied. But does that tell the whole story? Mark Boardman and ...
07.04.2023 #10MinuteTalk - The 1766 Charleville – America’s Original Battle Rifle Happy Independence Day. In honor of this holiday, freedom, and the brave American’s who stood up against tyranny, we discuss the rifle they used to do it - the 1766 Charleville. This smoothbore flintlock was instrumental in gaining our independence. ...
07.03.2023 Ep. 293 \| Barrel Length – Does Size Really Matter? Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn and Taylor Meyers debate barrel length and its effect on the overall experience…the shooting experience. What do you truly gain or lose as you increase/decrease barrel length. From a 7.5-inch SBR to a 26-inch pipe built ...
06.27.2023 #10MinuteTalk - The .444 Marlin – Big Lead Slinger or Lead Balloon? How did the most powerful straight-wall cartridge of its time become nearly a thing of the past? Where the heck does the .444 designation even come from when there’s nothing .44 about it? Find out as we discuss this impressive ...

Older episodes

12.01.2023 You Have One Handwarmer. Where Do You Stick It? \| Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 14 The “Spaghetti Gang” is at it again – answering high energy questions of zero relevance. Will Mark find his slump buster, or once again fall victim to the all-mighty Muckenhirn. From the best outdoor infomercial, to bribery, cheese, and more, ...
11.28.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Does Cryogenically Freezing Your Barrel Improve Performance? Cryogenically freezing barrels is a declared important step in some barrel manufacturers’ process. Entire services are available to cryo barrels for customers interested in accuracy, consistency and longer barrel life. Some say the process works wonders. Some say it’s a ...
11.27.2023 Ep. 315 \| "We Hunted the Entire Deer Season - Here's what we learned" ft. The Element Content creators and dedicated deer hunters, Tyler Jones, and K.C. Smith from The Element podcast detail their origin story, how they got linked up with the MeatEater crew, their multi-state Buck Truck deer hunting tour, and deer hunting lessons learned ...
11.21.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Peep This - Aperture Sights on Firearms and Muzzleloaders Aperture sights, commonly referred to as peep sights, are a fun and extremely accurate way to shoot an open-sighted rifle or muzzleloader. But why? What rifles do they marry well with? Mark Boardman, Jim Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn pull a ...
11.20.2023 Ep. 314 \| Hot Tent Camping – What You Need to Know That hot tent camping is SOOO hot right now (mild Zoolander movie reference). And for good reason. The ability to stay warm and get dry is critical for late-season hunts – or any hunt where inclement weather is a possibility. ...
11.14.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Red Dots on Hunting Rifles? Close quarters, fast shots, moving targets, dynamic situations, shooting with both eyes open and a high-level need for rapid target acquisition. Sound like a “tactical environment”? Could be, but it’s not. You’re on a driven hog hunt in Spain or ...
11.13.2023 Ep. 313 \| 7mm Rem Mag vs 7mm PRC — Is the King Dead? The king of the 7mm’s for decades, the 7mm Rem Mag has a reputation for performance and long-range authority. But with the rise of the 7mm PRC, is the king dead? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn dive deep into their ...
11.07.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Plant Brush — Save Mule Deer Mule deer are amazing critters. Sage brush and bitter brush are critical components of their habitat. Some areas need more to keep herds and ecosystems in optimal condition. Mark Boardman sits down with Brian McElrea from HUSH to chat about ...
11.06.2023 Ep. 312 \| Giving Back to Those Who Give so Much – Special Ops Xcursions Special Ops Xcursions (SOX) provides high quality/much needed outdoor experiences to active special ops personnel and their families. This work is critically important, life changing, and even life saving. Tune in as Scott Graves gives us the rundown on this ...
11.01.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Honoring Our Nation’s War Dogs and their Handlers — The US War Dogs Association America’s 4-legged heroes and their hero handlers need support after they retire. Enter the US War Dogs Association! This organization takes on the significant financial burden of caring for war dogs who served our country. Dogs who saved the lives ...
10.31.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Night Vision — Is it Worth it? Night Vision: It’s a crazy superpower instrumental in the success of our modern warfighters, looks cool in movies, and elevates the night hunting and shooting experience. Mounted to your face or rifle, there’s no question it is insanely awesome. Is ...
10.30.2023 Ep. 311 \| The Impact® 4000 Ballistic Rail-Mounted Laser Rangefinder — Change Your Shooting Life The Impact® 4000 Ballistic Rail-Mounted Laser Rangefinder. The name says a lot but doesn’t say it all. Vortex’s Tucker Schmidt and Nick Blough (credentialed shooters to say the least) join the podcast to expound on the game-changing capabilities of this ...
10.27.2023 Best Lie to Go Hunting? \| Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 13 Do nice guys finish last? Find out as Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn assign each other a gas station identity, determine if HEYDUDE’s or Crocs are the best camp shoe, test friendships with hunting spot betrayal, and fabricate lies to ...
10.24.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Seek One's Gear and Deer Tactics Revealed Lee Ellis and Drew Carroll from Seek One dump gear and deer knowledge in this tip-rich podcast “geared” toward getting you your next big buck. These guys are insanely dialed and meticulously detail oriented. Their track record for killing giants ...
10.23.2023 Ep. 310 \| 31 Species of Deer? “You sure about that?” “You sure about that?” According to some, we have 31 species of deer to chase in North America. Is that true? Mark Boardman joins Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Biologist Jim Heffelfinger to find out. Jim is a passionate deer expert, has written books ...
10.17.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Ryan Muckenhirn’s Howa Carbon Stalker – 6mm ARC Is it an impulse buy when you’ve been looking for a specific style of rifle for a while, then buy it the second you think you found it? Ask Ryan Muckenhirn as he walks us through his brand spanking new ...
10.16.2023 Ep. 309 \| 350 Legend vs 450 Bushmaster — Total Domination from the 350 Legend? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn sit down to pull bullets and further evaluate their 350 Legend and 450 Bushmaster gel-shooting results. Do they do their signature flip-flopping, or does the data hold up in their cartridge court? Find out right ...
10.10.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Zero Your Riflescope in 3 Shots or Less? A solid riflescope zero doesn’t have to burn tons of ammo, bruise your shoulder, and take up your entire day. It can be a simple, clean, and efficient process. With a little prework, the right tools, and confident shooting, a ...
10.09.2023 Ep. 308 \| I Waterboarded My Rangefinder – Ft. MeatEater’s Clay Newcomb Host of MeatEater’s Bear Grease Podcast, Clay Newcomb joins Mark Boardman to recount an unorthodox but effective coastal bear hunt, bear hunting in general, owning Bear Hunting Magazine, how he ended up at MeatEater as part of their all-star cast ...
10.03.2023 #10MinuteTalk - 2023 Budget Rifle Roundup – Sub $700 Rifles You Can Bank On Accurate, reliable, and economical hunting rifles are produced by nearly every major rifle manufacturer these days. Consumers are reaping the benefits of modern materials and production techniques. Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Jimmy Hamilton talk through 7 sub $700 models ...
10.02.2023 Ep. 307 \| Pro Picks: Build the Ultimate Long-Range Kit Professional military sniper, private sector Vortex Edge® instructor, and long-range shooting competition enthusiast, Corey Eliasson, has the experience to build a sleek long-range system that flat out works. His kit is no frills, all business, and meticulously thought out. He’s ...
09.29.2023 If Texas was a Firearm? \| Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 12 Mark comes out of the gate hot, Ryan desperately resorts to “your mom jokes”, we turn Texas into a firearm, Jimmy gets a mohawk, and more. Will Mark break his tradition-like losing streak or burn up like a star entering ...
09.26.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays – What’s the Diff? Insanely fun, accessible, low recoil, all ages welcome, and as casual or competitive as you want to make it — the shotgun shooting sports are king for these reasons and more. But what’s the difference between trap, skeet, and sporting ...
09.25.2023 Ep. 306 \| Making Sense of Broadheads with the Ranch Fairy Mark Boardman sits down with Troy Fowler (The Ranch Fairy) to make sense of broadheads, how they work, things to consider, how to tune your arrows to shoot with broadheads, and more. They navigate a windy conversational path to get ...
09.19.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Lead Balloon: The .338 Federal It’s time for another of Ryan Muckenhirn’s “Lead Balloon’s.” On paper the .338 Federal checks a lot of boxes hunters look for in a cartridge. Alas, it didn’t make a lot of paper for rifle and ammunition manufactures. As with ...
09.18.2023 Ep. 305 \| .300 Win Mag vs .308 – Do You Need One or Both? Will the .308 do everything you need? Do you need the raw horsepower of a .300 Win Mag to get the job done? Or do you need both? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn chat through their gel-shooting results, extract, examine, ...
09.12.2023 #10MinuteTalk - How to Choose a Spotting Scope Your style of hunting, terrain, hunt goals, the critters you chase, and more can affect your spotting scope selection. Size, weight, magnification, angled vs. straight configuration, optical quality — Mark Boardman and Paul Neess sit down to give you spot-on ...
09.11.2023 Ep. 304 \| Barrel Burnout – Does it Exist? Barrel burnout is often a big consideration for folks when selecting a cartridge. But is it as big a deal as it’s made out to be? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn discuss barrel burnout, who should it matter to, how ...
09.05.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Remi’s Favorite Spotter Just Got Updated The Razor® HD 13-39x56 spotting scope is the perfect example of, “Big things come in small packages.” It’s also Remi Warren’s favorite spotting scope. Listen to Mark Boardman and Remi talk about his extensive use of its predecessor, the incredible ...
09.04.2023 Ep. 303 \| Remi Warren’s Secrets to Finding Elk Finding elk is the most critical component of the elk hunting equation. Nothing else really matters if you can’t locate these dang things. Renowned elk hunter, guide, content creator, and all-around great guy, Remi Warren, runs through his secret tips ...
08.29.2023 #10MinuteTalk - The Ruger Precision Rifle – How Good Can It Be? Modestly priced, the Ruger RPR’s performance is anything but. In fact, it’s a standout. There was a time at Vortex when it seemed a new RPR would show up daily. The accuracy, performance and price were simply too good not ...
08.28.2023 Ep. 302 \| Choosing the Right Reticle Life can be complex. Choosing a reticle shouldn’t be. Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton, and Nick Laufenberg dive into hunting reticles. From simple plex, to more detailed first focal plane reticles with mrad or moa hashmarks and a windage tree in ...
08.25.2023 Rifle vs. Bow — Who’s the better hunter? \| Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 11 Spaghetti Shootout is back for season two and better than ever. With Jimmy Hamilton at the helm of this meatball-packed episode, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn debate audience submitted topics — most of which are frankly, a little weird. Can ...
08.22.2023 Ep. 301 \| Alaska Hunt Planning – Layered as Your Clothing System Hunting Alaska is logistically complex. Its location, remoteness, varied terrain, modes of transportation and bears add extra layers to the hunt planning process. Mark Boardman, Erik Barber, and Sawer Briel from Vortex, along with Brad Brooks from Argali, use their ...
08.21.2023 Ep. 300 \| Untold: Alders to Alpine — The Rest of the Story Crazy terrain, giant bears, extreme weather, lots of shooting, big bucks, bonking out, and a little barf — this hunt had it all. Listen to the Vortex crew to get the behind-the-scenes story of their epic Kodiak Island Sitka blacktail ...
08.15.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Archery and Hunter Education Under Federal Attack Federal funding for school-based archery and hunter education programs has been eliminated. Why? Good question. Mark grabs the Archery Trade Association’s Dan Forester to give us the backstory, along with steps you can take to help. These programs are profoundly ...
08.14.2023 Ep. 299 \| 30-06 Springfield vs .270 Winchester — The Superior Deer Cartridge Is? For years there was one cartridge question a deer hunter had to ask themselves. .270 or 30-06? Both have strong merits. Is there a right answer? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn sent rounds down range into gel to tackle this ...
08.08.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Is Your Bow Hunt Ready? There’s nothing worse than attempting to dial in your bow at the last minute. Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Erik Barber tackle a pre-season checklist to help ensure you have stories about the one that didn’t get away.
08.07.2023 Ep. 298 \| Prepping for War — On a Budget? Prepping for war on a budget. Is that even possible? Mark Boardman and Jimmy Hamilton seek the answer to this question with the help of Vortex Edge® instructors, Justin Lipska and Mike Griffin. These guys have seen some things and ...
08.01.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Hunt Ready: A Rifle Checklist Rundown A hunt-ready rifle ensures optimal performance and rock-solid confidence when the moment of truth arrives. There are several things you can check to make sure your prince of projectile precision is ready for the field this year. Some of which ...
07.31.2023 Ep. 297 \| Small Versus Large Rifle Primers - Part II The small versus large rifle primer experiment continues. Ammo was loaded, the weather machine engaged, and rounds sent down range. What did the boys see regarding accuracy, velocity, and reliability? Listen and watch to find out.
07.25.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Advantages to Using Small Rifle Primers? Maybe. A curious observation leads to multiple hypotheses and an interesting discussion on small rifle primer use in intermediate cartridges like the .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor. Could there be an advantage to bucking the trend and using small rifle primers? ...
07.24.2023 Ep. 296 \| White Deer – Should They Get Special Treatment? Some states protect albino deer, white deer, and in some instances partially white deer – prohibiting take during legal hunting seasons. Should that be the case? Most states treat white deer like any other deer. What makes white deer so ...
07.18.2023 #10MinuteTalk - How to Choose a Tripod “Team Tripod” is back. Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Paul Neess talk tripods and what a person may want to consider when making their selection. They cover lever locks, twist locks, heads, height, shooting, personal preferences, and at-release of this ...
07.17.2023 Ep. 295 \| Forever Wolf Hunt Ban? A forever ban on wolf hunting in Minnesota seems preposterous and counterintuitive to any semblance of sound wildlife management, but that’s exactly what was on the table for Minnesota residents. Lucky for all hunters, organizations like the Sportsmen’s Alliance stand ...
07.11.2023 #10MinuteTalk - Life Changing Impacts – The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation Chris Hodgdon from the Hodgdon Powder Company Joins Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn to chat about the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) and the incredible impact it has on youths who participate. This organization develops character as much as it ...
07.10.2023 Ep. 294 \| Cartridge Talks — .30-06 Springfield Vs .308 Winchester. Unpacking a Controversial Result! The 30-06 Springfield and .308 Winchester — two cartridges that have been to war, go to war in this 30-Cal. competition for ages. Shots have been fired and results tallied. But does that tell the whole story? Mark Boardman and ...
07.04.2023 #10MinuteTalk - The 1766 Charleville – America’s Original Battle Rifle Happy Independence Day. In honor of this holiday, freedom, and the brave American’s who stood up against tyranny, we discuss the rifle they used to do it - the 1766 Charleville. This smoothbore flintlock was instrumental in gaining our independence. ...
07.03.2023 Ep. 293 \| Barrel Length – Does Size Really Matter? Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn and Taylor Meyers debate barrel length and its effect on the overall experience…the shooting experience. What do you truly gain or lose as you increase/decrease barrel length. From a 7.5-inch SBR to a 26-inch pipe built ...
06.27.2023 #10MinuteTalk - The .444 Marlin – Big Lead Slinger or Lead Balloon? How did the most powerful straight-wall cartridge of its time become nearly a thing of the past? Where the heck does the .444 designation even come from when there’s nothing .44 about it? Find out as we discuss this impressive ...

Vortex Nation Podcast

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Vortex Nation Podcast episodes:

You Have One Handwarmer. Where Do You Stick It? | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 14

#10MinuteTalk - Does Cryogenically Freezing Your Barrel Improve Performance?

Ep. 315 | "We Hunted the Entire Deer Season - Here's what we learned" ft. The Element

#10MinuteTalk - Peep This - Aperture Sights on Firearms and Muzzleloaders

Ep. 314 | Hot Tent Camping – What You Need to Know

#10MinuteTalk - Red Dots on Hunting Rifles?

Ep. 313 | 7mm Rem Mag vs 7mm PRC — Is the King Dead?

#10MinuteTalk - Plant Brush — Save Mule Deer

Ep. 312 | Giving Back to Those Who Give so Much – Special Ops Xcursions

#10MinuteTalk - Honoring Our Nation’s War Dogs and their Handlers — The US War Dogs Association

#10MinuteTalk - Night Vision — Is it Worth it?

Ep. 311 | The Impact® 4000 Ballistic Rail-Mounted Laser Rangefinder — Change Your Shooting Life

Best Lie to Go Hunting? | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 13

#10MinuteTalk - Seek One's Gear and Deer Tactics Revealed

Ep. 310 | 31 Species of Deer? “You sure about that?” “You sure about that?”

#10MinuteTalk - Ryan Muckenhirn’s Howa Carbon Stalker – 6mm ARC

Ep. 309 | 350 Legend vs 450 Bushmaster — Total Domination from the 350 Legend?

#10MinuteTalk - Zero Your Riflescope in 3 Shots or Less?

Ep. 308 | I Waterboarded My Rangefinder – Ft. MeatEater’s Clay Newcomb

#10MinuteTalk - 2023 Budget Rifle Roundup – Sub $700 Rifles You Can Bank On

Ep. 307 | Pro Picks: Build the Ultimate Long-Range Kit

If Texas was a Firearm? | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 12

#10MinuteTalk - Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays – What’s the Diff?

Ep. 306 | Making Sense of Broadheads with the Ranch Fairy

#10MinuteTalk - Lead Balloon: The .338 Federal

Ep. 305 | .300 Win Mag vs .308 – Do You Need One or Both?

#10MinuteTalk - How to Choose a Spotting Scope

Ep. 304 | Barrel Burnout – Does it Exist?

#10MinuteTalk - Remi’s Favorite Spotter Just Got Updated

Ep. 303 | Remi Warren’s Secrets to Finding Elk

#10MinuteTalk - The Ruger Precision Rifle – How Good Can It Be?

Ep. 302 | Choosing the Right Reticle

Rifle vs. Bow — Who’s the better hunter? | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 11

Ep. 301 | Alaska Hunt Planning – Layered as Your Clothing System

Ep. 300 | Untold: Alders to Alpine — The Rest of the Story

#10MinuteTalk - Archery and Hunter Education Under Federal Attack

Ep. 299 | 30-06 Springfield vs .270 Winchester — The Superior Deer Cartridge Is?

#10MinuteTalk - Is Your Bow Hunt Ready?

Ep. 298 | Prepping for War — On a Budget?

#10MinuteTalk - Hunt Ready: A Rifle Checklist Rundown

Ep. 297 | Small Versus Large Rifle Primers - Part II

#10MinuteTalk - Advantages to Using Small Rifle Primers? Maybe.

Ep. 296 | White Deer – Should They Get Special Treatment?

#10MinuteTalk - How to Choose a Tripod

Ep. 295 | Forever Wolf Hunt Ban?

#10MinuteTalk - Life Changing Impacts – The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation

Ep. 294 | Cartridge Talks — .30-06 Springfield Vs .308 Winchester. Unpacking a Controversial Result!

#10MinuteTalk - The 1766 Charleville – America’s Original Battle Rifle

Ep. 293 | Barrel Length – Does Size Really Matter?

#10MinuteTalk - The .444 Marlin – Big Lead Slinger or Lead Balloon?

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