Vortex Nation Podcast

Vortex Nation Podcast episodes:

• 04.15.2024

  Ep. 335 | Best Turkey Gauge — Is More Better?

  Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn gab like hens about the results of their turkey-gauge test. They spin around the topic like strutting Toms in the sun, pecking at it from every angle. Did they pick the best turkey gauge or...

  
• 04.15.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Winterkill and App Strategies with Eastmans’

  The winter of 2023 was hard on the critters of Wyoming and many western states. Ike Eastman and Brandon Mason from the iconic western hunting media company, Eastmans’, give us their take on what happened, the strategies western states took,...

  
• 04.09.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Wisconsin Elk of a Lifetime

  Wisconsin’s elk herd is a success story. This podcast is a success story because of that success story. Father/daughter duo, Izzy and Brian Wink, tell the tale of the great bull 17-year-old Izzy shot and the backstory behind it. Rifle...

  
• 04.08.2024

  Ep. 334 | Expert Turkey Decoy Strategies with Dave Constantine

  Do the turkey decoys you put out change based on time of the season? Renowned wildlife artist and turkey call maker, Dave Constantine, tells us why they should. Dave is responsible for the realism of many of the turkey decoys...

  
• 04.02.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Bullet Construction Breakdown

  Bullet construction is diverse as the applications we have for them. The team embarks on a world-record length 10MinuteTalk to cover the different styles and how they perform. Tip to boat tail, monolithic to cup-and-core, they discuss the nuances that...

  
• 04.01.2024

  Ep. 333 | State of the Wild Turkey Union with Dr. Mike Chamberlain

  From boom to bust in some regions and concerns in others, we’ve seen wild turkey populations change dramatically over the years. What factors are impacting the wild turkey? Should declines in states traditionally known as turkey strongholds be a cautionary...

  
• 03.29.2024

  The Cartridge You Hate | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 18

  Special guest, Dr. Mike Chamberlain, a.k.a. Wild Turkey Doc., joins the crew digitally to host turkey trivia. After, Mark and Ryan stake their claim on the cartridge they hate most and the animal they won’t shoot. Who wins the day?...

  
• 03.26.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - NFA Trusts with Silencer Shop — What You Need to Know

  People often say trust the process. Well, a trust can be an important part of your silencer ownership process. Silencer Shop specializes in everything silencers. Purchasing, to tax stamps, to setting up an NFA trust, Tyler Walters from Silencer Shop...

  
• 03.25.2024

  Ep. 332 | Backcountry Power with Dark Energy — Not All Batteries are Created Equal

  Cell phones for communication, navigation, photography, and evening entertainment, to headlamps, satellite communicators, and more — we rely on battery-powered devices. They make us efficient, comfortable, and keep us safe. What do they have in common? They need to be...

  
• 03.19.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Prevent Muzzy Misfires — Tips and Tricks

  You too can prevent muzzy misfires. Guns that load from the front can be inherently finicky and susceptible to environmental factors centerfire rifles shrug off with indifference. That’s part of the reason you generally get a special season. It’s simply...

  
• 03.18.2024

  Ep. 331 | Everything Arrows with Day Six Gear — And It’s a Lot

  Clip in for a highly informative arrow podcast with Bryan Broderick of Day Six Gear. Combine 12 lifetimes of putting arrows in critters with an engineering mind and you get a company built around a balanced philosophy of practical performance....

  
• 03.12.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Pistol Braces — They’re Baaaaaaack

  Justice prevails for the gun community and The United States of America itself. Pistol braces are back baby. Light, compact, incredibly practical, and no tax stamp required, pistol braces are a great option for shooters of any stature. Their intrinsic...

  
• 03.11.2024

  Ep. 330 | 9mm vs 10mm — Bear Defense Breakdown

  Back from shooting 9mm and 10mm pistols at charging paper targets, ballistic gel blocks, and bear skulls, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn have a lot to digest — so they can best prevent being digested by a bear. What pistol...

  
• 03.05.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Golf Rangefinders vs Hunting Rangefinders

  Vortex’s Golf rangefinders have specific features optimized for the application. But what are those features? Is there crossover with hunt/shoot rangefinders? Tune in to hear why you may need to up your game by adding a new Vortex Golf rangefinder...

  
• 03.04.2024

  Ep. 329 | Does a Full-Size Pistol Make the Most Sense?

  Pistols come in all shapes and sizes. But what is the best size for your first pistol? What is the best size for your carry pistol? Are they perhaps the same? Pete Schreier from Vortex Edge® sits down with host...

  
• 02.27.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Accuracy Under $10? — The Barrel Deresonator

  Mark Boardman twists off his Barrel Deresonator, Ryan Muckenhirn twists the truth, and Jimmy Hamilton is along for the ride as they debate the merit of this unique device. The boys go back and forth on its physical appearance and...

  
• 02.26.2024

  Ep. 328 | The Versatile Red Dot — Your Sighting System Answer?

  Red dot sights are the answer to so many firearm-topping needs. Pistol – red dot. AR for close-to-medium engagements – red dot. Shotgun – red dot. Double rifle – red dot. Bolt gun for driven game or dense forest —...

  
• 02.23.2024

  Pro Wrestlers and Open-Sight Shoot-Off’s | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 17

  Mark and Ryan stand side-by-side in a head-to-head battle of words and wisdom. Ok, “wisdom” might be a bit strong. From the professional wrestler they would take hunting, to the movie “Leave the World Behind,” and an open-sighted spaghetti-shoot-off at...

  
• 02.20.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Battery Life vs. Battery Run Time

  Don’t be deceived by inflated numbers that look better on paper than in practice. Mike Rosen (Vortex New Product Development) and Liam Ward (Vortex Product Marketing) give us the rundown on battery run time — and why it’s a more...

  
• 02.19.2024

  Ep. 327 | The 30-30 Winchester — Is Grandpa Still Right?

  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...

  
• 02.13.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - The #1 Bushcraft Skill — Fire Starting with Remi Warren

  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...

  
• 02.12.2024

  Ep. 326 | The Best Long-Range Reticle — EBR-7D Breakdown

  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...

  
• 02.06.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Calling Raccoons for Fur, Fun, Food and Conservation

  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...

  
• 02.05.2024

  Ep. 325 | Gunpowder — An Explosive Podcast with Chris Hodgdon

  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...

  
• 01.30.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - The Best Coyote Caliber Is?

  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...

  
• 01.29.2024

  Ep. 324 | GeoBallistics® — Comprehensive Ballistics Functionality in the Palm of Your Hand

  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...

  
• 01.26.2024

  The Animal We Should Open a Season For | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 16

  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...

  
• 01.23.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - 5 Shooting Podcasts You Should Listen To

  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...

  
• 01.22.2024

  Ep. 323 | .223 vs .300 AAC Blackout — Enough Knockdown for Deer?

  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...

  
• 01.16.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Comb Height — Why Does it Matter?

  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...

  
• 01.15.2024

  Ep. 322 | 2023 Gear in Review

  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...

  
• 01.09.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Venom® vs Strike Eagle® — What’s the Diff?

  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!

  
• 01.08.2024

  Ep. 321 | The Holy Trinity of AR-15 Accessories

  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...

  
• 01.02.2024

  #10MinuteTalk - Texas Coyote Hunting — Put Up Big Numbers!

  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...

  
• 01.01.2024

  Ep. 320 | The Beretta M9 — Go-to or Bygone?

  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...

  
• 12.31.2023

  #10MinuteTalk - The .357 Maximum: Bring it Back!

  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...

  
• 12.30.2023

  #10MinuteTalk - The .300 Win Mag: King of the Do-All Magnums?

  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...

  
• 12.29.2023

  #10MinuteTalk - The 7mm Rem Mag: Oldie but Goodie?

  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...

  
• 12.28.2023

  #10MinuteTalk - The .470 Nitro Express: 500 Grains of Fury

  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...

  
• 12.27.2023

  #10MinuteTalk - The .350 Rem Mag: Wha, Wha, Whaaaa

  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...

  
• 12.26.2023

  #10MinuteTalk - The 9x25mm Dillon: Major Power Factor

  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!

  
• 12.25.2023

  Ep. 319 | You Asked for It — Listener Question Sesh

  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...

  
• 12.22.2023

  Santa’s Go-to Gat | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 15

  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...

  
• 12.19.2023

  #10MinuteTalk - No Dog Rabbit Tactics

  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....

  
• 12.18.2023

  Ep. 318 | 300 Win Mag vs 6.5 Creedmoor — Huh?

  Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn take their 300 Win Mag vs 6.5 Creedmoor discussion to the next level in this more than odd-couple cartridge comparison. These cartridges are common, but not commonly compared. So why did we do it and...

  
• 12.12.2023

  #10MinuteTalk - The Ruger Mini-14 — One Mighty Cool Rifle

  If you ever watched the hit 80’s TV Show, “The A-Team”, you most certainly saw the Ruger Mini 14 in action. The rifle’s prevalence was so significant, you can order a model today with nomenclature reference to the cut-way-too-short series....

  
• 12.11.2023

  Ep. 317 | End of the World Truck — Clay Hayes Edition

  Clay Hayes is prepared for just about anything – and so is his truck. Jim never misses a chance to chat about cool, outside the box, yet highly practical vehicles. Clay’s truck is all those things and more. It runs...

  
• 12.05.2023

  #10MinuteTalk - What a Bore Scope Will Tell You

  Ian Klemm stops by to chat scopes – bore scopes that is. This handy device will unlock the secrets of your rifle’s bore. And they retail for around $60. Not bad for a device that not long ago was likely...

  
• 12.04.2023

  Ep. 316 | The Three Tiers of Muzzleloading

  Muzzleloaders fall into approximately three different buckets (Traditional, Inline, Extreme Performance). As simple as they can be, they can be equally complex. Mark Boardman, Jim Hamilton, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Paul Neess dive deep into each style and their distinct nuances....

  
• 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,...