Vortex Nation Podcast

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? Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Jimmy Hamilton pontificate primers and come up with a test for their hypothesis.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

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 special? Should we manage wildlife based on appearance or science? Jeffrey Pritzl and Kevin Wallenfang from the Wisconsin DNR (Wisconsin is a state that protects white deer) join Mark Boardman and Erik Barber to chat about what for hunters and non-hunters, can be a white-hot issue.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

“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 podcast a new model, to give you a leg up when it’s time to get your first or next tripod.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

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 guard to fend off anti-hunting groups who prey on the emotions and money of the uninformed, aiming to dismantle the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, our hunting traditions, and balanced ecosystems. Mark Boardman and Brian Lynn from the Sportsmen’s Alliance sit down to chat about what happened, how it happened, where the issue stands, and most importantly, the path forward – which looks solid, and shows promise. If you hunt, this issue affects you. Learn what to look out for and what you can do.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

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 does shooting skills. And let’s not forget the scholarship opportunities for higher education. Parent or youth – listen to hear how you can get involved and possibly change the trajectory of your life.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

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 Ryan Muckenhirn don’t think so. That’s why they’ve hit the podcast studio to extract projectiles and further evaluate these American favorites.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

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. It’s as cool as it is historic. Listen in as Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn talk about the 1700’s version of the AR-15.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

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 to maximize performance, they cover the long and short of this age-old 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

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 and interesting cartridge.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

Axis deer, pigs, and goats – oh my! Mark Boardman and Remi Warren, along with field producers Cooper Long and Mike Wozniak, recap a phenomenal hunting experience in the great state of Hawaii. Bows, rifles, rods, reels, and three-prong spears, the guys do their best to sample as much sporting adventure as possible in a few short days. Listen to hear the full rundown on this trip to hunting paradise. 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

It’s time for a little anatomy class…The anatomy of a cartridge that is. From primer to bullet and everything between, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn dissect the components, that when compiled properly, become one of the most important tools we have as human beings – the cartridge.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

The Glock, truly revolutionary at its inception and iconic in the pistol space. The most widely used pistol by law enforcement professionals and often the choice of military professionals as well. Features questioned by some originally, are celebrated by users and emulated by the industry today. Is it the perfect pistol? Mark Boardman, Jim Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn ask themselves this very 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

G1 and G7 BC’s - what the heck are they and which number should I plug into my ballistics calculator to get the best drop and wind drift solutions? Mark Boardman grabs Reuben Aleckson and Ryan Muckenhirn to get the 411 on G1 and G7 BC’s. 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

In the inaugural episode of Cartridge Talks, (a brand-new Vortex Nation™ YouTube series exploring life’s greatest cartridge-related questions) Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn fired multiple projectiles into ballistics gel comparing the 6.5 Creedmoor against the .308. The goal - to determine a “Winner”.  Now, it’s time to grab the forceps and further dissect the results. The guys hit the podcast studio to dive deeper into the nuances of their findings. Is there a compelling winner in this battle of “The old bull versus the young calf?” Watch/listen to 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 asking us on Instagram @vortexnationpodcast

Making a quality binocular costing under $100 would be quite the Triumph. So that’s what we did and that’s what we called it. The Triumph® HD 10x42 binocular is the perfect optic for the budget-conscious outdoorsman who still needs a meaningful viewing experience. In this podcast, we grab optics expert, and admitted optics snob, Mike McDowell, to chat through the features and performance of this optically and economically impressive 10x42 binocular. 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

Vortex Edge® instructor, Mike Griffin, taps in for a more than interesting story about his paramedic/remote-field-medicine life journey. Along the way, he provides hard-earned incite and some great tips for self-sufficiency and medical care you will want to consider. What’s your plan? What knowledge do you have? What equipment do you need? What if?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

“You should never use match ammo for hunting.” “Match ammo is fantastic for hunting.” The topic of match ammo for hunting may be one of the most polarizing. There are two camps with little in between. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn tackle this hornets’ nest of a subject, talking about the differences between “match” and “hunting” ammo, provide the theory they personally subscribe to, anecdotes of times they’ve used match ammo for hunting, and touch on regions of the world where using match ammo for hunting is more common than not.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

The Second Amendment is always under attack. For reference, the Second Amendment states: A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Well, there’s a heck of a lot of infringing going on! Good thing we have folks like Adam Kraut from the Second Amendment Foundation working hard to keep it intact. We talk about Adam’s career path, the 2A itself, the playbook of those looking to dismantle it piece by piece, updates on the current landscape of 2A-related infringements we are facing, how the Second Amendment Foundation goes about fighting the good fight and what you can do. 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

Stability is key for precise shots on game. But who wants to attach a boat anchor to their rifle to get it? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn chat lightweight hunting bipods in this 10-Minute Talk on two-legged forend support, so you can better shoot 4-legged critters. 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

Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn sit down to pit the prom queen 6.5 Creed against the more than iconic .308 Win. After chatting through the merits of both (which both have many), they decide more research needs to be done. Research that requires guns, ammunition, and ballistics gel. If you’re trying to decide between these cartridges, perk up your ears and give this episode a listen. If still undecided at the end, stay tuned.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