The Hornady Podcast

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Miles Neville and Preston Lentfer to explore the history, evolution, and enduring popularity of the 6mm (.243") caliber. From the groundbreaking 6mm Lee Navy and 243 Winchester to modern favorites like the 6 ARC, 6 Creedmoor, and beyond, the crew breaks down why the 6mm family has remained a favorite for hunters, competitors, and shooters for more than a century—and...

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by NRA Media's Mark Keefe and Hornady Senior Ballistic Scientist Emeritus Dave Emary to trace 250 years of bullet innovation. From round balls and Minié bullets to jacketed projectiles, polymer tips, and modern designs like the A-Tip, the trio explores the breakthroughs that have shaped shooting, hunting, and ammunition technology from America's founding to today.

Host Seth Swerczek sits down with Foundation Stocks founder Jon Kyle Truitt to discuss the story behind one of the most successful rifle stock companies in precision shooting. From building a business from scratch and developing the first Micarta rifle stocks to the science of recoil management, hunting, competition, and family, this episode explores what makes Foundation Stocks truly built differ...

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by NRA Media's Mark Keefe, Hornady President Steve Hornady, and Vice President Jason Hornady for a look behind the scenes at some of Hornady's most interesting products. From the 17 HMR, 450 Marlin, and Ruger Compact Magnums to the 30 TC and more, the group shares untold stories, product launch memories, hunting adventures, and lessons learned from decades of innovatio...

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Christian Chatelier of Dead Air and Hornady's Miles Neville for a deep dive into the world of suppressors. From mounting systems and point-of-impact shift to muzzle velocity, drag, and real-world hunting performance, the crew separates fact from fiction and explains why more shooters than ever are making the move to suppressed rifles. Whether you're new to suppresso...

Host Seth Swerczek and Preston Lentfer continue the budget precision rifle project by breaking down the upgrades made to the Glenfield Model A in 6.5 Creedmoor. From aftermarket parts to setup changes, the duo compares the new dispersion results using the same Hornady ammunition from Part 1 to see whether the upgrades improved performance—or made things worse.

Host Seth Swerczek and Preston Lentfer put a bone-stock Glenfield Model A in 6.5 Creedmoor to the test to see just how much precision you can get on a budget. From the scope, rings, and bipod setup to testing three varieties of Hornady ammunition, the duo establishes a baseline for the rifle's dispersion capability before diving into upgrades. Stay tuned for Part 2, where aftermarket modifications...

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Hornady's Jayden Quinlan and Greg Hamilton of Proof Research to break down Proof's new exponential twist rifling technology. From improved accuracy, reduced rifle torque, extended barrel life, and improved drag performance, this episode dives into how PXT works, what it means for shooters, and where barrel technology is headed next.

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Preston Lentfer for another installment of the wildcat build series, breaking down Seth's 257 Roberts AI rifle. From barrel and stock to optics and accessories, they dive into the reasoning behind each component and what makes this custom setup come together for performance in the field.

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by David Draper of Petersen's Hunting to discuss the reality of wolves on today's landscape. From their Arctic wolf hunt experience to the broader impact on caribou, livestock, and ecosystems, the conversation explores the balance between admiration for these apex predators and the need for responsible management.

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Jayden Quinlan and Miles Neville to break down what actually drives accuracy in precision shooting. From bullet selection and velocity to SD and dispersion, the crew explores the trade-offs between each "knob" you can turn—and why chasing the wrong one can hurt your performance. Backed by real data and practical examples, this episode helps shooters understand what...

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Miles Neville and Preston Lentfer to take a closer look at powder temperature sensitivity and its real impact on performance. Using hands-on examples, Miles compares "unstable" and temperature-stable powders to show what actually happens downrange. While the differences are worth understanding, the results may not be as dramatic as many expect—making this a practica...

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Matt Ritchie and NRL Hunter founder Travis Ishida to break down the evolution of NRL Hunter and why it's redefining modern hunting. From practical rifle setups and cartridge selection to the balance between competition and real-world application, this episode explores how NRL Hunter builds more capable, confident shooters in the field.

Host Seth Swerczek sits down with Allterra Arms founder Drew Foster and Dave Barnes to explore what it really takes to build a precision rifle from the ground up. From innovative action and barrel design to the realities of manufacturing and maintaining tight tolerances, this episode dives into the engineering behind accuracy, reliability, and consistency in the field.

In this episode, we sit down to talk all things stability and why it's the foundation of precision shooting in the field. From real-world hunting scenarios to gear innovation, we break down how the right support system can make or break your shot. We dive into the design philosophy behind Spartan Precision Equipment, what sets them apart in terms of weight, versatility, and performance, and how mo...

Host Seth Swerczek sits down with fan favorite Joe Thielen to break down the build behind his ultralight 6.5 PRC hunting rifle. From barrel and stock to optics and accessories, they dive into the reasoning behind each component—creating a lightweight, versatile setup built to go anywhere and perform in the field.

Host Seth Swerczek and Neil Davies sit down with Pedro Ampuero to explore his background and experiences in hunting around the world. From how he got started to lessons learned in the field, this episode dives into the stories, challenges, and perspectives that have shaped Pedro's journey as a hunter.

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Miles Neville and Preston Lentfer to answer a question, that frankly, we get a lot… "Can match bullets be used for hunting?" In this episode the guys dive deep into what really matters when choosing a hunting bullet. Breaking down the key differences between ELD Match bullets and ELD-X hunting bullets. Covering how each is designed, manufactured and tested, and what...

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Jayden Quinlan, Joe Thielen, and Miles Neville for a deep dive into copper expanding bullet design. From how Hornady designs copper bullets to match specific cartridge needs to the latest advancements in the CX line and real-world terminal performance, this episode breaks down the science behind modern copper hunting projectiles.

Host Seth Swerczek sits down with Josh Smith of Montana Knife Company to talk about his journey from bladesmith to building one of the fastest-growing knife brands in America. They dive into what separates a quality hunting knife from a cheap one—covering steel, heat treat, design, and what really matters when it's time to put a blade to work in the field.

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Assistant Director of Engineering Joe Thielen to break down the build behind Joe's Tactical Class .308 Win PRS rifle. From barrel and stock to optics, trigger, and muzzle brake, they dive into the component selection process and the reasoning behind each choice for competitive precision rifle shooting and podium finishes.

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Senior Ballistician Jayden Quinlan for a deep dive into the brand new Leupold BX-6 Range HD Binoculars featuring onboard Hornady 4DOF.  The guys are joined by the Leupold VP of New Products and Marketing, Tim Lesser, and the Product Line Manager, Eric Overstreet.  They discuss how these new binoculars deliver real-time ballistic data powered by 4DOF, precision rangi...

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Preston Lentfer and Matt Ritchie to break down how competitive shooting disciplines like NRL Hunter, PRS, and even pistol matches translate into better hunting skills. From gear familiarity and shooting positions to time pressure and mental prep, the crew explores how competition sharpens the skills that matter most when it's time to take the shot in the field.

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by former Hornady Senior Ballistician Dave Emary to tell the story of the 17 Hornet—from concept and cartridge design to testing, ballistics, and field performance. They break down what makes this tiny round so effective and the unique engineering behind its sting.

Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Preston Lentfer and Jayden Quinlan to dive into the extensive cartridge family born from the .308 Winchester. From the classic .243 Win to the hard-hitting .358 Winchester and everything in between, the team compares ballistics, performance, and application—laying out the strengths and trade-offs of each cartridge in the .308 lineage.