Vortex Nation Podcast

Quality sleep can make or break a backcountry hunt. When you're covering miles, climbing elevation, and recovering for another full day in the field, your sleep system is one of the most important pieces of gear you carry. Sleeping bags, pads, pillows and cots — Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn run through their sleep systems and what works for them. As always, we want to hear your feedback!...

The crew from Kifaru steps away from spring turkey season to talk hunting packs, technical fabrics, backpack design, apparel, and the philosophy behind building some of the toughest backcountry gear in the industry. We also recap a memorable turkey hunt, discuss what makes a great hunting pack, share gear insights, and cover down on favorite post-hunt meals. As always, we want to hear your feedbac...

Weatherby enters the muzzleloader arena in a big way with the ultra-premier Model 307 MZY. Blending features of a high-end rifle with state-of-the-art ignition technology, the Model 307 MZY delivers impressive performance and accuracy. Adam Weatherby and Luke Thorkildsen give us a primer on the features, performance, and design philosophy behind the Model 307 MZY, explaining what sets Weatherby’s...

Mark Boarmdan and Ryan Muckenhirn lace up for a podcast all about boots they’ve used, trust and would recommend. Mountain hunts to farmland whitetails, your footwear can make or break the entire experience. Tune in to get the rundown on boot models to consider for your upcoming season. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vorte...

How do you properly fit a hunting pack? What's the best way to pack your backpack for the backcountry? And how did Exo Mtn Gear become one of the most respected names in hunting packs? Exo Mtn Gear founder and lead pack designer Steve Speck joins the podcast to break down pack fit, load distribution, backpack setup, backcountry hunting gear, and the story behind Exo. Whether you're prepari...

Nick Hoffman, experienced international hunter and host of Nick's Wild Ride, shares expert advice on traveling internationally for hunting adventures, including firearm and ammunition regulations, customs paperwork, rifle permits, travel documentation, health precautions, food and drinking water safety, tipping etiquette, and what to expect when hunting in foreign countries. From avoiding comm...

The 7.62x39 is one of the most recognizable and widely used rifle cartridges ever created. Paired with AK-pattern rifles, it has earned a reputation for reliability, effectiveness, and global popularity. But what turned this intermediate cartridge into a worldwide phenomenon? In this episode, AK enthusiast Scott Hollfelder emerges from his bunker to break down the history, performance, military le...

Federal Ammunition’s Joshua Vickers and Brad Abramowski join Vortex to give us the gouge on their all-new 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak ammo. How does a round that’s long been known for efficiency suddenly gain up to 300 fps over comparable brass-cased 6.5 Creedmoor loads and roughly 100 fps over 6.5 PRC? In this episode, Federal explains the technology behind the latest addition to the Peak Alloy lineup, i...

The most ridiculous concealed carry item you would still carry to finishing the lyrics of popular songs, the season finale of Spaghetti Shootout is sure to hit the spot. Who goes out on a high note? There’s only one way to find out. Grab your fork and dig in. 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...

Hunter Constantine is a USPSA Grand Master, competitive shooter, professional firearms instructor, entrepreneur, successful YouTube host, inventor of the Constantine Carry Belt, and pro shooter for Team Smith & Wesson. To say he’s an expert is an understatement. We get his more than interesting story and walk through his process for drawing from concealed. As always, we want to hear your feedb...

What hunting shelter should you buy? Argali founder Brad Brooks joins Mark Boardman to break down the pros and cons of hunting tents and backcountry shelters. Learn how tent size, weight, materials, weather protection, and intended use impact performance in the field. They also discuss the latest shelter innovations from Argali and help hunters determine which shelter best fits their needs. Whethe...

Your ability to hike and hunt hard for multiple days is directly dependent on your fitness and mental toughness. If you do one thing to prepare for your hunt, rucking/pack training may just be your best bet. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn show their current systems and talk through how they weave rucking into their pre-season training regimen. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us kn...

Vortex’s in-house firearm historian, collector, and extreme enthusiast, Ian Klemm, drops by the studio with two rare vintage Sako’s. Obscure chamberings. Classic Finnish craftsmanship. Ian Klemm breaks down the history behind an early L46 in .25-20 WCF and a unique L461 Vixen in 6x45mm. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vort...

Lever-action rifles may be a new category for Smith & Wesson, but the company’s connection to lever guns goes back to the very origins of the platform itself. In this episode, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn explore the history behind the legendary action and take a closer look at the classic styling and modern performance of the Smith & Wesson 1854. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let...

The international hunt of a lifetime may be way more within reach than you think. New Zealand to Scotland and much more, Nick Hoffman walks us through economical hunts around the globe. The flight might be long, but life is short. Book it! 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 @vo...

Mark Boardman proved out his long-range Ruger 10/22 squirrel sniping setup. He and videographer Cole Booth talk through the rifle, suite of advanced kit used, and how it worked in the field. 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

Firing cup and core, bonded, and monolithic bullets into ordnance gel is cool. Documenting it with a high-speed camera to analyze terminal performance is cooler. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn unpack their findings after getting a unique look in slow motion. 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 aski...

The What3Words App may save your life. It helped do just that for Jared Leuzinger who suffered a freak broadhead-induced injury while hunting deer. Tune in to hear his story and learn what you may want to do to add an extra layer of safety to your outdoor adventures. 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 b...

Unknown Suppressors is a fast-moving company making innovative suppressors. Unknown Munitions specialize in aftermarket Tikka components, custom Tikka rifles, ammunition and more. If you don’t know them, this podcast is your chance. 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 @vortexnat...

Sim-X Pistol ammunition bucks convention with its low mass/high velocity offerings for both target and defensive applications. Mark Boardman shoots some Sim-X 9mm at the range, compares it to standard loads, and he and Ryan Muckenhirn chat through this interesting ammo. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcas...

Vortex’s Travis Jones and Ryan Muckenhirn sit down with Mark Boardman to recount their one-of-a-kind west Texas aoudad hunt. A cull hunt moderated by biologists and orchestrated to put a dent in the burgeoning aoudad population, allowed the group to get a lifetime’s worth of reps and product testing in three days… including the inaugural fielding of Ryan’s .300 SUPER WSM. As always, we want to hea...

Shooting bearded hens, name your opponent’s outdoor brand, a meatball in a bottle, and more. Tune in for a full scoop of Spaghetti Shootout! 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

Subsonic cartridges are fun, pleasant to shoot, practical and tactical. Specialized military applications, personal defense, hunting, discrete pest control, and more, subsonic cartridges serve multiple roles. Damon Zito from Vortex’s product development team joins Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn for a fun discussion on subsonic cartridges, their versatility, and how they are using them. As alway...

Cody Osborn from Q sits down with Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn for an in-depth discussion about Q, their ethos, and some very cool products. Known for their engineering, bucking the status quo, and personality, Q is a unique company doing impressive things in the firearms space. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex...

Big medicine in a standard-length action pushing a heavy .366 diameter bullet, the 9.3x62 Mauser is legally accepted as a dangerous game option in parts of Africa with a .375 bullet diameter minimum. This cartridge has a storied history and reputation for getting the job done…Big jobs. Commonly referred to as the poor man’s .375 H&H, the 9.3x62 Mauser may just be the coolest cartridge you didn...