Vortex Nation Podcast

Knock Knock. Who’s There? A Deer Hunter...A deer hunter who hopes to gain access to a sweet piece of urban private and kill giant bucks! But how do you get a “Yes” from a person who may not understand hunters and hunting – or even someone who is against hunting? Lee and Drew from Seek One – one of the most popular whitetail hunting YouTube channels on the internet – jump on the Vortex Nation Podca...

Communication is key. This statement extends well beyond self-help books to military conflicts, natural disasters, broken-down vehicles, general preparedness, awareness and more. The ability to disseminate messages and communicate at scale requires quality equipment and knowing how to use it. Tune in to learn about comms, protocols and how you can use them to live your best life…”Over and Out.” As...

Spray and pray. That’s likely what’s happening if you’ve pulled the safety wedge from your bear-spray canister to fend off an aggressive bruin. But what do you need to know before you’ve gotten to this point? Where was the place to keep it? When do you decide it’s time to engage this option? Is it less or more effective than a pistol? Do you carry a pistol, spray, or both? What are the pros and co...

.22 ammo options abound – each with a specific purpose. Mark, Ryan, and Jim dive into the long and short of this fascinating, functional, and fun round. From the typical .22 LR plinker, to 60-grain Sniper Subsonic, and even bird shot, they dissect (a couple rounds literally) this incredibly versatile and practical cartridge. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any to...

Single-pin or multi-pin bow sight? That is the question. Mark grabs Larry McCoy from CBE to debate the merits of both. He details the pros, cons, applications and what’s trending now. 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’s Garrett Hottenstein brings in his retired Military Working Dog, Edo (a Belgium Malinois), Mark gets bit, and we talk all about these amazing animals. Garrett runs us through his path to becoming a dog handler, the dogs themselves, breeds of military working dogs, why his dog doesn’t have teeth, how he got to adopt Edo, and more. These dogs are amazing and true heroes. Tune in or we’ll sic...

The scale of a giant Yukon bull moose can only be matched by the breathtaking landscape it inhabits and the adventure chasing them during the rut. If you’re a big game hunter, this majestic creature likely inhabits your wildest dreams as well. Listen to Greg McHale from Greg McHale’s Wild Yukon describe what he loves about moose hunting and learn how you could find yourself making your moose hunti...

Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton and Ryan Muckenhirn break out their new AMP Annealer and get to work on prepping 6.5 BC cases for reloading. AMP stands for annealing made perfect. The name is pretty spot on. Could also stand for annealing made super easy, annealing made awesome, annealing made stupidly simple and a lot more – but the acronym wouldn’t work then. Tune in as they sacrifice one, to anne...

It’s Mark Vs. Ryan in the battle of wits…or nitwits. Who will win as they tackle life’s greatest questions? Watch and decide for yourself. 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

Don’t think of your backpack as a one-dimensional item-holding vessel. It’s also your ticket to solid holds and impacts downrange - if you use it right. Forend support, rear support, prone to sitting, instructor Justin from Vortex Edge® walks through the many positions and tricks to leverage the functionality of your backpack for increased accuracy. Might as well, you probably have it with you any...

The Nine Finger Chronicles podcast, Sportsmen’s Empire Network, White Knuckle Productions and starring in DVD’s when those were a thing – Dan Johnson has made a living in the outdoor world. Dan’s story is inspiring. He is a high-energy, genuine, what-you-see is what-you-get dude with a passion for the outdoors, sharing knowledge, and keeping life fun while we’re on this spinning rock. It’s impossi...

Is there a new Vortex® wildcat cartridge in town, or an old one gone the way of so many of its wildcat siblings? Scott Parks joins Jimmy Hamilton and Mark Boardman to chat about the “6mm Vortex” – a 6mm cartridge he developed after countless hours of reloading and bullet-sending range time, trying unsuccessfully to get the performance he wanted from existing options. As always, we want to hear you...

You asked, Remi answered. Expert in everything hunting, Remi Warren, answers hunting questions running the gamut from mule deer tactics to favorite hunts. His candid, off-the-cuff responses are knowledge nuggets you won’t want to miss. Tune in to finetune your tactics. 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...

If you’re going to carry a pistol, you better have the light to go with it. Jim and Mark head down Vortex Edge® with Instructor Pete, where he sheds some light on this important topic! 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 M1 Garand may be the most iconic rifle in American history. It was instrumental in enhancing the lethality of our war fighters at the time and its impact on the outcome of WWII can’t be overstated. Mark Boardman and Jimmy Hamilton grab Alexander Lewis and Ryan Muckenhirn to talk about the form, function, history and unique attributes of this wood and steel masterpiece. As always, we want to he...

Shooting icon, world record holder and all-around great guy, Jerry Miculek, gives us a rundown on the one gun he would pick as a do-all for the rest of his life. No easy task when he’s shot nearly every gun under the sun. What’s his go-to and why? Can he pick just one? 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...

22 LR AR builds may be absolute most fun plinkers on the planet. Not to mention economical and a great way to practice. But how do you get yours to function optimally for flawless, jam-free shooting and reliable performance? We’ll tell ya. More accurately, Will MacNeill from Borebuddy.com will tell ya. This is a super fun and informative dive into a subset of the AR world any shooter should get in...

It’s time to talk about the .300 HAM’R. This cool cartridge maximizes the .30 caliber capability of the standard AR platform, making it an incredibly effective tool for deer-sized game. Is this cartridge not talked about enough? Is it exactly what you’ve been looking for? Find out, on this episode of the Vortex Nation Podcast. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any...

Jeb Burton and his spotter Mike Herman sit down with us to chat NASCAR and the intricacies of the driver/spotter relationship. NASCAR is a team sport. It takes a ton of folks, work, and money to successfully get a car around the track. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look through the eyes of the guys who communicate different perspectives but share the same goal­. Win! As always, we want to hear y...

Are you struggling to punch your spring bear tag or simply getting a late start? Have no fear, Remi Warren is here. And he’s brought his bag of late-season tricks to help you bring a spring bear to bag. Remi is one of the best hunters on the planet. Listen up, bear down, and put some delicious meat in the freezer! As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd...

Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn go ballistic with Hornady® Ballistician, Jayden Quinlan. They dive deep into bullets, how they kill, what to look for, application-specific designs, construction, and more. Listen in for a scientific approach to picking the right bullet to be the most effective predator possible. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd l...

Willi Schmidt (Pure Hunting TV) joins Mark to “workout” all the benefits of pack training for better hunting. The physical component of any backpack hunt is the biggest factor as it relates to success. The further, longer, and faster you can cover ground day after day will make or break your hunt. Pack training is simple, practical, doesn’t require a gym membership and will duplicate field exertio...

Brass prep is big part of the reloading process. Scott Parks and Tucker Schmidt talk through their methodology and the tools they use to get their brass clean and ready for reloading. Tune in to get tuned up on brass prep! 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 6.5 BC is back b!tche$. Mark, Jim, and Ryan finally have the tools they need to keep working on their beloved wildcat cartridge. They recap the original project, give a state of the 6.5 BC union address on where they are at now, and shed some light on where they are headed with this exciting project. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like cover...

An accurate range is the foundation of extended-range accuracy. The Crossfire™ HD 1400, Diamondback™ HD 2000, and Viper® HD 3000 - This trio of HD rangefinders will give you that, along with additional features and capabilities to fit your shooting and hunting needs. Listen in as Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Jim Hamilton laser focus on these high-performing models. As always, we want to hea...