Vortex Nation Podcast

Pumps, levers, bolt guns, autos, and AR’s. Precision rifles to predators. Big game to biggest game. Military and law enforcement applications – check that box too. The .308 Winchester may not be the best cartridge for everything, but it is certainly the most versatile cartridge for a heck of a lot of things. One rifle to do it all? Look to the good old .308…And yes, it is old, but this thing ages...

Pistol-mounted red dot sights have changed the pistol shooting game. But there are best practices to implement into your shooting regimen to ensure your dot gets on target fast and effective. Chris Urrutia from Vortex Edge® drops by to drop knowledge on this very 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...

High-level competitive shooter, USPSA Grand Master, and integral to Vortex’s Mil/LE sales team, Adam Maxwell is no stranger to USPSA along with most of the shooting sports disciplines. He, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Mark Boardman talk through how to shoot a USPSA Match. Tune in to up your pistol game on pistol games. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd lik...

Invest in your most important piece of gear — you! Dustin Diefenderfer, founder of MTNTOUGH, joins Mark Boardman for a marathon of a conversation about hunt-specific training. Even if you’ve let the fitness component slip, there’s still time to positively impact your fitness level before big game seasons kick off — if you start now. Fitness is key to success in the field. Dustin and the tools he o...

Bestowing lead-balloon status on the 7mm STW (Shooting Times Westerner) may have some folks wanting to sling lead at us. If that’s the case, we ask you download to rotten tomatoes. Born from the 8mm Remington Magnum (most certainly a lead balloon), the 7mm STW began life as a wildcat, gained popularity at a rate akin to the velocity it could push bullets, but fell off sharply. Why? Tune in to hear...

The gang is firing on all cylinders today as they break down the category of wheel guns. The good old revolver won the west, and it still wins our hearts over today. Battlefield to bear country, hip to ankle, the revolver has been there and done that. Its practicality and proven performance cannot be denied. Pull the hammer back and press play on this podcast all about revolvers. As always, we wan...

USPSA Grand Master, Adam Maxwell, drops in to tell us how to drop and change magazines like a pro. Competition to professional work and self-defense — a fast and efficient mag change will shave points and may save your life. Tune in to hear the process Adam has distilled down through years of dedicated training. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd li...

Jerry Miculek’s flight gets diverted, we pick him up in Milwaukee, and BS all the way back to Vortex HQ. Jerry is a national treasure. His shooting ability, knowledge, philosophy on life, and stories are unmatched. A true pleasure to hang with, Jerry is the real deal in every way. Ride along for a fun and informative conversation with Mark Boardman and the legendary Jerry Miculek to, as Jerry woul...

The appendix carry position is one of the most popular — and for good reason. Vortex Edge® instructor Chris Urrutia covers holsters, fit, customizing for ideal pistol position, proper draw and more. If you conceal carry or are thinking about it, this is a good one. 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...

Different critters, terrain, rifles, personal capabilities, tactics and what a person wants to get out of their hunt will dictate the best riflescope for them. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn break down the hunting riflescope category to help hunters select the optimal riflescope for their outdoor adventures. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd lik...

Ruger 5.7x28 ain’t no math problem — it’s a super cool gun Jimmy brought in for us to check out. The cartridge itself to the form factor of this compact rig, it is sweet for a variety of reasons. Jimmy gives us a rundown including his likes, critiques, and the modifications he made. Check it out with us and decide if you need one too. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there...

Ring and base riflescope mounting solutions are nearly as diverse as the rifles they sit on. The perfect match for your long-range rig might be the worst for your lightweight mountain rifle. In this podcast, we run through the most popular options, detailing their pros, cons, and how they work. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the...

Proverbial S#!T hitting the fan can come in many forms and mean many things. The guys share their thoughts on kits they have put together and what they think should be in their kit. Your region, circumstances, job, and infinite variables can determine the right kit for you. This is an initial discussion likely with a follow up. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any...

Adding lightweight suppressors to hunting rifles is incredibly popular. The upside is so great, hunters are selecting/building rifles specifically around their plan to suppress it. But which model will best suit your needs? Rob Morell from Vortex® Product Development uses his engineering brain to create a spreadsheet of popular models broken down by price, length, weight, and a few other factors....

Do you love archery, bowhunting or both? Mountain Archery Fest is for you. These multifaceted, multi-course, multi-day 3D archery events with hunt-specific flare will get you prepped for the season while having a blast! Family-friendly fun with venues throughout the USA. Brandon Waddell with “MAF” tells us all about it. Use code Vortex24 for 15% off at checkout – the best discount offered! As alwa...

Barrel fluting — practical, aesthetic, or both? Matt Pederson from Pederson Precision pops into the podcast studio to spit barrel-fluting facts. Matt is an expert rifle builder with extensive barrel production experience. Traditional straight to spiral and more — we cover it all.  As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™...

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, and things to consider when applying. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ po...

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 lay an egg? Tune in as they take a shotgun approach to this age-old debate. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on...

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 setup and optic selection, to scouting, calling, picking the spot, setting up for the shot using her precision-rifle-shooting experience, and executing in the heat o...

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 we set up to lure in that boss tom. He’s studied turkey posture and flock dynamics with incredible scrutiny. Couple that with being a lifelong turkey hunter, and you get know...

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 make up the business end of one of our absolute favorite things — the cartridge. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are...

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 tale for others — and all who love the wild turkey? Wild turkey researcher and expert, Dr. Mike Chamberlain, gives us the rundown on what’s hap...

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? For someone, it’s going to be an absolute chip shot. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nati...

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 joins Mark Boardman and Reuben Aleckson for a succinct, step-by-step rundown. Silencer Shop is an A-Z solution that dramatically minimizes the pain po...

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 charged. Not all batteries/power products are created equal. Garrett Aida, CEO of Dark Energy, gets us learned up on backcountry po...