Vortex Nation Podcast

Longstanding military service to Bruce Willis in the movie “Die Hard” (ok, technically a Beretta 92 for Bruce), the Beretta M9 has a storied history. This iconic pistol is as unique as it is effective. A full-size fighting handgun and classic by today’s standards, it is still incredibly practical and capable. Used and loved by many, there are some critiques. Tune in as we chat all about the Berett...

1983 was a good year for a lot of things. Mobile phones, the first iteration of the internet, and most importantly, the .357 Maximum. This cartridge isn’t popular, but it needs to be. Is it better than newly introduced cartridges seeing wide-range acceptance? Is it 6 cartridges in one? Do we need to launch a campaign to bring it back? Tune in to find out. Get your limited edition podcast hoodie !...

The .300 Win Mag is versatile as the day is long – maybe more. Whitetails to brown bears and even professional work in the Mil/LE space, the .300 Win Mag has been there and done that. And it has done it well. Is its 60’s era belt out of fashion? Ask its resume of incredible performance. You’ll get your answer. Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn dive into the .300 Win Mag. Finally!...

The 7mm rem mag fires slippery bullets around the magical 3000 fps mark. Sound like everything folks are prioritizing in today’s modern cartridges? Have we had the 7mm solution all this time? What are its merits and detractors? Why doesn’t Ryan like this long-standing, loved-by-many cartridge? Listen to find out. Get your limited edition podcast hoodie ! As always, we want to hear your feedback! L...

Synonymous with Africa’s dangerous game, double rifles, and more than 100 years old, the .470 Nitro Express is still a viable factory-loaded option. This thing doles out a licking and keeps on ticking. PH’s still bet their life on the effectiveness of the .470 Nitro. Tune in as we chat about this big-bore brute and what makes it so great! Get your limited edition podcast hoodie ! As always, we wan...

Why did the .350 Rem Mag (our first short magnum) fall flat – more than once? Was it the rifle? Was it the cartridge itself? Was the world not ready? Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn examine the .350 Remington and why it assuredly receives lead-balloon status. Get your limited edition podcast hoodie ! As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics y...

The bottlenecked 9x25mm Dillon pistol cartridge is incredibly interesting and has a cool backstory. Innovative, effective, yet relegated to the obscure by a simple rule change, this pistol round is worth knowing about. This one’s for you Carl Volt! Get your limited edition podcast hoodie ! As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vorte...

We asked for your questions, you answered with your questions, and we answered the questions you asked. Mark Boardman, Jim Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn cover all manner of topics in this podcast dedicated to listeners and what you guys wanted to know. Satirical to technical, this was a fun one we apparently didn’t want to end because it went way too long. As always, we want to hear your feedback!...

Spaghetti Shootout ugly-Christmas-sweater edition (sweater vest for Mark of course) ensues. Jim gives Mark “pity points” for Christmas, gets a couple gifts himself, and the guys verbally battle important topics like, Santa’s go-to gat. Can mark pull out a win or will he be crying in his hot cocoa? Tune in to find out. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics yo...

Fast, fun, and fantastic on the table, a brace of rabbits might be exactly what you need to spice up your hunting life — or get started on your hunting path. And you don’t need a dog to do it. Accomplished with minimal gear and best done with a few good buddies, it’s tough to beat a day of beating the brush for bunnies. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn talk through some tips to get you started. A...

Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn take their 300 Win Mag vs 6.5 Creedmoor discussion to the next level in this more than odd-couple cartridge comparison. These cartridges are common, but not commonly compared. So why did we do it and how did they perform? What questions did we answer? Did we dispel any myths? Tune in to watch some bullet-pulling gel-block surgery and find out. As always, we want t...

If you ever watched the hit 80’s TV Show, “The A-Team”, you most certainly saw the Ruger Mini 14 in action. The rifle’s prevalence was so significant, you can order a model today with nomenclature reference to the cut-way-too-short series. But there’s more to this radical rifle than its use in Hollywood. So much that Jim got one just so we could do this podcast. It took zero arm twisting by the wa...

Clay Hayes is prepared for just about anything – and so is his truck. Jim never misses a chance to chat about cool, outside the box, yet highly practical vehicles. Clay’s truck is all those things and more. It runs on an alternate fuel source — and we’re not talking wind or solar. Tune in to hear all about it. You might just build one yourself, save money on fuel, and be ready for…well, you’ll be...

Ian Klemm stops by to chat scopes – bore scopes that is. This handy device will unlock the secrets of your rifle’s bore. And they retail for around $60. Not bad for a device that not long ago was likely top-tier spy-ops material. Tune in to hear what it can tell you and why you just might want to pick one up. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like...

Muzzleloaders fall into approximately three different buckets (Traditional, Inline, Extreme Performance). As simple as they can be, they can be equally complex. Mark Boardman, Jim Hamilton, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Paul Neess dive deep into each style and their distinct nuances. They even find a sweet spot of price and performance that’s tough to beat. Tune in for a detailed rundown on muzzleloaders....

The “Spaghetti Gang” is at it again – answering high energy questions of zero relevance. Will Mark find his slump buster, or once again fall victim to the all-mighty Muckenhirn. From the best outdoor infomercial, to bribery, cheese, and more, tune in for a characteristically ridiculous ride you can only get from Spaghetti Shootout. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are...

Cryogenically freezing barrels is a declared important step in some barrel manufacturers’ process. Entire services are available to cryo barrels for customers interested in accuracy, consistency and longer barrel life. Some say the process works wonders. Some say it’s a fallacy. Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn debate its relevance. One thing is certain, -300° F is Cold! As alway...

Content creators and dedicated deer hunters, Tyler Jones, and K.C. Smith from The Element podcast detail their origin story, how they got linked up with the MeatEater crew, their multi-state Buck Truck deer hunting tour, and deer hunting lessons learned along the way. These guys are fun to talk to! Tune in for a great conversation with some super solid deer hunting advice. As always, we want to he...

Aperture sights, commonly referred to as peep sights, are a fun and extremely accurate way to shoot an open-sighted rifle or muzzleloader. But why? What rifles do they marry well with? Mark Boardman, Jim Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn pull a couple of Ryan’s rifles out of the safe to chat through them and the different styles of peep sights they are adorned with. As always, we want to hear your fee...

That hot tent camping is SOOO hot right now (mild Zoolander movie reference). And for good reason. The ability to stay warm and get dry is critical for late-season hunts – or any hunt where inclement weather is a possibility. It can be the difference between staying or going home. More critically, the difference between life and death. At the minimum, it’s a morale booster. If you’ve been thinking...

Close quarters, fast shots, moving targets, dynamic situations, shooting with both eyes open and a high-level need for rapid target acquisition. Sound like a “tactical environment”? Could be, but it’s not. You’re on a driven hog hunt in Spain or Germany, calling red stags in France, or on stand during a good old fashioned Midwest deer drive. All the positive attributes a red dot offers translate p...

The king of the 7mm’s for decades, the 7mm Rem Mag has a reputation for performance and long-range authority. But with the rise of the 7mm PRC, is the king dead? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn dive deep into their gel-shooting results to break down these cartridges and answer this very question. Was the original outcome the right one? Mark says no. Tune in to decide for yourself.  As always, we...

Mule deer are amazing critters. Sage brush and bitter brush are critical components of their habitat. Some areas need more to keep herds and ecosystems in optimal condition. Mark Boardman sits down with Brian McElrea from HUSH to chat about their super cool Brush for Bucks program ­— agrowing program YOU can get involved with. Tune in to hear how you can get your hands dirty, have fun, and help mu...

Special Ops Xcursions (SOX) provides high quality/much needed outdoor experiences to active special ops personnel and their families. This work is critically important, life changing, and even life saving. Tune in as Scott Graves gives us the rundown on this fantastic organization and the amazing impact they have. You’ll also get the scoop on Vortex/SOX collaboration film, along with a limited run...

America’s 4-legged heroes and their hero handlers need support after they retire. Enter the US War Dogs Association! This organization takes on the significant financial burden of caring for war dogs who served our country. Dogs who saved the lives of countless soldiers who depended on their incredible capabilities. Chris Willingham Joins Mark Boardman to discuss his professional career, his natur...