Vortex Nation Podcast

Eyeglass wearers use binoculars. That’s no secret, and a big reason our binoculars feature high-quality twist-up eyecups. But are there other things a person may need to consider? In this listener request, we grab Mr. Mike McDowell to take this topic on through his lens (pun intended). As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Na...

Tactical firearm names can be a proverbial alphabet and numerical soup. We hear their nomenclatures all the time, but what are the major differentiating features setting them apart from one another. In this episode of the Vortex Nation™ Podcast, we grab Vortex Edge® instructor, Mike Griffin, to break down a few of the most popular models. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if th...

Turkey decoys and decoy strategies have come a long way. Mark and Erik (Slingin' Rik) Barber discus decoy styles, paint schemes, posture, snood position and when to use Jakes, hens, and strutters. They also cover placement, which way they should face, and the often under looked consideration of decoy-stake height. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd...

Get your suppressor faster? Are e-forms your ticket to suppressor bliss? Larry Evans breaks down e-forms, their history and what they mean for you? 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

We’re back in the lab with Vortex Edge® instructor Brennan to chat through all the great responses, tips, questions, and suggestions we got on our original dry-fire podcast. Listen in for more no-bang practice tips to give you bang-on results. 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...

Rust, it’s a fact of life when it comes to vehicles we use to get us to our favorite optics-related activities. But does it have to be? In this podcast, Jim gets rust redemption on his arch nemesis. We also grab Ryan M. to get his take on corrosion and corrosion prevention. 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...

In this podcast we cover our TSS turkey shell test, where we took a single shotgun/choke setup loaded with three-inch TSS number 7 shot from 10 to 100 yards in 10-yard increments. We get some great data, but the results can’t be considered conclusive. Should we do more testing? Listen in to learn what we learned.  As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd...

On location in the Vortex Edge® shoot house, Mark, Jim and instructor Chris U. cover-down on what the heck a shoot house is, how we use it for classes, why it’s so incredibly beneficial for training, and how we run it. We also chat through classes you may be interested in to get your shot in this dynamic, realistic, high-pressure training tool. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know...

Mark grabs Rob Morell and Joe Heltemes from the Product Development Team to get the rundown on the feature-rich, high-performing, and budget-friendly, Strike Eagle® 1-8x24 FFP. This optic will rock on your rifle without rocking your wallet.  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 @vort...

Adolescent runaway, professional country singer/fiddle player/musician, hunting TV show host of “Nick’s Wild Ride” and pilot, Nick Hoffman is a dang interesting dude with some dang interesting stories - and some great life incites gained through hard work and experience. This conversation ran long and felt short. Tune in for a fun one all about Nick and the crazy ride he calls life.  As always, we...

Dialing elevation to compensate for bullet drop? You’re going to need a Zero Stop. But why do you need a Zero Stop? What does a Zero Stop do? Are there different kinds? Are they hard to design? Why do some stop below your original sight in zero? All your Zero Stop questions are answered right here on the Vortex Nation Podcast. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any...

The Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO). One optic to rule them all or simply another great option for your AR? One thing is certain, their versatility is unmatched.  Pete Schreier from Vortex Edge® Joins Mark and Jim to chat everything LPVO’s.  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 @vort...

Lucky items, rituals, and signs from the forest, hunters can be a superstitious bunch. Mark, Ryan Muckenhirn, Erik Barber, and new guest, Clay Hinz, discuss some of theirs. Enjoy a lighthearted listen? You’re in luck!...What are your hunting superstitions? We want to hear them. 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...

Build or Buy an AR-15 off the rack? That is the question. What’s better? What’s more cost-efficient? What route will make your AR the one that’s right for you? What are the pros and cons as it relates to function? Ok, that’s a whole lot of questions. Luckily, Mark and Jim have Vortex’s own Liam Ward to run us through this topic. Tune in for a mag-dump of AR incite. As always, we want to hear your...

The mighty .308. Great at everything, expert at nothing, this beloved cartridge is a do-all workhorse perfect for a wide variety of applications. From general big game hunting to military conflicts and tactical applications, the .308 has been put to work for dang-near every scenario under the sun requiring a firearm – and has done a dang good job doing it. Tune in as Ryan Muckenhirn, Mark, and Jim...

The Hunting Public’s Aaron Warbritton talks turkey with Mark and Erik. We cover serious challenges facing turkey populations, important studies THP is participating in, what you can do to positively influence turkey populations, calling tips, hunt strategies and more.  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...

Mark and Jim surprise attack Ryan Muckenhirn with the 7x64. Wait, that came out wrong. Ryan is OK…. We invite Ryan to chat with us about the popular-in-Europe 7x64, but don’t let him know the topic at hand until we begin recording. That should clear things up. A listener request, this interesting 7mm cartridge will make quick work of most critters. Listen in to get Ryan’s take on it, as well as he...

Western tag draws can be convoluted, confusing and downright difficult to navigate. Luckily for hunters, the good folks at Huntin’ Fool dedicate their lives to researching and knowing the intricacies of each states processes – which can change from year to year. Listen in as they cover the different types of draw systems, strategy, and more. From personalized consulting and full-service applicatio...

Extend your range, increase pellet count, and maximize lethality with TSS (Tungsten Super Shot) turkey loads. This rare-earth metal combined with modern-shotshell design take performance to whatever level is past next level. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? You be the judge. 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 a...

In honor of episode 223, we honor the .223, with a full-length cartridge talk. From nearly every conflict since Vietnam, to law enforcement, home defense, competition, prairie dog towns of the west, plinkers, coyote callers, a little big game, and countless other applications, this historic cartridge stands the test of time…Doing serious work along the way. Tune in to listen to Ryan M. talk all ab...

Maximize your shotgun’s pellet-slinging performance by adding a red dot sight. It’s fast, easy, and relatively inexpensive. Mounting solutions, extending effective range, better sight picture, increased accuracy (even from awkward positions), are just a few of the advantages. And if you’re a “one shotgun to do it all” type of person – have no fear. Taking the sight off for your waterfowl and uplan...

Vortex’s Scott Parks and Tucker Schmidt guide us through the deepest darkest depths of the reloading equation. Annealing. These guys know their reloading stuff and annealing is no exception. What is annealing? How does it work? What’s happing to the metal? When should you anneal? What makes brass so special. Literally a heated topic, they go through the ins, outs, how-to’s and everything else to g...

Sturgeon spearing is an ultra-unique fishery on Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago system. Longtime outdoor writer, Navy man, Wisconsin native and friend of Vortex, Pat Durkin, spearheads this interesting conversation all about the practice. We cover its roots, spearing tactics, and the sense of community surrounding it that’s larger than the fish themselves…And these fish are pretty big. As always, we wa...

MeatEater’s Steven Rinella and longtime friend of Vortex, joins Mark for a great conversation covering trapping, writing, 10 years of MeatEater and its evolution, getting kids into hunting (coincidentally Steve has a book out - “Outdoor Kids in an Inside World”), and more. Steve’s incites on hunting and life in general, are inspiring and thought provoking. His ability to articulate hunting’s nuanc...

Vortex’s Jimmy Jordan tags in with Ryan Muckenhirn for this cartridge talk on the extremely capable 6.5 Swedish. Jimmy was the first person to bring this cartridge to my, (Mark B’s) attention many years ago…And is the only person I know to own one. Frankly, when he mentioned it, I thought it sounded French – which doesn’t make sese at all. What does make sense are its numbers on paper, its perform...