On a backpack hunt, what you don’t take is as important as what you do. Every item comes with consequence. Bring it and you have it — along with the weight penalty it bears. Don’t bring it and go without something you may need. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn chat through items left behind on Mark’s alpine bear hunt, whether it was the right call…

Get pumped up for this podcast all about pump rifles. Forgotten by many and preferred by most in some regions, the slide-action centerfire is unique and effective. Nowadays, there aren’t many being made. Will they ever make a comeback? For nostalgia-sake and those living in regions where this style of rifle shines, we hope so. Tune in for this ode …

Perhaps no cartridge receives as much love or hate as the 6.5 Creedmoor. In this episode, Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn and Jimmy’s proxy (a stuffed pigeon) focus on the hate by analyzing 6.5 Creedmoor memes. Tune in for a fun, lighthearted conversation compliments of the all-mighty internet. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know i…

Share your hero's story Dale Veneklasen and Brian Soliday join Mark Boardman and Brittani Owens to talk about the Vortex Believe in Heroes program, the Rocky Mountain Heroes Foundation, Dale’s impressive military career, his history of serving others, and being selected to go to the Armed Forces Bowl. Tune in to hear from/about two incredible peopl…

We wait all year for the whitetail rut. If you’re entering the home stretch with an unpunched tag, anxiety can be at an all-time high. Good news, Slingin' Rik is back with some last-minute rut tips to help you bring that big whitetail buck to bag. Don’t lose hope! This can be the best time to make your whitetail dreams come true! As always, we want…

Knox Williams from the American Suppressor Association (ASA) drops in to give us a rundown on the organization and the important work they are doing. As hunters and shooters, we are reaping the benefits. Tune in for an update on suppressor-related issues and positive movement. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any t…

Shots are fired, feelings are bruised, awkward passes are made at an old woman, and the guys receive a stuffed pigeon with a special meatball message. Does Mark FINALLY break his long-standing losing streak? Does Jim score the rounds impartially? Do things get weird like they normally do? Watch to find out. As always, we want to hear your feedback!…

The Remington CORE-LOKT has been knocking big game down since 1939. Revolutionary at its inception, this bullet set a standard in projectile performance. Today, it is the “everyman’s” get-it-done option. Value and performance packed, it simply delivers. Listen as Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn give high praise to this iconic bullet that will no …

Late October is not only an exciting time to hunt whitetails but can be the absolute best time to kill the big buck you are after. Vortex’s Slingin' Rik is back to chat late October whitetail tactics. Reading sign, calling, decoys, scents, weather patterns, terrain, and public vs private strategies — we cover it all. If you hunt whitetails, this is…

Hits like a 12, carries like a 20. The 16 gauge may be the perfect all-around solution for any shotgunning endeavor. So why isn’t it more popular? Should it be? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn chat about this often neglected but incredibly effective option. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like c…

Bullet stability: What is it? You ever thought about it? Why does it matter? Should you be thinking about it? How is it best achieved? Are there myths that need busting? Hornady’s ballistician extraordinaire and so much more, Jayden Quinlan, joins Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn to get us all learned up on bullet stability. As always, we want to …

If more is better, the .280 Remington must certainly outshine the venerable .270. Nope. Does this mean the .280 Remington can’t take down big game with gusto? Nope. Does the .280 Remington do anything more established cartridges don’t? Nope. By the numbers, it’s a heck of a cartridge. Alas, it is a lead balloon. Tune in to hear about this fine cart…

Spartan Precision — intelligent, ultralight, practical, fast, versatile, and adaptive rifle support. Rob Gearing, founder of Spartan Precision, joins Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn for an entertaining and informative podcast detailing the Spartan Precision story and their products. Getting steady in the heat of the moment is critical for executi…

This spotting scope is soon to be one of your favorite optics. Listen as Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn profess what they love about this compact, lightweight, and incredibly capable spotter. 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 @v…

Lone Wolf Custom Gear’s, Cody D’Acquisto, is back to chat mobile whitetail hunting tactics, October bucks, and how his minimalist gear set has changed since our last conversation. If you hunt whitetails, don’t miss this 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™ podcas…

A big pill, a badass name, and…maybe that’s it? Why do we have this cartridge? What was/is it used for? Should it receive the dreaded “lead balloon” status? Decide for yourself as we chat about this curious cartridge born from serious talk yet saw little action. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd lik…

Testing complete, Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn and special guest Reuben Aleckson break down their 6mm ARC terminal test. One factory offering is contrasted with handloads intended to maximize the performance of this petite cartridge in the bolt rifle platform. Listen as they dissect the project, the gel blocks, and Reuben’s field experience shoot…

Rock — Paper — Scissors — Spaghetti Shootout. Your favorite series is back for its third and final season! Can Mark Boardman turn the tide against his good friend/Spaghetti Shootout arch enemy Ryan Muckenhirn to pull out a winning season, or will he, in classic form, blow a trivia question he’s known the answer to his entire life due to a deep-seat…

Silencers live their suppressing lives subjected to extreme conditions to say the least. Like most things, a little maintenance is required for optimal performance. Chase Glenn from SilencerCo joins Mark Boardman and Scott Parks to chat suppressor care and cleaning. It may be simpler than you think. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us …

You get five guns. What are they? One of our listeners asked this very question – so we sat down to answer it. Tune in for four different takes on the perfect five-gun repertoire. 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 @vortexnationpodc…

Vortex Edge® Hunter Marksmanship Class of 2024 Valedictorian, Erik Barber, drops by to recap the course. Experienced hunter and crack shot, Erik proves once again there is always something to learn when it comes to hunting and shooting. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Na…

The 1911 Stood up for America and its soldiers as a service pistol for nearly 80 years — and still stands today as one of the most capable pistol designs in existence. 1911 enthusiast, expert competitive shooter, amateur historian, and Vortex Mil/LE account manager, Adam Maxwell, joins the crew to chat all about this more than iconic pistol. As alw…

Vortex’s Travis Jones is at it again with his 33 Nosler. This thing is an absolute long-range bomber. Lisen to hear about the rifle, cartridge, and impressive ballistics he’s getting out of 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…

Riflescopes are often wrongly accused suspects when it comes to accuracy issues. A complete rifle with mounted optic is a system. It must be set up correctly with all the right components working in harmony. If one variable is out, you’ll likely see it rear its ugly head in the form of inconsistent impacts down range. Tune in for troubleshooting ti…

ElkShape’s Dan Staton works hard at everything bowhunting and is never satisfied. This includes his arrow setups. Dan’s “Always be Tinkering” (ABT) attitude is fueled by passion and a perpetual search for optimal bow performance. Tune in to hear about his elk and whitetail arrows at the time of this recording. It’s more than 24 hours later, so they…

Thomas Mlsna from Untamed Ambition Joins Mark Boardman and Josh Diederich to talk habitat management and early-season whitetail tactics. Thomas plants high-grade seeds of information throughout the conversation guaranteed to yield results – for you and the critters who call your land home. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if th…

Light transmission isn’t one dimensional. Multiple factors play into this important, but often misunderstood attribute of an optic. Rob Morell (Vortex® New Product Development) joins Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn to shed some light on this subject. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered …

Backcountry hunting expert, Ryan Lampers, talks all about water treatment methods and best practices. From what he used back in the day to the system he uses today; he provides important tips to keep you healthy and hunting. 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…

High-end eyewear that fits your face and the demands of your active hunting, shooting, outdoors, and daily life. Polarized, ballistic-rated, shatter-resistant lenses are at home on the range, on the water, and at your kid’s soccer game. Lenses also cover your tears when at some less-than-ideal obligatory function not doing what you really wish you …

Adam Kraut from the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) joins Mark Boardman and Sawyer Briel to chat SAF, current 2A battles, where the money goes, and the Vortex®/SAF Crafted Impact T-shirt collaboration. When you purchase one these special-edition, limited run, cool-as-heck shirts, you support the Second Amendment Foundation in their mission to fos…

Remi Warren is one of the most experienced hunters in the world. That experience has led him to develop several hunting mantras that if followed, deliver time and again. Choosing the right approach, to finding your knife when the dirty work is done, Remi gives us hunting words to live by. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if the…

Elk Shape’s Dan Staton joins Mark to chat backcountry food and nutrition. They cover stuff they like, their food strategies, and break down Mark’s daily ration. They even find a nutritional hole in Mark’s food game he will want to fill with additional items. The best part about a week of food in the field — the greasy burger you get at the local di…

Early season critters taken with antlers shrouded in velvet require special care if the hunter desires to preserve them in their fuzzy form. No easy task considering their delicate nature and often warm daily temps that may accelerate the decomposition process. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn talk through what worked with a nice Sitka blacktail a…

Since 1989, Barnes has been leading the charge in the all-copper bullet arena. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn sit down with Mike Painter and Gregg Sloan in their home state of Utah to chat through their bullets, how they work and more. Is Ryan completely biased toward these projectiles? Yes. For good reason? You decide. As always, we want to hea…

Fast, simple, and effective, using a Vortex® custom yardage-marked turret may be your ticket to extending your effective hunting/shooting distance. Range in yards, dial in yards, and execute the shot. Listen and learn about this great tool. Get one FREE with select riflescopes! As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any …

Compact optics are the definition of, “Big things come in small packages.” Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn highlight these optical powerhouses and where they will enhance your hunting/observation game! Don’t be fooled by appearances. Compact optics may provide all the optical performance you need while saving space and weight in the field. As alw…

Adam Maxwell and Ryan Muckenhirn are in the house to chat Auxiliary Micro Red Dots along with the pros and cons of common mounting positions. 45-degreee offset or 12 O’clock? At the end of this podcast, you’ll know if you need one and where to stick it. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered…

Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn break down their 2024 budget rifle test and review from top to bottom. No bolt is left unturned as they deep dive into the intricacies of each, what they liked, disliked and were surprised by. Tune in for facts and opinions that may just lead to your next big game boom stick. As always, we want to hear your feedbac…

Elk Shape’s Dan Staton gets a little salty in this conversation all about hydration and hydration supplements. Water and salt are essential. Dan hits us with some great info along with things we ought to be thinking about to maximize our human performance in the field. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics yo…

Dan Gates from CRWM (Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management) and his team have been in the trenches battling an anti-hunting agenda fueled by disinformation, big budgets, and emotion. His organization focuses on CO, but if you think your state, the way you hunt, and the critters you chase are somehow safe or exempt — you’re wrong. Listen to…

Concealed carry to competition and everything between, tune in to hear Vortex’s Chris Urrutia and Liam Ward run through the features, benefits, and applications of the Defender Micro Red Dot series. Tough as nails, there is a Defender to fit your needs. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered…

Real life cowboy, rodeo star, rancher, outfitter, self-reliant, tough as nails, fix anything, honest, hard working and grounded. Mike Barthelmess is a rare breed of man getting rarer by the day. Tune in for a super interesting and fun conversation with some great stories drawn from Mike’s life lived. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us…

Looking for the perfect optic? The Vortex® Optics Finder Tool on vortexoptics.com can help narrow your search. Simple and easy to use, follow along as Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn walk through finding your next piece of glass. Try out the Optics Finder! As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like co…

Vortex Edge® Instructor Justin Lipska drops by the studio to drop long-range knowledge bombs. Gear, technique and more, tune in to get insightful tips from a true professional. 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 Vortex Nation™ Podcast studio décor is an eclectic mix of random hunting and shooting-related artifacts…And some that are just plain random (like a framed picture of Jason Alexander). Mark Boardman and Jimmy Hamilton give a guided tour, explaining the “why” behind the seemingly arbitrary nature of the items adorning their walls. As always, we w…

Vortex’s Tucker Schmidt and Scott Parks are back with reloading tips and tricks you can take to the bank…the proverbial bank. We are in no way suggesting…never mind. If you’re into reloading, you’ll likely find what they have to say useful. Or you may flat out disagree and take your rage out in the comments. Either way, give this one a listen. As a…

Serious whitetail hunters use optics and use them well. They are integral to their hunt and their success. Long distance scouting to hardwoods glassing, east to west, bow, rifle, and muzzleloader – optics are a difference maker. So, what should a whitetail optics kit look like? Good question. Tune in as we talk optics for North America’s most popul…

A good set of properly fitting boots is critical to the success of any hunt where your legs are your primary mode of transportation. Raw, seeping, painful, blisters will ruin any hunt fast. Kendall Card and Matt Ericksen from Crispi USA sit down with Mark Boardman at the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo, providing expert tips to ensure your feet…

Vortex’s Scott Hollfelder digs up several AK’s from his backyard, wipes of the Cosmoline, and sits down for a podcast all about his favorite firearm. Tune in for a fun conversation with an AK enthusiast who appreciates the fine attributes of the super cool, super reliable, and historically significant, AK platform. As always, we want to hear your f…

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…