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It’s a cartridge talk, so you already know Ryan Muckenhirn is joining Mark and Jimmy for 10(ish) minutes to lay down some knowledge and a few opinions. This time we’re discussing the .338 Win Mag, which happens to be one of Ryan’s all-time favorite cartridges, but oddly one he doesn’t own a rifle for which it is chambered? Is this thwomper of a North American game-dropper just “Too much medicine”? The answer as usual is “It depends”. Tune in to find out why! Also – special shoutout to those .338 Win Mag fans out there who follow @Vortexnationpodcast on Instagram. This cartridge topic was chosen based on a vote between our recent two most-requested cartridges and edged out the 6mm ARC. Want to have a say in what we talk about in the future? Keep up to date by following our page over on IG!

Lucas Botkin from T.REX Arms joins Mark and Jimmy to give us the who, what, where, why, and how of his company T.REX Arms came to exist. How does a farm kid who got his start making AR-15 mag holders with kydex material he stole off his brother wind up creating one of the most well-known companies in the industry manufacturing their own gear in-house, selling their own curated assortment of firearms accessories, and hosting a firearms and shooting YouTube channel with more than a million followers? Good question! The answers over the course of this podcast won’t disappoint!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

Top-10 to top-pin, Corey Jacobsen (Elk 101/World Champion Elk Caller) tackles his top-10 Elk calling tips to put tines on your wall and meat in the freezer. You won’t believe what happens at tip #7…Ok, that last part was pure clickbait…but it is a good tip.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

Remi Warren empties his quiver of archery elk hunting knowledge in this wapiti-packed podcast full of tips and tricks to get you in the game – literally.  Listen in for locating, calling, setup strategies and more. Are you trying to kill “An Elk”? This is the podcast 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 forgot a tiny cartridge in our “Tiny Calibers” Podcast – and you guys let us know about it. Thanks!...Jim and Mark wrangle the cartridge oracle himself, Ryan Muckenhirn, to find out all about the .17 WSM. Mark was disappointed WSM stands for Winchester Super Magnum - not Short Magnum. Other than that, there’s a heck of a lot to like about this little powerhouse.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

Straight-wall cartridges are surging in popularity as certain state game agencies integrate them into seasons where centerfire rifles were previously not allowed. Increased effective range, better ballistics, better accuracy, fast follow-up shots, clean to shoot, hassle-free loading –  all in a super handy rifle – what’s not to like?  For a lot of folks, the advantages of a straight-wall rifle over their muzzleloader and shotgun counterparts (in general) are many! Jim and Mark grab the all-knowing Ryan Muckenhirn to chat about straight wall cartridges – old and new. They even shoot you straight on the Crossfire® II straight-wall riflescope. A riflescope designed specifically to optimize the general ballistic curve of these great cartridges - and get you in the kill zone on your next buck!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

A 17-year, three-attempt saga for VTNP host Mark Boardman to take a black bear with his 300 WSM in SE AK finally pays off. Tune in to hear why it took so dang long.

The dust hasn’t settled and Mark and Jim are on the horn with ALONE TV show champion Clay Hayes to get the full behind-the-scenes rundown of his survival experience in the wild, wild, wild Canadian bush. Unforgiving country, a grizzly-choked landscape that’s indifferent if you live or die, 10 minimalistic items, the skills Clay developed over a lifetime of seemingly preparing for this challenge, the thoughts in his head, and what he learned about himself and life as a whole  – we cover it all in this unbelievably inciteful post-finale podcast. Tune in to hear all about Clay’s amazing journey, as he once again confirms why he just may be the coolest guy on the planet!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

Whitetail wizard Jarrod Erdody from Next Buck/Whitetail Addictions drops by Vortex on his way back from a summer scouting mission to chat summer scouting….It just made sense. Tune in to get some solid tips from one of the foremost whitetail experts in the woods.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

Brady Miller from goHUNT Joins Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn for a run through on their content platforms, insanely powerful hunt planning tool, and new product from Vortex he’s been testing for months. First timer or  lifelong hunter, there’s something in here for anyone looking to, well, go hunt.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

You approach the stage, get the stage brief, memorize the target engagement order, ready your gear, get asked if you’re ready and the “!BEEP!” go’s off…..What were those targets again? Holy heck that was hard – and fun! Mark and Jim’s trial-by-fire PRS match is in the books. Click play to hear about their experience and get some additional tips from professional precision rifle shooter, Dave Preston, and Vortex precision rifle shooter, Nick Laufenberg. Should Jim and Mark have shot this high-profile match as their first PRS experience? 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 Nation podcast by asking us on Instagram @vortexnationpodcast

Professional Precision Rifle Competitive Shooter, Dave Preston, gets Jim and Mark trained up for their first PRS match, the “Vortex Vengeance”.  Dave is a long-range precision master. The level of detail he scrutinizes, practice he puts in, and number of matches he competes in, is truly next level. In this podcast, we go back to basics – or more accurately, start with the basics of a PRS match – as well as cover the things Dave does that will help you with your first match. 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

Lucky for long range aficionados and newcomers alike, if there’s rifle style, type or configuration, there’s likely a competitive shooting constituent to go along with it. From long range 22 Rimfire competitions like NRL 22, to precision rifle, service rifle, F-Class, and even air gun, the list of long-range competitions available to shooters is, well, long. Tune in to find out more about the many facets and find out which just may be your cup of tea.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

From lightweight hunting rifles with long-range attributes, to heavyweight precision rifles that could double as an incredibly expensive boat anchor - and even what the cool kids are using in the Law enforcement and Military world - we cover the fun stuff in this podcast all about long range GUNS!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

Time to get #Triggered with this 10MinuteTalk on single versus two-stage triggers - in the most triggering of rifles -  the AR-15. What’s the difference? Where does each style shine? Is there one that’s best? In-house trigger-puller, Reuben Aleckson, gives us the scoop on this incredibly important aspect of any AR.

First focal plane (FFP) reticles in hunting riflescopes? Aren’t those reticles for all them “Tactical Folks”. Well, no. The benefits of having an FFP reticle in your hunting riflescope are many – depending on where and how you will predominantly hunt. If short-to-moderate distance shots are your norm, an FFP reticle could be a detractor. If you’ll likely encounter longer shots – 300 yards and beyond – it may make the difference between a punched tag or tag soup. Looking for one scope to do it all? FFP could make sense. If you have, or are looking to extend your effect range, listen in to see if having an FFP reticle is right for you.  Like sneak-peaks at super cool optics? Listen in or watch on YouTube for that as well!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 weighted gun vise calls to us like a siren’s song. On the surface, they make so much sense. No recoil, your rifle clamped in tight, eliminating the human element for ultimate accuracy. Why not use this modern marvel of rifle-zeroing Zen? The reasons are many, and potential negative repercussions for your rifle and optic strong…Not to mention all the time and ammo you’ll spend diagnosing what the hell went wrong.

Heavy arrow setups with a high Front-of-Center (FOC) percentage and single-bevel, cut -on-contact broadheads built for optimal penetration, bone breaking performance and consistent pass-through’s, are the basics of Troy Fowler’s, (a.k.a the “Ranch Fairy”), arrow philosophy. But why? Can’t you get the same total Kinetic Energy with a light arrow moving faster – and it will shoot flatter too? What about momentum? How is it different from Kinetic Energy and is it more important? What happens to an arrow’s potential for penetration long after it leaves the bow? The Ranch Fairy answers these questions and more in this super informative podcast. Warning: You may be tweaking your arrow setup – or at least rethinking what you thought you knew. Watch on YouTube for the full effect – because Troy shows us telling charts that illustrate his points.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

Gas Stations are a big part of any road trip. They fuel your vehicle and your body. But what is the best gas station? Opinions on this tough-to-answer question differ greatly. Regionality plays a role on one’s nationalistic view of their favorite petrol peddler. Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton, Cameraman Cooper Long and the all-knowing Ryan Muckenhirn tackle the tough questions in this riveting 10-minutes of gas-station fury. What attributes make a good gas station? What’s your go-to? Did we miss any? Let us know!!!

par·al·lax  /ˈperəˌlaks/Noun: A mysterious phenomena known to cause confusion, mispronunciation, and possible overthinking. Ok, the real definition: The effect whereby the position or direction of an object appears to differ when viewed from different positions. Mark and Jim grab Vortex’s Mike Tassoul and Ryan Muckenhirn to break down parallax as it relates to shooting, how big a deal it is, and if you should be blaming your misses on 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 @vortexnationpodcast