Vortex Nation Podcast

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Welcome to the Vortex Nation Podcast. Brought to you by lovers of hunting, shooting, public lands, the Second Amendment and dang good food.

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942 episodes
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Episodes942

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Mar 29, 2024 · 30 min
The Cartridge You Hate | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 18
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.
Mar 26, 2024 · 30 min
#10MinuteTalk - NFA Trusts with Silencer Shop — What You Need to Know
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 points of silencer ownership. Don’t wait. Enjoy the benefits of a suppressor as soon as possible…which
Mar 25, 2024 · 58 min
Ep. 332 | Backcountry Power with Dark Energy — Not All Batteries are Created Equal
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 power, what makes a good battery, best practices for care, runs us through his product suite, and teas
Mar 19, 2024 · 29 min
#10MinuteTalk - Prevent Muzzy Misfires — Tips and Tricks
You too can prevent muzzy misfires. Guns that load from the front can be inherently finicky and susceptible to environmental factors centerfire rifles shrug off with indifference. That’s part of the reason you generally get a special season. It’s simply harder. Equal parts challenge and frustration, getting your muzzleloader to go bang no matter what takes extra thought and care. And even with that thought and care, “stuff” happens. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn chat through ways to ensure y
Mar 18, 2024 · 1 hr 43 min
Ep. 331 | Everything Arrows with Day Six Gear — And It’s a Lot
Clip in for a highly informative arrow podcast with Bryan Broderick of Day Six Gear. Combine 12 lifetimes of putting arrows in critters with an engineering mind and you get a company built around a balanced philosophy of practical performance. Tips to knocks, we cover it all.
Mar 12, 2024 · 33 min
#10MinuteTalk - Pistol Braces — They’re Baaaaaaack
Justice prevails for the gun community and The United States of America itself. Pistol braces are back baby. Light, compact, incredibly practical, and no tax stamp required, pistol braces are a great option for shooters of any stature. Their intrinsic form factor makes them the perfect tool for a variety of applications. First guns to truck guns, a pistol brace may be the ideal option for you. To the best of our knowledge, this information is correct at press time. Always confirm laws and regula
Mar 11, 2024 · 1 hr 11 min
Ep. 330 | 9mm vs 10mm — Bear Defense Breakdown
Back from shooting 9mm and 10mm pistols at charging paper targets, ballistic gel blocks, and bear skulls, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn have a lot to digest — so they can best prevent being digested by a bear. What pistol did they shoot better? Why? Which round performed better and by how much? Can less be more? Tune in as they dive deeper into their findings.
Mar 5, 2024 · 16 min
#10MinuteTalk - Golf Rangefinders vs Hunting Rangefinders
Vortex’s Golf rangefinders have specific features optimized for the application. But what are those features? Is there crossover with hunt/shoot rangefinders? Tune in to hear why you may need to up your game by adding a new Vortex Golf rangefinder to your golf bag. 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
Mar 4, 2024 · 14 min
Ep. 329 | Does a Full-Size Pistol Make the Most Sense?
Pistols come in all shapes and sizes. But what is the best size for your first pistol? What is the best size for your carry pistol? Are they perhaps the same? Pete Schreier from Vortex Edge® sits down with host Mark Boardman to chat through his full-size-pistol philosophy. What are you packing? Will it change after this podcast? Tune in to find out.
Feb 27, 2024 · 27 min
#10MinuteTalk - Accuracy Under $10? — The Barrel Deresonator
Mark Boardman twists off his Barrel Deresonator, Ryan Muckenhirn twists the truth, and Jimmy Hamilton is along for the ride as they debate the merit of this unique device. The boys go back and forth on its physical appearance and performance — including testimonials to its accuracy-improving potential. Ultimately, they make a plan to test it at the range. Tune in for some barrel-tuning fun.
Feb 26, 2024 · 47 min
Ep. 328 | The Versatile Red Dot — Your Sighting System Answer?
Red dot sights are the answer to so many firearm-topping needs. Pistol – red dot. AR for close-to-medium engagements – red dot. Shotgun – red dot. Double rifle – red dot. Bolt gun for driven game or dense forest — red dot. Fast, light, compact, and effective, red dots provide the ability to stay target focused for optimal performance down range. Mark Boardman and Adam Maxwell (Vortex Law Enforcement Sales/Competitive Shooter) talk red dots, including an at-press-time new model, until they are bl
Feb 23, 2024 · 28 min
Pro Wrestlers and Open-Sight Shoot-Off’s | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 17
Mark and Ryan stand side-by-side in a head-to-head battle of words and wisdom. Ok, “wisdom” might be a bit strong. From the professional wrestler they would take hunting, to the movie “Leave the World Behind,” and an open-sighted spaghetti-shoot-off at Vortex Edge®, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Feb 20, 2024 · 15 min
#10MinuteTalk - Battery Life vs. Battery Run Time
Don’t be deceived by inflated numbers that look better on paper than in practice. Mike Rosen (Vortex New Product Development) and Liam Ward (Vortex Product Marketing) give us the rundown on battery run time — and why it’s a more useful and concrete measurement.
Feb 19, 2024 · 55 min
Ep. 327 | The 30-30 Winchester — Is Grandpa Still Right?
Back from the range, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn continue their evaluation of the good old 30-30 Winchester. Uniquely original, a first in its class, and potent deer medicine, is this more-than-century old cartridge all (most) deer hunters need? With bullet-extracting tools in hand, they circle the wagons on the gel blocks and pull projectiles for the rest of the story.
Feb 13, 2024 · 31 min
#10MinuteTalk - The #1 Bushcraft Skill — Fire Starting with Remi Warren
Comfort and comradery to saving your life, the ability to reliably start a fire under any circumstance mother nature can throw at you is imperative. Expert hunter and outdoorsman Remi Warren has started a lot of fires in a wide variety of conditions (all controlled and safely put out). Learn what he’s learned and practice fire starting when it doesn’t count — so it works when it does!
Feb 12, 2024 · 45 min
Ep. 326 | The Best Long-Range Reticle — EBR-7D Breakdown
There’s a lot going on and a lot you can do with the EBR-7D reticle, but you need to know how to use it. Vortex Edge® instructor Corey Eliasson drops by to break down the EBR-7D reticle. Extremely well thought out, every feature of this reticle has purpose and meaning. Tune in to hear all about it and decide for yourself.
Feb 6, 2024 · 27 min
#10MinuteTalk - Calling Raccoons for Fur, Fun, Food and Conservation
Fur prices are in the tank. Perfect! There’s never been a better time to hunt raccoons. Populations have boomed, they are plentiful, and these callable critters are fun to hunt. Mark Boardman, Erik Barber, and Ryan Muckenhirn aren’t professional coon hunters, but they share what they know in this podcast and make a pact to chase coons together before the season ends. Additionally, just because you’re not selling fur, doesn’t mean you can’t put it up for personal projects. And if handled/cooked p
Feb 5, 2024 · 59 min
Ep. 325 | Gunpowder — An Explosive Podcast with Chris Hodgdon
If you’ve ever fired a shot, you used gunpowder. This substance is integral to the ultimate function of every firearm and firearm discipline. Hunting, recreational shooting, self-defense, law enforcement, military conflict — gunpowder was there. It shaped our country, kept us alive, and keeps us safe today. But how much thought have you put into this nearly magical substance? Chris Hodgdon from the Hodgdon Powder Company joins Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn to chat about all things gunpowder.
Jan 30, 2024 · 31 min
#10MinuteTalk - The Best Coyote Caliber Is?
High-stepping .17’s, your good old .223, the lightning-fast 22-250, or the dog-anchoring .243? Which of these cartridges takes the coyote crown. Or is it another? Just about every cartridge has taken a coyote at one time or another, but what’s the best coyote cartridge and why? Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and in-house coyote connoisseur, Bill Krivanek, sit down to discuss this question. Do you agree with their reasoning? Tune in to find out.
Jan 29, 2024 · 1 hr 12 min
Ep. 324 | GeoBallistics® — Comprehensive Ballistics Functionality in the Palm of Your Hand
It’s time to go ballistic – GeoBallistics® that is. You can’t shoot long range without an accurate ballistic solution. The GeoBallistics app gives you that solution in an intuitive, easy-to-operate format. Accounts for all shot influencing variables with specific modes and features optimized for your shooting application. Integrates seamlessly with select Vortex products. Tune in if you’re interested in spot-on ballistic information and precision long-range shots.