Vortex Nation Podcast

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

Mark and Jim were astounded when in-house long-range shooter, Nick Laufenberg, did some simple subtraction and had them hitting targets out to 800 yards with their 6.5 Creedmoor’s  - without ever touching a ballistic calculator. Tune in to hear how this mathemagician did it!

Hound hunting for bears, mountain lions and other game where regulations allow, can be a hot-button topic for hunters and non-hunters alike. It’s often under attack, but why? As with many things, education and understanding are paramount when it comes to formulating a valid opinion – no matter where your view ultimately falls. That’s why we brought on Kirk and Josh from “The Untamed” - Two Experienced hound hunters who can speak to their personal journeys with the practice, common misconceptions that surround it, their love for their dogs and the lifestyle, the wildlife management and controlled harvest aspect (if they choose to harvest), and all of the ultra-rewarding interpersonal relationships it fosters along the way. If you are curios about hound hunting, have questions about hound hunting, or have an opinion about hound hunting  - good or bad, tune in to get perspective from two good guys who actually do it. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered

Few subjects garner more contention than how to cook the perfect steak. I mean, we are all masters of our grilling domain, right? Mark and Jim sit down with in-house chef, Travis Vogel, to tackle this hotly debated topic? From Sous vide to cast iron, butter to bacon, and the why behind it all, this is a good one for anyone who eats red meat!  What are your tips to cook the perfect steak?

Competition AR Vs. Duty AR. Big difference, or semantics? Will a competition AR get you “killed in the streets” due to its guaranteed unreliability? Is a duty AR, selected with considerations that matter not when seeking a podium finish? The answers you seek lye between the ears of our very own Adam Maxwell. Lucky for us, he shares his wealth of knowledge on this all-important matter. Tune in to find out if you are geared up for success. ARe you ready?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

Shout out to Greg Lewis (@glewisecom_) for suggesting…and requesting and requesting and requesting…the 7.62x25 as one of our 10-Minute Talks. This bottlenecked pistol cartridge is flat-out cool-as-heck. Tune in to hear Ryan Muckenhirn enlighten us on this unique, ahead-of-its-time, blast from the past!...Thanks Greg!

The only thing hotter than .22 Long ammo on the shelf is NRL 22 and NRL 22X. Fast, fun, family oriented with a lower barrier to entry compared to other shooting disciplines, if you love to shoot, want to get into shooting, and are looking for a good time, this may be for you! From indoor events and casual gatherings with the .22 you grew up with, all the way to matches where the rifles more closely resemble the heavy tricked-out rifles found at a Centerfire Precision Rifle Match, there is something for everyone when it comes to NRL .22. Listen in to find out more about your new hobby! 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

So you made, have, or are looking into getting a self-bow, recurve bow or similar. But how do you shoot the dang thing? Good question – and good thing we have Clay Hayes of Season 8 of History Channel’s hit show “Alone”, where participants test their mental toughness, physical toughness, and bushcraft in a crazy competition of survival and attrition – to explain it to us. Clay is not only a master of making bows out of trees he fells, splits, dries and crafts into art-like arrow-sending implements, he’s a master of shooting them as well. Follow along as Mark and Jim pick his larger than average brain in an effort to fast track their shooting prowess.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

Long before Clay Hayes ever appeared on Season 8 of History Channel’s hit show “Alone”, where participants test their mental toughness, physical toughness, and bushcraft in a crazy competition of survival and attrition, he was building self-bows and teaching others to do the same.  Folks like Jim and Mark, who made the trek to Florida to tap into clays wealth of hard-earned self-bow knowledge. Making bows, hunting with them and sharing his passion for it are at the heart of who Clay is. Follow along as he details the fascinating process of making a self-bow and much 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 asking us on Instagram @vortexnationpodcast

In this episode, we sit down with Biologist, Bowyer, and Outdoor Bad-Ass, Clay Hayes (As seen on Season 8 of History Channel’s hit show “Alone”, where participants test their mental toughness, physical toughness, and bushcraft). Clay is one of the coolest, most knowledgeable and capable guys you may run across in the woods. If you do see him in the field, it’s likely you have some grit yourself, based on the fact you are probably deep in the backcountry chasing critters in some nasty hole few dare to go. After talking with Clay and getting to know him while on our self-bow-building journey, one thing is certain, the “Most Interesting Man in the World” title isn’t up for grabs any more. Clay took it! Tune in to get to know Clay and absorb some great self-bow info!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

Bees, small insects, BIG considerations! On this episode of the Vortex Nation Podcast, we with sit down with repeat guest, hunting badass and bee sting survivor, Joey Pyburn, to recount his backcountry bout with an aggressive bee. Just because you may not be allergic to bees now, doesn’t mean you can’t develop a reaction. Follow along to hear how Joey handled it in the field, as well as how he followed up. This is a single account of a single event with a single person. This is not professional medical advice and in no way shape or form should be treated as such. Consult your medical provider for medical advice and treatment specific to you and your medical history. Also, we know yellow jackets and other wasps are of the wasp family, but it was just easier to call them bees and had better alliteration in the copy.

Developing the ultimate gun dog ain’t easy. It takes, work, time, know-how, years of experience and a dog suited for the task at hand. Chad Belding from The Fowl Life TV and Brad Arrington from Mossy Pond Retrievers join Mark and Jim for a doggoned good discussion on gundogs, a few misconceptions and some of their training methods/philosophies. Brad is one of the best in the business! One thing is clear, these guys know what they want out of dog and how to make a dog everything it can be. There’s no one size fits all when it comes to dog training. Every breed is different, and every dog is different. Do you have a new pup? Mossy Pond Retrievers may be your ticket to the dog of your dreams!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

Why is your dot so high bro? Mounting red dot sights what may seem comically high is in vogue these days. But what is the practical reason behind this practice? Tune in to find out!