Vortex Nation Podcast

We can’t believe it’s been two years of podcasting already! After all this time, it seemed like a good idea to do an episode for you all to get to know our hosts, Jimmy and Mark, a little bit better. This breaks the normal trend of our mostly instructional episodes and focuses solely on having a little fun. Don’t worry – we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled episodes right after this. Here’s to another 2+ years of podcasting!

If you like heart-pounding,  edge-of-your seat, ground-based  whitetail action like we do –  listen to this podcast  -  then go check out the DVD’s Jared Scheffler/Whitetail Adrenaline has been putting out since 07. Yes I said DVDs’, yes they are still making them and yes you should pick one up and have an old fashioned DVD party with your hunting homeys - complete with snacks and a cold one, or two, or……. we’re not your Mom, do what you want. In this episode, we sit down with Jared to talk about how he left the trees to pursue these cagey for-legged ungulates on his own two feet, the tactics he’s developed over the years, the advantages, stories of the ones that got away, ones that didn’t and a whole lot 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

Don’t blame yourself, it could be your equipment. Jimmy, Mark and well, pretty much just our beloved Ryan Muckenhirn, talk you through the things you should check on your rifle and in what order to rule out inconsistencies in accuracy. We also cover how and why issues may manifest so you can spot them easier. We’ve all experienced accuracy ghosts – those things that seem unexplainable. You tear your hair out and burn ammo trying to ferret out the culprit and remedy the problem for days and possibly weeks. Maybe even never. You’re not alone. Listen in to this enlightening podcast and you may just regain some sanity and learn how to get that rifle-rig shooting straight.

The title says it all – Does putting a suppressor on the end of your rifle make it inherently less accurate? More accurate? No different at all? Reuben and Adam, our in house “Can Bois” for all things NFA, discuss the many variables and details that go into not only how suppressors work in terms of making your shot quieter, but also how they influence the performance of your rifle. Notice we didn’t say “Hurt” the performance of your rifle – You’ll have to listen to figure out that part!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

Taping the muzzle of your rifle – common practice for some, extreme uncertainty for others. I mean how could sealing the business--end of your rifle not effect accuracy? It has to right? Or does it? Jimmy, Mark and our beloved Ryan “Mucky” Muckenhirn sit down to discuss this very topic. Listen up, it may just save your hunt!

I’ve you’ve been shooting for really any amount of time, chances are you’ve found yourself in the incredibly frustrating situation where you just can’t seem to hit a target no matter what you do. We’ve certainly been there, too! It really doesn’t matter whether it’s at 1,000+ yards or 100 yards, there are so many variables that go into every single shot, it can happen on any rifle or at any distance. Scott Parks and Reuben Aleckson join Jimmy and Mark to discuss, from some pro shooter’s perspectives, all the many reasons you may be having those frustrating misses. Spoiler alert – a great deal of it has nothing to do with the equipment, and everything to do with the shooter. Don’t worry, though – if this is your case, it doesn’t make you a bad shooter – it happens to all of us. Just learn from those situations for the future!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

If you hunt, shoot or compete with an optics-equipped firearm, this could be the most important information you hear or that you can give to your friends to create the most reliable, accurate and repeatable setup possible. “Over-Torqued Rings” is a phrase we’ve mentioned in the past on the podcast and one you may have heard about on the internet from time to time. There’s all kinds of different rings/mounts/specs/ideas/theories out there that can make actually getting the right information on how to properly tighten the rings around your scope tube difficult. While it’s nearly impossible for us to go through every single ring/mount ever created, Jimmy and Mark give a breakdown on the most common ring/mount types we see and not only how to set them up properly, but also why it’s so important that you do. We also talk about scope position in the rings, why the use of thread locker is unnecessary for your ring screws, and a bunch more… *Please note* - When Jimmy discussed the torque sequence for vertically split

What do you do when the tide of a war has changed and suddenly your complicated, pole-vault-pole-length, bolt action rifles are no longer a viable solution to close quarters combat or outfitting a massive fighting force? Get out your sheet metal, some random parts from the hardware store, a few car mufflers and as many hands as you can get to build stuff and start cranking out some submachine guns. Few other categories of firearms come in so many unique shapes, sizes, and chamberings with such incredible stories behind each of their developments. Ryan Muckenhirn joins Jimmy and Mark to discuss everything from the classic Tommy Gun and some other obscure old SMG’s to the more modern designs made famous by James Bond’s and Call of Duty’s on the big screens. If you’re a firearm enthusiast, this one has your name written all over 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

Much to Mark’s delight, Ryan Muckenhirn joins him and Jimmy to discuss the 300 WSM. (Sorry, Texans – there’s a lot of different pronunciations we throw around of “WSM” in this one). All of Jimmy’s joking to poke fun at Mark aside, the 300 WSM is one impressive cartridge and to quote Ryan himself, could be looked at as “The modern day gentleman’s 30-06”. That’s a big claim to make, but could it be true? We talk all about design, performance, comparisons and limitations (Just to bug Mark) in this quick podcast!

The 4-legged critters we chase are often adorned with impressive headgear…..Not like those back-in-the day tooth-straightening torture devises. We’re talking regal, powerful, impressive, elegant headgear made of bone or hair. Some fall off annually to grow back bigger and can be picked up like Easter-egg-like forest treasures. Some have annuli, grow bigger every year and stay with the animal until the day it dies. And the case of the North-American Pronghorn – commonly called just antelope –  kind of do both of those things, falling somewhere in the middle. Jimmy, Mark and Ryan M. sit down with a stack of euro mounts to chat through the unique characteristics of horns and antlers. No matter which camp they fall in, one thing is certain, they are just plant cool!

Get the lead out,  keep it in….or a little bit of both. Lead in ammunition is a hot topic these days. Seems we can all agree we want to maintain the health and integrity of the environment. And we certainly don’t want to compromise our personal health, our family’s health or anybody who consumes wild game we bring to the table using ammunition containing lead. But what are the real risks? What does the research show us, so we can make the most informed and practical decisions. What would be the economic ramifications if non-lead became the requirement for all ammunition. What would be the performance limitations of certain firearms? These are the questions we ask Nephi Cole from the National shooting Sports foundation. He cites several studies as we chat through what can be a complex and at times controversial topic. So many things need to be taken into consideration. The good news is, products exist so we can all make a personal choice as it relates to the matter. So we have that going for us – which is nice

If you’re familiar with all four official NATO cartridges, you had to know this one was coming as the grand finale to our NATO cartridges series. The incredible 50 BMG – perhaps sometimes looked at as though made of unicorn horns and leprechaun dust – Ryan Muckenhirn explains the origins of this old beast, what its reasonable capabilities actually are, its many applications, and why you should have a half inch gun in your own safe for when SHTF. You simply can’t miss the one about the biggest of them all.

In this installment of the Vortex Nation Podcast, we sit down with Robbie Kroger and Braxton McCoy to talk about Braxton’s story and the powerful film Robby put together to help tell it. Serving our country, Braxton suffered extreme injuries and was told he may never walk again. He’s battled demons, worked his ass off to overcome challenges difficult to comprehend and put himself in a place most would think impossible. From breaking horses to guiding hunters, the healing process and the book he wrote “The Glass Factory,” tune in for this inciteful, inspirational, and informational conversation. To watch Robbie’s film, head over to the Vortex YouTube channel. As Robbie says, “Everybody has a story to tell.” This is not only a good story, but an important story. Thank you to Braxton and all our Military Personnel for your service and sacrifice.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 @vortexnationpodca

In this episode, we go over 20 MOA bases (Or really any kind of canted base, for that matter - there are other options besides 20 MOA!) What do they actually do, how do they work, how do they actually affect your scope, why would anyone actually ever need one and what are some times when it could actually be the wrong move for your particular firearm and optic combo. Heck - your gun may already have 20 MOA built into the rail it came with! These types of bases can be a great practical tool when used the right way and in the right context. Check it out and let’s us know whether or not you use a canted base and why!

Ryan Muckenhirn joins Jimmy and Mark to discuss the 7.62x51 NATO, and inevitably, it’s civilian cousin the .308 in this episode from our NATO cartridge series. We talk about what it is, where it came from, what it was used for and out of which firearm platforms along with maybe the idea that there could be some conspiracy theories behind this cartridge? Ryan also compares this cartridge to his Dad, earning it the new nickname in our books as just “Dad”. Listen in to find out why!

Fitness and Mental fitness go hand-in-hand. They can build each other up – or tear each other down. In this episode, we dive into a great conversation with our neighbor to the north and first international guest, Greg McHale, getting into the nitty-gritty of those topics, extreme mountain hunting, professional adventure racing, poisonous plants and more. Greg has no quit and it shows in the stories he tells on this podcast, as well as the hunts he and his team document. Check out Greg’s Bio below for brief glimpse into that which is the Greg. Listen to this podcast for the whole thing. BIOGreg McHale is the host of Greg McHale's Wild Yukon, a hunting television show airing on the Sportsman Channel and available on YouTube and CarbonTV. Greg's background of mountaineering and adventure racing has helped him craft his hard-charging approach to mountain hunting. Living in the Yukon, Greg hunts Dall's Sheep, goats, moose and bison. Using boots, packrafts, a floatplane and snow and all-terrain machines, Greg pushe

Honestly, who doesn’t have a 5.56 or one of the new and fancy “.223 Wylde’s” in their arsenal? This cartridge has become one of if not the most ubiquitous cartridges in our world and we often take it for granted just being there and being what it is. Ryan Muckenhirn joins Jimmy and Mark to take it back to where it all began, what the cartridge has been intended for in its long use with NATO forces, how many different loads there are, what makes it different from its civilian cousin the .223, and what might be the future of this cartridge? Check it out!

"Ultralight" is in the title of this one so you already know who our esteemed guest is going to be - Lightweight Dave! Dave joins us to talk about his latest ultralight rifle build that he plans to take to the mountain this fall during the unlimited sheep hunt. Ryan Muckenhirn joins as well as we discuss ways to make a rifle extremely light, tradeoffs one may need to face when going so light (i.e. - Recoil?!) and a bunch of other ultralight-type stuff as well. If you've been looking for ways to cut ounces, and maybe even pounds depending on where you're starting out, from your hunting kit - check this one 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

Perhaps you didn’t even know shotguns could be suppressed, or maybe you did and you’re wondering how it works or what shells can work with the can on the end? Reuben Aleckson and Dan Knuth (New guest) join us to talk about Dan’s Benelli M2 shotgun with a Silencerco Salvo on the end. He shoots with it all the time in almost every application and with a huge variety of ammunition types. Check it out if you’ve been curious as to whether or not you should silence your scatter gun!

With all these cartridge-based 10 minute talks, we decided it would be a good idea to talk about some of the more common and often forgotten like the remote you lost in your hand cartridges out there, most of those being NATO cartridges. So, the first in our “NATO Series” is the 9x19 – often just referred to as the 9mm. What is NATO, what’s the origin story of this cartridge, what makes the NATO version different from the regular 9mm ammo you get at the store (If at all?), and how has the 9mm evolved over time to become more effective in comparison to some of the larger calibers out there like .45 acp? You’ll find out right here! Stay tuned for more NATO cartridges in the coming weeks, too. We’re doing all four!