Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!

I discuss all of the 8mm and 32 caliber SAAMI standardized cartridges (plus a couple of other noteworthy CIP rounds) in this episode. As always, I'll talk about their history, design characteristics, performance specs, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. Where appropriate, I'll also share some personal anecdotes involving these rounds as well as some observations involving various cartridges by not...

I discuss all of the 6.5mm SAAMI standardized cartridges (plus a couple of other noteworthy CIP rounds) in this episode. As always, I'll talk about their history, design characteristics, performance specs, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. Where appropriate, I'll also share some personal anecdotes involving these rounds as well as some observations involving various cartridges by noteworthy gun w...

Today, Rob Massa from the Bergara Academy and the R&K Hunting Company in Wyoming joins me on the show to discuss some observations he has made on what cartridges and bullets work and don't work from over 20 years outfitting elk hunts in Wyoming. I first met Rob while attending an event at the Bergara long range shooting Academy in 2024 and I was incredibly impressed both with his knowledge of shooting and hunting as well with the p...

I just made it home from an outstanding elk hunt in Wyoming! Despite some unique struggles, I had an amazing trip and I successfully took a beautiful bull elk. Today's episode is a detailed recap of this hunt, evaluations of some gear I used, and some of the lessons we learned along the way. I also share two exciting announcements near the end.

Check out my video of the hunt here:

7mm PRC Elk Hunt | R&K Hunting...

John McAdams shares insights on the 22 Creedmoor vs 6.5 Creedmoor informed by real world data on obtained at the range, afield, and in ballistic gel in this podcast episode. John discusses the design characteristics, performance specifications, and pros and cons of each cartridge. Plus, he also shares some details on how different 6.5 Creedmoor and 22 Creedmoor factory loads have performed on game afield.

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Brad Watts, the director of marketing for CVA, joins me on the show to talk about the diverse array of muzzleloaders and rifles CVA produces. Of note, CVA currently produces a number of rifles in more esoteric cartridges like 35 Whelen, 444 Marlin, and 400 Legend. Not only that, but they also produce other rifles and muzzleloaders that are in compliance with very specific hunting regulations in states like Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Lo...

John McAdams shares three different recommendations for ammunition and bullets for deer hunters to use in 2025 informed by real world data on obtained at the range, afield, and in ballistic gel in this podcast episode. John discusses the design characteristics, performance specifications, and pros and cons of each offerings. Plus, he also shares some details on how those different bullets have performed on game afield.

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The legendary 270 Winchester celebrates its 100^th birthday this year in 2025. So, in honor of that impressive milestone, I conduct a deep dive comparing the venerable 270 Winchester to a much newer round with a more modern design that, as you'll learn here shortly, has shockingly similar performance: the 6.5 PRC.

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at...

Matty Nelson, the director of business management for Seekins Precision, joins me on the show to talk about his company their hunting rifles. Of note, Seekins Precision was one of the first companies to pick up both of the SAAMI standardized high pressure cartridges we have right now in the 277 Sig Fury and the new 7mm Backcountry. Not only that, but all the rifles they're producing today are forwards compatible with that same tech...

John McAdams shares insights on the 25 Creedmoor vs 6.5 Creedmoor informed by real world data on obtained at the range, afield, and in ballistic gel in this podcast episode. John discusses the design characteristics, performance specifications, and pros and cons of each cartridge. Plus, he also shares some details on how different 6.5 Creedmoor and 25 Creedmoor factory loads have performed on game afield.

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHunt...

Caleb Giddings, the marketing general manager for Taurus holdings, joins me on the show to talk about Taurus and Rossi firearms. We discuss the history of Taurus and Rossi, the details on some of the hunting handguns and rifles they each offer, and a few hunting stories involving those guns afield hunting in Africa.

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to rece...

Field & Stream shooting editor Richard Mann joins me in this podcast episode to discuss the new, SAAMI standardized 25 Creedmoor. Richard discusses the origins of the 25 Creedmoor, some of his experiences shooting and hunting with it back when it was a wildcat cartridge, why he thinks it's the perfect "Triple Threat" cartridge for varmint hunting, big game hunting, and competition shooting, and what the cartridge offers compared to...

Larry Weishuhn (aka Mr. Whitetail) is back on the show and we discuss a subject I know you'll enjoy: our favorite cartridges for hunting virtually any species of big game. We're play little game where Larry and I each list our favorite cartridge and bullet for hunting specific species of game ranging from coues whitetail all the way up to thick skinned species of African game like cape buffalo and elephant and almost everything in ...

Ron Spomer is back on the show to discuss his adventures hunting brown and grizzly bear on the Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia as well as in Alaska. Ron shares the stories of those hunts (a couple of which are pretty wild) along with a discussion on the rifles, cartridges, and bullets he used.

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North Fork bullets have a stellar reputation for hunting in Africa and are considered by some to be among the best projectiles available for hunting the continent. To that end, North Fork Bullets' technical support specialist and fellow investor Jay Parnell joins John on the podcast today to discusses the whole lineup of North Fork Bullets products, how they're different from the competition, which specific tasks each bullet model ...

As promised, I have a more comprehensive recap of my 2025 African safari hunt with several podcast listeners for you today. I'll talk about that hunt in more detail today and provide some reflections on the results of the hunt, what the Free State was like, and how my equipment (especially my new rifles in 25 Creedmoor and 7mm PRC) performed.

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Though I've interviewed plenty of great Professional Hunters over the years, you don't hear from many trackers in podcast interviews for various reasons. That changes in this episode where I sit down with Pheilemon Mathoko, one of our trackers in South Africa. He is one of the best, if not the best trackers I've ever had the privilege to work with. He and I discuss how to tell whether a track is old or now, how he can identify a pa...

Join me, the three podcast listeners I just hunted with in Africa, and our entire crew of PHs for an informal "campfire style" discussion of the highlights of our July 2025 safari in South Africa's Free State & Limpopo Provinces!

Sponsor: Get in touch with me to make your Africa hunting dreams come true on a hunt in South Africa. We offer outstanding hunting safaris, simplified hunt logistics, assistance with many of the pain point...