Vortex Nation Podcast

Different critters, terrain, rifles, personal capabilities, tactics and what a person wants to get out of their hunt will dictate the best riflescope for them. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn break down the hunting riflescope category to help hunters select the optimal riflescope for their outdoor adventures.

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Ruger 5.7x28 ain’t no math problem — it’s a super cool gun Jimmy brought in for us to check out. The cartridge itself to the form factor of this compact rig, it is sweet for a variety of reasons. Jimmy gives us a rundown including his likes, critiques, and the modifications he made. Check it out with us and decide if you need one too.

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Ring and base riflescope mounting solutions are nearly as diverse as the rifles they sit on. The perfect match for your long-range rig might be the worst for your lightweight mountain rifle. In this podcast, we run through the most popular options, detailing their pros, cons, and how they work.

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Proverbial S#!T hitting the fan can come in many forms and mean many things. The guys share their thoughts on kits they have put together and what they think should be in their kit. Your region, circumstances, job, and infinite variables can determine the right kit for you. This is an initial discussion likely with a follow up.

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Adding lightweight suppressors to hunting rifles is incredibly popular. The upside is so great, hunters are selecting/building rifles specifically around their plan to suppress it. But which model will best suit your needs? Rob Morell from Vortex® Product Development uses his engineering brain to create a spreadsheet of popular models broken down by price, length, weight, and a few other factors. The gang talks through the differen...

Do you love archery, bowhunting or both? Mountain Archery Fest is for you. These multifaceted, multi-course, multi-day 3D archery events with hunt-specific flare will get you prepped for the season while having a blast! Family-friendly fun with venues throughout the USA. Brandon Waddell with “MAF” tells us all about it. Use code Vortex24 for 15% off at checkout – the best discount offered!

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Barrel fluting — practical, aesthetic, or both? Matt Pederson from Pederson Precision pops into the podcast studio to spit barrel-fluting facts. Matt is an expert rifle builder with extensive barrel production experience. Traditional straight to spiral and more — we cover it all. 

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The winter of 2023 was hard on the critters of Wyoming and many western states. Ike Eastman and Brandon Mason from the iconic western hunting media company, Eastmans’, give us their take on what happened, the strategies western states took, and things to consider when applying.

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Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn gab like hens about the results of their turkey-gauge test. They spin around the topic like strutting Toms in the sun, pecking at it from every angle. Did they pick the best turkey gauge or lay an egg? Tune in as they take a shotgun approach to this age-old debate.

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Wisconsin’s elk herd is a success story. This podcast is a success story because of that success story. Father/daughter duo, Izzy and Brian Wink, tell the tale of the great bull 17-year-old Izzy shot and the backstory behind it. Rifle setup and optic selection, to scouting, calling, picking the spot, setting up for the shot using her precision-rifle-shooting experience, and executing in the heat of the moment — Izzy did it all.

As a...

Do the turkey decoys you put out change based on time of the season? Renowned wildlife artist and turkey call maker, Dave Constantine, tells us why they should. Dave is responsible for the realism of many of the turkey decoys we set up to lure in that boss tom. He’s studied turkey posture and flock dynamics with incredible scrutiny. Couple that with being a lifelong turkey hunter, and you get knowledge you can take to the bank!

As a...

Bullet construction is diverse as the applications we have for them. The team embarks on a world-record length 10MinuteTalk to cover the different styles and how they perform. Tip to boat tail, monolithic to cup-and-core, they discuss the nuances that make up the business end of one of our absolute favorite things — the cartridge.

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From boom to bust in some regions and concerns in others, we’ve seen wild turkey populations change dramatically over the years. What factors are impacting the wild turkey? Should declines in states traditionally known as turkey strongholds be a cautionary tale for others — and all who love the wild turkey? Wild turkey researcher and expert, Dr. Mike Chamberlain, gives us the rundown on what’s happening and what we can do.

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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.

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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 w...

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, bes...

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...

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.

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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 inf...