Vortex Nation Podcast

Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn are back with another round of Hot Takes, tackling one of the biggest debates in hunting optics: first focal plane (FFP) vs. second focal plane (SFP) rifle scopes.

Which focal plane is better for hunting? Does first focal plane offer the advantage, or does second focal plane make more sense in the field? Mark and Ryan share their perspectives, challenge each other's opinions, and break down the pros and cons of each.

Do they agree, disagree or eventually find compromise. Is the true answer simply, it depends? Tune in to find 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

The .338 Federal might be one of the most underrated hunting cartridges out there. For Ty Fosbenner’s Dream Build Experience, we set out to build a custom bolt-action rifle designed for Kodiak Island blacktail deer hunting and brown bear defense. The result? An insanely versatile hunting rifle that will have you reconsidering the .338 Federal.

Ty’s unique rifle requirements set the stage for an unforgettable week of rifle building, handload development, and practical shooting. Along the way, we discuss Ty’s Coast Guard background, why he chose the .338 Federal, and how this often-overlooked cartridge fits his demanding hunting needs.

Little did Ty know his rifle needs would make Mark Boardman’s and Ryan Muckenhirn’s build dreams come true too!

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 .308 SUPER episode of Cartridge Talks sparked plenty of questions and conversation. Now, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn are back to address your comments, tackle viewer questions, and clear up the confusion surrounding the .308 SUPER. In this episode, we unpack the discussion, provide additional context, and set the record straight on .308 SUPER.

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

Whitetail Adrenalin’s Jared Scheffler hunts whitetails from the ground with a bow that would have been more at home thousands of years ago. His ancient archery techniques are unorthodox by today’s standards. They also work if you put in the work! He runs us through some ancient archery history, his archery deer hunting journey, his current bow and arrow system, and more. If you’re passionate about traditional archery, bowhunting whitetails, and learning new approaches to deer hunting, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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

What would you do in this deer hunting situation? The Hunting Public’s Aaron Warbritton breaks down real-world public land deer hunting scenarios and explains how he’d approach each one. From reading sign and choosing setups to making decisions in the field, get practical whitetail hunting tactics, learn what works (and what doesn’t), and understand why. Whether you’re scouting new ground or trying to outsmart a pressured public land buck, these lessons can help you make smarter decisions this season. Watch, listen, learn, and put these public land deer hunting strategies to the test.

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

What will deer rifles look like 10, 20, or even 50 years from now?

Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn look into their crystal ball to predict the future of the modern deer rifle. From drones to advanced optics, emerging technology, and the enduring bolt-action rifle, they explore how innovation—and tradition—could shape the way future generations hunt deer.

Will tomorrow’s deer hunter carry a high-tech hunting system, or will the classic bolt-action rifle still rule the deer woods?

Tune in to find out what future generations will be carrying during deer season.

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 guys rank their five favorite deer cartridges—or seven, depending on who’s counting—using external ballistics, terminal performance, recoil, and popularity among hunters as their criteria. Did each finalist earn its place? Were any cartridges overlooked? And does Mark’s or Ryan’s top pick match yours? Tune in to find 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

Zeroing your rifle can be accomplished in as few as two shots. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn run through a few of their favorite tips to make zeroing your rifle fast, efficient, and easy.

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

What if you could turn years of trail camera photos and deer data into a clearer plan for where and when to hunt?

On this episode, Nate and Thomas Krick of Identical Draw join us to break down their new Deer ID app and how it can help hunters organize, catalog, and make sense of massive amounts of trail cam data.

We dig into how the app can help you identify individual deer, streamline your trail cam information, spot patterns, and turn data into actionable hunting decisions—so you can spend less time sorting through photos and more time making high-percentage sits.

If you’re serious about whitetail hunting, trail camera strategy, deer identification, and using data to improve your hunts, this episode is worth a listen.

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

What makes down insulation so warm, lightweight, and packable—and how do you know what you’re actually buying?

Argali’s Brad Brooks takes us deep into the world of down insulation, explaining everything from fill power and feather-to-down ratios to water-resistant down, temperature ratings, baffle design, regional origin, and testing protocols.

We also cover how down compares across products, what to look for when buying a down jacket or sleeping bag, and best practices for down care and longevity.

If you’re trying to understand down insulation, compare down products, or make a more informed outdoor gear purchase, this episode breaks down the details you need to know about this incredible natural fiber.

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

Vortex’s resident cool-gun expert, Ian Klemm, is back with another deep dive into some seriously fascinating Swiss pistols. This time, he’s bringing out a selection of historic Swiss firearms known for exceptional craftsmanship, innovative engineering, and some truly unique designs.

Ian breaks down the history and significance of the Swiss Ordnance Revolver Model 1882, Swiss 1906/24 Luger, and Swiss P49, explaining what makes each of these iconic Swiss guns so interesting—and why they deserve a place in any firearms history conversation.

From Swiss precision engineering to military history and unusual firearm design, this episode explores some of the most distinctive pistols ever made.

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

.30-06 performance out of a highly efficient short-action case wasn’t enough to slingshot the .30 TC into cartridge glory. It should have been. That said, the engineers at Hornady saw its promise, tweaked it, and created one of the most popular cartridges of all time — along with others that make the A-list for competition, hunting, and more. Tune in to hear about the high-performing, incredibly interesting, .30 TC and the inspiration it provided.

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

Heckler & Koch’s James Williamson and Tommy Brooker are back to chat about their incredible VP9 pistols, CC9 pistols, pairing them with Vortex Defender Red Dots, and the purpose-built pistol packages being offered.

H&K has a reputation for doing things right. The products themselves and the shared product ethos of both companies made the collaboration match as good as the performance you get from these systems.

Hear what makes these H&K and Vortex combinations stand out, get an inside look at the collaboration, and learn more about the packages available for shooters looking to pair H&K pistols with Vortex Defender Red Dots. WARNING: Tune in only if you want to hear about your next pistol package!

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

Exigent Defense suppressor manufacturer, lawyer, and Kentucky Gun Owners of America representative, Evan Wilson, stops in to talk through modern suppressor design and the current suppressor ownership landscape. The tax stamp going to $0, a lawsuit filed against the ATF, and a recent ruling have made suppressor ownership easier, but possibly more confusing than before. Different rules for different groups of people and interpretive ambiguity have left some folks scratching their heads. Throw in regulation at the state level and well, that’s why we’re having this conversation. Tune in to hear about a cool company doing cool stuff, an explanation of what’s going on with the two paths to suppressor ownership, and a prediction of where we are headed.

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

H&K’s James Williamson and Tommy Booker join Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn for an unforgettable range session featuring some of the coolest and most legendary firearms ever made by Heckler & Koch (H&K).

From the HK MP7 and MP5SD to the legendary P7, MK8, and more, this episode of the Vortex Nation Podcast dives into the history, engineering, stories, and real-world performance behind these iconic H&K firearms.

You’ll hear the background on the company itself, and some of H&K’s most recognizable guns while getting an up-close look at what makes these firearms so interesting, effective, and storied.

Press play, turn the volume up, and put life on full-autopilot.

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

How much riflescope magnification do you really need for hunting? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn get into a “healthy discussion” about the best hunting scope magnification and whether more power actually means better performance in the field.

Is there one magnification range that can handle nearly every hunting situation? Kinda. Do Mark and Ryan agree on what that range is? Absolutely not.

Tune in as they break down hunting riflescope magnification, low vs. high magnification, practical scope ranges, shot distances, field of view, and what magnification should top your hunting rifle. Whether you’re choosing a new hunting scope or wondering if you’re running too much or too little magnification, this episode has plenty of opinions to consider.

What’s the best hunting scope magnification? Hit play and decide for yourself.

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 6.5 Bitchcat (6.5 BC) is back—and this wildcat cartridge is getting a serious deep dive.

In this episode of the Vortex Nation Podcast, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn have put their new custom 6.5 Bitchcat rifle through its paces, testing three custom handloads across a range of real-world scenarios.

They break down the origin and history of the 6.5 Bitchcat, its latest developments, and what they learned from testing bullet velocities, paper targets, ballistics gel, and long-range performance.

From the custom rifle and handloads to velocity data and distance testing, this episode covers what makes the 6.5 Bitchcat / 6.5 BC such an interesting wildcat cartridge—and whether this latest iteration lives up to its big expectations.

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

Want to fill your freezer more consistently? The moment of truth rarely offers a flat, stable setup. In this episode, Vortex’s Mike Tassoul and Jimmy Jordan break down how practical shooting sports translate directly to real-world big game hunting scenarios. Learn how competing under pressure trains you to manage gear, control your nerves, and make lethal shots when infinite variables are in play. Whether you are preparing for your first elk hunt or looking to tighten your groups under stress, this is your blueprint for better marksmanship.

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

What gear do you actually need for a Tactical Urban Sustainment Course (TUSC)? Vortex Edge® instructor, in-house prepper, and survival hobbyist Mike Griffin joins Mark Boardman to break down the TUSC loadout he selected for his recent course with the Direct Action Resource Center (DARC) in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Mike walks through the Tactical Urban Sustainment Course gear he brought, explaining the “why” behind each selection—including what worked, what didn’t, and what he would change next time.

TUSC is a serious training challenge, both mentally and physically. The program teaches small, cohesive groups how to secure, sustain, and operate effectively in urban environments. The right gear can make a demanding course more manageable, but preparation, grit, and mental toughness ultimately make the difference.

If you’re interested in TUSC training, urban survival, preparedness, tactical gear, survival gear, or building a practical course loadout, Mike’s experience can help you understand what gear matters—and what may not be worth carrying.

Watch the full TUSC gear breakdown to see what made Mike’s kit—and what didn’t.

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 Razor® HD Gen III 6-36x56 adds the new VMR-5 reticle to its lineup for shooters who prioritize a clean field of view. Less can be more for some shooters when it comes to reticles. Andrew Lunde from Vortex’s product development team walks us through the VMR-5.

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