Vortex Nation Podcast

Episode 32 of Spaghetti Shootout is one spicy meatball! Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn bring the banter, the jabs, and debate questions so philosophically sophisticated even Socrates would be impressed. With Jimmy as the judge, anything can happen. Watch to find out who takes the win.

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Is your action bedded? Should you bed your action? What does bedding even do? Tune in as the guys put all your bedding questions to bed.

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Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn take the show on the road as they traverse the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo in search of cool products. They go booth to booth, grabbing folks to chat about gear and equipment that caught their eye.

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U.S. Rifle Team Shooter Ian Klemm joins the guys to chat long-range shooting past and present. Tune in for a highly educational, insightful, and interesting conversation with one of the world’s best shooters.

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Adam Weatherby, Weatherby CEO, and Luke Thorkildsen, Weatherby COO, drop by Vortex for an awesome conversation that traverses the company’s history, ethos, new for 2026 products, and more. Tune in for a fun and informative podcast that may have you buying a new ultralight rifle.

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The base of a bullet and its design dictate a good portion of how it behaves down range. Tune in as the guys talk through the most common types, what they offer, and where they shine.

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Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn engage in an electric conversation about the revolutionary, cutting edge (at the time), and very short lived, Remington 700 ExtronX rifle. The world wasn’t ready for this tech and its execution. It still isn’t. But that’s what makes it so fun to talk about. Tune in. We’ll be shocked if this isn’t one you enjoy.

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The modern cartridge landscape hasn’t forgotten about the crafty coyote. Daytime or night, bolt gun or AR, there are cartridges optimized for the task of putting fur on the ground. Tune in as Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn cover a few of our newer standouts. 

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Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn highlight new-for-2026 SHOT Show product releases based solely on a single criteria — they thought the items were cool. Tune in for a rundown on some great gear you may want to add to your kit.

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The gang is back throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Best cartridge for coyotes, the change they’d make to predator hunting regulations, technology impacting the spirit of the hunt, and the Mandela effect are all on the dinner table. Heck, did this episode of Spaghetti Shootout even really happen? Watch to find out.

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GeoBallsitcs® is a robust and comprehensive ballistic solver that integrates with select Vortex products —and it just got better! Tune in as the guys run through its incredible features and capabilities. Get the PRO version free with purchase of any GeoBallistcs® equipped product. Download the free version to check it out!

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The holy grail of binoculars, the holy grail of weather meters, and the ability for the units to talk to one another via the Relay™ Network gives hunters and shooters a new level of capability. Tune in to get the scoop on these new products, the new tech that makes them tick, and more.

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Ian Klemm is back with a collection of straight pull rifles of different designs and eras. Tune in as he details the intricacies of each, gives us some history, and is his eternally interesting self.

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A new tier of optic is born. The Vortex AMG® 1-10x24 is the most-advanced, highest performing, feature rich, optically superior, LPVO we’ve ever built. Astonishingly lightweight and compact, it is a true engineering marvel. Tune in and listen to AMG team members Andy Haffemann and Connor McDermot talk through its pedigree, features, and capabilities.

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Avid shooters from Vortex get together to share information on new products they used, liked, and made a difference. Tune in to get the scoop on gear you may need too!

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2025 is in the books — along with every hunt the guys could fit in. Listen and watch as they highlight gear they used for the first time, liked, and would recommend.

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High pressure cases appear to be the next evolution of cartridge performance. Shell Schock Technologies and their NAS3 cases are at the forefront of the trend. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn chat through their experiences with Blackarc Munitions ammo loaded using NAS3 cases. Tune in for their thoughts on the technology itself and what they saw.

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

Rob Morrel from Vortex’s New Product Development team drops by the studio to chat suppressors, manufacturing processes, material composition, trends, and what he’s personally excited about. Don’t suppress your urge to tune in. This is a good one.

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Introduced in 1895 for the Winchester 1894, the .25-35 Winchester was fast for its time, flat shooting, and optimized for the lever gun. This cartridge had and still has a lot to offer. Saddle up for an informative discussion focused on this classic cartridge.

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The 7mm SAUM has everything a long-range hunter or shooter is looking for — today. This cartridge was ahead of its time. Those who understood its capabilities have kept it alive in custom rifles to this day. Tune in as Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Jimmy Hamilton cover this cool cartridge that should have been a household name.

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Lightning fast, low recoil, mild report, and perfect for varmints — what’s not to like about the .17 Remington Fireball? Apparently, a lot. This cartridge and rifles chambered in it weren’t long for this world. Tune is as the gang chats through this ultra-cool cartridge that never got traction.

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Short, slow, and fat. No, this isn’t Mark’s high school football scouting report. It describes the positive attributes of the .338 ARC. This is a cool cartridge doing cool stuff in a standard AR frame. Tune in to hear all about it.

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Introduced in 1904, the .405 Winchester is one of the most powerful lever-action cartridges ever created. Teddy Roosevelt had a particular fondness for it. Ryan Muckenhirn brings in a rifle chambered for this classic cartridge and the guys talk all about its venerable performance.

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A model of efficiency, long-range precision, and barrel life, the 6mm GT may just be the Goldilocks of 6mm cartridges. Does it sit at the top of the 6mm cartridge pile? Tune in as the guys dissect this more than intelligent cartridge.

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Things get saucy as Mark and Ryan debate why their opponent is on the naughty list, the hunt they’d take Santa on, the cartridge they’d hunt Iowa deer with and more. Are Mark’s answers and  Christmas gift for Jim good enough or does Ryan come between him and the threepeat? Tune in to find out!

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Mark quietly did his research. In silence and unbeknownst to the guys, he finally pulled the trigger. It took everything he had to suppress his secret until the big podcast reveal. Disguised as a revisit to Jimmy’s pizza oven culinary exploits, he surprises them with the big news. Can they believe it? Which one did he pick?

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

When we asked for questions, you guys delivered! Tune in as the guys tackle cartridges they don’t own but want, tire chains, dream hunts, the high-pressure cartridge they wish existed, and a heck of a 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

Will a heart-felt letter and listener-submitted specialty coffee finally get Jimmy to see the coffee light? Tune in as the guys “pour over” this fun topic aimed at getting Jimmy’s life on the right track.

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

Arrows flung and bullets sent, a crew of Vortex folks pack the podcast studio for a deer-season recap. Big bucks, medium bucks, young bucks, and doe’s — ­nothing was safe. Tune in to hear the stories behind the venison.

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Choosing a binocular configuration shouldn’t be a daunting task. Vortex’s binocular expert, Mike McDowell, joins Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn to talk through the pros and cons of various models. Compacts, to “Big Eyes”, they cover them all. What binocular is right for you? 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

Need the perfect gift? Vortex has you covered. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn highlight select Vortex products sure to keep you on everyone’s “nice list.”

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As we hit the launch button on a bunch of 7mm Backcountry content, Federal hit the launch button on reloading dies and load data. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn cover what’s new and what it means for this cartridge.

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Ryan Muckenhirn brings in his Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawkin muzzleloader. He and Mark Boardman talk through its features, the story behind it, and what makes it so cool. A link to our mountain-man past, traditional muzzleloaders are intrinsically awesome in every way.  This podcast may just inspire you to purchase one of your own.

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Lights, camera, spaghetti! The ethics of deer drives, Adam Sandler movie characters, and more. Can Mark make a coherent argument and come away with another win? Does Ryan noodle around for the right words only to slip in the spaghetti sauce of life? 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

After talking about and testing the .300 SUPER WSM, Ryan had to build one of his own. Tune in for the breakdown of his new rifle and get the scoop on his and Mark’s plan to put their .300 SUPER WSM’s to the test on a late-season cow elk hunt. 

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Remi Warren talks about his personal hunting experience with the 7mm Backcountry and its impressive performance. Like Mark Boardman, he is a big fan of the .300 WSM. They’ve even podcasted about the many fine attributes of the .300 WSM previously. But is the 7mm Backcountry claiming the crown as Remi’s big-game go-to? Listen and find out. 

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Back from the range shooting every Federal loading through two 7mm Backcountry rifles (Proof Research and Weatherby), Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn have a lot to digest. They analyze the chronograph data, bullet offerings, factory rifle options, and overall performance. Is owning a 7mm Backcountry in their future? Listen and find out.

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Folds of Honor provides scholarships to the children and spouses of military and first responders fallen or disabled in the line of duty. Listen and learn more about this great organization and the Vortex/Folds of Honor Crafted Impact collaboration. Together, we can raise money and support their life-changing cause. 

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Federal’s Eric Miller gives a detailed rundown on their 7mm Backcountry cartridge and Peak Alloy case technology. High pressure coupled with short barrels optimal for suppression and magnum performance just might have you headed to your local gun shop. Tune in to get the gouge on this more than intriguing cartridge.

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

Muzzleloader bullets come in all shapes and sizes. Round balls to polymer-tipped and custom-swaged, there are a lot of options to choose from. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn run through the different styles, advantages they offer, and which may be the best for you.

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