Vortex Edge Podcast

Ep. 20| Most Important Factors in Long-Range Hit Probability May 18, 2023

In this episode, instructor Justin Lipska sheds some light on the actual importance of standard deviation, achieving sub-MOA accuracy, getting a proper muzzle velocity, and knowing the exact range of your target in terms of their real effect on long-range hit probability. Using ballistic software to play out various scenarios, we determined what variables are truly most important in getting you repeatable hits on target at distance. The results will surprise you!

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Ep. 19 | How to Sight-In an AR-15 the Right Way May 11, 2023

We've talked about sighting in your pistol and long-range rifle, so now we need to round out the trio! In this episode, instructor Pete Schreier explains the process of sighting in an AR-15 properly. AR's are incredibly versatile. Depending on the setup, one gun can essentially accomplish any task from hunting to defending freedom, so ensuring your optic is sighted in properly is extremely important to the gun's overall effectiveness. We touch on everything from recommended sight-in distance to best practices when shooting groups to be as accurate as possible.

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Ep. 18 | New to NODS - Complete Night Vision Helmet Setup May 04, 2023

Figuring out how to set up your helmet for night vision at first can be a tall task. Getting the night vision itself is confusing enough for a beginner, but integrating it seamlessly into your helmet for ease of use and proper fit to your head/face/eyes is its own challenge. In this episode, instructor Mike Griffin dives into all things related to the helmet when it comes to night vision. What type of helmet do you need and what sort of interfaces should it have? Why proper fit is paramount when considering mounting night vision. What sorts of accessories do you absolutely need in order to mount the night vision and make it work? Are counterweights necessary? How about some of the lights, patches, covers, battery packs, and other accessories you've probably seen others use in videos or photos? We've got all your answers here to getting the perfect setup!

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Ep. 17 | Pistol vs AR for Home Defense Apr 27, 2023

What's the best home defense firearm? Another simple question that can only be answered with the less-than-straight-forward answer of "It depends". In this episode, instructor Brennan Brennecke and Jimmy discuss the pro's and con's of a home defense pistol vs a home defense AR-15. Sorry shotgun, you didn't make the cut! Of course, choosing "both" is never out of the question, but if you only have the room or budget for one at this point, tune in for some practical comparisons surrounding size, maneuverability, interacting with your surroundings with each of these firearms, firepower, capacity, and much more.

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Ep. 16 | Ballistics for Nerds - Wind Apr 20, 2023

If you listened to "Ballistics for Beginners" or already have a basic understanding of long-range ballistics, you know there's a lot of factors at play with every single shot, and even the smallest of inconsistencies can cause frustrating misses. Arguably the most difficult variable we deal with in long-range shooting and ballistic solutions is wind. In this episode, Instructor Justin Lipska talks about wind and some of the many effects it can have on your shot in both the left-right direction and even your elevation up-down. He also introduces a topic we teach in our Long-Range Pipeline which is the "Short Wind Formula" to make determining a wind correction on the fly much more easy and quick.

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Ep. 15 | Ballistics for Beginners Apr 13, 2023

If you're new to long-range shooting, the idea of "ballistics", or quite simply - how to get your bullet to a target far away, is complicated to say the least. In this episode, Instructor Justin Lipska goes through some of the key elements you need to understand in order to start getting in the ballpark of hitting targets at distance. We cover terminology, how to gather the necessary data for a specific shot, and what to do with that data to make it all happen. While this is just the beginning in your journey of understanding what all is happening to your bullet as it makes its way from your gun to the target, it's a great foundation and one that can start getting you hits on target without a tremendous investment in time or equipment.

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Ep. 14 | Do the Four Firearms Safety Rules Apply in "Real Life"? Apr 06, 2023

You may have seen the "Four Firearms Safety Rules" on a poster in a range somewhere, but have you ever really thought about how these apply in real-life situations from self-defensive scenarios to professional duty use, competition, and more? There's really never a time where these rules should be broken, nor is there a circumstance where following the four firearms safety rules would put you at a tactical or competitive disadvantage. In this episode, Instructor Pete Schreier breaks down each of the rules, times where they may be easy to accidentally break, and how you can ensure you're keeping yourself and others around you safe both on the range and off. He also goes into one classic rule which we word differently here at Vortex Edge - tune in to find out which one!

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Ep. 13 | Breaking Down "Different Types" of Long-Range Rifles Mar 30, 2023

There are many rifles that can shoot "long-range" but not all are created equal. In this episode, Instructor Corey Eliasson talks about the different types of long-range rifles from lightweight long-range-capable hunting rifles to heavier, dedicated competition or tactical precision rifles. We often see people trying to stretch one of these types of rifles into the other's role, or buying/building rifles that try to be the "best of both worlds". As usual, there's always a tradeoff and it's on you to decide what's most important given your circumstances to get the perfect rifle. Tune in and find out what Corey believes are some of the most important aspects of a long-range rifle in terms of how it will be used.

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Ep. 12 | Weak Hand Shooting - Practical Skill or Party Trick? Mar 23, 2023

Shooting with your weak hand/side - is it a skill worth dedicating a lot of your training time toward? In this episode, Instructor Chris Urrutia talks about reasons why one might need to shoot with their non-dominant side, how to train for those instances, and how much time you should plan to dedicate toward this type of training for competition and/or tactical use.

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Ep. 11 | New to NODS - Digital vs Analog Night Vision Mar 16, 2023

Digital technology continues to improve as time goes on and now we have really impressive digital night vision, but is it as good as analog? What even is "Digital" and "Analog" night vision in the first place? In this episode, Instructor Mike Griffin talks in-depth about what makes each of these types of night vision unique, their pros and cons, and which is best overall depending on the application.

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Ep. 10 | How to Zero a Long-Range Rifle the Right Way Mar 09, 2023

There is no amount of data, equipment, load development, or anything else that can make up for a poor zero with your long-range rifle and scope combination. All else is meaningless if that foundational component isn't rock solid. In this episode, Instructor Justin Lipska talks about the process of sighting in a long-range rifle, and why a few simple steps can ensure that all the corrections you make at distance are done from a reliable zero, therefore eliminating a pesky potential variable from play.

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Ep. 9 | MOA vs MRAD - The Practical Differences Mar 02, 2023

There's a scientific way of explaining the difference between MOA and MRAD, but what does any of that mean when it actually comes to shooting? Corey Eliasson breaks down the practical differences between MOA and MRAD and how they relate to long-range shooters and their equipment. Everyone learns topics like these differently, so if there's still question marks swirling around your brain about MOA and MRAD after this podcast, let us know and maybe it's material for a future podcast!

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Ep. 8 | Three Pistol Drills That Never Get Old Feb 23, 2023

It's hard to find good pistol drills that challenge shooters at every level and don't get old after a while. Pete Schreier joins Jimmy to talk about three drills that he and the other instructors at Vortex Edge continually go back to in order to assess their skill progression and potential areas of improvement. The best part about these drills is all of them are entirely scalable in terms of difficulty and challenge so you'll never outgrow them as you develop your skill.

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Ep. 7 | How to Zero a Pistol Red Dot the Right Way Feb 16, 2023

The process of sighting in a red dot on a handgun is new to many people and when done incorrectly, can lead to frustration with yourself and your equipment. In this episode, Brennan Brennecke talks about the sight-in process from choosing a zero distance for your pistol red dot, choosing the right target, and setting yourself up for success with fundamentals and proper form. At Vortex Edge, we believe red dots are the best sighting system available for handguns, whether they be for self-defense, competition, or general recreational shooting. With a proper zero, a huge variable in the shooting process is eliminated, giving you peace of mind and a great foundation to build upon.

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Ep. 6 | New to NODS - NODS vs. Thermal Feb 09, 2023

The world of night vision is nothing short of incredibly cool... And complicated... The good news is we have people like Instructor Mike Griffin who have dedicated themselves to figuring it all out and presenting it in a way that makes sense to those who are just beginning to scratch the surface. In this episode of our "New to NODS" series, Mike talks about the differences between traditional analog or "i-squared" night vision and thermal. What are the key differences, pro's and con's of each system, and what would be best for you to go out and purchase as your first big investment in night vision and technological sighting devices?

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Ep. 5 | Stop Buying Tiny Pistols... Or at Least Hear Us Out First... Feb 02, 2023

Maybe you're shopping for your first handgun, or even thinking about getting one for a loved one who is newer to shooting. Conventional wisdom says "Smaller is less scary" and therefore, smaller handguns will be less formidable, easier to shoot, and produce lighter recoil for yourself or the newer shooter in your life. Instructor Pete Schreier is here to explain why the exact opposite is actually true and you'd be much better off starting with a full-size handgun. This isn't to say that small handguns have no place whatsoever, but we find that far too many people buy them for the wrong reasons, thinking they're getting something they would actually find with a larger firearm.

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Ep. 4 | Pistol Training at Home with Dry Fire Jan 26, 2023

We get it, you don't always have time, ammo, or access to go to the range and train with live fire. The good news is, you can still get some serious work done at home with no ammo at all and improve your skills tremendously with dry fire. In this episode, Instructor Brennan Brennecke, a huge proponent of dry fire, goes over some of his favorite dry fire drills and some best practices to ensure you're getting the most out of your training time. Just beware, once you listen to this episode, there's no more excuses for not getting any better with a pistol!

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Ep. 3 | CQB is Not a Good Home Defense Plan Jan 19, 2023

"Home Defense" by the very nature of the term, implies being on the defense of yourself and your loved ones in your home. It's easy to let emotion take over when thinking about the possible scenario of an intruder being in your home, leading to a plan that's more offensive in nature. Instructor Chris Urrutia talks about why "CQB" (Close Quarters Battle) or clearing all the rooms in your house on your own is not the best way to think about handling a home invasion. It also doesn't mean being weak or helpless either. Tune in to this episode to hear some smart, practical tactics to coming out on the other end unscathed and out of potential trouble.

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Ep. 2 | Are You Actually Ready for a Shooting Class? Jan 19, 2023

We believe any responsible citizen should exercise their right to own, use, and train with a firearm, but shooting classes take time and money - are you actually ready to make the most of that investment? Instructor Mike Griffin talks about his years of experience from both the student and instructor perspective, and the things you can do to make it count. Coming in with the right expectations, doing your homework before hand, ensuring your gear won't take you out of the action, best ways to take notes to learn from later on, and much more. If you're considering taking a shooting class at Vortex Edge or with any instructor, this episode is full of extremely valuable information to make the experience all the more useful and enjoyable.

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Ep. 1 | How to Buy the Best Long-Range Ammo Jan 19, 2023

When it comes to buying the best Long-Range ammo, there's no "One size fits all" answer. In this episode, Instructor Corey Eliasson explains why certain types of ammo that work great for others might not work for you, and how you can find the best shooting, most consistent ammo for your rifle. We also discuss why buying in bulk from the same "Lot" of ammunition can save you the headache of dealing with inconsistencies in your ammo, even when it's all the same type from the same manufacturer.

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