Vortex Nation Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 45 | Reloading 201 - Powders, Bullets, BC and More Jan 28, 2019

Show notes

There could be infinitely many more podcasts dedicated to reloading and its seemingly countless talking points, but we did our best to cram some more advanced reloading knowledge into this 201 level reloading podcast with Mark, Jimmy, Paul Ness and in-house reloading guru Scott Parks. Ever wonder how ambient temperature can effect your load and its accuracy? Can having the highest possible BC bullet actually cause problems with your accuracy and consistency? Should reloaders choose a rifle first, then develop a cartridge around it, or is the opposite order of operations the best course of action? One of the most asked for episodes is finally here. If you haven't listened to our first episode as part of this "Mini series" yet, check out Reloading 101 for a basic introduction to the topic before Scott Parks infiltrates your brain with some serious knowledge in 201.

As always - let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.

Ep. 44 | The Life of A Brand Ambassador - Josh Tarrant Jan 24, 2019

Show notes

Our favorite hobbies tend to have two things in common - They're tremendously addictive and often times expensive. To many, a great way to ease this burden would be becoming sponsored by one or more companies in the industry or joining them as a brand ambassador to aid in some of the gear and financial aspects of our addiction - er - "Hobby". Mark, Jimmy, Adam Maxwell and Reuben Aleckson sit down with Josh Tarrant, competitive shooter and Vortex brand ambassador, to talk about what it's really like being in his position as an extension of the brand. It may come as a surprise to a great deal of people to learn that the life of a brand ambassador isn't all free products and casual Instagram posts. Josh explains it as an additional part time job to his regular full time employment and Adam Maxwell says "The cheapest piece of equipment you'll ever buy is the one you went to the store and paid full retail for." eluding to the large amount of sweat equity and work one would need to do in order to receive that product for "Free" as part of a brand ambassador program. If this line of work is something that's peaked your interest, we also talk about dealing with controversies on social media, choosing the company you wish to represent and some of the ways you can catch their attention in your field.

As always - let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.

Ep. 43 | The Classifieds Hunter - Ballin' on A Budget Jan 21, 2019

Show notes

Ball on a budget – The cost/perceived cost of gear, can be a barrier for those new to hunting. It doesn’t’ have to be! Jim, Mark, Erik and Ryan scour the web for 20 minutes and give 4 comprehensive, incredibly inexpensive, gear breakdowns to get you fully outfitted for a field foray you’ll never forget. We also cover gear buying tactics geared toward minimal impact on your budget and maximum impact on your freezer, offsetting gear costs with meat procurement, a $15 treestand, and more. If you’re new to hunting or just love a hell-of-a-bargain, listen up. This one's for you!

As always - let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.

Already listened, but want the show notes for reference afterwards? You can find them here: https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-nation-podcast

Ep. 42 | From Scratch - Making a Riflescope: The AMG Story Jan 14, 2019

Show notes

How do you make a riflescope? The idea, optical design, mechanical design, machining, finishing, tolerancing, metrology, assembly, testing and ultimately producing an optic in a commercial setting - Have you ever wondered just what it takes to make this a reality? Sam Hamilton, chief engineer of a special military-focused division within Vortex joins Mark and Jimmy to recollect the entire process of developing the AMG 6-24x50 riflescope from beginning to end. Many of you have asked how this process works, so we went to the source of what is now, to our knowledge, the most American made riflescope on the market today. Not only do we get an in-depth idea of what goes into the development of any riflescope, but also the daunting task of actually manufacturing that product from scratch to be a top-tier, ultra-precision optic. We discuss how your eye is actually a critical part to the optical system, misconceptions about "Glass" in optics, machining processes and incredibly tight tolerances, tough lessons learned by engineers that can only be learned through experience, how riflescopes work and so much more. If you've ever wanted to dive deeper into how your riflescope works and what it took to ultimately put that piece of equipment atop your riflescope, you won't want to miss this episode!

As always - let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.

Ep. 41 | HYR December – Nebraska Muzzleloader Deer on Public Land Jan 07, 2019

Show notes

After battling some stomach issues, Jimmy, Mark and Ryan hammer out another HYR episode on late season Nebraska muzzleloader season. Commonly thought of as an “Old school” means of hunting big game, these guys brought out the technical gear from apparel to even the firearms themselves, rocking some very special, high precision, long range capable muzzleloaders. We also discuss buffalo, hunting in groups, learning experiences behind an unfortunate but clean miss and why you should never leave your ribs in the field! Check it out and maybe next December you, too, can add a special late season muzzleloader hunt to your schedule.

As always - let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.

Ep. 40 | What is The Mammoth Sniper Challenge? Jan 03, 2019

Show notes

Jimmy, Mark and Nick Laufenberg join Chris Andrews of Best Targets and Kristina Pugh from Grunt Style to discuss one of the most grueling and challenging shooting matches ever spawned – The Mammoth Sniper Challenge. This 3-day event takes place in early January and tests shooters’ endurance, skill and willpower as they ruck nearly 10 miles every day with precision long range shooting stations dispersed amongst their route. In the evening, those who opt for the tough-guy challenge are also required to camp out overnight, carrying all their gear on their backs throughout the entire challenge. Chris and Kristina have played an integral role in developing this year’s match which will be the first sniper match that is both open to civilians and takes place on an active duty military installation. Check it out and if you’re thinking this sounds like the match for you, start preparing for next year’s event right now!

As always - let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.

Ep. 39 | Not all Public Lands are Created Equal – With Land Tawney and Jason Meekhof of BHA Dec 31, 2018

Show notes

Land Tawney, President/CEO of Back Country Hunters & Anglers (BHA), and Jason Meekhof, BHA Great Lakes Chapter Coordinator, sit down with Mark and Jimmy to talk BHA’s history and mission, as well as breaking down the huge variety of state, local and federal public lands at your disposal and their different attributes. We discuss BHA’s current main objectives, the differences between state and federal public lands, the politics and behind-the-scenes action behind each type of public land and what you can do to protect and serve the public lands in your area and around the country. BHA is an organization committed to ensuring there’s ample access to public land and waters in the U.S. and healthy fish and wildlife habitat when you get there. Land and Jason were kind enough to join us for a morning of rabbit and squirrel hunting, followed by a podcast and one heck of a pint night locally in the Madison, WI area. If you’re not part of BHA, listen in to this podcast to hear what they’re all about and decide if joining is right for you. If your state has a local chapter, keep an eye out for their own pint nights to get together with fellow outdoors men and women for good times and great conversation. Your state doesn’t have a local chapter? Grab some like-minded buddies and contact BHA to see what it takes to get one started!

Ep. 38 | Semi-Live: How to Sight in Your Riflescope – It’s Easy! Dec 24, 2018

Show notes

Ever listened to a podcast where the hosts are also shooting while talking? Continuing with our semi-live series on setting up your rifle, we’ve gone from mounting the optic to getting things zeroed in and ready to go at your first trip to the range. Proper equipment, bore sighting, 3-round groups, making adjustments and troubleshooting potential road bumps are just a few of the things we discuss in this podcast at the range. Sighting in a riflescope can be intimidating to newer shooters venturing out on their own, and can even bring unnecessary stress or frustration to seasoned shooters who dread this crucial step in assuring your rifle’s longevity and reliability. It may come as no surprise that we’ve sighted in a riflescope or two in our time here at Vortex, and with all those scopes have come a host of tips and tricks that can make your zero-in process a snap and set you up for ultimately accuracy and a long time of success with your rifle and optic combination. Listen on your commute, or tune in on YouTube to see the video recording of this very podcast!

As always - let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.

Already listened, but want the show notes for reference afterwards? You can find them here: https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-nation-podcast

Ep. 37 | Gear Gurus and Our Ever-Evolving Hunting World Dec 20, 2018

Show notes

Judson Jennings and Kendall Card from Camofire, Blackovis, Crispi Boots USA and a host of other outdoors and hunting related entities sit down with Mark, Jimmy and Paul to discuss their history in the outdoor hunting gear and apparel business and the ever-evolving world of hunting from tactics to the gear we wear in the field. Not only do these guys get out and use the very products they sell to the max, but so do their employees, who are always ready to answer calls and e-mails to help fellow hunters and outdoorsmen conquer the backcountry. It can be difficult to get to know the behind-the-scenes workings of any business so customer-focused, so we took this opportunity to get to know two of the very important people behind their operation and their history with the company from the very beginning. On top of that we learn a little about goats and pack llamas, elk hunting from a tree stand and mentoring new western hunters. As always, let us know what you think of the podcast and if you have any ideas for future topics or guests to join us, let us know!

Ep. 36 | Ultralight Hunting – How Light Can You Go? Dec 17, 2018

Show notes

Ultralight hunters make up a strange mix of total nerds and freak athletes – almost all bound to conquer some of the roughest terrain on the planet in search of rare and unique game. If you’ve ever been forced to listen to their endless stressing over ounces or studied their kit and all its strange gadgets and wondered to yourself – “Why don’t you just do more pushups and carry normal stuff?” – Perhaps this podcast will change your tune. International man of mystery and ultralight hunter extraordinaire Dave Hamilton joins Jimmy, Mark, Erik Barber (Not known for his ultralight-ness), Ryan Muckenhirn and long-time western guide Paul Neess to discuss this highly technical, nerdy and awesome topic. From tips to keep your pack contents to a minimum and extreme ultralight gear that gets the job done – all the way to dehydrated water - we cover some serious ground here.

As always - let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.

Already listened, but want the show notes for reference afterwards? You can find them here: https://vortexnation.wordpress.com/vortex-nation-podcast/

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