Lucas Botkin from T.REX Arms joins Mark and Jimmy to give us the who, what, where, why, and how of his company T.REX Arms came to exist. How does a farm kid who got his start making AR-15 mag holders with kydex material he stole off his brother wind up creating one of the most well-known companies in the industry manufacturing their own gear in-house, selling their own curated assortment of firearms accessories, and hosting a firearms and shooting YouTube channel with more than a million followers? Good question! The answers over the course of this podcast won’t disappoint!

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

Ep. 197 | The T.REX Arms Story ­– Lucas Botkin

The U.S. Army Selected Vortex® to provide its Next Generation Squad Weapon - Fire Control Optic (NGSW-FC). But what is an NGSW-FC? What is Vortex’s new scope replacing? What weapons will it ultimately sit on? What features/capabilities does it have? What is Active Reticle™? What is Intra-Soldier Wireless? How do the features work? With this much tech built in, is it durable? How was it tested? Is it easy to use? Where will the scope be manufactured? What are the overall implications of our nation’s warfighters having this technology in their hands? Alexander Lewis from Vortex’s secret-squirrel sector answers these questions and more (as much as he is allowed by law). Listen in to get the scoop on this revolutionary smart scope!

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

Ep. 220 | Army selects Vortex® for Next Generation Squad Weapon – Fire Control. What is it?

Michael Jones (Garand Thumb) and his coconspirator Micah Mayfield are in the Vortex® house for a super fun conversation all about Mike’s backstory, his front story, and tons of great stuff between. We learn about Mike’s military background, how he met Micah (If you’ve seen the movie “Serendipity”, it’s like that), the evolution of his content platforms, what’s on the horizon and more. We learn about Micah as well, how airsoft is cool and other stuff. Mike even touches on his firsthand impressions of the Army’s new Next Generation Squad Weapon Fire Control Optic – the XM-157 FC (produced by Vortex). Spoiler alert, it was very flattering. Tune in or just go watch another Garand Thumb video, because that’s probably what you were doing anyway before reading this.

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

Ep. 261 | The Garand Thumb Story, His Experience With the XM-157 FC and a Whole Lot More

We asked for your questions, you answered with your questions, and we answered the questions you asked. Mark Boardman, Jim Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn cover all manner of topics in this podcast dedicated to listeners and what you guys wanted to know. Satirical to technical, this was a fun one we apparently didn’t want to end because it went way too long.

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

Ep. 319 | You Asked for It — Listener Question Sesh

Mark Boardman twists off his Barrel Deresonator, Ryan Muckenhirn twists the truth, and Jim Hamilton is along for the ride as they debate the merit of this unique device. The boys go back and forth on its physical appearance and performance — including testimonials to its accuracy-improving potential. Ultimately, they make a plan to test it at the range. Tune in for some barrel-tuning fun.

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

#10MinuteTalk - Accuracy Under $10? — The Barrel Deresonator

Vortex’s Golf rangefinders have specific features optimized for the application. But what are those features? Is there crossover with hunt/shoot rangefinders? Tune in to hear why you may need to up your game by adding a new Vortex Golf rangefinder to your golf bag.

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

#10MinuteTalk - Golf Rangefinders vs Hunting Rangefinders

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 information is correct at press time. Always confirm laws and regulations as they pertain to you and your jurisdiction.

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

#10MinuteTalk - Pistol Braces — They’re Baaaaaaack

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.

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

Ep. 331 | Everything Arrows with Day Six Gear — And It’s a Lot

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 wait. Enjoy the benefits of a suppressor as soon as possible…which will likely involve a wait.

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

#10MinuteTalk - NFA Trusts with Silencer Shop — What You Need to Know

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.

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 Cartridge You Hate | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 18

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.

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

Ep. 333 | State of the Wild Turkey Union with Dr. Mike Chamberlain

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 boattail, monolithic to cup-and-core, they discuss the nuances that make up the business end of one of our absolute favorite things — the 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

#10MinuteTalk - Bullet Construction Breakdown

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 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

#10MinuteTalk - Wisconsin Elk of a Lifetime

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.

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

Ep. 335 | Best Turkey Gauge — Is More Better?

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.

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

#10MinuteTalk - Winterkill and App Strategies with Eastmans’

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. 

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

Ep. 336 | Barrel Fluting Facts with Pederson Precision

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!

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

#10MinuteTalk - Mountain Archery Fest — Don’t Miss It

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.

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

#10MinuteTalk - SHTF Go Bags — What Should be in Your Kit?

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 different attributes they are looking for in a lightweight suppressor, considerations and more. 

Link to chart: https://indd.adobe.com/view/b0745a4f-1a1a-4b9f-abde-828b1b4ea2f6

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

Ep. 337 | Lightweight Hunting Suppressor Breakdown — What’s Right for You?

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.

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

#10MinuteTalk - Jimmy’s Ruger 5.7x28 Rundown — Does He Like It?

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.

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

Ep. 338 | Riflescope Mounting Solutions — What’s Best?

The appendix carry position is one of the most popular — and for good reason. Vortex Edge® instructor Chris Urrutia covers holsters, fit, customizing for ideal pistol position, proper draw and more. If you conceal carry or are thinking about it, this is a good one.

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

#10MinuteTalk - Appendix Carry — Holster Position and Draw

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.

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

Ep. 339 | Choosing the Right Hunting Riflescope

USPSA Grand Master, Adam Maxwell, drops in to tell us how to drop and change magazines like a pro. Competition to professional work and self-defense — a fast and efficient mag change will shave points and may save your life. Tune in to hear the process Adam has distilled down through years of dedicated training.

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

#10MinuteTalk - Executing a Fast and Efficient Mag Change

Jerry Miculek’s flight gets diverted, we pick him up in Milwaukee, and BS all the way back to Vortex HQ. Jerry is a national treasure. His shooting ability, knowledge, philosophy on life, and stories are unmatched. A true pleasure to hang with, Jerry is the real deal in every way. Ride along for a fun and informative conversation with Mark Boardman and the legendary Jerry Miculek to, as Jerry would say, “Get some!” 

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

Ep. 340 | Road Tripping with Jerry Miculek

Invest in your most important piece of gear — you! Dustin Diefenderfer, founder of MTNTOUGH, joins Mark Boardman for a marathon of a conversation about hunt-specific training. Even if you’ve let the fitness component slip, there’s still time to positively impact your fitness level before big game seasons kick off — if you start now. Fitness is key to success in the field. Dustin and the tools he offers through MTNTOUGH will get you there.

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

Ep. 342 | Three Months to Season — There’s Still Time to Train

Bestowing lead-balloon status on the 7mm STW (Shooting Times Westerner) may have some folks wanting to sling lead at us. If that’s the case, we ask you download to rotten tomatoes. Born from the 8mm Remington Magnum (most certainly a lead balloon), the 7mm STW began life as a wildcat, gained popularity at a rate akin to the velocity it could push bullets, but fell off sharply. Why? Tune in to hear all about this super-fast 7mm. It’s still breathing, but for how long?

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

#10MinuteTalk - The 7mm STW — Live Fast and Die Young

The gang is firing on all cylinders today as they break down the category of wheel guns. The good old revolver won the west, and it still wins our hearts over today. Battlefield to bear country, hip to ankle, the revolver has been there and done that. Its practicality and proven performance cannot be denied. Pull the hammer back and press play on this podcast all about revolvers.

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

Ep. 341 | Wheel Guns — Pure Americana

From HQ - Jimmy Hamilton, Mark Boardman, Paul Ness and Ryan Muckenhirn talk First Focal Plane (FFP) Vs. Second Focal Plane (SFP) - A hot topic in riflescopes that has left many shooters, both new and experienced, wondering "What's right for me?" Tune in while we talk about what these two styles actually are, how they work, why you might want to use one or the other, and some applications in which each have come in handy in our experience - from long range hunting to target shooting at the range. If you stick around 'till the end, you might even catch an audio-glimpse at a new product from Vortex for 2018.

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

Ep. 09 | FFP vs SFP

Our original intent was to have just a podcast about the sport of F-Class shooting, but when you get these brainiacs (Ian Klemm and Niles Richardson) talking about their obsession... er... "Hobby" you better believe it's going to turn into a full on long range shooting information assault to the brain. Fact of the matter is, in F-Class, the only thing that matters is long range accuracy - and when we say "Accuracy", we're talking about sub-MOA groups on paper at 1000 yards with .308's. Every single aspect of an F-Class competitor's game is completely dialed in for long range accuracy. We talk about the guns, their bipods, wind, mirage, barrel harmonics and the special scopes F-Class competitors need for their rifles. Ian even goes so far as to tell us how much his rifle has moved prior to the bullet leaving his 30 inch barrel. Just a simple equation involving acceleration, terminal velocity, moment of inertia of the rifle and coefficient of friction of the bipod and rifle on the ground. Kindergarten stuff. Prepare to learn more about ultra-precision long range shooting that you ever thought possible!

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. 57 | Long Range 1003: We Got the F-Class Guys

If you only remember one thing from this podcast, it’s probably how good Mike Love, new guest to the podcast and range instructor here at Vortex, sounds with his perfect radio voice. Anyway, in addition to Mike, Adam Maxwell joins Jimmy and Mark to discuss the “Wild West” world of red dots on pistols. With no convenient standard to adhere to like our beloved AR-15’s with their “Mil-Spec” parts, there seems to be about a million and one ways to mount a red dot to your handgun, thoughts on proper technique for their application and opinions on reliability or viability of red dots in competition or duty use. These guys also touch on the history of red dots’ application on pistols and some of the common mistakes people make when transitioning from using the traditional irons to a red dot sight, being such a relatively new technology to most.

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. 72 | Red Dots on Pistols – The More You Know

The topic of astigmatisms comes up more times than you can shake a stick at when people are discussing red dots. It seems everywhere you look there are people being affected by “Starbursts” or “Clusters of grapes” in their red dots, but why? In 10 minutes, Jimmy, Reuben and Mark discuss just what an astigmatism actually is, the issues most commonly experienced by users with an astigmatism, ways you’ve possibly misdiagnosed yourself with one, and what you can do to avoid negative effects from an actual astigmatism when shooting.

#10MinuteTalk - Astigmatisms

We see it all the time – New shooters come to the internet for advice on a riflescope for their first long range rifle and are instantly berated by all the gear junkies who look to the absolute top of the top competitive shooters for all their gear with super expensive and complicated options that they apparently “Have to get” to somehow avoid utter failure and frustration. Nick Laufenberg joins us for this 10 minutes (Plus a bonus at the end) to explain the differences between what a recreational target shooter might actually need at the bare minimum vs what a competitive tactical long range shooter would require for their matches. In the end, he also discusses a riflescope’s theoretical maximum capable range with any given rifle based on its available travel and subtensions in the reticle.

#10MinuteTalk – Long Range Riflescope Choice – Competition vs Recreation

We didn’t expect to need two parts for this topic, but there’s just so dang much to talk about when it comes to riflescopes! Lightweight Dave joins Mark and Jimmy once again, this time not to talk about sawing his toothbrush in half, but to discuss all things riflescopes. How they’re made, how their optical systems work, how our eyes interact with the light they funnel through their many lenses, what parallax is and what parallax adjustable scopes do when you spin their dials, and so much more! Minds were blown for this one as usual and we’d love to hear from you about what further riflescope topics we can discuss in Part 2. Let us know!

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

Ep. 102 | Riflescopes – Everything you ever wanted to know (Part 1)

We have red dot sights, a big old Tom has a red head. Coincidence  - We think not. Today’s modern shotguns, turkey loads and choke tubes make mounting a red dot sight to your gobbler-getter more practical than ever – and just might make your rig more effective than ever! And it’s really not that hard! There’s more than one way to mount your dot, and we go through those methods. And if you have a do-all shotgun for all your hunting applications, mounting your dot and taking it off depending on your upcoming hunt, just ain’t that big a deal. Not only is a red dot sight “parallax-free,” letting shooters get their shot payload downrange to its intended recipient no madder how awkward your cheek weld or shooting position, but they provide a finer aiming point, as well as don’t obscure your target  - particularly at  longer ranges. Fast and easy, put the dot on the thing and pull the thing. Toward the end we chat through magnified optics on shotguns for big game and turkeys and Ryan hucks out a sighting-in Pro-Tip that will save you $$$! Outfit your turkey gun with a red dot and take a hung up gobbler – and hang his hooks on a limb.

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

Ep. 119 | Red Dots on Turkey Guns. The answer is Yes!

We’re going to try and throw out a couple bonus episodes during this pandemic, so here’s a short one all about bore sighting your rifle. Whether that’s a bolt action rifle or an AR-15, this is an easy step that takes minimal time and zero ammo to help you get closer on your first shots out of a new rifle and optic setup. We also discuss what to do if you find yourself trying to sight in a rifle that has no way of being bore sighted like AK’s, Ruger 10/22’s, etc.

For a printable bore sighting target - check out the show notes: https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-nation-podcast-show-notes

#10MinuteTalk - Bore Sighting Your Riflescope

If you hunt, shoot or compete with an optics-equipped firearm, this could be the most important information you hear or that you can give to your friends to create the most reliable, accurate and repeatable setup possible. “Over-Torqued Rings” is a phrase we’ve mentioned in the past on the podcast and one you may have heard about on the internet from time to time. There’s all kinds of different rings/mounts/specs/ideas/theories out there that can make actually getting the right information on how to properly tighten the rings around your scope tube difficult. While it’s nearly impossible for us to go through every single ring/mount ever created, Jimmy and Mark give a breakdown on the most common ring/mount types we see and not only how to set them up properly, but also why it’s so important that you do. We also talk about scope position in the rings, why the use of thread locker is unnecessary for your ring screws, and a bunch more… 
 
*Please note* - When Jimmy discussed the torque sequence for vertically split rings, the “Top first, then bottom” is the specific sequence we recommend for our older “Pro” or “Viper” series of rings, which are unique in and of themselves being that they’re not like other vertically split rings like those from Warne, American Defense, LaRue, etc. For some of those rings/mounts, we will actually recommend doing the bottoms first, to around 25 inch pounds, and then the tops to our recommended 15-18 inch pounds. Like we said in the podcast – there are so many ring/mount types, it’s always worth it to give us a call when mounting up your scope with a non-Vortex ring/mount to get a second opinion before diving in!

#10MinuteTalk - “Over-Torqued Rings”

Welcome to the Vortex Nation Podcast. Brought to you by lovers of hunting, shooting, public lands, the Second Amendment and dang good food.

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