Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!

Bryce M. Towsley joins John McAdams for a comprehensive look at the Savage Model 99 rifle. From its origins with Arthur Savage and the early 1899/99 models to its innovative internal hammer, rotary magazine with cartridge counter, and ability to handle modern smokeless cartridges with pointed bullets, we cover what made this lever action truly different from the Winchesters and Marlins of its era.
Bryce shares his personal experiences hunting with the 300 Savage, the evolution of cartridges available in the Model 99 (303 Savage, 22 Savage Hi-Power, 250 Savage, 300 Savage, 308 Winchester, 358 Winchester, 284 Winchester, and more), why the rifle was so popular in the northeast big woods, realisticaccuracy expectations, and the reasons Model 99 production eventually ended.
This episode is a must-listen for lever-action fans, Savage collectors, and anyone who appreciates thoughtful firearm design and hunting history.
Sponsor: Make sure you're signed up for my email list by going to Biggamehuntingpodcast.com/ebook. You'll get my free E-BOOK when you do so and you'll also receive the emails I send out every weekday. If you like The Big Game Hunting Podcast you'll love those emails. 
Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe for the potential opportunity to have a future podcast guest answer one of your questions on the air along with access to all my bonus material at www.patreon.com/biggamehunter 
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Resources
Get copies of Bryce's books on Amazon here or on his web site here
Ep 368: 300 H&H With Joseph von Benedikt – Episode referenced in interview
Ep 404: 404 Jeffery With Phil Massaro – Episode referenced in interview
Ep 425: 425 Westley Richards – Episode referenced in interview

L.D. McCaa of Westley Richards dives deep into the history and performance of the .425 Westley Richards — one of the most unique and effective British dangerous game cartridges of the early 20th century.
In this episode you'll learn: F.C. Selous story and how he tested his new .425 rifle, why Westley Richards created the first rebated-rim short magnum on a standard Mauser action, design details of those new rifles (drop-box magazines, stripper clip loading, feed clips, etc.), ballistics and real-world performance on buffalo, elephant, and Indian game, comparison to the .404 Jeffery and .416 Rigby, use by game departments in Uganda and Rhodesia, and current availability of brass, bullets (including Hammer), and new rifles
If you love vintage British cartridges, dangerous game rifles, African hunting history, or classic bolt actions, this conversation is packed with rare insights and technical details you won't find anywhere else.
Learn more about once forgotten classic rifle cartridges that are now making a big comeback here
Sponsor: Make sure you're signed up for my email list by going to Biggamehuntingpodcast.com/ebook. You'll get my free E-BOOK when you do so and you'll also receive the emails I send out every weekday. If you like The Big Game Hunting Podcast you'll love those emails. 
Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe for the potential opportunity to have a future podcast guest answer one of your questions on the air along with access to all my bonus material at www.patreon.com/biggamehunter 
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!

Bill Wilson, founder of Wilson Combat, shares the story behind the 300 HAM'R — the AR-15 cartridge he designed to outperform the 300 Blackout and match the legendary 30-30 Winchester out of a 16″ barrel. In this wide-ranging conversation, Bill dives deep into why he moved away from high weight retention bullets, the devastating performance of Lehigh Controlled Chaos bullets, real-world results on 3,300+ feral hogs and African game (zebra, kudu, wildebeest, etc.), terminal performance testing, why faster twist rates matter more than most realize, and stories from multiple African safaris (including a wild 1979 hunt Rhodesia during the Bush War).
Whether you're a hog hunter, AR enthusiast, handloader, or someone who wants to understand what makes a bullet truly effective, this episode delivers practical, no baloney insights from one of the most experienced voices in the firearms industry.
Sponsor: Make sure you're signed up for my email list by going to Biggamehuntingpodcast.com/ebook. You'll get my free E-BOOK when you do so and you'll also receive the emails I send out every weekday. If you like The Big Game Hunting Podcast you'll love those emails. 
Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe for the potential opportunity to have a future podcast guest answer one of your questions on the air along with access to all my bonus material at www.patreon.com/biggamehunter 
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Resources
Get a copy of Bill's book Guns, Shooting, & Hunting: What I've Learned In 60 Years here

Phil Massaro is back on the show and we discuss a subject I know you'll enjoy: our favorite cartridges for hunting virtually any species of big game. We play little game where Phil and I each list our favorite cartridge and bullet for hunting specific species of game ranging from coues whitetail all the way up to thick skinned species of African game like cape buffalo and elephant and almost everything in between like mule deer, elk, black bear, etc. The catch is we cannot reuse a cartridge for multiple species. Even so, our discussion provides an interesting glimpse into the thought process he and I each use for selecting cartridges and bullets for hunting different species of game.
Email me at john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com with suggestions for other guests you'd like me to play this game with.
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Resources
The Only 3 Cartridges You Actually Need for Hunting
The Ballistics Handbook – Phil Massaro's book referenced in this podcast
Ep 404: 404 Jeffery With Phil Massaro – Episode referenced in interview
Ep 401: Best Caliber For Hunting Darn Near Anything With Richard Mann – Episode referenced in interview
Ep 387: Best Caliber For Hunting Darn Near Anything With Larry Weishuhn – Episode referenced in interview
Ep 372: Best Caliber For Hunting Darn Near Anything With WHO_TEE_WHO – Episode referenced in interview
Ep 336: Best Caliber For Hunting Darn Near Anything With Ron Spomer – Episode referenced in interview
Ep 315: Best Caliber For Hunting Darn Near Anything With Joseph von Benedikt – Episode referenced in interview

In this episode, John sits down with the Leupold team to explore their exciting 2026 hunting optics lineup, headlined by the all-new BX-6 Range HD 10×42 rangefinding binoculars. This flagship optic delivers best-in-class glass, industry-leading Hornady 4DOF ballistics with real-time environmental sensors, precise GPS pinning to OnX and other mapping apps, and ranging out to 6,000 yards. The conversation also covers the updated VX-5HD Gen 2 riflescopes featuring tool-free SpeedSet dials, increased elevation travel, and competition-grade adjustments, plus the brand-new VX-4HD series that fills the gap with versatile 4:1 zoom ratios.
Sponsor: Make sure you're signed up for my email list by going to Biggamehuntingpodcast.com/ebook. You'll get my free E-BOOK when you do so and you'll also receive the emails I send out every weekday. If you like The Big Game Hunting Podcast you'll love those emails. 
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Resources
Ep 256: Tim Lesser From Leupold Optics Talks Leupold Binoculars and Rifle Scopes – Episode referenced in podcast
Ep 313: Leupold's New Gamechanging Rangefinder – Episode referenced in podcast
Get a BX-6 Range HD Here
Get a Leupold VX-5HD Gen 2 scope here
Get a Leupold VX-4HD scope here