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

Jeff Cooper wanted one rifle a man could carry all day, hunt big game, and defend himself with if he had to. This was supposed to be a handy, compact, & powerful general-purpose rifle, not a battle rifle or a specialized long-range gun. In this episode Richard Mann, author of The Scout Rifle Study, joins me on the show and we talk about Cooper's original Scout Rifle specs, how they changed over the years, his extensive hunting experience with Scout Rifles (to include multiple African safaris as well has hunts in the USA), the pros and cons of scout scopes vs an LPVO or red dot, and more.
If you've ever wondered whether the scout rifle is outdated, overhyped, or still one of the most practical rifles you can own, this conversation is the field report.
Sponsor: Join the community I'm building on Patreon to receive exclusive bonus content, like ad-free access to the podcast a day early.
Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Resources
The Scout Rifle Study & Rifle Cartridges for the Hunter – Richard Mann's books referenced in this podcast
C Stories – Jeff Cooper's book referenced in this podcast
Learn more about Richard by supporting him on Substack: Empty Cases Substack
Other Episodes Referenced In The Podcast
Ep 388: 25 Creedmoor-A Triple Threat Cartridge With Richard Mann
Ep 401: Best Cartridge For Hunting Darn Neary Anything By Richard Mann
Ep 419: 25 Weatherby RPM With Richard Mann

Ryan Muckenhirn of Vortex Optics is back and we discuss two very different 30-caliber hunting setups. First up is the load that might raise a few eyebrows, but is also incredibly effective: a 308 Winchester firing Barnes' 130-grain TTSX. Ryan runs it in a 4-pound-13-ounce Kimber Mountain Ascent and that combination is a flat shooting, 400 yard and in load that delivers devastating terminal performance and still carries like a mountain gun with moderate recoil. Then we jump to the other end of the spectrum: the "300 Super WSM," a SAMMI-chamber 300 WSM built around Barnes' 212-grain LRX bore-rider. G1 BC around .705, 1:8 twist, long-action magazine, advertised 2,800 fps. We discuss the purpose that unusual cartridge serves and Ryan shares a few stories of how it performed afield on Idaho black bear and on a West Texas aoudad cull hunt where he really got to wring out that cartridge at various ranges out to around 800 yards and on multiple animals.
If you hunt with a 308, load copper, or just like Ryan from the Vortex Nation, this one is worth the full run.
Sponsor: Join the community I'm building on Patreon to receive exclusive bonus content, like ad-free access to the podcast a day early.
Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Resources
Subscribe to the Vortex Nation Podcast here or follow the show on YouTube
Ep 271: Vortex Optics With Ryan Muckinhern – Podcast referenced in episode

Tyler Freel returns to talk about the Alaska grizzly he killed this spring with a 22 ARC. He used a Zermatt Origin action, 20-inch Proof 1:7 twist barrel, and a 71-grain Maguire Ballistics Copper Rose at about 3,000 fps. His first shot was through the lungs and his second was into the shoulder as the sow turned. She was down in roughly three seconds and covered about seven yards. We cover the rifle build, why he chose the Copper Rose over a traditional copper or lead-core bullet, what the wound looked like, and why he keeps coming back to the 22 ARC. If you like small cartridges, modern copper bullets, and/or arguments about what actually kills a bear, this one's for you.
Sponsor: Join the community I'm building on Patreon to receive exclusive bonus content, like ad-free access to the podcast a day early.
Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Resources
Read Tyler's article on Outdoor Life about the 22 ARC & 22 Creedmoor here and watch the video on this subject on the Outdoor Life YouTube channel here
Subscribe to Tyler's Tundra Talk Podcast here.
Follow Tyler on Instagram @thetylerfreel.
Ep 282: Grizzly Bear Hunting With A 6.5 Creedmoor?!? – Podcast referenced in episode
Ep 316: Dall Sheep Hunting With Tyler Freel – Podcast referenced in episode
Ep 344: Moose Hunting With 22 ARC – Podcast referenced in episode
Ep 365: 338 Lapua Unleased With Tyler Freel – Podcast referenced in episode
Ep 418: Tyler Freel's Near Death In The Backcountry – Podcast referenced in episode

A hunt in Tajikistan that tops out over 19,000 feet. An argali at 1,200 yards. Kyrgyzstan on horseback and a Mongolia hunt that included wolves working the same animals. Rob Gearing shares stories from three very different Asian mountain hunts: the long, open, high-altitude country of Tajikistan near the Afghan border; camping and horses in Kyrgyzstan; and Toyotas in places they shouldn't go in the Gobi.
Sponsor: Join the community I'm building on Patreon to receive exclusive bonus content, like ad-free access to the podcast a day early.
Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Resources
Ep 151: Rob Gearing On Spartan Precision Bipods and Tripods – Episode referenced in podcast
Ep 216: Rob Gearing From Spartan Precision (2022) – Episode referenced in podcast
Ep 309: 2024 Update From Spartan Precision – Episode referenced in podcast
Best Hunting Rifle Bipods – Article referenced in podcast

John McAdams sits down with Ron Spomer to talk about the .243 Winchester and the 6mm Remington (originally the .244 Remington). Both are light recoiling, flat shooting 6mm cartridges introduced in the 1950s and have similar performance on paper at first glance. However, the 243 Winchester remains one of the most popular dual-purpose cartridges in America while the .244/6mm Remington never achieved widespread popularity and is slowly fading away, despite offering slightly better ballistics. Here's the story of what happened.
If you like classic cartridge history, practical hunting ballistics, and straightforward comparisons, this episode is for you.
Sponsor: Join the community I'm building on Patreon to receive exclusive bonus content, like my ongoing tour of my new office highlighting lessons learned and interesting stories from past hunts.
Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Resources
5 Dying Rifle Cartridges the Industry Is Abandoning In 2026 (But Still Work)
Pick up a copy of Ron's 7mm Cartridges From Around The World book here
Check Out Ron Spomer's Podcast (on Apple or Spotify), Web Site, & YouTube Channel
Ep 386: Brown & Grizzly Bear Hunting With Ron Spomer
Ep 336: Best Cartridge For Hunting Darn Near Anything With Ron Spomer
Ep 201: Bighorn Sheep Hunting With Ron Spomer
Ep 145: Moose Hunting 101 With Ron Spomer