No episode playing
The Big Game Hunting Podcast will teach you to how to prepare for the big game hunting adventures you’ve always dreamed about. Our host, John McAdams, is an experienced sportsman with decades of experience afield who has successfully hunted big game like whitetail deer, mule deer, blacktail deer, pronghorn antelope, black bear, Rocky Mountain elk, feral hogs, javelina, cape buffalo, kudu, wildebeest, and other species of African plains game in over a dozen different states and countries. In addition to hosting The Big Game Hunting Podcast, John has authored countless hunting articles in prominent hunting publications and is also the founder of The Big Game Hunting Blog. He will guide you down the path of improving your skills as a hunter, teach you how to pick the best hunting rifle for your needs, conduct caliber comparisons (like 6.5 Creedmoor vs 300 Win Mag and 30-06 vs 270 Winchester) to show you how to pick the best hunting caliber for a specific hunting situation, guide you into the world of muzzleloader hunting, share the hard earned knowledge he has earned over the years pursuing game all over the world, and conduct interviews with internationally recognized experts in the hunting community on topics like cape buffalo hunting in Africa and elk hunting in North America. Regardless of whether you’re dreaming about going plains game or cape buffalo hunting on an African hunting safari, on an elk hunting trip in the Rocky Mountains, on a pronghorn antelope hunting adventure on the windswept plains of Wyoming, on a feral hog hunting expedition in Texas, or just learning more about deer hunting in general, then you’ve found the perfect hunting podcast to learn about turning those dreams of hunting adventures into a reality!
Today, we’re going to talk about bullet failures. Bullet failures are a hot topic, especially when they involve certain, very polarizing bullets and/or cartridges. I absolutely believe they do occur, but I think they get blamed unfairly for a lot of wounded and lost game. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve had tell me they made a perfect shot, but the bullet “blew up on the shoulder” and the animal ran off, never to be seen again. Like I said, bullet failures do occur though and I’ve compiled a giant list of those sorts of stories to share with you in this episode.
Please hit that “SUBSCRIBE” or “FOLLOW” button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Watch the video of the Berger bullet gel test I described in this episode here.
Sponsor: Get in touch with me to make your Africa hunting dreams come true at in South Africa’s Limpopo Province where we offer outstanding hunting safaris, simplified hunt logistics, assistance with many of the pain points associated with a hunt, and up front pricing with no extra fees. We have 4 openings remaining for September, October, and November 2025, plus most of 2026. Visit bestsafarihunt.com or contact me directly at john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com to learn more.
I'll be at the Dallas Safari Club convention in Atlanta 9-12 January 2025 with 2 of my African PHs (Johan and Kobus) and we'd love to meet you if you'll be attending the show. We're hosting a get together for podcast listeners and past/future clients at a conference room in the Hyatt House Atlanta/Downtown 6-10pm on Friday, 10 January 2025.
Address is: 431 Marietta Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 Pizza and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be provided. Space is limited, so please RSVP by emailing me john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com if you plan on attending!
Giveaway: I’m giving away 2 boxes of Federal Fusion ammo for the 308 Winchester.
Sign up at thebiggamehuntingblog.com/ammogiveaway to be entered in a random drawing for this ammo. Be sure to confirm your email address if you’re asked to do so after you sign up. All citizens or legal permanent residents of the USA who are over the age of 21 and who are not otherwise prohibited form possessing a firearm, and who lives in a state I can ship to is eligible to enter.
You have until 11:59pm central time on 18 December to sign up. I will randomly select one lucky listener from all the submissions on 19 December to receive both boxes.
Today we’re going to talk about 2 22 caliber cartridges designed for use in America’s favorite gun in the AR-15 platform: the 223 Remington and the 22 ARC. As always, we’ll discuss the overall design characteristics and performance specs of each round, then compare how they stack up next to each other. I’ll also cover how they each perform in some ballistic gel tests and discuss some interesting aspects of how they each performed at the range.
Please hit that “SUBSCRIBE” or “FOLLOW” button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Sponsor: I’m giving away 2 boxes of Barnes VOR-TX LR ammo for the 6.5 Creedmoor loaded with the 127gr Barnes LRX bullet.
Sign up at thebiggamehuntingblog.com/giveaway to be entered in a random drawing for this ammo. Be sure to confirm your email address if you’re asked to do so after you sign up. Anyone over the age of 21 who is not otherwise prohibited form possessing a firearm, and who lives in a state I can ship to is eligible to enter.
You have until 11:59pm central time on 11 December to sign up. I will randomly select one lucky listener from all the submissions on 12 December to receive both boxes.
Resources223 vs 22 ARC: New Hot Rod? Or Old Reliable – Blog article referenced in podcast
Best 223 Remington Ammo For Hunting - 223 Remington hunting ammo recommendations
Best Hunting Ear Protection For Sportsmen – Ear protection recommendations
Best Rifle Scopes For Hunting - Rifle scope recommendations
Best Hunting Rifle Slings - Rifle sling recommendations
Today, I discuss all of the other .30 caliber cartridges I didn't cover in episode 286. None of these rounds use a .308" bullet, but all are still .30 caliber cartridges and most fill a similar niche as the .308 Winchester and 30-06 Springfield in various parts of the world. As always, I’ll talk about their history, design characteristics, performance specs, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. Where appropriate, I’ll also share some personal anecdotes involving these rounds as well as some observations involving various cartridges by noteworthy gun writers as well.
Cartridges covered: 7.5x55 Swiss, 7.62x39mm, 7.62x54R, 7.62x53R, 7.65x53 Argentine Mauser, 303 British, 7.5x54mm MAS, 7.7x58mm Arisaka, 32-20 Winchester
Join me at the Dallas Safari Club Convention in Atlanta 9-12 January 2025. More details are forthcoming, but I'll be hosting an event for listeners and past, present, and future African safari clients at the show.
Sponsor: I’m giving away a set of AXIL Trackr electronic ear muffs. This is a brand new in the box set literally identical to what I use at the range and sometimes out hunting. The TRACKR muffs provide hearing protection and hearing enhancement, so you can carry on a conversation with the person next to you at the range or hear the sounds of an approaching deer without exposing your ears to damage from gunshots or other loud noises.
Sign up at thebiggamehuntingblog.com/giveaway to be entered in a random drawing for these muffs. Be sure to confirm your email address if you’re asked to do so after you sign up.
You have until 11:59pm central time on 1 December to sign up. I will randomly select one lucky listener from all the submissions on 2 December to receive those muffs.
Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material at www.patreon.com/biggamehunter
ResourcesEpisode 286: 30 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 291: 270 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 297: 9.3mm and 375 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 300: 40 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 328: 25 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 329: 50, 60, & 70 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 338: 338 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 345: 7mm Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast
Join me at the Dallas Safari Club Convention in Atlanta, Georgia 9-12 January 2025. I will be attending the show with 2 of my African PHs (Johan and Kobus) and we'd love to meet you in person if you'll be at the show. We will be hosting an event for podcast listeners and past/future safari hunters Friday or Saturday (10 or 11 January). Stay tuned for more details!
Email me at john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com if you have suggestions for a venue to host this event in Atlanta.
Check out my new video on the best hunting rifle slings here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kJUP2QuUR4
Have you ever had a bullet truly fail you on an animal?
Email me at john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com with any details of bullet failures you've experienced on game in the past so I can include your story in an upcoming episode on bullet failures.
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Sponsor: I’m giving away a set of AXIL Trackr electronic ear muffs. This is a brand new in the box set literally identical to what I use at the range and sometimes out hunting. The TRACKR muffs provide hearing protection and hearing enhancement, so you can carry on a conversation with the person next to you at the range or hear the sounds of an approaching deer without exposing your ears to damage from gunshots or other loud noises.
Sign up at thebiggamehuntingblog.com/giveaway to be entered in a random drawing for these muffs. Be sure to confirm your email address if you’re asked to do so after you sign up.
You have until 11:59pm central time on 1 December to sign up. I will randomly select one lucky listener from all the submissions on 2 December to receive those muffs.
I discuss all of the 7mm CIP and SAAMI standardized cartridges (plus a couple of other noteworthy rounds) in this episode. As always, I’ll talk about their history, design characteristics, performance specs, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. Where appropriate, I’ll also share some personal anecdotes involving these rounds as well as some observations involving various cartridges by noteworthy gun writers as well.
Cartridges covered: 7x57, 7x64mm Brenneke, 280 Remington, 280 Ackley Improved, 7mm Weatherby Magnum, 7x61 Sharpe & Hart, 7mm Remington Magnum, 7mm STW, 7mm STE, 7-30 Waters, 7mm-08 Remington, 284 Winchester, 7mm WSM, 7 SAUM, 7mm RUM, 28 Nosler, 7mm PRC
Learn more about the rounds I discuss in this episode in Ron Spomer's excellent book 7mm Cartridges From Around The World
Sponsor: I’m giving away a set of AXIL Trackr electronic ear muffs. This is a brand new in the box set literally identical to what I use at the range and sometimes out hunting. The TRACKR muffs provide hearing protection and hearing enhancement, so you can carry on a conversation with the person next to you at the range or hear the sounds of an approaching deer without exposing your ears to damage from gunshots or other loud noises.
Sign up at thebiggamehuntingblog.com/giveaway to be entered in a random drawing for these muffs. Be sure to confirm your email address if you’re asked to do so after you sign up.
You have until 11:59pm central time on 1 December to sign up. I will randomly select one lucky listener from all the submissions on 2 December to receive those muffs.
Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material at www.patreon.com/biggamehunter
ResourcesEpisode 286: 30 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 291: 270 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 297: 9.3mm and 375 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 300: 40 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 328: 25 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 329: 50, 60, & 70 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson – Episode referenced in podcast
Episode 338: 338 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast
7mm Mauser: A Classic Hunting Masterpiece - Article referenced in podcast
7mm PRC: Complete Guide To Hornady's New Cartridge - Article referenced in podcast
7-30 Waters: What You Need To Know - Article referenced in podcast
7mm Rem Mag vs 300 Win Mag - Article referenced in podcast
243 vs 7mm-08 vs 308 - Article referenced in podcast
6.5 Creedmoor vs 7mm-08 - Article referenced in podcast
270 vs 280 vs 280 AI vs 7mm Rem Mag - Article referenced in podcast
30-06 vs 7mm Rem Mag - Article referenced in podcast
270 vs 7mm-08 - Article referenced in podcast
270 vs 7mm Rem Mag - Article referenced in podcast
6.8 Western vs 28 Nosler vs 7mm Rem Mag - Article referenced in podcast
6.8 Western vs 7mm PRC - Article referenced in podcast
7mm PRC vs 28 Nosler vs 7mm Rem Mag - Article referenced in podcast
Tyler Freel is back on the show today to talk about a recent moose hunt where he cleanly killed a nice bull with the new 22 Advanced Rifle Cartridge using his AR-15. I Feel like I owe it to my audience to give them the best and most accurate information possible and sometimes that involves challenging previously held beliefs about what people think you “need” to hunt certain animals. This is one of those episodes. So was one of Tyler’s previous appearances on the show with me in ep 282 where he talks about killing a grizzly bear with the 6.5 Creedmoor.
You are of course welcome to disagree with us, all I ask is that you keep an open mind as Tyler and I discuss this hunt in detail. As you’ll discover shortly, the little 22 ARC delivered surprisingly good terminal performance on a big Alaskan bull moose and we discuss why that was the case in great detail today.
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Sponsor: I’m giving away a set of AXIL Trackr electronic ear muffs. This is a brand new in the box set literally identical to what I use at the range and sometimes out hunting. The TRACKR muffs provide hearing protection and hearing enhancement, so you can carry on a conversation with the person next to you at the range or hear the sounds of an approaching deer without exposing your ears to damage from gunshots or other loud noises.
Sign up at thebiggamehuntingblog.com/giveaway to be entered in a random drawing for these muffs. Be sure to confirm your email address if you’re asked to do so after you sign up.
You have until 11:59pm central time on 1 December to sign up. I will randomly select one lucky listener from all the submissions on 2 December to receive those muffs.
Resources
Read Tyler's article on Outdoor Life about his moose hunt here & see the video on YouTube here.
Subscribe to Tyler's Tundra Talk Podcast here.
Follow Tyler on Instagram @thetylerfreel.
I have request for your assistance with an upcoming project. I’m planning an episode on December where I discuss so called “bullet failures.” I have a couple of examples I have experienced myself I’ll share with you in that episode, but I’d also like to do some crowd sourcing on this topic as well and share some noteworthy examples from the audience.
Have you ever had a bullet truly fail you on an animal?
If so, please email me john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com and share the details on what happened.
Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Sponsor: I’m giving away a set of AXIL Trackr electronic ear muffs. This is a brand new in the box set literally identical to what I use at the range and sometimes out hunting. The TRACKR muffs provide hearing protection and hearing enhancement, so you can carry on a conversation with the person next to you at the range or hear the sounds of an approaching deer without exposing your ears to damage from gunshots or other loud noises.
Sign up at thebiggamehuntingblog.com/giveaway to be entered in a random drawing for these muffs. Be sure to confirm your email address if you’re asked to do so after you sign up.
You have until 11:59pm central time on 1 December to sign up. I will randomly select one lucky listener from all the submissions on 2 December to receive those muffs.
Cable Smith joins me on the show again as we talk about some of his recent experiences hunting with the legendary Nosler Partition and AccuBond along with the Solid Base bullet from their new Whitetail Country line.
Sponsor: Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material at www.patreon.com/biggamehunter
Go to HuntingGuns101.com 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 (along with my weekly ammo supply updates).
Subscribe to the Lone Star Outdoor Show.
Today is the last chance to throw your name in the hat to potentially receive some free Nosler Whitetail Country ammunition to test out this fall.
To enter the random drawing for the chance to test and evaluate Nosler Whitetail Country ammo, click here and sign upby 11:59pm on Tuesday, 5 November 2024.
ResourcesSometimes you just find a rifle that just flat out works: it fits you well, it’s not excessively large or heavy, has a nice trigger, it’s easy to shoot accurately, it’s not finicky and doesn’t require an extensive break-in process, and seems like it loves all the ammo you feed it. Well, Bergara's new Wilderness Sierra rifle checks all of those boxes for me. I used that rifle on my recent moose hunt and I'm thrilled with how it performed. Here's a detailed break-down of everything you need to know about this new rifle!
Sign up here to receive a 10% off promo code for all products Bergara sells directly from their web site (to include, but not limited to, the Bergara Sierra).
To enter the random drawing for the chance to test and evaluate Nosler Whitetail Country ammo, click here and sign up by 11:59pm on Tuesday, 5 November 2024.
Episode 339: Want to help me test some new ammo?– Episode Referenced In Podcast
Episode 337: I just punched my moose tag!– Episode Referenced In Podcast
Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material (including video of this hunt and results of the necropsy I did on that moose) at www.patreon.com/biggamehunter
Episode 327: Taking The 7mm PRC Past 1 Mile At The Bergara Academy– Episode Referenced In Podcast
Amanda is a wife. A mother. A blogger. A Christian.
A charming, beautiful, bubbly, young woman who lives life to the fullest.
But Amanda is dying, with a secret she doesn’t want anyone to know.
She starts a blog detailing her cancer journey, and becomes an inspiration, touching and
captivating her local community as well as followers all over the world.
Until one day investigative producer Nancy gets an anonymous tip telling her to look at Amanda’s
blog, setting Nancy on an unimaginable road to uncover Amanda’s secret.
Award winning journalist Charlie Webster explores this unbelievable and bizarre, but
all-too-real tale, of a woman from San Jose, California whose secret ripped a family apart and
left a community in shock.
Scamanda is the true story of a woman whose own words held the key to her secret.
New episodes every Monday.
Follow Scamanda on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Amanda’s blog posts are read by actor Kendall Horn.
