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

John McAdams
  • 4.9 (419)
  • Wilderness
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The Big Game Hunting Podcast where host John McAdams discusses subjects like caliber comparisons, Africa hunting, terminal ballistics, intense hunting stories, and more – featuring a wide variety of guests from industry experts to listeners of the show from all over the world. No fluff, no baloney, just one serious big game hunter doing his best to learn, grow, and have fun alongside his listeners. New episodes release every Thursday. Join us to learn more about subjects ranging from cape buffalo hunting in Africa to hunting deer, elk, bear, and antelope in North America from internationally recognized experts in their fields. Contact me with your questions or feedback via email at: john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com Or visit the searchable archive of all Big Game Hunting Podcast episodes published since 2019 at https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/podcast/

  1. 4d ago

    445: 30-06 Family: 25-06, 270, 280, 280 AI, 30-06, 35 Whelen & More

    This episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast covers the whole 30-06 family: 25-06 Remington, 6.5-06, 270 Winchester, 280 Remington, 280 Ackley Improved, 30-06 Springfield, 8mm-06, 338-06, and 35 Whelen. You'll learn why the 270 was a big hit, why the 280 wasn't, why two A-Square rounds got a SAAMI stamp and then vanished, and what each remaining sibling is best for in 2026. What's your favorite round of the bunch? Answer the poll on YouTube or Spotify. Want more episodes like this (like for the 308 family or the Winchester Magnums) next? Email me at john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com. Sponsor: Support me on Patreon receive ad-free episodes of the podcast delivered a day early (Wednesday instead of Thursday). Plus, you'll start to receive the other bonuses I deliver to supporters there. Sign up at Patreon.com/biggamehunter. 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 Best Cartridges For Hunting Africa Classic Cartridges Making A Comeback

    445: 30-06 Family: 25-06, 270, 280, 280 AI, 30-06, 35 Whelen & More

  2. Oct 8

    444: Jeff Cooper's Scout Rifle Specs, Safaris, & More With Richard Mann

    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

    444: Jeff Cooper's Scout Rifle Specs, Safaris, & More With Richard Mann

  3. Oct 1

    443: Ryan Muckenhirn's Two 30-Cal Setups: 308 130gr TTSX and 300 Super WSM

    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

    443: Ryan Muckenhirn's Two 30-Cal Setups: 308 130gr TTSX and 300 Super WSM

  4. Sep 24

    442: 22 ARC vs Grizzly Bear In Alaska With Tyler Freel

    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

    442: 22 ARC vs Grizzly Bear In Alaska With Tyler Freel

  5. Sep 17

    441: Hunting the Roof of the World Tajikistan Argali and High Country Ibex

    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

    441: Hunting the Roof of the World Tajikistan Argali and High Country Ibex

  6. Sep 10

    440: 243 Winchester vs 6mm Remington With Ron Spomer

    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

    440: 243 Winchester vs 6mm Remington With Ron Spomer

  7. Sep 3

    439: First Big Game-4 Young Hunters Share Their First Successful Hunts

    In this special episode, four young hunters sit down to share the stories of their first successful big game animals. My son James talks about preparing for and harvesting his first impala in Africa at age nine with a suppressed 25 Creedmoor. Heidi recounts the excitement (and nerves) of her first deer hunt where she took both a doe and a management buck with a Savage .243, Jake describes the long road that led to his first cow elk in Colorado, and William details the DIY Idaho bull elk he shot near home with a left-handed 7mm PRC. From range practice and gear choices to the emotional rollercoaster of the shot and recovery, these young hunters share their accounts of what it was like for them to take that first animal. Whether you're a parent introducing your kids to hunting or a hunter who still remembers their own first success, this episode is packed with memorable stories from the next generation. Sponsor: Support me on Patreon receive ad-free episodes of the podcast delivered a day early (Wednesday instead of Thursday). Plus, you'll start to receive the other bonuses I deliver to supporters there. Sign up at Patreon.com/biggamehunter. Protect your hearing at the range with AXIL MXII Pro electronic earmuffs. They cut harmful noise while still letting you hear what's going on around you, and they even have space to store AXIL X30i earplugs if you want to double up. Get a pair here: https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/muffs Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically! Resources 172: Elk Hunting With A 6.5 Creedmoor & A 300 Win Mag With Mark Floyd 283: My 2023 New Mexico Mule Deer Hunt With My Son

    439: First Big Game-4 Young Hunters Share Their First Successful Hunts

  8. Aug 27

    438: 416 Rigby vs 375 H&H Big Bore Caliber Comparison

    In this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast, I compare two legendary African dangerous game cartridges: the .375 H&H Magnum and the .416 Rigby. I cover the history and design of both rounds, real-world ballistics, recoil, penetration, rifle and ammunition availability, and how they stack up for buffalo, elephant, and general safari use. I also discuss some of the nuances involved in using the similar performing .375 Ruger, .416 Remington, .416 Hoffman, .416 Taylor, and .416 Ruger. You'll hear stories from Peter Flack, Harry Selby, Robert Ruark, John Taylor, Robin Hurt, and modern professional hunters, plus practical guidance on when the .375 is enough and when stepping up to a .416 makes sense. Whether you're choosing a first dangerous game rifle or deciding between these two classics, this episode on the 375 vs 416 will help you make a more informed decision. Sponsor: Support me on Patreon receive ad-free episodes of the podcast delivered a day early (Wednesday instead of Thursday). Plus, you'll start to receive the other bonuses I deliver to supporters there. Sign up at Patreon.com/biggamehunter. Protect your hearing at the range with AXIL MXII Pro electronic earmuffs. They cut harmful noise while still letting you hear what's going on around you, and they even have space to store AXIL X30i earplugs if you want to double up. Get a pair here: https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/muffs Get in touch with me to make your Africa hunting dreams come true on a hunt in South Africa. 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. Visit bestsafarihunt.com or email me at john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com to learn more.  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 375 H&H Gel Test Results 458 Win Mag Gel Test Results 124: Cape Buffalo Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson 323: Rescured From An Ice Berg In The Arctic Ocean On A Polar Bear Hunt Gone Wrong 375: 375 H&H vs 9.3x62mm Comparison  414: Leopard Maulings to Sudan Bongo Hunts With Robin Hurt  416: 416 Caliber Cartridges With Terry Wieland

    438: 416 Rigby vs 375 H&H Big Bore Caliber Comparison
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Welcome to The Big Game Hunting Podcast where host John McAdams discusses subjects like caliber comparisons, Africa hunting, terminal ballistics, intense hunting stories, and more – featuring a wide variety of guests from industry experts to listeners of the show from all over the world. No fluff, no baloney, just one serious big game hunter doing his best to learn, grow, and have fun alongside his listeners. New episodes release every Thursday. Join us to learn more about subjects ranging from cape buffalo hunting in Africa to hunting deer, elk, bear, and antelope in North America from internationally recognized experts in their fields. Contact me with your questions or feedback via email at: john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com Or visit the searchable archive of all Big Game Hunting Podcast episodes published since 2019 at https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/podcast/

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