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

John McAdams
  • 4.9 (419)
  • Wilderness
  • 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. 5d ago

    448: Best Cartridge for Hunting Darn Near Anything With Tyler Freel

    Tyler Freel 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 Tyler 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. Sponsor: Get in touch with Rob at The R&K Hunting Company In Wyoming to book an elk, antelope, or deer hunt. I cannot recommend them highly enough: they have hardworking and friendly guides, comfortable lodging, great food, and fantastic hunting. Plus, they can also help you get a tag with little or no points for those species. Visit their web site or call Rob at (435) 979-1497 to learn more. 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 Read Tyler's article on Outdoor Life about Max Point Blank Range and subscribe to the Outdoor Life YouTube channel here Subscribe to Tyler's Tundra Talk Podcast here. Follow Tyler on Instagram @thetylerfreel. Ep 430: Best Caliber For Hunting Darn Near Anything With Jim Harmer – Episode referenced in interview Ep 423: Best Caliber For Hunting Darn Near Anything 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

    448: Best Cartridge for Hunting Darn Near Anything With Tyler Freel

  2. Nov 3 ·  Bonus

    An Antelope Guide Shares His Favorite Antelope Hunting Cartridges

    Rob Massa from the R&K hunting company in Wyoming joins me on the show and we talk about the ins and outs of hunting pronghorn antelope: how big they are, what kind of country they live in, what a hunt for them is actually like day to day, how they behave, what makes a good buck, and what kind of rifles, cartridges, bullets, and other gear tend to work best for antelope hunting. Sponsor: Get in touch with Rob at The R&K Hunting Company In Wyoming to book an elk, antelope, or deer hunt. I cannot recommend them highly enough: they have hardworking and friendly guides, comfortable lodging, great food, and fantastic hunting. Plus, they can also help you get a tag with little or no points for those species. Visit their web site or call Rob at (435) 979-1497 to learn more. Email me john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com if you're interested in joining me on the Big Game Hunting Podcast antelope hunt 9-14 September 2027 in Wyoming. 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 Ep 397: An Elk Guide Shares His Favorite Elk Hunting Cartridges – Episode referenced in podcast Ep 396: Wyoming Elk Hunt Recap – Episode referenced in podcast

    An Antelope Guide Shares His Favorite Antelope Hunting Cartridges

  3. Oct 29

    447: Wyoming Antelope Hosted Hunt Recap With Listeners

    In this episode, I recap the recent Big Game Hunting Podcast hosted antelope hunt in Wyoming. Four listeners—Shane, Dave, Ryan, and Joe—joined me on a fantastic trip and every hunter took a nice antelope. This was the first western hunt for all for gentlemen and they each share their thoughts on the experience and a few lessons learned. Sponsor: Get in touch with Rob at The R&K Hunting Company In Wyoming to book an elk, antelope, or deer hunt. I cannot recommend them highly enough: they have hardworking and friendly guides, comfortable lodging, great food, and fantastic hunting. Plus, they can also help you get a tag with little or no points for those species. Visit their web site or call Rob at (435) 979-1497 to learn more. Email me john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com if you're interested in joining me on the Big Game Hunting Podcast cow elk & antelope hunts 6-10 September 2027 & 9-14 September 2027 in Wyoming. 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 Ep 397: An Elk Guide Shares His Favorite Elk Hunting Cartridges – Episode referenced in podcast Ep 396: Wyoming Elk Hunt Recap – Episode referenced in podcast

    447: Wyoming Antelope Hosted Hunt Recap With Listeners

  4. Oct 27 ·  Bonus

    Bonus 20: 270 Winchester Parent Case: 30-06 or 30-03?

    In this short bonus episode, I dig into one of the most persistent cartridge history arguments in the shooting world: is the 270 Winchester a necked-down 30-06 Springfield or a necked-down 30-03 Springfield? In this episode I walk through the historical timeline, the dimensional facts, what contemporary sources actually said, and why the lack of primary evidence matters. If you've ever wondered which claim holds up, this is the breakdown. 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 Ep 445: 30-06 Family 25-06, 270, 280, 280 AI, 30-06, 35 Whelen & More

    Bonus 20: 270 Winchester Parent Case: 30-06 or 30-03?

  5. Oct 22

    446: Erik Cortina-Your Max Range Is Shorter Than You Think

    Erik Cortina is a champion F-class shooter, founder of Cortina Precision, and the guy behind the Ethical Hunter Challenge: a deer silhouette with a 1 MOA kill zone at 500 yards and one cold bore shot with no sighters. Erik started hunting in Texas, had a sobering experience regarding the limitations of his skills as a shooter on a Colorado elk hunt, and got hooked on F-class shooting in an effort to improve his long range shooting skills. Today, we talk about what F-class actually teaches a hunter, why he started his so called "ethical hunter challenge", why the first-shot hit rate is so low, and some recommendations on how hunters can determine their own max range on a deer. 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 Ethical Hunter Challenge – See how these shooters perform on the Ethical Hunter Challenge Subscribe to Erik Cortina's YouTube channel here

    446: Erik Cortina-Your Max Range Is Shorter Than You Think

  6. Oct 21 ·  Bonus

    Bonus 19: New Hornady 6.8 Western Ammo & More New Hornady Products With Seth Swerczek

    Hornady's Seth Swerczek returns to break down the company's late-2026 / 2027 new product lineup, led by the long-awaited 6.8 Western Precision Hunter load with the new 176-grain ELD-X (0.680 G1 BC, ~2,825 fps). We cover how retailer shelf space and consumer demand finally got the cartridge into the Hornady catalog, the ballistic performance of the high-BC bullet, factory ammo + component bullet + brass availability, and the realistic odds of a future Outfitter CX load. Seth also walks us through the rest of their new 2027 offerings, continued 375/416 Ruger support, likelihood of a 25 PRC, and how the ongoing powder shortage continues to affect 7 PRC velocities. Sponsor: Support me on Patreon receive ad-free episodes of the podcast delivered a day early. Plus, you'll start to receive the other bonuses I deliver to supporters there. Sign up at Patreon.com/biggamehunter. Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically! Resources Check out the Hornady YouTube channel & the Hornady Podcast to learn more about their new offerings 5 Underrated Cartridges That Deserve Respect

    Bonus 19: New Hornady 6.8 Western Ammo & More New Hornady Products With Seth Swerczek

  7. Oct 15

    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

  8. 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
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4.9
out of 5
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About

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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