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

John McAdams
  • 4.9 (410)
  • 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. 425 Westley Richards: History, Ballistics & Dangerous Game Performance

    6d ago

    425 Westley Richards: History, Ballistics & Dangerous Game Performance

    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!

    58 min
  2. 424: 300 HAM'R: Bill Wilson's 3,300+ Hogs, Zebra, Wildebeest, & More

    May 21

    424: 300 HAM'R: Bill Wilson's 3,300+ Hogs, Zebra, Wildebeest, & More

    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

    1h 11m
  3. 423: Best Cartridge for Hunting Darn Near Anything With Phil Massaro

    May 14

    423: Best Cartridge for Hunting Darn Near Anything With Phil Massaro

    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

    50 min
  4. 422: Best Rangefinding Binoculars? Leupold BX-6 Range HD + New VX-4HD & VX-5HD Gen 2 Scope

    May 7

    422: Best Rangefinding Binoculars? Leupold BX-6 Range HD + New VX-4HD & VX-5HD Gen 2 Scope

    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

    1 hr
  5. 421: AR-15s, AR-10s, and NULAs: What Hunters Need from Wilson Combat's Lineup

    Apr 30

    421: AR-15s, AR-10s, and NULAs: What Hunters Need from Wilson Combat's Lineup

    John McAdams sits down with Sebastian Mann of Wilson Combat to explore the company's rich history, innovative rifle lineup, and commitment to building firearms that hunters actually use in the field. Sebastian shares a memorable childhood story of receiving a custom lightweight 1911 from Bill Wilson himself, then dives into Wilson Combat's evolution from 1911 pistols to modern AR-15s, AR-10s, and the ultra-light NULA rifles. The episode highlights models like the Tactical Hunter and Tactical Ultralight ARs, the performance-driven 300 HAM'R cartridge optimized for hog hunting, and the devastating Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos ammunition. Sebastian also discusses the acquisition and revival of New Ultralight Arms (NULA), the benefits of vertical integration in gun and ammo production, and real-world hunting applications from Texas hogs to African safaris. Whether you're interested in lightweight mountain rifles, suppressor-ready AR platforms, or bullets that deliver "hunting insurance," this episode is packed with practical insights from one of America's most respected firearms manufacturers. Sponsor: 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 Check out the Wilson Combat web site & follow them on Facebook, Instagram, & YouTube

    1h 1m
  6. 420: Mountain Lion Hunting Cartridges, Bullets, & Strategies With Jim Myers

    Apr 23

    420: Mountain Lion Hunting Cartridges, Bullets, & Strategies With Jim Myers

    Long time listener Jim Myers joins me on the show today to talk about mountain lion hunting: cartridges, bullets, and his tactics that have resulted in him successfully harvesting a mountain lion in 4 out of the past 5 years despite living in a state where hunting mountain lion with hounds is illegal. 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!

    1h 6m
  7. 419: 257 Weatherby RPM With Richard Mann

    Apr 16

    419: 257 Weatherby RPM With Richard Mann

    Field & Stream shooting editor and 25 caliber aficionado Richard Mann joins me in this podcast episode to discuss the new, SAAMI standardized 257 Weatherby Rebated Precision Magnum. Richard discusses the origins of the 257 RPM, some of his experiences shooting and hunting with it, how it compares to the 25-06, 25 Creedmoor, and 257 Weatherby, and what the new Weatherby cartridge offers hunters. 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 Rifle Cartridges for the Hunter – Richard Mann'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

    53 min
  8. 417: Tyler Freel's Near Death In The Backcountry + 22 ARC & 22 Creedmoor

    Apr 9

    417: Tyler Freel's Near Death In The Backcountry + 22 ARC & 22 Creedmoor

    Tyler Freel had a brush with death on a recent hunt in Idaho and he joined me on the podcast to discuss the incident, his injuries, and what his recovery has been like. We also finish with an in-depth discussion on his recent work with the 22 ARC, 22 Creedmoor, and 220 Swift and how they all stack up next to each other. Sponsor: 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

    1h 6m
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Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
410 Ratings

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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