The Barnes Bullets Podcast

Barnes Bullets

Welcome to The Barnes Bullets Podcast, presented by the leaders in all-copper bullet design. This is the ultimate convergence of ballistic science, handloading precision, and authentic storytelling from the field. Go behind the scenes with the engineers, hunters, and industry professionals driving modern innovation in the outdoors. Tune into our full-length episodes for deep-dive technical discussions and grit-filled stories from the field, or catch a Ballistics Brief for a fast, hard-hitting data drop. No fluff—this is where heavy-hitting ballistic innovation meets the reality of the hunt.

  1. 1d ago

    The Ultimate Deer Cartridge Debate: What’s Best for Your Region?

    Is there really one "perfect" deer cartridge, or does your zip code dictate the ultimate setup? In this episode of the Barnes Bullets podcast, Dale and Gregg are joined by a new face to the show, Chris Crosby, for a comprehensive breakdown of the Top Deer Cartridges by Region. Whitetail in the thick woods of the Southeast require a vastly different ballistic approach than a Coues deer across a glassing basin in the Southwest, a ghost-like Blacktail in the Pacific Northwest, or a big-bodied Mule Deer on a windy high-plains ridge. The crew takes a strategic look at how terrain, habitat, deer size, and average shot distance dictate the ultimate setup for each corner of the country. In this episode, we cover: Southeast & Northeast: Navigating tight woods, short shot distances, and fast-handling setups for dense brush. Midwest: Balancing open ag fields, timber edges, and heavy-bodied northern Whitetails. Rocky Mountain West & Southwest: Tackling steep country, high winds, extended shot distances, and high-BC requirements for big Mule Deer, Whittails and Coues deer. Pacific Northwest: Purpose-built setups for Blacktail in rain, timber, and coastal ranges. The Ultimate All-American Setup: The guys wrap up by answering the ultimate question—if you could only pick ONE cartridge to hunt every deer species in every region across the entire country, what would it be? Whether you're prepping for a local Whitetail hunt or planning a dream out-of-state trip, this episode breaks down the exact logic and bullet selection needed for every region.

    The Ultimate Deer Cartridge Debate: What’s Best for Your Region?

  2. Oct 30

    Should You Be a Shoulder Shooter? | Pros, Cons & Bullet Tech Explained

    Should you aim for the front shoulder or stick to the classic behind-the-crease heart/lung shot? As November rifle seasons open across the country, making the right shot-placement decision is the difference between an instant drop and a long night of tracking. In this episode of Ballistics Briefs by Barnes, we break down the ultimate hunter’s debate: High-Shoulder Shots vs. Traditional Behind-the-Shoulder Placement. We analyze the physical ballistics, terminal mechanics, and bullet performance required to anchor big game in their tracks—whether you’re hunting Eastern whitetails in dense timber, big mule deer out West, or heavy-boned elk.

    Should You Be a Shoulder Shooter? | Pros, Cons & Bullet Tech Explained

  3. Oct 23

    30 Cal Deep Dive Part 2: Magnums, Short Mags & the Heavy Hitters

    The 30 Cal Deep Dive continues — and this time, we’re getting into the heavy hitters. In Part 2, Dale, Gregg, and Alan are back to break down some of the most popular and capable .30-caliber magnum and short-magnum hunting cartridges, including where they shine, where they overlap, and whether all that extra speed, recoil, and powder is actually worth it. This episode is all about the bigger .30s: short-action magnums, full-size magnums, long-range hunting cartridges, high-velocity loads, recoil, ballistic efficiency, bullet weight, and real-world hunting performance.

    30 Cal Deep Dive Part 2: Magnums, Short Mags & the Heavy Hitters

  4. Oct 16

    Rifle Barrel Life Explained: What Actually Burns Out a Barrel?

    Think your rifle barrel will last forever? Think again. Every round you fire puts wear on your barrel—but how quickly can you actually burn one out? And are some cartridges destroying barrels significantly faster than others? In this episode of Ballistics Briefs by Barnes, Dale sits down with Gregg to tackle one of the most argued-about topics in shooting: rifle barrel life, throat erosion, barrel burners, and what it really means to “shoot out” a barrel. And this isn’t just internet theory. Gregg brings nearly two decades of ballistics-lab experience to the conversation, including real-world photos and video of barrel erosion, throat damage, rifling wear, and barrels that lost performance much faster than many shooters would expect.

    Rifle Barrel Life Explained: What Actually Burns Out a Barrel?

  5. Oct 9

    Best .30 Cal Hunting Cartridges? .308, .30-06 & the Classics | Part 1

    What are the best .30 caliber hunting cartridges ever made? In Part 1 of our .30 Cal Deep Dive, Dale and Gregg is joined by Alan from Customer Service to break down some of the most proven short-action and standard hunting cartridges, including the .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, and other classic .30-cal options hunters have trusted for decades. We look at real-world hunting performance, velocity, recoil, bullet selection, effective range, rifle setup, and why some cartridges continue to dominate even as newer options hit the market. Is the .30-06 still one of the best all-around hunting cartridges ever designed? Does the .308 Winchester give up more than people think? And do hunters really need a magnum for most North American big game? We break it all down from a practical hunting standpoint. Part 2 takes things up another level as we move into short magnums and full-size magnum .30-cal cartridges.

    Best .30 Cal Hunting Cartridges? .308, .30-06 & the Classics | Part 1

  6. Oct 2

    Is the 7mm-08 the BEST Short-Action Hunting Cartridge?

    Is the 7mm-08 quietly the best-performing short-action hunting cartridge available?The .308 Winchester gets the reputation. The 6.5 Creedmoor gets the hype. But sitting right between them is a cartridge that combines excellent velocity, efficient 7mm bullets, manageable recoil, and proven big-game performance—the 7mm-08 Remington.In this episode of Ballistics Briefs by Barnes, Dale and Gregg make the case for why the 7mm-08 might deserve the crown as the Short Action King.The 7mm-08 has been around for decades, but with today’s bullets and modern rifles, has this cartridge actually gotten better with age?

    Is the 7mm-08 the BEST Short-Action Hunting Cartridge?

  7. Sep 23

    Inside 8.6 Blackout: Q, LLC & The Launch of Barnes Factory Ammunition

    The team from Q, LLC joins the podcast at our Mona, Utah facility for a deep dive into 8.6 Blackout. We break down the radical engineering behind 1:3 and 1:6 fast-twist rates, the rotational physics that turn subsonics into lethal energy, and the push to get 8.6 BLK SAAMI standardized. Plus, we explore why solid copper monolithic bullets are custom-built for high-RPM stability and officially unveil the new line of Barnes Factory 8.6 BLK Ammunition.

    Inside 8.6 Blackout: Q, LLC & The Launch of Barnes Factory Ammunition

  8. Sep 18

    The Ultimate Top 5 Elk Hunting Cartridges Debate

    In this episode of the Barnes Bullets podcast, Dale sits down with Gregg and Mitchell for an unfiltered breakdown of their Top 5 Elk Hunting Cartridges. With decades of western hunting experience between them, the crew steps away from keyboard-warrior theories to discuss what actually works when heavy bone, thick muscle, and extended distances are on the line. Whether you lean toward classic, time-tested calibers or modern, fast-twist magnums, the guys break down the real-world terminal physics, bullet weight selection, and shot-placement realities required to bring down North America's toughest big game. In this episode, we cover: The Non-Negotiables: Minimum downrange energy thresholds, terminal expansion requirements, and sectional density for elk-sized game. The Top 5 Breakdown: The crew reveals their individual top cartridge selections and why they made the cut. Versatility vs. Magnum Punch: Balancing recoil management and shot placement against outright kinetic horsepower. Monolithic Performance: Why running solid copper projectiles (like the Barnes LRX and TTSX) changes the game for medium-and-large caliber elk setups. Distance & Velocity Realities: Knowing the true effective terminal range of your favorite load before heading into the backcountry. If you’re prepping for an upcoming western elk hunt or looking to fine-tune your rifle setup for this fall, this is an episode you can't afford to miss.

    The Ultimate Top 5 Elk Hunting Cartridges Debate
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About

Welcome to The Barnes Bullets Podcast, presented by the leaders in all-copper bullet design. This is the ultimate convergence of ballistic science, handloading precision, and authentic storytelling from the field. Go behind the scenes with the engineers, hunters, and industry professionals driving modern innovation in the outdoors. Tune into our full-length episodes for deep-dive technical discussions and grit-filled stories from the field, or catch a Ballistics Brief for a fast, hard-hitting data drop. No fluff—this is where heavy-hitting ballistic innovation meets the reality of the hunt.

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