The .30-06 still stands as one of the best choices for all-around use on big game—particularly with modern projectiles and propellants. From close up to 400 yards, it's superb. From little southern whitetails and pronghorn antelope to Alaska/Yukon moose, it's outstanding.  This episode takes a deep look into how to get the best performance your .30-06 is capable of.  Why the .30-06 became so popular in the first place What traditional cup-and-core bullets do so well out of the .30-06 How it is still relevant today How it kills with so much authority Where it's at it's best (out to 400 yards) and why Capability, shootability and recoil Factory ammo: broad-spectrum use Barrel life Picking modern loads with modern bullets Handloading tips for the .30-06 Classic bullets for use inside 300 yards Modern bullets for maximizing capability past 300 yards Best bullets for use on big elk, moose, and bear Rifle actions, barrel lengths, stock types, and scopes for use with .30-06  Final thought: It's not just about what you use, it's how you use it.  ENJOY!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to our exclusive weekly bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com  

Backcountry Hunting Podcast

Optimizing .30-06 Performance

Hornady technician, ballastician, and communications guru Seth Swerczek joins us this episode, for an in-depth look at the new CX monometal bullet. We discuss Hornady's old GMX bullet, and what makes the new CX different. Top terminal performance, increased aerodynamics, and a high accuracy standard set the CX apart. Initial cartridge offerings and component bullets are detailed, along with tips for handloading the CX for best accuracy.  Additionally, we examine the meteoric rise of the recently introduced 6.5 PRC and the .300 PRC, discussing what it is about those cartridges that resonates with hunters.  Finally, Seth talks through Hornady's flagship ELD-X hunting bullet as well as traditional classics such as the Interlock and SST, defining what each is particularly good for.  Bonus: Check out The Hornady Podcast, just launched!  ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE BACKCOUNTRY HUNTING PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com

Hornady's New CX Bullet with Seth Swerczek

Backcountry Q&A This fun episode responds to a dozen fascinating questions from listeners, including: • Bear deterrent • 6.8 Western vs. .280 Ackley vs. .30-06 cartridge comparison • Rifling twist rates • Traditional bows & muzzleloaders • Wild Bison success • Precision scopes for .22s • Upcoming live Podcast Q&A on Zoom • Troubling memories of unrecovered game • One-shot drops & escapes • Backcountry hunter's "essential book list" • More DIY Alaska tips & tricks • "Popper" loads for .35 Whelen •  ENJOY! FRIENDS, WE'RE PLANNING LIVE Q&A SESSIONS ON www.patreon.com/backcountry! Please sign up to support the show, and unlock all the bonus material on Patreon and join us on Zoom.  VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt

Q&A: Bears, Cartridges, Backcountry Books & More

SHOW NOTES Main topic: New and intriguing gear and trends.  SHOT Show 2022 had an interesting vibe and dynamic. Joseph and Colton discuss subtle trends in rifles, optics, ammo, and other gear, as well as manufacturing challenges and processes. Most interesting new products include GA Precision's new ultra-small backcountry-appropriate suppressor, Leica's new compact rangefinding binocular, Browning's new X-Bolt Speed SR (suppressor ready), and some smaller items.  ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com

SHOT Show: New Gear & Trends of 2022

SHOW NOTES Main topic: Planning and building the ultimate all-purpose rifle for hunting Alaska WINNER Announced: 150th episode custom knife winner revealed Q&A:  Starter .22s for left-handed kids Aoudad hunting (heat, humidity, and big rams) Utah's bonus point-creep dilemma Best .270 bullets for elk Ultimate Alaska Rifle CRITERIA Capable of cleanly killing anything you want to hunt Capable of reaching way out Capable of not just killing a grizzly, but stopping a charging bear Absolute reliability Familiar, intuitive function Ultimate Scope for the Ultimate Alaska Rifle CRITERIA Wide magnification range, starting low (2x) Superb quality to handle heavy recoil and adverse weather Good dial-up turret with zero stop and zero lock Ideally, parallax adjustment Ultimate Gunsmith to build the Ultimate Alaska Rifle Expert with chosen action Legendary for building reliable, accurate rifles Great human with a character as big as Alaska Lex Webernick of Rifle's Inc.  The Final Build & Accessories Rifle—you'll have to listen to get details!  Bipod: Spartan Precision Javelin Pro Hunt Sling: Red Kettle M19 ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com

An Ultimate Alaska Rifle

SHOW NOTES Intro: If you want the ultimate backcountry DIY challenge, hunt moose in Alaska.  Up Front Q&A section:  To Buy or Not To Buy: high-tech clothing and pack vs. a new backcountry hunting rifle Patreon update. Things to come, including live Zoom Q&A sessions for Patreon members, as well as a Backcountry Hunting companion book for the podcast.  Primary Topic: Planning A DIY Alaska Moose Hunt Research, planning, and booking a transporter Air Taxis vs. Outfitters Travel to Alaska, and within Alaska Gear. Everything from packs and boots and raingear to rifles, cartridges, and bullets for moose Freeze-dried food, and excruciatingly low max weight allowances  Traversing challenging terrain Safety in Alaska's backcountry How to hunt, shoot, field dress, and pack a moose What about bears?  Picking a hunting partner The importance of mental toughness Logistics of getting meat and antlers home Final thoughts: There's no time like the present, and you're not getting any younger. Plan it now.  ENJOY!  FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com  

Planning A DIY Alaska Moose Hunt

SHOW NOTES Main Topic: Predator Cartridges & Bullets "Up Front" Q&A section:  Undergunned for Aoudad "Recoil" is Right Characteristics of a great coyote cartridge: Fast & Flat Accurate Tiny grenade-like terminal performance If fur collecting, minimal bullet hole damage If competition calling, coyote-walloping authority Spectrum of suitable cartridges: What is too big? (deer cartridges?) What is too small? (.22 LR for coyotes?) Ideal rounds from .17 Rem. and .204 Ruger to .243 Win. and 6mm Creedmoor Top pick for a fur-collecting cartridge Favorite predator-thumping cartridge .22 Creedmoor: Unique, with potential Most practical all-around predator cartridge Favorite predator cartridge  Best bullets for predators: Polymer-tipped, boat-tailed designs Nosler's Ballistic Tip: Most proven  Sierra Tipped MatchKing: Great for reaching out FMJs & controlled-expansion bullets need not apply.   Winter clothing vs. heated blinds Bipods, tripods, & shooting sticks Ranging & shooting ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com

Predator Cartridges & Bullets

SHOW NOTES Intro: Second half of 2021 Kodiak Alaska audio journal.  Hunters: Colton & Gary Heward, Austin Brown, Shawn Skipper, Andrew Smith, Brent Neidig, and Joseph von Benedikt. Transporter: Travis Larson, Captain of the Venturess, and crew Susan, JJ, and Garrett of Alaska Premier Sportfishing.  Audio Journal entries:  Day three: Four big bucks down, and a late-night packout in fierce wind.  Day four: 100-mph winds, a bucking boat, and life on the edge. Some duck hunting and an "angry Irish fish."  Day five: A never-to-be-forgotten hunt. Seven mature bucks for seven hunters. Long, one-shot kills in high winds in steep country. Close, spur-of-the-moment shots in sheltered pockets. And a great big velvet "stag" buck.  Interview with Travis & Susan Larson: How to prepare for Kodiak Island. What a transporter does. The difference a warm boat, comfortable bunk, and gourmet-quality food makes when hunting hard in gnarly conditions and terrain. Local knowledge, savvy, and experience. Make-it-or-break-it gear. Mental toughness and adaptability.  ENJOY!  FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com

Kodiak Island Cast & Blast: Part 2

SHOW NOTES Main Topic: Recoil. How and why to master it and shoot authoritative cartridges accurately.  150th Episode Giveaway!  Custom Northern Shrike hunting knife To enter, post your favorite episode on Instagram or Facebook, and tag the Backcountry Hunting Podcast.  Q&A:  Barrel break-in, average velocities, and custom turrets Gransfors Bruks Hunters Axe A very short (18-inch) suppressed .30-06 Main topic:  Bad side-effects of recoil:  Flinching FIX: Man up, practice, mental toughness, discipline, fundamental instruction, & dry-fire practice. Dummy rounds and taking control.  Fear (causing poor cartridge selection) Examples: 6.5 & .243  for elk. .243 for mule deer.  FIX: Recoil is a small price to pay to send a bigger hammer downrange. Fear (causing use of muzzle brakes) Breaks good for: Spotting own impacts Breaks bad for: Hearing, and all companion  Best FIX of all: Suppressors Second-best FIX: Pick tough, controlled-expansion bullets that punch above their weight/diameter/energy class.  Wrap: Final thought.  FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com

Recoil: A Lousy Reason to Hunt Undergunned

Intro: On the boat, under way around Kodiak Island Participants: Colton & Gary Heward, Brent Neidig, Shawn Skipper, Austin Brown, Andrew Smith, Travis, Susan, & JJ Larson, and Garrett Lambert.  Plans: Hunt sitka blacktail deer & sea ducks, fish Forecast: Troubled. Cold, wind, & snow A lot of firsts: First bucks, first Alaskan hunts  Gear time: Rifles, optics, & ammo picked for the hunt First three days: Hunt stories & adventures Under way again: South Kodiak & big deer ahead Teaser: Big deer, big winds, and big danger ahead in Part 2! ENJOY!  FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com

Kodiak Island Cast & Blast: Part 1

SHOW NOTES Intro: For all you hunters sniffing around the 6.8 Western, here's an in-depth look at the cartridge with A Man Who Knows: Browning's own Rafe Nielson.  6.8 Western cartridge discussion: Genesis of the 6.8 Western Significant differences from the .270 WSM Short shots & long shots with the 6.8 Western Hunt stories: Caribou, whitetails, and Roosevelt elk  Cartridge comparisons: 6.8 Western vs. 7mm Rem. Mag., 6.5 PRC, and .280 Ackley Improved High-performance 6.8 Western loads in detail:  175-grain Long Range Pro bullet 165-grain AccuBond Long Range bullet 162-grain Copper Impact bullet Rifles chambered in 6.8 Western Browning's standard-line X-Bolt versions Browning's Pro series X-Bolts Browning's base model X-Bolts Winchester's Model 70  Winchester's XPR Here to stay: Current sales and future promise of the 6.8 Western Wrap: Is the 6.8 Western a candidate for an ultimate Western rifle for the one-gun hunter?    FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and access all our patron-only bonus episodes, gear tips, and gear reviews on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com

The 6.8 Western: Cartridge Characteristics, Capabilities, & Comparisons

SHOW NOTES Intro: Conservation and the challenges hunters face Guests: DSC's Corey Mason & Brandon Boyles Main topic: Conservation locally, nationally, and internationally. How hunters can help (with time, and by standing our ground politically). Current state of affairs across America Local challenges and potential solutions Western mule deer populations and recovery potential Habitat encroachment Areas with many hunters and few resources Areas losing hunters (and votes) Standing our ground and fighting for what we love DSC convention info DSC chapters and what they do Getting involved FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com  

Hunting Conservation with DSC

SHOW NOTES Intro: On the road for Western Whitetails!  Main Topic: Are there cases when rapid-expansion, shallow-penetrating bullets are best?  The "Dump all the energy in the deer" theory Slab-sided big game such as Mountain Goats Extended-range shooting and low-velocity impacts Coyotes, wolves, bullets, and fur damage Wrap: Tailor your bullet to your game, and you'll average better success.  FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry for access to all our patron-only bonus mini-episodes, gear tips, and how-to tips.  Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com

When Rapid-Expansion Bullets Are Best

SHOW NOTES Topic: Making steep-angle shots Talking points:  Why do steeply angled shots impact high?  How steep is "steep?" What's the traditional, non-calculator based method of compensating for steep angles?  What are the issues with "horizontal distance" compensations for angle?  Zero Range vs. Zero Angle ballistic calculations Advanced ballistic calculators and rangefinders Gunwerks' Revic Ops app and BR4 Rangefinder How to gear up and game plan for steep-angled shots Learning resources FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com

Making Steep-angle Shots with Aaron Davidson

SHOW NOTES Intro: Magnificently awful hunting mistakes Q&A Section: .338 Win Mag barrel length .338 RUM vs. .338 EDGE Short-barrel .338 accuracy Regret No. 1: An old non-typical mule deer that haunts dreams Regret No. 2: "Just" a five-by-five bull elk.  High Country Hardware segment: Do suppressors increase muzzle velocity?  Backcountry Bounty: A winning recipe for tough shank meat.  FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via PayPal using joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.browning.com www.silencercentral.com www.timneytriggers.com www.siembidacustomknives.com

Colossal Hunting Mistakes I've Made

Backcountry Hunting Podcast focuses on inspiring and teaching about deep-country hunting, with emphasis on DIY techniques, gear, prep and how-to. Lifelong wilderness hunter Joseph von Benedikt shares stories and tips for success.

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Backcountry Hunting Podcast

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