I sat down with one of my South African Professional Hunters, Kobus Kok, at the Dallas Safari Club convention and recorded a short interview. Among other things, we discuss how he got started in this line of work along with some noteworthy experiences from his career, like two extremely close range encounters with buffalo and one kudu hunt in the snow. We also talk about misconceptions people have about hunting Africa, common mistakes visiting hunters make, and how to make the most out of a hunt...
Jun 26, 2025•34 min
Interested in hunting Africa but don’t quite know where to start? This is an “Africa Hunting 101” episode aimed at answering many of the basic questions first time hunters have prior to booking a hunt in Africa like: where to go, what animals they should focus on, the pros and cons of hunting at various times of year, how to pick a good outfitter, etc. John also shares a few examples of what animals are good for that first time hunt, stories from previous hunts, and a few cautionary tales of how...
Jun 19, 2025•54 min•Ep. 376
John McAdams shares insights on the 375 H&H vs 9.3x62mm informed by real world data obtained at the range, afield, and in ballistic gel in this podcast episode. John discusses the design characteristics, performance specifications, pros and cons, and some hunting stories involving each cartridge. Plus, he also shares some details on what he thinks about the Ruger M77 Mk II (aka Ruger Safari Magnum) and Ruger Hawkeye rifles. Sponsor: Get in touch with me to make your Africa hunting dreams com...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 375
Kevin Robertson shares some insights on kudu hunting in this podcast interview, focusing on the kudu biology, where they live, what they eat (and how that affects their behavior), how trophy quality varies from region to region, and some fascinating stories involving hunting in Africa. Sponsor: 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 associ...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 374
My father, Kevin McAdams joins me in this episode to discuss three African safaris where he used classic and indeed unusual rifles and cartridges like 22 Hornet, 33 WCF, 577/450 Martini Henry, 45-70, and 50-110 Winchester. We’ll discuss how those cartridges performed over there along with several fascinating stories from those hunts involving animals like aardwolf, cheetah, honey badger, mongoose, and owl that go well beyond some of the animals typically featured in Africa hunting stories. Spons...
May 29, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Adam Wies (aka Who Tee Who on YouTube) 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’re play little game where Adam 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 ...
May 22, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 372
Colby Adamek and Mark Walker discuss Sierra bullets in this podcast interview, focusing on the history of the company, the various target and hunting bullets they currently offer, the performance specifications and recommended uses of these bullets, and a couple of brand new products they released in 2025. To enter the random drawing for the chance to test and evaluate Barnes Harvest Collection ammo or the new Sierra MKX bullets, click here and sign up by 11:59pm on Sunday, 1 June 2025. Sponsor:...
May 15, 2025•57 min•Ep. 371
John McAdams shares insights on the 6.5 vs 7mm PRC informed by real world data on obtained at the range, afield, and in ballistic gel in this podcast episode. John discusses the design characteristics, performance specifications, and pros and cons of each cartridge. Plus, he also shares some details on how different 6.5 PRC and 7mm PRC factory loads have performed on game afield. Sponsor: Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe for the potential opportunity to have a future podcast guest answer ...
May 08, 2025•43 min•Ep. 370
John McAdams shares insights on the 7mm PRC vs 7mm Remington Magnum informed by real world data on obtained at the range and field in this podcast episode. John discusses the design characteristics, performance specifications, and pros and cons of each cartridge. Plus, he also shares some details on how different 7mm PRC factory loads have performed on game afield. Sponsor: Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe for the potential opportunity to have a future podcast guest answer one of your que...
May 01, 2025•49 min•Ep. 369
Joseph von Benedikt shares some insights on the 300 Holland & Holland Magnum in this podcast interview, focusing on the history of the cartridge, its performance specifications, and some fascinating stories involving hunters using the cartridge on game ranging from deer up to Alaska brown bear. Sponsor: Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast Patreon community 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 mate...
Apr 24, 2025•55 min•Ep. 368
Phil Massaro shares insights on hunting aoudad out in west Texas in this podcast interview, focusing on the story of the hunt, bullet terminal performance on auodad, general tips, and equipment recommendations. 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. In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast , host John Mc...
Apr 17, 2025•46 min•Ep. 367
John Snow of Outdoor Life shares insights on modern cartridge design in this podcast interview, explaining why rounds like the 6.5 Creedmoor have a crucial edge. 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. In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast , host John McAdams welcomes John Snow, Outdoor Life ’s shootin...
Apr 10, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 366
Tyler Freel shares insights on hunting big game with the 338 Lapua Magnum in this podcast interview, focusing on terminal performance, favorite loads, and recoil management. Sponsor: Go to https://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. In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast , host John McAdams sits down with Tyler Fr...
Apr 03, 2025•49 min•Ep. 365
I have Gregg Ritz on the show with me again today to talk about the latest updates from Thompson/Center. T/C is literally shipping guns out the door right now and Gregg and I discuss the stuff that’s currently available, what other products will be shipping later this year, what other products are coming soon from the company, and what the future holds for Thompson/Center in 2026 and 2027. Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers ...
Mar 27, 2025•48 min•Ep. 364
How would you like it if you could find a hunting rifle that shoots accurately without an extensive barrel break-in, is lightweight and easy to carry, contains a bunch of premium features, and comes in at under $2,000? Well, the Bergara B-14 Squared Crest Carbon might just fit the bill in all of those areas. In this episode, I conduct a detailed analysis of the Bergara Crest Carbon where I tell you all about this rifle so you can make an informed decision regarding whether or not it fits your ne...
Mar 20, 2025•29 min•Ep. 363
Today we’re going to talk about two completely different rounds: the 45-70 Government and the 308 Winchester. Comparing these two cartridges is a great example of how a person who doesn’t know any better can get a wildly distorted view of how two cartridges compare to each other by simply looking at their performance on paper. We’ll discuss the overall design characteristics and performance specs of each round then compare how they stack up next to each other. I’ll also cover how they each perfo...
Mar 13, 2025•47 min•Ep. 362
I got the chance to sit down with Hunter McWaters from The Hunter’s Quest in this episode. We discussed how he got interested in western hunting along with the story of a cool, horseback elk hunt he went on in Wyoming during 2024. Hunter lives in Virginia, so his tale may seem familiar to those of you who from that part of the country who are interested in breaking into the western hunting world. Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey will be en...
Mar 06, 2025•59 min•Ep. 361
Today we’re going to talk about two high octane 22 caliber centerfire cartridges: the 22-250 Remington and the 22 Creedmoor. We’ll discuss the overall design characteristics and performance specs of each round, then compare how they stack up next to each other. I’ll also cover how they each perform in some ballistic gel tests and discuss some interesting aspects of how they each performed at the range. Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey by 2...
Feb 27, 2025•47 min•Ep. 360
I have a few announcements to share with you on this unusual mid-week episode regarding our upcoming hunt for the military veteran we're conducting in June of 2025 and a special request for all listeners regarding future episodes. Resources See video of our previous veteran hunt here Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Cabela's gift card) Donate money for the veteran hunt via Venmo here (put "Matt" or "V...
Feb 25, 2025•6 min•Ep. 18
I got the chance to sit down with Aaron Davidson from Gunwerks at the DSC convention in Atlanta and we discussed the ins and outs of bullet selection, external ballistics, and terminal performance. I felt like I was drinking from a firehose talking to Aaron, but he does a fantastic job of breaking down why he uses various bullets for certain situations, why he opts for certain shot placement with certain bullets, how various bullets behave differently with different impact velocities and shot pl...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 359
I discuss all of the 35 Caliber SAAMI standardized cartridges (plus a couple of other noteworthy rounds) in this episode. As always, I’ll talk about their history, design characteristics, performance specs, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. Where appropriate, I’ll also share some personal anecdotes involving these rounds as well as some observations involving various cartridges by noteworthy gun writers as well. Cartridges covered: 348 Winchester, 357 Magnum, ...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 358
Today Buz Mills from the National Rifle Association joins me on the show to talk about the upcoming election for the NRA board of directors. In any case, I’m a life member of the NRA and I’m saddened and disappointed with what has happened with the organization in recent years. Well, Buz Mills is spearheading an effort at reforming the National Rifle Association and bringing the focus of the organization back to its original core values. That's what we discuss in detail in this episode. Resource...
Feb 10, 2025•35 min•Ep. 17
Kevin Robertson is back again today to talk about sable hunting. Just like we’ve done on the past we dive right into the details of sable: how big they get, where they live, why they’re different from other species of plains game, and how to hunt them. As always, we talk about cartridge and bullet selection as well as terminal ballistics. Kevin also shares two stories of extremely close calls he personally has had with sable over the years. Contact Kevin through his web site drkevinrobertson.com...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 357
I sat down with one of my South African Professional Hunters, Johan Seyffert, at the Dallas Safari Club convention and recorded a short interview about how he got started in this line of work and some funny and noteworthy experiences he has had over the years, like how he went from serving in the French Foreign Legion to floating in a rowboat surrounded by crocodiles. We also talk about misconceptions people have about hunting Africa, common mistakes visiting hunters make, and how to make the mo...
Jan 30, 2025•43 min•Ep. 356
My ongoing Africa hunting mini-series continues this week with another special guest: Hancke Hudson. Hancke is a South African Professional Hunter who has spent the past 30 years hunting in the rainforests of Central Africa for animals like bongo, dwarf buffalo, sitatunga, and the numerous species of small antelope that live there. The rainforest is a special place and these hunts are like nothing anywhere else in the world. While these hunts are not for the faint of heart, those brave enough to...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 355
This is the first episode in my winter 2025 Africa hunting mini-series and I have a special guest on the show with me today: Tanya Blake. Depending on how long you’ve been listening to the show, you may recognize that name because she was Phil Massaro’s PH on the leopard hunt he and I discussed in episode 293. Tanya is a Zimbabwe based Professional Hunter who hunts a number of different species, but leopard are her specialty and we'll be talking all about hunting Mr. Spots in this episode. Subsc...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 354
I have Eric Miller on the show with me today to talk about Federal's brand new 7mm Backcountry rifle cartridge. As you’ll learn here shortly, the 7 Backcountry utilizes an innovative design that produces some impressive ballistics and it could possibly be a true game changer that kills off my beloved 7mm PRC. Learn more about the 7mm Backcountry here Subscribe to The Big Game Hunting Podcast on YouTube here Sponsor: Get in touch with me to make your Africa hunting dreams come true at in South Af...
Jan 09, 2025•37 min•Ep. 353
It’s January 2025 and you know what that means: it’s time to start planning hunts for later this year. The Arizona elk and antelope draw is up first and I have Grant McCune from Zona Guides on the show to talk about this in detail. I hear from podcast listeners pretty frequently asking for recommendations on outfitters to hunt species like elk in particular. Well, Grant McCune and Zona Guides are my #1 recommendation for Arizona. I’d go back with him in a heartbeat and I recommend you check out ...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 352
Is the new 22 Creedmoor just the latest fad? Or does it offer significant benefits to hunters compared to more established 22 caliber centerfires like the 22-250 Remington? Today, Derrick Ratliff from Horizon Firearms joins me on the show as we talk about this new hot rod 22 caliber and he shares some insights on why he first started wildcatting the 22 Creedmoor, what uses he thinks the best use cases are for it, what his favorite bullets are for the cartridge, what factory rifle and ammo availa...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 351
Larry Weishuhn, also known as "Mr. Whitetail" joins me on the show today to talk about some of the finer points of whitetail deer hunting. I’ve always wanted to sit down with an accomplished deer hunter and wildlife biologist Larry and pepper him with specific questions about how to take my deer hunting game to the next level. Well, that’s what we do today and we discuss all sorts of burning questions I’ve had about deer hunting like whether or not it’s really a good idea to urinate on deer scra...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 350
