Big Game Hunting Podcast
Hosted by Big Game Hunting
A technical podcast for serious hunters focused on the science of ballistics, cartridge performance, and deep dives into specific firearms.
This is a weekly audio masterclass on the tools of hunting. Episodes are either solo deep-dives where host John McAdams outlines a framework (like a five-gun battery for all hunters) or long-form interviews with industry experts like gun writers, ammunition engineers, and firearms company executives. The show is unapologetically technical, focusing on ballistics data, cartridge design, and the history and mechanics of specific rifles.
“Unlike many hunting podcasts that focus on storytelling, this show prioritizes data and mechanics. The host's structured, engineering-like approach to interviews and solo shows dissects firearms and ballistics with a level of detail that treats hunting gear like high-performance equipment.”
Who hosts this show
John McAdams is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. After his military career, he started The Big Game Hunting Blog in 2012 to share hunting lessons and stories. The blog and associated podcast aim to provide straight-forward, practical information for hunters, covering everything from gear selection to international hunting.
Credentials & credits
- U.S. Army Veteran (combat tours in Iraq & Afghanistan)
- Graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point
- Founder, The Big Game Hunting Blog
- Author, "Insider's Guide To Selecting The Best Caliber For Hunting Almost Anything"
- Founder, Big Game Hunting Adventures (booking service)
Other ventures
- The Big Game Hunting Blog
- Big Game Hunting Adventures
- Patreon Community
- YouTube Channel
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01429: Is The New 6 5 Creedmoor +Peak The End of the 6 5 PRC?Jun 25, 2026 · 1h 07m
- 02428: 5 Guns Every Hunter Should OwnJun 18, 2026 · 36 min
- 03427 Weatherby Rifles & Cartridges Explained With Tyler GrethenJun 11, 2026 · 1h 03m
- 04426: The Savage Model 99-The Thinking Man’s Deer Rifle with Bryce TowsleyJun 4, 2026 · 1h 26m
- 05425 Westley Richards: History, Ballistics & Dangerous Game PerformanceMay 28, 2026 · 58 min
- 06424: 300 HAM'R: Bill Wilson's 3,300+ Hogs, Zebra, Wildebeest, & MoreMay 21, 2026 · 1h 11m
- 07423: Best Cartridge for Hunting Darn Near Anything With Phil MassaroMay 14, 2026 · 50 min
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01426: The Savage Model 99-The Thinking Man’s Deer Rifle with Bryce Towsley
A perfect example of the show's historical deep-dive format, exploring a classic firearm with a renowned expert.
- 02427: Weatherby Rifles & Cartridges Explained With Tyler Grethen
Showcases the host's structured interview style, guiding an industry insider through a company's entire history and product line.
- 03429: Is The New 6 5 Creedmoor +Peak The End of the 6 5 PRC?
Highlights the show's focus on cutting-edge ammunition technology, performance data, and ballistics.
- 04428: 5 Guns Every Hunter Should Own
A representative solo episode where the host provides a practical, framework-based approach to gear selection.
What you'll be asked on this show
John McAdams runs a highly structured interview. He typically opens with a broad historical question, such as the origin story of a company or a guest's personal connection to a firearm. He then uses the guest's answers to logically progress into more granular topics, like specific product lines, technical specifications, and performance data. He often probes for hard numbers, asking for things like velocity data. A signature move is his closing question, asking every guest to choose a single cartridge or bullet to use for the rest of their life, which serves as a final, personal takeaway.
Episodes are a mix of solo-host presentations and guest interviews. Interviews are methodical, often starting with the history of a company or product before moving systematically through its features, performance data, and market position. The host provides detailed introductions and closes with a signature catchphrase: "You can make your dream hunt turn into a reality, and we can help."
Questions Big Game Hunting keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Big Game Hunting reaches for it.
personal
4- Q.01
“Choose one cartridge or one bullet to hunt with for the rest of your life. What is it?”
This is the host's signature closing question, asked of nearly every guest to get their ultimate personal preference.
- Q.02
“What initially drew you to the [Savage 99]?”
The host asks this to understand a guest's personal connection and passion for the topic.
- Q.03
“Do you have an interesting story of a hunt with a [specific rifle]?”
Used towards the end of a technical discussion to bring in a narrative, real-world application.
- Q.04
“Is there anything else to add before we wrap up?”
A standard closing question that gives the guest a final opportunity to share any missed points.
origin
1- Q.01
“Can you tell us about the history of [the company/rifle]?”
This is a common opening question to establish the historical context before diving into technical details.
craft
1- Q.01
“Let's go through your lineup of rifles, starting with the [Mark V].”
The host uses this to systematically walk through a company's product offerings with an insider.
process
1- Q.01
“What was the performance like with the new ammo?”
A direct question used to move from theory and design to real-world results and data.
industry
2- Q.01
“What are some of your most popular cartridges?”
This question helps identify market trends and best-selling products from a manufacturer's perspective.
- Q.02
“What sets Weatherby apart from other manufacturers?”
This question prompts the guest to define their brand's unique value proposition.
technique
1- Q.01
“What was a realistic accuracy expectation for a [firearm]?”
The host asks this to ground historical or new firearms in practical performance terms.
controversy
1- Q.01
“Are there any downsides to using this new cartridge?”
A question to ensure a balanced discussion by exploring potential trade-offs or negatives.
money
1- Q.01
“How did [the product] fit into the hierarchy of rifles at the time?”
This question is used to understand a firearm's historical market position and price point.
Signature segments
- · Signature closing question: "Choose one cartridge or one bullet to hunt with for the rest of your life."
- · Deep dives on the history and mechanics of specific firearms.
- · Promotion of the host's free e-book and email list.
- · Closing catchphrase: "You can make your dream hunt turn into a reality, and we can help."
- · Interviews with firearm and ammunition industry insiders.
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are credentialed industry insiders and subject matter experts. This includes shooting editors for major publications (John Snow, Outdoor Life), marketing directors for firearm manufacturers (Tyler Graythen, Weatherby), and legendary gun writers and historians (Bryce Towsley).
- John Snowon 429: Is The New 6 5 Creedmoor +Peak The End of the 6 5 PRC?
- Tyler Grethenon 427 Weatherby Rifles & Cartridges Explained With Tyler Grethen
- Bryce Towsleyon 426: The Savage Model 99-The Thinking Man’s Deer Rifle with Bryce Towsley
- L.D. McCaaon 425 Westley Richards: History, Ballistics & Dangerous Game Performance
- Bill Wilsonon 424: 300 HAM'R: Bill Wilson's 3,300+ Hogs, Zebra, Wildebeest, & More
- Phil Massaroon 423: Best Cartridge for Hunting Darn Near Anything With Phil Massaro
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The show is primarily sponsored by the host's own ventures, including his email newsletter, a free e-book, and a Patreon community. This suggests a listener-supported model focused on building a direct relationship with the audience.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch Big Game Hunting
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People also ask
- What is the host's name?
- The host is John McAdams, a U.S. Army veteran and the founder of The Big Game Hunting Blog.
- Is the Big Game Hunting Podcast still running?
- Yes, the podcast releases new episodes weekly, typically on Thursdays.
- What is the show's format?
- It's a mix of solo episodes where the host gives advice and long-form interviews with hunting industry experts like gun writers and firearm company executives.
- Who is this podcast for?
- It's for serious hunters interested in the technical details of firearms, ballistics, ammunition, and other gear for both North American and international hunting.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.
- How can I support the show?
- You can support the show by joining the Patreon community, or by signing up for the host's email list and free e-book.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]About - The Big Game Hunting Blogthebiggamehuntingblog.com
- [02]Big Game Hunting Podcast Official Websitethebiggamehuntingblog.com
- [03]A Quick Interview with John McAdams from The Big Game Bloghuntinglife.com
- [04]John McAdams, Author at - Modern Carnivoremoderncarnivore.com
- [05]Big Game Hunting Podcast on Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
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