384: 2025 Big Game Hunting Podcast Safari Recap
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
Release Date: 08/14/2025
398: 6.5mm Cartridges: The Ultimate Guide
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
I discuss all of the 6.5mm SAAMI standardized cartridges (plus a couple of other noteworthy CIP 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: 6.5x52mm Carcano, 6.5×55 Swede, 6.5x57mm, 6.5x50mm Japanese, 6.5x54MS, 6.5-06, 264 Winchester Magnum, 6.5mm Remington...
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397: An Elk Guide Shares His Favorite Elk Hunting Cartridges
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
Today, Rob Massa from the Bergara Academy and the R&K Hunting Company in Wyoming joins me on the show to discuss some observations he has made on what cartridges and bullets work and don’t work from over 20 years outfitting elk hunts in Wyoming. I first met Rob while attending an event at the Bergara long range shooting Academy in 2024 and I was incredibly impressed both with his knowledge of shooting and hunting as well with the professionalism he ran the Bergara Academy and the R&K Hunting Company with. With that in mind, I decided to bring him on the show to discuss some...
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396: 2025 Wyoming Elk Hunt Recap
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
I just made it home from an outstanding elk hunt in Wyoming! Despite some unique struggles, I had an amazing trip and I successfully took a beautiful bull elk. Today’s episode is a detailed recap of this hunt, evaluations of some gear I used, and some of the lessons we learned along the way. I also share two exciting announcements near the end. Check out my video of the hunt here: Sponsor: Get in touch with Rob at to book an elk, antelope, or deer hunt. I cannot recommend them highly enough: they have hardworking and friendly guides, comfortable lodging, great food, and fantastic...
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395: 22 Creedmoor vs 6.5 Creedmoor Caliber Comparison
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
John McAdams shares insights on the 22 Creedmoor vs 6.5 Creedmoor 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 Creedmoor and 22 Creedmoor factory loads have performed on game afield. Sponsor: Go to 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...
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394: 35 Whelen, 444 Marlin, & Magnum Muzzleloaders From CVA With Brad Watts
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
Brad Watts, the director of marketing for CVA, joins me on the show to talk about the diverse array of muzzleloaders and rifles CVA produces. Of note, CVA currently produces a number of rifles in more esoteric cartridges like 35 Whelen, 444 Marlin, and 400 Legend. Not only that, but they also produce other rifles and muzzleloaders that are in compliance with very specific hunting regulations in states like Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, and Oregon. And finally, they also produce plenty of more conventional rifles and muzzleloaders as well. We discuss this in more detail during this...
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393: Best Deer Hunting Ammo For 2025
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
John McAdams shares three different recommendations for ammunition and bullets for deer hunters to use in 2025 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 offerings. Plus, he also shares some details on how those different bullets have performed on game afield. Sponsor: Go to 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,...
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392: 6.5 PRC vs 270 Winchester Caliber Comparison
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
The legendary 270 Winchester celebrates its 100th birthday this year in 2025. So, in honor of that impressive milestone, I conduct a deep dive comparing the venerable 270 Winchester to a much newer round with a more modern design that, as you’ll learn here shortly, has shockingly similar performance: the 6.5 PRC. Sponsor: Go to 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. Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe for the potential opportunity to...
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391: 7mm Backcountry, 277 Sig, & Seekins Precision With Matty Nelson
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
Matty Nelson, the director of business management for Seekins Precision, joins me on the show to talk about his company their hunting rifles. Of note, Seekins Precision was one of the first companies to pick up both of the SAAMI standardized high pressure cartridges we have right now in the 277 Sig Fury and the new 7mm Backcountry. Not only that, but all the rifles they’re producing today are forwards compatible with that same technology and, with just a simple barrel change (which you’ll be able to purchase from Seekins Precision), can easily be adopted to shoot new cartridges like a...
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390: 25 Creedmoor vs 6.5 Creedmoor Caliber Comparison
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
John McAdams shares insights on the 25 Creedmoor vs 6.5 Creedmoor 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 Creedmoor and 25 Creedmoor factory loads have performed on game afield. Sponsor: Go to 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...
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389: Taurus & Rossi Firearms With Caleb Giddings
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
Caleb Giddings, the marketing general manager for Taurus holdings, joins me on the show to talk about Taurus and Rossi firearms. We discuss the history of Taurus and Rossi, the details on some of the hunting handguns and rifles they each offer, and a few hunting stories involving those guns afield hunting in Africa. Sponsor: Go to 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...
info_outlineAs promised, I have a more comprehensive recap of my 2025 African safari hunt with several podcast listeners for you today. I’ll talk about that hunt in more detail today and provide some reflections on the results of the hunt, what the Free State was like, and how my equipment (especially my new rifles in 25 Creedmoor and 7mm PRC) performed.
Subscribe to my YouTube channel here to ensure you don't miss out on the podcast hunt video when I release it next week.
Email me at john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com and let me know what you'd potentially like to hunt if you're interested in joining me on a hunt in Africa or joining me on the deer/pronghorn hunt out west I teased in the future.
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 associated with a hunt, and up front pricing with no extra fees. We have space remaining for hunts in March, May, September, October, and November 2026. Visit bestsafarihunt.com or email me at john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com to learn more. Make sure to state that you’re a podcast listener and I’ll give you a special bonus!
In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, host John McAdams provides a detailed recap of the recent 2025 Big Game Hunting Podcast African safari with three podcast listeners.
John provides an overview of the entire hunt, shares some of the most memorable moments of this safari, some insights into how everyone's rifles and ammunition performed, and a few lessons they all learned along the way.
Please hit that “SUBSCRIBE” or “FOLLOW” button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Resources
Ep 382: Live from South Africa (2025) – Episode referenced in podcast
Ep 261: Live from South Africa (2023) – Episode referenced in podcast