386: Hunting Brown & Grizzly Bear With Ron Spomer
Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
Release Date: 08/28/2025
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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_outlineRon Spomer is back on the show to discuss his adventures hunting brown and grizzly bear on the Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia as well as in Alaska. Ron shares the stories of those hunts (a couple of which are pretty wild) along with a discussion on the rifles, cartridges, and bullets he used.
Sponsor: Make sure you’re signed up for my email list by going to Biggamehuntingpodcast.com/ebook. You’ll get my free E-BOOK when you do so and you’ll also receive the emails I send out every weekday. If you like The Big Game Hunting Podcast you’ll love those emails.
In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, host John McAdams sits down with returning guest Ron Spomer.
They discuss Ron's bear hunts in Russia and Alaska, to include his recent trip in the spring of 2025. As always, Ron shares plenty of stories regarding each hunt, to include some of the interesting experiences he had a long the way.
Their takeaway? Those can be some wild hunts with lots of adventure and are not for the faint of heart. However, they can also deliver some experiences the hunter will remember for decades afterwards.
Please hit that “SUBSCRIBE” or “FOLLOW” button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!
Resources
Pick up a copy of Ron’s 7mm Cartridges From Around The World book here
Check Out Ron Spomer’s Podcast (on Apple or Spotify), Web Site, & YouTube Channel
Ep 320: Master Alaska Guide Phil Shoemaker Talks Brown Bear Hunting – Phil Shoemaker interview referenced in podcast
Ep 336: Best Cartridge For Hunting Darn Near Anything With Ron Spomer– Previous appearance by Ron on the podcast
Ep 201: Bighorn Sheep Hunting With Ron Spomer – Previous appearance by Ron on the podcast
Ep 145: Moose Hunting 101 With Ron Spomer – Previous appearance by Ron on the podcast