About the Podcast
Welcome to the hornady podcast!
Tune into The Hornady Podcast, where we’ve got some of the biggest names in the industry as well as the leading innovators of bullet technology locked, loaded and ready to deliver the goods on the topics that interest you most.
Whether it’s hunting, shooting, reloading or just enjoying the great outdoors, trust Hornady Marketing Communications Manager Seth Swerczek to get the rarest insights and best moments from outdoor celebrities and Hornady experts alike..
New episodes drop each week.
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Episodes
Ep. 224
What Makes a Real Hunting Knife? With Josh Smith of MKC
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Host Seth Swerczek sits down with Josh Smith of Montana Knife Company to talk about his journey from bladesmith to building one of the fastest-growing knife brands in America. They dive into what separates a quality hunting knife from a cheap one—covering steel, heat treat, design, and what really matters when it’s time to put a blade to work in the field.
Ep. 223
Hornady Rifle Builds | Joe's Tactical 308 PRS Rig |
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Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Assistant Director of Engineering Joe Thielen to break down the build behind Joe’s Tactical Class .308 Win PRS rifle. From barrel and stock to optics, trigger, and muzzle brake, they dive into the component selection process and the reasoning behind each choice for competitive precision rifle shooting and podium finishes.
Ep. 222
4DOF Ballistics on Board | Leupold BX - 6 Range HD Binoculars |
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Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Senior Ballistician Jayden Quinlan for a deep dive into the brand new Leupold BX-6 Range HD Binoculars featuring onboard Hornady 4DOF. The guys are joined by the Leupold VP of New Products and Marketing, Tim Lesser, and the Product Line Manager, Eric Overstreet. They discuss how these new binoculars deliver real-time ballistic data powered by 4DOF, precision ranging, and unmatched features and glass quality.
Ep. 221
Shoot to Hunt: How Competition Builds Better Hunters
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Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Preston Lentfer and Matt Ritchie to break down how competitive shooting disciplines like NRL Hunter, PRS, and even pistol matches translate into better hunting skills. From gear familiarity and shooting positions to time pressure and mental prep, the crew explores how competition sharpens the skills that matter most when it’s time to take the shot in the field.
Ep. 220
17 Hornet | Small Cartridge, Big Sting |
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Host Seth Swerczek is joined by former Hornady Senior Ballistician Dave Emary to tell the story of the 17 Hornet—from concept and cartridge design to testing, ballistics, and field performance. They break down what makes this tiny round so effective and the unique engineering behind its sting.
Ep. 219
308 Family Feud | A Ballistic Breakdown
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Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Preston Lentfer and Jayden Quinlan to dive into the extensive cartridge family born from the .308 Winchester. From the classic .243 Win to the hard-hitting .358 Winchester and everything in between, the team compares ballistics, performance, and application—laying out the strengths and trade-offs of each cartridge in the .308 lineage.
Ep. 218
Make Reloading Great Again | The SCIENCE of Headspace |
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Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Ben Syring, Jayden Quinlan, and special guest Jeff Siewert for a deep dive into headspace. From defining what it is and how it works to controlling it during reloading, this episode covers the science, data, and real-world scenarios that make headspace one of the most critical (and misunderstood) aspects of precision shooting.
Ep. 217
Hornady Rifle Builds | Seth’s 2026 Coyote Rig |
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Seth Swerczek and Preston Lentfer break down Seth’s brand-new coyote rifle build for the 2026 season. From barrel and optic to trigger and suppressor, they walk through every component choice—and explain how this setup is optimized for fast, accurate daytime predator hunting.
Ep. 216
Make Reloading Great Again | Sizing 101 |
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Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Ben Syring and Preston Lentfer to break down the different methods of case sizing—full-length, neck, bump, and more. They explore the pros, cons, and best applications for each, helping handloaders choose the right approach for accuracy, consistency, and reliability.
Ep. 215
Ballistics for Hunting | What REALLY Matters
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Host Seth Swerczek is joined by Jayden Quinlan, Miles Neville, and Preston Lentfer to discuss how they approach ballistic solutions in real-world hunting scenarios. From ballistic binoculars and Kestrels to drop cards and max point blank range, they break down what actually matters - and what doesn't - when you’re in the field. They also highlight Jayden's ultra-efficient dope card system.