John McAdams

John McAdams is a proficient blogger, experienced shooter, and long time hunter who has pursued big game in 8 different countries on 3 separate continents. John graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and is a veteran of combat tours with the US Army in Iraq & Afghanistan. In addition to founding and writing for The Big Game Hunting Blog, John has written for outdoor publications like Bear Hunting Magazine, The Texas State Rifle Association newsletter, Texas Wildlife Magazine, & Wide Open Spaces. Learn more about John here, read some of John’s most popular articles, and be sure to subscribe to his show: the Big Game Hunting Podcast.

How to Mount A Scope On A Rifle In 6 Easy Steps

How to Mount A Scope On A Rifle In 6 Easy Steps

by John McAdams

Interested in finding out how to mount a scope on a rifle? Keep reading for step by step instructions. I think we can agree that … Read more

270 vs 30-06 The Age Old Debate Continues

270 vs 30-06 Debate Settled Once And For All

by John McAdams

The .270 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield are both great cartridges, but have different strengths and weaknesses. So, the question central to the 270 vs 30-06 … Read more

7-30 waters featured

7 Reasons You Should Hunt With The 7-30 Waters

by John McAdams

Is the 7-30 Waters a worthwhile cartridge for deer hunting? I think we’re in agreement that hunting with the 7-30 Waters might not make much … Read more

best muzzleloader primers

15 Of The Best Muzzleloader Primers For Igniting Your Powder

by John McAdams

Which muzzleloader primer should you use this hunting season? I think you’ll agree with me when I say that choosing the best muzzleloader primer can … Read more

picture of 22 hornet cartidge and jackal skull

22 Hornet Profile: 22LR vs 22 Hornet vs 223 Remington

by John McAdams

Should you use the .22 Hornet for small game and varmint hunting? I think you’ll agree with me that, at first glance anyway, it makes … Read more

leupold sx-1 ventana spotting scope review

Leupold SX-1 Ventana Spotting Scope Review

by John McAdams

Check out this Leupold SX-1 Ventana review where I discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this spotting scope. I purchased a Leupold SX-1 Ventana 15-45×60 Angled … Read more

10mm Auto Miami Vice The FBI And Handgun Hunting

10mm Auto: Miami Vice, The FBI, And Handgun Hunting

by John McAdams

Though it experienced a series of dramatic changes in fortune during a relatively short time period, the 10mm Auto is making a comeback with many … Read more

7 Reasons You Need A Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K Rangefinder featured

Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K: 7 Reasons Why You Need One

by John McAdams

A good laser rangefinder is an essential piece of gear for hunters and the Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K stands head and shoulders above any other … Read more

blackhorn 209 vs 777 vs goex black powder featured

Blackhorn 209 vs 777 vs Goex Black Powder: Which One Should You Use In Your Muzzleloader?

by John McAdams

Hunters have debated the pros and cons of Blackhorn 209 vs 777 vs Goex black powder for years. Each propellant has different strengths and weaknesses, … Read more

35 whelen featured

.35 Whelen: The Poor Man’s Magnum

by John McAdams

Born in the early 1920s, the .35 Whelen is one of the most successful wildcat cartridges descended from the .30-06 Springfield. Most hunters probably agree the … Read more

picture of best hunting quotes

23 Best Hunting Quotes: They’ll Change How You View Hunting

by John McAdams

Some are funny, some are poignant, and some are inspirational, but all the entries on this list of the best hunting quotes help explain the … Read more

Best 65 Creedmoor Ammo For Hunting Deer, Other Big Game featured

Best 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo For Hunting Elk & Deer (2024)

by John McAdams

More people are using the 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting than ever before. Here are a few great brands of 6.5 Creedmoor ammo that should serve … Read more

7mm Mauser 7x57mm Mauser

The 7mm Mauser: A Classic Hunting Masterpiece

by John McAdams

The world changed forever when the 7mm Mauser came onto the scene in the 1890s. Few people have had as big of an impact on … Read more

paradox gun rifling featured

What Is A Paradox Gun?

by John McAdams

Put simply, a Paradox Gun is a shotgun with a partially rifled barrel that enables it to shoot both slugs and shot with reasonable accuracy. … Read more

This Is The Mule Deer Hunting Gear List I Used On My Recent New Mexico Hunt

Here’s The Mule Deer Hunting Gear List I Used On My New Mexico Hunt

by John McAdams

Keep reading for a breakdown of essential items from my the mule deer hunting gear list I used on my recent hunt in New Mexico. … Read more

Leupold BX-5 Santiam 15x56mm Binocular Review featured

Read This Leupold BX-5 Santiam Binocular Review Before You Buy Any New Hunting Optics

by John McAdams

I used a pair of Leupold’s new BX-Santiam HD 15×56 binoculars on my New Mexico mule deer hunt and I probably wouldn’t have been successful … Read more

Here's How My 2017 Self-Guided New Mexico Mule Deer Hunt On Public Land Went deer featured

Here’s How My 2017 Self-Guided New Mexico Mule Deer Hunt Went

by John McAdams

I just got back from a self-guided New Mexico mule deer hunt on public land where I tagged a nice 5×4 buck. Here’s the story … Read more

picture of best muzzleloader bullets for hunters

19 Best Muzzleloader Bullets For Hunters (2025)

by John McAdams

Are you looking for some good bullets to use in your smoke pole this hunting season? Well, here are 15 of the best muzzleloader bullets … Read more

picture of best hunting books

33 Best Hunting Books Every Hunter Should Read (2024)

by John McAdams

Are you a hunter looking for some good book recommendations? Well, here are 33 of the best hunting books ever written. I love to read … Read more

picture of 308 vs 30-06 vs 300 Win Mag featured

308 vs 30-06 vs 300 Win Mag: Which Should You Hunt With In 2024?

by John McAdams

The 308 vs 30-06 vs 300 Win Mag debate has gone on for about as long as those three cartridges have existed. They’re all great … Read more