Red, White and Moose

This week on the Red, White, and Moose podcast, we are fueled by caffeine and diving headfirst into the peak of the precision rifle season. With standard PRS in full swing and the PRSuit hunter-style matches officially kicking off, a lot of shooters are trying to figure out how to bridge the gap between the two formats.
We break down the massive mindset shift required to bounce between the highly rehearsed, "Formula 1" choreography of PRS and the on-the-fly, blind-stage chaos of PRSuit. We also dig into the realities of gear crossover—what works, what doesn't, and how to avoid the trap of building a "do-it-all" rifle that leaves you at a disadvantage in both disciplines.
In this episode, we cover:
The Mindset Shift: The difference between executing a heavily prepped 90-second stage versus finding, ranging, and engaging blind targets on a 4-minute clock.

The Gear Trap: Why a 16-pound "crossover" rifle is an uphill battle, and how to use switch-lug systems (like West Texas Ordinance) and interchangeable chassis weights to stretch your budget.

Support Gear Realities: Why your heavy 12-pound barricade bag needs to stay out of the backcountry, and how tripod usage changes between disciplines.

Optics & Glassing: The critical importance of range-finding binoculars with built-in ballistic solvers (like the Swarovski EL Range or Vortex Furion/Talons) for staying on the clock during hunter matches.

We’ve all been there—you buy that new piece of gear, drag it into the field, and instantly realize it’s holding you back. Whether you're carrying a 20-pound benchrest anchor up a mountain or fighting the violent recoil of an ultralight toothpick, bad gear choices cost you impacts and cost you animals.
This week, we are stripping down the modern precision rifle piece by piece to build the ultimate crossover system. From the raw action to the muzzle device, we break down exactly where to save weight, where to add it, and how every single component influences the rest of the rifle. If you want to stop fighting your gear and start hitting your targets, this is the blueprint.
In this episode, we cover:
Actions: Titanium vs. Stainless, and why integral recoil lugs and rails are the standard.

Barrels: Carbon fiber vs. steel contours, and why a shorter 16.5” to 20” barrel might be all you need.

Stocks vs. Chassis: Managing recoil with Micarta, and finding your perfect balance point.

Optics & Mounting: FFP vs. SFP, maximizing your field of view, and why cheap rings are ruining your zero.

Muzzle Management: Suppressors vs. aggressive directional brakes for spotting your own trace.

Cartridge & Bullet Selection: Why fast, efficient cartridges and match bullets are dominating the field.

Brought to you by: Alpha Munitions, Lone Peak Arms, Kahles, Foundation Stocks, Hawkins Precision, West Texas Ordnance, Raven Rifles, and Botnia Solutions.

In this July episode of Red, White, & Moose, Mike dives into the critical prep work you should be doing right now to guarantee success when rifle season hits. Moving past the outdated "shoot once a year from a bench" mentality, Mike breaks down how simulated hunting events like the Ultimate Hunting Experience (UHE) and the new PRS PRSuit offer the absolute best proving grounds to test your system before it counts.
Mike also tackles current industry gear trends, pushing back against the ultra-lightweight magnum craze. Instead, he advocates for the sweet spot of 10-14 pound setups and fast cartridges (3,000+ fps) to maximize stability, recoil management, and energy transfer on target. Packed with insights for the ultimate gear junkie, this episode covers the evolution of rangefinding binos (Vortex Talons vs. Swarovski ELs), the tactical advantages of inverted tripods from Really Right Stuff, and how to run efficient "one-shot drills" right in your garage to get your pack-to-shot time under a minute. Finally, Mike touches on the physical side of the hunt, sharing his ongoing fitness journey, recent running milestones, and why being physically conditioned is just as vital as having your ballistics dialed in.

In this departure from standard gear and shooting talk, Mike opens up about a lifelong, deeply personal battle: his weight. Peaking at well over 300 pounds, the former lineman and powerlifter realized his relentless dedication to building his business had completely sidelined his physical health. Down 90 pounds, Mike gets vulnerable about the mental hurdles of long-term weight loss. He discusses the confusing reality of feeling strangely unaccomplished simply because the transformation took years of eating less and making slow, sustainable choices, rather than relying on a dramatic, agonizing 30-day sprint.
From cutting out alcohol and relearning how to run post-knee surgery, to the shock of knocking out his first continuous 3-mile run, Mike explores the shift from raw lifting strength to functional endurance. He also reveals the sadistic 10-mile, 100-pound ruck challenge waiting for him at the 100-pound weight-loss milestone, thanks to Ryan Garner. This episode is a call to action to find your "why," embrace doing hard things, and trust the long, slow process of changing your life.

Welcome back to another episode of Red, White, and Moose! This week, we kick things off with a major update for the Ultimate Hunting Experience—the rest of the year's schedule is officially live! We highlight the upcoming events in Rose (OK), Preston (ID), and Brownfield (TX). Spots are limited, so head over to theultimatehuntingexperience.com to lock in your expedition before they sell out.
Then, we are diving deep into the archery rabbit hole. With rifle hunters making the crossover to the bow world, it’s time to talk about taking total control of the tuning process. We are taking the same mindset used to excel in precision rifle matches and applying it to compound bows.
Listen in as we break down the current state of the Mathews ARC 34 setup and walk through the list of equipment and tools going into the new home bow shop. From the ATC Spike Press and Quick Bow Draw (QBD) to the BAP Pro Shop Vise, Mod Saw Pro, and the OMP fletching jig, we cover exactly what professional-grade gear was chosen and the "why" behind it all.
Plus, we discuss the deep science of arrow ballistics, upcoming broadhead testing (including Beast, Toulou, and Iron Will), and an upcoming Axis deer hunt where I need your help deciding: do I bring the bow or the rifle? Tune in and let me know!