Any ideas for content you’d want to see? Feel like I’m a bit pigeon holed in the same topics.
A higher end optics review you’ve done ally of budget and under 1000 dollar optics but none of the other higher end ones yet
Also New suppressor videos with the multitude of new suppressor companies coming out it be cool to see them all pinned against each other
Could you do one on controlled round feed? For example, we all know the Model 70 for the pre 1964 claw extractor. It’s always been said that this provides a lot more reliability particularly in dangerous game settings.
However, most of us don’t really have any feeding issues with our push-feed actions. It would be fun to see you guys do some speed testing and maybe add some dust/dirt/etc to see if there is a noticeable difference in reliability.
Also, not the point, but I don’t think I have seen you test accuracy on a modern M70 and I think that would be cool to see. Especially since they cost nearly $1500-$2000 at this point.
We haven’t seen a hunting vid from you in ages. I felt like maybe they didn’t perform as well, but it’s why I started watching in the first place.
1. Like the idea of reviews of more high-end rifles, optics, etc. However I know that might be difficult financially
2 more things like 24-hour bear, etc etc
3. More interviewing rifle manufacturer heads with questions from the backfire community like you did with Tikka/Sako. Those guys were pretty Straight Shooters even when they were saying things that the audience didn’t want to hear. Would like to see if other companies operate the same way
You keep staying your going to pull out the suppressors and do some of your takes on them
A real world comparison of suppressors would be cool. Toss in a Witt Machine Dirty 30 for the budget minded folks.
I don’t believe you have done a breakin vs no breakin for a new barrel or rifle. Some mfg say you have to do a breakin. Others say not necessary. Be interesting to see same rifle, same lot number cartridges and accuracy after 50-100 rounds after following mfg breakin procedure vs just shoot it.
A top to bottom review of rangefinder binoculars.
A review of tripods and heads for hunting, not competition.
Would love to see some longer range ballistic gel tests, maybe 300 - 600 yards, with various ammo. ELDX, ELDM, Bergers, Bondstrike, TGK, ABLR , TTSX & LRX etc. Would be cool if you could get some scapula and deer hide to put in front too, to make it more realistic. The 100 yard ballistic gel tests are tired IMO and really dont tell us much about the bullets overall performance
As mentioned suppressor reviews/recommendations would be cool.
Maybe some powder/primer reviews/comparisons sense that seems to be the most volatile/fluctuating component as far as availability.
Also an update to your reloading process?
Hi Jim,
I have to say that I like your style and admire your honesty, I have never felt like you were just trying to sell me product (although I am going to buy one of your stocks)
Here are a few podcasts that I would like to see:
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Get a few experienced hunters like yourself and Tate and have a group discussion of which bullets and cartridges you think are best think are best for elk, deer, mountain goats etc. break it down to normal range 50-300 yards and medium range 300-600 yards. Game animal, range, cartridge and bullet. What they would you would recommend to their brother that just started hunting.
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Once again get some of your fellow reviewers to discuss scopes, second and first focal plane, dial up turrets versus MPBR, duplex versus Christmas tree, weight and durability. I think it worthwhile to break it down to hunters, target shooters and people like yourself that seem to do both.
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Once again group discussion of bolt action rifles and discussion based on your personal experiences, break it down by cost, reliability, accuracy you have experienced in your testing.
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Wrap it up with a group discussion and tie the previous three podcasts together with your 2026 recommendations.
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Have lunch
Great ideas guys. Keep em coming.
Integrated suppressor barrels and whether they will ever be a good option for hunters instead of having a separate barrel and suppressor.
Terminal performance database. Take a bullet, ELD-X for example, shoot it into ballistic gel with a 22 CM, 6mm, 6.8mm, 7mm, 30 cal etc, and create standardized criteria of what typical performance of specific bullets looks like across the different calibers. Could also include data like, does it typically group easily or if it was finicky.
Maybe some kind of Backfire Q&A where listeners can submit podcast questions that get answered. We have pretty good interaction for Plus, but with the podcast opening up, might be a good way to address the broader audience questions.
I really liked the Tikka interview video. Would like to see more videos and/or podcasts with industry like that.
In depth review of range finding binos. I’m hearing some crazy rumors that upcoming models will be able to score animals in the field - Which sounds crazy but not far fetched at the same time. Between image stabilization and internal ballistics and everything in between, seems like a good topic, especially with your knowledge background with photography.
In general, I know you get a lot of Groundhog Day questions, and are often creating content that will appeal to the widest audience and give the most views, but I want to hear about what is interesting to you! Like what are you excited about that is upcoming in hunting? What do you want to talk about that you haven’t yet because it may not be popular?
There’s so much overpriced hunting gear, why do we tolerate this nonsense and why hasn’t an industry disrupter emerged that offers gear just as good at reasonable prices? Like you are doing this in the chassis market, why isn’t it happening n the other segments?
I’m sure more will come to mind in days ahead…
Ok…one more thought. Hearing protection video. There’s really cheap options and really expensive options, what’s the best bang for your buck that offers actual protection when someone is shooting a 300 WM next to you at the range with a muzzle brake?
I know it’s not youtube worthy, but you should update your reloading course. As someone who used it (and a few other sources) to learn reloading, there seem to be some areas that could use expanded and/or updated content. Maybe get a couple F-class or NRL guest speakers to walk us through their process before a match.
Just like you did 3 categories for reloafing equipment, maybe do a 3-tier reloading process. 1. Buy brass and press a bullet. 2. Resize, choose a power, how to control nect tension, and find the lands. 3. Bench rest or F-class style reloading.
You could probably do 5 videos alone on the brass cleaning methods vs not cleaning at all. I know you are not a fan of annealing, but maybe show what brass looks like at the end of its life.
Also, maybe a video series on what overpreasssure means and what it looks like.
I know others have done these already but a lot of those videos are low production quality and very dry content.
Backfire factory tour nothing proprietary of course.
A hunt video where Emily takes an animal.
Reloading process.
Load development.
Game processing topics cuts of meat, sausage, pepperoni , jerky, equipment used.
I have been seeing multiple adds on various hearing protection ear buds vs the ear cup style and would love to see an independent BackFire review and opinion of the best bang for the buck ear buds that work well, don’t fall out or make the ear canal tender.
I would like to see you combine your scope recommendations with the accuracy database. What I mean is that if you can only afford a Ruger American Gen 2, what scope that you have reviewed would be your recommendation. One for hunting, one for PRS/NRL Hunter, and one that would do both. Do this for each $ category of rifle.