Best Hunting Rifles for the Backcountry, with Ron Spomer
Backcountry Hunting Podcast
Joseph von Benedikt
4.8 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 6 March 2026
⏱️ 54 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What makes a terrific mountain rifle? In this episode, we interview hunting legend Ron Spomer about his favorite wild sheep hunting rifles (which are excellent for elk and alpine mule deer and black bear as well).
Ron takes us through the rifle characteristics and features he considers crucial to a capable backcountry hunting rifle. Naturally, his opinions are liberally laced with true tale tales of wild hunting in wild places. This one was a ton of fun, folks! ENJOY!
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Where the air is thin and every ounce feels like a pound, you want to have a rifle that'll stay with you to the top of the ridge and then make the shot when you get there. |
| 0:09.3 | We're here to talk with Ron Spomer about his idea of the ultimate sheep rifle today. |
| 0:14.2 | And I'm not going to be sheepish about this. I'll tell you everything you need to know. |
| 0:18.8 | We appreciate that. My pleasure. |
| 0:21.9 | Welcome to the show today, folks. |
| 0:23.7 | Ron is an old friend and has shot more sheep than any other person. |
| 0:29.0 | I know myself over your long career. |
| 0:35.3 | Yeah. |
| 0:36.0 | When did you actually get started? |
| 0:38.3 | I drew my first sheep tag in Idaho in 1986. |
| 0:42.3 | In Idaho. |
| 0:43.4 | Okay, and you've hunted in Alaska as well. |
| 0:45.4 | Yeah. |
| 0:45.8 | Canada? |
| 0:46.9 | Yes. |
| 0:48.0 | Okay. |
| 0:49.1 | Well, if you feel the need to throw in a sprinkling of stories to support your choices and recommendations here. |
| 0:55.0 | Feel free. |
| 0:56.1 | It's inevitable. |
| 0:57.6 | Stories may happen. |
| 0:59.2 | Okay, so we have four of your personal rifles stashed around the corners of this table. |
| 1:05.8 | Which one do you want to start with? |
... |
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