Joel Penkala

Joel Penkala is an Upland Bird Hunter and outdoors enthusiast from New Jersey. His love of all things upland has led him to travel and hunt around the United States and fostered his affinity for double guns and bird dogs. He runs English Setters in his home covers chasing Woodcock, Grouse, and Pheasants.

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The view of the bottom of a shotgun receiver with the Upland Gun Company logo.
Nick Larson’s Turkey Gun Project and Creating Your Perfect Upland Shotgun — #34 of the Gun Room Podcast

Join host Joel Penkala as he dives into conversation with Nick Larson, host of The…

A Savage 24 combination gun rests on a table.
The Savage 24 and the History of Combination Guns — #33 of the Gun Room Podcast

Learn about the nifty over-under combination gun, the Savage 24, including its history, use in…

An upland hunter takes aim at a flushed covey of bobwhite quail.
Southern Bobwhite and One of the Finest Side-by-Side Collections — #32 of the Gun Room Podcast

Through the tradition of gunning for Southern bobwhites, the host connects the line between curated…

An AYA shotgun is loaded.
Check the Proof Marks – #029 of the Gun Room Podcast

A little bit of knowledge of Europe’s history of proofing can help you identify a…

An AYA shotgun is measured in the factory.
Understanding Gunstock Dimensions – #028 of the Gun Room Podcast

Understanding the basics of properly fitting a gun should help the next time you are…

An A.H. Fox Sterlingworth rests on top of a book.
Josh Loewensteiner, Fine Guns, and the Nuance of it All – #027 of the Gun Room Podcast

A lifelong firearms enthusiast, Josh Loewensteiner sits down to talk the history of fine guns,…

barrels sit next to each other at the AYA Factory in Spain.
Double Gun Barrel Construction – #026 of the Gun Room Podcast

Learn the methods behind the construction of double guns and the styles of joining barrels…

A set of wood gun stocks rest on a shelf.
Understanding Wood Gunstock Grading – #024 of the Gun Room Podcast

Take a dive into the history and methods of grading wood gunstocks and why it…

A Stevens 44 1/2 action rests on a table.
Gail Shuttleworth and CPA Rifles – #023 of the Gun Room Podcast

With a rich history in creating single-shot rifles, we take a look at the history…

An AYA gunsmith works on a shotgun.
The Processes of Color Case Hardening and Heat Treating – #022 of the Gun Room Podcast

Though a simple process in today’s manufacturing world, the history of heat treating metal and…

A man at the AYA factory finishes a stock.
Bill Graham and Nice Old Double Gunworks – #021 of the Gun Room Podcast

From desk job to gunsmithing, Bill Graham sits down to talk about his journey in…

A gunsmith at AYA works on a part.
The Philosophy of Gun Restoration – #020 of the Gun Room Podcast

The world of firearm restoration and collection is heavily nuanced; learn more about it through…

A hunter in England on a driven shoot
Driven Shoots with Delaney and Sons – #019 of the Gun Room Podcast

A family-owned operation based in Dauphin, Pennsylvania, Sean and Liz Delaney offer one-of-a-kind upland hunting…

A browning auto 5 on a tailgate after grouse hunting
The History of the Browning Auto 5 – #018 of the Gun Room Podcast

The Browning A5 is an iconic American firearm that saw action on the battlefields, in…

A man hunts prairie dogs in Colorado.
The Weatherby Story with Zach Hein and Jared Smethurst – #017 of the Gun Room Podcast

Zach Hein and Jared Smethurst sit down to discuss Roy Weatherby’s life and vision, as…

Two Weatheryby rifle rounds lie next to each other on a table.
Roy Weatherby and the Illustrious Mark V – #016 of the Gun Room Podcast

Weatherby’s iconic rifle is an example of top-tier craftsmanship and American ingenuity Necessity is the…

Grace Callahan poses with a trophy.
Grace Callahan and Sporting Clays – #015 of the Gun Room Podcast

The decorated competition shooter sits down to talk what it takes to go pro, target…

Theodore Roosevelt sits atop his horse with his custom Springfield M1903 rifle.
The History of Sporterized Rifles – #014 of the Gun Room Podcast

Surplus wartime manufacturing led civilians and veterans to customize military rifles for more practical uses,…

A Griffin and Howe gunsmith works on a rifle.
100 Years of Griffin and Howe Rifles – #013 of the Gun Room Podcast

An exploration of a century of fine firearms and the new line of rifles set…

A Model 12 shotgun laid out on the ground
The Origin of the Winchester Model 12 – #012 of the Gun Room Podcast

Notable features, John Browning’s hand in the design, and more about the famous Winchester shotguns…

A man shoulders and over-under shotgun at the RFM factory.
Jay Herbert and Proper Gun Fit – #011 of the Gun Room Podcast

While the renowned shooting coach was in Tennessee, host Joel Penkala took time to pick…