The Gun Rack

This week Christian sits down with Steve Ross and SDI grads Owen Chambers and Talon Jayne, and we’re joined by Brandon Golob from Freedom Protective Gear and HolsterSupply.com. If you’ve ever walked a gun show and seen a guy making holsters in real time — talking, selling, adjusting retention, and running what looks like a one-man assembly line — that’s Brandon. In this episode we cover: • How he built the business straight out of high school • Running 200+ events a year and what actually makes a show profitable • Making holsters off the customer’s firearm (and why fit matters more than flash) • His template system and how shops or SDI grads can add holsters as a real revenue stream • Wholesale vs. direct-to-consumer strategy • Life on the road — including stolen trailers, blown transmissions, and still showing up There’s a lot in here for SDI students thinking about side income, shop owners looking for margin, or anyone curious what the grind in this industry really looks like. Check out Brandon: www.freedomprotectivegear.com and www.holstersupply.com Learn more about SDI programs: https://www.sdi.edu/ytlearnmore/

The Gun Rack | Innovation, FRTs, and the Fight That Shaped a Case This week Christian and Steve sit down with SDI’s Chief Academic Officer, Jarred McNeely, and Lawrence DeMonico of Rare Breed Triggers. We cover the origin of forced reset triggers, why Rare Breed planned for a legal fight from day one, what the court ruling actually requires for an FRT to be lawful, and hard-won lessons for innovators in the firearms industry. Not legal advice, informational only. Chapters00:15 Intro and guest lineup01:09 Rare Breed backstory and prep for the fight05:17 Litigation realities and venue strategy16:58 Settlement basics and what changed23:22 Product development mindset and due diligence31:24 What the Texas ruling requires for an FRT39:23 OEM interest and what may be next43:58 Manufacturing scale, quality, and MIM vs machining49:59 Advice to students, finding your niche, market fit52:49 Availability, impostor sites, where to buy55:01 Wrap GuestRare Breed Triggers — official site: rarebreedtriggers.com MentionedLearn more about SDI’s programs: https://www.sdi.edu/ytlearnmore/ Sonoran Desert Institute homepage: sdi.edu Key takeaways Innovation needs legal and engineering rigor, not just a cool idea Read the ruling, understand mechanical requirements, test for reliability Find a niche, protect IP, and build for the long game DisclaimerViews are those of the guest. This episode is for education and discussion. Nothing here is legal advice. Hashtags#TheGunRack #SDI #RareBreedTriggers #ForcedResetTrigger #FirearmsEducation #Gunsmithing #2A #AR15 #Manufacturing #Innovation

Everyone starts somewhere. Whether it was a rusty old .410 passed down from family or a brand-new High Point off the shelf, your first firearm says a lot about your journey. On this episode of The Gun Rack, Christian and Steve are joined by SDI Firearm Specialist Bart Miller—who brings over 30 years of gunsmithing experience—to dive into stories from the SDI community and share what makes a first gun memorable. We’re talking BB guns, shotgun picks, AR-15s, and everything in between. If you’ve ever wondered what other folks started with—or want some advice on where to begin—this is the episode to watch. Explore SDI’s online firearms programs: https://www.sdi.edu/ytlearnmore/

We've made it to 200 episodes of The Gun Rack! On this very special episode, Drew reminisces on some of his favorite moments, Joey shares his essential firearms from his collection, and they share some very important info—all this and so much more on this commemorative edition of The Gun Rack. - Be sure to send your thoughts on the kinds of content you want on The Gun Rack to marketing@sdi.edu. - The Gun Rack is Sonoran Desert Institute's (SDI) School of Firearms Technology's official podcast. For more information about how you can get your start in the firearms industry, check out our website at www.sdi.edu.

Say that you're stuck in the unknown wilderness and you could choose any firearm to aid you in hunting and self-defense. What firearm do you choose? That's the question that Alexander Reville of Guns.com is tackling and we're here to talk about it. Be sure to comment on what firearm you would choose in that scenario! - Article source: https://www.guns.com/news/2024/05/29/what-is-ultimate-survival-gun - The Gun Rack is the official podcast of Sonoran Desert Institute's School of Firearms Technology. For more info about SDI, head over to our website at www.sdi.edu.

This week, we're taking another behind-the-scenes look into some of the operations at SDI to see how FFL Coordinator Tadeo Garza assures that students receive what they need to succeed in their firearms courses. We talk about this and more on this episode of The Gun Rack. - The Gun Rack is the official podcast of Sonoran Desert Institute's School of Firearms Technology. To find out more about what SDI offers, check out our website at www.sdi.edu.

We're finishing up the story of the Saratoga Campaign this week on The Gun Rack. Learn how Benedict Arnold and the Continental Army defeated John Burgoyne's Brits in a decisive battle in the first half of the American Revolution. - The Gun Rack is the official firearms podcast of Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI). To learn more about SDI, head over to our website at www.sdi.edu.

This week, Drew goes into the history of the firearms that helped the Prussians become a world power. We're talking about, of course, the Dreyse! All this in the week's educational episode of The Gun Rack. - The Gun Rack is the official firearms podcast of Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI). Learn more about SDI by checking out our website at www.sdi.edu.

We have a very special episode of The Gun Rack in store for you guys today! SDI's Chief Academic Officer and Dean of the School of Firearms Technology, Jarred McNeely, joins us on the pod to discuss how SDI selects the firearms they send to their students. An insightful look into the behind-the-scenes of SDI! - The Gun Rack is the official firearms podcast of Sonoran Desert Institute. To find out more, head over to our website at www.sdi.edu.

We're back again with another firearms history episode and this week, we're taking a quick look at the Russian rifle that helped win The Battle of Stalingrad, the Mosin-Nagant. - The Gun Rack is the official firearms podcast of Sonoran Desert Insitute (SDI). For more info about how SDI can help you build your firearms foundation, visit our website at www.sdi.edu.

This week, we had the privilege of sitting down with Owen Chambers, who was recently named SDI's Outstanding Graduate of 2023. We had a great time discussing his SDI journey, his role in creating an unofficial SDI student Discord, and much more. All this on this week's episode of The Gun Rack! - The Gun Rack is the official firearms podcast of Sonoran Desert Insitute. For more info about how SDI can help you get started in the world of firearms. check out our website here: www.sdi.edu. - (unofficial) SDI Student and Grad Discord: https://discord.gg/sonoran-desert-institute

We've been teasing this episode for a hot second and it is finally here! This week, Joey goes over some commonly suggested CC handguns for women and gives his thoughts on which firearms he thinks are the best. All this and more on this episode of The Gun Rack! - The Gun Rack is the official firearms podcast of Sonoran Desert Insitute (SDI). To find out more about how SDI can help you get started in the firearms industry, click on the link here: www.sdi.edu