Podcast Summary
Firearms Industry and Childhood Memories: Early experiences with firearms during childhood can influence a person's future involvement in the firearms industry, even if they initially swear off guns.
David from Matador Arms had a deep connection with firearms through duck hunting in his childhood. After serving in the Marine Corps, he initially swore off guns. However, his father's involvement in Polymer 80 led him to join the firearms industry. When PAE faced a business crisis, David and his team migrated to Matador Arms, where they now work as consultants. Matador, originally a Canadian company, is now based in San Antonio, Texas. Although Matador is known for tactical firearms, David's passion for hunting remains. He joked about creating a Matador shotgun "for no reason," reflecting his versatile interest in firearms. Despite focusing on tactical weapons, Matador may surprise us with a hunting shotgun in the future. David's journey showcases the diversity and interconnectedness of the firearms industry and community.
Mat Matter Arms gun design: Mat Matter Arms focuses on simplicity and functionality in their gun designs, refining parts for improved performance and affordability, involving team members in manufacturing for a personal touch, and offering high-quality, feature-rich guns at reasonable prices.
Mat Matter Arms focuses on simplicity and functionality in their gun designs. They aim to create reliable firearms with minimal over-engineering, making them suitable for various uses such as hunting and home defense. When they acquired Mat Matter Arms, they refined most parts of their products, improving their performance and affordability. The company strives to create high-quality, feature-rich products that are accessible to a wide audience while maintaining a reasonable price point. They also involve their team members in the manufacturing process to ensure a personal touch and quick production during busy seasons. The combination of affordability, accessibility, and quality has helped Mat Matter Arms establish a strong presence in the market, offering guns that can compete with more expensive options.
Outsourcing production: Outsourcing production to smaller companies for specific components saves resources and time for larger firearms manufacturers while allowing smaller companies to focus on their craft and expand their clientele.
While some companies may have well-known names in the firearms industry, many of them outsource production to smaller companies for components like lower receivers. This practice allows these companies to focus on their core competencies and save resources, without compromising quality. For instance, New Frontier makes lower receivers for several firearms manufacturers, including the one being discussed. This arrangement benefits both parties, as it saves the larger company time, resources, and the hassle of production, while the smaller company can focus on perfecting their craft and expanding their clientele. Ultimately, this symbiotic relationship helps keep costs down and maintains the high standards expected in the firearms industry.
AR-9 magazine versatility: The Matt mind AR-9 platform's unique bolt design allows it to use various double-stack magazines, including those from Colt, CZ Scorpion, and P5, providing shooters with versatility in their magazine choices.
The Matt mind AR-9 platform offers versatility in magazine usage, as it can accommodate various types of double-stack magazines, including those from Colt, CZ Scorpion, and P5. This flexibility is due to the platform's unique bolt design, which is square-shaped instead of the typical round design found in most AR-9s. This allows the platform to function with any double-stack magazine, making it a practical choice for those looking to build a pistol caliber carbine. The Colt magazine, in particular, is favored for its superior last-round bolt hold open feature, making it the preferred choice for many shooters. Despite its advantages, the Colt magazine is less popular due to the widespread availability and affordability of Glock magazines. However, the Matt mind AR-9's ability to use various magazine types makes it an attractive option for those seeking versatility in their firearms.
Blowback systems challenges: Designing blowback systems for high-caliber rounds or alternative calibers requires a complete redesign, not just a barrel swap, due to significant engineering hurdles. Advancements in technology, like metallic 3D printing, are helping, but progress is slow.
The use of blowback systems in firearms, as discussed, offers several advantages such as simplicity, bufferless operation, and improved comfort when shooting suppressed. However, the design of such systems comes with its own challenges, particularly when it comes to handling high-caliber rounds or creating alternative calibers. The engineering hurdles involved are significant and go beyond just a barrel swap, requiring a complete redesign. The current advancements in technology, including metallic 3D printing, are making a difference in the industry, with some companies excelling in producing high-quality cans. The demand for these products is high, with some gun shops reporting quick turnaround times. While there are plans to expand to alternative calibers like 10mm and 45 ACP, the process involves more than just the barrel and requires a complete redesign, which takes time and resources.
Firearms Industry Innovation: The firearms industry values innovation and fun, with small businesses balancing R&D and production while meeting customer demand. New gun designs can come from unexpected sources like magazines, and there's a place for both tactical and non-tactical firearms.
Innovation and fun are essential components of the firearms industry, even for tactical companies. Small businesses face challenges in balancing R&D with production and meeting customer demand. Magazines, like helical ones, can inspire new gun designs. Not all firearms need to be the most tactical; some are made for enjoyment and experimentation. The industry includes various types of firearms, including shotguns, and there's always room for new ideas and creations. Despite the challenges, the goal is to continue developing and expanding product lines while maintaining a good balance between innovation and production.
Turkish Shotgun Manufacturing: Turkey is a major producer of shotgun barrels for various brands, with many affordable options available from manufacturers like Mossberg and Yildiz, which have interchangeable parts.
Turkey is a significant producer of shotguns, with many manufacturers there producing barrels for various gun brands. This was discussed in the context of the speaker's experience looking for shotguns for his daughter in the past, and how the majority of affordable options were made overseas, mostly in Turkey. The speaker also mentioned his experience with Mossberg and Yildiz guns, which were made in the same plant and had interchangeable parts. Additionally, the speaker expressed his excitement about starting out with Glock-style handguns for their MSRP and the knowledge they've gained over the years. Craft Holsters was also mentioned as a high-quality leather holster maker worth checking out.
Legal battles and future gun products: Despite ongoing legal battles and regulatory challenges, the speaker remains optimistic about the future release of new gun products, including a bullpup version of an existing gun with a focus on compactness and quick reloading for Personal Defense Carbines (PCCs). Progress is being made in trigger production for bullpup guns.
The discussion revolved around the legal battles surrounding a specific product called P 80, which resulted in the company going out of business but with ongoing lawsuits. The speaker expressed hope for a future court victory and the potential release of new gun products. They also touched upon the topic of ghost guns and the ease of creating firearms through 3D printing. Another key point was the development of new gun designs, specifically a bullpup version of an existing gun, with a focus on compactness and quick reloading for Personal Defense Carbines (PCCs). The speaker also mentioned the importance of a good trigger for bullpup guns and the progress being made in their production. Despite the ongoing legal issues and regulatory challenges, the speaker remained optimistic about the future of their gun-related projects.
Industry events: Networking, product exposure, and relationship building make industry events worth the investment despite high costs. Creatively sharing booths and utilizing social media platforms help companies maximize their presence.
While attending industry events like Shot Show can be expensive, it's worth the investment for companies due to the opportunities for networking, product exposure, and building relationships. Range days are a popular attraction, but they come with additional costs. Some companies have found creative ways to collaborate and share booths to make it more feasible. Social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter are essential for reaching a wider audience and promoting products. The bullpup design and the use of upper receivers were discussed as innovative solutions in the firearms industry. Overall, the hour-long conversation provided valuable insights into industry trends, product development, and the importance of events like Shot Show.
Clovertech podcast: Clovertech is releasing multiple podcast episodes per week, check their YouTube or podcast channel for schedule and list of remaining episodes.
The Clovertech team is releasing a significant number of podcast episodes in the coming weeks. With about 12 episodes left in this season, they plan to release two or even three a week. Viewers can check the Clovertech main channel on YouTube or the podcast channel for the schedule and a list of remaining episodes. For those who prefer to watch live, they can join the team during recordings. And as a reminder, Labor Day weekend is the last chance to wear white, according to tradition. Stay tuned for more informative and engaging podcasts from Clovertech. Don't forget to visit clovertech.com for projects, swag, and support opportunities. Stay safe and see you on the next one!