The Gun Rack

The Story Behind Rare Breed Triggers

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.

Chapters
00:15 Intro and guest lineup
01:09 Rare Breed backstory and prep for the fight
05:17 Litigation realities and venue strategy
16:58 Settlement basics and what changed
23:22 Product development mindset and due diligence
31:24 What the Texas ruling requires for an FRT
39:23 OEM interest and what may be next
43:58 Manufacturing scale, quality, and MIM vs machining
49:59 Advice to students, finding your niche, market fit
52:49 Availability, impostor sites, where to buy
55:01 Wrap

Guest
Rare Breed Triggers — official site: rarebreedtriggers.com

Mentioned
Learn 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

Disclaimer
Views 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

The Gun Rack - Prep Your Shop For Hunting Season

In this episode of The Gun Rack, SDI’s Rick Casner and Bart Miller join Christian and Steve to talk all things hunting prep—from a gunsmith’s perspective and a retailer’s. Whether you're helping clients get their gear field-ready or stocking up your store before the seasonal rush, this episode covers:

• Common mistakes hunters make (and how to help them avoid disaster)
• How to prep your gunsmithing shop for the wave of walk-ins
• Retail strategies to keep your shelves stocked and customers coming back
• Real-world stories of lost rifles, elk revenge, and rusty regrets
• The value of communication, workflow, and setting expectations

Get insight, advice, and a few laughs while gearing up for the busiest time of the year.

Learn more about SDI's gunsmithing programs: https://www.sdi.edu/ytlearnmore/ 

Here you go Lonnie! Sorry for the wait!

The Gun Rack Podcast Season 2 Episode 2 - Your First Firearm

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/

The Gun Rack Season 2 - Episode 1

The Return of SDI’s Official Podcast. Mauser rifles, military stories, and what it really takes to teach gunsmithing online.

We cover it all in the debut episode of The Gun Rack. Christian and Steve sit down with SDI’s Chief Academic Officer, Jarred McNeely, for a wide-ranging conversation about firearms education, student success, and why learning online doesn’t mean learning alone.

Also in this episode:

• What a century-old bolt gun can still teach us

• How SDI trains hands-on students from across the country

• Why communication and customer service are part of the gunsmithing skill set

If you’ve ever wondered how SDI works or what makes it different, this is the episode to start with.

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/7xErz61-3Ns?si=JVmUT6gFYu6p3ZIn

 

Episode 200: 200th Episode Special!

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.

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Be sure to send your thoughts on the kinds of content you want on The Gun Rack to marketing@sdi.edu. 

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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. 

Episode 199: Ultimate Survival Guns (According to Others)

Last week, we took a look at what Guns.com had as their picks for the ultimate survival guns available. This week, we are talking about the survival guns that you and other websites picked as your ultimate choice.

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The Gun Rack is the official podcast of Sonoran Desert Institute's School of Firearms Technology. For more info about how SDI can help you get your career in gunsmithing started, visit our website at www.sdi.edu. 

Episode 198: Ultimate Survival Guns (According to Guns.com)

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!

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Article source: https://www.guns.com/news/2024/05/29/what-is-ultimate-survival-gun

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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. 

Episode 197: Fixing Your Firearms Photography with Chris Beller, SVP of PVS Studios

If you are a small business owner, you know that to sell in the online marketplace effectively, it is crucial you use solid photographs of your product. That is why we've brought Chris Beller, SVP of PVS Studios to discuss ways that you can improve your photography, no matter your budget! All this and more on this edition of The Gun Rack!

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Learn more about PVS Studios here: https://www.pvsstudios.com/

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The Gun Rack is Sonoran Desert Institute's (SDI) School of Firearms Technology's official podcast. To learn more about SDI, please visit our website at www.sdi.edu. 

 

Episode 196: Examining How SDI Sends Students Their Firearms with FFL Coordinator, Tadeo Garza

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.

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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. 

Episode 195: Talking Muskets and Espionage with Josh Jenkins, Owner of Tyro Firearms

This week on the pod, Drew sits down with SDI graduate and Owner of Tyro Firearms, Josh Jenkins as they discuss his time at SDI, the joy he finds in restoring firearms, and even a little espionage. All this and more on this episode of The Gun Rack!

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Keep up with Josh on the Tyro Firearms YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4bVaOFtuYikVMUPf68cQ8g/videos 

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The Gun Rack is the official firearms podcast of Sonoran Desert Institute. For more info about SDI, check out our website at www.sdi.edu.