206 — Behind the Scenes of Garand Thumb with Micah and Charlie
Aug 16, 2023
“Hey, it’s Jeremy from Gun Mag Warehouse.” That’s how we’re used to hearing the Mag Life Podcast open, and this episode is no different. But this time, we’re treated to different impressions of Jeremy, thanks to Micah and Charlie from the Garand Thumb YouTube channel. That’s merely the opening to a podcast driven by the guests’ unique brand of humor and more than a few interesting insights. As always, we recommend you listen to the entire episode, but here’s a quick rundown to whet your appetite.
Host: Jeremy Stone
Guest: Micah and Charlie
Accompanying Article: William Lawson
Mike is the Garand Thumb OG, but Micah and Charlie have helped him take the channel to a new level. (Garand Thumb YouTube Channel)
The podcast airs from an “undisclosed location” in the Pacific Northwest, probably meaning Washington State and likely near some Sasquatch village. Jeremy kicks off the episode by noting that his guests took the already very successful Garand Thumb channel to new heights with their humor and cinematography, “the likes of which the YouTube world had never seen. And now it’s created a new era of quality meets entertainment, meets information.”
Garand Thumb and the Beatles
It’s difficult to argue with Jeremy’s assessment. After all, 3.23 million subscribers, as of this writing, can’t be wrong. Micah seems to agree, though he throws the credit back to the OG Garand Thumb personality himself: “It wouldn’t be a thing without Mike,” who already had something really good going. “He’s intelligent, thorough, and has all the skill sets that people want.”
But Mike, himself, agrees that everyone’s unique personality contributes to the Garand Thumb crew pretty much having everything down. The goal now is to keep it going. Micah says that breaking up the current Garand Thumb crew would be like breaking up the Beatles.
Micah, with his videography and editing, forms one leg of the GunTube Beatles. (Garand Thumb YouTube Channel)
If Mike already had the knowledge and skill sets, Micah adds the top-notch videography and says he is obsessed with improving the channel’s overall quality. Charlie brings the humor, which Micah says Mike couldn’t do on his own, given Charlie’s spontaneity. “That is the Beatles,” he adds.
Building on Garand Thumb’s Success
Micah’s videography improvements were a no-brainer. Charlie notes that Micah’s editing takes a good video and makes it “a banger.” But Micah also regularly engages what may be the most active comment section on YouTube.
Mike always acknowledges that “the comment section is out of control.” It’s part of Garand Thumb lore. Jeremy asks if the comments drive community engagement with the channel. “Yeah, probably,“ Micah responds. “I feel like if you don’t feel like you’re a part of it, and you can’t relate to it, why are you here?”
But, as we all know, comments are not always positive. Jeremy asks Micah if spending time in the comments helps with shrugging off those negative opinions. Micah offers an insightful answer, acknowledging that “Not everyone’s gonna like your stuff. You can’t be perfect. You can’t please everybody. It’s literally not possible.” But even a few criticisms resonate more than the many, many positive or neutral comments. You remember the negative more than the positive, especially the negative points that make sense. But that’s how you improve things.
Charlie’s not really a doctor. He just plays one on Garand Thumb. (Garand Thumb YouTube Channel)
A Different Vibe
Anyone who watches Garand Thumb knows Mike can be very funny, but Charlie takes it to a new level. “My jokes and my dark humor, especially, it’s a constant,” Charlie says, “but I know time and place.” But he had to get a feel for time and place when he first joined the crew. He admits that his first appearance was a bit awkward as he worked through it. Micah says he had to assure Mike afterward that Charlie really was funny. Despite a somewhat rocky start, Mike warmed up to Charlie’s humor, and viewers were soon asking for more.
Jeremy notes that “You need some of that chaos mixed in” to balance out Mike’s calm knowledge. Micah agrees, saying they could try to script some comic relief, but he doesn’t think it would work. Charlie’s timing is as important as what he says. “I don’t think you can script what Charlie does,” says Jeremy, “you can’t bottle it.”
Charlie’s hilarity apparently doesn’t stop when the camera turns off. Micah says his compatriot’s superpower is internet trolling. I won’t spoil the stories, but they involve feet pics and fake social media accounts, among other things. Charlie especially enjoys trolling fake PVC patch salesmen.
Micah refuses to reveal his “Icelandic superpower,” though he has apparently mastered abruptly hanging up the phone. Do with that what you will.
Micah has definite opinions on barrel length. (Garand Thumb YouTube Channel)
Gun Talk
Jeremy asks an interesting and important question, given the number of new gun owners who continue to enter the sport and the hobby. He asks his guests where, if he were to start a gun collection from scratch, he should begin. And if he wanted to build a first rifle, should he build it for a specific purpose, or would a general build be better?
Both guests agree that a pistol is a better first purchase than a rifle. A few basic accessories should be included, such as a light and perhaps a red dot. They recommend a duty-sized pistol such as a Glock 17.
The rifle discussion is a bit more ambiguous, as you might expect. After all, the AR-15 platform is so flexible that almost anything goes. All agree that knowing the rifle’s purpose is important if for no other reason than avoiding buying stuff you don’t need.
That discussion really can’t be reproduced in this commentary, but it’s very much worth a listen. It goes into brands, cost, barrel length, and even shooting range limitations for training. A couple of philosophies come to light, demonstrating once again that there is no “one size fits all” answer to gun ownership.
Training and Other Topics
Jeremy offers a take on how shooters train in various states. He thinks that shooters in more restrictive states, like Washington or California, take their training, by and large, more seriously than people in freer states like Texas. That sparks a great discussion about gun laws, training perceptions, and the role of public land. I found that to be one of the podcast’s highlights.
Where else can you get this? (Garand Thumb YouTube Channel)
True to form, however, some lighter topics come up which are no less interesting, including theoretical encounters with “mountain men” in the woods, which eventually devolve into shades of “Deliverance.” You Millennials and Gen Z types can look that one up, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
We also learn that Jeremy is into Classical Greek philosophy, though there’s some doubt as to whether he’s an “Aristotle guy.”
“Ulterior Motives”
Finally, Jeremy asks if there are any secret “ulterior motives” to Garand Thumb content. Charlie clarifies that as “underlying goals.” Micah replies that, “We just want people to be exposed to the joys of firearms and firearms ownership. We want people to see them being handled in a way that is both professional and fun. I just want there to be as much content, accessible to people, that it becomes normal.” Essentially, with so many people searching for firearms-related content, Garand Thumb strives to provide them with the best quality possible in a welcoming and entertaining way.
There are two basic narratives. One states that gun rights and gun usage are beneficial to a free society. The other is about control. Garand Thumb seeks to counter one narrative with the other by making it appealing, especially to younger generations. Garand Thumb content is purposely not heavy, and they strive to make it fun.
This is one of the Mag Life’s best podcasts yet, even if it is a bit chaotic. Or probably because it’s a bit chaotic. It is Garand Thumb, after all, and you know it’s out of control. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
203 — Performance on Demand “Milspec Mojo”
Dec 21, 2022
GunMag Warehouse’s Jeremy Stone is back with another entertaining and information-packed Mag Life Podcast. This month, Jeremy sits down with YouTube gun guy and real-life cop, Milspec Mojo. Mojo is widely known as one of the top firearms guys on the internet, especially when it comes to fundamentals. Those fundamentals translate into lightning operations skills, meaning that he’s a good resource to watch if you want to improve your shooting and gun handling.
Milspec Mojo is one of the top gun guys on YouTube. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel)
Instagram and Garand Thumb
Mojo started off on Instagram, where he is still very active, but his YouTube channel took off when he started working with YouTube icon, Garand Thumb. As he got further into the training aspect of firearms, Mojo found that he has a knack for teaching. He loves training other people and has developed a style in which he and his friends actually train one another, even if he is the impetus behind it all.
Jeremy agrees, talking about how much fun he had at his earlier session with Mojo and his team. Mojo says it’s important to train with likeminded people who want to get better. Surround yourself with folks like that and you’ll get better. That leads to the experience of everyone training everyone. Jeremy agrees that most people want that kind of situation.
Jeremy observes that not all cops train regularly. Mojo says that it is a problem in the law enforcement community, but he qualifies that by saying he’s not married and doesn’t have kids. If that happens down the road, his priorities may shift.
Mojo also says that, while shooting is an important skill for law enforcement officers, other skills are also very important and maybe even more so. He talks about social skills like talking to people and making your point without sounding like a jerk. De-escalation and talking your way out of a gun fight. Defensive tactics and being physically fit are also big. All those together are probably more important for a cop than pulling a trigger, but he also says that pulling the trigger is a skill that cannot be allowed to lapse.
Mojo has to pay for most of his extra training himself, as do most other cops. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel)
Much of the less-than-ideal training can be attributed to budgetary factors made worse by the ill-conceived “defund the police” movement. Agencies simply don’t possess the ammo budget to have cops train properly. If they want extra training, they have to pay for it themselves. Jeremy notes that many departments require cops to provide their own patrol rifle if they want to roll with one. Mojo says he is very fortunate that his agency provides them with some great weapons.
Back to Training
Jeremy returns to his range session and says he enjoyed it because he felt like he learned something and got better. He asks Mojo what he thinks is the best way to know what you’re not good at. He then answers his own question by saying it’s shooting with other people. Mojo agrees and says that shooting on camera helps too.
Those things force you to home in on individual skills to learn where you’re lacking. Mojo says you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, meaning you have to accept that you need improvement and be able to accept and learn from constructive criticism. You have to lose your ego to get better. He has hundreds of video hours that he watches, trying to see what he can do better.
Mojo Doesn’t Shoot Competitively…Yet
Jeremy asks Mojo about shooting competitively, to which Mojo replies that he hasn’t done it seriously. He did shoot a couple of matches, in which he did very well using a stock rifle and a Beretta M9A1 against guys with custom rigs.
Mojo says that he probably should compete, despite some law enforcement criticisms that competition is “gaming” and doesn’t translate to the real world. Mojo says he used to buy into that but has changed his mind. He says he constantly games scenarios at work, whether it’s pre-staging a vehicle or a weapon if he thinks something is about to go down.
Mojo says he’s been working with the MP5 a lot. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel)
Jeremy notes that certain skills from competition, like a fast draw, absolutely translate well, though some competition habits, like always pointing the muzzle downrange, can hinder real-life performance. Mojo says that, so far, he hasn’t been interested in competing because he has more fun training with his friends. “As long as you’re having fun, “he says, “that’s all that matters. If you have fun, you’re gonna learn.”
Airsoft Training
Jeremy compares competition shooting to Airsoft. Some things translate and some things don’t. He then says that Airsoft is “fun on a grand scale.” Mojo concurs. He and his friends play Airsoft, not only because it’s fun, but it also contributes to physical fitness and team building. They learn tactical team communication from Airsoft. The Airsoft environment provides the context within which skills can be practiced and applied.
It’s also a great way to test gear, whether it be optics, lights, or any other gear you might run. Mojo says that he and his boys run their actual cop gear when they do the Airsoft thing, including armor. He learned that he doesn’t like magazines on his chest rig’s front because it hinders him when he goes prone. He does note that Airsoft stuff ain’t cheap. It’s come a long way from its beginnings.
Mojo and his team use Airsoft because it’s fun and it teaches them skills like tactical communication. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel)
Becoming a Sniper
Mojo recently qualified as a police sniper. He uses a built-out Remington 700 with a chassis setup. He talks about what he learned in the sniper course in a good discussion of the training and its continuing benefits.
He puts a lot of effort into being able to run whatever gun he has at a high level, including his bolt gun. He doesn’t want to be the guy who has been to all the schools or been in combat but can’t actually run a gun. You can have training and experience, but you still have to put in the work to benefit from it. A good discussion of shooting fundamentals follows, including fast bolt gun operations. Mojo surprisingly says that the bolt gun might be his favorite weapon.
Mojo with his tricked-out Remington 700 sniper rifle. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel)
He also says that, even if you have a long-range weapon like his sniper rifle, don’t scoff at practicing at closer distances. Mastering the fundamentals at 100 yards or 7 yards with a pistol allows you to build on that as ranges increase.
Genesis of a Name
Mojo says his nickname comes from two places. First, the “Milspec” part comes from wanting to run standard equipment as well as, or better than, other people who run custom weapons and accessories. Hence the good performance with the Beretta and the basic rifle. He has nothing against upgrades, and has a couple himself, but he wants to be able to run whatever he has at a high level without depending on them.
He picked up the nickname “Mojo” in the Marine Corps and he relates that story. Turns out the combination works, even if it took a few name changes to get the handle right. This is a very informative and entertaining podcast. Do yourself a favor and listen to the whole thing. You’ll probably learn something.
202 — Hunter Constantine’s Baptism by Fire
Nov 23, 2022
GunMag Warehouse’s Jeremy Stone is back with another interesting and insightful podcast. This month, Jeremy sits down with USPSA Grandmaster Hunter Constantine right before shooting his own very first match. They discuss Hunter’s meteoric rise in the sport and what it takes to develop and maintain good shooting skills.
Hunter Constantine.
Jeremy starts by saying that his podcast guests are “people that I dig. People that I see on social media doing cool [stuff] and that I can learn from…I’m on a journey of getting better at shooting guns.” Hunter stood out to him because he does some funny stuff but he’s also a very high-level competitor.
A Relatively Late Start
Hunter recounts how he never fired a gun until he was 18. His uncle took him to the range and handed him a 1911 with factory 230-grain ball ammo. He laughingly says it was “as much recoil as I could probably ask for.” “After that weekend,” he adds, “I just fell in love with it.”
Hunter bought his first firearms shortly thereafter and began shooting recreationally. After moving to Tucson, Arizona, he looked into competition shooting. He had been a high-level bicycle rider but knew he could only focus on one thing if he wanted to perform well. He chose shooting because he thought it was “badass and cool.” No argument here.
Jumping in With Both Feet
So, at age 24, Hunter Googled “how to shoot competition.” The results returned a local pistol club, so he called the match director, who told him “To just show up.” The first few months, Hunter was dead last in the local standings. But he was enjoying himself and stayed with it.
Hunter says he especially enjoys the social aspect of competitive shooting. Most of his friends are in the firearms community. Jeremy echoes that sentiment. He says the online gun community is “vastly different” from in-person interactions. He notes that there is a world of difference between “the comment section” and how humble and inclusive gun people are in real life.
“They want you to come out and shoot,” Jeremy says, “they want to grow the sport, they want to get more people involved.” Hunter agrees, saying that was his exact experience. He didn’t know the rules or the gear, but people were glad he was there. They gave him tips on gear and even loaned him items to try out for himself. He used that experience to develop his own setup and he now rocks his EDC rig during matches. He says competitive shooting is “open arms for everybody involved.”
Living the life.
“I encourage people to go to the match and shoot with whatever gear you have. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a new gun and a new belt. Just go shoot with what you have. People will welcome you.” He says that maybe you shouldn’t go shoot at the nationals with the wrong gear, but local matches will teach you what you need and what you don’t.
Hunter then details how he did not do that and how those lessons were learned. He started with a straight-up Gucci setup and that was a mistake. He now shoots a Smith & Wesson and loves it. Hunter then discusses his daily training routine and shooting schedule. Jeremy says early on that Hunter’s cold start drills are what drew his attention.
Fast Tracking to Pro Shooter
Hunter decided to pursue USPSA as his discipline, but right as he made that decision, the USPSA directors at his club stepped down. No one else was interested, so Hunter volunteered. He became the match director before he even had his USPSA membership.
He learned on the job by putting on matches for world-class shooters. No pressure there. That was his “Baptism by fire,” so to speak. It obviously worked out well. Hunter kept up his training, too. “There’s no parties, no chasing girls,” he says. It took disciplined and diligent work.
When he picked up his first sponsor, Hunter gave his commercial real estate company 2 months’ notice. He used his severance pay to buy gear and 28,000 rounds of ammo. He thought it would last a year. Those 28,000 rounds were gone in 3 months. But those 3 months also saw him rise from a high B-class shooter to Grand Master status.
Despite a relatively late start, Hunter Constantine is now a USPSA Grandmaster.
Jeremy notes that the foundations for that improvement aren’t seen on social media. “It’s not real sexy to show work happening, and the sacrifice as well.” Hunter agrees. Hobbies and other activities just fell away while he pursued that goal.
Maintaining and Growing Skills
Hunter says that shooting major competitions is most beneficial to him now. Being around a nationwide talent pool makes him better. He sees how they shoot, giving him the opportunity to emulate their techniques and habits. He also says that seeing them in person is much better than watching them on video or social media. Watching in real-time is better suited to detailed analysis of what they are doing.
Plus, actually competing against those shooters is more beneficial than just practicing. The competition drives you to be better and brings out any weaknesses in your technique and mindset. Jeremy adds that, as he gets into competitive shooting, he wants to make sure his range time is building toward something. Hunter concurs, saying that “there’s a difference between shooting and practicing.”
Hunter has reached the point where he is working on his brain’s processing power. He can analyze his technique as he performs full-speed drills. That translates to competition, making him better. Being able to mentally break down techniques in real-time slows everything down in his mind, almost like slow motion.
Hunter focuses on technique over raw speed. Good technique allows him to be faster, but he tries to balance speed and accuracy. He makes it about repeatable performance, which improves over time, leading to long-term success. Consistency is key. It’s much better than high and low spikes. Knowing you can reproduce a given performance level at any time is a powerful tool.
Remember to have fun.
Make it Fun
Shooting is and can be a lifelong sport. But only if it’s fun. “If you’re not having fun, Hunter says, “it’s not for you.” He admits that some shooters approach it differently, but even during matches, he tries to have fun, whether it’s joking around with the range officers, or whatever. The relaxed, fun mindset helps him shoot better and certainly makes shooting professionally sustainable.
Hunter carries that mindset into training as well. The classes he teaches are relaxed, which he believes helps his students. He says he’s never cared for the “drill instructor” style of training that is so prevalent right now. He believes students get more from a class “where it feels like we’re all just hanging out.” Jeremy says he thinks there’s a place for both, depending on each person, to which Hunter agrees.
A good discussion about a winning mindset and mental preparation follows. I won’t try to recapture that here because you’ll want to hear it for yourself, just like the rest of the stuff I left out.
Finishing Up
Hunter and Jeremy talk about how beginners may be reluctant to get involved because they don’t want to be at the bottom of the standings at first. Hunter understands because he’s been there. But sticking it out and putting the work in pays off in shooting, just as it does everywhere else. Hunter says he feels great satisfaction when he sees former students moving up the standings.
Hunter Constantine has turned his expertise to training other shooters.
Despite his success, Hunter still sees himself as a student. He’s always learning new things to make him better. One thing he learned was that cycling through different guns and gear doesn’t help. Once you find what works, focus on that. You get good when you settle on one gun.
Hunter estimates he has 150-200,000 rounds through his chosen Smith & Wesson platform. He’s shooting for a million. “That allows me to understand that gun inside and out. I know what recoil feels like when it’s a light round. I know when it’s a bad grip…I can call my shot based on how that gun feels in my hand.” Powerful stuff.
Hunter’s gear experiments led him to develop and market his own gun belt, which he proudly says is all made in the USA, from start to finish. He says, “it’s the most comfortable belt you could possibly wear.” He tells you where you can find one if you’re interested. He also talks about the courses he offers and where you can access that training.
All in all, this is a very interesting and informative podcast. Do yourself a favor and listen to it. You’ll learn something.
This month, Jeremy had Administrative Results on the podcast to talk about kit, history, and how to be a better man.
First off, this is an interesting conversation. Jeremy notes that he reached out to Admin because he not only likes the content, but the channel’s vibe. He thinks that’s missing from a lot of content creators. And he’s not wrong. Admin’s channel is unique, even though it deals with guns and shooting like so many others. There’s a philosophical underpinning that many channels lack. And the production value is first class.
Admin running a Finnish RK 92 service rifle (Administrative Results YouTube Channel)
And we’re calling him Admin because he’s superhero-like in that he has a secret identity. Who knows what lurks beneath the balaclava? Only Admin knows.
A Call to Service
Admin’s background is in law enforcement, though it might have gone in another direction. He says that he “was always someone that felt called to a service capacity…I knew I had to do it, either military or law enforcement.”
He tried the military first but found more doors being shut on him than were opened. Looking at law enforcement, he found he could make better money while still answering the call. Plus, there was no runaround like the military was giving him.
Admin also features cool historical rifles like this German STG 44 “Sturmgewehr.” (Administrative Results YouTube Channel)
Admin was a cop for two years until his department made a COVID vaccine mandatory for continued employment. He liked his job but passed on getting jabbed. By that time, however, his YouTube Channel had 30 or 40 thousand subscribers, so he rolled the dice and went full-time.
That was a good decision since he’s now at 263k with a bullet. His quality product has attracted industry influencers and he’s going strong. He now serves through information and philosophical culture content.
A Simple Success Strategy
Basically, Admin advises diligence in your work and avoiding “time sucks” that “aren’t good for your brain.” Stuff that distracts like social media. He loves video games, but disciplines himself to put them aside when it’s time to work.
Admin puts in a lot of work, like reconstructing Larry Vickers’ famous CAR-15. (Administrative Results YouTube Channel)
He also stresses positive habits—easy but crucial stuff like regular exercise and drinking water. “You have to take care of yourself,” he says. He’s big on saunas too, thanks to a trip to Finland. Admin also says you have to take risks. Calculated risks, certainly, but sitting at home in front of a video game all day and night is not the way. If you want to be something, you gotta risk something.
Finally, hard work. Shooting guns on YouTube for a living sounds awesome. It is awesome. But there’s a lot of work behind the scenes that makes those cool videos possible, whether it’s planning, editing, skills development, or whatever.
Admin shooting the now famous “Dicken Drill” (Administrative Results YouTube Channel)
Jeremy notes that good habits build momentum, but so do bad habits. If you don’t exercise one day, it’s easier to not do it another day. Admin agrees, saying that a bad day at the gym is still a day at the gym. A substandard video is still a learning experience to help him get better.
Admin and Jeremy both agree that details are important, and Admin says he’s learned a lot about kit and training from the Airsoft community. That pointed him to forums, where he learned even more. It’s all a deep rabbit hole and he admits to still learning. No one knows everything, but you can always learn.
Interestingly, Admin lists former SAS operator Christian Craighead as a big influence. You may remember that Craighead singlehandedly stormed a terrorist-held hotel in Nairobi, Kenya in 2019. He killed two tangos and led the hostages to safety.
Admin always gives us cool guns, like this Rhodesian FAL lookalike. (Administrative Results YouTube Channel)
Future Goals
Admin says he would like to branch out and start his own company, so he doesn’t have to rely on fickle YouTube policies. He envisions that endeavor as a shooting range, complete with instructors, along with a realistic Airsoft competition complex. The goal is to promote shooting skills and “amplify” firearms culture, much as he does now, just more hands-on.
Jeremy notes that politics is downstream from culture, and that influencers like Admin are doing good work there. Channels like his can counter the media narrative and may lead to positive political results moving forward. Jeremy says a Jerry Miculek video literally changed his life and he thinks guys like Admin are working to make firearms culture American culture. You know, like it used to be before people started listening to alarmists driven by the hysterical mass media.
Who knows what lurks beneath the balaclava? Only Admin knows. (Administrative Results YouTube Channel)
The Power of Mass Communication
Jeremy and Admin have an interesting discussion about the power of mass media and how that power is flowing to regular people via the internet. They note how guys like Joe Rogan have a larger audience than much of the corporate media and how that threatens the establishment.
It’s very astute, with Jeremy quoting the author Gustave Le Bon, who wrote that whoever controls the crowd, controls society. “Whoever gives them their illusions is their master. Whoever tries to show them that they believe in illusions will always be their enemy.” An appropriate quote for our times.
Creators like Admin, and podcasts like this one, are helping dispel illusions. That’s why certain bad actors and their corporate cronies do their best to silence them. We need to be tuned in and not let that happen. One way to do that is to listen to the podcast for yourself to catch all the stuff I necessarily left out. And go check out Administrative Results on YouTube. You’ll be glad you did.
190 — Grey Man Tactical | Purpose Built Solutions
Sep 10, 2021
The Mag Life Podcast is honored to have Paul Capdepon of Grey Man Tactical on the show. For those unaware, Grey Man Tactical is a firearms accessories company that specializes in Rigid MOLLE Panel systems that allow users to load firearms and other equipment onto small but durable polymer frames. You may have seen these commonly used on vehicle seats or backpacks for the everyday armed citizen or law enforcement officers.
This week, Daniel discusses with Paul the details of how the company came to be, how his experiences brought him to the firearms industry, and the latest product offerings from Grey Man Tactical.
Daniel asks Paul what inspired him to start Grey Man Tactical. Paul explains he initially got his start in the oil industry in 2012, where he spent much of his time working with complex plastic materials. As with many people who eventually work in firearms, Paul spent much of his free time shooting for sport. It dawned on him that during his range trips, Paul was actively seeking a solution that would condense his gear loadout and lighten the weight. Leveraging his experience in the oil industry, Paul taught himself to build polymer-based attachment systems for the purpose of storing firearms, magazines, and tools in backpacks and inside vehicles.
While Grey Man Tactical was not the first to develop vehicle seat back MOLLE panels, they were among the few that pioneered the use of durable polymer materials for added loading strength.
Paul married his passion for design with his natural inclination toward hands-on building. In his previous position as a project manager, he worked specifically with composites such as carbon fiber, fiberglass, and polymer applications. This naturally offered Paul a unique insight into how to repurpose these same materials to solve common issues that plague the gun world. Eventually, this journey would lead to the formation of Grey Man Tactical. As the years went by, Paul and his team have made constant improvements to the materials of their products in direct response to customer feedback.
05:06 Designing Products with a Purpose
Like any company worth their salt, every product design from Grey Man Tactical was created with a specific purpose in mind. In one of their more popular product lines, the vehicle seat racks have been invaluable in saving space, increasing storage capacity, and organizing tools for their customers. Competitors have traditionally pushed out MOLLE-based, soft material seat back covers that could load some gear. However, when heavier objects such as full-sized rifles came into the picture, these seat covers would sag and lose their integrity.
Grey Man Tactical allows the user the flexibility of building their own tailored solutions for their everyday needs.
Paul and his team initially used HDPE polymer in their seat back covers which were more rigid in comparison, but still tended to bow out under immense weight. Eventually, Grey Man Tactical shifted to glass-reinforced polymer and aluminum seatback covers which made them strong enough to hold loaded rifles and additional gear weight.
Daniel notes and admires that Paul, while not a “high speed, low drag” military vet, is simply just an everyday man who recognized a problem and developed an immediate solution.
12:59 Who are your customers? How is the end-user applying Grey Man Tactical products?
Daniel asks Paul that aside from the normal armed citizen, what other customers are using Grey Man Tactical products and how are they using them? He reveals that law enforcement officers make up another significant portion of their end-user base but not the ones we typically think of.
“What we find is that a lot of the big users for us isn’t necessarily the typical [uniformed] officer… Because they have different weapon rack systems in the standard patrol vehicle. But more of the use of ours tends to be is the undercover units or the unmarked cars, things like that… They’re going after drug dealers and things like that, [so] they change out their vehicles so that they aren’t always in the same one.”
The ability for the RMP frames to load entire rifles and additional gear makes it an ideal solution for law enforcement officers who are constantly on the move.
Grey Man Tactical seat back covers are highly adaptable while still being durable. There are no screws that force the cover to be married to a seat, the covers can be quickly changed out even with entire rifles attached. These forward-thinking designs make Grey Man ideal for low-profile operations.
16:11 Are there custom or tailored options?
Daniel speculates that customers must have all kinds of specific needs from Grey Man products and asks Paul if they offer custom solutions upon requests. While Grey Man Tactical does not necessarily make custom-tailored products for individual customers, they do have a specific link for suggestions from their customers. What is being offered are preconfigured kits that take the base seatback organizer covers and load them with equipment that is catered towards a specific mission.
Grey Man Tactical will be offering preconfigured loadouts for their customers that will be custom-tailored to specific purposes.
As of now, Grey Man offers a premade medical kit vehicle seatback loadout package for those prioritizing to handle emergency situations. More configurations are being developed that will each tackle different specific market demands such as weapon rack and overland packages.
21:15 Other Grey Man Tactical products
Paul highlights other products offered by Grey Man, namely the new Stealth 20L RMP Backpack Advantage. This was developed in direct response to Paul’s own needs for an easily accessible, low-pro everyday carry backpack. The Stealth 20L offers a compartment that’s tailor-made for Grey Man’s RMP mounting panels for rapid access to a concealed carry gun as well as accommodating adequate space for general storage.
The Stealth 20L RMP Backpack is the ideal EDC off-body carry solution, with the same durable RMP inside for mounting equipment but also with a compartment designed for quickly drawing your conceal carry gun.
184 – Tu Lam | Finding Peace as a Warrior
Jul 12, 2021
On this episode of the Mag Life Podcast, two warriors formally meet and for a heavy discussion about their war and peacetime experiences. Daniel is joined by Tu Lam, a Vietnamese-American former US Army Special Forces Green Beret, martial artist, trainer, entrepreneur, and TV show host. Known for his tactical gear and training company, Ronin Tactics, he is also known for his on-screen appearance on Forged in Fire: Knife or Death, as well as being featured as a playable character in Call of Duty: Warzone. Tu has carved out a public image of himself as a disciplined modern-day warrior and teacher.
Daniel explores Tu’s unforgiving upbringing as a Vietnam War refugee, his decorated career as a US Army Special Operations soldier, his passion for the martial arts, and his Bushido mindset to find peace during adversity.
Daniel asks Tu about his upbringing and what lead him to where he is today. Tu reveals a tragic and violent past, being born literally in the midst of the Vietnam War. Upon the US leaving South Vietnam and Saigon falling, the North Vietnamese forces rounded up the majority of Tu’s family and had them executed. His mother took her children and fled with thousands of others to escape oppression. What awaited the Lam family was more cruelty and suffering as they, along with hundreds of other refugees, were cramped into tiny boats, sailing in the South China Sea.
Upon reaching the coast of Malaysia, they were denied entry into the country. The Malaysian troops cut their motor and left the entire boat of refugees out to die. For 30 days straight, the refugees drifted out with no access to clean water or food. Just as Tu’s mother had given up all hope and contemplated feeding poison to her children to spare them of further misery, a Russian naval supply vessel spotted their boat. Despite being on opposite sides of the war, the Soviet troops showed mercy and saved the refugees by providing food and medical aid. This was nothing short of a miracle made by fortuitous timing. If the war was still ongoing, the Soviets would have been compelled to follow wartime protocol and would have taken the refugees back to Vietnam.
The horrors the Lam family faced, unfortunately, did not end there. The refugees were relocated into a camp in an Indonesian jungle, with no actual facilities or resources. Dead bodies would be regularly found in the jungles near the camp as people attempted to forage and find food. The strength of Tu’s mother was all that held them together.
“[My mother] is my strength… [During that time] there was a slim to no chance that we would have lived. And she goes, ‘I would have rather died than to have lived in fear’”
After a year and a half, Tu’s uncle was finally able to pay for his family to immigrate to the US.
12:55 Living in a Post-War America
One of Tu’s earliest memories of living in the states was entering a grocery store in North Carolina with his mother. From living through horrific starvation to suddenly being able to pick any food item of his choice was a culture shock. But post-Vietnam War America was not without its faults. Tu’s entire childhood was riddled with instances of racist encounters and harassment from his white counterparts. The context Tu gives is that the entirety of the Vietnam War was not at all popular in the US, which in turn spawned many racist anti-Asian sentiments.
At eight years of age, Tu experienced bullying from a racist white classmate. One day the situation escalated to where both Tu and his bully were sent to the principal’s office to be reprimanded. The bully’s mother was called in and was informed about the incident. When she turned to speak to Tu, instead of offering any hint of an apology, she called him a racist slur, told him to leave the country, and supported her son for bullying him. Tu tells Daniel, “I was just defeated.”
Even despite all of this, Tu’s mother clung to hope. She told Tu, “No matter what, if you have an education, you can never be oppressed.” It was through these continued struggles that Tu knew he wanted to become something more than just the scared, bullied child.
24:30 Aspiring to Become a Warrior
The pressures of starting a new life resulted in Tu’s mother and father divorcing. Eventually, his mother remarried to a US Army Special Forces Green Beret. For the first time ever, Tu had a warrior role model that showed him something to aspire to.
“He was teaching me discipline. He was a very strict man… [We’d wake up at] 4:30 in the morning, every morning, we didn’t get days off. School now? It’s ‘you’re gonna wear slacks and you’re gonna wear button-up shirts to school [and] your grades better be good’… Physical fitness is on par, so every day is single physical training along with academics.”
Warrior culture was ingrained in Tu Lam’s upbringing from a very young age.
Not too long after the divorce, Tu’s biological father sent him a box of VHS tapes on Bruce Lee and Bushido, the way of the samurai. He instantly became fascinated by this code of conduct and later began tying in the warrior mentality with the lifestyle and discipline training from his Special Forces soldier step-father. During this time, Tu’s mother would also regularly take Tu out to feed the homeless in their community, to instill in him the value of always helping those less fortunate in order to build a better world. It was then that Tu knew what he was destined to become.
“I decided to become a Green Beret. I knew my calling… I was putting stuff together. The Green Beret, [who] free the oppressed. The way of the samurai, the Bushido code. A hard way of living. You know, I got tired of being this weak individual and I saw this path to enlightenment and this way as a warrior to be my best self. I knew it as a defeated boy”
35:18 Enlisting in the Army and the Path to Special Forces
Despite his mother’s protest, Tu joined the Army with the sole intent to become a Special Forces Green Beret. At the time, there was no direct track to becoming a Green Beret, Tu simply decided to seek as much training as he possibly could by completing Airborne and Ranger school. Tu would also join a Long Range Reconnaissance Company as part of their amphibious reconnaissance team. This not only gave him more specialized skill sets, but it also fast-tracked him to Special Forces Assessment Selection as a rank E-5 sergeant in only a year and a half.
It was Tu’s lifelong dream to become a US Army Special Forces Green Beret, just like his uncle and step-father.
Upon completion of assessment, Tu was assigned to 1st Special Forces Group as part of their Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) team stationed in Okinawa, Japan. The primary threat at the time was North Korea, as they had developed their Nodong missiles which were capable of reaching the continental US. Tu’s team was specifically trained in recovering downed pilots as well as doing reconnaissance in the region.
40:31 The Journey into Martial Arts
Ever since he was introduced to Bruce Lee films and writings, Tu was a dedicated martial artist and continued this well into his military career. While in Okinawa, Tu came across a US Marine fighting club, called the “Tough Man Contest”. Tu participated in these fights against other active-duty servicemen and did extremely well. Soon after, a fight promoter noticed Tu’s fighting prowess and arranged for him to fight in paid events outside of the base. Tu gladly accepted.
Bruce Lee and Bushido were key elements that instilled the passion of martial arts in Tu, having competed in full contact fights and specialized in bladed weapons.
Tu gladly signed on to be the main event fight for a Japanese promotion to a fight a Pancrase champion. Despite pushback from his superiors (who specifically banned Special Operations soldiers from fighting outside of the base) and a horrible water-borne illness he had contracted, Tu went through with the fight. His sickness was so severe, Tu weighed in only at 180 pounds while his opponent came in at 210 pounds. Even fully knowing he would lose, Tu sought to go out on his shield rather than to submit without a fight.
46:01 Martial Arts and the US Army — Coming Full Circle
From here, Tu continued his fighting career into Thailand, competing in Muay Thai matches. It was here that a Sergeant Major took notice of Tu’s combat sport activities and specifically requested to meet him. Tu initially thought he was to be reprimanded as he was actively going against the strict rules that barred him from participating in full-contact fights. Instead, the Sergeant Major wanted to recruit Tu to be the primary combatives instructor for a Tier 1 unit. The Sergeant Major commissioned Tu to travel around the world with an unlimited budget to study various martial arts styles and to bring this knowledge back to his soldiers.
For Tu, this was a dream come true. He trained with Native Americans in their form of tomahawk fighting, the Filipinos in the art of Kali, Indonesians in Pencak Silat, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Royce Gracie, and many other martial systems. On top of this, Tu was given full access to the training amenities the rest of the Tier 1 unit was provided such as a top-of-the-line fitness coach, workout equipment, and high-quality foods. This was an incredibly rare opportunity as traditionally only rank E-9 Sergeant Majors are allowed in the CAG Tier 1 unit. Daniel reflects on how his time in the Marine Corps was a far cry from the level of resources that Tu had received in the US Army Special Operations. Typically, Marines work with whatever they are given, but the more specialized units within the Army can seemingly obtain anything.
52:56 Back into Action
Eventually, Tu would find himself back into a direct-action role. For a brief time, he was allowed to operate within the same Tier 1 unit he was giving combative instruction to. It was during 2004 in Iraq that US forces, especially Special Operations, faced some of the heaviest fighting. Upon the next rotation out, the E-9 slot Tu was taking up had to be relinquished. While he was given the opportunity to reapply under a separate role within the unit, Tu’s goals and passions were now elsewhere. As such, Tu went into reconnaissance in a more specialized capacity.
Tu Lam has a very diverse Army career, being able to do both direct action, hand-to-hand combatives, and espionage work.
Tu’s background in the 1st Special Forces Group, Native Warrior program, which involved blending in with the local population, lent itself very well to this kind of work. He already spoke several different languages and understood how to apply subtler combative skills. This new role he had entered heavily prioritized espionage and intel gathering work, teaching him the inner workings of how cell phones and satellites function as well as covert means of communication. Later, Tu was relocated to the US AFRICOM or the United States Africa Command, in which Tu participated in operations in Libya during Gaddafi’s regime, and took part as a counter-assault security team alongside the Secret Service during former President Obama’s visit to South Africa.
01:01:14 Renewed Hardships and Pain
While Tu’s time in the Army certainly came with its exciting adventures and once in a lifetime experiences, it also brought extreme trauma and pain.
“During that time, I started falling apart as a human being. I was at 14 years and a half at war… When I say that, it’s back-to-back rotations into warzones and conflict areas for 14 and a half years. I had 19 years of Special Operations. So I was falling apart and didn’t even know it.”
Tu explains to the audience that during war, there is no set schedule while in an active warzone. “The enemy has a say in your schedule”, Daniel adds. As such, the way the Special Forces Groups would treat the constant cycle of sleep deprivation, combat readiness, pain, and awkward sleep times was to repeatedly medicate. To stay awake during active combat zones, they would take Adderall. To force sleep during inopportune times, they would take Ambien. To treat pain from injuries sustained in combat, they would take opiates. Eventually, during anti-poaching operations in Cameroon, Tu found himself depressed and addicted to these drugs.
For a brief moment during his time in Africa, Tu starred off into a sunset and drank tea. That simple, serene moment alone put his mind at peace and he realized what he ultimately wanted to go back to: to be at peace. After his rotation was over, Tu retired from the US Army.
“My new journey was peace. [But] I didn’t find it [yet]… People think that if you’re in a safe environment [and] you don’t have to be in that combat environment anymore, you’re not active duty anymore, [that] you’re gonna find your peace. Peace is not found there. Peace is not found in money. Peace is not found in success. Peace is not found in fame. Peace is found in what you are willing to give, every single day.”
While at home with his wife, Tu would spend every day sleeping in a pitch-black room or staring at a completely blank TV screen. Tu explains that he had betrayed his own Bushido code and could not find his inner peace until sometime after, when Tu accidentally stumbled upon The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi.
For Tu Lam, it was a natural progression in his life to connect his Special Forces experience with the code of Bushido.
The author was a legendary ronin, a masterless samurai who was a warrior philosopher and teacher who had found his peace in the late 1600s. Tu found a passage that read, “Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.” Something so simple yet impactful would forever change Tu’s life. Daniel agrees, adding that if an individual is not happy and at peace with themselves, they will never find it anywhere else. It would be simply attempting to treat a symptom instead of the cause.
01:09:32 Understanding the Mind
Tu reiterates that there’s a fundamental flaw in how the vast majority of westerners practice finding peace. Too often, people seek happiness from the external, whether that be wealth or a girlfriend. Upon his epiphany and rekindling with his Bushido code, Tu emptied his medicine cabinet and flushed his drugs down the toilet.
He began seeking new outlets of relaxation and release, eventually coming into the practice of meditation. This simple yet complex process involves attempting to shut out the unnecessary noise in your mind and seeking calmness. It is an attempt to not overthink all that has occurred to the individual or what might happen or what is presently happening. Daniel adds he’s never successfully meditated as he is the type of person to always think about the consequences of his actions.
Tu’s path to peace found him deeply studying how the mind functions. He discovered studies that revealed the human brain from years 2 to 5 does not have a truly analytical mind developed and is going purely off a subconscious mind. This means any level of traumatic experiences have immense consequences for the development of that child. Tu realized his childhood trauma of escaping war as a refugee and experiencing constant racism had left mental scars in him. In combination with his years at war, this contributed greatly to his inner turmoil.
01:15:17 Finding Inner peace
Tu realized the source of his trauma is buried in his subconscious, the key was to access it. His research had shown that the best time to contact the subconscious is during mornings when the brain waves are slower and as such, more readily reached by meditation. For the first few years, Tu found that he could not quite achieve this true meditative state. Until one day, he became incredibly aware and in tune with his natural surroundings. He was mentally present and aware without even trying or knowing it.
Tu’s long journey to inner peace began with self-reflection and putting his mind at ease through meditation, which later blossomed into spreading this peace to others. He started his now-famous training and tactical equipment company, Ronin Tactics, which trains military, law enforcement, and armed citizens in firearms and tactics. In turn, Tu returned to his roots in helping others to be free and able to defend themselves. Tu also turned to the outlet of writing. He was able to take his wartime and childhood scars and humanize them into teachable lessons for those who follow him. Without even realizing it, Tu’s journey to healing was in fact helping others.
01:18:46 Be Kind
Along this process of finding peace, Tu made sure to never forget what his mother taught him, which was to exhibit kindness. He explains that during war, it’s easy to forget kindness as you’re forced to push that aside from situation to situation in order to complete a mission, save others, and survive.
“When I’m trying to find my peace, I realized that what kept me alive overseas which was the element of fire and hate, I’ll never find that in this evolution of my life… if I continue to hold onto that energy. So in my mind, I had to ‘kill’ my best friend, which was hate… So how do you do that? Kindness.”
Tu made an effort to show kindness to all the people in his life. At a Starbucks, he thanks the barista graciously. If he is reading a book near an entrance, he holds the door open and tells people to have a nice day. Daniel could not agree more, as he’s made this his own personal philosophy as well. He also believes that there simply is not enough kindness being shown in the world today and that even simple gestures can go a long way to making the world a better place to live in.
Tu expresses how difficult becoming a kind person again was, having spent over a decade in the Special Forces. Being a member of such a small, tight-knit elite group tends to make the individuals involved distance themselves from others who did not experience the same things they did. Relating to others became an enormous barrier to many in the Special Operations community. As such, Tu works on and practices being kind every day.
01:23:09 Reprioritizing Happiness
Tu soon found that kindness can oftentimes come in a full circle. In the process of Tu spreading his knowledge and compassion, the History Channel noticed his accomplishments and contacted him. They recognized his energy, his personality, and his skillsets as someone worthy of being a co-host for their hit series, Forged in Fire: Knife or Death. He made a new friend in Bill Goldberg, his counterpart on the show. Not too long after, Infinity Ward, the video game developers behind the mega-popular Call of Duty series wanted to feature Tu’s entire likeliness in their latest Modern Warfare entry.
Tu Lam is appropriately featured as “Ronin” in Call of Duty: Warzone.
On the outside looking in, Tu seemed to have it all, coming out a decorated military background, coming into the entertainment industry, and running a successful tactics training company. Despite all of these accomplishments, Tu informs Daniel that he was still depressed during all of this. Tu reminds us that depression is a never-ending battle and that finding inner peace is a constant effort.
Tu elaborates that he’s a Type A personality, meaning he’s someone that always seeks to achieve a high level of standards and excel in everything he tries. But again, success does not necessarily mean happiness.
“What drove me to become an entrepreneur, a successful trainer [of] a success company was significance. I had to place a high level of standards on myself. I’ve been doing it since I was a child… In the Army, it brought me up to the top. In this evolution, the civilian and entrepreneurship, it brought me up to the top, really fast. But I would never find happiness there… I placed too much energy on acceptance from other people.”
Tu explains upon reading the works by the famous Tony Robbins, he no longer places significance on how others perceive him. Love and compassion are now his number one priorities. Daniel wonders how others in the Special Operations community and the rest of the world respond to Tu’s message of focusing on love and compassion.
Tu gives this exact talk at a Special Operations warrior conference, explaining the importance of reprioritizing your life and evolving with the times. What you prioritized in the military during combat does not always lend itself well into the civilian world. Simply put, you cannot live a meaningful life holding onto hate and fire at all times. Past experiences do not need to define you and can in fact be used to make you stronger.
Tu Lam on the set of History Channel’s Forged in Fire: Knife or Death with Mike Goldberg and Travis Wuertz.
“How you look at the world is truly an illusion my friend… I want you to go back in time and think about the hardships. And I want you to restructure that idea to your advantage… And if you can’t gain anything from it and you victimize yourself from it, then I need you to look at it differently.”
The racism and trauma Tu faced in his formative years were used to fuel his drive to become compassionate and to fight for others. Because he understood what it meant to be a victim, Tu dedicated his life to helping prevent others from being victims as well. Daniel relates this back to the idea of orientation, the process in how humans are able to process past experiences and reorient how those experiences affect and inform their future behaviors and actions.
181 – Chadd Wright: Navy SEAL, Ultrarunner, and Man of Faith
Jun 04, 2021
Daniel Shaw is back at it with The Mag Life Podcast, this time featuring a one-of-a-kind super-human: Chadd Wright. A decorated Navy SEAL, Chadd served as a Team Leader on multiple deployments, a SEAL instructor, and a Master Training Specialist. He later came out of the service finding a new calling in life through his Christian faith and Ultrarunning.
Chadd and his brother, Blake, now lead the 3 of 7 Project, a spiritual team building and self-improvement program. In this high-energy episode, Daniel and Chadd discuss overcoming life’s obstacles, achieving goals, military service, and the power of faith.
Daniel asks Chadd what specific moment in his life inspired him to join the Navy SEALs. Chadd recalls his upbringing as a kid living out in the countryside of Georgia, quickly realizing normal institutionalized life was not for him. While he did graduate high school, Chadd barely did so as it did not motivate him. He eventually found himself working in construction, but this too failed to satisfy him.
“I went to work in the construction industry and I realized I was surrounded by these people that… were content with what life was giving them, their 400-500 dollar a week paycheck… For some reason, though, I was like ‘Man, I want a little bit more.’”
Chadd Wright has the distinguished honor of being a former team leader of SEAL Team 8 and a multi-champion Ultrarunner.
It was only when Chadd came across a Navy recruiter with a SEAL advertising banner that read “The Hardest Training in the World” that something clicked in his head. Despite not knowing a thing about the Navy or any other military branch for that matter, Chadd knew something as challenging as joining the Navy SEALs was exactly what he wanted.
06:20 Furnace of Adversity
As Chadd found out, the act of becoming a SEAL is an arduous journey in and of itself. He failed his initial physical assessment for the program due to his lack of preparedness and physical endurance. Chadd explains, “I didn’t even know how to swim.” After numerous tries, Chadd eventually passed the physical assessment and was allowed to enter the Navy. However, fate would take a turn for the worst. On his last day of Boot Camp, Chadd was disqualified from joining the SEALs.
The Navy doctors had notified Chadd that he had a 7-centimeter pericardial cyst on his heart. If he had passed BUD/S and become a SEAL, the extreme pressure changes from combat diving could rupture his heart. Unfortunately, the Navy was not willing to operate on an asymptomatic cyst for him to become a SEAL. Chadd was crushed and left the Navy on a medical discharge. This was on top of the fact he had given up all of his assets, possessions, and home in preparation for becoming a SEAL.
However, Chadd never took ‘no’ for an answer. Upon returning to his hometown, he immediately sought out Georgia’s best cardiologists willing to operate on his heart. The leading heart surgeon in Atlanta was the only one to accept his request. The surgeon had never performed this particular kind of surgery before, nor had the surgery been performed on any previous Naval Special Warfare Candidate.
“The Navy didn’t tell me… ‘If you have this cist removed, we’ll let you back in’… They just said ‘We’ll see you later, probably never again.’ So I’m going in here, driving to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning to have some surgeon cut my chest open… for what? Just for, maybe a chance to get back into the Navy.”
13:54 Undying Perseverance
Simply put, Chadd dedicated his life’s purpose up until this point to becoming a Naval Special Warfare Operator. Upon a successful heart surgery, he re-enlisted in the Navy and was allowed back. However, a 5 month decision period took place in order to determine if he was still eligible and healthy enough to enter BUD/S to join the SEALs. When Chadd was finally given permission to participate for SEAL selection, he was more prepared than perhaps any of his peers.
“When I finally got to line up on the start line, I had so much invested in this process… they would have had to kill me, and I don’t say this lightly, to make me go away”
Chadd passed BUD/S with flying colors, completing each evolution without any issue, and became 1 out of only 18 of the graduating class from the original 300 candidates. When reflecting upon the incredibly difficult journey to become a SEAL, Chadd ultimately regrets nothing. Had he been simply handed the spot in the selection course, Chadd would have never succeeded. His stumbles and failures taught him how to adapt to adversity. The awful hand he was dealt in life made him strong enough to become a SEAL.
17:30 From Student to Teacher
During his service, Chadd eventually became a Team Leader of SEAL Team 8, an instructor as well as a Master Training Specialist. It was when he achieved the latter that made him realize his passion for teaching others and helping guide people to achieve their goals. The flexibility of his instructor role allowed Chadd to teach various skillsets including CQB breaching, land warfare, and VBSS, among others. His major takeaway from his time in the SEALs is that he learned far more from teaching others than all of his combat missions combined.
Daniel agrees wholeheartedly, adding that one does not truly know a craft until they have to teach it. Once you assume the responsibilities of teaching, there are others who depend on you to be absolutely correct. Chadd believes that the key to becoming a master of anything is starting out as a student of a craft, then performing the skills required in a pressure-tested environment, and then taking those experiences to teach others.
The 3 of 7 Project seeks to bring together people willing to become stronger and healthier versions of themselves.
Chadd brings that very idea of a student-to-teacher pipeline to his 3 of 7 Project, a program dedicated to developing and teaching individuals how to become stronger spiritually, physically, and mentally. The “Basic Course” portion brings 8 students into the wilderness to teach them both hard and soft skills to develop them into stronger human beings. Once this is completed, they can move onto the “Proving Ground” class that puts the skills they’ve learned through increased challenges to the test. Then, students are then permitted to enter the “Instructor Training” class that prepares them to be able to teach the future generation.
21:17 Being Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
Daniel asks Chadd why he prioritizes his entire 3 of 7 Project in the wilderness versus being in an indoor event. Chadd states simply it’s to force people outside of their comfort zone. By forcing others to be brutally honest with themselves in an uncomfortable environment, free of distractions, they will find the inner strength to persevere and overcome obstacles. Too often corporate-sponsored “team-building” events boil down to meaningless exercises that have no real long-term lessons.
Being out in the wilderness also has another major benefit: it never gets boring. Nature is never predictable, and this constantly shifts the dynamics of his classes’ missions and end goals. Students adapt and overcome unforeseen challenges much in the same way Chadd did during his journey to become a SEAL.
“These other companies that facilitate training… seemed to be canned to me. Like more of a corporate, ‘available to the masses’ [event]. When you do that, you have to tailor your training to the lowest common denominator or you’re going to have people getting hurt. I wanted to provide an environment, an experience in a real environment that’s not canned… I go through every single application… I handpick each person for each team… so I can take them out and put them through a real experience, legit experience here in the wilderness that’s gonna throw crap at you that you don’t see coming.”
Chadd designed the 3 of 7 Project specifically to be an unpredictable challenge for his students to overcome.
Daniel relates to this principle completely, stating that there is growth in discomfort. This compels individuals to be more malleable and flexible to once again adapt themselves to life’s obstacles. Daniel uses his personal experiences in adventure bike riding and combat training to illustrate the point that once you’re put to the test against non-complying external forces, the truth comes out. There is no amount of lying or ego that will save you once you’re driving a motorcycle off-road or rolling with someone in a jujutsu match. Your ability to overcome will come to light in those moments.
29:13 The Importance of Upholding Self-Reliance
Daniel notes how the current state of politics has all been part of a greater strategy to end self-reliance among American citizens. It, therefore, places even more importance on the work that Chadd does, as his services and lessons are purpose-built to promote independence and self-sufficiency. Chadd encourages listeners to learn what our Founding Fathers, most notably John Adams, had to sacrifice in order to uphold self-reliance and freedom in this country.
31:45 Mental Toughness and the Willingness to Push Forward
Chadd attributes the idea of self-reliance to an individual’s mental integrity in the face of adversity. His Ultrarunning experiences epitomize this. Chadd explains that the act of being an Ultrarunner is the ultimate test in mental fortitude and endurance, further emphasized by the fact that his next race will be him defending his title against several other competitors across the nation in a literal endless run to the last man standing. This race will not have a capped distance, all participants must run until they quit and only one remains.
“If I’m not out here on the battlefield of life, pushing myself then I am disqualified to be here talking to you right now.”
Daniel commends Chadd’s mindset and accomplishments in the sport of Ultrarunning. Despite not being a runner himself, Daniel agrees that the pain one goes through during extreme physical activity brings out inner strength otherwise not found. Chadd adds that true growth comes not from going through the initial “suck” of an activity but by enduring just a tad bit more past that phase. In Chadd’s case, that means running 90 miles and then running those final ten miles in a race. The first 90 is only the initial barrier, it is the last ten miles that truly demonstrate improvement.
37:25 Three Pillars of Overcoming Adversity
Chadd expresses that there are three pillars of overcoming adversity and improving upon oneself that he constantly abides by. The first is patience, the mental discipline to stay the course no matter how seemingly overwhelming the odds are. This is in direct relation to his earlier practice of running 90 miles first in order to then reach ten more miles to achieve true growth.
The second is staying in the present moment. Chadd recalls during one of his races in which he and another runner, Greg, were the only two left competing. A moment occurred when Greg looked over at Chadd and said, “We have six hours until we reach 100 miles”. It was at this moment that Chadd knew he could not be beaten, because simply put Greg was no longer thinking of the present challenge but in fact demoralizing himself over the future challenges.
The third pillar is always being deliberate, meaning one should be cognizant at all times of what they are doing and how they are doing it. Chadd expresses that if he were not deliberate with his steps during his runs, he could potentially roll an ankle and ruin his race. During his time in the SEALs, Chadd had personally witnessed team members injure themselves during combat missions or just climbing ladders on ships due to not being deliberate with their actions.
41:41 The Power of Self-Control
Chadd’s pillars to life further emphasize the idea of self-control. Daniel notes that self-control is how an individual can master oneself even when the whole world around them is beyond their control. Every day is an opportunity to practice self-control, even if it’s something as small as reacting to a minor inconvenience or choosing to road rage over someone cutting you off in traffic. Chadd further adds that self-control can be the difference between life or death in extreme situations.
When he was still active in the SEALs, Chadd and his team were tasked with killing or capturing a high-value target only to find themselves in an ambush and their target gone. While the entire team panicked over the fact their position was being surrounded by enemy combatants, their platoon chief remained perfectly calm and simply communicated with air assets to provide support. The chief’s ability to maintain his composure in the midst of pure chaos allowed him to follow through with his training and eventually call in the necessary backup that would save the entire team. Daniel comments that having even just one person who is under control, confident, calm, and leading can become a tremendous force multiplier to those around them.
45:21 Adhere to a Standard
In order to accomplish meaningful growth, Chadd believes everyone should adhere to individual standards. However, he adds that your standards should actively challenge you to strive for more.
For Chadd, Ultrarunning is one of the greatest tests of inner strength and mental fortitude.
“If you’re always achieving the standards that you’ve set for yourself, then your standards are not high enough. So if you’re not missing the mark sometimes, you need to reassess your standards… I live my life to a standard, not a result.”
Chadd draws upon his experience once more in Ultrarunning, this time in a 100-mile race in the mountains of North Georgia. He was favored to win and held the first-place spot through 60 miles of the race. Then suddenly, Chadd’s stomach erupted in searing pain. This was so horrific, Chadd’s body forced him to lay on the ground and rest until he could recover, leaving him in fifth place. The result he desired of finishing first was no longer achievable, but despite all of this, Chadd chose to pick himself up and finish the remaining 40 miles of the race. He did so not because he lived and died by a specific narrow result, but because he adhered to his personal standard of never giving up the fight. For Chadd, his high standards are drawn from the Bible and his Christian faith.
48:32 Discovering the Biblical Standard
Daniel asks what other standards Chadd had, prior to his full acceptance of Christianity. As a young man in the SEALs, his standards at the time were simply whatever his leaders pressed upon them. It just so happens, these same standards are found in the Bible, such as having integrity, honor, and self-control. In essence, Chadd had always been living by Biblical standards even if he didn’t know it at the time. It was only natural that he would find himself on the path of Christianity.
Chadd’s realization of the power of the Christian faith came from the most unlikely of places during his deployment in the SEAL Teams.
While staying inside a building with his fellow teammates, it became apparent something was off-putting about the structure. The team was being constantly harassed by strange noises and a dark, ominous feeling of dread. It felt as though an invisible entity was stalking and undermining them, to the point that the team dynamics were negatively affected due to the lack of sleep and toxic energy.
Finally, Chadd, remembering his family’s Christian ties and not knowing what else to do, called his brother Blake. Upon explaining the very strange set of circumstances, Blake got his pastor on the phone and who later instructed Chadd to walk around the building anointing the doors with oil as the pastor said a prayer. Soon after, the building no longer felt a dark, haunting presence, and peace was restored to the SEAL Team.
An incident so strange but powerful was more than enough for Chadd to look deeper into Christianity and eventually making it the cornerstone of his lifestyle.
56:59 Strength Through Faith
For Chadd, everything about the Bible just made sense to him. It was plain and simple, common sense to believe in Jesus. Almost immediately upon converting to Christianity, Chadd became less aggressive and far more at peace, noticeably so that his own teammates found his personality change off-putting. When his wife was dying from a drug addiction only to overcome this and recover, Chadd credits much of this good fortune to his Christian faith.
01:06:29 The Warrior’s Hunger
Chadd admits to Daniel that despite his passion for Ultrarunning, nothing will ever come close to the adrenaline rush and thrill of experiencing a genuine fight during his time in the SEALs. He explains that when an individual becomes a warrior, their mind gets warped due to becoming singularly focused on preparing and training for the next fight. Chadd describes this as a hunger to fight against another force and adds that no amount of Ultra Marathon running will ever replace that hunger.
As a former, seasoned United States Marine, Daniel heavily relates to this sentiment. He admits he misses having a level of threat on his life and having to be put into unique situations in which good men must rely on his sound judgement, physicality, and skillsets to prevail over evil.
Knowing others relied on him to stay alive is what motivated Daniel to always perform at his best and to not simply settle for the bare minimum.
Chadd takes this warrior mindset and applies it to everything he does in life. Deep down, he knows he cannot afford to not be ready for life’s challenges, including protecting those around him.
“I don’t have the luxury to not be ready… I’m not here to be an athlete. I’m here because I want to train like I fight. I want to be ready and prepared for a fight. You know why? Because the world and the people around me, look at me differently… When crap hits the fan, if it ever does, guess who people are gonna look at to step up. Guys like me and you, Daniel.”
A warrior’s mindset can be the catalyst that fuels all of life’s pursuits. Both Daniel and Chadd want combat veterans to embrace who they are and their warrior experiences. They believe even the collective trauma from PTSD has in fact made them stronger and better able to protect their loved ones. It is a source of motivation and heightened mindset that enhances who they are. Chadd goes a step further, saying that PTSD is a result of the lifestyle he had chosen and that they are necessary traits for a warrior.
178 – The Present and Future of Armor | ShotStop Ballistics
Feb 19, 2021
In this week’s episode of The MagLife Podcast, Daniel Shaw interviews Jason Henkel, Director of Sales and Operations at ShotStop Ballistics.
For those unaware, ShotStop Ballistics is a leading manufacturer of high-quality NIJ-certified lightweight body armor. Specifically, ballistic armor plates. They’ve distinguished themselves from much of their current competition through their innovative Duritium technology, which provides high threat level protection without the weight traditionally associated with armor plates.
Join the discussion as Daniel and Jason dive deep into ShotStop’s amazing product offerings for 2021, the future of the company, and the future of ballistic protection technology.
Jason gives a brief overview of the vision and goals of ShotStop for their clients within the ballistic protection sphere. ShotStop does not seek to merely meet the bare minimum requirements of government contracts, but to surpass expectations and to be pioneers in the industry.
“Bad guys don’t stand 40 feet away and [shoot] at a perfect perpendicular angle, and the temperature is 32 degrees. We just want folks out there on the front line to have legitimately, real protection in any given warfighter or law enforcement situation.”
02:43 What makes ShotStop stand out?
Daniel inquires about what specific technological advancements have allowed ShotStop to be ahead of the curve in armor plate development. Jason explains that ShotStop has mastered a unique form of polyethylene material that offers an incredibly high tensile strength but at a fraction of the weight of competitor plates at the same threat level.
This technology is their patented Duritium technology. As an example, ShotStop’s GT2 10”x12” plate weighs only an astonishing 3.8 pounds, is a little over a half-inch in thickness, and is rated to stop M855 green tip rounds. The benefits of weight savings can only improve your combat effectiveness by increasing comfort, mobility, and decreasing fatigue.
ShotStop Duritium GT2 armor plates are rated to stop 62-grain M855 and weigh just 3.8 lbs. per plate.
05:37 Quality of protection.
ShotStop offers plates for all the relevant threat levels, ranging from III to IV+ all while staying thin and light.
All of their plates have been rigorously tested by NIJ-certified third-party institutions. Many of their customers have publicly put their armor plates to Youtube video “torture tests”, in which these plates are subjected to unheard-of levels of abuse and still being able to effectively stop rounds. The company has full transparency of all of their plates, including official NIJ laboratory test results.
“We let the people do the talking”
ShotStop’s ballistic plates have received many positive reviews from the field.
07:56 What is new for 2021?
Jason unveils ShotStop’s new Duritium HA, a level IV multi-hit rated plate that weighs an unheard of 4.3 pounds. This particular plate has been rated for and tested to six rounds of M2 AP 30-06. Additionally, this comes with a 10-year warranty. By comparison, most level IV plates by reputable companies will weigh at least over 5 pounds per plate. In accordance with their company mission, ShotStop went above and beyond what any armor manufacturer is doing today.
09:43 Long-term cost savings.
Daniel brings the question of what the real cost savings are with armor plate extended warranties and long-term expiration dates. He notes that many law enforcement agencies buying armor in bulk for their officers are limited by their department budget and do not necessarily get the best items on the market. Having an extended warranty and expiration date can add great value and savings per unit purchased.
10:14 Jason agrees and further elaborates how ShotStop products fit that bill by offering individual clients and law enforcement agencies these long-term cost savings. One should consider the full cost of ownership versus the short-term upfront charge. Most armor manufactures offer just 5 years of warranty while ShotStop offers 10-15 year warranties on their products. This effectively means the price of one plate replaces what would otherwise be the cost of owning two plates from a competitor.
ShotStop plates add long-term cost savings in their durability and extended warranty.
11:25 How does the average armed citizen get this level of protection?
All residents of the US can go to the ShotStop website and use the “Find a Dealer” search function to find local vendors that are verified to sell their products. Google is always the preferred option for finding local dealers.
12:18 “Boob cut” or female body armor considerations.
While not in the immediate pipeline until the end of 2021 or Q1 of 2022, ShotStop is currently in development for proper female anatomy-designed armor plates. Currently, there are three models in consideration for small, medium, and large breast sizes. Daniel adds that there is a demand for this kind of product offering, as more and more female law enforcement officers participate in tactical units and combative scenarios.
14:35 ShotStop ballistic shields.
Coming soon, ShotStop will be releasing rifle-rated ballistic shields. Meant for the patrol officer or the average citizen, this product line offers protection up to level III for rifle caliber threats while providing the same level of lightweight materials as seen in their previous plates. This will come in different sizes: 18”x30” and 24”x36” (perfect for use as cover while inside a vehicle).
Polyethylene offers excellent protection and weight savings.
17:01 Learn more about ShotStop
The best place to find out more about ShotStop, visit https://www.shotstop.net.
Their website gives full transparency and discloses NIJ-certified ballistic lab reports for each plate and how they performed to each caliber.
17:43 What are other future projects ShotStop is working on?
Beyond the current lineup of 2021 products, Daniel asks Jason, what are future products ShotStop is either currently or planning on working on?
Jason reveals that ShotStop is further improving upon their base armor designs by combining their current polyethylene technology with carbon, which will shave 15%-20% off of the weight. This innovative design is called Carbon Duritium.
Jason Henkel brings with him over 5 years of experience in the ballistic protection industry, helping to ensure that ShotStop remains ahead of the competition for the years to come.
“The future is … to out-innovate everybody. The East can go ahead and copy-cat us, by the time they get their first thing shipped into the US, we’re gonna be onto our next thing. Duritium never stops evolving.”
19:31 Jason goes into further detail as to what direction ShotStop wants to take this Carbon Duritium technology. As a long-term goal, they wish to inject multi-walled carbon nanotubes at a molecular level into the strands of their polyethylene material. In theory, this would result in a 15 times increase in tensile strength.
Jason expresses that the potential of this kind of material is almost limitless. He states that even something as thin and flexible as a shirt could possibly stop green tip rounds. ShotStop is already developing a John Wick style armored clothing for correctional officers, in which everyday attire such as jackets, suits, shirts, or pants would be slash, stab, and even down the line bullet resistant to small calibers.
Article/Show notes by Eric Huh
176 — Sig Sauer Romeo 7s and Juliet 3 Micro
Feb 05, 2021
In this week’s MagLife Podcast, Daniel meets with Jack Lapham, Sig Electro Optics Product Manager, in charge of enclosed red dots, magnifiers, and battle sights. While already having a rich history in the firearms industry, Sig Sauer has firmly established itself within the optics world with their Romeo and Juliet product lines.
Jack dives into Sig’s latest offerings, the Romeo 7s and the Juliet 3 Micro. Along the way, he discusses with Daniel the developmental process and brief history of SIG optics, other soon to be released products, and general trends within the usage of optics.
03:44 What is the design philosophy and vision behind SIG Electro Optics?
Jack recalls the origins of Sig Optics when the division itself was only 4 people and much of their materials and manufacturing had to be done by outside sourcing. The goal, however, was always to bring their products into some form of an in-house production within their Oregon-based facility. The key was to build enough infrastructure and employees to do so.
04:36 Sig is now fully capable of in-house manufacturing of its signature optics. Jack uses the examples of the Sig Romeo 0, a pistol reflex sight that is tailor-made for the Sig P365 sub-compact carry gun.
“The Romeo 0, I don’t know that I’ve worked on anything that’s more American made than that product.”
Sig quickly realized that there was a market for gun owners who are more cost-conscious in their optic purchases. And while Sig is capable of in-house manufacturing stateside, the ability to cater to customers on a budget comes with the reliance on outsourcing some of the production abroad. The goal is to offer a product to cover customers in all budget ranges.
05:36 Daniel adds that the current quality trend of overseas product manufacturing has drastically improved over the years. No longer is a product that is made in Asia synonymous with being low grade or unreliable. Other optic companies have made incredible progress with quality and affordable red dots and reflex sights while keeping manufacturing in Asia.
06:23 What is the future of Sig Electro Optics? What customer concerns is Sig hoping to answer?
While Jack and his team are currently working on a new optic, unfortunately, they cannot divulge any information at this time. However, Jack is able to speak upon the soon-to-be-released Sig Romeo 2. This is a duty grade pistol reflex sight that can fit other Sig Electro Optics footprints.
Sig Romeo 2, with a detachable protective shroud.
Sig based this optic on the strengths of other competitor products such as the rugged durability of the Trijicon RMR and the small enclosed housing of the Aimpoint Acro. It is drop safe, rated for 10mm recoil, and features a modular shroud that protects the optic, essentially making it an enclosed emitter. The Romeo 2 presents a 28mm open reflex sight with an ARC (Anti-Reflection Coating) glass.
10:48 The Sig Romeo 7s— What’s the difference between the new model and the original?
The brand new Sig Romeo 7s takes the base full-sized red dot model and shaves off 30%-40% in size, weight, and emitter window. The original 7 accepts AA batteries while the new 7s take AAA. This optic features the industry-standard 50,000 hours of battery life with a 2MOA red dot.
SIG Romeo 7s, the compact brother to the Romeo 7.
12:07 Optic technology improvements over the years.
Daniel reflects upon how much technology, particularly battery usage, has improved greatly over the years. Going back to the old Trijicon reflex sight, Aimpoint Comp M4, and the like and how much battery life they quickly drained. Optics today are able to sustain a reticle for up to five years without replacement, using the same battery in most cases.
13:01 The developmental trend of emitter technology.
Jack goes into a short historical retelling of the development of red dot optic emitters and how Sig became one of the first to take advantage of the point source emitter technology.
Previous generations of red dot optics would use normal emitters that were simply too large and used up a lot of battery power. To get it down to emit a 2MOA or 3MOA dot a mask plate was put in front of it. While this projected the correct size of the dot, it offered zero energy savings.
Point source emitters that are used today emit the appropriate amount of energy to project the intended dot size, saving battery life in the process. Some companies, in order to increase battery life, will use a notch filter in their glass to better reflect back the red dot (it is presented as a blue/green glass). The trade-off is that it will be much worse for night vision and is a less clear glass.
Jack Lapham and the rest of the Sig Electro Optics team test all of their products under the harshest conditions to ensure quality.
14:52 Shooting with astigmatism.
Daniel discusses living and shooting with astigmatism in his eyes. And while it’s a daily challenge, when it comes to actual shooting, it does not prevent him from being proficient. However, what has been a constant source of hindrance is attempting to shoot a standard red dot with astigmatism. Aiming with astigmatism using a red dot ends up presenting a “sprite” or “burst” instead of a clear dot.
17:00 Jack responds by saying there is no clear cut all-inclusive solution to shooting with astigmatism with a red dot.
However, speaking from his personal experience having astigmatism, Jack advises shooters with this condition to be mindful of what glasses they wear when shooting. Depending on the glasses lens, it can either positively or negatively affect how the red dot is perceived by the user.
Other than this, alternative optics for shooters with astigmatism would be holographic and battle sights.
22:07 The SIG Juliet 3 Micro Magnifier.
The new Juliet 3 Micro similarly presents an update on its previous base model by reducing its size and weight by roughly 30%. The smaller form factor could possibly make the Juliet 3 among the most minimalist among duty grade optics.
Jack emphasizes that the proprietary technology Sig has implemented in their optics is something truly unique and that future forthcoming magnifiers will reflect this. Other Sig red dot designs that focus on smaller footprints such as the Romeo 5 were inspired by Aimpoint Micros.
Sig Juliet 3 Micro, among the smallest magnifiers in its class.
26:20 Sig’s rigorous testing standards.
Jack is confident Sig is able to be highly competitive in any of their optic product lines given their practical designs and rigorous standards. Sig Sauer is able to seamlessly tie in their product development and field testing at their facilities.
“I’ll put our team up against anyone else’s at this point”
27:10 All Sig electro optics are abused to their breaking points, requiring hours upon hours of just shooting. Jack laments how after thousands of rounds and countless days, the joy of shooting becomes lost in the process. However, this is what is needed to ensure superb quality in this industry.
30:53 Additional features of the Romeo 7s and Juliet 3 Micro
Juliet 3 Micro features:
•Push button to move to the side when not in use •3x magnification •Comes out of the box at absolute co-witness at 1.41” but comes with adjustable height via spacers at 1.53″ and 1.63″ • IPX-7 waterproof and fog proof rating •Rotary dial adjustment system
Romeo 7s features:
• 1.41” and 1.63” mount height options • IPX-7 waterproof and fog proof rating • Rotary dial adjustment system
32:57 1.93” Mount height for red dots?
Daniel and Jack discuss the pros and cons regarding mounting optics at a 1.93” height. Daniel praises the benefits of this height using a Low Power Variable Optic but discourages the use of the same height for a red dot.
32:48 Modern practical shooting stances and techniques have facilitated the use of higher mounts for optics. More commonly, shooters are more erect in their stances, allowing them to see more in the environment and process more information. A raised mount for their optic assists in this.
36:52 Daniel further adds the benefits of utilizing a full-length buttstock, standing erect, and making the head stand more upright, allow for the body to use its skeletal structure to mitigate recoil and increase comfort.
1.5”vs 1.93” optic mount height.
37:50 Romeo 7s and Juliet 3 Micro—price and release dates.
Juliet 3 Micro will be shipping end of February while the Romeo 7s will be shipping in March.
Juliet will be priced at $299.99 MSRP or $199.99 at “street” price.
Romeo 7s will come in both red and green dot configurations, at $199 and $220 respectively.
38:25 Why is a green dot more expensive than a red?
Jack explains that the market overwhelmingly favors red dot optics, as such the current economy of scale in the industry is adjusted for red emitters. Additionally, the lens coating at the front of the lens must use a different material to accommodate a green emitter.
What is little known about green lasers and emitters is that they naturally take up more energy than a red variant.
Article/Show notes by Eric Huh
175 – PHLster: Creating an Enigma
Jan 29, 2021
This week, Daniel speaks with Jon and Sarah Hauptman, founders of the PHLster Holster line. You’ll learn a lot – including more than you’ll expect about the unexpected Enigma holster.
Kydex holsters might not be a dime a dozen in this industry, but they’re certainly ubiquitous — and widely varying in quality. Unlike many traditional holster companies (of all sizes), PHLster does far more than “heat and bend”. They continue to produce genuinely innovative products by hyper-focusing on real-world application, ergonomics, and anatomical conformity in their designs. They made a splash in the gun world with the best, “closest-to-universal” holster we’ve seen yet (the Floodlight) and more recently an even bigger splash with the appropriately named Enigma concealment system.
Jon and Sarah tell the story of how PHLster was founded, what led to their unique designs, some obstacles they faced, what they believe the concealed carry holster industry has been missing, and what the future holds for them.
If you’re in search of new conceal carry options, take a listen and you might find PHLster has something for you.
Jon and Sarah recall PHLster’s humble beginnings from a “Do It Yourself” holster channel to a world-class holster company. Having a background as an auto mechanic and art student, Jon dove into the holster making world with very few technical resources available.
04:15 After getting into firearm ownership and ordering a holster with a very lengthy lead time, Jon challenged himself to create his own holster and to find out if he could do better.
05:26 Jon’s efforts were noticed and he began receiving emails from gun owners looking for custom holsters. Having found that his newfound passion was not only more profitable but also more fulfilling, he took the risk and committed fully to holster making.
“It wasn’t long after that, that I realized I had made more money answering my email than I was gonna make wrenching on cars…”
07:14 Growing Pains: Understanding Division of Labor and Business Efficiency
Jon describes the obstacles faced in accommodating demand and the growth of PHLster. Like being “stuck on a treadmill”, Jon found himself glued to purely holster making to meet the demand of his customers instead of spending time to create new designs.
07:55 Jon recognized the lack of efficiency in his operations of trying to micro-manage all aspects. He instead decided to relegate other tasks to those most proficient at them and shifted his efforts on the creative design side. As an artist and mechanic, this is where he shines the most.
09:51PHLster’s Floodlight holster caught his eye due to their products being able to meet these demands. While universal holsters are certainly not new, Floodlight, in his experience has been the only product to execute the concept effectively.
The PHLster Floodlight, a universal holster that accepts virtually any duty grade pistol by attaching to either a Streamlight TLR-1 or a Surefire X-300.
10:28 Daniel details his personal experiences with conceal carrying a weapon, weapon-mounted lights, and the unique requirements for his line of profession.
He explains the importance of having both a weapon light and a separate handheld light. The Floodlight holster works by using either a Streamlight TLR-1 or a Surefire X-300 weapon light as the anchor point for the gun, allowing the user to have a near-universal option for a gun with a light as well as freeing up space to use a separate light.
12:02 What sets PHLster apart from other kydex holster manufacturers?
Jon explains that PHLster goes after truly cutting edge designs that solve immediate problems in the industry. For instance, the ARC Enhanced Weapon Mounted Light Switches offers the end-user several different extended switches to actuate their weapon lights and can accommodate different hand sizes.
The ARC Enhanced WML Switch, adds an extension to either your TLR-1 or X-300 weapon light.
13:43 PHLster also offers the Pro Series appendix carry holsters, which is among their most popular line of products. This holster provides comfort and concealability to the user due to its form factor and molded-in wedges.
The Pro Series offers a minimalist and incredibly comfortable appendix carrying option.
15:08 The wedge shape for their holsters allows for fewer fatigue points on the user as well as being ambidextrous. All holsters by PHLster including the Pro Series are ambidextrous to both cut down on cost from having to produce both right and left-handed holsters and to accommodate all users.
16:05 Emphasis on ergonomics over the idea of “comfort”.
Jon and Sarah found that by focusing on superior ergonomics of a holster design, this naturally lends itself to comfort for the user. Most manufacturers today have a misconception of what constitutes “comfort”, especially in the women’s concealed carry industry. Companies often will create holsters with sharp points and simply throw a soft pad on it which does little to alleviate pressure points.
It is far more effective to build the holster from the ground up around the anatomy of the user so that pressure points can be avoided altogether.
17:44 Conceal carry is overwhelmingly about trial and error.
Jon describes the conceal carry world as something people have to learn on their own and not something with an exact science. Daniel adds it is very much typical for the average to conceal carrier to have a collection of old kydex holsters in their pursuit to find the “right” one. As Jon says, “People ‘luck’ into what works for them.”
18:56 Concealment vs. just carrying.
Sarah expands further by stating that even today, the vast majority of online resources are dedicated to firearm usage, but very little on pure concealment principles. PHLster is looking to change that going forward into 2021 by providing training videos and educational tools.
20:21 Counterintuitive ideas in conceal carrying
Jon explains the misconception that a smaller gun is automatically more comfortable than a larger gun in all aspects.
Smaller guns with a shorter barrel tend to be heavier at the base, causing them to tip out during carrying. The Pro Series adds more smooth, contoured surface area for smaller guns that make contact with the body to add concealability and prevent tipping. The “hot spot” or high-pressure point zones are mitigated as a result.
21:47 Sarah circles back to the idea of shape conformity and ergonomics over soft fixes after the fact, saying, “It’s a root cause solving of this problem rather than a Band-Aid on top.”
Once again, most companies will attempt to add comfort by employing hybrid designs such as padding behind a holster. This may be a fix for temporary comfort but it sacrifices the concealment benefits.
22:09 Holsters that adapt to you.
Jon elaborates on the design principles of PHLster, in which they prioritize holsters that can be modified to adapt to the end-user.
The main Pro Series holster shell includes an array of mounting points that allows for any standard clip (soft clips, tuckable clips, etc.) or belt loop system and concealment wing. These same principles apply to the Floodlight holster, which indexes the gun to the weapon-mounted light and allows for virtually any standard duty grade pistol to fit with micro adjustments.
“We try to make gear that’s a little more of a sandbox than a sand castle”
Sarah Hauptman and Jon Hauptman discussing their “sandbox” and opened ended design philosophy in their holsters.
24:31 Introducing the PHLster Enigma.
Daniel discusses how his everyday carry needs have trended towards more minimalist setups and that this has necessitated the need for a minimalist gun-carrying solution. The new PHLster Enigma fulfills this need by being the described “belly band that doesn’t suck.”
Jon and Sarah giving an overview of their innovative, first of its kind concealment chassis system, the Enigma.
26:34 PHLster Enigma Launch Trailer
The PHLster Enigma is neither a belt, a holster, or a belly band at a technical level.
It is the world’s first “concealment chassis”, a system with straps that can be paired with other IWB holster designs or the PHLster Pro Series that can be conformed to an individual’s body regardless of {or lack of} clothing. The holster plate can be adjusted for grip rotation, tilt, and counter-rotation.
The PHLster Enigma is a truly unique option in the conceal carry space. Offering the retention of a belt with the flexibility of a belly band and the safety of a kydex holster all in one.
This takes PHLster’s “sandbox” design principle for conceal carry to the next level without sacrificing safety, comfort, accessibility, or rigidity.
30:24 The origins of the Enigma design
Jon first gained the inspiration for the Enigma from a fellow holster making friend, Jules, who designed a conceal carry holster with a belt rig set up used in the Shivworks ECQC classes and meant to be worn inside tight-fitting clothing such as sweats or yoga pants. Jon collaborates with Jules to further improve upon this design and bring it to the mass market.
After spending over a year in R&D building off this design, Sarah happens to take a few materials from another item and essentially builds the final components needed to make the Enigma viable.
34:54 How does the Enigma work?
As touched upon before, the overall design of the Enigma needed to be concealable, accessible, and durable enough to survive actual combative scenarios such as doing Jujitsu. This is done by how the holster plate is constructed. It allows different sides of the plate to be adjusted independently, preventing the gun from tipping, sagging, or printing underneath clothing.
The Enigma is more than just a PHLster holster. It’s an entire concealment chassis system that can be worn in virtually any clothing attire. Whether it be work slacks, jeans, shorts, or……even yoga pants and sweats.
36:31 Rethinking the conceal carry.
Jon discusses that for years the conceal carry conversation has centered on the quality of a belt. He believes while a high-quality belt can certainly help with conceal carrying, this notion has limited the scope of superior options. A standard belt can only operate tension on the holster in one direction, essentially squishing the gun to the body.
37:08 Going back to the design of the Enigma’s faceplate, the shape is curved in such a way where it changes the center of gravity for the gun. Pressure can be applied towards the top of the gun for greater concealability without discomfort.
38:43 The Enigma uses a high strength magnetic buckle that has a quick-release feature. It is further complemented by a belt system and a leg leash that keeps the entire chassis down when drawing.
40:18 With all of the Enigma’s components working in conjunction with one another, one could conceivably carry more concealed wearing track pants with the Enigma than someone carrying with just an IWB holster on the belt with a pair of jeans.
41:44 Jon further adds that a beltline is not necessarily the best area for comfort or concealment. The Enigma allows for the user to wear the holster in an area above the waistline, further facilitating different concealment options in various clothing types.
42:31 Traditional belt carry offers limited clothing options.
Sarah explains that as a woman who conceal carries, the traditional belt holster carry method severely restricts the clothing options for women to only pants with belt loops. Daniel adds that in other instances, this may force off the body carry such as concealing a gun in a bag or purse.
43:38 Body Movement with the Enigma
Jon and Sarah play a customer submitted video of herself doing full-on parkour and acrobatics while conceal carrying with the Engima [Video is visible in the full-length interview].
45:55 Innovation in the gun industry
Daniel reflects upon the sad trend of very little innovation throughout the gun industry. Much of this can be attributed to complacency in the past years and over-emphasis on marketing over R&D. However, PHLster’s Enigma stands out as genuinely pushing the gun industry forward by executing innovative and practical ideas.
47:31 Meeting the customer demands for the Engima
Demand for the Engima has been at an all-time high and PHLster has had to make operation enhancements to accommodate demand. Initially, the Enigma was created outside of the current manufacturing infrastructure that was already in place for the other holsters. The industry as a whole can be unpredictable and one must be cognizant of customer behavior, customer purchasing power, inventory paralysis, and gaining material supplies.
49:00 The Future of PHLster
PHLster is now producing 3-4 years’ worth of Enigmas in the next 60 days. The waitlist for the Enigma has come to a point where they have had to deny people’s money until they are sure that demand can be met. PHLster is working alongside Axl Advanced, with an entire facility dedicated to only manufacturing Engimas.
50:30 New Enigma holster models
Jon reveals future Enigma models that will accommodate the Floodlight holster and other light bearing holsters. Additionally, a smaller, simplified version of the Enigma with a preinstalled faceplate has been planned.
51:44 PHLster Community
PHLster’s customers have an active user group on Facebook known as the PHLster Concealment Workshop. Users post their own unique Enigma and other PHLster designed holster setups and exchange information on the best methods to carry. Beyond offering great support for new customers, this community provides vital feedback to Jon and Sarah as they continue to work on future designs and improve upon their products.
54:25 PHLster contact and additional information
For more information about PHLster Holsters, visit phlsterholsters.com
Join their community at facebook.com/groups/139735863409843
Article/Show notes by Eric Huh
Banner image credit: Terry – ninexnineteen.
165 – Advanced Safety | Thinking Beyond the 4 Firearm Safety Rules
Aug 06, 2020
There are the 4 rules of gun safety, then there's "Advanced Safety". What's that? It's maintaining the 4 rules under stress — especially that of a gunfight.
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