The Gun Experiment

The Gun Experiment

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Latest Episode

All things Custom 1911's, 2A News and Good Times with Matt Riker

"Innovation drives excellence—hard fit, hard use, and yes, it must look damn good." Episode Summary On this episode of The Gun Experiment, I sit down with Matt Riker, CEO of Kings River Custom, to celebrate our 100th Chopping It Up episode! We dig into what makes Kings River Custom 1911s stand out from industry giants, the value of employee ownership, and that sweet spot between form, function, and firepower. We dive deeper into the world of custom 1911 builds, nerd out over Damascus frames and cutting-edge features, debate the place of optics on pistols, and trade honest thoughts on the future of gun legislation and industry consolidation. Plus, we break down the latest in 2A news, including landmark magazine ban rulings and West Virginia’s bold machine gun plan. This one’s packed with insight, laughs, and hot takes on all things guns, business, and the ever-evolving Second Amendment landscape. Call to Action 1. Join our mailing list: Thegunexperiment.com 2. Subscribe and leave us a comment on Apple or Spotify 3. Follow us on all of our social media: Instagram   Youtube 4. Grab some cool TGE merch 6. Ask us anything at AskMikeandKeith@gmail.com 5. Be sure to support the sponsors of the show. They are a big part of making the show possible. Show Sponsors HSM Ammunition: The official ammo sponsor of The Gun Experiment. Look for the orange HSM logo at your local shop or visit hsmammunition.com. Second Amendment Foundation: Defending your gun rights for over 50 years. Become a member at saf.org. Key Takeaways Kings River Custom stands alongside giants like Wilson Combat and Nighthawk, but with a unique, employee-owned twist that prioritizes craftsmanship and collaboration. The company specializes in turning customer ideas into “Rolex-level” custom 1911s—highly functional, aesthetically stunning, and truly personal. Employee ownership means every team member has a stake, encouraging thoughtful, innovative design and top-tier quality. Aesthetics matter: From Damascus frames to custom engraving and clever color contrasts, a custom 1911 should be practical, reliable, and beautiful. Modern shooters are increasingly opting for optics and 9mm caliber custom 1911s, though the debate between classic and contemporary rages on. The episode covers breaking 2A news, like the recent court ruling on DC’s magazine ban and West Virginia’s creative approach to civilian machine gun ownership. Industry consolidation (like Beretta potentially acquiring Ruger) prompts big questions about culture, innovation, and legacy. Dry fire practice and smart training tech like Mantis X are invaluable—even for high-end custom pistols. Guest Information Matt Riker CEO, Kings River Custom Website: kingsrivercustom.com Instagram/Facebook/YouTube Kings River Custom: Employee-owned, producing some of the industry’s most unique and finely built 1911s, with 20+ years of collective gunsmithing experience. Keywords Custom 1911s, Matt Riker, Kings River Custom, high-end pistols, employee ownership, gun innovation, Damascus frame, 2A news, Second Amendment, HSM Ammunition, firearm industry consolidation, Beretta, Ruger, magazine ban, West Virginia machine guns, optics-ready pistols, Mantis X, dry fire training, collector firearms, gun podcast, gun rights, The Gun Experiment

About The Gun Experiment

We experiment with concepts in guns, gear and training; all while having conversations about interesting things, with interesting people. Yes, we will talk about guns, but not just guns because humans weren’t meant to be one dimensional. The gun is merely a tool and we believe the person is the true weapon. We want to explore different ways to make this “weapon” better in mind, body and spirit. Experiment...everyday. Access more episodes, subscribe, and learn more.