Episode Details

State of the Second hosts Kaylee and John sit down with Colton, founder and CEO of Reap Weaponry, a central Minnesota company built around a bullpup conversion kit for the AR platform. The idea came out of coyote hunting in the Midwest, where Colton and his crew got tired of lugging around 18-inch guns and suppressors and wanted to shorten everything up. He didn't like the bullpup options on the market, found that nobody was making a conversion system, and went down the patent process to build one. Reap's kit is legally a grip that bolts onto a mil-spec AR lower, so it isn't serialized and works with parts builders already own. It supports buffered and bufferless uppers, a shortened buffer system built in partnership with Deadfoot Arms, bolt receivers, and a wide caliber list, with an AR10 frame releasing next month.

Colton walks through what it took to go from an idea to a business. He failed roughly 30 times on prototypes before it worked, ran a lot of drop and mud tests, and engineered a self-lubricating, self-clearing bushing so the system never needs oil. Some test kits have 18,000 rounds through them with a three-pound trigger pull and have never been opened or cleaned. He stresses doing the patent search right, paying for a strong provisional patent, and the surprise that many engineers, lawyers, and even website companies will not touch the firearms industry at all. He launched at SHOT Show out of a small booth in the basement, sold out a 50-unit preorder in two weeks, and had competitors copy the concept within three months.

The conversation moves into marketing, education, and the influencer game. Colton bet on smaller YouTubers, sending about 30 of his first hundred units to creators starting out, because they were hungry, made multiple videos, and leaned into education more than entertainment. He chose a prove-it mentality over claiming the product is good himself. The demographic surprised him: older hunters and shooters using the lighter, one-handed-capable bullpup for accessibility after shoulder or hip replacements. The episode closes on the soapbox segment about running a gun company in Minnesota, the state-level pressure, and the value of staying level headed and supporting groups like Minnesota Gun Rights.

Questions this episode answers

What is a bullpup conversion kit and how does Reap Weaponry's version work with an existing AR?

Reap Weaponry's kit converts a standard AR into a bullpup, shortening the overall package while keeping the gun functioning as an AR15. It bolts onto a mil-spec AR lower and works with parts builders already own, supporting buffered and bufferless uppers across a wide caliber list.

Why does the kit work with any mil-spec AR lower without being a serialized firearm?

The kit is legally a grip that bolts onto a mil-spec AR lower, so it is not serialized. That lets it work with the lowers and parts builders already own rather than requiring a new firearm.

How did the shortened buffer system come about, and who did Reap partner with to build it?

Reap built a shortened buffer system into the kit so it could run compact uppers, developing it in partnership with Deadfoot Arms. The system also supports bolt receivers and both buffered and bufferless uppers.

How many prototypes did it take and what testing did the kit go through before launch?

Colton failed roughly 30 times on prototypes before the system worked, then ran extensive drop and mud testing. He engineered a self-lubricating, self-clearing bushing so the kit never needs oil, with some test units running 18,000 rounds without being opened or cleaned.

What does it take to go from an idea to a firearms business, including the patent process?

Colton stresses doing the patent search correctly and paying for a strong provisional patent. He also learned that many engineers, lawyers, and even website companies refuse to work with the