A new family-owned business, 406 Rifle Company, joined Ronan’s continuing development earlier this fall at the former Red Poppy location.

Owner Andy Luedtke became interested in the business because he wanted to build short-barreled suppressed rifles for hunting. Andy said the business goal is to create a one-stop shop for firearms where they can build stocks and put together guns. 

They're already on their way, with Kelly Clairmont building custom wood stocks and Jeremiah Kelly designing aluminum chassis. Rooted in a lifelong love of hunting, fishing and the outdoors, the company specializes in integrally suppressed barrels, firearms, ammunition and outdoor apparel. 

Gun counter clerk Ben Hopper explained that an integrally suppressed barrel has the suppressor built into the barrel. He said these barrels don’t sacrifice what you normally would with a threaded suppressor, which alters the barrel's harmonics and performance. 

Hopper said integrally suppressed barrels are 20-40% quieter than a traditional suppressor, reduce recoil by 40% and make “phenomenal guns.” He added that they are great because you can teach someone how to shoot a firearm without them developing any bad habits from recoil. 

Andy added that these barrels are more lightweight, and he believes they are the future of firearms. 

406 Rifle is a family-run operation, with Andy’s daughter, Ally, working the store and his other two kids, Hunter and Piper, often hanging out; Uncle Clairmont also works alongside them, bringing more than 20 years of experience. 

Clairmont does most of his hand-crafted stock work for Browning Arms and Arts Guns, based in Missouri, but through 406 Rifle, he also takes custom orders directly from customers. 

“He’s an artist, he’s so cool,” Hopper said, showing off an old Savage Model 99 that Clairmont did. 

Along with the aluminum chassis, Kelly said they aim to get another machine going that can do barrel threading. He said eventually they intend to make a barrel, but they’re not there yet. 

Andy bought the Red Poppy in March and opened in September after remodeling the building. While they are still narrowing down what other outdoor gear they want to carry and getting everything set up, Ally said they have stayed busy during this hunting season. 

Andy added that he hopes to have an in-house gunsmith by next year, a full-time position they are currently looking to fill. 

   Ben Hopper is the gun counter clerk at 406 Rifle Company. Hopper said integrally suppressed makes “phenomenal guns.” (Emily Heimark/Leader)

 406 Rifle Company in Ronan sells rifles, ammunition and outdoor apparel and focuses on integrally suppressed barrels. (Emily Heimark/Leader)

 Kelly Clairmont’s workshop sits in the new 406 Rifle Company and is ready for his next hand-crafted project. Clairmont happened to be looking for the right location to put his workshop when Andy Luedtke bought the Red Poppy to turn it into a gun shop. (Emily Heimark/Leader)