Practical Pistol Show 105 - Shay talks shit about FGW

Published on November 26, 2015
Duration: 43:57

Shay Akai of Akai Custom Guns discusses his specialized "stroking" modification for 2011 pistols, which increases slide travel for improved performance. He highlights the importance of personality and approachability in sponsored shooters over pure winning ability, and contrasts the sponsorship landscape between pistol shooting and 3-Gun. Akai Custom Guns focuses on high-end, customized pistols, particularly for Open and Limited divisions, with significant customer demand for advanced features like sleeved barrels and unique compensators.

Quick Summary

Shay Akai of Akai Custom Guns explains that their 'stroking' modification increases slide travel for better pistol performance. The company prioritizes approachable sponsored shooters and notes that 3-Gun often receives more sponsorship than pistol competitions. High-end custom pistols with advanced features like sleeved barrels are their most popular builds.

Chapters

  1. 00:01Introduction to Practical Pistol Show
  2. 00:07Guest Shay Akai and Tim Meyers
  3. 00:16Focus on 2011s and Sponsorship
  4. 00:42Akai Custom Guns and Shay Akai's Background
  5. 00:56Explaining 'Stroking' Pistol Slides
  6. 01:38Notable Shooters Using Stroked Guns
  7. 02:47Sponsorship Philosophy for Shooters
  8. 03:52Not Hiring 'Guns' for Sales
  9. 05:24Importance of Social Media and Videos
  10. 06:50Sponsorship of Three Gun Shooters
  11. 08:01Pistol vs. Three Gun Sponsorship Differences
  12. 10:22Why Three Gun is Gaining Popularity
  13. 11:20Tim's Perspective on Three Gun Media
  14. 12:10Tactical vs. Sport in Pistol Shooting
  15. 13:12Akai Custom Guns' Three Gun Pistols
  16. 14:03Primary Pistol Builds: Open vs. Limited
  17. 15:15Demand for Advanced Pistol Features
  18. 16:28Price Range of Custom Pistols (V8 Model)
  19. 17:06Introduction of the V12 Compensator
  20. 17:23Advanced Barrel and Slide Modifications
  21. 18:00Benefits of V-Holes in Compensators
  22. 19:22New Compensator Design Explained
  23. 20:54Benefit of Equal Slide and Barrel Weight
  24. 21:43Sponsoring Matches vs. Shooters
  25. 22:30Motivations for Match Sponsorship
  26. 23:31Challenges with Match Sponsorship ROI
  27. 24:27Tim's Experience Sponsoring Matches
  28. 25:01Expenses of Match Sponsorship
  29. 26:13Improving Value for Match Sponsors
  30. 28:30Match Scheduling for Sponsor Engagement
  31. 30:47How Three Gun Achieves Large Prize Tables
  32. 31:10Vendor Reach in Area 6 vs. Three Gun
  33. 32:10Tony Pignado's Marketing Efforts
  34. 33:13Cash Payouts at Matches
  35. 34:03Sponsoring Shooters vs. Matches: ROI
  36. 35:42Advice for Aspiring Sponsored Shooters
  37. 36:16Certificates vs. Discounts for Sponsors
  38. 36:32Types of Sponsor Certificates
  39. 39:36Building Special Match Guns for Marketing
  40. 41:27Contacting Shay Akai
  41. 42:21Training Classes and Future Plans

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 'stroking' modification for pistols?

The 'stroking' modification, as explained by Shay Akai of Akai Custom Guns, involves increasing the slide's travel distance on a firearm. This is achieved by moving the strike point back, allowing the slide to travel further, which can enhance the gun's performance in competitive shooting applications.

How does Akai Custom Guns approach sponsoring competitive shooters?

Akai Custom Guns prioritizes sponsoring shooters based on their personality and approachability, viewing them as brand ambassadors. While performance is important, the company values individuals who represent the brand well and are pleasant to interact with, rather than solely focusing on those who win matches.

What are the key differences in sponsorship between pistol shooting and 3-Gun?

Sponsorships appear to be more robust in 3-Gun compared to pistol shooting. Manufacturers often provide more substantial gear and financial support for 3-Gun competitors, potentially due to broader mainstream appeal and larger industry backing for the discipline.

What types of custom pistols are most popular from Akai Custom Guns?

Akai Custom Guns sees the highest demand for high-end, customized pistols, particularly for Open and Limited divisions in competition. Customers are frequently ordering premium builds with advanced features like sleeved barrels, custom compensators, and specialized slide modifications, rather than standard models.

What makes a match sponsorship valuable for a company like Akai Custom Guns?

Match sponsorships are most valuable when they lead to direct sales and brand recognition. This is best achieved through having a vendor table at the match, allowing potential customers to interact with the products. Simply having a banner is less effective for driving sales.

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