Baffled by Ridgeline Suppressors

Matias and Megan Roybal
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship

What really happens when you pull the trigger? Hosted by Matt and Megan Roybal, founders of Ridgeline Suppressors, Baffled is an unfiltered conversation about firearms, engineering, business, and the relentless pursuit of building better products. Every week, we dive into the science behind shooting—ballistics, suppressors, recoil, hearing safety, metallurgy, additive manufacturing, machining, and the physics most people never think about. We also pull back the curtain on what it's really like to build an American manufacturing company from the ground up, balancing innovation, family, entrepreneurship, and an industry that's constantly evolving. Some episodes get deep into engineering. Others turn into conversations about hunting, leadership, product design, customer experiences, or the challenges of running a business. We'll bring on engineers, machinists, competitive shooters, military and law enforcement professionals, hunters, entrepreneurs, and anyone with a unique perspective worth exploring. No scripts. No corporate talking points. Just honest conversations, big ideas, and the occasional rabbit hole that starts with suppressors and somehow ends in philosophy, history, or why people believe the things they do. If you're curious about how things work, why they work, and what it takes to build them better—you'll fit right in. Welcome to Baffled.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    Baffled 005 - Why Not TI? A little on the NFA and a lot on material science.

    In this Baffled Episode we discusses the complexities of suppressor design, recent NFA guidelines, and the importance of educating the public and legislators about firearms. The conversation delves into the engineering and material science behind suppressors, focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of titanium versus Inconel in high-temperature applications. We want to emphasize the importance of material selection based on application requirements, quality control in manufacturing, and the future of additive manufacturing in the industry. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Baffled Podcast03:02 Recent Changes in NFA Guidelines06:13 Impact of NFA Changes on Suppressor Registration09:05 The Debate on Suppressor Materials11:57 Subjective vs Objective Data in Suppressor Design14:56 The Role of Education in Firearm Legislation26:28 Engineering Quality and Material Selection34:51 Titanium vs. Inconel: A Comparative Analysis43:53 Application-Specific Material Performance55:13 Future Innovations in Material Technology

  2. Sep 21

    Baffled 004 - Part 2 with Don Fritz

    The conversation covers all the good topics related to shooting; including ballistics, internal and external factors affecting bullet trajectory, and the impact of air density on shooting accuracy, and the influence of suppressors on bullet stability. Take a detour with us into the intricacies ballistic coefficient, and terminal ballistics, and expert insights into long-range shooting and hunting applications. We hope you come away with a new appreciation for the impact of air density on bullet flight, the significance of ballistic coefficient, and the importance of bullet energy and mass in terminal ballistics. Takeaways Ballistics and bullet trajectory are influenced by internal and external factors, including air density, temperature, and humidity.Suppressors play a crucial role in stabilizing bullets by redirecting chaotic gas clouds away from the bullet's path.Air density has a significant impact on bullet trajectory and accuracy, with higher temperatures leading to less dense air and lower bullet drop. Air density affects bullet flightBallistic coefficient and its correlation with velocityBullet energy and mass in terminal ballistics Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Shooting and Ballistics02:58 Internal Ballistics: Twist Rate and Chamber Geometry12:03 External Ballistics: Bullet Drop and Wind Influence27:06 Impact of Air Density on Shooting Accuracy39:05 Understanding Air Density and Bullet Flight39:34 The Significance of Ballistic Coefficient59:16 Bullet Energy and Mass in Terminal Ballistics

  3. Aug 4

    Baffled 003 - Special Guest Don Fritz on Equipment, Performance & the Pursuit of Better Shooting

    In Episode 3 of Baffled, Matt sits down with Don Fritz of Fritz Precision Shooting for a wide-ranging conversation on what it really takes to become a better shooter. From caliber selection and rifle accuracy to handloading, hunting ethics, and practical shooter training, Don shares decades of hard-earned experience and the reasoning behind many of the decisions shooters make in the field and at the bench. This episode is just the beginning. We cover the big-picture concepts while laying the groundwork for an ongoing series where Don returns to dive much deeper into the why behind each topic—separating myth from science and exploring the details that serious shooters love. Whether you're a hunter, competitive shooter, or simply passionate about precision rifles, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

  4. Jul 18

    Baffled 002 - What's your DB, man? How we really measure what it means to be hearing safe.

    In this episode, Matt and Megan Roybal delve into the science of sound, decibel measurement, and how advanced algorithms like the AHAAH are revolutionizing firearm suppressor technology. They discuss how understanding full spectrum attenuation and human ear modeling can lead to safer, quieter shooting experiences. For the AHAAH algorithm: https://arl.devcom.army.mil/resources/ahaah/

  5. Jun 30

    Baffled 001-Building a Business - What got us here, where here is, and what it means as a family.

    Get to know Matt and Megan, a little about the history of Ridgeline, why they got into suppressors and how their values have shaped their business, lifestyle and family.

  • 5 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

What really happens when you pull the trigger? Hosted by Matt and Megan Roybal, founders of Ridgeline Suppressors, Baffled is an unfiltered conversation about firearms, engineering, business, and the relentless pursuit of building better products. Every week, we dive into the science behind shooting—ballistics, suppressors, recoil, hearing safety, metallurgy, additive manufacturing, machining, and the physics most people never think about. We also pull back the curtain on what it's really like to build an American manufacturing company from the ground up, balancing innovation, family, entrepreneurship, and an industry that's constantly evolving. Some episodes get deep into engineering. Others turn into conversations about hunting, leadership, product design, customer experiences, or the challenges of running a business. We'll bring on engineers, machinists, competitive shooters, military and law enforcement professionals, hunters, entrepreneurs, and anyone with a unique perspective worth exploring. No scripts. No corporate talking points. Just honest conversations, big ideas, and the occasional rabbit hole that starts with suppressors and somehow ends in philosophy, history, or why people believe the things they do. If you're curious about how things work, why they work, and what it takes to build them better—you'll fit right in. Welcome to Baffled.

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