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Natalie Foster: I am so happy to do another interview with you! This is a big deal- you guys are on Season Four of the show. How does it feel?

Stephanie Hayden: It’s great! When we first started this so long ago we thought we would do a couple of seasons and it would be fun and then, you know, you would go back to your regular job. But to see that people took to us so well and that they want us to stay around is just phenomenal. It is such a compliment and we are really humbled.

NF: This season has already been such a cool one. The fact that you guys had Chris Kyle come in wanting your dad’s signature and the Red Jacket logo on a gun for his charity is so cool.

SH: Thanks, you know, we always just try to make sure that anything we are doing is putting a positive light on the industry. Having someone like Chris Kyle say that a signature from one of us is actually going to increase the value of a firearm still blows us away. To have someone like Chris ask you for something like that is just unbelievable. It doesn’t even really register. And Chris is such a great guy. He is just so cool to work with.  He is honestly probably one of the funniest good ol’ boys I have ever met. For being the US’s most deadly sniper, that was kind of a surprise for me. He definitely has a really great personality.

NF: That segment between Flem (Glen Flemming) and Chris Kyle in which they discussed PTSD and the process of leaving the military was one of my favorites. Can you give me a little window – a behind the scenes picture of how that happened? Was that spontaneous or was that something they really wanted to talk about on the show?

SH: No, that was just part of their conversation. I have seen that many times before. When guys get together and they have both been through the same thing – it’s like two moms talking about kids, but instead it is two guys talking about war.  They understand each other and it is totally natural for them to get to that place. A lot of the guys who have been through that come out with that same feeling. The friends that you make there are family and it is really hard to let go. So many of them suffer from stress and they go through so much in their own personal lives, too. It was really cool to see the guys come together with that brotherhood and connect like that. It is kind of strange to see two Billy Badass get all emotional, but it is really cool that they talked about it on the show. I hope other veterans got something out of it.

NF: You guys have been so great about the military from the beginning of the show. Your dad was a Marine and, of course, Flem served. It’s really cool to see that you guys continue to honor those who serve for our freedom.

SH: Thanks. This country would not be what it is today without them. There are so many things that these men and women do for us that people take for granted.

NF: Ok, switching gears a little bit, let’s talk about more of your guests. Joe Perry of Aerosmith came on the show. I know you are a fan of his. How was that for you?

SH: That was insane! I have been such a huge fan of Aerosmith since I was a kid. I was born in the 80s and my mom loved all the hair bands, so I grew up listening to Aerosmith and I have never stopped. They continue to put out great music. So when they came down we got to work on a really cool old-school project with them we were so excited. It was a dream come true. And we really got to know them, which was awesome. It was unreal to get to spend time getting to know someone who you grew up thinking was one of the gods of Rock and Roll. They are really just down to earth, great people. For a guy that is such an icon, such a legend to be that down to earth and friendly – it really surprised me. They say that there are stars out there who are still good people, but Joe redefines “great people.” The whole family is really wonderful.

NF: You have met some pretty incredible people because of the show. You’ve had Ted Nugent come visit as well as other music legends. I bet Kris, with his blooming music career, is really excited about that.

SH: Yeah, Kris thought it was incredible. He has been invited to go play with Joe’s son – it is one of those things that he will get to as soon as he gets a moment away from Red Jacket. It has been really cool. Kris has had a chance to meet a lot of the people that he really looked up to in music and it has been awesome. It may not necessarily be the type of music he plays, but he is still in awe.

Ted Nugent chats with Will during his Red Jacket visit on Sons of Guns.

NF:  So beyond Joe Perry and Chris Kyle, this season has already been amazing. What else can we look forward to?

SH: Well, of course, if it hasn’t been released, I cant say anything, but I can tell you that we are building some of the most incredible weapons I have seen lately. You already saw our 57mm recoilless. They used to use it for avalanches. That one was so fun to work on. I mean, how often do you get a snow storm in the South?

NF: Sounds like you guys are having fun down there, as usual. So tell me about how life has changed for you since the show started airing. It was less than 2 years ago that life was kind of normal, right? And now, four seasons in, things are very different. You have a huge fan base, you got married – tell me about how the adjustment has been.

SH: Well, yes, I am married. Kris is a wonderful father. We do have two kids. A lot of people are asking about babies and the thing is, we are already raising two! So I don’t see that coming any time soon (laughs). We are just both really focused on what we are doing and trying to progress with life. We bought some land and we have been trying to get it ready to build a house. All of that has been a lot of work. And that is just personally. With the job, we have gone from one of those places that a handful of people knew about to this huge company. But things have stayed the same in a lot of ways. It is just a bigger family. That is the way we like to describe it because it still has that home-y feel but now we have more cousins and brothers and so on. The projects are definitely getting more interesting. We have branched out even more than before and it is just always getting better.

NF: How has the celebrity factor been for you? All of you guys have fans who adore you and I know you like to interact with them a lot. Is it fun or challenging or a little bit of both? How do you deal with it?

SH: I would say it is a little bit of both. The thing is, when you are on TV people expect you to be perfect. And we are just people. We are just doing our job. You can’t be perfect no matter how hard you try to be. Other than every now and again when someone chooses to point out a personal flaw, most of the people we meet are just so wonderful and they give you such positive feedback. It reminds you why you do what you do – why you deal with that camera in your face every day. And honestly, we don’t mind having the cameras around. The crew does a great job of staying out of the way – just doing their thing and letting us do our thing. But with the fans, it is always great to spend some time with them and talk to them and see what they think about what we are doing. The kids are my favorite. I got to go to Survival Expo in Las Vegas recently and we met so many kids who watch the show and it was the most heartwarming thing ever. One little girl named Haley walked up to me with tears in her eyes and told me I was her hero. I had to do everything in my power not to break down crying. I am just a regular girl from the South. It just blows you away that people connect with you so much. All Haley could say was that it was so great to see a strong independent girl on TV. I thought about it for a while and I get it, it’s just, who would have ever thought it would be me? And all I can do is to try to be that- to be a good person and to do good things for people and to deserve that admiration. And trust me, you never really feel like you deserve it.

NF: So what comes next? What are you looking forward to for the rest of the year? Any big trips or events going on?

SH: Well, we are actually currently shooting Season Five, so you have plenty more to look forward to. We are trying to go to SHOT show again, in Vegas, which is always fun. I am also trying to get back to Phoenix. I fell in love last time I was there. I have a great friend who lives there who I am dying to go back and see. And I can assure you there are plenty of surprises in store other than that.

Thanks, Steph! Keep up the good work!

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Gun Geeks unite! Meet me at the Discovery channel tonight (Weds, 10.10.12 ) starting at 9pm/8 Central and prepare for greatness!

First, see our friend and champ shooter Taran Butler do his thing with the Red Jacket crew on Sons of Guns:

Taran Butler showing Natalie a thing or two about his competition gun.

Shemane Nugent with Natalie at the 2012 NRA show in St. Louis.

Then watch Ted Nugent’s brand new show, Ted Nugent’s Gun Country.

Look for an interview with Ted’s better half, Shemane Nugent, on our site soon. And let us know what you thought about the shows in the comments section below!

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NF: So Stephanie, how did you get in to firearms?

SH: Pretty much the same way you did. I wanted to just spend time with my dad. When I was a kid I can’t remember ever not seeing guns around the house.  My dad’s a Marine, you know, so it was always something that I was interested in. And my dad would do anything in the world for me. He said, “Come on, baby girl, let me show you how it works.” And it just went from there.

NF: Are you the only girl in the family?

SH: No, I have a sister, but she was definitely more of the ‘girlier’ girl type. She didn’t really get in to the guns as much. We’ve been able to get her out there and she does enjoy shooting, but she’s not as into it as I am. And, you know, we’re not gonna push it on her, we just want her to enjoy herself.

NF:Do you remember at what age you started shooting?

SH: I’d have to say the first time my dad ever actually let me shoot a gun I was probably only about seven, but that was, you know, daddy over the shoulder holding on after the three hour lesson of safety courses with a really low caliber gun. Being an avid shooter- I probably didn’t start that until about 15-ish. That was the age that dad was more comfortable with me having it and doing it on my own because I had been around it for a lot longer. It was more of a safety issue.

NF: I’m glad you said that, we try to stress safety to our readers and new shooters especially. I’m of the view that everyone who is competent and safe should shoot or know how to operate a gun. But the most important thing is safety.

SH: My biggest thing when I’m talking to anyone about getting into the sport- I say, “Go ahead and get educated on it before you just pick up a gun. They are not toys. They are fun, but they are not toys.” We joke around sometimes around here about them being toys, but in all seriousness you have to realize that they are weapons.

NF: They can be very dangerous-

SH: They can be dangerous in the wrong hands but they can also be a protector in the right hands.

NF: And they can also be fun.

SH: Oh yeah, definitely. That’s half of the appeal for me. I get to go out and play with some of the bigger stuff we sell and I’ve got quite a line of interesting weapons that are here. They are a lot of fun.

NF: I bet you do have some interesting weapons. Tell me about your collection.

SH: Personally, I’ve got a Polish Tantal and I’ve got a Red Jacket SBSG- that’s a short barreled shotgun. Those are my two favorites. I don’t really get into handguns too much. I’ve owned a Beretta, Smith & Wesson and a couple of other little things for personal carry. You don’t want to walk around with an AK on you [laughs]. That’s just for safety and home protection. The ones that I really enjoy shooting are like the Tantal. It’s got really low recoil and it’s just fun to shoot.

NF: I haven’t heard of the Tantal. What is that?

SH: It’s an AK-74. It’s a lot like the regular AK but it shoots a 5.45 round rather than a 7.62 so it’s a smaller caliber.

NF: Ok, cool, so there is less recoil with the smaller round. Got it. So other than shooting with your dad when you were little, are there any fun memories that you can recall when it comes to firearms?

SH: Really, it’s not the guns, it’s more the stuff I got to do with my dad when we were out showing off the guns. We did a lot of reenactments. Everything from Native American impressions to the Vietnam War. Those were probably some of my favorite memories of my entire life.  I also get to go and do the shows. At the Birthday Bash I’m the Red Jacket girl, so I get to do a lot of that kind of stuff and I get to meet a lot of people and things like that.

NF: That’s really cool- the reenactment culture, I would think, would give you a real appreciation for history and where our country has come from.

SH: Exactly- that was one of the main purposes behind it, actually. The things that I do know about my country I know because of the guns and the reenactments. It’s not from school books. Going out and doing that kind of stuff- when you live it, you really do learn it. I’ve gotten to meet some really incredible people and do some really incredible things just because of that.

NF: So when you go out shooting, is there any gear that you just can’t live without?

SF: No ma’am- My dad taught me to be a survivalist and that means you get exactly what you need off the land that the Lord gave you. There are things that I like to have. I like to have a knife. I like to have a fire starter kit. Tarps are great, you know, and a little bit of rope is really handy in a tight situation. You can make bows out of a tree and a rope and arrows out of rocks and sticks. The more you know, the less you need.

NF: What about when you go shooting? Do you enjoy shooting clays – skeet and trap – that kind of thing?

SH: I’ve gotten to shoot clays twice in my life and I’ve gotta tell you, it was fun, but I wasn’t really all that good at it. [laughs] I do like to use a shotgun. That’s a heck of a lot of fun. I do a lot of target shooting. And a lot of the stuff we do, especially with the shows and all, it’s really more of a show. We get to shoot a lot of guns, but it’s more of an area that you’re going in to. That’s what I really like to do – go out and get in to an area {on the target}. Not take it so seriously, you know. A lot of people take it so seriously. I understand wanting to hit your mark, you definitely want to do that. But just have fun with it, you know? It doesn’t really matter where you’re shooting or what you’re shooting at when you’re target shooting.

NF: So do you think that shooting is different for men and women?

SH: I think the only difference in shooting between men and women is that we look better doing it in heels. We’ve gotta put up with a lot more flack. You’ll constantly hear men talk about how much more they know, but once you’re in there and you’re shooting all of that kind of goes away. When they actually see that you know what you’re talking about and you know what you’re doing- it’s like any other industry that’s predominantly men. You’re gonna have to prove yourself.  And that’s ok. Educate yourself and do it.

NF: That’s a great message.

SH: I definitely do want to make sure that the women out there do understand that this is not something you should be afraid of. Get out there. Get yourself some good training. Don’t get trained by a family member unless your family member is a professional. A lot of times that causes frustration. Things often go unspoken because they expect you to know certain things or because of personal issues. Go to a class. Get a professional. Let them take you through the course. Let them show you all of the safety info. You’re gonna get a lot more out of it doing it that way. Then once you get some good education, get out there and have some fun!
My dad taught me safety, but he had other people in the industry go over things with me. I pick up information from all different kinds of shooters from all different age ranges because everyone’s got a different view point and the more you know the better.

NF: So the motto over at Red Jacket is: “ If you can dream it, we can build it.”

SH: As long as it is not completely ridiculous or illegal. That’s our disclaimer on that.

NF: Right, of course. So what is it that makes Red Jacket so unique?

SH: It’s the only place in the world where you can do the things we do with an absolute passionate loving family atmosphere. That’s what makes us different. A lot of people get caught up in the business of things and let that kind of run away with them. And here we’re strictly about our family and making something for our family. We want it here for generations to come. The show’s great and all, but we’ve got a company here and we’ve got our own goals in mind and things that we want to do. That’s what’s really important to us, you know, and that comes off in the atmosphere here.  It’s just really fun to be here and really enjoyable to do your job.  We go to work everyday and everybody here wants to be here. [laughs] We genuinely get upset when we can’t go to work. How many people do you know that can say that about their job?

NF: So what is the future of Red Jacket? Where do you think it’s going for you?

SH: With dad you can never tell what he’s gonna do as far as the weapons go. He does plan to keep making the same types of rifles that he’s making, but he’s always looking for something new. We really just want to continue to stay on top of the industry and really move forward with development. We’ll come out with new, different ways to make things better and more beneficial to the shooter.

NF: Do you guys make anything specific to women or tailored to women? Do you do custom weapons?

SH: When we customize the weapon we take the customer – the person – into consideration. When we’re making a gun and we know that it is for a woman we’re gonna ask things like, “How are you on recoil? What’s your size?” Because it really does matter. You don’t want to put a really big heavy weapon that’s got too long of a butt stock or something with a long barrel in a very small framed 5’4” 120 lb girl’s hand. She’s gonna be uncomfortable, she’s not gonna enjoy it and it will honestly deter her from shooting again. So if we’re doing something like that we’re gonna talk to the customer fully- we’ll find out about you. What do you want to use this for? Is it for your home? Is it for sport? Have you done this before? How educated are you with it? And what are you looking for? So that we can put our ideas of what we think is best for them with what they’re looking for. We’re usually very good with coming to common ground and the people are very satisfied with what they get.

NF: How often do you make guns for women?

SH: Honestly, not as much as I’d like. I’d like to get a few more in. But that has been one of the great things about the show. It’s put us out there a little more and more women who are into shooting – and there are plenty of them out there – more of those women have found us and have realized that we are a woman-friendly place. Come to us, we’re not gonna treat you like you’re ignorant or anything like that.  In the gun world you get a lot of that sometimes. We assume if you are calling and asking for a weapon you probably already know a little bit. Then we actually talk to you [laughs] and find out the rest.

NF: Yeah, I’m glad you said that. I’d really like to turn the tide of men being condescending to women about firearms.

SH: The most important thing to do when that happens is to stand your ground. Be strong. Let it roll off of you. Don’t get frustrated. Like I said before, if you feel you need to prove yourself, well, do it! Get out there and just shoot and show them that you are educated. As soon as I start actually talking with guys, they completely change their tone. Once they realize that I do know what I’m talking about and that I am educated – I am a shooter – their tone completely changes and they’ll treat you like any other guy that’s into the sport.  It’s just that there are girls out there who aren’t educated who will talk about what their boyfriend talks about and they come up with incorrect information. It’s not through any fault of their own, it’s just the information they were provided. Don’t just listen to your boyfriend. Don’t get on internet forums and talk to armchair commandos to find out about it.  You want to really educate yourself.  I can’t stress that enough.

NF: Is there anything in particular that you are looking forward to about the show?

SH: Man, I am loving the fact that I am getting to do all of this in a way that the world can see. We’re getting to meet a lot of really really cool people. I’ve met WWII vets – so many cool people I couldn’t even begin to name them all. We’re getting to show the world that people who have guns aren’t bad guys. What we’re doing here is just focusing on craftsmanship and the people and what they need. And we get to show people that. Its a very educational show. Every clip I’ve seen and every clip everyone else has seen – they tell me, “Wow,  I didn’t know that.” And that is so exciting for me. That people are getting to learn so much about what they can do. I get calls asking me if suppressors are legal. They say, “I thought you couldn’t do that.” I say, “Well, yes sir. In most states they are legal.” You do have to pay for them just like you would a car, but you can buy them. That’s one of the greatest things about it. Just getting the knowledge out there.

*****

Stephanie was absolutely lovely and we’re extremely grateful that she took the time to speak with us.  We at Girl’s Guide to Guns are looking forward to watching her on the small screen and learning a thing or two from her expertise. You can catch Sons of Guns Wednesdays at 9pm on the Discovery Channel.

For custom weapons, contact Red Jacket Firearms at the link below.

https://www.redjacketfirearms.com/

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For those who prefer guns and ammo to pin cushions and measuring tape, tonight is your night.

The second season of “Top Shot,” the History Channel’s answer to “Project Runaway,” debuts Tuesday night at 10pm, EST.

“Top Shot: Reloaded” features 16 marksmen competing for $100,000 and the bragging rights that come with the title of Top Shot.

In addition to the usual macho men, this year’s contestants include two women with who come armed with deadly aim.

“We are in the minority–our sport is male dominated,” Athena Lee, an oil contractor from Katy, TX, told FOX411. “If you go to the World Championships, out of 1000 shooters, maybe 100 are women. But we’re used to it.”

“I started shooting when I was 13,” Lee said, who was born and raised in the Philippines. “My dad took me to the shooting range–I went with him because I was interested in getting French fries at a nearby McDonalds. I was getting bored, so he asked if I was interested in trying to shoot a target to see if I liked it. I did, and after that I wouldn’t give the gun back to him.”

Fellow competitor Maggie Reese is from Chino, CA and makes her living as a professional shooter. “I started with my dad as a hobby–a sort of weekend activity,” said Reese, who started shooting at 18. “Then three years ago, I started shooting full-time in national and international competitions. My boyfriend is also a professional shooter, and he was the one encouraged me to audition for the show. He’s really excited for me.”

Top Shot features history-based challenges, including shooting from the back of a moving vehicle, shooting while hanging from a 125-ft. crane and even shooting while being turned upside down.

“The pressure on this show was more than I ever felt in my life,” explains Reese. “The challenges were hard and the pressure was intense. We got some really cool guns this season–big challenges and big explosions, so I know it’s going to be really exciting to watch.”

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As you’ve seen in other posts, we’re a big fan of women and guns. And fortunately this year’s TV lineup includes a great new show “Nikita”, featuring Maggie Q as a former spy turned assassin.  We’ll be featuring some articles of our own as well as bringing you the best reviews and highlights from elsewhere, like this one from USA TODAY.

By Donna Freydkin

By Todd Plitt, USA TODAY

NEW YORK.  Her show earned killer reviews, and solid ratings, in its premiere last week.

But one thing is missing from the CW series Nikita, headlined by lithe actress Maggie Q.

“Nikita needs a dog. She needs to be on a mission and find one, a rescue,” says Q, sitting near the East River and stopping to pet a friendly Dachshund being walked past her. “She needs a mutt from the streets, who’s like her and went through a lot and is angry and is trying to be hot.”

FALL TV CALENDAR: Every show, day by day

‘NIKITA’ REVIEW: Maggie Q brings killer looks to killer role

Actually, she’s succeeding. And then some. Q’s Nikita is a deadly operative who escaped from a top-secret agency known as the Division that trained her to be a spy and an assassin. Now, she’s out for revenge. The show (tonight, 9 ET/PT), which averaged 3.6 million viewers last week, is loosely based on Luc Besson‘s acclaimed 1990 French thriller La Femme Nikita but has nothing to do with either its U.S. remake Point of No Return or the subsequent spinoff series starring Peta Wilson, Q says.

“I’ve only seen the original because I really wasn’t interested in the remakes of it,” says Q, 31. “The idea of this incredibly flawed heroine was incredibly interesting, and no one had done it. In the ’90s, it was new and controversial. I really respected the original vision.”

Story continued here.

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The WSJ.Com discusses this phenomenon in the story below.

In the first few minutes of the new television show “Nikita,” a masked bank robber shoots a witness. A suspect takes down a couple of police officers, and a trained killer in a skimpy red bikini breaks a mobster’s neck with her bare hands.

Crime-fighting beauties, vampire slayers and spies have paved the way for the current crop of female action heroes on television, WSJ’s Amy Chozick reports.

What viewers won’t see are shopping sprees, moneyed teenagers or flirty scenes with cute guys.

The show reflects new thinking among television network executives: Their core audience—female viewers—want to see a woman take down the enemy, preferably with a little bloodshed along the way. The approach overturns years of belief that violent shows turn off women who prefer to watch earnest nurses, headstrong housewives or quirky career women.

Viewers who grew up with video games and Angelina Jolie action movies are driving the types of shows networks will debut this month and redefining how the classic TV heroine is portrayed. On Sept. 9 the CW network will debut “Nikita,” about a rogue assassin, played by Maggie Q. In the coming weeks NBC will premiere “Chase” about U.S. Marshal Annie Frost and “Undercovers” about a husband-and-wife spy team. In July USA introduced “Covert Affairs” about a 28-year-old CIA trainee who speaks six languages.

Story continued here.

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