Anyone in the firearms industry knows that Barry Dueck is synonymous with SureFire’s successful line of suppressors, fielded widely in special operations since the early 2000s and selected by SOCOM in 2011. Those who shoot competitively or used to watch 3 Gun Nation on television know him as a worldclass competitive shooter, having represented the U.S. in world shoots and with numerous championships under his belt. Fewer might know of his tight-knit nuclear family, with a loving wife who manages the family business (Dueck Defense, which makes firearm accessories), a suitably rambunctious son, and in-laws who live on his property, which includes a full machine shop. Some might say to him, “Wow, you’re a really lucky dude!” Dueck’s most certainly not one to boast, so he’d probably just nod and smile — and think to himself, “You can make your own luck too.”
Dueck was born in Paso Robles and grew up in idyllic Morro Bay, along the Californian coast about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, where his father managed a lumber yard. His grandparents were ranchers, so his childhood was a classic American ranch life, filled with hard work and plenty of time outdoors, hunting and shooting. He always had a passion for guns, starting with a .22LR and moving on from there. He’d spend the week on the ranch with his grandfather; he was just 5 years old when he shot his first ground squirrel with a 22.
Serving in the military was a passion for Dueck, and he enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating from high school. The recruiter did a masterful sales job and he ended up as an armorer. Dueck tried repeatedly to get into Force Recon selection but seemed
