Who is Derrick Ratliff?
Derrick Ratliff is a Texas-based entrepreneur, product innovator, and the founder of Horizon Firearms, a manufacturer of custom, high-precision bolt-action rifles. Widely recognized in the outdoor industry as the pioneer of the ultra-popular .22 Creedmoor cartridge, Ratliff built a reputation for disrupting legacy markets by merging elite accuracy with bold, highly customized aesthetics. On Y’all Street, we recognize Ratliff as a bootstrapped founder—an operator who leveraged ranch-raised grit to scale a garage-based startup into a multimillion-dollar outdoor brand, ultimately merging with the 126-year-old Kaspar Companies.
From the Ranch to the Oregon Rain
Ratliff’s operational grit was forged on a cattle ranch in Boyd, Texas, where his family settled in 1876. Growing up, problem-solving wasn’t a corporate buzzword; it was a daily requirement. If a tractor broke down in the middle of a field, he had to figure out how to fix it to finish the job. He became the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in Wildlife Sciences while successfully competing on the university’s Division I archery team.
His corporate career began with a giant leap of faith. After a chance encounter with the general manager of Bowtech Archery, Ratliff and his new bride packed their belongings the day after their honeymoon and moved to Oregon without a place to live. At Bowtech, he gained experience in product development, vendor negotiation, and brand equity. Realizing he needed the Texas sun—and a desire to build his own legacy—Ratliff returned home after two years to work in distribution and marketing for Ranch Hand truck accessories before finally pivoting to launch Horizon Firearms out of his garage.
Pioneering the .22 Creedmoor
At Horizon Firearms, Ratliff didn’t just build rifles; he built a category. Partnering with industry peers, he developed the .22 Creedmoor to solve a specific pain point in competitive predator hunting: the need for a high-velocity, flat-shooting cartridge with minimal recoil.
Current Ventures & Philosophy:
- Counter-Positioning: Ratliff disrupted the custom rifle market by refusing to build boring guns. While legacy gunsmiths focused solely on accuracy, Horizon offered cosmetic machining (like heavily fluted barrels) and custom finishes, proving a rifle could be both highly accurate and visually striking.
- Strategic Mergers: To secure the capital and infrastructure needed to scale, Ratliff merged Horizon Firearms into Kaspar Companies, ensuring the brand’s long-term legacy.
- Circle Y Saddles: Applying his deep understanding of western brand equity, Ratliff now serves as the VP of Marketing for Circle Brands (including Circle Y Saddles), driving product development and influencer relations.
- Media: Ratliff shares his ongoing business and outdoor insights as the host of the On the Horizon podcast.
