JANUARY 2024 www.insidefirearms.com
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 3 january 2024 | contents Inside the Industry First Round SHOT Show Ho! By Patrick Meitin Industry News The latest on news, events, and people in the firearms industry Company Profile CamoSpace App Industry 5Q Five Questions with Liberty Lubricants People Power of Participation Firearms Industry Members Participating in the Sport InfiRay Outdoor The Power to See in the Dark By Michaelean Pike Market Trends Rifle Report Benelli Synthetic Lupo By Patrick Meitin Gear Report Timber Creek Enforcer Ruger 10/22 Rifle Chassis By Patrick Meitin Pistol Profile EAA/Girsan 5-Inch Government Model Witness2311 By Patrick Meitin Gear Report Fastarmed Auto-Eject Biometric Gun Case By Patrick Meitin 2024 Firearms Sneak Peek By Gary Lewis Leading Ammunition Manufacturer Black Hills Ammunition By Patrick Meitin Rifle Report CZ-USA 600 Range By Patrick Meitin Featured Products 4 6 26 58 10 12 22 24 28 30 32 44 50 52 12 30 28 24 44 50 32 26
4 | inside firearms | january 2024 inside the industry | first round SHOT Show Ho! I have attended more SHOT Shows than I can accurately recollect. I can actually remember when it was feasible to hoof it through the entire show in a single day and thoroughly cover everything I needed to see during the handful of days provided—including all the archery/bowhunting stuff then serving my vocation as a freelancer for most of the major consumer archery/bowhunting magazines of the time. Much has changed in the intervening 30-plus years. Mostly, the show has grown to city-block proportions laid out on multiple floors. It is no longer possible to truly cover the entire show from opening to close, even given a highly-organized and determined bent. A lot of this has to do with the meteoric growth of the so-called tactical market—all that cop and military gear the majority of dealers, shop owners, ordinary shooters and hunters have very little interest in. All that stuff has overflowed from a single pavilion onto an already crowded space. All due respect, but how many distributors, shop owners and outdoor scribes are interested in perusing bullet-proof vests, riot helmets and shields, law enforcement tools and hardware requiring ATF Form 4 paperwork? Consolidating all of that stuff onto a single floor might be a win-win for all, where law-enforcement, DOD procurers, and the contract soldier industry might avoid all the sporting equipment the rest of us find more interesting. SHOT Show now includes detached Caesars’ Forum overflow space; perhaps move them all over there? Just saying… SHOT Show, Las Vegas more specifically, has also become increasingly expensive. A foray to Las Vegas used to at least include affordable room and board—in the interests of attracting the gamblers who feed the machine. Today I get sticker shock simply glancing at a menu, rivaling Paris/New York City rates. That said, I wouldn’t miss it for the world! All of that sprawling humanity, all the possibilities for discovery and surprise creates an electric atmosphere that is difficult to put into words. From the smallest bullet or cartridge case company to all those shiny-new guns and gear, SHOT Show is like a carnival-like candy story for the consummate gun loony. As much as all of that, what I really look forward to is all the face-to-face interaction afforded by assembling nearly the entire gun industry under a single roof (or two). Whether you operate a distribution business, sporting goods chain, independent gun shop, sporting magazine or simply write about guns for beer money, there are a long list of people you exchange emails and frequent telephone calls with but see in person only during this single grand event. Despite an increasingly “connected” world, it is these personal interactions that still drive the industry—and the human race. This is the real reason I still travel to the SHOT Show every year, braving modern airline travel, wading through all that puzzling tactical gear, and paying the high big-city prices. Patrick Meitin, Executive Editor
Inside Firearms is a publication of Apollo Creative Inc Printed in the USA. Publisher Apollo Creative Inc Owners • Stephen Mack | Patrick Meitin | Ed Rother Executive Editor Patrick Meitin • [email protected] Associate Editor Michaelean Pike • [email protected] Online Editor Stephen Mack • [email protected] Copy Editor Aaron Buehler • [email protected] Contributors Gary Lewis | Michaelean Pike Sales & Marketing Stephen Mack • [email protected] • 814.341.9313 Aaron Buehler • [email protected] • 616.520.3244 Design & Production ER Graphics / Ed Rother • [email protected] Social Media Manager Jason Ashe Video Editor Marc Balistreri Account Manager Pam Ludlam • [email protected] Subscription Services & Change of Address: Inside Firearms Circulation Department Inside Firearms, PO Box 986, Levittown, PA 19055-9998 Phone: 844.862.9286 • Fax: 888.965.9961 [email protected] Publication Office Inside Firearms / Apollo Creative Inc P.O. Box 15827, Colorado Springs, CO 80935 Phone: 719.495.9999 • www.InsideFirearms.com Inside Firearms Copyright © 2024 Apollo Crreative Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Inside Firearms is a registered U.S. trademark of Apollo Creative Inc. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine or online by any contributor do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher, the magazine or its staff. Submission Guidelines: Apollo Creative Inc and Inside Firearms magazine assume no responsibility for unsolicited editorial, photography or art submissions. Contributors submitting articles, photos or art do so at their own risk. Material will not be returned without a selfaddressed envelope with sufficient postage. No contract, agreement, term or condition provided by any contributor shall be binding on Apollo Creative Inc unless it is signed and returned by the Editor. Firearms and hunting are inherently dangerous activities. Improper use of hunting or firearms equipment may cause serious injury or death. Always follow state and local hunting safety rules, and get required permits or licenses before hunting. Apollo Creative Inc uses reasonable efforts to include accurate and up-to-date information in our publications; however, we do not make any warranties or representations as to accuracy or completeness. All information in this magazine is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Apollo Creative Inc is not responsible for researching and investigating the accuracy of the contents of articles or advertisements published in this magazine. Readers use the information in this magazine at their own risk. Apollo Creative Inc assumes no liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this magazine, or arising from use by any person of the information in this magazine.
6 | inside firearms | january 2024 inside the industry | industry news MidwayUSA Foundation’s Giving Tuesday A Million-Dollar Day For Youth Shooting Sports Charities all over the world celebrated the kick-off of the giving season on Giving Tuesday and every year MidwayUSA Foundation encourages donations to youth shooting teams. This year, MidwayUSA Foundation received $513,980 in donations on November 28, alone! The total shattered previous Giving Tuesday performances and thanks to a generous matching program, funded by Larry and Brenda Potterfield, every donation dollar is matched, providing more than $1 million in support of youth shooting sports. “The generosity of the youth shooting sports community never ceases to amaze me! This year’s Giving Tuesday donation total of ment awards ranging from $4,000 to $8,000. In addition to the top teams, all other participating teams were entered into a random draw, where 15 teams were drawn to receive $1,000 each. Visit MidwayUSA Foundation’s blog to see the full list of winners. The top five teams cumulatively raised nearly $196,000. Those teams included: • 1st Place, Mid Carolina Youth Shooting Team - R62919 [SC] $60,608 Raised • 2nd Place, Taunton Marksmanship Unit - R4391 [MA] $42,300 Raised • 3rd Place, Gaston Young Guns High School Shooting Team - R65997 [TX] $30,000 Raised • 4th Place, Trinity University - R65997 [TX] $23,025 Raised • 5th Place tie, Morehead State University - R64555 [KY] $20,000 Raised 5th Place tie, Pelican Rapids Trap Team - R15971 [MN] $20,000 Raised Donations made to youth shooting teams through the end of the year were also matched. Every donation made to a MidwayUSA Foundation endowment nearly $514,000 not only far exceeds our goal and sets a record, but it also represents the passion of our constituents and their commitment to youth development through shooting sports,” said MidwayUSA Foundation Executive Director, G. Scott Reynolds. “On behalf of the Foundation staff and our youth shooting sports athletes across our Nation, thank you! This was truly a milliondollar day!” The 87 percent increase in donation dollars shows donors' extreme generosity and proves the devotion of investing in the future of the outdoor industry.” Giving Tuesday 2023 resulted in more than 700 donations to youth shooting teams and organizations that are assisted by a MidwayUSA Foundation endowment. Every youth shooting team that received a donation on Giving Tuesday also had the chance to win additional funds to grow their respective endowment. The teams that received the most donations on Giving Tuesday received endowTargetTack® LLC TargetTack has emerged as a more efficient and economical way to secure paper, vinyl or corrugated polymer targets to cardboard, plastic or plywood (with pre-drilled holes) range backstops. Polymer TargetTacks include three tapered, serrated edges that make them strong and able to hold targets tight. The serration also allows twisting them a quarter turn to tighten their hold should a cardboard anchor hole become loose. They come in 1- and 3-inch versions, packaged in new six and twelve packs, or a Variety 12 Pack containing six each of the 1- and 3-inch options. They can also be purchased in bulk by ranges or shooting clubs. TargetTacks include a flat face that holds targets tightly, and the looped heads allow hanging wind flags or novelty targets such as balloons. “We are a veteran- and family-owned-and-operated company,” says Ben Berry, founder and president of TargetTack™ LLC. “Our TargetTacks are proudly made in the USA with material sourced right here in the USA.” Original TargetTacks were offered in orange, but for the New Year they will also be available in pink and lime green options. Loose bulk bags will also be offered in original orange, pink and lime green at a discounted price for training facilities and ranges. Wholesalers and distributors receive competitive wholesale margins for both retail packs and loose bulk for resale. Loose bulk bundling is also available for wholesalers and distributors who wish to package TargetTacks with firearms, air-guns and archery equipment, or as accessories as part of an upsell package or impulse buy. TargetTacks offer a much safer and more reliable way to anchor shooting targets, and are affordable, infinitely reusable, weatherproof, ultra-secure, and most importantly, will minimize ricochets or damage to arrows/bolts. | TO LEARN MORE VISIT TARGETTACKLLC.COM. Continued on Page 8
inside the industry | industry news is tax-deductible. There are no fees removed and 100 percent of the donor’s gift benefits that endowment directly. The Foundation keeps nothing for operational expenses. The MidwayUSA Foundation is a 501(c) (3) public charity working to sustain and grow youth shooting sports by providing long-term funding to youth shooting teams. Every donation made is tax-deductible and allows the Foundation to assist in expanding and enhancing the leadership skills, confidence and discipline of today’s youth through shooting sports activities. The Foundation supports all shooting disciplines. | FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE MIDWAYUSA FOUNDATION IS CHANGING THE FUTURE OF YOUTH SHOOTING SPORTS, PLEASE VISIT MIDWAYUSAFOUNDATION. ORG OR CALL 1-877-375-4570. NSSF to Host State Attorneys General Forum at SHOT Show 2024 NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, is adding to its robust offerings at SHOT Show with a first-ever state Attorneys General Forum to discuss the legal landscape and what is being done by the leading law enforcement officers in several states to fight back against 2nd Amendment and firearm industry attacks by the Biden administration by the leading law enforcement officers in several states. The forum, called “Badges, Boots & Beer” will focus on ongoing legal questions and the amici briefs these attorneys general submitted to the courts challenging many of the proposed and final rules by the Biden administration. Confirmed for the Badges, Boots & Beer Attorneys General Forum are (in alphabetical order of states): • Indiana – Attorney General Todd Rokita • Iowa – Attorney General Brenna Bird • Kansas – Attorney General Kris Kobach • Montana – Attorney General Austin Knudsen • Ohio – Attorney General Dave Yost • Utah – Attorney General Sean Reyes “It wasn’t lost on NSSF that President Joe Biden called firearm manufacturers ‘the enemy’ when he began his White House bid. Since taking office, he has used every government lever to attempt to hobble our industry and diminish 2nd Amendment rights,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel. “These attorneys general have been the leading edge of the fight to protect our industry and citizens’ rights from executive overreach. They are the crucial voices in the courts to demonstrate how gun control ‘lawfare’ is abusing rights that belong to the people. Their voices are critical to our industry. NSSF is proud to bring this opportunity to SHOT Show for attendees to hear directly from those defending our freedoms in the courts.” Badges, Boots & Beer will be a laid-back and interactive discussion with state attorneys general fighting the legal battle against the Biden administration and other politically-driven attacks against the firearm and ammunition industry and 2nd Amendment rights. These attorneys general are the leading law enforcement officials in their states and are riding high in the saddle to keep the gun control predators at bay. The Attorneys General Forum will be held Wednesday, January 24, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Great Outdoors Plaza, Caesars Forum. More attorneys general may be added to the forum as schedules permit. The Attorneys General Forum, Badges, Boots & Beer, is open to all SHOT Show attendees and media. Come join us for an endof-the-day beer. Space is limited, so register today. | FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT NSSF.ORG.. Continued from Page 6
10 | inside firearms | january 2024 people Hunter Pilant • Missouri Whitetail Process Manager, Starline Brass Firearm ■ Howa SuperLite Cartridge ■ 308 Winchester Ammo ■ Starline Brass/Sierra Optics ■ Burris Optics C4 165 GameKing/ Ramshot TAC Rings ■ Burris Newt Borowski • Nebraska Mule deer PR Director, Backbone Media Firearm ■ Ruger American Predator Cartridge ■ 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo ■ Hornady Precision Optics ■ Maven RS.1 Hunter 143-grain ELD-X 2.5-15x44mm Rings ■ Warne Mountain Tech Other ■ Primos Trigger Picatinny Rings Stick Gen 3 Joel Hodgdon • Kansas Whitetail Marketing Director, Remington Ammunition Firearm ■ Henry Lever-Action X 360 Cartridge ■ 360 Buckhammer Optics ■ Trijicon AccuPoint 1-6x24mm Ammo ■ Remington Core-Lokt Copper Suppressor ■ Silencer Central Banish 46 Other ■ Ballistic AE Gray Farnsworth • New Mexico Pronghorn Southeastern Territory Rep, Swarovski Optik Firearm ■ Winchester Ammo ■ Federal Ammunition Model 70 Compact Cartridge ■ 308 Winchester Optics ■ Kahles Helia CB 2.5-10x50mm Rings ■ Talley Power Participation The of Firearms Industry Members Participating in the Sport SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO: Visit insidefirearms.com/pop or mail a color image with your name, address, where the animal was taken, and firearm gear used—both manufacturer and model—to Inside Firearms Power of Participation, P.O. Box 15827, Colorado Springs, CO 80935.
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By Michaelean Pike january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 13 uring our interview, Pliny Gale, director of marketing for iRayUSA, told me about several recent experiences that provided different use cases for thermal optics. These ranged from coyote hunting and hog hunting to game recovery and pre-season scouting for deer season to home/ranch security and even searching for a lost child in the woods. “It’s just amazing having the ability to see in the dark—to see heat—in the palm of my hand,” he said. That’s what InfiRay Outdoor, a leader in thermal optic technology, and iRayUSA, the US-based distributor of InfiRay products, offer people. For those who—like Gale and the rest of the iRay team—love night hunting coyotes and hogs, InfiRay products are a game-changer. And the market for thermal optics is growing rapidly, thanks in part to the work iRay is doing in the industry. The InfiRay Advantage “InfiRay is a global brand,” said Gale. “It sells a variety of thermal products throughout the world. It has an OEM division that just builds sensors for other manufacturers. And that’s our origin story. There are a lot of other brands that use InfiRay sensors, but InfiRay Outdoor is their own line of thermal optics.” Manufacturing the sensors themselves gives InfiRay a distinct advantage. “We’re best known for image quality,” Gale said. “Because InfiRay is the sensor manufacturer, they can build D
14 | inside firearms | january 2024 the whole optic around the sensor so it’s optimized to provide a better image. Other companies are buying lots of third-party components. They’re buying the sensor. They’re buying lenses. Then they’re trying to put it all together. Because we start with the sensor, everything is always built around that. Most of our customers, if you asked them why they bought an iRay, they’re going to tell you the warranty and the image quality.” As thermal devices become ever more popular, many optics companies have added a thermal option. “Those are always made by someone else for them and are an add-on to a day optic line,” Gale stressed. “We are strictly a thermal optics company. It’s what we do; it’s what we do best. We’re more focused on it than other brands who do a lot of things.” iRayUSA is Born In 2020 a handful of passionate night hunters familiar with InfiRay products saw an opportunity. “iRayUSA was originally founded by experts from the night vision and thermal field who purchased, sold and distributed many different products,” Gale said. “They saw the capability of InfiRay sensors and how they were better than a lot of stuff on the market. They decided they wanted to distribute these products in the United States in a big way. To do that, they needed a central hub—in fact, they needed a whole new company.” One of the largest factors in this decision was the fact that thermal optics and night vision weapon sights are governed by the International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR). “You can’t ship any of them out of the country to be worked on,” Gale ex-
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 15 plained. “You can import these products from a foreign company, but if they ever need service, you can’t get them back out of the country to be serviced. Having a U.S. company that can service them, fulfill that warranty and also be a sales and marketing and distribution hub allows us to get products to dealers faster.” This also means that iRayUSA can provide fast and convenient service for its consumers. With that, the company also stands behind its products with a five-year warranty. “We take a lot of pride in the fact that we’re faster than everybody else,” Gale said. “We were the first company in the thermal optics world to offer a five-year warranty. These aren’t like traditional scopes that are made of glass and aluminum that last for a long time. These are high-tech digital products. There were companies that had one-year warranties, then three. We were the first to offer a five-year. Many other brands have since followed us and matched that. But we’re still the only brand to guarantee a five-day turnaround. So if you ever have an issue with a product, you get an RMA, ship it back to us, and in five business days we have a new one out to you or we’ve fixed your product and FedExed it right back to you.” The iRay team understands that their customers have made an investment in their products. “People trust our name to be associated with very high-quality products,” Gale said. “And we understand that when it comes to thermal optics, it’s not a cheap decision. When people are paying four, five, six, sometimes more than 10 thousand dollars on a premium thermal optic, we want them to know they have a lot of great support behind it should anything ever come up. We’re going to get it fixed and get it right back to you so that your season’s not ruined waiting to get an optic back. We’ve heard that about other brands before.
16 | inside firearms | january 2024 So we make sure we fix it right, and we fix it very quickly.” A big part of that commitment comes from the fact that the people behind iRay are active hunters themselves. “The brand was founded by experts in the field with a lot of experience,” Gale said. “We’re night hunters ourselves. This whole thing started as a passion project. We’re kind of addicted to hunting coyotes and hogs here in Texas. We do it all the time. We want to do it with the best stuff, and we know a lot of other people want to do it with the best stuff. So, our mission is to bring that to market.” Premium Products One look at iRay’s product assortment will confirm that the company has been successful in that mission. One of the company’s hottest-selling products is the RICO Micro. “It’s very versatile,” Gale explained. “It’s a very compact unit that has 640 resolution. Usually 640 resolution optics are larger-bodied optics. This is a very small 640 that can be used as a weapon sight, as a clip-on in front of a day scope or as a handheld scanner. It can even be helmet mounted. We sell a pretty innovative system to adapt that, with a variety of mounts. We work with American Defense Manufacturing on some of those mounts. They’re a known leader in that space. That’s one of our most popular units, purely because of how versatile it is. It’s kind of a three-in-one. “Our Bolt Series is very popular as well. That is a 30mm tube-style scope. It looks just like your regular daylight rifle scope. It can use these same ringmounting systems. But it is compatible with a wireless rangefinder that we just announced. It connects via Bluetooth to the scope and shows real-time ranging data on your scope.” A recent addition to the line was the
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 17 Hybrid 50mm, a 640-resolution scope that can work with a laser rangefinder. For 2024, the company is introducing the Hybrid 75mm. “The Hybrid 75 has a 4x base magnification,” Gale said. “That’s important because with a bigger lens you get more magnification at the starting point. If you start with lower—even if it’s high resolution but it’s low magnification—you zoom in and you throw away a lot of resolution. But with the Hybrid 75 having a higher starting magnification, you’re keeping a lot of that resolution. “The Hybrid 75 also has onboard ballistics tables that work with the laser rangefinder. You can use any thirdparty app—Strelok, Applied Ballistics, the Hornady app, whatever your favorite ballistic table software is. You can load that data into the scope, and it will create corrections based on that data. So, if you’re out hunting and you range your coyote at 380 yards, you will look in your table, know your drop for 380 yards and move your reticle accordingly. It’s a pretty cool solution. You went from, ‘Maybe there’s a coyote out there,’ to now, ‘I can see in the dark. There is a coyote out there. With the rangefinder, I know that coyote’s at 380 yards. With the onboard ballistic solver, I know I can hit that coyote at 380 yards without doing any other math or anything else.’ It kind of stacks all these superpowers into one powerful unit. “All of those features have been in some models, but they’re all combined in the Hybrid 75. That’s the new model we’re announcing at SHOT Show. This is the first model that does it all.” Supporting Dealers Ensuring that their dealers are successful is very important to the iRay team.
18 | inside firearms | january 2024 “We build our model assortment around what’s profitable for dealers,” said Gale. “We want to make sure that nobody’s ever getting stuck with our product. We make a point to stock dealers with what’s in high demand and generally they don’t have problems with inventory. It turns very quickly. “Also, the dealers don’t have to do any warranty support. It all comes back to us. So nobody will ever be in a situation where somebody’s trying to return something to the store or the dealer’s trying to fix a problem. That’s never going to happen with our stuff. It all comes back to us. A technician—someone who’s an expert on that product—looks at it, works on it and gets it turned around quickly.” There’s another benefit to selling iRayUSA products. “We have a program called iRayBucks,” Gale explained. “That’s where the person selling InfiRay Outdoor products earns credit toward their own. You accumulate points per sale and then those points can be cashed in directly with us for a product. “It’s a popular program. We’re trying to tell more people about it. It’s different. Not a lot of people do that, so not a lot of people expect it. So we’re trying to get the word out about it. It’s a cool reward too for the guy behind the counter, not just the business owner. It’s for the person who actually sells the product. We don’t want it to be used for inventory. It’s not a program where a shop buys 20 items and we’ll give them one more for inventory. It’s not that. It’s literally one for the counter guy to keep so that he’s hunting with the best and he’s hunting with the stuff he sells.” A Growing Market Gale stressed that the thermal optic market is a growing opportunity for dealers. “I think one thing that’s interesting is how the thermal market has created its own niche that’s adjacent to the rest of the gun industry,” he said. “There are a lot of online shops or even small brickand-mortar shops that are premium night vision and thermal dealers. I believe that more gun shops, security shops and hunting shops could benefit by having some thermal on hand. There are a lot of places that will sell the 22-250 ammo that coyote hunters are using, but they don’t sell thermal optics. I think a lot of that is just new gun culture versus old gun culture. I think most gun shops should have some thermal on hand. “We make stuff for a wide range of audiences. Stuff that is more on the tac-
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 19 tical and security side, stuff that’s just for coyote hunters. We came out with a new handheld. We just announced it recently, but we’ll be showing it at SHOT Show. It is definitely a more affordable product, kind of an everyman thermal, if you will. Most of our stuff runs a couple thousand dollars. This is a unit that retails for $700. It’s a lightweight, compact unit. People who aren’t thermal night hunters can get a lot of use out of this. We’ve sold it to ranchers who are looking to find a lost calf somewhere. We’ve sold it to search and rescue folks who are looking to find somebody in the snow or in the woods. It’s even good for just home security. The ability to look out in the dark and see that a person or an animal is standing in your yard without having to turn on a flashlight is pretty valuable. Where it’s legal, a lot of people like using these to scout ahead of time for deer season or to scan a field to make sure they’re not going to spook deer. It’s pretty helpful as a scouting tool as well. “We’ve typically just been a premium brand and this is our first lower-cost unit. But at a cost comparable to others, our image quality blows them away. Our image algorithm is called Reality+. It provides a lot of clarity and a more detailed image even in a lower-resolution sensor, which are typically the cheaper, more affordable, more compact units. So, we’ve basically found a way to optimize that lower-resolution image to look a lot better.” A Growing Company Since its inception, iRayUSA has seen tremendous growth. The company, which began with just three people, now has 30 employees working in a new facility in Lewisville, Texas. “It fits in well with the growth of this company,” Gale said. “Having our own facility is wonderful. It houses offices, conference rooms and a repair center. Obviously shipping, warehousing, ful-
20 | inside firearms | january 2024 filling, kitting and packaging all happen in this facility. It’s a clean, modern, state-of-the-art type of place.” iRay is run by Founder and CEO Tyler Adair, Director of Operations Angelo Brewer, Director of Sales Casey Cochran, and Gale, who is the director of marketing. And iRayUSA continues to innovate. “One thing I love about this company and this product line is that in an industry that is largely still fighting over who can build a better revolver or a better 1911—basically, who can build better 100-year-old technology—we’re actually on the cutting edge,” Gale said. “We’re coming out with stuff that is very new technology, and we’re optimizing it in ways that haven’t been done before. That’s one of the things that was most exciting to me with this type of product and this company. Everyone here very much thinks that way. It’s not about how many widgets we can make or how we can create a cheaper product. We’re always looking at what’s next and how we can push the industry forward. “The people who work here are shooters and hunters. It’s all privately owned. The ownership is passionate about this. It’s not some private equity group that is just trying to make a buck and get it from the outdoor industry.” When I asked Gale what we could expect from InfiRay and iRayUSA in the future, he told me that the industry will be seeing a lot of new and exciting things very soon. “We’re introducing several new models at SHOT Show, with several more models coming throughout the rest of the year,” he said. “We’re now innovating so fast that the life cycle of products is admittedly getting a little bit shorter, but that’s just because there’s so much cool stuff on the way. The trend we’ve established is multi-use devices. So something that could be a clip-on or a scope is popular. Higher-resolution
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 21 stuff is also popular. We’ve been known for having the highest-resolution thermal on the market. The RICO HD is still the only 1280 thermal scope you can buy commercially. It’s definitely not our most popular model because it’s a $16,000 premium scope, but it’s the Ferrari. Most people probably don’t want a Ferrari as their daily driver, but it’s how we show that we can push the limits forward. We’re going to continue to come out with newer items. Expect to see some higherresolution stuff this year.” As iRayUSA continues to innovate, their consumer base continues to expand. “Anybody who is remotely interested in night hunting, predator hunting or even just curious about seeing in the dark should absolutely look up our product line,” Gale said. “We’re growing and pushing it forward in really innovative ways. And it’s becoming more approachable, too. It used to be that $8,000 was the standard cost of a thermal scope. Then it went down to $5,000. We still have models at $5,000 and $8,000. But you can get into a darn good thermal at $2,500 now. And a lot of that is because of what we’re doing in the industry. “The big picture is we are growing in a big way, thermal is growing in a big way and we’re bringing a lot of new and exciting products to market,” he concluded. Of course, all of those exciting new products will feature iRay’s amazing image quality and be backed by iRay’s five-year warranty. And they will all ensure that your customers, like Gale, have the power to see in the dark in the palm of their hands.
22 | inside firearms | january 2024 market trends | rifle report B enelli is usually associated with state-of-the-art shotguns, but more recently entered the rifle arena with their first centerfire rifle—the Lupo. Lupo is Italian for wolf, an apt name for this sleek and deadly rifle. Benelli promises sub-MOA/three-shot accuracy with premium factory ammunition—and certainly lives up to that promise. Italians are known for their fashion sense and the Lupo definitely offers that, combining elegant lines and exceptional ergonomics with shooting comfort. To that end, the Lupo includes a hybrid synthetic/chassis stock that allows creating a customized fit for just about any shooter. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has shot a Benelli shotgun. The Lupo marches to the beat of a different drummer, bringing the rifle market a truly unique design. The barreled action is anchored in an interior aluminum chassis, which also secures the forearm and buttstock. The unique center-beveled, three-lug bolt provides a quick-cycling 60-degree bolt throw and dogleg design that is more compatible with today’s optics, especially those including larger ocular bells and milled throw levers that can cause interference. The bolt lugs are the same diameter as the bolt body, eliminating receiver raceways and potential binding during cycling. The bolt can be easily disassembled for cleaning without tools by pressing a rear button and twisting the bolt shroud and body apart. The lower lug sits at the 6-o’clock position and ensures positive cartridge engagement and continued contact when stripped from the detachable magazine and moved into the chamber. A bottom raceway also serves to funnel rounds into the chamber reliably. The bolt shroud holds a rear red tab to show when the bolt is cocked. The Lupo’s polymer double-stack magazine holds five rounds. It sits flush to the stock and is released with a tab found in front of the magazine. A partial divider allows the magazine to load in single-stack fashion, also allowing it to be top loaded with the magazine clicked into the rifle. Overall, the system is remarkably reliable. The Lupo is hugely adjustable for fit, providing 36 potential configurations. Three different length Phillips-head screw sets allow adding or subtracting various interlocking spacers to the butt to adjust length of pull between 13.8 and 14.75 inches. This also becomes part of the recoil reduction system (more on this later on). Cast and heel drop is also adjustable, but requires more effort to reach a nut deep inside the stock that allows removing the stock entirely, followed by some trial-anderror spacer tinkering to find a preferred feel. This changes trigger reach as well, while various Combtech Cheek pads help align the eye perfectly behind the scope and provide a tight cheek weld for optimal accuracy. Optional raised and extra-high cheek pads are available. The Lupo holds a top center-tang safety, with a red dot showing when the rifle is ready to fire. The bolt can be cycled for unloading with the safety engaged. The forearm side and grip areas include dimpled AirTouch checkered surfaces to provide a sure hold in wet weather or while wearing gloves. The integral buttstock Progressive Comfort recoil reduction system includes three interlocking, flexible buffers providing various degrees of elasticity and shock absorption—dampening recoil without pronounced rebound while also taming muzzle jump. Front and rear sling studs and the trigger guard are molded as part of the stock, and a second sling mount tap is located behind the molded-in attachment point to connect clamp-on-style bipods. The rifle weighs 7.1 pounds out of the box and measures 46.625 inches long. Benelli’s Crio barrel undergoes a techniBy Patrick Meitin The Lupo's butt system provides 36 potential configurations for length of pull, cast and heel drop fit. It also mitigates felt recoil. The Benelli Lupo includes a center-beveled, three-lug bolt that provides a 60-degree throw for quick cycling. The Lupo, Benelli's first center-fire rifle, includes an interior aluminum chassis fitted with a buttstock and forearm. The Benelli Lupo holds a flush-fitted, double-stack detachable 5-round magazine. A partial divider allows top loading while clicked into the rifle. Benelli Synthetic Lupo
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 23 Benelli Synthetic Lupo Specifications ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Manufacturer: Benelli ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Country of Origin: Italy ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Action: Bolt-Action, 60-degree lift ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Caliber Tested: 6mm Creedmoor (243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 270 Win., 7mm Rem Mag, 308 Win, 30-06 Springfield and 300 Win Mag also offered) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Barrel: Benelli Crio cryogenictreated, sporter weight, .68-inch at muzzle, threaded ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Barrel Length: 24 inches ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Barrel Twist Rate: 1:8 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Magazine Capacity: 5+1 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Safety: Top-center tang ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Trigger: User-Adjustable, 2.2-4.4 pounds ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Trigger Pull As Tested: 2.51 pounds ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Stock: Aluminum chassis with synthetic forearms and buttstock. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Weight: 7.1 pounds (out of box) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Overall Length: 46.625 inches ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sights: Two-piece, three-slot Picatinny ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– MSRP: $1,699 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For more information, call (800) 264-4962 or visit www.benelliusa.com cally-advanced cryogenic treatment process to relieve stress caused by hammer forging and create a smoother bore surface. The free-floated barrel is attached to a hardened steel barrel extension bedded into a steel block of the alloy receiver. The overall result is exceptional accuracy and a bore that remains cleaner longer. The 5/8x24 muzzle threads accept a muzzle brake or suppressor. The test rifle’s 6mm Creedmoor barrel was 24 inches long, measured .68-inch at the muzzle and included 1:8 rifling twist. With an adjustment range of 2.2 to 4.4 pounds (2.51 pounds as tested), the Lupo trigger broke cleanly without creep or overtravel. Benelli installed a two-slot Picatinny rail at each end of the ejection port, which makes optics instillation a snap. Customers can choose a Lupo in 243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, 308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Winchester Magnum, or the 6mm Creedmoor tested here. All come with Benelli’s sub-MOA guarantee. To test this, I chose four top-shelf factory loads and four reloads proven in my own 6mm Creedmoor. All of the factory loads made the sub-MOA cut, with the best groups resulting from Berger’s 95-grain Classic Hunter (loaded with small rifle primer Lapua brass)—assembling a sub0.5-inch group at 2,827 fps—and Berger’s 105-grain Hybrid Target, which produced a 0.69-inch group at 2,723 fps. All of the reloads made the grade by a safe margin, though there were not any conspicuous stand-outs. The thin barrel of the Lupo heated quickly, but cooled just as quickly in the cold, wet winter weather endured during testing. I could no doubt have shot tighter groups in warmer weather while not wearing heavy gloves and cursing the biting wind and sifting snow. The serious hunter couldn’t ask for a more functional and reliable rifle than the Synthetic Lupo. The Lupo’s highly adjustable chassis makes it accessible to the smallest youth and petite woman shooter or largest man, and it can even accommodate changes in attire between warm to chilly hunting seasons. The Lupo offers superb ergonomics, whether shooting off hand while still-hunting thick woods, off a bipod, or from atop a folded jacket on the prairie or in the alpine. It fits all the compact and lightweight criteria of the consummate mountain rifle, including the pin-point accuracy needed to shoot across gapping canyons or open prairies, while also providing a rugged makeup perfect for nasty weather or harsh treatment. left: Berger's 95-grain Classic Hunter factory ammo produced a 3-shot/100-yard group measuring .49-inch center to center. right: All reloads printed into less than an inch, as promised by Benelli. Berger's 108-grain Elite Hunter and 45 grains of Vihtavuori N565 powder performed best. Benelli Synthetic Lupo - 6mm Creedmoor Factory Loads ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Measured Extreme 3-shot Load MSRP velocity spread 100-yd. group (grains) (fps) (fps) (inches) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 95 Berger Classic Hunter $47.99 2,827 63 .49 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 100 Sig Sauer Elite Hunter Tipped $38.99 2,941 59 .83 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 105 Berger Hybrid Target $47.99 2,723 39 .69 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 107 Sig Sauer OTM Match Grade $34.99 2,905 49 .92 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Benelli Synthetic Lupo - 6mm Creedmoor Handloads ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Overall 3-shot Bullet Powder Charge length Velocity 100-yd. group (grains) (grains) (inches) (fps) (inches) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 88 Hammer Bullets Hunter IMR-4451 43.5 2.685 3,083 .99 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 90 Hornady CX StaBALL 6.5 43.5 2.69 3,078 .95 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 103 Hornady ELD-X RL-26 47.5 2.73 3,230 .87 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 108 Berger Elite Hunter VV-N565 45.0 2.755 2,798 .82 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– NOTES: Optic: Swarovski Z8i 2-16x 50mm P. Brass: Lapua. Primer: Federal Ammunition No. 210 Large Rifle. Dies: Hornady Custom Grade. Press: Area 419 ZERO Reloading Press. Other: RCBC Universal Hand Priming Tool. All velocities established with a LabRadar Doppler unit. Reloading is potentially dangerous—use due caution. Publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in published load data. Reduce listed loads by 10 percent and work up while watching for excessive pressure signs, as not all firearms chambers are alike.
24 | inside firearms | january 2024 market trends | gear report Timber Creek Outdoors Enforcer Ruger 10/22 Rifle Chassis S turm, Ruger & Company’s semi-automatic 10/22 has been around since 1964, accounting for more than 6 million sales since its introduction. It’s arguably the most popular 22 LR firearm of all time, based largely on its affordable price, incredible reliability, and foolproof 10-round rotary magazine. The basic Ruger 10/22 has enjoyed newfound popularity in the past decade for another reason entirely—its decidedly modular design. Like the booming industry that has grown around the AR-15, a plethora of aftermarket parts has emerged to serve the custom 10/22 market. Large among these is a long list of aftermarket 10/22 stocks, including laminated wood, molded synthetic, and now milled-aluminum chassis. A new 2024 addition to that list is the outwardly tactical and indisputably sexy Enforcer 10/22 Chassis from Timber Creek Outdoors. Like other milledaluminum products from the Springfield, Oregon, company, the Enforcer Chassis is lightweight and aesthetically pleasing. The Enforcer is a chassis that allows a rifle builder to add their preferred AR parts, as it requires an AR buffer tube and buttstock, and AR pistol grip to create a finished rifle. That is half the fun of a custom 10/22 build. For instance, for this project I started with a $150 pawn-shop 10/22, adding an 18.5-inch Adaptive Tactical TacHammer tension barrel holding a Little Crow Gunworks Boom Tube, Timney Trigger group, and Precision Hardcore Gear Tru Level Pic Rail. To the OD Green Enforcer Chassis I added a U.S.-made buffer tube, green UTG Mil-Spec buttstock and generic green pistol grip. A section of Picatinny rail was added to the lower-front M-LOK slots to accept a quick-release bipod, and a Bushnell Rimfire Optic 3-12x40mm scope was mounted. As equipped (optic and bipod in place), the completed rifle came in at less than 8 pounds. The Enforcer’s heavily skeletonized design would allow building a much lighter rifle, given a carbon barrel and more compact optic, and removing the tripod. The Enforcer Chassis is milled from aircraft-grade aluminum, creating an ergonomic product with clean lines. The 10/22 barreled action popped into the chassis tightly, inserting the rear of the action and tipping the receiver into place before snugging the provided hexhead bolt. A separate aluminum block is bolted into place to accept the pistol grip. Total assembly time was less than 10 minutes. The design includes an integrated barrier stop at the rear of the tapered forearm. This tapered forearm lowers the center of gravity over a bipod for steadier shooting. Bottom and side M-LOK slots allow adding accessories such as weapons lights, lasers, and Pic rails. The flush magazine well allows using any type of 10/22 magazine, including my preferred 30-round TriMag approach. To further customize a 10/22 build, the Enforcer comes in Timber Creek’s wide array of colors, including black, blue, burnt orange, flat dark earth, OD green, purple anodized, red, robin’s egg blue, tungsten and orange anodized. Check out this and other Timber Creek products at timbercreekoutdoorsinc.com. By Patrick Meitin
inside the industry | company profile 26 | inside firearms | january 2024 CamoSpace App I n addition to operating CamoSpace, the company farms about 5,000 acres of corn, wheat and soybeans, a setting that has generated an intense passion for hunting the area’s white-tailed and sika deer and waterfowl for all involved in this new endeavor. The idea to create CamoSpace was hatched by owner and founder Denny Reid after he noticed a troubling trend on social media. His inspiration started with the realization that so much of the outdoor lifestyle that we all hold so dear was being shadow banned or removed from traditional social media outlets. Reid had heard from numerous friends who told him they had posted an entirely tasteful picture of, say, their kid posing with their first deer and were receiving 30- day suspensions on the premise of introducing “unsuitable content.” Reid talked to more people in the industry and many were relating similar experiences—they were unable to post images or video of their successful hunts without having their posts taken down or feeling they were being shadow banned when no one could access their feed. Reid decided it was time to rectify that situation and the idea for CamoSpace was born. CamoSpace was created specifically so people who love the outdoors could post content depicting the lifestyle we all cherish without being banned. CamoSpace is currently working with some of the most recognized celebrities in the hunting world, people who learned what the app was all about and who fully support the company’s mission. Outdoor personalities like Michael Waddell of the Bone Collector gang, Chad Belding from “The Fowl Life,” and Phillip Culpepper from “Hunt Club” are already on board. CamoSpace searched the U.S. to find an app and website developer that understood the outdoor lifestyle and who was qualified to build a quality app and expertly manage the traffic as the company grew. CamoSpace ultimately hired a Fort Myers, Florida, firm and they have been instrumental in helping the CamoSpace vision become reality. This Based on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in Dorchester County, CamoSpace shares office space with Reid Farms, Inc. This is where the idea for CamoSpace was spawned. firm handles the app and website and are constantly introducing upgrades to enhance features and performance. CamoSpace’s main mission is to celebrate the hunt, the catch, and the overall outdoor lifestyle. Users are free to post pictures and create their own profiles without the fear of becoming banned or having their pictures being taken down. CamoSpace’s initial challenge involved effectively spreading the word that they are out there to provide an alternative social media platform for hunters, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts. Part of that struggle is due to the very nature of social media. CamoSpace has been consistently shadow banned by the progressive powers that almost universally control such outlets. As an example, CamoSpace works with Michael Waddell. The Bone Collector heavyweight has more than one million followers, but after posting several videos dis-
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 27 cussing CamoSpace, the major social media sites were reluctant to show them on anyone’s feed. Waddell’s posts usually receive only about 10,000 views out of Waddell’s enormous following, Social media logarithms will only show you what they want you to see. For instance, if you happen to look at rain gutters on a market place forum, for the next few days your feed will fill with listings for rain gutters. CamoSpace allows users to choose a public or private feed. Using the public feed allows all app users to see all of your posts and vice versa. By choosing the private feed only people you choose to follow will see your posts. The drive at CamoSpace goes back to the freedom to create posts of your successful outdoor pursuits without fear of being banned or your pictures being taken down. This makes the app user’s social media experience much more enjoyable, because you can post with complete freedom and not worry about censorship. Reid believes all Americans, and especially independence-loving outdoors people, can relate to the love of freedom and expressing themselves without the fear of censorship. Despite these obstacles CamoSpace has enjoyed remarkable grow. For instance, CamoSpace is working on a feature that will allow users a marketplace option for buying and selling goods. Imagine the thrill of peering into a hunter’s or fisherman’s garage and the ability to buy that person’s used outdoor equipment! CamoSpace will continue to grow only by the continued support of the entire outdoor community. Join CamoSpace’s growing community today and tell your friends about them. We will all become stronger by banding together as a loud group in strong support of deep hunting and outdoor traditions that until now mainstream social media outlets have not been entirely friendly to. Visit camospace.com to get involved.
28 | inside firearms | january 2024 market trends | pistol profile G irsan Firearms is a highly-respected Turkish brand imported by the European American Armory Corporation, or EAA. Cocoa, Florida, based EAA Corp has made its mark on the industry as a leading American importer of European firearms offering top quality combined with affordable price points. Girsan Firearms is a modern manufacturer that has been crafting high-quality guns since 1994, including a wide selection of original designs and models inspired by the popular Mosses Browning 1911 design, in addition to Browning High Power and Beretta. For 2024 EAA Corp and Girsan Firearms are excited to announce the arrival of the highly-anticipated EAA/Girsan Witness2311® Series pistols, including the 5-inch Government model chambered in the staple 9mm Luger/Parebellum cartridge. The Witness2311® Government 9mm includes a 5-inch barrel to enhance accuracy and shooter control during live fire. The feature-rich Witness2311® stands out as the company’s innovative double-stack magazine 1911, which provides a 17+1 round capacity in contrast to traditional 7+1 or 8+1 1911 capabilities. The pistol comes with reliable steel magazines and includes a flared mag well for faster, more efficient magazine exchanges. The Witness2311® is equipped with an ambidextrous safety, accessory rail, deep forward and rear slide serrations, combined into an affordable sub-$1,000 package. Ambidextrous controls are an obvious selling point, making this pistol compatible with a wider cross-section of customers. The integrated three-slot accessory rail serves the newest trend of adding Picatinny-rail adaptable lasers and weapons lights welcomed in homeinvasion scenarios or nighttime hunting activities such as wild hog hunting. Those aggressive slide serrations also make it easier to manipulate under pressure, or for users with a weaker grip. The trigger is skeletonized and vertically knurled. The Witness2311® includes a classic 1911 grip safety with knurling for added safety while packing the pistol locked and loaded. The Witness2311® arrives optics-ready, allowing the seamless integration of RMS- or RMSc-style footprint dot sights that are also a recent trend within the pistol-shooting community. As delivered, the Witness2311® holds white-dot front and rear irons that provide seamless intuitive aiming. A beaver-tail grip extension and ergonomic, aggressivelycheckered synthetic grips enhances the shooter’s control while shooting. As a further incentive to get in early, EAA is offering a free optic with the sale of the first 3,000 Witness2311® optic-ready pistols. These quality EAA Far-Dot™ Solar dot optics are compatible with any opticBy Patrick Meitin EAA/Girsan 5-Inch Government Model Witness2311®
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 29 ready EAA model, with the exception of the 6-inch 10mm Auto. EAA’s Far-Dot™ Solar includes two integral rear dot fibers that give shooters cotangent sights, while also providing one of the smallest red dot footprints on the market today. They include a 4-MOA dot with adjustable illumination intensity for clear target acquisition in any lighting condition. As a quick aside, EAA has recently begun transitioning from their traditional battery powered Far-Dot™ to their newer Solar Far-Dot™. Once the 3,000 initial pistols are exhausted, subsequent sales of this pistol will be supplied without optics, though those optics will be available for sale at the EAA on-line store (store.eaacorp.com). The 5-inch Witness2311® 9mm is but one of seven pistols in this new series, with other barrel lengths and chamberings being offered, and with more models promised for the coming year. Additional options include the 4.25-inch Commander Optic Ready 9mm, 4.25- inch Commander Optic Ready 10mm Auto, 5-inch Government Optic Ready 10mm Auto, 6-inch Hunter Supersight 10mm Auto, 4.25-inch Commander Optic Ready 45 ACP and 5-inch Government Optic Ready 45 ACP. EAA is determined to earn dealer and customer loyalty, one gun at a time. The Witness2311® series provides a state-ofthe-art semi-automatic design with an ideal balance of dependable performance and affordability sure to be a hit with budget-conscious customers seeking a EAA Corp./Girsan 5-Inch Government Model Witness2311® Specifications ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Manufacturer: Girsan ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Country of Origin: Turkey ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Action: Double/Single Action, Blow-Back Semiautomatic ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Caliber: 9mm Luger (reviewed), 10mm Auto and 45 ACP ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Barrel: Stainless Steel ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Barrel Length: 5 inches –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Magazine Capacity: 17 +1 Double Stack, Steel –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Frame: Steel with three-slot Picatinny Rail –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Slide: Hammer Forged Steel ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Finish: Black/Blue ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Safety: Ambidextrous Thumb-Activated, Firing-Pin Block Design ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sights: Low profile, white dots front and rear, slotted for RMS- or RMSc-style dot optic ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Overall Length: 8.75 inches ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Weight: 1.65 pounds ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– MSRP: $999 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– NOTE: First 3,000 sold include free EAA Far-Dot™ Solar dot optics (excluding 10mm Auto) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For more information, visit eaacorp.com fool-proof pistol for self-preservation, competition shooting or hunting purposes. For more information on this pistol visit EAACorp.com/Witness2311®, while the company’s wide selection of firearms can be viewed by going to eaacorp.com.
30 | inside firearms | january 2024 market trends | gear report Fastarmed Auto-Eject Biometric Gun Case W ith crime on the rise in many major cities, people have become increasingly concerned about their personal safety, generating record numbers of first-time firearm purchases (evidenced by recent federal NICS checks conducted during every firearms sale). Handguns comprised the majority of these, as they present the most logical option for everyday carry. Unfortunately, many handguns are left in unsecured locations where children can access them, opening the possibility of accidental deaths. To prevent such tragedies, responsible gun owners purchase storage devices that keep guns out of the wrong hands while also leaving them accessible during emergencies. One of the most clever and effective products to emerge in this category is the new Fastarmed Auto-Eject Biometric Gun Case. Inventor/developer Carl Cosico conceived of the idea when the COVID pandemic left him temporarily unable to operate his Las Vegas fabricating company. There are a lot of foolproof gun-lock and -storage options designed to keep firearms out of the hands of children and would-be thieves on the market today, but there has never been anything like the Fastarmed. This highly-unique gun case is lightweight (7.4 pounds), compact (20-by10-by-3 inches) and designed especially for the home, office or vehicle. The Fastarmed includes a biometric fingerprint scanner and spring-loaded ejection system that provides immediate access to most handguns, while securing them against curious children or unauthorized users. The biometric fingerprint scanner is programable for up to 100 users, for use in businesses or households with several sanctioned operators. Individual fingerprint access can be added or subtracted easily, allowing access only by people authorized to use that handgun. Hold a finger on the biometric pad one second and the contained handgun instantly ejects right into the hand. Power is supplied by a plug-in 110w or vehicle cigarette-lighter cord, and should power fail during an outage or while traveling, an internal backup battery keeps the unit in service for up to 30 hours. A backup key lock is included in the event power is completely exhausted. The Fastarmed unit includes high-impact polymer and steel construction and was designed to function in extreme temperatures and pressure. To insert a handgun, the barrel is plugged over an Oring-protected aluminum pin (available for 9mm/.380/.38-/.357-cal, 10mm/.40- cal and .45-caliber handguns), pushed to compress the adjustable internal spring and engage the locking mechanism, and the external door is closed. It can be adjusted to operate in a standup position, ejecting vertically while sitting on the floor or vehicle console, or at a lower angle to eject at a 45-degree angle when placed on a desk, nightstand, or counter. Fastarmed is compatible with any selfdefense handgun measuring up to 5 inches long. It may not be compatible with magnum revolvers with bulky cylinders or grips, and won’t accept handguns with a barrel/slide longer than 5 inches. Fastarmed is a safe and economical way to store loaded handguns, while keeping them out of the hands of unauthorized users. To learn more visit fastarmed.com. By Patrick Meitin
32 | inside firearms | january 2024 2024 Firearms Sneak Peek BY GARY LEWIS
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 33 From light, camo-stocked mountain rifles to “black rifle” lever actions, the latest shotguns, high-polish handguns and a muzzleloader, here’s a quick look at some select firearms for the New Year. The fourth week of January is when the industry gathers in Las Vegas to see, feel and handle new products produced by gun and ammunition manufacturers from around the world. Lips were tight in December, but we put our ears to the boardroom doors and sniffed around enough to get an idea of what is coming. Word has been trickling out slowly about the latest rifles, shotguns and handguns that we can expect to see on the SHOT Show floor. But it is difficult to see everything in Vegas. And you no doubt want to know what is going to matter to your customers in the coming sales year. This year we did the homework for you. From Apache Junction, Arizona, to Alexandria, Alabama, from Portland, Oregon, to Portland, Maine, here are the guns we think your customers are going to want to ogle, hold, fondle—and ultimately buy. The following pages offer an up-tothe-minute look at the newest firearms your customers are going to ask for in 2024.
34 | inside firearms | january 2024 Rifle Roundup Bergara USA ● Bergara’s Competition Rifle, as the name suggests, is competition-ready right out of the box with the addition of your customer’s choice of optic. For 2024, the Competition Rifle will be chambered in the 6mm GT, completing a trio of offerings that include 6mm and 6.5 Creedmoor. The 6mm GT was trotted out to compete with the 6 Dasher, solving feeding issues and providing slightly higher velocities. The promise of the 6 GT is efficiency, mild recoil with the ability to easily track trace and impact, and get back on target quicker. This rifle is barreled with a stainless steel No. 7 taper polished in clear Cerakote and stocked in an MPA BA chassis with a vertical grip and thumb shelf. The trigger is a TriggerTech SPECIAL. The Arca Swiss rail has a camera tripod tap and the Swiss rail allows sliding the rifle forward and back. You can also use a Picatinny bipod for ease in mounting and adjusting. MSRP is $2,750. Go to bergarausa.com to learn more. CVA ● The Cascade XT 7mm PRC from CVA is the company’s newest entry into centerfire rifles. When we think CVA, we usually think muzzleloaders, but that has changed. When parent company BPI Outdoors began producing Bergara rifles, CVA built into the centerfire market with the CVA Cascade XT. New for 2024, the CVA Cascade XT will be chambered in the newly-popular 7mm PRC. Weighing in at 7.15 pounds, the rifle comes with a 24-inch, No. 5 taper fluted barrel with 1:8 twist and finished in graphite black Cerakote and RealTree Hillside camo. The rifle ships with a muzzle brake, which can be removed to 2024 Firearms Sneak Peek Marlin Model 336 Dark Series 30-30 Winchester Henry X 360 Buckhammer 51Fifty Evolve-15 APEX CZ-USA CZ 600 American CVA Cascade XT 7mm PRC Bergara Competition 6mm GT Continued on Page 36
36 | inside firearms | january 2024 reveal 5/8x24 threads. MSRP is $825.99. Go to bpioutdoors.com to learn more. CZ-USA ● An American-style, controlled feed bolt-action with Turkish walnut wood and fleur-de-lis grip checkering, the new CZ 600 American will look right at home in the deer and elk woods and feel just right to your customer as they swing it to their cheek. Features include a cold hammer-forged barrel, single-stage, user-adjustable trigger, noiseless vertical safety, controlled feed, guaranteed sub-MOA accuracy and common Remington Model 700-pattern scope-mount interface. It is available in calibers from 223 Remington all the way up to 300 Winchester Magnum. MSRP is $849, or $1,499 with higher-grade walnut. Go to cz-usa.com to learn more. 51Fifty ● 51Fifty got its start by creating themed and one-off “crazy” rifles with a standing policy that no theme would ever be repeated. The Evolve-15 APEX is one of the company’s production rifles, loaded with cutting-edge components and ready for ranch defense, predator hunting or the whitetail fields. Take a look at their list of calibers, including 223 Wylde, 300 BLK, 7.62x39mm, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC II, 350 Legend and 6mm ARC. Then choose a barrel length from 16-, 18- or 20-inch options. 51Fifty also offers eight color options ranging from basic black to Bad Ass Berry. These rifles are made in America and prices start at $1,776. Go to 51fiftyrifles.com to learn more. Henry Repeating Arms ● Henry’s new lever action X 360 Buckhammer represents a partnership between Henry and Remington, who teamed up to create this straight-up answer to the requirement for straight walled cartridges for the deer and bear 2024 Firearms Sneak Peek Volquartsen Summit 22 WMR Savage 110 KLYM Ruger American Rifle Generation II Ranch Rossi Poly Tuffy Survival Rifle Red Arrow Weapons 350 Legend Mossberg Patriot Walnut 400 Legend Continued from Page 34
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 37 woods of many Eastern states. While this gun was a mid-year 2023 release from Henry, a lot of the shooting public has yet to see one on the rack. The 360 Buckhammer enters a competitive field that includes the 44 Rem Mag, 357 Mag, 454 Casull, 45-70 Government and many more, but it is the 350 and 400 Legend that the 360 Buckhammer is most likely to compete with. The 360 Buckhammer is optimized for extended range, high energy delivery and flat trajectory. This Henry wears a black synthetic stock with M-Lok and Picatinny-equipped forearm, 5/8x24 muzzle threads and bright fiber optic sights. MSRP is $1,091. Go to henryusa.com to learn more. Marlin Firearms ● Marlin’s Model 336 Dark Series 30-30 Winchester includes a modern look wrapped around a classic rifle design. At the heart of this latest offering in the Dark Series line is the tried-and-true 336 action made for America’s favorite deer caliber, the 30-30 Winchester. A nylon-reinforced polymer stock comes with M-Lok attachment slots for accessory mounting, ample recoil pad and a cheek riser. An anodized aluminum handguard is also slotted for attachments. The barrel is threaded and holds a thread protector, which is easily removed to accommodate barrel accessories such as muzzle brakes and suppressors. Sights include a fiber optic front bead and tritium rear ring. A top Picatinny rail provides generous mounting latitude for any optic. MSRP is still being determined. Go to marlinfirearms.com to learn more. Mossberg ● The Patriot Walnut in 400 Legend is the newest offering from Mossberg for 2024. A lot of people like a detachable box magazine and that will catch many customers’ eyes. Chambered for the 400 Legend, this latest offering from Mossberg holds a 20-inch barrel, which is threaded for a suppressor or compensator. The bolt is spiral-fluted and the bolt handle is generously knurled. Weighing in at 6.5 pounds and including an overall length of 40.25 inches, this is a good choice for whitetail, black bear or feral hogs hunted in woodland settings. The Patriot Walnut includes an affordable MSRP of just $599. Go to mossberg.com to learn more. Red Arrow Weapons (RAW) ● Straight out of Fork Union, Virginia, and known for producing top-quality, hunt-ready AR rifles, RAW introduces a model chambered for the straight-walled 350 Legend and purpose-built for the whitetail woods. Finished in black, multi-cam, flat dark earth or midnight bronze, this AR-15 comes with a 16-inch, 1:8 right-hand
38 | inside firearms | january 2024 folds for easy transport or compact packing. Barrel length is 16 inches, with an overall length of 30.9 inches. Unloaded, this gun weighs 51.2 ounces, and it includes an MSRP of just $356.99. Go to rossiusa.com to learn more. Ruger Firearms ● Ruger’s hugely popular and highly affordable American rifle series has long been a favorite of blue collar American hunters and shooters. The American Rifle Generation II is the next generation of Ruger’s popular rifle line, and available in two fits and finishes, with the standard rifle in a splatter-finished grey stock and seven popular hunting calibers. New for 2024 chamberings include the 350 Legend, 400 Legend, 22 ARC, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel and 6.5 Creedmoor. The Ranch series includes a shorter 16.1-inch barrel with a removeable factory muzzle brake on a threaded mount. This rifle ships with a flat dark earth stock with black splatter texture. Initial offerings include 5.56 NATO, 300 Blackout, 450 Bushmaster and 7.62x39mm Soviet. Additional calibers are slated to launch later in the year. MSRP is only $729. Go to ruger.com to learn more. Savage Arms ● Savage and PROOF Research teamed up to bring you the new 110 KLYM, creating an innovative and ultra-accurate platform suitable for serious hunting or target shooting. The new barrel is carbon-fiber-wrapped stainless steel and holds 5/8x24 muzzle threads. The custom carbon fiber stock from FBT includes push-button adjustments for comb height, and an Omniport muzzle brake comes standard. The AccuTrigger is adjustable from 1.5 to 4 pounds, and the receiver and diamond fluted bolt are finished in Blackout Cerakote. Other features include a box magazine and a factory-installed 2024 Firearms Sneak Peek twist barrel holding a compensator on 5/8x24 threads. Equipped with a Magpul buttstock and RAW handguard, it hits the scales at less than 7 pounds. The trigger is a CMC 2.5-pound unit. MSRP is $1,407. Go to redarrowweapons.com to learn more. Rossi ● Rossi’s Poly Tuffy Survival Rifle 45/410 is chambered for 3-inch .410 shotgun loads or 45 Colt pistol ammo. Rossi’s new survival rifle can handle any job from pest control to putting down a wild boar or something even larger. Engineered for portability, accuracy and reliability under the harshest conditions, this gun doesn’t pretend to be something other than a no-nonsense truck or cabin gun. Fitted with a front sight, rear sight groove and Picatinny rail, it can be equipped with an optic or used as is. User-friendly features include rubber grips at all touch points, cross-bolt safety and convenient ammo storage on the stock. The polymer framed and stocked break-action gun Weatherby 18i Limited Mossberg International Silver Reserve Eventide Turkey Savage Stevens 555 Sporting Unbranded AR Forged Series AR-15
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 39 20-MOA Picatinny rail. Available chamberings will include the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, 308 Win, 300 WSM and 300 Winchester Magnum. This Savage weighs 5.9 pounds and includes an MSRP of $2,699. Go to savagearms.com to learn more. Volquartsen Firearms ● The Summit Rifles chambered in 22 WMR and 17 HMR are the newest offerings from the rimfire experts at Volquartsen, and will launch in 2024. The two new 22 WMR and 17 HMR semi-auto rifles are available in stainless steel and lightweight aluminum with various barrel and stock options. Features include a TG2000 trigger providing a crisp 2.25-pound pull, Rapid Release magazine catch, threaded muzzle for easy suppressor attachment, 9-round magazine and integral 0-MOA Picatinny rail. The 17 HMR ships with a 1:9 twist, while the 22 WMR sports a 1:14 twist rate. MSRP varies by options chosen. Go to vfguns.com to learn more. Unbranded AR ● While not new for 2024, the Forged series from Unbranded AR is worth a thorough look. It is an entry-level AR-15 that is straight forward, versatile, affordable and easy to modify and/or accessorize. Features include a Mil-Spec stock, 16-inch barrel with 1:8 twist rate, nitride-treated barrel chambered for 223 Wylde, Mil-Spec M16 5.56 bolt carrier group, 12-inch MLOK handguard, Mil-Spec charging handle and A2 flash hider. It is 100 percent made in the USA and available with or without US Optics TSR-1 red dot sight and in various Cerakote color options. MSRP is an affordable $729. Go to unbrandedar.com to learn more. Select Shotguns Savage Arms ● For sporting clays and trap aficionados, Savage offers a new over/under shotgun model from Ste-
40 | inside firearms | january 2024 vens. The 555 Sporting is built around a lightweight aluminum alloy receiver scaled to gauge, which incorporates a steel insert to reinforce the breech and minimize weight while maximizing strength. Chambered for 12 gauge (3- inch), the chrome-lined barrels are 30 inches long and ported to reduce muzzle rise and felt recoil. The shotgun is delivered with five extended chokes. Other features include a raised ventilated rib, mid-point and front fiber optic beads, adjustable cheek riser, tang safety and single mechanical trigger. The wood is Turkish walnut and length of pull is a longish 14.5 inches. This model provides blue collar shooters a handsome and functional shotgun with an MSRP of just $989. Go to savagearms.com to learn more. Mossberg ● The International Silver Reserve Turkey O/U 12 Gauge from Mossberg includes a turkey-hunting favorite Mossy Oak finish in a sporty over/under design. Mossberg is importing three Silver Reserve Eventide Turkey over/under models, in 12 gauge with 3.5-inch chambers, and 20 gauge and 28 gauge with 3-inch chambers—all with 20-inch barrels and full Mossy Oak Greenleaf camouflage finish. The stocks are synthetic and the barrel vent rib is topped with a front fiber optic bead. Other features include dual-locking lugs, chromelined barrels for corrosion resistance, basic extractors, extended choke tube and tang-mounted safety/barrel selector. MSRP is an affordable $927. Go to mossberg.com to learn more. Weatherby ● A high-end Weatherby shotgun, the 18i Limited includes a hand-polished receiver custom engraving by Bottega Incisioni di Cesare Giovanelli. The engraving features 24-karat gold inlays and accents. The wood is exhibition grade walnut, the receiver is hand polished brushed nickel, the internals are Weatherby’s proven 2024 Firearms Sneak Peek Inertia Recoil System and the barrels and top rib are finished to a high gloss. These fine shotguns are available in 12 and 20 gauge, with an MSRP of $3,082. Go to weatherby.com to learn more. Handy Handguns Beretta USA ● The 92XI Squalo is new from Beretta for 2024. Squalo means shark in Italian, the inspiration for this new race gun from Beretta. Built on the 92X series, the Squalo features the X-treme S single-action, flat-faced trigger and performance coated components and skeletonized hammer. The Toni system flared mag well allows for faster, fumble-free magazine exchanges and the textured grip was designed by Hogue. The front sight holds a fiber optic bead and the frame is slotted for an optics mount. The mag release is adjustable. The Squalo ships with three Mec-Gar 18+4 magazines. MSRP is $1,299. Go to beretta.com to learn more. EAA Corp / Girsan ● Customers are sure to notice these feature-packed 1911 pistols in your display case. Sporting Sugar Skull, Santa Muerte or a Mexican coatof-arms engraving on the grips, mirrorpolished slides and gold controls and parts, it is difficult to take your eyes off these Girsan-made, EAA-imported pistols. The Girsan Regard MC Liberador comes with an accessory rail, adjustable sights, ambidextrous slide safety and de-cocker, engraved grips and 18-round 9mm Luger magazine. The MC 1911 Liberador is a standard government model in 45 ACP or 9mm Luger, a Commander model offered in 10mm Auto. All variants feature a bottom Picatinny accessory rail, ambidextrous safety, extended beavertail, deep slide serrations, three-hole trigger, flared mag well and low profile sights. A bilingual English/ EAA / Girsan MC1991 S Untouchable 45 ACP EAA / Girsan MC9 Disruptor 9mm Luger EAA / Girsan MC1911 S Liberador 9mm Luger Beretta 92XI Squalo Continued on Page 42
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 41
42 | inside firearms | january 2024 Spanish manual and hangtag comes with each model. MSRP starts at $699. The MC9 Disruptor is a 9mm Lugerchambered, striker-fired pistol with a 17+1 capacity, accessory rail, enhanced trigger, low-profile sights, interchangeable grip sizes, threaded barrel and optics-ready slide. Everything about this pistol is disruptive and it comes with a compelling price. Barrel length is 4.6 inches and overall length is 7.9 inches. The 9mm Luger Disruptor is available in green camo or black camo Cerakote, and includes a starting price of just $394. The all-new MC1911 Untouchable pistol comes in the buyer’s choice of Officer Model (SC), Commander (C) and Government (S) models. Choose from 9mm Luger, 45 ACP or 10mm Auto. Features include single-action, ambidextrous safety, extended beavertail and polymer G10-style grips, machined steel frame, slide and barrel and a choice of black, two tone or OD green camo finishes. Retail pricing starts at $410. Go to eaacorp.com to learn more. Ruger Firearms ● When you think of Ruger’s Super Redhawk, you likely envision a big bore hunting revolver. Think again. This year Ruger has chambered the famous extended-frame stainless steel revolver in the pleasant-shooting 22 Hornet. Here is an easy-packing and fun revolver designed for the coyote hunter or rockchucker! Ruger’s newest hunting handgun ships with a 9-1/2- inch barrel, rubber Hogue Tamer Monogrip, HiViz front sight, adjustable rear sight and an overall length of 15 inches. The unloaded weight is just north of 4 pounds. Shooters can expect muzzle velocities of 2,600 fps and better from this 2024 Firearms Sneak Peek revolver. The MSRP on this one is $1,499. Go to ruger.com to learn more. Radian Weapons ● One of the most popular everyday-carry guns on the market today is the Sig Sauer P365 XMACRO. New for 2024 from Radian Weapons in Redmond, Oregon, comes a major upgrade in ergonomics, providing a more secure grip and faster reloads. The P365 XMACRO Magwell+Backstrap features aggressive backstrap channels to maximize surface contact, plus a palm swell to allow for a more repeatable interface in the hand. The front of the mag well aids in keeping fingers positioned high on the grip. Flared feed walls ensure reliable magazine exchanges in high-stress self-defense scenarios. The Backstrap+Magwell is installed using a patent pending screwless design. MSRP is $149.95. Go to radianweapons.com to learn more. Continued from Page 40
Volquartsen Firearms ● Precision rimfires—that is what immediately comes to mind when serious shooters hear the Volquartsen name. New from Volquartsen for the New Year is the Mini Scorpion 22 Long Rifle, which comes with a 3-inch, 1/2x28 threaded barrel allowing the user to customize the length and weight of the gun with the addition of a suppressor. Features include an accurizing kit that creates a 2.25-pound trigger, a competition bolt, VF target frame with a 1911 grip angle holding Hogue grips. MSRP is $1,482. Go to vfguns.com to learn more. Marvelous Muzzleloaders CVA ● The Accura MR-X 45 Caliber Sniper Gray muzzleloader from CVA is a mountain rifle that is light in the hand and easy to maneuver in tight quarters. Yet it shoots with the accuracy of a much heavier gun, thanks to its 26-inch Bergara barrel. Finished in sniper gray Realtree Cerakote, the rifle provides a break-action design with a synthetic stock that weighs in at just a little more than 7 pounds without a scope. Comb adjustment is inset into the stock to suit both rightand left-hand shooters. The barrel is rifled with a 1:22 twist and the muzzle is threaded for a brake. Note that there is no ramrod under this barrel. Instead, this rifle ships with a take-down carbon fiber rod. Other extras include a Quake Claw sling, Picatinny optics rail and accessory kit. It retails for $699. Go to cvafirearmsusa.com to learn more. Gary’s latest book is Bob Nosler Born Ballistic. For a signed copy, send $30 to Gary Lewis Outdoors, PO Box 1364, Bend, OR 97709. Contact Lewis at www.garylewisoutdoors.com. CVA Accura MR-X 45 Caliber Sniper Gray Volquartsen Mini Scorpion 22 Long Rifle Radian P365 XMACRO Magwell+Backstrap Ruger Super Redhawk 22 Hornet The best target retention for better target shooting Booth # 43853 Venetian Level 1 Adheres paper and vinyl targets to cardboard, plastic, haybales, foam blocks, poly-wrapped bags and more! Durable, reusable, holds on impact Perfect for firearm, air-gun, archery targets More package options! More colors! More value! • 833-822-5748 • targettackllc.com Family Owned and Operated
44 | inside firearms | january 2024 inside the industry | leading ammunition manufacturer Black Hills Ammunition C o-owner Jeff Hoffman was once a police officer in Rapid City—one of the three jobs he held at the time. Jeff’s wife and business partner Kristi Hoffman also worked full time. Money was tight, as Jeff started on the RCPD in 1979 at $4.67 per hour. Jeff recalls their weekly food budget was just $20, which they spent at a warehouse outlet where customers would mark prices on their own canned goods, and pack their own groceries. A family friend and the rangemaster for the police department had started a small business loading ammunition for local agencies and businesses. He was seeking an additional investor, and asked the Hoffmans to join him. The couple was reluctant, as Jeff enjoyed being a police officer. One night while discussing how to make ends meet, Kristi said, “I wish you would consider Tom’s offer, because what we are doing now is not working.” Jeff responded that he knew nothing about running a business. Kristi, who had an accounting background, said “Well, I do. And you know a lot about guns and ammunition.” After serious consideration the couple borrowed $12,000 to buy into the new and yet unproven company. But they knew it would work. The loan was co-signed by Jeff’s father, since the couple had zero collateral and had been laughed out of every bank in Rapid City. The collateral Jeff’s father put up represented his livelihood—his semi-truck. Jeff understood he could not afford to fail, as his father would lose his truck to the bank and his means for making a living. Jeff vowed Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, Black Hills Ammunition has continued to capture an ever-larger share of the ammunition market. They have accomplished this by producing top-quality rounds for a huge variety of handgun and rifle cartridges from their modern 75,000 square foot facility. to never be as much as 5 minutes late on a payment. “Sometimes you succeed,” Jeff says, “despite crushing challenges because you refuse to fail.” Jeff attributes most of his success to God, saying, “He answered our prayers and saved us from ourselves so many times when we were young and ignorant. I am sure he looked down many times and said, ‘These folks are basically incompetent, but they are really trying,’ and lent a hand at critical times.” Jeff and Kristi also give their parents a lot of credit for their success. Their parents, Earl and Marilou Briggs, and Jim and Edith Hoffman, taught the couple to dream big and work hard to overcome obstacles. Jeff also says he could not have accomplished their goals without their employees. Large among these was Lt. Colonel Michael Harris, USA (Ret), who prompted the company to compete for military ammunition contracts. The Army Marksmanship Unit gave Black Hills Ammunition their initiation and visibility into the military system as a capable military supplier. The Naval Surface Warfare Center in Black Hills Ammunition co-owners Jeff and Kristi Hoffman thank their customers for their continued support and loyalty.
january 2024 | insidefirearms.com | 45 Crane, Indiana, was also instrumental in the company’s success, especially Charles Buxton, Chuck Marsh and Greg Flinn, who taught the company how to do things the military way and succeed. As should have become obvious by now, finances proved Black Hills’ largest initial hurdle. Jeff says, “We were a young, inexperienced company, with a negative net worth at a time when interest rates were at 18 percent. We were literally competing with every ammunition manufacturer in the world. We survived many challenging, hard times and those challenges made us better for the experience.” Business relationships also challenged the fledgling company. “We have had other business partners and stockholders,” Jeff says. “Some of those relationships were difficult. Since 1988 Kristi and I have been sole owners, and we like it that way. We ultimately make all the decisions and are responsible for how 1 ■ Load development is a combination of accuracy, pressure, velocity, and uniformity. Daily production from each machine is pressure tested. Note the pressure curve and data displayed on the computer screen and printouts. 2 ■ Jeff Hoffman had the opportunity to train with the U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Group (AWG) and shoot an MK12 chambered in 5.56. BHA’s MK262 was developed specifically for this weapon system. 3 ■ Jeff Hoffman trains in SD as Team Leader of the Rapid City/ Pennington County SRT sniper element. 4 ■ Ballistic Lab Technician Doug reviews .260 Remington accuracy development data with Jeff. The rifle is a Surgeon Arms, and reliably produces groups of .5 MOA. Smallest 5 shot group of that day’s accuracy testing was .207” 1 2 3 4
inside the industry | leading ammunition manufacturer 46 | inside firearms | january 2024 it all turns out. We are very hands-on and take pride in guiding the company to make the best ammunition possible.” All Black Hills Ammunition is made in the U.S. at the company’s Rapid City plant. Most of Black Hills components are sourced from U.S. suppliers, such as Hornady, Hodgdon Powders, Sierra and Barnes Bullets, Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP), and Lehigh Defense. Black Hills is an assembly plant. They do not manufacture their own components, which also means they are free to pick and choose from the very best available, selecting the most suitable components to make the very best ammunition. Most of all, Black Hills is innovative and responsive. They employ talented people who do not stop thinking about the company’s challenges when they clock out at the end of the day. Black Hills employees understand users’ needs and work with their industry partners to meet specific demands. Black Hills has developed more than 35 different ammunition categories for the military. The company’s trusted suppliers have modified components at their request to meet specific challenges that are presented to them by their customers. Black Hills products have demonstrated effectiveness because of their innovation and working relationships within the industry. One example is the MK262 Mod1, 5.56mm. It is the only precision 5.56mm round in the military inventory. Black Hills Ammunition developed it with assistance from their industry partners, who built improved brass cartridge casings, developed a specific propellant, and modified the projectile used. Black Hills initially developed that round in 1999 and 2000 and has continued improving it over the past 20-plus years. Black Hills is the only company to ever produce that round. It has very tight specifications and is difficult to produce to those specs, but that suits the Continued on Page 48
48 | inside firearms | january 2024 inside the industry | leading ammunition manufacturer company perfectly. It is what they do. Black Hills Ammunition is continually working on new innovations and improvements to existing products. The past three years have been very challenging for Black Hills—and all ammunition manufacturers—from a logistics and cost standpoint. Black Hills has prevailed through their loyal relationships and reputation in the industry for doing what they say they will do. Black Hills doesn’t change suppliers while chasing the lowest bidder. They place orders well in advance, and don’t cancel them. In some cases, Black Hills has been forced to redevelop loads using new components when the legacy components they once used were unavailable. This has led Black Hills to forge relationships with new suppliers as well. “When demand goes over-the-top crazy,” says Jeff, “as it does periodically, no one can meet that overwhelming demand. We do our best and we communicate with our customers.” “There are plenty of sources for decent economical range ammunition, especially in FMJ options,” states Jeff. That market is not a strong suit for Black Hills Ammunition, and they recognize that. Due to the extra care, extra inspections and premium components used in the production of Black Hills Ammunition, they do not maintain a strong presence in the economy ammo market. “That’s okay.” Jeff says, “When you need economical training ammunition, it’s smart to stock up on the good deals as you see them. Black Hills Ammunition is here for you when there is a need for high performance accuracy or terminal performance ammunition. We sell dealer-direct, we are a smaller company that values your business, and we welcome the opportunity to serve the dealer.” And Black Hills continues to expand their impressive lineup. For 2024 that would include a 6mm ARC 90-grain Dual Performance load, and 300 PRC ammo loaded with Hornady’s 212-grain ELD-X and 225-grain ELD-M projectiles. These are two of the hottest new rounds in the shooting world, and Black Hills offerings were crafted to wring the most from any rifle so chambered. The 6mm ARC has emerged as a compact, AR-compatible round that hits well out of its weight class while including mild recoil and muzzle blast. It makes the ideal round for young shooters, petite women or those who are recoil sensitive, while also serving well as a light big-game or varmint round. The new 90-grain Dual Performance load is ideal for deer or hog hunting, as well as for self-defense purposes. The 300 PRC has burst onto the scene as the newest long-range juggernaut. Black Hills’ 212-grain ELD-X load will help maximize the effectiveness of this hotrod round in the field for hunters who have the skills and knowledge to go long. The 225-grain ELD Match 300 PRC round should be a huge hit with shooters who like to take things to extremes, including clanging steel plates at 1,000 yards and well beyond. Black Hills Ammunition provides an option no matter a shooter’s inclinations, be that handgun hunting or selfdefense, exterminating burrowing rodents, Back-40 deer hunting or the most exotic big-game destination imaginable. Shooters have come to depend on Black Hills for reliable accuracy, and the perfect load tailored specifically for the shooting scenario at hand. Check out their wide selection of top-grade ammunition by visiting black-hills.com. SCY : Build a custom-tailored bullpup configured AR-15! Reap Weaponries • 320-223-5983 •reapweaponries.com • [email protected] • Relocates trigger interface 9 ¾” forward • M-LOK, KeyMod™ compatible • Designed for all mil-spec lowers with a removable trigger guard • Recoil rated for up to .50 Beowulf • Ambidextrous setup • Mil-spec components • Weights 12 ounces • Linear trigger system • Less than 1.5 lbs. trigger weight added • All components made in the USA CALL OR EMAIL FOR ORDERS • FREE SHIPPING! Continued from Page 46
50 | inside firearms | january 2024 market trends | rifle report Č eská zbrojovka, a.k.a. CZ, was founded in 1919 and moved to its current Uherský Brod, Czech Republic, factory in 1936 (then Czechoslovakia) to get as far from the Nazi threat as possible. Post World War II CZ grew into the primary Czechoslovakian manufacturer of small firearms. By 1992 CZ was privatized, with Kansas City-based CZ-USA emerging by 1997. While rifle models such as the “miniMauser” 527 and 557 put CZ on American shooters’ radar, those rifles have now been replaced by the Czech-made Model 600. The 600 series is offered in five models, including versions with black synthetic stock, a deluxe-grade walnut stock, a tactical-inspired version accepting AR/ Bren 2 magazines, and the newer woodstocked 600 American—in addition to the 600 Range reviewed here. The 600 design is a departure from past CZ models. The bolt head includes three rows of two lugs and no external claw extractor, replacing the two-lug Mauser styling of past models. This modular six-lug action includes lugs set at 6, 10 and 2 o’clock, which lock directly into the barrel when in full battery to contain all chamber pressure in the barrel proper. This also precisely controls lug abutment in relation to the chamber to ensure proper head-spacing barrel to barrel. The interchangeable bolt head pins into the bolt body. These design features allow barrels, bolt heads and magazines to be interchanged, so one receiver can be configured to shoot a variety of cartridges. Upon release, CZ envisioned the 600 as a “switch-barrel” system, with barrel swaps performed by the owner. Unfortunately, CZ soon learned that introductory models included the possibility of installing barrels so they could potentially be fired while not in full battery—an obviously dangerous scenario. The idea of user barrel swaps was scraped—though this feature is still possible through a qualified gunsmith or through CZ’s Kansas City factory. The 600 Range’s heavy barrel (.87-inch at muzzle) is 5/8x24 threaded to accept muzzle brakes or suppressors. The barrel is cold hammer-forged, 24 inches long and includes 1:10 rifling twist in the 308 Winchester chambering tested. The barrel holds a black nitride finish. Because the chamber is part of the mandrel this ensures exceptional chamber/bore/lug abutment alignment and are fully supported, translating into excellent accuracy. The square bottom, side and top flats are machined using cutting-edge computer-controlled technology to ensure ultra-tight tolerances. The 600 series’ flat bottom allows more positive thread engagement of the two action screws and eliminates loosening over time. The rear action screw engages the flat just forward of the trigger, which solves the problem of bending or stressing the action after snugging these bolts down. The action arrives from the factory with a bolted-on Picatinny rail. The 600 action’s unique dual “reverse” recoil lugs include two notches milled into the action base that corelate to steel lugs rooted securely into the stock inletting. One of these lugs sits behind the front action screw and a larger lug is located in front of the rear action screw, creating exceptional stability after the Torx-head action screws are tightened. An AR-15-style extractor located low in the ejection port of the outboard lug creates controlled-feed engagement, cartridge rims slipping into the open bolt-face bottom and under the beveled extractor while being stripped from the magazine. Both extraction and ejection were positive. The 600 Range includes an excellent trigger, the 1.3- to 3-pound trigger pull adjusted through four positions marked with one, two, three or four micro dots. By Patrick Meitin The butt section of the CZ-USA 600 Range includes a tool-less, quickly-adjustable comb to place the eye squarely behind any scope height. CZ-'s 600 Range is different from traditional rifle actions, including two milled slots correlating to two steel lugs securely embedded into the stock. The 600 Range from CZ-USA includes an easilyadjustable trigger, one to four dots creating trigger pulls from 1.3 to 3 pounds. Unlike many bolt-action rifles available today, the CZ 600 range is a complete departure from the Remington M700/Winchester M70 design. CZ-USA 600 Range