Riding the success with their Retro Rifles line, Brownells has partnered with Ed Brown to add their first handgun in the lineup: the BRN-1911, a .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol.

Henry Repeating Arms is introducing nine new models that include engraved finishes for the Long Ranger rifle series and additional caliber options for the Single Shot rifle series. These new releases come less than a year after introducing over a dozen models at the beginning of 2018 as a result of customer feedback and suggestions.

Brownells is continuing to expand its Retro series with the addition of a 1911 pistol recalling the style of classic 1980s custom 1911s.

Franklin Armory is well known for pushing the envelope and creating some outside the box products that skirt the law to some degree. Take their Reformation. It looks like a short barreled rifle but since it does not have spiral rifling, it is not a rifle. Their most successful product so far has to be their Binary Trigger. This allows you to release the hammer when you pull the trigger, and once the gun completes its cycle, when you release the trigger a second round is fired. Now they have a new gun for California, the CA7.

Back in November we reported that the Norwegian police service was looking for a new service pistol. SIG SAUER have now announced that they have won the tender and will provide Norwegian officers with the P320 X-Series.

Crimson Trace has announced that their Lightguard LTG-770 weapon light designed to be fitted to the  M&P Shield, from Crimson Trace’s parent company Smith & Wesson, has begun shipping. The light weight 110 lumen white light with fit both first and second generation M&Ps.

Kimber have announced the launch of a brand new line of striker-fired subcompact carry pistols. Perhaps best known for their revolvers and 1911s, Kimber’s new EVO SP is part of a major expansion of the company’s product line. You can check out Adam’s coverage of Kimber’s other new products here.

FN America has announced the introduction of the SCAR 20S, the civilian version of the MK20 SSR currently in service with US SOCOM. The launch follows the news last month that FN America would offer a limited run of 200 S20 packages, Richard covered that news  here.

Armor Express has been selected by the US Marine Corps to provide more than 65,000 Plate Carrier Generation III Soft Armor Inserts. Armor Express will work with KDH Defense Systems to manufacture the soft armour inserts and will also provide the USMC with data reports.

SIG Sauer have snagged another government contract but it’s not one you might expect. The US Coast Guard have selected the SIG AIR Pro Force P229 Airsoft Pistol for training cadets and Coast Guardsmen.

Sumter, South Carolina’s police department is set to transition completely to SIG Sauer pistols. The department will move away from its current Glock duty pistols, including the Glock 43 currently carried as an department-issued backup pistol.

Once we enter into the year 2019 Hornady will have been in business for 70 years. Over that period of time they have experienced a lot of growth, change, new products and expansion. In fact, they are looking at even more expansion with the opening of their new  Hornady West facility. Hornady released this Press Release regarding the announcement:

I have yet to experience the .224 Valkyrie caliber, but technically it looks very interesting. TFB has covered the .224 Valkyrie in several articles, for instance here and here.

The 18th annual International Sniper Competition opened at Fort Benning, Georgia, during a ceremony at the Sniper Compound earlier in October and the results are now in.

Oregon-based Crimson Trace, best known for their laser sighting systems, have announced the launch of a line of 11 rifle optics for sporting, tactical, long range and hunting needs. The line includes red dots, variable power scopes and a 5-25X56mm long-range tactical rifle scope. The full range is expected to be released in the Fall.

Raytheon has announced their newest reflex sight, a new addition to the ELCAN Specter family of optics. The new Specter 1XL is designed for CQB and features a larger viewfinder and an enhanced LED reticle. It joins the ECLAN Enhanced Combat Optical Sight – Heavy (ECOS-H), the SpecterHR, a reflex sight for crew-served weapons, the ELCAN – Specter MRDS (Mini Red Dot Sight) and the variable power ELCAN – Specter DR 1-4X Dual Role Eaton Sight and Specter OZ 5-20X Continuous Optical Zoom System.

In recent years, Ruger has been bringing a flurry of firearms to market that are dripping with high-end quality. They notably introduced the GP100 Match Champion in 2014. This put a lot of companies on alert that Ruger was not only capable, but willing put out Custom Shop quality firearms for the shooting community. They followed that with a Match Champion iteration of their SP101 to the delight of many wheelgun fans. Probably their most impressive and popular assemblage of quality has been the Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR). Now a full-fledged Ruger Custom Shop is officially available to the public!

Joe Gaddini (inventor of the Omega silencer baffle and the former owner of SWR) and Kyle Grob ( KGMade suppressors) have teamed up to form a new venture to produce the Hopaii – an extreme duty use silencer built mainly for the military and law enforcement markets. The two partners have joined forces under RMS2, a play on the old SWR company name, to design and build hard use silencers for customers who demand extreme reliability.

Grayboe Stocks now provides In-House Custom Shop Work to supplement the already diverse assortment of high-end stocks they offer to the shooting market. These services should fill a niche for customers with unique asks such as left-handed shooters, odd barrel contours and those seeking improvement in their bottom metal.

SIG Sauer has announced that Virginia’s Division of Capitol Police has selected the SIG Sauer P320. Virginia Division of Capitol Police can lay claim to being the US’ oldest police department, established during the 17th century when the Colony of Virginia was first founded. The department conducts both uniform patrols but also oversees the personal protection of the state Governor. It appears Virginia’s Capitol Police have selected the P320 Nitron Full-Size pistol, in an undisclosed calibre.

Radical Firearms eclipsed an extremely significant milestone recently rather unceremoniously. Many people know that Radical Firearms is in the business of creating everything AR-15 related, but they have additional goals and aspirations as well. They have donated their 300th RF-15 firearm to benefit law enforcement, our military, and first responders. This includes both rifle and pistol variants of their staple RF-15 design.

Wyoming has been doing a tremendous job in recent years by bringing more and more firearm companies to their state. Weatherby had announced at SHOT Show 2018 that they would be re-locating from California to the cowboy state. They have also been able to draw in Magpul and HiViz as well. Now, the state of Wyoming is working with Gunwerks to ensure their future expansion and secure that they remain in the state for a long time to come.

SIG Sauer have announced they will present the US Army’s ‘Old Guard’ with special ceremonial versions of the US Army’s new M17 Modular Handgun System pistol. If you ever wondered what a more ‘traditional’, non polymer M17 might look now we have some idea.

Rise Armament is known across the firearm industry for their tremendously high quality AR-15 rifles and components. In addition to that, this year they have gone out to specifically help our veterans and law enforcement through multiple endeavors. Rise Armament in conjunction with Folds of Honor released a Patriot Trigger back over Memorial weekend this year. A portion of every sale of that trigger would go to Folds of Honor who provides scholarships to the children and spouses of disabled and deceased veterans.

Former CEO of Sturm, Ruger & Co., William B. Ruger, Jr. has passed away at the weekend, aged 79. William Jr. took over leadership of the company from his father, William B. Ruger, Sr., the founder in 2000, William, Jr. himself retired in 2006.

Tennessee is home to a lot of large players in the firearms industry. Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, our beloved purveyors of .50 Cals, has a facility in Christiana, Tennessee. Beretta recently opened a large new facility in Gallatin, Tennessee. Signal 9 Defense, formerly Edge Arms, the small manufacturer that makes a 4-barrel derringer also is home in Gallatin, Tennessee. There is also an ammunition manufacturer out of Knoxville, Tennessee with Parabellum Ammo, LLC. A third dimension you can now add to the freedom loving faction is Black Rifle Coffee Company. They recently made the significant announcement of expanding their company to Tennessee as well with this Press Release:

Did you ever think to yourself, I wish I could get my hands on a $2800.00 Vortex scope without having to purchase it, so I can see the difference between that and my current optic?  Well, now you can with Vulcan Circle. Vulcan Circle – Optics For Rent

Remember last March? We learned that Brownell’s was acquiring and importing HK416 and HK417 components. Well last August 13 they posted the photo above and below of their shipment of HK 416/417 parts.

For full disclosure, Bond Arms firearms do not cause cancer. It is simply the state of California doing what California does… trying to use the government to coddle everyone. So with that being said, we will divert away from any other mild political talk to give you the news. This is a message Bond Arms recently sent out to distributors and gun shops who sell their firearms as a result of the recent ruling from Proposition 65 (Prop 65):

SIG Sauer and Australian tactical and safety equipment company Aquaterro have announced a strategic partnership which will see the Victoria-based company expand their factory and provide support to SIG Sauer in making offers on future Australian small arms tenders.