Federal Ammunition has new premium ammunition called Swift Scirocco II. As you can see from the pictures below, it has a black polymer tip for improved ballistics and reliable low-velocity expansion. According to Federal, the intended customer is a hunter looking for a medium-sized game. The round looks really good, dressed-up in silver-grey, copper and black.

Shadow Systems has been busy in the great state of Texas. While most in the firearms industry are just trying to keep up with demand during the chaos of 2020, Shadow Systems has managed to grow. They are still going strong and have recently made two big announcements.

The South African Army has purchased more than 20,000 rounds of Rheinmetall’s a new medium-velocity (MV) 40mm ammunition. These include a mixture of high explosive, high explosive dual-purpose, practice ammunition, practice tracers, red phosphorous smoke rounds and orange target marker ammunition. In total, Rheinmetall have nine different MV ammunition types, with a range of up to 800 metres.

J. P. Sauer & Sohn, or Sauer for short, is a German firearm manufacturer with a long tradition in manufacturing hunting guns. While sticking to time tested formats such as bolt action rifles and double barrel shotguns, the designers at Sauer, now part of the Blaser Group, don’t shy away from trying modern solutions. One such example is the S101 Highland XTC rifle with carbon fiber stock.

Shield Sights has just announced the second generation of their pistol red dot sights, the RMS2.  According to the accompanying video, the RMS was designed for competitive shooting, while the RMS2 red dot sight was designed for defensive pistols. Interestingly, the RMS2 omitted the slide-out battery drawer in favor of removing the optic to replace the battery, while allowing the mounting screws to maintain the zero. The press release from Shield Sights follows:

SilencerCo has been pumping out hits like the Omega 36M for quite some time and dominating the silencer game. TFB was one of the 1st media outlets to cover the unveiling of the Omega 36M almost 1 year ago courtesy of our writer Nicholas Chen. Now, with some time and more range use behind it the Omega 36M has garnered Guns & Ammo’s “Suppressor of the Year” award for 2020. The full press release from SilencerCo outlining the award can be read below:

Guns & Ammo has named their 2020 “Handgun of the Year” and it is the Springfield Armory Hellcat which will not come as a surprise to many people for how exceedingly popular it has been since its debut last September 2019. It has been in a constant battle with the SIG Sauer P365 for micro-compact superiority and either one laying claim to the title of “Handgun of the Year” would be duly deserving. The full press release for the nod of “Handgun of the Year” from Guns & Ammo can be read below as presented by Springfield Armory:

Midwest Industries is known for the wide variety of firearms accessories, and they’ve just added another AR-15 handguard to the line up with their G4M models.  The G4M handguards come in five different lengths and feature seven rows of five M-LOK slots for the shortest version, as well as five quick-detach sling sockets. The new G4M free float rails will come in 10.50, 12.625, 13.375, 14 and 15 inch long versions and are currently available for ordering. The press release from Midwest Industries can be read below:

The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) and the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) have joined together as the NASGW-POMA to announce their 2020 “Best New Handgun” Award and the Springfield Armory Hellcat OSP was chosen as their winner. This should not come as much of a surprise considering the Springfield Armory Hellcat has been one of, if not the most, popular concealed carry pistol of choice for the last year. A full press release from Springfield Armory regarding the award from the NASGW-POMA can be read below:

If you have already found and paid for your seat on the micro red dot bandwagon for handguns you might be excited to hear that another pistol is joining the club. Springfield Armory has taken their long-running CCW pistol in the XD-S (Xtreme Duty – Single Stack) and gave it the OSP (Optical Sight Pistol) goodness. Today they have launched their New XD-S Mod.2 OSP 9mm series of handguns! You have your choice of what you might call the base model in the XD-S Mod.2 OSP which is cut for you to adapt a micro red dot of your choosing, or there is a factory model that comes with a Crimson Trace CTS-1500 Micro Red Dot. The specifications for the XD-S Mod.2 OSP 9mm handguns can be read below as presented by Springfield Armory:

Benjamin Tyler Henry can be fairly credited with one of the more significant accomplishments in firearms history. Although he was not the first inventor to ever dabble in lever-action guns, as a few other examples like Colt’s early “ring lever” cap-and-ball rifles can be found previously, his original rifle from 1860 really brought the technology into its own and enabled it to proliferate. Combined with the development of self-contained cartridge ammo, this new firearm type would go on to become wildly popular and spawn a number of similar designs from other manufacturers. Benjamin Tyler’s early rifles can arguably be considered some of the most important firearms in American history, and among the revered class of “guns that won the West”.

Although Savage‘s rifles are what most firearms enthusiasts know them best for, their shotgun offerings are highly regarded by many hunters and clay shooters as well. These scatterguns are divvied up under three labels: the Savage-named line, the Fox line, and the most prolific of the series is Stevens. Under the Savage shotgun heading, four models of Renegauge semi-autos are available, intended chiefly for waterfowl, turkey, and other bird hunters. The Fox label currently only carries one model, the A Grade, which is a break-open side-by-side design in either 12 gauge or 20 gauge. The Stevens series holds the bulk of the brand’s options, with 27 different models built for a variety of purposes. From hunting to competing to home defense, virtually every shotgun niche is addressed. Now Savage has announced the addition of thumbhole-stock flavors to the Stevens 320 series. The press release detailing this release reads as follows.

We were all hoping this headline wouldn’t come, but as of the morning of Friday, October 30th, it’s official. the 2021 SHOT Show is Cancelled according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, after previous indications that the event would go on with some modifications such as more exits and entrances, masks, and social distancing. Unfortunately, many in the industry suspected that the writing was on the wall for this cancellation. The massive and ever-growing list of dropped events that have plagued 2020 had already begun extending into next year. The full text of the NSSF’s announcement is posted below.

Originally announced in April 2019, the Ruger Wrangler was offered in three distinct Cerakote colors: black, silver, and a very handsome burnt bronze. Well, the color options keep coming. Davidson’s has teamed up with Ruger once again, and has announced the new Davidson’s Exclusive Ruger Wrangler.

Rosco Manufacturing is a producer of precision rifle barrels based in Rhode Island. They have over 50,000 square feet of production space focused on making barrels. Battle Arms Development, Inc. (B.A.D. Inc.) based in Henderson, Nevada, focuses on small arms design. In a new collaboration between the companies,  Battle Arms Development are going to use Rosco Mfg.’s barrels in at least seven pistols, rifles and the SBR pictured below.

Armies and Police Forces looking to upgrade their Heckler & Koch G36 rifles now have an option from Wilcox and Steyr Arms.

Baschieri & Pellagri was established in Marano di Castenaso (Italy) in 1885 and manufactures premium shotgun ammunition. I’ve used their ammunition in several IPSC shotgun championships, and like their buckshot loads in particular.

The Henry Repeating Arms Company has announced that they’ll be donating 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of 65 rifles to help a 3 year old Michigan girl that’s been diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  As of the time of publishing, 63 of the rifles have already been sold, and the remaining two rifles are up for auction on Gunbroker.com.  The campaign has been dubbed “Prayers for Preslie”, and the donated rifles reflect the campaign name on the stock and in the serial numbers.

In one of the most significant achievements in the 154-year history of Winchester, the company has assumed full management and operational control of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant from Olin Corporation. Olin Winchester were awarded the contract to run the US Army’s premier ammunition manufacturing plant back in September 2019.

Firearms Manufacturer Q LLC announced today that it was issued a Cease and Desist by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. The ATF’s letter notified Q that the Honey Badger pistol is now considered a Short barreled rifle (SBR) and ordered them to immediately cease production of the firearm unless it is registered on an ATF Form 2, declaring that they are manufacturing an NFA weapon.

In a move to continue to be a leader in premium bullets and ammunition, Sierra Bullets (Sedalia, Missouri, USA) has acquired “certain assets” relating to Barnes Bullets. Barnes were previously part of the Remington Arms family of companies. With Remington moving through bankruptcy proceedings and assets being sold off Sierra Bullets have been selected as the successor bidder for Barnes. The press release mentions Barnes’ comprehensive lead-free, all copper offering of premium component bullets and ammunition as well as brand names like the VOR-TX and the TAC-XPD. According to the information Barnes will continue to be based in Mona, Utah.

Over the weekend the world’s oldest firearms company celebrated their 494th birthday. Beretta was founded in 1526 and have been in business continually ever since. The company has been responsible for dozens of iconic designs ranging from their pistols and fine shotguns to their service rifles.

What is known today as the Kids and Clays Foundation began more than twenty years ago, when Indiana McDonald’s owner/operators Glenn and Kathy Lubeznik first organized a sporting clays tournament to benefit the Chicago Ronald McDonald House. Ronald McDonald Houses like these offer free or low-cost housing and other family support programs near children’s hospitals all over the world, seeking to help families with children undergoing major medical care. Over the years, the initial benefit tournament that raised $15,800 for one House has grown tremendously. In 2019 the Kids and Clays Foundation raised nearly $1.9 million, with multiple events held every month all across the United States. To date, the Foundation has raised a lifetime funding total in excess of $20 million for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, since the humble beginnings of that first clay shoot in 1999. Recently, Champion Target helped support this wonderful cause with a St. Louis-area tournament, and they have issued the following press release about the event.

N8 Tactical has just debuted its latest additions to the IWB holster market – the N8 Tactical Combat Cut Holster series. The new holsters feature an adjustable cant, suede backing, and leather contact surfaces which are supposed to provide maximum durability.

When shooters hear the name Steyr Arms, most probably think of the AUG right away. The iconic Austrian bullpup’s distinctive aesthetics are hard to forget, after nearly half a century it’s still in use by a host of military and police units around the globe, and it enjoys a loyal fan base. Many people likely don’t even realize that Steyr produces a plethora of other firearms designs in addition to the AUG. From their M9-A1 and A2 MF 9mm pistols, to their Merkel line that includes models like single-shot rifles and over/under shotguns, to a menu of bolt-action rifles, there’s more to Steyr than you might think.

SAR USA is the exclusive American importer for 140-year-old Turkish gunmaker Sarsilmaz. Although they are not a major household name in the US, their parent company produces a significant number of firearms for many countries all over the world. Their catalogue includes a dozen handgun models chambered in 9mm and .45 ACP, and as you might expect from Turkey, a line of shotguns. Their shotguns come in both semi-auto and break-open flavors. Sarsilmaz is also the sole pistol supplier to the Turkish Armed Forces.

The fastest growing segment of the American handgun market undoubtedly has to be carry pistols. In an ever-changing and unpredictable world, more shooters are looking to conceal and carry to protect themselves. With that in mind, Springfield Armory has expanded out their line of XD-M Elite firearms by adding in an XD-M Elite Compact 3.8″ with a shorter frame and grip to match. This robust pistol from Springfield Armory is high-quality and high capacity for concealed carry advocates. The complete specification listing can be read below as presented by Springfield Armory:

Forged Carbon Fiber is a cool looking composite material that gained some notoriety for its use in supercars, fancy sports equipment and high-level watches. It was just a matter of time before we could see it applied to firearms and Black Collar Arms, of Pork Sword fame, are the first to bring it to us. Specifically, they are starting with a gorgeous one-piece scope mount, and more is in the works.

HERO Defense Systems is a Salt Lake City, UT based manufacturer specializing in non-lethal self-defense devices. Today they announced the re-release of their adaptable HERO 2020 device. The HERO 2020 is very similar in function to the Russian PB-4SP Osa traumatic pistol in that they are both aimed at having a less lethal option available to those who want it.

Anarchy Outdoors, from Northern Utah, have released several new products for the Thompson Center Compass and Venture Rifles. The products include a threaded bolt handle and a Picatinny scope base with a bubble level. The latter has a forward slope in either 20MOA or 30MOA, to help with long range shooting.