The Federal Custom Shop which was announced at NRAAM 2019 (NRA Annual Meetings) is now expanding the amount of rounds they will hand-tailor produce to 14 new cartridges for big game hunters. This will include some of the most popular reloading tips a handloader could choose: Barnes Tipped TSX, Berger Hunter Hybrid, Hornady ELD-X, Nosler AccuBond, Nosler AccuBond Long Range (ABLR), Nosler Partition, Sierra MatchKing, Federal Premium Terminal Ascent, and Federal Premium Trophy Copper.

We covered earlier this year that Springfield Armory had unveiled at SHOT Show 2020 a Ronin Operator Commander and Government model 1911, and finally the 4.25″ variant is shipping out from the Springfield factory. While many firearm manufacturers are dialing back their production due to coronavirus (COVID-19) and are innovating less, it is great to see someone like Springfield still putting fresh firearms out on the market.

Many of us started our passion through firearms as hunting during our youth years. Some of those experiences would have been incredible to capture on camera – let alone to have a professional cameraman follow some of our crazy exploits. Well, with Hosted Hunts that could still happen! They are giving away a $4,500 Value Package of a personalized and FREE video-captured hunt in their “RELIVE-IT” Personal Trip Video Giveaway.

The Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm is known across the world for its high capacity in a micro-compact frame, but Springfield recently subjected their own firearm to a brutal 20,000 round endurance test to prove its reliability as well. Springfield Armory took one Hellcat 9mm at random and laid a gauntlet of 10,000 rounds and it chugged through them like it was an appetizer. That brutal, single-day range session was thoroughly documented HERE.

In the 1890s, Arthur William Savage obtained patents for a repeating rifle and hammerless striker-fired mechanism, and then he founded Savage Arms in Utica, New York. More than a century later, today the company that still bears his name produces a host of rifles and shotguns for a variety of uses. They have recently announced some new additions to this lineup, with the expansion of their 110 Model series into 300 PRC territory.

Have you ever encountered a gun guy who wasn’t thoroughly acquainted with the aroma of Hoppe’s #9 gun cleaner? Such an anomaly would likely be difficult to find. Since Frank August Hoppe first mixed that famous nine-chemical concoction 117 years ago, the brand has become virtually ubiquitous in the realm of firearms cleaning. For many shooters, burnt powder and Hoppe’s #9 served as the fragrance of youth, and the venerable elixir is still going strong today.

The venerable 1911 – you’d be hard-pressed to find a shooter who isn’t at least broadly familiar with this classic design. Through 75 years of military service and countless variations on John Moses Browning’s original model, some have hated it and many have loved it. As it has aged, the 1911 has come to spark some division among gun tribes between its impassioned adherents and modernists who believe it has outlived usefulness in this day and age.

Italian gunmaker Pietta has partnered with Davidson’s to produce two new exclusive revolvers. Founded in 1963, Pietta specializes in historical weapons. The brace of brass-and-blued model 1873s will be available chambered in .357 Magnum and the classic . 45 Long Colt. Their recent press release introducing this pair of wheelguns reads as follows below with more details.

The firearm wholesaler Davidson’s just announced that they’re adding to their catalog complete pistols from Polymer 80. You may be familiar with the models and you may appreciate their ergonomic choices over the well-known platform. If you don’t think you are skilled enough to complete an 80% build, now there’s the option to buy the full package, saving you the sweat and the cursing.

The Springfield Armory Hellcat in 9mm has been one of, if not the most, popular carry guns since it was debuted last September 25th as the world’s highest capacity micro-compact on the market. The 1st iteration released to the public was a Black Melonite version which is not surprising because the matte black aesthetic of a carry pistol blends in well in nearly all environments. Now Springfield has dipped their Hellcat in a NEW Cerakote Desert FDE (Flat Dark Earth) finish for all of us to enjoy. Those two new options can be read below:

Just when you thought school was out for the summer and it appears class is now back in session courtesy of Springfield Armory and host of other high-caliber outfits. Springfield Armory in collaboration with Larry Vickers of Vickers Tactical and Wilson Combat have debuted a NEW Lipsey’s distributor exclusive of a Vickers Tactical Master Class 1911 chambered in 45 Auto!

Last November, TFB reported that American Outdoors would be splitting from Smith & Wesson. In a June 1, 2020 press release, American Outdoor Brands announced substantive new strides to this end with a name and stock ticker symbol change. They are preparing to spin off their outdoor products and accessories business, which will remain under the American Outdoors name, from their firearms manufacturing business, chief among which is the Smith & Wesson brand. This move is pending additional preparatory steps including a tax-free stock distribution as well as a 4Q and full fiscal 2020 financial release. This stock distribution, slated for late summer, will effectively create the two independent, publicly traded companies. The press release reads as follows.

In a press release dated May 31st, 2020, Czechoslovakian firearms manufacturer Česká zbrojovka Group SE (CZG for short, more commonly known as CZ) announced shares of their company will be listed on the Prague Stock Exchange as of June 1st. This is not yet an IPO, or Initial Public Offering, by which shares of ownership in CZ can be bought and sold. Rather, this is a technical listing in preparation for CZ to go public sometime between the third quarter of 2020 and the 1st quarter of 2021, dependent on a number of variables including market conditions.

The Swedish company Saab (no, not the cars) has just received orders from both the Latvian and the Estonian Armed Forces for deliveries of Carl-Gustaf M4 portable anti-tank weapon system. The producer, Saab, calls the Carl Gustaf a “man-portable multi-role weapon system.” This makes sense, considering the wide range of ammunition types that can be used.

Grayguns out of Reedsport, Oregon, is the well-known custom gunsmith shop founded by pistol guru Bruce Gray. We’ve already seen samples of their work on SIG Sauer P320 triggers packs and less conventional H&K customization. Now they are introducing the Grayguns Enhanced Leverage System, an improved and lighter trigger for SIG P-series DA/SA pistols.

Vista Outdoor has announced the CCI brand of ammunition will feature easy-to-pour cartons for three of their rimfire offerings.  CCI will be currently offering their easy-to-pour cartons for their VNT and Maxi-Mag lines in .22 WMR, and .17 HMR cartridges, packaged with 125 rounds each.  TFB’s Miles briefly covered this at the 2020 SHOT Show, and the representative said that the cartons would be collectible with a variation of different varmints printed on each carton.  CCI’s press release can be seen below:

While most of the United States is unfortunately still under quarantine due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) and we are limited in what we can/cannot do, Springfield Armory has sequestered themselves in their gun shop to come back out with something new for us. Today, they have announced NEW Springfield Armory SAINT rifles and pistols featuring B5 Systems furniture.

Tikka rifles are used by accomplished shooters in disciplines varying from big-game hunting to long-range competition shooting. They are known worldwide for their tremendous accuracy out-of-the-box, great ease of use, simple maintenance, and availability of parts for upgrades. If you are in the market of improving your stock Tikka rifle, a great piece to look at is new bottom metal specifically from High Desert Rifle Works. The High Desert Rifle Works Linear Bottom Metal is their newest product in a long line of quality upgrades to the platform. Established back in 2014, they have been crafting and tailoring products for Tikka firearms for years.

A short list of some of today’s most popular concealed carry pistols can be summed up through 3 manufacturers: Glock, SIG Sauer, and Smith & Wesson. Each respective company’s most popular sidearm would be the G48, P365/P365XL, and M&P Shield 9/380 EZ. So, it only makes sense that  Blackhawk has expanded their ARC IWB ( Appendix Reversible Carry – Inside the Waistband) holsters to now include all of those popular guns.

Cast your mind back to January, a COVID-19 free world and SHOT Show. One of the many surprises of SHOT 2020 was just how many 5.7×28 offerings there were. Well fast forward to May and Diamondback Firearms are celebrating the launch of their DBX 5.7.

Leupold Optics has announced that they have become the Official Optics Partner of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) to support their mission of conservation through hunting. Both companies have a similarly invested interest in ensuring the future of hunting and conservation for all of us in the US. The complete Press Release outlining the new relationship between the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Leupold Optics can be read below:

It was only last year that The Firearms Guide released their 10th Edition, yet they’ve continued to upload thousands of more firearms to their already vast reference material.  With the addition of 2000 more guns, the 11th Edition stands to make the Firearms Guide a one-stop shop for enthusiasts and professionals.  It provides photos, exploded diagrams, and detailed information about each documented firearm in the database, topping 15,198 firearms.  Firearms Guide’s press release can be read below:

5.11 Tactical is extending a heartfelt thank you to all of the frontline heroes who are keeping the country moving and safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. There are innumerable professions to thank who protect us, feed us, and care for us in these times of need and 5.11 Tactical acknowledges that.

BLACKHAWK! is known for having a large inventory of comfortable and affordable holsters. Just recently they announced the newest addition to their T-Series Duty line of holsters. The  T-Series Duty line previously only featured two standard thumb-activated polymer holsters. The newest two feature that quality feel and function that is only obtainable with the good old basketweave design. These holsters are vailable in the light-bearing or non-light bearing configurations.

Amidst the doldrums of quarantine, Remington has positioned themselves to release a NEW .50 Cal with the Remington R2Mi 50 BMG bolt-action rifle! This rifle is set to be produced out of their Sturgis, South Dakota facility and is meant to replace the Bushmaster .50 BMG which was a part of their portfolio of rifles before. According to Remington, this rifle is going to be a “build-to-order” firearm so it is not something that is part of their standard catalog of products. You could essentially throw it into the category of a Custom Shop rifle.

Welcome to TFB – The Feller’s Blog, the best online resource for all your questions about axes, knives and lumbersexual gear! Well, no, not really, but indeed here we take a detour from firearms to have a look at a new hand axe. The AX1 is a new product by the young outdoor oriented company WOOX, already on our radar thanks to their gorgeous Furiosa and Exactus bolt action rifle stocks.

CZ-USA has just announced the addition of the “Shadow 2 OR”, an Optics Ready version of their Shadow 2 competition pistol.  Competitors have already been getting their Shadow 2 slides milled for Red Dot Sights, but now they’ll have a factory option with with the Optics Ready package.  CZ states that the slide profile has been changed to accommodate the optics plates, so I’ve included a photo of the non-Optics Ready Shadow 2 below for comparison.

Cabot Guns, our favorite purveyor of guns we can’t afford, started in 2016 a collaboration with Sandrin Knives of Italy. We saw here a taste of it, on a high-end custom knife matching the level of Cabot Guns 1911 creations. Now we get the chance to order more usable and affordable EDC models, at a special introductory price.

XS Sights have just announced that they’re now offering their Big Dot Night Sights system for the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield EZ and for Heckler & Koch’s P7 pistol lineup.  XS Sights’ Big Dot pistol iron sights have been around for some time now and incorporate a large, highly visible dot front sight that encircles a tritium insert, backed up by a shallow V-notch rear sight with a single tritium insert at the bottom of the notch.  The brightly colored ring on the front sight is also engineered to glow in the dark for in-between light and dark settings.

We know Victrix Armaments as a young Italian “boutique” manufacturer of precision rifles which was briefly part of the Beretta Group. With those ties gone, the company needed for a different gateway to the American market and it looks like they found a great fit with ZRODelta.