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Archive for the ‘Ammo’ Category

Winchester and Browning Introduce the New 6.8 Western Cartridge

Friday, January 15th, 2021

Designed for Long-Range Shooting and Hunting

January 15, 2021 — Winchester and Browning, two of the most iconic outdoor brands, continue to innovate and bring new products to hunting and shooting sports enthusiasts around the world. This time, the two titans have teamed up to introduce 6.8 Western, the ultimate all-around long-range hunting and shooting cartridge.

With long-range shooting and hunting interest growing rapidly, engineers at Winchester and Browning were both seeking a solution that could offer magnum performance with a modern high BC projectile, yet chamber in a short action rifle for shorter bolt-throw and less weight. The 6.8 Western was designed from the ground up to be the ultimate long-range cartridge that is capable in any big-game hunting scenario and a great fit for those who enjoy long-range target shooting.

HEAVIER BULLET WEIGHTS

than 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC and 270 WSM

MORE ENERGY

than 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC and 7mm Rem Mag

LESS RECOIL

than 300 WSM, 300 Win Mag and 300 PRC

LONG, HEAVY BULLETS

ideal for big game hunting and long-range precision shooting

SHORT ACTION

for fast cycling, high accuracy and reduced rifle weight

“The 6.8 Western cartridge development defines collaborative innovation,” said Matt Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing for Winchester Ammunition. “We have designed a cartridge for the growing segment of long-range shooters and hunters that offers significant features and benefits. We strive to introduce new products that add value to our customers, and we believe the 6.8 Western will do just that.”

“The 6.8 Western cartridge brings a new perspective to long-range hunting and shooting,” said Ryan Godderidge, senior vice president of sales, marketing and firearms for Browning. “It provides magnum level performance in our short action rifles, giving the shooter highly effective down-range energy, even at longer ranges, while allowing for a lighter-weight platform. We’re excited about bringing this into the marketplace.”

winchester.com

True Velocity Completes On-Time Shipment of Over 625K Rounds of Composite-Cased Ammo to US Army

Thursday, January 7th, 2021

Delivery marks beginning of final review period for force modernization program

GARLAND, TX (January 7, 2021) – Texas-based ammunition manufacturer, True Velocity, finalized delivery of more than 625,000 rounds of the company’s proprietary composite-cased 6.8mm ammunition to the U.S. Army for consideration in the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program (NGSW). This milestone marks a significant point in the review process to become the U.S. Army’s next choice in small arms Ammunition, which is anticipated to effectively replace the standard 5.56x45mm round carried by many soldiers.

The U.S. Army initially shortlisted True Velocity’s composite-cased ammunition in August 2019 as a finalist for the NGSW program and the first shipment of 6.8mm True Velocity ammunition was delivered to the Army in August 2020. Following this most recent delivery, the Army will test the ammunition in a variety of settings throughout 2021 before issuing a final decision on contracts related to NGSW participation.

“It has been a long, exciting road to get to this point,” said Chris Tedford, president of True Velocity. “We have consistently been able to demonstrate the effectiveness and superior performance of True Velocity’s designs and manufacturing processes time and time again, proving that we represent the obvious choice for the future of military small arms ammunition. Due to the dedication of our team, we are living up to our ethos of making ammunition perfect for our warfighters.”

True Velocity’s proprietary 6.8mm composite-cased ammunition presented to the U.S. Army boasts significant advantages over brass ammunition including a 30 percent weight reduction, improved accuracy, optimized muzzle velocity and increased ballistic efficiency. True Velocity’s manufacturing processes and infrastructure are also being reviewed by the U.S. Army, as the company’s technology and designs could drastically increase efficiency through automation and a substantial reduction in manufacturing footprint. A True Velocity production cell that occupies just 2,640 square feet can produce as many as 27 million rounds per year.

“We look forward to continuing the review process alongside the U.S. Army and exceeding their expectations in every way possible,” said Kevin Boscamp, CEO of True Velocity. “True Velocity rounds will not only give warfighters a significant advantage in the field, but we believe our products and processes will save institutions such as the Department of Defense millions of dollars in logistics costs. We are eagerly anticipating their decision.”

For more information, visit tvammo.com.

True Velocity Welcomes Donnie Vincent as Brand Ambassador

Monday, December 21st, 2020

Renowned outdoor sportsman partners with composite ammunition manufacturer

GARLAND, TX (December 21, 2020) – Acclaimed explorer, biologist, conservationist, filmmaker, and sportsman Donnie Vincent has partnered with Texas-based composite-cased ammunition manufacturer True Velocity to help spread the word about the company’s groundbreaking technology and demonstrate how manufacturing and design innovations are shaking up the ammo industry.

“I’m very particular with the gear that I use, and the brands with which I choose to align myself. First and foremost, the brands need to be backed by great people. Not only that, I need to know that their products work, and I need to be sure that they’re the best of the best for me, so that others can trust my recommendation,“ Vincent said. “The benefit of True Velocity’s ammunition is undeniable and has consistently helped me shoot with far more confidence over the last few months. The reduced weight and improved accuracy that come from their proprietary ammunition case design is simply better than brass in every single category. It’s not often that ‘lighter’ and ‘more dependable’ share the same sentence when you’re talking gear, but I’ve found that to be true with this new technology. Any hunter or shooter will benefit greatly from this technology.”

Vincent and his multimedia production company SICMANTA have been working closely with True Velocity over the last year to help bring their story to life.

“Having spent a large part of the last year working closely with True Velocity’s technology and ammunition, we are, in essence, watching history being made before our eyes,” Vincent said. “This is going to change the world of the hunter and the world of the warfighter as we know it today. True Velocity exemplifies best of the best and is, without a doubt, the future.”  

No stranger to larger-than-life exploits in some of the most remote areas of the word, Vincent has established himself as a premier storyteller and advocate for the great outdoors. Through his work as a biologist, he has tracked Bengal Tigers in Nepal and Bangladesh, and has observed the migration of Pacific Salmon in Alaska. In an effort to instill a sense of adventure in more people, Vincent has filmed multiple hunting expeditions that grant an inside look at how true sportsmen engage and experience the wild. His recent full-length documentary, Winds of Adak, was released in August 2020 and can be streamed on YouTube. The film documents Vincent’s expedition to Adak Island, Alaska, where he surveyed the ruins on the island and hunted caribou, ptarmigan and sea ducks.

Vincent recently completed moose and bear hunts in Alaska equipped with a proprietary True Velocity 6.8mm round, as well as a rifle retrofitted with a barrel swap to fire the innovative new ammunition. These adventures are set to be featured in his upcoming documentary and film work.

True Velocity’s 6.8mm civilian round, which will be released to commercial shooters and hunters later this year, is similar in construct to composite-cased ammunition produced by True Velocity and currently being evaluated in the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program. NGSW aims to transform the combat equipment used by American forces for decades to come.

“Donnie perfectly exemplifies the type of individual we expect to get the most out of our ammunition,” said True Velocity’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Pat Hogan. “He’s experienced, dedicated to excellence, and has an eye for detail that most shooters aspire to. Even more important for Donnie, we recognized a shared passion with him for taking the path less traveled, as long as it is in the pursuit of perfection. We’re thrilled to have him represent the True Velocity brand.”    

To learn more about True Velocity and Donnie Vincent, follow @donnie_vincent on Instagram and visit TVAmmo.com.

6.5 BC – New for 2021 from Vortex Optics

Sunday, December 13th, 2020

Coming soon, 6.5 BC from Vortex Optics.

Kit Badger – Custom Load Development

Sunday, December 13th, 2020

Ivan has created this video on a local company that does custom load development for shooters.

Read the whole story at kitbadger.com/unknown-munitions-part-2-custom-load-development.

Speer Ammunition Awarded Contract to Provide Duty Ammunition to Top Nordic Police Agencies Including Norwegian and Swedish Police

Wednesday, December 9th, 2020

LEWISTON, Idaho – December 8, 2020 – Speer Ammunition was recently awarded the joint Nordic Police 9mm duty handgun ammunition contract for Speer 124-grain Gold Dot. Speer’s sister company Federal already holds the duty rifle contract for .223 Tactical Bonded and .308 Tactical Bonded Tip precision rounds. The duty handgun contract will supply these agencies for up to four years.

“We are extremely pleased with this prestigious contract award, as it validates the high level of trust the international law enforcement agencies have with our extremely reliable and innovative products,” said Speer’s President Jason Vanderbrink. 

“The testing specifications and procedures for these contracts were some of the most thorough in the world,” said VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales David Leis. “The use of Gold Dot technology in this contract ammunition ensures the highest performance threshold and absolute confidence in performance, and we are proud to produce ammunition that meets and exceeds our customer’s strict requirements.”

The selected duty rounds utilize Speer Gold Dot technology, which has set an industry benchmark for both self-defense and duty use, earning the trust of consumers and law enforcement world-wide. The bullet features a pressure-formed lead core that is bonded to an extremely uniform jacket a single atom at a time that virtually eliminates separation on impact for more retained weight and consistent penetration depths. The Gold Dot hollow-point design expands consistently through a full range of barriers. Reliable ignition and cycling are delivered thanks to sealed primers and nickel-plated brass.

Speer ammunition can be found at dealers nationwide or purchased online direct from Speer. For more information on all products from Speer or to shop online, visit www.speer.com.

SAAMI Adds Affiliate Membership Category

Monday, November 9th, 2020

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute® (SAAMI®) is pleased to announce that it has added a new membership category, Affiliated Members, to the organization’s body of professional suppliers.

As defined in the SAAMI bylaws, an individual or company eligible for Affiliated Member status is:

Any supplier of essential products or services used for the design, manufacture or testing of firearms, ammunition or propellant, including any major component part as defined in Art. V, Section 1, such as ballistic laboratory test and measurement equipment; tool and die makers; gauge and reamer manufacturers; and ballistic testing and materials testing, may be eligible to become a non-voting Affiliate Member of the Institute.

“None of us is as smart as all of us working towards a common goal,” said Rick Patterson, SAAMI Executive Director. “These companies are an essential part of our industry and including them in our membership body presents a more united industry working to assist in delivering SAAMI’s mission of firearm safety, reliability and interchangeability.”

To learn more about SAAMI, including its available memberships and how to apply, visit SAAMI.org.

This Is Happening

Saturday, October 31st, 2020

During a recent visit to SIG Ammunition in Arkansas, I saw the beginnings of their introduction of centerfire primers.

As many of you know, production of primers in the United States is very limited, so SIG is working to become even more vertically integrated. It will still be quite some time before they are able to make enough primers to keep up with the amount of rounds they are making per day, but they’ve taken the first steps.