Crafting the words and images that capture the spirit of the outdoor sports and the beauty that surrounds them.
The U.S. Army has released images of the guns still in the running for its Next Generation Squad Weapon program. Here they are for your viewing pleasure. Obviously, all are chambered in that 6.8 mm cartridge to be determined.
From Champion Traps & Targets
Champion Traps & Targets, maker of interactive and challenging target systems and trusted eye and ear protection, has awarded 2020 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships to two 4-H student ambassadors: Cecelia Ossi of New Jersey and Thomas Singleton of Louisiana.
The scholarship program was created to honor legendary exhibition shooter Tom Knapp, who passed away in April 2013. Champion teamed with the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee to create the Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarship in his name. Knapp was a long-time ambassador for both Champion and Federal Premium Ammunition, and was included in licensed products from Champion. With the support of Knapp’s wife, Colleen, Champion extended his licensed products program to fund an endowed scholarship that awards $2,500 each to two National 4-H Ambassadors per year.
“Federal and Champion Targets have been long-time supporters of the National 4-H Shooting Sports and seeing the bright future of the next generation of shooting sports enthusiasts is always a highlight,” said Jason Slinkard, Director of Shooting Accessories for Vista Outdoor. “These applicants for the Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarship will continue to represent the shooting sports industry, sharing a powerful message of leadership and new life skills as they head off to college.”
“Cecelia and Thomas are true leaders in the youth shooting sports arena and Federal is proud of their accomplishments with the National 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassador program,” added Jon Zinnel, Conservation and Youth Shooting Sports Program Manager for Federal and CCI Ammunition. “Seeing leaders graduating from the 4-H Ambassador Training reinforces the fact that our industry is strong and in good hands that are building future generations of shooting sports enthusiasts.” Applicants for the scholarship are required to be 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassadors with a 3.0 or higher GPA and enrolled in an accredited college or university.
From Nightforce
Nightforce has announced the NX8 2.5-20×50 and NX8 4-32×50 are now available in second focal plane versions.
The NX8 family of riflescopes are an evolution of Nightforce’s legendary NXS series. An 8x zoom ratio and compact package make the NX8 a versatile scope for close and long-range. Whether you are a hunter, shooter, or professional, the NX8 family of multi-use optics put your capabilities at a whole new level.
From Escort
Somewhat atypical from Escort, who is well-known for their unique shotguns, is a new .22LR bolt-action rifle. Simply named the 22LR, this magazine-fed bolt-action rifle will make a great hunter, plinker, and/or trainer at an excellent price. This rifle is simple to operate and easy to maintain. The hard chrome-plated steel alloy receiver and barrel resist rust and corrosion while the smooth chrome plated bolt moves free-yet-precise. The safety mechanism is easy to operate, even for the most inexperienced shooters.
The rifle includes a 5-round and a 10-round magazine to suit a variety of hunting and plinking needs. The magazine bodies are made from a lightweight, durable polymer with a stainless-steel follower that is easy to load. The threaded barrel is fitted with a protective cap and is ready to accept a variety of popular muzzle accessories. Mounted studs are ready to accept a wide array of slings.
The Escort 22LR is available in two stock variants. The Turkish walnut stock offers fish-scale textured grip areas and a recessed magazine well. This stock also features Hatsan’s DuoTex buttpad for consistent, easy shouldering. The synthetic stock model features texturing of the grip areas and a Picatinny accessory rail under the forearm. The buttstock also has a storage slot for a spare 5- or 10-round magazine and is equipped with a soft ventilated buttpad.
22LR Features:
22LR Specifications:
If home defense is the primary mission, don’t forget to take a look at the company’s Slugger Series of pump-action shotguns.
From FAB Defense
Not all grips are created equal and too many fall short on the details, leaving shooters at a disadvantage when they need a firm grip and stable shooting position. F.A.B. Defense built the all new Gradus pistol grip after listening to endless requests from customers and expert shooters. The result is an ergonomic design with subtle features that deliver a reliable and tactical grasp on the firearm.
The grip surface is a rubberized mold that provides the non-slip surface preferred by nearly all tactical shooters. Beneath the rubber overmold, a rock solid polymer core is built for many lifetimes of durability and more importantly, a reliable pressure point on the firearm. The construction quality is exceptional but the shaping and design is what really launches this grip ahead in the field.
A strategically crafted 15-degree profile leads the hand around the grip naturally. The profile is intentionally set for long range or CQB shooting exercises without tiring the stable grip hand. Additionally, the 15-degree reduced grip angle places pressure into the grip for more consistent and accurate shooting. Combined with the curved backstrap, the angle offers a very comfortable, ergonomic grip that is loved by shooters.
While the Gradus Pistol Grip is built for performance, it also delivers on aesthetics. Available in Black, Olive Drab or Flat Dark Earth, the colors options will look great on any color scheme. Lastly, the grip is offered in AR beaver tail or flat configurations.
When it comes to selecting a grip, the number of available options are overwhelming. Few if any compare in terms of design quality and molding fit to the perfect tactical angle while delivering hand relief in an ergonomic design. The entire F.A.B. Defense team is thrilled to manufacture the finest pistol grip on the market today.
Hawke Optics, the world leader in quality sporting optics that perform in the field at an amazing value to consumers, takes the premium Frontier binocular to an unbelievable level of clarity with apochromatic lenses and H7 optics for unsurpassed light transfer. They say what you see is what you get. With the Frontier APO, what you see will take your breath away.
Professional photographers know all about APO. Apochromatic lenses are designed to bring three light wavelengths (typically red, green, and blue) into focus in the same plane. This gives the image you see better correction of chromatic and spherical aberration from distances, which usually distorts the color and reducing the clarity of the images you see. APO lenses also correct for spherical aberration at two wavelengths, rather than one as in an achromatic lens. The result is a sharp increase in the definition of what you’re looking at and a wider, flat-field of view without distortion.
But Hawke didn’t just stop with adding APO lenses. Their new H7 optics have extra low dispersion glass that adds to the stunning highly defined viewing with even more color control and phase correction. H7 also adds new high performance lens coatings and dielectric-coated BAK-4 roof prisms which all combine to give you the highest level of light transmission for a bright, crystal-clear image.
There are two models of Frontier APO Binoculars. The 8×42 model has a field of view of 8.1 degrees and weighs in at 26.1 ounces thanks to the lightweight magnesium-alloy chassis. The 10×42 model has a 7.1-degree field of view and also weighs in at 26.1 ounces. Both models focus at 6.6 feet and have water-resistant lens coatings. They are water and fog proof and are fully nitrogen purged. Replaceable, twist-up eye cups with position stops let you tailor the fit to your needs. Stay-on lens covers protect the lenses. Like all Hawke Optics, the Frontier APO binoculars are covered by the Hawke No-Fault Lifetime Warranty, so go afield with confidence that you have the best value in extreme, high-performance binoculars. And if you’re looking for something different, take at look at the Bushnell Powerview 2.
From Kryptek
Starting today, Exo Mtn Gear and Kryptek team up to offer a limited run of Exo K3 pack systems in Kryptek Altitude.
The packs are available now while supplies last as a pre-sale opportunity, slated for delivery no later than September 15, just in time for hunting season.
Available in four sizes ranging from a streamlined daypack to a 10+ day expedition-style pack, each pack is lightweight, durable, efficient and made in the USA.
Exo anticipates another run of the Kryptek Altitude packs in September.
Kryptek Ladies Legion member and Active Duty U.S. Military DeeAnn Servey says of Exo packs, “I’ve ran an Exo backpack for four years now. They are highly adjustable and are a really comfortable, well made pack. I would highly recommend purchasing this pack of you are in need of a durable quality hunting pack.”
The Altitude collection is Kryptek’s premier pattern and is widely used and praised by Kryptek pro-staff, backcountry hunters, guides and outfitters. Although designed with the alpine environment in mind, the Altitude pattern effectively breaks-up and conceals in deciduous forest regions from North America to the Mopane Forest in Africa. Available in lightweight, durable soft-shell and rain gear sets, the highly technical collection has proved itself in the most austere environments around the globe and is now available in a pack system as effective as the pattern itself.
Kryptek and Exo Mtn Gear share many commonalities. Both are headquartered in Idaho and pride themselves on producing products with the customer in mind. Kryptek and Exo gear is durable, functional, comfortable and built to withstand the needs of every backcountry enthusiast.
Blackhawk, a leader in law enforcement and military equipment for over 20 years, announced today that it has added new Level 2 Duty (L2D) Light Bearing holsters compatible with the SIG SAUER P320 to the T-Series Red Dot Sight (RDS) Holster line. The new holsters were engineered specifically to accommodate red dot sights when mounted on SIG P320 pistols.
The new dual-injected molded holsters are available in left and right-hand configurations and feature a removable, rotating dust cover that protects the optic from impacts and debris. The T-Series RDS holsters can be used with the Trijicon RMR/SRO, Leupold Delta Point Pro, SIG Romeo1Pro, plus other similar sized optics. The SIG P320 pistol is kept secure in a durable polymer body that provides users with a sleek, ergonomic design without adding extra bulk to the holster.
As the world’s first thumb driven, dual-injected molded holster, each T-Series RDS holster is standard with a soft touch inner layer that is both super slick and sound-dampening. This durable and efficient, low-friction design translates into a smooth, quiet draw or re-holstering of the sidearm.
Designed to follow Blackhawk’s Master Grip Principle, all T-Series holsters have been specifically developed to allow the user’s hand to land naturally where it should in order to deploy the sidearm. The T-Series RDS L2D and Level 3 Duty (L3D) holsters are designed for use with the Streamlight TLR-1 and TLR-2 pistol lights.
And don’t forget the leg strap for this series of duty holsters.
For more information on the new light-bearing T-Series RDS Holsters for the SIG P320 or to view the complete line of T-Series holsters visit www.blackhawk.com/holsters/.
True Velocity officials confirmed recently that the Texas-based technology company delivered more than 170,000 rounds of its 6.8mm TVCM lightweight ammunition to the U.S. Army in May as part of the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program.
“As a team, True Velocity is excited and proud to have delivered this significant order of next-generation ammunition to the Army in-full and on-time,” said True Velocity President Chris Tedford. “Our 6.8 TVCM composite-cased cartridge is capable of unprecedented ballistic performance, while simultaneously exceeding the Army’s expectations in terms of weight reduction.”
The U.S. Army down-selected True Velocity’s composite-cased ammunition in August 2019 for the NGSW modernization program. True Velocity submitted its 6.8mm composite-cased cartridge as part of an overall NGSW weapon system in partnership with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and firearm manufacturer Beretta.
True Velocity’s proprietary composite 6.8mm case design provides end users with significant logistical and operational advantages over metal-hybrid cases and traditional brass cases, including substantially increased effective range and muzzle energy, drastic reduction in cartridge weight and enhanced accuracy, regardless of weapon platform.
“True Velocity’s ammunition – and particularly our 6.8 TVCM cartridge – are changing the paradigm,” Tedford said. “It turns out you don’t have to operate at unsafe chamber pressures in order to generate increased velocity, enhanced terminal performance and improved accuracy. Our cartridge achieves all of these things, while maintaining safe operating pressures and drastically reducing the overall cartridge weight.”
The NGSW program is designed to provide the U.S. Army’s Close Combat Force with an enhanced 6.8mm cartridge replacement for the currently fielded 5.56x45mm round, as well as to replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and the M4A1 with next-generation weapons.
From Proof Research
PROOF Research, an innovator in precision rifle technology, is proud to announce the newest addition to their precision, long-range rifles with the Conviction Ti, a new standard in lightweight, tactical, long-range rifles.
PROOF Research combined a lightweight, titanium receiver with their match-grade, carbon-fiber barrel and laid carbon-fiber stock. With a starting weight of just 6 lbs. 6 oz., the Conviction Ti is backed by Proof Research’s SUB ½ MOA guarantee. The ergonomic design features an adjustable cheekpiece, a near-vertical grip, low-profile flush cups, integral rail and a wider forearm to accommodate an EFR mount. Also, the Conviction Ti is available with a right or left-handed titanium action, a TriggerTech trigger, and a Pachmayr recoil pad. Using PROOF Research’s Extreme-Accuracy bedding technique, the Conviction Ti long-range rifle will not disappoint competitors, hunters, or our nation’s peacekeepers for its uncompromising accuracy over extreme distances.
The Conviction Ti rifle excels in every-shot performance, even at exceptional distances. For the hunter, competitor, and military, where weight is an important consideration when carrying a fully kitted-out rifle, loaded backpack and other accessories, the Conviction Ti rifle is the clear winner. Even fully kitted with scope, suppressor and bipod, the Conviction Ti rifle comes in under 13 lbs., half the weight of traditional tactical rifles.
The Conviction Ti’s lightweight carbon fiber stock and barrel are made with cutting-edge polymer technologies, coupled with a titanium receiver that is lighter than steel but even stronger than high-strength steel. The Conviction Ti is a superior rifle for consistent, long-range performance in the toughest environments.
The PROOF Research Conviction Ti precision rifle weighs between 6 lbs. 6oz and 8 lbs. 2oz. depending upon the specific build and starts at $8,499. Head over to proofresearch.com to build your own Conviction Ti.
And don’t forget to take a look at the company’s collaboration with San Tan Tactical and Hornady to create a 6 mm ARC-chambered AR-15.