ICYMI: Industry News From
Dec. 5–9, 2022
CAA USA Opens New Facility, Retail Store
Dec. 10, CAA USA unveiled a brand-new facility and opened the doors to its first retail store for walk-in customers.
Visitors had the opportunity to purchase any of the American-made CAA Micro Conversion Kits (MCK), including the new GEN3 Conversion Kit, or any other CAA USA product for 50% off during the grand opening.
For customers wanting to learn a bit more about the MCK and the new GEN3, two Shooting Tips & Tour sessions were offered during the grand opening. Founder and CEO, LTC. (Ret.) Mikey Hartman also gave a special shooting tip class. Hartman, a former IDF officer, is credited with developing the IDF sharpshooting manual, as well as leading the Sharpshooting and Marksmanship School.
“This is a very special day for all of us at CAA USA,” Hartman explained. “We have been working for months behind the scenes to make the grand opening of our very first retail store something special and memorable for our customers.”
For more info: caagearup.com.
Speer, CCI Ammunition To Produce Catalyst Lead-Free Primers
Speer and CCI Ammunition announce the implementation and production of market-leading Catalyst lead-free priming technology in their Lewiston, Idaho facility. The proprietary Catalyst primer was initially developed by Speer and CCI’s partner company, Federal Ammunition, starting in 2016.
“We are extremely proud of this new production capability which continues the rollout of an incredible primer technology,” said Jason Vanderbrink, Federal, CCI and Speer president. “This product has proven to be the best in its class after nearly seven years of continuous production. Its consistent performance has been tested over hundreds of millions of rounds. Most notably, the product is featured in Federal’s innovative Syntech Range ammo and American Eagle Lead-Free.”
According to Federal Ammunition, the Catalyst primer creates more uniform and complete propellant combustion, yielding minimal velocity variation and consistent bullet launch for improved accuracy. It is also non-hydrophilic, so it does not attract water molecules like DDNP-based mixes found in most lead-free primers, resulting in better reliability.
“Catalyst lead-free priming technology provides the cleanest, most consistent ignition possible. We are excited that our Lewiston plant is now set up to run Catalyst priming in our target pistol products,” said Mike Overberg, Speer and CCI director of factory operations. “The Anoka facility has proven this to be the best lead-free priming technology available. Our staff here has done a fantastic job of working across factories to extend this product into Speer and CCI Blazer ammunition products made in Lewiston, Idaho.”
For more info: speer.com, cci-ammunition.com.
onX Acquires Toprut
onX, owner of the GPS app onX Hunt, has acquired Toprut, a draw odds and application tool. By bringing Toprut into its fold, onX Hunt becomes a year-round tool, from pre-season scouting and field use to finding the data needed to navigate tag applications across the west.
Toprut is a core service that helps hunters make insightful, fact-driven tag application decisions each season. Tags in the west have become increasingly difficult to draw in recent years, so in 2021, onX Hunt partnered with Toprut to offer draw application data to its onX Elite members.
Through this partnership, onX Hunt analyzed western elk data from 2018–2022 and discovered the demand for tags in the west was outpacing supply more dramatically than anticipated:
• Resident elk applicants are up +9.28% from 2018 to 2021
• Non-resident elk applicants are up +22.68% over the past five years
• Total limited entry bull tags available are down -2.49% from 2018 to 2021
During application season, onX Elite members can log into Toprut, successfully navigate draw odds, build an application strategy, find overlooked opportunities and save time and frustration throughout the process.
Starting this year, onX Hunt and Toprut will offer draw odds for 12 western states: Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and now Alaska and Washington (Washington to be released soon). Plans are already underway to expand into additional states in 2023.
“A successful hunt all starts with finding the right tag,” said Cliff Cancelosi, onX Hunt general manager. “As demand for tags increases and point creep makes quality units more difficult to draw, hunters need a tool to help them navigate western applications. By bringing Toprut into the onX Hunt ecosystem, we can drive value for those users and continue to innovate as the leader in hunt tools and resources.”
onX will continue working with Toprut’s network of contributors, administrators, and the company’s Co-Founder Steve Cordle.
For more info: onxmaps.com, toprut.com.
Kinsey's Announces Return Of KDS23
Kinsey’s Inc. announced its annual Dealer Show, KDS23, will return in 2023. The event will run Feb. 17–19, 2023, and be held at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa.
KDS23 offers dealers the opportunity to save on products which helps to maximize their margins and contribute to their business’s bottom line from more than 250 leading brands. Dealers also have the ability to program their show orders with industry-leading ship dates starting with ASAP shipments through 8/1, depending on the item category.
Attendees of KDS23 will get to experience all of the show staples, including the Hot Shows, vendor and dealer interactions, giveaways and more. Dealer registration for the show is open until Feb. 10, 2023.
“KDS 2023 is set up to be a massive success. Supply chains are finally catching up, which will allow dealers to accurately take advantage of our industry-leading terms and ship windows,” said Justin Gorman, Kinsey’s VP of sales and marketing.
For more info: kinseysinc.com/dealer-show.
