ICYMI: Industry News
From March 18–22, 2024

Freedom Munitions’ Rifle Case Manufacturing Facility Now In Production

Freedom Munitions announced its 10,000 sq. ft. facility dedicated to rifle ammunition case making is operational and producing Freedom’s own .223 Remington cases.

Freedom Munitions has been manufacturing cases for various pistol calibers for some time while sourcing out rifle cases from well-respected manufacturers in order to load .223 Remington, 5.56 NATO, .308 Winchester and many other popular calibers.

“Research and development has been going on for some time while building the facility, but now the first lots of cases have been tested in live .223 with excellent results,” said Toby Thill, president of Freedom Munitions. “Now having the ability to produce our own rifle cases greatly alleviates issues with case shortages, bottlenecks and pricing shifts, allowing us to consistently provide rifle ammunition at fair pricing.”

Freedom Munitions loads many variations of .223 Remington ammunition from target and hunting, to professional match grade, with the 55-grain FMJ bullet from X-Treme Bullets being the most popular.

Freedom Munitions is also equipped with its own ballistics lab and underground firing range for extensive testing on all calibers, ensuring accurate and reliable performance on these new cases. The new Freedom-made cases feature the X-Treme Bullets headstamp, which is a brand of Freedom Munitions LLC that specializes in components, primarily plated bullets.

The first 500,000 units out of the factory are available now in .223 55-grain FMJ, with more to come. This expansion is expected to open up 20–30 jobs in Lewiston, Idaho, as more calibers start being processed.

For more info: freedommunitions.com

Joint Venture Between Taurus And India’s Jindal Defence Commences

The collaborative effort between Taurus Armas S.A., a leading Brazilian multinational, and Jindal Defense Systems Pvt Limited, a prominent Indian group, has reached a significant milestone with the initiation of pilot batch production at the new manufacturing unit in India. This joint venture, known as JD Taurus, marks a pivotal moment in the global firearms industry.

This month, under the guidance of Taurus’ expert team from Brazil, the Indian facility has commenced the production of pilot batches of firearms. This strategic move aligns with the transfer of technology (ToT) and knowledge, ensuring seamless integration and adherence to stringent quality standards.

The primary objective of these pilot batches is to establish technical, operational, and manufacturing processes to guarantee the replication of high safety and quality standards on an industrial scale. The manufacturing unit is poised to cater to both military and civilian markets, with an initial annual production capacity of up to 250,000 weapons, subject to scaling based on demand.

JD Taurus is actively participating in major tenders, including the ongoing procurement process by the Ministry of Defense, India, for 425,000 carbines. This endeavor underscores the company’s commitment to supplying cutting-edge firearms to bolster national security.

The partnership between Taurus and Jindal Defense epitomizes a pioneering initiative in technology transfer, in line with India’s “Make in India” program. With a 51:49 equity participation ratio, the collaboration signifies a harmonious blend of technological expertise and financial resources.

India’s stature as one of the largest markets for firearms underscores the immense potential for growth and innovation in the defense sector. With a burgeoning population and substantial defense expenditure, India presents unprecedented opportunities for stakeholders in the industry.

For more info: taurususa.com

NEXTORCH Midwest Mobile Dealer Road Show

NEXTORCH Industries, manufacturers of illumination tools and specialized equipment for law enforcement, first responder, tactical and outdoor applications, announced its Midwest Dealer Road Show event.

This year, it will include stops across the Midwest over the course of four weeks. The NEXTORCH “Mobile Showroom” van is currently traveling around the country, offering dealer training and a product review program for dealers interested in their state-of-the-art professional illumination tools and specialized products.

“We love the opportunity this provides for the kind of face-to-face interaction that became so difficult over the past few years. Being able to meet in person with current and prospective dealers, law enforcement agencies and industry partners just can’t be duplicated digitally,” said Jordan Brothers, NEXTORCH VP of sales and marketing. “There’s no substitute for direct on-the-ground feedback from our dealers’ buying teams, store associates, and end users.”

This informative program has the NEXTORCH leadership team and training staff traveling the country, visiting dealers and offering in-depth knowledge and insights of their industry-leading professional products.

For more info: nextorch.com

Steelhead Outdoors Seeks Distributors And Retailers

Steelhead Outdoors, manufacturer of gun storage solution products, is seeking distributors and retailers as its made-in-USA product line expands.

Steelhead Outdoors entered the market in 2016 with its state-of-the-art Nomad modular gun safes sold online. The product line now includes pistol lock boxes; an affordable, high-security Scout gun cabinet; Case Keeper & Bow Keeper safe exterior storage accessories; tactical safes and vault doors. All products except the modular safes and vault doors will be available for sale through retailers.

“As we strategically grow our business, we are primed to add retail partners and distributors,” said Steelhead Outdoors Co-Founder Corey Meyer. “Our ready-for-retail products are priced from $35–$1,600 MSRP and offer an opportunity for volume sales for the right retailers.”

For more info: steelheadoutdoors.com

Vista Outdoor Foundation Donates $208,000 To Four Nonprofits

The Vista Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic partner of Vista Outdoor Inc., announced the donation of $208,000 to four nonprofit organizations, concluding a multi-year grant commitment. The four nonprofits receiving proceeds are:

Little Bellas: Mentoring on Mountain Bikes — Little Bellas creates opportunities for girls to experience success using mountain biking as the platform and pathway to personal growth.

Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation — The Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation teaches outdoor education and promotes and funds conservation of wildlife worldwide.

Pedal Power MN — Pedal Power has created a model for 4th and 5th grade classes to go out for weekly rides with their teachers, to use bikes instead of buses and to ride year-round with an after-school group to locations all over Minneapolis.

Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation Inc. — Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation provides shooting sports education and opportunities to school-age youth to encourage young athletes’ personal growth and development.

The donations mark the final contributions from the Vista Outdoor Foundation. Post-separation, the new companies — Revelyst and The Kinetic Group — will develop their own charitable giving strategies and announce those to stakeholders.

“Supporting educational programs and the responsible use of our products is so important to the future of wildlife and enjoyment of the outdoors,” said Jason Nash, Foundation board member and VP of marketing for Vista Outdoor’s The Kinetic Group segment. “The Foundation has allowed us to provide additional resources to outstanding partners who exemplify how best to enrich our sporting heritage and ensure generations are able to enjoy the shooting sports.”

For more info: vistaoutdoor.com/foundation