News Brief – 8/31

Arizona’s Berger ammo has issued a recall of some 223 Remington 77 Grain OTM Tactical (Product # 65-23030) cartridges which could cause function/ignition issues with AR-style gas operating platforms.

Bolt action rifles are not affected. The rounds are from Lot # P002745, P002745-1, P002745-2 & P002745-3 which were shipped to retailers in April. The company says that, if you have one of these boxes, drop them a call (660-460-2802) or email ([email protected]) to arrange a replacement.

Florida’s Diamondback Firearms is trying to give the popular Ruger Wrangler some competition with a new rimfire revolver, the Sidekick.

While it looks like a single-action cowboy-style wheel gun, the Sidekick is double-action with a swing-out cylinder. Also, instead of a six-shooter, the Sidekick has a nine-round cylinder. Speaking of cylinders, it will ship with two different ones to accommodate both .22LR and .22 Mag cartridges.

With a 4.5-inch barrel, synthetic grips, and a Cerakoted alloy frame, the Sidekick weighs in at 32.5-ounces– which is sure to eat up recoil– and is expected to have an MSRP of just $320 when it is released in November.

Introduced just four years ago, the P365 has proved to be one of the things that are often promised in the gun industry that is seldom realized: a game-changer.

Since its debut, it has seen a half-dozen imitators hit the market from Springfield Armory, Ruger, Kimber, Smith & Wesson, and Taurus while Sig has done its best to flood the market with several different variants of the P365 (SAS, X, XL, etcetera, etcetera).

With that, it should be no surprise that Sig has now launched a Custom Works P365 Fire Control Unit program that allows users to buy an FCU and trick it out through a myriad of options with the help of an online studio like the ones used by car builders. 

Texas-based True Velocity has made a name for itself recently as being one of the suppliers of polymer-cased 6.8mm ammo for testing in the Army’s Next Generation Weapon Systems prototypes.

The concept is that these types of composite-cased ammunition will bring weight savings across the logistics chain from shipping containers down to the individual grunt in the field while also being cooler in operation– the spent cases are room temperature rather than hot brass– which can extend weapon life.

Well, True Velocity is trying to move into the consumer market as well, partnering with Virtus Ammo to act as the first licensed distributor of their composite-cased .308 Winchester ammunition.

At the same time, they have signed the founders of Modern Day Sniper, Caylen Wojcik, and Phillip Velayo, to act as brand ambassadors.

While it is accurate, using a 168-grain Nosler custom competition HBT bullet, the bad news is that the ammo runs like $70 a box.  

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