January 21, 2025
By Keith Wood
2025’s Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show is officially underway in Las Vegas, Nevada. We have seen several new products launched at the show and during the preceding weeks, here are a few highlights.
Howa 22 ARC (Photo courtesy of Howa) Howa’s mini actions are some of the slickest on the market and they have expanded their cartridge offerings by adding the 22 ARC. This chambering will be available with a standard 22” barrel, a heavy 20” steel barrel or a 20” carbon fiber barrel. The mini action is scaled to fit smaller cartridges such as this one—the receiver and bolt weigh just 10.2 ounces. Features include an AICS pattern detachable magazine, a three-position safety and an M16-style extractor. These rifles are guaranteed to shoot sub-MOA at 100 yards. Legacysports.com
Hammerli FORCE B1 in .22 WMR (Photo courtesy of Hammerli) As we suspected when we first got our hands on the innovative Hammerli FORCE B1 in .22 LR, the rifle is now available in .22 WMR. The FORCE B1 uses a toggle bolt that is fast to operate but insensitive to ammunition power making it extremely reliable. The barrels on these little rifles pop on and off in seconds using a quick-release coupling system. The increased power of the .22 WMR will make the FORCE B1 a more-effective choice for predator control, making it a great option as a truck/ranch rifle. Hammerliarms.com
Mossberg Patriot Carbine (Photo courtesy of Mossberg) Mossberg is expanding their lineup to accommodate the needs of customers seeking to use suppressors without adding excessive overall length. The Patriot Carbine is being offered in eight handy cartridges with threaded barrels ranging from 16.5” to 20”, depending on the chambering. These carbines wear black synthetic stocks with a straight comb and all have Picatinny rails for scope mounting. Weights hover right at 6.5 pounds. Mossberg.com
Advertisement
7mm Backcountry Cartridge (Photo courtesy of Federal) No cartridge will turn as many heads in 2025 as the new 7mm Backcountry. This cartridge uses a super-strong Peak Alloy case that was designed for military applications to produce unheard-of velocities. Thanks to the chamber pressures that these stronger cases can handle, the 7mm Backcountry is able to produce magnum velocities even when using shorter barrels. As an example, the 170gr. Terminal Ascent load will have a muzzle velocity of 3,150 fps from a 24” barrel and 3,000 fps from a 20” barrel. Federalpremium.com
Remington Core-Lokt .400 Legend (Photo courtesy of Remington) On the heels of the .350 Legend’s success as a straight-wall deer hunting cartridge, Remington is producing Core-Lokt ammunition in the new .400 Legend chambering. The .400 Legend uses the same parent case as the .350 but with a larger diameter .4005” bullet. This cartridge will comply with the straight-wall cartridge definition that many states mandate for deer hunting with a rifle. The .400 Legend was designed to work within the confines of an AR-15’s receiver and magazine but will also be compatible with bolt-actions and other formats. Per SAAMI specs, the .400 Legend pushes a 215gr. bullet at 2,230 fps though Remington has chosen a slightly lighter 210gr. projectile. Of course, the new load will use Remington’s Core-Lokt Pointed Soft-Point bullet, one that has established itself over many decades as an excellent choice for whitetail deer. remington.com
Cooper Montana Heritage (Photo courtesy of Cooper Firearms) Cooper Rifles of Montana built a reputation for quality rifles with aesthetically pleasing lines. When the company was acquired by the folks at Nighthawk Custom, I knew that those traditions would continue. Cooper Rifles of Arkansas is now up and running, producing rifles that honor Cooper’s Legacy. Among the first offerings is the Montana Heritage Edition Rifle, offered in either .308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor. This rifle pairs a three-lug steel action with the choice of a steel or carbon fiber-wrapped barrel. The stock is made from American walnut and blends a traditional material with a more modern shape. Cooperfirearms.com
Advertisement
Hornady .338 ARC (Photo courtesy of Hornady ) The .300 BLK has become the default cartridge for subsonic use but terminal performance is often lacking. To address that challenge, Hornady developed the new .338 ARC. The .338 ARC uses a 307gr. SUB-X bullet at subsonic velocity, hitting with 1.5 times the energy of the subsonic .300 BLK and with increased frontal area. There is also a supersonic Hornady Black load that uses a 175gr. HP bullet. This cartridge is designed to cycle reliably in semi-automatic firearms in both its subsonic and supersonic variants. More than two-dozen companies have already committed to producing firearms or barrels in this chambering so industry support will be excellent. Hornady.com
Bergara BMR-X (Photo courtesy of Bergara) Bergara, a company known for building rifles with fantastic out-of-the-box performance, is releasing a bolt-action rimfire. This rifle, available in .22LR, .17 HMR and .22 WMR, is being offered with either a steel or carbon fiber-wrapped barrel. I have a test sample and it is extremely slick. With a 30 MOA optic rail and an adjustable length-of-pull, it is equally suited for precision shooting or chasing small game. Five and ten-round magazines are available. Bergarausa.com