Savage starts things off with new A22 Takedown in 22LR. Savage seems to have hit all the marks with this new takedown plinker. The stock is classic Savage synthetic but with two smartly placed storage compartments for stowing accessories and gear. The top of the stock opens up and has room for almost anything you should need to store in a rifle. If you still need more room, there’s additional storage in the grip which makes this a perfect little survival rifle. An included picatinny rail leaves plenty of space for mounting any optic one could desire. The 16.1 inch, 1/2x28 threaded barrel is made from blued carbon-steel. The best part of the rifle is in the simplicity of its takedown. Just pull the bolt back and twist the forend to split the A22 directly in half for easy storage. A simple twist is all that’s needed to lock the two halves back together. The Savage A22 is listed with a an MSRP of $479.
KelTec entered the .410 game with the all new KSG-410. At first glance, one would think it’s a KS-7, because of the smaller profile compared to the KSG. Don’t let the compact size of the KSG-410 fool you, though. The gun still touts double magazine tubes for that classic KSG capacity many of us have come to love. With 2 ¾ inch shells this shotgun boasts a 14+1 capacity, and a still-solid 10+1 with 3 inch shells. The grip is slimmed down as well, as the action which keeps the forend trim and suitable for smaller hands. The KSG-410 ships with the classic KelTec carry handle but a picatinny rail can be purchased separately and easily installed in its place. The 410 lends itself to a very light recoil impulse which makes this new shotgun very manageable to shoot. It would be perfect as a training shotgun for kids, a light recoiling home defense gun, or a fun new gun for the range. The KSG-410 will be shipping Q3 of this year with an MSRP of $495.
Bergara is now manufacturing its own carbon fiber stocks which can be found on the “Crest” rifle in the new “B-14 squared” series of rifles. The Crest comes with a deep-fluted barrel and carries the same sub-MOA guarantee for which Bergara is known. This gun comes in at only 6.9 pounds, with 20 inch and 22 inch barrel sizes available. The fluted bolt with black inlays adds a sleek and refined dynamic to this already incredible precision rifle. A threaded 5/8x24 muzzle with included brake tops off the new Crest. The MSRP for the Crest is $1999 and will be available in 6.5 Creedmor, 6.5 PRC, .308 WIN, and .308 WIN MAG.
Bergara also expands the Wilderness series with the “Ridge Carbon” and “HMR Carbon.” Both rifle use a carbon barrel to significantly reduce weight. The Ridge Carbon is fitted with an American style synthetic stock and weighs only 6.4 pounds. The Ridge Carbon comes with a hinged floor-plate style magazine and has an MSRP of $1399. The HMR Carbon uses Bergara’s HMR molded stock and weighs 7.5 pounds. A detachable magazine also differentiates the two rifles, as well as the price with an MSRP of $1599.
Taurus added another fan favorite to its “Executive” line, with the new Executive Judge. Like others in the Executive line, the new Judge is hand assembled by gunsmiths and has a refined look, fit, and feel. The Altamonte walnut checkered wood grip and hand-polished satin finish makes this Judge an especially classy blaster. The trigger is fine-tuned, smooth, and crisp in both single and double-action. The brass front sight rod adds to the overall class of the Executive pistol but is removable if the owner so desires. This more particular Judge is only compatible with 2.5 inch 410 shells and not 3 inch like its production predecessor. The Executive Judge ships in a TSA approved Pelican case and has an MSRP of $949.
