Caracal has completely revamped their pistol product line, eliminating the original F, C and SC models and replacing them with the CP660, CP661 and CP662 handguns. Additionally, the company introduced two completely new pistols: the CP663 and CP664.
According to Caracal, the new pistols offer “enhanced performance, interchangeable features and improved safety units.” What this specifically means, remains to be seen. But, I am guessing it relates to the complete recall of all Caracal C pistols. Here is what we know so far…
Sturm, Ruger & Co is in the process of opening a third production plant to expand manufacturing capacity, and company president and CEO Michael O. Fifer wants to do it quickly.
“We’re running out of space,†said Fifer in the company’s annual shareholder meeting on April 30.
According to Fifer, Ruger will use the new facility to build new lines of firearms, not to expand production of current firearms. Fifer stated he expects the new facility would build about ten completely new firearm lines.
To show how much growth Ruger has experienced, consider the number of employees employed at the Prescott, AZ manufacturing facility. On the weekly Gun Talk radio program, Ken Jorgensen, Director of Media Relations for Ruger, told host Tom Gresham that there were about 150 employees at the plant in 2008. Currently, there are about 750.
An existing, high-quality facility is what Ruger would like to find. “I don’t have any desire to build something,†said Fifer. He stated that there is more risk in building something, and he would prefer to get the new plant up and running “very quickly.â€
Ideally, the facility would be of newer construction, about 250,000 square feet in size, and have a “phenomenal electrical [system] in it.â€Â Fifer stated the company would prefer not to be in an industrial park.
TriStar Arms added a number of new personal defense and target shooting handguns for 2013. Â I am not terribly familiar with the TriStar line of firearms, but according to the company, they only recently got into the handgun market when they introduced their first pistols in 2012.
The new TriStar pistols are chambered in 9mm and .40 S&W and come in a variety of finishes and sizes. Â Two of the pistols, the TP semi-auto handguns, are polymer framed guns. Â The other pistols are traditional metal framed handguns.
Last year the Savage model 42 reintroduced the break-open combo gun to the company’s line up. Â It was a .22 LR and .410 combination gun. Â For 2013, Savage brought out a new version of the model 42 chambered in .22 WMR and .410 bore.
Both versions of the model 42 break open at the receiver for chambering and extracting ammunition. Â The top chamber and barrel is for the rimfire round, while the lower chamber and barrel is for the shotshell. Â I should note that the .22 WMR, also known as .22 Magnum, is not capable of safely firing .22 LR ammunition.
The new Walther PPX was on display at the NASGW Expo, and regular readers of this site have probably already seen some of the photos of the pistol. Â Here are some more details on the gun and some of my observations.
The new PPX will be available in 9mm and .40 S&W. Â The 9mm version will hold 16 rounds in the magazine. Â Alternatively, the .40 S&W will pack 14 rounds into the mag. Â Either way, you should have an adequate amount of felon repellant should it be needed.
