In the aftermath of SHOT Show, we're seeing a lot of new firearms hit the market, COVID-19 or no COVID-19. Here's a roundup of some new shootin' irons that have just been revealed; at this point, we have no confirmation that any of these rifles will come to Canada, and we certainly don't have a suggested MSRP yet.
The Wildcat semi-auto rimfire has been very successful for Winchester, so it makes sense to come out with a bolt-action equivalent. Taking a look at the title image, you can see the rifle has similar stock design to the Wildcat, including an adjustable stock riser. It takes the same 10-round rotary magazine, and like the Wildcat, can also use Ruger 10/22 mags. It uses Winchester's Rimfire M.O.A. adjustable trigger (similar to Winchester's centerfire rifles), and has a target-style crown with "semi-match Bentz chamber." There's also a hemispherical firing pin, which is supposed to be more reliable with oft-iffy rimfire ammo.
Nothing too radical here; this is Henry's Long Ranger lever-action, with five-round box mag. In this variant, it's chambered in 5.56 NATO. It comes with a short 16.5-inch barrel with 1:9 twist rate, and the free-floating, tapered barrel has a 1/2-28 thread, to attach muzzle devices. There's a Picatinny rail atop the receiver, and no iron sights.
In other words, it's a practical, maybe even tactical take on the lever gun formula. The laminated birch stocks don't have the silly zombie apocalypse look of other lever guns in this style, which is probably a good thing. For the many, many Americans (and now Canadians) who see their black rifles banned by authorities, this is a good alternative, if you want to burn through some bulk .223.
The name is a mouthful, but the new B&T USA SPC9 could be very interesting to Canadian shooters looking for a new 9mm carbine. Like the B&T APC9 (already available in Canada), the SPC9 combines a blowback action with an AR-style buffer tube to reduce recoil, as well as AR-style manual of arms, if you choose it. As per the press release: "One of the unique features of SPC9-series is that it is equipped with two different charging handle systems. One of these is the handle found on AR platforms, while the other is a non-reciprocating, foldable charging handle located above the barrel. This gives the user the choice to use whatever manual of arms that is preferred; both systems are ambidextrous."
The APC9 is currently available in Canada in a non-restricted configuration, and we'd expect the SPC9 to be the same. It's headed to the US in a 16-inch barrel configuration; surely there would be enough interested Canadian buyers to spec a slightly longer-barreled version, that was Canuckistan-legal?
B&T will offer three versions of this lower; one accepts B&T mags, and the other versions accept SIG Sauer P320/M17 or Glock magazines.
OK, here's a new spin on the idea of a takedown rifle. This new carbine from Trailblazer wouldn't be Canada-legal in this configuration, as it has a 16-inch barrel, but as always, the manufacturer could change that for a production run destined for the Great White North.
In standard shooting configuration, the Pivot Rifle is an odd-looking firearm. It looks like something straight from the Perfect Dark video game series. Underneath the weirdo exterior, it's just a basic 9mm blowback action that feeds from Glock mags. It's made in the USA using a combination of aluminum, steel and polymer. Nothing too fanciful there.
What's weird is, the Pivot Rifle can be folded together to reduce overall length, taking it from 29.7 inches with stock extended in firing configuration, to 20.9 inches when folded. It's sort of the same idea as a Kel-Tec SUB2000. Some shooters like that, some don't, but it's a convenient way to put together a takedown rifle.
Bushmaster makes semi-autos, right? Apparently, Bushmaster also makes straight-pull bolt-actions now (maybe the new post-Remington ownership decided to try something new?). Chambered in 7.62 NATO or 6.5 Creedmoor (easily changeable between calibers, if you swap the barrel), the BA30 uses the same handguard, barrel and bolt as Bushmaster's XM-10 rifle, paired with a BFI 1913 adjustable stock and two-stage DM25 trigger. The action itself is ambidextrous, a welcome feature for lefty shooters.
As it's a modular design, many accessories designed for other rifles (AR grips, for example) will fit the BA30. Will it come to Canada? It certainly appears to meet our legal standards, as it's mechanically completely different from the AR-10 and AR-15 series rifles.. However, given the country's shifting rules around anything that's remotely AR-like, you might not see it here, at least not anytime soon.
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