This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, the emphasis is on firearms and ammunition companies in the American Redoubt.
Idaho
Some sad news, from Sandpoint, on July 4th: Army Surplus destroyed in fire. This was the iconic store that was the inspiration for “Grogan’s War Surplus” in the humorous books written by the late Pat McManus. A reader who lives nearby told me that a rocket from a home fireworks display was spotted as the cause of the blaze.
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Advantage Arms is an Idaho company that is worth mentioning. I already own two of their subcaliber kits and plan to buy at least one more. From their website:
“Advantage Arms was founded in 1997 by Army Veteran Steve Jennings of Valencia, California, who discovered the niche market of .22 conversion kits and set out to make the best functioning kit at an affordable price. Over time, the product line grew to twenty-five variations of conversion kits for Glocks, 1911s, and XD pistols.
After many successful years, Steve passed the torch to his son, Brandon, who brought the business up to beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Brandon has been a central figure in the company since the early 2000s, managing day-to-day operations and engineering new products.”
Take a look at their product offerings. They will soon be offering .22 kits for some SIG 9mm pistols! Because their subcaliber kits do not include frames, they can be bought via mailorder, without any Federal paperwork.
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Freedom Munitions in Lewiston keeps doubling their production. Their X-DEF hollowpoints are awesome.
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Buffalo Bore Ammunition in Salmon, Idaho, has expanded their product line.
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This Boise-based company is building some premium hunting rifles: Allterra Arms.
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Seekins Precision (of Lewiston, Idaho) has expanded their line of bolt action rifles.
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Ammo maker’s new Lewiston facility hits the mark.
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Speer/CCI in Lewiston is one of America’s largest ammunition makers.
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Idaho Ordnance Factory in Dalton Gardens, Ido is a small but fast-growing maker of ammunition and components for handloaders.
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Hells Canyon Armory is known for its carbon fiber barrels.
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Vector Bullets is located in the little town of Clearwater, Idaho. They make .223 jacketed bullets and will soon be offering .30 caliber bullets.
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SCOTUS turns down river dredge mining in Idaho without permit.
Montana
Ammunition company expansion in Montana to create hundreds of jobs.
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Montana firearm manufacturer expanding production in Helena.
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HSM Ammunition is now the largest employer in Stevensville, Montana.
Central & Eastern Oregon
Gun maker moving to Redmond, partly due to its gun attitude.
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This shop in Pendleton makes some amazing composite stocks: Oregunsmithing.
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New gun shop, Target Practice LLC, opens in John Day.
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Nosler Bullets of Bend, Oregon has expanded its product line to include some titanium and aluminum/titanium suppressors.
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Oregonians bought 146.000 guns to start 2024, one of the highest rates in US.
Central & Eastern Washington
Pend Oreille Ballistics is a veteran-owned ammunition manufacturing and firearms supply company in northeastern Washington.
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In addition to a broad line of guns, ammo, and magazines, AXIS MFG in Spokane Valley also does in-house CNC machining — such a Glock slide optics cuts.
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Wyoming
Wyoming Armory in Cody has recently grown its staff. They are best known for their incredible bone charcoal color case hardening.
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Weatherby moved to Wyoming in 2018. They are now growing their product line and actively hiring new staff.
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Spartan Arms in Worland, Wyoming is building a reputation as a premium hunting rifle maker.
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Something unusual, for Yellowstone: Independence Day Shootout Leaves One Dead, Ranger Injured.
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Cody’s Buffalo Bill Statue Rededicated On 100th Anniversary.
Send Your News Tips
Please send your American Redoubt region news tips, event announcements, and American Redoubt-based companies worthy of a mention to JWR. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.