If there’s a term that can describe the industry’s focus in the past year, it’s “supply chain issues.” These range from the availability and cost of raw materials and parts to building sufficient firearms to maintain inventory at the retail level. That’s one reason retailers saw so few new products released in 2021. It’s difficult to stop or reduce production of core products to begin production of a new firearm when demand is so high for existing products. But in 2022, retailers will begin to see more new models hit the market. Many of these will be line extensions, but there are a few surprises that should whet the appetite of your customers. Here are some of the highlights.
American Tactical
The American Tactical Bull Dog, imported from Turkey, is a semi-automatic 20-gauge tactical shotgun. Features include quick-acquisition flip-up sights, AR-style charging handle, adjustable cheek rest, and Picatinny and M-Lok rails. In addition, the Picatinny cut out on the lower can house a spare magazine, and that spare can be used as a foregrip. The gun ships with three choke tubes. SRP: $469.99.
Browning
The Browning legendary Citori 725 receives its annual upscale presentation in the form of the limited-edition Citori 725 Sporting Medallion High Grade. The blued receiver sports extensive engraving with gold highlights, and the stock is a gloss-finish Turkish walnut with cut checkering and an engravable inlay. This 12 gauge is offered with a choice of a 30- or 32-inch barrel. A hard case and five extended choke tubes are included. SRP: $7,069.99.
Among other new Citori variants is the Hunter in Grades I and II. Both grades of this over/under have a gloss-blued barrel and Inflex recoil pad. The Grade I receiver is also gloss-blued with gold-enhanced metal work. It has a satin-finish Grade I walnut stock. The Grade II has a silver nitride-finish receiver with metal work and a Grade II or III walnut stock. Both are offered with 26- or 28-inch barrels in 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge as well as .410 bore. SRP: $2,069.99-2,139.99, Grade I; 2,269.99-2,339.99, Grade II.
The Maxus II will also see an upgrade. The Maxus II Ultimate sports an oil-finish Grade III Turkish walnut stock, nickel-plated receiver with satin finish, and all-new scroll engraving. A new Inflex recoil pad (with spacers) has been added. Comb drop is adjustable. It also has a new screw-on forend cap for easy disassembly, fiber-optic front sight, and an ivory mid-bead. Many of its steel components are nickel Teflon-coated for protection and lubricity. SRP: $2,059.99.
Mossberg
Mossberg shakes things up this year with the addition of two new pump-action 590S models, based on its established 500 tactical series. The new 12-gauge defense guns are ground-breaking in that they’re capable of cycling 1.75-, 2.75-, and 3-inch shotshells interchangeably, in any combination, without the use of an adapter. The series includes two full-length stock options and two versions of the bird’s-head-gripped Shockwave.
The full-length 590S has an 18.5-inch barrel with a front bead sight and corncob forend. The 20-inch version has an adjustable ghost-ring sight, AccuChoke-compatible barrel, and M-Lok forend. SRP: $605-708. On the compact bird’s head-gripped Shockwave 590S, there’s a choice of 14.3- or 18.5-inch barrel length. It has a front bead sight and a strapped, corncob-style forend. SRP: $605. Capacity on any 590S ranges from 4+1 to 12+1, depending on barrel length and shell size. Overall lengths range from 30.75 to 41 inches.
On the waterfowl side of the Mossberg house are two new guns that borrow from the company’s 940 JM Pro shotguns. The 940 Pro Waterfowl series has a base-model 12 gauge with a 28-inch vent-rib barrel, Hi-Viz TriComp fiber-optic front sight (with interchangeable triangular and round LitePipes), and an AccuChoke-compatible X-Factor ported choke tube. Metal surfaces are finished with brown Cerakote to complement a TrueTimber Prairie camo stock and forend. It also has aggressive texturing on the forend and stock, sling-swivel studs, a drilled-and-tapped receiver and an ambidextrous safety. Capacity is five rounds. SRP: $1,050.
The Snow Goose edition of the 940 Pro Waterfowl line also has a 28-inch barrel and an extended magazine tube that holds up to 12 23⁄4-inch shells. It has an extended X-Factor ported choke tube that’s compatible with other AccuChoke tubes. There are two available barrel finishes: Battleship Gray Cerakote and Viper Snow camouflage. SRP: $1,120.
Savage Arms
Savage Arms is adding a personal-defense model to the Renegauge line. The Renegauge Security is a 12 gauge that, like others in the line, uses the Dual Regulating Inline Valve (D.R.I.V.) system to ensure reliable cycling of shells from 23⁄4 inches to 3-inch magnums with no gas adjustments required. Barrel length is 18.5 inches, and magazine capacity is six. Oversized controls help function in low-light conditions, and length of pull, comb height, heel/toe drop and pitch can all be changed to suit the needs of individual users. SRP: $1,499.
Winchester
Now offered in Mossy Oak DNA camouflage, the Winchester SX4 Universal Hunter comes complete with a drilled-and-tapped receiver to mount optics and a TruGlo long bead fiber-optic front sight. The proven Active Valve Gas System allows for consistent and reliable cycling, from light field loads to heavy magnum waterfowl and turkey loads. The oversized bolt release and large bolt handle make operation easy, even while wearing thick gloves. Available in 12 and 20 gauge. SRP: $1,149.99.
Pump guns are often considered utility guns, but the SXP Universal Hunter goes above and beyond the usual expectations. The Mossy Oak DNA camo finish is durable and offers full coverage all season long, and the receiver is drilled and tapped for Winchester scope bases and rings. Includes three Invector-Plus choke tubes, Truglo fiber-optic sight, Inflex Technology recoil pad, and sling-swivel studs. Available in 12 and 20 gauge. SRP: $509.99.
