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gives us a unique perspective on market trends. We know hunters don’t limit themselves on caliber choices or firearms styles. To meet this diverse need, we are entering the hog- specific ammunition market with seven different calibers, providing real choices to our customers.
ranges using full-shot payloads.
SD: Firearms for personal defense— especially models and calibers suited for concealed carry—have been strong sellers in the past few years. Obviously, you see continued strength in this market. Is that the reasoning behind the introduction of the Barnes Tac-XPD line? You’re marketing this load as “a lightweight bullet with heavyweight performance.” Is that so the user feels less recoil? Would advertising efforts focus on the growing women’s market here?
SD: The green-and-yellow box is certainly iconic, but it seems a bit dated. Does Remington intend to upgrade its packaging to match what other manufacturers are doing, such as more color, embossed boxes for higher-price lines, and color differentiation between the various price levels?
GK: Remington is focused on performance, not marketing gimmicks. We have been, and continue to be, the leader in driving ammunition performance. Having said that, we do believe packaging serves a purpose. When done right, packaging helps to direct the consumer to the product with the features and benefits they need. In the future, you will see cleaner and clearer packaging from Remington. We will utilize this packaging to guide the consumer, not simply to wow them. SD: The new HyperSonic Pheasant load uses something the company calls “Xelerator Wad technology.”
George Kollitides says the market for personal defense is growing, and women are a key part of that market. What, exactly, is it? How does it work? What’s the benefit to a pheasant hunter?
GK: The Xelerator Wad is the same
patented innovation and technology we launched in HyperSonic Steel. It utilizes our proprietary ignition chamber, which produces higher velocities at safe pressures. The end result is enhanced on-target lethality at greater
GK: The market for personal defense is unequivocally growing, and growing rapidly. You correctly point out that women are entering the market in numbers greater than ever before, and the concealed-carry market is likewise expanding. This translates into a strong demand for lowerrecoil ammunition that sacrifices neither lethality nor performance. The new Barnes’ Tac-XPD line is exactly what you have described—a lightweight, low-recoil cartridge that results in a faster recovery time. This results in a faster return to target, imperative in self-defense situations. The Tac-XPD cartridge was designed to perform through the rigorous FBI protocol barriers, ensuring top-tier performance in self-defense situations.
What’s Happening ROYAL ARMS INTERNATIONAL Booth #6311 50BMG Sniper Rifle Raffle Tue., Jan. 15–Fri., Jan. 18 Royal Arms International is hosting a raffle with proceeds to benefit the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation. The company is raffling off a Bushmaster BA50 .50-caliber BMG Sniper Rifle as well as a Royal Arms Custom Glock 17. Drop by and get a ticket for a chance to win one of these great guns. Tickets are $20 each. The nonprofit Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation provides assistance to wounded explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians and their families. On average, there are more than 7,000 brave men and women serving as EOD technicians within the four services. They are responsible for disarming, rendering safe, and disposing of unexploded military ordnance and terrorist devices, normally called IEDs.