IN ASSOCIATION WITH IWA OUTDOORCLASSICS
ACROSS THE POND
BARRETT BEGINS CONSTRUCTION ON NEW ERA IN WEAPONS MANUFACTURING
The NIOA Group has broken ground on a new Barrett Firearms facility in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, marking the most significant investment in the company’s history.
The $76.4 million Barrett Manufacturing & Technology Campus (BMTC) will serve as NIOA’s global centre of excellence for firearms and advanced military weapons manufacturing. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Senator Marsha Blackburn joined company executives at the ceremony.
Located on a 170-acre site near Barrett’s original headquarters, the 250,000 sq ft facility will house R&D, large-scale production, and corporate offices. It is expected to double Barrett’s workforce within five years, with operations scheduled to begin in early 2027.
Barrett CEO Bryan James said: “As a locally founded business, we’re proud to invest once again in the place that has shaped our success as a global leader serving both the commercial and military markets.”
NIOA Group chairman Rob Nioa added: “This is a strategic investment that will give us the scale, technology and capacity to meet the evolving demands of our customers and defence partners worldwide.”
DSC APPLAUDS ANGOLA’S RETURN TO HUNTING
Dallas Safari Club (DSC) CEO Rob McCanna has welcomed Angola’s decision to reintroduce regulated hunting, describing it as a landmark moment for African conservation.
Speaking at DSC’s inaugural Summer Expo in Texas, McCanna joined Angolan officials and representatives from Conservation Force to announce the reopening, which was confirmed with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
“Angola is standing up for science and recognising that hunting is the surest way to conserve wildlife,” McCanna said.
Angola was once a leading hunting destination before decades of civil conflict. Recent reforms, guided by technical input from Conservation Force and supported by DSC, are designed to rebuild wildlife management and provide sustainable benefits to local communities.
To support the initiative, DSC auctioned a 14-day plains game hunt and a fiveday marlin fishing trip, contributing to $3.5 million raised during the three-day Expo.
US LAWSUIT CHALLENGES NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT
The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), together with the NRA, American Suppressor Association (ASA) and Second
Amendment Foundation (SAF), has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the National Firearms Act of 1934.
The case, Brown v. ATF, argues that the NFA exceeds Congress’s constitutional authority and violates the Second Amendment, particularly following the repeal of the excise tax on regulated items under the One Big Beautiful Bill.
“The National Firearms Act isn’t just unconstitutional, it’s a tyrannical abomination,” said FPC president Brandon Combs. ASA president Knox Williams added that the law now serves only “as an unconstitutional registry of untaxed firearms.”
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of challenges by FPC.
NICS CHECKS DECLINE IN JULY
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has reported an 8.1% year-on-year drop in adjusted NICS background checks for July 2025.
The total of 978,731 checks compares with 1,064,790 in July 2024. Unadjusted FBI data also showed a 4.2% decline, with 1,936,621 checks conducted.
Texas, Florida, California, Pennsylvania and Tennessee led the totals across firearm categories. While NICS checks are not a direct measure of sales, the data remains a key indicator of US market activity.
MAINLAND EUROPE
LOTHAR WALTHER MARKS 100 YEARS
German barrel maker Lothar Walther has celebrated its 100th anniversary, marking a century of precision engineering.
Founded in 1925 by Lothar Walther, son of famed designer Carl Walther, the company has grown into a respected supplier of precision barrels for OEMs and competition shooters worldwide.
Still family-owned and managed by Dr Frank Walther and Gerd Walther, the firm marked its centenary with a company outing and celebration in Bavaria.
DOWN UNDER
AUSTRALIAN GROUPS STRENGTHEN ALLIANCE
Australia’s leading shooting organisations have held a second strategic meeting to build on May’s national summit, which was spearheaded by the Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia (SIFA).
The latest meeting expanded the alliance to include the Australian Clay Target Association and the Australian Deer Association. A joint statement confirmed agreement on a shared set of principles and policy objectives, with members pledging to advocate collectively for federal representation and reform of the Federal Firearms Advisory Council.
Organisations involved include SSAA, IPSC Australia, Field & Game Australia and the National Rifle Association of Australia. The next meeting will take place in two months.