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One of the most exciting products introduced at the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Atlanta, Ga., was Springfield’s XDE—a familiar, yet very different, polymer-framed semi-automatic pistol. Watch the video as American Rifleman’s Joe Kurtenbach gives the gun a once-over and offers his opinion about where the new entrant fits within the very lively personal-defense market.
In 2024, former owner Gregg Ritz purchased Thompson/Center Arms. Now the company has introduced a modern take on its classic Contender/Encore concept: the ENCORE PROHunter.
While it's certainly a saturated marketplace these days, the AR-15 has never been more popular with American firearm enthusiasts, and many manufacturers are continuing to feed the need with new options loaded with new features.