Gun Industry News: Federal Adds 22 Creedmoor, 25 Creedmoor and 22 ARC Loads, CVA's Iron-Sighted Cascade XTS, and Magpul's DT-S Stock

After last week's big ownership shake-ups, this week is all about gear you can actually put to work in deer season. Federal Ammunition rolled out three new loads for some of the newer, efficient cartridges that hunters and AR owners have been asking for. CVA added a hunting rifle with factory iron sights for nasty weather and thick timber. And Magpul released a new AR stock that carries your spare optic batteries for you. Here's what's new and why it matters.

1. Federal fills in the 22 Creedmoor, 25 Creedmoor and 22 ARC lineups

Federal had a busy two weeks. In three separate releases, the company added factory loads for three cartridges that have been short on ammo choices.

22 Creedmoor (announced Oct. 29). Federal added two 75-grain loads: a Fusion bonded soft point for hunting and an American Eagle Total Metal Jacket (TMJ) for the range. Federal lists both at a muzzle velocity of 3,300 feet per second. "The screaming 22 Creedmoor can push heavier 22-caliber bullets more than 3,000 fps for flat trajectories, long-range accuracy, and hard-hitting power on coyotes and other predators," said Josh Vickers, Federal's centerfire rifle ammunition product manager.

25 Creedmoor (announced Oct. 30). Federal's Fusion Tipped line now includes a 130-grain 25 Creedmoor load. Federal lists it at 2,850 fps with a G1 ballistic coefficient of .578, and its product page lists it for big game. Vickers said the cartridge pairs "sleek, high ballistic coefficient bullets" with "reduced recoil and all the terminal performance needed on deer-sized game." Federal says 125-grain American Eagle and 135-grain Sierra MatchKing target loads are also coming soon.

22 ARC (announced Oct. 26). For AR-15 owners, Federal's American Eagle line now includes a 75-grain TMJ load in 22 ARC, listed at 2,975 fps and now shipping to dealers. This one is a range and practice load, not a hunting bullet.

All three new loads come in 20-round boxes.

Why it matters for hunters: A new cartridge is only as good as the ammo you can find for it. When a major ammo maker like Federal adds both a hunting load and a cheaper practice load, it's a good sign the cartridge has staying power.

For AR owners, a dedicated range load means you can practice with the same cartridge you hunt with. Just remember the 22 ARC American Eagle is a full metal jacket target load. It isn't built to expand, so don't take it hunting. Also, 22 ARC is not interchangeable with .223 or 5.56. It needs its own barrel, bolt and magazines.

For the 22 and 25 Creedmoor loads, Federal markets the Fusion as a hunting bullet: 22 Creedmoor Fusion for predators, and 25 Creedmoor Fusion Tipped for deer-sized game. As always, check your state's rules on minimum calibers for big game before you pick a cartridge. If you're stocking up before your next hunt, Sportsman's Warehouse is a good place to check for Federal ammo in stores and online.

2. CVA's Cascade XTS puts iron sights back on a hunting rifle

CVA's Cascade bolt-action family has a new member: the Cascade XTS. It builds on the existing Cascade XT, which has a heavier-contour fluted barrel and a radial muzzle brake, and adds factory open sights.

According to CVA's product page, the XTS includes:

• Adjustable steel Marble's sights. A brass bead on a steel front post, with an adjustable rear buckhorn sight. The rear sight has indexed notches in 1.5-MOA steps, so you can record your zero and come back to it after changing loads or distances.
• 20-inch fluted barrel that CVA says is meant for moving through thick cover. The barrel is threaded 5/8x24, according to The Firearm Blog's coverage.
• Tungsten Cerakote finish on the barreled action and a black synthetic stock with a textured SuperGrip finish for wet or cold weather.
• Adjustable length of pull and a Crush Zone recoil pad.
• Four chamberings: .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Win Mag and .338 Win Mag.

Why it matters for hunters: Iron sights have mostly disappeared from factory bolt guns. CVA is aiming this rifle at hunters in thick timber and bad weather, where rain, snow or fog can make a scope hard to use. CVA says the sights give "a dependable aiming solution when rain, snow, or fog make traditional optics less practical."

That pitch will sound familiar to anyone who hunts the timber in Northwest Montana in late season. Even if you run a scope, factory open sights can be a solid backup if your optic gets knocked out of zero or fogs up. A word of caution: iron sights take practice. If you plan to rely on them, spend real time at the range with them before the hunt, and keep your shots within the distance you can hit consistently with open sights.

3. Magpul releases the DT-S Carbine Stock

Magpul released a new adjustable AR-15 stock, the DT-S. It uses the same Dual Tension (DT) system as Magpul's existing DT Carbine Stock and adds two storage tubes for spare batteries.

Here's what Magpul says the DT-S offers:

• Dual Tension lockup. An auto-engaging friction lock tightens the stock against the buffer tube, so you don't need a second locking lever to stop wobble. You still adjust it with a single ambidextrous latch.
• Two waterproof storage tubes. Each is sealed with dual O-rings and rated waterproof to 10 meters, and each holds up to two batteries of the kind commonly used for optics and accessories. The tubes also form a wider, sloping cheek weld.
• No-slip rubber butt pad with an angled toe.
• Sling options: an ambidextrous anti-rotation QD socket and a footman's loop.

Magpul's existing DT Carbine Stock is listed for mil-spec carbine receiver extensions only, not commercial-spec tubes. Check Magpul's page for the DT-S fit details and confirm which buffer tube your rifle has before you order.

Why it matters for AR hunters: If you hunt with a red dot, an illuminated scope or a weapon light, you already know the worst time for a dead battery is right before shooting light. A stock that keeps spares on the rifle, sealed against rain and snow, solves a real problem in the field. If you're shopping for AR furniture, Brownells and Palmetto State Armory both carry a wide range of Magpul stocks and accessories.

The bottom line

This week's news is good news for hunters. Federal is putting real hunting loads behind the 22 and 25 Creedmoor and adding a practice load for the 22 ARC. CVA is giving timber hunters a bolt gun that doesn't depend on glass. And Magpul came up with a smart fix for the dead-battery problem on electronic optics.

This article is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It isn't professional, legal, or safety advice. Always check the facts, local laws and regulations, and manufacturer data for yourself, and use your own judgment before you buy, hunt with, or handle any firearm or ammunition.

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