Madison, NC - Freedom Group, Inc. through a wholly owned subsidiary has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire certain assets of Barnes Bullets. The transaction closed on December 31, 2009.

Barnes Bullets, located in Mona, Utah, is the industry-leading supplier of copper bullets, including copper-tin composite core bullets. These products are used by hunters, shooters, military and law enforcement professionals around the world. With their innovative designs, advanced manufacturing techniques and core focus on the end-user, Barnes Bullets has been a leading choice of commercial consumers, law enforcement and military users since its inception in 1932.

Barnes Bullets will continue day-to-day operations at their Mona, Utah-based location under the guidance of company founder, Randy Brooks.

"We welcome Randy and his team to the Freedom Group family," commented Ted Torbeck, CEO of the Freedom Group, Inc. "With the acquisition of Barnes; the Freedom Group continues to demonstrate our commitment to the ammunition business. Barnes offers a premium line of high performance bullets for the hunting and shooting communities; and for law enforcement, military and commercial consumers around the world. We are excited about their research and development capabilities and the breadth of the products they bring to our portfolio."

About Freedom Group, Inc.

Freedom Group is the world's leading innovator, designer, manufacturer, and marketer of firearms, ammunition, and related products for the hunting, shooting sports, law enforcement, and military markets. As one of the largest manufacturers in the world of firearms and ammunition, we have some of the most globally recognized brands including Remington, Bushmaster, DPMS/Panther Arms, Marlin, H&R, NEF, LC Smith, Parker, EOTAC, AAC, Dakota and INTC. The Company distributes its products throughout the U.S. and in over 80 foreign countries. More information about the Company can be found at www.freedom-group.com.

Good for the Brooks, but I hope that Remington doesn't let the company go the way of the recent lack of quality control of the Model 700, etc. Also, I hope that other ammo folks will still have access to Barnes products.

I think Remington sees the no-lead future being foisted upon us by the enviro-whackos.

Watch for price increases in Barnes bullets.

Someone has to pay for the sale of Barnes to the Freedom Group, that someone is allways the customer that will buy the products the Freedom groups sells.

Great News for all

raise prices? hardly .. they will make MORE of them, and then also load factory ammo with it ...

freedom groups did NOT raise prices on the r15 and r25, AND added more features to the standard

As long as Randy and Connie stay on board, I can't imagine any decrease in quality. I will miss their monthly e-mail newsletter though if they stop that.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Hopefully we don't see a repeat of the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw when Jack Carter sold to Speer.

John

Good news for GS Custom bullets then! I favor the small guy, they have to work hard for their product, and they save money by not advertising; money well spent in R&D!

quote:

I think Remington sees the no-lead future being foisted upon us by the enviro-whackos.

JudgeG I think that you are absolutly correct!

I do not use Barnes bullets Because of all the copper they leave in the bore. It took a full day to get it out of my 416. When I had shot 20
rounds. If You want use them I don't care.

jro45,

If you don't mind me offering, I believe the foaming bore cleaners like "Wipe Out" have proven to be very good at removing fouling in the bore after using copper bullets.

My usual procedure it to foam the bore, let sit 12 hours or so and then patch clean in about four patches.

Certainly there are plenty of other choices out there that perform as well as Barnes, but I don't see a reason to avoid Barnes based on a cleaning problem.

Barnes TSX and Banded Solids have become my "go to" bullets in several big bore calibers.

This acquisition worries me.

As Big Bore Boar Hunter has pointed out, Speer/Federal managed to screw up the Trophy Bonded bullet line. They substituted a brittle gilding metal for Jack Carter's original, ductile copper.

This was done, of course, to ease manufacture, and thereby cut costs.

I don't want accountants designing my DG bullets.

I'm more concerned about losing availability of some of the 'specialty' bullets barnes makes. For example the .510 450 grain and 300 grain flat points and the .380 diameter .375 for the 38-55 lever action. They have kept the 'original' line alive for some of us shooting classic cartridges. I have also called them with requests for discontinued product and they have 'found' some for me in the plant. Great customer service always by nice people. I only hope this is retained by the new ownership.