As covered by Guns.com from SHOT '23, the modern H&R with NoDakSpud founder Mike Wetteland as CEO is back and ready to make some extremely sweet guns that just ooze old-school cool.
Growing from three throwback models last year – a basic M16A1 clone, the H&R 635 9mm, and H&R 723 carbine – the company has in the meantime added a gray or black XM16E1 complete with triangular handguards and three-prong flash hider with options for either a trap or no-trap stock, an A2 rifle with a 20-inch barrel and round handguards, an A2 pencil profile carbine with a CAR stock, an XM177E2 clone, and an Air Force 604 model with a 1:12 twist barrel – and they are only getting warmed up.
We stopped by the booth at SHOT '24 last week and spent some quality time with Wetteland, as addressed in the above 10-minute video, where he gave us the rundown on the entire current and planned (possible) future H&R collection.
Among the cooler things on the plate is a DOE 9mm. Based on the company's 635 platform but with a new brace, it includes a flip-down front sight and takes Colt SMG mags. Mike says it will get built eventually but didn't have dates or ask. Below is a 733 variant. Wetteland says they already have the C7-style uppers on the market for the 733 and are just waiting for their pistol braces to finish production before this one is released. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
There is what H&R calls an "Aberdeen Brown" maple wood stock A1 variant, which is man-cave worthy. These will be available within the next month both as complete rifles and furniture sets. There will also be a distressed walnut version. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Reminiscent of the early 1980s DMRs, check out this resto-mod flat top. Wetteland says this is inbound shortly, scope not included, and advised to ignore the RRA mount. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
An early 1990s Delta-style JSOC tube gun, Wetteland said this is a throwback to the days before the arrival of the quad rail mafia and was an armorer-level hack that high-speed guys did to allow them to mount lights and lasers. He stressed that, while H&R may not make this as an all-up gun, uppers, and parts are likely to be made to allow home builders and collectors to steal this look. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
For "Blood Diamond" and "Black Hawk Down" fans, H&R has a 10-inch barreled TIA model with an A2 upper and shorty flash can hider. They already have the uppers out and will be releasing a pistol variant with their new brace. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Going maximum effort, Wetteland and the H&R gang are toying around with making a semi-auto Colt LMG clone. He says they are "gauging interest" in moving to a production stage. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Wetteland said that if they moved forward with production on the LMG, it would likely not have a forward assist but would have the hallmark squared-off handguard, vert grip, carrying handle, and integrated bipod. Expect weight to be in the 12 to 13-pound range.
