DRG Manufacturing, a U.S. leader in the firearm-component manufacturing industry, has acquired Saltwater Arms. The addition enables DRG to provide online customers complete, fully assembled firearms chambered in 9 mm, .308 Win., 5.56 NATO and .300 Blackout at SaltwaterArms.com. The rifles will also be available to retailers direct through White Label Armory.
DRG, which is based in Lake Zurich, IL, was established in 2016 and manufactures a full portfolio of precision parts for the AR-15, AR-10 and AR-9 platforms. The total-solution firm produces an extensive lineup of high-demand products, including bolt carrier groups, lower receivers, complete upper receivers, barrels and bolts. An in-house quality control lab maintains the highest standards throughout the firm’s offerings.
Saltwater Arms emerged on the market in 2019 with a focus on producing high-quality, corrosion-resistant rifles designed for maritime or other harsh-use environments. The style and performance of its Barracuda and Blackfin AR-15 rifles will continue to be the company’s front runners in a family of fully assembled firearms. In addition to the aesthetic beauty of the stainless-steel components, they are easily compatible with most AR-platform accessories and furniture. Upgrades to some components, such as the bolt carrier group, will be DRG’s proprietary unit with precision grinding and finishing applications.
“We set out to offer distinctive solutions to our customers and choosing to manufacture a new line of fully assembled rifles and pistols seemed to be the natural direction,” said DRG Manufacturing CEO Chris Gosell. “Saltwater Arms rifles met our high standards and unique ‘out-of-the-box thinking’ and we’re excited to add our expertise to the production. The firearm’s key components are made from stainless steel with highly durable corrosion-resistant coatings to provide users the utmost strength and longevity in the harshest of marine environments as well as worry-free relief for the prepper community.”
DRG designs, engineers, manufactures and assembles its products in Illinois. The company’s cutting-edge facility is driven by a workforce of robots and automated cells, including fully automated robot-driven barrel drilling and reaming cell, barrel profiling and chambering cell, carrier cell, upper receiver and lower receiver cells and bolt and gas key cells.
