The Mt. Juliet (TN) Police Department and Blount County (TN) Sheriff’s SWAT Team have selected the VKTR Industries piston-driven VK-1 rifle for duty use. The issued piston-driven AR-15s have fully ambidextrous fire controls and are outfitted with HUXWRX Flow 556K suppressors.
“We are extremely excited to support this customer,” said Eric Luley, the national sales manager for VKTR. “We have built out a great package for the crew and are proud to support them over the life of the program.”
The VK-1’s patented piston-driven system reduces blowback to the shooter, a decided advantage in suppressed firearms. It also runs cleaner than those that operate with direct-gas impingement, easing cleanup chores. The gun’s Combat Match Bolt reduces wear rate, and the 22.5-degree bolt carrier cam path minimizes muzzle rise and perceived recoil, providing faster follow-up shots.
Mt. Juliet’s Police Department has approximately 80 sworn officers. The VK-1 will be issued for patrol and to the agency’s tactical team. Blount County doesn’t release the number of officers on its SWAT Team.
Years of Expertise in the Platform
VKTR Industries was established in 2022, but the company brought years of gunmaking experience to that launch. David Rybacki, founder and owner, was part of the team that established DRG Manufacturing back in 2016.
Operating out of Mt. Zurich, IL, DRG quickly gained a reputation for producing top-quality, American-made OEM parts for manufacturers, including barrels, bolt carrier groups, lower receivers and more. Then in 2022 Rybacki—after acquiring the patent for a fully ambidextrous lower—established VKTR Industries.
In March 2023 he sold DRG Manufacturing to his sisters and moved to Missouri to build complete firearms. The company is headquartered in House Springs, MO, and currently offers complete firearms, uppers, parts and more. In August 2024 it introduced a direct-gas-impingement bolt-carrier group with the same perceived-recoil-reduction advantages of the 22.5-degree bolt-cam-pin path in its piston-driven version.
OSS Suppressors, the forerunner of HUXWRX Safety, was founded in 2007 and caught the attention of the industry in 2009 when it introduced the first flow-through suppressor. In 2022 it rebranded with the name change and today is focused on human exposure during shooting activities and developing products that intervene to associated health risks. The company operates out of Millcreek, UT, and offers suppressors and accessories.
