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The bolt-action Spanish FR-8 was a stopgap firearm, thrown into service by the Spanish when they were already moving toward the 7.62x51 mm NATO-chambered Cetme rifle. The FR-8 shares the later rifle's chambering, and actually appears to be a gas gun, though the tube is simply storage for a cleaning rod. For more on this unique piece of history, check out this "I Have This Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman Television.
In 2024, former owner Gregg Ritz purchased Thompson/Center Arms. Now the company has introduced a modern take on its classic Contender/Encore concept: the ENCORE PROHunter.
While it's certainly a saturated marketplace these days, the AR-15 has never been more popular with American firearm enthusiasts, and many manufacturers are continuing to feed the need with new options loaded with new features.