#FactoryTour

There are media event trips, and then there are the kind of trips that remind you why you fell in love with this industry in the first place, and continue to sacrifice much to keep working in it. My recent visit to Lewiston, Idaho, to participate in CCI Ammunition's celebration of its 75th anniversary was very much the latter. I honestly can't remember a time when CCI wasn't part of my life as a shooter. CCI Standard Velocity, in particular, has been a constant presence for about as long as I can recall picking up a .22. The brick on the shelf, the box in the range bag, the stuff you grab without even thinking about it because you already know it's going to run. Most of you know that CCI Standard is a staple here on The Rimfire Report, and for almost 7 years now, CCI has been along with me for the ride as I dig myself deeper and deeper within the rabbit hole that is rimfire firearms and ammunition.

At Q, the philosophy is simple: “Nobody really cares what you do as long as you have fun,” said Nick Schaefer, one of the engineers behind many Q products. That attitude sets the tone for everything the team does, from design sessions to customer builds. It’s a mix of irreverence, deep engineering, and plenty of laughter — exactly what you’d expect from the crew that gave the world the Honey Badger and the Fix. Back in July, I was fortunate enough to get to spend a few days at Q and even got to build a few guns while there. Trust me, I was blown away by the offer to do a build when Q offered it to me, but now I get to share my experience with all of you.