TarHunt - NEPIRC

Each month, we recognize one of the region’s top
manufacturers with the aid of NEPIRC, the Northeastern
Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center. Since 1988,
NEPIRC has been working with manufacturers to improve
their productivity, profitability, competitiveness and long-term
viability through consultative services.
Tar Hunt
Bloomsburg gun manufacturer sets the standard for custom slug guns
Manufactured in rural
Bloomsburg, Columbia County,
TarHunt custom-built slug guns
are considered to be among the
best by hunters, competition
shooters, law enforcement
agencies and even the Secret
Service across the United States
and are used in Europe, Africa,
the Middle East and Asia.
He wanted to continue hunting deer, but was
forced to hang up his rifles as New York state
is one of those parts of the country that only
allows shotguns.
For three and a half years, Fritz hunted with
shotguns and competed in target shooting
competitions, but was unhappy with their
very limited accuracy. So, he decided to do
something about it and set out to build his
own slug guns as a hobby.
Fritz wanted to create a big bore rifle with a
12-gauge rifled barrel – an ultimate slug gun.
And that is exactly what he did.
A few years later, he turned that hobby into
a
business.
TarHunt founder Randy Fritz grew up in rural
TarHunt’s slug guns set the standard
Pennsylvania. An avid deer hunter, Fritz would
by
which all slug guns were judged. In
take to the woods every year in search of a
fact,
several major gun and ammunition
trophy buck. Where he lived, rifles were, and
manufacturers
purchased TarHunt guns to
still are, the choice for hunting large game
test
their
ammunition.
like deer and bear. However, in many parts of
In 1992, one of Fritz’s most popular guns
the country, rifles are not allowed for hunting,
was
introduced at a gun show in Texas. Minor
as their ammunition has a much longer range
changes
were made over the next two years.
which poses
Field
and
Stream magazine in 2009 ranked
safety
Fritz’s
gun
as one of the 50 best gun designs
concerns in
of
all
times.
populated
TarHunt manufacturers about 100 guns a
areas.
year.
Every TarHunt slug gun is custom built
After
and
purchasers
wait sometimes between
graduating
10
months
and
two
years for their gun to be
college
completed.
in 1967,
In addition to manufacturing slug guns,
Fritz took
Fritz
is also a technical consultant and
a job as an
responsible
for quality control and accuracy
engineering
for
Lightfield
Ammunition. Lightfield makes
aid in New
shells
that
contain
non-lethal rubber slugs for
York state
homeland
security,
home defense, and wildlife
for General
TarHunt slug guns have
control.
The
ammunition
is sold at various
Dynamics’
been featured in many law
locations
including
Walmart.
In fact, TarHunt
Electronics
enforcement and hunting
is
currently
overseeing
a
Lightfield
order for
Division.
magazines.
Walmart for 800,000 rounds of ammunition.
TarHunt founder Randy Fritz displays a custom-built slug gun at his manufacturing facility.
Fritz is a part owner of two patents and has two
patents pending. His latest pending patent involves
the manufacture of a new slug that is made
through the process of 3D metal printing. The slug
is lighter, stronger and has a higher velocity than
traditional slugs.
Later this year, Fritz plans on releasing a new
slug gun that is 98 percent stainless steel.
For the past 10 years, the internet has been one
This feature is sponsored by...
of the primary resources for TarHunt’s growth.
Fritz is currently working with the Northeastern
Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC)
on ways to improve his company’s business model,
move forward with new technology and with the
review of his company’s online presence.
For more information on TarHunt, visit them on
the web at tarhunt.com.