Berryville, Arkansas– June 2022– Bill Wilson is proud to announce the acquisition of the assets of New Ultralight Arms, LLC in Granville, WV. Melvin Forbes’ New Ultralight Arms (NULA) has been the leader in high-quality, extremely lightweight bolt rifles since 1985 and is a perfect fit for the Wilson family of companies. Prior to Melvin’s NULA rifles, an accurate 5# rifle chambered in one of the .308 families of cartridges was considered impossible.
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Production of NULA rifles will relocate from West Virginia to the Wilson Combat plant in NW Arkansas in the coming months. Initial product offerings will be the Model 20S (chambered in .223 Wylde, 300 HAM’R and .350 Legend) and Model 20 (chambered in .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm08 Rem, .284 Win and .308 Win). With further plans to extend offerings to include Model 24 (chambered in .270 Win and .30-06) and Model 28 (chambered in 7mm Mag and .300 WM).
We are pleased that Melvin will be supplying us with all the necessary technical advice needed for a seamless transition, continuing his legacy of building the highest quality, lightest weight rifles on the market. Melvin plans to continue to be available to discuss his fine “Melvin” rifles over the phone. Together with Melvin and Bill, and our skilled gunsmiths and machinists will perfect the proven techniques required to achieve the highest quality and performance standard of these fine rifles.
New Ultralight Arms will join Chip McCormick Custom, Circle WC Ranch, Khumba Bush Camp, Lehigh Defense, Scattergun Technologies, Wilson Custom Ammunition, and Wilson Combat that make up the Wilson family of companies.
For more information about Melvin Forbes and the NULA rifle legacy please visit newultralightarms.com or contact Tressa Joubert, Director of Marketing, 870-545-3618, ext 104 tressa@wilsoncombat.com
Wilson Combat plans to allow pre-orders of the NULA line following the announcement with estimated first production delivery in late fall of 2022. Please contact Wilson Combat Customer Service at 800-955-4856 for order inquiries. www.wilsoncombat.com
About Wilson Combat®
Headquartered in Berryville, Arkansas since 1977, Wilson Combat is an industry leader in high-quality firearms for self-protection, law enforcement, military, and recreational use. Wilson Combat manufactures cutting-edge handguns, rifles, shotguns as well as firearm accessories, and ammunition.
Visit www.wilsoncombat.com for more information.
About NULA
Since 1985 Melvin Forbes has set the lightweight hunting rifle standard. With rifles from New Ultra Light Arms, you only have to sight them in once, and they shoot all bullet weights to the same point of impact. By the end of the last century, their reputation was legendary, and Colt decided to buy Ultra Light Arms (ULA) and offer a less expensive factory version. But, shortly after the acquisition, Colt went bankrupt and Melvin Forbes had to buy his company back.
Melvin continued making his rifles that were so appreciated, that 75% of his first-time customers buy another within 12 months. In 2013 Forbes had another chance to turn his creation into an over-the-counter, mass-produced rifle. He partnered again and Forbes Rifles was launched. The outlook was grand but the new company could not build the rifles to the strict standards Forbes demanded. Melvin stepped away and in 2015 Forbes Rifles folded.
Since then, New Ultra Light Arms (NULA) and Melvin Forbes have been doing what they’ve always done; building the pound-for-pound, best shooting, bolt-action rifle ever made. Finally, in early 2022 destiny arrived, and Melvin finally found the man and the company to continue his legacy. Bill Wilson and Wilson Combat will usher the incredible rifle that Melvin designed into the future.
“I have all the faith in the world in Bill Wilson, and this is a project whose time has come. I’m genuinely pleased that future generations will be able to enjoy the same rifle that I’ve been building, and that thousands of others have enjoyed, for almost 40 years.”
Melvin Forbes
“I feel so fortunate to know Melvin and to have been entrusted with the opportunity to continue his legacy of building the finest and lightest bolt rifles on the market. I’m also deeply humbled and honored that Melvin has put his trust in me and my team at Wilson Combat to continue his life’s work. He is basically turning his “baby” over to us and I assure him and all the past and future customers we won’t let any of you down.”
Bill Wilson
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