VIKTOS, a U.S. veteran-designed brand, introduces the Opsec Field Fleece as part of its Fall 2026 collection. The midweight 9.4 oz fleece features reinforced NyCo overlays, zippered pockets, and raglan sleeves for versatile use on the range, at work, or everyday wear, priced at $120.
Wilson Combat's BULWARK has been named 2026 Handgun of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The compact duty pistol combines 15+1 capacity in 9mm with a 1911-style trigger and demonstrated flawless reliability and excellent accuracy in testing.
Team Ruger's Kaleb Klein won five divisions at the 2026 Scholastic Action Shooting Program Mid-South Regional, setting a new SASP record in Rimfire Optic Rifle with a time of 21.35 seconds using Ruger firearms including the 10/22, American, RXM, and GP100 models.
Safe LivinG, in collaboration with AAFES, concludes its 2026 Grand Safety Tour at Fort Hood Main Exchange on October 30-31, offering free hands-on firearms safety training, responsible gun ownership education, and suicide prevention awareness. The mobile range features FATS by InVeris simulators, product demonstrations from SABRE and Streamlight, and family-focused safety discussions.
German Precision Optics (GPO USA) announced a partnership with MWS Associates, Inc. to represent GPO product lines across 37 states. MWS Associates brings 50 years of shooting sports industry experience and established retail relationships to support GPO's dealer network expansion in the eastern market.
Springfield Armory and HS Produkt announced the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) officially adopted the Echelon 4.0FC 9mm pistol as its issued duty weapon. The fully ambidextrous pistol was selected after rigorous testing and competed against numerous international manufacturers.
ZeroTech Optics USA introduces the Thrive X 3-12x44 hunting riflescope with five reticle options including Zeroplex, Mildot, G4, PHR 3, and PHR 4. The scope features MOA or MRAD adjustments, parallax adjustment from 10 yards to infinity, and an Adjustable BDC Turret on select models.
Pulsar has launched the Thermion 3 LRF thermal riflescope in XR60 and XT60 configurations, featuring extended laser rangefinding up to 1,312 yards, improved HD sensors, refined traditional controls, and enhanced battery life while maintaining the familiar riflescope design.
ZeroTech Optics USA announced its Adjustable BDC Turrets, featuring five customizable Adjustable Impact Markers that allow hunters and shooters to personalize distance references without tools while retaining traditional elevation markings. Compatible with select Thrive X and Thrive HD riflescope models, the system enables marker repositioning when ammunition or conditions change.
The National Rifle Association launched its redesigned NRA.org website and enhanced official NRA App to modernize member services. The platform provides streamlined access to training resources, legislative alerts, membership management, and exclusive benefits including discounts through partners like PenFed Credit Union and Patriot Mobile.
Derya Arms announced the launch of two new .22LR firearms: the TM22 Fresh, a compact pistol with a 6.5" threaded barrel and foldable brace, and the RANX Mag Fed, a lever-action pistol with a 12" threaded barrel. Both firearms use TM22 magazines and feature modern specifications at MSRPs of $249 and $599 respectively.
Zanders now stocks the Springfield Armory Echelon 9mm Central Operating Group (COG), a serialized modular component enabling customizable handgun configurations. The COG works with compatible OEM and aftermarket components across multiple grip and slide options.
DeSantis Gunhide announced the Just Cause 2.0, a Level III Safety Holster for the Springfield Echelon platform featuring a rotating hood and self-locking thumb-activated trigger guard lock, with an MSRP of $101.99.
ZeroTech Optics USA introduces the Thrive X 4-16x50 riflescope featuring a 50mm objective, 16x magnification, and five reticle options including Zeroplex, Mildot, G4, PHR 3, and PHR 4. The scope weighs 21.9-22.4 ounces and includes an Adjustable BDC Turret on select models for customizable distance references.
XS Sights has released R3D 2.0 night sights for CZ P-09 Nocturne pistols, featuring dual-illumination 3-dot designs with green or orange Glow Dot front sights and tritium. The sights are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty and 12-year illumination warranty.
Chiappa USA released a limited-edition 1911 Field Special 250th Independence Edition commemorative pistol with only 250 units produced to honor America's 250th birthday celebration in 2026. The .45 ACP pistol features a Blue Navy Cerakote finish with laser-etched commemorative design, manufactured in Italy to Chiappa's standards.
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announces the release of two classic revolvers: the Model 22 of 1917 Classic chambered in .45 ACP and the versatile Model 22 Classic available in both .45 Auto and .45 Colt. Both feature blued N-Frame construction, 6-shot capacity, and heritage-driven design elements honoring the company's military revolver legacy.
Diamondback Firearms introduces the SDR-A BLACK, a lightweight .38 Special +P revolver weighing 15.6 ounces with a Black anodized frame and stainless steel cylinder. The hammerless, double-action-only revolver features a 2-inch barrel and is available through authorized dealers with an MSRP of $614.
The Headrest Safe Company will exhibit at the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, showcasing its discreet in-vehicle storage solutions including the Vulcan, Slide, and Compact Headrest Safe models designed for automotive enthusiasts and daily drivers.
A stoppage is an interruption in the cycle of operation of a firearm. There are various ways this can happen; most often an operator-induced error, there are also issues with ammunition, parts of the gun, interference with a gun while it’s in operation.
Chuck Haggard has noted that stoppages most happen in the midst of the fight – unless they’re deliberately induced during training. That’s my experience also. The best way to prepare is to have the stoppage happen when you don’t expect it – and you clear it and move on.
In the fight, there can be interference with the cycling of the gun, you could be fighting from "unconventional positions." Many things can cause the pistol to stop in the thick of things.
The best way to learn to clear a stoppage is to have it explained, have the remedy demonstrated, then you can perform the clearance on the line – then practice over time. When our outfit transitioned from the S&W Model 686 to the Model 645, I was on the range staff. I’d load a magazine for each person on the line.
They had 8-round magazines. Somewhere between round #2 and round #6, I’d load an empty cartridge case. The S&W M645s would feed empty brass more often than not; if it didn’t feed (creating a failure-to-fire in the next shot), it became a feedway stoppage.
That requires a bit more work.
Invariably, the line would be called upon to put six hits on the target, do a mag swap (tac reload), decock and holster. Also, it would provide entertainment seeing muzzles convulsively plunge toward the ground when a shooter hit the empty.
Nearly invariably, we’d get someone who’d stare at the gun. A good many, not practiced under stress, would either not reseat the magazine (it could have slipped out), slap the side of the gun, press impotently on the slide stop, or rack the slide putting the slide-mounted safety on – decocking and “safe-ing” the gun.
Time to remediate on clearing stoppages.
In training, you can set the gun up to fail. A wrap of masking tape (above) can cause a mag not to seat - shown below.
I’d been the victim of such range hijinks over decades after that. Going through a few dozen classes with stoppage reduction as a part, practicing on my own – often “dry” with dummy ammo – it became more or less second nature.
That would be tested going forward.
On one situation, I was in a Sims exercise. We’d been warned that these marking cartridges were not the image of precision reliability and we’d likely have the gun choke at some point during a fight.
Pistols with "marking cartridges," used in simulations, will often stop function during a scenario - making it all the more realistic.
My last scenario, a robbery in progress, featured three role players. I saw two immediately and determined that one of them would be a shooting victim if I could see a way clear to do it. The third, a robbery suspect who rushed into the scene, shouting he’d kill anyone who got in his way, was summarily shot in the back.
As I moved the gun in preparation to (potentially) shoot the loud-mouth roleplayer remaining, I saw he was desperately trying to claw a gun out of his waistband.
I had a dead-trigger. Before I could think, I’d popped the floorplate to seat the mag, viciously racked the slide and put the next round out just as he shot at me.
Aside from a sliding pellet across the knuckle of my gun hand, I was happy I was able to clear it quickly, without reflection.
Tilting the gun outboard when shooting from retention allows free travel of the slide (as well as directing the muzzle inward toward a threat to your front).
Then I was questioned about drilling an armed robbery suspect without giving a warning. I’d warned him; he just didn’t hear me over the gunfire.
The next time I found I’d gotten the deal was at a writers’ event sponsored by a big gun company. They’d come up with a competition between writers to see if one of us won a gun. Another peace officer/gun writer shot just before me and considerately loaded magazines for me.
Apparently, he knew I’d done the empty brass thing to our people on the range.
As I shot my stage, the gun choked.
Again, on reflex, I cleared it and continued the march – losing the competition but reassuring me that I knew what to do when an auto pistol quit running.
This arises now because I’d seen the quote on social media about stoppages only seeming to happen when it’s critical that they don’t. I was shooting a local match just a few days ago.
I got a dead trigger, cleared it and continued shooting without anyone being the wiser.
Clearing stoppages is a critical skill. When you go to shoot a standard or drill at the local range – if it’s something you can get by with – load each magazine with one or two dummy rounds. Mix up the ammo well and try to make sure you don’t know when the “click” will come.
