Benelli has been awarded the 2025 Gold Choice Award by Shooting Sports Retailer readers, recognizing the brand's performance and reliability as judged by independent retailers across the shooting sports industry.
German Precision Optics announced that its GPO CENTURI 4-16x44i Super-Compact Riflescope received the 2026 NRA American Hunter Golden Bullseye Award. Owner/CEO Mike Jensen praised the riflescope as a game-changer offering compact, high-magnification performance at an affordable price point.
Hornady shooter Austin Orgain won the Open Division and Suppressor Division at the Alpha Munitions Nut Crusher PRS match in Price, Utah, using Hornady 25 cal. 138 gr. A-Tip Match bullets. Orgain praised the A-Tip bullets paired with the 4DOF solver as a winning combination.
Benelli USA announces that Pro Staff shooters Heather Eckhardt and Ashlynne Thomas have qualified for Team USA at the 2026 IPSC World Shoot in Corinth, Greece, September 20-October 4. Eckhardt will compete on the Ladies Modified Team while Thomas qualified for the Standard Ladies Team.
Team Federal achieved multiple podium finishes at the World English Sporting Clay Championships in San Antonio, TX, with two-time Olympian Derrick Mein placing third in the Main Event High Over All, Gregg Wolf winning the American Field Sporting High Over All, and junior Jonathan Prince finishing third in both Main Event and 5-Stand competitions.
NSSF attended the Department of Justice signing ceremony where Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche released a landmark 34-policy rulemaking package from the ATF. The changes, directed by President Trump's Executive Order, include rescissions of the "Engaged in the Business," bump stock, and stabilizing pistol brace rules, addressing regulations NSSF has long championed.
The NSSF applauds the U.S. Senate's bipartisan confirmation of Robert Cekada as ATF Director in a 59-39 vote. Cekada is the first ATF director confirmed after nomination by a Republican president and brings decades of law enforcement experience to lead the federal agency regulating the firearm industry.
Precise Recruiting Solutions, founded by Sean Murphy and Kelly Bowen, shares insights from three decades in firearms and shooting sports recruiting. The firm emphasizes that leadership depth and bench strength, rather than strategy alone, determine company success in an industry facing consolidation and regulatory pressure.
Kinetic Development Group is preparing to expand its optic mount product lineup beyond its flagship SideLok series. The company has been collaborating with dealers and end users to develop a new complementary optic mount solution, with additional details expected later in 2026.
SIGHTRON announces the new "Snap Focus" S6 10-60x56 ED Mil Hash Field Target riflescopes featuring a redesigned parallax adjustment system with 270° precision rotation. Developed in collaboration with Garima Design & Customization, these premium scopes include a magnetic focus wheel and are optimized for airgun, small caliber field target, and benchrest shooters.
Friends of NRA hosted a successful Wall of Guns event at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, with over 45 winners selecting from 40+ firearms. Presenting sponsor Gallery of Guns and supporting sponsors including Canik USA, Century Arms, CZ, EAA Corp, Mossberg, Ruger, and Taurus contributed to the fundraiser benefiting the NRA Freedom Action Foundation.
The Second Amendment Foundation praised Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and ATF Director Robert Cekada's announcement of 34 proposed and final rules, including rescission of the pistol brace rule. SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut and founder Alan M. Gottlieb expressed optimism that the new rules will clarify firearms regulations and protect Second Amendment rights.
The Guns & Ammo Buzz podcast, hosted by Guns & Ammo magazine's editorial team, enters its second season featuring expert reviews of firearms, ammunition, and accessories. Recent episodes include discussions with Watchtower Defense Founder/CEO Jason Colosky, master gunsmith Bruce Gray, and World Champion Jessie Harrison about the Taurus TX9 pistol.
Davidson's and Colt's Manufacturing introduce two exclusive revolvers featuring round-butt grip frames and 2.5-inch barrels—the Python in .357 Magnum and the Anaconda in .44 Magnum, both finished in semi-bright stainless steel with an MSRP of $1,699.
UNIT Solutions announced the launch of the UNIT9 Compact non-lethal pneumatic training pistol, available May 1, 2026. The precision-engineered system replicates duty-size pistol weight, trigger feel, and manual of arms, firing 8mm rounds powered by CO2 cartridges at 325 fps with an MSRP of $749.
Zanders, a national distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, has added Ram It Fast Loaders to its product lineup. These magazine loaders are designed for quick, efficient loading with minimal hand fatigue, benefiting both recreational and professional shooters.
WOOX has launched the Bravado "Grey Laminate" line of gunstocks, engineered for Henry and Marlin lever-action rifles. The precision-layered hardwood laminates feature distinctive grey and black striations with adjustable cheek risers, QD sling mounts, and M-LOK compatibility, priced from $329 to $549.
VKTR Industries introduced the VKP Pro DS 1911 pistol at the Tactical Games in Bland, Missouri, where shooter James Kling placed 3rd in the Men's 40+ Division. The handgun is manufactured in House Springs, Missouri and designed for duty, defense, and competition use.
XS Sights now offers fiber optic sights and optic plates for the HK VP9 pistol, featuring advanced fiber optic technology with exceptional daylight brightness. The USA-made products include interchangeable fiber optic inserts and CNC-machined optic plates compatible with ACRO and RMR footprint optics, priced from $55.00 to $146.26.
1791 Outdoor Lifestyle Group announces two new handcrafted leather rifle scabbards: the HUNT Lever Action Rifle Scabbard ($299.99) and HUNT Rifle Scabbard Scoped Bolt Action ($349.99). Both feature 100% Certified American Heavy Native Steerhide leather, integrated strap-loops, heavy-duty saddle straps, and reinforced stitching for durability.
MDT announced a new Tikka T3/T3x Long Action inlet for its CRBN rifle stock lineup, featuring lightweight carbon fiber construction and adjustable ergonomics. The stock will be available in three color options starting April 17 through MDT dealers and mdttac.com.
Kinetic Development Group's patented Kinect™ Series offers tool-free mounting for rifle accessories, enabling shooters to quickly adjust configurations for training, competition, hunting, and field use without requiring tools or interrupting workflow.
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. announced a new LCP MAX model featuring Magpul's Enhanced Handgun Grip, developed through collaboration between Ruger and Magpul Industries. The pistol includes a manual safety, 10-round magazine, and new 13-round magazine for improved control and consistency.
Range USA has expanded to 300 certified instructors across its 50 locations in 2025. The company is hiring and training additional instructors to meet growing demand for firearm education, offering expanded class availability and private lessons tailored to students' skill levels.
Moving from the piece on the light 22 Magnum revolvers last week, someone will ask the question “Is he recommending tiny guns?”
The answer has been “Carry the most capable handgun for your perceived needs.” It takes judgement and you know your situation better than I.
When discretion is at or near top of the list, we’re losing something in caliber size, capacity, control and accuracy at distance. Where you don’t want to fall short is reliability. After that, the other items intrude.
Above the rimfires in potential reliability (due to centerfire priming) – 32 Auto, 380 ACP, 32 H&R Magnum (amongst other 32 cartridges).
“So he’s recommending 32s?”
I’m on my second Kel-Tec P32. I confess that it’s seldom carried, but I have it for those extreme deep concealment needs.
For revolvers, there are more now than there has been in some years. A pair of newer editions are the Smith & Wesson M632UC or Model 632 (Davidsons with gold bead front sight, boot grips). A recent new entry is the (Lipsey's Exclusive) Ruger LCR 32 H&R Magnum six-shot snub.
I can’t tell you much about performance in gelatin – that’s more Chuck Haggard’s wheelhouse. I can say that I witnessed a 32 H&R Mag load out of a 32 Ultimate Carry S&W at Range Ready in Louisiana that was remarkable in penetration. The Double Tap 120 gr. SWC at just under 760 fps from the S&W 632 perforated two 16” blocks of Clear Ballistics gel. This was repeated by Rob Garrett at a later time, reported on here.
Did I end up with a 32 revolver? No – but I’d carry one of these or the Ruger LCR 32 H&R Magnum without ammo performance concerns.
Commonly found among those who would carry smaller guns are the autos in 380 ACP. As to the ammo, my main concerns are function and hitting to the sights. A pair of great 380 pistols for those who can hide nothing more are Ruger’s LCP – including the LCP Max – and the GLOCK 42.
The G42, with less capacity than the Max, is very comfortable to shoot and you can put rounds just where they need to go. You can hit with the LCP line too.
When I first became interested in the LCP/LCP II/LCP Max line of pistols, I’d decided on 30 feet – 10 yards – as a good place to check point of impact deviation from point of aim. Before a procedure that required some lengthy rehab, the LCP II was chosen.
My concern was putting five consecutive hits in the 5+” 9-ring of a B-8 repair center from that distance. After my medical adventures, I moved that back to 15 yards.
Three hits for three rounds fired at fifty yards - Ruger LCP Max. The ring above the hits is the preferred scoring area of a police qual target.
The shooting at 10 yards didn’t really prove anything. When the LCP Max came out, with vastly improved sights, I moved back to fifty yards and tried to get three hits on a police silhouette target. All three hits were in the -1 zone of the silhouette.
That proved only that the gun was up to hitting the target – not that I could perform that stunt out in the world in a real situation.
A “baseline drill,” discussed here, is an attempt to find out how far you can shoot, hitting the target with 100% hits. The LCP II surprised me.
Are the smallest guns the best choice?
Not for every situation, but there are places that the smaller gun is the only one that will do.
