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JULY 8, 2025

A three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has unanimously upheld an earlier preliminary injunction against a section of the California Business & Professional Code which had been used by the state to stifle gun-related advertising in Junior Sports magazine, in a case brought by the Second Amendment Foundation and others.
Hillsdale College’s John Anthony Halter Shooting Sports Education Center hosted a Para Trap Grand Prix June 23-26. Sophia Bultema ’26, a member of the Hillsdale College Shotgun Team, took home a silver medal.
The Hillsdale College precision shooting club team continued to climb the national rankings this season, taking home multiple awards and setting program records.

SLG2, Inc. will be making a stop with its Shoot Like A Girl experience at Cabela’s in Thornton, Colorado, on Saturday, July 12, from 9am to 6pm and Sunday, July 13, from 10am to 3pm. This interactive event offers a welcoming and safe environment designed to introduce women and their families to the exciting world of shooting sports.
Beretta USA returns to the 2025 Scholastic Action Shooting Program Nationals, taking place July 12-19 at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. At the heart of the action will be the Beretta Demo Bay, where athletes and spectators alike can test drive Beretta’s top-tier competition pistols including the 92X Performance Carry Optic and an exclusive first look at a brand-new pistol platform, available to try before its official launch.
Luth-AR announces its Title Sponsorship of the Sturgis Gun Rally to create the ultimate crossover event for firearm enthusiasts and motorcycle fanatics alike. We’re calling on firearm manufacturers, parts suppliers, tactical gear makers, and all industry players to EXHIBIT. Spaces are filling up, time is running short.

Dead Air Silencers is attending the 2025 National School Safety Conference this week in Grapevine, Texas, where the company is connecting with Texas Peace Officers, School Resource Officers (SROs), and Emergency Managers.
Galco’s CB7 Contour Holster Belt combines classic Western looks with all the sturdiness needed for all-day handgun carry. Galco’s contour belts come pre-curved, so they’re amazingly comfortable right out of the package.
To assist Glock pistol owners in their upgrading and cleaning endeavors, Real Avid has developed a comprehensive, one-and-done Master Maintenance Collection for servicing this proven handgun platform. The Master Maintenance Collection for Glock brings together all the essential and innovative Real Avid tools required to perform common upgrades, cleaning, maintenance and tuning of the heralded Glock pistol.

Mission First Tactical announces the launch of its latest innovation - the 5L Achro Sling Bag. This carry bag epitomizes the concept of "without color," embracing the art of blending in with a low-vis, everyday-carry bag featuring a dedicated, discrete firearm storage system.
Shoot ON announces the “Made in America – Built to Perform” GiveawayShoot ON’s latest offering is made possible through leading American-made manufacturers Henry Repeating Arms, Rock River Arms, and XS Sights. Giveaway ends July 23, 2025, so enter today.
VIKTOS, in collaboration with Jacob Grey Firearms and leading industry partners, announces The Power Draw Summer Giveaway, an unparalleled opportunity for enthusiasts to enhance their tactical arsenal and training regimen. This exclusive giveaway features a curated selection of premium gear valued at over $5000.

A message from Gila and Marty Hayes, COO and Founders of ACLDN went to plan members yesterday, announcing their retirement from the legal defense plan. The message reported that the plan is being acquired by CCW Safe, which would "be leading the organization into the future."
SLG2, Inc. announced the addition of StopBox USA as its latest corporate partner for 2025. This collaboration brings together two organizations with a shared commitment to safety and advancing the shooting sports and personal protection industries.
WATCHTOWER Firearms, a veteran-owned and American-made firearms manufacturer, announced that production is now running at its highest level since the company’s inception. The company has successfully fulfilled all backorders for the highly sought-after DEMOLITIA and Standard APACHE 1911 pistols.
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Select: SWBI) announces recent signings for the Smith & Wesson Professional Shooting Team. Joining Team Smith & Wesson is USPSA Grand Master and competitive shooter, Hunter Constantine. With countless titles to his name, Hunter continually pushes the limits of precision, speed, and skill.
Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the reconciliation bill, commonly known as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, which was previously approved by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. The bill includes NRA-supported language that eliminates the burdensome $200 excise tax imposed by federal law on suppressors, short-barreled firearms, and “any other weapons” as defined by the National Firearms Act (NFA).
While we will continue to fight for the total legislative elimination of the NFA, our organizations are proud to stand together in a new strategic lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the NFA in Federal Court.
With the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB), which eliminates the excise tax on silencers and short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns and “Any Other Weapons,” the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and its partners have issued a joint statement indicating their intention to challenge the remaining registration requirements for the affected arms under the National Firearms Act (NFA) as unconstitutional.
Mesa Tactical is now offering a simple but important enhancement for Gen II LEO stock adapters: the Anti-Rotation Double-Ended QD Socket. A direct replacement for the standard QD sling attachment point on Mesa Tactical’s Gen II LEO adapters, the anti-rotation socket ensures slings remain properly aligned, preventing unwanted twisting or spinning during movement or high-demand use.
Springfield Armory announced the release of the SAINT Victor 8.5” 9mm Pistol, the newest addition to the Victor line of AR-pattern firearms. This 9mm-chambered AR-pattern pistol with an 8.5” barrel adds a new level of capability to the popular SAINT Victor series.
NSSF announced that Brandon Maddox, Founder and CEO of Silencer Central and BANISH Suppressors, has been appointed to the NSSF Board of Governors. Maddox brings a unique blend of business leadership, regulatory expertise and passionate advocacy for the shooting sports to his new role on the board.
The Classic comes in two models: the CDS9 Classic and the CDS9 Classic OR. The purpose behind these models is to provide consumers with the same great shootability in a refined profile with no optics rail that provides cost savings in a challenging economy
Beretta USA unveils the new 92X RDO Inox, an exclusive stainless-steel addition to its acclaimed 90 series lineup. The 92X RDO Inox blends timeless Beretta reliability with modern competitive features, offering both shooters and defenders a sleek, high-performance pistol proudly built in the USA.
Magpul just added the Universal Carbine Stock (UCS) to fit firearms with vertical 1913 Picatinny rails on the rear of a firearm’s receiver. It features a reversible hinge for both left- and right-handed shooters and, when folded, the stock drops five degrees to ensure it clears the array of charging handle styles, ejection port locations, and various fire controls found on almost every gun with a rear rail.
High Speed Gear® and BlackPoint Tactical® announce that five of their latest products have earned official recommendations from the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA).
Winchester Safes has unveiled its latest limited-edition offering: the Ranger® 26 Americana, giving dealers an exclusive opportunity to showcase a new take on one of the company’s most popular series. The Ranger® 26 Americana combines proven protection with a proud nod to the spirit of the American outdoorsman.
Bond Arms is extending its 30th Anniversary Summer Rebate Special through July, with up to $50 back on purchasing any new Bond Arms handgun, including its Freedom Series. The Bond Arms Freedom Series includes Protect the 2nd Amendment (PT2A), the Old Glory, the Sound of Freedom, and the Patriot.
Larry Correia has signed with pro-American publisher Ark Press to publish American Paladin, a new contemporary fantasy series. Correia is the creator of the Monster Hunter International series, and author of the nonfiction book In Defense of the Second Amendment.
When Professor William English of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business conducted his “National Firearms Survey during the reign of Puppet King, he discovered 3 important things; 1) over 84 million Americans say they own one or more firearms, 2) more than half of those stated that they carry for “self-defense” 3) the AR-15 is the most popular rifle in the USA. This new book “The Ultimate Armed Citizen: Using Pistols, Rifles and Shotguns as Fighting Tools” by Paul G. Markel was written for the benefit of all of the above.
NSSF® announces that Magpul will once again serve as the Platinum Sponsor of the 2025 NSSF Annual Import/Export Conference. A trusted American manufacturer of firearm parts and accessories, Magpul is widely recognized for its commitment to quality and innovation, particularly in the modern sporting rifle market.
 

I became interested in the AR-15 platform in the mid-1990’s. Prior to that, I was a member of my former agency’s SWAT Team and was issued an HK MP-5. M-4-style carbines are now at the forefront as they can be used up close as well as at distance.

The updated MRO SD is slightly larger than the author’s older unit but the enhanced features make the additional size worth the increase.

At one point, I owned more than a few AR platform rifles but I have narrowed it down considerably. My need for a carbine at this time in my life has changed greatly as I am no longer in law enforcement and I am certainly not going to war. I have one “go to” carbine and have set it up to fill my perceived need. I want it to be sleek, light, easy to use and void of unnecessary accessories. It’s reliable, has an optic, sling, and compact weapon light. It has a skeletonized stock and I use 20-round magazines to further enhance its compactness. I have thought about adding either a variable powered optic or a magnifier to increase “reach,” but have been reluctant to do so as adding one of these would add bulk of my sleek, light carbine.

While zeroing distance has been long debated, I have found the 36-yard zero works just fine for me while using my Trijicon MRO dot optic. I have been able to hit a ten-inch gong plate at 300 yards, so my thought was why do I need additional optical enhancement? Life is funny as just about the same time I finally had this decided in my mind, I was walking the floor at the 2025 NRA Convention and stopped into the Trijicon booth and came across the updated version of the MRO, the MRO SD and their palm-sized 3X magnifier.

The Trijicon MRO (Miniature Rifle Optic) is a compact reflex sight intended for use on all long guns to provide fast on target acquisition. Like most reflex sights, the MRO is designed to be used with both eyes open, providing the shooter with enhanced situational awareness. The MRO also features ambidextrous brightness controls, sub-flush adjustment knobs, advanced lens coatings, and a fully sealed, waterproof, hard anodized forged 7075-T6 housing.

The new 3X Magnifier is quite light and compact. It will literally sit in the palm of your hand.

The MRO SD has been redesigned to offer a much longer battery life. The red dot model offers 2.5 years while the green dot offers 3 years. It also offers improved windage and elevation over its predecessor, and it is designed to maintain tight zero retention requirements if dropped or otherwise abused. The brightness adjustment dial is usable with either hand without having to remove the shooter’s hand from the fire control. The capless design uses sub-flush adjustment knobs which eliminates lost caps, snag hazards and ensures against inadvertent re-adjustment or loss of zero. The advanced electronics are warrantied for 5 years while the multi-coated lenses provide superior clarity and light-gathering capabilities with zero distortion for a crisp dot reticle. The re-engineered objective lens allows for enhanced optical performance and magnifier compatibility.

As good as the MRO SD appears, what really caught my eye was the compact magnifier. This palm-sized unit offers a submersion depth of 33 feet, an adjustable quick release flip to the side mount and a field of view of 37.5 feet. The adjustment range of the magnifier is 60 MOA with an objective lens of 21mm. While these features sound great, what most end users want to know is will the updated MRO and magnifier combination enhance their performance? Only a trip to the range will answer that question.

The Trijicon MRO SD and 3 X Magnifier make for a potent, but compact, package on the top of any AR-style carbine. The flip mount for the magnifier is easy to use but locks solidly in place.

I could not use my gun club range for this test as it offers 100 yards as a maximum distance. While this is just fine for my typical practice, I felt like the 3 X magnifier “deserved” a little more distance for a proper test. I reached out to a buddy who owns a farm and he allowed me to set up an impromptu range. I zeroed the MRO SD at 36 yards using a bench rest on a three-inch square sticker of the type I normally use as a pistol target. Like most optics from Trijicon, the MRO SD was mostly zeroed at the factory and it only took a few clicks left and a few clicks up to get it right where I wanted it. I fired only four rounds. After the close zero, I moved back to 300 and assumed a grounded bench rest position to see if I would be close. My target was an AR-500 12-inch gong plate suspended from two chains. Since my carbine is intended for combative purposes, I felt like this “minute of chest cavity” test would be more than valid for my intended purposes.

Spauling keeps his primary carbine as light, sleek and simple as possible. The new Trijicon MRO SD and 3 X Magnifier enhance its capability without adding excessive bulk.

I first tried to hit the plate with the MRO SD alone just to see where I stood. It took a few rounds, but I was able to hit the plate after a few tries. I then flipped up the magnifier. I should note that the flip up mount that came with the magnifier was quite positive, locking the optic in the up or down position solidly while at the same time being easy to operate. With the magnifier flipped down, I was able to flip up my irons and shoot through the MRO with ease. Some will criticize me for not having the irons up all of the time, but these old eyes don’t need any additional “clutter” in the sight picture.

While I was able to hit the plate with the dot optic alone, it was much easier with the magnifier in place. This is not surprising; isn’t that what a magnifier is for? If the target is more visible then accuracy will be enhanced. Like all products from Trijicon, the quality and durability of the MRO SD/ 3X magnifier are readily apparent. The view is crisp and clear with no distortion, even when mating the two optics.

They are not the cheapest options on the market, but they will likely last you the rest of your life and sometimes buying once can save money. When was the last time you “saved money” only to spend more correcting your mistake?

Yeah...me too.

- - Dave Spaulding

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