GunBroker.com launched the Kimber Vault, featuring rare historical firearms from Kimber's factory archives including first-edition 1911s and prototypes retained by Founder Leslie Edelman. The exclusive auctions on GunBroker's Collectors Elite platform are curated by Bryant Ridge and run May 17-31, 2026.
Target Sports USA is hosting its 2nd annual Donut Round Challenge on June 5-12, 2026, inviting participants to shoot through donut holes for a chance to win $25 gift cards and mystery tactical gear. Participants can enter by posting videos on social media with the hashtag #TSUSADonutRoundChallenge2026.
The Indiana Supreme Court denied the City of Gary's petition to extend a 26-year-old lawsuit against firearm manufacturers, ending the frivolous public nuisance case. NSSF praised the decision as upholding the rule of law and the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, though the organization warns that gun control groups continue pursuing legal strategies against the firearm industry.
Registration is open for the 41st annual Gun Rights Policy Conference, scheduled for September 25-27 in Dallas at the Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport hotel. Confirmed speakers include Jared Yanis, Joseph Greenlee, Kenyon Gleason, Shermichael Singleton, Jeff Folloder, Chris Boeck, and Fernando Nava. Attendees can also participate in AMM-Con, a Second Amendment media conference on Friday, September 25.
Chattanooga Shooting Supplies announced the promotion of Robin Richardson-Peel to Sales Manager after seven years with the company. Richardson-Peel brings over 40 years of shooting sports industry experience, including previous work with Ellett Brothers, and is recognized for exceptional customer service and leadership.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is hiring a Social Media and Content Manager based in Missoula, Montana. The role involves creating engaging content across RMEF's digital platforms, managing social media channels, and supporting the organization's conservation mission and hunting heritage outreach.
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and Nine Line Apparel have partnered to release an exclusive "Free the Cans" T-shirt collection. A portion of proceeds will support SAF's lawsuits seeking removal of National Firearms Act registration requirements for silencers and short-barreled rifles. Pre-orders are available through June 8.
The Columbus Clingstones and Realtree are hosting a special game on May 28 at Synovus Park featuring custom Realtree Advantage Classic jerseys to support The Plummer Home, a local organization assisting veterans. Game-worn jerseys will be auctioned with 100% of proceeds benefiting the nonprofit.
The Guns & Ammo Buzz podcast, brought to you by Watchtower Defense and Poncho Outdoors, is the official podcast of Guns & Ammo magazine hosted by Editor-in-Chief Eric Poole, Managing Editor Jack Oller, and Handgun Editor James Tarr. Recent episodes feature discussions on new firearms from the NRA Show, Watchtower Defense founder Jason Colosky, and custom pistol builder Grayguns. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and GunsandAmmo.com.
Samson Manufacturing has introduced the SAS/22 Takedown Chassis for the Ruger 10/22 Takedown, featuring an integrated folding stock, adjustable length of pull and cheek riser, and M-LOK handguard. The product ships with a Magpul MOE-K grip and weighs 2.5 lbs.
DeSantis Gunhide® announced new holster options for the Diamondback SDR-A, including the Mini Scabbard® ($83.99) and Nemesis® ($34.99) models. Both holsters offer secure retention and concealment features designed for various carry methods.
Springfield Armory launched three new Aimpoint COA-equipped pistols: the 1911 DS Prodigy 4.25" 9mm ($1,955), 1911 TRP .45 ACP ($2,424), and 1911 Operator .45 ACP ($1,623). Each features factory-milled A-CUT interface and Aimpoint's closed-emitter red dot sight, offering approximately $200 in savings versus separate purchases.
Outdoor Edge, a Denver-based knife and tool manufacturer, is partnering with GovX to offer military members, veterans, and first responders exclusive discounts on products including the Razor APX Hunting Knives and ErgoMax culinary lines. Will Morgan, director of marketing at Outdoor Edge, highlighted the company's commitment to recognizing those who serve through this collaboration.
Bear OPS will showcase new tactical knives at the 2026 BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia, June 5–7, featuring the Load Out I, Nekama II, Nekama I Pin-Up Art Bomber series, Kataktώ I automatic, and butterfly knives at Booth #5.
Bear Edge Knives will exhibit at the 2026 BLADE Show (June 5–7) in Atlanta, showcasing new models including the 4 1/2" Tan G10 Assisted Opener, 4 3/4" Dark Gray Aluminum Assisted Opener, and 4" Light Grey Aluminum Folder, featuring affordable, feature-packed designs with modern styling.
GATCO Sharpeners will exhibit its sharpening systems and kitchen cutlery at the 2026 BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia, June 5–7. The company will showcase guided sharpening systems, pocket sharpeners, and kitchen knives featuring 440 stainless steel blades with teal or black Zytel® handles at Booth #5.
Bear & Son Cutlery will exhibit at the 2026 BLADE Show, June 5–7 in Atlanta at Booth #5, showcasing new Slidelock Folders, Locking Farmhand series, 250th Anniversary models, and butterfly knives. The Alabama-based manufacturer will display its full lineup of American-made knives including folders, balisongs, bowies, and specialty blades.
Compared to the micro-9mm medium capacity pistols that began with the SIG P365, the service- and service-compact pistols are large and weighty. A 17-round 9mm pistol, with a polymer frame, can place some blame on the weight of the ammo; if you carry a pair of magazines, that’s 35 rounds on board.
In the old days, when the choice was a full-size 1911 or a more compact 4 ¼” 45, the guns’ frames were steel or aluminum, the aluminum alloy weighing less. Those days are long gone.
In my view, the easiest way to carry the bigger sidearm, if you seek concealment, is inside the waist. A good many users don’t like IWB. In the old days, those who carried the service pistol (or revolver) on duty often carried a five-shot 38 revolver off-duty – or in plain clothes.
The micro-revolution changed that to some extent. Still, I tend to carry a service-compact nearly every day of the year – in an IWB holster.
I’d recently gotten the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC for testing. Part of the evaluation is wearing the gun. I’ve done that with OWB holsters but I’m getting to the season where the cover garments are lighter and the holster goes inside the trouser waistband.
It’s a hybrid – unlike some, I don’t at all mind that. A thick leather back with a kydex pocket for the holster, the holster attaches with CrossBreed IWB clips. You can remove those and replace them with outside the waist clips to covert the rig to the less intrusive belt holster.
Wearing it at three o’clock with the long Echelon 21-round magazine creates a printing situation. It shouldn’t be a problem with standard 17-round magazine in place.
Regarding access, I use the Safariland/Scott Carnahan 3-Second Drill to get acquainted with the holster. This allows a shooter to work into a speedier draw sequentially, though it turns into a “split times” drill if you’re not careful.
Set your timer for a delayed start, par time 3 seconds. The first string is delivering a hit within that three-second window. The second string calls for two hits in the same time frame. This is followed by three hits, then four, five and, finally, six hits from the holster in three seconds.
It’s essentially the Bill Drill, after working up in stair-step fashion from one-round to six.
I primarily use it to see the time to the first hit for each of those six strings. This 21-round drill is a good one for learning a new holster.
Note: Don’t be in a hurry to holster the gun after shooting; don’t get so wrapped up in the time that you get clothing caught in the holster or have something else intrude into the trigger guard.
My first draw to a hit, holstered gun worn under an old Safari shirt from Cabela’s, was in 1.6 seconds. That was a cold draw, the first of the day. My drill times following were 2.05, 2.8, 2.16 (!), 2.65 and 3.03. The last hit was over time.
Before anyone asks, the splits hovered around .25; at my age, that’s fast enough for range play, but I’m better suited to .3+ splits for time to assess what’s happening in front of the gun.
I set a business-size envelope up in vertical orientation as a target for shooting from low ready. At five yards, I was making the single hits in around .7 second. I’d prefer to make that hit quicker, but I’m not going to just work on that aspect of shooting.
The Echelon 4.0FC is a well-mannered shooter. The full grip does make a difference in handling. As I found the GLOCK 19X/G45 “best of breed” for carry and handling, the 4.0FC is the best of the Echelons I’ve sampled.
And this is number five of the line.
It’s a solid shooter, accurate and reliable. While I’ve not had armorer training on the gun, it seems fairly straight-forward. The sights are excellent for service. For shooting at distance, the front sight is the width of the 11”x17” target I used at fifty yards and there’s nearly no light between front-sight and the sides of the rear notch.
I’d like a bit more daylight in that rear notch.
If you want high visibility for coarse accuracy at close range (25 yards and in), the Echelon sights are first rate. Their precision at the close lines was demonstrated in my “rounding out the firing line” at the second retiree qualification this year.
If you’re in the market for a concealed carry or service pistol, the Echelon deserves a look. And the 4.0FC is my favorite thus far.
