Vortex® launches new Gear Series apparel including T-shirts and cap styles designed for hunters and shooters. The collection features fresh colors and styles perfect for fall, available at VortexOptics.com and on their social media channels.
Beretta USA celebrated its 500-year milestone by honoring long-tenured employees in Italy, recognizing staff with 20 to 46 years of service. General Manager Cristian Capelli praised employees for their decades of dedication in building Beretta's U.S. manufacturing operations and shaping the company's evolution.
The Benelli M2-G1 Tactical shotgun earned a 4.54 overall score in the National Tactical Officers Association's Member Tested and Recommended Program. Five NTOA members evaluated the tactical shotgun across multiple categories, praising its Rear Piston Operated gas system, reliability through 500+ rounds, and combat-ready features.
Team Beretta athlete Sal Luna won the Production Division at the 2026 USPSA Area 6 Match in Talladega, Alabama, competing with Beretta's new 94X Performance. Luna achieved back-to-back podium finishes, earning second place the following week at the USPSA Factory Nationals with the Beretta 92X Performance Carry Optic.
Staccato 2011 announced that elite SWAT teams from more than a dozen U.S. states have registered for the 2026 Staccato National SWAT Championship, presented by Trijicon, taking place Sept. 25–27 at Staccato Ranch Vegas in Pahrump, Nevada. The event will feature up to 60 law enforcement teams competing for a $150,000 prize pool, with the championship team earning $50,000.
Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President & General Counsel of NSSF, has been appointed to the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council to advise the U.S. Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture on wildlife conservation and hunting policy.
Firearms Policy Coalition filed a reply brief supporting a preliminary injunction in Bathras v. Moore to block Maryland's ban on Glock and Glock-style handguns. FPC, joined by Atlantic Guns, the National Rifle Association, and the Second Amendment Foundation, argues the ban violates the Second Amendment by targeting common, constitutionally protected arms.
The Second Amendment Foundation filed a reply brief supporting its motion for preliminary injunction in Bathras v. Moore, challenging Maryland's Senate Bill 334 banning Glock-style handguns. SAF is joined by Atlantic Guns, the National Rifle Association, Firearms Policy Coalition, and two private citizens in arguing the ban violates Second Amendment protections.
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the National Rifle Association filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Beckwith v. Frey, challenging Maine's firearm waiting period law. SAF argues the First Circuit's decision improperly revives interest-balancing rejected by Heller and Bruen, contending that waiting periods burden constitutional rights and require historical justification.
The Headrest Safe Company appointed Todd Pearson as Chief Operating Officer, promoting him from Revenue Director. The company's discreet vehicle safe storage system is now sold in 34 countries worldwide, with founder and CEO Irving Meisler praising Pearson's strategic execution capabilities.
Vortex Optics introduces green multi-reticle and tan housing options for the Defender-CCW™ and Defender-ST™ Enclosed Solar Micro Red Dots, designed for concealed carry and tactical shooting with enclosed protection and dual-power operation.
The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) has joined the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) as a Diamond-level corporate partner. The partnership combines SAF's legal action protecting Second Amendment rights with USCCA's education, training, and legal defense services for its 860,000 members nationwide.
Remington Ammunition and Original Grain, an Official Remington brand licensee, expanded The Hunt Club watch collection with two limited-edition styles: Cerakote Black Barrel Chrono and Cerakote Tan Barrel Chrono. The watches feature retired gunstocks from Remington's Lonoke, Arkansas factory and are available through Original Grain.
MDT is expanding its ORYX Chassis System to three long action platforms: Ruger American LA, Remington 700 LA CIP, and Savage LA CIP. The aluminum chassis features V-block bedding, free-floated barrel, adjustable buttstock, AICS magazine compatibility, and M-LOK slots. Available September 22, 2026 through MDT dealers and mdttac.com.
Crow Wholesale announced it is now a stocking distributor for One Horse, expanding its firearm brand portfolio. The partnership provides dealers access to One Horse's American-made AR-platform rifles, pistols, and components through Crow Wholesale's nationwide distribution network.
BANISH Suppressors launches the COMP 6.5 SS and COMP 6.5 TI, dedicated .264-caliber suppressors featuring interchangeable two-port brakes and flat muzzle caps. Available in stainless steel and titanium, both models offer precision shooters customizable recoil control or maximum sound reduction options.
Leapers, Inc. is sponsoring the IDPA National Championship for the first time in 2026 at Cardinal Shooting Center in Ohio, supporting the vendor tent and the "Bad Guy Attack" stage. Director of Operations Kenny Huang will compete at the Master level while representing Leapers' UTG, UTG Pro, and Integrix brands.
Like many, I’ve seen and read about Caleb Giddings’ extensive use of the most basic Taurus revolver. Described as a “security guard’s gun,” apparently a number of agencies, private and public, in South America make extensive use of the Model 82.
A fixed sight, four-inch 38 Special revolver, rated for +P ammunition, it’s analogous to the guns worn by US police and security since before WWII.
When last I took note of Caleb’s trek with the plain old 38, his gun had consumed around 13,000 rounds of ammunition. He shot it at matches where “modern” semi-autos and pistol-mounted optics covered the ground. He shot it at distance, with an enviable group, and shot it quickly in match prep and competition.
And he’s carried it concealed more than just a little.
That’s confidence.
Before you say he’s “bought off” -- as an associate of Taurus -- he knows full well that people on the outside will follow up.
As I am, now.
The nicely balanced stock revolver has a barrel profile to fit L- and GP100 holsters while sporting a cylinder that accepts the HKS 10A speedloader; in short, K-frame dimensions and geometry.
Due to the blast of wind from the environmental system on the indoor range, the Garmin strugged to pick gun shots out of the clutter of swinging targets downrange. Some numbers were generated and they're consistent with the loads out of a 4-inch barrel.
The only lock to give the “we don’t need no safeties” crowd fits is in the base of the hammer, below the spur. As it’s not a safety, we needn’t be concerned.
The stocks are rubber, with a nice grip angle and a pronounced recoil hump. That makes it easy to get a high grip on the gun in the holster. There’s a pebble-grain texture and the stocks cover the backstrap. That could be a problem for those who can’t reach the trigger, but these aren’t extreme. The upside is cushioning the recoil, making the shooting process pleasurable.
The sights are the sadly-industry-standard short to the bore line sights; and there’s not enough space in the rear notch on either side of the front sight. That’s not enough to close the door; we deal with that on other guns.
Caleb has noted that the gun is regulated for 158 grain-class projectiles, more-or-less, as opposed to the move by some makers to regulate their sights for light-for-caliber loads.
We’ll see.
The face of the trigger is smooth and it’s wide enough. The hammer spur, service-style, is wider than the hammer but not a big flap of steel.
The firing pin is frame-mounted and a transfer bar (actuated by the trigger) has to move into line with the firing pin. The hammer hits the transfer bar, transferring energy through the transfer bar to the firing pin.
Take the transfer bar out or shorten it and the gun doesn’t fire. It’s about as safe a system as there is.
The four-inch barrel is full-diameter from the frame to the muzzle with an underlug for additional weight. I’m not sure it’s necessary, makes a ca. 35-ounce revolver weigh 37 ounces, but it doesn’t hurt anything.
The ejector rod is protected by the shroud provided by the underlug and it’s long enough to clear empties from the cylinder.
Single action is, well, firm. I can’t say “stout,” but it’s getting there. Double action is smooth and it’s not as heavy as I remember some service revolvers of the past.
The sight picture, shown here through the lens (that's high left), is crowded. A wider rear notch would be the best answer for precision shooting. Below, the group from Atlanta Arms -their 158gr. SWC for PPC - looks about ideal for this fixed-sight revolver.
I tried five different loads on an initial trip at an indoor range. The target, set at 25 yards, featured the outline of a B-8 repair center (blank target drill) and four 8-inch circles. I intended to get, as best I could, an idea of each load’s velocity from the 4-inch Taurus, a five-shot group while attempting to determine where the gun hit, relative to the sight picture, at 25 yards.
The High Desert 140gr. XTP “Short Barrel” load (forgive me, it’s what I had), hit three inches below point of aim and averaged 892 fps. In the lighting of the indoor range, with the relatively small sights, five shots measured five inches. That includes a flier, without which the group measured 2 1/8” (more like it), with three hits in 1 5/8”. The average velocity was 892 fps.
Fiocchi CovertX 125gr. JHP +P hit seven inches low. Five rounds went into 3”, with four into 2 ½”. The best three hits clustered into .5” … Velocity was 1,037 fps.
DoubleTap 125 grain FMJ-Flat Point averaged 995 fps, hit 6” low and put five hits into 3 1/8”. Federal Tactical 129 grain HydraShok HP yielded around 990 fps, hit 4” low and put all hits into four-inches. Without (my) flier, the group measured 2 7/8”.
Finally, the Atlanta Arms Elite 158 grain SWC – PPC match averaged 706 fps, hit 2 ½” low (could be the lighting in the range) and put five rounds into 3 1/8”. The best three were in 1 3/8”.
That’s a good start to see what this basic gun can do.
Home defense? Sure. Concealed carry? With the right holster, yes.
