SIGHTRON Ambassador Adam Migel won first place at the 2026 Rocky Mountain Airgun Challenge Speed Challenge in Utah using the SIGHTRON S-TAC 1-6x24 AR1 Riflescope. The event, hosted by Utah Airguns at the Garth Killpack Shooting Range, featured competitive airgun shooters competing for a $100,000 prize purse.
Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), alongside the National Rifle Association of America and Second Amendment Foundation, filed a motion for preliminary injunction in Bathras v. Moore challenging Maryland's ban on semiautomatic handguns with cruciform trigger bars, which affects nearly all Glock and Glock-style pistols.
The Second Amendment Foundation filed a motion for preliminary injunction in Bathras v. Moore, challenging Maryland's Senate Bill 334 banning Glock handguns. SAF is joined by Atlantic Guns, the National Rifle Association, Firearms Policy Coalition, and two private citizens in arguing the ban is unconstitutional.
RETAY USA launched the "Dog Days of Summer" Giveaway featuring a black lab puppy from Southern Pine Kennels, dog training gear from Avery Sporting Dog, a Lucky Duck kennel, MIGRA 20-gauge ammo, Sportsman's Pride dog food, and a RETAY ACE R 20 gauge shotgun for hunters preparing for fall season.
NSSF praises the Trump administration's new rules transferring firearm suppressor export licensing from the State Department to the Commerce Department. Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel, stated the reforms will enable American suppressor manufacturers to compete more effectively in overseas markets without burdensome regulatory requirements.
Orchid announced a new integration between Orchid POS and Chattanooga Shooting Supplies' live inventory of over 45,000 shooting and hunting SKUs, featuring real-time stock levels and pricing. The integration will be showcased at the Annual Chattanooga Shooting Supplies Dealer Show on July 27–28, 2026, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
Primary Arms Optics released a limited commercial run of the PLx Compact 1-8x24 FFP RDB Rifle Scope featuring the ACSS Raptor 5.56/.308 Meter G2 reticle, designed for international teams using metric systems. The scope is available for $1,749.99 at primaryarms.com and select dealers while supplies last.
Atrius Development Group's "Together We Win" campaign in June raised over $17,000 for the Second Amendment Foundation's legal and educational efforts. The veteran-owned company, which specializes in AR-15 platform innovations, donated a portion of proceeds from each sale to support SAF's ongoing work defending constitutional rights.
Ammunition Depot and the National Rifle Association announced a partnership to support Second Amendment litigation, including the landmark Rhode v. Bonta case challenging California's ammunition restrictions. Ammunition Depot is launching a checkout donation option to help fund the NRA's ongoing legal efforts across the country.
Greg Moats, a respected industry member and expert on Modern Technique of the Pistol, passed away on July 10, 2026. He worked for Bianchi Leather, Dale Carnegie Training, and Magnum Products, and was a Life Member of the NRA, Cooper Legacy Foundation editor, and contributor to Shooting Wire and The Tactical Wire.
Tom Marx, former Chicago Police Department officer and instructor at Smith & Wesson Academy, passed away February 15, 2026. He held leadership roles at Smith & Wesson, Michaels of Oregon, and Blackhawk Products Group, and lectured internationally with organizations including ILEETA, IALEFI, and the NRA.
The Guns & Ammo Buzz podcast, hosted by Guns & Ammo's editorial team and brought to you by Watchtower Defense and Poncho Outdoors, features legendary gunsmith Paul Liebenberg discussing the history of the Pachmayr Combat Special, red-dot pistols, and custom 1911 innovations on episode #43.
HeadHunters NW Podcast host Shaylene Keiner interviews Jack Jameson of BSF Barrels about his 20-year firearms industry career. The episode covers BSF Barrels' patented carbon fiber barrel process, OEM partnerships with Weatherby, Savage, and Henry, and a new distribution partnership with Sports South.
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announces the M&P15 AXE SBR chambered in 300 Blackout, featuring Gemtech's GVAC suppressor-optimized gas system. The rifle includes an 8-inch barrel, Midwest Industries Combat M-LOK handguard, Magpul CTR stock, and Radian Raptor charging handle, optimized for suppressed operation.
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announced the launch of the M&P15 AXE Pistol, featuring Gemtech's GVAC direct impingement gas system designed for suppressed shooting. The .300 Blackout pistol includes an 8-inch barrel, Midwest Industries Combat M-LOK handguard, Radian Raptor charging handle, and Magpul BTR arm brace.
Remington Ammunition has added the 7mm Backcountry hunting cartridge to its Core-Lokt Tipped product line for 2026. The new 175-grain load uses Peak Alloy case technology to deliver high velocities from shorter barrels, ideal for suppressed rifles, and is now shipping to dealers nationwide.
Zanders, a national distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, has added We The People Holsters to its product lineup. The partnership expands concealed carry options for dealers, offering precision-molded Kydex holsters and everyday carry accessories trusted by law enforcement and shooting enthusiasts.
TriStar Arms will exhibit at the 2026 Chattanooga Shooting Supplies Dealer Show on July 27-28, showcasing new firearms including the APOC PRO 9mm pistol, Upland Hunter Thumbhole Stock shotgun, and KR22 rifle in new finishes at Booth #514.
Traditions® Performance Firearms will exhibit at the 2026 Chattanooga Shooting Supplies Dealer Show on July 27–28 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The company will showcase innovative products including the NitroBolt® and NitroFire® platforms, along with rifles, revolvers, and shooting accessories at Booth #507.
If you want to be able to shoot at all well at 25 yards, you train at fifty yards. That’s the take from a bullseye shooter – at least one and likely many more. It’s also the take of Pat McNamara, a name familiar to those interested in the tactical/personal protection aspect of firearms.
They’re right. It’s a lesson I was forced into in 1986 that’s come back to haunt me.
Back in the olden days, I found I’d developed a trophy-class “flinch” habit. Poorly described by many, including me, over decades (perhaps, over a century), this “pre-ignition push” causes one to nose-dive the muzzle just before ignition. If you “call the shot,” you likely called it “good enough.”
It wasn’t. For a right-hander, that round sank low left.
Out of every course of fire I shot for the outfit, one – and one only – sank low out of the scoring area. Ball and dummy exercises helped only momentarily. On one fine day, a reserve officer – and gun guy from before I was born, who’d forgotten at the end of his life more than I’ll ever know – took me aside and said, “I think I can help with that.”
Above, the barn-sized B-27 target, scored for training and qualification that anything inside the "8" ring was 5 points, then four in the "7" ring, etc. Shooting it at fifty yards, trying to hit the "X" in the middle was enough hold to keep them inside the 8-ring. Below, the B-27 repair center with a GLOCK 45 Gen6 for scale.
The solution? He loaned me an extra magazine for the company-issued S&W 645, so I’d have four of them, and he schooled me on NRA Police Combat Match #5, stage 3. This was from 50 yards, 24 rounds in 2 minutes, 45 seconds, from four positions, with three reloads. From standing, you move to sitting for 6 shots, reload, go prone for 6 shots and reload, to standing left-side barricade, shooting with the left hand for 6 shots, finishing with six rounds from the right side of the barricade, using the right hand.
This was fired on the NRA B-27 target, a huge silhouette with ISU scoring rings.
There’s an “X” in the middle. Using a B-27 repair center from Outers, I measured it at 2 1/8” wide by 3 1/16” high. The “10,” if that’s what you’re shooting for from fifty yards, is 4” wide by a generous 6” high. The 9-ring is about 9” by 12”.
The “8” ring is considered worth 5 points for scoring in training and qualification mode. That is a foot wide by just under 18” high. Shooting for that “perfect” score qual style just required staying in that 8-ring.
I don’t have the words to discuss how difficult that was; first, I had to hit the barn-door sized silhouette at that distance – from four positions, with a draw and three reloads, as well as shooting with either hand.
If it were easy, everyone would do it. Harry was patient. He’d make the trek to the target to read it and repair it. He’d coach me on position shooting – taking one’s mind off of “the sights look good right … NOW!” and jerking the muzzle down two feet.
With the 45 and the loads we used on the range, I used a “neck hold,” using the head of the silhouette balanced atop the red ramp of the 645 to drop those lead slugs into the middle of the target.
Now, in my dotage, I find myself having trouble when I try to “hold hard, shoot straight.” So, it’s back to the fifty-yard line. I’m not getting down into sitting and prone, then trying to stand. This time, it’s bullseye.
I had no B-6 targets or repair centers on my first try. I made do by covering a shot-up cardboard backer with the upper part of an old ISU silhouette and tacking a B-8 repair center to it.
If it’s bullseye, we shoot it “one-handed, the way the Good Lord meant for us to.” I started with an early Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory, this one with a Volquartsen barrel and an elderly C-More RTS2 optic. Winchester Super-X 40 grain high velocity isn’t match ammo, but I’m not a match shooter.
The first string saw a hit low, where the “6” would be. There was an “X,” a “9,” a pair high above the repair center. The second string featured three in the 8-ring, a nine and a 10. Scoring as marked, I had 43/50. Before I pat myself on the back, counting it -1 per each scoring ring gave me 38/50.
I’d still take it.
Trying with the S&W M617 4-inch 22, using CCI Standard Velocity and iron sights, I didn’t fare so well, with few hits on the repair center. I followed up with a pair of timed fire strings at 25 yards, posting a 77/100. Not great, but I shot vastly better at 25.
I’m continuing down this road, shooting 22 autos with and without optics, just to see what’s happening, as well as shooting “service pistol,” to see if the long line has any relevance to regular defense marksmanship.
