Beretta USA announced that its Beretta AX800 Suprema earned Top Range Performer of the Year and the Beretta 92G Elite LTT II, developed with Langdon Tactical Technology, received Competition Gun of the Year at the 2026 Industry Choice Awards.
KDG, headquartered in Seymour, Connecticut, has completed its brand transition and is accelerating product development with a focus on innovation and American manufacturing. The company plans to expand its Kinect and SideLok product lines while introducing new categories, with all products designed and manufactured in the United States.
B&T USA expanded its Herriman, Utah facility from three employees to over 55 staff members in under a year, adding nine 3-D printers and seven CNC machines. The facility now handles design, machining, Cerakoting, engraving and shipping in-house, enabling production of up to 7,000 suppressors monthly with enhanced quality control and customer service.
SHIELD Sights competitors achieved outstanding results at the Beretta Gold Cup in Tartu, Estonia on July 24–25. Dylan Keppel claimed 1st Place Overall in Production Optics, while Cheyenne Wauben earned 1st Place in the Ladies Division and 4th Place Overall in Production Optics.
Lauryl Akenhead of Team Ruger earned High Lady honors at the 2026 Sheepdog Showdown, a national PRS Pro Series point match held in New York's Catskill Mountains. Competing with her Ruger American Gen II rifle in an MDT LSS chassis, Akenhead finished with a score of 151, demonstrating the rifle's reliability and accuracy in demanding competitive conditions.
Oregon's Initiative Petition 28, the "People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act," failed to gather sufficient signatures for the 2026 ballot. NSSF opposed the measure, which would have criminalized hunting, trapping, and livestock production, threatening Oregon's $9 billion outdoor recreation economy and wildlife funding sources.
Davidson's will broadcast a live manufacturer spotlight on July 28, 2026, featuring Dan Wesson Firearms with Eric Wesson, Sheldon Duncan, and Alex Tumlin of CZ/Dan Wesson. The event explores the brand's history and current CZ-USA partnership, with one lucky FFL dealer winning a free DWX optic-ready 9mm pistol valued at $2,999.
SLG2, Inc. will bring its Shoot Like A Girl experience to Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee, July 31st through August 2nd as part of its 2026 Grand Safety Tour. The free event features a mobile range with firearm simulators, archery activities, and product demonstrations from leading outdoor brands including Black Rifle Coffee.
Dead Air Silencers will exhibit at the 3rd annual Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit (G.O.A.L.S) on August 1-2, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. The company will showcase new products including the CT5P suppressor, Nomad Ti OTB, and RXD910Ti, along with proven models like the Wolfman and Nomad LTi XC.
The Second Amendment Foundation filed an amicus brief in Maryland's Supreme Court supporting Darius Duvall's petition challenging the state's refusal to recognize out-of-state carry permits. The brief, joined by Maryland Shall Issue, National Rifle Association, California Rifle & Pistol Association, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, Second Amendment Law Center, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and Cato Institute, argues Maryland's policy violates the Second Amendment and lacks historical precedent.
Traditions Firearms announced Keith Heinlein as Product Manager, bringing nearly two decades of shooting sports industry experience. Heinlein, an avid hunter and fisherman, will lead product development initiatives and help expand Traditions' firearms and accessories portfolio.
Fusion Thermal, LLC, owner of the WAVE Infrared brand, appointed Professional Marketing Inc. (PMI) as its manufacturers' representative agency for a 10-state Southeastern territory. PMI will represent WAVE Infrared thermal imaging optics to firearm retailers, sporting goods dealers, and distributors across Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, and Florida.
Federal Ammunition is now shipping a new 45 Colt, 235-grain jacketed hollow-point load for its Power-Shok handgun line. According to Chris Laack, Handgun Product Manager at Federal, the load is suited for medium and big game including hogs and deer, and also performs well from lever-action rifles.
Check-Mate, a U.S. manufacturer of firearm magazines and accessories, launched a redesigned website featuring improved shopping functionality, streamlined navigation, and a Mag Finder tool. The platform offers easier access to Check-Mate's full product lineup including 1911, Staccato 2011®-style, M1A®/M14, and other magazine categories for shooters, gunsmiths, and military professionals.
Walk the Talk America partnered with Pot of Gold Auctions to host a fundraiser auction opening October 13, inviting firearms industry leaders to donate items. Proceeds support WTTA's mental health initiatives addressing firearm suicide prevention.
The International Hunter Education Association – United States of America (IHEA-USA) has partnered with NSSF's First Shots program to integrate shooting safety education into hunter education courses across all 50 states. Eleven states currently participate, with Maine introducing over 400 new shooters in three months.
GTM Original, an award-winning leader in women's concealed carry handbags, launches the GTM-201/PBBONE Mini Crossbody Concealed Carry Purse featuring premium USA top grain cowhide leather, built-in RFID-protected wallet, and a three-sided zippered concealed carry compartment with included Mernickle Holster for Sig P365 firearms.
Galco launches the SB36 Alligator Trim Holster Belt, a 1 1/2" wide double-thickness premium steerhide belt featuring seven adjustment holes and a removable solid brass buckle. Available in tan with midnight brown alligator trim or black with black alligator trim, it pairs with Galco's alligator trimmed Avenger holster.
Stealth Cam launches its upgraded 3.0 Series cellular trail cameras featuring AI-powered false image detection, PIR zone selection, and Rack Alert technology. The Deceptor MAX 3.0, Revolver PRO 3.0, Spectre 4K Pro, and Fusion MAX 3.0 models offer dual-core technology for simultaneous image and video capture with free 4K downloads via the Command app.
BlackPoint Tactical, a High Speed Gear Products Group brand, launches the Concealed Duty Holster (CDH), an active-retention holster combining duty-level security with concealed carry concealability. Initially available for Glock 17 and 19/45 with TLR-7 and TLR-7 HLX, the KYDEX holster features Level II retention and is designed and manufactured in the USA.
Snakestaff Systems released the Universal Snakeskin, a versatile tourniquet carrier compatible with Snakestaff ETQ™ and ETQ Wide™ models. Designed for multiple mounting applications across vehicles, equipment, and recreational gear, the carrier provides secure hemorrhage control access in diverse environments for military, law enforcement, first responders, and civilians.
SB Tactical, in conjunction with Die Free Co., announced the SBA6, a 5-position adjustable pistol stabilizing brace for MIL-SPEC carbine receiver extensions. The brace features improved ergonomics, a rubber arm cuff, and ambidextrous QD sling socket, now shipping in Black with FDE and ODG models expected in Q4.
Chiappa USA, the exclusive U.S. importer and distributor for Chiappa Firearms and Charles Daly, will exhibit at the Chattanooga Shooting Tradeshow 2026 on July 27–28 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The company will showcase its complete firearms portfolio and discuss dealer programs with industry professionals.
Pursuit Channel announced the addition of The Luke Branquinho Show to its programming lineup, hosted by world-champion team roper and rodeo icon Luke Branquinho. The series blends rodeo life with hunting, fishing, ranching, and Western lifestyle adventures, airing Q3 & Q4 2026 across DIRECTV, Comcast Xfinity, Verizon Fios, and Pursuit UP streaming platforms.
All problems in the real world don't call for those hard skills; in fact, very few do. It's high-risk, which is why we train for it. Still, not having to use these skills operationally is priceless.
A discussion of “soft” skills and “hard” skills is appropriate as we started from tactics for the plainclothes/off-duty peace officer here.
A comment from a news digest (to which you can subscribe here) said, “Without saying so in as many words, Rich points out that what most gun owners consider training assumes that all problems are shooting problems. In the words of Abraham Maslow, “I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.”
He’s right.
In that previous feature, I’d noted that a robbery-in-progress scenario was solved by an officer-participant without firing a single shot. Everyone else “shot the bad guy.”
Their answer wasn’t the wrong answer – but wasn’t his potentially the better solution?
Not all personal protection encounters are shooting problems; to the contrary (and, thankfully) nearly no personal protection situations are shooting problems. That’s a good thing. But, if an encounter forces a defender to use deadly force, “misses” can’t be tolerated.
Taking a moment to observe the business premises before entering gives one a clue as to it's "business as usual" or "let's do this later."
If you can navigate the situation without resorting to force at all, that’s good. Better: stay away from conflict scenarios entirely. Some you can reasonably predict, like the “stupid places, people, activities” proscription by John Farnam. Others are not that extreme, but can involve crowds, high crime locations, social use of intoxicants and the like.
In the hierarchy of personal protection, avoidance is best – and it’s something to be practiced. Next is escape and evasion – simply get out of it as best you can, as long as it can be done safely.
Planning and awareness are components, as well as considering situations you read about, videos you see (dramas or actual events caught on surveillance cameras), and stories you hear others tell. Consider what happened that forced the defender into having to use force.
It’s mental rehearsal. To look at a “hard” skill analog, precision shooting; it’s largely a game of intense focus and rehearsal, not just making noise putting projectiles somewhere onto a backstop.
Look a long way ahead to see problems before you drive into them ... when you can.
It’s the same with situational dynamics. Seeing what has happened to others – whether fictional in dramas or actual, in various video from badge cams, dash cams, surveillance and security cameras and lookie-loos with their phone videos – can help you prepare.
Just as dash cam videos provided a wealth of rehearsals for potential motor vehicle accident situations: you see what can go wrong, what did go wrong – on a video. Later, when driving, you find yourself slowing down early “because I’ve seen this before.”
As to hard skills, that’s marksmanship. Not every problem is a shooting problem – most aren’t. But if it comes to that, you have to know that you can absolutely make that shot, 100% sure, before you press the trigger. You do that by learning from misses on the range.
You can learn that by doing a “walk-back” exercise, seeing how far back you get before you pull a round off that preferred scoring area.
Shoot targets smaller than you prefer, shoot from distances that are at the same time unlikely to be faced in reality and uncomfortable. Find your failure point on the range.
