Shadow Systems, a Texas-based firearms manufacturer, has been acquired by Roe Strategic Capital LLC, a partnership between CEO Trevor Roe and investor Richard Roe, from Catalyst Holdings. The management-led transaction positions the company for long-term growth and product expansion while maintaining current operations and leadership.
Outdoor Edge won the Gold Award in the Knife category of the Bowhunting World and Predator Xtreme 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, marking the fifth recognition in six years. The Denver-based manufacturer's patented RazorSafe® replaceable blade system continues to resonate with hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.
Birchwood Casey won the Readers' Choice 2026 Gold Award in the Shooting Target category from Predator Xtreme magazine for the second consecutive year, recognizing the brand's innovation, reliability, and leadership in shooting industry products.
The Second Amendment Foundation filed a reply brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Schoenthal v. Raoul, challenging Illinois' ban on firearm carry on public transit. SAF, joined by the Firearms Policy Coalition, argues the ban violates Second Amendment rights and lacks historical support, with Executive Director Adam Kraut and founder Alan M. Gottlieb emphasizing the law only disarms law-abiding citizens.
Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed a reply brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Schoenthal v. Raoul on March 3, 2026, seeking to overturn Illinois's ban on carrying firearms on public transportation. The case, represented by Cooper & Kirk, PLLC attorneys David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson, William V. Bergstrom, and David G. Sigale, could affect firearm carry rights nationwide.
The Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) planning committee announced registration is open for the 41st annual conference scheduled for September 25-27 in Dallas at the Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport hotel. Co-hosted by the Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, the event brings together Second Amendment advocates, attorneys, and industry leaders.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation reported February 2026 NSSF-adjusted NICS background checks of 1,265,320, a 3.5 percent increase from February 2025. The NSSF introduced monthly NFA checks data for 2026, with Texas, Florida, and Virginia leading in NFA checks during the month.
Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP) hired Eric Alexander as Director of Sales for the Midsouth US region. Alexander will manage law enforcement agency relationships across New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Asia distributor relationships. Vice President Daryell Harmon praised Alexander's customer relationship skills and leadership experience.
Smith & Wesson is hiring a Law Enforcement District Sales Manager for the western U.S. territory covering WA, OR, ID, UT, WY, MT, ND, SD or Northern NV. The role involves managing law enforcement sales opportunities, demonstrating S&W products, and coordinating training across city, state, and federal agencies with substantial travel required.
Smith & Wesson is hiring a Director of Domestic LE Sales based in Maryville, TN to lead law enforcement sales strategy across the United States. The role requires 5-10 years of firearms industry sales experience, preferably in law enforcement channels, with progressive management responsibilities and a bachelor's degree preferred.
Zanders, an all-women-owned distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, announced it is now stocking Bucked Up Energy drinks, supplements, and proteins. The partnership brings the performance energy brand to Zanders' nationwide dealer network, offering high-caffeine, sugar-free products with clinically studied ingredients.
Samson Manufacturing introduced the Hannibal T1 rail, a direct mount solution for red dot sights using the Aimpoint® T-1 footprint on Mini-14®/Mini-Thirty® rifles. Compatible with optics from Holosun®, Sig Sauer®, Primary Arms®, Bushnell®, Vortex®, and other manufacturers, the rail eliminates adapter plate fail points and simplifies installation.
Chattanooga Shooting Supplies (CSSI) unveiled an exclusive dealer package featuring the Sig P365X "Sick Puppy" 9mm with HUSH suppressor, Holosun 407K optic, and threaded match barrel. The premium bundle offers a turnkey solution combining performance and innovation for dealers and consumers seeking an enhanced everyday carry platform.
TAG Precision, a Dallas-based maker of precision handgun sights, announced a Lifetime Warranty backed by their patented FiberLok technology. The warranty covers all sights and fibers, with free repair or replacement if anything fails, demonstrating the company's confidence in product durability and quality.
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announced the release of the Performance Center Equalizer Carry Comp, a 9mm micro-compact pistol featuring performance upgrades including a PowerPort for reduced recoil, EZ technology for easy charging, and Ameriglo night sights.
Walker's has launched the SHOTSYNC wearable shot timer, now available online and through retailers nationwide. The device pairs an integrated microphone with accelerometer sensors to track shot counts and split times, featuring Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity with the Walker's Link app for custom training configurations and performance tracking across all firearm types.
Hook & Barrel Magazine announces Cameron Willis's appointment as Head of Digital Strategy. Willis brings a decade of international media and digital expertise across the UK, U.S., and UAE, and will lead the brand's digital initiatives to expand its online presence.
Dan Wesson Firearms announces that the DWX and Specialist pistols are featured on the cover of Guns & Ammo's April 2026 issue. The feature highlights both single-stack and double-stack performance platforms, showcasing the craftsmanship that defines the Dan Wesson brand under the headline "OH, DAN!"
Luth-AR, a leading innovator in AR parts and accessories based in Buffalo, MN, will exhibit at the Nevada Premier Sportsman Expo March 6-8, 2026, at the Reno Sparks Convention Center. Visitors can explore Luth-AR's premium components including MBA Buttstocks, grips, and handguards at Booth #212.
The Second Amendment Foundation announced that Die Free Co., a Made-in-the-USA rifle parts manufacturer, has joined as a Silver-level corporate partner. CEO Adam Johnson and SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut emphasized their shared commitment to defending Second Amendment freedoms, with DFCO also collaborating on fundraising efforts.
SLG2, Inc. announced Aimpoint as its newest corporate partner for 2026. The partnership combines SLG2's firearms safety education with Aimpoint's premium red dot sighting solutions, with Aimpoint products featured on SLG2's 2026 Grand Safety Tour across the country.
GunBroker.com partnered with SIG SAUER to launch the March Marksmanship Giveaway, offering a $5,249.95 prize package including a P211-GTO COMBAT Pistol, M400 TREAD V2 Rifle, ROMEO5 Gen II optic, Hexium 556Ti suppressor, and ammunition. Participants can enter daily through March 31, 2026.
As far back as the late 1980s-early 1990s, the reliable police autoloader became ascendant. Above, the SIG P226 and S&W M4506 represent the 9mm vs. 45 Auto positions.
Sometimes, a glance back at history helps us better understand where we are today. People don’t remember that duty handguns weren’t always reliable, an era in which there were few types of handgun ammo available for use and that we’d just come from a period where duty pistols and revolvers had less-than-visible sights.
I used the following book in doing a research study for undergraduate credit -- Bristow, Allen P., The Search for an Effective Police Handgun; Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas, 1973. The topic of the study was equal amounts a search for ammunition and stopping power and the best format of gun to be issued/allowed to be used.
From the days in which the book was written, this 1980s manufacture S&W Model 60 represents an example of plainclothes/off-duty guns available. Below, ammunition choices per caliber became broader, with expanding jacketed ammo becoming commonly issued.
As ammunition was largely full metal jacket ammo for autos and round nose lead for the typical 38 Special revolver, the autos didn’t have much of a chance.
The issue of “ideal police handgun” plagued the police from the time that Teddy Roosevelt, Commissioner of Police in New York City, wanted his cops to be armed. In those days, it was more caliber than action type.
From the time that the NYPD sallied forth with 32 caliber revolvers, the discussion of gear over figuring out how to win gunfights began its torturous trail. It exists to this day, but the debates are more optics and what brand of gun – with the exception of the reemergence of the 1911, this time in a double stack 9mm configuration -- under glass.
The concern for years – culminating with the expansive studies after the FBI-Miami fight – was, so to speak, “handgun stopping power.”
In these enlightened times, there are those ahead-of-the-curve types who are relearning what shootists have known for a long time: there’s no such thing. You’re punching a bit of a hole into someone who wants to kill you. The extent to which the suspect displays full-rage behaviors, drug-alcohol fueled or not, determines whether the result will be someone who lays down, runs away, or charges into you in an attempt to exterminate you.
That should leave the discussion to form and function; do you “need” a lot of rounds and/or a quick reload, for example.
It’s educational though to go back in history and look through the intellectual gyrations trying to (in the words of Jeff Cooper) “make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.”
Of course, he was talking about magic bullets loaded into what he considered sub-caliber ammunition. We all know better now – until an anecdotal bit diverts us.
Like most human enterprises, the debate goes ‘round in circles, revisiting gunnies like a reappearance of a celestial anomaly -- a comet.
The fact is that just about any centerfire round – and even some anemic rimfire rounds – are known to turn the trick if you know how to shoot and how to fight. Additionally, there are times attackers don’t quit until they just can’t continue. Lots of damage can follow.
In Bristow’s book, he mentions the lethality of 22 rimfire ammo – it’s likely, as Chuck Haggard points out, that most uses of 22 ammo seem to be from easy-to-shoot 22 rifles, at near distances, often with a non-threat shootee.
What is causing the lethal result? (1) Precision hits into difficult or impossible to repair body parts, (2) the precision afforded by a rifle, with a barrel enough to get penetration of the little bullet, as well as the amount such a gun is fired without lethal intent (“practice”),(3) at close range – increasing accuracy while maintaining what velocity there is, and to a target that doesn’t know it’s about to be killed.
If there’s no body alarm reaction in the target, the sucker punch from the 22 is lethal indeed.
Still, with police handguns and similar, we often have a temporary stop, where someone will cease an attack before realizing they’re not dead – and renewing their assault. And that’s with modern, “it passed the FBI standards” ammo, let alone cheap range ball ammo.
For non-uniformed types (and non-police) these days, it’s more “what can I carry concealed while being able to shoot it well?”
Where we were in the run-up to the 1990s in terms of police guns are shown by a modified 1911 above. Below, the increasingly popular double-stack 1911 is shown below in the form of the Springfield Armory Prodigy Compact.
You’re more likely to be spotted by the opposition – or a nosey HOA-type – than you’re likely to be involved in a fight. While notice of your condition isn’t often fatal, it can be troublesome and can bring serious complications to your social and professional life.
It’s better to be always armed – discreetly – than to be unarmed or to be clumsy in concealment.
As to the police handgun, it seems that the most likely issued gun is a modern striker-fired pistol (nearly all with polymer frames) or a double-stack 1911 (likewise, in frame materials), nearly all in 9mm. It seems that a few 45 1911s are hanging on in certain small agencies.
I guess Professor Bristow’s search is mostly over.
