Awards & Honors

Murray Road Agency, a Charleston-based strategic marketing firm serving the outdoor industry, has been named a Marketing Firm Regional Winner in the 2026 Best of South Carolina awards presented by The Guide to South Carolina. CEO Tim Brandt highlighted the recognition reflects their client relationships and team's commitment to helping outdoor brands connect authentically with audiences.

CZ presented its inaugural Breakthrough Awards to Davidson's and Ann Arbor Arms during a gala at the company's 90th Anniversary Celebration in Prague. Davidson's received the distributor award and Ann Arbor Arms the retail award, both recognized for exceptional growth, partnership commitment, and brand advancement.

Henry Repeating Arms has been nominated for the 2026 Wisconsin Governor's Outdoor Industry Award in the Outdoor Business of the Year category. The company, led by Founder and CEO Anthony Imperato, completed its transition to a fully Wisconsin-based manufacturer in March 2025, consolidating operations across four facilities in Rice Lake and Ladysmith.

Otis Technology received the 2026 Northern New York–Fort Drum Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (NNY AUSA) Community Partner of the Year award. CEO Brad McIntyre accepted the honor, recognizing the company's commitment to supporting soldiers, military families, veterans, and the Fort Drum community through partnerships and charitable initiatives.

Springfield Armory's Echelon 4.0FC 9mm pistol earned the highest gold ranking in the National Tactical Officers Association's Member Tested and Recommended program, scoring 4.65 out of 5.00. The hybrid-style pistol joins the Echelon 4.5F and 4.0C as NTOA MTR gold-ranked firearms, featuring a modular design with a 4" barrel and full-size grip module.

Dead Air Silencers announced that multiple products, including the Nomad LTi XC, Nomad Ti XC, Enhanced Brake for Nomad Suppressors, and Mask, received 2026 Editor's Choice Awards from Hunt Alaska. CEO Ernie Beckwirth praised the recognition, crediting the company's team dedication to producing high-performance suppressors for hunters and shooters.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources honored Conservation Officer Luke Robare with a Medal of Valor and Lifesaving Award for his heroic response to a violent attack at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on September 28, 2025. Robare neutralized the threat within minutes of arriving on scene, working alongside Grand Blanc Township Police Officer Jason Carpentier.

Dead Air Silencers received the 2025 Shooting Sports Retailer Gold Award in the suppressor category, recognized by readers and retailers nationwide. CEO Ernie Beckwith credited the team's innovation, retail partner support, and customer trust for the honor.

Safariland won the Gold Award for favorite holsters in Shooting Sports Retailer's Reader's Choice Awards for the second consecutive year. The brand's Incog X was recognized in 2025, with the upcoming Incog XS launching in collaboration with Haley Strategic Partners.

Federal Ammunition received the 2025 Gold Award for Best Shotshell from readers of Tactical Retailer and Shooting Sports Retailer. The award recognizes Federal's commitment to quality, performance, and innovation across their shotshell product lines, including Gold Medal, Black Cloud, Prairie Storm, and Custom Shop TSS loads.

NSSF has recognized Range USA with its Five-Star rating for range excellence. The 50-store chain operating across 14 states was founded by Tom Willingham and emphasizes customer experience, safety education, and environmental responsibility through lead mining and brass casing collection.

CCI has been awarded the 2026 Gold Award for Rimfire Ammunition by Tactical Retailer and Shooting Sports Retailer readers. The reader-driven awards recognize CCI's quality, performance, and innovation in rimfire ammunition products including Clean-22 Sub-Sonic and Suppressor Max.

Leapers received the 2026 American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Optic of the Year Award for the Integrix iXF 4.5X28 Service Rifle Scope. Developed with professional competitive marksmen and featuring German Schott glass, the fixed-power scope is available on Leapers.com for $999.97 before a July 2026 price increase.

German Precision Optics announced that its GPO CENTURI 4-16x44i Super-Compact Riflescope received the 2026 NRA American Hunter Golden Bullseye Award. Owner/CEO Mike Jensen praised the riflescope as a game-changer offering compact, high-magnification performance at an affordable price point.

Benelli has been awarded the 2025 Gold Choice Award by Shooting Sports Retailer readers, recognizing the brand's performance and reliability as judged by independent retailers across the shooting sports industry.

Liberty Safe earned multiple Gold awards at industry Readers' Choice programs, including recognition from Shooting Sports Retailer, Tactical Retailer, and Predator Xtreme. The awards reflect votes from independent firearm retailers and consumers recognizing the company's commitment to quality and American craftsmanship in gun safe manufacturing.

Dott. Franco Gussalli Beretta, President and CEO of Fabbrica d'armi Pietro Beretta, received the 2026 NRA Defender of Freedom Award at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits for his leadership and commitment to the Second Amendment and American shooting sports. The honor recognizes Beretta's 500-year legacy and continued support of conservation, competitive shooting, and firearm safety education.

MidwayUSA earned the 2025 Bizrate Circle of Excellence Platinum Award, marking its fourth platinum and eighteenth overall award from Bizrate Insights. The honor recognizes the family-owned retailer's exceptional online customer service and satisfaction, placing it in the top 1% of the Bizrate Insights North America Network.

Shadow Systems CEO Trevor Roe recognized Check-Mate employees Brian Crow, Robert Potts, and Brayden Shorb for exceptional dedication and technical expertise supporting the company's manufacturing and product development. Each recipient received a complimentary Shadow Systems pistol in recognition of their contributions to the partnership.

Benelli's Nova 3 Tactical pump-action shotgun has been honored with the prestigious 2026 American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Award from NRA Media. The award recognizes the shotgun's excellence in innovation, reliability, and consumer value, with Product Manager Bret Maffett highlighting its modern defensive features and lightweight handling.