Industry Update

The Ambassador of Italy to the United States, H.E. Marco Peronaci, hosted a celebration at Villa Firenze commemorating Beretta's 500th anniversary. Founded in 1526, Beretta has grown into an international group with significant U.S. operations including Beretta USA, Benelli USA, Burris, and Norma Precision, employing approximately 700 people across American operations.

Orchid announced its Guns.com integration now supports used inventory, allowing FFL dealers to list used firearms directly from their store inventory to one of the largest online firearm marketplaces. The integration includes serial-level accuracy, automatic inventory management, and order approval capabilities through Orchid POS, alongside existing integrations with GunBroker and GunMade.com.

NRA Institute for Legislative Action Executive Director John Commerford stated that election results have put progressive majorities in control of Congress and state houses, threatening Second Amendment rights. The NRA pledges to fight in Congress, courts, and state legislatures to protect gun owners' rights and encourage pro-gun political engagement.

The NSSF-adjusted NICS figure for October 2026 reached 1,402,422, representing a 7.9 percent increase compared to October 2025. Texas, Florida, and California led in adjusted NICS checks, while the unadjusted FBI NICS figure showed an 8.1 percent decrease year-over-year.

SHIELD Sights marks its 40th anniversary as a British manufacturer of red dot optics, celebrating four decades of innovation since its founding on November 3, 1986. The company developed the influential RMSc mounting footprint now widely adopted by handgun manufacturers and continues manufacturing optics in Crewkerne, England.

Armanet, a programmatic advertising platform built for the firearms, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor industries, launches with eight integrated channels including programmatic display, video, Connected TV, and email. Founded by Nick Morissey, the platform uses ArmanetID and multi-touch attribution to help brands measure sales impact across all marketing channels.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte visited PROOF Research's new Columbia Falls headquarters to celebrate the company's expansion and growth as a Montana manufacturer. The visit included a ribbon cutting, facility tour, and demonstration of PROOF Research's carbon fiber barrels, precision rifle systems, and the Elevation MTR FDX rifle.

Springfield Armory and HS Produkt announced the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) officially adopted the Echelon 4.0FC 9mm pistol as its issued duty weapon. The fully ambidextrous pistol was selected after rigorous testing and competed against numerous international manufacturers.

German Precision Optics (GPO USA) announced a partnership with MWS Associates, Inc. to represent GPO product lines across 37 states. MWS Associates brings 50 years of shooting sports industry experience and established retail relationships to support GPO's dealer network expansion in the eastern market.

Primary Arms Optics announced the promotion of Carson Heck to Director of Manufacturing and Quality. Since joining as a Product Engineer in 2020, Heck has led design and development of optics and mounts, including the PLx® HTX-1 enclosed pistol red dot sight, the company's first U.S.-made optic.

The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) contributed an additional $20,000 to NSSF's Protect Liberty PAC, bringing its 2026 commitment to $45,000 and total support since 2024 to $70,000. Lawrence G. Keane, Protect Liberty PAC's Treasurer, praised NASGW's consistent support for the PAC's mission to elect candidates who will protect Second Amendment rights.

AGM Global Vision announced the appointment of Svetlana Richter as Vice President of International Sales. Richter brings over 20 years of experience in thermal imaging and night vision, most recently serving as Chief Sales Officer at Yukon Advanced Optics Worldwide. She will lead AGM's international expansion and strengthen global distribution partnerships.

 NSSF® announced that the Firearm Handler Check (FHC) Final Rule will be published today in the Federal Register. The FHC Final Rule will allow all federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to run background check verifications on current and prospective employees through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). 

Silencer Central launched "Ship to Dealer," allowing customers to purchase suppressors online and pick them up at licensed dealers nationwide. The service follows ATF guidance eliminating NFA registration requirements for suppressors, available in 27 states alongside Silencer Central's traditional front-door delivery option.

RetailBI released its Q3 2026 Shooting Sports Report analyzing retail sales data from over 2,000 retailers. Despite a 7.8% decline in firearm unit sales, lever-action rifles grew 21.8%, premium handguns above $1,500 increased 33.6%, and suppressors surged 178.6% year over year.

Brownells Global Solutions appointed ADN Enterprise as Brownells Europe to manage sales, marketing, and business development across European territories. The partnership leverages ADN's expertise in firearms, hunting, and defense sectors with Brownells' global brand network, providing localized warehouse, technical, and gunsmithing services.

SHIELD Sights opened a new U.S. distribution facility in Florida to improve shipping efficiency and reduce delivery times for dealers and customers. The facility will handle order fulfillment, warranty claims, and customer support while SHIELD continues manufacturing products in the United Kingdom.

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) has standardized the 5.56 Commercial cartridge, introduced by Hornady Manufacturing Company. The new round features a 55-grain bullet at 3,400 fps with a maximum average pressure of 62,000 psi.

Primary Arms Optics announced the promotion of Jeff Scheider to Vice President of Sales. Scheider, who previously served as National Sales Manager, will lead sales strategy and strengthen dealer partnerships for the Houston-based optics company.

Heckler & Koch USA announced Katherine Karaki's appointment as National Sales Manager. Karaki brings extensive sales leadership and manufacturing experience from a custom firearms manufacturer, holding a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Tyler. She will begin her role at the NASGW Expo in Phoenix, Arizona, October 13-15.