In observance of the Easter holiday, we will not be publishing any wires on Friday, April 3. If your news needs to be distributed before Monday, April 6, 2026, please get it to us no later than 4:30pm Eastern Time today, April 1. News arriving later will not make Thursday's final editions for the week.

Luth-AR served as title sponsor of the 2026 Superstition Mountain Mystery 3-Gun Championship hosted by Rio Salado Sportsman Club, attracting 360 competitors. Luth-AR founder Randy Luth placed 3rd in the Grand Senior category, while sponsored shooters Mark Roth and Scott McGregor earned top finishes in their respective divisions.

Scopos' 2026 National New Shooter and Air Pistol Leagues enter their final week with North Brunswick AJROTC and Vista Grande MCJROTC leading the New Shooter League, while NoVA Sharpshooters remain undefeated in the Air Pistol League. Week 9 featured tight matchups across both competitions with several teams competing for top rankings.

Remington Ammunition team members achieved multiple podium finishes at the 2026 Gator Cup in Georgetown, SC, with Brandon Powell finishing Runner-Up in the Main Event and Turner Parcell placing third in High Over All and second in Super Sporting. Wendell Cherry won the Thursday Prelim in the Veteran category.

The Second Amendment Foundation, National Rifle Association of America, and Independence Institute filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to grant certiorari in National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc v. Letitia James, challenging New York's law that undermines the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act and enables abusive public nuisance lawsuits against firearms manufacturers and dealers.

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed a motion for summary judgment in Heeter v. James, challenging New York's body armor ban as unconstitutional. The lawsuit, represented by Nicolas J. Rotsko of Fluet, argues the state cannot criminalize personal protective equipment purchases.

Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) secured a legal victory against New York's social media background check requirement for concealed carry licenses. The state consented to an injunction against enforcing the provision requiring applicants to submit three years of social media account information, with litigation continuing against other restrictive provisions.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman will host Ladies Day on the Range on April 25 at five Nebraska locations including Platte River State Park, Kearney Outdoor Education Complex, Turpin Outdoor Education Center, Ponca State Park, and Big Mac Sports Club. The event offers women instruction in shotgun, archery, pellet gun, and .22 handgun and rifle shooting.

Hunters HD Gold debuted its upgraded Command Center Experience at the 14th Annual Gary "Doc" Welt Memorial Match in Clearwater, Florida. Owner Brian Conley transitioned from a four-year mobile Sprinter van setup to a custom-built trailer with partnerships including Real Avid, Vortex Optics, Ghost Holsters USA, and others, creating a comprehensive support hub for competitive shooters.

Southwick Associates offers market research and insights for the fishing, hunting, shooting, and outdoor recreation industries. The firm provides syndicated reports including the Hunting & Shooting Market Pulse, Angler Monitor, and Hunting & Shooting Monitor, plus custom primary research services. NSSF and ASA members receive 15% discounts on subscription reports.

Federal Ammunition is shipping new Champion Training 9mm handgun loads designed for volume shooters seeking consistent accuracy and reliable performance at affordable prices. The loads feature quality brass and primers for dependable ignition and smooth cycling, now available to retailers nationwide in 50 and 200 round-box options.

Sightron announces the new "Snap Focus" S6 10-60x56 ED MOA Field Target riflescopes featuring a redesigned parallax adjustment system with 270º precision rotation. Developed in collaboration with Garima Design & Customization, these premium scopes include 15 Japanese optical-grade glass lenses and are optimized for airgun, small caliber field target, and benchrest shooters.

Kinetic Development Group (KDG) introduces its Optic Hub system, a purpose-built mounting and stabilization platform designed for Precision Rifle Series (PRS) competitors. The modular solution addresses key PRS demands including spotting scope stability, optic protection, and streamlined workflow for faster target acquisition in high-pressure competition environments.

ZeroTech introduces the THRIVE HD Digital 1x22 Red Dot, a compact red dot optic featuring digital brightness controls, auto on/off functionality, and Aimpoint® Micro compatibility. Built for fast target acquisition with a 2 MOA dot, shockproof and waterproof construction, and up to 50,000 hours of battery life.

Steiner Optics introduces the MPS-C, a compact red dot sight designed for concealed carry and compact-frame pistols. Featuring an enclosed emitter, hard-anodized aluminum housing, and weighing just 1.13 ounces, the MPS-C offers 46,125 hours of battery life with shake-awake technology at an MSRP of $574.99.

Florida Sportsman Magazine's Action Spotter Podcast, hosted by Captain Rick Ryals, delivers weekly fishing reports covering Florida's regions with insights from regional experts and industry guests. The podcast is sponsored by Yamaha, D.O.A., Shimano, Strike-Zone Fishing, Tournament Master and Young boats, and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Florida Sportsman.

Fiocchi Ammunition launches its Predator & Pest™ shotshell line for sub-gauge hunters, featuring a proprietary Duplex Density Matrix™ combining osmium and saltpeter, plus PhosTrace™ Illumination Technology for low-light tracking. The innovative ammunition is designed for .410 bore, 28 gauge, and 20 gauge platforms targeting raccoons, opossums, skunks, and other pests.

Target Sports USA announces expansion of its exclusive New Republic USA ammunition line, manufactured in partnership with a leading U.S. producer. The house brand offers brass-cased, boxer-primed, non-corrosive rounds across 10 active SKUs in popular calibers, available exclusively through Target Sports USA.

Galco's Hawkeye IWB holster is now available for the Glock 19 with a protective shroud for compact carry-style optical sights. The holster features snap-on design, premium steerhide construction, and removable belt loops fitting belts up to 1 3/4", available in black or tan finish.

Chattanooga Shooting Supplies (CSSI) announced that Peterson Cartridge premium brass is now available through its distribution network. Peterson Cartridge produces high-quality, American-made brass for precision reloaders and shooters, according to Melissa Dubiel, Vice President of Purchasing for CSSI.

Bear & Son Cutlery introduces the 4-inch Large Sheepfoot Barlow, featuring a premium high carbon stainless steel blade and three handle options: Rosewood, White Smooth Bone, or Genuine India Stag Bone™. The lightweight knife weighs 2.9 ounces and is priced at $62.99–$79.99.

US Palm debuts the CAT 4 Storm rifle series and EOS suppressor line in 2026. Featuring the Storm CAT 4 rifle with Hiperfire EDT trigger and US Palm Hurricane flash hider at $1,399.99, four EOS suppressor models ranging from $899.99 to $999.99 all launched at SHOT Show 2026.

Check-Mate Industries launched the CM-64 Switch Stik™, a 64-round magazine featuring patent-pending Ammo-Select™ technology that allows shooters to toggle between FMJ and hollow-point ammunition. The magazine uses dual-column architecture and aerospace-grade materials, available April 1st for $199.64.

Federal Ammunition is now shipping new Federal Subsonic target loads in 45-70 Government, 308 Winchester, and 30-30 Winchester, designed to deliver whisper-quiet shooting through suppressors at 1,000 feet-per-second velocities while maintaining precision and performance.

Wilson Combat announces the eXperior Elite Commander Double Stack, a precision-engineered 9mm defensive handgun featuring a 4.25-inch match-grade barrel, 18-round capacity, and modern optics integration via the Pin Mounting Platform, priced at $3,999.

NEXTORCH North America announces the NEXTORCH Snow Guard Winter Tactical Gloves, engineered for cold weather operations above 14°F with zoned insulation, waterproof-breathable membrane, and ten-finger touchscreen compatibility. The gloves feature CORDURA® stretch fabric and are priced at $47.99 MSRP.

MDT has expanded its CRBN rifle stock lineup with a new Tikka T3/T3x Short Action inlet, offering precision hunters enhanced compatibility and carbon fiber construction. The stock features adjustable ergonomics and accessory compatibility, available starting March 31 through MDT dealers and mdttac.com.

FALCO® Holsters has launched its new CarryArt™ series featuring the CX14 Pineapple and CX15 Strawberry leather OWB holsters. Handcrafted from full-grain Italian leather with custom-fit designs for 3600+ handguns, these unconventional holsters deliver traditional FALCO reliability with distinctive artistic styling.

The shooting range at Wilbur Wright Fish & Wildlife Area will temporarily close from May 11 through August 8 for facility improvements, including new shooting benches, accessible sidewalks, and enhanced dirt backstop enhancements.

Derya Arms announced a partnership with North 40 Outfitters, a family-owned retailer with 12 locations across Idaho, Montana, and Washington. North 40 Outfitters will stock Derya's DY9 and DY9Z pistols, manufactured in Jacksonville, Florida, while offering special orders for other Derya products.

Luth-AR announced Silver sponsorship of the 2026 Berry's Steel Open, held April 4–5 in Hurricane, Utah. The match features 18 stages across three steel shooting genres and expects over 300 competitors. Luth-AR will showcase products including the MCA-22™ Rimfire Chassis and MBA buttstocks at the vendor booth.

Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo, hosts of The Choice and owners of Content King Media Inc., announced a new partnership with RAM Blinds. The collaboration will integrate RAM Blinds into their content while maintaining their high-quality programming for audiences.

Sportsman Channel's "Hunting Camp Tuesday" lineup features hunting and outdoor adventure programming including Roger Raglin On Target, Canada in the Rough, Wardens, The Given Right, Backwoods Life, Small Town Hunting, and MeatEater with Steven Rinella, airing Tuesdays 8-11 p.m. ET.

Shooting USA features the NRA's new AR Challenge 2025, an entry-level shooting sport format for AR-15 competitors with progressive difficulty levels. The episode also covers the 152nd National Rifle Association annual meetings in Atlanta, airing Wednesday on Outdoor Channel.

Outdoor Sportsman Group announced GAME & FISH TV's launch on The Roku Channel, expanding its reach to 90 million streaming households. The FAST channel, featuring Major League Fishing competitions, wilderness adventures, and wild game cooking, is now available across multiple platforms including Roku, VIZIO, Prime Video, and Samsung TV Plus.

For as long as I have been paying attention, every so often, someone will describe a product as “the Goldilocks of…” For you Gen Z people out there, that does not mean said product is akin to a little girl with blond hair that tresspasses in your house. Goldilocks; meaning “just right not too big, not too small, not too heavy, not too light, you get the drift. No, I should not have to explain that, but my experience with younger humans says otherwise. 

And so, with all due caution, I am going to go out on a limb and say that the Canik MC9, in this case the “LS” version, might just be the true Goldilocks of EDC self-defense handguns. Allow me a moment to make my case. 

Growing Pains

For as long as I have been paying attention to the gun world — and that’s a good four plus decades now — there has been the debate about what makes something a good concealed carry gun. During the 70s and 80s, you could count the number of reliable subcompact semi-auto pistols on one hand…minus your thumb. The J-frame or 2-inch, 5-shot revolver was the king of concealed carry. That wasn’t because they were the greatest solution, but because you could actually get all five shots off without a stoppage.

That could rarely be said of the pocket guns in .22LR .25, .32 and .380. I’m not kidding when I say you would be euphoric to get off a full magazine without a hiccup. To be fair, you could get on a waiting list for a Walther PPK or PPK/S if you had time and disposable income, but most didn’t. 

When it came time to shoot the snubby revolvers, most guys did so begrudgingly. If they kept all five shots in a silhouette target from five yards they were happy. Good old Karl Malden shooting bad guys off of the rooftops of San Francisco with his compact Colt Detective Special was the exception to the rule.   

Things didn’t get that much better with the pocket .380 craze of the 2000s. Every company was making one and some would fire a full magazine without a stoppage, but they were still very snappy and less than comfortable (painful) to shoot more than a few magazines through.

Our friends from Austria struck a chord with the G42 and G43 in .380 and 9mm respectively. Finally, subcompact pistols that could be relied upon to shoot round after round without stopping. With the 42 and 43, you now had pocket guns that were as reliable as DA revolvers, but held an extra one or two shots. 

Soon, a lot of the gun guys were buying the “subcompact” GLOCKs for themselves and their spouses and adult daughters. Confidence was high, as they were now armed with semi-automatic pistols that were small enough to EDC and could also be relied upon to cycle.

We have been teaching our Martial Application of the Pistol course for some time and have had a number of shooters come with subcompact G43s and newer G43X. One of the greatest epiphanies that shooters come to grips with is that a professionally structured training course is far and away a different animal than a “trip to the range.” 

Our experience has been that while the shooters “like” their subcompact pistols, when we start running shooting drills that require them to continuously load and run the slide, etc. they don’t feel so much like as they once did. After-action reports from our graduates commonly discuss upgrading to a bit larger of a pistol with more frame onto which to hold. The G48 and G19 are common choices. 

Canik MC9LS

For those unfamiliar with the METE MC9 pistol, the standard MC9 pistol is essentially the same size as a G43, however, it has a 12-round flush fit magazine and comes with a 15-round extended mag. The MC9LS model has a bit longer slide and it has a longer frame that allows your pinky finger to make contact, not dangle.  

As for factory specs, the MC9LS has an overall length of 6.73 inches, a 3.63 inch barrel, height of 5.45 inches and weighs 23.7 ounces empty. The pistol comes with two flush fit 17-round magazines. Yes, it is a 9x19mm pistol. The action is striker-fired. The slide and barrel are forged steel and the frame is polymer. The sights are made of steel, not plastic and the slide is optic-ready allowing the RMSc footprint sights to be mounted directly to the slide, no plates needed. You can get them in all black, all FDE, or a two-tone finish. 

For comparison purposes, I laid my G48 on top of the MC9LS and for all intents and purposes, the guns are identical in size. As you would expect, the MC9LS, and all METE pistols, comes in a hard case as a kit with S, M, and L replaceable backstraps, a tool kit, mag loader, and an IWB holster (you can switch the belt loops and make it OWB). This holster might not be your favorite Gucci brand, but it is functional and works.

Range Time 

Once more, the Canik MC9LS was monotonously reliable. All the 9mm ball, controlled expansion and FTM (fluid transfer monolithic) ammunition from Double Tap and Black Hills ammunition cycled without issue.

I found that the mag loader was indeed useful for inserting the last two cartridges into the 17-round magazines. Yes, if you have a full-sized METE pistol, the 18 and 20 round magazines will work in the MC9 series, they just stick out a bit. 

Range drills included two-handed, single hand right and single hand left. No issues at all. I did rest my arms on my range bag and cheated a bit, but hits on an 8-inch steel plate were consistent, even when using the iron sights, no optic on this gun, yet. 

The rear sight is rugged steel with a ledge so you can indeed one hand rack the slide off of your belt or holster if need be. Paying $600 for a pistol that has plastic sights seems rather silly in today’s world. But that might just be me.

Wrap Up

As for the MC9LS, you get a pistol that is slim like the G48, but holds seven more rounds and weighs just a bit less than a G17. Canik has a METE MC9L with a shorter slide that shaves a full ounce off of the weight. While there might not be such a thing as a “perfect” concealed carry or EDC pistol, the MC9LS comes as close to being a Goldilock gun as can be. 

– Paul Markel

Paul G. Markel is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran. He is also the founder of Student the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades.