An exclusive Smith & Wesson Collector's 1854 Rifle and Model 29 Revolver Set (number 89 of 100) is being auctioned with all net proceeds benefiting the NRA Freedom Action Foundation and Friends of NRA. Online bidding is open until April 17, 2026, with the live auction occurring during the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, Texas.
Team Ruger members delivered impressive performances across competitive events, with David Olhasso and James McGinty earning top finishes at the Arctic Blast Match and FL State IDPA Championship using Ruger RXM pistols. Doug Koenig, Annie Berger, Steve Foster, Aaron Martin, Lauryl Akenhead, Randi Rogers, and Gordon Carrell also secured podium finishes at Steel Challenges, NRL Hunter Match, and Texas State IDPA competitions.
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) filed a motion for summary judgment in Poway Weapons & Gear v. Gonzales, challenging California's 11% excise tax on firearms and ammunition that took effect in July 2024. SAF argues the tax violates Second Amendment protections and contends that fundamental rights cannot be subject to special taxation.
Firearms Policy Coalition announced a motion for summary judgment filed in Poway Weapons & Gear v. CDTFA, challenging California's 11% excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and firearm precursor parts. Plaintiffs Poway Weapons & Gear and Sacramento Gun Range are represented by Cooper & Kirk, PLLC and Michel & Associates, P.C.
NSSF praised Kansas Governor Laura Kelly for signing HB2501, which removes state criminal prohibitions against firearm suppressors and eliminates state-level tax stamp requirements. The law passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and includes provisions for retailer immunity and enhanced penalties for criminal misuse of suppressors and short-barrel firearms.
RetailBI released its monthly Firearm Sales Index showing an 11.9% year-over-year decline in March 2026 and an 8.2% year-to-date decline. The index, powered by Gearfire and compiled from over 2,000 U.S. firearms retailers, provides data-driven market insights to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
HeadHunters NW has been exclusively retained by a U.S.-based firearms accessories manufacturer to conduct a confidential search for a Sales Manager. The role involves leading revenue growth across multiple channels while championing AI integration into sales and customer service operations, with a preference for candidates in the Northeast United States.
HeadHunters NW has been exclusively retained by a Salt Lake City-based firearms and accessories manufacturer to conduct a confidential search for a Director of Distribution & Fulfillment Operations. The role involves designing and operating a state-of-the-art distribution center, managing fulfillment systems, inventory control, and ATF/FFL compliance for a company trusted by the U.S. military and law enforcement.
Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) criticized the Trump Administration for continuing to defend the Biden ATF's "Frame or Receiver" rule after the Supreme Court upheld it, despite FPC providing alternative regulatory proposals to protect Second Amendment rights.
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has released 12 professionally produced videos to help agencies and conservation partners communicate about modern regulated trapping. Developed through a Multistate Conservation Grant, the series emphasizes the role of trapping in wildlife management, animal welfare advancements, and science-based conservation outcomes across North America.
Davidson's has become the exclusive distributor for TANDEMKROSS's new TKX22 Light Rifle, a competition-ready semi-auto .22lr rifle weighing less than 3.5 pounds. The rifle features TANDEMKROSS components, fiber optic sights, and M-LOK mounting options, with an MSRP of $1,449.99 available in four stock colors.
DeSantis Gunhide® introduces four new holster options for the Springfield SA-35 4", including the #137 Slim-Tuk™ IWB holster with 360° C-Clip mounting, #019 Mini Scabbard®, #002 Speed Scabbard®, and #1CL Thumb Break Scabbard (C&L)™, with prices ranging from $55.99 to $105.99.
Shell Shock Technologies announced its 5.56x45mm NAS3 Cartridge Cases are back in stock. The company is offering eight percent off orders over $300 from April 12-19, 2026, using code 556ISBACKIN. The nickel alloy cases are engineered for precision shooters and handloaders seeking superior performance and durability.
Kimber announced its Summer Centennial Promotion running April 1 through July 4, featuring the limited-edition 2K11 Independence pistol with a $250 cash rebate. The .45 ACP pistol includes custom Cerakote finish, three 13-round magazines, and optics-ready configuration, celebrating the company's heritage of American firearm craftsmanship.
Brigade Tactical will exhibit at the 155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, Texas from April 16-19 at booth 4526. The company will showcase its suppressor lineup featuring the innovative Monocore design, offering exclusive event pricing and demonstrating their precision-engineered equipment for shooters.
Howa Precision Rifles will exhibit at the NRA Houston Annual Meetings April 17-19, 2026, showcasing new 2026 products including the Fence Line Series, Super Lite Gen 2 with HS Precision stock, and the new 25 Creedmoor cartridge. Daily rifle giveaways will be held at booth #1947.
Charter Arms, a manufacturer of American-made revolvers for over 60 years, will exhibit at the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, TX from April 16-19. The company will showcase new models including the Boomer compact revolver and Pathfinder II .22LR revolver at booth #4643.
XS Sights will showcase new products including Glock Gen 6 ACRO Optic Plates, HK VP9 Optic Plates, and magazine extensions at the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings in Houston, Texas, April 17-19. The company will display sights and accessories for personal defense, hunting, and target shooting at booth #1716.
AGM Global Vision, a Grand Prairie, Texas-based thermal imaging and night vision manufacturer, will exhibit at the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, April 17-19. Visitors to Booth 4203 can experience products including the Rattler V3 LRF, Adder V2 LRF, and Spectrum 4K-Mini, with opportunities to win thermal optics and gear.
SK Ammunition, a globally trusted rimfire ammunition manufacturer, will exhibit at the 155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, Texas, April 16–19, 2026. The company will showcase its high-performance, precision shooting ammunition preferred by elite biathletes and PRS and NRL22 competitors.
Silent Steel USA will showcase its Streamer suppressor family at Booth #1055 during the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, featuring hands-on demonstrations of its proprietary FLOW-IQ gas management technology. The company offers three modular suppressor models supporting multiple calibers, with show pricing available at the booth.
Dead Air Silencers will exhibit at the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, Texas, April 16-19, showcasing their suppressor lineup including the Sandman, Nomad, Wolfman, RXD910Ti, Nomad Ti OTB, and CT5P at Booth #537.
Steiner eOptics will exhibit at LAAD Defense & Security Fair 2026 in São Paulo, Brazil, April 14–16, showcasing precision optics, night vision systems, and targeting solutions. Christian Johnson, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, highlighted the company's commitment to delivering reliable equipment for military and tactical operators.
World Fishing Network offers a free month-long preview throughout April on providers including Dish, Sling, Cox, Armstrong, TDS, Service Electric, and Blue Ridge, reaching approximately 7.65M incremental subscribers. The preview features programming from legendary anglers like Bill Dance, Roland Martin, and Jimmy Houston, plus tournament fishing and culinary shows.
“I’m sorry, I only count nine holes.” So said the XO, a 1st Lieutenant, who was likely only a couple of years my senior. The XO and I were standing next to my paper bullseye target which was the standard at that time for the USMC Pistol Qualification Course.
That particular stage of fire required ten shots of .45ACP from our M1911A1 service pistols. My shot group was a tight cluster of holes, with many touching. And so, unable to discern ten distinct holes in the paper, the XO awarded me nine 5s (the highest score on the paper) and one 0, a miss.
The idea that I had put nine rounds into a tight cluster of shots and my tenth round had somehow completely missed the paper seemed ludicrous. Nonetheless, as a Lance Corporal, I was in no position to argue the matter with an officer. His word was final, if questionable.
Despite the 0, I qualified as Expert and got my name on the plaque as “High Shooter,” but that extra 5 points would have been my highest qualification score giving me a 246 out of a possible 250 rather than a 241 that went into my service record. The lesson I learned that day was that consistent performance isn’t always rewarded, at least on paper.
The Goal
What is our goal in carrying handguns as defensive weapons? Is it to scare off boogymen by brandishing it? Is the goal to make loud noises to frighten off threats? Is our goal to make #EDC videos for our Instagarbage fans?
At the risk of sounding rhetorical, the goal when carrying a handgun for self-preservation purposes is to develop the skill and ability to deliver rounds on target, on demand, regardless of circumstances, and do so as consistently as possible. When it comes to delivering rounds on target, on demand, consistency is critically important.
We teach consistency in the manner in which we grip the gun, in how we remove it from a holster and present the muzzle to the target. We preach consistency in how we align our sights on the target and in how we depress the trigger and follow through during the eventual recoil impulse.
If you have more than a smattering of experience with firearms, you should know that inconsistency in any of the aforementioned areas will lead to an inconsistency in where our rounds impact on the target. That inconsistency of impacts might be a difference of a few inches from round one to round two or it could be the difference between hitting the target and missing it. Yes, tactics play a major role in fighting, but let’s stick with the subject of skill development.
A Surplus of Hogwash
A couple of decades after the aforementioned incident with the XO, I had another opportunity to consistently apply the fundamental principles of handgun marksmanship. In that case, I was able to use the M9 service pistol to score a 250 out of a possible 250 on the prescribed target which had been altered from the old bullseye to a black silhouette with varied scoring rings.
Yes, I was proud of my accomplishment, but the man whose target was next to mine decided to try and pop my bubble. “Well, you might have put them all in one spot, but I would rather spread them out because that’s more tactical. If a bullet goes into the same hole it’s not doing any damage.”
I believe the look on my face was enough to let the gentlemen in question to know that I thought he was full of sh*t, spewing a load of hogwash, insert whichever euphemism you like. I knew that the man was disappointed, perhaps a bit angry for not having been the “top shot” that day. As a student of human psychology, I understood the words he spoke were a defense mechanism to mentally justify not shooting a smaller shot group. But, did he really believe what he was saying?
Regardless, such balderdash gave me the opportunity to consider the assertion that rather than apply consistency to the greatest level possible, a person should try to deliberately spread out their shots. Keep in mind, for our purposes, we are substituting paper and cardboard for the actual human threat for which we are preparing to deal.
The Variables
When the time arrives for you to defend your life, or of the innocent lives of others, with your handgun, there will be a large number of variables that will combine to preclude your shots from entering the same hole. During a sudden lethal force encounter you must deal with movement; both yours and the threat’s. You have the physiological effects that humans undergo during life-threatening events. The event will occur at an unknown distance, in potential poor lighting, and you may have to mentally sort through the problem of multiple attackers. Also, let’s not forget, you might start your fight being knocked to the ground or injured; as in you might not realize it is time for fighting until after you have been hurt.
As you can see from the above list of variables, you have enough to deal with without applying some kind of “be sure to spread out your shots” logic. With the understanding that humans do not magically gain superpowers during life-threatening events, but instead will default to whatever level of skill they have previously mastered, the best you can hope for is to revert to a level of consistent mastery when it comes to putting rounds on target.
The US Army Special Forces community, with Delta in the lead, has been studying performance under stress for decades. They found that marksmanship performance will potentially degrade twenty-five to fifty percent when a person is thrust into a sudden deadly force scenario.
If your ten-round shot groups average four to five inches at ten yards when you’re calm, you can expect eight to ten inches when you’re under stress. If your calm practice is to deliberately spread out your shots to ten-inch groups, that would seem to translate to genuine misses or peripheral hits under stress.
Real Threats are Made of Flesh, Not Cardboard
During a recent conversation with a fellow small arms and tactics instructor, he shared a real life incident that occurred with one of his graduates. The man was confronted by a deadly attacker, drew his pistol and fired what has been termed either a “double-tap” or “hammer pair,” one sight picture for two fast shots. Shot one entered the “T-box” area (eyes/bridge of nose) on his attacker and the second round sailed over the suspect’s head, fortunately embedding in a brick wall behind him not an innocent bystander.
That led my friend to do some research. He found that an object — in this case a human — under the effects of gravity, will fall between six and seven inches in 0.20 seconds. A “split time” of two tenths of one second is often held out as a standard for firing two fast shots. To put it another way, a human can move or shift laterally between six and ten inches in only 0.20 seconds.
The monsters who would attack and kill us aren’t made of paper or cardboard and they aren’t held in place by staples on target stands. They’re free-floating. To the main point, even if your goal was to put your bullets into the same hole, the reaction of the living human attacker is going to preclude that. Living humans move when struck by bullets, they don’t stand perfectly still like an IPSC silhouette.
Now’s the part where you say, the guy who told you that spreading out rounds is more tactical for combat shooting was just one dude, a long time ago. I wish that were the case. Before I sat down to write this, I watched a video where a man, who’s an instructor at a known shooting school was filmed for a training video. The man stated to the camera that he doesn’t need to put rounds close together and it’s better to spread them out because that does more damage.
While I had once thought such thinking was a relic of the past, I was sad to hear that it’s not.
During a life-threatening encounter, you can’t control all of the aforementioned variables. However, what you do have the power to control is your own performance and that performance is either going to be a mastery of consistent shot placement or it will be built on hogwash and pseudo-tactical advice.
You are an American. Take your pick.
– 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.
