Vortex® launches new Gear Series apparel including T-shirts and cap styles designed for hunters and shooters. The collection features fresh colors and styles perfect for fall, available at VortexOptics.com and on their social media channels.
Liberty Ammunition announced that Williamson County Texas Emergency Services has adopted its ammunition. CEO Gary Ramey highlighted how Liberty Ammunition addresses law enforcement concerns with superior stopping power, lighter weight, and reliable performance compared to traditional lead-based alternatives.
Team Berger members Austin Buschman and Morgun King are representing Team USA at the 2026 International Precision Rifle Federation World Championship in Lipan, Texas. Buschman enters as the No. 1-ranked shooter in the PRS Pro Series, while King is the 2026 Central Regional Champion.
Joe Fanizzi of Team Winchester and Team White Flyer won his fifth championship at the 2026 Diamond Classic at Greater Houston Sports Club, using Winchester AA Super Handicap and AA Super Spreader loads. Team Winchester competitors also achieved top finishes including Desi Edmunds and Kayla Wilgus in lady categories.
Team Beretta athlete Sal Luna won the Production Division at the 2026 USPSA Area 6 Match in Talladega, Alabama, competing with Beretta's new 94X Performance. Luna achieved back-to-back podium finishes, earning second place the following week at the USPSA Factory Nationals with the Beretta 92X Performance Carry Optic.
The National Rifle Association and Second Amendment Foundation filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Daniel Defense, LLC v. Lowy, challenging whether firearm manufacturers can be sued for third-party crimes allegedly influenced by military-themed advertising. The brief argues that historical firearms advertising has long included military and civilian uses, and permitting such lawsuits would threaten lawful arms commerce and Second Amendment rights.
The National Rifle Association and Second Amendment Foundation filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review Beckwith v. Frey, challenging Maine's 72-hour firearm purchase waiting period. The NRA argues the First Circuit's approach improperly revives interest-balancing rejected in Heller and Bruen, contending waiting periods lack historical tradition and burden Second Amendment rights.
The 41st annual Gun Rights Policy Conference, co-hosted by the Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, runs September 25-27 in Dallas. Keynote speaker is retired U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez. Saturday and Sunday sessions will be livestreamed on SAF's YouTube channel.
The Headrest Safe Company appointed Todd Pearson as Chief Operating Officer, promoting him from Revenue Director. The company's discreet vehicle safe storage system is now sold in 34 countries worldwide, with founder and CEO Irving Meisler praising Pearson's strategic execution capabilities.
Remington Ammunition's 5th Annual Shoot to Cure sporting clays fundraiser raised nearly $15,000 for Arkansas Children's Hospital, bringing the five-year total to over $70,000. The event featured 150 shooters and notable competitors Madison Sharpe and Olympian Kayle Browning on an all-women's team.
The Second Amendment Foundation filed a reply brief supporting its motion for preliminary injunction in Bathras v. Moore, challenging Maryland's Senate Bill 334 banning Glock-style handguns. SAF is joined by Atlantic Guns, the National Rifle Association, Firearms Policy Coalition, and two private citizens in arguing the ban violates Second Amendment protections.
Firearms Policy Coalition filed a reply brief supporting a preliminary injunction in Bathras v. Moore to block Maryland's ban on Glock and Glock-style handguns. FPC, joined by Atlantic Guns, the National Rifle Association, and the Second Amendment Foundation, argues the ban violates the Second Amendment by targeting common, constitutionally protected arms.
Night Fision has expanded its Precision Optic Plates to include mounting solutions for Glock Gen 6 pistols, manufactured from 17-4 steel and compatible with Trijicon RMR, Leupold DeltaPoint Pro, Holosun EPS, and Aimpoint ACRO P-2 optics. The plates retail for $60, with combo packs including co-witness sights starting at $99.
Vortex Optics introduces green multi-reticle and tan housing options for the Defender-CCW™ and Defender-ST™ Enclosed Solar Micro Red Dots, designed for concealed carry and tactical shooting with enclosed protection and dual-power operation.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation President and CEO Kyle Weaver accepted a nomination to serve on the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council, continuing RMEF's distinction on the federal advisory group dating back five presidential administrations. The council provides recommendations to President Trump on wildlife conservation, hunting, and public access.
BANISH Suppressors launches the COMP 6.5 SS and COMP 6.5 TI, dedicated .264-caliber suppressors featuring interchangeable two-port brakes and flat muzzle caps. Available in stainless steel and titanium, both models offer precision shooters customizable recoil control or maximum sound reduction options.
Custom & Collectable Firearms presents the limited-edition Colt Python Sidewinder, a .357 Magnum revolver featuring a Black KAGE Compensator System, Vortex Venom red dot, SureFire X300 weapon light, and 24Kt gold-plated trigger. Production is limited to 300 consecutively numbered revolvers.
Bear & Son Cutlery, based in Jacksonville, Alabama, introduces the new 4 5/8" Large Farmhand folding pocketknife featuring a 3 5/8-inch high carbon stainless steel blade and aluminum handle available in blue, red, or black. The lightweight utility knife weighs 1.9 ounces and retails for $42.99.
Remington Ammunition and Original Grain, an Official Remington brand licensee, expanded The Hunt Club watch collection with two limited-edition styles: Cerakote Black Barrel Chrono and Cerakote Tan Barrel Chrono. The watches feature retired gunstocks from Remington's Lonoke, Arkansas factory and are available through Original Grain.
Derya Arms introduced the EX1300, a break-action over/under shotgun available in 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410 bore, all priced at $699 MSRP. The gun features a monolithic steel receiver, Turkish walnut stock, steel automatic ejectors, and ships with three Mobilchoke tubes.
Federal Ammunition has introduced two new Federal Premium loads: Berger Elite Hunter in 195-grain 7mm PRC and ELD-X in 212-grain 300 PRC. Both loads feature advanced bullet technologies and are now available at dealers nationwide.
Crow Wholesale announced it is now a stocking distributor for One Horse, expanding its firearm brand portfolio. The partnership provides dealers access to One Horse's American-made AR-platform rifles, pistols, and components through Crow Wholesale's nationwide distribution network.
Leapers, Inc. is sponsoring the IDPA National Championship for the first time in 2026 at Cardinal Shooting Center in Ohio, supporting the vendor tent and the "Bad Guy Attack" stage. Director of Operations Kenny Huang will compete at the Master level while representing Leapers' UTG, UTG Pro, and Integrix brands.
Night Fision will exhibit and send a four-man shooting team to the Hero Down White Mountains Summit 2026 in New Hampshire. Team captain Sean Martin will defend his Top Pistol Shooter title while supporting the Hero Down Foundation's mission to assist injured officers and veterans.
Beretta will sponsor the Super Sporting competition and exhibit at the 2026 NSCA South Central Regional Championship at Providence Hill Farm in Jackson, Mississippi, September 29-October 4. Team Beretta athletes Desirae Edmunds, Zachary Kienbaum, Anthony Matarese, Jr., and Connor Daniel will compete, while attendees can experience Beretta shotguns including the 694 Black DLC, DT11 Super Sport, and A400 Solo.
Jason Nauert's "Jason the Butcher" Season 2 premieres September 28 on Outdoor Channel, featuring the survival expert and founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute of Meat hunting axis deer in Maui with a retired Navy SEAL. The season includes episodes with military veterans, combat training, and conservation-focused adventures across diverse terrain.
Kent and Shannon Rollins drive their 1876 chuck wagon to America's historic working ranches in Season 2 of Cast Iron Cowboy, premiering September 28 at 8:00pm ET on Outdoor Channel. The couple prepares regionally inspired meals for cowboys across ranches from Florida to Alaska, starting at Bull Hammock Ranch in Martin County, Florida.
The 2026 version of William English’s National Firearms Survey is out and just like the 2021 version, it has some interesting implications for the armed citizen.
32.7% of U.S. adults (at a minimum) own guns.
14.4% of those gun owners say they often carry a defensive firearm.
Guns are used defensively by firearms owners in approximately 2.2 million incidents per year.
The 2026 survey showed that no shots were fired in 76.3% of those encounters versus 81.9% of the time in the 2021 survey.
50.8% of gun owners surveyed encountered more than one assailant, 32.9% had two and 17.9% had three or more.
Let’s unpack what this means for everyone who practices armed self defense.
That 32.7 percent of the adult population number translates into 88 million gun owners, of which 45.7% — 40 million — are female. Companies like SIG SAUER and organizations like Armed Women of America are doing a great job integrating those female gun owners into the larger firearms market, but with women making up almost half the gun-owning population these days, there’s obviously a need for more.
Again, 14.4 percent of gun owners say they carry a firearm with them on a regular basis. Whether that means “I’ll toss a pistol in the center console of my truck” versus actually taking the time to find a holster that works for them and have it on their person isn’t clear, but at least some effort is being made to carry a gun with them in case they might need it.
That 14.4 percent, however, means that at any given moment, there are almost 13 million people out there carrying a legal defensive firearm with them, a figure which absolutely swamps the estimated 750,000 law enforcement officers in the U.S.
A well-regulated militia, indeed.
That brings us to the next statistic…2.2 million defensive gun uses every year, the great majority of which (70.6 percent, or 1.55 million incidents) are not reported to the police. In those encounters, over three quarters of the time, (76.3 percent), no shots were needed to resolve the encounter in the favor of the armed citizen.
Let’s pause for a moment to consider that last statistic in more depth. The only way you get to be a part of that successful outcome group is if you have a firearm nearby when you need it. No gun, and you become the victim of a violent crime rather than someone who’s able to stand up to a predator. This, in turn, elevates the need to have a gun on you, not near you, which in turn increases the need to find a good holster and a belt or some other safe method to carry a gun.
It also implies that the firearm you carry is enough to give your opponent a good reason to leave you alone, just by seeing what’s in your hand. A two-shot .22LR derringer is definitely easy to carry, but I’m not sure it would cause a bad guy to question his choice of intended victim like a compact 9mm or .38 snubby would.
Speaking of which, slightly over 50 percent of attacks were carried out by one person, with almost 18 percent having three or more. Maybe that snub-nosed .38 should be left at home in favor of something that’s about the same size, like a micro-compact 9mm semi-automatic.
There are a lot of myths and legends surrounding defensive firearms use, so when something like English’s recent survey drops, we should study it closely, learn from it, and use it to guide our gear choices rather than relying on rampant online folklore and comment section bloviating.
