ALPS OutdoorZ introduces two new pieces to its Evolution Merino Wool series: the 150 Hoodie and 250 Bottoms. Both garments feature Woolmark-certified merino wool designed for superior breathability, moisture management, and odor elimination for outdoor adventures.
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) presented its 2026 Golden Bowtie Award to Don Kilmer, a constitutional law litigator and Second Amendment advocate with over 25 years of experience. Kilmer, who has represented SAF in numerous cases and co-authored a law school casebook on firearms law, was honored for his significant contributions to the organization's mission.
The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) announced finalists for the 2026 Appreciation Awards recognizing top manufacturers including Glock, Ruger, SIG SAUER, Hornady, and others for their commitment to two-step distribution. Winners will be announced at the NASGW Annual Appreciation Reception and Dinner on October 12 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Gavin Carrizales of Scottsbluff won his fifth Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational championship on September 26, hitting 39 of 40 targets and surviving a shoot-off against Tristan Connell. The Wayne County Sharp Shooters No. 1 team won the high overall team award with 140 of 160 targets.
The 12th Annual Benelli USA Invitational at The Point at Pintail in Queenstown, Maryland, brought together 200 competitive shooters to support Freedom Hunters, a nonprofit providing outdoor adventures for veterans and their families. The event raised $115,000, bringing the total raised through the Benelli USA Invitational to over $1,215,000 since its inception.
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and National Rifle Association (NRA) filed an amicus brief in Daniel Defense v. Lowy, arguing that military-themed firearms advertising should not create manufacturer liability for third-party crimes. SAF Director Kostas Moros and Executive Director Adam Kraut contend that military themes have historically accompanied civilian arms commerce since the Founding.
Firearms Policy Coalition filed a federal lawsuit challenging Colorado and Denver laws that deny non-residents the ability to carry handguns for self-defense. The case, Hoffman v. City and County of Denver, represents FPC's continued nationwide litigation against residency-based carry restrictions, following successful challenges in California, New York, and Louisiana.
SLG2, Inc. will bring its Shoot Like A Girl experience to the Oaklawn Outdoor Show at the 2026 Black Bass World Championship in Hot Springs, Arkansas, October 1-3. The mobile range will offer firearms, archery, and outdoor product demonstrations led by certified instructors, welcoming women, men, and families of all skill levels.
Benchrest Shooting Hall of Fame member and firearms industry executive John "Jack" Neary passed away on September 25. Neary, a Capstone Precision Group executive and Team Lapua member, set multiple world records and dedicated decades to mentoring shooters through clinics and his YouTube channel All Things Benchrest with Friends.
Silencer Central founder and CEO Brandon Maddox has doubled his commitment to NSSF's Protect Liberty PAC to $50,000 with a second $25,000 contribution, matching the company's 2024 support level and demonstrating confidence in the PAC's mission to elect candidates who will protect Second Amendment rights.
Sightmark has launched two new Solitude HD spotting scope models: the 9-27x56 Micro designed for portability at 21.6 ounces, and the 15-45x65 Compact offering greater magnification and light-gathering capability. Both feature fully multi-coated glass, digiscoping-optimized eyepieces, and field-ready construction with nitrogen-purged, fogproof systems.
Liberty Ammunition announced that Galveston County District Attorney's Office has adopted Liberty Ammunition Pro Series. CEO Gary Ramey stated the department sought ammunition with greater stopping power and lighter weight, which Liberty Ammunition's Pro Series provides while meeting FBI protocols.
KDG is shipping its new BOM Series Optic Mounts in three weeks, featuring modular configurations for ACRO, Aimpoint COA, Micro T1/T2, and RMR footprints with dual heights of 1.57" and 1.93". The expandable ecosystem will include 30mm and 34mm ring configurations in Q1 2027, building on KDG's SideLok mounting system success.
Bear Ops, the tactical division of Bear & Son Cutlery, launches the Load Out I, a USA-made assisted-opening EDC pocketknife featuring a 3.5-inch Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel blade and lightweight aluminum handles. Available in Black & Copper and Gray & Blue colorways with an MSRP of $109.99 to $114.99.
Franklin Armory announced Rabbit Rounds™, a patent-pending multi-projectile cartridge featuring four spin-stabilized projectiles designed for AR-style rifles. Available in 5.56x45mm, the ammunition achieves 3,150 feet-per-second muzzle velocity and maintains effective patterns beyond 40 yards for hunting smaller game.
Real Avid introduces professional-grade optic mounting tools including the Master Grade® Scope Mounting & Bore Sighting Kit, Smart-Torq® Adjustable Limiter and X3™ Driver Kit, Level-Right® Pro, and Accu-Grip™ Picks & Brushes to help shooters achieve precise rifle setup and repeatable accuracy before heading to the range.
Orchid announced its Firearm Digital Marketing service exclusively for retailers using Orchid eCommerce, addressing the advertising restrictions imposed by Google, Meta, and TikTok on firearms retailers. Led by Erik Sherman, the service focuses on search engine optimization, conversion rate optimization, email marketing, and marketplace listings, with monthly performance reporting against baseline metrics.
WOOX, an Italian-American maker of premium outdoor gear, announces the M-LOK Leather Cartridge Quiver, handcrafted in Naples from premium Tuscan leather. The quiver holds six cartridges and securely attaches to firearms with M-LOK slots, featuring soft suede lining and compatibility with common rifle calibers.
Galco unveils the Combat Master 2.0, a modernized pancake holster for Glock 17 with or without carry optics. The professional-grade belt holster features hand-molded construction, premium steerhide, and accommodates most carry-style optics while maintaining compatibility with iron-sighted pistols.
Meprolight USA is relaunching its "Buy an Optic, Get a Can" suppressor rebate promotion from October 1 through December 31, 2026. Customers purchasing qualifying Meprolight optics receive a rebate card for a free Backdraft Suppressors Hunter suppressor valued at $189.99.
Bleecker Street Publications launched a self-service advertising portal offering advertisers 24/7 access to digital display, native advertising, programmatic solutions, and other marketing opportunities. The platform streamlines campaign management across the company's portfolio including Athlon Untamed, RottenGunReviews.com, Ballistic, Tactical Life, and GAT Daily.
Blue Force Gear will exhibit at SHOP Show 2026 on October 6 in Raeford, North Carolina, showcasing the Micro Trauma Kit NOW! and Nano ES medical equipment solutions designed for rapid access and compact carry.
Colt will support the Colt Collectors Association's 2026 All Colt Show and Auction in Noblesville, Indiana, October 1–4. CEO Jillair Kubish will attend, emphasizing Colt's commitment to supporting collectors who preserve firearms history and the stories behind them.
Mark 7 Reloading is sponsoring the 2026 US IPSC Nationals, organized by the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA), taking place October 1-4 at Greater Pittsburgh Gun Club in Pennsylvania. Tom Carlson and Conor Craig will represent Mark 7 at the event featuring 21 dynamic competitive shooting stages.
Pursuit Channel announced its Q4 programming lineup featuring popular series including Doug Koenig's Championship Season, Target Rich Environment, Viejo Creek Outdoors, The Choice hosted by Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo, MOJO Untamed with Terry Denmon, Open Season TV, and Higdon Outdoors. The network reaches over 20 million linear television homes and 120 million streaming users across multiple platforms.
Last week SIG SAUER rolled out their new P385 9mm pistol. The New Hampshire company bills it as a blend of their ultra-popular and reliable P365 and their much-maligned P320. Hence, the name (365+320≠385), but whatever).
It’s basically a modular full-size and compact pistol — there are five models to start — built around a (very) slightly modified P365 fire control unit. You know, the one that no one has accused of going bang when it isn’t asked to.
It has a (slightly) lower bore access and it takes P320 magazines because while fewer and fewer P320s are being carried these days, there are still a lot of P320 magazines out there.
Rather than using traditional replaceable backstraps or molding grip modules in various sizes as they did with the P320, SIG has split the grip into two pieces. The variable lower sections — they call them Magstraps — let you vary the grip length and circumference (and therefore the flush mag capacity as well).
While SIG says P320 pistol isn’t going anywhere, let’s cut the crap. The P320 isn’t long for this world and literally everyone now knows it. We’re all aware of the P320’s troubled history, from the early drop-safety issues, the subsequent “voluntary upgrade” and the multiple reports of “uncommanded discharges” and the resulting lawsuits.
When news broke last year of an Air Force airman who was supposedly shot and killed by the uncommanded discharge of an M18 pistol (one of the military versions of the P320), that seemed to be the last straw.
It later turned out that the M18 pistol in question was not at fault and another airman was charged with manslaughter in the shooting, but the damage had been done. Multiple ranges and trainers around the country banned the use of P32os and numerous retailers either cut their inventories or stopped selling them altogether. While we don’t have numbers, anecdotal information we’ve gotten indicated a significant drop-off in P320 sales in the last year-plus.
As we wrote at the time of the Air Force incident, the cumulative damage to the reputation of the P320 had been so significant that it probably no longer even mattered whether or not the P320 was actually safe.
In other words, at some point, rightly or wrongly, the P320 may be too damaged to be saved as a viable commercial product.
We also pointed out that SIG already had the equally modular P365 in its lineup that now does everything the P320 does and doesn’t have any of the P320’s baggage.
When this kind of thing is increasingly circulating out there in the ether, your brand has an existential problem…
SIG, however, has decided they need a second modular pistol platform so now comes the P385 using (in effect) the time-tested P365 FCU and lets people who are stuck with P320 mags continue to use them.
SIG claimed last week that the P320 isn’t going anywhere. Improbably, they even announced two new P320 models for some reason (here and here), but who do they think they’re kidding? The P320 is going the way of the Betamax. SIG never would have created an entirely new pistol platform if they saw any viable future for the P320 aside from military sales (at least until the current contract expires next year).
SIG has, by the way, given the P385 a new “redundant drop safety mechanism,” a feature they probably wish they’d included in the P320 back in 2014 when it was first introduced. They’re also offering P385 models with an optional frame safety. For obvious reasons.
Here’s the thing. The P320 is/was a great handgun. I own one along with various slides and grip modules and love(d) it, though it’s now permanently relegated to the safe. I also own a P365 — in the FUSE configuration — which is also a fantastic gun. And while I haven’t seen one yet, I fully expect the P385 to be a first-rate handgun, too.
The trouble is, SIG has put up a decidedly spotty record of initial quality control with their striker-fired handguns. While it certainly wasn’t as bad as the P320’s drop-safety problems, some of the first P365s had striker tip breakage and primer drag problems. There was also a “dead trigger” issue, too, thanks to a trigger return spring problem.
Those P365 hiccups, however, are all just a speck in the rear-view mirror. Today’s modular, versatile P365 is incredibly popular for a lot of very good reasons. It’s an excellent design, one that gives you everything from a micro-compact carry pistol to a full-size duty gun, all with one 4473. It has a good trigger and does literally everything almost any owner needs a handgun to do. Plus, there’s an entire ecosystem of SIG-made and third party slides, grip modules and other parts made for the P365 so you can mix, match and customize it as you will.
If you’re a P320 owner, though, and have decided that, because of all the questions around that platform, carrying it is no longer an option, do you jump over to the P365? Or do you decide to make use of the P320 magazines you already own and go with the P385?
The question then becomes, given SIG’s track record, would you pick one up now? In the first six months? After the first year? How long would you want to wait to see what problems — if any — the early adopters may turn up?
So many questions. So many things to consider. Let us know what you think below.
