Beretta Holding, the largest shareholder of Sturm, Ruger & Company with 9.95% ownership, sent a letter to shareholders detailing the need for board change due to sustained share price underperformance, operational deterioration including 23% gross margin compression, and board members' minimal ownership stakes despite decades-long tenures.

Bleecker Street Publications announced the acquisition of Gun University, a leading online firearms education platform founded by Ryan Cleckner and Dave Chesson. The acquisition expands Bleecker Street Publications' portfolio while maintaining Gun University's mission of delivering responsible firearms education and equipment reviews.

GreeneCo, an Alabama-based outdoor lifestyle brand founded by Lori Dorman and Mary Caitlyn Montgomery, unveiled its collaboration with Mossy Oak at the NWTF Convention, featuring the iconic Original Bottomland® and Greenleaf® camouflage patterns. The collection merges modern design with heritage camouflage patterns for both hunting and everyday wear.

GunBroker.com is hosting a charity auction featuring two tickets to the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, with all proceeds benefiting Project R3con, an organization dedicated to assisting veterans and first responders through outdoor-based healing initiatives. The auction begins at one penny with no reserve and closes March 29, 2026.

Remington Ammunition celebrated strong performances by its sponsored trap shooters at the 46th Annual Southern Grand in Odessa, Florida, with Ian Lawrence winning High All Around and Zach Nannini claiming the Handicap Championship. Team Remington captured two of five event championships among 507 competitors at the ATA major circuit stop.

Federal Ammunition's sponsored shooters achieved strong performances at the 46th Annual Southern Grand in Odessa, Florida. Weston Anderson earned Singles Co-Champion honors, while Hall of Famer Deborah Ohye Neilson won High All Around and High Over All Championships in the Lady II Division. Anderson credited Federal's new All-American shells for his success.

The 8th Annual NILO Open sporting clays competition will take place June 5-6, 2026, at NILO in Brighton, Illinois. Winchester Ammunition and multiple sponsors are hosting this premier Midwest event featuring over $50,000 in prizes for clay target shooters of all skill levels.

The Second Amendment Foundation, National Rifle Association, and Firearm Owners Against Crime filed an amicus brief with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court challenging the state's firearms carry ban for 18-20-year-olds in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Kareem Mohammed Williams Jr. SAF argues the ban violates Second Amendment rights without historical precedent.

NSSF highlights its Partner with a Payer program, featuring Henry Repeating Arms, demonstrating how federal excise taxes from firearm and ammunition manufacturers fund conservation efforts. Since 1937, the Pittman-Robertson Act has generated over $18.5 billion for habitat restoration, hunter education, and public shooting ranges across all 50 states.

NSSF praised the U.S. House's bipartisan approval of H.R. 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act, introduced by Rep. Rob Wittman. The legislation protects wildlife conservation funding by requiring scientific evidence before prohibiting traditional lead ammunition and fishing tackle use on public lands.

Sarsilmaz, a leading firearms manufacturer, has partnered with Proactive Sales to strengthen market outreach and customer engagement. The collaboration will promote Sarsilmaz's product lines, including the SAR9 and 7/24 series, beginning in Q1.

Range USA, the nation's largest indoor gun range and firearm retailer, highlights its Cash for Guns online used gun evaluator service launched in October 2025. The program has generated over $1.25 million in quotes, allowing firearm owners to receive professional appraisals and choose between in-store credit or cash payment.

The United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) have become official partners of NSSF's First Shots program, an introductory target-shooting initiative. The partnership will offer First Shots Intro to Steel Challenge experiences at participating clubs, providing safe entry into competition shooting for new participants.

Lyman Products announces SONICORE Suppressors are now shipping from its Middletown, Connecticut facility. The new suppressor brand features engineered baffle systems, modular construction, and models including Skarv 22, Rekkr DT, Paradox, and Valor 9, with MSRP ranging from $199 to $299.

The Airgun Sporting Association announced a fundraising initiative with Pyramyd Air and Airgun Depot to raise $10,000 for the Student Air Rifle Program's tenth anniversary. The ASA will match customer contributions dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000, with support from industry partners including Umarex, Crosman, Daisy, and HatsonUSA.

Zanders, a national distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, announces multiple color configurations of Iver Johnson Arms Eagle Gen 2 .45 ACP handguns are in stock for dealers. The new 2026 models feature enhanced finishes, crowned barrels, and ambi-safeties, developed through Iver Johnson's partnership with Balistik Defense.

Hornady Manufacturing Company announced the availability of Dangerous Game Handgun (DGH) bullets for reloaders in six calibers, engineered for deep penetration and maximum weight retention for handgun hunters pursuing large and dangerous game.

Nosler, Inc. announces its ASP (Assured Stopping Power) ammunition line now offers loads for lever-action rifles in .38 Special, .357 Magnum, and .44 Remington Magnum. The Jacketed Hollow Point rounds feature skived jackets for reliable expansion and are available through Nosler.com and authorized retailers.

Henry Repeating Arms launched a National Forest Foundation Edition Rifle Series with four commemorative rifles to support conservation across nearly 200 million acres of national forests. Proceeds fund reforestation, wildlife habitat restoration, watershed protection, and trail improvement, with founder Anthony Imperato donating $25,000 directly to the National Forest Foundation.

Redding Reloading Equipment announced the availability of precision dies and die sets for the 25 Weatherby RPM cartridge, offering full length, neck, deluxe, and Type-S bushing options designed for optimal case alignment and repeatable performance.

Wilson Combat announced the release of a new hardcover book by founder Bill Wilson, featuring 234 pages of technical insights, hunting knowledge, and shooting advice drawn from over 60 years of experience. The book includes 350+ images across 12 chapters covering rifles, handguns, cartridges, and real-world hunting and shooting practices.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's offer free Easter Bunny photos and 4x6 studio-quality prints at all North American retail locations from March 21-22 and March 28-April 5, 2026. Families can make free online reservations and receive complimentary Easter eggs with prizes while supplies last.

Berger, a leading bullet manufacturer, will exhibit at the 2026 Cinegética Hunting Expo in Madrid, Spain, March 19–22. Visitors can explore Berger's product lineup including VLD Hunting, Elite Hunter, and Classic Hunter bullets at official distributor booths Ardesa and Bori Sport.

Winchester and the National Wild Turkey Federation unveiled a Committed to Conservation paint scheme on the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington. Winchester has contributed over $2 million to NWTF's conservation mission since 1973, earning Corporate Achievement Award and Pinnacle Partner Status.

MyOutdoorTV announces "Turkey Season Full Strut" presented by TriStar, featuring comprehensive turkey hunting content from March through May. The platform offers popular segments including "Can't Stop the Flop," "BuckVentures Turkey," and "Drury's Turkey Season," plus live programming and replays of "Turkey Takedown with Michael Waddell."

Major League Fishing's Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 3 streams live on MLFNOW! from Wheeler Lake in Alabama, featuring top pro anglers competing for up to $135,000. The three-day tournament, hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism and presented by Suzuki Marine, broadcasts on MyOutdoorTV with commentary from Chad McKee and Rob Newell.

Compact carry guns—mainly the small .380s—fill a definite niche in the firearms market. Honestly, I don’t really like these guns. They’re tiny, often have snappy recoil, use (relatively) expensive ammo, and seem to be an afterthought for many manufacturers (though I’ll give credit to the old SIG P238 and Kimber Micro series—they’re solid).

Despite my dislike, these guns serve a purpose. Sometimes deep concealment is needed, or someone prefers lighter clothing over a larger carry gun and holster. I understand that. I’ve been there. I carried a Ruger LCP in my front right pocket, but didn’t enjoy shooting it so I never trained much with it and eventually stopped using it entirely.

Sadly, whether due to bad marketing or poor sales staff, these small guns are often marketed to women and new shooters. They’re so small in size and caliber that many noobs are drawn to them. They’re easy to conceal, but the reality is, these guns can be difficult for new shooters and women to handle effectively. They can be hard to manage and not enjoyable at all to shoot. We need better options.

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp

Despite my concerns, I’ve been looking for a new pocket gun to carry during the summer. My usual carry is a P365X, which I know isn’t very big, but I still want another option. A couple of years ago, when I was still working at the gun counter, Smith & Wesson (re)released the Bodyguard, but this time as a completely new model, the totally redesigned Bodyguard 2.0. And honestly, it took me by surprise.

Traditionally, manufacturers approach the production of subcompact guns in a couple of different ways. One method is to make one of their larger gun model smaller, which can feel awkward (think GLOCK 26). The second approach is to create a small gun with unusual proportions (think Ruger LCP). Smith took a different path with the Bodyguard 2.0—they scaled down to a small gun, but did it proportionally. They made a subcompact pistol with the right relative dimensions. When done this way, the pistol still feels natural. It doesn’t feel awkward in the hand. It remains small, but not as tiny as the LCP or the old Bodyguard. The 2.0 fits comfortably and feels good in your hand. Pretty striking, right?

The Bodyguard 2.0 was the starting point. Smith & Wesson recently introduced a Carry Comp version, with, you guessed it, a slightly longer slide to accommodate a port at the end. Perfect. Now several optic manufacturers are making slim optics to fit the Bodyguard 2.0. One example is the Viridian RFX1 Custom (more 0n that later).

First Look

Here are some raw impressions after having had the pistol for less than a couple of weeks.

• How it feels: Surprisingly good. Again, this goes back to my point about scaling. It feels good in the hand, even though it is a smaller gun.
• Texture: To my liking. It has the same feel as the latest versions of the Shield and M&P, making it a big upgrade over earlier models. I like it.
• Sharp Edges: Since this is a carry gun, Smith has gone to great lengths to round the edges. I’ve yet to find a hot spot while appendix carrying.
• Grip angle: Slightly more vertical than a GLOCK, which I prefer. There’s also a noticeable beavertail, something that’s desperately needed on smaller carry guns, especially if you have large hands. The recoil impulse linear, rather than vertical, which is partly attributed to the comp, but the ergonomics help.
• Trigger Pull Feel: The trigger is okay. While an improvement over Smith’s hinged trigger, I’ve never been a huge fan of their striker-fired triggers. I’d say it’s fine. The BG 2.0 has an integral trigger stop built into the trigger guard, which is a positive.
• Sights: The Carry Comp models come with Ameriglo sights, which I’m a big fan of. However, I opted for the Viridian RFX1 Custom, which requires drifting out the rear sight to mount the optic.
• Controls: Perfectly acceptable. The mag release can be switched to the right side for lefties and it has the same texture as the grip, which I like.
• Packaging quality: Basic…it’s a cardboard box.
• Package Contents: In addition to paperwork and the lock, the pistol ships with 10- and 12-round extended magazines. I bought a second 12-round mag.

Features

The Performance Center Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp from Smith & Wesson advances the micro-compact pistol concept by combining concealability with thoughtful performance enhancements. At its core is the Carry Comp system, which utilizes the company’s PowerPort to vent gas upward and reduce felt recoil.

The handgun features a 3.1-inch ported stainless steel barrel with an Armornite finish and a stainless slide treated in Performance Center Gray Armornite, providing durability suitable for carry use.

Ergonomics features include a slim textured grip, a redesigned slide with aggressive serrations for easier manipulation, and a flat-faced trigger. Ameriglo Protector sights—featuring a blacked-out rear and LumiGreen front night sight—complete the package, which includes both 10- and 12-round magazines and omits a manual safety for a streamlined defensive setup.

First Shots

I haven’t put a lot of rounds downrange yet, so this isn’t a full review, but so far, I really like it. I’ve shot its predecessor and the Ruger LCP, and neither was fun to shoot. The 2.0 Carry Comp is a different story. The ergonomics and shape feel like a regular pistol…just smaller. For this range trip, I brought a couple of boxes of Blazer Brass and a box of Sierra hollow points. For carry, I’ll be using Hornady Critical Defense. I’ve had no malfunctions or issues to this point.

In short, the gun impressed me. It shoots flat and the compensator really works well. I never felt the gun was too small, especially with 12 rounds on board.

I also really liked the Viridian optic. It’s a bit narrower than RMSc footprint optics, but it functions well on this gun. I’m not usually a green dot fan, but this one worked fine for me. Sometimes green messes with my eyes—I have an astigmatism in each eye—but it didn’t matter here. For now, I’m running a C&G holster that I picked up at my local brick-and-mortar store. It works for now, but I’ll be looking for better options.

Zooming Out

Ultimately, the Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp is shaping up to be one of the most thoughtful entries in the micro-compact market. By scaling the pistol down, Smith & Wesson created something that’s not only easy to conceal but also genuinely shootable. The Carry Comp porting, reduces muzzle flip. The addition of the Viridian RFX1 Custom offers a surprisingly practical optic on such a small gun without any major modifications. It’s still early, but after just a few weeks with it, this compact pistol will be my new summer carry choice.

I’ll be carrying this daily for a while, run a lot more rounds through it, and report back. I’ll also share more detailed thoughts and experiences on the RFX1 soon.

– Cory Ross, Shooting News Weekly