Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. has acquired Savage Arms, Inc., the 132-year-old Massachusetts-based rifle and shotgun manufacturer, from JDH Holdings for $160 million. The acquisition combines two historic American firearms manufacturers, with Savage bringing approximately $160 million in annual net sales and 500 employees to create the largest commercial firearms manufacturer in the United States.

Vortex is introducing new Fall/Winter 2026 apparel colors across hoodies, T-shirts, and graphic tees inspired by changing landscapes and colder weather, featuring fresh seasonal colors and new camo options.

Walk the Talk America, Guns.com, and North American Arms raised nearly $16,000 through a benefit auction featuring six hand-engraved NAA Earl revolvers. All proceeds support WTTA's mission to educate the firearms community about mental health, suicide prevention, and responsible gun ownership.

Guns & Ammo magazine awarded Federal's 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak cartridge as Ammo of the Year for 2026, marking the second consecutive year the publication honored Peak Alloy technology. The high-pressure cartridge delivers velocities up to 300 fps faster than conventional 6.5 Creedmoor while maintaining similar recoil and compatibility with existing rifles.

The Double D Foundation presented its 2026 Patriot Award to Pete Brownell, Chairman of Brownells and 2nd Adventure Group, during its Annual Georgia Banquet on October 15. Brownell was recognized for his leadership, integrity, and commitment to protecting the Second Amendment and advancing shooting sports. The Brownells Foundation also joined the Foundation's Corporate Partners Program.

Dallas Safari Club announced Gray N. Thornton as the 2027 recipient of the Peter H. Capstick Hunting Heritage Award, recognizing his three decades of leadership in wildlife conservation with Safari Club International, Dallas Safari Club, and the Wild Sheep Foundation, where he currently serves as President and CEO.

Hornady has been recognized as Ammunition Manufacturer of the Year by the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) for the fourth consecutive year. Vice President Jason Hornady praised the award and highlighted the company's commitment to innovation and customer service through their wholesale distribution partners.

The Winchester AA-White Flyer No. 3 NASCAR is displayed at the 2026 National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) Nationals in San Antonio, Texas, October 20-24. Winchester and White Flyer serve as the official ammunition and target of the NSCA Championship Tour, with Team Winchester members including Mike Wilgus, Zach Kienbaum, and Desirae Edmunds competing for the national title.

Lauryl Akenhead of Team Ruger earned High Lady honors at the 2026 MPA Last Chance Qualifier held October 10-11 at Cool Acres Sporting Camp in Georgia, competing with her Ruger American Gen II rifle chambered in 6mm Creedmoor. Hosted by the Oklahoma Territorial Marshals, the Precision Rifle Series event showcased Akenhead's disciplined stage management and accuracy.

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), joined by the Firearms Policy Coalition and Connecticut Citizens Defense League, faces opposition briefs in Supreme Court cases Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins challenging assault weapons bans in Illinois and Connecticut. Oral arguments are scheduled for December 2.

The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) secured a historic victory in Heeter v. James when U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. struck down New York's 2022 body armor ban, holding that defensive body armor is constitutionally protected under the Second Amendment. The court granted FPC summary judgment and issued a permanent injunction against the state's restrictions on purchasing and selling protective armor.

The Second Amendment Foundation and National Rifle Association filed an amicus brief in United States v. Cordova, urging the Fifth Circuit to adopt a dangerousness standard for lifetime federal firearms bans. The brief argues that historical tradition supports disarming only dangerous persons, not all felons, and that nonviolent felons who completed their sentences should retain Second Amendment rights.

The National Rifle Association and Second Amendment Foundation filed an amicus brief in United States v. Cordova before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, urging adoption of a dangerousness standard for disarmament challenges. The brief argues that America's historical tradition supports disarming only dangerous persons, not peaceable citizens or nonviolent felons.

Firearms Policy Coalition filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in United States v. Cordova, challenging the use of historical death penalties to justify lifetime firearm bans. FPC argues that permanent disarmament must be based on demonstrated physical danger, not felony convictions or centuries-old punishments.

The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) contributed an additional $20,000 to NSSF's Protect Liberty PAC, bringing its 2026 commitment to $45,000 and total support since 2024 to $70,000. Lawrence G. Keane, Protect Liberty PAC's Treasurer, praised NASGW's consistent support for the PAC's mission to elect candidates who will protect Second Amendment rights.

Henry Repeating Arms launched 50 custom "Team Zach" lever-action rifles through their Guns For Great Causes program to benefit Zach Bryant, a three-year-old from Cambridge City, Indiana, undergoing treatment for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Proceeds from rifle sales and auctions are expected to exceed $35,000 to help cover Zach's medical and travel costs.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is hiring Regional Directors for Kentucky, Tennessee, New England, Western Colorado, and Western Montana. Successful candidates will oversee volunteer chapters, lead fundraising events, and manage grant programs in their assigned territories.

MidwayUSA Foundation's Hometown Challenge raised $1,002,911.19 for youth shooting sports, with $993,777.66 supporting team endowments matched dollar-for-dollar by Larry and Brenda Potterfield. Hudson Farm Foundation won first place with $199,800 in donations, while industry sponsors including SK Guns, UMAREX, and Savage Arms contributed prizes.

Fly fisherman filmmaker Ben Annibali discusses his work with Fly Fisherman Magazine Publisher Ross Purnell on episode #41 of the Fly Fisherman Loop to Loop podcast. The conversation covers their collaborative films "Descent" and "The Shoals," which documents giant trevally fishing at St. Brandon Atoll in Mauritius.

Remington Gun Care is expanding its product lineup with new Aluminum Rod Universal Cleaning Kits designed for rifle, shotgun, and handgun owners. The lightweight kits feature durable Mil-Spec 8-32 threads and include brass brushes, cotton mops, nylon jags, and patches, priced at $24.99 each.

Custom & Collectable Firearms presents an exclusive limited run of 100 Kimber DS Warrior MOD 9mm pistols featuring Carbon Fiber Cerakote grips, grey Cerakote finish, and GT Performance Trigger. Each pistol includes a challenge coin and certificate of authenticity.

Tactacam has integrated its DEFEND 360 Cellular Camera with the REVEAL Mobile Application, allowing hunters to manage both camera types in one platform. The integration includes new features like Live View recording, 2-Way Audio, and AI Object Tracking, alongside REVEAL's Hunt Radar and mapping tools.

Warne introduces its Universal Receiver Red Dot Mount, a low-profile mounting solution for reflex-style red dot optics compatible with drilled-and-tapped shotguns, rimfire rifles including Ruger 10/22, and select rifle models. The mount features broad optic compatibility and flexible mounting options.

Zanders, an all-women-owned distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, is the first to release the Canik METE MC9LS Flying Aces, a 9mm handgun featuring World War II aviation-inspired laser-ablated Cerakote artwork. The optic-ready pistol includes two 17-round magazines, holster, carrying case, and accessories.

TriStar Arms announces the Viper G3, the next generation of its popular Viper semi-automatic shotgun series. The new flagship features a robust internal system, oversized controls, and accommodates a wider range of ammunition in 12, 20, and 28 gauge, plus .410 bore, with suggested retail pricing from $739 to $1,129.

Sightmark has launched the Wraith 2 LRF series, featuring two thermal riflescope models with integrated laser rangefinders: the Wraith 2 384 LRF and Wraith 2 640 LRF. Both models pair Vanadium Oxide thermal sensors with Class 1 laser rangefinders, eliminating the need for separate rangefinding devices in the field.

Derya Arms announced the TM22 Timekeeper, a semi-automatic .22 LR rifle featuring an adjustable stock, 18-inch threaded barrel, and upgraded sight package. The lightweight rifle ships with two 10-round magazines and is available in multiple colors with an MSRP of $249.

Taurus expands its TX9 pistol lineup with a new Flat Dark Earth finish option available across full-size, compact, and sub-compact models at $499.99 MSRP. The duty-rated, striker-fired 9mm features the T.O.R.O. optic system and is assembled and tested in the USA.

The Montana Land Board approved Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' proposal to acquire an 86-acre easement from the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation for developing the Logan Public Shooting Range south of Logan. The project, funded by a Pittman-Robertson grant and state general license dollars, will provide safe recreational shooting facilities including rifle, pistol, and shotgun ranges in the Gallatin Valley.

UNIT Solutions will exhibit at the International Association of Chiefs of Police 2026 Annual Conference in Orlando, showcasing the UNIT9 Training Pistol and UNIT4 Training Rifle with live demonstrations. Attendees can meet with the sales team to discuss agency training programs at booth 3172.

Sarsilmaz will participate in CANCON West 2026 from October 22-24 at the Boulder Rifle & Pistol Club in Nevada, showcasing its expanding handgun lineup including the SAR9 SOCOM Series with threaded barrels and optic-ready slides.

Pursuit Channel is proud to highlight its dual Sunday night programming lineups, giving outdoor enthusiasts two distinct ways to spend their evening with premium hunting and outdoor content beginning at 8:00 PM ET.

Hook & Barrel Magazine founders Natalie and John J. Radzwilla appeared on Fox News's 'The Will Cain Show' on October 20, 2026, discussing how they built their outdoor lifestyle brand and their vision for supporting the outdoor industry's growth.

It’s been a long and winding road for Watchtower Defense to get to where it is today. You may remember Spring, Texas-based F1 Firearms, a maker of niche AR platform rifles and parts. They were acquired by Watchtower Firearms in 2023 with the stated goal of “redefining the firearm industry.”

Watchtower Firearms expanded the product line, including some well-regarded doublestack 1911s, but that apparently didn’t go as well as hoped. The company filed for Chapter 11 in February of 2025.

Last fall, new investors bought the assets of Watchtower Firearms out of bankruptcy, created an entirely new entity, moved its operations 20 minutes west to Tomball, Texas, and re-christened the company Watchtower Defense.

I was at the ribbon-cutting for Watchtower’s new facility northwest of Houston a couple of weeks ago.

In addition to a couple of AR models, the new Watchtower Defense was showing off its two doublestack 1911s, the Vantage and Vaelon. These aren’t just re-badged versions of the old Watchtower’s pistols. The Vantage and Vaelon have been newly designed from the ground up. Both 9mm doublestacks come in 5-inch standard and 4.2-inch compact versions and felt butter-smooth.

Watchtower’s hand-fitted doublestacks aren’t bargain basement guns. MSRP for the Vantage 5-inch is $3,899 and $3,699 for the Vantage C. The 5-inch Vaelon is $4,499 and the Vaelon C is $4,299.

The pistols have just started to ship and the ARs have been sold to some law enforcement agencies. While they will no doubt keep Watchtower busy as production ramps up, they clearly have plans beyond those models.

I was at NASGW in Phoenix last week where Watchtower Defense was showing off the next stage in their business plan — two new premium bolt action rifles.

Their new Stratis and Stratis Bravo bolt guns, which will be available in six different caliber options, are built around Watchtower’s lightened 700 actions, have Proof carbon fiber barrels, and carbon fiber stocks.

Watchtower says each rifle is individually hand built (and painted) by one man, their design engineer and PRS competitor Bobby Keigans.

I’m told the new bolt guns will start shipping in the first quarter of 2027. MSRP for the Stratis is $4,599 and the Stratis Bravo is $4,199. And while Watchtower hasn’t said so, my guess is that they have still bigger plans beyond the current product line.

We hope to get our hands on a Vantage and one of the new bolt guns soon for full reviews. In the mean time, keep your eye on the new Watchtower Defense.

– Dan Zimmerman, Shooting News Weekly