Liberty Ammunition was recently featured in Shooting News Weekly. CEO Gary Ramey praised the publication as one of the fastest growing industry communication vehicles, highlighting Liberty Ammunition's superior performance in self-defense ammunition for consumers, law enforcement, and government sectors.

Scopos announces registration opening for the 2026 National Air Rifle League, which saw 171 teams and 1,400 athletes compete last year. The virtual league features Sporter and Precision disciplines across multiple divisions, with teams competing in an 8-week format. Early registration by September 4, 2026 offers a $20 discount.

Kaleb Klein of Junior Team Ruger earned three first-place and three second-place finishes at the 2026 Wisconsin State Steel Challenge Championship, competing with Ruger firearms including the Super GP100 revolver, Mark IV pistol, and 10/22 rifle across rimfire, centerfire, and revolver divisions.

Staccato 2011 announced an expanded Lifetime Warranty that now follows every Staccato-built pistol for its lifetime, regardless of ownership changes. The free warranty covers defects and failures including functional issues, cracked frames, and coating delamination, with CEO Buck Pierson stating the company intends to stand behind every firearm built.

Sierra Bullets and Barnes Bullets promoted Madi Woodward to Director of Marketing, where she will lead marketing teams for both brands. Woodward joined the organization in December 2025 and previously worked at Nosler for nearly five years in brand management and digital initiatives.

Murray Road Agency announced new partnerships with Duck Commander, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation, PROOF Research, and Clenzoil. The award-winning marketing agency will provide public relations, media relations, and strategic marketing support to advance each organization's objectives across the outdoor and shooting sports industries.

Bleecker Street Publications and BlackRifle Co. launched Max Precision Reach, a programmatic advertising platform designed specifically for the firearms industry. The platform combines Bleecker Street Publications' editorial reach with BlackRifle Co.'s data intelligence and programmatic technology to reach 18 million active firearms shoppers across all 50 states.

German Precision Optics (GPO USA) announces the upgraded RangeGuide 10x50 rangefinding binoculars with enhanced electronic systems and next-generation laser technology extending maximum ranging to 3,600 yards. The compact, lightweight design features True Range Angle Technology, improved OLED display, and GPObright lens coatings, retailing for $1,659.99.

Muddy Outdoors introduces the Cloak OZ3 and OZ5 ozone generators for hunting scent control. Both units feature multiple operating modes, wireless remote control, and compatibility with Muddy's rechargeable lithium battery system used across their trail camera lineup.

WOOX, manufacturers of Italian-American gunstocks, announces the new Vigilante Fixed Stock for AR-15 and AR-10 platforms. Crafted by 4th generation Italian artisans, the stock combines premium Claro walnut with precision-machined aluminum, featuring ambidextrous QD sling attachment points and an ultra-light recoil pad, priced at $199.00.

Mission First Tactical introduces the MFT Sticky Pocket Holster, featuring a grippy sticky exterior, CURV® Thermoplastic Composite fabric, and ambidextrous design for backup or everyday carry. Available for Ruger LCP & LCP II, Glock 42, and S&W Bodyguard 2.0 at $49.99 MSRP.

Stealth Cam launches an expanded lineup of trail camera accessories and upgraded 3.0 cellular trail cameras featuring AI-powered false image detection, PIR zone selection, and Rack Alert technology. The new Deceptor MAX 3.0, Revolver PRO 3.0, Spectre 4K Pro, and Fusion MAX 3.0 models offer dual-core technology with instant uploads and free 4K downloads through the updated Command app.

Iron Valley Supply is offering exclusive pricing on hunting products including guns, ammo, optics, and accessories for the upcoming season. Customers can view sales on their website or contact an Iron Valley Account Manager for more information about the promotion.

1791 Outdoor Lifestyle Group will exhibit at the NBS Fall Semi-Annual Market August 25-27, 2026 in Oklahoma City, showcasing new HUNT Line accessories, Tac Leather Rifle Sling, holsters, and Roni pistol-to-carbine conversion kits including the new Nano Roni.

European American Armory Corporation will exhibit at the 2026 Nation's Best Sports Fall Semi-Annual Market in Oklahoma City, August 24–27, showcasing its Witness2311 Double-Stack 1911 Series and Balikli long guns with special discounted prices for NBS members.

Silent Steel USA will showcase its Streamer suppressor family at the 2026 Worldwide Fall Show in Reno, NV, September 1-3 at Booth #863. The company will demonstrate its FLOW-IQ™ Technology and offer hands-on access to the Streamer, Compact Streamer, and Micro Streamer models across multiple calibers.

UTG, UTG Pro, and Integrix brands by Leapers are exhibiting at the NBS Fall Market in Oklahoma City, showcasing over 400 products including optics, handguards, and accessories. Featured items include UTG Pro MP5 handguards, the GOLIATH bipod, and award-winning Integrix optics.

Breek Arms will exhibit at the NBS 2026 Fall Semi-Annual Market in Oklahoma City (August 24-27) and the Law Enforcement Operations Conference in Nashville (August 30-31), showcasing its American-made AR components including Sledgehammer and Omni-Buster Charging Handles, Plan B and Breek-LOK 3QD suppressor mounting solutions, and muzzle devices.

The Cianciarulo family's 26th season of The Choice airs on Pursuit Channel starting Monday, August 24th at 11:30PM EST. Vicki Cianciarulo hunts giant bull elk in the Gila National Forest with Diamond Outfitters using her Hoyt bow.

Pursuit Media announces dual-platform Monday night programming options on Pursuit Channel linear TV and free streaming service Pursuit UP, featuring shows like Dean Partridge's Canadian Whitetail, Game On with Blaine Anthony, and Maxed Outdoors. CEO Rusty Faulk emphasizes the company's commitment to reaching outdoor enthusiasts across multiple viewing platforms.

The following feature was first published on our companion site, Shooting News Weekly. To subscribe to a free weekly newsletter of top stories that appeared on Shooting News Weekly, click here.

Confession time. When I first put my hands on the GLOCK 43 9mm subcompact pistol at a writer’s event held in conjunction with the NRA Annual Meeting 2015, I wasn’t all that excited about it. By that time I had over twenty years experience with GLOCK pistols and had carried a G23/G19 for decades. Also, I had developed a true appreciation for the G26 through experience working with that gun.

From a completely selfish perspective, I didn’t need another GLOCK model. 

GLOCK 43: The J-frame of Pistols

No longer the new gun, the G43 has been around for more than a decade and spawned the G43X; one of the Austrian gunmaker’s best-selling concealed carry pistols. As the G43 seems to have fallen into the shadow of its younger X brother, one might wonder how much life the subcompact pistol still has in it.

Back when I was still one of the young guys, you couldn’t call yourself a true gun guy — or at least a respectable aficionado of firearms — if you didn’t own some form of Smith & Wesson J-frame. While I was coming of age, the J-frame, either blued steel or stainless, spur-hammer, bobbed or concealed, was the everyday, always handgun of armed men, and more than a few women. 

Even in situations where being armed was strictly frowned upon, sans metal detectors, the J-frame was dropped discreetly into pockets or tucked into waistbands. For my part, I used a soft, suede leather IWB holster to surreptitiously conceal a J-frame under an untucked shirt when frequenting non-permissive environments.

Now, in 2026, I see the G43 taking on that role. 

While folks like the extra rounds that the extended frame the G43X model offers, that extra frame real estate comes with a price, that of making the pistol less discreet when discreet carry is called for. Also, while the G43 can truly be carried as a pocket gun, the X frame doesn’t lend itself to that. 

G43 Considerations

While not quite “air-weight”, the G43 is only 16.2 ounces empty. An all-steel .38 Special J-frame weighs about 19 ounces empty and the alloy-framed versions weigh around 14.5 ounces. The G43 height is just 4.25 inches including the mag base and it has a mere 6-inch overall length. The capacity is only 6 + 1, the same as the old Colt Officer’s Model 1911. However, seven is two more than the 5-shot J-frame we all used to be satisfied with.

Even if the G43 was only a 5-shot like the old J-frames, it would still beat the wheelgun in the reloading department. Rapidly reloading a compact revolver under stress is a master-level accomplishment.

Speaking of loading the G43, we’re not going to hold our collective breath waiting for GLOCK to make higher capacity G43 magazines. Nonetheless, XTech Tactical has produced some extended capacity magazines for the G43 that show promise. These mags hold nine rounds versus six. Granted, they stick out of the frame a good bit. That’s both a positive and a negative depending on how you look at it. 

Yes, the mag sticking out increases the height and eliminates pocket carry and deep concealment. However, that extra length gives those of us with full-sized mitts something more onto which to hold. Ergo, your pinky finger isn’t dangling in space. The XTech mags offer a good two-hand hold as well. 

So, with these bonus capacity magazines, you have some options. You can still use the flush factory magazine and carry discreetly and keep the XTech version in a spare mag pouch. Or, you can opt for more traditional belt holster carry and make use of those bonus rounds. At the very least, you should appreciate the bonus rounds when you’re in a training class or on the practice range. 

One Valuable Upgrade

Despite the desire of aftermarket accessory makers to convince you that GLOCK pistols need extra crap added to them, the G43 is good-to-go right out of the box…with one exception. If we’re being completely honest, the plastic factory sights on GLOCK pistols are sub-par at best. The front sight is diminutive, causing rounds to go high beyond five to seven yards. The rear sight has so much white paint on it that it distracts from proper front sight focus.

Also, given that GLOCK pistols are supposed to be fighting tools with which the end user saves their life, plastic sights have no business on true fighting guns. I don’t care what color or composition the plastic sights are, they are not for martial purposes. Plastic sights are for toy guns. 

Night Fision produces some high quality, steel replacement sights for GLOCK pistols, including the subcompact versions. The Accur8™ sights for the G43 have a bright tritium front sight surrounded by translucent polymer in various colors. The rear sight is steel and can be used for single-hand racking of the slide. There is a subdued tritium vial in the rear as well. For my personal G43, I installed the white ring front sight version of the Accur8 sights onto the pistol.   

Range Time

With the G43 plus three of the new XTech magazines and a can of 9x19mm, I hit the range to run some drills. You don’t need to read a review from me to tell you that the G43 will feed any and all manner of 9mm NATO ammunition you choose to feed it. However, such cannot always be said for all subcompact/pocket pistols out there.

Though I spent only a couple hours on the range, I left with a good feel not just for the G43, but for the XTech magazines as well. Fresh out of the package, I found that the LDR2000 loading tool, also from XTech, was useful for getting rounds number 8 and 9 into the new magazines. 

All told, I put a couple of hundred rounds down range for my practice session. Yes, I transitioned from two-handed to single hand right and single hand left frequently. No issues with the pistol.

As I was driving home from the range, the thought occurred to me that comparing the G43 to the J-frame could hold one negative connotation. Historically, the compact .38 Special J-framed revolvers were guns that were carried a lot but shot rarely. Only the most dedicated gun carriers ever really got good with their J-frames. Most carried them as some sort of talisman or good luck charm, hoping that they would never need to use them. 

My hope is that the owners of the GLOCK 43 pistol don’t fall into the same habit of carrying it a lot and shooting it rarely. Yes, it’s comforting to be armed. But it’s even more comforting to have the genuine confidence to hit your target when called upon in a life-or-death scenario.

If the bonus capacity magazines from XTech are what it takes to get you out and shooting your G43 more often, then they are worth the investment. Remember, your responsibility to be ready for the fight never ends.   

Paul G. Markel is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran. He is also the founder of Student of the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades.