Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announced ten retailers nationwide as 2025 Ambassador Dealers, including Americana Arms, Not Just Guns, H&H Shooting Sports, Fuquay Gun, Fin Feather Fur Outfitters, Magnum Shooting Center, Freedom Firearms, Idaho Guns & Outdoors, Shoot Straight, and Smoky Mountain Guns & Ammo, recognizing their exceptional sales performance and customer service.
Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed a federal lawsuit, Goldberger v. James, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York challenging New York's "sensitive location" handgun carry ban in Times Square. Represented by Peter A. Patterson, William V. Bergstrom, and Alfonso Gamboa of Cooper & Kirk, PLLC, FPC seeks a permanent injunction against enforcement of the ban.
Dead Air Silencers announced the hiring of Jack Cannon as Key Accounts Manager. Cannon brings 15 years of experience from Davidson's Inc., where he held roles including Customer Relationship Manager and National Accounts Manager, witnessing Dead Air's growth to become Davidson's largest suppressor brand.
German Precision Optics (GPO USA) now includes a premium custom-fitted Cordura stay-on zip case at no additional charge with all PASSION APO spotting scopes, including the 16-48×65 APO and 20-60×85 APO models, providing rugged protection for outdoor use.
The National Rifle Association unveiled its new official NRA App, featuring digital membership cards, Second Amendment news from the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, digital magazines including American Rifleman and American Hunter, local event discovery, and exclusive member benefits. CEO Doug Hamlin emphasized the app represents the NRA's commitment to innovation and serving members in the digital age.
Rock River Arms introduces the new 10.5-inch A1 Carbine SBR to celebrate the zero tax on NFA items. The retro rifle features a lightweight chrome moly barrel, forged LAR-15M lower receiver, and is available with M4-style or fixed entry stock options, priced at $1,135-$1,150.
MDT announced expanded ACC Elite chassis system compatibility for CZ 457 rimfire and Savage 110 Short Action platforms, bringing their flagship competition chassis design to additional rifle platforms. The system features the SRS-X Elite Buttstock, Vertical Grip Elite with backbar, and an extended forend for improved stability and recoil management in precision shooting competitions.
DeSantis Gunhide announces their Quick Safe holster has received official approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Air and Marine Operations (AMO), and Federal Protective Service (FPS). The self-locking, outside-the-waistband Kydex holster surpasses Level III duty rig standards while maintaining fast draw speed, with an MSRP of $184.99.
Real Avid has launched its Master Collections series, strategically bundled tooling and maintenance products for AR-platform firearms. The collections range from basic cleaning sets to armorer-level assemblies, with five AR-15 options and four dual-platform AR-15/10 collections available.
White Label Armory, a VKTR Industries subsidiary, launched a new suppressor lineup featuring the Geist and Fenix series in multiple calibers, plus .22 options Hot Link and Party Popper. The suppressors are exclusively available through Sports South Distributors and designed for high-performance, budget-conscious consumers.
Beretta USA and Gray Rose will serve as Main Event sponsors for the 2026 Gator Cup Sporting Clays Tournament on May 24-29 at Back Woods Quail Club. Beretta will showcase competition shotguns including the 694 Black DLC, DT11 Super Sport, SL2, AX800 Suprema, and A400L, with Team Beretta athletes Zach Kienbaum, Desiree Edmunds, and Connor Daniel competing.
Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks announces a packed Q2 schedule starting March 30, featuring new series and seasons across Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, and MyOutdoorTV. Highlights include Chef Mike Robinson's Fishing the Wild, Heather Douville's Our Way of Life, and live McKenzie ASA Pro Am archery tournaments on Sportsman Channel.
Pistol used was a first-run S&W M&P40. The ammo was new stock.
In anticipation of receiving a new pistol chambered for the 40 S&W cartridge, I’d gotten some ammo to do the shooting test. I had some left over and at that time, not having shot recently due to some interruptions, I grabbed an old 40 caliber pistol from the safe and went to an indoor range.
The gun was the M&P40, received from the Smith & Wesson rollout of the line, in 2005. The M&P auto was first produced in 40 S&W; the gun was built for the caliber and later chambered for the 9mm, a smart idea.
The 40 Auto round, while not so widely available now, is still being produced. Former police guns in 40 S&W are going for bargain prices. You’ll pay more for ammo, but less for the gun.
The big deal about the S&W M&P being made for 40 first, rather than 9mm, came from the experience at GLOCK. The Austrian company beat Smith & Wesson out of the gate with guns chambered for the 40 S&W. They simply plugged in a new barrel, a slightly redesigned magazine and ejector, with the rest of the gun being practically the same as its 9mm counterpart.
At the rollout of the new M&P auto, I tried a dedicated pair on the old S&W Academy range. It can be fired quickly enough with accuracy. Walt Rauch photo.
This led to more annual maintenance. That issue didn’t arise with the M&P40. I don’t believe it would have with the upsized G22/G23 Gen5 pistols from GLOCK either.
While some users had problems with the recoil, most didn’t shoot enough for it to cause degenerative joint issues.
For duty and defense use, we’ll dispense with “split times” completely.
While I was seeking to shoot for accuracy, I miscalculated the height of the bench versus the available chair. For that reason, I shot somewhat closer, but shot one-handed, and left-handed, as well as “freestyle.” The ammo included Federal 180gr. JHP, Federal Punch 165gr. JHP, Hornady 165gr. FTX Critical Defense and Federal Action Pistol 205gr. Syntech.
I elected to shoot each load variably at a single sheet with four aiming points. The Federal 180gr. load was fired two-handed at a small aiming point. The resulting group, sadly, was three inches. I thought that was my inability to focus on the front sight in the indoor range lighting (the gun predates universal pistol-mounted optics).
The Federal Punch load was fired at a slightly larger aiming point left-handed, with two hands. That effort put five rounds into 2 ¼”.
The target demonstrated my poor pre-planning. All the ammo seemed accurate enough - even shot one-handed. Ammo was from Hornady and Federal.
Hornady Critical Defense was fired at the top circle, one-handed, “bullseye-style.” Five rounds went into 1 ½”.
That led me to believe I was more troubled by grip than the visual solution. Shooting the gun one-handed also helped to force my focus on precision.
The ammo case bench rest, demonstrated at the S&W Academy by Walt Rauch, trainer- and writer emeritus.
Finally, the Syntech load was fired on the largest circle, likewise one-handed. That gave me a 3 ¼” group, but the best three were into 2” flat. The pair outside of the main cluster could have been old-age, fatigue or some other issue. I believe that the Syntech Action Pistol load is capable of great accuracy.
Likely all the rounds would be if there was a better shooter behind the gun.
The M&P40, now over 20 years old, ran without stoppages.
