Kinetic Development Group (KDG) has officially joined the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) and will attend the NASGW Expo in October. The company has partnered with Sports South, Zanders Sporting Goods, AmChar Wholesale, and RSR Group to expand its distribution reach and strengthen dealer network support.
We Buy Guns, a national online firearm purchasing platform owned by Chris Wing, announced it has surpassed 1,000 five-star customer reviews while purchasing over 11,500 firearms across all 50 states and issuing $5.4 million in payments to sellers.
Derya, a Jacksonville-based precision firearms manufacturer, launched an advanced AI customer service agent available during business hours, supporting over 30 languages. Vice President Dustin Jones emphasized the company remains committed to hiring and live agent support for complex inquiries.
Tisas Arms USA, the world's largest producer of 1911-type pistols, established customer service operations in Buford, Georgia. VP Operations Tim Mulverhill and CEO Erdal Kaya emphasized the company's commitment to its limited lifetime warranty and world-class customer support for all Tisas-manufactured pistols.
VKTR Industries has acquired U.S. Patent No. 7,735,410 for the Combat Match Bolt from inventor Robert Clark. The company plans to bring the product to market in 2026, leveraging enhanced durability characteristics and improved reliability compared to standard bolt designs.
Target Sports USA has appointed Steven Blinn as Chief Marketing Officer. Blinn brings over 20 years of digital marketing and ecommerce experience, and was recently named a 2026 Top 100 Marketer by the OnCon Icon Awards. He will oversee marketing operations across ecommerce, digital growth, brand development, and emerging AI initiatives.
Southwick Associates released its April 2026 Hunting & Shooting Market Pulse, revealing that hunters and shooters are cutting discretionary spending due to economic concerns but increasing ammunition supplies and planning to spend tax refunds on hunting and shooting products. The quarterly subscription service provides market analysis and industry trends to executives and investors.
Mike Stock, President and CEO of Hodgdon Powder Company, has been appointed to the NSSF Board of Governors. Stock brings over two decades of firearm industry leadership, including previous roles at Winchester Ammunition and service on the SAAMI Board of Directors.
NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi will appear on Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew on Fox Business May 10 to discuss Project ChildSafe secure firearm storage and the Brave Conversations initiative, a partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Department of Veterans Affairs.
CZ-USA announced leadership changes with Petr Pistelak transitioning back to Colt CZ Group in the Czech Republic. Petr Palecek becomes CEO and Head of Operations, while John Dain assumes the role of President and Chief Commercial Officer, with Tom Taylor transitioning to Chief Business Development Officer for Colt CZ Group.
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) launched a new 60-second national television ad campaign airing on 26 cable networks, calling Americans to pledge support for Second Amendment rights. SAF founder Alan M. Gottlieb stated the campaign warns against anti-gun extremists pushing bans on common firearms and restrictive carry laws.
Silencer Central, the country's largest suppressor retailer, announced three key hires to its sales and marketing leadership team: Ryan Houck as Senior Director of Marketing, Daniel Baugher as Director of Sales, and Shawn Porter as Event Sales Manager. The additions support the company's continued growth and innovation in the suppressor industry.
The NSSF reported April 2026 NICS checks at 1,193,428, up 1.6 percent from April 2025's 1,174,294. NFA checks surged 130.3 percent to 190,086, with Texas, Virginia, and Florida leading in NFA activity. The adjusted data provides market insights while noting that background checks do not directly correlate to firearm sales.
Tisas Arms USA announced a nationwide sales representation partnership with Jones & Company to strengthen its U.S. distribution network. The company also appointed Matt Fuller as Vice President of Sales and Auburn Flores as Vice President of Marketing to support continued growth.
We Buy Guns expanded operations with a new warehouse facility to support growth in online firearm resale. The company has purchased over 11,000 firearms from sellers across all 50 states, paying out more than $5.25 million, and generates over 1,500 purchase offers monthly through its platform.
The NSSF applauds the U.S. Senate's bipartisan confirmation of Robert Cekada as ATF Director in a 59-39 vote. Cekada is the first ATF director confirmed after nomination by a Republican president and brings decades of law enforcement experience to lead the federal agency regulating the firearm industry.
NSSF attended the Department of Justice signing ceremony where Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche released a landmark 34-policy rulemaking package from the ATF. The changes, directed by President Trump's Executive Order, include rescissions of the "Engaged in the Business," bump stock, and stabilizing pistol brace rules, addressing regulations NSSF has long championed.
RetailBI released its Q1 2026 Shooting Sports Report analyzing retail sales across 654 dealers. Firearm unit sales declined 7.6% year-over-year, while suppressors surged 53.1% in same-store unit growth, with rifles outperforming shotguns.
Precise Recruiting Solutions, founded by Sean Murphy and Kelly Bowen, shares insights from three decades in firearms and shooting sports recruiting. The firm emphasizes that leadership depth and bench strength, rather than strategy alone, determine company success in an industry facing consolidation and regulatory pressure.
Blaser Group appointed Josh McBrayer as Chief Executive Officer of its U.S. operations. McBrayer brings over a decade of experience with the company, including four years as Director of Shotgun Sales and previous roles in Germany overseeing international markets. He will oversee Blaser, Mauser, J.P. Sauer & Sohn, John Rigby & Co., Liemke Thermal Optics, and Minox Optics.