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.

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.

Grey Bear Fishing Access Site on the Yellowstone River will have restricted access to its boat ramp and parking area beginning late March for a construction project. FWP will develop overflow parking, a walking trail, and improve existing facilities, with work anticipated to complete by April 30. Contact recreation manager Sean Flynn at 406-431-6112 to request launch access during construction.

M360-Pro offers broader programmatic advertising through real-time bidding on non-Google platforms, contrasting with Google's ecosystem-restricted approach. M360-Pro provides wider global reach, advanced targeting, diverse ad formats including connected TV, and serves restricted categories, while requiring larger budgets but delivering higher ROI potential.

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.

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.

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 Boone and Crockett Club has partnered with the University of Wyoming to establish a Working Lands Wildlife Conservation Professorship in the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources. The program will focus on wildlife habitat conservation, ranch management, and wildlife disease research, including chronic wasting disease, while supporting Wyoming's ranching communities and big game populations.

Safari Club International (SCI) commends the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (H.R. 556), introduced by Rep. Rob Wittman. The legislation prohibits federal agencies from banning traditional lead ammunition and tackle on federal public lands without scientific justification, protecting hunter and angler choice.

Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation celebrates Noah Winslow's top-20 finish at the 2026 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River. Winslow, a conservation partner, actively participates in OSCF's Fill A Bag While Filling Your Tag program, which has distributed over 100,000 reusable bags and removed tens of thousands of pounds of trash from waterways nationwide.

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.

GRITR launched a Semi-Universal Hybrid IWB Holster compatible with over 200 handgun models from manufacturers including Glock, SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, H&K, Ruger, CZ, Springfield, and Walther. The holster features hybrid Kydex and nylon mesh construction, adjustable retention, and optic-ready design, backed by GRITR's Unlimited Grit Lifetime Warranty.

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.

Millennium Marine showcases two essential crappie fishing products: the R100 SpyderLok Gen 2 Rod Holder System and B100 Boat Seat. The R100 features patented SpyderLok Technology for multi-rod spider rigging, while the B100 offers lightweight aluminum construction with breathable fabric for all-day comfort and convenient storage.

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.

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.

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.

Vortex Optics has renewed its commitment as a national sponsor of Whitetails Unlimited, according to WTU President Jeff Schinkten. The Barneveld, Wisconsin-based optics company offers riflescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, and accessories backed by an unlimited lifetime warranty.

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.

Indiana Conservation Officer Max Winchell has been promoted to sergeant for Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 5, where he will supervise 16 field officers across eight counties. Winchell has served as a conservation officer since 1995 and was recognized as the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Boating Officer of the Year for Indiana in 2024.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is offering free April education events including Birds of a Feather birding programs at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, a virtual "Science of" ferns webinar, and Wise and Wild programs for ages 55 and up at the James Family Conservatory and Nature Center.

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.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife urges drivers to slow down during early spring amphibian migration season, known as Big Nights. The agency encourages reporting road crossings to the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas and partnering organizations like Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center, The Hartford Salamander Team, and North Branch Nature Center to help assess wildlife passage needs.

When Gunsite unveiled its 50th anniversary guns at the SHOT Show press conference, the companies partnering with them were a testament to Gunsite’s standing in the industry.

One of those companies was Aimpoint. Gunsite and Aimpoint are by no means strangers. Some of the 50th Anniversary Gunsite firearms will be equipped with Aimpoint products, including the Aimpoint Duty RDS on the Aero Precision fighting carbine and a COA pistol model yet to be finalized.

During the planning and development of the 50th anniversary guns, Gunsite CEO Ken Campbell and Aimpoint VP of Marketing Andrea Cerwinske discussed giving the optics company a presence in a Gunsite class.

Gunsite has long partnered with companies looking to spotlight their products with students, often through sponsored classes like the famed Gunsite 250 Defensive Pistol.

As Zac Cooper, Aimpoint’s Director of Marketing Communications, explained to me last week, the conversation went something like: “Lots of people are just getting into defensive shooting, and we (Gunsite) try to recommend the best equipment. Why don’t you guys show them what that is?”

And one thing led to another. March 9 through 13, Gunsite’s 250 class featured a partnership with Aimpoint, where all students had the opportunity to shoot an ACRO P-2 red dot reflex sight.

In addition to shooting the class with an ACRO P-2 optic, students were also given the opportunity to purchase it at a substantial discount.

How popular was this offer?

First off, when students learned this particular 250 class would be sponsored by Aimpoint, some brought their guns specifically to be milled by Gunsite’s on-site gunsmithing service to accept the ACRO P-2.

And by day four of the class, Cooper confirmed, “We brought one (ACRO P-2) per person for the class, and last time I checked, all have been accounted for.”

He explained that initially some students weren’t interested in the offer. “We had a lot of people coming in who originally said, ‘Nah, I’m good.’ And now they’re like, ‘No, we’re gonna want one.’ I have people trying to get two and three of them.”

What I was most interested in was the why behind sponsoring a class.

Aimpoint isn’t a me-too optics company. They’re a foundational company known for bringing innovation and durability to firearms optics.

When it comes to closed-emitter red dots, the ACRO was first—and where Aimpoint led, nearly every other optics company, and consumers, followed.

So why did Aimpoint need face-to-face consumer interaction with a relative handful of Gunsite students?

"We’re always looking for feedback from our consumers at every level—from the military and tier-one units to the first-time buyer. We want to make sure people understand why Aimpoint, and that was one of the reasons I came out here,” said Cooper.

Cooper added that the Gunsite class provided Aimpoint a real-time opportunity not only to see consumers go through the product introduction process, but also to watch their purchasing decisions and identify pain points.

With an MSRP of $617, the ACRO P-2 isn’t an impulse purchase—especially for gun owners new to pistol-mounted red dot sights, even at a discounted price.

During a break in the class, I spoke with Sunnie Heng, a first-time Gunsite student from San Francisco, whose partner, Lee, gave her the 250 class as a Christmas present.

“My partner has been coming for over a decade. I wanted to get here the last two years he’s been in classes, but they’ve been full. It’s my first time at Gunsite, and I was pretty excited to come.”

When I asked about shooting the ACRO P-2 on her Walther PDP, she lit up.

“Oh, I love it. I want to have a second one…if there’s any left.”

She also said they are already planning a return to Gunsite for additional classes.

This kind of immediate consumer response is exactly what marketers want to see—but rarely do, given their distance from both the point of purchase and the point of use.

Sponsoring a class at Gunsite eliminates that gap, giving marketers like Cooper an on-range focus group of new users.

“I think it’s really important to step back and understand what consumers want, and why it matters. It’s easy to get lost in trends, but at the end of the day, people are buying firearms for specific reasons—and they want help choosing the right gear.”

While this was Aimpoint’s first time sponsoring a class, it won’t be their last. You can expect to see the company involved in another 250, as well as other classes. “We want to work with Gunsite and maybe grow this program to more classes, like the 350 or their carbine class.”

“Oh, it’s definitely been successful,” Cooper said of the 250 collaboration. “I’m really excited to see new shooters get involved with ACRO and be excited about it.”

No wonder he’s already looking to expand Aimpoint’s work with Gunsite. That’s good news for students, giving them one more reason to make the trip to what many—probably most—consider America’s premier firearms training facility.

– Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network