Whitewater Fishing, led by NEXUS Outdoors president Aaron Ambur, launches the Great Lakes Pro Jacket and Bibs featuring a proprietary 3-layer design with 20k waterproof and 30k breathability ratings. The innovative raingear includes 4-way stretch fabric, AquaGuard zippers, and specialized features designed through extensive field testing with pro staff and anglers.
NEXTORCH North America announced that its ND30 Distraction Device and TA30D MAX Tactical Flashlight received National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) members testing approval and recommendation. The ND30 achieved Silver level rating and combines 11,000 lumens of strobe with 130dB sound output for law enforcement professionals.
Beretta celebrates Team Beretta athlete Kim Rhode's receipt of the 2026 NSSF Ken Sedlecky Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor from the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Rhode, an Olympic legend with six medals across six consecutive Games, is recognized for her extraordinary competitive success and advocacy for safe shooting sports participation.
Knife Rights filed an Appellants' Reply Brief challenging the constitutionality of the Federal Switchblade Act under the Second Amendment. The organization argues the DOJ's defense fails under Heller and Bruen precedents, contending switchblades are commonly used arms deserving constitutional protection and that historical analogues do not justify the broad federal ban.
The Gulf Council approved Reef Fish Amendment 62, phasing in red grouper catch limit increases over three years with 68.2% commercial and 31.8% recreational allocations. The Council also eliminated the February-March recreational shallow-water grouper closure beyond 20-fathoms, based on SEDAR 88 stock assessment findings that red grouper is not overfished.
Yamamoto Baits has launched three new fuzzy baits featuring threaded skirt materials: the Fuzzy Senko in 4" and 5" sizes, the Fuzzy Nuki in 2.5" and 3.5" versions, and the compact 1.5" Fuzzy Nut. All products are available at Baits.com.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission provides essential ice fishing safety guidelines, including maintaining minimum 4-inch ice thickness, wearing life jackets, using ice cleats, and dressing in layers. Additional recommendations include carrying ice picks, fishing with others, and avoiding alcohol to prevent hypothermia.
Gunpowder, Inc. has expanded its partnership with Seakeeper, now serving as the public relations agency of record for the marine stabilization technology leader's full brand portfolio. Following successful work with Seakeeper Ride in 2024, Gunpowder will support communications across Seakeeper's complete stabilization solutions.
RetailBI, powered by Gearfire, released its 2025 Shooting Sports Executive Report showing same-store new firearm unit sales declined 13% year-over-year. The report, built on point-of-sale and eCommerce data from over 2,000 U.S. firearms retailers, reveals continued demand compression and ongoing inventory correction across the shooting sports industry.
Range USA, the nation's largest indoor gun range and firearm retailer, reported record-breaking growth in 2025, expanding to 50 locations and welcoming over 1.4 million shooters. The company achieved a 5% increase in firearms sales despite a national decline, trained over 27,000 students, and brought in over 300,000 new shooters.
Staccato 2011 announced three executive appointments: Jeremy Morton as Vice President of Business Development for Government Programs, Jay Helmick as Executive Vice President of Sales, and Willem Driessen as Chief Marketing Officer. The hires bring extensive experience from military, premium sporting goods, and tactical industries to strengthen the precision firearms company's leadership.
SLG2, Inc. released its 2025 Fourth Quarter Report highlighting record attendance of 1,013 guests across Shoot Like A Girl and Safe LivinG experiences. The company, which operates three experiential marketing brands focused on firearms safety and education, added Matt Rice as director of business development and partnered with Bass Pro Shops and Beretta for Q4 events.
The Guns & Ammo Buzz podcast enters its second season featuring expert discussions on firearms, ammunition, and accessories. Recent episodes include interviews with SureFire's Barry Dueck on suppressors and Glock's Gen V and Gen 6 models, hosted by Guns & Ammo Editor Eric Poole and available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and GunsandAmmo.com.
Real Avid has launched two Master Collections featuring specialized tools for firearm maintenance and optic mounting. The Master Firearm Maintenance and Optics Mounting Collection includes comprehensive tools like the Master Gun Vise and Bore-Max Master Cleaning Kit, while the Master Firearm Cleaning and Optics Mounting Collection offers core essentials for cost-conscious DIY enthusiasts.
CCI Ammunition introduced its Blazer Brass Clean-Fire Suppressor line featuring three subsonic loads in 9mm Luger, 40 S&W, and 45 Auto with Total Metal Jacket bullets and lead-free primers to reduce fouling in suppressors and barrels.
Browning Trail Cameras introduces the Defender Vision Pro LSF, a 2026 livestream cellular trail camera offering real-time awareness through instant motion alerts and on-demand live viewing via the Strike Force Wireless app. The camera features 46MP photos, 1080p Full HD video, selectable infrared illumination, and flexible month-to-month cellular plans with AT&T and Verizon coverage.
WOOX, an Italian-American gunstock manufacturer, announced its new "High Grade" line of American Walnut stocks crafted from hand-selected premium wood with traditional oil finishing. Each piece is unique and available across the Elegante Series, Bravado, Gladiatore, and Superleggera product lines.
Savage Arms has expanded its iconic Model 110 rifle lineup with six new cartridge options: 22 Creedmoor, 22 ARC, 25 Creedmoor, 300 HAM'R, 338 ARC, and 6.8 Western. Vice President of Marketing Beth Shimanski stated the new offerings ensure hunters, precision shooters, and tactical users can find a Model 110 suited to their needs.
GRITR Sports is offering significant discounts on Hawke Optics products, including binoculars, spotting scopes, and sights. Featured deals include the Hawke Endurance ED 10x32mm binoculars at $230.99 and the Hawke Endurance ED 25-75x85 spotting scope at $733.99, with savings available while supplies last.
Los Cazadores, a Texas-based outdoor retailer, opened its fourth location in Granbury, Texas, acquiring Gateway Archery & Indoor Range. The new store offers archery services, firearms, apparel, fishing gear, and outdoor equipment while retaining Gateway Archery's owner and team.
CZ concluded SHOT Show 2026 with strong momentum, debuting the CZ 75 Legend and CZ 457 Target while showcasing the German Army's new CZ P13 standard sidearm. The CZ Shadow 2 Target 6-inch earned the Ballistics Best Award for Best New Race Handgun.
Blaser Group will exhibit at the 2026 Dallas Safari Club Convention February 6-8, featuring the Blaser R8 Professional 2.0 straight-pull rifle, new Mauser 98 Das Original bolt-action rifle, and award-winning Sauer 505. John Rigby & Co. and Blaser Safaris will also showcase premium hunting properties and bespoke rifles.
Boss Buck, a manufacturer of deer blinds, stands, and feeders headquartered in Irving, Texas, has renewed its sponsorship with Whitetails Unlimited. WTU President Jeff Schinkten praised Boss Buck's customer service, products, and regulatory resources for hunters.
Yamaha, Skeeter Boats, and B.A.S.S. expanded their multi-year sponsorship agreement through 2028, with Yamaha continuing as Official Premier Engine Sponsor and Skeeter as Official Premier Boat Sponsor of all B.A.S.S.-owned events, including the Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Classic.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Flathead Audubon Society invite the public to a free Great Backyard Bird Count celebration at Lone Pine State Park on February 14. Participants will observe birds, learn about local species, and contribute data to the international Great Backyard Bird Count community science effort.
Knight & Hale announces a resurgence with the brand story "The Chase," narrated by cofounder and World Calling Champion Harold Knight. The iconic hunting brand celebrates over 50 years of tradition while launching a new product lineup that bridges heritage with modern innovation.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved Utah's new Wildlife Action Plan on January 6, developed over three years with 35 conservation partners. The 10-year plan identifies 256 species of greatest conservation need and guides the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and partners like Utah Wildlife Federation and Utah Hogle Zoo in addressing threats to native species through 2035.
Sometimes something different is just what we need. (Travis Pike For SNW)
I’m a big fan of people doing something different in the world of firearms, even if it’s not made for me or my needs. The Rideout Arsenal Dragon certainly hits the right keys to please me. It’s a radically different pistol design that qualifies as novel.
A High-Tech Anomaly
Here’s the catch: the MSRP for the First Edition models is $3,600 dollars. That doesn’t come anywhere near what we’d call affordable. So what’s the Dragon? It’s a 9mm, lever-delayed blowback pistol that uses Springfield Echelon magazines.
Bore Axis and Design
Bore axis is something prattled about a lot (I used to buy into the idea that super small differences made a significant difference). In reality, bore axis has to be considerably low to make a difference most shooters will feel. For example, the Chiappa Rhino places the barrel even with the bottom chamber of the revolver.
The tri-lug adapter makes adding accessories easy. (Travis Pike For SNW)
The Dragon lowers the bore axis to -3.3mms. That’s right, it’s a semi-auto pistol that places the barrel below the grip spur. While I haven’t shot the gun to confirm it, the idea of this, and any low bore axis gun is that recoil is directed linearly back into the wrist rather than rearward and upward.
The slide is also quite small. Smaller means lighter. Lighter means less reciprocating mass and less felt recoil.
The Lever-Delayed System
The barrel is fixed, and the lever-delayed blowback system is a unique way to tame recoil while keeping the barrel fixed. Lever delay isn’t new, but as far as I know, the only other lever-delayed pistol in production is the PSA 5.7 Rock.
The optic doesn’t mount to the slide, but rather to a fixed mount. Rideout Arsenal calls it the Non-Reciprocating Optics Carrier. The benefit is that your sight remains still, making it easier to track.
The faster you can track your sights, the faster you can shoot. With that said, do you have to reach forward to rack the gun? Nope, the N-ROC also acts as a charging handle, so you can grab it and the optic and rack it like any other modern pistol.
Riding the Dragon
A portion of the slide cycles underneath the N-ROC and optic. Ergonomically, the pistol offers a truly ambidextrous design. This includes a “gas pedal” integrated into the frame.
A stationary optics mount makes sight tracking easy. (Travis Pike For SNW)
These thumbrests allow you to apply a little weight to the front of the gun and add even more muzzle rise control. The Dragon features a metal frame and weighs a hefty 33.9 ounces which puts it into the Beretta 92 realm.
Weight reduces recoil, especially when you combine it with a light slide and low bore axis. The gun uses a 5-inch bull barrel for superior accuracy. At the end of that barrel, under a nose cap, sits a tri-lug mount that allows you to mount muzzle devices.
Size and Concerns
This isn’t a small gun at 9.1 inches long. For competition use, that’s fine, but I don’t see anyone dropping this thing in an AIWB rig and rocking and rolling.
My only concern is that the front sight is mounted to the removable nose cap. If you aren’t using an optic, does the nose cap index correctly every time? Will it potentially loosen?
But Why?
A minor complaint to be sure, but hey, who doesn’t like whining about a high dollar gun? I joke, but it’s an absolutely fascinating design.
The value of a gun like this isn’t just for competition shooters with deep pockets. I think things like this can inspire the industry, even incrementally, to make changes to their designs. It’s like the wings of a butterfly…they can eventually create a hurrican…or something like that.
