News

Smith & Wesson Corp. has begun shipping the new M&P15-22 tactical rifles.

SOUTHPORT, CT – Between August 15, 2009 and December 31, 2009, customers who purchase any new Ruger bolt-action rifle will receive a free Ruger-branded Carhartt jacket.

ACCOKEEK, Md. -- Benelli's latest consumer offering--the MR 1 rifle--uses the ARGO (Auto-Regulating-Gas-Operated) system developed for the M1014 rifle used by the United States Marine Corps.

RATON, NM -- Army Marksmanship Unit shooters Specialist Daniel Horner and Sergeant First Class Robby Johnson won the Tactical Scope Class and the Tactical Iron Class championships, respectively, at the 2009 JP Rocky Mountain 3-Gun Competition held August 6-8 at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton.

MADISON, NC – Remington’s Premier Copper Solid Rifle, Premier Copper Solid Sabot Slugs and Premier Disintegrator Varmint lines of ammunition have been approved by the California Department of Fish and Game for use in the hunting zones within the range of the California condor, pursuant to its July 2008 law prohibiting ammunition containing lead in those areas.

NEWTOWN, Conn. -- The National Shooting Sports Foundation has launched a new grant program to strengthen existing target shooting programs and help form new collegiate club and varsity teams in shotgun, rifle and pistol.

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Silhouette shooter Cathy Winstead-Severin won the Smallbore Rifle Silhouette and Smallbore Hunting Rifle Silhouette divisions at the 2009 NRA National Smallbore Silhouette Championships, held August 2-4 at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico.

The 2009 Shotgun National Junior Olympics came to a close on August 1 with Collin Wietfeldt (Hemlock, Mich.) and Rachael Heiden (Clinton, Mich.) earning titles in the Trap event.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation reports that according to the most recent Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Collection Report released last week by the Department of the Treasury, firearm and ammunition manufacturers paid more than $109.8 million in the first calendar quarter of 2009; up 43% over the same time period reported in 2008.

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR) announced last week that for the second quarter of 2009, the Company reported net sales of $72.4 million and earnings of 46¢ per share, compared with sales of $38.7 million and earnings of 5¢ per share in the second quarter of 2008.

Beretta U.S.A. Corp. announced outstanding June sales results last week.

The Miami-Herald has reported that the state of Georgia is offering free land, new buildings, and tax abatements to convince firearms maker Taurus USA to leave Florida.