ICYMI: Industry News
From April 21–25, 2025

Olin-Winchester Completes Acquisition Of Small-Caliber AMMO Inc. Assets

Olin Corporation has completed its previously announced acquisition of AMMO, Inc.’s small-caliber ammunition assets.

The assets, employees and ammunition business are now part of Olin’s Winchester Ammunition business, including the brass shell case capabilities and a newly constructed, world-class 185,000 sq. ft. production facility located in Manitowoc, Wis. The facility and its skilled employees complement Winchester’s existing production capabilities, enabling greater specialization and broader participation across a variety of high-margin, specialty calibers.

Funded from available liquidity, this transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Olin’s shareholders, delivering incremental expected first-year adjusted EBITDA of $10 to $15 million, including synergies realization, leveraging Winchester’s industry-leading economies of scale, raw material sourcing and projectile, primer and loading capabilities. Once fully integrated, this acquisition is expected to yield adjusted EBITDA of $40 million per year with full realization of synergies.

“During our recent Investor Day, we committed to our capital allocation framework,” said Olin President and CEO Ken Lane. “Like the White Flyer acquisition in 2023, this acquisition furthers our Winchester strategy to identify and secure small, bolt-on opportunities that are highly strategic and immediately accretive to Olin. By year three, we expect to have paid one and a half times adjusted EBITDA for these world-class assets.”

For more info: winchester.com

Aguila Celebrates 3rd Anniversary Of Plinko De Mayo

Aguila Ammunition announced the third anniversary of Plinko de Mayo, a unique holiday celebrating Mexican heritage and the joy of informal target shooting, also known as “plinking.” On May 5th, shooters of all skill levels are invited to join the festivities and experience the thrill of plinking in this fun-filled celebration.

Participants are encouraged to stock up on Aguila ammunition by visiting Aguila’s website or their local retailer. To enhance the celebration, custom Plinko de Mayo marketing assets are available on Aguila’s website, including targets, social media captions, hashtags and lifestyle images. Photos and videos can be shared on social media with the tag @aguilaammo.

For more info: aguilaammo.com

MidwayUSA Foundation & Old Glory Bank Announce Partnership

Old Glory Bank, the pro-America, online nationwide bank, has partnered with the MidwayUSA Foundation. Through this partnership, Old Glory Bank is reaffirming its unwavering support of the Second Amendment and its commitment to investing in the next generation of responsible, confident young Americans.

“We are strong supporters of our military, veterans and first responders, many of whom benefited from participation in youth shooting sports,” said Eric Ohlhausen, chief strategy officer at Old Glory Bank. “Partnering with MidwayUSA Foundation allows us to make a direct impact on thousands of young athletes who are learning the values of safety, respect and personal responsibility through shooting sports.”

The MidwayUSA Foundation helps communities and organizations raise funds to support over 2,800 youth shooting teams across the country. Its endowment model ensures long-term, sustainable funding for local teams, allowing more young Americans to gain access to competitions, training and the equipment needed to safely and successfully participate.

Customers and supporters can expect future collaborations between Old Glory Bank and MidwayUSA Foundation, including event sponsorship, community engagement and public awareness campaigns in support of youth shooting teams nationwide.

For more info: midwayusafoundation.org, oldglorybank.com

Bond Arms Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Texas-based company, Bond Arms, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Greg Bond, a longtime tool and die maker, founded the company in 1995 in Granbury, Texas. From there, the company has become a renowned manufacturer of modern derringer-style pistols.

Derringer-style pistols had the same design between the 1860s and the mid-1990s until Bond invented the “rebounding hammer,” added retractable firing pins, a trigger guard and introduced a cross-bolt safety. Incorporated in 1995 and licensed by the BATFE as a firearms manufacturer and dealer, Greg’s brother, Gordon Bond, purchased the company in 2007 and continues to be the company’s president today.

The company continued to grow in 2016 when it acquired the rights to the Boberg XR9-S bullpup semiautomatic pistol, redesigned it and marketed it as the Bond Arms BullPup 9. In 2019, Bond Arms introduced the Rough series. It was followed in 2020 by the introduction of the Stinger model, an aluminum-frame derringer available in .22 LR, 9mm, .380 ACP and .38 Special. In 2022 came the Stinger RS (Rough Series), which has a stainless steel frame and weighs 16 oz. It was followed by the Cyclops, a single-bore pistol chambered in .45-70 Gov’t. in 2023.

To celebrate its anniversary, Bond Arms will be releasing the long-awaited LVRB toward the end of the year.

For more info: bondarms.com

Shell Shock Technologies Signs Licensing Agreement With Phantom Defense

Shell Shock Technologies LLC (SST) announced a new licensing agreement with Phantom Defense under its recently launched License Program. Through this partnership, Phantom Defense will manufacture the 8.6 Blackout (8.6 BLK) cartridge utilizing SST’s revolutionary NAS3 two-piece case design.

Phantom Defense’s upgraded 8.6 BLK will be built using SST’s proprietary case architecture, offering significant performance improvements while ensuring manufacturing consistency. Utilizing SST’s custom-built assembly equipment and trusted U.S.-based vendor network, Phantom Defense can deliver ammunition that matches SST’s rigorous standards.

“Phantom Defense is the ideal partner to showcase how our case technology can take modern ammunition to new heights,” said Peter Foss, managing partner and CEO of Shell Shock Technologies. “Their 8.6 BLK line exemplifies how small design changes can result in massive ballistic gains. We are excited to see what comes next.”

Drawing on SST’s data from recent 7.62×51 testing, Phantom’s 8.6 BLK round is expected to achieve 50% case weight reduction (from 185 grains to 92.5 grains), lower chamber pressure (from 35,000 psi to approx. 33,125 psi for the same velocity) and enhanced accuracy and thermal efficiency for superior suppressed precision shooting.

For more info: shellshocktech.com

Texas A&M Wins SIG SAUER Title

SIG SAUER Inc. and the SIG SAUER Academy were honored to host the 2025 SIG Relentless Warrior Championship (SRWC) event. This year marked the largest SRWC in the event’s history, hosting 126 competitors. Cadets from the Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Royal Military College of Canada, University of North Georgia, Texas A&M, Merchant Marine Academy, Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VA Tech), West Point, The Citadel and Virginia Military Institute (VMI) competed at the SIG SAUER Academy in Epping, N.H. over two days of stiff competition. At the conclusion of the event, competitors were honored at an awards banquet featuring retired U.S. Army Lt. General John Deedrick.

The SIG Relentless Warrior Challenge consisted of six challenging stages, testing competitors’ skills in marksmanship, teamwork and leadership through mission-focused themes. After a hard-fought battle with the New England cold, wind, rain, snow and defending West Point champions, Texas A&M brought home the title of 2025 SIG Relentless Warrior Champion.

“On behalf of all the cadets and mid-shipmen who attended, I am very grateful to SIG SAUER for the time and effort committed to this event. I have coached 12 years of this match, and this was hands down the best organized and executed,” said Kevin Jimmerson, marksmanship instructor and coach, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Marksmanship Unit (CCMU).

“It is such an honor to host the SIG Relentless Warrior Championship each year and provide a competitive shooting landscape where these cadets can experience the skills, stress, camaraderie and teamwork to help develop future leaders of the military who will serve and protect our freedoms,” said Phil Strader, SIG VP of consumer affairs.

For more info: sigsauer.com

SAAMI Welcomes Derya

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute Inc. (SAAMI) announced that Derya has joined the organization as a Supporting Member. Derya is a manufacturer of firearms, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla.

“We are very pleased to have Derya join the SAAMI family,” said Joe Bartozzi, SAAMI president and CEO. “They are joining a long list of leading manufacturers who are at the forefront of promoting firearm safety by the creation of standards that ensure the safety, reliability and interchangeability of firearms and ammunition.”

As a new Supporting member, Derya will have full access to SAAMI firearms and ammunition technical standards, as well as SAAMI’s reference ammunition program assessments. This status also lets Derya’s customers know the company supports the work SAAMI does for the entirety of the industry and the safety of participants of the shooting sports.

For more info: saami.org

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