ICYMI: Industry News
From Jan. 6–10, 2025
Texas Gun Club-Stafford Earns NSSF Five-Star Range Rating
NSSF awarded the Texas Gun Club in Stafford its coveted Five-Star rating for range excellence. Five stars is the highest rating in NSSF’s star-rating system, which evaluates shooting facilities based on appearance, management and shooting sports development and amenities. Texas Gun Club has locations in League City and Stafford, and the Stafford facility located southwest of Houston is the recipient of the Five-Star rating.
Texas Gun Club is all about community. The partners of Texas Gun Club value being good neighbors, growing the shooting sports and promoting responsible gun ownership coupled with providing exceptional customer service. Fun, friendly and safe is the range’s motto.
“You can tell from the moment you walk in that Texas Gun Club-Stafford puts the attention on the customer, whether they’re experienced or new to shooting,” said Zach Snow, NSSF director, member development. “Texas Gun Club has a lot to offer its customers, from training to retail shopping to memberships that suit all needs. Texas Gun Club-Stafford is deserving of NSSF’s Five-Star rating.”
“NSSF’s Five-Star Rating is the recognition that every range seeks, and we’re proud to receive this recognition. We’re dedicated to making our customers feel welcome, supported and leaving having had a great experience every time they come to Texas Gun Club,” said Craig Davis, Texas Gun Club VP and COO.
For more info: nssf.org, texasgunclub.com
Crow Shooting Supply Rebrands, Launches New Website
Crow Shooting Supply has officially rebranded to Crow Wholesale, marking a significant milestone in its 41-year history. This transformation reflects the company’s continued growth and commitment to delivering exceptional value and service to its customers.
Alongside this rebrand, Crow Wholesale has launched a new website designed to provide a seamless and efficient shopping experience tailored to the needs of its partners.
According to Shawn McGuire, VP of sales, “This isn’t just a new name — it’s a new era for us. We’ve listened to customer feedback and built a modern online platform to make running their businesses simpler and more efficient.”
The new website offers several improved features, including a mobile-friendly design ensuring a seamless shopping experience on any device.
Customers can log in today to explore the new website and its upgraded features. For additional support, dedicated sales representatives are available to assist with any questions.
For more info: crowwholesale.com
Otis Technology Celebrates 40 Years
This year, Otis Technology celebrates 40 years in business and an ongoing commitment to rethink and redefine gun care, giving gun owners better and smarter ways to keep their most cherished firearms in the best condition possible.
Otis Technology’s origins began in 1985 when founder Doreen Williams tripped and fell in the mud while whitetail deer hunting with her father. With the barrel of her grandfather’s Model 94 Winchester full of mud, the day’s hunt was over for the 16-year-old. From that fateful day came an idea with a dream and the tenacity to see it through to success. Doreen, along with her parents and three siblings, endeavored to create a smarter solution to a problem every hunter, soldier, shooting enthusiast and firearm owner has encountered. The Williams family set out with a vision to innovate gun care and drove them to create quality products that serve the men and women who depend on their firearms to feed their families and protect their country.
The company pioneered the breech-to-muzzle cable cleaning concept, allowing firearm owners to clean properly from the breech end of the firearm without disassembling their firearm.
“A lot of hard work and dedication over the last 40 years can be attributed to reaching this milestone,” said Bill Kleftis, CEO of Otis Technology. “What started as the Williams family at the kitchen table has grown into a workforce of 100+ dedicated employees. We couldn’t do what we do without our employees, our customers and our relationships with our community and in this industry. We look forward to another 40 years in business.”
For more info: otistec.com
Rigby & Co. Celebrates 250 Years Of British Gunmaking
John Rigby & Co., Britain’s oldest gunmaker, is celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2025. The iconic company will mark this notable milestone with a series of special events and the launch of exclusive, special-edition rifles.
Rigby will host exclusive celebrations aboard HMS Victory and HMS Warrior at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, England, in May. These renowned British vessels will provide a fitting backdrop, as HMS Victory was ordered in 1758, the same year company founder John Rigby was born, along with British naval hero, Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson.
HMS Victory will be transformed into a Rigby workshop, allowing guests to experience the craftsmanship that has defined Rigby for centuries.
HMS Warrior, launched in 1860, embodies the advancements of the Victorian era and mirrors Rigby’s own history of pioneering design and innovation.
The celebrations will feature speeches detailing Rigby’s storied past, live demonstrations by master craftsmen and exclusive tours of HMS Victory’s gun deck. Guests will enjoy a gala dinner on HMS Warrior’s upper gun deck, with notable speakers including the Earl of Yarmouth, who shares a familial connection to Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson.
Rigby will unveil commemorative London Best rifles incorporating wood from HMS Victory, linking the two British icons. Additionally, Rigby will release 250 limited editions of its award-winning Big Game and Highland Stalker rifles, each specially engraved to celebrate this significant moment in Rigby’s heritage.
“As we celebrate Rigby’s 250th anniversary, we’re not just honoring our past, but fueling the spirit of adventure for generations to come. Here’s to the next 250 years of Rigby. May they be filled with as many thrilling adventures and remarkable stories as the last,” said Marc Newton, managing director of Rigby.
Founded in Dublin in 1775, Rigby opened its first London shop in 1865. The company operated out of both offices until closing its Dublin shop in 1897. The historic company is known for its Rising Bite bolt action, double rifles and shotguns, its fully bespoke London Bests and its award-winning Big Game bolt-action rifles, among others.
For more info: johnrigbyandco.com
Shell Shock Technologies Introduces Refer-A-Friend Program
Shell Shock Technologies LLC (SST), an innovator in advanced ammunition and ammunition case technology, design and manufacturing, launched a customer referral program. The Shell Tech Refer-A-Friend Program allows customers to invite friends to purchase any Shell Tech pistol or rifle ammunition, or casings, and unlock $10 discounts for themselves and each referred customer.
How the Shell Tech Refer-A-Friend program works:
1. Invite friends using a unique referral link.
2. When the referred friend makes their first purchase of $50 or more, both individuals receive $10 in discounts. (Shell Tech Refer-A-Friend Program Terms and Regulations require all participants to be of legal age and agree to all local, state and federal regulations, including adherence to anti-spam and anti-fraud regulations. Minimum order of Referred Customer is $50, exclusive of taxes, shipping, discounts and other fees. Rewards are issued in $10 increments, capped at 100 referrals per calendar year.)
For more info: shellshocktechnologies.com
Speer Ammunition Awarded Contract With Top Nordic Police Agencies
Speer Ammunition was awarded the joint Nordic Police 9mm duty handgun ammunition contract for Speer 124-grain Gold Dot. The duty handgun contract will supply these agencies for up to seven years and includes police agencies in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland.
VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales David Leis said, “This contract validates the high trust that international law enforcement agencies have with our extremely reliable and innovative product. Regarding dependability and terminal ballistics, Speer is the gold standard, and we are proud to continue to supply them with exceptional ammunition.”
The selected duty rounds utilize Speer Gold Dot technology. The bullet features a pressure-formed lead core that is bonded to an extremely uniform jacket, a single atom at a time that virtually eliminates separation on impact for more retained weight and consistent penetration depths. The Gold Dot hollowpoint design expands consistently through a full range of barriers. Reliable ignition and cycling are delivered thanks to sealed primers and nickel-plated brass.
For more info: speer.com
