ICYMI: Industry News
From Sept. 22–26, 2025
NSSF Releases New “Partner With A Payer” Video
NSSF, in collaboration with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Hornady Manufacturing, has released a new video titled “Funding Conservation for Future Generations.” The piece captures a recent “Partner with a Payer” event hosted in Grand Island, Neb.
The event coincided with the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships and brought together state fish and wildlife agencies, conservation leaders and industry partners. Attendees toured Hornady’s manufacturing facility to see firsthand how federal excise taxes paid under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Act) support on-the-ground conservation efforts. These taxes — collected on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment — have generated more than $17.7 billion since 1937 (over $28 billion when adjusted for inflation) to fund habitat restoration, public shooting ranges, hunter education and wildlife research in all 50 states.
Jason Hornady, VP of Hornady Manufacturing, said, “Opening our doors to agency partners helps them understand the full cycle — from manufacturing to federal excise tax, to on-the-ground conservation. We’re proud to contribute to conservation through Pittman-Robertson.”
The 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships provided a meaningful backdrop, showcasing youth from across the country competing in shooting sports — a tradition made possible through the very funding discussed at the event. This alignment underscores how federal excise taxes don’t just support wildlife and habitat, but also nurture the next generation of responsible hunters, shooters and conservationists.
“That funding is very important,” said Scott Stuhr, National 4-H Shooting Sports Program Coordinator. “Those are the dollars that get to come back to the states to help develop ranges and to help develop these youth programs where we have these great opportunities to take those examples and all those funding mechanisms and help these youth get started.”
The “Partner with a Payer” initiative continues to strengthen the American System of Conservation Funding by fostering collaboration among manufacturers, state and federal agencies and conservation. The Grand Island event provided an invaluable opportunity for dialogue, learning and collaboration — all in support of protecting our nation’s wildlife and expanding opportunities for recreational shooting and hunting for generations to come.
This initiative is supported by the NSSF and produced in collaboration with Shine United LLC/Kingdom Filmworks.
For more info: nssf.org
Riton Optics Acquires Blackhound Optics
Riton Optics has acquired Blackhound Optics’ trademarks and inventory as part of its ongoing pursuit of market share in the optics space. Blackhound Optics, a direct-to-consumer optics brand, will continue to be available to consumers through its website while inventory lasts.
Riton Optics will assume the warranty responsibility for Blackhound products as part of the agreement.
“We look forward to welcoming Blackhound customers into the Riton family,” said Eric Wilson, director of sales for Riton. “We want the customer experience to be a seamless and smooth transition and offer peace of mind knowing that we will stand behind the product for years to come.”
“Whether it’s customers that already trust the Blackhound brand, or those new to the brand, we’re offering a great opportunity to acquire a great product at exceptional prices as we are making the remaining Blackhound product available at heavily discounted prices, while supplies last,” Wilson concluded.
Riton believes the acquisition further shows its commitment to growing market share in the optics space and reinforces the forward-facing stance of the company, as well as its commitment to its customers.
“It’s no secret the last couple of years have seen the shooting sports market soften, and recent tariff impacts and increased regulation around coin-battery-powered products have only added to the burden for many product categories,” said Trent Marsh, marketing director at Riton.
“That said, Riton is committed to moving forward, growth and to our customers. We believe the acquisition, and our commitment to stand behind those products while offering them at heavily discounted prices, reinforces that commitment,” Marsh added.
For more info: ritonoptics.com
RCBS Launches Dealer Locator
RCBS, the leading manufacturer of reloading equipment for hunters, competitive shooters and handloading enthusiasts, has launched a new Dealer Locator tool on RCBS.com. This addition makes it easier than ever for reloaders to quickly find authorized RCBS dealers in their area, ensuring access to the company’s full line of trusted reloading tools and accessories.
The Dealer Locator allows consumers to search by zip code or city, delivering an instant list of nearby stocking dealers along with store details and contact info. This new feature is part of RCBS’s continued investment in improving the customer experience as well as supporting the company’s growing dealer network.
“Our goal is to connect reloaders with the tools they trust faster and more conveniently than ever,” said Joel Hodgdon, RCBS marketing director. “The Dealer Locator gives shooters confidence knowing that the RCBS gear they need is available at local, authorized dealers ready to serve them.”
RCBS or Weaver Mounts dealers who would like to be added to the locator are encouraged to contact the company at sales@RCBS.com.
For more info: rcbs.com
Walk The Talk America Launches New “2A Mental Health Survey”
This Suicide Prevention Month, Walk the Talk America (WTTA), the nonprofit dedicated to reducing suicide and stigma related to firearms and mental health, invites all firearm owners to participate in its freshly launched 2A Mental Health Survey.
Open from Sept. 8 at 8 a.m. PDT through Sept. 30 at midnight PDT, the survey aims to gather deeper insights about mental health, access to care and the perspectives of gun owners on relevant policies.
WTTA has already published results from its prior surveys (the most recent from December 20, 2024, to January 31, 2025, and earlier in 2023). These studies revealed key data about mental health beliefs, access to care and legislative attitudes among gun owners. The new survey seeks to add depth and clarity to those insights.
Walk the Talk America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on reducing firearm suicide and mental health stigma. The organization gathers data, provides resources and fosters conversations aimed at bridging divides between the gun owning community, mental health professionals and policy makers.
For more info: walkthetalkamerica.org
Federal Helps Send Shooters To The NRA World Shooting Championship
Federal Ammunition is continuing its support of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP). Part of this support includes partnering with the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) to cover all NRA World Shooting Championship entry fees for the top six scorers from this year’s Top Gun Challenge.
This summer at the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation National Championship, SSSF hosted its annual Top Gun Challenge, where multi-discipline youth shooters squared off for prizes, prestige and a potential shot at something bigger. Now, six of those standout competitors are packing their bags for the 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship at Camp Atterbury, Ind., running September 30 to October 4, with all their expenses paid.
“The SCTP and SASP are great feeder programs for the future of USA Shooting,” said Jon Zinnel, Federal’s director of community relations. “We are proud to help pay the way for several of the Top Gun Challenge competitors to participate in the NRA World Shooting Championship. These outstanding athletes won High Over All (Top Gun) honors at the National SCTP and SASP events (the SSSF National Championships) last month and deserve the opportunity and recognition.”
The SSSF is a public charity responsible for all aspects of the SCTP and SASP nationwide. At the SSSF National Championships, athletes showcased their skills in a variety of disciplines, including Trap and Skeet, Iron Sight Pistol, 1911, Rifle and more. The winners’ combined performances across multiple shooting disciplines earned them a place among the best of the best. The NRA World Shooting Championship format will test that versatility even further.
“We cannot thank Federal Premium Ammunition enough for their support to give our athletes this great opportunity,” said Rick Leach, SSSF president and executive director. “We look forward to seeing what these young athletes can do at the NRA World Shooting Championship. They have already proven themselves at our own National Championship with some very impressive scores in many different shooting sports.”
For more info: federalpremium.com
