A Girl & A Gun Celebrates 10th Anniversary

A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League (AG & AG), the industry’s first, large-scale, chapter-based women’s organization, marked its 10th year in the firearms community on Feb. 28 — the date of the league’s first Girl’s Night Out at the Range event.

The organization currently hosts those semiweekly training events at 224 ranges throughout the U.S. Since 2011, AG & AG has introduced thousands of women and families to the safe and proficient use and storage of firearms.

“Our growth in the past 10 years is because we’ve provided the opportunities for women to find friendships and learn vital life skills,” said Julianna Crowder, AG & AG founder. “A Girl & A Gun thrives because we continue to have the highest standards of safety and quality leadership. We will accept a marksman where she is in her journey, and help her reach her goals. And we will always support our ranges and retailers so that our industry is strong.”

“Our growth in the past 10 years is because we’ve provided the opportunities for women to find friendships and learn vital life skills.”

Julianna Crowder, founder A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League

Last year the league hosted more than 19,000 women at 1,881 training events. Its innovative Shooting Journal has sold more than 1,200 printed copies and 5,000 digital copies. The league currently boasts more than 6,500 card-carrying members throughout all 50 states, in addition to the thousands of guests attending its training and competitive events.

“It’s rewarding to be a part of an organization that always goes above and beyond to serve its members and to make sure they’re successful,” said Robyn Sandoval, AG & AG executive director.

In addition to its popular Virtual Girl’s Nights Out, AG & AG hosted its ninth National Conference presented by GLOCK in April at Cameo Shooting and Education Complex near Grand Junction, Colo. More than 440 members received at least three days of training in live-fire, self-defense, competition, archery and more from 70 of the nation’s most respected firearms educators.

“In this industry, you never stop learning and improving. When it comes to in-person events, virtual training events and self-paced training programs, A Girl & A Gun has it down to a science,” Sandoval added.

AG & AG introduces women and girls to self-defense and the shooting sports (pistol, rifle and shotgun) by welcoming beginners to learn the basics of safe and accurate shooting, while providing experienced shooters with advanced-level opportunities. / agirlandagun.org

Firearm Industry “Safe Harbor” Payment Processing Now Available

Classic Pay Direct announced it is assisting firearms manufacturers, retailers and consumers by providing a safe, reliable option for processing transactions in the firearms and outdoor space.

The move comes in the wake of increasing legislative and banking institutional attempts to curtail the free-commerce rights of American merchants and consumers in the firearms industry.

From countertop and mobile terminal options to virtual and point-of-sale integration systems, Classic Pay Direct offers safe, secure and private transaction options for businesses of all sizes. With no middlemen in the Classic Pay Direct process, merchant costs remain low so businesses can maintain profitable margins with competitive pricing for their customers. / classicpaydirect.com

EOTECH Rebrands, Updates Website

EOTECH, a leader in holographic optics, has launched a new, interactive website to align with the company’s direction in 2021.

The website reflects a rebranding effort for EOTECH symbolizing the company’s new leadership, and provides a more user-centric and responsive resource for visitors across all platforms and devices.

EOTECH’s improved corporate structure under American Holoptics LLC, which acquired the company last August, has led to an increased focus on the customer. The website now gives customers real-time notifications, financing options and a future membership opportunity.

“Our goal is to transform all who access our website into well-educated, fully informed visitors. We’re confident our website is structured to address new features, functions and upgrades that will support this goal and help cement our position as an industry leader,” said Jake Fambrough, EOTECH’s director of digital marketing.

EOTECH’s corporate website also includes an improved dealer locator tool, a self-service troubleshooting help center and improved product photography with 360-degree views and macro shots to better highlight features and functions. / eotechinc.com

Silencer Central Announces New Headquarters

Silencer Central, America’s largest silencer dealer, is proud to announce the acquisition of a new building for its South Dakota-based headquarters. The company has purchased a 35,000-sq. ft. building on 11.5 acres in Sioux Falls, and is centralizing multiple operations there.

“Our growing business model has simplified the silencer purchase process across the country propelling our operations into high gear,” said Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central. “The increase in demand has allowed for steady growth. We originally planned to build our own facility, but we found a unique opportunity we couldn’t pass up. We’re thrilled Silencer Central was able to take ownership of an unoccupied building right here in Sioux Falls.”

Silencer Central currently has more than 125 employees across the country and plans to add more than 100 employees based in Sioux Falls before the end of the year.

The new state-of-the-art facility will combine the company’s Sioux Falls and Harrisburg operations, and will house corporate headquarters, sales, operations, CNC barrel threading and warehousing.

Silencer Central now delivers silencers directly to customers in the 42 states where silencers are legal./ silencercentral.com

CEX Ventures Acquires Armordillo Concealment

CEX Ventures (CEXV), a tactical and outdoor recreation company, announced its acquisition of Armordillo Concealment, a specialized conceal-carry holster manufacturer based in New Port Richey, Fla.

Armordillo Concealment was established in 2010 to meet the needs of gun owners who use weapon-mounted lights on their pistols. Over the next few years, the company patented the design for its universal, light-specific holster. Today the company manufactures an assortment of tactical gear, some of which is targeted toward paramedics and first responders.

“The Armordillo Concealment brand is recognized by firearm enthusiasts as one of the leaders in weapon-mounted lights accessories. By integrating onto our platform, we see a clear path to accelerated growth,” said Eun Cho, CEXV managing partner.

Businesses are integrated into the CEXV platform via its partner company, Concealment Express. Those companies can then access the distribution, marketing, administrative and manufacturing infrastructure of CEXV. / armordilloconcealment.com / concealmentexpress.com

Zanders’ Impala Plus Line Nets Impressive First-Year Sales

Zanders Sporting Goods, national distributor of firearms, shooting accessories and hunting products, has recorded impressive year-one sales of its exclusive line of Impala Plus shotguns following its early 2020 launch.

Impala Plus shotguns, produced by Turkish-based corporation Istanbul Silah, feature TRUGLO fiber-optic sights, additional comb riser for synthetic models (removable upon request), rotary locking six-lug bolt, high-pressure tested six-lug design barrel with chrome-coated outside and a turn-and-remove bolt handle.

“The dealer feedback we have received has been extremely positive. Zanders Impala shotguns come in multiple color variations, finishes, barrel lengths and more. Our customers love the quality and wide selection of Impala Plus shotguns Zanders offers, at a price point that is very competitive in the marketplace,” said Stefanie Zanders, president and COO of Zanders Sporting Goods.

“Zanders Sporting Goods is a leading distributor in the firearms sector because they have been in the business for generations. Through this partnership, Zanders will gain an even deeper understanding of the manufacturing process, from design to end-user experience. We fully expect the partnership between Istanbul Silah and Zanders will make a long-term impact on the small-arms sector in United States,” said Erol Kurt, owner of Istanbul Silah.

Sparta, Ill.-based Zanders has been serving U.S. firearms dealers for well over 50 years. Today, the company has more than 40,000 products that now include archery, archery accessories and camping products in its new, streamlined warehouse. / gzanders.com

Winchester Adds Ladies Cup Sporting Clays Competition

Winchester Ammunition has launched the Winchester Ladies Cup season-long sporting clays competition, designed specifically for women who shoot on the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) Championship Tour Powered by Winchester.

“A lot of thinking went into the Winchester Ladies Cup, and it started by looking at the current payout structure between the top men shooters and the top women shooters. There was a big difference in their earnings, with the payout to the female winners being significantly lower,” said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester Ammunition. “The Winchester Ladies Cup is an opportunity to add tremendous value to the many female sporting clays shooters across the country — a group of competitors who continue to grow each year and compete at a high level.”

The Winchester Ladies Cup series will span the seven NSCA Championship Tour regional events. An added $5,000 in payout will be divided among the top three all-around female competitors at each event, based on the highest cumulative scores in the Five-Stand, Main Event and FITASC Event. The all-around champion will receive an additional $2,500, while the runner-up will receive $1,500 more. The all-around third-place shooter will receive an extra $1,000.

At the end of the season, the Winchester Ladies Cup trophy and $10,000 will be distributed among the three female shooters with the highest cumulative placements for the season. The Ladies Cup trophy and $5,000 will be awarded to the Ladies Cup champion. The runner-up will receive $3,000 and the third-place competitor will receive $2,000. Season standings will continuously be updated on the NSSA-NSCA website. / winchester.com / nssa-nsca.org

SAAMI Accepts Three Cartridges

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute Inc. (SAAMI) announced the acceptance of new rifle and pistol cartridges for SAAMI standardization.

Developed by Ruag Ammotec USA, the .300 Norma Magnum was introduced with a Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) of 61,000 psi, with a 230-grain bullet traveling at a velocity of 2,890 fps.

Also developed by Ruag Ammotec USA, the .338 Norma Magnum was introduced with a MAP of 62,500 psi, with a 300-grain bullet traveling at a velocity of 2,670 fps.

The Kahr Arms-designed .429 Desert Eagle was introduced with a MAP of 46,000 psi, with a 240-grain bullet traveling at a velocity of 1,720 fps.

Further information on these new cartridges is available at saami.org/technical-information/new-cartridge-chamber-drawings. / saami.org

NWTF Rebrands: New Logo, Tagline

The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) announced a new brand that aims to attract a younger audience.

The revamped NWTF branding includes a new logo and a new tag line, “Healthy Habitats. Healthy Harvests.” Both were rigorously tested and found to appeal to individuals 45 and younger, a prime demographic necessary to the future success of the organization.

“Recent surveys and data reflect more Americans than ever are actively interested in living a healthy, outdoor lifestyle, harvesting their own food and understanding their own role in conservation. We are poised to welcome return members and newcomers alike to the NWTF family flock,” said NWTF CEO Becky Humphries.

The NWTF partnered in its rebranding effort with The Truth, a multi-faceted specialty branding and marketing agency well-versed in the outdoor industry.

When the NWTF was founded in 1973, about 1.3 million wild turkeys populated North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million. The NWTF stood behind both science-based conservation and hunters’ rights to achieve this success.

Through its “Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.” initiative, the NWTF and its volunteers are seeking to conserve or enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat. Additionally, the organization aims to recruit at least 1.5 million hunters, and open access to half a million acres for hunting. / nwtf.org

NATO Standardizes FN 5.7X28mm Round

FN America announced NATO has finalized the standardization process of the FN-designed 5.7x28mm-caliber round under Standardization Agreement 4509.

As a NATO-standardized caliber, the 5.7x28mm provides all NATO forces with the guarantee of interchangeability between ammunition from different manufacturers, and operational efficiency in weapons of this caliber.

The 5.7x28mm round was designed in the late 1980s for use with the FN P90 carbine and FN Five-seveN pistol. With almost three decades of trusted use, the FN 5.7x28mm continues to leverage its groundbreaking design to improve range, accuracy and terminal performance from small arms.

The 5.7x28mm caliber is now integrated into the Multi-Caliber Manual Of Proof and Inspection (AEP-97). The standardized NATO small-caliber ammunition portfolio also includes the 9x19mm NATO, the 5.56x45mm NATO, the 7.62x51mm NATO and the 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 caliber).

The 5.7x28mm is the third FN caliber to be standardized by NATO, preceded by the 5.56x45mm (1957) and 7.62x51mm (1981). / fnamerica.com

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