FRI | JULY 18, 2025

ScentLok has been a leader in propelling the progressive field pant category, now adding another feather to their cap with the new Insyte and Insyte Lite field pants. Thinking fabric-first, for the Insyte Pant, ScentLok selected an exquisite single-layer, 4-way stretch material constructed of a 247g woven polyester with water repellent treatment.
ScentLok’s Savanna series has been an early season mainstay for over a decade. And now, the czar of technological hunting gear introduces the further enhanced Savanna Fuse collection, including the all-new Coverall.
Federal Ammunition was recently honored with the 2025 4-H Shooting Sports Pioneer Award, which recognizes individuals or companies that have made significant contributions to the 4-H Shooting Sports program at a national level.

Scopos announces the opening of registration for the 2025 National Air Rifle League. The League intends to create an exciting competition format, allowing youth air rifle teams from throughout the country to compete virtually in an exciting, spectator-friendly league.
Team Lapua’s Erich Mietenkorte claimed the top honors at the 2025 Canadian High Power Rifle Silhouette National Championships, winning the 240-shot aggregate with a combined score of 195/240.
Sierra Bullets congratulates sponsored shooters Jason Chancy, Leon Weatherby and Levi Wilson on their performances in various competitions this past weekend. With each competition presenting its unique set of obstacles, all three athletes showcased remarkable skill and precision.

Gun Owners of America announces that multi-platinum country music band LANCO will be headlining the Saturday night concert at the Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit (GOALS) on August 9th.
The Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) planning committee is pleased to announce additional confirmed speakers for this year’s 40th annual event. Co-hosted by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), GRPC is scheduled for Sept. 26 - 28 in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek.
Thompson/Center Arms announces its attendance at the 2025 Chattanooga Shooting Supplies Dealer Show, July 28th & 29th at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Tennessee. Join us in Booth #306 at the Chattanooga Shooting Supplies Dealer Show.

Leica Sport Optics USA announces renowned hunters, conservationists, and storytellers Adam and Frankie Foss as official brand ambassadors. This partnership represents a return to familiar ground, as Adam previously collaborated with Leica on film, photography, and conservation storytelling.
Time is running out on one of the summer’s most compelling firearms auctions. Collector’s Elite Auctions closes its July collection this Sunday evening, July 20, and every item will sell with no reserve. Now is the time to place final bids on a curated lineup that spans global conflicts, African safaris, Cold War ingenuity and Colt’s golden age.
D&M Holding Company, Inc. (D&M) and the Ukrainian Defense Industry Joint Stock Company (JSC) are partnering to produce specialty chemicals in the United States to address the critical shortage of propellant used in the production of ammunition for the Ukrainian defense forces.
In response to the devastating flooding that recently impacted Kerr County, Texas, and surrounding areas, Winchester Safes is pledging 100% of its profits from online sales through the end of July to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and invites others to join in the support.
SIGHTRON announces they have partnered with competitive shooter, and communicator, Serena Juchnowski. Juchnowski will be using SIGHTRON riflescopes for her competition shooting and hunting.
With ballistic gel, dry wall, and an uncompromising interest in the practical side of ballistics, Mark and Ryan – co-hosts of the Vortex Nation™ Podcast – are at it again. Join the guys on the range as they put the big three (AR, pistol, and shotgun) under the microscope to help you make the right choice for protecting your home and family.

Winchester Ammunition launches Last Call™ Double Shot™, the latest addition to their premium waterfowl shotshell line. Last Call Double Shot pairs high density Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) with plated precision steel shot to deliver an ultra high-perfromance waterfowl load.
Redding Reloading Equipment introduces dies and die sets for the 22 GT & 6MM GT and 25 GT. Redding dies and die sets provide the needed capability to produce high quality loadings for all requirements in preparation for that “once in a lifetime moment.”
SUPPLE introduces its Premium Glucosamine & Chondroitin and Boswellia products to our military, veteran, first responder, and K9 working dog communities through its Supple Squad Initiative.

The Hornady® Lock-N-Load® AP™ makes it easier than ever for shooters to spend less time at the bench and more time at the range or in the field. Built with advanced ergonomics and reloading efficiencies, Hornady continues to lead the way in reloading technology, accuracy, and dependability.
Remington Ammunition announces the availability of its all-new Premier AccuTip MZ, bringing the accuracy and on-game performance of Premier AccuTip ammunition into the world of muzzleloading. These new bullets are now available on the Remington website and at authorized Remington retailers across the country.
Federal Ammunition launched 7mm Backcountry earlier this year, and retailers are stocking shelves with this revolutionary technology. Federal Premium® Elite Hunter 195-grain 7mm Backcountry loads are currently being delivered to retailers nationwide.

SK Ammunition announces its renewed support of The Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) National Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match. This partnership marks a significant moment for the prestigious competition, now in its 23rd year.
Officials in a third New Jersey municipality have passed a resolution to return their portion of the state’s $200 fee for a carry permit, scoring another victory for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and its partners in an effort to partially refund the exorbitant fees to gun owners.
The Headrest Safe Company is proud to announce its Headrest Safe will be featured in the Surviving Mann television series airing on Monday, July 21, 2025, on the Pursuit Channel.
 

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

I blame Mark Keefe. Yeah, that Mark Keefe, the one who’s the Editorial Director for NRA Publications. He knows everybody in the industry and is respected by everybody in the industry.

When I first met him it was about 25 years ago when he had a lower position within NRA Publications and only knew half the industry…who, of course, all respected him.

Back then I was pretty sure I knew everything, and I had some astute observations on muzzleloading that I shared with Mark, most of which were about muzzleloading being the most boring form of shooting known to man. And probably something about paint drying being more interesting.

I was an expert, you see.

Well, and this comes as shock as much to me as it does to you, apparently I do not know everything, particularly on the subject of muzzleloading.

My opinion on shooting a smokepole turned a full 180-degrees during a conversation with Mark while visiting NRA HQ. At the time I was working for the late Chip Rosse at his ad agency, and we were visiting to tour and meet face-to-face with our editorial contacts.

During lunch I gifted Mark with my sage insights and disdain for the slow, plodding, time suck of muzzleloading.

Without missing a beat, and more importantly without calling me stupid, Mark explained how I was looking at muzzleloading from entirely the wrong perspective. He shared how in college, with a single $20 bill, he could spend the better part of a day on the range shooting a muzzleloader.

He went on to outline how shooting slow forces you to focus more on the process, on your mechanics, and thus better understand the art of shooting. And improve your overall shooting skills.

By comparison, that same $20 would disappear in just a matter of moments when shooting a semi-auto pistol, thanks to that Ricky Bobby urge to go fast.

In that exact moment I went from looking down on muzzleloading to appreciating what it had to offer the shooter and the shooting sports. Mark made one of the best, most logical arguments for muzzleloading outside of hunting the early season that I have ever heard.

From that point on I’ve always thought of muzzleloading as an important shooting activity. Sure, it’s slow compared to other shooting activities but in its slowness comes many benefits, not the least of which is enjoying your time on the range.

The funniest thing is that I actually owned a muzzleloader, a Remington 700ML. It was on clearance at the Gander Mountain where I was working at the time, so I grabbed it.

I even shot it a few times, then promptly lost the nipple, which took me out of commission. That and the fact I didn’t have a range nearby where I could shoot.

But while my muzzleloader remained bagged up and set aside, my interest in this particular segment of the shooting industry never went away. And Mark’s take on the sport always stuck with me, despite me not being an active participant.

That non-active participant thing is about to change.

A couple months ago Burris reached out to outdoor and shooting writers and was giving media types one of their Fullfield line of riflescopes. There are six models in the line with some models having up to three reticle options. They range in MSRP from $192 up to $600. And I was being offered one.

At first, I didn’t see the need to waste Burris’ time or riflescope since I didn’t have any immediate need—or use—for a Fullfield scope. Then I remembered that conversation with Mark, and suddenly, if I could get a new modern muzzleloader, some bullets, powder and primers, not to mention all those accessories one needs for muzzleloading, I could do a feature or two on why shooting a muzzleloader is a lot more fun than you might think.

My plan was also to take all the credit for this reevaluation and advocacy for black powder rifles. I’d outline why they shouldn’t be just a passing thought, or an early hunting season purchase, but a primary addition to any shooter’s collection, and do so while never mentioning Mark Keefe’s 25-years-old wisdom.

Obviously I’m not the best at following plans, especially plans that resemble those of criminal masterminds from some animated Pixar movie.

So, here I am, heeding Mark’s advice, taking his words to heart, and embracing the muzzleloader, not just as a throwback to the old, old days of Redcoats, mountain men, and the U.S. Civil War, but as a firearm of today taking its rightful place within the modern shooting sports.

More to come…

— Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network

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