Team Remington's Todd Hitch won the Mississippi State Sporting Clay Championships Main Event at Providence Hill in Jackson, defeating teammate Brandon Powell by three targets. Powell captured two event titles including the Super Sport and True Pair events. The championship drew 354 competitors from April 29-May 3, 2026.

Sheaffer Stanfill of Team Remington shot a perfect 500x500 to win the 30th annual Krieghoff Masters Championship at Forest City Gun Club in Savannah, Georgia. Stanfill's teammates Alessandro Vitale, Connor Thigpen, and Clay Baldwin also earned podium finishes, with Team Remington sweeping the Men's Doubles competition.

Oliver Milanovic of Team Vihtavuori won the 18th Annual John Martin 500-Yard Prone Championship at Rio Salado Sportsman's Club in Mesa, Arizona, with an aggregate score of 597-30X using Vihtavuori N140 powder, Lapua Palma brass, and Berger Hybrid bullets.

Team Winchester and Team White Flyer achieved multiple top finishes at the 2026 World English Sporting Clays Championship in Clayton, MO, with five shooters competing on USA National Teams. Notable placements include Joe Fanizzi's 5-Stand Championship, Desi Edmunds' FITASC Lady Champion title, and Connor Daniel's FITASC Junior Champion victory.

The Second Amendment Foundation, California Rifle & Pistol Association, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Baird v. Bonta, urging the court to strike down California's ban on open carry of firearms.

Registration is now open for the 41st Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC), scheduled for September 25-27 in Dallas and co-hosted by the Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Confirmed speakers include Jared Yanis, Joseph Greenlee, Kenyon Gleason, Shermichael Singleton, Jeff Folloder, Chris Boeck, and Fernando Nava.

NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi will appear on Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew on Fox Business May 10 to discuss Project ChildSafe secure firearm storage and the Brave Conversations initiative, a partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mike Stock, President and CEO of Hodgdon Powder Company, has been appointed to the NSSF Board of Governors. Stock brings over two decades of firearm industry leadership, including previous roles at Winchester Ammunition and service on the SAAMI Board of Directors.

Southwick Associates released its April 2026 Hunting & Shooting Market Pulse, revealing that hunters and shooters are cutting discretionary spending due to economic concerns but increasing ammunition supplies and planning to spend tax refunds on hunting and shooting products. The quarterly subscription service provides market analysis and industry trends to executives and investors.

VKTR Industries has acquired U.S. Patent No. 7,735,410 for the Combat Match Bolt from inventor Robert Clark. The company plans to bring the product to market in 2026, leveraging enhanced durability characteristics and improved reliability compared to standard bolt designs.

Tisas Arms USA, the world's largest producer of 1911-type pistols, established customer service operations in Buford, Georgia. VP Operations Tim Mulverhill and CEO Erdal Kaya emphasized the company's commitment to its limited lifetime warranty and world-class customer support for all Tisas-manufactured pistols.

Target Sports USA has appointed Steven Blinn as Chief Marketing Officer. Blinn brings over 20 years of digital marketing and ecommerce experience, and was recently named a 2026 Top 100 Marketer by the OnCon Icon Awards. He will oversee marketing operations across ecommerce, digital growth, brand development, and emerging AI initiatives.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is hiring a Field Representative to cover Idaho, Utah, and Washington, managing Friends of NRA fundraising events, volunteer committees, and grant promotions across the three-state region.

The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports and IHEA-USA released PUP AI, an interactive chat tool designed to help users access information from the National R3 Clearinghouse. The tool makes recruitment, retention, and reactivation research more accessible to agencies, organizations, and professionals working to strengthen hunting and shooting sports participation.

Henry Repeating Arms introduced the H23 Lever Action Supreme Rifle in .450 Bushmaster, expanding its Guns & Ammo Rifle of the Year-winning platform for big-game hunting in straight-wall cartridge states including Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. The rifle features an 18" threaded barrel, match-grade trigger, and DuraMag 10-round magazine at $1,360 MSRP.

Arsenal Inc., a premier American importer and manufacturer of semi-automatic Kalashnikov pattern firearms, is commemorating the United States' 250th anniversary with special $500 savings on four popular models through K-VAR, with only 250 units available at each commemorative price point.

Safariland and Haley Strategic Partners unveiled the Incog XS, a minimalist inside-the-waistband holster designed for subcompact and micro-compact platforms. The new holster features microfiber suede-wrapped construction, passive retention, and adaptable carry positions for everyday concealed carry users.

Auto-Ordnance unveiled a commemorative 1911 pistol celebrating America's 250th anniversary, featuring matte gray finish with copper-colored infill, patriotic inscriptions, custom-engraved wood grips depicting the Liberty Bell and bald eagle, TruGlo® Combat Day Sights, and .45 ACP chambering at $1,494 MSRP.

Winchester Ammunition introduces AutoBuck™, a new 12-gauge buckshot shotshell engineered for semi-automatic shotguns. Featuring #1 buckshot with 12 pellets, the load is designed for hunting, defense, and target shooting with reliable functioning across multiple shotgun types.

Kinetic Development Group's Kinect Series offers shooters a tool-free, spring-loaded locking mechanism for M-LOK equipped rifles. The patented system joins KDG's SideLok and BOM Series as practical solutions for modern rifle configuration and accessory mounting.

Auto-Ordnance introduced the Lightweight M1 Thompson, a modern evolution of the classic .45 ACP firearm featuring a high-strength aluminum receiver and polymer furniture that reduces weight by approximately 34.8% compared to traditional models, with an MSRP of $1,246.

20North Marketing has signed on as Platinum Sponsor for the 2026 NSSF Marketing & Leadership Summit, taking place May 12–14 in Hilton Head. The digital marketing agency will support industry discussions on AI-driven search, leadership, consumer behavior, and digital marketing strategies.

Beretta serves as title sponsor of the 2026 NSCA Northeast Regional Championship at M&M Hunting Preserve in Pennsville, NJ, May 12-17, showcasing competition shotguns including the 694 Black DLC, DT11 Super Sport, SL2, AX800 Suprema, and A400 L Sporting. Team Beretta athletes Connor Daniel, Desi Edmunds, Dominic Grossi, Zach Kienbaum, Diane Sorantino, and Jared Greenwood will compete.

Beretta and premium dealer Gray Rose announced their Silver Star sponsorship of Concert for the Heroes 2026, taking place May 8–9 in Bluffton, SC. The event features a private sporting clays range day and headline concert with Lee Brice to support veterans and first responders through OPFOB's mission.

CZ announced the addition of Brennah Gaston to its professional shooting team. Gaston, a rising star in practical shooting, earned a gold medal with Team USA at the 2025 IPSC Handgun World Shoot and is the reigning Ladies Open National Champion. She will compete in major USPSA and IPSC matches throughout 2026 using CZ firearms.

World Fishing Network launches "Reel World Sundays" programming block featuring fishing adventures in Africa with shows like Hooked on Africa, Reel Africa, and Wildfly, plus culinary programs The Fishmonger with Tommy Gomes and Wild Fish Masterclass with Mike Robinson, starting at 6 p.m. ET every Sunday in May.

GAME & FISH TV launches "All In The Family" Friday night programming featuring the 13th season of McMillan, following Kansas cowboy Tom McMillan and his family, plus the docuseries Kid Rodeo about young rodeo competitors pursuing the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas.

Up to 150 pro anglers compete in the 2026 Major League Fishing Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 on Douglas Lake in Tennessee, with a top prize of $135,000. The three-day tournament streams live on MLFNOW! via MyOutdoorTV, MajorLeagueFishing.com, and Rumble, hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN.

Recently, I was invited to attend a Safariland X Haley Strategic Partners event to launch their new INCOG XS holster. It was a small group, and each person was far more accomplished than I was. The event was an abbreviated HSP pistol class focused on concealed carry and it was awesome.

Travis Haley and head instructor Jered Segraves follow a unique teaching methodology. Instead of the typical military or LE-style instruction, HSP uses what I can best describe as a sports-science approach. It focuses on biomechanics and the psychology of it all. HSP describes their training style as an integration of the disciplines of human learning, biomechanics, and neuroscience to explore how the body, brain, and weapon system function together under pressure.

As a concerned citizen, I can’t think of a better approach. We aren’t professionals, but we’re people willing to protect and serve at a moment’s notice. But about the class and teaching philosophy of HSP in a future article.

What about the INCOG XS?

The Safariland INCOG XS, developed in collaboration with Haley Strategic Partners, is a purpose-driven solution for deep concealment. It offers a refined balance of concealability, adaptability, and performance for subcompact and compact carry pistols.

The holster has a streamlined profile that minimizes bulk while maintaining control and draw consistency. Compared to the standard two-clip INCOG X holster, the XS is quite a bit smaller. I have an INCOG X, and it’s a bit bigger than what I’d like for everyday carry. I’m not a huge person, so I like the XS’s smaller size. During the class, we were using Gen 6 GLOCK 19s and I had no issues with concealment or drawing the gun.

At the holster’s core is a versatile single-clip system built around the LinXS Attachment System, offering adjustable ride height and cant. A flat clip supports strong-side carry, while an offset clip supports appendix carry and includes tool-free concealment shims to help reduce printing (think of it as a 2-in-1 holster).

The INCOG XS also incorporates a dual-retention system, allowing users to fine-tune the balance between security and accessibility. It accommodates modern pistol configurations, including red dot sights, suppressor-height sights up to 13/32”, and muzzle devices such as threaded barrels and compensators, all within slide dimensions. The holster is compatible with belts up to 1.75 inches.

Currently, the holster is available for GLOCK 17/19 and for SIG SAUER P365 MACRO/FUSE pistols. Users have the option of left- or right-handed models. The price is $102.50, which puts it in line with other custom holster options on the market.

Putting it to Good Use

I’ve already hinted at this, but I like this holster a lot. Again, I’m not as high on the INCOG X, not because there’s anything wrong with it, but because it doesn’t meet my needs. It’s larger than I prefer. Again, I’m about average height and weight for a US male. I prefer a simpler holster design and don’t want it taking up a lot of real estate on my belt line. It’s almost like the INCOG XS was designed for me.

A few things I really like:

• The microfiber suede wrapped Boltaron material is super comfortable against your skin. The more comfortable a holster is, the more likely you are to carry it and it definitely passes the sweat test.
• The Clip Sturt, which is what others might call a wedge or a wing. Unlike other makers, you can configure the thickness of the strut with included shims (1/8”, 1/4”, and 3/8”).
• It’s red dot sight compatible, open-ended for threaded barrels or compensators, and has a larger channel for suppressor-height sights. That should be common practice by now, but you’ll be surprised by the number of holsters out there that don’t support these now very common features.

Zooming Out

I don’t have all my thoughts on the holster yet. Again, my carry time has mostly been during the class and a short time at home so far. I need to work more closely with this holster to provide a better analysis. I will say, I can’t wait for the other fits to start rolling out (and for some of the other surprises they have in store for this holster series). Stay tuned for more.

– Cory Ross, Shooting News Weekly