FRI | MAY 16, 2025

The Daisy Nationals is the most-prestigious airgun match in the world, and 2025 looks to be the biggest, most exciting match ever. The Daisy Nationals brings teams of youth ages 8 to 15 from around the country to the Rogers Convention Center to compete for the National Championship of BB Gun Shooting.

Team Berger’s John Mullins delivered a strong performance at the prestigious 2025 Conard Bernhardt Silhouette Championship. Mullins finished second place overall among 120 competitors with a score of 144x160. He also clinched a win in the standard rifle division, scoring an impressive 73/80.

The full roster of elite sporting clays athletes from Team Winchester and Team White Flyer competed at the 2025 National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) U.S. Open. Held at Providence Hill Sporting Club in Jackson, Mississippi, the NSCA U.S. Open is the official kick-off event of the 2025 NSCA Championship Tour, Powered by Winchester.

Shell Shock Technologies announces its sponsored shooter, John Vlieger, won High Overall and First Place in the Open Division at the 2025 USPSA Buckeye Blast - Ohio State Championship, held in Marengo, Ohio, from May 1 – 4, 2025. Vlieger competed against 289 competitors to finish with 1495.5573 match points.

Nosler® congratulates sponsored shooter Andi Cloaninger for earning Top Lady and placing 15th Overall in the Open Heavy Division at the Dust Devil Duel NRL Hunter Match, held in Amarillo, Texas.

ELEY has partnered with Killough Shooting Sports and Zanders Sporting Goods to celebrate the launch of the new ELEY x-shot scoring device with an exciting and fun shooting competition, the ELEY X-SERIES, starting in June 2025.

Nosler, Inc. congratulates sponsored shooters, Nick Gadarzi, Jacob Reister, and Chase Beckley for dominating the leaderboard at the 2025 Short Action Customs Steel Challenge in Benge, Washington.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted its annual bipartisan Congressional Clays Competition at the Prince George’s County Trap and Skeet Center, the only sport shooting event in the country where Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) and industry partners come together to enjoy the great outdoors, and some friendly competition.

Dead Air Silencers will be participating at the 2025 SHOOTAH, the largest live-fire gun event in the western Rocky Mountains on May 17, 2025, at the Soldier Pass Shooting Range in Sarasota Springs, Utah.

A new contender in online ammunition search engines is here - BulletScout.com, a platform built with transparency and usability in mind, is promising to reshape how shooters search for and compare ammo across retailers. Unlike traditional search tools, BulletScout.com incorporates shipping costs directly into its rankings, offering buyers a more accurate view of total costs.

This self-locking OWB plain clothes level I retention Kydex® concealment holster is the fastest on the market while also being duty rated. The Quick Safe™ 1 3/4" belt loops can be adjusted slightly for height and cant and 1 1/2" loops are also available. The patent pending ejection port lock has been strength tested and has exceeded all standards.

VIKTOS unveils the Counteract™ CCW Messenger Bag, a revolutionary solution for discreet firearm-carry alongside everyday essentials.

Reptilia® announces the official release of the CQG™ – AK Grip. Designed specifically for AKM platforms, the CQG AK enhances weapon control, ergonomics, and shooter comfort—all while maintaining the rugged reliability users expect from Reptilia products.

Gunstores.com has launched a new monthly subscription model along with a powerful suite of dealer tools designed to increase visibility, streamline operations, and drive online sales.

Brownells announced the launch of its new Law Enforcement Patrol Rifle Program, designed to equip law enforcement professionals with the reliable, high-performance parts and accessories they need to outfit and maintain their duty rifles.

Target Sports USA is proud to announce the promotion of long-time team member Yashti Singh to the position of Customer Service Manager.

Oklahoma’s Department of Commerce announced that CBC Global Ammunition selected Oklahoma for a new $300 million investment to bring ammunition manufacturing to the state.

ATN Corp announced that it has been awarded the Gold Award for Best Thermal/Night Vision by Shooting Sports Retailer magazine. This prestigious recognition highlights ATN’s ongoing commitment to innovation, quality, and performance in the field of thermal and night vision optics.

Laser Ammo USA Inc. announced the launch of its Recoil Enabled 2011 Match King Laser Training pistol, now available for purchase. Engineered to replicate the feel and function of the firearm that inspires it, the new Recoil 2011 Match King delivers a realistic training experience.

Davidson’s has collaborated with Smith & Wesson to introduce a new colorway for the popular Bodyguard® 2.0 concealed-carry pistol.

Legacy Sports International's newest addition to their POINTER Field Tek series – the Field Tek 12, is available in five varieties of colors including the Mossyoak Bottomlands/ODG which is perfect for the Turkey hunting landscape. The Pointer FT12 comes in a 12 gauge offering with a 28” barrel.

The House Committee on Natural Resources’ budget reconciliation bill would sell public land and send the proceeds to the Treasury. The Boone and Crockett Club objects to this – as we have said we would do. In budget reconciliation, the Treasury is the only allowable destination for revenue. Under existing law or regular congressional direction, revenue from land transactions goes into a fund for the betterment of public lands. This is how it should continue to be.

Engineered for extreme precision at long range, the relaunched ELEY Ultra sets a new benchmark in rimfire performance. ELEY Ultra is crafted using advanced ballistic technology and subjected to rigorous quality control to ensure exceptional consistency.

White Flyer announces the reintroduction of the slot top target under the new name, Western™. The Western target will be available in the coming months as White Flyer builds inventory at their California facility. It will be available in the Trap & Skeet design as well as the Sporting Clays Pheasant design.

The clock is ticking for collectors, investors and firearms enthusiasts. The May Collection from Collector’s Elite Auctions closes this Sunday, May 18, on CollectorsEliteAuctions.com. This premier offering includes an expertly curated lineup of high-end collectible firearms, one-of-a-kind builds and historically significant models.

Academy Sports + Outdoors is broadening its premium protective eyewear selection with the addition of the Wiley X’s WX JAKL. The WX JAKL represents the latest evolution in Wiley X’s mission to protect and enhance vision in the most challenging conditions.

Millennium Marine’s B-100-BTL boat seat continues to be the go-to choice for boaters and waterfowl hunters seeking a blend of comfort, durability, and style. Designed for long hours on the water, the B-100-BTL offers unmatched support and stability, ensuring comfort no matter how long the trip lasts.

ELEY x-Shot is a new technological breakthrough in electronic scoring hardware, leading the way in multi-detail scoring with the first portable, real-time shot detection device. Developed by ELEY Ltd, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England.

The JK HUB Piston Mount is now available in an extremely durable black nitride finish. It delivers reliable operation of JK 155 suppressors (plus other brands’ pistol suppressors) on semi-automatic, centerfire pistols. The booster is lightweight, compact, and competitively priced

Charles Daly highlights its Honcho Pump Series — a family of American made 12-gauge pump action firearms designed for home defense, tactical applications, and rugged utility. Built right here in the USA, the Honcho Pump family delivers dependable firepower and versatile configurations.

NSSF® has awarded Black Wing Shooting Center its coveted Five-Star rating for range excellence—for the second time. Five stars is the highest rating in NSSF’s star-rating system, which evaluates shooting facilities based on appearance, management, shooting sports development and amenities.

Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC has recently learned of a potential safety issue with its CBX bolt-action rifles. Both the CBX Precision and CBX Tac Hunter models are affected. Colt is voluntarily initiating a recall of these rifles because of the potential for an unintentional discharge of the rifle, without pulling the trigger, under certain conditions when the manual safety is disengaged.

In 2024, RUGER became the first sponsor to become a Blue Diamond level sponsor of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) by supporting youth shooting sports at over $75,000 a year. The company's support continues into 2025 as a Blue Diamond sponsor of both the SSSF's SASP and SCTP youth development programs.

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) announces that Silencer Shop – the largest silencer distributor in the United States – has renewed their commitment to the organization as a Diamond-level corporate partner.

Meprolight announced its role as an Affiliate Sponsor of the 2025 Precision Rifle Series (PRS), one of the most respected competitive shooting organizations in the country.

Journey into a culinary adventure on Outdoor Channel presented by Canik during the “Taste of the Wild” block of programming Monday nights beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Tune in for cutting edge culinary craft influencers, such as Mike Robinson, Pat Martin, Steven Rinella, Tommy Gomes and more.
 

FEATURE

Courtesy of A Girl & A Gun

Each year, the A Girl & A Gun National Conference brings together hundreds of women from across the country for a one-of-a-kind firearms training experience. This year, the event, ACCELERATE 2025, hosted 750 participants, each of whom went through a comprehensive Gear Check process. All firearms were function-checked, and every piece of gear was logged—giving us one of the most accurate, unbiased snapshots of what women are actually using, carrying, and training with in the real world.

This data is unlike anything else in the industry. No serial numbers or personal information were collected—just clean, honest insight into the brands and models women trust. As the largest firearms training organization for women in the U.S., A Girl & A Gun is proud to offer these metrics as a powerful industry benchmark for understanding the women’s firearms market.

Courtesy of A Girl & A Gun

Pistols: Trusted Brands and Optics Preference
At the 2025 A Girl & A Gun National Conference, a total of 1,028 pistols were logged during the Gear Check process. Among the major brands, several standout models emerged as favorites among women shooters. GLOCK, who was the Title Sponsor of the event, had another strong showing with the G19, followed closely by the G34 and G17. SIG Sauer’s P365 XL also ranked highly, reinforcing its reputation as a viable option for everyday carry and training. Walther’s PDP F-Series earned the top spot for the second year in a row across all brands, and far outpaced other Walther models, thanks to its ergonomics tailored specifically for women. Smith & Wesson showed a strong presence with a mix of Shield and M&P variants.

This data gives us a clear view of which models women are truly choosing to train and carry—based not on hype, but on performance, comfort, and reliability. When it comes to pistols, here are what women prefer:

  • Represented Brands:
    • GLOCK: 211 (21%)
    • SIG Sauer: 182 (18%)
    • Walther: 153 (15%)
    • Smith & Wesson: 104 (10%)
    • Heckler & Koch (HK): 70 (7%)
    • Springfield Armory: 64 (6%)
    • Staccato / STI: 61 (6%)
    • Canik: 56 (5%)
    • CZ: 44 (4%)
    • Beretta: 15 (1%)
    • Ruger: 12 (1%)
    • Shadow Systems: 11 (1%)
    • FN: 5 (0%)
    • SAR: 5 (0%)
    • Bul Armory: 5 (0%)
    • Kimber: 4 (0%)
    • Colt: 3 (0%)
    • Dan Wesson: 3 (0%)
    • Taurus: 3 (0%)
    • Mossberg: 2 (0%)
    • Stoeger: 2 (0%)
    • Wilson Combat: 2 (0%)
    • Accuracy X: 1 (0%)
    • Chiappa: 1 (0%)
    • IWI: 1 (0%)
    • Kahr: 1 (0%)
    • MasterPiece Arms: 1 (0%)
    • Palmetto State Armory: 1 (0%)
    • Rock Island / Armscor: 1 (0%)
    • Tisas: 1 (0%)
    • Nighthawk: 1 (0%)
  • Popular Models:
    • Walther PDP F-Series: 100 (9.7%)
    • GLOCK 19: 76 (7.4%)
    • SIG Sauer P365 XL: 45 (4.4%)
    • GLOCK 34: 38 (3.7%)
    • SIG Sauer P365: 31 (3.0%)
    • GLOCK 17: 26 (2.5%)
    • SIG Sauer P320: 26 (2.5%)
    • Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ: 23 (2.2%)
    • GLOCK 43X: 22 (2.1%)
    • Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0: 21 (2.0%)
    • Walther PDP Full Size: 19 (1.8%)
    • SIG Sauer P320 X5 Legion: 19 (1.8%)
    • GLOCK 45: 16 (1.6%)
    • SIG Sauer P365 XMACRO: 15 (1.5%)
    • Walther PDP Compact: 13 (1.3%)
    • Smith & Wesson M&P Shield: 13 (1.3%)
    • Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Pro: 11 (1.1%)
    • Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus: 11 (1.1%)
    • Walther Q5 Match Steel Frame: 11 (1.1%)

Optics are a major trend, with pistol-mounted optics preferred by 55% of participants. Holosun dominates this category (66%), and red dot sights (62%) are favored over green dots (38%).

  • Pistol-Mounted Optics: Used by 55% of participants
    • Holosun: 369 (66% of optics users)
    • SIG Sauer: 61 (11%)
    • Trijicon: 34 (6%)
    • Other brands included Leupold, Vortex, Crimson Trace, and more.
  • Dot Color Preference:
    • Red (62%)
    • Green (38%)
    • Gold (1%)
  • Iron Sights:
    • Stock Irons (42%)
    • Upgraded Irons (3%)
      • Led by Trijicon (48% of upgrades)

Most participants stick with stock triggers (88%), but when upgrades are made, Glock Performance and Apex Tactical are the top choices.

  • Stock triggers dominated with 89% of shooters using factory setups.
  • Of the 11% using upgraded triggers, popular brands included:
    • Glock Performance (29%)
    • Apex Tactical (16%)
    • Timney, Overwatch, Cajun Gun Works, and others also represented.

Holsters & Magazine Pouches: Reliability Matters
When it comes to gear that shooters trust, the data on holsters and mag pouches offers a clear glimpse into what matters most: reliability, versatility, and performance under pressure. Comp-Tac emerged as the top choice for holsters, earning 16%, followed closely by Black Scorpion with 13% and Haven Defense with 10%. Rounding out the list were trusted names like Blade Tech, Safariland, and We the People—each offering unique solutions for a variety of firearms and carry preferences.

Interestingly, many of the same brands dominate in the mag pouch category as well, suggesting strong brand loyalty and consistent performance across product lines. Black Scorpion led the way with 12%, with Comp-Tac (11%) and Haven Defense (10%) right behind. This overlap points to a trend: users are gravitating toward brands that deliver cohesive systems—gear that not only fits well but works well together.

  • Top Holster Brands:
    • Comp-Tac (14%)
    • Black Scorpion (12%)
    • Haven Defense (9%)
    • Blade Tech (8%)
  • Top Magazine Pouch Brands:
    • Black Scorpion (15%)
    • Comp-Tac (14%)
    • Haven Defense (12%)
    • Blade Tech (9%)

Apparel: Tactical and Comfortable
In the battle of the belts, Nexbelt takes the lead by a landslide, favored by over a third of respondents (36%). Its blend of sleek design and sturdy performance clearly hits the mark. Black Scorpion (10%) and Kore Essentials (10%) follow, both earning solid marks for their innovative, shooter-friendly features. Brands like 5.11 Tactical (7%) and Blade-Tech (3%) round out the list, reinforcing the community’s preference for gear that’s tactical, tough, and purpose-built.

Pants tell a similar story of utility-driven loyalty. 5.11 Tactical dominates the field with 45%—nearly half of all participants. Their reputation for durability and range-ready comfort is unmatched. Duluth Trading Co. (12%) secures a strong second place with its flexible, functional designs, while Levi’s (7%), Wrangler (7%), and LA Police Gear (6%) show that trusted staples still have a place in the lineup.

  • Top Belts Brands:
    • Nexbelt (10%)
    • Black Scorpion (9%)
    • Kore Essentials (7%)
  • Top Pants Brands:
    • 5.11 Tactical (45%)
    • Duluth Trading Co. (12%)
    • Levi’s (7%)

PPE: Prioritizing Safety
The data on eye and ear protection reveals not just user preferences, but a clear trend toward high-performance gear. In the realm of eye protection, SSP Eyewear takes the lead with 17%, closely followed by Hunters HD Gold (14%) and Oakley (11%)—all brands known for blending style with ballistic safety. Wiley X and A Girl & A Gun-branded eyewear (from SSP) also stood out, securing 11% and 9% of eye pro, respectively, showing a strong tilt toward trusted names in safety gear.

On the hearing protection front, Walker’s dominates with a commanding 42%, while Axil (13%) and Howard Leight (12%) round out the top three. AKT1 Sport and Peltor Sport also made solid showings, with 8% and 4%. Together, these numbers paint a picture of a community that takes safety seriously—investing in gear that offers both protection and performance on the range.

  • Top Brands: Eye Protection:
    • SSP (8%)
    • Hunters HD Gold (7%)
    • Oakley (5%)
  • Top Brands: Hearing Protection:
    • Walker’s (39%)
    • Axil (12%)
    • Howard Leight (11%)

Shotguns: Semi-Auto Favorites
When it comes to shotguns, participants clearly have their favorites. Beretta takes the top spot with 22% choosing the brand, trailed closely by Mossberg at 19%. Stoeger holds a solid third with 10%, while Benelli and Remington each earned the loyalty of 8%, confirming that trusted, time-tested manufacturers still dominate the field.

As for shotgun types, semi-automatics lead the pack by a wide margin, making up half the shotguns brought to gear check. Their popularity likely stems from ACCELERATE’s participants’ interest in multigun matches as well as home defense. Of course, A Girl & A Gun ladies also love clay sports, so hinge/break actions follow with 26%. Pump-actions come in at 21%, offering diversity for several uses and sports. Bolt-action shotguns are the rare birds of the bunch, with just 3% checking this less common style.

  • Top Shotgun Brands:
    • Beretta (21%)
    • Mossberg (19%)
    • Stoeger (9%)
  • Action Types:
    • Semi-automatic (50%)
    • Hinge/break action (26%)
    • Pump (21%)

Rifles: Custom Builds and Precision Optics
ACCELERATE participants’ preferences with rifles reveal their involvement in defensive training and multigun and long-range competitions. Custom and hybrid rifles lead the pack, capturing 12% of rifles—a testament to shooters’ desire for personalized setups tailored to their needs. Among factory brands, Smith & Wesson (11%) and Ruger (9%) follow closely, with Stag Arms and Springfield Armory also earning notable mention.

When it comes to sighting systems, precision is paramount. Scopes emerged as the top choice, used by 42% of respondents, while non-magnified optics weren’t far behind at 39%. Iron sights, in contrast, are nearly obsolete among this group, with only 1% reporting their use. Within each category, clear leaders stand out—Vortex dominates the scope market with 54% of users, while Holosun leads among non-magnifying optics at 29%, signaling brand loyalty built on performance and value.

Sling preferences further underscore the emphasis on reliability and ergonomics. Magpul Industries is the overwhelming favorite, chosen by 59% of respondents. Blue Force Gear (11%) and Allen Company (4%) round out the top choices, though no other brand comes close to Magpul’s commanding lead.

  • Top Rifle Brands:
    • Custom/Hybrid builds (11%)
    • Smith & Wesson (10%)
    • Ruger (10%)
  • Sighting Systems:
    • Scopes (42%)
    • Non-magnified optics (39%)
    • Vortex Optics is the most popular in both categories
  • Slings:
    • Magpul Industries (27%)
    • Blue Force Gear (5%)

Why This Matters
With these insights, it’s clear that the women’s firearms market is diverse, engaged, and fiercely loyal to the brands that deliver quality, comfort, and performance. This data offers something no other organization can: a comprehensive, unbiased look at what women in the shooting community actually use. It’s not based on sponsorships or marketing campaigns—it’s based on real-world gear choices made by 750 women who train hard and shoot often.

For manufacturers, retailers, and instructors, these insights are invaluable. For women shooters, it’s a validation of what works—and a great place to look for your next piece of gear.

A Girl & A Gun continues to lead the way in firearms training for women, and this annual Gear Report is just one of the many ways we support a strong, informed, and empowered shooting community.

— Robyn Sandoval, A Girl & A Gun
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