Team Leapers achieved eight national match wins at the 2026 CMP National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, with James Fox winning his fourth National Service Rifle Championship using the Integrix Service Rifle Scope. The team, including Conrad Young, Roy Mitchell, Nick Till, and Randy Olds, dominated the competition alongside decorated shooters Brandon Green, Bob Gill, Liam McKenna, and Justin Patton-Rynders.
Southwick Associates released its third-quarter 2026 Hunting & Shooting Market Pulse, a quarterly subscription newsletter providing market intelligence to industry leaders. The report highlights economic pressures affecting hunters and shooters, NICS trends, and retail shifts, with NSSF members receiving a 15% discount on subscriptions.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is hiring a Chief Conservation Officer to lead conservation initiatives and partnerships. The position, based in Missoula, Montana, requires eight-plus years of natural resources experience and five years in senior leadership, with responsibilities including advocacy, governmental affairs, and representing RMEF with federal and state agencies.
Vortex introduces the VMR-5 reticle option for the Razor HD Gen III 6-36x56 FFP riflescope, designed for PRS shooters to quickly see impact and adjust. The scope features 6-36x magnification, L-TEC+ zero system, and class-leading HD optics, available at MAP $2,999.99.
German Precision Optics (GPO USA) announced the GPO Setback™ Cantilever 3" extension mount designed for compact tactical 30mm riflescopes, allowing up to 3" forward or rearward positioning for optimal eye relief. The precision-machined aircraft-grade aluminum mount retails for $89.99 and is available through authorized dealers and gpo-usa.com.
Black Rifle Coffee Company has renewed its partnership with SLG2, Inc. to provide premium coffee tastings at Shoot Like A Girl events nationwide. Founded by Evan Hafer, Mat Best, and Jarred Taylor, BRCC will offer complimentary beverages and ready-to-drink energy products to attendees, enhancing the event experience across SLG2's brand portfolio.
HeadHunters NW Podcast Episode 65 features Trent Marsh of Riton Optics discussing FBI NICS data showing unprecedented multi-year firearm sales decline and exploring millennial leadership, marketing strategies, and AI's role in the firearms industry with host Shaylene Keiner.
XS Sights now offers pre-drilled Standard Dot tritium sights, Fiber Optic sights, and an ACRO Optic Plate for the Taurus 66 Combat revolver. The products feature dual-illumination design, fiber optic technology, and CNC-machined construction for enhanced durability and target acquisition.
KDG is shipping new 3.25-inch and 6-inch rails for Grand Power Stribog 10mm and .45 ACP platforms beginning mid-September 2026. The Seymour, Connecticut manufacturer continues its aggressive product rollout following the recent Kinect ARCA Rail launch, with additional products planned over the next three months.
KDG announced pre-order notifications for its new Kinect™ Arca Rail, a 6-inch Arca rail that attaches to M-LOK equipped rifles using tool-free mounting technology. The product launches in September 2026 and is designed for precision shooters, hunters, and competitors seeking flexible Arca interface solutions.
Wait, didn’t SNW just review the Arken EP-8 like…last month? Why yes, yes we did. So why do it again? Well . .
Nothing much has really changed. The EP-8 1-8×28 scope is still a hell of a bargain for a first focal plane LPVO with an 8X zoom range. It’s got the same features and Japanese ED glass and still comes factory mounted on one of their Rigid Precision scope mounts. It still comes with front and read flip-up caps as well as a rubber bikini cover.
But shortly after we got our hands on the EP-8, Arken announced a second reticle option. In addition to their unique KLBOX reticle, which seemed to be polarizing (I liked it, but some didn’t), you can now get the EP-8 with a more traditional KLGRID Christmas tree style reticle.
That’s the view of the KLGRID reticle a 8X, looking at targets at 500 yards. Photography through rifle scopes tends to suck, so here’s a better look at the new reticle option . . .
While the KLBOX version of the EP-8 is set up for MOA adjustments, the KLGRID mil-based. And the Christmas tree with .5 mil subtensions lets those of us you who prefer to hold for elevation and wind rather than dial, do that with precision.
Like the KLBOX version, the EP-8’s turrets adjust with positive, crisp, tactile clicks. Like the first one we tested, it passed a box test with flying colors and survived a minute under water (with caps on).
The .2 mil center dot and broken circle have eleven brightness levels including two night vision settings.
Again, this is exactly the same scope as the first version we tested, so if you want the full dope, so to speak, see our earlier write-up.
In short, this version of the Arken EP-8, like the KLBOX model, is a surprisingly high-performing first focal plane LPVO and an incredibly attractive price. It has an MSRP of $479 and is listed at $375 on the Arken site. It’s found in the wild, however, for as low as $299. That makes the EP-8 very hard to beat.
