SHIELD Sights marks its 40th anniversary as a British manufacturer of red dot optics, celebrating four decades of innovation since its founding on November 3, 1986. The company developed the influential RMSc mounting footprint now widely adopted by handgun manufacturers and continues manufacturing optics in Crewkerne, England.
German Precision Optics (GPO USA) announced a partnership with MWS Associates, Inc. to represent GPO product lines across 37 states. MWS Associates brings 50 years of shooting sports industry experience and established retail relationships to support GPO's dealer network expansion in the eastern market.
The Mule Deer Foundation and Blacktail Deer Foundation are hiring a Regional Director for California Coast and Central Valley to lead volunteer chapters, expand fundraising, and cultivate donors. The remote position, based in California, offers $67,000–$74,500 salary plus benefits, with applications due November 13, 2026.
Trijicon, Inc. announced the availability of its RCR (Ruggedized Closed Reflex) sight in a new Flat Dark Earth anodized finish. The fully enclosed reflex optic features a 3.25 MOA red dot, 10 brightness settings, and waterproof performance to 66 feet, maintaining compatibility with existing RMR-ready slides and mounting plates.
Trijicon, Inc. announced a new Coyote Brown anodized finish for its RMR HD reflex sight, designed for law enforcement, military personnel, and serious shooters. The optic features an enlarged viewing window, advanced light sensor, and is built from forged 7075-T6 aluminum with waterproof capabilities.
KDG launches the BOM Series Optic Mounts alongside its established SideLok Quick Detach system, offering shooters modular mounting solutions with adjustable heights and compatibility with Aimpoint ACRO, Aimpoint COA, Aimpoint Micro T-1/T-2, and Trijicon RMR optics. Additional configurations for 30mm and 34mm optic tubes are planned for 2027.
Hawke Optics unveiled the Frontier ED X Compact 15–35x56 Spotting Scope, featuring extra-low dispersion glass and wide-angle optics in a lightweight 35.4-ounce package designed for backpacking and hunting expeditions while maintaining premium optical clarity and performance.
XS Sights has released R3D 2.0 night sights for CZ P-09 Nocturne pistols, featuring dual-illumination 3-dot designs with green or orange Glow Dot front sights and tritium. The sights are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty and 12-year illumination warranty.
Santa's Wonderland returns to Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's locations across the U.S. and Canada starting November 7, offering FREE studio-quality photos with Santa, kids' crafts, and holiday giveaways through Christmas Eve. Now in its 18th season, this beloved tradition provides families with complimentary holiday experiences and festive activities.
Bass Pro Shops celebrates its fifth New York location opening in Victor with an Evening for Conservation on November 12, 2026, featuring legendary anglers Jimmy Houston, Kevin VanDam, Bob Izumi, and George Poveromo. Fifteen percent of sales will benefit local conservation organizations, with festivities including live entertainment, meet-and-greets, and family activities.
Sportsman Channel's "Lock & Load Thursday" block airs weekly from 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET, featuring Guns & Ammo TV, Gun Stories hosted by Joe Mantegna, Dirt Trax TV, Handguns with J. Scott Rupp and Richard Nance, and MeatEater with Steven Rinella. The 4th annual "Guns & Ammo Showcase" presented by Brownells premieres November 26.
Pursuit Media showcases its extensive programming across Pursuit Channel and Pursuit UP, featuring shows like Wiebe Trapline Adventures, Higdon Outdoors, Argo's How to Hunt with Ryan Kohler, and The Fish Guyz. The dual-platform approach provides outdoor enthusiasts flexible access to premium content via linear television and free streaming across major platforms.
The Realtree Channel returns to MyOutdoorTV throughout November, featuring shows from Bill Jordan, Tyler Jordan, and David Blanton. The ad-free channel includes Realtree Outdoors, Realtree Road Trips, Realtree's Monster Bucks, and Black Cloud Duck Hunting content celebrating Team Realtree's 40th Anniversary in 2026.
Outdoor Channel dedicates Saturday evenings to the MeatEater franchise with a three-hour "Prime Cuts" block featuring Rinella's Field Notes, MeatEater Season 14 premiere on November 14, and MeatEater's 12 in 26 cinematic presentations showcasing hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventures with Steven Rinella and crew.
During a recent conversation, an acquaintance told me that he was thinking about putting a red dot on his carry pistol. He related his hesitancy to do, however, as he’s had decades of experience lining up traditional iron sights.
My advice to him was two-fold; first, before you decide on a pistol-mounted red dot, buy and read the book A Pipe Hitters Guide to Red Dots and Optics on Handguns by Nicholas Orr. Secondly, before you start carrying your self-defense gun with an optic, be sure to spend a good amount of time on the range dedicated to gaining genuine confidence with the tool.
Ruger Mark IV Suppressed .22 Pistol
Despite the all advances in calibers and configurations of firearms, those chambered in .22 LR still remain infinitely useful when introducing new shooters to the world of guns. They’re also a less-expensive way to enjoy both recreational shooting and maintain your skills.
The aforementioned conversation inspired me to consider in detail the subject again. The Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite .22 LR pistol is a fantastic addition to the classic Ruger .22 pistol lineup. The Mark II was good, but it had fixed sight and required an engineering degree to disassemble it and put it back together. The Mark III 22/45 moved the ball forward by adding a Picatinny rail for optics and the option of a factory threaded barrel. But disassembly for cleaning still wasn’t what anyone would call easy or intuitive.
With the Mark IV 22/45 Lite version, Ruger added all the features that modern shooters desire. The pistol has adjustable factory sights, but includes a rail to mount an optic. The barrel is threaded with 1/2×28 TPI from the factory as well to allow the easy installation of a silencer/suppressor.
Most impressive of all, the new Mark IV disassembles with no tools. Remove the magazine, clear the chamber and then depress the disassembly button at the top of the backstrap right under the bolt. Tilt the top/receiver upward and then remove it from the frame. The bolt then slides out for easy cleaning. Reassembly is just the reverse.
Anyone familiar with .22 LR semi-automatic firearms will appreciate and understand that these guns get dirty rather quickly and that a dirty .22 soon becomes a single-shot gun without proper cleaning.
Optic and Gun Muffler
To complete the practical set up, I installed a Trijicon RMR red dot using an M1913 Picatinny base. The optic uses a red 3.25 MOA dot. The power source is a single CR2032 battery.
NB : The recent “safety feature” of applying a bitter coating to 2032 batteries to keep children from swallowing them has been shown to degrade useful battery life. Optics makers are now recommending that the end user clean their CR2032 batteries with an alcohol wipe and dry them prior to installation.
Rimfire silencers are the least expensive of all sound moderators and they are truly the gateway drug to shooting quietly.
I’ve been using suppressed firearms for about twenty years or so and am frequently asked, “What kind of silencer should I buy first?” That’s an easy question.
If you have no experience with cans and are looking for your first one, buy a .22 rimfire suppressor. It’s a safe bet that there are as many factory-threaded .22 barrels now as there are non-threaded. Rimfire silencers are the least expensive of all suppressors and they’re truly the gateway drug to shooting quietly.
The can featured here is an older AAC Element 2 silencer. AAC is currently on the “3” version. Regardless, this lightweight .22 LR can is a perfect match for the Ruger 22/45. At only 4.1 ounces, you barely notice the extra weight. The 22/45 itself is only 25 ounces.
Practical Exercises
Obviously, the handling characteristics of the Ruger Mark IV are different from the average concealed carry pistol. Nonetheless, shooting .22 LR for about ten cents a shot is naturally more economical than FMJ 9mm at an average of about thirty cents a shot.
The report from even supersonic .22 LR ammunition is barely audible and is most certainly “hearing safe.” I live in the country where shooting on my land is perfectly within my rights. However, our neighbors frequently pasture their horses in the field adjacent to mine. Shooting my .22’s with a can in place makes for good neighborly relations.
Putting a red dot sight on a pistol, such as the Ruger featured here, can be a great way for someone who has little to no experience with them to learn the idiosyncrasies of shooting with a red dot sight. It’s not difficult to get used to an optic, it just take some time and practice.
I have owned this Ruger 22/45 for a several years now and used it on numerous occasions when a friend or relative has said “Hey, will you show me how to shoot a handgun?”
While it might not be perfect, the combination of the .22 pistol, the suppressor and the red dot is pretty close to ideal when it comes to helping someone get the hang of shooting with a pistol optic or simply getting comfortable with a handgun. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
