Halloween (aka “All Hallows Eve”) will be celebrated in three days, on the 31st of October. Around the country pumpkins and Halloween decorations are on display in neighborhoods. Why not head to the range and shoot some Halloween-themed targets this month amidst the fall foliage. The folks at the NRA Blog have created a series of “spook-tastic” Halloween targets. Writer Kyle Jillson says, “In addition to stocking up on candy and finding great costumes, we thought you might like to have some fun at the range, so we created these spooky targets for you to use.”

Just click an image to launch its full-size version. You can then download the target and print it out on regular 8.5″x11″ paper. Now you have fun Halloween-themed targets to bring to the range in the next couple weeks.

Halloween (originally “All Hallows Eve”) is just four days away. Throughout the country, there will be youngsters (and parents) making the rounds on October 31st, trick-or-treating. U.S. LawShield has provided Halloween safety tips for homeowners and families with kids. These tips are designed to keep kids safe/secure and to help adults supervise the young ones and avoid potential liabilities as homeowners. READ Full Article HERE.

Halloween Safety Tips for Adults (Parents and Homeowners)
Drive Carefully – Drive slowly and watch for people crossing the street. Avoid distractions like phones or food so you can be ready to stop quickly. (But it’s best to just avoid driving after dark on Halloween[.])
Clear the Way – Clear your front steps, driveway, and lawn of any potential safety hazards. If any injuries happen on your property, you could be held liable!
Leave a Light On – If you leave the house, keep a few visible lights on inside to discourage criminals. However, leave your porch light off to let trick-or-treaters know you aren’t giving out candy!
Verify Insurance – Are you turning your home into a neighborhood haunted house? Are you charging admission? Make sure to check your local laws and verify your homeowners insurance coverage! Something like this could be considered a business activity, and accidents or injuries typically are not covered. (You should also verify your self-defense insurance coverage!)
Go Flameless – Use electric lights in your jack-o-lanterns and other décor. House fires are one of the more common accidents reported by homeowners on Halloween.

Halloween Safety Tips for Kids
Adult Supervision – All children aged 13 and under should be accompanied by an adult when trick-or-treating. Older kids without an adult should be in groups of three or more.
Create a Route – Only trick-or-treat in familiar neighborhoods and at houses with porch lights on. Be aware of and avoid the addresses of local sex offenders.
Street Smart – Walk only on sidewalks, and cross streets only at crosswalks or corners. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing to help prevent accidents. Take extra caution with costume masks, as they greatly reduce a child’s ability to see their surroundings.
High Visibility – Carry glow sticks or flashlights when out after dark, and avoid wearing costumes that are dark-colored or aren’t reflective.
Treat Smart – Check your kids’ candy! The CDC Halloween Safety Guide highly recommends throwing away any unwrapped or unsealed pieces.

U.S. LawShield also strongly recommends not having toy guns — even Nerf guns or squirt guns — as part of costumes. At night toy guns can cause confusion, with potential bad reactions.

About U.S. LawShield
Founded in 2009, U.S. LawShield now has 700,000+ members and 6,000+ industry partners. The goals are to help members handle critical, life-threatening situations and prevent potential injustices in the legal system after acts of self-defense. For more information on U.S. LawShield visit USLawshield.com.

We’ve found a dozen great discount/rebate programs. These specials can save you big bucks on rifles, pistols, shotguns, ammo, and shooting accessories. Some of these rebates are worth $100 or more. For example you can get up to $350 off a Beretta Long Gun and save $100 on a Savage shotgun. And there are $75 Rebates on Savage pistols and a S&W M&P FPC22 rifle. And there is a deal with a free silencer (suppressor) with purchase of an IWI rifle. Click each box below to access the discount page.

NOTE: Some of these promos are good through the end of December 2026, but some expire on October 31, 2026, a week from now. So check the dates. If you snooze you lose.

NRA F-Class National Championships 2026
Sunday, October 25 – Sunday, November 1, 2026
Sponsored by the Desert Sharpshooters Rifle Club and the National Rifle Association

The 2026 United States F-Class National Championships commence Sunday, October 25, 2026 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) in Phoenix. For 2026, the Nationals combine both Mid-Range and Long-Range competitions in one extended mega-match. The Mid-Range U.S. F-Class Nationals take place October 29 – November 1, 2026, with all shooting at 600-yard targets. The Long Range F-Class National Championships then run Thursday, October 20 through Sunday October 23, 2022. All Long Range matches are at 1000 yards. The competitions will have two different divisions: F-Open and F-TR (Target Rifle). Registration is now closed for both Mid-Range and Long-Range Championships.*

NRA F-Class Mid-Range National Championship 25 October – 28 October, 2026
NRA F-Class Long Range National Championship 29 October – 1 November, 2026
The range should be open for practice on Saturday 10/24/2026.

CLICK HERE for 2026 F-Class Nationals Match Program »

Located on 1,650 acres in north Phoenix, Ben Avery is one of the nation’s largest publicly operated shooting facilities. A City of Phoenix “Point of Pride,” the facility has received a five-star rating from the National Association of Shooting Ranges. A camping area is available for competitors. Contact Ben Avery Shooting Range Camping to reserve a camping spot.

You’ll see some serious hardware on the firing line at Ben Avery. Here’s a modern F-Open rig with a handsome maple stock. The gun, belonging to David Mann of Texas, shoots as good as it looks.

View Larger Map

Location: Ben Avery (Black Canyon) Shooting Range, 25 mi. North of Phoenix, AZ. 1⁄2 mile West of I-17 on the Carefree Hwy. (Exit 223).

Facilities: Camping is available at Ben Avery during the matches through the Arizona Fish and Game Department. CLICK HERE for camping information and/or to make an online reservation.

Eligibility: Any competitive shooter. NRA membership is not required to compete in this match. However, non-NRA members cannot set National Records.

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (“Smith & Wesson”, Nasdaq SWBI), a U.S.-based leader in firearm manufacturing and design, today announced that it has acquired Savage Arms (“Savage”) by merger from an indirect subsidiary of JDH Capital I, L.P. (“JDH”). The price of the acquisition is listed at $160,000,000 in stock value and cash.

The transaction combines two iconic American firearm manufacturers with leading capabilities across distinct segments of the firearms market. Savage’s strength in hunting and bolt-action rifles is highly complementary to Smith & Wesson’s leadership position in handguns and growing presence across other long gun categories, creating a broader product portfolio.

Savage has been producing firearms for more than 130 years and is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of hunting, competition and target shooting centerfire and rimfire rifles and shotguns.

According to Shooting Times: “The combined company [S&W plus Savage Arma] will immediately rank as the largest commercial firearms manufacturer in the United States, with a full-line product offering spanning handguns, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, and suppressors. Savage brings roughly $160 million annual net sales and a dedicated, skilled workforce of approximately 500 to the Smith & Wesson family, strengthening the combined company’s position at a moment when consumer demand for American-made firearms across every category remains strong.”

Mark Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Smith & Wesson, commented, “The acquisition of Savage is a transformative step for Smith & Wesson and an important milestone in our strategy to be the undisputed market leader in the firearm industry. Savage’s brand heritage, culture, and longstanding reputation for performance and innovation align closely with our own, and the business meaningfully expands our presence in the hunting category. By bringing these two companies together, we have created a broader, stronger platform with significant opportunities to better serve our customers, accelerate innovation, realize operating efficiencies and drive long-term value for our stockholders.”

Michael Fertitta, Managing Director of JDH, commented, “Savage has a storied history spanning more than 132 years, and we are incredibly proud of the business and brand the Savage team has built. Smith & Wesson is a natural partner for Savage given the complementary strengths of the two companies and their shared commitment to quality, innovation and serving the firearms community. We are excited about the potential of the combined business and look forward to participating in its continued success as a significant Smith & Wesson stockholder.”

Transaction and Company Details

• Acquisition Date: October 21, 2026
• Deal Value: $160 million in cash and stock
• Previous Owner: JDH Capital I, L.P. (which becomes a Smith & Wesson stockholder)
• Savage Headquarters: Westfield, Massachusetts
• Savage Workforce: Approximately 500 employees
• Annual Net Sales (Savage): Roughly $160 million

Strategic Impact

• Product Complementarity: Merges Smith & Wesson’s handgun leadership with Savage’s footprint in bolt-action and hunting rifles.
• Market Scale: Creates one of the largest combined commercial U.S. firearm manufacturers, spanning handguns, revolvers, centerfire/rimfire rifles, shotguns, and suppressors.

Here’s a cool way to save money — but you need to act quickly. Today — October 20, 2026 — Powder Valley Outdoors is offering FREE SHIPPING on orders over $99.00. So if you need powder, primers, bullets, brass, ammo or other products (including reloading gear), head over to PowderValley.com and take advantage of this special ONE-DAY Only deal on 10/20/2026!

NOTE: In addition to today’s FREE Shipping offer, Powder Valley is currently offering FREE Hazmat on qualifying orders of $599.00 or more. NOTE: This is a completely separate deal from the 10/20/26 one-day FREE Shipping offer. But it can save you $25 or more with a large order of powder and/or primers.

Carpe Diem — “Seize the Day” — Make every day count…

This story is not directly about guns, or reloading gear, or the little details of our sport. It, instead, is about life… and, sadly, about death. The recent passing of a close friend (and fellow shooter) got me to thinking, “I’m now seventy-one — what if I only had ten more years to live — how would I want to live my life? What really counts the most? What things would I do differently? What dreams would I pursue?”

AccurateShooter.com has many thousands of readers in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. Hopefully we will all live long, happy, and fruitful lives. But it’s wise to remember that we are all mortal, and the clock is ticking. Well this Editor celebrated his 71st birthday this week. Gosh time flies… but how much more is left?

Consider this — in the United States, the current average male life expectancy is just 76.8 years.*

Using that number as a benchmark, since I am now 71, I may have just 5.8 more years to enjoy life and to do the things I love — shooting, traveling, sailing, camping, listening to music, being with friends and family. Only 5.8 years left — that’s a real number my brain can comprehend all too well. And it’s doubly scary as I’m dealing with prostate cancer issues right now.

There is some good news — American actuarial tables predict that, since I’ve made past 70 already, I should live into my 80s — as the predicted life-span of a 71-year-old American male is over 14 years according to official stats. And the Social Security Life Expectancy Calculator says that I should live another 14.8 years until age 85 and a half. Well 14.8 years works out to 178 more months, and 769 more weekends. That’s less scary, but the message still rings true — time is running out. Live your dreams while you can.

Living a Life with More Good Times, and Fewer Regrets

Recently, a group of men, very near the end of their lives, were surveyed. They were asked if they would do things differently if they could live their lives over again. The vast majority of these men gave surprisingly similar responses, which fit into five “Life Lessons”. These “Top 5 Regrets of the Dying” were reported in a story by Bronnie Ware, writing for the AARP online magazine. Ware writes: “When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced.” Here are the five regrets most often mentioned by older men:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
“This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. ”

Lesson: Don’t wait to follow your dreams. Be true to yourself.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
“This came from every male patient [surveyed]. All of the men… deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”

Lesson: Don’t let your work crowd out other important aspects of life.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming.”

Lesson: Express yourself truthfully. Don’t suppress your feelings for decades.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
“There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort they deserved. Many [were] so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years.”

Lesson: Take an interest your friends’ lives; keep bonds of friendship strong.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
“This is a surprisingly common [regret]. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice.”

Lesson: Affirmatively pursue the things that bring you happiness. Don’t just stick to old habits.

Turn Off the Computer, and Do Something Memorable with Your Friends Today
How does this all apply to our shooting hobby? Well, if (like me) you are middle-aged (or older), go have some fun this weekend! Load up your rifle and get to the range. Don’t put off doing the things that make you happy. Call those old buddies you may not have seen in a long time. Renew friendships. Get out into nature. And start figuring out how you can live your dreams. As the saying goes, “Time waits for no man”.

*This is based on 2023 World Bank Group Data for all males. One of our readers pointed out that the numbers actually work out better than this, because once a man survives to later life, men of his surviving age cohort enjoy a projected lifespan longer than the average projected lifespan from birth. For example, using Social Security Administration (SSA) data, an American man born exactly 60 years ago has a calculated average life expectancy of 23.2 years… meaning he would live to age 83+, on average. CLICK HERE to see SSA-predicted longevity based on your birthdate.

Monday, October 12, was Vintage Sniper Day during the 2026 Western Games at the Ben Avery range near Phoenix, Arizona. There was definitely NOT typical dry Arizona weather. There was some drizzle, with cloudy skies on Sniper day. This is a unique match using older rifles, with two-man teams. The team-mates take turns shooting while their partner spots and calls the shots.

Thankfully, it was mostly dry, and by Tuesday, the last rain showers moved out of the area, with a bright, sunny forecast for the remainder of the Western Games schedule. This year the popular CMP Western Games rifle and pistol competition event runs October 9 through October 18, 2026 (10 days).

Good news for suppressor fans. On Friday 10/9/2026, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) issued an important new official policy statement that confirms the elimination of federal fees and most paperwork when acquiring a suppressor. The 10/9 ATF statement also covers other NFA items including short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns.

For additional details, review the official ATF Guidance Instructions and FAQ.

Here is the News Release from the ATF:
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives today released an Open Letter and Frequently Asked Questions explaining how it will treat ownership, transfer, and transportation of the National Firearms Act firearms for which Congress eliminated the making and transfer taxes in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

The guidance follows an announcement by Attorney General Todd Blanche that the Department of Justice will not appeal an August decision made by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which held that certain provisions of the NFA were unenforceable. In that decision, the court enjoined enforcement of those NFA provisions only for the plaintiffs in the suit; however, using the Department’s enforcement discretion, the Attorney General … made the policy decision to apply the guidance to everyone, and not only to those covered by the injunction in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF[.]

Under ATF’s guidance, ATF will not enforce the requirements for individuals to apply and receive ATF approval before making or transferring short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, suppressors (silencers), and certain other concealable firearms known in the law as “any other weapons.” ATF also will not enforce the NFA’s registration, tax-stamp or related requirements for those covered items. The $200 tax remains in place for machine guns and destructive devices[.]

The guidance does not supersede state and local laws that restrict NFA firearms. Because many state laws require individuals to register NFA firearms, ATF will continue to process NFA applications that are submitted. The guidance also does not affect the Gun Control Act’s requirement to obtain ATF approval before transporting short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns in interstate commerce.

Suppressor Purchasing under New ATF Policies (Brownells)

Image from Brownells Suppressor INFO page.

Based on the ATF “Guidance” letter issued 10/9/2026, Brownells has released a helpful summary of factors to consider when purchasing a suppressor.

Understanding the New ATF Suppressor and NFA Policies
Under the new ATF guidance, ATF will no longer enforce federal NFA approval and registration requirements before making or transferring certain NFA items, including suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and certain other regulated items.

For eligible purchases through an FFL, standard federal firearm transaction requirements still apply, including completing a Form 4473 and, unless exempt, passing a NICS background check. Additional requirements may apply to certain firearm types.

State and Local Laws Still Apply
These changes do not apply the same way in every state. State and local laws may restrict or prohibit certain items or require additional registration, documentation, or transfer procedures. Before making a purchase, customers should review their current state and local laws and regulations to understand what is legal and what requirements apply where they live.

Important Things to Know
— State and local laws are NOT superseded by this ATF guidance.
— Availability and transfer requirements vary by location.
— Federal, state, and local eligibility requirements still apply.
— Some transactions may require additional documentation.
— Customers may still voluntarily use applicable NFA forms and registration processes.
— The federal nonenforcement policy could change, and unregistered items are not guaranteed to be grandfathered if enforcement resumes.

Suppressor Purchases by State
The following classifications outline general suppressor purchasing requirements under the current guidance and applicable state laws. Requirements may change and should be confirmed before purchase.

Open States (27) — No NFA Process Required
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. In these states, eligible customers can generally purchase a suppressor through the standard firearm transfer process, using applicable background checks and eligibility requirements, without completing an NFA Form 4.

NFA States (15) — Form 4 Still Applies
Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin. These states retain legal requirements tied to federal NFA registration or compliance. Customers should expect to complete the traditional Form 4 process where required under applicable state law.

Banned (8 States + Washington, D.C.)
California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island, plus Washington, D.C. — Suppressors remain generally prohibited for civilian ownership in these locations, subject to limited legal exceptions.