In the latest shooting sports industry news ...

After a year on the on the Hodgdon Board of Directors to complete a transition from daily responsibilities, Chris Hodgdon is retiring from full-time service to the company.

Hodgdon served in many roles over the last 26 years – from media & public relations to sales – and his daily presence in the office will be missed by his coworkers.

“I want to express my deep appreciation for the opportunity to work with and benefit from the talented team at Hodgdon,” he said. “It has been an honor to represent the third generation of Hodgdons at the company my grandad founded. I have been blessed by the opportunities to work with writers, gunshop owners and other shooting industry professionals.”

Tom Shepherd, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Hodgdon said, “I remember the day Chris came to work at Hodgdon, and over the years, I have been consistently impressed by his focus on our customers and his genuine appreciation for the shooting industry. His passion for our customers and the shooting consumer is so evident, and this has resulted in great first impressions with writers, dealers and customers that has been beneficial to his career and our business. I am gratified we will have his strategic focus on our Board going forward.”

“One of the first things I noticed about Chris was his passion for reloading and the shooting sports – it was just immediately apparent,” said Steve Kehrwald, President & CEO of Hodgdon. “His presence in our office since 1993, and his knowledge of reloading and the Hodgdon culture, will serve him well in his new role on the Board of Directors.”

Hodgdon Powder Company was established in 1947 by Bruce and Amy Hodgdon. Today, sons J.B. and Bob have grown Hodgdon Powder Company into the largest US supplier of smokeless, blackpowder and blackpowder substitute propellants. The company distributes gunpowder under the Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester, Pyrode, Triple Seven and Goex brands.

Pro Ears, Altus Brands Launch Kickstarter Campaign

Pro Ears and Altus Brands announces a unique opportunity for dealers of hearing protection with special tier pricing for its Stealth Elite Bluetooth unit.

The Pro Ears product development team spent more than two years developing the Stealth Elite Bluetooth electronic hearing protector and are readying for the 2020 market. To help finance the final production tooling, Pro Ears launched the product on Kickstarter on Nov. 22.

Pro Ears has developed special pricing tiers exclusively for dealers. The new Stealth Elite model will have an MSRP of $159.99 when available in stores (MAP protected), but for a limited time on Kickstarter, dealers will be able to pre-buy 5, 15, 50 or 200 units for as much as 70 percent off with little or no risk.

Payment is not due until January, with expected delivery in March, 2020. The biggest discounts go to the earliest buyers. Visit Kickstarter and search for Stealth Elite to find the campaign, which runs until Dec. 31, 2020.

Savage Sponsors Maps at IDATR

Savage Arms, a long-time exhibitor at Industry Day at the Range, has joined the 2020 event as the official sponsor of the event’s range maps.

With more than 200 exhibitors and 75 shooting lanes spread over 300 acres, these maps assist in efficient navigation of the expansive event at the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club in Boulder City, Nevada.

“It is an honor to have Savage Arms step up their involvement at Industry Day at the Range,” Cathy Williams, Co-owner of Industry Day. “Savage continues to lead the industry with innovative products and what better avenue then this premier event.”

Savage will unveil several new guns at Industry Day, including its new Precision line of rifles, and offer an opportunity for attendees and media to get trigger time with all of its latest product offerings.

More information can be found at SHOTShowRangeDay.com.

MGE Newest Distributor for Sturm, Ruger

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. announces the addition of MGE Wholesale as an independent distributor of Ruger firearms in the United States.

“We are thrilled to be adding MGE as a distributor,” said Shawn Leska, Vice President of Sales at Ruger. “As one of the few firearms manufacturers committed to two-step distribution, Ruger is always looking for ways to improve its network. We are confident that MGE will help us achieve our long-term goals and better serve the shooting sports market,” he concluded.

Based in South Bend, Indiana, MGE is a nationwide distributor of firearms, ammunition and shooting sport accessories. With more than 20 years of experience, MGE and its dedicated staff are very knowledgeable about the firearms industry and the needs of their customers. Offering a diverse inventory, MGE provides retailers with products and services to help grow their business.

“It is evident that our company values are strongly aligned,” said Brad Foster, President of MGE. “We are proud to become a full line distributor of Ruger products and are looking forward to introducing exciting exclusives together in 2020.”

MGE Wholesale plans to start shipping Ruger products immediately.

Chattanooga Shooting Supplies Adds Christensen Arms

Chattanooga Shooting Supplies is proud to add Christensen Arms to its long gun offerings, helping its dealer base reach a broader cross section of hunters and shooters.

“Once again, we are responding to the needs of our customers,” said Ron Staffieri, President of Chattanooga Shooting Supplies. “We are in an era where shooters and hunters want cutting edge engineering and technology and that’s exactly what Christensen Arms brings to the table”.

Founded in Utah in 1995, with roots in the aerospace industry, Christensen Arms developed the first carbon fiber barrel. With material and processes never before seen in the industry, Christensen Arms builds some of the lightest, most precise rifles available at any price.

Chattanooga Shooting Supplies was founded in 1977.

Cook New Director of Marketing for Primary Arms

Miranda Cook is the new Director of Marketing for Primary Arms.

“I’m honored to be part of the Primary Arms team," Cook said. "Currently, the company’s strong forward momentum presents a wide range of opportunity, and I hope to help expand the brand’s market share throughout its reach.”

Cook joins Primary Arms with many years of experience as a consultant within the firearms industry. With a wide array of experience with companies ranging from start-ups to large-scale corporations, Miranda’s expertise will provide Primary Arms a firm backing through its rapid growth.

“It is rare that a candidate checks all the boxes, but Miranda does that and more,” said Marshall Lerner, CEO of Primary Arms. “Her depth of industry experience and strong leadership skills come at the perfect time for Primary Arms. Our online retail arm continues to expand its product offerings, while our Optics Division experiences unprecedented international growth. With the continued development of our LE/MIL Program, we’re happy to have such a comprehensive leader on our team.”

Cook's responsibilities will focus on establishing the overarching Primary Arms marketing strategy, including key aspects of brand, promotion, and positioning. Miranda’s leadership will be a key driver in Primary Arms’ presence within the industry as a manufacturer and retailer alike.

1791 Gunleather Adds Crow Shootng Supply

1791 Gunleather has increased dealer assistance with the addition of Crow Shooting Supply as a new wholesale partner.

Crow Shooting Supply is a nationally-recognized distributor that provides small gun shops and retailers with firearms, ammunition, reloading equipment and shooting accessories. By joining Crow’s Shooting Supply’s members’ only website, shops and retailers can access Crow’s wide variety of products at wholesale pricing.

“Crow Shooting Supply will stock our products and provide convenient user-friendly ordering with efficient delivery in order to help retailers achieve success,” said 1791 Gunleather CEO Ramiro M. Romani.

Retailers interested in obtaining 1791 Gunleather products through Crow Shooting Supply may call 1(800) 264-2493 or visit crowshootingsupply.com. For information about stocking 1791 Gunleather, contact 1791 Gunleather National Sales Director Janette Palmer at  janette@1791gunleather.com.