The Outdoor Wire

Industry Update

KDG, headquartered in Seymour, Connecticut, officially transitioned to its new brand identity after dealers, distributors, and customers already referred to the company by the abbreviated name. Owner Stephen Duhaime and Director of Sales & Marketing Chris Bardugone emphasized the move simplifies market recognition while maintaining unchanged leadership, engineering philosophy, and product standards.

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Guns.com announced its newest Dealer Advisory Council comprising six firearm retailers and pawnbrokers including Mike Loy, Bert Inslinger, Anthony Vanegas, Hannah Hopkins, Tim Hensley, and Sam Smith. The council guides Guns.com's strategic initiatives supporting its network of over 2,000 independent dealers and has influenced major platform enhancements and the launch of the Auctions platform and expanded suppressor marketplace.

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Lodestar Technology® and the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 15th at Lodestar's Chattanooga headquarters to celebrate the opening of their manufacturing facility for the LNK9, a user-authorized 9mm firearm platform. The event will feature leadership remarks, facility tours, and a press conference with the Lodestar team.

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The Briefing FFL Compliance Summit, taking place September 23–25, 2026 at the W Hotel Dallas, has confirmed ATF Director Rob Cekada, Chief Counsel Robert Leider, and other top federal officials as speakers. The inaugural conference addresses 34 pending ATF rule changes affecting the country's 70,000-plus active FFLs, with early bird registration at $399 through July 31.

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The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) has expanded voting membership eligibility to U.S. suppressor manufacturers and designers. SAAMI recently published the Z299.6-2025 voluntary industry standard for firearm sound suppressors, developed with input from suppressor, firearm, and ammunition manufacturers.

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The NSSF announces the Second Annual NSSF Legal Symposium scheduled for October 6-7 in Washington, D.C. The event features CLE programming for general counsels and legal staff of NSSF Patron Members and SAAMI Legislative & Legal Affairs Committee members covering firearm and ammunition industry legal topics.

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KDG, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Seymour, Connecticut, announced proactive steps to eliminate marketplace confusion affecting dealers, distributors, and end users. The company, known for its patented Kinect quick-detach system and SideLok optic mounting solutions, is implementing a long-term strategy to strengthen dealer relationships and reinforce its brand identity in the firearms industry.

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Murray Road Agency, a strategic marketing firm serving the outdoor industry, announced five new team members at its Charleston, S.C. office: Emily Roudebush (Communications Specialist), Lisa LeViness (Email Marketing Specialist), Isabel Pentaleri (Senior Project Manager), Rachel Holder (Graphic Designer), and Brett Stayton (Affiliate Marketing Manager). CEO Tim Brandt highlighted the expansion as part of the agency's continued growth and commitment to delivering exceptional results for outdoor brands.

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Kinetic Development Group (KDG) announced a new affiliate marketing program through AvantLink, enabling content creators and influencers to earn commissions promoting KDG's firearm accessories and optic mounting solutions. The partnership strengthens KDG's connection with the shooting sports community while providing creators access to marketing assets and performance tracking.

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Insight Media Stream, a performance marketing company specializing in Search, Social, and Programmatic advertising for the outdoor industry, will showcase its proprietary campaign technology at ICast 2026 in Orlando. The company uses AI-driven automation combined with human strategic oversight to optimize digital campaigns and capture high-intent consumer moments for outdoor brands.

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