Issue No. 8 | Sunday, October 25, 2026
Good morning.
Smith & Wesson bought Savage this week, while Beretta’s investment in Ruger reached roughly a quarter of the company.
The Craft returns with a problem some shooters know painfully well: a gun that beats up their face. Plus, a Kent ammunition recall worth checking before your next hunt.
OPENING SHOT
Smith & Wesson buys Savage for $160 million
Smith & Wesson completed its acquisition of Savage Arms on October 21, bringing Savage’s rifle and shotgun business under the same ownership as the handgun maker.
The purchase price combines approximately nine million Smith & Wesson shares with $37.5 million in cash. Savage generated about $160 million in sales over the preceding 12 months.
The ownership detail: Savage’s seller, JDH Capital, becomes Smith & Wesson’s largest shareholder, with 16.7% of the company and a seat on its board.
Smith & Wesson expects the acquisition to expand its hunting business and produce $2.5 million in initial annual cost savings.
For shotgun owners, the question is how much Smith & Wesson will invest in Savage’s shotgun lineup. The announcement emphasizes hunting and a broader firearms portfolio.
Beretta buys further into Ruger
Beretta Holding has accepted approximately 2.4 million Ruger shares for purchase at $44.80 each, an investment of about $107.5 million. That takes its ownership from roughly 9.9% to 25%.
The October 20 final results follow an oversubscribed offer: shareholders tendered about 6.1 million shares.
What does a quarter of Ruger buy? Under the companies’ cooperation agreement, Beretta has the right to designate up to two board directors, subject to approval and independence requirements. Ruger remains an independent public company.
There is a commercial relationship to build on, too. Ruger’s filing describes existing distribution arrangements with Beretta subsidiaries in parts of Europe. The agreement calls for exploring further cooperation in sales, sourcing, supply chains and manufacturing.
The practical question is whether the relationship changes the products reaching dealers or how they get there. Ruger’s September filing described further cooperation as exploratory, with no specific projects agreed.
THE CRAFT
Is your gun beating up your face?
If recoil leaves your cheek bruised or cut, gun fit is the place to start.
On this week’s Trap Talk, Richard Marshall Jr. describes shooting a stock that hurt his face because he liked how well he shot it. A properly fitted replacement eventually solved the problem.
Asked about cheek slap, Marshall’s first check is pitch: the angle of the butt pad relative to the gun’s rib. That angle needs to work with the shooter’s shoulder and mount.
He describes testing changes with washers behind the recoil pad. Depending on the shooter’s fit and mount, the adjustment may need to be at the top or bottom of the pad.
Zach Nannini adds another place to look: the comb. An adjustable comb can be tilted or angled into a position that contributes to cheek slap. He favors a parallel setup that gives a consistent sight picture as the shooter’s cheek position moves forward or back.
Stock length matters, too. Being crowded onto the front of the comb or stretching to reach the gun can complicate the fit.
Both recommend having someone knowledgeable watch you mount and shoot. With adjustable ribs, combs and butt plates, it’s easy to change several things without understanding which one helped.
Listen to Trap Talk → Start at 39:54; the pitch and comb explanation begins around 50:03.
CHIPS & CHUNKS
Check your Kent hunting loads. Kent is recalling specified lots of select 12- and 20-gauge shotshells because they may generate excessive chamber pressure, risking firearm damage and serious injury. The October 2 notice applies only when both the product code and lot number match an affected combination. Stop using matching ammunition and contact Kent for return instructions. Check the recall →
Kansas names three benefactors to its Hall of Fame. Ted Grindstaff, George Rapp and Fred Smith make up the Kansas Trapshooting Association’s 2027 Benefactor class, recognizing their support of the sport and association. Grindstaff and Rapp will be inducted posthumously. The ceremony is June 11, 2027, during the Kansas State Trapshooting Championship. Meet the class →
YOUR SHOT
Know someone whose gun leaves a mark? Send this issue their way.
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See you next Sunday,
— Dean