The Golden Bullseye Awards recognize the firearm industry’s top products as voted on by NRA Publications’ staff editors. “Last year was one of massive new product introductions from the recreational shooting sports industry,” said NRA Publications’ Executive Director Doug Hamlin. “As a result, the NRA Publications editorial staff had some tough decisions to make to identify the best all new products.”
The awards are selected by the editorial staffs of four of NRA Publications’ properties through a rigorous evaluation process, and they are each reviewed by NRA Publications’ management. “Thank you to the dedicated NRA Publications editorial staffers who tested and evaluated hundreds of new products before making their 2024 Golden Bullseye selections,” said Hamlin.
The awards are presented by American Rifleman, “the World’s Oldest and Largest Firearm Authority,” NRA’s American Hunter magazine, the world’s largest circulation hunting magazine, NRA’s most contemporary Official Journal, Shooting Illustrated, as well as by NRA Publication’s fastest-growing web property, NRAWomen.com.
The Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award specifically honors outstanding personal achievement. The Pioneer Award spotlights the exemplary achievement and cumulative body of work of an individual, or members of a family, team or partnership, responsible for the development and introduction of shooting equipment that has made a profound, positive and enduring impact on the way Americans shoot and hunt.
Selected for the 2024 Pioneer Award is Brandon Maddox. “A heartfelt congratulations to Silencer Central founder and CEO Brandon Maddox on his Pioneer award recognition,” said Hamlin. “Brandon epitomizes the entrepreneurial spirit that is alive and well in United States of America. He has really opened up the silencer new product category to the masses.”
This year there is a new and significant Golden Bullseye Award. While most acknowledge the finest products available in the shooting sports, the “A1F Freedom Award” from the NRA’s America’s 1st Freedom is for a person (or team) who has distinguished themselves as a standout defender of our Second Amendment freedom in business, politics and/or American culture. Some recipients might be defenders of our right to keep and bear arms in the political arena. Others might be doing so in Hollywood or in the media. And still others might be impacting the shooting sports in business in such a positive way that they are instrumental in enhancing and, therefore, saving this precious freedom for future generations. Whatever the case, they are being commended for all they do and have done for our freedom.
Larry and Brenda Pottterfield, founders and owners of MidwayUSA, were selected as the inaugural recipients of the “A1F Freedom Award” as nominated by the editors of NRA Publications’ Official Journal America’s 1sT Freedom. “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Larry and Brenda Potterfield for more than 35 years,” said Hamlin. “As shooting and hunting enthusiasts themselves their passion for everything in the shooting sports industry, and the people who participate in the activities that have shaped American culture is unparalleled. Larry and Brenda are selfless and most generous. Their long-standing support of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is most appreciated.”
To qualify for consideration for a Golden Bullseye Award, the product must have been:
- Recently introduced and available to consumers prior to the selection of the Golden Bullseye Awards
- Used/tested by a staff member or regular contributor to the magazine and/or affiliated media
- Reliable in the field, meeting or exceeding the evaluator’s expectations
- Innovative in design and function
- Readily perceived as a value to the purchaser
- Styled in a manner befitting the shooting and hunting industry and, perhaps more importantly, its enthusiasts.
The 2024 Golden Bullseye Awards as well as the Pioneer Award and the Freedom Award will be presented in person at an invitation-only event during the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Dallas, Texas.
American Rifleman 2024 Golden Bullseye Awards
Rifle Of The Year: Springfield Armory 2020 Rimfire
Shotgun Of The Year: CZ 712 G3
Handgun Of The Year: EAA MCP35 PI Ops
Tactical Product Of The Year: Trailblazer Pivot
Optic Of The Year: Trijicon RCR
Ammunition Product Of The Year: Federal Force X2 Shorty
Accessory Of The Year: MDT .308/6.5 Creedmoor Polymer AICS 3-Round Magazine
2024 American Hunter Golden Bullseye Awards
Rifle of the Year: Marlin Model 336 Classic
Shotgun of the Year: TriStar LR94 Lever-Action .410
Ammunition Product of the Year: Remington 360 Buckhammer
Optic of the Year: Burris Veracity PH Riflescope
Gear of the Year: Hornady Security Mobilis Safe
Shooting Illustrated 2024 Golden Bullseye Awards
Rifle of the Year: Smith & Wesson FPC
Handgun of the Year: Springfield Armory Echelon
Shotgun of the Year: Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol
Ammunition of the Year: Speer Gold-Dot for Pistol Caliber Carbines
Optic of the Year: Holosun SCRS
Accessory of the Year: Magpul DAKA Grid
New for 2024 is the Shooting Illustrated Suppressor of the Year. This new category reflects the growing interest and acceptance of suppressors by the gun-owning public, as well as the popularity of suppressors as reflected by sales volume and usage throughout all shooting pursuits.
Suppressor of the Year: Silencer Central Banish Speed K
NRA Women 2024 Golden Bullseye Awards
Industry Woman of the Year: Karen Butler, SLG2
Handgun of the Year: Ruger Security 380 LiteRack
Gear/Accessory of the Year: The Headrest Safe
America’s 1st Freedom Inaugural Freedom Award: Larry and Brenda Potterfield, Founders and Owners, MidwayUSA 
This year there is a new and significant Golden Bullseye Award. While most acknowledge the finest products available in the shooting sports, the “A1F Freedom Award” from the NRA’s America’s 1st Freedom is for a person (or team) who has distinguished themselves as a standout defender of our Second Amendment freedom in business, politics and/or American culture. Some recipients might be defenders of our right to keep and bear arms in the political arena. Others might be doing so in Hollywood or in the media. And still others might be impacting the shooting sports in business in such a positive way that they are instrumental in enhancing and, therefore, saving this precious freedom for future generations. Whatever the case, they are being commended for all they do and have done for our freedom.
2024 Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award Winner: Brandon Maddox, Founder/CEO Silencer Central
Brandon Maddox has revolutionized the suppressor industry in the United States in a mere 15 years. More so than any person since perhaps Hiram Maxim, the inventor of the modern suppressor, Maddox has changed the landscape of suppressor use and ownership. Maddox has mainstreamed the benefits of legal suppressor use for the American shooting public. A trained pharmacist originally from South Carolina, he moved to South Dakota, acquired a Federal Firearms License (FFL) and started a business selling suppressors, typically at gun shows. But you can only buy a suppressor from a dealer in your home state. So, potential customers from other states were slipping through his fingers. That sent Maddox on a course to make it as easy as possible for an authorized purchaser to buy a suppressor from his company, legally.
Thanks to NRA and its members, suppressor ownership is legal in 42 states, and Silencer Central has a representative in each one—allowing a suppressor to be shipped to the customer’s door. Getting a suppressor can be an intimidating process from the paperwork side, so Maddox set about simplifying it and demystifying how one actually purchases a suppressor. Maddox’s crew at Silencer Central walks customers through the process, assisting them with the fingerprints, photographs and submission of their paperwork. Silencer Central worked with the BATF to create an efficient electronic process for submitting the paperwork. When you meet Brandon Maddox, you can see that the spark of the guy on the other side of the gun show table is still there, backed by a solid business plan that has changed and made accessible an entire category.
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