Every year after its spring national conference, A Girl & A Gun (AG&AG)—the largest all-women national shooting league—reports on the attendees’ favorite guns and gear, based on data compiled from its more than 750 participants, which is derived from a survey of the firearms the women declare as they go through the required gear check when they arrive at the event. At the 2025 National Conference, various models of Glocks—specifically the G19, G34 and G17—collectively gave the manufacturer the highest representation among brands, but AG & AG reported that the Walther PDP F-Series retained its individual top spot for a second consecutive year as the ladies’ preferred overall pistol. And that’s just the firearms. The gear that the women carried with them is also logged in, offering an exact look at the specific gear they use and carry in their everyday lives beyond the conference.
A Girl & A Gun also hosts an annual Fall Fest, which hosts "the nation’s only all-ladies multigun match in which participants challenge themselves on natural-terrain stages, learn from expert instructors, and connect with likeminded women who share a passion for shooting sports. Events include 3-Gun University, the Team Pistol Challenge, and the Multigun Challenge, offering every competitor the opportunity to grow, compete, and make lifelong connections."
As with the National Conference, detailed information about the participants' gear is compiled and reported on. That data is now available, and NRA Women concurs with AG&AG that this data matters because “it is a roadmap for brands seeking to connect with women shooters. These athletes make informed, long-term investments in their gear, and their preferences are shaping the future of the firearms industry.”
Because of the competition component of Fall Fest, much of the gear used by the women were selected with competition shooting in mind. That said, AG&AG reports that there was a significant overlap of guns and gear between the National Conference and Fall Fest.
For example, AG&AG reports the following:
At National Conference, the Walther PDP was the most common model, representing 9.7% of pistols, closely mirroring its 10% share at Fall Fest. Conversely, the Canik SFx Rival led Fall Fest with 10% of pistols, though it accounted for only 2.4% at National Conference, which is not surprising that it is favored in competitive settings over general defensive and marksmanship training.
Optics preferences are similarly aligned, with Holosun emerging as the top choice and red-dot sights generally preferred over green-dot options. Trijicon is frequently selected for upgraded iron sights. While most shooters retain stock triggers, upgraded options from Glock Performance, Apex Tactical, Timney, and Cajun Gun Works appear in both datasets.
When it comes to belts and pants, 5.11 Tactical, Black Scorpion, Kore Essentials, Duluth Trading Co., were well represented at both events. National Conference participants tended to favor Nexbelt for belts, whereas Fall Fest featured specialized competition gear from Safariland.
Shooter safety equipment also shows strong consistency, with Hunters HD Gold, Oakley, Wiley X, Walker’s, Howard Leight, and Peltor popular across both events. Walker’s dominates hearing protection at National Conference and is also a leading brand among competitors at Fall Fest.
Once again, NRA Women is grateful to A Girl & A Gun for its meticulous accounting of what women really want when it comes to guns and gear.
For more on Fall Fest and the National Conference, and for how to join an AG & AG league in your state, visit agirlandagun.com.
