NRA Publications’ 2022 Golden Bullseye Awards—now in its 20th year—have been announced. The Golden Bullseye Awards recognize the firearm industry’s top products as voted on by the NRA Publications’ editors. This is the second year that NRA Women has submitted nominations.
“We are pleased to announce the winners of the 20th Anniversary Golden Bullseye Awards,” said Doug Hamlin, executive director of NRA Publications. “These awards, started 20 years ago, are individually selected by the veteran and respected editors of the NRA Publications Division and confirmed by our management team through rigorous a selection process,” said Hamlin “When it comes to the NRA Golden Bullseye Awards bestowed by American Rifleman, American Hunter, Shooting Illustrated and NRAWomen.com, they epitomize what NRA members seek in their shooting and hunting equipment—outstanding performance, innovation and value,” Hamlin continued. “These are the industry’s best new products, representative of the top products introduced by the firearm industry for NRA members—in a time of COVID as well as when demand has surpassed record levels—and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the winners.”
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.
Whereas the Golden Bullseye Award acknowledges the finest products available in the shooting sports, 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.
The 2022 Golden Bullseye Awards will be presented in person at an invitation-only event during the 2022 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, Texas, and will include recognition of Dennis Reese, CEO-owner of Springfield Armory. Reese was named the Golden Bullseye Awards Pioneer recipient in 2021, but has not been able to receive the honor in person in the wake of the cancellation of the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits.
2022 NRA Golden Bullseye Award Winners
NRA Women
Handgun of the Year
Walther PDP Compact
Gear of the Year
Federal Premium Punch 22 LR
Industry Woman of the Year
Heidi Rao
American Rifleman
Rifle Of The Year
Ruger Left Hand 10/22 Competition
Shotgun Of The Year
Smith & Wesson M&P12
Handgun Of The Year
Springfield SA-35
Tactical Gun Of The Year
Kel-Tec P50
Optic Of The Year
Crimson Trace Brushline Pro 4-16X
Ammunition Product Of The Year
Hornady Subsonic
Accessory Of The Year
Mantis Blackbeard
American Hunter
Rifle of the Year
Savage Impulse
Shotgun of the Year
Benelli SBE3 20-gauge
Handgun of the Year
Colt Anaconda
Muzzleloader of the Year
CVA Paramount HTR .40-caliber
Ammunition Product of the Year
Winchester Ammunition 6.8 Western
Optic of the Year
ATN Thor 4 Thermal Riflescope
Gear
FORLOH AllClima Softshell clothing w/RECCO
Shooting Illustrated
Handgun Of The Year
Kimber R7 Mako
Rifle of the Year
Rock River Arms RBG
Shotgun of the Year
EAA Churchill (entire line)
Optic of the Year
Trijicon RMRcc
Ammunition Product of the Year
Federal Force X2 buckshot
Accessory of the Year
Axil GS Extreme earbuds
NRA Pioneer Award Winner
Honoring Dennis Reese (2021 Golden Bullseye recipient)
