Fall Fest 2025 Gear: What Female Competitive Shooters Are Really Using

During Fall Fest, A Girl & A Gun captured a comprehensive snapshot of competitors’ gear. This data is particularly meaningful because women are not merely participating in the sport, they are actively driving trends and making long-term investments in the gear they choose. These insights go beyond numbers; they reveal real-world purchasing and usage habits of female shooters.

Even if a shooter prefers certain firearms or gear for everyday training, she will usually select different equipment for competition. Sometimes gear decisions are tactical, such as using a rifle or optic better suited for longer distances or heavy props. Other times they are strategic, based on how she will rank compared to others within a division. Practical factors also play a role, including travel limits, weather, reliability, or other factors. In short, gear choice depends on both match design and personal logistics. This dataset highlights the gear women brought to Fall Fest 2025 and some insights to those choices.

For brands, understanding which models, accessories, and gear resonate with women is essential to engaging this rapidly expanding market. As the nation’s largest women’s firearms organization, A Girl & A Gun specializes in gathering and analyzing this data, providing sponsors and manufacturers with actionable intelligence to make smarter marketing, product, and design decisions.

Pistols: Performance Meets Preference

Fall Fest data highlights clear trends among women competitors for their competition pistol choices:

Top Brands by Popularity:

• Canik – 18%
• Staccato / STI – 17%
• CZ – 12%
• Glock – 11%
• Walther – 10%

Most Popular Models:

• Canik SFx Rival-S
• CZ Shadow
• Glock 34
• Staccato XL
• Walther PDP F-Series

These pistols are known for competition‑focused design features that make them fast and reliable on the clock: longer sight radius and slide/barrel geometry for precise aiming, responsive triggers with short, crisp breaks, and weight and design that keep recoil and muzzle rise manageable. They have ergonomic grips for a secure, repeatable hold and are built for standard round counts. Most importantly, many are competition‑ready out of the box with many aftermarket options for sights, triggers, optics, and parts.

Key Takeaways:

Steel and ergonomics are driving decisions. Across PDP, Rival‑S, CZ, and Staccato, shooters are choosing:

• Heavier frames
• Better recoil management
• Purpose-built competition ergonomics

Steel-frame and 2011-style pistols (Staccato, Canik Rival‑S, CZ, Walther steel variants) collectively represent a majority preference, signaling a shift away from lightweight polymer for serious competition.

This is not entry-level gear. The concentration around premium, performance-driven platforms reinforces that these shooters are intentional, informed, and investing in capability, not just brand familiarity. These are women who brough specific pistols to help them win the match.

Optics: Clarity and Confidence

Women competitors are embracing pistol-mounted optics, with 79% opting for red dot sights over traditional iron sights.

Top Optic Brands:

• Holosun – 66%
• Trijicon – 16%
• Vortex – 11%

Dot Color Preferences:

• Red – 61%
• Green – 39%

While there has been a consistent increase in the use of green dots among female shooters, this data shows that red dots are still preferred. Also, the addition of a modified tac ops division that allows the use of pistol-mounted optics, without forcing a competitor to move to the open division, enable more women to use red dot technology in pistol and multigun matches like Fall Fest.

Holsters & Mag Pouches: Function Meets Fit

Quality and versatility are top priorities for female competitive shooters for holsters and mag pouches.

Top Holster Brands:

• Black Scorpion – 19%
• Safariland – 13%
• Weber Tactical – 11%

Top Magazine Pouch Brands:

• Safariland – 14%
• Black Scorpion – 12%
• Blade Tech – 12%

These brands are resonating with women who demand gear that works as hard as they do, performing flawlessly without compromising fit or comfort.

Rifles: Customization and Control

Rifle selection reflects a desire for precision, adaptability, and personal customization. Most rifles were custom/hybrid builds, which were 18% of all rifles at the match.

Top Rifle Brands:

• Smith & Wesson – 9%
• Palmetto State Armory – 5%
• Stag Arms – 5%
• Colt – 5%
• Sig Sauer – 5%

Optics Usage:

• Scopes – 82%
• Non-Magnified Optics – 16%

Top Scope Brands:

• Vortex Optics – 52%
• Primary Arms – 15%
• Sig Sauer – 13%

Because the Multigun Challenge at Fall Fest 2025 had targets to nearly 700 yards, most women were equipped with models that enhance long-range visibility and accuracy.

Shotguns: Reliability Rules

Shotgun preferences highlight a focus on trusted, high-performance platforms that excel under pressure.

Top Brands:

• Benelli – 30%
• Beretta – 24%
• Mossberg – 23%

These brands are popular in multigun matches because they offer the reliability and versatility needed to meet the dynamic demands of 3-gun competition.

PPE: Safety with Style

Women competitors are choosing personal protective equipment that offers both safety and comfort.

Eye Protection:

• Hunters HD Gold – 40%
• Oakley – 15%

Hearing Protection:

• Axil – 17%
• Walker’s – 13%

Comfort, clarity, and protection are non-negotiable, and these brands are winning the trust of female shooters nationwide.

Apparel: Gear That Moves With You

Performance-driven apparel is a priority for women navigating challenging stages and natural terrain.

Belts:

• Safariland – 31%
• Black Scorpion – 14%
• Double Alpha – 11%
• Kore Essentials – 11%

Pants:

• 5.11 Tactical – 28%
• Duluth Trading Co. – 11%

Women are selecting gear that supports mobility, durability, and style. These brands showing that functionality doesn’t mean compromising on confidence or appearance.

Why This Data Matters

This gear data 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.

A Girl & A Gun provides sponsors, manufacturers, and retailers with actionable insights that help them understand, engage, and serve this powerful demographic. By leveraging this data, brands can tailor products, marketing strategies, and experiences to meet the evolving needs of the fastest-growing segment in shooting sports.

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How This Fall Fest Data Differs from Conference Data

A comparison of the gear women brought to National Conference and Fall Fest reveals significant overlap, highlighting consistent preferences across both events. Popular pistol brands include Glock, Walther, Staccato/STI, Canik, CZ, and several others.

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.

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About Fall Fest

Fall Fest is an annual event that hosts the nation’s only all-ladies multigun match and combines competition, camaraderie, and skill development in a single, high-energy experience. Participants challenge themselves on exciting natural-terrain stages, learn from expert instructors, and connect with like-minded 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. Read the press release about Fall Fest 2025.

About A Girl & A Gun

A Girl & A Gun (AG & AG) is the nation’s largest and most influential women’s firearms organization, with members in every state and hundreds of host ranges nationwide. AG & AG empowers women to live lives of strength and confidence through expert firearms education, competitive opportunities, and a vibrant, supportive community.

AG & AG is more than a club—it’s a movement redefining who belongs in the shooting sports. Signature events like Girl’s Night Out and the National Conference welcome beginners with warmth and guidance while providing elite training and competition for seasoned shooters.

For ranges, instructors, and corporate partners, AG & AG offers a valuable platform to engage a passionate and growing community of women shooters. Partnerships expand reach, enhance offerings, and break down barriers across self-defense, pistol, rifle, and shotgun disciplines.

At the heart of AG & AG is a dedicated team of qualified instructors and mentors who ensure every woman, regardless of background or experience, feels confident, capable, and inspired. Together, AG & AG and its partners are building a thriving community where women not only learn to shoot but gain the skills and confidence to thrive in every aspect of life.

Whether you’re a woman seeking connection and growth or a business looking to partner with a powerful movement, AG & AG offers a unique opportunity to be part of something bigger. For more information about A Girl & A Gun, or to learn how to join, please visit AGirlandAGun.org. Follow AG & AG on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Pinterest for social media and corporate news.