Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Competition pistol maker Rideout Arsenal is packing up and heading to Georgia.
And according to the company, Virginia’s increasingly hostile political climate toward the firearms industry played a major role in the decision.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced this week that Rideout Arsenal will invest $22 million in a new manufacturing facility in Thomasville, creating 120 jobs over the next several years.
For a company that just burst onto the scene with one of the most innovative pistols we saw at SHOT Show 2026, that’s a significant move.
Another Firearms Company Votes With Its Feet
If the story sounds familiar, that’s because it is.
For years, firearms manufacturers have been leaving states that continue piling on gun restrictions and anti-industry legislation. Companies have headed for states that not only respect the Second Amendment but also make it easier to do business.
Rideout Arsenal’s founders, Travis and Kelsey Rideout, explained why they’re making the move.
SEE ALSO: Virginia Prosecutors Refuse to Enforce New ‘Assault Weapon’ Ban
“This relocation was not something we originally planned to pursue,” they said. “The reality is that recent anti-gun legislation in Virginia created significant uncertainty for our company and ultimately forced us to look for a state where we could continue operating, investing, and growing with confidence.”
Translation?
If you’re trying to build guns for a living, it’s probably not ideal when politicians keep threatening the future of your industry.
From SHOT Show Standout to Major Expansion
GunsAmerica covered Rideout Arsenal at SHOT Show 2026, where Riley Baxter got hands-on with the company’s eye-catching Dragon pistol.
And “eye-catching” might be underselling it.
The Dragon is a radically different take on the modern competition handgun. Instead of a traditional locked-breech design, it uses a lever-delayed blowback system combined with a fixed barrel and an absurdly low bore axis. The result is a pistol designed specifically to run fast, flat, and accurately during competition.
The gun also features a non-reciprocating optic setup, full modularity, ambidextrous controls, and compatibility with Springfield Echelon magazines.
In short, it looked like somebody handed a blank sheet of paper to an engineer and said, “Forget everything you know about handguns. Start over.”
The result was one of the most talked-about pistols we saw all year.
Why Georgia Won
The new facility will be located in Thomasville’s Plantation Oak Industrial Park, with additional expansion planned in the coming years.
Rideout Arsenal says it will hire for:
- Production positions
- Engineering roles
- Administrative staff
- Management positions
Governor Kemp pointed directly to Georgia’s business climate and support for constitutional freedoms as reasons manufacturers continue choosing the Peach State.
“Georgia attracts job creators from all over the country and world because we work with them, not against them,” Kemp said. That message appears to be resonating.
While some states continue searching for new ways to regulate firearms businesses, Georgia keeps collecting the jobs, payroll, and investment that come with them.
The Bigger Picture
The move comes at an interesting time.
Virginia’s new restrictions on Modern Sporting Rifles and magazines have already sparked lawsuits and a surge in firearm purchases across the state. Now the Commonwealth is also losing one of its most innovative firearms manufacturers.
Meanwhile, Georgia gains 120 jobs, $22 million in investment, and a company whose flagship product has already generated significant buzz throughout the firearms industry.
That’s a pretty good trade if you’re Georgia.
And for Rideout Arsenal, it appears the company has found a place where it can focus on building guns instead of worrying about whether politicians will try to regulate it out of existence.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.
