When I stepped into my new role over the last few months here at DonnyFL, Saber Tactical, and Karma Airguns, I knew I wasn’t just walking into a marketing gig—I was joining a movement. A movement built around precision, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to shooters. And just a few weeks into this new chapter, I found myself at the intersection of passion and perseverance.
Let’s rewind the tape to April.
I had just wrapped up a turkey hunt with my buddy Keith from the 68Whiskey YouTube channel. Driving back through the rugged countryside, leaving Kentucky ticks and turkey feathers in the rearview mirror, I started thinking about my to-do list. When I first started this new role, I was given a list of content creators who had reached out to our company, interested in highlighting our gear. At the top of my list of to-dos? Forge deeper relationships with the voices in our industry. Not just for product reviews or shout-outs—but to create real partnerships with content creators who share our values. People who live and breathe this sport the way we do.
And high on that list was Noor from the Dollar Sportsman YouTube Channel.
Noor had reached out about running the Karma Red Panda during the RMAC 2025 benchrest competition and doing a review. So on my trip back from Kentucky, I returned his call and we chatted about his goals for both competition and content creation. This seemed like a good fit, but I didn't realize where this all would go after the dust settled at RMAC. The next step was to get him a Karma Red Panda prepped and shipped off to him for review.
And that’s when my good friend PJ Clarke stepped in. PJ is one of our lead technical experts here at Karma Airguns—the person who developed the baseline tune for the Karma Red Panda for both pellets and slugs. He took an extra step above and beyond our normal baseline tuning and prepped Noor’s Red Panda with the kind of meticulous care only a fellow competitor would understand. PJ doesn’t just dial in an airgun. He forges a balance between power and precision. The result? A rifle that feels less like a tool and more like an extension of the shooter.
Fast forward a few weeks. Noor releases his deep dive review of the Karma Red Panda. Thoughtful, balanced, and packed with insight. But just as we started prepping for RMAC, I got word: Noor was hurt.
And not just a pulled muscle or rolled ankle. We’re talking full-blown injury—torn ligaments, bone fragments, immobility. The kind of damage that doesn’t just sideline you—it puts your season in question. I reached out immediately, and he confirmed what I feared: there was a strong chance he wouldn’t be able to shoot RMAC at all.
I mentally shelved it. I figured we’d regroup in the fall for the Extreme Benchrest competition.
But then RMAC week arrived.
The morning of the competition, I’m at the range, talking shop with some airgun buddies, when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn—and there he is. Noor. Limping. Braced. Carried in part by his friend. But grinning.
I was stunned. He could barely walk. Just getting from the car to the firing line was an ordeal. But there he was—smiling, ready to compete, and lugging the Karma Red Panda like it was a battle standard.
That’s grit.
That’s commitment.
And it didn’t stop there.
Noor shot his relay. And not just “got through it”—he dominated. His personal all-time high score on his day one card was a 233. In fact, he topped his relay and punched his ticket to the finals. That number hit hard. I’ve shot alongside Noor for years.
I pulled him aside and asked him straight up—what’s your usual score? He was honest. Low 200s. Teens sometimes. But here he was, stepping into the 230 club with a busted ankle and twitchy Utah wind all around him.
Let me paint the picture clearly. RMAC 2025 was unforgiving. Winds weren’t heavy, but they were deceptive—shifting tailwinds that would sneak in from your back-right and lift pellets off target with surgical unpredictability. Benchrest shooters know this is the worst-case scenario. You can’t spot it. You can’t time it. You can only feel it. And somehow—some way—Noor adapted.
The top score in the RMAC Finals was 231 with 5X. A true high-water mark for the Karma Red Panda as well. By the end of the event, almost half of all Karma Red Pandas made it into the finals. Ben from The Pellet Shop came in second with his Karma Red Panda. But Noor? Noor was the one that made the story unforgettable taking the top podium spot.
Because here’s the thing about gear—it can’t shoot itself.
You can tune a rifle to perfection. Engineer the most balanced regulator, the most efficient plenum, the most rigid chassis, the most accurate barrel. But in the end, it still requires someone with the composure and willpower to harness it when it matters most.
But Noor’s performance wasn’t just about grit—it made a clear statement about the Karma Red Panda: this platform has the ability to turn good shooters into champions. We’ve seen Thayne Simmons win back-to-back podium finishes with the Karma Red Panda, but for many of us who have shot alongside Thayne for years, we know the guy could beat most of us with a Red Ryder BB gun. He’s just that good. What’s really caught our attention, though, is this new wave of competitors—shooters who were historically middle of the pack—now landing in finals, and even taking podium spots, ever since the Red Panda launched. It’s not hype. It’s happening. And RMAC 2025 proved it.
That’s what Noor did.
He showed up broken and left a benchmark.
And to me, that’s what Karma Airguns is all about.
See, the Red Panda isn’t just a precision instrument—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when engineering and resilience collide. It’s the airgun built for people like Noor. For shooters who don’t make excuses. For competitors who redefine limits. For airgunners who rise when the rest would sit out.
Our motto at Saber Tactical is “Made for Champions.” But I’ll take it a step further—this year at RMAC, I learned that champions aren’t always defined by podiums or prizes. They’re defined by presence. By showing up when it hurts. By pushing through when it’s easier to quit. By leading with heart, guided by faith, and anchored in skill.
Noor, in my book, you earned that title.
So here’s to first impressions that last. To unexpected comebacks. To Karma Red Pandas on firing lines. And to the storytellers like Noor, who remind us all why we fell in love with this sport in the first place.
And if you haven’t already, check out Noor’s video review of the Karma Red Panda. It’s more than a review. It’s the beginning of a story that’s just getting started.
Because this isn’t just airgunning.
This is Karma.
