SHOT Show Archives

Taylors had their new Alaskan Takedown at the range for SHOT Show, and we put it through its paces. Taylors is well known in the cowboy action shooting and historical circles. The Alaskan Takedown is a departure for Taylors, and a step into the modern era by a company that primarily deals with historical interpretations of firearms from the 19th Century. And we’re smitten. The more utilitarian chamberings and compact design make the Alaskan Takedown the perfect pack gun.

The Browning Automatic Rifle is a beast of a gun. I’m not talking about the svelte modern hunting rifle; I’m talking about the chunky BAR the US Marines lugged across the scraggly patchwork islands in the Pacific. That big son-of-a-bitch the Japanese hated. I don’t blame them. I sure wouldn’t want to face a Leatherneck with a shoulder fired full auto rifle throwing .30-06. The BAR, which was designed way back in 1917, was already dated in the 1940s, as heavy rifles were slowly replaced by lighter and lighter squad automatic rifles. Yet there’s still a mystique to the old gun. Ohio Ordinance has been making semi-automatic BARs for years, but they’re making news with an “updated” version that they showed off at the SHOT Show this year.

Thermal imaging scopes have helped our military own the night. Although the cost was peanuts to the government compared to the advantages they offered, it was out of reach for most individuals. Now we’re getting closer to the point where you and I can own the night for our own hunting needs. One of the advantages of thermal imaging, of course, is that it’s entirely passive; you don’t have to emit any light or IR energy. The coyotes and hogs will never know you’re there…not until you reach out and touch them, that is. Another advantage is the ability to see through dust, smoke, rain and foliage, day or night. It’s far superior to night vision scopes, which rely on a light source like the stars, the moon or IR lights. Among the limited offerings in the consumer market, the IR Hunter from IR Defense appears to be a break-through product.

SureFire makes suppressors and tactical products, but it is best known for lights. Whether you’re talking about self-defense, military/law enforcement needs or hunting/camping, if you want a light you can depend on, you have to check out SureFire. We took a look at three of the new lights for 2014. First was the Y300 Ultra. Besides all the SureFire regular features like rugged build, dependable LED lighting and shockproof, waterproof design, the Y300 has the added ability to provide two distinct brightness levels. You can switch between 1,500 lumens for really lighting up the night, or 500 lumens for preserving battery power under less intense lighting needs.

American Tactical Imports (ATI) is a worldwide importer of firearms, ammunition and tactical gear. We stopped at ATI’s SHOT Show booth looking for the newest product to show you. They were most excited about the new hybrid AR lower, so we checked it out. It’s a good-looking piece that combines polymer with molded-in steel inserts at critical points like the buffer tube takedown and the trigger group mounting screws. It’s lightweight and comes either as a stripped lower, so you can add your own parts, or as a complete lower with a retractable rear stock. MSRP is $50 for the stripped version and $170 for the complete lower.

We had fun at the Limbsaver booth. If you want to tame the recoil on your new .300 Win Mag or .30-06 rifle, Limbsaver has just the products. I use their slip on butt pad on my Tikka T3 lightweight .308, and it makes a big difference in felt recoil. But did you know they have a resonator that improves rifle accuracy? For just ten bucks. It might get you some strange looks at the range, but if it works, it’s worth it. They also make AR stocks and have a line of slings. We also learned some secrets of how their pads work so well. Check it out in the video, but don’t tell anyone.

Serious birders and those who want the best for hunting and other field activities gravitate toward Swarovski. The combination of field flattening lenses, quality glass, effective lens coatings and ergonomic design provide superior performance. The SLC Series 15×56 binoculars, for example, deliver exceptional light-gathering abilities in low-light situations like the at dusk and dawn. The performance comes at the cost of higher weight, of course. The SLC 15×56 binocs weigh 42.3 ounces. If size and weight is a concern though, Swarovski produces one of the best sets of compact binoculars you could find. The new CL pocket 8×25 binoculars fold up small at just 12.2 ounces and provide superior viewing in a pocket binocular. MSRP is $888.

Hi-Point Firearms is the first manufacturer to offer a lockable steel box in a new gun package. You can get the package with any of their 9mm, .380 ACP, .40 caliber and .45 caliber pistols. The lockbox has a simple key access, can be readily mounted wherever it’s needed, like a bedside table, inside a truck and so forth, and comes with a braided steel cable for additional security. The stand-alone price is $250. It’s great for the first-time gun buyer who doesn’t have a safe.

American Rifle Company has been building and selling some great scope mounts, but the intent has always been to build guns. The company was at SHOT Show with the prototypes for these guns, most notably the M2 precision rifle. This is a multi-caliber platform that will handle everything from .308 Winchester to .338 Lapua Magnum. While their other rifle, the M5 Mausenfield, was built on a Remington 700 footprint, the M2 has a custom footprint. American Rifle paired this custom footprint with a Springfield ejector and a Mauser type extractor. It basically cherry picked the best features of the guns out there and then invented what the designers couldn’t find, like the toroidal bolt head. The bolt head has semi circular bolt lugs. The bearing surface of the lugs engages a spherical bearing surface in the receiver, creating very strong lock up, which means that the bolt is insensitive to its alignment in the receiver. This is just one feature that contributes to the gun’s overall accuracy.

Organized in 1894 in Utica, NY, Savage Arms is one of our favorite gun makers. Not only does it make great guns, but the company sells them at excellent prices, ensuring that you’re getting real value. In keeping with its philosophy of delivering value, Savage introduced a new version of its popular Axis rifle this year. As you may know, the Axis is America’s best-selling bolt action rifle. In a gun test we did last year with a number of bolt action rifles, we were able to get one minute of angle accuracy with it. That’s all rounds into one inch at 100 yards. The new gun, dubbed the Axis II Xp, is an upgraded version of the original Axis. For an extra $89 you get the famous AccuTrigger that’s not available on the original Axis, plus an upgraded scope. The new scope is a Weaver Kaspa 3-9×40, professionally mounted and bore sighted. The scope alone is valued at $100 more than the scope on the original Axis. Add in the AccuTrigger, and you can see what I mean about Savage delivering value. The Axis II also comes in a youth model, and, for the ladies, is available in the Muddy Girl camo pattern that we’ve been seeing all over the show.

Thanks to the Army’s Individual Carbine Program, LWRC International has developed updated versions of its legacy rifles. The new IC PSD replaces the A2 PSD, and the IC A2 replaces the M6 A2. Both iterations are fully ambidextrous and incorporate a number of engineering changes to make the guns more durable and more reliable. The sexiest member of the series is the ICPDW with a 7 3/4” barrel chambered for 5.56. The big changes to this model are the retractable stock and new buffer system, which make for a more compact package—perfect for carrying under your trench coat for those low-profile, highly classified missions. LWRC International ARs are equipped with hammer forged barrels, and nickel alloy coatings on the bolt carrier, hammers and triggers for hard, greaseless, permanently lubricious surfaces.

You can always count on Nikon for high-performing optics at reasonable prices. This year, the company introduced three new products. The first is a rifle scope for the .22 LR AR, the P-22, 2-7 power with a 32 mm objective lens. It’s specifically designed for the ballistic trajectory of the .22 LR cartridge so that you can place your shots with confidence. Whether it’s shooting prairie dogs or targets, the P-22 will help you reach out to 100 yards and beyond. It’s available with either a bullet drop compensation reticle, which gives you hold points for various distances, or a turret that allows you to dial in your distance. The price is a low $179.95. For scoping out your hunting range, Nikon has improved its best-selling Monarch 5 binoculars. The use of ED glass, a low dispersion glass, reduces chromatic aberration or color fringing. This provides a clearer, crisper image with better contrast. The binoculars are also lighter now for better all-day carrying comfort. MSRP starts at $329.95. Finally, Nikon introduced the Aculon ultra compact rangefinder. Weighing just 4.4 ounces without batteries, the Aculon provides quick readings from 6-550 yards. MSRP is $169.95.

Laserlyte, based inCottonwood, Arizona, specializes in laser sights and laser based training aids. The company has created targets that record your hits from a Laserlyte training gun or a laser “bullet” that chambers in your gun and acts as a snap cap as you practice. You can even plink using their plinking can. Most of you will probably agree that shooting is fun. In fact, shooting cans is so much fun that you don’t even realize that you’re actually improving your skill set at the same time. Laserlyte has captured the fun of plinking with the Laser Plinking Cans, which flip over as you hit the target on the can. They have a range of 50 yards, so you can use them outside, in the living room or in your office–anywhere, in fact, because the system is nearly silent and uses no live ammunition. So if you’d like to practice on the cheap and still have fun, check out the Laserlyte Plinking cans.

When looking for precisely made ammunition with consistent performance, many people turn to Black Hills. In fact, Black Hills supplies all of the 5.56 match ammo to the US Military’s Service Rifle Teams and counts a host of gun manufacturers among its customers. The company’s mantra is precision made ammunition at a reasonable price. No other ammunition manufacturer makes as many calibers as Black Hills. That’s why we were so eager to see what was new for 2014. Black Hills has teamed with Sierra Bullet Company to make two new rounds. They both feature Sierra Match King tipped bullets for increased bullet coefficient. That means better aerodynamics for a flatter trajectory and more retained energy downrange. The 5.56 round uses a 77 grain tipped bullet, where the .308 uses a 175 grain tipped bullet. We also asked about ammunition supplies for the coming year. Watch the accompanying video to see what they had to say.

When you think of Hornady, the first thing that comes to mind is cutting-edge ammunition and reloading supplies. What you don’t think of is gun safes. However, Hornady’s newest product happens to be just that, although not any run-of-the-mill gun safe. Hornady has developed a single firearm safe for a dresser drawer, table, truck or wherever you want to secure your gun but get to it in a hurry. There are a lot of similar safes out there with one big distinction: You don’t have to touch this safe to open it. Using RFID, or radio frequency identification technology, Hornady has brought to market a safe that opens instantly as you’re reaching for your gun. Rapid Safe, as they call it, uses three forms of RFID devices to open the safe.

Trijicon has a loyal following with its tactical/combat sights, and the new VCOG 1-6×24 is sure to be a popular addition to the lineup. VCOG stands for Variable Combat Optical Gunsight. It’s the result of demands from Trijicon users who wanted a variable power scope with bullet drop compensation for the .223, .308, and 300 BLK rounds. The bullet drop reticle is marked for each specific round. In other words, you must specify for which round you want the ballistics information when you buy your scope. The reticle is a first or front focal plane reticle. This means that the reticle changes size when you zoom so that it maintains the same proportion with the target. A front focal plane reticle provides better information for estimating distance to the target. Its weakness is that the reticle is thinner and possibly more difficult to pick up at the lowest power when transitioning to a target. Trijicon overcomes this by providing a battery-powered lighted reticle, therefore giving you the best of both worlds. MSRP will be $2,380 when the VCOG goes on sale in May. Check out the VCOG and ACOG (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight) in the accompanying video.

Generally speaking, a company introducing a new 1911 wouldn’t make much of a stir. That’s not the case with the EAA 1911. This is the first polymer frame 1911 made by any company, and that’s got a lot of people talking. If you’re thinking, Whoa! Wait a minute. A plastic 1911? Isn’t that an oxymoron? From what we saw, no. Polymer actually works quite well with this platform. First of all, only the frame is polymer. The slide rides on a pair of steel rail systems. Second, all the accessories for the 1911 fit this gun as well. So you can use your favorite grip panels, laser grips, sights, and so forth.

The trans Atlantic relationship between US gun manufacturers and the Belgian company FNH began in 1897. John M. Browning took a number of his designs to FNH, where they were put into production. Today, you’ll find an FNH plant in Columbia, SC, where many of the company’s guns are manufactured. FNH introduced two new guns at this year’s SHOT Show – the FN 15 Rifle and the FN 15 Carbine. Although the company built these guns for law enforcement and the military for many years, these are their first semi automatic variants of the M16 and M4 that FNH has built for the commercial market. The guns both have hard anodized aluminum alloy lowers with carbon steel, chrome lined barrels.

Turnbull Manufacturing https://www.turnbullmfg.com/ Turnbull Manufacturing, located in the bucolic community of Bloomfield, NY, in the Finger Lakes region, is known far and wide for their exquisite restorations. The company does museum restorations as well as jobs for individuals who had a favorite gun damaged in a fire or bought a rare find suffering from the [...]

Crossbreed specializes in concealment, whether it’s on your person, in your car, or on a bicycle. The company is best known for its line of in-the-waistband holsters and for a modular system that utilizes the versatility of Velcro to attach holsters to duty belts, RAM mounts, flat surfaces, even handlebars. The newest product, however, is targeted to the special needs of women. The most common types of holsters simply don’t work well for women. However, just about every woman carries a pocketbook, which would be a good place to conceal a firearm. The problem is that if you drop a gun into a purse, it sinks to the bottom, making it difficult to draw quickly and consistently. Crossbreed has addressed that with yet another variation of their modular holster system. It consists of an L-shaped Velcro-lined panel to which the holster attaches. You can place your gun in whatever position you want for a quick, controlled presentation. Take look at it in action in the accompanying video.

The acronym FLIR stands for forward looking infrared. So does the company FLIR Systems, which until now has focused on thermal imaging systems for law enforcement and the military. Last Tuesday, however, the company announced its first thermal imaging system intended for the civilian market. If you’re not familiar with thermal imaging, it works by using temperature differences between various objects in the visual field to produce an image. The images that are produced are remarkable—you can see through haze, smoke, rain, even foliage, day or night. The big obstacle for us civies has been the astronomical prices. Fortunately, as in other electronic devices, prices are coming down.

Range Systems, like the name says, specializes in shooting-range systems like shoot houses for room clearing/hostage rescue types of training, as well as live fire ranges for civilian and military customers. The company’s latest product is a series of targets designed for the night vision crowd. The amazing thing about the targets is that they radiate in the infrared range of the spectrum where night vision and thermal imaging devices see, and they do it without any external power supplies. The targets reflect radiation from the night sky to make the targets more visible than heated targets. They’re also easier to set up and more resilient to damage than heated targets. Range Systems has targets for personnel, animals and even vehicles, catering to the law enforcement/personal defense folks as well as hunters and the military.

Hodgdon Powder, a leader in the reloading market, is a family-owned business in Kansas. It’s been at the forefront of producing top quality products for the reloader for the past 67 years. Innovation is part of the company philosophy, which brings us to their newest powder, CFE Pistol. CFE Pistol is an offshoot of CFE 223, introduced last year for rifle cartridges. They are both spherical powders, which means easier metering, especially when using a progressive press. The powder contains an additive Hodgdon calls “Copper Fouling Eraser” that does just what it says, reduces copper fouling.

Fiocchi was just as frustrated as the rest of us when it came to the company’s inability to keep up with the rising demand for ammunition last year. The bad news is that 2014 is expected to play out much the same. Maybe by the end of the year the increased production investment from Fiocchi and the other major ammunition manufacturers will catch up with demand. In the meantime, Fiocchi did have some good news to report. It is a new line of ammo called “Canned Heat” in reference to the nifty sealed cans, complete with desiccant, that the ammo comes in. These cans have a plastic top a la Tupperware, or clamp-on lids that you can use to reseal them. It’s not only more convenient than cardboard boxes, but also keeps your ammo clean and dry.

Looking for a new carry piece? Wait until you see the Bondhus CL380. This collapsible pocket rocket is about the size of a credit card and as thick as a cellphone in a case. The clockwork-like action looks more complex than it actually is. Simply fold open the wings, rock up the trigger mechanism, secure the whole contraption between your fingers, and you’ll have two barrels of .380 ACP and a laser ready to roll.

Ruger stopped making the venerable Red Label over-and-under (OU) shotgun two years ago. It has seemed like a long time to all the Red Label fans out there. This gun is beloved by birders and clays competitors alike, known for its ruggedness, quick handling and accurate shooting — the quintessential American OU. Rejoice my friends; the Red Label is back! So what took so long? What took so long was a complete re-engineering of the gun to make the best use of new materials and modern manufacturing methods. I’m here to tell you that it was well worth the wait. Pick one up and you’ll know instantly how true that is. The New Red Label has been re-balanced, making it livelier in the hand. The inner workings are improved and the recoil reduced. This is all around a new and improved Red Label. But I’m saving the best part for last – by using modern manufacturing methods, they’ve not only made it a more refined shotgun, they’ve also reduced the price. MSRP of the new Ruger Red Label is $1,395. Take a look for yourself in the attached video.

If you’re looking for a value-priced AR-15, Stag Arms is a must see. The company’s been building US-made ARs for the last decade. And when I say US-made, I don’t mean US assembled. Stag Arms makes every part, except for the plastic parts and a few springs, right here in the US of A. The plastic parts and springs are made here too, just not at the Stag plant. Stag, known for building left handed ARs for all us lefties, just announced two new left-handed guns. So wipe that smug smile off your face, righties. We got one too. The new rifles are the left-handed versions of the Model 3T and 3T-M Series. These ARs are chambered for 5.56, meaning they can shoot both 5.56 and .223. Guns chambered for .223 can’t fire 5.56. But you already knew that. The difference between the two series is in how the guns are outfitted. The 3T has polymer DiamondHead front and rear sights, the 3T-M has aluminum DiamondHead sights. The 3T wears a mil-spec collapsible stock, the 3T-M, a Magpul ACS, and so forth. Check it out in the video. It’s much better to see it with your own eyes. Plus Julie’s a lot easier on the peepers than my blather.

I stopped at Medford Knife and Tool (MKT) at the end of SHOT Show, when many exhibitors were already tearing down their booths. The Medford booth, however, was surrounded by fit young men with short haircuts, talking about and ordering knives. There are two things I have to say about Medford knives: (1) they’re expensive – in the $400 to $1,200 range, and (2) they’re worth it! How can a knife be worth that much? That’s what I asked the owner and designer, Greg Medford. Greg is a prior US Marine, airshow pilot, airplane builder and master level Martial Arts and CQB instructor. Medford Knife is the culmination of all this experience.

Glock is rocking the show with two new pistols. The first is their all-new G42. This is a sub-compact .380 auto – slim, compact, and super concealable. In fact, it’s the smallest Glock ever introduced. They’ve combined the small size of the .380 auto platform with Glock dependability to give you a gun you can count on when the chips are down. You can see the new G42 here. The other new Glock is their G41 Gen 4 — what they call their “practical/tactical.” This is in essence G21 internals and dimensions with a G41 slide. The longer barrel and slide help reduce muzzle flip while providing a longer sight radius for more accurate shot placement. The combination delivers an improvement in weight distribution, resulting in a well-balanced .45 ACP pistol for competition, self defense or duty carry. With a 13-round magazine, you can be sure of bringing plenty of fire power with you. Weight is a respectable 27 ounces empty. The trigger weight is a typical Glock trigger weight of 5.5 pounds. In all it is a very nice configuration for a lighter, better balanced, full size .45.