Day 1: Murdoc      As someone who’s been through a number of SHOT Shows, I’m not surprised one bit when I step onto the red carpeting that marks the tactical section of the show. It is absolutely packed. Every aisle is jammed, every booth is swamped, and every attendee (yours truly included) is fighting to get to the next cool thing. And, believe me, there is no shortage of cool things.     

I have to start somewhere, so my first stop is the Crimson Trace  booth. Among the new products on display is one that immediately attracts my attention: the MVF-515 Modular Vertical Foregrip. This unit, designed to be mounted on an AR rail, incorporates both a 200-lumen max white light and a red laser. 

Both the light and laser can be cycled through momentary, constant, and strobe modes and can be operated independently.  Two CR-123s provide 4 hours of light and at least 48 hours of laser. This should be a hit with law enforcement and sport shooters looking to really trick out their AR.  It will have an MSRP of $479 and will be available soon.     

In addition to the 50 caliber rifle by Bushmaster  I shot so well at the range, I had a chance to try out an AR chambered for the .450 Bushmaster round. This heavy hitter sends a 250 grain bullet downrange at 2200 feet per second and is deadly accurate out beyond 200 yards. The single stack magazine holds five rounds, the A3-style flat-top receiver is ready for optics, the free-float forend provides exceptional accuracy, and the full stock and special “Izzy” compensator help keep the big-bore recoil manageable. It’s available in 20” rifle and 16” carbine versions. No game on this continent can stand up to the .450 Bushmaster, and the AR has yet another caliber.

The CSAT Combat Sight by XS Sight Systems  is designed to give tactical rifle shooters a better option in real close quarters than “aim a little high.” A notch is cut out of the top of the CSAT for short range engagements, while the standard peep sight is used for medium and long ranges. This allows the shooter to switch from close to far without taking their hands off the weapon to flip sights. I tried the CSAT out at the range on Media Day and found it fast and easy to pick up. I felt I was quicker shifting from far to near, but that’s probably how you want it if you suddenly find yourself with targets closer than you expected.     

My last stop of the day is at the FNH USA  booth, a huge affair crowded with folks looking to get their hands on one of SHOT’s hot items: the SCAR 16S carbine. This is the semi-auto civilian version of the 5.56mm (.223) SOF Combat Assault Rifle that has been adopted by the US Special Operations Command. The civie has a semi-auto trigger group (obviously), a 16.25” barrel, and a compensator similar to that of a standard A2-style AR. Otherwise, it’s completely identical to the model being issued to our Special Forces. A version in 7.62mm (.308) is planned for late in the year.The military SCAR has received a lot of attention over the past couple of years, but everyone’s biggest question has been “when will we see a civilian version?” The answer is that they’re out there right now, but your odds of getting hold of one are pretty slim at the moment. The rep noted that the best way to get one in the shop is to utilize the Dealer Packages offered by FN. Despite an MSRP of just under $2700, one recently sold on Gunbroker.com for $9500. If that doesn’t indicate how hot demand is for this rifle, I don’t know what does.

Day 1: Sapp      On Thursday, I am disoriented. A simple assignment on new binoculars and new reloading gear gets lost in the aisles, the crowds, the press conferences and friends I haven’t seen in a year.

I have always understood that going to SHOT with a plan in hand results in more efficient use of time than simply freelancing, and the days when one could stroll up and down every aisle are long gone. Even though the archery manufacturers pulled out a dozen years ago, they have been more than replaced by law enforcement and paintball.

In the Lyman booth, Tom Griffin, who has worked at Lyman for 20 years, shows me their new, nine-pound Revolution Rotating Gun Vise – it tilts, it clamps, it slices, it dices – which is just right for gun cleaning or light gunsmithing. This Vise holds everything from high power rifles to the small, but powerful pocket revolvers I enjoy.

The dragon needs more skin moisturizer, but I bump into RCBS and Ron Smith, a friendly 32-year R&D Tech, who says the new bullet feeder for handgun loads will double one’s reloading rate. A hundred rounds in five minutes is firepower!

It is easy to become distracted at SHOT.  That is what Winchester hopes will happen when someone pauses to watch Patrick Flanigan’s Xtreme Sport Video, the one in which he busts seven clays in 0.805 seconds with a Super X3, shooting from every position possible except between his legs. When he strolls into the booth with Ultimate Fighting Champion Matt Hughes, the line for autographs winds down the aisle. “ Do they shoot like girls?” you ask….    
           

Mike Dillon says he began Dillon Precision almost by accident. So what’s new today? The 50 BMG Progressive Reloader. “BMG” standing for Browning Machine Gun. This reloader obviously will not sell in big numbers, says Chris Kersey, who representa Dillon. “Yeah, it’s big,” he says, “but the .50 has a big case and it takes a lot of force to make a good load.”

               
In the Hodgdon booth, shipping/receiving manager David Johnson says Hybrid 100 V is their new rifle powder. 100V, he says, combines the chemistry of a spherical powder with the geometry of an extruded propellant. This creates a smooth-metering, super short granule, extruded shaped propellant. 100V has a high burn speed for popular calibers like .270 Winchester and magnums like .243 Winchester Super Short and 7mm Remington.

               
“With the price of factory ammo going up,” Johnson says, “reloading is the way to go. Plus, the price of lead has dropped. And we just bought Goex Black Powder.”

               
According to project engineer Greg Palkowitsch, Hornaday’s new Lock & Load Case Prep Center saves space and keeps metal chips out of a case. It is heavy-duty, quiet and offers a high rpm rate for the six power take-offs, all spinning simultaneously, that extend horizontally from the bottom half of the unit. It’s easy to switch between tools: inside and outside neck chamfer, large and small flash-hole cleaners and neck brush. Optional primer pocket reamers and flash-hole de-burrers are available.

               
Moths to flame, right? Bright lights attracted me to the Energizer Lighting Products  booth, and with good cause. First up was the Night Strike line of products, consisting of three models: a handheld flashlight, a handheld swivel light, and a multifunction compact light; all three in LED. Each of them has terrific features; just the barest smattering includes: (1) flashlight up to 150 lumens, with five modes (spot, flood, combo, red high and red low), runtime up to three hours (three lithium AA batteries), removable belt clip; (2) swivel light up to 100 lumens, with 13 lighting modes in five colors (including green, red, and blue), up to seven hours runtime, vest/belt clip, and head swivels through 130 degrees and can be used in hands-free mode; and (3) compact up to 40 lumens, with seven modes, green locator “Find Me” LED indicator, and tethered tail cap. All three withstand the 15-foot drop test and are waterproof. Truly they will keep going, and going…
            
Cleanup for black powder guys isn’t usually much fun, but it comes with the territory. But if the claims that BlackMag Industries  is making for their new Black Mag’XP are true, that chore just got a whole lot easier. Calling it “the cleanest burning, most energy producing, safest, moisture resistant powder on the market today,” such statements practically beg to be tested.

               
And lunchtime, where we join our friends at Leupold and Stevens. Another fine meal (where I was personally greeted by company head honcho Tom Fruechtel), and this year’s honoree is none other than… Jim Carmichael. I later found out that Outdoor Life magazine put together a reception in his honor as well. Three awards at one SHOT Show; not bad.

               
OutBurst opening, Fire Safe actuation, and stainless steel scale insert. Uh, okay; actually that last one might provide a clue to anyone who’s not an inside expert in today’s knives. These terms describe features of the Columbia River Knife & Tool  Lift Off folding knife. Adding a bit of flair to a day-to-day carry knife, the OutBurst system assists the opening, but can’t be actuated until using the Fire Safe (user must nudge the Fire Safe button, so it acts as a safety). Another one that caught our fancy was the Crossover, a combination unit functioning equally well as a scissors, kitchen knife, bottle opener, lid lifter, screwdriver… and grill cleaner.

               
Guns, guns, guns. (Anybody remember the classic 1939 movie “The Four Feathers?”) Anyway, Traditions Performance Firearms  showed me some of their latest and greatest, starting with The Outfitter. This one is definitely intriguing, because with a single firearm a person can be packing a muzzle loader, a centerfire rifle, and a shotgun. The Wilson centerfire barrel, included in the package, handles the rifling needs, while the muzzle-loading barrel is fluted and ported and also sports an Accelerator Breech Plug and Tru-Glo fiber optic sights. Next up, the Vortek, is “the fullest featured muzzleloader ever built by Traditions,” they proclaim. Loaded with good stuff like a one-piece trigger assembly for simple cleaning, PAS system for easy bullet starting, 360-degree barrel porting, and high-strength barrel that can accommodate up to 150 grains of powder. The other new-for-’09 items are the LT Accelerator and the Buckstalker.

               
Dinnertime? Don’t even want to talk about it; one of our crew forgot their phone charger and we went questing all over the greater Orlando area looking for a replacement. But the seafood afterwards was almost worth it.

Day 1: Kaplan       As the only female writer in the bunch this year, I was assigned to cover guns for self protection (concealed carry) as well as concealed carry accessories. I wish I could say I have a CCW, but I don’t. (I live in California, need I say more?) As such, I was thrilled to be vicariously satisfied by writing about it.

           
Wandering into the entrance closest to the Media Room, I came upon the Walther booth, which was promoting a new concealed carry due out in April: the Pistol Kompakt (PK)380. Distributed by Smith & Wesson in the U.S., the pistol is ambidextrous and lightweight and nearly the same size as Walther’s popular P22. Weighing only 19.4 ounces, the PK380’s barrel is 3.66 inches long with an 8+1 capacity magazine. The very smart looking gun, with a two-tone nickel slide, retails for $425.

         
Continuing my search for compact pistols, I approached the Taurus booth.  As I began to formulate a question of seeking something specific, I was greeted by a friendly gentleman who interjected quickly, “You’re looking for good looking men, right?” I chuckled involuntarily at his quick witted response and explained my mission to him.  As luck would have it, the counter over which I was leaning contained concealed carry pistols.  Like Walther, Taurus also added some new products to its line, among them the 709 “Slim” and the 738 TCP.  As their respective numbers would indicate, the 709 series are 9mm (7+1 rounds) while the 738 are .380s (6+1 rounds).  The 709 “Slim” makes concealed carry simple because its design precludes lumps or lines. In addition to the 738 TCP being the lightest semi-auto in the company’s line (10.2 oz.), it also is available with an 8+1 extended magazine.

        
While Glock invokes thoughts of great law enforcement pistols, the manufacturer also offers plenty of compact guns. Chris Reese, former military personnel who is now a District Manager for Glock, recommended five models to me: No. 19, a 9mm (“Perfect size for both men and women.”); No. 23, a .40 cal. (“I carry one on my hip.”); No. 26, a “Baby Glock” 9mm (“Good for backup and deep cover, and you can wear it on your ankle.”); No. 27, a .40 cal.; and a No. 32, a .357.I purposely targeted the Kimber booth because I love my TLE .45 and was excited to find a unique self protection product. The Pepper Blaster, which was introduced in 2008, is a disposable, two-shot burst of OC capable of incapacitating an attacker for up to 45 minutes. “It’s impervious to heat so it won’t blow up,” said VP of Sales Ryan Busse, “and it pushes out like a shotgun shell at 90mph.” Plus, there’s no blow-back to the user—sticking and going into an attacker’s pores up to 13 feet—and it will also cut through wind and rain.  

Day 1: Fletcher         Optifade, a camouflage pattern produced by Sitka and Gore-Tex, has gotten plenty of publicity in the run-up to SHOT.  Looking at the product, invisibility as such is difficult to imagine, yet company reps insist that in any variety of terrain or landscape, the wearer literally disappears into the background.  Still, enough hype has been generated about it that Optifade deserves further examination.

While this brief piece is not intended to be a scientific evaluation of Optifade or any other camo product, W.L. Gore’s newest experiment with digital vision technology puts the emphasis on what they call The Science of Nothing.  The objective is to determine how prey sees danger.  The goal of Optifade, unlike so many others, is not to blend in with specific surroundings, but to replicate an animal’s vision of what it sees in any or all surroundings.  Literally, to “disappear” into infinity so as to not alert the game to the hunter.  More on this interesting product can be found elsewhere in this issue in the GunWear column by contributor Bob Whitaker.  Suffice to say, meanwhile, that the product we saw at SHOT did not give us the impression the makers claim.  That’s because Optifade is made not to impress humans, but game animals.  Time, and use, will tell. 

We ran into Lane Pearce, Pearce Grip, still in the throes of battling leukemia but refusing to miss SHOT.  In the grip business, one must be on guard for new handguns that provide opportunity to modify the factory grip to fit the hand of the user.  In this case, Lane showed us several versions of mag grip extensions for the Ruger LCP, that tiny wallet sized pistol that any woman could love.  Men, maybe, but the LCP is made for small hands and Pearce’s grip provides an extra measure of holding assurance for those carrying concealed this nifty pint-size .380+P handgun. 

Day1: Hollis

Every year individuals suffer optical injuries as the result of stray shotgun pellets and other firearms-related accidents. Likewise, hearing loss due to the unprotected exposure to gunfire is another danger every shooter and hunter must face. Retailers must make every effort to provide impact-resistant eyewear and hearing protection to their customers. 

Determined to learn more about technological advancements in eyewear and hearing protection, I stepped off into the plethora of exhibits at the show.  The new Browning  BuckMark Shooting Glasses feature wrap-around polycarbonate lenses for total protection.  Those who like the option of interchangeable lenses will find that feature in both the Ace Shooting Glasses and the new Browing Claymaster™ eyewear.  The top of the line, the Browning Medallion High-Definiton glasses offer the ultimate in protective eyewear. Furthermore, Browning offers a wide range of hearing protection, from earplugs to muffs offering electronic technology.

After several more rows of exhibits, I finally strolled into the Sport EAR booth. This company’s protective products enhance hearing in any setting, while at the same time protecting against damage caused by muzzle blast. This firm also has virtually invisible designs that fit into the ear canal opening and ride in back of the ear. For the ultimate in comfort there are two models that fit directly into the ear canal. And for those who like muff-type hearing protection, there are four digital models for maximum effectiveness in sound dampening.

SunBuster featured two new shooting glasses models, the Maverick and the Dude that allow interchangeable prescription lenses to be used. Lightweight and rimless, both models feature high riding, ultra-strong nylon frames. Fashionable and functional, these shooting glasses are just the right eye protection for both field and range use.

               
Not far way, I discovered ”the next generation in eyewear retention.  Marketed by Cablz, Inc., this nifty gadget uses a surgical grade of flexible cable to create an eyewear retainer that is comfortable without being wet, hot or smelly. Having lost my share of glasses, this new product was an absolute “must have.”

               
After a day of trudging through a row-after-row of display booths, my last stop was at Randolph Engineering. This innovative firm markets a number of different shooting glasses, all of which feature enhanced color resolution and polarization.  With both over-the-ear and bayonet style temple pieces, these glasses offer interchangeable lenses in a wide range of tints and will accept prescription lenses. A favorite of trap and skeet shooters, this eyewear is equally at home on the rifle range.

In order to reduce the human silhouette, the Vertigo system utilizes strategically placed contrasting light and dark patterns from the Mossy Oak Break-Up family on the parka, pants and head cover.  The Vertigo products are made from a brushed Trico outer shell with a Durable Water Repellent treatment, a waterproof membrane and is lined with a mid season fleece.

The jacket is cut generously enough to cover the lower torso and allow for layering.  The pants feature three zippered pocks and 18 inch leg zippers. The one piece head-cover consists of a cap and a lightweight mask.  It will be offered in a “positive”and “negative” version with the positive featuring a darker center to blend in with tree trunks while the negative has a lighter center suitable to more open areas.  The Vertigo system is scheduled to hit retailer’s shelves in mid-summer.

Quality hunting clothing isn’t just for guys…..Duh…..Women also want top notch outdoor gear that is specifically designed for them.  SHE Outdoor Apparel spokesperson Brenda Potts gave me the lowdown on their new C4 System.

“When our team got together to design the C4 we decided that it had to have four primary features.  The system had to be waterproof, windproof, warm and quiet,” says Potts.  “Our goal was to design a dream system for women specifically for cold and wet weather hunting conditions.”

The C4 system features a 440 gram Hicount fleece shell, body mapped 3M Thinsulate®, ARC ArcticShield™ Technology and a wind resistant liner in Realtree®AP. There are some additional goodies like neoprene cuffs and storm collar, a three piece storm hood and under arm zipper venting. The pants feature bellowed style pockets and calf length zippers.  A vest and accessories flesh out the four components. 

“What is really neat about this system is that the vest and the pants zip together and it becomes a two piece warm bib system,” says Potts.  “In addition, if you’re out in the cold and you need to take the pants off, you can just unzip them without having to take off your jacket or vest.”

Since I was in the female hunting clothing mode (not to be confused with female hunting) I attended the Prois Hunting Apparel press conference and spoke with Kirstie Pike, founder and president, about their new Xtreme jacket and pant offering.“We had a call for introducing a system that could handle later season temperatures or high mountain hunts and we wanted to produce something that looked feminine without being overly bulky or uncomfortable,” says Pike. The jacket has a soft, silent shell made of a 100% polyester waterproof breathable fabric  and is insulated with 200 gram 3M Thinsulate. It is lined with a 100% nylon tricot and the inner sleeves are Neoprene for maximum warmth and dryness.  An added feature or a wet surface with no problem.”

The Xtreme pants are constructed of the same material as the jacket and features an elastic waistband, large cargo pockets with pillow-top closures and 9 inch boot zippers.  Both the jacket and the pants are available in Realtree AP HD® and Advantage Max-1 HD®. 

Beginning with the advent of federal regulations requiring the use of steel shot and other lead substitutes for waterfowl hunting, California is leading the state trend to lead-free ammunition with its ban on hunting in condor territory.  This ban on lead ammunition is leading to an effort to extend lead-free regulations to other areas in the state based on an alleged lead poisoning threat to other species.  Whether or not there is any truth to the issue of lead poisoning to game remains to be proven, but the fact remains that lead-free ammunition seems to be the way of the future.

Thus, I spent much of my time at the 2009 SHOT Show hunting down whatever products I could find on the show floor. Here’s what I found:

I began by visiting the Federal ammunition booth where the company was proudly showing its Speer® TNT® Green™ lead-free product line for varmints. Comprising a trio of loads in .223 Rem., .222 Rem., and .22-250 Rem., the projectiles used in these loads have a compressed-powder metal core with a lightly-skived jacket for explosive expansion. These cartridges are ideal for hide hunters as the bullet completely fragments on impact, virtually eliminating the chance of an exit hole.

Next I visited FNH-USA where the firm’s new commercial sales manager, Ken Pfau said that the extremely popular lead-free version of its 5.7x28mm ammunition, designated SS195, is still being imported from Belgium, though none is readily available on the market. FNH-USA’s warehouse was cleaned out of stock in the two days immediately following Election Day this past November and the company has been hard-pressed to restock since.  The SS195 ammunition is composed of a lightweight 28-grain lead-free hollow point bullet loaded in a brass casing with a lead-free primer.  While intended mainly for training and practice, it is also rumored to be the better choice for self-defense use in comparison to the other, more readily available version of 5.7x28mm ammunition - the 40-grain V-MAX (designated as SS197SR).       

Barnes Bullets has grown from a home-based operation over the past twenty years into a major force in the ammunition industry due to its development of all-copper, lead-free bullets.  The all copper X Bullet is what the company built its business on. First introduced in 1989, the X Bullet is a lead-free alternative that typically retains 100 percent of its weight after full penetration. This unique bullet is now offered in three variations – the Triple-Shock, Tipped Triple-Shock and MRX.

Company representatives explained that on impact, the Triple Shock bullet expands into four copper petals, doubling the bullet’s original diameter. Working equally well at both high and low velocities, Triple Shock bullets are effective at both short and long range.

Barnes’ Tipped Triple-Shock Bullets have a polymer tip that boosts the ballistic coefficient for long range shooting. Like the Triple Shock, the Tipped Triple-Shock X bullet is composed of an all-copper, lead-free body with multiple grooves cut into the shank to reduce pressure and increase accuracy. Said to expand instantly upon contact, even on thin-skinned game, hydraulic shock disrupts vital organs, thus short-circuiting the animal’s nervous system for a clean, quick kill.  This bullet’s tough construction is also said to not break up when hitting the heavy bones of the largest game.

Barnes’ MRX Bullet features a patented, denser-than-lead Silvex® core surrounded by an all-copper body.  The dense, tungsten-based core makes MRX bullets shorter than their Triple-Shock X and Tipped Triple-Shock X counterparts, increasing case capacity.  Deep penetration, even through heavy bone, makes MRX bullets ideal for large game.  A streamline polymer tip boosts the ballistic coefficient for flatter, long range trajectory and enhances expansion.     

For the muzzleloader, Barnes also offers Expander MZ™ 100 percent copper bullets. Its large, hollow cavity expands instantly on contact, creating six petals that double the bullet’s original diameter. The snug fitting sabot prevents gas blow-by, ensuring consistent shot-to-shot velocities. Expander MZ bullets are available in 195-grain .45 caliber, 250- and 300-grain .50 caliber, and 275- and 325-grain .54 caliber.

Finally, Barnes MPG™ Multi-Purpose Green bullets have a compressed copper-tin powder core, surrounded by a guilding metal jacket. They meet lead-free requirements at environmentally restrictive practice ranges. The open tip bullets hold together at ultra-high velocities and extreme rates of spin and yet deliver instant fragmentation with low penetration and reduced ricochet potential. Thanks to their protective jackets, MPG bullets remain intact under the rigors of handling, feeding and firing. This eliminates the primary cause of jammed actions and plugged barrels often experienced with frangible ammunition in autoloading rifles.