SHOT Daily - Day 3 - 2019 SHOT Show

SHOOTING HUNTING OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW 1979–2019 DAY 3, JANUARY 24, 2 019

NEW PRODUCT REPORTS SHOT Daily scours the floor to find the latest in knives from the show P. 12. Also, see what’s new in accessories P. 22

FEATURES

NEWS

Body armor evolves to meet new challenges PAGE 48

aims to keep your ammo close to the action PAGE 10

MAJOR MILESTONE

MATCHED PAIR

PUSHING THE ENVELOPE

Savage Arms celebrates 125 years of innovation PAGE 38

ALWAYS ON HAND Versacarry

Blaser Optics on Blaser rifles are a sight to see at the SHOT Show PAGE 42

T H E DA I LY N E WS O F T H E 2 0 1 9 L AS V EGAS S H OT S H OW B ROUG H T TO YOU BY T H E B O N N I E R CO R P O RAT I O N A N D T H E N SS F

Unprecedented Ef fort

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SSF CEO Steve Sanetti, in his annual State of the Industry address on Tuesday evening, told the crowd, “We face perhaps the most serious challenges our industry has ever faced. No longer do we face dispassionate debate on various forms of proposed gun controls, regulations, or their actual effectiveness in reducing violent crime, which is something we all want. We now face an onslaught of name-calling, virtue signaling, and identity politics, where those who differ with us don’t just disagree—they despise. The urban and suburban public’s ignorance of our way of life, and the fact that the perpetrators of this violence are rarely available to suffer the consequences of their terrible crimes, lead many to need a scapegoat and a cause to give meaning to the unthinkable.

“This is surely a very human emotion. But just as surely, it is itself a terrible wrong. It is wrong because none of us have, in our lawful sales, responsible ownership, safe use, and secure storage of firearms, committed these crimes. It is wrong because it destroys the bedrock concept of personal responsibility for violent behavior. It is wrong because we are the ones who have done the most to prevent the criminal misuse of our products through programs that enhance the effectiveness of retail background checks, distribute tens of millions of free gun-safety kits and locks that have helped reduce firearms accidents

NSSF CEO Steve Sanetti says the NSSF is embarking on an “unprecedented effort” to counter anti-gun rhetoric in America.

to record lows, partner with ATF to stop straw purchases, and help retailers secure guns from thieves.

“Those in the cities and suburbia who clamor that we must ‘do something’ to stop criminal misuse of firearms know nothing of what we are doing to prevent it, and precious little about our products or the legitimate uses to which they are put by millions of law-abiding Americans. Fear is a powerful emotion—it blocks out rational thought. And those who would exploit fear know this all too well.

“Powerful, wealthy forces, combined with a willing and equally complacent urban-based media, have

dropped all pretext of objectivity. We now see financial institutions, religious groups, and universities and their students allied in an all-out attack on guns and anyone associated with them. Clearly, we are now David to their Goliath. It is they who have declared war on all that we believe.

“This is a struggle in which we have no choice but to prevail. And we will prevail, because firearms ownership by responsible citizens is enshrined in our Constitution and practiced every day by more than 100 million firearms owners. We are resolved to not let our many good works go unnoticed or wrongly credited to others, and we

will not be defined by others. We’re embarking on an unprecedented effort to get out our positive messages about our industry across the country. Using all the tools available to us, we will fight the shaming and name-calling being thrown against us, with the truth that we are a critical part of the solution. We have effective programs in place to combat the misuse of our products, and if America is genuinely serious about ‘doing something’ that actually works to make America safer, persons of goodwill should see through their bias against America’s firearms industry and join us.

“We will need all the resources we have in order to prevail. It will be an expensive, multi-year effort to retake our good name and to restore our reputation as a positive and knowledgeable force for good. We must counter the fear that motivates people. Above all, we must connect to the younger generations and their belief that the highest emotion is tolerance for different lifestyles and values.

“We ask for nothing more than respect for our traditions that may differ from theirs. We ask for that same tolerance and appreciation for the liberty and rights and freedoms our great American way of life and laws have provided, so long as we harm no one.

We ask that they acknowledge our experiences with family and friends and neighbors that bring us together, and for an honest appreciation that ours is a nation of diverse interests, activities, and lifestyles, which include our own.”

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MOUNTAIN EXTREME ALL DAY SUPPORT AND COMFORT Slaton L. White, Editor

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NEWS

Insulation Factor When it comes to keeping a hunter warm, down still works best

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By Shannon Farlow f you’ve ever worn a coat or bibs filled with down on a freezing backcountry hunt, you know just how lightweight and warm the natural fiber can be. Despite technological advances in synthetics, down remains one of the most effective forms of insulation for hunting apparel and sleeping bags. Sourced from farm-raised geese and ducks, down is renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly option. However, not all down is created equal. Before purchasing a down-filled product, or stocking them in your store, it’s helpful to know where the down was sourced, how it was processed, and how to properly care for it. Leading down manufacturer Allied Feather & Down has created a Down 101 online educational program called Track My Down that can help.

“Allied is trying to educate the person coming into the retail store about what ‘quality down’ actually means and how to care for it,” says Scott Kaier, a representative for Allied Feather & Down. “We are making a big push to be a consumer-facing brand, working to educate customers on the quality of their down, the ethical sourcing, and the care of their down, so that when the consumer comes into the store, there’s a level of education already there. People will come in better understanding down.”

Anatomy of a Down

Down comes from the plumage found beneath the outer feathers on waterfowl. This soft undercoat acts as a layer of insulation for the birds. Down is incredibly efficient

at trapping body heat thanks to a structure of three-dimensional clusters, which contain thousands of interlocking filaments. Made from keratin, down contains fat and oil, which enable it to quickly expand after being compressed.

Ethical Sourcing

Once collected from a variety of wild birds, including gulls and seabirds, modern down is a byproduct of ducks and geese that are raised by the food industry. While increasingly rare, some down is still taken from animals that are treated inhumanely. To make certain the down is ethically sourced, Allied encourages retailers and consumers to always look for the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certification, which the company helped develop. Track

My Down, which serves as an online transparency tool, provides detailed information about each down-filled product.

“There will be a hangtag on your jacket that calls out Track My Down. You can go to TrackMyDown.com and type in the lot number on the hangtag that’s followed the down all the way from the farm to the final product. Consumers can see exactly where their down came from,” says Kaier. “Allied Down is doing a lot with responsible sourcing and supply chain transparency, which gives the consumer the ability to know exactly where their stuff is coming from, which is a nice selling point.”

Fill Power

Typically, a high fill power means greater warmth because larger down clusters are able to trap more air. However, fabric weight and garment design can drastically affect down’s effectiveness.

Heavier fabrics and smaller baffles will compress high-fill down, reducing its loft and insulating capabilities. In those cases, a 700or 800-fill down usually works better and is more economical than a 900-fill down.

Goose Versus Duck

For years, manufacturers have touted goose down as the gold standard. Conventional wisdom holds that goose down is a superior insulator due to its larger down clusters. However, 700-fill down from ducks actually insulates just as well as 700-fill goose down. Since ducks are more commonly grown as a food source, down from ducks is often less expensive.

Browning’s SHOT Down Vest uses gray goose down with a Hyperdry hydrophobic finish mated to a tough polyester shell.

Improved Processing

The methods a manufacturer uses to process down greatly affect its performance and lifespan.

Washing down with harsh detergents or drying it quickly at high temperatures removes the natural oils that keep down pliable.

Without these natural oils, down deteriorates much more quickly.

“Allied has been doing this for 30 years,” says Kaier. “We have figured out the exact percentage of fats and oils that we want to have inside that down cluster when we’re done processing it, so that it’s as clean, yet resilient, as possible. In order to do that, Allied uses a mild biodegradable detergent. We dry it for a longer period of time on a lower heat setting, and test along the way to make sure that we’re hitting that exact balance between fats and oils.”

Traditionally, moisture and down products did not mix well.

You could have an expensive down-filled sleeping bag or coat that was incredibly warm and lightweight. Add water, and it would invariably become a heavy, sopping mass with little insulating value. Now, thanks to hydrophobic treatments, moisture is no longer a death knell for down products.

Ready to Give Give Down a Try?

Launching at SHOT Show 2019, the new Browning SHOT Down 800FP Jacket and Vest feature Allied’s 800FP gray goose down with Hyperdry hydrophobic finish.

A tough, double-layered polyester shell with a DWR finish offers increased durability and water resistance in the field.

Both the SHOT Down Vest (SRP: $149.99) and SHOT Down Jacket (SRP: $199.99) come in solid charcoal as well as a TDX Camo and charcoal combination.

Booth #10744. (browning.com)

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NEWS

RECOIL REVOLUTION Those who visited the MARS, Inc., station during Range Day were treated to something quite cool. They were handed a rifle. It was already loaded so you would not know the caliber. After firing the rifle, the shooters were asked to identify the caliber. Most shooters, according to Mike Mars, owner of MARS Rifles, said the felt recoil was similar to the recoil of a .22LR rimfire. Some said it was closer to that of the .223 Remington.

In both cases, they were wrong. The rifle is chambered in .308 Winchester/ 7.62 NATO. Mars believes he has created something revolutionary, a rifle that dramatically reduces felt recoil without adding weight.

A combat veteran who has had trigger time with all of our military’s rifles, Mars knows the effect recoil can have on shooters and shot placement. But imagine for a moment that recoil was taken out of the equation. No flinch from a recoil-shy shooter. More accurate shot placement. That’s a win-win.

The long play for MARS is the NGSAR (Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle) and NGSW (Next Generation Squad Weapon) programs. The Army’s idea behind these two programs is to find a new weapon that’s never seen the battlefield. It doesn’t want a redesign of the M16/M4’s direct-impingement system. It wants a totally new system. The NGSAR in particular is looking for a system that includes a rifle, optic, and cartridge. The short play for MARS is a conversion kit for civilian shooters.

MARS will offer a complete upper assembly chambered in 7.62 NATO for DPMS .308 lowers. This conversion kit will have the recoilless design built in. It will also have features we have come to expect in new AR rifles—a variety of different barrel lengths for different shooting scenarios, take-down ability for fast assembly/disassembly and stowage in a compact package, and multi-caliber capability.

The MARS conversion kit accomplishes this while also cutting weight. The typical DPMS AR-10 weighs 9 to 10 pounds. The MARS conversion kit on a DPMS lower will weigh in the 7to 7.5-pound range.

That is positively lithe for an AR-10, let alone a nearly recoilless AR-10. The cost of the conversion kits will be in the $1,700 range, and MARS hopes to appeal to a wide variety of shooters, including professional trigger pullers, hunters, competitive shooters, and weekend paper punchers. Booth #3766. (marsrifle.com) —Robert Sadowski

Custom Cutouts

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Steve’s dad, Abe Holand, started the family’s foamcutting company in 1986.

“We’ve got foam in our blood,” says Steve, who explains how the company moved into precision foam cutting for firearms in 2012.

It has since expanded to offer custom cutouts for drones, photographic equipment, and glass alcohol bottles—basically, anything that you want to keep protected in a sturdy case.

A customer can choose from several already designed custom foam inserts at the company’s easy-to-navigate website, MyCaseBuilder.com. In fact, a client can even start from the beginning by choosing a

case—from some of the most popular brands in the industry, including wheeled and waterproof features—to hold the foam insert. If a customer cannot find a preexisting foam insert in the company’s inventory, it’s time to create one. An online “build” feature allows a buyer to configure the exact insert for whatever item needs protection. An online library of shapes makes it easy to create the insert. For more customized guns with unusual angles, a new feature of the online build tool includes a photo tracer. “The trace makes it easy to take a picture of your gun by dragging the interface over it,” says Steve.

New for 2019 are the 5 Pistol Gun Case Insert, Single Pistol Double Magazine DORO Sport 400 Case, Double Pistol DORO Sport 400 Case, 2 Pistol-6 Magazine Universal Pistol Range case, 3 Pistol Heavy Duty D0907-6 Case, 25 Magazine Heavy Duty D0907-6 Case, 4 Pistol 12 Magazine DORO D1611-6 Heavy Duty Case, 5 Pistol 18 Magazine Pelican 1500 Case and Foam (or foam only to fit the Pelican 1500), 2 Pistol-8 Magazine foam insert for .50 Caliber Ammo Canister, and 24 Magazine foam insert for .50 Caliber Ammo Cannister. Booth: #1562. (mycasebuilder. com) —Barbara Baird

Need specialized protection for your gear? MyCaseBuilder is on the case. Customers can choose from existing custom foam inserts at the company’s website or use an online “build” feature to create their own.

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ick ’n’ pluck foam cutting with a knife is 30 years ago technology,” says Steve Holand, owner of MyCaseBuilder, a New Jersey company that sells customsize foam and cases for firearms owners.

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1/23/19 4:29 PM

NEWS

Though buttstock ammo storage is often thought to be for lever-action and bolt-action guns, it is ideal for a singleshot rifle as well.

Always on Hand Versacarry makes ammo management in the field easy By Richard Mann

I

n Book 2 of The Republic, Greek philosopher Plato wrote, “The true creator is necessity, who is the mother of our invention.” We know the quote as “necessity is the mother of invention.” That said, I prefer a quote by Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung: “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.”

I have no idea if Jung was a shooter or hunter, but he for sure understood how the mind of a gun guy works.

One of the ongoing issues with big-game hunters is how and where to store their cartridges while in the field. Should it be in a cuff on the rifle stock or in a loop on their belt? I’m in the for-

mer camp, but I have been frustrated by the design of available cuffs. Leather cuffs are expensive and cumbersome, and cheap elastic cuffs can lose tension and slip off the stock.

In 1997, Steyr Arms thought it had the perfect solution. It designed an extra detachable magazine that is stored in the buttstock.

The Versacarry Ammo Caddy is offered for revolver, rifle, and shotgun ammunition. The belt pad lets a shooter or hunter move the caddy quickly and easily from the firearm to the belt, and vice versa.

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It was an ingenious idea, but you had to buy a Steyr to appreciate it.

After a half decade of working with scout rifles and a lifetime of fooling with lever guns, one day my mind wandered to the right place and I got the idea of attaching an ammo carrier to the rifle’s stock with Velcro. I called some custom leather crafters and asked them to make one. None would.

But when I discussed the idea with Justin Sitz of Versacarry, he offered to build a couple for me.

Sitz—a crafty inventor who created the Zerobulk holster— took the basic idea and made it better. The end result is the Ammo Caddy. He added a belt pad so the shooter/hunter could move the caddy from the rifle to the belt, and vice versa. In addition, with extra self-adhesive Velcro pads, the caddy can even be installed to the dash of a pickup truck or on an ATV.

In early 2018, Sitz showed up at Gunsite Academy during the Craft of the Lever Gun Course and provided the participants with prototype Ammo Caddys and belt pads constructed from water buffalo hide. The nifty devices were met with resounding approval.

Afterward, Sitz decided to take the Ammo Caddy to Africa and put it to the test in the field while on safari for plains and dangerous game. Africa is where products like this become a bad idea or a legend.

The Ammo Caddy performed splendidly, and all involved in the safari soon refused to hunt without one.

The Ammo Caddy is attached to a rifle or shotgun stock via a sticky, soft-sided Velcro pad. The pad’s glue will hold the caddy in place and will not damage the finish, whether it’s painted synthetic or high-grade Turkish walnut.

The caddy itself attaches to the Velcro pad via the hook-and-loop side of the Velcro.

If desired, the caddy can be transferred to the belt. You can also carry multiple caddies on the stock and belt, giving you access to just about all the ammo you would likely ever need while in the field.

During a month-long safari in Africa, I became addicted to the Ammo Caddy. At the end of each day, I’d unload my rifle and place the cartridges in the Caddy. The next morning, they were right there, ready to load. During my buffalo hunt, things got a bit Western and I emptied the Ammo Caddy on the stock and swapped it with the one on my belt. I even had another attached to a Velcro pad on my jacket sleeve.

Recently, a friend who runs the Baptist Mission in Kodiak, Alaska, was forced to shoot a grizzly that had decided he wanted to sample the swine at the Mission farm.

There was a bit of a rodeo rounding up a rifle and ammunition in time to sort everything out.

Afterward, my friend called to tell me of the ordeal. He also told me he’d ordered an Ammo Caddy, and said, “Now my ammo will always be with my rifle.” That’s just one scenario for which the Versacarry Ammo Caddy was designed.

A veteran of several African Safaris, Sitz is excited for Versacarry to step into the hunting space. Versacarry also offers an Ammo Caddy that would be ideal for hunting and, maybe more important, law enforcement and tactical team applications.

SRP: starts at $39.99. Booth #561. (versacarry.com)

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1/23/19 2:14 PM

KNIVES

BROW N IN G The Speed Load Steel knife is a replaceable-blade folder that comes with three drop-point blades and one caper.

BEA R & SO N S The AC-500R-OB4-B, part of the OPS line, is an automatic-opening folder with a distinctive black-and-orange G10 handle.

The tactical 3-inch blade is made from Sandvik 14C28N steel with a black coating. Butt to tip, the knife is 8 inches long.

The Voice of the Customer

More customers are requesting everyday-carry knives. Manufacturers are responding in a big way By Christopher Cogley

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f there’s one constant at the SHOT Show, it’s that change is inevitable. The knife category is no exception to this rule, and at this year’s show, expect to see more new designs and revolutionary innovations. One common thread seems to be weaving its way through the vast majority of the top knife manufacturers: an increased focus on everyday-carry knives. There’s no doubt that there is an increased consumer demand for a high-quality, functional knife in a small, lightweight package that’s easy to carry everywhere from the field to a casual night on the town. From one booth to the other, it’s clear that knife manufacturers have heard the voice of their consumers and responded in a big way. (You might say they’re getting the point.) Not only are they offering more general-purpose EDC options, but they’re also providing new choices for specialized EDC knives for customers who want the compact convenience of an EDC with the specialized functionality of a tactical or hunting blade. This increased demand is also driving innovation, and manufacturers are incorporating much more advanced mechanisms into these EDC knives, particularly in the way blades are deployed.

Bear & Son Cutlery

Bear & Son is releasing a pair of folding knives this year with distinctly different styles. The AC-500R-OB4-B is an automaticopening folder with a distinctive black-and-orange G10 handle.

The tactical 3-inch blade is made from Sandvik 14C28N steel with a black coating. The knife is part of the Bear OPS line. It has an overall length of 8 inches, and weighs in at just 4.4 ounces.

SRP: $175.

For a more stylish everyday carry option, Bear & Son is also releasing the AC-800-CF-S Incognito. The 2.5-inch blade is made from Sandvik 14C28N steel and features a smooth, sloping design. The stainless-steel handle is fitted with carbon-fiber inserts and features a simple pocket clip that adds to the knife’s distinctively modern feel. The Incognito weighs in at 2.2 ounces. It has an overall length of 6.5 inches. SRP: $275. Booth #446. (bear andsoncutlery.com)

Browning

Browning is giving hunters a quick and easy way to make sure a sharp knife is always at hand. The new Speed Load Steel knife is a replaceable-blade folder that comes with three drop-point blades and one caper that are all made from 420J2 stainless steel.

The Speed Load has a pocket clip and thumb stud, and also has the ability to accept ceramic blades.

The knife has an injection-molded polymer handle with rubber grip inserts and a liner lock. The

Speed Load comes with a nylon sheath that includes a polymer insert to hold the extra blades.

SRP: $39.99.

Browning is also releasing the Pursuit folder, featuring a handle with checkered Zebrawood scales and a 7CR stainless-steel blade deployed on a ball-bearing pivot system. The Pursuit has a liner lock and includes a thumb stud and pocket clip. SRP: $24.99.

Browning’s new Featherweight Classic also has a handle with checkered Zebrawood scales, but

BUCK Boasting many of the same features that made the 110 Auto so popular, but in a more compact package, the 112 Auto has a 3-inch clip blade, made from 420HC steel, that’s deployed with the simple push of a button. The 112 Auto has an overall length of 7.25 inches.

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PRODUCTS

CA M I L LUS The Bushcraft folder has a 3-inch titanium-bonded Sandvik steel blade housed in a brown Micarta handle. This sturdy survival knife has an overall length of 8.5 inches.

with a fixed-blade design. The slender, drop-point blade is made of 9CR stainless steel and features a finger groove with anti-skid notches on the spine. Includes a leather sheath. SRP: $49. Booth #12740. (browning.com)

Buck

This year, Buck is releasing new versions of some of its most iconic knives. Following in the footsteps of the 110 Auto, Buck is launching the 112 Auto. Boasting many of the features that made the 110 so popular but in a more compact package, the 112 Auto has a 3-inch clip blade, made from 420HC steel, that’s deployed with the simple push of a button. The 112 Auto has an overall length of 7.25 inches and weighs 5.9 ounces. It features a Macassar Ebony handle with Buck’s instantly recognizable brass bolsters. The knife comes with a leather sheath. SRP: $175.

Buck is also releasing three different versions of the 112 in the Slim Pro design. These knives have the same 3-inch blade with a slimmer shape. The blade is made from S30V stainless steel that includes a thumb stud for onehanded opening. The 112 Slim

COAST The DX375 has a wood-laminate handle and an overall length of 8.123 inches.

Pro is available with either a brown or green Micarta handle or a black G10 handle. SRP: $100.

To complement the 112 Slim Pro, Buck is also releasing the 110 Slim Pro with a 3.75-inch clip blade. Created as a functional everyday-carry version of the classic 110 Folding Hunter, the 110 Slim Pro weighs a scant 3.1 to 3.4 ounces and, like the 112, is available with either a brown or green Micarta handle or a black G10 handle. SRP: $110. Booth #14504. (buckknives.com)

Camillus

Camillus is releasing two new everyday-carry folders, and each one has a solid feel and substantial design. The Dominator II is a Darrell Ralph design with a 3-inch Sandvik steel blade.

Available with either a carbonfiber ($69.99) or G10 ($49.99) handle, the Dominator II has a modern design with a distinctive tactical feel. The Bushcraft folder has a 3-inch titanium-bonded Sandvik steel blade housed in a brown Micarta handle. The sturdy design is 8.5 inches long overall. SRP: $59.99. Booth #15122. (camillusknives.com)

Coast

At its SHOT Show booth this year, Coast is featuring the DX375 folder with a double-lock mechanism that provides increased security when using the knife for especially strenuous tasks. The 3.5inch partially serrated blade is made of 7CR17 steel and features deep grooves on the spine to provide a better grip. The DX375 has a wood-laminate handle and an overall length of 8.123 inches.

SRP: $35.

Coast will also be showcasing the F402 fixed-blade knife with full-tang construction. The knife is 9 inches long with a 4-inch 9CR18MOV blade. It has a textured nylon handle with deep grooves in strategic locations along the handle and spine. The F402 includes a nylon sheath.

SRP: $27.

Rounding out Coast’s offering this year is the F1400 machete, which features full-tang construction. The 14-inch blade is made from 3CR13 steel and features a wood saw that runs along the entire length of the spine. The machete has an overall length of 19.25 inches, and the nylon handle includes a finger guard to keep digits out of danger. It

C R KT The Seismic features a 4-inch blade made from 1.4116SS. It has a G10 handle and an overall length of 9.44 inches. It also employs the Deadbolt, a new locking mechanism that features a pair of steel pegs that slide into place when the blade is deployed.

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PRODUCTS

comes with a nylon sheath. SRP: $32. Booth #15120. (coast portland.com)

Columbia River Knife & Tool

LE AT HE R M A N The T Series, part of the new Free Collection of knives and multi-tools, features 10 functional implements in a convenient package.

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As a way to celebrate its 25th Anniversary at the 2019 SHOT Show, CRKT is launching two new innovations that have the potential to raise eyebrows everywhere. Deadbolt is a new locking mechanism that, as the name implies, features a pair of steel pegs that slide into place when the blade is deployed. The feature provides an immovable locking mechanism that holds the blade open regardless of the pressure applied to it. The mechanism is easily disengaged with a push of the oversize button strategically placed at the pivot point of the handle, within quick reach of the user’s thumb.

CRKT is incorporating the Deadbolt technology into the new Xoc and Seismic knives that are both designed by Flavio Ikoma.

The Xoc features a deep-bellied 4.26-inch blade made of CTS XHP steel with a satin finish.

This limited-edition knife has a woven carbon-fiber handle with titanium inlays and an overall length of 10.38 inches. The special-edition Xoc will be limited to 200 knives. SRP: $750.

The Seismic is a somewhat slimmer, but no less durable, knife. Featuring a 4-inch blade made from 1.4116SS, it has a simple, modern design that focuses on the extreme functionality of the EDC knife. The Seismic has a G10 handle and an overall length of 9.44 inches. SRP: $150 to $160.

CRKT is also launching the new Kinematic deployment technology that provides a revolutionary alternative to the way we look at folding knives. Featured in the new Provoke knife, the Kinematic deployment technology is similar to a claw hidden within the sheath of a cougar’s paw, where the curved blade is tucked back into the handle itself. Instead of flipping out, however, the 2.4-inch D2 steel blade is deployed straight out with a simple push against the spine of the aluminum handle. Designed by Joe Caswell, the Provoke has an oversize pinky

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PRODUCTS

OUTD O O R E D G E The RazorMax takes the popular replaceable-blade system a step further by being the first of Outdoor Edge’s replaceable-blade knives that can accept both the standard replacement blades as well as the new boning/fillet blade. The knife comes with a nylon belt sheath.

hole at the base of the handle and an overall length of 7.25 inches when deployed. SRP: $200. Booth #414. (crkt.com)

Gerber Legendary Blades

This year, Gerber is launching a stylish new everyday-carry folder called the Fastball. As the name implies, the Fastball is designed for quick-and-easy deployment.

Made from S30V steel, the 3-inch wharncliffe blade is designed with a finger-flip opener and fitted with Gerber’s BOSS-Tech to ensure smooth operation. The Fastball also features Gerber’s Easy-Off liner lock built into the aircraft-grade aluminum handle, and a three-position belt clip.

Available in three distinct styles— a green or a gray handle with a mirror-finish blade, and a black handle with a black finished blade—the Fastball has an overall length of 7.1 inches and weighs 2.7 ounces. SRP: $99. Booth #13612. (gerbergear.com)

Kai USA Ltd.

The Kershaw Bareknuckle folder is a stylish everyday-carry folder with a distinctly modern tactical feel similar to Kershaw’s popular Natrix knife. The 3.5-inch blade is made from Sandvik 14C28N steel with a stonewashed finish and is deployed on Kershaw’s KVT ballbearing system using the built-in finger-flipper. The Bareknuckle has an anodized aluminum handle and includes Kershaw’s patented Sub-Frame Lock that reduces weight while providing a secure lock when open. The knife has an overall length of 8.2 inches and weighs 3.4 ounces. SRP: $109.99.

Kai USA will also be highlighting the Zero Tolerance Model 0470 that features smooth lines and a stylish, modern feel. The slim blade is 3.4 inches long and

made from CPM 20CV steel with a stonewashed and machined satin finish. The blade is deployed with a finger flipper using the KVT ball-bearing system and locked in place with a titanium frame lock and steel lockbar insert that’s released with the KVT opening system. The 0470 features a titanium handle with a carbon insert that has a distinctive marble finish that makes the knife as fashionable as it is functional. The knife has an overall length of 7.8 inches. It weighs 3.3 ounces. SRP: $300.

Booth #14223. (kaiusaltd.com)

length of 9.125 inches. OKC’s Old Hickory Hunting Knife has a 5.5-inch high-carbon steel blade with a hardwood handle and an overall length of 10.125 inches.

The Spec Plus Alpha Kukri has an 8.375-inch blade made from high-carbon steel and sturdy rubber handle. The Kukri has an overall length of 13.25 inches and comes with a nylon sheath.

OKC is also releasing the new Hunt Plus Fillet Knife with a 7.375-inch stainless-steel blade and an overall length of 12.125 inches. Booth #20305. (ontarioknife.com)

Leatherman

The new Free Collection of knives and multi-tools is poised to change the way people look at this category. The new collection features three different series of knives and multi-tools that are all designed with a distinct look and a proprietary magnetic architecture that allows each tool to open and close much more fluidly while also incorporating a clicking noise so you know for certain when the tool is locked in place. The P Series has two different styles of lightweight, durable, plier-based multi-tools that are made from 420 steel. The T Series features 10 functional implements in a convenient package. Launching later in the year, the K Series includes two different styles of multi-purpose knives. Built around the 3.35-inch 420 stainless-steel blade, the K Series knives feature eight additional implements housed within the premium aluminum handle. SRP: $39.95 to $159.95. Booth #14512. (leatherman.com)

Ontario Knife

The new OKC Hunt Plus Recurve has a 4.375-inch stainless-steel blade with a synthetic rubber handle and an overall

Outdoor Edge

Outdoor Edge is bringing its popular replaceable-blade system to a fixed-blade knife for the first time. The new RazorMax also takes versatility a step further by being the first of Outdoor Edge’s replaceable blade knives that can accept both the standard replacement blades as well as the new boning/fillet blade. The RazorMax features an ergonomically shaped handle with a rubberized TPR coating. It comes with a 3.5-inch drop-point blade as well as the 5-inch boning/fillet blade. The knife has an overall length of 9.5 inches and weighs 2.6 ounces (with the skinning blade). Its nylon belt sheath has a removable pouch for storing extra blades. SRP: $79.95. Booth #1220. (outdooredge.com)

Puma Knife Company USA

The Whitetail Commando Stag features a 3.1-inch drop-point blade made from 1.4116 German cutlery steel. The slim design in the classic style of the traditional pocket knife features grooves in the spine and a lock release in the butt of the handle. The knife has an overall length of 7.5 inches and

PUMA The fixed-blade Coyote White Smooth Bone has a 3.8-inch belly blade made of German steel.

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PRODUCTS

SPY D E RCO The Amalgam is a workhorse folder with a 3.8-inch CPM S30V stainless-steel blade that’s deployed smoothly along special low-friction ball-bearing washers.

features a Commando Stag handle with polished bolsters. SRP: $69.99.

Puma is also releasing the Coyote White Smooth Bone fixed blade with a 3.8-inch deep belly blade made from 1.4116 German cutlery steel. The handle is made from White Smooth Bone with a G10 liner. The knife has an overall length of 8 inches and includes a leather sheath. SRP: $89.99.

Rounding out the 2019 offerings is the White Smooth Bone Bowie knife that features the same White Smooth Bone handle material and 1.4116 German cutlery steel blade.

Designed with the timeless style of the traditional Bowie knives, the knife has a 6.1-inch blade and an overall length of 11 inches. SRP: $89.99. Booth #521. (pumaknife

features a sweeping trailing-point design. The Bow River has a layered G10 handle and an overall length of 8.14 inches. It comes with a leather sheath.

SRP: $49.95.

Spyderco is also expanding its popular flipper series this year with the addition of the Amalgam.

This workhorse folder has a 3.8inch CPM S30V stainless-steel blade that’s deployed smoothly along special low-friction ballbearing washers housed within the handle made from textured carbon fiber and G10 material. The Amalgam features Spyderco’s patented Compression Lock and signature thumbhole built into the blade. It has an overall length of 8.9 inches and weighs 4.3 ounces.

SRP: $269.95. Booth #13113.

companyusa.com)

(spyderco.com)

Spyderco

SOG

The Bow River fixed-blade knife was designed by Phil Wilson to be an extremely functional, reasonably priced general-purpose knife for hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts. The 4.4-inch blade is made from 8Cr13MoV steel and

With the release of the new SEAL XR, SOG is providing operators, law-enforcement officers, and tactical enthusiasts with another high-performance option. Incorporating SOG’s revolutionary XR locking mechanism that was

LOWA Task Force Boots

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brought to market in late 2017, the SEAL XR is a substantial folder featuring a S35VN steel blade that locks securely in place.

SOG is also incorporating the XR locking mechanism into the new Terminus XR. Featuring a 2.9-inch CTS BDZI steel droppoint blade, the Terminus is designed to have the same strength and dependability of the SEAL XR in a smaller, EDC package. The Terminus features a G10 and carbon-fiber handle, with an overall length of 7.21 inches. SOG will also be releasing a few redesigns of some of its best-selling knives at this year’s SHOT Show, including the Aegis and Flash, which both will now feature framelocks. And, expanding on its line of multitools, SOG will release the pocket-size Snippet alongside the recently released PowerPint and PowerLitres tools. Booth #425. (sogknives.com)

Victorinox Swiss Army

classic style of the traditional jackknife, the Barlow is available in a wide range of handle colors and materials.

The unusual design of White River’s fillet knife features a stepup handle that positions your hand above the blade as a way to create smoother, more accurate cutting.

The 8.5-inch blade is made of 440 stainless steel, and the handle is G10 and available in either black or orange. The knife has an overall length of 13.25 inches. SRP: $140. Booth #1114. (white riverknives.com)

W.R. Case

Alox has the look and feel of an everyday-carry knife with all the rigid functionality hunters demand in the field. The Hunter Pro Alox has a 4-inch stainlesssteel blade housed in a slim handle with Victorinox’s popular Alox scales. The knife has a

removable belt clip that can be adjusted to make the knife easy to clip onto belts, pockets, or even packs. The Hunter Pro weighs 6.6 ounces and comes complete with a woven paracord attachment. SRP: $100. Booth #14210. (swissarmy.com)

Case is bringing back the popular Barlow family of knives that have been locked away in Case’s vault for years. Crafted in the classic style of the traditional jackknife, the Barlow is available in a wide range of handle colors and materials, as well as a variety of TruSharp stainless-steel blade configurations, including spear, clip, and clip/pen. All of the knives feature the extra-long bolster at the forefront of the handle that gives the Barlow a distinctively timeless look. SRP: $60 to $85. Booth #13902. (caseknives.com)

© Ted Tae

This year, Victorinox is releasing a new knife designed specifically for hunters. The Hunter Pro

White River Knife & Tool

W. R . CAS E Crafted in the

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ACCESSORIES B U T LE R C R E E K The ASAP AR-15 Magazine Loader is made for serious competitors and range facilities.

BIRC HWOOD CASEY Made of skidresistant 600D polyester, the full-size Prone Shooting Mat measures 84 by 27 inches.

Birchwood Casey

Expanding its product line for 2019, Birchwood Casey is adding a shooting mat.

The full-size Prone Shooting Mat measures 84 by 27 inches, and is ½-inch thick. Made of skid-resistant 600D polyester, the mat helps the shooter maintain his or her position. A segmented elbow pad with non-slip texture provides excellent comfort while shooting prone.

Two quick-release buckles secure the lightweight, easy-to-roll-up design, and the reinforced handle makes it even better. The mat is available in Coyote Brown. SRP: $59.99. Booth #15545. (birchwoodcasey.com)

Butler Creek

Welcome to the next generation of efficient and convenient magazine loading. The only product of its kind, the ASAP AR-15 Magazine Loader is made for serious competitors and range facilities. How easy is it to use? Just fill the hopper with loose rounds, select the desired round count, and press a button. That’s it. The machine automatically orients the ammunition properly to load the magazine.

The hopper will hold up to 60 rounds of .223/5.56, and can load between one and 40 rounds per magazine. Magazine loading has never been easier. SRP: $442.95. Booth #14551. (butlercreek.com)

Champion

Expanding the Market Firearms are your bread-and-butter...but the right accessories serve up a richer meal

H

By Peter B. Mathiesen

andgun sales continued to drive store traffic in 2018, and smart retailers rode that wave to move their accessory stocks, reporting higher turns not just for handgun gear like holsters and laser sights, but also for specialized products for women and traditional hunting accessories—each one providing a little extra push to make the register ring. And as the accessories market continues to expand, innovative vendors are bringing their best and brightest new creations to SHOT’s miles of aisles. Here’s a stroll around the floor to check out what could be your next hottest add-on for 2019.

Champion’s Vanquish Electronic line of hearing protection is designed specifically for shooting sports. Each muff was acoustically modeled on gunshot reports to achieve the optimal balance of noise reduction and all-day comfort. The Vanquish line features Safe Level Sound Compression technology with a refresh time of 1 millisecond. Two full-dynamic-range HD speakers ensure everything the shooter hears is crystal-clear. The omni-directional microphones minimize wind noise but pick up everything around with a natural tone.

Four of the models—the 40980, 40981, 40982, and 40983—are Bluetooth-enabled and can make and receive phone calls. The Elite models—40982 and 40983—have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with up to 12 hours of runtime. There also is active noise cancellation, so unwanted ambient noises are eliminated.

Each muff has a three-hour automatic shutoff and comes with AAA or lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. SRP: from $69.95 to $249.95.

Booth #14551. (championtarget.com)

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PRODUCTS

DEC IBUL L Z The Custom Molded Percussive Filters allow comfortable conversation yet block gunfire noise.

Coast

C H A M P I O N The Vanquish Electronic line of hearing protection is designed specifically for shooting sports. Each muff was acoustically modeled on gunshot reports to achieve the optimal balance of noise reduction and all-day comfort.

Coast’s new TX14R light is a versatile 900lumen flashlight combining the company’s Long-Range Optic and Slide Focus systems with an anti-roll bezel for rugged use in the field. The flashlight uses a Flex-Charge Dual Power system, compatible with lithium or alkaline power, and a micro-USB port for recharging. The light also features high and low strobe modes. It’s impact- and weather-resistant, and the LED is extremely durable. SRP: $164.

Booth #15120. (coastportland.com)

Decibullz

SAME CALIBER LESS WEIGHT THE PARA 3 LIGHTWEIGHT TM

• Fiberglass-reinforced-nylon scales • Bi-Directional TexturingTM for secure grip • CTS® BD1N stainless steel blade • High-strength Compression LockTM

Decibullz’s Custom Molded Percussive Filters are high-tech earplugs that allow comfortable conversation yet block gunfire noise through a mechanical filter that does not require batteries. Designed for clays shooting, construction, military use, and hunting, these plugs ensure protection while providing users the situational awareness they need.

The custom-molded earplugs come with a noise reduction rating of 31 dB, and offer similar protection levels for hunters and other users while allowing some ambient noise to pass through. The filters are ANSI IPIL– certified up to 166 dB. When no loud noises are present, users can still hear conversation and other low-level sounds. The filters also allow sound directionality and spatiality, meaning users can hear all around them—making them ideal for hunters. SRP: $35. Booth #317. (decibullz.com.com)

Firefield

Designed for use on Picatinny rails, the Rival Foregrip ensures stability. Perfect for controlling weapons in a variety of shooting situations, its skeletonized design is made of durable aluminum, and it weighs just 4.1 oz. The product features a textured surface and matte-black finish.

Its ergonomic design is comfortable to grasp and provides a natural grip when using an MSR. SRP: $29.99. Booth #11924. (fire-field.com)

Howard Leight

Featuring a 22 NRR, automatic shutoff of noises over 82 dB, and up to 4X amplification, the Impact Sport Colorways are an ideal choice Visit spyderco.com or your local Spyderco dealer

800 525 7770

Come see us at booths 13113 GSH and 10367 LE

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for hunters and tactical professionals who value concealment but want to protect their hearing from the dangerous noises firearms create. The muffs’ multicam patterns take advantage of the way the human eye perceives shape, volume, and color. Available in multicam, multicam black, and multicam alpine. SRP: $89.99.

Booth #2020. (howardleight.com)

Moultrie

Moultrie Mobile has released its all-new integrated wireless game cameras for 2019. The Moultrie Mobile XV-7000i and XA-7000i combine the reliability of Moultrie cameras with mobile technology to deliver high-quality images from the field directly to your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Both cameras can be used on Verizon and AT&T services. They feature 20-megapixel images, invisible flash, 80-foot detection and flash range. They have an Illumi-Night 2 sensor for clear night images and a blazing 0.3-second trigger speed. They also record 1080p video with audio. Each is powered by 12 AA batteries.

Monthly data plans start at $9.99, and there are no contracts or activation/cancellation fees.

Mobile users access images through a computer with an online account or via the Moultrie Mobile app on a smartphone or tablet. The app and website also feature filters that can sort images by moon phase, barometric pressure, temperature range, time, date, and more.

Hunters and game managers will spend less time checking SD cards or monitoring remote camps and gates with these new products. SRP: $179.99. Booth #16123. (moultriefeeders. com)

Pelican Products

Designed with the trademark Pelican Air construction, the Air 1745 Elite Bow Case is up to 40 percent lighter than the competition, minimizing travel costs. The exterior features six heavy-duty, push-button latches, including two TSA-approved combination locks and four stainless-steel padlock hasps. The interior components provide modular storage, enabling a range of configurations for unique bows and accessory kits. Wheels make it easy to cart the case around.

The case also is available pre-configured with or without foam, so small arms or longer items can be protected and secure. All are backed, of course, by Pelican’s lifetime guarantee. SRP:

M OU LT R I E The Mobile XV-7000i and XA-7000i deliver high-quality images from the field directly to your smartphone.

$399.95. Booth #20221. (pelicanprogear.com)

Rite In The Rain

Only 3 inches long, the diminutive Pocket Pen slips into any bag or pocket and features a Rite in the Rain ink cartridge that can write in the nastiest possible weather. Through mud and moisture, heat and cold, this pen performs in a big way. The purpose of these writing instruments is to protect your hard-earned notes from the elements. The black ink writes through water, grease, and mud without smearing. Available in packs of two, in black or blaze orange. SRP: $12.95. Booth #31203. (riteintherain.com)

Wildgame Innovations

The highly portable Treehugger feeder from Wildgame Innovations is a low-maintenance feeding solution for deer and other game.

Employing durable PVC construction, the feeder attaches to any tree in less than two minutes: Simply loop the integrated strap around a tree trunk and lock it in place with the heavy-duty buckle. The versatile gravityfeed design accommodates up to 80 pounds of a variety of feeds, including corn, bran, protein pellets, powder attractants, or a hunter’s own preferred combination. The sturdy wire opening at the top makes loading the Treehugger an easy, one-person proposition. It’s an ideal tool for testing potential feeding sites before committing the time and resources to place a conventional feeder. SRP: $24.99. Booth #14829. (wildgameinnovations.com)

XS Sights

Available in optic yellow and optic orange, the DXT2 Big Dot night sights drive focus to the

front sight using a large, high-contrast front and a V-notch rear sight for an unobstructed view.

The Big Dot front sights use a patent-pending colored glow dot that absorbs light, causing the sight to glow before it is dark enough to see the tritium center. The glow dot also stores energy so that it can glow brightly for many hours. The V-notch rear sight features a vertical white stripe with a tritium vial at the center, creating a “dot-the-i” sight picture for fast, accurate target acquisition in high-stress situations.

These new Big Dots are four times brighter than first generation, thanks to the XS Sights’ patent-pending glow dot. This increased brightness is due to pairing the convex dot with photoluminescent properties. SRP: $132.

Booth #16054. (xssights.com)

R I T E I N T H E RA I N The Pocket Pen features a Rite in the Rain ink cartridge that can write in the nastiest possible weather.

PEL I CA N The Air 1745 Elite Bow Case is up to 40 percent lighter than the competition, minimizing travel costs.

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FROMthe NSSF Whether it’s a stand-alone independent retailer located in a strip mall, a pawn shop that deals in firearms, or a bigbox chain retailer, the security solutions a business needs are going to vary greatly.

Unfortunately for everyone, there has been a steady increase in the number of firearms stolen from FFLs over the past few years. Nearly 8,129 firearms were illegally taken from FFLs in 2017—and there is no sign this trend is slowing. To help retailers gain the upper hand and become less likely to be a victim, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have created a joint initiative called Operation Secure Store.

String of Stolen Firearms

Fighting Back

Operation Secure Store is designed to protect your livelihood and your community By Shannon Farlow

I

f you work in the shooting sports industry or simply own a firearm, theft is always a concern. For FFLs, the potential for an attempted burglary or robbery is a daily reality.

Odds are you know a firearms retail store that’s been burglarized or robbed. Maybe you’ve even experienced it firsthand.

By definition, burglary occurs when a person breaks into a home or business, usually after hours, with the intent to commit theft.

In 2013, approximately 338 FFLs across the country were hit with a burglary, resulting in 3,355 stolen firearms. Since then, burglaries involving an FFL have increased by more than 71 percent. According to ATF data, the total of FFLs affected by burglary in 2017 rose to 577, and the number of stolen firearms, 7,841, more than doubled.

During that same period, robberies involving an FFL increased a staggering 267 percent.

Robberies often occur during business hours and include the use of threat or use of force.

“Nobody wants to prevent firearms from landing in the wrong hands more than our industry,” says John McNamara, NSSF Senior Director, Retail & Range Services. “Not only can these crimes negatively impact the community, it hurts a retailer’s livelihood. That’s a product they have purchased and need to resell in order to maintain their business and keep folks employed in the community. Burglaries and robberies of FFLS are things everybody in this industry tries to combat and why this project was needed.”

Securing Gun Stores

In order to help FFLs fight back, NSSF and ATF developed Operation Secure Store. This groundbreaking program features

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from the nssf

Security bollards (top left) can be installed as a layer of exterior protection. Roll-down gates (top right), impact-resistant display cases (bottom left), and protective window film that prevents glass from shattering all help to layer security on the interior of a business.

several components designed to help educate shooting sports retailers of all stripes. NSSF is committed to providing its expert security consultants to lead store security education through dozens of free joint ATF/NSSF seminars hosted nationwide. In addition, NSSF members can also choose to contract these experts to perform an on-site risk and security assessment that provides an indepth, customized look at a store’s strengths and weaknesses.

“What our firearms retailers take away from that day of training is that they see the industry data ATF is collecting and providing on burglaries and robberies, and they learn about some of the trends we’re seeing,” says McNamara. “Our expert security consultants spend a couple of hours actually doing a deep dive into how a business can self-assess their security from the curb all the way to internal policies and procedures, and then advise how to layer their security to protect themselves and make themselves less of a target.”

NSSF is committed to ending these crimes in another way, one that involves the community.

Traditionally, ATF has offered rewards for information that leads to the arrest of criminals who have stolen firearms. NSSF matches those funds, a practice that continues as part of Operation Secure Store, as a way to encourage information about these crimes to reach law enforcement and lead to the arrest of criminals and the recovery of stolen firearms.

FFL Protection Act The issue of firearms theft has landed on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers moved to pass legislation to support FFLs. The Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2017 was introduced in the U.S. House in September 2017 by Rep. Steve Russell (R–OK) as HR 3790, and in the Senate by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R–SC) as S. 1854.

The Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act, supported by NSSF, creates tougher criminal penalties for firearms theft from FFLs, including mandatory minimum sentences. If passed, the bipartisan bill would: increase the maximum penalty from 10 to 20 years for stealing a firearm from

an FFL, establish a minimum three-year sentence for burglary and five-year sentence for robbery from an FFL, make attempting to steal a firearm from a manufacturer, retailer, or collector a crime, and label the theft of firearms from shooting ranges and gun clubs a federal crime.

No Single Solution On the state level, there have been multiple attempts to pass legislation that controls security standards for gun stores. They include rules for firearms accessibility during business hours and firearms storage. To date, none of these bills have been signed into law.

“NSSF doesn’t believe in onesize-fits-all legislation or law,” says Jake McGuigan, NSSF Managing Director, Government Relations—State Affairs. “Every business is going to need its own solution. Whether it’s a standalone independent retailer located in a strip mall, a pawn shop that deals in firearms, or a large bigbox chain retailer, the security solutions those businesses need are going to vary greatly.”

You Can Help

NSSF recently launched OperationSecureStore.org, intended to be an invaluable resource for FFLs. The site includes news stories from across the industry, reports of firearmsrelated robberies and burglaries, and videos and information provided by the ATF. Retailers will also be able to download a security checklist.

According to McNamara, the plan is to continue expanding Operation Secure Store with live events such as retail education seminars, joint seminars with the NSSF and ATF, training at SHOT University, and additional regional events.

Even with Operation Secure Store, it will take everyone involved in the firearms industry working together to solve this problem. Retailers are encouraged to contact their representatives and urge them to support the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act, visit Operation SecureStore.org regularly for updates and ongoing security education, and take the time to discover NSSF’s many other security resources.

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FROMthe NSSF According to NSSF CEO Steve Sanetti, the vast majority of firearms are not used in crime, and are not involved in accidents or suicides.

In Safe Hands NSSF works to make firearms ownership safer By Robert F. Staeger

H

ere’s a statistic you don’t often hear: Over the last 20 years, unintentional firearms fatalities have dropped by 60 percent—the highest rate of decline of any form of accidental death in the United States. Accidental firearms fatalities now represent less that 1 percent of all accidental deaths—and that includes the last 10 years, when accidental deaths overall increased by 24 percent while firearms accidents continued to go down.

Also a surprise: In 24 states, there were no fatal firearms accidents reported in 2016. None.

These are the kind of things you learn in NSSF’s latest Industry Intelligence Report on FirearmsRelated Accident Statistics. It all points to one thing, says NSSF CEO Steve Sanetti: The industry is helping to make firearms ownership safer than ever.

“This is after a decade of dramatic growth in firearms sales,”

Sanetti says. “The number of firearms in circulation has possibly doubled in the last 10 years. And yet firearms accidents are way down. Even firearms-related fatalities among children are down 74 percent during the last 20 years.

It can’t be that this is just chance.

“Yet it’s very true that one accident is one too many. Every time we hear about a firearms fatality in the news, we know they all could be prevented. Common sense will

tell you that if you keep firearms away from people who shouldn’t have them, it will cut down on accidents, it will cut down on thefts, and it will cut down on the number of guns being diverted onto the black market and into the hands of criminals.”

Sanetti doesn’t attribute the increased safety to just one program. Rather, he says, it’s a lot of groups working in concert—NSSF with Project ChildSafe and “Own It? Respect It. Secure It,” NRA’s Eddie Eagle program, various hunter education and law-enforcement pistol training classes—that are making the difference.

“All these programs are working,” says Sanetti, “and we’re very proud of them.”

One of the leading programs is the NSSF’s Project ChildSafe, which, since its inception in 1999, has distributed more than 37 million gun locks and firearms safety kits to help keep guns out of the wrong hands.

“It’s an industry effort,” says Dianne Vrablic, NSSF’s Manager, Industry Research. “There are more than 8,700 industry supporters that promote Project ChildSafe, and that includes state fish and wildlife agencies across the country that help promote safe firearms handling and storage.”

Vrablic also points to “Own It? Respect It. Secure It,” an initiative linked to Project ChildSafe. “It’s getting the message out that if you have a firearm, make sure that you secure it when it’s not under your direct control—not just from your own children, but from anyone who shouldn’t be able to gain access to it,” she says. “So, if someone broke into your home, you don’t want them walking out the door with your firearm, either.”

The efforts are working. A 2017 U.S. Government Accountability Office report concluded that providing free locking devices positively influenced behavior to store firearms more safely, thereby contributing to reduced accidents and fatalities.

“You can’t find another indus-

try that has had this significant a rate of decline in the number of fatal accidents using their products,” says Sanetti. “The trend lines are going in the right direction, and we hope to help keep it that way through the programs we have in place.”

Another aspect of firearms safety NSSF has been focusing on recently is suicide prevention.

Two-thirds of all firearms fatalities in the U.S. are due to suicide, not homicide or accident.

“Firearms represent about 48 to 50 percent of all suicides, but that number is going down,” says Sanetti. “The goal of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), with which we’re partnering, is to reduce the number of suicides by 20 percent by 2025. I don’t know if they’ll get there, but we certainly share that goal.”

As part of the program, NSSF is providing a toolkit that includes brochures and counter cards to firearms retailers and ranges. “The main theme of this is Have a Brave Conversation,” says Sanetti. “It stems from military training, where you’re taught from day one that you’ve got to watch out for your buddy.”

Say your hunting buddy is going through a tough time and seems to be in distress. You know he has access to a firearm, as you shoot with him regularly. That’s the point where you need to have the brave conversation.

“Perhaps you approach him in a friendly, non-threatening way and say, ‘You know, I was hunting with you last fall and I noticed your gun was pretty rough looking. Why don’t you let me borrow it, and I’ll clean it up for you? I’d hate to have you do something rash in a moment of depression. I’ll hang on to it for a while, I’ll clean it up, and when this difficult period passes and you get the help you need from your family, friends, pastor, a mental-health professional, or whoever, then we’ll go hunting again and we’ll get back on track.’”

According to the AFSP, having such a conversation and even bringing up the subject of suicide will not cause the person to act. It also notes that suicide attempts are often impulsive acts, which is why it’s so important to keep firearms

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F E AT U R E S

Revisiting History The Tanker Thompson is a new take on an old classic By Peter Suciu secure from people who are in emotional dire straits. “If you can keep the lethal method— whether it’s pills, firearms, or any other means that people could use for suicide—if you keep it away from them for that short period of time when they have that suicidal ideation, you can help save a life. And that’s what we’re trying to do,” says Sanetti.

Suicide is another reason it’s so important to always keep your own firearms secure. Remember, it’s not just you who can access an unsecured gun. So can your kids and their friends, or even casual visitors to your home. “It’s always a good idea, when you’re not using your firearm, to keep it secure and separate from the ammunition,” says Sanetti, who notes that there are quick-access lockboxes to help keep a firearm handy for self-defense situations.

“The vast majority of firearms are not used in crime, are not involved in accidents, and are not involved in suicides,” Sanetti stresses. “We want to make sure that those totals are as low as we possibly can make them by urging gun owners to be responsible and take precautions. Recreational shooters are responsible, law-abiding Americans who want to do the right thing and who, in the main, meet these serious responsibilities.”

LEARN NOT TO BURN

NSSF continues to expand the scope of firearms safety. Case in point: The organization has also been promoting wildfire prevention, because safeguarding the woodlands where we hunt and shoot certainly fits with the NSSF’s mission of promoting, protecting, and preserving hunting and the shooting sports.

“A couple years ago, there was some question about whether some of the big fires we were having might have been started by either shooters or campers in areas where it’s dry,” says NSSF CEO Steve Sanetti.

To help address this, NSSF created a printable poster and radio public service announcement reminding hunters and shooters of the things they can do to prevent wildfires. These include warnings that hot vehicle exhaust systems can ignite dry vegetation, a reminder to extinguish all campfires thoroughly, and that tracer rounds, steel-jacket ammunition, and exploding targets can all be fire hazards.

“There are ways to try to avoid creating a situation when you’re shooting in an area that is tinder-dry and you can start a wildfire, whether it’s from powder burning or whatever,” says Sanetti.

“These are situations that we might not think of as conventional firearm safety, but nonetheless involve the use of firearms.”

T

he Thompson—more commonly known as the “Tommy Gun”—has had a long and colorful history. Developed following WWI, it became iconic during the 1920s and 1930s, when it was wielded by gangsters and lawmen alike. T The he submachine gun then saw wide use by U.S. forces on the battlefield during WWII and beyond. Its compact dimensions, powerful chambering, and large magazine capacity made it ideal for a number of combat roles, especailly vehicle-based duties for which the M1 Garand was far too large and unwieldy.

Befitting the gun’s storied history, Auto-Ordnance recently introduced a specialedition World War II–themed Tanker Thompson rifle dedicated to the memory of the brave American soldiers who faced the enemy in steel chariots like the M4 Sherman tank that took on Germany’s Panzer and Tiger tanks.

Nearly 50,000 Shermans were produced during the Second World War, and they were primarily used in Europe, becoming a vital part of the war effort to defeat the Nazis.

“Auto-Ordnance is proud to honor the men and women of our country’s greatest generation,” says Jodi DePorter, director of marketing for Kahr Firearms Group, which includes Kahr Arms, Thompson/AutoOrdnance, and Magnum Research Inc. “We have worked diligently to capture some of the most memorable events and images of World War II through this entire collec-

tion of custom products,” she says.

DePorter notes that the Thompson has become an iconic symbol of 20th-century American firearms design. “It encapsulates the craftsmanship of American military arms, with elegant lines and curves, machined in steel, and equipped with quality wood furniture,” she says. “It chambers a uniquely American cartridge, the legendary .45 ACP, a storied part of our military history by itself.

“The Thompson’s presence on the battlefields of World War II, Korea, and even Vietnam further cemented its role in defending freedom across the globe,” she added.

“There are no other guns in its class more firmly cemented into American history.

This status has ensured that the Thompson will always have a lasting appeal to American shooters.”

Each commemorative Tanker Thompson is Cerakoted in Army O.D.

Green. The white U.S. star that adorned the front of the Sherman Tank is engraved near the magwell, and the “U.S.” logo is stamped on the buttstock. As with every Thompson, this one features an all-steel construction with high-grade walnut furniture.

The 16-inch barrel provides exceptional accuracy as well.

Each Tanker Thompson comes with one 30-round magazine (10-round where required by law). SRP: $1,749.

“The Sherman crews were often outgunned by German tanks, but nevertheless took the fight to the enemy and achieved victory against the odds,” says DePorter.

“Owning the Tanker Thompson gives the modern shooter the opportunity to own a piece of history while honoring the memory of the brave tank crews who delivered on America’s promise to achieve final victory in World War II.” Booth #13962. (auto-ordnance.com)

Auto-Ordnance’s commemorative Tanker Thompson is dedicated to the gunners on Sherman tanks who helped liberate Europe during World War II.

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FROM THE NSSF

When a consumer uses factory ammunition from a SAAMI company, they know the firearm and ammunition will function safely and reliably.

Behind the Scenes at SAAMI

How does the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute impact the firearms industry? In more ways than you might imagine By Brad Fitzpatrick

I

n 1926, at the request of the federal government, manufacturers of sporting arms and ammunition established The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute. SAAMI was tasked with creating and publishing industry stan­ dards for safety, interchangeability, reliability, and quality, coordinating technical data, and promoting safe and responsible firearms use.

The Commerce Department wanted to see the ammunition industry undertake a product sim­ plification project to reduce waste of capital, storage, transportation, and strategic materials, and the

State Department wanted to have a readily available pool of talent and experience of those engaged in the manufacture of sporting arms and ammunition so that the government would have available

SAAMI does more than simply catalogue official drawings of sporting cartridges. In fact, there are few corners of the shooting industry that SAAMI doesn’t reach.

at all times, and particularly in time of war or other national emergency, an expert organization for effective cooperation or con­ sultation on all subjects having to do with the industry. Finally, given the concern of ammunition and firearm manufacturers about the shooting public’s understanding of smokeless powder’s higher perfor­ mance level compared to black and semi­smokeless powders, SAAMI was also tasked with creat­ ing and publishing industry stan­ dards for safety, interchangeability, reliability, and quality, coordinat­ ing technical data, and promoting safe and responsible firearms use.

Setting the Standard

Today, many shooters are familiar

with SAAMI, particularly as a source of standardized data for commercial cartridges. But SAAMI plays a far bigger role in the shooting industry than simply cataloging official drawings of sporting cartridges. In fact, there are very few corners of the shoot­ ing industry that SAAMI doesn’t reach.

“SAAMI is vital to the entire shooting sports community,” says Richard Patterson, SAAMI’s exec­ utive director. “The standards and guidelines established by SAAMI touch every aspect of firearms safety and reliability, including design, manufacture, transporta­ tion, storage, and use. When a consumer uses factory­fresh ammunition from a SAAMI com­ pany in a firearm manufactured by a SAAMI company (making

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SAAMI serves several vital roles in the shooting industry, but the organization’s primary focus boils down to a single word: safety.

sure the cartridge headstamp matches the barrel stamp) they know the firearm and ammunition will function safely and reliably.”

Patterson points out that SAAMI has also taken on an important role in helping to provide accurate, sci­ entific data that directly relates to gun legislation and manufacturing, and domestic and international shipping practices.

“SAAMI is involved in some way with every aspect of the shooting sports,” Patterson says.

“We work with virtually every regulatory body in the U.S. and abroad. SAAMI looks to walk the fine line in promoting regulatory actions that protect safety without going too far and needlessly inhibiting trade.”

Worldwide Reach

Recently, SAAMI played a role in helping rewrite some of Canada’s antiquated explosives laws, which dated back over a century. In 1911, the Canadian government passed legislation requiring that explosives—which included prim­ ers, propellant, and ammunition— be transported in vehicles with special floors. That same legisla­ tion also severely limited storage of ammo in retail stores. As you might imagine, these laws created a major legal hassle for shooters and gun shop owners, but SAAMI provided factual data that proved the laws were outdated and unnecessary, ultimately helping to end the disruption and frustration for firearms owners and retailers.

SAAMI also teamed up with German regulatory agency Bundesanstalt für Material­ forschung und­prüfung (BAM) to help rewrite testing protocols for companies that ship ammunition.

These new testing procedures were more accurate than previ­ ous testing protocols and, per­ haps more importantly, the price of the test was reduced by more than $100,000, making the test affordable for small business owners.

On the global front, SAAMI showed that packaged ammuni­

tion was stable and petitioned the United Nations to drop unneces­ sary hazardous transport fees, a move that saves shooters hun­ dreds of millions of dollars annu­ ally. And while SAAMI’s primary mission is not public advocacy or direct media outreach, the orga­ nization does provide technical and factual information for advo­ cacy groups that work with the media.

Safety Is Central

Clearly, SAAMI serves several vital roles in the shooting industry, but the organization’s primary focus boils down to a single word: safety.

“Shoot more, shoot safely, and store firearms and ammunition responsibly,” Patterson says.

“Follow the fundamental safety rules, including making sure the cartridge headstamp matches the barrel stamp. And a special note for reloaders: Please exactly follow the recipes provided by manufac­ turers for their products. Minute changes can result in exponentially huge (and very dangerous) increas­ es in pressure. Unless you have professional pressure and velocity test equipment (including univer­ sal receivers, test barrels, confor­ mal transducers, etc.), the know­ how to use the equipment, and access to reference ammunition to verify calibration, then leave it to those who do. Reloading ammuni­ tion is fun. It can save money. It also provides a great sense of satis­ faction. But never deviate from the recipes in the manuals.”

Thankfully, shooters have a strong ally in SAAMI. Its work helps protect all of us and has allowed the firearms industry to continue to grow and expand.

And, as new technology changes the landscape of the shooting sports industry, the organization continues its work to ensure that all shooters have the knowledge they need to remain safe.

“The challenges we face today are more complex than ever,” Patterson says. “The issues have become multi­faceted, and they are international in scope and scale.

This requires an unprecedented level of cooperation throughout the shooting sports community.

The international aspect also means dealing with different cul­ tural biases, so building coalitions and working together to pave the path forward is itself a major chal­ lenge, but it’s essential to our com­ munity’s future success.”

For more information or to apply for SAAMI membership, visit saami.org.

SAAMI MEMBERSHIP HAS BENEFITS There are several compelling reasons to apply for membership in SAAMI, Patterson says, not the least of which is joining a group that is fundamental to firearms safety and reliability. But membership is also a good business decision, says Patterson.

Here are his reasons why: • SAAMI works under a committee structure (“None of us is as smart as all of us,” Patterson says), providing an opportunity to work with the best and brightest in the industry for the common good of the shooting sports community.

• Members have a say in prioritization of efforts and allocation of SAAMI’s intellectual and physical resources.

• Early warnings regarding potential new laws and regulations that will affect business decisions, which lead to the opportunity to work together as an industry to prevent regulatory burdens that lack commensurate safety benefits.

• The SAAMI new cartridge acceptance process takes at least six months, so SAAMI members have a longer lead time to tool up for exciting new product offerings.

• Recognizing SAAMI’s role in promoting safety and reliability, virtually all federal law-enforcement ammunition procurement contracts require the supplier be a SAAMI member.

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F E AT U R E S

Savage Arms is celebrating 125 years in business. The company blueprints the actions of certain of its target rifles just like a custom gunsmith would do.

I

Major Milestone

Savage celebrates its 125th year By Slaton L. White n 1894, an itinerant Englishman, Arthur William Savage, founded what is now known as Savage Arms in Utica, New York. The formation of the company was intended to promote his invention—a revolutionary hammerless lever-action rifle designed to handle the new, faster-burning smokeless powders that were just then coming to market. The rifle also featured an innovative rotary magazine, a short lever throw that permitted quick followup shots and, most notably, a side ejection system that, years later, when scopes replaced iron sights, allowed a scope to be mounted directly over the barrel. Known to generations of deer hunters as the Model 99, the rifle helped its inventor establish Savage as one of the largest firearms companies in the world, especially after the purchase of J.L. Stevens shortly after World War I. Over the years, the company manufactured a wide range of rifles, shotguns, handguns, and ammo. One key move in the years between the two World Wars was the acquisition of the legendary A.H. Fox Gun Company, known for its high-grade double-barrel shotguns.

But, like many industrial concerns whose business models and manufacturing technologies dated back to an era of detachable celluloid collars and straw boaters, Savage fell on hard times after World War II,

enduring, for many years, a succession of corporate owners who could not stanch the flow of red ink. Bankruptcy followed.

Then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the company was born again, and it began to

The Axis XP Camo (one of four new Axis models) comes with a camo stock. It also has a mounted and bore-sighted Weaver riflescope.

flourish anew. How it did that is a remarkable story, but it mainly centers on creating highly accurate, but affordable, rifles that hunters and shooters prize for their value and performance.

For my money, it was the creation of the AccuTrigger that told hunters and shooters that Savage had regained its mojo.

After nearly two years of hard work, Savage engineers developed a completely consumeradjustable trigger (2.5 to 6 pounds for centerfire hunting rifles, 1.5 to 6 pounds for varmint and law enforcement rifles)

that cannot accidentally discharge during normal use. The first year the AccuTrigger went on the market, it won a coveted Field & Stream Best of the Best Award for its revolutionary design. It was a signal achievement and announced to the firearms industry that Savage was back.

Over the succeeding years, other innovations followed, all designed to enhance accuracy.

The AccuFit system uses an exclusive combination of interchangeable comb risers and length-of-pull inserts to create a

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The introduction of the AccuTrigger in 2002 brought Savage Arms back into the public eye... and its guns back into the hands of avid hunters.

custom fit for any shooter. The AccuStock system consists of a rigid aluminum rail system firmly embedded in the stock throughout the forend of select Savage rifles. Rather than unidirectionally engaging the action at one or two points, the AccuStock engages it threedimensionally along its entire length.

“Savage is completely, and relentlessly, focused on accuracy and performance,” says senior marketing manager Beth Shimanski. “Our floating bolt head is designed to allow a few thousandths of an inch of movement. It can be adjusted to create a fit typically found only in rifles with hand-lapped locking lugs.

On select long-range and target rifles, Savage takes the extra step of individually truing and blueprinting its actions, much like a custom gunsmith would do. But we do it right in the factory before those rifles are even assembled. We also employ both specialized machinery as well as experienced operators to ensure our rifle barrels are geometrically perfect. Each and every centerfire barrel is checked and, if needed, custom-straightened.”

Finally, Savage also focuses on headspace control. “By threading Savage barrels into place with their individual action and bolt, we form a hand-fit, perfectly matched set that is secured with a barrel locknut,” she says. “This zero-tolerance approach to headspace helps provides the accuracy of custom rifles from factory firearms.”

There’s a lot to celebrate, and 2019 marks a major milestone for the company—the 125th anniversary of its founding. “For 125 years, we’ve set a standard hunters and shooters can rely on,” Shimanski says. “A standard that’s forged by our innovation, craftsmanship, and reliability.

And to celebrate that heritage, Savage is building the 125th Anniversary Model 110 boltaction rifle.”

The limited-edition rifle (only 1,894 will be made) is available in five calibers: .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, .243 Win., .250 Savage, and .300 Savage. Orders can be placed from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019, and there will be an online order form that consumers can fill out and submit to Savage.

The factory will also take orders

by phone. Rifles will be built in a single run once each quarter. SRP will range from $1,499 to $1,999.

“The rifles will feature a nice walnut Monte Carlo stock with cheekpiece and gloss finish,” Shimanski says. “They’ll also have a carbon-steel barreled action and will be drilled and tapped for scope installation.”

The grip cap will be engraved with the 125th Anniversary logo.

The receiver and magazine bottom will also be engraved.

“What began with Arthur Savage back in 1894 continues stronger than ever today,” she says. “Given the significance of this anniversary, we expect heightened demand for this special rifle. It’s definitely something to discuss with your customers.” Booth #14551. (savagearms.com)

The 110 Scout (top) provides the fit and function of a custom rifle— right out of the box. The MSR 15 Competition HD (bottom) features a unique ported muzzle brake.

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f e at u r e s

Power Puff

Polyfrang’s frangible ammo helps make training more efficient and safer By Robert Sadowski

W PolyFrang ammo offers ballistics similar to that found with traditional ammunition.

hen a PolyFrang projectile hits steel, it transforms into a harmless powder.

That is a key product attribute for professionals in training, for all too often the use of an FMJ or hollowpoint bullet on steel creates splashback. And the closer you are, the more dangerous that splash-back can be.

Polyfrang’s president, Richard Pomerantz, discovered the need for safe frangible ammo back in 2007, and since then his company has produced safe frangible ammo for U.S. and foreign elite military and law enforcement training. In fact, the FBI specifies only PolyFrang ammo for one of it high-tech shoot houses.

PolyFrang uses a proprietary mixture of polymer and copper powder to create handgun, rifle,

and shotgun slugs, and larger projectiles—think military use—that provide similar characteristics to lead, steel, and copper projectiles.

The bullet disintegrates when it hits steel, so there is no over-penetration, no ricochet, no splash back, and no shrapnel. These cartridges are also eco-friendly. The projectile is lead-free and the primers contain no mercury.

Because PolyFrang ammo offers ballistics similar to that found with

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Come and Visit Us at the Kahr Firearms Group Booth

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traditional ammunition, PolyFrang cartridges will run in all types of firearms. Handguns run normally, and long guns have comparable accuracy out to 200 yards. This means operators can train with their duty weapons and address targets in as close to real situations as possible.

In addition, PolyFrang works in full-auto firearms; neither an MP5 nor an M4 will jam on PolyFrang.

In fact, you can run PolyFrang through an M240 SAW full-auto with no stoppages. PolyFrang is also suppressor-friendly.

The stunning secondary use for PolyFrang? Rapid energy transfer.

PolyFrang offers extreme lethality when fired into soft targets.

Basically, the projectile penetrates the tissue and blows up inside the target. The bullet and the energy stay inside the target. In a personal defense situation, the shooter will not have to worry about overpenetration.

Currently PolyFrang in produced in 9mm, .40 S&W Auto, .223 Rem./5.56 NATO, and .308 Win./7.62 NATO. New for this year, 300 BLK enters the lineup.

Booth #15532. (polyfrang.com)

PolyFrang uses a proprietary mixture of polymer and copper. Each projectile is lead-free, and the bullet disintegrates when it hits steel, so there is no over-penetration, no ricochet, and no splash-back.

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F E AT U R E S

Isny’s third brand, Mauser, still manufactures M98 actions—which Rigby also uses in rifles like this.

Centuries earlier, a ready supply of wood, water, and lead had given birth to an industry of lenses in Wetzlar. Ernst Leitz built his business here, on the work of Karl Kellner, who established his Optisches Institut in 1849. Moritz Hensoldt, with help from Kellner, started M. Hensoldt & Sons that year. By 1928, Hensoldt was controlled by Zeiss, which later acquired it. Wetzlar also birthed Minox, known for its “spy camera” of the 1930s. As the area’s reputation for optics grew, it drew talent and supporting businesses—and competition.

Schmidt & Bender would make its home in the nearby town of Fellingshausen.

Not long before the Nazis rolled into Eastern Europe, a Zeiss engineer used a magnesium fluoride wash to better pass light though air/glass boundaries. At the end of World War II, this process became common practice in the optics industry. The collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 followed consolidation of the Zeiss/Jena and Wetzlar operations. Still, the workforce at the Jena plant dwarfed that at Wetzlar well into the 1990s.

Good Standards, Good Glass

Matched Pair Blaser rifles have fans around the world. Blaser

optics now boast quality to match By Wayne Van Zwoll

Y

ou get the strength and reliability of a Mauser in a faster action.” Hardly what you’d expect to hear from a chief executive at Mauser. But Bernhard Knobel also directs operations for Blaser and Sauer, which share its factory site near Isny, a rural town hard against Bavaria in southern Germany.

On ranges and afield, I’d found Blaser’s R93 and later R8 to be all Knobel had claimed. But traveling to L&O’s Isny rifle triumvirate last January promised more than updates on Blasers, Mausers, and Sauer rifles. I’d stop first in Germany’s optics capital, Wetzlar, to see Blaser’s new scopes.

Arriving by train from Frankfurt one evening, I met Korsten Kortemeier. “Payroll at Wetzlar’s historic optics firms has shrunk this decade,” he told me the next morning, herding the Audi into workday traffic. “Much of the Zeiss operation has moved to Oberkochen headquarters. We’ve benefited, hiring locally from a talent pool of optical designers and engineers.” Kortemeier is CEO at Minox, which, after breaking from Leica in 2005, lists its own riflescopes and binoculars.

He also has a stake in GSO. German Sports Optics appeared in 2013, to design and build binoculars, riflescopes, and spotting scopes for companies adding carriage-class optics to their product lines. The most recent project: Blaser-branded riflescopes. “We already have superb roof-prism binoculars with the Blaser label,” he said as we left the Minox plant for the GSO facility a short drive away. Kortemeier shares the title of managing director at GSO with Hans Bender, retired from the helm of Schmidt & Bender.

Square and efficient in profile, the factory appeared new. Giant windows ushered sunlight into Spartan but spotless offices. An open manufacturing floor held

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shiny CNC machines and sophisticated tooling for checking microscopic tolerances. I asked about raw materials.

“Like other German optics firms, GSO buys from foreign as well as domestic suppliers,” said my host. “These days, country of origin matters little. European firms that boast of Schott glass also maintain other accounts. They’d be foolish not to have backup sources. The important question: Does the material or part meet specifications? Glass that hews to our standards is good glass. The quality of a riflescope or a binocular depends more on the lens grinding and polishing, and on final component tolerances, than on the genesis of raw material.”

Retail prices of optics reflect not just the cost of materials, and on their preparation and assembly, but on the revenue lost scrapping products that on final inspection don’t meet standards.

Variation in lens curvature in top-

end riflescopes are held to .0001 mm. That’s finer than mechanical devices can measure, so lasers and reflected light take their place.

Kortemeier reminded me that “prisms are so precisely ground, they adhere by vacuum. Tooling and processes we employ at GSO also serve the semiconductor industry, where tolerances run 4,000 times finer than the diameter of a human hair.”

From a drawer, he produced a 10x42 binocular with a rich chocolate finish and Blaser’s argali-horn logo. “Look.” I looked. Through an open window, the glass revealed distant trees in astonishing detail.

The field was flat, brilliant, colortrue. Edge to edge, rainbow-free at the rim, it seemed without aberration. “Superior, don’t you think?” It wasn’t a question.

To walk me through the steps of building a Blaser-branded Infinity riflescope, he suited me up in a gown and headnet to enter the specially ventilated clean room. He

found slippers almost big enough.

“We finish only a dozen or so scopes each day. That pace will accelerate, but we take no shortcuts. Think of an automobile built for speeds to 180 km/hr. If you want a car that’s steady and safe at such speed, you must pay a great deal to upgrade tires, brakes, suspension, transmission, and other components. Blaser’s Infinity is the riflescope equivalent of that sports car.”

But will hunters buy it? Top scopes from the best makers now command sums that in my youth would have secured title to a new muscle car or a month’s hunt in the Cassiars chasing moose, grizzlies, and Stone’s sheep. In my circles, few hunters spring for the most expensive glass. In Germany and other European countries, however, hunting is not an egalitarian enterprise.

“You must have the means to lease an area,” Kortemeier reminded me. “Hunters are licensed only

after extensive tests. We have few outdoor shooting ranges, and indoor facilities are costly to access.

Our culture doesn’t include the casual trading and accumulation of firearms. Many places, you’re limited in the number of firearms you can own.” The upshot: A typical European hunter can afford expensive rifles and optics, but may have neither need nor opportunity to own many. Legendary Teutonic fascination with high-quality equipment may also figure into the brisk demand for Blaser R8s, and a sunny outlook by the L&O group for its GSO Infinity optics.

While I watched, the deft hands of men with 30 years’ experience brought a 2.8–20x50 scope from tube (machined from bar stock) to finished sight. It took an hour— with some components preassembled for my benefit. Special adhesives and fasteners joined the intricate components, with judicious injections of lubricants from needle-thin applicators. Frequent

Clockwise from left: “Clean room” garb includes gowns and headnets; installing lighted reticles requires a delicate touch. Constant, close inspection ensures a top-quality product at GSO, but such dedication reins in daily production rates. This figured Turkish walnut is ready for shaping; customers can visit the factory and select the wood for their R8.

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inspections ensured clinically clean lenses. Exterior glass wears a “Smart Lens Protection” coating, which sheds water and resists scratching.

Reliable and fast, the R8 is a top seller in Europe. The scope mounts tightly grip plasmanitride-hardened barrels.

A Sight to See

The 2.8–20x50 is arguably the most versatile of the three hunting scopes in Blaser’s Infinity stable. At 2.8X, the 45-foot field (at 100 yards) helps with those urgent offhand shots. And 20X should be power enough for the smallest, farthest targets. Despite its 7-times power range, the 2.8–20X is just 13½ inches long. Weight is a manageable, if not modest, 27 ounces.

Attribute part of that heft to an illuminated dot in the first-plane plex-style crosswire. The integral mounting rail, a feature on all Blaser scopes, adds a few ounces too, but absolves you of rings.

Albeit not popular with stateside hunters, an integral scope rail is in several ways superior to rings, which can slip or, when overly tight, damage the scope’s innards.

A ring cinched by a sumo wrestler can seize the focus/parallax mechanism affixed to the turret on modern high-power scopes. Hard against junctions outside the tube, rings can pressure lens attachments inside. A rail, on the other hand, can’t give way. It adds spine to the tube without imposing strain on it.

The drawback? A scope tube with a rail costs more to produce, and hardware to join rail and rifle are uncommon in the U.S. The other Blaser Infinity scopes, a 1–7x28 and a 4–20x58, share the 2.8–20’s 30mm tube. All have 1cm clicks in W/E dials, and 3½ inches of eye relief behind fast-focus eyepieces. The 1–7x28 has a fixed parallax-free, sharpfocus distance of 100 meters. It measures 12½ inches in length and weighs 22 ounces with its illuminated IVD (Intelligent Variable Dot) reticle.

“The dot shrinks as you reduce magnification,” said Kortemeier.

“Just what you expect of firstplane reticles. But when you get down to 4X, this reticle bumps up in size, for fast shots in cover. The dot goes small again above 4X.”

Clever! By the way, while the dot in all Infinity scopes shuts off after the rifle is laid down to save battery, Blaser has pioneered by pairing it with a magnetic switch on the R8 cocking tab. Thumb it forward, as you must to fire, and the dot lights up. No wires. Call it magic.

Another unusual feature on all three scopes: The rheostat knob to control dot brightness (with the focus/parallax dial on the 2.8–20X and 4–20X) is on the right-hand side of the tube, the windage dial at left.

“This feature benefits righthanded shooters who keep both eyes open,” Kortemeier said.

“They’ll see the target better with their left eye. The windage dial lies flatter than the focus/parallaxand-illumination combo and blocks less of the target.”

The Infinity 4–20x58 (14½ inches, 31 ounces) was developed for hunters who covet a generous power range and front glass big enough for shooting wild boars at night. The 58mm lens passes 7 percent more light in dim conditions than do the 56mm objectives standard on big European scopes.

Like the 2.8–20X, its focus/parallax dial yields sharp, parallax-free images from 50 meters to infinity.

The QDC (Quick Distance Control) elevation dial on the

This R8 Silence with Infinity 2.8–20x50 scope has a slender suppressor that’s longer than its barrel. The outer contour of the barrel and the silencer jacket enhance its overall attractive appearance.

2.8–20x50 and 4–20x58 lets you spin up fast, after zeroing at 100 yards, to a stop that sends your bullet on a higher arc—say, 4 cm up at 100. Both positions lock against accidental turns. For truly long shots, the dial remains raised so you can quickly add clicks.

Lenses in 7-times scopes travel about twice as far as in 3-times sights, so tolerances matter more.

Figure half a thousandth for erector cams. GSO hews to such tolerances; sight pictures retain sharp focus throughout power ranges. The 5-times range of the 4–20x58 suggests greater optical precision than in 7-times sights, but you’d be hard pressed to see any difference between images from the 4–20X and 2.8–20X.

Optical Champs

Late in the week, I rode the German rails to Isny. “These scopes are designed to complement the R8,” said Blaser CEO Bernhard Knobel. “Not just in form and finish, but in quality and innovation. You’ll see at the range.”

I’d fired earlier on the 300-meter indoor range near Ulm. Yes, indoor. Computer screens at each bench showed bullet holes in targets sent downrange electronically.

Although the R8 is barreled to cartridges as big as the .500

Jeffery, the rifle uncased at the range this time was a .308 Silence, an R8 with a short barrel boasting a slim, full-length suppressor. Its profile was much more fetching than that of standard barrels with fat cans at the muzzle. With the 1–7x28, I managed to keep four of five 168-grain match bullets inside a .4-inch knot at 100 meters. Alas, the four-in-one-out affliction dogged me. An R8 in 6.5x47 with a 2.8–20x50 Infinity put a quartet of 123-grain Lapua Scenars inside 1.2 inches at 300 meters.

Perfect pairing with the R8 aside, Blaser-branded scopes excelled on other rifles from the L&O campus. A smooth-shucking Sauer 100 in .223 printed a .7-inch delta in the X-ring at 200 meters.

A new and delightfully affordable Mauser Model 18 sent four of five .308 bullets into .8 inch at 200.

In sum, Blaser’s Infinity sights are optical champs, with target images devoid of perceptible fringing and fuzzing. I like the right-side focusing on the 2.8– 20x50 and 4–20x58. Even better is the stepped-up dot size below 4X in the 1–7x28, snuffing a common objection to first-plane reticles.

The rich brown accents of these black-anodized sights complement Blaser’s R8 Professional Success with leather of that hue.

Still, these optics look good on just about any rifle. They’re hefty, but these days few hunters fret over ounces of high-end hardware. Limited to one Infinity, I’d pick the 1–7x28 for big-game hunting, though the 2.8–20x50 will almost surely outsell it.

So far, you’re not limited to the number of rifles you might wish to scope. Booth #15156. (blaser-usa.com)

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Wade to Last

Sitka Gear waders are designed to last a lifetime

By Shannon Farlow

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hest waders are a quintessential part of waterfowl hunting. However, finding a pair that is both comfortable and capable of withstanding the rigors of use season after season can be a challenge. On top of that, repair options are usually limited to patching your own waders or replacing them after a few seasons—an expensive proposition over time. The team at Sitka Gear set out to change all of that with their new Delta Wader Collection, the final piece of their complete apparel system for waterfowl hunters.

“We wanted to reimagine what waders could be and start at that point, rather than taking what others had done along the way,” says Jim Saubier, Sitka Gear’s waterfowl product manager. “Our approach of starting with a blank canvas and saying what it could be, instead of what the constraints of our suppliers are resulted in a different product.”

The Delta Wader and Delta Zip Wader are made from four-layer Gore-Tex Pro laminate. Both models feature a LaCrosse AeroForm insulated boot, rein-

forced knee and shin pads, waterresistant zippered storage pockets, and Sitka’s Quantum-Adjustable No-Buckle Suspension designed for smoothly mounting a shotgun.

They are the only waders available in Gore Optifade Concealment Timber and Marsh camouflage. In addition, the Delta Zip Wader includes a waterproof YKK Aquaseal zipper that offers easy access when nature calls.

Although the SRP for the waders ($949 for Delta Zip and $849 for the Delta Wader) is higher than for some competitor brands,

consider what makes the Delta Waders so special.

Breathable Comfort

Before bringing the Delta Wader to market, the Sitka team spent nearly five years conducting exhaustive research and development. They enlisted seasoned guides and hunters for more than two years of intense field testing across North America’s flyways.

Logging thousands of hours in some of the toughest real-world

conditions that hunters face helped Sitka develop waders that are just as comfortable on those warm early-season days as they are during a bone-chilling winter squall.

“The ability to get the waders into the field, and then evaluating them, servicing them, and getting them back into the field for a subsequent season, has provided us with a lot of the insights that we needed to have the confidence that these are indeed the best waders ever made for this end use,” Saubier says. “I live in Montana, and we often hunt where the temperature is zero or below. The water flow and spring-fed nature of the streams is the only thing that keeps them from freezing, so it’s extremely cold. The ability to wear these waders in those environments is really what makes them excel.”

Sizing Simplicity

Waders that do not fit well can make for a miserable day in the field. Ever tried sitting up quickly to fire a shot from a layout blind when you’re wearing chest waders that are a bit too tight? Or trudged through a swamp in a pair that drags underfoot?

“We’re super excited that people can order a pair of waders that fit them,” says Saubier. “Onesize-fits-most or trying to fit as many people as possible into what I call a ‘loose size’ changes your experience. You don’t get the performance that you would hope for in mobility and managing your moisture. It’s always a compromise, so we wanted to build this no-compromise wader that will service somebody for their hunting career.”

Serviceable for Life

Gore-Tex is the key component that makes the Delta Waders so effective across an extreme range of temperatures. The Gore-Tex Pro laminate provides breathable comfort along with reliable waterproof protection.

Sitka Gear encourages its customers to send in products that are damaged from normal wear and tear; the company will repair them for a fee. The liberal repair offer also applies to the new Delta Waders. Customers can send their waders damaged from normal use to Sitka, and the company will replace the boots or service the waders and reattach the same boots at a reasonable cost.

“The ability to have truly serviceable waders is really the big story. Having a wader that’s super comfortable is great, but it doesn’t help if they get damaged and you have to throw them away,” says Saubier. Booth #10328. (sitkagear.com)

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Delivering the Goods

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Ready for an open-source bullpup? By Robert Sadowski yler Kemp, owner and founder of MK Machining, is happy with his company’s success. Primarily known for two products—3-D printed throw rings and rail-mounted, machined aluminum scope levels—MK Machining is about to branch out. Kemp is now introducing a bolt-action bullpup chassis...and if the new Mark 1 and Mark 2 deliver the goods (and he believes both will), more success will surely come.

Kemp started MK Machining to make shooting accessories in 2011, while an undergraduate in engineering school. At the time, 3-D printing was a new high-tech process, and Tyler envisioned 3-D printed parts such as throw levers for optics, magazine extensions, bolt knobs, and the like. In addition to magnification levers, MK Machining also manufactures scope levels, bolt knobs, and sun shades, using a durable proprietary nylon.

Printing in nylon is problematic (parts can warp and stick), but the company developed a method that avoids such issues. As a result, MK Machining parts are guaranteed for life. The company’s magnification levers can be installed

MK Machining’s bullpup chassis is designed to be modular and compatible with a wide range of AR-15 aftermarket products.

in seconds, and it has nearly 50 different patterns that fit hundreds of the most popular scopes.

But back to the bullpup chassis.

The chassis is fully machined 6061 billet aluminum designed to fit with a Remington Model 700 short-action. A Model 700 longaction chassis is on the horizon,

too, as are chassis for actions made by other manufacturers.

Kemp thinks of his chassis in the same terms as website and app developers think of open-source code. Apple code, for instance, is closed-source, with limited access to developers; Android, on the other hand, uses open-source

code, meaning it’s available to anyone. That’s how Kemp thinks of his bullpup chassis. He has designed the chassis to be modular and compatible with a wide range of AR-15 aftermarket products, including Picatinny rails, M-LOK handguards, QD swivels, and AR-15 pistol grips.

The big difference between MK Machining’s chassis and other bolt-action bullpups is a rail built into it. This rail allows the barreled action to be placed in a variety of other bullpup stocks, giving the shooter the ability to swap calibers. Kemp envisions his chassis being used by precision competition shooters, hunters, and long-range shooters. Booth #N247. (mkmachining.com)

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Lightweight and thin, Safariland’s armor line is designed to provide comfort, flexibility, and high-performance ballistic protection.

Pushing the Envelope

Safariland’s body armor line evolves to meet the challenges faced by law enforcement By Christopher Cogley

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ecause the threats they face are so much more advanced, law enforcement officers today have to be faster, more agile, and more adaptable than ever before. They also have to be better protected. When it comes to body armor, those two concepts are often mutually exclusive, but Safariland Group has come up with a unique approach to product development that has allowed it to consistently merge performance and protection in a collection of body armor that keeps up with the changing face of today’s law enforcement officers.

“We look at police officers as professional athletes, because in all reality, that’s exactly what they are,” says Tim O’Brien, director of soft armor for the Safariland Group. “And just like professional athletes, law enforcement officers need equipment that allows them to do their job effectively and keeps them safe in the process.”

Creating body armor that fulfills that promise becomes a delicate balancing act between protecting the officers against more advanced weapons without restricting the athleticism they need to perform their essential duties.

“Body armor today isn’t just about stopping bullets,” says Frank Smith, director of engineering armor for the Safariland Group. “It’s about ergonomics, comfort, and mobility. That’s the challenge.”

Safariland meets that challenge by continually pushing the envelope, not only with their

internal design team, but also with the companies with which it partners.

“We don’t have a choice,” Smith says. “We have to meet the challenges. And that’s why we push our partners as hard as we do. We’re always pushing them for more pliable materials that offer better performance and a higher level of protection.”

That commitment and willingness to accept nothing less than the best has led to the development of cutting-edge ballistics panels such as the SX Armor, which the company touts as the thinnest, lightest, and one of the strongest ballistic panels available. Safariland has also developed Summit Armor and Xtreme Armor, both of which provide a blend of comfort, flexibility, and high-performance ballistic protection.

“At the end of the day, it’s about giving these guys the best products out there,” O’Brien says.

“We’re protecting the guys who protect all of us.

And we have no intention of letting them down.”

The Art of Concealment

Although Safariland always designs its body armor with the officer athlete in mind, that design concept becomes even more critical when it comes to the body armor that’s created specifically to go unnoticed.

“There’s really not much difference in terms of protection,” says O’Brien. “What changes is how you have to make that protection blend into everyday clothing.”

From the F1 Covert Carrier that’s designed for high-performance use with an extreme low profile to the lightweight and breathable P1 Covert Carrier, Safariland is working to make sure that off-duty, undercover, and plainclothes officers have access to uncompromising protection that doesn’t blow their cover or prevent them from doing their jobs effectively.

“We have to design for such a wide a variety of

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CONTINUOUS EVOLUTION Being able to change with the times is a critical factor if you are a company that specializes in body armor. And Safariland, which is celebrating 55 years of creating products designed to protect law enforcement officers, has certainly seen its share of evolutions in body armor.

Introductions of materials such as Kevlar and Spectra have helped designers at Safariland develop new ways of protecting law enforcement officers through the years by offering lighter, more flexible armor that provides consistently better performance than the armor of yesteryear.

“There’s continuous improvement in ballistic fiber performance,” says Frank Smith, director of engineering armor for the Safariland Group. “What’s driving that is a need for reduced thickness, reduced weight, and better protection.”

It’s also being driven, in part, by the standards set by the National Institute of Justice. These non-regulatory and completely voluntary standards were established in the late 1970s as a way to help ensure that body armor used by law enforcement adheres to certain minimum requirements and maintains a level of conformity that serves as a benchmark of quality. These standards continue to be routinely updated and revised as technology changes and new threats are identified.

“Every time the standards reset, we see improvements and new advancements,” O’Brien says. “As we look to the new standards that are coming, that’s definitely going to be the case again.”

As those new standards are put into place, and the industry has to rise to meet the updated challenges of performance and protection, Safariland will undoubtedly incorporate those improvements into a new line of products that will help usher in the next evolution of body armor, just as it has for the last 55 years.

Of all the advancements and achievements the team at Safariland has realized, one accomplishment stands out above all the others as the most significant milestone in the company’s history.

“We’re celebrating 2,026 lives saved and counting,” O’Brien says. “It’s not often you get to go to work and know that you’re doing something to help protect the good guys, but that’s what we get to do every day. It’s a really rewarding feeling.”

situations,” says Smith. “The officers who wear these carriers might be called into any number of extreme situations at a moment’s notice, so they have to have something that is versatile and allows for quick response time. That’s the challenge we face. It’s an ever-changing environment out there. We have to adapt so that they can adapt.” Booth #12762. (safariland.com)

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This factory-installed “California-compliant paddle” is a flat panel that attaches to the pistol grip. By eliminating the full pistol function, the carbine is now legal to own in California.

Aiming at a Moving Target

Hi-Point introduces a California-friendly carbine

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ports shooters in California face numerous restrictions in what they can legally own. To add to their misery, state regulations are often a moving target, making it tough for shooters and manufacturers alike to comply.

Recently the state legislature made pistol-grip carbines illegal in the Golden State.

Hi-Point, however, has scored a bull’s-eye through its new California-compliant carbine and retrofit kit. This version of the popular Hi-Point Carbine is now available for shooters in the state without the threaded barrel and with other key modifications that meet California’s new state requirements. This includes a factory-installed “Californiacompliant paddle,” a flat panel that attaches to the pistol grip that eliminates the full pistol function and feel.

“The new grip paddle makes our pistol-caliber carbines legal to own in California,” says Charles Brown, president of MKS Supply, the exclusive marketer of Hi-Point Firearms.

“Hi-Point has always supported the Second Amendment fight in California, and this new grip paddle gives our customers many options for Hi-Point carbines in California.”

Owners of existing Hi-Point carbines can also retrofit their firearms to com-

ply with the California law—a key issue, since existing carbines are not grandfathered in. To stay legal in California, Hi-Point carbine owners can purchase the compliance paddle and either attach it themselves or take it to a gunsmith.

“The grip paddle on the Hi-Point carbines helps to give our customers in California several options,” says Brown.

“Hi-Points have been described as an American workingman’s (or -woman’s) gun, and these are designed to be affordable yet robust, reliable, and accurate.”

The Hi-Point Californiacompliant carbines are available in 9mm, .40 S&W, .45ACP, and 10mm. SRP: $365 to $454, depending on caliber. California-compliant models have SRPs about $50 higher than standard models.

Booth #16144. (mkssupply .com) ÑPeter Suciu Another key modification by Hi-Point was the elimination of the threaded barrel.

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The increased density of the shot retains velocity and helps it penetrate deep into a body cavity.

Hardness also prevents pellet deformation.

Let’s Get Small

Federal’s Tungsten Super Shot is a big deal

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urkey hunters and waterfowlers can be a demanding, hard-to-please lot. They’re always looking for denser loads that fly farther and penetrate deeper. To keep them happy, Federal engineers have been working overtime to create new load options that do just that. The secret sauce is Heavyweight Tungsten Super Shot.

Heavyweight Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) is a metal alloy comprised primarily of tungsten.

Harder than steel, it has a density of 18 grams per cubic centimeter, more than double the density of steel and 50 percent denser than

lead. The increased density retains velocity and helps the shot penetrate deep into a body cavity.

Hardness also prevents pellet deformation, which improves pattern efficiency and penetration. Because of its increased density, you can use a smaller TSS pellet to deliver the same amount of energy as much larger lead or steel shot. And that means you can greatly increase the pellet count of a payload by using a smaller shot size. TSS is also certified non-toxic by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, so it can be used for waterfowl hunting.

Waterfowl Whoppers

Federal’s J.J. Reich with a turkey he took with the new Tungsten Super Shot ammo.

The new Black Cloud TSS carries on a lethal legacy, blending proven Flitestopper steel pellets and 18 g/cc of TSS. Two new 12-gauge 3-inch Federal Premium Black Cloud TSS loads are now offered. The first load option is 1¼-ounce BB FS steel

mixed with No. 7 TSS. The second load is 1¼-ounce No. 3 FS steel blended with No. 9 TSS. Federal Premium redesigned Black Cloud just two years ago, but this latest configuration takes it up another notch, offering sizable gains in pattern performance and killing power while slashing variations in velocity and reducing barrel residue with improved powders. That recipe includes round steel pellets blended with sharp-edge-shaped Flitestopper steel pellets.

The new TSS recipe blends 60 percent Heavyweight TSS pellets (rather than straight steel) and 40 percent Flitestopper steel. These high-end loads feature No. 7 or No. 9 TSS mixed with BB or No. 3 Flitestopper steel. The loads also feature Federal’s lead-free Catalyst primers and a clean, fastburning propellant. The new Black Cloud TSS extends effective range past 50 yards. SRP: $37.95 (box of 10), 12-gauge,

3-inch, 1¼-ounce BB FS Steel/ No. 7 TSS; $37.95 (box of 10), 12-gauge, 3-inch, 1¼-ounce No. 3 FS Steel/No. 9 TSS.

Turkey Blends

Last year, Federal introduced a number of Heavyweight TSS loads using small TSS pellets in 12 and 20 gauge and .410. Those offerings included 3-inch 12-gauge loads with 1¾ ounces of No. 7 or No. 9 TSS shot; 3½-inch 12-gauge loads with 2¼ ounces of No. 7 or No. 9 shot; a 3-inch 20-gauge load with 1½ ounces of No. 7 shot; and a 3-inch .410 load with 13/16 ounce of No. 9 shot. The loads were wildly popular with diehard turkey hunters.

For 2019, two new 12-gauge loads join the lineup: 3½-inch TSS Blended options include a 2½-ounce No. 7/9 mix or a 2½-ounce No. 8/10 mix. SRP for both: $63.95 (box of five). There also are two options of 20-gauge 3-inch loads—a 1 5/8-ounce No. 7/9 mix or a 1 5/8-ounce No. 8/10 mix. SRP for both: $46.95 (box of five). These four new options deliver very high pellet counts. In fact, some of the new payloads top 1,000 pellets per shell.

Heavyweight TSS is loaded using advanced buffering material and is 22 percent denser than standard tungsten. Other features and benefits include a roll crimp and clear card wad to keep buffering material in place. Full-length wads prevent direct contact of the extra-hard pellets and the bore, protecting the barrel. A portion of all proceeds is donated to the National Wild Turkey Federation.

All of the new Black Cloud TSS and Heavyweight TSS offerings use the full-length Flitecontrol Flex wad. Its unique design improves pattern density and consistency when fired through ported and non-ported chokes, even the high-performance aftermarket chokes diehard waterfowl and turkey hunters most desire.

The wad’s redesigned reardeploying brake fins and sidemounted vents stimulate the payload for separation from the wad at precisely the right moment for dense, consistent patterns. The brake fins open, so payloads separate exactly when they’re supposed to, regardless of the gas pressure behind them. The result is improved performance in flight, leading to longer-range capability and improved pattern efficiency.

Booth #14551. (federal premium.com)

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Stoeger’s M3500 Delivers on Performance and Price

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hen needed, it never hurts to have a little extra firepower at your disposal. And that happens to be a key selling point for Stoeger’s M3500 semi-auto 3½-inch-chambered 12-gauge shotgun. Another key selling point is price; SRPs run between $669 to $769. And though priced considerably less than most comparable shotguns, the M3500 comes with many of the same features found on those more costly units.

Simplicity of design is at the heart of this shotgun. Rather than being a gas-ejection system, the M3500 is inertia-operated, which helps lessen felt recoil. In addition, the bolt has only three moving parts to make cleaning easier.

The M3500 is drilled at the factory to accept Weaver-style scope bases, a feature that turkey hunters will likely find appealing. It also comes with four flushmounted screw-in choke tubes. A shim kit is also included to allow

the shooter to adjust the stock for both drop and cast. A prospective buyer has a choice of several shotgun finishes from which to select, including Realtree ARG or Realtree APG camo patterns (covering the entire shotgun), a black model, a walnut-stocked version, and even one possessing a pistol grip appendage called a SteadyGrip.

Recently, I had an opportunity to run the Stoeger M3500 through its paces on a three-day goose hunt in Manitoba. Using Federal Premium Black Cloud shotshells loaded with No. 2 steel shot, the gun performed flawlessly.

I think one big appeal of the M3500 is its ability to handle magnum 3½-inch shotshells.

Another major selling point, mentioned above, is the price—about half that of other comparable models. Booth #13656.

Rather than being a gas-ejection system, the M3500 is inertia-operated to help lessen felt recoil. In addition, the bolt has only three moving parts for easier cleaning.

(stoegerindustries.com)

—Thomas C. Tabor

APRIL 17-19, 2020 | FORT WORTH, TEXAS DUCKS.ORG | DUCKSEXPO.COM

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Market research by Bushnell suggested a market gap in low-light offerings, something the company addressed with its new line of optics.

Making a Difference

Bushnell’s new line of optics aims to provide hunters and shooters with a wide spectrum of performance By Bill Miller

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he Southern Alps, which stretch across much of New Zealand’s South Island, are not as high as the Rockies, but they’re no less strenuous for big-game hunters after chamois and Himalayan tahr. Steep, craggy, and choked with brush, these peaks are formidable, “since they come straight up from sea level.” That’s the assessment of Will Brantley, hunting editor for Field & Stream and Outdoor Life magazines. He hunted there a year ago while testing new products from Vista Outdoor, the parent company of Bushnell Outdoor Products.

Brantley carried a .30/06 Model 110 from Savage (also a Vista brand), topped with a Bushnell Forge 2–15x50mm riflescope.

Even though he faced challenging terrain, he figured he had a good shot at success because the two species have adapted well since their introduction to these mountains in the early 1900s.

“They really thrive in those high-elevation areas,” Brantley says. “Hunting is the only way to keep them in check because they have no natural predators.”

But terrain favored the animals.

The hikes, Brantley says, were “grinding,” with “brush clawing at my hat and gear,” including the riflescope. The test came when Brantley and two other gun writers set up on a trio of chamois.

“I’ve done some strenuous hunts, but this was one of the

most physical,” he says. “I’m not a big long-range guy; I’d prefer to try to sneak close. But that particular situation called for a longer shot. The chamois were on a grassy flat below us, around 300 yards. We took all three.”

The New Zealand hunt also tested Bushnell’s new binoculars and spotting scopes.

“Thinking back, we really put them through their paces,” Brantley says. “The riflescope was beat all to hell on that hunt, but it held zero.”

There are 100 new riflescopes, binoculars, and spotting scopes spread across three lines—Forge (top end), Nitro (mid-level), and Prime (entry level). Bushnell built the optics with superior glass, proprietary lens coatings, and other features. The goal was to outperform the competition in

low-light situations, such as the final moments of legal shooting light at dawn or dusk.

“We’re going to add six to eight minutes to your day, at the time when whitetails, bears, and elk become more active,” says brand spokesman Jake Edson. “If you get to hunt only one day, that’s a huge advantage.”

Product development, he notes, was a case study in consumer involvement.

Market Gap

Edson says the sporting optics industry is very competitive because most manufacturers use advanced technology, so Bushnell sought a hook to gain market advantage. The team members surveyed customers to ensure nothing was overlooked. That’s

when they found a “gap.”

Customers said it was easy to find image quality throughout the industry, except in low-light situations, Edson notes. Bushnell set out to address that concern with better designs and materials. The strategy mirrored successes experienced by Bushnell’s new president, Vishak Sankaran, when in a previous job he elevated Craftsman tools by actively consulting consumers.

“Once we started to listen to them, and gain insights from them, we were able to understand how and where to innovate,” Sankaran says. “Similarly, we are going to do the same things here.

We are going to build out our ability to connect with our consumers over time.”

Bushnell’s engineers, based in the U.S., believe they’ve met the

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Bushnell’s new line of optics is available in three versions: Prime, Nitro, and Forge, at three separate price points.

challenge by leveraging superior engineering for more light and a unique exterior glass coating that sheds smudges, raindrops, and fog.

Best in Class

“These industry-leading technologies ensure products in the Prime, Nitro, and Forge lines offer the very best view possible under any condition imaginable,” says Bushnell brand manager Matt Rice. “For example, riflescopes in all three lines feature Ultra Wide Band coating that provides optimum brightness and true color in every lighting condition, especially under harsh, bright sunlight or in those very last few moments of shooting light when some optics begin to fail.”

The new optics also come with Bushnell’s proprietary EXO Barrier external lens coating to repel moisture and other gunk that could obstruct a trophy target. “EXO Barrier molecularly bonds to the lens and fills the microscopic pores in the glass,” Rice says. “The result is an ultra-slick coating that repels water, oil, fog, dust, and debris.

And it is built to last. The bonded coating will not fade with the passage of time or normal wear and tear. It is, quite simply, the best protective lens coating technology Bushnell has ever developed.”

Nitro binoculars and spotting scopes feature ED Prime glass lenses for true-to-life color, plus rubber-armor housings for added protection against bumps and thumps. Rice says that Nitro laser rangefinders are “next-level, with range extending to one mile and beyond.”

Products in Bushnell’s premium Forge line are “best in class,” Rice says. For example, the riflescopes “provide every feature hunters and shooters have asked for— from exposed, locking zero-stop turrets and first- and secondfocal-plane models to ballistic reticles and perfectly positioned, adjustable-height magnification change levers.”

“Our role is to drive traffic to their stores, which we do by having great products and great brands and loyal customers,” Sankaran says. “We also need to make sure that they can make a fair margin on our products.”

Back in New Zealand, Brantley

also took a tahr, shooting uphill at about 80 yards. He praised the Forge scope for its rigid 30mm tube, side parallax adjustments, and locking turrets. He says Bushnell’s new optics ought to perform well in North America.

“I’m an avid whitetail hunter,”

he says. “And, man, I’d say probably 80 percent of deer are taken in the first couple—or last few— minutes of legal shooting light.

That’s when good glass makes a difference. It’s the difference of filling buck tag or not.” Booth #14551. (bushnell.com)

Bushnell’s proprietary EXO Barrier external lens coating repels water, oil, fog, dust, and debris. The coating will not fade with the passage of time or normal wear and tear.

Driving Traffic

Bushnell is now moving to promote the new lines and offer sales tips to retailers. Edson suggests dealers set up a shirt steamer at the counter to fog up the lenses to show how the EXO Barrier immediately sheds moisture from the glass.

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NEWS

The Big Shift Kryptek moves from battlefield to backcountry By Jodi Stemler

H

unting and shooting apparel have changed dramatically in the past 10 years with the use of technical, performance fabrics and the integration of designs that give a nod to extreme athletic pursuits and military functionality.

Kryptek Outdoor Group embodies this shift with its “battlefield to backcountry” products, which build on the personal experience of the company’s founders while hunting in the backcountry and serving our nation on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Developing the Design

This Tactical LS Zip and Tactical Pant are decked out in Raid, one of Kryptek’s extensively tested proprietary camouflage patterns.

Kryptek’s founders, Butch Whiting and Josh Cleghorn, served together in the U.S. Army in Northern Iraq and bonded over their mutual passion for backcountry biggame hunting. While deployed, the two would dream about becoming part of the outdoors industry and getting to live that passion every day. They knew from their personal experience in the military that the revolutions in tactical military apparel could convert to the outdoors market, and they were determined to give their vision a shot.

The original Kryptek business plan focused on “spiraling the features and functions of specialoperations apparel into the civilian hunting market,” a concept that gave the company its first big break when Kryptek landed an exclusive retail agreement with Cabela’s.

The original Kryptek product used the licensed Mossy Oak Mothwing Mountain Mimicry pattern on the tactical-born hunting apparel. This initial success opened the door to the industry from 2010 through 2012, but Whiting and Cleghorn still had to hold down other jobs outside the industry. Their vision was to design their own camo pattern and expand the company to the point that it would be their only job.

The true game-changer came through a solicitation by the Department of Defense seeking a new camo pattern for the U.S. Army. Kryptek’s camo concept built on the hexagon pattern of camo netting—one of the most effective types of camouflage to blur silhouettes—and used micro and macro layering to transfer the 3-D effect of the netting to a 2-D flat surface.

Kryptek was one of only 24 patterns that met the DOD’s requirements to be entered into the U.S. Army Phase I testing. This comprehensive test process measured retinal response to see how long it would take for soldiers to visually acquire a target wearing the different camo patterns in a variety of background terrain. After Phase I, Kryptek was one of four camo patterns selected to make the final stage of force-on-force live testing. Although a winner was never announced, Kryptek had undergone extensive field testing at the highest levels, and its camouflage had passed with flying colors.

Expanding the Business

Kryptek’s unique pattern has become the foundation of the product line, and Kryptek is now available through a number of retailers—from a continued partnership with Cabela’s and other big-box stores to small, local outdoor shops—as well as direct to consumers via its website. In addition, the brand has expanded its international sales with divisions in a number of countries. It doesn’t hurt that the camo pattern, which is used by some law-enforcement and military units, has also been featured in a number of video games and Hollywood movies.

The distinctive pattern has also expanded beyond apparel lines, as Kryptek has developed a discretionary licensing program for products it does not manufacture but that fit within the vision of the Kryptek brand. The company is very selective in choosing these partners and often selects a “good, better, best” product line in order to offer a variety of price points.

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Partners include a variety of packs through companies such as Tenzing and Kifaru, as well as Bowtech bows, Weatherby rifles, and others.

The partnerships have also helped expand brand visibility and cross-marketing opportunities. In 2018, Kryptek worked with the NRA to develop a sweepstakes offering. The NRA Big Truck Giveaway features a custom Ram Minotaur truck wrapped with a Kryptek mountain skyline, $50,000 cash, and more than $20,000 in additional gear from Kryptek’s industry partners—a total prize package worth nearly $140,000. It’s estimated that the visibility from the sweepstakes will raise millions of dollars for the NRA, and the brand visibility from the print and social media outreach will help all the partners in the giveaway. The sweepstakes remains open until the end of March 2019.

New Products for 2019

At this year’s SHOT Show, Kryptek is showing several new product lines, including a tactical collection, a late-season hunting collection, and a performanceapparel collection.

The tactical collection builds off the company’s extensive experience developing combat uniforms for special-operations units around the world. The collection includes five different styles of apparel available in three patterns and three solid colors. The fabrics for the collection are made using durable, woven ripstop blends to offer rugged yet comfortable garments with incredible functionality. SRP: $79.99 to $139.99.

The Kryptek Njord Collection includes a jacket, vest, and pant in the company’s iconic Highlander pattern. The key to this collection is

that the fabric has a “low acoustic signature” created by bonding a 10/10 lamination between brushed tricot shell fabric and a high-pile fleece backer. The result is super-quiet, 100 percent windproof, highly water resistant, and exceptionally warm garments that are particularly appropriate for late-season hunts.

SRP: $99.99 and $179.99.

In addition to the tactical and hunting apparel, Kryptek’s new products will include its own performance apparel collection. This line will include 12 different styles of lifestyle garments using five proprietary Kryptek patterns. The collection is designed with advanced performance fabrics to keep the body cool and protected using moisturewicking UPF fabric and strategically placed airflow mesh. SRP: $19.99 to $99.99. Booth #13912.

The Njord jacket sports Kryptek’s Highlander pattern. Pants and a vest are also available.

(kryptek.com)

ZIPPING INTO THE FUTURE

Most likely you don’t give much thought to the lowly zipper. But you should. It is often the point of failure for waterproof or water-resistant storage bags. But Nite Ize, probably best known to hunters for its lighting products, takes the zipper seriously. So seriously, in fact, that it is using the 2019 SHOT Show to introduce a revolutionary new waterproof storage bag system. RunOff waterproof dry bags, featuring proprietary Tru Zip technology, are poised to change the way hunters store gear that needs to stay dry in wet environments.

The Tru Zip waterproof zipper is the first toothless, waterproof zipper and features an ultra-quiet, easy-to-use closure that keeps water out. Tru Zip is incorporated into the lightweight and flexible TPU-coated bags and has an ultrasonically welded construction for maximum protection against water, dust, and sand. Most important, it has a proven rating of IP67 (tested to withstand submersion in water up to one meter for 30 minutes).

Designed to accommodate everything from small essentials such as headlamps and knives to larger items such as lanterns, boots, and spare clothes, the RunOff bags are available in six sizes.

The Wallet ($24.99) accommodates ear plugs and other small accessories. The Pocket ($29.99) is for mobile phones, multi-tools, and the like. The 3-1-1 Pouch ($34.99) can handle carry-on liquids and headphones and meets TSA standards.

The Toiletry Bag ($39.99), as the name implies, accommodates toiletries, but also handles other mid-sized accessories. The Medium Packing Cube ($44.99) is for flashlights, gloves, glasses, and spare socks. And the Large Packing Cube ($54.99) can accommodate boots, flashlights, and two days’ worth of clothing. The airtight design of the packing cubes also allows for compression capabilities to pack bulkier items, such as a down jacket. Booth #1414. (niteize.com)

Ducks Unlimited Expo

D

ucks Unlimited, the world leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation, is partnering with Texas Motor Speedway, one of the largest venues in Texas, to host the inaugural Ducks Unlimited Expo (DUX), April 17-19, 2020.

“DUX is a three-day, familyfriendly, hands-on consumer show consisting of 13 interactive villages where you can see, try, and buy the latest in outdoor products, talk with industry experts, and experience everything in the great outdoors,” says Dana Barton, Ducks Unlimited director of national events. “The Ducks Unlimited Expo will also feature exhibitions, educational seminars, and demonstrations. It’s the ultimate playground for all outdoor enthusiasts.”

“Sometimes a partnership just makes sense, and given the crossover in supporters here, this is certainly one of those times,” says Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage. “The 1,500 acres at Texas Motor Speedway make for an ideal location for Ducks Unlimited to host this massive, first-of-itskind event, giving them space to really showcase all the things that make them special.”

DUX Villages include archery, biking, camping, conservation,

dogs, exhibitors, fishing/boating, golf, land management, 4x4/offroad track, shooting, ranching, and a UTV track. Exhibitors will cover the entire spectrum of outdoor sports, from deer, duck, and turkey hunting to fishing, boating, offroading, and even land management for wildlife production. Plans also include a wide variety of food and entertainment options throughout the three-day event.

“With more than 78,000 DU members and 10,000 DU volunteers from across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, Ducks Unlimited and the Texas Motor Speedway are in a unique position to leverage a wide variety of contacts to energize and support this event,” said Ducks Unlimited president Rogers Hoyt Jr. Booth #10735. (ducks.org)

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news

Ultimate Versatility UltiClip specializes in holster security for everyday concealed carry

I

By Brian McCombie n this age of digital marketing and social media, many people are convinced that just one viral video, photograph, or article can propel them or their company to fame and fortune. Such thinking has certainly pushed its way into the shooting sports industry. Although there’s nothing wrong with going viral, Doug Carbol and Randall Darby also know of another method for success in the shooting sports: good, old-fashioned face-to-face networking while putting your product lines on display.

In other words, the SHOT Show approach.

Carbol and Darby own and operate UltiClip Ultimate Carry Solutions, an Illinois-based company that produces and sells several versions of the UltiClip, a holster clip for everyday concealed carry. The UltiClip secures a wide variety of holsters to the carrier’s belt, pants, purse, or any other places the user desires. UltiClip is also a great way to secure and carry a knife.

The idea for the UltiClip came to Darby several years ago, when he was looking for a safe and effective way to carry his handgun. He wanted to be able to clip his holster to his waistband—both when he was wearing a belt and those times when he wasn’t. The latter scenario was the problem. When attached to his waistband without a belt, Darby’s holster and handgun either would not come up and out easily or the gun came out still in its holster.

The various clips on the market, Darby soon realized, simply were not able to grasp his waistband securely enough. Darby came up with some ways to attach carry holsters, ran his ideas by Carbol, and the two worked on various clip prototypes. Once they were sure of the design, they had a metal-working company manufacture dozens of the very first UltiClips.

The two entrepreneurs debuted their new product at a concealed-carry trade and consum-

The Slim2.2 and Slim3.3 clips are narrower than previous iterations in order to accommodate smaller handgun holsters and knives.

er show in the fall of 2015. At that show, the new UltiClip garnered positive reactions from concealed carriers and holster makers alike.

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“Then we got a booth at the 2016 SHOT Show,” says Carbol, chief operations officer for UltiClip, and a retired firefighter. “With the exposure we received from the media and the connections we made with manufacturers, things really took off for us. We’ve been back to the SHOT Show every year since.”

Carbol notes that he feels SHOT Show is an essential venue. “For a newer company like ours, SHOT is really what it is all about,” he says. “The contacts and the relationships you build and the all-around exposure SHOT generates can’t be beat.”

For the 2019 SHOT Show, UltiClip will be introducing the Slim2.2 and Slim3.3 clips.

They are narrower than previous iterations in order to accommodate smaller handgun holsters and knives. They will also launch UltiClip 3+, which works with Kydex carry holsters.

Currently, UltiClip is sold by approximately 250 dealers worldwide. Carbol notes that the various UltiClips provide a hefty 50 percent profit margin.

“Our product line can also generate new sales,” he says. “If you have a solid base of concealed-carry customers, you likely sold many of them holsters. Now, you can offer them a very secure way to attach those holsters.” Booth #2967. (ulticlip.com)

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news

The introduction of the Vanguard Camilla inspired Brenda Weatherby (right) to become a hunter, and a hunting ambassador.

Tapping a New Market Weatherby wins with women’s rifles By Jodi Stemler

O

ne of the most welcome changes in the shooting sports has been the growing participation of women. NSSF documented this change when it released its “Girl Power” infographic, which confirmed an 85 percent increase in the number of women hunters from 1.8 million in 2001 to 3.3 million in 2013.

So, it really shouldn’t be all that much of a surprise that the industry is now beginning to offer products truly engineered for women. Weatherby was at the forefront of this development when it launched the Camilla line of rifles in 2016, the first production rifle designed specifically to fit a woman’s body. The concept has been so successful that the manufacturer has continued to expand the line, and it now offers five different women-specific models.

The initial idea to make a women-specific gun came from Weatherby’s vice president of marketing, who recognized that most rifles marketed to women simply had a shortened stock and probably included some (or a lot of) pink. Though custom rifles were available for women, they came with an associated higher price tag.

When the staff began discussing the concept, Brenda Weatherby, wife of Weatherby president Adam, joined the process.

Brenda didn’t actually start hunting until 2014, when her daughter decided to take a hunter

education class and Brenda offered to take it with her. In the past, the Weatherby women— including Adam’s grandmother, Camilla, for whom the women’s gun is named—didn’t join the men on hunts. Brenda went in with an open mind and fell in love with the camaraderie, the opportunity to help feed the family, and the sense of personal accomplishment that comes with the hunt.

The new Camilla rifle presented an opportunity to help other women discover their own connection to the outdoors through hunting.

“If women are the fastest-­ growing segment of the outdoor market, we knew we had to have something for them,” she says.

“We wanted to give women the chance to buy a rifle that fits them. The gun had to be a quality product, but it had to be priced right. We wanted it to be beautiful, but not girly. The bottom line was, it had to be different from a man’s gun in a useful way, not just in a design way.”

Weatherby took five other women—among them experi-

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enced hunters and brand-new hunters—on a turkey hunt and brought along the company’s engineer. The women were of different statures, from tall to small and in between, and the goal was to find something that would fit their average body measurements for length of pull, grip size, angle of stock, and neck length. From this data, and using input from online chat boards and within the industry, they were able to craft several dummy stocks—and the one that rose to the top truly fit all the different statures.

The first model offered was part of the Vanguard family. The Vanguard Camilla comes in a beautiful Turkish walnut stock with fleur-de-lis checkering and a rosewood forend and grip caps.

The length of pull is 13 inches, and the pistol grip has a smaller radius and is closer to the trigger guard, reducing the grip-to-­ trigger reach. The stock has a higher comb and, combined with the Monte Carlo cheekpiece, allows for easier acquisition of the target through the scope by improving the cheek weld to the

stock. The butt of the stock has a negative angle and is shorter from heel to toe, and the toe is angled away from the body to better fit a woman’s frame. Overall, the gun is more compact and lighter while being perfectly balanced—for a price tag of $849.

“The Vanguard Camilla was way more successful than even we thought it would be,” Brenda says. “We couldn’t keep the 6.5 Creedmoor in stock, and overall the Vanguard Camilla was our best-selling model in 2017.”

The launch of the Camilla gave Brenda her chance to fully become a hunter. That year, she hunted bear, blacktail deer, and elk. She also hunted in Namibia with her Camilla rifle. The opportunities allowed her to become independent and hunt on her own as well as with friends and with her husband.

“Without the Camilla, I wouldn’t be the hunter that I am today,” she says. “It gave me lots of chances to hunt and to be an ambassador for women hunters.”

With the success of the Vanguard Camilla, Weatherby decided in 2018 to offer the gun in its legendary Mark V line. The Mark V Deluxe (SRP: $2,700) has an AA-grade Claro walnut stock, and the Mark V Subalpine (SRP: $2,700) has a composite stock wrapped with Sitka’s subalpine pattern and a Cerakoted barrel. The Mark V Camilla uses the specially designed women’s stock and adds the high-end Mark V features, including the company’s lighter six-lug action, fluted bolt body and 54-degree bolt lift, and the new LXX trigger. With the Mark V Camilla line, Weatherby was able to expand the caliber options to include a .240 Weatherby Magnum and a .30/06 Springfield.

For 2019, the company is expanding both the Vanguard and Mark V lines. It is adding a synthetic stock to the Vanguard Camilla, and will offer the Mark V Camilla Ultra Lightweight (SRP: $2,300) with a green composite stock and black webbing.

With the expansion, the company is showing that it is continuing its commitment to women-specific equipment.

“We created the functionality, and now we’re offering even more choices for women who don’t want to compromise on what they are shooting,” says Brenda. “What’s exciting is that we tried it with a ‘let’s see’ attitude, and now we have five different models.” Booth #12729. (weatherby.com)

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NEW PRODUCTS SUMMIT The Viper blind combines numerous proprietary technologies designed to give hunters a step up on the game they pursue.

SM ITH & W ESSO N Performance Center Ported M&P Shield comes in three calibers.

Smith & Wesson

The new Performance Center Ported M&P Shield M2.0 pistol—available in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 Auto—has a ported barrel and slide for reduced muzzle flip. Other features include an aggressive grip texture and front slide serrations. The Performance Center–enhanced M2.0 trigger delivers a crisp, light trigger pull, and the patented take-down lever and sear deactivation systems allow for disassembly without having to pull the trigger. Available with Hi-Viz fiber-optic sights or tritium night sights. SRP: $539, Hi-Viz sights; $623, tritium night sights. Booth #13729. (smithwesson.com)

Nikon

Shooters looking for rapid-action targeting capability with AR/MSR platforms can rely on the new Black Force 1000 1–4x24 riflescope with capped turrets and Speedforce reticle. When the riflescope is dialed down to its true 1X magnification, the reticle’s illuminated double-horseshoe center portion serves as a quick reference for reaction-speed target acquisition and engagement as well as for establishing moving-target leads. The Speedforce MOA reticle also integrates BDC circles and hash marks for precise intermediate-range target holdovers. SRP: $399.95. Booth #11221. (nikon sportoptics.com)

Otis Technology

The four-tools-in-one Armorers Pistol Tool lets you service and maintain semi-automatic pistols

such as those from Glock, SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Taurus, FNH, and H&K. Disassemble your pistol with ease using the 3/32-inch pin punch to knock out pins. Install, adjust, or remove aftermarket front sights with the 3/16 nut driver. Remove the trigger connector with the small flathead screwdriver. Remove debris with the nylon brush. The main body of the tool is textured for improved grip, and a handly clip lets you attach the tool to a pocket or range bag compartment.

Booth #14213. (otistec.com)

Summit

The Viper blind, available in three- and four-person versions, combines numerous proprietary technologies designed to give hunters a step up on the game they pursue. The Hush Silent Hatch hingeddoorway system enables stealthy entry/ exit without using a zipper, and the windows feature TruView panels, which match the blind’s camouflage exterior but allow for an unobstructed, near360-degree view from the inside.

The panels silently adjust up and down along the integrated tracks of the Split Silent slide system for easy concealment customization.

The Viper also features an innovative yet super-simple Snap Wrap carry system—a durable nylon sheet that securely holds the fold-

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OT I S The four-toolsin-one Armorers Pistol Tool lets you service and maintain semi-automatic pistols.

ed blind during transport and doubles as an in-blind gear organizer.

The three-person Viper comes in two pattern choices—Mossy Oak Country and Veil Whitetail.

The four-person version is available in Realtree Edge and Veil Whitetail. SRP: $299.99 to $329.99. Booth #16123. (summitstands.com)

Browning

Rawhide models in the ProSteel line now feature a tough 11-gauge steel body, Pry-Stop End Bolts, a 1-inch formed door

with inner plate, a Force Deflector locking system, and 1-inch-diameter chromed locking bolts on three sides. The ThermaBlock 1,500-degree F, 80-minute fire rating offers additional protection.

A standout feature is the fauxleather-trim interior, which adds a touch of rugged class. A full DPX door rack adds storage space while improving access. A gloss black or rugged textured saddle brown finish will be offered with a three-spoke antique bronze handle. SRP: $1,969 to $3,379. Booth #10744. (browning.com)

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