SHOT Business -- April/May 2016 by SHOT Business

Election Day Is Coming. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Risk Your Rights. The votes of shooters, hunters, and gun owners can make a huge impact at the polls. Know where your candidates stand on the issues and #GUNVOTE.

NSSF.ORG/GUNVOTE

VOLUME 24, NUMBER 3 APRIL/MAY 2016

BADLANDS UNLEASHES A WHOLE NEW APPROACH TO CAMOUFLAGE PACKS Pg. 7

For the shooting-sports industry, SHOT Show remains “the show of shows.” And like the three-ring circus, it offers something for everyone PAGE 29

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE GOOD STUFF

FIRING LINE

Galco’s new riﬂe sling offers better carrying and shooting Pg. 46

SIG SAUER’s P226 air pistol delivers premium performance Pg. 22

UNLEASH THE WARRIOR SPIRIT.

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CONTENTS

S H O T B U S I N E S S ❚ A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 6 ❚ V O L U M E 2 4 2, ISSUE 5 3

Departments

EDITOR’S NOTE An

NEWS BRIEFS Badlands’ approach to camo packs; Auto-Ordance updates the famous “Chicago Typewriter”; YETI rolls out Rambler

FIRING LINE SIG

UNDERCOVER SHOPPER Tennessee

Features

NSSF Update FROM THE NSSF Keep your business practices sharp and up to date by attending the 3rd Annual Firearms Industry Compliance Conference in May.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Thanks to exhibitors and attendees alike, the 2016 SHOT Show was a resounding success!

COVER PHOTO: TIM IRWIN

17 18

RETAILERS ARE VITAL TO #GUNVOTE Retailers will

find polling trends, voter registration tools, and information about candidates at NSSF’s #GUNVOTE website. ATF SEEKS COMMENTS ON PROPOSED FORMS 1, 4, AND 5 Comments are being accepted until April 18.

SAUER’s P226 air pistol looks and feels just like the real thing

retailers are asked about affordable rifle and scope combos

SHOT SHOW 2016: For four days every year, Las Vegas becomes the

center of the universe for the shooting-sports industry. That’s how important SHOT Show is for manufacturers and retailers. This special section, taken from the pages of SHOT Daily, is a snapshot of the special community that is the SHOT Show.

interesting new take on staff productivity

GOOD STUFF An

48 54

WHAT’S SELLING WHERE

ingenious multi-task rifle sling from Galco

NEW PRODUCTS

Hoppe’s Gun Medic; Lowa camo boots; Ozonics scent masker; Helle’s new knife

RETAILER TOOLBOX NFA dealers: Are you ready for rule 41-F, revising application provisions?

APRIL/MAY 2016 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

NSSF

The Right Balance A new way to think “productively”

any years ago I was called into a staff meeting designed to generate “new and exciting” editorial ideas. The first pitch was from an eager young editor. It really wasn’t on target, and the editor in charge didn’t particularly care for it. He summarily dismissed the idea out of hand, with a tone so curt and condescending that it effectively ended the meeting then and there. No one else wanted to be humiliated in front of their peers. I was reminded of that management gaffe while reading Smarter, Faster, Better, by Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter for The New York Times. It’s a fascinating new book that looks in detail at the science of productivity from eight different angles. The chapter that should greatly interest any retailer who holds frequent staff meetings was on team building. In it, Duhigg explores the concept of “psychological safety,” a key component of a team’s overall productivity. This is important because, as Duhigg writes, “Over the last two decades, the American workplace has become much more team focused,” which requires staff members to work together more closely, for better or, on occasion, for worse. This trend has, in turn, led to research into why some teams are clearly much more productive than others. Duhigg acknowledges that there are myriad reasons for this, but psychological safety just may be the most important. At one level, psychological safety is the feeling by members of a group that they can pitch any idea and not be subject to ridicule, no matter how competitive and combative the team is. It’s also the feeling that any member can deliver honest feedback and not have their 4 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

head handed to them for telling the boss “bad” news. Call it a safety net that helps your team perform at a very high level. One thing is clear: The team leader plays a huge role is establishing this trust. “In general, the route to establishing psychological safety begins with the team’s leader,” Duhigg says. “So, if you are leading a team, think about the message your choices send…. It is often more efficient to cut off debate, to make a quick decision, to listen to whoever knows the most and ask others to hold their tongues…. But study after study shows that while psychological safety might be less efficient in the short run, it’s more productive over time.” That may seem counter-intuitive, but in some cases that kind of efficiency really doesn’t make good business sense. In essence, Duhigg says to get “better” you need to balance “smarter” against “faster.” Yes, your meetings may be a bit less efficient, but given the competitive retail arena in which you operate, isn’t the payback of improved staff productivity worth it in the long run?

Slaton L. White, Editor

SLATON L. WHITE, Editor James A. Walsh, Art Director Margaret M. Nussey, Managing Editor David E. Petzal, Shooting Editor Mike Toth, Special Projects Editor Judith Weber, Digital Content Producer Hilary Ribons, Editorial Assistant CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Larry Ahlman, Barbara Baird, Scott Bestul, Philip Bourjaily, Christopher Cogley, David Draper, Jock Elliott, William F. Kendy, Mark Kayser, David Maccar, Richard Mann, Peter B. Mathiesen, Brian McCombie, Tom Mohrhauser, Robert Sadowski, Robert F. Staeger, Peter Suciu, Wayne Van Zwoll

ADVERTISING: 212-779-5316 Gregory D. Gatto, Vice President, Publishing Director Brian Peterson, Western Sporting Goods Sales Katie Logan, Southern Sporting Goods Sales David Hawkey, Northeast Sporting Goods Sales Elizabeth Burnham Murphy, Chief Marketing Officer Ingrid Reslmaier, Marketing Design Director

BUSINESS OPERATIONS Tara Bisciello, Business Manager

CONSUMER MARKETING Robert M. Cohn, Consumer Marketing Director Barbara Brooker, Fulfillment Manager

MANUFACTURING Michelle Doster, Group Production Director Kelly Weekley, Senior Production Manager

BONNIER Chairman, Tomas Franzén Chief Executive Officer, Eric Zinczenko Chief Operating Officer, David Ritchie Chief Marketing Officer, Elizabeth Burnham Murphy Chief Digital Revenue Officer, Sean Holzman Vice President, Integrated Sales, John Graney Vice President, Consumer Marketing, John Reese Vice President, Digital Operations, David Butler Vice President, Public Relations, Perri Dorset General Counsel, Jeremy Thompson

SHOT Business (ISSN 1081-8618) is published 7 times a year in January, February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/ November and December by Bonnier Corporation, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5695, and is the official publication of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Flintlock Ridge Office Center, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470 (203-426-1320). Volume 24, issue 3, Copyright © 2016 by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. All rights reserved. Editorial, circulation, production and advertising offices are located at 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5695 (212-779-5000). Free to qualified subscribers; available to non-qualified subscribers for $25 per year. Single-copy issues are available for $5 each. Send check, payable to NSSF, to: SHOT Business, c/o NSSF, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470-2359. SHOT Business accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. All correspondence should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Requests for media kits and advertising information should be directed to Katy Marinaro, Bonnier Corporation, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1270, Chicago, IL 60611. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA. For Customer Service and Subscription questions, such as Renewals, Address Changes, Email Preferences, Billing and Account Status, go to: shotbusiness .com/cs. You can also email SBZcustserv@cdsfulfllment.com, in the U.S. call toll-free 866-615-4345, outside the U.S. call 515-237-3697, or write to SHOT Business, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016. For editorial inquiries, write to Slaton L. White, SHOT Business, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016 REPRINTS: E-mail reprints@bonniercorp.com. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to SHOT Business, P.O. Box 6364 Harlan, IA 51593.

National Shooting Sports Foundation®

UPCOMING INDUSTRY CONFERENCES

The regulatory framework in which our industry operates and the technologies that allow your business to thrive are ever-changing. Can you keep up? Join Orchid Advisors and the National Shooting Sports Foundation® as we present the 3rd Annual Firearms Industry Compliance Conference, May 2-4, 2016, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Three educational tracks will address every FFL’s business model, each track moderated by industry leaders and regulators.

The face of hunting and the shooting sports continues to change—trending younger, female, urban and suburban. We as an industry must be prepared to meet the needs of this ever-changing customer base. Join us in Pittsburgh for a jam-packed agenda of informative sessions. Connect with industry leaders and hear from influential speakers. Register today for the premier forum for leaders of the shooting sports industry, the 2016 NSSF Industry Summit.

The regulatory landscape for importing and exporting firearms and related products is constantly shifting. Is your business ready? Join the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the FAIR Trade Group for our 15th annual Firearms Import/Export Conference. To help members of industry navigate the ever-shifting legislative and regulatory waters, the conference provides updates from ATF, the Departments of State and Commerce, Customs and Border Protection, Treasury and other agencies. Featuring major policy speeches and small-group roundtable sessions with regulators, the conference sold out early in 2015. Don’t miss the opportunity.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR EACH CONFERENCE ARE AVAILABLE Contact Chris Tatulli, (203) 426-1320 ext. 214, ctatulli@nssf.org

nssf.org

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Bits & Pieces

NEWS BRIEFS NEWS

❚

PROMOTIONS

Ruger Tweaks 22/45 Lite Line The Ruger 22/45 Lite is now available in an attractive OD green with an anodized receiver that features a new side-vent pattern, for a custom pistol look without the custom price. The ventilated receiver is made of aerospace-grade aluminum, greatly reducing overall weight, which helps match the pistol to its name. The internal cylindrical bolt construction ensures permanent sight-to-barrel alignment and higher accuracy potential than conventional movingslide designs, and a contoured ejection port and easy-tograsp bolt ears allow for durable and reliable operation round after round. In addition, checkered 1911style replaceable grip panels not only make for a great appearance, but also provide a comfortable, non-slip hold. SRP: $549. (ruger.com)

AWARDS

❚

OUTREACH

Badlands is using Approach Evasion Technology in its new packs to help create versatile camo patterns.

Zeiss Adds Voucher

Due to the overwhelming response at recent trade and consumer shows, Zeiss has decided to include a voucher for a free set of Talley bases ($49 retail value) to go with the Talley signature rings ($149 retail value) already included in the box for the Victory V8 riflescope line. The free Talley bases will replace the Switchview magnification throw level that was originally included in the package. Still included is a certificate for a free custom-engraved Kenton ballistic turret ring ($149 retail value) that will be built to exactly match a chosen caliber and load. (zeiss.com/us/ sports-optics)

❚

Badlands New Camo Approach

fter undertaking the company’s biggest project to date three years ago, Badlands has announced that Approach Evasion Technology is ready to conceal hunters everywhere in 2016. Developed around a “Design, Test, Repeat” mentality, the Badlands Approach pattern has evolved into a versatile and adaptable camouflage.

Based on Badlands Adaptive Coloration Technology, the look and feel of the Approach pattern changes based on the wearer’s surroundings and lighting conditions. Heavily wooded forests shift Approach to a green-andbrown dominant pattern, while sagebrush and rock bring out the pattern’s lighter tones. Tested at both extreme distances and up close, Badlands Approach This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources.

features an innovative breakup pattern that ensures visual confusion for whatever may be looking the wearer’s way, no matter the distance. “The Approach project got its name for two reasons,” says Badlands general manager Bill Crawley. “First, we truly did take a brand-new approach to looking at how and why camouflage is effective. Second, this pattern will really allow you to physically approach the game you pursue more effectively and get you closer than ever before.” Available this spring and summer, Badlands Approach will be offered first on several Badlands packs and all-new apparel items. (badlandsapproach.com) APRIL/MAY 2016 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ 7

NEWS BRIEFS

Arkansas Governor Welcomes Ammo Plant Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced at the 2016 SHOT Show that SIG SAUER is finalizing plans to locate a new ammunition manufacturing facility in an existing building in Jacksonville, Arkansas, where it is anticipated about 50 new jobs will be created. Similarly, the Remington Outdoor Company announced growth plans at its ammunition plant in Lonoke, Arkansas, the second expansion in recent years. As part of the endeavor, the company plans to invest in the facility and create 84 new jobs. SIG SAUER “Firearms and ammunition is a growing industry, and we came to Las Vegas to share the many reasons Arkansas is a natural fit for this sector,” said Governor Hutchinson. “SIG SAUER was one of the first calls I made as Governor, and I am delighted they chose our state when making the decision to expand. The fact that a world-class company like SIG SAUER is choosing to do business in the state adds to our momentum in manufacturing, and we appreciate this significant commitment they are making to locate in Arkansas.” “We’re excited about SIG SAUER, a world-renowned manufacturer of firearms, locating a facility in Jacksonville,” said

Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher. “This is great news for our workforce, with the opportunities and jobs it will provide for

the community. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship for years to come.”

REMINGTON

Remington intends to expand its existing plant in Lonoke, Arkansas.

“Remington is making another significant investment in Arkansas,” Governor Hutchinson said. “Arkansas’ reputation as a hub for firearms and ammunition manufacturing continues to grow, thanks to Remington’s decision to expand again in the state.” “Our company’s ethos is reflected in the quality ammunition our hardworking team members produce every day,” said Remington CEO Jim Marcotuli.

Bianchi Launches New IWB Holster

ith the new Subdue IWB Model 145 holster, Bianchi adds a second Allusion IWB holster to the line. Both holsters feature a comfortable inside-the-waist design for allday comfort, and the backs of each are constructed with an anti-bacterial and anti-microbial mesh-padded liner. The key difference is overall size—the Subdue offers a smaller, more compact footprint than its predecessor, the popular Model 145 Suppression. Other key features of the Subdue IWB holster include a premium full-grainleather exterior with a laminate synthetic liner that makes for a smooth draw and

long-lasting wear, a heavy-duty springsteel belt clip that securely anchors the holster to the wearer’s belt or trousers, and a slight detent in the trigger guard for enhanced weapon retention. “The new Subdue is worthy of Bianchi’s reputation as a leading designer of innovative, high-quality leather handgun holsters, from its smooth draw to the technology embedded in its design,” says Bianchi equipment vice president Scott Carnahan. “And SHOT Show was the perfect place to launch this holster.” The Subdue will fit belt widths up to 1.75 inches. SRP: $68. (safariland.com/ bianchi)

® STEEL FRAME Full size

The Bianchi Subdue IWB Model 145 full-grain-leather holster, part of the Allusion IWB line, has been designed for all-day comfort.

Barrel: 4.43” Calibers: 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP

www.magnumresearch.com

NEWS BRIEFS

Hide in Plain Sight

avvy hunters see ground blinds for what they are: versatile and effective hunting tools that help them get close to game. Unfortunately, occasionally the game sees the blinds, too, which is why they should always be carefully placed and brushed out. Concealing ground blinds with natural vegetation is hardly a new concept, and just about all of Ameristep’s ground blinds have varying numbers of sewn-in brush loops to facilitate this process. But

Ameristep’s Shifter ground blind has sewn-in brush loops on all sides.

wouldn’t it be nice if an entire blind was engineered and built for this purpose? Ameristep’s engineers thought so, and they created the all-new Ameristep Shifter Blind for 2016. The customizable Shifter borrows some of its best features and design elements from the most popular Ameristep ground blinds, then kicks up the custom camo-concealment quotient with two rows of sewn-in perimeter brush loops, additional sewn-in loops on the roof and corners, and eight sections of shock-cord that can be connected to hubs or stake loops to help hold heaps of branches, brush, sticks, stalks, grasses, and greenery. While the Ameristep Shifter offers unprecedented concealment options, this breakthrough blind’s large window array is just as compelling and attractive—an important feature that affords maximum versatility when one considers the amount of supplemental camouflage that may be stacked up outside. The Shifter provides

full-coverage mesh windows on two sides, complete with built-in gun ports designed for either a firearms or a crossbow hunter. These large windows also feature Ameristep’s Dual Window Curtain System, a split magnetic curtain-andtoggle window design that allows the tops or bottoms of each window curtain to be opened or closed quickly and quietly for optimal viewing and concealment. The other two sides have large corner windows with shoot-through mesh, tailormade for bowhunters. The Shifter Blind comes in the flat-out cool and effective Kryptek Highlander camouflage pattern, printed on Ameristep’s iron-tough yet soft-and-quiet Durashell Plus fabric—a dull, lightweight woven polyester that won’t reflect light. Inside, hunters disappear against a stealthy, black ShadowGuard coating. A super-stout frame is required to support the added weight of all that supplemental camouflage, and the new Ameristep Shifter Blind delivers it via Ameristep’s Spider Hub System. SRP: $179.99. (ameristep.com)

NEW!

Exceptional Performance. Even More Exceptional Value. Trinovid HD Binoculars The all-new Trinovid HD binoculars boast exceptional Leica optical performance surrounded by a rugged, take-anywhere armored body. An innovative carrying system, included with every Trinovid HD, enables comfortable handling, quick access and safe storage. Thanks to world-renowned Leica HD optics, the Trinovid HD delivers an outstanding balance of contrast, light transmission, depth of ﬁ eld, and color ﬁ delity for brilliant images. __ premium Leica optics for high-contrast, pin-sharp images and color fidelity __ innovative carrying system for quick and comfortable use __ compact, perfectly balanced and lightweight __ models: 8x42 and 10x42

To learn more, visit your authorized Leica dealer or leica-hunting.com Trinovid HD provided with innovative carry system

Knoxxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SpecOps Shotgun Stock The all-new BLACKHAWK! Knoxx SpecOps Gen III Stock with Recoil Suppression Technology effectively reduces felt recoil by up to 80 percent, taking the original SpecOps Stock to an even higher level of effectiveness, performance, and reliability. Using dual recoil-compensation systems, this rugged new synthetic stock improves shooter confidence, reduces muzzle flip, decreases cheekslap, and virtually eliminates harsh recoil. With improved ergonomics and six convenient adjustment positions, a shooter of any size can use the SpecOps Stock Gen III comfortably in any application and with any load. Even the effects of highpowered 3-inch loads are reduced by about 50 percent. Features include the twostage patented recoil reduction system and an innovative new patent-pending recoil pad technology. The straight cheek weld of this improved version helps reduce cheek-slap and keep shooters on the target. The sixposition adjustable stock with a 12.5- to 15.2-inch length-of-pull range has a buttstock tensioner to remove rattle. An ergonomic pistol grip is optimized for tactical shooting techniques, and multiple ambidextrous slingmounting locations provide increased adjustability. Installation is easier now, too, as the forend uses an integrated hand-stop and a multiposition accessory mount. (blackhawk.com)

NEWS BRIEFS

YETI Rolls Out Rambler YETI Rambler stainless-steel bottles are built for untethered adventure, from the backcountry to the duck blind or wherever ice-cold or piping-hot beverages are needed. Over-the-Nose technology—in essence, a wide neck—makes for easy loading, drinking, and cleaning. In addition, the TripleHaul cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 percent leakproof. Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Rambler products, such as 18/8 kitchen-grade stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulation, and a No Sweat design.

The First Choice For Wholesale Firearms, Ammunition & Reloading Supplies

“We continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans. Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our line,” says YETI co-founder Roy Seiders. “Like all YETI products, the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer, but the ability to keep beverages

hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series. We’re excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottles.” The collection will be available this spring. SRP: $39.99, Rambler 18-ounce; $59.99, Rambler 36-ounce; and $89.99, Rambler 64-ounce. (yeti.com)

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crowshootingsupply.com The TripleHaul cap on the YETI Rambler stainless-steel bottles provides a comfortable grip as well as 100 percent leakage protection.

The Tri-Star Setter offers a 3-inch chamber for both the 28-gauge and the .410.

TriStar Expands Over/ Under Setter Line

ince its release, TriStar’s Setter S/T has been a go-to gun for shooters and hunters looking for their first over/under. Now, the company is expanding the popular line by adding .410 and 28-gauge options, each with their own dedicated frames. The new .410 and 28-gauge Setter S/T shotguns will continue to provide shooters with the same quality features found in previous Setter S/T releases, including a solid frame for durability and strength, a sealed action to keep out dirt, chrome-lined barrels, selfadjusting locking bolts, fiber-optic front

sights, and an elegant wood stock. “Our Setter S/T line has become a favorite because it offers a reliable and solid-built over/under at an affordable price,” says TriStar sales and marketing manager Ryan Bader. “The addition of .410 and 28-gauges further solidifies the shotgun line as one that shooters and hunters should consider whether they’re looking for their first or their next over/under.” The Setter S/T .410 and 28-gauge both have a 3-inch chamber and include five Beretta choke tubes (SK, IC, M, IM, F). SRP: $565. (tristararms.com)

Eley Expands Ammo Line Long known for its dominance in .22 LR Olympic shooting events, Eley is using its engineering knowledge to enter new market segments. Over the past year, Eley expanded its product offerings by introducing two new semi-automatic rounds. Now joining the .22 LR lineup in the second quarter of 2016 will be the Eley high-velocity hollow, designed for small-game hunting. (eleyammunition.com)

A decade since it was first introduced, the Taurus Judge® still rules. Today, it’s available in more than a dozen models. Capable of chambering both .45 Colt and .410 shotshell, it’s the original five-shot game changer. Fiber optic front sights Taurus Unlimited Lifetime Repair Policy™ Decisive stopping power Superior choice for home and personal defense Free One-Year NRA Membership with purchase of Taurus firearm

MSRP $599 (as shown). With multiple configurations to choose from, view the entire Judge collection at TaurusUSA.com.

NEWS BRIEFS

Irish Setter Revamps RutMaster Line Joining the RutMaster family this spring will be three new RutMaster 2.0 Lite styles—two lighter neoprene versions and a non-neoprene boot designed for simplicity. The two neoprene styles—a Realtree Max-5 camo with 400 grams of PrimaLoft insulation (SRP: $149.99) and a non-insulated version in Mossy Oak Bottomland camo (SRP: $139.99)— offer flexibility and easy on/off. Hunters can fold over the neoprene top for a comfortable, customizable height, and ScentBan scent control helps keep odor at bay. The bottom chassis on both versions features a lightweight rubber/ RPM outsole, a threequarter shank in the sole for underfoot stability, a polyurethane footbed delivering long-lasting underfoot comfort, a convenient heel kick for easy boot removal, and vulcanized rubber for waterproofing and durable construction. The non-insulated rubberclad with a vulcanized sole in Mossy Oak

Break-Up Country camo (SRP: $119.99) is an affordable Irish Setter rubber boot featuring a removable polyurethane footbed and the Chore Sole with an aggressive lug pattern to provide stability and traction. All three are available in men’s whole sizes from 8 to 15. In addition, Irish Setter has engineered a new generation of the RutMaster knee boots. RutMaster 2.0 hunting

The Irish Setter RutMaster line gets a big upgrade this year.

boots are waterproof and scent-free, providing excellent traction, superior fit, and easy on/off convenience. The boots feature a patent-pending ExoFlex panel that extends from the top of the boot down to the ankle for a snug, comfortable fit. An adjustable side gusset provides additional fit control. The Mud Claw RPM II Sole lightens the boot for all-day comfort without sacrificing dura-

bility. An aggressive lug pattern creates superb stability and traction on the toughest terrain and is designed to release mud and dirt. RutMaster 2.0 incorporates a convenient heel kick plate, an integrated pull-on handle, and a removable polyurethane footbed. These boots are available in men’s whole sizes from 8 to 15. SRP: $149.99 to $179.99. (irishsetterboots. com)

New Look for the “Chicago Typewriter”

uto-Ordnance is introducing an exciting and classy look to its century-old Thompson, historically referred to as the “Chicago Typewriter.” The Thompson 1927A-1 semi-automatic carbine is now offered in a Titanium Gold finish and also a Polished Chrome. Either of these time-honored reproduction semi-auto carbines will undoubtedly get attention when taken to the range. The guns are offered in .45 ACP and have a 16.5-inch finned barrel (18 inches with a compensator), with a 1:16 right-hand twist. The frame is constructed of steel with either a Titanium Gold finish or a Polished Chrome finish. The gun weighs 13 pounds and has an overall length of 41 inches. Other features include a pinned-in front blade and an open rear adjustable sight. The stock is fixed and made from American walnut, and has a vertical fore-

Auto-Ordnance is introducing a pair of stylized Thompson 1927A-1 semi-auto carbines.

grip. These two new models each ship with one 50-round drum and one 20-round stick magazine. The magazines are also plated in either polished gold or chrome. “The iconic look combined with the history of the tommy gun have always had an extremely strong appeal among gun owners,” says Frank Harris, vice president of sales and marketing of the Kahr Firearms Group, parent company of AutoOrdnance. “We introduced these at SHOT Show this year, and people were lining up just to have their picture taken holding one of our new polished-finish Thompsons. We really expect the gold and chrome finishes on the Thompson 1927A-

Designed for you, created for the outdoors.

1 to be popular with the gun community—especially among collectors.” Both the Titanium Gold (model number T150DTG) and the Polished Chrome (model number T150DCR) carbines are shipped in a protective hard case that features both the distinctive Thompson logo and the words Chicago Typewriter. To truly capture the 1920s gangster era, an aftermarket violin case can be ordered for the Gold or Polished Chrome tommy gun. For a limited time only, the introductory suggested retail price is $2,963 for either the Polished Chrome or the Titanium Gold. The cost of the violin case is an additional $221. (auto-ordnance.com)

U P D AT E

BY LAWRENCE KEANE, NSSF SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL

FROM THE NSSF

Navigate the Compliance Maze Keep your business practices sharp and up to date— attend the 3rd Annual Compliance Conference in May

ith 2016 looking to be a historic year for everyone in our industry in terms of production, sales, and customer engagement, it is imperative that each and every member of the firearms trade commits to the highest level of compliance. To help our industry members—especially our retailers—do just that, NSSF has joined Orchid Advisors for the second year in a row to cohost the 2016 Firearms Industry Compliance Conference (FICC).

Scheduled for May 2–4 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, this year’s FICC will help ensure our industry members have the necessary resources in place to safely navigate the complicated compliance landscape associated with operating those businesses that lawfully sell firearms and ammunition products. Attendees should plan to arrive before the official start of the conference in order to attend one of two pre-conference sessions the afternoon of May 2. The first session, the Firearms Industry Technology Workshop, is intended as a course for industry members who are ready for a deep dive into the underlying functionality that enables their business to thrive. Moderated by Orchid Advisors CEO Jon Rydberg, topics to be covered include understanding how your compliance technology works and how to harness that technology. The second session, an ATF Compliance Workshop, will be delivered by Jillair Kubish, Orchid Advisors president of ATF compliance. This workshop will provide coverage and discussion of a wealth of regu16 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

latory concerns challenging today’s firearms retailers, including foundational concepts in ATF compliance, the 2015 year in review, and regulatory updates. Once the conference officially begins on May 3, attendees will discover that its focus is firmly on the future—where regulations are headed, how new developments in product research and development affect FFLs, and what processes and technologies FFLs are using to significantly improve their business. Additionally, ATF will present a number of working group sessions throughout the conference, offering individual FFLs an opportunity to interact, ask questions, and focus on proactive compliance practices and policy construction. During the conference, attendees will have three learning tracks to choose from: (1) How to Pass an ATF Inspection; (2) Implementing Firearms Business Technology for Dealers and Distributors; and (3) Implementing Firearms Business Technology for Manufacturers, Importers, and Exporters. All three tracks will be moderated by accomplished

industry experts who will discuss how to successfully navigate the intersection of legislation, regulation, and compliance with that of operations, logistics, and technology. These tracks feature nearly 20 breakout sessions, focusing on topics such as best-in-class laser and barcode scanning technology, serial number control, modernday ERP systems, and supporting compliance tools to choose from, ensuring that both new and repeat attendees will learn something. All attendees will also have the opportunity to partake in discussions of how the regulatory environment has evolved over the past two years, as well as the recent presidential actions. Located in East Hartford, Connecticut, Orchid Advisors (orchidadvisors.com) is a consulting firm that assists firearms manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in achieving compliance and operational excellence through education, technology, software, and consulting solutions that reduce risk, cut costs, and provide expert guidance to make their client’s business more successful and efficient.

“We are pleased to have partnered with NSSF for the second year in a row to bring operational compliance expertise to firearms manufacturers, importers, distributors, and dealers,” says CEO Rydberg. “The FICC is an essential tool for today’s modern FFL, one that provides compliance and technology information to owners and executives that allows them to focus on manufacturing and selling product while their businesses remain compliant.” NSSF and Orchid Advisors encourage all ATF compliance professionals, company general counsels, chief compliance officers, IT personnel involved in ATF transactions, shipping and receiving logisticians, import/export and trade compliance professionals, and FFL staff who engage in ATF transactions to attend this event. For more information, including the full agenda and links for registration, go to ficconference.com. Limited sponsorship opportunities are available; to learn more, contact Chris Tatulli, NSSF’s director of exhibit & sponsorship sales, at ctatulli@nssf.org or 203-426-1320, ext. 214.

BY CHRIS DOLNACK, NSSF SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

U P D AT E

YO U S H O U L D K N O W

SHOT Show 2016 a Success Thanks to everyone involved—exhibitors and attendees alike—the 38th annual industry trade show rocked

ith the 38th SHOT Show now in the archives, I’d like to take a moment before a very busy and challenging year kicks into high gear to thank everyone who attended. Exhibitors, media reps, retail buyers, wholesalers, PR and advertising professionals—all of the more than 64,000 people who attended are responsible for the tremendous success we enjoyed.

The high points are almost too many to list, but a few stand out above the others, such as the all-new NEXT Pavilion. By moving our nonprofit booths near the entrance to the lower level, where they benefited from improved foot traffic, we opened up the expansive foyer of the third floor to provide space for more than 100 vendors on the waiting list for space on the main exhibit floor. We did this because it is vital to the success of our industry to inject it with new faces, new products, and new technology. And what a success it was! Located across from the NSSF Member Lounge and the Press Room, the foot traffic was extraordinary—and yet, despite the crowds, visitors to these new vendors told us they got exceptional, one-on-one interaction with people and products they needed to connect with, which can be hard to accomplish on the busy show floor. Feedback from the vendors was just as positive, and we’re looking toward expanding the NEXT Pavilion in 2017. SHOT Show TV was another hit. By moving the production in-house and lining up a fresh daily broadcast in hotels across the city, we were better able to provide the information show attendees needed. Many attendees and exhibitors told us that

they were able to find booths and get the NSSF and general show and event information they were looking for, simply because they’d caught the TV show in their hotel room. We heard similar feedback about the once-again-expanded New Product Center and the Video Spotlights, as well as the increased social media announcements we initiated for retailer seminars, celebrity appearances, and press conferences. It’s one thing to provide show coverage, but it’s more important to provide useful coverage. The annual State of the Industry Dinner was a huge success. The sellout crowd of more than 2,200 appreciated the election-year message of NSSF President Steve Sanetti’s evening address and laughed at the always-original comedy of Jeff Foxworthy. But they also appreciated the shorter format of the event, something we coordinated in response to a number of requests by mem-

bers who want to attend but also want to have some evening left over to relax and regroup for the next day. Presidential candidate Donald Trump appearing at the Outdoor Sportsman awards certainly added pizzazz to an already stellar night of glamour, highlighting the best in craft awards of today’s outdoor television programming. Those on the main show floor were treated to face time with Marcus Luttrell, Kyle Lamb, Julie Golob, Big & Rich, the Duck Commanders, Brittany Boddington, Will Primos, Doug Koenig, and other industry celebrities. Some of those celebs also showed up at the LadiesOnly Meet & Mingle event at the Bonnier Sportsmen’s Lounge Thursday afternoon. New to SHOT Show and organized by Women’s Outdoors News publisher Barbara Baird and a host of other notable women in the industry, the gathering had a stellar turnout, with many attendees remarking

Beyond the famous names, nothing resonated with the NSSF staff more than the great attitude of everyone we talked to at SHOT Show.

that it was the first time they’d had a chance to connect face-toface with those they’ve known only through correspondence or social media. But beyond the famous names and the new features, nothing resonated with the NSSF staff more than the great attitude of everyone we talked to at SHOT Show. “Positive energy!” “Great vibe!” “Very upbeat!” and similar plaudits were what we heard over and over again. And the great attitude wasn’t just about the bevy of new products—it was about the industry in general. From participation in the shooting sports to retail sales to wildlife conservation and even improved availability of .22 LR ammunition, it seems everyone is looking forward to an exceptional 2016. In addition to the attendees and exhibitors who made this year’s SHOT Show a tremendous success, I’d like to also thank ConvExx, Freeman, and CSG Creative for their contributions, as well as the professionals at the Venetian/ Palazzo and the Sands Expo Center. Working collaboratively with them provides a fresh look and feel to our show. That’s how we keep a show like this alive and thriving, and how we all promote, protect, and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. APRIL/MAY 2016 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ 17

U P D AT E

Retailers Play a Vital Role in Getting the Word Out About #GUNVOTE

t should be no secret to anyone in the firearms trade that 2016 will be one of the most important election years ever to face our industry. With the balance of the Supreme Court at stake, this election could be the lynchpin leading to the reversal of critical precedents that protect our constitutional rights. Retailers play a critical role in this year’s election. It is crucial that our firearms retailers become informed about the positions of the candidates and spread the message about #GUNVOTE at every possible opportunity.

“Our retailers are on the front line of communication with consumers, especially those new to firearms ownership and the shooting sports, who are going to have questions,” said Lawrence Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Directing voters to the #GUNVOTE website (nssf.org/gunvote), utilizing the #GUNVOTE hashtag on their social media channels,

downloading the #GUNVOTE logo to their website, handing out #GUNVOTE stickers, and having informed conversations with employees, friends, family members, and customers is vital to getting the word out that our heritage and rights are at stake as Americans head to the polls in November.” NSSF’s #GUNVOTE website was developed to help those in our industry and consumers

Retailers will find polling trends, voter registration tools, and information on candidates at federal, state, and local levels on the NSSF’s #GUNVOTE website.

identify those candidates who hold the interests of firearms owners and sportsmen as priorities. The website offers tools for voter registration and locating polling places, and is updated regularly with news from the campaign trail. “The stakes could not be higher,” said Keane. “The late Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the Heller decision, which confirmed the individual right to own a firearm under the Second Amendment. Hillary Clinton recently said Heller was wrongly decided. With Scalia’s passing, we know that a victory for Hillary Clinton and a shift to Democratic power in the Senate could quickly provide a path for a new Court to overturn that landmark case—and Clinton thinks appointing Barack Obama to the Supreme Court is a great idea!” That’s just one of many vitally important issues in contention this year. Said Keane,

“The bottom line is, retailers must be informed, and must start the conversations with their customers, friends, family members, and industry colleagues about the stakes of this election. Encourage them to #GUNVOTE on Election Day and help our numbers mean something. Our Second Amendment rights and the future of our industry are at stake.” Retailers will find polling trends, voter registration tools, and information on candidates on the federal, state and local level on the NSSF’s #GUNVOTE website. FFLs can download the #GUNVOTE emblem for their own website, as well as order #GUNVOTE stickers for distribution to their customers when they encourage them to vote. NSSF also encourages retailers to utilize #GUNVOTE’s Facebook page and follow #GUNVOTE on Twitter. For more information, visit nssf.org/gunvote.

NSSF SUPPORTS NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY NSSF is again a major sponsor of National Hunting and Fishing Day, the annual celebration of traditional outdoor activities and wildlife conservation that takes place on the fourth Saturday of September. Through licenses, permits, and special taxes, hunters and anglers generate $100,000 every 30 minutes—totaling more than $1.75

18 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

billion per year—for wildlife, fish, and habitat. “We’re proud to be a sponsor of this Congressionally recognized day to celebrate our outdoor heritage, which is attracting many new and diverse participants,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, will serve as the honorary chair for the event.

Hunters and anglers generate $100K every 30 minutes.

ATF Seeks Comment On Proposed Forms 1, 4, 5 The ATF is seeking comments on three newly proposed application forms of information collection regarding the making and registering of a firearm, the paid transfer tax and registration of a firearm, and the tax-exempt transfer and registration of a firearm.

Comments are being accepted until April 18. The proposed revised forms are watermarked with the word “draft,” so as not to be confused with current forms, which you should continue to utilize. The information has been posted to the ATF website at atf.gov/firearms.

LEARN THE LATEST IN LEAD MANAGEMENT & OSHA COMPLIANCE NSSF is pleased to announce that it will be holding a dedicated Lead Management & OSHA Compliance Workshop, April 24–26, in Portland, Oregon. Designed to enable owners and operators of shooting ranges of all sizes an opportunity to discover the latest in lead management and OSHA (Operational Safety and Health Administration) best practices, the two-day course will focus on environmental and regulatory requirements for both indoor and

outdoor shooting facilities, OSHA enforcement and penalty structure, implementation of health and safety plans, medical surveillance, and other issues relevant to compliance. Registration is now open to NSSF members and non-members; government agency officials are also welcome. To register, go to nssf.org/ ranges/ComplianceWorkshop/.

U.S. REP. CULBERSON IS 2015 LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR NSSF is honoring U.S. Rep. John A. Culberson (R-Texas) as 2015 Legislator of the Year. The award will be presented at the firearms industry’s Congressional Fly-In in April. “We are pleased to recognize Congressman Culberson for his outstanding leadership in the U. S. House of Representatives and on the appropriations subcommittee he chairs in resolving the troublesome ‘green tip’ ammunition matter, ” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Congressman Culberson played a pivotal role in convincing senior management of the ATF to forestall the effort to introduce a new regulatory framework that would have banned the manufacturing and sale of 5.56 mm M855 green-tip ammunition, which is

widely used for target shooting and hunting. As chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, which oversees ATF funding, he summoned senior bureau officials to Capitol Hill to express his concerns that the proposed ban would affect Americans’ Second Amendment rights and enjoyment of lawful sporting activities. “I am honored to receive this recognition from one of the strongest defenders of our Second Amendment rights in America today,” Culberson said. “Those of us who take on big government liberals and gun control extremists are fighting for deeply held principles, and it is a joy to work with leading organizations like NSSF that share our determination to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.”

ATF LOST OR STOLEN IN TRANSIT REGULATIONS IN EFFECT

he new ATF regulations covering the mandatory reporting of firearms lost or stolen in transit within 48 hours are now in effect. ATF has guidance on its website (atf.gov/firearms/) detailing the procedures, which NSSF anticipates will be updated in the near future to reflect the new regulations. ATF will not be updating Form 3310.11, so all FFLs should continue to use the existing version of Form 3310.6.

© 2016 National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SHOT Business®, SHOT Show® and all other trade names, trademarks and service marks of the National Shooting Sports Foundation appearing in this publication are the sole property of the Foundation and may not be used without the Foundation’s prior express written permission. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

APRIL/MAY 2016 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ 19

U P D AT E

R E TA I L E R T O O L B O X

NFA Dealers: Are You Ready for 41-F? The new rule revises application provisions. Here’s what you need to know

f you are a dealer in National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms and accessories, you know that demand for those products, especially suppressors, is at an all-time high. You also know that ATF has revised NFA regulations in the recently published Rulemaking 41-F. When the proposal was published in the Federal Register as Notice 41-P, ATF received more than 9,500 comments, almost all opposed to the ruling. Why? The proposed regulation would not only have imposed fingerprint, photograph, and FBI background check requirements on persons associated with trusts, it would have also required the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) where those associated with trust ATFs

lished the final rule (41-F) on January 4. It will become effective on July 13, 2016. The new rule also applies to ATF Form 1, Application to Make and Register a Firearm. But the focus of this article is on the ATF Form 4, Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of a Firearm, that NFA dealers use in their retail operations. Here are some key provisions of the new revised regulations:

DOCUMENTATION Under

the revised regulations, each responsible person must complete ATF Form 5320.23, known as the National Firearms Act (NFA) Responsible Person Questionnaire, and two sets of fingerprint cards on FBI Form FD-258. Each responsible person must also provide a 2x2-inch passport photograph of themselves, that photograph being of a full front head portrait with head bare; that photo must

Despite having spent a considerable period of time analyzing the comments, ATF published the final rule (41-F) on January 4. It will become effective on July 13, 2016. and NFA transfers reside to “sign off ” by certifying the NFA transfer documents. These are requirements that individual transferees of NFA products have followed for years, so it was the issue of those persons associated with trusts and NFA transfers that was central to the proposed rule 41-P. Despite a considerable period of time analyzing the comments, ATF pub20 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

In the case of trusts, as well as partnerships, associations, and corporations that are not already FFLs, the regulations define “responsible persons” as those who possess the power to direct the policies and management of the trust or corporation with regards to the receipt, possession, and disposition of NFA registered firearms.

have been taken within one year of the application being filed. Fingerprints, Form 5320.23 and the photograph will be filed with the copy of ATF Form 4 submitted by the transferor to ATF. CLEO NOTIFICATION In a

key change from the proposed rule, the final revised regulations eliminated the CLEO certification requirement for all transferees.

Now individual applicants will be required to notify the CLEO of the application by providing those CLEOs a copy of the ATF Form 4. Fingerprint cards and photos will not be submitted to the CLEO. In the cases of trusts, partnerships, associations, and corporations, each responsible person will submit a copy of their ATF Form 5320.23 to the CLEO where they reside. In the case of partnerships, associations, and corporations, the CLEO copy of Form 4 will be submitted to the CLEO located where the entity maintains its principal office or place of business as described on the form. PERSONAL USE In those

cases where an FFL who has not qualified to engage in business under the NFA desires to obtain an NFA product for their own use, a Form 4 must be completed, but no Form 5320.23 will be required. This is because the responsible persons for the FFL have already been the subject of an FBI fingerprint-based background check. The CLEO copy of the Form 4 will be submitted to the CLEO of that FFL’s residence at the time the application is filed. Trusts, partnerships, asso-

B Y PAT R I C K S H AY, N S S F D I R E C T O R , R E TA I L D E V E L O P M E N T

ciations, and corporations will continue to submit documentation proof of the existence and validity of the entity. All documents submitted with the Form 4 will need to be submitted in their entirety.

ATF FORMS BEING REVISED ➤ In

addition to creating the new Form 5320.23, ATF is in the process of revising ATF Form 1, Form 4, and Form 5 to reflect the fact that the CLEO is now only being notified of the application being filed and is no longer required to certify or sign it. We believe that these forms, in draft, were scheduled to be published in the Federal Register sometime in February or March of 2016. A link to the Federal Register when the draft revised forms are published will be posted at NSSF.org. ATF will be accepting comments on the revised forms for 60 days after publication, and NSSF will review the draft forms and offer comments, should there be a need to comment. NSSF recommends that dealers do so as well if they have any comments. Once the comment period expires, ATF will review the comments, revise the forms if needed, and submit the revised final forms to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. ATF hopes that the approved revised forms will be available to NFA dealers at least a month or more prior to the July 13 effective date. Once the new regulations are in effect, the old editions of Forms 1, 4, and 5 will be obsolete and cannot be used. Finally, in the event that the newly revised forms are

available prior to July 13, dealers should not submit the revised form until July 13, 2016. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH JULY 12, 2016 Until the new

regulations take effect, you may submit the current Form 4s for transferees using current procedures. Please note that ATF will use the postmark date of your submissions to determine when an application has been filed. If you have customers who cannot get their paperwork complete in time to file by July 13, they will have to file under the new procedures and with the new forms (when they become available). APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON AND AFTER JULY 13, 2016 ATF

Form 5320.23 will be completed for all responsible persons where the transferee on Form 4 is not an individual. The one exception to this requirement extends to partnerships, associations, or corporations that hold FFLs under the Gun Control Act and who wish to obtain an NFA firearm for their own use, but are not qualified by payment of Special Occupational Tax to deal in NFA firearms. BEGINNING JULY 13 The CLEO of the applicant’s resident area will be notified of an application by either receiving a copy of the Form 4 in the case of either an individual transferee or an FFL transferee. In the case of trusts and corporations, the CLEO will be notified of an application by receiving a copy of Form 5320.23 from each responsible person listed on the trust.

EXCEPTION FOR DOCUMENTATION ON REPEAT REGISTRATIONS BY NONINDIVIDUAL APPLICANTS ➤ If an application for transfer on Form 4 for a non-individual applicant such as a trust or corporation is submitted to ATF within the 24 months following a previously approved transfer, and there have been no changes to the documentation provided in those applications, the entity will be able to certify to this on the subsequent Form 4 by identifying the previously approved application by form number, serial number, and date approved. This does not apply to the submission of additional Form 5320.23s, fingerprint cards, and photographs by responsible persons, as those items are and will be required on every NFA product transfer.

RETURNED APPLICATIONS FILED PRIOR TO JULY 13, 2016 If an application for

NFA transfer that is submitted to ATF prior to July 13, 2016, cannot be approved and is returned to the transferor after July 13, 2016, the application will need to be resubmitted under the new procedures and with the new forms. NFA TRUST TRANSFERS AND ATF FORM 4473 Every

NFA firearm or accessory is also regulated by the Gun Control Act. Thus, a Form 4473 must be completed for all transfers. Generally, background checks through the FBI or point of contact at the state level as part of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is required for all firearms transfers to non-FFL licensees. One exception to that requirement occurs when an NFA firearm is

transferred. This is so because individual transferees undergo a fingerprintbased FBI background check every time they are a transferee on a Form 4. While trusts are “persons” as defined under the NFA, they are not persons under the Gun Control Act. That is a key difference in the laws. ATF has opined that the person receiving a firearm on behalf of the trust must undergo a background check as part of the completion of the Form 4473. NSSF recommends that all dealers working with NFA transfers and trusts perform a NICS check. It is important to know that the responsible persons of a trust or other non-individual transferees will be subjected to the same fingerprint-based background check that an individual transferee presently does. Therefore, while NSSF recommends a NICS check be performed, there will be no requirement to conduct one so long as a responsible person of the transferee (trust) receives the firearm.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ➤ The

ATF NFA Branch intends to post questions and answers about rule 41-F at atf.gov in the near future. A link will be posted at NSSF.org. APRIL/MAY 2016 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ 21

FIRING LINE

BY TOM McHALE

Air Power SIG SAUER’s P226 air pistol looks, and performs, just like the “real” thing

good airgun is always going to be fun to shoot, but the new SIG SAUER models add a whole new dimension. Because they’re made by the same folks who make the real P226 pistols, these airguns are made to the exact same factory-drawing dimensions. They’ll initially be available in black and flat dark earth color schemes. They look like the real thing, feel like the real thing, and are made of actual metal that makes that satisfying clinking sound—even the slides reciprocate when you shoot. As such, they can be used for genuine training with all of your “real” gun gear like holsters, lights, and lasers. The difference is that you can safely train in your garage or backyard without frightening the neighbors.

The P226 airgun is a dead ringer for its centerfire cousin, though there are a few functional differences, of course. For example, there is no open ejection port, nor is one needed, as pellets don’t eject anything. Likewise, the slide lock latch is immovable, as it’s also irrelevant with this semi-automatic airgun. The P226 airgun is powered by a single 12-gram CO2 cartridge. A hinged door on the grip swings open to reveal the CO2 compartment. As you close the door, a cam mechanism presses the cartridge into place, piercing the canister, and releasing gas to the action. The gun takes removable magazines, unique in design to accommodate pellets rather than cartridges. Each magazine holds 16 pellets total, split into eight-pellet drums at each end of the magazine. The action rotates a new pellet into place, so the semi-automatic mode works about as fast as you can pull the trigger. After eight shots, you eject the magazine, flip it upside down, and reinsert the magazine to get the next set of eight. You’ll get somewhere 22 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

north of 70 shots before you need to think about changing the CO2 cartridge. I took a pair of P226 airguns to my back deck and set up my chronograph 15 feet away to see what kind of velocity the pistol was delivering. Using standard Crosman .177-caliber lead wadcutter pellets, the average velocity clocked in at 325.7 feet per second. Switching to more aerodynamic Gamo Platinum Power pellets, the velocity jumped to over 400 fps. Obviously, speed will vary based on the

This air pistol allows for economical practice because you won’t be using expensive centerfire ammo.

specific weight and profile of your pellets, so these numbers represent rough guidelines from some very used guns. There are plenty of airguns on the market, ranging from plastic models sold at bigbox stores to premium target models sold at specialty retail outlets. The P226 pistols straddle the middle ground. The price point is surprisingly affordable, but they feel and perform like far more expensive models. To me, the unique characteristic of the P226 is its usefulness as a substitute for the real thing. Feel, weight, size, and operation are all exceptionally realistic. I used it as a practice version of a real P226 with a number of my regular carry holsters, including a Galco V-Hawk, a KingTuk, and concealable models. Obviously the airgun models are a bit lighter than the centerfire versions, but the important actions like draw, aim, fire, and magazine changes are similar. Even the safety lever acts in a way consistent with how the de-cocker works. Simply press down to enable the safety, just as you would when de-cocking the real gun. SRP: $110.99. (sigarms.com)

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UNDERCOVER SHOPPER

Tennessee Combo Would retailers in the Volunteer State step up and help a hunter looking for a scoped bolt-action in .243?

.243-caliber bolt-action rifle is a fine option for deer hunting in the hills of the South. It’s a lighter gun that’s easy to carry, and ammo is abundant. The latest crop of budget boltactions—many of which come in scoped combos—has been impressive at the range, and sales are strong. I asked clerks in the Knoxville area for a .243 combo for around $500. Could they deliver?

STORE A

FOLLOW ME! ➤ This big-box store’s gun collection is nearly the length of one side of the building. It was quite an impressive arsenal. Two older gents were helping two people at the counter. I waited for about five minutes and then saw a small sign that said to take a number. Eventually a clerk called out, “Number two!” I told him what I wanted. “Sure. Follow me,” he said. He handed me a Remington 700 in .243 with a scope that had no brand name on it. He told me that it was a proven action and a good gun for the money. He didn’t offer to take off the trigger lock, and it was awkward to shoulder a gun with a lock on. Then I asked about the Ruger Americans. Lo and behold, he found one in .243 with a Redfield scope. He told me about the gun, but had little information about the scope.

rifle and said it was a “Vortex.” I was a bit confused because Vortex is an optics company. I realized he was referring to a

Mossberg Patriot that had a Vortex scope. I mentioned that to him, but he still called it a “Vortex rifle.” I handled the

Patriot, gave it back to him, and eyed a Savage Model 11/111 and a Remington 783. “I’ll be right back,” he said. I wait-

STORE B ➤ At this big-box store, three clerks were talking something over as four customers waited for help. Apparently there was some on-the-job training going on. Two of the clerks walked off, and the one who was left looked my way. I asked him about a scoped combo, and he pointed to a wood-stocked

24 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

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UNDERCOVER SHOPPER ed about 10 minutes. As I turned to leave, I looked back and caught his eye. He just kind of shrugged his shoulders. STORE C

PRICE DOUBLE CHECK ➤

As I walked into this small mom-and-pop shop, one clerk was talking with a group of people and the other became free as I stepped in the door. He was young and helpful. There were precious few rifles, perhaps 20 new bolt-actions

and MSRs and another 15 or so used rifles of all types. The clerk had a few new scoped combos, including a Savage Axis in 7mm Rem. Mag. and a Remington 700 in .30/06 at reasonable prices. He offered to do some web searching and order anything I wanted. He jumped right in and gave me a very low price on a Savage Axis II XP. I asked him to double-check it. Turns out, the price was for an Axis, not the updated XP. After rechecking, he gave me a new, higher price and

offered to have it in the store for me to pick up in a few days. STORE D

ECLECTIC MIX ➤ This was a smaller store that sold a mix of handguns, various ammo brands, some hunting supplies, and a few rifles and shotguns. There were three clerks. Two helped customers; the other sat at a computer. I stood around for about 15 minutes checking out guns and waiting for someone to ask if I needed help. Finally,

a customer left, and the clerk sat down and started drinking a cup of coffee. I went over to him and said hello. After that, he was super-friendly. Since they did not have anything close to what I was looking for, he tried to sell me on a used Ruger M77 with a fine wood stock and a cheap scope. It was about $250 more than I told him I wanted to spend. Still, we had a good conversation about the gun, other guns in general, and where to shoot in the area.

How’d They Do? Customer Service

Product Knowledge

Product Availability

Other than the fact that he missed one of the guns I was looking for and had no information about the scope, service was very good.

The clerk knew the gun packages well, but he needed to bone up on optics.

By far the largest inventory, with about 300 new rifles, including several .243 scoped-combo options.

no stars I knew more about the rifles than he did.

There were about 100 new rifles, five of which were the scoped combos that interested me.

The clerk answered my questions accurately, though he confused the Savage Axis and Axis II XP.

There were few rifles on the racks, but he went right to the web and gave me many order options.

He sure knew a lot about the used Ruger he wanted to sell me.

An eclectic mix of guns. There were only a handful of bolt-action rifles, and none was paired with a new scope.

STORE

It started out okay, but then he ditched me.

I was helped quickly and efficiently. The service was very friendly and enthusiastic. STORE

STORE

Good, once I spoke up and initiated the interaction.

SCORING SYSTEM: Outstanding:

26 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

Very Good:

Average:

Winner: STORE

The large number of guns didn’t surprise me, but the above-average customer service did. The clerk even told me to watch for sales on the internet because he knew I was shopping on a budget. Gander Mountain 11501 Parkside Drive, Farragut, TN 37934 865-671-2790 gander mountain.com

Fair:

Poor:

THANKS FOR THE RIDE The iconic Winchester brand celebrates 150 years of legendary excellence in 2016—a historic milestone representing a steadfast commitment to the hunting and shooting sports traditions and future generations of sportsmen. Thank you to our loyal customers who’ve trusted us in the great outdoors, at the range, on patrol and in combat. A world leader in delivering innovative products, Winchester is The American Legend, a brand built on integrity, hard work and a deep focus on its most loyal customers.

JOIN US AS THE LEGENDARY RIDE CONTINUES.

winchester.com/safety f irst © Olin Corporation 2016

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Shoulder to shoulder, the attendees at the 2016 SHOT Show demonstrated the inherent strength of the shooting-sports community. Here’s a look, taken from the pages of SHOT Daily, at the show’s incredible vibrancy.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUSTIN APPENZELLER

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SHOT SHOW 2016

Out In Front Nosler continues to expand the brand by ricHarD mann

Mike Lake uses the experience he's gained as a hunter and shooter to design new products.

ou can build a profitable company on the shoulders of a single product. That’s what John Nosler did with the help of the Partition bullet in 1948. To remain solvent and grow, though, you’ll need to offer other products as well. Nosler did that, too; over the next 60 years, the manufacturer added the Ballistic Tip, the AccuBond, and numerous other bullets to the line. But to really be successful you must continue to grow the brand, and in 2007, Nosler introduced an ammunition and custom rifle line. If you talk to Nosler’s Mike Lake, you’ll realize Nosler is just getting started. Lake is the senior manager of research and development at Nosler. His job description is as vague as it is long, but broken down in hillbilly terms, he’s tasked with growing the brand. Lake is supposed to engineer, develop, find, and procure new ideas and products for Nosler to offer to its

dedicated customers. These products should also bring new customers into the Nosler family. For an Oregon boy who grew up hunting and used to design chainsaw chains in a former life, it’s a dream job. “I like to create things, but I’d rather do it with a wrench than with a mechanical pencil,” he says. Starting in 2007, that’s exactly what Lake began to do at Nosler. He ramrodded the enormously successful ammunition and custom rifle program into existence. Nosler, a tightknit family-owned company, recognized Lake’s ingenuity and asked for more. The .26 and .28 Nosler cartridges were his next contributions. Both have been iPhone-like successful. As much as any company’s success is tied to the products it produces, it is also incontestably entwined with the people who make those products.

Nosler is an icon in the outdoor and gun industry. The folks who run the company realize growth is necessary to maintain that distinction and to continue to provide livelihoods for the hard-working Americans who put them where they are. That means Nosler must grow, and that load has been placed on Lake’s shoulders. Last summer, I asked Lake, “So what, exactly, is next for Nosler?” “Shoelaces,” he said. “Not really, but that’s the mindset. Nosler is going to grow; my job is to figure out the best path to take. The canvas is mine to paint. If good shoelaces are what the outdoor industry needs, Nosler will make ’em and they’ll be the best shoelaces in the world.” That’s exactly what Lake did with the .26 and .28 Nosler. The recent infatuation with long-range hunting created a demand for hard-hitting, flat-shooting cartridges in a standardaction size. Both the .26 and .28 Nosler do that, and they fit in a rifle sized to accept an overall cartridge length of only 3.34 inches. For those who don’t carry a caliper in their back pocket, that’s the same length as the .30/06. Mike Lake’s latest creation for Nosler, introduced at the 2016 SHOT Show, is the .30 Nosler. It’s the third cartridge in the Nosler family and, like the .26 and .28, it’s built to the same overall length. The .30 Nosler was specifically designed around Nosler’s .30-caliber Long Range (LR) AccuBond bullet. It will push a 190-grain AccuBond LR to 3,150 fps. This means you can deliver 2,000 foot-pounds of kinetic energy at 675 yards. And given an 8-inch kill zone, you can hold dead-on out to 360 yards. Sport hunting is changing and Nosler is out in front. For big-game hunters who measure range in quarter-miles instead of yards, the .30 Nosler shrinks those distances like a 20X spotting scope. (nosler.com)

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The Legacy The CTC LinQ system uses a Bluetooth-like technology to control a tactical light/laser on the MSR’s accessory rail.

The Big Push Crimson Trace keeps pace by pushing the envelope by roberT SaDoWSKi

rimson Trace looks at the world a bit differently. While many manufacturers are content to stand pat and churn out the same old thing year after year, CTC’s corporate DNA requires it to always be out in front of the pack. Consider the new LinQ system, a laser/light unit specifically designed for the MSR platform. A CTC pistol grip replaces the MSR’s factoryinstalled pistol grip, but CTC’s grip uses a Bluetooth-like technology to control a tactical light/laser module attached to the MSR’s accessory rail. In this way the pistol grip and light/laser module synch up with each other so the operator can control the laser and light from the pistol grip. There are no cables or touch pads, nor does the operator need to use his support hand to control the laser or light, as

is the case with all other tactical lights currently on the market. “Crimson Trace is again pushing the envelope and leading the industry in innovation as the LinQ Technology proves,” says Mike Faw, media relations manager at Crimson Trace. “This is one of many ideas we are pursuing here as our engineers focus on what consumers want—and what’s possible. For retailers, this means a great opportunity to serve MSR rifle customers. Those rifles are popular, and the buyers have been asking for something that’s rifle-specific. LinQ Technology fits that bill and combines laser sights and bright lights in an easy-tooperate grip and railmounted system.” Ambidextrous buttons on the pistol grip allow the operator to operate the light/laser module. The light/laser can also be removed from the

MSR and used on another firearm; there are redundant controls on the light/laser module so the module can be used when not synched with the grip. Return the module to the MSR with the grip and the two components synch up again. SRP: $500.

And That’s Not All The Carry 9 Program takes the hassle out of trying to find a concealed-carry holster to fit a pistol with a Crimson Trace laser sight attached. Crimson Trace and Blade-Tech have teamed up to offer a combo set that includes a Kydex holster and a laser sight in one package. The holster is Blade-Tech’s Klipt Ambi IWB model, which can be configured for either right- or left-handed shooters. It has an adjustable belt loop and is used for behind-thehip or appendix carry. (crimsontrace.com)

Roy Weatherby was a disciple of velocity. He believed high-velocity cartridges gave hunters more reach and killed animals quicker. Roy was not just a believer; he was a pioneer. He wildcatted a family of cartridges that thrived on velocity. He then built rifles for these cartridges and put them in the hands of business moguls, the Hollywood elite, and war heroes. Roy’s sexy cartridges, with their doubleradius venture shoulder, and his finely crafted rifles, with their sexy lines, became one of the most recognizable brands in the world of guns. Shortly before Roy passed in 1988, his son Ed took over the company. Under his guidance, Weatherby continued to grow, expanding its reach to hunters and shooters of more modest means. Last year it was announced that Ed’s son, Adam, would be following in his father’s footsteps, making Weatherby a third-generation company. Third-generation family-owned businesses have a reputation for failure. Grandpa makes the company, Dad runs it, and the grandson runs it into the ground. Some wondered what would happen at Weatherby when Adam stepped in. They need not wonder anymore. Adam has made it clear the cartridges his grandfather designed and the high velocity they deliver are what Weatherby is all about. For 2016, Weatherby is introducing its first new cartridge in 17 years—the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, which embodies everything Roy and his company was, is, and will be. The new cartridge launches a 127-grain Barnes LRX bullet at more than 3,500 fps. It will still be traveling at 2,000 fps and carrying more than 1,000 foot-pounds of energy at 800 yards. Sighted dead-on at 100 yards, it will strike only 6 inches low at 300. Weatherby developed the 6.5-300 by necking down the .300 Weatherby. Interestingly, Roy Weatherby experimented with the 6.5-300 a bit but never brought it to market. We can only speculate why, but in his time 6.5-caliber bullets capable of handling the velocity this cartridge generates were non-existent. He also did not have the propellants that we have today. In its 70th year, it looks like Weatherby is in good hands. As Adam says, “This is just the beginning. Weatherby is going back to its roots.” Grandpa’s legacy lives on. (weatherby.com) —Richard Mann

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What Now? Remington Outdoor Company (ROC) recently announced it would phase out its Para USA production line. For many in the industry, that move raised the question, “What now?” Remington acquired Para USA in 2012. At the time, Para specialized in production of competition high-capacity and double-action 1911-style pistols. Its products have been popular because of a double-stack line and wide range of calibers. But when Remington moved into its new firearms center in Alabama in 2014, the company also began integrating the best features of the Para line into its R-1 line. “Para was not afraid to expand the breadth of caliber in a 1911, and we are looking to do that as well,” says Daniel Cox, ROC’s senior handgun product manager. He also says that the company will expand into shorter and longer barrel lengths with its R-1 line, as well as integrate models similar to the popular Para Warthog with its 3-inch barrel. ROC has admitted that it has learned from its mistakes and now has a clear plan to smoothly integrate Para. This includes keeping popular Para products, characteristics, and names while improving quality with state-of-the-art machining and engineering in Huntsville. For Para customers (and the retailers who work with these customers), ROC will continue to support Para’s Lifetime Warranty. (remington.com) —Barbara Baird

SHOT SHOW 2016

Merchandising to Women

omen are entering the shooting sports in steadily growing numbers. But this growth, while a good trend for the overall health of the industry, has also challenged retailers, many of whom don’t know how to successfully connect with this emerging market. During the past few years, the NSSF has been reporting on the explosion in the women’s market for hunting and shooting, and has offered various seminars at past SHOT Shows on how to meet the needs of women shooters. The NSSF-sponsored “Merchandising to Women Hunters” panel discussion focused specifically on women who hunt, because their needs are very different from those of women who target shoot and demand a more tailored approach. “Women who hunt require more tools and gear than women who

The Para brand is no more, but some features will migrate to the R-1 1911 line.

Crosman Changes The Game

Pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifles are usually regarded as the top rank of airgun technology because they are easy to shoot well and often astonishingly accurate. For that reason, all Olympic 10-meter match air rifles, arguably among the planet’s most accurate projectile launchers, are PCPs. What distinguishes PCPs from other air rifles is they have an on-board high-pressure air reservoir that is charged from an external tank or pump. As a result, PCPs are more convenient than pump-up air rifles and easier to

shoot, and it’s important to discover what works for the fastest-growing demographic in the hunting market, and to support the movement,” said Barbara Baird, publisher of “Women’s Outdoor News.” Panelists included Judy Rhodes, founder of DIVA WOW, an organization created to teach women to shoot and hunt; Melissa Bachman, host of the TV show Winchester Deadly Passion; Tiffany Lakosky, cohost of the TV show The Crush with Lee & Tiffany; and Shannon Reaser, co-host of the TV show The Outdoor Option. These women have been in the trenches, and the women’s hunting movement has been built on their shoulders. Topics included store exteriors and interiors, merchandising, staff hiring and training, promotional ideas, special events and seminars, and how to attract more women to hunting. The Women Hunters panel discussion focused on the needs of women hunters.

shoot accurately than break-barrel springpiston air rifles with their whiplash recoil. It wasn’t long ago that you could expect to spend $500 to $1,000 (and sometimes much, much more) for a PCP air rifle. Then you add in the cost of a scope, mounts, and charging equipment. In recent years, however, the price has been dropping. With the introduction of the Benjamin Maximus (SRP: $199.99), Crosman Corporation has changed the game, bringing the cost of a PCP rifle into parity with garden-variety break-barrel springers. The

SHOT SHOW 2016

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S&W Unveils SW22 Victory A new modular .22 pistol lets the user easily and quickly install custom barrels

ord about Smith & Wesson’s nextgeneration SW22 Victory .22 LR Target pistol dropped earlier this year, and ever since, shooters have been itching to take it for a ride. The S&W folks didn’t disappoint at this year’s Industry Day at the Range, with three configurations of the striking new pistol on hand to try. The stainless semi-auto .22 LR pistol comes standard with a 400 series stainless-steel heat-treated bolt, frame, slide, and barrel, making it an inherently durable firearm that is built on a single-action, enclosedhammer-fired, blowback design. The standard 5.5inch match-grade barrel has a 1:15, six-groove, righthand twist. The pistol comes with a red fiber-optic front sight and an adjustable green fiberoptic rear sight. Another standard feature is an adjustable trigger stop. The fire controls are simple and laid out intuitively, with a single-

by DaViD MaCCar

sided thumb safety, slide stop, and magazine release. The lovely feeling textured grip panels have finger cuts that allow for easy removal of the 10-round magazines. But what makes this pistol truly unique is that shooters can change barrels at will with just a couple of Allen wrenches. Jan Mladek, general manager of the S&W brand, broke the gun down and changed barrels over and over at the S&W Range Day booth. Remove one screw and the upper separates from the lower, allowing the bolt to be removed. Take out a smaller screw and the barrel easily lifts off the upper to be swapped out. Swapped for what, you ask? Volquartsen is already selling two barrels for the Victory, both of which are threaded for suppressors. The first is a sleek stainless-steel barrel specially designed for the Victory with Volquartsen’s i-fluting pattern to reduce weight and increase rigidity and heat dis-

Maximus, built in America, will be available in .177 and .22 calibers. It has a maximum fill pressure of 2,000 psi, can be charged with a hand pump, and can deliver up to 30 shots per fill. Crosman says it will deliver velocities of up to 1,000 fps in .177 caliber and 900 fps in .22. Jennifer Lambert, Crosman’s vice president of marketing, says, “We think this gun will put a huge grin on the faces of both customers and dealers.” She adds that the Maximus has been engineered to deliver a very attractive margin. (crosman.com)

The SW22 Victory ships complete with two 10-round magazines.

sipation. A forward blowback compensator and thread protector are also included. The second barrel option from Volquartsen is a lightweight THM carbon-fiber tension barrel that uses the same tech as the company’s fiber-tension rifle barrels, providing shooters with increased accuracy at a much lighter weight than a standard bull barrel. It also comes threaded for a suppressor. SRP: $215 each.

Now, back to the gun. A target pistol obviously needs a sighting system, and S&W has thought of that as well. The standard rearsight platform mounts on a small but robust tab on the top of the receiver with one screw. Once the platform is removed, an included lightweight Picatinny rail section mounts the same way, and shooters can mount any red-dot sight or scope they choose. SRP: $409.

(volquartsen.com)

(smith-wesson.com)

The new Benjamin Maximus PCP rifle (available in .177 and .22) is being built in America.

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SHOT SHOW 2016

From Yellow Boy to Long Beard Winchester thrives on innovation

by DaViD DraPer

ince 1866, Winchester has been building a thriving business on a solid foundation of performance, and more important, innovation. Starting with that first “Yellow Boy” rifle chambered in .44 with a new and improved tubular magazine, wooden stock, and distinctive brass sideplates, the company has been known as a leader in firearms, and later ammunition, conception, and design. Today, the brand holds more than 2,000 patents related to firearms, defining a legacy of brilliant thinking in the arena of design and manufacturing. “The Winchester brand is associated with some of the most revered ammunition

and firearms products ever introduced to the world,” says Tom O’Keefe, president of Winchester Ammunition. “The company is certainly built on its rich heritage and support of the shooting-sports industry for more than 150 years, but we have clearly set the industry standard over time in developing technology-driven products. Innovation keeps the Winchester brand relevant, which is critical to our success.” That innovationdriven success started early on for the fledgling firearms company. After the Yellow Boy, Winchester continued to manufacture new

firearms, building on the technology and designs of both its in-house engineers and legendary firearms inventors such as John Browning. In the last decades of the 19th century, Winchester introduced such iconic rifles as the Model 1873, built for its proprietary .44/40 Winchester Center Fire cartridge, the 1876, and the 1886, designed by Browning. Just before the turn of the last century, The .300 Win. Mag., based on the .375 H&H, remains a popular option for many long-range big-game hunters.

Winchester launched its first commercially available smokeless cartridge—the .30 WCF, better known as the .30/30. The round, when combined with the success of the lever-action Winchester 1894, is thought to be responsible for killing more deer than any other cartridge. Although the development of the lever-action defines Winchester’s early years, the company worked on refining other actions as well. In 1883, Winchester launched its first bolt-action rifle, the WinchesterHotchkiss Magazine Gun. Seven years later, the company brought out a pumpaction, the Model 1890 .22 rimfire, firing the new .22

PHOTO CREDIT

Dubbed the Ma Deuce, the M2 Browning Machine Gun has been adopted by military forces around the world as an effective tool for both land- and air-based warfare.

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PHOTO CREDIT

John Browning worked closely with Winchester, finalizing the concept of the now-legendary Browning Automatic Rifle, known in the trenches as the BAR. The BAR saw action in both World War I and World War II.

Winchester Rim Fire cartridge. That round also found a home in the Winchester Model 1903, one of the first autoloading rifles to gain wide commercial success. The first half of the 20th century marked major design innovations throughout the world of firearms and ammunition, much of it spurred by the need to arm soldiers fighting in the global conflicts that define the time period. During World War I, Winchester armorers redesigned the British Enfield Number 14 rifle to accommodate the .30/06 chambering, ultimately producing more than 500,000 U.S. Model 1917 Enfield rifles for U.S. troops. John Browning worked closely with Winchester, finalizing the concept of the now-legendary Browning Automatic Rifle, known in the trenches as the BAR. Company engineers were instrumental in honing Browning’s design to accommodate the mass production needed to arm U.S. troops, and the company shipped nearly 50,000 of the rifles overseas during WWI. The year 1918 marked

another major collaborative effort with Browning, as he worked to develop a larger caliber for anti-armor use during the war, and a gun to handle it. The end result was the .50 BMG round and its rifle, the M2 Browning Machine Gun. Dubbed the Ma Deuce, the M2 saw limited action toward the end of the first world war, but has since been adopted by military around the world. During World War II, the Ma Deuce was joined on the battlefield by another Winchester innovation— the M1 Carbine. The compact carbine was designed by Winchester engineers, including David Williams and Edwin Pugsley, in just 13 days in response to a request from the U.S. Army Ordnance department to develop a smaller, lighter weapon for mobile or specialized units not wanting to carry the standard M1 Garand. The new M1, chambered in .30 Carbine, weighed under 6 pounds with the loaded 15-round magazine in place, and

measured less than 3 feet in overall length. More than six million of them saw action during the conflict, and they were used in Korea and Vietnam before being replaced by the M16 in the early 1960s. While the Winchester firearms division was hard at work, the ammunition side of the business was just as eager to introduce innovative new products for both the warfighter and sport shooter. In 1925, wildcatters within the building developed a necked-down .30/06, designed for biggame hunting. Though that cartridge, the .270 Winchester, was slow to catch on, it has since become possibly the most widely used hunting round today, thanks in no small part to another Winchester product—the Model 70 Rifleman’s Rifle. Other popular calibers developed within Winchester’s walls include the .243 The .30/30 was one reason the Model 1894 became so popular with hunters.

Winchester, the .300 Winchester Magnum, and the short-action .308. The 1960s saw innovation within the shotshell division, including the introduction of the Mark 5 Shot Collar. Though small in size, this band of polyethylene encompassing the shot made big changes in the way shotshells performed. By carrying the shot through the barrel and keeping it together past the muzzle, the Mark 5 created denser patterns farther downrange, increasing the effective distance. More recently, Winchester has taken that concept to a whole new level with ShotLok technology. Instead of protecting the shot with a cup, Shot-Lok encapsulates it within a resin. This hard cylinder of shot shatters on ignition, creating a dense layer of powder that protects the shot from deformity as it travels the length of the barrel. First introduced in the Long Beard XR turkey load, Shot-Lok technology is now available in Rooster XR upland loads and will probably be seen in other new shotshell iterations in the near future. (winchester.com)

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Brand Loyalty “Our consumers are incredibly passionate about their pursuits and their gear, and they always want newer, better, more innovative gear—as long as it maintains the core attributes that made them so passionate about that brand in the first place,” says Sean O’Brien, marketing director for Muck Boots. “Anytime we set out to bring new innovations to market, we start by looking at the core attributes we’re known for and ask ourselves how we can make them better.” It was this philosophy that led to the development of the new Pursuit Shadow Pull-On boots that Muck launched at SHOT Show this year. Featuring the same attributes that made the laced version such a popular choice for hunters, the Pull-On version adds the characteristic for which Muck Boots have become known—their ability to slide on and off quickly and easily. Like the Pursuit Shadow Pull-Ons, all of Muck’s new boots feature innovations that were developed for different pursuits, but each was also designed for one purpose. “Our number-one mission is to perform above our consumers’ expectations,” says O’Brien. “We started the company in 1999 by introducing a new construction into the market that combined rubber and neoprene to create a boot that was flexible and comfortable but 100 percent waterproof. Our whole premise was that we wanted people to have the freedom to be out all day, in any kind of weather, and not ever have to think about their feet.” That profoundly simple concept has been embraced by a wide variety of customers. That in itself should not be so suprising; none of us—whether you live in the mountains of Alaska or along a bayou in Louisiana—like cold, wet feet when we’re outdoors. (muck bootcompany.com) —Christopher Cogley

Muck Boots will deliver both warmth and comfort in tough conditions.

SHOT SHOW 2016

Bergara Unveils The Woodsman

he Bergara Woodsman follows the 2015 SHOT Show unveiling of the company’s first two offerings in its B-14 Performance Series of production-line rifles: the syntheticstocked Hunter and the Timber, featuring a more traditional oil-finished, Monte Carlo–style walnut stock. The B-14’s appeal isn’t hard to understand: For less than $1,000, it offers many of the performance-enhancing features of Bergara’s custom rifles selling for three times that amount. With the new Woodsman, which made its debut at the 2016 SHOT Show, sportsmen whose tastes gravitate toward cleaner, more traditional lines than those of the Timber now can have their cake and eat it, too. “When we first introduced the B-14, we had quite a few dealers tell us that a walnut stock in the American style— straight comb, no cheekpiece—could be very popular, so we copied the design of the Hunter’s synthetic stock,” says CEO Dudley McGarity. “At about a half pound lighter than the Timber, and with a slimmer profile, it has a completely different appeal, doubling the

B-14’s potential sales to those shooters who love the look and feel of oilfinished walnut.” The guts of the B-14 are Bergara’s Spanishmade 4140CrMo steel barrels, renowned for their accuracy, in part due to a multi-stage honing process that produces a mirror-smooth bore. As with the Timber, accuracy and stability are enhanced with two metal-infused epoxy pillars embedded in the walnut stock to facilitate the action screws. The freefloating barrel and crispbreaking trigger further ensure superb accuracy,

something I discovered at the bench prior to hunting with the rifle last fall. Four shots produced a half-MOA group with Hornady 165-grain SST ammo in .308. Bergara’s Performance action, which features a two-lug bolt, coned bolt nose and breech, and sliding plate extractor, makes the Woodsman one of the smoothest-cycling rifles I’ve experienced, something I appreciated more than I’d hoped when a whitetail buck suddenly appeared 180 yards away. SRP: $945. (bergarausa.com)

—Bill Buckley

The author took this nice Montana whitetail with the new Bergara B-14 Woodsman boltaction hunting rifle.

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Way Outside the Box SilencerCo moves past suppressors

by brian M C CoMbie

uppressor manufacturer SilencerCo has a reputation for thinking outside the box. Now it appears to have dropped the “box” concept altogether, branching out into many new directions while still keeping true to its core mission—making shooting more hearingfriendly. SilencerCo made a big stir in 2014 when it introduced its shotgun suppressor, the Salvo 12, to the consumer and hunting markets. Turns out, the company was just getting started. In the six months leading up to the 2016 SHOT Show, SilencerCo announced the Maxim 9, an integrally suppressed 9mm pistol; introduced two new suppressors, the Osprey Micro, which is labeled as “the shortest, quietest, and easiest-to-clean rimfire silencer available,” and the Hybrid, a suppressor that is compatible with pistols, rifles, and submachine guns in calibers up to

2016 SHOT Business Awards

.458 SOCOM and .45/70. In addition, the company launched its own separate R&D facility, SilencerCo Weapons Research (beyond human.com), in Austin, Texas, dedicated to developing and designing high-tech shooting-sports products that, says Darren Jones of SilencerCo’s marketing department, will be affordable to the average shooter. “We are definitely not moving away from what we have done in the past and do best, making what we believe are the best suppressors on the market today,” he says. “But we looked at the technical expertise we have, and the creative team we’ve assembled, and we decided it was time to use that talent to develop products that go beyond what we’ve done with our suppressors.” The first new product from SilencerCo Weapons Research is the Radius, a rail-mounted rangefinder

At the Bonnier Outdoor Group SHOT Show breakfast, SHOT Business honored seven industry leaders. The honorees were Kittery Trading Post, Independent Retailer of the Year; Cabela’s, Chain Retailer of the Year; Hornady, Company of the Year; AcuSport, Distributor of the Year; Tom Milner, RSR, Sales Representative of the Year; Shoot Smart, Range of the Year; and David Baron (shown, right), Person of the Year.

SilencerCo is expanding its product line to include the Maxim 9, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol that comes with an integrated suppressor.

capable of ranging out to a mile on a reflective target. The Radius attaches to a Picatinny rail, in any orientation, and quickly tells a shooter the range of his or her intended target. I had a chance to use the Radius on a recent hunt and found it to work exceptionally well. No need for a separate rangefinder. With your rifle on the shoulder, you can easily range out to your intended target with the rifle still in the shooting

position, so you are ready to take that quick shot. SilencerCo also has entered into agreements with various firearms makers and other outdoor-related businesses to offer suppressor/firearms packages as well as SilencerCobranded products. It has expanded its line of threaded pistol barrels to include the popular Glock 19 pistol, too, and will offer a number of other barrels in 2016. (silencerco.com)

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SHOT SHOW 2016

Affordable Accuracy The secret to the success of Savage’s rifles is found on the factory floor

by PhiL boUrJaiLy

The author at work at the Savage factory, where he learned firsthand the process by which Savage ensures the accuracy of its rifles.

opsicles, swinging, and bending barrels. They’re all are ingredients of Savage’s recipe for accuracy. Savage makes the most accurate affordable rifles, or perhaps the most affordable accurate rifles, in the industry. On a recent tour of the plant in Westfield, Massachusetts, I got a firsthand look at how that accuracy is built in. An un-airconditioned 1960s-era factory is a warm place on an August afternoon, and the arrival of the Popsicle cart that circulates the factory floor is a welcome event. Free Popsicles are one small way Savage takes care of its workers, who also receive performance bonuses when the company exceeds its monthly production targets. A motivated workforce makes better rifles, especially on an assembly line where, at times, there is no substitute for skilled human eyes and hands. After the final turning, every barrel is checked by eye for straightness. The worker puts the barrel into a jig, then peers down the bore. If he doesn’t like what he sees, he turns a crank, and the barrel flexes in the jig and springs back. Only when the barrel is deemed straight does it go on. The completed barrel, receiver, and bolt are then “swung,” which is the process of fitting the receiver, barrel, and bolt together to achieve a precise headspace tolerance, which Savage believes enhances accuracy. Swinging the Savage way means performing that step early in the production process, then immediately separating the fitted

Read More Online To see all four issues of SHOT Daily in full, go to shot business.com.

SHOT SHOW 2016 barrel/receiver from the bolt for bead blasting and black oxiding before reuniting each matched set. It’s a headache for the process engineer, whose job is to make the line run efficiently. “I come from the world of tool manufacturing,” he told me. “I argued against this step, but management said no—this is how we make accurate rifles. So we do it this way.”

Savage Packaged Rifles After the assembly stage, many of the rifles go to one last step—scope mounting and bore sighting—before they’re proofed, function-tested, and packaged. Between 50 and 70 percent of the roughly 2,000 rifles that come off the line every day are scoped and sold as packages. It’s a trend driven by new shooters, who want an inexpensive rifle they can take out of the box and go straight to the range. I did the assembly on a Trophy Hunter, which is the top-of-the-line of Savage’s three packaged centerfires. The Trophy Hunter is the same basic Model 11/16 upon which

Model 42 Takedown

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Savage built its reputation for accuracy, though it comes without the rigid, aluminum-reinforced AccuStock of the regular Savage rifles. Available in long and short actions, it’s topped with a 3–9x40mm Nikon scope. The other two centerfires Savage sells as a package are based on the Axis rifles. Designed as Savage’s budget rifle, the Axis has a different stock design and has been simplified so that it goes together quickly on the line. The Axis II, the higher-grade rifle, comes with Savage’s innovative AccuTrigger and a Weaver Kaspa scope. The entry-level Axis package lacks the AccuTrigger, comes with a Bushnell scope, and sells for as little as $400. When you compare Savages against other brands, the AccuTrigger found on all but the base model Axis is a great selling point. A brilliant engineering solution to the heavy “lawyer triggers” found on many rifles, the AccuTrigger is very safe, yet it can be easily and safely adjusted by the user to give an excellent pull. (savage arms.com)

A couple of years ago, Savage introduced a modernized version of its old Model 24 O/U combination shotgun/rifle. They called the plastic-stocked gun the Model 42. It combines a .22 LR or .22 WMR barrel with a .410, and the result makes a handy camp or survival gun, just as the originals did. Now the 42 comes in a takedown model. I was able to look at one when I visited the factory. Push a button, slide the forend forward, and the gun comes apart at the hingepin. It snaps back together instantly. It’s a gun you can pack anywhere (it comes with a carry bag), and still sells for the same price: $485.

The Savage Model 42 Takedown is a contemporary take on the old Model 24 combo.

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A Bit of History The M1 Carbine was developed as an alternative to the traditional sidearm during World War II, and it has remained a popular and sought-after firearm with shooting collectors and enthusiasts. The carbine was also used long after the war, including in a unique role in Vietnam, where field-modified versions were chopped down by U.S. advisors, Special Forces, and most notably the tunnel rats. This group opted for a compact version, as even fulllength carbines still proved to be too long in such close quarters. Originals of these cut-down versions are almost unheard of today, but now collectors can get their hands on a modern version that is as close to the original as possible. Inland Manufacturing, which picked up the mantle of the original Inland Company, offered a modern take on the M1 Carbine last year, and now for 2016, the company has introduced the Advisor (SRP: $1,238), a .30-caliber pistol that is a legal chopped-and-shortened version of the classic carbine. The Advisor is a compact 21 inches overall and features military-type sights and a lowwood walnut stock. The 12-inch barrel is topped off with a military-style flash hider. The barrel thread is ½ x 28, allowing it to be used with a properly registered aftermarket sound suppressor. Again, the key was not to create a fantasy piece but to produce replicas that are as close as possible to those original M1 Carbines that were cut down for specific jobs in country. “The Advisor is a historically accurate firearm,” says Charles Brown, president of MKS Supply LLC, which is marketing the firearm. “It is like holding history in your hands.” This slimmed-down version, which weighs 4.5 pounds, is thus officially a pistol. It comes with a military-style cloth sling and one 15-round magazine. It can also accommodate original M1 Carbine 10- and 30-round military magazines. (mkssupply.com) —Peter Suciu

The Advisor is a .30-caliber pistol that is a legal chopped-andshortened version of the historic M1 Carbine.

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Targeted Inquiry “Bad data is worse than no data,” said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF’s Director of Industry Research and Analysis, at the end of Market Research 101, a seminar that capped off SHOT Show University. The presentation, co-hosted by Rob Southwick and Nancy Bacon of Southwick Associates, covered the basics of market research for retailers, manufacturers, and range operators. The session began with an overview of the various industry data indicators—existing information that has been consolidated by NSSF for use by its members. But Bacon also covered common crafting pitfalls when it comes to conducting your own market research. Be sure to ask one question at a time, avoid leading words, and don’t use vague or relative terms. Most of all, said Bacon, “Don’t let them say ‘It depends.’ If your respondents can answer that way, you haven’t posed your question properly.” Southwick discussed the times when you want to engage a professional researcher. Doing research on your own is fine for simple information, but for more complex questions (or when there are high stakes hinging on the results), it’s best to engage a professional research firm; NSSF works with a variety of researchers and can recommend one that suits the information you need. Southwick Associates also conducts an annual omnibus survey incorporating specialized and confidential questions from a variety of companies in the industry. This survey generally closes in March; contact Nancy Bacon at Nancy@ SouthwickAssociates.com for more information for next year. Market research can help you identify what your customers value about your brand, but perhaps more important is what you can find out about people who aren’t your customers. After all, that’s where your business has the most potential for growth. —Robert F. Staeger

SHOT SHOW 2016

Leap of Faith Mossberg’s new sporting clays shotgun uses a radical idea by SLaTon L. WHiTe

hen David Miles, Mossberg’s marketing director, decided to upgrade the 930 autoloader line, he knew he didn’t have the reinvent the wheel. But what he did next was a leap of faith. Rather than tweak an existing product, he decided to consult with a shotgun instructor with fervent ideas about how to help shooters become better shots. Gil Ash and his wife, Vicki, are the proprietors of OSP (Optimum Shotgun Performance) School. Both are NSCA Level III certified, so they are eminently qualified to judge shotgun design. Which leads us to the new Mossberg 930 Pro-

Series Sporting, which made its debut at the 2016 SHOT Show. I had an opportunity to shoot with Miles and the Ashes last fall with preproduction prototypes and learn firsthand about some of the qualities that make this shotgun so special. This shotgun comes in one model: a 3-inch 12-gauge with a walnut stock, a 28-inch ported barrel, an engraved Cerakote receiver, a beveled loading gate, and Briley extended chokes (IC, Mod, and Skeet). The trigger is crisp, with virtually no creep. The real story, however, is found aft of the receiver. The comb is very narrow at the front. At the same time, it’s not very wide at the

back. This is done because, according to Gil, the most important part of these dimensions is where the gun touches a shooter’s face. “That’s at the midpoint in the comb. This comb is very narrow, and at the same time it has a lot of drop. “The narrower the comb, the less cast you need; the lower the comb, the less cast you need. It will fit a righthanded or left-handed shooter equally well because of the design.” In other words, cast is no longer an issue. Have your customers mount the gun in the store. They’ll instantly see what he’s talking about. They’ll also like the Prince of Wales Grip. SRP: $1,084. (mossberg.com)

Right- and left-handed shooters can shoot the 930 Pro-Series Sporting equally well because of the drop in the stock and the narrow comb.

SHOT SHOW 2016

S H O T B U S I N E S S A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 6

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Triple Play Browning’s new camo, rifle, and ammo are designed to keep a hunter in the “family”

or years now, Browning has offered hunters branded apparel within certain “families” of product lines. Think of Hydro-Fleece, Browning’s first foray into technical outdoor clothing. It gave hunters a quiet combination of waterproof, windproof, and breathable protection. Launched in 1993, and offered in many variations, Hydro-Fleece soon became the popular choice for many bow and gun hunters. More recently, Browning introduced its Hell’s Canyon line of apparel for men and Hell’s Bells for women, both versions aimed squarely at the big-game hunting market. The line offers hunters everything from base layers and raingear to scentcontrol clothing, all in the distinctive Hell’s Canyon pattern. For 2016, Browning has gone a step further with its new Hell’s Canyon Speed line, incorporating a new, proprietary ATACS camouflage pattern into a full slate of outdoor clothing. Concurrently, Browning has introduced a centerfire rifle decked out in the same camo pattern—the X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed. It’s even jumped into the ammunition market, producing centerfire rifle and handgun rounds as well as rimfire and shotgun ammunition. “We think this new ‘subfamily’ marketing approach will be a real help to retailers,” says Rafe Nielsen,

Browning’s communications manager. “When customers see the new Hell’s Canyon Speed line, they will see that they can buy everything in that line from base layers to four-in-one parkas, and even a rifle in the same camo pattern. And they will be able to buy all of it at the same store.” Judging by the snug fit, the Speed line clearly has been designed for the more athletic, more adventurous hunter. The products range from base layers (SRP: $59 to $99) and lightweight and midweight jackets and pants (SRP: $99 to $189) to insulated and rainwear items at price points of $229 to $279. Gloves, hats, and other accessories will also be offered in the Speed ATACS pattern. I had a chance to try out the new Speed clothing on a deer hunt last fall, where it performed well in varying weather conditions. The ATACS pattern itself will be available in two versions: in the AU or arid pattern, a great choice for hunters in the West (the pattern I used), and the FG or foliage/green pattern, for those hunting east of the Mississippi River. The hunt also gave me the opportunity to evaluate the X-Bolt Speed rifle and the new Browning centerfire ammunition. The lightweight X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed rifle is built on the popular Browning X-Bolt platform, with some significant upgrades. The rugged

by brian m c combie

The author with a deer taken while using Browning’s X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed rifle and the company’s new Browning-branded centerfire ammo.

composite stock is done in the Speed AU pattern, while the fluted barrel, receiver, and bolt are Cerakoted in Burnt Bronze. The rifle will be chambered in standard calibers from .243 to .300 Win. Mag., including 6.5 Creedmoor and .26 Nosler. The rifle looks cool; more important, it’s a shooter. Once my rifle, chambered in .30/06, was sighted in, my first three-shot group measured under one inch at 100 yards. I really liked the 60-degree bolt lift, too. It kept my thumb and fingers clear of the scope when cycling the action and allowed me to chamber a new round quickly and easily (SRP: $1,200). Throughout my time at the range and in the field, I

used Browning’s new BXR Rapid Expansion ammunition, made with a special matrix tip of copper and polymer. Designed specifically for deer hunting, this particular round’s matrix tip disintegrates once it is an inch to an inch and a half into the deer, at which point the deep hollowpoint begins its rapid expansion. I took a 200-pound muley at about 120 yards. The single shoulder shot flattened the deer where it stood. The other hunters in camp also killed their deer (muleys or whitetails) with single shots. The wounds I saw when the animals were field dressed revealed massive energy transfer and extensive trauma. (browning.com)

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SHOT SHOW 2016

Big Problem, Big Solution Big-bore airguns are just the ticket for nuisance wildlife control

by JoCk eLLiott

This coyote was taken with a Benjamin Bulldog bolt-action .357 PCP airgun. A baffle-less SoundTrap shroud acts as a suppressor to lower noise levels. The rifle also has an easy-to-load five-shot magazine.

oming soon to a residential area near you: whitetails, coyotes, and hogs. Whether it is the woodchuck in the garden, the raccoon in the garbage can, the bear under the bird feeder, the deer and the coyotes almost everywhere, or the feral hogs exploding across the landscape, people are colliding with wildlife. When the interests of people and wildlife come into conflict, typically the next thing that happens is a phone call to state wildlife authorities or to a private contractor. Sometimes trapping/tranquilizing and moving is the answer. Depending upon the jurisdiction and the species, however, it can be flatly illegal to relocate an animal. Sometimes there is a substantial breeding population in the area, so that relocating one individual animal becomes a symbolic but ultimately useless act. And sometimes lethal removal of the wildlife is the only sensible answer. That’s where big-bore airguns—

air rifles of .30- to .50-caliber—come in. Chip Hunnicutt, marketing manager for Crosman Corporation, says, “When it comes to lethal wildlife control in an urban or suburban environment, you want limited range, not a lot of noise, and—above all—sufficient accuracy and power to provide a humane kill. Big-bore airguns deliver all that in a package that is easy to shoot well.” Big-bore airguns also present an opportunity for firearms dealers because they provide a solution for wildlife control in many venues where discharging firearms is forbidden. A number of states have approved, or are in the process of approving, the use of large-caliber airguns for harvesting deer. In addition, airguns often offer greater profit margins than firearms. Chuck Sykes, Alabama’s director of wildlife, says, “Large-bore airguns serve the purpose very well. You need to be proficient and know what range you are effective at, but you

can kill a 180- to 250-pound deer at 100 yards with one. For nuisance wildlife control, anyone can afford them, anyone can use them, and it’s a lot cheaper to use an airgun than a firearm, with all the hassle and expense of a suppressor.” Barry Stewart, a rancher with indepth experience in wildlife control, says, “I use airguns for reduction of noise. If you are looking at a whole group of feral hogs, with a .223 you won’t get a second shot, but with an airgun you could. I get 1- to 1.25inch accuracy at 100 yards with a Benjamin Bulldog, and it makes just as humane a kill as a firearm.” Hunnicutt attended the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies annual meeting in Tucson last fall and found wildlife managers advocating the use of large-bore airguns for a number of applications. “There is a lot of potential in this market,” he says. A .30-caliber has more than enough energy for taking problem wildlife such as prairie dogs, rock chucks, ground hogs, skunks, raccoons, beavers, and foxes out to 100 yards and coyotes out to 75 yards, but can cause other problems if a miss occurs or the animal is too close and the projectile passes through. In short, shooters need to match the air rifle and pellet selection not only to the targeted wildlife, but also to the shooting conditions at hand. Three things are clear: the incidence of conflicts between wildlife and people is likely to grow; bigbore airguns can play an important role in helping to deal with the problem; and large-caliber airguns present an opportunity for dealers to sell air rifles, ammunition, scopes, mounts, rangefinders, and other accessories that can add handsomely to the bottom line. (crosman.com)

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SHOT SHOW 2016

Never Quit. Never Surrender Axelson Tactical was founded to honor the memory of a fallen warrior

by katie ainsworth

en years ago, a team of four U.S. Navy SEALs was inserted into the Hindu Kush to put eyes on a known terrorist. Of those four men, three were killed, and one of those three was Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Matthew “Axe” Axelson. Axe fought valiantly—he was a true warrior, and he made the ultimate sacrifice to protect his military brothers. In the wake of his death, his brother by birth, Jeff Axelson, grappled with a decision he’d hoped to never face: how best to honor his brother’s memory. In the end, it was simple, really. Jeff would turn one of his brother’s passions into something tangible, something everyone could participate in. And that’s

Former SEAL Ron Bellan with Axelson rifles. The line includes the Warrior Series Precision, The Combat Series, and The Signature Series.

All clean. No mess. The Cyclone Rotary Tumbler is fast, effective, and hands-down delivers the best results of any brass cleaning method. The included steel pin media and cleaning solution make quick work of stubborn tarnish and grit. Steel media is virtually indestructible, ready for reuse, and perfectly sized to reach every contour of every casing. The Cyclone also includes our patent-pending, dual pan sifting system. This revolutionary sifting technology separates casings, media pins, and cleaning solution simultaneously, greatly decreasing clean up time. So you’ll get more brilliant brass, more quickly – with a whole lot less mess.

www.LymanProducts.com

SHOT SHOW 2016

how Axelson Tactical was born. First came the commemorative AXE Special Purpose Rifle, chambered in .223 Remington and engraved with a trident. Only 100 AXE rifles were manufactured, and it wasn’t long before Jeff and his team—which is heavily staffed by military veterans—knew it was time for a complete line of firearms. Axelson Tactical has now opened production with a trifecta of rifles, one for each prong of Poseidon’s Trident: the Warrior, Signature, and Combat Series. Warrior Series Precision rifles are chambered in 5.56 NATO; Warrior Precision I and II rifles are chambered in .223 Wylde. All have a 16-inch barrel with a 1:8 twist, topped with muzzle brakes. The Precision gets the Axelson Tactical Talon muzzle brake, and the I and II are fitted with the BattleComp 1.0 muzzle brake. There are eight Cerakote options, ranging from Desert to Battleworn. SRP: starts at $1,949.

S H O T B U S I N E S S A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 6

Combat Series rifles come chambered in 5.56 NATO, .300 BLK, .308 Win., and 9mm. In addition to the rifles that come with a Faxon chrome-lined 16-inch barrel, this series also includes SBR and pistol options. Features on Combat guns include Axelson Tactical BCGs and muzzle brakes. Cerakote options (10 in all) vary by rifle and include Kryptek Banshee and Multicam Black (SRP: starts at $1,249). The Signature Series currently consists of one rifle, the Reaper01 AR-10. This rifle is the creation of former SEAL and current professional hunter Ron Bellan. The Reaper01 is chambered in .308 Win. and has a 16-inch Proof Research barrel with a 1:10 twist. It features a Geissele Automatics SSA-E trigger, an adjustable low-profile .825 gas block, and an Axelson Tactical Talon muzzle brake. The Cerakote finish is Desert Camo (SRP: $3,849).

The New Ithaca Hunting Rifle

ITHACA G U N

C O M P A N Y

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Back when Axe was still in BUD/S, he had a rare weekend of leave and shared a beer with his brother. In a serious moment, he posed this question to Jeff: “Do you think you would have the courage to risk your life to save a friend?” Just a few short years later, Axe’s question became his reality, and the answer was a resounding “Yes.” Jeff Axelson says, “In the heat of battle, your thoughts should be focused on the fight ahead and protecting those around you, not on your gear. Trustworthy gear is absolutely vital. Never quit. Never surrender.” (axelsontactical.com)

Read More Online To see all four issues of SHOT Daily in full, go to shot business.com.

GOOD STUFF

BY RICHARD MANN

A Better Idea Galco’s RiﬂeMann sling offers better carrying and better shooting

From prototype to finished SKU, this is a product designed by shooters for shooters.

unters spend more time carrying a rifle than shooting it, but the ideal rifle sling should make both jobs easier. Growing up hunting in West Virginia, we didn’t watch bean fields or sit in cozy blinds. We walked far, climbed mountains, forded creeks, and crawled over and under things. I realized early on the importance of a carry sling, but I struggled to find one that would keep my rifle on my shoulder.

In the military and as a dedicated police marksman I learned a sling could enhance shooter steadiness, but just wrapping it around your support arm only keeps it from swaying under the rifle. To really “sling up,” a purpose-built sling is required. None of those provide comfortable carry.

the contraption I’d concocted, and asked what I wanted for the idea. I suggested rifle slings for life. They foolishly accepted, I assume because they had no idea how many rifles I own. Galco sort of named the new strap after me, and the RifleMann sling was introduced at the 2016 SHOT Show.

The Prototype

A Carry Sling

➤I

➤ There are essentially four

decided to make my own that would serve both purposes. Using the backwoods ingenuity I learned from Grandpa, I cobbled together a functional carrying and shooting sling. During a trip to Gunsite Academy, I showed it to Mike Barham of Galco Gunleather and urged him to consider its utility. A few weeks later he asked if Galco could borrow my sling and tinker with it. Given Galco’s reputation for quality gear, I was excited this might lead to more than just a hillbilly-engineered strap. Soon Galco sent a sample, much better assembled than

methods for using a sling to carry a hunting rifle. American Carry is where the rifle is supported muzzle up on the left or right shoulder. The RifleMann sling assists with this method because a thick, suede-lined patch helps to hold it in place. With European Carry, the rifle is braced in front of the body by the support hand, sling on the support shoulder. It might be best described as reverse American Carry, and the padded section on my sling again helps with comfort and security. African Carry, where the rifle is supported muzzle down

46 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

on the non-shooting side, is also popular. The RifleMann sling keeps the rifle in place when carrying in this manner, too. Cross-Body Carry might be the most useful because it keeps both hands free. The RifleMann sling works well in this application because its quick-adjust feature lets you cinch it tight, preventing wobble while dragging a deer or negotiating rough terrain.

A Shooting Sling ➤ There

are two ways to use a sling for shooting support. You can use the loop-method (Ching-style) on your support arm or use a quick-adjust sniper/triceps technique on your shooting arm. When shooting with forward rifle support or support for your shooting arm, the sniper method generally works best. If you can brace your support arm, the Ching method can be just as effective. The RifleMann sling has an extra strap adjacent to the wide padded section to

allow for Ching-like shooting support. Its quick-adjusting feature enables utilization of the sniper technique. “Using the triceps part of the sling, you can keep yourself very low and put only a minimal amount of yourself above cover/concealment, and still have that super stable shooting platform,” says Jill Willert, a Galco R&D engineer. “When resting on something or using cover in a blind, I think the triceps [sniper technique] wins out over more conventional slings.” Most important, the solid and tight sniper technique greatly enhances off hand shooting.

Affordable and Practical ➤ Because

Galco currently manufactures the Safari Ching Sling, I knew company personnel could improve on my design. They did, and now shooters have one sling that will help them carry and shoot their rifle better. SRP: $49.95.

(galcogunleather.com)

New for 2016 BROWNINGAMMO.COM

W H AT ’ S S E L L I N G W H E R E

West Big J’s WA Outdoor Sports, Orting

Sitting just outside Tacoma, this 13,000-squarefoot general outdoor sporting goods store sent four staff members to SHOT Show. Soft goods and training at SHOT University were the priorities for two of the staff members. “The training is so informative. As an office manager, I learned more than I could ever have imagined,” said office manager/ buyer Sandy Birkeland. Ladies shooting accessories topped the list, with purchases at Can Can Concealment and Flashbang Holsters. Other added lines included Wiley-X eyewear. Stops at SIG, Smith, and Daniel Defense were added to the four full days spent at the show. Birkeland said her pedometer recorded 12.5 miles in a single day.

Timberdale CO Firearms Company, Bayfield

This small, rural independent is located in southwest Colorado, just outside of Durango. It stocks fewer than 200 guns. Handguns were the priority at the show for this retailer. The owner completed most of his newproduct viewing within the first two days. “I try to cover a lot of ground early in the show. Once the crowd swells, communicating with vendors in the larger booths is a real challenge,” said owner Jim Tencza. Smith and Glock had this retailer busy during the first morning; Taurus was the focus much of the afternoon. Tencza mentioned that meeting with distributors is always a priority while in Vegas. “We are a very small shop, and I actually got to meet my Davidson sales guy. It may not sound like a big deal, but it

can make a big difference.” Other distributor meetings included RSR and Sports South.

Gun CA Phelan Range, Phelan After having attended SHOT for the first time, this central California gun range and retail store will open its doors in late 2016 with eight lanes and more 1,500 square feet of retail and classroom space. Buying range equipment and firearms was this group’s collective goal. “I really have no idea where else we could have gone to receive the range information along with the purchase power that SHOT gives us,” said buyer Tim Davis. Action Target was a key stop. “We really found much of what we needed there, and their experience has guided us through the rangeconstruction process,” said Davis.

Midwest Top Shot IL Academy, Hoffman Estates

With two employees, this established shooting and training company was at SHOT Show to purchase new product for a range they are planning to open in the city of Chicago. Reloading, target, and handgun manufacturers were the priority for this team, but one must-stop-by booth was the H&K to view the VP9 in .40 caliber. Other stops included Dillon Press, Next Level Training, Century Arms, and Action Targets. “You can only imagine the pitfalls facing a small company like ours opening a retail shooting and training facility in Chicago. The combination of information, such as that we received at the NSSF’s SHOT University and other retail seminars, will allow our company

48 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

to grow successfully and soundly,” said owner Chip Eberhart.

Lead Shed, MI The Jackson

This 8,500-square-foot range and retail store will be opening this summer, so attending SHOT was a must. Looking for information and range equipment absorbed most of this storeowner’s time, though he found time to attend SHOT University. “I have no idea where else I could have gotten all the information on both product and purchasing in one place. The classes gave me confidence that there are systems in place for my company to have a strong business model,” said owner Kenneth Brindle. Writing orders at Action Target and MGM Targets was a large part of the trip. “These range manufacturers had

resources that made my trip worth every penny I spent,” said Brindle.

Tactical, WI T&L Manitowoc This small, family-run northeastern Wisconsin shop stocks a large number of accessories as well as 100 guns in 400 square feet. It sent two employees to the SHOT Show. The staff attended SHOT with the goal of finding inventory for women shooters. “There was an amazing amount of new product for women at this year’s show. I would also say that it kept us so busy that we didn’t make it to many of the major firearms manufacturers,” said coowner Laurie Fettig. Some of the booths that received attention included Gun Tote’n Momas, Sticky Holsters, and Concealed Carrie.

B Y P E T E R B . M AT H I E S E N

East The PA Sportsman’s Shop, East Earl

Located in eastern Pennsylvania between Lancaster and Philadelphia, this retailer expanded into a new 25,000-square-foot facility in 2015 that includes education training rooms and an indoor range. The show was attended by two people. Training and developing relationships with vendors that supply indoor range equipment were high priorities. “We split class training responsibilities between us, while all booths were attended by both my wife and me,” said general manager Anthony Keffer. Ladies shooting products across the board were also a highdemand segment. Even after attending three distributor shows for the season, Keffer said, SHOT is a can’t-miss event for this store.

Pullman MA Arms, Worcester

This dealer, which specializes in tactical and police firearms, offers extensive firearms training. The retailer is located in east-central Massachusetts and has 1,300 square feet of floor space and more than 800 firearms in stock. Four of its eight employees went to Vegas. Finding a way to add a shooting range was this store’s major 2016 goal. “While we have impressive product turns, we know that an indoor shooting range would improve them. However, our store’s small footprint just makes that impossible, so we spent much of our time looking at portable ranges,” said co-owner Alicia Merritt. One of the companies visited was Shooting Range Industries, which offers modular, self-

contained, state-of-the-art shooting trailers that can be set up in a retailer’s parking lot.

& Sport NH Gun North, Salem This small independent shop is located in southern New Hampshire. It sports 1,500 square feet of retail floor space with an average inventory of 300 firearms. The store sent one employee to Vegas. This retailer uses a top 10 strategy to work the show floor. “I go to SHOT knowing what my top 10 SKUs are. I make an effort to talk to those specific vendors and to identify the accessories that will best fit those SKUs first,” said owner Tony Forgetta. Forgetta mentioned that in addition to attending SHOT University, he spent several hours in the ATF and NICS classes.

South Palmetto State SC Armory, Columbia

This large independent has five retail outlets as well as online distribution. It sent more than 16 employees to SHOT. When it comes to the gun buyer’s responsibilities, it’s all about the details. “The goal is to always find something new, but it’s just as important to sustain relationships with vendors you work with every day,” said buyer Jason Dickey. One of the products that caught this buyer’s eye was SIG’s reintroduction of the P210. “This is a great example of a classic product that will be available to the U.S. market through SIG’s U.S. facility. We expect it to sell well this year,” he said. Another important stop included significant time at the Vista Outdoor booth.

Armory, GA Clyde Athens

With two retail locations to supply, this retailer specializes in both homeprotection and law-enforcement firearms. One location includes a 25,000-square-foot facility that is actually built as a stone-andblockhouse armory with turrets and a moat. The company sent three out of 30 employees to Vegas. “Covering ground with our best manufacturers is an absolute priority. We go to SHOT to learn and connect,” said owner/CEO Andrew Clyde. While at the show, this retailer received the Law Enforcement Retailer of the Year Award from both Colt and Daniel Defense. A visit also was made to Magtech to view the new .300 Blackout ammo. Other stops included a

relentless search for .22 Mag. ammo at Federal and Hornady.

Shooter’s LA The Club, Harahan With plans to open the company’s third range facility this summer, attending Vegas was an imperative. As a result, this retailer sent three of its 10 employees to the show. Handgun orders were written at F&N, Glock, and Ruger. A large order was placed to trial Ruger’s new PolyCase ARX ammunition. “It takes careful coordination from our staff to do everything we need to get done at SHOT. It’s fun, but we have to be on our game,” said assistant manager Devvin Burgess. With a new range under construction that will offer the ability to shoot full-auto tactical equipment, this retailer looked to Action Target to supply the entire facility.

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W W W. E O T E C H I N C . C O M

Company

HHS II (G33 / EXPS2-2)

NEW PRODUCTS

Firearms Business Insurance

(Continued from page 54)

Wholesalers & Distributors Retail Sales Manufacturers & Importers Ammunition & Bullet Manufacturers Indoor & Outdoor Ranges Gunsmiths Firearms Instructors

The new HR-300 from Ozonics utilizes a revamped housing and reengineered internal components to deliver a 45 percent increase in ozone production over its predecessor, the HR-200.

Ozonics Hunting ➤ Ozonics

makes the first and only in-thefield ozone generator designed to blanket human scent with scent-destroying ozone. Unlike any other scent-control product, Ozonics units continuously deal with the scent in your hunting area by projecting altered scent molecules that are undetectable by deer and other scent-savvy game. The new HR-300 is the result of more than five years of field research and product development. Designed using end-user feedback, the HR-300 delivers a 45 percent increase in ozone production over its predecessor, the HR-200. The new design utilizes a revamped housing and re-engineered internal components. The new ergonomic construction is also easier to handle and has an improved user interface, with intuitive controls designed for easy use with gloves in the dark. The HR-300 also comes with Integrated Pulse Technology, which is a proprietary technology that balances time, airflow, and ozone concentration to effectively ensure the right amount of oxidant needed to deodorize you and your gear. SRP: $599.99. (ozonicshunting.com)

developed to sharpen virtually any knife, including hunting, pocket, and tactical knives. By eliminating any guesswork, it ensures uniformly sharp edges from tip to bolster on even the thickest or heaviest of knives. Two sharpening stages allow the Xtreme 317 to apply a strong and durable double-bevel arch-shaped edge.

31 Parker Road ¥ Elizabeth, New Jersey 07208

800.526.2199 • info@jcinsco.com • www.guninsurance.com

COMING SOON. FOR SMITH & WESSON M&P SHIELD

Edgecraft ➤ Chef ’sChoice’s Sportsman Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener Xtreme 317 was

Laserguard® Pro™ is taking Standard Equipment to the next level. Combining a Red Laser Sight and 150-Lumen LED White Light with Crimson Trace patented Instinctive Activation™.

800-442-2406

NEW PRODUCTS

The new Mândra is a full-tang knife with a blade of triplelaminated stainless steel. The handle is curly birch.

SRP: $99.99. (chefschoice.com)

Lowa ➤ Lowa’s popular Innox GTX Mid hiker boot is now available in digital camo, making the boot the company’s first camouflage product for U.S. distribution. The lightweight hiker is ideal for stalking and early-season hunts. A featherlight synthetic upper provides supportive comfort, while Lowa’s injected PU sole technology and Monowrap construction deliver outstanding support and stability. A waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex lining keeps feet cool and dry. The NXT sole is sticky enough for rocks and metal grates, even when it’s wet. SRP: $220. (lowaboots.com)

Helle ➤ Years ago, the Helle design team and survival expert Les Stroud came together

Lowa’s GTX Mid hiker boot is now available in digital camo. The boot also features an NXT sole and a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex liner.

52 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

to create a practical knife. An all-round knife comes with a leather sheath. SRP: bestseller, the Helle Temagami continues $209. (helle.no) to attract accolades and praise for its simple, beautiful design. Building on this respect for both quality and function, ini- Moultrie ➤ You don’t need to go into tial designs for the new the field to get data from a Mândra (pronounded Moultrie game camera. You MON-dra) knife were concan remotely operate the ceptualized over several camera and view images months. Only then were from your truck, couch, or prototypes hand-made at stand with any mobile the Helle factory in Norway device. The MV1 Field and sent to Stroud in Modem is compatible with Romania for extensive fieldmultiple models of Moultrie testing. This approach of MV1 Field Modem cameras, including most of researching, prototyping, lets you control 2015’s models. When the field-testing and refinement cameras remotely. images are captured, the constitutes the backbone hunter is notified through text, email, or and development of the Helle knifevia the free iOS or Android mobile app. building philosophy. Hunters can organize, analyze, and share The result is a full-tang knife with a socially in an instant. Monthly plans blade of triple-laminated stainless steel require no contract, no commitment, no and a handle made of curly birch. The activation fee, and no cancellation fees. SRP: $199. (moultriefeeders.com)

Lethal Lace ➤ Made from high-quality stretch lace, the

universal Lethal Lace holster is a versatile concealed-carry solution for women who wear a variety of outfits that would otherwise be ill-suited for carry. The holster pocket can be placed anywhere on the body (ankle, calf, thigh, hips, waist, chest, or under the arm), and then the fabric is pulled around several times to secure and conceal the firearm—each wrap pressing the handgun closer to the body comfortably and securely. Fits both large and small handguns, and also includes an extra pocket for other items, such as a permit, ID, a knife, or a set of keys. Lethal Lace is also introducing LethalAce, a holster for men that functions the same way, but made of spandex instead of lace. One size fits most, up to a 43-inch waist. SPR: $57.99. (lethallace.com)

NEW PRODUCTS

Hoppe’s Developed for quick use when a deep clean isn’t in the cards, Hoppe’s Gun Medic Cleaner & Lube is a fast-acting, all-in-one product that will clean and lubricate a firearm with one application. It’s like having a first-aid kit for dirty firearms, eliminating malfunctions caused by buildup of dirt and grime. The revolutionary formula combines a bio-based lubricant developed for jet turbines with a cleaning agent that scrubs away powder residue and then evaporates in 60 seconds, leaving only the thin coat of high-performance lube. Available in 4-ounce and 10-ounce sizes. SRP: ranges from $7.95 to $12.95. (hoppes.com) (Continued on page 51)

54 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

PHOTO BY JUSTIN APPENZELLER

feed them at AguilaAmmo.com

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