DAILY UPDATE

NEWS ❚ PROMOTIONS ❚ AWARDS ❚ OUTREACH

Creating a Complete Customer Experience

 Instead of manufacturing armor based on demand, PBA made the commitment to begin warehousing stock in anticipation of demand so that when customers placed orders, they would be fulfilled with no unnecessary lead time.

By Christopher Cogley

Premier Body Armor isn’t exactly new to providing personalized protection to military, law enforcement and even civilians. Officially established in 2013, the company that would become PBA actually spent more than 20 years developing innovative and effective armor for tactical vehicles. When they made the

transition to personalized body armor, they applied the lessons learned from two decades of fortifying vehicles to create a growing line of protective vests, tee shirts and even backpack inserts. The newest innovation that is setting PBA apart in the industry, however, has nothing to do with stopping bullets.

“We originally created a partnership with Vertx to make inserts for its backpacks, but then we realized that there were so many people out there who wanted inserts for the backpacks they already had and didn’t want to get rid of, so we decided to start creating custom inserts for those bags,” said Alex Stewart, PBA’s executive vice president. “That was the first time we stepped outside of our comfort zone in an attempt to make the customer experience better. It was a little bit scary, but the feedback from our customers was amazing.”

The success of that concept led to much more than a new line of products; it led to a new way of doing business.

“After that, we made a commitment to provide more than just customer service. We dedicated ourselves to creating a complete customer experience,” Stewart said. “It was absolutely our best concept. We want to be the best place in the world for people to buy body armor. Period.”

To reach that goal, PBA not only intensified its commitment to provide custom armor inserts for as many types of backpacks, bags and laptop cases as possible, they also made a commitment to do something that nearly no other company was doing.

“Most body armor companies have a lead time that’s anywhere from four to 16 weeks. We wanted to change that. We wanted our customers to get armor when they wanted it, not when it was convenient for us to make it for them,” Stewart said.

Instead of manufacturing armor based on demand, PBA made the commitment to begin warehousing stock in anticipation of demand so that when customers placed orders, they would be fulfilled with no unnecessary lead time. To pull this off, PBA also had to coordinate with its partners to make sure they were on board with the concept.

“It wasn’t an issue at all to get our partners on board,” Stewart said. “We decided early on that the partnerships we formed had to be part of our overall commitment to providing that superior customer experience, so when we form partnerships with other companies, they’re real partnerships. We work together, we collaborate together, we help promote each other. When they win, we win, and vice versa. And ultimately, it’s the customer who wins, and that’s what we all want.”

Judging by the comments PBA is receiving from its customers, the experience the company is providing is certainly appreciated. “We have tons of five-star reviews on our site, and most of them mention how fast they received their order,” Smith said. “That’s what it’s all about. That’s what makes us happy.”

PBA’s commitment to providing a superior customer experience isn’t limited to its civilian customers. When PBA began selling protective vests to law enforcement, they implemented a new way of making sure their vests fit the officers properly so that they’d be more comfortable and help provide more reliable protection. Instead of just having officers send in measurements to the corporate offices, PBA created a specialized van stocked with every size and shape of vest in its offering. Now, when departments around the region need to fit their officers with new vests, PBA drives its van to the department and personally helps fit officers with the actual vests so they know without a doubt they’re getting the best possible fit.

“We want law-enforcement officers to be as protected as possible, and in addition to making our vests as reliable as they can be, this was the best way we could come up with to make sure we were providing the officers with that kind of protection,” Smith said. “These officers do so much for all of us. We figured this was the least we could do for them.”

Because the reality is that whether it’s law enforcement or civilian customers, PBA’s commitment to providing a superior customer experience isn’t just about having happy customers. It’s about having customers who come home to their families at the end of the day. Booth #41548

(premierbodyarmor.com)

IMPULSE ACTION

By T. Logan Metesh

Savage Arms introduces its first straight-pull rifle.

IN the past year, Savage Arms once again rolled the dice on innovation when it launched a new line of centerfire rifles. Known as IMPULSE, this firearm is unlike anything Savage has ever designed; it’s also unlike anything any other American company has done with a boltaction rifle. The new American-made rifles feature a unique straight-pull action that refines the function of a conventional bolt into one fast and intuitive movement. The speed and ease of use defines Impulse and is redefining what’s possible from a traditional rifle.

The key to IMPULSE’s functionality is the new action, which is built around Hexlock, a robust lockup that allows for IMPULSE’s reliability, speed, safety and accuracy. This combination has made the rifle a popular choice for shooters and hunters who appreciate the potential for a spilt-second follow-up shot.

“IMPULSE has redefined the way shooters think about straight-pull rifles,” said Al Kasper, president and CEO of Savage Arms. “We studied more than a century’s worth of straight-pull actions and kept running up against the same conundrum; straight-pull actions are fast, but they don’t inspire confidence. Speed means nothing if you can’t hit what you’re aiming at. IMPULSE changed that. We’ve brought our tradition of accuracy into the mix to make the fastest, most accurate straight-pull rifles ever built, and our customers are out there now putting them to the test. The results are truly impressive.”

Built for speed, the smooth bolt throw of the IMPULSE allows a shooter to cycle rounds intuitively, without the need for the standard four changes of direction common to a conventional bolt’s path of travel. As a result, IMPULSE reduces split times and allows for shooters to manipulate the bolt without losing their cheek weld. The bolt travels out and back and shooters don’t have to take their eyes off the target. This increase in speed is essential to making effective follow-up shots. Aiding this retention of cheek weld and sight picture is the bolt handle itself; it can be user-configured into one of four different directions/angles on either side of the bolt, allowing shooters to set up the handle to best fit their needs and grip.

At the heart of IMPULSE’s bolt is Hexlock. Six hardened steel bearings lock the bolt in place inside the receiver’s barrel extension. As pressure increases, Hexlock’s hold tightens, ensuring that there can be no rearward movement of the bolt. Once the round has left the barrel, the pressure subsides, and the action can be safely opened again with a straight pull of the bolt handle.

In addition to IMPULSE’s new features, these rifles draw upon decades of Savage innovation. Each model is equipped with AccuStock, Accufit and AccuTrigger. These allow the shooter to adjust the stock’s length-of-pull and stock height, as well as the trigger weight anywhere between 2.5 and 6 pounds.

IMPULSE is available in three model variations. IMPULSE Big Game rifles in .243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, .30-06 Spfd., .308 Win. and .300 Win. Mag. MSRP: $1,449. IMPULSE Predator calibers include .22-250 Rem., .243 Win., .308 Win. and 6.5 Creedmoor. MSRP: $1,379. IMPULSE Hog Hunter in .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, .30-06 Spfd. and .300 Win. Mag. MSRP: $1,379. Booth #12821

(savagearms.com)

FN UNLEASHES THE 502 TACTICAL

The latest innovation in the optics-ready pistol space is FN’s 502 Tactical, the company’s first slide-mounted rimfire handgun that readily accepts a red-dot sight. The FN 502 Tactical features an optics-mounting system inspired by the company’s patented FN Low-Profile Optics Mounting System and offers unmatched sighting options with co-witness sights.

“We set out to accomplish two primary goals with the FN 502 Tactical,” said Mark Cherpes, president and CEO for FN America. “First, we wanted to create a .22 LR pistol with the advanced features and superior accuracy of our current pistol line-up. Second, we wanted to deliver a pistol designed for maximum fun on the range. We feel like we’ve met both of these objectives handily. This new rimfire handgun has obvious, universal appeal, whether you’re a new shooter looking to master the basics or an advanced user expecting peak performance from FN.”

The FN 502 Tactical features a smooth, single-action best-in-class trigger. It also has a 15-round magazine and ambidextrous controls.

“FN constantly studies the market to fill unmet customer needs, and we saw a large gap to fill with our new semi-auto rimfire handgun,” said Chris Cole, vice president of sales and marketing. “With the FN 502 Tactical, we applied the standout features of the FN 509 Tactical to this new rimfire to deliver a shooting experience unlike any other .22 LR handgun.”

The FN 502 Tactical comes standard in a hard case with one 15-round high-capacity magazine and one 10-round flush-fit magazine along with the necessary plates to mount compatible miniature red-dot optics. Due to its similarity in ergonomics to the FN 509, the FN 502 Tactical will fit in most FN 509 Tactical holsters. MSRP: $499.

Booth #11860

(fnamerica.COM)

DJI™ Mavic 3 with custom NANUK 915 protective case.

$2,200 Drone

Stop by the NANUK booth to enter. Must be present to win. Drawing: Thursday January 20th @ 3:00.

See our full line of pistol cases, long gun cases, ammo cases, knife cases, first aid cases, camera cases, drone cases. In stock and ready to ship.

BOOTH #10119

Drawing is not associated with DJI™ or their brands.

Wide Spectrum

NSSF works ceaselessly to create a wide range of programs designed to bring new participants into the shooting sports.

By Brian McCombie

As the trade organization of the shooting sports, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) doesn’t simply talk shooting. Every day, and in so many different ways, NSSF works to bring new people into the shooting sports. Among the newest initiatives to achieve this very important goal is NSSF’s +ONE Movement (nssf.org/plusone), which encourages hunters and shooters across the country to bring one new person with them hunting or shooting.

“It’s such a simple concept, but when you think about it, if every single person did this, we would double the size of our community instantly,” said Bill Dunn, NSSF’s vice president, marketing. “Even if just one in three people brought in someone new, the impact would be huge on the future of hunting and the shooting sports. The campaign has been very successful, and it’s also been great to see people from across the country sharing their +ONE stories on social media and seeing so many people and companies in our industry getting involved.”

“We encourage everyone out there to join the +ONE Movement. Make it a point to bring someone new along with you the next time you go to the range. Be there for

 NSSF's Let's Go Shooting website contains a wealth of resources for new shooters.  The successful First Shots program is helping create new shooters of all ages.

them. Answer their questions. Educate them on the rules of firearm safety. And point them to NSSF’s websites for more information.”

Those websites include Project ChildSafe (projectchildsafe.org), which promotes firearm safety and education through the distribution of safety education messages and free firearm safety kits to communities across the United States, as well as Let’s Go Shooting (letsgoshooting.org) and Let’s Go Hunting (letsgohunting. org). These websites have a wealth of resources for people just getting started in these two activities.

August 2021, was the fifth year that NSSF has promoted National Shooting Sports Month, (shootingsportsmonth.org). Originally developed by NSSF, National Shooting Sports

Month reminds everyone — newcomers as well as experienced gun owners — about the safe, fun, exciting activity of target shooting. National Shooting Sports Month allows your organization to tie in its summer activities, promotions and messaging to this national campaign designed to increase shooting sports participation.

By participating in National Shooting Sports Month, shooting sports businesses can attract new customers, welcome new gun owners, increase sales and help increase overall shooting sports participation. Firearm retailers can get involved in the National Shooting Sports Month by hosting events and promotions in store, including sales, open houses, safety classes or gear promotions. Some stores partner with local ranges.

Another key program helping to attract new people to the shooting sports is the very successful First Shots (nssf.org/firstshots). Designed for all ranges, whether they feature indoor or outdoor shooting options, and all types of firearms including handguns, rifles and shotguns, First Shots events are held at your range and provide a safe and informative shooting experience for new shooters.

“We know some ranges are sometimes reluctant to add First Shots to their current instruction curriculum,” said Zach Snow, NSSF’s director of member development. “‘How can this be worth my time?’ they ask.”

“Well, we are in constant contact with our growing roster of host ranges, ranges that were often hesitant about taking on the program. We know that whether they host one First Shots event a month or 10, many see 70 percent of their participants returning to their business to continue their journey as firearm owners and target shooters. That translates to $1,445 spent per customer almost immediately, and prospects for long-term spending are even better. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t think that was a worthwhile return on investment.”

More recently, NSSF launched its all-new First Shots Clay Targets program (nssf.org/ranges/first-shots-home/firstshots-clay-targets). Based on the highly successful First Shots introductory handgun events, the First Shots Clay Targets program allows outdoor ranges to capitalize on growing interest in the clay target sports and engage those new to shotgun handling by delivering a safe, entertaining and personalized experience.

“We are thrilled that outdoor ranges now have an avenue that makes it easy for those interested in the clay target sports to get started,” said Snow. “We specifically designed First Shots Clay Targets to reduce barriers to entry. Class cost is low; host ranges provide the rental firearms, ammunition and clay targets, and NSSF provides eye and ear protection and classroom materials. Sign up and show up — that’s all someone has to do who wants to learn how to break clays.”

And we are not done. NSSF continually works to improve existing programs and launch fresh and exciting new initiatives to bring in brand new shooters in order to strengthen the shooting sports and to help make our industry as a whole more profitable and successful.

(nssf.org)  Participation in National Shooting Sports Month is a great way to attract new customers.

 The +ONE Movement encourages hunters and shooters to bring one new person with them when they hunt or shoot.

Mossy Oak Introduces New Camo Pattern

By Brian McCombie

Mossy Oak launched its Break-Up Country pattern five years ago to general acclaim and near-immediate popularity with hunters of all sorts. Now, after five years reigning as America’s No.1 camo pattern, Break-Up Country has evolved into the all-new Mossy Oak Country DNA. Country DNA features oak bark and branches, moss and a brown-and-gray color scheme with a just a slash of pine green. Slightly more muted than Break-Up Country and just a little bit darker, Country DNA is perfect for ground hunting the opening morning of the firearms deer season, an oak tree to your back or tucked into the darkness of a blind. Country DNA is equally at home for chasing spring turkeys, especially before the big green-up is in full swing.

A significant number of licensees are producing a full slate of Country DNA finished products, from hunting and casual clothing to footwear and lifestyle items. Dealers will see much more to come throughout 2022. Meanwhile, in support of Mossy Oak’s many licensees and the thousands of retailers carrying Mossy Oak branded products, Mossy Oak continues to expand its media presence, too.

The Mossy Oak website, as well as the company’s social media platforms (including Facebook and Instagram), contain a wealth of regularly updated posts, including hunting and fishing how-to articles, game recipes, outdoor news and interviews and profiles with some of the biggest names in the outdoors and country music. In addition, Mossy Oak GO (go.mossyoak.com) continues its explosive growth in viewership. A streaming television provider for all things outdoors, Mossy Oak GO provides original, 100-percent free outdoors video content for hunters, saltwater and freshwater anglers, land managers, conservation enthusiasts, shooting-sports aficionados, campers, hikers, adventure seekers and culinary dabblers.

Since it is free, Mossy Oak GO removes the hassle of free trials, monthly fees or restricted access. Mossy Oak GO is available for Apple and Android devices. The app is supported across all smart devices without a subscription, allowing outdoorsmen and women to watch the best outdoor TV anytime, anyplace. Mossy Oak Originals include video series such as the new HONOR, 15 episodes that tell the stories of brave American servicemen and women and the sacrifices they’ve made in defense of our nation.

And, as always, Mossy Oak continues to promote wildlife conservation. As the company explained when it introduced the Mossy Oak Gamekeeper initiative, “Being a Gamekeeper is in our DNA. It’s our duty to leave things better than we found them, and from day one at Mossy Oak a genuine commitment to conservation has been central to our mission.” Gamekeeper articles cover such topics as wildlife profiles and tips and ideas for getting the most out of food plots. Gamekeeper videos cover a wide range as well, from how to build wood duck boxes to tips and techniques for trapping nest-robbing predators.

Hunting and fishing, conservation and concealment, working the land and raising families outdoors — these are the things that define Mossy Oak.

Booth #10338

(mossyoak.com)

FEDERAL HIGH OVER ALL

A new competition shotshell from a company with a century of experience in the market.

By Brad Fitzpatrick

This year Federal is celebrating 100 years in business, and one of the ways of celebrating its centennial is by introducing a new shotshell — High Over All. “We are excited to build on the great momentum of this new product line. Competition shooters have been asking for a new competition load from Federal — and we’ve delivered with the best ever,” said Jason Vanderbrink, Federal Ammunition’s president. “Top shots across the country have been buzzing about our new HOA product, and we look forward to rolling it out over the next months, leading up to the National Sporting Clays Tournament in Texas.”

HOA shotshells feature a solid brass head and come with Federal’s one-piece Podium wad, which is designed to improve patterns and cushion the payload at ignition. The high-antimony lead pellets used in these loads also deliver more energy downrange. Every competitive shotgun shooter knows high-quality lead pellets can mean the difference between breaking a clay or a lost target, and in competitive trap, skeet and sporting clays events a single target might mean the difference between winning and losing. HOA shells offer shooters that competitive edge. The integral base wad and one-piece tapered plastic hull of each HOA shell, along with an eight-segment crimp, allows for more reloads per shell. In addition, the design allows reloaders to use a variety of wads.

Federal is offering no fewer than 16 different 12-gauge, 2¾-inch HOA loads for competitors. There are seven 1-ounce loads and seven 11⁄8ounce loads, and there are two 24-gram loads as well. In addition, Federal is offering two 24-gram HOA loads that comply with ISSF rules for international shotgun competitions. There are also two handicap loads with a velocity of 1,250 fps. Shot sizes range from Nos. 7.5 to 9.

Competitive shotgun shooters can expect to see HOA shells appearing at ranges around the country this year. Federal held a HOA launch in Minnesota in late 2021. There, the company’s engineers, ambassadors and other shooters had an opportunity to test this new product on a clays course. You can expect to see a range of sub-gauge HOA shells available in 2022. Given its pedigree, don’t be surprised if the next generation of elite shotgun shooters bring home national and international titles and Olympic gold with HOA.

Booth #42605

(federalpremium.com)

PREMIUM SCOPES DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR EXTREME LONG-RANGE SHOOTING

Hawke Optics’ all new Frontier 34 First Focal Plane scopes are built with long distance shooters in mind. Like the other scopes in the Frontier lineup, the Frontier 34 FFP scopes are part of the System H7 series, which use index-matched lenses with outstanding clarity throughout the entire field of view. These scopes are built on a 34mm mono-tube chassis, providing ample elevation for long distance precision shooting. Machined from high-grade aluminum, they are water, shock and fog proof and are nitrogen purged.

The Frontier line is feature-rich, including side focus adjustment, removable zoom lever, Hawke’s patented Zero Lock ‘n Stop resettable turrets, and 11 levels of illumination including daylight bright for all shooting conditions. All models have a generous four inches of eye relief, locking ocular focus, and 21 layers of advanced coatings for high light transmission and maximum clarity. The Frontier 34 FFP riflescopes are available in 3-18x50 and 5-30x56 with Mil Pro or MOA Pro reticles.

FRONTIER 34 FFP

THE ULTIMATE LONG-RANGE RIFLESCOPE

Leapers Launches New Line

Established in 1992, Leapers, Inc., develops, manufactures and distributes a wide variety of hunting and shooting sports products across a multitude of different platforms. What once started as a garage business is now a global enterprise headquartered in Livonia, Michigan. The four-building campus, encompassing more than 150,000 square feet, is not only home to the company’s in-house product design and development teams, but also houses the manufacturing facilities, indoor proving grounds and an advanced order-fulfillment and distribution center. The UTG and the made-in-the-U.S.A. UTG PRO brands have gained wide market recognition across the globe, offering more than 700 SKUs.

As part of the company’s celebration of its 30th anniversary, in 2022 Leapers will be introducing a new line of higher-tier products. “INTEGRIX is the culmination of integrated and intelligent design, R&D and execution applied to a new generation of first-focal-plane and second-focal plane optics,” said founder David Ding. “For 30 years we have listened to the voice of the customer, and we have learned from the experience. Quality glass achieves optimal performance when optical design and mechanical precision integrate seamlessly under strict tolerance control. When such standards are met at the manufacturing level, our customers benefit.”

INTEGRIX will use German and Japanese lenses exclusively. Furthermore, each INTEGRIX optic will be multicoated for glare, reflection and scratch resistance, and upon assembly will be inspected for concentricity as a whole. The end result is low aberration, optimized image quality, edge-to-edge sharpness and high-contrast resolution.

“We invite our customers to discover and be part of our momentum for the years to come as we continue our dedication and commitment to providing solution-driven hunting and shooting sport-oriented products and services,” Ding said. “Leapers, Inc. supports and promotes the hunting and shooting sports lifestyle with the utmost professionalism.”

Booth #72305

(leapers.org)

Social Media Masterclass

Successful social media efforts require attention to detail. Here’s a plan to help you align your goals with your staff.

By Michelle Scheuermann

Has business grown so much in the past year or so that it is finally time to add to the social media team of “one” to help with the workload? Or perhaps it’s time to add outside help to shoulder areas that have become an intolerable burden to your staff. From managing multiple social media accounts to answering customer inquiries and, of course, creating viral videos in any spare time, how do social media departments best plan to carry this all out? What protocols should be in place? What are other NSSF members doing?

During my NSSF virtual seminar last year, titled “Social Media Masterclass — Social Media as a Team” (now available at nssf.org for NSSF members), I dived into this large, and sometimes overwhelming, topic. The class was part of SHOT University, which NSSF hosted again at the 2022 SHOT Show. What follows is a synopsis of the class. It can help you negotiate the seemingly infinite shifting sands of the social media landscape.

BUDGET

When considering the decision to add more members to social media staff, the budget is always the first hurdle. Budget doesn’t always mean financial resources; it often means time resources as well. Is hiring internally an option? Perhaps external help (such as an agency or a consultant) offers more flexibility? Either way, consider all the items needed for proper social media management. This includes (but is not limited to) obtaining quality photos; developing, writing, and posting content; and responding to queries. All of this can be incredibly time consuming. Your particular budget will determine if there’s room to buy photos or if you will require staffers to take quality images with their mobile phones. Budget will also determine if a social media manager’s job includes responding to customer inquiries, which can be a 24/7 job, or if there’s room to employ third-party management software.

MANAGEMENT

Here’s the rub: There really isn’t a single definition of just what a social media manager does; the particular job duties will vary from organization to organization. That said, the biggest mistake I see by management is immediately assuming that younger staffers, many of whom have grown up with social media and use it in their personal lives every day, are the perfect candidates for the position of social media manager. Thinking so is dismissive of the responsibility social media managers shoulder for their businesses on a daily basis. The better approach is to identify those individuals in the organization who already have a passion and propensity for social media and who also demonstrate the maturity to handle this key responsibility.

Typical roles within social media management include: Strategist, who sets the plan and strategy for all social channels; Content Creator, who develops content from written word to photos and videos for each platform; Community Manager, who answers customer’s direct messages and comments on posts and inquiries; Paid Advertiser, a group or individual who handles all paid advertising in Facebook, Google, etc.; and Analyst, the one who digs into analytics and churns out reports to help with key performance indicators.

Let’s review a real-life example of a NSSF member, Nosler (Booth #10321), to see an example of what I’m talking about. As director of digital marketing at Nosler, Cheryl Valdez has seen many changes in her seven years of leading the social media accounts for the manufacturer. But she still runs a lean team; it’s just her and one other individual who lends support as needed.

“I manage day-to-day content creation, scheduling, partner collaborations, and community engagement,” she says. “Anyone who manages social for a brand with a large volume of fan interaction knows that unanswered DMs [direct messages] and comments can get out of control quickly if neglected. We view these interactions as an extension of our customer service efforts, so we’ve made it a priority to stay on top of these as best as we can. In keeping with this goal, we have a marketing team member who serves as an extra set of fingers for responding to messages and comments from our fans.”

SETTING SOCIAL MEDIA GOALS

Next, it is up to the business owner or department head to determine the goals the social media department need to meet. A few options here include increasing brand awareness, increasing traffic to a website, lead generation (to obtain more emails), or increasing engagement and impressions. Social media can also be used as a hiring tool, for social listening and customer engagement, and for public relations efforts (disseminating news).

One big misconception is for owners to simply say, “I want more likes,” as this really isn’t a key performance indicator (KPI) that necessarily leads to sales. I like to call likes on a page or post “vanity metrics” that only make bosses feel good (temporarily) when they see their brand increase in likes.

What is most important is that everyone on the team is on the same page. You all agree what your goals are for this quarter, or this year, and you are all striving to find ways to meet or exceed those goals.

Valdez agrees and says Nosler places more emphasis on content engagement over anything else. “Our philosophy has always posed the question: If someone were to land on the Nosler Instagram or Facebook page for the first time, would the first post they see be something that gets them to engage and hit the follow button? Our goal is to inspire maximum engagement, fan acquisition, and retention. While some brands focus on audience size as a primary goal, we tend to pay less attention to this number. We know that with great content, our audience will grow organically over time. Having millions of followers with mediocre content engagement isn’t our focus.”

At Nosler, Valdez says the team has agreed their social voice is conversational. “Our fans are our family, and we aren’t interested in having robotic, corporatesounding conversations with them. At the end of the day, we’re all real people behind the screen and we try to be as real with our community as we can.”

CrossBreed Introduces the Rogue Holster System

CrossBreed Holsters, a leading manufacturer in the concealed-carry category, is adding the new Rogue holster system to its line of CCW holsters. The mission of CrossBreed’s engineers was to create an all-new platform that could be distinguished from the Kydex pocket/leather backer holster designs that have made CrossBreed a premier manufacturer of ergonomic, performance-based holsters for discerning EDC and concealed-carry practitioners.

The Rogue holster system expands customizing options while adhering to the comfort and ergonomic benchmarks for which CrossBreed is known. At the heart of the Rogue system is a two-piece Kydex gun pocket—the first in Crossbreed’s 16-year history of manufacturing premium EDC holsters. Molded for precise fitment, the holster pocket features a smooth skin side for maximum comfort. Strategically positioned screw holes and slots allow for multiple positioning and retention adjustment. In this way the Rogue can be oriented for custom-carry locations, including strong side, appendix, and cross draw. In addition, the holster works with both stock and modified handguns, thanks to its suppressor-height front-sight channel and optic cut designed to accommodate red-dot sights.

Included with the Rogue holster is an all-Kydex mag pouch. This is a modular pouch design that can be secured to the holster via a flexible plastic band to better fit the contours of the user’s torso. The pouch can also be separated from the holster and worn independently at the desired body position. Two plastic bands are included so users can choose between a vertical or forward cant magazine orientation.

As with most CrossBreed holsters, the new Rogue holster works with multiple clips to further expand carry options. These include the supplied Reckoning-style metal clips, as well as Ulticlip, Monoblock, IWB snap loops, and OWB loops. Between the available clip options and the integrated cant and height adjustments, the Rogue can be fine-tuned to meet most any carry style comfortably and with maximum draw/re-holstering efficiency.

The Rogue is also compatible with the CB Concealment Claw first introduced on the Reckoning holster. This device positions the gun’s grip closer to the body during IWB carry to minimize printing and obstruction. Finally, Cerakoted hardware in Magpul FDE, NRA Blue, Sig Pink, or Blaze Orange adds flare and enhanced durability to the holster system. In keeping with CrossBreed’s commitment to customer satisfaction, the Rogue includes a limited lifetime warranty and a twoweek trial period. Booth #70428

(crossbreedholsters.org)