SHOW SCENES AND PEOPLE

Creating Personal Protective Equipment can be a daunting task, but Busch PROtective (Booth #20227) has been a leader in the field for more than 40 years. The company takes pride in its ability to design and build custom solutions. For instance, the CMR-1 rail can accept the Speed Connect System, allowing the attachment of visors, mandibles, and other accessories in the field. This design gives an operator the ability to kit out a custom helmet that will provide protection across multiple operations. NSSF’s Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs and General Counsel, hosted The Governors’ Forum at SHOT Show 2022 Wednesday afternoon. The governors spoke about the importance of the firearm industry to their state, efforts to attract firearm and ammunition-related businesses, and the benefits of firearmrelated businesses to their state economies. “This was a unique opportunity to hear directly from several governors of the importance of the firearm industry to their state,” Keane said. “NSSF has hosted governors in previous shows, but we wanted to be able to give each of the governors an opportunity to talk about why they want to bring this growing and vibrant industry to their states.”

FIREARM INDUSTRY INDUCTS SIX LEADERS INTO NSSF HALL OF FAME

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearm industry, honored six new inductees to its Hall of Fame at the 2022 SHOT Show, recognizing them for their vision and leadership in strengthening the industry and expanding the shooting sports. Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO, and Robert Scott, Chairman of the NSSF Board of Governors, highlighted the contributions of five men and one woman in remarks made at the NSSF Members Meeting yesterday at the SHOT Show.

“Honoring past leaders and their accomplishments, while at the same time keeping our focus on the future, is something we all should do. Our industry, our products, our shooting and hunting activities, and our past leaders are part of America’s story and heritage. They deserve respect and praise,” said Bartozzi.

No Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place in 2021 when SHOT Show was conducted virtually due to the pandemic, so this year’s ceremony included Hall of Fame classes of three each for 2021 and 2022.

The 2021 class of inductees to the NSSF Hall of Fame are Jack Durrett, Gerald “Jerry” Bersett, and Arlen Chaney. Durrett was a long-time firearm industry leader and member and Chairman of the NSSF Board of Governors during a critical and challenging time in industry history. Bersett was President of Winchester, President and COO with Sturm, Ruger & Co., and President of the Blount Sporting Equipment Group. Arlen Chaney served on the NSSF Board of Governors and was on the original SHOT Show-creation committee. He also nurtured the NSSF’s “Hunters Pay for Conservation” program that was distributed to over 100,000 schools.

The 2022 class of inductees to the NSSF Hall of Fame are Alan Mossberg, Sue King, and JB Hodgdon. Mossberg served as the President of O.F. Mossberg & Sons for more than half a century. Sue King spent decades enthusiastically promoting women’s shooting, and her efforts helped lay the groundwork for the extraordinary growth of women’s participation seen today. JB Hodgdon has continued the legacy of Hodgdon Powder Company started by his father and helped grow it into the preeminent supplier of gunpowder and replica blackpowder for handloading and muzzleloading enthusiasts.

Remington Ammunition is adding YouTuber and avid outdoorsman Adam Wies (a.k.a. “Who Tee Who”) to Team Remington’s growing roster of brand ambassadors. Wies will use his following to showcase Remington Ammunition’s ability to perform in different unique tests on his YouTube Channel.

“Adam’s everything we’re looking for in an ambassador,” says marketing director Joel Hodgdon. “His channel’s reach and fan base will give Remington Ammunition a new platform. After he came to the factory, met the team, and shot our stuff, this was an opportunity we knew we couldn’t miss out on.”

Wies has cultivated a massive following on his YouTube Channel as he showcases his love of guns and being outdoors. His unique approach to ammunition testing and his family-friendly videos appeal to his southern, hunting-focused audience. Fans can watch as Wies pushes Big Green ammunition to the limit in a variety of videos.

“Joining Team Remington has been incredible,” says Wies. “After working with Joel and his team, I feel confident that I’m in the right place. I’m excited to put Big Green to good use and showcase the brand to my subscribers.”

Booth #11838

(remington.COM)

TRULOCK CHOKE TUBES GET SMALL

George Trulock began manufacturing chokes in 1981 to solve the dilemma of creating a choke system that could be retrofitted into most shotgun barrels without the use of an adapter or machine tools. His final design launched the Tru-Choke-style choke tube in 1982. Since then, this proprietary system has been adopted by several shotgun manufacturers as OEM and copied by a number of aftermarket choke makers. Trulock now stocks approximately 2,000 different choke part numbers and has come a long way from his first piece of production equipment, a Warner and Swasey No. 2 turret lathe.

Trulock Chokes has grown from a one-man show to a company that now employs 30 people producing products 24 hours a day, five days per week. Trulock Chokes is still a family-owned business with George’s sons, Scott and Jerrod, a vital part of the management team.

At the 2022 SHOT Show the company will be showcasing a new line of small-bore TSS turkey chokes for 2022, specifically in .410 and 28 gauge.

“The entire team at Trulock Choke Tubes is looking forward to exhibiting at SHOT Show and getting back out to meeting folks in person to demonstrate why our product lines of choke tubes are the best on the market,” says Trulock. “Our new line of small-bore TSS turkey chokes have been designed and manufactured to give optimum pattern density with Tungsten Super Shot.”

The new designs in 28 gauge include Beretta Optima HP, Franchi Instinct, and Mossberg SA/08. The new designs in .410 bore include, Browning Invector Plus, Mossberg 500, and Remington. SRP: starts at $55.99. All Trulock Chock Tubes come with an unconditional 60-day satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime warranty against failure.

Booth #14041

(trulockchokes.COM)

REAL AVID UNVEILS PRO SHOP PROGRAM

With their largest and most interactive display booth to date, Real Avid is inviting SHOT Show attendees to see firsthand how they are igniting the Gun DIY market with their most innovative products to date. They are also rolling out a new Pro Shop Program that is available to both new and existing dealers.

“We couldn’t be more excited to attend,” says president Dave Steiner. “As expected, not only do we have innovative in-demand Gun DIY product additions, but our new Pro Shop Program is changing the way our dealer partners look at their cleaning, tool, and accessory categories within their store. This has been one of the biggest store revenue game changers to hit firearm retail in a very long time, and we can’t wait to show it to everyone.”

Booth #70823

(realavid.COM)

John Trull, Vista Outdoor vice president of product management of ammunition.

A Path for the Future

Steering Remington Ammunition back to profitability requires the steady hand of an industry veteran.

Prior to joining the Vista team, John Trull served as the senior vice president of sales for Remington Outdoor Company. With more than 20 years of experience in the hunting and shooting sports industry, he has held a variety of roles in different industry segments. Before returning to Remington in March 2020, those roles included executive vice president for Davidson’s and CEO of Hunters Specialties.

In a 14-year tenure with Remington, he held various positions in product management, brand management, product development, and ultimately served as the senior vice president and general manager of the firearms business unit. He has a B.S. in Business Administration with a marketing concentration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an MBA with a finance concentration from Wake Forest University. Trull is also a board member of the recently announced Vista Outdoor Foundation.

SHOT Daily: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the industry in the next five years?

John trull: We as an industry are all very much aware of the many challenges we face on the political, legislative, and social perception front. While all these issues are paramount and we must continue to align ourselves to address them, none of those matter without a solid plan to address the one fundamental aspect we all share, which is expanding the base of those who buy and consume our products. As our traditional customer base continues to age, we must be out in front of recruitment of new participants and the retention of the millions of new shooters that we have gathered in 2020 and 2021. The new shooters we have gained do not fit the historical paradigm of what we as an industry are accustomed to. Many of them do not come from a background in the hunting and shooting sports community. There is more diversity than we have seen before. We need to engage those that make up the future of our industry, listen to them and be responsive to their needs. We must work to provide education and access to those who need it. Simply put, we cannot be complacent. We must be proactive and create sustainable, long-term growth opportunities and not let surges in demand dictate whether we have good years or tough years. It is up to us as an industry to chart a path for the future.

SD: What opportunities do you see?

jt: Every challenge presents an opportunity. An estimated 8.5 to 9 million new shooters have joined us since the onset of the pandemic; we have a tremendous opportunity and a responsibility to reach out to these new gun owners and meet their needs. Very seldom in a mature market does the “pie” get larger. As we cultivate these new shooters and welcome them as engaged participants, there is a great opportunity for them to reach others in an extension of their network.

SD: When you get up in the morning, what gets you excited about working in the industry?

jt: We are fortunate to work in an industry that is also a passion. How many people can say that? I guess some folks get excited about corrugated boxes or shampoo, but not me. I am thankful that I can be engaged in a business that is a part of who I am as a hunter and a shooter. Sometimes we all need to remind ourselves of just how fortunate we are to work in such a fantastic industry filled with genuinely good people.

SD: How will you meet the expectations of your customers?

jt: By listening to them. Sometimes that is a lost art. Stop talking and listen to what your customers are telling you. Understand the challenges and problems they face and work to bring forth creative, innovative, and substantive solutions.

SD: How are you going about rebuilding the Remington Ammo brand?

jt: The fantastic thing about the Remington brand is that the brand is not broken. Yes, Remington has faced its fair share of challenges in recent years, but the brand itself is truly iconic and ingrained in our country’s history. Our customers, fans, and followers are amazingly loyal and already helping us on our way back. Many ask about the future of the brand under Vista Outdoor. I guess their concern is that the brand will be diluted somehow. That simply is not the case. We have dedicated resources on the marketing, brand, product management, and R&D side of the business to ensure that Remington has its own swagger and stays true to the Remington brand promise and identity. Our primary focus now is to bring much needed capital and human resources to the business to ramp production back to where it should be. We are making great strides and the results are evident. Of course, in this current market environment where demand far outpaces supply across the industry, that is difficult to see. Nonetheless, it is happening. It is great to see Core-Lokt coming off the line at levels we have not seen in quite some time. Our new product roadmaps are coming together nicely with exciting introductions planned over the coming years. So, the focus is not so much on rebuilding the brand. The brand is solid. We are focusing on the blocking and tackling required to delight our customers with plenty of product on the shelves and delivering new solutions to the market. Rem Oil and other gun-care products will be returning to the shelves very soon. I am also pleased to say that Remington will be continuing the tradition of the Bullet Knife in 2021, and one may not have to look too far out in the future to see a full line of Remington cutlery returning to the market. In addition, we have a renewed focus on licensing with the Remington brand. We have spent time polling our consumers and our customers and this has just reinforced the elasticity of the brand into categories that we refer to as “360 degrees around the campfire.” We have engaged and signed up many new partners in a short period of time. In 2022 consumers will find coolers, ground blinds, nostalgic swag, branded apparel, technical hunting apparel, as well as many other categories, all proudly showcasing the Remington brand.

SD: How is Remington Ammo re-connecting with its retailer base? What are these retailers telling you? jt: We have in my opinion, the most professional sales force in the industry, and I mean that in all sincerity. These folks are absolutely buttoned up. The relationships they have with our accounts, ranging from the largest of large retailers to the dealer, are second to none. Incorporating Remington into that mix has created synergies one could only imagine, and our retailers are responding with tremendous enthusiasm. This is one of those situations where two plus two truly equals five. When our sales team calls on an account, they bring an assortment that no one else has with Remington Ammunition and Accessories, Federal, CCI, Blazer, Speer, Estate, Hevi-Shot, and a full assortment from Vista’s Hunt/Shoot business. You name it in the world of ammunition and accessories, and we pretty much have it all right at the retailer’s fingertips. It really is a fantastic value proposition.

Booth #42605

(remington.com)

Core-Lokt is now coming off the line at levels not seen in quite some time.