SHOT Daily - Day 4 - 2020 SHOT Show

SHOOTING HUNTING OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW 1979–2020 DAY 4, JAN UA RY 24, 2 02 0

NEW PRODUCT REPORTS SHOT Daily hits the floor to find what’s new in the world of airguns P. 12

FEATURES

RIMFIRE WONDER Volquartsen specializes in super-accurate squirrel rifles. SEE PAGE 38

MAGNUM FORCE Weatherby’s 6.5mm rifle and cartridge break with tradition.

SEE PAGE 40

NEWS

TECHNICAL HELP SIG Sauer’s BDX system delivers the goods.

SEE PAGE 46

A NEW ERA Updated packaging and a revised sales strategy are coming onboard at SOG this year.

SEE PAGE 48

THE DA I LY NEWS OF THE 20 20 LAS V EGAS SH OT SH OW BROUGH T TO YOU BY T H E B O N N IE R CO R PO RAT IO N A N D T H E N SS F

THE CROWD IS COMING

P

icture the beach. That’s your store. Customers are the waves rolling in, and a big wave is about to reach the shore. It’s the 24 million people who want to buy their first firearm, according to new research from National Shooting Sports Foundation.

“This is the most game-changing information we’ve had in the 10 years I’ve been here,” says Jim Curcuruto, National Shooting Sports Foundation Research and Marketing Development Director. The NSSF survey shows that 80 percent of the U.S. population approves of legal hunting, and 90 percent say it’s okay for other people to hunt. You can turn those industryfavorable percentages into new sales by understanding the motivation behind these new customers. Aspiring hunters are 2.5 million of the 24 million. Target shooters and protection seekers are also part of the mix. New hunters are more likely to lean toward long guns, while protection seekers favor handguns.

Make them feel welcome in your

shop by offering everything they need in one place. Take it a step further by showcasing the collection in a way that says first-time buyers are welcome here.

“First-time gun-buyer packages borrow the rod-and-reel combo pack idea from the fishing market,” Curcuruto says. “If you’ve never fished before, all you do is pick that up and everything you need is in one easy package.”

Online shopping can offer the same “welcome newcomers” atmosphere with page design. Display two buttons on your homepage—one for first-time buyers and one for experienced buyers.

You should also provide links to classes for beginners.

“Use the 24 million study to tailor marketing strategies,” Curcuruto says.

“Understand their perspective as customers so you can foster relationships with them.”

There is a wealth of diversity among these new buyers when it comes to race, age, and gender. Your sales pitch has to be just as diverse. While that shotgun a new hunter just bought could

serve as protection, that’s not the new hunter’s main motivation. Protection could be a woman’s main motivation, so a discreet handgun along with concealed-carry guidance will go a long way in making her feel comfortable.

Also, keep your new audience in mind when preparing announcements.

If you want a younger audience attending your Target Shooting 101 class, you better show younger people in the course brochure.

“We want people to see themselves in our ads,” says Shaun Phelan, Smith & Wesson sales and marketing operations director. “That’s why you’re starting to see younger people and seniors in marketing campaigns.

That’s also why you’re starting to see more mentoring. When you realize there are 24 million new customers considering the product that keeps the firearms industry afloat, you’re motivated to harness those new customers by offering mentorships and other programs that embrace entry-level opportunities.”

—Kris Millgate

GUN OWNERS CARE NSSF believes it’s time for gun owners to tell their stories about how they’re contributing positively to America’s culture. NSSF’s Gun Owners Care campaign will unite gun owners and the firearms industry in this common cause. By working together through Gun Owners Care, the gun-owning community and the firearms industry will push back against organizations and businesses trying to shame gun owners, and show politicians and the public how gun owners are making a difference by saving lives and making communities safer.

Other initiatives include helping to keep guns out of the wrong hands through tried-and-true programs such as NSSF’s Project ChildSafe and educating the public that gun owners are the No. 1 contributors to wildlife conservation. NSSF encourages gun owners to share their stories of how they are making a difference by using the hashtag #GunOwnersCare.

“Members of the firearmsowning community deserve respect for being good, concerned citizens,” says NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi.

“In short, gun owners care.”

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NEWS

Big Tech in Small Buds

Otto Engineering offers outstanding electronic earbuds ideal for all shooters and hunters By David Maccar

T

he name Otto Engineering should be making its way into your shooting-accessory lexicon right away. The company is by no means a newcomer—Otto has been designing and manufacturing control switches for military jets and other equipment for nearly 60 years. For the past quarter century, it has also been making audio equipment for demanding applications. You know those tiny, high-tech earbuds spies wear in the movies, and those cool earpieces Secret Service agents use? Otto makes those.

While its products were previously limited to military and alphabet agency customers, Otto is now marketing some of its audio and communications products to civilian customers in the shooting and hunting world.

“For years, Otto has focused on two-way-radio accessories. When we jumped into the hearing-protection business, we primarily focused on military and law enforcement customers, and used their input to aid development,” says Christian Smith, a technical sales specialist with Otto. He’s also a former Marine and a selfdescribed gun enthusiast.

“We soon recognized the need for the more casual shooter and hunter to have the same benefits as our premier military and law enforcement units, and began targeting this market. The response has been outstanding, and we hope to continue to serve the market for many years to come.”

While it offers several over-theear, muff-style electronic hearing protection products, Otto’s flagship product in the Personal Protection Equipment line is the NoizeBarrier Micro electronic earbuds.

Unlike many of its competitors of similar size and function, the NoizeBarrier Micro uses an internal rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 16 hours on a single charge: There are no little hearing-aid batteries to buy or change out at the most inconvenient times.

And the charger is the rugged

The NoizeBarrier Micro electronic earbuds from Otto Engineering are charged by their own case and have a battery life of 16 hours.

protective case that the NoizeBarrier Micros come with: Just put them away and they’re recharging.

The case itself can be charged with any USB cable, so you can plug it in or grab some juice off a portable phone charger in the field. But with the case providing more than two dozen charges, even heavy users won’t have to plug the case in very often.

Hearing protection is important and essential for all shooters, and especially important to folks like waterfowlers and clays shooters who sometimes fire hundreds of rounds a day and who will love these buds.

“Our hearing is often overlooked until it is too late. Our goal is to continue to educate the public and give them the best clarity of sound while still protecting their hearing,” Smith says.

The earbuds themselves are quite small and ruggedly built, so they won’t get in the way at all, no matter what you’re doing or wearing. I was concerned that they would be static-y and uncomfortable under a coldweather watch cap, but they proved to be very comfortable for several hours of continuous use.

The buds offer up to 40dB of impulse-noise protection and up to 15dB of adaptive-noise attenuation. Plus, their hearing enhancement mode amplifies soft sounds up to 5X—great for stillhunters—and the electronics allow for natural hearing of safe sounds through the company’s Accu-Technology HD sound quality.

I had the chance to test a pair of NoizeBarrier Micros for a few weeks on a number of range trips, and I have to say they are the best and most comfortable hearing protection I’ve ever worn.

When you first turn them on, ambient noise seems muted and flat, but after a few seconds, the buds adjust themselves and sounds become crystal-clear. It’s actually pretty remarkable, and I can’t

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really use the powerful mode unless I’m in the quiet of the woods.

On top of all that, they’re waterproof, so they’re perfect for waterfowlers. And with an included lanyard that can be worn behind the neck, or even looped to a piece of gear or the back of a hat, you’re not going to lose them even if they do somehow pop out of your ear.

The controls are simple, which is extremely important. Each bud has a single button that takes up much of the surface. Hold it for two seconds to turn on each one. One more push will activate the hearing-enhancement mode, another will turn it off. Hold for two seconds to turn it off. That’s it.

The buds come with both flange tips and foam tips, for whichever the user prefers. I tried both and found the foam tips to be much more comfortable, and they provide an excellent seal that doesn’t come loose even when they’re twisting around under a winter hat. And when the foam or flange tips wear out, get lost, or get nasty, you can buy more from Otto’s website in sets of 10.

The case/charger is IP67 water-resistant and will provide up to 20 charges for the earbuds before needing to be recharged

itself. That’s 320 hours of use—or 13 days and change. Of course, it takes the buds six hours to recharge from fully dead batteries. The case also features an LCD panel indicating the charge status of the case and the earbuds separately.

With all those features, the price is extremely competitive.

Currently, they’re selling on Otto’s website for an SRP of $389, which is a bargain considering there are similar products on the market selling in the $1,000 range.

The NoizeBarrier Micro earbuds are feature-rich, rugged hearing protection that is simple to use, with a battery life and a charging case that ensure they will be ready to turn on when you’re ready to shoot, and will keep going for as long as you want to shoot—all in an affordable package backed by a one-year guarantee.

They are ideal for practically every type of shooter, from plinkers and clays shooters to high-caliber competitors and hunters. The NoizeBarrier Micros are the kind of hearing protection that can serve as an actual tool, providing a sensory advantage. Booth #2951. (ottoexcellence.com)

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1/23/20 11:42 AM

NEWS

CMMG Gets Radical

Patented technology opens the door for large-caliber pistol rounds

A

By Christopher Cogley bout five years ago, when all of its competitors were scrambling to feed the craze of AR9 PCC (pistol caliber carbine) switching over to Glock magazines, CMMG started looking for a way to stand out from the pack by providing consumers with a .45 ACP PCC option. Initially, product designers tried doing things the traditional way, but they met with failure after failure, so they decided to try something a little more radical. What they came up with not only provided them with a new patented technology, but also opened the door for a host of new choices for shooters who are looking for large-caliber PCC options.

When CMMG first started developing a .45 ACP option, it built the model using the straight blowback design used with the 9mm PCC. It didn’t take them long to realize that the .45 ACP rounds created some issues with the system.

“We figured out that the recoil was so harsh that rounds were

jumping out of the magazine,” says Jordan Wilson, CMMG product design manager. “Once we realized that was going on, we knew the straight blowback wouldn’t work.”

CMMG went back to the drawing board.

“We tried a gas-powered direct-

The Radical Delayed Blowback system that CMMG developed has solved the problem of rounds jumping out of the magazine.

rounds jumping out of the magazine, but also created several distinct advantages to the design.

“Where this system really shines is that it has significantly lighter weight, so you get substantially less felt recoil, which allows for quicker follow-up shots,” Wilson says. “And because we’re forcing more of that gas out of the barrel, you’re also getting more velocity and better performance when you’re using a suppressor.”

Arguably the biggest benefit of the system, however, is the door it opened for other large-pistol calibers. Since CMMG first launched the system for .45 ACP, they have successfully adapted it to accommodate four other calibers. And since CMMG just secured the patent for the technology, it’s safe to assume even more calibers are on deck.

Booth #15942. (cmmginc.com)

impingement system, but it had the exact opposite problem as straight blowback, and we realized it wasn’t going to work either,” Wilson says.

With the traditional systems exhausted, CMMG started looking for something new. What they came up with was the Radical Delayed Blowback system. The delayed blowback system wasn’t new, but it had never been incorporated in an AR platform before.

Once again, the designers at CMMG met with failure after failure. They seemed to realize the potential in the system they were testing, however, and continued modifying the design to overcome the flaws of the previous model.

And then, finally, their perseverance paid off, and the outside-thebox idea became reality.

The Radical Delayed Blowback system that CMMG developed not only solved the problem of

POMA, NSSF PRESENT GRITS GRESHAM AWARD

The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) honored novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Hunter with the prestigious POMA/ NSSF Grits Gresham Shooting Sports Communicator Award. The award recognizes extraordinary achievements in communications and support of our hunting heritage and firearms freedoms.

Hunter, an avid shooter, is a 40-year veteran author of more than a dozen novels and is known for exacting technical details about firearms and shooting. His 1993 novel Point of Impact was made into the movie Shooter, starring Mark Wahlberg, which grossed almost $100 million. His latest novel is Game of Snipers, which continues the wildly successful series featuring American sniper Bob Lee Swagger.

Tom Gresham (left) presents the POMA/NSSF Award to author Stephen Hunter.

In his 2001 novel Pale Horse Coming, Hunter built the plot around characters based loosely on famous gun writers of the past.

Tom Gresham, Grits Gresham’s son and host of the nationally syndicated Gun Talk Radio, presented Hunter with the award Wednesday afternoon. “I’ve been a Stephen Hunter fan since 1980, when I read Master Sniper,” said Gresham. “I remember thinking then that this guy knows guns and is bringing technical accuracy to popular fiction. The attention and widespread following Hunter’s novels garnered have caused other writers to work harder to get the details right on firearms. Stephen also has exposed the world of the law-abiding gun

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owner to a greater audience.”

“As a lover of hunting literature from Hemingway to Ruark to Capstick, and particularly the work of the great gun writers, it’s an unexpected honor to be selected

by POMA and the National Shooting Sports Foundation for this award,” Hunter said. “It’s a pleasure to be included with some of the best outdoor and firearms writers of our time.”

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1/23/20 3:19 PM

news

Fireside Chat

F

ill 12.5 miles of aisles with booths belonging to 2,600 exhibitors all contributing to an industry worth $6.2 billion, and you’re bound to attract the attention of national politicians. Case in point: the appearance of Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue at SHOT Show 2020. They spoke with Larry Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel, during a fireside chat, followed by an audience Q&A.

During the hour-long discussion, Keane questioned the two Trump administration officials about everything from public lands to their favorite hunting spots. Here’s how they responded.

#Public Land

BERNHARDT: “I’m not sure people recognize how big of a deal it is to have public-land access enshrined in law. This is an important thing to have in statutes. It’s not for when things are happy. It’s for when there’s a rub. Over time, you will find having access in law is so beneficial to you.”

#Wildfires

PERDUE: “What we’ve seen from wildfires is a result of land not being managed.

We’ve had policies that pre-

cluded us from managing. We are way behind the curve. We are going to have more active management with thinning and prescribed fires. It will be better for all users.”

#Limiting Factors

BERNHARDT: “If you look at why people don’t get into hunting or fishing, lack of access is an issue. The other major reason is the complexity of our regulations. We’ve spent a lot of time harmonizing our regulations so someone can go fishing or bird hunting without having to be a lawyer to figure out regulations.”

#Urban Sprawl

PERDUE: “I’d like to see the development of state funds for buying land through easements.

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue (left) and Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt (below) during their SHOT Show fireside chat.

That creep is going to come about if you don’t get ahead of it and protect the land.”

BERNHARDT: “I think we’re in a much better place today on those ideas than we were 40 years ago. I’m optimistic about the future. I think the vast majority of planning that occurs today considers [wild land] and they didn’t do that 40 years ago.”

#Chronic Wasting Disease

PERDUE: “It’s a dangerous thing. It has a real impact on our deer, elk, and moose herds. We need to encourage awareness and communication about where we’re finding it.”

#Colorado Wolves BERNHARDT: “I think we are a long way from the re­introduction of wolves in Colorado. We’re a long way from that being an issue happening in real time.”

#Democracy

PERDUE: “Democracy works best when there’s engagement. We need bootson-the-ground feedback.

When people come in and say, ‘Here’s where the public is and here’s what we’d like,’ that’s the way to get things done.”

#Favorite Hunt

BERNHARDT: “Goose hunting with my son.”

PERDUE: “I grew up turkey hunting in Georgia. My wife once asked me if I like hunting more than her. I said, ‘Is it spring or fall?’”

#Favorite Hunting Spot

BERNHARDT: “Seven miles outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado.”

PERDUE: “Wherever I’m going next.” — Kris Millgate

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1/23/20 11:08 AM

AIRGUNS A I R V E N T UR I The Seneca Eagle Claw is a leveraction repeater with an Indonesian walnut Monte Carlo stock.

AN SHUTZ The 9015 black ALU Walnut is based on the well-known 8002 and 9015 ALU models.

Evolving Technology

Airguns continue to take advantage of the latest in design advances By Jock Elliott

A

ir rifles and air pistols deliver high fun, low per-shot expense, and the ability to shoot and hunt in many places where discharging firearms is not allowed. Here’s what’s new for 2020.

Air Venturi

The Seneca Eagle Claw Air Rifle is a pre-charged pneumatic leveraction repeater with an Indonesian walnut Monte Carlo stock, a checkered pistol grip and forestock, a Weaver/Picatinny optics rail, a rubber recoil pad, and a shrouded barrel. It features a 10-shot magazine for the .22 caliber, and an 8-shot magazine in the .25-caliber version. It can deliver follow-up shots in less than a second. Barrel length for the rifle is 20.5 inches; for the carbine, it’s 17. The air reservoir can be charged up to 3,000 psi and is equipped with a Foster quick-disconnect fill fitting.

Power is adjustable, and velocities can be as high as 1070 fps in .22 caliber. SRP: $849.99.

Air Venturi’s officially licensed .177-caliber Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec .45 ACP pistol reproduction features realistic heft, authentic controls, and blowback action. This 18-shot, magazine-fed BB repeater looks and feels like the real-steel .45-caliber pistol. Rounded out with a deep-gray parkerized finish, fixed sights, and an 18-round drop-free magazine/CO2 compartment, this handsome BB gun can be used for training at home, plinking, or target practice without the need to pay for range time and .45 ACP ammunition.

The Springfield 1911 Mil-Spec

is an ultra-realistic replica that includes an authentic and functioning grip safety and faux-wood grips with the Springfield Armory logo. If fires at 320 fps with steel BBs, 350 fps with Dust Devil BBs. SRP: $119.99. Booth #2007. (airventuri.com)

Anschutz

The new 9015 black ALU Walnut is based on the wellknown 8002 and 9015 ALU models. The elegant design features high-quality attachments made of walnut combined with a black metal that blends functionality and ergonomics.

The forend can be swiveled and moved as desired, and the ergonomically designed grip, which is used in Anschutz ONE stocks, can also be adjusted in any direction. The scalloped inner side of the grip allows the shooter to bring the air rifle close to the body. The air rifle is available in grip sizes S, M, and L in rightand left-hand versions. SRP: $2,895. Booth #15158. (anschutz-sport.com)

Daisy

Daisy celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Red Ryder with a special-edition model that sports elegant engraving on the forearm and a commemorative medallion

in the stock, in addition to all of the features that made this gun such an iconic Christmas present.

The Daisy Model 1938 Red Ryder has seen some changes over these 80 years—a few cosmetic tweaks, a couple of internal improvements, and a tiny bit of tinkering for performance—but most would be hard put to see them. And, deep down, America’s youth haven’t changed all that much, either.

More young shooters take their first shots with a Daisy than with any other BB gun. SRP: $49.99.

Booth #11053. (daisy.com)

Leapers

On most PCP air rifles, the compressed-air tanks take up a lot of room, especially near where shooters would mount a bipod.

Leapers PCP tank rail adaptors are a simple and cost-effective solution, providing a mil-std 1913 Picatinny rail section at the 6 o’clock position for mounting a bipod. The MT-PCP01 (SRP: $39.97) is compatible with 40mmdiameter PCP tanks, while the MT-PCP02 (SRP: $34.97) is compatible with a 34mm tank.

An addition to Leapers extensive line of scope rings for 2020 is the newly developed adjustable quick-release (AQR) mount. The AQR is a toolless quick-release mount that will be added to

D A I S Y Daisy celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Red Ryder with a special-edition release that sports elegant engraving on the forearm and a commemorative medallion in the stock, in addition to all the features that made this gun the iconic American Christmas present.

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1/13/20 11:11 AM

PRODUCTS

AIR V EN TURI The

Springfield 1911 (left) is a .45 ACP reproduction.

L EAPERS The Accu-Sync (top) and PCP01 (above) are innovative accessories.

Leapers popular Accu-Sync series of integral scope mounts.

The AQR will also be available in individually paired rings. The AQR incorporates a locking cam lever with a variable-length cross bolt that the user can adjust to increase or decrease the locking plate tension of the mount. This design allows for flexible compatibility on in-spec and out-of-spec Picatinny rails. Integral, squared recoil stops work in tandem with

the system, yet are independently machined into the base. This offers a secure zero hold and return to zero. SRP: $79.97, integral mount; $64.97, paired rings.

Leapers UTG RDM20 and OP3 Micro Reflex Micro Dots come out of the box with a lowprofile Picatinny mounting base.

Since their release and with its adaptive base design, the company has added several different mounts, including several differ-

ent handgun rear-sight dovetail mounts, a Picatinny 45-degree mount, and a co-witness mount for the MSR platform.

The RDM-20XSD is another addition—a compatible low-profile mount made for the 9mm to 11mm dovetail interface. The low-profile height is ideal for most air pistols and rifles equipped with a flat dovetail receiver. SRP: $22.97. Booth #2146. (leapers.com)

SIG Air

Designed to fit the SIG Air M17 pellet pistol and ProForce M17 airsoft pistol, this low-profile 1x23mm reflex sight offers a wide field of view and a 3 MOA red dot.

The manual brightness control, located on the front of the sight, has six illumination-intensity settings, making it easy to see the red dot in all lighting conditions. The sight features easy-to-use windage and elevation adjustments, and the

S I G A I R Based on the MCX Virtus patrol rifle, the .22-caliber MCX Virtus PCP semi-automatic air rifle has a 17.5-inch barrel with an M-Lok

handguard for easy mounting of accessories and a 30-round pellet magazine. The Virtus is powered by a regulated, 13-cubic-inch, highpressure air cylinder located in the stock. The air cylinder is refillable and delivers up to 150 shots per fill.

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1/13/20 11:11 AM

PRODUCTS

S I G A I R Clockwise from top left: The ProForce MCX Virtus is a safe training tool. Modeled after the P365, the semi-automatic BB pistol features realistic blowback action. The ProForce M17 airsoft pistol is similar in look and feel to the U.S. Army P320-M17 and can be used with SIG Air reflex sights.

lightweight aluminum housing and shockproof design ensure durability. The sight comes with a 1CR20 32 battery and two optic mount plates: one for airguns, one for airsoft. SRP: $59.99.

Based on the MCX Virtus patrol rifle, the .22-caliber MCX Virtus PCP semi-automatic air rifle has a 17.5-inch barrel with an M-Lok

handguard for easy mounting of accessories and a 30-round pellet magazine. The Virtus is powered by a regulated, 13-cubic-inch, high-pressure air cylinder located in the stock. Maximum fill pressure is 3,000 psi, and output is controlled at 1,100 psi to ensure consistent shots. The air cylinder is refillable and delivers up to 150 shots per fill. The rifle shoots up to 700 fps with a muzzle energy of 11 foot-pounds. SRP: $349.99.

Modeled after the awardwinning SIG Sauer P365, this CO2-powered semi-auto BB pistol features realistic blowback action and is an exceptional training tool for personal defense. The P365 BB pistol is designed to fit in available P365 holsters to better enable practice drawing the firearm. The 12-round drop magazine holds 4.5mm (.177-cal.) steel BBs and also houses the 12-gram CO2 cartridge for fast reloading.

The pistol shoots up to 295 fps,

though actual velocity results may vary depending on temperature and altitude. SRP: $99.99.

The SIG Air ProForce MCX Virtus is a safe training tool for professionals and avid target shooters. It replicates the look and feel of its firearm counterpart, making it an ideal option for training in myriad environments where live fire is not possible. The ProForce MCX Virtus is an automatic electric gun (AEG) that runs on a rechargeable battery. It features an adjustable hop-up, creating spin on the BBs for additional stabilization in flight, resulting in increased distance and accuracy. Equipped with interchangeable springs for velocity enhancement, the ProForce MCX Virtus has three fire-control modes (safe, semi-automatic, and automatic).

The included magazine holds 120 rounds of 6mm polymer or biodegradable BBs, with a velocity of up to 380 fps. SRP: $459.99.

The ProForce M17 airsoft pistol is similar in look and feel to the U.S. Army-issued P320-M17 9mm pistol and features a polymer frame and metal slide with full blowback action. The proprietary drop magazine holds 21 rounds of 6mm polymer or biodegradable BBs. An adjustable hop-up feature results in increased distance and accuracy. A Picatinny accessory rail allows for quick and easy mounting of a laser or tactical flashlight. Available in two powersource options—a 12-gram CO2 cartridge or green gas (biomethane)—the pistol will be available with an optional optic plate mount for red-dot sights. Available in Coyote Tan. SRP: $179.99. Booth #12240. (sigsauer.com)

Umarex

The Fusion2 is a bolt-action .177-caliber pellet rifle powered by two 12-gram CO2 capsules. It features a newly designed removable 9-round rotary magazine, a new SilencAir muzzle brake that quiets the report, and a new CO2 puncture tube. The attractive, lightweight polymer stock is topped with a Picatinny rail that accepts the included 4x32 scope.

The rifle will also accept 88-gram CO2 cartridges. SRP: $139.99.

The .177 Umarex Synergis rifle was such a big hit in 2019 that a .22 version was a must. The lowprofile RapidMag magazine functions much like that of the mag for the popular Gauntlet rifle and even holds 10 rounds. The patented inline under-lever-design auto indexes each pellet and propels an 11-grain wadcutter at 900 fps due to the rifle’s Airflow Boost Technology and TNT Gas Piston.

UMAREX Clockwise from top left: M1A1 “Chicago typewriter” replica; Walther PPQ M2; Glock 17 Gen5; and Glock 19X. These airguns look and feel like the real thing.

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A metal Picatinny rail is permanently attached to hold an included 3–9x40 scope, and the fully shrouded barrel makes this a quiet backyard rifle. SRP: $169.99.

The CO2-powered 850 M2 resembles a traditional repeating rifle. A pellet is pushed into the rigid barrel with each cycle of its bolt, and a clean shot is fired with no loss of energy. It offers a wide range of features, including Picatinny rails, a removable cheekpiece, a fiber-reinforced synthetic stock, fiber-optic sights, a two-stage adjustable trigger, an 11mm scope mounting rail, and an aluminum eight-round magazine. It can shoot as many as 200 shots with one 88-gram CO2 cartridge, and sends pellets up to 760 fps. SRP: $299.99.

The M1A1 is a legend that earned its reputation on the streets of Prohibition-era America as the “Chicago typewriter,” and in the hands of U.S. servicemen during World War II. The full-auto 30-round M1A1 replica BB gun is powered by two 12-gram CO2 capsules. It has an all-metal receiver that gives it heft and has what at a glance looks like a natural wood finish stock. SRP: $229.99.

The Walther Reign is a compressed-air bullpup rifle made of high-strength aluminum.

Operation is smooth and comfortable, and it is easy to locate and operate the cocking lever

without losing sight of the target.

In addition, the magazine can be inserted from either side. The rifle has a fully shrouded barrel and is available in either .22 or .25 caliber, making it ideal for target shooting and small-game hunting. SRP: $799.99.

The internationally successful Walther PPQ M2 firearm is now available in a .177-caliber pellet CO2-powered version with a beltfed 20-round magazine. The blowback metal slide, polymer frame, grip texture, and button mag release mimic the original Walther PPQ M2 pistol. SRP: $119.99.

The Glock 17 Gen5 CO2 replica fires .177 pellets and has a full-size metal magazine with a 20-round belt inside. It features a blowback metal slide, a polymer frame, and a barrel optimally rifled for Meisterkugeln pistol pellets.

The Glock 19X CO2-powered airgun not only feels like a Glock, but fits a variety of aftermarket holsters, making it ideal for gunhandling drills and practice. It features a compact slide with a fullsize frame, just like the 9mm centerfire handgun, and it sports the

Coyote color, too. Internally, the CO2 valve regulates the 360 fps velocity and kicks the slide back with each squeeze of the trigger.

The full-size metal magazine encapsulates both the 12-gram CO2 capsule and 18 rounds of steel BBs, making its weight and size optimal for magazine drills.

The appearance of the trigger replicates the appearance of the Glock Safe-Action trigger safety. Whitedot sights allow fast target acquisition, and the under-muzzle rail accepts accessories. SRP: $99.99.

The Smith & Wesson M&P 9 airsoft pistol will be a new offering in 2020. Using green gas as its power source, this blowback handgun will be available in either black or tan. A Performance Center version is also planned.

A tan HK 416 A5 AEG (automatic electric gun) is expected to be available spring 2020. Under the Elite Force brand, new versions of the M4 CQB and CQC in a black/tan configuration should be available, as should a new version of the HK MP5K in black. Booth #15062. (umarexusa.com)

UMAREX Clockwise from top: Umarex Synergis showing its patented in-line under-lever auto indexer design; Walther Reign bullpup; Umarex Fusion 2; and the Umarex 850 M2.

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FROMthe NSSF Peace of Mind

NSSF’s Operation Secure Store protects your livelihood By Brad Fitzpatrick

H

aving your business burglarized is distressing both personally and financially, and that stress is compounded when firearms are stolen. To help firearms retailers learn more about preventing a burglary, NSSF developed Operation Secure Store, a program that not only provides peace of mind for business owners but also aims to help keep stolen firearms off the streets.

“Operation Secure Store is a joint initiative with the ATF designed to help raise awareness about reviewing and integrating new strategies into a store security plan with the hopes of making your store the least-attractive target to potential criminals,” says John McNamara, Senior Director of Retail and Range Services for NSSF. “The program is focused on working to deter thefts from FFLs, leveraging resources to

enhance public safety, and reducing the impact to communities affected by these crimes.”

Operation Secure Store (OSS) focuses on five key aspects of business security: education and awareness, assessment and risk analysis, planning and strategy, engagement, and response to crimes. By addressing the threat of robbery and burglary before an event occurs, retailers can effectively deter thieves from targeting their

business. In the event a robbery or burglary does happen, FFL holders will have the resources they need to help law enforcement agencies retrieve stolen firearms and protect the community.

FFL Robbery by the Numbers

According to ATF statistics, the number of FFL burglaries (specifically, a perpetrator illegally enters a

property to steal items) and FFL robberies (specifically, a perpetrator steals object/s directly from a person using force or fear) in the United States increased annually each year from 2014 to 2017.

There were 406 reported FFL burglaries in 2014, resulting in the loss of almost 4,300 firearms. By 2017,

Operation Secure Store focuses on five key aspects of business security: education and awareness, assessment and risk analysis, planning and strategy, engagement, and response to crimes. By addressing the threat of robbery and burglary before an event occurs, retailers can deter thieves.

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TERMINAL RESULTS It’s encouraging to see that FFL burglaries have declined since OSS was initiated, but there’s more to be done.

the number of FFL burglaries had risen to 577, which resulted in the loss of 7,841 guns. Over that same period, FFL robberies increased from 22 to 33.

This alarming trend prompted the ATF and NSSF to initiate the Operation Secure Store program to increase awareness about business security among FFL holders.

What retailers are learning is that it is much simpler to revise and update their business security plan than to pick up the pieces following a burglary or robbery. In 2018, the first year Operation Secure Store went into effect, FFL burglaries decreased 26 percent from the previous year, to 427. That reduction resulted in a 28 percent decline in the number of firearms stolen from FFLs in 2018 as compared to the previous year.

Managing Risk

Retailers need to take steps to help protect themselves and their businesses from criminals, and by doing so they do their part to help reduce the number of illegal guns on America’s streets. NSSF and ATF are offering free Operation Secure Store seminars across the country where FFL holders can get accurate and up-to-date information from leading security professionals on the most effective methods to protect their store. Topics include inventory management and control, intrusion detection systems, perimeter and property security, visitor entry and verification procedures, and much more. (There’s a full list of seminar dates and locations at operationsecurestore.org.)

Even if you can’t attend a seminar, there are plenty of other tools available at the Operation

018_SHD04_NSF_OPSECURE.indd 19

Secure Store website to help you protect your business. For instance, there’s a risk and security self-assessment designed to help any FFL identify and quantify vulnerabilities, and a resource section with a list of companies that provide everything from secure firearms display cases to IT and information security systems.

Operation Secure Store also offers personal security assessments of your business conducted by leading experts in the field. These onsite evaluations help FFL holders develop a custom business protection plan by enlisting the help of security professionals who will help you guard against everything from fire damage and cyber attacks to breaks-ins and robberies. There’s simply no better way to protect your company than to schedule an onsite evaluation of your business security needs. Operation Secure Store has streamlined this onsite assessment process, and it’s much simpler to take preliminary steps to protect your business than to deal with the aftermath of a robbery.

“We understand that not all businesses need the same plan,” McNamara says. “A large, nationwide retailer will have different needs and budgets than a small, family-owned business.” Having a professional assess individual needs allows each business to stretch their security budget and identify opportunities to improve their current security plan.

Stopping Crimes Before They Happen

It’s encouraging to see that FFL burglaries have declined since Operation Secure Store was initiated, but there’s more

to be done. The good news is that all the necessary tools and resources to protect your business are already at hand, thanks to the NSSF and ATF. To date, more than 40,000 Operation Secure Store toolkits have been provided to FFLs across the country, and that increased security means less crime and fewer stolen firearms in our communities.

In addition, NSSF matches ATF rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals involved in FFL burglaries and robberies, and the organization encourages insurance companies to offer reduced rates to firearms retailers who complete the Operation Secure Store assessment and take steps to secure their business against theft. Other initiatives, such as NSSF’s “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” program, which also works in partnership with ATF, educate the public that attempting straw purchases is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine. These public-awareness campaigns raise awareness about firearms security while reducing the number of armed criminals.

There’s more. NSSF’s Government Relations team on Capitol Hill is working to get the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act passed into law.

The bills—H.R. 2179 in the U.S. House of Representatives and S. 1788 in the U.S. Senate—would strengthen the penalties for criminals who steal guns from firearms retailers. By supporting important legislation such as this, the firearms industry is providing serious and real solutions for safer communities.

FFL holders have a role to play in this nationwide effort to reduce firearms thefts. By taking advantage of the no-cost services that Operation Secure Store offers retailers, every FFL helps to protect themselves, their employees, their business, and their communities. Stopping FFL theft is an ongoing challenge, but with these resources, it’s a fight we can win—one retailer at a time.

For more information, visit

Federal has long been able to build tough, expanding bullets for hunting big game. It also loads sleek, accurate, match-style bullets for long-range target shooting. Combining both of those qualities into a single bullet has been a bit more complicated. The result, though, is Terminal Ascent, a new bullet design that successfully combines both attributes.

Federal took all the lessons learned during the past few decades building its own proprietary bullets and poured all that knowledge and experience into creating this new bullet. Proven designs—such as Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Trophy Bonded Tip, and Edge TLR—all helped pave the way to create Terminal Ascent.

“This new bullet design provides high weight retention, deep penetration, and lethal terminal performance, both up close and at extreme distances,” says J.J. Reich, Federal’s senior media relations manager.

According to Reich, Terminal Ascent features three key elements in its superior overall design. “First, the solid copper shank and bonded lead core retain weight for deep penetration.

Second, the AccuChannel grooving along the shank helps improve accuracy across a range of rifles while decreasing barrel wear and fouling.

However, unlike conventional grooving, the AccuChannel’s shape accomplishes these goals with only a minimal increase in drag. Third, the Slipstream heat-resistant polymer tip features our patent-pending hollowcore technology. A small cavity runs the length of the shank to just below the point itself. That point breaks free upon impact, allowing fluid to enter the hollow core, where it generates pressure and easy expansion, even at low velocities.”

In addition to the AccuChannel and Slipstream tip, Federal engineers incorporated other important features to boost ballistic coefficient, delivering flat trajectories and less wind drift.

Finally, Terminal Ascent also features high-end nickel plating that is corrosion-resistant, to give the cartridge an outstanding appearance with smooth operation. This finishing makes Terminal Ascent look like a fine piece of jewelry. And the use of cleanburning propellant and an ultra-reliable, sealed primer—as well as its electric-blue polymer tip—produces a sleek-looking, high-performance cartridge that’s sure to impress.

The new line of ammunition will be launched initially in 11 cartridge options, including 130-grain 6.5 Creedmoor, 130-grain 6.5 PRC, 136grain .270 Win., 136-grain .270 WSM, 155-grain .280 Ackley Improved, 155grain 28 Nosler, 155-grain 7mm Rem. Mag., 175-grain .308 Win., 175-grain .30/06 Spring, 200-grain .300 Win. Mag., and 200-grain .300 Win. Short Mag. All are sold in 20-count boxes.

Booth #14551. (federalpremium.com)

OperationSecureStore.org.

1/13/20 11:20 AM

from the nssf

Paul Irwin (left) is a longtime industry sales professional and former range manager based in Texas. Tisma Juett (right) is a shooting sports enthusiast. She supports NSSF members in the Northeast.

Connecting with Retailers and Ranges

Connecting with the Industry

A look inside NSSF’s Regional Member Services Team

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By Shannon Farlow un stores and ranges have always been—and will always be—at the heart of the shooting sports industry.

Firearms retailers and range operators serve as the face of our industry and a trusted source of information and knowledge for hunters and recreational shooters. That’s why the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) last year developed a Regional Member Services Team to better connect the organization with its many members. In addition to bolstering NSSF’s recruitment, reactivation, and retention efforts, the Regional Member Services Team focuses on one-on-one work with retailers and ranges to better understand their needs while helping them utilize NSSF’s numerous resources.

When John McNamara joined the NSSF team in 2017 as Senior Director of Retail and Range Services, he was immediately tasked with improving member communications and engagement. His responsibilities today include increasing awareness of NSSF’s advocacy efforts and programs, as well as gathering vital feedback from retail and range members.

“Early on, I wanted to get our people out in the field, dedicated staff who could spend personal time with these retailer and range owners and staff,” says McNamara. “It’s fine to make phone calls and execute email and mailing campaigns, which we still do plenty of, but we all agreed that the most effective way to connect with our members was to get boots on the ground and just start knocking on doors.”

McNamara visited FFL shops in person, talking with owners and staff to get a better understanding of what was happening in their communities and local markets. NSSF then took that feedback and started including it in its planning. McNamara, who still regularly visits retailers and range operators, knew the push had to be much broader than what one person could accomplish, though, and so NSSF created a team of Regional Member Services Managers and Representatives.

Showing Value

“We’ve had great success in having industry members from all segments join NSSF. We’ve had even more improvement in renewing our members and keep-

ing folks engaged with all that we’re doing, and that includes a strong increase in participation in our programs and events,” says McNamara. “The First Shots program, National Shooting Sports Month, and initiatives like the +ONE Movement have seen big increases in signups and activity at host facilities, all thanks to the efforts of our Regional Member Services Team spending time with and talking to FFLs and range owners about what affects their businesses day to day. That’s the most important thing, because we want folks to see genuine value in membership with NSSF.” In 2018, NSSF members hosted approximately 1,000 events celebrating National Shooting Sports Month. That number more than tripled to well over 3,000 events in 2019, and with three times the number of businesses participating. McNamara attributes this impressive growth directly to the grassroots efforts of the Regional Member Services Team and a stronger, more engaged industry community.

“NSSF’s regional team plays a critical role,” McNamara emphasizes. “It’s a nimble role, and they switch gears quickly. One moment it’ll be critical for us to drive participation in a specific event, so they’ll be out helping us promote the Industry Summit, the SHOT Show, or an educational seminar.

“The next week, there will be an opportunity to help defeat anti-gun legislation or support legislation that benefits our industry, and we’ll have them talking to folks about those issues,” McNamara says. “They’ve adapted to this rapidly changing role very well. They’re asked to do a lot of different things, and they do them all well.”

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FROM THE NSSF

NSSF Launches Online University

New digital platform provides one-stop-shop for range and retailer education By Jodi Stemler

T

his past fall, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) launched the NSSF Online University as a way to help ranges and retailers learn how to improve their businesses. The program offers a web-based digital learning platform with a wide variety of courses.

Online University participants can consume the information at their own pace.

Based in Florida, Quinn Cassidy is an avid hunter who serves NSSF members throughout the Southeast.

Meet the Team

NSSF launched the Regional Member Services Team in the parts of the country strategically important to the continued growth of the shooting sports industry: the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest. The team currently consists of Paul Irwin, Tisma Juett, and Quinn Cassidy.

A longtime industry sales professional and former range manager, Irwin is located in Cedar Park, Texas. He is an NRA-certified pistol instructor, range safety officer, certified Glock armorer, and highly skilled gunsmith. As a Regional Member Services Manager, Irwin primarily serves NSSF members in his home state of Texas, which boasts the largest number of FFLs in the United States.

Juett joined the NSSF team in 2011 as Manager of the First Shots shooting introduction program, and later served as Manager of Inclusion and Outreach. An avid shooting sports competitor, she is known for inspiring others to enjoy and protect hunting and recreational shooting. In her role as a Regional Member Services Manager, Juett supports members in the Northeast.

Regional Member Services Representative Quinn Cassidy, an avid hunter and outdoorsman, is based in his home state of Florida and serves NSSF members across the Southeast.

“Creating these positions shows how much NSSF cares about its members and the industry. We are all in this industry because we believe hunting and shooting sports improve people’s lives,” he says.

Asked about the path forward for the NSSF and the role of the regional staff, McNamara says, “My goal is to see this engagement program continue to make a significant impact on our industry. As we continue these positive trends, I wouldn’t be surprised if more of our members across the nation get a knock on the door and find themselves being greeted by the smiling face of an NSSF Regional team member. The information, education, and programs we are developing and bringing to retailers and ranges are going to be vital to the long-term health of the industry, and we are honored to play an essential role in that effort.”

“We realized there really wasn’t a comprehensive, onestop resource for our members that worked to meet their unique business education needs,” says Mike Vrooman, NSSF’s Managing Director, Member Services.

“Our Online University fills that gap.”

NSSF evaluated the information most requested by its members and identified a focus group of retailers to help determine the topics that would be most relevant. In addition, John McNamara, NSSF’s Senior Director, Retail and Range Services, and Zach Snow, Director of Retail and Range Business Development, have been invaluable resources for the organization’s retail and range members, and were instrumental in guiding the content.

To develop the Online University platform, NSSF engaged Impart, an online learning solutions company. “The fact that we partnered with Impart, a company whose sole focus is on creating effective e-learning products, shows how important this program is to us and how seriously we

took this effort,” Vrooman says.

All courses are taught by subject-matter experts who have a connection to the shooting sports industry.

Many course instructors have worked on their topics from within the industry and have done what they are teaching, making these lessons particularly relevant to ranges and retailers. In several instances, NSSF brought in outside experts who could provide more detailed instruction in a specific field, and NSSF’s communications department coordinated the video production.

Currently, there are more than 45 modules within the Online University with more than 25 hours of course content. Vrooman anticipates more courses will come online as the program grows.

One large area of content development that proved to be an immediate draw is marketing intelligence. One course, Social Media 101, presented by Michelle Scheuermann and Melissa Bachmann, covers topics like YouTube content creation, live-streaming

with Instagram, and how different page types can drive sales. NSSF also partnered with The Xcite Group, a marketing company that has worked closely with a number of large shooting ranges, to create course content, including The Path to Better Measurement, which has three training modules focused on the basics of evaluating the impacts of digital marketing.

Of course, compliance is always in sharp focus for our industry, and both ATF and OSHA compliance courses are offered. There are also general business courses, ranging from one that helps business owners identify the key metrics to measure success to how to better merchandise. Some courses focus on people just starting in the business, while others are geared to those who may be looking to expand their retail business by adding a range.

In addition to the video learning content, the Online University houses supporting materials that relate directly to each course. “This provides us with the opportunity to warehouse our substantial library of informational products, task lists, and other documents in an area where all the information can be quickly accessed,” Vrooman says. “Most important, it allows NSSF Online University participants to consume the information at their own pace and in the comfort of their own offices.”

Classes are free for NSSF members. (NSSF.org)

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from the nssf

NSSF continues to work at all levels to protect Second Amendment rights and the economic viability of the shooting sports industry.

Legislative Update Industry victories in 2019 means there’s work to be done in 2020 By Larry Keane

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he firearms industry had reason to celebrate in 2019. Industry indicators show a healthy and robust firearms and ammunition manufacturing industry. NICS checks are now increasing, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation is marking legislative victories.

The total number of firearms background checks conducted on Black Friday, November 29, 2019, was 202,465. That is the secondhighest single day for the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) in history, dating back to 1998, when NICS was implemented. It also represents an 11 percent increase over last year’s Black Friday total.

Checks for November 2019 totaled 1,342,155, a 2.1 percent increase over November 2018.

December’s figures (as well as last year’s totals) were still being tallied when this magazine went to press, but this year’s total adjusted NICS checks are on track to surpass those of 2018.

The firearms and ammunition industry’s total economic output in the United States increased to $52.1 billion in 2018, from $19.1 billion in 2008, a 171 percent increase, according to a report released in April 2019 by NSSF. In the last three years alone, the industry’s economic impact rose to $52.1 billion in 2018, from $49.3 billion in 2015 The good news, though, isn’t limited to economic indicators.

Legislatively, NSSF chalked up wins for sportsmen and women.

Following victories in West

Virginia and Delaware in 2018, NSSF applauded Pennsylvania for allowing Sunday hunting for the first time in more than 100 years.

NSSF made Sunday hunting a priority issue in Pennsylvania, leading the Sunday Hunting Coalition, along with 15 other like-minded hunting and conservation groups and outdoor retail businesses.

The industry is leading on the safety front as well. Texas Governor Greg Abbott pledged $1 million to bring NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program to the state, and the firearms industry is delivering. The grant was provided, and NSSF shipped 10,000 of the 625,000 firearms safety kits with gun locks to the Lone Star State. NSSF has conducted Project ChildSafe for 20 years, distributing more than 38 million kits to more than 15,000 lawenforcement agencies, and it encourages all firearms owners to lock firearms when not in use to deny access by unauthorized users.

National Shooting Sports Month is gaining traction among our state and national elected officials. With NSSF’s encouragement, several governors issued proclamations in 2019 to recognize August as National Shooting

Sports Month in their respective states, including South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Oklahoma Governor J. Kevin Stitt, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. The governors were joined by President Donald Trump as the White House issued a Presidential message to the nation on the first day of National Shooting Sports Month detailing the importance and tradition of the shooting sports in America. Dozens of politicians visited ranges and retailers to see the impact our industry has in their districts.

This interaction is crucial to industry success on Capitol Hill and in the statehouses. On the federal level, NSSF culminated 11 years’ worth of work when President Donald Trump signed H.R. 1222, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (Public Law No: 116-17). The law allows states to use a 90 percent federal fund match derived from the PittmanRobertson excise taxes paid by firearms and ammunition manufacturers. Previously, states were required to pay 25 percent of the cost to gain a 75 percent federal

match. The new law also expands the time by which the project’s funds must be expended. We are already beginning to see states take advantage of this newfound flexibility.

State legislatures were no less busy. NSSF helped defeat illconceived gun-control proposals in many states, including bills in Rhode Island that would have banned standard-capacity magazines and all modern sporting rifles and raised the purchase age for rifles and shotguns to 21 from 18, a Delaware bill to ban nearly all semi-automatic rifles, and a traditional-ammunition ban bill in Minnesota. Moving forward, NSSF is expecting gun control advocates to rely more heavily on ballot measures to advance their agenda.

None of this, however, means work is slowing down. Unfinished tasks in Washington, D.C., and threats to the industry continue to arise in the states.

The transition of export licensing and oversight for commercial and sporting firearms and ammunition products to the Commerce Department from the State Department is imminent. Final rules are expected to be published soon, and once published, will become effective 45 days after.

That’s an effort NSSF has been leading to level the competitive playing field for American-based manufacturers for many years.

NSSF is taking action to protect retailers from thefts and burglaries, and supports the passage of the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2019 (S. 1788/H.R. 2179), introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the Senate and by Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA) and Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL) in the House.

The bill enhances penalties for stealing guns from an FFL. Our industry is strong. With member support, we’ve overcome challenges and achieved milestones. The coming year will be no different, and we look forward to opportunities our industry will see in this coming year.

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F E AT U R E S

A CRKT M-16 knife, designed by Kit Carson.

by design

CRKT’s business model is its key to success By Christopher Cogley

S

ometimes the most successful ideas come when you aren’t afraid to admit your limitations. Columbia River Knife and Tool has become one of the most respected names in the knife industry by continually pushing the envelope on design. The company consistently brings innovations to market that have a tendency to elevate consumers’ expectations for one of the oldest tools known to man. What many people might not realize, however, is that the business model CRKT developed that led to this success has the potential to do more than just inspire other knife companies—it might also have the power to help revitalize manufacturers in every industry across the country.

“All of this came about because Rod Bremer started the business and realized fairly quickly that he wasn’t a knife designer,” says Doug Flagg, CRKT’s vice president of marketing and innovation.

“And he knew that if this company was going to be successful, he had to find people who were.”

Bremer and the CRKT team began traveling to knife shows across the country looking for innovative designs that also had the potential to be manufactured

on a large scale.

“Innovation is what defines CRKT, so that’s really what we were looking for,” Flagg says.

“We had to make sure the design fit into our market, but we also had to ask ourselves if we could take that design and manufacture it. That’s not always as easy as it sounds.”

One of the first designs they found that had all of those critical elements was Ed Halligan’s K.I.S.S. (Keep It Super Simple) knife. The

Provoke designer Joe Caswell says, “Custom designs have a limited reach, but CRKT has the infrastructure to manufacture and distribute those designs to people all over the world.”

uncomplicated, two-piece design definitely lived up to the knife’s name. It was also incredibly effective and immensely popular.

“That’s the knife that really put CRKT on the map,” Flagg says.

“Because it was so successful, Rod figured we could do the same thing again, so he started looking for other designers to collaborate with.”

Next, Bremer met up with legendary knife maker Kit Carson.

The two hit it off immediately, and when Carson’s M-16 series launched, CRKT had much more than just another successful series of knives on its hands—it had a new way of doing business.

“That absolutely solidified the whole business model for CRKT,” Flagg says.

The model was simple. Instead of hiring a team of in-house designers, CRKT would continue to seek out the most talented and passionate custom knife makers in the country and collaborate with them to manufacture their innovative designs.

“It’s a win-win for everyone involved,” Flagg says. “The consumer gets a knife designed by a custom knife maker, the knife maker gets royalties from the sales of the knife, and we get cutting-edge designs from some of the best designers in the business. There’s no downside.”

It’s a sentiment shared by the

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F E AT U R E S

The knife that really put CRKT on the map was Ed Halligan’s K.I.S.S. (Keep It Super Simple). The uncomplicated, two-piece design definitely lived up to the knife’s name. It was also incredibly effective and immensely popular. Just as important, it was an innovative design by a custom knife maker that also could be manufactured on a large scale.

Knife designer Ken Onion has worked with CRKT for more than a decade.

knife designers who collaborate with CRKT. “It’s a perfect scenario because it’s a trifecta of positivity,” says Ken Onion, a leading knife designer who’s been working with CRKT for more than a decade.

“Innovation comes with a certain mindset, and that’s hard to find.

But when you have that purist thought, that person who only focuses on that one pursuit and is absolutely passionate about it, that’s where true innovation comes from.”

By collaborating with CRKT, those passionate purists have the opportunity to get their knife designs into the hands of people who might not otherwise ever have the chance to take advantage of that innovation.

“Custom designs have a very limited reach,” says Joe Caswell, designer of CRKT’s revolutionary Provoke knife. “But CRKT has the infrastructure in place to manufacture and distribute those designs so that people all over the world can have access to

them. It’s really powerful.”

Ultimately, though, the biggest benefit of CRKT’s business model belongs to the people who use the knives day in and day out.

“A lot of the designers we work with are former big-game guides or ex-military and law enforcement, so the consumer is getting a knife that’s designed by people who know knives and have actually used them in the field,” Flagg says. “Or maybe they’re getting the benefit of owning a Ken Onion custom knife at a reasonable price. That’s a pretty cool thing to be able to say.”

Not only does CRKT’s business model increase the reach of those innovative designs by making them accessible to more people, it also has the potential to increase the scope of that innovation by making it available to the other designers with whom CRKT collaborates.

And when multiple creative concepts are combined and designers have the opportunity to build off the ideas of their colleagues, the results can be profound.

“No matter how revolutionary a concept you come up with, if it’s relegated to just one model, it becomes nothing more than a footnote in the history of the

industry,” Caswell says. “But if other designers can take that concept and do something unexpected with it, then all of a sudden, the concept you created becomes an evolution of the craft.”

When that happens, it isn’t just the company or the designers or even the consumers who benefit from the collaboration—it’s the entire industry.

“This concept can translate to so many industries,” Onion says.

“The outdoor sports world could take this business model and explode with growth.”

Innovation has a tendency to breed more innovation. It’s the same premise that spurred America’s Industrial Revolution and helped shape our country into the nation it is today. It worked then, and there’s no reason it couldn’t work now.

“America needs to get back to innovating and creating, and this business model should absolutely inspire others because it’s working,” Onion says. “At the end of the day, we all need to ask ourselves what we can do to make a difference in this industry and in this country.” Booth #10051. (crkt.com)

“No matter how revolutionary a concept you come up with, if it’s relegated to just one model, it becomes nothing more than a footnote. But if other designers can take that concept and do something unexpected with it, then the concept you created becomes an evolution of the craft.”

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MINUTES WITH…

Mitch Petrie

Vice President, Programming, Outdoor Sportsman Group

It Ain’t Easy

Programming interesting outdoor TV content requires knowledge, persistence, and attention to detail

A

s vice president of programming for Outdoor Sportsman Group networks (Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, and World Fishing Network), Mitch Petrie is at the forefront of the outdoor/entertainment industry.

His love of the outdoors and a passion for country music have led to numerous interactions with country music stars. Those interactions have not only led to outdoor television programming, but their conversations about hunting and fishing brought about the creation of the Country Outdoors podcast that he co-hosts.

SHOT Daily recently had the opportunity to sit down with Petrie and discuss television programming, the outdoor lifestyle, and the new podcast.

SHOT Daily: How did you find

a great experience to get back into the production world in addition to my core responsibility as a programming executive.

Mitch Petrie says that viewers tend to think producing an outdoor show is easy, but it’s really difficult.

SD: What is the biggest misconception about outdoor lifestyle programming and how a show reaches air?

your way to the outdoor lifestyle industry and Outdoor Sportsman Group?

SD: What elements make for an

MP: Viewers tend to think producing an outdoor show is easy, but to produce 13 episodes of compelling content is a significant undertaking. If the success rate on a big-game hunt is generally 10 to 30 percent, those numbers go down when you have additional people in the field. You also have a finite amount of time in the fall, so schedules are aggressive and tiring. As great as it sounds to be the host of an outdoor lifestyle television series, it’s also a huge amount of work and pressure.

interesting, watchable television show?

SD: What specific advice can you

Mitch Petrie: I was part owner of a small business that manufactured shooting-range products. I met a TV producer at SHOT Show in 2005, and ended up working with him on an Outdoor Channel series. I started my own production company and produced several series, including Wardens on Outdoor Channel. A few years later, the network hired me to oversee endemic programming.

MP: We program our networks for a wide variety of viewers, which makes it a challenge. A viewer who enjoys waterfowl hunting might not like deer programming. A bass angler might not like flyfishing. Regardless of the species or genre, I believe our viewers connect first and foremost with the host talent. If they like the talent and feel a connection to them, they tend to enjoy the show. For that reason, we are fortunate to be the home of the vast majority of the most popular TV talent in the outdoors industry.

SD: Explain how a television show finds its way to your networks.

MP: Our networks have a stable

base of core series, but we are always on the lookout for new shows. We receive solicitations from producers via our website and frequently work with current producers on new series. We recommend producers create a pilot episode that we can review for talent, content, vision, and audience potential, and review that against our programming needs and availability. We try and look at the big picture with each new series and target producer partners with a strong business plan to maximize the potential for a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship.

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @SHOTBUSINESS

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SD: What are you working on these days?

MP: It’s a blessing for me to be able to spend time hunting and fishing with our producers, who are all very skilled and accomplished hunters and anglers. As a passionate outdoorsman myself, it’s a great opportunity to watch them work and discuss the business of television while experiencing the outdoors. I’m also a fan of country music and recently launched the Country Outdoors podcast to talk about all things outdoors with some of the best talent in country music. It’s been

offer a wannabe television producer with an interesting idea for a television show or a young person dreaming of someday creating a show for one of the Outdoor Sportsman Group networks?

SD: Learn to walk before you run. We receive many submissions from aspiring TV talent and see a significant amount of rookie mistakes in the production. We know we can help the producer move beyond these mistakes, but it can be cause for concern for the long-term potential of the series.

I would also suggest producers get outside input from professionals who are not in their circle of friends to get real critiques of their work. Booth #13608. (outdoorsg.com)

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F E AT U R E S

The AG Composites Alpine Hunter stock on a Remington Model 700 SPS in .308 Winchester. As configured, this rifle consistently delivered sub-MOA 5-shot groups.

Major Player

AG Composites is well on its way to becoming a commanding presence in the rifle stock arena By Richard Mann

H

earing about a company that got started in a garage and eventually went mainstream is always inspiring. That is, after all, part of the American Dream: With a good idea, hard work, and perseverance, Americans can find success. For me, it’s even more inspiring when those behind that company are veterans who served our country.

AG Composites was founded in 2014 by an Army Ranger and two Marines. Based near New Hope, Alabama, they managed to turn a garage operation into a successful business that employees 40 folks from the local community. The company is now housed in a 16,000-square-foot building containing modern, state-of-the-art equipment that supports a process founded on years of aerospace design and manufacturing experience.

I drove out to New Hope to meet these guys and was greeted at the door by Matt Tandy. He smiled and then gave me that firm military handshake. When he turned to invite me inside, the former cop in me noticed the print of a pistol under his T-shirt. Inside, I met his brother, Dave, who was dressed similarly. My first thought was, These country boys seem like my Matt Tandy with the lean and trim Privateer, which is ideally configured for an accurate and lightweight mountain-style rifle.

kind of guys. I got the full tour and was most impressed with the attention the crew dedicates to quality control; when they send a stock out the door, they’re 100 percent confident it will fit and perform.

They agreed to send me a carbon-fiber Alpine Hunter stock (SRP: $579) to test, and when it arrived, I installed a good-shooting Remington 700 barreled action. It fit to perfection, but most important, it shot extremely well. I’d recently tested six other drop-in stocks with the same barreled

action, some of which cost twice as much as the stock from AG Composites. But the AG stock was the only synthetic stock that allowed for sub-MOA precision without glass bedding, and it weighed just 29 ounces.

That’s impressive, but what might be even more so is the fact that wait times are much shorter than for some of the competitions’. The lead time for a stock from AG Composites runs between four and eight weeks.

And the company’s robust qualitycontrol procedures mean that

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The inletting on the carbon-fiber stocks from AG Composites is executed to perfection, so your barreled action will fit with minimal work—or even no work at all.

when you receive the stock, you don’t have to do a lot of fitting to make it work. The stock I tested required no work at all; I simply dropped the barreled action in and tightened the screws.

So how does a company that builds such great-performing drop-in stocks at an affordable price exist without anyone seeming to know about them? Mainly

by flying under the radar as an OEM, supplying stocks to many of the top rifle manufacturers in the industry. The Barrett Fieldcraft, Kimber Open Country, and Bergara Mountain Hunter all wear AG Composites stocks. So, too, do rifles from the Remington Custom Shop and other wellknown custom gunsmiths.

The company is now breaking

cover by offering 11 different drop-in stock models for sale directly to the consumer. Every one of these stocks is handcrafted from carbon fiber, and most are made to fit Remington 700, Stiller, Lone Peak Razor, Impact, and Kelby actions.

Retrofitting older Remington 700s, as well as building custom guns configured for long-range

shooting, is very popular right now. Part of that process—a critical part—is the selection and installation of a quality aftermarket stock. In less than five years, AG Composites has become a major player in that space, all by figuring out a way to quickly and affordably make some of the best composite rifle stocks in the world. Booth #1809. (agcomposites.com)

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F E AT U R E S

Guns Galore The recent makeover of the Cody Firearms Museum makes the collection more accessible By Kris Millgate

T

here are five museums at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. They’re arranged like spokes on an old wagon wheel, and the Cody Firearms Museum is the one that’s getting the most attention. It doesn’t hold the best of everything, but it certainly holds one of everything in its firearms collection, which spans 800 years.

The oldest gun in the museum is a multi-barrel hand cannon (below), similar to a muzzleloader, from the 1400s. It’s one of 4,000 pieces donated by Winchester to the museum in 1988.

“It’s not just guns and gun history. It’s everything,” says Ashley Hlebinsky, curator of the Cody Firearms Museum. “A lot of people who aren’t familiar with firearms see gun culture as a separatist thing that’s not part of society, when actually it’s integral to understanding society.”

The oldest gun in the museum is a multi-barrel hand cannon from the 1400s. Similar to a muzzleloader with a burning rope leading to the powder, it’s just over one foot long and predates what we know as modern-day ignition systems. It’s one of 4,000 pieces donated by Winchester to the museum in 1988, and is displayed in a glass cabinet with an all-sides view. It’s pitted due to use several centuries ago, but it’s well preserved.

“It was in our Evolution of Firearms gallery,” Hlebinsky says.

“Now it will be in our

Comprehensive Timeline of Firearms from 650 BCE [before common era] to modern day.”

Notice the “was” and “will be” in that statement. The hand cannon was moved—carefully. The museum’s massive $12 million makeover required a mass migration of 7,000 firearms and 20,000 firearms-related artifacts over several months during construction in late 2018 through mid-2019.

“Thirty years may not seem that old for a museum, but it actually is,” Hlebinsky says. “All of the lighting and cases and ways we take care of artifacts have changed.”

How museums are designed has changed, too. Instead of curators designing collections, staffers are designing displays based on public interest, which often isn’t as specialized, or as complicated, as a curator’s expectations.

“We have a panel of people

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The redesigned museum is now a visitor-friendly, interactive opportunity within an upgraded experience that even visitors with little knowledge of firearms can relate to.

who know guns and professors who know history. We also have people who don’t know guns at all on the panel,” Hlebinsky says. “I learned a ton from people who don’t like firearms, because we word things in ways that don’t make sense to people who don’t know firearms.”

About 200,000 people visit the museum annually. They see the hand cannon relic. They also look at bows older than the hand can-

non and new guns made today.

Half of the visitors are not gun experts, so staff wanted a display everyone could relate to rather than just attracting collectors.

“We are the only gun collection in the world where 50 percent of the visitors don’t know guns,” Hlebinsky says. “We used to fall short on educating people on the history of firearms. Our new design allows people who don’t know about

guns to learn about gun safety and the history of guns.

Firearms have played so many different roles in history. Really understanding history is understanding the story of firearms.”

That story requires some narration. Hlebinsky spent many weeks designing 10,000 labels for new exhibits. She also managed a fullscale inventory by barcoding every piece in the collection. The result is a visitor-friendly, interac-

tive opportunity within an upgraded experience that anyone can relate to.

“If you’re into firearms and want to see the most firearms on display anywhere in the country, we have that,” she says. “If you’re interested in history, we have that.

If you’re dragged in here by a significant other, we have something for you, too. We have something for everyone.” Booth #2428. (centerofthewest.org)

The Middle Ground

Leupold’s versatile, user-friendly VX-3i CDS riflescopes get even better By Brad Fitzpatrick

L

eupold’s VX-3i riflescopes are widely popular with hunters and shooters, offering a high level of performance, superb durability, and user-friendly features at a relatively affordable price point. This year, Leupold is releasing the VX-3i CD-ZL line of optics with a zero lock.

“The VX-3i is already one of the most versatile and successful Gold Ring riflescopes we’ve ever built,” says Vici Peters, product line manager for Leupold & Stevens. “But we wanted to give our consumers more value. The ZeroLock dial is a premium feature that we’re excited to make available on a line that’s accessible to hunters and shooters across the entire industry.”

Four new VX-3i CDS-ZL models will be available this year, including two 4.5–14x40 models that come with 30mm tubes and offer side-focus knobs and either a standard duplex or Leupold’s Wind-Plex reticle. There are also 3.5–10x40 and 4.5–14x40 versions built on one-inch tubes that offer duplex reticles, but no side-focus option. SRPs for the one-inch models range from $649.99 to $799.99; the 30mm versions carry suggested retail prices from $844.99 to $974.99.

Adding a zero stop to the VX-3i CDS scopes makes it even easier to accurately shoot targets at extended distances. The ZeroLock engages when the rifle’s dial is returned to the original

zero position, and it also eliminates the risk of dialing past zero. When the dial reaches the original zero position, a button in the dial locks it in place, and the shooter then presses the button when they want to make elevation adjustments. The system has proven to be very effective on other Leupold optics, including the popular VX-5HD line, but this is the first time that it’s been offered in the lower-priced VX-3i line.

I tested the new VX-3i CDS-ZL on a Dakota 97 rifle chambered in .300 PRC. That round produces stiff recoil, but the Leupold stood up well to repeated firing while I was zeroing in at the range. The 4.5–14x40 model I was testing offered 3.7 to 4.4 inches of eye relief. The VX-3i CDS-ZL, with its 30mm main tube, offers a wide field of view—the 4.5– 14x40 maintains an 18.7-foot field of view at 100 yards on low power—and it’s light enough to be used on mountain rifles.

After sending a half-dozen Hornady 212grain ELD-x bullets downrange, I had the scope zeroed at 100 yards and I reset the dials, a process that involves loosening three screws on the elevation dial with the provided wrench, lifting the dial, and returning to the zero position. Following that, you can dial for elevation (counterclockwise) when shooting targets at long range, and when you’re finished, you can return to your original zero point by dialing

down until the ZeroLock engages. That also means you can drop back to zero without ever looking at the optic. I was able to maintain my sight picture while adjusting the elevation knob down until the ZeroLock engaged. Once I was at zero, I depressed the button, dialed my elevation rise for 200 yards, and fired at targets at that distance.

So many of today’s scopes are designed with a single task in mind, be it long-range shooting or hunting. The VX-3i CDS ZL plays the middle ground, and it does so quite effectively.

Booth #13023. (leupold.com)

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f e at u r e s

All Smiles

Defender Outdoors built its top range business model by aiming to entertain By Robert F. Staeger

A

t its simplest, golf is a game with one basic skill: hitting a ball toward a distant hole.

But consider the business TopGolf has built upon that skill, inviting golf enthusiasts and newcomers into an environment with a driving range, a dozen different simulation games, and a perpetually hopping party lounge.

Now imagine that same atmosphere, but with guns. You’re picturing Defender Outdoors, a 43,000-square-foot, one-stopshop shooting complex in Fort Worth, Texas. Since opening its doors in 2013, Defender has welcomed shooters new and old, including foreign travelers looking for a Second Amendment– powered thrill, and even celebs like Kanye West. Keeping the party going is Defender Outdoors president Will James, who sets the complex’s sights squarely on entertainment.

“We don’t ever want to sell fear,” says James. “We’re selling

fun.” And while that fun can include firing off practice rounds at the range, it also encompasses a 3,000-square-foot simunition shoot house with modular walls that can be arranged to create any environment, paired with colorful lighting effects and immersive soundscapes.

Customers can charge through a 007-style run-and-gun adventure or a horror-tinged Halloween shoot-the-clown experience.

Defender Outdoors hosts corporate events, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and even gender reveals, with special targets set to explode in pink or blue powder.

Afterward, everyone can relax in the lounge. “We also host ladies’ shoot-and-sips,” says James, noting “the order of those two things is super important.”

Another blast of entertainment comes from Full Auto Friday, where visitors get a chance to fire a burst of 25 rounds for 10 bucks. “Typically, it’s a gun that they’ve seen in a movie somewhere,” says James. “They get to take a video of it, post it on their Instagram. You’ll never see bigger smiles.”

Despite the party atmosphere, Defender Outdoors takes safety seriously. “Safety officers are on

the range at all times. They’re not behind glass or in another room, they’re walking behind you, so if you need help, they’re right there. But if somebody leaves without a smile on their face, we haven’t accomplished our goal.”

So beyond the focus on entertainment, what advice does James have?

No-Stress Shopping

James suggests thinking of Millennials when setting up your retail floor. They’re a cohort that

Defender Outdoors hosts corporate events, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and even gender reveals, with special blue or pink targets.

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likes to do their research and price comparisons before shopping in person. “Our salespeople are not on commission,” says James. “Whether you buy 10 items from us or none, you’re treated the same way. There’s immediately less pressure.”

Defender Outdoors keeps the most popular firearms, with the firing pins removed, tethered to a display table. That way, customers can check them out for themselves, without having to ask for permission. “They can see, feel, squeeze the trigger, run the slide,” says James. Salespeople are nearby if they have questions.

Range Ready

Having a laser-based system also lets you ramp up new shooter’s comfort level before they begin using live ammunition, which can be intimidating. “You can get a grip, trigger stance, sight picture—all of those things in alignment, and get them shooting something similar to a real gun,” says James.

“By the time they get on the

range, we want them super comfortable with the function of a firearm—how they’re going to hold it, how they’re going to stand, how they’re going to load and unload it,” says James. “And then, ultimately, they’ll achieve their objective, which is to hit what they’re aiming at. And those people are typically going to come back.”

Central Layout

ships as a predictable source of income. Not only does it encourage long-term commitment, but it makes your place busier.

“When people see you’re busy, they’ll say, Wow, this must be the place to be,” he says. “It may seem like an initial loss, but in

the long run it’s a great practice.”

For more advice, you can reach out to James himself. “When we were setting up our business, so many people opened their doors to us and let us ask questions,” he says. “We try to pay it forward.” (defenderoutdoors.com)

New shooters are given encouragement as well as expert instruction on proper grip, trigger stance, and sight picture.

Give a lot of thought to where you need employees. “Our employees are our most important asset, but they’re also our most costly one. Really think about where employees will be, and how many you need to run your business,” says James. Having a retail floor in a central area, with all the check-in and check-out hubs in a circle around it, means employees can shift around to deal with a rush. “If they’re centralized, it takes less to do more.”

Membership Benefits

James also recommends member-

Defender Outdoors keeps the most popular firearms, with the firing pins removed, tethered to a display table.

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F E AT U R E S

T H E FUN FACTO R:

CLAY TARGET SHOTGUNS

T

It’s all about surprise, delight, and exhilaration—really

By Phil Bourjaily

here’s a thrill to smashing a clay target with a shotgun that punching paper at the range can’t match. It’s a mix of surprise, delight, and exhilaration, and a lot of the people who try clay shooting once want to experience that feeling again and again. They take up trap, skeet, or sporting clays—sometimes all three. And there are more of these shooters every day.

Clay shooters make up a growing market that you shouldn’t ignore. While hunting-license sales may be down, clay target participation is up. Youth programs have brought thousands to the sport and keep it growing. Sports shooting participation among adults, especially in sporting clays, continues to increase, too.

If you can steer your customers to the right target gun, they’ll be back for accessories and ammo to feed their growing clay habit.

Here’s a cheat sheet on what you need to know to sell clays guns.

The Customers

A lot of the people who come into your store looking for a new claytarget gun will be complete newcomers to shooting or to the claytarget sports. Some will be hunters who discovered clay targets first as hunting practice. Many

will be middle- and high-school students and their parents. And a few will be experienced target shooters. Somewhere between 10 and 20 percent will be women.

They may want a gun for a specific discipline. They may want one gun for all the clay-target sports, or even a gun for both hunting and clays. They may not actually know what they want, and it then becomes your job to find the right gun for their needs.

If you can help them get a good start, they will be back for accessories, ammunition, and maybe

even reloading equipment and upgraded guns.

Target Guns vs.

Hunting Guns

Although all clay-target sports began as hunting practice, they have evolved into ends in themselves, and a gun that’s good for hunting isn’t necessarily good for clays.

Target guns have to be reliable and durable. Even a gun that’s used for only 50 targets a week in trap league will fire many more

rounds in one summer than most hunting guns will in a couple of seasons. You do neither yourself nor your customer a favor by selling them a gun they’ll bring back to your shop for repairs. That rules out some, though not all, cheap shotguns.

Target guns are longer and heavier than hunting guns. The extra weight absorbs recoil, and the length adds weight to the front of the gun, so it’s easier to move smoothly to the target. Trying to hit targets with a short, light gun made for carrying all day in the

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Semi-auto shotguns kick far less than traditional over/ unders, a key selling point for some new shooters.

field is frustrating. Almost no one ever wishes they had bought a shorter-barreled target gun.

Many target guns feature adjustable combs and pads to allow shooters to tailor the fit.

Such devices tend to add weight and are not popular on hunting guns. Target guns come with other extras, too: fiber-optic beads, ported barrels to reduce muzzle rise, and extended choke tubes for quick changes.

Action Types

Over/unders and semi-autos dominate clay-target shooting, with O/Us being the most popular.

Both will fire two shots in quick succession without the shooter having to manually cycle the gun.

That’s a help in sporting clays, skeet, and doubles trap.

Over/unders have reliability to

recommend them; they rarely malfunction. They offer two chokes for close and far targets (sometimes a consideration in sporting clays), and they don’t make you bend over to pick up hulls, a plus for reloaders and anyone who has to police their empties. They will function with ammunition that might hang up in a semi-auto, too.

Gas semi-autos have one big advantage over any other action: They noticeably reduce recoil.

Therefore, a semi-auto can be lighter than an O/U and still kick less. For that reason, gas guns make a good choice for smaller shooters or anyone without the upper-body strength to hold a heavier gun, as well as anyone who prefers the balance of a single barrel. In addition, semi-autos often feature stock shims and spacers to let you customize the fit, and they often cost less than O/Us.

Pumps make reliable, affordable guns for singles trap, and you can get by with a pump for skeet shooting. It’s tough to cycle pumps quickly enough for doubles trap and sporting clays, however.

Trap Guns

Dedicated trap guns—whether single-shot, O/U, or semi-auto— are so specialized, it’s hard to do anything with them but shoot trap.

They’re 12-gauges, with stocks and ribs designed to make the gun shoot high, an advantage for shooters who want to “float” the rising target over their gun barrel.

If a customer will only shoot trap—the most popular target Women are an important newcustomer base, and they need gear (shotguns and clothing) that fits properly.

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f e at u r e s

eight good target guns

WINCHESTER SXP TRAP: Inexpensive but well-thought-out and well-made, the SXP comes with all the competition features in both full-size and micro versions. SRP: $479.99. Booth #13334.

BERETTA A300 OUTLANDER (FIELD AND SPORTING): The field version is affordable, dead reliable, and can work as a target gun for all disciplines in a pinch. The dedicated clays version is a terrific allaround target gun. SRP: $900 (field), $1,100 (sporting). Booth #11221.

REMINGTON 1100 COMPETITION: An all-around clays gun, this is one of the softest-shooting semi-autos out there. SRP: $1,305.

Booth #14229.

BROWNING BT-99: A simple, trouble-free, single-shot trap gun, the 99 is a gun you can buy as a novice and shoot in serious competition, too. Available in full-size or compact version for smaller shooters.

SRP: starts at $1,469. Booth #12740.

BROWNING CITORI CX: A good value in an all-around O/U, and it has 3-inch chambers, so it can be a field gun, too. As with the BT-99, a micro version is available. SRP: $2,139. Booth #12740.

BERETTA 686 SILVER PIGEON I SPORTING: Beretta’s entry-level sporting O/U will shoot forever. SRP: $2,400. Booth #13956.

CZ ALL AMERICAN: Available in trap or O/U configurations, this competition gun comes with all the adjustable features of guns costing much more. SRP: $2,572. Booth #11221.

BERETTA A400 XCEL: Distinguished by its bright-blue receiver, the A400 Xcel is a great choice as a sporting/skeet gun or an all-around gun. There’s also a totally adjustable A400 Multi-Target that can truly serve as one gun for all clays sports. SRP: A400 Xcel, starts at $1,750; A400 Xcel MultiTarget, $3,000. Booth #13956.

AMMUNITION Keep a good supply of high-quality, inexpensive target loads on hand in as many configurations as you can. You’ll need heavy loads to sell to people whose semi-autos won’t cycle lighter loads, and lighter stuff so you can help new and young shooters get started without experiencing too much pain. Stock some low-velocity, low-recoil, 1-ounce and 7⁄8-ounce 12-gauge loads, and even some soft-shooting ¾-ounce 20-gauge ammo.

ACCESSORIES According to a recent NSSF survey, these are the top 10 clay-target accessories you should stock: 1. Gun-cleaning products 2. Eye protection 3. Non-electronic ear protection 4. Hard and soft gun cases 5. Clay targets

6. Choke tubes 7. Shooting vests 8. Range bags 9. Shooting shirts and jackets 10. Electronic ear protection

When a new shooter learns how much fun breaking clays can be, they’ll come back to you for more gear.

Hearing protection and safety eyewear are vital accessories.

Don’t let a new shooter leave your store without them.

game, and by far the most common discipline for scholastic team shooters—they’ll shoot their best with a dedicated trap gun.

Skeet and Sporting Clays Guns

A gun for skeet or sporting clays should be a semi-auto or O/U, as the games require shooting doubles. Twelve and 20 gauge are the most common choices, though both disciplines include smallbore events. The trend in both is to longer barrels, because they add weight up front for a smoother swing. Thirty-inch barrels are popular on pumps and semiautos, while most O/Us have 30and 32-inch barrels. Currently, 32 inches is the most popular length.

These days, almost all dedicated skeet guns are high-end guns intended for serious tournament competition; most manufacturers no longer offer entry-level skeetspecific guns. For most shooters, a sporting-clays gun will serve for both games, and a lot of sporting shooters also enjoy skeet. If someone wants one gun for all disciplines, steer them to a sportingclays model. It is easier to shoot trap with a sporting-clays/skeet gun than it is to shoot skeet and sporting with a high-shooting trap gun.

Field Guns for Clays

Some people, especially some parents of high-school and middle-

school competitors, want to buy one gun for all clay-target sports and hunting and be done with it.

In my opinion, a 12- or 20-gauge gas semi-auto with a 28-inch barrel is the most versatile shotgun made, and it will handle any field or target situation. It’s a “jack of all trades, master of none” solution, but for some people, it’s the perfect gun for their needs. For young customers who want a gun for hunting and singles trap, a Remington 870 or Benelli Nova pump might be a great solution.

Gun Fit

To sell guns to new shooters, you should know the basics of gun fit, though you don’t have to be a gun fitter. You should also be able to show a novice how to hold a shotgun properly, and help them find a stock with the right length and a comb height that puts their eye over the rib.

Gun fit with new shooters needn’t be an exact science. Until a shooter is practiced enough to mount and hold the gun the same way shot after shot, gun fit can be approximate. Later on, they may need to fine-tune the fit. If you have a gunsmith on the premises, then you can shorten and lengthen stocks, add pads or adjustable buttplates, and do more to solve fit problems.

Meanwhile, your job is to put them into a gun that will keep them happy and breaking clays, so that you see them coming back to your shop time and again for accessories and ammunition.

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f e at u r e s

Federal Shorts the Market Federal’s new Shorty shotshells prove great things can come in small packages By Slaton L. White

F

ederal recently presented the designs for the 12-gauge 1¾-inch Smooth Bore Barrel cartridge and chamber, also known as Shorty shotshells, to the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI), where they were voted on for standardization. The specifications were approved, and the new cartridge has been officially recognized by the organization. Technical data and drawings of the 12-gauge 1¾-inch SAAMI standards have been published and are now available to the industry.

“This is big news for our new Shorty shotshell ammunition,” says Rick Stoeckel, Federal’s shotshell product director. “The 12-gauge 1¾-inch cartridge has been around for more than a decade, but it was never brought to SAAMI to be considered by its Technical Committee. Once we decided to start manufacturing this load, we immediately submitted it to SAAMI for industry standardization. We’re excited about this approval, and we deeply appreciate SAAMI’s support.”

Federal’s new Shorty shotshells have been designed to deliver performance similar to that found in standard-size shells. “Although only 1¾ inches long, new Shorty shotshells offer patterns, energy, and accuracy similar to that of full-size counterparts,” he says.

“They’re now available in No. 8 shot, No. 4 buck, and rifled slug loads.”

All well and good, but it begs the question: Why did Federal decide to run with this load in the first place?

“Larger 12-gauge loads were invented a long time ago when the 2¾-inch length was required to fit the amount of powder needed to propel the payload of shot,” Stoekel says. “With newer, modern powders, we don’t need that much space, so air gaps in wads are used. Today, short shotshells are all you really need when using

modern powders. It is way more efficient in the amount of materials needed to make modern shotshells. It just makes sense.”

That kind of factory efficiency can go a long way to controlling (or lowering) the cost of production, which often translates into lower prices for consumers.

Although Federal had plans a decade ago to introduce Shorty shells, the company held off because it saw that the market was not there to support the big sales necessary to justify the cost of production and distribution.

“So, we sat on that work until the time was right,” Stoekel says.

And now the time is right.

“Recently, our customers have been asking for us to produce Shorty shells that can outperform loads available from our competi-

tors,” he says. “We listened to those requests and are now delivering the loads they want.”

And just who are those customers? “Customers who shoot speed competitions, like 3-Gun and others, often are concerned about magazine capacity,” Stoekel says. “They are looking for ways to speed up reloads and shoot more rounds before reloading. With Shorty shotshells, you can fit more rounds in the magazine.”

Stoekel also notes that Shorty shells should appeal to sporting clay shooters as well. “You can put more rounds in a vest pocket or belt pouch, and those who use an over-under will feel less recoil. I think these shooters will also find that the rounds are a lot of fun to shoot. So, retailers will find this

Federal’s new Shorty shotshells have been designed to deliver performance similar to that found in standard-size shells.

shell will appeal to a broad portion of their customer base.”

That higher shell capacity should also appeal strongly to owners of self-defense shotguns.

As this shell design moves toward the mainstream, Stoekel says the next step is up to shotgun manufacturers. “As the industry and marketplace already knows, feeding of short shotshell ammunition in semi-auto and pump action shotguns is not guaranteed.”

That’s because shotguns today are designed to feed and eject a 2¾-inch shell, not a 1¾-incher.

“Shooters have been working around this with aftermarket modifications to the gun to help with function,” he says. “Ultimately, the market will have to rely on the gun manufacturers to adapt or design gun systems around the shorter design.

SAAMI’s approval of the cartridge was a crucial step in legitimizing it within the industry, paving the way for broader acceptance with the shooting public. Our hope is that SAMMI’s work will inspire shotgun manufacturers to purposely build pump-action and semi-auto shotguns that can specifically run 1¾-inch loads.”

SRP: $11.95, No. 4 buck, box of 10; $11.95, rifled slug, box of 10; $5.95, No. 8 shot, box of 10.

Booth #14551. (federal premium.com)

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F E AT U R E S

This Volquartsen Summit .17 Mach 2 sits in a Boyd’s laminated keyhole stock.

The rifle is deadly accurate on small game, and it looks cool, too.

Rimfi re Wonder The Volquartsen Summit .17 Mach 2 just may be the ultimate modern bushytail rifle

F

By Michael R. Shea

ew rifles in my safe trigger a deep sense of jealousy in my shooting friends. But the Summit rifle from Volquartsen sure does. Essentially, the Summit is a 10/22 modified with a straight-pull or toggle-link bolt action. Think of the Browning T-bolt or Anschutz Fortner action, but in Ruger 10/22 packaging. With a locking bolt action on the Ruger platform—the bolt does not slam back and forth—it’s ideal for suppressor work, and used with a .22 LR barrel and subsonic loads, the loudest part of the Summit is the sound of the striker hitting primer.

Volquartsen introduced the Summit in .17 Mach 2 at last year’s SHOT Show, and the result is a thoroughly modern small-game rifle. If you have customers interested in precision rimfire shooting or hunting, you should stop by the booth for a firsthand look.

Primary Weapons System developed the straight-pull 10/22 concept for competition shooting and hunting. The top-flight rimfire specialists at Volquartsen took over the patent a few years ago and now sell complete Summit rifles and standalone actions for home builders.

Because it’s built on the 10/22 footprint, any 10/22 magazine,

stock, barrel, and trigger group will work with the Summit. The action has a milled-in 20 MOA Picatinny rail.

The complete Volquartsen Summit rifle is available in .22 LR and .17 Mach 2, and ships with a very good carbon-wrapped

Volquartsen barrel threaded at the muzzle to 1/2x28, bedded in a Magpul X-22 Hunter, Hogue, or Boyd’s laminate stock, with an

Built on the famed Ruger 10/22 footprint, the straight-pull Volquartsen Summit rimfire rifle with a threaded barrel is available in .22 LR as well as .17 Mach 2.

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The Volquartsen Summit in .17 Mach 2 bedded in a Magpul X-22 Hunter stock was used by the author (far right) on a Kentucky squirrel hunt.

excellent Volquartsen trigger that breaks just shy of 2 pounds.

Prices range from $1,135 for the Hogue version to $1,383 for the laminate.

My test rifle in .17 Mach 2 with the Magpul stock weighs 5.8 pounds. With a sling and a Nikon P3 rimfire scope, it tips the scale at exactly 7 pounds. Thanks to the stock and the ultralight Volquartsen barrel, it handles exceptionally well. This is why so many people who shoot the Summit fall in love with it. It balances great, points quick, and just feels right, perhaps because so many of us learned to shoot on the 10/22.

And, of course, with the Summit, there’s the toggle bolt—so no 10/22 blowback under chin.

Straight-pull bolts were largely designed for biathlon shooting, where speed and accuracy are paramount. Semi-auto recoil can throw the precision shooter off. A traditional 90- or 60-degree bolt throw is slow. Straight-pulls eliminate the slam of an auto bolt and are markedly faster than swing bolts. To fire, the shooter holds the rifle with the thumb to the side, not wrapped around the stock (the right thumb remains on

the right side of the rifle for a right-handed shooter). After the shot, the bolt is drawn back with the index finger and closed with the thumb. It’s remarkably intuitive, and after a few magazines of practice, it’s easy to run the gun fast and accurately while keeping the head to the scope.

Last fall, I brought the Summit to Kentucky for an annual tree squirrel camp with a few friends.

There’s always hot shooting around Kentucky Lake in September. Over four mornings, three of us knocked down 52 bushytails and ate a pile of squirrel fajitas.

Sneaking through the woods, listening for the sound of cutting squirrels, setting the Summit on a tripod mount, and then dropping tree rats out to 80 yards was fun.

Deer hunting is great. So is duck hunting. But if the only thing I had to hunt were bushytails in the hardwoods of the Southeast, I’d be okay with that.

With the tripod setup, the rifle barely moved on report, so I could watch ballistic tips impact in the scope, much like you can with a good rig on a prairie dog hunt. It was not uncommon for

us to shoot our limits from a single tree, as the squirrels were mobbing a big pignut, hickory, or beech. The straight-pull action really shined with this kind of quick shooting. Running

a suppressor took the crack out of each shot, too. The total package was as fast, accurate, and deadly a rimfire combo as I’ve ever seen. Booth #11229. (volquartsen.com)

MORE ON THE MACH 2 The .17 Mach 2 was designed in conjunction by Hornady (Booth #13140), CCI (Booth #14551), and Eley (Booth #14207) in 2004.

Following the wide success of the .17 HMR—the .22 WMR necked-down to .17 caliber—it only made sense to neck down America’s favorite round, the .22 LR, to .17 caliber, too.

Dedicated squirrel hunters were over the moon. Here was a 17-grain that climbed and fell less than 2 inches out to 130 yards and hit with enough power to take small game. That laser-beam trajectory means that when you hold on a tree squirrel’s head from 15 to 130 yards, it’s not going anywhere.

And yet, widespread sales languished. The .17 Mach 2 is made on the same factory lines that make .22 LR. When the ammo shortage hit, all machine hours were sharply dedicated to .22 LR, so .17 Mach 2 ammo soon vanished from store shelves.

Fortunately, that has changed. The round has come back on the strength of its rep as a great killer of small critters. It’s a remarkably fun “long-range” rimfire round. Last year, Volquartsen and Anschutz (Booth #15158) announced new rifles in .17 Mach 2. CCI and Hornady are actively loading it now.

There are currently three loads on the market for .17 Mach 2: CCI 17-grain V-Max, at 2010 fps; Hornady 17-grain V-Max, at 2100 fps; and Hornady 15.5-grain NTX, at 2050 fps.

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F E AT U R E S

MOUNTAIN MAGNUM Weatherby’s new 6.5mm cartridge and rifle break with tradition

By John Geiger

Weatherby lengthened the .284 Winchester case and gave it a rebated base. The result is the 6.5 WBY RPM.

W

eatherby wanted to do something dramatic after its big move from California to Wyoming. Here’s what it came up with for 2020: A new flagship rifle with new cartridge to match. Both are designed for the Wyoming mountains or anywhere else where a hunter would want a sub-5-pound rifle chambered in a magnum 6.5mm cartridge.

The Mark V Backcountry Ti and 6.5mm Weatherby RPM (Rebated Precision Magnum) will be in stores this spring.

“This is really the culmination of our Wyoming move,” says Luke Thorkildsen, Weatherby’s vice president of sales, marketing, and product development. “We’ve always been the fastest. But now we’re also the lightest in this high-velocity category.”

The new rifle weighs just 4.9 pounds, which makes it an excellent choice for backcountry hunting where ounces make pounds, and pounds make pain. The Ti stands for the titanium action, which makes it super strong and pretty much impervious to the weather and common wear. The action is also special because it uses Weatherby’s underutilized six-lug action, which it calls its standard action. Until now, you’ve mostly seen it in rifles chambered in .240 Weatherby Magnum. But it makes sense to use it in a mountain gun, as it’s narrower and lighter than the common nine-lug action.

But could it handle a magnum cartridge? Originally, no.

Weatherby uses the nine-lug action for its magnums. So the engineering team set out to create a new magnum 6.5mm round to match the new rifle.

The result is the 6.5 WBY RPM. Weatherby lengthened the .284 Winchester case and gave it a rebated base (i.e., the base of the cartridge is narrower than the case). That allows the gunmaker to use a smaller bolt face and a smaller bolt, but the case itself can still be of a magnum diameter. That means there’s room for a magnum amount of propellant. If there’s a downside to rebated cases, it’s that they have a reputation for extraction issues. The extraction claw

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To tame recoil, every Backcountry has a new 3-D-printed recoil pad as well as a threaded muzzle to accommodate a muzzle brake.

If your customer is the type who goes higher, farther, and deeper into the backcountry, they’ll appreciate the magnum power of the 6.5 WBY RPM in the lightest production rifle Weatherby has ever made.

has slightly less face to latch on to, pull, and eject. Still, rebated cases are nothing new. If you’ve ever shot a Remington Ultra Mag or Winchester Short Mag, you’ve extracted a rebated case.

But in the case of Weatherby, the move to a rebated case is a big deal for two reasons. First, the Backcountry rifle now has a magnum round for its light, strong action. That’s a perfect combination for a mountain rifle. Second, a rebated case is very un-Weatherby-like. No Weatherby cartridge to date has had a rebated case.

Roy Weatherby built his company’s reputation on creating magnum cartridges more powerful than any others on the market. So it’s a curious move for the company to go this route after 75 years.

It may be the Western spirit of the Cowboy State. Or maybe it’s just time to make a break from tradition. Either way, Weatherby also jettisoned its two other signature features: a venturi shoulder and a belted case.

Until now, whenever you looked at a Weatherby cartridge, you’d see a rounded shoulder, called a venturi or double-radius shoulder.

It’s a classic look, a throwback to a California style of the 1940s. But now, the RPM has a straight, 35-degree shoulder. It’s a modern look, like most every other cartridge on the market.

040_SHD04_FEA_WEATHERBY.indd 41

Belted cartridges have a band around the base of the cartridge.

They have been associated with magnums, especially shoulderless magnums, for many years. The belt helped make sure the straight-walled magnum cartridges stayed put in battery and didn’t slip into the barrel. Like the venturi shoulder, you could count on a belted case on each Weatherby cartridge. Until now.

Weatherby made one change that is less cosmetic and more of a move to improve accuracy: It tightened up the freebore so that there is less space between the bullet and the lands and grooves

of the barrel. Like the 6.5 Creedmoor, the bullet protrudes from the casing and nearly touches the rifling. Generally, the less freebore, the less room for bullet movement before it’s pushed into the grooves; the result is more shot-to-shot consistency.

“As we moved forward in manufacturing, we wanted to make a modern cartridge with newer technologies,” says Kevin Wilkerson, Weatherby’s marketing director. “So we were able to remove freebore, the belt, and the venturi shoulder. It closely resembles any modern standard cartridge on the market, very similar

MARK V STANDARD ACTION

6 LUG

MARK V MAGNUM ACTION

9 LUG

To save weight, Weatherby’s new Mark V Backcountry mountain rifle uses the company’s narrower and lighter six-lug action rather than the heavier and wider nine-lug action.

1/13/20 12:30 PM

F E AT U R E S

Weatherby shaved weight in the Backcountry through the use of a carbon-fiber stock, a fluted bolt, and a fluted barrel.

to the 6.5 Creedmoor.”

The new RPM is designed to deliver 1,500 foot-pounds of energy at 500 yards and send a 140grain bullet at 3000 fps or a 127grain bullet at 3250 fps. That’s a touch faster than Precision Rifle Series Open Division competitions allow at the muzzle. So it’s not your cartridge for a PRS match. It’s all about hunting.

You might wonder if it’s faster than Weatherby’s most famous 6.5 magnum—the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum. Absolutely not. The powerhouse 6.5-300 is the king at 3500 fps. Sure, you can take that 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum on a mountain hunt. But you’ll also have to carry a 6- to 7-pound rifle such as Weatherby’s Mark V Ultralight. Many hunters have done so successfully. But if you’re the type who goes higher, farther, and deeper in the backcountry, you’ll appreciate the magnum power of 6.5mm WBY RPM in the lightest production rifle Weatherby has ever made.

To get it that way, Weatherby shaved weight in the Backcountry through the use of a carbon-fiber stock, fluted bolt, and fluted barrel. And that six-lug action weighs a full pound less than the nine-lug.

Given the rifle’s weight, one might wonder about recoil.

Weatherby says not to worry. Each Ti, as well as the less expensive Backcountry (no titanium but a

steel receiver), has a new recoil pad that engineers created from scratch. The 3D HEX has a hexagonal construction and is actually 3-D-printed, the first known instance of using that technology for a major production rifle. It’s light and porous and purpose-built for this rifle and this cartridge.

In addition to the recoilsoaking pad, Weatherby ships the rifles threaded with a new muzzle brake. Weatherby says the new version of the Accubrake, the ST, will reduce felt recoil by 50 percent. That’s quite a claim and tough to actually measure. But there’s no doubt a good brake reduces recoil. They’re just awfully loud on the range. On the hunt, you probably won’t notice the noise—or the recoil, for that matter.

Weatherby also made a break from tradition by going with

TriggerTech triggers in these rifles. TriggerTech uses a freefloating roller between the trigger bar and the sear. The release is less of a slip and more of a clean, rolling break with very little overtravel. Many of the best custom rifle shops are using these types of triggers now. They can help a shooter improve accuracy and get a glass-rod break. The adjustable trigger will be factory set to 2.5 pounds, but shooters can adjust it to between 2 and 5 pounds.

The RPM has three initial bullet offerings: Hornady’s 140-grain Interlock (3000 fps, $50 per box), Nosler’s 140-grain Accubond (3075 fps, $65), and 127-grain Barnes LRX (3225 fps, $65).

Weatherby ammo is loaded by Norma. SRP for the Backcountry Ti is $3,349. The Backcountry will list for about $800 less. Booth #12729. (weatherby.com)

By moving to a rebated case, a first for Weatherby, the Backcountry rifle now has a magnum round designed for its light, strong action—a perfect combination for a mountain rifle.

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F E AT U R E S

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT FOR WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH

If you handle social media, you must have a thick skin. Remember, the larger the brand, the bigger the target. The brands we interviewed shared the following advice: “If you spend enough time on social media, it will wear on you. As great as modern technology is, the most important feature of any of these is the ‘off’ button. Get away, so that when you need to be on, you can engage in as positive a way as possible.”

—Trent Marsh, SpyPoint Cameras ➤

➤ “When we have industry-wide circumstances

Clockwise from left: Chad Carmen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; Trent Marsh, SpyPoint Cameras; and Jack Hennessey, Brothers & Company.

Managing Social Media Engaging with customers online can be challenging, but the results are worth the effort By Michelle Scheuermann

O

n a recent TV series for songwriters called Songland, Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am said he was looking for his next hit, and would record the winner’s song. The winner was Adam Friedman, with the song “Be Nice.” The chorus goes like this: Hey, be different, Be nice, Just smile, I promise it’ll change your life.

Be nice. In the outdoor industry’s social media world, being “nice” can be difficult with the barrage of false media claims, keyboard warriors, and irate customers. But it can be done and, frankly, it should be done.

If opening up your company’s social media feeds gives you anxiety, then a change is needed.

Let’s visit with a few social media marketers to see how they ensure their organizations’ feeds are a kinder, more positive place for their fans and followers.

Share the Love

The quote “you get what you give” couldn’t be more appropriate when handling social media for a large organization. Take Kryptek clothing (Booth #13912). It built an entire company on brotherhood and friendly competition.

“In order to keep and foster a friendly and nice social media environment, we make sure to show our fans love,” says Sydney Butler, Kryptek’s communications manager. “We share photos from Kryptek’s messaging

that blow up, it can result in hundreds of negative comments pouring in within less than 24 hours.

We step back, relax, and realize that not every person needs to be responded to. If you don’t have people ‘hating’ what you are doing, then you probably aren’t doing anything substantial.”

—Chad Carmen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation “It helps to sometimes take a break from responding to comments. I have compared social media comment sections to The UpsideDown world from Stranger Things. Stay too long and you don’t come out the same. Not everyone is going to like what you do as a brand. You can’t take it personally, and you can’t please everyone, but you can always be kind, and kindness is contagious.”

—Jack Hennessey, Brothers & Company ➤

➤ “This is just the world we operate in—and we

signed up for it. To say you need to have thick skin is an understatement. Working with the brands we are privileged to service is a huge reward and one that greatly outweighs the days we’re running the gauntlet that is social community management.

You definitely have to learn to unplug, though.”

—Reagan Renfroe, Brothers & Company ➤ “Put

some thought into a social media policy.

This can be written down or just a general set of known guidelines for those who run your social media accounts, governing exactly how comments and feedback should be handled. Having a clear idea of what to do and how to respond to comments so that everyone in your company is on the same page will ensure consistency in your social media practices.” —Sydney Butler, Kryptek

boards, letting our fans know that we see them.

We congratulate them, and we celebrate their endeavors. It takes little to no time at all, and we have seen excellent feedback.”

Be Authentic

Part of being true to who you are is being authentic. Trent Marsh, social media manager for SpyPoint Cameras (Booth #2625), says people don’t want to feel like they are talking to a brand or an account. They want to

Kryptek’s Sydney Butler says companies need to develop clear social media guidelines.

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Scott Rousseau, Leupold’s digital content specialist, says he tries to turn negative comments into teachable moments that emphasize the company’s core values.

talk to a person.

“Since social media exists primarily to have communications, the mindset of how you approach it can ensure that you are starting from the right spot,” he says.

Entering your company’s social media pages with a positive attitude will help.

And offering the benefit of the doubt to fans and followers will go far. One group who sees a bit of everything with their clients is Brothers & Company, an advertising and public relations firm that works with Under Armour Outdoor (Booth #11040), Remington Outdoor Company (Booth #14229), and Hodgdon Powder Company (Booth #16738).

Jack Hennessey, of Brothers & Company’s social public relations department, says he treats each case as an isolated incident. “I don’t assume because a person makes a negative comment that they are, at heart, a negative person. I give the commenter the benefit of the doubt.

Perhaps he or she is having a bad day. Perhaps they had too much afternoon caffeine.

We’ve all been there.”

What About Those Negative Comments?

If you are a retailer, you should respond to the good— and the bad. The complicating factor in social media, though, is that’s it’s a public forum.

Most retailers interviewed said they respond publicly, but then ask the customer to share more with them in direct messages to take it offline.

Butler says the code of conduct is simple for Kryptek. “We respond to all comments because we want to say, ‘We see you, we hear you, we’re sorry, and how can we fix it?’ Taking the time to make each customer feel heard, even those who have publicized their negativity, increases the likelihood that others will see your response and that you took the time to fix the problem. It just may encour-

SYNTECH LINE EXPANDS

age the original poster to delete the negative comment or edit it to say something nice.”

For Leupold & Stevens (Booth #13023), social media is just another aspect of the company’s core values. “Leupold is a fifth-generation, family-owned company. This hasn’t happened by chance,” says Scott Rousseau, Leupold’s digital media manager. “One of the core values we live by is that every customer is entitled to a ‘square deal.’ That means our customer is always entitled to quality, value, and, most of all, respect. While we respect everyone’s opinions, if a negative comment does warrant a response, we do our best to educate and provide value in return.”

Sometimes your social media followers will go to bat for you. Jon Bash, who also handles social media accounts for Brothers & Company, says, “What we’ve found is that if you respectfully engage with negative sentiment and ignore the trolls, the brand’s loyal followers will usually engage with the trolls and defend the brand on our behalf without the brand ever needing to enter into communications.”

Offering Grace

It is also often said that we don’t know what others are going through. That is especially true online. Marsh says if he feels frustration building, he just has to remember everyone is seeking a satisfactory resolution. “I’ve been there. What would I want to hear or see to feel I have a resolution? If I can get in that line of thinking, I can usually work through it.”

Along with offering grace is remembering the written word can easily be taken out of context. Have you ever read an email from a colleague where you thought they were saying something disrespectful when, in fact, that wasn’t the case at all?

Chad Carmen, who handles social media for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (Booth #11755), offers this advice: “Aside from the fact that many people get ‘keyboard courage,’ most simply don’t mean to be aggressive online. All it takes is one or two misunderstood comments to fuel a rage match. The best tactic you can use is to stick with facts and do not continue to engage users you know have their mind already made up.

You simply don’t have to respond to everything.”

In 2017, Federal Ammunition broke some new ground in the shooting sports world when it launched Syntech Ammunition.

Unlike conventional ammunition—with its metal-on-metal contact between the bullet and bore—the polymer-encapsulated Syntech bullets promised to eliminate copper and lead fouling while extending bore life. The Syntech ammunition—initially available only as target rounds—was well received, so much so that, at the 2020 SHOT Show, the Syntech lineup expands with two new offerings: Federal Premium Solid Core for hunting and Federal Practice & Defend Packs, which pair self-defense and training rounds of identical velocities and recoils.

Solid Core will help hunters take down anything from hogs to bears. These hard-hitting big-game rounds feature a tough, flat-nose lead bullet that holds together while blowing through bone and muscle. The Syntech polymer jacket technology reduces the friction and leading that so often plague hard-cast bullets. It also helps to provide high weight retention and deep penetration.

The Solid Core bullet features an extremely hard lead core and is built specifically for tough game, like gnarly old feral boars. The Syntech jacket eliminates lead fouling and reduces friction without costly features like wax rings and gas checks.

Solid Core will be offered in 147-grain 9mm Luger +P, 180-grain .357 Mag., 200-grain .40 S&W, 200-grain 10mm Auto, 240-grain .45 Auto +P, and 300grain .44 Rem. Mag. Now, 9mm and .40 S&W are not considered hunting rounds by most shooters, but, with the Solid Core option, concealed carriers can bring along their carry handgun while hunting, hiking, or camping knowing they are loaded for bear. Literally!

Federal’s new Practice & Defend Packs pair proven self-defense loads with Syntech training ammunition.

Practice & Defend Packs include 50 rounds of HST Personal Defense rounds and 50 rounds of Syntech Training Match. The rounds deliver identical velocities, trajectories, and point of impact for the most realistic training and the utmost in personal protection.

Practice & Defend Packs are available in 124-grain 9mm Luger, 147-grain 9mm Luger, 180-grain .40 S&W, and 230grain .45 Auto. Booth #14551. (federal premium.com) —Brian McCombie

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F E AT U R E S

Instant Gratification

A spotting-scope camera tells you where the bullet hit straight away

By Barbara Baird

D

igiscoping is the trend of changing any spotting scope into a “smart scope.” The Hawk, from Longshot Target Camera out of Pearland, Texas, is essentially a spottingscope camera, and it allows a longrange shooter to see where their shots land instantly, thanks to an app that works with smartphones and tablets. No more running back and forth to the target, picking up binos, or depending on a spotter.

About the size of your hand, the Hawk comes in a padded case with a charger. It fits spotting-scope eyepieces between 38mm and 56mm. Simply slide the mounting assembly over the spotting scope’s eyepiece and tighten the mounting knob. Download the Targetvision app (available for iOS and Android), then turn on the camera and go back to your phone to establish the connection. No wifi or cell service is needed. Using the live video feed, adjust the Hawk so you can see your target. You can even rotate the eyepiece, if necessary, while the Hawk is attached. It can support up to 10 connections to each camera.

Once connected, you will be able to see and interact with the target.

I used the device on a range last summer in Wyoming, and everyone around me was impressed by the delivery system on a target we watched at about 500 yards.

It took a few minutes for me to learn how to use the app, but after that, it was easy. A main menu, home screen, and shooting-options screen are the trifecta of the system. My favorite part is the core feature called “shot marking,” where you tap on your shots after they appear on the screen. The app places a semi-transparent marker over each shot and automatically numbers it. You can adjust the colors of the shot markers, which is a good thing if you’re color blind.

The Hawk will capture snapshots of your shots, and these photos will be stored within the app’s photo gallery. You can easily move the photo from this gallery into your personal photo collection. Or, you can capture videos of your shots. It does not include audio on iOS, but it is included on Android settings. There is also a “live group” feature that will calculate group sizes after you input reference distance numbers for your target. SRP: $329.99. Booth #2905.

SIG SAUER worked with PolyOne to develop their first-of-its-kind P320 TXG tungsten infused grip module to deliver perfectly balanced weight withoutcompromising comfort or performance.

(longshotcameras.com)

The Target Vision Hawk can capture snapshots of your shots at the range and automatically store those images in the app’s photo gallery.

Haven’t heard of us? Just ask around your industry. At PolyOne we’re known for solving the world’s most complex material science problems.

LEARN MORE AT: POLYONE.COM/OUTDOOR

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f e at u r e s

Field-tested and proven in Africa, the SIG Sauer BDX system simplifies distance shooting for hunters, as well as the process of a guide ranging for a hunter.

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1/13/20 12:36 PM

TECHNICAL HELP SIG Sauer’s BDX system delivers the goods

T

By Richard Mann

he portable and affordable rangefinder was one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. More important for hunters are the advancements in rangefinder technology we’ve seen since. As cool as the first rangefinders were, they were not very reliable in the field when used on living creatures. Today, handheld rangefinders are incredibly accurate and seem to always deliver a reading. But as wonderful as these gadgets are for determining target distance, the hunter still has to make a mechanical adjustment to his sight—or hold accordingly—to get the hit.

That is, up till now. SIG Sauer’s BDX system has changed that.

Explained simply, the BDX system uses Bluetooth to link a rangefinder with a telescopic sight on a rifle. The rangefinder transmits the ballistically adjusted data to the riflescope, and a light on the lower vertical crosswire of the reticle lights up. This lighted indicator is then used as the aiming point for that distance. The system is managed by a smartphone app that compares the distance to the target with the ballistics of the load/ammunition being fired to establish the correct holdover. The smartphone is only used during system setup to calibrate the optics—the rangefinder and riflescope—to your rifle and ammunition. Once that’s done, the BDX system operates on its own.

Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical when I first encountered this system—partly because I’ve been calculating holdover manually for nearly half a century, and partly because of my inherent distrust of gadgetry. But while prepping for an upcoming African safari for free-range kudu, gemsbok, blesbok, and mountain zebra in the Northern Cape, I thought I’d give the BDX system a try. In the mountainous region I would be hunting, shots can be long. I figured if the system worked, it might limit the human error commonly associated with hitting game at great distances.

I mounted a Sierra3BDX 4.5– 14x44 riflescope on my Mossberg Patriot in 6.5 Creedmoor and chronographed 10 shots using SIG Sauer’s Elite Performance 120-grain HT ammunition. The rifle was printing five-shot groups of about an inch at 100 yards, with an average muzzle velocity of 2831 fps. I input that information into the BDX app on my smartphone. Then I proceeded to pair the riflescope to a SIG Sauer

Kilo3000BDX 10x42 rangefinding binocular.

In order for me to trust this system, I set a performance benchmark: It had to deliver kill-zone hits—ones inside a 6-inch circle— out to 500 yards, which is as far as I have any business shooting at a game animal. I took the rig to a local 500-yard range and set up 6-inch targets at varying distances, from 100 to 500 yards.

With the BDX rangefinder, I ranged the first target at 162 yards and noticed the light on the riflescope’s reticle appear just below the center of the reticle. I fired and got a hit. Okay, fine, but that’s not really a test; I could have held dead-on at that distance. I then repeated this process at 187, 262, 377, and 478 yards. Five shots; five hits. Impressive, but to be sure I could trust it, I repeated the experiment twice more. There were no misses.

When I arrived in Africa, the outfitter had arranged 8-inch steel plates at 100-yard intervals from 100 to 400 yards. With the help of the BDX system, I hit every plate.

After consulting with my professional hunter, we agreed the best way for us to work this system was to allow him to operate the rangefinding binocular and let me run the gun. When a shot presented itself, this would save time. I’d get on target, he’d range it, and I would put the lighted indicator on the target and pull the trigger.

As it turned out, the kudu I shot was only at about 160 yards, so the BDX system was not really needed. But the blesbok I took at 389 yards was a different story, and the BDX system proved its worth, delivering a spot-on shot. There were three other hunters on safari with me and they all used the BDX system. It was put to the test at distance numerous times and performed admirably on every occasion, for every hunter.

As easy as this system makes hitting at distance, the professional hunters agreed it was an ideal tool for their type of hunting. It makes conveying the shot and correct holdover to the client stupid simple. The PH ranges the animal, the BDX system finds the ballistics solution, and a little lighted indicator serves as the aiming point.

Still skeptical? I’m not offended if you don’t take my word for it.

The entire safari can be viewed in a four-episode SIG Sauer-sponsored Amazon Prime Video series, WILDCraft: South Africa. You (and your skeptical customers) can see for yourselves how the BDX system performed. Booth #12532. (sigsauer.com)

A Sierra3BDX 4.5–14x44 riflescope, a Kilo1600BDX rangefinder, and a Kilo3000BDX 10x42 binocular made for an unbeatable trio in Africa.

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1/13/20 1:29 PM

NEWS

SOG will focus on three product categories in 2020: professional, outdoor, and daily users.

Products categories have been simplified as well.

A New Era Updated packaging and a revised sales strategy are coming on board this year By Michael D. Faw

S

electing a knife used to be simple: You went to a hardware store, peered into a glass-covered case, and pointed out the one you liked to the clerk behind the counter. That was basic knife shopping. Today, you need to make decisions, lots of decisions—especially if you are eyeing a SOG knife.

This Pacific Northwest technical knife manufacturer began operation in 1986 with one knife. Founder Spencer Frazer discovered a Vietnam-era fixed-blade technical knife at a yard sale—and was intrigued. He had working replicas of the knife made and then sold the first 250 of them through an ad in Soldier of Fortune magazine. The rest is history.

Today, SOG (pronounced “EssOh-Gee,” short for Studies and Observations Group) still offers that first knife—the SOG Bowie 1 with a fixed blade and sheath. In the company’s new era, nearly all

knives will have the long name on the blade and SOG lettering on the belt clip or knife handle. The company is entering phase three in its multi-decades growth strategy and has added new employees

SOG is undergoing a strategic refocus, but everyday-carry (EDC) knives will continue to be a major part of its line.

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and hired a driven CEO. The company has also completed a detailed market and customer survey, and that insight led to several reengineered knives. In stores, customers will see new packaging with color coding. The products will be available through fewer distribution channels. Many bigbox retailers will not offer SOG products in the future because the knives’ many features—and they are razor-sharp—need to be displayed and presented to customers on a more professional level.

SOG will be focusing on three product categories in 2020 and going forward: professional, outdoor, and daily users. Categories have been simplified to cover the XR lock, fixed blade, assisted technology, automatic, frame lock, and

multi-tools. The knife selection will be around 50 models beginning in January 2020, which is when the company launches the newest brand redesign complete with new packaging, many new knife handle colors, and a long list of features. Handles will be crafted from many materials, including G10, aluminum, glassreinforced nylon, linen mycarta, and natural materials.

Selecting the best SOG knife for the job will still be based on numerous desired features, including fixed or folding blade, blade length, blade shape, type of steel (10 choices here), handle material (many choices), and how the blade locks in place on folders—or how the blade is deployed, such as an automatic.

Those blades undergo cryogenic heat treatment to increase toughness and wear-resistance. You can also select SOG knives based on how much you want to spend. For everyday carry, consider the compact Ultra XR folding knife (doubles as a money clip) with the carbon handle and gold-colored blade. SRP is around $140.

Great news for knife shoppers and retailers: The SOG website now has a state-of-the-art selection guide to lead you and your customers to the perfect knife for your hand and needs. If you want the ultimate SOG fighting knife, grasp the Pentagon and study the blade tip carefully. But if you want a SOG multi-tool, your decisions are simpler: Do you need a tool with four basic tools or one with more than 20 technical tools?

Numerous tool combinations are available. The company’s Baton multi-tool is unlike the standard multi-tool, so take a look because it offers several benefits to the user.

With a business model based on diversification and filling customer demands, SOG also offers hatchets, flashlights, packs, a watch, and a wide range of outdoor gear. Booth #10342. (sogknives.com)

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1/23/20 11:09 AM

news

Solid Ground Despite upheaval among wholesalers, Sports South is standing tall By Robert F. Staeger

T

o run a successful business, you need dependable partners. That’s true of everyone—not only co-owners and store managers, but also the people who supply what you need to operate your business and make your sales.

“In order to sell in any industry, you’ve got four economic utilities,” explains Tripper Dickson, CEO of Louisiana-based shootingsports distributor Sports South.

“You’ve got product, price, time, and place. The manufacturer controls the product and price, and the wholesaler’s there for the time and place. That’s our core competency. It doesn’t matter if it’s the coolest product in the world, at the best price available: When that consumer wants to make a transaction, if it’s not there when it needs to be, you don’t have a sale.”

So when a large distributor suddenly declares bankruptcy, that’s a

major disruption to its clients. It’s understandable that some retailers are nervously waiting for another shoe to drop.

“When some folks fall out that have been there for decades, the worry factor creeps in: Is there something systemic going on?” says Dickson. “But it’s not contagious. There are still anchor points that can service the marketplace as well, if not better than ever.”

Given its long history, Sports South has earned its place as one of those anchors. The company began in 1841, setting up shop in Shreveport, Louisiana, the farthest place inland steamboats could get to from the Port of New Orleans.

The company of Morris & Dickson, wholesalers from the start, provided goods to merchants on the Western frontier.

“Back in the early days, the retailers came to us. We’d put out

newspaper circulars advertising what products were going to be in,” says Dickson. “Say, ‘In April, we’ve got quinine coming in, guitar strings, cosmetics, and some Derringers and black powder.’ If it interested them, they’d hitch their wagon, come to Shreveport, and wait on the boat. Then we would broker the deal.”

“We had a branding as an apothecary in the early days, but we had to carry everything to keep the lights on,” says Dickson. “So shotguns, Derringers, black powder, ammunition. If they needed it, we supplied it. We were a big gun distributor for probably the better part of 70 or 80 years.”

Around the turn of the century, Morris & Dickson began to focus on the pharmaceutical side, stepping away from guns. But decades later, some real estate led them back. “We had some old pharma-

cy locations in Shreveport, but our pharmaceutical customers didn’t want us to be in the retail game,” says Dickson. “But they were great locations, and we couldn’t stand to just get rid of them. So in 1971, we converted them into sporting goods stores.”

From there, Sports South grew (and split off from Morris & Dickson, which kept its pharma focus)—first under Dickson’s father, and then Tripper himself— from a local store to the wholesale powerhouse it is today. “Back in the 1970s, you really didn’t have a dedicated supply chain like we have today for guns and shooting sports at the wholesale level,” says Dickson. “There was a guy in Shreveport who carried hardware, candy, and tobacco, and he had guns in the corner. It didn’t make any sense.

“There’s no customer overlap, and you’ve got a highly regulated item that warrants specialty focus, just like pharmaceuticals,” says Dickson. “So every bit of who we are at Sports South is largely derived from our roots and our history on the pharmaceutical side.”

Sports South warehouses all its stock in a central location and uses that economy of scale to make use of a state-of-the-art fulfillment system.

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BC_074

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @SHOTBUSINESS

That type of history suggests Sports South is in it for the long haul. Still, how can you be certain your distributor is on solid ground?

There’s no magic formula, says Dickson—just focus on your longterm professional relationships, and be willing to ask questions.

“You’ve got to know who you’re doing business with. We’re still a very relationship-driven industry.”

The most obvious thing to look for is on the service level, says Dickson. “That’s probably the easiest barometer for this: How many red out-of-stocks are on that screen?” he says. “And if you’re seeing that trending one way or the other, then, yeah, I might ask some questions.”

“You can’t hide the service level and the in-stock,” says Dickson. “Is this company putting their money where their mouth is? At the distribution level, that’s product.”

Of course, the out-of-stocks might not be an issue with the distributor itself. The logjam might be further up the supply line. “The same goes for manufacturers,” says Dickson. “You’ve got to worry when you see them not building or not shipping.”

But there’s often a good explanation. “If a manufacturer’s service level goes to 40 percent of their catalog, it’s certainly not some indicator that you better jump ship,” says Dickson. “But that might be the first indicator that would be worth a further conversation.”

It all comes back to the eternal question: Who am I doing business with?

“That’s where Sports South is demonstrating that, in this environment, we’re still a house that has it,” says Dickson.

Dickson’s not just blowing smoke. Sports South warehouses all its stock in a central location in Shreveport, and uses that economy of scale to make use of a state-ofthe-art fulfillment system that keeps processing swift and accurate, getting the product on the road ASAP. “They know that if they get an order in by 2 p.m. on Monday, my UPS guy gets it all the way out to northern California on Thursday. We have to be able to deliver on that consistently,” says Dickson. “They can manage their business around it.

“It takes a lot to get an order

from the biggest pile of inventory in the marketplace accurately into a customer’s box, and have it be on its way half an hour after somebody places the order,” says Dickson. “It requires a lot of automation and a lot of robotics. You can’t have college kids pushing a shopping cart around a warehouse, like Amazon does, and be that fast and that accurate.” From that mass of well-catalogued inventory, items get picked, packed, and shipped quickly.

The complex robotic systems, too, were imported from the pharmaceutical side. The automated picking and packing was originally adopted over at Morris & Dickson, where the stock was more uniform in size and weight.

“The robots could only handle 4 pounds for the first decade they were in existence,” remembers Dickson. “I could put about three boxes of reloading bullets in there before it was tapped out. They couldn’t handle the weight and the product variations.

“So two things had to happen,” says Dickson. “One, that automation had to catch up to other product types. And two, Sports

South had to reach scale to justify it. It takes a tremendous amount of capital and a deep knowledge base to run a large automated distribution facility like this.

“At five thousand boxes a day, it doesn’t make much sense,” says Dickson. “But when you get further along from the scale perspective, it’s all about the cost per box.

So the lower I can hammer that, that’s how much I can pass on to the customer.”

Despite recent setbacks in some quarters, Dickson sees a bright future. “I think there’s this doomand-gloom cloud hanging over everyone, when people see folks that they’re used to doing business with faltering,” says Dickson, who emphasizes that there are still numerous reliable wholesalers in the marketplace, even after the recent closings and insolvencies.

“There is still plenty of stability and optimism, and folks who are wholly invested in the shooting sports industry. A certain number of distributors are needed to keep this table steady. Those legs are out there, and they’re under the table,” says Dickson. Booth #15535. (theshootingwarehouse.com)

Caliber: .22 LR

MAGNUM LITE RIFLES BARRACUDA Caliber: .22 WMR

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Come and Visit Us at the Kahr Firearms Group Booth

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12/17/19 6:26 PM

NEWS

Zippo’s New Heater Displays Warm Dealers

F

or the 2020 SHOT Show, Zippo released a new upgraded, electronic heater to its retail line, the Heatbank 9s Rechargeable Hand Warmer.

This unit retails for $59.95 and is a significant part of the company’s product expansion into the electronic hand-warming category.

The 9s will last for nine hours in the field at the low setting and allow users to charge their phones via either a micro or standard dual USB charging port. An LED flashlight is also included. The heater can generate up to 120 degrees F of heat and can be used in a pocket or next to the skin as a body warmer. The unit warms rapidly, and a display keeps the user informed of the heater’s battery life. The 9s is also TSA-approved for use on airplanes.

Since the introduction three years ago of the original design, Zippo has experienced positive reactions from dealers and distributors alike. This season, cardboard POS displays will be available to retailers. The displays

The new Zippo Heatbank 9s heaters will be available in preloaded cardboard POS displays that set up easily and quickly.

hold a mix of the original Heatbank 3 as well as the new New Heatbank 9s. The heaters are packaged in units of 24 and 36, in black and silver. The displays can be floor standing or mounted to a grid wall with the included clips. Each display comes preloaded for fast, easy setup.

As with many Zippo SKUs, the

company offers custom logo branding with orders greater than 12 units. “They make wonderful gifts and are ideal for corporate promotional programs. We’ll even help you with art and design,” says market event specialist Kortney Regis. Retailers can also choose branded SKUs from all four branches of the Armed Forces and the NFL.

Although Zippo wouldn’t share retail numbers, Brent Tyler, outdoors brand manager for Case and Zippo, says, “The growth and retail success has been significant.

We look forward to the electronic heaters’ continued growth and being part of a strong profit center for our retailers.” Booth #13902. (zippooutdoor.com) —Peter B. Mathiesen

BIANCHI LAUNCHES NEW HOLSTER

Garberg Carbon & Stainless Simple Sheath Knives

• New lower price!

• Same great knife with new simple polyamide sheath • Full tang design

• .06 in | 1.4 mm thick stainless steel blade • Natural cork handle keeps knife afloat • 1.7 oz | 48.2 gm

www.moraknivusa.com sales@industrialrev.com | office (425) 285-1111

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Floating Knife Sport

The Model 6A Ambi waistband holster features an ambidextrous design, providing both strong-side and crossdraw carry, and allows both inside-the-waistband (IWB) and outside-thewaistband (OWB) carry, offering four different ways to wear this holster. The 6A Ambi is ultra-thin and lightweight, and is designed to accept multiple handguns in one size, due to a combination of the soft suede construction and Bianchi’s Adjust-ABreak thumb break closure. This allows for an adjustable and secure fit around several different-size pistols—or removal for those who prefer an open-top design. The thumb break also features a polymer-tipped snap closure with suede straps that attach via hook-and-loop to either side of the holster.

Based on the popular, longstanding Model 6 waistband design, the Model 6A Ambi waistband holster features a heavy-duty clip that keeps the holster securely in place and allows for a 1.75-inch belt width. The lightweight suede construction has a doublestitched seam in the welt area for strength and durability.

“Comfort, concealability, and safety are hallmarks of Bianchi holsters, and this new Ambi holster adds excellent versatility to that mix,” says James Dawson, category director for Safariland’s Duty Gear business unit. “Inside-the-waistband holsters have been trending for the last few years, and we’ve taken this model one step further by combining a multi-fit design with a versatile carry—both inside and outside the waistband, with the ability to wear it strong side or cross draw.”

Available in March 2020, the holster is offered in nine different fits for a variety of small- to medium-frame revolvers and small- to large-frame pistols, including Colt, Glock, Ruger, SIG Sauer, S&W, and Springfield. SRP: $35. Booth #12762. (safariland.com)

BOOTH #1446

12/16/19 12:38 PM 1/23/20 3:20 PM

news

Recoil for Triple Seven and FireStar are the same. FireStar fouls less and doesn’t concentrate fouling.

Black Magic Hodgdon’s Triple Seven FireStar pellets boost muzzleloader performance By Wayne Van Zwoll

E

migrating from Bulgaria, the Popovs bought into a cold, wild block of forest 210 miles above Saskatoon. Val and his wife, Vi, moved cabins across lake ice and built a lodge “where the hunting was good.” He cut a 2-mile track to a gravel road connecting points beyond Big River.

North of Tower Lodge, a bog all but gulped our ATV. Val freshened the bear bait with granola, M&Ms, and anise. Then he banged the barrel with a stick: “Dinner bell.” Not long after he left, a shadow ghosted from the alders. A PowerBelt bullet driven

by FireStar pellets flew from my CVA muzzleloader.

That bear was the first game I’d taken with FireStar, introduced by Hodgdon early in 2018. “It’s like Triple Seven, but better,” said Chris Hodgdon. “Bores stay cleaner, so loading stays easy.”

Checking zero, I had found that claim to be true. Accuracy? The bullets were on rails! Sandbagged at 50 yards, my CVA rifle delivered its first PowerBelt an inch high. Perfect. Tamping a second onto three FireStar pellets, I dropped the hammer on another 209. The paper showed no change. I reloaded and fired again. Still no change. Uh-oh.

But a close look revealed all three bullets had indeed cut one hole.

Bear camp had no chronograph.

Hodgdon assured me bullets

The author punched this 50-yard, three-shot hole with a Power Belt driven by FireStar.

pushed by FireStar left 1:28 rifling a bit faster than when driven by Pyrodex or Triple Seven.

“You should talk with Ron.” Ron Reiber’s 41 years in the shooting industry includes 27 at Hodgdon. He welcomed my call.

“Think of FireStar as reshaped Triple Seven,” he said. “Each

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FireStar pellet is a thick-walled tube with longitudinal grooves, a six-pointed star in cross-­ section. Those grooves help each pellet burn more uniformly and completely.”

Like Triple Seven pellets, FireStars have no igniter surface, so they can be oriented with either end down in a barrel. A FireStar pellet is lighter than a Triple Seven pellet of the same length. But charge weights don’t apply to blackpowder substitutes.

“Think volume,” said Reiber. “In granular and pelleted form, substitutes have more oomph per grain than black. So they’re listed in grain equivalents.”

He didn’t suggest I put pelleted blackpowder substitutes on a scale. But I did, to prove his point.

Pyrodex pellets (50-grainequivalent) averaged 38.8 grains each. Triple Seven pellets (50-grain-equivalent) averaged 30.9 grains each.

A FireStar pellet is roughly the same length as a Triple Seven, but it has less material so less thrust.

It’s not a 50-grain-equivalent pellet. Hodgdon advises a three-pellet FireStar charge to match a twopellet Triple Seven charge in a 100-grain-equivalent load.

According to Reiber, five FireStars yield the bullet arc and energy you can expect from three-pellet charges of Pyrodex or Triple Seven.

On my scale, five FireStar pellets average 24.8 grains each. No, 3x24.8 doesn’t equal 2x30.9 for a 100-grain-equivalent charge.

“Forget weight,” Reiber repeated.

“It’ll just confuse you.” FireStar pellets have sent 175-grain Dead Center bullets at 2410 fps, 240grain XTPs at nearly 2350 fps, and 260-grain Scorpion PT Golds at over 2140 fps. Hornady 300grain SSTs have clocked 2105 fps.

FireStar pellets, currently available in .50-caliber only, come in blister packs of 10 field-ready plastic tubes, each with six pellets.

The pack lists 100-grain-equivalent charges as a practical maximum, but Hodgdon approves four- and five-pellet loads, too.

Reiber pointed out that FireStar pellets stack taller than an equivalent charge of Triple Seven. “So the burn occurs over a longer section of barrel. Fouling is less concentrated. Reduced total fouling means you get more shots before loading becomes a real chore.”

You shouldn’t have to load often on a big-game hunt, but a fouled bore can slow a follow-up shot just enough that you forfeit it. Ever careful not to over-sell, Reiber conceded FireStar pellets don’t work magic.

I’ll have to correct him there.

On grassy steeps above Idaho’s Salmon River, long coulees crowded by plum thickets hem dark conifers spilling from high rock. From a ridge nose, I glassed deer, elk, and a coyote. Near dusk, I threaded a north-slope trail. A cow elk emerged from a tangle, then looked back. But not at me. On a hunch, I crept forward. A shadow moved a branch.

I thumbed the hammer of the CVA. The bear showed its shoulder at 22 steps. Smoke and recoil hid the impact. As I dropped in another charge of FireStars, the thicket became still.

Waiting for game to visit your table is indeed hunting, but it can’t match slipping up on a bear in a thick place. A still-hunt through unexplored plum jungles draws heavily on magic. Booth #16738. (hodgdon.com)

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NEW PRODUCTS Magpul

The PMAG 10 5.56 AC is a polymer 5.56x45 NATO (.223 Remington) magazine designed for short-action Accuracy International Chassis Systems (AICS)-pattern bottom metal, including the Bolt Action Magazine Well for the Magpul Hunter family of stocks. It features GEN M3 technology, including a self-lubricating follower, a stainless-steel spring, and constant-curve internal geometry for smooth feeding of 10 rounds.

Designed from the ground up to solve the challenges of feeding 5.56/.223, it incorporates offset feed lip geometry that maximizes bolt-face engagement, guaranteeing reliable feeding and solving the bolt-face issue common to other AICS-pattern magazines for 5.56-based cartridges. Booth #10263. (magpul.com)

Rapid Rope

Rapid Rope is a 1,100-poundtensile-strength rope that will not tangle and stores in a weatherresistant canister that has a topmounted razor knife. Pull out the desired length of rope, wrap it around the knife, and cut. Such ease of use makes it perfect for camping, backpacking, fishing, hunting, and farming. The rope is a durable flat weave with a strength that is twice that of paracord, making it a good choice for tying down gear on ATVs, truck racks, or backpacks. SRP: $24.95. Booth #N206.

The Magpul PMAG 10 5.56 AC has a self-lubricating follower for enhanced performance.

front and rear concealed-carry holster compartments. The holsters use retention straps for secure handgun placement, and the leggings can be used by left- or righthanded shooters. Forgiving fourway stretch fabric gives a wide range of motion and delivers extraordinary comfort. A thigh pocket easily keeps an iPhone or key fob in place. Perfect for the gym, a long run, or a trip to the grocery. Sizes XS through 2X, in black. SRP: $99.99. Booth #646.

Rapid Rope is a flat weave with a strength that is twice that of paracord, making it a good choice for securing a wide variety of gear.

(undertechundercover.com)

Tuffy

This portable safe was originally custom-ordered by the Department of Homeland Security.

The diminutive combination lock and cable box will fit in the small spaces of cars and trucks.

The box meets TSA requirements and comes in two sizes—one for a concealed-carry handguns, another for 1911s. The unit weighs less than 3 pounds (empty, without cable) and sports a 2-foot-long, 2,000-pound, 1⁄8-inch steel security cable, all of which allows the user to safely lock the box to a seat frame or cargo tie-down on a vehicle, boat, or airplane.

Compression bumpers keep the lid vibration-free, while the opencell foam protects the firearm.

SRP: $69.95. Booth #448.

MCR’s synthetic suede leather impact-protection gloves provide dexterity and protection, especially when shooting heavycaliber guns.

(tuffyproducts.com)

(rapidrope.com)

MCR

Using a synthetic suede leather, these gloves have impressive fit and remarkable dexterity. Ideal for any shooter who uses heavycaliber handguns or rifles, this design incorporates a D30 palm pad on the inside of the glove that absorbs recoil. The company adopted this technology from impact-protection gloves used in the oil and construction industries. Other features include a pull-on loop, an adjustable Velcro wrist tab, and fine-PVC grip lines for trigger and stock control.

Sizes S-XXL. SRP: $19.99. Booth #N120. (mcrsafety.com)

Undertech

Cargo Hybrid Leggings contain

Brownells

Brownells BRN-180 sidecharging upper receivers were designed to work with any standard, mil-spec AR-15 lower. Now Brownells is releasing its own lower receivers designed to work specifically with its BRN-180 uppers.

The new lowers, made from billet 7075 T-6 aluminum with a hard-anodized finish, do away with the traditional receiver extension threads, and in their place have a milled-in Picatinny rail section for mounting stocks or braces. They also feature an oversize trigger guard and a threaded bolt catch pin and a captive set screw for the takedown pin detent spring.

The lowers will be available in two varieties. SRP: $149. Booth #13018. (brownells.com)

54 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 4, JANUARY 24, 2020

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Undertech Cargo Hybrid Leggings contain front and rear concealedcarry compartments.

Tuffy’s portable safe is a good choice when you need to store a handgun in a vehicle.

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1/23/20 3:21 PM