Shot Daily - Day 4 - 2018 SHOT Show by SHOT Business

SHOOTING HUNTING OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW 1979–2018 DAY 4, JAN UA RY 2 6, 2 018

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

FEATURES

NEWS

Backcountry hunting requires the proper mindset. PAGE 60

Oak’s newest camo pattern is for hunters who like the high country. PAGE 62

NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

BIG QUESTION Is the 6.5 Creedmoor the perfect hunting and target cartridge? PAGE 58

MOUNTAIN COUNTRY Mossy

FLOODING THE ZONE SJK goes all out with new camo products. PAGE 10

T H E DA I LY N E WS O F T H E 2 0 1 8 L AS V EGAS S H OT S H OW B ROUG H T TO YOU BY T H E B O N N I E R CO R P O RAT I O N A N D T H E N SS F

Customer Care

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has research relevant to your bottom line. That’s why it was worth waking up early for the Research Breakfast on Wednesday morning. “The people we survey are already hunters and shooters,” says Rob Southwick, Southwick Associates president. “They know where to buy a firearm. That’s not the issue. Something is holding them back. They’re hesitating. We have to help encourage them.” Catering to your customer means knowing your customer. Chances are, the person walking into your gun shop isn’t who you expect. Twenty percent of new shooters are considered nontraditional. They’re young, female, suburban non-hunters. “They’re changing what shooters look like as a whole,” says Mark Duda, Responsive Management executive director. “Nontraditional shooters shoot at indoor ranges for self-defense practice. That has changed participation ratios over the years from primarily hunters to 51 percent shooters.” As the customer base changes, so must your store. Customers want to feel comfortable asking questions that experienced shooters are well beyond. Share what you know rather than belittle beginner ignorance, because comfort creates currency exchange. “Women like the personal touch, and women spend money, so you need to pay attention to them,” says Laura Kippen, InfoManiacs owner. In addition to new shooters, also reach out to inactive shooters. Reactivating them and keeping both demographics in your store will keep your store open. “There’s no such thing as an average customer,” Southwick says. “People buy for a specific need or motivator. The smart company knows the motivator.” —Kris MIllgate

Plug and Play The V23 from Ti Training is an all-new plug-in-and-turn-on live-fire simulator. The system features a control LCD for the shooting table and an operation box at the shooter’s feet. “Installation is simple. Just plug it into a 110 outlet, turn it on, and set up the sensor downrange. The live-fire system creates a highly profitable station that can easily be expanded. You’ll sell a lot of ammo,” says simulator technician Dylan Chedsey.

THE CONNECTION

The V23 interfaces with any targetretrieval system that uses a simple cardboard backing and a clean sheet of paper. The livefire sensor measures negative space, meaning every time there is a new hole, the sensor accurately records the hit. Complete laneready simulators are shipping for about $10,000 a station, including a plethora of zombie experiences. Booth #4051. (tioutdoors.com) —Peter B. Mathiesen

Building upon the growing needs of today’s “connected officer,” the Safariland Group debuted its newest wireless CAS Auto-Activation technology at the SHOT Show. CAS AutoActivation technology incorporates proprietary chip technology embedded in the Safariland 7TS duty holster in its wired and new wireless models. Now the CAS duty holster seamlessly pairs with several systems, such as cameras, radios, and in-car video, allowing an officer in the field to wirelessly connect to different devices when his duty weapon is drawn. The officer is also connected to other officers and the command center. “Safariland has established the industry standard for the next generation of policing technology,” says Terry O’Shea, Safariland’s chief technology officer. Booth #12762. (safari land.com)

1/25/18 2:35 PM

YOU CAN FIND OUR PRODUCTS AT AUTHORIZED DEALERS AND ONLINE AT SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM

CL COMPANION THE FREEDOM TO EXPERIENCE MORE Just pick them up – and you’re right in the moment. With its impressive optical performance, the new CL Companion promises unique moments that you will never forget. Compact and intuitive, these elegant binoculars are your constant companion on all your explorations. Choose from three accessory packages to express your personal style.

SEE THE UNSEEN

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12/18/17 3:28 PM

U LT R AS H O R T M AST E R P I E C E . The K 318i means noticeable optical and mechanical perfection packed in ultrashort design. With precise illuminated reticles in FFP, sharply defined throughout the entire magnification range and the unique TWIST GUARD windage (patent pending). A true masterpiece in engineering.

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Slaton L. White, Editor James A. Walsh, Art Director Margaret M. Nussey, Managing Editor David E. Petzal, Shooting Editor David Maccar, Special Projects Editor Judith Weber, Production Manager Justin Appenzeller, Contributing Photographer

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Larry Ahlman, Barbara Baird, Scott Bestul, Philip Bourjaily, Christopher Cogley, Jock Elliott, Tim Irwin, William F. Kendy, Richard Mann, Peter B. Mathiesen, Brian McCombie, Tom Mohrhauser, Robert Sadowski, Robert F. Staeger, Peter Suciu, Wayne Van Zwoll

Anthony Licata, Editorial Director Gregory D. Gatto, Senior Vice President, Managing Director ADVERTISING: 212-779-5316

Jeff Roberge, Advertising Director Brian Peterson, Western Sporting Goods Sales Katie Logan, Southern Sporting Goods Sales David Hawkey, Northeast Sporting Goods Sales Amanda Gastelum, Integrated Marketing Director Ingrid Reslmaier, Marketing Design Director

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Tara Bisciello, Business Manager

MANUFACTURING

Michelle Doster, Group Production Director Alison Klein, Senior Production Manager

BONNIER Chairman, Tomas FranzŽn Head of Business Area, Magazines, Lars DahmŽn Chief Executive Officer, Eric Zinczenko Chief Financial Officer, Joachim Jaginder Chief Operating Officer, David Ritchie Chief Marketing Officer, Elizabeth Burnham Murphy Chief Digital Revenue Officer, Sean Holzman Vice President, Integrated Sales, John Graney Vice President, Digital Operations, David Butler Vice President, Public Relations, Perri Dorset General Counsel, Jeremy Thompson

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SHOT Business (ISSN 1081-8618) is published 7 times a year in January, February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/ November and December by Bonnier Corporation, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5695, and is the official publication of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Flintlock Ridge Office Center, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470 (203-426-1320). Volume 26, issue 1. Copyright © 2018 by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. All rights reserved. Editorial, circulation, production and advertising offices are located at 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5695 (212-779-5000). Free to qualified subscribers; available to non-qualified subscribers for $25 per year. Single-copy issues are available for $5 each. Send check, payable to NSSF, to: SHOT Business, c/o NSSF, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470-2359. SHOT Business accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. All correspondence should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Requests for media kits and advertising information should be directed to Katy Marinaro, Bonnier Corporation, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1270, Chicago, IL 60611. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Visit us at Booth 14551

Printed in the USA. For Customer Service and Subscription questions, such as Renewals, Address Changes, Email Preferences, Billing and Account Status, go to: shotbusiness .com/cs. You can also email SBZcustserv@cdsfulfllment.com, in the U.S. call toll-free 866-615-4345, outside the U.S. call 515-237-3697, or write to SHOT Business, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016. For editorial inquiries, write to Slaton L. White, SHOT Business, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016

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B O O T H 1 51 2 0

12/21/17 12:15 PM

NEWS

Brownells Goes Retro

JOINT EFFORT

Brownells’ Retro line will feature six full production rifles, all of which hark back to the early days of the AR rifle platform.

fter 79 years in the business of selling gun parts and accessories, Brownells is officially in the gun-manufacturing business, and their breakout products are, somewhat fittingly, a throwback to the early days of the AR rifle platform. The new Retro Rifles line, which launched on the floor of the SHOT Show, features four .223 Rem/5.56 NATO variants and two .308 Win/7.62 NATO models. The 5.56 rifles feature the finish, features, and look of rifles issued by the U.S. military in the 1960s, while the .308 models are based on Eugene Stoner’s original AR-10 design. “Nostalgia marketing and products are extremely hot right now in the firearms

industry and beyond. We developed a retroparts line about two years ago, and it’s been immensely popular,” says Ryan Repp, Brownells’ director of communications. “Because we already had all the parts, we elected to move forward with full production guns. Now customers have the option to buy it or build it.” The BRN-16A1 is a close copy of the M16A1; the BRN-601 is based on the original USAF contract rifle with green furniture; the XBRN16E1 is a copy of the transitional rifle that was made between the 601 and M16A1, with features of both; and the XBRN-177E2 is an authentic copy of an early Special Forces carbine, an early precursor to the M4. On the .308 side, the BRN-10A is based on the AR-10 issued by the Netherlands, with brown furniture, and the BRN-10B is a close copy of late-model AR-10 rifles like those adopted by Cuba and other countries. Both BRN-10 rifles have the trigger-style charging handle located on top of the receiver inside the integrated carry handle, as well as the same lines and contours of the first production AR-10s from the 1950s. SRP: $1,299.99, 5.56 models; $1,599.99 and $1,699.99, .308 models. Booth #13018. (brownells.com) —David Maccar

Realtree Unveils Edge

ealtree is using the 2018 SHOT Show to unveil what it believes to be its most pioneering pattern to date—Realtree Edge. The new pattern embraces distinctive qualities designed to disrupt the human form, while sticking to its roots by offering realistic natural elements that ensure unmatched concealment.

“The new Realtree Edge pattern is unique in its design and arrangement,” says Realtree president Bill

Jordan. “This pattern features an abstract background, with realistic limbs and leaves in the foreThe new Realtree Edge pattern disrupts the human form while also blending into the hunting environment.

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ground, to allow for seamless concealment in a variety of hunting environments. Leaves of varying shades and colors create a random pattern, and a variety of crisscrossing branches with highlights and shadows disrupt the vertical silhouette of the human shape.” Jordan also says that the claim of many camo patterns developed “in this digital world is that disruption of the human form is more important than blending into the hunting environment. Realtree Edge is the only pattern that accomplishes both, with natural features that match the hunter’s surroundings arranged in a way that erases the human form.” Booth #10719. (realtree.com)

All too often, when a collegiate clay target shooter graduates from college, that passion for shooting takes a back seat to the reality of figuring out how to make a living. But the Browning Graduate Program, a joint effort between Browning and the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), is designed to help these shooters stay in the game. Starting this year, all graduating seniors who attend and shoot the ACUI National Championships in San Antonio will be eligible to receive a three-year ATA or NSCA/NSSA membership paid for by Browning. Each year, more than 800 students participate in the ACUI National Championship. The objective of the Browning ACUI Graduate Program is to retain the interests of those who have participated in competitive ACUI-sanctioned shotgun shooting sports as they begin their post-graduate lofe. To qualify, a young shooter must compete in the ACUI National Championship event. By providing a way to remain connected to the competitive shooting sports through memberships in a shooting association for the first three years of post-graduate life, Browning hopes that many of these young shooters will make the shooting sports a lifelong passion. “In an ongoing effort to recruit and retain hunters and shooters, sometimes we as an industry overlook critical segments within certain groups,” says Scott Grange, Browning’s public relations and shooting sports promotions manager. “The ACUI has done, and continues to do, a wonderful job of attracting college students to the world of target shotgun sports. Yet, what happens to these shooters once they graduate generally goes unnoticed. Rather than just hoping these young adults remain in or come back to the sport once they get on their feet, we felt a program such as this would provide a means of staying connected. Browning recognizes the importance, not just to Browning, but to the entire industry, of retaining this segment of the population. After all, they are the future of the sport.” Booth #12740. (browning.com)

1/25/18 2:48 PM

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1/4/18 2:40 PM

NEWS

Proper Balance Leupold’s VX-3i LRP proves that longrange optics don’t need to be complex

By Brad Fitzpatrick tah’s Castle Valley Outdoors has been a premier upland hunting destination for decades, but in recent years the lodge has attracted a different type of gun enthusiast: longrange shooters. The reason for this is clear when you step out the back door. Just beyond the stocked trout pond is a 100-yard rifle target. As you look down the canyon, more targets appear on the dusty hills—200 yards, 400 yards, 600 yards, and 700 yards—all the way out to more than a mile. Step out of the comfortable lodge with your coffee and rifle in hand, and you can instantly be shooting as far as you’d like. In your slippers, if you prefer. VX-3i scopes like the LRP have a special lens coating that maximizes blue and red light transmission for a crisper image.

CVO is the ideal place to test the mettle of serious long-range optics. Last July, I attended a media event at the lodge and tested Leupold’s new VX-3i LRP riflescope, the latest in its recently released VX-3i line. Like all VX-3i scopes, Leupold’s LRP (Long Range Precision) line is equipped with the Twilight Max lightmanagement system. For years, riflescope manufacturers have bragged about “maximum light transmission” from their optics. And while anti-reflective lenses are important for allowing more light to reach the shooter’s eye (allowing you to clearly view your target in low-

light conditions), it’s equally important to manage that light so that the shooter is afforded the clearest image possible. Instead of simply channeling every bit of light to the shooter, the Twilight Max system manages light to provide improved contrast to aid in target acquisition in any conditions. “Light transmission is an important factor, but it’s not the only factor that matters in optics,” says Tim Lesser, vice president of product development for Leupold & Stevens. “You can transmit 99.99 percent of available light, but if it’s not managed and properly balanced, you won’t have the performance. In fact, the new

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VX-3i has the highest average light transmission across the visible spectrum, but its true performance lies in the management of that light.” The value of managed light transmission is apparent when you’re shooting in bright sunlight, as was the case at Castle Valley. VX-3i scopes like the LRP have a special lens coating that maximizes blue and red light transmission for a crisper image. In addition, the Twilight Max system reduces glare, so even in full sun, it’s easy to identify your target. The LRP scope made it easy to identify targets regardless of ambient light conditions—a valuable feature for both hunters and long-

range shooters. The VX-3i’s 30mm main body tube is made from 6061-T6 aircraftgrade aluminum and offers a greater range of windage and elevation adjustment increments as compared to 1-inch scopes. Blackened lens edges reduce diffusion and allow more light to reach the shooter’s eye, and the DiamondCoat 2 ion-assist lens coating allows for even more light transmission and maximum abrasion resistance, which protects the glass in environments where blowing sand and grit can damage lenses. A twin-bias spring erector system applies 30 percent more holding force to the erector tube, which extends the life of the optic. Shooters can select from either frontor rear-focal-plane reticles with MOA or mil adjustments. VX-3i models offer 4.5–14x, 6.5–20x, or 8.5– 25x magnification, and all are equipped with a 50mm objective lens. Long-range shooting is growing in popularity, but for those new to the sport (particularly those who have always used a duplex reticle with ¼ MOA click adjustments), long-range optics can be intimidating. The VX-3i LRP helps simplify long-range shooting without sacrificing performance. “While the LRP was designed with the newer shooter in mind, it still delivers all the features and benefits advanced longrange shooters need,” says Allen Forkner of Swanson Russell, Leupold’s public relations firm. “This isn’t a dumbed-down riflescope— it’s just more user-friendly.” Indeed, as long-range riflescopes go, the VX-3i is very simple to use. The elevation knob is set for either ¼ MOA or .1 mil adjustments, and there’s a travel indicator marked with 5 mil or 5 MOA increments. Other features include a zero-stop that prevents over rotation when returning to zero, a capped windage knob with a thread protector so you can quickly adjust windage

while shooting from a prone position, a throw lever for rapid magnification adjustments, and an optional side parallax adjustment. Several reticles are available, including the MOA-based Impact-29 MOA, Impact-32 MOA, and T-MOA, the milbased TMR, and Leupold’s new grid-based CCH (Combat Competition Hunter), which provides holdover and wind holds in mils—a perfect option for hunters or PRS competitors. The scope that I tested was the 4.5–14x50 with a CCH reticle mounted atop Winchester’s XPR rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. From the bench or a prone position, the easyto-read (and reach) dial system allowed for immediate, precise adjustments when engaging targets from 200 to 1,100 yards. The side parallax adjustment knob and throw lever simplified adjustments from both positions, and the large, easyto-read dials offered precise, positive adjustments and a clear readout of my exact windage setting—all without having to change positions to interpret the dials. A quick glance at the elevation adjustment told me exactly where the rifle was dialed. And when I wanted to return to zero for close shots, the zerostop prevented accidental over rotation. The Twilight Max system helped me identify targets on the bleached-white hillsides of the canyon out to a half-mile, and—perhaps most importantly— the ¼ MOA adjustments were accurate and precise. With my ballistic data onhand, I could quickly determine elevation adjustments, dial in for the appropriate distance, and engage the target—all without having to switch positions or fiddle with hard-to-read dials. Considering all that these scopes have to offer long-range shooters, they’re quite a bargain. SRP: $1,104.99 to $1,299.99. Booth #13023. (leupold.com)

1/25/18 2:52 PM

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12/5/17 4:54 PM

NEWS

SJK Floods the Zone

From packs to gloves, SJK has it all

hen the media covers a major story, committing all its resources and people to it, insiders call it “flooding the zone.” Well, that’s exactly what SJK is doing at the 2018 SHOT Show by unleashing a torrent of new product. It starts with a new pack. Designed to fill a key space between the mid-size 40-liter Carbine and the oversize 80-liter Bounty, the Deadfall boasts 65 liters of storage space.

“The new Deadfall fills a key space in our line, providing hunters with a go-to option for overnight hunts that will easily haul all the necessary gear,” says Russell Rowell, SJK vice president. “The Deadfall is ideal for hunts that require a ton of gear or span multiple days. With 65 liters of storage space split between a sizable main compartment and three external pockets of varying sizes, this pack will haul all the essentials and then some while keeping everything organized and accessible. A stowable multi-weapon carry system easily transports a bow or rifle, while an adjustable back suspension system ensures a custom-fit. Dual aluminum stays with an HDPE frame sheet provide ample support for heavier loads. Side compression straps can be routed over or under the side pockets, maximizing pocket access and compression options. Top-loading and hydrationcompatible, the Deadfall will retail for $229.” The pack will also wear SJK’s new proprietary camo, Perception Disruptive Shadow Technology (DST). “After a year of field-testing, we’re confident our DST camo pattern is among the best for concealment in a variety of environments, so we’re spreading it across our entire line. You’ll be able to outfit yourself with DST camo apparel and packs.” He adds that all SJK packs will now be available in Perception DST and Kryptek Highlander. The smaller Carbine, Hone, and Pursuit packs will also be available in RealTree Max1. But that’s not the only news from SJK for 2018. The company is also is growing its Perception DST camouflage apparel line. Key pieces will now include SJK’s ScentHyde antimicrobial technology. The newest arrivals will include the Repetition short- and long-sleeve tops, the Suppressor Base Layer tops and bottoms with ScentHyde, and the Periphery Quarter Zip Top and Pant with ScentHyde. The new Suppressor, Periphery, and Windage gloves will launch alongside other accessories, including the Suppressor Balaclava and Periphery Ball Cap. All gloves and accessories will be offered with ScentHyde. “We see a ton of opportunity with our proprietary Perception DST camo pattern, both in the field and at retail, and that’s why we decided to grow our apparel line and add accessories,” says Rowell. “DST provides next-level concealment in a variety of situations, while our new ScentHyde technology will further mask hunter scent. We feel this is a winning combination and look forward to introducing our head-to-toe offering to the hunt community.”

“SJK’s Perception DST blends sharp outlines with blurred, shadow-like colors to effectively disrupt the human form at long range or in close quarters,” says Rowell. “By creating an illusion through depth of field and color adaptation, hunters more easily blend in with varied terrain.” ScentHyde blends silver ions with a patented delivery system to create a long-lasting antimicrobial. When applied to fabric surfaces, ScentHyde regulates the release rate of silver ions to most effectively minimize the buildup of undesirable bacteria to eliminate odors. Made with 100 percent polyester spun jersey, SJK’s Repetition short-sleeve ($24.95) and long-sleeve ($29.95) tops are lightweight and ideal for long-term wear on their own in warmer weather or layered underneath in cooler temps. Flatlock seams and raglan sleeves are comfortable and help to eliminate hot spots. Colder weather calls for a base layer, and the Suppressor long-sleeve ($34.95) and short-sleeve ($29.95) tops and bottoms ($34.95) provide much-needed warmth. Made with 100 percent polyester bird’s-eye mesh, the Suppressor wicks moisture and dries quickly for all-day comfort. To take the edge off cool mornings and evenings, SJK provides the Periphery quarter-zip top ($74.95) and pant ($89.95). Made with a blend of four-way-stretch polyester/spandex panels and 100 percent polyester bird’s-eye mesh panels, the Periphery will move with you through even the toughest terrain while helping to wick moisture away from your body. A DWR finish sheds rain, while ScentHyde eliminates odors. “And this fall, SJK will introduce our firstever line of gloves,” Rowell says. “All will be offered in the Perception DST camo pattern with ScentHyde technology and touch-screencompatible index finger and thumb. The Suppressor gloves ($19.95) are made with 100 percent polyester bird’s-eye mesh with a custom grip treatment on the palm. The Periphery gloves ($49.95) are a little heavier weight and made with a reinforced palm, four-way-stretch fabric, and a DWR finish. And when the mercury drops, the Windage gloves ($69.95) are ready to keep hands warm with three-layer waterproof/breathable fabric, SlumberLoft Pro synthetic insulation, and an adjustable gauntlet.” Also in 2018, SJK will offer the Suppressor Balaclava ($19.95) and Periphery Ball Cap ($24.95). Both have DST camo and ScentHyde technology. Booth #11214. (slumberjack.com) SJK’s Perception DST blends sharp outlines with blurred, shadow-like colors to effectively disrupt the human form.

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1/25/18 11:15 AM

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11/28/17 11:50 AM

AIRGUNS PYRA M Y D A I R The Kral Puncher Armor PCP may well be the most futuristic-looking airgun available on the market. It can launch pellets downrange at speeds exceeding 1,000 fps.

Airing It Out

For high fun, low per-shot expense, and expanded shooting opportunities, air riﬂes and air pistols deliver the goods. Here’s what’s new for 2018 By Jock Elliott Airguns of Arizona ³ Daystate’s

Red Wolf air rifle, sculpted from a monoblock breech design for strength and elegance, has a smooth side-lever cocking action that automatically cycles the 10-shot magazine with every shot fired. The precision match-grade Lothar-Walther barrel is available in .177, .22, .25, or .303 caliber, and is encased in an ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber

shroud that reduces firing noise. Powered by a 480cc carbon-fiber air bottle, the rifle’s efficient valve design and regulation is controlled by an onboard computer system with an interchangeable battery system that can be accessed through the pistol grip. The initial release of Red Wolf rifles will feature a special edition with a contoured red-laminate stock. A standard model will follow featuring the same profile

stock made in Grade 2 walnut. The rifle also features a matchgrade adjustable trigger and a three-step power adjuster. Highpower versions will feature longer barrels and shrouds. The new FX Crown air rifle uses a 480cc carbon-fiber air bottle for its reservoir and refills via a quick-disconnect port. This interchangeable bottle supplies air to the pressure regulator, which is externally adjustable and features

C ROS M AN The DPMS SBR is a tactical compact CO2 rifle that shoots BBs in either single-shot semi-auto mode or full-auto.

one pressure gauge that shows bottle pressure and another pressure gauge that shows the regulated pressure. This is useful for adjusting power up or down. The rifle also features a multistep hammer-stroke adjuster, externally adjusted with balldetent steps. This allows the shooter to dial in the efficiency and consistency of the shot cycle. The FX Crown also has a powerrestriction wheel, which allows the shooter to quickly increase or decrease the power of the rifle while in the field. The FX Crown comes with an adjustable trigger and an Italian-made stock available in walnut or laminate, each with an adjustable buttpad. The Crown also features a manual safety and an FX High Capacity magazine, but inserts at an angle to reduce the height for lowerprofile scope mounting. Building upon the proven Smooth Twist technology, FX Airguns has pushed the design further with the new X barrel system. Each barrel starts with a highly polished tube, clear and free of any cuts or grooves. Using a patented procedure, FX presses the entire length of the outside of the tube with “grooves” that translate through the metal to impart twist on pellets when fired. The process spins the pellet much like rifling, but it does not cut the lead or leave markings on the pellets. The result is a more stable pellet in flight. Furthermore, the design allows

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1/16/18 11:39 AM

A I RGU N S OF A R I ZON A The FX Crown uses a carbon-fiber air bottle for its reservoir and refills via a quick-disconnect port.

A N SC H U TZ The Model 9015 One 3 Position (above) is a high-end target air rifle built for air rifle 3-position disciplines. The Model 9015 One Basic 3 Position (below) offers the shooter a solid 3-position rifle.

for a variety of “twist” rates, and the barrel on the FX Crown allows these inner liners to be changed out easily. Booth #4049. (airgunsofarizona.com)

Pyramyd Air ³ The

Air Venturi Ataman M2R Type 4 repeater brings shooters knockdown power, versatility, and a high-quality shooting experience. Based on the tried-and-true M2R platform, the Type 4 features Lothar-Walther barrels and the match-grade adjustable triggers that made the M2R pellet rifle a prize among airgunners. This air rifle’s 300 BAR (4,350 psi) fill pressure is internally regulated to get the most consistent shots possible from your powerplant. Each Ataman M2S FT includes a Lothar-Walther match-grade barrel, along with a consistent regulator. In addition, the rifle features a fully adjustable cheekpiece and butt-hook system that can be made to fit any shooter comfortably. With a straightforward, no-frills design, the Diana Stormrider’s combination of repeating shots and great features make it a serious contender for one of the best entry-level PCPs. The German beech stock is sturdy and contoured, with checkering on the grip and forend. The Stormrider delivers nine shots in .177, seven in .22. It can be charged up to 200 BAR (2,900 psi) easily with a

hand pump. The Diana 250 is the line’s newest addition to its price-point break-barrel line. Features include an ambidextrous beech thumbhole stock and a checkered grip and raised cheekpiece. Ideal for backyard plinking and shooting ranges, the 250 features fiber-optic open sights. Shooters also have the option to install the included 3–9x32 AO scope. The Air Bolt is a revolutionary, patent-pending ammunition system that transforms a .35-caliber PCP air rifle into a powerful archery tool. The 375-grain carbon-fiber Air Bolt can be used in any .35-caliber precharged pneumatic rifle with a barrel 21 inches or longer. Air Bolts can reach velocities of up to 530 fps. The Kral Puncher Armor PCP may well be the most futuristic looking airgun available on the market. Powered by a 200 BAR cylinder, this new air rifle can launch pellets downrange at speeds exceeding 1,000 fps. With a huge Weaver optics rail, scope options are limited only by the shooter’s imagination. Each rifle includes two magazines, one of which can be stored in the stock. The Air Venturi G7S pump offers an alternative to lugging a heavy tank into the field or to a match. This hand pump includes accessories to let shooters do

their own regular maintenance. Included are five rebuild kits, so shooters can quickly swap out the old with the new. In addition, this hand pump has the capability to pressurize a gun’s air reservoir up to 4,500 psi. The Hellraiser Dust Devil Frangible BB is the world’s first and only frangible BB. Using a special-alloy blend, these ricochet-free rounds break into fragments, leaving only a wisp of powder in their wake. Booth #2007. (pyramydair.com)

C ROSMAN The Benjamin Fortitude is a repeater with a regulator that uses interchangeable 10-shot rotary magazines.

Anschutz ³ The

Model 9015 One 3 Position is a high-end target air rifle built expressly for air rifle 3-position disciplines. The modular design allows a shooter to create a custom fit, allowing for precise shooting at a very high level. SRP: $4,295. The Model 9015 One Basic 3 Position offers the shooter a solid 3-position rifle with the wellknown Anschutz cheekpiece and buttplate adjustment. This model includes the newly developed One-hand stop, which improves the shooter’s grip. In addition, the One-aluminum rail allows the shooter to mount a variety of forend riser blocks. With the extensive Anschutz accessory pro-

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PRODUCTS

gram, the air rifle can be continuously expanded and adapted to the shooter’s requirements. SRP: $3,250. Booth #15549. (anschuetz-sport.com)

Crosman ³ The

Fortitude is the newest addition to the Benjamin family. It’s a multi-shot repeater with a regulator that uses interchangeable 10-shot rotary magazines for bolt-action firing. The Fortitude also features a regulated reservoir with a 3,000-psi max-fill pressure (90 shots per fill) and a lightweight all-weather ergonomic stock and fully shrouded barrel with sound suppression. A regula-

tor built into the reservoir controls the output air pressure for shot-to-shot consistency for backyard plinking, target shooting, pest control, or small-game hunting. Available in .177 and .22. SRP: $299.99. The DPMS SBR is a tactical compact CO2 rifle that shoots BBs in either a single-shot semiauto mode or full-auto (up to 1,400 rounds per minute rate of fire). The SBR features a six-position buttstock, AR-compatible pistol grip, quad Picatinny rails for accessories, angled foregrip and flip-up iron sights. It is powered by dual 12-gram CO2 Powerlets that are housed in a drop-out magazine for ease of

access. Other features include blowback bolt action, ejection port cover, forward-assist button, and a drop-out third magazine. SRP: $179.99. Booth #13940.

find the proper fit for his rifle. Eley is also packaging this new load in damage-resistant packaging. SRP: $199.99, per box. Booth #13610. (eleyammunition.com)

(crosman.com)

Eley

³ Competition

Hatsan

shooters crave consistency, not only from their target rifle, but also from their ammo. Eley made its reputation making high-quality .22 competition ammo, and it now extends its expertise into .177-caliber air pellets. Eley will offer the new ventus pellets in three different diameters: 4.49mm, 4.50mm and 4.51mm, allowing a shooter to

³ The

Flash PCP bolt-action air rifle is equipped with a Quattro two-stage adjustable match trigger and a QuietEnergy shrouded barrel with integrated sound moderator. The thumbhole stock is made of a lightweight, advanced polymer and features an ambidextrous cheek riser for added customization. Each rifle comes with a 165cc non-removable air cylinder refillable up to a pressure of

H ATSA N The Flash PCP bolt-action air rifle is equipped with a Quatro two-stage adjustable match trigger and a shrouded barrel.

UMAREX® MAKES IT…POLYONE MAKES IT

POSSIBLE A new big bore for big game. Umarex® Airguns collaborated with PolyOne’s industrial design team to engineer the new Umarex Hammer® with next-generation technology, power and precision. Fresh Thinking. Smarter Designs. Advanced Polymer Materials.

For more idea inspiration, visit polyone.com or call 1.866.POLYONE.

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PRODUCTS

L EAPE RS Left to right: UTG T8 Series 2–16x44 30mm scope, MRC (Multi-Range Combat & Competition) 2–16x44 30mm scope, and UTG 1-inch BugBuster 3–9x32mm scope. All Leapers UTG riflescopes feature premium coatings to achieve maximum light transmission.

200 BAR. It’s fed from Roto Index spring-loaded magazines with capacities of 14 shots (.177), 12 shots (.22), and 10 shots (.25) and, at optimal velocity, will deliver 30 to 40 shots (.177), 30 to 35 shots (.22), and 18 to 27 shots (.25). SRP: $299.99. Booth #1425. (hatsan.com)

Leapers ³ The

UTG Accushot Premium 3–12x56 30mm IE scope features a 30mm tube with emerald lens coatings to achieve maximum light transmission, premium lowtop zero lockable and resettable target turrets with ¼ MOA per

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click adjustment, and an etchedglass German No. 4 dot reticle. It is shockproof, fogproof, and rainproof. The innovative EZ-TAP Illumination Enhancing (IE) System provides red/green dualcolor and a 36 multi-color mode to accommodate all weather and light conditions, and the 1-Click Illumination Memory feature gets the user back to the color and brightness setting last used. Other features include flip-open lens caps, cleaning cloth, and rings. SRP: $279.97. The UTG T8 Series 2–16x44 30mm MRC (Multi-Range Combat & Competition) scope provides advanced multi-range

capabilities from close-quarters combat and mid-range hunting or recon/scout operations to longrange precision-aiming applications. Built on the True Strength Platform, it includes the EZ-TAP Illumination System, sidewheel adjustable turret, etched-glass German No. 4 reticle, and comes complete with flip-up lens covers, QD lever lock, and mediumprofile Picatinny/Weaver rings progressively machined for a precise inner-ring diameter to achieve optimal tube alignment. SRP: $299.97. The UTG 1-inch BugBuster 3–9x32mm scope offers sidewheel parallax adjustment from 3 yards

to infinity, zero lockable/resettable windage/elevation target turrets, and a multi-emerald lens coating. Other features include medium-profile torx screw locking dovetail rings, a 2-inch sunshade, flip-open lens caps, and a mil-dot range-estimating reticle. SRP: $117.97. Booth #2246. (leapers.com)

Sig Sauer ³ Available

in .177 and .22 calibers, the ASP P20 (Advanced Sport Pellet) break-barrel air rifle is a suppressed single-shot that can deliver downrange power and accuracy with the lightest cocking

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PRODUCTS

S I G SAU E R Available in .177 and .22 calibers, the ASP P20 breakbarrel air rifle is a suppressed single-shot with downrange power.

effort in its class, making it ideal for hunting small game. It also features the smooth, crisp, and adjustable ASP MatchLite trigger, which can be adjusted to break at one of eight different pull weights, from 2.5 to 4 pounds. Sig Sauer’s proprietary GlideLite cocking mechanism greatly enhances ease of use. The action is larger in diameter and shorter in length than most on the market. This brings the pivot point closer to the body, making the air rifle easier to shoot accurately. In addition, Sig’s proprietary breechlocking system precisely aligns the barrel to the action, ensuring consistent accuracy. Powered by a gas piston, the .177-caliber ASP20 delivers 20 foot-pounds of energy with a muzzle velocity of 1,021 fps using a 8.64-grain lead pellet. The .22-caliber delivers 23 footpounds of energy and a muzzle velocity of 841 fps with a 14.65grain lead pellet. Available with either a synthetic or wood stock. Based on the popular P226 X-Five Competition pistol, the X-Five ASP CO2-powered pistol is a semi-automatic .177 with a single-action-only (SAO) trigger, ambidextrous safety, and 20-round Rapid Pellet Magazine (RPM). The X-Five also features a full-metal slide and frame with realistic blowback action and is

virtually the same weight and feel as its centerfire counterpart. The X-Five ASP has an adjustable rear sight and an accessory rail that allows easy mounting of a laser or tactical flashlight. There is also a cam-lever loading port for quick loading of the 12-gram CO2 cartridges. Available in silver/black or solid black. SRP: $139.99. Booth #12240. (sigsauer.com)

Umarex ³ Maintaining

momentum in the Pre-Charged Pneumatic (PCP) category, Umarex USA introduces the latest for the Umarex Gauntlet line—the .25 Caliber Gauntlet. It comes with a 10-round magazine and uses a removable 9-ounce tank with a quick-disconnect probe for easy fills. It also has a pressure-release key. The comb is adjustable, and it’s fully moderated, making it extremely quiet. SRP: $299.99. The Syrix is a single-shot pellet rifle suitable for small game. It has an attractive all-weather stock, fiber-optic sights, and a uniquely shaped buttpad. It comes bundled with a 4x32 scope and is powered by the company’s TNT piston. SRP: $99.99. Following on the heels of the popular Umarex Steel Force, the new Umarex Steel Strike is a six-

UM A R E X The HK USP BB gun holds 16 rounds in a heavyweight magazine that also houses the CO2 cartridge.

shot burst “full-auto” BB machine on a fun platform. It features a 30-round BB magazine and 900round BB reservoir, a 12-gram CO2 cartridge housed in the collapsible stock, and a single or sixshot selector. SRP: $114.99. The Umarex Strike Point multi-pump pellet pistol, available in .177, can now be had in .22-caliber. It shoots one pellet at a time with a simple-to-use bolt action. The pneumatic Strike Point works with as few as three pumps or as many as 10. It even incorporates Umarex SilencAir Technology, a noise suppressor that’s a first for an air gun of this type. It fires lightweight pellets at 650 fps in .177, 520 fps in .22. SRP: $49.99. The pellet-shooting Legends Ace in the Hole is a short-barreled six-shooter .177 caliber CO2powered revolver. It features the classic six-shot revolving cylinder, along with a handsome set of Spade-embossed black grips to complement the weathered finish of the gun. The Ace in the Hole also features a speed-draw-friendly thumb spur. SRP: $129.99. CO2-powered BB guns are great fun for plinking and target shooting, and the new HK USP holds 16 rounds in a heavyweight magazine that also houses the CO2 cartridge. With an authentic look and feel, right down to its slide action, this is a great practice pistol for 9mm USP owners. For just pennies a shot, you can shoot for hours. SRP: $48.75. Complementing the Walther PPS M2 firearm, Umarex offers an officially licensed BB-version action pistol with realistic blowback action. Assembled with metal parts that give it a weight within ounces of the centerfire version, the drop-free magazine holds 18 rounds of .177 steel BBs. The PPS M2 action pistol has a polymer frame that’s designed with a CO2 cartridge charging tool ingeniously incorporated into the backstrap. It’s a fun repeater with low-profile tactical sights, perfect for training and plinking. The new RWS 3400 and 3500 pellet rifles are classically styled with a sleek Monte Carlo hard-

wood stock, fixed front sight, adjustable rear sight, and rubber recoil pad. The rifled barrels add to the quality and accuracy available in .177 and .22 calibers. The popular Ruger Yukon hunting rifle is getting an upgrade. The Ruger Yukon Magnum is powered by the ReAxis gas piston and quieted by the SilencAir noise dampener. Featuring a Picatinny Lockdown custom mount rail, it’s bundled with a 3–9x32 scope. The .177 delivers 1,150 fps with a 7-grain lead pellet. The .22 boasts 950 fps, perfect for small game. SRP: $259.99. The lever-action Legends Cowboy Rifle is a 550 fps pellet rifle with 10 ejectable BB cartridges. This CO2-powered air rifle has a rifled blued barrel and receiver, classic straight hardwood stock, and an adjustable rear sight. It holds two 12-gram CO2 cartridges in the rear of the stock. SRP: $219.99. The Walther Classus, made in Germany, has an adjustable rear sight, classic front post, a sleek ambidextrous cheekpiece, and an 11mm dovetail rail so the shooter can add optics. With an adjustable match trigger, rubber recoil pad, and automatic safety, the Walther Classus is a quality airgun designed for small-game hunting and target shooting enjoyment. It’s powered by a single-stroke spring-piston break-barrel mechanism. SRP: $319.99. The MCP air pistol kit includes the pistol, a pair of shooting glasses, 250 steel BBs, and two CO2 cartridges. It has an integrated Picatinny rail under the muzzle for the addition of a laser or light. The Umarex Hammer is a .50-caliber airgun featuring a bolt-action platform capable of delivering projectiles with more than 700 foot-pounds of energy. Paired with the new ARX Bullets from Polycase Ammunition, this package is built to deliver impressive terminal ballistic performance on game. The proprietary design of the valve system coupled with its high-pressure air delivery system helps makes this possible. Booth #14562. (umarexusa.com)

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FROMthe NSSF Safe and Secure

Three simple steps that can greatly improve your storeÕs security By Christopher Cogley

here isn’t a gun store owner anywhere who relishes the idea of having his or her inventory burglarized, especially knowing that the stolen firearms will likely end up in the hands of people who will use them to commit violent crimes. Unfortunately, an increasing number of retailers across the country are finding themselves in that very situation. And while it might not be possible to guarantee you’ll never be one of them, there are simple, low-cost or no-cost measures you can take to significantly improve the security of your store and reduce the likelihood of having your firearms fall into the wrong hands.

Retail security consultant for the National Shooting Sports Foundation Bill Napier, LLP, has more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, ATF compliance, and retail loss prevention. In those years, Napier has seen nearly every conceivable way to burglarize a gun store, and he says that, in most cases, avoiding retail firearms theft is as simple as 1-2-3.

Store security should never be an afterthought. It has to be top of mind at all times.

Your Store’s 1Review Security Plan ³ If

you already have a security plan in place for your store, then you’re one step ahead of the game. But it’s important to remember that creating a plan is still just the first step. For that plan to be effective, you have to consistently review it and update it every time store conditions change. It’s also imperative to make sure all your employees are familiar with the plan, so they will all know how to act and react in any given situation. The key to the success of any security plan is clarity and consistency. “You have to have a written plan, and you have to train to that plan,” Napier says. “You have to train to win. “Don’t wait until your store is open to get a plan in place,” Napier says. “And definitely don’t wait until your store has been burglarized.” If you’ve never put together a store security plan, the prospect might seem a bit daunting. But the NSSF has many resources in place to make the process as easy as possible. “At any stage or evolution of your business, my team can help you come up with a plan to implement low-cost or no-cost solutions that will make your

store significantly more secure,” says John McNamara, NSSF senior director of retailer services. The most compelling reason to make sure that you have a plan to protect your store is that you can almost guarantee that the criminals will have a plan for how to burglarize it.

Under2Don’t estimate Criminals ³ The

first concept that’s important for gun store owners across the country to accept is that burglaries and thefts happen everywhere. Criminals are opportunists, and they don’t care if that opportunity presents itself as a gun store in the undesirable section of a major metropolitan area or a sporting goods retailer in some far-off corner of rural America. “The bottom line is that bad guys are looking for the easiest targets,” Napier says. “And the easiest targets are typically the people who think it can’t happen to them.”

To help make sure your store doesn’t fall into that category, it’s important to accept the very real possibility that criminals are targeting your store. Prepare for that possibility, then make that burglary as difficult as possible. “Locks on your door aren’t enough,” Napier says. “You have to update your security measures with the latest technology—lights, motion sensors, cameras—anything and everything that presents a greater challenge for the bad guys.” This step might seem like a costly investment, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. Instead of buying the latest security devices, Napier suggests retailers check into the possibility of leasing their security equipment. Not only does this allow you to upgrade when new technology is released, it cuts down on the cost of maintaining sometimes fragile electronic components. Napier also suggests that every gun store owner implement a lesscostly, lower-tech security measure

that often proves to be the most powerful deterrent for criminals. “If you put your firearms in a security vault or safe every night, it makes it pretty difficult for criminals to get to them,” he said. And when it comes to keeping your firearms out of the hands of criminals, time is often one of the most important factors to consider. “If someone does break into your store, you have to slow them down long enough to let the alarm work and the police to get there,” Napier says. “Whatever you can do to accomplish that goal is going be noticed by the criminals who are checking out your store.” Think criminals aren’t checking out your store? Think again. It’s happening. Make no mistake about it. And it isn’t just the security measures they’re looking at— it’s all the little details that speak volumes about your commitment to your store and your desire to protect it. “If you maintain the appearance that you take care of even the littlest details—if the lawn is cut, the building is well-maintained, the store is clean and orderly—then the bad guys are going to know that you care about your store,” Napier says. “People who demonstrate that kind of attention to detail are typically the ones who take extra steps to protect the things they care about.”

Sure You’re 3Make Keeping Score ³ Although

the smash-and-grab method of theft seems to be the most preferred tactic among criminals, and the one that tends to make the most headlines, there are thieves who opt for subtler ways of burglarizing gun stores. Sometimes, the only way you can prevent these types of losses is by remaining as vigilant with your bookkeeping as you are with your security measures. “It’s imperative that you count your firearms and know what you have on hand at all times,” Napier says. “Keep track of sales and margins. If something’s off, it might be your first indication that your inventory isn’t where it should be.” The sooner you’re aware of subtly stolen firearms, the sooner you can report them and the more likely it is that they’ll be recovered before they can be used to commit a crime.

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FROM THE NSSF

Just Like Starting Over

A new NSSF study shows that education is key to reactivating lapsed shooters By Robert F. Staeger

t’s common knowledge that gun sales spiked during the Obama administration. Thanks in part to the feeling that the Democrat president would make certain guns illegal (particularly early in his first term, when he was dealing with a friendly Senate and House of Representatives), people flocked to firearms retailers like kids chasing the ice cream man on the last day of summer.

Customers who bought a firearm for self-defense are good candidates for target shooting. There are competitive leagues for rifle shooters as well.

Some of those people were new customers, caught up in the prevailing mood. And while many of those customers stuck around, learning to shoot and hunt—and who still take part in those activities today—others simply bought their guns, fired them at the range a few times, and then locked them in a safe. It’s because of this that the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) conducted a study in 2017 called “Reactivating NonShooting Firearm Owners.” The study, conducted via phone by leading research firm Responsive Management (led by executive director Mark Duda), looked at these non-shooters, including both firearms owners who hadn’t used their firearms in at least five years and those who live in a household with a firearm and have not participated in shooting. “We had several goals for this study,” says Jim Curcuruto, NSSF’s director of industry research and analysis. “First, we wanted to identify the number, as well as the characteristics, of those people who had purchased a firearm during the surge but who are not now using it. We also wanted to learn about their original purchase intention and why they haven’t been using their firearm(s) for the past few years.” Research by Gallup, Pew, and Responsive Management shows that 42 to 45 percent of United States households have a firearm. Within these households, there are active shooters and inactive shooters, as well

as those who do not participate at all. The inactive shooters were of interest to this study. Responsive Management estimates that there are roughly 25 million people who are not currently shooting but could be encouraged to shoot. Reactivating these customers, whether to go hunting, target shooting, or just to practice more for personal defense, would be a sizable boon to the industry. “There’s a significant economic impact that can be realized if we were to reactivate even just 10 percent of these lapsed firearms owners,” says Curcuruto. “It will benefit ranges, retailers, and manufacturers. It would also contribute to conservation funding through the purchase of ammunition and firearms products subject to the Pittman-Robertson excise tax.” These are people who have already made the decision to buy a gun, so the heavy lifting of the initial sale has already been done. The study helps reveal what makes folks in this segment tick. Last June, NSSF and Responsive Management conducted focus groups of non-participating firearms owners in Colorado and Florida. “We listened to a few dozen folks in this segment, and that helped us flesh out a larger questionnaire that we used nationwide in the survey,” says Curcuruto. The resulting full-scale survey revealed quite a bit. “Some people might have bought a firearm because everyone was doing it at the time, but they don’t really know

where to go or they weren’t comfortable with the safety aspect of it,” says Curcuruto. “Gun owners can find more than 7,000 places to shoot in the U.S. just by going to NSSF’s WhereToShoot.org page, so we plan to promote that better in 2018.” Another big educational hurdle regards the many people who bought their guns for self-defense. This was the top purchase motivation in the survey among inactive firearms owners— those who own a firearm yet have not gone shooting in the past five years. “A lot of these folks went out and purchased a firearm for personal protection, used it a few times, and then put it aside for whatever reason,” says Curcuruto. “There’s an educational opportunity to engage these consumers to become more proficient with a firearm through repeated, regular practice. “Another strategy with these consumers will be to spread the message about the fun side of firearms ownership and target shooting,” Curcuruto says. “There’s potential to reach back out to this group of inactive shooters and, as an industry, really promote the fun side of hunting and target shooting, competition, and collecting. “For instance, there are many clay sports leagues at the local level, as well as groups such as IDPA and USPSA, and we also know that getting people involved in plinking and rimfire is a great way to participate. These are fun, social, outdoor activities, and those are all key selling points discovered from past research.”

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Work Still to Be Done NSSF digs in on industry legislative priorities

By Brian McCombie

ome have voiced the opinion that, with a pro–Second Amendment, pro-business administration in the White House, the firearms industry should see relatively smooth sailing for the foreseeable future. While NSSF certainly joined our industry in helping to defeat another Clinton presidency, there is still a good deal of work to be done in Congress both this year and beyond. Legislative changes are necessary to help our industry and the shooting sports grow, and to promote a more level playing field in the global marketplace.

“Our legislative priorities for 2018 will likely remain the same as they were for 2017,” says NSSF president and CEO Steve Sanetti. “That’s largely because the new administration came into office focused on issues of pressing national importance, including health care, immigration, and international crises. These are taking center stage for now, but it’s a new year, and we will continue to pursue issues of great significance to the shooting sports industry.” Sanetti adds that one such issue would be passage of the Hearing Protection Act (HPA), which would make suppressors regulated precisely like firearms at retail, requiring a background check for purchase and doing away with cumbersome NFA Branch fingerprinting and lengthy delays prior to purchase. Currently, wait times for NFA items like suppressors can range from three to nine months, and sometimes even longer. Along with that is the $200 NFA tax stamp each suppressor purchase requires. HPA would remove these barriers, and the bill has a good deal of bipartisan support in both houses of Congress. Anti-gunners have tried to portray suppressors as the tools of criminals. Not true! NSSF has fought hard to educate the public on the many benefits of suppressors, including hearing protection, and will continue to do so. Another of NSSF’s legislative priorities is the passage of the long-overdue Target and Marksmanship Training Support Act. If passed, this act would improve access to federal lands for hunting and recreational shooting, plus encourage the construction of new shooting ranges. “This legislation would provide state fish and game agencies more flexibility to use the PittmanRobertson excise tax dollars raised from the sale of firearms and ammunition,” says Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “That flexibility would let these agencies enhance existing public shooting

ranges as they see fit. They’d also have an easier time building new ranges, to meet the growing need for additional places for target shooters to participate in their sport.” On another front, Sanetti says, “Export control reform for our industry is essential, if the American firearms industry is to be able to successfully compete in the lawful commerce in sporting firearms for the global market.” The Export Control Reform (ECR) Initiative began eight years ago, aimed at removing unnecessary restrictions and allowing U.S. businesses to better compete in the global market. Rules were proposed, and many finalized, for 18 of the 21 export categories. However, the firearms industry was not included in these reforms. The three categories that never saw any action were: category 1: firearms; category 2: guns; and category 3: ammunition. In addition, in July 2016, the U.S. State Department issued guidance that classified many gunsmiths as “manufacturers,” requiring them to pay a $2,250 annual fee and register as exporters in compliance with the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. This burdensome fee and regulation was imposed despite the fact these gunsmiths don’t manufacture or export firearms, but repair them. For many gunsmiths, their work is a side business or even a hobby. Including our industry under the ECR should remove this unfair “gunsmiths as manufacturers” clause. National Concealed Carry Reciprocity is also a priority item for NSSF. With a national reciprocity law, all of the 50 states would recognize carry licenses and permits of every other state, allowing law-abiding citizens to practice their constitutional rights across the nation. A national law would also protect people from inadvertent violations of state and local laws while visiting or passing through nonresident jurisdictions. “Some of these legislative priori-

The NSSF will continue to work diligently on several fronts to help create legislation of vital importance to the shooting sports industry.

ties will, of course, be more difficult to pass than others,” Sanetti says. “The naysayers and prophets of gloom and doom always take counsel of their fears. Yet, if the last eight years have shown us anything, it is that the large increase of new firearms owners, the great increase in the number of firearms in circulation, and the recognition of all 50 states to allow concealed

carrying of firearms have resulted in decreases in violent crime and firearms accidents nationwide.” He adds that 2018 is also an election year. “It will be quite interesting to see how the politicians deal with our issues, particularly in light of the resounding rejection of gun control and the gun control lobby during the 2016 elections.”

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FROM THE NSSF

Media Misconceptions

Dealing with the media on firearms issues requires patience above all By Christopher Cogley

n today’s constant, 24-hour news cycle, where so many controversial issues are tried in the court of public opinion, it can often be a battle to try and get the calm voice of reason heard when far too many members of the media have a tendency to form their opinions before the story’s even written. In most cases, the best way to win the battle to be heard is by not fighting at all. “It’s important for all of us to understand that the majority of the people in the media are urban-based and have probably not grown up around firearms,” says Steve Sanetti, president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). “They have misconceptions about firearms that are deep-rooted because of how they were raised. If we have any hope of being heard, we need to start by correcting those misconceptions.”

That initial hurdle can often be a process that takes time, understanding, and calm rationale to overcome, but Sanetti says one of the biggest mistakes any of us who are passionate about hunting and the shooting sports can make when dealing with the media is to jump straight to the facts without first establishing a common ground that everyone can stand on— especially when it comes to discussing a firearms-related tragedy. “The media inevitably has strong emotions on the side of the victim,” Sanetti says. “All of us in the firearms industry have the same empathy for the victim, because the victim did nothing wrong. The only real way we can ever hope to get our message across with the media is to demonstrate that empathy before we ever try and explain the facts. It has to be genuine empathy; there can be nothing false or fake about it.” In any tragedy, it’s human nature to look for someone to blame, and it’s pretty easy to vilify the person standing in front of the camera explaining the reasons why it’s so important to protect our Second Amendment rights despite the tragedy that’s just unfolded. Demonstrating genuine empathy for the victim from the onset, however, makes it difficult for the media to lead with an adversarial angle to the story. That doesn’t mean that they won’t continue to promote the emotional element of the story. But while it’s tempting to try and fight against the emotion with cold, hard facts, that’s typically not the most effective approach to take. “The best way to overcome emotional objections is to counter with equally powerful emotional themes, including personal

One of the major reasons for the prevailing misconceptions about firearms is that most members of the media have little knowledge of them.

responsibility,” Sanetti says. “We are the original and most genuine gun-safety advocates in this country, and we have to show that.” By establishing that connection and showing that we are more passionate about gun safety than anyone, we can stand on common ground with the members of the media who are telling the story and the people at home who are listening to it. Then, instead of being the people who are to blame for the tragedy, we have the chance to become a

calm voice of reason that can offer alternative solutions to the problem everyone is interested in solving. “From the beginning to the end, we have to be patient, calm, and understanding,” Sanetti says. “We need to show them that the vast majority of gun owners are law-abiding people—good people—who are just as concerned with keeping guns out of the hands of the bad guys as they are. When that message starts getting across, it makes it so much easier for people to listen

to what we have to say.” It’s only then that we’ll be able to begin to counter long-held misconceptions with facts that support the truth about gun ownership in this country. One of the most important misconceptions to correct is that there is a prevalence of accidental firearms deaths in the U.S. The reality, Sanetti says, is that the number of accidental firearms deaths is extremely low, and that number is actually decreasing even as firearms sales are rising. “Less than one percent of all fatal accidents in this country involve firearms, and the public needs to know that,” Sanetti says. The other misconception Sanetti says it is important to address is the number of deaths attributed to gun violence every year. The statistics that are often used to describe the level of gun violence in this country are misleading and tend to paint an inaccurate picture of the real issues we’re facing. “Two-thirds of all firearms deaths are suicides,” Sanetti says. “And while that’s certainly a tragedy, it’s not something that we can simply attribute to gun violence. It’s an issue we’re trying to address, but it’s a complicated problem with no easy solutions.” By showing the steps that the gun industry is taking to deal with complex issues such as suicide, and all that we’re doing to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and reduce the number of accidental firearms-related deaths, we can show the media and the public that we are advocating not just for gun ownership, but for gun safety. And when it comes to having our message heard, that seemingly small distinction can make a world of difference.

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F E AT U R E S

Rugged Wear

LESS LETHAL OPTION

Carhartt may be best known for its line of work clothes, but it is also serious about hunting garb

By Shannon Farlow here are few outdoor clothing brands as widely recognized or respected as Carhartt. Generations of ranchers, carpenters, roughnecks, and other hard-working individuals have relied on the brand’s rugged apparel. Even fashion powerhouses like J. Crew have capitalized on Carhartt’s appeal to urban workwear enthusiasts. So it was no surprise that the 129-year-old clothing manufacturer received a warm welcome from hunters and retailers alike when it reentered the hunting market two years ago. Now, participating in its second consecutive SHOT Show, the Carhartt team is expanding its hunting lines and introducing an exclusive partnership with another outdoor legend.

Deer hunters will be happy to hear that Carhartt is bolstering its already successful big-game hunting line by teaming up with camouflage innovator Mossy Oak. Carhartt’s Buckfield collection will feature Mossy Oak’s popular Break-Up Country pattern, which was recently chosen by the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) as its official camouflage pattern. “We are excited to collaborate with Mossy Oak,” says Tim Humes, senior brand manager for Carhartt. “We’ve known those guys a long time. Mossy Oak is a trusted brand, and Break-Up Country is the number-one pattern in the country. It was just the right move for us. With both Mossy Oak and Carhartt being family-owned and -operated businesses, we have a lot of good, common goals for the collaboration that we’re going to bring to life, starting at SHOT.” The two brands have combined efforts in the past, but according to Humes, this is the biggest Mossy Oak platform that Carhartt has ever manufactured. Carhartt is also producing its Buckfield line in a new Western pattern that will be available to select retailers. Both versions are made from durable and water-repellent softshell fabric. The Buckfield line includes a jacket featuring zippered underarms, detachable hood, and treestand harness exit; a vest with zippered mock neck, magnetic-closure map pockets, drop-tail hem with drawcord, and treestand harness exit; and pants that feature easy-movement design, ankle-to-knee leg zippers, side cargo and back pockets with zippers, and magnetic closures. Carhartt’s story contains a rich tradition of producing clothing for hunters who enjoy busting

through brush and briars after birds and small game. In fact, it was its upland line that first captured Humes’ attention as a boy. “I grew up in Missouri, and I loved to hunt quail and rabbits with my dad. We shopped the local feed stores, and I was able to access Carhartt. Working bird dogs, it was some of the toughest stuff I could get my hands on, so I was pretty passionate about the opportunity to bring the upland clothing back to life,” he says. “Bringing in hunting styles, particularly upland styles, is really just an extension of who we are.” Carhartt will be introducing its rugged new Upland Field Chaps at

The Buckfield pant line includes ankle-to-knee leg zippers, side cargo and back pockets with zippers, and magnetic closures.

SHOT Show along with new features on the Upland Field Coat and Vest. The Upland Field collection includes a durable, waterrepellent pant with front and back chap and secure cellphone pocket; water-repellent canvas shirt with hunter-orange recoil pads and forearm protection; a jacket and vest, both of which feature a front-loading gamebag, shotshell pockets, and two water bottle pockets; and chaps with added front and back protection and zippered leg opening for pulling over hunting boots. Humes expects the market for both upland and big-game hunting apparel to remain strong, especially among consumers seeking high-quality products that won’t empty their wallets. “There are plenty of high-end brands in the marketplace, and I think being able to give consumers the right value equation with a brand like Carhartt will be important,” he says. Carhartt is supporting its hunting presence, and the greater hunting community, through the #HuntYourLegacy social media campaign. Hunters are encouraged to tag and share their photos, videos, and stories of how they are passing on their hunting traditions to future generations. The campaign features a short documentary film called Walk by Faith, which highlights the struggle of two hunting buddies to continue hunting when one of them is stricken with unexpected blindness. “We can show thousands of pictures of guys with big deer, but we really feel like it’s the stories, the history, and the legacy that we all leave behind that’s important,” Humes says. “That’s why we brought ourselves back into this sport.” Booth #10236. (carhartt. com)

Protecting lives and property doesn’t always have to rely on deadly force. Sometimes a less-lethal option is the way to go. Less-lethal options present an opportunity for gun dealers who want to help citizens to protect themselves and law enforcement agencies to do their jobs. Ordinary citizens and law enforcement officers (LEOs), however, have different agendas in using lesslethal options. Citizens want to deter and escape from those who would do them harm. LEOs generally want options that will assist them in controlling and/or arresting people. Not all options available to law enforcement are available to ordinary citizens, and the options available to citizens, and the training requirements to use them, may vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. All less-lethal options should be accompanied by training. Ty Weaver, director of advanced weapons and munitions for Sage Ordnance Systems Group, says, ÒPeople need to know what they have and how to use it properly whatever less-lethal option they choose to deploy.Ó Legal use of less-lethal options for personal and home defense is dependent on whatever laws apply in the jurisdiction in question. This requires a knowledge of federal, state, and local laws. In addition, the use of less-lethal options for law enforcement depends not only on applicable laws, but also on department policy. The range of less-lethal options is extraordinary. Safariland offers impact munitions, launchers, and accessories; chemical-agent devices, including chemical grenades and devices; and tactical devices, training aids, batons, and training for agency personnel. Booth #12762. Sage Ordnance Systems Group offers launchers; ammunition, including multiple variants of less-lethal ammunition in 37mm smooth bore, 37 SAGE Rifled, 40x46mm NATO, and 12-gauge; and hand-thrown munitions, aerosols, and malodorants. Sage also provides training for agency personnel. Booth #20540. Pepperball provides nonlethal pepperball weapons (including the new TCP launcher), pepperball ammo, and training. Booth #30014. Taser offers tasers. Booth #30014. ÑJock Elliott

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NSSF

WORKS FOR ME “

The NSSF is a 24/7/365 one-stop shop for all of our retail and range needs. We have access to advertising, accounting, attorneys, audit, and ATF-related support — such a valuable resource for any firearms business to have now more than ever, considering that our industry is profoundly impacted by politics.

”

Jeanine Philips, Firearms Manager Bob’s Little Sport Shop, Glassboro, N.J.

NSSF Members like Jeanine receive benefits such as:

Representation in Washington and State Capitals Compliance Support Industry Research SHOT Show Benefits

...and much more

Visit us at booth L231

Visit NSSF.ORG or call 203-426-1320 ext. 209 for more information on membership categories and find out how NSSF can work for you.

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F E AT U R E S

Raising the Bar

Cordura’s AFT (Air Flow Technology) 3D Spacer fabric is used in Magnum’s Elite Spider X boot.

CorduraÕs enduring impact on performance-based fabrics By Christopher Cogley

ost people don’t give fabric much thought. It’s simply the material from which our favorite jackets, boots, and packs are made. Fabrics are what they are, and there’s not much that any of us can do to change them. We recognize the advantages and drawbacks of various materials and understand that choosing between them is typically a study in compromise. We take the best of what we can get for the activity we’re engaged in, knowing that for every benefit we receive, we’re going to have to make certain sacrifices. We compromise and try not to complain. At least not too much. But there are companies out there that are different. Companies that don’t view fabrics as simply an afterthought. And every now and then, one of those companies delivers an innovative new fabric that

gives us all the attributes we want without the compromises that make us cringe. Cordura is one of those companies, and this year at the SHOT Show, it is launching a revolutionary new material that might just raise the bar on what we all expect from fabric. Last year, Cordura celebrated its 50th anniversary as a company consistently on the cutting edge of developing the fabrics that outdoor and tactical gear manufacturers use to create apparel and footwear that is lighter, stronger, and longer lasting. As part of their celebration, Cordura launched the revolutionary NYCO Extreme fabric, which represented the highest-strength nylon 6.6 staple fiber Cordura had ever created. This year, as part of its ongoing commitment to raise the bar on expectations, Cordura is launching the next generation of

this fabric with the new stretch version of the NYCO Extreme. “With this fabric, we’re really pushing the boundaries of lightweight, durable materials that offer the kind of ergonomic fit and stretch performance that tactical operators need in the field,” says Cindy McNaull, global brand and marketing director for Cordura. “This is really going to take the market by storm.”

To showcase the capabilities of this fabric, Cordura partnered with Crye Precision to develop the VTX fabric, which is Crye’s branded version of the new NYCO Extreme fabric. Crye used the VTX fabric to create the new G4 uniform that they will debut at this year’s SHOT Show (Booth #32403). Compared to standard 50/50 NYCO mil-spec, the new Crye Precision VTX fabric, built on the new Stretch Cordura

YUKON MAGNUM HIGH VELOCITY BREAK BARREL AIR RIFLE

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NYCO Extreme material, is reported to be 17 percent lighter and four times more breathable, and has three times the tear strength and is at least 60 percent faster drying. This revolutionary uniform fabric is far from the only way that Cordura is helping to keep tactical operators and outdoor enthusiasts covered. Cordura’s AFT (Air Flow Technology) 3D Spacer fabric is also featured in Magnum’s new Elite Spider X boots (Booth #11164) designed specifically for specialists and tactical operators. The AFT 3D material helps make these boots lighter, tougher, and more abrasion resistant, while also providing the kind of critical airflow that operators in jungle and desert climates especially need. “We’re constantly trying to improve and push the limits of what’s been done before,” McNaull says. “Our goal is to deliver the fabrics that help solve problems for the military and all the other people who use these products. We’re honored to partner with so many great companies that help us achieve that goal every day.” Cordura’s impact on equipment and apparel is evident from one

end of the SHOT Show to the other. As a way to highlight those partnerships and the cutting-edge results of their many collaborations, Cordura is launching a new series of “Meet the Maker” videos that go behind the scenes of the production process to show the technology embedded into their revolutionary fabrics and how different manufacturers bring that technology to life. And by showcasing the importance of the fabrics used to make the clothing, footwear, and gear that protect us in the field, maybe, just maybe, these videos will also help those of us who benefit from these revolutionary fabrics to finally give them the kind of respect they deserve. Booth #S1219. (cordura.com)

NYCO Extreme fabric is the highest-strength nylon that Cordura has developed.

HIVIZ POISED FOR GROWTH HiViz Shooting Systems, best known for its LitePipes line of luminous sights, recently was acquired by the Rogers Group. The Rogers Group and its affiliates consist of 16 diversified companies with approximately 2,100 team members and operates mainly in the construction aggregates, highway construction, metal powders, manufacturing, and real-estate industries. The Rogers Group was founded by Ralph Rogers, who first began crushing rock in 1908 on the side of the road in Bloomington, Indiana. His descendants, members of the Rechter family, still retain control of the company. ÒThe Rechters and their existing group of companies are a natural fit for HiViz,Ó said Phil Howe, president and CEO of HiViz Shooting Systems (at the time of the acquisition). ÒDan and Rick Rechter will serve on the company board. They are genuine outdoorsmen and avid hunters, and I am very comfortable and confident in their honest values and business expertise.Ó Howe will continue to serve on the board and will remain involved in key roles in the development and growth of HiViz to maximize the manufacturing facility in Laramie, Wyoming. HiViz will remain in Wyoming, an issue of critical importance to Wyoming governor Matt Mead. ÒHiViz Shooting Systems is an asset to Laramie and Wyoming. I am pleased it will continue to call Wyoming home,Ó he said. ÒThe vision of HiViz Shooting Systems is to improve the art of shooting,Ó said Howe. ÒOur line of sights and recoil pads are designed to help shooters improve their marksmanship.Ó Booth #15522. (hivizsights.com)

A  That Yields

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F E AT U R E S

Moving the Needle

When it comes to conservation, numbers matter

By Slaton L. White

t’s no secret that hunters are among the most committed conservationists in the country. Shooters, too. That’s because the 1937 Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, better known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, authorized an excise tax on the sale of firearms, archery, and ammunition products, the proceeds of which have been distributed for the past 80 years to state fish and game agencies to support wildlife, conservation efforts, and shooting programs. Overall, this excise tax has generated more than $2 billion, all of which is earmarked specifically for wildlife, conservation, and shootingrelated efforts. No other outdoor participants fund conservation at this level.

Vista Outdoor created a Conservation Counts program to help it support the conservation of wildlife and wild places.

Lately, the big battle has been less on the wildlife and more on the public land on which they are found. It is a resurgence of the socalled Sagebrush Rebellion, a movement in the 1970s and 1980s in which states, particularly those in the West, wanted to wrest control of the vast federal lands inside their borders from the various federal agencies that managed them. The battle today is essentially a reprise

of this earlier skirmish, but it nonetheless carries the same frightening implications for those who enjoy outdoor recreation on public land. This is a fight in which Vista Outdoor, a relatively new company made up of brands—Savage, Bushnell, Federal Premium, for instance—long familiar to outdoorsmen, finds itself squarely in the middle. “In 2016, Vista Outdoor contributed $84 million

to the Pittman-Robertson Fund through excise taxes on its products,” says Amanda Covington, senior vice president of communications and government relations. “Conservation is at the core of what we do.” But as Vista Outdoor has expanded beyond those core brands to embrace another side of the outdoors, it has found these new acquisitions (Camp Chef, CamelBak, Bell, and Giro, to name a few) also have customers who are passionately committed to the outdoors. And preserving access to public lands is an issue that is uniting disparate parts of this community. “We know there are points of disagreement among the various constituents,” Covington says. “But there are also points of agreement, and public-lands access is one of the biggest. We see an opportunity to leverage the power of the Vista portfolio, and its many passionate employees, and take that message to Washington. The power of all those voices will allow us to move the needle.” As a company that depends on an active consumer who can enjoy its products in the outdoors, Vista Outdoor has an obvious stake in conservation and public-land policy. To that end, it has created a campaign, Conservation Counts, which reflects that commitment. “As a leading outdoor sports and recreation company, Vista Outdoor is a strong supporter of conservation,” Covington says. “We created the Conservation Counts campaign as a way to align our company’s many conservation-related efforts and share our overarching approach

to supporting conservation of wildlife and wild places. Our company has a very diverse consumer base who are interested in many different outdoor activities, and we believe that all conservation efforts count, no matter how big or small. We are committed to conserving our natural wonders, resources, and public lands for all.” Vista’s commitment to conservation led it to bring on Ryan Bronson as director of conservation and public policy to help coordinate coherent conservation efforts both within the company and with outside groups. “Beyond what we pay in Pittman-Robertson taxes, we target our limited marketing and charitable resources toward organizations that are effectively protecting habitat and are recruiting the next generation of conservationists,” he says. “This whole system of wildlife conservation falls apart if people are not pulling triggers and buying licenses. That is why our efforts to support and grow shooting sports in 4H and Boy Scouts are just as important for conservation as our work renewing CRP and protecting public lands.” President Teddy Roosevelt once wrote, “Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches, or its romance.” It’s a message Vista Outdoor has taken to heart. Booth #14551. (vistaoutdoor.com)

CORE TENETS

Some of the core tenets of Vista’s conservation philosophy include: *Increasing participation in outdoor recreation benefits conservation because people protect the things they value. *Public lands must be accessible.

*Public lands are economically and socially valuable and should be protected. *Public lands should be managed for multiple uses in a sustainable manner, and tolerance between user groups should be promoted as a culture and public policy.

*Conservation is bipartisan. *Hunting and the shooting sports are critical components of conservation in North America. *We reject the labels that some outdoor recreationists are Òconsumptive usersÓ and some are Ònon-consumptive users.Ó

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MINUTES WITH…

Matt Hutchings

Executive Vice President, COO Outdoor Sportsman Group

Getting the Word Out Managing across several media platforms challenges even the most efficient multitasker

A SHOT Daily: People

may know your background as a professional sports executive but may not know your roots in the outdoors. Tell us a bit about that.

Matt Hutchings: I

grew up in Texas, and I’ve hunted and fished all my life. I still do when I have some time to unwind a bit, which is rare. As much as I love the businesses involving our teams and media, my other true love in business is what we have been doing at Outdoor Sportsman Group.

SD: Tell us about what has been happening in the last year at your group.

MH: Consolidation, growth, and innovation have been three key words for Outdoor Sportsman Group this year. Consolidation in that our television networks—Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, and World Fishing Network, along with our publications and online assets—are now being led by one person, Jim Liberatore. Growth has come from key syndicated programming

man who wears many hats, Matt Hutchings is executive vice president and COO of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE), where he oversees business and venue operations for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, NBA’s Denver Nuggets, NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids, and National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth. He is also is president and COO of KSE Media Ventures, where his duties include the oversight of the Outdoor Sportsman Group, which is made up of three national television networks (Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, and World Fishing Network), MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), a number of print publications, and other media properties. SHOT Daily recently had the opportunity to discuss with him the changing nature of outdoor media as well as how the general public perceives the outdoor lifestyle. acquisitions. For instance, Deadliest Catch and Wicked Tuna now accompany Duck Dynasty. As for innovation, I would say the development and acquisition of programming libraries from the respected members of the outdoor industry for our global, subscriptionbased, video-on-demand service MyOutdoorTV.

ÒThe outdoor community celebrates our country, family, and conservation.Ó

families. We don’t take more than we need. This is our ethical obligation as hunters. If the non-hunting community could understand this concept, see it, and live it firsthand, they may change their minds.

SD: What are you most looking forward to in 2018?

SD: If you had only one

MH: One of our mis-

thing to say to the industry, what would it be?

sions continues to be to try and help the general public understand the outdoor lifestyle and the Americans who participate in that lifestyle. Many people who live an urban lifestyle may misunderstand the people who live the outdoor lifestyle. We see part of our job as not only content providers who love and understand our programming, but also as educators who bring a different way of life and experience to a conversation. Nothing is making me happier than our implementation plans to increase the networks’ profiles and bring new viewers and participants

into our lifestyle through new avenues of media exposure. Or, at least we hope to bring more viewers—who may be curious—closer to the lifestyle where they have the ability to form a more educated opinion.

SD: What is the biggest misconception about hunters and shooters?

MH: Too many people don’t understand that the outdoor lifestyle community celebrates our country, family, conservation, and fun, and understands the circle of life better than most. We are blessed to understand that life and death are a part of nature. As hunters, we are conservationists. We harvest our bounty to provide for our

MH: We need to realize that working together to educate and tell our stories is a far more effective way to communicate to the people who don’t understand the lifestyle or who have never taken the time to try and understand it. Ultimately, we have an obligation to each other to stand up, be proud, and speak as one in a voice that celebrates that fact that we have the ability to hunt, fish, and shoot in this country. Sometimes we forget that lots of places around the world aren’t so blessed with these freedoms. Booth #13923. (outdoorsg.com)

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F E AT U R E S

Trail Blazer

Cuddeback is taking trail cameras into new territory By Shannon Farlow

t happens every year. Deer season approaches, and we get the itch to constantly check our scouting cameras. In this age of insta-everything, we want immediate gratification, but most of us don’t have the time to routinely drive to our trail cameras, especially if they are several miles away. While cell cameras solve that problem, they tend to be expensive because each camera unit requires an individual cellular plan. Now, thanks to Cuddeback’s new CuddeCell technology, hunters can check multiple trail cameras as often as they’d like from their phone or computer. And because the CuddeCell system bundles the cameras onto a single cellular service, the monthly fee typically costs less than a tank of gas. Last year, Cuddeback revolutionized the trail camera market with its first-of-its-kind CuddeLink system, which collects images from up to 15 remote cameras on one home collection unit. A proprietary wireless mesh network transmits the images to the home collection camera that’s positioned somewhere on the property, usually at a parking area or hunting cabin. This allows hunters to view images from multiple cameras without having to hike to each one. They only need to check the home camera, which

saves them time and helps them avoid spooking game. Because the CuddeLink system automatically “daisy chains” multiple cameras, hunters can cover thousands of acres, more than a 4-mile range, with only one system. With the launch of CuddeCell at the 2018 SHOT Show, Cuddeback has eliminated the need to travel to the hunting property altogether. The CuddeCell feature enables the CuddeLink home camera to email images and data, including battery life and SD card status, to a hunter’s cell phone or computer. Each time a remote camera records new images, the hunter is notified with an email. Cuddeback, which has been making trail cameras since 1989, isn’t the first manufacturer to utilize cellular capabilities. It is, however, the first to offer a system that bundles images from multiple game cameras and sends them to the hunter using only one cellular service plan. This means hunters can now monitor up to 15 cameras on a single service plan that costs an average of $15 per month—cheaper than fueling your pickup truck. “I think it’s going to change the trail camera industry,” says Mark Cuddeback, owner of the namesake company. “It’s going to take

cell phone trail cameras, which is kind of a niche product because of the expense, into new territory by actually saving hunters money.” The Cuddeback engineering team spent more than four years building a system that’s easy for anyone to operate. Users only have to set the channel number, select whether it will be a remote or home unit, and then deploy the cameras. “We made it absolutely as simple as possible,” Cuddeback says. “And that was the challenge for us, to develop a system where the user didn’t have to understand electronics and networking and radio frequencies. The user could just put the cameras out in the field and they would work—and that’s what we accomplished.” According to Cuddeback, the trail camera market has been somewhat sluggish in recent years. He believes his company’s new technology will provide a needed shot in the arm for hunting retailers. “CuddeLink and CuddeCell are the innovations to get people to go back to buying trail cameras,” he says. “Most trail cameras are now sold well under $100 because customers decided that that’s good enough. CuddeLink gives the consumer reason to go back and start

The CuddeCell feature enables the CuddeLink home camera to email images and data, including battery life and SD card status, to a hunter’s cell phone.

paying $150 to $200 per camera because he’s getting better technology that does things that cheaper cameras can’t do.” The initial CuddeCell launch at the SHOT Show will be followed by a broad social media campaign that integrates Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Booth #1428. (cuddeback.com)

OUTDOOR TECH GOES CAMO

Bluetooth technology is revolutionizing the outdoor world. Wireless speakers designed to be used in hunting camps or in the bed of a pickup truck after a dove shoot are just one example of this brave new world. ItÕs a world inhabited mainly by the young, but their insistence on Òstaying connected but not tetheredÓ (as one manufacturer of wireless speakers puts it) is helping to spread the word about this remarkable technology. That manufacturer, by the way, is Outdoor

Tech, which has long been a leader in the field. And that leadership has led Outdoor Tech to form an important partnership with Mossy Oak, which should help grow its market in the shooting sports and hunting arenas. ÒOutdoor Tech is making the products outdoor enthusiasts want for their ÔunpluggedÕ lifestyle,Ó says Chris Paradise, chief sales officer of Mossy Oak. ÒAdding Mossy Oak to this incredible product line reaches the hunting consumer and adds a

Outdoor Tech speakers now come in Mossy Oak camo.

rugged touch to hightech audio and power products.Ó The power-packed Buckshot Pro speaker, rugged Turtle Shell speaker, and portable

Kodiak Power banks are a few of the products that will be available in Mossy Oak camo. The products are not only ideal for the outdoors, camping, and shooting

sports retail channels, but also the lifestyle channel, with its premium Mossy Oak finish and trendy camouflage appearance. ÒIÕm very excited to partner with a premium brand that has the same passion and obsession for the outdoors as we do,Ó says Charlie Gugliuzza, Outdoor TechÕs CEO. ÒMossy Oak is the leader in camo design, and this new collection of products fits any outdoors lifestyle.Ó Booth #10735. (mossy oakhunt.com)

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YOUR VOICE IN WASHINGTON Political Action Committees (PACs) are an extremely effective tool in educating our members and contributing to the success of candidates who share our point of view. The NSSF PACâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose is to support the election of candidates who, as elected officials, will make the best decisions for you and the future you share with NSSF. It enables us to participate in the public policy debates and work for outcomes that protect the rights of our companies and its employees. For more information, contact PAC manager Kayla Berube at (202) 220-1340 x206, or email nssfpac@nssf.org.

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F E AT U R E S

Hanging By a Thread When disaster struck, it was a phone case that prevented tragedy By Bill Miller

et, deadly cold pierced the duck hunters as they desperately clung to a capsized boat last winter on the north shore of New York’s Long Island. On that Sunday, January 22, there was no one within earshot of the boat sinking in Mount Sinai Harbor. And the icy water, a lethal 45 degrees, killed their cell phones. Unable to get help, James Knipe, 47, locked eyes with his 17-year-old son, James Jr. The helpless dad could only tell him, “It’s not going to hurt.” But then the third hunter, Kendrick Pisano, 16, produced his smartphone sealed in the watertight Pelican Marine case. Suddenly they had hope.

ÒThe Phone Was FineÓ ³ The

boat flipped as the hunters gathered decoys. “We forgot one of our decoys. It was still in the water,” Kendrick recalls. “And I turned the boat around, and that’s when, you know, we went down. I’d never been in a boat that flipped or capsized, so it was a big shock for me to realize this was happening.” James Jr. said the glacial water shocked him from head to toe. “I turned to my dad, and he was like, he was starting to sink,” he says. “The water was just so cold. I felt for sure he was going to have a heart attack. I pulled out my phone, and it was completely fried. My dad did the same thing, and his was fried, too. The thing that was going through my mind was, ‘I’m not going to make it back home.’” But then, says his father, “Kendrick pulled out his phone, which was in a Pelican case. That’s when I thought, ‘All right, fine. Now we got something to reach out to people and get some help.’” “If he didn’t have that case,” James Jr. adds, “we’d have been dead.” They called 911, and the Suffolk County police marine unit and firefighters responded. All three were treated at hospitals on Long Island for exposure and hypothermia. James praised the phone case and first responders for the rescue. But, he noted, “God was all over it.”

ÒItÕs Really About the SealÓ ³ Pelican

prides itself on more than three decades of producing “mission-critical equipment protection.” Products include cases for camera gear, guns, medical instruments, communication devices, computers, and other equipment. It also makes flashlights, luggage, backpacks, soft coolers, plus phone and tablet cases for Apple, LG, and Samsung products. The Pelican Marine case launched in 2016 specifically for Apple’s iPhone 6 family of

Made of impact-absorbing materials to military specifications, each Pelican Marine case blocks dirt, snow, and water. A coating on the screen resists scratches.

devices. Made of impact-absorbing materials to military specifications, each case is capable of enduring multiple drops and impacts. A coating on the screen resists scratches. Another feature blocks dirt, snow, and water. “It’s really about the seal on the inside,” says Pelican spokeswoman Sharon Ward. “This one is different because you have to make sure all the ports are watertight as well.” Ward says Pelican is famous for protecting various gear and equipment from construction sites to natural disasters and combat zones. But, she notes, “We’ve never had a product that saved people’s lives.” That all changed with the rescue of the Knipes and Pisano.

ÒHe WouldÕve Been GoneÓ ³ Ward

says Diane Pisano called Pelican, headquartered in Torrance, California, to describe how one product helped avert a tragedy—and to express thanks for saving the life of her son and husband. She had bought her son that Pelican Marine case because he was so hard on phones, actually breaking a couple. When looking for a replacement, she set out to buy “the toughest case I could find. “It hit me that my son would’ve been dead,” she says. “In five minutes, he would’ve been gone. And the only thing that really saved him was a phone case.” Booth #3048.

(pelican.com)

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HIGH IN FIBER.

X-Bolt Pro Medallion

SEE IT FOR YOURSELF AT BOOTH 12740. BROWNING.COM

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F E AT U R E S

Camp Chef is dedicated to a great ideaÑthat outdoorsmen should be able to eat well while in the field.

A Chef in Every Camp

Camp Chef wants hunters to eat well

By Brian McCombie

ince acquiring Camp Chef in 2016, Vista Outdoor has been busy helping the outdoor-cooking-equipment manufacturer add new products and buff up existing lines. If you’re not familiar with the company, Camp Chef’s current lineup encompasses more than 250 products, ranging from camp stoves and pellet grills to cast-iron cookware and accessories. For the 2018 SHOT Show, Camp Chef is debuting a new pellet grill, the SmokePro SG. The SmokePro boasts a new, more stable leg design and features “Slide and Grill” technology. Slide and Grill allows the cook to switch seamlessly between indirect and direct flame mode. Need to quick-grill a steak? The direct flame will do that. On a thicker cut, direct flame can brown and seal the meat; then slide over the indirect flame to smoke the cut. Or, if you want to cook something longer and slower for that deep-smoke effect, use the smokier indirect flame from start to finish.

The SmokePro SG also features a taller cook chamber with additional rack space for increased cooking space and convenience, as well as a larger-capacity pellet hopper. The grill also has Camp Chef’s Ash Cleanout System, stable temperature regulation, and dual meat probes. “Camp Chef has revolutionized the ways we can cook outdoors,” says Brooks Hansen, product manager for Camp Chef. “For example, the Camp Chef modular stove system is a musthave at any camp. It lets you go from a delicious pancake breakfast to burgers at lunch and then to steaks and mouthwatering Dutch Oven cooking at dinner—all on one stove. It doesn’t matter if your camp is big or small, Camp Chef has a grill or stove to optimize your outdoor cooking.” If you are interested in Camp Chef, Camp Chef is interested in helping you achieve solid sales, too. “Our products are sold by independent retailers, but we are very big in mass outdoor sporting-goods retailers,” Hansen says. “We have a relative handful of independent FFL retailers who carry our products, too, and for

2018 we are actively looking for more FFLs to work with, especially those with a large customer base of hunters.”

The SmokePro SG features a taller cook chamber, dual meat probes, and a largercapacity pellet hopper.

Dealer support is a priority with Camp Chef. “We have several dealers for which we have produced specific videos to run in-store and on their web pages,” Hansen says. “We also publish sales brochures and other literature and gladly share them with our dealers.” In addition, Camp Chef has an executive chef who travels to retailer locations to hold cooking demonstrations and outdoor cooking classes. “As far as social media, we will continue to grow in this arena and be super-active across all social fronts,” says Hansen. “Social media has brought us a good deal of brand recognition, especially with under-40 consumers, and it has been a big part of who we are in a marketing sense, and who we will continue to be.” This marketing is helped in no small part by a Facebook presence that weighs in at over a half-million followers, plus feeds on Twitter and Instagram that continue to grow. All of these venues promote new Camp Chef products, contests, and sales, as well as offering recipes and how-to cooking tips and ideas. Booth #14551. (campchef.com)

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F E AT U R E S

Davidson’s opened a new shipping facility in North Carolina, cutting delivery time to East Coast retailers nearly in half.

Going Long

The 2016 election left a lot of businesses playing defenseÑbut DavidsonÕs is making bold plays By Robert F. Staeger t’s an interesting time for our industry,” says John Trull, vice president of strategic growth for Davidson’s, the venerable firearms wholesaler based in Prescott, Arizona. He’s referring, of course, to the unexpected outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Much of the industry expected fears of a Clinton administration to drive sales as they did in the Obama years, so the election of Donald Trump caught a lot of businesses off-guard.

“There’s a lot of inventory out there, and a lot of manufacturers that are facing some challenges,” says Trull. “We see that with a lot of dealers and a lot of distributors as well, unfortunately—so right now a lot of people are stepping back and playing defense.” That’s not the case for Davidson’s. “We’re actually in a pretty unique situation right now, to be able to focus on growing our business a little bit,” says Trull. Davidson’s is a privately held company, and fiscally conservative; it’s not held by a large private equity group or shouldering a mountain of debt. “So at a time like this, where everyone’s playing defense, we’re actually playing some offense. We’re taking the opportunity to make some investments in people, and investments in processes, and, where it makes sense, investing in inventory through special buys and deals.” Davidson’s was founded in 1932 in Greensboro, North Carolina, evolving over the years from a used auto parts wholesaler to carrying hunting and fishing supplies—eventually narrowing its focus to guns and ammunition. In the late 1980s, the company moved its headquarters to Prescott, Arizona, where it remains. But in 2015, the company opened its East Coast distribution center, back in its original home of Greensboro.

Trull joined the company in 2017, after more than a decade with Remington (where he eventually ran its firearms business) and a couple of years as CEO of Hunter’s Specialties. After discussing the future with Davidson’s CEO Bryan Tucker, Trull came on board to keep his eyes on the horizon. “While people are focused on doing their jobs 9 to 5, I’m helping drive some of the strategic initiatives to try and help ensure the company’s around for another hundred years,” Trull says. One thing that won’t be changing is the company’s personal touch. “We definitely focus on the human connection,” says Trull. “You call into our call center, and you’re always going to have a live person answer the phone, every single time. We do things for the convenience of our customer, and not for the convenience of ourselves. That philosophy resonates through the entire organization.” You can see it in how Davidson’s treats its retailer customers, and its end users as well. The Davidson’s GuaranteeD program is a good example. If a firearm purchased through Davidson’s has a manufacturer’s defect, the wholesaler will replace it almost immediately. Rather than having the customer contact the manufacturer, pay shipping to send the firearm back, and wait four to six weeks for it to be

processed, customers can simply bring the gun back to the dealer where they bought it. “We’ll have a replacement for you,” says Trull. “A brand-new gun in your hands within 48 hours.” Similarly, the company’s Gallery of Guns online sales site is friendly to both consumers and Davidson’s retail partners. Consumers choose a gun they’d like to buy, and they immediately see a handful of nearby shops and the prices they’re selling it for. Behind the scenes, retailers have chosen the parameters that guide how they price firearms through the web portal, whether it’s by markup, margins, or a flat fee per firearm. “It’s basically as if a dealer did a special order for a consumer,” says Trull. “Once the transaction occurs, we take a deposit on behalf of the dealer, and when the gun ships, the dealer takes the balance due when the consumer comes in to pick it up. It allows dealers to leverage our inventory without having to bring it in. It’s pre-sold for them.” One of Davidson’s latest investments has been to double the amount of customer relationship managers it has in the field from four to eight (think outside sales reps, but with a full-service personal touch). “We’re growing that presence to be a resource for our dealers, and emphasize some parts of the country where

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f e at u r e s

we haven’t been the strongest,” says Trull. “Their job is to cultivate those relationships with dealers, solve problems for them, be helpful, and show them some of our Davidson’s exclusives.” If a dealer has a problem configuring his Gallery of Guns parameters, for example, the Davidson’s rep can help. “We want them to be an additional resource for that dealer and extend that service-minded focus.” Davidson’s is upgrading its technology as well, says Trull. “We’re outfitting our team with tools where our folks can sit down with a dealer and generate an order that goes directly from a tablet to our team in Prescott—which is really helpful if we have a hot deal on something, and limited quantities. We can real-time put an order in our system.” The East Coast distribution center has also made Davidson’s nimbler. “More than half of firearms sales take place east of the Mississippi,” says Trull. Having a base of operations in North Carolina cuts ground shipping times from four or five days to two or three. Plus, the Greensboro location offers another benefit: A full-service dealer center. Valid FFL holders can come by and pick up their orders, or if they need some ammo, they can buy it right there. “It’s basically a storefront for dealers only,” says Trull. “This is all about being service-oriented. It’s allowed us to be much more responsive.” In light of that, one of Davidson’s other goals is to build a communications component to Davidson’s Online. Consumer communications manager Kevin Wilson is in charge of creating new content—not just the email blasts that point out special deals, but information and resources that retailers can use. For example, Wilson recently posted an article on maximizing the incentive packages a lot of manufacturers offer (buy five get one free, etc.). “He talked about how dealers can utilize those free goods, or take the free gun and dollar cost average it into the inventory and increase profitability,” says Trull. “We want to provide relevant, meaningful content that people value.” Ultimately, says Trull, building for the future is about making the most of the present. “We’re looking for smart opportunities where we can buy some inventory. In certain situations, it’s helpful to some of the manufacturers that might have some challenges. They’ve got to turn some inventory into cash, and we can take advantage of a great deal—which will ultimately get passed on to the retailer and the consumer.” Trull sees three things as being key to success as a distributor. “You have to have a healthy amount of products people want. You have to be service-minded. And you obviously have to be competitive,” he says. “Our goal is not to be the cheapest on everything at all times. Our goal is to have a great selection of products, offer exceptional service, and bring value to our retailers.” “We treat people the way we’d want to be treated,” says Trull. “We pride ourselves in going that extra mile to bring exceptional service to folks. This is a small industry that is very much driven by relationships. That’s what we’re driven by every single day.” Booth #13946. (davidsonsinc.com)

Loaded in Utah

BerryÕs Manufacturing builds a better bullet and more By Peter Suciu

t Berry’s Manufacturing, talk of “getting loaded” has nothing to do with alcohol consumption and everything to do with building a superior bullet, which the family-owned company, based in Utah, has been doing since 1961. Now in its third generation, the brand is world renowned for its 60 different types of superior plated bullets as well as its line of injection-molded ammo boxes, vibratory case cleaners, and its VersaCradle bench tools, all of which are proudly made in America.

The VersaCradle product line allows shooters to work on their firearms.

The company was founded by Ray Berry, who, after an industrial accident, was forced to hand over the reins to son Gilbert when Gilbert was just 18 years old. After running the company for 40 years, Gilbert passed the baton to Tony Berry, who continues to run the company following the Berry’s core beliefs of faith, family, and hard work. The last eight years has been very interesting for this St. George, Utah–based company, especially given that ammunition of all calibers was in hot demand and short supply. “Our business is very focused on pistol rounds, and during the last couple of years, our 9mm was practically nonexistent,” says marketing and sales manager Justin Taylor. “We were back-ordered a lot

of the time, and as the ammo came off the line it was going straight out the door.” During the peak period for ammunition, many producers experienced similar demand, especially for the more popular calibers. Some companies may have seen that as a good time, but Taylor says Berry’s didn’t always see it that way. “For the industry it wasn’t really good,” he says. He notes that while mainstream media may have said the gun industry liked the robust sales, Berry’s took a different perspective. “It was a feardriven market, and from our company’s standpoint, we knew it was a false sense and false indicator of how business should be done.” The folks at Berry’s Manufacturing, like many ammunition producers, weren’t actually the ones getting rich, either. That “fear market” drove up prices, but it was, Taylor says, the middle men and other distributors that reaped the profits. In the meantime, customers often waited months to get the ammo they needed. Taylor also saw another downside to this market. If shooters couldn’t get the ammo they needed, they couldn’t shoot. And that, in the long run, wasn’t good for the industry. “It’s a lot more stable now, and that’s what we want to see,” he says, while noting that firearm sales have declined from their peak of a couple of years ago. “We’re seeing the right uptick again. We’re not quite there, but people are buying what they need at a more leisurely pace. We knew that fear [as a sales motivator] wasn’t good for the

overall health of the industry.” To Taylor, too much inventory is just as bad as unceasing demand. “Right now we’re just happy to be back to a normal business state.” Going forward, the company continues to watch the ever-changing political winds. One concern is whether certain materials could be banned. However, the plan is to raise the sails and go where the winds of change take them. Though the political situation in California regarding the banning of certain materials (lead, for instance) is troublesome, Taylor says, “We can’t be focused on just one state. There are a lot of others out there. We’ll watch the legislation, and as a company we’ll have to adapt. To be dynamic, you need to roll with the marketplace.” This is also why Berry’s has continued to produce other accessories, including reloading tools and plastic-injection storage cases. To this end, the company has continued to innovate and improve on its signature VersaCradle line of products that allow shooters to work on their firearms. “We think education in safe firearm use goes beyond shooting,” says Taylor. “You have to really know the importance about storage and maintenance.” In addition, should there be another shortage on ammunition, Berry’s Manufacturing has shooters covered with its reloading supplies. It recently introduced its QD-500 vibratory tumbler, the design of which offers users a quick detachable bowl for cleaning brass cartridges. Booth #2819. (berrysmfg.com)

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DEPENDABILITY

INNOVATION

A M E R I C A ’ S A M E R I C A ’ S

M A S T E R M A S T E R

PERFORMANCE

H U N T E R S G U N M A K E R

www.TCARMS.com

#TCArms facebook/tcarmsco

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twitter/tcarmsco

instagram/tcarmsco

youtube/tcarmsco

12/19/17 11:43 AM

F E AT U R E S

The Worst of Undercover Shopper eaders of SHOT Business know that Undercover Shopper, which appears in each issue, is designed to improve retailer performance by evaluating firearms businesses in three key categories: customer service, product knowledge, and inventory. Of the three, by far the most important is customer service. Retailers who fare poorly in our evaluations typically show major deficiencies here. Here’s a selection of some of the more egregious examples of poor customer service from the past couple of years.

WhoÕs Next? ³ This

store looked promising. It was bright and had a lot of neatly organized hunting and outdoor gear. There were enough customers to indicate it was a popular place, but not too many to make you think shopping would be a hassle— until I got to the gun counter. There were plenty of new guns, and I was excited to see several of the kind for which I was looking. Each of the three clerks was talking with customers, so I waited for my turn. But then things got confusing as several other customers walked up to the counter area, each of whom wanted the attention of the clerks, just like I did. I stood there listening to the banter about 9mms vs.

.45 calibers and palm swell and striker-fired guns for about 15 minutes. Once in a while I’d catch another waiting customer glance at me, thinking, “I wonder if he’ll be next or I’ll get my turn first.” Sure it’s all conjecture, but that’s what your mind does when it’s idle. Well, I never did find out what the clerks knew because I’d had enough and left.

DonÕt Bother Me ³ A

giant stone fireplace and fullbody mounts of a trophy whitetail buck and a doe welcome visitors to the store. No one on staff has that job. In the firearms section, a crowd

PIXEL PUSHERS

Bottom line: ItÕs all about customer service

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of customers stood around trying to decipher the system of access to the few employees behind the counter. I found an employee and stood at the fringes of his conversation with some customers for about 30 minutes. Finally, I got my chance and I asked my question about single-shot big-game rifles. He led me over to a Browning Model 1885 High Wall 7mm Rem. Mag. “This will do it,” he said. Then he answered the phone and chatted for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, I discovered a rack of a dozen Ruger No. 1s, which include a .220, .270, .338, .416, and a .375. After a while, the employee stopped by to explain these rifles were bought a long time ago and never sold. “I need to go take care of something,” he said, and that was that.

On My Own ³ This

small, independent gun range recently got into the hunting and reloading business. I walked to the area that had hunting accessories and checked out their trail cam offerings. After a minute or two, a clerk walked up and asked if I was finding what I was looking for. I asked about the trail cams displayed, and said I was especially interested in one that billed itself as the simplest cam on the market. I asked the clerk about image quality and trigger speed. He just kind of laughed and said he really didn’t know much about trail cams because he wasn’t a hunter. I was on my own. I stopped by the store at another point. Different clerk, same response. I showed myself out.

The Invisible Man ³ The

store was a very large big box, selling everything from blueberries to ballpeen hammers. The sporting goods department offered 13 models of air rifles and a similar number of air pistols, all locked up in a glass case. Most were relatively inexpensive break-barrel springpiston .177 caliber; some were BB guns; and there was at least one pump-up air rifle. A couple of rifles were .22 caliber. I saw 12 different offerings of pellet ammunition, mostly .177 but some .22, and these were locked up in an adjacent case. Two clerks chatted about 20 feet away while I stood for at least 10 minutes peering into the cases, taking notes on the inventory. At no point did either approach to ask if they could be of help.

DonÕt Look Now ³ This

locally owned store is the best-stocked gun and shooting retail location in the area. It had a wide section of riflescopes, several of which were perfectly configured to meet my needs. I stood at the optics counter, fondling the less-expensive scopes in reach while looking longingly at the nicer ones under glass.

The store wasn’t crowded, and there were four of what appeared to be employees behind the counter arguing about .44 Magnums and the .30/06. During the 10 minutes I stood there, trying my best to act like I had a wad of money burning a hole in my pocket, I noticed two clerks staring at me. When I made eye contact, they turned away. Not wanting to interrupt their morning conversation, I left, feeling I’d just been rejected membership in the area’s most popular club.

Ouch! ³ I

knew I was in for an interesting time at this brand-new big-box store when I asked to see an allpurpose semi-auto shotgun, and the young clerk showed me a Mossberg pump with an extended mag and 16-inch barrel. I looked at it, but reminded him I was looking for a semi. He scoured the wall of 150 long guns, apparently waiting for one to fall into his hands. I pointed to the Remington 11-87, Remington 870 Express, and Beretta A300 Outlander. He handed me each. Clearly, he was not familiar with handling guns at all, but that didn’t stop him from try-

ing to answer questions as if he did. Poor kid, at one point he closed the bolt on his finger while looking for the bolt release. No blood, but pride was damaged, that’s for sure.

Tapped Out ³ The

gun counter clerk asked if I needed help. I pointed to the four crossbows hanging nearby. She looked over at them with fear. I breathed a sigh of relief when she got on the intercom and called for reinforcements. The store crossbow “expert” showed up. I asked him what the differences were among the four: a Wicked Ridge Invader, Barnett Quad 400 and Brotherhood, and Parker Thunderhawk. Surprisingly, he said, “Not much.” He started checking boxes for how much “resistance” each had. I guess he was thinking of draw weight. Finally he found an fps number on each of the 10 boxes. He rattled off the various feet-per-second numbers of each. Then he gave me a look that said, “What else could you possibly need to know now that you know the fps of each?” I knew I had tapped all the crossbow knowledge available in this big-box store.

Be Right Back ³ At

this big-box store, three clerks were talking something over as four customers waited for help. Apparently there was some on-the-job training going on. Two of the clerks walked off, and the one who was left looked my way. I asked him about a scoped combo, and he pointed to a wood-stocked rifle and said it was a “Vortex.” I was a bit confused because Vortex is an optics company. I realized he was referring to a Mossberg Patriot that had a Vortex scope. I mentioned that to him, but he still called it a “Vortex rifle.” I handled the Patriot, gave it back to him, and eyed a Savage Model 11/111 and a Remington 783. “I’ll be right back,” he said. I waited about 10 minutes. As I turned to leave, I looked back and caught his eye. He just kind of shrugged his shoulders.

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F E AT U R E S

Behind the Scenes

Behind every great TV host is a great videographer By Michelle Schuermann

eing a videographer in the outdoor industry isn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Sure, saying you film Melissa Bachman for her TV show might gain you bonus points among fellow hunters, but those hunters don’t truly know what it takes to follow someone who is on the road 300 days of the year.

I recently asked a few videographers to share their stories. I wanted to know what makes them tick and why they did what they do. “No guts, no glory” is an old canard that can certainly apply here. As Jim Kinsey, videographer and editor for Skull Bound TV airing on Sportsman Channel (Booth #13923), says, “‘No guts, no glory’ is an old saying, sure, but so true. You have to have the guts to get the shot. If you do, the glory is all yours!” Kinsey adds that heavy packs, multiple cameras, crazy weather, and getting along with people from all walks of life are just part

of the job description. “I’ve dubbed the camera and tripod I carry up and down the mountains ‘the boat anchor’ because I end up carrying both everywhere.” That brings to mind another adage: “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” Julie McQueen, host of ’Till Death Do Us Part on CarbonTV says, “I believe that working behind the camera not only makes you a better host when you are in front of the camera, but a better editor as well. I’ve learned to handle situations as they happen, and to think outside of the box. Sometimes it’s so cold that our camera batteries

die quickly. In that case, we tape hand warmers to them to in order to extend battery life.” In this field, you learn quickly that stress is a way of life. Consider Emanual Kapp, a videographer and editor with Girls with Guns TV on Pursuit Channel, who films more out of the country than in the country. “I’ve arrived at my international destination without any gear, except for the items I was allowed to carry with me,” he says. “I learned early on to always keep the essentials, like my camera and charging stations, on me. No camera, no story.” Like their TV hosts, videogra-

phers have stories to share. From falling and breaking equipment to filming in sub-zero temps to scary-as-hell plane rides, they have to take it all in stride. Brad Hadsall, videographer and editor for Melissa Bachman and Winchester Deadly Passion on Sportsman Channel, says, “I was on a floatplane heading to northern Quebec. We had just taken off when the deafening roar of the 1956 DeHavilland Beaver abruptly stopped. All I could hear was the wind whistling past our plane. I turned to the pilot; he shrugged his shoulders and proceeded to fire up the engine again. Thankfully, the unforgettable clamor returned. But, five minutes later, we were once again a giant glider. After starting the engine a second time, the pilot taps me on the shoulder and says through the headset in a very nonchalant tone, ‘I think maybe we should go back.’ To which I readily agreed. After we returned safely to base, their mechanic worked on the plane for three hours, and then they put me back on the same plane to complete our journey. Looking back, I’ve often wondered if that was

Julie McQueen (above) at work. Facing page, clockwise from top: Jim Kinsey (in the Arctic), Emanual Kapp, and Brad Hadsell with Melissa Bachman.

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really the best option.” Kinsey has been threatened by lions, hippos, and bears, but to him the most memorable trips usually involve weather. “In 2006, I was on the Arctic Ocean filming a polar bear hunt,” he says. “Our party got caught in a whiteout toward dusk and our Inuit guide, Louie, got lost. Fortunately, I had purchased maps of the surrounding area and loaded them in to my GPS. Fighting a 60-mph wind, snow, and temperatures that were nearly 70 degrees below zero, I was able to use my GPS to find Ramsey Island in the Prince of Wales Strait. We followed the GPS for 16 miles, found the island, and set up our shelter on the lee side of the island. Without my GPS, we would have frozen to death on the ice.” Hadsall is a different animal in this world. He wasn’t a hunter who turned to film, but a filmmaker drawn to the outdoors. In fact, his first gig after college was at the local NBC affiliate in Minneapolis. “I definitely don’t do this job for glory or recognition,” he says. “If that’s what is important to you, then you should look for

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another line of work.” So, what drives him to such extremes? The challenges and the creative process,” he says. “How do I approach the same old storyline differently? How do I get someone who is nervous on camera to feel comfortable? How do I shoot this more creatively?” Hadsell’s major insight was that a knowledge of hunting and fishing is secondary to the ability to tell a story. “It’s really about telling other people’s stories. It also helps to be able to think quickly on your feet, being able to look outside the box, and being willing to listen.” Kinsey says he often encounters people who see only the “glamour” of what he does. “They have no idea how hard all this is,” he says. Despite the difficulties, he wouldn’t trade what he does for anything else. “I think Mark Twain said it best: ‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Dream. Explore. Discover.’”

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F E AT U R E S

Going Deep

A proven self-defense handgun load gets a performance boost

sing a handgun for self-defense is never a static discipline, as you must constantly refresh, improve, and adapt your skills to new situations. Likewise, even iconic tools of the trade have to evolve. It’s no surprise that Federal Premium’s Hydra-Shok Deep is at the forefront of that movement. This new round builds off the time-tested Hydra-Shok platform to better meet modern performance measurements. And the improvements will give handgunners a big boost.

“Hydra-Shok Deep offers consumers a round that results in consistent, reliable performance through typical defensive barriers and penetrates to the depth deemed optimum by the leading law enforcement agency in the United States,” says Larry Head, director and chief engineer of handgun ammunition.

The Proven Design ³ Hydra-Shok

has been a selfdefense staple since its debut in 1989. At that time, the FBI had requested a projectile with better terminal ballistics than traditional cup-and-core bullets. Federal

responded with Hydra-Shok, which uses an expanding bullet with a notched jacket, nonbonded lead core, and unique center-post hollowpoint design. That provided better penetration and more consistent threat-stopping expansion than other bullets at the time. “Original Hydra-Shok was designed toward the end of the 1980s around the then-current FBI philosophy of how a bullet should perform and protocol testing to evaluate that performance,” Head says. “Over time, the FBI performance requirements have been evolving, and their protocol testing has similarly been evolving to match.

One of the most notable changes has been the desire for deeperpenetrating rounds and more consistency in penetration depths though all the intermediate barriers.” Enter Federal Premium’s engineers, who, in the 28 years since the introduction of original Hydra-Shok, have learned a lot about terminal ballistics and projectile performance. Although the original HydraShok remains very effective, designers knew that they could make it better. Hydra-Shok Deep achieves that, making remarkable improvements on the groundbreaking original concept.

Performance for Modern Standards ³ The

new Hydra-Shok Deep bullet features a core design that provides up to 50 percent deeper penetration than original Hydra-Shok and similar loads from competitors. The center post has been improved so it’s more robust, which provides better integrity and performance through barriers. Testing shows that Hydra-Shok Deep penetrates 15 inches in bare ballistics gelatin, which is the optimal depth, according to FBI standards. “The primary goal of HydraShok Deep was to penetrate to the FBI’s optimum depth of 14 to 16 inches and at the same time

The new Hydra-Shok Deep bullet features a core design that provides up to 50 percent deeper penetration than original Hydra-Shok. The center post has been improved so it’s more robust, which provides better integrity and performance through barriers.

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provide more consistent performance though the intermediate barriers,” Head says. “We also wanted to develop a round that would score significantly better through the FBI protocol testing than standard Hydra-Shok. Hydra-Shok Deep does all of this with a 70 percent improvement in FBI protocol score.” Although the bullet’s performance in ballistic gelatin is impressive, many shooters might wonder how Hydra-Shok Deep will boost their real-world performance. “Ideal bullet performance is a round that stops a threat by expanding to a large diameter to cause the maximum amount of tissue damage and penetrates deep enough to reach vital organs,” he says.

Reliability Redefined ³ Hydra-Shok

Deep also uses a reliable Federal primer and a consistent, specially formulated propellant. Head says both are critical to achieving optimum ballistic performance and reliability. “In a self-defense situation, your ammunition has to be completely

SAVAGE Õ S STEALTH PROJECT

Federal primer and powder help provide reliable ignition.

Blend pinpoint precision and torture-tested toughness to beat the most challenging targets and conditions. The new Savage Stealth Evolution pairs a heavy fluted barrel with a monolithic aluminum chassis finished in rugged bronze Cerakote. The hard polymer-ceramic coating greatly enhances resistance to abrasion, corrosion, and impact. Its factory-blueprinted 10/110 action, matched with Savage’s zero-tolerance headspacing, user-adjustable AccuTrigger, and 5R button rifling, produces sub-MOA accuracy at extreme ranges, right out of the box. The rifle is available in six of the hottest calibers in longrange shooting, including the new 6mm Creedmoor. The rifle also comes with a Magpul PRS Gen3 adjustable buttstock, a heavy fluted barrel with muzzle brake, and a detachable box magazine. SRP: $1,799 to $2,149. Booth #14551. (savagearms.com)

reliable in igniting the propellant and providing the correct and consistent energetics. This not only pushes the bullet to its optimum working velocity but also reliably functions the gun,” he says. “A failure in this area could lead to catastrophic results. The propellants also contain flash suppressants to reduce muzzle flash and minimize temporary blindness in low-light shooting situations.” Hydra-Shok Deep will initially be offered in 135-grain 9mm Luger. Booth #14551. (federal premium.com)

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Innox GTX® Mid For a chance to win a pair of LOWAs, snap a pic of any LOWA boot that you see at the SHOT Show, then repost – #LowaHunting or #LowaTaskForce Winner will be notified via Instagram DM on Day 4.

All LOWA Hunting boots are made with a DuraPU™ midsole for outstanding durability and support, and all feature the enduring European-crafted quality that has garnered us the reputation as “the Rolls-Royce of hiking boots.* ”

visit booth #10232

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to see our 2018 Task Force & Hunting collections

* Forbes, December 2017. GORE-TEX®, GTX®, GORE®, and GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY® and design are registered trademarks of W.L. Gore & Associates Inc. VIBRAM®, the Octagon Logo, and the Yellow Octagon Logo and the color Canary Yellow are registered trademarks of Vibram S.p.A. © 2018 LOWA Boots, LLC.

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F E AT U R E S

The straight-pull action on the Steyr Scout RFR can be operated with your fingertips. It is very fast to cycle.

Totally Cool

Steyr takes the Scout platform to a new level

By Richard Mann

he Scout rifle as originally conceived by Jeff Cooper was intended to be a general-purpose rifle. In other words, a firearm not specialized for a specific pursuit, but capable of successfully tackling any problem a rifle might be asked to solve. We can all fantasize about needing such a rifle for big-game hunting and fighting bad guys, but for most of us a .22 rifle truly fits the bill. Steyr has recognized this reality and has put together what could possibly be the ideal, do-it-all rimfire rifle. It’s called the Steyr Scout RFR.

Admittedly, I was first drawn to the RFR because of my infatuation with Scout Rifles. Partly due to its similarities with the Steyr Scout rifle, and partly due to its affordable rimfire chambering, I felt it would be the ideal understudy gun. Once I got the RFR in hand, I realized it was ideally configured to do anything a rimfire rifle could be asked to do, and do it very well. If for no other reason, that general-purpose suitability earns the rifle the Scout name. At the most basic level, Cooper felt a Scout rifle should be a repeating rifle that’s light, compact, outfitted with a long-eyerelief scope, and chambered for a cartridge capable of handling anything short of dangerous game. The straight-pull, 10-round-magazine-fed Steyr RFR weighs 6 pounds 4 ounces, is only 38 inches long, will accept a Scout scope, and is available in .22 LR, .22 Magnum, or .17 HMR. With those cartridges, you can plink, hunt small game, or take out pests.

The RFR has two striking features. First, the stock, which is similar in shape and configuration to the Steyr Scout rifle, is very comfortable, with a high comb to permit an excellent cheek weld with proper eye alignment behind the optic. Second, the straightpull action—which is manufactured by Austria-based ISSC and is known as the Biathlon or SPA (straight-pull action)—is elegantly simple and twice as fast as a conventional bolt-action. The synthetic stock of the RFR shrouds the barrel forward of the receiver and has an integral Picatinny rail to allow for the mounting of an extended-eye-

relief scope or a red-dot sight. However, integral to the upper receiver is a rail compatible with common rimfire scope rings. Standard Weaver bases that can be attached to this rail are shipped with the rifle. This gives the user the unmatched versatility of utilizing a combination of various sighting systems as needs dictate. Steyr wisely threaded the muzzle on this rifle, but did so at the ½-20 pitch, which is a European specification. However, ½-20 to ½-28 adaptors can be had. Another wise inclusion by Steyr was a good trigger that, even though it has somewhat of a Glock feel, breaks crisply at 2.75

pounds, with minimal overtravel. The detachable polymer magazine weighs less than 2 ounces, holds 10 rounds, and is released by depressing a lever located just forward of the trigger guard. As a point of fact, the Steyr Scout RFR is not a Scout rifle. However, it brings true generalpurpose application to the important rimfire platform. The rifle is undeniably versatile and will serve well in a wide range of applications. It also looks cool, because, well, it is cool. That will not help you shoot any better, but never underestimate the allure of coolness. SRP: $599. Booth #10246. (steyrarms.com)

Right out of the box, the Steyr Scout RFR can accept a Scout or traditional riflescope or a red-dot sight, bringing a new level of versatility to the rimfire.

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F E AT U R E S

LiveCraft Floating Geese decoys have more added detail, a more realistic paint scheme, and a competitive price.

No Stick in the Mud

Final Approach continues to innovate

By Brian McCombie

he cold Manitoba rain tapped across the top of my Final Approach layout blind as a flock of Canada geese pivoted in the air, the big birds dipping their heads as they aimed for our decoys. “Hold until I give the word,” said John Vaca, the host of this hunt and national pro staff manager for Vista Outdoor. “Wait on it. Wait, guys. Now!”

With a quick shove of my knee, the right side of my Pro-Guide layout blind popped open. I sat up and raised my shotgun, picked out my targets, and quickly ran through my three shells. There were eight of us hunting that morning, and when the shooting stopped, we had a half-dozen honkers on the ground. It was a great start to the hunt, made possible in no small part by the performance of our layout blinds. I’ve used plenty of layout blinds over the years, but the ProGuide impressed in three key areas. First, there was plenty of room, enough for me and my backpack, with legroom to spare. Second, the 19-inch profile provided enough leverage to easily open the blind doors. Third, the Pro-Guide kept me dry through a morning of light rain. “The Pro-Guide was Final Approach’s original blind, first introduced three decades ago,” Vaca said after the hunt. “We felt it was time to get back to our

roots, to go a little old school but with upgrades.” Those upgrades included the use of waterproof ballistic-nylon materials and a weather-resistant coating on the aluminum frame. The Pro-Guide (SRP: $355.95) had been out of the line since 2011, but was reintroduced last year in time for waterfowl seasons. Final Approach also rereleased its X-Land’r layout blind (SRP: $307.95) in 2017, a lower-profile and more easily packable blind, plus new goose and mallard decoys. For the 2018 SHOT Show, Final Approach continues to push ahead in the waterfowling market, with three new items. The Forge Sport Dog Kennel (SRP: $349.99) has been designed specifically for sporting dogs. It fills the pricepoint gap between basic kennels and premium models, and it features single-wall roto-molded construction, adjustable window vents, and integrated tie downs. LiveCraft Floating Geese decoys (SRP: $149.99, set of six)

The sturdy Forge Sport Dog Kennel benefits from a singlewall roto-molded construction.

are Final Approach’s follow-up to its Full Body Geese decoys that were launched in 2017. LiveCraft floaters have more added detail, a more realistic paint scheme, and a competitive price. Snow Goose Rags (SRP: $129.99) are made from coated Tyvek material. They come 25 to a box and fill out a spread nicely when you’re snow goose hunting. Each has an integrated, collapsible stake. To help retailers sell more Final

Approach products, the manufacturer is beefing up its social media efforts, including YouTube content that will include more how-to videos. Final Approach products and pro staffers will also be featured on two outdoor television program. Vaca said the team’s pro staff is a key resource as well. “The Final Approach Pro Staff support the brand at the retail level,” he said. “Our team is brought in as product experts and seminar speakers to enhance consumer experience with Final Approach products. From a basic waterfowl seminar to ‘in the weeds’ kinds of clinics on specialized techniques, the Final Approach Team covers it all.” Currently, the Final Approach team of pro staffers is made up of 45 people. “They can make a big difference in-store at the customer level,” Vaca said. “They love interacting with your customers and will definitely help you move product.” Booth #14551. (fabrand.com)

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T H E N E W V I C TO R Y R F

DREAM BIGGER

W H AT E V E R D R E A M H U N T I S N E X T O N Y O U R L I S T, S U C C E S S I S N O W W E L L- W I T H I N R A N G E . G E T S TA R T E D AT B O O T H # 1 3 9 0 9

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f e at u r e s

Waterfowl BuyerÕs Guide to Shotguns

Semi-autos rule the roost, but there is demand for pump-actions as well By Phil Bourjaily

The 12-gauge is the best allaround choice, but some hunters would be better served by going with a lighter 20-gauge.

When waterfowl hunters come to you for a shotgun, here’s what you need to know.

Action ³ Most

waterfowl hunters want semi-auto shotguns. Most, but not all, who buy pumps hope to trade up to a semi-auto someday. Although there are some very good pumps made, the budget, entry-level models will be most popular. Over/unders are rarely seen in the marsh.

Gas or Inertia ³ Both

semi-auto actions have their fans. In a nutshell, inertia guns are more reliable in bad weather and don’t get as dirty as gas guns, but they kick more. Gas guns offer noticeable recoil reduction, and the best of them are almost as reliable as inertia guns; they do require more maintenance, though. Be ready to explain the advantages of each. The hardcore hunter who goes every day and rarely cleans his guns may prefer inertia, while the hunter who would like to use the same gun for doves and clays is better off with a gas gun.

Gauge ³ The

uck and goose hunters demand performance from their shotguns. Their guns must deliver heavy loads of shot reliably in the harshest conditions. Sell the right gun to a waterfowler and you can earn a customer who will be back time and again for ammunition, clothing, and gear throughout waterfowl seasons, which run almost non-stop from Canada geese and teal in September to snow geese in early spring.

3-inch 12-gauge will serve for all but long-range goose hunting. A 3½-inch gun costs a couple of hundred dollars more than the same gun with a 3-inch chamber, and 3½ recoil can be stout. That’s the case for a 3-inch 12-gauge, but understand that many hunters want the option of shooting 3½-inch shells whether they ever actually shoot them or not. They may also want to use the gun for spring turkeys with 3½-inch shells. The 10-gauge has a small but loyal cult following, but there are only two 10s currently on the market. Unless you live in an area where Canada geese are king, you probably don’t have to stock 10s. Twenty gauges have grown in popularity lately among experienced hunters, and they have always been the first gun of young waterfowlers, so you’ll want to have full- and youth-size 20s in your inventory. As more women come into the sport, the temptation for many retailers is to sell them a 20. However, unless your female customer is tiny, she’s probably better off with a 12-gauge gas

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occasional 3½-inch shell, let him buy a light gun. A goose hunter who plans to shoot a lot of heavy magnums will be happier with a heavier gun in the long run.

Waterfowlers often hunt in nasty weather. As a result, they tend to favor durable guns that can function reliably in all conditions.

Barrel Length ³ A

28-inch barrel is the most popular barrel length, though some hunters choose 26 or even 24 inches. The old standard 30-inch barrel is rare. Barrel length has to do entirely with balance and very little with ballistics or sighting plane. Shooters hardly ever wish they had bought a shorter barrel, but often wish they had bought a longer one. Push the 28-inch barrels.

Gun Fit ³ Many

gun, which will be soft-shooting and much more effective on game.

Finish ³ Never

mind that our fathers killed birds with walnut-stocked guns. Most hunters now want synthetic, either in black or a camo pattern. Black guns usually sell for

$100 less than camo. While camo looks cool to today’s hunters, a strong selling point of camo dipping is that it protects steel parts from external rust.

Weight ³ Guns

get lighter every year, with many now under 7 pounds.

It’s easy to sell a gun that seems to fly to the hunter’s shoulder when they try it out, and I won’t tell you to argue with them. The truth, though, is that heavy guns of 8 pounds or so are easier to shoot and absorb recoil better; lightweight 3½-inch guns can kick brutally. If a hunter mostly hunts ducks but wants the option of the

semi-autos and a few pumps come with shim kits to adjust stock dimensions. Some guns also offer adjustable length of pull by means of spacer kits. Not only does that simplify the chore of altering synthetic stock length, which can be tricky, it allows a hunter to shorten a stock to accommodate heavier clothing late in the season. If you can learn how to perform an in-store fitting, you’ll be offering a service big boxes can’t match.

WHAT TO SELL HereÕs a cheat sheet on the waterfowl guns your customers will be asking for: BENELLI SUPER BLACK EAGLE 3: The new Super Black Eagle 3 has been slimmed down and lightened, and features an improved recoil-reduction system. It also has a bolt that eliminates the ÒBenelli clickÓ misfire that occurs when the bolt is nudged out of battery. SRP: $1,799Ð$1,899. (benelliusa.com) BERETTA A400 XTREME: BerettaÕs flagship 3½-inch semi-auto is the last word in gas-gun technology. ItÕs reliable and softshooting, and comes with a very effective Kick-Off recoil reducer in the stock and a slick magazine cap that comes off with just a halfturn. SRP: $1,750, black; $1,900, camo. (beretta.com) BERETTA A300: One of the best deals in a gas gun on the market, the A300 is a 3-inch gun based on the discontinued Beretta 391. SRP: $800, black; $900, walnut and camo. (beretta.com) FRANCHI AFFINITY: The Franchi line (owned by Benelli) features inertia guns at a much lower price point. The Affinity also now comes in a Catalyst version with a stock designed for women. SRP: $849Ð$999. (franchiusa.com) BROWNING MAXUS: BrowningÕs top-ofthe-line gas gun comes in 3- and 3½-inch

versions and features low recoil, a unique forend latch in place of a magazine cap, and a ÒturnkeyÓ plug that can be removed and replaced almost instantly. SRP: $1,379Ð $1,659. (browning.com) BROWNING A5: An inertia gun with the humpback profile of the classic Auto 5, the new A5 is lightweight, reliable, and available in 3- and 3½-inch versions. SRP: $1,499Ð $1,759. (browning.com) WINCHESTER SX4: Replacing the popular SX3 gas gun, the SX4 is more or less the same gun at a lower price, thanks to manufacturing efficiencies. It also has a safety, bolt handle, and closer button. SRP: $799Ð $1,069. (winchesterguns.com) REMINGTON VERSAMAX: The softestshooting gas gun around, thanks to its heft and a unique gas system, the VersaMax makes a good choice for hunters who shoot lots of 3½-inch shells. A no frills Sportsman is an excellent deal in a 3½-inch magnum. SRP: $1,069Ð$1,664. (remington.com) REMINGTON V3: Patterned after the VersaMax, the V3 is a 3-inch semi-auto that fills the shoes of the legendary 11-87. Very reliable, rugged, and easy to clean, itÕs a very good buy in a gas gun. SRP: $895Ð$995. (remington.com) BROWNING BPS: A well-made, high-quality gun, the BPS costs more than most pumps.

Left-handed shooters love the BPS for its bottom ejection and top safety. Also available in 10-gauge and full-size and compact 20-gauge. SRP: $699Ð$949. (browning. com) REMINGTON 870 EXPRESS: RemingtonÕs classic pump comes in several versions suitable for waterfowlers, from the low-priced base model to a full-camo, 3½-inch Super Magnum. Also in 20-gauge full-size and compact versions. SRP: $417Ð$629. (remington. com) MOSSBERG 930 & 935: Mossberg offers its 3- and 3½-inch semi-autos in an impressive Pro Series waterfowler model with corrosionresistant internal parts and stainless springs. SRP: $874Ð$959. (mossberg.com) MOSSBERG 835: The first 3½-inch 12-gauge ever made, the 835 has a near 10-gauge diameter barrel for superior patterns with big shot. SRP: $518Ð$604. (mossberg.com) BENELLI NOVA: With a one-piece polymer stock and receiver, the Nova is a durable, heavy, and slick 3½-inch pump gun. Also available in 20-gauge. SRP: $449Ð$559. (benelliusa.com) WEATHERBY SA-08: This lightweight and inexpensive Turkish-made gas gun has nothing but satisfied owners. In 3-inch 12-gauge and full-size and compact 20-gauge. SRP: $649Ð$749, camo. (weatherby.com)

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F E AT U R E S

First Rifles

Set the stage for success by helping fit first-time hunters with the right rifle By Christopher Cogley

unting is a progression, an evolution that begins the day we’re introduced to the tradition and continues for as long as we choose to take to the field. Throughout the course of this progression, there are milestones all hunters must reach to achieve the next stage. Few of these rites of passage are more significant than the one that takes place when we transition from the .22 most of us learned to shoot with to our first centerfire hunting rifle.

Take the time to help a hunter select that all-important first rifle. The reward can be a lifetime of customer loyalty.

Although this stage is incredibly symbolic on many levels, there’s also a fundamentally practical aspect to this progression that should never be underestimated: The right rifle helps provide a young hunter with a rewarding experience that will serve as the foundation upon which a lifetime of learning can be built. The wrong rifle, however, can easily create a negative reaction that might cause this youth to look elsewhere for the kind of rewarding pastime he was otherwise hoping to find in hunting. As more new hunters are coming from families without hunting traditions, they are turning to their local firearms retailers for advice on which rifle would make the best choice to take afield. By encouraging your staff to take the time to listen to the needs and reservations of these first-time hunters and then help them find the right rifle to fit their unique situation, store owners can not only help get new people passionate about the heritage we all care so much about, they can also create loyal, lifelong customers who will turn to them for advice at each stage of their hunting evolution. Here are several rifles that would all make good selections for these hunters.

RUGER AMERICAN ALL-WEATHER

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ruger .com

OVERVIEW: The Ruger American All-Weather is a solid choice for a first hunting rifle for a wide range of shooters. The stainless-steel rifle with a synthetic stock is durable enough to handle nearly anything nature might throw at it. The rifle weighs only 6.3 pounds, barrel length is 22 inches, and the overall length is 42 inches, all of which ensures the American AllWeather isn’t too cumbersome for young hunters to handle. The rifle has a smooth trigger pull, even without adjusting the

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The Ruger American All-Weather is available in left-handed versions across the line.

factory setting, and provided good accuracy right out of the box. The shape of the stock allowed for a solid, steady grip good for shooters with smaller hands. The butt pad provided adequate recoil reduction, but the lighter weight also meant it still had a bit of a kick on the 7mm-08 we tested, something retailers should take into consideration with younger and smallerframed customers, perhaps offering them a different caliber. The rotary magazine was easy to detach, load, and reattach, and the cartridges fed into place without trouble. The bolt itself wasn’t as smooth as that on some of the other rifles tested, and it took a while for some testers to begin working it efficiently. The American was one of the least-expensive rifles we tested, which means that first-time hunters won’t have to make a large investment to get started. The rifle comes in seven of the most popular calibers, from .223 to .308, and all of them are available left-handed. PROS: The American All-Weather is a versatile, durable, go-nearlyanywhere, do-nearly-anything kind of rifle. The availability of seven popular calibers for both right- and left-handed shooters means that nearly everyone can find the one to fit their body and hunting style. CONS: This might not be the rifle to show hunters who have more traditional tastes. What it exudes in functionality it lacks in aesthetic appeal for people who typically view firearms as more of a work of art. The action could be smoother but will likely cause no issues once a shooter gets accustomed to the amount of effort required to work the bolt. BOTTOM LINE: The American All-Weather seems to be made with first-time hunters in mind. Combine its admirable accuracy, bulletproof construction, and lightweight, easy-to-handle design with its reasonable price tag, and it’s hard to imagine a more practical rifle anyone could carry on his or her first hunt. Booth #11940.

SAVAGE MSR 10 HUNTER

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OVERVIEW: The debate about whether modern sporting rifles (MSRs) are actually practical hunting rifles might still carry on in the distant corners of some gun shops and obscure online chat rooms, but it seems most people in the hunting and shooting community have recognized the benefits of these firearms and accepted them as the next evolution of the hunting rifle. That acceptance doesn’t necessarily mean that the community embraces these rifles enough to sling them over their shoulder when they take to the field. When it comes to a first hunting rifle, an MSR might seem a little intimidating to a shooter who hasn’t practiced with one on the range. That doesn’t mean it isn’t the right choice for a first hunting rifle—rather, just that retail sales staff might have to spend a little more time explaining the benefits of carrying an MSR.

For those first-time hunters receptive to the idea, the Savage MSR 10 Hunter is one to consider. Available in .308 Winchester, .338 Federal, and the trendy-hot 6.5 Creedmoor, the MSR 10 Hunter will work for a wide range of game. At roughly 8 pounds, it might be a bit on the heavy side and a little cumbersome for smaller shooters, but the reduction in felt recoil might make up for the larger size, especially when they’re running rounds through it at the range in preparation for the season. The adjustable stock and nearly endless options for personalizing the rifle will also allow hunters to use a rifle that adjusts to them rather than a rifle to which they must adjust. The trigger pull on the MSR 10 Hunter was stiff but can easily be adjusted to fit each shooter’s preference. One of the most attractive features for first-time hunters, however, might be the ability to quickly reacquire the target for a follow-up shot without having to worry about working a bolt or lever-action, and the Savage was incredibly responsive in this regard. The accuracy of the rifle was also especially admirable in the 6.5 Creedmoor we tested, with

respectable groupings at 100-plus yards from four different shooters. PROS: The option to customize the rifle for a comfortable fit, combined with the ability to quickly reacquire a target and place a follow-up shot, is a significant benefit of the Savage MSR 10 Hunter that first-time hunters should seriously consider. The pistol grip allows shooters to pull the rifle tightly into their shoulder, and the accuracy of the MSR 10 Hunter shouldn’t be underestimated. Offered in .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, and .338 Federal. CONS: For shooters who aren’t used to an MSR, the platform can be a little intimidating, and the size and shape can seem a little awkward and cumbersome to carry, especially for smaller shooters. At nearly $1,500, the MSR 10 Hunter presents a pretty serious financial commitment that might also be daunting. BOTTOM LINE: For first-time hunters open to the idea of carrying an MSR into the field, the Savage MSR 10 Hunter is a great choice. It is a solid, well-built rifle that will withstand years of use. While much of it might come down to personal prefer-

Browning’s BLR Lightweight ’81 is a modern take on an American classicÑthe lever-action rifle. It comes with iron sights, but it is drilled and tapped for a scope.

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ence, the significant benefits of hunting with this rifle should be discussed with potential purchasers. Booth #14551.

BROWNING BLR LIGHTWEIGHT ’81

1019

browning .com

OVERVIEW: The resurgence of the lever-action as a viable, longrange, big-game hunting rifle has not yet gone mainstream. But one look at the Browning BLR Lightweight ’81, and it becomes instantly apparent that there are some significant benefits to this timeless style of hunting rifle. At 7 pounds 4 ounces, the BLR isn’t a heavy rifle, but it feels impressively solid in hand. The polished walnut stock and classic checkering give the rifle a traditional feel that will immediately impress upon new hunters a strong sense of hunting’s heritage. The most obvious benefit of the BLR is, of course, the action. It was smooth and crisp through the entire test, and allowed for a quicker response and reacquisition of the target than is possible for most shooters using bolt-action rifles. Although not as well-suited for left-handed shooters as a lefthanded bolt, the BLR does present an attractive option, especially in families where the rifle might be shared among multiple hunters. The oversize hammer provided a solid purchase for the thumb and was easy to release, even for young shooters. The .270 we tested had impressive out-of-the-box accuracy; nearly all the shooters were able to tally an admirable grouping. Smaller shooters, however, did seem to feel the kick more than with the other .270s we tested. For shooters who are used to working a bolt-action, the BLR might take some getting used to, but those who can make the adjustment might never want to hunt with anything else. PROS: The BLR’s performance is just as impressive as its looks, and the lever-action can make it easier for first-time hunters to reload and reacquire the target once they get used to working the action. The rifle is smooth, accurate, and easy to operate. Offered in 16 popular calibers. CONS: The BLR is a rifle that could easily be passed down for generations, but it will need to be well cared for in order to maintain peak performance. Although

it’s hard to argue that it isn’t worth every penny, the price tag might be a little steep for many first-time hunters. BOTTOM LINE: The BLR is a solid, well-crafted rifle that definitely lives up to the standard of quality for which Browning is known. The rifle immediately instills admiration for the tradition of hunting and an appreciation for the heritage of sportsmanship. This would be a fine addition to anyone’s collection, but the lever-action provides several benefits that will be especially appealing to new hunters. Booth #10744.

The Weatherby Vanguard Camilla has a crisp trigger pull and a smooth action.

WINCHESTER XPR HUNTER

599

winchester .com

OVERVIEW: One of the crucial attributes of a first hunting rifle is its perceived value, which doesn’t always mean price. It is in this area of inherent value that the Winchester XPR Hunter excels. With a $600 price tag, it isn’t the least-expensive rifle on the market, but the value it provides is undoubtedly among the best. The XPR comes with a polymer stock that will stand up to years of rugged use, and the addition of Mossy Oak Break-Up will help keep a hunter concealed in the field. The blued barrel and receiver will require a bit more maintenance than would stainless steel, but that provides an opportunity to help young hunters develop good habits when it comes to taking care of their firearm. The .270 we tested performed as well as any of the rifles in the review. It was accurate, and the thick buttpad helped soften the recoil enough that even the younger shooters didn’t notice it. The bolt wasn’t necessarily the smoothest, but it was consistent, allowing shooters to adjust the amount of force needed to work it quickly and effectively. The plastic magazine felt a little cheap, but it was easy to detach, load, and reseat. At 6 pounds 5 ounces, and with an overall length of 44½ inches, the rifle was neither the smallest nor the lightest rifle we tested, but it provided a good balance. PROS: The XPR is a durable rifle that is both accurate and easy to shoot. The recoil pad helped protect young shooters’ shoulders and helped to minimize the flinching that so often leads to

inaccurate shots. The camo stock is a big plus from both an aesthetic and a practical standpoint. CONS: If the bolt operation was a little smoother and the magazine a little sturdier, it would be hard to find much of anything to complain about with the XPR. BOTTOM LINE: The XPR Hunter might not be the cheapest gun a first-time hunter could buy, but it’s hard to believe that it wouldn’t be among the best values on the market. It’s easy to use, easy to handle, and easy to maintain. Booth #13329.

WEATHERBY VANGUARD CAMILLA

849

weatherby .com

OVERVIEW: The Weatherby Vanguard Camilla is a rifle designed by women hunters for women hunters. It features a long list of modifications designed to make the rifle a better fit for female shooters. These include a slimmer forearm and grip, a higher comb, and a recoil pad that’s situated to fit better into a woman’s shoulder pocket. While these modifications certainly make the Camilla distinct, they aren’t the only attributes that make it special. The Camilla is, first and foremost, a very fine hunting rifle, offering the same kind of quality for which Weatherby built its reputation. The rifle has a Turkish walnut stock with a rosewood forend and grip caps and a checkering pattern that is as attractive as it is functional. The grip has a palm swell on the right side and a curved indentation on the left that

provides for sure handling. The bolt slides like it’s on rails and moved effortlessly even after several consecutive rounds were run through it. The Camilla seemed to nestle perfectly into the shoulders of the female shooters in our test group, and seemed to be the only rifle that didn’t cause them to twitch and adjust to find a comfortable, natural shooting position. The combination of the design elements made for women and the overall quality of the rifle certainly didn’t go unnoticed, or unappreciated, by our women shooters, who were extremely reluctant to put the Camilla back in the rack. PROS: The Camilla might just be the ideal choice for any woman hunter, but especially for those who are first-time hunters. In addition to the Weatherby quality and the modifications made for female shooters, the Camilla had a crisp trigger pull, a smooth action, minimal felt recoil, and was very accurate. CONS: The only downside to the Camilla seems to be the lack of available chamberings. Right now the rifle is offered only in .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Rem., and .308 Win. Hopefully, more calibers will be offered down the road, as that will help to broaden the appeal of the rifle. The use of a detachable magazine instead of a hinged floorplate would also be a welcome feature. BOTTOM LINE: Judging by the response of the women shooters who tested the Camilla, the modifications Weatherby has incorporated into the design were much needed and well appreciated. The quality of the rifle makes it easy to shoot, and the women-specific features make it all the more enjoyable. Booth #12729.

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New copper-plated Grand Slam shotshells have been designed to extend the range and lethality of conventional turkey payloads without forcing a hunter to break the bank.

The New Turkey Trio

Federal Premium unveils three high-performance turkey loads for 2018 urkeys have a seemingly endless repertoire of baffling tricks. Now, thanks to Federal Premium, hunters have new ammo options to help even the odds. The company has revamped its turkey shotshell lineup with a family of new products that offer a bevy of performance benefits. All previously available turkey products in the Federal Premium lineup have been replaced by several loads in three product families—Grand Slam, Heavyweight TSS, and 3rd Degree with Heavyweight TSS.

Grand Slam ³ New

copper-plated Grand Slam shotshells have been designed to extend the range and lethality of conventional turkey payloads without forcing a hunter to break the bank to get that performance. The new loads will maintain the former Mag-Shok price point. Grand Slam is available in 10-count packs. Offerings include a 3-inch 20-gauge load with 15/16 ounces of No. 5 shot; a 3½-inch 10-gauge load with 2 ounces of No. 4 or 5 shot; a 2¾-inch 12-gauge load with 1½ ounces of No. 5 shot; a 3-inch 12-gauge load with 1¾ ounces of 4, 5, or 6 shot; and a 3½-inch 12-gauge load with 2 ounces of 4, 5, or 6 shot. SRP: $14.95–$23.95.

centimeter density provides optimum energy and the highest velocities at long ranges. The shells come in five-count packs, and a portion of all proceeds is donated to the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF).

Heavyweight TSS ³ Heavyweight

TSS (Tungsten Super Shot) shotshells represent a big upgrade, letting you kill gobblers from farther than you ever thought possible. Payloads of No. 7 or 9 TSS shot provide the highest possible pellet counts—in many cases, more than double those of lead loads of the same weight. The shot’s 18 gram-per-cubic-

Offerings include 3-inch 12-gauge loads with 1¾ ounces of No. 7 or No. 9 TSS shot; 3½-inch 12-gauge loads with 2¼ ounces of No. 7 or No. 9 shot; a 3-inch 20-gauge load with 1½ ounces of No. 7 shot; and a 3-inch .410 load with 13/16 ounce of No. 9 shot. There’s also a lower-recoil 20-gauge option with 1½ ounces of 9 shot pushed at 1,000 fps. SRP: $29.95–$49.95. The .410 offering might surprise some folks, but shotshell product line manager Dan Compton said it shouldn’t, as the density of TSS pellets are perfect for sub-gauge shotshells. “TSS pellets make hunting turkeys with a .410 a very viable option,” he says. “It provides the performance of conventional 12-gauge loads with a significant drop in recoil.”

3rd Degree With Heavyweight TSS ³ Turkey

New 12- and 20-gauge also feature improved hull printing with a special touch, a spur tape for measuring a gobbler’s spurs.

hunters are already familiar with the proven concept and performance of 3rd Degree, which uses a three-stage payload that makes you far less likely to miss close turkeys,

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but still allows you to kill birds at 40 to 50 yards with appropriate chokes. Now this revolutionary shell is even better. New 3rd Degree payloads are made up of 40 percent No. 7 Heavyweight TSS shot, 20 percent No. 6 Flightstopper lead, and 40 percent No. 5 premium lead. The No. 6 lead pellets form a forgiving close-range pattern, the copper-plated No. 5 lead delivers lethal performance at mid-ranges, and the No. 7 TSS pellets allow dense, lethal patterns at 40-plus yards. 3rd Degree shells are available in five-count packs, with a portion of sales going to the NWTF. Loads include a 17/16-ounce, 3-inch 20-gauge; a 1¾-ounce, 3-inch 12-gauge; and a 2-ounce, 3½-inch 12-gauge—all with No. 5, 6, and 7 shot. SRP: $21.95–$25.95.

Why It Works ³ All

of these new offerings (except for the .410) use the Flitecontrol Flex wad, which was introduced with the launch of Federal Premium’s redesigned Black Cloud waterfowl shotshells. The wad’s unique design improves pattern density and consistency when fired through ported and non-ported chokes. “The wad’s redesigned rear-deploying brake fins and side-mounted vents stimulate the payload for separation from the wad at precisely the right moment for the densest, most consistent patterns possible,” says Compton. To do this, Federal Premium engineers beefed up the wad’s brake system, starting by reinforcing the wad’s flexible rear fins with sturdy supportive gussets. “We rely on gas pressure from inside the barrel to flex the fins and open them, which triggers the shot to separate from the wad,” Compton says. “If there’s not enough pressure, the wad doesn’t slow down enough for optimum separation.” Such pressure problems are common with ported choke tubes, which vent gas to the sides before it leaves the muzzle. However, the new wad’s improved rear-deploying brake fins eliminate that concern with all chokes. “The brake fins open, so payloads separate exactly when they’re supposed to, regardless of the gas pressure behind them,” Compton says. Grand Slam and Heavyweight TSS (Tungsten Super Shot) loads also use buffered shot and a roll crimp to further boost effectiveness. “Buffer evenly distributes the ignition force throughout the payload, allowing for uniform separation of the shot at muzzle exit,” says shotshell engineer Adam Moser. “Buffering lead shot also helps reduce pellet deformation caused by ignition forces.” Meanwhile, the roll crimp provides uniform compression of the buffered payload, which generates consistent ballistics and better pattern efficiency. Combined with a clear plastic card wad, it also ensures that the entire buffer remains sealed inside the cartridge. All of the new 12- and 20-gauge loads also feature improved hull printing with a special touch any turkey hunter will appreciate when admiring a gobbler they’ve just shot. “There is a small tape measure graphic, in 1 /8-inch increments, printed on the hull,” Moser says. “Hunters can measure the spurs in

All new offerings (except for the .410) use the Flitecontrol Flex wad, which was introduced with the launch of Federal Premium’s redesigned Black Cloud waterfowl shotshells. The wad’s design improves pattern density and consistency when fired through ported and non-ported chokes.

the field with the hull to photograph and show their friends and share on social media.” Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) is an incredibly dense shot that has taken the handloading world by storm in recent years, and it’s an integral part of Federal Premium’s Heavyweight TSS and 3rd Degree loads. The material is more than 20 percent denser than Federal Premium’s previous Heavyweight shot, which has a density of about 15 grams per cubic centimeter. Furthermore, it’s 56 percent denser than lead. “TSS is an alloy composed primarily of tungsten,” Moser says. “It has a density of 18 grams per cubic centimeter and is harder than steel. The increased density retains velocity, and the hardness prevents pellet deformation, which improves pattern efficiency and penetration.” But the advantages don’t stop there. Because of its increased density, you can use a smaller TSS pellet to deliver the same amount of energy of much larger lead shot. That allows

Federal Premium to pack more pellets in the same space. For example, a 13/16-ounce load of No. 9 TSS has about 295 pellets, a 11/8-ounce load carries about 408 pellets. By comparison, a 2-ounce load of No. 4 lead has only about 270 pellets. And that may be just the advantage a turkey hunter needs to even the odds. Booth #14551. (federalpremium.com) *LYMAN

PRODUCTS

The new Brass Smith Ideal press is suitable for both the novice and experienced reloader. The cast-iron C-Framestyle press has a central handle position for easy ambidextrous use and a ball handle for a smooth, comfortable operation. The Ideal press accepts all 7 /8 x 14 thread dies and standard shell holders and weighs just 12.6 pounds. Booth #12724. (lymanproducts.com)

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Rimfire Redefined Once Again

avage continues to upgrade its rimfire line, adding models to the B-Series bolt-action lineup. The lineup now includes the B22, B22 Magnum, and B17, chambered in .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR, respectively. In all, the B-Series includes a dozen new models in different configurations, including Sporter Barrel, Heavy Barrel, Heavy Threaded (suppressor ready), and Heavy Stainless options. B-Series rifles feature a 21-inch carbon steel barrel and a 39-inch overall length, with a 13½-inch length of pull. Rate of twist is 1:16 on the B22 and B22 Magnum, 1:9 on the B17. All come with the adjustable AccuTrigger. The ergonomic yet stylish features include a slightly higher comb, which accommodates the addition of optics, though each of the B-Series sporter models is also fitted with adjustable open steel sights, while the contour barrels come complete with twopiece bases. The new rifles also

offer a target-style, vertical pistol grip, which allows shooters to hold the gun in a more natural position that puts less pressure on the wrist. In addition, Savage engineers relocated the B-Series safety to the top of the tang. The B-Series bolt-action guns also feature zero-tolerance headspace similar to the company’s celebrated centerfire platforms. Each barrel is threaded into place with its individual action and bolt to form a perfectly matched set that is locked in place with a barrel locknut. Plus, each barrel is button-rifled and perfectly matched to a rugged yet easy-shouldering black matte synthetic stock. The easy-handling, fun-toshoot B-Series rifles also feature Savage Arms’ accuracy-boosting adjustable AccuTrigger. This revolutionary technology lets shooters fine-tune trigger pull to match their personal taste, allowing for the crispest, cleanest, lightest release possible, without sacrificing safety or pay-

ing a gunsmith to do it. It’s worth noting that Savage considers AccuTrigger standard issue on the B-Series, while other companies levy significant

upgrade charges for their enhanced trigger systems. SRP: $281 to $411. Booth #14551. (savagearms. com)

The B-Series rimfire boltaction rifles feature zerotolerance headspace for enhanced accuracy. The barrels are also button-rifled.

Visit the Kahr Firearms Group Booth

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ST9093

Caliber: 9mm • Barrel: 4.0” • Length O/A: 6.5” • Magazines: 2 - 8 rd

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Caliber: 9mm • Barrel: 3.6” • Length O/A: 5.9” • Magazines: 2 - 7 rd Lifetime Warranty

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The author in New Mexico with the first elk he downed with the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge.

Magic in the Air

A perfect target/hunting cartridge? The short 6.5 Creedmoor, not yet a decade old, comes close By Wayne Van Zwoll

he vaal rhebok skitters about the steppes of South Africa’s Drakensberg Range above the Indian Ocean. Its whistle is distinctive. We’d heard it often, though we hadn’t seen the ram yet. “A small antelope,” Andrew had told me. “Always switched on. Eyesight that should be illegal.”

Persistence with powerful glass gave us a glimpse at last. Getting close proved another challenge. When the ram paused on a crag 250 yards distant, I flopped prone, shaded into a stiff wind, and squeezed the trigger. It wasn’t the first animal I’d killed with the 6.5 Creedmoor, though the cartridge was then new to market. Andrew’s Crusader Safaris afforded me field shooting that would take years to earn stateside. Introduced in 2009, the 6.5 Creedmoor emerged from engineer Dave Emary’s shop at Hornady (Booth #3032). It was named after Creed’s Farm in New York, famed birthplace of longrange rifle matches. A competitive rifleman as well as a hunter, Emary had consulted with 1,000-yard shooters to get ideas for a flatshooting round with gentle recoil. Gentler, even, than that of the 6.5/284 that was popular at fourdigit yardage. Rather than tap the .308 case, Dave chose the stubby .30 T/C, so long match bullets would clear short magazines. My first rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor came together before Hornady had boxed 6.5 ammo. Todd Seyfert at Magnum Research fitted a carbonfiber barrel with a stainless Krieger core to a Remington 700 action. I topped it with a 4.5–14X Leupold bearing a GreyBull dial. Prone with a sling, I was soon hitting plates at 500 yards. In New Mexico, a pal coaxed a coyote across a mesa. Still far off, the dog halted, suspicious. It collapsed to my shot. That week, the rifle would kill an elk (the Creedmoor’s first!) at very long range. A single 129-grain bullet was enough. Credit goes to the rifle and scope as well as to the cartridge. But this six-five, standing only as tall as a .250 Savage round, handily beat my expectations. Ballistically, the 6.5 Creedmoor easily trumps the .250 (developed for Savage in 1913 by Charles Newton). At distance, the lofty ballistic coefficients of modern 129- and 140-grain 6.5mm bullets pull the Creedmoor past the much larger .270, which edges it at the muzzle. The Creedmoor has more sauce than the 6.5x55 Swedish, and handles long VLD bullets better than the superb but undersung .260 Remington. Modest recoil adds to the appeal of the 6.5 Creedmoor, whose sales have jetted past those of magnum rounds that gulp twice as much powder. Hornady’s 120-, 129-, and 140grain bullets trace flat arcs and

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The 6.5 Creedmoor was the charter chambering in Ruger’s long-range Precision Rifle.

gamely battle wind. Its 143- and 147-grain ELD boattails, designed with Doppler radar, stretch the Creedmoor’s reach. Oddly enough, 6.5mm (.264) cartridges have long struggled at market stateside. It’s not that they can’t kill. A century ago, explorers Frederick Courtney Selous and W.D.M. Bell downed elephants with the mild 6.5x54 MannlicherSchoenauer. Its long solid bullets drove through pachyderm skulls. In North American, Charles Sheldon carried the 6.5x54 for moose and Alaskan brown bears. Born a Greek military round, the 6.5x54 M-S joined a clan of like cartridges fueled by smokeless powder new in the 1890s. Italy adopted the 6.5x52 MannlicherCarcano in 1891. A year later, the rimmed 6.3x53R Mannlicher went to Dutch and Romanian military units. Sweden’s 6.5x55 armed its soldiers in 1894. The 6.5x50 Arisaka arrived in 1897, finding a proper home eight years later in the Japanese Army’s Model 38 rifle. The 6.5x57 (and 6.5x57R) stayed out of uniform after its 1894 debut, but hunters found it useful. Other 6.5s dating to the Great War wilted. Their successors offered more horsepower. The 6.5x68 Schuler was one. Introduced by RWS in 1939, it hurled a 123-grain bullet at 3,150 to 3,450 fps, depending on who’s telling you. Years ago in Spain, I was losing the contest to the ibex when a local fellow invited me to hunt with him the final afternoon. “Use my rifle.” What could I say?

When at last we spotted a ram many leagues off, he urged me to fire, insisting his 6.5x68 shot so flat I needn’t hold high. I demurred, convincing him we should sneak closer. Some yards on, my amigo again told me to fire. “Four hundred meters,” I said. “Too far.” Throwing up his hands, he shooed me ahead. Fortune smiled; minutes later I made a killing hit at 200 yards. The ubiquitous 6.5x55 Swedish has blessed me more often. This target/hunting cartridge boasts a distinguished record in 300-meter matches and has surely killed more Scandinavian moose than any other round. Once, poking through Wyoming lodgepoles with a Howa rifle in 6.5x55, I bounced a bull elk. He paused just long enough in a gap to take my 140-grain softnose. Traditional 156-grain round-nose bullets aren’t as fast. Later, seduced by an 1896 Swedish military carbine in a usedgun rack, I emptied my wallet and hied off to pronghorn country. The reach of Norma’s 120-grain Ballistic Tip load far exceeded that of the 6.5x55’s iron sights, but a snow squall brought me cover and, at 75 yards, a shot that ended the hunt. In 1913, the .256 Newton became the first commercial 6.5 sold in the U.S. A tad shorter than the .30/06, it drove a 129-grain .264 bullet at 2,760 fps. The .250 Savage, .257 Roberts, and wildcat .25/06, with the .270 and 7x57, gave early 6.5s stiff competition in the U.S. Memories of American troops felled by Italian

and Japanese 6.5s during WWII may also have worked against the .264 bore. Despite a tide of surplus Swedish Mausers washing ashore, no North American firm loaded 6.5x55 ammunition until Federal catalogued the round in 1991. High-octane 6.5s have sold no better. Winchester’s .264 Magnum, announced in 1959, employed a bullet .020 smaller than a 7mm Remington Magnum’s. Case shape and capacity were the same. The big 7 became an instant hit in ’62, while the .264 languished. Subsequent magnums, from the 6.5 Remington to the .26 Nosler and new 6.5-300 Weatherby, have battled equally frisky 7mms and .30s. For tough game, most hunters favor the bigger bores with their heavier bullets. The 6.5 Creedmoor wasn’t designed to win belt buckles holding magnums to the mat. But its slim mid-weight bullets at 2,700 to 3,000 fps fight gravity and wind as well as many faster missiles. Civil even in featherweight rifles, it doesn’t need a long barrel to give you its ballistic best. The 6.5 Creedmoor has a standard .473 case head and stacks readily in magazines for the .308. Its 1.920-inch-long hull matches that of the .250 Savage (1.912). It’s shorter than the .260’s (2.035) and the 6.5x55’s (2.165). The 6.5 Creedmoor has a 30-degree shoulder, a bit sharper than the more common 20-degree slope of the .308 and common derivatives. It’s not yet the most widely chambered rifle round, but I can’t

think of one joining rosters faster than the 6.5 Creedmoor. It’s offered in rifles by Bergara (Booth #14516), Browning (Booth #10744), Howa (Booth #3036), Kimber (Booth #11762), Ruger (Booth #11940), Savage (Booth #14551), T/C (Booth #13729), and Weatherby (Booth #12729), and by myriad shops building semicustom rifles. Retailers and custom makers tell me it’s a top pick for shooters getting into long-range shooting. Manufacturers have installed “target” stocks and stiff barrels in 6.5 Creedmoor on common short actions, to catalog affordable long-range rifles. After eight years of hunting with this cartridge, and using it on targets to 1,200 yards, I’ve come to adore it. With bullets of 120 to 140 grains in barrels rifled 1:10, it’s proven remarkably accurate. A big eland showed me its limits (though I brought the bull to bag). But mostly, my hunting fortunes improve when there’s a 6.5 Creedmoor up the spout. One dawn last fall, as I was about to leave the truck on a hill far from camp, my old lever rifle refused to close. I pulled the round: a .303 Savage. I’d failed to switch pouches; my .25/35 rifle was now useless. “Well, well, greenhorn!” My partner clearly relished my distress. “Time to hunt.” He paused. “But a stupid mistake shouldn’t ruin your day. How about you carry my spare? We can figure the rent later.” He fished a rifle from behind the pickup seat. “It’s a 6.5 Creedmoor.” “Perfect!” I said. And meant it.

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Not for the Meek

Backcountry hunting requires the proper mindset

By Michelle Scheuermann

eaving organized society for days (or weeks) at a time is not something most people do willingly. But for many hunters, a trip deep in the backcountry sits atop their bucket list. For all the focus on provisions and gear, maybe the most important element to such an adventure is mental toughness. Out there stuff happens, and hunters need to be able to cope with the unexpected. Maintaining a sense of humor also helps. For the past five years, the Keefer Brothers (Chris and Casey), hosts of Dropped, which airs on Sportsman Channel (Booth #13923), have been dropped into remote areas with a minimum of gear. How do they prepare for a backcountry hunt?

“Mental preparation starts with realizing you are no longer in control,” says Casey Keefer. “I like to always think ahead, but it’s a fine line between thinking ahead and taking it as it comes. Knowing you’re leaving luxuries, like a shower, behind for some can be a big deal. For me, it’s become routine and just another part of the process.” Jim Shockey, host of Jim Shockey’s Uncharted on Outdoor Channel (Booth #13923), knows all about the lack of showers on such trips. “Showering is optional. I don’t even think of this,” he says. These hunters have conditioned themselves to expect the worst and hope for the best. Another

common theme is the disconnect they experience when on an extended adventure with little to no thread to the outside world. Jana Waller, host of Skullbound TV (Sportsman Channel), says she loves the absolute peace that envelopes her on these hunts. “I love sitting on a mountainside where I can’t see any sign of civilization,” she says. “Immersing yourself in nature is so calming.” Keefer feels the same way and adds, “It may sound odd, but I feel more energized coming back from a grueling backcountry hunt.” Focus is another common theme. Melissa Bachman, host of Winchester Deadly Passion (Sportsman Channel), says adventure seekers

simply have to enjoy being in the present moment. “Think about how long you’ve been looking forward to this trip or how nice it is to not have to worry about anything else for the time being,” she says. “When you find success, it makes you want to do it over and over. I’ve always been all about the challenge, and these backcountry trips provide me with the ultimate challenge.” That’s all well and good, but what about those little creature comforts to help alleviate the discomforts of the road? Snacks? Music? Keefer says he doesn’t have a list of must-haves, but music is important to him.

Chris and Casey Keefer often get dropped into remote places. They say the proper mental preparation is crucial not only for a successful hunt, but for survival as well.

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“Music has a way of taking you to an exact place and time in your life unlike anything else. So for me, music helps set the stage for the day and it helps set my mood. Mood is important when you’re out there at the end of the line, so if I have some good tunes to help set that up each day, I’m good to go.” On the other hand, Tom Miranda, host of Territories Wild (Outdoor Channel), says listening to music while in the wilds is “sacrilegious.” But he does pack Payday candy bars and plenty of paperback reading material. Shockey also says to leave the iPod home, but he does pack Twizzlers. Waller packs lots of instant coffee. Chad Hall, host of Sheep Shape (Sportsman Channel), says he just brings his iPhone, and if he’s a little down, a video of his giggling two-year-old will bring him back. What about when it all goes wrong? Say your guide disappears or your satellite phone stops working. When such trouble finds you, it may be best to heed this advice from Shockey: “Adapt, as hunters always have done.” If you know you will be in extreme conditions, it may help to learn a bit about what you will be encountering. “Some hunts—polar bears come to mind—are so grueling that you must practice for them,” says Miranda. “In this case, I recommend doing a winter arctic muskox hunt first. The temperature and conditions are bru-

tal. The typical polar bear hunt takes place in minus-30-degree-Fahrenheit-weather and requires 10 days on the sea ice with no heat or hot water. Plus, taking a bathroom break on the sea ice at that temperature in front of God, Inuit, and husky is not for the meek.” But, oh, the stories you can tell! “On a moose trip to Alaska, we hunted for 10 days with no success, and my guide needed to leave to guide other hunters,” says Miranda. “My cameraman and I stayed in our little river spike camp and continued to hunt, eventually arrowing a whopper moose. The huge bull died in the ice-cold river, and we suddenly realized that when the plane left with the guide, it took all our extra gear out, which included all the skinning knives and equipment. I was forced to skin an 1,800-pound moose with a small pocketknife and spare broadheads.” “Each trip has its moments,” says Keefer. “There was the time I had a raft, but no oars. Another time I had my rifle, but only three cartridges. I’ve learned to go with the flow. My motto is simple: Think twice and act once. That mindset very well could save your life.” When asked about the worst part of a backcountry trip, Shockey says, “Remoteness and no people.” The best part? “Remoteness and no people.”

Jim Shockey (above) with a Koryak snow sheep. Jana Waller (below) packing out antlers after a successful moose hunt.

Melissa Bachman with a stag she shot in New Zealand. She says backcountry hunters Òneed to stay focused and enjoy the moment.Ó

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NEWS

On Top

Mossy Oak wants to be the go-to company for the industry’s camo needs By Brian McCombie

ata compiled by industry research giant Southwick and Associates reveals what American hunters have known for years: Mossy Oak offers the number-one camouflage patterns for deer, turkey, and waterfowl hunters. “We are so humbled at the response of hunters and other outdoors enthusiasts for choosing and supporting Mossy Oak as the number-one-selling camouflage pattern the past three years running,” says Chris Paradise, Mossy Oak’s senior vice president of sales and licensing. “Our industryleading patterns have also been confirmed as superior by the top people at conservation groups, including Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and the Quality Deer Management Association. So much so, in fact, that these groups have made Mossy Oak their official pattern.”

Founded by Toxey Haas in 1986, Mossy Oak continues to create new camo patterns to best fit specific hunting environments and situations. For example, in 2015, Mossy Oak launched BreakUp Country, featuring a variety of elements found throughout North America and providing depth and shadowing to keep a hunter concealed. It soon became the leading pattern of choice for footwear, apparel, firearms, and archery equipment manufacturers. “Break-Up Country is the most successful pattern launch in Mossy Oak’s 30-year history, surpassing the previous best-seller by 50 percent,” Paradise says. Recently, Mossy Oak introduced two new and revolutionary patterns: Mountain Country, a highcountry camo with true-to-nature, three-dimensional elements of Rocky Mountain alpines, conifers, sagebrush, and rock; and Break-Up

Mountain Country is designed for mountainous terrain.

Eclipse, the first-ever camo pattern designed specifically to be worn inside a ground blind. Eclipse combines hard shadowing and silhouette-shattering cutout elements to erase the human outline when a hunter is in a blind. Mossy Oak Elements is becom-

ing a fixture on the professional fishing circuit, too. Mossy Oak has partnered with fishing pros Kevin VanDam, Gerald Swindle, Ott DeFoe, and Jordan Lee, as well as Major League Fishing’s Mark Davis. Mossy Oak continues to partner with some of the biggest names in the outdoors industry, too, including Carhartt, LaCrosse, NOMAD, Huk, and Remington Arms. (For more information on the Carhartt program, see page 24.) “Retailers have relied on Mossy Oak for solutions,” Paradise notes. “We take pride in that because we can offer them the best camouflage patterns in the world, in addition to multiple branding opportunities from our stable of leading outdoor brands, such as Mossy Oak, Gamekeepers, Biologic, and many others. This one-two punch has given retailers the solution-based partnerships they’ve been looking for, from the independent dealer to the big-box stores. We’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing: creating innovation, new products, and new opportunities for our retailers.” Booth #10735. (mossyaok.com)

Velocity Triggers Announces the New MPC Trigger Assembly

n the world of ammunition, “velocity” refers to the speed at which bullets travel. In the world of triggers, however, velocity refers to the art of influencing that bullet’s destination. With Velocity Triggers, shooters can be confident every component was manufactured with an eye for quality and designed with a desire for superior performance. The results speak for themselves through single-hole, five-shot groups on paper at 100 yards and solid shot placement while hunting.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of Vehr Manufacturing, the parent company of Velocity Triggers. Owner and founder Tom Vehr is using the SHOT Show to officially launch the MPC— Marksman Performance

Choice trigger assembly— the development of which caps a decade of Vehr’s technological advances. From its Kelly green trigger housing to available shoes and adjustability, the MPC just might be the company’s best model yet. The MPC is made for

AR-platform rifles, and proves triggers truly are the heart of a gun. Without a reliable, wellmade trigger, everything from cycling to accuracy suffers. Conversely, with a high-quality trigger, it all changes for the better. The MPC delivers that change with three interchangeable shoes, an adjustable axis, and a choice of two pull weights (3 or 4 pounds). Quality control is managed by machining major trigger components in-house; for example, the hammer, trigger, and disconnect are wire-EDM cut from tool The MPC trigger delivers superior performance with a smooth pull and a clean, crisp break.

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steel and heat-treated for durability. Attention is paid to the finish as well. The hammer and disconnect are treated with Robar’s NP3 electroless, nickel-based metal finish for reduced friction and corrosion resistance, while the trigger itself has a DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) finish. DLC is a cutting-edge process that gives Velocity’s triggers a hardness level in excess of 80 HRC and an impressively low coefficient of friction. On the range, the MPC delivers superior performance with a smooth pull, a clean, crisp break, and a short reset. Whether the shooter uses the 3- or 4-pound trigger pull weight model, the results

are the same: consistent accuracy and tight groups at a variety of distances. Overall performance is further enhanced with features such as an improved length of pull courtesy of the trigger being moved .5 inch forward of the placement of previous models. The trigger can also be customized by selecting a specific shoe and rotating the selected shoe on the trigger axis for precise finger placement. Shoes are machined aluminum and measure .375-inch-wide, with shapes including curved, straight, and straight with a finger stop. This is the trigger for shooters looking to up their game. Booth #862. (velocitytriggers.com)

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RAM FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS GO THE DISTANCE Full-size pickup trucks still reign supreme in the hunting world. That is one reason, no doubt, why Ram Trucks is here at the SHOT Show. It’s the perfect forum to connect with some of the truck’s prime users. And what better way to do that than to show off the all-new 2019 Ram 1500, which can be seen at Ram’s booth. The new truck, like all new vehicles these days, is loaded with an array of innovative and state-of-the-art technology, including a 12-inch fully configurable touchscreen display and a long list of connectivity features that appeal to the modern truck buyer. That’s all well and good, but four-wheel-drive versions will have serious upgrades to transfer cases and axles to make the trucks more dependable in demanding off-road conditions. “The all-new 2019 Ram 1500 delivers a nocompromise approach to the full-size-truck segment with strength, durability, technology, and efficiency,” says Mike Manley, head of Ram Brand. “The Ram 1500 offers truck buyers leading-edge innovation, with 225 pounds of weight reduction and 12,750 pounds of towing capability, and active systems that improve fuel efficiency and assist drivers. We believe the Ram 1500 stands out as the benchmark in a very competitive segment.” Booth #2700. (ramtrucks.com)

The 2019 Ram 1500 offers improved offroad performance for outdoorsmen.

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NEWS

The slings made by Combat Arms Supply, such as this SOC-Sling, are constructed of tough mil-spec nylon.

Unsung Accessory

If you’ve never given slings a second thought, maybe you should By Peter Suciu

combat sling is one of the oldest weapons around—reportedly, it was used by the biblical David to slay Goliath. In more modern times, the sling isn’t technically a weapon in itself, but rather the strap that allows a firearm or other equipment to be easily transported. In many ways, the sling has become an unsung accessory that can make all the difference in the world for soldiers, law enforcement, and sportsmen—as long as it works.

A broken sling does no one any good, and that is why Combat Arms Supply stands by its lifetime guarantee for its Special Operations Combat-Sling (SOCSling) line of products and accessories. “We back all our products with a lifetime warranty, and we’ve never had to replace one to date,” says John Kreutzer, founder of the Virginia-based company. “We’ve had no one come forward with a broken sling, and we hope we never will.” Kreutzer’s belief in his product is rooted in the fact that he knew as well as anyone how much those who carry a rifle depend on something as simple as a durable sling. “It was designed from the ground up by someone who car-

ried a rifle professionally,” he says. “And that would be me.” Combat Arms Supply’s founder is still an active-duty Marine, and attests that in the United States Marine Corps, each and every soldier is a rifleman first, last, and always. “Recruiters like to remind people of that fact,” Kreutzer says. “But regardless of whether it is for a soldier, a police officer, or a sportsman, this is a product we really believe in.” Combat Arms Supply also believes in supporting the troops. The company was founded by Marines, and today continues to hire those who have served. “We are veteran-owned,” Kreutzer says. “Everyone who contributes to our company is

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either a veteran or a family member of a veteran.” Combat Arms Supply has built its business around ensuring that it is supporting the local economy as well, which is why its products are produced in and around Quantico, Virginia. Nothing that it offers is made outside of the United States, and the company’s owners plan to keep it that way. During his career, Kreutzer learned a lot about rifles of all shapes and sizes from around the world. He has a foreign-weaponsinstructor background, and that led him to develop the Special Operations Combat-Sling line so that it was completely modular in design. It can be configured to attach to the sling swivels of a standard M-4/M-16 without the

use of an aftermarket stock or rail adapter, but it can also be used with foreign firearms such as the AK-47. The SOC-Sling features 2-inch webbing where it rests on the operator’s shoulder (to help provide balance and support), but it is only 1-inch wide where it interfaces with the firearm. This provides added comfort for those who are carrying a rifle for extended periods, something those aforementioned USMC riflemen will understand. The design also features wide weight dispersion, which makes the SOC-Sling ideal for heavier small arms such as the M249 SAW or M16 with the M203 configuration. “We designed it to fit everything from modern sporting rifles to modern military rifles,” says Kreutzer. “So it will fit everything from a lever-action rifle to an M60 machine gun.” The SOC-Sling is available in black, FDE, ODG, and multicam versions. It also can be had with PenCott, Kryptek, and ATACS camo patterns. Combat Arms Supply has continued to improve upon its products, and in addition to the SOCSling it also produces similar products for companies such as Penn Arms Launchers, the rotary grenade launchers developed by Combined Systems, Inc., and a special sling for expeditionary and breaching equipment. One new sling has been designed with tactical units in mind. It is a sling for the handheld battering ram used by SWAT teams. “Imagine having to carry one of those up several flights of stairs,” says Kreutzer. “It means you can’t access your sidearm or flashlight. This way the officer can be armed and still carry the ram. We’re always looking to provide solutions to these types of problems.” As with all its slings, these are constructed of mil-spec nylon, which has a breaking point of 1,200 pounds at the 1-inch sections and up to 2,000 in the 2-inch portions—well beyond what anyone might physically be able to carry. “We really wanted to put the best-quality parts into all our equipment because we know people depend on it,” says Kreutzer. “We strive to be the best out there, so that our equipment performs at its best at all times.” Spoken like a Marine. Booth #449. (combatarms supply.com)

1/25/18 2:14 PM

BREAK THE GLASS BARRIER RIFLESCOPES Experience the difference that proprietary optics technology and bigger, bolder ergonomics can make in your shooting. Five new M-TACTICAL models with MOA, MRAD or caliber-designated reticles.

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NEW FOR 2018 SHOT BOOTH #11221

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SHOW SCENES

WHAT A SHOW!

It’s been a great four days. The 2018 SHOT Show provided a range of experiences— from seminars that can help attendees run more competitive and profitable businesses to a smorgasbord of new product that will attract a wide range of customers to retailers across the country. And let’s not forget the incredible camaraderie found here. See you next year!

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