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SureFire makes suppressors and tactical products, but it is best known for lights. Whether you’re talking about self-defense, military/law enforcement needs or hunting/camping, if you want a light you can depend on, you have to check out SureFire. We took a look at three of the new lights for 2014. First was the Y300 Ultra. Besides all the SureFire regular features like rugged build, dependable LED lighting and shockproof, waterproof design, the Y300 has the added ability to provide two distinct brightness levels. You can switch between 1,500 lumens for really lighting up the night, or 500 lumens for preserving battery power under less intense lighting needs.

American Tactical Imports (ATI) is a worldwide importer of firearms, ammunition and tactical gear. We stopped at ATI’s SHOT Show booth looking for the newest product to show you. They were most excited about the new hybrid AR lower, so we checked it out. It’s a good-looking piece that combines polymer with molded-in steel inserts at critical points like the buffer tube takedown and the trigger group mounting screws. It’s lightweight and comes either as a stripped lower, so you can add your own parts, or as a complete lower with a retractable rear stock. MSRP is $50 for the stripped version and $170 for the complete lower.

We had fun at the Limbsaver booth. If you want to tame the recoil on your new .300 Win Mag or .30-06 rifle, Limbsaver has just the products. I use their slip on butt pad on my Tikka T3 lightweight .308, and it makes a big difference in felt recoil. But did you know they have a resonator that improves rifle accuracy? For just ten bucks. It might get you some strange looks at the range, but if it works, it’s worth it. They also make AR stocks and have a line of slings. We also learned some secrets of how their pads work so well. Check it out in the video, but don’t tell anyone.

Serious birders and those who want the best for hunting and other field activities gravitate toward Swarovski. The combination of field flattening lenses, quality glass, effective lens coatings and ergonomic design provide superior performance. The SLC Series 15×56 binoculars, for example, deliver exceptional light-gathering abilities in low-light situations like the at dusk and dawn. The performance comes at the cost of higher weight, of course. The SLC 15×56 binocs weigh 42.3 ounces. If size and weight is a concern though, Swarovski produces one of the best sets of compact binoculars you could find. The new CL pocket 8×25 binoculars fold up small at just 12.2 ounces and provide superior viewing in a pocket binocular. MSRP is $888.

Hi-Point Firearms is the first manufacturer to offer a lockable steel box in a new gun package. You can get the package with any of their 9mm, .380 ACP, .40 caliber and .45 caliber pistols. The lockbox has a simple key access, can be readily mounted wherever it’s needed, like a bedside table, inside a truck and so forth, and comes with a braided steel cable for additional security. The stand-alone price is $250. It’s great for the first-time gun buyer who doesn’t have a safe.

American Rifle Company has been building and selling some great scope mounts, but the intent has always been to build guns. The company was at SHOT Show with the prototypes for these guns, most notably the M2 precision rifle. This is a multi-caliber platform that will handle everything from .308 Winchester to .338 Lapua Magnum. While their other rifle, the M5 Mausenfield, was built on a Remington 700 footprint, the M2 has a custom footprint. American Rifle paired this custom footprint with a Springfield ejector and a Mauser type extractor. It basically cherry picked the best features of the guns out there and then invented what the designers couldn’t find, like the toroidal bolt head. The bolt head has semi circular bolt lugs. The bearing surface of the lugs engages a spherical bearing surface in the receiver, creating very strong lock up, which means that the bolt is insensitive to its alignment in the receiver. This is just one feature that contributes to the gun’s overall accuracy.

Organized in 1894 in Utica, NY, Savage Arms is one of our favorite gun makers. Not only does it make great guns, but the company sells them at excellent prices, ensuring that you’re getting real value. In keeping with its philosophy of delivering value, Savage introduced a new version of its popular Axis rifle this year. As you may know, the Axis is America’s best-selling bolt action rifle. In a gun test we did last year with a number of bolt action rifles, we were able to get one minute of angle accuracy with it. That’s all rounds into one inch at 100 yards. The new gun, dubbed the Axis II Xp, is an upgraded version of the original Axis. For an extra $89 you get the famous AccuTrigger that’s not available on the original Axis, plus an upgraded scope. The new scope is a Weaver Kaspa 3-9×40, professionally mounted and bore sighted. The scope alone is valued at $100 more than the scope on the original Axis. Add in the AccuTrigger, and you can see what I mean about Savage delivering value. The Axis II also comes in a youth model, and, for the ladies, is available in the Muddy Girl camo pattern that we’ve been seeing all over the show.

Thanks to the Army’s Individual Carbine Program, LWRC International has developed updated versions of its legacy rifles. The new IC PSD replaces the A2 PSD, and the IC A2 replaces the M6 A2. Both iterations are fully ambidextrous and incorporate a number of engineering changes to make the guns more durable and more reliable. The sexiest member of the series is the ICPDW with a 7 3/4” barrel chambered for 5.56. The big changes to this model are the retractable stock and new buffer system, which make for a more compact package—perfect for carrying under your trench coat for those low-profile, highly classified missions. LWRC International ARs are equipped with hammer forged barrels, and nickel alloy coatings on the bolt carrier, hammers and triggers for hard, greaseless, permanently lubricious surfaces.

You can always count on Nikon for high-performing optics at reasonable prices. This year, the company introduced three new products. The first is a rifle scope for the .22 LR AR, the P-22, 2-7 power with a 32 mm objective lens. It’s specifically designed for the ballistic trajectory of the .22 LR cartridge so that you can place your shots with confidence. Whether it’s shooting prairie dogs or targets, the P-22 will help you reach out to 100 yards and beyond. It’s available with either a bullet drop compensation reticle, which gives you hold points for various distances, or a turret that allows you to dial in your distance. The price is a low $179.95. For scoping out your hunting range, Nikon has improved its best-selling Monarch 5 binoculars. The use of ED glass, a low dispersion glass, reduces chromatic aberration or color fringing. This provides a clearer, crisper image with better contrast. The binoculars are also lighter now for better all-day carrying comfort. MSRP starts at $329.95. Finally, Nikon introduced the Aculon ultra compact rangefinder. Weighing just 4.4 ounces without batteries, the Aculon provides quick readings from 6-550 yards. MSRP is $169.95.