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Ask any photographer and they will tell you that Nikon knows glass. It isn’t just the Nikon name that carries forward from their camera business into their high quality rifle optics. It is also all that expertise they have developed over the years giving consumers in the photography world a great value and the highest quality possible for their spending dollar. The new ProStaff 5 series from Nikon this year is in the 4 power range and the lineup delivers an incredible 95-percent light transmission. There are more than 15 scopes (counting finishes and reticles) in the new series, but here’s a random sampling of what’s available. A 2.5-1-x40 mm version includes a bullet-drop compensating reticle if you need to stretch the distance. Field of view is 9.9 feet to 40.4 feet at 100 yards, depending on magnification. Tube diameter is one inch and overall weight is 15.3 ounces. Overall length is 12.6 inches and adjustments are 1/4 MOA per click. Parallax is set at 100 yards and the maximum internal adjustment available is 70 MOA. Prices vary by finish and reticle, but the MSRP on this matte-black version is only $279.95. Add a silver finish and your price skyrockets by $10. If you’re really looking long range, though, take a look at the ProStaff 5 4.5-18×40 mm with a Nikoplex reticle. Tube diameter stays at one inch, field of view is 5.6 feet and 22.4 feet at 100 yards, depending on magnification, and it weighs 17.1 ounces. Parallax is adjustable from 50 yards to infinity, clicks are in 1/8 MOA and maximum internal adjustment is 40 MOA. I could be wrong, but with an MSRP of $449.95 for the matte-black version, I think Nikon has a real winner on its hands.

Taurus has always been renowned for its top-notch warranty. Basically, the gun is guaranteed for life, and the warranty goes with the gun from owner to owner.

This year, instead of heading off in some radical new direction, Taurus refined an old favorite. The PT111 has long been known for its small size and respectable firepower, so Taurus decided to push the envelope by reworking its striker-fired PT111 9 mm into the PT111 Millennium G2, part of its “Carry On” series for the concealed carry (CCW) market. The PT140 was also reworked into a similar PT140 Millennium G2 in .40 S&W. If you take a look at the gun pictures, it is head and shoulders better looking than the original Millennium guns, and we hope to get one in to test in hand. Taurus seems to have a new focus on making fewer different guns better, and this gun could be a pleasant surprise at an affordable price.

One of the new companies on the SHOT Show floor this year was founded by former members of our armed forces who are bringing what they learned on the battlefield about camouflage and putting it into quality hunting gear. Kryptek hasn’t forgotten about the right materials either. Several of its base layers are composed of 100-percent Merino wool, which wears like iron and helps hold your heat, even if it gets wet. If you prefer not to smell like a wet sheep after that 2,000 foot ascent, consider the company’s Sherpa Shirt. It is composed of grid fleece for warmth, yet it is quick drying, lightweight and the fabric technology has been proven on the front lines. For those times when the weather really turns bad, the 100-percent waterproof and windproof Aegis Extreme Weather Jacket is the answer. It features all of the company’s layering system, yet is still lightweight and compacts well for travel. With body-mapped insulation, your warmth is ensured in all the right places, pit zips allow ventilation during strenuous activity, welded zippers ensure longevity and the hood can be removed. To seal out those sudden gusts, there are wrist tabs and a hem cinch adjustment. If you’re looking for cutting-edge gear for your next hunt, you’ll want to take a close look at what Kryptek is bringing to the market.

Precision marksmen have known for years that ArmaLite produces some of the finest long-distance rifles out there, at an extremely reasonable price, out of the box. At the 2013 SHOT Show ArmaLite continued the legacy by unveiling the AR-30AT. Chambered in either .300 Win. Mag. (with an MSRP of $3,460) or .338 Lapua Mag. (MSRP $3,599), the rifle’s looks alone are enough to attract shooters, but it’s the performance that keeps them coming back. Both versions boast .25 to .75 MOA performance at 300 yards. The .300 Win. Mag. version comes with a 24-inch barrel, with the Lapua chambering boasting a 26-inch tube. Regardless of chambering, the barrels are chrome moly, have a one-in-ten-inch, right-hand twist, are fully free floated and are tipped by ArmaLite’s recoil-reducing, accuracy-enhancing brake. Each gun weighs 14.5 pounds, the stocks can be adjusted for lengths of pull between 13.6 and 15.6 inches, and the buttpad and cheekpiece can also to tailored to each shooter’s needs. A rail atop is long enough for law enforcement to mount night-vision optics in conjunction with their daytime scopes, it uses a robust Mauser-style safety and the bolt-actions come with a five-round box magazine.

Let’s face facts. There’s just something about an over-under shotgun that says “shooting in style.” Couple this with the fine craftsmanship of Franchi in either 28 gauge of .410 bore, and you’ve got a great value, shooting in style. Made 100% in Italy, there is no high quality sporting shotgun that is better at the price of a Franchi. This year Franchi introduces the Aspire, a weight-saving, hand-friendly rounded receiver over-under that is a truly elegant, heirloom quality shotgun.

Franchi calls it a “round-action receiver.” The diminutive gun points naturally (or as at least as naturally as you can point anything in a SHOT Show crowd) and it feels great. It looks even better. I passed it along to a much more knowledgeable shotgun writer and his first words were, “Whoa, I love it.” Coming from this guy, that’s a pretty good endorsement.

In a field full of great striker fired polymer pistol it is very hard to stand out. Walther’s top of the line take on this type of duty gun is the PPS, and we thought it was a fantastic gun last year when we reviewed the first version. This year Walther is no longer under the wing of Smith & Wesson and the PPS will still be their flagship pistol, but they got rid of that trigger guard safety and installed an ambidextrous button. H&K is the only other company with the trigger guard design and American’s haven’t taken to it the way the German’s thought they would. Truth is, the thing was hard to use without tilting the gun to the side. This new standard usability safety should make the PPQ more palatable, and hopefully it will get the recognition it deserves in the market.

Even bigger news is the PPX, a Walther under $500. We haven’t gotten a good look at it yet, but it appears to be an external hammer version of the PPS, with most of the same features. At first glance, at the booth, it appears that the PPX is going to be double action only, similar to a striker gun, with about a 6 pound trigger and no decocker or manual safety. At a street price probably well under $500 it should be extremely competitive in the market. Can’t wait to try one!

And last but surely not least is the famous PPK-S, in .22 LR. Ammo being as expensive as it is these days, everyone wants .22 LR version of their favorite guns, and Walther has answered the call with what is its most iconic gun, and one that continued into the wildly recent James Bond movie. Julie Mac, our host, is an avid handgun shooter and loved the feel of this gun. Walther is flying on their own again and it looks to be an exciting first year.

The Aimpoint Patrol Optic was designed for the US Military and carries a street price of $453. They can’t make enough of them because of the worldwide reputation for Aimpoint quality and durability. This year Aimpoint has opened up the sale of this high demand sight to all of its dealers, not just Law Enforcement (known as LE) dealers. If you are looking for an up-head read dot sight for your AR-15, the Aimpoint Patrol Optic is going to be the one you want to shop last. Be careful online buying Aimpoint. There are cheap copies out there that are not Aimpoints and they are absolute junk. Nobody is selling real Aimpoints at less than retail prices, because the demand is so high that they had to re-purpose an entire factory just to make more of this one Patrol Optic, and it is still backordered. Only a real Aimpoint is a real Aimpoint, so beware and don’t be tricked by non-Aimpoint dealers selling fakes. Also check out the new Blaser mount for the Aimpoint hunting sight. We haven’t actually tested it in hand, but it is said to return to zero when you remove and re-attach the mount. No word on the price yet, but if you shoot a Blaser this is an exciting development. That hunting sight is great choice for North American game. There are a lot of red dots on the market, but there is only one Aimpoint, and they are the world leader.

Ruger first introduced the 10/22 in 1964, and today the tried-and-true .22 Long Rifle blowback semi-automatics are owned by millions. Last year the company introduced an all-new twist to the popular rifle in a takedown version with a polymer stock. It has a rail atop for mounting optics, but also comes with iron sights. Take a look at the video to see how easily it comes apart for easy storage or transportation. This year the company made it a little more sweet by threading the barrel and mounting a flash hider (MSRP $419). Of course, it can be removed and a suppressor can be mounted if you’re like the thousands of shooters out there who are concerned about noise pollution. Overall length is 36.75 inches, barrel length is 16.62 inches and it weighs only 4.67 pounds. I’ve shot the Takedown extensively, and the accuracy, trigger and trigger reset are amazing. Also new in 2013 for Ruger is an extension of its popular SR Series of handguns, but this one is chambered in .45 ACP. The SR45 is has a reversible backstrap to tailor its fit, it comes with a 4.5-inch barrel, has an overall length of 8 inches and the magazine holds 10 cartridges. The adjustable sights are in a three-dot configuration and the MSRP is $529.

SIG Sauer’s booth is always busy, but after fighting through the crowds this year I discovered the longtime rumors were true. The Exeter, NH, company has introduced the P227—a double-stack semi-automatic in .45 ACP.

The gun struck me as more of a P226 when I first saw it, but when I looked down at the label, sure enough, it said “Sig P227, .45 ACP.” I picked it up and thought, “Boy, I would have never thought this was a .45.”

The gun has all the classic looks of the P226 line. Its milled stainless steel slide is mated to an aluminum-alloy frame and an accessory rail allows the mounting of lasers or weapon lights. The slide’s Nitron finish provides a businesslike look that’s attractive, and, it’s a SIG, so the double-action trigger pull is better than most. The usual decocker is there as well. The gun has mildly aggressive texturing on its one-piece polymer grip, with no screws to dig into your hand. Capacity is 10 rounds in the flush-fitting magazine, but a 14-round extended magazine is available.