SHOT Show Archives

That’s no typo. Beginning in March, Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) will have TAVORs for sale here in the United States, and we caught a sneak peak of the famed bullpup at the SHOT Show. This is the same gun designed by Israeli defense forces after the 1982 Israel-Lebanon War, except it’s a semi-automatic—so you, too, can take one home. And with MSRPs that begin at $1,999, it’s not a bad deal for something this cool, although Julie Mac is holding out for one in pink (currently they will be available in flat dark earth and black). Chambered in 5.56 NATO, it has a magazine capacity of 30 cartridges, comes with either a 16.5- or 18-inch barrel and has a Picatinny rail atop for mounting optics or iron sights. Conversion kits will also be available to change chamberings to 9 mm or 5.45×39 mm. Southpaws rejoice. The TAVOR can be changed to fully left-handed operation, including the charging handle and, get this, the gun uses standard AR-15 magazines. Since the odds are pretty good you have a few of them hanging around, you don’t need to invest in a whole new kit. The cold-hammer-forged barrel comes with six groove, one-in-seven-inch rifling and the longer 18-inch-barreled versions still come in at a compact 27 5/8-inches in overall length.

For 2013, Benelli is offering its time-tested and field-proven Montefeltro in a black synthetic stock that moves the MSRP down to $1,139. The shotgun still harnesses the company’s famous Inertia Driven system, and the 12-gauge can digest three-inch magnum shotshells. Perhaps more exciting is the introduction of what the company claims to be the world’s first left-handed 20-gauge shotgun. The M2 Field ComforTech can chamber three-inch magnums, and the semi-automatic method of operation coupled with the company’s recoil-handling stock, promises to make it one of the softest shooting bird baggers out there. MSRP is $1,519. Also new in the M2 line is a compact version with a shorter stock. For the nostalgia buffs out there, take a close look at Uberti’s latest, the 1873 Horseman and two different 1873 Cattleman in .22 LR. The 1873 Horseman is a Single Action Army replica, but it comes with something different—more safe, if you will. It has a transfer bar safety, so you can forget leaving that top chamber empty, if you so desire. It comes chambered in either .45 Long Colt or .357 Mag. All have walnut grips and are case hardened/blued. Three barrel lengths are offered, either 4.75-, 5.5- or 7.5-inches, and regardless of configuration, MSRP is $559. The 1873 Cattleman .22 LR is chambered in .22 Long Rifle, but your cylinder capacity can either be six rounds or 12. Once again, you get that striking Uberti look and reliability, but your ammunition bill goes down dramatically. The same three barrel lengths are available, and the MSRP for the six-shooter is $529 with a steel backstrap and triggerguard or $509 if you prefer them to in brass. The 12-shot version comes only with steel and the MSRP is $559.

Daniel Defense https://danieldefense.com/ Of course you want a short-barreled rifle (who doesn’t?), and it’s hard not to dream about having it suppressed. But that would require two tax stamps and probably even longer delays before you could bring your AR-15 dream ride home. Don’t Despair, Daniel Defense introduced the solution at the 2013 SHOT Show [...]

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.

The new Stag Arms Model 8T comes with a 16-inch, chrome-lined barrel with a one-in-nine-inch rate
of twist. This is a side piston design, different from ARs with a standard buffer tube design. They tend to run cooler and cleaner, and most of the parts are still interchangeable. One of the most striking features about the carbine is the use of the Diamondhead VRS-T free-
floating handguard, which has a solid rail atop, but relatively smooth sides and bottom. So instead of
Stag Arms adding unwanted weight to the rifle, the company smartly decided shooters can decide if
any rails needed to be attached, and precisely where. Unlike most offerings from Stag, the 8T employs
a short-stroke piston system, but as is the case with all Stag firearms, it can be ordered in left- or right-
handed versions. Carrier tilt is minimized by the use of pads on the rear of the bolt and it comes with
Diamondhead flip-up sights, so it’s ready for the range right out of the box. Stag Arms has been a big
supporter of 3-Gun competitions and it continues that legacy with its new Model 3-G. It comes with an
18-inch, fluted barrel, free-floated handguard to maximize accuracy, six-position adjustable buttstock
and the company’s proprietary 3G Comp compensator to reduce muzzle rise and improve speed of
target reacquisition. You don’t need to worry about a gritty trigger, either, since it comes with a Geissele
Super 3 Gun trigger. MSRP is $1,459. And remember, Stag is the only manufacturer of lowers and uppers for left handed AR-15 shooters, and all of their models come in left hand. We hope to get an 8T in this year for a test and a field strip to understand how the thing works, but we already know the 3G and it rocks. If you are shooting 3-Gun or you are just looking for a tactical AR at an incredible value, these Stag complete guns are as good as many ARs twice the price.

Kimber produces some of the finest single-action semi-automatic handguns on the planet, and its
introductions at the 2013 SHOT Show are no exception. A whole new lineup called the Master Carry
Series was unveiled last week, with all three siblings chambered in .45 ACP. The Master Carry Pro
version sports a four-inch barrel and an aluminum frame that shaves its weight down to 31 ounces. The
frame has been rounded in all the right spots to minimize printing and maximize comfort when carrying,
and it comes with Crimson Trace’s new Master Carry Lasergrips—striking G10 panels that employ the
company’s instinctive laser-activation system. MSRP for the Master Carry Pro is $1,568. The other pair
of members in the Master Carry Series have five- and three-inch barrels. Also new for Kimber this year
is a “pocket gun” called the Micro Carry .380, a .380 ACP single action with a 2.75-inch barrel. It tips the
scales at only 13.4 ounces.

Crimson Trace has a hard-earned reputation for building some of the finest self-defense, laser-sighting systems on the planet. The company’s patented, pressure-activated switch located in grips of a handgun seem perfect with their automatic activation during a time of stress, when the simplest tasks become nearly impossible. But, this isn’t the kind of company content to rest on its laurels. Red lasers are fine, but the eyes of man are better attuned to light from the green end of the spectrum. So Crimson Trace’s addition of green Lasergrips to its lineup was natural (pun intended). At 50 feet, the 5 mW laser produces a half-inch diameter circle on target. It may not be larger than that produced by the red laser, but it’s certainly more visible in the daytime. They are fully windage and elevation adjustable, power is supplied by a pair of 2032 batteries and the Lasergrips come with a three-year warranty. The Defender Series is also new from the company, and it is tailored toward shooters who are a bit more budget conscious. Activated by an easy-to-find switch, they produce a bright .5-inch red dot at 50 feet, are fully windage and elevation adjustable and come with a one-year warranty. Power is supplied by either a single 1/3N lithium battery, or two 357 silver oxide batteries. The Master Series somehow melds the original Lasergrip versatility into striking-looking G10 or walnut panels. Of course they’re fully adjustable. The power source is a 2025 battery and these come with a three-year warranty.

Delivering a shot at 500 yards accurately is tough, almost impossible without a lot of practice if you’re
battling a full value wind and your rifle is chambered in .223 Rem. Even if you move up to .308 Win.
and need to deliver a precise shot, you need to understand what you’re up against and there’s no
better instrument for doing so than a Kestrel. At first they were considered something of a precision
instrument best left in the hands of competitive shooters as they fought gale-force gusts at Camp Perry,
but today they’ve found their way into the War on Terror. Take a glimpse at the company’s Ballistics
Weather Tracker with Horus Software and you’ll understand why. First it weighs only four ounces.
Second it not only collects critical data, but because it includes the Horus Software, there’s no longer
any need for a shooter to read the data, then input it into a separate PDA to determine a firing solution
. Best of all, it allows the shooter to identify five potential targets, customized by location, declination,
wind, distance and direction, then it continuously plots firing solutions by monitoring key environmental
conditions, even while they change. What about different cartridges, loads and muzzle velocities? Just
enter the data into the Horus software before your next match, and the mini-computer has you covered.

Maturing your gun tastes doesn’t necessarily mean that you go more expensive and more advanced. Cool guns date back to the 1700s, and though you may think that the AR-15 is the ultimate in firepower, in 1836 the five shot Colt Patterson was all the rage. The history of guns is the history of America itself, and thanks to several firearm manufacturers in Italy, we can all visit what it meant to fire a gun from the American Revolution through the Wild West just the way they did, with full power combat loads.

F. LLI Pietta is celebrating your 50th Anniversary making mostly percussion guns from the Civil War era. A few years back they started making cartridge guns as well, in the pattern of the 1873 Colt Peacemaker, and they are heavily involved in Cowboy Action Shooting in Italy as well as here in the US. Several of the guns in our article “A Handgun When you Can’t Buy a Handgun” were made by Pietta (including the engraved Pattersons), and in all the years that those guns have been shot, in and out of SASS competition, not one of them has failed. The finishes have never flaked and the engraving is as sharp and crisp as they day they were made.

This year Pietta has introduced a new enameling in their popular Lemat revolver, which they have made since 1985. If you have never seen a Lemat, it is quite a dandy. Nine .36 caliber barrels surround a roughly 16 gauge shotgun barrel, and the entire thing is the size of a hand cannon. Invented in New Orleans in 1856, the Lemat was carried by several famous Civil War generals, and it has been featured in several movies. Watch the videos we have posted here to see how the artists at Pietta are actually making these works of art.

Also appearing in the Pietta catalog this year is one of their ’73 cartridge guns set up on a “Bridgeport Rig.” This is a belt clip system made for gunslingers in the old west that both secured the firearm and held it ready for quick firing from the belt, no holster required. Don’t know if these are legal for SASS so you’ll have to contact the powers that be first if you intend to use them.

If you rely on an AR or shotgun for home defense, but can’t figure out a way to keep it secure from unauthorized access while readily available if the unthinkable happens, look no further. GunVault has introduced a new secure storage safe that will fit discreetly in most closets, yet the gun is instantly available with GunVault’s patented No-Eyes keypad or fingerprint scanner.

I’d heard all the claims before and, like you, I was skeptical about working scanners and keypads when under duress. No, they don’t put the gun immediately in your hands, and I know for a fact that a single second seems like forever in a life-and-death situation, but I’ve had great success when testing the GunVault’s systems in the past. They are fast and extremely reliable.

Even if you have a gun safe capable of swallowing your entire collect, you might consider this unit for your safe room. Constructed of 14-gauge steel in the body, with 12-gauge steel in the door, the four-foot-tall unit weighs 80 pounds. To ensure burglars don’t simply make off with the entire thing, it is predrilled for securing to the floor. Width is 10 inches and depth is 17 inches, enough to store any tactical shotgun or AR with a 30-round magazine. An interior shelf can hold spare magazines, a flashlight or ammunition.

Several years ago Remington returned to its handgun-producing roots with the introduction of
the R1. This year the company continues to evolve the lineup, adding the R1 Carry to an already
proven stable of .45 ACP-chambered 1911s. Subtle changes, built upon the reliability of a five-
inch barrel, make this handgun more carry friendly than the R1 or R1 enhanced. Bad guys don’t
knock off at dusk, so the R1 Carry remedies target acquisition in poor lighting conditions by
using Novak sights with a tritium Night Sight up front. Speed of presentation is critical, but a
handgun’s sharp edges love to hang up on covering garments at the worst possible moment. With
a de-horned frame and slide, the R-1 Carry minimizes that concern. Purchase in the worst of
environmental conditions is enhanced with 25-lpi checkering on the beavertail backstrap safety
(with memory bump), frontstrap and mainspring housing. Cocobolo grip panels and skeletonized
adjustable trigger provide the kind of look it’s a shame to keep concealed, but the lowered and
flared ejection port and target crown speak volumes about Remington’s dedication to reliability,
regardless of “fashion.” Overall length is 8.5 inches, rate of twist is 1 in 16 inches and it ships
with a pair of magazines–one seven-rounder and a bumper-padded eight-round version. I’ve
never considered an ambidextrous safety ideal for 1911 carry, but it’s there for southpaws.
MSRP is $1,299.

AK fans concerned Mikhail Kalashnikov’s 90th birthday was going relatively
unnoticed got a special surprise from Arsenal at this year’s SHOT Show. Only
500 rifles in the MTK90 Jubilee Series are going to be produced and they are
selling fast, despite a $3,500 price tag for the Silver Edition and $5,000 for the
Gold. Built on hand-selected rifles, the right side of the Silver version’s receiver
has engravings with a silver-colored filling that highlight Kalashnikov’s birthday,
35 years of the AK-74 and even include Kalashnikov’s signature. The trigger,
bolt carrier and several other components of the rifle are also polished to a silver
finish. The Gold Version is virtually identical, except gold coloration is substituted
for silver in the embellishments. Four hundred Silvers will be produced and 100
Golds. With its presentation box, certificate of authenticity and more, it’s a great
way to celebrate this special anniversary. If you’re more interested in an everyday
shooter, the company’s new SAM7R1 is chambered in 7.62×39 mm, comes with
a cold-hammer-forged barrel and a hot-hammer-forged receiver that makes it
stronger and longer-lasting than many of the other AK variants available today.
Prices are running around $1,350. And if you’re ready for an AK pistol, Arsenal
rolled one out at SHOT in the SAM7K. It’s also chambered in 7.62×39 mm, has
a 10.5-inch barrel, hard-chrome-plated bore and chamber and is only 20 inches
long. It tips the scales at eight pounds (without a magazine), but with an MSRP of
$1,199 it’s much lighter on the pocketbook, anyway.

If you’re looking for a tank-tough optic for your AR that’s ideal for 3-Gun or CQB work,
you need to take a look at the new Razor HD Gen II 1-6×24 mm from Vortex. At 10.1 inches
in length, weighing 25.2 ounces, the riflescope uses a 30 mm tube and employs extra-low-
dispersion glass to improve resolution and color clarity. At one power, the field of view at 100
yards is 115.2 feet and at six power it narrows to 20.5 feet. Maximum windage and elevation
adjustments are 110 MOA and the illuminated red dot subtends .5 MOA. Adjustment is .5 MOA
per click. There are 11 different reticle-brightness settings, with off positions between each and
the second-focal-plane reticle uses a single CR 2032 battery for illumination. The company lists
the MSRP at $1,899, but you’ll notice in the video the street price may be less. If you love long-
range work, but realize over-magnification isn’t necessarily an advantage, you’ll appreciate the
new Viper PST 2.5-10×32 mm FFP. With the EBR-1 MRAD reticle in the first focal plane, your
range-estimation problems are solved. Built on a 30 mm tube from aircraft grade aluminum, this
riflescope is also battle tough. This one, however, has a parallax adjustment knob, target-style
turrets for quickly dialing in your dope and features 10 brightness settings for the illuminated
reticle (which also runs on a CR 2032 battery). It weighs 18.8 ounces, is 12 inches long and has a
pretty awesome MSRP of $899. Field of view at 100 yards is 47 feet and 10.9 feet at 2.5 and 10
powers, respectively. Adjustments are .1 mil per click.

Some things are too awesome for words. Thankfully we have a video so you can hear how
quiet the CondorSS really is. OK, I know it’s pneumatic, but this new model from Airforce
Airguns delivers the kind of punch that Lewis & Clark relied upon during its Corps of Discovery
Expedition for food from its air guns. Despite the lack of report, it delivers a .177-, .20-, .22-
or .25-caliber pellet at velocities that range from 600 to 1,300 fps. To put things into perspective,
that 1,300 fps mark exceeds many velocities delivered by .22 Long Rifle cartridges. With the
CondorSS, a variable-power setting allows the shooter to dial up or down as needed and speed
produced will naturally vary by caliber and projectile weight. Power for this single shot rifle
is provided by a rechargeable tank in the buttstock. It comes with an 18-inch Lothar Walther
barrel to ensure accuracy and if you want to really reach out, a bipod can be mounted. With a
two-stage trigger adjustable for position, a rail for mounting iron sights or a magnified optic
and color choices in racy red, blue and black, this non-noise polluting gem is one of the SHOT
Show’s real sleepers. Add the fact that you can come home from work and let some steam off
while punching paper at BB-gun defying distances or neutralize those annoying pests without
your neighbors “discovering,” and I can’t wait to bring one of these babies home. MSRP is $717
to $737, depending on tank-attachment system requested (QD or spin).

The one creature we haven’t seen on HBO’s “True Blood” is the now ubiquitous Zombie, but if they show up this year you’ll have everything you need with this silver bullet and wooden stake kit from Coonan Arms. You probably already know Coonan from their fabulous .357 Magnum semi-auto handgun, but that begs the question, “where do you go from a highly successful .357 Magnum pistol?” Apparently the answer is, hijack the zombie craze at the height of vampire and werewolf fame and fortune, and produce a very clever and extremely silly silver bullet kit, replete with its own wooden stake. Vampire Diaries just started back up, and it won’t be long before True Blood is back, but its a good thing Twilight is over because this would be too much for those sparkly sissies. The silver bullet pack includes real silver plated bullets, not solid silver, which makes the pack only $39.95, and the bullets really do shoot. They are moderately hot .357 Magnums. Look on the accessory page on the Coonan website.

Also check out new finishes from Coonan in Cerakote, as well as a new ported model. This is a great gun that we reviewed some time ago. If you have been thinking of getting one, there are a lot more options these days, and this is a gun that is always the center of attention everywhere you bring it anyways. Check out Coonan Arms for 2013.

This is a groundbreaking new rifle from Savage made for the new .17 Super Magnum **RIMFIRE**. You may not have heard of this cartridge yet, but it shoots a 20 grain bullet at about 3,000 feet per second, at .17 caliber of course. This means fairly flat shooting at devastating velocities out to 300 yards and beyond. What makes this particular gun special is that it is from Savage, the leader in out of the box accuracy in bolt guns. They have incorporated several centerfire bolt gun features into this rimfire rifle, at a rimfire price of $349. As ammunition gets more and more expensive, that you can go shoot prairie dogs, crows or even tin cans all day at 300 yards on the cheap may make this the biggest story of SHOT Show 2013. Bill is correct here in the video when he says that Savage won’t be able to make enough of these guns. If you are a new gun owner and you bought a pistol or an AR first, this would be your ideal second gun that you will never outgrow and that you will still enjoy shooting in 30 years, with your grandchildren. Another great rifle idea from Savage. Get yourself on the list with your local dealer, because supply may not catch up with the demand in 2013.

Glock has the luxury of being able to sell pretty much as many guns as they can make, but they still have a finely tuned ear to consumers and LE in order to figure out exactly what is the next Glock that will make you happy. This G30s is a compact .45ACP with a 10 round magazine and slightly thinner grip, and the unique feature is that they have put a G36 slide on it, making it thinner and easier to conceal. They can use the thinner slide because the .45ACP is not a particularly high pressure cartridge. It was designed just after the turn of the last century and is known as the ultimate manstopper in a handgun. A lot of us prefer to carry it, but the guns can be bulky. This new G30s reduces the footprint of Glock’s 10 round 45ACP gun, making it a great choice for concealed carry. Glock also has a few new Gen 4 guns this year, and they hope to release this 30s in Gen 4 as well as the G36.

Flashlights may be one of the less exciting products to talk about, but if you have ever used a 500 lumen SureFire, there is plenty to be exciting about. THEY ARE LIKE LIGHT SABERS. And now SureFire has upgraded their Defender, X400GN, and X400V flashlights from 200 lumens to 500 lumens with no loss in runtime. Also check out the video for their new “teal green” lasers, which is a pretty gutsy color to advertise in a male dominated market, specifically because according to their own SureFire research, teal green is what the human eye works best with. SureFire products aren’t cheap. These lights will be in the $500+ range, but our experience has been that when you compare relative costs to the Chinese copies, SureFire is 5 times brighter, 5 times more durable, and give you 5 times less problems, at roughly 3 times the cost. And here is an extra tip. Those red SureFire batteries that you can buy from SureFire or even on Amazon in 12 packs last twice as long as Energizers. We use them exclusively on all of our 123A devices.

For several years Federal Premium has been making a personal defense handgun round exclusively available to the LE market called HST. There is of course no law prohibiting civilians from owning this ammo, so a lot of us have been trying to get it through private LE contacts. Hearing the demand from consumers, ATK, the parent company of Federal, has decided to make the same ammo in a consumer product, available at your local gunshop. They also have developed a round in their Fusion line specifically for hunting with the velocities of an M4 length rifle, which are generally 200 feet per second or so less. This is important because expanding bullets are all optimized for specific velocities, and very few if any are optimized for the reduced velocity of the 16″ barrel that you find on an M4. A ton of us are out using M4 rifles to hunt with, and this ammo is specifically made for this, as well as for hunting with a suppressor. Suppressors are dirty, so cleaner ammo is a huge score if you are a suppressor hunter. The new MSR bullet and the cleaner powder sound like a great combination from Federal this year.

The biggest stories at SHOT this year are about technology, and the king of them is this CCAS scope from Trijicon. The story is a little hard to understand because none of us have been able to play with it yet, but it seems like you first “paint” the target with the laser, then it follows the target for you, changing the point of aim in the reticle. It also calculates weather, distance and other factors, and you manually enter the wind. The goal is go improve first shot hits, and the fact that it comes from Trijicon is probably the most important point. This is not some kind of experimental product from a potentially fly by night company. This is Trijicon, a major military contractor, and a company known for putting out battle hardened products that work and last forever. Right now this is only available to military and LE, but, assuming the politicians can’t come up with another war very soon, and after the politics calm down of course, don’t be surprised if this comes into the civilian market. It’s a cool toy that could open up a whole new type of high end competitive shooting. Also check out the new ACOGs, including a simplified .300 Blackout reticle in the 3x, and some silvery finishes for your silvery AR. Add matching shoes and a clutch and we’ll have a complete outfit. At the very end of the video there are new Trijicon Glock suppressor sights.

If you are a gun nut most likely you have already heard of Ed Brown. They are the defining 1911 by which all the other 1911 companies have been measured, because they make everything in the gun in-house, and their quality is second to none. Innovation in 1911s isn’t something many people talk about, because the gun is after all over 100 years old, but Ed Brown actually has a patent on that bobtail grip. Apparently other companies license it or buy the parts. They are also an innovator in checkering patterns, because besides new customers who want the latest and greatest, there are a ton of collectors of… Ed Brown. Because they make everything themselves, you don’t see the excuses and bottlenecks of why you can’t get your gun with Ed Brown. Delivery time has been in the half a year or so range for a while and if you order now you’ll have it by summer most likely. If you are silly in love with the 1911 and you want one of guns called “the best money can buy,” treat yourself to an Ed Brown 1911.