SHOT Show Archives

Live birds ahoy! If you went stumbling around the corners of the basement at SHOT Show 2013 you may have come across a trailer mounted giant clay pigeon machine Lazy Susan. There is almost no other way to describe this monstrosity called the Crazy Quail. Made of solid galvanized steel, it comes in sizes that hold from one to four bird throwing machines. The machines you see mounted on this demo unit at the show are made by Apex, but it accommodates just about any thrower. The machines rotate on a spinning plate, so you can throw several presentations at one time, and the whole system is portable, so one unit can be used for several locations at the same club.

The premise of the Crazy Quail is to get more birds in the air for clubs trying to make money. More birds equals more rounds equals more ammo, equals a profitable club. If you run a sporting clays club, the Crazy Quail is affordable, and throws up to 160 birds per minute. The quad configuration holds 1632 clays at one time. That is about 65 rounds, on one loading.

Inside-the-waistband carry, or IWB, is considered one of the most discreet concealed-carry methods, making a T-shirt and shorts possible while carrying in places like my sunny Southern California. Even larger weapons can disappear on your body when quietly tucked into your waistband.

Versa Carry has been coming up with a lot of innovative ideas on ways to secure a handgun inside the waistband, and its latest is a small J-frame revolver setup.

This story came as a tip from our friend Carrie Lightfoot at The Well Armed Woman. There are a ton of “CCW purses ” out there, but most of them were made by men and don’t work at all. We almost covered a company last year that made a purse that worked like a raccoon trap. You could put a woman size hand into the gun pouch on the side, but once you grabbed that shiny gun, you couldn’t get it out. Carrie is working on a series of articles for us here at GunsAmerica, and she will be the first to tell you that carrying a gun in a purse isn’t for everyone. You have to make sure that bag stays with you at all times and is in your complete control, but in some modes of dress, bag carry is one of a short list of options, and possibly the most sensible one. Of all the bag companies that have courted Carrie, to sell them on TWAW, Gun Tote’n Mamas is the one she likes the most. They have a huge assortment of bags for just about every taste and mode of dress, and the gun parts work, which is the most important thing.

In the midst of the gun grabber legislative chaos, ATI Gunstocks had some pretty neat stuff for this year’s SHOT Show 2103. Their big new product is set to ship in April and they are taking pre-orders now. It is a complete replacement stock system for the Benelli M4 called the Raven. Like all ATI stocks, it is modular and you can buy one piece or the whole system. All ATI stocks are what is known as “992R” compliant as well. On foreign made high capacity weapons, you must have at least 5 parts that are made in the USA if you want to use a pistol grip, and they have to be one of a core list of parts on the gun. For the Benelli, there are 14 parts, and ATI makes the five that you need for compliance. The kit retails for $374 on their website (again, currently in pre-order). The extra part you see here in the pictures is that front rail system, which they call the “magazine tube shroud,” and that isn’t available yet on the website.

One of the stories you didn’t see at GunsAmerica last year at SHOT Show was the “DoubleTap” pocket pistol. We elected to not cover it because though it seemed a good idea, it was clear from speaking with the management at the show that it was not going to be available in the market anytime soon. Several lawsuits later, the inventors of the DoubleTap have changed manufacturing facilities and it looks like the gun is actually going to be available in a couple months. This is a really neat double derringer style pocket pistol that comes in both .45ACP and 9mm, and it is available in both aluminum, at 12 ounces empty, for $499, or titanium at 14 ounces, for $729. At present all of the major distributors have placed orders for the guns, in the tens of thousands, and within a couple months the factory, located in Naples, Florida, should be able to produce over 5,000 guns per month. A full line of holsters and accessories are already available for the DoubleTap, and the barrels and calibers are interchangeable, with .40S&W hopefully available by summer.

New for 2013 from Mojo Outdoors is the Shake’n Jake. We got to play with his highness at SHOT Show and it is going to be a turkey killer this spring. Legal in all but 6 states, you have to check with your local regulations before you buy it. Even if your state does not prohibit turkey decoys, they prohibit motorized ones, and/or remote control ones. the Shake’n Jake is remote controlled, on or off. We were told at the booth that his majesty would be under $100, available in a couple weeks, but so far he has only popped up at Cabelas for $149.

Also check out the fan tail that you stick on your shotgun. It is called the Tail Chaser, $24.99 at Cabelas, and the word at the Mojo booth is that it works great. In cover, the turkeys see the tail and come walking right in. These will probably be at your local big box stores soon, but remember that they only get so many in so you may want to grab one online now before the turkey fever starts to really set in during late February.

The XD(M) was originally designed as a service handgun, but when it quickly caught on in competitive shooting’s Service Divisions, Springfield Armory decided to make a good thing even better. Small touches like a longer barrel and sight radius, fiber-optic front sight with a color selected to improve contrast with the targets used in competitive shooting and lightening cut atop the slide—just behind the front sight—make the XD(M) Competition Series a whole different gun. XD(M) Competition Series pistols come with a 5.25-inch, match-grade barrel instead of the standard XD(M) barrel lengths of 3.8 and 4.5 inches. For a limited time they are shipping with three magazines, instead of two. All of the Competition Series features a higher-visibility red fiber-optic, but a green pipe is included in case that color works better for the shooter. The rear target sight is fully adjustable and the sight radius has been increased to 7.25 inches. The XD(M) Competition Series is available in 9 mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. All are 8.3 inches in length, 5.75 inches tall, and the 9 mm tips the scales at 29 ounces, with the .40 S&W and .45 ACP coming in at 32 ounces. Magazine capacity is 19 in 9 mm, 16 in .40 S&W and 13 in .45 ACP. Finishes available are black and bi-tone.

Hornady has introduced an all new line called the American Whitetail. Its red-and-and-blue packaging is easy to spot and the company is loading some of the most proven cartridge/bullet weight combinations for hunters inside. Cartridges include .243 Win. (100-grain bullet), .25-’06 Rem. (117 grain), .270 Win. (130 grain), 7 mm-08 Rem. (139 grain), 7 Rem. Mag. (139 grain), .30-30 Win. (150 grain), .308 Win. (150 grain), .30-’06 Sprg. (150 grain) and .300 Win. Mag. (150 grain). All are loaded with the company’s time-tested InterLock bullets. Those who carry will be glad to know Hornady also introduced Critical Defense loads for new chamberings. Often leave your .32 NAA at home because you’re worried about the bullet’s terminal performance? Hornady now has you covered with an 80-grain FTX bullet that comes from the muzzle at 1,000 fps. Also added to the Critical Defense line was .32 H&R Mag. (80-grain bullet), a special pink-tipped .38 Spl. LITE load (90-grain FTX bullet at 1,200 fps, and part of the proceeds from each sale are being donated to breast cancer research), and my personal favorite, a .410 Critical Defense 2 1/2-inch shotshell. It begins with the proven performance of Hornady’s FTX bullet (.41-caliber), but behind it a pair of .35-caliber, high-antimony lead round balls nearly ensure fight-stopping performance at close range. All loads in the Critical Defense line employ the company’s proven Flex Tip technology.

The Smith & Wesson M&P Pro Series has become extremely popular with competitive shooters, and this year the company has added something new with four CORE (Competition Optics Ready Equipment) versions. The CORE system allows easy mounting of a variety of red-dot optics often seen on the firing line, including the Trijicon RMR, Leupold Delta Point, Jpoint, Docter, C- More, STS and Insight MRDS. Pro Series guns that have received the CORE treatment at the custom shop include M&P9, M&P9L, M&P40L and M&P40. All COREs have an MSRP of $729 and the iron sights are raised to co-witness with the optic, which means if your red-dot goes down, you’re not out of the game. The three provided palmswell grip sizes also have newly enhanced texturing for positive grip during those long stages. For most shooters, though, the biggest news from Smith & Wesson comes in the newly introduced M&P10 rifle. Two versions will be available at first, an all-black model and a camouflage hunting version. Both have an ambidextrous safety, bolt release and magazine release, as well as 18-inch barrels with one-in-ten-inch twist 5R rifling. The tactical version has an overall length of 41 inches with the stock extended and 37.75 inches with it collapsed. It weighs 8.2 pounds and ships with a 20-round magazine. The hunting version ships with a five-round magazine and has a fixed Magpul stock that gives it a 37.5-inch length. Both are chambered in .308 Win. and the camo version has an MSRP of $1,729. Smith & Wesson hasn’t announced the 20-round version’s price yet.

Shotguns can be one of the best home-defense firearms around, but Century International Arms is now importing a whole new level of intruder intimidation. The Catamount Fury shotgun chambers 2 3/4- and 3-inch shotshells, its box magazine has a five-shell capacity, barrel length is 20 1/8 inches, it has fixed rifle sights, and, just in case you need to modify that pattern, it comes with full, modified or cylinder choke tubes. The semi-automatic shotgun runs on a gas-piston system, the top cover comes off easily for maintenance/cleaning and coupled with the a light rail under the barrel, any bad guy you hold at bay with this thing is going to need to change his underwear before he’s booked. The Fury has an overall length of 42.5 inches and the also-new Fury II comes in a bit more nimble at 10.75 inches. In handguns, the company is rolling out the CZ999, chambered in either 9 mm or .40 S&W. Both have four-inch barrels and you can also expect to see a more compact version in .40 S&W. Century International Arms is also offering Zastava M70 and M85 Mauser-style rifles with hinged floorplates, English walnut stocks and adjustable sights in left-handed versions. All come drilled and tapped for scope mounting. If you’ve been yearning for a more classic look, consider the company’s Zastava M70s that are now available with Mannlicher-style stocks.

Fiocchi may not be the most recognized name among ammunition manufacturers, but those in the know understand it has an impeccable reputation. It should, since the family-run business began back in 1876. Today the company continues that legacy of quality, but with something of a twist. Let’s face facts, Americans are gobbling up ammunition faster than companies can churn it out (we all know how hard finding .223 Rem. at your favorite gun store can be). Is it all being shot at the range? Personally, I don’t think so, or I wouldn’t have so many people ask, “Are you saving your brass?” Last year Fiocchi came to the same conclusion I did, and it introduced ammo in a can. It stores neatly, stacks, is impervious to the elements and ready when you need it. It’s a pretty neat idea and you can get them filled with buckshot, slugs, .223. Rem., .308 Win. and rimfires. This year the company stepped up that effort, with ammo in more-voluminous waterproof Plano boxes. Yeah, they sort of look like metal ammo containers of yesteryear, but they’re polymer, so they won’t rust and your emergency fodder won’t get ruined when the next Superstorm floods your basement.

CZ-USA says there is no other handgun out there with a higher flush-fitting magazine capacity than the company’s new P-09 Duty. I certainly don’t know another, but any way you look at it, 19+1 in 9 mm and 16+1 in the .40 S&W chambering is impressive. One of the most interesting things in the P-09 is the fact that it comes from the factory with an ambidextrous decocker installed, but manual safety levers ship with the gun. So if you’d rather have a manual safety instead of a decocker, it takes just a few minutes for the owner to make the swap. OK, it took me more than a few minutes when I gave the system a try on the P-07 Duty, but it does work and it’s not that tough (assuming your fingers are more nimble than mine). MSRP is $528. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced 12-gauge, pump-action shotgun, take a close look at CZ-USA’s new 612 Home Defense. It’s comes with an 18.5-inch, cylinder-bore barrel and polymer furniture. The tubular magazine holds five rounds and a 26-inch vent rib is available in case you want it to do double duty during bird season. MSRP is only $290. And the company’s other new introduction is the 527 Varmint, which is chambered in .17 Hornet, has a detachable five-round magazine and for only $704 it still utilizes the popular CZ-USA Single-Set Trigger.

After you’ve purchased that cutting-edge AR, getting a solid optic aboard is a critical component in realizing all of its performance. Unfortunately, sometimes that results in an expense that nearly rivals your original purchase. Bushnell has the answer in 18 new products (12 red dots and 6 scopes) that comprise the company’s AR Optics lineup. Each come in with an MSRP of $300 or below. Magnified scopes include 1-4×24 mm Thrown Down PCL shown in the interview (with an illuminated BRT-1 reticle and a lever to speed magnification changes with gloved hands), a regular 1-4×24 mm, 2-7x 32 mm, 3-9×40 mm, 3-12×40 mm and a 4.5-18×40 mm. They come with fully multi-coated optics and caliber-specific reticles. Red-dot choices include the 1×28 mm Multi Reticle with four different illuminated reticle choices and the 2X MP with green or red T-Dot reticle, among others. The lineup works great for anything with a standard-sized rail, including shotguns and patrol rifles. Also new from Bushnell are innovative rangefinding binoculars in the Fusion Series. They are the 1 Mile 8×32, 10×42 and 12×50. With BaK-4 prisms, PC-3 phase correction and that famous Bushnell RainGuard coating they’re bound survive some tough conditions. Best of all, they’re allegedly capable of ranging out to one mile. Power is supplied by a single CR 123 cell.

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.