Jon Hodoway

I had the opportunity to spend a little bit of time shooting several of the Republic Forge 1911s during the media day at SHOT Show 2016. Boy, those babies can shoot! These 1911s are made in Texas, and the options available for customization are staggering.

The big news this year from Hodgdon is there new line of rifle powder. Their updated Enduron line of powders offer exceptional performance. Higher burn rates mean faster speeds. And we’ve got the skinny on availability, too. Check out the latest from SHOT Show 2016.

Keeping up with the innovations at Burris isn’t easy. Burris is releasing a new modular turret system for their rifle-scopes, offering custom scope services and launching a new mid-range true 1-8x scope.

Stopping by the Hornady booth, I was immediately taken aback by all of the exciting new products for 2016. Some of them were so simple, yet cleverly designed, I wondered, why did I not think of that or that?

Some things at SHOT Show are truly unique. At the Victorinox Swiss Army booth you could build your own pocketknife while raising money for charity. The show’s over, but there’s still the opportunity to get a great knife and help a worthy charity, too.

Wilson Combat is overhauling Beretta 92s. We’ve gotten our full-sized 92FS back, and the two companies have just announced that they will be collaborating on a Compact Carry version of the 92 platform.

I have found a rifle that may be “the one,” Springfield’s newest offering in their line of M1A rifles, the SOCOM 16 CQB or Close-Quarter Battle rifle. This gun is a logical evolution for the hard hitting M1A.

“The truth of the matter is women just live in their yoga pants, so why can’t we go to the range in them,” asked 5.11’s Lyndsey Grove.

This gun is set up for what I consider to be the perfect “low profile” personal defense rifle. Meaning that to the unknowing it appears to be your grandfather’s rifle but in reality it’s more a kin to a modern artillery piece. This could quite possibly be a perfect back country rifle capable of stopping almost anything given the right distance.