Feature Articles

The X Rail crew are some old friends, and I was happy to catch up with them at SHOT Show. The original X Rail changed the way people thought about shotguns for competitive ventures, and the became the go-to, must-have shotgun add-on for open class shooters. Essentially a rotating drum magazine that goes on the end of your shotgun, it upped capacity to 22+1 with 2¾-inch shells. Mark told me he also made a special run of 3½-inch shell models for the local goose hunting crowd.

The evaluation copy of the Combat Unit came to me chambered in 9mm. It is also offered in the traditional .45 ACP. What you get from 9mm is an extra round of capacity from a standard sized magazine, and less recoil. Much less recoil in fact, because shooting 9mm in a 40-ounce handgun almost feels like it should have an orange muzzle. Add in the inherent ergonomics of the 1911 and the brilliant extras added by Colt and it’s downright fun.

Exciting stuff in the world of optics, and Leupold was on point, as usual, this year. Two new releases we saw are sure to resonate with consumers this year.

Everything you like about the EAA Witness can now be had in a polymer frame with the P Match series. Think of it as your race gun, on a diet. This is a perfect carry option or competition pistol if you are already a fan of the CZ-75 stylings of the Witness family, but need something a little lighter.

This year the 2017 Shotshow they introduced their latest version of the Can Cannon in the XAC-CAN308. It is designed to attach to 7.62 AR rifles and uses .308 blanks. The fact of the matter is the .223 just had some limitations in terms of its ability to launch heavier items and to achieve greater distances. With the additional pressure provided by the .308 blanks they have a complete new line of accessories that adds a level of fun and functionality to the concept.

The Compass rifle from Thompson/Center offers shooters a sub-MOA capable rifle ready for the hunting fields at an amazing MSRP of only $399.

When it comes to rifles in the U.S., none has ever been more popular than the AR-15. I personally think that one of the reasons for the mind-numbing popularity of the AR-15 is because the platform has a military-proven pedigree, can be had at a reasonable price, and is ear-to-ear-smile fun all day long. It makes perfect sense then, that Ruger would make it a point to market an AR rifle for everyday Americans – because providing quality affordable guns to mainstream America is what Ruger does. And it did it with the AR-556.

Magnum Research is well known for its big and powerful Desert Eagle pistols, but it has been taking a slightly different tack with new variants they were showing at SHOT Show 2017. While they are still big and powerful, Magnum Research has worked to make them lighter and more portable. Take a look at some of the interesting new offerings on show at SHOT Show 2017.

With a 34mm tube and a 28mm objective lens, Trijicon’s new scope is plenty bright. It’s as suited for tactical guns as it is on hunting rifles.