shot daily — day 2 — 2016 shot show

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DAY 2, JANUARY 20, 2016

SHOOTING HUNTING OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW 1979–2016

T H E DA I LY N E WS O F T H E 2 0 1 6 L A S V E GA S S H OT S H O W B R O U G H T TO YO U BY T H E B O N N I E R CO R P O R AT I O N A N D T H E N SS F

FEATURESAFFORDABLE ACCURACYThe secret to Savage’s success can be found on the factory floor SEE PAGE 70

BULLETS BY DOPPLER The search for a better bullet SEE PAGE 98

NEWSLEAP OF FAITH Mossberg’s new sporting clays shotgun incorporates a radical idea SEE PAGE 8

PURE TORTURE Leupold’s new VX-3i riflescope’s durability was proofed the hard way SEE PAGE 78

ON THE FLOORFEDERAL PREMIUM Julie Golob is a world-champion shooter and author with a passion for the outdoors. She is the first and only shooter—male or female—to win a national title in all six USPSA divisions, and was the first woman to earn a Triple Crown at the USPSA Nationals. Golob will host product demonstrations from 10 to 11 a.m. Booth #14551.

5.11 TACTICALAuthor Lee Child. 10:30 a.m. Booth #13162.

CAMILLUS KNIVESSurvivorman Les Stroud will be signing auto-graphs from 1 to 3 p.m. Booth #15122.

ROCKYBeer Social, $10 donation to the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. 3 p.m. Booth #11340.

Caracal’s New Venture Caracal and Wilcox Industries announced yesterday at the 2016 SHOT Show a new strategic partnership in which Caracal fire-arms will be produced for the first time in the United States at Wilcox’s manufacturing facility in New Hampshire. “This partner-ship takes Caracal to the next level and sup-ports our long-term strategic goals for the United States,” said Hamad Al Ameri, CEO

of Caracal. Firearms to be produced at the facility include the 5.56mm CAR 814 and the short-stroke gas-piston CAR 816, among others. “This partnership represents the future of the industry, where leading experts from around the world unite to develop cutting-edge products for the mar-ket,” said Jim Teetzel, CEO of Wilcox Industries. Booth #2829. (caracal.ae)

TARGETED INQUIRY“Bad data is worse than no data,” said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF’s Director of Industry Research and Analysis, at the end of Market Research 101, a seminar that capped off Monday’s SHOT Show University. The presentation, co-hosted by Rob Southwick and Nancy Bacon of Southwick Associates, covered the basics of market research for retail-ers, manufacturers, and range operators.

The session began with an overview of the various industry data indicators—existing information that has been consoli-dated by NSSF for use by its members. But Bacon also cov-ered the common pitfalls of crafting your survey when it comes to conducting your own market research. Be sure to ask one question at a time, avoid leading words, and don’t use vague or relative terms. Most of all, said Bacon, “don’t let them say, ‘It depends.’ If your respondents can answer that way, you haven’t posed your question properly.”

Southwick discussed the times when you want to engage a professional researcher. Doing it yourself works fine for sim-ple information, but for more complex questions, it’s best to engage a professional research firm. NSSF works with a vari-ety of researchers and can recommend one that suits best for the information you need. Southwick Associates also con-ducts an annual omnibus survey. Market research can help you identify what your customers value about your brand, but perhaps even more important is what you can find out about people who aren’t your customers. After all, that’s where your business has the most potential for growth. —Robert F. Staeger

NEW PRODUCT ROUNDUPSHOT Daily zeroes in on the latest in optics P. 16, aims at what’s new in ammo P. 28, and covers outerwear offerings P. 38

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FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @SHOTBUSINESS4 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 2, JANUARY 20, 2016

Petzl Debuts Stealth Lamps

P etzl created the STRIX line of headlamps for military operations in which stealth is key. The headlamps can be worn in multiple ways—on a headband on a bare head or neck, or on a vest or helmet—and feature a double rota-tion system that allows for great freedom in orienting the beam. The headlamps also feature colored lighting (red, green, and blue), three white lighting levels, and, in the STRIX IR model, infrared. The STRIX line offers excep-tional versatility and intuitive use, with absolute reliability guaranteed.

“SWAT teams nationwide are experiencing a growing need for stealth headlamps,” says Dave Hugar, North America marketing director for Petzl. “The STRIX headlamp adapts directly onto the rail mount of Ops Core Ballistic helmets, providing intuitive and user-friendly stealth lighting for stealth tactical operations.”

According to Hugar, the STRIX can be worn “on a helmet equipped with the ACH-ARC Ops Core system, using the inte-grated rail. In the absence of the rail, the operator can use the accessory DAPT STRIX plate.”

The light can also be fixed to a vest via the integrated MOLLE clip, on the head using the included headband, or around the neck using the included headband. In the last case, Hugar adds, the headband’s buckle allows the operator to remove the light without having to remove his helmet.

Another key feature is the lamp’s double rotation system, which lets the user orient the beam 180 degrees horizontally and 120 degrees vertically.

“The STRIX allows for dependable lighting for just about all situations,” says Hugar. “The

integrated regulation technology guaran-tees lighting with performance that does not diminish during its rated bat-tery life, and it switches to reserve

mode when the battery is almost depleted.” He adds that visible white lighting is available in three modes: stealth (very narrow, low-intensity beam), close-range vision (wide beam, power/battery life compromise), movement (wide, maximum-intensity beam). In addition, infrared lighting (available on the STRIX IR) has three modes—close-range vision (wide beam, power/battery life compromise), movement (wide beam, maximum power), blinking

IFF (Identification Friend or Foe).“We believe the design of this

lamp allows each mode to be accessed quickly, and the sequence of the modes moves from most discreet to least discreet. The headlamps underwent multiple

field tests to ensure the best ergo-nomics under any conditions and for any type of operation under-taken,” Hugar says. SRP: $140–$145, STRIX IR; $94.95–$99.95, STRIX VL. Booth #10167. (petzl.com)

At the Bonnier Outdoor Group SHOT Show breakfast yesterday morning, SHOT Business honored seven industry leaders. The honorees were Kittery Trading Post, Independent Retailer of the Year; Cabela’s, Chain Retailer of the Year; Hornady, Company of the Year; AcuSport, Distributor of the Year; Tom Milner, RSR, Sales Representative of the Year; Shoot Smart, Range of the Year; and David Baron (shown, right), Person of the Year.

2016 SHOT BUSINESS AWARDS

Petzl’s new STRIX lamps were designed for military operations in which stealth is a key factor.

Nikon Sales Awards N ikon Sport Optics has

announced the winners of its 2016 sales awards.

Owens Outdoor Sales has been recognized as Nikon’s Rep Group of the Year for the outstanding efforts, creative ideas, and superior growth achieved in 2015. Based in Texas, Owens Outdoor Sales is known for a dedicated and enthu-siastic approach to helping manu-facturers meet their sales and mar-keting goals.

“We truly love what we do and feel blessed to work with a great company like Nikon,” said Waylan Owens, owner of Owens Outdoor Sales.

Mike Freiberg (Elevated Outdoor Sales) was named Nikon’s Salesman of the Year. Freiberg took over his first sales territory in the Pacific Northwest late in 2014. Since that time, Freiberg has worked to build new and strengthen existing rela-tionships with customers and has succeeded in driving an impres-

sive increase in sales throughout the territory.

Nikon awarded Tom Wiley (Professional Marketing, Inc.) with a Staff’s Choice Award for his excellent communication and execution of sales initiatives. Nikon also recognized the follow-ing with Elite Salesman awards for outstanding sales growth in 2015: Raylin Massey, Owens Outdoor Sales; John Trieskey, Thomas F. Gowen & Sons; Joe Palermo, Professional Marketing, Inc.; and Dustin Gibbs, Professional Marketing, Inc.

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Slaton L. White, EditorJames A. Walsh, Art DirectorMargaret M. Nussey, Managing EditorDavid E. Petzal, Shooting EditorPaul Catalano, Assistant Art DirectorJudith Weber, Production ManagerMaribel Martin, Senior Administrative Assistant

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Larry Ahlman, Barbara Baird, Scott Bestul, Philip Bourjaily, Christopher Cogley, David Draper, Jock Elliott, William F. Kendy, Mark Kayser, David Maccar, Peter B. Mathiesen, Brian McCombie, Richard Mann, Tom Mohrhauser, Robert Sadowski, Robert F. Staeger, Peter Suciu, Wayne Van Zwoll

Greg Gatto, Vice President, Publishing Director

ADVERTISING: 212-779-5316Brian Peterson, Western Sporting Goods Sales Katie Logan, Southern Sporting Goods SalesDavid Hawkey, Northeast Sporting Goods SalesElizabeth A. Burnham, Chief Marketing OfficerIngrid Reslmaier, Marketing Design Director

BUSINESS OPERATIONSTara Bisciello, Business Manager

CONSUMER MARKETINGRobert M. Cohn, Consumer Marketing DirectorBarbara Brooker, Fulfillment Manager

MANUFACTURINGErich Schlitz, Production Manager

BONNIER

Chairman, Tomas FranzénChief Executive Officer, Eric ZinczenkoChief Operating Officer, David RitchieChief Marketing Officer, Elizabeth Burnham MurphyChief Digital Revenue Officer, Sean HolzmanVice President, Integrated Sales, John GraneyVice President, Consumer Marketing, John ReeseVice President, Digital Audience Development, Jennifer AndersonVice President, Digital Operations, David ButlerVice President, Public Relations, Perri DorsetGeneral Counsel, Jeremy Thompson

SHOT Business (ISSN 1081-8618) is published 7 times a year in January, Feb ruary/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November and December by Bonnier Corporation, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5695, and is the official publication of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Flintlock Ridge Office Center, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470 (203-426-1320). Volume 24, issue 1. Copyright © 2015 by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. All rights reserved. Editorial, circula-tion, production and advertising offices are located at 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5695 (212-779-5000). Free to qualified subscribers; available to non-qualified subscribers for $25 per year. Single-copy issues are available for $5 each. Send check, payable to NSSF, to: SHOT Business, c/o NSSF, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470-2359. SHOT Business accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. All correspondence should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Requests for media kits and advertising information should be directed to Katy Marinaro, Bonnier Corporation, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1270, Chicago, IL 60611. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Printed in the USA. For Customer Service and Subscription questions, such as Renewals, Address Changes, Email Preferences, Billing and Account Status, go to: shotbusiness .com/cs. You can also email [email protected], in the U.S. call toll-free 866-615-4345, outside the U.S. call 515-237-3697, or write to SHOT Business, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016. For editorial inquiries, write to Slaton L. White, SHOT Business, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016

For editorial inquiries, visit Venetian Level 3, San Polo 3501, in the Sands Expo & Convention Center.

8 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 2, JANUARY 20, 2016

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Leap of FaithMossberg’s new sporting clays shotgun

incorporates a radical idea By Slaton L. White

T here are times when manufacturers need to sweep aside the designs they’re most comfortable with and try some-thing completely new. But when Mossberg began considering a new sporting clays shotgun, that thought never even entered the mind of marketing director David Miles.

“We didn’t need to reinvent the wheel,” he says. “We already had the 930 autoloader in the line, and we thought that was a really strong place to start.”

You won’t get any argument here about that decision. But what Miles did next involved a leap of faith. Rather than simply tweak an existing product, he decided to consult with a shotgun instructor with fervent, and sometimes unconventional, ideas about how to help shooters become better shots.

Gil Ash and his wife, Vicki, are the proprietors of OSP (Optimum Shotgun Performance) School. Both are NSCA Level III certi-fied, so they are eminently quali-fied to judge shotgun design. In addition, Ash also customizes stocks in order to achieve the proper fit for a shotgunner. As a result, he has strongly held views on what a proper stock for a sporting clays gun should really look like.

Which leads us to the new Mossberg 930 Pro-Series

Sporting, making its debut at the 2016 SHOT Show. I had an opportunity to shoot with Miles and the Ashes last fall with pre-production prototypes and learn firsthand about some of the quali-ties that make this shotgun so special.

And it is special.This shotgun comes in one

model: a 3-inch 12-gauge with a walnut stock, a 28-inch ported barrel, an engraved Cerakote receiver, a beveled loading gate, and Briley extended chokes (IC, Mod, and Skeet). To increase reliability and performance, the gas piston, piston rings, magazine tube, hammer, and sear are boron-nitride-coated. In addi-tion, the shell stop, bolt slide, and elevator have received extra finishing to reduce friction in order to allow for faster follow-up shots. The trigger is crisp,

with virtually no creep.At 7¾ pounds, it’s a well-

balanced, nice-looking package. The real story, however, is

found aft of the receiver. The stock is nothing short of revolu-tionary.

“The most important aspect about this stock is the comb shape,” says Ash. “This comb is very narrow at the front. At the same time, it’s not very wide at the back. All of the comb drop and cast dimensions are taken at the center of the comb.”

This is done because, according to Ash, the most important part of these dimensions is where the gun touches a shooter’s face. “That’s at the midpoint in the comb. This comb is very narrow, and at the same time it has a lot of drop.”

Here he delves into some ele-mentary physics concerning stock

fit. “The narrower the comb, the less cast you need; the lower the comb, the less cast you need. That is why this comb is so unique—it will fit a right-handed or left-handed shooter equally well because of the drop in the stock and the narrow comb.”

In other words, cast is no lon-ger an issue. Have your customers mount the gun in the store. They’ll instantly see what he’s talking about.

But there’s more. The grip is also a key part of this shotgun.

“This shotgun uses a Prince of Wales grip slope, which means it’s a cross between a straight stock and a heavy pistol grip,” Ash says. “It’s more forgiving with respect to length of pull. If it had a very pronounced 90-degree pistol grip, the length of pull couldn’t be off by more than 1/16 inch. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to mount

Right- and left-handed shooters can shoot the 930 Pro-Series Sporting equally well because of the drop in the stock and the narrow comb.


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the gun—it would snag under your armpit.”Ash points out the grip design of the 930

Pro-Series Sporting is far more forgiving than the grips found on other shotguns. To illus-trate, he cites one common issue for many shooters—mounting the gun when wearing a heavy coat after shooting it all summer while wearing a T-shirt.

“Doesn’t matter,” he says. “With this gun, all a shooter has to do is slide the hand up or down a little bit to accommodate whatever clothing he is wearing. If he does that, he’ll be able to mount the gun efficiently no matter what he’s wearing.”

To further promote proper fit, the shotgun comes with Mossberg’s Stock Drop System of drop-at-comb adjustment shims that provide shooters of all sizes with a comfortable, cus-tomizable fit.

“The shims install in a few minutes at home using a minimum of tools,” says Miles. “This is a gun that should appeal to a wide range of shooters—men, women, and younger shooters of all sizes and shapes.”

To help promote the 930 Pro-Series, Miles says, every gun comes with a free 60-day trial subscription to the OSP School’s Knowledge Vault. “It’s a first-class collection of instruc-tional articles and thousands of videos on clays and wingshooting,” he says.

Okay, so far so good. But does this gun shoot?

Indeed, it does. It mounts quickly and swings easily. And that narrow comb carries a hidden benefit for shooters like me who suffer from cross-eye dominance. With that narrow comb, I can keep both eyes open while I shoot. (Part of being able to do this is following a new teach-ing method developed by the Ashes, which is elucidated in detail in the Knowledge Vault.)

I have saved the best for last. When some guns get upgraded to “sporting clays” status, the price goes up as well. Not the 930 Pro-Series Sporting. It will list for $1,084, but Miles says the street price “will be in the $850 to $900 range.” That’s a lot of gun for the money. And when you throw in online shoot-ing lessons as well, it’s a deal that many shoot-ers simply won’t be able to resist.

The 930 Pro-Series will be available in March. Booth #12734. (mossberg.com)

Mossberg’s David Miles demonstrates just how quick and easy it is to use the 930 Pro-Series Sporting’s Stock Drop System of drop-at-comb adjustment shims.

S&W Unveils SW22 VictoryW ord about Smith & Wesson’s next-generation SW22 Victory .22

LR Target pistol dropped earlier this month, and ever since, shooters have been itching to take it for a ride. The S&W folks didn’t disappoint at this year’s Industry Day at the Range, with three configurations of the striking new pistol on hand to try.

The stainless semi-auto .22 LR pistol comes standard with a 400 series stainless-steel heat-treated bolt, frame, slide, and barrel, making it an inherently durable firearm that is built on a single-action, enclosed-hammer-fired, blow-back design. The standard 5.5-inch match-grade barrel has a 1-in-15-inch, six-groove, right-hand twist.

The pistol comes with a red fiber-optic front sight and an adjustable green fiber-optic rear sight. Another standard feature is an adjustable trigger stop. The fire controls are simple and laid out intuitively with a single-sided thumb safety, slide stop, and mag-azine release.

The lovely feeling textured grip panels have finger cuts that allow for easy removal of the 10-round magazines. But what makes this pistol truly unique is that shooters can change barrels at will with just a couple of Allen wrenches.

Jan Mladek, general manager of the S&W brand, broke the gun down and changed bar-rels over and over at the S&W Range Day booth. Remove one screw and the upper sepa-rates from the lower, allowing the bolt to be removed. Take out a smaller screw and the bar-rel easily lifts off the upper to be swapped out. Swapped for what, you ask? Volquartsen is already selling two barrels for the Victory, both of which are threaded for suppressors.

The first is a sleek stainless-steel barrel spe-cially designed for the Victory with Volquartsen’s i-fluting pattern to reduce weight and increase rigidity and heat dissipation. A forward blowback compensator and thread protector are also included.

The second barrel option from Volquartsen is a lightweight THM carbon-fiber tension barrel that uses the same tech as the company’s

fiber-tension rifle barrels, providing shooters with increased accuracy at a

much lighter weight than a standard bull barrel. It also comes with 1/2 x 28 threads for a suppressor and a thread-protector cap for when a suppressor is not in use. Both barrels retail for $215 each.

Booth #11229. (volquartsen.com) Now, back to the gun. A target pis-

tol obviously needs a sighting system, and S&W has thought of that as well. The standard rear-sight platform mounts on a small but robust tab on the top of the receiver with one screw. Once the platform is removed, an included lightweight Picatinny rail section mounts the same way, and shooters can mount any red-dot sight or scope they choose.

As far as holsters and other accessories go, S&W has teamed up with several manufactur-ers to make all the trimmings available.

SRP: $409. Booth #13729. (smith-wesson.com) —David Maccar

The SW22 Victory ships

complete with two 10-round magazines.

14 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 2, JANUARY 20, 2016 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @SHOTBUSINESS

Telling the StoryReaching the audience these days is no small matter

A s president and CEO of Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks, Jim Liberatore is responsible for the overall strategic, operational, and creative vision for the group. Under his leadership, Liberatore, who has spent 25 years in the cable network business, intends to further solidify Outdoor Sportsman Group’s position as the premier destination for outdoor entertainment.

SHOT Daily: Your position at the head of a table gives you a unique perspective on the shooting sports industry as a whole. What does it look like from where you sit?

Jim Liberatore: The growth of the industry is what astounds me. We cater to nearly 130 million Americans who are engaged in the outdoor lifestyle. We are advocates of this lifestyle, and our programming and talent passionately represent this immense segment of America. The view from where I sit looks wonder-ful, and we are proud to represent all people who enjoy the shooting sports industry. The only disap-pointment to me thus far is our industry’s collective inability to respond to the regular onslaught of attacks from people who do not know or do not understand gun-related issues. That, coupled with the fact that educating the “middle” should not be an insurmountable obstacle. The facts and the story we have to tell are both com-pelling and attractive.

SD: What has been the biggest challenge in the last year since adding a third network—Sportsman Channel—and creating the Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks?

JL: One of our biggest challenges has been with some distributors under-standing the Outdoor

Sportsman Group is made up of three very different networks. Outdoor Channel includes compel-ling masculine adventure programming; Sportsman Channel is more for the hardcore hunting and shooting viewership; and World Fishing Network is all fishing, all the time. Our networks offer a broad range of outdoor lifestyle programming, and one size does not fit all.

SD: What are you most looking forward to in 2016?

JL: One of our missions is to try and help the general public understand the out-door lifestyle and the Americans that participate in it. Unfortunately, many urbanites misunderstand the people who live this lifestyle. There are far more people living this way than many realize, and our programming caters to that audience. I also look forward to increased growth of the networks by way of increased ratings and distribution. I very much look forward to implementing plans to increase the profiles of the networks and to bring new viewers and participants into our lifestyle.

SD: What is the biggest misconception about hunt-ers and shooters?

JL: There are so many misconceptions it is hard to list them all. Consequently, all these misconceptions fall to us

as an industry to change. For example, some feel all hunters are only after a trophy for the wall. If the general public would take the time to watch and understand a show like MeatEater with Steven Rinella, they would grasp the concept of “field to plate.” Today, our grocery stores hammer away at the idea of “organic.” Hunting for your own food doesn’t get any more organic than Steven’s show.

Another misconception has to do with “extinc-tion.” Hunters are conser-vationists by nature. They harvest a bounty from the land, and then let nature reproduce. It is the true

circle of life, and true hunters abide by this ethic. What is more problematic is not the perception about who we are, but those mis-conceptions about what we represent. Few people understand our communi-ty celebrates God, country, family, conservation, and fun. Once we can effec-tively tell that story, nine times out of 10 we will win a convert.

SD: We hear Millennials referred to as “cord cutters,” a demographic that access-es and relates to media in many ways other than tele-vision. How will the Outdoor Sportsman Group engage this important younger

demographic in the future?

JL: The outdoor industry is made up of early adopt-ers, and people that engage in the outdoor lifestyle are among some of the most technological-ly savvy people around. This includes many young people—Millennials. We are prepared to engage them through the screens and devices they most often use. Ultimately, content is king wherever you view that content. Consequently, with our direct-to-the-consumer products, anyone wanting to watch the program-ming on our networks will be able to do so how they choose to do so. To be relevant today, you need to meet consumers where they are.

SD: If you had only one bit of wisdom to impart to the industry, what would that be?

JL: We need to get on the offensive and change the dialogue by telling the truth about our industry. As a relative newcomer to this space, I have been amazed at the little collec-tive reaction from our side to the approaching storm. I think we may be telling ourselves, as we consider the worst case scenarios, “Well, that will never happen.” And I guess that is true until it does. We need to come together, band resources, and get out there to tell the story.

Jim Liberatore believes the outdoor industry needs to come together to tell the real story about Americans who hunt and shoot.

MINUTESWITH…

Jim LiberatorePresident and CEO of Outdoor Sports-man Group Networks


OPTICSbluetooth connectivity || seeing red (or green) || painting targets

Glass Gets GameNew riflescopes go long (or short), the better to suit the

individual needs of the customer. Binos and red-dot sights come on strong as well By Robert Sadowski

T he influence of 3-Gun shooting has affectec all sectors of the industry, including optics. This year, there are numerous compact, low- to medium-power riflescope options for those 3-Gun customers who have a need for speed. Going long is also a continuing trend, with plenty of long-range scopes with huge tubes and gaping objectives at all price points vying to fill your customers’ interest in long-range shooting. Red-dots continue to be popular, with brands offering all types of sights for all classes of firearms platforms. Here’s a look at some of the players in optics and the new gear they have to offer.

AIM Sports➤ The 2–6x32mm is a variable-power medium-range tactical scope with a side-mounted red-laser module. The 4x32mm tac-tical riflescope features a tri- illuminated rapid-ranging reticle designed for MSR platforms and calibrated to the ballistics of the

.223 Rem. A simple yet durable fixed-power 3x36mm tactical scope features a tri-illuminated reticle. For hunters, the 3–9x40mm scope features a one-inch tube and covered low- profile turrets. Locking turrets are now available on the XPF line of riflescopes. Booth #3062.

(aimsportsinc.com)

BSA➤ The Prevo hunting scope line is designed for the diehard hunter. Models include the PV3–9x40mm (SRP: $69.95), PV3.5–10x50mm (SRP: $79.95), PV4–16x44mm (SRP: $104.95), and PV6–24x44mm (SRP: $109.95), all of which feature a 30/30 reticle. Booth #11053. (bsaoptics.com)

Bushnell➤ The military-grade Elite 1-Mile laser rangefinder with CONX technology (SRP: $819.95) pro-vides instant customized holdover and wind-hold data at the press of a button. The unit features Bluetooth connectivity, with a smartphone app that allows users to select or enter custom ballistic curves. It also offers an Applied Ballistics mode that connects with CONX-compatible Kestrel devices. Booth #14551. (bushnell.com)

BSA Designed for serious hunters, the Prevo line of riflescopes comes in four models, all of

which feature 30/30 reticles.

AIM Sports The 2–6x32mm is a variable-power medium-range tac-tical scope with a side-mounted red-laser module.

Bushnell The Bluetooth-enabled military-grade Elite 1-Mile rangefinder uses CONX tech-nology to provide a shooter with cus-tomized holdover and wind data.

Your 3-Gun customers will like the C3 1–6x24mm (SRP: $1,999) riflescope for the MSR platform. Features include lockable target turrets, with eleva-tion zero stop and an illu-minated reticle that is calibrated for a .223 Rem. 55-grain bullet. The Lazer Point MTL-OS is a tiny laser sight for Glock pis-tols that magnetically attaches over the rear sight. It can be removed or installed in seconds with no tools. Booth #11175. (cmore.com)

C-MORE SYSTEMS

p r o d u c t s


Carson ➤ A 10x42mm full-size binocular has been added to the 3D/ED Series and features HD coating, ED glass, and Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity finish body armor. Booth #1210. (carson.com)

Crimson Trace➤ The LinQ system (SRP: $500) is a laser/light unit designed for the MSR platform that uses Bluetooth-like technology between a pistol grip to control a tactical light/laser module without cables or touch pads. Ambidextrous buttons on the pistol grip allow the user to operate the laser/light module, which can be removed from the MSR and used on another firearm. The Carry 9 Program (SRP: $249, red; $319, green) packages a Blade-Tech Klipt Ambi IWB concealed-

carry holster with a Crimson Trace laser sight for either a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield or Glock G43 pistol. Using Shock Stop (SRP: $319, red; $399, green) tech-nology for red and green laser grips on S&W J-Frame Round-Butt revolvers helps reduce felt recoil. New Master Series 1911 laser grips include aggressive tex-tured aluminum and faux ivory

models. Booth #16731. (crimson trace.com)

FLIR➤ The compact Scout III comes in three thermal resolutions: 240x180, 320x256, and 640x512 pixels (SRP starts at $1,899). These are the latest generation of handheld thermal devices. Units

can detect and display the body heat of animals, people, or objects up to 1,200 yards away in total darkness, and now feature refresh rates of 30Hz or 60Hz, depending on model. The Scout TK (SRP: $500) thermal handheld camera is designed for campers, hikers, and hunters. Booth #2014. (flir.com)

Hi-Lux Optics➤ Debuting is a line of 34mm tube and first-focal-plane scopes. First-focal-plane models include the compact CMR8 1–8x34mm (SRP: $799) and the PentaLux 4–20x50mm (SRP: $599). The 34mm tube models include the CMR8 1-8x34mm and the long-range Vanquisher 6–26x50mm (SRP: $499), as well as the BMG scope and a Uni-Dial series 5–30x56mm (SRP: $599) with

Adding to the Trailseeker series of spotting scopes are three models: a 65mm (SRP: $238.95 straight, $249.95 angled), 80mm (SRP: $309.95 straight, $319.95 angled), and 100mm (SRP: $489.95 straight, $499.95 angled). Features include a rubber-armored housing that is water- and fogproof. Adaptors for the iPhone 5/5S, 6, and 6+ offer an exact fit for any phone and eyepiece combina-tion. Booth #1857. (celestron.com)

CELESTRON

Carson A 10x42mm full-size binocular is now part of the 3D/ED Series. It features HD coating for improved light transmission, ED glass, and Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity finish body armor.

FLIR The compact Scout III handheld device is available in three thermal resolu-tions. It has been designed to detect and display body heat of animals, people, or objects as far away as 1,200 yards.

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34mm tube and customizable bal-listic turrets. Booth #118. (hi-luxoptics.com)

Konus USA➤ The economical Pro M30 rifle-scopes are redesigned to provide clearer views for long shots in low-light conditions. Two models include a 2.5–10x50mm (SRP: $219.99) and a 3–12x56mm (SRP: $249.99). Both use an engraved 30/30 reticle with dual illumina-tion. The upgraded SightPro DP (SRP: $79.99) red-dot sight offers 1X power for close-range shoot-ing and a 2X power-booster attachment for medium range. It works on pistols, shotguns, MSRs, bolt-action rifles, and even black-powder rifles. The affordable Rex 8x42mm (SPR: $169.99) binocular uses a silver coating on the prisms for improved light transmission. Booth #1246. (konuspro.com)

LaserMax ➤ The Spartan Laser series (SRP: $99, red; $149, green) features a mounting system designed specifi-cally for handgun accessory rails, with ambidextrous activation and automatic shutoff after 10 min-utes. Booth #12771. (lasermax.com)

Leapers/UTG➤ The 8X power T8 Series 2–16x44mm MRC (Multi-Range

Combat & Competition) rifle-scope (SRP: $399.97) is set up for close-, medium-, and long-range distances. Three reticle options include a mil-dot, a circle dot, and a reticle for airgunners. The 3.9-inch Open Reflex Sight (SRP: $199.97) is built for MSRs and offers a large field of view, a Picatinny mount, and dual red and green illuminated circle dot or dot reticle options. The 6-inch ITA Red/Green CQB Dot Sight (SRP: $74.97) offers 1X magnifi-cation in either a T-dot or dot reticle option. Booth #2246. (leapers.com)

Leica➤ The ER 5 series of riflescopes includes six new models—a 1–5x24mm, 1.5–8x32mm, 2–10x50mm, 3–15x56mm, 4–20x50mm, and 5–25x56 mm (SRP: $749 to $1,429). The ER line features extended 5:1 zoom ratios, 4-inch eye relief, and .25 MOA turret adjustments. The Geovid HD-R 42 laser rangefind-ing binocular comes in two mod-els—an 8x42mm (SRP: $2,599) and 10x42mm (SRP: $2,649)—and features an open-bridge design and accurate ranging from 10 to more than 2,000 yards. Effective Horizontal Range (EHR) technol-ogy provides precise shooting solutions based upon distance and angles within .2 seconds of press-ing the activation button. Booth #12519. (us.leica-camera.com)

Leupold➤ Designed and assembled in the U.S., the new VX-3i hunting scope line (SRP: $499.99 to $1,249.99) features the Twilight Max light-management system, which balances light across the visible spectrum for a brighter, crisper image. Scopes are equipped with an easier-to-turn power selector, with bold, tactile power indicators and a dual-spring-adjustment system that provides match-grade accuracy adjustments while maintaining its in-the-field ruggedness. The BX-3 Mojave Pro Guide HD bin-ocular line has two 50mm mod-els—a 10x50mm ($774.99 to $819.99) and 12x50mm ($839.99 to $874.99)—that offer a 15 per-cent increase in field of view. The open-bridge design is durable but

light in weight. Available in Kryptek Typhon and Kryptek Highlander camo patterns or black. Bowhunting customers take note: The Vendetta 2 (SRP: $439.99) bow-mounted laser rangefinder now has a faster soft-ware package and improved mounting system, and it can be used on a crossbow. Leupold’s built-in True Ballistic Range (TBR) calculator automatically compensates for the shot angle, delivering the correct incline-adjusted range instantly. Booth #11962. (leupold.com)

Lucid➤ The P7 4X optic (SRP: $435) offers fast targeting with a ballis-tic MOA holdover reticle. The 19-ounce unit runs up to 2,500 hours on a single AA battery, and

Hartman is a new player in the red-dot optic space and is debuting the MH1 Red Dot Reflex Sight (SRP: $650), an advanced tactical sight with the largest (com-pared to other similar devices) field of view through the sight. It is waterproof up to 20 feet and night-vision-com-patible. It also features ambidextrous activation buttons and a sleep mode. Booth #12571. (hartman-il.com)

HARTMAN LTD.

LaserMax The Spartan Laser series features a mount-ing system specifically designed to fit handgun accessory rails.

Hi-Lux The CMR8 1–8x34mm is a compact first-focal-plane scope

designed for tactical use. The one-piece high-strength aluminum tube

ensures durability in the field.

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is waterproof, shockproof, and fogproof. Booth #8008. (mylucidgear.com)

Meopta USA➤ The one-inch-tube MeoPro line now has two additional models—a 6.5–20x50mm and 6.5–20x50mm HTR (SRP: $1,092.49 to $1,149.99, depending on model and reticle). The scopes are designed for long-range hunting and precision shooting, and feature a powerful magnification range and side-turret parallax adjustment, and are available with four different reticle options, depending on the model: Z-Plex, BDC, McWhorter HV, and Windmax 8. The MeoPro HD binocular series now includes the MeoPro 8x56mm HD (SRP: $1,034.99), designed for low light with a large objective lens, advanced fluoride high-definition optics, and MeoBright multi- coated lenses. Booth #3544. (meoptasportsoptics.com)

Meprolight➤ The Sting (SRP: $1,557) dual-wavelength laser pointer incorpo-

rates two lasers—visible and infra-red—in one unit. Features include single zeroing, high- and low-power options, and color-coded LED indicators for visible or infrared modes. Available to LE and military personnel only. Booth #15138. (themakogroup.com)

Minox➤ The new ZX5 line of riflescopes features four models—a 1–5x24mm, 2–10x50mm, 3–15x56mm, and 5–26x56mm (SRP: $499.99 to $749.99, depend-ing on model and reticle). Features include a 30mm tube, with or without an illuminated BDC or Plex reticle, and 5X magnification. Booth #15357. (minox.com/usa)

Nightforce Optics ➤ The SHV 4–14x50 F1 (SRP: $1,250) scope is Nightforce’s first first-focal-plane reticle scope and latest addition to the SHV line. The scope features illuminated reticle options, side parallax adjustment, and .25 MOA or .1 Mil-Radian adjustments with 90 MOA of elevation and 70 MOA

The powerful NS-300 Subzero series features two models—NS300-SZ (SRP: $339.95) and NS300x40-SZ (SRP: $389.95)—with a focusable 520mm green laser that can paint targets out to 500 yards. Booth #11053. (lasergenetics.com)

LASER GENETICS

Meopta USA Designed for long-range precision shooting, the MeoPro line adds two models this year.

windage. Booth #20449. (night forceoptics.com)

Rudolph Optics➤ The Hunter H1 3–9x40mm (SRP: $294.95) scope is designed for medium and long distances in centerfire and rimfire calibers, and features a D1 reticle. The Varmint Hunter VH 4–16x50mm (SRP: $1,095) scope features a T3 reticle, efficient light transmission, a wide magnification range, and long eye

relief. The Tactical T1 6–24x50mm (SRP: $1,295) scope comes equipped with a T3 reticle calibrat-ed in true .25 MOA values at 20X magnification and can be re-indexed to zero after sighting in. Booth #2027. (rudolphoptics.com)

SIG SAUER➤ SIG has gone all in with a com-plete line of optics for 2016. All of SIG’s riflescopes feature one cus-tom SBT (SIG Ballistic Turret) ele-

vation dial calibrated to your cus-tomer’s ballistics and environmental conditions. TANGO6 6X zoom premium riflescopes were designed for a wide range of uses, from close-quarter battle and long-range shooting to 3-Gun and dangerous-game hunting. Models include a compact 1–6x42mm, 2–12x40mm, 3–18x44mm, and a long-range 5–30x56mm (SRP: $1,749.99 to $2,999.99). These scopes come with the HDX optical system, HellFire fiber optic, and glass-

The VISM Reflex Sight with Green Laser (SRP: $119.99) is a compact sight system that com-bines a red reflex sight and a green laser. Both the dot sight and laser are controlled by a push- button control panel and powered by a single CR123A battery. The sight provides a 1/3 co-witness with BUIS. Booth #805. (ncstar.com)

NCSTAR

Minox The ZX5 scope line now encompasses four mod-els. Features include a 30mm tube, with or without an illuminated BDC or Plex reticle, and 5X magnification.

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etched illuminated reticles, first- or second-focal-plane designs, and zero stop turrets. With a 4:1 zoom and first-focal-plane design, the TANGO4 riflescope line is intended for mid- to long-range shooting. Models offered include a 1–4x24mm, 3–12x42mm, 4–16x44mm, and 6–24x50mm (SRP: $749.99 to $1,249.99), all with illuminated glass reticles, 30mm tube, and ZeroLock turrets.

The WHISKEY-5 series of 5X riflescopes were designed for tradi-tional hunting rifle and MSR plat-forms. Models include a 1–5x20mm, 2–10x42mm, 2.4–12x56mm, 3–15x44mm, 3–15x52mm, and 5–25x52mm (SRP: $874.99 to $1,624.99). WHISKEY-3 scopes feature low-dispersion glass, a rugged chassis, capped turrets, and one custom SBT elevation dial. Models include a 2–7x32mm, 3–9x40mm, 3–9x50mm, 4–12x40mm, and 4–12x50mm (SRP: $229.99 to $374.99). The prism-design BRAVO series of red-dot battle sights are designed for MSR shooters. These

fixed-power sights include a BRAVO3 3x30mm (SRP: $437.49) and a BRAVO5 5x30mm (SRP: $499.99), which are compact and offer 10 levels of illumination intensity. The BRAVO4 (SRP: $1,624.99) features a 53-foot field of view at 100 yards versus the standard 37 feet. The red-dot and reflex sight ROMEO series can fill most customers’ pistol, shotgun, and rifle needs. The miniature ROMEO1 reflex sight (SRP: $374.99 to $437.49, depending on mounting system) is designed to fit most popular pistols; it co- witnesses with iron sights on SIG pistols with machined slides. Manual brightness controls use SIG’s MOTAC (Motion Activated

Illumination) system, which remembers your last setting after powering off. The larger ROMEO3 reflex sight (SRP: $474.99 to $499.99) is designed for MSR rifles, shotguns, carbines, submachine guns, and full-size handguns. ROMEO4 tube-style red-dots (SRP: $474.99 to $499.99) come in four different models that offer Picatinny and KeyMod mounts, combo solar/bat-tery power, and have either a 2 MOA dot or 65 MOA circle/2 MOA dot reticle options. The ROMEO7 (SRP: $374.99) is a full-size 1X red-dot sight designed for MSR platforms. The KILO2000 rangefinder (SRP $624.99) updates four times a second in HyperScan

mode with LightWave DSP tech-nology that is fast and accurate, and can range reflective targets at 3,400 yards, trees at 1,500 yards, and deer at 1,200 yards. The built-in inclinometer calculates range for angled shots.

The rugged roof prism ZULU binocular line combines high-quality glass, Spectracoat lenses, and Abbe-Konig prisms for brightness, contrast, and crisp res-olution. ZULU3 models include a compact 8x32mm (SRP: $312.49) and 10x32mm (SRP: $337.49), the single-hinge ZULU5 8x42 and 10x42mm, the open-hinge ZULU7 8x42mm (SRP: $849.99) and 10x42mm (SRP $912.49), and the ZULU9 9x45mm (SRP:

Six new riflescopes, three in the Monarch 3 series—3–12x42mm (SRP: $549.95), 4–16x42mm (SRP: $579.95), 4–16x50mm (SRP: $629.95)—and three in the Prostaff series—3.5–14x40mm (SRP: $359.95), 3.5–14x50mm (SRP: $459.95), 4.5–18x40mm (SRP: $459.95)—will now be equipped with BDC Distance Lock. The new BDC Distance Lock func-tion keeps everything in the first focal plane, which allows the rifle-scope to maintain its scale and distance pro-portions on a target throughout the entire zoom range. Booth #11221. (nikonsportoptics.com)

NIKON

The new HX series of bin-oculars is designed for comfort during extended scouting and uses new lens coatings for better light transmission. These

roof prism binoc-ulars include four models: 8x42mm (SRP: $919.99), 10x42mm (SRP: $999.99), 10x56mm (SRP: $1,499.99), and 15x56mm. Booth #12755. (steiner-optics.com)

STEINER

Nightforce The latest addition to the highly regarded SHV line is the SHV 4–14x50mm scope, the manufacturer’s first first-focal-plane scope. It features illuminated reticle options, side parallax adjustment, and .25 MOA or .1 Mil-Radian adjustments.

SIG SAUER The compact fixed-power prism-designed

BRAVO series of red-dot bat-tle sights are built specifically

for shooters who use MSRs.

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$1,437.49) and 11x45mm (SRP: $1,499.99). Booth #12240. (sigsauer.com)

Swarovski➤ The X5(i) riflescope series was developed with the long-range shooter and hunter in mind. The two models are a 3.5–18x50mm (SRP: $3,432 to $3,666, depending on reticle) and a 5–25x56mm (SRP: $3,666 to $3,888, depending on reticle). The scopes have up to 116 MOA of elevation adjustment inside the 30mm tube body and a 5X zoom range. The improved EL binocular family has six new mod-els, including an 8x32mm (SRP: $2,443), 10x32mm (SRP: $2,554), 8.5x42mm (SRP: $2,832), 10x42mm (SRP: $2,888), 10x50mm (SRP: $3,110), and 12x50mm (SRP: $3,188). The line features SWAROVISION tech-nology and the FieldPro package, which enhances binocular comfort and ease of use. Booth #12120. (swarovskioptik.com)

Trijicon➤ The Miniature Rifle Optic, or MRO (SRP: $579 without mount, $629 with mount), red-dot sight features a large objective lens and shortened optical length to elimi-nate the tube effect common with so many tube red-dot sights. Comes equipped with a 2 MOA dot aiming point. Booth #10473.(trijicon.com)

U.S. Optics➤ The design of the ER-23 3–23x50mm riflescope was based upon requests from military, LE, and competitive shooters. The

Swarovski The EL bino family has been upgraded and now boasts six new models.

Trijicon The MRO now features a large objective lens and short-ened optical length.

scope is compact to accommodate night vision and features locking turrets. Reticle options include the MIL GAP and the Horus H59. Booth #20031. (usoptics.com)

Vortex➤ The Diamondback binocular line has been redesigned with eight new models: 8x28mm, 8x32mm, 8x42mm, 10x28mm, 10x32mm, 10x42mm, 10x50mm, and 12x50mm (SRP: $189 to $319). Features include a short-hinge design and rubber-armored housing. Booth #20439. (vortexoptics.com)

Zeiss➤ The all-new Victory V8 illumi-nated riflescope line includes a 1–8x30mm (SRP: $2,888.99), 1.8–14x50mm (SRP: $3,333.32), 2.8–20x56mm (SRP: $3,888.88), and 4.8–35x60mm (SRP: $4,111.10). Select models include the bullet-drop compensator ASV system, which uses nine engraved rings to allow shooters to match the appropriate ring to their specified long-range ballistics. The pocket-

size Terra ED 8x25mm (SRP: $299.99) and 10x25mm (SRP: $329.99) binoculars are light-weight and compact, weighing just 10.9 ounces. The Terra ED 32mm binoculars, in 8x32mm (SRP: $411.10) and 10x32mm (SRP:

$444.43), are now equipped with an exclusive Under Armour bino harness that features durable, thick hypalon attachments, solid metal hardware, and adjustable elastic straps. Booth #13913. (zeiss.com)

The TRU-BRITE 30 com-pact rifle series includes a 1–4x24mm and 1–6x24mm (SRP: $184 to $270) that feature an illu-minated reticle and two pre-calibrated BDC turrets for .223 Rem. and .308 Win. The compact ultralight TRU TEC 20mm (SRP: $221) tactical red-dot sight offers a 2 MOA reticle and unlimited eye relief. The larger TRU TEC 30mm red-dot (SRP: $368) offers a larger tube. Booth #13317. (truglo.com)

TRUGLO

Zeiss The pocket-size Terra ED bino, now available in four models, weighs only 10.9 ounces.


AMMOdefeating deformation || a real screamer || reduced fouling

Never EnoughAmmo is a year-round consumable, and shooters can never get

enough. But this year also sees major innovation that should help drive sales By Richard Mann

T hough it is often overlooked, ammunition continues to be the area where we see the most innovation in the fire-arms world. For 2016, we have new and exciting ammunition products for any gun you choose to shoot, from muzzleloaders to itty-bitty handguns. Two firearms manufacturers have also stepped into the branded ammunition arena. This is very good news, because of all the firearms-related gadgetry sold, ammo is the one consumable you can never have enough of.

Barnes Bullets➤ Barnes Bullets has added two new loads to the VOR-TX line of premium ammunition. The first is a 130-grain Tipped Triple Shock load for the .308 Winchester. It is rated at 3,170 fps, and it takes the .308 Winchester into a new realm of velocity. SRP: $45.69 for a 20-round box. The second load is an 190-grain LRX bullet for the .300 Winchester Magnum. This bullet’s ogive and cannelure design gives it a high B.C., and the nose cavity engineering ensures it expands reliably at lower veloci-ties. This combination makes it a good choice for hunters who intend to take longer shots. It is rated at 2,860 fps. SRP: $61 for a 20-round box. Booth #14262. (barnesbullets.com)

Browning➤ The biggest ammunition surprise might be the news that Browning is now offering, via licensing, a full line of ammunition. This includes hunting, shotshell, personal protec-tion, target, and, maybe most sur-prising, even rimfire loads. What is probably not a surprise is that this new line of ammo will be manufac-tured by Olin-Winchester. The Buck Mark–logoed centerfire rifle hunting loads fall into two catego-ries. First is the BXR Rapid Expansion Matrix Tip, which is designed for rapid expansion and high energy transfer. It could be considered a deer-specific ammuni-

Yes, hunters are still going to the field with muzzle-loaders. Early seasons still offer great opportunities for trophy animals, and the inline muzzleloader is the tool to put ’em on the ground. Muzzleloader hunters need propellant that ignites reliably and burns consistently even in extreme weather condi-tions. New Blue MZ from Alliant Powder delivers on this tall order. The 50-grain equivalent pel-lets produce higher veloc-ities than do competing pellets at safe pressures and ignite reliably with 209 shotshell primers. Blue MZ provides out-standing accuracy with a wide range of popular bullets. The clean- burning formulation allows for fast, easy cleaning with water-based solvents. Blue MZ is available in 48-count packs. Booth #14551. (alliantpowder.com)

ALLIANTBrowning A new extensive line of premium ammo includes (top to bottom) BPR Performance Rimfire, BXR Rapid Expansion Matrix Tip, and BPT Performance Target.

CCI Big 4 loads extend the range of snake-killing rounds.

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tion. Available chamberings include .243 Win., .270 Win., .30/30 Win., .308 Win., .30/06, .300 Win. Mag., and .300 WSM. The other center-fire rifle loads are topped with the BXC Controlled Expansion Terminal Tip bullet. These bullets have a brass tip and the jacket is bonded to the core for deeper pen-etration through thick muscle and bone. These boattail bullets are available in the same chamberings, with the exception of the .243 and .30/30 Win. and the addition of the 7mm Rem. Mag.

The shotshell loads come in three categories. The BXD Waterfowl Extra Distance loads are launched at high velocities utilizing an optimized long-range wad and plated round steel shot. Combining round steel with an innovative wad design results in a lethal combination of energy retention, penetration, and pat-tern density. Five 12-gauge loads are offered in No. 2, No. 4, and BB shot sizes at 1½- or 1¼-ounce payloads. The single 20-gauge load delivers 1 ounce of No. 2s.

The BXD Upland loads launch premium plated No. 5 or No. 6 shot. The nickel-plated shot helps keep the shot round, resulting in high velocity retention and energy transfer as well as tighter down-range patterns. There are three 12- and three 20-gauge loads to choose from. The BPT Performance Target loads are designed for bust-ing clays. They are loaded with hard shot to help deliver tight pat-

terns and maximum target-break-ing energy. There are four loads total in this category: three for the 12-gauge and one for the 20.

The BXP Personal Defense X-Point defensive handgun loads are loaded in black nickel-plated cases, with bullets utilizing the X-Point technology. This technol-ogy allows the hollowpoint bullet to deliver consistent expansion and penetration, and rapidly trans-fers energy to the target. There is also a line of Target Performance BPT loads for defensive hand-guns. It is a matched training counterpart to BXP Personal Defense loads. The usual defen-sive handgun ammo suspects are represented in both lines, with one load each in .380 ACP, 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, and .45 Auto.

And last but most certainly not least, we have Browning’s rimfire loads. It is offering three, all for the .22 LR. There is a 40-grain lead round-nose bullet at 1,255 fps, a 40-grain lead hollowpoint at a sizzling 1,435 fps, and a 37-grain fragmenting bullet for varmints, small game, and such, at 1,400 fps. They have a distinct black-oxide coating on the bullet and will be offered in 100- and 400-round packages. Booth #10744. (browning.com)

CCI➤ The unquestioned king of rim-fire ammunition is CCI, so it is surprising that for 2016, it has

The big news from PolyCase is its new partnership with Ruger. Aside from that, PolyCase has also teamed with Alexander Arms to offer its ARX projectile in loaded .50 Beowulf ammuni-tion. The .50 Beowulf, developed and produced by Alexander Arms for the AR-15 platform, is designed to deliver exceptional terminal performance at short to moderate range. PolyCase’s ARX projectile is an advanced injection-molded copper- polymer bullet that transfers energy to targets without expanding like a hollowpoint. The .50 Beowulf ammunition loaded with the PolyCase ARX projectile is available direct from Alexander Arms. Booth #231. (polycaseammo.com)

POLYCASE

Federal Top to bottom: 3rd Degree 20-gauge turkey loads; Micro HST, now available in 9mm Luger; Tactical Ballistic Tip in .223 Rem. and .308 Win.; and Fusion MSR 6.8SPC for hunting.

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only one new rimfire load. But this load makes sense, and for West Coasters it will be much appreciated. It is loaded with a California-legal bullet and is called CCI Copper-22. The pro-jectile is constructed from a unique mix of copper particles and polymer compressed into a potent 21-grain hollowpoint bul-let. Combined with CCI’s reliable priming and propellant, Copper-22 loads achieve a wick-edly high muzzle velocity of 1,850 fps and provide superb accuracy.

If CCI is the king of rimfire ammo, then it is also the emperor of centerfire shotshell loads for handguns. Even with no competi-tion in the marketplace, CCI has decided to offer four new center-fire handgun shotshell loads. But these are not your average snake-killing loads. The new CCI Big 4 loads extend the range and capa-bilities of these downsized shot-shells, thanks to a payload of No. 4 lead shot. The resulting energy and patterns enable Big 4 loads to

take down larger pests at longer distances. The 10-round packs will be available for the 9mm Luger, .38 Spl./.357 Magnum, .44 Spl./.44 Magnum, and the .45 Colt. SRP: $17.95 to $19.95. Booth #14551. (cci-ammunition.com)

Federal Premium➤ As one of the largest ammuni-tion manufacturers in the world, Federal Premium is not going into 2016 lightly. It is offering three new 3rd Degree 20-gauge loads. 3rd Degree uses a multi-shot, three-stage payload to deliver larger, more forgiving patterns at close range while still providing deadly performance at long dis-tance. The pattern of No. 5 Premium lead, No. 6 Flitestopper lead, and No. 7 Heavyweight shot is maximized by the Flitecontrol wad, which opens from the rear and stays with the shot column longer than do conventional wads for full, consistent patterns.

For defensive handguns, a new

American Eagle Ten new loads come aboard in the rifle line, including the .300 Blackout (top). The polymer-encapsulated Syntech bullet (bottom) helps eliminate copper and lead fouling.

Hornady The Precision Hunter line benefits from the development of the ELD-X Heat Shield tip, which resists heat deformation in flight.

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9mm Luger load has been added to the Micro HST line. This load uti-lizes a 150-grain HST bullet opti-mized for terminal performance and low recoil from micro-sized handguns. SRP: $31.95 for a 20-round box.

Federal’s American Eagle Syntech loads in 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, and .45 Auto are also new. Conventional ammunition causes metal-on-metal contact between the bullet and bore, which can shorten barrel life and rob accura-cy. But the all-new polymer-encap-sulated Syntech bullet prevents this while eliminating copper and lead fouling. Combined with specialized clean-burning powders, your gun will stay cleaner longer.

The exclusive Catalyst primer provides the most reliable, consis-tent ignition possible. SRP: $19.99, 9mm; $33.95, .45 Auto. Both are available in 50-round boxes.

There are also 10 new loads in the American Eagle rifle line. It’s no surprise that the line now includes a .300 Blackout load, but

the OTM 120-grain 6.5 Grendel and 140-grain 6.5 Creedmoor are a bit of a surprise. Now devotees of both of these .264-caliber rounds, which continue to grow in popular-ity, have an affordable factory-ammo option. The other seven new American Eagle rifle loads are specifically intended for varmint hunters. They include a 20-grain Tipped Varmint bullet load for the .17 and .22 Hornet, a 50-grain JHP load for the .223 and .22/250 Remington, a 75-grain JHP for the .243 Winchester, a 90-grain JHP for the 6.8 SPC, and, uncharacter-istically, a 130-grain JHP load for the .308 Winchester. They are available in 40- or 50-round bulk packs for high-volume shooting.

In the law-enforcement line, Federal has two Tactical Ballistic Tip loads—one in .223 Remington and one in .308 Winchester. The Tactical Ballistic Tip bullet’s poly-mer tip provides excellent accuracy, while the tapered jacket allows rapid—yet controlled—expansion on impact. The new .223 Rem. and

Remington The Hog Hammer line gets two new 12-gauge buckshot loads. The cost-effective Range Bucket (9mm) and Freedom Bucket (.223) are designed for anyone who likes to shoot a lot but spend a little.

.308 Win. loads are specifically designed for use in semi-automatic rifles, including M-16 or AR-15 variants. The ammunition is built to military specifications and utilizes low-flash propellants, the best Federal brass, and crimped primers.

The Fusion MSR line from Federal has a new 6.8 SPC load specifically designed for hunting and performing to perfection through a 16-inch barrel. The molecularly fused 90-grain bullet transfers tremendous energy on impact for lethal terminal perfor-mance. SRP: $29.95.

Although it seems the bullet trend is all-copper projectiles, Federal is returning to the roots of the muzzleloader with the Lead Muzzleloader Bullet. Federal transformed muzzleloader capabili-ties in 2015 with the B.O.R. Lock MZ System and the Trophy Copper Muzzleloader Bullet. For 2016, that technology expands to include a new hard-hitting lead version. Like its predecessor, it provides outstanding accuracy in a non-sabot design that’s easy to load, scrubs fouling from the breech, and ensures consistent bul-let seating. The rear of the B.O.R.

Lock MZ cup features a hard fiber-reinforced polymer ring that scours fouling from the breech as the bul-let is pushed into place. These 350-grain hard-hitting .50-caliber projectiles are available in packs of 15. SRP: $24.95. Booth #14551. (federalpremium.com)

Hornady➤ The big news from Hornady this year is the introduction of the ELD-X and ELD-Match bullets, and the inclusion of these in the new Precision Hunter and current Match ammunition lines. Both the ELD-X and ELD-Match bullets feature a Heat Shield tip that resists heat deformation in flight. This not only flattens trajectory, it also eliminates ballistic coefficient degradation during flight. Ultimately, this improves long-range accuracy and helps with wind resistance to provide better precision at long ranges. ELD-X component bullets will be available in 6.5mm, 7mm, .30, and .338 cali-bers. Those same calibers will be loaded in Precision Hunter ammo for a variety of long-range car-tridges. The same calibers will be

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., has entered the ammunition business by partnering with PolyCase. This new ammo, called the Ruger ARX, is designed and produced by PolyCase under license from Ruger. These loads use PolyCase’s revolutionary ARX bullet technology. By design, the non-expanding Ruger ARX exploits the bullet’s velocity to redirect energy laterally via flutes in the bullet ogive. The bullet’s design allows it to feed like a round-nose, yet still transfer energy to targets effectively over a wide range of velocities. The ARX pene-trates many barriers without deformation and penetrates through clothing without clogging and degrading terminal performance. The four loads are a 56-grain .380 ACP, a 74-grain 9mm Luger, a 107-grain .40 S&W, and a 118-grain .45 Auto. Booth #11940. (ruger.com)

RUGER

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offered with ELD-Match bullets, and Match loads will be offered for the 6.5 Creedmoor and .338 Lapua. ELD-X bullets just might be the most important projectile advancement since bonding.

Hornady has also added five new loads to the American Whitetail line of ammunition. These include a 140-grain .270 Winchester load, a 154-grain 7mm Rem. Mag. load, a 165-grain .308 Winchester load, and a 180-grain .30/06 and .300 Win. Mag. load. Continuing with new offerings in affordable ammu-nition, Hornady has added four new loads for the American Gunner line. These include a 55-grain JHP load for the .223 Remington, a 110-grain BTHP 6.8 SPC load, a 155-grain BTHP .308 Winchester load, and a 125-grain hollowpoint load for the .300 Blackout.

New Hornady Superformance loads include a 180-grain GMX for the .30/06 and the .300 Winchester Magnum. There are also four new GMX loads in the Full Boar line, one each for the .25/06 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, and the .300 Blackout. There is also a 140-grain Full Boar MonoFlex load for the .30/30 Winchester.

Hornady’s Critical Duty line of personal protection/law enforce-ment ammunition gets a new addition with a 175-grain

FlexLock 10mm Auto load. And, though not a true ammunition product, Hornady’s unique Ballistic Band is a simple and handy way for shooters to record and reference their ballistics infor-mation. It should be a great com-panion for any long-range hunter. Booth #13145. (hornady.com)

Lehigh Defense➤ Staying true to form, Lehigh Defense continues to offer alter-natives to traditional ammunition. The new .380 ACP Xtreme Defense (XD) load will penetrate more than 14 inches in 10 percent ordnance gelatin while retaining 100 percent of its weight. This barrier-blind projectile is an intense tissue-damaging, deep-penetrating alternative to tradi-tional shallow-penetrating, expanding .380 ACP self defense loads. Booth #2057. (lehigh defense.com)

Liberty Ammunition➤ Liberty is continuing its trend of offering high-velocity, light-for-caliber projectiles, and new for 2016 is its copper monolithic, a fragmenting, hollowpoint lead-free hunting load for the .308 Winchester. With a 3,500 fps muzzle velocity, it generates 2,700 foot-pounds of energy. Booth #1916. (libertyammo.com)

Remington➤ Remington has a variety of new loads for 2016, with shotgun ammo being the category with the most to see. It has introduced a new cat-egory of shotshell loads called American Clay & Field that uses 100 percent high-antimony hard-round lead shot and the power-pis-ton wad. There are five 12-gauge loads, three 20-gauge loads, and two 28-gauge and .410 loads. It has also increased the velocity of four Nitro Steel loads, boosting the 10-gauge 3.5-inch No. 2 shot load to 1,450 fps, the 12-gauge 3.5-inch No. 2 and BB loads to 1,500 fps, and the 20-gauge 3-inch No. 4 load to 1,500 fps. There are also five new loads in the XLR shot-shell line, all offering higher veloci-ties and lighter payloads at a lower price, with moderate recoil.

Remington has also introduced the 12-gauge to the Hog Hammer line, offering two 12-gauge Hog Hammer loads for 2016. The first is a 2¾-inch 000 buck load at 1,325 fps; the second is a 3-inch 7⁄8-ounce slug at 1,875 fps.

Finally, there are two new Ultimate Defense loads for the 12- gauge. There is a 9-pellet 00 buck load at 1,325 fps and an 8-pellet 00 buck load at 1,200 fps. Both will work in 2¾-inch chambers.

For defensive handguns, Remington has two important contributions. It will finally be offering the excellent Golden Saber Black Belt loads for civilian sale. This will include a 124-grain +P and a 147-grain 9mm Luger load, 164- and 185-grain .40 S&W loads, a 185-grain .45 Auto +P, and a 125-grain .357 Magnum load. The Golden Saber Black Belt bullet is a fantastic, less-expensive alternative to bonded personal protection ammo.

Remington has also added a full-size handgun category to the Ultimate Defense line of handgun ammunition. Last year it launched the compact handgun category with loads purpose-built for little pistols. Now, it has essentially rebranded the original Ultimate Defense handgun ammo for full-size pistols. For those who like to shoot a lot and spend a little, Remington has two new Range Bucket offerings. One big plastic bucket—The Range Bucket—is filled with 350 rounds of 9mm Luger (SRP: $98); the other con-tains 300 rounds of .223 Remington ammo and is called the Freedom Bucket. Booth #14262. (remington.com)

SIG SAUER➤ Last year, SIG shocked the ammunition market with the introduction of a full line of prod-ucts. For 2016, SIG has added to that line with several new loads. First up is a .38 Super +P Elite 125-grain V-Crown jacketed hol-lowpoint load at 1,230 fps. A 125-grain FMJ load at the same veloc-ity is also available for the .38 Super. SIG has also added four new revolver loads for the .38 Special and .357 Magnum. The .38 Special loads are available with either a 125-grain FMJ or V-Crown bullet at a muzzle velocity of 900 fps. The .357 Magnum loads deliver 1,450 fps with either the FMJ or JHP bul-let. The most interesting new load from SIG might be the Elite Performance 300 BLK round designed specifically for hunting. This 220-grain subsonic V-Crown load offers excellent penetration, increased expansion, and maxi-mum terminal ballistic perfor-mance, creating an ideal hunting round for the .300 Blackout. Booth #12240. (sigsauer.com)

Weatherby is doing something in 2016 it has not done for 17 years. It will be offering a new cartridge, and in Weatherby tradition, it’s a screamer. It’s the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, made by necking down the .300 Weatherby Magnum to 6.5 caliber. With the 6.5-300, Weatherby has created the fastest 6.5-caliber rifle cartridge ever. It is capable of pushing a 127-grain bullet in excess of 3,500 fps.

Just as new and important is the fact that Weatherby will be loading all of the ammo for the 6.5-300 WM here in the United States at its Paso Robles, California, factory, Initially, three loads will be offered. A 127-grain Barnes LRX, a 130-grain Swift Scirocco II, and a 140-grain Swift A-Frame. Booth #12729. (weatherby.com)

WEATHERBY

SIG SAUER The .38 Special loads (top) are available with either a 125-grain FMJ or V-Crown bullet. The .38 Super +P Elite 125-grain V-Crown jacketed hollowpoint (bottom) can achieve a muzzle velocity of 1,230 fps.

OUTERWEAR


stretching options || body-mapping insulation || giving burrs the slip || got your back

Taking On the ElementsTechnology continues to help hunting and shooting clothing perform better in the field and at the range By Peter B. Mathiesen

M ost retailers had no problem upgrading customers into new garments last year, thanks to just enough early-season bad weather in the mountains in the West and Northeast. Shoppers also seemed less price-sensitive than they were the year before, and many dealers reported steady sales of premium clothing in both mid-range and higher-end segments.

The tactical clothing segment continued to grow as well, albeit at a slower pace. But hunting-clothing companies increased production and expanded SKUs throughout the year. Here’s look at what’s new in apparel for 2016.

5.11➤ The Taclite Anorak is a functional jacket made of 5.11’s exclusive poly-cotton blend Taclite fab-ric, which offers durability and comfort for diverse environments. Featuring a 100 percent cotton flannel lining and Quixip patented tech-nology for two-way zipping that extends through the sleeve for underarm venting, the Anorak eas-ily transitions from cool climates to hot condi-tions. Added durability comes from the Teflon finish for stain and soil resistance. SRP: $219.99. Booth #13162. (511tactical.com)

ArcticShield➤ Patent-pending ArcticShield Retain Active uses nano-sized metallic technology formulated into the laminate layer to retain body heat. The system delivers more than 20 percent more warmth, providing comfort in vastly dif-

ferent conditions, climates, and regions. The Heat Echo Light line is constructed of

a nylon shell with fleece interior. It is water resistant, windproof, and breathable. The jacket features zippered chest pockets and slash side pockets, an adjustable drawcord waist, and a chin guard. The pant has rein-forced knees and ankles, zippered cargo pock-ets, elastic waistband with belt loops, and a silicone-band shirt keeper. The Heat Echo Light Jacket and Pant are available in Realtree Xtra in sizes M through 3XL. SRP: $219.99, each. Booth #N521. (onyxoutdoor.com)

Browning➤ The Hell’s Canyon Speed Hellfire Jacket and Pant feature three-layer soft-shell con-struction with a 100 percent windproof, breathable, and water-resistant stretch-woven outer fabric laminated to a soft, stretchy fleece lining. Body mapping PrimaLoft insulation in strategic areas throughout the body, sleeves, and hood provides maximum performance. The hood is fully adjustable and removable. Handwarmer pockets have zipper closures,

FroggToggs Designed for use in heavy rain, the Pilot Guide Bibs’ rugged construction and microporous DriPore film provide sub-stantial protection from wet weather.

The water-repellent Journeyman Jacket has quilted insulation and a dry finish cover-cloth lining trimmed with a corduroy collar and lined cuffs. It features a tab-adjustable waist for a custom fit and slick-lined sleeves for easy on/off over layers. Other features include classic button-front closure, four flap pockets, two handwarmer pockets, and one interior snap pocket. Cut for layering over shirts and vests, it also uses an adjustable waist tab for a custom fit.

There is a corduroy reinforcement on the interior center back, center front, and waist-band to provide added durability for high-wear areas. Made in the USA of imported material, sizes S, M, XL, and 2XL. SRP: $395. Booth #15324. (filson.com)

FILSON

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and the two chest pockets feature one pocket with a zip closure and one with a hook-and-loop clo-sure. The Hellfire Pants feature two front hip pockets, two thigh pockets, and one rear pocket with zipper closures.

The garments are available in A-TACS Camo, most useful for hunters in more arid climates, and A-TACS FG (Foliage/Green) for

hunters in temperate, forested cli-mates. Sizes S to 3XL. SRP: $249.99, each. Booth #15537. (browning.com)

Bullet Safe➤ Best known for bulletproof vests, Bullet Safe has taken that technology a step further to pro-duce the Bulletproof baseball

cap. The cap offers frontal NIJ Level IIA protection while remaining discreet and light-weight. The cap is said to stop a .45, which greatly reduces the chances of a fatal head wound. It is also affordably priced, making it attractive to law enforcement, security guards, and even recre-ational shooters. SRP: $129. Booth #2616. (bulletsafe.com)

FroggToggs➤ Designed for use in heavy rain, the Pilot Guide Bibs’ rugged con-struction and FroggToggs micro-porous DriPore film provide sub-stantial moisture protection. The Bibs are made from a three-layer submersible material and are 100 percent seam-sealed, making them waterproof. The full-zip front entry and thigh-length leg zips allow easy in and out even while wearing boots. Expandable cargo pockets and zippered chest storage pockets are generously sized, allowing use with gloves. The shoulder straps are adjustable Y-back suspenders, and the waist also is adjustable to keep drafts and water out. Sizes SM to 2XL. SRP: $169.95. Booth #10521. (froggtoggs.com)

Ozonics➤ The Driwash Bag is designed to quickly, efficiently, and safely deodorize and clean hunting clothes using Ozonics’ proven oxidation technology. A proprie-tary airflow system maximizes oxidant distribution to shorten required cleansing times, and an integrated hanging system ensures maximum surface area exposure for items within the bag. The result is a more efficient and effective scent-elimination process. SRP: $199.99. Booth #1141. (ozonicshunting.com)

Radians➤ Radians will be the exclusive source for Dewalt’s heated hunting jackets in 2016. Available in both True Timber Camo and Blaze Camo, these premium hunting jackets have four heating zones with a choice of three temperature settings, and can be used with Dewalt’s 12V MAX or 20V MAX lithium ion batteries. The Camo heated hunting jacket is sold as a complete kit with a jacket, adapter, battery, and charger. SRP: $499. Booth #8421. (radians.com)

Rivers West ➤ Seattle manufacturer Rivers West is introducing a low-cost alternative to heated hunting suits with its Waterproof Hunting Cape. Perfect for treestand hunt-ers in extreme conditions, this oversize cape is designed to be worn as the outermost layer as a first line of defense against the elements. Built with the same award-winning waterproof tech-nology for which the Seattle-based company is renowned, the

Radian Available in both True Timber Camo and Blaze

Camo, these premium hunting jackets have four

heating zones with a choice of three temperature settings,

and can be used with Dewalt’s 12V MAX or 20V

MAX lithium ion batteries.

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Waterproof Hunting Cape has a 4.2-ounce micro-fleece exterior with a 10-ounce Sherpa-fleece lining.

There are two snaps located at the neck to secure the cape in heavy winds and two interior pockets for bundling up against the cold. The oversize hood was built extra-large to accommodate a hat or ballcap. SRP: $99. Booth #10742. (riverswest.com)

Rocky➤ The Stratum apparel system is designed to layer well, adapting to a wide range of conditions. It incorporates several new technol-ogies, including a dry-release per-formance-fleece base layer that wicks moisture away from the body without adding weight, and a burr-resistant material in the mid-weight pants designed to allow hunters to remove burrs with a simple swipe of the hand.

Both garments feature Rocky’s new Venator camo pattern, designed to conceal in a variety of terrains and types of vegetation. Sizes S to 3XL. SRP: $74.99, pant; $149.99, jacket. Booth #11340. (rockyboots.com)

Sitka➤ For 2016, Sitka Gear is reintro-ducing the Timberline Jacket and Pant, each of which are construct-ed of newly developed Windstopper fabrics that provide to uncompromising performance and durability. The jacket has a body-mapped Micro Grid Fleece insulation for core warmth along with reinforced shoulders and sleeves. By reinforcing the seat, knees, and hem on the pant, Sitka was able to make it more durable and pliable. This technical four-

way-stretch nylon pant is far more water repellent and quicker dry-ing than before.

Colors include Gore Optifade Concealment Open Country, leaf, and moss. Jackets are available in sizes S to 3XL; pants come in even sizes 30 to 44, odd sizes 31 to 37, with lengths 32 to 38. SRP: $229, pant; $349, jacket. Booth #10328. (sitkagear.com)

Under Armour➤ From the treestand or on a spot-and-stalk, the women’s poly-ester Chase Jacket is prepared to take on all elements. The garment takes advantage of Storm2 tech-nology and is water- and wind-resistant. To further enhance comfort, an interior draft guard keeps the back panel in place. There are secure hand pockets as well as an interior bonded knife and phone pocket. In addition, the jacket is harness compatible. The Chase Jacket also includes UA Scent Control and ColdGear Infrared technologies. Sizes S to XXL. SRP: $199.99. Booth #11040. (underarmour.com)

Woolrich ➤ The Upland Jacket doubles as outerwear and workwear. Featuring wool-lined handwarmer pockets with shell holders, the jacket is made from a briar- resistant 10-ounce cotton canvas. The front-loading polyester-lined game bag can be unbuttoned for easy cleaning.

The exterior is treated with Teflon Shield+ to shed water and oil-based contaminants. The jack-et features the classic Woolrich buffalo plaid lining in sizes S to 2XL. SRP: $250. Booth #10321. (woolrich.com)

Rocky The Stratum apparel system is designed to layer well, adapting to a wide range of conditions. It incorporates several new technologies to keep hunters comfortable.

Sitka The durable and waterproof Timberline Jacket and Pant benefit from Windstopper fabric, designed to help retain core warmth in extreme conditions.

The Bucksaw Bonded Shirt Jac has rolled shoul-ders for freedom of move-ment and a three-piece hood with metal-tipped draw cord. The left chest pocket uses a snap flap closure, and the center front snap closure has metal logo snaps. There are adjustable snap cuffs and a generous extended tail to reduce drafts. Sizes M to XXL. SRP: $70. Booth #10340. (wolverineboots andshoes.com)

WOLVERINE


FROM NSSFthe

Sound AdviceNSSF relies on veteran retailers and range owners for on-the-ground experience By Robert F. Staeger

W e all need a friend who tells it to us straight. That might be someone who can talk us out of getting a disastrous tattoo, but it is also the person we trust to confide in the night before we propose. It’s some-one who respects us and our goals, and who gives clutch advice when it’s time to make a big decision.

At NSSF, big decisions come around every day. Luckily, the orga-nization has two groups of friends it can trust for sound advice: the Range Advisory Council and the Retail Advisory Council.

“They’re volunteer teams of suc-cessful range and retail owners, and people that are experienced in the industry,” explains Zach Snow, NSSF’s Manager of Shooting Promotions. “They provide us with advice and insight on the different directions and paths that we’re going down related to developing resources and services for our range and retail members.”

Essentially, they’re here to help NSSF serve retailers and range own-ers better.

“These guys are hand-picked. They’re all extremely strong pillars of the business community,” says Randy Clark, NSSF’s Managing Director of Business Development. The Retail Advisory Council is chaired by Joe Keffer, owner of The

Sportsman’s Shop in Pennsylvania. It includes retail vets like Jeff Poet of the Michigan mega-stores Jay’s Sporting Goods, and George Romeroff, who runs Ace’s Sporting Goods in Pennsylvania.

On the range side are folks who are just as exemplary in their range prac-tices, such as Jon Green, training and education director of the Gun Owners’ Action League, and Robin Ball, owner of Sharp Shooting Indoor Range and Gun Shop in Washington. That council is chaired by Bill Kempffer of Deep River Sporting Clays in North Carolina.

Their main role is helping Snow and NSSF Director of Retail Development Patrick Shay keep their fingers on the pulse of their respec-tive groups. “They provide feedback from retailers and range owners out about the issues that are critical to them,” says Shay. “If we have a ques-tion internally about sales, about cus-tomer behavior, that sort of thing, we ping those folks to see what their

The year 2015 marked the end of the three-year terms for the founding members of NSSF’s Range Advisory Council and Retail Advisory Council. Thus, beginning in 2016, nine of our most valued council members will be leaving their positions: Miles Hall (H&H Shooting Sports), Larry Ahlman (Ahlman’s, Inc.), Joe Keffer (The Sportsman’s Shop), Rex Gore (Black Wing Shooting Center) from the retailer side, and Glenn Duncan (Duncan’s Outdoor Shop, Inc.), Holden Kriss (Indian River County Public Shooting Range), Robin Ball (Sharp Shooting Indoor Range and Gun Shop), Stan Pate (Oregon State Shooting Association), and Addison Sovine (Rimfire Marketing) representing firearms ranges. The NSSF is work-ing with both the departing council members and those still sitting to name new members and is expected to announce those names during the first quarter of 2016.

“It’s been such a privilege working with the NSSF folks and our fellow dealers and ranges on these special councils since it began back in the 1990s,” says Miles Hall (2), found-er and President of H&H Shooting Sports in Oklahoma and a founding member of both groups. “It all started as a call from several of us to then NSSF President Bob Delfay of an idea to grow the shooting sports with the ever-increasing number of new range and retail businesses and empower them with the many other facets of our industry into two cohesive groups. His willingness to see the value in these councils and support them from their inception is just one of the reasons the shooting sports is where it is today. Now it’s time to let some new voices and talent continue the impor-tant work we were blessed to start.”

Larry Ahlman (1), owner of Minnesota’s Ahlman’s, Inc., gun shop, also commented on the changing of the guard, saying, “My father founded my firearms business 66 years ago, and I’ve operated it the last 40. In that time, I like to think I’ve learned it all, but it’s clear that I never understood exactly how the firearms industry worked, from manufactur-er to distributor to dealer to consumer—that is, until I served on this board. The discussions I’ve had with industry leaders, fellow retailers, and NSSF staff were always highly enlight-ening. I’m leaving with a far better understanding of how my business fits in the overall picture and a greater appreciation of the industry as a whole.”

NSSF would like to thank the founding members of the Range Advisory Council and Retailer Advisory Council. These giants of our industry have taken time away from their very successful range and retail operations to assist the NSSF in the creation of the products and services that continue to serve today’s retailers and range owners. These include the Five Star Range program, SHOT Show University, the quarterly NSSF/ATF meetings, and many other programs from which so many of our mem-bers benefit.

We owe much to these fine individuals and their commit-ment and dedication to our continual mission of promot-ing, protecting, and preserv-ing hunting and the shooting sports.

FOUNDING COUNCIL MEMBERS

The advice offered by veteran range and retail experts can help you run a more profitable business.

mentor service || it’s a lock || sell a suppressor || microstamp update

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thoughts are. Probably 90 percent of our relation-ship is us reaching out to them with questions.”

Snow stresses how grateful NSSF is for their taking the time to share their experiences in the field. “They’re providing their free time during the year to meet with us,” he says. “It’s an incred-ible service, and it allows us to pick their brains for valuable information and insights.”

There’s a lot of brainstorming done in the NSSF office, as the organization works to devel-op new ways to promote, protect, and preserve the shooting sports. The councils are extremely valuable at these planning stages.

“If we start vetting out a program or business concept in the retail or range category, what we do is vet the concept through the advisory coun-cil, and those guys will chime in if it’s a good idea,” says Clark. “Or maybe they’ll suggest ways for us to tweak it, to take a raw concept and make it more definitive to help the industry. There’s a lot of that that goes on.”

“They’ve also helped me with the education programs,” says Shay. Shay presents the groups with a list of the classes he has scheduled for SHOT Show University and the retailer seminars and lets them know why he thinks the classes are important. “I get their feedback on what they think would benefit a new or veteran retailer.”

“It’s the same thing on the range side,” says Snow. “We’ve seen a huge surge of individuals wanting to open up an indoor range and retail businesses. With the help of the advisory council, we outlined what we identified to be the key topics for those in the exploratory stage to lay out a road map for making successful business decisions.”

The council members have a side function, too—offering more specific advice to NSSF mem-bers. “Many of them are ready and willing to pro-vide insight and guidance to NSSF member retail-ers and ranges,” says Clark. “Especially members that are in the start-up development stage.”

“For example, we’ll have a retailer call in and say, ‘I’m new and am looking at a merchandising mix. Can you tell me the latest, hottest, greatest thing in the last 90 days?’ ” says Shay. “So, I’ll refer them to Jeff Poet or someone like that.”

And the cost of getting that expert advice? “There’s no fee,” says Clark. “It’s just a network-ing opportunity.”

“It’s one of the hidden gems that we have here for our members,” says Snow. “Being able to get feedback from those in the business that have been there and done that.”

If you’re an NSSF member who needs some business insight. these volunteers are an unsung and valuable resource.

The advisory council can help those in the exploratory stage of opening a range lay out a road map for making successful business decisions.

RANGE ADVISORY COUNCIL Bill Kempffer, Chairman, Deep River Sporting Clays, NCDon Turner, Don Turner LLC, NVHolden Kriss, Indian River County Public Shooting Range, FLRobin Ball, Sharp Shooting Indoor Range, WAGlenn Duncan, Duncan’s Outdoor Shop, MI Jon Green, Gun Owners Action League (GOAL), MA John Monson, Bill’s Gun Shop & Range, MN

Scott Kranz, AECOM, ORStan Pate, Oregon State Shooting Association, OR Jared Sloane, Shoot Smart, TXDoug VanderWoude, AcuSport Corp., OH Addison Sovine, Rimfire Marketing, UT John Phillips, Poway Weapons and Gear, CA

RETAILER ADVISORY COUNCILJoe Keffer, Chairman, The Sportsman’s Shop, PA

George Romanoff, Ace’s Sporting Goods, PAJeff Poet, Jay’s Sporting Goods, MIMiles Hall, H&H Shooting Sports Complex, OKLisa Roux, Shooter’s World, AZRichard Sprague, Sprague Sports Inc., AZRex Gore, Black Wing Shooting Center, OHBob Viden Jr., Bob’s Little Sport’s Shop, NJLarry Ahlman, Ahlman’s, MNJeanine Phillips, Bob’s Little Sport’s Shop, NJ

nssf range and retail advisory councils



Necessary AdviceProject ChildSafe’s “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” initiative

keeps everyone safer By Robert F. Staeger

O ver the past year or so, you’ve probably been seeing a lot of the “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” logo. An initiative of Project ChildSafe, the campaign is intended to spread the message of safe storage of firearms far and wide, even as funding issues make it impossible for the popular Project ChildSafe program to provide gun locks to every municipality that wants to distribute them.

The initiative was launched by NSSF in June 2014, and since then more than 1,100 companies and organizations have become supporters. “When you become a supporter of ‘Own It? Respect It. Secure It.,’ you agree to help promote that message in whatever way is suitable for your company or organiza-tion to do so,” says Bill Brassard, NSSF’s Senior Communications Director. “That can mean using the ‘Own It? Respect It. Secure It.’ logo on your website, helping to promote it in social media, or more.”

Some companies, like Colt, have included the mark in their advertising; others, such as Mossberg and Cabela’s, use it in their catalogs. TV personalities associated with Vista Outdoor (including Savage, Federal Premium, Bushnell, and CCI) have made videos promoting the message. The mark has shown up on an increasing number of industry websites. Heritage Security Products has even gone so far as to put the logo on some of its safes.

“It doesn’t cost anything for

companies to participate,” says Brassard. “It’s purely voluntary, and they can run with it as far as they want to. What ‘Own It? Respect It. Secure It.’ does is pro-vide regular reminders to gun owners to properly store their firearms without us spending an extraordinary amount of money to provide locks. Supporters can be active in their community in promoting the secure storage message. It’s been a valuable tool.”

Industry support has been out-standing, with many companies

enlisting last year at SHOT Show. “People were aware of it and drawn to it,” says Brassard. It’s an ingenious bit of PR judo, using another’s strength as your own. “We’re harnessing the power of their communications and out-reach to gun owners to help pre-vent accidents, thefts, and mis-use—all the things we don’t want to see happen with the products we use for enjoyment and recre-ational purposes.”

All the materials that a support-er of any type would need are available in an interactive toolkit

on the Project Childsafe website (projectchildsafe.org). There are versions of the logo in several sizes and specifications, but there’s more to it than that. “If you have a retail establishment or shooting range, maybe you can make use of the counter cards and the window stickers that we pro-vide,” says Brassard. “There are posters there, too. It’s a reminder for people to use that gun lock or whatever home firearm storage device they choose.”

And “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” doesn’t stop there.

Since the “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” initiative was launched 18 months ago, more than 1,100 companies and organizations have become supporters.

Beyond the logo-branded printable resources, there are other avenues to promote the firearms safety message. One of the most popular new resources is a video featuring champion shooter (and mom and veteran) Julie Golob, discussing how to talk to your kids about gun safety. “The video is aimed at parents, whether they own guns or not,” says Brassard. “It gives them guidelines on how to talk to not just younger kids about gun safety, but also older kids, and how their kids should respond if they see a gun in an unsuper-vised situation. The video empowers parents to become the safety experts for their children, so

they don’t learn from someone else.”Partner companies are able to take these new

resources and help promote them through their channels. “We didn’t just ask companies to come on board and put a logo up,” says Brassard. “We’re constantly giving them new resources and new ways to engage with gun owners to remind them about safe handling and secure storage.”

Responsible gun owners always handle their firearms safely. These regular messages in various forms will serve as reminders to keep firearms out of the hands of unauthorized people, ensur-ing safer homes and communities.

Project ChildSafe is an extremely effective pro-gram that puts gun locks and safety kits into the hands of gun owners that need it most. In the past year, it’s had six press con-ferences to launch safety initiatives in major metro-politan areas—and that doesn’t even count the numerous smaller munici-palities that preferred not to do a press conference.

It’s an extraordinarily popular program, so much so that it can’t afford to fulfill every request for free safety kits. “We have hundreds of cities that request locks in every state,” says Bill Brassard, NSSF’s Senior Director of Communi cations. “It’s great, but we can only provide 25 percent of the requested number of locks.”

In response to this short-fall, NSSF has taken a few steps. First, it has applied for a federal grant to restore the federal funding Project ChildSafe received from 2002 to 2008. Also, it has established the Project ChildSafe Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable orga-

nization, to accept dona-tions to help support Project ChildSafe’s fire-arms safety education efforts. Fundraising for the project has been a big push lately; there’s a donation button on the website, and when you registered for SHOT Show you had an option of adding a few extra bucks to your ticket to help fund the program.

But the big breakthrough, says Brassard, is peer-to-peer fundraising. NSSF has partnered with the peer fundraising site Classy.org, which puts the fundraising power in the hands of indi-viduals. “Classy provides guidance and provides the templates for not only our online donation page, but also these peer-to-peer fundraising pages,” he says.

Brassard explains how it works from a user perspec-tive. “An individual can set up a fundraising page in a very easy fashion, add their photo to it, and add some text as to why they’re so passionate about raising funds for their favorite charity (in this case, Project ChildSafe),” he says. “You can include a

video and post an amount of money—the goal they hope to reach during their fundraising campaign. It could be in connection to their birthday or an anni-versary, or it could be a hunt, a dedication of some event, a memorial to someone—all raising funds for Project ChildSafe.” It makes funding more per-sonal, and more effective.

From there, users can share their personal fund-raising pages via social media—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.—and hope that their friends and sup-porters donate to their cause. “It’s a very popular way for charities to raise funds, and we have very high hopes for it,” says Brassard.

The Project ChildSafe Foundation also rolled out a direct-mail fundraiser sweepstakes last fall. “In our first year of fundrais-ing, we were lucky to have several large donors,” says Brassard. “But the bread and butter of fundraising is many small donations, and that’s what we’re hop-ing to build up in the com-ing year and beyond.”

PROJECT CHILDSAFE RAISES FUNDS WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH


A video aimed at parents helps them under-stand gun safety and how to discuss this issue with their children.



Back to School Even veteran retailers can learn a thing or two from NSSF’s

education seminars By Robert F. Staeger

A mong the most popular resources the NSSF offers at the SHOT Show are its retail and range seminars. With information for both new and veteran business owners, as well as their frontline staff, these classes offer an invaluable education. They run through the duration of SHOT Show.

Like last year, there’s a nominal fee to attend each class. This emphasizes the value of the information available and highlights the added value each session brings to attendees. “We don’t make a dime on this,” says Randy Clark, NSSF’s Director of Business Development. “We roll the money back into the refreshments and the speaker fees, so that every year we can increase the level of speakers that we have and provide a great experience for our attendees.”

And if you’ve already been to retail and range seminars at SHOT Show, there’s still more to learn. “One thing folks stress is that they want different instruc-tors every year,” says NSSF Director of Retail Development Patrick Shay. “They challenge us to get fresh information and dif-ferent perspectives to provide retailers with as many different points of view as we possibly can.”

Of the extensive number of classes offered, Shay points to some highlights. “Yesterday, there was a session we called Lessons Learned from Range Development, led by range owner Frank Manuel,” says Shay. Manuel owns and operates Montgomery Indoor Shooting Complex in Montgomery, Alabama. “The first year I was doing education, he was in the audience of our educational seminar. He’s a huge fan of the NSSF, and he used all of our research to secure a seven-figure loan to build his place. He’s came back this year as a presenter to share some of the lessons he’s learned and to share some of the information he wished he’d known going forward.’

Manuel says the documentation in the appendix of his original business plan was 90 percent NSSF research data. “In general, NSSF helped me understand that an indoor shooting range is not in the gun business. An indoor range is in the entertainment business,” he says. “Accordingly, the compe-tition for a range is any type of business that competes for a cus-tomer’s disposable recreational dollars.”

Although the classes he attend-ed at SHOT emphasized crucial elements of range operation, such as the various income streams, the social responsibility, and the

necessity of good public relations, earlier range-operation classes lacked some essential hard num-bers (startup cost estimate, oper-ating cost data, etc.). Manuel’s presentation was designed to fill that gap. “This information is crucial to the successful develop-ment of an indoor shooting range. That’s why I chose it as the topic of my seminar.”

Today, NSSF’s long-time ATF consultant Wally Nelson will team with Travis Glover, compli-ance officer for Lipsey’s, to tag-team a presentation on NFA products. “Wally’s going to focus on the legal aspect of it, and Travis will go into the actual mar-keting of it, and some of the pit-falls you have to be aware of in marketing and selling those prod-ucts,” says Shay. “It’s a huge growth opportunity for our indus-try; everybody wants to get into it. There are great margins on the products. We want to be able to provide the guidance for new retailers to get into that market and be successful at it.”

Last year’s seminars included a session on merchandising to women shooters by Julie Golob and Randy Rodgers. This year, the focus will be on women hunt-ers instead. Barbara Baird, owner of the Women’s Outdoor News and a blogger for Field & Stream, has set it up. “It’s a whole differ-ent mindset, and a whole different product category for the retailers, and something that I don’t think we’ve addressed, and I haven’t seen other folks address,” says Shay. Baird’s extensive contacts among women hunters have delivered a star-studded panel, including Judy Rhodes, Brenda Valentine, Melissa Bachmann, and Shannon Reaser. “I think that’ll be a home run for us. It’s infor-

Retail and range seminars at the SHOT Show remain among the most popular programs offered by NSSF. For a nominal fee, a participant can learn valuable tips on how to run a more profitable business.


mation in dire need for our industry.”“There is a world of mindset difference

between a woman who shoots and a woman who hunts,” says Baird. “Women who hunt require more tools and gear than women who shoot, and it’s important to discover what works for the fast-est growing demographic in the hunting market, and to support the movement. Some of the women on the panel hunted when there were no choices in camo, bows, guns, or gear for women. Now, the hunting market offers more selections, but as with men’s gear, some of it is not worth the investment.” The seminar promises to help retailers distinguish between the two.

A couple of new classes will be of particular interest to frontline retail staff. One, led by Daniel O’Kelly, a former ATF special agent, will walk attendees through firearms classification and nomenclature. “We all assume that because you’re the industry that everybody has a solid knowledge of firearms,” says Shay. “I wasn’t sure about this class at first, but my Retail Advisory Council came back and said, ‘Yes, this is abso-lutely needed.’ So Special Agent O’Kelly is going to provide training for that for frontline staff.”

Also, Keith Gipson, the head gunsmith of Trinidad State Junior College, will teach a class about selling optics. “You always see the lineup of scopes up there, but what’s the difference between a Tasco versus a Leupold versus a Swarovski?” says Shay. “He’ll get in there with an unbiased opinion about how a retailer can talk to a customer about the advantages and disadvantages of various optics.”

“That product line typically holds a very high markup, so this is an area retailers really need to pay attention to for that bottom line,” says Clark. “Some of those scopes have mar-gins of 45 to 55 percent. That’s where the retailers are going to make their money.” And having a gunsmith mount and bore-sight the scope isn’t something an online retailer can do, or even most big-box stores.

“That’s what we’re trying to achieve,” says Clark. “We’re just trying to give people the tools to get better.”

You can register for education seminars when you sign up for SHOT Show, but there is also on-site registration. Seminars are often sold out, so if you see one you really want to go to, don’t waste time equivocating. Sign up and learn.

There’s a world of difference

between a woman who shoots and a woman who

hunts. It pays to be able to distinguish between the two.”

On the Road AgainNSSF First Shots Big City Tour draws new-comers and drives range traffic By Cathy Glazer

N SSF First Shots Manager Tisma Juett is hoping at least one thing that happened in Vegas won’t stay in Vegas, but will be repeated at shooting ranges in other large urban centers this year—an increase in new shooters. With a kick-off at area ranges here last weekend, First Shots Big City Tour is on the road again, helping ranges in and around large cities reach out to non-traditional potential cus-tomers with beginner-entry weekend handgun shooting events.

The Tour concept is a slightly different model for promoting the highly successful First Shots events. NSSF member ranges in a select-ed major metropolitan area sign on to host First Shots events over a given weekend, co-spon-sored by NSSF. All benefit from the advance promotion and publicity aimed at encouraging urbanites to get to know their local shooting range and give handgun shooting a try, in the company of other fellow beginners.

“The program is a minimal investment for the ranges and there’s no cost to the partici-pants,” Juett says. NSSF provides the core cur-riculum, promotion and advertising materials, safety literature, ammunition and targets, and covers all of the advertising costs for the tour.

As with all First Shots programs, the empha-sis is on providing a welcoming, supportive atmosphere for newcomers. The classroom and live-fire events dispel misconceptions about the shooting sports and de-mystify firearms owner-ship and the responsibilities that accompany it, including safe firearms handling and storage, and navigating the often confusing array of local, federal, and state laws.

The goal, in addition to promoting responsi-ble firearms ownership, is to increase range traf-fic—not just for the day, but for the long-term.

It works, says Juett. “Once they’ve tried it, they come back for more. Follow-up surveys show about half of participants go on to meet local requirements for handgun ownership and have introduced at least one other person to the sport.”

Surveys have also found they spend, on aver-age, more than $500 on equipment. About one in 10 will purchase a range membership.

Juett recalls a woman she met during the highly successful 2013 Tour in Atlanta. “Her

story is pretty typical. She grew up in New York City with the mindset that guns are scary,” Juett says. “Now she lives in Atlanta, heard about First Shots, and decided to find out for herself what shooting is all about. She told me she was shaking like a leaf when she picked up the handgun for the first time. After that first shot, though, she realized this was not nearly as scary as she had thought—and it’s fun. By the end of the event, she was all smiles. Her Facebook post about the experience inspired 15 other people to show up at the next day’s event.”

The Atlanta Tour was the largest to date. Eleven ranges held First Shots event over a weekend, drawing more than 800 people. “We usually have between five and seven ranges par-ticipate in a Tour, with an average of around 300 attendees per Tour,” Juett says.

Last year, Dallas and Philadelphia area ranges hosted the Tour. Juett’s goal is to bring the Tour to at least two more cities this year. Since the First Shots Big City Tour began in 2011, it has intro-duced more than 3,000 newcomers to the shoot-ing sports. Miami, Sacramento, and Washington, D.C., ranges have also participated. This is in addition to the 50,000 people who have been introduced to the shooting sports through the First Shots program since its inception in 2005.

“If you own a range, you need to look into the First Shots program,” says NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “First Shots is the first step for that first-time shooter to become a lifelong shooting sports enthusiast.”

Interested ranges, however, don’t have to wait for the Tour itself. Any range can host a First Shots event at any time. For more infor-mation about First Shots, contact Tisma Juett at [email protected].

The First Shots Big City Tour is on the road again. Its aim is to provide a welcom-ing, supportive atmo-sphere where new shooters can learn how to safely and responsibly handle firearms. Since the initial First Shots Big City Tour in 2011, more than 3,000 new shooters have been introduced to the shooting sports.




Silence!NSSF helps retailers understand the emerging market in suppressors

By Brian McCombie

I f you are a Federal Firearms License (FFL) retailer and are not offering suppressors to your customers, you may well be missing out on a great opportunity to not only bring in larger profits, but also to give your establishment a unique identity. Right now, there is more interest in suppressors, and more sales of them, than ever before.

According to an July 2015 article that appeared on the CNN Money.com website: “The number of registered silencers surged 38 percent from last year to 792,282 in February 2015, according to the most recent figures from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. There were 571,750 licenses in March 2014.”

As CNN Money noted, one reason for the surge in suppressor interest is that they are now legal in 41 states, compared to 37 states just four years earlier. And of those 41 states, 37 states allow the use of suppressors for hunting.

Which helps explain why, at last year’s SHOT Show, a seminar on the hows and whys of selling sup-pressors had a packed audience.

“We had 300 people attend that seminar,” says Patrick Shay, NSSF Director of Retail Development. “In fact, the room got so full, we had to close the doors and turn people away. I know that a lot more people wanted to attend.”

That level of retailer interest explains why for the 2016 SHOT Show, Shay has scheduled two seminars on selling suppressors, as well as the legal and compli-ance issues involved with these Class III products.

Why so much interest? Well, on a practical level, suppressors make the shooting experience much better. Consider the follow-ing benefits that suppressors bring to the shooting sports.EASIER COMMUNICATIONS WITH OTHER SHOOTERS Since you are not wearing bulky ear muffs or plugs, you can communi-cate easily with other shooters or hunters. That’s especially helpful when teaching young people and novice shooters. LESS RECOIL, MORE ACCURATE SHOOTING Tough guys aside, no one’s a big fan of recoil. By dispersing the muzzle blast, a suppressor reduces a gun’s felt recoil by 15 to 20 percent or more for most firearms. With less recoil and no deafening noise to fear, people tend to flinch less when shooting. Result: more accu-rate shot placement.

IT’S NEIGHBORLY With more ranges popping up and noise com-plaints on the rise, suppressors help keep noise pollution down and reduce complaints from those near shooting ranges and hunting lands. HEARING IS PRESERVED A quality suppressor, attached to the correct firearm, will reduce the noise produced at the muzzle below the 140-decibel hearing-safe threshold set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. No more ringing in the ears or headaches after long shooting sessions.WHEN SHOOTING’S MORE ENJOYABLE, MORE PEOPLE WILL TRY SHOOTING Want to be a real ambassador of the shoot-ing sports? Let a first-time shooter use a suppressor-equipped firearm. With the firearm’s noise reduced and the recoil tamed, that newbie has a much better chance of

becoming a regular shooter. “And let’s not forget the ‘cool’

factor,” Shay said. “Suppressors are a cool accessory, and that means shooters will want to buy them for that reason alone.”

For a retailer, suppressors offer a very good profit margin, usually in the 35 to 40 percent range, Shay notes. And suppressors can give your shop a unique identity, especially as the larger, big-box stores do not carry these items.

“Your shop, because it offers suppressors when others do not, can gain a real following,” he says. “Suppressors give your business a unique feel, make it more of a destination instead of just a place to buy items.”

If that’s the case, why haven’t more FFLs gotten into the sup-pressor game?

Fear of the legal and compli-ance issues is a big hurdle, says Shay, who also notes that fear is based on a good deal of misun-derstanding.

“A lot of FFLs are, frankly, scared to take on suppressors because they think the process to become a Class III dealer is expensive, time consuming, and fraught with all sorts of legal chal-lenges,” he says. “While it’s true there are a few more forms a Class III dealer has to fill out, and there additional compliance issues, the process really isn’t that difficult.”

If a retailer desires a more per-sonalized introduction to this market, Shay says, NSSF can send someone to the store for a one-day class for staff, plus a consulta-tion with owners/managers on the forms and compliance concerns. The fee is only $499.

“I am glad to answer any ques-tions NSSF members might also have about suppressors and Class III issues,” Shay says. “If I don’t know the answer, NSSF has former ATF managers and executives we work with who will know the answers or point us in the right directions to get those questions answered.”

Suppressors have become a hot accessory. Though selling them requires addi-tional paperwork, the results are worth the effort.


Bad Technology, Bad LawNSSF continues to oppose California’s microstamping legislation By W. H. Gross

I f you’re unfamiliar with the term as it applies to firearms, microstamping is the process by which a micro-laser engraves a unique alphanumeric code—a firearm’s make, model, and serial num-ber—on the tip of the gun’s firing pin. In theory, that information is then imprinted on the back of the primer of each cartridge fired from that gun. Microstamped markings are only 25 microns deep, half the diameter of a human hair.

The concept was developed and patented over a decade ago by Todd Lizotte. His idea was that law enforcement officers could collect the empty cartridge casings left at a crime scene, then identify

and trace the specific gun that fired them.

In 2007, a bill was introduced in the California legislature that would require firearms manufac-turers to implement this technolo-

Microstamping remains an unproven technology that places an unnec-essary burden on firearms manufacturers. Even the inventor of the pro-cess says it should not be mandated until it has been studied further.

gy. While the bill was pending it was amended in response to criti-cisms from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and others. The NSSF argued that microstamped markings could be removed by using common house-hold items, such as a small piece of sandpaper. The firing pin itself also could simply be replaced. As a result, the bill was amended to require “dual-placement” micro-stamping; in addition to the prim-er, there must be a second location on a cartridge where the alphanu-meric code would be stamped. The bill was also amended to say it would not become effective until and unless the state attorney gen-eral certified the “technology” was unencumbered by any patent restrictions. The California legis-lature ultimately passed the amended microstamping bill, which was then signed into law by then governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

However, the law did not become effective until the state’s anti-gun attorney general certified in May 2013 that the technology was “unencumbered by any patent restrictions.” Since then, all new

models of pistols introduced into the California marketplace must be equipped with dual-placement microstamping. As a result, no new models of pistols have been introduced for sale in California by firearms manufacturers in recent years. Why? Because it is impossible to comply with the dual-placement requirements of the law. Compounding the prob-lem is the fact that even a slight variation in current pistol model approved for sale in the state results in it being deemed by California to be a “new model,” triggering the microstamping requirement.

Since May 2013, hundreds of previously approved pistol models have fallen off the state’s roster of approved models because these “new” models are not—and can not be—equipped to dual micro-stamp a fired cartridge casing.

“Given the current state of this nascent and unproven technology, it is literally impossible to micro-stamp two locations on a car-tridge casing,” says Lawrence Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “So what we have seen over time

is that handguns are falling off the roster of firearms approved for sale in California. The result is that handgun options for con-sumers in that state are rapidly dwindling and eventually will become zero.”

Keane goes on to explain that microstamping is not possible on cartridge casings primarily because the metal is much harder than that of the primer. “Even the softer metal of primers does not reliably and consistently produce a com-plete set of legible markings. Independent, peer-reviewed stud-ies have all reached the same con-clusion—that microstamping sim-ply does not work, is unreliable, needs to be studied further, and should not be mandated. In addi-tion, the inventor and patent-holder of the concept now even admits in published studies that microstamping should not be mandated and should be subject to further study.”

As a result of all of this, the NSSF and the Sporting Arms and Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) filed a lawsuit in state court in California challenging the micro-stamping law. “The case seeks an

injunction to prevent the enforce-ment of the microstamping law on the grounds that it is literally impossible to comply with the requirements of the statute, and that the law never requires the impossible,” says Keane.

Last summer, the court dis-missed the case, saying it did not have the authority to grant the injunction because of the separa-tion-of-powers doctrine. “We respectfully disagree with the court’s interpretation of the law and have filed an appeal,” says Keane.

Another case filed in federal court by others challenges the California law establishing the roster of approved handguns, claiming the law—of which microstamping is a part—violates the Second Amendment of the U. S. Constitution. That case is cur-rently on appeal in the Ninth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals. NSSF and SAAMI filed a “friend of the court” brief in support of the plaintiffs in that case. The NSSF will continue to monitor the progress of these cases and continue the fight against anti-gun legislation.


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Triple Play Browning’s new camo, rifle, and ammo are designed to keep

a hunter in the “family” By Brian McCombie

F or years now, Browning has offered hunters branded apparel within certain “families” of product lines. Think of Hydro-Fleece, Browning’s first foray into technical outdoor clothing. It gave hunters a quiet combination of water-proof, windproof, and breathable protection. Launched in 1993, and offered in many variations, Hydro-Fleece soon became the popular choice for many bow and gun hunters.

More recently, Browning intro-duced its Hell’s Canyon line of apparel for men and Hell’s Bells for women, both versions aimed squarely at the big-game hunting market. The line offers hunters everything from base layers and raingear to scent-control clothing, all in the distinctive Hell’s Canyon pattern. For 2016, Browning has gone a step further with its new Hell’s Canyon Speed line, incorpo-rating a new, proprietary ATACS camouflage pattern into a full slate of outdoor clothing.

Concurrently, Browning has introduced a centerfire rifle decked out in the same camo pat-tern—the X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed. It’s even jumped into the ammunition market, producing centerfire rifle and handgun rounds as well as rimfire and shotgun ammunition.

“We think this new ‘sub-family’ marketing approach will be a real help to retailers,” says Rafe Nielsen, Browning’s communica-tions manager. “When customers see the new Hell’s Canyon Speed line, they will see that they can buy everything in that line from base layers to four-in-one parkas, and even a rifle in the same camo pattern. And they will be able to buy all of it at the same store.”

Judging by the snug fit, the Speed line clearly has been designed for the more athletic, more adventurous hunter.

“It’s for the guy who’s going to strap his camp onto his back, grab his rifle, and head into the back-country for a week’s worth of deer, elk, or bear hunting,” says Nielsen. “The idea is to provide a fit that is tailored to the hunter who hunts as a minimalist, eliminating excess

weight and bulk. We are using more stretchable fabrics that are lighter, extremely abrasion resis-tant, and provide greater mobility.”

The products range from base layers (SRP: $59 to $99) and lightweight and midweight jackets and pants (SRP: $99 to $189) to insulated and rainwear items at price points of $229 to $279. Gloves, hats, and other accesso-ries will also be offered in the Speed ATACS pattern.

I had a chance to try out the new Speed clothing on a deer hunt last fall, where it performed well in varying weather conditions. The ATACS pattern itself will be avail-able in two versions: in the AU or arid pattern, a great choice for hunters in the West (the pattern I used), and the FG or foliage/green pattern, for those hunting east of the Mississippi River.

The hunt also gave me the opportunity to evaluate the X-Bolt Speed rifle and the new Browning centerfire ammunition. The lightweight X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed rifle is built on the popular Browning X-Bolt plat-form, with some significant upgrades. The rugged composite stock is done in the Speed AU pattern (after 2016, it will likely also be offered in the Speed FG pattern), while the fluted barrel, receiver, and bolt are Cerakoted in Burnt Bronze. The rifle comes standard with a muzzle brake and thread protector. It will be cham-bered in all standard calibers from .243 to .300 Win. Mag., including 6.5 Creedmoor and 26 Nosler.

The rifle looks cool; more important, it’s a shooter. Once my rifle, chambered in .30/06, was sighted in, my first three-shot group measured under one inch at 100 yards. Three other hunters in my hunting group shot essen-tially the same group with their rifles, while another drilled the paper with a half-inch group. I really liked the 60-degree bolt lift, too. It kept my thumb and fingers clear of the scope when cycling the action and allowed me to chamber a new round quickly and easily. (SRP: $1,200.)

Throughout my time at the range and in the field, I used Browning’s new BXR Rapid Expansion ammunition, made with a special matrix tip of copper and polymer. Designed specifical-ly for deer hunting, this particular round’s matrix tip disintegrates once it is an inch to an inch and a half into the deer, at which point the deep hollowpoint begins its rapid expansion.

I took a 200-pound muley at about 120 yards. The single shoulder shot flattened the deer where it stood. The other hunters in camp also killed their deer (muleys or whitetails) with single shots; the wounds I saw when the animals were field dressed revealed massive energy transfer and extensive trauma. Booth #10744. (browning.com)

The author with a deer taken while using Browning’s X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed rifle and the company’s new Browning-branded centerfire ammo.


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A New BeginningIndustry veterans launch Industry Armament By Peter Suciu

S eeing an opportunity in the ever-changing world of tactical accessories, Ares Armor CEO Bryce Stirlen has launched Industry Armament, a company founded to pursue the mission of strengthening and protecting America’s military forces, law enforcement, and the global shooting community. To that end, it has introduced rifle systems that will represent a new era of technological innovation and performance for the military as well as the civilian firearms enthusiast.

Stirlen has been joined by defense industry veterans Jason Maddox and Thomas Alexander. Maddox, who brings more than a decade of defense industry experi-ence, including serving as CEO of Maddox Defense, will be manag-ing partner and oversee U.S. sales and business development. This will include government products for the U.S. Department of Defense as well as federal, state, and local law enforcement.

Alexander, who served 10 years in the United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance special oper-ations unit and later worked for Desert Tech as director of interna-tional military sales, will be Industry Armament’s vice president of international sales. In this role, he will focus on business develop-ment with foreign militaries.

While this is a new beginning with a new company, this will not be the end of the line for Ares Armor. It is currently undergoing a significant corporate restructuring and brand realignment that will better position the company to serve its legacy customer base. It will remain a separate entity and will continue to be fully committed to the Second Amendment, along with the civilian customer base that

has contributed to its success. As a result, Ares Armor will

remain a key component in the industry for home defense and shooting sports and will continue to provide high-quality products to those who appreciate the craftsmanship of a custom-built firearm. This restructuring is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2016.

New Brand Identity➤ As a new company, Industry Armament has unveiled a brand identity that includes an original logo, website, social media prop-erties, and even a fitting tagline: “Trusted From the Home Front to the Battlefront.” This is all aimed at presenting the compa-ny’s vision to provide premium weapons systems for the nation’s warriors on the battlefield while also adapting these into commer-cial rifle and pistol platforms for the civilian firearms market.

“Global conditions continue to drive significant demand for advanced weapons systems, as I’m certain we’ll see evidenced at this year’s SHOT Show,” says Stirlen, now president and CEO of

Industry Armament. “Industry Armament has assembled a team of defense industry experts to con-tribute to national and interna-tional security by equipping mili-tary and police forces with sophis-ticated weapons technology.”

Already Industry Armament has made significant investments toward in-house research, devel-opment, engineering, and manu-facturing. Within these capabili-ties it is well positioned to offer its domestic and global clients a com-petitive portfolio of feature-rich weapons systems and tactical gear.

Building a Legacy➤ For its initial branded product line, Industry Armament has focused on proprietary AR rifle technologies. The rifles will be manufactured exclusively in the USA with the input and expertise of combat veterans. The Legacy Mark I AR-10 is the company’s first offering, and a notable way to began its legacy.

It features internal components that Industry Armament believes to be metallurgically superior due to the careful selection of the high-quality steel and use of superior heat-treatment processes. This is

to ensure maximum efficiency and function. Steel types include 9310, S7, 8620, and 7076, among others.

The rifles—the 310 Counter Sniper and Model 618—are cham-bered for 7.62x51mm NATO. Both models feature a direct-impingement action made up of a steel gas block and stainless-steel gas tube, a black nitride bolt carri-er group, an ambidextrous safety, an adjustable cheekpiece, and a quad bottom rail for accessories.

“SHOT Show is the ideal venue to introduce our new rifle and pis-tol platforms, which have been carefully designed to maximize tac-tical advantage,” says Stirlen. “We also plan to adapt these platforms for commercial use, providing the civilian market with firearms tech-nologies that are trusted from the home front to the battlefront.”

To complement the rifles, Industry Armament is also intro-ducing the Legacy Mark II Kit of nylon tactical gear. This kit bun-dles its lightweight Legacy Mark II Plate Carrier with a durable Kydex Holster and MOLLE Shingle Magazine Pouch (single or double-stacked for a 3-6 maga-zine capacity). Legacy Mark II Kits are also designed to be con-figured for short- and long-range patrols, law enforcement, and CQB operations. These kits are made from Cordura nylon, and are available in two sizes—small to medium plates and large to extra-large for large plates. Booth #818. (industryarmament.com)

The Legacy Mark I AR-10 line features a direct-impingement action, ambidextrous safeties, and quad bottom accessory rails.

Cordura nylon Legacy Mark II Kits are configured for short- and long-range patrols.


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Finding KilldeerThe New Ultra Light Arms Pathfinder By Richard Mann

N one of us are the equal of James Fenimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales hero, Natty Bumppo, aka Hawkeye. But we all aspire to have a rifle we adore as much as he revered his—a rifle he called Killdeer. For most of us, that search has spanned many years and cost countless dollars. With each new acquisition, we find faults and begin the quest again. Many of those fortunate enough to find their own Killdeer found it deep in the hills of West Virginia, where one man forever changed the concept of the perfect hunting rifle.

Melvin Forbes of New Ultra Light Arms attended his first SHOT Show in 1985. He walked on the floor with a few rifles so light, those who handled them thought the glass had been removed from the riflescopes they were wearing. His rifles and his skill at crafting them became leg-end.

Why? Maybe Townsend Whelen said it best in his 1927 book, Wilderness Hunting and Wildcraft: “A man will travel far-ther, hunt over more country, have a better chance of coming on game, and be in better condi-tion when he does if his weapon is light.” Not only are New Ultra Light Arms’ rifles feather-light, they’re wicked accurate and unimaginably rugged. This is because Forbes figured out how to combine the precise machining of metal with a hand-built aerospace-industry-inspired carbon-and-Kevlar-fiber stock—a stock, by the way, dimensional-ly designed to perfectly interface with a human.

During his 30-year span of rifle building—and never miss-ing a SHOT Show—Forbes helped a competitor develop its own lightweight hunting rifle. He also built rifle stocks for another custom rifle manufactur-er. And, he has sold his company twice. Colt, which soon after went bankrupt, bought it first. Then, Forbes Rifles purchased it. It, too, folded, after it became clear that only the man who divined them could properly cast the magic these rifles held.

Melvin Forbes is now at his 31st SHOT Show, and he has something new. Of all the mod-els available from New Ultra Light Arms, the most overlooked is the ultra-compact Model 20 Short Action. These rifles are designed around cartridges like the .223 Remington and .30

The Wizard of West Virginia at work. Melvin Forbes puts the finishing touches on NULA’s new lightweight and ultra-accurate Pathfinder bolt-action rifle.


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Remington AR, with a maximum overall cartridge length of 2.4 inches. Finished rifles weigh a scant 4.75 pounds and stretch to less than 39 inches with a 20-inch barrel. They also bal-ance better than the scales of justice. This means they’re the kind of rifle Cooper’s Hawkeye would want were he with us.

For 2016, Forbes has taken his Model 20 Short Action rifle and chambered it in one of the hot-test-selling cartridges of all time, the .300 AAC Blackout. An 18-inch barrel with a threaded muzzle and an incredibly unbending stock round out the package. The result is an ultra-compact and lightweight carbine suitable for the majority of hunt-ing done in North America. Fully loaded and paired with one of Leupold’s new VX3i 1.5–5X riflescopes, the combination weighs a scant 5.5 pounds. Scout rifle–like in utility, but modern in configuration, this rifle shoots like it’s at a benchrest match but handles like a samurai sword.

The rifle is called the Pathfinder, and the name is dou-bly fitting. First, for those find-ing paths in the wilderness, this is an ideal companion. It holds five plus one cartridges, is capa-ble of accurate supersonic and suppressed fire, will work on game up to about 400 pounds, and, zero once, and it will stay sighted-in forever. Second, in 1840, when Cooper wrote his fourth Leatherstocking novel, he named it The Pathfinder. He con-sidered this endeavor a “hazard-ous experiment” because he was reviving the hero Hawkeye, who had been allowed to die in his third book. The rifles of New Ultra Light Arms have almost died twice, once at the hands of Colt, and again at the hands of Forbes Rifles. They’re back, and Melvin Forbes is back in full control.

Dave Petzal, rifle editor at Field & Stream, once wrote that Melvin Forbes “is the most mechanically aptituded human being I’ve ever met.” I’ll not argue with that, but I will add something. The New Ultra Light Arms Pathfinder might be the most all-around useful rifle a human has ever put hands on. It might be the Killdeer of the 21st century. Booth #16142. (new ultralightarms.com)

Features of the Pathfinder include, top to bottom: A sup-pressor-ready muzzle, Talley rings, and a cheekpiece that allows more facial contact.

What Now?Remington Arms says farewell to Para By Barbara Baird

R emington Outdoor Company (ROC) recently announced it would phase out its Para USA production line next month. For many in the industry, that

move raised the question, “What now?”Remington acquired Para USA in 2012. At

the time, Para specialized in production of competition, high-capacity, and double-action 1911-style pistols. Its products have been popu-lar because of a double-stack line and wide range of calibers.

But when Remington moved to its new fire-arms center in Huntsville, Alabama, in 2014, the company also began the process of integrat-ing the best features of the Para line into its R-1 line onsite. According to ROC, the idea is to incorporate the best features of best-selling Para pistols into its own R-1 line of handguns.

“Para was not afraid to expand the breadth of caliber in a 1911, and we are looking at that as well,” says Daniel Cox, ROC’s senior handgun product manager. Cox also projected that the company will expand into shorter and longer barrel lengths with its R-1 line, as well as inte-grate models similar to the popular Para Warthog and its 3-inch barrel.

“We also will be looking at expanding the Commander-size gun category, and we will be looking at competition guns and hunting cali-bers for the R-1 line,” he says.

ROC has admitted that it has “learned from our mistakes, listened to our customers, and have a clear plan to smoothly integrate Para. This includes keeping popular Para products, characteristics, and names while improving quality with state-of-the-art machining and engineering in Huntsville.”

For Para customers (and the retailers who work with these customers), ROC will contin-ue to support Para’s Lifetime Warranty. Booth #14262. (remington.com)

Though Remington is dropping the Para brand,

it intends to incorporate some Para features into

its R-1 1911 line.


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Affordable AccuracyThe secret to the success of Savage’s rifles is found on the factory floor By Phil Bourjaily

P opsicles, swinging, and bending barrels. They’re all are ingredients of Savage’s recipe for accuracy. Savage makes the most accurate affordable rifles, or perhaps the most affordable accurate rifles, in the industry. On a recent tour of the plant in Westfield, Massachusetts, I got a firsthand look at how that accuracy is built in.

An un-airconditioned 1960s-era factory is a warm place on an August afternoon, and the arrival of the Popsicle cart that circulates the factory floor is a welcome event.

Free Popsicles are one small way Savage takes of its workers, who also receive performance bonuses when the company exceeds its monthly production targets.

A motivated workforce makes better rifles, especially on an assembly line where, at times, there is no substitute for skilled human eyes and hands. After the final turning, every barrel is checked by eye for straightness. The worker puts the barrel into a jig, then peers down the bore. If he doesn’t like what he sees, he turns a crank, and the barrel flex-es in the jig and springs back. Only when the barrel is deemed straight does it go on.

The completed barrel, receiver, and bolt are then “swung,” which is the process of fitting the receiv-er, barrel, and bolt together to achieve a precise headspace toler-ance, which Savage believes enhances accuracy. Swinging the Savage way means performing that step early in the production pro-cess, then immediately separating the fitted barrel/receiver from the bolt for bead blasting and black oxiding before reuniting each matched set. It’s a headache for the process engineer, whose job is to make the line run efficiently.

“I come from the world of tool manufacturing,” he told me. “I argued against this step, but man-agement said no—this is how we make accurate rifles. So we do it this way.”

Savage Packaged Rifles➤ After the assembly stage, many of the rifles go to one last step—scope mounting and bore sighting—before they’re proofed, function-tested, and packaged. Between 50 and 70 percent of the roughly 2,000 rifles that come off the line every day are scoped and sold as packages. It’s a trend driven by new shooters, who want an inexpen-sive rifle they can take out of the box and go straight to the range.

I did the assembly on a Trophy Hunter, which is the top-of-the-line of Savage’s three packaged centerfires. The Trophy Hunter is the same basic Model 11/16 upon which Savage built its reputation for accuracy, though it comes without the rigid, aluminum-rein-forced AccuStock of the regular Savage rifles. Available in long and short actions, it’s topped with a 3–9x40mm Nikon scope.

The other two centerfires Savage sells as a package are based on the Axis rifles. Designed as Savage’s budget rifle, the Axis has

The author at work at the Savage factory, where he learned first-hand the process by which Savage assures the accuracy of its rifles.

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a different stock design and has been simplified so that it goes together quickly on the line. An experienced assembler can put together 40 Axis rifles an hour versus about eight Trophy Hunters. The Axis II, the high-er-grade rifle, comes with Savage’s innovative AccuTrigger and a Weaver Kaspa scope. The entry-level Axis package lacks the AccuTrigger, comes with a Bushnell scope, and sells for as little as $400.

Selling Savage➤ Big-box stores sell a lot of packaged rifles, and they adver-tise these rifles heavily. If there’s a big-box store near you carrying Axis and Trophy Hunter rifles, you can bet people coming into your shop have seen the ads. You might not be able to match the big stores in price, but you can offer the next model up, and be ready to explain its advantages over the model sold by the com-petition. If they’re carrying someone else’s packaged rifle, be ready to explain why Savage rifles are the best choice.

When you compare Savages against other brands, the AccuTrigger found on all but the base model Axis is a great selling point. A brilliant engineering solution to the heavy “lawyer triggers” found on many rifles, the AccuTrigger is very safe, yet it can be adjusted to give an excel-lent pull. Merely letting a cus-tomer dry-fire the AccuTrigger can be enough to close a sale. Be ready, too, to explain the accuracy advantages of the Savage, and how they’re built in—with the help of Popsicles. Booth #14551. (savagearms.com)

A couple of years ago, Savage introduced a modernized version of its old Model 24 O/U combination shotgun/rifle. They called the plastic-stocked gun the Model 42. It combines a .22 LR or .22 WMR barrel with a .410, and the result makes a handy camp or survival gun, just as the originals did. Now the 42 comes in a takedown model. I was able to look at one when I visited the factory. Push a button, slide the forend forward, and the gun comes apart at the hingepin. It snaps back together instantly. It’s a gun you can pack anywhere (it comes with a carry bag), and still sells for the same price: $485.

MODEL 42 TAKEDOWN

The Savage Model 42 Takedown is a contemporary take on the old Model 24 combo.

The physical plant may be old school, but the products aren’t.

DAY 2, JANUARY 20, 2016 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ 73

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Resurgence of the Scout RifleCooper’s concept rifle finally comes of age By Richard Mann

C ol. Jeff Cooper’s experimentation with carbines in the late 1960s led him to deduce that one configured in a specific manner could serve as the paradigm of personal weaponry. For the next 30 years, Cooper espoused the virtues of such a rifle, and in 1998, Steyr Mannlicher made his vision a reality. The world has argued the relevance of the concept every since.

A scout rifle is ostensibly defined as a 39-inch or shorter bolt-action, with a nominal weight of 7 pounds. At a minimum, the rifle must include metallic ghost ring sights, be chambered for the .308 Winchester, and be capable of two MOA or better accuracy. A long-eye-relief scope is a generally accepted feature of the scout, but Cooper made very clear that an optical sight was not mandatory.

The Steyr Scout certainly is unconventional looking, to the point that some even think it ugly. Nonetheless, the Steyr and Cooper’s concept have a cult-like following. Realizing the limited but strong appeal of the scout, Savage introduced its version in 1999. It sold moderately well, mostly because it was one-third the price of the luxurious Steyr. In 2005, Ruger followed suit with the Frontier, but that iteration was not with us long. The discon-tinuances of the Frontier and the Savage scout model left the Steyr as the sole commercial option. Most considered this confirma-tion that Cooper’s idea did not resonate in the marketplace.

Then Something Happened➤ The Age of the Scout Rifle has dawned, sadly, a decade too late for Cooper to realize. Shortly after 2008, the political winds

shifted, and the modern sporting rifle became America’s gun of choice. For the next six years, sales remained strong. Shooters became familiar with the plat-form, and manufacturers took it to a mind-blowing modular level. At the same time, prepping became a fashionable pursuit. In 2012, USA Today suggested that one in four Americans know a prepper, and in 2013, it was esti-mated there were almost four mil-lion preppers nationwide. By some estimates, that number has doubled—and catering to this population has become a multi-billion-dollar business.

What does either of these things

have to do with the scout rifle? Maybe everything. Cooper envi-sioned the scout as the ultimate general-purpose rifle, suitable for protection and hunting, to be used by one person or a small group while operating remotely or alone. A firearm fitting this description dovetails perfectly with the ideol-ogy of the prepper. Given that ownership of the MSR platform is severely restricted in some places, a compact, lightweight, powerful, versatile, and somewhat modular bolt-action rifle is a viable alterna-tive. In fact, the reliability and long-term durability of a quality bolt-action exceeds that of any autoloader.

Whether the scout rifle has emerged as the manually operated alternative to the MSR, or if it is in fact the ideal survivalist fire-arm, really doesn’t matter. In 2011, Ruger finally proved the rationale of Cooper’s design with the introduction of the Gunsite Scout Rifle. Its success is unques-tionable; Ruger currently catalogs 10 variations, not counting dis-tributor exclusives. In addition, last year Savage introduced a scout rifle for the third time, and Mossberg—after several years of my continual urging—now offers a scout based on its MVP plat-form. Recognizing the resurrected interest and competition, Steyr

Steyr This model was the first commercial version of the Scout rifle.

Long-eye-relief scopes, such as this Leupold FX-II, are a pop-ular scout rifle accessory. They permit enhanced aiming with-out the removal of the mandated metallic ghost ring sights.


reduced the suggested retail price of its scout by $3,000.

A Second Chance➤ Retailers would be wise to edu-cate themselves with the concept of the scout rifle and understand its appeal to the emerging surviv-alist movement. Somewhat like the MSR, the scout lends itself to extra gadgetry, and as firearms purveyors know, gadgets are where the money is made.

In preparation for a book on the scout rifle, I’ve devoted the last two years to working with and understanding this instrument. Extensive range time with each of the four commercial variants has shown them all to be trustworthy and versatile arms. Though he’s not alive to see the success of his ideology, maybe Cooper foresaw the apocalyptic worry that would embrace our nation. Or maybe his hypothesis just reflected the epit-ome of pragmatism as it relates to the rifle. Either way, his one-rifle answer has new life. For those of the same mindset, we now have options, ranging in price from $700 to $ 1,700.

Steyr Scout➤ The Steyr Scout comes closest to fitting Cooper’s stringent specifica-tions. It weighs 6.75 pounds, and with its adjustable length of pull, has a nominal length of 39 inches. It’s equipped with backup ghost ring iron sights and a collapsible bipod. A second magazine can be stored in the buttstock. It’s a solid, sub-two MOA performer, and with many loads will stay within one MOA. The action has an uncanny smoothness, and the trigger is beyond reproach. Out of the box it’s compatible with an extended-eye-relief scope, a red-dot sight, or a traditional scope. It’s available in .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, and .308 Winchester. SRP: $1,799. Booth #10246. (steyrarms.com)

Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle➤ The Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle (GSR) was the first scout to cap-

ture the attention of the common man. This is partly due to its more common-man price (around $1,000), but also because of its more common profile and accept-ed tactical features, including a flash-hider/muzzle brake, thread-ed muzzle, and high-capacity detachable magazine. It’s also available for lefties. The one design fault is the proprietary metal magazine, but fortunately better-performing aftermarket polymer magazines are readily available in the form of a flush-fit-ting, three-rounder. This rifle also hovers around the 39-inch mark and will weigh, depending on the model, from 6.20 to 7.75 pounds. Available chamberings include 5.56 NATO and .308 Winchester. Booth #11940. (ruger.com)

Mossberg MVP Scout➤ The uniqueness of the Mossberg MVP Scout lies in its compatibility with both AR-10 and M14 magazines. With a sug-gested retail of $777, it’s the least expensive of the commercial scouts. Unlike the Ruger and Savage, the Mossberg has a full-length rail, making it compatible with any optical sight. It’s also fit-ted with a metallic ghost ring rear sight and a fiber-optic front. The muzzle is threaded, and the rifle comes standard with an A2-style flash hider. It’s the only scout equipped with accessory

Picatinny rails, one on each side of the forend. With its 16.5-inch barrel, it measures 37.5 inches, weighs 6.75 pounds, and is only available in 7.62 NATO. Booth #12734. (mossberg.com)

Savage 11 Scout➤ Savage’s third scout might be its best—but at 7.9 pounds, it’s also the heaviest. It has an adjust-able length of pull, with an over-all length that ranges between 39.5 to 40.5 inches. The butt-stock is equipped with an adjust-able comb to allow for perfect eye alignment with the open and/or optical sights. It comes stan-dard with a protected front sight and a muzzle brake. The 11 Scout delivers the accuracy you’d expect from Savage, and the large bolt handle makes fast cycling easy. The rifle can be fit-ted with a traditional scope, but this necessitates the removal of the excellent Williams ghost ring rear sight. The 11 Scout is avail-able in .308 Winchester. SRP: $794. Booth #14551. (savage arms.com)

Accessories and Such➤ Scout rifle doctrine includes the use of a number of accesso-ries. Foremost is the extended-eye-relief scope. The best exam-ples are from Leupold (Booth #11962) and Burris (Booth

#12755). Weaver (Booth #14551) offers a unique 4X scout scope, and various pistol scopes from Bushnell (Booth #14551) and Nikon (Booth #11221) can suf-fice. Shooting slings, such as the Galco Safari Ching Sling (Booth #12719), are also popular options.

The presence of threaded muz-zles has helped with the inclusion of the suppressor into the scout rifle definition. Those offering quick attachment will have the most appeal, and at least with the Mossberg MVP Scout, you have the potential to mount a light or even a laser to the accessory rails. The Surefire Scout Light (Booth #13968) and the X400 are perfect candidates for this application.

For patrons interested in build-ing their own pseudo scout, you can let them know that XS Sights (Booth #3246) is the one-stop shop for scout scope mounts and ghost ring sights. The company offers DIY options for a variety of bolt and even lever-action rifles.

Finally, if you want to brush up on the history and application of the scout/general-purpose rifle to help spur sales, check out Cooper’s books, The Art of the Rifle and To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth. A good on-line resource is scoutrifle.org. This forum is dedicated to the scout rifle and is frequented by a number of very experienced scout rifle aficionados.

Mossberg The MVP Scout is currently the most affordable Scout on the market and is suitably equipped for the survivalist.

Ruger As introduced, the wood-stocked Gunsite Scout Rifle is responsible for the revival of the scout rifle concept.

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Savage The affordable and versatile Model II Scout is the company’s third, and possibly its best, entry into this specialized market.

Kestrel Upgrades Line

K estrel’s new Elite and Sportsman Weather Meters with Applied Ballistics provide hunters and competitive shooters, especially those with long-range aspirations, with the “science of accuracy,” a combination of precise weather and ballistic information to help make each shot count. The Elite and Sportsman represent the next generation of integrated weather meter and ballistics solver, with the same accuracy, reliability, and usability as the original Kestrel 4500, but with new features and options, according to Austin Wilcox, product manager at Nielsen-Kellerman, manufacturer of rugged environmental and sports performance instruments.

Explaining the target market for each unit, Wilcox says, “The Kestrel Sportsman is aimed at the hunter or new competitive shooter who wants to start shooting at long range. These shooters want to start confidently taking shots at distances where previously they would have passed and need to be sure they’ve got an accurate solution. The Kestrel Elite is the unit with which pre-vious users of the Kestrel 4500 Applied Ballistics will be most familiar. It con-tains all the features of the Applied Ballistics solver, which allow it to deliver

accurate solutions deep into the transonic and sub-sonic range, plus connec-tivity and physical upgrades we’ve made to the new Kestrel 5 Series.”

Optional LiNK connec-tivity, powered by Bluetooth Smart, provides wireless communication to mobile devices and computers, as well as inte-gration with compatible laser rangefinders. With LiNK also comes the free Kestrel LiNK Ballistics app (iOS and Android) that allows shooters to manage firearm and bullet profiles, and provide Applied Ballistics Bullet

Library access and remote viewing capability.

Both the Elite and Sportsman feature a weath-er mode with full environ-mental measurement, stor-age, and charting capabili-ty, including wind speed and direction, crosswind, temperature, humidity, pressure, and altitude. They also employ Kestrel’s Applied Ballistics solver, including corrections for Aerodynamic Jump, Spin Drift, and Coriolis.

Wilcox says that with an upgrade purchase, the Sportsman can morph into an Elite, a cost-saving fea-ture that allows the unit to

match a shooter’s growing needs. He also notes that other improvements are readily noticeable, includ-ing the new chassis, which is “a little larger, but feels much more robust and beefier in your hand,” and the improved screen, with large, high-resolution, high-contrast graphic display.

The Sportsman is ideal for shooters working with-in the supersonic flight range of their bullets; the Elite for shooters wanting to reach into the transonic and subsonic range. Booth #1946. (nkhome.com) —Joe Arterburn

Kestrel’s Weather Meters now have new shooter-friendly features.

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Walther’s Giant Step

Walther took a giant step in the American market by releasing its first mass-produced .45 ACP handgun—the .45 ACP PPQ—last fall. The decision to add this caliber to the PPQ line was driven by retailer and customer requests.

“Both our dealers and customers have been ask-ing for a .45 for a long time,” says Cyndi Flannigan, Walther Arms’ vice president of sales and marketing. “And because the PPQ was such a ter-rific platform for it, we felt it was the right thing to do in order to round out our lineup. The deci-sion to move forward with a .45 shows the American market that Walther is a company that is listening to the requests of American shooters and will deliver the products that they are looking for.”

The new gun also bol-sters the company’s prod-uct line in a truly compet-itive arena—the striker-

fired, polymer-framed centerfire pistol market.

Designed for personal protection and recreation-al shooting, the gun is equipped with the Carl Walther signature Quick Defense trigger, designed to improve accuracy and allow for precise follow-up shots. Like all other PPQ models, the trigger is set at 5.6 pounds, mak-ing it, Flannigan says, the best out-of-the-box trig-ger in the industry.

“This new .45 houses three separate safeties, helping make it a truly capable and safe handling firearm when being used on the range or when car-ried concealed,” she says. “In addition, the polygonal

rifled 4.25-inch barrel is an upgrade from the tradi-tional button-rifling pro-cess. The PPQ .45 is fash-ioned with the traditional front and rear slide serra-tions for superior handling during use, and, like all PPQ models, features fully ambidextrous controls.”

She also notes that, as with all other Walter products, “We still hand-fit and match the slides to the frames. This attention to detail really resonates with Walther customers, and it’s just one reason that the PPQ line has been so well received.”

Given the size of the cartridge, Walther did have to make some minor modifications to the PPQ

platform. “Certainly, the dynamics vary greatly when you push a large .45-caliber bullet down the barrel,” Flannigan says. “As a result, you will notice some slight geome-try changes to the design—in particular, the height of the slide and the length of the grip. However, the most important aspect of this new platform was to make certain that we sacri-ficed nothing in the way of

ergonomics. It retains the superior fit, finish, and feel that Walther is known for.”

Although the gun may appeal most strongly to a customer looking for per-sonal protection or con-cealed carry, Flannigan says the gun should also appeal to many recre-ational shooters because “it is so comfortable to shoot.” Booth #14562. (waltherarms.com)

The new PPQ .45, like all PPQ models, features fully ambi-dextrous controls.


Forged From AbuseLeupold’s New VX-3i riflescope was proofed on a torture rack By Richard Mann

S even miles west of downtown Portland, Oregon, you’ll find the town of Beaverton, home to Leupold & Stevens, Inc. The company has been building optical devices for hunters, sport shooters, and anyone who wants to see at a distance since 1907. Little do the 90,000 residents of Beaverton or Leupold’s millions of consumers know that down in the dungeon of Leupold’s facility, there’s a madman at work.

David Archerd was born in Portland. At age three he started shooting a German Feinwerkbau air rifle his father had custom-built for him. Under his father’s tutelage, Archerd had earned a room full of shooting trophies by the time he was nine years old.

When he was 11, he won the Oregon State Indoor Bullseye Championship, and at 14 he was the State Big Bore Handgun Silhouette Champion. Over the years, Archerd has competed in everything from Benchrest to IPSC. Today, he spends most of

his free time shooting with his wife, Teresa, who is just as addict-ed to pulling triggers as he.

Archerd has been with Leupold since 1999. He is jokingly known as the dungeon dweller because his office is in the bowels of the building. It’s a small room with

no windows, and it is adjacent to a horrid machine that looks like something you would expect to find in the torture chamber of a medieval castle. This device was built to pound riflescopes into oblivion, and it tests the rugged-ness and durability of every rifle-scope Leupold builds as well as the scopes constructed by Leupold’s competitors.

The machine does not simply expose riflescopes to repeated and brutish thrashing; it was specifical-ly created to replicate real-world rifle recoil of unbearable propor-tions. When Archerd was design-ing the device, he figured ruthless pounding was just not enough. He realized that the only way to repli-cate intense recoil was to build a machine capable of re-creating the exact velocity and energy of a recoil impulse no human could withstand. To do this, however, he needed to pattern this impulse after a real rifle that was essential-ly unbearable to shoot.

With a mindset like that of a feudal punisher, Archerd built a .375 Ackley Improved bolt-action rifle weighing only 6 pounds 1.6 ounces that will launch a 270-grain bullet at 2,960 fps. This rifle has a free recoil energy of almost 70 foot-pounds, and a recoil velocity of more than 25 fps. It’s not a rifle you shoot to prove you’re a man. You only shoot this rifle when a qualified medical spe-cialist is close at hand.

Archerd devised his malicious machine to replicate this rifle’s recoil, with an additional safety factor of even more impact energy added for good measure. He fig-ured that if Leupold scopes could withstand exposure to this abuse over and over, a customer would never be able to attach one to a rifle capable of making it come apart. So, that’s how it happens; Leupold builds scopes and Archerd tortures them with his devilish device. If they cannot withstand the punishment, they never leave Beaverton. Competitors’ scopes don’t leave Beaverton, either—at least, not in one piece. Archerd says there’s never been one to sur-vive his contraption.

This, of course, is exactly how the new Leupold VX-3i was proofed. The VX-3i is a new take on a long trusted riflescope design and is intended to help keep hunters in the field longer. With the new Twilight Max light-management system, Leupold is able to balance light across the visible spectrum, lead-ing to a brighter, crisper image in the VX-3i. It also eliminates

Leupold, known for its durable scopes, uses a custom-built machine to help make sure every scope can take hard knocks in the field.

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the washed-out image than can come from direct sunlight.

According to Leupold’s director of product management, Tim Lesser, “Light transmission is an important factor, but it’s not the only factor

that matters in optics. The VX-3i has excellent light transmission, but we’ve looked at manag-ing light for optimized performance. You can transmit 99.99 percent of available light, but if it’s not managed and properly balanced, you won’t have the performance. In fact, the new VX-3i has the highest average light transmission across the visible spectrum, but its true perfor-mance lies in the management of that light.”

The VX-3i also features an easier-to-turn power selector, with a more aggressive knurl, making adjustments easier and faster in the field. A boldly labeled power indicator lets hunters know to what magnification the VX-3i is set without having to raise their heads away from their rifle. And a new dual-spring precision-adjustment system provides match-precision reticle movement while maintaining the ruggedness and durability David Archerd strives to confirm. It’s a zero once, hunt forever riflescope.

The new VX-3i will be available in a wide array of configurations, with one-inch and 30mm tubes, covering magnification ranges from 1.5–5X to 8.5X to 25X. Like all Leupold Gold Ring optics, it will come with a full lifetime guarantee. It’s easy for Leupold to get behind a warranty like that. After all, you can’t do anything to them worse than Archerd the Punisher has already done. Booth #11962. (leupold.com)

The VX-3i uses an easier-to-turn power selec-tor, with a more aggressive knurl, both of which help make for easy adjustment.

Improved light transmission and the new Twilight Max light-management system help keep hunters in the field longer.

Whether for blisters or broken bones, Adventure Medical Kits (AMK) has helped outdoorsmen prepare and deal with the unexpected. AMK cre-ated the SOL (Survive Outdoors Longer) brand a few years ago to house its growing survival product line. Today, the brand encompasses key items from the most important survival categories, including essen-tial survival tools, survival kits, sig-naling devices (mirrors and whis-tles), fire starters, and emergency shelters (reflective blankets and biv-vies). The latest additions to the line include the SOL Traverse, a survival kit modeled after military survival kits of years past, and the SOL Phoenix, a multi-functional survival tool. True to the brand, both are designed to help you survive out-doors longer. These items will be available to ship February 2016 and are on display at the Adventure Medical Kits booth.

“Our Survive Outdoors Longer products save lives,” says Frank Meyer, chief marketing officer at Tender Corporation [parent company of AMK]. “Our ever-evolving survival tool line now includes the Phoenix, a lightweight multi-functional survival tool that provides eight lifesaving tools, all the while being compact enough to fit in your back pocket. The rugged Traverse falls perfectly into our survival kit line. It hits a nice price point, takes up minimal retail space, and can be merchandised on a shelf or on a peg hook. In addition, it is packaged in a retro survival tin, giving it a ‘throwback’ feel.”

SRP: $20, Traverse; $25, Phoenix. Booth #3244. (adventuremedical kits.com)

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

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Changing of the GuardA new team at Hunter’s Specialties promises a new approach

By Bill Miller

A fter having held top jobs at Remington Arms Company, John Trull needed an interesting challenge to consider a move. But early last year, Hunter’s Specialties was headed in a new direction. Innovative lead-ership was needed to jump-start its popular brands of scents, calls, and other hunting products.

At that time, Trull was senior vice president over firearms at Remington. Hunter’s Specialties hired him to be CEO. Next, Craig Cushman was lured from Ruger, where he was the product manager over fire-arms. He was named Hunter’s Specialties vice president of marketing. The company also hired Scott Thomas, formerly of Pure Fishing, to be vice president of product development. Another Remington veteran, Mike Vrooman, became vice president of production management.

“We all had great jobs before we came here,” Trull says. “But all of us came here because we recognized the growth and poten-tial, and the chance to be passion-ate about great products.”

Organic Growth➤ In 2000, Trull, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, joined Remington, where he held several jobs before becoming senior vice president over firearms in 2012. The years leading to that promotion were a critical time for Remington—especially for its shotgun brands.

“To this day, people tell me great stories about the 870 and 1100,” he says. “But, over time, that product line didn’t keep pace with the mar-ket. We saw Beretta come at us. And there was the Super Black Eagle from Benelli. Over 10 to 12 years, Remington, which once had a dominant presence in this catego-ry, no longer had it in terms of new products.”

In 2010, Trull went to Italy to help oversee development of the new VersaMax autoloader, which, he says, “really positioned Remington well for the future.”

Meanwhile, Hunter’s Specialties, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, had similar issues.

Founded in 1977, the company had been steadily building cata-logs of popular game calls, cam-ouflage, tools, and other gear. Its brands include Scent-A-Way (scent-control products), H.S. Strut (turkey calls), Wayne Carlton’s (elk calls), Johnny Stewart (predator calls), and Buck Bomb (scent dispersal systems).

But in recent years, the compa-ny lost market share as competi-tion filled the outdoor products industry, Trull says. “There was not a lot of organic new-product growth. Some of the legacy prod-ucts, once upon a time, had been best in class, but they had not been updated and refreshed.”

As an example, he cites the company’s True Talker Legacy Deer Call. “It was a grunt call, and the first of its kind with vari-able sounds that could be changed without moving an O-ring around. It took the market by storm; it was the grunt call every-body had to have. But over time, without continuous improvement and marketing support, the com-petitive field was able to catch up. What was once the dominant player in the industry declined significantly.”

New owners were sought. Remington had a look, but passed. He notes, however, that

Hunter’s Specialties made a great impression on him.

“I walked away and thought, This is such a great opportunity,” he says. “I knew the products very well. My bathroom has plenty of Scent-A-Way soaps. Plus, I have a lot of things in my personal arsenal, including H.S. Strut tools in my turkey vest. I thought, With the right capital, this is going to be a great opportuni-ty for somebody.”

The Right Team➤ In April 2014, Peak Rock Capital, a private equity firm in Austin, Texas, bought Hunter’s Specialties. A few months later, an executive recruiter reached out to Trull on behalf of a hunting accessories maker looking for a new CEO.

“I realized that it sounded like Hunter’s Specialties, and it was,” Trull says. “While it was a diffi-cult decision to leave, it was easy at the same time. It was just one of those opportunities you can’t walk away from.”

Cushman, however, says he wasn’t interested when Hunter’s Specialties first approached him. “I was very happy working for Ruger,” says the New Hampshire native. “I mean, what an amazing company.”

Cushman had also worked for Raymarine, Garmin, Thompson/Center Arms, and Smith & Wesson. Hunter’s Specialties was eager to tap his experience and called again.

“They said, ‘We brought on Scott Thomas, and we brought on John Trull,’” Cushman says. “I thought, Well, now I’m definitely interested. It was the right team, and a product line I had full con-fidence in. It’s ubiquitous in the hunting world. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t have a Hunter’s Specialties product in their pack.”

The Three Pillars➤ Trull says the company has adopted three pillars for growth: innovative, consumer-driven new products; best-in-class marketing and branding; and excellence in sourcing and supply chain. He also says there will be plenty new to see from Hunter’s Specialties at this year’s SHOT Show.

“People can expect a fresh and reinvigorated brand presence and a number of new and innovative deer-hunting-related products,” he says. That includes Buck Bomb, which, Trull says, is “a fan-tastic brand..

“We’re always very busy look-ing for strategic add-ons,” he says. “And, with the financial stability of the new owners, it will be a company to watch.” Booth #14207. (hunterspec.com)

Under new leadership, accessories manufacturer Hunter’s Specialties intends to grow the brand in order to expand beyond its core product lines of game calls, camo, tools, and accessories.

The popular Scent-A-Way product line has been a mainstay of Hunter’s Specialties for many years.

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Filling The VoidProof Research’s new rifle is lightweight and lights-out accu-rate By Richard Mann

I t’s a long way from Appalachia to Wyoming. And, when hunting in the wide-open West, it can be a long way from your muzzle to your buck. Maybe even farther from your truck to where you might find that buck. Reaching out can not only mean long shots; it can mean long walks, too. That’s why Proof Research was started, to fill a void in the market for highly accurate, light-weight barrels and rifles.

Using carbon-fiber technology, Proof Research builds rifles that are not only incredibly light, but incredibly accurate as well.

Original founders K.K. Jense of Jense Precision and Mike Degerness of Advanced Barrel Systems wanted to revolutionize the firearms world with carbon-fiber technology. Lone Wolf stocks and Lawrence Barrels soon joined the partnership, as did P2SI, an aerospace company from Dayton, Ohio. In a nutshell, Proof Research builds rifles using carbon-fiber barrels—the first-carbon fiber barrels to pass rigorous U.S. military testing—and carbon-fiber stocks. The end result is a light rifle that is not skeletonized and doesn’t sacrifice strength in any area. It shoots where you point it without relying on weight to stack bullets on top of each other.

I knew my Wyoming whitetail hunt last year would occur in big country, and I knew that my aging knees might not allow me to access it all. I needed reach and I needed precision if I wanted to be able to maximize my opportunities. The Proof Research 6-pound 13-ounce Terminus in .300 Winchester Magnum seemed like the perfect solution. Combined with Hornady’s new Precision Hunter ammo, I expected it to be lethal well beyond my shooting abilities. Some range time proved that 12-inch steel

targets at 450 yards were no match for the rifle and me—even from the unsupported, seated position. In the end, the old gnarly 10-point I caught sneaking up a brushy draw at 300 yards never stood a chance.

For 2016, Proof Research is offer-ing a limited number of rifles that are even lighter but just as accurate. The new Summit LTD weighs 6 pounds 10 ounces before the custom leaf-pattern paint and optics are added. It will be available in either 6.5 Creedmoor or .300 Winchester Magnum—but only 25 will be offered in each chambering. Each rifle will come with a custom Patriot case, a Boretech cleaning rod and bore guide, and a Leupold 4.5–14X VX3 riflescope mounted in Tally rings.

Suggested retail is $5,450. That’s not cheap, but if you want to climb higher and shoot farther, this is the kind of tool you’ll need. It’s also not a bad choice for old guys with bad knees who might need to reach out with their rifle instead of their legs. Booth #1016. (proofresearch.com)

The Summit LTD, which comes with a Leupold scope, will be available in either the 6.5 Creedmoor or a .300 Winchester Magnum.

The 20-gauge is an excellent choice for personal defense, and in response to consumer demand for shotguns in this chambering, CHIAPPA FIREARMS has introduced the Triple Threat 20-gauge. True to its name, it is a break-open shotgun with three barrels—two side-by-side and one on top. Configured as an awesome home defense or survival shotgun, the Triple Threat 20-gauge has compact 18.5-inch barrels and a removable buttstock for easy storage or to use as a pistol grip. This makes the Triple Threat por-table, easy to maneuver in tight spaces, and effective. For a finely finished upland shotgun, the Triple Crown is beautiful and functional. The Triple Crown is also available in the easy-shoot-ing 28-gauge for wingshoot-ers who prefer the shooting and pointing characteristics of an over/under but want a third shot. Booth #11737. (chiappafirearms.com)

three is better than two

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BLACKHAWK! ResetsThe manufacturer adopts a logo change and a return to its tactical roots By Robert Sadowski

T he trident is the symbol of the Navy SEALs and, appropriately, it is also the new logo for BLACKHAWK!, a company whose heritage is deeply

rooted in Navy Special Operations. “Our new logo is not only a nod to our past,” says Chuck Buis, product director for BLACKHAWK!, “but also a promise to continue our dedication to quality tactical products in the future.”

Since the acquisition of the BLACKHAWK! brand by Vista Outdoor in 2010, the brand did some soul searching. “We realized that the brand strayed too far from its original intent,” Buis says. “It needed to get back to its core products for customers like military, LE, private contractors, and hardcore tactical civilians.”

So what does this mean for dealers? “The importance to dealers,” says Buis, “is the back-to-roots focus on core product lines like hol-sters, firearms accessories, the tactical nylon that the company was founded on, and our original military apparel that was designed for military contractors, LE personnel, and range training.” The new trident logo is designed to let customers know BLACKHAWK! is back, but it also serves as a reminder to the employ-

ees—engineers, designers, machine operators, and the rest—of the brand’s mission statement.

BLACKHAWK! was founded by a retired Navy SEAL whose nylon pack had failed dur-ing a mission, potentially endangering his life. He vowed then and there that if he got out alive, he’d make gear the right way, and that obsession with quality gear still drives the com-pany today. From best-in-class tactical nylon to clothing for military operators, private contrac-tors, LE personnel, security forces, and con-cealed-carry civilians, BLACKHAWK! is a leader in tactical gear.

What is new from BLACKHAWK! is the next generation of MSR accessories. The com-pany has always produced an accessory line for the rifles, including stocks, pistol grips, BUIS, and other accessories. But for 2016, its MSR accessories will be greatly expanded to include more stocks and grips, and also charging han-dles, sights, handguards, and other proprietary items that have just recently cleared the patent-application process.

Holsters manufacturers by BLACKHAWK! are viewed as some of the finest in the industry. “The BLACKHAWK! SERPA holster is the

issue holster for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps,” says Buis. “But the SERPA system is also used by the British SAS, the German Army, numerous state police agencies in Germany, and many LE agencies in the U.S.”

The new holster models include the Gripbreak holster in nylon or leather. It features a patented locking mechanism for secure weapon retention and a simple thumb-release lever that allows the user to maintain a normal grip for a quick, smooth draw. SRP: $43.95, nylon; $78.95, leather. The A.R.C. (Appendix Reversible Carry) IWB holster is built of a soft yet durable polymer and is designed for comfortable and versatile carry. It is ambidextrous, comes with two belt clips, and the retention detent is adjustable. Booth #14551. (blackhawk.com)

BLACKHAWK! intends to refocus on core products,

such as holsters and other firearms accessories.


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From Yellow Boy to Long BeardWinchester thrives on innovation By David Draper

S ince 1866, Winchester has built a thriving business on a solid foun-dation of performance, and more importantly, innovation. Starting with that first “Yellow Boy” rifle chambered in .44 with a new and improved tubular magazine, wooden stock, and distinctive brass sideplates, the company has been known as leading firearms, and later ammunition, conception and design. Today, the brand holds more than 2,000 patents related to firearms, defining a legacy of brilliant thinking in the arena of design and manufacturing.

“The Winchester brand is associated with some of the most revered ammunition and firearms products ever introduced to the world,” says Tom O’Keefe, president of Winchester Ammunition. “The company is certainly built on its rich heritage and sup-port of the shooting sports industry for more than 150 years, but we have clearly set the industry standard over time in developing technology-driven products. Innovation keeps the Winchester brand relevant, which is criti-cal to our success.”

That innovation-driven success started early on for the fledgling firearms company. After the Yellow Boy, Winchester continued to manufacture new firearms, building on the

technology and designs of both its in-house engineers and legendary firearms inventors such as John Browning. In the last decades of the 19th century, Winchester introduced such iconic rifles as the Model 1873, built for its proprie-tary .44/40 Winchester Center Fire car-tridge, the 1876, and the 1886, designed by Browning. Just before the turn of the last century, Winchester launched its first commercially available smokeless car-tridge—the .30 WCF, better known as the .30/30. The round, when combined with the success of the lever-action Winchester 1894, is thought to be responsible for killing more deer than

any other cartridge.Although the development of the lever-

action, including the 1887 repeating shot-gun, defines Winchester’s early years, the company worked on refining other actions as well. In 1883, Winchester launched its first bolt-action rifle, the Winchester-Hotchkiss Magazine Gun. Seven years later, the company brought out a pump-action, the Model 1890 .22 rimfire, firing the new .22 Winchester Rim Fire cartridge. That round also found a home in the Winchester Model 1903, one of the first

Dubbed the Ma Deuce, the M2 Browning Machine Gun has been adopted by military forces around the world as an effective tool for both land- and air-based warfare.

The .300 Win. Mag., based on the .375 H&H, remains a popular option for many long-range big-game hunters.


autoloading rifles to gain wide commercial success.

The first half of the 20th centu-ry marked major design innova-tions throughout the world of firearms and ammunition, much of it spurred by the need to arm soldiers fighting in the global conflicts that define the time peri-od. During World War I, Winchester armorers redesigned the British Enfield Number 14 rifle to accommodate the .30/06 chambering, ultimately producing more than 500,000 U.S. Model 1917 Enfield rifles for U.S. troops.

John Browning worked closely with Winchester, finalizing the concept of the now-legendary Browning Automatic Rifle, known in the trenches as the BAR. Company engineers were instru-mental in honing Browning’s design to accommodate the mass production needed to arm U.S. troops, and the company shipped nearly 50,000 of the rifles over-seas during WWI.

The year 1918 marked another major collaborative effort with Browning, as he worked to develop a larger caliber for anti-armor use during the war, and a gun to han-

dle it. The end result was the .50 BMG round and its rifle, the M2 Browning Machine Gun. Dubbed the Ma Deuce, the M2 saw limited action toward the end of the first world war, but has since been adopted by military around the world as an effective tool for both land- and air-based warfare.

During World War II, the Ma Deuce was joined on the battle-field by another Winchester inno-vation—the M1 Carbine. The compact carbine was designed by Winchester engineers, including David Williams and Edwin Pugsley, in just 13 days in response to a request from the U.S. Army Ordnance department to develop a smaller, lighter weapon for mobile or specialized units not wanting to carry the standard M1 Garand. The new M1, chambered in .30 Carbine, weighed under 6 pounds with the loaded 15-round magazine in place, and measured less than 3 feet in overall length. More than six million of them saw action during the conflict, and they were used in Korea and Vietnam before being replaced by the M16 in the early 1960s.

While the Winchester firearms division was hard at work, the ammunition side of the business was just as eager to introduce innovative new products for both the warfighter and sport shooter. In 1925, wildcatters within the building developed a necked-down .30/06, designed for big-game hunting. Though that cartridge, the .270 Winchester, was slow to catch on, it has since become possi-bly the most widely used hunt-ing round today, thanks in no small part to another Winchester product—the Model 70 Rifleman’s Rifle—and ardent fan and popular outdoor writer Jack O’Connor. Other popular calibers devel-oped within Winchester’s

walls include the .243 Winchester, the .300 Winchester Magnum, and the short-action .308.

The 1960s saw innovation within the shotshell division, including the introduction of the Mark 5 Shot Collar. Though small in size, this band of polyethylene encompass-ing the shot made big changes in the way shotshells performed. By carrying the shot through the bar-rel and keeping it together past the muzzle, the Mark 5 created denser patterns farther downrange, increasing the effective distance of any shotshell equipped with it.

More recently, Winchester has taken that concept to a whole new level with Shot-Lok technology. Instead of protecting the shot with a cup, Shot-Lok encapsulates it within a resin. This hard cylinder of shot shatters on ignition, creat-ing a dense layer of powder that protects the shot from deformity as it travels the length of the bar-rel. First introduced in the Long Beard XR turkey load, Shot-Lok technology is now available in Rooster XR upland loads and will probably see other new shotshell iterations in the near future.

From the Yellow Boy rifle to Blind Side hex-shaped shot, Winchester has been at the fore-

front of engineering excellence for a century and a half, and the brand continues to drive inno-vation and new technologies in the development of ammuni-tion and firearms. With a deep emphasis on innovative prod-ucts, Winchester remains one of the most recognized and respected brands around the world.

“Our brand is built on integ-rity, hard work, and a deep focus on its most loyal custom-ers,” says O’Keefe. Booth #13334. (winchester.com)

John Browning worked closely with Winchester, finalizing the concept of the now-legendary Browning Automatic Rifle, known in the trenches as the BAR. The BAR saw action in both World War I and World War II.

During World War I, Winchester armorers redesigned the British Enfield Number 14 rifle to accommodate the .30/06 chambering.

The .30/30 was one reason the Model 1894 became so popular with hunters.

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Plano has introduced its new 1312 Field Box Holster, offering an improve-ment on its venerable Field Box, which can hold six to eight boxes of ammu-nition within its tough plastic shell. The Field Box has been a favorite among hunters and sport shooters for decades, and this new Model 1312 Field Box Holster features a ballistic-nylon wrap that transforms it into a fully dressed field bag.

“Plano’s new 1312 Field Box Holster takes the time-tested practicality of the Plano Model 1312 Field Box to new levels by literally wrapping it in an additional layer of utility,” says Ben Rand, marketing director for Plano Synergy. “With specialized pockets for your pistol, extra magazines, and other shooting gear, the 1312 Field Box Holster is the perfect companion for a day at the range.”

The 1312 Field Box Holster comes with its own Field Box, which attaches quickly and securely via simple built-in webbing loops at each end, but still allows for easy access to the contents inside. It is further complemented by a multitude of storage options, including a large zippered outer pocket that provides space for shooting accessories, tools, or personal protec-tive gear; a large covered side pocket; and two specialized magazine pock-ets. The 1312 Field Box Holster also includes a hinged, heavy-duty handle, a water-resistant O-ring seal, a heavy-duty brass bail latch, non-slip cleated feet, and an adjustable padded shoul-der strap with heavy-duty quick- connect hardware that makes carrying everything a breeze.

“Have Plano 1312 Field Boxes for each cartridge you shoot,” suggests Rand. “Many shooters do, and the new 1312 Field Box holster is quickly interchange-able with any Plano Model 1312 Field Box or Ammo Can.” SRP: $34.99. Booth #14829. (planomolding.com) —Peter Suciu

PLANO LOADS UP WITH A NEW FIELD BOX HOLSTER

The Front Line of ConservationRMEF launches a social media campaign

T he Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is using the 2016 SHOT Show to launch an extensive “Hunting Is Conservation” social media campaign. The aim is to highlight the role hunters play in wildlife conservation.

“Hunters play a vital role in contributing to North America’s wildlife, habitat, and resource conservation,” says Steve Decker, RMEF vice president of marketing. “We have more than 2.3 million people who currently follow or have visited our social media platforms. The goal of this campaign is to reach out well beyond those numbers to hunters and non-hunters alike in order to educate, inform, and reinforce how hunters and hunting protect and fund conservation efforts.”

RMEF will use research provided by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Responsive Management, Southwick Associates, and other sources, as well as RMEF’s fact sheet, “25 Reasons Why Hunting Is Conservation.”

The weekly offerings will include national statistics and trends that highlight how hunt-ing funds federal and state wildlife agencies that manage wildlife resources. A state-by-state breakdown will also show how hunting is a major economic driver from coast to coast. Posts will appear every Monday (except holi-days) for approximately 18 months. The cam-paign will include infographics, videos, blog posts, photos, links from media outlets, cur-

rent and historical content from Bugle maga-zine, and other information.

“Hunters should be proud of the front- runner role they play in supporting conserva-tion,” says Decker. “We want to encourage all sportsmen and women, plus our sister conservation organizations and members of the outdoor industry, to share this content across their various social media channels. We believe the viral nature of this campaign can make a real and tangible difference in offering education on how ‘Hunting Is Conservation.’”

Campaign charter sponsors include Federal Premium Ammunition, Leupold, Realtree, and Yeti Coolers. RMEF welcomes all others to join the effort. Booth #10125. (rmef.org)

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is using the 2016 SHOT Show to launch a new campaign on social media to help demonstrate the vital role hunters play in North American resource conservation and game management.

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New DirectionSJK gears up for the tactical hunter By Bill Miller

A few years ago, the team at Slumberjack wanted to jump-start the company’s brand of affordable but quality sleep-ing bags, tents, and camp cots. Research showed strong markets for bowhunters and women. No big secret there. But the studies also revealed a growing market for what might be called the “tactical hunter.”

“We saw tons of ex-military dudes and women were getting into hunting when they got home from being deployed,” says marketing director Marily MacDonald.

These were guys who may have been hunters before serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now they were veterans of tough, long-range patrols, carrying full packs laden with equip-ment and food, plus extra water and ammuni-tion—perfect conditioning for do-it-yourself hunts in rugged backcountry.

But these customers also have discriminating tastes. They understand what gear works best in combat situations—sturdy, high-end stuff they probably couldn’t afford as civilians.

To reach this market, Slumberjack set out to make lightweight military-grade packs and other gear, but with the low pricing that has made the company popular for nearly 60 years. To reflect its new direction, Slumberjack has also embraced a new name: SJK.

“Maybe SJK is not the lightest stuff on the market,” MacDonald says of the new products, “but it certainly is affordable.”

Recharging the Brand➤ Slumberjack was formed in 1957, and by the 1970s it was very popular with hunters. Sleeping bags called the Camp Master, the Hunt King, the Caribou, and the Elk were bestsellers. The company branched into gen-eral sporting goods markets with camp chairs, cots, and tents. Until last year, it was owned by Boulder, Colorado–based American Recreation Products. Sister companies includ-ed outdoor giants Kelty, Sierra Designs, Wenzel, and others. Exxel Outdoors pur-chased the group in April 2015. It has offices and/or operations in Los Angeles, Boulder, and Haleyville, Alabama.

MacDonald says having Kelty and Sierra Designs in the family has helped Slumberjack, whose momentum stalled after the start of the new millennium.

“For 10 years we didn’t even do photo shoots for Slumberjack,” she says.

A change was needed, so the company enlist-ed talent from other American Rec companies to help devise the new brand. Subsequently, Slumberjack was introduced to the “tactical hunter.”

“It was an exciting development window,” says Russell Rowell, vice president and brand manager. “We focused on a rising market seg-ment, creating products to meet its needs.”

Game Team➤ It already was a competitive market, but the team was game. All four members were lifelong hunters. Rowell grew up chasing whitetails in Oklahoma. Nels Larson, the product manager, was also a backpacker and mountain biker from Minnesota. MacDonald worked in her dad’s Colorado elk camp cooking meals and field-dressing game for clients. And Vince Mares, design manager, was a paratrooper with the Army’s 82nd Airborne during Operation Desert Storm. He brought first-hand knowledge of military gear, both good and bad. And the entire team understood that targeting a new specific market required attention to detail.

“We were saying, ‘Okay, we need to move in the right direction,’” MacDonald says. “We knew we couldn’t just throw stuff against the wall. So we developed packs with tons of PALS and straps for odd-shaped items, like a quar-tered elk. Now we’re making technical prod-ucts as well.”

The lineup includes the Bounty 4500 inter-nal-frame pack and the Rail Hauler 2500 with an external frame. Both packs come with a stowable gun or bow-carrying system and are available in Highlander or Mandrake camou-flage patterns from Kryptek.

Both packs cost about $300, considerably less than popular competitors in the tactical back-pack market. Two smaller patrol packs—a lum-bar pack and a “rifle hauler mat,” all in Kryptek patterns—complete the line.

Camo Cred➤ Partnering with Kryptek was critical to reaching the tactical hunter, MacDonald says. Elite military units had already embraced the patterns.

“Kryptek had an appeal, which gave us an authenticity as well,” she says.“It’s cool camo.”

The company honors its sleeping bag roots with more than 30 units in the catalog. The Ronin series, for example, has three light-weight bags for less than $100, the warmest of which is rated to -20 F.

It also keeps striving for comfort with its “hunting cloaks.” Think of a vertical “arms-free” sleeping bag that cloaks the hunter while he’s perched in a treestand on a bone-chilling morning. They’re available in Kryptek patterns or blaze orange.

“With SJK’s reborn direction, and Kryptek’s partnership, we have seen explosive growth as our story resonates in a market of ‘me-toos,’” Rowell says.

On the March➤ New for 2016, the company has a lightweight four-season tent, a pack designed for women, and a premium sleeping bag filled with DriDown. This goose down insulation, perfect-ed by sister companies Sierra Designs and Kelty, is treated with a water-repelling membrane.

Longtime Slumberjack customer Trevon Stoltzfus, co-host of the Outback Outdoors hunt-ing show, says he proudly joined SJK as a prod-uct testing ambassador.

“My first backcountry sleeping bag was a Slumberjack,” he says. “SJK tents and sleeping systems are a staple in my backcountry arsenal. I’ve had the chance to beta test many new products that have been recently released, and in my opinion, there is no better bang for your buck in gearing up for the high country.”

Stoltzfus says he appreciates how the compa-ny heeds recommendations from testers. For example, the Rail Hauler pack was tweaked when testers complained they were pinched by pressure points on the suspension system.

“They listen to us,” he says. “We come to them with a practical problem. And, let’s be honest, most manufacturers don’t want to hear about the problems. But they address it, fix it, and they make the product better.” Booth #10226. (slumberjack.com)

Slumberjack’s new premium sleeping bag uses goose-down insulation filled with DriDown, a

water-repelling membrane perfected by sister companies Sierra Designs and Kelty.

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Featherweight FirepowerFederal Premium raises the bar on self-defense ammo

for small-caliber handguns

I n response to the growing popularity of pocket protectors by citizens of all ages and demographics—particularly among female shooters looking for a downsized yet deadly defender—Federal Premium recently expanded its cele-brated Personal Defense HST lineup with a new 99-grain .380 Auto Micro load. “This new ammo was designed to raise the bar in small-frame personal defense handgun performance by striking a balance between reliable expansion and penetration,” says Federal Premium product marketing manager Mike Holm. “Although the round will never match the ballistics of a full-power duty pistol, owners of small guns can now have more confidence than ever in their firearm’s ability to reliably stop a threat.”

Getting this product to market required engineers to jump a number of hurdles. “To redefine the .380’s capabilities, we had overcome design issues inherent to the small cartridge, such as limited energy and available phys-ical space,” he says. These includ-ed jacket thickness and taper, internal and external skiving geometry and depths, ogive pro-file, and hollowpoint geometry.

“It was an exhaustive process, but it yielded a completely new bullet design,” Holm says. “We didn’t just take a .45 ACP, .40 S&W, or 9mm HST bullet and make it smaller. Like the rest of the HST family, it provides con-sistent expansion, optimum pene-tration, and unparalleled threat-stopping terminal performance. Its revolutionary deep, tapered hollowpoint won’t easily plug, and the jacket and core hold together

to deliver nearly 100 percent weight retention on target.”

After much research and testing, the manufacturer determined that a 99-grain load was ideal. “During the course of development, engi-neers evaluated numerous designs and weights,” he says. “While they did find workable pro-jectiles and loads were achievable at 90 and 95 grains, our data drove us to the 99-grain design because it provided the most consistent performance. The higher weight of a 99-grain projectile provides slightly better penetration depth while achieving equal or larger expanded diameter. The resulting lower muzzle veloc-ity yields a longer recoil impulse to reduce the perceived sharpness of recoil often associated with

micro handguns. It also provides a longer duration for slide stroke, which ensures reliable feed and function.”

One popular measure of termi-nal performance for defensive handgun ammunition is the FBI

Ammunition Testing Protocol. This includes a series of

rigorous scenarios in which bullets are shot through materials, such as 10 percent ordnance gelatin, lam-inated automotive safety glass, plywood,

wallboard, and heavy clothing specified by the FBI.

Holm notes that while Federal Premium’s larger-caliber ammunition is designed to meet and exceed these requirements, the smaller .380 Auto wasn’t. But that doesn’t mean it won’t do the job when needed.

“The HST .380 Auto Micro was engineered to stop assailants clad in everyday attire in open-air environments,” he says. “With bare, calibrated 10 percent gel, you can expect 8.5 to 9.5 inches of penetration. In the FBI’s heavy-clothing test, which gives you a baseline for materials such as denim and fleece, you can expect an additional half inch to 1 inch of penetration compared to bare gel. The .380 Auto was not built for breaching heavier material, so if you expect to shoot through auto glass or ply-wood in personal defense situa-tions, we recommend you pick a larger- caliber HST.”

That said, Holm believes the HST .380 Auto Micro will still deliver “the best possible blend of performance in a compact hand-gun platform.” Booth #14551. (federalpremium.com)

Federal Premium’s HST .380 Auto Micro ammo was designed to deliver good performance in a compact handgun.


f e a t u r e s

Bullets by DopplerRadar shows bullet tips melt in flight. Result: poor accuracy,

steep arcs. Fix: Hornady’s ELD-X By Wayne Van Zwoll

At 1,200 yards, the gong resembled an aspirin, even through 18X glass. “Two minutes right…. No, three. Just shy of three….” I milked the last ounce from the trigger. Recoil from the .300 jarred the image, but as the Leupold set-tled, I saw the aspirin wink. A faint whock! followed. “Pretty much center,” observed my spotter, Dave Emary, as if any other result would have shown me woefully incompetent.

“Good wind call.” He’d been spot-on. I’d not otherwise have allowed nearly a yardstick of drift.

Emary has a long history of engineering better bullets, first for military use, then at Hornady. In this case, he and Joe Thielen, with Jayden Quinlan and Ryan Damman, had been using Doppler radar to chart flight paths of fast-stepping bullets. They noticed irregularities in the deceleration curves. The best, if unlikely, explanation: a change in bullet shape during flight. But how could that be?

“We found polymer bullet tips were melting,” Dave says. “Friction-induced temperatures run as high as 800 degrees F. As BC [ballistic coefficient] is largely a function of bullet shape, tip deformation trims BC. Trajectories are steeper than we’d calculated. And, of course, inconsistency in tip shape impairs accuracy.”

Such findings have eluded ballis-ticians because, until recently, there was no practical way to chart bullet flight with enough data points to see bumps in the curve. “Our work with military Doppler radar in 2011 was a real eye-opener,”

Emary says. “Last year we bought our own unit. It registers bullet location at intervals of less than 2 feet to ranges approaching a mile. We get a graph that shows the drag component of bullet flight.”

Flatter, Smaller➤ The search for flatter bullet flight and smaller groups dates to the development of conical bullets for muzzleloaders. Current inter-est in hitting at extreme range has spurred development of longer, sleeker missiles; some require fast-twist rifling to stabilize in flight. The pointed polymer nose has appeared on myriad hunting bullets, even in loads commonly used at modest ranges. With long, rocket-shaped bullets came talk of ballistic coefficient. But this mea-sure of a bullet’s ability to drill air is often misunderstood.

Without getting too deep in the weeds, Emary reminds me that ballistic coefficient is “a conve-nient way to handle drag. But BC does not define the drag on a bul-

let. It comes close if the bullet is similar in form to what we call a standard projectile. The G1 stan-dard looks like a 19th-century artillery round. The G7 standard is a better match for modern tar-get and hunting bullets, with a long nose and tapered heel.”

The higher the BC, the better the bullet fights drag. Result: lower rate of deceleration, flatter flight, better wind-bucking ability. But BC is a comparative measure, meaningless apart from the stan-dard projectile. BC is commonly determined by measuring velocity at two or three points along a bul-let’s path, 100 yards apart, or cal-culating time of flight between them.

“Unfortunately, not all BCs given by bullet makers are cor-rect,” Emary says. “Some are sim-ply optimistic, others determined with few data points at short yardage and at launch speeds under 2,500 fps. The Doppler unit shows us clearly that the BCs of poly-tip bullets with long-range capability, driven fast, don’t

hold up at distance.”Tip deformation isn’t always a

problem. Quinlan points out that some bullets don’t go fast enough to reach the melt temperature of the polymer. Others—say, speedy .22 varmint bullets—exit at blind-ing speed but decelerate quickly, given their modest ballistic coeffi-cients. Still others, designed for long, fast flight, don’t spend enough time in the air to suffer tip deformation.

“It doesn’t show up on Doppler radar until the 300-yard mark,” says Quinlan. “Impaired perfor-mance due to tip melt happens to bullets of roughly .550 starting BC, launched at magnum [3,000 fps] velocities over distance. Polymer-tip bullets that don’t fly fast enough or long enough to melt may still reach the glass transition point, or the tempera-ture at which the nylon or Delrin loses its glossy surface and becomes rubbery. But if there’s any resulting difference in bullet arc for those bullets, it’s so small you can’t shoot it.”

Hornady’s engineering team used a variety of top-end rifles and optics to test Precision Hunter ammo at a distance. The results speak for themselves.


f e a t u r e sf e a t u r e s

The Polymer Advantage➤ What about hollowpoint bullets favored by competitive riflemen for 1,000-yard targets? Sierra’s MatchKing and Hornady’s own BTHP Match have a great record.

“But hollowpoints aren’t as uni-form at the nose,” says Thielen. “Forming the jacket leaves irregu-larities, however tiny. Polymer makes every meplat—the nose-end profile—the same. Better accuracy results.”

A needle-sharp tip, by the way, won’t afford noticeably flatter flight than one you can press comfortably with your finger. The ogive, or shape of the bullet from nose to parallel-sided shank, figures more heavily in determining arc.

Impact drives the polymer tip into its core cavity, initiating upset. “Polymer-tip bullets aren’t just hollowpoints with a cap,” says Thielen. “The core is designed to work with the tip, the cavity pro-portioned to cause the rate and degree of expansion desired.” After the core is exposed during penetration, the material and dis-position of the tip, which accounts for less than 1 percent of the bullet’s weight, matter not.

The Hornady team on the ELD-X project emphatically denounce the use of match bullets for big game. “With OTM [open-tip match] bullets, we see erratic bullet tracks in gelatin, unreliable, penetration, and upset,” says Quinlan. “The tips can collapse inward, resulting in no expansion.

Or they shear, causing the shank to tumble.”

As most shooters know, Hornady developed pliable, resil-ient bullet tips for lever-rifle car-tridges, so pointed bullets could be stacked safely, nose-to-primer, in tube magazines. They extend the effective reach of the .30/30 and kin and enhance accuracy. I’ve used FTX (Flex Tip) bullets in LeverEvolution ammunition to kill game as big as elk, at ranges beyond practical limits of tradi-tional blunt-bullet loads.

“Here, we were compelled to think in the opposite direction,” Quinlan says. “Our goal was a polymer tip that wouldn’t melt during sustained aerodynamic heating. We wanted to reduce the variability of the drag component at distance, and its net effect on bullet arc and accuracy.”

The team came up with a hard polymer nose Hornady calls the Heat Shield Tip. The patented material has a glass transition temp of 475 degrees F, eight times as high as that of standard nylon and Delrin tips. Its melt temperature of 700 degrees F is twice as high. That mark won’t quite match the heat endured by some bullet tips, but it’s high enough to ensure tip melt will be insignificant.

“Even bullets that generate more heat won’t sustain it for long,” Quinlan says. “As with a marshmallow near a fire, heat over time causes a change in shape. No bullet reaches the 700-degree threshold quickly or exceeds it for long.”

Match Accuracy in a Hunting Bullet➤ The next step was to design a bullet for that shield. Enter the ELD-X, for Extremely Low Drag, Expanding, which is being intro-duced here at the 2016 SHOT Show. Predictably streamlined, ELD-X bullets are hard to distin-guish from other long-range bullets until you look at the tip. It’s red, but darker than other Hornady polymer tips, and translucent. Slightly larger than an SST tip, with a bigger shank, it’s fitted to a lead-core bullet in a nose cavity coned at the bottom. The ELD-X’s tapered jacket features an Interlock “pinch” high on the shank, to pro-tect more of the heel than in Hornady Interlock bullets. Thick at the base, the jacket is designed to ensure “adequate retained weight” in big game at impact speeds up to 2,900 fps. Jacket taper at the nose, and the generous tip cavity at the jacket mouth, trigger upset

down to 1,600 fps. “We didn’t design this bullet to

encourage long shots at game,” cautions Damman, “though in tri-als we’ve logged kills as far as 865 yards.” Such shooting has ethical implications. What you get with ELD-X is unmatched versatility. It delivers superior accuracy and flat-ter flight at distance, with lethal expansion and penetration over a wide range of impact speeds. “It’s a deadly bullet, as long as you never shoot beyond the zero range of your rifle,” he says.

At this writing, more than 70 animals have been killed with the ELD-X. None hit have been lost. I got my chance in Scotland, hunting red deer. One evening we spied an eligible stag across rain-whipped heather. Crossing an icy stream, my stalker (guide) and I wound through a series of hills, then bellied to a crest and squinted into the wind, lashing us from the Atlantic. The stag was still there. I eased the Sauer ahead and, with an eye to the off-shoulder, settled the

what to expect

CARTRIDGE

ELD-X BULLET WEIGHT, GRAINS

VELOCITY, FPS

G1 BC

G7 BC

6.5 CREEDMOOR 143 2,700 .620 (EST.) .311 (EST.)

7MM REM. MAG. 162 2,975 .613 .308

7MM (NOT LOADED) 175 NA .660 .330

.308 WIN. 178 2,600 (EST.) .535 (EST.) .271 (EST.)

.30/06 SPFLD. 178 2,750 (EST.) .535 (EST.) .271 (EST.)

.300 RCM 178 2,900 (EST.) .535 (EST.) .271 (EST.)

.300 WIN. MAG. 200 2,860 .626 .315

.308 (NOT LOADED) 212 NA .673 .336

.300 RUM 220 2,910 .680 (EST.) .342 (EST.)

.30-378 WBY. 220 3,025 .680 (EST.) .320 (EST.)

As with many sophisticated instruments, Doppler radar units vary in size, cost, and capability. The unit Hornady has used to develop ELD-X (and ELD-Match) bullets resembles a white porcelain plate the size of a mid-priced flat-screen television. A horizontal split divides it. The top section is the sending unit, the bottom section the receiver. Like a laser rangefinder, the Doppler unit determines position of a distant object—in this case, a bullet—by reading a bounce. It uses high-frequency microwaves to measure what’s called the Doppler shift in frequency reflected from the bullet to determine its velocity, time of flight, and distance traveled.

WHAT IS DOPPLER RADAR?

crosswire on the last rib of the quartering deer, 90 yards off. The blast of the .300 Winchester blended with the thump of the hit. The stag dropped.

Gelatin blocks have told me as much about the 200-grain ELD-X bullet I used there and on steel plates at distance. At 150-yard velocities, voluminous temporal cavities in the gelatin extended from 2 to 11 inches along 23-inch bullet tracks, tapering to bullet diameter at 18 inches. At 800-yard velocities, the gelatin suf-fered less, but the temporal cavi-ties were about the same length behind straight-line penetration that ran to 24 inches. Bullets emerged in traditional form, 150-yard impact producing broader mushrooms but also exacting more weight from the nose.

Bullets from three well-known competitors were then fired for comparison. One hollowpoint at 150-yard speed blew a wide but short temporal cavity from 5 to 13 inches in, stopping at just 16 inches. The others drove deeper, yielding longer cavities, but one bullet cut a scimitar path. At 800-yard speeds, two of the three

competitors’ bullets strayed off-course in the gelatin. All wound channels were noticeably dimin-ished in length, breadth, or both.

Initially, Hornady is offering ELD-X bullets in loaded ammuni-tion with a new Precision Hunter label. Velocities are slated to match those of Hornady’s Custom line, not Superformance loads. The manufacturer is using tempera-ture-insensitive, single-base pow-ders. Two bullets—a 175-grain

7mm and a 212-grain .30—will be offered for handloading only.

If you’re already shooting at dis-tance with high-BC bullets, the ELD-X (and ELD-Match bullets to follow) will deliver smaller groups with less vertical stringing. Hornady claims half-minute accu-racy. You’ll get less drop, more energy at long range. Expect no measurable advantage at modest ranges over other high-quality bul-lets, like Hornady’s SSTs.

Cost? Ammunition with ELD-X bullets and their Heat Shield tips are scheduled to sell for about the same price as Superformance with SST bullets. Prices for 100-bullet boxes surprised me. Handloaders will pay less for the ELD-X than for flagship bullets from Barnes, Nosler, and Berger. I suspect other ELD-X bullets will appear later, and that the Precision Hunter ammunition stable will grow. Booth #13145. (hornady.com)

Gun shop loiterers who hold court on the physics of bullet flight and recite ballistics charts as high school sophomores once did the periodic table will relish the inside story of bullets changing BC en route to game. Other customers—the majori-ty—will drift from the math and stare vacuously at the translucent red tips. To convince them you’re not trying to peddle the new color, you’ll explain that a Heat Shield Tip maintains its form under the press of 800-degree heat. “That’s the heat from friction on the nose of a high-speed bullet. If the bullet has a high BC and stays aloft long enough, the heat will deform ordinary poly-mer tips. This new one doesn’t change shape. So

the bullet flies flatter, retains more speed and energy at any range. It is more accurate because each tip is the same and stays so in flight.”

You’ll talk about upset too, because “the ELD-X is a hunting bullet. It has a lead core, a tapered jacket. The cavity for the Heat Shield Tip is big, so the bullet expands even at long range, down to impact speeds of 1,600 fps. But it’s a stout bullet, with Hornady’s Interlock design. It holds together when driven into game at 2,900 fps, and it pene-trates straighter than do hollowpoints. If you want a bullet that will do everything well, and shoot more accurately than you can, this is the one!”

Price? You smile. And clinch the deal.

SELLING THE ELD-X

f e a t u r e s

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Swedish SteelMorakniv delivers quality products at a low price By Bill Miller

I f you could design your own fixed-blade knife, you’d probably want the blade made of

quality stainless or high- carbon steel. The knife would also feature a three-quarter tang and the ergo-nomic handle would be very easy to grip. Throw in leg-endary Swedish craftsman-ship? Check.

But how much would that cost? Maybe $100? More? How about starting at around $20?

Morakniv of Sweden has delivered rugged but afford-able knives to European mar-kets since 1891. And the com-pany has longtime fans among U.S. knife aficionados, says Candice Mann, who oversees North American sales. But, she asserts, Morakniv products are evolving from “the best-kept secret in knives.”

Mann is the international sales manager for Seattle-based Industrial Revolution, Inc., Morakniv’s distributor in the U.S. and Canada. The compa-ny also handles UCO candle lanterns, Esbit stoves, and Light My Fire camp kitchen accessories and fire starters. It’s a $20 million business, Mann says, with Morakniv a big player in that since the two companies joined forces three years ago.

Graeme Esarey, president of Industrial Revolution, says demand for Mora knives has challenged the company’s supply and distribution capabilities. “But we hope that as we reach market penetration, we can get down to high double-digit growth, which may make invento-ry planning easier.”

Mann has worked for other knife companies, so it was perplexing to her how Morakniv could pro-duce low-cost knives with

high-end materials like the Swedish steel Sandvik. “The price points and quality con-trol are really compelling,” she says. “I had never picked up this product before, but when it became my job, I had to double-check the prices.”

But, she notes, Mora keeps prices low “with massive volume and state-of-the-art factory environ-ments. They have stream-lined logistics as well. And us partnering with them helps, too. We can stream-

line the importing of the product.”

Plug the words “Mora” and “knife” into a search engine and rave reviews will surface. For example, Mora offers numerous versions for the hunting and outdoors markets, including the Companion, available in both high-carbon and stainless steels. It starts at the afore-mentioned $20, though the online shopper can find it for a few dollars less. The Bushcraft costs around $40. It comes with a green or orange handle.

Last year the company unveiled tactical versions with black handles and a matching anti-corrosion coating on the blades. The

spines are billed as thick and rigid enough to han-dle strikes on a fire start-er. The handles have a texture that feels rubber-ized, affording a solid

grip under wet or slippery conditions.

New products will be showcased at this year’s SHOT Show, featuring pricing options that range

from very basic to premium, which should fuel even more growth.

“Because price points are really low,” Esarey says, “we expect these knives to cross

over into all kinds of markets, including survival

and e-prep.” Booth #1446. (industrialrev.com)

Massive volume and a state-of-the-art factory helps Morakniv deliver high-performing, price- competitive products.

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THE WORLD’S FIRST

WIRELESS LASER &

WHITE LIGHT SYSTEM.

SMART. SIMPLE. SECURE.™

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GIVEAWAYS • BEER • SMOKELESS RANGE CONTEST

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Get Real! T here is no doubt that we live in a digital age. The

phones we carry in our pockets are more powerful than the computers that sent a man to the moon, and with each new model that’s released, the capa-

bilities of these tiny devices seem to increase exponentially. We’ve become so accustomed to this technology that it seems like your phone is the only thing you need to carry with you no matter where you go.

Unless, of course, you have to tighten the screw on your eye-glasses. Or pull a fishing hook out of your son’s thumb. Or slice an apple into thirds at a family picnic. In these situations, and countless others, that amazing piece of tech-nology in your pocket is suddenly as worthless as a colander on a sinking ship. Regardless of how dependent we become on elec-tronics, the reality is that there are real-world problems modern tech-nology can’t solve. It’s that concept that Leatherman is aiming to remind its consumers of as it launches its refreshed brand iden-tity at this year’s SHOT Show.

As the originator of the multi-tool, and arguably the most recog-nized brand in the category, it would seem that Leatherman would have no need to reestablish its brand. But Bobbie Parisi, vice president of marketing for Leatherman Tool Group, explains that the new brand isn’t about tak-ing the company in a different direction, but rather remaining relevant to consumers who are liv-ing in a completely different world than the one that existed when Tim Leatherman introduced the

first multi-tool in 1983.“The Leatherman mission hasn’t

changed,” she says. “But how we accomplish that mission is different now. We need to continue to con-nect with our consumers on an emotional level, and this new brand road map allows us to do that. No matter who you are, you can put your real life into that concept and find a time when your Leatherman helped you get out of a tough situation.”

That concept is not only the basis for Leatherman’s refreshed brand identity—it’s also the focus of its international marketing campaign that will roll out at this year’s SHOT Show, kicking off with the completely new trade show booth Leatherman is unveil-ing at the show. In addition, Parisi says, dealers can expect to see new packaging, updated marketing materials, interactive merchandis-ing displays, and a revamped web-site that are all designed to engage consumers and remind them that as cool as tech might be, it can never replace tools that never need to be recharged.

Booth #14512. (leatherman.com) —Christopher Cogley

Tim Leatherman (inset) intro-duced the first—and arguably most recognizable—multi-tool in 1983.


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Winchester Repeating Arms will cele-brate the 150th anniversary of the Winchester brand at this year’s SHOT Show, January 19–22, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a special display. Featured in the booth will be several historical guns and items of interest. It’s not every day you have the chance to see firearms with a historical con-nection, but attendees will have the opportunity to view some truly unique guns.

Winchester Repeating Arms, working with the Cody Firearms Museum, will have on display five historically signifi-cant firearms that match the 150th commemorative firearms being intro-duced in 2016.

On display will be a Model 1866, the first-ever Winchester branded rifle; Buffalo Bill’s Model 1873 Smoothbore that he used in his Wild West Show; President Eisenhower’s custom Model 1894; President Kennedy’s custom Model 70; and former Winchester Canada president R.F. Bucher’s custom Model 101. In addition, Buffalo Bill’s gauntlets and cowboy hat will be on display.

The Winchester Ammunition booth will have a large historical display of firearms as well. That display will include guns from the collections of John Olin, Ernest Hemingway, and Zane Grey, and, most notably, the “Forgotten Winchester” Model 1873 from the Great Basin National Park.

Representatives from the Cody Firearms Museum who are experts in firearms history will be in both the Winchester Ammunition and Winchester Repeating Arms booths during SHOT Show to answer ques-tions and talk about the history of the guns and items on display.

“A few years ago, Winchester Repeating Arms had Jack O’Connor’s famous Model 70 on display in our booth, and it drew a lot of attention,” says Glenn Hatt, Winchester Repeating Arms product manager. “I’m sure this lineup of historic guns and memorabilia will also draw a crowd of gun enthusiasts. I invite everyone who will be attending the 2016 SHOT Show to come by the Winchester booths.”

Booths #13334, #13329.

WINCHESTER TO DISPLAY HISTORIC GUNS

This Winchester Model 1866 lever-action will be on display at SHOT Show along with four other his-torically significant Winchester firearms.

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Count on Smith’s® to help you Be Sharp, Be Ready

no matter what your outdoor activity may be. Look

for Smith’s® sharpeners and other outdoor products

in multiple departments at Sporting Goods retailers

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SHOT Show booth # 12515

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The Next Big ThingU nder Armour is undertaking a major

initiative for women hunters. Specifically, Under Armour wants to be

the outfitter for women who brave icy tempera-tures and rugged terrain to hunt big game. They need clothing that will perform.

To meet the increasing demand for clothing designed with women in mind, Under Armour has crafted a cold-weather kit for women, start-ing with base layers. It’s followed by tops and bottoms made with ColdGear Infrared thermo-conductive materials.

Women hunters can also get outerwear made with UA Scent Control, PrimaLoft insulation, and UA’s tiered rain-and-wind-beating Storm Technology. They can choose between Realtree, Mossy Oak Treestand, or UA’s Ridge Reaper Barren camo patterns, but some garments have accents in pink. Hats, gloves, and other accesso-ries complete the outfit. Also this year, Under Armour injects more versatility by adding gar-ments like the UA Serene reversible puffer jack-et and vest.

These garments have side stretch panels for a perfect fit. They’re also made with 600-fill-pow-er down insulation and the ColdGear, Scent Control, and Storm2 water-and-wind-resistant technology. They reverse from camo to solid.

“Now she can turn that sucker inside out, and she has a phenomenal piece for on or off the field,” says marketing manager Bryan Offutt.

The UA Siberian Jacket also has Storm2 wind and rain protection and PrimaLoft insulation, but it comes with a removable fur hood. The garments are designed by in-house designers who, according to Offutt, are “end users, too.” More feedback, he adds, comes from “consumer insight groups” around the world. “We hear from them firsthand and really get that feedback that is so critical.” Booth #11040. (under armour.com)—Bill Miller

Under Armour is introducing a new line of rugged but stylish hunting clothing designed specifically for women.

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Grip...and GrinRecover Tactical’s easy-to-install 1911 grips are worth the investment By David Maccar

E very once in a while, a product that looks like it has an 80 percent chance of being cheap and gimmicky actually turns out to be a surpris-ingly solid and useful piece of gear. Those moments are rare, so I was surprised when I installed the Recover Tactical Grip and Rail System on my 1911, and it turned out to be one of those hidden gems in the internet soup of gun accessories.

The Grip and Rail System is a simple product consisting of two thin, molded pieces of plastic. In the packaging, they look like the disassembled halves of an incomplete toy. But once on the gun, that per-ception changes—along with the gun’s capabilities.

Say you have a 1911 that you love. You shoot well with it, it’s reliable, you’ve put it through its paces many times over, and it’s earned the right to be your go-to home defense gun. It’s important to have muscle memory with the gun you might have to grab in the middle of the night, in the dark. And there’s the rub.

That trusty 1911 from a couple of decades ago doesn’t have a rail, which means there’s no way to attach a laser sight or a tac light. And you don’t really have it in your budget to have the frame drilled and tapped to accept some kind of harness or an aftermarket rail. Besides, you don’t really want to mar the balance and shape of the gun you know and shoot so well.

Or maybe you decided to

splurge and dropped some seri-ous bank on a Nighthawk Custom or a Kimber, but you don’t want your pricey gun looking all tactical with a rail. After all, it’s a 1911. But some-times, at the range or for spe-cific types of training, you wish you could attach a light or laser.

The Recover grips offer a simple-to-install and utterly affordable solution to all these problems. The grips attach just like any 1911 slab grips: Two screws on each side thread into bushings, which in turn thread into the frame. These grips are a bit thick and won’t work if you have thin-grip bushings installed on your pistol.

When the two halves are joined, they form a striated front strap for the grip. The plastic extends over the trigger guard and protrudes beneath the barrel. It uses the strength of the polymer and the anchor points around the trigger guard to support the weight of any accessory on the rail.

The grip itself has a good shape with a decent texture, but it has a plasticky feel, especially when attached to an all-steel

pistol. But there’s an easy fix for this: Talon Grips (Booth #6603) makes grip wraps (SRP: $17.99) just for the Recover Tactical grip kit in two textures: a typical grippy texture and a sandpaper, skateboard-tape tex-ture. Both are easy to affix with a regular hairdryer, and they cover only the seam in the plas-tic that interacts with your hand, on the front strap. With the wraps in place, the grips are downright comfortable, and the rail easily supports a tac light.

I put more than 800 230-grain rounds of .45 ACP through a Taurus PT1911 with the Recover grips attached, with no visible weakening or damage. Also, the Crimson Trace Railmaster sight attached to the rail remained zeroed through every shot.

The grip kit retails for $50 and is definitely a worthwhile accessory that expands the capabilities of any traditional 1911 while adding an overall tactical look. The grips are available in black as well as Desert Sand and OD Green. Booth #12277. (recover tactical.com)

With the simple-to-install wraps in place, the Recover Tactical grips are downright comfortable, and the rail easily supports a tactical light or a laser sight.

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History in Your Hands

T he M1 Carbine was developed as an alternative to the traditional sidearm during World War II, and it has remained a popular and sought-after firearm with shooting collectors and enthusiasts. The carbine was also used long after the war, including in a unique role in Vietnam, where field-modified versions were chopped down by U.S. advisors, Special Forces, and most notably the tunnel rats. This group opted for a compact version, as even full-length carbines still proved to be too long in such close quarters.

Originals of these cut-down versions are almost unheard of today, but now collectors can get their hands on a modern version that is as close to the original as possible. Inland Manufacturing, which picked up the mantle of the original Inland Company, offered a modern take on the M1 Carbine last year, and now for 2016, the company has introduced the Advisor (SRP: $1,238), a .30-cali-ber pistol that is a legal chopped-and-shortened version of the clas-sic carbine.

“Granddad used one; you heard about them; now you can one for yourself,” says Charles Brown, president of MKS Supply LLC, which is marketing the firearm. “Once a warrior, the Advisor is a handgun designed for fun.”

The Advisor is a compact 21

inches overall and features mili-tary-type sights and a low-wood walnut stock. The 12-inch barrel is topped off with a military-style flash hider. The barrel thread is 1/2 x 28, allowing it to be used with a properly registered after-market sound suppressor.

Again, the key was not to cre-ate a fantasy piece but to produce replicas that are as close as possi-ble to those original M1 Carbines that were cut down for specific jobs in country.

“The Advisor is a historically accurate battlefield-modified fire-arm that delivers lots of fun for today’s shooters,” says Brown. “It is like holding history in your hands.”

This slimmed-down version, which weighs 4.5 pounds, is thus officially a pistol. It comes with a military-style cloth sling and one

15-round magazine. It can also accommodate original M1 Carbine 10- and 30-round mili-tary magazines.

The Advisor also can be fitted with a paratrooper folding-wire

stock—which, with its shortened barrel, will make it fall under National Firearms Act (NFA) registration rules.

Booth #16144. (mkssupply.com) —Peter Suciu

The Advisor is a .30-caliber pistol

that is a legal chopped-and-short-

ened version of the historic M1 Carbine.


NEW PRODUCTS


Browning➤ Browning will expand its line of target-shooting apparel for 2016 to include the Bridger Shooting Jacket, which features a warm wool body, a polyester shooting patch, and contrasting overlays. A stand-up, zip-through collar, zip-pered handwarmer pockets, and a zippered pocket on the left arm and chest are also featured. A sewn-in REACTAR G2 pad pock-et for Browning’s REACTAR G2

pad (REcoil ACTion ARestor) is included (pad sold separately). The new Bridger Shooting Jacket will be offered in Loden/Brown and Black/Gray in sizes S–3XL. SRP: $189.99 to $194.99. Booth #10744. (browning.com)

Ozonics Hunting➤ Ozonics makes the first and only in-the-field ozone generator de-signed to blanket human scent with scent-destroying ozone. Un-like any other scent-control prod-uct, Ozonics units continuously deal with the scent in your hunting area by projecting altered scent molecules that are undetectable by deer and other scent-savvy game.

The new HR-300 is the result of more than five years of field research and product develop-ment. Designed using end-user feedback, the HR-300 delivers a 45 percent increase in ozone pro-duction over its predecessor, the HR-200. The new design utilizes a revamped housing and re-engi-neered internal components. The new ergonomic construction is also easier to handle and has an improved user interface with intu-itive controls designed for easy use with gloves in the dark. The HR-300 also comes with integrat-ed Pulse Technology, which is a proprietary technology that bal-ances time, airflow, and ozone concentration to effectively ensure the right amount of oxi-dant needed to deodorize you and your gear. SRP: $599.99. Booth #1141. (ozonicshunting.com)

Moultrie➤ You don’t need to go into the field to get data from a Moultrie game camera. You can remotely operate the camera and view images from your truck, couch, or stand with any mobile device.

The MV1 Field Modem is compati-ble with multiple models of Moultrie cameras, including most of 2015’s mod-els. When the images are captured, the hunter is notified through text, email, or via the free iOS or Android mobile app. Hunters can organize, analyze, and share the data socially in an instant. Monthly plans require no con-tract, no commitment, no activa-tion fee, and no cancellation fee. SRP: $199. Booth #16123. (moultrie feeders.com)

Dakota 283➤ Drive a 1,000-pound ATV over the Kennebec Kennel, and it will not change shape or crack—and the door will remain closed.

The rotationally molded kennel stacks and can

be safely tied down for any type of trans-port. The flow-through ventilation is excellent, and the top handle is easy to

grab, even when you’re wearing gloves. Inside, the finish

wipes clean and will not hold the gift of lingering odors. The dog box weighs only 20 pounds, is virtually indestructi-ble, and is made in the USA. It is the safest place for a dog in the back of a pickup truck or the cargo hold of an airplane. SRP: $189. Booth #20371. (dakota 283.com)

Years ago, the Helle design team and survival expert Les Stroud came together to create a practical knife. An all-round best-seller, the Helle Temagami continues to attract accolades and praise for its simple, beautiful design. Building on this respect for both quality and function, initial designs for the new Mandra knife were concep-tualized over several months. Only then were prototypes hand-made at the Helle factory in Norway and sent to Stroud in Romania

for field-testing. Further adjustments and refinements were made using his invaluable feedback. This approach of researching, proto-typing, field-testing, and refinement constitutes the backbone and development of the Helle philosophy. The result is a full-tang knife with a blade of triple-laminated stainless steel and a handle made of curly birch. The knife comes with a leather sheath. SRP: $209. Booth #3652. (helle.no)

HELLE

Chef’s Choice’s Sportsman Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener Xtreme 317 was devel-oped to sharpen virtually any knife, including heavi-er, thicker hunting, pocket, and tactical knives. By eliminating all guesswork, it ensures uniformly sharp edges from tip to bolster on even the thickest of knives. Two sharpening stages allow the Xtreme 317 to apply a strong and durable double-bevel arch-shaped edge. SRP: $99.99. Booth #225. (chefschoice.com)

EDGECRAFT

The new HR-300 from Ozonics utilizes a revamped housing and re-engineered internal components to deliver a 45 percent increase in ozone production over its predecessor, the HR-200.

shot daily — day 2 — 2016 shot show

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