Upholding a Precious Legacy

Transcription

SHOOTING HUNTING OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW 1979–2014
NSSF
NEW PRODUCT
REPORTS
SHOT Daily scours the floor to
find the latest in knives from the
show P. 16. Also, see what’s new
in accessories P. 26
NEWS
*GRITS GRESHAM
AWARD PRESENTED
POMA and NSSF honored shooting industry veteran Jim Zumbo.
SEE PAGE 4
*OPTICS FOR TURKEY
HUNTERS
The Weaver KASPA scope is
specially designed to meet turkey
hunters’ needs. SEE PAGE 65
*TROPHY CAM
WIRELESS
Bushnell introduces the world’s
first plug-and-play wireless camera. SEE PAGE 67
*NEW 1911 BEAUTIES
Republic Forge begins production
and distribution of a complete line
of custom Model 1911 pistols. SEE
PAGE 69
FEATURES
*FIRST SHOTS
EXPANDS ITS REACH
NSSF’s Second Round events
deepen interest in the shooting
sports. SEE PAGE 42
*LOFTY AMBITIONS
Remington’s new airgun division is
dedicated to building the finest
airgun company in the business.
SEE PAGE 54
*MATCHING AMMO
Manufacturers serve up hunting
ammunition designed around the
MSR. SEE PAGE 58
DAY 3, JANUARY 16, 2 014
The Daily News of the 2014 Las Vegas SHOT Show Brought to You by The Bonnier Corporation and the NSSF
Upholding a Precious Legacy
E
arly in his presentation to
the attendees at the NSSF
State of the Industry Dinner
Tuesday night, NSSF president Steve Sanetti issued a challenge: “If our industry doesn’t have
the integrity, the passion, and the
determination to stand up for the
law-abiding citizens of this great
nation, then we are finished.”
He clearly believes that is not the
case.
“But we’re not finished,” he said.
“Not by a long shot. In fact, our
message of thoughtful criticism of
well-meaning but ineffective proposals to thwart the lawless elements
of our society by heaping even more
restrictions upon hunters, target
shooters, collectors, and those seeking to lawfully defend their families
has resonated with the American
public. Not only has support for
these wrongly directed gun-control
proposals returned to pre-Newtown
levels, but we have seen record
numbers of Americans from all
walks of life flock to the side of lawful firearms ownership. We have
weathered the storm.”
In large part, he said, this is due
to “the dedicated efforts by a lot of
good people.”
Sanetti then listed some of the
many positive trends in the industry:
“Working together as never before,
NSSF president Steve Sanetti urged
the attendees to “be proud.”
in the face of overt hostility by those
who see no value in the lawful
enjoyment of responsible firearms
ownership or a day afield or at the
range with family and friends. We
know those joys—and our efforts to
include others is having a profound
effect upon the shooting sports.”
From an increase in sales of hunting licenses and increases in skeet
and clay target shooting participation to a surge in NSSF membership, Sanetti said, “our analysis of
sport-shooting participation trends
in the U.S. between 2008 and 2012
shows that more than 40 million
Americans now enjoy target shooting, up 17 percent since 2009.
Twenty percent of all target shooters first started participating during
the past five years.”
These new participants are
younger and more urban-based—
and many are women. That coincides with the surge in firearms sales
that began in 2008—40 consecutive
months of sales growth.
Though he noted that self-defense
was a key motivation for 76 percent
of these sales, “right behind that was
a desire to participate in shooting
activities with family and friends.
Women target shooters have also
increased by 34 percent.”
These trends, he said, represent
the future of our industry and
shooting sports in America.
In closing, Sanetti asked the
attendees to “be proud.”
“Be proud of all those who take
the time to take a new person to the
range. Be proud that the excise taxes
you all pay every time you buy any
firearm or ammunition contribute
billion of dollars a year to conserve
wildlife, game, and non-game species alike. And finally, be proud that
you are keeping our nation strong
by keeping a precious American tradition of personal responsibility and
safety and security alive for future
generations. For ours is a precious
legacy enjoyed by no other society
on the face of the earth.”
Black Sheep Sporting Goods
Black Sheep Sporting Goods, based in Coeur d’Alene,
Idaho, added to its long list of accomplishments
when it was named 2013 Overall Dealer of the Year
by ATK Sporting Group. Owner Dave Knoll founded
the business in 1975 and built it into a full-line
outdoors sports retailer that offers firearms,
ammunition, reloading supplies, shooting
accessories, apparel, archery gear, knives,
optics, gun safes, and more. Today, Black
Sheep operates a store in Lewiston,
Idaho, as well as the 65,000-square-foot
Coeur d’Alene location. In addition to the
2013 Dealer of the Year title, it has been
voted “Best Sporting Goods Store” by the
Spokane Journal of Business for six straight years.
According to Jim Bruno, ATK Sporting Group vice
president of sales—east, Black Sheep’s advertising
efforts and its practice of warehousing products to
ensure availability have grown its already-strong
sales for ammunition and reloading equipment.
Meanwhile, the retailer has dramatically expanded
its accessory offerings, including Weaver
Optics, Outers gun-care equipment,
Blackhawk clothing and leather holsters,
and Champion ear and eye protection
and targets.
Through these efforts, Black Sheep
has shown sales increases in excess of
350 percent for ATK products.
“These kinds of numbers—and the strategy and hard work that led to them—are exemplary,” Bruno says. “Black Sheep’s performance and
its dedication to our family of brands make it more
than deserving of the Dealer of the Year title.”
DAY 3, JANUARY 16, 2014 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ 1
001_SHD03_NEWS.indd 1
1/15/14 6:32 PM
NEWS
Jim Zumbo Receives Grits Gresham
Shooting Sports Communicator Award
T
he Professional Outdoor
Media Association
(POMA) and the
National Shooting
Sports Foundation (NSSF) honored
shooting industry communications
veteran Jim Zumbo with the prestigious POMA/NSSF Grits Gresham
Shooting Sports Communicator
Award at the NSSF State of the
Industry dinner Tuesday night. The
award recognizes extraordinary
achievements in communications
and in support of our hunting heritage and firearms freedoms.
Zumbo is a 40-year veteran outdoors writer who has had more than
2,000 articles and 3,000 photos published. He has dedicated his life to
supporting and defending hunting,
and to describing ways for people to
become better hunters in his books,
lectures, magazine articles, and television show, Jim Zumbo Outdoors, on
the Outdoor Channel. He travels
250 days a year with rifle, shotgun,
and fishing rod, collecting content,
photos, and great stories. Zumbo
also is deeply involved in working
with wounded veterans, getting
them outdoors and recharging their
lives. Their experiences are high-
Jim Zumbo received a standing ovation as he walked to the podium to accept
the POMA/NSSF Grits Gresham Shooting Sports Communicator Award.
lighted on Outdoor Channel with
the Jim Zumbo Outdoors: Wounded
Warriors series. Much of his career
was spent as a contributor and editor for Outdoor Life magazine.
Tom Gresham, host of Gun Talk
Radio and a previous POMA recipient, praised Zumbo’s superlative
40-year communications career and
his intellectual honesty in handling a
personal and industry firestorm. “I
know the selection of Jim Zumbo
might surprise some because of a
controversy he set off while working
for Outdoor Life,” Gresham said. “But
I’m pleased the award committee,
made up of the past award recipients
and POMA and NSSF representatives, looked at Jim’s entire body of
work as well as his part in awakening
hunters to the need to support gun
rights and all gun owners. After a
lifetime of writing magazine articles
and books, hosting Jim Zumbo
Outdoors, and lecturing about hunting
and hunting guns, Jim almost had his
Wayne van Zwoll Awarded
2014 Bill McRae Lifetime
Achievement Award
Bushnell Outdoor Products
established the Bushnell Bill
McRae Lifetime Achievement
Award to honor the legendary
writer and photojournalist for
the vast contributions he made
to the optics and outdoors
industry throughout his 50-year
career. Introduced in 2011, the
annual award was established to
both honor McRae and recognize journalists who have made a
profound impact in the industry.
Yesterday Bushnell announced
that Wayne van Zwoll was the
recipient of the 2014 Bill McRae
Lifetime Achievement Award.
Over the course of his extensive
career, van Zwoll has published
almost 3,000 articles and twice
that many photographs in more
than two dozen magazines,
including Field & Stream,
Outdoor Life, and a number of
other leading publications. His
“Rifles & Cartridges” column in
Bugle is the longest-running feature in the Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation (RMEF) magazine.
In addition to his thousands of
articles, van Zwoll has authored
Wayne van Zwoll (right)
received the 2014 Bill McRae
Lifetime Achievement Award.
16 books on topics including the
history of firearms, ballistics, and
sporting optics. An avid shooter
and sportsman, van Zwoll has
hunted nearly half of the United
States, spent time afield on five
continents, and guided hunters
in Utah and Wyoming. He is a
professional member of the
Boone and Crockett Club and a
Life Member of RMEF and
National Rifle Association.
Motivated by his studies in
natural resources at Michigan
State University, van Zwoll
began his career with the Bureau
of Land Management and
Washington’s Department of
Game. He later secured a position as a contract photographer
with the U.S. Forest Service
before becoming one of RMEF’s
first field directors. Driven by a
lifelong passion for learning and
wildlife management, van Zwoll
earned a master’s degree from
Oregon State University and
later obtained his doctorate
from Utah State University.
Well known for sharing his
passion for shooting and hunting
with others, van Zwoll is a former Safari Club International
marksmanship instructor, certified hunter education instructor
in five states, and introduced and
now teaches the National
Archery in the Schools Program
in Bridgeport, Washington,
where he resides with his wife,
Alice. He also founded and oversees High Country Adventures, a
program to acquaint more
women with field sports.
great body of work erased by a single
mistake, which, in fact, may have
done more to educate hunters than
everything else he has done.
“After questioning the use of
AR-style guns in the realm of hunting
in an Outdoor Life blog entry, Jim
heard the cries of gun owners. He
immediately educated himself about
modern sporting rifles and became a
proponent of them. That speaks well
of his intellectual honesty.”
Gresham summed up by acknowledging that Zumbo, in effect, brought
millions to what is now America’s
most popular firearm. Gresham
added that he was glad to be able to
recognize Zumbo’s lifetime of work
for gun owners and gun rights.
“Never in my wildest dreams
would I have ever imagined that I’d
be the recipient of the Grits
Gresham Award,” Zumbo said. “Part
of my exhilaration comes not only
from the fact that this is my beloved
industry supporting me, but because
Grits Gresham was my hero. I loved
being around him, listening to his
tales and enjoying his modesty and
down-home Southern personality.
My profound thanks to everyone
who made this possible.”
HELPING FIRST SHOTS
FMG Publications presented NSSF a
check for $211,000 during the State of
the Industry Dinner Tuesday night.
The money was raised during FMG’s
Shooting Industry Masters and is designated to help fund NSSF’s First
Shots Program.
“It’s a honor to present this check to
NSSF to support this important industry program,” said Randy Molde, FMG
Publications vice president of business
development and Masters chairman.
“First Shots is vital to ensuring new firearm owners get started correctly and
safely, and fully understand the responsibility of owning a gun. First Shots also
helps us infuse and grow our ranks. We
at FMG Publications will continue to
support this key NSSF program.”
Molde also thanked the industry for
its support of the Shooting Industry
Masters, including the record-setting
53 sponsors for the 2013 event in
Cody, Wyoming.
4 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 3, JANUARY 16, 2014
004_SHD03_AWARDS.indd 4
1/15/14 5:06 PM
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Slaton L. White, Editor
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Contributing editors
Larry Ahlman, Barbara Baird, Scott Bestul, Philip
Bourjaily, Chris Christian, Christopher Cogley,
David Draper, Jock Elliott, William F. Kendy, Mark
Kayser, Peter B. Mathiesen, Brian McCombie,
Tom Mohrhauser, Robert Sadowski, Robert F.
Staeger, Peter Suciu, Wayne Van Zwoll
Eric Zinczenko,
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SHOT Business (ISSN 1081-8618) is published 7 times a year in January,
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For editorial inquiries, visit Venetian Level 3, San Polo
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NEWS
Managing FFL
Compliance Issues
N
Correction
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Virginia. Academy, Richmond, Virginia.
Shooting
Debating What’s
Good for the Herd
and the Hunt
A panel of experts debated trophy deer
management practices and the impact on
hunter recruitment at yesterday’s Field &
Stream Heroes of Conservation Roundtable
Luncheon. Editorial director Anthony Licata
prefaced the discussion by describing the
Heroes of Conservation award and grant
program, sponsored by Toyota Motors,
U.S.A., which spotlights extraordinary volunteers working on the grassroots level.
The same sense of responsibility for
wildlife and the American sporting tradition drove the debate. Dr. Jonathan
Gassett from the Wildlife Management
Institute clarified that the role of state
agencies is not to manage deer to trophy
standards. “Our priority is to produce a
healthy and abundant herd that creates
hunting opportunities.” Nikon’s Jon
LaCorte, a third-generation whitetail hunter, said, “The expectation of harvesting a
trophy deer has changed drastically over
the past 20 years based on what’s in the
media.” Minnesota Outdoor News columnist Shawn Perich offered one solution,
when storytelling: “Focus more on the
hunt and less on the kill.” And Brian
Murphy, a deer biologist and CEO of the
Quality Deer Management Association,
spoke to the whole room when he said, “If
this community makes that a priority, balancing expectations and reality is doable.”
—Kristyn Brady
Field & Stream Editorial director Anthony
Licata moderated a panel of experts who discussed trophy deer management.
avigating the minutia of ATF rules
and ensuring that
every I is dotted
and every T is crossed is likely
not anyone’s favorite part of
running a gun shop. Directing
the questions to ATF is usually
the best option, but even that
can result in wildly different
interpretations of the law
depending on who is asked.
Tuesday’s open mic NSSF
FFL Compliance Consultant
Panel, with Wally Nelson and
Harry McCabe, both former
deputy assistant directors with
the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives, helped attendees
stay compliant and, more
important, in business.
The most crucial takeaway
was that all gun shop owners
should expect a visit at some
point from the ATF. Today,
there are more than 60,000
FFL holders, not counting collectors, but only 600 industry
investigators working for ATF.
Firearms compliance is also not
all that these hard-working
men and women do, but it is
their job and respecting that is
NSSF FFL compliance consultants helped retailers understand ATF inspections.
key to creating a working relationship with these investigators.
“You could be inspected next
week or you could be inspected
in 2023,” said McCabe.
“Literally, that is a true statement. When they do come—
and they will come—first and
foremost, cooperate. You don’t
want to have any animosity or
things of that nature. They will
need a place to work—preferably not the front counter, as
neither you nor they want them
to be out there.”
During these site inspections
the investigators will need
access to the records and they
will take a 100 percent physical
inventory of the stock, and reconcile that inventory with the
acquisitions records. These visits are intended to serve the
gun shop owner, not to create
unnecessary work.
“Ultimately they will help
you comply with the regulations,” said McCabe. Many
problems are the result of
paperwork mistakes, and
McCabe stressed that attention
to detail is crucial here.—Peter
Suciu
CNN’s Crossfire Co-host Helps
Launch NSSF PAC’s 2014 Campaign
The National Shooting Sports Foundation
Political Action Committee (PAC) kicked off
election year 2014 on Monday evening with a
reception at the V Bar featuring S.E. Cupp, cohost of CNN’s Crossfire. The author and columnist spoke to NSSF members about the ongoing
threats to both the shooting industry and to constitutional rights. Referring to some of the major
challenges of 2013, Cupp stressed the importance of industry involvement in the political
process to help close the gap between the shooting industry’s resources and the war chests accumulated by those opposed to the industry.
“The job isn’t over—it’s never over—because
someone will always want to stop us,” Cupp
said. “It’s our job to be the champions of fact,
truth, and liberty.”
The new year brings continued pressure from
the well-funded anti-gun activists, intensifying
the need for an industry united to defeat the
onslaught of gun-control legislation being introduced on Capitol Hill and in state houses across
America. The well-attended NSSF PAC reception could be an indicator that the industry is
ready to take on the challenge.
The outcome of this year’s midterm elections
could deliver a super-majority in the Senate to a
President hostile to the firearms industry and a
return to Speaker Pelosi in the House of
Representatives or a supportive Congress that
can guard the firearms industry’s best interests
and constitutional rights.
“The NSSF PAC will continue to defend our
industry by providing our elected allies the
resources to repel attacks they face from mainstream media and wealthy anti-gun activists such
as former mayor Michael Bloomberg,” said
Lawrence G. Keane, treasurer of the NSSF
PAC. “The industry must come together, however, and that support is needed from all.”
NSSF members can learn more about the
NSSF PAC at the NSSF Member Lounge
(Venetian Level 3, Lido Ballroom). Members
will have the opportunity to sign up to receive
NSSF PAC news and alerts to stay engaged and
informed on issues impacting their businesses.
S.E. Cupp, co-host of CNN’s Crossfire, spoke to
NSSF members about on-going threats to gun
ownership and the need to stay informed.
008_SHD03_NEWS.indd 8
1/15/14 6:56 PM
minutes
with…
Gavin
Harvey
CEO of Sportsman
Channel
The Next Generation
A new group of passionate shooters requires the industry to engage
them on their terms By Slaton L. White
G
avin Harvey is a seasoned veteran of outdoors media. As CEO of Sportsman Channel, he oversees the network’s
day-to-day programming, production, marketing, finance, and sales operations while also directing the overall
strategic vision for the network. Under his leadership, Sportsman Channel has experienced tremendous growth
across all areas of the business, including distribution, ratings, advertising, and programming. As president of
Versus, a cable network that he successfully repositioned and rebranded from its former brand—Outdoor Life
Network—he aggressively acquired a number of new properties that transformed the network from a niche outdoors channel to
a broad-based national destination. SHOT Daily sat down with Harvey to get his take on the state of the industry and what
media companies need to do to engage younger shooters.
SHOT Daily: Your role as CEO at
men and women, their families, and
their fans. And we will continue to
launch on cable systems in new markets across the country and expand
SportsmanHD where we are currently carried.
Sportsman Channel provides you with
a unique perspective on the shootingsports industry as a whole. What would
you say is the current state of the
industry?
Gavin Harvey: Let’s introduce a
new term and call the state of the
industry “Gun Strong.” Our base of
shooting and firearms enthusiasts is
huge, diverse, and growing. The
passion for shooting and hunting is
very deeply held, and our industry
leaders are oxygenating growth by
recruiting the next generation, eliminating barriers to entry, launching
awesome new products, fighting
unfair legislation, and utilizing smart
media to motivate consumers. What
concerns me, as a shooting enthusiast and someone who has spent a
career in television, is the relentless
blitz of negative disinformation,
demonization, and propaganda that
is hurled at this lifestyle—the guns,
gear, and hunts we safely and
responsibly enjoy and the good people who practice it.
SD: When you wake up in the morning, what gets you excited about your
business?
GH: Well, I am a gun guy—I love
all of them—as well as a gun and
bow hunter, so working in this
industry is extremely fun and gratifying. And as a TV guy, I am privileged to be on the best outdoor lifestyle media and content team on the
planet. I work alongside men and
women who are involved in a variety
of exciting and innovative activities
every day, from producing and
scheduling great shows to publishing
first-rate magazines. I also get the
opportunity to develop multi-
SD: Younger viewers are accessing
and relating to media in different ways.
How does Sportsman Channel keep
them engaged and how important is
the younger demographic to
Sportsman Channel?
Gavin Harvey, CEO of Sportsman Channel, says the key to successful recruitment of younger participants includes “eliminating barriers to entry, launching
awesome new products, and fighting unfair legislation.”
platform marketing ideas for the
many affinity groups in our great
industry and get to evangelize every
aspect of this special lifestyle as far
and wide as we can.
SD: Would you categorize Sportsman
Channel as being in a growth mode?
GH: Yes. It is hard to top 2013. We
launched outdoor TV’s first live
daily news-talk series—NRA News
Cam & Company; we muscled in on
the mainstream networks with toprated stunts like Aporkalypse; we
attracted what I believe is the best
lineup of outdoor series, personalities, and producers ever presented,
under the brand anthem “Made in
America.” We also stretched further
into lifestyle content with characterdriven series like Meet the McMillans,
10 ■ Shot Business Daily ■ day 3, January 16, 2014
MeatEater, and Dropped, while maintaining our dominance in authentic
hunting and fishing programming.
SD: As we enter 2014, what is new
about Sportsman Channel?
GH: Our anthem in 2014 is a cele-
bration of “Red, Wild & Blue”
America. Sportsman’s bedrock is
being the home of the best hunting,
shooting, and fishing on TV—period. We are adding to our best-inclass programming with blockbuster
personalities who are champions of
our lifestyle—people like Sarah Palin
and Gary Sinise, as well as some
others you will be hearing about. We
will expand on Sportsman’s “Salute
to Service,” a military support initiative that puts the power of our platform to work for American service-
GH: Younger shooters, hunters,
and anglers are the next generation
of outdoor enthusiasts and the
future of our lifestyle, our business—and our America. Sportsman
Channel has been aggressively positioning to attract younger audiences
for the past several years. We have
recruited a terrific class of younger
shooting and hunting personalities
to join our corps. We realize that
women are leading the growth in
shooting and hunting, so we provide
more airtime to great female outdoor authorities—women such as
Haley Heath, Jana Waller, Julie
McQueen, Lauren Rich, and AnneMarie Rhodes. I’m sure Sportsman’s
2014 year-long “Salute to Service”
military tribute, headlined by veterans advocate Gary Sinise, will be
sure to connect with many young
men and women serving or recently
rotated out. Younger viewers
respond to fresh formats like our
live daily news-talk show, NRA News
Cam & Company, and to interactive
experiences through our red-hot
social media. Two months ago, we
passed 500,000 “likes” on Facebook,
and growth continues to surge and
the engagement is increasingly
dynamic. Booth #13823.
(thesportsmanchannel.com)
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perfect arms-mountable light for use
on rifles up to .50-caliber.
“At 6.6 ounces, this Anti-Recoil
.50-cal. BMG weapons-rated ‘tunefocusable’ light is one of the farthestreaching flashlights in its class,” says
Alpha-TAC president David Wilson.
“Because of its light weight, it even
wears well on your belt.”
The Alpha-TAC ExtremeBeam
TAC24 S.W.A.T. is the brightest
light in its class, projecting out
to 1,300 feet.
The TAC24 S.W.A.T. will also be
able to endure more than the usual
wear. Machined from solid-bar aluminum, it offers a micro-textured
finish that creates a sharkskin feel
that ensures a solid grip even when
wet. It also boasts double O-ring
watertight seals and a tri-cut glass
lens for enhanced durability, as well
as square-cut threads to prevent cross
threading. The Anti-Glare Stealth
Coat won’t cast a reflection where it
isn’t needed.
The Extreme Beam TAC24 series
also features the SR3 model, which
offers a high, low, and flash mode
from a 330-lumen bulb that offers a
projection of 1,200 feet. This model
also offers the engineering characteristics of the S.W.A.T. model. SRP:
$99.95, TAC24 S.W.A.T.; $109.95,
SR3. Both models are also available
in bundle packages, which include
two rechargeable 18650 batteries, a
lithium battery recharger, and nylon
holster. SRP: $159.95. Booth #32410.
(877-579-7878; extremebeam.com)
Bear The CC-700-B neck knife has a built-in bottle opener.
KNIVES
2014
A Knife For All Seasons
Manufacturers are offering a new crop designed to appeal to a wide
array of buyers By Christopher Cogley
A
wise man once said, “You can never have too many knives.” It’s a mantra that’s been adopted by nearly everyone who ventures outside of his or her living room and into the outdoors, where you never know what situation you might have to
deal with. And at this year’s SHOT Show, there is a wide assortment of knives that should be able to handle any scenario
you can think of—and probably a few that are beyond the reaches of imagination. From tactical and hunting to outdoors
and everyday carry, there are new knives at this year’s show that will definitely make your customers feel the need to add to their
collection.
Blackhawk The MOD Mark III Automatic Folder is
available with either a plain or serrated edge.
Bear & Son Cutlery
➣ Bear & Son is introducing two
new stiletto folders in 2014. The
MC-300-ALBK-S features a 3¼-inch
blade and the MC-350 features a 37/8inch blade. Both blades are made
from S30V stainless steel, and both
feature T6 aircraft-grade aluminum
BOKER USA
Boker is releasing a revolutionary new knife for 2014 that is every
bit as sophisticated as it looks. The Thorn Mokuti is designed by
Jim Burke and made possible by the blacksmithing skills of Chad
Nichols, who was able to combine two titanium alloys to create a
unique Mokuti handle that gives the Thorn Mokuti the distinctive
look and feel of a high-end custom knife. The 2½-inch blade is
made with CPM S35-VN steel for superior edge retention and features a striking two-tone finish. The Thorn Mokuti is limited to 199
pieces, and each one comes with a collector’s box and certificate
of authenticity. Booth #13376. (800-992-6537; bokerusa.com)
handles. The MC-300 is 43/8 inches
closed and weighs 2 ounces. SRP:
$115. The MC-350 is 5 inches closed
and weighs 2.26 ounces. SRP: $135.
Bear & Son is also releasing the
A-100-ALBK-S Bear Swipe assistedopening folder with a 2.5-inch CPMS30V stainless-steel blade that opens
with a push of the recessed release
button on the T6 aircraft aluminum
handle. SRP: $130. As part of its Bear
Ops line, Bear & Son is introducing
the CC-700-B neck knife. The fixedblade minimalist knife has a 17/8-inch
1095 carbon-steel blade with a wide
cutting surface and a black epoxy
powder coat. It’s 51/8 inches overall
and weighs 1.7 ounces. It includes a
sheath and lanyard and even has a
bottle opener built into the design.
SRP: $60. Booth #446. (800-8443034; bearandsoncutlery.com)
Blackhawk
➣ Blackhawk expanded its popular
Masters of Defense (MOD) line this
year to include the new MOD Mark
III Automatic Folder. This side-open
automatic knife features a 3.35-inch
N590Co stainless-steel blade that’s
coated in black Idroglider finish and
available with either a plain or serrated edge. The handle features textured G-10 scales and deep finger
grooves for a secure grip. The
Mark III is 7.88 inches overall. SRP:
$229.99.
Another new addition to the MOD
line is the Italian-made SFK Folder
with a 3.94-inch N690Co stainlesssteel blade. The SFK is 9.06 inches
overall and features an ambidextrous
thumb stud and multi-position pocket clip. SRP: $199.99. Booth #14551.
(800-694-5263; blackhawk.com)
Browning
➣ Browning is introducing two new
stylish and functional fixed-blade
hunting knives this year. Both the
skinner and drop-point Non-Typical
Stag knives feature 27/8-inch
9Cr18MoV stainless-steel blades and
genuine stag handles with leather
sheaths. SRP: $122.
Browning is also releasing its new
Featherweight line of hunting and
outdoorsman knives that all feature
black Zytel handles and hollowground, brushed-finish AUS-8 stainless-steel blades. Seven different
Featherweight models are available
and range in price from $49 to $98.
Browning is also expanding its
Black Label Tactical line by releasing the new Rail System knife that
features a fixed double-edged 5½inch hollow-ground blade made of
PRODUCTS
Browning The Battle Bowie Carbon Fiber knife is
one of the new additions to Browning’s Black Label
line. Browning’s Non-Typical Stag line features
genuine antler handles.
5Cr stainless steel. The knife
includes a Blade-Tech sheath that is
designed to attach to any MIL-STD
1913 accessory rail. SRP: $86. Also
new to the line is the Committed
Drop Point knife with a 53/8-inch
8Cr13MoV stainless-steel blade
with full-tang construction and a
textured olive drab handle with
G-10 scales. SRP: $86. Browning is
rounding out its Black Label line
with the new Battle Bowie Carbon
Fiber knife, which will be a limited
edition run of only 1,000 units. The
knife has an 8-inch Bowie blade
design made from 5Cr stainless steel
with a laser-etched finish and features a handle with full-tang construction and black carbon fiber
scales. SRP: $183. Booth #12740.
(800-333-3288; browning.com)
Columbia River
Knife & Tool
➣ CRKT’s new Fossil folder features
a stylish, rustic stainless-steel handle
with a multilayer brown and black
G10 overlay that gives the knife its
name. It has a 3.96-inch 8Cr13MoV
blade with a deeper belly and stylized
lines. The knife has an overall length
of 8.88 inches. SRP: $89.99. CRKT
is also releasing a new parang at this
year’s SHOT Show. Designed by
Ken Onion, the Halfachance has a
14-inch 65 Mn Carbon Steel blade
that’s black-powder-coated and features a deep belly and an ergonomically shaped handle with significant
finger grooves. The Halfachance
weighs 1 pound 4 ounces and comes
with a nylon sheath. SRP: $69.99.
The Obake is a traditional
Japanese-style short blade designed
by Lucas Burnley. The 3.64-inch
blade is made of 8Cr13MoV steel
with a Ti Nitride gray coating that is
masked and acid-etched to create a
stylized pattern on the blade. The
handle is wrapped with black cord in
the traditional style of the Japanese
katana. The Obake comes with a
nylon sheath. SRP: $49.99. Booth
#414. (800-891-3100; crkt.com)
Gerber Legendary
Blades
➣ In 2014, Gerber is releasing a trio
of American-made folders that are
designed to give a new edge to tactical operators. The Edict has a 3.6inch fine-edge tanto-style blade
made of 154CM steel, while the
Decree’s 3.7-inch modified tanto-
style blade is partially serrated and
made of S30V steel. The Decree also
has a built-in tempered-steel glass
breaker in the pommel. The Order
has a 3.1-inch 420HC partially serrated blade with a stylized thumbhole. All three knives in the line have
a black ceramic coating on the blade
and feature handles that are made of
glass-filled nylon with a rubberized
diamond texture for a secure grip.
SRP: $69.95, Edict; $84.95, Decree;
$44.95, Order. Booth #13614. (800950-6161; gerbergear.com)
Kershaw Knives
➣ Kershaw is celebrating its 40th
anniversary this year and will be
launching a new logo and several
new products to celebrate the milestone. Kershaw will also be announcing some new partnerships this year,
including one with Emerson Knives.
Kershaw, along with its sister brand,
Zero Tolerance Knives, has collaborated with Emerson and will be
releasing six new knives under the
Kershaw/Emerson brand and another two in the Zero Tolerance line.
Among the knives in the Kershaw/
Emerson line will be the new CQCE3 and CQC-E2. Both of these
BUCK
pocket folders include Emerson’s
“wave shaped feature,” which allows
the knife blade to be opened as it’s
removed from the pocket, as well as
a prominent thumb disk for easy
deployment once the knife is in your
hand. The knives are both made of
8Cr13MoV steel. The E2 features a
stonewash finish on the blade. SRP:
$49.99. The E3 has a black oxide finish. SRP: $52.99. Booth #14123.
(800-325-2891; kaiusaltd.com)
Leatherman
➣ In 2014, Leatherman is releasing a
tool created for the next generation
of outdoorsmen. The Leap is a version of the classic Leatherman multitool that is designed as a way for parents to help train their children on
how to safely use the various implements included in the tool—from pliers and screwdrivers to a saw and
scissors. The Leap is a slightly smaller version of the original and has
ergonomic handles that are designed
to fit into younger hands and safety
locks on the outside tools that don’t
put fingers in the path of the implements. One of the most attractive
feature for parents, however, will be
that the Leap is sold without the
Gerber The Edict’s
tanto-style folding blade
is made of 154CM steel
with a black ceramic
coating. The handle’s
rubberized diamond
texture provides a
secure grip.
Buck is celebrating the 50th
Anniversary of the iconic 110
Folding Hunter by releasing
a special anniversary edition
of the classic knife that features a custom blade stamp
and a 50 Year Medallion on
the handle. SRP: $69. Booth
#14504. (800-326-2825;
buckknives.com)
CRKT The new Fossil folder’s handle is stainless
steel with a stylish multilayer brown and black G10
overlay. Its 8Cr13MoV blade is just shy of 4 inches,
with a deep belly and stylized lines.
PRODUCTS
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Industrial Revolution is releasing several new hunting knives from
Morakniv, a company that has been manufacturing knives in
Sweden for more than 400 years. Among the new offerings for
U.S. consumers are two versions of the Bushcraft knife that feature a molded, ergonomically shaped rubber handle. The Bushcraft
Black has a carbon steel blade. SRP: $59.99. The Bushcraft
Orange features a Swedish cold-rolled stainless-steel blade. SRP:
$34.99. Morakniv is also releasing the Companion MG that’s available in either a stainless-steel or carbon-blade option, both of
which feature high-friction molded rubber handle. SRP: $17.99 and
$16.99, respectively. Packaged in a durable carrying case,
Morakniv’s Hunting Set 3000 includes a sharpening steel tool as
well as a boning and skinning knife, both with orange rubber-grip
handles and cold-rolled stainless-steel blades. SRP: $79.99. Booth
#1446. (425-285-1111; industrialrev.com/morakniv)
included knife blade attached to the
tool, so that parents can allow their
children to practice and use the tool
without the knife. Then, once parents
feel that their children are ready for
the added responsibility, the blade
can be permanently attached to the
Leap, giving children a complete tool
that will help get them ready to carry
the full-size version just like their
parents. SRP: $54. Booth #14512.
(800-847-8665; leatherman.com)
Ontario Knife
➣ Ontario Knife Company is
releasing a new knife that has been
designed to combine the key features of the most popular tactical
and survival knives into one tool.
The Chimera has a modified version
of the OKC3S Bayonet’s phosphate
full-tang blade made with 1095 carbon steel and features an aggressive
partial serration. The Chimera has a
modified FF6 Freedom Fighter
Kraton handle that includes a steel
butt cap that can be used as a hammer, glass breaker, or for non-lethal
self defense. The Chimera is 13 5/8
inches overall with a 7 7/8-inch blade.
SRP: $149.99. Ontario is also bringing back its popular SP5 Bowie
Knife in 2014 with the introduction
of the new SPEC PLUS 5, which
features a full-tang design with a
10-inch 1095 carbon-steel blade
Kershaw The
CQC-E2 is one of
Kershaw’s first
knives made in
partnership with
Emerson.
PRODUCTS
OUTDOOR EDGE
Outdoor Edge is launching a
new replaceable blade system for 2014. Razor-Lite and
Razor-Blaze both feature a
black-oxide blade-support
system that runs nearly the
entire length of the blade for
increased durability.
Designed to allow old razor
blades to be replaced with
new ones with just a simple
push of a button, the RazorLite and Razor-Blaze are
foldable and include a nylon
sheath and a set of six 420
stainless-steel razor blades.
The Razor-Lite has a black
rubberized TPR handle while
the Razor-Blaze’s handle is
blaze orange. The knives
feature a 3.5-inch blade and
are 8 inches overall. SRP:
$49.95. Booth #1220. (800447-3343; outdooredge.com)
Spyderco Designed by tactical knife guru Bob
Terzuola, the Double Bevel is a tanto-tipped folder
with a streamlined design and Spyderco’s trademark easy-open thumbhole.
with a black- powder-coat finish.
The knife has a Kraton handle and
comes with a nylon sheath. SRP:
$100. Booth #20305. (800-2225233; ontarioknife.com)
Puma
➣ Puma’s line of SGB knives are
made with German steel blades that
are assembled in Asia, a practice that
allows Puma to offer consumers an
Puma The affordable
White River knife from
Puma has a 3.5-inch
drop-point blade and a
white smooth-bone
handle.
affordable knife with a high-quality
blade (each of the SGB blades are
made with 440A German steel and
have a Rockwell-tested hardness
between 55 and 57). This year,
Puma is expanding the SGB line to
include the White River fixed blade
with 3.5-inch drop-point blade and a
white smooth-bone handle. SRP:
$59.99. Puma will also release several new styles of traditional pocket
folders in the SGB line as well as a
tactical option in the Bigcat 10 with
a 4.7-inch blade and 10.2-inch overall length. The Bigcat 10 features a
full-tang design and G10 scale handle and comes with a Kydex sheath.
SRP: $99.95. Booth #520. (913-8885524; pumaknifecompanyusa.com)
Spyderco
➣ In 2014, Spyderco is releasing a
new knife designed by legendary tac-
PRODUCTS
SOG
SOG is significantly expanding its presence in the outdoors market with new knives and tools
designed for various outdoor pursuits, from hiking and hunting to fishing and camping. Among
the knives in the new outdoor offering is the new BladeLight line, which includes a hunting,
camping, tactical, and two separate fillet knife options. All of the knives feature three LEDs on
each side of the blade to provide focused illumination when performing outdoor tasks at
night. SRP: $105 to $115. Staying true to its tactical roots, SOG is also introducing a selection
of assisted-opening knives that all feature SOG’s new Flat Spring Assisted Technology. The
Zoom line has AUS 8 stainless-steel blades and aluminum handles and includes seven different models that range in price from $115 to $145. SOG is also releasing a Flashback Mini for
2014 that’s a smaller version of the knife that SOG calls its Fastest Assisted Opening Knife.
The Flashback Mini has AUS-8 stainless-steel blade and a glass-reinforced nylon handle with
a stainless-steel wrap. SRP: $80 to $90. Booth #425. (888-405-6433; sogknives.com)
tical knife maker, Bob Terzuola. The Double Bevel
is a tactical folder with a G-10 handle and a VG-10
steel blade that features a tanto tip. The 3.5-ounce
Double Bevel offers the sleek, simple design fans
have come to expect from Terzuola, and the easyopen thumbhole and Walker LinerLock mechanism
that Spyderco is famous for. The knife is 7.56 inches, with a 3.39-inch blade. SRP: $264.95.
Spyderco is also launching a knife designed by
Spyderco founder Sal Glesser. The Karahawk is a
folding version of the popular karambit knives of
Southeast Asia. It features a VG-10 hawkbill blade,
a stainless-steel handle capped with textured G-10
scales, and a ring at the butt that allows it to be
used in the traditional karambit knife style. With an
overall length of 6.5 inches and weighing only 3.8
ounces, the Karahawk is compact enough to carry
in any pocket, and Spyderco’s Round Hole and
Emerson Opening feature ensure that the 2.35-inch
blade can be deployed efficiently. SRP: $289.95.
Booth #13113. (800-525-7770; spyderco.com)
W.R. Case & Sons
This Mossy Brown
Trapper is one of eight
knives in Case’s Mossy
Brown Bone Knife series.
It features stainlesssteel blades and an oldfashioned Worm Groove
jigged handle.
W.R. Case & Sons
➣ W.R. Case is celebrating 125 years in 2014 by
introducing three new knife series at this year’s
SHOT Show. The Shotgun Shell series features
blaze orange bone handles with the outline of a
shotgun shell. The six knives in the series are
made with Case’s Tru-Sharp surgical-steel blades.
SRP: $65 to $109. The Mossy Brown Bone Knife
series features stainless-steel blades and oldfashioned Worm Groove jigged handles with a
brown-and-green dye that presents a unique
camo pattern. The eight knives in the series
range in price from $55 to $100.
For the Tear Drop series, Case teamed up with
custom knife maker Tony Bose to create a completely new pattern. Included in the Tear Drop
series will be a Jack with a Genuine India Stag or
PocketWorn Old Red Bone handle and a “barehead” version with a Peach Seed jigged Amber
Bone handle. Booth #13905. (800-523-6350;
wrcase.com)
ACCESSORIES
2014
Right Product, Right Time
Stocking accessories is a great way to enhance the bottom line nearly
all year long By Peter B. Mathiesen
W
hile gun owners are concerned about federal firearms policy and restocking their ammo supply, retailers can find consistent turns stocking high-profit accessories nearly year-round. Timing is everything, though, and having the right
product at the right time will make your cash register ring. Here are some of the 2014 SHOT Show accessories you
should add to this year’s inventory.
ATI The Halo Side
Saddle ammo carrier is
now available for the
popular Remington
870 platform. The
aluminum system
features modular Adda-Shell shotgun shell
holders and a Picatinny
top rail on which
simple optics can be
mounted.
BIRCHWOOD CASEY
Constructed of heavy corrugated cardboard that will last for hundreds of shots,
the new Rigid 10-Clay Silhouette Target
provides hours of shooting fun while
helping shooters hone their skills. It features die-cut holes to fit any standardsize clay bird. The target measures 23 by
35 inches and holds up to 10 clay birds.
Simply shoot the clays, then fill the target back up for more shooting entertainment. SRP: $5.60. Booth #2020. (800746-6862; birchwoodcasey.com)
Advanced Technology
International
➣ With strong demand for a counterpart to the
company’s Halo Side Saddle for the Mossberg
500 and 590 that launched in 2013, ATI is releasing a new Halo Side Saddle for the popular
Remington 870 platform. The aluminum Halo
System features modular Add-a-Shell shotgun
shell holders for the end user’s customization.
The saddle and shell holder, which can be purchased individually, will carry five or seven rounds
and has a 5.5-inch Picatinny top rail for mounting
simple optics.
The Halo will be the only top-mount, modular
shell holder on the market for the 870, and the
company anticipates orders from both consumer
and law enforcement customers. The Side Saddle,
Top Rail and Add-a-Shell attachments are crafted
from military type-III-anodized 6061 T6 aluminum. The saddle system is backed by the company’s limited lifetime warranty and will be shipped
to selected stores in early 2014. SRP: $124.99.
Booth #620. (800-925-2522; atigunstocks.com)
home. You can use it on pet accidents, bathrooms,
nurseries, and vehicles.
The Pro kit includes a one-liter pressure bottle
sprayer, one 4-ounce trigger sprayer to carry in
your pocket, four pairs of concentrate “A” and
“B” mix. Also included are one 4-ounce bottle of
Sport Wash Detergent and one 4-ounce tube of
Hair & Body Soap. SRP: $35.95. Booth #10959.
(803-531-1820; atsko.com)
Browning Bags
➣ The Alfa Tactical Gear Bag is a new mid-size
tactical gear and range bag that can be used as a
backpack or as a duffle. The ballistic polyester
fabric shell has a water-resistant urethane interior
coating with self-healing nylon coil zippers that
use paracord pull-tabs. There are multiple heavy
web handles and haul loops, a large zippered topload compartment, and a hidden full-length
hydration bladder compartment with a mesh document organizer pocket.
Other features include a hidden pistol compartment, two mesh side pockets, padded shoulder
straps and back panel, and adjustable web waist
belt with QD buckle. In addition, a bottom zippered compartment with three metal drain grommets is great for storing wet gear. The bag also
features a top-end headphone/microphone port
with hook-and-loop closure. Internal volume is
approximately 2,135 cubic inches. SRP: $155.
Atsko
➣ Ideal for hunters to keep in the truck or ATV
to apply while they drive to the stand, the N-ODOR Oxidizer Pro Pump Kit makes more than a
gallon of four fresh batches of N-O-DOR
Oxidizer. The freshly mixed spray will eliminate—quickly and safely—all traces of human and
organic odors on clothing, hair, skin, and all
wetable surfaces by permanently oxidizing the
organic molecules into odorless, non-volatile
compounds. The product does not merely mask
odors; it destroys them and keeps the hunter
scent-free all day. The spray works equally well at
Atsko The N-O-DOR Oxidizer Pro Pump Kit
makes more than one gallon of freshly mixed
spray that will eliminate human and organic
odors from clothing and skin.
PRODUCTS
is featured on top of the safe to provide storage for tactical or hunting
gear with easy access. The S&G
electronic lock is standard on both
models. The standard model Black
Label Mark IV safe is 60 by 30 by
25 inches. SRP:$3,399.
Booth #12740. (800-322-4626;
browning.com)
Champion Target
➣ Women shooters can now get safe,
dependable eye protection with a real
sense of style. (Finally!) The new
Champion Bella Ballistica shooting
glasses passed MIL-PRF-31013 ballistic testing and meet ANSI Z87+
high-velocity requirements with the
same chic designer-label look found
in fashion sunglasses around the
world. Designed specifically for
shooters, these lenses reduce glare
and enhance target image sharpness.
They can even double as everyday
sunglasses with 99.9 percent UVA/
UVB protection. Made to last, the
glasses feature hard-coated, scratchresistant polycarbonate lenses. SRP:
$24.99. Booth #14562. (800-8310850; championtarget.com)
Code Blue
Fobus The CH Series holsters provide Level 2 retention while enabling
nearly unhampered presentation of the sidearm. The release paddle is
activated by the user’s index finger.
Booth #15640. (800-237-3224;
browningbags.com)
Browning Safe
➣ The new Black Label Mark IV
safe is designed to accommodate
MSRs as well as traditional long
guns. This new model—made in the
USA—provides maximum protection
from fire and theft. Security features
include an 11-gauge steel body with
15/16-inch-thick duo-formed door
with full 10-gauge steel inner plate,
Force Deflector Locking System,
hardened steel-pin lock protection,
Pry-Stop end bolts, and 1¼-inch
chromed locking bolts on all four
sides of the door. The safe is available
in wide and standard sizes, and has a
tactical matte-black finish with black
chrome hardware and accents.
Premium DPX storage system and
quick access barrel rack and scope
saver are featured on the door. Two
carbine barrel loops are included with
the AXIS adjustable steel-shelving
system, which includes a pistol rack.
Fire protection rating is 1,200º F
for 75 minutes. An exterior gear loft
➣ If concealment is your top priority, Code Blue’s all-new camo face
paint provides protection against
getting spotted by the most seasoned
big-game animals. The deep black
color blends naturally with shadows,
branches, and leaves to cover up
your exposed skin. This smudgeproof face paint goes on smooth and
delivers a glare-free appearance, and
it cleans up quick with just soap and
water. The 0.7-ounce tube fits easily
in any shirt pocket. SRP: $5.99.
Booth #16123. (251-368-4089;
codebluescents.com)
Eastman Outdoors
➣ Carbon Express engineers delivered a new, lightweight, compact
tactical stock design in the Covert
CX-3 crossbow, which combines
premium components and workmanship with excellent balance and
feel for responsiveness, optimal
power, and increased precision. The
Covert CX-3 is built for durability
and superior reliability and features
a machined aluminum riser, aluminum rail, and carbon-infused limbs.
To accommodate different shooting
styles, the multi-position forearm
adjusts to allow for a more personalized fit. The 9-inch Picatinny rail
system also provides multi-position
adjustability for the 4x32 lighted
scope with red/green illumination,
ensuring the ultimate fit with proper
eye relief for precision shooting in
varying light conditions. The
Covert CX-3 kit comes complete
with 3 Mayhem 20-inch bolts, rope
cocker, QD three-arrow quiver with
side bracket, rail lubricant, three
practice points, and a 4x32 glassetched reticle lighted scope. SRP:
$599. Booth #411. (800-241-4833;
xforcecrossbows.com)
Fobus Holsters
➣ The CH Series holsters provide
Level 2 retention while enabling
nearly unhampered presentation of
the pistol. By incorporating a releasing paddle that is activated by the
index finger of the user, there’s no
need to alter the draw stroke.
Simply slide the index finger upward
across the paddle while executing
your natural draw, and the retention
mechanism within the trigger guard
is released instantly. In addition, the
releasing paddle has been located on
the holster so that continuation of
the draw naturally positions the
index finger alongside the slide/
frame, well above the trigger.
As with any new equipment, practicing to attain the proficiency that is
possible with the CH holster is
essential. This is especially critical if
this (or any product) is to be used in
a tactical or self-defense situation.
CH series 2014 holsters include
S&W M&P (SWCH), Springfield
XD (XDCH), Beretta PX4 Storm
(BRCH), and Taurus PT 24/7 G1
GARMIN
Used from hunts to family vacations, the VIRB
video camera combines a unique feature set that
makes it easier than ever to capture memories.
VIRB features a rugged and waterproof (IPX-7)
housing, so there is no extra case necessary to
withstand the elements. The unique 1.4-inch
Chroma color display makes setup and playback
a breeze, using minimal power so VIRB can record
up to three hours of true HD (1080p) video on
one charge. On-board video enhancement features such as digital image stabilization and lens
distortion correction ensure that footage recorded with VIRB will look great, even before editing.
VIRB can capture high-quality still photos
while the video camera is recording. The VIRB
Elite model incorporates all these features plus
built-in Wi-Fi, data sensors, and a high-sensitivity
GPS. Both VIRB and VIRB Elite feature ANT+
connectivity for remote-control functionality
with other Garmin products.
To complement VIRB Elite, Garmin is launching
a mobile application for preview, playback, and
remote functionality, along with a free desktop
software application to edit and upload VIRB and
VIRB Elite videos. With this software, users can
edit their footage and embed sensor data in the
video. SRP: $299.99 to $399.99. Booth #3009.
(913-397-8200; garmin.com/outdoors)
PRODUCTS
(TACH0). SRP: $39.99. Booth #11966. (267-803-
MINOX
1517; fobusholster.com)
For 2014, MINOX introduces the DTC
1000 Trail Camera with an integrated
wireless GSM feature. All images will
immediately be transmitted to a cell
phone or other wireless device, or an
e-mail address, via the Global System for
Mobile communication. This means you
can monitor hunting areas, home, or
business fast and conveniently from anywhere. The new camera has 8 megapixels of resolution, which produces outstanding image quality. With its IR-flash
filter, it has a range of more than 50 feet,
regardless of lighting conditions, and it is
entirely undetectable. There is a compact
2-inch color monitor for
quick and convenient
viewing in the field and a
trigger time of about one
second with storage
capacity up to 32GB.
SRP: $499. Booth
#15249-2. (619-234-7312;
minox.com/usa)
Gear Keeper
➣ Featuring the combo Molle Mount System,
the Combo Mount Sidearm Tether allows users
to utilize either the 360-degree rotating mount or
a Velcro strap mount to have the most suitable
configuration for their kit. The tether features
Gear Keeper’s RT4 Low Force Model, which
allows a sidearm to hit the ground but remain
tethered and snag-free. This 36-inch extension
system puts very little tension (a mere 3 ounces of
retraction force) on the sidearm and is preferred
by shooters who want to carry their sidearms for
long periods of time.
The unit is ruggedly designed with a Spectra/
Nylon line and a strong 60-pound break strength.
It is paired with a patented saltwater-proof flushing system. The line also attaches to a Q/C
Connector System that provides for quick and
easy connection/disconnection of your firearm.
SRP: $27.49. Booth #10979. (805-658-9922;
gearkeeper.com)
Gerber
➣ The Gerber Bear Grylls Intense Torch boasts a
maximum output of 140 lumens and a maximum
runtime of 15 hours. It features four modes: high,
medium, low, and S.O.S. With a triangular design
so it won’t roll away, and a large rubber grip
around an anodized aluminum body, it stays
where you set it. The Intense Torch tail cap features a push button with momentary “on” functionality for easy signaling. It’s powered by 2 AA
batteries and is rated IPX7 waterproof. SRP: $63.
Booth #13614. (800-950-6161; gerbergear.com)
Hunter’s Specialties
➣ The new Zombie Box Call from Hunter’s
Specialties Dead Strut Series produces realistic
yelps, cutts, purrs, and gobbles that will bring any
gobbler in close—even the “undead” kind. The
box call has a high-quality poplar wood body with
a perfectly tuned cherry lid. No chalk is needed
because the call is waterproof for hunting in any
weather conditions. The call comes with an
attached elastic silencer strap to keep it quiet
Moultrie The Feeder
Hog Light, which attaches to the bottom of a
Moultrie feeder, illuminates game in an area
up to 30 feet in size,
helping hog hunters
make a clean shot at
night. The high-powered
LED light with adjustable brightness can be
activated by a motion
sensor, photocell, or a
manual switch.
PRODUCTS
TerraLux The Colorado uses cutting-edge
circuitry technology to maximize battery life and
light output. Four lighting modes are available.
PELICAN PRODUCTS
while walking through the woods. SRP: $24.95.
Booth #14207. (319-395-0321; hunterspec.com)
Slumberjack
To give you peace of mind and defend
your smartphone from the daily grind,
Pelican Products’ engineers have created
two levels of protection in the CE1250
Smartphone Protector. Its first line of
defense is a tough, shock-deflecting
outer shell that saves the device’s glass
face from direct impact on flat surfaces.
The second level is a soft, elastomeric
interior lining to protect it from scratches
and impacts. Meeting military testing
specifications (MIL-STD 810G) to survive
a 6-foot drop, it is lightweight but rugged.
The case features simple, snap-together
construction and a smooth outer shell
finish that makes it easy to slide into
pockets and bags. Its non-clam design
allows users to have full use of the device
without removing it from the protective
armor. The Pelican ProGear Protector for
Galaxy S4 is available in black, white, purple, gray, and blue color combinations.
SRP: $39.95. Booth #3048. (855-6048562; pelicanprogear.com)
➣ The Thermal Cloak can not only offer protection from the elements, but it can also act as a
personal blind. Tactical hood styling keeps
peripheral vision and hearing sharp so you can see
and hear approaching game, and quiet, weatherready fabrics are waterproof and seam taped to
easily repel wind, rain, and snow. The bottom of
the bag is open, which lets a hunter feel the edges
of a treestand to ensure proper footing. Large
self-sealing (via magnets) arm ports allow you to
silently move into bow or rifle position. A universal fit system adjusts from 66 inches to 50 inches
long. SRP: $229.95. Booth #3453. (800-2336283; slumberjack.com)
MOJO Outdoors
➣ The Mama Jama motorized duck decoy combines a spinning wing and sounds made by live
ducks as they move on the water. The decoy also
moves on forward, producing the “V” ducks make
as they swim. The kit includes a mallard hen body
(The Mama), with a specially designed floating
base that uses a propulsion pump to move the
decoy. It is anchored by a 36-inch, 4-ounce MOJO
Texas Rig. The Mama Jama comes with a 12-volt
rechargeable battery and charger and runs for 6 to
8 hours on fully charged battery. SRP: $119.
Booth #1452. (866-216-6656; mojooutdoors.com)
Moultrie Feeders
➣ The Feeder Hog Light, which attaches to the
bottom of a Moultrie feeder, illuminates game in
an area up to 30 feet in size, helping hog hunters
make a clean shot at night. The high-powered
LED light with adjustable brightness can be activated by a motion sensor, photocell, or a manual
switch. SRP: $49.99. (800-653-3334; moultrie
feeders.com)
Summit Treestands
➣ Summit Treestands is adding the Peak to its line
of Crush treestands. Constructed with a simple and
easy-to-use attachment system, the Peak also features a padded arm and backrest. The stand offers
a folding frame for a smaller profile when packing
and includes a four-point harness fall-arrest system
for maximum safety. The stand weighs 22 pounds
and can hold up to 300 pounds. SRP: $129.99.
PRODUCTS
vents and are water-impact and
abrasion-resistant. SRP: $64.95.
Booth #819. (303-330-2812; rio
grandecustomgrips.com)
TerraLUX
Summit The Peak, part of
the Crush line, features a
padded arm and backrest.
Booth #16123. (256-353-0634;
summitstands.com)
Rio Grande Grips
➣ These new commemorative U.S.
Army Special Forces Green Beret
grips are made for Ruger revolvers
and Model 1911s. The all-black tribute grips feature the Special Forces
crest, affectionately known by oldtimers as the “harp.” The tough
grips resist saltwater, oil, and sol-
➣ The Colorado offers 500 ANSIrated lumens for 90 minutes using
easy-to-find AA batteries—performance normally reserved for
CR123A-powered lights. The flashlight’s cutting-edge circuitry maximizes the life and lumens of the
CREE XM L LED. Four lighting
modes allow the user to select the
amount of light that’s just right. A
programmable memory returns the
Colorado to the user-selected power
output the first time, every time.
The high-impact polymer body
holds four AA batteries in two stacks
of two. Molded grip panels and an
ergonomically efficient shape make
the Colorado easy to hold for any
length of time, even when hands are
wet or muddy. The light has been
impact-tested to a full meter, and is
IPX7 waterproof for 30 minutes at a
1-meter depth.
Power ranges are max power of 500
lumens for 1.5 hours, high power of
250 lumens for 3.6 hours, medium
power of 60 lumens for 18 hours, and
low power of 3 lumens for 150 hours.
SRP: $97.99. Booth #641. (303-4424960; terraluxportable.com)
Timney Triggers
➣ Using a hardened steel case with
an aircraft-grade billet 6061-OT6
aluminum trigger, Timney has set
its sights on upgrading the Rem
ington Model 7 Carbine. The new
drop-in trigger is easy to install,
with an average bench time of under
15 minutes. Once secured, the trigger can be adjusted from 4 to 1.5
pounds of crisp pull, with no creep.
SRP: $134.95. Booth #1846. (623-
conditions. Wiley X’s T-Shell lens
coating resists scratching in even the
most extreme environments, while its
advanced Foil lens coating provides
unsurpassed fog protection. Wearers
can easily switch lenses among four
configurations, including matte
black, gray, and clear lenses. The
glasses are RX-ready for hunters and
shooters who wear corrective lenses.
SRP: $100 to $140. Booth #32211.
(800-776-7842; wileyx.com)
223-1111; timneytriggers.com)
Wiley X
➣ The WX Vapor’s ultra-lightweight, double-injected frame design
increases comfort by reducing combat load and relieving pressure on
the nose bridge and ears. This eyewear system is ideal for shooting
sports. The glasses meet stringent
ANSI Z87 high-velocity and highmass impact safety standards, providing occupational grade protection. They also meet the updated
MIL-PRF-32432 (GL) MCEP
Standard (superceding the GL-PD
10-12 MCEP Standard) for ballistic
eye protection and EN-166FT for
high-velocity impact standards at
temperature extremes. With 100
percent UVA/UVB protection and
distortion-free clarity, the Vapor
combines advanced protection with
sharp vision under a wide range of
YETI
➣ In just seven years, YETI Coolers
has built a cult following of customers with its grizzly-proof line of ice
chests. For 2014, the company will
introduce the Tank, a 20-gallon
bucket that is rotational molded (the
same process used to make whitewater kayaks), making it almost indestructible. It holds up to 96 aluminum cans, 60 longneck bottles, or
one full-size keg.
The PermaFrost insulation offers
best-in-class thermal resistance and
eliminates exterior sweating. The
handles are made from militarygrade rope and heavy-duty textured
grips to make carrying a loaded
Tank easier. The drain system offers
easy draining while partially open
and is leak-proof when closed. SRP:
$199.99. Booth #1627. (512-3949384; yeticoolers.com)
F E AT U R E
Gun safes go a long way toward
keeping your personal guns out of
criminal or inexperienced hands.
NSSF’s trio of security programs do
that job on a national scale.
lies on proper firearms handling,
storage, and safety.
Firearms accidents and terrible
events like the Sandy Hook school
shooting, and the tragic consequences they have on families and
whole communities, should compel
all of us to work even harder to promote and practice firearms safety.
Firearms retailers can play an
important role in bringing the
Project ChildSafe program to their
communities by making local law
enforcement departments—whether
municipal police, sheriff’s departments, or campus police—aware of
the safety program. Retailers should
consider partnering with law
enforcement on community safety
days, for example.
FixNICS
Keeping Guns Out of
the Wrong Hands
NSSF is making a three-pronged effort
By Bill Brassard, NSSF senior director, communications
R
etailers think about it prior to every firearm sale, and gun owners should be thinking
about it on a regular basis. The thought? The prevention of unauthorized access to
firearms, which is one way to reduce violence in our society without infringing on
Second Amendment rights.
Working to keep guns out of the
wrong hands is so important to our
industry that the National Shooting
Sports Foundation has made it a
multimillion-dollar, three-program
priority. This trident of initiatives is
made up of Project ChildSafe,
FixNICS, and “Don’t Lie for the
Other Guy.” Each in its own way
helps deter accidents, theft, and the
misuse of firearms.
Project ChildSafe
➤ As the leading organization promoting firearms safety and responsibility, NSSF launched Project
ChildSafe in 2003 specifically to
both educate gun owners on their
responsibility to keep their guns out
of the wrong hands and provide the
tools to help them do so. Through
partnerships with law enforcement,
NSSF has distributed more than 36
million free firearms safety kits and
safety information to gun owners
throughout the U.S. as part of this
program. We’re proud to report
that, between 2000 and 2010, fatal
firearms accidents dropped 22 percent. Firearms accidents now
account for less than 1 percent of all
fatal accidents in the United States.
Last year, NSSF, in partnership
with law enforcement agencies
across the country, committed $1
million to providing free firearms
safety kits—including locks—to gun
owners, and to educating gun owners about responsible firearms handling and storage.
With this effort, NSSF will continue to be the leading voice in the
nation on firearms safety. True success with this campaign, however,
relies on the participation of responsible firearms owners at the local
level. Our ProjectChildSafe.org
website has tips and information to
help gun owners prevent firearms
accidents, secure firearms against
theft and misuse, and educate fami-
➤ Another way to keep guns out of
the wrong hands is to make sure the
National Instant Criminal
Background Check System contains
all records of persons prohibited
from owning a firearm under current law. Background checks are
only as good as the records in the
database, and current NICS records
are incomplete. To correct this
shortcoming, NSSF has launched
FixNICS to encourage states not
providing records related to mental
incompetency and restraining orders
under current law to comply so that
more accurate and complete background checks are conducted. Visit
fixnics.org to find out how your
state ranks in providing mental
health records to NICS.
“Don’t Lie for the
Other Guy”
➤ The third prong in keeping
guns out of the wrong hands is
NSSF’s ongoing “Don’t Lie for the
Other Guy” program, which helps
educate firearms retailers on how
to prevent illegal straw purchases
and warns the public that it’s a
crime to engage in such a transaction, punishable by a $250,000 fine
and up to 10 years in jail. NSSF
encourages firearms retailers to
request a “Don’t Lie for the Other
Guy” Retailer Kit, which contains
a staff training video and store
signs that warn potential straw
purchasers that you’re on the alert
for them. You can find out more at
dontlie.org.
NSSF’s three-pronged effort to
keep guns out of the wrong hands
will help our industry, gun owners,
and communities to prevent firearms accidents, theft, and misuse.
And it happens to be a solution to
violence everyone can agree on.
F E AT U R E
Independent retailers
are the backbone of
the firearms industry.
The SHOT Show is the
one place where they
can see everybody at
once—manufacturers,
distributors, outdoors
media, fellow retailers—and everybody
can see them. The
population density is
its own reward.
Competitive Advantage
Why independent retailers love SHOT Show…
and why the feeling is mutual By Robert F. Staeger
D
on’t call them “mom-and-pop stores.” With today’s high-tech
inventory tracking, the diversity of both product and clientele, sudden bouts of product scarcity, and the complications
of keeping up with the latest ATF regulations, today’s independent retailers have a lot more on their plate than mom
and pop ever did. All of which makes SHOT Show indispensable for independent firearms retailers—and those selfsame retailers crucial to the success of SHOT Show.
“First and foremost, SHOT Show is the one
place you can see everyone and everything you
need to have a competitive advantage,” says NSSF
senior vice president and chief marketing officer
Chris Dolnack. “You can see the latest products,
and you have a good chance of talking to the
engineer that worked on the new product, or
meet the president of the company. That’s not
something that happens as a rule anywhere else.”
Randy Clark, NSSF’s managing director of business development, agrees: “The beauty of SHOT
is, once the independents get their business out of
the way with the majors—Ruger, Smith, and those
guys—then they can walk the aisles and look for the
niche merchandising for their store that absolutely
nobody else will have.” And with SHOT covering
more than 600,000 square feet, that’s a job in itself.
“If it’s under the sun out there for the independent retailer, it’s at SHOT Show,” says Clark. “You
can touch it, you can feel it, you can talk directly
with the people who make it. You can write the
orders there and get everything taken care of. A
regional event cannot pull all the different categories and all the different merchandise and opportunities, just because they don’t have the space.”
At last year’s show, 15,500 members of the independent retailing community were in attendance.
That population density is its own advantage, says
Patrick Shay, NSSF’s director of retail development. “I think another great benefit is network-
ing—meeting other great retailers there and being
able to share what’s working and not working.”
And it doesn’t end with fellow retailers, says
Clark. “Networking can happen on so many different levels. They can network with their buying
groups, they can network directly with manufacturers. But networking always floats to the top of the
survey results of why independents go to SHOT.”
Knowledge = Power
➤ “I think the educational opportunities that we
offer also make it critical for independent retailers
to be here,” says Shay. “They’re learning, not just
about products and upcoming programs, but also
about what’s going on in the industry.”
SHOT Show University gives attendees an
intensive schedule of seminars the day before the
show floor opens, and retailers can also take part
in the retailer education seminars throughout the
run of the show. Retailers particularly find a lot of
value in the compliance programs the ATF holds,
as well as the ability to meet with the ATF and
the FBI at the show and discuss individual issues.
“We’re looking to give our retail attendees a
reason to come to the show, where they can not
only pick up the information they need, and meet
the key people, but also leave Las Vegas with
some new information that will be actionable in
their business,” says Dolnack.
“If it’s under the sun out there for the
independent retailer, it’s at SHOT Show,” says
Clark. “You can touch it, you can
feel it, you can talk directly with the people
who make it. You can write the orders there and
get everything taken care of.”
Of course, as important as the show is to independent retailers, the retailers themselves are a
crucial part of the show.
“Independent firearms retailers are the backbone
of our industry,” says Dolnack. “They’re where
consumers go to get information—not only product information, but also what’s in season and how
well other hunters are doing. Information about
not only the what, but also the when and where. So
having independent retailers at the SHOT Show is
also a major driving force for manufacturers.”
The obvious thought is that retailers are whom
the manufacturers sell to. But that’s only part of the
story. Retailers don’t necessarily place orders at the
show unless there’s a show special—a deeper discount, better terms. But the sheer number of exhibitors—1,610!—means that a lot of buying decisions
are being made, even if they’re not formalized.
“Retailers are in an information-gathering
mode,” says Dolnack. “Research shows they typically place their orders within 60 days after the
show—often at distributor shows, which tend to
take place after SHOT Show.”
The Front Line
➤ Even so, says Dolnack, “there are still a lot of
manufacturers and exhibitors at the SHOT Show
that don’t sell through two-step distribution and
who do write orders at the show. So there’s a tremendous opportunity for independent retailers to
seek out new products, niche products, and new
vendors that will allow them to have an item that
they can make some money on that isn’t being
footballed around in the marketplace yet.” The
presence of all those retailers is a tremendous boon
for niche manufacturers that exhibit at the show.
“To my mind, I see the independent retailer as
the face of the industry in their community,” says
Shay. “I think a lot of independent retailers build a
great relationship with their communities and their
customers. They’re kind of the front line of the
industry, so any information that they can get from
the manufacturer and that they can pass along to
their customers is huge. It helps their customer
make an educated buying decision and really helps
to further engage them in the industry.”
The outdoors media can also benefit from meeting with independent retailers at SHOT. “These
folks are out on the front lines, they’re taking the
temperature,” says Shay. By talking with them,
reporters can get a really clear picture of what’s
going on in the industry, and the issues that face
some of the smaller businesses. “They can get
comments back from their customers, not only
about products, but also about the industry, and
how well we are meeting their needs,” adds Shay
Conservation and wildlife organizations can also
benefit from getting to know their local retailers,
and SHOT is a great time to do it. “I think there’s
a great opportunity for partnership at the state and
local level between the independent retailers and
the conservation departments as budgets tighten
and it’s harder and harder to get money for some
of these programs. Not only can retailers help
advertise some of the programs, they can help
fund and support them. So if they’re doing a range
day and the store has range safety officers or
knowledgeable staff that can come out and help,
they can help get the word out to their clientele.”
As the conservation organizations might put it,
SHOT is a diverse ecosystem, where independent
retailers play an increasingly important role. Not
only do they benefit from the breadth of manufacturers at SHOT, and the networking and educational opportunities here, but they also help those
same groups get their messages out to the community at large. Who knew symbiosis came in camo?
F E AT U R E
To accomplish that goal, the NSSF is continuing to develop specialized First Shot events—such
as the Big City Tours, aimed at ranges in metro
areas—that target specific types of ranges and
unique customer demographics as a way to help
all ranges get involved with the effort to introduce potential participants to the sport.
But the NSSF also recognizes that the introduction is only the first step.
“To really keep new shooters engaged, you have
to help them take their interest to the next level,”
Juett says. “And that’s what Second Round is all
about.”
Back for Seconds
NSSF’s First Shots program provides safety
training and hard-toget hands-on experience to people who
are casually interested
in shooting but don’t
know where to start. In
recent years, the program has started to
widen its reach with
whirlwind blitzes of
metropolitan ranges,
as well as deepen its
effect by encouraging
new shooters to come
back for a second
round of training.
NSSF First Shots
Expands Its Reach
Second Round events deepen interest in the
shooting sports By Christopher Cogley
T
he National Shooting Sports Foundation is dedicated to promoting the
shooting sports. One of the key elements to accomplishing that mission is
to recruit new participants and help turn their budding interest into a permanent passion. In the years since it was established, First Shots has proven to be an extremely valuable tool to get new people involved in the shooting
sports. The early success of the Second Round program shows that it too could
become just as valuable at transforming those new shooters into lifelong participants.
The First Shots program was created as a way
for ranges to provide people with an opportunity
to try shooting in a safe, controlled environment.
To help offset the cost of hosting a First Shots
event, the NSSF provides participating ranges
with ammunition, targets, safety literature, print
advertising graphics, radio-ready commercials,
instructor PowerPoint presentations, and even
cooperative advertising funds.
“First Shots is such an easy way to get people
into your range,” says Tisma Juett, manager of
First Shots for NSSF. “For a small investment,
you can reach out to the community and show
them that you are running a safe and responsible
range. Once they understand the basics of fire-
arms safety, they begin to realize how much fun
the shooting sports can be.”
In 2013, more than 250 First Shots events took
place at ranges across the country. Juett says that
this number is about average for the past couple
of years.
Big City Shooting
➤ “Our focus for the future will be to reach out
to those ranges that have not held an event and
try to get them on board with the program,” she
says. “Our goal is to show ranges how easy it is to
host an event and how effective these events are
at bringing new shooters to the sport.”
➤ The Second Round program was created as a
way for ranges to reach out to those people who
have participated in a First Shots event and help
show them new and different aspects of the
shooting sports.
“So many people go out and buy a firearm
with the idea that they just want it for personal
protection. They might participate in First
Shots simply as a way to learn how to use their
new firearm, but then they realize how much
fun shooting can be,” Juett says. “And once the
fun aspect kicks in, they start looking for other
shooting activities to participate in.”
To help introduce enthusiastic new participants to different aspects of the shooting sports
and fan the flames of their budding interests,
the NSSF provides a $500 stipend to ranges that
host a Second Round event. From an introduction to sporting clays and Try-a-Gun to bowling
pin shooting and Steel Challenge, the types of
Second Round events are as varied as the ranges
that host them and the customers who attend
them.
“There are so many different ways to participate in the shooting sports, but getting started
can be intimidating if you don’t know how,” Juett
says. “With the Second Round program, ranges
can give their First Shots participants an introduction to all these different shooting activities in
a safe and controlled way.”
Although the Second Shots program is just getting off the ground, Juett says that more than 15
ranges hosted an event last year, and she expects
that number to continue to climb as word spreads
about the tremendous value of the program.
“This really is the next step for bringing a new
shooter into the fold,” she says. “The benefit is
the ongoing participation from these beginning
shooters as they explore different aspects of the
shooting sports and continually take their skills to
the next level. That, of course, is something we
all benefit from.”
For more information on hosting a First Shots
or Second Round event, contact Tisma Juett at
[email protected].
“Once the fun aspect
kicks in, they start
looking for other
shooting activities
to participate in.”
—Tisma Juett, NSSF
manager, First Shots
F E AT U R E
Second “Greatest
Story Never Told”
Statistics, studies need to be publicized
By Steve Sanetti, NSSF president and CEO
I
n 1937, a coaltion of far-sighted legislators and sportsmen enacted the
Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, and for more than 75 years
each and every purchaser of firearms and ammunition pays for the lion’s
share of conservation in America. And that’s for the benefit of the entire
public and all species, game and non-game alike.
Yet very few people know this.
Ask anyone, “Who pays for conservation in America?” and the
common (and incorrect)
response will likely be some
“green” group. The truth, that
sportsmen pay for conservation,
has been somewhat sardonically
called “The Greatest Story
Never Told.”
But there’s another great
untold story, one that is extremely topical today. In fact, it should
control one of the most important debates of our time. I’m
referring to the fact that both
crime and accidents involving
firearms have decreased dramatically during the last 20 years. Yet
the media and public sentiment
in many quarters keep repeating
the opposite—that we are experiencing “an epidemic of gun
crime” or that “guns in the home
are proving deadly for kids,” to
quote just two examples.
Please don’t just take our word
for this. The U.S. Department
of Justice’s Bureau of Justice
Statistics report, released in May
2013, shows that firearms-related
homicides dropped 39 percent
between 1993 and 2011 (49 percent when corrected for population growth), and that non-fatal
crimes involving firearms fell an
astonishing 69 percent during
that same period (75 percent
when corrected for population
growth).
Mass shootings now account
for less than 1 percent of all
homicides. School homicides?
They actually dropped by half.
Not exactly what you’ve been
hearing from pundits or news
organizations, is it? They focus
on such horrible events, and
beseech us to ban “military-style
weapons” and “gun shows”
instead of focusing on the true
causes of crime.
So, as long as we’ve gotten on
these topics, what does the
Justice Department Report say
about them? Well, only 1 percent of inmates are in prison for
a crime in which they carried a
rifle, and slightly more than 2
percent of those were armed
with a military-style semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm.
Furthermore, fewer than 1 percent of inmates who possessed a
gun to commit their offense
obtained their firearm at a gun
show. This decrease in gunrelated crime comes during an
unprecedented period of growth
in firearms sales, gun owners,
and licenses to carry firearms. So
clearly, more guns in the hands
of law-abiding citizens does not
cause an increase in crime.
Accident fatalities with firearms have also continued to
decline—by 22 percent in the
last 10 years—and National
Safety Council Statistics place
them far behind poisoning,
motor vehicles, falls, choking,
drowning, fires, and suffocation.
All of this goes to show, in the
words of James Carville, “We’re
right and they’re wrong.” That
may be gratifying, but a larger
question is, What good does this
information do if nobody knows
about it? In that regard, the news
is downright awful.
A new research report released
a day after the Justice Depart
ment Report revealed a stunning
anomaly: Only 12 percent of
Americans believe that violent
crime with firearms is down, and
56 percent believe, falsely, that
violent crime involving guns is
actually increasing! Twenty-six
percent believe, also incorrectly,
that crime involving firearms
stayed about the same during the
last 20 years. Women, non-white
adults, and senior citizens are the
most likely to mistakenly believe
that such crime is up.
A third survey, released in
May, was performed by the
Gallup Organization, and it
showed that, despite mass-media
saturation of news and commentary with anti-firearms messages,
out of 20 categories, the public
rated gun control second from
the bottom of what our national
order of priorities should be,
well behind most economic
issues affecting our nation and its
citizens. Clearly, when armed
with the facts, Americans will see
beyond the hype, and they will
focus on the truth.
It is crucial for responsible gun
owners who follow the law and
exercise their constitutional
rights to help spread the truth
about crime and guns. So, please,
help us get the word out!
EOTech Aids
LE Agencies
with Grant
Assistance
Working with law-enforcement agencies
across the country, the staff at EOTech
has seen an ominous trend develop
from coast to coast: Budget cuts are
forcing agencies to try and do more with
shrinking resources. In an effort to supplement department and agency efforts,
EOTech has created a free Grant
Assistance Program.
Through its partnership with Dynamic
International, one of the nation’s leading
grant assistance firms, EOTech is able to
provide support, free of charge, to city,
county, and state organizations that are
interested in seeking grant funding for
EOTech-related products.
Paul Cunningham, EOTech’s director
of public safety sales, spearheaded the
program’s development. “EOTech has
always maintained the highest level of
respect and support for those that put
their lives on the line for others,” he says.
“Watching them struggle through budget cuts that restrict their operational
finances and don’t allow them to purchase the equipment they need to safely
do their jobs is unacceptable.”
Dynamic International will offer
step-by-step instruction through the
entire grant funding process by helping
agencies gain approval to pursue grant
funding, identifying available grants,
and pinpointing the people to support
the grant at the state level. They will
then assist with the development of
a successful grant justification paper
and help to secure and protect
the grant funding. Booth #20153.
(888-368-4656; eotech-inc.com/
grant-assistance)
ON THE FLOOR
With the growth of all things
tactical, it was probably just a
matter of time before it came to
this: Tactical Kilt Thursday. If
you’re brave enough to wear
your kilt today, stop by the 5.11
Booth, which is hosting Tactical
Kilt Thursday today. You’ll even
receive a free gift (while supplies
last). Booth #13162.
Meanwhile, at Stack-On
Products (Booth #605), you can
enter to win a Shooter’s safe with
Steve West from Outdoor Chan
nel’s Steve’s Outdoor Adventures
from 10 top 10:30 a.m.
F E AT U R E
“These guys know
what they’re doing,
and can help you
navigate through
these difficult issues
so you don’t have
to feel like you’re
doing it alone.”
—Zach Snow, NSSF
manager, shooting
promotions
NSSF’s Range Action Specialists have all the know-how you need to help you run and maintain a safe,
environmentally friendly range. The team of experts, available for phone and online consultations as well
as more intensive audits, help range owners avoid getting on the wrong side of regulators.
Specialists Give Range
Owners Inside Advice
Best management practices help you run a
more efficient operation By Christopher Cogley
T
here are times as a range owner when it can feel like you’re operating out in the middle of nowhere completely on your own. There
are times when it would be extremely helpful to have someone to
bounce ideas off of, someone to get some advice from, someone
who understands the business and can give you just a little insight
so that you don’t have to learn absolutely everything the hard way.
It’s for times like those that the National
Shooting Sports Foundation has developed the
Range Action Specialist program.
“The goal of this program is to assist ranges
with best management practices that have proven to be effective,” says Zach Snow, manager of
shooting promotions at the National Shooting
Sports Foundation. “If you’re looking for sound
advice from people who know what they’re
doing, this program is for you.”
The program consists of a panel of experts
that include former members of state agencies,
successful range owners, firearms instructors,
legal experts, former inspectors from the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
and many others. These Range Action Specialists
provide invaluable insight into nearly every conceivable aspect of running a shooting range. So,
whether you want to lower your operating
expenses and maintenance costs or ensure that
you have all the proper permits and that your
policies and procedures are compliant with current Federal regulations, there’s a Range Action
Specialist who can help.
“For the most part this team covers all the
bases,” Snow says. “These guys know what
they’re doing, and they can help you navigate
through some of these difficult issues so you
don’t have to feel like you’re doing it alone.”
Service and Expertise
➤ Sometimes, that assistance can come in the
form of a telephone call or an online discussion.
Other times, it might require a more in-depth
consultation, when one of the Range Action
Specialists can travel to your location for an onsite visit or mock audit.
“There are all different levels of options available,” Snow says. “The cost obviously varies
depending on the services needed, but the NSSF
does offset some of the expense as a benefit to
our members.”
For many range owners, however, the costs of
the services isn’t nearly as important as the benefits they provide.
“The service and expertise provided to our
project by NSSF has been invaluable,” says
Chris Baden of Rocky Creek Ranch in Myakka
City, Florida.
“The guidance we have received in helping us
to develop our master plan for our range has
greatly improved our sustainability into the
future,” says Baden. “Our range safety team has
a much better understanding of recommended
management practices and a new level of professional standard to subscribe to.”
For more information about how the Range
Action Specialists can help you achieve results
like that, visit nssf.org/ranges/ras.
RANGE COMPLIANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES PEACE OF MIND
For many of the range owners who attend one of the National
Shooting Sports Foundation’s Lead Management and OSHA
Compliance Workshops, the information covered during the twoday seminar can be a bit overwhelming. What’s often even more
intimidating, however, is the idea of putting into practice all of the policies and procedures outlined in the
workshop.
Because the NSSF recognizes how daunting this
task can be—but also how important it is for range
owners to take these steps as a way to protect their business—they
have created a low-cost program to help transform the concepts
covered in the Lead Management and OSHA Compliance
Workshops into everyday business practices.
Through the Range Compliance Program, an industry expert will
visit your range and conduct an on-site mock audit to ensure that
the practices you have put into place after attending the Lead
Management and OSHA Compliance Workshop are in line with all
OSHA regulations.
“This is a great way to be sure that you haven’t missed any steps
or overlooked any details,” says Zach Snow, manager
of shooting promotions at NSSF. “If you don’t have it
right before OSHA knocks on your door, it can be
pretty costly.”
The price of the Range Compliance Program, however, is anything but. A normal consultation by an OSHA compliance
expert would cost, at a minimum, $5,000, but through this program,
the NSSF is covering half that cost for its members. So, for only
$2,500, you can have the peace of mind of knowing that if OSHA
pays you an unexpected visit, you’ll be prepared. For more information about the program, visit nssf.org/ranges/rccp.
F E AT U R E
The Model 336 makes its reappearance in 2014. In addition to
regular offerings, Marlin will also introduce a Limited Edition
series of the 336. These rifles will feature a high-grade walnut
stock, high-polish blued metal, and some light scroll engraving.
Despite Rumors, Marlin Makes
a Comeback
Production resumes at a new home at Remington By David Draper
I
f there’s a gunmaker that’s suffered from more rumored deaths than Marlin, I wouldn’t be able to name it. Since being acquired
by Remington in 2007, the iconic lever-gun manufacturer has been killed off by internet trolls and industry veterans (who should
know better) more times than an extra in a George Romero zombie flick. Through it all, the company has kept making guns,
although lower production levels and decreased line offerings have given some credence to Marlin’s rumored demise among outsiders who would rather hold on to nostalgia at the cost of lost business.
A lagging economy and a lack of capital investments over the years dealt Marlin a double blow
in the late part of the last decade, but according
to company officials, Remington has never had
any plans to kill off the company. Instead, engineers and craftsmen have been working behind
the scenes to drag Marlin into the 21st century
while maintaining the legacy of quality and performance that Marlin enthusiasts hold dear. The
process has not been easy, and Remington admits
to missteps that have pushed back timelines and
caused plenty of angst both within and beyond
the company walls.
“To say we made a couple of mistakes is a bit of
an understatement,” says Scott Blackwell, president of Freedom Group International,
Remington’s parent company. “We opened the
door for Rossi and Henry, but with our new production process for the receiver in a side-by-side
comparison, there is no comparison. We’re working hard to bring it back.”
Part of that hard work was recovering from a
poorly planned move from Marlin’s longstanding
manufacturing plant in North Haven,
Connecticut, to Remington-operated factories in
Ilion, New York, and Mayfield, Kentucky. The
2010 decision to close the North Haven plant,
thus ending Marlin’s 140-year tradition of manufacturing in Connecticut, was not an easy one to
swallow, both for those making the decision and
the company’s fervent fan base. But for Marlin to
continue as a viable brand, it was necessary.
“Marlin had great heritage and history in the
North Haven community,” says John Fink, senior
product manager for Remington. “They had a
skilled and tenured workforce that knew how to
build Marlin rifles. Some of the people were
second- and third-generation builders. We were
faced with some tough decisions to make that
impacted those people and the local community
around North Haven.”
While the craftsmen at Marlin were first-rate
with the kind of inherent knowledge that only
comes with an unmatched, lifelong dedication to
building a quality product, the manufacturing
A ghost-ring sight on an 1895 lever-action—a
Marlin classic design, and a favorite of many
shooters. It’s now back in the lineup.
facilities in North Haven were less than great.
Machines were held together with what amounted
to little more than Band-Aids, creating inefficient
and costly production processes. The fact is, companies are in the business of making money. The
best way do this is by making quality products
that customers want to buy. After an acquisition,
the parent company has to do what makes the
most sense for the long-term viability of the business. That’s the hard truth Remington faced when
it purchased Marlin.
“The biggest known issue was that Marlin was
in need of capital investment,” says Fink. “We
were dealing with equipment that was old—in
some cases, more than 60 years. Some of the
equipment was in such bad shape that sheet metal
damns had been built around the machines to
keep fluids from leaking out onto the floor.”
Just four hours away, in Ilion, Remington’s factory had some open floor space where it could
move Marlin, keep it autonomous from
Remington, and yet improve efficiency.
“We realized it would be a challenging move,”
says Fink. “It required moving equipment, setting
it up in a new location, and training people to
build these rifles. Old equipment does not travel
well. Once this equipment was moved to Ilion,
many of the pieces were running at a rate that was
even less efficient than before.”
Compounding the difficulties, Remington discovered dimensioned drawings of Marlin’s iconic
rifles did not exist. The plans at North Haven had
simply been passed down through the generations. Many of these workers hadn’t made the
move to Ilion, so much of that inherent knowledge had been lost.
“We were training a new workforce to build
these rifles,” says Fink. “We have a great workforce in Ilion with gunmaking talent, but they had
never built lever-action rifles before so there was
learning curve. It all came together for a very
rough transition.”
Through it all Remington remained committed
to saving Marlin, although you can bet there were
some difficult, and heated, conversations. Luckily,
cooler heads and common sense prevailed, much
due to the fact that no one at Remington wanted
to be responsible for killing off a brand that so
many of them loved.
“The Marlin lever-action rifle is such a great
rifle. It has killed so many deer, and given so
many people their start in hunting and shooting,
that there is no way we could ever quit making
Marlin rifles,” says Fink. “We are putting the
resources behind the rifles to ensure they will be
available for generations.”
To save Marlin from imploding, Remington
invested both dollars and manpower in a multifaceted approach to achieve the kind of quality
that had slipped during the transition. From a
manufacturing standpoint, the company has set
up a stand-alone Marlin factory within the Ilion
plant, with its own designated managers, workforce and assemblers, people who are committed
and vested in the Marlin brand.
F E AT U R E
The iconic Marlin leveraction is a firearm prized
by millions of American
hunters and shooters.
“They have a great deal of pride in what they
have done and what the future holds for Marlin
rifles,” says Fink.
On the product side, Marlin reduced its offerings
from 29 catalog lever-gun offerings down to 18.
They also eliminated any customer-exclusive guns,
at least temporarily. The SKU reduction allowed
the factory to focus on the rifles they had a greater
ability to produce on a consistent basis, which
tended to be the highest-volume offerings. Plans
call for rifles that were suspended to make their
way back into the line as the manufacturing process works outs its kinks.
“We hoped to do that in late 2012, however we
were not as far along as we would have liked to
have been,” says Fink. “This process was very
painful for me, as it would be for anyone who is
passionate about rifles.”
At the same time lines were being reduced,
R&D engineers started a project to complete
three-dimensional drawings of all the parts, something that had never been done before.
Meanwhile, production engineers were evaluating
what new modern equipment would be necessary
once they knew the exact dimensions that would
need to be coming off the machine.
“We have now completed these dimensioned
drawings for the 336 line and 1895 line, since
they are the most similar,” says Fink. “In 2014, we
will also be in the same position on the 1894 line.
New equipment for these lines has been purchased and is operational. We have implemented
100 percent inspection of the Marlin rifles to
ensure all the things implemented are being
addressed. We have seen great improvement over
the last 12 months, and we continue to focus on
further improvements.”
For 2014, Marlin is reintroducing four sus-
pended offerings, including two .338 Marlin
Express rifles, the 1895 Cowboy, and the .444
Marlin. The company is also introducing a
Limited Edition series, with the first rifle being a
336 Limited featuring a high-grade walnut stock,
high-polish blued metal with some light scroll
engraving, and the Marlin horse and rider in
24-carat gold on the left receiver panel. Future
plans call for a new introduction to the series each
year, with changes in engraving patterns, model,
and overall configuration.
“When we suspended the items we did in mid2011, there were a total of five new offerings we
had engineering looking at for production,” says
Fink. “There is a lot of opportunity for completely new offerings and exciting rifles that we can
bring back and introduce to the market.”
With these new introductions and continuing
roll-outs of previously cancelled production lines,
Marlin looks to be on solid footing. But will it be
enough to finally put an end to the ongoing
rumors of the company’s imminent death, which
still crop up on shooting and hunting forums?
Only time will tell, but to those doubters the
brand company officials want to impress the commitment they have to the brand.
“I say with all sincerity that the future of Marlin
is very positive,” says Fink. “We have invested
heavily in Marlin and will continue to do so in
terms of both capital equipment and people. We
are absolutely committed to seeing that Marlin is
here for generations.”
But maybe a word from the top sums it up best.
“Marlin is back,” says Blackwell. “Consumers
will be proud to own it. We owe it to the brand to
do it justice.” Booth #14229. (800-544-8892;
marlinfirearms.com)
F E AT U R E
Family Legacy
C
Faulk’s is still building game calls one at a time By Brandon Butler
anaan Heard beams with pride when he speaks of his grandfather, Paul “Dud” Dudley Faulk. Dud is a true legend of
waterfowl calling and manufacturing. He won the International Duck Calling Championship in 1954, and won back-toback World Goose Calling Championships in 1961 and 1962. His passion for calling waterfowl remains evident today in
the calls and company that bear his name. Faulk’s has been successful while staying true to its roots.
Heard is determined to keep the
family legacy alive. He believes the
modern market still has room for
small American companies adhering
to tradition. It was his great-
grandfather, Clarence “Patin” Faulk,
who first started making Faulk calls
in the mid-1930s. Patin was no
slouch at calling, and won the 1955
World Goose Calling Championship.
Patin’s early calls were made of cane,
and hunters and guides from across
south Louisiana would do whatever
they could to get their hands on one.
Faulk’s Game Calls was formally
born in 1951 under the guidance of
the Patin and Dud, a father-and-son
team. Today, Faulk’s manufacturing
facilities remain surprisingly simple.
The entire company consists of a few
side-by-side barns and shops in the
back yard of a small house on two
city lots in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The inside of the main workshop
looks like a museum dedicated to call
Art LeJeune (left) at his workbench. Canaan Heard (great-grandson of founder
Clarence Faulk, right) examines a line of finished calls ready for shipping.
making. It’s dusty and dim. Old
machinery lines the walls, and there’s
an ashtray on the lunch table where
call maker Arthur “Art” LeJeune has
been taking smoke breaks for more
than 45 years. Kwanchai Madith has
been joining him for more than 30.
“I was 22 years old when I started
here,” LeJeune says. “I was just back
from the service and needed a job.
Dud hired me on, and I’ve loved it
from the first call I turned. I’m 68
now, and I still love coming here and
building calls. That’s important, you
know, doing something you enjoy.
It’s never felt like work to me.”
Watching LeJeune turn a block of
wood into a duck call is a lot like
watching a master orator give a
speech. He is authoritative, accomplished, and confident in every
moment. It’s as natural as walking
for him. And the calls are beautiful.
The low-volume tone of a wooden
call hums through the shop each
time LeJeune tests another before
dropping it in a box destined for a
marsh somewhere.
Over the years, Faulk’s has
expanded its game calls beyond just
waterfowl. The company now produces waterfowl, deer, elk, turkey,
small-game, and predator calls.
“It means a lot to me to carry on
my family legacy,” Heard says.
“People around the world know us,
and that means a whole lot me,
because we are just a small Louisiana
company making calls in a traditional manner.” Booth #1309. (337-4369726; faulkcalls.com)
F E AT U R E
Remington’s Lofty
Ambitions
Remington reclaims its
airgun space By Slaton L. White
O
ver the past few years, when retailers have stocked an
airgun from Remington, it was licensed product. The
strategy kept Remington in the airgun game without
having to incur development expenses, but given that
the product was farmed out, you never got the sense that airguns
were top of mind at Big Green.
That’s all changed.
Remington recently hired a team
of engineers, product managers, and
marketers dedicated to building the
finest airgun company in the industry. One member of the new
Remington airgun division is Dani
Navickas, airgun product manager.
She had spent the past 17 years in
the space, so she obviously knows
the field and intends to make
Remington a major player, with
products designed and developed by
Remington.
The first step was the purchase of
SMK, the largest importer and distributors of airguns in the United
Kingdom.
“We were excited to recently wel-
come SMK into our family of companies,” says Scott Blackwell, president of Freedom Group/
Remington. “The acquisition of
SMK, now Remington Outdoor
(UK), marks another strategic step
for our company as we expand our
offering of relevant products to the
outdoor enthusiast. This acquisition
is an expansion of a legacy that
began in 1927, when Remington
first served as an airgun supplier.
Still, folks should be under no illusion—1927 was a long time ago, and
we’re looking forward to challenging the way consumers think about
the airgun space.”
The second step was the introduction of the Remington Express
Back in the Game Outdoor
writer David Draper takes aim
with Remington’s new Express
spring-piston break-barrel .177.
spring-piston break-barrel .177 air
rifle last fall. The rifle is targeted to a
key demographic—shooters in the
18- to 34-year-old age group.
Navickas says the initial strategy
was to get the rifles into eight chain
stores in time for the Black Friday
retail selling frenzy the day after
Thanksgiving. By early October, she
says, “We had already sold more than
15,000 rifles, sight unseen.”
The Express uses lead pellets, and
as a result achieves muzzle velocities
of up to 1,000 fps. “We know that
using alloy pellets would give us
higher velocities,” she says, “but
accuracy is what counts. And that’s
what we focused on.”
Other features of the Express
include a 4x32 scope (with mounts),
a two-stage trigger, checkered hard-
wood stock, fiber-optic front and
adjustable rear sights, fitted rubber
recoil pad, and an auto/rest safety.
The safety has a reset lever that is
unique in the industry. Most spring
air rifles have to be recocked in
order to reset the safety. This crossbolt design has a lever on the safety
that is easily pulled back with the
thumb to reset to “Safe” if the shot
will not be fired. This is a feature
that should appeal to new shooters.
“Down the road you’ll see five
new rifles along with accessories,”
Navickas says. “We intend to create
a full line of product. Right now we
have a lot of different irons in the
fire. The goal is to make Remington
a premier airgun company. We have
lofty ambitions.” Booth #14229.
(800-243-9700; remington.com)
F E AT U R E
A Rest of
Champions
Champion has a
new line of shooting
rests that are highly
portable and adjustable for pretty much
any shooting style.
Rest Easy
Champion’s new lineup of rests deliver easy stability
W
e’ve all seen that guy who tries to shave as he’s driving in rush-hour traffic. The
results aren’t pretty. Even if he does dodge putting his grille into the hatchback
ahead of him, his face winds up looking like a comic book villain’s by the time
he gets to the office.
The takeaway is, it’s impossible to
pull off a precise task if the foundation you’re working from shimmies
and shakes beneath you. Shooters
know this all too well. A good rest
allows one to place precise shots,
take human error out of the equation, and allow the rifle and ammunition to perform at their peak.
With their cast aluminum and
steel-tube construction, the new line
of rifle rests from Champion
Shooting Gear are built to stand up
to the rigors of the range. And the
leather-and-polyester front shooting
bag provides a solid yet delicate cradle for any firearm.
“We gave these rests superior
recoil-management results by lower-
ing their center mass. It’s what sets
our rests apart from the competition,” says Tony Kremer,
Champion’s product designer. “The
lowered shooting position also provides enhanced comfort.”
With multiple points of adjustment, shooters can easily manipulate
elevation and windage. They can
also maintain a level position, even
on uneven surfaces, thanks to three
independently adjustable feet.
“All of our new rests are designed
with quality in mind and feature quality material for long-lasting durability,” Kremer says. “Our unique parallel tube design [on three of the models] allows shooters to use highercapacity magazines with these rests.
In addition, our designs can be used
by both right- and left-handed shooters due to the ambidextrous design of
the windage and elevation controls.”
The Champion Premium Rifle
Rest is designed to accommodate
firearms ranging from rimfires to
magnum centerfires rifles and MSR
platforms. Shooters can put weights
on the steel tray to tame harsh recoil,
and adjust the overall length by as
much as 3 inches to find the optimum balance for a specific firearm.
“The Premium Shooting Rest has
fine-adjustment control to zero in
on the target and allow consistent
shot placement,” says Kremer. “Its
weight tray helps tame aggressive
recoil for accurate and consistent
shots.” SRP: $171.95.
Champion’s Enhanced Rifle Rest
offers many of those same features
with a durable cast metal and steel
tube frame, and a precise, easy-toadjust elevation range of 2¼ inches.
The adjustable steel feet with removable polymer covers grip any surface
and level the rest on an uneven
shooting platform. It’s also compatible with most magazine-fed rifles,
which means shooters can use it with
their new MSR as well as bolt-action
or lever guns. SRP: $143.95.
Shooters who want the same performance in a more affordable package can opt for Champion’s
Performance Shooting Rest. It provides all of the Enhanced Rifle
Rest’s features, but with a durable
molded-polymer front section and a
removable steel weight tray for
added stability and felt-recoil reduction. SRP: $114.95.
For some shooters, portability is
paramount. If you’re in that camp,
consider Champion’s Tri-Stance Rest,
which easily fits into a range bag.
“The Tri-Stance Rest allows flexibility for rifle or handgun shooters,”
says Kremer. “The two-part rest
features a three-leg cast aluminum
and steel front section that allows
2¼ inches of elevation adjustability.
The polymer-filled rear bag provides an effective yet compact platform.” SRP: $95.95.
Another portable option is the
new Champion Varminter, which is
great in the field and on a bench.
“The Varminter has fine-
adjustment control for exact shot
placement at the range or in the
field,” he says. “Its lightweight
design deploys quickly, rotates 360
degrees, and allows 7½ inches of
height adjustment. Durable steel
tube construction ensures it’ll last as
long as you do.” SRP: $66.95.
With an ever-improving selection
of quality rests like these, there’s no
excuse for using one that doesn’t fit
your shooting style. Make use of
what Champion offers, and you’ll
put more rounds on the target.
Booth #14551. (800-831-0850;
championtarget.com)
A REST THAT MOVES YOU
To hunters, benchtop shooting rests are an invaluable tool for sighting-in
firearms and experimenting with loads. But a rock-solid rest in the controlled and sheltered domain of a range is also fantasyland. Anyone
who’s ever tried to punch a tag knows that in-the-field shot opportunities are never anything like the shots taken from a bench, and real-world
accuracy suffers as a result.
Champion is helping hunters overcome this with its new Flip Monopod
($44.99). Think of it as a hiking staff that transforms into a shooting
stick when you need it most. Its retractable shooting yoke quickly flips
open from the top of the ergonomic handle with the press of a button,
providing a perfect Y-shaped rest. It also features a wrist strap, heavyduty polymer and aluminum construction, and a steel tip that digs into
any terrain. It’s ideal for spot-and-stalk hunters who need to hoof it
through rough country before finally putting the crosshairs on the target.
F E AT U R E
Matching
Ammo
Manufacturers serve
up hunting ammunition designed around
the MSR
L
ike almost every iconic weapon in the evolution of firearms, the modern sporting
rifle has been embraced by
hunters. To many, its action, handling,
adjustability, and compatibility with
varied optics and accessories makes it
the perfect combination for hunting
everything from coyotes to moose. This
versatility isn’t magic, however. Gun
manufacturers made the MSR what it is
by designing it wholly unlike conventional bolt-actions, semi-automatics,
and lever guns. In short, MSRs function
differently because they are different—
in their barrels, their firing pins, their
actions, and more.
This calls for ammunition that’s just as specialized. Unfortunately, many shooters, especially
those who purchased an MSR during the plat-
Fusion MSR ammo utilizes fast-burning powders in order to
develop maximum velocity out of the shorter (16 to 20 inches)
barrels customary to the modern sporting rifle platform.
form’s meteoric rise to popularity over the past
decade or so, don’t always understand this. This is
due, in part, to the MSR’s military pedigree, but
military-style fully jacketed rounds are neither the
practical nor legal choice for hunting. And more
appropriate, conventional hunting loads are similarly ill-suited to the MSR.
Thankfully, ammunition manufacturers have
developed hunting-specific loads built around this
revolutionary class of firearms. Last year, for
example, Federal Premium released Fusion MSR,
as well as new MSR-optimized loads in its
American Eagle line.
“We know a good percentage of MSR owners
are using them for hunting, and we feel that number will rise in years to come. So, we looked at
what needs the group has—or will have—and tailored products to meet them,” says Dan Compton,
product line specialist for Federal Premium.
The company’s primary hunting offering is the
Fusion MSR, which is currently offered in .223
Rem., .308 Win., 6.8 SPC, and .338 Federal.
“For target practice, we offer several loads in
our American Eagle brand, including 6.8 SPC, as
well as 300 Blackout in both standard and the
new Suppressor line.” Compton says. “We also
offer 5.56mm, .223 Rem., and 7.62x51mm FMJ
ball offerings for target practice.”
Mechanics
➤ MSRs are not simply cosmetically different
from their more traditional counterparts—they
function differently on an almost fundamental
level. An important distinction, especially with
respect to ammunition, is the firing pin. An MSR
has a free-floating pin that comes into contact
with the primer when the bolt chambers a round.
If a cartridge’s primer is too sensitive, the round
may go off when the bolt slides shut, resulting in
a slam fire. On the other hand, if the primer is
too heavy, it may not ignite when the trigger is
pulled.
Federal Premium dealt with these issues headon when developing its Fusion MSR line.
“The key is balance,” Compton says. “All of our
MSR-optimized loads feature the Gold Medal
GM205AR primer, which is loaded to mil-spec sensitivity. It offers the high levels of reliability and
consistency our Gold Medal primers are renowned
for.”
Propellant choice is another critical part of how
manufacturers are providing hunters with ammunition customized for the MSR. The challenge is
that MSRs typically have short barrels—16 to 20
inches—which can limit velocity.
Federal countered this by loading Fusion MSR
and its other new MSR-optimized loads with fastburning powders. These maximize velocities out
of short barrels while maintaining standard pressures. As a bonus, such propellants burn extremely efficiently, leaving less powder residue in the
firearm.
“This means better function and easier maintenance,” says Compton. “The powders used in
Fusion MSR loads also feature flash suppressants
for minimized visual signature. This makes them
ideal for hunting in low light for species like
hogs.”
Better Bullets
➤ No matter what flavor of rifle they use, serious hunters know that it’s ultimately the bullet
that does the dirty work of bringing down game.
That’s why it’s only logical that Fusion MSR
borrowed its Fusion counterparts’ bullet. The
pressure-formed lead core is electro-chemically
bonded to its copper jacket plating, eliminating
core-jacket separation while ensuring deep penetration and high weight retention. And that
helps ensure clean kills. Booth #14562. (800322-2342; federalpremium.com)
F E AT U R E
Hold That Margin!
Walther helps its retailers protect their profits
By Slaton L. White
Cyndi Flannigan, Walther’s vice president of
sales and marketing, spent many years at
Leupold & Stevens. When she made the move
to Walther last year, she immediately saw one
crucial difference between the optics and firearms industries.
“In the optics world, distributors have a minimum transaction price, and they pretty much
stick to that. But that’s not the case with firearms. Nobody has a unilateral pricing policy.”
As a result, retailers may feel pressure to discount heavily to get the sale, which, obviously,
lowers their margins.
Flannigan says that Walther retailers experience this to a lesser degree because “Walther is
in such high demand. We understand the price
pressure that some retailers may feel, but we also
encourage them to keep margins high by
reminding them of the demand for the product,
especially when supplies are limited.”
Walther supports the retailer in other ways, as
well. “We’ve done trade advertising to tell the
retailer about ‘the new Walther,’ and our independent reps are also on the road to explain the
new company structure and how it will benefit
the retailer,” Flannigan says.
Flannigan says that Walther will be creating a
special retailer website where “they can not only
check on their orders, but also access a library
with how-to videos that tell you how to break
down a firearm as well as instructional how-tosell videos. It’s really important that a retailer
know how to merchandise Walther products.”
In addition, the reps are working on profiling
Walther retailers. “This will give us an idea on
how to market to them, whether it’s a larger,
more sophisticated operation or the more traditional independent mom-and-pop.”
Retailer support efforts also mean getting
Walther personnel behind the counter. “We
need to get behind the counter,” she says. “And
we intend to bring in retailers for product and
sales roundtables well. It’s all part of an effort to
create better partnerships.”
Flannigan understands the value of floor traffic, and the value of retailer flyers with “sale
guns’” to drive that traffic. At the same time, she
says Walther isn’t interested in becoming a loss
leader.
“We hope other companies get to be the loss
leader, and when people come in they’ll see the
value and performance of a Walther,” she says.
“Given the quality and performance of our guns,
the retailer will be able to protect his margin.”
That’s good for him, and good for Walther.
But even so, Walther understands how price
The iconic Walther PPK
remains a popular firearm,
one with a nice margin. The
German manufacturer regularly invests in retailer support to help maintain and
protect that margin.
sensitive the customer is these days. That’s why
the manufacturer introduced a new price-point
PPX (that sells for under $500) earlier this year.
“This was new ground for us,” she says. “It’s
been very successful, both in numbers sold and
the margins reaped by the retailers. It’s an entrylevel tool, but we worked very hard to keep the
quality for which Walther is known.”
Quality and value. Not a bad combination at
all. Booth #14545. (479-242-8500; walther
arms.com)
F E AT U R E
Liberty Safe
Meets Demand
For U.S.-Made
Products
As global economic conditions continue
to change, the demand for U.S.-made
products seems greater than ever. Last
year, Liberty Safe took great strides to
meet that demand by investing more than
$15 million in capital equipment to
increase its production capabilities. This
has allowed Liberty to produce as many
as 550 safes a day, making the firm the
largest high-capacity safe manufacturer in
the world. The increase in capability has
also created hundreds of U.S. jobs. Liberty
currently employs more than 500
American workers, most located in the
Payson, Utah, facility.
“Our goal as a company is to produce
the best-built safes on the planet,” says
CEO Kim Waddoups. “The only way to do
that is by investing in the best technology
and putting that technology into the
hands of a skilled team. Our current production looks nothing like it did five years
ago. We have made many changes to
increase our capabilities while maintaining
the quality for which Liberty is known.”
Waddoups also notes that sales of
all safes last year exceeded market
expectations.
“Liberty has been the market leader,
surpassing all other manufacturers in
production and volume,” he says. “The
service, quality, selection, and value we
offer has separated us from the pack in
the safe industry. Liberty also offers a
lifetime replacement warranty against
fire and attempted theft for every safe.”
Booth #13623. (866-537-0165;
libertysafe.com)
F E AT U R E
The Food
Game
Outdoor cooking requires the right
cookware By Phil Bourjaily
G
ame cooking has never been more popular than it
is now. The locavore movement has made game
cooking hip, and TV shows like Meateater and
Sporting Chef bring game cooking to a mass audience. These days, outdoor cookware sells—and not
just to the car camper anymore.
“We have seen a huge increase in
sales and usage among the hunting
and fishing crowds,” says Steve
McGrath, marketing and public relationa director of Camp Chef.
Founded in 1990 in Logan, Utah,
Camp Chef has become a leader in
the outdoor cooking field. Its original
product, the PRO 60 stove, won
Consumer Digest’s Best Buy award,
and the line has grown to include
smokers, stoves, grills, pizza ovens,
cast-iron cookware, and more, along
with a full line of accessories.
I had a chance to see the Camp
Chef product line in action on a
duck hunt in Utah in the fall. In the
hands of a good cook, Camp Chef
gear is capable of magic, even when
you set up a mobile kitchen on a
levee in a state WMA. We dined on
breakfast pizza, biscuits, pastries, and
smoked tri-tip, all cooked to perfection outdoors.
A smoker may be the single most
popular piece of cooking gear for
many hunters, who enjoy smoking
game and making jerky. Camp Chef’s
Smoke Vault, which comes in 18- and
24-inch sizes, is one of the best units
on the market.
“To me, the Smoke Vault’s biggest
advantage is its temperature range,”
says McGrath. “It can go from 160
degrees to close to 500 degrees. I
know it’s a smoker and will be used
The pellet grill (above) is new for
2014. The popular Smoke Vault
boasts a temperature range of 160
to nearly 500 degrees.
mostly as such, but it’s nice to be able
to turn it up when you need to, like
for baking beans. Another advantage
is capacity—the 24-inch smoker can
handle almost 60 pounds of pulled
pork at a time. Not many consumerfriendly smokers can do that.”
New for 2014, Camp Chef enters
the popular pellet grill category.
Pellet grills use compressed sawdust
pellets as fuel, allowing them to
function as both ovens and smokers.
It’s easy to regulate temperature, and
the grills are safer than gas and charcoal models, as well. The new PG24
I saw in Utah has all-digital controls
that maintain consistent cooking
temperatures.
Asked for a selling point, McGrath
says, “The biggest difference between
our grills and the competition is that
ours are easier to clean. Most other
grills have to be disassembled and
cleaned of ash with a shop vac. With
ours, a simple pull of a lever dumps
the ash into a removable cup.
“Independent retailers have an
advantage when it comes to their
ability to educate the consumer,” says
McGrath. “Our stoves are more than
just heat sources. They are customizable kitchen centers. Independent
retailers can specialize in parts of the
line that big-box stores would struggle to sell.” Booth #15543. (800783-8347; campchef.com)
F E AT U R E
TenPoint Aims
For Baby Boomers
By Peter B. Mathiesen
Many retailers now know that many states are
expanding crossbow seasons. Just a few years ago,
states reserved their use to those hunters who had
suffered debilitating injuries that severely restricted their movement. But as states confronted an
aging population of hunters who were no longer
able to bow hunt as they had in their youth, these
restrictions began to ease.
Although many hunters may still view the
crossbow as an “exotic” hunting implement,
there is no doubt it is gaining more mainstream
acceptance. That said, a retailer’s most robust
opportunities still lie with the older segment of
the hunting population.
According to the American Academy of
Orthopedic Surgeons, in 2006 more than 7.5 million people went to a physician’s office for treatment of shoulder problems or upper arm pain.
More than 4.1 million visits were for rotator-cuff
pain alone. These injuries can take place on the job,
playing sports, or just working around the house.
But injuries aside, baby boomers have different
ideas about aging than their fathers did. This is a
generation that doesn’t want to admit it’s getting
old and still wants to participate in vigorous
activities.
That’s why it makes economic sense to stock
crossbows. Doing so helps you offer a hunter who
can no longer draw a compound bow an intriguing option that helps him continue hunting.
Retailers who may not have thought of themselves
as crossbow retailers are finding out that having
inventory before hunting season is both profitable
and provides a service to their customers—at a
time when they can be grateful.
“To get a retailer started with a full line of
good/better/best crossbows from TenPoint, we’ll
have you rack ready for around $2,500. We also
have an extensive array of dealer-training aids to
answer most questions,” says Richard Bednar,
president of TenPoint.
Some of the quickest turns are from stores that
have a regular customer coming in with a lastminute injury.
“The hunter finds out they can’t pull a bow
just a few days before season, and they don’t want
to miss their hunt,” Bednar says. He also pointed
out that saving a hunt for a customer can be an
endearing moment—strengthening a relationship
that will continue long after the injury
heals. “It is rewarding for the retailer to keep a
customer in the field, and the customer deeply
As an aging bowhunter becomes less able to
draw a compound bow, a TenPoint crossbow
with Acudraw might keep him in the field.
appreciates your help.”
One of the best values in the TenPoint line is
having models for different abilities of the hunter.
With features like the Acudraw, a hunter can
hand-crank a bow into the firing position with no
strain on the upper arm or shoulder.
I intimately understand this kind of hunter,
because last fall I was unexpectedly “that guy”
after suffering a debilitating shoulder injury just
two weeks before a bow hunt. Previously, I never
even thought of owning a crossbow, but the ability
to obtain a TenPoint Crossbow with an Acudraw
from a dealer saved my archery hunt and allowed
me to take a wonderful deer, a prize buck I would
never taken without the help of such a wellthought-out product and a dealer’s sincere interest
in keeping me hunting. Booth #742. (330-6289245; tenpointcrossbows.com)
NEWS
The High-Margin Plan
Remington’s Custom Shop now offers
dealer-direct ordering
By David Draper
I
n recent years, retailers have been making hay on the popular trend toward plastic, price-point
rifles, often at the expense of, well, more expensive offerings. If the goal is to serve the majority, that’s fine. But by not stocking high-grade firearms, retailers might be missing out on a
lucrative market, not only for near-custom rifles, but also the premium accessories that go with
them. To that end, Remington has made its Custom Shop available for dealer-direct ordering,
giving retailers the option of stocking high-end firearms to round out their gun racks and educate
discriminating consumers about the kind of quality that’s available.
“This gives the dedicated Remington consumer—and
there are many of them—a chance to hold and inspect the
quality coming from the Custom Shop in Ilion, New York,”
says Richard Spruill, assistant product manager of custom
products for Remington. “It’s a case of seeing is believing.”
As smart retailers know, it’s that kind of education that
moves both guns and high-margin accessories, especially
when it comes to products that carry a higher price tag
than consumers are used to seeing. By stocking guns from
the Custom Shop, the retailers can show consumers just
what the difference is between a standard Remington and
those that have been given the custom treatment.
Take the venerable Remington Model 700, for example.
By all accounts, it’s a fine and accurate rifle straight off the
assembly line. But a Model 700 that goes through the
Custom Shop is, in many shooters’ eyes, worth the higher
price tag. Blueprinting and truing up the mating surfaces in
the receiver ensures the barrel and locking lugs are absolute-
ly squared to exacting tolerances. All Custom Shop barrels
(with the exception of 597 rimfire barrels, which are made
by Shilen) are button-rifled in-house using a push (rather
than pull-through) technique for a more uniform end product, and each barrel is hand-lapped to a perfect interior finish. The barreled action is then set up with tuned X-Mark
Pro trigger and hand-fitted into a premium stock before
being function-tested and shot for accuracy.
In addition to Model 700 rifles in various configurations,
Remington’s Custom Shop also hand-builds rifles on the
company’s legendary 40-X action for the accuracy-obsessed
benchrest and tactical shooter, and a Model 597 rimfire that’s
guaranteed to print groups of a half-inch at 50 yards. All
Custom Shop rifles, whether sold through dealers or direct
to consumers, are hand-built to order, giving retailers the
same level of personalized attention, direct communication,
and quick turnaround one would expect from a custom shop.
Booth #14229. (800-243-9700; remington.com)
A Model 700 that
goes through
Remington’s
Custom Shop in
Ilion, New York,
fetches a higher
price than a model
straight off the
assembly line.
That’s because the
extra attention
showered on a
Custom Shop rifle
turns each into a
premium product.
news
Optics for Turkey Hunters
T
here are more than three million turkey hunters in the U.S., and they participate in a unique pursuit in the hunting world. Gobbler-getting incorporates elements of upland and big-game hunting with some singular challenges
of its own. Turkey hunters face this assignment with a specific skill set and some specially designed gear, including
specialized calls, decoys, clothing, seats, and blinds. Gobbler guns are also tuned for this special pursuit with adaptations that blend the attributes of a sharp-shooting rifle with the functionality of a shotgun.
Because turkey guns shoot more
like rifles than their wingshooting
cousins, gobbler hunters often benefit
from mounting sights on their firearms. But again, the unique situations
faced by turkey hunters mean specially designed optics are often the best
fit. Traditional scopes and dot-style
sights are both excellent choices for
turkey-hunting shotguns, which
throw patterns the size of a baseball.
The precision aiming point allows
consistent shot placement, even from
the contorted positions assumed
when gobblers approach seated callers from unexpected angles.
Choosing between these two
styles of sights is often a matter of
personal preference. Some hunters
prefer a scope’s ability to increase
magnification for longer shots and
the fact that this optic will never
require a battery change. Other
hunters prefer the quick target
acquisition and unlimited eye relief
of a dot site. Whichever option is
Weaver’s new KASPA camo scope
features the Vertical Zone Turkey
reticle designed to center naturally
on the center of the turkey’s neck.
preferred, Weaver Optics has the
perfect choice for turkey season.
A Scope Just
for Turkeys
➤ The new Weaver KASPA
1–4x24mm scope comes in a configuration specifically designed for turkey
hunters. The scope is dressed in
Mossy Oak Obsession and features
the Vertical Zone Turkey (VZT) reticle. The VZT reticle’s straight-sided
slot shape is designed to naturally settle the center crosshair on the critical
point in the middle of a turkey’s neck.
The two oval slots are designed to
provide references for 20 and 40
yards at maximum magnification. At
close range, the top of the turkey’s
head and base of its neck will fit
inside the larger outer slot. At longer distances, the top of the turkey’s
head and base of its neck will fit
inside the smaller inner slot. In
either case, the center crosshair will
sit on the center of the neck for precise shot placement.
J.J. Reich, Weaver public relations
specialist, says that the VZT scope
was born of tactical roots. “The
30mm tube body and rugged parts
are taken directly from our tactical
scope lineup. Plus, the reticle design
was inspired using designs proven for
quick target acquisition and precise
shot placement commonly utilized in
our military and LE optics. The
straight-sided ovals are perfect for
Tibet GTX® Hi
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Patented, lasted GORE-TEX® linings for waterproof / breathable comfort with virtually no chance of blisters.
Shock absorbing PU midsoles that last far longer than the cheaper alternatives.
It’s why LOWA continues to be the only outdoor footwear manufacturer to hold ISO 9001 status for highest quality construction and process standards.
To see the entire 2014 line of LOWA Boots, visit www.lowaboots.com
© 2014 LOWA Boots, LLC. GORE-TEX® is a registered trademark of W.L. Gore & Associates Inc. VIBRAM®, the Octagon Logo, and the Yellow Octagon Logo and the color Canary Yellow are registered trademarks of Vibram S.p.A.
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Dot-style 1X scopes are a great
choice for turkey hunters because
the design allows for quick target
acquisition.
vertical targets such as a turkey’s head
and neck. It is amazing how the reticle naturally centers the crosshair on
the precise point in the center of a
turkey’s neck where you want to place
your shot.”
Point and Shoot
➤ Dot-style optics come in several
configurations, including designs
with two lenses contained in a short
tube, single flat-lens styles, and variations in between. These sights are
mounted on the firearm like a scope.
However, instead of using an internal crosshair, they feature an illuminated dot projected onto a piece of
glass. This dot appears superimposed
over the target, offering an unobstructed view of the turkey.
The illuminated dot is visible in
low-light situations, and most dot
sights feature variable intensity so the
brightness of the dot can be adjusted
for the available light. Some, such as
the Weaver Red/Green Dot Sight,
also offer multiple dot colors and
sizes for maximum visibility against a
variety of backgrounds.
One of the biggest advantages of
dot sights is that they offer unlimited eye relief. Scopes and traditional
sights require the shooter’s eye be
properly aligned close to the gun’s
receiver. Most scopes have eye relief
distances of just 2 or 3 inches.
However, dot sights work with any
eye alignment, near or far. This can
be a huge advantage when shooting
from a quick, off-hand position.
“Turkey hunters often encounter
strange shot angles that keep them
from aligning their head correctly
on the shotgun’s stock,” Reich says.
“With dot sights, if you can see the
dot, you can make the shot—even if
your head is off the stock or you are
forced to shoot with your non-
dominant hand.”
A wide field of view is another
advantage of dot sights. Scopes offer
magnification of distant objects, but
that magnification narrows the view
inside the scope to just a portion of
the target area. Most dot sights are
not magnified. This means it is easier to quickly find the turkey.
Small, single flat-lens-style dot
sights, such as Weaver’s Micro Dot,
offer a wide-open view that rivals
that of open sights. In fact, this wide
field of view and lack of magnification allow shooters to use dot sights
with both eyes open. The shooter’s
brain will superimpose the image of
the dot into the correct position
from the dominant eye while the
subordinate eye adds full depth perception. This allows the shooter to
be more aware of the area around the
turkey and to track moving gobblers
through cover. Booth #14551. (800831-0850; weaveroptics.com)
Not your average
neighborhood watch.
Gladius 20 GA Home
Defense Shotguns
Swing by our Booth #3036, to view our
new Escort Gladius Home Defense Shotguns.
THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN THE SHOOTING INDUSTRY.
LEGACYSPORTS.COM
NEWS
Trophy Cam Wireless
Bushnell introduces world’s first plug-and-play
wireless trail camera By Jock Elliott
Y
esterday Bushnell Outdoor Products introduced a breakthrough in
trail camera technology—the world’s first carrier-approved plugand-play wireless trail camera. The new Trophy Cam Wireless
allows hunters to place the trail camera anywhere within reach of
the AT&T network and within seconds receive thumbnail photos
of passing game via email or text. High-resolution images are
saved to the web portal (wirelesstrophycam.com), where users can
download images or change camera settings remotely.
Darin Stephens, Bushnell senior product manager for hunting gear and accessory products,
said, “Previously, because first-generation wireless trail cameras were not carrier-approved,
implementation of them was like a tour through
the suburbs of hell that involved purchasing a
separate SIM card and wireless plan, as well
interfacing the SIM card with both the camera
and the wireless network. By contrast, Bushnell
partnered with AT&T from the get-go to
deliver unmatched convenience, simplicity, and
ease of use.”
Right out of the box, the Bushnell Trophy
Cam Wireless is ready to use and includes a prepaid AT&T data plan that provides users with
unlimited thumbnail images for the first 30 days.
Free smartphone apps are available for iPhone
and Android devices, and Bushnell offers affordable data plans, including pay as you go, to com-
067_SHD03_BUS.indd 67
plement a variety of scouting tactics.
The Trophy Cam Wireless features an 8MP
camera that offers .6-second trigger speed and
720p high-definition video, as well as black, noglow LEDs and an improved hyper-passive
infrared sensor that captures game activity up to
50 feet away. Time-lapse technology records
images or video at preset intervals ranging from
one minute to 60 minutes, while simultaneously
capturing live trigger events. Each image or
video features an information stamp that
includes data such as date, time, barometric
pressure, moon phase, and more.
The Trophy Cam Wireless delivers multimonth service on a single set of batteries and is
compatible with SD cards up to 32 GB. Available
in June 2014, the Trophy Cam Wireless carries a
suggested retail price of $599.99. Booth #12519.
The Bushnell Trophy Cam Wireless is ready
to use out of the box, and includes a
prepaid AT&T data plan that offers unlimited thumbnail images for the first 30 days.
The 8MP camera is compatible with SD
cards up to 32 GB.
(800-423-3537; bushnell.com)
1/15/14 4:03 PM
NEWS
LASER SYSTEM PROMOTES HUNTER SAFETY
Though hunter-orange clothing has greatly reduced the number of hunting accidents, each year hunters are wounded or killed when they are mistakenly targeted
as game. Though many believe the problem lies mostly with inexperienced shooters, the unfortunate reality is that all too often, the shooter is an experienced hunter
who never dreamed a tragedy like this could happen.
After hearing one too many of these stories, a pair of New Zealand hunters who
happen to be product designers set out to design a system that would greatly
reduce the occurrence of these cases of mistaken identity. David Grove and Michael
Scott, founders of Hunter Safety Lab, are using the 2014 SHOT Show to unveil a
unique active-warning system for hunters called IRIS (Infrared Retroreflector
Identification System).
The IRIS sensor mounts to a riflescope and emits tiny pulses of laser that detect
special IRIS patches attached to
clothing or built into vests and caps
(available in both blaze orange and
full camo) up to 500 feet away. When
IRIS patches are detected, the sensor
instantly warns the shooter of danger
by emitting a low but clearly audible
beep. The sensor is powered by a single AA battery.
“IRIS is not a replacement for human
judgment,” says Scott. “Nor is it a
replacement for the number-one rule of
safe hunting—identify the target
beyond doubt. But our system can prevent accidents where the hunter is
falsely convinced he’s targeted an
animal.” SRP: $399. Booth #3859.
(indiegogo.com/projects/iris-huntersafety-technology)
Konus Poised
For More Growth
I
n the wake of an outstanding 2013, Konus has come
to SHOT Show poised for another year of positive
growth. Many small optics companies compete successfully by creating products that honor the mantra
“clearer, sharper, but with more value.” Konus hews to
that strategy as well, but it feels it has another advantage
when competing against European glass. “We use outstanding multi-coated Japanese glass that’s comparable to
that in products that cost twice what ours do. Our Asian
manufacturing facility keeps us from being held hostage
by the unstable activities of the euro,” says Mark Shore,
vice president of sales and marketing.
Committing to a dealer-direct and distributor-pricing
system without selling to big-box stores has won the support of numerous independent retailers, and partnerships
with such manufacturers as CVA also has increased brand
awareness.
Endorsement from
the National Tactical
Officer Association
hasn’t hurt, either.
Finally, Shore believes
the company’s noquibble lifetime guarantee is a big advantage.
The new lineup
includes two NTOAapproved 30mm tactical
scopes. Booth #1246.
(305-262-5668;
The KonusPro T30 and M30
konuspro.com)
use multi-coated lenses and
—Peter B. Mathiesen
dual illuminated reticles.
11.26.2013 13:10
AdID: 23398 SBDD114
NEWS
New 1911 Beauties
T
here’s a brand-new
player in the world
of custom 1911s and
their guns are worth
a look, and perhaps an ogle or
two. This month, Republic
Forge, based in Perryton, Texas,
began production and distribution of a complete line of custom
Model 1911 pistols. The company uses only American materials,
and each gun is hand-crafted
from start to finish by one gunsmith, one gun at a time.
“Quality is our number-one
priority, and our craftsmanship
is second to none,” says Benny
Deal, president of Republic
Forge. “We have invested in a
state-of-the-art production
facility along with the best talent, machinery, and the finest
materials available.”
Republic Forge had several
examples of its superior craftsmanship on hand for shooters
to test at Range Day. The guns,
whether matte black with ivory
handles or flat OD green with
combat grips, are lovely to
behold and even lovelier to
shoot.
Anyone who has handled
1911s of varying quality and
craftsmanship can tell just by
hefting a Republic Forge pistol
that it’s a quality machine, and
firing a couple of magazines in
9mm and .45 ACP only proved
that these beauties are tack
This Republic
Forge 1911 features a high-polish black frame, a
Damascus slide,
Novak Night
sights, and ivory
grips. You can
switch features on
on the company’s
website and display them as you
build the gun.
drivers, too.
Some 1911s are functional,
some are gaudy, and others, like
these guns, are a sweet balance
of military-like coldness and precision with just the right amount
of flash.
The company’s smiths begin
with premium steel frames and
slides that are hand-fitted and
mated to the finest barrels and
components around. From
springs to triggers, grips, and
magazines custom-fitted to each
pistol, the attention to quality is
complete.
The company’s website is
specifically designed to make it
simple and intuitive for customers to see all available options
and to easily assemble the perfect custom gun for their needs
and tastes.
Currently, Republic Forge
offers Government,
Commander, Recon, and
Officer models featuring custom Cerakote finishes and
chambered in .45 ACP, 10mm,
.40 S&W, .38 Super, and 9mm,
with continuous product
launches planned through 2014.
Booth #4166. (republicforge.
com) —David Maccar
Yamaha Unveils
Tactical Side-by-Side
Yamaha is using the 2014 SHOT Show
to unveil the latest version of the new
Viking EPS Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicle,
the Special Edition (SE) Tactical Black
Viking. Assembled in the U.S., the new
SE Viking combines an aggressive flatblack painted appearance and popular
accessories with classic Yamaha durability and off-road capabilities.
The Tactical Black Viking EPS 4x4
boasts all of the features of Yamaha’s
standard Viking SxS, plus molded sun
top, overfenders, mud flaps, an underseat storage box, bed rail accessory
mounts, and exclusive black-cast aluminum wheels. It also has a powerful
four-wheel-drive engine, precision
steering, three-point seatbelt for all
occupants, and class-leading handling.
SRP: $13,749. Booth #10243. (yamaha
motorsports.com)
SHOT Booth #14140
738 FS
It’s my choice.
It’s my right.
It’s my Taurus.
TM
Brittney L.
Decatur, GA
TM
/TaurusUSA
069_SHD03_TKTK.indd 69
BC_023497_SBDD314P.indd 1
@taurususa
CarryOnMovement.com
1/15/14 6:33 PM
12/3/13 11:21 AM
NEWS
Marketing to Women:
Not Just Pink Products
W
ith women accounting for more than
35 percent of new customers entering the shooting sports, they now
represent the single fastest-growing category in
the industry. Women want different products
than men, and they doesn’t mean just the same
thing in pink.
A communicative and friendly staff, plenty of
product accessories for discerning consumers, and
a clean restroom can go a long way in making a
gun shop more appealing to female customers and
families. These were among the top tips offered
during Wednesday’s Marketing to Women panel
discussion hosted by Tisma Juett, manager of the
NSSF’s First Shots program.
Juett called upon insight from a “magnificent
seven” panel that included Barbara Baird, contributing editor of SHOT Business; Linda Powell,
director of media relations for O.F. Mossberg and
Son; Kate Krueger, host of Talking Guns with
Kate; Suzi Huntington, a former San Diego police
investigator and editor of American Cop; Gabby
Franco, Venezuelan Olympic shooter and firearms instructor; Randi Rogers, professional sports
shooter; and Julie Golob, author and captain of
the Smith & Wesson shooting team.
“When a woman enters a store, it is very much
like she’s heading to the mall,” said Baird. “She
wants to see bright lights, some displays, and,
most important, a clean restroom.”
The gun store experience should be no different from other shopping experiences, added
Rogers. “Women want to spend some time there,
they want to handle the products, and they want
to look around. Make your store inviting, with a
place to sit, and make it comfortable,” Rogers
suggested. “Women like creature comforts.”
What is also important is not to ignore female
customers, and to treat them no differently than
the male customers. That also means not assuming
that women are only looking for the most affordable firearm or only interested in smaller calibers.
Those assumptions can result in lost sales.
Krueger told a tale of a female customer who
went to three different stores. Clerks in first two
shops ignored her, and those in the third
answered only a few questions before asking if she
was in fact a serious customer. “Those are the
sorts of things you don’t want to be known for.”
Rogers concurred, saying that even at the shop
she regularly frequents, she is rarely greeted by so
much as a hello, hardly the most welcoming of
experiences. “There is nothing worse than no one
saying hello to you.”
Gun shops also should not apply a one-size-fitsall strategy when marketing to women. And while
it isn’t possible to stock every option, letting female
customers know that items can be ordered can go a
long way in instilling customer loyalty. At the same
time, don’t push products just to make a sale.
“Make sure you are getting her what she really
needs, not just what you have to sell,” said
Franco. “You may make the sale, but you could
lose the customer. Actually two, because you
could lose the woman and her husband, so it is
important not to just make the sale but to make a
customer for life.”
Size matters, as the same gun that fits a man
may not fit a woman. Think, too, about weight
and balance and not just a shorter stock. And
while women may like colors and options that go
beyond basic black, that translates to a choice of
colors, not just “feminine” shades.
“All women are not alike, and we don’t all love
pink,” said Powell. “When we’re working on new
products, I say to the men, Do you want your gun
to be baby blue?”— Peter Suciu
PROIS AWARD WINNER
Prois CEO Kirstie Pike (left) announced
Rachel Ahtila as the 2013 Most Intrepid
Female Hunter.
HONED
FOR THE
HUNT.
THE PREFERRED TOOL OF SERIOUS HUNTERS.
With a new line of hunting knives and tools that are engineered with precision
and built to perform, SOG will take your hunt to a whole new level.
Visit Booth 425 for a look at our whole new lineup.
12.18.2013 19:13
070_SHD03_TKTK.indd 70
AdID: 24425 SBDD314
1/15/14 7:01 PM
NEWS
From Hunger Games
to Treestand
Increased interest in archery among women
can have lasting benefits for the entire industry
By Christopher Cogley
I
f anyone in America hasn’t yet heard of
Katniss Everdeen, it’s a safe bet they’re in
the minority. The fictional star of the bestselling The Hunger Games novels and subsequent blockbuster movies has made a lasting
impression on worldwide audiences. She’s also
done something very powerful for the shooting,
hunting, and outdoor industry.
“There has definitely been a huge boom in the
number of girls and women who are interested in
archery,” says Tiffany Lakosky, star of the
Outdoor Channel’s Crush with Lee & Tiffany.
“And it’s really neat to see.”
The large number of women and girls who read
about and see the female hero character excel with a
bow and arrow is helping change mindsets across
the country. It’s a powerful phenomenon that presents a unique opportunity not just for the archery
industry, but for every retailer and manufacturer in
the shooting, hunting, and outdoor trade who has
been working hard to get more women and girls
engaged in hunting and the shooting sports.
“I think the entire industry is really doing a good
job of getting women involved,” Lakosky says. “It
really feels like everyone has recognized that women
are a huge part of the future of this industry.”
Which is exactly what Lakosky and Vicki
Cianciarulo, star of the Outdoor Channel’s Archer’s
Choice and The Choice with Ralph & Vicki, have been
telling audiences for years. For both of these torchbearers of women’s hunting, the increased interest
in archery spurred on by The Hunger Games, has
been extremely rewarding.
“It’s a great thing to see,” Cianciarulo says. “I
think it’s especially good for kids who see that
Katniss is going out and hunting and bringing food
home for the family. The books and movies do a
great job of showing that she’s able to provide for
her family during a tough time, but they also show
that when she’s out in the woods, it’s her time to
get out and relax and reflect. And that really portrays what hunting, and bowhunting, is all about.”
Cianciarulo, Lakosky, and many other female
hunters have been providing that accurate portrayal of hunting through their shows for years;
they are now beginning to see their hard work
pay off as women across the country are really
starting to realize that hunting isn’t just for men.
“The misconception is that bowhunting is so
hard, but the reality is that it isn’t as scary as most
women and girls might think it is,” Lakosky says.
“I think we’re showing so many girls how much
fun we’re having hunting, and they’re realizing
how much fun they could have, too.”
That realization is what’s helping get more
women and girls into gun shops and archery
stores to explore their newly acquired interest,
and once there, it’s up to the retailers to turn that
budding interest into a lifelong pursuit.
“Have bows set up and ready for women and
girls and kids to try out so that they know right
away that the bows aren’t scary. And train your
staff on how to help women and kids find a bow
that’s comfortable for them so they enjoy using
it,” Cianciarulo says. “It’s also important to have
the equipment for all different levels so that when
they’re ready to take the next step, you’ll be able
to help them get there.”
Although it’s hard to tell exactly how far this current craze that’s been fueled by Katniss Everdeen
and The Hunger Games will go, one thing is certain—it isn’t likely to die down anytime soon.
“We as an industry need to grab hold of this
and keep the wave going,” Cianciarulo says. “We
need to keep taking it out into the general public
and make sure it isn’t just in our industry. Archery
isn’t a scary subject, and we need to make sure we
keep going out and showing people that.”
Because while the current rage might be
focused on archery, it is the broader benefit that
Cianciarulo said we all need to focus on.
“Guns can be intimidating. Archery is much
more intimate, and because of that, it’s a great
way to introduce women and youth to hunting
and the shooting sports,” she says. “The more we
can do that, the more the entire industry is going
to benefit.”
And when that happens, Katniss Everdeen
won’t be the only one that all of us will have to
thank. Booth #L215. (909-770-5750; outdoor
channel.com)
071_SHD03_WOM.indd 71
The popularity of The Hunger Games books and
films, with their strong, bow-and-arrow wielding
heroine, has led to greater enthusiasm for archery
and bowhunting among women of all ages.
12/1/13 1:17 PM
1/15/14 7:05 PM
NEWS
Remington’s new 1816 soft-goods line (the name derives from the year of the founding of the company) is
built around made-in-the-USA garments, such as the 1816 Denim Shirt, as well as imported clothing in traditional styles and fabrics. Luggage and other lifestyle accessories will also be offered.
The Clothing Connection
Remington debuts the 1816 line of soft goods By David Draper
F
irst in the Field. That’s not only the tagline for Remington’s recent foray into the soft-goods side of the outdoors
industry, but it’s also, considering the company’s long history, a statement of fact. Founded in 1816, Eliphalet
Remington’s gun company today holds the distinction of being both the oldest company in the U.S. still making its
original product and the longest continuously operating manufacturer in North America. That nearly 200-year-old
heritage, along with a reputation for quality and craftsmanship, has created a loyal group of customers that Remington
looks to tap into with its new 1816 hand-curated collection of clothing and lifestyle accessories.
“Remington is focused on making sportinggoods products for the hunting and shootingsports enthusiasts—we are very much an outdoor
company—so extending into apparel and accessories was natural,” says Ross Saldarini, general
manager of Remington’s lifestyle division.
“Remington customers have asked for apparel
over the years, and we are delighted to have developed a collection that stays true to Remington’s
rich heritage while reflecting the modern tastes of
today’s sporting generation.”
Built around signature made-in-the-USA
pieces—such as the 1816 Denim Shirt and Jeans
and an all-leather luggage collection, as well as
imported clothing in traditional fabrics and
styles—the entire line is designed to endure and,
like Remington shotguns and rifles, become classic
family touchstones from generation to generation.
Saldarini and his team worked hard to ensure style
didn’t trump substance, focusing on how the garments fit and function in the field. For example,
the Double Derringer Vest features hidden, snapclosed pockets for concealed carry, and the
Shooting Shirt is built with a bi-swing back that
allows room to swing a shotgun. The 1816 catalog
also includes hand-selected products from other
heritage-minded manufacturers such as Stormy
Kromer, Wolverine, and Danner.
“The collection resonates and stands apart in the
marketplace,” says Saldarini. “When our customers
adopt an 1816 style, they immediately experience
craftsmanship and quality, from the design of the
garment to the customer service experience.
Everything about the 1816 interaction is special.”
Although the 1816 brand isn’t Remington’s first
clothing collection, it does represent a new chapter
in apparel for the Madison, North Carolina–based
company, a chapter in which you won’t find a stitch
of camo in the catalog. Instead, the 1816 brand is
directly on target with discriminating sportsmen,
showcasing the warm feel of classic fabrics such as
waxed cotton, canvas, merino wool, and sheepskin.
The high-end collection, inspired by the sporting
heritage of 50 or even 100 years ago, aims to capture the growing trend toward Americana and
authenticity that’s often missing in modern massedproduced gear. Consumers—both in the sporting
world and the general public—who seek out topof-the-line craftsmanship are, as Saldarini puts it,
“reference points” for the creative decisions made
in putting the collection together.
“Heritage brands and outdoor lifestyle brands
connect to consumers through memories of great
moments—moments in the field, the water, the
mountains—and that natural human desire and
passion to create more,” says Saldarini. “That passion is the magic that drives development of the
1816 line.”
If there is one thing Saldarini knows, it’s connecting with passionate consumers through clothing. He’s well-known in the soft-goods industry as
co-founder of Mountain Khakis, where he built a
loyal following around a well-made pair of pants
that turned into a well-regarded lifestyle brand. In
2010, Remington acquired a 75 percent stake in
the company, bringing Saldarini on board Big
Green in a position to create a wholly new clothing
brand around the 1816 legacy.
“It is an honor for anyone to work with the oldest continuously operating manufacturer in North
America and create a new expression of almost 200
years of consistent, quality craftsmanship in the
1816 apparel line,” says Saldarini. “The most
important thing you learn in many businesses is
that they are about people. 1816 started with the
Remington customer who wanted more from us. It
was enhanced by the ideas and contributions of
some of the most experienced apparel-brand innovators we could corral. With passionate Remington
fans and industry experts as a foundation, the fuse
was lit and an amazing line of field-inspired products has followed.”
Although 1816 might be known as “First in the
Field,” don’t expect it to be Remington’s last word
in the clothing and lifestyle category. In the past
year, the company has also partnered with
renowned chef and restaurateur Charlie Palmer to
produce the Remington Camp Cooking cookbook
and has plans to introduce a line of other foodrelated products under the Camp Cooking brand.
One can speculate other lifestyle categories will
follow, but for now 1816 is the most recent feather
in the Freedom Group cap.
“1816 is about the story of Remington,” says
Saldarini. “The Remington story began with
hand-forged craftsmanship and quality, values that
continue to identify this all-American brand. This
certainly applies to 1816, a high-end, curated collection of styles that offer a unique blend of sporting history and quality that stand alone in today’s
marketplace.” Booth #14229. (800-243-9700;
remington.com)
072_SHD03_1816.indd 72
1/15/14 5:05 PM
NEWS
A Most
Profitable Line
Are tactical rimfire firearms for
you? Walther says, “yes.”
By Slaton L. White
I
f you have yet to make a place in your store for replica tactical rimfire guns, Walther wants you to reconsider. The
manufacturer makes a line of licensed products (rifles and
pistols) from Uzi, Colt, and H&K that look and feel just
like the real thing.
“Replica guns are not play toys,” says Daniel
Rieger, Walther’s project manager of design and
engineering. “Instead, they are full-feature guns
that have the right balance, the right weight, and
right feel.”
All three attributes are critical components to
this market, for as he says, “most shooters, when
they close their eyes—obviously not while they are
shooting!—they want to feel as if they are holding
the real thing.”
Except that these are all built on the .22 platform. And that means you can shoot much longer
without bruising a shoulder or, considering the
cost of centerfire ammo, your wallet.
I had the opportunity to shoot Walther’s Colt
M4 OPS replica at one of its manufacturing facilities in Germany last summer. As Rieger says, it
had the right feel of the Colt product, mainly
because in its own way, it is a Colt product.
“We didn’t just send them a check and they said
we could use their name,” he says. “They licensed
their name because they know we have the knowledge and expertise to build a quality tactical .22
rimfire.”
And according to Rieger, this is far harder than
it looks. “There is a big difference between centerfire and rimfire technology,” he says. “The rimfire cartridge is actually far more complicated than
a centerfire cartridge. Colt decided to take advantage of our knowledge and experience. It’s just
smart business.”
One of the other big problems is the kind of
ammo shooters feed their guns. “We’ve learned
that customers will buy whatever is cheapest, or
what is available. Right now, customers don’t really have a choice.”
Rieger says the entire process is akin to building
a Ferrari, but trying to run it on regular fuel.
Walther wanted to build Ferraris (in this case, a
Mercedes), but the manufacturer knew it had to
run on less-than-premium fuel.
“If the gun jams, the customer will blame the
gun, not the ammo,” says Rieger. “We knew the
gun had to work with cheap ammo.”
It took Walther about a year to solve the problem. “We probably shot one million rounds before
Colt approved the product,” he says. “It was a very
complicated issue.”
Like many modern industrial concerns, these
days Walther doesn’t make every part. But the key
to its overall product quality is the integrity of the
design process and sourcing parts from quality
contractors.
“Many Mercedes owners believe that Mercedes
makes the whole car,” he says. “It doesn’t. It relies
on outside contractors just as we do. But they control the entire process, just as we do, to ensure
that ‘Mercedes’ quality. Every part that comes into
Replicas are full-feature guns that have the right balance, the
the Walther facility
right weight, and, most important, the right feel. The Colt M4
must pass a rigorous
OPS, built by Walther (under license from Colt), is a good
inspection. We have no
example of the genre. The .22 platform allows a shooter to
tolerance for anything
shoot longer and less expensively than with a centerfire
less than ‘A’ quality.”
version.
Walther, like the vehicle manufacturer, has
suppliers that specialize in specific areas. These
turer is not paying for machinery that isn’t being
companies use state-of-the-art machinery, and
utilized enough to justify the cost. That also frees
they have specialized knowledge of the particular
up factory floor space (always a premium) for
components as well.
machines and processes that contribute more reg“The advantage of a long-term relationship with
ularly to the bottom line.
such a supplier is that they can often come back
“When you think about our Colt replicas, the
with new technologies that can help us build a
customer is getting a great old American name,
better product,” Rieger says. “That allows our
but top-quality German engineering,” he says.
Now, that’s a combination worth thinking about.
engineers to focus on the firearms.”
Booth #14545. (479-242-8500; waltherarms. com)
It also helps control costs because the manufac-
BOOTH #2746
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1/15/14 7:01 PM
12/13/13 12:25 PM
NEW PRODUCTS
Black Label The new Tactical
9V flashlight features a powerful Cree XM-L white LED
with an output of 725 lumens,
an effective distance of 500
yards, and a full-aluminum
body and tailcap.
Browning
➤ Browning Black Label tactical
lights are designed from the ground
up to work as a modular system.
Basic flashlights will be offered
along with components that include
a remote cable-switch endcap accessory and a Picatinny rail mount that
allows Black Label lights to be
attached to any Mil-STC 1913
Picatinny accessory rail.
New models include the Tactical
9V model with a powerful Cree
XM-L white LED with a light output of 725 lumens and an effective
distance of 500 yards. The aluminum body has a non-slip design and
features a removable anti-roll finger
retention ring.
A hardened glass breaker is
mounted on the robust tailcap,
which has a lock-out switch and
momentary, continuous, and fast
strobe modes. The new Tactical 9V
light uses three CR123A batteries,
and is waterproof and submersible
to 3 feet for 30 minutes. SRP: $159.
Booth #12740. (801-876-2711;
browning.com)
Plinker Arms
➤ Plinker Arms is introducing a
new line of .22LR complete upper
conversion units that are adaptable
to standard MSR lower receivers,
which allow shooters to convert
their rifles to a .22LR without any
modifications. These uppers are
designed to fit, function, and feel
like a 5.56 MSR, and each unit
includes a 25-round magazine and
load-assist tool.
The units include an SBR (Short
Barrel Rifle) Upper Conversion
revised bolt and gas-operation system with a 12.5-inch barrel and
standard threaded flash suppressor;
an M4 Upper Conversion, which fits
the standard length of an M4 with a
16.25-inch barrel, also with a flash
suppressor; and a Bull Barrel Upper
Conversion that is hand-built and
accuracy-tested, with a 16.25-inch
match grade stainless barrel with
custom match-grade crown and barrel taper. All three upper conversions
are available in a black finish. Booth
#30205 (704-895-6645; plinkerarms.
com)
Plinker Arms New AR uppers
from Plinker Arms convert 5.56
MSR lowers into 22LR rifles with
no modifications.
International
Cartridge
Corporation
➤ International Cartridge
Corporation has developed a line of
frangible ammunition that can perform as well or better than conventional bullets, but without the environmental hazards of lead. The
Gold Elite line of lead-free projectiles promises to increase accuracy
and reduce the chance of ricochet
and collateral damage, creating a
safer training environment.
The rounds are designed for use
on the range, in the backyard, or for
competitive shooting, and the company’s frangible technology reduces
recoil and muzzle flip and allows
shooters to safely train closer on
steel. The ammo line is also built
with the same components and
machinery as ICC’s Duty and
Defense line, which helps create a
seamless transition from training to
duty and defense. Gold Elite rounds
use standard lead primers.
International Cartridge
Corporation also offers its Green
Elite line of lead-free ammunition,
which is designed for indoor shooting ranges. Otherwise identical to
the Gold Elite training ammunition,
Green Elite uses lead-free primers,
making it 100 percent lead-free.
Booth #20127. (814-836-6820;
ations. The Trident series of
Guardian lights offer a total of six
functions, three on each battery
polarity, including the option to
record and play back a unique
flashing signature.
The LEDs are solid-state semiconductor diodes that emit colored
light rated to be visible for more
than a mile. The IR Mockingbird
Beacon features a polymer housing
that is available in black and tan,
and is waterproof to 330 feet.
The Guardian Trident CQB IR
Mockingbird Beacon comes with a
MOLLE compatible belt clip, and
Adventure Lights offers a range of
accessories including a helmet
attachment, Velcro strap, bike
mount, wrist strap, head strap and
battery pack strip. Booth #32501
(514-694-8477; adventurelights.
com)
Creative Pet
Products
➤ Man’s best friend is often called
upon to aid law enforcement in
extreme situations, and the Creative
Pet Products K9 Armor Boot will
help protect canine feet from glass,
nails, barbed wire, and even hypodermic needles. These special boots
have puncture-resistant padding that
also keeps pads and feet safe from
the elements.
The breathable, water-repellent
nylon fabric features stretchable
ribbed knit cuffs along with a zipper
front and two Velcro straps for ease
of use. A steel plate and neoprene/
polyester dole construction will protect feet even in the most rugged
environments, while the abrasiveresistant vinyl anti-slip treads will
also ensure a sure footing. The K9
Armor Boot is available in a set of
four or sold individually. Booth
#20212 (877-269-6911; k-9firstaid
policemilitary.com)
iccammo.com)
Adventure
Lights Inc.
➤ Law enforcement may not have
a guardian angel, but the Guardian
Trident CQB IR Mockingbird
Beacon (Product Number 46001)
from Adventure Lights may be the
next best thing. This IR beacon
offers “Friend or Foe ID,” for surveillance and covert marking oper-
ICC New frangible training and duty
ammo from ICC provides more
options for lead-free shooting.
074_SHD04_PRD.indd 74
1/15/14 7:09 PM

Upholding a Precious Legacy

Transcription

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Easy Company Veteran at SHOT Show