SHOT Show`s Future Remains Bright

SHOOTING HUNTING OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW 1979–2014
NSSF
NEW PRODUCT
REPORTS
SHOT Daily tracks down the
hottest new rifles P. 16, shotguns
P. 30, handguns P. 44, and boots
P. 54. Also: Our first look at the
hottest gear on the floor P. 118.
NEWS
*WINCHESTER’S NEW
TURKEY LOAD
Tight-patterning Long Beard XR
ammo seems poised to be the hot
shotshell of 2014. SEE PAGE 4
*SHOT SHOW AUCTION
A 50th Anniversary Buck 110 and
the first Original Henry Rifle in 150
years to benefit the Hunting
Heritage Trust. SEE PAGES 8, 12
*5 MINUTES WITH...
We talk about recent acquisitions
with ATK’s president and CEO,
Mark DeYoung. SEE PAGE 10
*McINTYRE NAMED
ZEISS OUTDOOR
WRITER OF THE YEAR
Carl Zeiss honors Thomas
McIntyre with prestigious outdoor
writing award. SEE PAGE 112
DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2 014
The Daily News of the 2014 Las Vegas SHOT Show Brought to You by The Bonnier Corporation and the NSSF
SHOT Show’s Future
Remains Bright
T
hough the more than
60,000 attendees at the
2014 SHOT Show may
not notice it, the
National Shooting Sports
Foundation made a big change last
year in how this premier show is
run. Reed Exhibitions, which had
managed the SHOT Show for many
years, decided to restrict certain
types of firearms at its consumer
hunting and fishing shows. As a
result, NSSF embarked on a nationwide search for a new show manager, one that supports the values of
NSSF and the shooting-sports
industry. The new exhibitor is Las
Vegas–based ConvExx, which has
had years of experience managing
large shows.
Given that the sold-out 2014
Penn & Teller will appear at the
State of the Industry dinner tonight.
Remington Defense
Supports Special
Forces Charitable Trust
FEATURES
*EDUCATION AT SHOT
For retailers and law enforcement
officers, there’s plenty to learn.
SEE PAGE 66
*REMINGTON 2020
The 2020 Tracking Scope draws a
bead on the future of hunting.
SEE PAGE 88
The Special Forces Charitable Trust
provides ongoing support and assistance to the U.S. Army Special
Forces Community and their families. SFCT programs not only help
Green Berets navigate transitions
and life issues, but they provide
important financial support for a
wide range of assistance not covered
by the federal government.
To help support this noble cause,
Remington Defense will hold a
fund­raiser during the 2014 SHOT
Show. First Prize is a Remington
Precision Sniper Rifle in .338 Lapua
Magnum. The rifle comes with a
case of Barnes .338 Lapua Magnum
precision match ammo as well as a
certificate for 50 percent off the
price of any silencer from Advanced
Armament Corp.
Second Prize is a 300 AAC
Blackout Multi-Purpose Weapon.
Also included is a case of 300
Blackout ammo. Third Prize is a
Model 700 SPS Tactical AAC-SD
rifle in .308. Tickets are $5, five for
$20, and 30 for $100. Booth #14262.
(800-852-7634; remington
defense.com)
SHOT Show will be home to more
than 1,600 exhibitors for four
days, the selection of a new show
manager was critical to the continued success of the show, now in its
36th year.
NSSF president Steve Sanetti,
noting the many challenges the
shooting-sports industry has faced
over the past year, says, “As we
come together for our annual showcase, this year’s SHOT Show is a
genuine manifestation of our resolve
to display the positive achievements
and successes of this oldest
American industry. We continue to
bring in new participants to recreational shooting and hunting in
record numbers. And if the record
interest in this show is any indication, our future remains bright!”
The Big
Question
Farm to Feet wants to know,
“What does 100 percent
American mean to you?”
The company, makers of
100 percent American socks,
invites SHOT Show attendees to stop by its booth and
share their answers to the
question. You’ll receive a pair
of Farm to Feet socks for your
trouble and have a chance to
win a sock-drawer makeover.
The drawing will be made on
Thursday afternoon. Booth
#10840. (877-805-5254;
nesterhosiery.com)
*BROWNELLS
CELEBRATES 75 YEARS
How a small mail-order business
yielded a legacy of gunsmithing
know-how. SEE PAGE 98
Remington Defense is supporting the Special Forces Charitable Trust by auctioning off this SOCOM Precision Sniper Rifle in .338 Lapua.
DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ 1
NEWS
SHOT 2014 Offers
International Trade
Resources
I
nternational trade can be a
lucrative option for many manufacturers. According to the U.S.
Department of Commerce, U.S.
merchandise exports in 2013 are up
$8 billion over 2012. But getting in
the game can be confusing. To help
sort out all the issues, the U.S.
Department of Commerce’s
Commercial Service International
Buyer Program (IBP) stands ready to
enhance your international trade
efforts. A visit to the IBP’s
International Trade Center (ITC), in
the Venetian Hotel, Level 4, Delfino
Ballroom (attached to the Sands Expo
& Convention Center), could be well
worth the time for U.S. exhibitors
looking to export and international
businesses looking to source U.S.
shooting sports, hunting, and law
enforcement products and services.
Nearly 20 international delegations are coming to SHOT 2014
from Canada, Thailand, Romania,
Argentina, and other countries. U.S.
Commercial Service specialists travel
with delegations and help organize
their plans for doing business at the
show. For U.S. companies wishing
to meet with these delegations or
gain insights into various markets,
the ITC has plenty of meeting space.
For the international visitor, the
ITC offers private meeting rooms,
interpreter services for language
assistance, matchmaking with U.S.
companies, a lounge area, refreshments, and computer capabilities
with internet access. You can meet
with delegation leaders, U.S. companies, or just relax. For those interested in setting up appointments with
U.S. suppliers attending the show,
visit the ITC to find out more.
The IBP offers free, 15- to
20-minute appointments for U.S.
exhibitors, in the ITC or in your
booth, with commercial specialists
from Thailand, Bulgaria, Canada,
Netherlands, Argentina,
Kazakhstan, Finland, Poland,
Romania, and Brazil. These specialists will brief you on market opportunities and challenges in the shooting sports, hunting, and law
enforcement sectors. Export counseling services are also available.
WINCHESTER’S NEW TURKEY LOAD
Winchester’s Long Beard XR ammo will be the hit of the first quarter of 2014 in shotshells. The innovative load offers near-tungsten
performance at lead prices. I had a chance to try a few of the new
loads this fall, and they shot turkey-killing patterns at 50 yards and
beyond, out-patterning any other lead turkey loads I have tested.
By encasing the shot in an epoxy-like substance that shatters
when the gun is fired, Winchester has created a buffering material
that protects every pellet from deformation as it travels down the
bore. The copper-plated pellets stay round, fly true, and deliver outstanding long-range patterns and more energy on target as well.
Long Beard is expensive to make because the loading machines
have to run slowly to add the epoxy. So the price will be higher than
other lead loads, but far below that of tungsten-iron. Initial offerings will be 3- and 3½-inch 12-gauge loads of 4, 5, and 6 shot, and I
guarantee turkey hunters will be looking hard for these this year.
Booth #13329. (618-258-3358; winchester.com)—Phil Bourjaily
Winchester’s Long Beard XR loads encase their shot in an epoxy-like
substance that protects every pellet from deformation, yet shatters
when the gun is fired, making it more likely the shot will fly true.
Daniel Defense Helps
Combat-Wounded Vet
F
ounded a little more than 10 years ago, Daniel Defense has grown from its humble beginnings as a start-up company creating rails and accessories for the MSR platform in small batches to a well-regarded manufacturer known for a premium
line of rifles and firearms accessories. This growth fueled expansion, and now the company has two facilities (one located
in Georgia, the other in South Carolina) with a total of 128,000 square feet of available manufacturing space.
“Daniel Defense looks forward to continued
growth, as well as the opportunity to better serve
our customers,” says president and CEO Marty
Daniel.
Daniel has always admired the men and women
citizens who join the armed forces to defend our
country, and not too long ago, he got an opportunity to show his appreciation in a very tangible
and meaningful way. Through the Military
Warriors Support Foundation, Daniel Defense
learned of a soldier who had been injured during
his time of service. Specialist Justin Foley sustained injuries when the armored vehicle he was
in struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
Due to the injuries he sustained, Foley now awaits
medical retirement from the U.S. Army.
Military Warriors Support Foundation is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, founded by Lt.
General Leroy Sisco, USA (Ret.), in 2007. The
foundation’s mission is to provide support for
our nation’s combat-wounded heroes and Gold
Star Families as they transition out of the military and into their new civilian life.
“This is a very fragile time for these heroes and
their families, and our goal is to provide programs
that facilitate a smooth and successful transition,”
says Josh Kinser, spokesman for the Military
Specialist Justin Foley was wounded during his
military service overseas. Here, thanks to a donation from Daniel Defense through the Military
Warriors Support Foundation, he and his family
are receiving a ceremonial key to a new home, in
gratitude for his heroic service.
Warriors Support Foundation. The programs
include home donation, employment assistance,
academic assistance, and even some recreational
activities.
4 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
“What we want to provide is hope for these
warriors and their families,” Kinser says. “By
partnering with great, patriotic companies like
Daniel Defense, we are able to put these heroes
in mortgage-free homes and help them transition
to a successful civilian life.”
To that end, Daniel Defense, with gratitude, presented Foley and his wife with the gift of a mortgage-free home. During a military tribute at the
Inaugural Patriot Weekend in Pooler, Georgia, a
check for $22,500 was presented to the Warrior
Transition Battalion on Ft. Stewart. Shortly after,
Specialist Foley, assigned to WTB Bravo
Company, was given a ceremonial key to the home.
“We at Daniel Defense recognize the personal
sacrifice the men and women of the United
States Armed Forces make every day, and we
wanted to ensure that their dedication and care
for the safety of their fellow Americans does not
go unnoticed,” Daniel says. “These men and
women have heroically given up their bodies in
defense of our freedoms. While we can’t give
them their health back, we can acknowledge
their sacrifice, thank them and their families for
their service, and provide spiritual support.”
Booth #20171. (866-554-4867; danieldefense
.com)
NEWS
Slaton L. White, Editor
Margaret M. Nussey, Managing Editor
David E. Petzal, Shooting Editor
Maribel Martin, Senior Administrative Assistant
James A. Walsh, Art Director
Judith Weber, Production Manager
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,
Executive Vice President
ADVERTISING: 212-779-5316
Gregory D. Gatto, Publisher
Paula Iwanski, National Sporting Goods Director
Brian Peterson, West
Katie Logan, Sporting Goods Sales
John Driscoll, Vice President, Corporate Sales
Elizabeth A. Burnham, Chief Marketing Officer
Ingrid Reslmaier, Marketing Design Director
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Tara Bisciello, Business Manager
CONSUMER MARKETING
Robert M. Cohn, Consumer Marketing Director
Barbara Brooker, Fulfillment Manager
MANUFACTURING
Laurel Kurnides, Group Production Director
Stefanie La Bella, Associate Production
Director
BONNIER
Chairman, Jonas Bonnier
Chief Executive Officer, Dave Freygang
Executive Vice President, Eric Zinczenko
Chief Content Officer, David Ritchie
Chief Financial Officer, Nancy Coalter
Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Earlywine
Chief Human Resource Officer, Leslie Glenn
Chief Brand Development Officer, Sean Holzman
Vice President, Consumer Marketing, Bruce Miller
Vice President, Corporate Communications,
Dean Turcol
General Counsel, Jeremy Thompson
SHOT Business (ISSN 1081-8618) is published 7 times a year in January,
­Feb­ruary/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November and December by Bonnier Corporation, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY
10016-5695, and is the official publication of the National Shooting Sports
Foundation, Flintlock Ridge Office Center, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT
06470 (203-426-1320). Volume 22, issue 1. Copyright © 2014 by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. All rights reserved. Editorial, circulation,
production and advertising offices are located at 2 Park Avenue, New York,
NY 10016-5695 (212-779-5000). Free to qualified subscribers; available to
non-qualified subscribers for $25 per year. Single-copy issues are available
for $5 each. Send check, payable to NSSF, to: SHOT Business, c/o NSSF, 11
Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470-2359. SHOT Business accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. All correspondence should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Requests for media kits and advertising information should be directed to Katy
Marinaro, Bonnier Corporation, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1270, Chicago, IL
60611. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing
offices.
Printed in the USA.
For Customer Service and Subscription questions, such as Renewals, Address
Changes, Email Preferences, Billing and Account Status, go to: shotbusiness
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the U.S. call toll-free 866-615-4345, outside the U.S. call 386-246-0188, or
write to SHOT Business, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016. For editorial inquiries, write to Slaton L. White, SHOT Business, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016
For editorial inquiries, visit Venetian Level 3, San Polo
3501, in the Sands Expo & Convention Center.
NEWS
Havalon’s new Shock
Green Bolt continues
the company’s tradition
of adorning its knives
with hi-vis handles.
A 50th Anniversary Buck 110 folder is the official SHOT Show Auction knife. Created by legendary knife maker David Yellowhorse, the one-of-a-kind knife features a Damascus-steel blade.
SHOT Show to Auction
Yellowhorse Buck 110
A
Buck Knives 50th Anniversary Model
110 folding hunter, created by legendary knife maker David
Yellowhorse, has been selected as the
2014 SHOT Show auction knife. H.H. Buck &
Son revolutionized the knife industry in 1964
with the Model 110 folding hunter. In 2014, Buck
Knives Inc. will observe the 50th anniversary of
the 110’s prominence in the hearts and hands of
America’s outdoorsmen.
A cornerstone of the 50th anniversary observance is the creation of a one-of-a-kind 110 folding hunter by David Yellowhorse. This special
knife will be featured as the 2014 SHOT Show
Auction Knife and will be available at auction for
millions of outdoorsmen at GunBroker.com.
The special David Yellowhorse creation will
feature a 3¾-inch Damascus-steel blade with a
hand-inscribed 50th anniversary tribute. The
handle will feature a nickel-silver cutout in snake
wood with inlays of black jet, bloody red jasper,
and web turquoise.
“The following that our Buck 110 folding knife
has received from sportsmen all over the world
for the past 50 years is deserving of a special tribute, and we are indeed proud that legendary knife
maker David Yellowhorse has agreed to partner
with us in this one-of-a-kind effort,” says C.J.
Buck, Buck Knives president and CEO. “Buck
Knives is proud to hold the record for the highest
amount ever bid for a SHOT Show auction knife,
and we are hopeful that we can exceed that record
in 2014.”
The knife will be displayed at the SHOT
Show in the Buck Knife booth (#14504). Bidding
will close at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
(that’s 2 p.m. here in Las Vegas) on Friday,
January 17, 2014, the final day of the 2014
SHOT Show.
The SHOT Show auction is administered by
the Hunting Heritage Trust for the National
Shooting Sports Foundation. All proceeds from
the auction will benefit programs to further
America’s hunting and shooting sports heritage.
Taurus Creates Junior
Shooter Program
W
hen Taurus entered the world of
competitive shooting, it had this
goal in mind: to grow the sport by
reaching new shooters—women
and youths. So, in 2011, when Taurus recruited
top-ranked competitive shooter Jessie Duff as its
team captain, she was charged with developing a
new generation of shooting ambassadors.
According to Taurus president and CEO Mark
Kresser, these ambassadors had to meet stringent
requirements both on the range and in public.
“Taurus Young Guns must maintain a positive public image in accordance with our corporate values
regarding conduct and safety, both on and off the
firing range, including social media sites such as
Facebook and Twitter,” he says. They also must
maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, or B average, at school.
With such stringent criteria in place, Duff was
determined to find an exemplary person to be the
first member of the Young Guns. After several
months of scouting junior shooters, Alex Larche
was selected to join the team.
“I was very impressed with the level of talented
young shooters competing these days,” says Duff.
“Alex Larche is not only a talented shooter, but
portrays himself in a positive manner when he is
both on and off the range. He exemplifies what we
are looking for in our future shooters’ program.”
Larche will be competing in the Production and
Single Stack classes at local, regional, and national
matches.
“The industry constantly talks about the new gun
owners and how we need to recruit more of these
folks into the shooting sports,” Kresser says. “Well,
we are finished talking. Taurus has implemented a
program to encourage young shooters to be safe,
responsible, and respectful at home, in school, and
on the shooting range. We are very excited to
have Alex as a part of our Taurus family and look
forward to a very bright future.” Booth #14140.
(800-327-3776; taurususa.com)
Alex Larche has joined Taurus’ Young Guns
team, competing in Production and Single
Stack.
8 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
Havalon Knives
Are a Sharp Idea
H
avalon Knives is one of those success
stories founded on a “why didn’t I think
of that?” product. Officially launched in
2005, Havalon manufactures knives with replaceable, razor-sharp blades. It’s a spin-off company
from Havel’s Inc., a specialty medical supplies distributor. Patrick Carrothers, the president and
CEO of both Havalon Knives and Havel’s,
noticed taxidermists were buying surgical blades
from Havel’s. There was no pocketknife-style
scalpel on the market to meet their needs, so he
decided to manufacture one.
“We are experiencing unprecedented growth
among national retailers as the word spreads about
our knives being the sharpest in the woods,” says
John Barrett, vice president of sales and marketing.
Havalon Knives are rapidly growing in popularity
among hunters as well. An aggressive marketing
campaign centered on sponsorships of top hunting
shows is driving awareness of the brand and the
benefits of using the knives. Havalon sponsors Jim
Shockey’s Hunting Adventures, Jim Shockey’s The
Professionals Uncharted, Steven Rinella’s
MeatEater, Mathews TV, and Life at Table
Mountain.
Havalon’s popularity is currently skyrocketing
with survivalists, too. The sterilized, surgically
sharp blades and extreme lightweight design are
both highly prized attributes of survivalist gear.
At the SHOT Show, Havalon will be introducing the new Shock Green Bolt, which expands its
line of knives with hard-to-lose color handles; a
new camo knife that customers have been clamoring for; and a limited-edition aluminum handle
with a scrimshaw-style inlay laser-engraved with a
soaring eagle.
“We will also have prototypes of a totally new
revolutionary design,” Barrett says. “It brings the
benefits of several of our knives into one handle,
but that’s all I’m going to say right now. Everyone
will just have to come by our booth and see it.”
Havalon is going to have an active booth at the
SHOT Show. Many of the hosts of the various
hunting shows they sponsor will be making
appearances, and Havalon will be giving away
shirts, hats, and more than 300 knives. Booth
#757. (888-836-3204; havalon.com)
—Brandon Butler
MINUTES
WITH…
Mark
DeYoung
President and CEO,
ATK
Positioned for Success
A number of key acquisitions have placed ATK in the driver’s seat
I
By Slaton L. White
n the past year, ATK recently completed the acquisition of Bushnell Group Holdings Inc., a leading global designer,
marketer, and distributor of sports optics, outdoor accessories, and performance eyewear, and Savage Sports
Corporation, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of hunting rifles and shotguns. SHOT Daily sat down with ATK’s
president and CEO Mark DeYoung to get his insight on the company’s strategy.
SHOT Daily: Many people in the
Federal Premium, Blackhawk!, and
now Savage and Bushnell?
shooting sports business probably think
of ATK as a defense contractor. But
recently you’ve made adjacent moves
into the sporting market space. What’s
the thinking behind this strategy?
Mark DeYoung: We’ve been
intricately involved in this industry
for more than a decade now. In
2001, we acquired Federal Premium
Ammunition and many other iconic
consumer brands such as RCBS,
Alliant Powder, Weaver, Speer, CCI,
and more. It has been a successful
investment, and our steady growth
and market leadership have allowed
us to expand even further.
Almost four years ago, we acquired
Blackhawk! and we have seen
encouraging growth by that brand.
Last year in June, we added firearms
to our portfolio by purchasing
Caliber Company, the parent company of Savage. Finally, we closed
Bushnell last November. This acquisition increases ATK’s exposure to
adjacent, higher-growth hunting and
outdoor markets. Nearly half of
ATK’s sales will be generated by our
expanded Sporting Group.
ATK Sporting Group is a strategic
and profitable business. The shooting
and hunting industry has seen great
growth, and remains a major focus
across the enterprise. That being
said, we are still a company wellpositioned in a variety of industries.
We continue to see successes, win
business, and look for opportunities in
our aerospace and defense businesses
as well as our sporting business.
SD: You have said the shooting
sports have gotten a boost from the
continuing surge in firearms sales. This
surge has also brought new participants into our world, especially
women. Will ATK be doing any special
marketing to women, and other new
shooters?
Mark DeYoung with a mule deer taken on a recent hunt. “I love the challenge
of running a large and diverse corporation,” he says. “Being able to make a
positive difference in a complex world and marketplace is rewarding.”
MD: The presence of new consumers in our industry is unprecedented.
We want to make sure we serve
these new customers. Regardless of
why they got here, we want to do
our best to welcome them, teach
them, listen to them, and help them
pursue their respective areas of
interest. So yes, you’ll see some
non-traditional marketing and communication efforts that are directed
toward new shooters—women
included. The diversity of the new
arrivals to our industry is great. It’s
an exciting time to lead a company
with strong and innovative consumer brands and quality product lines.
SD: Your role as chief executive of
ATK provides you with a unique perspective on the shooting-sports industry as a whole. What would you say is
the current state of the industry?
10 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
MD: The growth of our industry
has been well documented. What I
have observed, as a CEO and shooting-sports enthusiast, is a sustainable
trend of growth. Sure there have
been some big peaks, but there
haven’t been deep valleys or sharp
declines in sales and participation.
From an industry perspective, ATK
is the largest company in the
shooting sports. We have a significant influx of new shooters and
hunters—and now it’s up to us to
keep the momentum going by listening and serving these newcomers. Of course, we won’t forget our
traditional customers and what they
mean to us as a company and an
industry.
SD: Given the size of ATK, how do
you maintain and promote the individual identity of such iconic brands as
MD: With such a large number of
consumer brands, our focus is on
making sure our end consumers trust
and value our products. We work
very hard to maintain the integrity of
our brands. We want people at retail
(or online) to look for brands like
Federal Premium, Savage, Bushnell,
and Blackhawk!, and to find what
they need in an ATK offering.
Brand integration is a focal point
for ATK, and we do our homework. As we acquire a new brand,
we do our research and listen to
customers. We have teams of talented people from all areas of the
company involved in integrating a
new brand. And on the consumerfacing side, we study the brand’s
identity, where it is going—and
most importantly, create a vision
for its future. I think we’ve done a
good job of creating and enhancing
the equity of our brands while
ensuring they maintain an individual identity. The recent addition of
Bushnell gives us a diverse portfolio
of 19 respected and well-known
brands. This latest addition to our
Sporting Group will allow us to
bring our customers and consumers
a better mix of unique, innovative,
and value-based products.
SD: When you wake up, what gets
you excited about your business?
MD: I love the energy in the shooting and outdoor industry. Personally,
some of my favorite times of the
year are spent with my sons in the
fall. We hunt in our home state and
across the globe. Having that chance
to spend time with my sons doing
something we love is special, and it’s
a tradition passed on from my father.
Booth #14551. (800-322-2342;
atk.com)
NEWS
Henry Repeating Arms Tribute to B. Tyler
Henry Selected as 2014 SHOT Show Rifle
T
he names Henry and Henry Repeating Rifle have echoed through the annals of the American firearms industry since 1860.
This year the Henry name will again take center stage. A historic rifle created in tribute to B. Tyler Henry has been selected
as the 2014 SHOT Show Auction rifle.
The Henry Repeating Arms
Company recently announced that it
will begin production of the Original
Henry Rifle for the first time in 150
years, and the first rifle produced has
been set aside to receive very special
treatment in honor of the rifle’s
designer, Benjamin Tyler Henry.
This revolutionary lever-action rifle
was the most important firearm of
its time and went on to become one
of the most legendary American firearms of all time. Patented in 1860
and used during the Civil War, the
rifle’s rapid-fire capability and highcapacity tubular magazine stood in
amazing contrast to its single-shot
musket counterparts.
The Henry rifle became known as
the rifle you could “Load on Sunday
and shoot all week long.” After the
war, the Henry rifle headed West to
help tame the frontier.
Now, the Original Henry Rifle is
back in all its American-made glory.
The Original Henry Rifle is virtually identical to its history-making
Henry Repeating Arms has built the
2014 SHOT Show Auction Rifle. This
Original Henry Rifle in .44-40 is sure
to become a valuable collectible.
forerunner in all aspects except caliber. The modern rifle is .44-40 caliber. (The 1860 version was made in
.44 Rimfire, an obsolete cartridge.)
Every other facet remains true to its
inventor and, in his honor, each
gun’s serial number will begin with
the initials BTH. The only exception will be the SHOT Show Henry
Tribute rifle, which will feature serial number BTHENRY0001.
“The Henry Rifle and its designer,
12 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY, JANUARY XX, 2014
B. Tyler Henry, are deserving of the
most thoughtful tribute we can create, and Henry Repeating Arms is
proud to create this special tribute
and make it available to Henry Rifle
enthusiasts,” says Anthony Imperato,
president of Henry Repeating Arms.
“Often a special firearm like this will
end up locked away in the company
vault or in the collection of the company president. We are tremendously excited that this rifle will be made
available as the 2014 SHOT Show
rifle, where it can be viewed and bid
on by collectors and fans.”
The SHOT Show Henry is being
hand-engraved at Baron Engraving
of Trumbull, Connecticut. Engraving
will feature the likeness of B. Tyler
Henry on the right side of the
receiver and a hand engraving of the
original Henry factory on the left
side. In addition, the rifle will feature
the historic inscription “Load on
Sunday and Shoot All Week Long.”
The rifle will be auctioned exclusively on GunBroker.com. (The rifle
is available for viewing at the site.)
Bidding will close at 5 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time (2 p.m. here in Las
Vegas) on Friday, January 17, the
final day of the 2014 SHOT Show.
The SHOT Show auction is
administered by the Hunting
Heritage Trust for the National
Shooting Sports Foundation. All
proceeds from the auction will benefit programs to further America’s
hunting and shooting sports heritage.
RIFLES
2014
ArmaLite The AR-31’s wide magazine well makes magazine insertion nearly effortless while in a shooting position.
AB3 Composite Stalker
Browning The AB3 Composite Stalker now
comes with a composite stock and a matte blued
finish receiver and barrel. The X-Bolt features a
free-floating barrel for enhanced accuracy.
X-Bolt Eclipse Hunter
Pick Your Target
From rimfire plinkers to precision thousand-yard tools, 2014 offers a
large and diverse selection of new products By Chris Christian
T
his year offers retailers one of the richest and most varied selections of new rifle introductions in memory. The
modern sporting rifle is well represented with introductions in both 5.56mm and 7.62mm NATO, while new tactical bolt guns also appear from several makers. In the hunting field, new camo finishes and caliber additions
appear in many product lines, and a surprising number of new rimfire models will also be available. Lever-action
aficionados will find some surprises as well. Regardless of the target, 2014 offers a new way to hit it.
ArmaLite
➣ For 2014, ArmaLite introduces
the AR-31 rifle system. It shares the
same design features as the company’s AR-30A1 (detachable magazine,
precision accuracy), but there are
some differences. The AR-31 is a
short-action version chambered in
7.62 NATO/.308 Win., and as such
it accepts ArmaLite double-stacked
AR-10B magazines. That allows
shooters to choose between magazines with a capacity of 5, 10, 15,
and 20 rounds to suit current
requirements.
Like its predecessor, the AR-31 is
built upon a through-hardened
receiver, which for this gun has been
optimally sized for the 7.62 NATO
cartridge. The 24-inch barrel is
capped with ArmaLite’s one-piece
muzzle brake with industry-standard
5/8-24 threads, which allows many
suppressors to be screwed directly to
the barrel without an adapter.
The wide and deep magazine well
extends under the receiver, which
makes magazine insertion fast and
easy while in a shooting position.
The magazine catch is conveniently
located so that the shooter can
release the magazine and catch it
with the same hand. This not only
makes loading/reloading quick, it
virtually assures that magazines
won’t be lost in rough terrain. The
bolt-mounted safety locks the firing
pin to the rear to prevent accidental
discharges.
The stock system allows the buttstock to be interchanged between
the same standard and target models
used on the AR-30A1, with only the
use of an Allen wrench. The cheekpieces are metal with a pad, and the
cheekpiece supports contain an integral cleaning rod guide that prevents bore damage caused by
improper cleaning-rod guidance.
The included top Picatinny rail is
16 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
canted 20 MOA to allow for shooting at extended ranges.
Multiple sling-swivel installation
locations allow the simultaneous
use of both sling and bipod, and
the rear sling-swivel mount can be
moved to the right or left side of
the buttstock. Optional 1913 rails
can be installed on the sides or bottom of the forearm to allow multiple accessory attachment points.
Military-grade anodizing and phosphate finishes provide durability
and corrosion resistance. Booth
#11711. (800-336-0184;
armalite.com)
Browning
➣ New in Browning’s 2014 catalog
is the AB3 bolt-action, designed to
give consumers a value-packed rifle
that has Browning quality and
accuracy, but at a more affordable
price. The new AB3 will be offered
with a composite stock and a matte
blued finish receiver and barrel.
Other features include a 60-degree
bolt lift, detachable box magazine,
top-tang safety, bolt-lock override
button, free-floating barrel, and an
Inflex Technology recoil pad.
Average weight is 6 pounds 13
ounces in standard calibers, and 7
pounds 3 ounces in magnums. The
new AB3 will be available in .270
Win. and .30/06 Sprg. with a
22-inch barrel length, and 7mm
Rem. Mag. and .300 Win. Mag. in
26-inch barrel. SRP: $599.99.
In addition, Browning will expand
the X-Bolt bolt-action lineup to
include the new X-Bolt Eclipse
Hunter model for 2014. Features
include a matte blued finish on a
free-floating barrel and receiver. A
laminated gray satin-finish stock has
a thumbhole grip with Monte Carlo
cheekpiece. Other standard features
found on all X-bolt rifles include a
PRODUCTS
455 Varmint Precision Training
550 Magnum Western Badlands
557 Sporter Manners
CZ-USA A number of new bolt-actions are joining the CZ line this year, including the 455 Training Rifle, the 550 Badlands, and the 557 Sporter Manners. Each
is available in a variety of calibers and configurations. Also joining the crowd is the 500 Magnum H.E.T. II, a high-energy tactical platform.
detachable rotary magazine, adjustable Feather Trigger, 60-degree bolt
lift, and the Inflex Technology recoil
pad. Available in most popular
short-action, long-action, and magnum calibers. SRP: $1,019.99 to
$1,059.99. Booth #12740. (801876-2711; browning.com)
CZ-USA
➣ CZ’s popular 455 bolt-action
rimfire will see four new models this
year. The 455 Training Rifle (SRP:
$374) moves the popular .22LR
training rifle into the 455 boltaction rifle platform. Like its predecessor, it has a 24.8-inch barrel, a
tangent rear sight that is adjustable
for distance, and a beechwood stock
with a Schnabel forend. The biggest
difference is the ability to change
the barrels and stocks, a trait possessed by all 455 models. The 455
Training Rifle is shipped with a
five-round polymer magazine, but a
single-shot adapter and 10-round
magazines are available.
The 455 Precision Trainer (SRP:
$940) is designed to provide the
same look and feel as a full-size tactical bolt-action rifle while allowing
for economical .22LR training. It
features a Manners Composite T4
stock (made up of multiple layers of
carbon fiber and fiberglass hand-laid
in high-temperature epoxy resins
that are vacuum heat cured) with a
new camouflage paint pattern and a
.866-inch-diameter heavy barrel.
The 455 American Synthetic
Suppressor-Ready (SRP: $421) features a 16.5-inch barrel in .22LR
that is factory-threaded to accept
muzzle devices using ½-28 threads.
The stock is black synthetic with a
soft-touch finish. The 455 Varmint
Tacticool Suppressor-Ready (SRP:
$549) sports a 16.5-inch varmint
barrel with a factory-cut ½-28
thread pattern that accepts many
aftermarket suppressors.
The CZ 557 bolt-action is a new
addition to the line and a departure
from the Mauser-style bolt found on
the company’s 550 models. It features a short extractor and plungerstyle ejector, commonly called a
“push-feed system,” that provides
smooth operation with enhanced
ejection and also makes it easier to
load single rounds into the chamber—a feature many shooters prefer
for range work. The new receiver is
18 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
machined from steel billet, and has
CZ’s integral 19mm dovetails for
scope mounting. Equipped with a
two-position safety, the bolt can be
cycled while the safety is in the “on”
position. The trigger mechanism is
fully user-adjustable to tune pull
weight, creep, and overtravel. The
557 will be available in both shortand long-action models, depending
upon caliber, and in three distinct
model variations.
The 557 Sporter Manners (SRP:
$1,268) is available in .30/06 Sprg.,
.270 Win., and 6.5x55mm. It features a 20.5-inch barrel (without
sights), a hinged floor-plate magazine with a four-round capacity, and
the Manners composite carbon-fiber
stock in Coyote Tan. Empty weight
is 6.7 pounds.
The 557 Sporter (SRP: $792) will
be available in .30/06 Sprg., .243
Win., .270 Win., 6.5x55mm, and
.308 Win. It features a classic walnut stock without a cheekpiece and
a 20.5-inch barrel without sights.
Empty weight is 7.8 pounds.
The 557 Carbine (SRP: $812) is
available in .30/06 Sprg., .243 Win.,
.270 Win., 6.5x55mm, and .308
Win. It features a walnut stock with
cheekpiece as well as a 20.5-inch
barrel with an elevation-adjustable
fiber-optic front sight and a windage-adjustable rear sight.
Four new models enter the classic
Mauser bolt-action 550 line this
year. The 550 Badlands (SRP:
$2,599) is chambered for the .338
Lapua and designed to deliver massive energy at extended ranges. At
800 yards the .338 Lapua 300-grain
hunting loads deliver more than
2,000 foot-pounds of energy, making it more than adequate for any
North American game, as well as
most African species.
The 550 Badlands action is
anchored in an American-patterned
Kevlar-reinforced stock with a fulllength aluminum bedding block.
The premium 25-inch mediumweight barrel is equipped with a
custom muzzle brake to reduce
recoil and redirect muzzle blast. A
thread protector is included for
those who choose to dispense with
the muzzle brake. Empty weight is
9.2 pounds.
The 550 Sonoran (SRP: $3,199) is
built to be more of a long-range
hunting rifle than a lighter-weight
mountain rifle, but the empty
PRODUCTS
weight is kept under 8 pounds through the use of
the Manners composite stock and fluted barrels.
Designed for rough use, the Sonoran is ferriticnitrocarburized inside and out. That results in a
Rockwell hardness of R72 while providing exceptional corrosion resistance. The stock is an olive
drab Manners carbon-fiber composite, with all
metalwork finished in flat black QPQ nitride.
The Sonoran is available in 7mm Rem. Mag.
and .300 Win. Mag. with 26-inch No. 4 contour
fluted barrels. Empty weight is 7.8 pounds. It is
also available in standard chamberings (.30/06
Sprg. and .270 Win.) with a 24-inch No. 3 contour fluted barrel. Empty weight is 7.6 pounds.
The 500 Magnum H.E.T. II (SRP: $3,929) is a
redesign of the High Energy Tactical precision
long-range platform. A 550 Magnum action rides
in a Manners tactical series stock with an adjustable cheekpiece and is covered with a molded-in
midnight camo finish. It is fed by Accuracy
International detachable magazines that are
secured in the chassis by custom Badger
Ordnance bottom metal. A low-mount Picatinny
rail provides the optics mounting platform. The
25-inch barrel is fitted with a Badger Ordnance
FTE muzzle brake. Chambered for .338 Lapua,
CZ claims sub-MOA accuracy with quality
ammunition. Overall length is 48 inches, and
empty weight is 14 pounds. Length of pull is
13.75 inches.
The 550 Varmint Tacticool (SRP: $924) is the
CZ 550 Varmint platform upgraded with a Boyds
foliage-green Tacticool stock. Chambered for
.308 Win., it is fed from detachable magazines.
Booth #16351. (800-955-4486; cz-usa.com)
FNH USA
➣ For 2014, FNH announces the release of a
new modern sporting rifle line. It consists of the
FN 15 Carbine and the FN 15 Rifle.
The FN 15 Carbine features a 16-inch chromelined barrel and is chambered for 5.56mm
NATO. A black two-piece, ribbed, round polymer
forearm and a six-position collapsible buttstock
are standard and provide a length of pull from 9.9
to 13.2 inches, with an overall extended length of
35.2 inches. It uses a 1:7 twist barrel and an
A2-style compensator and A2 fixed front sight.
The rear sight is a removable A4-style carry handle rear sight. Empty weight is 6.9 pounds.
The FN 15 Rifle features a 20-inch chromelined bore in 5.56mm NATO chambering (1:7
twist) with an A2 fixed front sight and compensator and an A4 removable rear sight. It also has a
two-piece ribbed round polymer forearm, but this
version sports a fixed A2-style buttstock. Length
of pull is 10.6 inches. Overall length is 39.5 inches, and the empty weight is 7.9 pounds. Booth
#13462. (703-288-3500; fnhusa.com)
Legacy Sports
International
➣ New camo stock finishes for the Howa rifle
line, a new rifle/scope combo, and an interesting
M1 Carbine model highlight Legacy Sport’s new
rifle offerings this year. The new Howa/Kryptek
camo rifle features the venerable Howa boltaction rifle with the HACT two-stage trigger,
three-position safety, and a Hogue overmolded
stock. Three Kryptek camo patterns will be available: Typhon, Highlander, and Raid. The new
models will be available in Howa’s short-action,
long-action, and magnum calibers. A No. 2 contour hunting barrel or a No. 6 contour heavy barrel are available as options. Scope packages featuring the Nikko Stirling Gameking scope are
Mossberg The Duck Commander 702 Plinkster,
left, and the MVP Patrol in 7.62 NATO, right, join the
Mossberg line in 2014.
also available as full-camo-dip packages that
include matching camo rings and one-piece scope
bases. All stock dip rifle/scope combos are available with blued or stainless barrels.
The new Howa/Zeiss Combo package features
the Howa bolt-action rifle with HACT two-stage
trigger, three-position safety, and Hogue overmolded stock (the Hunter walnut stock is also
available as an option), mated with a Zeiss Terra
3x 3–9x42 scope. It features a 1-inch tube, antireflection coating, the No. 20 Z-Plex secondfocal-plane reticle, ¼-MOA adjustments, hunting
turrets, and a DNX one-piece base.
The new Citadel M1 carbine could emerge as
one of the true “fun guns” for 2014. Chambered
for 9mm, it uses a blowback action and Beretta
M92 steel magazines. Two magazines are supplied
with each carbine, in either 10- or 17-round
capacity. The front and rear sights are steel, as are
the trigger and barrel band spring. The barrel
PRODUCTS
ROCK RIVER ARMS
New this year is the Operator III MSR in 5.56mm. Building upon the existing Operator series,
the Operator III adds some newly patented premium features to the platform. Designed
exclusively for this new model is the new RRA Operator Brake, which not only reduces recoil
but ports the muzzle blast outward and away from the shooter. The Operator III is equipped
with the RRA Operator CAR Stock with a Hogue rubber pistol grip, and features a 16-inch
chrome-moly HBAR barrel with a 1:9 twist. The free-floated barrel is fitted with the RRA
TRO-Mid Free Float Mid-length handguard, which is vented to quickly dissipate heat.
The forged upper receiver is an A4 design and carries a mil-spec rail for optics or iron-sight
mounting. The forged RRA LAR-15 lower receiver has a custom “RRA Operator Series” laser
engraving on the mag well.
The trigger is RRA’s two-stage model, and the trigger guard is the oversize winter model for
easy operation with gloves. The safety is the RRA Star safety. Empty weight is 8 pounds, and
RRA claims MOA accuracy. The Operator III ships with two RRA Poly Mags, case, owner’s
manual and RRA warranty. SRP: $1,065. Booth #14271. (309-792-5780; rockriverarms.com)
length is 18 inches, and overall length is 35 inches. Empty weight is 5.5 pounds. Booth #3036.
(800-553-4229; legacysports.com)
Marlin Firearms
➣ In the process of revamping production facilities, Marlin has added new barrel and receiver
production equipment. For 2014 that means that
some previously suspended product offerings will
be making a reappearance. According to Marlin,
production efforts will now heavily focus on the
39A and 1894 product lines. Among the planned
reintroductions are the Model 1895 CB in .45-70
Gov’t (SRP: $839.74), the Model 444 Marlin
(SRP: $668.91), the Model 338 MX in .338
Marlin Express (SRP: $682.51), and the Model
338 MXLR in .338 Marlin Express (SRP: $900).
In addition, a Marlin 336C Limited Edition is
planned, and it is projected to be the first of a
multi-year series. It features the Marlin horseand-rider logo engraved on the left side of the
receiver in 24-carat gold, with scrollwork on the
right side. The trigger is gold-plated, and the
stock is Grade B walnut. As a finishing touch, the
words “Limited Edition” are stamped onto the
barrel. Booth #14229. (800-54-8892;
marlinfirearms.com)
Mossberg
➣ Significant additions to Mossberg’s MVP
Patrol bolt-action line and a couple of fun rimfires in the new Duck Commander series comprise Mossberg’s new rifle products for 2014. The
basic MVP Patrol is a bolt-action chambered for
5.56mm NATO and features a 16.25-inch 1:9
twist medium bull barrel. It is available as a
straight barrel or threaded for a supplied A2-style
flash suppressor. Fed from a detachable magazine,
a 10-round magazine is supplied but the gun also
accepts standard MSR-style magazines. A
Picatinny rail rides atop the receiver, and there is
an adjustable rear sight with a fiber-optic front.
The LBA trigger is user-adjustable for pull
weights of 2 to 7 pounds. The synthetic stock is
finished in flat black. Added to that basic MVP
Patrol 5.56mm line is the new Model 27709,
which is available in a textured tan stock instead
of matte black. This version includes the A2 flash
suppressor.
The big news, however, is the addition of the
7.62 NATO/.308 Win. and the .300 ACC
Blackout to the MVP line. Offering all of the
standard specifications of the MVP line (synthetic
stock, 16.25-inch barrel, A2-style flash suppressor,
10-round magazine), the new Model 27718 is
chambered for .300 ACC Blackout. It has a 1:7twist barrel fitted with the A2 flash hider and a
textured black-matte stock. The new Model
27738 is chambered for 7.62 NATO/.308 Win. It
features a 1:10-twist barrel with a fitted A2 flash
suppressor and a textured black stock. The new
Model 27742 is the same gun, but with a textured
tan stock.
The new Model 27739 is the Patrol Scoped
Combo in 7.62 NATO/.308 Win. It differs from
the standard MVP Patrol in that the stock features a neoprene comb-raising kit to achieve the
proper comb height for use with the mounted
3–9x32mm scope with a lighted reticle. All of the
new .30-caliber models are supplied with
10-round magazines, but they accept M1A/M14
and AR-10 style magazines that allow a capacity
increase.
The Mossberg FLEX TLS system allows a
wide range of interchangeability within stock
components, letting shooters change length of
pull, stock type, and recoil pads quickly and without tools. This year Mossberg extends the FLEX
TLS system to the MVP bolt-action rifle line,
with barrel lengths that go beyond the 16.25-inch
length of the standard MVP Patrol line, and without the A2 flash suppressor. The same FLEX
components are interchangeable with Mossberg’s
FLEX TLS-equipped hunting rifles and tactical
shotguns, while including all the features of the
MVP Patrol line. Six models are available.
Model 27760 is chambered for 5.56mm and
features a 18.5-inch medium fluted barrel with a
1:9 twist. A Picatinny rail on the receiver accepts
optics. There are no iron sights on the barrel.
The stock is a six-position adjustable CAR-style
with a full-pistol grip in a textured tan finish.
PRODUCTS
Model SPS in .260 Rem.
Limited Edition Model 700 CDL
The Model 27761 is chambered for 7.62
NATO/.308 Win. and features a 18.5-inch fluted
medium bull barrel with a 1:10 twist. It also has a
Picatinny rail (no iron sights) and a six-position
adjustable buttstock with a full-pistol grip and a
tan finish. The Model 27751 is the same gun with
a black matte stock. The Model 27750 also is the
same gun, but with a 20-inch fluted Sporter contour barrel and a black matte stock.
The Model 27752 features a six-position adjustable buttstock with a full-pistol grip. It’s chambered for 7.62mmNATO/.308 Win. It has a
20-inch Sporter contour fluted barrel in a 1:10
twist and a Picatinny rail with no iron sights.
It comes with a 3–9x32mm scope with an illuminated reticle. The Model 27753 is the same package, but sports an 18.5-inch medium bull fluted
barrel.
Two new “fun” rimfire rifles join Mossberg’s
new Duck Commander series. The International
702 Plinkster (Model 37022) is a semi-auto chambered for .22LR with a 18-inch blued barrel with
a 1:16 twist. The synthetic stock is covered in
Realtree Max-5 camo with Duck Commander
engraving. It features adjustable iron sights and
feeds from a 10-round detachable magazine.
The International 715T Flat Top Duck
Commander (Model 37230) is a MSR-style semiauto chambered for .22LR. It features a 16.25inch barrel (in a 1:16 twist) with a A2 flash suppressor, a quad-rail forearm, upper Picatinny rail
with an adjustable rear sight and a A2-style front
sight, and a six-position CAR-style adjustable
buttstock. It is covered in Realtree Max-5 camo
and feeds from a 25-round magazine. A magazine
loader is supplied.
The same gun is also available as Model 37217
in the Muddy Girl line, with Mossberg’s trade-
mark Muddy Girl camo finish. Booth #12734.
(800-363-3555; mossberg.com)
Remington
➣ Line upgrades and new caliber additions mark
Remington’s new rifle offerings this year. The
Remington Model 783 bolt-action line expands
significantly with four new black synthetic stock
models in .243 Win. with a 22-inch barrel, a .300
Win. Mag. with a 24-inch barrel, and two new
compact versions in .243 Win. and .308 Win.
with 20-inch barrels. SRP: $451.10.
Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity camo synthetic
stocks will also be available in the Model 783 line
with the addition of the .270 Win, .30/06 Sprg.,
and .308 Win. (22-inch barrels) and the 7mm
Rem. Mag. and .300 Win. Mag. (24-inch barrels).
SRP: $503.34.
PRODUCTS
Remington New calibers and line upgrades
are the highlights of Remington’s 2014 rifle
offerings. The .223 Remington cartridge is celebrating its 50th year, and to celebrate
Remington is issuing a Limited Edition Model
700 CDL chambered for the load. Meanwhile,
the Model SPS bolt-action adds the .260 Rem.
to its lineup.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the .223
Remington cartridge, 2014 will see a Limited
Edition Model 700 CDL chambered for the .223
Rem. It features a satin-finished American walnut
stock with a 24-inch stainless-steel fluted barrel.
The trigger mechanism is the X-Mark Pro externally adjustable trigger that is factory-set at 3.5
pounds. “Limited” is marked on the left side of
the receiver, and it wears a 50th anniversary commemorative floor plate. SRP: $1,225.95.
The Model SPS bolt-action adds the .260 Rem.
chambering to its line with the addition of a black
synthetic–stock model featuring a 24-inch barrel
for increased velocity and a new 1:8 twist
designed to more effectively stabilize the 140grain bullet (considered by many experts to be the
most effective medium-game weight in this caliber). This rifle features the X-Mark Pro externally adjustable trigger. Existing .260 Rem. chamber-
ings in the Model Seven CDL and Synthetic rifles
will now use the 1:8 twist rate. Booth #14229.
(800-243-9700; remington.com)
Ruger
➣ New from Ruger this year is the SR-762 autoloading rifle ($2,195). The SR-762 retains the
features of the SR-556, but offers the downrange
power of the 7.62 NATO/.308 Win. cartridge.
The rifle sports Ruger’s patented chromeplated two-stage piston-operating action that features a chrome-plated bolt and chrome-plated
one-piece bolt carrier with an oversize, radiused
rear bearing surface. A four-position chrome-­
plated gas regulator can be adjusted to the load
pressure for optimum reliability, or it can completely close for manual operation when training
or using a suppressor.
A heavy contour 16.12-inch chrome-lined barrel is cold-hammer-forged from mil-spec 41V45
chrome-moly vandium steel with a 1:10 RH twist;
it is fluted to reduce weight. It sports an SR-556/
Mini-14 style flash suppressor that is mounted
with a 5/8-24 thread.
The handguard is Ruger’s smooth-sided
Lightweight Adjustable model. The flattop
receiver features a mil-spec 1913 Picatinny rail at
the 12 o’clock position that extends the full length
of the handguard. It is drilled and tapped for
additional rails at the 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9
o’clock positions to provide ample space for
lights, lasers, and other accessories. Two rail sections are included. Riding atop the 12 o’clock rail
are folding back-up iron sights with a windageadjustable rear and elevation-adjustable front.
The six-position, black synthetic M4-style
buttstock is mounted on a mil-spec-diameter tube
and allows a length of pull from 11.50 to 14.75
inches. Overall length is 34.75 to 38 inches. A
Hogue Monogrip pistol grip is standard. It
weighs 8.6 pounds empty, and all metalwork is
manganese phosphate/hardcoat anodized. The
gun ships with three 20-round MAGPUL PMAG
magazines, a soft-sided case, and three fingergrooved rail covers.
On the rimfire side, the big news is the introduction of the Ruger American Rimfire series.
This new bolt-action rifle combines features from
the centerfire Ruger American line with a number
of innovations from the rimfire line.
The new rimfire series consists of four models
(SRP: $320). The full-size model (.22LR and
.22WMR) has a 22-inch barrel. Length of pull is
13.75 inches. The compact version (also in .22LR
and .22WMR) has an 18-inch barrel. Length of
PRODUCTS
SR-762 autoloading rifle
Ruger The SR-762 is based on the design of the SR-556, but is refitted for the 7.62 NATO/.308 Win. cartridge. Meanwhile, the new Ruger American Rimfire series combines features from Ruger’s centerfire
American line with a variety of innovations from its rimfire offerings.
American Rimfire .22 LR
pull is 12.5 inches. All models feature a composite
stock with front and rear sling swivels.
Each model in the line has two interchangeable
stock modules that provide comb height options
for scope or iron sights. Standard models come
with the longer length-of-pull stock while the
compact models feature the shorter length-ofpull. Changing buttstocks is as simple as removing the rear sling-swivel stud and installing the
buttstock of choice (available at ShopRuger.com).
All modules are completely interchangeable
across all models, so shooters can virtually handfit their buttstock.
Models chambered for the .22LR feature the
detachable, flush-mounted 10/22 BX-1 rotary
magazine and accept all 10/22 rifle magazines,
including the BX-25 and BX-25x2 magazines.
Those models chambered for the .22 WMR use
the detachable JMX-1 nine-round magazines.
The 10/22 extended-magazine release allows for
smooth magazine removal. The 60-degree bolt
throw provides ample scope clearance while the
receiver-mounted bolt release allows bolt removal
without the need to pull the trigger.
The American Rimfire bolt-action series also
incorporates features of the Ruger American centerfire series, including the Ruger Marksman
Adjustable trigger and the patent-pending Power
Bedding integral bedding-block system that positively positions the receiver while free-floating
the barrel. Additional features include a satinblued, target-crowned hammer-forged barrel,
Williams fiber-optic front sight and the 10/22style adjustable V-slot folding rear sight. A 3/8inch rimfire tip-off scope base groove is machined
into the receiver, which is also drilled and tapped
for Weaver No. 12 base plates (not included).
Booth #11840. (203-259-7843; ruger.com)
SIG Sauer
➣ Two new modern sporting rifles using a gaspiston operating system enter the SIG Sauer line
this year. The SIG516 Carbon Fiber (SRP:
$2,504) is chambered for 5.56mm NATO. It features a 7075-T6 aircraft-grade upper and lower
receiver with a hard-coat anodized finish, and a
16-inch 1:7-twist six-groove chrome-lined barrel.
The gas-operating system is a four-position
adjustable short-stroke, advanced push-rod system
with a rotating bolt. The action is mated to an A1
carbon-fiber stock with an extended 12-inch freefloat carbon-fiber handguard. The match-grade
two-stage trigger has a final break of 4.5 pounds.
This flattop rifle has a Picatinny rail upper receiver that is equipped with flip-up adjustable iron
sights and plenty of room for optics mounting.
Overall length is 35.1 inches, and the empty
weight is 7 pounds. The rifle accepts all MSRtype magazines.
The new SIG556xi Russian (SRP: $1,599) is
chambered for the 7.62x39mm. It features a
16-inch chrome-lined barrel with 1:9.5 twist fourgroove rifling. It uses a three-position advanced
push-rod gas-operating system. A new SIG threeprong flash hider with ½-28 threads caps the barrel. The trigger is a standard mil-spec with a
7-pound pull weight.
The forearm is a low-profile polymer handguard, and the buttstock is a Swiss folding side
stock. A Picatinny upper rail is equipped with
SIG flip-up adjustable sights, with room for
optics mounting. The extended overall length is
35.85 inches. The empty weight is 7.5 pounds.
The magazines are the AK-47 type, and it accepts
U.S. Palm magazines. Booth #12240. (603-7722302; sigsauer.com)
Weatherby
➣ For 2014 Weatherby adds “Range Certified”
(RC) accuracy assurance to its Mark V rifle line
with the new Ultra Lightweight RC model. All
RC rifles are guaranteed to shoot sub-MOA (a
three-shot group of .99-inch or less at 100 yards)
with specified Weatherby factory ammunition or
other premium ammunition.
The Mark V Ultra Lightweight series features a
CNC-machined 6061 T-6 aluminum bedding plate
to provide a stable platform for the barreled action.
The trigger is factory-tuned and fully adjustable.
Barrels are blackened and fluted stainless steel and
Weatherby A “Range Certified” version of its Mark V rifle,
Weatherby’s Ultra Lightweight RC is guaranteed to shoot subMOA groups at 100 yards with specified ammunition.
PRODUCTS
Weatherby The WBY-X is based on the company’s Vanguard
Series 2 series of rifles, and comes in a variety of aggressive
camo patterns, including Boneyard Camo’s Legends Blaze.
are available in lengths of 22, 24, 26, and 28 inches
(depending upon caliber), and feature a recessed
target crown. Stocks are hand-laminated composite
material with a raised Monte Carlo cheekpiece; a
Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad comes standard.
The finish is matte gel coat with spiderweb
accents. The rifle’s empty weight is 5.75 to 6.75
pounds, depending upon caliber and barrel length.
The Mark V Ultra Lightweight will be available in .240 Wby. Mag., .270 Win., .308 Win.,
.30/06 Sprg., .257 Wby. Mag., 7mm Rem. Mag.,
7mm Wby. Mag., .300 Win. Mag., and .300 Wby.
Mag. Those rifles chambered for the .300 Wby.
Mag. come standard with an Accubrake installed
to significantly reduce felt recoil. SRP: $2,400 to
$2,600. All production models are right-hand
actions, but left-hand actions will be available via
special order through the Weatherby Custom
Shop.
This year Weatherby expands its popular
WBY-X line with new rifle models for hunters
and shooters who want to make a statement about
who they are and what they carry afield. The new
WBY-X models feature edgy, unconventional
camouflage patterns such as Kryptek’s Highlander
and Typhon as well as Proveil’s Reaper Black and
Boneyard Camo’s Legends Blaze.
The WBY-X rifles are built on the popular
Vanguard Series 2 platform, which is guaranteed
to shoot sub-MOA (three shots into .99-inch at
100 yards) with Weatherby factory or other
premium-grade ammunition. The line offers a
lightweight composite Monte Carlo stock, matchquality two-stage trigger, and a three-position
safety.
They will be offered in the Vanguard Series 2
caliber line and will be produced as the following
models: Series 2 Kryptek (with Kryptek
Highlander pattern and a 24-inch cold-hammerforged barrel), Series 2 Typhon (with Kryptek
Typhon pattern and 24-inch cold-hammer-forged
barrel), Series 2 Typhon TR (Threat Response)
that features a 22-inch No. 3 contour barrel with
a .740 muzzle diameter and a recessed target
crown, and Series 2 Blaze, featuring Boneyard
Camo’s Legends Blaze pattern and a 24-inch
cold-hammer-forged barrel. SRP: $749. Booth
#12729. (805-227-2600; weatherby.com)
Winchester
Repeating Arms
➣ Last year Winchester Repeating Arms
announced the return of the Model 1873 leveraction rifle touted as “The Gun that Won the
West.” For 2014 Winchester Repeating Arms will
expand its offerings in the Model 1873 to include
a new color case-hardened model, along with
adding the .44-40 Win. and .45 Colt calibers. The
receiver and steel crescent buttplate on the new
model have a color case-hardened finish with walnut straight grip stock and forearm in a satin oil
finish. This short rifle version of the Model 1873
has a blued round 20-inch barrel with full-length
magazine tube, as well as a semi-buckhorn rear
sight and a Marble Arms gold-bead front sight. It
will be available in .357 Mag./.38 Special as well
as the new calibers noted above. SRP: $1,579.99.
Also new in the company’s line of historical
rifles is the Model 1885 Hunter Rimfire singleshot. For something a little unusual, this low-wall
rimfire edition of the 1885 rifle is chambered in
.22LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, or the new .17
Winchester Super Magnum. The new 1885
Hunter Rimfire will feature a checkered walnut
pistol-grip stock and Schnabel-style forearm with
an oil finish. The 24-inch barrel is button rifled
for outstanding accuracy. The receiver and barrel
have a blued steel finish. SRP: $1,469.99.
Another Winchester Repeating Arms historical
rifle that will be re-introduced for 2014 is the
Model 1892 Large Loop Carbine. It will feature a
walnut straight-grip stock and classic carbine-style
forearm in a satin finish. A round 20-inch barrel
with a full-length magazine is also featured. The
receiver, barrel, steel carbine strap buttplate, and
steel barrel band are all in a blued finish. The
large lever loop adds to the authentic look of this
classic carbine. Available in .357 Mag., .44 Rem.
Mag., .44-40 Win., and .45 Colt. SRP: $1,259.99.
Booth #13129. (801-876-3440; winchester
guns.com)
Model 1892 Large Loop Carbine
Winchester The new Model 1892 Large Loop Carbine (above) will feature a walnut straight-grip stock
and classic carbine-style forearm. The new version of the Model 1873 has a blued round 20-inch barrel
with full-length magazine tube, and is available in .357 Mag./.38 Special, .44-40 Win., and .45 Colt.
Model 1873 Color Case Hardened
SHOTGUNS
Browning New High Grade Citori models feature elaborate
engraving on the enlarged side-plates.
2014
Going Full Bore
Retailers will see a full spectrum of shotguns in 2014, ranging from
high-end engraved over/unders and magnum waterfowl semi-autos
to models designed expressly for personal defense By Chris Christian
T
his year’s selection of new models encompasses the entire smoothbore spectrum, from personal defense and serious 3-Gun competition to high-end engraved over/unders and practical field and clay-target models. And that’s
not all: We’re also seeing new magnum waterfowl guns, turkey guns, and some interesting new sub-gauge field
and Mounted Cowboy competition guns. In addition, a number of new camouflage patterns will now be available
on proven designs from several manufacturers.
Benelli USA
➣ The big news from Benelli this
year is the rollout of the new Ethos
12-gauge recoil-operated semi-auto
shotgun. According to Benelli, the
Ethos is the next generation of the
Inertia Driven System, and it will
reliably handle 12-gauge loads as
light as 7/8-ounce target loads right
on up to the stoutest 3-inch magnum shells.
Built on a new platform, the
Ethos is the culmination of Benelli’s
latest innovations and refinements.
The new design includes a patented
easy-locking system, which features
a detent mechanism that has been
added to the bolt body that guarantees the rotating bolt will positively
lock up even if it is eased forward
without force. A new two-part bolt
carrier latch, beveled loading port,
and redesigned carrier provide fast
and positive shell feeding. An
enlarged bolt release and improved
cartridge drop lever allow easy operation, even if the shooter is wearing
gloves.
Ethos stocks are cut from figured
Browning
Browning Citori 725 Field in 20 gauge (top) benefits from reduced weight
and a mechanical trigger system. Citori 725 12-gauge skeet with an adjustable
comb features a high-post rib and can be had with 28- or 30-inch barrels.
AA-Grade European walnut
and incorporate Benelli’s patented
Progressive Comfort recoilreduction system to reduce felt
recoil and muzzle climb. The barrel
sports interchangeable carbon-fiber
ribs that reduce weight and are
engineered for quick replacement.
Inter­changeable fiber-optic bars in
the front sight are supplied in red,
green, and yellow, allowing for
quick changes in order to match
lighting or background conditions.
The receiver, available in either a
black anodized or engraved nickel-
plated finish, is fitted to a blued
barrel.
Common specifications to the
model line include 12-gauge 3-inch
chamber, 4+1 capacity, Crio choke
tubes supplied in C, IC, M, IM and
F, and interchangeable fiber-optic
front sight bars. Length of pull is
143/8 inches, drop at heel is 2¼ inches, overall length is 47.5 inches, and
empty weight is 6.5 pounds. SRP:
$1,999, black anodized receiver;
$2,199, engraved nickel-plated
receiver. Booth #13356. (301-2836981; benelliusa.com)
➣ The Browning High Grade program moves into its second year
with a pair of full-side-plate Citori
over/unders. The extended sideplates create a larger canvas that is
perfect for additional embellishment
by highly skilled engravers. Sharply
checkered, finely finished high-grade
wood is hand fit to the colored, casehardened receiver. A Grade III and
Grade VI 12-gauge model will be
offered, each with a 28-inch ventilated top rib barrel. A combined total
of up to 500 of these High Grade
shotguns will be produced.
The new Grade III Citori High
Grade receiver features high-relief
scroll engraving with a colored, casehardened finish. The stock and forearm feature Grade III/IV walnut in a
gloss finish and 22-lpi cut checkering.
An ABS Elite case is included with
the Grade III Citori. SRP: $4,669.99.
The new Grade VI Citori High
Grade receiver has a colored, casehardened finish with full-coverage
high-relief engraving that features
gold enhancement and mallards on
CZ-USA
CZ-612 Home Defense
30 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
CZ’s 620 Youth
and 612 Home
Defense are
pump-actions, in
20 and 12 gauge,
respectively. The
712 Practical is a
semi-automatic
for 3-Gun
competition.
CZ-620 Youth
CZ-712 Practical
PRODUCTS
the left, pheasants on the right. The
stock and forearm feature Grade V/
VI walnut in a gloss finish with
sharp 22-lpi checkering. The new
Grade VI Citori will be supplied
with a Browning High Grade
Canvas/Crazy Horse Leather fitted
gun case. SRP: $7,339.99.
For 2014 Browning will expand the
725 Citori line to include nimble new
20-gauge models that offer reduced
weight along with Browning’s Fire
Lite mechanical trigger system, fullwidth hinge pin and tapered locking
bolt design, InFlex II recoil pad, and
Browning’s new Invector DS choke
tube system. The new Citori 725
20-gauge will be offered in Field and
Sporting models. The 725 20-gauge
Field will feature a Silver nitridefinish receiver accented with highrelief engraving of game-bird scenes.
The stock and forearm are in gloss
oil finish in Grade II/III walnut, and
it’s available with 26- or 28-inch barrels. SRP: $2,469.99. The new Citori
725 20-gauge Sporting model will
feature a Silver nitride-finish receiver
with gold-accented target engraving.
Ventilated top and side ribs are featured in 28-, 30-, or 32-inch barrel
lengths. The stock and forearm feature a gloss oil finish Grade III/IV
walnut stock with close-radius pistol
grip and palm swell. SRP: $3,529.99.
Other new additions in Browning’s
725 Citori lineup are the new 725
Trap and 725 Skeet models in
12-gauge only. The 725 Trap will be
offered with 30- or 32-inch barrels
with a high-post rib, and it will be
available with standard or adjustable
comb-stock options. SRP: $3,339.99
to $3,739.99. The new 725 Skeet
will be offered in 28- or 30-inch barrel lengths with a standard or adjustable comb stock. SRP: $3,139.99 to
$3,529.99. Booth #12740. (801876-2711; browning.com)
Cimarron Firearms
➣ For 2014, Cimarron Firearms is
introducing new side-by-side shotguns from Daudsons Armory. They
will be available in the Model 1883
side lock and the Model 1889 box
lock, 12-gauge, and .410.
The 12-gauge models include an
1883 28-inch barrel field gun (SRP:
$687.70) and a 1889 Coach Gun with
22-inch barrels designed for Single
Action Shooting Society competition
(SRP: $617.50). The .410 models
consist of an 1883 field-grade gun
(SRP: $812.50) and a 1889 version
designed for Cowboy Mounted
Shooting. It will be available with
barrels of 18.5 or 20 inches. SRP:
$739. Booth #16527. (880-7494861; cimarron-firearms.com)
CZ-USA
➣ New models in CZ’s pumpaction, semi-auto, and over/under
line become the additions to CZ’s
new smoothbore offerings this year.
Leading the pump-action introductions is the 612 Field (SRP: $389). It
is designed as a moderately priced
pump-action shotgun that can handle most smoothbore chores.
Chambered for 12-gauge 3-inch
shells, it can also handle 2¾-inch
loads. It features a walnut stock and
a 28-inch barrel and is threaded for
interchangeable choke tubes (IC, M,
and F are included). The metalwork
is finished in satin chrome.
The 620 Youth (SRP: $349)
pump-action 20-gauge is chambered
for 3-inch shells, but also handles
2¾-inch loads. It features a synthetic stock with a reduced 12¾-inch
length of pull to appeal to smallerframed shooters, and a 24-inch barrel. The barrel is threaded for interchangeable choke tubes (IC, M, and
F), which are included with the gun.
The 620 Big Game (SRP: $399) is
a 20-gauge pump-action, a synthetic-stocked smoothbore designed for
use with slugs. Threaded for interchangeable chokes, the 22-inch barrel is equipped with an extended
rifled choke tube to improve accuracy with Foster-style slugs. A
Weaver-style cantilever rail rides
atop the barrel to allow the mounting of a scope or red-dot sight.
The 612 Home Defense (SRP:
$409) is a no-frills 12-gauge pumpaction with a synthetic stock. It fea-
tures an 18.5-inch barrel with a
fixed-cylinder choke and a prominent blade front sight. In addition, a
26-inch field barrel with a vent-rib
barrel is included to make it a more
versatile gun. The 26-inch barrel is
threaded for interchangeable choke
tubes, and accepts all CZ choke
tubes. The shotgun comes with a
Modified choke.
CZ’s new semi-auto shotguns
include a number of very useful models. The 712 Practical (SRP: $699) is
the first CZ shotgun designed specifically for the increasingly popular
3-Gun games. Chambered for
12-gauge shells, it features a 22-inch
barrel threaded for CZ choke tubes.
Five flush-mounted choke tubes are
included. An ATI fluted magazine
extension provides a 9+1 capacity; it
extends slightly past the barrel to
help protect the muzzle and flush
chokes when firing from barricade
positions. The buttstock is a six-position adjustable model that is installed
on a commercial-spec tube that
allows aftermarket customization.
The 720 ALS (SRP: $599) is a
20-gauge semi-auto with a 24-inch
barrel fitted with the fully adjustable
ATI Akita buttstock. This allows
shooters to change the length of pull
from 12 to 14 inches with the push of
a button. It also allows three different
comb heights via easy screw adjustments, meaning the 720 ALS can be
fitted to a number of shooters.
Muddy Girl 20-gauge
High Performance Field
Flex 500 Hunter 20-gauge
Mossberg Mossberg is going all out for 2014. Its Muddy Girl line aims at the female market, while the company also embraces bold new camo patterns like
Kryptek’s Yeti. Meanwhile, its Flex 500 Hunter 20-gauge takes advantage of the Flex system, allowing the gun to be easily customized by the user.
32 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
PRODUCTS
The Sporter Standard Grade
Adjustable Rib (SRP: $3,122) is an
over/under designed to allow shooters to adjust their point of impact
from a flat-shooting gun for
Sporting Clays and Skeet to a higher
pattern for Trap. Chambered in 12
gauge, and available with a 30- or
32-inch barrel, it is based upon CZ’s
Standard Grade Sporter, but
equipped with Moneymaker
Guncraft’s adjustable rib and a buttstock with a four-way adjustable parallel comb. The combination allows
discriminating shooters to alter the
point of impact to suit any clay target game. It is supplied with a set of
six interchangeable Kick’s Tom Mack
stainless-steel choke tubes.
The Canvasback Gold (SRP: $827
to $959) is a reimagining of the CZ
Canvasback O/U. The black chrome
receiver is lightly engraved with two
gold birds inlaid on each side, and the
are solid mid-ribs between the barrels
for a nostalgic look. Pistol grip stocks
offer full control. The Canvasback
features a single selective trigger; an
extractor lifts shells partially from the
chamber when the action is opened.
The Canvasback Gold will be available in 12, 20, and 28 gauge, as well
as in .410. All models are made on
gauge-specific sized frames. The
28-gauge and .410 are available with
28-inch barrels only; the 12- and
20-gauge models are available with
either 26- or 28-inch barrels.
The new Lady Sterling (SRP:
$1,281) is built upon CZ’s Upland
Sterling platform, but with stock
dimensions that make it easier for
female shooters to properly mount
the gun while keeping their heads up
and eyes on target. The design
reduces length of pull and changes
the pitch angles. It is equipped with a
single extractor rather than individual ejectors, features laser-stippled
grip panels, and is chambered for
12-gauge 3-inch shells (but will handle 2¾-inch shells), and is available
with a 28-inch barrel. Booth #16351.
(800-955-4486; cz-usa.com)
Harrington &
Richardson 1871
➣ The H&R Excell Auto is a
12-gauge with a 3-inch chamber.
The proven gas-operating system is
adjustable for light or heavy loads.
The magazine capacity is five
rounds. The shotgun has an empty
weight of about 7 pounds, thanks to
its synthetic stock and forearm. It
will be available in four models,
three of which feature interchangeable Remington choke tubes.
The Excell Auto Black Synthetic
12/28 (SRP: $499) features a black
synthetic stock with a 28-inch vent
rib barrel and ships with Remington
chokes in IC, M, IM, and F. The
Mossberg The
500 JIC Flex 6-Shot
12-gauge and pack
will keep customers’
minds at ease for
those “Just In Case”
home-defense
situations.
Excell Auto Camo 12/28 (SRP:
$579) is the same gun as the Black
Synthetic, but wears a waterfowl
camouflage finish. It ships with the
same choke tube selection.
The Excell Auto Camo 12/22
(SRP: $579) uses the same platform,
but with a 22-inch barrel and a turkey camouflage finish. It ships with
Remington chokes in IC, M, F, and
an XF turkey tube. The Excell Auto
Tactical 12/18 (SRP: $499) is
designed for home defense with a
black synthetic stock and an 18.5inch barrel with a fixed-cylinder
choke. Booth #14229. (978-6329393; h&r1871.com)
Mossberg
➣ The Mossberg 930 field semiauto shotgun line expands this year
with two new 12-gauge/3-inch
High-Performance models featuring
an extended magazine tube that
offers a 12+1 capacity. For those
times when 13 shells might not be
appropriate, a five-round magazine
tube is also included with each.
Model 85123 features a stock fin-
PRODUCTS
WBY-X SA-08 GH2
ished in Kryptek Yeti camo, while
Model 85122 is in plain matte black.
Both models feature a synthetic
stock with a 28-inch vent-rib barrel
and a fiber-optic front sight threaded for Accu-Set choke tubes. A forward barrel clamp is supplied for the
extended 12-shot magazine tube.
Three new models featuring
Kryptek’s distinctive Typhon camo
pattern on synthetic stocks enter
Mossberg’s Competition and
Tactical lines in 2014. The 930 JM
Pro Series-10 Shot (85133) is built
on the 930 semi-auto action and
chambered for 12-gauge 3-inch
shells. The 24-inch barrel is chambered for Accu-Set choke tubes, features a matte blue finish, and sports
a fiber-optic front sight. An extended magazine tube with a stabilizing
barrel clamp provides a 10-round
capacity with 2¾-inch shells. The
synthetic stock features Mossberg’s
adjustable stock-drop spacer system.
The 930 SPX Pistol Grip-8 Shot
(85373) is built on the 930
12-gauge/3-inch semi-auto action
with an extended magazine tube to
provide an 8-round capacity with
2¾-inch shells. The 18.5-inch barrel
is a fixed-cylinder choke and sports
a Picatinny rail on the upper receiver. It is supplied with an adjustable
ghost-ring rear sight and a fiberoptic front sight enclosed in protective wings. The full-length buttstock
has a finger-groove pistol grip.
The 590A1-6 Shot (51522) is built
on Mossberg’s 590 pump action in
12-gauge/3-inch chambering. The
18.5-inch barrel has a fixed-cylinder
choke and sports an adjustable
ghost-ring rear sight with a blade
front sight. Magazine capacity is six
2¾-inch shells.
Two new Mossberg 500 Tactical
Rail models enter the line this year
with an innovative Center Mass
LaserLyte laser designed specifically
Weatherby With 22-lpi precision, Weatherby’s SA-08 28-Gauge Deluxe
sports a classic look. The WBY-X SA-08 GH2 (Girls Hunt 2) is wrapped in a
pink spiderweb pattern to appeal to today’s growing female market.
for tactical shotguns. The Center
Mass laser displays a ring of red dots
surrounding a center aiming dot.
The outer ring of dots expands at
the rate of 1 inch per yard—approximating the spread of shotgun loads
at close range—while the center
aiming dot remains constant in the
pattern center. This “spreader pattern” laser provides quick and positive target acquisition while showing
a visible reference relating to the
pattern spread at any range.
The Center Mass laser is mounted
on the bottom rail of two new 500
Tactical Tri-Rail 12-gauge/3-inch
500 series pump-actions, the 500
Persuader Tactical Tri-Rail (50599)
and the 500 Cruiser Tactical Tri-Rail
(50600). Each offers a full-length
bottom rail on the forearm and two
smaller side rails to allow the use of
lights. The 500 Persuader is a fullstocked gun in black synthetic with a
20-inch Cylinder bore barrel sport-
ing a bead front sight and an
8-round capacity. The 500 Cruiser
features a compact black synthetic
pistol-grip-only stock with a 18.5inch barrel and a 6-round capacity.
The Mossberg Flex system allows
for easy, toolless changing of forearms, buttstocks, and recoil pad
assemblies on any shotgun or rifle
within the Flex system line. For
2014, Mossberg brings the 500
pump-action series 20-gauge shotgun into the Flex system with four
new base model guns for field use
and personal defense.
The Flex 500 Hunting (54319)
features a 24-inch ventilated rib barrel chambered for 3-inch 20-gauge
shells and sports an adjustable fiberoptic front sight. It uses the
X-Factor PTD, a ported, interchangeable choke-tube system. The
full-length synthetic stock and forearm is finished in Mossy Oak BreakUp Infinity camo; the metalwork is
PRODUCTS
Ruger After its discontinuation
in 2011, the Red Label is back,
featuring refined inner workings
and reduced recoil.
an OD green finish.
The Flex 500 Hunting (54316) features a
26-inch barrel chambered for 20-gauge/3-inch. It
has a ventilated rib, threaded for the Accu-Mag
Set choke tubes and includes a twin-bead sighting
system. The stock is a matte-black-finished synthetic. The metalwork is finished in a matte blue.
A number of self-defense experts believe that for
an urban home-defense environment—where one
is defending an apartment, condo, town house, or
another close-quarters situation—a 20-gauge
stuffed with a standard load of No. 3 buckshot is
more than adequate to the task. In fact, due to its
lighter weight and recoil, the 20-gauge can be a
better choice than the 12-gauge for many.
Mossberg brings two 20-gauge home-defense
shotguns into the Flex 500 line this year.
The Flex 500 Tactical Adjustable (54318) features a
black matte synthetic stock with a 6-position adjustable buttstock, a full-pistol grip with finger grooves,
and a Tri-Rail Tactical forend for the installation of
lights or lasers. Chambered for 20-gauge/3-inch
shells, it has a 6-round capacity. The 20-inch barrel is
a fixed-cylinder choke with a bead front sight.
The Flex 500 Tactical Cruiser features an 18.5inch barrel (20-gauge/3-inch chamber) with a
stand-off muzzle device, a white-dot front sight,
and a fixed-cylinder bore choke. The buttstock is
a pistol grip that produces a compact 31-inch
overall length, and a Tri-Rail Tactical forend
allows for the easy mounting of lights and/or
lasers. It has a 6-round capacity with 2¾ inch
shells. The stock is a matte black synthetic and
the metalwork is finished in matte blue.
The Mossberg JIC (Just In Case) line provides
compact, pistol-gripped pump-action shotguns
that can conveniently be tucked away until “Just
In Case” happens. For 2014, the product line
expands with two new models. The first of them,
the new 500 JIC Flex 6-Shot 12-gauge (57340),
arrives as a 18.5-inch fixed-cylinder choked barrel
chambered for 3-inch shells. It has a Tri-Rail
Tactical Forend, a pistol-grip stock, bead front
sight, and a matte blue finish. It ships with a soft
carrying case with a shoulder strap.
The second of the new JIC entries, the 500 JIC
Patriot, is a basic 500 series 12-gauge/3-inch
chamber pump-action with a pistol-grip stock. It
has an 18.5-inch cylinder bore barrel, a bead front
sight, and a matte blue finish. It features a NRA
logo engraved upon the receiver and ships with a
waterproof hard-plastic carrying tube featuring a
full-color U.S. flag and Second Amendment
graphics on the tube. In partnership with the
NRA, Mossberg will direct a portion of all sales
of this model to the NRA.
Mossberg’s partnerships go even further this year
when they link up with the Robertson clan, who
have become a national phenomenon with their
top-rated TV series Duck Dynasty. The result is the
Duck Commander series of shotguns, which all feature Realtree’s new Max-5 camo pattern on a synthetic stock and the Duck Commander logo
engraved on the stock or receiver.
The 835 Ulti-Mag Duck Commander With
Recoil Reduction System Pump Action (62151)
features the 835 pump action with a 3.5-inch
12-gauge chamber, 28-inch ventilated rib barrel
threaded for Accu-Mag Set choke tubes, and a
fiber-optic front sight. The synthetic stock incorporates Mathews Harmonic Damper technology
to reduce recoil. This model also features a Duck
Commander–engraved receiver. The 835 UltiMag Duck Commander Pump Action (62150) is
the same gun, but without the recoil-reducing
stock. The engraving is on the synthetic stock.
The 535 ATS Duck Commander Pump Action is
chambered for 12-gauge/3.5-inch shells. It has a
28-inch vent-ribbed barrel equipped with a fiberoptic front and Accu-Set choke tubes, and uses the
Flex stock system. The Flex 500 Duck Commander
Pump Action (50130) is a 12-gauge chambered for
3-inch shells. It features the Mossberg Flex system
and sports a 28-inch vent-ribbed barrel with a fiberoptic front sight and Accu-Set choke tubes. The
500 Duck Commander Pump Action is the same
gun without the Flex stock system.
The 500 Super Bantam Duck Commander
Pump Action (543211) is a 20-gauge chambered
for 3-inch shells. Designed with younger shooters
in mind, it features an adjustable buttstock that
allows length of pull to be set between 12 and 13
inches with supplied stock spacers. The 22-inch
vent-rib barrel features a fiber-optic front sight
and the Accu-Set choke system. This lightweight
gun tips the scales at a slim 5¼ pounds.
Although pump-action guns make up a big chunk
of the new Duck Commander series, semi-autos are
also represented with three new models. The 935
Magnum Duck Commander Autoloader (82038) is
a 12-gauge chambered for 3.5-inch shells. The
28-inch barrel features a fiber-optic front sight and
is threaded for the Accu-Set choke tubes.
The 930 Duck Commander Autoloader (85131)
is chambered in 12-gauge with 3-inch chambers.
It features a 26-inch vent-rib barrel with a fiberoptic front sight and accepts Accu-Set choke
tubes. The Mossberg International SA-20 Duck
Commander Autoloader (75784) is a trim
20-gauge chambered for 3-inch shells. It features
a 28-inch vent-rib barrel threaded for Sport Set
choke tubes and features a fiber-optic front sight.
PRODUCTS
Empty weight is 6 pounds.
Duck Commander isn’t the only new branding
to enter the Mossberg line this year. The vivid
Muddy Girl camo pattern is a dynamic combination of pinks, purples, and neutral colors that create a sharp, high-definition look that has a lot of
appeal to the fastest-growing segment of the recreational shooting fraternity—women. For 2014,
Mossberg will offer the Muddy Girl camo finish in
four shotgun models for sport or personal security.
The 500 Persuader Adjustable 8-Shot (54303) is
a pump-action with a synthetic stock chambered
for 20-gauge/3-inch shells. The 20-inch barrel
has a fixed-cylinder choke and wears a ghost-ring
rear sight and blade front. The tactical buttstock
has a full-pistol grip and allows length-of-pull
adjustments from 10¾ to 145/8 inches.
The 500 HS410 Home Security 6-Shot (50363)
is a .410 pump-action chambered for 3-inch
shells. It has an 18.5-inch barrel that sports a bead
front sight and a Spreader choke. The synthetic
stock features a conventional buttstock with a full
pistol grip on the forend.
VersaMax Wood Tech
The 510 Mini Super Bantam Field is a
20-gauge/3-inch chamber pump-action with a
four-round capacity and an 18.5-inch barrel
equipped with the Accu-Set interchangeable
choke tubes. Length of pull can be set at 10.5 or
11.5 inches.
The Mossberg International SA-20 Field is a
semi-auto shotgun chambered for 20-gauge/3-inch
shells. It has a five-round capacity and a synthetic
stock. The 26-inch ventilated-rib barrel features a
bead front sight and is equipped with the Sport Set
interchangeable choke tube system. Booth #12734.
(800-363-3555; mossberg.com)
Ruger
➣ The American-made Ruger Red Label over/
under shotgun has been an American classic for
years. Discontinued in 2011, it returns this year in
a redesigned format that features refined inner
workings, a new center-of-gravity balance point,
and reduced recoil.
The new Ruger Red Label (SRP: $1,399) is
available in 12-gauge (chambered for 3-inch shells
but able to handle all 2¾-inch shells) and can be
had with a 26-, 28-, or 30-inch barrel. All barrels
now feature 2-inch lengthened forcing cones and
maximum backboring to produce tighter patterns
and reduce recoil. The Red Label’s traditional
low-profile receiver is enhanced with a new stainless-steel top lever.
The Red Label sports an American walnut stock
with a 1.5-inch drop at comb and a 2.5-inch drop
at heel, with a 14.5-inch length of pull. A
Pachmayr butt pad helps reduce felt recoil. The
finely polished stainless-steel receiver mates with
blue steel barrels that are topped with a ¼-inch
dovetailed ventilated rib and a front bead sight.
The barrels are threaded for interchangable choke
tubes, and five Briley steel-shot-compatible choke
tubes (two Skeet, and one each of IC, M, and F)
are included, as is a Briley choke-tube wrench.
The action incorporates a single selective trigger
that allows a second shot without recocking. It also
features rebounding hammers for easier action
opening. An automatic two-position top tang safe-
PRODUCTS
ty/barrel selector switch allows quick barrel selection and positive visibility. Each Red Label ships
with a custom-molded semi-soft case and a safety
lock. Booth #11840. (203-259-7843; ruger.com)
Remington Arms
➣ The VersaMax Tactical 3 Gun (SRP: $1,699) is
designed to be a serious competitor in increasingly
popular 3-Gun events. Built on the proven
12-gauge VersaMax gas-port action, it features a
22-inch barrel, a green Cerakote receiver with an
enlarged feeding port for faster reloading, an
enlarged bolt closure, safety button, and cocking
handle, and an adjustable XS rear sight for
increased accuracy with slugs while still providing
proper shot load placement. It is equipped with an
8-round one-piece carbon-fiber magazine tube,
with a two-shot carbon-fiber extension tube that
can provide a 10+1 capacity. QD sling swivel cups
are provided on stock and forend.
The new VersaMax Wood Tech provides the
look of wood with the ability to adjust comb height
via interchangeable comb inserts in low, medium,
and high comb. The 28-inch barrel features
extended Pro Bore choke tubes. SRP: $1,630.
The VersaMax Waterfowl Pro (SRP $1,730) features a 28-inch barrel that uses extended Pro Bore
choke tubes, a tactical bolt handle, bolt button,
and safety for easy use with gloves, and a flat-faced
carrier. The shotgun is fully covered in Realtree
Max-5 camouflage and comes with a sling.
The VersaMax Left Hand (SRP: $1,630) offers
the same 28-inch barrel VersaMax action to
southpaws and is covered in Water Fowl camouflage. An additional left-hand model is available in
a black synthetic stock with a 26-inch field barrel.
SRP: $1,427.
Two new 870 pump-action 12-gauge models
join the Tactical line. The 870 Magpul FDE
(SRP: $898.16) features an 18.5-inch barrel with
an extended tactical ported choke tube, a onepiece magazine tube, and a fully-adjustable XS
ghost-ring sight rail with a removable front white
bead sight. The receiver and barrel are covered
with an FDE Cerakote coating.
Remington New additions to Remington’s VersaMax line include
the VersaMax Wood Tech, which sports a 28-inch barrel and three interchangeable inserts for adjusting comb height, and the VersaMax 3-Gun, a
competition 12-gauge with an enlarged feeding port for fast reloading.
The 870 Tactical Pistol Grip (SRP: $496.50)
features an 18.5-inch barrel with an extended tactical ported choke tube, a Pachmayr pistol grip
stock, bead front sight, matte black finish, and a
one-piece magazine tube. It ships with a black
synthetic stock. Booth #14229. (800-243-9700;
remington.com)
Weatherby
➣ Weatherby’s new SA-08 28-Gauge Deluxe
(SRP: $849) offers upland hunters a light-recoiling
smoothbore with reliable wingshooting performance and a distinctively handsome look. This
SA-08 model features a frame that has been scaled
down to a true 28-gauge size. Weighing in at a
petite 5.5 pounds, it will be available with a 26- or
28-inch barrel and a 2¾-inch chamber.
The SA-08 28-Gauge Deluxe sports a selectgrade walnut stock with 22-lpi precision-cut checkering. Other key features include a CNCmachined receiver constructed of aircraft-grade
aluminum alloy that reduces overall weight without
compromising strength, a drop-out trigger system
that can be quickly removed for cleaning, a
chrome-lined bore for durability and easy cleaning,
lengthened forcing cones for improved patterns
and a slight reduction in the already modest recoil,
a ventilated rib, and a brass front-bead sight. Each
gun ships with three interchangeable choke tubes
in Improved Cylinder, Modified, and Full.
Weatherby has expanded the popular WBY-X
line into its shotgun lineup. The WBY-X concept
features established Weatherby models covered in
edgy and unconventional camouflage patterns for
those shooters who favor a distinctive look. (In that
respect, the concept is similar to that used by some
PRODUCTS
competitive shotgunners who decorate their firearms in bright colors and eye-catching wrap-on
scenes.) The new WBY-X shotguns feature either
the Kryptek Typhon pattern, the Proveil Black
Reaper, or an attractive black stock with pink spiderwebs. Four new WBY-X models appear in the
2014 smoothbore lineup.
The SA-08 GH2 (Girls Hunt 2) is the established SA-08 semi-auto model, but with a shortened (12.5 inches) length of pull and a 24-inch
barrel. It features a full black stock with an attractive pink spiderweb pattern (SRP: $699).
The PA-459 Typhon TR (SRP: $549) and the
PA-08 Typhon TR (SRP: $399) are pump-actions,
available in 12 and 20 gauge, designed for home
defense. (TR stands for “Threat Response.”) The
guns feature 18.5-inch barrels and are finished in
the Kryptek Typhon camo pattern.
The SA-459 Black Reaper (SRP: $749) is the
semi-auto version of the PA-459 and is also available in both 12 and 20 gauge with an 18.5-inch
barrel. It will be finished in Proveil Reaper Black
camo. Booth #12729. (800-227-2600;
weatherby.com)
Winchester
Repeating Arms
➣ New in Winchester Repeating Arms’s SX3
semi-auto shotgun line for 2014 is the SX3
12-gauge 3.5-inch Long Beard. Unique features
found on this turkey gun include a Briley X-Full
Long Beard Invector Plus extended choke tube
designed for Winchester Long Beard ammunition,
a pistol-grip stock with three interchangeable
recoil pads to adjust length of pull, and three interchangeable comb pieces to adjust drop on the
comb. Other features include a TruGlo fiber-optic
front sight with an adjustable folding rear sight and
Weaver-style cantilever scopemount-rail design on the barrel. With a 24-inch barrel, it’s
offered in Realtree Xtra Green
camo. SRP: $1,269.99.
Winchester’s new offering in
the SXP pump shotgun line
for 2014 is the Field Compact.
It has a compact, 13-inch
length of pull that is scaled
down to fit younger shooters
and those of smaller stature.
The SXP 12-gauge Field
Compact (chambered for
3-inch shells) will have a satin
finished stock and forearm
with traditional checkering to
maintain a sure grip. Other
features include black chrome
protection on the bolt and
other components—it lasts
longer than traditional bluing—and a hard chrome
chamber and bore. It uses the
Invector-Plus choke tube system, features .742-inch BackBored barrel technology, a
drop-out trigger group, and
InFlex recoil pad. Available
with a 24-, 26-, or 28-inch
barrel. SRP: $399.99. Booth
#13129. (801-876-3440;
winchesterguns.com)
Winchester The SX3 Long
Beard features a Briley choke
tube, three interchangeable
butt pads and comb pieces,
and a TruGlo front sight.
HANDGUNS
Browning The new 1911-22LRs are scaled at 85
percent of John M. Browning’s original .45 ACP.
2014
A Little Bit of Everything
There’s no discernible theme to this year’s new crop of handguns,
but there will be something of interest for everyone By Chris Christian
M
anufacturers are offering an interesting mix of new handguns this year, running the gamut from several new .22
rimfire models through dedicated competition guns. You’ll also see a number of new compact concealed-carry
pistols, plenty of 1911 models, and more than a few new polymer-framed guns, including those designed specifically for use by officers of the law.
Browning
➣ The new A1 Desert Tan and
Compact Desert Tan 1911-22LR
models feature a new composite
frame in the popular color. The
1911-22LRs are scaled down to 85
percent of John M. Browning’s original .45 ACP Model to make them
ideal for plinking, hunting, and target shooting. These new lightweight
models are even lighter than the
aluminum frame 1911-22LR models: The Desert Tan A1 weighs only
14 ounces and has a 4.5-inch barrel,
while the Compact Desert Tan version weighs 13.5 ounces, with a 3
5
/8-inch barrel. Both feature
machined aluminum slides in a
matte black finish. SRP: $579.
Booth #12740. (801-876-2711;
browning.com)
AUTO-ORDNANCE
The 2014 SHOT Show will see the reintroduction of the Thompson Custom 1911TC. Although it
debuted in 2008 with a limited production run of just 100 units, production was halted after the 2008
presidential elections in order to best utilize existing Auto-Ordnance production facilities to meet the
high demand for concealed-carry pistols. A revamping of production facilities, including the installation of high-precision machinery, has allowed production of the 1911TC to resume—and at a reduced
cost over the original models.
The Thompson Custom 1911TC (SRP: $813) is chambered for .45 ACP in a full-size 5-inch barrel 1911.
Overall length is 8.5 inches; empty weight is 39 ounces. The frame is constructed from 420 stainlesssteel casting, the slide from solid stainless-steel billet. The 1911TC features black low-profile front and
rear sights that are dovetailed into the slide. The ejection port is flared, and the slide has front and rear
cocking serrations that are machined with a slight angle. The mainspring housing is checkered, and the
front strap is machine-checkered at 20 lpi. Additional features include an adjustable trigger, combat
hammer, full-length recoil guide rod, extended beavertail grip safety, extended magazine release button, a single side-checkered slide-stop lever, and checkered laminated grip panels. A matte finish with
laser-engraved markings complete the package, including the distinctive Thompson bullet logo on the
slide and a bullet inlay on the grip panel. It ships with one 7-round magazine. Booth #15949.
(508-795-3919; auto-ordnance.com)
CZ-USA
➣ The CZ P-09 is CZ’s full-size
polymer 9mm semi-auto pistol offering 19+1 capacity with a flush-fitting
magazine in a standard service-size
pistol. Featuring the versatile Omega
DA/SA trigger system, the gun is
shipped with decocker levers
installed, but can be converted to a
manual safety-system pistol with the
included parts and instructions. The
CZ P-09 also includes interchangeable backstraps (small, medium, and
large) that allows the shooter to customize the pistol’s grip to their hand
size for the optimal trigger-finger
positioning. An integral Picatinny
1913 rail on the dust cover allows the
use of lights or add-on lasers.
The P-09 Suppressor-Ready
(SRP: $577) is available in 9mm. It
has low sights and an extended muzzle that is threaded with ½-28
threads to accept a variety of aftermarket suppressors. The P-09 Flat
Dark Earth (SRP: $596) features a
flat dark earth frame coupled with
Tritium three-dot night sights.
The CZ P-07 is the updated ver44 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
PRODUCTS
CZ-USA The P09 Suppressor Ready accepts a
variety of aftermarket suppressors (above), while
the CZ 79B Omega is a more robust
version of the original CZ 75.
sion of the compact CZ 75 P-07
Duty. The debut of the full-size
P-09 last year brought refined lines
and interchangeable backstraps to
the CZ Omega polymer pistol line,
and this year the P-07 follows suit.
Available in 9mm (SRP: $510) and
.40 S&W (SRP: $524), the new CZ
P-07 offers the same ability to shift
from a decocker to a manual safety
in mere minutes and with simple
tools. It features a new nitrate slide
finish and a snag-free hammer. The
entire pistol has been dehorned to
remove any sharp edges to make it
comfortable for all-day carry.
Interchangeable backstraps (small,
medium, and large) allow shooters
to fit the gun to their hand for the
proper trigger reach, and a newly
designed trigger shape improves
shooter control and comfort. A 1913
dust cover rail, metal three-dot
sights, front and rear cocking serrations, and a beefed-up magazine
spring complete the upgrades.
The new CZ 75 B Omega (SRP:
$544) features a simpler and more
robust version of the CZ-75 trigger
system. The interlocking design of
the new trigger system allows for
easier detail stripping without the
need for tools. The trigger parts
themselves are made from more
durable materials for enhanced service life.
Under the Dan Wesson banner,
2014 will see a new high-end 9mm
competition pistol and a compact
carry model. Serious action-pistol
competitors get a new high-capacity
double-stack-magazine 9mm 1911
that offers 21+1 rounds on tap with
the DW Elite Series Chaos (SRP:
$3,829). Hand-built on a doublestack frame, the Chaos features a
black matte finish, fiber-optic sights
with a fully adjustable rear sight,
front and rear cocking serrations, a
1913 Picatinny rail, and a matchtuned trigger.
The DW Guardian (SRP: $1,558)
is a Commander-size 1911 with an
anodized-aluminum bobtail frame
and mainspring housing, black Duty
finish, tritium night sights, and a
Commander-length steel slide.
While this was already available in
9mm and .45 ACP, 2014 sees the
introduction of a chambering in .38
Super. Booth #16351. (800-9554486; cz-usa.com)
Glock
➣ Two new models join the Glock
product line this year: a new Gen4
Tactical .45 ACP and an ultra-compact .380 ACP. The new Glock 41
Gen4 .45 ACP is a practical/tactical
pistol designed to maximize the sight
radius and barrel length while maintaining light weight and balance. It is
built with a G34 slide width on a
G21 Gen4 frame, and at 24 ounces
empty weight, it is 1.5 ounces lighter
than the G21 Gen4. The G41 Gen4
features a 5.31-inch barrel. The sight
radius is 7.56 inches with its polymer
sights. The width is 1.28 inches. The
standard trigger is the 5.62-pound
module, and the double-stack magazine holds 13 rounds. It features all of
the standard Gen4 features, including
the Modular Back Strap design,
rough-textured frame surface, and
dual-recoil-spring assembly. Overall
length is 8.90 inches. Height is 5.47
inches with the magazine inserted.
That’s a full-size pistol. But for
those who want something smaller,
the new Glock 42 .380 ACP should
do. It is the smallest pistol Glock
has ever made. This ultra-compact
.380 pistol weighs in at 12.35 ounces
empty. Overall length is 5.94 inches;
barrel length is 3.25 inches. It features the standard 5.62-pound trigger module, polymer sights, and a
six-round magazine capacity. Booth
#12254. (770-432-1202; glock.
com)
Kahr Arms
➣ New for 2014 is a larger-frame
addition to the Kahr CT, a 4-inch
barrel handgun with a single-stack
magazine and double-action-only
trigger series. The new CT4043 is
chambered for .40 S&W and ships
with one 7-round stainless-steel
magazine, for a 7+1 capacity. It is
built on a black polymer frame with
a stainless-steel slide and wears
Kahr’s very effective white bar-dot
fixed sights. Empty weight is 19.7
ounces. The overall length is 6.5
inches, and the height is 5.13 inches.
The slide width is a slim .94 inches.
The new CT4543 is also built on
a black polymer frame with a stainless-steel slide and also features
Kahr’s white bar-dot sights.
Chambered for .45 ACP, it has a
7+1 capacity and ships with one
7-round stainless-steel magazine.
Empty weight is 21.4 ounces.
Overall length is 6.57 inches, height
is 5.25 inches, and the slide width is
1.01 inches. SRP for both: $499.
In addition to the new compact
models, Kahr will also introduce a
new full-frame CT40 and CT45.
The first value-priced full-frame firearm offering from Kahr, the new
CT4043 (.40 S&W) and the
CT4543 (.45 ACP) feature a polymer
frame with a stainless-steel slide and
white bar-dot sight configuration.
The CT4043 has a 4-inch barrel.
Overall length is 6.5 inches; height
is 5.13 inches. The slide width is
slightly less than one inch and it
weighs 21.8 ounces with the magazine, making it very slim, lightweight, and perfect for concealed
carry. The CT4543 has a barrel
length of 4.04 inches. Overall length
is 6.57 inches, and the height is 5.25
inches. Slide width is 1.01 inches,
and the gun weighs 23.7 ounces
with the magazine. Both models feature a 7+1 capacity and ship with
one 7-round stainless-steel magazine. SRP: $499. Booth #15949.
(508-795-3919; kahr.com)
Magnum Research
➣ John Browning’s 1911 is a handgun design that not only refuses to
retire after more than a century of
service, but seems to grow more
popular among handgun owners
every year. For the last three years,
Magnum Research has offered the
classic 1911 Gov’t model .45 ACP
in a full-size 5-inch model and in a
Commander-length version. For
2014, the company will now expand
that line with a 3-inch ultra-compact model—the Undercover
(model DE1911U). SRP: $946.
Glock The Glock 41 Gen4 .45 ACP (left) is built with a G34 slide width on a G21 Gen4 frame. The idea here is to maximize sight radius and barrel length while maintaining light weight and balance. The Glock 42 ultra-compact .380 ACP
(right) is the smallest pistol ever made by Glock, making it an excellent candidate for concealed carry.
46 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
PRODUCTS
zines. Booth #15949. (508-6354273; magnum research.com)
Mossberg
Kahr The new CT4543 is chambered for .45 ACP; it comes with a
seven-round stainless-steel magazine, giving it a 7+1 capacity.
Also new, a full-frame CT40.
The Undercover is chambered for
.45 ACP and features a 3-inch bull
barrel with an 11-degree muzzle
crown. It uses the Series 70 operating action that is much admired by
1911 aficionados. Built on an ultralight frame constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, it incorporates a 4140 high-carbon-steel
slide. The sights are a fully adjustable (windage and elevation) rear
and a ramp front sight. Standard
features include a checkered front
strap and mainspring housing, double-diamond checkered wood-grip
panels secured with stainless-steel
hex screws, a skeletonized combatstyle hammer, an aluminum trigger,
and a high-rise beavertail safety.
Overall length is 6.85 inches.
Height is 5 inches, and the empty
weight of 25.8 ounces. The
Undercover has a 6+1 capacity and
is shipped with two 6-round maga-
➣ The International 715P semi-auto
pistol is a synthetic-stocked MSR
tactical-style platform, with no buttstock and just a pistol grip, but it is
chambered for .22LR with a 6-inch
1:16-inch-twist barrel that sports an
A2-style flash hider. Feeding from a
detachable magazine, standard features include an upper Picatinny rail
with a short, ventilated quad rail on
the forearm. Rail-mounted, removable, and adjustable iron sights are
standard on all models. Empty
weight is 3 pounds with iron sights,
3.5 pounds with the UTG 1x30mm
red-dot sight. The 715P will be
available in five models for 2014.
The Model 37235 is the basic
iron-sighted pistol with a 25-round
magazine (a magazine loader is
included). The Model 37236 is the
same pistol, but with a 10-round
magazine (to comply with regulations in certain states) that has the
same profile as the 25-round magazine. The Model 37251 is the base
gun with a 25-round magazine.
Additional features include a UTG
1x30mm electronic red-dot sight
that sits high enough above the iron
sights to overlook them. The UTG
sight is adjustable for windage and
elevation and allows the shooter to
choose between red or green illumination. The Model 37252 is the
UTG-equipped pistol, identical to
the 37251, but with the state-mandated 10-round magazine. The
above four pistols are finished in a
black matte. For those who prefer
camo, the Model 37237 joins the
Duck Commander line with a covering of Realtree Max-5 camo. It
sports the UTG sight and 25-round
magazines. Booth #12734. (800363-3555; mossberg.com)
Para USA
➣ Three new 9mm 1911 patterned
handguns enter the Para line this
year. The Expert 9mm (SRP: $663)
is a classic full-size single stack 1911
with a 5-inch match-grade barrel. It
features a carbon steel frame, oversize and flared ejection port, beavertail grip safety, adjustable skeletonized trigger, polymer grips, green
fiber-optic front sight, and a black
nitride finish. It ships with two
9-round magazines.
The Black Ops Recon 9 (SRP:
$1,299) is built on a double-stack
stainless-steel frame/slide with a
ramped 4.25-inch match-grade barrel. It features an oversize and flared
ejection port, beavertail grip safety,
ambidextrous thumb safeties, adjustable skeletonized trigger, black
PRODUCTS
IonBond finish, VZ G10 grip panels,
and three-dot Trijicon sights. It ships
with two 18-round 9mm magazines.
The compact Warthog 9mm
(SRP: $884) is built on a doublestack aluminum frame with a black
anodized finish. The barrel is a
stainless-steel 3-inch match grade.
Features include a beavertail grip
safety, adjustable skeletonized trigger, polymer grips, black nitride finish, and a green fiber-optic front
sight. Booth #14229. (704-9307600; para-usa.com)
Remington Arms
➣ Remington recently surprised the
firearms industry by entering the
handgun market with a line of 1911
semi-auto handguns. This year the
manufacturer springs another surprise with the introduction of the
new R51 compact 9mm semi-auto.
Designed for concealed carry, the
R51 uses a fixed barrel based upon
the original Pedersen action design
that incorporates a separate breech
block within the slide to allow for the
use of high-pressure rounds such as
the 9mm. This design places the
recoil spring around the barrel
instead of the more common springunder-the-barrel designs. That, in
turn, produces a lower bore axis to
help reduce muzzle flip. The ejection
port is lowered and flared for
improved ejection of empty cases.
Built on a compact single-stack
frame from high-strength aluminum
alloy, it features a 3.4-inch 416 stainless barrel. The trigger mechanism is
what Remington refers to as a “light,
long, and crisp CCW trigger” that
provides a lighter pull weight from a
longer, consistent, double-actiononly style pull. A grip safety is incorporated, eliminating the need for
secondary safety levers on the frame.
The frame features interchangeable grip panels to allow the installation of larger grips for those with big
hands. The trigger guard is undercut
to allow a higher hand hold, and the
front strap is checkered at 25 lpi.
Ambidextrous magazine-release
levers make it southpaw-friendly, and
all edges have been smoothed and
rounded for comfortable concealed
carry. Sights are fixed and dovetailed
Remington Designed for concealed carry, the R51 incorporates a separate breech block within the slide to allow for
the use of high-pressure rounds such as the 9mm. The lowered and flared ejection port improves the ejection of spent
cases. Grip panels are interchangeable to accommodate
larger hands.
into the slide to allow drift adjustment for windage. The finish is black
matte, and the empty weight is 20
ounces. Magazine capacity is seven
rounds, and the gun ships with two
flush-fit magazines. SRP: $420.
Booth #14229. (800-243-9700;
remington.com)
SIG Sauer
➣ The new P320 Modular Pistol
was designed for law-enforcement
use. It allows departments to take a
basic pistol and, through the use of
interchangeable grips, interchangeable grip/frame shells with steel
inserts, and different barrels and
slides, modify one basic model to
full-size duty configuration or compact and sub-compact models for
plainclothes or back-up use. It will be
available in 9mm, .357 SIG, .40
S&W, and .45 ACP, and calibers can
also be interchanged with the modular design.
The base pistol features a polymer
frame with a 1913 rail and a Nitron-
finished slide equipped with Siglite
Night Sights. The striker-fired
operating action produces a trigger
pull of 5.5 to 6.5 pounds. The P320
will be offered in three complete
pistol models (SRP: $713 for each)
that are ready for service as is, but
can be modified to any of the other
model configurations.
The Full Size model features a
4.7-inch barrel and weighs in at 29.4
ounces, empty. Overall length is 8
inches, width is 1.4 inches, and
height is 5.5 inches. Magazine
capacity in this model is 17 rounds
in 9mm, 14 rounds in .357 SIG and
.40 S&W, and 10 rounds in .45 ACP.
The Carry model features a 3.9inch barrel and the empty weight is
26.9 ounces. Overall length is 7.2
inches, width is 1.3 inches (using the
standard grip), and height is 5.1 inches. Magazine capacity is 15 rounds in
9mm, 13 rounds in .357 SIG and .40
S&W, and 9 rounds in .45 ACP.
The Sub-Compact model features
a 3.6-inch barrel and an empty
weight of 24.9 ounces. Overall
width is 1.1 inches, length is 6.7
inches, and height is 4.7 inches.
Capacity is 12 rounds in 9mm, 10
rounds in .357 SIG and .40 S&W,
and 6 rounds in .45 ACP.
The P290RS-380 (SRP: $570) is a
.380 ACP addition to the sub-compact line. Built on a polymer frame,
it features a 2.9-inch barrel and
weighs in at 17-5 ounces. It uses a
DOA action with repeat-strike capability, and SIG claims a trigger pull
of 9 pounds. Siglite Night Sights are
included.
The M11-A1 Desert (SRP: $1,221)
is built on an alloy frame using polymer grip panels with a stainless-steel
slide. Frame and slide are coated in
flat dark earth Cerakote, and internal
parts are corrosion resistant.
Chambered for 9mm with a
15-round magazine capacity (it ships
with three 15-round magazines), it
uses a traditional DA/SA operating
trigger system. SIG states the DA
pull is 10 pounds and the SA pull is
4.4 pounds with a short reset trigger.
Barrel length is 3.9 inches. Overall
SIG Sauer The MK-25 Desert (left) is built on an alloy frame using polymer grip panels. The 1911 Railed-Nickel (middle) is a full-size 5-inch barrel SA built on
a stainless-steel frame. The M11-A1 Desert (right) also uses an alloy frame and polymer grip panels. The frame and slide are coated with Cerakote.
50 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
PRODUCTS
length is 7.1 inches and width is 1.5
inches. Empty weight is 32 ounces.
Siglite Night Sights are standard,
and this model does not sport an
accessory rail.
The MK-25 Desert shares all the
features of the M11-A1 Desert
except that it uses a 4.4-inch barrel,
weighs 34.4 ounces, and has a 1913
rail on the dust cover. SRP: $1,213.
The 1911 Railed-Nickel Compact
(1911CO-45-NI) shares all of the
features of the full-size model except
it is a Commander-size gun with a
4.2-inch barrel. It uses seven-round
magazines and does not have a rail
on the dust cover. Empty weight is
35.5 ounces, the length is 7.7 inches,
height is 4.8 inches, and the overall
width is 1.4 inches. SRP: $1,185.
Booth #12240. (603-772-2302;
sigsauer.com)
Walther Arms
➣The PPQ M2 5-Inch (SRP: $749)
is available in a 15-round capacity in
9mm and an 11-round capacity in
.40 S&W. It features a 5-inch barrel
with the PPQ Quick Defense
Trigger that operates from a precocked position and provides a constant 5.6-pound trigger pull weight.
Finished in a matte black, the
overall length is 8.1 inches, and it
has an empty weight of 23 ounces.
Each PPQ M2 is supplied with
three interchangeable backstraps to
allow a shooter to custom-fit the
pistol to the hand. An ambidextrous
slide stop, which is extended for
easy operation with gloved hands,
and a reversible magazine-release
button make the PPQ M2 suitable
for right- or left-handed shooters.
The new rimfire version is the PPQ
M2 .22LR. It utilizes a blowback
action, has a 12-round magazine
capacity, and boasts a 4.85-pound
trigger-pull weight. A firing-pin
block and trigger safety and loadedchamber indicator are standard. The
polymer-frame handgun features a
slide-stop lever. The slide is anodized aluminum, and a Picatinny rail
is incorporated into the dust cover.
It will be available in a pair of
4-inch barrel models (weighing 19
ounces empty with an overall length
of 7.1 inches). They both feature a
polymer front sight with a metal
rear that is adjustable for windage
and elevation. The PPQ Tactical
version in the 4-inch-barrel length
features a threaded barrel for the
installation of a suppressor.
A 5-inch Target Model (20 ounces
empty weight, with a 8.1-inch overall length) has a high-visibility fiberoptic front sight, in addition to the
fully adjustable rear sight. SRP:
$429 to $469, depending upon
model. Booth #14545. (479-2428500; waltherarms.com)
TAURUS
A new compact DA concealed-carry small-framed revolver
enters Taurus’ product line this year. The View, named for its
distinctive translucent polycarbonate right side plate that
reveals the internal action mechanism, is a five-shot DA revolver
based upon the Model 85 and chambered for .38 Special. The
aluminum frame, 1.41-inch titanium barrel with a steel liner, and
titanium cylinder result in an empty weight of 9 ounces. A new
grip shape and rigid polymer grip is designed to sit back in the
palm and reduce muzzle flip. Sights are a fixed rear and fixed
serrated ramp front. It includes a transfer bar safety and the
Taurus Security System. SRP: $599. Booth #14140. (800-3273776; taurususa.com)
FOOTWEAR
2014
Promising Country
Footwear companies are taking advantage of technological
developments to create new lines of durable but comfortable boots
M
By Peter B. Mathiesen
ilitary footwear contracts have peaked for most companies, yet investment spending continues in the general huntingmilitary category. New products continue to shed weight through molded soles and lightweight insulation. In addition,
many companies have expanded women’s lines and added lasts while retailers have added SKUs in both ladies and
work-related footwear. The 2014–15 buying season looks promising, if for no other reason than many retailers cleared
inventory from last year and are now looking to restock.
Danner
➣ Modeled after a specialty Danner
style built for military operators in
treacherous Afghanistan terrain, the
Gila is designed for alpine hunting in
rocky environments. The boots feature durable nubuck leather and
nylon uppers with Gore Optifade
Open Country camo. There is an
abrasion-resistant rubber rand with a
Danner The waterproof
and breathable Gila has
been modeled after a specialty boot built for use by
the U.S. military in
Afghanistan. That alone
should tell you it will
handle treacherous
mountain terrain.
highly controllable speed hooks lace
system. The lining uses a waterproof
and breathable Gore-Tex bootie, and
the cushioning polyurethane footbed
will keep feet less fatigued when on
unstable ground. There’s a layer of
open-cell construction for increased
air circulation. The polyurethane
midsole has an integrated polypropylene board to provide support while
reducing perspiration.
The outsole has pentagonal lugs for
optimal surface contact, and to provide support when transitioning laterally and side hilling. The Gila will
ship July 2014. Sizes include men’s 6
to 14 with half sizes in D, and from 8
to 14 with half sizes in EE widths.
SRP: Starts at $180. Booth #10770.
the Georgia Waterproof system, and
a moisture management lining inside
the boot. For comfort, the boots
include an inner layer of EVA for
cushioning without the added weight,
and the Comfort Core 5 footbed adds
stability and arch support.
Styles include 6-inch, 8-inch, and
an 11-inch Wellington. Both soft and
composite toe options are available,
in men’s sizes 7 to 13 in D and EE
widths. SRP: $164.99 to $209.99.
Booth #11170. (877-795-2410;
georgiaboots.com)
(800-345-0430; danner.com)
Georgia Boot
➣ Expanding its Diamond Trax collection with a slip-resistant outsole,
Georgia Boot will include styles with
a durable Goodyear Welt. The boots
feature the proprietary Diamond Trax
outsole, which actually improves its
slip resistance with wear.
The new Goodyear welt styles feature full-grain and split-suede leather,
Irish Setter VaprTrek boots use
RPM Technology to shed weight
while still delivering performance.
BUSHNELL
The 10-inch-high Avalanche boot brings a new level of performance to Bushnell Footwear, along with a modern look.
A HydroGuard membrane will keep feet dry while 600 grams of Thinsulate Ultra will help ward off the chill of a
frosty morning when sitting in a treestand. At the same time, the boot will not overheat when a hunter moves. A
Breathe Right lining is paired with the membrane to aid in moisture management, and ScentMask keeps unwanted
foot odors at bay.
In addition, a TPU toe guard and counter protect toes and high-wear areas to ensure durability, a TPU brushguard adds
rigidity to the upper (and ties directly into the lace loops for an extremely lightweight lacing system). The slip-resistant
optimized outsole provides reliable traction with minimal weight (less than 4 pounds). Meanwhile, the dual-density EVA
midsole and heel-cushioning system sets a new standard for comfort. Sizes include men’s from 7 to 13. SRP: $149.99.
Booth #12519. (800-325-6116; bushnellfootwear.com)
54 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
PRODUCTS
Georgia The Diamond
Trax collection expands
with a new slip-resistant
outsole and a durable
Goodyear Welt. Each
boot also boasts a
moisture-management
system.
comfortable stability in the boot
shaft, and the padded tongue provides comfort in the shin area. A
speed-lacing system with one-tug
tightening provides fast, snug lacing.
Style #2868 is an 8-inch non-insulated boot with Mossy Oak Break-Up
Infinity camouflage; #2870 is an
8-inch non-insulated boot with
Realtree Xtra camouflage; #2863 is
an 8-inch non-insulated boot in stone
leather and fabric; #2864 is an 8-inch
non-insulated boot in black leather
and fabric; #2875 is a 17-inch noninsulated, lace-up boot with Realtree
Xtra Green camouflage. Offered in
men’s sizes 8 to 12, 13, and 14 in D
and EE widths. SRP: $149 to $209.
Booth #10047. (888-738-8370;
irishsetterboots.com)
Kenetrek
Hi-Tec
➣ Paying homage to the original
Hi-Tec Altitude boot created nearly a
decade ago, the company will launch
its newest member of the Altitude
family, the Altitude V 200 i WP.
Outside, a waterproof, Dri-Tec
breathable membrane offers excellent
vapor transmission and exceptional
performance in the wettest environments. In addition to the membrane,
the company’s i-shield DWR (durable
water repellent) has been applied to
the exterior for water repellency,
along with stain and dust resistance.
An OrthoLite insole improves odor
control and breathability; a
Thinsulate lining gives the wearer a
secure, comfortable fit during winter.
An impact-absorbing midsole
improves cushioning and comfort.
The Vibram outsole has a kick-off
heel notch, and a wraparound rubber
rand improves toe protection and
provides stable walking on slick surfaces. Size range: Men’s 7.5 to 11.5,
whole sizes from 12 to 17 in D; E sizing is also available. SRP: $120.
Booth #11164. (800-521-1698; us.
hi-tec.com)
Irish Setter
➣ The new VaprTrek boots are 40
percent lighter than traditional Irish
Setter big-game-hunting boots without sacrificing support or stability.
The boots use RPM Technology, a
composite material which significant-
Kenetrek Bridger Hikers utilize a
featherweight support system that
provides comfort for long walks.
ly reduces weight while delivering
comfort and added endurance.
The RPM sole features a bi-directional lug pattern for improved traction and balance during heel strike
and toe-off. The wrap-around instep
provides protection and aids in gripping treestand rungs or ATV footholds. Armatec heel and toe protection guard against ground hazards.
Underfoot comfort is enhanced with
an anatomically correct polyurethane
and high-rebound foam footbed with
a ScentBan top cover to control odorcausing bacteria.
The boots incorporate UltraDry
waterproofing so feet stay dry and
boots stay breathable. The memory
foam collar forms to fit the ankle for
LOWA
Offered in both a midcut and high version for
men and women, the
2014 Lowa Yukon Ice
GTX is designed for
hunting in cold weather.
Constructed with a fullgrain leather upper, it
features both Gore-Tex
Partalana wool/polyester blend fleece and
PrimaLoft’s proprietary
blend of ultrafine
microfibers for double
warmth and comfort.
Lowa’s Trac Lite outsole is combined with
slip-resistant fibers
embedded throughout
the sole’s rubber for
traction on snow and
ice. U.S. men’s sizing
include 7.5 to 12, 13, 14.
Women’s sizing is 5.5 to
11. SRP: $295. Booth
#10232. (203-353-0116;
lowaboots.com)
56 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
➣ Built to cover miles of trails and to
transition to day wear around the
house or work, Kenetrek’s next-level
design of the Bridger Ridge Hikers
delivers exceptional support and comfort normally found in much heavier
boots. This ultralight hiker weighs
only 2.2 to 2.6 pounds. Based on the
platform of the popular Kenetrek
Mountain boots, the Bridger Hikers
featherweight support system utilizes
reinforced K-ankle straps to tie the
outsoles directly to the fortified
uppers. This actual support network
eliminates the need for weighty comfort measures, resulting in hiking
boot performance with all-day tennisshoe comfort.
The Low and Mid versions are
perfect warm-weather breathable
boots. If you add in a heavier sock,
LaCrosse The refreshed
Alphaburly offers improved function,
durability, and comfort.
these boots will stretch into three
seasons. If you need additional protection in harsh weather, the High
boot offers a waterproof and breathable Event membrane. The Low,
Mid, and High Ridge Hikers include
a leather/nylon upper outsole transition system for solid ankle support,
extra-thick padded collars and
tongues, reinforced toes and heels for
extended durability and protection,
and Kenetrek supportive insoles.
The outsole combines the polyurethane midsole with a high-traction
molded-rubber tread to keep feet stable on any terrain. Speed-lace hooks
will hold lacing securely in place.
SRP: $150 to $200. Booth #1318.
(800-232-6064; kenetrek.com)
PRODUCTS
MUCK
This cold-weather boot is composed of full-grain crazy-horse leather with an insulating 6mm neoprene
base. The Peak Hardcore provides controlled lacing support with serious warming insulation. Rated at -40
F, this waterproof boot is ideal for any outdoor task, from shoveling snow to treestand hunting.
Extremely lightweight and durable, the Spandura exterior will last many seasons. The aggressive and
gripping outsole works well and sticks on all types of surfaces.
Inside, a fleece lining combined with 6mm CR flex-foam and a new sock liner allow the wearer to
effectively deal with managing moisture. There are toe and heel rubber guards along with a cushioned
EVA midsole. Sizes: men’s whole 7 to 14, women’s 8 to 13. SRP: $199.95. Booth #10951. (877-438-6825;
muckbootcompany.com)
LaCrosse
➣ LaCrosse has refreshed the Alphaburly Sport
with the Alphaburly Pro series. The line delivers a
new design, improved function, lighter construction, and superior performance. Designed with a
more comfortable fit, the rubber upper cuff has
been replaced with a stretchable durable neoprene
band, improving the slip-on and removal of the
boot. The remaining exterior is composed of a
higher percentage natural rubber, which decreases
weight while increasing strength and flexibility. A
bi-directional embossed neoprene sock lining delivers improved air circulation within the boot.
The new Alphaburly Pro’s outsole features superior traction and stability with no mud buildup.
The Alphaburly Pro series also includes two side-
zip models. The series is constructed with women’s
and men’s specific fit and designs and includes styles
with Advantage Max-4 HD, Realtree Xtra Green,
Realtree Xtra, Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity, and
Forest Green to support all seasons. Sizes include
men’s 6 to 15 and women’s 5 to 11, both in whole
sizes only. SRP: $129.99 to $169.99. Booth #10770.
(800-323-2668; lacrossefootwear.com)
Reebok
➣ The Reebok Dauntless series, a new line of allterrain hot-weather boots that are lightweight and
flexible, is built on a TPU bruise plate for superior
stability in rugged terrain. Ideal on hard, hot rocky
terrain, these boots provide an extra rebound with
every step, and bruise protection on any surface.
ROCKY
Since stealth is a vital to a successful stalk, Rocky has created the SilentHunter collection.
The pull-on boots use minimalist outsoles combined with neoprene-and-rubber uppers for
silent operation. The minimalist Vibram outsoles help a hunter feel what’s under his feet,
giving him the advantage of being able to feel, not look, while walking in the woods. Inside,
the boots offer a foam footbed for all-day comfort, as well as Climate IQ waterproof protection and scent control. The SilentHunter collection includes an Oxford style as well as
10-inch and 16-inch neoprene pull-on styles. Whole sizes include men’s 7 to 14. SRP:
$104.99 to $119.99. Booth #11170. (877-795-2410; rockyboots.com)
Side air and drain ports and an AEGIS Shield
antimicrobial lining ensure dry feet in both arid and
wet conditions. Available colors include desert tan
(8-inch and 6-inch models), black (also available in
waterproof and seamless construction, 8-inch and
6-inch), and sage green (8-inch only).
A number of new prototypes will also be shown
at the company’s booth, including two completely
new lines of Reebok military and tactical footwear.
SRP: $150.99. Booth #10179. (877-753-2426;
warsonbrands.com)
Wolverine
➣ The Ridge hunting boot combines performance
and customizable comfort with Wolverine ICS+, an
all-new integrated support system with multi-density layers. This combination works together to provide firm support when carrying a heavy load or
protection from impact and bruises on rocky terrain
while delivering a solid foundation for stability.
Paired together with the small, lightweight nitrogen-filled disc in the heel, the technology lets the
wearer adjust to an ideal comfort setting by selecting from cushioned, firm, inner, or outer support.
The Ridge also has a waterproof leather and
900-denier polyester upper that offers lasting durability and protection. A Wolverine PC Dry Gold
Waterproof membrane provides breathable waterproofing to ensure feet stay dry and comfortable in
wet or snowy conditions.
A removable, open-cell polyurethane footbed
cushions the foot and is treated with NXT scent
control to help prevent odor. The nylon shank is
supportive on rough, rocky terrain, and the boot’s
Exogrip rubber-lug outsole features rows of biting
edges and gripping lugs for excellent traction.
The Ridge is available in a 7-inch height with
400-gram Thinsulate Ultra insulation, and a 9-inch
height with 800-gram insulation. Available in
Mossy Oak Break-Up II, Brown/Realtree All
Purpose HD, Green Mini and Brown. Sizes, men’s
medium 7 to 12, 13, 14; and wide 7 to 12, 13. SRP:
Starts at $180. Booth #10540. (800-545-2425;
wolverinebootsandshoes.com)
Wolverine The
Ridge takes advantage
of the ICS+ integrated
support system with
multi-density layers to
provide support.
58 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
F E AT U R E
Dave Jeannette (left) and Chris Tatulli have joined the NSSF staff as senior director of sales and director
of exhibit and sponsorship sales, respectively. Formerly at Reed Exhibitions, the men have taken their
SHOT Show expertise and are applying it to the 2014 show, as ConvExx handles the management.
Under New Management
New management company is changing
SHOT Show for the better
L
ast spring, when then-current SHOT Show management company Reed
Exhibitions made the surprising move to restrict certain types of firearms at its
consumer hunting and fishing shows, the National Shooting Sports Foundation
decided it was time to look for a new SHOT Show partner. It wasn’t an easy
decision to end what had been a very successful 30-year run, but NSSF’s mission to serve
the shooting sports industry took priority. After an exhaustive national search involving
the trade show industry’s top management companies, NSSF announced it had found
the perfect fit with ConvExx, based right here in Las Vegas.
“ConvExx offers a unique combination of
extensive large-show and Las Vegas experience,
which will serve our exhibitors and attendees
well,” says Chris Dolnack, NSSF’s senior vice
president and chief marketing officer. “By taking
on the SHOT Show, ConvExx will now manage
two of the top five trade shows in Las Vegas—
SHOT and the SEMA Show.”
That kind of experience will serve both NSSF
and ConvExx well, considering an estimated
60,000 people are expected to walk a SHOT
Show floor that will cover 630,000 square feet of
booth space filled by more than 1,600 exhibitors.
To further ensure that the transition to a new
management team went as smoothly as possible,
NSSF brought SHOT Show
sales in-house by hiring a couple of SHOT Show veterans.
Former Reed Exhibitions
employees Dave Jeannette and
Chris Tatulli have been hired
as senior director of sales and director of exhibit
and sponsorship sales, respectively. They will now
be responsible for developing sales and sponsorship
opportunities and forging strong relationships with
members and industry customers.
“Both Dave and Chris have contributed to the
success of the SHOT Show,” says Deb Kenney,
NSSF’s vice president, human resources and
administration. “We are thrilled they will continue
their success in expanded roles working as NSSF
employees alongside the rest of our great team.”
While ConvExx is new to the SHOT Show
team, its experience with large exhibitions helped
the NSSF negotiate new agreements with incumbent vendors such as Freeman, CompuSystems,
onPeak, and Sherpa Solutions to maintain as
much familiarity and continuity as possible while
providing exhibitors with cost certainty. “The
ConvExx team has been incredible to work with,
and Freeman has helped educate both NSSF and
ConvExx staff,” says Dolnack. “Our goal is for
the 2014 SHOT Show to be seamless for our customers to help make their show experience the
best it can possibly be. The transition has gone as
well as we had hoped.”
As if all these changes weren’t enough in 2013,
the NSSF solidified its mission to make the 2014
SHOT Show the best yet by retaining CSG
Creative as the show’s agency
of record. CSG Creative was
not only responsible for
developing the energetic and
lively look and feel of this
year’s show with new and
increased signage, but it also focused hard on
increasing the number of qualified attendees.
“We ran concurrent campaigns to attract more
international buyers and to recruit domestic retail
buyers who previously attended SHOT Show, but
have not attended recently,” says Dolnack. “We’ve
also made a concerted effort to reduce the number of non-qualified attendees. I’m really pleased
with where we are and I think our exhibitors and
attendees will be, too. SHOT Show is our industry’s signature event where you can see everyone
and everything you need to gain a competitive
edge. It’s too good to miss.”
F E AT U R E
Numerous college and university shooting clubs have received aid from NSSF’s
Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative, including Harvard University (bottom left), Fort
Hays State University (above), University of Vermont (top far left), and Stetson
University (top near left).
Higher Education Takes Aim
NSSF, through the Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative, is helping
fledgling college shooting programs get off the ground
T
By Christopher Cogley
he National Shooting Sports Foundation developed the Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative as a way to give more
college students the chance to participate in shooting sports and possibly transform an interest into a lifelong passion. The initiative has been so successful that this year, the NSSF had to revise the parameters of the program to
accommodate the growing interest.
“In the first four years of the program, it’s
been so popular that it has exceeded any of our
expectations,” says Zach Snow, manager of
shooting promotions at the NSSF. “More than
80 colleges applied for grants last year, but a lot
of those were schools that had received grants
previously.”
With increasing demand for limited resources,
the NSSF had to make a difficult choice.
“We decided that we really wanted to get
other schools involved and use this money as a
way to help them get new programs started at
their schools,” Snow says.
So starting last year, the CSSI began focusing
on providing grants for up to 20 schools who
hadn’t previously received assistance and who
were interested in using the funds to start a new
program. By focusing solely on helping new
clubs get established at additional colleges
across the country, the CSSI not only provides
an extra incentive for people who might be considering organizing a shooting sports program,
but it also gives them the resources they need to
turn the idea into a reality.
“Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to just
get a program started,” Snow says. “But if you
can get it off the ground and generate some initial interest, the programs begin to naturally
expand and grow as word spreads that there is
an opportunity to participate in the shooting
sports at that school.”
The challenge of starting a new program can
be even more difficult at smaller colleges, where
funding for clubs and activities is minimal, or at
colleges where the administration might be too
wary of the idea of supporting a club that is promoting the use of firearms. It’s at these schools
where the assistance of the CSSI can be most
beneficial.
“Middlebury is known for its active and
outdoors-loving students, so we thought a trap
and skeet club would fit perfectly into the college campus and would allow us to continue to
do what we love with our friends and enjoy all
the amazing things Vermont has to offer,” says
Brett Harasimowicz, who, along with Collier
Proctor, established a shooting club at
Middlebury College, one of the 2013 CSSI
grant recipients.
“But the process of getting our program off
the ground was arduous,” Harasimowicz says.
“The college was very leery of sponsoring a
shooting program in light of recent news events.
We had to do a great deal to allay their fears
and show the college that we were taking this as
seriously as they were.”
Harasimowicz’s and Proctor’s hard work and
persistence paid off. But once they finally
received approval from the administration, they
faced the even more daunting task of figuring
out how to secure the funds to establish the
kind of program that would not only attract the
interest of students, but also alleviate any of the
lingering concerns the administration had about
64 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
the legitimacy of the club. That’s when they
turned to the NSSF for help.
“This grant will give us the financial support
to allow us to run a great program for years to
come,” Harasimowicz says. “At Middlebury, we
pride ourselves on being a top-rate institution,
and our club wants to do the same. This grant
will give us the support to grow our club and
ultimately accomplish our goal of promoting
and facilitating sport shooting amongst the
Middlebury student body in a safe and controlled environment.”
Which is exactly what the overriding purpose
of the CSSI has been from the very beginning.
“This is what we’ve always envisioned for this
initiative,” Snow says. “Not only do new programs like the one at Middlebury allow young
men and women who already have a love of
shooting to take their passion to the next level,
they also provide a way to get people involved
who might not otherwise ever have the chance
to pull a trigger. And by helping to establish
new programs at different schools across the
country, we’re giving more and more students
that opportunity.”
And when that happens, it isn’t just the
students and the colleges that benefit—it’s the
entire shooting sports industry. If you know a
college that needs some help getting a shooting
sports program off the ground, visit nssf.org/
college for more information on how the CSSI
can help.
F E AT U R E
SHOT Show is awash with educational opportunities.
There are a wide variety of seminars for new and veteran retailers, and every day also has valuable training
for law enforcement personnel. All classes are just a
quick stroll away from the show floor.
Targeted Learning
NSSF retailer education and law enforcement
seminars aim to inform By Robert F. Staeger
S
HOT Show isn’t just a place for learning about the latest product
innovations and industry news—it’s also an excellent place for professionals to learn vital new information and techniques. The
National Shooting Sports Foundation provides a variety of educational opportunities throughout the show as a bonus feature for
both retailers and law enforcement personnel.
The learning kicks off with SHOT Show
University, a full day of retailer seminars that
takes place the day before the show. Before and
after a catered lunch, the day is packed with seminars on the hottest topics and most requested
subject matter, ending in a networking reception.
“We try to make it a day they just cannot do
without,” says Randy Clark, NSSF’s managing
director of business development.
Retail Education
➤ But even beyond SHOT Show U, the show
itself features Retailer Education Seminars each
day, packed with information that will make it
worth your time to leave the show floor for a little while. Topics include attracting and retaining
new customers, increasing sales per square foot,
and loss-prevention strategies. “We try to mix up
the subjects there so we can offer the retailers
opportunities to take advantage of these different
subject matters,” says Clark.
Classes are announced in advance to help retail-
ers manage their schedules. “Say we have a
human resources class that we offer at one o’clock
that afternoon,” he says. “You can schedule your
meetings for the morning, so that later you can
go bone up on a human resources issue you need
to address.”
Classes generally run in one-hour increments,
because with the show as big as it is, time on the
floor is precious. Exceptions are classes presented
by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives (ATF), which each year may run as
long as two hours. However, in 2014 the ATF
classes won’t be offered, but they are expected
back in 2015.
“The material that ATF covers quite honestly
can’t get done in an hour,” says Clark. “They
may pick up a two-hour slot in an afternoon,
but it’s necessary because of the format of the
presentation and the material, and the questions
and answers that come out of that class.”
Despite the length, the ATF compliance classes are always well-attended.
Some of the most popular seminars, says NSSF
66 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
director of retail development Patrick Shay, are
presented by NSSF’s FFL Compliance Consultants.
This is thanks in part to the sheer lineup of expertise NSSF has mustered. “We’ve got six former
ATF officials who work with us. Each one has more
than 25 years of experience in the ATF. We have
two retired deputy assistant directors—both of
them were Number Three at the ATF. They’ll be
providing information on the 4473s, the A&D
books, inventory procedures, and your role during
an inspection. That’s all really critical, especially
right now, with the market the way it is. If you can
get product, you can sell product. So I’ve found
that a lot of retailers are more interested in compliance programs right now.”
Determining SHOT Show’s slate of classes is
a year-long process, which begins at the end of
the previous year’s show. Last year’s SHOT
Show University participants were surveyed on
what topics they’d like to see in the future.
“The attendees are very open and very candid
about what subject matter they need for them to
run a better business,” says Clark. “So when we
all get back from SHOT, we pore through these
surveys, and we list all the categories these guys
are looking for. The list gets pretty long.”
In addition to that, NSSF also has an advisory
committee consisting of a number of the country’s top retailers. “We talk to them about what
are they seeing out there, or what are they hearing that needs to be discussed,” Clark says.
And then there are the road trips. NSSF conducts retailer education seminars across the country for compliance training (it held 13 last year),
and they talk to retailers at those as well. “We’ve
got our finger on the pulse, if you will, of what
the retailers are needing to help them do better.
And it can be anything, from social media to
online marketing to figuring out gross markup,”
F E AT U R E
Clark says. From a list of 30 to 40 topics, Clark
and Shay narrow the field to a dozen or so,
matching them up with experts in the field.
Tomorrow’s panel discussion on marketing to
women is one example. “That’s the biggest
growing segment out there right now,” says
Clark. “And let’s face it, the guys have struggled
with talking to women about what they need.
It’s a new, growing segment coming into your
business, and you need to know how to address
it. Because if the customers are in your store and
you don’t take care of them, they’re going to
shop somewhere else.”
“We’re doing a series of classes that go from
introductory all the way up to advanced classes,” says Shay. “We’re trying to appeal to a
wider range of retailers. In the past, some of the
retailer education seminars have been focused
more on retailers who had been around for just
a couple of years, but we’re trying to reach out
and meet the needs of retailers who have been
in business for 10 or 15 years, too.”
One of the more advanced classes is Building a
Gunsmith, which is being held today at 10:30
a.m. Gunsmithing is a canny service for retailers
to offer because it provides two points of contact
with the customer: when they drop off their firearm for repairs, and again when they pick it up.
“If you have a nice, clean, well-merchandised store, the customer who comes in isn’t
going to walk out empty-handed,” says Clark.
For that reason, plenty of retailers want to
know the ins and outs of putting a gunsmith in
their store. NSSF selected Montgomery
Community College in North Carolina, one of
the largest gunsmithing colleges, to lead the
seminar. The school is offering a different angle
on the subject.
“This class isn’t so much about how to add a
gunsmith to your store—it’s about how to get
the right person in there,” says Clark. “These
are the qualities you need to look for.”
After the classes end, there’s a chance to
talk specifics with the instructors. “They
make themselves available,” says Clark.
“There’s a 30-minute break between each
class, when they can answer any one-on-one
questions. We tell our instructors: When you
come in for your hour, you’re more than likely going to be there for an hour and a half,
just for a one-on-one Q&A after the fact.”
Such access to expertise makes the panels
hard to resist.
Registration should be done in advance, to
make sure you get a seat. The cost per seminar is very reasonable at $20.
Law Enforcement
➤ Retailer Education isn’t the full extent of
the educational opportunities at SHOT
Show. There’s also the Law Enforcement
Education Program, begun in 2009 and managed in partnership between NSSF and Law
Officer magazine. “The law enforcement area
of the show has been growing incredibly,
attracting more law enforcement exhibitors.
And in order to attract more LE personnel to
the show, we added the classes so there would
be a great educational component for them,”
says Debbie Murray, conference director at
Law Officer. “It’s also justification for their
agencies to send them to the event.”
When law enforcement personnel—which
can include people in corrections and military
police as well as police officers—register for
SHOT Show, they have the option of registering for any seminars in the Law
Enforcement Education Program at no extra
charge. Instruction is being provided by the
National Tactical Officer’s Association, as
well as trainers from such companies as
Trijicon, Streamlight, and SIG Sauer.
“Obviously, because of the sponsor, the
education is going to be focused around what
their product is, but it is not a product
demo,” says Murray. “If they’re in handguns,
then they’re going to be talking about handgun training, aiming systems, or lighting. It’s
meant to provide very practical training for
the end user that they may not be able to
get—for free—in their local area. What we’ve
heard from some participants is that it’s a way
to justify coming to the show to their agency.
If they can go to their training officer and
show there are all these great classes that are
free, they may get reimbursed for all or part
of their SHOT Show experience.”
Attendees also get certificates of attendance. Their SHOT Show badges are
scanned when they go to the classes, and
they’re sent an e-mail of what they attended.
They can put that certificate into their job
jackets when they’re up for promotion, as
proof that they attended these classes.
At press time, this year’s seminars include
The Tactical Patrol Officer, Response
Planning for Critical Incidents, and
Recruiting and Retaining Today’s Tactical
Officer. Last year’s slate of classes included
Barricaded Subjects, Low-Light Training,
Emergency Breaching Techniques, Aiming
Systems, and more. Similar subject matter is
on deck for this year’s seminars.
Needless to say, the classes are extremely
popular. “We tend to max out the classes
every year,” says Murray. Popular classes
include Low-Light Training, along with anything tactical. “Sessions that are provided by
the NTOA are always popular, because of the
credibility of the organization and the types
of topics. They’re very close to this group, so
they know what they need, educationally. At
the end of the classes, people keep coming up
to thank us for the educational content. They
say, ‘We really need this, our budgets are so
tight.’ Having it free and having it at the
show just works really well for them.”
And getting a good education is one surefire way of leaving Las Vegas a little richer.
After the classes end, there’s a chance to talk
specifics with the instructors. “They make
themselves available,” says Clark. “There’s
a 30-minute break between each class,
when they can answer any one-on-one
questions.”
68 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
NSSF’s range days give
journalists and retail buyers
hands-on experience.
Honed on
the Range
NSSF lets media and
buyers shoot first
By Cathy Glazer
T
wo events prior to the SHOT Show
are designed to give exhibitors a unique
opportunity to interact with the media
and buyers. To let select members of
the media try out some of the firearms and accessories they may be writing about in the coming year,
the National Shooting Sports Foundation sponsors
a pre–SHOT Show “Media Day at the Range.”
This year’s event was held yesterday at the
Boulder City Pistol & Rifle Range. The event is
perennially popular with both exhibitors and the
media, who attend by the hundreds. To connect
exhibitors with the writers and editors they would
most like to speak to, last year NSSF adopted a
new format for the day.
“We asked participating exhibitors to give us their
‘wish list’ of media personnel they would like to
see,” said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “The morning session is now by invitation only, for that select group.
The afternoon session is open to other pre-qualified
members of the media—people who generate editorial. The new format cuts down on long lines and
wait time. It’s all about the quality of the experience
for both the exhibitors and the media attendees.”
“Media Day at the Range, from my perspective
and the comments of annual attendees, is getting
better and better each year,” said Glenn Sapir, NSSF
director of editorial services. “What we strive to do is
provide an opportunity for exhibiting personnel and
media to talk about what’s new, for the communicators to actually use the new products, and for the
media to photograph and video the products closeup and in use. And we keep striving to provide this
opportunity in the most organized and safe manner.”
To provide exhibitors with that same up-closeand-personal experience with select buyers, this
year NSSF added “Buyer Day at the Range.” Held
today, also at the Boulder City Pistol & Rifle
Range, the event is invitation-only, with the guest
list based on exhibitor input.
The event will feature hands-on workshops to
assist attendees with their buying decisions. “They
may not otherwise have the opportunity to try the
product and ask questions of the manufacturers’
reps at the same time,” Dolnack said. “We regret
we cannot accommodate everyone, but we will
evaluate this first event and possibly expand it.”
For information about next year’s Buyer Day,
contact Chris Dolnack, [email protected]. For
next year’s Media Day, contact Bill Brassard,
[email protected].
F E AT U R E
According to the number of apprentice licenses sold, Families Afield
has recruited more than 1 million new hunters. This amazing feat was
accomplished one hunter at a time, through individual mentoring.
The Hunter’s
Apprentice
NSSF Families Afield has
produced 1 million new hunters
A
By Robert F. Staeger
t the turn of the last century, the question was
on everyone’s lips: Where are the next generation of hunters coming from? Research was
showing that youngsters tend to continue with
the hobbies they choose early in life, but in
most states, hunting wasn’t even an option for
kids until they were older. If their recreational habits weren’t
etched in stone, it was at least rapidly drying cement. So in
2004, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, along with
the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and the National Wild Turkey
Federation, created Families Afield to help address the issue.
The purpose of Families Afield is
to break down barriers in state hunting regulations, allowing parents to
decide for themselves when to allow
their children to go hunting.
“Really, the key to recruitment
and retention of new hunters and
shooters is access,” says NSSF
senior vice president and chief marketing officer Chris Dolnack.
“Access and opportunity.” Families
Afield provides both, giving prospective hunters a chance to get a
feel for the sport before committing
to a hunter-safety course.
“It’s a try-before-you-buy program,” says Melissa Schilling,
NSSF’s director of recruitment and
retention. “You can buy an apprentice license and go out on a mentored hunt with a licensed hunter,
and see if hunting is for you.”
The program has proven extremely
popular. To date, 35 states have
adopted Families Afield legislation,
and in the nine years of the program’s
70 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
existence, it’s created more than 1
million new hunters. One million
apprentice licenses have been sold in
the Families Afield states—and that
doesn’t even count the handful of
states that don’t track such numbers.
“We’re very excited about the 1
million marker,” says Schilling. “It’s
a huge impact, and it’s just going to
continue to grow. As far as recruitment efforts go, it’s an excellent
example of how a program should
look and be structured.”
In recent years, the Congressional
Sportsmen’s Foundation and the
National Rifle Association have
joined the effort. “It’s grassroots,”
says Schilling. “It’s important, of
course, to get the state fish and
wildlife agencies behind the effort,
as well as other hunting organizations at the local level.”
But making a lasting change can
be quite a long process. “It’s a lot of
footwork on the grassroots level,”
she says. “We actually just created a
video that we’re going to have states
use to see the progress of the program over the past several years.”
There are a number of compelling
reasons for states to sign on. One is
economic. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife
survey estimates that the average
economic impact of a hunter to the
shooting-sports industry is $17,120.
“And that’s just in firearms,
ammunition, optics, clothing—all
the core equipment you’d need to
go hunting,” says Dolnack.
It doesn’t include the economic
impact hunters have on local economies in other areas as they pursue
their sport, and it doesn’t include
the multiplier effect, as that $17,000
becomes profit and salary and is
spent and re-spent. But even so, the
number is impressive, considering
the number of participants in
Families Afield.
“It’s $17,120 times a million,”
Dolnack says.
A second reason for states to enact
Families Afield legislation is that
apprentice hunters are demonstrably
safer. “The safety rate is actually five
times safer than the general hunting
population,” says Schilling. “When
an apprentice hunter goes out into
the field with a licensed hunter, the
rate of safety has been shown to
rise. They’re always the safest hunters out there.”
Dolnack has a theory for why that
is. “I would liken it to a teenage
driver with a learner’s permit with a
parent in the passenger seat, as compared to someone who doesn’t have
an authority in the passenger seat,”
he says. “In a lot of the states,
apprentice hunters aren’t even permitted to carry a firearm. The mentor has to carry the firearm, and
once they’re in position, the apprentice can take possession of it. It’s a
matter of direct supervision. They’re
trying to demonstrate that they have
the maturity and responsibility.”
Families Afield has broadened from
its initial mission statement of introducing youth to hunting, however. A
significant contributor to the 1 million apprentice hunter licenses sold
has been the recent broadening of
Families Afield legislation to include
adult apprentice hunters as well. In
2011, for instance, there were more
than 52,000 apprentice licenses sold
to adults. That accounts for about 35
percent of the apprentice licenses
sold in Families Afield states.
“It makes a lot of sense if you think
about it,” says Dolnack. “You can
take a youngster out hunting, and
let’s say he or she likes it. They’re
still dependent on an adult to take
them again. If you take an adult
hunting—whether it be a coworker, a
relative, or a wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, or husband—presumably they
have a job, and the means and
wherewithal that if they like hunting,
they can go take a hunter safety class
and they can get a hunting license
and buy the equipment.”
Pennsylvania and North Carolina
are the most recent states to add
adult access to apprentice licenses,
says Schilling. “An apprentice license
holder could be eight years old or
80. It’s opening the doors for anyone
who wants to try hunting and see if
they want to take the next step.”
That next step is hunter-education
classes, and Families Afield has an
excellent track record there, too. A
Minnesota DNR survey indicates
that 50 percent of apprentice hunters go on to enroll in hunter-education courses. And only 24 percent of
the Minnesota apprentices said that
they would have hunted had the
apprentice hunting license not been
available. That’s a 76 percent pickup, a pretty impressive figure that
proves that Families Afield is really
opening the doors for new hunters.
That same Minnesota survey suggests that at least some of those new
hunters are coming from new populations, too. “The apprentice license
recruits women at a rate that is nearly three times higher than occurs
with regular hunting licenses,” says
Schilling. “That was something we
were really pleased to see, that
Families Afield is creating that.” In
addition, the apprentice license
recruits urban and suburban folks at
a 50 percent higher rate than occurs
with regular hunting licenses, as well.
Looking forward, the Families
Afield program is making a twopronged effort to expand. “We’re
continuing to look at the Western
states to implement Families Afield
in general,” says Schilling, to lower
the barriers to youth hunting.
“We’ll also revisit some of the states
that have already implemented
Families Afield legislation, in order
to include the adult apprentice
opportunity. That is going to be our
heavy focus.”
With 1 million apprentice hunter
licenses already sold, the momentum for expansion is clearly there.
F E AT U R E
The economic impact
of hunters and shooters goes far beyond
transactions around
the gun case. Hunting
Works for America
highlights the importance of the shooting
sports to the economy
at every level.
NSSF Goes Local
Hunting Works for America works for you
F
By David Draper
ormer speaker of the house Tip O’Neill once famously quipped, “All politics are local,” a sentiment that accurately defines just exactly what the
National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Hunting Works for America initiative is all about. The award-winning program was developed in 2010
to align sportsmen and sporting organizations with the many businesses
and workers, both inside and outside the industry, whose livelihood
depends on hunting and the dollars hunting infuses into local economies.
“Local businesses, chambers of commerce, and
state and county tourism and convention and visitors bureaus know how important hunters are to
their businesses and communities,” says Chris
Dolnack, NSSF’s senior vice president and chief
marketing officer. “I’m not just talking about
sporting goods stores or your local gun shop
owners. I’m talking about gas stations, resorts,
hotels, restaurants, convenience stores, grocery
stores, repair shops, and countless other businesses that know that when they see hunter orange,
they’re going to get a little hunter green. As
hunters, we like to support businesses that support us and our sport. Hunting Works for
America is one way that hunters and businesses
can support each other.”
In the seven states where Hunting
Works for America chapters have been
formed, more than 700 memberorganizations representing thousands of business owners and
employees monitor public policy decisions and weigh in on
hunting-related issues that affect
their respective local economies. They
facilitate important public policy dialogue
and tell the story of how America’s hunting
heritage positively affects conservation, jobs,
and the economy across the United States.
“Hunters contribute locally, and their spending at
convenience stores, roadside diners, sporting
goods stores, hotels, and hardware and clothing
stores has an absolutely astounding ripple effect
on local economies and jobs across America,” says
Dolnack. “Hunting Works for America provides
local businesses that depend on hunting for their
livelihood with a voice on issues that impact
hunting and hunting participation. Legislators
and regulators expect the NSSF to advocate on
behalf of our members. That’s a major part of
what we do. But when you enlist up to 100 businesses that have an economic stake in hunting
issues, even though they are not directly involved
in our industry, it sends a powerful message.”
Dolnack and the NSSF have seen firsthand the
impact HWFA chapters have had on local issues.
Hunting Works for Iowa was instrumental in
defeating a ban on traditional ammunition for dove
hunting that would have negatively impacted participation and local rural economies. In Arizona,
the Hunting Works for America chapter members
submitted letters to media outlets and made calls
to their congressional members when a ban on
recreational shooting in the Sonoran National
Monument Area was proposed, ensuring the ban
would be overturned.
“These actions helped maintain the economic
lifeblood that hunting provides to local businesses,” he says.
As local organizations notice how a
unified voice delivered by HWFA
chapters can influence local, state,
and even national policies, more
and more are getting on board.
Most recently, Pennsylvania and
Utah—two states with rich and storied outdoors heritages—have formed
state chapters. In states where HWFA is
firmly established—including Arizona, Iowa,
Minnesota, Missouri, and North Dakota—organizations and businesses are joining up to ensure
the voice of hunters and those who depend on
hunter dollars are heard at all levels of government. All indications are that, as Speaker O’Neill
implied, even top-level politics affect Main Street,
especially when it comes to the economy.
“We started this program to help connect the
dots on the economics behind hunting,” says
Dolnack. “Not only is hunting beneficial to the
hunter, it’s beneficial to everyone, hunter and nonhunter alike. Hunting is a key driver in conservation efforts and economic activity, and Hunting
Works for America has been a great success in
spreading that message.”
INTERVIEW
Five Years of Growth
S
An interview with NSSF president Steve Sanetti By Brian McCombie
ince 2008, Steve Sanetti has been the president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). A selfdescribed “gun nut” who loves shooting and hunting, Sanetti, 64, came to NSSF after 28 years at Sturm, Ruger, and
Company, where he served in numerous positions, including president, vice chairman, chief operating officer, and general counsel. Sanetti took some time recently to talk with SHOT Daily about NSSF’s growth curve.
SHOT Daily: NSSF has expanded in so many
tened to those in the outdoor media who wished to
report new product developments to the eager devotees of the shooting sports by expanding Media
Day at the Range. For the first time, in 2014 there
will also be a Buyers’ Day at the Range.
ways over the past five years. If you had to start with
one growth area, what would it be?
Steve Sanetti: Our big stretch goal was to
increase participation in hunting and the shooting
sports by 20 percent by 2014. [Editor’s Note: A
goal set by the Task Force 20/20 initiative following the 2008 Shooting Sports Summit.] Frankly,
we thought that was pretty near impossible five
years ago, a time when the entire industry was
bemoaning the downward trend in hunting
license sales and the general lack of new participants. What a difference five years have made!
Beginning with the election of Barack Obama,
sales shot upward, and have remained there, featuring 38 consecutive months of month-over-month
growth. And our retailer surveys show that this was
not only due to repeat purchases, but also by a
mass influx of new people interested in personal
protection, home defense, hunting, and recreational shooting. By all indications, most of the shooting sports have had at least a 20 percent growth in
participation, a phenomenon not seen in any comparable five-year period in recent history.
SD: That tremendous surge in firearm and ammunition sales has also spurred a lot of interest in firearms
instruction and safety training?
SS: Definitely. One outgrowth of that upsurge is
the phenomenal success of our First Shots program, which was intended to give prospective new
shooters an introduction to firearms and their safe
handling, and to encourage them to join our ranks.
I’m proud to say that this program has succeeded beyond all our expectations. First Shots Big
City Tour events are always sold out, and most of
the attendees are women who wish to satisfy their
curiosity about firearms under the watchful eye of
a trained, non-threatening instructor.
SD: First Shots is also a boost to the host retailers
and ranges, correct?
SS: It’s been great for the participating retailers
and ranges where these events are held, as more
than 43 percent of First Shot participants return
to these locations an average of six times within
the following six months. Some of these returnees
make purchases, some take formal firearms safety
courses, while others begin the process to obtain
their hunting license.
SD: As someone who’s constantly on the Internet, I
can’t help but notice that NSSF has really beefed up
its website and Facebook presence.
SD: NSSF is taking more and more of the SHOT
Show administration in-house, in order to make sure
it is constantly improving.
SS: We are going to make sure the SHOT Show
remains the one show all industry members absolutely want and need to attend in order to kick off
another successful year.
SD: Politically speaking, what is NSSF’s role in
defending our industry?
In the five years since the 2008 Shooting Sports
Summit, the industry has seen a remarkable
uptick in its participation rates.
SS: Social media have grown by leaps and bounds
during the last five years, and we have exponentially
expanded our successful efforts in this area as well.
“Pull the Trigger,” our monthly e-newsletter, now
consists of hundreds of video clips available on our
website, with all sorts of suggestions and tips to get
beginners started. Our Wheretohunt.org,
Wheretoshoot.org, and Wingshootingusa.org websites offer prospective hunters and shooters literally
thousands of places where recreational shooting
and hunting opportunities exist near whatever location they select, increasing access and opportunities
to get out and go shooting and hunting.
SD: We can’t discuss NSSF growth without mentioning all the great changes that have occurred with
the SHOT Show.
SS: The SHOT Show has grown to be the 13th
largest trade show in North America. We have
listened to exhibitors and attendees alike and have
not simply expanded for the sake of mere growth.
In fact, we have slightly downsized the show in
order to focus on its original purpose, discouraging attendance by would-be exhibitors and prospective non-trade attendees who fall outside the
boundaries of our core hunting, shooting sports,
and personal protection offerings.
SD: SHOT’s educational opportunities seem to keep
expanding, too.
SS: There are an unprecedented number of edu-
cational and networking seminars for our industry
available only at the SHOT show. And, we have lis-
74 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
SS: Our government relations efforts have taken
on a far more significant role in protecting the
entire industry from legislative and regulatory
threats at the federal, state, and local level. These
threats, sadly, weren’t even dreamed of by the
worst pessimists in our industry five years ago. We
have an administration that has taken positions
overtly hostile to our industry and the lawful manufacture, sale, ownership, and use of our products.
And since the terrible tragedy in Newtown,
Connecticut, we have seen a number of states
enact ineffective and draconian gun-control legislation, aided and abetted by politicians who have
said the most outrageously erroneous things
about us. They’ve been frequently helped by an
equally—and, unfortunately, I have to say, willfully—misinformed mass media, which uncritically
accepts virtually everything that maligns firearms
and their owners. We’ve repeatedly publicized
that firearms accidents and crime have decreased
dramatically, even as the number of firearms and
their owners have surged upward.
SD: What can NSSF do about these realities?
SS: We have greatly expanded our efforts to
thwart such ill-conceived attacks, opening an office
on Capitol Hill and forming a Political Action
Committee. We have enhanced our programs
intended to help prevent unauthorized access to
firearms by unauthorized persons. We have also
appeared in the mainstream media on many programs discussing the effects of gun control upon
our industry. With all that work, it’s rewarding to
see the favorable public-opinion polls, which, again
and again, indicate we are having a significant
impact in restoring the legitimate place which firearms hold for the American way of life—and for a
significant portion of the American public.
F E AT U R E
NSSF has been working diligently to oppose and
overturn the recent spate of state-level guncontrol laws, challenging them in the courtroom
on both procedural and Constitutional grounds.
NSSF Files Legal
Challenges to State
Gun-Control Laws
Putting the courts to work in protecting hunting and the shooting sports By Shane Townsend
T
he National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) was chartered in 1961
to promote a better understanding of and a greater participation in
hunting and the shooting sports. Some 52 years later, the mission has
evolved to include the promotion, protection, and preservation of those
same traditions, something perhaps unforeseen by NSSF founding members. Today, NSSF helps fulfill that mission through a variety of means, including a
government relations team that educates elected officials, agency representatives, and
other government bodies about industry issues to ensure the interests of NSSF members are well represented and supported at the federal and state level; a Political
Action Committee (PAC) that supports the election and re-election of candidates to
the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate who respect the firearms and
ammunition industry and America’s hunting and the shooting sports heritage and will
advance NSSF’s government relations priorities (nssfpac.org); and a legal team that
constantly monitors and defends against unlawful infringements on the rights of its
members to hunt, target shoot, and defend themselves, as well as freely engage in the
lawful commerce of firearms—their business and their livelihood.
In recent years, NSSF has taken on an ATF
firearms tracking mandate targeting federal firearms licensees in the Southwest border states;
fought efforts by anti-hunting extremists to ban
traditional ammunition made of lead components; supported a challenge to the federal
minimum-­age requirement to purchase handguns; and supported a longstanding gun-rights
struggle in Chicago.
Now, NSSF is taking on controversial state and
local gun-control laws spawned by the 2012 Sandy
Hook Elementary School tragedy. According to
Jeffrey Yue, NSSF associate general counsel, “The NSSF is currently involved in legal battles in
Connecticut, Colorado,
Maryland, California, and New
York, and is looking into pursuing other possible lawsuits challenging newly enacted gun-­
control laws that burden its
retailer members and have zero impact on reducing
gun violence or making our communities safer.”
Connecticut: A challenge
based on procedure and
democratic process
➤ On July 8, 2013, the NSSF filed a lawsuit in
Connecticut federal court against Governor
Dannel Malloy, House Speaker Brendan Sharkey,
Senate President Donald Williams Jr., and other
state officials. The lawsuit alleged that the manner
in which SB 1160 was enacted
was “an abuse of the ‘emergency certification’ procedure, circumvention of the normal legislative process, and violation of
Connecticut statutory law.”
Senate Bill 1160 was filed in
the Connecticut state Senate on
April 3, 2013. The following
78 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
day Governor Malloy signed it into law as one of
the strictest gun-control laws in the country. The
law, in part, restricts long guns and handguns and
magazines with a capacity of 10 or more rounds,
establishes a deadly weapon offender registry, and
requires an ammunition certificate or other gun
credential when buying ammunition. The bill was
fast-tracked by way of the state’s special “emergency certification” process, which allows consideration of a bill without a public hearing. That
emergency certification, says NSSF, was invalid.
In a July 10, 2013, interview on the Sportsman
Channel, Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF assistant secretary, senior vice president and general counsel,
said that the emergency certification process
requires a Statement of Fact that explains the emergency and why the normal democratic process was
not required; the legislature never filed the required
Statement of Fact. On this basis, the NSSF lawsuit
sought a judgment declaring SB 1160 invalid and
an injunction against its enforcement.
The court, however, ruled that NSSF did not
have legal standing to challenge the improperly
enacted gun-­control measure. NSSF is reviewing
the ruling and evaluating its legal options.
Colorado: A challenge
based on Constitutional
rights
➤ On May 17, 2013, the National Shooting
Sports Foundation, 54 Colorado sheriffs, and
more than a dozen others filed a lawsuit against
Gov. John Hickenlooper in Colorado federal
court. Two March 2013 gun-control laws are in
question: House Bill 13-1229, which most notably
requires universal background checks with the
transfer of firearms, including private transfers;
and House Bill 13-1224, which prohibits the sale,
transfer, or possession of magazines with more
than 15 rounds and requires identification markings on all large-capacity magazines manufactured
in Colorado after July 1, 2013.
The lawsuit challenges HB 1224 and HB 1229 as
unconstitutional under the Second and Fourteenth
Amendments and charges that the laws violate the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and place
insurmountable difficulties upon the sheriffs who
must enforce them. And, says Yue, “The new guncontrol laws are vague and provide little to no guidance on what is or is not permitted, yet firearm
retailers must somehow comply with the new laws.”
NSSF and the other plaintiffs are seeking an
injunction prohibiting the enforcement of HB
1224 and HB 1229 on the premise that the laws
“severely restrict citizens’ rights to own, use,
manufacture, sell, or transfer firearms and firearms accessories.”
The National Shooting Sports Foundation
faces a divisive gun-rights debate that is creating a
cultural disunion of the American people. NSSF’s
education and outreach efforts will help promote
safe participation in the shooting traditions and
encourage discussions. Political participation will
help shape national firearms dialogue and, ultimately, gun policy. But, litigation is part and parcel of governance in America, so, the courtroom
will play no small part in determining NSSF’s
success as it works to promote, protect, and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. NSSF is
preparing itself, and according to Keane, further
legal action is being considered.
F E AT U R E
Spreading the
Word, Digitally
Badlands relies on social media to build
customer loyalty By Slaton L. White
L
ast summer hunting pack manufacturer Badlands, based in Jordan,
Utah, launched a redesigned website. The guiding idea for the new
site, according to marketing director Blake VanTussenbrook, “was
to make it user-friendly, visually pleasing, and basically the best thing since
sliced bread—or internal-frame hunting packs. We completely revamped
the feel of the site by lightening it up, adding more visually stunning images, and offering more information about the products.”
VanTussenbrook believes the site is the best
way Badlands can show the consumer that it is
committed to providing first-class products and
customer service. “It is important for us to provide a seamless avenue for customers to order
directly from the website,” he says. “We are continually improving the buying experience by adding additional pictures, videos, user manuals—
essentially, anything possible to educate the consumer about the product line. We also made it a
point to highlight the technology and innovation
that Badlands is using in our packs, apparel, and
accessory lines. Visitors to the website will see
icons throughout the site that will educate them
about the cutting-edge technologies and top-ofthe-line materials we use in all of our products.”
But the manufacturer’s efforts in this arena
move past the company’s website to embrace all
forms of social media.
“The social media boat has been at sea for several
years now, and if you aren’t on it, you are missing
out on opportunities to not only be seen worldwide
but opportunities to educate, interact, and have fun
in general. Badlands currently has solid followings
on all the major social media sites. We use our
Facebook page as our main source of social media
interaction, and it has been very fulfilling to have an
avenue in which we can interact in almost real time
with fans, customers, buyers, retailers, and potential
consumers who are still shopping for the gear that
will best work for them. It is also important to us to
show the users of the equipment that we value them
as customers and we genuinely love to see our gear
out in the field where it is meant to be used and
Badlands packs
are prized for
design quality,
as well as their
ability to withstand hard use.
abused. Our favorite thing about social media is
being able to post pictures of people out doing what
they love most. If the legendary red bull skull
[Badlands’ company logo] pokes his head out, then
all the better!”
It’s no secret that many retailers in the shooting
sports/hunting industry are woefully behind the
curve when it comes to using all the tools of
social media to reach their customers.
VanTussenbrook says that more retailers need to
embrace social media.
“Social media involvement is only a must if your
goal is to do everything in your power to succeed
and grow,” he says. “Badlands makes a practice of
doing a Facebook shout-out to all the new dealers
we set up. I am continually amazed at the number
of shops I try to link to in my shout-outs that don’t
have a Facebook page. This is a wonderful and
valuable opportunity to reach out to the world and
tell them why you are the best. We firmly believe
that we are the best at what we do and we want the
world to know that on a daily basis. Why wouldn’t
everyone in the industry want to take advantage of
that opportunity, as well? The wonderful thing
about social media is that all it takes is an Internet
connection, some time, and a little creativity. We
run contests, post blogs, answer questions, post
pictures, and link to other sites we enjoy or work
with. The possibilities are endless. It is imperative
that you find a way to connect to your audience,
because if you aren’t sincere or bringing something
enjoyable or of worth to the table, the followers
won’t come. The key is to be consistent, be interactive, show people you care about your product,
and perhaps most importantly, work with other
sites and pages to drive traffic back and forth. We
are in an age of ‘link clicking’ because it is so convenient. Why not have your links out there in as
many places as possible?”
VanTussenbrook says that the company’s investment in social media has really paid off because it
has helped Badlands build brand awareness and
customer loyalty. “Badlands is coming into its 20th
year, and it is continually recognized as the leader
in hunting pack technology,” he says. “How did
we build that awareness? It started by continually
producing the best product available and showing
the consumers that we care about their well-being
and their feedback. As the age of social media has
progressed, it has opened up new opportunities for
brand awareness.”
“The key to social media is to have fun with it,
tell people why you are the best at what you do,
and enjoy the experience. Only when all of those
items come together will you see an increase in
customer loyalty. Take care of the customers and
they will take care of you.” Booth #10119. (800269-1875; badlandspacks.com)
F E AT U R E
The Ultimate
Product Test
The Gerber 39 Series Pocket Knife (top) and
the 39 Series Sheath Folder (bottom) are made
of 420HC steel. Both feature smooth and sleek
nickel-plated handles.
Oklahoma tornado
shows Crimson Trace
knows how to build a
tough product
W
hen a powerful tornado (rated by
the National Weather Service as
an EF-4, with winds up to 200
mph) ripped through central
Oklahoma in May 2013, homeowner Pat Brand
lost everything. He huddled along with 10 neighbors in a protective underground shelter as the
violent storm roared overhead. When he emerged
after the tornado passed, his home, truck, and a
Smith &Wesson handgun that was equipped with
Crimson Trace Lasergrips were nowhere to be
seen.
“When I came out of that shelter, I was shocked
to see everything I owned was completely gone,”
Brand says. “All I had then were the clothes and
boots I wore when I went into that shelter.”
That handgun—a S&W M&P chambered for
.40 S&W—was later found more than 600 yards
away. The gun was so coated in mud that it was
initially hard to recognize it as a handgun. The
neighbor who discovered the pistol returned it to
Brand, who then took the firearm to a local gun
shop for cleaning. There gunsmiths began the
cleaning process and were amazed to see the
Crimson Trace Lasergrips activate when they
grasped the firearm. The gun—and the Crimson
Trace Lasergrips with Instinctive Activation—had
not only survived the powerful tornado, but also
nearly a week outdoors in the rain and mud. Both
passed the gun shop’s inspection and were determined to be fully functional.
“Our products are tested in extreme conditions,
including intense range testing, before they
become a part of the Crimson Trace family,” says
Fred Karl, Crimson Trace product development
manager. “This is one test that we wished never
happened, but surviving this terrible event only
tells us we are developing the best product for
the extremes of everyday carry and the tough conditions.” Booth #16731. (800-442-2406;
crimsontrace.com)
Pat Brand displays his Smith & Wesson M&P with
Crimson Trace Lasergrips. The pistol and sighting
system took a beating during an Oklahoma tornado.
A Big Milestone
Gerber celebrates 75 years by focusing on the
future By Christopher Cogley
T
his year marks the 75th anniversary of Gerber Legendary Blades. And
while there will definitely be some celebrations associated with this
impressive milestone, don’t expect an overload of nostalgia and a big
retrospective.
“2014 is an opportunity to showcase the rich
heritage of our company, and we’re not going to
spend the year talking too much about the past,”
says Joe Mattson, Gerber senior brand manager.
“The foundation of Gerber is American-made
innovation. What we’re thinking about today is
what the next 75 years are going to look like.
We’re also asking what we’re doing to honor
our roots by continuing that tradition.”
One thing Gerber is doing is releasing the new
39 Series of knives that are designed to pay tribute to 1939—the year Gerber was founded. The
knives in the line carry a classic, elegant, no-frills
look that gives them a distinctive 1939 feel, but
they’re crafted with the materials and expertise
that Gerber has spent 75 years developing.
The 39 Series Sheath Folder and the 39 Series
Pocket Knife are both made of 420HC steel
with a nickel-plated zinc handle that’s smooth
and sleek. The Sheath Folder has a 3-inch blade
with dual thumbstuds and comes with a traditional leather sheath, while the Pocket Knife has
a 2.8-inch blade with a classic nail nick for
opening.
“As we developed the 39 Series, we did so not
as a single 75th anniversary set but as a greater
collection that will evolve and build over time,”
Mattson says. “Our vision is an array of timeless
82 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
products that honor Gerber’s deep Americanmade heritage while pointing to our bright future
ahead.”
Mattson says that the company is hosting a
75th anniversary celebration during the SHOT
Show; another event will occur later in the year
at the company’s Portland headquarters. But
other than that, the coming year is about focusing on where the company is going rather than
where it’s been.
“As an American brand and leader in the industry for 75 years now, we are incredibly proud of
where we’ve come from, and ever-grateful to
those who have been a part of this journey along
the way,” Mattson says. “As we celebrate that heritage, our focus is on the future as we continue to
evolve from a knife and tool company into a global gear manufacturer.”
As that evolution occurs, there will undoubtedly
be much about the company that will change, but
Mattson says there are some things that will
remain constant.
“The tenets on which Gerber was founded—
innovation, quality, and reliability—will always
remain the core of our business model and will
continue to drive the brand for the next 75 years
and beyond.” Booth #13614. (800-950-6161;
gerbergear.com)
F E AT U R E
The Rodeo
Connection
Weatherby spokesperson Dallas Beshears is
the real deal By David Draper
I
College student/cowgirl/competitive shooter
Dallas Beshears is serving double-duty, both
as the Brownells/NRA National Youth
Shooting Sports Ambassador for the National
High School Rodeo Association, and as a
Weatherby spokesperson, with whom she
also raises money for NHSRA scholarships.
t’s been a pretty big year for cowgirl and competitive shooter Dallas Beshears, who
spent 2013 serving as both the Brownells/NRA National Youth Shooting Sports
Ambassador for the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) and a
spokesperson for Weatherby’s fundraising program supporting NHSRA scholarships. The 18-year-old college student from Gilbert, Arizona, traveled across the
U.S. promoting rodeo and the shooting sports to hundreds of young people.
Beshears kicked off the year with her very first
visit to the SHOT Show last January, where she
discovered just how welcoming the shooting fraternity can be.
“The SHOT Show was one of the best things I’ve
ever been able to attend,” says Beshears. “Everybody
is so inviting. They love to share their experiences
and are all so willing to help you succeed. Nobody is
selfish. It’s all about helping others.”
One of those that helped Beshears make the transition from high-school rodeo star to industry upand-comer was competitive shooter and Weatherby
teammate Jessie Duff. The two hit it off on a hog
hunt near Weatherby’s headquarters in Paso Robles
this past summer, where Duff eased Beshears
through a slight bout of stage fright when filming
for Weatherby’s television and promotional assets.
“It was a new experience for me to be filmed, and
the one-on-one interviews were scary at first,” says
Beshears. “It was nice having Jessie there. She
helped me a lot with that. Just watching her, and
being on a hunt with her, I learned so much. She is
one of the nicest people I have met in my life, and
we still talk all the time.”
Building strong relationships, along with emphasizing the importance of family, is what initially
drew Beshears to work with Weatherby. The
California gun manufacturer was already well
known among the rodeo circuit Beshears competed
in growing up, thanks to the company’s ongoing
support of the NHSRA. Since 2001, Weatherby has
helped raise more than $1 million for NHSRA
scholarships by donating custom-made, limited edition Mark V rifles as well as Vanguard rifles, which
are raffled off by the NHSRA.
“I’m excited to represent Weatherby and help
with NHSRA scholarships,” says Beshears. “I’m
very big into family and Weatherby is all about
family. It’s amazing to be welcomed into that company. They are always so inviting and give you
that family feel.”
Shooting, hunting, and rodeo have always been
family affairs for Beshears, whose father, Charles,
first took Dallas out shooting when she was just 5
or 6 years old. “We’d go shoot in the forest and in
the desert near our home,” says Beshears. “It was a
family thing we did and I always enjoyed it.”
Beshears took that early shooting experience
and built on it, going on to win regional championships in light rifle and trap and competing in
both events at the 2012 National High School
Finals Rodeo. She’s also made it her mission to
educate the younger generation about the shooting sports, emphasizing that girls are just as welcome into the family.
“I think it’s kind of my duty,” says Beshears,
about her role as a youth shooting sports ambassador. “It’s something I love, and I need to preserve
it. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.” Booth
#12729. (800-227-2016; weatherby.com)
F E AT U R E
Swiss Army
Fuses Brands
The MeoStar 1–6x24 RD is Meopta’s first scope
with a 6X zoom ratio. The new ratio offers a
wider field of view when on lower power.
F
or generations, the familiar red handle
and inlaid Swiss cross have been an iconic symbol for anyone who has carried a
pocketknife. But because Victorinox and
Wenger have both made these official Swiss Army
knives, consumers and retailers have often been
confused as to which brand was the genuine article.
That confusion will finally become a thing of the
past. Late last year, Victorinox and Wenger knives
merged into one brand.
Technically, Wenger had been part of the
Victorinox company for several years, but despite
having the same owner, the two companies continued to operate as separate brands, each maintaining its own identity and its own Swiss Army
knives. But about a year ago, the owners decided
that it would make sense to merge the two brands.
“Having two separate brands was creating a great
deal of confusion for consumers, and that wasn’t
helping either brand,” says René Stutz, president
and CEO of Victorinox Swiss Army. “As a way to
help eliminate that confusion, we are integrating the
Wenger knife business into the Victorinox knife
business. The Wenger brand will continue to exist in
the watch, as well as the licensing business.”
When it comes to the iconic Swiss Army knives,
however, starting in 2014, they will all carry the
Victorinox name. “The biggest benefit is that we
won’t be competing with each other anymore,” he
says. “We can be much stronger together than we
were as two separate companies, and we’ll actually
be able to offer retailers a better assortment of products than what they’re currently carrying.”
One aspect that won’t change, despite the merger,
is the employees who design, create, and distribute
the knives. “When we started discussing bringing
the two companies together, the first order of business from our owners was that no one should lose
his or her job,” Stutz says. “The Wenger company
will be integrated into Victorinox as seamlessly as
possible, and everyone who wants to stay on will
continue to have a job—from our factories in
Switzerland to our sales force across the U.S.”
And with the same employees paying the same
kind of attention to the details that have made
both Wenger and Victorinox trusted names in the
knife industry, it’s a safe bet that while much will
change in the coming months, one thing will
remain constant—that same genuine Swiss Army
knife that so many of us have carried will continue
to be an iconic symbol for many generations to
come. Booth #14202. (800-243-4032;
swissarmy.com)
—Christopher Cogley
Victorinox and Wenger, makers of the iconic Swiss Army
Knife, are now one company.
Meopta Aims High
Premium quality, affordable prices are helping
to establish this import optics manufacturer
By Slaton L. White
W
hen retailers begin stocking Meopta’s new MeoStar R2 riflescopes, they’ll
notice a new wrinkle; the first scope in this new product line—the 30mm
MeoStar 1–6x24 RD—is also the manufacturer’s first scope with a 6X
zoom ratio. For hunters more accustomed to 3X to 9X zoom scopes, the
new configuration may take some getting used to, but according to Reinhard Seipp,
general manager and COO of Meopta USA, the 6X offers a lot of advantages.
“The advantage of a 6X zoom
is the wider field of view when
the scope is on its lowest
power,” he says. “This is especially important when hunting
dangerous game, such as Cape
buffalo, but it’s also beneficial
when hunting wild hogs in
thick cover. And, at its highest
power, the detail is extremely
sharp. It truly provides the best
of both worlds, and hunters
today like that versatility.”
Seipp believes the MeoStar
R2 1–6x24 RD provides many
other significant advantages to
the hunter as well.
“It has a true 1X magnification, a wide field of view, and
exceptional edge-to-edge clarity,” he says. “We have a new,
proprietary lens coating in the
R2 series called MeoLux. This
advanced technology, combined
with premium Schott glass lenses
and our expert design, enables
99.8 percent light transmission
per glass surface, resulting in 95
percent transmission through the
entire scope. Put simply, this
allows hunters to see better and
hunt longer. We know how
important it is to be able to make
a safe, lethal shot in the lowest
light of morning and into the
last light of evening—I’ve been
in this situation myself—and our
scopes are designed for this.”
Another strong selling point
of the scope, Seipp says, is a pair
of red-dot reticle options, both
of which can be easily seen in
86 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
bright sunlight. “The reticles
allow for very fast target acquisition, which is, again, a great
benefit when hunting dangerous
game. But they also help a deer
hunter take that buck of a lifetime, which typically gives you
just seconds to take the shot.”
The new RD8 illumination
system features eight levels of
reticle intensity. “In this manner,
the brightness level of the red
dot can be adjusted to accommodate ever-changing light and
weather conditions in the field,
from the brightest sunshine and
snow to the dimmest light,” he
says. “A low-profile third turret
controls the illumination setting
by simply turning it forward to
increase brightness and back
toward you to reduce the brightness level. We also offer two
extremely popular red-dot reticle options in this 1–6x24—the
K-Dot 2 or 4C-RD.”
Meopta has really put itself
on the map the past couple of
years, winning, among other
honors, a Best of the Best
Award from Field & Stream.
Along the way the manufacturer has developed a reputation
for offering hunters superior
“European” glass at an affordable price. Indeed, the quality is
so good, consumers may wonder how the company can get
that quality at the asking price.
“When we introduced the
Meopta brand to the United
States in 2006, we opted to
focus on the product, not the
brand,” Seipp says. “We have
invested in research, advanced
design, and new technologies,
such as MeoLux, instead of big
marketing campaigns. Sourcing
low-cost components from Asia
and using the margins to market would have built our brand
faster, but we aimed for the
premium segment and required
premium product to get there.
The downside of this strategy is
that one cannot ask a premium
price until the brand positioning and recognition is established. I am sure our products
will become more expensive as
we grow, but we aim to provide
good value and performance.”
One program that has really
helped build consumer awareness is Meopta’s partnership
with Cabela’s.
“Our strong partnership with
Cabela’s—we manufacture their
Euro riflescopes and binoculars—coupled with our own
increased communications
efforts are helping to increase
brand awareness,” Seipp says.
He does admit, however, that
much of this increase in brand
awareness has been more of a
grassroots effect. “Hunters try
our optics. They are pleased
with the performance, and then
they go tell their friends.”
Word of mouth is truly the
way to go. SRP: $1,595. Booth
#3544. (800-828-8928;
meoptasportsoptics.com)
F E AT U R E
Far left: The author with
an axis deer taken at
240 yards with the
Remington 2020. Near
left: The author zeroes
in on a hog using the
2020 system. Below:
The blue reticle changes
to red when the system
locks on target.
The Future Is Now
Remington breaks new high-tech ground By Brian McCombie
F
ew firearms deserve to be called “traditional” more so than the Model 870 shotgun and the Model 700 centerfire rifle.
Both firearms, of course, are flagship brands of Remington Arms Company and have been counted on by generations
of hunters, recreational shooters, and law-enforcement personnel for their solid, traditional functionality. But
Remington is also a major firearms innovator, and it’s that drive toward the new and the improved that has Remington
once again at the forefront of firearms technology with its newest offering—a rifle system packaged with the
Remington 2020 Networked Tracking Scope.
The new package came out last
September and pairs up three rifles
with the digital, computerized
Networked Tracking Scope made in
conjunction with Tracking Point, a
technology company based in
Austin, Texas. The rifles are the
Remington Model 700 Long Range
in .30/06, the Remington Model
700 SPS Tactical in .308, and a
Bushmaster Varminter in .223 Rem.
(Bushmaster is now owned by the
Freedom Group family of companies, Remington’s corporate parent.)
More rifle options will be made
available in the future.
Remington claims that a shooter
using the rifle and optic system can
consistently make accurate shots out
to 500 yards. I had a chance to use all
three rifles, each outfitted with a
Networked Tracking Scope, last
summer during three days of shooting and hunting in a variety of conditions, so I can state the claim is true.
Tagging the Target
➤ At first glance, the Networked
Tracking Scope seems right out of
NASA. It contains a laser rangefinder, sensors that determine air temperature and humidity, and gyroscopes to judge the angle of the rifle.
Your specific ammunition and its
ballistics data is also programmed
into the scope’s software. The shooter does need to enter the estimated
wind speed and the direction of the
wind, easily accomplished by using a
directional lever atop the optic.
The optic also has 3X to 21X
zoom capability. It also makes a
video record of all shots, and even
has the Wi-Fi capability to livestream video of what is being seen
through the optic to a nearby iPad.
Looking through the optic, a
shooter places the center white dot
on the target. Then the shooter
depresses the “TAG” button atop
the optic housing; the optic “tags”
the target, changing the white dot
to a red dot. A number also pops up
in your field of view; this is the
range in yards to the target.
Once the target is tagged, the
Tracking Point optic immediately creates what
Tracking Point designers call the “ballistic
solution” to put your
bullet on target. In
essence, the optic
has figured the
range, the bullet
drop, wind drift, and
the other factors. All a
shooter needs to do is
place the center circle of the
blue four-post reticle (this appears
as soon as you tag) over the red dot.
When the two align perfectly, the
entire blue reticle changes to red,
telling you it is time to pull the trigger.
Shooters can also use an “offset
tag,” a technique many hunters will
employ. Lining up the red tag dot
with the reticle’s blue center circle is
easy enough when the target is stationary and you are firing from a
solid rest. However, a deer foraging
on acorns under an oak tree, for
example, will be shifting around
enough to make aligning the red
88 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
dot and blue circle very difficult. In
this case, a hunter tags the animal
anywhere, allowing the Networked
Tracking Scope to figure the ballistic solution. Then the hunter aims
with the reticle, firing when he or
she has aligned the blue circle over
the desired aiming point.
The optic can also be switched to
the “Traditional” mode, which provides a military-style reticle and the
zoom function but not the ballistic
solution. The Traditional function is
well suited to close-in, quicker shots,
such as when doing drives or
tracking wounded game.
I used the rifle system on a hunt in
Texas, taking an axis
deer at 240 yards
and three hogs at
distances from 60 to
144 yards. The rifle
and optic pairing
worked as advertised,
especially when hunting
from a steady shooting blind
or stand. The hog I took at 60 yards
was done with the optic set on the
Traditional mode—a black sow that
suddenly popped out of heavy brush
and presented a quick shot. It
worked perfectly.
Helping Hand
➤ So, how does a retailer sell this
$5,000 wonder rifle? The sales process starts with a helping hand from
Remington.
“We recognized that a system this
unique was going to require some
educational and support resources,
for both consumers and retailers,”
says Alan Serven, Remington’s director of new technology. “So, one of
the things we’ve done is to create a
dedicated website for this system.
The site has all sorts of easy-tounderstand product information, plus
a series of instructional videos. The
videos, for example, will show you
how to do everything from setting up
the optic to making various adjustments to it. We think the videos will
be especially educational and helpful—for consumers and sales staff.”
You can access this dedicated website via Remington’s main site
(remington.com). Remington will
also supply its retailers with a fourpage printed brochure detailing the
system.
Given the digital nature of the
Remington 2020 Networked
Tracking Scope, a good sales technique is to have an iPad on the sales
counter, programmed with Wi-Fi
and connected to the optic. Once
the optic is activated, the scope can
transmit a live video feed to the
iPad. Use the iPad to instruct
potential customers on what the
scope’s red tag and blue reticle look
like. Here, you might want to use a
taxidermy mount at the other end of
the store as a target. You can also
use the iPad to point out the various
data collection features of the optic.
As with any new product, a sales
staff that has actually used the firearm is always a plus. Here, it may be
a necessity, as the rifle and optic
package represents a considerable
investment. Booth #14229. (800243-9700; remington.com)
F E AT U R E
SITKA FULL CHOKE
PACK COMBINES
BACKPACK AND
BLIND BAG
The Full Choke Pack from Sitka
Gear combines a backpack and
blind bag into one versatile item.
Founded in 2005, Sitka Gear brings
the technology and design of climbing
and mountaineering wear into the
hunting market. And while Sitka’s
original clothing was designed for
high-country deer and elk hunters, the
company has a strong waterfowl line
of clothes and packs designed by and
for real hunters.
The Full Choke Pack is a perfect
example, combining a backpack and a
blind bag into one. Using it last fall I
found it to be the perfect solution for
the walk-in hunter who needs to carry
shells, thermos, snacks, calls, gloves,
and other waterfowling necessities
into the marsh. With a 1,700-cubicinch capacity, the Full Choke holds a
lot of gear.
Zippers run across the top and
down one side of the Full Choke pack.
The bottom and the other side are
water-resistant Cordura. Once you
reach your spot you can set the bag
down on its side and use it as a blind
bag. All seams are taped and sealed
to keep water out. It has handles on
the top and one side as well as a loop
to hang over tree branches in flooded
timber. The waist belt has two shell
pockets, and it detaches if you don’t
need it. Duck straps tucked into the
top of the bag let you haul your limit
out at the hunt’s end. There is also a
smaller, 1,200-cubic-inch Half Choke
pack for those who don’t need to
pack quite so much gear. Available in
Optifade camo. SRP: $189.
New and worth checking out are the
Boreal Bib Pants. They are perfect for
the late-season goose hunter who lies
in a cold field waiting for the birds to
fly. The Bib Pant is insulated with a
blend of down and PrimaLoft for
warmth. SRP: $589. Booth #10328.
(877-748-5264; sitkagear.com)
—Phil Bourjaily
In addition to an extensive line of centerfire
and rimfire pistols,
Walther also manufactures a wide assortment of licensed products. Examples from
the tactical rimfire division include the H&K
416 D145RS (top) and
the Colt M4 carbine
(bottom). The Uzi
semi-auto pistol is also
available in .22
(below). All of these
products are designed
and made in Germany.
Walther’s Big Move
Walther Arms Inc. takes over all aspects of
Walther business in the U.S. By Christopher Cogley
W
alther firearms have been well-known and well-used across the United
States for decades, but until recently, the company, based in Arnsberg,
Germany, didn’t have a corporate presence in the U.S. Instead, it partnered with Smith & Wesson to handle the sales, distribution, and servicing of all Walther firearms and accessories. All that changed on
May 1, 2013, when Walther Arms Inc.—the U.S. division of Walther that is headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas—officially took over all aspects of the U.S. business.
“We are extremely excited to
offer the entire Walther line,
including all aspects of marketing, sales, distribution, and service,” says Adam Blalock, chief
executive officer of Walther
Arms. “We’re moving forward
with plans to re-ignite the
Walther brand, and this is
another major step.”
The entire process began a
year ago with the formation of
Walther Arms Inc., in Fort
Smith.
“Forming Walther Arms Inc.
allowed the company to intensify the focus on the U.S. firearms market with a dedicated
team of sales, marketing, and
product development professionals in an ever-changing
environment,” Blalock says.
With the transition of all
aspects of the business over to
Walther Arms Inc., Blalock says
that retailers can expect more
direct communication and personalized attention as well as an
increased focus on customer
service. But it won’t just be the
90 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
retailers who will benefit from
Walther’s increased presence in
the U.S.
“The consumer will definitely
have a stronger voice and closer
connection to the company
now,” Blalock says. “But the
biggest benefit to the U.S. consumer will be product development that is focused on them,
because now our dedicated staff
will be able to gather more
market information and react
quicker to meet the needs of
our U.S. customers.”
Walther and Smith &
Wesson will maintain a strong
strategic partnership on several
fronts. Smith & Wesson will
continue to manufacture the
PPK for Walther Arms Inc.,
and Carl Walther will continue
to manufacture the M&P22 for
Smith & Wesson, but the dayto-day operations will all be
handled by Walther Arms Inc.
“Walther is extremely excited
about having a more prominent
presence in the U.S. firearms
market. Walther has been a
well-known worldwide brand
for more than 130 years, and
this new entity will only
enhance the brand and make it
stronger in the U.S. market,”
Blalock says. “With the boom in
the firearms industry as a whole,
and with our strong presence in
Fort Smith, we don’t see any
limits in expanding our product
lines and brand equity in the
U.S. and worldwide.”
And there are plenty of U.S.
fans who would definitely like
to see that. Booth #14745.
(479-242-8500; walther
arms.com)
F E AT U R E
The WBY-X line dresses up a selection of Vanguard rifles and shotguns
in unorthodox garb that appeals to
younger shooters.
Weatherby Embarks
on a New Course
Management changes and product redirection help
move the company down a new road By Slaton L. White
Y
ou might not have noticed, but Weatherby has undergone a radical management restructuring over the past two years, a program devised by company president Ed Weatherby to
better position the company to meet the challenges of the future.
“We took a complete look at the
company’s core values and its direction,” he says. As part of this process
he looked at the management structure and found it wanting. “In the
past, we had one person that oversaw
sales and marketing. What I realized
is that we could do a better job in
sales and a better job in marketing if
we had one person in each of those
positions. That way they could really
focus on one area exclusively.”
So, in 2011, Weatherby brought
in industry veteran Mike Schwiebert
as director of marketing, and last
year he hired Jason Evans (who had
spent many years at Benelli) as vice
president of sales and product development. That was just the tip of the
iceberg; he brought in other key
personnel as well.
“We now have a whole lot more
people, and we’re able to achieve a
whole lot more,” he says.
When you talk to his team, you
can feel the passion they have—both
for the company and the shooting
sports. This is no accident.
“We look for people who have a
passion for our sports—people who
love shooting, people who love hunting,” Weatherby says. “I also believe
that if you’re going to give a person
some responsibility, you also need to
give them the authority to get the job
done. I don’t like micromanaging. I
have confidence in them and let them
do what they need to do. In this way,
we get new ideas and new methods.”
Handing off the ball can be difficult for many managers, but according to Schwiebert, the company
president does just that. “Ed allows
the team to run,” he says.
Schwiebert also says that as part
of the restructuring, the manufacturer examined the product mix.
“We decided we needed more category differentiation,” he says. “So
now our product mix is divided into
three clearly distinct areas: Sporting,
Threat Response, and WBY-X.
The latter category, initiated a little
more than a year ago, was perceived
as a huge departure—and a big risk.
It consisted of dressing a selection of
Vanguard rifles and the PA-459 and
PA-08 semi-auto shotguns in highly
unorthodox garb that would appeal to
a much younger demographic. The
edgy camo patterns were designed to
get, and keep, the attention of this
notoriously fickle group.
This program was the result of
92 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
Weatherby taking a long, hard look
at its customer base. In doing so, it
realized that times had changed, and
it couldn’t grow if it continued to
makes the kinds of products that
appealed to the types of customers it
had 20 years ago.
“We looked at the kinds of product a new generation wanted,”
Weatherby says. “We also asked,
‘How do we communicate with
them?’”
The short answer: social media.
“Weatherby was actually
ingrained in social media before
there was a ‘social media,’” says
Justin Moore, assistant director of
marketing and communications.
“We had a forum called Weatherby
Nation that actually allowed us to
talk to our consumers.”
That experience led the company
to build a website, which was
recently redesigned. “We recently
rebuilt our website,” he says. “It
needed to be edgier and have a
more modern, techie look.”
Weatherby has also jumped into
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
“The idea was to take it slow, to get
people to really engage with us,” he
says.
As a result, he says, the company
has seen a big jump in younger
demographics. Given that the average age of the Weatherby customer
is 44, creating portals that appeal to
customers half that age is vital to
continual growth. Moore says that
before this recent campaign kicked
off, “Facebook Likes by the 13- to
17-year-old demographic group was
zero. It’s now 18 percent. Likes by
the 18- to 24-year-old crowd before
were in the single digits,” he says.
“Now they’re up to 21 percent.”
In all, Facebook Likes jumped by
14,000 in just five days. “Best thing,
we didn’t buy these Likes,” he says.
“These are people who really want
to engage with us.”
Team Weatherby is also a great
help here. Rather than hire the “usual
celebrity,” Weatherby set out to find
people outside the industry who resonated with younger customers. Team
members include Major League
Baseball player Willie Bloomquist,
Professional Rodeo Cowboys
Association world champion steer
wrestler Luke Branquinho,
Professional Bull Riders World Finals
qualifier Brendon Clark, champion
pistol shooter Jessie Duff, Ultimate
Fighting Championship featherweight title contender Chad Mendes,
National Football League player Bear
Pascoe, country music artist Darryl
Worley, and American Motorcyclist
Association Pro Motorcross Rookie
of the Year Jessy Nelson.
“We feel these people, who truly
have a passion for the shooting sports
and hunting, uniquely connect with
our customers,” Schwiebert says.
“They’re always taking risks, and
they’re innovative and bold, attributes that reflect back on us.”
Moore notes that Team
Weatherby Twitter feeds “have been
very important. Each member has a
strong following here, and they each
appeal to different market segments.
Print ads that feature team members (posing with rifles and shotguns
that represent all three categories) are
running in non-endemic publications,
such as FIGHT!, which covers the
UFC, American Cowboy, and
Humps N’ Horns (bull riding). “By
taking our company outside the
industry, we’ve moved into an uncluttered market. We expect big dividends with this approach,” he says.
Moore also believes social media
is a vital tool to help the company
connect with new hunters and
shooters. “We know people are
interested in hunting and shooting,
but many won’t come to us through
the traditional channels. If you’re
not reaching outside of our market,
you’re missing a big opportunity.”
Booth #12729. (805-227-2600;
weatherby.com)
F E AT U R E
Zeiss Glasses
Mainstream Territory
Creating a more affordable product line helps
manufacturer and retailer alike
W
hen industry veterans Mike Jensen and Todd Pearson arrived at Zeiss a little over
two years ago (as president and vice president of sales and marketing, respectively),
they were presented with a rare opportunity—transform the company. Easier said
than done, but it was a challenge they both embraced wholeheartedly.
“Zeiss traditionally has been a
brand that consumers aspired to
own. But, normally, most would
place financial reality over aspirations
and settle for a product in a realistic
price range,” says Jensen. “There is
nothing wrong with a serious optical
user who wants the best and can
afford to reach into his or her pocket
and drop $2,500 for a Zeiss Victory
HT binocular. But top-shelf products
like this simply do not create a revenue stream large enough to support a
retailer’s business. At that level, you
are dealing with only two percent of
the consumers. I knew that whatever
direction I took the company, I needed to include the independent retailer. He needs to prosper from our
decisions.”
In other words, Jensen needed to
take a boutique manufacturer mainstream.
“Retailers need traffic flow,” he
says. “Manufacturers carry the
responsibility to drive consumers into
the retail stores. At the same time, we
have to give the retailers a product
that is desirable to a broad range of
consumers and provides a good margin. Mainstreaming a top-shelf product brand accomplishes this. Zeiss
now offers retailers binoculars and
riflescopes in three classes of products
that range from $349 to $2,500.”
The three distinct product lines
The Terra line is a more mainstream
product designed to deliver Zeiss
quality at a more affordable price.
are Terra, Conquest, and Victory.
“Each has its own swagger,” Jensen
says. “The Terra line is the introduction to our premium line. With a
2–7x42, a 3–9x42, and a 4.5–14x42
offering, it is ideal for any hunter in
the U.S. Starting at $359, the Terra
features a 1-inch tube, extraordinary
light transmission, and a multiple
reticle option. The Conquest line is
pure hunting. It offers five-times
zoom in a sleek, 1-inch tube. The
Victory line is the best of the best.
Handcrafted in Germany, these
scopes are each a work of art. They
feature a 30mm tube design and offer
the highest light transmission in the
industry—more than 95 percent
through the entire scope. No other
scope can make that claim.”
Jensen notes that as the company
94 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
developed its new portfolio, he and
his team knew they would have to
sell select products only to select
independent retailers to protect
their profitability. The decision was
made to clean up the distribution
model. As a result, Zeiss pulled all
new Conquest products from distributors. Doing so offered selected
retailers protection from over-distribution, which, in turn, protected
their margins.
“We split our products by customer
groups,” he says. “Conquest and
Victory are now dealer-only product
lines. We then brought to market our
mainstream product line, Terra. Terra
is offered to all channels of trade and
gives the independent retailer the
opportunity to offer a broader selection of products, from $349 to $499,
all wrapped up under a luxury brand.
In essence, we are using Terra as the
driver, and retailers can offer a full
line of Zeiss Victory, Conquest, and
Terra, a boutique broad selection of
products to a much larger consumer
group. It’s working.”
“Terra has changed the dynamic
of the Zeiss brand,” says Tom
Gallagher, Cabela’s director of merchandising. “These two guys get it.
They understand the industry, retail
point of sale, packaging, and, of
course, the products we offer to our
customers.”
Zeiss Conquest (top) and Zeiss
Victory (above) represent the pinnacle of the line, offering superb optics
that command premium prices.
Jensen understands that in order
for this transformation to work,
Terra needs to be the driver.
“Retailers large and small will want
to put it on their shelves,” he says.
“The product needs high consumer
demand, broad distribution, distinguished packaging, and point-ofsales support that self-sells the product line. We had strategy meetings
revolving around every one of these
topics. I think we got it done. Terra
can’t be kept in stock. Consumers
are looking everywhere for the line,
and as they are driven to the independent retailer, the retailer has the
opportunity to upsell higherfeatured, higher-priced products to
someone seeking Zeiss.”
Ultimately, Jensen says, the longterm health of the shooting-sports
industry revolves around the independent retailer. “We thrive within
an industry where we are blessed to
have a constitutional amendment
that drives consumers into licensed
retailers to transact firearms,” he
says. “No other industry has such a
gift. My opinion is that it’s a moral
obligation, a responsibility of all top
industry executives that run top
brands to support this bloodline.
We see competitive brands now
selling consumer direct, extracting
revenue and profit from the independent retailer. In our eyes, that’s
just shameful. We didn’t want to go
that route. Consumers aspire to
own a top-shelf brand. They enjoy
showcasing their purchases to their
friends, and they carry a sense of
pride when they use the products.
Retailers now have a boutique
brand that has gone mainstream,
and they are selling more product at
all price points because of it.”
Booth #13913. (800-441-3005;
zeiss.com/sports)
F E AT U R E
Night Moves The second
annual Crimson Trace Midnight
3-Gun Invitational attracted more
than 150 competitors willing to
forgo sleep for nonstop action.
Light ’Em Up!
Crimson Trace’s Midnight 3-Gun Invitational marathon gains steam
A
s 3-Gun competitions rise in popularity across America, so do the challenges. Topping the 3-Gun challenge list
could be the second annual Crimson Trace Midnight 3-Gun Invitational (M3GI), which was held near Bend,
Oregon, last summer. At the dusty desert range, more than 150 competitors dashed and shot their way through
nine stages.
In the dark.
With lasers and lights.
Using handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
So, what were the many challenges
competitors faced, you may wonder?
Shooters had to run, shoot, hit,
and topple or punch more than 70
metallic targets, more than 50 clay
shotgun targets, and more than 80
paper silhouette targets. The distance run was approximately five
football field-lengths on uneven and
rocky ground.
Then the fun—or frustrating—
part was shooting at and hitting targets. On average, the competitors
shot 145 rounds of 9mm handgun
ammunition, and more than 100
rounds each of .223 Remington and
12-gauge shotshells. A range safety
officer ran along and observed over
the shooters’ shoulders to be certain
all shots were safely fired. Any safety
infraction resulted in instant disqualification.
Adding to the challenge was trying to stay awake—and motivated.
The first shots were fired around
9:30 each evening, and the final
ones between 3 and 5 each morning.
That’s nearly 30 hours of shooting
for a large group of the competitors.
Yes, it seems like a lot of work. So
what was the reward?
First Place–winner Daniel Horner
went home with a check for $10,000
($6,000 first prize, plus an additional
$4,000 because he used Crimson
Trace products on all his competition firearms). The other shooters
won prizes ranging from MSR-style
firearms to Leupold scopes to gun-
First Place Daniel Horner went
home with a check for $10,000. Not
bad for two nights’ work.
96 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
cleaning kits to range bags and
ammunition.
So, exactly what strategy did
Horner deploy to shoot his way into
the winner’s circle? He practices for
the night competition by shooting
at night. As a soldier, Horner also
teaches shooting skills, including
shooting in the dark.
To him, 3-Gun competitions are
not only fun, but a valuable learning
experience as well.
“We do quite a bit of nighttime
shooting with night vision and
lasers, so it was a pretty easy transition to the 3-Gun world,” Horner
says. “However, I did learn a few
things to bring back from the competition world to make me a better
instructor.
“I put the Crimson Trace lasers
on every gun and co-witnessed them
to the sights,” Horner says. “In
other words, I don’t zero the laser
by shooting it. If the sights are
zeroed, just move the laser to the
sights. The lasers held zero very
well. I was able to shoot plates at
more than 50 yards with my pistol.
The Crimson Trace lasers are simple to use and extremely effective.”
If you are looking for a top tip to
help you grab the winner’s check at
your next 3-Gun competition, this
valuable insight could help you
make better shooting plans and
develop critical gear strategies.
“If I could give one tip to everybody, it would be to know your
equipment, and keep it simple,” he
says. “A light, a laser, and a button
for both should be the only change
you make to your normal guns. I
love the quote, ‘Beware the man
with only one gun. He might know
how to use it.’ I pretty much live by
that.”
Horner also does something few
other 3-Gunners do—he’s constantly moving as he shoots. Many competitors stop or briefly pause before
they move their trigger finger and
shoot at a target. Horner (a member
of the U.S. Army Marksmanship
unit) seems to always be on the
move—and shooting.
Horner is widely recognized as
one of the top 3-Gunners in
America now, and he’s earning the
checks and shooting the scores to
prove it. All in all, his payday wasn’t
bad for two long nights of work
involving running—and gunning.
For more details on the shoot, go to
m3gi.com. Booth #16731. (800402-2406; crimsontrace.com)
F E AT U R E
A Legacy of
Knowledge
1
Mail-order giant Brownells
celebrates 75 years dispensing
parts and professional know-how
I
By Robert F. Staeger
2
3
4
n 1939, a young man was struggling to keep his
Shell service station afloat in Montezuma, Iowa.
Things weren’t going well. He didn’t realize he
was allergic to the alcohol used in car radiators
back then; he only knew he that some days he
had dizzy spells that would knock him for a loop.
It was there, laid out in bed and unable to conduct business, that perennial tinkerer Bob
Brownell began fixing and restoring guns.
“In those days, there were no
restrictions,” says his son, Frank, current chairman of the board of
Brownells, the company his father
founded. (Frank ran the company as
president from 1983 to 2008.)
“They’d just sell them like silverware
and teapots. He’d buy them, tear
them apart, rebuild them, and resell
them. Most of it was pistol work,
which he could do lying on his back.”
That started him down the road
that created the all-things-firearms
retailer that’s celebrating its 75th
year. When Bob was on his feet
again, he began looking into a way
for gun shops to blue the metal in
guns on their own. Using a combination of fertilizer and lye, he perfected the concoction, boiling and
packaging it in the basement of his
home. He set up a gun shop in
young Frank’s bedroom; Frank’s bed
folded up and was hidden behind a
drape during business hours.
Bob began carrying hard-to-find
parts and tools for gunsmiths. “He
couldn’t find what he wanted,” says
Frank, “and so he figured other
people couldn’t, either.” He set up a
small sales brochure and began taking mail-order sales from around
the country, often acting as middleman between buyers and firearms
manufacturers. “In those days, there
wasn’t immediate anything,” says
Frank. “The process might take several weeks.”
He’d also create some of his own
specialized tools for gunsmiths,
finding them through other gunsmiths or making them himself.
“His brain was always thinking of
how to do it better, how to communicate it better,” says Pete Brownell,
Frank’s son, Bob’s grandson, and
current CEO of Brownells.
One of those innovations was glass
bedding. The process, which bonds
the uneven surfaces of a gun’s action
to its stock, had been used in other
industries, but it was Bob Brownell
who brought it to gunsmithing. “He
came up with the packaging and the
name, and ballyhooed the hell out of
it,” says Frank. “It became a staple of
the industry.”
Meanwhile, Bob was also pursuing
a writing career, penning a column in
American Rifleman called “The Jack
Leg Journal,” among other endeavors. And the business itself kept moving—from the furnace room of a
bakery to the basement of a Masonic
hall to a rehabbed old movie theater.
“All of this time, he kept finding
these new products,” says Frank. “In
a really great year, there might be
eight or 10 new products. I grew up
following him around—learning to
hunt, learning to fish, and getting
involved in the business.”
Frank was far from the only person Bob taught. “Grandpa wanted
to professionalize the gunsmithing
trade,” says Pete. One of the ways
he did this was through his gunsmithing newsletter, called
Gunsmith Kinks. Packed with tips
and information, mechanical and
otherwise, the newsletters have been
collected into four large volumes,
the first one published in 1968.
“He loved to write,” says Frank.
“He was a journalist at heart.”
Collecting techniques from his customers and passing them on through
the newsletter, Bob Brownell was
crowdsourcing before it was cool—
all in the service of making gunsmithing a viable, knowledgeable
profession, with information resources professionals could draw upon.
After going to college for pre-med
A Company Evolves 1. Bob Brownell, at work loading polish, in the
1940s. 2. Bob, right, at the 1949 NRA show in Dallas. 3. Throughout the 1960s,
Brownells added inventory, requiring more space to store it before shipping it
out. 4. Bob and Frank manage a busy call center in the pre-computer 1980s.
98 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
F E AT U R E
That’s Showbiz 1. Printing of the Gunsmith Kinks newsletter was always
done in-house. 2. The Monte Theatre, a moviehouse in Montezuma, Iowa,
became home to the company for a time. 3. A view from the balcony into the
rehabbed theater, now the packing department.
and doing a stint in the Navy, Frank
discovered he took after his dad: “I
found out what I really like to do is
to write and to peddle,” he says. By
the time he got back to the company, the catalog that had begun its
life as a tri-fold brochure had
become a saddle-stitched book.
Another Brownells publication,
1959’s Encyclopedia of Modern
Firearms, was a breakout hit. The
book consisted of exploded manufacturers’ diagrams of all guns in production, with descriptions of every
piece, as well as information from
military firearms manuals. “Our
buyer ordered three of every gun
part,” says Frank. “Screws, springs,
pins, all the stuff that held them
together. Then he measured all of
those, and wrote down the average.
Nobody had that kind of accuracy in
those days. It brought together all
the information a small gun shop
needed to know which screw to buy,
and then he could go ahead and put
the gun back together.”
“That was probably the one book
that we did that really defined
Brownells as the information source
to the gunsmithing trade,” says
Pete. “Because it gave all the gun-
smiths out there the kind of information they needed to be successful.
And then we started to layer on
more and more information about
being a good gunsmith. It was information like that that we’ve had as a
mandate in the marketplace for the
past 60, 70 years.”
In the meantime, the parts and
tools business blossomed. “In the
early days we’d add maybe 10 new
products in a year,” says Frank.
Under his stewardship, Brownells
began to carry more and more new
products. “Today we’re looking at
2,500 to 3,000 every year”—all of
them backed by Brownells’ original
money-back guarantee.
“Dad liked the products he selected well enough that if you as a customer were not happy with it, you
could send it back and trade it in or
get a refund,” says Frank. “It was all
about making the customer happy,
because if you had a happy customer
and one product didn’t work out,
they’d be back. Because they knew
they could trust you.”
That generosity extended to time
and knowledge. In the company’s
early days, Bob wrote countless letters to customers helping them use
1
2
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F E AT U R E
1
2
3
4
5
products. “The CEO of the business
was the tech support,” remembers
Pete. “And as phones took over for
letters, he became the first
helpline.” The Brownells call center
now has 63 phone agents answering
customer questions.
“As the world has gotten so much
closer together, we make sure we
stay right at the cutting edge,” says
Frank. “With next-day delivery, and
with a person answering the phone,
not a menu. You will get somebody
that can help you, immediately, with
a smile and a real live voice.”
Pete agrees. He’s overseen adding
informative videos and other tools
to the Brownells website: “The
thing that’s changed over time is the
media through which we communicate, and the speed at which we
communicate, but not the core philosophy of keeping the customer
well informed.”
There have been other ways the
business has changed over the years.
The military’s move to the M-16
platform spurred an interest in
AR-15 rifles at home, and a corresponding interest in accessories…and
in fixing their own guns. “At the time
when the gunsmith disappeared from
the local community, these guys had
to learn to do it themselves,” says
Frank. “And the modern sporting
rifle platform is perfect for that. It’s
like a Christmas tree; you can hang
anything you want on it.”
Frank’s tenure as president saw the
company’s first major increases in
product line, as the company began
carrying not just parts, tools, and
springs, but sights, grips, no-skidwraps, and more. Frank’s basic criteria was simple: “If you could hang it
on a gun, or use it to improve your
ability to use that gun, then it was
something we’d seriously look at.”
“That’s part of Frank’s legacy,” says
Pete. “The accessorizing really started to come into the marketplace in
the ’50s and ’60s. Before that it was
replacement parts from the factory.”
“We helped a lot of young gunsmiths achieve their success by giving them a channel to the marketplace,” says Pete. Manufacturers like
Ed Brown, Bill Wilson, and Ron
Power all enjoyed greater exposure
through the Brownells catalog.
Timney Triggers made just one
model before they were carried by
Brownells; the exposure helped them
understand the national market, and
Growth, Change 1. Brownells headquarters, circa 1977. Behind it, an old
schoolhouse served as the bulk warehouse. 2, 3. Deliveries changed from trips
to the post office (1950s), to pallets on loading docks (1970s). 4. A modern
office replaced the old schoolhouse. 5. Assembling some clay pigeon throwers.
F E AT U R E
Time Passages 1. Frank Brownell, rejoining the company fresh out of the Navy in 1964. 2. Frank grew up following
his dad around, learning lessons in hunting, fishing, and business (circa 1946). 3. Bob in 1990, having nurtured his
fledgling company into an indispensible stalwart of the industry.
helped them expand their offerings.
“For three generations we’ve really
been helping young entrepreneurs
find a market quickly.”
And in helping these entrepreneurs, Frank helped Brownells grow,
as well. Recalling an idea he heard at
a business seminar, he explains: “The
first generation finds a blank spot,
creates an idea, puts a wall around it,
and calls it a business. The second
generation’s responsibility is to put in
a management team and grow it at a
pace they can manage. But it’s still
under the management and brain of
that second-generation leader. It puts
together a treasury—a cash pile.”
And that’s where the third generation comes in, to make the most of
the accumulated funds. “The third
generation immediately fires the
second generation—because with
any luck you’ve outgrown their abilities—and spends the cash pile
growing the company,” says Frank.
“We basically did that.”
“There was a leadership style that
Grandpa had, there’s one that Frank
had, and there’s one that I have,”
says Pete. “They really match the
size and the industry’s growth. I
think we’ve matched it up really
well. As the industry got really big
and professional, our organization
has been agile enough to adjust to
the customer demands of the time.”
Pete’s tenure has overseen more
changes for the company. In 2011,
Brownells expanded into carrying
ammunition, by acquiring Crow
Shooting Supply. Crow’s owner,
Steve Crow, approached the company
with the idea, as he was getting
bogged down with the minutia of
running a business. “We had someone who was extremely talented in
the ammunition market,” says Pete.
“He understood who the companies
were, he understood the product
really well, he understood who the
customers were. But he was also so
encumbered with back-office stuff.
We knew if we could supply him with
the back office support, we could let
Steve do what he loved the most.”
Another upcoming change is a
move to a new facility this year. “We
were out of space to grow in
Montezuma,” says Pete. “We also
needed a larger pool of people to
recruit from. We just couldn’t support that kind of workforce out of
Montezuma.”
So after a nationwide search, the
company chose nearby Grinnell.
“Iowa had the best combination of
culture and values and workforce.”
The new, 200,000-square-foot
warehouse in Grinnell will begin
operation this spring. Soon afterward, the offices will move to the
same area. The current facility in
Montezuma will house Crow’s
ammunition business, now expanding into firearms themselves.
The new site will also have a
showroom and pickup location. Pete
is hoping to use it to train some
gunsmiths in valuable away-fromthe-bench skills. A nearby gunsmithing school could be sending
some students out as interns, so
they’ll be more employable in the
retail market. Professionalizing gunsmiths goes deep into this company’s DNA, beginning with its
founder. (For another example, you
can read about the Brownells
Gunsmith Job Fair in tomorrow’s
SHOT Daily.)
“Grandpa took a passion, and
took a skill set that included writing
and communicating and inventing,
and put ’em all together to create a
business that today we still follow
the main tenets of,” says Pete. At
every level, one generation teaches
the next. Booth #805. (800-7410015; brownells.com)
1
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F E AT U R E
New FieldPods
‘Push the Envelope’
Battenfeld Technologies expands Caldwell’s
DeadShot series By Brandon Butler
Rifle Rest
Caldwell’s new
DeadShot TreePod
provides treestand
hunters with a convenient, adjustable,
and secure rest for
their rifle.
C
aldwell is best known
for its innovative
recoil-reducing line
of Lead Sled shooting rests. The diverse
shooting sports manufacturer found the
second coming of the
Lead Sled when they released the
DeadShot FieldPod at the 2011 SHOT
Show. Like the Lead Sled, which has
grown from the original into an expanded
series, the DeadShot FieldPod is now the
flagship product in a lineup that includes
the Magnum DeadShot FieldPod (SRP:
$269.99), the DeadShot TreePod (SRP:
$149.99), and the ChairPod (SRP:
$179.99).
“Battenfeld Technologies continues to push
the envelope in new product development and
has experienced tremendous growth in the past
12 months. We are prepared to bring some of
our most innovative and exciting ideas yet to the
market in 2014,” says marketing manager Kyle
Smith.
The DeadShot FieldPod made an immediate
splash in the hunting community as the answer
to achieving benchrest accuracy for in-the-field
shots. The FieldPod consists of an adjustable tripod base with a DeadShot shooting rest on top
that adjusts for length and height. The rest fits
most shotguns, rifles, muzzleloaders, and crossbows. The FieldPod adjusts in height from 20
inches to 42 inches, so it is ideal for hunting on
the ground or from a chair. The Magnum
DeadShot FieldPod adjusts from 18 inches to 60
inches, so it offers a much greater range for
shots, from prone all the way to standing.
The real ingenuity of the DeadShot is the
adjustability of the rest. It’s made of lightweight
aluminum tubing that slides for length and has
front and rear rubber molded grips for securing
your firearms or crossbow. A hub system allows
the rest to pivot up and down and rotate left to
right. The DeadShot rest is the key component of
the FieldPod, Magnum FieldPod, TreePod, and
ChairPod.
The DeadShot TreePod is a shooting rest for a
treestand. It consists of mounting the DeadShot
rest on a swinging base that mounts to the platform of a stand. The base includes a heightadjustment bar, so you can adjust the TreePod to
the perfect height for any shooter. The swing
arm assembly simply slides into the base, and it
smoothly adjusts to provide a full range of
motion. Caldwell also offers the TreePod AddA-Base. Extra bases may be installed on multiple
stands, so a hunter can move the TreePod from
tree to tree by simply transporting the swing
arm assembly.
The DeadShot ChairPod provides a stable
shooting platform that allows you to silently
rotate 360 degrees. Smooth and silent movement,
combined with rock-solid support, makes the
TreePod a product any serious ground hunter
should be interested in learning more about. The
ChairPod collapses for easy transport and is ready
for use in under a minute. The chair swivels, and
the gun support is height adjustable for any size
shooter.
No matter if you are using a FieldPod, Magnum
FieldPod, TreePod, or ChairPod, the DeadShot
rest holds your firearm or crossbow in the ready
position, making target acquisition faster and
smoother and spooking less game. Booth #15335.
(877-509-9160; battenfeldtechnologies.com)
F E AT U R E
Yeti Coolers Finds the Formula
Premium product gains quick market share By Peter B. Mathiesen
M
any great ideas are lost in the excruciating minutiae of getting a product made, bringing it to market, and creating
sell-through in the retail environment. Other pitfalls include delivery timetables and cash flow, but the biggest
issue just might be determining whether your idea is strong enough to be competitive. The “If you build it, they
will come” philosophy really only gets you so far.
In the case of Yeti Coolers, Roy
and Ryan Selders were frustrated
that every time they needed a cooler,
whether for big-game hunts or fishing from a boat, their purchase could
not withstand hard use. It was also
apparent that most coolers were not
really made to sit on, stand on, or
ship with airlines. The purchase
would often be rendered useless in
just a couple of outings, if not before.
Out of frustration, Roy, a rotomold boat builder, constructed his
own coolers and added them to his
boats. When he discovered that the
coolers were getting more attention
than the boats, he didn’t waste any
time adjusting his business strategy
away from his boats and toward the
coolers.
Fast-forward five years. Today
Yeti is a $100-million-a-year business that sells the most expensive
coolers in the industry (between
$250 and $500 per unit). There
even are special-order coolers that
can turn for as much as $1,500.
“The goal was to make a cooler
that was indestructible, one that
could withstand years of abuse. The
exceptional ice retention turned out
to be a bonus,” says Cory Maynard,
vice president of marketing.
As a result, Yeti rapidly developed a
reputation for bear-proof coolers that
could be used as shipping containers,
workbenches, and keeping game cool
in the hottest conditions. Those attributes attracted the attention of retailers, many of whom, though, were initially skeptical about adding the line
because of a pair of realities of the
cooler market. First, coolers take up a
large amount of floor space; second,
mainstream coolers stocked at chain
stores were going out the door for 85
percent less than the cost of a Yeti.
Fortunately, a few retailers took a
leap of faith. Yeti’s contribution was
aggressive marketing support.
Yeti coolers are virtually indestructible and can withstand years of use.
“A customer would take the
plunge and try one, often coming
back for a second unit. Then, so
would his buddies,” Maynard says.
It wasn’t long before word spread
about the incredible performance of
Yeti coolers in the field, and customers flocked to those retailers
who carried the line. Stocking dealers quickly found out the coolers
were a high-margin item and
ordered more to meet the demand.
As a result, the company has been
growing rapidly.
At this year’s SHOT Show, Yeti is
looking to expand beyond its Gulf
States presence with aggressive marketing efforts to the rest of the
country. With strong margins for
retailers, they are setting their sights
on the hunting community in the
Midwest and the western mountain
states. The company would not
share its margins for retailers, but
it’s clear that selling a $500 cooler
may just be the ticket to a happier
customer…and more cash in your
register. Booth #1627. (512-3949384; yeticoolers.com)
F E AT U R E
CVA Defies the Weather
Accura Mountain Rifle is specially treated to withstand even the
harshest of elements By Slaton L. White
For 2014, the Accura MR will
benefit from a salt bath
nitride. The process greatly
improves the weather resistance of the barrel.
L
ast year CVA introduced
the Accura MR
(Mountain Rifle), the
result of a collaboration
among the company’s
pro-staff members. They
wanted a rifle that was
light, so it could be carried easily all day
by spot-and-stalk hunters, but they also
wanted a rifle that was maneuverable
enough for use in the cramped quarters
of a treestand or ground blind. Those
design parameters led to an aluminum—
rather than steel—frame, which yielded a
rifle that weighs just 6.35 pounds, more
than 1 pound lighter than the manufacturer’s popular Apex.
For 2014, CVA has decided to improve the
rifle’s weather resistance through the use of a
technique known as salt bath nitride. Widely
used in military applications, the nitride process
actually hardens the outer layer of the steel,
making it significantly more durable and more
corrosion-resistant than even chrome lining,
previously the highest standard in bore-toughening techniques. The process turns the 416 stain-
F E AT U R E
less-steel barrel a dark black, giving the rifle a
distinctive look.
Dudley McGarity, CEO of BPI Outdoors
(owner of the CVA brand), says the move to
use the nitride process on a muzzleloader was
a no-brainer. “We’ve been using the nitride
process on many of the OEM barrels we produce for other manufacturers under our
Bergara Barrels brand, so we were well aware
of the benefits for centerfire barrels. We felt it
would even be a greater enhancement for
muzzleloaders.”
Given that muzzleloaders are particularly susceptible to corrosion, such an enhancement is a
welcome development.
“The process makes this rifle the most weather-resistant muzzleloader on the market,” says
Chad Schearer, director of advertising and media
relations for BPI Outdoors. “The process is not
simply a surface coating. It actually changes the
molecular structure—both outside and inside the
barrel.”
An extra benefit of the process, according to
Schearer, is that the nitride-treated muzzleloader is easy to clean, something I saw firsthand on a whitetail hunt in Saskatchewan last
fall. After we sighted in the rifle, we ran one
patch through it before taking a few more
practice shots. After my deer was down, we
cleaned the barrel. It took only three passes
with a patch to restore a mirror-like luster to
the barrel.
Schearer stresses that the features that made
the original Accura MR so desirable are also
found in the Accura MR Nitride. “The rifle
comes with our Quick Release Breech Plug
(QRBP), Trigger Guard Actuated Breeching
Action, Bergara Barrel, Neutral Center of
Gravity Trigger, and premium SoftTouch stock
with rubber grip panels,” he says.
One of the hallmarks of this rifle line is the
aforementioned QRBP. CVA is so confident
that the breech plug will always unscrew with
just finger pressure that it no longer ships rifles
with a breech-plug wrench.
“I don’t recommend this as standard operating procedure, but as a test we’ve installed
breech plugs without grease, then shot the
rifles.” Schearer says. “In all cases, we were still
able to unscrew the plug without tools.”
Another nice feature of the rifle, he notes, is
that the stock and cocking jag are ambidextrous.
Lefties should like that, as they aren’t charged a
premium to use a left-handed model.
To get the best performance out of the Accura
MR Nitride, Schearer recommends using 250grain Powerbelt Aerolite .50 bullets and IMR
White Hots pellets. “This bullet is designed to be
shot with 100 grains of powder,” he says. “We’ve
found that a lot of hunters in treestands never
shoot past 100 yards, so there was no need to use
150 grains.”
As for the White Hots, he says the propellant
not only delivers increased velocity, but also
burns cleaner for faster cleanup.
I’ve taken two deer with this particular combination. Both deer fell quickly. Given the way
the animals dropped, I don’t think a hunter is
giving up anything by using the bullet with 100
grains of propellant. The reduced recoil might
even make them spend more time at the range
before the season opener. As they say, practice
makes perfect. SRP: $592. Booth #14586.
(770-449-4687; bpioutdoors)
ON THE FLOOR
TROY & JACOB LANDRY
History Channel’s Swamp
People will be signing autographs at ATK Sporting (Booth
#14551) from 10:30 a.m. to
noon.
TODD JARRETT
National and World Practical
Shooting Champion Todd
Jarrett will be demonstrating
Blackhawk tactical gear at ATK
Sporting (Booth #145622) from
11 a.m. to noon.
FRED EICHLER
Talk with the Predator Nation
star about serious airgun hunting at Crosman (Booth #13940)
from 11 a.m. to noon.
RANDI ROGERS
Cowboy Action and modern
competition championship
shooter Randi Rogers will make
her first appearances with
Smith & Wesson (Booth
#13731), beginning today from
2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
F E AT U R E
Brunton
“Powers
Forward”
Debuts groundbreaking hydrogen
fuel technology
By Slaton L. White
U
nder the slogan “Power
Forward” Brunton, which has
established a well-regarded
reputation for its navigation
and optics products, is
expanding its portable power collection
with a new line of innovative power
devices, the Reactor Series.
“The Hydrogen Reactor is a high-science device
that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce
electricity on the go, under any conditions,” says
Ryan Perry, Brunton’s product line manager. “To
operate, users lock a Hydrogen Core into the
device’s fuel cell. Once powered on, the solid-state
hydrogen converts to gas power and issues a
5-volt, 2-amp output.”
Perry says the standard USB output is optimized
Brunton’s new portable power system harnesses hydrogen (in a solid state) to create electricity to
charge all sorts of accessories, including smartphones, rechargeable lights, UV water purifiers, and
GPS transceivers. Each of the power cores is capable of charging a smartphone five to six times
before it needs to be recharged (this charger is sold separately).
to power tablets, smartphones, UV water purifiers,
rechargeable lights, portable games consoles, GPS
transceivers, and other personal devices. The cores
can be recharged (takes two to three hours) using
Brunton’s corresponding hydrolyser refill station
(sold separately) or at select retailers that are part
of the recharging program. Each Reactor comes
with two cores. “That’s the equivalent of more
than 30 AA batteries,” he says. “Each core is capa-
ble of five to six smartphone recharges.”
Perry says the heart of the system is the “proton
exchange membrane fuel cell.”
Sounds like something out of Star Trek, doesn’t
it? Without delving into college-level physics,
Brunton has built a system in which hydrogen and
oxygen are channeled in such a way that hydrogen
is split into positive ions (protons) and negatively
charged electrons. He notes that at the molecular
level more is going on, but outdoorsmen don’t
need to grasp the physics behind the system to
enjoy the benefits of this portable power.
The biggest obstacle Brunton faced in the development stage, Perry says, was “mainly fitting all
the necessary components into a very small form
factor and still allow the unit to ‘breathe.’”
Given that images of the 1937 Hindenburg zeppelin disaster still abound, some potential users
might think twice about using a “combustible gas”
for recharging their electronic devices. Perry says
this is a non-issue.
“Our HydroCore stores hydrogen in a solid
state,” he says. “This means when the hydrogen
gas enters the fuel canister it actually bonds with
the metal and becomes a ‘hydride.’
Accomplishing this is a big part of the secret
sauce. It allows for safe transit and use. It also
helps make the power last forever, unlike batteries, which drain over time.”
Based on my use, you plug the smartphone into
the fuel cell, and push the button to activate. A red
light comes on (initializing the system) followed
shortly by a green light—which means power is
flowing. During the charging, you will occasionally
hear a sound like escaping gas. That’s actually
harmless water vapor, a byproduct of the process.
I’ve noticed that after I disconnect my device the
green light stays on. Perry says that even when you
disconnect your device, the fuel cell will continue
to make power, so the cannister should be disconnected to maximize efficiency. When the cannister
needs recharging the indicator light will glow red.
SRP: $149.99.
Brunton is so confident in the Reactor series that
it is being “offered with an indestructible guarantee,” Perry says. “We call it the ‘You Proof
Promise.’ No matter wherever, whenever, or however you use a Brunton product, if you break it,
we’ll fix it or replace it.” Booth #4046. (307-8574705; bruntonhunting.com)
F E AT U R E
The
Wonder
of
Wool
Nature’s ultimate performance fiber is tailor-made
S
for hunters By Slaton L. White
everal years ago, while sitting in an unheated deer stand in northern
Saskatchewan in below-zero temperatures, I learned a fundamental truth
about hunting: You can hunt when you’re uncomfortable, but when you’re
miserable, you’re done. I managed to stay just warm enough (through a
combination of seven layers of fleece and polypropylene) to take a nice
whitetail, but at the end of week, I had also learned a hard truth about polypropylene underwear. Though it did a good job of wicking away moisture,
and dried quickly when wet, even after several washings it retained a musky
odor. And that smell only got worse on subsequent hunts.
That’s when a hunting partner
told me about wool base layers.
“Are you kidding?” I said. “Wool
is itchy and scratchy.”
“Not merino wool,” he said.
And so I embarked on an odyssey,
one that has transformed my hunting.
The Merino sheep is custom-built
by nature to survive in extreme
environments. Its thin, lightweight
summer coat allows it to stay cool
even when temperatures rise to 95
degrees; in winter, the animal grows
a second, thicker coat that allows it
to retain warmth even if the mercury drops below zero. In addition, the
wool also is breathable. It wicks
water vapor away from the skin
quickly, allowing it to evaporate
before you begin to feel clammy.
Sealing the Deal
➤ Above all, merino wool is very
soft; it has none of the scratchy feel
of ordinary wool. That final quality
sealed the deal for me. So, two seasons ago I ordered base layers from
Icebreaker (icebreaker.com), a New
Zealand–based merino wool clothing manufacturer. I wore lightweight shorts and T-shirts, and a
heavier pullover as well. In essence,
the two layers work like the natural
fibers found on the sheep itself.
So equipped, I went on a four-day
elk hunt in Oregon’s Blue
Mountains, where every day before
dawn we hiked to the top of a drainage and then spent a chilly hour or
two glassing. The rest of the day
was spent moving from drainage to
drainage, trying to catch a bull as
the herd moved between feeding
and bedding areas.
At one point my guide and I sat
atop a bluff for five hours. That’s
when I realized another big plus for
the spot-and-stalk hunter: Merino
wool provides a lot of warmth in a
very light, compact package.
Garments made from it roll up easily and take up hardly any space in a
daypack, which allows you to bring
along extra layers in case the mercury takes a tumble—or when you’re
sitting for a long time in a breeze.
But the clincher was when my
nose weighed in. At the end of a
week, the base layers didn’t stink—
and I sweated completely through
them every morning on those long
climbs to the top. Merino wool simply doesn’t retain odor the way
polypropylene does.
When I got home, I threw out all
of my old underwear. Since then
I’ve hunted elk in northern New
Mexico, mule deer in Montana, and
grouse in Wisconsin in merino wool
base layers. I even went back to
Saskatchewan, this time properly
clothed for the cold.
Merino wool base layers aren’t
cheap (some tops top $100), and
they certainly aren’t for every hunter. Your primary candidate is the
spot-and-stalk big-game hunter. In
this case, you’ll want to emphasize
the wool’s extraordinary warmth–toweight ratio. But treestand hunters
will also like the low-bulk aspect,
which makes it easier to mount a
rifle or draw a bow.
Recognizing that hunters of all
stripes are ready to fully embrace
merino wool, last fall Icebreaker
announced that it was teaming with
Mossy Oak to produce a line of base
layers, mid layers, and jackets in
Mossy Oak’s Break-Up Infinity camo.
F E AT U R E
Active Fiber
➤ “Unlike synthetics, Icebreaker
merino is an ‘active’ fiber that
works to keep your body at its ideal
temperature in all conditions,
whether you’re an early-season
hunter doing a spot-and-stalk in
open country or a late-season hunter sitting in a treestand in bonechilling weather,” says Jeremy
Moon, founder and CEO of
Icebreaker.
“Icebreaker merino combines all
the best performance qualities of
traditional wool, synthetics, cotton,
and everything else you’ve worn
hunting or fishing.”
Moon notes the unique qualities
of Icebreaker that should appeal to
outdoorsmen (and outdoorswomen)
of all stripes.
“It’s warm in the cold, but cool in
the heat,” he says. “It’s also odorresistant, very quiet, and low bulk.”
But one great advantage, he says
is that merino wool “is easy-care. To
clean, simply put it in a washing
machine, no special detergent
required, and wash on the gentle
cycle.” The one caution: Keep it out
of the dryer. Let it line-dry.
“Hunting and fishing is all about
reconnecting to the outdoors, so it
makes sense to wear a natural fiber
in nature,” he says. Sure does.
Booth #11035. (662-494-8859;
mossyoak.com)
Breaking the Ice
Merino wool base layers
from Icebreaker are now
available in Mossy Oak’s
Break-Up Infinity camo.
NEWS
Thomas McIntyre Named Zeiss
2013 Outdoor Writer of the Year
C
arl Zeiss Sports Optics has named
Thomas McIntyre, a contributing editor to Field & Stream and a field editor with Sports Afield, as its 2013 Carl
Zeiss Outdoor Writer of the Year.
The award was presented last night at the company’s annual writers’ event. In honor of his contributions to outdoor writing and to the hunting
and outdoor sports, McIntyre received a customized crystal accolade and a premium Zeiss product
of his choice.
McIntyre was not able to attend the event as he
is currently on safari in Africa. But he told SHOT
Daily, “It is a distinct honor to be selected by
Zeiss. As much as I wish I could have been there
to receive the award in person, I do prefer being
where I am, field-testing their products in Africa.”
Established in 2003, the Carl Zeiss Outdoor
Writer of the Year award marks its 10th anniversary. Each year, the award recognizes an outstanding outdoor writer who has achieved excellence in
outdoor communications, has made significant
contributions to the hunting and outdoor industry, and is an active supporter of wildlife conservation. McIntyre joins a Who’s Who list of outdoor writers who have positively shaped and
informed the public about hunting and outdoor
sports experiences and issues.
Previous Carl Zeiss Outdoor Writer of the Year
award winners have included Wayne van Zwoll,
Wyoming resident Thomas McIntyre has distinguished himself in several areas of outdoor writing, most notably in magazines and books.
David Fortier, David E. Petzal, Ron Spomer,
John Barsness, Terry Wieland, Craig Boddington,
John Zent, Andrew McKean, and Mike Schoby.
Carl Zeiss Sports Optics also has honored two
outdoor writers with Lifetime Achievement
awards: Bill McRae and Jim Carmichel.
“Tom is an extremely talented writer, author,
and champion of the outdoors,” said Michael A.
Jensen, president of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics.
“He masterfully communicates the experience of
the hunt with colorful insight along with accurate
and in-depth technical information that increases
the knowledge and understanding of his many,
many fans. His passion and appreciation for the
outdoors, combined with 37 years of seeking writing excellence, make Tom the perfect choice for
this year’s Outdoor Writer of the Year award.”
Since 1976, McIntyre, a resident of Sheridan,
Wyoming, has distinguished himself in several
areas of the outdoor writing industry. As a magazine and newspaper writer, McIntyre has had
hundreds of articles published by Sports Afield,
Field & Stream, Gray’s Sporting Journal, Petersen’s
Hunting, American Hunter, Men’s Journal, Outdoor
Life, Bugle, Sporting Classics, Fly Rod & Reel,
Wyoming Wildlife, Texas Sporting Journal, The
Hunting Report, Garden & Gun, and The Field in
England. He has been the co-winner of Best
Magazine Story for Best Sports Stories, awarded
by The Sporting News. McIntyre also writes a column about hunting for The Sheridan Press.
As a book author, McIntyre has penned several critically acclaimed books, novels, and anthologies, including Days Afield, Dreaming the Lion,
Seasons & Days, Shooter’s Bible: Guide to Optics
(2012), and The Snow Leopard’s Tale.
“You need only to read one line of a McIntyre
story to know instantly who wrote it,” said Anthony
Licata, editorial director for Field & Stream. “Tom’s
prose is an astounding blend of comprehensive
technical knowledge, keen intelligence, biting wit,
and deep pathos. He offers one of the most interesting and original voices in the sporting press.”
NEWS
Pulling the
Ripcord!
Otis Technology launches onepass cleaning tool By Slaton L. White
T
alk to a grizzled shooting veteran about rifle cleaning
and you’ll come away with an earful about the
amount of elbow grease needed to really keep the
barrel clean. That may be true, but newer shooters
are looking for easier—and faster—ways to clean
their firearms. That’s the impetus behind the Ripcord, a new
cleaning product from Otis Technology.
Composed of heat-resistant
Nomex fibers braided over a molded rubberized-core cable combination, the Ripcord is designed to
clean firearms properly from breech
to muzzle in one quick-and-easy
pass. Nomex is the same material
used in the protective gear trusted
by firefighters, racecar drivers, and
the U.S. military, and since it is
heat-resistant to 700°F, it can be
used right off the firing line without
fear of it melting into a gelatinous
mess in your barrel.
Part of the appeal of this system
is that the Nomex acts as both a
brush to loosen and a patch to cap-
ture fouling particles. The molded
rubberized core keeps the Nomex
cleaning surface pressed tight
against the bore, ensuring aggressive all-around cleaning. In addition, the core is a helix shape,
which helps engage the rifling
throughout the length of the rifle’s
barrel.
Some added features to this
one-pass cleaning tool are its ability to act as an obstruction remover
for jammed cases and other blockages (because of its rigid construction) and its 8-32 threaded ends
that will accommodate any additional Otis cleaning components,
Many new shooters
are looking for simpler and easier ways
to clean their rifles.
The Ripcord, from
Otis Technology, is
designed to clean
from breech to
muzzle in one quickand-easy pass.
Fireproof Nomex
construction means
it can be used right
off the firing line.
if the shooter so desires.
“Otis Technology recognizes the
need for engineering innovation,
servicing our retail customers, and
providing new solutions to grow
category margins,” says Len
Nelson, vice president of sales and
marketing. “We made the decision
to introduce a new one-pass cleaning tool—the Ripcord—that can be
conveniently used anywhere,
including the range, field, or
bench. We consider this to be the
ultimate one-pass solution because
it allows shooters and hunters to
clean their bore at any orientation,
any temperature, and any degree of
fouling. Equally important, we’ve
priced this new product competitively but with a strong margin for
our retail partners.”
The Ripcord is simple to use;
just insert the longer, narrower end
in the chamber and then pull it
through from the breech to the
muzzle. Because of the rigidity of
the Ripcord, there is no need to
gravity-feed it through the barrel.
According to Nelson, the Ripcord
is currently available in .22/.223,
.308/7.62, 9mm, and .45, but “other
calibers are coming soon.” SRP:
$14.99. Booth #14213. (800-6847486; otisgun.com)
NEWS
Hunt Line Debuts at SHOT
Benchmade sets standards high with new knives By Christopher Cogley
F
or 25 years, Benchmade has been delivering knives to military, law enforcement, and emergency services personnel that
consistently exceed expectations for quality and functionality. So naturally when the Oregon City, Oregon, company
decided to create a new line of knives for hunters, it set its sights high.
“We wanted these knives to be the
ones that hunters would reach for
every time they’re in the field,” says
Matt Elliott, marketing manager at
Benchmade. “We knew the only way
to do that was to design these knives
around the customers’ needs, not
our own.”
To find out exactly what those
needs were, Benchmade surveyed
more than 5,000 hunters from all
areas of the country and all walks of
life. Elliott says that the four things
that nearly every one of them mentioned as the attributes that were
most important to them in a hunting knife were edge retention, durability, ease of sharpening, and corrosion resistance.
“When we started this new line, we
started with the goal of absolutely
making sure we incorporated all of
those attributes into every knife in
the line,” he says.
The solution they came up with
for accomplishing that goal was to
The new hunting knives use heattreated CPM-S30V steel to achieve
edge retention and durability.
use CPM-S30V steel. This steel is
created through an extensive process
that involves turning metal into a
powder, then reforming it into useable steel through a specialized
heat-treatment process. Elliott says
that while other hunting knives use
the same kind of steel, every company’s heat-treatment process is different, and that the specific process
used makes a huge difference in the
quality of the finished product.
“Our heat-treatment method
meets the highest standards in the
industry,” Elliott says. “By using the
CPM steel and taking advantage of
that heat-treatment method, we were
able to create blades that provide the
best blend of all of the things the
hunters we talked to said they were
looking for in their knives.”
Although the hunters they surveyed
were fairly consistent on the blade
attributes that were most important,
when it came to the functionality, the
needs and preferences of hunters
weren’t nearly as uniform.
To accommodate individual preferences, Benchmade developed six
different models­—two fixed blades
and four folders—and each one is
crafted for a different purpose and a
unique taste. From the Hidden
Canyon Hunter deep-bellied skinner to the traditional Summit Lake
general-purpose hunting knife,
Benchmade designed the knives in
the hunt line to meet the functional
needs of all sportsmen while also
taking into account the aesthetic
preferences of both the traditional
and modern hunter.
To satisfy the tastes of both kinds of
hunters, the two fixed-blade knives in
the line are available with either a traditional wood handle and leather
sheath or a more modern G10 handle
and molded sheath. A similar mixture
of classic and modern styling can be
found in the selection of folders. The
Summit Lake is a traditional folder
with a wood handle, classic blade
design with nail nick, and standard
lock-back mechanism, while the North
Fork and Grizzly Creek feature a more
modern design that incorporates
Benchmade’s Axis locking mechanism
and ambidextrous dual-thumb studs.
The North Fork is available with
either a wood or G10 handle. The
Grizzly Creek is only available in a
wood-handled version, but it also features a separate gut hook to meet the
needs of those hunters who never open
up an animal without one. Booth
#10357. (800-800-7427;
benchmade.com)
NEWS
An Ounce of
Prevention
Quik Clot Advanced
Clotting Gauze is impregnated with Kaolin to
quickly stem the flow of
blood. In an emergency, all
you do is rip open the
package and press the
gauze to the wound. It
works so well that impregnated gauze is now the
go-to hemostatic agent for
the U.S. military.
Adventure Medical Kits helps
keep your customers safe
By Christopher Cogley
A
s a general rule, hunters and shooters are the kind
of people who believe in the importance of being
prepared. Unfortunately, far too many of them
don’t have the simple tools they need to handle
some of the most critical situations that are an
inherent risk of hunting and shooting. But by sacrificing a small
amount of shelf space to display some basic first-aid and survival
equipment, not only can you help keep your customers safe, you
can increase your store’s profits in the process.
“Because they spend a lot of time in
the woods when it’s dark and cold,
survival is something that tends to
resonate really well with hunters,”
says Frank Meyer, co-founder and
chief marketing officer at Adventure
Medical Kits. “When you’re sitting in
the woods as it’s getting dark, it’s pretty natural to start imagining what
would happen if you couldn’t find
your way back to camp.”
Because of that, Meyer says that
survival products, such as the ones in
Adventure Medical Kits’ Survive
Outdoors Longer (SOL) brand, are
often an easy sell for independent
retailers, but when it comes to firstaid equipment for the field, the “it
won’t happen to me” mindset is still
very prevalent.
“Typically, the only people who
are carrying medical kits in the field
are medical professionals and people
who have been hurt before and have
learned how important it is to have
some basic first-aid equipment with
them,” Meyer says.
It’s a lesson that doesn’t necessarily
have to be learned the hard way.
“If you display outdoor first-aid
equipment on the shelves, people
can connect the dots pretty easily,”
Meyer says. “People realize that
they’re out there with guns and
knives and accidents can happen,
and that medical help won’t be right
around the corner.”
Meyer says that it typically doesn’t
take much for hunters and shooters to
come to that realization.
“You don’t have to carry a huge
line, but if you have a few essentials
and display them in a place where
your customers will see them, those
products will sell very well,” he says.
One of those essentials that would
be a great choice to stock is
Adventure Medical Kits’ new
Advanced Clotting Gauze. The gauze
is impregnated with Kaolin to help
quickly stem the flow of blood from
even a serious wound. It’s compact,
lightweight, and designed to be easy
to use in an emergency.
Another survival essential that
Adventure Medical Kits is releasing at
this year’s SHOT Show is the new
SOL Sport Utility Blanket. Unlike
most survival blankets, the Sport
Utility Blanket is made from a copper
vacuum-metalized woven polyethylene, which reflects 99 percent of body
heat back onto you. Instead of the
shiny surface of most survival blankets,
it features a muted, discreet color so
that hunters can use the blanket as a
makeshift blind without worrying
about a reflective surface alerting
game. Booth #3841. (800-324-3517;
adventuremedicalkits.com)
NEWS
Bright Idea
Nite Ize celebrates 25 years
of innovation and light
S
ometimes, inspiration comes in a blinding flash. At
other times, it’s a gradual awakening. In the case of
Nite Ize, a manufacturer of lighting products for
sportsmen that is celebrating its 25th year of operation, inspiration came from a fishing trip.
In 1989, company founder and
CEO Rick Case was an undergraduate at the University of Colorado.
Like many students who attend
this school, he was an ardent outdoorsman.
“I was on a fishing trip, using a
brand-new mini flashlight my family
had given me as a gift,” he says. “I
was fishing at night, holding it in
my mouth. Sure enough, I opened
my mouth, and the flashlight fell
out. I was staring down into the
water, watching my still-lit flashlight
on the bottom when an idea hit me.
That idea became the first product I
ever made, the Headband Mini
Flashlight Holder.”
In the years that have passed since
that fishing trip, Nite Ize has grown
from one bright idea into a company that makes and sells a wide vari-
ety of innovative accessories.
“Every product we offer is designed
for superior functionality and is manufactured with top-of-the-line materials for optimum durability,” Case
says. “We’re here to make your life
easier, safer, and a little more fun.”
To help celebrate its 25th anniversary, Nite Ize is introducing the
Inova STS Headlamp, an innovative
twist on the classic headlamp. Rather
than a button or switches to turn the
lamp on and off, all the user has to
do is swipe his finger across the top
of the headlamp.
“This headlamp is the first multimode, dual-color LED headlamp
with a simple user interface that
allows the user to easily turn on the
light in any color or mode,” Case
says. “I think hunters in cold
weather will find it incredibly
To help celebrate its 25th anniversary, Nite Ize is introducing the Inova
STS Headlamp, an innovative twist on the classic headlamp. Rather
than a button or switches to turn the lamp on or off, all the user has to
do is swipe his finger across the top of the lamp. Hunters wearing gloves
in cold weather should find this a useful feature.
bright and very easy to use.”
The Nite Ize Inova STS
Headlamp is water resistant to 1
meter and features a white highpower, three-mode (high, low, and
flashing) dimming LED and two red
LEDs with three-mode (high, low,
and flashing) dimming. It uses AAA
batteries (alkaline or lithium) that sit
in a fully sealed O-ring battery box
with a solid latch. A programmed
lock-out mode helps prevent acci-
dental on during transport and storage. Available in three colors (black,
blue, and orange). SRP: $34.99.
“If you’d asked me 25 years ago
what I thought I’d be doing today,
I’d have told you the same thing I
would now—my mission is to bring
innovative, solution-driven products
to market that address the daily
frustrations and problems outdoorsmen face.” Booth #3846. (800-6786483; niteize.com)
NEWS
SOG
Expands
Line
Tactical knifemaker
steps up its
commitment to the
outdoor market
F
By Christopher Cogley
or years, the SOG name
has been synonymous with
tactical knives, and the
Seattle-based company has
been committed to providing law enforcement, military, and tactical enthusiasts with quality
knives and tools specifically designed for
combat and emergency situations. But as
SOG started looking at better ways to
serve its consumers, the company realized
that its commitment to its customers
wasn’t necessarily complete.
“When we looked at our core consumer, we
realized that when most of these guys aren’t on
duty, they’re out in the field hunting, fishing,
camping, or backpacking,” says Nando Zucchi,
vice president of sales and marketing for SOG.
“These are all law enforcement or military guys
who know SOG already and probably carry one
of our knives when they’re on duty. But when it
came to the outdoors, our knives were always a
little too tactical for them.”
SOG started to rectify that situation last year
when it introduced a line of knives specifically
designed to meet the needs of hunters. But this
year SOG has significantly expanded its commitment to the outdoors market with several new
knives and tools geared toward a wide range of
outdoor pursuits.
“It didn’t feel like a big leap for any of us, it just
seemed like a natural progression,” Zucchi says.
“When you think about it, the Special Ops and
military guys who love our knives are really just
extreme outdoorsmen. At their core, they love
climbing and camping and backpacking and hunting and all the other outdoor activities—they just
do it in extremes. For us, it was just a matter of
taking what we knew these guys needed in their
knives and applying it to the outdoor pursuits that
they’re engaging in when they’re off duty.”
The result of that effort is a line of knives and
tools that retain a strong tactical feel but are very
obviously designed for specific outdoor purposes.
Among them is SOG’s new BladeLight line,
which includes hunting, camping, and tactical
fixed-blade knives as well as a 6- and 7.5-inch fillet knife that all feature a set of three LED lights
on either side of the blade to make it easier to
clean a daily limit of bass, shave wood for a fire,
or perform countless other critical outdoor tasks
in the dark.
“It’s one of those instantly recognizable benefits
that anyone who spends time in the outdoors can
appreciate,” Zucchi says. “But the lights are just
one small aspect that makes these knives so func-
SOG’s new BladeLight fixed-blade line includes the Hunter (top) and Tactical (above). Each features a set of three LED lights on either side of the blade to make it easier to use in the dark. The
knives are available with 6- or 7.5-inch-long blades.
tional. From the blade to the sheath, these are allpurpose-built knives that address the needs of
outdoorsmen, anglers, and hunters as well as our
core tactical customer.”
Zucchi says that the mentality of designing purpose-driven knives is one of the reasons why SOG
has been so successful in the tactical world, and
it’s a mentality that they carried through to all of
the new products for the outdoors market—from
the knives and machetes to the axes and saws and
shovels.
“We’ve always been the tactical guys, and we
want to keep that at the core of everything we
do,” he says. “But we also want to create something functional and practical for all those active
outdoorsmen. With these new lines, we combined
the best of both worlds.”
Zucchi says that the transition into the outdoors market has been so seamless and the reception they’ve received has been so positive that he
expects that SOG will continue to look at developing additional knives and tools that are specific
to other outdoor pursuits.
“We’re always trying to look at different activities that our core consumers participate in and
figure out ways we can help make that experience
better,” he says. “And that’s what we’ll continue
to do.”
To see SOG’s entire line of outdoor products,
as well as all of its new tactical knives for 2014,
swing by the booth during the SHOT Show.
Booth #425. (888-405-6433; sogknives.com)
NEWS
NEW PRODUCTS
Browning Both the men's and women's versions of the Summit
Shooting Vest feature a large back pocket for empty shells.
belt make it easy to attach the camera to a tree or bracket. For added
security, the camera is also cablelock-compatible. SRP: $129.99.
Booth #12519. (800-423-3537;
simmonsoptics.com)
still has an all-metal frame, but it now
includes the blowback slide cycle of
modern-day airguns. Its drop-free
magazine holds 16 steel BBs, and it
shoots at 350 feet per second. SRP:
$89.99. Booth #14745. (479-6464210; umarexusa.com)
Zippo Outdoor
➤ When Zippo Outdoors looked at
the LED light market, the company
determined what was needed was a
truly rugged lantern capable of
enduring hard use in camp. The
Rugged Lantern features a metal support cage and rubberized corners to
cushion it from everyday use; in fact,
the lantern can survive drops up to
five feet. The lantern is water resistant (it will float if knocked into the
water) and has three brightness settings. Power is via a rechargeable
lithium-ion battery (runtime is as
long as 40 hours on low). The lantern
also incorporates a flashing SOS feature should an emergency arise. SRP:
$89.95. Booth #13905. (814-368-
LaserLyte
➤ The Laser-Plinking-Can (SRP:
$104.95) reacts by jumping up and
falling over just as a real can would
when hit with a laser from any of
LaserLyte’s training cartridges or
other laser trainer tools. The cans
are powered by a 9V battery and
come three to a pack. The Training
Tyme Kit (SRP: $199.95) combines
the LaserLyte Trigger Tyme
Compact Pistol, the LT-PRO universal pistol laser trainer, and a
Reaction Tyme Target to register
hits. The kit offers a $40 savings
over the same products sold separately. Booth #11214. (928-6493201; laserlyte.com)
2700; zippooutdoor.com)
Umarex
Browning Camping
➤ The Shadow Series of pop-up
ground blinds (Powerhouse, Phantom
X, Phantom, and Mirage) have now
been upgraded with the new Silent
Track window curtain system. This
system is designed to offer multiple
window opening options that are customizable on the fly. Each curtain has
a track on each end that allows it to
be slid quietly to any position or
opening height on the blind’s win-
Simmons The Whitetail Blackout
trail cam has a 5MP camera and a
motion sensor with a 40-foot range.
dows. This lets the hunter set up for
what he’s planned and adapt for the
unexpected. Other features include
durable custom carry bags that can
carry a bow or gun and blind chair,
oversize zippers, a bow hanger, oversize stakes, and strong and flexible
poles. Booth #15538. (800-3442577; browningcamping.com)
Simmons Optics
➤ The Whitetail Blackout trail camera allows hunters to covertly monitor game and land activity around
the clock, thanks to the black LED
night-vision technology. The camera
features 18 black LEDs with a
30-foot flash range, and the passive
infrared (PIR) sensor detects motion
and animal activity at up to 40 feet.
Other features include a six-month
battery life and a fast 1.2-second
trigger speed as well as a 5MP camera that captures full-color high-res
daytime images and high-quality
B&W nighttime images. In addition
to crisp, clear images, the trail camera gives hunters the ability to capture VGA video clips either day or
night. Date, time, and moon stamps
are displayed on every image and
video, and a ¼-20 socket on the base
of the camera and an adjustable web
118 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 14, 2014
➤ The Colt Commander is an
authentic replica of a Colt 1911 that
fires steel BBs and has a cycling slide
to boot. It features a skeletonized
trigger, a commander-style hammer,
and an eight-round drop-free magazine. SRP: $119.99.
The spirit of weapons history is
captured by legendary replicas such
as the new Legends C96, a simulation
of a 19-round semi-auto Mauser. The
magazine drops free for easy loading,
and it has an adjustable rear sight
above the simulated wood grip, concealing the 12-gram CO2 compartment that powers this replica airgun.
SRP: $99.99.
Built upon the success of the first
Makarov air pistol introduced by
Umarex, a variant of the well-known
Russian pistol—the Makarov Ultra—
Zippo The waterresistant Rugged
Lantern from Zippo
Outdoor has rubberized corners to protect
it from the shocks of
hard use. It has three
settings (plus an SOS
feature), and on the
low setting it can run
for 40 hours on its
rechargeable lithiumion battery.
Browning
➤ New in Browning’s shooting vest
line for 2014 are the men’s Summit
Shooting Vest and Summit Shooting
Vest For Her. Both feature durable
shooting patches on right and left
shoulders with sewn-in REACTAR
G2 pad pockets (pad sold separately), 100 percent mesh body for ventilation, two-way front zipper, bellows shell pockets, side tab adjustment, and large back pocket for
empties or other gear. Men’s Summit
Shooting Vest is available in Tan/
Chocolate/Taupe, Black/Gray/
Charcoal, or Tan/Green/Dark Grey
in sizes S–3XL. SRP: $85. Summit
Shooting Vest For Her available in
Cream/Plum/Dark Grey, Tan/Sage/
Pink, or Tan/Brown/Cinnamon with
women’s cut sizes S–2XL. SRP: $85.
Booth #12740. (800-876-9326;
browning.com)