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January 25th, 2009
Jim Scoutten, host of the popular Shooting USA television show, has recorded a series of video interviews for the Outdoor Channel. During these six segments, Jim talks about trends in the shooting industry, including the current surge in gun sales, particularly for semi-automatic, military-style rifles. Jim talks about the effect of Obama’s election. Jim also offers his predictions as to what we can expect in the months ahead… both from gun manufacturers and from the politicians in Washington. It’s an interesting series of interviews, available via streaming video on the Outdoor Channel Website.
CLICK HERE to watch Jim Scoutten interviews (SIX Segments).
January 24th, 2009
 After SHOT Show ended on Jan. 18th, many exhibitors had little time to rest. They immediately packed up their displays and headed west to attend the 2009 Safari Club International (SCI) Convention in Reno, Nevada. The SCI convention kicked off Wednesday the 21st, and concludes today, Jan. 24th. The SCI show, dubbed the “Ultimate Hunters’ Market”, attracted 20,000+ attendees, drawn by product displays from firearm and gear-makers, plus a series of informative seminars, covering everything from venison recipes to internet marketing.
The SCI show is also famous for its fund-raising auctions. SCI’s auctions offer exotic custom firearms, once-in-a-lifetime hunts, plus fine art and collectibles. Net proceeds from the auctions are used by SCI to promote conservation and game management efforts worldwide. To learn more about the auctions, visit the SCI Convention’s Auction Preview Page on the web. There you can download e-brochures showing guns, trips, and art up for auction. CLICK HERE to download the Firearms Auction Section as a .pdf file.
As just a small sample of the exotic arms that went up for bid in Reno this week, check out these impressive firearms from the 2009 SCI Auction Catalog:
Krieghoff .470 Nitro Double Rifle — Valuation $84,000
Krieghoff’s ‘Legends of the Hunt’ double rifle, chambered in .470 Nitro Express, is custom engraved by master engravers Michael Oke and Andreas Scholz. The stock is exhibition-grade Turkish walnut with ebony pistol grip and forend tip. There are gold barrel bands and gold accents on the express sight blades and double triggers. For more info, visit www.Krieghoff.com.
Dakota .270 Win Model 10 Falling Block — Valuation $17,500
Dakota Arms LLC has donated an extraordinary Model 10 falling block rifle in .270 Winchester. Features include a French grey receiver, quarter rib, hooded front sight and full-coverage scroll engraving with gold wire accents. The stock is special select Bastogne walnut with a right-hand shadowline cheekpiece, tear drops, schnabel forend and hand-cut fleur-de-lis and ribbon checkering.
Ferlach 12ga + 9.3x72R Drilling — Valuation $6,500
Here is a side-by-side shotgun/rifle drilling by Ferlach of Austria. This magnificent boxlock features an engraved, scalloped and case-colored receiver, 27 1/2″ barrels with a fixed front sight and two folding rear sights. Other features include sideclips, cocking indicators, extractors, double triggers, and a manual Greener-style side safety.
January 22nd, 2009
We’ve been covering the hot, new products at SHOT Show continuously since last Wednesday. But this page can only display a couple days’ worth of items. Fear not… ALL our SHOT Show 2009 content is available here. You just need to click some buttons.
We know many readers may be new to our Daily Bulletin so you may not know how to access older articles. It’s quite simple really. First, after you’ve read the last article on this page (at the bottom), just click the “OLDER POSTS” link. That will give you the previous day’s articles.
Use Calendar to Navigate Day By Day
A really easy way to access SHOT Show Reports from the past five (5) days is to use our Navigation calendar. Look over to the right column, on this page. You’ll see a small calendar. Just click on a date in January and you’ll be taken to the posts for that day. Start with January 15th to get all our SHOT Show coverage, including Media Day.
January 22nd, 2009
 The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s SHOT Show wrapped up Sunday in Orlando with strong attendance and a cautiously optimistic outlook for the coming business year. Though many trade shows have seen a decline in attendance, SHOT Show attendance increased 3% when compared to its last visit to Orlando in 2007, and was down just 6% when compared to last year’s record-breaking show in Las Vegas. According to preliminary figures, this year’s show attracted 25,384 attendees, 22,098 exhibiting personnel and a record 1,425 members of the media for a total attendance of 48,907.
Many manufacturers’ representatives confirmed that the show was very good from a business standpoint. Despite the troubled economy, orders were being taken and demand seemed strong for a wide variety of products. High-tech rifles and handguns, in particular, have seen a jump in sales heading into 2009.
Steve Hornady, president of Hornady Manufacturing Co.:
“Response to our new products has been good. Some of this, of course, is in anticipation of a problem down the road. This year will be determined primarily by what happens in Washington, and is for the most part out of our control. We hope that common sense will prevail, and the fact that further regulation of our industry is not the solution.”
Scott Grange of Browning:
“It’s been a good show. With all of the interest in high-tech arms, it good to see that the interest in our over/under shotguns was also up. The SHOT Show specials we laid out for retailers were very well received. The success here has helped position us for the expected upturn in the economy.”
Al Russo of Remington Arms Co.:
“Our meeting rooms were booked, and the quality of the buyers at the show was very good. We saw good volume in our law enforcement booths, and we’re very pleased with the media turnout.” |
SHOT Daily Available Online
All four issues of SHOT Daily, the magazine printed each day of the SHOT Show, are available online in PDF format at www.shotshow.org. SHOT Daily is printed for NSSF by Bonnier Corp., publishers of Outdoor Life, Field & Stream and SHOT Business magazines.
January 15 | January 16 | January 17 | January 18
Story and photo © 2009 by NSSF, used with permission
January 21st, 2009
Many of the companies at SHOT Show had just a few new products or operational changes to report. Here’s a quick summary of news from Forster, Krieger, and Norma.
 Forster Products
The only all-new product design from Forster is a collet bullet puller for the Forster Co-Ax press. Conventional screw-in bullet pullers won’t work with the Co-Ax because of the unique jaw design.
.338 NORMA DIES — The new .338 Norma is big news in the long-range tactical game (see separate report in the Bulletin). Forster will have .338 Norma dies available within a few weeks, pretty much “as soon as the Norma brass is in the country.”
Forster has acquired new, advanced die-making machines. This gives the company increased custom die-making capacity. Forster reps noted that Forster can now use any customer-supplied finish reamer to make a custom bushing bump die.
Forster will also roll out a completely redesigned and updated website in mid-February. Visit ForsterProducts.com next month to check it out.
Krieger Barrels
Krieger Barrels has acquired two (2) additional Pratt and Whitney cut-rifling machines. This will give Krieger additional capacity and help them keep up with the high demand for their cut-rifled barrels.
Shown in photo, left to right: Neil Leppla, Mike Hindrichs, John Krieger, Helmut Kiesling
AR10 BARRELS — Krieger also announced it will be producing AR10-type barrels in both Krieger-brand cut-rifled and ‘Criterion’-brand button-rifled versions. Krieger will provide AR10 barrels for Fulton Armory, DPMS, and Armalite.
NORMA
NEW 202 POWDER for 6mmBR Ammo — Norma revealed something interesting about its loaded 6mmBR ammunition. Norma has traditionally used Norma 203B powder for 6BR ammo. However, it has found that 203B has gotten progressively slower over the years, so Norma has switched to Norma 202… but not just any 202. Norma has selected the slower batches of 202 for use in its factory 6mmBR ammo. We don’t know if this applies to ALL bullet weights. Norma will continue to use Berger Bullets in its 6mmBR and 6XC match ammunition.
.338 NORMA BRASS Coming Soon — There’s lots of interest in the new .338 Norma cartridge among the military and tactical community. Initial testing has demonstrated outstanding accuracy with 300gr Sierra MatchKing bullets. Many of the folks working with early versions of the .338 Norma believe that, given the case’s superior efficiency, it can rival the ballistics of the larger .338 Lapua Magnum, though the .338 Norma has less capacity. Both cases are derived from the .416 Jeffreys, but the .338 Norma will fit in a shorter action.
Norma is now producing .338 Norma cartridge brass. It is supposed to be in the USA within two to three weeks. It will be distributed though Black Hills Shooters Supply, BHShooters.com. This stuff is in high demand so get your orders in soon.
January 21st, 2009
Widespread concern over the possibility that the Obama administration will push for new, restrictive gun laws has spurred sales of all types of firearms, with self-loading, military-style rifles leading the way. The “Obama effect” has created huge demand for ‘black rifles’ of all variety. Recognizing this, Brownells has created a new website, AR15builder.com, to help buyers purchase a AR with components customized to the buyers’ individual needs. Using state-of-the-art “drag and drop” web technology, a black rifle buyer can chose from a wide variety of components (stocks, uppers, barrels, handguards, optics etc.), and see the gun, as assembled, right on the web page. As one selects among AR components, the website even provides running total of the cost of the components.
Mix and Match Components for Your Custom Build
Announced at SHOT 2009, AR15builder.com combines almost 600 images of external AR-15 parts and accessories so you can mix and match parts to see exactly what your own, custom AR can look like with your selected parts installed. The screenshot below, showing a “precision varminter” with adjustable stock and 24″ barrel, was created using parts from Brownell’s inventory.
The website allows you to preview the many options available for the AR platfrom, so you can “mix and match” scores of products in Brownells’ catalog. Color variations are shown as well. So, if you want to see a black receiver with a tan handguard and green buttstock, AR15builder.com will show you. If you want to change any component, just go back to the parts menus and drag the new selection to the center of the page. As you change components, the prices automatically change in real time.
With endless combinations, it’s easy to create the unique look you want, in the price range that suits your budget. You can also select complete uppers and lowers. Purchase items directly from AR15builder.com, Brownells.com, or call 800-741-0015 and mention code PER.
January 20th, 2009
Tom Manners of Manners Composite Stocks had a wide selection of stocks on display at SHOT Show. The Manners stocks, with carbon-fiber layup, are extremely durable and stiff. The fit and finish is excellent, better than you’ll find with most fiberglass stocks. The designs work really well when shot from bipod, making the Manners T-Series stocks (T, T1, T2, T3, T4, GAT, T50) ideal for tactical use. Jason reports: “These are extremely strong stocks. I really like the T 2/3/4 stocks. The T2 is my favorite. It features a McMillan A5-style front with an A3-style rear.”
New Low-Profile ‘Fish Belly’ F-Class Stock
Jason was impressed with the new Manners F-Class stock. Tom says: “The shell is 100% carbon fiber with a molded-in action and barrel area. This design features a very long, stiff fore-end. From the back of the action to the tip of the fore-end the stock measures 27″ long which is around 7 1/2″ longer than our T4 stock.” The idea is to provide a “longer wheelbase” to better balance the long, 30-32″ barrels favored by many F-Class competitors. The front half of the fore-end is very thin (from top to bottom) to achieve a low profile on the bags. Much thought has gone into controlling fore-end flex. Manners’ design achieves greater vertical rigidity (less deflection under load) through an innovative “fish belly” design. The rounded undersection, like a canoe hull, strengthens the fore-end considerably.
Rimfire Stock for Tactical Cross-Training
Tom also had on display a new stock set up for the SAKO Quad switch-barrel rifle. Finished in “digital camo”, this stock has the “fit and feel” of Manners’ T-Series centerfire stocks. This lets you maintain the shooting position of your centerfire tactical stock when you switch to the SAKO Quad rimfire for low-cost training sessions.
January 20th, 2009
Jason interviewed Terry Paul of SharpShoot-R™ Precision Products. Terry is the inventor of the Wipe-Out brushless bore cleaner, Carb-Out carbon remover, and Patch-Out, a formulation that works like Wipe-Out but without the foam. This Editor has been using Wipe-Out for more than two years now, and I’m very happy with the results. While some barrels (and cartridge/bullet combos) DO need brushing, some wet patches and Wipe-Out every 40 rounds or so is all my Pac-Nor 3-groove 6BR barrel has needed to stay competitive for nearly 1000 rounds. That barrel has stayed clean with no brushing and there has been very little throat erosion.
Terry Paul announced that SharpShoot-R has improved the formulation of Wipe-Out. The foam cleaner is now 25% stronger than before. Wipe-Out is now sold with an applicator tube and chamber plug. This makes it easier to apply Wipe-Out from the breech. (However, in our tests, the hard plastic chamber plug worked well in a 6.5mm chamber, but was hard to seat in a .223 Rem chamber. We would rather see a longer, softer tip with an O-ring.)
Carb-Out is another SharpShoot-R product popular with Benchrest shooters. Terry revealed that Tony Boyer, the all-time BR Hall of Fame points leader, uses and endorses Carb-Out. Tony believes the product helps remove harmful carbon deposits while reducing the need for abrasives or aggressive brushing. Watch the Video below to learn more about Wipe-Out and Carb-Out.
January 19th, 2009
27-year-old Matt Emmons has been one of the top American shooters in international Smallbore Rifle and Air Rifle competition. Matt, a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, won a Silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in mens’ prone and won Gold at the Athens Olympics in the same event. He is a co-holder of the 50m rifle prone world record (600 points), and has been a multiple-event winner at the ISSF World Cup.
In 2007, Matt married Czech shooter Katerina Kurkova. “Katy” earned fame as the winner of the first Gold Medal in the Beijing Olympics (see photo below). A husband and wife “dream team”, Matt and Katy are probably the most famous couple in the shooting sports. Matt is currently training for the 2012 Olympics. Wife Katy is now pregnant, but she’ll rejoin Matt in training after the baby’s born.
Jason Baney has a chance to talk with Matt at SHOT Show where Matt appeared on behalf of USA Shooting, the U.S. national governing body for Olympic Shooting Sports. Jason notes: “It was great to talk to Matt about shooting, though we practice very different disciplines. At 27 Matt is the same age as me, and we’ve both recently been married, so we had things in common. Matt is a very cool, humble down-to-earth guy.” If we can clear it with Matt’s sponsors, we’d love to have Matt test some match rifles for AccurateShooter.com.
January 18th, 2009
Alliant Powder is well-known among precision shooters. Reloder 15 has set many world records in the 6BR and 6BR Improved cartridges, and the new Reloder 17 powder offers dramatically increased velocities in cartridges such as the 6XC and .284 Winchester.
At SHOT Show 2009, Alliant unveiled its new Power Pro™ series of canister, spherical powders. There are five (5) new powders: Magnum Pistol, Varmint Rifle, Medium Rifle, Large Rifle, and Magnum Rifle. Each powder has a burn rate optimized for the particular application (Medium Rifle is a bit slower than RL15, Large Rifle rate is similar to H4350, Magnum is similar to H4831). Alliant claims that “Power Pro powders deliver improved velocity and density for more efficient reloading and help reloaders duplicate certain factory loaded ammunition.” Alliant engineer Dick Quensenberry said reloaders can expect to get +50 fps more from the Power Pro series than with most other, comparable ball powders.
 New Powder for 50-Caliber Applications
Alliant also recently introduced Reloder 50, a new powder designed for long-range, 50 caliber rifle shooters. Burn rate is “a little slower than Winchester 860.” The powder is showing excellent lot-to-lot consistency and the load density is optimized for the 50 BMG and similar cases. Like Reloder 17, Reloder 50 employs a process which staturates/penetrates the kernels with the burn rate controlling chemical. This should allow a longer, flatter pressure curve, allowing more velocity than conventional powders can deliver. Alliant says that Reloder 50 offers “superior velocity and the ability to burn cleaner (with less residue).” Reloder 50 will be available in both 1-lb (#150527) and 8-lb (#150528) containers.
On the Horizon — More Alliant Powders like Reloder 17
Reloder 17, made in Switzerland by Nitro Chemie, is a unique propellant that offer a smoother, longer energy release because the burn rate controlling chemicals are saturated into the kernels rather than just applied to the outside. This can provide extra energy over the course of the burn, with the result that Reloder 17 can deliver more velocity than any other powder with a similar burn rate and density. The demonstrated high performance of Reloder 17 has created demand for similar formulations, but with faster or slower burn rates. The good news is that Alliant’s Reloder 50 (see above) has the new burn rate control chemsitry, and Alliant is working right now on at least two new powders that will use the Nitro Chemie’s new powder technology. One powder (Reloder 16?) will be faster than RL 17, and one will be slower — possibly in the H1000 range. Stay tuned to AccurateShooter.com for future updates.
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