Headed to SHOT Show in January 2020? Then you should check out the full floor plan of the event before you head to Las Vegas. Locating companies in the vast Sands Expo Center can be difficult — there are thousands of exhibitor booths spread across multiple floors. In addition, the aisle/booth numbering system in the Sands Expo can be very confusing for first time visitors.
You can plan your SHOT Show experience with a searchable, interactive online SHOT Show Floor Plan. This shows all the exhibitors on all the floors. To find a particular company, use the “Search” field (upper left). Or, to browse, you can click on the menu icon (three lines above the printer symbol). For example, here we used the Search Field to locate Capstone Precision Group, parent of Berger, Lapua, Vihtavuori, and SK.
There is also a separate map for the upper Supplier Showcase zone. This area, above the main floor, has smaller displays set up in the aisles of the conference area. Over 500 companies will have products on display. To access this map, simply click on the Supplier Showcase Tab on the SHOT Show Floorplan website. Then use the search function to locate companies. You can also move your curser around the map and company names will appear when the cursor selects a particular booth. Here we’ve located RUAG Ammotec USA.
SHOT Show Special Episode on May 8, 2019
If you watch just one episode of Shooting USA TV this year, it should be this week’s SHOT Show Special. Tonight, May 8, 2019, enjoy a full hour of SHOT Show coverage at 9:00 pm Eastern and Pacific, 8:00 PM Central. Jim Scoutten’s team works hard every January, bringing you highlights from the gun industry’s largest trade show. Jim, son John Scoutten, and other staffers prowled the 12 miles of aisles in the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, visiting many of the 1,600+ exhibitors. This episode provides a “first look” at the new guns, optics, and gear introduced for 2019. Click HERE to learn more about this week’s 2019 SHOT Show episode.
2019 SHOT Show Highlights: Ruger Precision Rimfire, Hornady 300 PRC, JP MR-19, Kestrel HUD, Manners Stocks, Savage MSR-10, Volquartsen Ultralite, Walter Q5 Match, and much more.
Shooting USA Hour AIR TIMES
Shooting USA’s SHOT Show Special will air for a full hour on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 on the Outdoor Channel. Here are the air times, but you should check your local schedule. Look for Shooting USA TV on the Outdoor Channel.
Wednesday Night Schedule:
Eastern Time – 9:00 PM
Central Time – 8:00 PM
Mountain Time – Check Listings
Pacific Time – 9:00 PM
Here are some of the 50+ new products featured on the SHOT Show Special:
After SHOT Show in the USA, the IWA Outdoor Classics is the biggest gun/hunting/outdoor trade show in the world. The IWA event, held each spring in Nuremberg, Germany, opened today, March 8, 2019, in the Nürnberg Exhibition Centre. The show runs four days, concluding on March 11th. This is a big event — 1622 exhibitors from around the globe are showcasing their products. In 2018, 46,121 visitors from 121 countries attended the IWA Show. This year, attendance should be even greater.
Photo Credit for this and other images: NuernbergMesse / Thomas Geiger, All Rights Reserved
You don’t see this every day. Exhibition-grade wood and an engraved Walther action on a competition .22 LR position rifle. This handsome rifle is certainly worthy of Olympic Gold.
IWA Show Preview Video
Here are some beautiful shotguns with engraved receivers and stunning wood. You see plenty of exotic firearms like this at the IWA show.
Here a show visitor checks out the sights on a Grünig Elmiger rimfire match rifle.
Along with complete firearms, there were displays of impressive rifle actions.
German gun-maker Walther showcased the new Walther Q5 Match Steel-Frame pistol.
Major German rifle-makers Blaser, Mauser, and Sauer all had large, prominent displays at the IWA Show in the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre.
German Craftsmanship on Display
Along with displays of guns, optics, and hunting gear, the IWA show features workshop areas where skilled artisans practice their trades — you can see engraving, wood-carving, and other skills in action.
In addition to the firearms exhibitors, the IWA show has many vendors displaying archery and bow-hunting gear. IWA has a strong hunting focus — perhaps more so than SHOT Show in the USA.
There was also an AirSoft Shooting Area at IWA where visitors could practice their marksmanship.
When covering SHOT Show 2019 our reporters focused primarily on rifles, optics, and reloading equipment, because this website is dedicated to rifle accuracy. However we know many of our readers are interested in pistols and revolvers, and we bet the majority of our Forum members own handguns. This Editor used to compete in IDPA and other pistol disciplines and I still love my semi-autos and wheelguns.
For you pistoleros, here are five videos covering some of the best new handgun options for 2019. The first video in the list covers multiple handguns — four recommended 1911-type pistols. Enjoy.
Top Four 1911 Pistols from SHOT Show 2019
Pistols Round-Up — Top New Handguns 2019
TOP Five Sub-Compact Handguns Under $500
New COLT Revolvers and 1911s
SIG Sauer P320X Compact
HANDGUN SKILLS — Pistol Training Target
This 12″ Bullseye Pistol Diagnostic Target helps improve handgun marksmanship. The target diagnoses common problems based on shot impact zones. While this target is designed for righties, left-handed shooters can use the target too. Just observe the opposite tips.
GunsAmerica brought a team of reporters to SHOT Show 2019, lead by Managing Editor True Pearce. These hard-working reporters have produced over 60 videos covering Range Day and SHOT Show. The GunsAmerica squad tested many rifles during Range Day and then visited many rifle-makers in the Expo Center. Here are five GunsAmerica videos about new rifles and chassis systems. Check out dozens of other SHOT Show 2019 videos on the GunsAmerica YouTube Channel.
Battle Arms 3.8-Lb Titanium AR — World’s Lightest AR
If you are a fan of light-weight rifles, watch this video! It features the
Battle Arms GEN 2 O.I.P. AR that weighs just 3.8 pounds. To save weight, this carbine features a carbon fiber handguard and various titanium parts including a Titanium muzzle brake. Look carefully at how even small controls have been modified to save ounces. GunsAmerica reports: “Battle Arms has done a lot of work to find all the ounces that can be spared to make this gun as light as possible.” Even at just 3.8 pounds, the gun is very controllable during rapid fire. Despite a steep $3299.00 MSRP, the first run of Battle Arms’ sub-4-lb GEN 2 O.I.P. is sold out. That proves that “light is right”, as least in the AR carbine market. Read Titanium AR Review HERE.
Seekins Precision — Complete Rifles and Actions
Seekins Precision showcased some impressive custom actions plus complete rifles for both tactical competitors and long range hunters. We were impressed with the build quality of the Seekins precision rifles. We liked the new Seekins Havak Bravo, and the Seekins action has some interesting features, such as four locking lugs with 90° bolt throw. Full Seekins Havak Bravo Review.
CZ 457 Precision Rimfire Rifle
Many top PRS and NRL shooters train with .22 LR rimfire rigs between matches. Rimfire cross-training lets you hone your skills at much lower cost — ten cents per round vs. seventy cents. Shooting rimfire also helps improve your wind-reading skills, as even a small wind change will move a .22 LR bullet noticeably at 100 yards. This video features the new CZ 457, which replaces CZ’s popular 455 series. Along with the Manners-stocked Varmint Precision Trainer variant featured in the video, the CZ 457 is offered in a variety of configurations in .22 LR, .17 HMR, and .22 WMR. MSRP starts at $365 and goes up from there. For more information visit CZUSA.com.
Ruger Precision Rimfire Goes Magnum — With Doug Koenig
The versatile Ruger Precision Rimfire has been a big success as a .22 LR. And now for 2019, it is also offered in a magnum version for .17 HMR and .22 WMR. Varminters should be happy about that. For Ruger Precision Rifle owners, this rimfire version offers ergonomics just like their centerfire rig. The chassis-style rimfire rifle has some very interesting features, including adjustable bolt throw that lets shooters change from a rimfire 1.5″ bolt throw to a short-action centerfire 3″ bolt throw, reducing the chance of short-stroking your bolt in competition. The Ruger Marksman trigger adjusts from 2.25 to 5.0 pounds.
Browning X-Bolt Max Long Range
Browning showcased a very nice bolt-action rifle during Industry Day at the Range. The New X-Bolt Max Long Range features a handsome composite stock, with adjustable cheek-piece and straight toe in the rear for riding bags. The fluted 26″ barrel is threaded for suppressors or brakes. GunsAmerica’s tester reports: “The Max Long Range was a joy to shoot, the trigger was light and crisp, and it cycled easily due to the extended bolt handle. At 8 pounds, 3 ounces without scope or ammo, it isn’t too heavy. The stainless steel barrel matched with the black and grey splatter on the stock gives it a sharp-looking appearance as well.” MSRP is $1269 – $1329 with 11 chambering options from 6mm Creedmoor up to .300 Win Magnum.
There is so much to see at SHOT Show, with nearly 2000 exhibitors showcasing tens of thousands of products. SHOT Show is the largest trade show of its kind in the world, attracting 60,000+ attendees from more than 100 countries.
Thankfully there are many teams of reporters who covered SHOT Show this year, and they’ve now posted a wide selection of video reports. In today’s SHOT Show video showcase, we post our “pick of the litter” — ten of our favorite video reports from SHOT Show 2019, plus one great video “blast from the past”.
At SHOT Show 2019, some of the most impressive new products were in the realm of scopes and electro-optics. We are seeing big companies like Leica, SIG Sauer, Swarovski, and Zeiss moving big-time into the technological marriage of microchips and lenses. With the release of the $4500 Swaro dS, a scope with no manual windage or elevation controls, we are really entering a new era in aiming systems for shooters.
Swarovski dS Rangefinder Scope with Ballistics “Brain”
Swarovski rolled out a new flagship scope this year at SHOT Show, the remarkable dS 5-25×52 P. This $4500+ wonder features a built-in laser rangefinder (like the Burris Eliminator). But there’s more — working with a smartphone App, the dS incorporates a sophisticated ballistics computer that calculates your trajectory at any distance and then displays an aim point on your reticle. It even adjusts the aim point for the wind (with data entered wirelessly via mobile device).
This really is a state-of-the-art electro-optical system. However, there are some negatives to consider. First there are no conventional elevation or windage knobs/turrets. So, if your battery dies in the field, you are SOL. (FYI that big “turret” in the middle is actually just a battery and tool holder). Secondly, all that smart calculation depends on extremely accurate BC and velocity data. If you switch ammo, and don’t have an accurate velocity or BC, you won’t get the right solution and there are no knobs to turn to fix that. The dS will give you an aim point, but it might not match your true ballistics. (NOTE: There are hidden mechanical controls for setting your zero, but these are not intended for conventional shot to shot adjustments).
High-Magnification Competition Scopes
Kahles K1050 — Central Parallax, Great Glass
Kahles scopes are now being used by many of the top shooters in PRS game. Kahles optics offer great European glass, precise controls, and some unique features. Our readers may not realize that Kahles makes an outstanding high-magnification zoom scope suitable for long-range benchrest and F-Class comptition, the Kahles K1050. This 10-50x56mm optic has a unique centrally mounted parallax control — great for lefties or guys who run a left port/right eject. The Kahles K1050 has a true 8 meters to infinity parallax adjustment range making it suitable for everything from Field Target air gun, 1000-yard competition, and long range tactical. The Kahles K1050 costs $2899.00 — that’s midway between a Vortex Golden Eagle and a 10-60x56mm March High Master (starting at $3425.00).
Sightron SIII 10-50x60mm
Sightron offers a very affordable 10-50x60mm scope in its SIII optics line. There is a special version for Field Target competition that comes with a “Big Wheel” parallax control. Field Target competitors use the Parallax control to determine target range.
ELR Scope — For 2 Miles and Beyond
March 6-60X Genesis with 400 MOA elevation
A typical premium riflescope might have 50-60 MOA of elevation. That’s enough for shooting out to 1500 yards or so with a high-BC bullet launched at 2900 fps. But for Extreme Long Range (ELR) shooting you need more elevation adjustment, and that’s where the innovative March 6-60X Genesis optic stands out. This unique optic offers a whopping 400 MOA of elevation adjustment. That ample elevation doesn’t come cheap however — the 6-60x56mm Genesis sells for $6950.00. CLICK HERE for full specifications.
Lightweight Hunting Scopes
As scopes have grown increasingly sophisticated and complex, they have also become bulkier and HEAVIER. That’s a big deal for a hunter who may be carrying a rifle, plus another 20-30 pounds of gear and food/water. The average dear hunter will be taking a shot well inside 400 yards so he doesn’t need 25X power or fancy features. He does need clarity, good low-light performance, and reliability — and LOW WEIGHT. We think a good deer hunting scope should come in under 1.5 pounds (without rings). Here are two smart hunting optics, both under 20 ounces.
Leupold VX Freedom — 12.2 ounce Weight, Simple, Affordable
The Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm weighs just 12.2 ounces and street price is under $200. It has a 4.7mm exit pupil, 60 MOA of elevation, and a 33.7 ft Field of View at 100 yards.
Zeiss 3-12x44mm Conquest — 18.2 ounce Weight, 90% Light transmission, 4X Zoom
These riflescopes were designed as a lightweight, high-performance product line for demanding hunting and shooting applications. The Zeiss 3-12x44mm Conquest delivers 90% to-the-eye light transmission, along with 70 MOA of both elevation and windage travel. This premium second focal plane scope weighs just 18.2 ounces, slightly over one pound.
Compact Spotting Scopes for Field Carry
Many shooters and hunters don’t want or need a heavy, bulky spotting scope. They need a spotter to see mirage, and to deliver more magnification than can be comfortably handheld with binoculars. For hunters, weight and overall size are key. The hunter wants a spotting scope that can be packed and carried easily. Here are two clear, sharp spotter options in a smaller format. The Leupold Gold Ring 15-30x50mm Compact Spotter is particularly well-suited to hunters and tactical shooters.
Nikon Monarch Fieldscope 60ED-A
Small but powerful — that describes the Nikon 60ED-A Monarch Fieldscope with 16-48X eyepiece. This unit delivers big spotter performance in a much smaller package. It focuses fast and showed very good sharpness though we observed the image darkens at higher magnifications. This has ED glass and Nikon’s proprietary “field flattener” lens system that enhances sharpness throughout the entire field of view.
Leupold 15-30x50mm Gold Ring Compact Spotting Scope
The affordable Leupold Gold Ring Compact Spotter offers 15-30X magnification. That’s plenty for spotting game or viewing mirage. This unit is remarkably compact and we like the simple right-side focus knob. Half the size of typical spotting scopes, this Compact Leupold spotter weighs just 21.5 ounces (1.34 pounds).
Superb Binoculars — When Cost is No Object
Leica Noctivid 8x42mm Binoculars
Our Hunting Editor Colton Reid is a Ph.D. who works with specialized electro-optical devices costing over $30,000. So he knows a few things about light waves and glass quality. When he looked through the 8×42 Leica Noctivid his comment was simple but telling: “These are the best compact binoculars I’ve ever looked through. The clarity and brightness are truly exceptional”. At nearly $2700.00, Noctivids are crazy expensive, but the quality will be worth it to some buyers.
Parting Shot — Think about the Warranty BEFORE You Buy
This patched-up Razor spotting scope was on display at the Vortex booth. We actually know the history of this particular spotter — it belonged to one of our Forum members. He sent this busted unit back to Vortex, and Vortex sent him a brand new Razor spotter. That Forum member told us: “Vortex earned a customer for life when they replaced my spotter, no questions asked. When Vortex says its warranty is ‘Unlimited, Unconditional, Lifetime’, believe it.”
SHOT Show 2019 kicked off Tuesday, with tens of thousands of exhibitors, media members, and invitees streaming into the Sands EXPO Center in Las Vegas. This firearms industry trade show just gets bigger every year. We visited many of our favorite vendors including Capstone Precision Group (Berger, Lapua, SK, Vihtavuori), McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, Zeiss Optics, Redding Reloading, SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Anschutz, and Target Vision/Longshot.
Here are some quick highlights from Day One of SHOT Show, a little bit of everything: Rifles, pistols, ammo, reloading gear, and some notable shooters.
Capstone Precision Group: Berger, Lapua, SK and Vihtavuori
Capstone Precision Group showcased new products from its four companies: Berger Bullets, Lapua, SK, and Vihtavuori. Lapua showcases cartridge brass and loaded ammo, including new 6.5 Creedmoor ammo with the ultra-consistent Scenar-L bullets. Capstone also told us to expect large quantities of brass to be arriving in the USA soon, including the high-demand 6mmBR brass.
Berger will release new loaded ammo in Lapua brass. Options will include 6mm Creedmoor, which should be popular with the PRS crowd. In addition, Berger will offer an impressive new line of solid projectiles. These ultra-high-BC ELF Match Solids have optimal shapes to stay supersonic at longer ranges. They are an impressive option for the Extreme Long Range game.
McMillan — 6012-Yard Shot with ELR Rifle
At the McMillan booth, members of the Global Precision Group (GPG) Team showcased an impressive .416 Barrett ELR rifle. Team leader Paul Phillips explained how the team managed (on the 22nd shot) to hit a 48″x32″ target at the incredible distance of 6012 yards. Our friend Derek Rodgers, reigning F-TR World Champion, told us that this shows how the ELR sport has evolved. The rifle features a McMillan ELR Beast stock with a Bartlein Barrel on a massive BAT 50 action.The .416 Barrett rounds were loaded with 550 grain Cutting Edge bullets.
A Tacom Charlie/Delta TARAC prism system was fitted in front of the Nightforce scope, allowing the team to put over 625 MOA of elevation on the shot while still being able to see the target. The ballistics numbers for this 6012-yard shot are pretty mind-boggling: 625 MOA of elevation was required, and the bullet was in the air for 17.1 seconds!
New Products from LongShot Target Cameras (aka TargetVision)
Our first stop at the show was at the LongShot Target Cameras booth. Here we met with company founder, Clay Rhoden, the bright young man who has created the best-performing wireless target cameras on the market. Most folks know Rhoden’s company as TargetVision, but Clay said they are re-branding as LONGSHOT Target Cameras, to help emphasize the extreme range capabilities of his latest systems (the top tier Longshot cameras can operate out to one mile and beyond). Clay showed us two new products, the latest target camera (with easy-to remove battery pack), and a special camera that will transmit video from a spotting scope to your mobile devices. See the latest products at www.longshotcameras.com.
Light-Weight Camo Hunting Rifles from Weatherby
Hunters can spend hundreds of dollars on the latest camouflaged clothing in order to blend in to their environment, so why do gun makers continue to produce shiny hunting rifles? Well, this is one thing Weatherby has gotten right with the latest Weatherby Mark V ultra lightweight rifles. The rifle has the option of a rugged, matte Cerakote finish on action, bolt, and barrel, effectively eliminating glare. And did I mention it’s light weight? The full rifle weights a mere 5.75 pounds for non-magnum calibers. Weatherby guarantees sub-MOA accuracy with factory ammunition out of the box. Add a decent lightweight scope and this rifle is ready for a long backcountry hunt.
Hot New Sub-Compacts from SIG Sauer, Kimber, Walther
For shooters who carry concealed or simply prefer a more compact pistol, three new handguns really stood out at shot show 2019: the SIG Sauer P365, Walther CCP M2, and the Kimber EVO. All three guns had a similar weight and feel at roughly 1” width, 6” length, and 1 lb when empty. The P365 has an advantage with a 10 + 1 round capacity, compared to the 7/8 of the EVO and CCP M2, but the CCP M2 is more competitively priced with an MSRP starting at $469. Retail for the P365 starts at $599 and the Kimber a surprising $925. Expect to see these guns in stores between spring and summer of 2019.
Smith & Wesson — Handguns Galore and New T/C Performance Center LRR
Smith & Wesson is not just a handgun company. It markets rifles under its own brand name as well as via its Thompson Center Arms (T/C) division. At SHOT Show 2019 we saw the T/C Performance Center LRR (Long Range Rifle). With a $1211.00 MSRP, this offers great “bang for the buck” for shooters competing in PRS production division. These rigs feature a modular aluminum chassis, 24″ barrel, and adjustable cheekpiece. Available chamberings include .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Win. And of course S&W continues to make great wheelguns, include some very BIG magnum revolvers:
At the Anschutz Booth with Company President, Jochen Anschutz
The German company Anschutz remains a world leader in rimfire rifles. The company’s match rifles have captured countless Gold Medals in Olympic target shooting and biathlong competition. Here company President Jochen Anschutz (left) shows the latest Biathlon rifle, featuring the impressive Fornter straight-pull action. With Jochen is Steven Bolter, North America Custom Shop Director. We were pleased to hear that Anschutz will be offering a new line of 17 HM2 (Mach2) rifles soon. That is an effective varmint round that’s considerable less expensive than 17 HMR.
For folks in the gun industry, the third Monday in January is the best day of the year. Held in conjunction with SHOT Show, Industry Day at the Range lets us try out dozens of new rifles and pistols, as well as meet top gun designers and friends in the shooting sports. We saw some very great new products this year. Here are some of the most interesting “take-aways” from Industry Day at the Range, held in Bolder City, Nevada on January 21, 2019.
New Guns + Old Friends
Meeting old friends, and shooting new guns. That’s what Monday was all about at the annual Industry Day at the Range, a “hands-on” preview the day before SHOT Show opens in Las Vegas. Your Editor met with old buddy Jason Baney and Hunting Editor Colton Reid at the crack of dawn and headed out to the Boulder City (NV) range.
We were not disappointed — there was plenty to see this year. On display were a bunch of new precision rifles, a slew of new handguns, and some very exotic optics (including a turretless digital camera/riflesight).
Cool New Rifles and Chassis Systems
Our friend Stan Pate let us try out Savage’s latest, greatest Modern Sporting Rifle, the MSR 10 Precision. Offered in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Win, this quality rig has many distinctive features, including side-charging handle, adjustable gas system, and convertible dual-angle pistol grip. This rifle proved exceptionally accurate on steel out to 400 yards. It is certainly one of the best AR10-class rifles we’ve tried.
Report from 6.5 Guys
Our good friends the 6.5 Guys (www.65guys.com) kicked off their 5th year of SHOT Show coverage at the Industry Day at the Range. At this event one can check out the latest firearms, putting guns through their paces with live fire demos. Here are two items that caught the eyes of the 6.5 Guys:
PGW Defense Timberwolf
The PGW Defense Timberwolf rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum proved to be a relatively light-recoiling rifle considering the cartridge and overall rifle weight of 14.5 pounds. Even with gusting 7:00 o’clock side winds (with 20+ mph peaks), hitting targets at 1,000 yards was very doable — a reminder of what the .338 Lapua can deliver. Impressive rifle.
Oryx Chassis for Howa, Rem, Tikka, Ruger, and Savage
Oryx (an MDT brand) has introduced a chassis system for Howa, Remington, Tikka, Ruger and Savage actions that retails for $399. While it comes with a grip, the user can bolt on standard AR-15 grips. This affordable system comes with an adjustable cheek piece and length of pull.
Industry Day file photo courtesy CMG Marketing & Events.
Optics — New 7-35x56mm Leupold + Radical Israeli Sensight
Leupold showcased an impressive new scope that should interest F-Class and PRS shooters. Leupold’s new 7-35x56mm Mark 5HD optic had very good glass, and positive controls. At 33 ounces, it is quite a bit lighter than other scopes in this class. We don’t have exact pricing yet, but it should be much less expensive than a Nightforce ATACR scope with the same magnification range.
New Leupold 7-35x56mm Mark 5HD
The new 7-35X Leupold models will be available with either milrad or MOA adjustments and advanced reticles. The milliradian models will be available in six reticle options: H-59, CCH, TMR, Tremor 3, and Tremor 3 Illuminated. The MOA version will be available with an Impact 60 MOA reticle.
Sensight SSR400 digital Riflesight
A big step forward in digital optics is Sensight’s new SSR400 Digital Riflesight, basically a high-resolution digital camera with a microprocessor-controlled reticle. The system is self-contained in a lightweight, compact display that allows the firearm to be held and used as if it held a traditional rifle scope. The digital interface allows users to customize the display, record video, and even livestream the image. The display eliminates eye relief issues, making it easy to acquire targets at distances up to 400 yards. Beyond 400 yards the image becomes noticeably pixelated, but still allowed us to easily hit targets at that distance. The price is moderate.
We viewed hundreds of pistols, shot a dozen or so, and came away with four we really liked. Two were suppressed rimfire pistols, and two were centerfire “Race guns”.
Ruger .22 LR MARK IV 22/25 Gold With Suppressor
We had fun trying out the Ruger MARK IV™ 22/45™ LITE fitted with a factory suppressor. Ruger had a new “bling” version on hand for test shooting. This was the Model 43926, with gold anodized aluminum upper receiver. This is ported for lightness — this pistol weighs just 25 ounces (without suppressor).
KelTec CP33 Suppressed Rimfire Pistol
We shot a very impressive KelTec pistol derived from the KelTec CMR-30 .22 WMR carbine. This new CP33 pistol is mostly the same as the CMR-30, but with no stock and a different front section. The 33 in the name refers to the fact that the clear magazine holds 33 rounds of .22 LR ammo. The version we shot was suppressed, and it was a pleasure to shoot. The trigger is excellent — noticeably better than most other 22s on the market. With virtually no recoil, it was ultra-quiet and surprisingly accurate. This Editor was surprised that a KelTec was one of his favorite new handguns at Industry Day. KelTec says the first production run should start shipping in March, 2019.
Walther PPQ Q5 Match SF (Steel Frame)
Walther’s PPQ Q5 has been popular with action pistol competitors. Now Walther offers an enhanced SF (“Steel Frame”) version. We like how the pistol balances with the heavier, beefier steel frame. We expect the extra mass of the steel frame will also reduce muzzle flip and perceived recoil. This is available from Walther with iron sights or a Red Dot.
Bul Armory SAS 1911-Type Race Gun
Israel’s Bul Armory offers a wide range of defensive handguns and target pistols, including the SAS series of competition pistols. These impressive “Race Guns” feature compensators, relieved slides, flared magwells, and excellent match triggers. Needless to say these comp pistols are a hoot to shot — with superfast cycle rates for fast shot transitions.
Industry Day file photo courtesy CMG Marketing & Events.
Ammunition — Big News from Sierra and More
Sierra Will Offer Loaded Ammunition
The big news in the world of commercial ammunitions come from Sierra bullets. For the first time, Sierra will be offering Sierra-branded loaded ammo. Our good friend (and multi-time Nat’l Long Range Champion) Michelle Gallagher revealed that Sierra will offer a selection of high-quality factory ammunition in 2019.
Sierra will be releasing its own brand of hunting ammunition. Sierra “Gamechanger” will debut in five popular hunting calibers: .243 Win, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win, and .308 Win. The rounds use a new tipped GameKing bullet for match grade accuracy in a hunting round. No details yet on brass, primer, and powder components for this ammo, but if the quality of the bullets is any indication these rounds will serve hunters well.
New Norma Monolithic Hollow Point Ammo
Norma unveiled some impressive new pistol ammunition. The new MHP (Monolithic Hollow Point) offers extreme expansion with major energy transfer. This MHP bullet features a lead-free solid core. This new MHP ammo offers serious performance for regions where lead-core bullets are prohibited. Accuracy is also very good with these new Norma bullets.
Great Products for Hunters and Varminters
We saw some impressive gear for game hunters and varminters. Swagger bipods has introduced a new kind of rifle support that combines the best qualities of both a field bipod and shooting sticks. And we saw a nice swivel field bench that offered very good stability.
Swagger demonstrated its new Stalker QD42 (quick detach) and Stalker Lite bipods. The QD42 is a lighter, more compact design of the already-established hunter series that allows for fast attach and removal via the push of a button. The quick attach/detach is a great feature that allows hunters to carry the bipod in their pack until it’s time to shoot. The Stalker Lite offers similar advantages in that it is extremely light and folds up like tent poles so it can be carried in a pack or side pocket. Both systems demonstrate the maneuverability swagger is known for and are reasonably priced.
Many Industry Day exhibitors were using the well-made and versatile DOA Shooting Bench. These benches feature a strong steel base supporting a very stable top that rotates to change rifle aim points in seconds. In addition, the DOA bench features a swivel seat. We liked the build quality on these DOA benches. Varmint hunters would like this bench — it would work well in a prairie dog field.
About Industry Day and the Range
With two dozen shooting bays, plus an elevated shooting station with targets out to 400 yards, there is plenty of action. Here’s the layout:
We definitely need to remember why we are able to continue to own and shoot firearms in this nation…
Next best thing to being there — this 5-minute video, produced last year, shows Industry Day highlights. It’s a great overview featuring a wide variety of rifles, pistols and shotguns. The biggest commercial, hands-on “live fire” gun demonstration in the world, Industry Day at the Range is attended by over 1700 journalists and buyers.
You’ll find lots of notable new products in Shooting Industry’s January 2019 issue. This 108-page issue is filled with timely articles ranging from marketing insights and SHOT Show 2019 coverage to tips for success in the new year. The January issue also includes Part II of the 2019 New Product Showcase. January’s 30-page New Product Showcase features over 150 products from 115 brands. Here are some highlights from the Product Showcase:
Steyr’s Monobloc — Barrel and Action are one piece of steel. Impressive engineering, but what happens when your barrel wears out?
Berger has new 6mm Creedmoor Ammo plus new .375-Caliber bullets for ELR shooters:
Lyman has a great new Case Trimmer with speed control and carbide cutter:
New Brass from Jagemann and BOG “DeathGrip” Clamping Tactical Tripod:
New Generation Mantis — Accelerometer and software tracks your muzzle movement:
Have a LONG F-Class Rifle or a PRS rig with suppressor? This nice case will hold your rig:
MORE SHOT Show Coverage
Shooting Industry’s January Issue has extensive SHOT Show coverage, including the comprehensive Exhibitors Guide, SHOT Show Auction info, plus a sizable pullout map in the printed editions.
There is also a separate map for the upper Supplier Showcase zone. This area, above the main floor, has smaller displays set up in the aisles of the conference area. Over 500 companies will have products on display. To access this map, simply click on the Supplier Showcase Tab on the SHOT Show Floorplan website. Then use the search function to locate companies. You can also move your curser around the map and company names will appear when the cursor selects a particular booth. Here we’ve located RUAG Ammotec USA.
