shot daily 1 2015

DAY 1, JANUARY 20, 2015

SHOOTING HUNTING OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW 1979–2015

NEW FIREARM ROUNDUPSHOT Daily spotlights the latest offerings in rifles P. 16, shotguns P. 32, and handguns P. 44. Plus, we lace up new boots P. 54.

T H E DA I LY N E WS O F T H E 2 0 1 5 L A S V E GA S S H OT S H O W B R O U G H T TO YO U BY T H E B O N N I E R CO R P O R AT I O N A N D T H E N SS F

FEATURES3-GUN FUNAT MIDNIGHTCrimson Trace Corp.hosts a unique shooting competition PAGE 96

WINCHESTER’S NEW AMMODeer Season XP has been designed just for deer hunters PAGE 108

NEWSEVA SHOCKEYLiving in the digital age requires a special set of social skills PAGE 4

MOSSBERG THINKS SMALLNew catalog highlights rifles and shotguns sized for younger shooters PAGE 84

Browning’s New Small-Bore Citori 725Browning’s Citori 725 is now available in 28-gauge and .410 bore. Since its launch in 2011, the 725 Citori has been a big hit with hunters and target shoot-ers alike. It weighs up to ¾ of a pound less than the standard Citori, thanks to a slimmer receiver and barrel contour. The 725 is the liveliest Citori ever and an excellent platform for small gauges.

Both the 28-gauge and .410 bore will be built on the sleek 20-gauge 725 receiver and are offered in Field and Sporting models. The Field models will come with 26- or 28-inch barrels and weigh approxi-mately 6¾ pounds in either gauge. SRP: $2,539.99.

Sporting models will come with a choice of a 30- or a 32-inch barrel with an extended Invector choke and weigh 7¼ pounds. SRP: $3,199.99. Target shooters will especially like the “Fire Lite” mechanical triggers. Booth #15129. —Phil Bourjaily (browning.com)

Browning’s new Citori 28-gauge and .410 will be built on a 20-gauge frame.

2015 SHOT Show Opens

T his morning, when the doors open on the 2015 SHOT Show, more than 65,000 indus-try professionals from 100 countries and all 50 states will spend the next four days reviewing new products, attending career-

enhancement seminars, and networking in booths and along the aisles. The annual show, now in its 36th year, fea-tures more than 1,600 exhibitors and covers more than 630,000 square feet. Over the years, it has become an industry must-attend event for retailers, manufacturers, and marketing professionals in the shooting-sports industry.

National Shooting Sports Foundation president Steve Sanetti knows the value of attending the show and extends a greeting to all. “Welcome to the 2015 SHOT Show!

We’re extremely excited to see old friends and make new ones, all while working together to promote, protect, and preserve hunting and the shooting sports through this, the largest trade show in the world for the firearms industry,” he says. “We have a jam-packed week ahead, including a number of new and enhanced venues such as the all-new SHOT Showcase Theater and the greatly expanded New Product Center. Of course, there will be seminars for retailers, press conferences for the media and buyers, and thousands of new products to see.”

He also urges attendees to make an effort to stop by the Project ChildSafe/“Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” booth (#L350) in order to “help all of us help our communities and the shooting sports stay safe.”

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4 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 20, 2015

MINUTESWITH…

Grace Under FireWhen anti-hunters attack, this digital-age hunter won’t back down

T he 26-year-old Vancouver Island, Canada, native has proven that she can not only keep up with the boys, but she can blaze her own path in a male-dominated industry. That path includes co-hosting duties on Outdoor Channel’s Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures alongside renowned big-game hunter (and her dad) Jim Shockey and securing coveted sponsorship deals with the likes of Under Armour, Mossy Oak, Crosman Airguns, and Bowtech Archery. Last May, Shockey became the cover star of Field & Stream’s What’s Next issue, making her the second woman ever to be photographed for the magazine’s cover in its 119-year history. (The first was Queen Elizabeth II.) That very same month, her professional hockey player boyfriend, Tim Brent, proposed. She said yes.

Riding a wave of bliss and a sense of accomplishment, Shockey encountered a harsh reality one Saturday in November. Droves of anti-hunters reacted negatively to photos that she posted on social media of a 510-pound black bear she killed—the largest she had ever har-vested—during a North Carolina hunt she was filming for her Outdoor Channel TV series. One anti went so far as to remark that she should “kill that little worthless dog you have instead.” Eva’s sharp riposte—“Apparently hunting a bear, eating/donating all of the meat, and putting money toward conservation is a bad thing, but killing my puppy is OK. If this logic isn’t totally insane, I don’t know what is.”—caught the attention of mainstream media. The backlash intensified in the days that followed, but so, too, did the rallying battle cries from fel-low hunters.

SHOT Daily: What’s it like being a hunter in the digital age where both fans and antis can post comments on your social media platforms?

Eva Shockey: My entire life has been in the digital age, so social media is something I’m used to. Currently, my social media presence has reached an all-time high, so the feedback that I receive from follow-ers—good and bad—is on a much bigger scale. Unfortunately, being a proud hunter is a controversial thing, but I knew what I was getting into from the beginning. My dad warned me that I would be a target for anti-hunters. Regardless, social media is an unbelievably great plat-form to promote my passion and connect with fans, so I decided early on that I’m willing to deal with the hurtful comments if it means encouraging others in a positive way to join and proudly enjoy hunting.

SD: Why do the antis seem to have a louder voice than the conservation hunting community? What do you think we can do to change that?

ES: Hunting has been around since the beginning of time, and hunters are predominantly very down-to-earth, respectful people. While I don’t believe that anti-hunters are necessarily “bad” peo-ple, I do think that they fear the unknown. They don’t understand the good that hunting does for wildlife conservation, how hunting provides organic wild game for countless families around the world, and how hunting is a highly regulated activity. There will always be people who refuse to lis-

ten, so the best thing we can do is to rise above the hostility and aggression.

SD: Although the numbers show that hunting is on the rise among women, why do you think more women don’t hunt? What are the biggest hang-ups or hurdles, and what can we do as an industry to get more females involved?

ES: Women are slowly coming around to the idea that it’s socially acceptable to hunt. For so many years, hunting was seen as a male activity, so it’s taking a while for that archaic stereotype to fade. The big-gest hurdle for women is just to get out there and start hunting. The

best thing we can do is to welcome the new hunters to the community and educate them. The industry is making great strides to encourage women by offering products and gear that are specifically designed for them, which is something that did not exist 10 years ago. I have no doubt women in the outdoors will continue to be more prominent as time goes on.

SD: What are the most important life skills you’ve learned from being a hunter?

ES: One of the many skills I’ve learned is patience. I typically run at a million miles an hour, so sitting in a treestand is something that forces me to slow down and appreciate the moment. Also, mental toughness is something that my dad has passed on to me, though I haven’t mastered it quite like he has. When you’re climbing a mountain, freezing cold and soaking wet, the easiest thing to do is to give up. However, remind-ing yourself that you’re tough enough to push through is some-thing that I’ve used both during my hunts and in my everyday life.

SD: Last year was a milestone one for you. What are you most excited about for 2015?

ES: It was by far the best year of my life. I got engaged, bought a home, was on the cover of Field & Stream, and had my best hunting season yet, which was captured on Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures on Outdoor Channel. As for what’s in store for 2015, I’m getting married in June. Hunting-wise, I can’t wait to hunt black bears on Northern Vancouver Island in our bear territo-ry. It’s the perfect hunt that com-bines family time and a beautiful locale. Booth #L231.

Life as a hunter in the digital age has its ups and downs, as Eva Shockey can attest. Her high social media profile has made her a lightning rod for those who oppose hunting.

Eva ShockeyPro Hunter and Outdoor Channel TV Host

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N E W S

Slaton L. White, EditorJames A. Walsh, Art DirectorMargaret M. Nussey, Managing EditorDavid E. Petzal, Shooting EditorJudith Weber, Production ManagerKurt Schulitz, Online ProducerMaribel Martin, Senior Administrative Assistant

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

Eric Zinczenko, Executive Vice PresidentADVERTISING: 212-779-5316Gregory D. Gatto, PublisherBrian Peterson, Western Sporting Goods Sales Katie Logan, Southern Sporting Goods SalesDavid Hawkey, Northeast Sporting Goods SalesElizabeth A. Burnham, Chief Marketing OfficerIngrid Reslmaier, Marketing Design Director

BUSINESS OPERATIONSTara Bisciello, Business Manager

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

MANUFACTURINGLaurel Kurnides, Group Production DirectorStefanie La Bella, Associate Production Director

BONNIER

Chairman, Tomas FranzénChief Executive Officer, Dave FreygangExecutive Vice President, Eric ZinczenkoChief Content Officer, David RitchieChief Financial Officer, Todd DeBoerChief Operating Officer, Lisa EarlywineChief Marketing Officer, Elizabeth Burnham MurphyChief Digital Revenue Officer, Sean HolzmanVice President, Integrated Sales, John GraneyVice President, Consumer Marketing, John ReeseVice President, Public Relations, Perri DorsetGeneral Counsel, Jeremy Thompson

SHOT Business (ISSN 1081-8618) is published 7 times a year in January, Feb ruary/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November and December by Bonnier Corporation, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5695, and is the official publication of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Flintlock Ridge Office Center, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470 (203-426-1320). Volume 23, issue 1. Copyright © 2015 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 qual-ified 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 corre-spondence 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.

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


N E W S

A Better WayCamp Chef is dedicated to the notion that eating well should be part of the hunting experience By Slaton L. White

D eer camp checklist circa 1975: Rifle? Check. Ammo? Check. Knife? Check. Maalox? Double check.When I began deer hunting nearly 40 years ago, that last item was as crucial to a successful hunt as any of the

others. That’s because food in camp in those days rarely rose above the quality of fare served in Josef Stalin’s infamous gulags. But we soldiered on, downing overdone venison, potatoes and eggs swimming in grease, and coffee that burned a hole through the lining of your stomach.

No more. Today’s hunters expect to eat well in camp, and that trend is one of the driving forces behind the success of Camp Chef, a Utah-based manufacturer of outdoor cooking equipment. Founded in 1990 by Ty Measom, the company from the beginning was dedicated to the idea that there had to be a better way to cook outdoors. Measom was convinced that many campers and outdoorsmen had an interest in outdoor cooking, but were hampered by the quality of the cooking equipment that was then available.

So, he set to work building an improved stove. The result was the Pro 60, a design that has “evolved to include a versatile cooking system, complete with a wide range of well-designed accessories, which help any outdoorsman create a memorable meal while outdoors,” says market-ing director Steve McGrath. “BBQ boxes, flattop griddles, and pizza ovens now give users the ability to grill, griddle, bake, boil, brew, fry, steam, and even cook Dutch oven—all on a single Camp Chef stove.”

I first encountered Camp Chef while hunting turkeys in a Cabela’s tent camp in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. With McGrath at the helm, we ate like kings. Last fall, I hunted ducks in Utah with McGrath (if you haven’t hunted out of an air-boat or layout boat on the shallow flats of the Great Salt Lake, you got something coming), and just like in turkey camp, we ate well. Consider this: After lying in a layout boat for a couple of hours on a chilly morn-ing, watching the sun rise over the Wasatch Mountains, you come in for a hot cup of coffee and breakfast pizza prepared in the Camp Chef Pizza Oven (SRP: $182 for the two-burner stove, $171 for the three-burner). When you’re ready to go back out, they’re putting seasoned tri-tips in the pellet grill.

Over the years Camp Chef has broadened its line to include cast-iron cookware as well as gear designed with the backyard chef in mind. “However, the roots of the company are in the great outdoors, and we continue to give people the opportunity to experience nature without sacrificing a hearty meal,” says McGrath.

New for 2015 is the Stryker

Slicing tri-tips for lunch (left); enjoying breakfast pizza after a couple of hours in a layout boat (right). Pro 60 stove keeps coffee and cocoa nice and hot (below).

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series of stoves and cookware, the company’s modern take on the classic backpacker stove.

“The Stryker will be available in models that burn isobutene or pro-pane as well as a model capable of burning both fuels,” says McGrath. “This now gives people the option of using disposable propane canis-ters with lightweight camp stoves.”

To reduce cooking time and fuel consumption, the Stryker is designed with Heat Ring technolo-gy that increases heat efficiency by 30 percent. The ring creates a larg-er surface area that effectively cap-tures and transfers heat for a rapid boil. It takes just two minutes to boil a half-liter of water.

The stove comes with a tri-legged stand, a burner with match-less ignition, an insulated 1.3-liter cup, and a serving bowl. Components pack inside the insu-lated cup. It weighs 8.3 ounces (not including fuel), and a mesh carry bag is included. SRP: butane, $70; propane, $80; multi-fuel, $105. Accessories include a 1.5-liter tea-pot with Heat Ring technology and a pot/pan set. All in all, sounds like a perfect deal for spike camp.

If you’re not currently carrying Camp Chef, McGrath believes it’s in your interest to do so. “I think it’s hugely important for shooting-sports retailers to look at this mar-ket,” he says. “Maybe most impor-tant, it helps diversify what you’re offering and that helps bring in new customers. For example, the person coming in to look at outdoor cook-ing gear may not be interested in guns or ammo, but in the process can get exposed to the other things you sell. In fact, we’ve seen a big uptick with specialty retailers on the gun side picking up cooking gear and diversifying their audience.”

McGrath says that retailers inter-ested in Camp Chef should “cherry- pick the line. There’s no need to get a full line at first. Our sales reps know which items sell best in par-ticular areas, and they can help you get started with five or six items that should do well for you.”

McGrath also notes that a renewed interest in emergency preparedness is helping to drive sales of the type of gear that is Camp Chef’s specialty. “The kinds of storms we’ve had over the past few years, and the power outages that go with them, has helped spur sales of our stoves and ovens.”

Overall, Camp Chef helps make good eating fun. As McGrath says, “You can’t control the game, and you can’t control the weather, but if the food sucks, that’s your fault.” Booth #15543. (800-783-8347; campchef.com)

Camp Chef Pizza Oven (far left); Pro 60 stove and griddle (left). Below: The Stryker, a modern update on the classic backpacker stove.

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10X Repositions Product LineEmphasis will be on high-performance hunting activewear

A s a hunting apparel brand, 10X has been around more

than half a century. But beginning in 2015, it’s look-ing to reinvent itself with a new line of high-perfor-mance, high-tech hunting clothing consisting of a base layer, mid-layer, outer shell, and rain-shell system.

“Hunters, especially younger hunters, are increasingly thinking of themselves as athletes,” says Alan Burks, director of mar-keting of the Walls Brand Group, a unit of William-son- Dickie Mfg. Co., which now owns 10X. “And as a result, these young out-doorsmen are looking for the kinds of fabrics and technology that most fitness garments have.”

Burks mentions added stretch, breathability, mois-ture wicking, and odor control as just some of the features younger hunters are seeking. “In short, they

want more comfort along with functionality,” he says. “What they don’t want are the bulky, heavy hunting clothes their fathers or grandfathers wore into the woods.”

Burks adds that one of the main differences setting 10X apart from other pre-mium hunting apparel brands in 2015 is that 10X garments will be manufac-tured in Realtree Xtra and Mossy Oak Country cam-ouflage patterns. “And we’ll be offering apparel for both men and women,” he says.

The new 10X Perfor-mance Base Layer comes in a shirt (crew), pants, and a mid-weight quarter-zip pullover. “Down South, the pullover might be the only outer layer a hunter needs,” Burks says.

Farther north in colder country, hunters may want the 10X Performance Fleece Softshell jacket and pants combo or the Tech

Hoodie. A unique feature of the hoodie is that it can be zipped up to cover half the face; a laser-cut exhaust hole in the zipper allows you to breathe. “The hoodie will be advertised at $99.99, which we think is a key price point,” Burks says.

For a waterproof outer layer, Burks mentions the new 10X Performance Rainshell jacket and pants. “A very high-tech garment, we believe it’s the quietest rain shell on the market.”

The new 10X line of hunting clothing will be marketed very aggressively through national advertis-ing. “The hunting market will be keenly aware of 10X in 2015 in both broadcast media and consumer maga-zines. We’re looking to grow into a lifestyle brand, offering the performance features today’s hunters need and want,” Burks says. Booth #10662. (walls .com) —W.H. Gross

The 10X Performance Rainshell jacket is part of the company’s new strategy.


2015

RIFLESBig Selection

Rifle manufacturers are fine-tuning their lines this year with a wide assortment of product designed to appeal to a broad range of hunters

and shooters By Chris Christian

W hether it’s rimfire plinkers, big-game hunting centerfires, tactical models, or 1,000-yard competition guns, retailers will see a staggering number of new rifle models at all price points. Some of these guns will be line extensions of popular and well-received products, while others are brand-new rifles designed to fill specific mar-ket niches. Either way, you and your customers will benefit.

Ashbury Precision Ordnance➤ APO specializes in custom preci-sion rifles for law enforcement and sporting use, based on the patented Saber Forsst modular rifle chassis system that features the Saber SX bolt-action receiver. Two new models join the line this year.

The Ashbury SPR-308 bolt-action ($5,650) features a 20-inch Pinnacle Series fluted, contour bar-rel in 416R stainless steel with a .308 match chamber and finished with a recessed target crown. Muzzle threading for suppressors is optional. The 1 in 10 twist rate is designed for optimal accuracy with 150- to 200-grain projectiles. APO claims sub-1/2 MOA with several .308 match-grade loads.

The rifle is a standard right-hand configuration, but left-hand models are available. It features a one-piece monolithic adjustable 20 MOA top rail, with rail space to “co-align” day optics, clip-on night vision, or thermal-imaging devices. In addi-tion, the Quattro Alloy series V-17 vented forend offers 3-, 6-, and 9-o’clock accessory rail attachment

points, variable grip angles, adjust-able hand-to-trigger distance, and an Ergo hand grip. The ASX-A3 Mod-1 chassis further incorporates a double-locking aluminum hinge on the adjustable folding buttstock cheekpiece height and length-of-pull spacer adjustment and a Limbsaver recoil pad. Flush cup sling-swivel sockets are evenly dis-tributed along the entire length of the stock on both sides.

Empty weight is 11.3 pounds. Overall length is 39 ³/₈ inches with the stock extended; folded length is 29 ⁵/₈ inches. The SPR-308 is coat-

ed with ceramic Cerakote, and is available in black, olive drab green, flat dark earth, Nordic, or tungsten gray finishes. It ships with a hard, lockable transit case.

The SPR-308K1 is a specialized law enforcement rifle. Offering many of the features of the SPR-308, it has a 16.5-inch 1 in 8 twist barrel to better handle heavy sub-sonic projectiles and a ⁵/₈-24 threaded muzzle Blackout muzzle brake/suppressor adapter. A sup-pressor is optional. The rifle is available in .308 and .223 Wylde to handle all .223/.5.56mm NATO

loads. Booth #31407. (ashbury precisionordnance.com)

Beretta USA➤ Four new rifles enter the product line this year under the Sako and Tikka banners. The Sako Finnfire ll ($1,095) is a premium-grade bolt-action rimfire chambered for .22LR and .17 HMR. Built on the Sako 85 select walnut stock with blued met-alwork, it features a two-lug bolt action with a 50-degree bolt throw and a fixed match-grade cold-ham-mer forged free-floating 22-inch barrel, and it feeds from a straight-line 5-round detachable magazine. The rifle uses a two-position safety, and the single-stage trigger is adjustable to deliver pull weights between 2 and 4 pounds. The bar-rel comes without iron sights but is ready to accept optical sights.

The bolt-action Sako A7 Big Game W/Roughtech Stock ($1,200) is designed for extreme conditions and features a stainless-steel con-struction with a fluted barrel and a Roughtech synthetic stock, which uses the TRG recoil pad system

CMMG Consisting of three models, the MK47 Mutant rifle platform uses a direct-impingement gas system.

CZ-USA The Sonoran (top) will now be available in the flat-shooting 26 Nosler. The Ultra-Lux rimfire (below) joins the 455 platform. It comes with a tangent elevation-adjustable rear sight and a 10-round magazine.

Browning The X-Bolt Varmint Stalker in Mossy Oak Brush (top) features a heavy sporter-contour barrel. The X-Bolt Eclipse Target (below) uses a laminated gray-satin-finish

thumbhole stock and a Monte Carlo cheekpiece.


P R O D U C T S

with spacers to adjust the length of pull and has sling swivel studs front and rear. The push-feed action fea-tures a three-lug bolt with a two-position safety and a separate bolt-release button. The single-stage trigger is user-adjustable between 2.2 and 4 pounds. The rifle comes without iron sights, but it has Weaver bases for easy scope mount-ing. It feeds from a detachable mag-azine and will be available in .308 Win., .270 Win., .30/06 Sprg., .300 Win. Mag., and 7mm Rem. Mag.

Tikka adds to the tactical bolt-action series with the blue steel T3 CTR ($1,100) and CTR Stainless ($1,225) models. Offered in .260 Rem. and .308 Win., they feed from a detachable 10-round steel magazine. Both models feature a 20-inch semi-heavy-contour cold-hammer-forged free-floating barrel with a ⁵/₈x24 thread to allow the use of suppressors. Additional fea-tures include a black synthetic stock with a fixed cheekpiece, stock spac-ers to allow length-of-pull adjust-ments, an aluminum trigger guard and magazine release, Teflon-coated bolt with an oversize tactical knob, and a Picatinny upper receiv-er rail for optics mounting.

The Tikka T3 Lite Compact ($675) is designed for smaller-stat-ured shooters and youths. Built on the proven Tikka two-lug push-feed bolt action, it features a black syn-thetic stock with a 12.5-inch length of pull that is adjustable to 13.5 via an included stock spacer. The 20-inch barrel has no iron sights, but it is fitted with a 17mm rail that is drilled and tapped to receive stan-dard Weaver scope-mount bases. All metalwork is blued. The single-stage trigger is adjustable to deliver pull weights between 2 and 4 pounds. The action features Tikka’s two-position safety. Fed from a detachable magazine, it will be

offered in .204 Ruger, .223 Rem., .22/250 Rem., .243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., and .308 Win. Booth #13962. (berettausa.com)

Browning➤ In 2015, Browning will expand its AB3 bolt-action rifle line to include short-action calibers. The AB3 is a super-value bolt-action that features an Inflex recoil pad, a composite stock, a detachable box magazine, a bolt-lock override button, and a 60-degree bolt lift. Short-action calibers include .243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., and .308 Win. (in 22-inch barrel lengths), and .270 WSM and .300 WSM (with 23-inch barrels). SRP: $599.99.

Browning is also expanding its X-Bolt line to include the new X-Bolt Eclipse Target and Eclipse Varmint models. Both feature a laminated gray-satin thumbhole stock with a Monte Carlo cheek-piece. The X-Bolt Eclipse Target will be offered with a 28-inch heavy bull barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win. The adjustable Feather Trigger is factory set at 3 to 3.5 pounds. The 26-inch heavy bull barrel X-Bolt Eclipse Varmint will be offered in .204 Ruger, .223. Rem., and .22/250 Rem. SRP: $1,069.99.

The new X-Bolt Varmint Stalker Mossy Oak Brush model features a heavy sporter-contour barrel in matte-blued finish. Caliber offer-ings are .204 Ruger, .223 Rem., .243 Win., and .308 Win. (24-inch barrel) and .22/250 Rem. (26 inch-es). SRP: $939.99. Booth #15129. (browningarms.com)

Cimarron Firearms Co.➤ Billy Dixon carried an 1873 Trapdoor U.S. Model Officer’s

CZ-USA The limited-edition Craig Boddington Signature Series CZ 550 Magnum in .375 H&H features a 24-inch barrel and a Claro walnut stock.

Recent years have been a transitional time for Marlin, as the manufacturer has undertaken an ongoing project to revamp production lines to increase both the quantity and quality of the products. The line overhaul for the 336 and 1895 lever guns is complete. The revamping of the 1894 lever gun line of pistol cartridges became final in 2014, and that model roll-out is now underway with the 1894 .44 Rem. Mag./.44 Special, .357 Mag./.38 Special, and .45 Long Colt now in pro-duction.

For those looking for more power, there is Marlin’s new 1895 GSBL-.45-70 Govt. ($1,150). This lever-action carbine features a tubular magazine and a stainless-steel-barreled action with an 18.5-inch barrel that uses adjustable Williams FireSights with a front-sight hood. The metalwork is finished in FNC (ferritic nitrocarburiz-ing), which darkens the stainless steel and creates a durable scratch-resis-tant finish. The laminated stock and forend are painted, and a big-loop fin-ger lever makes for fast cycling.

An additional 1895 series gun is the 1895 Limited Edition .45-70 Govt., the second gun in a multi-year series. It features scrollwork on both sides of the receiver; an elk in 24-carat gold inlay is on the left side, and the classic Marlin horse and rider is on the right. “Limited Edition” and “1 of 1,500” are marked on the barrel. Other features include a gold-plated trigger and a B-grade walnut stock with an S-Grip. The 24-inch tapered barrel features Marble sights, and in keeping with tra-dition, the tubular magazine is full length. SRP: $1,350. Booth #15427. (marlin.com)

MARLIN

P R O D U C T S

Rifle while serving as a civilian scout for the U.S. Army during the Red River Indian Wars. His brav-ery resulted in his being awarded the Medal of Honor.

For 2015, Cimarron re-creates the rifle he carried. The Billy Dixon Trapdoor Carbine 26 (SRP: $2,400) features a 26-inch barrel and a tangent rear sight, and is chambered for .45-70. Booth #15335. (cimarron- firearms.com)

CMMG➤ The all-new CMMG MK47 Mutant rifle platform, which con-sists of three models, combines the accuracy of the modern sporting rifle with the reliability and ballistics of the 7.62x39mm Russian round. Chambered for 7.62x39mm, the upper and lower receivers are built from 7075-T6 billet aluminum and feature a uniquely designed upper and lower receiver engineered to manage the dimensions and pres-

sures of the 7.62x39mm cartridge while keeping weight to a minimum.

The rifle, which runs on the proven carbine-length direct-impingement gas system and sports a 16.1-inch free-floated medium-taper barrel with a 1:10 twist rate, utilizes the heavier bolt carrier group derived from the AR10, but shortened. The lower receiver is designed to accept existing AK47 magazines and uses a standard hook-and-latch release system. A

full-length Picatinny rail rides atop the receiver. All models ship with one Magpul PMAG 30-round 7.62x39 magazine.

The stock uses the CMMG RKM15 KeyMod hand guard, which gives users the option to mount a wide range of accessories via the KeyMod slots found at the 3-, 6-, and 9-o’clock positions. For accessories that are not compatible with the KeyMod hand guard, a five-slot accessory rail is available.

The MK47 Mutant T ($1,449.95) features an A2 muzzle compensator, a CMMG single-stage trigger, an A4 six-position collapsible buttstock, and an A2 pistol grip. The MK47 Mutant AKM ($1,649.95) features the same trigger, a CMMG SV muzzle brake, a Magpul CTR butt-stock, and a MOE Pistol grip. The MK47 Mutant AKM2 ($1,849.95) comes with a Geissele SSA two-stage trigger, Magpul CTR butt-stock, and MOE Pistol Grip. Booth #32011. (cmmginc.com)

CZ-USA➤ A limited-edition big-game rifle, a flat-shooting plains rifle, a new

Magnum Research The Ultra .22 LR (top) is built around a modu-lar barrel. The MLRATUT is identi-cal, except for a threaded barrel.

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Youth model hunting rifle, and upgrades to the rimfire line high-light CZ’s new rifle products for 2015. New to the Safari Classics line is the Craig Boddington Signature Series CZ 550 Magnum in .375 H&H ($3,099). This limited-edition piece (only 45 right-hand models and 5 left-hand models will be pro-duced) features input from Craig Boddington and includes a barrel shortened to 24 inches, an upgraded Safari Classics front sight, and a bar-rel-band sling swivel. The stock has been redesigned to be a bit faster handling with a slimmer wrist and a shallower, shorter forend. The 13.5-inch length of pull is capped by a 1-inch red Decelerator recoil pad. The stock is claro walnut and the metalwork is finished in a rust blue.

CZ’s Sonoran rifle will now be available in the flat-shooting 26 Nosler ($3,199). The popular 527 Carbine will now be available in a Youth model ($733). The Turkish walnut stock has been shrunk to a 12.75-inch length of pull, with a smaller diameter pistol grip and slimmer forend. It will be cham-bered for .223 Rem. and 7.62x39mm.

On the rimfire side, the 455 Ultra Lux ($449) joins the 455 platform this year. It features a 28.6-inch bar-rel, an elevation-adjustable rear tan-gent sight, a beech stock with cheek-piece, and a 10-round magazine. As with other 455 models, the barrels and stock can be swapped. Another new 455 model is the 455 Varmint Thumbhole Fluted .22LR in a

brown laminate stock ($549). Booth #11955. (cz-usa.com)

Legacy Sports International➤ Two new bolt-action rifle series join the Legacy Sports line this year. The Howa Alpine Mountain Series Rifle is designed as a lightweight bolt-action hunting rifle. It features Howa’s HACT two-stage trigger, the AMMO Boost detachable maga-zine system, a Cerakote barreled action, and a Pachmeyer Decelerator recoil pad. Empty weight is 6.7 pounds. It will be available in .243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., and .308 Win. Shooters may choose the base rifle or opt for the scoped rifle package, which includes

a Vortex Viper 3–9x42mm scope factory-installed in Talley rings.

Short-action bolt-actions are gen-erally sized to the .308 family of cartridges. As such, cartridges in the .223 Rem. class, being smaller, tend to get lost in the extra room. Howa solves that with the new Howa Mini Action. The action and bolt are 20 percent shorter than standard .308-size short actions, which results in a shorter bolt throw when chamber-ing a round. Available initially in .223 Rem. and .204 Ruger (with other calibers promised for the future), the rifle features a 20-inch hammer-forged barrel, a three- position safety, a HACT two-stage trigger, and a 5-round detachable magazine. Booth #3050. (legacy sports.com)

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Magnum Research➤ A new and somewhat radical rimfire rifle joins the Magnum Research product line this year. The MLR22ATU Ultra .22LR is built around a high-tech modular 18-inch barrel attached to a stain-less-steel breech and muzzle caps inside a thin-walled aluminum shell. A patented heat sink located inside the barrel helps deliver improved accuracy.

The Ultra .22LR ($544) is a semi-auto that measures 36.2 inch-es in length overall and weighs 4.8 pounds. Features include a 1:16 twist barrel with a Benz chamber, an ambidextrous thumbhole stock designed with a higher comb for scope use, an integral Weaver scope-mount base on the receiver,

extended magazine release, sling- swivel studs front and rear, and a checkered palm-swell grip.

Another model, the MLRATUT ($571), is identical, except that the barrel is threaded ½x28 to accept a suppressor. A thread protector muzzle cap is supplied.

Both rifles utilize the Ruger 10/22 trigger group and Ruger 10/22 rotary magazines. The bar-rels are also sold separately and can be installed on Ruger 10/22 rifles to upgrade accuracy. Booth #15949. (magnumresearch.com)

Mossberg➤ This is a big year for Mossberg, which launches new models in the rimfire, hunting, and tactical rifle

lines. The new Blaze autoloading rimfire rifle series will be available in a number of configurations and stock finishes, but all share a 16.5-inch barrel, blue metalwork, a syn-thetic stock—and all are fed from 10- or 25-round detachable maga-zines. In addition to a black stock, models will also be available with stocks finished in Muddy Girl, Highlander, and Wildfire camo patterns. These feature a fixed front sight and adjustable rear. In addition, a Highlander model is offered with a Picatinny upper rail for mounting optics. All feature a 13.5-inch length of pull (except the black stock Bantam model, which is offered with a 12-inch length of pull to fit younger shooters). The Blaze Green Dot Combo is offered

with the black synthetic stock and is equipped with a Picatinny rail featuring a Dead Ringer holo-graphic red/green LED sight that offers four different reticule con-figurations.

A variant on the Blaze action is the AK-47. A dead ringer for the original AK-47, this rifle offers the same action, magazines, and barrel lengths as the AK-47. The Blaze version also comes with an adjust-able fiber-optic rear sight and the distinctive AK raised front sight. It will be available with a fixed black synthetic stock, an adjustable CAR-style black synthetic stock, and a traditional wood AK stock configu-ration. All feature blued metalwork.

The new Mossberg Patriot bolt-action series are classically styled

Mossberg The Patriot line of bolt-actions uti-lizes the LBA adjustable trigger. Above: Patriot Laminate Marinecote. Top right: Patriot Synthetic Matte. Bottom right: Bantam Walnut Matte.


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hunting rifles. Some models feature fluted 22-inch barrels, other utilize plain barrels. The Bantam youth series comes with a 20-inch fluted barrel, a spiral fluted bolt and streamlined bolt handle, and Weaver-style scope bases.

The rifles are fed from a detach-able box magazine that holds three magnum rounds and four standard-caliber rounds. Caliber offerings include .22/250 Rem., .243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., .308 Win., .270 Win., .30/06 Sprg., 7mm Rem. Mag., .300 Win. Mag., .338 Win. Mag., and .375 Ruger.

Stock options include classic wal-nut, black/gray laminate, black syn-thetic, and a synthetic in Deer Thugs Break-Up Infinity camo. Matte-blue-metal finish is available on most models, Marinecote finish on others. Models are available with plain barrels and Weaver scope bases or fiber-optic adjust-able iron sights—or in combo

packages that include a mounted 3–9x40mm scope. All models fea-ture the LBA adjustable trigger that allow the user to adjust the pull weight to any point between 3 and 7 pounds.

All the above models feature a standard adult-sized length of pull, but smaller-statured shooters were not ignored. The Patriot Bantam rifle features a 12-inch length of pull in a classic walnut stock, while the Patriot Super Bantam features a length of pull adjustable between 12 and 13 inches in a black syn-thetic stock. Both are offered with a bare barrel and Weaver bases. The Super Bantam is also available in a scoped combo package with a mounted 3–9x40mm scope. Stock options include a synthetic black stock or synthetic stocks in Muddy Girl or Deer Thugs camo.

Two new model series also join the target and tactical line. The MVP LC Bolt Action Target Rifle

is available in 5.56mmNATO/.223 Rem. and in 7.62mm/.308 Win. The MVP bolt-action design accepts and feeds from standard MSR-style magazines. The 5.56mm features a 16.5-inch barrel (1:7 twist) while the 7.62 version sports an 18.5-inch barrel with a 1 in 10 twist. Both models use medi-um bull barrels and can be fitted with a removable Silencerco Saker Trifecta muzzle brake.

They are bedded in a lightweight aluminum target-rifle chassis that only makes contact with the receiv-er on the V-shaped bedding and recoil lug area, and they sport a Magpul CTR Adjustable Stock, LBA adjustable trigger, and a MOE Pistol grip.

The buttstock comes with three interchangeable cheek-height-adjustment combs, and a Picatinny rail allows the mounting of optics. The MVP LC is also available as a combo package with a mounted

Vortex Viper HS-T 4–16x44mm scope and rings.

The Mossberg MVP LR Tactical bolt-action rifles are a compact package. Using the same bolt action as the Target Rifle (and accepting MSR magazines), each is fitted into a synthetic stock (which has an adjustable cheekpiece) with an OD green finish. Available in 5.56mmNATO/.223 Rem. (1:7 twist) and 7.62 NATO/.308 Win. (1:10 twist), they both feature 16.25-inch barrels threaded for accessories. In addition, both are equipped with fiber-optic adjust-able rifle sights and a Picatinny rail. The adjustable LBA trigger is standard, and metalwork is finished in a matte blue. Booth #12734. (Mossberg.com)

Remington➤ New calibers in a popular cen-terfire bolt-action and an innova-tive muzzleloader highlight Remington’s rifle offers this year. Remington’s bolt-action Model 783 rifle isn’t fancy, but it has earned a reputation as a reliable workhorse. It features a pillar-bedded action in a synthetic stock with a free-float-ing barrel for consistent accuracy, and sling swivel studs front and rear. The barrel comes without iron sights and is drilled and tapped for mounting a scope. Remington’s CrossFire trigger is factory-set at 3.5 pounds, and the rifle feeds from a detachable box magazine with a rugged metal latch. A Remington SuperCell recoil completes the package. The current caliber selection of .243 Win., .270 Win., .308 Win., .30/06 Sprg., 7mm Rem. Mag., and .300 Win. Mag. will be joined this year by the .223 Rem. and the .22/250 Rem. with 22-inch barrels. SRP: $382.78.

It’s safe to say that the Remington Model 700 Muzzle-loader reinvents the front loader. Built on the Remington 700 bolt-action, the inline can use up to 200 grains of powder to increase the range as well as the accuracy. With a 250-grain projectile, it can clock 2,400 fps, making it a legitimate 300-yard deer rifle that can deliver accuracy levels rivaling a bolt-action centerfire rifle.

This is made possible using the patented U.M.L. Ignition System. The U.M.L. consists of a uniquely sized brass case with a Remington 9 ½ magnum rifle primer. The case is push-fed into the breech plug in the same manner a rifle cartridge is pushed into a Model 700 rifle

Mossberg Top to bottom: Blaze rimfire, Patriot scoped Deer Thug, MVP Bipod, and Blaze AK-47. All are part of a big rollout of new rimfire, hunting, and tactical products for 2015.

P R O D U C T S

chamber. It is extracted and ejected in the same way. The gas seal is created in the flash hole at the primer, and the hot magnum rifle primer cleans the flash hole with every firing. The brass cases can easily be re-primed and re-used. Normal blackpowder cleaning methods will clean both the plug and the barrel at the breech. Three primed cases fit snugly in a special-ly designed compartment below the receiver. They are accessed by opening the hinged floorplate.

The Model 700 Muzzleloader will be available in two versions. The Model 700 Synthetic features a 26-inch stainless-steel fluted bar-rel, a Bell & Carlson Medalist M40 stock, the X-Mark Pro externally adjustable trigger, and 24 primed cases and 24 projectiles. It ships in a hard case. SRP: $999. The Model 700 Laminate features a 26-inch stainless-steel fluted barrel, a lami-nate stock, the X-Mark trigger, and 24 primed cases and 24 projectiles. It also ships in a hard case. SRP:

$949. Booth #15427. (remington.com)

Ruger➤ The Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle will now be chambered for 5.56 NATO, with a hybrid chamber to accurately shoot both 5.56mm and .223 Rem. Additional features include a 16.1-inch cold-hammer-forged medium-contour barrel with a 1:8 twist. A Ruger flash suppressor is included, and it can be removed to

attach other barrel-threaded accesso-ries. Other features include a con-trolled-feed bolt action, a 10-round detachable magazine that uses a Mini-14 push-forward paddle release located just ahead of the trigger guard, a Mini-14-style protected non-glare post front sight, and a receiver-mounted adjustable Ghost Ring rear sight. Additional sight options are provided by a forward-mounted Picatinny rail. The rifle is also equipped with Ruger’s integral M77 scope-mount bases and rings.

P R O D U C T S

The rifle weighs 7.1 pounds, and the black laminate stock is equipped with sling-swivel studs. A soft-rubber recoil pad includes three ½-inch spacers to allow for length-of-pull adjustments.

The Ruger American Rifle series will now be available in true left-hand actions in the following cali-bers: .223 Rem., .22-250 Rem., .243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., .270 Win., .308 Win., and .30/06 Sprg. Like the rest of the series, they fea-ture Ruger’s Marksman adjustable

trigger (adjustable between 3 and 5 pounds), the Power Bedding sys-tem that utilizes stainless-steel bed-ding blocks, a cold-hammer-forged free-floating barrel, a three-lug 70-degree bolt throw, and a flush-fitting detachable rotary magazine.

The Ruger American Ranch Rifle will now be available in 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem. and .300 BLK. Featuring a 16.12-inch barrel, it is available in standard and compact polymer stocks and provides an ambidextrous tang safety. Both bar-

rels are threaded to allow the use of barrel-mounted accessories, and the rifles are supplied with a facto-ry thread-protector cap. A one-piece aluminum scope rail allows the installation of a wide variety of optics.

The new Ruger AR-556 modern sporting rifle ($749) is the first fire-arm designed and built at the manu-facturer’s new Mayodan, North Carolina, facility. Built on a direct-impingement operating action, the rifle features a 16.10-inch cold-ham-

mer-forged medium-contour barrel (with M4 feed ramp cuts) cham-bered for 5.56 NATO with a 1:8 twist that will stabilize bullets from 35 to 77 grains. The threaded barrel is equipped with a Ruger flash sup-pressor. The upper 7075-T6 alumi-num receiver features a Picatinny rail with a windage-adjustable Ruger Rapid Deploy folding rear sight, a milled A-2 F-height gas block with an elevation-adjustable post front sight, and a forward assist with a dust cover brass deflector. The butt-stock is a six-position telescoping M4 style with a mil-spec buffer tube, and the rifle features sling-swivel attachments. The bolt-carrier group is chrome-plated and features a staked gas key. The MSR ships with one 30-round Magpul PMag. Standardized M4/AR parts are uti-lized throughout, allowing for easy customization.

The Ruger 10/22, entering its 50th year of production, is one of America’s favorite rimfire rifles. For 2015, Ruger will acknowledge that with the production of the Ruger Collector’s Series 10/22 Carbine Rifle. Only 25,000 of this special-edition rifle will be produced.

Ruger The Gunsite Scout Rifle (top) is now available in 5.56 NATO. The rifle is also available in left-hand versions (below).


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In addition to the standard fea-tures of the 10/22, the Collector’s Series model will include a limited-time 50th Anniversary bolt marking, a commemorative 50th Anniversary box with an exclusive Collector’s Series box decal, the “Ruger 10/22 Rifle 22LR—Fifty Years 1964–2014” receiver marking, a Collector’s Series pin, a 10/22 50th Anniversary bumper sticker, a replica of the orig-inal 1964 10/22 ad, and a limited edition Ruger Collector’s Series street sign.

The rifle features a black synthetic stock and ships with one BX-25 and one BX-1 magazine. An alternate model (to comply with various state laws) is available with three BX-1 10-round magazines. Booth #11940. (ruger.com)

Savage Arms➤ This is a big year for Savage. The manufacturer is introducing numer-ous new models as well as new cali-bers for current models. The recent-ly introduced Savage AXIS bolt-action rifle has quickly built a repu-tation as an accurate rifle at an affordable price. For 2015, Savage follows that up with a heavy-barrel

varmint version. The new AXIS Heavy Barrel ($386) features the same composite stock, pillar bed-ding, 4-round detachable magazine, sling-swivel studs front and rear, and button-rifled barrel of the standard AXIS line, but adds a 22-inch heavy contour barrel. It will be available in .223 Rem. and .22/250 (1:9 twist), .243 Win. (1:9.25 twist), and .308 Win. (1:10 twist). All feature a bare barrel and are drilled and tapped for scope installation.

Another addition to the AXIS line for 2015 is the AXIS II XP scoped-rifle series. The series will be avail-able in a wide range of calibers and includes all the features of the AXIS rifle. Setting it apart is the addition of a factory-mounted and bore-sighted Weaver KASPA 3–9x40mm scope. Two AXIS XP series models will also be offered in a shorter-stocked youth model in .243 Win.

Savage created a new class of rimfire rifles with the B.MAG series. Built specifically for the .17 Winchester Super Magnum (which produces 3,000 fps from a rimfire cartridge), Savage added features normally reserved for centerfire rifles. This year Savage adds to that product line with two new versions.

The B.MAG Stainless Heavy Barrel ($408) is chambered for the .17 Win. Super Magnum rimfire. It features a heavy-contour stainless-steel barrel, a composite stock with a soft, rugged butt pad, a bolt-action with rear locking lugs, a cock-on-close bolt, a center-rotary-feed magazine, the shooter-adjust-able Savage AccuTrigger, and a thread-in barrel headspacing sys-tem to increase accuracy.

The B.MAG Gray Laminate Thumbhole Stock ($566) offers all of the above features with the addi-tion of a gray laminate thumbhole stock with a ventilated forearm that features two sling-swivel studs to allow both a sling and a bipod to be installed at the same time.

The increasing popularity of predator hunting hasn’t escaped Savage, and this year sees a special scoped-rifle package, based on the Model 11 bolt-action, designed for that purpose. The new 11 Trophy Predator Hunter ($692) features the Model 11 rifle with the user-adjustable AccuTrigger, a medium-contour barrel, and a composite stock available in Mossy Oak Brush or Realtree Hardwoods Snow. Riding atop the rifle is a Nikon

3–9x40mm scope with a Ballistic Drop Compensator Reticule (BDC) that is factory-mounted and bore-sighted. The 11 Trophy Predator Hunter package will be available in .223 Rem., .22/250 Rem., .243 Win., and 6.5 Creedmoor.

The popularity of suppressors continues to increase, and Savage has served this market by offering several firearms that are factory-threaded to accept aftermarket sup-pressors. This year Savage adds new models to that product line.

The bolt-action Model 93 FV-SR (1:16 twist) is chambered for .22 WMR, and the bolt-action Model 93R17 FV-SR (1 in 9 twist) is cham-bered for the .17 HMR. Both weigh in at 5.5 pounds, with an overall length if 35.25 inches. Barrel length is 16.5 inches. Each is equipped with a heavy, fluted barrel, oversize bolt handle, a 5-round detachable maga-zine, and Savage’s user-adjustable AccuTrigger. The semi-auto Model 64 FV-SR is chambered for .22LR and weighs in at 5 pounds. It fea-tures a 1 in 16 twist rate and a 10-round detachable magazine. Barrel length is 16.5 inches, and the overall length is 36 inches. All are ready to accept optical sights.

Since its introduction in 2006, the .338 Federal has earned a repu-tation as an extremely versatile big-game cartridge. The .338 Federal is based upon a .308 Win. case necked up to hold a .338 bullet. It offers a higher muzzle velocity than many .308 loads while launching a larger and heavier bullet. The result is a short-action cartridge that provides magnum energy and terminal per-formance on game, but with less recoil than comparable magnum cartridges. Savage will now offer the .338 Federal in six of its most-popular bolt-action big-game rifles: the 11 Long Range Hunter .338 Federal ($1,104), the 11 Hog Hunter .338 Federal ($560), the 16 FCSS .338 Federal ($885), the 16 Bear Hunter .338 Federal ($1,035), the 11 Trophy Hunter .338 Federal ($612), and the 16 Trophy Hunter .338 Federal ($740).

Another new addition to the Model 11 line is the 11 Scout Rifle ($794). It features a one-piece rail for forward-mounting of an inter-mediate eye-relief scope. The rifle also utilizes the user-adjustable AccuTrigger and the AccuStock bedding system. The stock is a flat dark earth synthetic with an adjust-able cheekpiece to allow shooters to achieve perfect eye position with any chosen optic. The barrel is threaded, and a muzzle brake is included; it is easily removed to install a suppressor.

Ruger Top to bottom: American Rifle left-hand version, 10/22 50th Anniversary special edition, American Ranch Rifle, and AR-556.


P R O D U C T S

Savage’s Law Enforcement offer-ings become more versatile this year with the addition of a 10-round detachable box magazine to the new 10 FCP-SR rifle series in .308 Win. Barrel lengths are 20 and 24 inches, and a left-hand ver-sion will be available with a 24-inch barrel. SRP: $761.

The FCP-SR series is built around Savage’s proven 110 bolt-action that uses a floating bolt head, zero-tolerance headspacing, and a button-rifled barrel for extreme accuracy. The FCP-SR series fea-tures a threaded muzzle that is compatible with most current sup-pressors, an oversize tactical bolt handle, one-piece EGW scope mount base, 10-round detachable magazine, black synthetic beavertail AccuStock, fluted matte-blue bar-rel, user-adjustable AccuTrigger, and the AccuStock bedding system. In addition, the stock provides three sling swivel studs.

Lastly, if you never miss an epi-sode of Swamp People, and your favorite firearms phrase is “Choot ’Em,” Savage’s new Landry

Signature Series is worth a look. The Landry Signature Series will be available in existing Savage rim-fire models with the Rascal ($168), Mark II ($244), and the Model 93 ($306). All carry the Landry Signature Series title and feature a rugged synthetic stock fully dipped in a gator camouflage pattern, with Troy Landry’s signature and a dis-tinctive “Choot ’Em” logo. Booth #14551. (savagearms.com)

Thompson/Center Arms➤ The T/C Venture bolt-action rifle series sees a new Compact model designed to appeal to smaller- statured and youth shoot-ers. Chambered in .223 Rem., the Compact model features a 20-inch free-floating blued barrel, a shorter classic-style synthetic stock with an included 1-inch spacer to allow shooters to grow into the gun, traction grip panels on the stock grip and forearm, a user-adjustable trigger, front and rear sling swivels, Weaver-style scope mount bases

installed on a sightless barrel, and a single-stack detachable 3-shot nylon magazine. Empty weight is 6.75 pounds. Booth #13729. (tcarms.com)

Winchester Repeating Arms➤ For 2015, Winchester Repeating Arms will introduce the innovative new XPR bolt-action rifle. The new XPR will feature the proven M.O.A. Trigger System, an adjustable three-lever trigger preset from the factory at a crisp 3 ½ pound pull with no perceptible overtravel. The XPR receiver is constructed of precision-machined chromoly steel barstock. The full-diameter bolt body creates a more rigid component and is coat-ed with nickel Teflon for smooth operation. A short 60-degree lift offers fast bolt operation.

A button-rifled chromoly steel barrel with a recessed target crown is free-floated in the stock to elimi-nate pressure points. Other fea-tures are a black polymer stock with steel recoil lug, a two-position

thumb safety, cocking indicator, bolt-unlock button, and a 3-round detachable, single-stack polymer box magazine. Metal surfaces are matte blued. The XPR will be offered in .270 Win. and .30/06 with a 24-inch barrel and in .300 Win. Mag. and .338 Win. Mag. with a 26-inch barrel. SRP: $549.99.

Also new in the Winchester Repeating Arms line of historical rifles for 2015 is the Model 1873 Sporter Octagon Color Case lever action that features a 24-inch octa-gon barrel with color-case harden-ing on the receiver, lever, crescent buttplate, and forend cap. A Grade II/III walnut straight-grip stock with a satin oil finish is also fea-tured. It will be offered in .357 Mag./38 Spl. and .44-40 Win. SRP: $1,739.99.

The Model 94 Short Rifle will now be offered in .450 Marlin with a 20-inch barrel. SRP: $1,229.99. A new Model 70 Ultimate Shadow Hunter SS model will also be intro-duced. It features a lightweight syn-thetic stock in the new Mossy Oak Break-up Country camo pattern. Pre-’64 style controlled-round feed with claw extractor, M.O.A. Trigger System, forged stainless-steel receiv-er and a sporter-weight free-floating stainless-steel barrel are also fea-tured. Available in most popular short-action and long-action calibers. SRP: $1,099.99 to $1,139.99. Booth #15129. (winchesterguns.com)

New line additions to the bolt-action Vanguard and Mark V series highlight Weatherby’s 2015 rifle introductions. The Vanguard Series 2 is guaranteed to shoot sub-MOA groups at 100 yards when using specified Weatherby factory or premium ammunition. Four new mod-els appear this year.

The Vanguard Series 2 Volt Compact ($749) features an injection-molded synthetic stock in bright-green splatter paint with a length of pull that’s adjustable from 12.5 to 13.625 inches. Metalwork is matte blue, and the barrel is a 20-inch No. 1 contour. The two-stage trigger is adjustable to 2.5 pounds, and the rifle comes with a three-position safety. It will be available in .22/250 Rem., .223 Rem., .243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., and .308 Win. The Vanguard Series 2 Saratoga ($749) fea-tures the same trigger and safety matte blue metalwork. But the syn-thetic stock has an American flag pattern finish, and it features a 24-inch No. 2 contour barrel. It will be chambered in .223 Rem., .243 Win., .270 Win., .308 Win., and .30/06.

The Vanguard Series 2 Kryptek ($749) is the same gun with a Kryptek Highlander Reduced finish on a synthetic stock. The Vanguard Series 2 Kryptek TR ($749) features the Highlander pattern with a 22-inch No. 3 contour (semi-heavy) barrel. It is chambered for .223 Rem. and .308 Win.

The Weatherby Mark V RC (Range Certified) line sees two new addi-tions. Both are guaranteed to shoot sub-MOA groups with specified Weatherby factory or premium ammunition. The Mark V Outfitter RC ($2,800 to $3,000) features a laminated raised comb Monte Carlo carbon-fiber stock in a desert-camo finish. The action is bedded with a CNC-machined aluminum bedding plate. The barrel is fluted stainless steel in lengths of 22, 24, 26, or 28 inches, depending on caliber. It will be offered in a Mark V Magnum or standard action in .240 Wby. Mag., .257 Wby. Mag., .270 Wby. Mag., 7mm Wby. Mag., and .300 Wby. Mag. as well as .270 Win., .308 Win., .300 Win., .30/06, and 7mm Rem. Mag.

The Mark V Arroyo RC ($2,800 to $3,000) features the same stock/bedding plate with a KUIV Vias camo pattern and a dark tan Cerakote finish on the metalwork. The barrel is a No. 3 contour in 24, 26, or 28 inches, depending on caliber. They include the same offer-ings as the Outfitter, with the addition of .30-378 Wby. Mag., .338-378 Wby. Mag., and .338 Lapua.

Lastly, a Limited Edition 70th Anniversary Mark V will be offered; 70 individually numbered rifles will be made. Chambered in .257 Wby. Mag., it features a 24-inch No. 1 contour barrel and a high-gloss California claro walnut stock that mimics those of 1960s-era Weatherbys. A leather case is included. Booth #12729. (weatherby.com)

WEATHERBY

Winchester The all-new XPR will be offered in .270 and .30/06 with a 24-inch barrel and in .300

Win. Mag. and .338 Win. Mag. with a 26-inch barrel.

Weatherby The Mark V Arroyo features a No. 3 contour barrel and KUIV camo pattern, and a dark tan Cerakote finish on the metalwork.


2015

SHOTGUNS

An Interesting MixThis year’s crop of new smoothbores offers something

for everybody By Chris Christian

T he 2015 new shotgun offerings range from expensively exquisite models to everyday workhorses. In addition, an increasing number of smoothbores have been downsized to accommodate smaller-statured or younger shooters. It’s a very interesting year, and there’s a good chance your customers will find a new gun they like.

Beretta USA➤ An array of new smoothbores, ranging from workhorse semi-autos to upper-level over/unders and a new side-by-side, enter the Beretta product line this year. The A300 Outlander ($775 to $875, depend-ing on stock option) is a field-grade 12-gauge gas-operated-action semi-auto that handles 2 ¾ or 3-inch shells and is built on an alu-minum-alloy receiver that results in a 7.1-pound empty weight. The 28-inch vent rib barrel uses the Beretta MC3 interchangeable choke tube system and features a front, metal bead sight. The stock is available in black synthetic, wood, or a Max-5 camo finish that also covers the metalwork. The buttstock features a fitted recoil pad and an adjustable shim system.

The A400 Extreme ($1,745 to $1,895) is a gas-operated 12-gauge built on an aluminum-alloy receiver that can handle all shells from 2 ¾- to 3½-inch. The vent-rib barrel selection includes 26-, 28-, and 30-inch models and uses the OBF-HP interchangeable choke tube system. Each comes with a fiber-optic front sight. The stock and forend are available in black syn-thetic, Max-5 camo, and Optifade KO finishes. The two camo finishes also cover all metalwork. The butt-stock is equipped with a Micro-Core recoil pad with an adjustable-shim system, and the stock and forend feature overmolded grip panels. Empty weight is 7.8 pounds, and it ships with a carry case.

The A400 XPLOR Action ($1,550 to $1,750) is a slimmed-

down version of the gas-operated A400 semi-auto design and is avail-able in right or left-hand versions. Chambered for 12 gauge, it han-dles all 2 ¾- and 3-inch shells. The vent-rib barrels feature a fiber-optic front sight and uses the OBF-HP interchangeable choke tube system. Barrel lengths are 26, 28, and 30 inches. The receiver fea-tures a bronze finish, and the stock and forend are select, checkered walnut with Beretta’s Xtra-Grain technology with an oil finish. The buttstock wears a Micro-Core recoil pad and features an adjust-able-shim system. Empty weight is a trim 6.7 pounds. The A400 XPLOR ships with a carry case.

The new 690 Field III ($3,495) is a high-end over/under chambered for 12-gauge and 3-inch shells.

The oil-finished stock is grade 2.5+ walnut with checkered pistol grip and forearm. The forearm is a semi-beavertail with aluminum forend iron. The pistol grip is also available in a left-hand palm swell design, and the buttstock sports a Micro-Core 20mm recoil pad. The receiver features a double-top shoulder design and is roll-engraved with game scenes. Mechanically, the 690 Field III fea-tures adjustable extraction/ejection, a single selective trigger, and an automatic safety. Available in barrel lengths of 26 and 28 inches, it sports a 6x6mm flat ventilated rib with a front bead sight and uses the Optima-HP choke system. Tubes are supplied in C, IC, M, IM, and full. Average weight is 7.4 pounds.

The 12-gauge Beretta Silver

Browning The receiver of the Citori 725 Sporting Grade V (top) has high-relief engraving. The Citori 725 High Rib Sporting (middle) comes with an adjustable comb. The Cynergy Mico Midas 20-gauge (bottom)

features a 13-inch length of pull for smaller-statured shooters.


P R O D U C T S

Pigeon is well-known among com-petitive shooters and is a frequent visitor to the winner’s circle in inter-national competition. For 2015, the 686 Silver Pigeon will make an appearance as a sub-gauge. The Silver Pigeon 1 Sporting Sub-Gauge ($2,899) will be available in 20 and 28 gauge, as well as .410, with the receiver scaled to gauge. All gauges feature 30-inch barrels (2 ¾-inch chambers in .410 and 28 gauge, 3-inch chambers in 20 gauge) with a wide sporting rib. They use the flush-mounted MobilChoke system. The wood is oil-finished Select Grade checkered walnut. The fore-arm is a Schnabel-style in 20-gauge, a rounded model in .410 and 28-gauge. The safety is the manual model preferred by competitive shooters, and the trigger is single selective. The buttstock is equipped with Beretta’s B-Fast Adjustable comb and a Micro-Core recoil pad.

The new 692 over/under series in 12 gauge with 3-inch chambers is a major product launch, and incorpo-rates the Beretta Steelium Plus bar-rel system that features a forcing cone lengthened to 360mm as

opposed to the more-standard 65mm. Beretta claims the extended forcing cones produce better pattern performance, improved recoil reduc-tion, and a decrease in muzzle rise. A wider receiver is also incorporat-ed; it places more weight between the hands for improved handling. The Beretta B-Fast System is also included in the 692 series. The device allows a complete drop-and-cast adjustment with extreme ease and quickness. Additional features include a newly designed safety/bar-rel selector, replaceable locking shoulder, and a new opening lever. All 692 Series models also feature a select walnut stock with a hand-rubbed oil finish, Micro-Core recoil pad; manual safety; single, selective, adjustable trigger; tapered, ventilat-ed rib with a mid-bead; and a Bradley-style front sight.

The new 692 Series will offer the following models: 692 Sporting ($3,520) with 30- or 32-inch bar-rels and a standard field comb (a left-hand model is also available); 692 Sporting with the B-Fast adjustable comb and 30-inch bar-rels ($3,870); and the 692 Skeet

($3,870) with the B-Fast comb in barrel lengths of 28 or 30 inches (left-hand models come with 30-inch barrels). The Sporting Series Models utilize the OCSP-HP interchangeable choke-tube system that includes M, IM, IC, C, and Skeet tubes. The Skeet Series models use the OBSK-HP package that includes M, IM, IC and two Skeet tubes.

A distinctly different addition to the 692 Series is the 692 American Trap (X-Trap). This over/under offers all the other features of the series but includes a B-Fast adjust-able Monte Carlo buttstock and grade 2.5+ walnut stock with a rounded forearm. Other features are a large pistol grip and palm swell, a vented mid rib, Optima HP flush-fitting choke tubes, and a two-posi-tion adjustable one-inch-high rib.

Lastly, a newly designed side-by-side is also joining the Beretta fami-ly. The 486 Parallelo ($5,350) is built on a round-body action with the new Triblock barrel that pro-vides the same feel as the demiblock barrel while providing more strength and eliminating visible

welding lines. Beretta claims its new captive trigger group featuring leaf springs will provide a crisper trigger and faster lock time. It also will let shooters easily switch from auto-matic to manual extraction. The stock is Turkish walnut with a hand-rubbed oil finish and is available in two configurations: a pistol-grip buttstock with a beavertail forearm, and an English-style straight grip with a splinter forearm.

The 486 Parallelo will be avail-able in 12- and 20-gauge with 3-inch chambers and 28-inch bar-rels that use the OBHFP-486 interchangeable choke tube system (F, IM, M, IC, and C tubes sup-plied). An additional 12-gauge ver-sion offers 30-inch barrels in fixed IC/Mod chokes. All feature a single selective trigger, 10x5.5 conic rib with a single, steel, bead front sight, and automatic safety. Booth #13962. (beretta.com)

Browning Arms➤ Over/under shotguns dominate Browning’s new 2015 product offerings. The Browning High

CZ-USA Top to bottom: The Sharp-Tail side-by-side is built on an all-new action; the Model 812 Waterfowler semi-auto uses an inertia recoil-

operating system; the Sterling Southpaw is a true left-hand shotgun; and the 612 Magnum Turkey pump-action is chambered for 3.5-inch shells.

P R O D U C T S

Grade program moves into its third year with a pair of Citori 725 12-gauge Sporting models. These over/unders receive as many as 30 hours of hand-engraving and touch-up prior to being precisely set into finely wrought, high-grade walnut.

The new Citori 725 Sporting Grade V will feature a receiver with deep-relief engraving in a silver-nitride finish and a 30- or 32-inch barrel. The stock and forearm feature an oil-finish Grade IV/V walnut with close-radius pistol grip and palm swell. A fitted canvas/distressed leather case is included ($5,339.99).

The new Citori 725 Sporting Grade VII has a blued receiver with deep-relief engraving and gold accents. The stock and fore-arm feature oil-finish Grade VI/VII walnut with close-radius pistol

grip and palm swell. A John M. Browning Signature fitted case is included ($6,269.99).

For 2015 Browning will also expand the Citori 725 target shot-gun lineup to include the new Pro Sporting and Pro Trap models that will feature a Pro Fit adjustable comb and Pro Balance system in the stock that allows shooters to fine-tune the balance point for a perfect mount and swing.

Other features found on all Citori 725s include the Fire Lite mechanical trigger system, full-width hinge pin and tapered locking-bolt design, and Browning’s new Invector DS choke-tube system.

The Citori 725 Pro Sporting will be offered in 12 and 20 gauge with a 30- or 32-inch barrel ($3,999.99). The Citori 725 12-gauge Pro Trap features a high

rib and a 30- or 32-inch barrel ($3,999.99).

A new 725 Feather 20-gauge features a lightweight alloy receiv-er with steel breech face and hinge pin. The receiver has accented high-relief engraving with a nitride finish and a gloss-oil finish Grade II/III walnut stock with close-radius pistol grip. This new lightweight model will be offered with a 26- or 28-inch barrel ($2,549.99).

The new Cynergy Micro Midas 20-gauge over/under has a 13-inch length of pull designed for smaller shooters. It features the MonoLock hinge system, low-pro-file receiver design, reverse striker ignition system, soft Inflex recoil pad, and three quarter-inch spac-ers, with a 24- or 26-inch barrel ($1,869.99). Booth #15129. (browning.com)

CZ-USA➤ This year ushers in a new era for CZ shotguns. Many of the manu-facturer’s existing over/unders will now be made with a CNC one-piece milled receiver. The result is more interchangeability among parts, less laborious hand fitting, and more consistent operation.

The side-by-side Sharp-Tail replaces the Ringneck line and is built on an entirely new action that is smaller, lighter, and uses coil springs instead of leaf springs. It features floating firing pins and newly designed sears. It will be available in 12, 20, and 28 gauge, as well as .410. Three-inch chambers are standard on the 12, 20, and .410, while the 28 has a 2 ¾-inch chamber. All feature 28-inch bar-rels, single extractors, selective trig-gers, checkered walnut stocks, and come with five flush-fitting internal

Weatherby The PA-08 Waterfowler is a pump-action chambered for 12-gauge that’s offered with 26- or 28-inch vent-rib barrels. It boasts a syn-

thetic stock in Realtree Max-5 camo and comes with three choke tubes.

P R O D U C T S

choke tubes. They ship in a plastic case. SRP: $1,022 to $1,229.

The Sharp-Tail Target ($1,298) is designed for the clay target shooter who prefers a side-by-side. Offered in 12 gauge, it features 30-inch bar-rels (3-inch chambers), six Kicks extended choke tubes, a checkered walnut stock, a single extractor, a barrel- selector switch, and a 14.75-inch length of pull. It ships in a hard plastic case.

The over/under Sterling model gets a twin with the addition of the Southpaw Sterling ($999). Built as a true gun for lefties, it features left-hand cast-off in the buttstock. It features a 29-inch barrel, five flush-fitting choke tubes, checkered wal-nut stock, mechanical trigger, and a safety with a barrel selector.

CZ’s first recoil-operated shot-gun, the Model 812 Waterfowler ($699), uses an inertia recoil operat-ing system. The wood stock is fully clad in a waterfowl shadow grass camouflage finish. It is shipped with five extended black choke tubes and features a 28-inch barrel chambered for 2 ¾- and 3-inch shells. A plastic case is included.

Three new pump-action models also make an appearance this year. Trap is one of the few, if only, clay target games where a pump-action shotgun can enter the winner’s cir-cle. The new CZ 612 Trap ($499) is

designed for the trap-shooter, at an affordable price. It features a 32-inch ported target barrel, five extended interchangeable choke tubes, a parallel comb on the wal-nut Monte Carlo buttstock, dual-action bars, a spring-loaded ejector, and a gold-plated trigger. Offered in 12 gauge only, it is chambered for 3-inch shells.

The pump-action CZ 612 Magnum Turkey ($429) is cham-bered for 3.5-inch shells, sports a 26-inch barrel, and ships with two choke tubes—Extra-Full and Modified. The pump-action CZ 612 Magnum Waterfowl ($429) fea-tures a 12-gauge 3.5-inch chamber and 28-inch barrels. It is finished in a waterfowl camouflage pattern. Booth #11955. (cz-usa.com)

Cimarron Firearms Co.➤ Cimarron specializes in Old West period shotguns that are a favorite with Cowboy Action shooters. There are many replica shotguns from the 1883–1899 peri-od, but the new Cimarron side-by-side double barrels are “modern” inside while being “period” outside. Four new wood-stocked models join the product line this year.

The Model 1883 Double Barrel features a sidelock-style construc-

tion, a splinter forend, a straight English-syle grip, and a single trig-ger. It will be available in .410 with 18- or 26-inch barrels (SRP: $812.50) and in 12-gauge with 28-inch barrels ($687.50).

The Model 1889 Double Barrel Shotgun is available in .410 with 18- or 20-inch barrels. It features a peri-od-style pistol grip, single trigger, and a longer splinter forearm. The Model 1889 Double Barrel Shotgun 22 ($617.50) offers the same stock design as the .410 model, but is chambered in 12 gauge with 22-inch barrels. The Doc Holliday Shotgun 20 ($1,605.46) is as close a copy of the shotgun (in 12 gauge) that Doc Holliday used at the OK Corral gunfight. It features 20-inch barrels, exposed hammers, and dou-ble triggers, with the same stock stock design as the Model 1889 Double Barrel Shotgun. Booth #15335. (cimarron-firearms.com)

Iver Johnson Arms➤ Iver Johnson brings three new shotgun models into its product line this year. The new Model IJ500 (SRP: $420) is designed as a field hunting semi-auto shotgun. It is available in 12 and 20 gauge and handles 2¾- or 3-inch shells. The 28-inch barrel features a vent rib and brass bead front sight.

Threaded for interchangeable choke tubes, it ships with three (IC, M, and F). Capacity is 4+1. Metalwork is finished in black. The walnut buttstock and forend are checkered, with a rubber buttpad, and sling-swivel studs are provided front and rear. Overall length is 49 inches; empty weight is 7 pounds 2 ounces.

The Model HP18 is a semi-auto 4+1 capacity home-defense shotgun. Available in 12 and 20 gauge, the shotgun can handle both 2¾ and 3-inch shells. The 19.5-inch barrel features a muzzle brake. Riding atop the receiver is a Picatinny rail with an adjustable Ghost Ring rear sight and a fiber-optic front sight. The black-finished two-piece synthetic stock provides a full pistol grip on the buttstock portion, a checkered forend, and sling swivels front and rear. The overall length is a com-pact 40.5 inches. Empty weight is 6 pounds 6 ounces. SRP: $420.

The Model IJ600 ($535) is a field-grade over/under shotgun that will be available in 12 and 20 gauge and .410. All versions feature 28-inch barrels and 3-inch cham-bers. Additional features include the customer’s choice of black or silver receiver, a checkered buttstock and forend, a barrel-selector switch, vent rib, brass bead front sight, sling swivels, and internal choke tubes. Overall length is 44 7/8 inches and


P R O D U C T S

the empty weight is a comfortable 7 pounds 5 ounces. Booth #15553. (iverjohnson.com)

Legacy Sports International➤ Two new models and a new camo finish highlight Legacy Sport’s new shotgun offerings for 2015. The new Escort Pump Shotgun ($349) will be available in three models: a 12-gauge and 20-gauge adult-size version and a 20-gauge Youth model. All are equipped with 3-inch chambers. The adult models are available with 26- or 28-inch barrels and a 14.5-inch length of pull, while the Youth model features a 22-inch barrel with a 13.5-inch length of pull. The 12-gauge ships with five interchangeable choke tubes (F, M, IM, IC, and Skeet). The 20-gauge models ship with three tubes (F, M, and IC). The Escort V3 choke tubes use the same thread pattern as the Remington Model 1100 and will accept additional tubes in that thread pattern. All models feature a Turkish walnut stock and forend with a satin finish, large slide-release buttons, a fiber-optic front sight, and sling-swivel studs.

The new Pointer Slug Gun Set is a two-barrel combo available in either pump or semi-auto. Both models ship with a chrome-lined 28-inch barrel and three Mobile

choke tubes. A 24-inch rifled slug barrel joins the set and features a tang scope mount. Magazine capacity is five, and the Pointer Slug set will be offered in both 12 and 20 gauge.

Lastly, a new camo finish will be available in the Escort line of semi-auto shotguns. The Escort Yote camo finish, as the name implies, looks like a coyote and is suitable for many background types. It will be available in the Yote Camo Synthetic Stock 12-gauge ($589), which offers a 28-inch barrel, five interchangeable choke tubes, and a 14-inch length of pull. The Yote Camo Synthetic Stock 20-gauge ($475) has similar dimensions but just three choke tubes. The Yote Camo Synthetic Stock Youth model ($485) has a 22-inch barrel. Length of pull is 13 inches, and the gun comes with three choke tubes. Booth #3050. (legacysports.com)

Remington➤ The big news in Remington shotguns this year is the introduc-tion of the new V3 gas-operated 12-gauge semi-auto. The new V3 handles both 2 ¾- and 3-inch shells using the compact SASG2 Gas System. This gas system plac-es the gas ports directly in front of the receiver; this not only provides a self-cleaning action, but it

changes forend design to produce a central, between-the-hands bal-ance point that Remington claims promotes more instinctive point-and-swing characteristics. It also allows the use of a more compact receiver. Addi tional features include a rotating bolt head for superior round control and increased reliability, a reduced bolt retraction force, and a buttstock that does not feature a recoil spring (and thus allows more flexi-bility in buttstock design, includ-ing upcoming folding tactical stocks). A light-contour ventilated rib barrel, with twin bead sights, further optimizes swing character-istics. All models are 12-gauge, use Rem. Choke 2 interchangeable choke tubes, and feature a 14 ¼-inch length of pull. Empty weight is 7.2-pounds.

The V3 will be available in the following configurations: The V3 Field Sport 12/28 RC VT SYN-BLK ($895) features a black syn-thetic field stock, a 3-round maga-zine capacity, and a 28-inch barrel. The V3 Field Sport 12/26 RC VT SYN-BLK ($895) is the same gun with a 26-inch barrel. The V3 Field Sport 12/28 RC VT SYN-BLK ($995) offers the Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades finish on the receiver and stock. The V3 Field Sport 12/26 RC VT SYN RT APG ($995) features a 26-inch barrel

with a Realtree APG finish on the stock and receiver. The V3 Field Sport RC VT ($995) is available with a satin-finish walnut stock in 26- and 28-inch barrels. Booth #15427. (remington.com)

Savage Arms➤ A pair of new quick-handling but modestly priced over/under shot-guns and four new 20-gauge pump actions make their appearance this year under the Stevens banner. The Stevens 555 ($692) over/under is available in 12 and 20 gauge. Both guns are chambered for 3-inch shells and feature a Turkish walnut stock, a single selective mechanical trigger, shell extractors, a tang-mounted safety, and chrome-lined barrels threaded for interchange-able chokes tubes. A selection of five tubes is supplied. The actions are built on aluminum-alloy receiv-ers, with steel inserts, and are prop-erly scaled to the gauge. The 12-gauge 555 features 28-inch bar-rels with a 143/8-inch length of pull and a 2 1/8-inch drop and comb. Overall length is 44 7/8 inches; empty weight is 6 pounds. The 20-gauge model features a 26-inch barrel and a 14 3/8-inch length of pull. Drop at comb is 2 ¼ inches. Empty weight is just 5.5 pounds.

The Stevens 320 pump-action series has quickly built a reputation

Winchester Repeating Arms will now offer its SXP pump shotgun in 20-gauge models for 2015. A SXP Field 20-gauge and SXP Field Compact 20-gauge will feature a satin-finished stock and forearm, an alloy receiver in black-matte finish, and an Inflex Technology recoil pad ($429.99). The new SXP Black Shadow in 20 gauge ($399.99) will feature the synthetic stock and forearm with textured gripping surfaces with black-matte finish.

Also new for 2015 are the SXP Ultimate Defender ($499.99) and Marine Defender ($539.99) models in 12 gauge. Both feature black synthetic stocks in matte finish with textured gripping surfaces. A Ghost Ring rear sight is integrated into the receiver-mounted Picatinny rail. Front-mounted Picatinny rails allow mounting optional tactical lights or lasers. A Breacher choke tube is also included. The Ultimate Marine Defender will feature matte hard chrome plating on

the barrel, magazine tube, slide arms, and other tactical components.The new SXP Turkey Hunter model will be offered in 12 and 20

gauge. Both have synthetic stocks and each will feature the new Mossy Oak Break-Up Country Camo pattern and 24-inch barrels with Truglo fiber-optic adjustable sights. The SXP Turkey Hunter 12-gauge ($519.99) has 3 ½-inch chambering; the SXP Turkey Hunter 20-gauge ($549.99) features 3-inch chambers.

The Mossy Oak Break-Up Country pattern will be available on the SX3 Universal Hunter semi-auto 12- and 20-gauge models ($1,239.99). The camo will also adorn the SX3 NWTF Cantilever Turkey in both the 12-gauge 3 ½-inch and the 20-gauge 3-inch versions ($1,199.99), as well as the 12-gauge 3 ½-inch SX3 Long Beard Turkey with a pistol-grip stock and Invector-Plus Briley Extra–Full Long Beard extended choke tube ($1,269.99). Booth #15129. (winchesterguns.com)

WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS

Winchester The SX3 12-gauge Ultimate Defender (top) features a black synthetic stock in matte finish with textured gripping surfaces. The

SX3 pistol-grip Long Beard (below) is a 12 gauge set up for 3.5-inch shells. An Invector-Plus Briley Extra-Full extended choke tube is included.

P R O D U C T S

for solid and affordable performance in a 12 gauge, whether the tasks are wingshooting or home defense. For 2015, Stevens adds four new 20-gauge models to the series. All offer the same features as their 12-gauge counterparts, including dual-slide bars, a rotary bolt, syn-thetic stock, and a 5-round tubular magazine capacity. The 320 Field Grade ($235) features a 26-inch vent-ribbed barrel and standard field stock. The 320 Youth Field Grade ($235) features a 22-inch vent-rib barrel. The 320 Security ($234) fea-tures a 18.5-inch barrel with a full pistol-grip buttstock.The 320 Security Ghost Ring ($260) offers

the same features, but is equipped with a Ghost Ring sight. Booth #14551. (savagearms.com)

Weatherby➤ A new over/under and additions to the pump and semi-auto shot-gun lines highlight Weatherby’s new 2015 offerings. The Orion I over/under ($1,099) uses the prov-en Orion low-profile steel receiver with a 12-gauge 3-inch chamber, features a walnut stock, and comes with a 26- or 28-inch lightweight, chrome-lined, vented barrel. Other features include a brass bead front sight and Weatherby

IMC chokes in IC, M, and F.The new SA-08 Waterfowler

($799) is a lightweight (6.5 pounds) synthetic-stocked semi-auto in 12-gauge fully covered in Realtree Max-5 camo. It is offered with 26- or 28-inch barrels, and IMC choke tubes (IC, M, and F) are included. The SA-08 Kryptek ($699) is a 20-gauge semi-auto designed for younger shooters. It has a 12.5-inch length of pull, a 24-inch vent-rib barrel with a brass bead front sight, and the supplied choke tubes are IC, M, and F. The synthetic stock is fully dipped in a Kryptek Highlander camo finish. The SA-08 Volt ($699) is the same

shotgun with a bright-green spat-ter paint finish. Each weighs a trim 5.75 pounds.

In the pump-action line, the PA-08 Synthetic Compact ($399) offers a synthetic stock and a 12.5-inch length of pull for younger shooters. It is chambered for 20 gauge and has a 22-inch vent-rib barrel and brass bead front sight. It ships with IC, M, and F choke tubes. The PA-08 Waterfowler ($429) is a pump-action cham-bered for 12 gauge that is offered with 26- or 28-inch vent-rib bar-rels. It boasts a synthetic stock in Realtree Max-5 camo and comes with choke tubes in IC, M, and F. The PA-08 Turkey ($429) is essen-tially the same gun as the Waterfowler, but with Realtree Xtra Green camo and a 22-inch barrel. As such, it comes with a single Full choke tube.

The SA-08 Turkey ($799) is a semi-auto available in 12 or 20 gauge with a synthetic stock cov-ered in Realtree Xtra green camo. The 22-inch barrel features a vent rib with a fiber-optic front sight; a Picatinny rail mount is included for mounting optics. It ships with one XF choke tube. The PA-08 Turkey ($599) features all the attributes of the SA-08 Turkey, but in a pump-action. Booth #12729. (weatherby.com)

Remington The all-new V3 12-gauge semi-auto (here shown

in Mossy Oak Shadow Grass camo) uses a compact receiver

designed to improve balance.


2015

HANDGUNSSteady Course

Though 2015 won’t go down as a great year for innovation, the industry’s steady course will mean that retailers and

customers will still see a lot to like By Chris Christian

D espite numerous advances in handgun design, John Browning’s 1911 remains one of the most popular handguns around—and this year sees some interesting new models on that platform. At the same time, a moonclip-fed 9mm Ruger LCP will surely garner a lot of attention, as will a new concealed-carry ACP from Taurus.

CZ-USA/ Dan Wesson➤ A new 1911, a special limited-edition CZ 75, and some interest-ing new guns from Dan Wesson make up CZ’s new handgun intro-ductions this year. The first “Made in the USA” handgun to bear the CZ name is, appropriately, a 1911. The CZ 1911 A1 ($839) is a gov-ernment-size model that is built without a trigger safety, as many 1911 aficionados prefer. It is con-structed with a forged carbon-steel frame and slide, finished in black-matte oxide, and ships with two 7-round magazines. The 1911 A1

was the designation for the improved model adopted in 1924. CZ’s A1 largely stays true to those specifications, with a few deviations. It is equipped with a serrated slide stop, a magazine catch, and main-spring housing, and features check-ered walnut grips. The lanyard loop has been omitted. The barrel is stainless steel with a 1:16 twist. Additional features include an alu-minum trigger and a slightly higher rear sight than the original. The ramp front sight is dovetailed into the slide to allow shooters to more easily install other sight options if they choose. The trigger is factory-

tuned to 5 pounds.During its 40 years of service, the

CZ 75 has become one of the most widely used handguns among police and military worldwide. As a result, it is one of the most copied designs. To celebrate the 40th anniversary, CZ will issue a special-edition 40th Anniversary CZ 75 9mm ($1,499). Only 1,000 guns will be produced. The anniversary model is based on the CZ 75B and features a highly polished blue-steel slide and frame. The slide and frame feature intri-cate hand engravings by CZ’s mas-ter engraver Rene Ondra in the Czech Republic. The operating

controls (slide release, thumb safety, magazine release, extractor, grip screws, and magazine base plate) are finished in rainbow titanium nitride. The grip panels are made with a smooth, high-grade California maple that has been dyed to com-plement the overall appearance of the 40th Anniversary model. The gun ships with two 16-round maga-zines and a leather-bound hard case.

Under CZ’s Dan Wesson banner, three new handguns join the prod-uct line this year, including an updated version of Wesson’s highly accurate double-action revolver. The original Dan Wesson double-

For 2015, Browning will intro-duce the Black Label 1911-380 semi-auto pistol ($669.99), which combines two of John M. Browning’s original inven-tions—the 1911 pistol and the .380 ACP cartridge. The Black Label is scaled down to 85 percent of the size of a .45 ACP 1911 handgun. This new single-action 1911 is built upon a precision-crafted composite frame and is made in the U.S. Features include an extended ambidextrous safety, a bea-vertail-grip safety, a skeleton-ized hammer, and a machined steel slide that wears fixed combat-style sights. With a 4.25-inch barrel, it has an overall length of 7.5 inches and weighs 17.5 ounces empty. The finish is black matte, and the magazine holds 8 rounds. It ships with an ABS case. Booth #15129. (browning.com)

BROWNING

Browning The Black Label 1911-380 semi-auto combines the 1911 design with the .380 ACP cartridge. The single-action is built on a precision-crafted composite frame and is made in the USA.


P R O D U C T S

action .357 Magnum revolver achieved an enviable reputation for rugged construction and accuracy, which was enhanced by the unique tension barrel system, the forward crane latch, and the rear ball detent lockup. Interchangeable barrels, barrel shrouds, and grips made it a versatile gun. This year the Dan Wesson Model 715 ($1,168) ships with a 6-inch barrel and heavy shroud in a custom Dan Wesson hard case that includes cutouts to hold additional interchangeable barrel/shroud assemblies (as well as the wrench to properly remove and install them). The new Model 715 accepts all Dan Wesson barrels and grips from the 15-2 and newer models.

The new DW Valkyrie .45 ACP ($2,012), a variation of the CCO, has a Commander-length slide on a compact Officer frame. It includes all the latest upgrades of the CCO platform, including Dan Wesson’s ECO frame and recessed slide stop hole paired with ball cuts on the slide’s dust cover and carry cuts up front. Along with slim G10 grips, it utilizes the same sights and controls as the Dan Wesson ECO with the barrel and bushing of the CCO.

The new Dan Wesson Silverback is currently the only two-toned 1911 in the Dan Wesson line. It features a stainless-steel slide with polished flats and is equipped with adjustable target-style tritium sights and the Razorback rib and ball cuts on the dust cover. The stainless-steel frame is finished in a Duty Black nitride finish and wears G10 full-thickness grips. It will be avail-able in .45 ACP ($1,883) and 10mm ($2,064).

The CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S1 Pistol ($849) is a 9mm civilian-legal semi-auto version of CZ’s famous Scorpion sub-machine gun. With a black composite finish, it features a blowback action with a 7.75-inch barrel. The newly designed low-profile sights consist of a fixed-post front sight and an adjustable rear sight with four different apertures that can quickly shift the point of impact from close to distant targets. The sights ride on a Picatinny rail that allow for the easy mounting of optics. Additional features include ambidextrous controls and a non-reciprocating charging handle that can be swapped to either side. The trigger reach is adjustable. One accessory item is the arm-brace adapter that can quickly add an MSR-style buffer tube to the rear of the action for added stability. Two 20-round magazines are included.

The new CZ 805 Bren PS1 Pistol ($1,982) is a civilian-legal semi-auto version of the CZ 805 Bren. It has an 11-inch barrel that features a two-port muzzle brake. Chambered for .223/5.56mm, the action is housed in a one-piece aluminum upper receiver with a Picatinny rail

CZ-USA Clockwise from top: The 805 Bren PS1 pistol is a civilian-legal version of the CZ 805 Bren. The Dan Wesson Silverback is the only two-toned 1911 in the DW line. The CZ 75 9mm is a 40th anniversary limited edition of the original CZ 75. The CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S1 Pistol is a civilian-legal version of the Scorpion sub-machine gun. The DW Valkyrie .45 ACP is a variation of the CCO. The CZ 1911 A1 makes use of a carbon-steel frame and slide.

P R O D U C T S

and uses STANG magazines (two 30-round magazines are included). It uses the same sight system as the Scorpion, along with the accessory arm-brace adapter. The rear of the action features a multipurpose mounting point that is fit from the factory with a single-point sling attachment. Booth #11955. (cz-usa.com)

Iver Johnson Arms➤ A very compact four-shot derrin-ger and a long-slide 1911 highlight Iver Johnson’s new handgun offer-ings for 2015. The Frontier Four is about as compact as a handgun can get. The single-action derringer is chambered for .22LR and features a 2-inch barrel. The overall length is only 4 inches, and it weighs a scant 5.6 ounces. Constructed from stainless steel, it has a four-shot capacity and utilizes a unique rotat-ing firing pin to handle the four chambers with one shot per trigger pull.

Whether for sport or home defense, the 1911 .45 ACP remains one of the most popular handguns on the market. For 2015, Iver Johnson goes a step beyond with the introduction of the Eagle XL ($870). This blue-steel 1911 utiliz-es a 6-inch barrel long-slide con-figuration. Among its features are

Kahr Clockwise from top left: Auto Ordnance 1911 BKO is a G.I.-spec 5-inch barrel in .45 ACP. The Kahr CT9093 fea-tures a full-length polymer frame and stainless-steel slide. The Kahr CW9 features an unusual purple polymer frame and is available in 9mm. The CW380 utilizes drift-adjustable rear sights and white-bar combat sights.


P R O D U C T S

an adjustable rear sight with a dovetailed front sight, a skeleton-ized hammer and trigger, a beaver-tail grip safety, front and rear angled slide serrations, a lowered and flared ejection port, an extend-ed slide stop, and an extended sin-gle-side thumb safety. Empty weight is 42 ounces, and its length is 9.75 inches. Booth #15553. (iver johnson.com)

Kahr Arms➤ Four new models and line upgrades join the Kahr semi-auto concealed-carry handgun line this year, along with a new Auto Ordnance 1911 .45 ACP. The CT9093 9mm ($369) features a full-size polymer frame with a matte stainless-steel slide and drift-adjustable bar-dot sights. The 3.95-inch barrel gives it an overall length of 6.5 inches. Height is 5.08 inches and empty weight with magazine is 20.6 ounces. The pistol ships with one 8-round magazine.

The new CT380 .380 ACP ($399) features a 3-inch barrel. Overall length is 5.52 inches, height is 5.3 inches, and it weighs 11.44 ounces empty. The pistol has a black polymer frame with tex-tured grips and 4140 steel inserts molded in front and back for added rigidity. The action is a locked-breech modified Browning recoil lug that locks open on an empty magazine. The safe-cam DAO operating system is the same as that found on other Kahr pistols. Sights are the Kahr drift-adjustable white bar-dot pattern with a pinned-in-front polymer blade.

The Kahr CW9 in purple ($435) is a version of this popular 9mm pistol with a purple polymer frame. It features a 3.5-inch barrel. Overall length is 5.9 inches, and the compact frame gives it a height

of only 4.5 inches. Drift-adjustable bar-dot white sights and a 7+1 capacity complete the package.

The CW380 in purple ($404) gets the same purple polymer frame treatment as the CW9 (and also shares the drift-adjustable white bar-dot combat sights). It features a 6+1 capacity in .380 ACP. Overall length is 4.96 inches, height is 3.9 inches, and the empty weight is 10.2 ounces.

Lastly, from the Auto Ordnance side of Kahr comes the 1911BKO ($571). This is a GI-spec 5-inch barrel .45 ACP 1911. It features a 7-round magazine, a drift-adjust-able rear sight with a blade front, and an empty weight of 39 ounces. Finished in black matte, the grip panels are brown checkered. Booth #15449. (kahrarms.com)

Ruger➤ The The double-action-only inertia-firing LC9 has proven to be a popular and reliable handgun. This year, Ruger announces a new version of the LC9 9mm.

The new LC9 9mm features a newly designed trigger mechanism that provides a striker-fired action with a shorter, lighter trigger pull than the original LC9. It uses the same holsters, magazines (including extended magazines), lasers, and accessories as the original. It fea-tures a blued through-hardened alloy steel slide, a one-piece glass-filled nylon frame with aggressive checkering, a grip extension maga-zine floorplate, a 7-round maga-zine, and adjustable three-dot sights. The 17.2-ounce pistol has a 3.12-inch barrel. Overall length is 6 inches, height is 4.5 inches. Additional features include an inte-grated trigger safety, a magazine disconnect, and a visible inspection port to show a loaded chamber. It

A new 1911 .45 ACP and a new finish for the Desert Eagle high-light Magnum Research’s 2015 lineup. The DE1911GSS ($904) is a full-size 1911 single-action semi-auto chambered for .45 ACP. It features a 5.05-inch barrel, a trigger pull factory set between 3 and 4 pounds, a stainless-steel matte-finished frame with black appointments, checkered wood grips, and a high-profile rear sight that is drift-adjustable for windage with a serrated and pinned front-sight blade. The MarkXIX Desert Eagle has been around for a while and is a proven platform in either .50AE or .44 Magnum. For 2015, it will come in a new Cerakote Burnt Bronze finish ($1,696) that will be available exclusively through Bill Hicks & Co. Ltd. Booth #15449. (magnumresearch.com)

MAGNUM RESEARCH

Ruger The semi-auto LC9 (left) now features a redesigned trigger mechanism that provides

striker-fired action. The LCR polymer-framed revolver (right)

is now available in 9mm.

Magnum Research The DE1911GSS (top) is a full-size 1911 Single Action. The MarkXIX Desert Eagle (below) is now available in a new Cerakote Burnt Bronze finish.

P R O D U C T S

ships with one inert magazine for safe disassembly, one 7-round mag-azine, a soft case, and a cable-lock-ing device.

Introduced in 2009, the Ruger LCR polymer-framed DA revolver has expanded from its original .38 Special+P offering to include .357 Magnum, .22 WMR, and .22 LR. For 2015, Ruger now introduces the 9mm LCR ($599) to the line. Chambered for five rounds of 9mm and fed by moonclips (three moon-clips ship with the gun; additional clips are available), its pinned replaceable ramp front sight allows elevation adjustment. The 9mm LCR sports the same polymer-frame DA-firing-action stainless-steel cylinder and 1.875-inch bar-rel, fixed U-notch rear sight, and Hogue grips as the .38 Special ver-sion. Booth #11940. (ruger.com)

Smith & Wesson➤ The new M&P22 Compact Pistol ($389) is chambered for .22LR and is 15 percent smaller than the full-size 9mm/.40-caliber M&Ps. It fea-tures a 10-round magazine capacity (it ships with two 10-round maga-zines), ambidextrous manual safety, and reversible magazine release. The trigger is factory set at 5.8 pounds. A Picatinny dust-cover rail accommodates accessory lights or

lasers. The 3.65-inch barrel is threaded to accommodate suppres-sors and is shipped with a threaded protective muzzle cap. The barrel material is carbon steel with an alu-minum-alloy slide and a polymer frame. Sights are a white-dot front and a two-white-dot rear that is adjustable for windage and eleva-tion. Overall length is 6.65 inches. Empty weight is 15.03 ounces.

From the Smith & Wesson Performance Shop, this year will see a new series of ported M&P pistols designed for competition use. The series includes 9mm and .40 S&W pistols in barrel lengths of 4.25 and 5 inches. All include ported barrels and slides to reduce recoil and rise. Additional features include a user-adjustable trigger stop, three palm-swell grips with a textured backstrap to allow users to custom-fit the pis-tol to their hand, a Performance Center sear that produces a 4.5-pound trigger pull with a fast reset, and removable mounting brackets that allow shooters to install a vari-ety of popular competition red-dot sights. S&W has added higher iron sights to the slide to allow their use in concordance with mounted optics. Magazine capacity is 17 (9mm) and 15 (.40 S&W), and the guns accept standard M&P maga-zines. Booth #13729. (smith- wesson.com)

The new, patented Curve is a concealed-carry .380 ACP designed to be contoured to the body and therefore comfortable and “print-free” in any position on its carrier. About the size of a smartphone, this little USA-manufactured double-action-only semi-auto pistol packs 6+1 rounds in a highly concealable 5.18-inch package. Features include a matte-blue carbon-steel slide and a stainless-steel barrel, a loaded-chamber indicator, and an integrated LaserLyte LED light-laser system. In addition, the gun comes with the Taurus Security System for long-term locking storage. SRP: $392. Booth #14240. (taurususa.com)

TAURUS

Taurus A patented design, this innovative .380 ACP has been specially designed for concealed carry. No bigger than a smart-phone, it fol-lows the con-tour of the body so it will be “print-free.”


2015

Onward and UpwardBoot manufacturers continue to take advantage of advanced materials

to create lighter yet stronger footwear for outdoorsmen By Peter B. Mathiesen

M ilitary and law-enforcement contracts trailed off in 2014, but there was an offsetting increase in domestic boot produc-tion in the sportsman- and work-related categories. And though most manufacturers saw more stable and even lower fuel costs, the state of an anemic economy kept pricing flat. European manufacturers, however, were the lone exception here, due to the Euro’s plunge against the dollar. Here’s a look at what’s newer, lighter, and hotter in footwear for 2015.

5.11 Tactical➤ The trim EVO 8-inch boot is built for speed, stamina, and trac-tion over any terrain in any cli-mate. A convenient waterproof side zipper adds to its stability and lightweight performance. A 14mm heel to toe drop increases respon-siveness and agility while allowing for a natural stance. For enhanced durability, the innovative EVO Cupsole platform is cemented and stitched. The integrated eVent membrane is waterproof, breath-able, and resistant to blood-borne pathogens.

To minimize weight without sacrificing resilience, the boot is equipped with a non-metallic-construction YKK side zipper. The full-length EVA midsole, nylon shank, and genuine OrthoLite insoles ensure confi-dent footing over long distances.

To prevent slips and squeaks, the EVO offers an oil-resistant outsole. Meanwhile, its thick sau-sage laces will remain tight and secure. The boot also boasts an intelligent friend-finder tracking lug, to enable a quick footprint ID. Available in black, in sizes 4 to 11.5 (regular). Wide sizes are also available. SRP: $144.99. Booth #13162. (209-527-4511; 511tactical.com)

Ariat➤ Ariat may be best known for its line of equestrian footwear, but it also builds quality boots for hunt-ers as well. New for 2015 is the Conquest, which features ATS Pro technology for superior sta-bility and all-day comfort, a waterproof bootie construction and waterproof leathers, and a

FOOTWEAR

The stylish Carson 6-inch boots will work hard in camp or on the way to the office in slush and rain. Part of the Men’s City Collection, they were inspired by a classic desert boot silhouette in a convenient pull-on style.

Fully waterproof and built from soft, pliable rubber, these boots have excellent flexibility. The Carson’s 2mm lining of EverDry and Bogs Max-Wick will keep your feet dry and the DuraFresh anti-odor protection will keep feet fresh—even for daily wear in warmer tem-peratures.

The 2mm Bogs Neo-Tech insulation will keep feet warm down to 14 degrees. SRP: $120. Booth #10132. (541-485-2070; bogs footwear.com)

BOGS

Ariat Though best known for its equestrian wear, the company also builds quality boots for outdoorsmen, such as this Conquest. The boot fea-tures ATS Pro technology for superior stability and all-day comfort.


P R O D U C T S

cushioning EVA midsole and rug-ged, slip-resistant Duratread out-sole. The men’s 6- and 8-inch uninsulated boots are $189.99 and $199.95, respectively. There are two insulated boots—400 grams of Thinsulate ($209.95) and 800 grams of Thinsulate ($219.95). The line also features a pair of pull-on boots; uninsulated ($199.95) and insulated ($209.95). Booth #10020. (ariat.com)

Danner➤ Constructed on Danner’s light-weight Terra Force platform, the

new 8-inch Sharptail delivers a stable yet athletic base underfoot. The newly modified design fea-tures a lower profile, and reduced leather content helps improve the boot’s flexibility and wear.

The boot has a wider toe box. The truer anatomical fit provides ample toe room for added comfort. A cushioning OrthoLite footbed provides maximum comfort for long days in the field.

The upper features durable waterproof full-grain leather with 900-denier nylon. A leather toe and heel cap provide added pro-tection in high-wear areas. The

boot is lined in 100 percent waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex. The new Sharptail outsole offers a shallow, outer-lug pattern that has been designed specifically for grassy terrain.

The Sharptail series includes an 8-inch lace-up, a 10-inch rear-zip, and a 17-inch snakeboot version. Available sizes include men’s 7–16D and 8-14EE, and both widths are available in half sizes up to 12. The Sharptail ships July 2015. SRP: starts at $179.95. Booth #10770. (800-345-0430; danner.com)

Georgia Boots➤ Legacy 37 footwear features a full-grain leather and 900D Realtree Xtra Cordura upper with the Georgia Waterproof System and a moisture-wicking interior lining. The outsole is oil- and slip-resistant and is attached via Goodyear welt for added flexibility and durability. A TDC polyure-thane footbed and an EVA heel pad for weight relief and shock absorp-tion deliver comfort all day long.

Styles include an 8-inch lace-up and an 11-inch Wellington. The 8-inch-style is available with 400 grams of 3M Thinsulate Ultra insulation. Available styles include Styles Crazy Horse brown accents and Realtree Xtra camo in sizes 8 to 13 in D and EE. SRP: $149.99

to $169.99. Booth #11340. (740-753-1951; rockyboots.com)

Irish Setter➤ The new RutMaster 2.0 knee boot features the innovative and improved ExoFlex Fit System. The extended ExoFlex panel expands for easier on/off convenience with a more comfortable fit. The adjust-able gusset closure accommodates most large calf sizes.

The 2.0 is a super lightweight, nimble boot that utilizes an aggressive Mudlite sole. There’s a convenient heel kickplate along with additional abrasion-resistant panels for enhanced durability. ScentBan linings and a footbed cover combine with an anatomi-cally correct removable footbed to provide better long-lasting under-foot comfort.

Available in Mossy Oak’s Infinity camo pattern in men’s and women’s sizes. The RutMaster is available uninsulated, or in ver-sions with 800 or 1,200 grams of insulation. Sizes: D 8 to 14, EE 8 to 14. SRP: starts at $142. Booth #10047. (800-738-8370; irish setterboots.com)

LaCrosse➤ Set to launch in fall 2015, the 4X Burly delivers an all-around comfort package at an affordable

5.11 Tactical The trim EVO 8-inch boot is built for speed, traction, and stamina. A full-length EVA midsole and nylon shank ensure comfort in all conditions.

Lowa Originally designed for running

mountain trails, the hybrid Innox is now a lightweight

hunting boot.


P R O D U C T S

price. LaCrosse’s Alpha con-struction provides lightweight, waterproof protection and makes the boot easier to slip on and off. Quad Core technology delivers four layers of cushioning under-foot by combining a three-layer sponge rubber midsole with a dual-density molded polyure-thane footbed.

The contoured Ankle Fit design ensures the heel is locked in place while the back gusset is adjustable to accommodate vari-ous calf sizes and to allow pants to be comfortably tucked inside. The rugged, non-loading outsole offers superior traction in mud and loose terrain. The snakeboot style features 360 degrees of flex-ible and impenetrable protection from angry vipers.

A family of three styles, the 4X Alpha is available in 3.5mm and 7mm neoprene levels. The snake-boot version comes in 3.5mm neoprene. The series is adorned with Realtree Xtra Green and Realtree Xtra to support multiple seasons. Sizes include men’s 6 to 15 (whole sizes only).

A family of four styles, the 4X Burly is available with Realtree APG, Mossy Oak Infinity, and Realtree AP camo patterns as well as two levels of Thinsulate Ultra Insulation. Sizes: 6 to 15, whole only. SRP: $129 to $159. Booth #10770. (800-323-2668; lacrossefootwear.com)

Lowa➤ Originally designed for moun-tain trail running, the Innox is an outdoorsman’s ideal hybrid of an athletic shoe with serious ankle support and a lightweight hiking boot. Weighing less than 2 pounds in a size 9, the lightweight synthetic upper delivers comfort while the sole and foot platform keep your ankle vertical.

Using a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex lining, the boot is guaranteed to stay dry. The NXT sole has sticky trac-tion and will last multiple sea-sons. The boot’s closed loops spread the lace tension and work effectively to create a stable plat-form on steep, uneven terrain.

The Innox is Gore-Tex water-proof and will quickly displace moisture in warm conditions. Whether you’re speed hiking or chasing elk or mule deer, these boots will get the job done while providing non-fatiguing stability.

Available in a GTX Mid and Lo in brown. Sizes: D 7.5 to 15. SRP: $215. Booth #10232. (203-353-0116; lowaboots.com)

Muck BootsMuck’s second generation of the Pursuit Shadow Trail is one of the

lightest full-size hunting boots on the market. The goal was to develop a lace-up boot that had outstanding fit and lacing control while significantly reducing wear fatigue and heightening comfort. The result is a hybrid of a Muck boot and a traditional lace-up moccasin.

The 100 percent waterproof exterior uses 5mm neoprene wrapped in Spandura with addi-tional CR foam and fleece lining and a sock liner. Hunters are given outstanding scent control with a combination of agion anti-microbial treatments to prevent the growth of odor-causing bacte-ria and an Inscentable scent-masking barrier.

The all new EVA mid and Pod outsole has dramatically light-ened the boot frame while offer-ing exceptional cushioning sup-port and grip on wet surfaces. Rated to -40 F, the Pursuit Shadow is an ideal choice in the treestand or on a long stalk, especially when the temperature drops severely. Finished in Real Tree Xtra. Sizes: 7 to 15, whole only. SRP: $265. Booth #10951. (877-438-6825; muckboot company.com)

Reebok ➤ The Dauntless Ultra Light Series is a fusion of Reebok ath-letic science and Warson’s tacti-cal/military experience. The seamless technology gives upper support, flexibility, and a glove-like fit. The injected EVA mid-sole adds stability and comfort while removing weight. All this is built on top of the company’s longwearing Dauntless All-Terrain rubber outsole, which provides 360-degree traction on any surface.

The Dauntless Ultra Light Series is available in an 8-inch tactical boot and a 5-inch athletic hiker. Both sport side zips in an athletic oxford. They offer NATO laces, moisture-wicking nylon-mesh liners, removable injected EVA cushion inserts, dual-density rubber bottoms, and lightweight injected EVA cushion midsoles.

All black and 100 percent non-metallic, the athletic oxford has a TPU bruise plate, which provides additional stability and protection on rocky terrain. Also available in coyote and limited edition Kryptek-Typhon camouflage. Sizes: 7 to 14. SRP: starts at $100. Booth #10179. (314-754-0382; reebokwork.com)

Rocky➤ Featuring a thin rubber outsole for better contact with the ground and a unique sock-like fit for ease of mobility, the Ram Stalker is a

Weinbrenner Weighing less than 2 pounds each, the Maniac

series benefits from a free-float-ing lace system and Tuff Skin

high-abrasion leather.

Wolverine The moisture-management mesh lining in

combination with a Gore-Tex breathable membrane helps

keep feet in the Edge Extreme dry, warm, and comfortable.

Reebok The Dauntless Ultra Light Series is a fusion of athletic

science and tactical/military experience. Injected EVA mid-

soles add stability and comfort while removing weight.


P R O D U C T S

unique stalking boot constructed with a quiet, lightweight ripstop upper. The boots are guaranteed waterproof and include 400 grams of PrimaLoft insulation. A speed-lacing system ensures the boots are fast and easy to get on and off.

Available in Realtree Xtra cam-ouflage and widths D (8 to 11.5) and EE (11 to 13). SRP: $159. Booth #11340. (740-753-1951; rockyboots.com)

Weinbrenner➤ Weighing in at less than 2 pounds each, this athletically inspired boot line is among the lightest outdoor hunting boots ever created. The Maniac Series remains as light as a feather while enjoying state-of-the-art con-struction. The boots incorporate the newest technologies, includ-ing a free-floating lace system, Thinsulate Ultra insulation, and Tuff Skin high-abrasion leather.

With a VGS Hiker Unit out-sole and waterproof Scotchgard protectors, these boots are made to withstand the seasonal ele-ments. The heavy-duty exterior is combined with a lining designed to offer 24-hour comfort. The breathable construction features Scentmask technologies, a compression-molded EVA mid-sole, and the Visible Gel system.

The line offers four models, and the boots are available either uninsulated or with 800 grams of 3M Thinsulate Ultra insulation, with either camouflage or a black-

mesh pattern. Featuring an 8-inch shaft, Maniac boots are available in men’s sizes 8 to 14, D and E widths. SRP: $149.99 to $179.99. Booth #20040. (800-826-0002; weinbrennerusa.com)

Wolverine ➤ Always ready for any hunting adventure, the Edge Extreme uses best-in-class materials and design for high performance. The light-weight, athletic boot features a durable Nubuck and 900-denier polyester upper with a Gore-Tex waterproof, breathable mem-brane. Those feature, in combina-tion with a moisture-managing mesh lining, will make sure that your feet stay dry, warm, and comfortable on the trail.

The NXT odor control helps stop odors before they start with organic enzymes that destroy the bacteria that causes odor. The 600-gram 3M Thinsulate Ultra Insulation provides the perfect amount of warmth for cold days and while on active hunts.

A compression-molded EVA midsole and a removable open-cell polyurethane footbed offer support and cushion in each step. The Edge Extreme is equipped with an aggressive Vibram rubber lug outsole for superior traction.

Available in Realtree Xtra camo, the 8-inch and mid-cut hiker sizes include M 7 to 14; EW 7 to 13. SRP: starts at $220. Booth #10340. (800-545-2425; wolverine bootsandshoes.com)

Muck The second-generation Pursuit Shadow Trail is a water-proof, lightweight lace-up boot with outstanding fit and lacing control designed to greatly reduce wearer fatigue. The boot also controls scent.

Georgia Legacy 37 footwear features a full-grain leather and

900D Realtree Cordura upper with the Georgia Waterproof

System and a moisture-wicking interior lining.

Specs for the Ridge Reaper Extreme include a synthetic/ textile high-abrasion 900-denier nylon upper with seamless construction wrapped in a Gore-Tex breathable liner. The UA Scent Control lining with a Cupron anti-bacterial copper-infused sockliner helps mask scent.

There is a proprietary ClutchFit ankle support system, and a TPU toecap, heel, and mudguard for added protection. The Ortholite sockliner with memory foam top layer, ESS shank and Poron heel crash pad, Ultra-light injection TPU outsole, and internal shank all make up a lightweight EVA and mid-sole.

Colors include 951-Ridge Reaper Camo Barren, Battleship, and Black in sizes: 8 to 14. SRP: $224.99. Booth #11040. (888-727-6687; alwayslethal.com)

UNDER ARMOUR

Rocky Featuring a thin rubber outsole for better contact with the ground and a unique sock-like fit for ease of mobility, the

Ram Stalker is constructed with a quiet ripstop upper.


F E AT U R E

Own It? Respect It. Secure It.NSSF expands its firearms-safety initiative By David Draper

T he responsibilities that come with gun ownership begin at the point of sale. As soon as the transfer from retailer to consumer is made, all gun owners, whether purchasing their first handgun or adding another long gun to a growing collection, are tasked with ensuring the safe and secure storage and handling of that firearm. To remind gun owners of that responsibility and raise awareness about its ongoing Project ChildSafe campaign, the National Shooting Sports Foundation recently launched the “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” initiative. The campaign harnesses the widespread reach of the shooting and outdoor industries, including manufacturers, retailers, shooting ranges, wildlife agencies, and others, to reinforce the fact that proper storage is the number-one way to prevent firearms accidents and misuse, and keep firearm safety top of mind among gun owners.

“Accidents involving fire-arms are at a historic low, but we think we can do better,” says Bill Brassard, senior director of commu-nication for NSSF and leader of the organization’s education programs. “Whenever an accident happens, particularly when it involves a child or at-risk person, it’s damaging to the image of gun owners, the vast majority of whom store their firearms safely and responsibly. The ‘Own It? Respect It. Secure It.’ initiative shows the indus-try’s commitment to gun safety and reminds gun owners of their responsibil-ity to keep guns from fall-ing into the wrong hands.”

The “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” campaign is designed as a component of the firearms industry’s popular and longstanding Project ChildSafe pro-gram. Over the course of the last 15 years, Project ChildSafe has distributed 36 million gun locks and safety information via 15,000 law enforcement organizations around the country, including commu-nity police, sheriff’s depart-ments, and military police.

The program—which is supported by greatly appreciated contributions from diverse public sourc-es, including the firearms industry—is one of indus-try’s most visible outreach programs. “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” is designed to refresh the program’s safety messages and expand their reach to an even wider audience.

Formally launched in June 2014, the ORS initia-tive has received over-whelming support from the firearms industry. In just a few months, more than 600 companies, including most of the major firearms and ammunition manufacturers, incorporated some aspect of “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” into their mes-saging through ORS logo

placements in advertise-ments and other marketing materials.

“Companies are using the logo and messaging on their websites, in catalogs, in advertising—however else they deem fit,” says Brassard. “One manufac-turer put the logo on coun-ter mats for retailers, and a gun safe manufacturer plans to put the logo on its prod-ucts. Flipping through your favorite gun magazine,

you’re going to see that logo. It’s a great reminder. We’re very pleased at the rate the industry has gotten behind this important safety program.”

According to Brassard, several gun manufacturers have also embraced the “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” message. Mossberg fea-tured the campaign promi-nently in its youth catalog. “A perfect fit,” says Brassard. This past summer, Glock used the program to great advantage with its law enforcement customers, cre-ating a pledge that featured ORS and Project ChildSafe messaging at its core.

Participation in the “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” initiative is vir-tually effortless. Sign-up information, along with all

the tools to participate, including downloadable logos, counter cards, post-ers, and other materials, are easily accessed via nssf.org/ORS. Retailers and ranges can also order hard copies of stickers and counter cards directly from NSSF. Companies here at the 2015 SHOT Show can get more information and sign up for ORS at the Project ChildSafe booth.

“The ‘Own It? Respect It. Secure It.’ initiative pro-vides the firearms industry with an expanded, unified message about firearms safety,” says Brassard. “By signing up, companies and organizations can play a part in reinforcing the mes-sage that safety is a respon-sibility all gun owners must take seriously.”

Over the course of the last 15 years, Project ChildSafe has distributed 36 million gun locks and safety information kits via 15,000 law enforcement organizations around the country, including community police, sheriff’s departments, and military police.

“The ‘Own It? Repect It . Secure It .’ init iative shows the industry’s

commitment to gun safety and reminds gun owners of their

responsibil ity to keep guns from fall ing into the wrong hands.”


F E AT U R E

School’s InNSSF is offering retailers an education throughout SHOT Show

By Robert F. Staeger

Y ou can’t go to SHOT Show without learning something. From new optics technology to innovative bullet designs, every manufacturer’s rep can teach you about their company’s latest products. But retailers can get a broader education just up the escalator from the show floor. As it’s done for several years, National Shooting Sports Foundation is providing Retailer Education Seminars for the first three days of SHOT Show.

Tickets for each class cost $20 —a bargain for the education available. “By charging a fee, we’ve been able to increase the quality of the speak-ers and to increase attendance,” says NSSF senior vice president and chief marketing officer Chris Dolnack. “These sessions now have value attached to them. You paid for the ticket, and are getting a profes-sional speaker, and are receiving an excellent value.” The $20 fee covers some amenities—coffee and pastries in the morning, soda and snacks in the afternoon—but for the most part has helped NSSF attract and retain even better instructors.

Among the classes are two FBI-led sessions: one today on the new NICS E-Check 2.0 (9 a.m.), and one tomorrow on federal prohibi-tors (3 p.m.). NSSF is also offering a session on its Affinity Member benefits at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Compliance ➤ One of the major topics covered is

ATF compliance. NSSF is entrust-ing this topic to the experts—includ-ing some of the same people on the organization’s compliance team—who do self-audits at members’ request to troubleshoot for any potential compliance issues. Wally Nelson and Harry McCabe, both former deputy assistant directors at ATF, will moderate a Q&A session on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. “We’ve reached out to the attendees and asked what questions they have, and they’ve us some talking points ahead of time,” says Patrick Shay, NSSF’s director of retail development. “And then we’ll open up the session and address any issues. We did this last year, and had a really great session with a lot of great questions.”

The Q&A session affects NSSF’s educational agenda going forward as well. “It allows us to take the pulse of the issue and see what concerns people have,” says Shay. “If something’s not clear to this group of retailers, I’m sure there are others out there who feel the

same way, so we also base articles on the questions we get.”

Tomorrow, Nelson returns at 9 a.m. for a two-hour session with Chris Renzuli, a firearms lawyer from New York, on NFA Com-pliance and Best Practices. “There’s been huge growth for everyone in that area,” says Shay, “and we get questions all the time on it.”

Marketing and Merchandising➤ Other classes are concerned with the complexities of outreach. Tomorrow’s 11:30 a.m. session on Increasing Diversity in Hunting and the Shooting Sports is taught by Jim Curcuruto, NSSF’s director of industry research and analysis. The class is evidence of NSSF’s goal of broadening hunting and shooting participation in underrep-resented populations.

“It will cover a great deal of mar-keting, and on the very subtle ways you need to approach some key

demographics that we haven’t been very inclusive to lately,” says Shay. “We’re going to be focusing on the Hispanic and African-American communities for the next couple of years; this class will provide insights to retailers regarding approaching these new markets.”

Similarly, NSSF is building on the success of last year’s Marketing to Women session with a Merchan-dising to Women class on Thursday at 9 a.m. Last year’s instructors, Julie Golob and Randi Rogers, have returned. “They’ve heard horror stories about women getting steered toward the pink gun, or trying to get fitted for a shotgun and the associates don’t know what they’re doing, or not being able to find clothing and range bags for women shooters,” says Shay. “To me it’s kind of a ticking clock. We’ve got this great influx of new women shooters, and we as an industry need to be proactive and reach out to them so they don’t get discouraged and turn toward a new sport. So it’s

NSSF Retailer Education

sessions cover everything from

marketing to compliance.


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a great opportunity, but also it’s something we really need to address as an industry.”

The Right Instructor➤ Settling on topics for these sessions is a lengthy process, says Shay. NSSF polled the attendees of last year’s SHOT Show University and retailer seminars, as well as those who attended the numerous compliance seminars NSSF hosted throughout the summer. “I try to get as good a picture as possible about which topics we need to address,” says Shay. “And then, based upon the needs of our retailers, I start looking for subject matter experts who will work with our industry.

“For example, Bill Napier is one of my consul-tants now; he used to be head of loss prevention at Cabela’s. So it’s a natural fit for him to do a class on cutting-edge store security technology [today at 10:30 a.m.]. Larry Ahlman, who’s on my retail advisory committee, built a business over 40 years of buying and selling used guns, and he’s got a great way to teach other retailers how to be successful.” (Used Guns: How to Buy and Sell takes place tomorrow at 1 p.m.)

Another great instructor is Tracy Moffatt, a vet-eran of the golf industry who’s taught a number of retailer ed sessions over the years. “She does a great job of helping independent retailers under-stand their financials, and what they really need to look at,” says Shay. “We find that a lot of the retailers are great, great gun guys, but they may not have the most solid business backgrounds. We’re trying to flesh out their knowledge base on how they can tweak what they’re doing to be more successful.” (Moffatt will also teach sessions on growing profit and inventory turnover on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and noon.)

Not Just for Management➤ It’s not only managers who can learn something from these seminars; counter salespeople will get a lot out of them, too. “Many sessions are from the perspective of running the business, but other courses would be more appropriate for sales staff,” says Dolnack. “We offer something for everyone.”

That’s an important part of the retailer sessions. “If you can find the time, it’s easier for a business owner or proprietor to find professional develop-ment opportunities,” Dolnack says. “It’s much more difficult for firearms retail counter staff.”

Frontline staff can benefit from most of the classes being offered. “A lot of the ATF sessions—the compliance ones and the NICS ones —would be great for the frontline staff,” says Shay. “If they understand the federal prohibitors, they can help explain if somebody’s delayed or denied, and how they can overturn a denial. The NICS E-Check 2.0 is a user interface, so they can understand how to better use the system. And the ATF and compli-ance stuff are similar. I think any staff that sells firearms would benefit from those.”

Similarly, the diversity and merchandising to women sessions would also be helpful. “I’m sure there’ll be tips for how to approach these different customers, and how to train your staff to interact with someone who’s perhaps not as comfortable in a gun store, who’s maybe not seeing a lot of peo-ple that look like them,” says Shay. “How do you interact with them and make them feel comfort-able? That’s a valuable skill for any salesperson.”

And teaching valuable skills is what the retailer education sessions are all about. Seminars are being held in Lando Room 4302 on the 4th floor; tickets for the sessions (if they have not sold out) will be available on the 4th floor.

NSSF Goes to D.C.Inside the new Capitol Hill office By Robert F. Staeger

F or much of its existence, the National Shooting Sports Foundation kept its distance from Washington. The trade association’s original charter prohibit-ed NSSF from engaging in government relations activities. Then, begin-ning in 1999, various municipalities began filing lawsuits against handgun companies, and it became impossible to stay above the fray.

The charter was changed, and NSSF has been growing its government relations capacity, retain-ing and hiring lobbyists and retired government officials to support its government relations effort.

Now, the organization is taking another big step—staffing a major government relations office in Washington, D.C. In the aftermath of 2012’s tragic Sandy Hook shootings, NSSF made govern-ment relations a much more prominent part of its agenda. “It’s currently the number-one strategic goal of NSSF, though we still have other impor-tant goals as well,” says Lawrence Keane, who heads up NSSF’s government relations efforts. “As a trade association for a heavily regulated industry that is constantly being threatened by well-orga-nized, well-funded gun-control and anti-hunting organizations, it was important for NSSF to have a larger presence in Washington, D.C.”

To that end, NSSF has moved into a much larg-er office in the Hall of States building on North Capitol, the same building that houses Fox News, NBC, and C-SPAN. It’s only a short walk to the Capitol itself, particularly the Senate chamber. And the staffing up has begun. Keane will be dividing his time between NSSF’s headquarters in Connecticut and Washington, D.C.

Having a large presence in Washington, Keane explains, is vital. “It will enable NSSF to have more face-to-face interaction with members of Congress and their staffs,” he says, “and it will be easier for us to communicate information on poli-cy matters. We’ll be viewed as being more serious and a stronger voice for our industry by making the commitment to have a physical presence.”

That’s already been noticed on the Hill, says Keane, judging from the reactions of the organiza-tions NSSF partners with on its array of issues—groups such as the National Association of Manu-facturers on manufacturing issues, to the NRA on gun-control issues, and the Congressional Sports-men’s Foundation and Safari Club Inter national on conservation policy, to mention a few. “As part of a highly regulated industry, it’s important for us to have a constant, ‘boots-on-the-ground’ presence because our issues never go away,” says Keane. “They are constantly a matter of discussion on the

Hill, even if it’s not on the front page.”One exciting ramification of the new office is

that NSSF’s annual Congressional Fly-In program will become more flexible. “One of our objectives is to encourage more industry members to partici-pate,” says Keane. The new D.C. office makes coordination much easier. “We’ll be less reliant upon being able to get conference rooms and hotels. And that flexibility will allow the event to continue growing, as it has since its inception in 2008.”

The media has reported that NSSF was the sec-ond-most influential Second Amendment organi-zation in the country, and the new D.C. office helps cement that reputation. “We don’t necessari-ly consider ourselves a Second Amendment orga-nization, per se, the way the NRA does,” says Keane, “but we’re a trade association whose indus-try happens to be firearms, so you can’t divorce the Second Amendment or the gun control politics from the lawful commerce. They’re intertwined inexorably.”

The larger issues don’t change, but the D.C. office allows the NSSF to maximize its impact on the specifics. “We’re much more able to have an influence on Operation Choke Point, for exam-ple,” says Keane, referring to a U.S. Justice Department initiative investigating banks and businesses they work with for instances of fraud. Working with key members of Congress and their staffs, NSSF succeeded in getting the FDIC to remove arms and ammunition sellers from the list of “high-risk business” that are the operation’s focus.

Overall, the new office offers a substantial bene-fit to members: It gives the industry a louder and stronger voice on Capitol Hill. “Members will benefit from our ability to prevent adverse legisla-tion and to achieve good legislation,” says Keane.

“I would encourage people to become members of NSSF, and to become voting members if they’re currently supporting members. And also to edu-cate themselves about initiatives we undertake,” says Keane. “And if they’re in Washington, to come visit us and see their membership dollars in action.”

The NSSF’s new government rela-tions office in Washington, D.C., allows the trade association to be a much more effec-tive voice for the industry among the nation’s law-makers.

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Money TalksNSSF’s Hunting Works for America shows the

shooting sports political power By Bill Miller

W hen the federal government considered banning gun ranges on the Sonoran Desert National Monument in Arizona a few years ago, a coalition of busi-nesses and shooting-sports advocates got busy. A similar group mobilized in

Iowa to challenge a state agency’s ban on traditional lead ammunition to hunt doves. Both groups were organized through Hunting Works for America, an initiative started in 2010 by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

In 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management dropped its plan to oust the shooting ranges on the national monument. In Iowa, meanwhile, Governor Terry Branstad lifted the ban on lead shot.

Chris Dolnack, NSSF’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer, credits the Hunting Works for America chapters for promoting facts on both issues. “We organized and launched the organiza-tions, but in very short order, these are self-run groups,” he says. “When you see threats to tradi-tional hunting and traditional ammo, it makes sense to help organize those business interests.”

Hunting Works For America’s footprint contin-ued to grow in 2014. In December, Hunting Works for Oregon joined Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Utah, and Wisconsin, becoming the 10th state to be included in the award-winning Hunting Works for America program. The groups seek to educate policymakers on the links bet ween shoot-ing sports and local economies.

But first, they build coalitions that join the hunting and shooting commu-nities with business groups. The recruits are chambers of commerce, tourism bureaus, retail associations, and small business owners—anyone who values hunters and shooters as customers.

“Obviously, all politics are local,” Dolnack says. “And when you have the horsepower of businesses and businesspeople in local communities, that’s far more powerful than the influence of any organiza-tion from out of state. They understand better than anyone the economic impact. They see the people coming in wearing camo; they know who’s buying breakfast sandwiches at four in the morning.”

And when chapter members meet with policy makers, they bring hard economic data. For exam-ple, a recent NSSF study shows that there are about 14 million hunters in the U.S. who spend nearly $40 billion on licenses and equipment, including guns and ammunition. But the chapter members also know about hunting’s economic impact in their own states. Arizona chapter members report there

are about 269,000 hunters in their state who spend about $1,200 each year on trip-related expenses and gear. This generates about $342 million in sales, and results in some 5,700 jobs, for a payroll of around $208 million. Total economic impact of hunting in Arizona is $592 million, according to the chapter.

The newcomer chapter in Wisconsin reports there are 895,000 Badger State hunters who each year spend about $2,800 apiece on gear and other expenses. That creates about 34,000 jobs and $1 billion in wages and salaries. The total economic impact of hunting in Wisconsin is $4 billion.

In the effort to save the Arizona shooting rang-es, chapter members noted that there was more at stake than sales of firearms, cartridges, and range fees. Convenience stores, restaurants, and gas sta-tions also faced lost revenue.

“Hunting Works for Arizona had letters to the editor and meetings with editorial boards,” Dolnack

says. “They got retail officials involved, and that had a tremendous amount of influence. Their message was, ‘If you shut down these ranges, it will impact future employment.’”

At the end of the day, Dolnack says, the ranges stayed open to the public.

Opposition on other issues, however, is assured. Environmental groups insist that

traditional lead shot, found in the discarded parts of downed game, is toxic to raptors . Mean while, the chapters and NSSF counter that raptor populations are growing in the U.S. This fact, coupled with eco-nomic data, can push back against “emotional rheto-ric, junk science, or no science at all,” Dolnack says.

NSSF, therefore, would like to see chapters in every state, but it’s not a quick process.

“We have far more requests than budget and staffing would allow,” Dolnack says. “We can properly establish three a year with our budget. But we could get them up a lot faster if every per-son at the SHOT Show would enroll in NSSF as a member. If we could increase our revenue through significantly increased memberships, we’d have more dollars available.”

NSSF’s Hunting Works for America’s chap-ters build coali-tions that join the hunting and shooting commu-nities with busi-ness groups. Recruits include small business owners, retail associations—anyone who values hunters and shooters as customers.

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Joining the BattleNSSF PAC helps defend the Second

Amendment By Bill Miller

T he gun debate in the U.S. is like a long battle of attrition, one that awards victory to the side that’s most committed, patient, and willing to spend. In 2013, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and other pro-gun groups marked several political wins, including the defeat of an amendment from U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein that would have banned all modern sporting rifles. A year later, anti-gun groups were back in the fight, raising money for

the 2014 midterm elections. Americans for Responsible Solutions, for example, announced it would try to raise $20 million. Meanwhile, former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg started a new group, Everytown for Gun Safety, with $50 million of his own money. He pledged to back gun-control candidates and ballot issues like enhanced background checks.

“I have no doubt that he will do that,” says Larry Keane, NSSF’s senior vice president and general counsel. “So, we’re looking at about $70 million plus on the other side.”

Joining the battle is the National Shooting Sports Foundation Political Action Committee (NSSF PAC). Founded in 2010, the nonpartisan PAC has rallied to fund candidates for federal offices who support the Second Amendment, the hunting community, and the firearms industry. In the latest two-year election cycle, the PAC had raised $330,000 by the start of the third quarter of 2014, says Keane, who also is the PAC’s treasurer.

Even more contributions were expected before the elections on November 4, says Keane. If those numbers seem small compared to the opposition, remember that NSSF PAC is new. It began in 2010, and has experienced strong growth in just a few years, Keane says.

The PAC raised $10,600 from 15 contributors in its first year. But in 2013, 287 people donated $202,025 to the PAC, Keane says.

And in the first seven months of 2014, the PAC raised $135,000 from more than 130 donors (in the first 6 months, the PAC raised $118,720). By then, the PAC had already helped nearly two-dozen cam-paigns. From June to July, the PAC raised $16,280. Raising more than $15,000 in just one month’s time shows our supporters are engaged. By Election Day, the NSSF PAC reached the milestone of hav-ing raised $500,000 since it was founded.

Included were the re-elections bids of U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Charles Grassley, R-Iowa; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to name just a few, and dozens of candidates for the House, like

U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn.Obviously, NSSF PAC is not alone in these

efforts. For example, the National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund raised more than $18 million for the election cycle, according to the Federal Elections Commission. NSSF officials say their pri-mary mission is to guard the commercial interests of the firearms industry. The PAC is an important way in which NSSF achieves its mission But officials also say that supporting NSSF PAC puts elected officials on notice that industry members are an educated and politically involved group.

The PAC is tightly regulated by FEC rules. All contributions must be personal contributions because federal law forbids contributions from cor-porations. Therefore, the PAC can only solicit from

its “restricted class,” which is made up of executive and administrative staff (employees) of NSSF and its corporate members who agree to allow the PAC to communicate with their executives, and NSSF’s non-corporate members such as individ-uals, sole proprietors, and partner-

ships. Also, contributions are limited to a maximum of $5,000 per calendar year.

“It is very restricted and very complicated,” Keane says. “There’s a lot of effort that goes into compliance.” But, he adds, the efforts are essential, considering the forces arrayed against the firearms industry and the traditions that it supports.

“We must remain ever vigilant,” Keane says, “to protect the interests of our industry and our fire-arms freedoms, and to protect and preserve our hunting and shooting-sports heritage, which is under attack every day.” For more information, go to nssfpac.org.

The nonpartisan NSSF PAC has ral-lied to fund candi-dates for federal office who support the Second Amendment, the hunting communi-ty, and the fire-arms industry.


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Showing Our MettleNSSF defends the use of traditional ammunition By Robert F. Staeger

H unters have been using traditional ammunition containing lead components to harvest game for centuries, but lately calls have been coming from certain quarters to ban traditional loads because of their lead content. The theory goes that the lead in unrecovered game sickens animals who eat it, damaging wildlife populations. And, the claims go, it has the potential to harm humans, as well. But studies have disproven this idea, and wildlife populations are thriving in the United States. So what’s going on?

“It’s important to recognize that the fundamental tenet of the sci-ence of wildlife management is that you manage wildlife populations, but you don’t manage to prevent harm to individual animals of a species,” explains Lawrence Keane, senior vice president and general counsel of NSSF. “Because if that becomes the basis of wildlife man-agement, then you’ve just made the argument to ban hunting.”

“In fact, the excise tax dollars raised from the sales of traditional ammunition is one of the primary sources of wildlife conservation funding in the United States,” says Keane. The Pittman-Robertson excise tax is a tax on firearms and ammunition, the revenue from which is earmarked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund, one of the country’s primary sources of con-servation funding.

“So the very ammunition that groups like the Humane Society of the United States [HSUS] and oth-ers demonize is what pays for wild-life conservation,” says Keane. “If traditional ammunition were to be banned, wildlife conservation fund-ing in the U.S. would crater, and the animals those groups purport to be concerned about would suffer as a consequence.”

It’s easy to see why the bottom would fall out of the Pittman-Robertson Fund if traditional ammunition were banned. Ninety-five percent of all ammunition sold in the United States is traditional. Only 5 percent of firearm ammuni-

tion is made without lead compo-nents, and four-fifths of that is shotshell ammunition, made chiefly for waterfowl hunting. “Only one percent is metallic ammunition made with non-lead,” says Keane. “And much of that is steel-core ammunition used for target shoot-ing, not for hunting. So less than one percent of all ammunition is alternative, non-lead projectiles for the hunting market.”

And if 95 percent of the ammu-nition market were suddenly ille-gal, it’s hard to see how the non-traditional calibers would pick up the slack. Especially since there’s another wrinkle, in that the ATF is impeding the expansion of alterna-tive ammunition into certain cali-bers. The Gun Control Act pro-

hibits using certain alternative hard metals, most notably brass, in any caliber in which there is a handgun that can also fire that projectile; this is to protect against the prolif-eration of armor-piercing rounds, unless ATF finds that the otherwise banned projectile is intended for a supporting purpose like hunting.

“There are now 32 petitions pending before ATF to exempt brass rounds intended for the hunt-ing market from the armor-piercing ammunition laws, and the ATF has declined to grant any one of them,” says Keane. “They won’t decide one way or the other. Some of those petitions have been pending before ATF now for well over three years.”

But what of the original environ-mental concerns?

“There is no sound science of wildlife population impacts that would warrant banning traditional ammunition beyond current restric-tions,” says Keane. “Raptor popula-tions, for example, are soaring—pardon the pun—in the United States, even as hunting has increased in the last several years, according to the most recent data from the Fish and Wildlife Service.”

Some groups also claim that tradi-tional ammunition poses a risk to human health, but science doesn’t back them up there, either. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control studied blood lead levels in hunters in North Dakota. Hunters that were tested had lower levels than the average non-hunter. “In fact, hunt-ers in the study who consumed game for the longest period of time actually had lower lead levels than other hunters in the group,” says Keane. Similarly, the state of Iowa has been testing for lead in its citi-zens for decades, and have never seen a single case of elevated lead levels. There’s no evidence for it in the data. The CDC has never reported a single case of lead poi-soning from consuming game har-vested using traditional ammunition.

Nonetheless, anti-hunting oppo-nents of traditional ammunition continue to push. “They are well-funded, highly motivated, and going about this one slice at a time,” says Keane.

Another slice that comes under fire is an exemption in the Toxic Substance Control Act that says the Environmental Protection Agency

By 2019, there will be a ban on traditional ammunition in California, which could

seriously harm hunting and conservation in the state.

Anti-hunting opponents of traditional ammunition continue to push. “They are well-funded,

highly motivated, and going about this one slice at a time,”

says Keane.

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cannot regulate firearms or ammunition under the act. “That was put in place so it could not be used to achieve gun-control objectives,” explains Keane. The exemption needs some clarity: The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the EPA that while the exemption prevents it from regulating fully assembled cartridges of ammunition, it doesn’t ban regulation of the individual component parts. The EPA denied that petition—as NSSF argued, if you can ban the parts, you can ban the whole—but the matter remains in litigation. “That’s why it’s impor-tant to protect that exemption, to clarify it, and to take the argument away. We need to make it abso-lutely clear to the EPA, to the petitioners, and any court that the EPA does not have the authority to regulate ammunition, including the component parts, under the Toxic Substances Control Act.”

Nonetheless, we’re about to see the consequenc-es of a ban on traditional ammunition. With its law AB 711, California has banned the use of tradition-al ammunition for all hunting. “Big game, small game, upland, it doesn’t matter,” says Keane. “All lead ammunition will be banned in California, which will have a devastating impact on conserva-tion funding and on participation, because the price of alternative ammunition will increase by 300 percent on average, according to a recent eco-nomic study by Southwick and Associates.” The ban will be phased in and be completely in effect by 2019; state officials are in the process of draft-ing regulations to implement it.

In the meantime, NSSF is working to educate legislators and policymakers about the issue. The organization has commissioned an economic impact study for California to see what the impact of the ban will be to hunters, from the price of ammunition to the lack of availability. “With cer-tain calibers, if you took all alternative ammunition production and brought it to California, it would be insufficient to meet the demands of all the hunters there,” says Keane.

For example, under California AB 711, regular .22 rimfire ammunition will be banned; you’d have to get alternative .22 ammunition. “Good luck finding that,” says Keane. “You can’t even find lead rounds in .22. As a practical matter, there really aren’t any alternatives in the marketplace. That essentially ends small-game hunting in California.”

Which, of course, is the largely unstated agenda of the ban’s proponents. “It’s important for hunters to realize that when the Humane Society of the United States pushes for a ban on traditional ammunition, it’s just a strategy to achieve its pri-mary mission, which is to end hunting in the United States. Hunters should not be fooled that this is just about traditional lead ammunition.”

Petitioners to the EPA hope that banning certain components in lead ammunition will have a broader effect—like striking the lead pin with a bowling ball.


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The Good FightNSSF legal team works to protect the industry By Christopher Cogley

T he National Shooting Sports Foundation is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving hunting and the shooting sports. A large part of accomplishing that goal takes place in courtrooms across the country where the NSSF legal team fights to protect the rights of its members and the shooting-sports industry as a whole. And in 2014, there was certainly no shortage of battles for the NSSF legal team to fight.

“There’s an explosion of firearms litigation, and more cases are being filed every day,” says Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel.

A great deal of that litigation in 2014 was centered around Second Amendment challenges to state laws that were enacted in the wake of the Newtown shooting. The NSSF worked with a wide variety of groups to fight against state laws such as the one enacted in Colorado that requires universal background checks for the sale of any firearm and bans magazines that hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition. Another state law NSSF fought against in 2014 was the one in Maryland that created a list of illegal semi-automatic firearms and banned magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. In New York, NSSF lent support to the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association to fight the NY SAFE Act, which, among other things, defines assault weapons to include any semi-auto-matic firearm with a detachable magazine; prevents the transfer of firearms to anyone, even immediate family, without a background check; and requires background checks to buy ammunition.

The NSSF focused its efforts on two different fronts in Connecticut. The first was to challenge SB 1160, Act Concerning Gun Violence Pre-vention and Children’s Safety, and the other was the Shew v. Malloy case that challenges Connecticut’s ban on modern sporting rifles and magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

While the majority of the Second Amendment cases that NSSF lent support to during 2014 were focused on new laws passed at the state level, NSSF also helped out with several cases that were filed by pro–Second Amendment groups to challenge existing gun laws that violate the definition of the Second Amendment as determined by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Heller and McDonald cases. At the forefront of this effort was the Ezell v. Chicago case where NSSF helped to overturn Chicago’s ban on shoot-ing ranges by arguing that the right to possess firearms for protection also implies an inherent right to receive training on how to use those firearms in a safe and effective man-ner. The NSSF also worked on the Illinois Association of Firearms Retailers v. Chicago case and helped overturn Chicago’s ban on firearms retailers operating within the city. There is still work to be done in this case, however, because the regulations and restrictions imposed on firearms retailers by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago City Council pre-vent gun stores from operating in 99.5 percent of the city.

While these two cases were signif-icant victories that will set precedent for other cases, there are Second Amendment battles across the coun-try that didn’t have a favorable out-come, and that trend is troublesome for NSSF and other Second Amendment advocates. “There’s increasing frustration among the Second Amendment–rights commu-nity because the courts are uphold-ing gun restrictions even when they

clearly violate the rights outlined in the Heller decision,” Keane says.

Keane explains that the majority of these decisions are focused on an individual’s Second Amendment rights, and while NSSF is certainly invested in these cases and lends its support to the National Rifle Association and other groups that are fighting to protect these rights, NSSF typically doesn’t take the lead in these cases, preferring instead to use its resources to fight cases that threaten the lawful commerce of firearms and ammunition products.

“As the firearms industry trade association, the NSSF focuses its lit-igation on cases that restrict—or threaten to restrict—the lawful com-merce in firearms and ammunition products,” Keane says. “We believe the lawful commerce in firearms and ammunition is cloaked with Second Amendment protections.”

A Strong Defense➤ One of the biggest threats to the lawful commerce in firearms and ammunition that NSSF battled in 2014 was the ongoing assault on tra-ditional ammunition by the Center for Biological Diversity and other anti-hunting organizations. Keane explains that although the NSSF helped defeat the initiative to have traditional ammunition banned completely—even for military, law enforcement, and self-defense pur-poses—the case to protect tradition-al ammunition made with lead from being banned in hunting applica-tions is still at the forefront of NSSF’s legal efforts.

“We are leading the charge to protect the right of hunters to choose the type of ammunition they think most appropriate to use for hunting,” Keane says. “We are fight-ing aggressively against organiza-tions that are using agenda-driven pseudo-science to try and get legis-lation passed, or regulations put in place, that would effectively make it impossible for anyone to participate in hunting or the shooting sports.”

That battle had a huge victory in 2014 when the CBD’s case against the U.S. Forest Service, which attempted to ban traditional ammu-nition within the Kaibab National Forest, was dismissed. During 2014, NSSF filed briefs in the CBD’s appeal of the dismissal of its lawsuit against the EPA, challenging the denial of a petition to ban traditional ammunition. Both cases represent a significant step in the right direction and provide good examples of sound scientific information overcoming illogical arguments by anti-hunting groups. But it’s a safe bet that there will be many more battles before that war is won.

Unfortunately, the attempts to ban traditional ammunition aren’t the only flawed-science cases that NSSF is aggressively fighting against. One of the most prominent issues in that category is California’s microstamp-ing law. In 2014, NSSF, along with the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI), filed a lawsuit against California stat-ing that it is impossible for firearms manufacturers to comply with the microstamping law California enact-ed in 2007 and implemented in May

In its mission to defend the rights outlined in the Second Amendment, NSSF has been fighting more battles at the state and local levels —particularly in its efforts to overturn firearms restrictions enacted by city and state governments in the days after the Newtown shootings.

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2013. The law requires that for all new models of semi-automatic pistols, manufacturers have to imprint the gun’s make, model, and serial number in two separate locations on the cartridge casing. But because the technology does not exist to do this reliably, there is effectively no way for manufactur-ers to comply.

“The only reason you would enact restrictions that manufacturers cannot possibly comply with is if you are attempting to use a back-door method to ban the product those manufacturers are making,” Keane says. “And that’s exactly what’s going on here.”

In a related issue, NSSF is also providing exper-tise in the Pena v. Lindley case to show that the requirement that firearms possess the flawed microstamping technology in order to be on the state’s approved handgun roster is not possible for manufacturers to comply with, because—as the NSSF is attempting to prove in the other case—it’s impossible to implement the microstamping requirement, and therefore, there’s no possible way for any new models of handguns to be added to the state’s approved handgun roster.

Local Heroes➤ Microstamping isn’t the only issue that NSSF is dealing with in California. Another trend that seems to be gaining traction is the practice of municipalities—especially in the San Francisco Bay Area—attempting to pass anti-gun laws at a local level that override state law. The NSSF has filed preemption challenges against Pleasant Hill’s Ordinance 876 that imposes regulations on gun dealers and Sunnyvale’s Measure C that requires ammunition vendors to maintain a sales log and report the theft of any firearms within 48 hours. The NSSF is also aiding in the preemption chal-lenge to overturn Sunnyvale’s municipal code that bans magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

These might be small cases, but the implications for the industry could be substantial if precedence is set in cases such as these. “It’s really important to the industry to protect a state’s preemption law, because otherwise we’re going to end up with a patchwork of different and conflicting laws across the state that no one will know how to comply with,” Keane says.

Cases such as this, which seem to affect only a handful of business, might not seem as pressing as the federal issues, but when it comes to protecting the rights of NSSF members and the industry as a whole, every case is important. And so is every mem-bers’ support. Keane sees the hand of former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg behind the growing problem of anti-gun municipal ordinances.

“It is death by a thousand cuts,” he says. “Industry members need to join the NSSF, because it’s that support that allows us to fight for the industry in the courtroom and in the halls of Congress.”

NSSF fights poorly conceived gun laws in the courtroom, but in the federal and state legisla-tures, it can help prevent those laws from passing.

Keeping the Fire Burning Remember Zippo cigarette lighters? The company that has made those iconic smoke starters for more than 80 years is still around—and in recent years it has ven-tured into outdoor products. Sub-branding itself Zippo Outdoor, the company now manufacturers a line of hunting, fishing, and camping products. “The good news is that Zippo has manufactured quality light-ers for decades,” says Chris Funk, marketing product manager. “But that’s also the bad news, because companies that are good at what they do tend to get pigeonholed and known for only a specific product. That’s why Zippo Outdoor was created, so people would know we are more than just lighters, and we could grow our brand.”

Two of Zippo’s newest outdoor cooking products are the All-Terrain Grill, available now, and Windproof Stove, coming later in the year. “We believe the All-Terrain Grill is the perfect grill for camping and tailgat-ing,” says Funk. “First of all, we wanted a grill that would set up and take down quickly and simply. Second, we wanted it to hold heat well, so we manufactured both the base and lid from cast aluminum. Our goal was for consumers to be able to cook great food while on the road.”

The grill has a porcelain-coated, cast-iron cooking grate—which also helps hold heat—and with the twin burners set on high the temperature can reach 530 degrees F in 10 minutes, and 755 degrees after half an hour. A through-lid thermometer displays cooking temperatures. Each burner ignites with the push of a button and produces 8,000 BTUs, for a total of 16,000. It oper-ates on either a 1-pound propane canister or a 20-pound propane tank. Attachment hoses for both are included.

Other features are spring-assisted fold-away X-frame legs and an anti-rattle lock system for quiet travel. A large stainless-steel work surface and utensil hooks help in food prep, and the large, rubber-coated wheels make travel over uneven ground easy. It’s assembled in the U.S. with domes-tic and foreign components. SRP: $399.95.

Making its debut at this year’s SHOT Show is Zippo’s Windproof Stove. “A unique feature of the stove is that it doesn’t use a wind screen to block the wind, but rather a chimney screen,” says Funk. “If you remem-ber what a Zippo lighter looks like when you flip it open—its chimney has a three-two-three hole pattern—we’ve used that same methodology in developing our new cooking stove. The new stove will retail for less than $300.” Booth #13905. (888-442-1932; zippooutdoor.com) —W.H.Gross

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Mossberg’s Youth MovementA new catalog highlights Mossberg’s commit-ment to young shooters By Brian McCombie

M ossberg’s commitment to the youth shooting market got even stronger last summer when the gunmaker released its all-new “Mossberg 2014 Youth Catalog.” The 12-page full-color catalog features 45 Mossberg shotguns and rimfire and centerfire rifles with the company’s innovative EZ-Reach

forends (pump-action shotguns), Super Bantam stock spacer adjustment system (shot-guns and rifles), and Mossberg’s unique FLEX TLS (Tool-less Locking System).

“One of the key things we are trying to convey with a separate catalog is Mossberg’s commit-ment to build specific firearms for young and smaller-statured shooters,” says Tom Taylor, Mossberg’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. “We’re not just chopping off the barrel or shortening the length of pull. We’ve truly reduced the scale of these firearms so they provide proper fit and balance.”

Mossberg already offered approximately 90 percent of these firearms, notes Linda Powell, the company’s director

of media relations. But the sepa-rate catalog will make smaller firearms easier for consumers—and retailers—to find, rather than having to page through the standard catalog while shopping for their son or daughter.

For 2015, Mossberg will offer a new Youth Catalog in the spring, both in print and on-line formats. Powell notes that the catalog will include several new items, plus upgrades and options to a number of current products.

Mossberg specifically designs its Youth, Bantam, and Super Bantam firearms to dimension-ally fit smaller-statured shooters. For example, the EZ-Reach forends on Mossberg’s pump-action shotguns are located clos-er to the receiver so cycling is easier for those with shorter arms and reduced grip size. This, combined with shorter length of pull, will improve comfort and control. With the innovative Super Bantam spacer

system on shotguns and rifles, a one-inch spacer can be easily added to increase the length of pull as the young shooter grows. Overall, reduced dimensions with shorter barrel lengths pro-vide proper balance and lighter weight for more enjoyable shooting.

But it isn’t only the younger shooters and hunters who will appreciate these firearms. Smaller-statured men and women, who may have experi-enced difficulty using standard firearms, will also find products here made with them in mind.

Mossberg sales representatives will provide retailers with print-ed copies of these catalogs for customers. Mossberg offers Point of Purchase displays to highlight the company’s youth offerings, and the gunmaker is also running print ads in nation-al outdoor and shooting publica-tions to announce the youth cat-alog and its many offerings.

As Taylor notes, the Mossberg 2014 and 2015 Youth Catalogs reaffirm Mossberg’s commit-ment to bringing the younger shooter into the shooting sports by eliminating a participation barrier. Shouldering a rifle or shotgun that’s too bulky and awkward is a real turn-off for a youngster. But the young boy or girl whose first shooting experi-ence is with a firearm contoured to their body size is much more likely to become a long-term participant in our shooting sports. Booth #12734. (203-230-5300; mossberg.com)

The 20-gauge 500 Super Bantam Duck Commander has the same features as the larger Waterfowl model.

We’re not just chopping off the barrel or shortening

the length of pull.”


A Woman’s Touch The ladies of Sportsman Channel speak up

S portsman Channel hosts Jana Waller (Skull Bound TV), Melissa Bachman (Winchester’s Deadly Passion), Haley Heath (The Outfitters Built by Ford F-Series/Yeti’s Ultimate Hunt), Leigh Creekbaum (The Chase), Sonia Hendrick (Bullets & Broadheads), Brittney Glaze (Destination Whitetail), Brittany Boddington (Petersen’s Hunting Adventures), Julie McQueen (Brotherhood Outdoors), Michele Eichler (Easton Bowhunting TV), and Jada Johnson (Big Boys Adventures) comment on the burgeoning role women are playing in the outdoor industry.

QLooking at how far women in the outdoors

have come, do you believe women still have a ways to go? If so, what can be done to help? Or if not, why?

AJANA WALLER: If women want to be respected and con-

sidered as equals in the hunting industry, it’s critical that we don’t use sex to sell ourselves. I’ve seen the posts of women in bikini tops pulling back their bows. I don’t think posting so-called hunting

photos showing cleavage and skin does any woman any favors. While it may “sell” your page or a partic-ular hunting product, it truly degrades hardcore women who live to hunt and aren’t in it for the attention of men. MELISSA BACHMAN: It’s always a battle when women become a part of something that has been primar-ily dominated by men in the past. With that said, we are very lucky to have such supportive men and companies within the hunting industry who have been actively

promoting the outdoors to women. What helps tremendously is the common love and passion for hunt-ing and the outdoors. As a commu-nity, it’s more important than ever to band together and put the num-bers in our favor. One thing that can be done to help is for all hunt-ers to not only be supportive of new people, but to help them out and offer advice. The more people we can get involved, the stronger we become as a hunting communi-ty.BRITTNEY GLAZE: Every little

girl should have the chance to grow into a woman hunter, if that’s her choice. It’s a good thing to know how to hunt and harvest game—not just for the sport but also to provide for your family. You never know when you may have to. BRITTANY BODDINGTON: There is always more to be done. The female demographic is growing on its own, and the emergence of women in hunting in the media has helped encourage many would-be hunters to get out into the field. The best we (as females in the

Brittany Boddington: “The best we can do as females is to keep hunting and showing the world that this is a

sport for both genders, equally.”

10 high-profile women talk about the highs and lows of the outdoor business


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media) can do is to keep hunting and showing the world that this is a sport for both genders, equally.JULIE McQUEEN: We have defi-nitely come a long way, and the only way to keep progressing for-ward is to support and respect women in the outdoors. Many of us have learned to support each other and lean on our fellow women hunters when we need to. We have created a nice support system that’s working for us, and the goal is to continue to grow that network of positive energy. Women in our industry have raised the standard of what it means to truly be an outdoorswoman, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come.

QDo you have an urge to overachieve in the hunt-

ing world because you are a woman and you feel you have something to prove? If so, do you think that has driven you to be the best in your field? If not, why?

AMELISSA BACHMAN: Absolutely. When coming

into a camp or meeting new peo-ple, I feel I’m put under a micro-scope. In general, I believe many people still doubt a woman’s ability to hunt and pack meat out, and some still question a woman’s men-tal and physical toughness. I look at it as an incentive to work harder and prove these people wrong. The more women we can get in the field, the faster we can skew this thought process. We just had a lit-tle bit of a late start, but I can assure you there are many great female hunters joining the hunting

community.LEIGH CREEKBAUM: In the first few years of our hunting show, I had my own personal insecurity about being on TV. I felt like I had to overcome so many obstacles. For a while I didn’t fully embrace or enjoy the outdoors because I felt so much pressure. I do want to be better each and every time I go out, and one way I do that is by lis-tening to people at camp. I learn so much just by listening. SONIA HENDRICK: I don’t hunt because I have something to prove as a woman. I hunt because I feel spiritually and genetically drawn to the outdoors; it’s truly a part of my hard-wiring. I strive for success in the field and chase down goals because I’m driven. I don’t think anyone hunts or pursues anything they’re passionate about with aspi-rations for mediocrity. Every life lesson can be learned and put into practice outdoors.JADA JOHNSON: Absolutely. I feel like men don’t view our level of

skill and talent as equal. I constant-ly feel like I have to work harder, practice more, and shoot better so that I can receive the level of respect that guys get.

QWhether you like it or not, young girls and

women look up to you as a role model since you are on TV. Do you believe you are a role model? Was there an experience that opened your eyes to being a role model?

AJANA WALLER: Since I’m passionate about protecting

our current hunting rights and passing on our hunting heritage to our youth, I don’t take my position as a hunting TV show host lightly. It’s even more critical to portray women as confident, intelligent, passionate hunters. We need to convey the message that we hunters are the ones who give more back to animals than any other organization or group of people. That’s why I

have partnered with four of the leading conservation groups for Skull Bound TV. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Mule Deer Foundation, and the United States Sportsman Alliance are all sponsors of our show, and I proudly promote their messages on every episode through “The Conservation Minute.” I also speak at numerous hunter-safety classes and expos to discuss the importance of not only safety in the field but the critical aspect of wildlife man-agement to sustain healthy game populations and habitat. Having a TV show gives me a great platform to get that message across. BRITTNEY GLAZE: Yes, I believe I am a role model. It’s my passion to introduce as many women and lit-tle girls as I can to the outdoors. I receive lots of fan mail, and I have little girls sending me videos saying they want to be like me. That opened my eyes, to think I am someone’s hero. That’s an honor, and now I have a drive to never let them down.JULIE MCQUEEN: Being a role model is serious business. Any young girl can go look at my Facebook page or any public state-ment that I put out without me worrying about it being offensive. I am constantly considering the impact that I might have on others, and I strive to encourage them and personally respond to everyone when I’m able to. A turning point for me was one of the first times a lady sent a private message to let me know that her daughter was a fan of our show. Her little girl wanted to have the same camou-

Left to right: Jana Waller, Melissa Bachman, and Brittney Glaze. As hosts at Sportsman Channel, these high-profile women not only feel an obligation to encour-age more women to take up hunting, but also feel the need to encourage women to be strong supporters of hunting rights and the Second Amendment.

Pink is not the universal color for women. I don’t

know why, but I feel like it cheapens the gear and gives guys a reason not to respect

us.”-Jada Johnson


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flage and the same gun, and she wanted go to the same places that I went to. I took that very seriously. It’s easy to be a good role model when you have good intentions every day. HALEY HEATH: I looked up to my mother as a hunting role model as a child. She taught me that it was okay to love hunting and give it my all. I hope that young women look at me as a strong woman/mother that loves the outdoors, works hard, and passes on my passion for the outdoors to others.

QIf you could tell the CEO of a big-box retailer or

manufacturer one thing about catering to women in the outdoors, what would it be?

AMELISSA BACHMAN: Create gear that not only

matches the quality of items men are using, but make it even better. Women need items that fit, that are functional, and that look good. It’s that simple. I want to look nice in the field, but it has to work as well as or better than gear built for men.JADA JOHNSON: Pink is not the universal color for women. We like other colors, too. I have such a hard time finding feminine gear that isn’t

pink. I don’t know why, but I feel like it cheapens the gear and gives guys a reason to not respect us.

QWhy be on TV? Why do this? Some critics of out-

door TV say everyone has egos and they are just fulfill-ing that desire, but it does take a unique personality to be on TV. Tell us what drives you to do what you do.

AMELISSA BACHMAN: For me, being on TV is second-

ary. I grew up hunting, and there is nothing I would rather be doing at any given time. I dreamed of a way to hunt for a living, and television was an outlet that allowed me to do this. I believe my story is more than just a girl with a dream to hunt. It’s really a story of having a dream and working night and day to make that dream become a reali-ty. I started out at the lowest possi-ble rank, an intern working for free. I drove 150 miles a day to simply get my foot in the door. I knew the odds were against me, but I was simply unwilling to give up. Times got tough, money got tight, but through it all I simply worked harder and believed that in time new opportunities would come my way. Now, nine years later, I own

my own production company, host 26 original shows a year, and hunt for a living—which was my ulti-mate goal. There is something to be said for setting a goal and work-ing hard to achieve it. SONIA HENDRICK: I made the leap to live our outdoor life in front of an audience because I’m passionate about our outdoor heri-tage. More than that, I do it because I’m passionate about my family. At the end of the day, we have a family-focused message that I hope resonates with others. BRITTANY BODDINGTON: I wanted to write; I was a journalism/mass communication major. But the written media has become second-ary to visual media. My dad [Craig Boddington] started off writing and later got into TV. I did the same, but on a much shorter time sched-ule. It seems that in order to com-pete in this industry, TV is a must. Now, every big outdoor magazine has a show under the same title. I got lucky because I like to film as much as I like to write. I can share my world with the public, and I enjoy taking people on my adven-tures. As for TV being a tool to inflate an ego, perhaps that is why I still pick up side jobs like being a nanny; nothing deflates a big ego like changing a dirty diaper.

HALEY HEATH: I’m a little differ-ent from other TV hosts because I was not looking to get into the filming world. It was just meant to be, I guess. I never have liked attention and am a very private person. When this career hap-pened upon me, I took it as a plat-form for me to help get more women, children, and families involved in the outdoors. I contin-ue in this profession because it is my passion, and it is a great way to show a woman and mother who hunts. I don’t always get an animal, nor do I shoot the biggest, but I have fun and make memories with my family and friends, and get to share my adventures with the TV audience, hoping to inspire others to do the same.

QTell us about how you are handling the attacks

from anti-hunters. This is by no means a part of the job you probably thought was on the table. Do the attacks take you by surprise in their inten-sity? What is your strategy for answering them specifically when it comes to social media? Do you answer? Let it go? Delete and ban?

AJANA WALLER; When it comes to attacks from antis,

nothing surprises me anymore. I do not argue with them, but simply ban and delete them from our social media sites. I will only answer questions that appear to be from legitimate people who seri-ously have a lack of knowledge on a particular topic. MICHELE EICHLER: We are not going to change their minds, and they for sure won’t change ours. It amazes me how disgusting they can be. I rarely answer. I mostly ban and delete so that they don’t dis-tract from what we do. I did answer one girl once when she attacked me for hunting and killing animals. I brought to her attention that the beautiful feather earrings she was wearing were the result of someone having to kill that bird for her to pluck their feathers out and that the meat was probably wasted. Not to mention her leather belt and boots. Pure ignorance.MELISSA BACHMAN: In the beginning I took all the attacks very personally. They weren’t in small numbers, either. They came by the thousands and had a serious impact on my career. The scariest thing for me was worrying if everything I had worked so hard for could liter-ally be thrown away in a matter of days when the attacks hit the hard-est. In the end, I believe they made me much stronger, and I chalk it up as a victory for the hunting com-munity because they see us—more specifically, women—as a direct threat. We are getting new people

Julie McQueen says, “Being a role model is serious business. I am

constantly considering the impact that I might

have on others.”

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involved, and we are showing people that hunting is a great way for families to bond. We’ve scared the antis. We’ve struck a nerve, and the only way they know to react is through threats and violence. BRITTANY BODDINGTON: I grew up hearing about anti-hunters, so I knew when I got into this that there was a possibility of becoming a target. I never guessed that the attacks would be as vicious as they have been. You need thick skin. I try to answer the intellectual questions on hunting and the morality involved, but when they go into name call-ing or cursing I simply delete and ban them.JULIE McQUEEN: I’ve been harassed, threatened, and bullied by anti-hunters on social media on a pretty regular basis. It’s been a learning process overall. I’ve come to understand that they are finding time in their lives to seek me out and harass me because there is something wrong with them. If they were truly happy in their own lives, then they wouldn’t feel the need to disrupt mine. My response is to go on with my life and mostly ignore them. Some of them have threatened me with violence, so I’ll take legal action against those. But most of them go away when they are ignored. I have too many positive things going on in my life right now to pay a lot of attention to them, but I don’t want this to become an epidem-ic where they continue harassing others like they have harassed me. HALEY HEATH: Over the course of eight years, I have been attacked numerous times by antis. Some were just a few comments or a small group telling me I’m a killer and I’m horrible, but there have been times where they have pushed too far. It got so bad at one point there were physical threats on not only me but my children. I can delete and ban when it’s just a few, but when hundreds are threat-ening my children’s lives, more must be done. I had to get the FBI involved and have protection for my children—even at their school. It was a very serious and scary time. It amazes me how the antis can not want you to hurt an animal, but they are perfectly fine with harming a child.

QWhat is your favorite piece of gear that you will never give up—even if

someone offered you $1 million for it?

AJULIE McQUEEN: I would give up most of my gear for $1 million because it’s replace-

able! Seriously, I do have a few guns I couldn’t put a price tag on. I carry my dad’s .357 service pistol as a sidearm when I’m in the field some-times. You wouldn’t be able to get that one away from me. HALEY HEATH: My Remington Model 700.

QWhat is the one invaluable takeaway from your experience in outdoors TV?

AJANA WALLER: Remembering that hunting is about experiencing and connecting to the

Great Outdoors, gathering your own organic food, passing on our passion and the camaraderie around the campfire. It’s not about tine length or record books. BRITTNEY GLAZE: Just be yourself, and the rest will fall into place. BRITTANY BODDINGTON: Keep it fun and appreciate the gift of being able to do what you love professionally. Never lose sight of the passion that drove you to hunt.JULIE McQUEEN: Given the choice between spooking the game or peeing in your pants, always choose the latter. HALEY HEATH: It is a small industry requiring hard work, honesty, and a smile to get you through. Booth #13923.

Adding a tactical or varmint-style bolt knob to a Remington Model 700 rifle can be a great idea. The factory knob can be a slippery little nugget when a shooter’s hands are wet, cold, or bundled in heavy gloves.

But upgrading to an oversize knob can be complicated and expensive, and represent a substantial alteration to the original rifle. A gunsmith would have to cut down and thread the original knob and install a new one. The bill could top $150.

Then along came the Bolt Lift from Kinetic Research Group (KRG). The polymer Bolt Lift halves—supported by spacers—clamp around the facto-ry knob. Reinforcing pins and a single stainless-steel Allen screw snug it all in place. The entire installation takes less than five minutes.

The KRG Bolt Lift sports a textured finish for an even more positive grip and weighs virtually nothing. The fin-ished bolt looks pretty spiffy, too. Better still, the KRG Bolt Lift retails for just $28. Booth #10664. (720-432-1145; kineticresearchgroup.com) —Tim Irwin

AN UPLIFTING ADD-ON FOR A

REMINGTON 700

The KRG Bolt Lift clamps around the Remington 700’s factory bolt-action knob and takes only five minutes to install.


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Making WavesInnovative turkey packs from ALPS Outdoorz aim to change the game By Joe Keller

T urkey vests are a great option if you’re setting up on a flock you’ve patterned. But if you’re running-and-gunning or if you’re staying put in a ground blind, the venerable old vest might not be the right tool.

Justin Leesmann of ALPS Outdoorz gets it. The avid turkey hunter and ALPS marketing manag-er helped design the new Crossfire pack. It’s an all-in-one, 2,325-cubic-inch backpack that has a smaller accessories bag you can detach, strap across your chest, and carry along for convenient access to just the essentials. It gives you the option to keep a few of your calls and shells on your chest, and ditch the pack, which can be bulky—especially if you’re making a tight stalk on a smart bird.

“The accessory pack has just enough space to carry calls and a few essentials, but it’s small enough that it won’t be in the way when you are getting set up or raising

the gun to fire,” says Leesmann, who tested the pack while hunting spring and fall turkeys. “It’s very different, and hunters like having these options.”

The pack is also tailor-made for ground blinds. Take off your big pack, put it aside, and use the small pack so you’re not digging through

your laundry bag or rummaging through your vest as turkeys show up and strut.

Zach Scheidegger, ALPS product manager, says this is a different system for turkey hunt-ers, and he expects the Crossfire to make waves. “It’s such a versatile pack that we’re confident hunters will appreciate all of the features it has to offer.”

The Crossfire’s main pack has a vented back to keep you cool when you are on the move and a light-weight stainless-steel-wire x-frame that holds the pack away from your back and supports heavier loads. It also has a drop-down gun or bow boot for easy carrying and a hunter orange rain cover. The pack has several other add-ons that make tot-ing gear easy, such as large waist pockets, perfect for your laser range finder, GPS, or phone, and a web-bing loop that could be positioned perfectly for a holster and sidearm.

If you do drop the larger pack and head off with the accessories pack—don’t call it a man purse!—there’s room for two slates, a few dia-phragm calls, a hoot call, a knife, your license, and don’t forget the TP. One bit of advice: Don’t use the outside elastic straps to hold your striker pens. I thought they would

hold my striker, but it popped out while I was doing the running part of running-and-gunning. The accessories pack does hold tight to your chest while you’re on the move, and it’s perfectly positioned, on a slight angle, to make it easy to reach in without making a lot of movement. Lefties are left out; the accessories pack really only works its magic for righties because of the angle.

The Crossfire is offered in Realtree Xtra and Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity. SRP: $139.99.

Made for Women➤ At first blush, the only thing that gives away ALPS Outdoorz’s new Huntress pack as a women’s hunt-ing tool is the touch of pink on the logo. But there’s more to it than some stitching. The 2,222-cubic-inch Huntress has several modifica-tions just for women.

“For one, the shoulder straps are shorter,” says Leesmann. “That makes it ride higher on a female’s torso than a pack made for a man.”

Shorter straps also mean more size adjustment; ALPS left the adjustment straps long to fit a vari-ety of female forms. “The waist belt is also cut differently to fit a woman better,” he says.

Leesmann adds that they sought feedback from women hunters before deciding on the Huntress specs. One of the things those women did not want was a lot of pink. “They didn’t want it to look too much like a girl’s bag, but they did like the touch of pink in the logo,” he says. “That was just enough—not too much and not too little.”

Otherwise, the pack has many features that you’ll also find on other ALPS’s packs, like beefy zip-pers and a vented back to keep hunters cool when trekking through the backcountry. At 2,200 cubic inches, it is a medium-to-large-sized pack that will carry raingear as well as an extra jacket, extra ammo, and a camera. The front pocket is built with compart-ments to help keep smaller items, like calls and your license, accessi-ble and organized.

On the exterior, you can use lashing straps to load more gear. The brushed-fabric pack comes in Realtree Xtra.

A drop-down pocket secures a bow or rifle. The pack is hydration- compatible, and if you have your own reservoir, there’s a slot for it. Mesh pockets on the outside hold water bottles, if that’s the way you roll.

“We think we got the whole pack just right,” says “Leesmann. “And the women hunters who have used it agree.” SRP: $119.99. Booth #3653. (800-344-2577; alps outdoorz.com)

The Crossfire pack has a detachable accessories bag.


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In the DarkCrimson Trace demonstrates the value of laser sights By Slaton L. White

M ost times, to say a company—or person—is in the dark implies a certain clue-lessness on their part. But the folks at Crimson Trace Corp. would take it as a compliment—as long as you are speaking about the company’s celebrated Midnight 3-Gun Invitational (M3GI), the third installment of which was held at a dusty desert range in central Oregon late last summer.

As 3-Gun competitions rise in popularity across America, so do the challenges. The idea behind this event was, naturally, to create a venue that would show off the manufacturer’s product lines, but in a way that complemented the com-pany’s unique world view. There’s no other way to explain having nearly 200 competitors run around in the dark with handguns, rifles, and shotguns trying to punch out a variety of intriguingly set paper, clay, and metal targets.

“At Crimson Trace, our goal is to make laser sights standard equip-ment for every personal-protection handgun in this country,” says mar-keting manager Kent Thomas. “While we are not a ‘3Gun’ com-pany, we envisioned that if we could show the top shooters and media members in the U.S. the hands-on benefits of lasers to make them even faster and more accurate shooters, it would easily translate to the marketplace. After three years of what has been called ‘the most challenging, anticipated, and greatest shooting event of the year,’ it would seem we’ve been able to make these professional shooters converts to the benefits of laser sighting systems.”

These products include Lasergrips and Laserguards with red and green lasers, all of which feature Instinctive Activation, as well as Lightguard 100-lumen tac-tical lights. “Put simply, Instinctive Activation means that when you hold your gun in a normal firing grip, the laser is on,” says Thomas. “When you holster or disengage your grip, the laser turns off. There’s no button switching, no thinking, no battery drain, and no valuable time lost. Instinctive Activation will help you become a more accurate shooter because it will help place you on target faster. It will also allow you to reach for your personal defense firearm with much more confidence.”

Another product used by com-petitors was the Rail Master plat-form, which combines laser sights and a tactical light. All of the above, Thomas says, “are proudly designed, engineered, and manu-factured in the USA.”

CTC has learned that event sponsors, including Smith & Wesson, Mossberg, Leupold, Warne, Ergo, and Nosler, find the M3GI a cost-effective way to get their latest products in front of serious competitors as well as the shooting-sports media. “Smith & Wesson has always been a strong

The CTC Midnight 3-Gun Invitational is designed to show the benefits of laser-sighting devices. But it’s more than that—it’s a venue where one can compete seriously or shoot casually in a unique environ-ment under the stars.

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advocate and supporter of the shooting sports as both a way to grow new participation and as a means for current gun owners to hone their fire-arm skills,” says director of marketing communi-cations Paul Pluff. “As one of the fastest growing segments, the sport of 3-Gun requires competi-tors to be well versed in multiple firearms disci-plines that align with our current portfolio of products that include high-end competition fire-arms within our Performance Center, Pro Series, and M&P lines. By supporting matches such as the Crimson Trace Midnight 3-Gun Invitational,

Smith & Wesson is able to highlight the efficien-cy of our products when used in competition as well as help introduce new shooters to the fast-paced, exciting world of 3-Gun competition.”

The eventual winner (for the third time) was SSG Daniel Horner, a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. Horner bested a field of nearly 200 competitors and shot his way through 10 stages during the two-night event. Horner also won a $10,000 first place purse because he had—and used—Crimson Trace laser sighting products on all of his firearms during the competition. Joining Horner on the 2014 M3GI winner’s podi-um were SGT Matt Sweeney (second place) and SSG Joel Turner (fourth place). Those U.S. Army soldiers were accompanied to the event by Lt. Col. Bret Tecklenburg, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Commander from Fort Benning, Georgia.

The 2014 M3GI available prize package includ-ed more than $250,000 worth of firearms, gun parts, ammunition, range gear, firearms mainte-nance items, optics, clothing, and other gear. Smith & Wesson (Booth #13729) and O.F. Mossberg & Sons (Booth #12734) sponsored a special 3-Gun school during the opening days of the competition designed to give members of the media, some of whom were new to 3-Gun, an idea of how to shoot these events. It’s not a willy-nilly run-and-gun event; each stage needs to be thought out carefully, and each shooter needs to determine how best to run the course in order to achieve the best score—a combination of accuracy and time.

“Competitive shooting—specifically, 3-Gun Competitions—are one of the most rapidly grow-ing segments of the shooting sports, and the Crimson Trace M3GI shoot has become one of the premier 3-Gun competitions,” says Linda

Powell, Mossberg director of media relations. “Mossberg became involved this year with the launch of a one-day media school prior to the match. More than 50 members of the media had the opportunity to train with some of the sports’ highest-regarded competitors, including Mossberg-sponsored Jerry, Kay, and Lena Miculek, while becoming familiar with the fire-arms used and some match stages. For many attendees, this was their first exposure to 3-Gun, and it was obvious that it would not be their last.”

Powell also notes that the manufacturer worked closely with Jerry in the design of his signature competitive shotgun—the 930 JM Pro semi-auto.

But practice during the day is one thing; com-peting at night is another matter entirely. The event places a premium on safety, which is why every person at the range (competitors and non-competitors alike) was fitted with a pair of chem-ical glow sticks. As spectators and competitors moved from stage to stage, the glowing, ghostly lights reminded me of the scene from Poltergeist where the disturbed spirits descend the staircase in the haunted house.

At night, some targets that were a cinch to hit during the day proved to be surprisingly hard to nail when the lack of light robs you of depth per-ception. But the competition amply demonstrated the utility of laser sights. Even under the strain of competition, the lasers allowed the shooter to quickly and easily get on target. The value to someone interested in lasers for personal defense was self-evident; at close range, that red or green light tells the approaching miscreant that it would be a wise move indeed to immediately disen-gage—or suffer the consequences. Booth #16731. (800-402-2406; crimsontrace.com)

A side benefit of night competition is the opportunity to have a portrait

taken with the Milky Way in the

background.

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Can You Hear Me?Even in the cell-phone age, two-way radios remain relevant By Christopher Cogley

T here was a time when cell phones were as rare in hunting camps as an old-timer without a story to tell. Today, from the woods of Maine to the moun-tains of California, you’d be hard-pressed to find a hunter in the field who isn’t carrying the latest smartphone in his pocket. But even if your customers have access to the most technologically advanced communication tools on the

planet, it doesn’t mean that their phone isn’t without its limitations. To make sure your customers are covered when they need to be, it’s important to remind them about the tech-nology they’ve been relying on for years and encourage them to find a place in their hunt-ing packs for the two-way radios that are as valuable today as they’ve always been.

“In the places where I hunt, there are stands where I have cell coverage and there are stands where I don’t, and that really hasn’t changed much in the last three or four years,” says Bob Donnellan, vice president of sales for Giant International, the licensee for Motorola consumer two-way radios.

Donnellan explains that when it comes to deter-mining where to place new cell towers, service providers typically look at where people live and where they work. Because most of those areas are already covered by the cell towers that were built years ago, there hasn’t been a large number of new towers put up in the last few years. As a result, coverage areas haven’t expanded much. And because most hunting occurs in places that typical-ly aren’t close to where the majority of people live and work, cell coverage in your customers’ favorite hunting woods is likely to be just as spotty next season as it was this year.

“Consistent coverage is obviously one of the biggest limitations of cell phones. One of the big-gest benefits of two-way radios is they don’t rely on cell towers to provide service,” Donnellan says. “But even if you know without a doubt that you’re going to have cell coverage where you hunt, think of the radio as a safety tool rather than a communication device.”

Most two-way radios like Motorola’s Talkabout MU350 feature an emergency alert button that can instantly notify other hunters or outdoorsmen in the area that someone needs help. It’s a stan-dard feature on radios and one that cell phones don’t come equipped with.

“That sound will automatically turn the volume up on any Motorola radio in the area,” Donnellan says. “One of the best benefits of two-way radios is being able to talk to people you didn’t know were there. If you get lost or sprain an ankle or a thousand other things, chances are good that if you go to channel 1 on your radio, you’re going to be able to get in touch with someone who isn’t too far away from where you are. In an emergen-cy situation, that can make all the difference in the world.”

The Talkabout MU350 also has a built-in flash-light and an 11-channel weather receiver with a NOAA alert feature that can warn hunters and outdoorsmen of severe weather. Unlike cell phones, two-way radios also give hunters the free-dom to talk with multiple people at the same time, so when they’re coordinating hunting loca-tions, pick-up times, and letting their friends know that they’re going to be late to camp, every-one gets the same message at the same time with just one push of the button. And because the MU350 is also Bluetooth-compatible, hunters don’t even need to push the button anymore to access those reliable safety and communication capabilities.

“With this feature, you can have the radio inside your jacket, keeping it warm and keeping the batteries working well, and you don’t have to push the button to talk to your buddies,” Donnellan says. “You also don’t have to worry about the game you’re stalking getting spooked if someone happens to call when you’re about to take the perfect shot.”

The radio has the capability to sync with any standard Bluetooth device, but Motorola has also released a PTT Pod that can be attached to a backpack, jacket, ATV, or even a bow so the speaker and microphone can be mounted wherev-er it’s easiest to access them.

“This is something that’s designed for someone who’s serious about what they’re doing in the woods and they’re active while they’re doing it,” Donnellan says. “These are the people who are in the woods to hold something other than a radio, but they still want the ability to communicate consistently and effectively.”

And because that ability to communicate con-sistently and effectively depends on having reli-able service no matter where you are, it’s a safe bet that regardless of how quickly technology changes, hunters will continue to find a valuable place in their packs for the radios they know they can always count on. Booth #4026. (800-927-2744; motorolasolutions.com)

Motorola’s Talkabout MU350 two-way radios feature an 11-channel weather receiver. The radios are also Bluetooth-compatible; there’s no need to push a button to communicate.

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Bucking TraditionBenelli’s new break-action shotgun delivers plenty of steak with the sizzle By Phil Bourjaily

B enelli’s over/under just might be the most buzzed-about gun at the 2015 SHOT Show. It’s a totally new take on break-action shotgun design that offers several advantages to its owner. Although Benelli has never made an O/U before, there is no mistaking this gun for any other brand; the swooping lines of the receiver, the rakish angle of the forend tip, and the Progressive Comfort system in the stock all mark this gun as a Benelli original.

As the 828U goes up against established, tradi-tional O/U models, it has a lot going for it: It’s light, lithe, soft-shooting, and widely adjustable for fit. The lightweight alloy receiver and carbon-fiber rib keep the weight of this 12-gauge well under 7 pounds, a trait I appreciated last November when I had the chance to carry it across miles of South Dakota in search of sharptails and wild ringnecks.

The slender lines make it a natural pointer, and the Progressive Comfort system tamed the recoil of the heavy 1 3/8-ounce pheasant loads we shot. One of the gun’s biggest advantages over any competing O/U is that the squared-off stock head allows the gun’s stock dimensions to be adjusted with shims, just as many semi-autos can be. With the 828U, Benelli widened the ranges of shim adjustments, allowing the end user a total of 40 different combinations of drop and cast without any gunsmithing at all. Optional buttpads allow you to adjust stock length. Given that stock bend-ing and fitting of traditional break actions can run into the hundreds of dollars, the 828U’s adjust-ability is a strong selling point.

An “under-the-hood” look at the 828U reveals several unique design features. The gun locks by means of a steel lock-plate that hooks onto the monoblock almost like the bolt head of one of Benelli’s semi-autos, freeing the alloy receiver from the need to contain the stresses of firing. While other O/Us use linkages that cock ejectors and hammers, all those systems are separated on the 828U. Opening the top lever cocks the hammers, while an ingenious “pulse fired” system drives the ejectors. The trigger group pops out with the aid of a simple (included) tool for cleaning. With the trig-ger removed, it’s also a simple matter for the owner to convert the safety from automatic to manual.

With a top rib made of carbon fiber and no side ribs, the 828U has a lively feel, and the trim action keeps the barrels down low in your hand so the gun points naturally. As I said, it was miles between birds on our South Dakota hunt, but the gun shot where I needed it to when the time finally came. The Progressive Comfort system, which debuted on last year’s Ethos semi-auto, really does work. I have tested an Ethos with Progressive Comfort alongside my Montefeltro, which weighs exactly the same amount, and I can easily tell the difference in recoil, especially with heavy hunting loads.

Initial 828U offerings will be a plain black anodized receiver model for $2,499 or an engraved silver version for $2,999. Both will come with a choice of 26- or 28-inch barrels. However, Benelli’s manufacturing tolerances mean all bar-rels will be completely interchangeable, allowing hunters to use additional barrels, which will be a great feature once target barrels become available.

No question Benelli’s new O/U has plenty of sizzle, but there’s lots of steak there, too. Booth #13656. (800-264-4962; benelliusa.com)

The squared-off stock head allows the 828U’s stock dimensions to be adjusted with shims, just as many semi-autos can be. In all, a total of 40 differ-ent combinations of drop and cast can be made.

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Customer DrivenWhen you listen to your customers, amazing things happen.

Just ask Doubletap Ammunition By Richard Mann

I n the last few years we’ve seen the rise of boutique ammunition manufacturers—small ammo companies offering a limited selection of quality loads, often for a specific purpose. That’s how Doubletap out of Cedar City, Utah, started in 2002. Owner Mike McNett began loading four different 10mm autoloads out of his garage. At that time there was not a wide variety of 10mm ammo to choose from; 10mm shooters liked McNett’s stuff and began asking him to offer loads for other cartridges. So that’s what he did.

Today, Doubletap Ammunition operates out of an 18,000-square-foot facility that houses a full ballistics laboratory and 22 employees. Doubletap now offers more than 460 different loads for 74 different cartridges. It’s no longer just about the 10mm. The company manufactures other defen-sive handgun loads as well as hunting loads, long-range loads, tactical loads, and even loads specifi-cally engineered for safari. Essentially, McNett’s garage handloading setup has grown into a pre-mium full-line ammunition operation.

What may be the most unusual aspect of Doubletap’s ammunition is that the catalog is cus-tomer driven. Most of the new loads that have been and will be added come from customer sug-gestions. That is the model that built the business, and it’s the model McNett still follows. Doubletap also understands that when it comes to ammuni-tion, the endless array of options can be confusing to the consumer. To simplify the selection process, Doubletap structured its packaging to make it eas-ier for a customer to find exactly what he’s looking

for. All Doubletap boxes are black, but the oval-shaped brand logo in the center is colored and labeled differently depending on the ammo’s intended use. For example, Defense ammo is blue, Hunter is orange, Tactical is green, and the oval for the Safari ammo has a zebra pattern.

This is premium stuff we’re talking about here, not high-volume plinking loads like you’ll find on the counter at the gun show. I test-fire lots of

guns every year, and it’s not unusual to find that loads from Doubletap are the most accurate and consistent. In addition, Doubletap offers ammu-nition in hard-to-find chamberings such as .327 Federal Magnum, .35 Whelen, .38 Super, .50 AE, 9.3x62mm, and 9x25 Dillon.

For 2015, Doubletap will be adding brass- cartridge manufacturing equipment to help keep up with demand. They will also be selling unprimed brass. A three-tiered incentive- building dealer-direct program is in place, and as always, if you have a specific load your customers need, that’s Doubletap’s specialty. And they’re good at it. At my request, Doubletap added a 160-grain .45 ACP Barnes TAC-XP load at 1,050 fps. McNett calls it the MANN load, and it’s what you’ll find in my carry gun.

Doubletap has combined that boutique specialty shop mindset with mass production and an empo-rium-like shopping experience. They’ve come a long way from a garage operation. Booth #2918. (866-357-1066; doubletap.ammo.net)

Mike McNett’s garage handloading setup has grown into a premium full-line ammo operation.

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A Higher CallingHunting calls have evolved along with the enthusiasts who use them

I n 1963, 11-year-old Will Primos crafted his first call. “I was duck hunting with my Uncle Gus in green timber,” Primos says. “My uncle was an expert duck caller, and I was absolutely enthralled hearing him make that call sing. That was my first experience witnessing the magic—and when I got home, I made my own call by copying my uncle’s.”

Now, more than 50 years later, Will Primos is considered one of the most influential call makers of the modern era. And according to him, the art of calling game animals has changed tremendous-ly since those days so long ago.

“First off, the category was ‘game calls’ back then,” he says. “Now it’s ‘hunting calls.’”

That says a lot about where the market was and where it is now. But hunting focus aside, Primos says today’s calls and the hunters who employ them have changed quite a bit since he started the company that bears his name.

A Greater Understanding➤ Today’s hunter is well aware of how effective calls can be. The hunting industry has had a huge impact on that education, and Primos Hunting was on the cutting edge. Back in 1986, Primos decided that people would believe in his product and buy it if they could see it work.

“I had Boyd Burrow come out in the turkey woods with me to create a video showing my calls at work,” he says. “The first video I put out was called ‘Spring Turkey Hunting with Primos.’ My style was to just hunt and be myself. It’s a differ-ent way of teaching, but through watching us, people realized they could be successful if they followed what we were doing.”

The success of the video led Primos to create the Truth series of videos, which cover every type of hunting. Success with these videos led to television and the Outdoor Channel, where Primos produces the popular show, Primos’

Truth About Hunting.“Today’s hunter is certainly more educated,”

Primos says. “But we still have work to do. We need to teach them how to be successful and also make calls that are easy to use. For example, our Hoochie Mama elk call is number-one in the cat-egory because it’s easy to use, and it sounds great. But the key is knowing how to set up. The ten-dency is to have the caller too close. You want to have that call 80 to 100 yards behind the hunter. We’re teaching that.”

Innovation In Design➤ Primos Hunting grabbed momentum by focus-ing its business on multiple lines for a variety of game species. As Primos has added calls, it has also improved materials and technology. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the quality of the workmanship.

To this day, Primos still checks the quality of the calls coming out of the factory.

“We have a team of employees who come sit in my office and lay out a sampling of calls, and we check them to see that they’ve maintained the quality we started with,” he says.

“There are certain things that I will not allow to be removed from my daily responsibility, because it keeps me in touch with the grassroots of the company,” says Primos. “We understand calls. We understand what makes a good sound and how to create that product, because we are our own customers. We love to hunt and want to be successful at it. Our calls add to our success

Will Primos says “the art of calling game animals has changed tremendously” since the time, more than 50 years ago, when he

created his first calls.

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Built with a custom-turned wooden barrel, machined aluminum collar, and polycarbonate insert, the Shock Caller is a new short-reed Canada goose call developed specifically for great sound and ease of use. The design requires less back pressure, making it easier to blow for new callers, and patented ditches on the sound board help keep the call from building up with moisture and sticking. SRP: $42.95.

AN EASY-TO-USE SHORT-REED GOOSE CALL

rate in the field.”This also means Team Primos has the ability to

recognize a good idea when they see it. “Consumer feedback plays a huge part,” he says. “Many ideas have come to us from the public. I’ve bought a lot of good ideas, too. Of course, there were some I believed in that didn’t work. But that’s all part of it.”

Innovation in engineering has also led to bet-ter calls and new designs. Injection molding, over-molding, CNC machining, and computer-aided drafting and machinery have all advanced call design. Engineers who pour their heart into the products they design have played a huge part.

For example, Primos’ new Hook Up box call uses an innovative set of magnets that connect the box and lid automatically, placing just the right amount of pressure on the calling surface and making it easy to use, with a rich, natural sound. Before heading into the woods or sneaking to the next spot, the detachable paddle is easy to remove and store against the back of the box for silent carry. SRP: $42.95.

“Our product design engineer Anthony Foster

thought of that,” Primos says. “It’s been really well-received because it’s so easy to use. It’s great for someone who is just starting out.”

It was so successful, in fact, that it won a Field & Stream Best of the Best Award.

More to Come➤ These days, Primos says, innovations in the call market might be coming faster than ever before. The ubiquity of 3-D printers has given call makers, whether high-volume household names or the latest up-and-comers, the ability to create prototypes faster and with far less expense. “We have the ability to design a call, print it, and test it for a season,” he says.

Faster prototyping means call makers can try more ideas and quickly accelerate innovation.

“A call company’s success comes down to quali-ty, and a belief in what they are doing,” Primos says. “Everyone here is a hunter. If we don’t use a product and don’t believe in it, we can’t market it. If it’s not our heart and soul, we aren’t going to do it.” Booth #14551. (601-879-9323; primos.com)

The Hook Up box call uses a patented magnetic hinge design that positions the paddle perfectly every time for realistic calls.

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Just For DeerWinchester’s new Deer Season XP ammo is engineered with one animal in mind By Slaton L. White

T hough big-game hunters have always enjoyed reading about elk, cari-bou, moose, and other large critters, the animal that commands the most

attention every fall remains the white-tail deer. Which explains in a nutshell why Winchester Ammunition went to the considerable trouble of developing a new deer-specific cartridge—the Deer Season XP—that is being intro-duced at the 2015 SHOT Show.

“The vast majority of hunters only go after deer,” says Mike Stock, Winchester’s centerfire product manager. “So, it makes sense to build a cartridge specifically for deer.”

Stock notes that many big-game cartridges

designed to take bigger game tend to “underper-form” on deer. Even when a hunter places the bullet in a lethal location, it may simply pass rap-idly through the animal without fully expanding. The Deer Season XP, however, is designed to drop a deer in its tracks.

“Nobody likes trailing a wounded deer,” Stock says. “The new polymer tip design and the larger impact diameter of this cartridge leads to larger wound cavities—especially upon entry—and shorter and better blood trails. In testing last fall, about 80 percent of the deer shot dropped in

place. Of the 20 percent that ran, none went far-ther than about 50 yards.”

One of those testers was Field & Stream deputy editor Dave Hurteau who hunted with Deer Season XP in east-central Nebraska last November. Given its performance, he says, retailers “should start making room on your ammo-hoarding shelves right now, even though the cartridge won’t be available until April.” (Winchester says it is building stocks right now so it can meet that deadline.)

“Winchester’s Deer Season XP features a radi-cally new polymer tip,” he says. “In a word, it’s big—bigger than you’ve seen before. In essence, you’ve got a big wadcutter bullet with polymer-tip-bullet accuracy designed drop deer where they stand. From what I saw, it does just that.”

Hurteau adds that on the range, fired from a variety of Thompson/Center rifles, Deer Season XP consistently produced MOA or better accu-racy. “In the field, the two deer I shot—a main-frame 8-pointer and a doe, both at around 250 yards—ran a total of about 30 yards before tip-ping over. By the time the trip was done, another eight or 10 deer fell to this round, and all that were hit well went pretty much nowhere.”

Usually such performance comes with a price. But the Deer Season XP was designed to deliver economical high performance. “A box of Deer Season XP will retail for around $20,” says Stock. In fact, Deer Season XP will be priced within one dollar of the manufacturer’s popular Power Point brand. “It’s really for the hunter who aspires to shoot a polymer tip but doesn’t want to spend $35 per box to do it.”

To help guide hunters to it, the load will be available in the mid-price-range silver packaging. “We know that most deer hunters don’t gravitate to the higher-priced black box level,” he says. Retailers should also appreciate Winchester’s game-specific messaging on the box, a tactic learned through the successful introductions of the Razorback XT (hogs) and Long Beard XR (turkeys) products. “If you can’t figure out this is for deer, you need to turn in your hunting license,” Stocks says.

The new load will be available in 95-gr. .243 Win., 130-gr. .270 Win., 130-gr. .270 WSM, 140-gr. 7mm Rem. Mag., 150-gr. .308 Win., 150-gr. .30/06 Spr,. 150-gr. .300 Win. Mag., and 150-gr. .300 WSM. Currently, .30/30 isn’t offered, but, Stock says, “We’re working on it.” Booth #13334. (winchester.com)

Winchester’s affordable Deer Season XP polymer-tip ammo is designed to drop most deer in their tracks.

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Like Day and Night From Meprolight

M eprolight has introduced the MEPRO 21 (H), the latest addi-tion to its line of Day and Night self-powered reflex sights. This new model is based on the company’s combat-proven sights used by the Israel Defense Forces, and features new camouflage patterns to help shooters blend in with common hunting surroundings.

“We are very pleased to launch our new fam-ily of sights, designed especially for hunters, at the 2015 SHOT Show,” says Benny Kokia, vice president of sales and marketing at Meprolight. “The MEPRO 21(H) will provide a perfect solution for hunters—with advanced camou-flage for forest and desert environments.”

Developed for the Israel Defense Forces, this advanced optical sight was specifically designed for quick, instinctive, and accurate shooting, and can be used while on the move or in close-quarter situations where the use of both eyes is critical.

The M21 (H) is a maintenance-free, dual-illuminated, red-dot reflex sight that provides instant aiming in all ambient lighting condi-tions without the need for batteries.

Illumination of the aiming dot is achieved by a fiber-optic light collection system during the day and by a miniature self-powered tritium light source at night.

Moreover, transition between the two light-ing systems is instantaneous and automatic to ensure good contrast between the aiming dot and the target area.

The M21 (H) further offers a unique light collection system that features fiber-optic collectors on both the top and front surfaces to gather more light when shooting from with-in a dark enclosed space toward a bright target area.

“These sights are standard army issue for the Israel Defense Forces,” says Kokia. “They have been extensively field tested and have gained worldwide popularity. We believe that they will also be well-received by the hunting communi-ty, who are known for their expertise in this area.”

It’s never a matter of needing to activate the sights, says Kokia. “The sights operate continu-ously—24/7, day and night—enabling accurate, instinctive shooting, even on hunting trips last-

ing several days,” he says. “No maintenance is required, making them ideal for these types of excursions.”

All of Meprolight’s products undergo meticu-lous quality assurance according to internation-al standards, and the company complies with U.S. and NATO military specifications. Booth #10067. (meprolight.com) —Peter Suciu

The MEPRO 21 (H) was developed for the Israel Defense Forces but is now available for hunters in new camouflage patterns.

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A Better ConnectionERGO Grips mold the shooter to the firearm By Bill Miller

A s a kid in Canyon, Texas, during the 1950s, Steve Hines made toy guns from old M-1 Garand gun stocks that were stripped from drill rifles and dumped behind the ROTC building at the local college. And one of the stocks he made in wood shop at Canyon High School was a “sporter” version for a 1917 Enfield. This lifelong interest in firearms grew with Hines’ strong grasp of industrial design and production, and his ability to see opportunities in tough challenges.

“My fascination with guns,” Hines says, “has always been that a firearm is, basically, a small machine.”

From his early days working with wood and metal, Hines would later shift to polymer and rubber materi-als to found ERGO Grips—a suc-cessful maker of special grips for modern sporting rifles. Based in Moriarty, New Mexico, the compa-ny has expanded into tactical stocks and rails for MSRs. It also makes other shooting accessories, includ-ing handgun grips.

The original ERGO Grip came out in 1998 with finger grooves and a rubbery texture. This design enhanced performance by providing a better connection between shooter and gun, says ERGO rep Matt Foster. “If you think about how you interface with a rifle, the trigger is the most important component. And

the grip is the next most important part. The original ERGO Grip pushes your hand a little away from the trigger and gives you better trig-ger-finger placement. Hence, the name: ERGO Grip.”

Learning Curve➤ Hines’ earliest business experience came at age 15, when he was work-ing in an auto parts store in Canyon, about 20 miles south of Amarillo. Later he earned a degree in industri-al distribution at the local college—the same place he got the discarded M-1 stocks—now called West Texas A&M University. By the early 1980s, Hines had worked at various manu-facturing companies in the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico; he stayed a couple of years at each one, but layoffs inevitably would come.

During the downtime, Hines returned to auto parts sales and operated a gun shop in Canyon. He also turned to making replace-ment parts for vintage rifles and found a niche with “butter-knife” bolt handles for Mannlicher-Schönauer rifles. “I machined them out of bar stock,” he says. “I would finish them on a belt sander and then polish them.”

But this process was time consum-ing. “I knew a guy in Amarillo who was in the jewelry business, and he schooled me on investment casting,” Hines says. “I knew that was the way I had to go because I couldn’t spend two hours building a bolt handle.”

The experience was just one of many challenges for Hines to think through. He knew he had to devel-op more streamlined, cost-efficient production methods. That was one

learning curve. Another was how to get his products into the catalogs of national gun parts dealers. That was essential, he says, “because butter-knife bolt handles were a very narrow market.”

Not every entrepreneur under-stands the business side of the busi-ness. But Hines proved to be a ready learner. The process “taught me how to be familiar with Brownells,” he says. “They picked the bolt handles up immediately, and later when I made grips, they picked them up immediately as well. I’ve always enjoyed doing business with them because they are always fair to their vendors. MidwayUSA is the same way. I know they’re fierce competitors, but I enjoy doing busi-ness with both of them.”

“Meaty” Grip➤ In the late 1990s, Hines was working in the Albuquerque area, but another round of layoffs focused his attention on a friend’s challenge to help improve the MSR platform.

“The rifle didn’t seem very ergo-nomic to me,” he says. “A good friend suggested I come out with a more ergonomic grip. I took an A2 grip, cut the top off of it, and then put body putty around it.” The Original ERGO Grip was born; the patent was filed in May 1998.

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Suddenly Hines was working with polymers and rubber, which he hadn’t done since his first job out of college, handling injection molding at a Texas Instruments plant in Lubbock. But, while working in his shop outside Albuquerque, Hines knew he didn’t want to revisit the time-consuming struggles he had shaping metal for bolt handles.

“I developed a technique with fixed molds,” he says. “I’d pour the first round, then move on to others. It was so much less labor intensive.”

The Original ERGO Grip is a “meaty” grip, says Keith Olson, a 3-Gun competition shooter who lives near Salem, Oregon. “It has a rubberized texture to it. You grab ahold of it, and you know it’s better than the standard grip.”

Olson also likes the ERGO Tactical Deluxe Grip, which has an ambidextrous palm swell suited for medium and large hands. “It pushes out and fits right into the hollow of your hand,” he says. “I first saw one a few years ago on a competitor’s gun. When I tried it, I knew I had to get one.”

Open the Door➤ There’s an old saying: “When opportunity knocks, open the door.” The success of ERGO Grips is testimony that Hines under-

stands this essential wisdom. He saw other manufacturers

move into the rail business and thought that product might fit into his operation. “Seven years ago, when we moved into a new build-ing, we got some CNC equipment and started building our own rails,” he says. “Then we just kept adding more things—1911 grips, rail accessories, and swivel mounts.”

He says it helps that the nearly

two-dozen employees who now inhabit his factory are almost all gun enthusiasts.

But that workforce is helped by a man in charge who is able to see opportunity even in adversity. He cites New York’s controversial SAFE Act, which limits magazine capacity and bans certain types of semi-automatic firearms. To him, that opens the door for revolver accessories, and he is responding to

it with the new Delta Grip for J-Frame wheel guns.

The triangular grip helps people with large hands, like Hines, to get a better grasp on smaller handguns.

According to Foster, it “rotates your hand to a more natural grip angle instead of straight up and down. It gives you a more natural aim and tames recoil with a larger surface.” Booth #20001. (877-281-3783; ergogrips.net)

The ERGO grip is designed to give the shooter better trigger-finger placement.

That “meaty grip” has caught on in a big way.

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The Best of Both WorldsMeopta benefits by being a creature of two continents

M any American hunters either own or aspire to own European optics because of the long-held perception that they are the finest in the world. In other words, they are made with the finest glass and the most advanced engineer-ing and coatings, and the manufacturers of this group are believed to produce optics visibly superior to compet-ing models made elsewhere.

But just what does the term “European optics” mean?

“To me, European optics are products that are inspired by European hunters, designed and developed by European engineers, and built by European craftsmen,” says Reinhard Seipp, the German-born general manager and chief operating officer of Meopta USA, a Czech manufacturer of premium optics.

“Being a hunter, engineer, and craftsman myself, I appreciate the advantage it gives me in my pro-fessional life. In my past in Europe, I knew of several col-leagues managing optics compa-nies that were also hunters and engineers who understood the crafting of their product. Today, here in the United States, most optics companies are led by pas-sionate hunters with marketing and sales backgrounds but little

Reinhard Seipp, general man-ager and chief operating officer

of Meopta USA, with a nice pronghorn taken while using a

Meopta spotting scope.

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understanding of engineering or fabrication. In my limited travels in Asia, I have never met an engi-neer who had even a rudimentary understanding of hunting. To me, that makes the difference.”

Meopta has been making top-tier European optics for more than 80 years and is unique in many ways. The company is owned by an American family of Czech decent and has a massive production facility in the Czech Republic, where the MeoStar and MeoTac lines are produced. In addition, the company produces many other advanced optics for military and industrial applica-tions. Meopta also has a U.S. headquarters in New York where the company assembles its European-quality MeoPro line, designed for the American hunter.

Lately, Meopta has watched with interest as many of its European competitors have shifted produc-tion to Asia.

“Meopta is unusual among European optics manufacturers in that we design, develop, and man-ufacture all of our optics in-house, despite the big shift of outsourc-ing to OEMs in Asia by other well-known brands,” says Seipp. “Time and again we hear custom-ers and journalists say they can’t believe the quality of our optics at

such great price points. There are many reasons for this, and our dealers and their customers bene-fit.”

Seipp points out that Meopta keeps costs down and quality high by being product-focused. “It is common knowledge that there are only a few glass makers in the world, and, for most of our optics, we use Schott glass,” he says. “Otherwise, Meopta is unique because of the turn-key optics pro-duction capabilities. We control the entire process from grinding and polishing the glass in-house to developing and applying advanced coatings that produce up to 99.8 percent light transmission per lens surface. Throughout this process, we incur no outsourcing fees. Product ships from the company directly to dealers without addi-tional markups by brand importers or distributors prior to reaching the dealer.”

In a recent article in Outdoor Life on optics trends (“Rise of the Clones”), the editors pointed out the practice of private labeling: “One of the little-known practices (to consumers, at least) of the optics industry is how few compa-nies manufacture their own prod-ucts. Instead, most have their optics built for them by OEM out-fits, generally in Asia, and then slap

their brand name on them.” According to Seipp, this can add

unnecessary costs. “Outsourcing fees can add up quickly, given the many administrative efforts this requires—purchasing, shipping, receiving, quality control, pay-ments to suppliers—all of which add no value to the product itself. At Meopta, we have total control over the engineering, design, and manufacturing process, and are thus able to offer superior optics—true European optics—at a more affordable price than our competi-tors. Fewer middle men with Meopta means more profit for dealers and better prices for their customers.”

Despite the trend to outsource to Asia, there is still that long-lasting and powerful perception that European optics are the finest. Cabela’s acknowledged this trend in 2009 when the retailer launched its own Instinct Euro brand of optics, made by Meopta.

“Many of our customers want European optics, and I think there are several reasons for this,” says Tom Gallagher, Cabela’s senior director of merchandising, archery/optics/hunting equipment. “Like Cabela’s buyers who have hunted around the world over the years and seen European optics in use, American hunters have seen this

themselves as they travel abroad. European optics are also used by many U.S. guides and outfitters, which also influences perception of the product.”

Gallagher acknowledges that Meopta’s reputation proved to be a potent attraction. “We heard other European optics companies we vis-ited talk about this Czech company that builds great optics but was lit-tle known in the United States,” he says. “So, we arranged a meeting at the SHOT Show and discussed the hopes of building a relationship to help Cabela’s launch European-style binoculars for our customers. Once we traveled to Meopta’s fac-tory to see their operation, we knew they were the right company to help us launch a premium brand under the Cabela’s name.”

Given that European optics command a premium price, retail-ers need to cultivate the sale.

“Many consumers will need to be sold on their first Meopta prod-uct,” says Seipp. “Invite customers to shop for their optics at low light. They can really see the difference then.”

Meopta is proud to be a rare ani-mal, an American-owned European optics company. It is in many ways the best of both worlds. Booth #3544. (800-828-8928; meoptausa.com)

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Faced with increased challenges to its product line, Gerber decided to embrace innovation.

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Turning Challenge Into Opportunity

Gerber remains committed to U.S. manufacturing By Christopher Cogley

A s it’s putting the finishing touches on its 75th Anniversary, Gerber is most likely feeling a little nostalgic. Three quar-ters of a century in business will tend to do that to you. Like any company that’s been around for that long, there have been ups and downs, successes and failures, highlights and blooper reels. But through it all, there has been one aspect of the company that has remained unchanged—its home in Portland, Oregon. And it’s this headquarters and manufac-turing facility that Gerber touts as one of its greatest accomplishments in the past 75 years.

“Portland is a nucleus for the outdoors industry,” says Andrew Gritzbaugh, marketing communi-cations manager for Gerber. “We are proud to not only be a part of that, but to have helped create what has become such a large part of this community’s identity.”

Gritzbaugh references a graphic that outlines the companies in the athletic and outdoors industry that also have their roots in Portland, and it reads like a Who’s Who of industry leaders—from Nike, Adidas, and Columbia to Leupold & Stevens, Danner, Pendleton, Leatherman, and Benchmade.

“This is our home,” Gritzbaugh says. “It’s an important piece of our heritage, and it will always be an integral part of our company.”

That part of the company seemed, by some at least, to be in jeopardy 10 years ago when Gerber began sourcing some of its products over-seas. Gritzbaugh says there was a variety of reasons that Gerber took this step, not the least of which was the intense pressure that was placed on the company by retailers and consumers who were demanding access to quality products at price points that weren’t feasible coming out of the Portland manufacturing facility. But it wasn’t just lower pric-es that Gerber had to deliver if it wanted to remain competitive in the industry; it was innovations.

“At the time, we were identifying important product opportunities in the market, but didn’t have the capabilities to develop them,”

Gritzbaugh says. “The company realized that if we were going to deliver the innovative products our customers wanted, we had to find partners overseas.”

Although this new business strat-egy caused some critics to speculate that it might be the end of Gerber’s U.S. manufacturing, Gritzbaugh says that was never really an option for the company. There were many reasons for this decision, but Gritzbaugh makes it clear that at the top of the list were 250 very important reasons.

“Our 250 employees aren’t just part of the company, they are the company,” he says. “A lot of them have been with Gerber for 20 or 30 years. They’re part of the community, part of our family.

They’re committed to the compa-ny, and the company is committed to them.”

Gerber also had another com-mitment. A commitment to the U.S. military and the personnel being sent into harm’s way.

“Gerber is a leading direct sup-plier of knives and multitools to the U.S. military,” Gritzbaugh says. “Every soldier in the U.S. Army deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan between 2007 and 2012 was issued a Gerber MP600 Multiplier, and from 2010 on, a Gerber Strap Cutter.”

That commitment also played heavily into Gerber’s decision to maintain its manufacturing facility in Portland, as did the realization that the company had a very strong

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customer base of outdoor enthusi-asts who relied on the quality knives and tools that were being manufac-tured domestically. And while all these factors made a strong case for the need to continue manufacturing in the U.S., Gerber also recognized that if it didn’t embrace the new technologies available overseas, and deliver the lower price points that weren’t possible by manufacturing domestically, there was a strong chance that it wouldn’t remain com-petitive enough in a rapidly chang-ing industry to be able to honor its commitments to its employees, the military, or its loyal customers.

As you would expect from a com-pany that has been around for 75 years, Gerber took the challenge and turned it into an opportunity. Instead of using overseas manufac-turing as a way to make its existing knives and tools available at lower prices, Gerber decided to continue manufacturing its current line in the U.S. with same standards of quality that its customer base had come to expect. To complement that line, Gerber developed new product assortments that would be manufac-tured overseas and offer both the latest technology and the lower price points that market was demanding.

“The approach was to source new products and new categories, but not outsource the existing catalog,” Gritzbaugh says. “That way we could expand the brand and break into new markets while still remain-ing true to our core customers and our company’s heritage.”

The strategy seems to be working. The Gerber brand continues to grow as the company expands its category reach and market penetra-tion by making a wider variety of products available to a larger assort-ment of consumers.

“We’ve been very successful at introducing new consumers to the knife and tool industry,” Gritzbaugh says. “And everybody has benefited from that because the industry as a whole is continuing to grow.”

What’s more rewarding—especially to the people at Gerber—is that the company has been able to accomplish

this without sacrificing any of its U.S. manufacturing operations. More than 100 products—roughly one-third of Gerber’s entire line—are still made at the Portland headquarters.

“We actually make more products in the U.S. than many companies who manufacture all their products here,” Gritzbaugh says. “But because so many people are only exposed to Gerber through mass retail, there can be a perception that all our products are manufactured overseas.”

It’s a perception that would be dif-ficult to change, and one that was probably unavoidable the instant Gerber made the choice to begin manufacturing some of its products abroad. But that perception isn’t preventing Gerber from doing what it believes is right for the company and the industry.

“Obviously, you’re never going to please everybody, and unfortunately perception wins a lot of the time,” Gritzbaugh says. “For us, it’s not about changing perception as much as simply exposing people to all the great things we do here—in this country and in this community.”

And Gritzbaugh says that those things are only going to increase in the months and years to come.

“There used to be a huge differ-ence in cost between manufacturing domestically and manufacturing overseas,” he says. “But that gap has narrowed considerably, and the decision to keep things in-house is becoming much easier to make.”

It’s great news for U.S. manufac-turing, and though it will undoubt-edly result in more of Gerber’s products being made in Portland, it’s unlikely to change the company’s overall focus.

“Our goal has always been to cre-ate problem-solving products that serve the unique needs of a variety of consumers,” Gritzbaugh says. “No matter what else changes, I think that will always be our focus.”

And with 75 years now firmly in the rearview mirror, it’s a philoso-phy that’s obviously working. Booth #13614. (800-950-6161; gerbergear.com)

ON THE FLOOR

UMAREX OFFER For the 2015 SHOT Show, Umarex is offering a limited number (500) of replica U.S. Marshals Museum Edition Colt Peacemaker air-powered revolvers for purchase. First come, first served. Booth #15062.

EVA SHOCKEYEva Shockey has been front and center in the news lately. (Did you catch her on the May 2014 cover of Field & Stream?) She will be greeting fellow hunters today and

tomorrow from 11 a.m. to noon at Skull Hooker. Booth #2219.

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Special NeedsSavage Arms finds success in catering to niche markets By Slaton L. White

F rederick the Great once famously said, “He who defends everything, defends nothing.” The retail equivalent might be, “You can’t be all things to all customers.” Savage has taken that wisdom to the bank by creating products that appeal to particular people.

“Specialty guns are our bread and butter, and they’re great busi-ness for us,” says firearms market-ing director Bill Dermody. “All of our product offerings fulfill a spe-cial need. For example, lightweight

predator rifles, F-Class Target rifles, a firearm that properly fits a woman—those are all special cus-tomer needs.”

The latest special need to be filled is a line of bolt-action rifles

tailored for left-hand shooters. This may seem an odd choice since the left-hand market is consider-ably smaller than the market for right-handers. But, according to Dermody, the niche is bigger than it seems at first glance.

Though left-handers are com-monly thought to make up only about 10 percent of the population, Dermody insists research doesn’t take into account those right-hand-ers who are left-eye dominant. “These hunters and shooters great-ly benefit from a left-handed fire-arm,” he says. “Add the two groups together and the number of poten-tial customers spikes up significant-ly. If retailers want to sell more guns, they can’t ignore this niche.”

For lefties, having a left-handed bolt-action gun is extremely impor-tant because it allows a fast follow-up shot. A shooter’s support hand

never has to leave the forend—or his cheek leave the stock—while the trigger hand operates the bolt. Also, having the action open on the left side makes for easier loading with the left hand, and hot spent cases never fly across the face.

Dermody notes that for 2015, Savage will offer more than 18 models of left-handed firearms. “We have left-handed options available throughout our product line, including big-game and pred-ator hunting, law enforcement, and target competition,” he says. “We also offer left-handed slug shotguns and bolt-action and semi-auto rim-fire rifles.”

Savage also intends to expand these offerings. “When we release a new firearm, it’s usually only in a right-handed model, but oftentimes we introduce the left-handed ver-sion in the years that follow,” Dermody says. “However, if you are a dealer who wants to stock a left-handed Savage, or who wants to order one for a specific customer who is looking for a left-handed model not listed in the catalog or website, just call us. Many times our special-order department can build left-handed versions of any of our rifles. The only limitation to this is the availability of left-handed stocks for particular rifles. Booth #14551. (savagearms.com)

In 2015, Savage will offer more than 18 models specially designed for left-handed shooters, including bolt-actions, slug guns, and semi-autos.

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Keeping In StepBlackhawk updates two popular lines of boots By Peter Suciu

B lackhawk is introducing two new lines of boots that are made for far more than just walking. The Black Ops V2 and the Ultralight (and Ultralight Side Zip) provide a wearer with a relaxed, rugged design that will protect feet and yet provide maximum agility.

“The original Black Ops Boots is a popular boot, so much so that it won the product compe-tition and contract to become the official duty boot for the Pennsylvania State Police,” says Chuck Buis, Blackhawk product director. “The tough, street-ready duty boot gives long-lasting support and comfort in the toughest environ-ments. The revised V2 boot takes this proven design and adds side pockets on the boot upper for storing tools.”

The Black Ops V2, which is based on the proven design of the original Black Ops Boots, boasts many of the same features that made the original so popular. This includes a Cordura and an abrasion-resistant leather upper combined with a sturdy Vibram outsole that provides sta-bility and footing, even in tough environments. The boot’s high-abrasion-resistant, non-woven back-counter reinforcement inside the heel also offers added support and durability, and there are also two side pockets for storing utility items. A tongue pocket can hide the shoestring.

Blackhawk has also kept in step with an updated line of boots for operators, and the Ultralight and Ultralight Side Zip boots won’t weigh down the wearer. These new boots are constructed with a

Cordura and abrasion-resistant leather upper, fully gusseted tongues with shoestring pocket, a Vibram outsole, and a Speed Lace Toggle.

“The Ultralight Boot is the updated version of the popular Light Assault Boot,” says Buis. “Operators need to protect their feet but remain agile. Both the Ultralight Boots and Ultralight Side Zip boots address these needs with a tough Cordura upper, a Vibram outsole, and a long-wearing, water-friendly PU midsole. For a quick on and off, the UltraLight Side Zip feature a YKK Coil Zipper.”

Both boot styles feature arch ventilation ports, which facilitates water drainage from the boot. A Dri-Lex moisture-wicking inner lining and an anti-microbial OrthoLite custom-molded foot-bed combine to keep feet cool and fresh.

The Black Ops V2 boots are offered in black (SPR: $219.99); the Ultralight Boots and Ultralight Side Zip boots are available in suede leather and Desert Tan (SRP: Ultralight, $169.99; Ultralight Side Zip, $174.99). They are also avail-able in a black full-grain leather (SRP: Ultralight, $169.99; Ultralight Side Zip, $174.99) for those who need to keep their boots shined up. Booth #14551. (800-379-1732; blackhawk.com)

Blackhawk Black OPs V2 and Ultralight Side Zip boots are designed to protect the feet and also provide maximum agility.

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Lighten UpBrowning’s new packs shed the weight By Joe Keller

I s there room for another hunting pack company in the industry? Signature Products Group is betting there is. The Salt Lake City–based company is new to the hunting-pack segment of the outdoors industry, but it’s arriving with years of mountaineering, hiking, and pack-making under its belt. And now, as a new partner with Browning, SPG has introduced several new designs marked

with the Browning name, wrapped in Mossy Oak or Realtree. Each pack and bag has one thing in common: materials that make them some of the lightest in the industry.

“That’s what makes them stand out,” says Andrew Howard, who represents the company. “Weight is so important because we hunters like the option to carry a lot of gear. We don’t want to start out heavy before anything’s packed.”

The flagship of the new line is the 2,500-cubic-inch Buck 2500RT. It comes in Mossy Oak Country or Bottomland or Realtree Xtra (SRP: $199). Other packs include the Bull 3000RT (SRP: $249) and the lumbar Billy 1700RT (SRP: $189). The RT stands for roll top. The bags close at the top something like a dry bag, in order to make it easier to get at contents without having the extra weight of a cover. The packs also stand out because they have tan or earth-tone panels that give the packs a distinctive look.

Pack designer Joe Boud notes that rain or other moisture can add 20 to 30 percent to the weight of a pack. A light, durable fabric is the holy grail of the industry. Signature Products Group is tapping into the experience of its Utah-based hunter staff to solve the problems inherent in pack design, such as balancing a hunter’s desire for a light, strong, and quiet pack.

And Boud thinks they have found the answer—a strong, new fabric SPG calls Hypo-Sonic.

“Everyone is trying to make a quiet fabric that will hold a camo pattern,” Boud says, a hunter who comes from electronic-pack design and pro-

duction. “This new fabric is one-third lighter than the industry standard and is not laminated or stitched together. That makes it a very big deal.”

The 3,300-cubic-inch backpack, called Bull 3300, weighs in at just 3 ½ pounds. That’s extraordinarily light, compared to even the best, most expensive pack in the market right now. At 2,220 cubic inches, competitor Tenzing’s TZ 2220 weighs 4 pounds. Badlands’ Clutch starts at 7 pounds 4 ounces.

But innovation doesn’t stop with the material. The bags have a cool, toothless-zipper along the waist belts. The technology actually comes from the medical field and seems tailor-made for hunters. “A toothless zipper is quiet and strong, and the only reason they aren’t all over the packs now is that they are much more expensive than, say, a Size 10 YKK,” says Boud. “But don’t be surprised if you see future bags with these silent, sliding cinches.”

Another innovation doesn’t sound groundbreak-ing, and may even be stating the obvious. Internal pockets are marked to indicate what each pocket is made for. You might be thinking, “I don’t need anyone to tell me where to put my flashlight.” But you have to admit, it could come in handy when you are just starting to use the pack, and figuring out a place for your lights, rangefinder, calls, and the heap of other items we pack into our bags.

“It’s also handy because it helps make sure you don’t forget anything,” says Howard, who is a big fan of the Billie, a lumbar-fanny pack. “It fits different from any pack I’ve used. There are many pockets, and they are intuitively placed. It’s the one I’ll be using in the field this year.” Booth #15129. (browning.com)

Signature Products Groups Browning-branded backpacks are made of SPG’s new sturdy, light-weight fabric, Hypo-Sonic.

Browning’s 3,300-cubic-inch Bull 3300 back-pack weighs only 3 ½ pounds—much lighter than comparably sized competitors’.

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Shooting Events to Improve Children’s Lives T he Kids & Clays Foundation finished another highly

successful year in 2014 supporting sporting clays events around the country that benefited Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). More than

$1 million was raised from the program last year, and all pro-ceeds helped critically ill children and their families.

Now in its 16th year, the Kids & Clays Foundation has expanded to 13 sporting clay events in 10 states with nearly 4,000 participants. The orga-nization recently hired a full-time executive director, Doug Jeanneret, whose mission is to grow the founda-tion’s reach into the future.

“This is a great opportunity for me to represent an organization that is a shining star in the shooting-sports industry,” says Jeanneret. “Using sporting clay events to help families in need is not only unique to the outdoors industry, but it is vitally important to show the public that shooting sports are great for the community at large.”

Kids & Clays staff and board of directors support the RMHC through a number of means, includ-ing providing event development and best management practices, safety information and equipment, the majority of the shotshells used for each event, firearms and other merchandise packages for auctions, loaner firearms for new shooters, and sponsor marketing materials.

A key spokesperson for the Kids & Clays Foundation is Kim Rhode, five-time Olympic medalist in shoot-ing sports and an icon in the outdoor industry. “Outdoor sports are about kids and families, so it’s only natural that I support the Kids & Clays Foundation,” says Rhode.

The Kids & Clays Foundation began in 1999 as a new fundraiser to support the Chicago Ronald McDonald House near Comer’s

Children’s Hospital. Founders Glenn and Kathy Lubeznik wanted to help the House raise funds to support their mission of helping critically ill children and their fami-lies. That fundraiser has grown into what is now one of the largest series of sporting clay events in the coun-try, raising $13 million in net funds since its inception.

The organization is currently working to grow its series of events to help even more Ronald McDonald Houses and the families they serve across the country. “We’ve been con-tacted by numerous Ronald McDonald Houses asking for sup-port in developing sporting clay as well as trap and skeet fundraisers,” says Jeanneret. “To expand, the Kids & Clays Foundation needs more resources, including funding and merchandise. Considering how our mission helps critically ill children and their families, I truly believe companies will step up to the plate.”

The Kids & Clays Foundation has a long list of McDonald’s affili-ated sponsors as well as sponsors from the outdoors industry, includ-ing Winchester, Browning, Boyt, Beretta, Baron Technology, White Flyer, Lincoln Traps, Blaser, Laser Shot, Promatic, Sporting Clays mag-azine, and EZ Go, to name a few. It is the charity of choice for the National Skeet Shooting Association, the National Sporting Clays Association, and the Amateur Trap Association. Booth #L336. (kidsandclays.com)

Five-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode is a key spokesper-son for the Kids & Clays Foundation, which organizes shooting events to help critically ill children and their families. “What better way for the outdoor community to display its com-passion and gener-osity than helping raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities?”asks Rhode.

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Enter: SandmanDead Air unveils an uncompromising new line of suppressors

B y some accounts, the suppressor market is the fastest-growing segment of the firearms-accessory market. Without ques-tion, competition and customer loyalty in this niche is fierce. Mike Pappas and Todd Magee, both formerly of SilencerCo (Pappas was co-founder and Magee was a designer), certainly are intimately acquainted with both the opportunities and the challenges of this market. That’s why they’ve banded together to form Dead Air Armament.

“I’m finally building the no-compromise cans that I’ve always wanted to make,” says Pappas, Dead Air’s founder and director of product development. “No corporate bottom lines to deter the mission. The only thing that matters to Dead Air and myself is, ‘How does it sound?’ And the Sandman sounds awesome.”

The Sandman (more properly, Sandman 7.62) to which he refers is Dead Air’s initial foray into the suppressor market. Consisting of three mod-els—Sandman-S, Sandman-L, and Sandman Ti—each is designed “to deliver uncompromis-ing quality in design and manufacturing,” says Pappas. SRP: Sandman L, $1,099 (includes a 5/8-24 key mount muzzle brake; Sandman S, $949 (includes a 5/8-24 key mount muzzle brake), and Sandman Ti, $849.

Pappas and Magee believe that what sets Dead Air suppressors apart from the competition is attention to detail in engineering and materials. For example, Sandman baffles are constructed from 100 percent Stellite, a cobalt-chromium alloy. Though more costly than traditional stain-less steel, Stellite offers better performance under extreme conditions. The tubes are made from high-performance precipitation-hardened stainless steel. “The idea was to reduce weight without sacrificing strength,” says Pappas.

The Sandman Ti features a titanium tube with precision rifle-direct threads specifically designed for the challenging environments faced by law enforcement professionals. “The old adage ‘close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades’ could not be more true when developing products for professionals whose very lives depend on mak-ing an accurate shot in difficult circumstances,” Pappas says. “The equipment must perform, and we believe Dead Air hits the mark.”

The company is also unveiling a new product targeted specifically for .22 shooters at the 2015 SHOT Show.

“This isn’t a ‘me too’ compulsory foray into the .22 suppressor market,” Pappas says. “We wanted the best, and we believe we have delivered. The Mask-22 features a blend of titanium and 17-4 PH stainless-steel construction for direct-thread applications. In addition, the Cerakote finish will provide years of protection from the elements. And, like the Sandman line, it’s backed by our no-questions-asked lifetime warranty.” SRP: $449.

Dead Air Armament products are made in the U.S. and are distributed by BPI Outdoors. Booth #14814. (deadairsilencefrs.com)

Dead Air’s new line of suppressors features baffles made from Stellite, a cobalt-chromium alloy. The tubes are made of high-performance

precipitation-hardened stainless steel.

“The only thing that matters to Dead Air and myself is, ‘How

does it sound?’ And the Sandman sounds

awesome.”

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The Voice of the CustomerBadlands listens—and reaps the rewards By Bill Miller

F or some police and military personnel, the equipment they’re issued isn’t always what they’d prefer. Given the chance, some would patrol with the civilian gear they buy for personal backcountry adventures. So last year, Badlands, maker of feature-rich camou-flage hunting packs, accommodated operators with its new “Black Series.” Included were three tactical packs, a binocular case, and a utility pocket.

“There’s a huge crossover between the hunting crowd and military, police, and SWAT,” says Blake VanTussenbrook, Badlands’ marketing director. “They started reaching out. They were saying, ‘Hey, I’m using this pack or that pack in my line of work, but my hunting pack is the most comfort-able.’ So, we decided to draw from scratch some new designs.”

Customer satisfaction, after all, is the longtime goal for Badlands, which offers an unconditional life-time warranty on products. The company, based in West Jordan, Utah, celebrated its 20th anniver-sary in 2014. The BOS and RAP18 tactical packs and the HDX day-pack are offered in a dark “gunmet-al gray” or “Serengeti brown.” The packs include popular features from the hunting models, such as the “Hypervent” suspension system.

But the new packs are covered with MOLLE webbing and straps for compression and lashing. The fabric, made from Aramid fibers, is by the Swiss company Schoeller. According to VanTussenbrook, it’s “the strongest, lightest stuff we could find.”

And, as with the hunting packs, the stress points on the tactical models are reinforced with panels made of Hypalon, which is, accord-ing to VanTussenbrook, “literally

Badlands’ BOS packs have been field-tested by search-and-rescue teams.

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the strongest material you can get a sewing needle through.”

The Badlands brand is part of the Vortex Corporation, which was started in 1992. Mountaineering packs were the first offerings. Its William Joseph brand still makes fishing gear. Badlands and its red bull skull logo were born in 1994, when the corporation shifted focus to camouflage backpacks for hunt-ers. The company has since added a full line of hunting clothes with base layers and camouflage tops, pants, and outerwear.

Also new last year was the “Ascent Series,” featuring the light-weight Mirage tent and six sleeping bags. The bags, both synthetic and down-filled, offer choices for all seasons, including winter bags designed for 10 degrees below zero. The tent is also made of lightweight material and reinforced at stress points with Hypalon.

Badlands, however, didn’t rush into the competitive tactical gear market. VanTussenbrook says the company took its time with the Black Series to ensure the battle-field packs would stand up to the company’s reputation.

“We depend on people knowing about Badlands’ unconditional quality and warranty,” he says. “It gives you peace of mind that if something fails, you won’t have to

pay for a replacement.”Product research was critical, he

says. Input was especially helpful from SWAT team members trained in mountain search and rescue.

“Those guys are tough on packs,” VanTussenbrook says. “So we said, ‘Hey, run this,’ because we knew they’d be in some gnarly situ-ations. We’ve been known to tweak packs based on feedback.”

In addition, a Badlands pro staff member tested the BOS pack last August on a nine-day early-season mule deer hunt in Utah’s Wasatch National Forest. T.J. Cunningham, also of West Jordan, says he typical-ly packs about 50 pounds into base camp, but he realizes that military operators carry 85 pounds or more because of ammo and other gear.

Though military operators have yet to field-test the pack, Cunningham says he believes the BOS, with a 2,200-cubic-inch capacity, is ready for the rugged valleys of eastern Afghanistan. “The main compartments are nice and large and open,” he says. “There’s plenty of room to put your sleeping system in there, and winter gear right next to it.”

The Hypervent suspension, he adds, is well padded and matches the contours of the back. He also notes that the padded shoulder straps and hip belt don’t impede

him from pulling the 72-pound draw weight on his bow.

Shedding the pack while closing the distance on a stalk is easily done with quick-snap buckles, Cunningham says. Also, the pack’s main material is an “ultra-quiet fabric that won’t alert” game when it touches brush or gravel. Cunningham’s test model in Serengeti brown blended well with his clothes and other gear colored in dry earth, making it a serious option for hunters, police, and mil-itary operators.

“I think the potential for cross-over is fully there,” he says. “With this, you can have a neutral pack, run it with any camo pattern, and it’s not going to be ridiculous.”

VanTussenbrook says Badlands’ future depends on creative market-ing and dealer relations. The social media push launched in 2013 has shown tremendous results. For example, “likes” on Facebook grew from 10,000 in 2013 to nearly 50,000 in fall 2014.

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are essential to the digital effort, but the company is also accelerating efforts on YouTube and Google+. But all the benefits of digital tech-nology can’t replace dealer rela-tions and, by extension, customer satisfaction.

“When we started, it was inde-

pendent dealers who took a chance and put Badlands in the shop,” VanTussenbrook says. “They know their customers by name, and we know our dealers by name.”

Last year, Badlands helped dealers by offering free POP displays. “We didn’t even require a minimum order,” he says. “We wanted every shop to be able to have the best-looking display we’ve ever produced. That is how we’ve been for the past 20 years and will continue to be as long as we’re in business.” Booth #10119. (badlandspacks.com)

The BOS pack has a 2,200-cubic-inch capacity, expansive main com-partments, and padded straps.

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MKS Supply Introduces Faithful Copy of M1 CarbineO riginal World War

II– and Korean War–era M1

Carbines are increasingly hard to come by, so much so that many collectors may be rightfully wary of taking their expensive originals to the range. To rectify the problem, MKS Supply has produced faithful modern copies of the original Inland brand, which were original-ly produced by the Inland Division of General Motors and accounted for almost half of all the M1 Carbines. These feature the same compact size and light weight (5 pounds 3 ounces) of the original vintage M1 Carbines.

The newly manufactured M1 Carbines are 100 per-cent American-made with 100 percent American parts and are practically indistin-guishable from the origi-nals—right down to the part construction and

stampings, and these even include arsenal-stamped stock markings known as cartouches. However, to ensure these don’t show up on the market as originals, the company marked the

underside of the barrel and inside of the stock. These markings are not visible unless the action is removed from the stock.

“The new Inland M1 Carbine is like having living

history in your hands,” says Charles Brown of MKS Supply. “The Inland M1 Carbine, like its World War II brothers, is an effective, lightweight, low-recoiling long gun and just a whole

lot of fun to shoot.” Three Inland M1

Carbine models are avail-able from MKS Supply, including the M1 1944 wood-stocked original design without bayonet lug (SRP: $1,049); M1 1945 wood-stocked original with bayonet lug (SRP: $1,049); and the M1A1 Paratrooper (SRP: $1,179), which fea-tures the folding heavy wire stock as seen in such TV series as HBO’s Band of Brothers.

The 1945 and Paratrooper models are offered with one 15-round magazine. The 1944 model has no bayonet lug and comes with a 10-round magazine to comply with laws in states that limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds and/or prohibit the sale of firearms with bayo-net lugs. Booth #16144. (877-425-4867; mks supply.com) —Peter Suciu

MKS Supply has produced faithful modern copies of three M1 Carbine models, made with 100 percent American parts and based on the original designs of the Inland brand.

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Mossy Oak Introduces New Camo PatternBreak-Up Country debuts at the 2015 SHOT Show By W. H. Gross

A new camouflage pattern is being introduced at the 2015 SHOT Show by Mossy Oak, joining an entire family of Break-Up camo patterns that has been available for the past 15 years.

“It’s a new and improved look with larger ele-ments in the pattern and a soft, neutral back-ground,” says Larry Moore, director of research and development for Mossy Oak. “Some of the components in the new pattern are elements we’ve never included in a pattern before, such as pine branches and pine needles. Our intent with the new pattern is for it to be used anywhere across the country and still be very effective. That’s why we named it Break-Up Country.”

Moore says it takes Mossy Oak about two years to develop and produce a new camo pat-tern. “We have a research team—headed by owner Toxey Haas—that meets with our market-ing and sales representatives, and they decide not only what the new pattern will look like, but also where it will fit within our current stable of pat-terns. We then go into the woods and digitally photograph various elements we may want to include in the pattern. We also bring tree branches and leaves indoors to a studio where they can be photographed from various angles. Once a background is chosen, we begin placing those photographed elements in the pattern by computer.”

Moore says that sometimes a camo pattern can look great when printed on paper but not so great when printed on fabric. “So all of our team members stay involved throughout the entire process to make sure a new pattern looks as good as we expect it to on the final product.”

A great camo pattern also has to have shelf appeal. “That means it not only has to work well in the woods, but it also has to look good under the fluorescent lights of a retail store when viewed by the retail customer,” he says.

Break-Up has been Mossy Oak’s flagship camo pattern for years, and Moore says the company has no set time table for unveiling new patterns. “It depends upon the lifespan of a pattern, which is usually five to six years. If a pattern begins to fade in sales or licensees begin to show less inter-est in a particular pattern, we then look to bring out a new one. But we never kill a pattern; it’s our licensees who make the decision about how long a pattern lasts. We’re always working on

new patterns—it’s just a matter of deciding when to introduce one.”

Mossy Oak has about half a dozen camo pat-terns currently being marketed, with three times that many patterns having been developed

over the years. Their original Bottomland pat-tern, introduced when the company first began in 1986, is still popular with many hunters. “Some outdoorsmen have an emotional tie to that pattern, so we still produce it,” says Moore.

It’s interesting to note that one segment of camo consumers have no interest in hunting; they wear camouflage solely as a fashion state-ment. “For some people, it’s a lifestyle they want to identify with,” says Moore. “As a result, we have our Lifestyles line, made up of nontradi-tional camo colors: reds, pinks, blues, purples, turquoise.”

Moore estimates about 10 to 15 percent of Mossy Oak’s business is for non-hunters, and he expects that part of the business to increase in the future. “More women are becoming involved in the outdoor sports, and most women tend to like colors that are not as hardcore as what the guys wear,” he says.

Located in West Point, Mississippi, Mossy Oak does not produce any finished camouflage garments itself. Rather, the company supplies the camo patterns and prints the fabric that is sold to some 1,200 of its licensees. In turn, the licensees then produce everything from camo-patterned clothing, to automobiles, to smartphones, to key chains.

So the next time you can’t find your phone or your car keys, you can blame Mossy Oak.

Booth #10735. (662-494-8859; mossyoak .com)

Mossy Oak’s new pattern, Break-Up Country, took about two years to develop. The pattern, which has a soft, neutral background, has been designed to work effectively anywhere across the country.


NEW PRODUCTSSHOT SHOW 2015

Browning Safes➤ The Browning ProSteel Heavy Safe series will feature a tough 11-gauge steel body and Pry-Stop end bolts for improved break-in protection. The new safes will also feature a 1-inch formed door with inner plate, the Force Deflector locking system (which uses a rotat-ing cam device to prevent bolt or handle forces from reaching the lock), and hardened steel pin lock protection. In addition, a new ThermaBlock fire-protection sys-tem delivers a fire rating of 1,550 degrees F for 80 minutes, and a full DPX door rack provides storage for valuables, handguns, and long guns. Four models will be offered. SRP: $1,599 to $3,069. Booth #15129. (browning.com)

LWRCI➤ The IC-A5, the newest addition to LWRCI’s Individual Carbine Rifle, is a direct descendent of the rifles developed by LWRCI to meet the requirements of the U.S. Army Individual Carbine Program. The IC-A5 in 5.56 NATO is built on the LWRCI patented self-regulating short-stroke gas piston system designed to improve reliability and durability in the field. The rifle also offers a nickel-boron-coated bolt carrier for improved wear and cor-rosion resistance.

Features include a low-profile two-position adjustable gas block with normal and suppressed set-tings, a fully ambidextrous lower receiver, a monoforge upper receiv-er machined with longer, 12-inch SPR style rail system, and a cold-hammer-forged spiral-fluted barrel. In addition, the scalloped front rail design allows easy access to the low-profile gas block and modular rails available on the sides and bot-tom of the handguards. Dual con-trols for bolt catch and release, magazine release, and fire control mean both right- and left-handed shooters can operate the rifle to full effectiveness. SRP: $2,599, 14-inch barrel; $2,749, 16-inch barrel. Booth #12971. (lwrci.com)

Leatherman ➤ Leatherman is breaking out of the traditional box in such a big way that it might just forever change the way people see multi-tools. This year at SHOT Show, Leatherman is launching a new Bracelet and Watch that are designed to allow people to have access to a wide

assortment of important tools any-where they go—including airplanes. Leatherman’s Watch and Bracelet are completely TSA-compliant and feature a variety of interchangeable links that include different function-al tools to give users access to every-thing from screwdrivers and Allen wrenches to bottle openers and hex drives. Designed to be as stylish as well as functional, the watch and bracelet are available in stainless steel or black; the watch features a high-quality Swiss-made timepiece. The SRP range for the Bracelet and Watch is $150 to $600, depending on the model; Leather man is also selling the links separately for $25 to $30 so users can customize their bracelets and watches.

Leatherman is also releasing the new Rev multi-tool, which is designed to be carried in your pock-et to make it just a little easier to get access to the Rev’s 420HC blade and its dozen other tools. SRP: $37.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Leatherman is launching its new Signal survival tool, which includes many of the tools customers expect from a Leatherman, plus additional features such as a diamond knife sharpener, a fire-starting rod, and an emergency whistle that can make the critical difference when signal-ling in a survival situation. SRP: $120. Booth #14512. (800-847-8665; leatherman.com)

DryGuy ➤ The DryGuy Force Dry DX uses forced air to gently dry boots, shoes, and gloves in about an hour. Producing a mild heat, it expedites the dry time of soggy hunting boots without damaging expensive materi-als and inner liners. As it works to remove moisture, the Force Dry DX also helps eliminate odors by pre-venting the growth of bacteria and mold. It dries up to four garments simultaneously and features a three-hour timer. SRP: $79.95. The Select Dry Silent Boot and Shoe Dryer uti-lizes thermal convection technology, or naturally rising warm air, to dry footwear overnight. It silently removes perspiration and moisture (and the odors that accompany them), so you start your day with warm, dry boots. SRP: $39.95. Booth #3546. (dryguy.com)

1) The Browning ProSteel Heavy Safe’s Pry-Stop end bolts offer improved break-in protection. 2) LWRCI’s IC-A5 in 5.56 NATO sports dual controls for right-handers and southpaws. 3) The new Leatherman Watch is completely TSA-compliant. 4) DryGuy’s Force Dry DX dries boots in just an hour.

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