shot business -- april/may 2016

Election Day Is Coming.

Don’t Risk Your Rights.The votes of shooters, hunters, and gun owners can

make a huge impact at the polls. Know where your

candidates stand on the issues and #GUNVOTE.

NSSF.ORG/GUNVOTE

BADLANDS UNLEASHES A WHOLE NEW

APPROACH TO CAMOUFLAGE PACKS Pg. 7

For the shooting-sports industry, SHOT Show remains “the show of shows.” And like the three-ring circus, it offers something for everyone PAGE 29

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

GOOD STUFF

Galco’s new rifl e sling off ers better carrying and shooting Pg. 46

FIRING LINE

SIG SAUER’s P226 air pistol delivers premium

performance Pg. 22

VOLUME 24, NUMBER 3 APRIL/MAY 2016

UNLEASH THE WARRIOR SPIRIT.

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SERIOUS USERS DEMAND SERIOUS TOOLS.

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APRIL/MAY 2016 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ 3

S H O T B U S I N E S S ❚ A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 6 ❚ V O L U M E 2 2 , I S S U E 5 C O N T E N T SC

OV

ER

PH

OT

O:

TIM

IR

WIN

S H O T B U S I N E S S ❚ A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 6 ❚ V O L U M E 2 4 , I S S U E 3

Departments

4 EDITOR’S NOTE An

interesting new take on

staff productivity

7

NEWS BRIEFS Badlands’

approach to camo packs;

Auto-Ordance updates

the famous “Chicago

Typewriter”; YETI rolls

out Rambler

22 FIRING LINE SIG

SAUER’s P226 air pistol

looks and feels just like

the real thing

24 UNDERCOVER

SHOPPER Tennessee

retailers are asked about

affordable rifle and

scope combos

46

GOOD STUFF An

ingenious multi-task rifle

sling from Galco

48 WHAT’S SELLING

WHERE

54 NEW PRODUCTS

Hoppe’s Gun Medic;

Lowa camo boots;

Ozonics scent masker;

Helle’s new knife

Features

29 SHOT SHOW 2016: For four days every year, Las Vegas becomes the

center of the universe for the shooting-sports industry. That’s how

important SHOT Show is for manufacturers and retailers. This

special section, taken from the pages of SHOT Daily, is a snapshot

of the special community that is the SHOT Show.

46

22

29

16FROM THE NSSF Keep your

business practices sharp and

up to date by attending the 3rd

Annual Firearms

Industry Compliance

Conference in May.

17YOU SHOULD

KNOW Thanks to

exhibitors and

attendees alike, the

2016 SHOT Show was

a resounding success!

18RETAILERS ARE VITAL TO

#GUNVOTE Retailers will

find polling trends, voter

registration tools, and information

about candidates at NSSF’s

#GUNVOTE website.

19ATF SEEKS

COMMENTS ON

PROPOSED FORMS 1,

4, AND 5 Comments

are being accepted

until April 18.

20RETAILER

TOOLBOX NFA

dealers: Are you ready for rule 41-F,

revising application provisions?

NSSF Update

4 ❚ SHOT BUSINESS ❚ APRIL/MAY 2016

E D I T O R ’ S N O T E

SLATON L. WHITE, EditorJames A. Walsh, Art DirectorMargaret M. Nussey, Managing EditorDavid E. Petzal, Shooting EditorMike Toth, Special Projects EditorJudith Weber, Digital Content ProducerHilary Ribons, Editorial Assistant

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Larry Ahlman, Barbara Baird, Scott Bestul,

Philip Bourjaily, Christopher Cogley, David Draper,

Jock Elliott, William F. Kendy, Mark Kayser,

David Maccar, Richard Mann, Peter B. Mathiesen,

Brian McCombie, Tom Mohrhauser, Robert Sadowski,

Robert F. Staeger, Peter Suciu, Wayne Van Zwoll

ADVERTISING: 212-779-5316Gregory D. Gatto, Vice President, Publishing Director

Brian Peterson, Western Sporting Goods Sales

Katie Logan, Southern Sporting Goods Sales

David Hawkey, Northeast Sporting Goods Sales

Elizabeth Burnham Murphy, Chief Marketing Officer

Ingrid Reslmaier, Marketing Design Director

BUSINESS OPERATIONSTara Bisciello, Business Manager

CONSUMER MARKETINGRobert M. Cohn, Consumer Marketing Director

Barbara Brooker, Fulfillment Manager

MANUFACTURINGMichelle Doster, Group Production Director

Kelly Weekley, Senior Production Manager

BONNIERChairman, Tomas Franzén

Chief Executive Officer, Eric Zinczenko

Chief Operating Officer, David Ritchie

Chief Marketing Officer, Elizabeth Burnham Murphy

Chief Digital Revenue Officer, Sean Holzman

Vice President, Integrated Sales, John Graney

Vice President, Consumer Marketing, John Reese

Vice President, Digital Operations, David Butler

Vice President, Public Relations, Perri Dorset

General 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 24, issue 3, Copyright © 2016 by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. All rights reserved. Editorial, circula-tion, production and advertising offices are located at 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5695 (212-779-5000). Free to qualified subscribers; available to non-qualified subscribers for $25 per year. Single-copy issues are available for $5 each. Send check, payable to NSSF, to: SHOT Business, c/o NSSF, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470-2359. SHOT Business accepts no respon-sibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. All correspondence should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Requests for media kits and advertising information should be directed to Katy Marinaro, Bonnier Corporation, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1270, Chicago, IL 60611. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Printed in the USA. For Customer Service and Subscription questions, such as Renewals, Address Changes, Email Preferences, Billing and Account Status, go to: shotbusiness .com/cs. You can also email [email protected], in the U.S. call toll-free 866-615-4345, outside the U.S. call 515-237-3697, or write to SHOT Business, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016. For editorial inquiries, write to Slaton L. White, SHOT Business, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016

REPRINTS: E-mail [email protected]. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to SHOT Business, P.O. Box 6364 Harlan, IA 51593.

N S S F

The Right BalanceA new way to think “productively”

Many years ago I was called into a staff meeting designed to generate “new and exciting” edi-torial ideas. The first pitch was from an eager young editor. It really wasn’t on target, and

the editor in charge didn’t particularly care for it. He sum-marily dismissed the idea out of hand, with a tone so curt and condescending that it effectively ended the meeting then and there. No one else wanted to be humiliated in front of their peers.

I was reminded of that manage-

ment gaffe while reading Smarter,

Faster, Better, by Charles Duhigg, a

Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter for

The New York Times. It’s a fascinating

new book that looks in detail at the

science of productivity from eight

different angles. The chapter that

should greatly interest any retailer

who holds frequent

staff meetings was

on team building.

In it, Duhigg

explores the con-

cept of “psycholog-

ical safety,” a key

component of a

team’s overall pro-

ductivity. This is

important because,

as Duhigg writes,

“Over the last two

decades, the

American work-

place has become much more team

focused,” which requires staff mem-

bers to work together more closely,

for better or, on occasion, for

worse. This trend has, in turn, led

to research into why some teams

are clearly much more productive

than others. Duhigg acknowledges

that there are myriad reasons for

this, but psychological safety just

may be the most important.

At one level, psychological safety

is the feeling by members of a

group that they can pitch any idea

and not be subject to ridicule, no

matter how competitive and com-

bative the team is. It’s also the feel-

ing that any member can deliver

honest feedback and not have their

head handed to them for telling the

boss “bad” news. Call it a safety net

that helps your team perform at a

very high level.

One thing is clear: The team lead-

er plays a huge role is establishing

this trust. “In general, the route to

establishing psychological safety

begins with the team’s leader,”

Duhigg says. “So, if

you are leading a

team, think about

the message your

choices send…. It is

often more efficient

to cut off debate, to

make a quick deci-

sion, to listen to

whoever knows the

most and ask others

to hold their

tongues…. But

study after study

shows that while

psychological safety might be less

efficient in the short run, it’s more

productive over time.”

That may seem counter-intui-

tive, but in some cases that kind of

efficiency really doesn’t make good

business sense. In essence, Duhigg

says to get “better” you need to

balance “smarter” against “faster.”

Yes, your meetings may be a bit

less efficient, but given the compet-

itive retail arena in which you oper-

ate, isn’t the payback of improved

staff productivity worth it in the

long run?

Slaton L. White, Editor

nssf.org

National Shooting Sports Foundation®

The regulatory framework in which our industry operates and the technologies that

allow your business to thrive are ever-changing. Can you keep up?

Join Orchid Advisors and the National Shooting Sports Foundation® as we present

the 3rd Annual Firearms Industry Compliance Conference, May 2-4, 2016, in

Atlanta, Georgia.

Three educational tracks will address every FFL’s business model, each track

moderated by industry leaders and regulators.

Register at

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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR EACH CONFERENCE ARE AVAILABLE Contact Chris Tatulli, (203) 426-1320 ext. 214, [email protected]

UPCOMING INDUSTRY CONFERENCES

The face of hunting and the shooting sports continues to change—trending younger,

female, urban and suburban. We as an industry must be prepared to meet the needs

of this ever-changing customer base. Join us in Pittsburgh for a jam-packed agenda of

informative sessions. Connect with industry leaders and hear from influential speakers.

Register today for the premier forum for leaders of the shooting sports industry, the

2016 NSSF Industry Summit.

Register atnssf.org/summit

The regulatory landscape for importing and exporting firearms and related products is

constantly shifting. Is your business ready? Join the National Shooting Sports Foundation and

the FAIR Trade Group for our 15th annual Firearms Import/Export Conference. To help members

of industry navigate the ever-shifting legislative and regulatory waters, the conference provides

updates from ATF, the Departments of State and Commerce, Customs and Border Protection,

Treasury and other agencies. Featuring major policy speeches and small-group roundtable

sessions with regulators, the conference sold out early in 2015. Don’t miss the opportunity.

Register at

nssf.org/importexport

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N E W S B R I E F SNEWS ❚ PROMOTIONS ❚ AWARDS ❚ OUTREACH

Badlands New Camo Approach

After undertaking the company’s biggest project to date three years ago, Badlands has announced that Approach Evasion Technology is ready to conceal hunters everywhere in 2016. Developed around a “Design, Test, Repeat” mentality, the Badlands Approach pattern has evolved into a versatile and adaptable camouflage.

Based on Badlands Adaptive

Coloration Technology, the look and

feel of the Approach pattern changes

based on the wearer’s surroundings and

lighting conditions. Heavily wooded for-

ests shift Approach to a green-and-

brown dominant pattern, while sage-

brush and rock bring out the pattern’s

lighter tones. Tested at both extreme dis-

tances and up close, Badlands Approach

features an innovative breakup pattern

that ensures visual confusion for whatev-

er may be looking the wearer’s way, no

matter the distance.

“The Approach project got its name for

two reasons,” says Badlands general man-

ager Bill Crawley. “First, we truly did take

a brand-new approach to looking at how

and why camouflage is effective. Second,

this pattern will really allow you to physi-

cally approach the game you pursue more

effectively and get you closer than ever

before.”

Available this spring and summer,

Badlands Approach will be offered first on

several Badlands packs and all-new appar-

el items. (badlandsapproach.com)

N E W S B R I E F SNEWS ❚ PROMOTIONS ❚ AWARDS ❚ OUTREACH

Badlands is

using

Approach

Evasion

Technology in

its new packs

to help create

versatile camo

patterns.

Bits & Pieces

Zeiss Adds Voucher

Due to the overwhelming

response at recent trade and

consumer shows, Zeiss has

decided to include a voucher

for a free set of Talley bases

($49 retail value) to go with

the Talley signature rings ($149

retail value) already included in

the box for the Victory V8 rifle-

scope line. The free Talley

bases will replace the

Switchview magnification

throw level that was originally

included in the package. Still

included is a certificate for a

free custom-engraved Kenton

ballistic turret ring ($149 retail

value) that will be built to

exactly match a chosen caliber

and load. (zeiss.com/us/

sports-optics)

Ruger Tweaks 22/45 Lite Line The

Ruger 22/45 Lite is now avail-

able in an attractive OD green

with an anodized receiver that

features a new side-vent pat-

tern, for a custom pistol look

without the custom price. The

ventilated receiver is made of

aerospace-grade aluminum,

greatly reducing overall weight,

which helps match the pistol to

its name.

The internal cylindrical bolt

construction ensures perma-

nent sight-to-barrel alignment

and higher accuracy potential

than conventional moving-

slide designs, and a contoured

ejection port and easy-to-

grasp bolt ears allow for dura-

ble and reliable operation

round after round.

In addition, checkered 1911-

style replaceable grip panels

not only make for a great

appearance, but also provide a

comfortable, non-slip hold.

SRP: $549. (ruger.com)

N E W S B R I E F S

Arkansas Governor Welcomes Ammo Plant Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced at the 2016 SHOT Show that SIG SAUER is finalizing plans to locate a new ammunition manufacturing facility in an existing build-ing in Jacksonville, Arkansas, where it is anticipated about 50 new jobs will be created. Similarly, the Remington Outdoor Company announced growth plans at its ammunition plant in Lonoke, Arkansas, the second expansion in recent years. As part of the endeavor, the company plans to invest in the facility and create 84 new jobs.

SIG SAUER

“Firearms and ammunition is a growing

industry, and we came to Las Vegas to

share the many reasons Arkansas is a natu-

ral fit for this sector,” said Governor

Hutchinson. “SIG SAUER was one of the

first calls I made as Governor, and I am

delighted they chose our state when mak-

ing the decision to expand. The fact that a

world-class company like SIG SAUER is

choosing to do business in the state adds

to our momentum in manufacturing, and

we appreciate this significant commitment

they are making to locate in Arkansas.”

“We’re excited about SIG SAUER, a

world-renowned manufacturer of firearms,

locating a facility in Jacksonville,” said

Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher. “This is

great news for our workforce, with the

opportunities and jobs it will provide for

the community. We look forward to a long

and prosperous relationship for years to

come.”

REMINGTON

“Remington is making another significant

investment in Arkansas,” Governor

Hutchinson said. “Arkansas’ reputation as

a hub for firearms and ammunition man-

ufacturing continues to grow, thanks to

Remington’s decision to expand again in

the state.”

“Our company’s ethos is reflected in

the quality ammunition our hardworking

team members produce every day,” said

Remington CEO Jim Marcotuli.

Remington intends to expand its

existing plant in Lonoke, Arkansas.

The Bianchi Subdue IWB Model 145 full-grain-leather holster, part of the

Allusion IWB line, has been designed for all-day comfort.

Bianchi Launches

New IWB Holster

With the new Subdue IWB

Model 145 holster, Bianchi

adds a second Allusion IWB

holster to the line. Both holsters feature a

comfortable inside-the-waist design for all-

day comfort, and the backs of each are

constructed with an anti-bacterial and

anti-microbial mesh-padded liner. The key

difference is overall size—the Subdue

offers a smaller, more compact footprint

than its predecessor, the popular Model

145 Suppression.

Other key features of the Subdue IWB

holster include a premium full-grain-

leather exterior with a laminate synthetic

liner that makes for a smooth draw and

long-lasting wear, a heavy-duty spring-

steel belt clip that securely anchors the

holster to the wearer’s belt or trousers,

and a slight detent in the trigger guard for

enhanced weapon retention.

“The new Subdue is worthy of

Bianchi’s reputation as a leading designer

of innovative, high-quality leather hand-

gun holsters, from its smooth draw to the

technology embedded in its design,” says

Bianchi equipment vice president Scott

Carnahan. “And SHOT Show was the per-

fect place to launch this holster.”

The Subdue will fit belt widths up to

1.75 inches. SRP: $68. (safariland.com/

bianchi)

www.magnumresearch.com

®

STEEL FRAME

Full size

Barrel: 4.43”

Calibers: 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP

N E W S B R I E F S

Hide in Plain Sight S

avvy hunters see ground blinds for

what they are: versatile and effec-

tive hunting tools that help them

get close to game. Unfortunately, occa-

sionally the game sees the blinds, too,

which is why they should always be care-

fully placed and brushed out.

Concealing ground blinds with natural

vegetation is hardly a new concept, and

just about all of Ameristep’s ground

blinds have varying numbers of sewn-in

brush loops to facilitate this process. But

wouldn’t it be nice if an entire blind was

engineered and built for this purpose?

Ameristep’s engineers thought so, and

they created the all-new Ameristep Shifter

Blind for 2016. The customizable Shifter

borrows some of its best features and

design elements from the most popular

Ameristep ground blinds, then kicks up

the custom camo-concealment quotient

with two rows of sewn-in perimeter

brush loops, additional sewn-in loops on

the roof and corners, and eight sections

of shock-cord that can be connected to

hubs or stake loops to help hold heaps of

branches, brush, sticks, stalks, grasses, and

greenery.

While the Ameristep Shifter offers

unprecedented concealment options, this

breakthrough blind’s large window array

is just as compelling and attractive—an

important feature that affords maximum

versatility when one considers the amount

of supplemental camouflage that may be

stacked up outside. The Shifter provides

full-coverage mesh windows on two sides,

complete with built-in gun ports designed

for either a firearms or a crossbow hunter.

These large windows also feature

Ameristep’s Dual Window Curtain

System, a split magnetic curtain-and-

toggle window design that allows the tops

or bottoms of each window curtain to be

opened or closed quickly and quietly for

optimal viewing and concealment. The

other two sides have large corner win-

dows with shoot-through mesh, tailor-

made for bowhunters.

The Shifter Blind comes in the flat-out

cool and effective Kryptek Highlander

camouflage pattern, printed on

Ameristep’s iron-tough yet soft-and-quiet

Durashell Plus fabric—a dull, lightweight

woven polyester that won’t reflect light.

Inside, hunters disappear against a

stealthy, black ShadowGuard coating.

A super-stout frame is required to sup-

port the added weight of all that supple-

mental camouflage, and the new

Ameristep Shifter Blind delivers it via

Ameristep’s Spider Hub System. SRP:

$179.99. (ameristep.com)

Ameristep’s Shifter ground blind has

sewn-in brush loops on all sides.

The all-new Trinovid HD binoculars boast exceptional Leica optical performance surrounded by a rugged, take-anywhere armored body. An innovative carrying system, included with every Trinovid HD, enables comfortable handling, quick access and safe storage. Thanks to world-renowned Leica HD optics, the Trinovid HD delivers an outstanding balance of contrast, light transmission, depth of fi eld, and color fi delity for brilliant images.

__ premium Leica optics for high-contrast, pin-sharp images and color fidelity

__ innovative carrying system for quick and comfortable use__ compact, perfectly balanced and lightweight__ models: 8x42 and 10x42

To learn more, visit your authorized Leica dealer or leica-hunting.com

NEW!

Exceptional Performance. Even More Exceptional Value.Trinovid HD Binoculars

Trinovid HD provided with innovative carry system

Knoxx’s SpecOps Shotgun StockThe all-new BLACKHAWK!

Knoxx SpecOps Gen III Stock

with Recoil Suppression

Technology effectively reduces

felt recoil by up to 80 percent,

taking the original SpecOps

Stock to an even higher level of

effectiveness, performance, and

reliability. Using dual recoil-com-

pensation systems, this rugged

new synthetic stock improves

shooter confidence, reduces

muzzle flip, decreases cheek-

slap, and virtually eliminates

harsh recoil. With improved

ergonomics and six convenient

adjustment positions, a shooter

of any size can use the SpecOps

Stock Gen III comfortably in any

application and with any load.

Even the effects of high-

powered 3-inch loads are

reduced by about 50 percent.

Features include the two-

stage patented recoil reduction

system and an innovative new

patent-pending recoil pad tech-

nology. The straight cheek weld

of this improved version helps

reduce cheek-slap and keep

shooters on the target. The six-

position adjustable stock with a

12.5- to 15.2-inch length-of-pull

range has a buttstock tensioner

to remove rattle. An ergonomic

pistol grip is optimized for tacti-

cal shooting techniques, and

multiple ambidextrous sling-

mounting locations provide

increased adjustability.

Installation is easier now, too,

as the forend uses an integrat-

ed hand-stop and a multi-

position accessory mount.

(blackhawk.com)

N E W S B R I E F S

YETI Rolls Out Rambler YETI Rambler stainless-steel bottles are built for unte-thered adventure, from the backcountry to the duck blind or wherever ice-cold or piping-hot beverages are needed. Over-the-Nose technology—in essence, a wide neck—makes for easy loading, drinking, and cleaning. In addition, the TripleHaul cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 percent leakproof. Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Rambler prod-ucts, such as 18/8 kitchen-grade stainless steel, dou-ble-wall vacuum insulation, and a No Sweat design.

“We continue to expand our drinkware

series to meet the demands of our owners

and fans. Rambler bottles fill a needed

space in our line,” says YETI co-founder

Roy Seiders. “Like all YETI products, the

bottles have proven to keep drinks colder

longer, but the ability to keep beverages

hot over time shows the versatility inherent

to the Rambler series. We’re excited about

the dual use of these Rambler bottles.”

The collection will be available this

spring. SRP: $39.99, Rambler 18-ounce;

$59.99, Rambler 36-ounce; and $89.99,

Rambler 64-ounce. (yeti.com)

The TripleHaul cap on the YETI Rambler stainless-steel bottles provides a

comfortable grip as well as 100 percent leakage protection.

The TripleHaul cap on the YETI Rambler stainless-steel bottles provides a

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TriStar Expands Over/Under Setter Line

Since its release, TriStar’s Setter

S/T has been a go-to gun for

shooters and hunters looking for

their first over/under. Now, the company

is expanding the popular line by adding

.410 and 28-gauge options, each with their

own dedicated frames. The new .410 and

28-gauge Setter S/T shotguns will con-

tinue to provide shooters with the same

quality features found in previous Setter

S/T releases, including a solid frame for

durability and strength, a sealed action to

keep out dirt, chrome-lined barrels, self-

adjusting locking bolts, fiber-optic front

sights, and an elegant wood stock.

“Our Setter S/T line has become a

favorite because it offers a reliable and sol-

id-built over/under at an affordable price,”

says TriStar sales and marketing manager

Ryan Bader. “The addition of .410 and

28-gauges further solidifies the shotgun

line as one that shooters and hunters

should consider whether they’re looking

for their first or their next over/under.”

The Setter S/T .410 and 28-gauge

both have a 3-inch chamber and include

five Beretta choke tubes (SK, IC, M, IM,

F). SRP: $565. (tristararms.com)

Eley Expands Ammo LineLong known for its dominance

in .22 LR Olympic shooting

events, Eley is using its engi-

neering knowledge to enter new

market segments. Over the past

year, Eley expanded its product

offerings by introducing two

new semi-automatic rounds.

Now joining the .22 LR lineup in

the second quarter of 2016 will

be the Eley high-velocity hollow,

designed for small-game hunt-

ing. (eleyammunition.com)

The Tri-Star Setter offers a 3-inch chamber for

both the 28-gauge and the .410.

A decade since it was first introduced, the Taurus Judge®

still rules. Today, it’s available in more than a dozen models.

Capable of chambering both .45 Colt and .410 shotshell,

it’s the original five-shot game changer.

MSRP $599 (as shown). MSRP $599 (as shown). With multiple With multiple

configurations to choose from, view the configurations to choose from, view the

entire Judge collection at entire Judge collection at TaurusUSA.com.TaurusUSA.com.

Fiber optic front sights

Taurus Unlimited Lifetime Repair Policy™

Decisive stopping power

Superior choice for home and personal defense

Free One-Year NRA Membership with purchase of Taurus firearm

N E W S B R I E F S

Irish Setter Revamps RutMaster Line Joining the RutMaster family this spring will be three new RutMaster 2.0 Lite styles—two lighter neoprene versions and a non-neoprene boot designed for simplicity. The two neo-prene styles—a Realtree Max-5 camo with 400 grams of PrimaLoft insulation (SRP: $149.99) and a non-insulated version in Mossy Oak Bottomland camo (SRP: $139.99)—offer flexibility and easy on/off. Hunters can fold over the neoprene top for a comfortable, customizable height, and ScentBan scent control helps keep odor at bay.

The bottom chassis

on both versions features

a lightweight rubber/

RPM outsole, a three-

quarter shank in the sole

for underfoot stability, a

polyurethane footbed

delivering long-lasting

underfoot comfort, a

convenient heel kick for

easy boot removal, and

vulcanized rubber for

waterproofing and dura-

ble construction.

The non-insulated

rubberclad with a vulca-

nized sole in Mossy Oak

Break-Up Country camo

(SRP: $119.99) is an

affordable Irish Setter

rubber boot featuring a

removable polyurethane

footbed and the Chore

Sole with an aggressive

lug pattern to provide

stability and traction. All

three are available in

men’s whole sizes from

8 to 15.

In addition, Irish

Setter has engineered a

new generation of the

RutMaster knee boots.

RutMaster 2.0 hunting

boots are waterproof

and scent-free, provid-

ing excellent traction,

superior fit, and easy

on/off convenience.

The boots feature a pat-

ent-pending ExoFlex

panel that extends from

the top of the boot

down to the ankle for a

snug, comfortable fit.

An adjustable side gusset

provides additional fit

control. The Mud Claw

RPM II Sole lightens the

boot for all-day comfort

without sacrificing dura-

bility. An aggressive lug

pattern creates superb

stability and traction on

the toughest terrain and

is designed to release

mud and dirt. RutMaster

2.0 incorporates a con-

venient heel kick plate,

an integrated pull-on

handle, and a removable

polyurethane footbed.

These boots are avail-

able in men’s whole

sizes from 8 to 15. SRP:

$149.99 to $179.99.

(irishsetterboots.

com)

The Irish Setter

RutMaster line gets a

big upgrade this year.

New Look for the “Chicago Typewriter”

Auto-Ordnance is introducing an

exciting and classy look to its cen-

tury-old Thompson, historically

referred to as the “Chicago Typewriter.”

The Thompson 1927A-1 semi-automatic

carbine is now offered in a Titanium Gold

finish and also a Polished Chrome.

Either of these time-honored reproduc-

tion semi-auto carbines will undoubtedly

get attention when taken to the range. The

guns are offered in .45 ACP and have a

16.5-inch finned barrel (18 inches with a

compensator), with a 1:16 right-hand twist.

The frame is constructed of steel with

either a Titanium Gold finish or a Polished

Chrome finish. The gun weighs 13 pounds

and has an overall length of 41 inches.

Other features include a pinned-in front

blade and an open rear adjustable sight.

The stock is fixed and made from

American walnut, and has a vertical fore-

grip. These two new models each ship with

one 50-round drum and one 20-round stick

magazine. The magazines are also plated in

either polished gold or chrome.

“The iconic look combined with the his-

tory of the tommy gun have always had

an extremely strong appeal among gun

owners,” says Frank Harris, vice president

of sales and marketing of the Kahr

Firearms Group, parent company of Auto-

Ordnance. “We introduced these at SHOT

Show this year, and people were lining up

just to have their picture taken holding

one of our new polished-finish

Thompsons. We really expect the gold and

chrome finishes on the Thompson 1927A-

1 to be popular with the gun communi-

ty—especially among collectors.”

Both the Titanium Gold (model num-

ber T150DTG) and the Polished Chrome

(model number T150DCR) carbines are

shipped in a protective hard case that fea-

tures both the distinctive Thompson logo

and the words Chicago Typewriter. To

truly capture the 1920s gangster era, an

aftermarket violin case can be ordered for

the Gold or Polished Chrome tommy gun.

For a limited time only, the introductory

suggested retail price is $2,963 for either the

Polished Chrome or the Titanium Gold.

The cost of the violin case is an additional

$221. (auto-ordnance.com)

Auto-Ordnance is intro-

ducing a pair of stylized

Thompson 1927A-1

semi-auto carbines.

Designed for you, created for the outdoors.


U P D AT E BY LAWRENCE KEANE, NSSF SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL

Navigate the Compliance Maze Keep your business practices sharp and up to date— attend the 3rd Annual Compliance Conference in May

With 2016 looking to be a historic year for everyone in our industry in terms of production, sales, and customer engagement, it is imperative that each and every member of the firearms trade commits to the highest level of compliance. To help our industry members—especially our retailers—do just that, NSSF has joined Orchid Advisors for the second year in a row to cohost the 2016 Firearms Industry Compliance Conference (FICC).

Scheduled for May 2–4 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, this year’s FICC will help ensure our industry members have the nec-essary resources in place to safe-ly navigate the complicated compliance landscape associat-ed with operating those busi-nesses that lawfully sell firearms and ammunition products.

Attendees should plan to arrive before the official start of the conference in order to attend one of two pre-confer-ence sessions the afternoon of May 2. The first session, the Firearms Industry Technology Workshop, is intended as a course for industry members who are ready for a deep dive into the underlying functional-ity that enables their business to thrive. Moderated by Orchid Advisors CEO Jon Rydberg, topics to be covered include understanding how your com-pliance technology works and how to harness that technology.

The second session, an ATF Compliance Workshop, will be delivered by Jillair Kubish, Orchid Advisors president of ATF compliance. This work-shop will provide coverage and discussion of a wealth of regu-

latory concerns challenging today’s firearms retailers, including foundational con-cepts in ATF compliance, the 2015 year in review, and regu-latory updates.

Once the conference official-ly begins on May 3, attendees will discover that its focus is firmly on the future—where regulations are headed, how new developments in product research and development affect FFLs, and what processes and technologies FFLs are using to significantly improve their busi-ness. Additionally, ATF will present a number of working group sessions throughout the conference, offering individual FFLs an opportunity to interact, ask questions, and focus on pro-active compliance practices and policy construction.

During the conference, attendees will have three learn-ing tracks to choose from: (1) How to Pass an ATF Inspection; (2) Implementing Firearms Business Technology for Dealers and Distributors; and (3) Implementing Firearms Business Technology for Manufacturers, Importers, and Exporters. All three tracks will be moderated by accomplished

industry experts who will dis-cuss how to successfully navi-gate the intersection of legisla-tion, regulation, and compli-ance with that of operations, logistics, and technology. These tracks feature nearly 20 break-out sessions, focusing on topics such as best-in-class laser and barcode scanning technology, serial number control, modern-day ERP systems, and support-ing compliance tools to choose from, ensuring that both new and repeat attendees will learn something. All attendees will also have the opportunity to partake in discussions of how the regulatory environment has evolved over the past two years, as well as the recent presiden-tial actions.

Located in East Hartford, Connecticut, Orchid Advisors (orchidadvisors.com) is a con-sulting firm that assists fire-arms manufacturers, distribu-tors, and retailers in achieving compliance and operational excellence through education, technology, software, and con-sulting solutions that reduce risk, cut costs, and provide expert guidance to make their client’s business more success-ful and efficient.

“We are pleased to have part-nered with NSSF for the second year in a row to bring opera-tional compliance expertise to firearms manufacturers, importers, distributors, and dealers,” says CEO Rydberg.

“The FICC is an essential tool for today’s modern FFL, one that provides compliance and tech-nology information to owners and executives that allows them to focus on manufacturing and selling product while their busi-nesses remain compliant.”

NSSF and Orchid Advisors encourage all ATF compliance professionals, company gener-al counsels, chief compliance officers, IT personnel involved in ATF transactions, shipping and receiving logisticians, import/export and trade com-pliance professionals, and FFL staff who engage in ATF trans-actions to attend this event.

For more information, including the full agenda and links for registration, go to ficconference.com. Limited sponsorship opportunities are available; to learn more, con-tact Chris Tatulli, NSSF’s direc-tor of exhibit & sponsorship sales, at [email protected] or 203-426-1320, ext. 214.

F R O M T H E N S S F

Y O U S H O U L D K N O W

SHOT Show 2016 a Success Thanks to everyone involved—exhibitors and attendees alike—the 38th annual industry trade show rocked

With the 38th SHOT Show now in the archives, I’d like to take a moment before a very busy and challenging year kicks into high gear to thank everyone who attended. Exhibitors, media reps, retail buyers, whole-salers, PR and advertising professionals—all of the more than 64,000 people who attended are responsi-ble for the tremendous success we enjoyed.

The high points are almost

too many to list, but a few

stand out above the others,

such as the all-new NEXT

Pavilion. By moving our non-

profit booths near the entrance

to the lower level, where they

benefited from improved foot

traffic, we opened up the

expansive foyer of the third

floor to provide space for more

than 100 vendors on the wait-

ing list for space on the main

exhibit floor. We did this

because it is vital to the success

of our industry to inject it with

new faces, new products, and

new technology. And what a

success it was! Located across

from the NSSF Member

Lounge and the Press Room,

the foot traffic was extraordi-

nary—and yet, despite the

crowds, visitors to these new

vendors told us they got excep-

tional, one-on-one interaction

with people and products they

needed to connect with, which

can be hard to accomplish on

the busy show floor. Feedback

from the vendors was just as

positive, and we’re looking

toward expanding the NEXT

Pavilion in 2017.

SHOT Show TV was another

hit. By moving the production

in-house and lining up a fresh

daily broadcast in hotels across

the city, we were better able to

provide the information show

attendees needed. Many attend-

ees and exhibitors told us that

they were able to find booths

and get the NSSF and general

show and event information

they were looking for, simply

because they’d caught the TV

show in their hotel room.

We heard similar feedback

about the once-again-expand-

ed New Product Center and

the Video Spotlights, as well as

the increased social media

announcements we initiated

for retailer seminars, celebrity

appearances, and press confer-

ences. It’s one thing to provide

show coverage, but it’s more

important to provide useful

coverage.

The annual State of the

Industry Dinner was a huge

success. The sellout crowd of

more than 2,200 appreciated

the election-year message of

NSSF President Steve Sanetti’s

evening address and laughed at

the always-original comedy of

Jeff Foxworthy. But they also

appreciated the shorter format

of the event, something we

coordinated in response to a

number of requests by mem-

bers who want to attend but

also want to have some eve-

ning left over to relax and

regroup for the next day.

Presidential candidate Donald

Trump appearing at the

Outdoor Sportsman awards cer-

tainly added pizzazz to an

already stellar night of glamour,

highlighting the best in craft

awards of today’s outdoor tele-

vision programming. Those on

the main show floor were treat-

ed to face time with Marcus

Luttrell, Kyle Lamb, Julie

Golob, Big & Rich, the Duck

Commanders, Brittany

Boddington, Will Primos, Doug

Koenig, and other industry

celebrities. Some of those celebs

also showed up at the Ladies-

Only Meet & Mingle event at

the Bonnier Sports men’s

Lounge Thursday afternoon.

New to SHOT Show and orga-

nized by Women’s Outdoors

News publisher Barbara Baird

and a host of other notable

women in the industry, the

gathering had a stellar turnout,

with many attendees remarking

that it was the first time they’d

had a chance to connect face-to-

face with those they’ve known

only through correspondence

or social media.

But beyond the famous

names and the new features,

nothing resonated with the

NSSF staff more than the

great attitude of everyone we

talked to at SHOT Show.

“Positive energy!” “Great

vibe!” “Very upbeat!” and simi-

lar plaudits were what we

heard over and over again. And

the great attitude wasn’t just

about the bevy of new prod-

ucts—it was about the industry

in general. From participation

in the shooting sports to retail

sales to wildlife conservation

and even improved availability

of .22 LR ammunition, it

seems everyone is looking for-

ward to an exceptional 2016.

In addition to the attendees

and exhibitors who made this

year’s SHOT Show a tremen-

dous success, I’d like to also

thank ConvExx, Freeman, and

CSG Creative for their contri-

butions, as well as the profes-

sionals at the Venetian/

Palazzo and the Sands Expo

Center. Working collaborative-

ly with them provides a fresh

look and feel to our show.

That’s how we keep a show

like this alive and thriving, and

how we all promote, protect,

and preserve hunting and the

shooting sports.

Beyond the famous names,

nothing resonated with the

NSSF staff more than the great attitude of everyone we

talked to at SHOT Show.


U P D AT EBY CHRIS DOLNACK, NSSF SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER


U P D AT E

Retailers Play a Vital Role in Getting the Word Out About #GUNVOTE

It should be no secret to anyone in the firearms trade that 2016 will be one of the most important election years ever to face our industry. With the balance of the Supreme Court at stake, this elec-tion could be the lynchpin leading to the reversal of critical precedents that protect our constitu-tional rights. Retailers play a critical role in this year’s election. It is crucial that our firearms retail-ers become informed about the positions of the candidates and spread the message about #GUNVOTE at every possible opportunity.

“Our retailers are on the

front line of communication

with consumers, especially

those new to firearms owner-

ship and the shooting sports,

who are going to have ques-

tions,” said Lawrence Keane,

NSSF Senior Vice President and

General Counsel. “Directing

voters to the #GUNVOTE

website (nssf.org/gunvote), uti-

lizing the #GUNVOTE hashtag

on their social media channels,

downloading the #GUNVOTE

logo to their website, handing

out #GUNVOTE stickers, and

having informed conversations

with employees, friends, family

members, and customers is

vital to getting the word out

that our heritage and rights are

at stake as Americans head to

the polls in November.”

NSSF’s #GUNVOTE website

was developed to help those in

our industry and consumers

identify those candidates who

hold the interests of firearms

owners and sportsmen as prior-

ities. The website offers tools

for voter registration and locat-

ing polling places, and is updat-

ed regularly with news from

the campaign trail.

“The stakes could

not be higher,” said

Keane. “The late

Justice Antonin Scalia

wrote the Heller deci-

sion, which confirmed

the individual right to own

a firearm under the Second

Amendment. Hillary Clinton

recently said Heller was wrong-

ly decided. With Scalia’s pass-

ing, we know that a victory for

Hillary Clinton and a shift to

Democratic power in the

Senate could quickly provide a

path for a new Court to over-

turn that landmark case—and

Clinton thinks appointing

Barack Obama to the Supreme

Court is a great idea!”

That’s just one of many

vitally important issues in con-

tention this year. Said Keane,

“The bottom line is, retailers

must be informed, and must

start the conversations with

their customers, friends, family

members, and industry col-

leagues about the stakes of this

election. Encourage them to

#GUNVOTE on Election

Day and help our num-

bers mean something.

Our Second

Amendment rights

and the future of our

industry are at stake.”

Retailers will find polling

trends, voter registration

tools, and information on

candidates on the federal, state

and local level on the NSSF’s

#GUNVOTE website. FFLs can

download the #GUNVOTE

emblem for their own website,

as well as order #GUNVOTE

stickers for distribution to their

customers when they encour-

age them to vote. NSSF also

encourages retailers to utilize

#GUNVOTE’s Facebook page

and follow #GUNVOTE on

Twitter. For more information,

visit nssf.org/gunvote.

NSSF SUPPORTS NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAYNSSF is again a major sponsor of

National Hunting and Fishing Day,

the annual celebration of traditional

outdoor activities and

wildlife conservation that

takes place on the fourth

Saturday of September.

Through licenses, permits,

and special taxes, hunters and

anglers generate $100,000 every 30

minutes—totaling more than $1.75

billion per year—for wildlife, fish, and

habitat. “We’re proud to be a spon-

sor of this Congressionally recog-

nized day to celebrate our

outdoor heritage, which is

attracting many new and

diverse participants,” said

NSSF President and CEO

Steve Sanetti. Johnny Morris, found-

er of Bass Pro Shops, will serve as

the honorary chair for the event.

Retailers will find polling trends, voter registration

tools, and information on candidates at federal, state,

and local levels on the NSSF’s #GUNVOTE website.

Hunters and

anglers

generate

$100K every

30 minutes.

© 2016 National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SHOT Business®, SHOT Show® and all other trade names, trademarks and service marks of the National

Shooting Sports Foundation appearing in this publication are the sole property of the Foundation and may not be used without the Foundation’s prior express written permis-

sion. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.


U.S. REP. CULBERSON IS 2015 LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR

NSSF is honoring U.S.

Rep. John A. Culberson

(R-Texas) as 2015

Legislator of the Year.

The award will be pre-

sented at the firearms

industry’s Congressional

Fly-In in April.

“We are pleased to

recognize Congressman

Culberson for his out-

standing leadership in

the U. S. House of

Representatives and on

the appropriations sub-

committee he chairs in

resolving the trouble-

some ‘green tip’ ammu-

nition matter, ” said

Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF

Senior Vice President

and General Counsel.

Congressman

Culberson played a piv-

otal role in convincing

senior management of

the ATF to forestall the

effort to introduce a

new regulatory frame-

work that would have

banned the manufac-

turing and sale of 5.56

mm M855 green-tip

ammunition, which is

widely used for target

shooting and hunting.

As chair of the House

Appropriations

Subcommittee on

Commerce, Justice, and

Science, which oversees

ATF funding, he sum-

moned senior bureau

officials to Capitol Hill to

express his concerns that

the proposed ban would

affect Americans’

Second Amendment

rights and enjoyment of

lawful sporting activities.

“I am honored to

receive this recognition

from one of the stron-

gest defenders of our

Second Amendment

rights in America today,”

Culberson said. “Those

of us who take on big

government liberals and

gun control extremists

are fighting for deeply

held principles, and it is a

joy to work with leading

organizations like NSSF

that share our determi-

nation to preserve, pro-

tect, and defend the

Constitution.”

ATF Seeks Comment On Proposed Forms 1, 4, 5 The ATF is seeking com-

ments on three newly

proposed application

forms of information

collection regarding the

making and registering of

a firearm, the paid transfer

tax and registration of a fire-

arm, and the tax-exempt transfer

and registration of a firearm.

Comments are being accept-

ed until April 18. The pro-

posed revised forms are

watermarked with the

word “draft,” so as not to

be confused with current

forms, which you should

continue to utilize. The infor-

mation has been posted to the ATF

website at atf.gov/firearms.

ATF LOST OR STOLEN IN TRANSIT REGULATIONS IN EFFECT

The new ATF regulations cov-

ering the mandatory report-

ing of firearms lost or stolen

in transit within 48 hours are now in

effect. ATF has guidance on its web-

site (atf.gov/firearms/) detailing the

procedures, which NSSF anticipates

will be updated in the near future to

reflect the new regulations. ATF will

not be updating Form 3310.11, so all

FFLs should continue to use the

existing version of Form 3310.6.

LEARN THE LATEST IN LEAD

MANAGEMENT & OSHA COMPLIANCENSSF is pleased to announce that it

will be holding a dedicated Lead

Management & OSHA Compliance

Workshop, April 24–26, in Portland,

Oregon. Designed to enable owners

and operators of shooting ranges of

all sizes an opportunity to discover

the latest in lead management and

OSHA (Operational Safety and

Health Administration) best practic-

es, the two-day course will focus on

environmental and regulatory

requirements for both indoor and

outdoor shooting facilities, OSHA

enforcement and penalty structure,

implementation of health and safe-

ty plans, medical surveillance, and

other issues relevant to compliance.

Registration is now open to NSSF

members and non-members; gov-

ernment agency officials are also

welcome. To register, go to nssf.org/

ranges/ComplianceWorkshop/.

es, the two-day course will focus on

environmental and regulatory

requirements for both indoor and


U P D AT E

R E TA I L E R T O O L B O X

NFA Dealers: Are You Ready for 41-F?The new rule revises application provisions. Here’s what you need to know

If you are a dealer in National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms and accessories, you know that demand for those products, especially suppressors, is at an all-time high. You also know that ATF has revised NFA regulations in the recently published Rulemaking 41-F.

When the proposal was

published in the Federal

Register as Notice 41-P, ATF

received more than 9,500

comments, almost all

opposed to the ruling. Why?

The proposed regulation

would not only have

imposed fingerprint, photo-

graph, and FBI background

check requirements on per-

sons associated with trusts,

it would have also required

the chief law enforcement

officer (CLEO) where those

associated with trust ATFs

and NFA transfers reside to

“sign off ” by certifying the

NFA transfer documents.

These are requirements that

individual transferees of

NFA products have followed

for years, so it was the issue

of those persons associated

with trusts and NFA trans-

fers that was central to the

proposed rule 41-P.

Despite a considerable

period of time analyzing

the comments, ATF pub-

lished the final rule (41-F)

on January 4. It will become

effective on July 13, 2016.

The new rule also applies to

ATF Form 1, Application to

Make and Register a

Firearm. But the focus of

this article is on the ATF

Form 4, Application for Tax

Paid Transfer and

Registration of a Firearm,

that NFA dealers use in

their retail operations.

Here are some key provi-

sions of the new revised

regulations:

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

In the case of trusts, as

well as partnerships, associ-

ations, and corporations

that are not already FFLs,

the regulations define

“responsible persons” as

those who possess the

power to direct the policies

and management of the

trust or corporation with

regards to the receipt, pos-

session, and disposition of

NFA registered firearms.

DOCUMENTATION Under

the revised regulations, each

responsible person must

complete ATF Form

5320.23, known as the

National Firearms Act

(NFA) Responsible Person

Questionnaire, and two sets

of fingerprint cards on FBI

Form FD-258. Each respon-

sible person must also pro-

vide a 2x2-inch passport

photograph of themselves,

that photograph being of a

full front head portrait with

head bare; that photo must

have been taken within one

year of the application being

filed. Fingerprints, Form

5320.23 and the photograph

will be filed with the copy

of ATF Form 4 submitted

by the transferor to ATF.

CLEO NOTIFICATION In a

key change from the pro-

posed rule, the final revised

regulations eliminated the

CLEO certification require-

ment for all transferees.

Now individual applicants

will be required to notify the

CLEO of the application by

providing those CLEOs a

copy of the ATF Form 4.

Fingerprint cards and pho-

tos will not be submitted to

the CLEO. In the cases of

trusts, partnerships, associa-

tions, and corporations,

each responsible person will

submit a copy of their ATF

Form 5320.23 to the CLEO

where they reside. In the

case of partnerships, associa-

tions, and corporations, the

CLEO copy of Form 4 will

be submitted to the CLEO

located where the entity

maintains its principal office

or place of business as

described on the form.

PERSONAL USE In those

cases where an FFL who

has not qualified to engage

in business under the NFA

desires to obtain an NFA

product for their own use, a

Form 4 must be completed,

but no Form 5320.23 will be

required. This is because

the responsible persons for

the FFL have already been

the subject of an FBI finger-

print-based background

check. The CLEO copy of

the Form 4 will be submit-

ted to the CLEO of that

FFL’s residence at the time

the application is filed.

Trusts, partnerships, asso-

Despite having spent a considerable period of time

analyzing the comments, ATF published the final rule (41-F) on January 4. It will become effective on July 13, 2016.


B Y PAT R I C K S H AY, N S S F D I R E C T O R , R E TA I L D E V E L O P M E N T

ciations, and corporations

will continue to submit doc-

umentation proof of the

existence and validity of the

entity. All documents sub-

mitted with the Form 4 will

need to be submitted in

their entirety.

ATF FORMS BEING REVISED➤ In addition to creating

the new Form 5320.23,

ATF is in the process of

revising ATF Form 1, Form

4, and Form 5 to reflect the

fact that the CLEO is now

only being notified of the

application being filed and

is no longer required to

certify or sign it. We

believe that these forms, in

draft, were scheduled to be

published in the Federal

Register sometime in

February or March of 2016.

A link to the Federal

Register when the draft

revised forms are published

will be posted at NSSF.org.

ATF will be accepting

comments on the revised

forms for 60 days after pub-

lication, and NSSF will

review the draft forms and

offer comments, should

there be a need to com-

ment. NSSF recommends

that dealers do so as well if

they have any comments.

Once the comment period

expires, ATF will review the

comments, revise the forms

if needed, and submit the

revised final forms to the

Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) for approval.

ATF hopes that the

approved revised forms will

be available to NFA dealers

at least a month or more

prior to the July 13 effective

date. Once the new regula-

tions are in effect, the old

editions of Forms 1, 4, and

5 will be obsolete and can-

not be used.

Finally, in the event that

the newly revised forms are

available prior to July 13,

dealers should not submit

the revised form until July

13, 2016.

APPLICATIONS

SUBMITTED THROUGH

JULY 12, 2016 Until the new

regulations take effect, you

may submit the current

Form 4s for transferees

using current procedures.

Please note that ATF will

use the postmark date of

your submissions to deter-

mine when an application

has been filed. If you have

customers who cannot get

their paperwork complete

in time to file by July 13,

they will have to file under

the new procedures and

with the new forms (when

they become available).

APPLICATIONS

SUBMITTED ON AND

AFTER JULY 13, 2016 ATF

Form 5320.23 will be com-

pleted for all responsible

persons where the transfer-

ee on Form 4 is not an indi-

vidual. The one exception

to this requirement extends

to partnerships, associa-

tions, or corporations that

hold FFLs under the Gun

Control Act and who wish

to obtain an NFA firearm

for their own use, but are

not qualified by payment of

Special Occupational Tax to

deal in NFA firearms.

BEGINNING JULY 13 The

CLEO of the applicant’s

resident area will be noti-

fied of an application by

either receiving a copy of

the Form 4 in the case of

either an individual transfer-

ee or an FFL transferee. In

the case of trusts and cor-

porations, the CLEO will be

notified of an application by

receiving a copy of Form

5320.23 from each responsi-

ble person listed on the

trust.

EXCEPTION FOR DOCUMENTATION ON REPEAT REGISTRATIONS BY NON-INDIVIDUAL APPLICANTS ➤ If an application for trans-

fer on Form 4 for a non-indi-

vidual applicant such as a

trust or corporation is sub-

mitted to ATF within the 24

months following a previ-

ously approved transfer, and

there have been no changes

to the documentation pro-

vided in those applications,

the entity will be able to cer-

tify to this on the subse-

quent Form 4 by identifying

the previously approved

application by form number,

serial number, and date

approved. This does not

apply to the submission of

additional Form 5320.23s,

fingerprint cards, and photo-

graphs by responsible per-

sons, as those items are and

will be required on every

NFA product transfer.

RETURNED APPLICATIONS

FILED PRIOR TO JULY 13,

2016 If an application for

NFA transfer that is submit-

ted to ATF prior to July 13,

2016, cannot be approved

and is returned to the trans-

feror after July 13, 2016, the

application will need to be

resubmitted under the new

procedures and with the

new forms.

NFA TRUST TRANSFERS

AND ATF FORM 4473 Every

NFA firearm or accessory is

also regulated by the Gun

Control Act. Thus, a Form

4473 must be completed for

all transfers. Generally, back-

ground checks through the

FBI or point of contact at the

state level as part of the

National Instant Criminal

Background Check System

(NICS) is required for all fire-

arms transfers to non-FFL

licensees. One exception to

that requirement occurs

when an NFA firearm is

transferred. This is so

because individual transfer-

ees undergo a fingerprint-

based FBI background check

every time they are a trans-

feree on a Form 4.

While trusts are “per-

sons” as defined under the

NFA, they are not persons

under the Gun Control Act.

That is a key difference in

the laws. ATF has opined

that the person receiving a

firearm on behalf of the

trust must undergo a back-

ground check as part of the

completion of the Form

4473. NSSF recommends

that all dealers working

with NFA transfers and

trusts perform a NICS

check. It is important to

know that the responsible

persons of a trust or other

non-individual transferees

will be subjected to the

same fingerprint-based

background check that an

individual transferee pres-

ently does. Therefore, while

NSSF recommends a NICS

check be performed, there

will be no requirement to

conduct one so long as a

responsible person of the

transferee (trust) receives

the firearm.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS➤ The ATF NFA Branch

intends to post questions

and answers about rule 41-F

at atf.gov in the near

future. A link will be posted

at NSSF.org.


F I R I N G L I N E B Y T O M M c H A L E

Air PowerSIG SAUER’s P226 air pistol looks, and performs, just like the “real” thing

Agood airgun is always going to be fun to shoot, but the new SIG SAUER models add a whole new dimension. Because they’re made by the same folks who make the real P226 pistols, these airguns are made to the exact same factory-drawing dimensions. They’ll ini-tially be available in black and flat dark earth color schemes. They look like the real thing, feel like the real thing, and are made of actual metal that makes that satisfying clinking sound—even the slides reciprocate when you shoot. As such, they can be used for genuine training with all of your “real” gun gear like holsters, lights, and lasers. The difference is that you can safely train in your garage or backyard without frightening the neighbors.

The P226 airgun is a dead ringer for its

centerfire cousin, though there are a few

functional differences, of course. For

example, there is no open ejection port,

nor is one needed, as pellets don’t eject

anything. Likewise, the slide lock latch is

immovable, as it’s also irrelevant with this

semi-automatic airgun.

The P226 airgun is powered by a single

12-gram CO2 cartridge. A hinged door on

the grip swings open to reveal the CO2

compartment. As you close the door, a

cam mechanism presses the cartridge into

place, piercing the canister, and releasing

gas to the action.

The gun takes removable magazines,

unique in design to accommodate pellets

rather than cartridges. Each magazine

holds 16 pellets total, split into eight-pellet

drums at each end of the magazine. The

action rotates a new pellet into place, so

the semi-automatic mode works about as

fast as you can pull the trigger. After eight

shots, you eject the magazine, flip it upside

down, and reinsert the magazine to get

the next set of eight. You’ll get somewhere

north of 70 shots before you need to think

about changing the CO2 cartridge.

I took a pair of P226 airguns to my

back deck and set up my chronograph 15

feet away to see what kind of velocity the

pistol was delivering. Using standard

Crosman .177-caliber lead wadcutter pel-

lets, the average velocity clocked in at

325.7 feet per second. Switching to more

aerodynamic Gamo Platinum Power pel-

lets, the velocity jumped to over 400 fps.

Obviously, speed will vary based on the

specific weight and profile of your pellets,

so these numbers represent rough guide-

lines from some very used guns.

There are plenty of airguns on the mar-

ket, ranging from plastic models sold at big-

box stores to premium target models sold

at specialty retail outlets. The P226 pistols

straddle the middle ground. The price point

is surprisingly affordable, but they feel and

perform like far more expensive models.

To me, the unique characteristic of the

P226 is its usefulness as a substitute for the

real thing. Feel, weight, size, and opera-

tion are all exceptionally realistic. I used it

as a practice version of a real P226 with a

number of my regular carry holsters,

including a Galco V-Hawk, a KingTuk, and

concealable models. Obviously the airgun

models are a bit lighter than the centerfire

versions, but the important actions like

draw, aim, fire, and magazine changes are

similar. Even the safety lever acts in a way

consistent with how the de-cocker works.

Simply press down to enable the safety,

just as you would when de-cocking the

real gun. SRP: $110.99. (sigarms.com)

This air pistol allows for economical

practice because you won’t be using

expensive centerfire ammo.

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U N D E R C O V E R S H O P P E R

PIX

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PU

SH

ER

S

Tennessee ComboWould retailers in the Volunteer State step up and help a hunter looking for a scoped bolt-action in .243?

A.243-caliber bolt-action rifle is a fine option for deer hunting in the hills of the South. It’s a lighter gun that’s easy to carry, and ammo is abundant. The latest crop of budget bolt-actions—many of which come in scoped combos—has been impressive at the range, and sales are strong. I asked clerks in the Knoxville area for a .243 combo for around $500. Could they deliver?

STORE A

FOLLOW ME!

➤ This big-box store’s gun

collection is nearly the

length of one side of the

building. It was quite an

impressive arsenal. Two

older gents were helping

two people at the counter. I

waited for about five min-

utes and then saw a small

sign that said to take a num-

ber. Eventually a clerk

called out, “Number two!” I

told him what I wanted.

“Sure. Follow me,” he said.

He handed me a Remington

700 in .243 with a scope that

had no brand name on it.

He told me that it was a

proven action and a good

gun for the money. He

didn’t offer to take off the

trigger lock, and it was awk-

ward to shoulder a gun with

a lock on. Then I asked

about the Ruger Americans.

Lo and behold, he found

one in .243 with a Redfield

scope. He told me about

the gun, but had little infor-

mation about the scope.

STORE B

BE RIGHT BACK

➤ At this big-box store,

three clerks were talking

something over as four

customers waited for help.

Apparently there was some

on-the-job training going

on. Two of the clerks

walked off, and the one

who was left looked my

way. I asked him about a

scoped combo, and he

pointed to a wood-stocked

rifle and said it was a

“Vortex.” I was a bit con-

fused because Vortex is an

optics company. I realized

he was referring to a

Mossberg Patriot that had

a Vortex scope. I men-

tioned that to him, but he

still called it a “Vortex

rifle.” I handled the

Patriot, gave it back to

him, and eyed a Savage

Model 11/111 and a

Remington 783. “I’ll be

right back,” he said. I wait-

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U N D E R C O V E R S H O P P E R

ed about 10 minutes. As I

turned to leave, I looked

back and caught his eye.

He just kind of shrugged

his shoulders.

STORE C

PRICE DOUBLE CHECK➤ As I walked into this

small mom-and-pop shop,

one clerk was talking with a

group of people and the

other became free as I

stepped in the door. He was

young and helpful. There

were precious few rifles,

perhaps 20 new bolt-actions

and MSRs and another 15

or so used rifles of all types.

The clerk had a few new

scoped combos, including a

Savage Axis in 7mm Rem.

Mag. and a Remington 700

in .30/06 at reasonable pric-

es. He offered to do some

web searching and order

anything I wanted. He

jumped right in and gave

me a very low price on a

Savage Axis II XP. I asked

him to double-check it.

Turns out, the price was for

an Axis, not the updated XP.

After rechecking, he gave

me a new, higher price and

offered to have it in the

store for me to pick up in a

few days.

STORE D

ECLECTIC MIX➤ This was a smaller store

that sold a mix of hand-

guns, various ammo brands,

some hunting supplies, and

a few rifles and shotguns.

There were three clerks.

Two helped customers; the

other sat at a computer. I

stood around for about 15

minutes checking out guns

and waiting for someone to

ask if I needed help. Finally,

a customer left, and the

clerk sat down and started

drinking a cup of coffee. I

went over to him and said

hello. After that, he was

super-friendly. Since they

did not have anything close

to what I was looking for,

he tried to sell me on a used

Ruger M77 with a fine

wood stock and a cheap

scope. It was about $250

more than I told him I

wanted to spend. Still, we

had a good conversation

about the gun, other guns

in general, and where to

shoot in the area.

How’d They Do?Customer Service

Product Knowledge

Product Availability

Winner:

STORE

AThe large num-

ber of guns

didn’t surprise

me, but the

above-average

customer ser-

vice did. The

clerk even told

me to watch

for sales on the

internet

because he

knew I was

shopping on a

budget.

Gander Mountain11501 Parkside Drive, Farragut, TN 37934865-671-2790gander mountain.com

��

STORE

AOther than the fact

that he missed one

of the guns I was

looking for and had no

information about the

scope, service was very

good.

��

The clerk knew the gun

packages well, but he

needed to bone up on

optics.

��

By far the largest inventory,

with about 300 new rifles,

including several .243

scoped-combo options.

�

STORE

BIt started out okay,

but then he ditched

me.

no stars

I knew more about the rifles

than he did.

��

There were about 100 new

rifles, five of which were the

scoped combos that inter-

ested me.

��

STORE

CI was helped quickly

and efficiently. The

service was very

friendly and enthusiastic.

��

The clerk answered my

questions accurately,

though he confused the

Savage Axis and Axis II XP.

��

There were few rifles on the

racks, but he went right to

the web and gave me many

order options.

��

STORE

DGood, once I spoke

up and initiated the

interaction.

��

He sure knew a lot about

the used Ruger he wanted

to sell me.

�

An eclectic mix of guns.

There were only a handful

of bolt-action rifles, and

none was paired with a new

scope.

SCORING SYSTEM: Outstanding: �� Very Good: �� Average: �� Fair: �� Poor: �

The iconic Winchester brand celebrates 150 years of legendary excellence in 2016—a historic

milestone representing a steadfast commitment to the hunting and shooting sports traditions and future

generations of sportsmen. Thank you to our loyal customers who’ve trusted us in the great outdoors,

at the range, on patrol and in combat. A world leader in delivering innovative products, Winchester is

The American Legend, a brand built on integrity, hard work and a

deep focus on its most loyal customers.

JOIN US AS THE LEGENDARY RIDE CONTINUES.

THANKS FOR THE RIDE

winchester.com/safetyf irstwinchester.com/safetyf irst

© Olin Corporation 2016

029029SHOT SHOW 2016 SHOT BUSINESS APRIL/MAY 2016

SHOT BUSINESS APRIL/MAY 2016 029

Shoulder to shoulder, the

attendees at the 2016 SHOT Show demonstrated the

inherent strength of the shooting-sports community. Here’s a look, taken from

the pages of SHOT Daily, at the show’s incredible vibrancy.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUSTIN APPENZELLER

030 SHOT BUSINESS APRIL/MAY 2016 SHOT SHOW 2016

You can build a profitable

company on the shoulders of

a single product. That’s what

John Nosler did with the help

of the Partition bullet in 1948. To

remain solvent and grow, though,

you’ll need to offer other products as

well. Nosler did that, too; over the

next 60 years, the manufacturer added

the Ballistic Tip, the AccuBond, and

numerous other bullets to the line.

But to really be successful you must

continue to grow the brand, and in

2007, Nosler introduced an ammuni-

tion and custom rifle line. If you talk

to Nosler’s Mike Lake, you’ll realize

Nosler is just getting started.

Lake is the senior manager of

research and development at Nosler.

His job description is as vague as it is

long, but broken down in hillbilly

terms, he’s tasked with growing the

brand. Lake is supposed to engineer,

develop, find, and procure new ideas

and products for Nosler to offer to its

dedicated customers. These products

should also bring new customers

into the Nosler family. For an

Oregon boy who grew up hunting

and used to design chainsaw chains

in a former life, it’s a dream job.

“I like to create things, but I’d

rather do it with a wrench than with

a mechanical pencil,” he says.

Starting in 2007, that’s exactly what

Lake began to do at Nosler. He ram-

rodded the enormously successful

ammunition and custom rifle pro-

gram into existence. Nosler, a tight-

knit family-owned company, recog-

nized Lake’s ingenuity and asked for

more. The .26 and .28 Nosler cartridg-

es were his next contributions. Both

have been iPhone-like successful.

As much as any compa-

ny’s success is tied to the

products it produces, it is

also incontestably

entwined with the people

who make those products.

Nosler is an icon in the outdoor and

gun industry. The folks who run the

company realize growth is necessary

to maintain that distinction and to

continue to provide livelihoods for

the hard-working Americans who put

them where they are. That means

Nosler must grow, and that load has

been placed on Lake’s shoulders.

Last summer, I asked Lake, “So

what, exactly, is next for Nosler?”

“Shoelaces,” he said. “Not really,

but that’s the mindset. Nosler is

going to grow; my job is to figure

out the best path to take. The canvas

is mine to paint. If good shoelaces

are what the outdoor industry needs,

Nosler will make ’em and they’ll be

the best shoelaces in the world.”

That’s exactly what Lake did with

the .26 and .28 Nosler. The recent

infatuation with long-range hunting

created a demand for hard-hitting,

flat-shooting cartridges in a standard-

action size. Both the .26 and .28

Nosler do that, and they fit in a rifle

sized to accept an overall cartridge

length of only 3.34 inches. For those

who don’t carry a caliper in their

back pocket, that’s the same length

as the .30/06.

Mike Lake’s latest creation for

Nosler, introduced at the 2016

SHOT Show, is the .30 Nosler. It’s

the third cartridge in the Nosler fam-

ily and, like the .26 and .28, it’s built

to the same overall length. The .30

Nosler was specifically designed

around Nosler’s .30-caliber Long

Range (LR) AccuBond bullet. It will

push a 190-grain AccuBond LR to

3,150 fps. This means you can deliv-

er 2,000 foot-pounds of kinetic ener-

gy at 675 yards. And given an 8-inch

kill zone, you can hold dead-on out

to 360 yards.

Sport hunting is changing and

Nosler is out in front. For big-game

hunters who measure

range in quarter-miles

instead of yards, the .30

Nosler shrinks those dis-

tances like a 20X spotting

scope. (nosler.com)

Out In FrontNosler continues to expand the brand by ricHarD mann

Mike Lake uses

the experience

he's gained as a

hunter and

shooter to design

new products.


Crimson Trace

looks at the

world a bit dif-

ferently. While

many manufacturers are

content to stand pat and

churn out the same old

thing year after year,

CTC’s corporate DNA

requires it to always be

out in front of the pack.

Consider the new LinQ

system, a laser/light

unit specifically designed

for the MSR platform. A

CTC pistol grip replaces

the MSR’s factory-

installed pistol grip, but

CTC’s grip uses a

Bluetooth-like technolo-

gy to control a tactical

light/laser module

attached to the MSR’s

accessory rail. In this

way the pistol grip and

light/laser module

synch up with each

other so the operator

can control the laser and

light from the pistol

grip. There are no cables

or touch pads, nor does

the operator need to use

his support hand to con-

trol the laser or light, as

is the case with all other

tactical lights currently

on the market.

“Crimson Trace is

again pushing the enve-

lope and leading the

industry in innovation as

the LinQ Technology

proves,” says Mike Faw,

media relations manager

at Crimson Trace. “This

is one of many ideas we

are pursuing here as our

engineers focus on what

consumers want—and

what’s possible. For

retailers, this means a

great opportunity to

serve MSR rifle custom-

ers. Those rifles are pop-

ular, and the buyers have

been asking for some-

thing that’s rifle-specific.

LinQ Technology fits

that bill and combines

laser sights and bright

lights in an easy-to-

operate grip and rail-

mounted system.”

Ambidextrous buttons

on the pistol grip allow

the operator to operate

the light/laser module.

The light/laser can also

be removed from the

MSR and used on anoth-

er firearm; there are

redundant controls on

the light/laser module

so the module can be

used when not synched

with the grip. Return the

module to the MSR with

the grip and the two

components synch up

again. SRP: $500.

And That’s Not All

The Carry 9 Program

takes the hassle out of

trying to find a

concealed- carry holster

to fit a pistol with a

Crimson Trace laser

sight attached. Crimson

Trace and Blade-Tech

have teamed up to offer

a combo set that

includes a Kydex holster

and a laser sight in one

package. The holster is

Blade-Tech’s Klipt Ambi

IWB model, which can

be configured for either

right- or left-handed

shooters. It has an

adjustable belt loop and

is used for behind-the-

hip or appendix carry.

(crimsontrace.com)

Roy Weatherby was a disciple of velocity. He

believed high-velocity cartridges gave hunt-

ers more reach and killed animals quicker.

Roy was not just a believer; he was a pioneer.

He wildcatted a family of cartridges that

thrived on velocity. He then built rifles for

these cartridges and put them in the hands

of business moguls, the Hollywood elite, and

war heroes.

Roy’s sexy cartridges, with their double-

radius venture shoulder, and his finely craft-

ed rifles, with their sexy lines, became one of

the most recognizable brands in the world of

guns. Shortly before Roy passed in 1988, his

son Ed took over the company. Under his

guidance, Weatherby continued to grow,

expanding its reach to hunters and shooters

of more modest means. Last year it was

announced that Ed’s son, Adam, would be

following in his father’s footsteps, making

Weatherby a third-generation company.

Third-generation family-owned businesses

have a reputation for failure. Grandpa makes

the company, Dad runs it, and the grandson

runs it into the ground. Some wondered what

would happen at Weatherby when Adam

stepped in. They need not wonder anymore.

Adam has made it clear the cartridges his

grandfather designed and the high velocity

they deliver are what Weatherby is all about.

For 2016, Weatherby is introducing its first

new cartridge in 17 years—the 6.5-300

Weatherby Magnum, which embodies

everything Roy and his company was, is,

and will be. The new cartridge launches

a 127-grain Barnes LRX bullet at more

than 3,500 fps. It will still be traveling

at 2,000 fps and carrying more than

1,000 foot-pounds of energy at 800

yards. Sighted dead-on at 100 yards, it

will strike only 6 inches low at 300.

Weatherby developed the 6.5-300

by necking down the .300 Weatherby.

Interestingly, Roy Weatherby experi-

mented with the 6.5-300 a bit but

never brought it to market. We can

only speculate why, but in his time

6.5-caliber bullets capable of han-

dling the velocity this cartridge gen-

erates were non-existent. He also did

not have the propellants that we

have today.

In its 70th year, it looks like

Weatherby is in good hands. As Adam

says, “This is just the beginning.

Weatherby is going back to its roots.”

Grandpa’s legacy lives on.

(weatherby.com) —Richard Mann

The Legacy

The CTC LinQ system uses a

Bluetooth-like technology to

control a tactical light/laser on

the MSR’s accessory rail.

The Big Push Crimson Trace keeps pace by pushing the envelope by roberT SaDoWSKi


Pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifles are

usually regarded as the top rank of airgun

technology because they are easy to shoot

well and often astonishingly accurate. For

that reason, all Olympic 10-meter match air

rifles, arguably among the planet’s most

accurate projectile launchers, are PCPs.

What distinguishes PCPs from other air

rifles is they have an on-board high-pressure

air reservoir that is charged from an external

tank or pump. As a result, PCPs are more con-

venient than pump-up air rifles and easier to

shoot accurately than break-barrel spring-

piston air rifles with their whiplash recoil.

It wasn’t long ago that you could expect to

spend $500 to $1,000 (and sometimes much,

much more) for a PCP air rifle. Then you add

in the cost of a scope, mounts, and charging

equipment. In recent years, however, the price

has been dropping. With the introduction of

the Benjamin Maximus (SRP: $199.99),

Crosman Corporation has changed the game,

bringing the cost of a PCP rifle into parity with

garden-variety break-barrel springers. The

Remington Outdoor Company (ROC) recently

announced it would phase out its Para USA pro-

duction line. For many in the industry, that move

raised the question, “What now?”

Remington acquired Para USA in 2012. At the

time, Para specialized in production of competition

high-capacity and double-action 1911-style pistols.

Its products have been popular because of a

double- stack line and wide range of calibers.

But when Remington moved into its new fire-

arms center in Alabama in 2014, the company also

began integrating the best features of the Para

line into its R-1 line. “Para was not afraid to expand

the breadth of caliber in a 1911, and we are looking

to do that as well,” says Daniel Cox, ROC’s senior

handgun product manager. He also says that the

company will expand into shorter and longer barrel

lengths with its R-1 line, as well as integrate mod-

els similar to the popular Para Warthog with its

3-inch barrel.

ROC has admitted that it has learned from its

mistakes and now has a clear plan to smoothly

integrate Para. This includes keeping popular Para

products, characteristics, and names while improv-

ing quality with state-of-the-art machining and

engineering in Huntsville. For Para customers (and

the retailers who work with these customers), ROC

will continue to support Para’s Lifetime Warranty.

(remington.com) —Barbara Baird

What Now?

Merchandising to Women

Women are entering the

shooting sports in steadily

growing numbers. But

this growth, while a good

trend for the overall health of the

industry, has also challenged retail-

ers, many of whom don’t know how

to successfully connect with this

emerging market. During the past

few years, the NSSF has been report-

ing on the explosion in the women’s

market for hunting and shooting,

and has offered various seminars at

past SHOT Shows on how to meet

the needs of women shooters. The

NSSF-sponsored “Merchandising to

Women Hunters” panel discussion

focused specifically on women who

hunt, because their needs are very

different from those of women who

target shoot and demand a more tai-

lored approach.

“Women who hunt require more

tools and gear than women who

shoot, and it’s important to discover

what works for the fastest-growing

demographic in the hunting mar-

ket, and to support the movement,”

said Barbara Baird, publisher of

“Women’s Outdoor News.”

Panelists included Judy Rhodes,

founder of DIVA WOW, an organi-

zation created to teach women to

shoot and hunt; Melissa Bachman,

host of the TV show Winchester

Deadly Passion; Tiffany Lakosky, co-

host of the TV show The Crush with

Lee & Tiffany; and Shannon Reaser,

co-host of the TV show The Outdoor

Option. These women have been in

the trenches, and the women’s

hunting movement has been built

on their shoulders. Topics included

store exteriors and interiors, mer-

chandising, staff hiring and training,

promotional ideas, special events

and seminars, and how to attract

more women to hunting.

The Women

Hunters panel

discussion

focused on

the needs of

women hunters.

Crosman

Changes

The Game

The Para brand is no

more, but some

features will migrate

to the R-1 1911 line.


Word about Smith

& Wesson’s next-

generation SW22

Victory .22 LR

Target pistol dropped earlier

this year, and ever since,

shooters have been itching

to take it for a ride. The

S&W folks didn’t disappoint

at this year’s Industry Day at

the Range, with three con-

figurations of the striking

new pistol on hand to try.

The stainless semi-auto

.22 LR pistol comes stan-

dard with a 400 series

stainless- steel heat-treated

bolt, frame, slide, and bar-

rel, making it an inherently

durable firearm that is built

on a single-action, enclosed-

hammer-fired, blowback

design. The standard 5.5-

inch match-grade barrel has

a 1:15, six-groove, right-

hand twist.

The pistol comes with a

red fiber-optic front sight and

an adjustable green fiber-

optic rear sight. Another

standard feature is an adjust-

able trigger stop. The fire

controls are simple and laid

out intuitively, with a single-

sided thumb safety, slide stop,

and magazine release.

The lovely feeling tex-

tured grip panels have fin-

ger cuts that allow for easy

removal of the 10-round

magazines. But what makes

this pistol truly unique is

that shooters can change

barrels at will with just a

couple of Allen wrenches.

Jan Mladek, general man-

ager of the S&W brand,

broke the gun down and

changed barrels over and

over at the S&W Range

Day booth. Remove one

screw and the upper sepa-

rates from the lower, allow-

ing the bolt to be removed.

Take out a smaller screw

and the barrel easily lifts off

the upper to be swapped

out. Swapped for what, you

ask? Volquartsen is already

selling two barrels for the

Victory, both of which are

threaded for suppressors.

The first is a sleek

stainless- steel barrel specially

designed for the Victory with

Volquartsen’s i-fluting pat-

tern to reduce weight and

increase rigidity and heat dis-

sipation. A forward blowback

compensator and thread pro-

tector are also included.

The second barrel option

from Volquartsen is a light-

weight THM carbon-fiber

tension barrel that uses the

same tech as the company’s

fiber-tension rifle barrels,

providing shooters with

increased accuracy at a

much lighter weight than a

standard bull barrel. It also

comes threaded for a sup-

pressor. SRP: $215 each.

(volquartsen.com)

Now, back to the gun. A

target pistol obviously

needs a sighting system, and

S&W has thought of that as

well. The standard rear-

sight platform mounts on a

small but robust tab on the

top of the receiver with one

screw. Once the platform is

removed, an included light-

weight Picatinny rail section

mounts the same way, and

shooters can mount any

red-dot sight or scope they

choose. SRP: $409.

(smith-wesson.com)

Maximus, built in America, will be available in

.177 and .22 calibers. It has a maximum fill

pressure of 2,000 psi, can be charged with a

hand pump, and can deliver up to 30 shots per

fill. Crosman says it will deliver velocities of up

to 1,000 fps in .177 caliber and 900 fps in .22.

Jennifer Lambert, Crosman’s vice president

of marketing, says, “We think this gun will put

a huge grin on the faces of both customers

and dealers.” She adds that the Maximus has

been engineered to deliver a very attractive

margin. (crosman.com) The new Benjamin Maximus PCP rifle (avail-

able in .177 and .22) is being built in America.

The SW22

Victory ships

complete with

two 10-round

magazines.

S&W Unveils SW22 VictoryA new modular .22 pistol lets the user easily and quickly install custom barrels by DaViD MaCCar


PH

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Since 1866,

Winchester has

been building a

thriving business on

a solid foundation of perfor-

mance, and more important,

innovation. Starting with

that first “Yellow Boy” rifle

chambered in .44 with a new

and improved tubular maga-

zine, wooden stock, and dis-

tinctive brass sideplates, the

company has been known as

a leader in firearms, and

later ammunition, concep-

tion, and design. Today, the

brand holds more than 2,000

patents related to firearms,

defining a legacy of brilliant

thinking in the arena of

design and manufacturing.

“The Winchester brand is

associated with some of the

most revered ammunition

and firearms products ever

introduced to the world,”

says Tom O’Keefe, president

of Winchester Ammun-

ition. “The company is

certainly built on its rich

heritage and support of

the shooting-sports indus-

try for more than 150

years, but we have clear-

ly set the industry stan-

dard over time in devel-

oping technology-driv-

en products. Innovation

keeps the Winchester

brand relevant, which is

critical to our success.”

That innovation-

driven success started

early on for the fledg-

ling firearms company.

After the Yellow Boy,

Winchester continued

to manufacture new

firearms, building on the

technology and designs of

both its in-house engineers

and legendary firearms

inventors such as John

Browning. In the last

decades of the 19th cen-

tury, Winchester intro-

duced such iconic rifles

as the Model 1873, built

for its proprietary

.44/40 Winchester

Center Fire cartridge,

the 1876, and the 1886,

designed by Browning.

Just before the turn of

the last century,

Winchester launched its

first commercially available

smokeless cartridge—the

.30 WCF, better known as

the .30/30. The round,

when combined with the

success of the lever-action

Winchester 1894, is thought

to be responsible for killing

more deer than any other

cartridge.

Although the develop-

ment of the lever-action

defines Winchester’s early

years, the company worked

on refining other actions as

well. In 1883, Winchester

launched its first bolt-action

rifle, the Winchester-

Hotchkiss Magazine Gun.

Seven years later, the com-

pany brought out a pump-

action, the Model 1890 .22

rimfire, firing the new .22

The .300 Win. Mag.,

based on the .375

H&H, remains a

popular option for

many long-range

big-game hunters.

Dubbed the Ma Deuce, the M2

Browning Machine Gun has been

adopted by military forces around

the world as an effective tool for

both land- and air-based warfare.

From Yellow Boy to Long BeardWinchester thrives on innovation by DaViD DraPer


PH

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Winchester Rim Fire car-

tridge. That round also

found a home in the

Winchester Model 1903, one

of the first autoloading rifles

to gain wide commercial

success.

The first half of the 20th

century marked major

design innovations through-

out the world of firearms

and ammunition, much of it

spurred by the need to arm

soldiers fighting in the glob-

al conflicts that define the

time period. During World

War I, Winchester armorers

redesigned the British

Enfield Number 14 rifle to

accommodate the .30/06

chambering, ultimately pro-

ducing more than 500,000

U.S. Model 1917 Enfield

rifles for U.S. troops.

John Browning worked

closely with Winchester,

finalizing the concept of the

now-legendary Browning

Automatic Rifle, known in

the trenches as the BAR.

Company engineers were

instrumental in honing

Browning’s design to

accommodate the mass pro-

duction needed to arm U.S.

troops, and the company

shipped nearly 50,000 of the

rifles overseas during WWI.

The year 1918 marked

another major collaborative

effort with Browning, as he

worked to develop a larger

caliber for anti-armor use

during the war, and a gun

to handle it. The end result

was the .50 BMG round and

its rifle, the M2 Browning

Machine Gun. Dubbed the

Ma Deuce, the M2 saw lim-

ited action toward the end

of the first world war, but

has since been adopted by

military around the world.

During World War II, the

Ma Deuce was joined on

the battlefield by another

Winchester innovation—

the M1 Carbine. The

compact carbine was

designed by Winchester

engineers, including

David Williams and

Edwin Pugsley, in just

13 days in response to a

request from the U.S.

Army Ordnance

department to develop

a smaller, lighter

weapon for mobile or

specialized units not

wanting to carry the

standard M1 Garand.

The new M1, cham-

bered in .30 Carbine,

weighed under 6

pounds with the load-

ed 15-round maga-

zine in place, and

measured less than 3 feet in

overall length. More than

six million of them saw

action during the conflict,

and they were used in

Korea and Vietnam before

being replaced by the M16

in the early 1960s.

While the Winchester

firearms division was hard

at work, the ammunition

side of the business was

just as eager to introduce

innovative new products for

both the warfighter and

sport shooter. In 1925, wild-

catters within the building

developed a necked-down

.30/06, designed for big-

game hunting. Though

that cartridge, the .270

Winchester, was slow

to catch on, it has since

become possibly the

most widely used hunt-

ing round today, thanks

in no small part to

another Winchester

product—the Model

70 Rifleman’s Rifle.

Other popular calibers

developed within

Winchester’s walls

include the .243

Winchester, the .300

Winchester Magnum, and

the short-action .308.

The 1960s saw innovation

within the shotshell division,

including the introduction

of the Mark 5 Shot Collar.

Though small in size, this

band of polyethylene

encompassing the shot made

big changes in the way shot-

shells performed. By carry-

ing the shot through the

barrel and keeping it togeth-

er past the muzzle, the Mark

5 created denser patterns

farther downrange, increas-

ing the effective distance.

More recently, Winchester

has taken that concept to a

whole new level with Shot-

Lok technology. Instead of

protecting the shot with a

cup, Shot-Lok encapsulates

it within a resin. This hard

cylinder of shot shatters on

ignition, creating a dense

layer of powder that pro-

tects the shot from deformi-

ty as it travels the length of

the barrel. First introduced

in the Long Beard XR tur-

key load, Shot-Lok technol-

ogy is now available in

Rooster XR upland loads

and will probably be seen in

other new shotshell itera-

tions in the near future. (winchester.com)

The .30/30 was one

reason the Model

1894 became so pop-

ular with hunters.

John Browning worked closely with Winchester, finalizing the concept of the now-legendary Browning

Automatic Rifle, known in the trenches as the BAR. The BAR saw action in both World War I and World War II.


“Our consumers are incredibly passionate

about their pursuits and their gear, and they

always want newer, better, more innovative

gear—as long as it maintains the core attri-

butes that made them so passionate about

that brand in the first place,” says Sean

O’Brien, marketing director for Muck Boots.

“Anytime we set out to bring new innova-

tions to market, we start by looking at the

core attributes we’re known for and ask our-

selves how we can make them better.”

It was this philosophy that led to the

development of the new Pursuit Shadow

Pull-On boots that Muck launched at SHOT

Show this year. Featuring the same attri-

butes that made the laced version such a

popular choice for hunters, the Pull-On ver-

sion adds the characteristic for which Muck

Boots have become known—their ability to

slide on and off quickly and easily.

Like the Pursuit Shadow Pull-Ons, all of

Muck’s new boots feature innovations that

were developed for different pursuits, but

each was also designed for one purpose.

“Our number-one mission is to perform

above our consumers’ expectations,” says

O’Brien. “We started the company in 1999 by

introducing a new construction into the

market that combined rubber and neoprene

to create a boot that was flexible and com-

fortable but 100 percent waterproof. Our

whole premise was that we wanted people

to have the freedom to be out all day, in any

kind of weather, and not ever have to think

about their feet.”

That profoundly simple concept has been

embraced by a wide variety of customers.

That in itself should not be so suprising; none

of us—whether you live in the mountains of

Alaska or along a bayou in Louisiana—like

cold, wet feet when we’re outdoors. (muck

bootcompany.com) —Christopher Cogley

Brand Loyalty

Bergara Unveils

The Woodsman

The Bergara

Woodsman fol-

lows the 2015

SHOT Show

unveiling of the compa-

ny’s first two offerings in

its B-14 Performance

Series of production-line

rifles: the synthetic-

stocked Hunter and the

Timber, featuring a more

traditional oil-finished,

Monte Carlo–style wal-

nut stock. The B-14’s

appeal isn’t hard to

understand: For less than

$1,000, it offers many of

the performance-enhanc-

ing features of Bergara’s

custom rifles selling for

three times that amount.

With the new Woods-

man, which made its

debut at the 2016 SHOT

Show, sportsmen whose

tastes gravitate toward

cleaner, more traditional

lines than those of the

Timber now can have

their cake and eat it, too.

“When we first intro-

duced the B-14, we had

quite a few dealers tell

us that a walnut stock in

the American style—

straight comb, no cheek-

piece—could be very

popular, so we copied

the design of the

Hunter’s synthetic

stock,” says CEO Dudley

McGarity. “At about a

half pound lighter than

the Timber, and with a

slimmer profile, it has a

completely different

appeal, doubling the

B-14’s potential sales to

those shooters who love

the look and feel of oil-

finished walnut.”

The guts of the B-14

are Bergara’s Spanish-

made 4140CrMo steel

barrels, renowned for

their accuracy, in part

due to a multi-stage hon-

ing process that produces

a mirror-smooth bore.

As with the Timber,

accuracy and stability are

enhanced with two met-

al-infused epoxy pillars

embedded in the walnut

stock to facilitate the

action screws. The free-

floating barrel and crisp-

breaking trigger further

ensure superb accuracy,

something I discovered

at the bench prior to

hunting with the rifle last

fall. Four shots produced

a half-MOA group with

Hornady 165-grain SST

ammo in .308.

Bergara’s Performance

action, which features a

two-lug bolt, coned bolt

nose and breech, and slid-

ing plate extractor, makes

the Woodsman one of

the smoothest-cycling

rifles I’ve experienced,

something I appreciated

more than I’d hoped

when a whitetail buck

suddenly appeared 180

yards away. SRP: $945.

(bergarausa.com)

—Bill Buckley

The author took this nice

Montana whitetail with the new

Bergara B-14 Woodsman bolt-

action hunting rifle.

Muck Boots

will deliver

both warmth

and comfort

in tough

conditions.


Suppressor manufac-

turer SilencerCo

has a reputation for

thinking outside the

box. Now it appears to have

dropped the “box” concept

altogether, branching out

into many new directions

while still keeping true to its

core mission—making

shooting more hearing-

friendly. SilencerCo made a

big stir in 2014 when it

introduced its shotgun sup-

pressor, the Salvo 12, to the

consumer and hunting mar-

kets. Turns out, the compa-

ny was just getting started.

In the six months leading

up to the 2016 SHOT Show,

SilencerCo announced the

Maxim 9, an integrally sup-

pressed 9mm pistol; intro-

duced two new suppressors,

the Osprey Micro, which is

labeled as “the shortest, qui-

etest, and easiest-to-clean

rimfire silencer available,”

and the Hybrid, a suppres-

sor that is compatible with

pistols, rifles, and subma-

chine guns in calibers up to

.458 SOCOM and .45/70.

In addition, the company

launched its own separate

R&D facility, SilencerCo

Weapons Research (beyond

human.com), in Austin,

Texas, dedicated to develop-

ing and designing high-tech

shooting-sports products

that, says Darren Jones of

SilencerCo’s marketing

department, will be afford-

able to the average shooter.

“We are definitely not

moving away from what we

have done in the past and do

best, making what we

believe are the best suppres-

sors on the market today,”

he says. “But we looked at

the technical expertise we

have, and the creative team

we’ve assembled, and we

decided it was time to use

that talent to develop prod-

ucts that go beyond what

we’ve done with our sup-

pressors.”

The first new product

from SilencerCo Weapons

Research is the Radius, a

rail-mounted rangefinder

capable of ranging out to a

mile on a reflective target.

The Radius attaches to a

Picatinny rail, in any orien-

tation, and quickly tells a

shooter the range of his or

her intended target. I had a

chance to use the Radius on

a recent hunt and found it

to work exceptionally well.

No need for a separate

rangefinder. With your rifle

on the shoulder, you can

easily range out to your

intended target with the

rifle still in the shooting

position, so you are ready

to take that quick shot.

SilencerCo also has

entered into agreements

with various firearms mak-

ers and other outdoor-relat-

ed businesses to offer sup-

pressor/firearms packages

as well as SilencerCo-

branded products. It has

expanded its line of thread-

ed pistol barrels to include

the popular Glock 19 pistol,

too, and will offer a number

of other barrels in 2016.

(silencerco.com)

Way Outside the BoxSilencerCo moves past suppressors by brian MCCoMbie

At the Bonnier Outdoor Group

SHOT Show breakfast, SHOT

Business honored seven indus-

try leaders. The honorees were

Kittery Trading Post,

Independent Retailer of the

Year; Cabela’s, Chain Retailer

of the Year; Hornady, Company

of the Year; AcuSport,

Distributor of the Year; Tom

Milner, RSR, Sales

Representative of the Year;

Shoot Smart, Range of the

Year; and David Baron (shown,

right), Person of the Year.

2016

SHOT

Business

Awards

SilencerCo is expanding its product line to include the

Maxim 9, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol that comes with

an integrated suppressor.


Popsicles, swinging, and bend-

ing barrels. They’re all are

ingredients of Savage’s recipe

for accuracy. Savage makes the

most accurate affordable rifles, or per-

haps the most affordable accurate

rifles, in the industry. On a recent tour

of the plant in Westfield,

Massachusetts, I got a firsthand look at

how that accuracy is built in.

An un-airconditioned 1960s-era fac-

tory is a warm place on an August

afternoon, and the arrival of the

Popsicle cart that circulates the factory

floor is a welcome event.

Free Popsicles are one small way

Savage takes care of its workers, who

also receive performance bonuses

when the company exceeds its month-

ly production targets.

A motivated workforce makes better

rifles, especially on an assembly line

where, at times, there is no substitute

for skilled human eyes and hands. After

the final turning, every barrel is checked

by eye for straightness. The worker puts

the barrel into a jig, then peers down

the bore. If he doesn’t like what he sees,

he turns a crank, and the barrel flexes in

the jig and springs back. Only when the

barrel is deemed straight does it go on.

The completed barrel, receiver, and

bolt are then “swung,” which is the

process of fitting the receiver, barrel,

and bolt together to achieve a precise

headspace tolerance, which Savage

believes enhances accuracy. Swinging

the Savage way means performing that

step early in the production process,

then immediately separating the fitted

Affordable AccuracyThe secret to the success of Savage’s rifles is found on the factory floor by PhiL boUrJaiLy

The author at work at the

Savage factory, where he

learned firsthand the

process by which Savage

ensures the accuracy of

its rifles.

To see all four issues of

SHOT Daily in full, go to shot

business.com.

Read More Online


The M1 Carbine was developed as an alterna-tive to the traditional sidearm during World War II, and it has remained a popular and sought-after firearm with shooting collectors and enthusiasts. The carbine was also used long after the war, including in a unique role in Vietnam, where field-modified versions were chopped down by U.S. advisors, Special Forces, and most notably the tunnel rats. This group opted for a compact version, as even full-length carbines still proved to be too long in such close quarters.

Originals of these cut-down versions are almost unheard of today, but now collectors

can get their hands on a modern version that is as close to the original as possible. Inland Manufacturing, which picked up the mantle of the original Inland Company, offered a modern take on the M1 Carbine last year, and now for 2016, the company has introduced the Advisor (SRP: $1,238), a .30-caliber pistol that is a legal chopped-and-shortened version of the classic carbine.

The Advisor is a compact 21 inches overall and features military-type sights and a low-wood walnut stock. The 12-inch barrel is topped off with a military-style flash hider. The barrel thread is ½ x 28, allowing it to be used with a properly registered aftermarket sound suppressor.

Again, the key was not to create a fantasy piece but to produce replicas that are as close as possible to those original M1 Carbines that were cut down for specific jobs in country.

“The Advisor is a historically accurate fire-arm,” says Charles Brown, president of MKS Supply LLC, which is marketing the firearm. “It is like holding history in your hands.” This slimmed-down version, which weighs 4.5 pounds, is thus officially a pistol. It comes

with a military-style cloth sling and one 15-round magazine. It can also accommo-date original M1 Carbine 10- and 30-round military magazines. (mkssupply.com)

—Peter Suciu

A Bit of Historybarrel/receiver from the bolt for

bead blasting and black oxiding

before reuniting each matched set.

It’s a headache for the process engi-

neer, whose job is to make the line

run efficiently.

“I come from the world of tool

manufacturing,” he told me. “I

argued against this step, but manage-

ment said no—this is how we make

accurate rifles. So we do it this way.”

Savage Packaged Rifles

After the assembly stage, many of

the rifles go to one last step—scope

mounting and bore sighting—before

they’re proofed, function-tested, and

packaged. Between 50 and 70 percent

of the roughly 2,000 rifles that come

off the line every day are scoped and

sold as packages. It’s a trend driven

by new shooters, who want an inex-

pensive rifle they can take out of the

box and go straight to the range.

I did the assembly on a Trophy

Hunter, which is the top-of-the-line

of Savage’s three packaged center-

fires. The Trophy Hunter is the same

basic Model 11/16 upon which

Savage built its reputation for accura-

cy, though it comes without the rigid,

aluminum-reinforced AccuStock of

the regular Savage rifles. Available in

long and short actions, it’s topped

with a 3–9x40mm Nikon scope.

The other two centerfires Savage

sells as a package are based on the

Axis rifles. Designed as Savage’s bud-

get rifle, the Axis has a different stock

design and has been simplified so that

it goes together quickly on the line.

The Axis II, the higher-grade rifle,

comes with Savage’s innovative

AccuTrigger and a Weaver Kaspa

scope. The entry-level Axis package

lacks the AccuTrigger, comes with a

Bushnell scope, and sells for as little

as $400.

When you compare Savages against

other brands, the AccuTrigger found

on all but the base model Axis is a

great selling point. A brilliant engi-

neering solution to the heavy “lawyer

triggers” found on many rifles, the

AccuTrigger is very safe, yet it can be

easily and safely adjusted by the user

to give an excellent pull. (savage

arms.com)

A couple of years ago, Savage introduced a

modernized version of its old Model 24 O/U

combination shotgun/rifle. They called the plas-

tic-stocked gun the Model 42. It combines a .22

LR or .22 WMR barrel with a .410, and the result

makes a handy camp or survival gun, just as the

originals did. Now the 42 comes in a takedown

model. I was able to look at one when I visited

the factory. Push a button, slide the forend for-

ward, and the gun comes apart at the hingepin.

It snaps back together instantly. It’s a gun you

can pack anywhere (it comes with a carry bag),

and still sells for the same price: $485.

Model

42

Takedown

The Savage

Model 42

Takedown is a

contemporary

take on the old

Model 24 combo. The Advisor is a .30-caliber pistol

that is a legal chopped-and-

shortened version of the historic

M1 Carbine.


When David

Miles,

Mossberg’s

marketing

director, decided to

upgrade the 930 auto-

loader line, he knew he

didn’t have the reinvent

the wheel. But what he

did next was a leap of

faith. Rather than tweak

an existing product, he

decided to consult with

a shotgun instructor

with fervent ideas about

how to help shooters

become better shots.

Gil Ash and his wife,

Vicki, are the propri-

etors of OSP (Optimum

Shotgun Performance)

School. Both are NSCA

Level III certified, so

they are eminently qual-

ified to judge shotgun

design.

Which leads us to the

new Mossberg 930 Pro-

Series Sporting, which

made its debut at the

2016 SHOT Show. I had

an opportunity to shoot

with Miles and the

Ashes last fall with pre-

production prototypes

and learn firsthand

about some of the qual-

ities that make this

shotgun so special.

This shotgun comes

in one model: a 3-inch

12-gauge with a walnut

stock, a 28-inch ported

barrel, an engraved

Cerakote receiver, a bev-

eled loading gate, and

Briley extended chokes

(IC, Mod, and Skeet).

The trigger is crisp, with

virtually no creep.

The real story, how-

ever, is found aft of the

receiver. The comb is

very narrow at the

front. At the same time,

it’s not very wide at the

back. This is done

because, according to

Gil, the most important

part of these dimensions

is where the gun touches

a shooter’s face. “That’s

at the midpoint in the

comb. This comb is very

narrow, and at the same

time it has a lot of drop.

“The narrower the

comb, the less cast you

need; the lower the

comb, the less cast you

need. It will fit a right-

handed or left-handed

shooter equally well

because of the design.”

In other words, cast is

no longer an issue. Have

your customers mount

the gun in the store.

They’ll instantly see

what he’s talking about.

They’ll also like the

Prince of Wales Grip.

SRP: $1,084.

(mossberg.com)

Leap of FaithMossberg’s new sporting clays shotgun uses a radical idea by SLaTon L. WHiTe

Right- and left-handed shooters can shoot the 930 Pro-Series

Sporting equally well because of the drop in the stock and the

narrow comb.

“Bad data is worse than no data,” said Jim

Curcuruto, NSSF’s Director of Industry Research

and Analysis, at the end of Market Research

101, a seminar that capped off SHOT Show

University. The presentation, co-hosted by Rob

Southwick and Nancy Bacon of Southwick

Associates, covered the basics of market

research for retailers, manufacturers, and

range operators.

The session began with an overview of the

various industry data indicators—existing

information that has been consolidated by

NSSF for use by its members. But Bacon also

covered common crafting pitfalls when it

comes to conducting your own market

research. Be sure to ask one question at a time,

avoid leading words, and don’t use vague or

relative terms. Most of all, said Bacon, “Don’t

let them say ‘It depends.’ If your respondents

can answer that way, you haven’t posed your

question properly.”

Southwick discussed the times when you

want to engage a professional researcher.

Doing research on your own is fine for simple

information, but for more complex questions

(or when there are high stakes hinging on the

results), it’s best to engage a professional

research firm; NSSF works with a variety of

researchers and can recommend one that

suits the information you need. Southwick

Associates also conducts an annual omnibus

survey incorporating specialized and confi-

dential questions from a variety of companies

in the industry. This survey generally closes in

March; contact Nancy Bacon at Nancy@

SouthwickAssociates.com for more informa-

tion for next year.

Market research can help you identify what

your customers value about your brand, but

perhaps more important is what you can find

out about people who aren’t your customers.

After all, that’s where your business has the

most potential for growth. —Robert F. Staeger

Targeted Inquiry


For years now,

Browning has offered

hunters branded

apparel within cer-

tain “families” of product

lines. Think of Hydro-Fleece,

Browning’s first foray into

technical outdoor clothing. It

gave hunters a quiet combi-

nation of waterproof, wind-

proof, and breathable protec-

tion. Launched in 1993, and

offered in many variations,

Hydro-Fleece soon became

the popular choice for many

bow and gun hunters.

More recently, Browning

introduced its Hell’s Canyon

line of apparel for men and

Hell’s Bells for women, both

versions aimed squarely at

the big-game hunting mar-

ket. The line offers hunters

everything from base layers

and raingear to scent-

control clothing, all in the

distinctive Hell’s Canyon

pattern. For 2016, Browning

has gone a step further with

its new Hell’s Canyon Speed

line, incorporating a new,

proprietary ATACS camou-

flage pattern into a full slate

of outdoor clothing.

Concurrently, Browning

has introduced a centerfire

rifle decked out in the same

camo pattern—the X-Bolt

Hell’s Canyon Speed. It’s

even jumped into the ammu-

nition market, producing

centerfire rifle and handgun

rounds as well as rimfire and

shotgun ammunition.

“We think this new ‘sub-

family’ marketing approach

will be a real help to retail-

ers,” says Rafe Nielsen,

Browning’s communica-

tions manager. “When cus-

tomers see the new Hell’s

Canyon Speed line, they

will see that they can buy

everything in that line from

base layers to four-in-one

parkas, and even a rifle in

the same camo pattern. And

they will be able to buy all

of it at the same store.”

Judging by the snug fit,

the Speed line clearly has

been designed for the more

athletic, more adventurous

hunter. The products range

from base layers (SRP: $59 to

$99) and lightweight and

midweight jackets and pants

(SRP: $99 to $189) to insulat-

ed and rainwear items at

price points of $229 to $279.

Gloves, hats, and other acces-

sories will also be offered in

the Speed ATACS pattern.

I had a chance to try out

the new Speed clothing on a

deer hunt last fall, where it

performed well in varying

weather conditions. The

ATACS pattern itself will be

available in two versions: in

the AU or arid pattern, a

great choice for hunters in

the West (the pattern I used),

and the FG or foliage/green

pattern, for those hunting

east of the Mississippi River.

The hunt also gave me

the opportunity to evaluate

the X-Bolt Speed rifle and

the new Browning center-

fire ammunition. The light-

weight X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon

Speed rifle is built on the

popular Browning X-Bolt

platform, with some signifi-

cant upgrades. The rugged

composite stock is done in

the Speed AU pattern, while

the fluted barrel, receiver,

and bolt are Cerakoted in

Burnt Bronze. The rifle will

be chambered in standard

calibers from .243 to .300

Win. Mag., including 6.5

Creedmoor and .26 Nosler.

The rifle looks cool; more

important, it’s a shooter.

Once my rifle, chambered in

.30/06, was sighted in, my

first three-shot group mea-

sured under one inch at 100

yards. I really liked the

60-degree bolt lift, too. It

kept my thumb and fingers

clear of the scope when

cycling the action and

allowed me to chamber a

new round quickly and easi-

ly (SRP: $1,200).

Throughout my time at

the range and in the field, I

used Browning’s new BXR

Rapid Expansion ammuni-

tion, made with a special

matrix tip of copper and

polymer. Designed specifi-

cally for deer hunting, this

particular round’s matrix tip

disintegrates once it is an

inch to an inch and a half

into the deer, at which point

the deep hollowpoint

begins its rapid expansion.

I took a 200-pound muley

at about 120 yards. The sin-

gle shoulder shot flattened

the deer where it stood.

The other hunters in camp

also killed their deer

(muleys or whitetails) with

single shots. The wounds I

saw when the animals were

field dressed revealed mas-

sive energy transfer and

extensive trauma. (browning.com)

The author with a deer taken while using Browning’s

X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed rifle and the company’s

new Browning-branded centerfire ammo.

Triple PlayBrowning’s new camo, rifle, and ammo are designed to keep a hunter in the “family” by brian mccombie


Coming soon to a residential

area near you: whitetails,

coyotes, and hogs. Whether

it is the woodchuck in the

garden, the raccoon in the garbage

can, the bear under the bird feeder,

the deer and the coyotes almost

everywhere, or the feral hogs explod-

ing across the landscape, people are

colliding with wildlife.

When the interests of people and

wildlife come into conflict, typically

the next thing that happens is a

phone call to state wildlife authorities

or to a private contractor. Sometimes

trapping/tranquilizing and moving is

the answer. Depending upon the

jurisdiction and the species, however,

it can be flatly illegal to relocate an

animal. Sometimes there is a sub-

stantial breeding population in the

area, so that relocating one individual

animal becomes a symbolic but ulti-

mately useless act. And sometimes

lethal removal of the wildlife is the

only sensible answer.

That’s where big-bore airguns—

air rifles of .30- to .50-caliber—come

in. Chip Hunnicutt, marketing man-

ager for Crosman Corporation, says,

“When it comes to lethal wildlife

control in an urban or suburban

environment, you want limited

range, not a lot of noise, and—above

all—sufficient accuracy and power

to provide a humane kill. Big-bore

airguns deliver all that in a package

that is easy to shoot well.”

Big-bore airguns also present an

opportunity for firearms dealers

because they provide a solution for

wildlife control in many venues

where discharging firearms is forbid-

den. A number of states have

approved, or are in the process of

approving, the use of large-caliber

airguns for harvesting deer. In addi-

tion, airguns often offer greater prof-

it margins than firearms.

Chuck Sykes, Alabama’s director

of wildlife, says, “Large-bore airguns

serve the purpose very well. You

need to be proficient and know what

range you are effective at, but you

can kill a 180- to 250-pound deer at

100 yards with one. For nuisance

wildlife control, anyone can afford

them, anyone can use them, and it’s

a lot cheaper to use an airgun than a

firearm, with all the hassle and

expense of a suppressor.”

Barry Stewart, a rancher with in-

depth experience in wildlife control,

says, “I use airguns for reduction of

noise. If you are looking at a whole

group of feral hogs, with a .223 you

won’t get a second shot, but with an

airgun you could. I get 1- to 1.25-

inch accuracy at 100 yards with a

Benjamin Bulldog, and it makes just

as humane a kill as a firearm.”

Hunnicutt attended the

Association of Fish and Wildlife

Agencies annual meeting in Tucson

last fall and found wildlife managers

advocating the use of large-bore air-

guns for a number of applications.

“There is a lot of potential in this

market,” he says. A .30-caliber has

more than enough energy for taking

problem wildlife such as prairie

dogs, rock chucks, ground hogs,

skunks, raccoons, beavers, and foxes

out to 100 yards and coyotes out to

75 yards, but can cause other prob-

lems if a miss occurs or the animal is

too close and the projectile passes

through. In short, shooters need to

match the air rifle and pellet selec-

tion not only to the targeted wildlife,

but also to the shooting conditions

at hand.

Three things are clear: the inci-

dence of conflicts between wildlife

and people is likely to grow; big-

bore airguns can play an important

role in helping to deal with the prob-

lem; and large-caliber airguns pres-

ent an opportunity for dealers to sell

air rifles, ammunition, scopes,

mounts, rangefinders, and other

accessories that can add handsomely

to the bottom line. (crosman.com)

Big Problem, Big SolutionBig-bore airguns are just the ticket for nuisance wildlife control by JoCk eLLiott

This coyote was taken with a Benjamin Bulldog bolt-action .357

PCP airgun. A baffle-less SoundTrap shroud acts as a suppres-

sor to lower noise levels. The rifle also has an easy-to-load

five-shot magazine.

facebook/tcarmsco instagram/tcarmscotwitter/tcarmsco

#TCCOMPASS

www.TCARMS.com

FOLLOW YOUR

youtube/tcarmsco


Ten years ago, a team of four

U.S. Navy SEALs was inserted

into the Hindu Kush to put eyes

on a known terrorist. Of those

four men, three were killed, and one of

those three was Petty Officer Second

Class (SEAL) Matthew “Axe” Axelson.

Axe fought valiantly—he was a true

warrior, and he made the ultimate sac-

rifice to protect his military brothers. In

the wake of his death, his brother by

birth, Jeff Axelson, grappled with a

decision he’d hoped to never face: how

best to honor his brother’s memory. In

the end, it was simple, really. Jeff would

turn one of his brother’s passions into

something tangible, something every-

one could participate in. And that’s

Never Quit. Never SurrenderAxelson Tactical was founded to honor the memory of a fallen warrior by katie ainsworth

Former SEAL Ron

Bellan with Axelson

rifles. The line

includes the Warrior

Series Precision, The

Combat Series, and

The Signature Series.

www.LymanProducts.com

All clean.No mess.The Cyclone Rotary Tumbler is fast, effective,

and hands-down delivers the best results of

any brass cleaning method.

The included steel pin media and cleaning

solution make quick work of stubborn tarnish

and grit. Steel media is virtually indestructible,

ready for reuse, and perfectly sized to reach

every contour of every casing.

The Cyclone also includes our patent-pending,

dual pan sifting system. This revolutionary

sifting technology separates casings, media

pins, and cleaning solution simultaneously,

greatly decreasing clean up time.

So you’ll get more brilliant brass, more

quickly – with a whole lot less mess.


how Axelson Tactical was born.

First came the commemorative AXE

Special Purpose Rifle, chambered in

.223 Remington and engraved with a

trident. Only 100 AXE rifles were man-

ufactured, and it wasn’t long before Jeff

and his team—which is heavily staffed

by military veterans—knew it was time

for a complete line of firearms. Axelson

Tactical has now opened production

with a trifecta of rifles, one for each

prong of Poseidon’s Trident: the

Warrior, Signature, and Combat Series.

Warrior Series Precision rifles are

chambered in 5.56 NATO; Warrior

Precision I and II rifles are chambered

in .223 Wylde. All have a 16-inch barrel

with a 1:8 twist, topped with muzzle

brakes. The Precision gets the Axelson

Tactical Talon muzzle brake, and the I

and II are fitted with the BattleComp

1.0 muzzle brake. There are eight

Cerakote options, ranging from Desert

to Battleworn. SRP: starts at $1,949.

Combat Series rifles come cham-

bered in 5.56 NATO, .300 BLK, .308

Win., and 9mm. In addition to the rifles

that come with a Faxon chrome-lined

16-inch barrel, this series also includes

SBR and pistol options. Features on

Combat guns include Axelson Tactical

BCGs and muzzle brakes. Cerakote

options (10 in all) vary by rifle and

include Kryptek Banshee and Multicam

Black (SRP: starts at $1,249).

The Signature Series currently con-

sists of one rifle, the Reaper01 AR-10.

This rifle is the creation of former

SEAL and current professional hunter

Ron Bellan. The Reaper01 is cham-

bered in .308 Win. and has a 16-inch

Proof Research barrel with a 1:10

twist. It features a Geissele Automatics

SSA-E trigger, an adjustable low-pro-

file .825 gas block, and an Axelson

Tactical Talon muzzle brake. The

Cerakote finish is Desert Camo (SRP:

$3,849).

Back when Axe was still in BUD/S,

he had a rare weekend of leave and

shared a beer with his brother. In a seri-

ous moment, he posed this question to

Jeff: “Do you think you would have the

courage to risk your life to save a

friend?” Just a few short years later,

Axe’s question became his reality, and

the answer was a resounding “Yes.”

Jeff Axelson says, “In the heat of bat-

tle, your thoughts should be focused on

the fight ahead and protecting those

around you, not on your gear.

Trustworthy gear is absolutely vital.

Never quit. Never surrender.”

(axelsontactical.com)

To see all four issues of

SHOT Daily in full, go to shot

business.com.

Read More Online

G U N C O M P A N Y

ITHACA

The New Ithaca Hunting Rifle


B Y R I C H A R D M A N NG O O D S T U F F

Hunters spend more time carrying a rifle than shooting it, but the ideal rifle sling should make both jobs easier. Growing up hunting in West Virginia, we didn’t watch bean fields or sit in cozy blinds. We walked far, climbed mountains, forded creeks, and crawled over and under things. I realized early on the importance of a carry sling, but I struggled to find one that would keep my rifle on my shoulder.

In the military and as a dedi-

cated police marksman I

learned a sling could enhance

shooter steadiness, but just

wrapping it around your sup-

port arm only keeps it from

swaying under the rifle. To real-

ly “sling up,” a purpose-built

sling is required. None of those

provide comfortable carry.

The Prototype➤ I decided to make my own

that would serve both purpos-

es. Using the backwoods inge-

nuity I learned from Grandpa,

I cobbled together a functional

carrying and shooting sling.

During a trip to Gunsite

Academy, I showed it to Mike

Barham of Galco Gunleather

and urged him to consider its

utility. A few weeks later he

asked if Galco could borrow

my sling and tinker with it.

Given Galco’s reputation for

quality gear, I was excited this

might lead to more than just a

hillbilly-engineered strap.

Soon Galco sent a sample,

much better assembled than

the contraption I’d concocted,

and asked what I wanted for

the idea. I suggested rifle slings

for life. They foolishly accept-

ed, I assume because they had

no idea how many rifles I own.

Galco sort of named the new

strap after me, and the

RifleMann sling was intro-

duced at the 2016 SHOT Show.

A Carry Sling➤ There are essentially four

methods for using a sling to

carry a hunting rifle. American

Carry is where the rifle is sup-

ported muzzle up on the left or

right shoulder. The RifleMann

sling assists with this method

because a thick, suede-lined

patch helps to hold it in place.

With European Carry, the rifle

is braced in front of the body

by the support hand, sling on

the support shoulder. It might

be best described as reverse

American Carry, and the pad-

ded section on my sling again

helps with comfort and security.

African Carry, where the

rifle is supported muzzle down

on the non-shooting side, is

also popular. The RifleMann

sling keeps the rifle in place

when carrying in this manner,

too. Cross-Body Carry might

be the most useful because it

keeps both hands free. The

RifleMann sling works well in

this application because its

quick-adjust feature lets you

cinch it tight, preventing wob-

ble while dragging a deer or

negotiating rough terrain.

A Shooting Sling➤ There are two ways to use a

sling for shooting support. You

can use the loop-method

(Ching-style) on your support

arm or use a quick-adjust snip-

er/triceps technique on your

shooting arm. When shooting

with forward rifle support or

support for your shooting

arm, the sniper method gener-

ally works best. If you can

brace your support arm, the

Ching method can be just as

effective. The RifleMann sling

has an extra strap adjacent to

the wide padded section to

allow for Ching-like shooting

support. Its quick-adjusting

feature enables utilization of

the sniper technique.

“Using the triceps part of the

sling, you can keep yourself

very low and put only a mini-

mal amount of yourself above

cover/concealment, and still

have that super stable shooting

platform,” says Jill Willert, a

Galco R&D engineer. “When

resting on something or using

cover in a blind, I think the tri-

ceps [sniper technique] wins out

over more conventional slings.”

Most important, the solid and

tight sniper technique greatly

enhances off hand shooting.

Affordable and Practical➤ Because Galco currently

manufactures the Safari Ching

Sling, I knew company person-

nel could improve on my

design. They did, and now

shooters have one sling that

will help them carry and shoot

their rifle better. SRP: $49.95.

(galcogunleather.com)

A Better IdeaGalco’s Rifl eMann sling off ers better

carrying and better shooting

From prototype to

finished SKU, this is

a product designed

by shooters for

shooters.


W H AT ’ S S E L L I N G W H E R E

WABig J’s Outdoor

Sports, Orting Sitting just out-

side Tacoma, this 13,000-square-

foot general outdoor sporting

goods store sent four staff mem-

bers to SHOT Show. Soft goods

and training at SHOT University

were the priorities for two of the

staff members. “The training is so

informative. As an office manager, I

learned more than I could ever have

imagined,” said office manager/

buyer Sandy Birkeland.

Ladies shooting accessories

topped the list, with purchases at

Can Can Concealment and

Flashbang Holsters. Other added

lines included Wiley-X eyewear.

Stops at SIG, Smith, and Daniel

Defense were added to the four full

days spent at the show.

Birkeland said her pedometer

recorded 12.5 miles in a single day.

COTimberdale Firearms

Company, Bayfield This

small, rural independent is located

in southwest Colorado, just outside

of Durango. It stocks fewer than

200 guns. Handguns were the prior-

ity at the show for this retailer. The

owner completed most of his new-

product viewing within the first two

days. “I try to cover a lot of ground

early in the show. Once the crowd

swells, communicating with ven-

dors in the larger booths is a real

challenge,” said owner Jim Tencza.

Smith and Glock had this retailer

busy during the first morning;

Taurus was the focus much of the

afternoon. Tencza mentioned that

meeting with distributors is always

a priority while in Vegas. “We are a

very small shop, and I actually got

to meet my Davidson sales guy. It

may not sound like a big deal, but it

can make a big difference.” Other

distributor meetings included RSR

and Sports South.

CAPhelan Gun Range, Phelan

After having attended SHOT for the

first time, this central California

gun range and retail store will open

its doors in late 2016 with eight

lanes and more 1,500 square feet

of retail and classroom space.

Buying range equipment and fire-

arms was this group’s collective

goal. “I really have no idea where

else we could have gone to receive

the range information along with

the purchase power that SHOT

gives us,” said buyer Tim Davis.

Action Target was a key stop.

“We really found much of what we

needed there, and their experience

has guided us through the range-

construction process,” said Davis.

ILTop Shot Academy,

Hoffman Estates With two

employees, this established shoot-

ing and training company was at

SHOT Show to purchase new prod-

uct for a range they are planning to

open in the city of Chicago.

Reloading, target, and handgun

manufacturers were the priority for

this team, but one must-stop-by

booth was the H&K to view the

VP9 in .40 caliber. Other stops

included Dillon Press, Next Level

Training, Century Arms, and Action

Targets.

“You can only imagine the pit-

falls facing a small company like

ours opening a retail shooting and

training facility in Chicago. The

combination of information, such

as that we received at the NSSF’s

SHOT University and other retail

seminars, will allow our company

to grow successfully and soundly,”

said owner Chip Eberhart.

MIThe Lead Shed, Jackson This

8,500-square-foot range and retail

store will be opening this summer,

so attending SHOT was a must.

Looking for information and range

equipment absorbed most of this

storeowner’s time, though he found

time to attend SHOT University. “I

have no idea where else I could

have gotten all the information on

both product and purchasing in one

place. The classes gave me confi-

dence that there are systems in

place for my company to have a

strong business model,” said owner

Kenneth Brindle.

Writing orders at Action Target

and MGM Targets was a large part

of the trip.

“These range manufacturers had

resources that made my trip worth

every penny I spent,” said Brindle.

WIT&L Tactical, Manitowoc

This small, family-run northeastern

Wisconsin shop stocks a large

number of accessories as well as

100 guns in 400 square feet. It sent

two employees to the SHOT Show.

The staff attended SHOT with the

goal of finding inventory for women

shooters.

“There was an amazing amount

of new product for women at this

year’s show. I would also say that it

kept us so busy that we didn’t

make it to many of the major fire-

arms manufacturers,” said co-

owner Laurie Fettig.

Some of the booths that

received attention included Gun

Tote’n Momas, Sticky Holsters, and

Concealed Carrie.

West

Midwest


B Y P E T E R B . M AT H I E S E N

SCPalmetto State Armory,

Columbia This large indepen-

dent has five retail outlets as well

as online distribution. It sent more

than 16 employees to SHOT. When

it comes to the gun buyer’s respon-

sibilities, it’s all about the details.

“The goal is to always find some-

thing new, but it’s just as important

to sustain relationships with ven-

dors you work with every day,” said

buyer Jason Dickey.

One of the products that caught

this buyer’s eye was SIG’s reintro-

duction of the P210. “This is a great

example of a classic product that

will be available to the U.S. market

through SIG’s U.S. facility. We

expect it to sell well this year,” he

said.

Another important stop included

significant time at the Vista

Outdoor booth.

GAClyde Armory, Athens With two

retail locations to supply, this

retailer specializes in both home-

protection and law-enforcement

firearms. One location includes a

25,000-square-foot facility that is

actually built as a stone-and-

blockhouse armory with turrets

and a moat. The company sent

three out of 30 employees to

Vegas.

“Covering ground with our best

manufacturers is an absolute pri-

ority. We go to SHOT to learn and

connect,” said owner/CEO Andrew

Clyde. While at the show, this

retailer received the Law

Enforcement Retailer of the Year

Award from both Colt and Daniel

Defense.

A visit also was made to Magtech

to view the new .300 Blackout

ammo. Other stops included a

relentless search for .22 Mag.

ammo at Federal and Hornady.

LAThe Shooter’s Club, Harahan

With plans to open the company’s

third range facility this summer,

attending Vegas was an imperative.

As a result, this retailer sent three

of its 10 employees to the show.

Handgun orders were written at

F&N, Glock, and Ruger.

A large order was placed to trial

Ruger’s new PolyCase ARX ammu-

nition. “It takes careful coordination

from our staff to do everything we

need to get done at SHOT. It’s fun,

but we have to be on our game,”

said assistant manager Devvin

Burgess. With a new range under

construction that will offer the abil-

ity to shoot full-auto tactical equip-

ment, this retailer looked to Action

Target to supply the entire facility.

PAThe Sportsman’s

Shop, East Earl Located in

eastern Pennsylvania between

Lancaster and Philadelphia, this

retailer expanded into a new

25,000-square-foot facility in 2015

that includes education training

rooms and an indoor range. The

show was attended by two people.

Training and developing relation-

ships with vendors that supply

indoor range equipment were high

priorities.

“We split class training responsi-

bilities between us, while all booths

were attended by both my wife and

me,” said general manager Anthony

Keffer. Ladies shooting products

across the board were also a high-

demand segment. Even after

attending three distributor shows

for the season, Keffer said, SHOT is

a can’t-miss event for this store.

MAPullman Arms,

Worcester This dealer, which

specializes in tactical and police

firearms, offers extensive firearms

training. The retailer is located in

east-central Massachusetts and

has 1,300 square feet of floor

space and more than 800 firearms

in stock. Four of its eight employ-

ees went to Vegas.

Finding a way to add a shooting

range was this store’s major 2016

goal. “While we have impressive

product turns, we know that an

indoor shooting range would

improve them. However, our store’s

small footprint just makes that

impossible, so we spent much of

our time looking at portable rang-

es,” said co-owner Alicia Merritt.

One of the companies visited

was Shooting Range Industries,

which offers modular, self-

contained, state-of-the-art shoot-

ing trailers that can be set up in a

retailer’s parking lot.

NHGun & Sport North, Salem

This small independent shop is

located in southern New

Hampshire. It sports 1,500 square

feet of retail floor space with an

average inventory of 300 firearms.

The store sent one employee to

Vegas. This retailer uses a top 10

strategy to work the show floor. “I

go to SHOT knowing what my top

10 SKUs are. I make an effort to

talk to those specific vendors and

to identify the accessories that will

best fit those SKUs first,” said

owner Tony Forgetta.

Forgetta mentioned that in addi-

tion to attending SHOT University,

he spent several hours in the ATF

and NICS classes.

South

East

Ozonics Hunting➤ Ozonics makes the first and only in-the-

field ozone generator designed to blanket

human scent with scent-destroying ozone.

Unlike any other scent-control product,

Ozonics units continuously deal with the

scent in your hunting area by projecting

altered scent molecules that are undetect-

able by deer and other scent-savvy game.

The new HR-300 is the result of more

than five years of field research and product

development. Designed using end-user

feedback, the HR-300 delivers a 45 percent

increase in ozone production over its prede-

cessor, the HR-200. The new design utilizes

a revamped housing and re-engineered

internal components. The new ergonomic

construction is also easier to handle and has

an improved user interface, with intuitive

controls designed for easy use with gloves

in the dark. The HR-300 also comes with

Integrated Pulse Technology, which is a

proprietary technology that balances time,

airflow, and ozone concentration to effec-

tively ensure the right amount of oxidant

needed to deodorize you and your gear.

SRP: $599.99. (ozonicshunting.com)

Edgecraft➤ Chef ’sChoice’s Sportsman Diamond

Hone Knife Sharpener Xtreme 317 was

developed to sharpen virtually any knife,

including hunting, pocket, and tactical

knives. By eliminating any guesswork, it

ensures uniformly sharp edges from tip

to bolster on even the thickest or heaviest

of knives. Two sharpening stages allow

the Xtreme 317 to apply a strong and

durable double-bevel arch-shaped edge.

COMING SOON.

FOR SMITH & WESSON M&P SHIELD

Laserguard® Pro™ is taking Standard Equipment to

the next level. Combining a Red Laser Sight and

150-Lumen LED White Light with Crimson Trace

patented Instinctive Activation™.

www.crimsontrace.com 800-442-2406

CONTACT US FOR FURTHER DETAILS

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N E W P R O D U C T S

The new HR-300 from Ozonics utilizes a revamped housing and re-

engineered internal components to deliver a 45 percent increase in ozone

production over its predecessor, the HR-200.

(Continued from page 54)

The Xtreme 317 sharpener works on a

broad range of knife types.

SRP: $99.99. (chefschoice.com)

Lowa

➤ Lowa’s popular Innox GTX Mid hiker

boot is now available in digital camo, mak-

ing the boot the company’s first camou-

flage product for U.S. distribution. The

lightweight hiker is ideal for stalking and

early-season hunts. A featherlight synthetic

upper provides supportive comfort, while

Lowa’s injected PU sole technology and

Monowrap construction deliver outstand-

ing support and stability. A waterproof and

breathable Gore-Tex lining keeps feet cool

and dry. The NXT sole is sticky enough for

rocks and metal grates, even when it’s wet.

SRP: $220. (lowaboots.com)

Helle

➤ Years ago, the Helle design team and

survival expert Les Stroud came together

to create a practical knife. An all-round

bestseller, the Helle Temagami continues

to attract accolades and praise for its sim-

ple, beautiful design. Building on this

respect for both quality and function, ini-

tial designs for the new

Mândra (pronounded

MON-dra) knife were con-

ceptualized over several

months. Only then were

prototypes hand-made at

the Helle factory in Norway

and sent to Stroud in

Romania for extensive field-

testing. This approach of

researching, prototyping,

field-testing and refinement

constitutes the backbone

and development of the Helle knife-

building philosophy.

The result is a full-tang knife with a

blade of triple-laminated stainless steel

and a handle made of curly birch. The

knife comes with a leather sheath. SRP:

$209. (helle.no)

Moultrie

➤ You don’t need to go into

the field to get data from a

Moultrie game camera. You

can remotely operate the

camera and view images

from your truck, couch, or

stand with any mobile

device. The MV1 Field

Modem is compatible with

multiple models of Moultrie

cameras, including most of

2015’s models. When the

images are captured, the

hunter is notified through text, email, or

via the free iOS or Android mobile app.

Hunters can organize, analyze, and share

socially in an instant. Monthly plans

require no contract, no commitment, no

activation fee, and no cancellation fees.

SRP: $199. (moultrie feeders.com)

Lethal Lace

➤ Made from high-quality stretch lace, the

universal Lethal Lace holster is a versatile

concealed-carry solution for women who

wear a variety of outfits that would other-

wise be ill-suited for carry. The holster

pocket can be placed anywhere on the body

(ankle, calf, thigh, hips, waist, chest, or

under the arm), and then the fabric is

pulled around several times to secure and

conceal the firearm—each wrap pressing

the handgun closer to the body comfort-

ably and securely. Fits both large and small

handguns, and also includes an extra pocket

for other items, such as a permit, ID, a

knife, or a set of keys.

Lethal Lace is also introducing Lethal-

Ace, a holster for men that functions the

same way, but made of spandex instead of

lace. One size fits most, up to a 43-inch

waist. SPR: $57.99. (lethallace.com)

Lowa’s GTX Mid hiker boot

is now available in digital

camo. The boot also

features an NXT sole and

a waterproof and

breathable Gore-Tex liner.


N E W P R O D U C T S

MV1 Field Modem

lets you control

cameras remotely.

The new Mândra is a full-tang knife with a blade of triple-

laminated stainless steel. The handle is curly birch.

Hoppe’sDeveloped for quick use when a deep

clean isn’t in the cards, Hoppe’s Gun

Medic Cleaner & Lube is a fast-acting,

all-in-one product that will clean and

lubricate a firearm with one applica-

tion. It’s like having a first-aid kit for

dirty firearms, eliminating malfunctions

caused by buildup of dirt and grime.

The revolutionary formula combines

a bio-based lubricant developed for jet

turbines with a cleaning agent that

scrubs away powder residue and then

evaporates in 60 seconds, leaving only

the thin coat of high-performance lube.

Available in 4-ounce and 10-ounce

sizes. SRP: ranges from $7.95 to $12.95.

(hoppes.com) (Continued on page 51)

P H O T O B Y J U S T I N A P P E N Z E L L E RN E W P R O D U C T S


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