by Michael A. Black
The 37th Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show, which is owned and managed by the National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF), was held in Las Vegas, Jan. 20-23 at the Sands Convention Center. Spread over 13 acres, it featured 16,000 exhibiting companies. Attendance was once again up at this year’s show with 64,000 people, the second highest attendance ever. My assignment was to check out the latest guns and products related to law enforcement.
Although the Show officially began on Jan. 20, the preceding Monday was Industry Day at the Range. Media professionals were bused to the Boulder City Rifle & Pistol Club. The sound of gunfire greeted us as we stepped off the bus. After a quick check-in, we passed through the gateway to the various ranges, which featured an array of rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, and even some machine guns. The staccato ripple of “full-auto” mixed with the more spaced rounds as everyone headed to do some shooting.
Winchester provided gelatin blocks that showed the penetration power of various rounds.
Our first stop was at the SilencerCo range station, where the instructors had fitted their latest sound suppressors on several firearms. There’s a lot of activity in the suppressor business these days as more states make them legal for hunting. As I waited, the whisper of the silenced rounds from a rifle sounded like quiet plinking noises. I settled in at the 25-yard line with two pistols. The first was a Glock 19, which proved a bit problematic. The cam of the silencer rose over the end of the barrel, and I found it impossible to acquire a sight picture. It was pure point-shooting. I asked the range instructor, Dewie Vieira, about this, and he suggested I try the H&K USP .45 full-size version. This higher slide design allowed me to line up the sights on the target and shoot much better. After compensating for the extra weight of the sound suppressor, I quickly planted the rounds in the center of the target. (SilencerCo also sponsored two additional training seminars at the show dealing with the proper use and applications of their popular suppressors.)
Author’s companion Shauna gets some instruction from instructor Dewie Vieira of SilencerCo on Range Day.
I made several more stops for more shooting, including the Smith & Wesson station, where I got to fire their polymer M&P40 and the new M&P40 Ported (smith-wesson.com). I marveled at the smooth trigger pulls. The second pistol had been fitted with a holographic sight, which provided a red dot to assist in aiming. While I still prefer the old fashioned way of lining up the front and rear sights, the holographic device certainly did allow for quick and accurate target acquisition.
The FLX activation strip fits onto the rails of the pistol to provide touch activation of the laser.
After visiting several shooting stations, we turned to the array of tents and exhibits that had been set up along the perimeter. Winchester had once again set out an assortment of gelatin blocks that showed the penetration power of various rounds. The expansion and fragmentation of the projectiles was readily visible through the translucent blocks. We also sniffed some Italian Gun Grease, a pleasant smelling, non-toxic cleaning solution that was designed to take the pungency out of weapon cleaning. Lansky Sharpeners showed us an array of their latest knives, sharpeners, and special hatchet tools, which are designed to be insulated against electrical shock. Such a tool is ideal for both firefighters and police entry-team members. CompTac Victory Gear demonstrated their latest concealed carry holsters, which feature inside-the-belt models with a specially designed backing that is comfortable against bare skin. The holsters, which are made of a durable, non-collapsible plastic, can be adjusted to fit various body types.
At the official opening on Tuesday I was able to tag up with my friend and editor, Joe Tartaro, at the Second Amendment Foundation booth . Although Joe had been out at the Boulder Range the day before, we hadn’t made contact. I subsequently ran into Chris Mijic, a representative from Impressum Media , which published an interactive DVD called The Firearms Guide 5th Edition. I’d done a review of the reference guide in late 2014, and Chris mentioned that he recommends GunMag.com whenever he can. He also said how impressed he was with Alan Gottlieb, the founder and executive vice-president of the Second Amendment Foundation, who is “always on television.”
The Coast LK375 Light Knife.
NSSF offered several training seminars for law enforcement. These programs included such topics as Active Shooter Update and the Advanced Police Officer, The Evolution of Handgun Sight Systems for Personal Protection, Law Enforcement Response to Suicidal Persons, and SWAT: Lessons Learned from Critical Incidents. After stopping by the NSSF booth to get the latest information on their Own it? Respect it. Secure it. Initiative, promoting firearm safety, my first appointment was with Coast Products to check out their new LK375 Light Knife. The tactical knife, which was designed with input from a retired Navy SEAL, features a locking, 3.75-inch stainless steel serrated blade with a waterproof, high-powered LED flashlight in the polycarbonate handle. That’s the same durable material used in jet canopies. I also checked out their latest folding-blade tactical knives, which feature handles of fiberglass-reinforced nylon over a steel frame.
The ALS LMT 40 mm Launcher fires a variety of rifled, less-lethal rounds.
ArmaLaser is one of the leading manufacturers of touch-activated weapons aiming lasers, having been founded by Richard Hovsepian, who invented the technology. The company offers a unique FLX activation strip that fits onto the rails and trigger guard of a pistol. The strip is impervious to water and gun cleaning solvent, and is specially designed to activate only by skin-touch. It will not turn on inside a holster, purse, or if the shooter is wearing gloves. The strips cannot be reused once removed, but the price is only $9.75.
Amtec Less-Lethal Systems, aka ALS, showed off their latest tactical launchers, including the single-shot LTM and LTMS. As a former law enforcement officer, I spent some extra time in the Law Enforcement sections of the SHOT Show. These launchers can deliver 40 or 37/38 mm projectiles containing CS, OC, or less-lethal projectiles with increased accuracy due to a special power band on the round that meshes with the rifling inside the barrel. The chemical disbursement comes courtesy of the fragmenting tip on the round, which shatters on impact. The effective range is 70 -100 yards. These launchers are composed of special 7075 aircraft aluminum, which make them both light and durable.
BulletSafe offers low-cost vests to people with dangerous jobs.
RedMan Training Gear offered their latest array of protective outfits. The longtime leader in blunt-force trauma training has a new line of suits that are specially designed to offer protection in both impact weapon and converted firearms training scenarios. As instructor Tim Duggin put it, “Some trainers want you to feel pain for your mistakes. We want to protect you.” The newer headgear and chest-plates were lighter in weight to allow greater movement, and ranged in price from $400 to $1500 for the entire suit. Such suits also have an on-duty application to afford protection to officers during riot situations, correctional disturbances, and cell extractions.
Regarding protection, Bullet Safe Bulletproof Vests is a company that prides itself on offering ballistic protection at a low price. Their non-custom designed, unisex vests are priced at only $299. While they do offer a discount to law enforcement, Bullet Safe primarily appeals to individuals in the private sector, like security guards, people with dangerous jobs, recreational shooters, and “doomsday preppers.” Their latest item is a bullet-proof baseball cap, which retails at $129.
The Solkoa Survival kit compresses into a small package, but contains a lot of material.
After recalling the loud noises on the range a few days before, I took the time to stop by SportEar to check out what was purported to be the world’s most advanced 100% digital hearing enhancement and protection devices. They also offered free hearing screenings. These small, digital devices can be custom fitted to your ear and not only block out any sudden, extreme noises, but also enhance your hearing just like a hearing-aid, separating background noise from regular conversations.
Equipment companies like Condor Outdoor Products and Solkoa Survival offered the latest in tactical gear. Condor specializes in tactical vests, plate carriers, modular pouches, and packs and has been in business over 20 years. Solkoa specializes in survival training and gear for the military and law enforcement based on over 30 years experience in survival, evasion, resistance, and escape techniques. Their line of products includes components, modules, and complete survival kits that can be fitted into a small packet. As part of the demonstration of their Fastfire product, a few small cubes of this special component was ignited with just a spark. Fastfire burns exothermically, consuming only the gases given off by the combustion, to produce an odorless, smokeless, waterproof, wind-resistant flame that can literally be extinguished with your fingers. The 1300-degree flame can easily ignite any tinder, including damp wood.
Fastfire burns endothermically to produce a hot, but smokeless flame.
Some of the latest guns were both eye-catching and innovative. At the Smith & Wesson booth I was in awe of the “Bone Collector,” the 460 XVR with a 7.56” barrel. The massive five-shot revolver fires a .460 magnum round and looks like it could stop a T-Rex. I also checked out the M&P40 Ported model. The ported barrel allows enhanced dissipation of the gas from a fired round, allowing for quicker target re-acquisition.
The Taurus Curve has a removable belt-hook, a laser, and an LED flashlight all in one.
Taurus introduced their “ultimate belly gun,” the .380 Curve. This compact pistol neatly fits into your hand and has a built-in laser and LED flashlight that can be activated with the push of a button. The double-action-only gun comes with a removable belt clip and an index-point on the frame for your trigger finger. The slight curve of the frame is specifically designed for a right-side carry, and it won’t fire if the five-round magazine is removed. Taurus also was showing off the latest enhancement of the P738 pistol. The slide has adjustable flanges, or “wings,” that can be folded out to provide an extra grip for pulling back the slide―something that makes it ideal for a shooter with arthritic hands. And Taurus also was showing off the removable hammer spur on their Model 85 revolver.
Ruger’s Model 5301 Super Redhawk Alaska revolver was impressive enough to give S&W’s Bone Collector a run for its money. Though the barrel is shorter that the Bone Collector’s, at 2.50-inch, the Redhawk can fire both .454 and .45 Long Colt rounds.
Weapons and products that appeal to women continued to be a significant attraction at this year’s show. NSSF released a new report called “Women Gun Owners: Purchasing, Perceptions and Participation” on the increasing female participation in gun ownership and shooting activities. It’s estimated that women now purchase about 25% of gun industry products. To this end, we checked out some of the latest accessories that female gunowners might like. Both Carry Cleanly and Concealed Carrie offered swank purses that could house a variety of pistols. Leslie Deets, of Concealed Carrie, advised that she takes fashion and functionality into consideration in the design of her products. Each purse contains a separate, concealed compartment that securely conceals the handgun in a safe, yet easily accessable manner. All handbags are ambidextrous and contain a removable, adjustable holster.
Each purse contains its own compartment and removable holster.
Francis Dorao of the Belgium-based PJL with some of his targets.
As usual, there were plenty of celebrities at the show. I got to chat with five-time Olympian Kim Rhode, as well as shake the hand of light-heavyweight boxing champion Sergey Kovalev. Soldier of Fortune magazine founder, Lt. Col. Robert K. Brown, was there, as was former Navy SEAL Jason Redman, the author of Trident.
My last stop was PJL Targets (pjltargets.com), owned by retired Belgium police officer Francis Dorao. Francis has an incredible assortment of life-like targets that can be adjusted to suit any range-training scenario. The illustrations for these targets are done by famous European comic-strip artist Malik. Francis commented that after the recent terrorist incidents in both France and Belgium, the use of his targets by European police agencies has significantly increased. He is looking for a new American distributor.
Although I stopped by several optics booths, I was a bit surprised that I didn’t see more in the way of body cameras. With the recent media stories extolling the virtues of such devices and their applicability to police/citizen interactions, I’m sure there’ll be new models coming out at next year’s show, which will once again be held at the Sands in Las Vegas in January 2016.
