by Dave Workman | Senior Editor
No sooner will the holidays fade into the background than tens of thousands of people in the firearms industry will descend on Las Vegas for the 2015 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show, the largest firearms industry show of its kind in the world.
TGM will be covering the event start-to-finish, looking at new products and even trying out some of the new guns and loads at the range one day before the show opens.
The SHOT Show is not open to the public, but no doubt you will be reading about many of the new products as they are introduced.
In the handgun arena, watch for lots of attention to the Kahr CT380, introduced late in 2014. This compact .380 ACP is part of Kahr’s Value Series, which also includes models in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45ACP. The CT380 has a 3-inch barrel with conventional rifling, black polymer frame, stainless slide, locking breech and seven-round magazine.
Ruger LCRx .38 Sp. +P.
Also late in 2014, with its “official” introduction at the SHOT Show this month, is Ruger’s latest addition to the LCR revolver family, the LCRx with a 3-inch barrel and adjustable rear sight. This .38 Special five-shooter has a Hogue Tamer Monogrip, stainless steel barrel, matte black Synergistic hard coat finish and exposed hammer and a polymer “fire control housing,” aluminum monolithic frame and heavily-fluted cylinder to help reduce weight.
We’re rather keen on this one because it will get more out of the .38 Special cartridge, and the adjustable rear sight makes this one a likely choice for backpackers and campers who want a handgun for defense, small game and plinking.
Colt’s Wiley Clapp series
Colt’s Manufacturing is teaming up with renowned gun writer Wiley Clapp and TALO Distributors to offer Wiley Clapp signature handguns, including a Lightweight Commander, a full-size Government Model, and a Concealed Carry Officer’s model with a 4.25-inch Commander slide and barrel on a shorter Lightweight Officer’s frame.
Clapp offered design suggestions to Colt back in 2010 to produce this pistol series, which all feature the Series 70 firing system, Novak brass bead front sight and extra-wide black rear sight, and a match grade barrel.
Browning has a new version of its “shrink” Model 1911 pistol, this time chambered for the .380 ACP. TGM recently had a chance to fire the pistol, and it proved to be rather accurate and entirely reliable with various types of ammunition. The Black Label 1911-380 has an eight-round magazine, steel slide and checkered plastic grips. It also boasts a 4.25-inch steel barrel, composite frame, steel controls, beavertail grip safety with bump and fixed sights.
There’s a lot of talk about the new Taurus Curve, also introduced late in 2014. This is a rather odd-looking concealed carry pistol because it actually does have a curved body shape, ostensibly designed to conform to the shape of the person carrying it. Chambered for .380 ACP, it has a six-round magazine, 2.5-inch barrel, loaded chamber indicator, stainless steel slide barrel and carbon steel slide, and a metal-reinforced polymer frame. In addition, Taurus designers built this gun with an integrated LaserLyte LED combo system and a bore axis sighting system.
American Tactical Imports will lift the cover on a trio of .45 ACP pistols, all designed with polymer frames and steel slide and barrel assemblies. There’s a full-size Government model, a Commander-size version with a 4¾-inch barrel and an Officer’s Model-type entry with a 3¼-inch barrel, all with full-size grips and eight-round magazines.
Devotees of the famed CZ75 pistol have a treat coming. This year marks the 40th anniversary of that pistol’s introduction, and CZ-USA will be trotting out a limited edition commemorative model with some snazzy cosmetics. In addition, the company has announced a new 9mm target pistol with adjustable rear sight, fiber optic front sight, thin aluminum grips and accessory rail. A second 9mm has a tuned action, serrated rear sight, tritium front and aluminum grips. Both 9mms are built by CZ Custom.
Century International is adding the Canik TP9SA to its lineup. This 9mm striker-fired pistol has a loaded chamber indicator, striker status indicator and reversible magazine catch, ambidextrous top-slide-mounted decocker, three-dot sights and interchangeable backstraps. It comes with two 18-round magazines and accessories.
Dan Wesson will debut a new 1911 clone, in .45 ACP and 10mm. It’s a full-size pistol with synthetic grips, black frame and stainless slide. The .45 holds eight rounds and the 10mm carries nine in the magazine.
Rifles
If it’s rifles that get your fancy, there are some dandies on the way, and there seems to be something for everyone, from traditional lever-actions to modern sport/utility rifles and carbines. There’s even an M-1 Carbine for the nostalgia buffs.
Remington is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the .22-250 Remington, introduced as a production cartridge in 1965. It’s being offered in a limited edition of the Model 700 CDL SF with a handsome checkered stock.
The cat is already out of the bag on the Remington Model 783 in a budget-level package in several popular calibers, from .223 Remington and .22-250 Remington up to .300 Winchester Magnum. It’s got a button-rifled heavy contour barrel, synthetic stock and adjustable trigger.
For black powder fans, the Model 700 “Ultimate Muzzleloader” will handle a charge of up to 200 grains of powder, giving modern Barnes 250-grain bullets a muzzle velocity and downrange energy to knock down something out to more than 200 yards.
Browning is expanding the AB3 bolt-action rifle series, but the rifle is not changing its rugged components. Introduced last year in several long-action calibers, the AB3 wears a composite stock with an Inflex recoil pad. It has a detachable box magazine, bolt lock override button and 60-degree bolt lift.
There’s also a new X-Bolt Varmint Stalker with Mossy Oak Brush camo on the composite stock and a heavy sporter contour barrel with a matte blue finish. It will be offered in several calibers.
Century International will have a trio of new rifles, two chambered for the 7.62x39mm cartridge and a third in .308 Winchester. The RAS47, chambered for the 7.62x39mm cartridge, is offered under the Red Army Standard brand, though it is 100-percent American made. It features a large tee-shaped magazine catch and is compatible with AKM furniture. It comes with two Magpul 30-round magazines.
The C39v2 semi-auto is also made entirely in the United States. It features a proprietary Chevron muzzle brake, and the milled receiver is machined from a solid block of 4140 ordnance quality steel. It also has a large tee-shaped magazine catch, and a new enhanced trigger group. It comes with a pair of 30-round Magpul magazines.
The C308 is chambered for the .308 Winchester, and has an 18-inch threaded barrel with muzzle brake and accepts various muzzle accessories. It comes with a single five-round magazine and two 20-round magazines.
Dakota Arms has a broad assortment of big game hunting rifles, including single-shots, one bolt-action with a Mannlicher-style full stock, and various sporters for everything from varmints to dangerous game. The Model 76 series literally covers all the bases, and there are several choices in the Model 97 family as well.
New from Colt’s Manufacturing are additions to the LE901 rifle family dubbed the M.A.R.C. (for Modular AR Carbine) series. There are four new models in the series, including three with a monolithic upper receiver with a fixed rail on top. Three of the SE models also feature ambidextrous controls for magazine release and bolt catch, and a single-side reversible fire selector.
Fans of the classic M1 carbine will warm right up to the new incarnation of this warhorse from MKS Supply. These Inland M1 Carbine models include a pair of wood-stocked versions, one with a bayonet lug and one without, and the other in an M1A1 Paratrooper configuration with a folding heavy wire stock. The wood-stocked models come with a single 10-round magazine and the Paratrooper comes with a 15-rounder. All three will accept the WWII-era 30-round magazines. These American-made carbines all have adjustable “peep” sights.
Watch for some new rifle introductions from Mossberg, which was keeping a very tight lid on its 2015 lineup. Word has it that there will be offerings for big and small game, in a variety of caliber choices.
The gang at Savage—which is now owned by ATK—will introduce six new models chambered for the .338 Federal. They include the 11 Long Range Hunter, 11 Hog Hunter, 11 Trophy Hunter XP, 16 FCSS, 16 Bear Hunter and 16 Trophy Hunter XP. A new Model 11 Scout Rifle for law enforcement will be chambered in .308 Winchester. It has an adjustable AccuTrigger, a cheek-adjustable synthetic stock finished in Flat Dark Earth, and muzzle brake. Lastly, Savage will also officially unveil the B.MAG with a gray laminate thumbhole stock. This rifle is chambered for the .17 Winchester Super Magnum.
Now that the name Winchester has come up, that outfit has a new bolt-action dubbed the XPR and it is also going to delight old West buffs with a new version of the Model 1873 lever-action. The 1873 Sporter Octagon Color Case lever-action has a 24-inch octagonal barrel, a color case hardened finish on the receiver, lever, forend cap and crescent buttplate, and it is chambered in .44-40 Winchester and .357 Magnum.
Fans of the Model 70 ought to like the new Ultimate Shadow Hunter SS with a lightweight synthetic stock finished in Mossy Oak Break-Up country. It features a pre-’64 style controlled round feed with claw extractor and the M.O.A. Trigger System. Lastly, the Model 94 Short Rifle has a new chambering: .450 Marlin.
From CZ-USA, there are several new offerings including the 455 Ultra Lux with a beechwood stock, 28.6-inch barrel, tangent rear sight with slide adjustment for distance, 10-round magazine and adjustable trigger. The CZ 512 Tactical is offered in either .22 long rifle or .22 Magnum. It has a six-position adjustable stock, Picatinny rail, 16.5-inch barrel, 25-round magazine in .22 LR and 10-round magazine in .22 Magnum.
CZ’s Model 527 youth Carbine in .223 Remington or 7.62x39mm has a walnut stock, 12.75-inch length of pull, 18.5-inch barrel, single-set trigger and 5-round magazine.
The CZ 527 Varmint Thumbhole is chambered in .223 Remington, and has a Shady Camo thumbhole laminate stock, 24-inch heavy barrel, single set trigger and 5-round magazine.
Right before the holidays, Ruger sent us a new version of the Scout rifle in .308 Winchester with a black synthetic stock, detachable 10-round single-stack magazine, thick recoil pad, ghost ring rear sight, post front sight and Picatinny rail. This was actually the second late-year introduction of a Scout, the other one being chambered in .223 Remington with a laminated stock and 10-round magazine. Both rifles were sizzlers, and the .308-caliber version with the composite stock will likely be a big hit among people in the Northwest, Northeast or anywhere one gets cold, damp weather.
Ruger’s bolt-action American Rifle is now offered in a left-hand version, chambered in .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester, 7mm-089 Remington, .308 Winchester, .270 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield.
A new Ranch version has a 16.12-inch threaded barrel in standard and compact length chambered for the .223 Remington and .300 Blackout.
Brigade Manufacturing has a large assortment of semi-auto modern sporting rifles, all chambered in 5.56mm. Lowers are CNC machined from 7075-T6 aircraft grade aluminum, with several finish options including Graphite Black, Flat dark earth, Burnt Bronze and OD green. Uppers are also CNC machined from the same material and Cerakote finished to match the lowers. The Lightweight Battle Rifle has a chrome-lined carrier made from Carpenter 158 steel, a 16-inch M4 barrel, one-piece free float 12-inch rail with a Cerakote finish to match the rifle’s finish. It also has a 30-round Hex magazine, Ergo ambidextrous receiver plate for a sling mount, and it will soon be available in .300 Blackout. We had a chance to shoot this rifle and it was very accurate.
American Tactical Imports has a series of new Omni Hybrid Maxx rifles, with models chambered in either 5.56mm or .300 Blackout. All have 16-inch barrels and six-position stocks. Two models chambered for the 5.56mm round feature 7-inch quad rails.
There are a couple of combo models, with one barrel chambered in .22 long rifle with quad rails and the other barrel in 5.56mm comes with a completed hybrid upper, one with a 10-round capacity to make it California-compliant and the other with the standard 30-round capacity.
SteyrAug A3 M1 bullpup with scope
Steyr is shipping the AUG A3 M1 bullpup, chambered for 5.56mm/.223 Remington. It is offered in short-rail and high-rail versions, and an integrated-optic version, the latter with either a 1.5X or 3X scope. It has a top rail with numbered slots in two segments. It has a 16-inch chrome-lined barrel cut with a 1:9-inch right-hand twist. The AUG A3 M1 was designed with a single-stage trigger and the stock is black synthetic.
