Welcome to the most comprehensive coverage of the 2013 SHOT Show. This year’s SHOT Show is being held in Las Vegas again, with five solid days of new guns, ammunition and related shooting gear. The whole show kicks off on Monday, January 14 with Media Day at the Range and rolls through Friday.
We will be there every day bringing you information, photos and video of the new guns and gear. Bookmark this page and check back often to see all of the SHOT Show 2013 information.
Pre-Show Announcements and Rumors
SIG MPX Video – Well, it looks like someone leaked a video of the new SIG MPX submachine gun. Thanks to whoever it was – regardless, you can see the video here and get all of the specs on the new guns. Frankly, these guns look incredible. I wasn’t sure SIG was going to impress me with this, but the SIG MPX is impressive – especially when compared to other small arms that were unveiled this year. I hope the new MPX submachine gun will be available in 9x19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP and .357 SIG.
Ruger Guide Gun – Ruger introduced a serious guide gun called, strangely enough, Guide Gun. The rifles are chambered in major calibers (think Magnums), equipped with express sights, and are set up to resist the elements. These are no-joke serious rifles to carry into the bush when hunting dangerous game.
HK45 Tactical – New for 2013 is the HK45 Tactical for the civilian market. The gun features one of several frame colors, a threaded barrel, night sights and the certain smugness one can only obtain by owning anything from HK. The fact that it is called Tactical only adds a little bacon-grease of awesomeness.
Winchester Model 1987 Short Rifle – Winchester Repeating Arms is brining back a classic: the model 1873. While made in Japan doesn’t thrill a lot of shooters, the gun is certainly looking like a winner with a lot of original detail and modern improvements like a silky smooth action.
Nosler Defense Ammo – New for 2013, Nosler is bringing out a new line of self-defense ammunition called Nosler Defense. The initial offerings will include 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP and .223. I hope to see additional calibers developed, but I think these cover about 75% of what people are carrying and keeping for protection.
Winchester PDX1 7.62×39 Ammunition – This load is one of the few things this year that actually excites me. The 7.62×39 is a great intermediate cartridge and seeing some serious ammo for it is great. I spoke to Rob Pincus and we might see a gelatin demo of this round at Media Day. I know Winchester is focusing on another ammunition introduction, but this one would be great to show off.
Major Glock Announcement – The folks in Smyrna, GA are claiming to have a major announcement in the coming days. Want to know what it is? Here are a few ideas of what we could see at the SHOT Show from “Big G.”
Ruger LCR 22 MAG – The LCR line is expanding to include a six-shot revolver chambered in .22 WMR. While not considered a major caliber by many, the little .22 Magnum can still pack a decent punch, and with six on tap, this light handgun might make a lot of sense for some people.
Ruger SR1911 Commander – Highly anticipated, Ruger announced a commander-style 1911 to go with the full size SR1911 they already manufacture. The smaller single action pistol offers a number of very nice features and will likely sell for about $650 in the local gun shop.
Ruger LC380 – We didn’t see this one coming. Essentially, the LC380 is a LC9 chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge. A lot of people may not understand the logic of “downsizing” the power in this gun, but you can be sure that recoil will be tame.
Ruger SR45 – The long awaited .45 ACP version of the Ruger SR series of pistols is finally here. The SR45 is a full-size, yet seemingly slim, pistol that carries 10+1 rounds of .45 caliber stopping power. The gun shares may of the features that the SR9 and SR40 have.
Winchester’s New Rimfire: .17 WSM – The new rimfire round from Winchester is smoking fast. Try 3,000 fps with a 20 grain bullet. This new cartridge looks amazing on paper, and we will have to see how it performs in the field. But it does look amazing!
Remington’s New Rifle: the Model 783 – Remington started teasing to a new rifle for the coming year, but were not able to keep it under wraps long. Multiple online gun sales websites have listed the 783 in various configurations and have included photos. We’ve put together the information here.
Winchester’s New Caliber Tease – Winchester Ammunition previously posted a teaser video on the new rimfire caliber they are introducing at the 2013 SHOT Show, but then quickly pulled it down. Now, a new teaser video is up. What have they got up their sleeve? The video and speculation are here.
New Rifles from Remington – One of the largest rifle manufacturers in the world, Remington Arms, is now teasing to the fact that they will introduce some new line of guns at the January show. They do not give many specifics, but the clues they leave are discussed in this article. What do you think?
Detroit Gun Works Won’t Be at the SHOT Show – Detroit Gun Works announced that they will not be at the 2013 SHOT Show in January. Additionally, they announced a shift in priorities for the company. Check out this article for the details.
New Tactical Gear from Maxpedition – Maxpedition will be showing off a new line of tactical gear in January. The tactical gear line will include CCW-specific gear bags, knives and morale patches.
SHOT Show Rumors – This is a roundup of recent rumors about new gear, including a new Winchester shotgun, Browning shotguns and Maxpedition stuff. Make sure you check out these bits of info.
Kroll SHOT Show Tease – Distributor Kroll International published a tease advertisement stating “All will be revealed” and listed the company’s SHOT Show booth number and the date of January 15, 2013. Also mentioned were the companies Blackhawk and Detroit Gun Works.
Battle Rifle Company BR308 – A new .30-caliber, AR-type rifle has been announced and will be shown at the upcoming Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in January. The rifle will initially be available in five different variations and will come outfitted with some very nice gear.
New Winchester Rimfire Caliber – Winchester Ammunition announced a brand new rimfire cartridge that they claim will revolutionize the category. We shall see what exactly they come out with, but the rumor is that this is something really special. Something that will bring centerfire-like performance to the rimfire.
ARES-15 MCR – ARES Defense Systems announced they will be introducing the ARES-15 Mission Configurable Rifle at the big event. The ARES-15 is essentially a civilian version of the ARES-16 military rifle. It will be available with a 16″ barrel, a 12.5″ barrel and as a belt fed rifle.
MPAR 556 – New photos and information on the new AR-style piston rifle from MasterPiece Arms have come out and we have is all here. This is a serious rifle with a lot of cool features, not the least of which is the sub-$1000 price tag. I look forward to getting my hands on this one.
SIG MPX – Ahead of the SHOT Show, the official name of the new SIG Sauer submachine gun has slipped out: the SIG MPX. The SIG MPX will be a pistol caliber sub-gun with full auto versions available for government buyers and a 16: carbine and SBR for the consumer market.
New DeSantis Gear – DeSantis announced several new products that will be rolling out around the time of the SHOT Show. They include a pink grip for J-frame revolvers, leather gun belts and a “pocket shot” holster for the Ruger LCP with an attached laser.
Heizer Defense Pistol Images – Heizer Defense expects to show their new(?) two shot handgun at the 2013 SHOT Show, and they released some computer renderings of the gun. My only question: how long until the lawsuits start flying between Heizer and DoubleTap Defense?
Weatherby Vanguard Back Country – Weatherby announced they will be showing several new rifles, including these Back Country rifles. These new long guns will weigh less than seven pounds, yet be rugged enough for carrying through rough regions.
SIG SMG – How about a new submachine gun from SIG Sauer loaded with 9mm, .40 S&W or .357 SIG and tipped with a SIG-made suppressor? Civilian versions as SBRs and carbines? Get ready: they are coming! And they look awesome!
SIG Sauer P227 – SIG Sauer will be introducing a new double-stack .45 ACP pistol in the same general size as the company’s very popular P226. The new gun will come with 10-round magazines and extended 14-rounders will be available.
Duty Size Diamondback Pistol – Rumors are swirling around the NASGW Expo that Diamondback will be introducing a full size polymer pistol at the 2013 SHOT Show. The new gun is supposed to be chambered in the “big three”: 9mm, .40 and .45. It seems the gun is supposed to work with many Glock accessories as well.
Saiga-9 Carbine – The Izhmash factory in Russia announced a civilian version of the Vityaz-SN SMG called the Saiga-9 carbine. The new Saiga-9 is chambered for the 9×19 and is expected to be ready to ship early in 2013. The gun will have a folding stock, a Picatinny rail for optics and more.
MPAR 556 – MasterPiece Arms announced a new piston-driven rifle chambered for the 5.56 several months before the 2013 SHOTShow. The new gun takes AR magazines, has a folding buttstock and will retail for less than $1000. MPA states the MPAR 556 will be shown at the show.
Firefly Sights – WrenTech Industries plans on rolling out a new set of night sights designed around the pyramid-shaped AdvantageTactical Sights. The new Firefly Sights is a light-activated, brightly-glowing sight set that claims to be superior to traditional tritium sights in several areas.
New Beretta Nano Models – Earlier in 2012, we spoke with Beretta staff at the 2012 SOFIC and found out that they will be rolling out a number of new Nanos at the 2013 SHOT Show. Expect to see new colors, a mini accessory rail and frames with internal add-ons such as lasers.
New Guns at SHOT
New guns are the primary reason a lot of people are excited by the SHOT Show. We all want to see the latest offerings from Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Remington, Kel Tec, Springfield Armory and all the rest. Get the latest information on them here.
Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX – The Buck Mark is a .22 rimfire pistol made by Browning. It has been a popular alternative to the Ruger Mkx series of handguns. Browning introduced two new guns in this line for 2013.
T/C Venture Compact Rifle – Thompson/Contender released a new compact version of the extremely popular Venture hunting rifle. The T/C Venture Compact offers many of the desirable features of the larger rifle, but in a smaller package. We’ve got a range review here.
New Pistols for 2013 from TriStar – TriStar is rolling out a number of new handguns for 2013. These guns are almost all in 9mm, with a couple of models in .40 S&W. There are also a couple of polymer pistols in the mix. These are all made in Turkey and have a distinctive CZ influence.
Daniel Defense ISR – The new Integrally Suppressed Rifle, or ISR, was on display by Daniel Defense at their booth in the show. This new rifle, chambered in .300 BLK (of course), features a very cool, very proprietary system for mating the rifle and sound suppressor.
Remington 783 Review – Review of the new budget rifle from Remington. We had a chance to shoot this gun at the 2013 SHOT Show and talk to the designers. This is a great new rifle at a really good price point. A lot of hunters will be very pleased with the 783 rifle.
SIG M400 Varminter – SIG Sauer always brings out a bunch of new models in January, and 2013 was no different. This new M400 is set up for varmint hunters with a long, heavy barrel, two stage match trigger, free floated hand guard and more.
New Savage Model 42 – Savage showed a new version of the model 42 break open combination gun at the SHOT Show. This model is chambered in .22 WMR and .410 bore. The prior version (still available) is chambered in .22 LR and .410. MSRP is the same for both models.
Remington 870 with Magpul Furniture – Remington proudly displayed the new 870 Express Tactical shotguns with the Magpul furniture this year. The guns use a Magpul stock and forend, plus they add a number of other upgrades like XS Sights ghost ring sights.
Sarsilmaz SAR ST10 Pistol – Sarsilmaz, or SAR Arms as they are known in the US, showed off a wide range of firearms at the SHOT Show this year, including the ST10 line of pistols. These handguns are 9mm, duty sized pistols with a lot going for them.
SIG P290 Rainbow – SIG Sauer was showing the latest multi-chromatic finished handgun in the catalog: the P290 Rainbow. The gun is a subcompact with a polymer frame. But the major metal parts are finished in this multi-hued look that is much more impressive in person than in our photos.
Bersa BP9CC – We’ve already reviewed this pistol, but Eagle Imports was showing two new versions of this handgun. One will have an OD green frame, while the second was sporting a tan frame. Both models had the metal finished in a matte black. And they look better than the pictures!
Savage B.MAG Rifle – This all-new rifle from Savage is built around the new .17 Winchester Super Magnum cartridge announced earlier this month. This rimfire will do 3,000 fps out of the new Savage rifle. It is an amazing cartridge. The gun also looks like a winner.
Ruger Photos from the SHOT Show – Here are a few photos of the new Ruger guns shown at the SHOT Show. Unfortunately, I lost a number of the pictures I had taken, but I did manage to save a few. Here are photos of the new 1911 and SR45 pistols.
SIG P238 Tribal – SIG Sauer was showing a new P238 variant at the show called the “Tribal.” The new pistol is essentially a standard P238 with engraved wood grips and an engraved slide. Interestingly, I found a press photo of a second Tribal pistol that is not mentioned anywhere in the company’s literature.
SAR Arms 357 – Turkish gunmaker Sarsilmaz is not importing guns into the United States under the label of SAR Guns. The SAR 357 used be called the SR 38, but in the US, it has been renamed the SAR 357. The guns have a 2.5″, 4″ and 8″ models.
Arsenal Firearms AF-2011 – In the world of ridiculous, bigger is always bigger. So, what can possibly be better than two 1911 pistols mashed together to make a double barrel 1911 pistol? Not much. Arsenal Firearms displayed their double barrel monstrosity at the 2013 SHOT Show.
SIG P938 BRG with Silencer – SIG Sauer was showing a new version of the P938 called the BRG. BRG stands for black rubber grips. While the grips may not be exciting, the sound suppressor attached to the gun certainly is. Check out this new gun for 2013 here.
Caracal CC10 9mm Carbine – Caracal showed the new CC10 carbine at the 2013 SHOT Show. Aaron was able to get some time with one and wrote up a good review on the gun. It looks interesting, but Aaron points out some potential problems with the design. Make sure you read this before buying one.
Mossberg SA-20 Updates – Mossberg introduced several updates to the imported SA-20 Tactical/Field model shotguns. The updates include the addition of a tri-rail on the magazine tube, which allows for the addition of a white light. I think these guns make a lot of sense for home defense duty. Also, the Mossberg Flex System was introduced to the lineup. These modular semi-auto shotguns allow you to swap parts designed specifically for these guns. I hope to see more things like this in the firearms industry.
Smith & Wesson CORE Pistols with Trijicon RMR – Smith & Wesson had their new Pro Series CORE M&P pistols at Media Day for us to shoot. The guns were equipped with the RMR sight from Trijicon. These were accurate shooting guns, and that RMR sight performed extremely well.
Winchester Model 1873 Review – Check out Aaron’s range review of the model 1873 lever action rifle from Winchester. This faithful reproduction has all of the classic styling of the original, with the benefits of 21st century manufacturing techniques. The gun we shot was chambered in .357 Magnum/.38 Special.
SIG P226 Mk 25 Commemorative – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the US Navy SEALs, SIG Sauer releases a special, limited edition of the P226 Mk 25 pistol. This is a presentation version of the sidearm carried by these elite warriors for the past 20+ years. There is a lot of gold inlay…
Bushmaster A-TACS M4 Type Carbine – Aaron grabbed some photos of the A-TACS camo version of the Bushmaster M4-style carbine. While not strictly new, we figured you might like to see a few pictures of this rifle. Specs and other details on the rifle are also in this post.
Stag 8T Tactical Piston Carbine – The 8T piston rifle got a mild refresh for 2013, which includes the addition of Diamondhead rails. MSRP runs a little less than $1300, but where is anyone going to find a rifle like this at that price? As the name suggests, this carbine is a piston gun, not direct impingement
Kahr CM45 – The new Kahr CM45 was on display at the show, but the sales reps were unwilling to commit to when, or even if, the gun will be produced. Their reasoning seemed to be an unsure political climate. Regardless of the company’s willingness to make the gun, we have photos and details on it here.
IWI Tavor Review – The Tavor is probably one of the most talked about guns at the 2013 SHOT Show. The Israeli designed bullpup carbine is a pretty amazing gun, and one of our writers put together a review of it after getting some range time at Media Day. He seemed to like it, and we will be getting one later in the year for a more detailed evaluation.
Beretta Nano in Technicolor – The subcompact Nano is now available in four colors: pink, green, FDE and white. Also, Beretta is showing the new magazine extension kit that adds two rounds and a little extra grip to the pistol. This is information I first got the inside scoop on during the 2012 SOFIC.
Ruger SR556VT Rifle – A long range rifle chambered in 5.56 was introduced at the 2013 SHOT Show. The SR-556VT (Varmint Target) features a longer barrel with a slow twist rate and several other features to improve long range accuracy. Good luck on finding extra magazines, though.
Taurus Carbines – We’ve seen Taurus trot out these carbine for the past two years, and so far no one at Taurus is willing to talk about them. The reps we spoke with today, in fact, claimed to know nothing about them. I thought things would change with new management, but I’m still seeing the status quo.
Kahr CW380 – A new .380 ACP pistol was announced at the SHOT Show: the Kahr CW380. The new CW380 is a very small and lightweight pistol that carries a relatively small price of $419 (MSRP). This is not some cheap blow back pistol: think locked breech. Less recoil and higher reliability.
Rock Island Armory 10mm Pistols – RIA/Armscor introduced two new 1911-style pistols chambered in the 10mm cartridge. The new guns were at Media Day and should ship in the second quarter of 2013. No MSRP was available at the time of this article.
SIG MPX Photos – A no-show at Media Day, the SIG MPX is never-the-less a real product and looks to be one of the better submachine guns made. That is a pretty tall order, considering all of the great SMGs that have rolled off of the lines in the past 100 years. But, I think the SIG MPX is one of the best.
Glock 30S – The latest, greatest Glock is the 30S – a refreshed version of the model 30 that sports a thinner slide. Think of it as a 30SF frame with a 36 slide. Photos of the gun and additional details are here.
SIG P227 Review – This is our early review of the SIG P227 pistol from the Media Day at the Range event. In short, if you like the SIG P226, then you will like the P227. It has all of the benefits of the 226 with the benefit of a big-bore cartridge.
Springfield XDS 9mm – Springfield introduced a single stack, compact 9mm pistol that I expect will be extremely popular. The gun was at Media Day, and we got to go hands on with it. This is our initial review of the gun. Assuming the public doesn’t buy them all up, and they might, we will get one for a review later in the year.
Ammunition
There is a lot of new ammo rolling out in 2013. Here are a few of the ammunition products being introduced.
New Winchester Loads for the .338 Lapua – Winchester Ammunition announced two new loads, in fact their only loads, for the .338 Lapua at the SHOT Show. One is a 300 grain hunting round using an AccuBond bullet. The other is a competition round using a 250 grain Sierra Matchking.
Remington HyperSonic Centerfire Rifle Ammo – Remington announced a new line of rifle ammunition that is supposed to be up to 200 fps faster without causing any increases in pressure. The new rounds, called Hypersonic, sound a lot like the Superformance line that Hornady introduced several years back.
More Information on the Remington Golden Saber Black Belt – The new Black Belt line of self defense and law enforcement ammo looks like it will be a serious round. Remington is launching this line with loads in all of the major calibers plus a few more. It is clear the company is throwing their weight behind this line.
Remington Ultimate Defense Combo Pack – Remington introduced new combo packs of .410 and .45 Colt ammunition for revolvers like the Taurus Judge. The .410 shot shells use 000 buck pellets and the .45 Colt uses the Golden Saber bullets. The packs contain ten of each cartridge.
Remington Golden Saber Black Belt – Remington announced an expansion to their popular Golden Saber line of ammunition: the Black Belt. The new ammo will be initially available in 9mm and .40 S&W. I would expect to see more calibers in the line as time goes on.
Sights, Lights & Lasers
As the category name suggests, this section contains information on different light emitting devices and optics (glass and iron) found at the show. Red lasers, green lasers, white lights and IR can all be found here.
ElZetta ZRX Flashlight Mount – ElZetta has a new, low cost way of mounting a flashlight to your firearm. This design uses the Picatinny rails on your rifle or handgun to mount a standard, small tactical white light to a gun. The ZRX is tough, light and completely made in the USA.
Crimson Trace CMR203 Green Laser – This universal mount green laser from Crimson Trace attaches to any rifle or handgun with a Picatinny rail. The green laser is much more visible to the human eye, even in daylight conditions. The nice thing is that this laser unit is relatively inexpensive when compared to other quality green lasers.
EOTech Zombie II Holo Sight – Sure, the zombie meme is overplayed, but that doesn’t mean that EOTech can’t still come out with something pretty cool. This holo sight uses a biohazard-style reticle and the Reaper Z camo pattern. It may not be perfect, but it sure does look cool.
EOTech 300 BLACKOUT Whisper – Looking for a holosight that will stand up to the rigors of shooting a .30 caliber round through your AR-platform gun? Take a look at the nerw EOTech model XPS2-300 sight. It has a number of new features including a transversely mounted CR123 battery to reduce the possibility of the battery coming loose under repeated fire.
Holsters and Other Shooting and Hunting Gear
This section covers all other gear related to the shooting and hunting sports. If it does not fit neatly into one of the other categories above, you will likely find the information here. The SHOT Show brings a lot of people together, and probably most products shown fit into this category.
Magpul Bus – How about a hippy van with automatic firepower? As usual, Magpul has a little flash to get the fanboys excited. Personally, I was more interested in their new AK furniture, but the bus is very cool none-the-less.
CRKT Parasaw – The new Parasaw is a concealed wire saw hidden inside of a paracord bracelet. This slick set up gives you one additional survival tool anywhere you go. It takes up no more space than any standard paracord bracelet, yet expands your capabilities when the SHTF.
Mosin-Nagant Detachable Magazines and Stock – Archangel was showing their new stock and detachable mags for the Mosin-Nagant rifles. This new stock offers a lot of good benefits including compatibility with the Timney Trigger, free floated barrel and more. The biggest thing is the availability of new five and ten round detachable magazines for the gun.
Mission First Tactical TEKKO AK-47 Rails – These polymer rails from MFT are affordable and durable plus come in your choice of four colors: black, foliage green, flat dark earth and scorched dark earth. Neither system requires gunsmithing and both install quickly. One offers three rails, while the second gives you four rails.
The Mission First Tactical TEKKO polymer AK47 Integrated Rail System was announced, and we were able to grab some photos of it. There are two versions made of polymer: the TP47IRS and the TP47LIRS.
Pricing runs from $39.99 for just the lower rail with three Picatinny rails to $69.99 for the four rail system. The rails feature simple installation (read: no gunsmithing!) and are 922R compliant for firearms importion regulation purposes. The side rails are short rails on both, while the upper and lower rails are full length.
MultiCam Rally Fighter – Awesome. That is the best word that I can use to describe this new off-road rally car that was being shown at the show. Everything from the tube steel frame to the Corvette crate engine to the MultiCam vinyl wrap said cool. Of course, the $100k price tag moves it out of the range of most of us, but it is still cool to look at.
Comp-Tac Trojan Horse – Discreet carry bags for rifles and shotguns seem to be very popular at this year’s SHOT Show. Comp-Tac was showing one such case at the Media Day event. This bag looks more like a sporting goods bag and has a number of very nice features built in.
A Little More Information on the SHOT Show
The SHOT Show is an annual event that is owned and sponsored by the NSSF. The exposition is one of the largest industry events in the world, and this year’s show has more than 1,600 companies registered to exhibit. Total attendance is expected to be more than 60,000 people – larger than many cities in the United States.
To give you an idea of how large the show is, the expo hall will have more than 13 acres of exhibition space. If one was to walk all of the aisles in the show, you would cover 12.5 miles. If you are going, wear comfortable shoes!
The 2013 show will be the 35th annual SHOT Show. This year, it will be held in Las Vegas. In years past, Las Vegas has been a popular location, but other cities have hosted the event. They include Orlando, Atlanta, St. Louis, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston and New Orleans.
Coverage of the 2013 SHOT Show is an ongoing venture. In the months leading up to the expo, the team at GunsHolstersAndGear.com put a lot of work into preparing for a five-day blitz of information.
Rumors and announcements were posted prior to the SHOT Show, and new material from the event will be added in the days and weeks after everyone has packed up and gone home.
Make sure you check out our coverage of other shooting trade shows here. Archives of prior SHOT show coverage is there as well.