SHOT Show 2018: New Guns, Rumors and News

[Editor’s Note: Click here for the SHOT Show 2020 coverage.]

(Note: SHOT Show 2018 is underway. I’ve got some help this year with collecting information from the different manufacturers. A special thank you to Paul Carlson, the owner of Safety Solutions Academy for helping with some of the photos and information gathering. I am posting information as quickly as I can between meetings and other activities. So, please check back throughout the today and the rest of the week to see what else I’ve added.)

Welcome to this year’s coverage of the SHOT Show 2018! There is a lot of excitement in the shooting industry due to shifts in the market. There are a lot of new products scheduled for release at – and before – the show. It is my goal to provide you with information on many of these new guns and shooting accessories.

If this is your first time checking out the GunsHolstersAndGear.com coverage of the SHOT Show, make sure you check back often. As new products are released, I will post the information here. Also, I bring you some of the rumors about new firearms that may be seen at the exposition.

The page is divided up into several sections that should be self-explanatory. The confirmed areas contain only firearms that I have confirmed exist. Confirmation may be through the company directly, or through other means that include seeing one for myself. Anything that has not been confirmed goes into the rumors section.

If you will be attending the 2018 SHOT Show, you may wish to peruse the section about attendance. I cover registration information, dates and other critical information you need to attend.

Thanks for taking the time to visit the page and interact in the comments section. It is you guys that make this site possible!

New Handguns – Confirmed

All kinds of new revolvers and pistols are rolled out at the SHOT Show. This year promises to have some significant introductions from companies like Smith & Wesson, Ruger and Glock.

The following are the new guns confirmed to be announced/shown at the expo:

Taurus Model 692 Multi-Caliber Revolver

Taurus has a new 7-shot .357 Magnum revolver called the Taurus Model 692. But the twist is that it also shoots 9mm rounds via an included conversion cylinder. Click here for the details on the Taurus Model 692.

Seekins Precision NXP8

This is an AR-style pistol chambered in 300 BLK with a match grade 8″ barrel. It is equipped with the SB Tactical PDW pistol brace and 7″ NOXs handguard with M-LOK attachment points. The MSRP is $1,879. Seekins tells me these will ship in February. You can pre-order them now.

Full Conceal M3G43

Dubbed a “super subcompact,” the Full Conceal company applied its engineering to the Glock 43. The general concept is the company cuts the grip off, puts it on a hinge and adds its own trigger and trigger guard assembly. In theory, this makes the gun concealable enough to carry a 12 round, single-stack magazine in a folded state.

When a vicious attacker presents himself, you would need to draw the gun, unfold it and chamber a round prior to putting any rounds into the target. Seems like a slow process to me.

The gun shown at the SHOT Show is a prototype with the final pistols shipping this spring. If you want one, the cost will be $1,399.

[Update: the guns are now sub-$1k here.]

Ed Brown ZEV 1911

Ed Brown Products and ZEV Technologies teamed up for this limited edition 1911 style pistol. It is based on the ZEV Dragonfly, that company’s most popular design. It has a Government size frame with a light rail and a Commander length slide. The gun is fitted with a Trijicon RMR sight and tall sights in addition to the slide cuts and other styling embellishments.

Walther PPQ Sub Compact

Another pistol announced at the show is a new Walther PPQ SC. This is a subcompact version of the company’s very highly regarded PPQ pistol. Current details and a discount on the price is available here.

Auto Mag Classic .44

The Auto Mag Ltd. Corp. announced it was now shipping the Classic .44 pistol. The initial pistols are the .44AMP Founders Edition guns with the 8.5″ barrel. This run of pistol is limited to only 77 units. The second run is already in production. The second run of Auto Mag pistols is open to pre-order ($3,495-3,795) and will be delivered within 60 days.

These guns have the look and feel of the originals, but the company claims they are “far superior” mechanically to the old models.

Nighthawk Custom Agent 2

Nighthawk Custom introduced the Agent 2, an evolution of the Agent 1 that was introduced less than a year ago at the NRA Annual Meetings in 2017. At its core, the Agent 2 is a full size 1911-style pistol that is available in 9mm and .45 ACP. The rest is enhancements and styling. It has a match grade barrel and bushing, Heine Ledge rear sight and fiber optic front sight, an accessory rail, G10 grips and a Cerakote finish. The base price is $4,495.

DRD Tactical FERRO

DRD Tactical announced the FERRO – a steel framed, Glock magazine compatible 9mm pistol. I’ve got a lot of details in this article: DRD Tactical FERRO 9mm.

Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Threaded Barrel

Smith & Wesson announced it would now offer suppressor ready versions of the 9mm and .45 ACP chambered M&P M2.0 pistols. The guns will have threaded barrels and taller sights. The suggested retail price is $599 for either caliber choice.

Taurus Model 856 Revolver

This SHOT Show marks the return of the highly popular Taurus 856 revolver. This new gun is available in a wide range of color and frame options (standard and ultralight versions.) Click here to see the whole range of these guns.

Rex Alpha

FIME Group announced it would soon be importing the Rex Alpha competition-ready pistol from Slovenia. The gun is designed with a DA trigger and short reset, steel frame, frame-mounted safety with the decocker eliminated, wraparound grip, flared magazine well and extended beavertail. It has a 5″ barrel and is chambered in 9mm. You can get additional information on the gun here.

Taurus Raging Hunter

This is a visually striking 6-shot .44 Magnum revolver designed for hunting. Called the Taurus Raging Hunter, the guns are designed to handle the big bore power.

Update: Since the original launch of the gun, Taurus added several additional options to the line. Click here to see them all.

Archon Firearms Type B

Archon Firearms is showing. its Type B pistol at the SHOT Show. Details forthcoming.

Taurus 1911 Commander

Taurus has a new 1911 for the show. The Commander size gun has a full size grip with an 8 round magazine and a 4.2″ barrel. The finish is matte black with matching grip panels. Novak drift adjustable sights are on top. Taurus 1911 pistols generally get good reviews at their price point, and this one probably will too. It has a suggested retail of only $609.

Update: Taurus added additional Commanders to the line. Some are less than $450!

Draco NAK9

If you’ve ever wanted a 9mm AK-style pistol that feeds from Glock pattern magazines, Century Arms has the gun for you. For the SHOT Show, the company is introducing the Draco NAK9 is a Romanian made 9mm handgun that has an 11.4″ barrel and weighs about 6.4 pounds unloaded. It is compatible with AKM-pattern handguards and comes with a single 33-round magazine. Any Glock 17 or Glock 19 magazine should work in this gun. Updated information here.

Springfield Armory XD-S Mod.2

Springfield Armory has a new version of the XD-S: the Mod.2. The new guns appear to be the same general shape but not the exact same size as the original pistols. The grip width increased by 0.075″ and the length by 0.2″. The weight, however, remains the same. It will be interesting to see if the old XD-S holsters will fit the new gun. No – it doesn’t say “Grip Zone” on the frame. For now, only .45 ACP versions of the gun are shown. I would expect a 9mm announcement later this year. (Ed. note: It was.)

Update: The guns are in stock and are very affordable. The 9mm version of the pistol is $399 here while the .45 ACP version is here.

Remington RP45

Remington’s polymer RP9 seemed to be received with apathy by the shooting public. Pre-Christmas bargains on these guns were ridiculously cheap leading some to believe dealers were just trying to clear their inventory of them. However, the demise of the pistol line may be exaggerated as the company is finally releasing the RP45. This pistol was developed in parallel to the RP9 but has not shipped yet. Remington will have it at the SHOT Show. The image above is from the company’s new catalog.

Update: These were not received well by shooters, so pricing makes them incredibly affordable. If you want one, you can get it for less than $350.

SIG P365

SIG SAUER announced the P365, a striker-fired pistol the company calls a “high-capacity micro-compact” handgun in 9mm. In some measurements – width, length and unloaded weight – the gun is a bit smaller than both the Glock 43 and Smith & Wesson Shield. Yet, the gun can hold 10+1 rounds in a flush-fitting, double-stack magazine. An extended magazine add two more rounds. The MSRP is $599. I look forward to handling one of these and seeing how it shoots.

Update: The SIG P365 has proved to be wildly popular with shooters. Some dealers are having a hard time keeping them in stock. PSA has them in stock with the base model being less than $500 right now.

Glock 19X

Glock announced the model 19X – a gun that mates a G17 frame with a G19 slide and barrel. Essentially, you wind up with the decreased sight radius and bullet velocity of the compact gun with the increased difficulty of concealment from the full-size frame. But, it does come in the chic coyote color. Plus 2 magazine extensions ship with the gun, so you do get 19+1 rounds of 9mm on tap with a fully loaded pistol. Click here to get the best price.

FN 15 Pistols

FN America is introducing a new series of FN 15 pistols at the show. Chambered in 5.56 NATO or 300 BLK, these handguns are variants of the company’s FN 15 rifles. Additional information can be found on the guns at my FN 15 Pistol article. If you are looking for the best price on one, check out PSA here.

Ruger Security-9

The Security-9 is a full-size 9mm pistol designed to be very affordable. It uses 15 round magazines that are compatible with the Ruger SR9 line of handguns. It is a hammer-fired with a Secure Action trigger system similar to that of the LCP II. I found the LCP II pull to be very light and crisp, so this $379 (MSRP) pistol may have a very nice trigger indeed. Right now, PSA has them for only $299.

Update: Ruger released a compact version of the Security-9.

Ruger EC9s

Announced prior to the show, the new Ruger EC9s is a more affordable variant of the LC9s pistol. The suggested retail is less than $300 on this one. In fact, PSA has these on sale for $215.

Springfield Armory Operator 10mm

Springfield Armory has a gorgeous new 10mm pistol to show off this year. It is the TRP Operator 1911-style pistol with a 5″ barrel, GI-style recoil system, internal extractor, accessory rail, night sights, forward cocking serrations and more. The olive grips on the matte black finish give it a good look. They are not cheap, but quality never is. Check out the best pricing I’ve found on it here.

FMK Elite Pro

This new 9mm will be on display in January. It has a threaded barrel and a slide cut for the direct addition of a red dot optic. The Trijicon RMR, Vortex Viper and Vortex Venom mount directly without the need for an adaptor plate. The gun has a new grip texture, beveled magazine well and a redesigned slide stop. The suggested retail price will be $679.95. (Update: These have been released and are sold for about $100 less here.)

Timberwolf Large Frame

Lone Wolf Distributors will show a new Glock compatible frame at the show. The new frame is compatible with the 10mm and .45 ACP pistols. It includes:

• ability to work with Gen3 and Gen4 slides
• higher grip angle than the OEM Glock
• two different grip lengths
• two sizes of swappable backstraps
• accessory rail
• various grip texture options

CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S1 with Folding Brace

CZ-USA will have its new Scorpion EVO 3 S1 with a folding brace on hand. The pistol offers a factory arm brace option that many people have been wanting. The 9mm pistol has a flash can muzzle device that can be removed to add a suppressor. This pistol carries a suggested retail price of $999, but PSA has them for less here.

Update: CZ now offers a carbine version of the gun. You can see this gun here.

CZ P-10C in Urban Gray with Threaded Barrel

This is not earth shaking, but the new Urban Gray color does offer shooters an option when buying the P-10C with a threaded barrel. The MSRP is $559.

Kimber 1911 Style Pistols

It should not be a surprise to many Kimber fans, the company is rolling out a lot of new 1911-style pistols in 2018. The company recently announced what some of the new guns are that will be on display at the SHOT Show. These will include:

• five new Aegis Elite pistols including several that have red dot style optics
• five new KHX pistols including several that are “optics ready” for adding a red dot sight
• Stainless Target Long Slide in 10mm and .45 ACP (6″ barrel $1,055-$1,075)

Kimber Hero

Kimber Mfg is working with the Boot Campaign to offer this pistol in 2018. The 1911-style pistol is a Kimber Custom with custom engraving, a matte black slide and parts, FDE frame and Kryptek Highlander grip panels. It will be chambered in .45 ACP. The suggested retail price of this gun will be $987. Update: Brownells has them in stock and is offering them at $899.

Additional Kimber K6S Revolvers

Kimber will show three new K6S revolvers at the show. These will be the CDP, the DC and the Stainless 3″. While the first two are very attractive, the new Stainless model with the 3″ barrel is the most interesting to me. An extra inch of barrel length can give the .357 Magnum (and .38 Special) significant velocity gains while also lengthening the sight radius. This could make for a great CCW gun.

New Rifles & Shotguns – Confirmed

Long guns of all types are shown off at the annual exposition. While the AR platform has taken center stage the last several years, there will be many new guns offered at this year’s show that take the market in both new and traditional directions.

The following are the new rifles and shotguns that are confirmed to be announced/shown at the event:

Heckler & Koch HK433

H&K announced a new assault rifle at the SHOT Show. Called the HK433, the company states the new rifle combines the strengths of the G36 and HK416 rifles. H&K designed to the gun to be as modular as possible so that it can be adapted to the needs of the military unit using it. Much of the part swapping – such as barrels and charging handle location – can be handled by the user instead of an armorer. The gun is chambered in 5.56 NATO.

Marlin Model 1894 CST

Marlin was showing its new Model 1894 CST lever-action rifle at the SHOT Show this year. The gun is designed for “quick handling in all weather.” The barrel and action are all stainless steel and the stock is synthetic. The barrel is 16.5″ long and threaded for the easy addition of a sound suppressor. The guns use XS ghost ring sights and have a big loop lever. It is chambered in .357 Magnum and will also shoot .38 Special. The best price on these currently.

RISE Armament 1121XR

RISE Armament announced ti was now selling a new .308 Win chambered rifle called the 1121XR. According to the company, the XR stands for “extreme range.” RISE Armament backs the gun with a sub-MOA guarantee. It uses a 20″ barrel that is made of 416R stainless steel. The 9.5 pound rifle has a slim aluminum handguard with M-LOK attachment points and a Magpul PRS at the shoulder. It comes with a lifetime manufacturing warranty and is made in the USA.

Beretta PMX SMG

Although this new submachine gun was introduced a few months back, the SHOT Show is the first time most US shooters will have been able to see it. This folding stock SMG is chambered for the 9mm cartridge using a closed-bolt, blowback design. It looks like a fun gun, but a fairly conventional one. It has a three-position, ambidextrous selector switch, oversized magazine release button and plenty of Picatinny rail for the addition of lights and such.

Historic AR Series from Brownells

In recent years, the history of the AR platform has become more interesting to a lot of people. To take advantage of this, Brownells is now offering a number of reproduction guns based on the AR evolution’s early days. For example, they are offering reproductions of the original AR-10A .308 rifle, the XM16E1 5.56 and the X177E2. Click here to see all of the guns.

Umarex Hammer

Umarex USA announced the company designed and was now manufacturing a .50 caliber air rifle called the Hammer. For those that think air rifles are just toys for squirrels only, I say this: this rifle will launch a 550-grain lead slug at about 760 fps. That works out to be more than 700 ft-lbs of energy. That’s in the same ballpark as the .44 Magnum. Lighter loads go faster, of course. The 180-grain ARX projectile will hit about 1,100 fps.

Umarex uses a straight-pull bolt that needs only 2 pounds of cocking pressure. The air tank holds 4,500 psi of compressed air. The trigger pull is set at 3 pounds. The gun uses a Magpul pistol grip and has M-LOK attachment points for accessories.

CMMG Mk4 DTR2 in 223 Valkyrie

CMMG is showing off its newest Mk4 DTR2 rifle, this one chambered in the new 224 Valkyrie cartridge. The gun has a similar set up to the other DTR2 rifles. It has a 24″ medium taper barrel with a 1:7″ twist and CMMG SV brake. The excellent Geissele SSA 2-stage trigger is standard as is the Magpul pistol grip and PRS stock. The handguard has M-LOK attachment slots. New to the company is the CMMG Ambi Charging Handle that is standard on this new rifle.

Steyr Zephyr II

Styer officially introduced the Zephyr II rimfire rifle to the US market at the SHOT Show. This bolt action gun is designed to be a high-quality rifle, not an inexpensive weekend plinker. It has a cold-hammer-forged 19.7″ barrel with a walnut stock that has a Bavarian cheekpiece and fish scale checkering on the pistol grip and handguard. It feeds from a 5-round detachable magazine. It is chambered for three different cartridges: the .17 HMR, .22 LR and .22 WMR. The suggested retail price is $1,075. If you want a threaded barrel, that will cost an additional $25. PSA has good prices on them here.

Anderson Manufacturing AM15-BR

This is a fairly basic AR, and the company states it is their entry-level rifle. The company tells me that this is designed to offer very good quality while still being very affordable. It has a 16″ barrel with 1:8″ twist and M4 contour, low profile block, carbine length gas system and an A2-style handguard, pistol grip and flash suppressor. The receivers are hard coat anodized 7075-T6 aluminum. It is chambered for the 5.56 NATO cartridge. The suggested retail price is $499. Actual dealer prices could be even less.

Benjamin Fortitude

Crosman Corp announced a new regulated air rifle called the Fortitude. It is sold under the Benjamin brand and is offered in both .177 and .22 caliber. The PCP air rifle will give you up to 90 shots per fill with consistent velocities. A .22 caliber pellet can be pushed to 800 fps on the first pull of the trigger and the last. The rifle feeds from 10-round magazines. It is also a fraction of the weight of the old Marauder.

Weatherby Mark V CarbonMark

Weatherby announced an addition to the Mark V line: the CarbonMark. This is the company’s first rifle that uses Carbon Fiber barrel technology. The barrels were specially made by Proof Research, and Weatherby offers a sub-MOA guarantee on these guns. Barrels are 26″ long with a #4 contour. They use a 416R stainless steel core and are threaded for a suppressor. The rifle is chambered for three different cartridges: .257 Weatherby Magnum, 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum and .300 Weatherby Magnum. The guns retail for $4,100 but can be had for less than $2,600 here.

Mauser M18 Rifle

Mauser announced a new synthetic stock bolt-action rifle called the M18. The new gun is priced aggressively ($699 MSRP) and comes with a number of nice features including soft inlays in the stock, an adjustable trigger and a 5-round detachable magazine. It is offered in chamberings for the .243 Win, .308 Win, .270 Win, .30-06 Sprg, 7mm Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag. A rifle for the 6.5 Creedmoor will be offered later this year.

Henry Repeating Arms Color Case Hardened Big Boys

Henry Repeating Arms announced new color case hardened versions of its Big Boy carbines and rifles. The new guns will be available in .44 Magnum, .357 Magnum and .45 Colt with both barrel lengths (20″ rifle and 16.5″ carbine.) These guns join the existing color case hardened .30-30 and .45-70 rifles made by Henry. You can pick one up at this link.

Kalashnikov USA 9mm Rifles

Kalashnikov USA announced that its long-awaited 9mm rifles would be at the SHOT Show. These rifles were announced several years ago, but have yet to ship. I hope they are ready to go now.

Update: The 9mm rifles shipped along with the 9mm pistols and a not-a-shotgun 12 gauge called the Komrad. I have reviews on each of these coming.

New Calibers for Franklin Armory Militia Praefector-M

Franklin Armory announced two new chamberings for the Militia Model Praefector-M rifle: 6mm Creedmoor and 6.5 Creedmoor. Both guns have 20″ barrels and mid-length gas systems, a Franklin Armory FSR 14″ handguard, receiver tension screw, a custom-tuned trigger and Magpul PRS stock. The MSRP will be $2,679.99 for either of them.

Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 Sport Blue Platinum

S&W announced a new color option for the incredibly popular M&P 15-22 Sport rifles. This .22 LR will sport a Robin’s Egg Blue Platinum finish. Think tiger stripe meets baby nursery.  The gun has all of the normal features like Magpul M-LOK handguard, adjustable stock and 25-round magazine.

QC10 S226

Quarter Circle 10 announced a new pistol caliber carbine that will feed from SIG SAUER P226 magazines. It is called the S226. It sounds like the first guns/lowers will be in 9mm. I imagine .40 S&W and .357 SIG versions might not be far behind. I’ll try to get some photos for you as soon as I can.

IWI US TAVOR T12 Shotgun

Yeehaw. I don’t know if I’ve seen anything else announced at the SHOT Show (so far) that looks as much like fun as this new shotgun. The new TAVOT T-12 is a bullpup, semi-automatic, gas regulated 12 gauge shotgun that holds up to 15 2.75″ shells or 12 3″ shells. It will be offered in black, FDE and OD green. While the $1,399 price tag isn’t cheap, it is a lot less than I was afraid it might be. I think this might be the most popular toy at range day this year. Update: Brownells is now selling these shotguns here.

Also, make sure you check out my IWI Tavor X95 review.

Cimarron US Marshal Carbine

This modern interpretation of the Winchester 1873 carbine was developed at the request of a US Marshal who wanted a functional duty rifle that was representative of the agency’s history. The result was this US Marshal Carbine. The gun is chambered in .44 Magnum and is slightly shortened, including a 2″ shorter barrel, when compared to the original 1873 rifle. This makes it easier to move in and out of a vehicle with the gun. It will be available to all citizens in the spring with a suggested retail price of $1,402.

Battle Rifle Company BR10

Battle Rifle Company announced it was now making AR-10 style rifles with its new BR10 line. This gun is chambered in 7.62 NATO/.308 Win and has an 18″ cryogenically treated barrel with a 1:9.73″ twist. An Odinworks KeyMod rail is standard as is a Geissele SSA trigger, AXTS Raptor charging handle and Magpul ACS stock. The gun ships with a single metal magazine and bag. It has a MSRP of $2,998.

Dark Storm Industries DS-10 Hunter

Dark Storm Industries has a new rifle: the DS-10 Hunter. The new gun can be had in .308 Win or 6.5 Creedmoor. It comes with a fixed Magpul stock, Hogue grip, and 18″ threaded barrel. The gun has a hydrodip finish with the Next G2 pattern. The MSRP is $1,445. I’ve had a chance to shoot DSI products in the past (like this DS-9) and found them to be quality products.

Crosman’s New Full Auto DPMS SBR

This isn’t a firearm, but it is an air rifle – and a pretty cool one at that. Based on the DPMS PDW, this is a full-auto BB gun that can put 1,400 rounds per minute downrange. That’s a lot of Copperhead BBs. It runs on a pair of 12-gram CO2 cartridges that are stored in the 30-round magazine. It has an AR compatible grip, 6-position stock, angled fore grip and quad rail. It is also less than $180. Nice.

TNW Aero Survival Rifle in .22 WMR

TNW Firearms will show off its new .22 WMR rifle at the SHOT Show. The rimfire magnum rifle retains the takedown capabilities and AR style controls of the centerfire rifles in this line. According to the company, this gun will feed from Remington 597 magazines and will come with a single 10-rounder. The rifle is expected to start shipping in the spring of 2018 and conversion kits for existing Aero Survival Rifles will also be available.

Franklin Armory Reformation

The pre-show hype on this one is interesting. Prior to the show, Franklin Armory announced that the Reformation, an AR-style gun, has an 11.5″ barrel and a Magpul SL shoulder stock. Normally, this would make it a short barrel rifle requiring a BATFE tax stamp per the National Firearms Act (NFA). However, the company specifically states that this firearm does not need a tax stamp. While Franklin Armory has not spilled the beans on how they have pulled this off, there is a great deal of speculation about it. No word yet on what it fires. When I know more I will update this page.

Update: It seems that this new firearm has straight grooves in the barrel instead of spiral rifling. This avoids the US federal definition of a rifle, so it can be equipped as an SBR without the need for an NFA tax stamp. Of course, there is a hug compromise with this gun: accuracy. According to one rep, the gun shot 4 MOA at 50 yards. I don’t know if he meant 4″ groups at 50 yards or much smaller groups (true 4 MOA).

An SBR that shoots 4 MOA is viable. One that is 8 MOA is less so. The real key is to see barrel makers offer a straight grooves as an option for home builders to make their own non-NFA firearms.

Arsenal SLR-107R Variants

At the SHOT Show, Arsenal will show off a pair of new SLR-107R rifle variants. Functionally, these are identical to existing guns. The new rifles will have your choice of Desert Sand colored furniture or OD Green furniture. The new guns carry the same suggested retail price as the existing ones: $879.99.

Weatherby Vanguard First Lite

Weatherby announced a new Vanguard model for the SHOT Show. This new model uses a synthetic Monte Carlo stock like the one used on its Vanguard Synthetic model. However, this version of the gun has a new camouflage pattern that uses a “proprietary mix of ‘crackalature’ shapes and colors” that are designed for “macro and micro disruption.” The gun comes with a sub-MOA guarantee and can be had in any of eight different calibers. These guns can be had for less than $850 from PSA.

Seekins Precision HAVAK Pro HP1

Seekins Precision announced a new bolt action rifle that is the first of its tactical line. Called the HAVAK Pro HP1, the gun features the company’s HAVAK short action and a 24″ stainless steel match grade barrel. Each gun is hand-built and test fired. This rifle is a great way for someone who wants a highly regarded Seekins barreled action in a functional platform for a relatively low price. You could buy this and enjoy it until you save up enough money for a high-end stock or chassis. The MSRP is $1,995 and it can be had in 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Win.

Update: After several years of production, it seems that the company discontinued these incredibly accurate guns. There are a few left in the supply chain, and the rifles can be purchased for less than $1,900 here.

Ruger Precision Rimfire

Sturm, Ruger & Co. is showing a .22 LR version of the Ruger Precision Rifle. This gun is set up in a manner very similar to the centerfire version of the rifle. It has an 18″ cold-hammer-forged target barrel that is threaded for the addition of a suppressor or brake. The guns are bolt action, but they do feed from 10/22 magazines like the BX-15 (included) and the BX-25 pictured above.

Savage Left Handed Rifles

Savage Arms has a number of rifles for which it is now offering left-handed variants. These include the Model 10/110 BA Stealth, Model 110 Storm, B17 and B22 rifles. While not an earth-shattering announcement, these are welcome additions to the line. Click here to see the whole line of left handed models at Palmetto State Armory.

Ruger PC Carbine

A lot of people wanted Ruger to bring the PC9, and those wishes have now come true. The new PC Carbine is a 9mm carbine in a traditional rifle form. Unlike the original PC9, the PC Carbine has a few new twists – like the takedown ability and swapable magazine wells. The takedown feature if obvious is a nice addition, but the magazine well interchangeability surprised me. With the change of a magwell, the gun can change what kind of magazine it feeds from. As it ships, it will come with two wells – one for the SR9/Security-9 magazine and another for the Glock pattern magazine. While I’m not a fan of this gun’s looks, I am a fan of everything else about it. I hope it lives up to expectations. Update: It is shipping now and can be had here.

JARD California Compliant PCC

JARD announced it was introducing a California compliant version of the J68 pistol caliber carbine. This gun lacks features like a standard pistol grip to meet the laws of that state. It is a bullpup design and feeds from Glock pattern magazines like the original J68.

FN 15 Tactical Carbine FDE P-LOK

This rifle is an extension of the company’s growing line of commercial FN 15 AR-style rifles. This model has a chrome-lined barrel, three-prong flash hider, mid-length gas system and is finished in flat dark earth (FDE). The handguard uses the M-LOK standard for attaching accessories. PSA has the whole line here.

Phoenix Weaponry .45-70 Auto

Phoenix Weaponry has an AR-10 type rifle that is set up to run a .45-70 cartridge. The .45-70 Auto is essentially a rebated rim version of the classic .45-70 Govt cartridge that will run on a .308 Win bolt. The company claims the rounds hit sub-MOA through this gun. The .45-70 Govt has always been a great hunting cartridge, and a modern adaptation of the gun could be a huge hit.

AlphaWolf Pistol Caliber Carbine

Lone Wolf Distributors has a new piston-driven carbine it will show in January. Called the AlphaWolf Pistol Caliber Carbine, it is a Glock magazine fed gun that can be had in either 9mm or .45 ACP. Read more about it here.

Springfield Armory M1A in 6.5 Creedmoor

6.5 Creedmoor is the current darling of the shooting community. So, I expect to see a lot of rifles chambered for it at the show this year. One of the big pre-show announcements is that Springfield Armory is now offering its M1A line in this caliber. There will be different versions available including one with the standard composite stock and one with a precision adjustable stock in flat dark earth. SA describes these as “true 1,000 yard rifles.” Pricing runs from $1,985 – $2,045. Update: PSA has them on sale right now for less than $1,600.

Gorilla Firearms GF-10

The new GF-10 is a lightweight, AR-10 style rifle that is being built by Gorilla Firearms. Gorilla Firearms is a new sister company of PCP Ammunition and Gorilla Ammunition. Although the gun will be chambered in typical calibers like the .308 Win, .260 Rem, .243 Win, 6mm Creedmoor and 6.5 Creedmoor, it will also be offered in the new 6.5 SOCOM cartridge. Details are few on this gun, but I’ll have more on it as they become available.

Mauser-15 Rifle

Blue Line Solutions announced it would show the Mauser-15 rifle at the SHOT Show. This rifle is a rimfire gun chambered for the .22 LR cartridge. It is a semi-automatic design with an adjustable (three position) stock and 16.5″ barrel. Folding sights are included with the gun. It will be offered in a tan version (shown) and a black version. The company has not released an MSRP yet.

New Shooting Gear

Looking for a flashlight or love to reload? From holsters to lasers, every kind of accessory in the firearms industry is on display at the SHOT Show.

The following are the shooting accessories that have been confirmed to be announced or shown at the SHOT Show:

Lyman Cyclone Case Dryer

Lyman introduced the new Cyclone Case Dryer at the 2018 SHOT Show. The case dryer is designed to quickly dry cases that have been cleaned using a wet process. However, it can also be used as a companion to ultrasonic cleaning systems to more rapidly and completely dry slides, frames and other gun parts. It has enough capacity to process 1,000 .223 cases or 2,000 9mm cases. The dryer has a suggested retail price of $64.95.

RCBS Brass Boss

RCBS rolled out a new brass prep work station it calls the Brass Boss. The unit has six work stations that have the following tools: inside VLD chamfering tool, outside deburring tool, primer pocket cleaning tool, military crimp removal tool, case neck brushes (four sizes) and dry case lube. The rotating tools are variable speed.

SIG SAUER Juliet3, Juliet6 Magnifiers

SIG SAUER announced a pair of new magnifiers at the SHOT Show: the Juliet3 and Juliet6. The number in the name tells you what amount of magnification each offers: 3x or 6x. These units have special mounts that allow you to rotate them 90Ëš out of the way to revert back to your base optic alone. Additionally, the mounts have quick attach/release levers. With spacers, they are height adjustable. The units are also fairly rugged and have an IPX8 rating (no dust rating/20 meters for 60 minutes of water submersion.)

Update: Since the 2018 show, SIG updated the line and replaced the Juliet3 with the Juliet4. Additional information on the Juliet4.

Huntego CleanShot

CleanShot is a shotgun load that you fire to clean your barrel(s) after a day of shooting. The load scrubs the barrel and then wipes it clean. I imagine most shooters would want to follow up with additional cleaning after you return home, however, this could remove quite a bit of build up before you even leave the range.

Safety Harbor Firearms Kompact Entry Stock for CZ Scorpion EVO

Safety Harbor Firearms has a number of new products on display at the show. One was a Kompact Entry Stock (KES) for the CZ Scorpion EVO. It uses all metal construction and can be had with a buttstock or Gear Head Works Tailhook pistol brace. It has QD attachment sockets on both sides. When closed, it only adds 3.25″ to the overall length of the gun. All NFA rules apply, of course.

The company also announced that all of its KES were now compatible with the Tailhook. The company also has a KES protoype for the H&K MP5K.

FLIR Breach Monocular

FLIR has a variety of new imaging tools at the SHOT Show. The new FLIR Breach is a monocular that is small enough to be carried in a pocket and weighs only 7.4 ounces. It can be helmet mounted or hand-carried. It allows for internal recording and has seven different palettes for increasing the ability to find what you are looking for. The display shows both direction (360Ëš and compass directions) and inclination. The Breach is non-magnifying, but has up to 4x of digital zoom. A single CR123A battery will run the Breach for about 90 minutes. It is made in the USA.

Update: FLIR decided to drastically reduce the number of products it sells to US citizens and instead focus on government sales. Some FLIR products remain in the sales channels, so if you want a rifle scope or other thermal product, you need to buy sooner rather than later. PSA has a number of things left. Also, Optics Planet still has these for sale. Finally, Amazon has a few items as well.

ERGO Grips – New Color Offerings

ERGO Grips announced new color and camouflage patterns for a variety of its AR and other gun accessories. These include color patterns like Cobalt, Inferno, Tiger, Predator and more. Above are some photos that show some of the new color patterns.

New Browning Rimfire Ammo

Browning Ammunition added a pair of loads to its rimfire cartridge line. One is a .17 HMR load that uses a 17 grain polymer tipped bullet at 2,550 fps. The other is a .22 WMR load with a 40 gr JHP that is pushed to 1,910 fps.

Unique-ARs Handguards

Unique-ARs introduced three new handguards this week. They are the “Uncle Sam,” “Charging We the People” and “Swords.” These are obviously designed for AR-style rifles. Pricing runs from $185-$285 depending on the model and options. As far as the design – I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Personally, I like them.

SIG Optics Bravo5

Ever since SIG Optics launched a few years back, it has been running wide open in designing and bringing to market all kinds of optics including lasers and scopes. The latest optic is the Bravo5. This is a fixed magnification battle sight that is designed for modern sporting rifles. Reticle options cover the 5.56 NATO, 7.62 NATO and 300 BLK cartridges. According to the company, this sight provides 40% greater field of view than its competition. It has a textured knob for adjusting illumination and removable Picatinny rails for adding accessories. It also comes with an “Infinite Guarantee.”

Smith & Wesson Duty Series FS RXP 4x 18650 Flashlight

American Outdoor Brands Corporation released a number of new flashlights under the Smith & Wesson brand. One of these is the incredibly powerful Duty Series FS RXP. This flashlight uses four 18650 batteries and throws an estimated 10,000 lumens. It has a 2.5″ head that contains four CREE XHP70.2 LEDs and weighs about 23 ounces with the batteries. According to the company, this light is tested to the FL 1 standard and is drop and water resistant to 1 meter.

Browning Ammunition .38 Special Target Load

Browning Ammunition expanded its handgun target loads to include the .38 Special this year. The load is fairly straightforward with a 130 grain full metal jacket bullet making 800 fps at the muzzle. Browning states the load is a “matched training counterpart” top the BXP Personal Defense load, which is interesting as the company does not make a personal defense load for the .38 Special. Maybe that’s something we will see later in 2018. Browning will sell these in 50 round boxes.

Unique-ARs ROOK Brake

Unique-ARs announced a new muzzle brake called the ROOK. Designed to reduce recoil by up to 60% when compared to an A2-style “birdcage” muzzle device, the new ROOK brake uses asymmetric side ports to counteract the recoil. Ports along the top of the brake keep muzzle rise to a minimum. They are off center so they should not interfere with your sight picture. No ports are on the bottom of the brake, so no excessive amount of dirt will be thrown up when shooting prone. The ROOK is made of 4140 steel with a black oxide finish. .223 and .30 caliber versions are available.

Seekins Precision Rifle DBM Magwell

This new magwell is said to improve the ability to execute a smooth and consistent reload. It accepts AI pattern magazines, has a large lead in and front barricade stop. It is made of billet aluminum with a Type III hardcoat anodized finish. Pillars and screws are included. The suggested retail price is $179. Seekins Precision expects to ship these in March.

SureFeed E2 Magazines

SureFeed announced its new E2 magazine. This mag has a textured body, new no-tilt follower and low friction feed lips. These are made in the USA and can be purchased from GunMagWarehouse.

Maglite ML150LR

Maglite has a new rechargeable flashlight out. This duty sized flashlight is rated for 1,082 lumens and a beam distance of 458 meters. It has an adjustable head that allows you to move from flood to spot in just 1/4 of a turn. With batteries installed, this flashlight is less than a pound. For a rugged light that is almost a foot long, that’s not bad at all. The light is now shipping. Click here to see more.

Benjamin Traveler Portable PCP Compressor

For anyone who enjoys shooting PCP (pre-charged pneumatic) airgun, you know that refilling your tank can be the least desirable aspect of the hobby. Crosman now offers a portable compressor option under the Benjamin brand. Called the Traveler, this rig is designed to fill tanks sized to 0.6L to 4,500 psi. It can be run on a standard wall socket or on a 12v battery. It comes with a transformer for home use and battery clips for filling using your car or ATV in the field. This certainly beats the hand pumps or trying to work with scuba shops, etc.

Olight M2T Warrior

Olight is making a big push with its new M2T Warrior 1,200 lumen flashlight at the SHOT Show. The handheld light has a dual switch (body and tailcap) and runs on a 18650 battery or a pair of CR123A batteries. The company states the strobe frequency is 30% faster than prior Olight strobe flashlights. With a peak beam intensity of 9,500, I would expect this light to have a good flood spill. I’ve been impressed with other Olight products and welcome this tailswitch model. I’ve got a review on this model coming soon. In the meantime, you can see more information on the light at Amazon.

Rise Armament RA-905 Handguard

Rise Armament introduced the RA-905 handguard for the AR platform. The company calls this “more versatile than a Swiss army knife.” It is said to be durable and lightweight at only 9 ounces for the 13.5″ long version. The 15″ model is one ounce heavier. It has 6 QD sockets and M-LOK attachment slots. It is offered in anodized flat black and Cerakote flat dark earth and olive drab green.

Under Armor Women’s Brow Tine Hoodie

At the show, Under Armor rolled out a new hunting hoodie designed for women. Designed for the female silhouette, this hunting hoodie uses three of the company’s technologies for superior performance: UA Storm, US ColdGear and UA Scent Control. Additionally, the fabric is quiet, and the jacket is compatible with stand harnesses. It has articulated elbows and elastic in the cuffs. Three camouflage patterns are available: Ridge Reaper Forest, Ridge Reaper Barren and Realtree Edge.

New Under Armor Hunting Clothing

Under Armor announced some new camo jackets at the 2018 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. The first (shown on the left above) is called the Under Armor Grit jacket. The Grit is designed to provide all weather comfort while aiding in scent blocking. The name of the jacket is suggestive of its durability. It has a storage system that includes hand pockets, dump pockets and a chest pocket. It is available in Ridge Reaper Forest Camo and Ridge Reaper Barren Camo.

The second jacket is shown on the right. This is the Under Armor Infil Windstopper jacket. It has a GORE-TEX Windstopper soft shell to be completely windproof yet breath to help keep you comfortable. It also repels water and has a thermal aspect to keep you warm and dry in the field. It is available in the Ridge Reaper Barren Camo pattern.

New FLIR ThermoSight Pro Models

FLIR is considered one of the top companies when it comes to thermal imaging. For the 2018 SHOT Show, the company added a pair of new thermal riflescopes to the catalog. One is the ThermoSight Pro PTS 536 – a thermal sight with a 1280×960 display, 50mm lens, 4x optical magnification and USB-C connectivity. The other new sight, the ThermoSight Pro PTS 736, has a 75mm lens with 6x optical magnification. FLIR said the minimum advertised price for these new models is $3,795 and $4,795 respectively.

TANDEMKROSS hiveGrip for Ruger MKIV 22/45

TANDEMKROSS announced at the SHOT Show it was now offering a hiveGrip for the Ruger MKIV 22/45 rimfire pistols. This is modeled after the original hiveGrip that was developed for the Smith & Wesson SW22 pistol.

SIG SAUER Lima 365 Laser

In addition to the new P365 pistol, SIG SAUER is showing a variety of new accessories. One of those, the Lima 365, is designed for the new handgun. The SIG Lima 365 is a laser supplemental aiming unit that mounts to the underside of the gun. On a single 1/3N battery, the laser will run for up to 8 hours. Both red laser and green laser units will be offered, so I expect that the runtime provided by SIG is based on the red laser model. The units are said to have a “Instant Activation tact switch” that appears similar to the switch used by Crimson Trace. The red laser has a MSRP of $180 while the green laser will sell for $240.

Caldwell Turret Precision Shooting Rest

There are a lot of shooting rests on the market, but the new Caldwell Turret Precision Shooting Rest looks to be a bit different. Caldwell tells me that it was specifically designed for the AR platform. A lot of rests are compatible with ARs, but are designed around bolt guns. The rest clamps to the handguard (non-marring jaws, of course.) The rest allows for precision swivel and elevation adjustments plus has a removable micro-adjustment pistol grip attachment.

Night Optics SVTS Thermal Riflescope

Night Optics announced what it describes as the “world’s first continuous calibration thermal riflescope line.” According to the company, the scope uses night vision technology with a thermal overlay that allows you to positively identify a target without the screen freezing at an inopportune moment. There are three scopes in this line with core resolutions of 80×60, 320×240 and 640×480 respectively. The top two models have a Heat Tracker technology that uses an arrow to point to the next heat source that is off screen.

GATORZ Magnum Z Eye Pro

GATORZ announced a set of eye pro called the Magnum Z. According to the company, the new sunglasses offer “superior optics coupled with high-velocity impact lenses.” They are rated as meeting ANSI Z87+ standard. These have a suggested retail price of $200.

Dickies Tactical Clothing

Dickies is a brand well known for hard wearing clothing. The company now has a new line of tactical clothing that may be of interest to shooters, law enforcement and members of the military. The line includes cargo pants, covert-style pants and snap front shirts. The company also wisely chose to develop covert pants tailored for women.

ATN Thor 4 Thermal Scope Series

ATN announced it surpassed its prior thermal optics offerings with the new Thor 4 line of rifle scopes. The new line uses a new thermal sensor design with a dual core processor to improve performance. Additionally, the company added a host of new features including an internal ballistic calculator and dual stream WiFi. Read about the ATN Thor 4 Thermal Scopes.

Liberty MkIX 80% 1911 Frames

Freedom Concepts Laboratory announced a new line of polymer 80% frames with which you can build 1911-style handguns. These are modern pistols – with interchangeable backstraps and 40% fewer parts than a traditional 1911 – that can be purchased with completion kits for less than $400. Read more about the Liberty MkIV 80% 1911 frame.

Streamlight TLR-7, TLR8 Weaponlights

Streamlight announced a pair of all-new compact weapon lights: the TLR-7 and TLR-8. Both of these lights are brand new designs and not directly based on the existing TLR series of lights. The TLR-7 uses a single CR123 battery to throw 500 lumens of light while the TLR-8 does the same but add a red aiming laser. The above photo shows the light mounted on a Glock 19 pistol.

Volquartsen Lightweight Carbon Fiber Barrel for S&W M&P15-22

Volquartsen announced it was now selling a tensioned barrel assembly for the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 line of rifles. The barrel is 16.5″ long and is threaded (1/2×28) for the addition of a suppressor or brake. It weighs 1.3 pounds. The company expects to ship these on March 1. The pre-order price is $331.

Kruger Quad Safe Laser Reflex Sight

Kruger Optical announced a red dot style reflex sight for shotguns that includes four lasers. The lasers project dots that approximate the spread of a shotgun’s pattern. The idea is to provide both an aiming point and an idea if the load will all be on-target. The lasers can be independently adjusted to match your load pattern. The optic is non-magnifying and uses a 3 MOA dot.

Magpul Suppressor Cover

Magpul is showing off its 5.5″ suppressor cover. The cover is designed to reduce the heat signature of the suppressor and (hopefully) keep you from burning your hands. Its being made in black and medium coyote tan.

Alpha Foxtrot AF409C Glock Compatible Frame

Stone Mountain Arsenal announced a forged aluminum frame that is compatible with third generation Glock pistol parts. The Alpha Foxtrot AF409C is made of 7075-T6 aluminum with steel rail inserts. It weighs 9.4 ounces. The initial model is available in black, with future models being offered in a range of colors. The MSRP is $249.

Henry US Survival Pack

Henry Repeating Arms expanded the capability of the AR-7 Survival Rifle by packaging it with a Survival Pack. The pack includes a custom made Allen case, 100 ft length of paracord, SWAT-T tourniquet, mylar blanket, fire starter, Life Straw for filtering water, a four pack of high calorie Datrex food bars, and a Buck Rival folding knife. The .22 LR chambered AR-7 is also included. The suggested retail price is $550.

Pepperball Tactical Compact Pistol

Pepperball announced a compact non-lethal munition launcher called the Tactical Compact Pistol. It’s about 7.5″ long and weighs about 21 ounces. It holds 6 rounds of standard Pepperball rounds or the VXR extended range projectiles. It comes with a molded duty holster.

Adaptive Tactical Magazine Extension Tubes

Adaptive Tactical announced it was now offering magazine extension tubes for 12 gauge shotguns. One is a +2 extension for the Remington 870, 1100 and 11-87 shotguns. This increases total capacity to 7 rounds. The other is a +3 extension that is available for the Mossberg 590, 930 and 935 shotguns. This gives Mossberg owners a total of 8 rounds.

Adaptive Tactical High Visibility Magazine Follower

Adaptive Tactical introduced a high visibility aluminum (6262-T9) follower for 12 gauge shotguns. The follower is anodized in a high visibility color. According tot he company, the follower is designed to improve feed reliability and speed when compared to OEM followers.

CAA RONI, Hartman MH1 Sights

Command Arm Accessories (CAA) announced on its Facebook page that it was introducing new colors to the RONI and Hartman sight lines. I know there are a lot of people who like the Star Wars stormtrooper look, so I imagine that one will be popular. I hope they fixed the problems with the Harman sight that I experienced.

Nightforce ATACR 1-8×24 F1 Riflescope

This new variable power scope features a first focal plane reticle in a relatively small, lightweight package. At the center of the reticle is a daylight visible, illuminated red dot to allow for rapid engagement of a target at low magnification. However, you still have a FC-DM reticle and up to 8x magnification for precision shooting. The scope is about 10″ long and weighs about 21 ounces.

New Shotshell Loads from Kent Cartridge

Kent Cartridge is introducing a significant number of new shotshell cartridges at the show. The loads cover everything from clay targets to waterfowl and are made for 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge guns. More details to come.

Fobus APN43

This is an AIWBB rig made for the Glock 43. It has something Fobus is calling a “comfort lever” that pushes the gun in tighter to the body. I’ve seen similar devices on other rigs, and they can make a large difference. It has a sweat guard, and the clip can be adjusted for angle of carry.

Meprolight 6X Day Scope

Meprolight announced the 6X day scope is now available in the United States. The scope is a fixed magnification optic that was designed for sniper rifles and light machine guns. It is effective to 1,000 meters and is rugged enough to handle the repeated beating a machine gun can deliver. It has an illuminated reticle with five brightness settings. A variety of reticles with appropriate ballistic information are available including SS109 crosshair, SS109 chevron, SS109 horseshoe, 300 BLK, LMG and more.

Meprolight RDS PRO Update

Meprolight updated the RDS PRO (aka MEPRO M5) with an optional bullseye reticle. According to the company, competitors with a bullseye reticle have problems with battery life. Meprolight states its new RDS PRO is exceptionally energy efficient and ups run time significantly. The sight has a large “window” for good area awareness and a total of 16 illumination levels (including 4 that are NV compatible.) Both red and green reticles are available, and the company states the sight works well with magnifiers.

Meprolight NYX-200

Meprolight announced a new multi-spectral weapon sight that is said to combine uncooled thermal with a digital day and night camera to allow for “rapid target acquisition in any lighting conditions and any environment.” The MEPRO NYX-200 includes an IR pointer and DVR in the single unit, potentially reducing a soldier’s payload significantly. With the combined technologies, a soldier can spot and target the enemy through darkness, fog, smoke and camouflage while still being able to recognize faces. I am very interested in seeing how well this works.

Inceptor Short Range Rifle Ammunition

Inceptor expanded its Sport Utility Ammo line to include two new rifle cartridges: 223 Rem and 7.62×39. These rounds use a frangible bullet and are said to allow shooters to be safely closer to the steel they are shooting on. The bullets are made with a copper-polymer material and formed by injection molding. The company already makes these rounds for the 300 BLK. The new cartridges are expected to begin shipping in Q1 of 2018.

Vortex Optics Strike Eagle Scopes

Vortex Optics has a pair of new rifle scopes for the SHOT Show. One is a 3-18×44 and the other is a 4-24×50. According to the company, these are rock solid scopes that are both lightweight and reasonably priced when compared to other brands in the same magnification and quality range. These are second focal plane scopes with MOA reticles, 11 levels of illumination, multi-coated lenses and 30mm tubes. Pricing is $599 and $699 respectively.

Nosler 147 grain 9mm Competition Bullet

Nosler announced it is now moving into production with its 9mm 147 grain Custom Competition handgun bullet. The bullets are supposed to have an “ultra-precise lead alloy core” with a tapered skived jacket. The bullets are designed to be match grade and offer shooters excellent accuracy. I am less impressed by the company’s claims that the competition bullet is “ideal for law enforcement or personal protection.” Generally, something designed for one purpose is rarely ideal for a second.

GlockStore SS80 80% Frame

GlockStore announced a new 80% frame that is compatible with the 9mm Glock 43 pistol. Read more about the SS80 G43 frame here. I am really looking forward to building one of these.

Meopta MeoAce

The new Meopta MeoAce is a 3×20 fixed optic with an illuminated reticle designed for both 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO cartridges. The reticle has 12 intensity settings to adjust to ambient light. The optic should ship in February, and it will have a suggested retail price of $1,299.99.

Seekins Precision ProComp 10x Stock

Seekins Precision is well known for building high quality, accurate rifles. For 2018, the company has a number of new products including a new composite stock for milspec AR15 and AR10 rifles. Called the ProComp 10x, this stock is designed and manufactured in the United States. It provides an adjustable cheek riser, rubber recoil pad and multiple QD sockets. It weighs a little more than 20 ounces and has a MSRP of $195.

Federal Syntech Action Pistol Ammo

For this year, Federal is expanding its Syntech line to a line of flat nosed bullets for competition shooting. The line has three loads: a 150 grain 9mm, a 205 grain .40 S&W and a 220 grain .45 ACP. These loads are designed with a flat point nose to increase the ability of the round to knock down plates and other targets. Since the Syntech line bullets are encased in a polymer coating, when striking steel targets they are unlikely to expose any lead or copper to the environment. Federal claims these are the “softest-shooting and most reliable [performers] possible for high-volume competitive shooters.” The MSRP will run from $19-31 depending on the load.

CCI Mini-Mag Segmented Hollow Point

CCI announced an expansion of its Segmented Hollow Point design for the .22 LR cartridge. The new offering is a Mini-Mag version of the 40 grain load. This is rated at 1,235 fps – up from the existing 40 grain load’s 1,050 fps. That represents an increase in energy of 37 ft-lbs to 135 ft-lbs.

I do find it interesting that both CCI and Winchester are offering more fragmenting/segmented bullet loads this year. While two new loads do not make a trend, I do wonder if this is the start of one. Take a look at the new Winchester Hybrid-X if you haven’t already.

Speer Gold Dot Rifle Bullets

Speer announced that as of the 2018 SHOT Show, it would sell its Gold Dot rifle bullets as components available to reloaders. In addition to the home brewer, this should mean that third party companies like Black Hills could purchase these bullets and develop new commercial loads with them. The bullets will be available to consumers in 100 count packages. The following calibers will be available: .224, .264, .277, .308 and .310. Several different bullet weights/lengths are available in some of the calibers.

Winchester Deer Season Copper Impact XP

The Deer Season XP line was introduced in 2015 as a top tier hunting round. For this year, Winchester Ammunition is rolling out a lead free version of the round called the Deer Season Copper Impact XP. These hunting loads feature a solid copper bullet with a red polymer tip. In addition to being lead free to accommodate local hunting laws, the rounds are also said to deliver excellent penetration and weight retention. The line will initially cover the following calibers: .243 Win, .270 Win, .30-06 Sprg, .308 Win and .300 Win Mag.

Winchester Super Suppressed Ammunition

Winchester Ammunition announced a new line of ammo designed specifically for use in suppressed firearms. Called Super Suppressed, the new ammunition is all subsonic. It will initially be available in six calibers: 9mm, .45 ACP, .22 LR, .22 WMR, 300 BLK and .308 Win.

Winchester Hybrid-X Ammo

Winchester has a new defensive ammo line called Hybrid-X. It uses a fragmenting lead core with a large polymer tip. Read more about the new ammo here.

Alliant Powder: Improved Red Dot, Improved Green Dot

Alliant Powder has a pair of updated propellants: improved Red Dot and improved Green Dot. These new formulas are said to burn significantly cleaner and improve consistency. They will be sold in 1, 4 and 8 pound containers.

New Lyman Reloading Presses

Lyman Products is rolling out three new reloading presses at the exposition. One is a compact C-style press called the Brass Smith Ideal. This is designed for the new loader and the experienced loader who needs a single stage press that takes up very little bench space. The new Brass Smith Victory is an O-style press that is designed to handle large cartridges in addition to more normal ones. The final new press is the Brass Smith 8-station turret press. It is heavy duty and can handle all of the dies you can muster for precision loading.

Meopta’s New MeoMag Magnifier

Meopta USA is now selling a 3x magnifier that is designed to work with all red dot optics on the market. It’s not cheap at $999, but it is waterproof to 2 meters for 2 hours and offers multicoated lenses, etc. It can also be used as a monocular and is shaped to fit the hand. The company offers a number of mounts including one that allows you to flip it out of the way when it is not needed.

New Hiperfire Triggers

Hiperfire announced it would release a number of new trigger products at the SHOT Show. Here is a preview video of what is being offered.

ASP Steel Agent Batons

In addition to just firearms and ammo, there are many new law enforcement products that are introduced at the SHOT Show. For example, Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP) has more than 50 new products at the show including these new expandable batons. Called the Steel Agent, these less-lethal tools are designed to be discreet and lightweight for detectives, undercover officers and plain clothes protection/security officers. They are stronger and heavier than the aluminum alternatives, but still much lighter than the duty sized batons.

Remington Golden Saber Black Belt Ammo

I honestly don’t know what to say about this. Remington is showing it’s “new” Black Belt line of Golden Saber ammunition. This appears to be the same ammo that the company announced in 2013…and 2014…and 2015…and 2016. I don’t know if any of this has ever shipped to the commercial market, and no one at Remington has ever had an answer about anything when I’ve tried to ask them at the SHOT Show. I’ll let you know if I find out more.

Remington Premier Expander Sabot Slug

These new loads are designed for deer hunting with Barnes all copper slugs. The loads will be available for both 12- and 20-gauge shotguns in 2 3/4″ and 3″ lengths.

Federal Hydra-Shok Deep

Federal revamped the Hydra-Shok design (which, in my opinion is long overdue) and started a new line called the Hydra-Shok Deep. The new loads are said to perform well in the FBI gelatin testing due to a new bullet design. How they perform “on the street” remains to be seen. Initially, there will be a single 135 grain 9mm load with new loads to roll out later.

ASP Rigid Ultra Cuffs

In addition to impact weapons, ASP is also known for making handcuffs for law enforcement and security. One of the new products introduced for the SHOT Show is the Rigid Ultra Cuffs. These handcuffs are designed for maximum security and control. These would likely be better suited for corrections officers than the average street cop.

CCI 17 HMR VNT

CCI announced a new varmint cartridge for the 17 HMR. This VNT round uses a 17grain, polymer tipped bullet to deliver “explosive terminal performance” on contact with the target. I suspect this will be in the same category of the Barnes Varmint Grenade in terms of on target performance.

ASP Identifier Ultra Cuffs and Training Handcuffs

ASP expanded its line of handcuffs to include more training models and several new versions that are color coded. While the average street officer might want colored handcuffs simply to help identify them when they are “borrowed,” a corrections facility could use them to quickly identify detainees that should be segregated due to the nature of the crime, illness or gang affiliation.

Meopta MeoRed T Reflex Sight

Meopta USA announced a new 1×30 red dot that is designed for MSRs. The MeoRed T has a 1.5 MOA dot with 12 intensity settings and is night vision compatible. It is submersible (2 meters for 120 minutes), fogproof and shockproof. It will have a MSRP of $999.

Speer Gold Dot in 10mm

Speer is set to announce the addition of the 10mm cartridge to the Gold Dot line. Gold Dot is the company’s line of self-defense and law enforcement ammunition. It is an extremely good performer and one I would carry without hesitation. For 2018, a 200 grain 10mm load will be an option. No word yet on velocity.

Update: Thanks to a reader, I now have the velocity as stated by Speer: 1,100 fps. While that may seem underpowered, it would appear that velocity is optimal for the bullet to expand in a human sized target and penetrate to the appropriate depths.

Streak Visual Ammunition

A new ammunition company called Ammo, Inc. will show a new “cold” tracer round called Streak Visual Ammunition. These new loads use a phosphor base on the bullets to glow as they go down range. This creates a non-flammable tracer-like round. G2 Research tried something a few years back, but it was expensive and never saw commercial success.

Update: The company announced FMJ versions of the ammunition will be available in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP immediately with hollowpoint versions coming out soon. Additional calibers and colors will also be released in the future.

Streamlight Polytac X Flashlight

This is a rechargeable 600 lumen light that uses 18650 batteries, but can also run on CR123s. It has a polymer body and has a rated runtime of 3.5 hours on high with the 18650. However, the performance curve provided by Streamlight suggests this runtime is mostly at about 50% of the initial output. It is impact and water immersion resistant. No word yet on the suggested retail price.

Polymer80 PF940SC

Polymer80 will show a new sub-compact, Glock compatible 80% frame at the SHOT Show. More information on the Polymer80 PF940SC is here.

Sightmark Element 1x Red Dot Sight

Sightmark announced it would display a new tube style red dot at the SHOT Show in January. Called the Element, this is a 1x 30mm sight that has a relatively small 2 MOA dot and is night vision compatible. This sight is an update to the company’s existing Tactical Red Dot Sight and offers several improvements over the older sight. These includes a IP67 dust/water intrusion rating, and improved battery life and a wider range of windage and elevation adjustments.

Trijicon MRO Quick Release Mounts

Trijicon announced it will release several new quick release MRO mounts in 2018. One is a low rise mount while another is a 45Ëš offset mount with a quick release lever. These will range in price from $139 to $219. For what it is worth, I wrote a Trijicon MRO review and found the sight to be extremely good.

Seahorse P17 Waterproof Holster

Seahorse Protective Equipment Cases will be showing its P17 Waterproof Holster at the gun show. This is a hard case holster on a drop leg platform that offers a way to keep your pistol dry underwater. It has a pressure equalization system that allows the unit to open even when there has been significant changes in atmospheric pressures (such as after a HALO jump.)

Repelling/Ascending Kit from X Products

X Products announced it will have a new kit at the 2018 SHOT Show that matches the Can Cannon with a high speed ascending kit. This will allow you to throw an emergency line up to 150 yards and lift (or repel) up to 500 pounds at a rate of 15 feet per second. The ascending kit is being provided by Act Safe, and looks to be a variation of that company’s Tactical Ascender.

Cerberus Non Lethal Visual Disruption

This is a handgun accessory that mounts to your pistol or rifle like a typical white light. However, it creates an “over-powering beam of disruption” that is supposed to “steal your target’s vision.” This technology is based on tech being used by the US Department of Defense. The company offering the Cerberus, Civilian Warfighter, was founded by the co-owner of B.E. Meyers that provides the military with similar technologies.

VISM SPD FlipDot

NcStar is launching a new reflex style rifle sight called the VISM SPD FlipDot. This sight mounts to your gun and allows you to fold the sighting pane down parallel with the rifle bore. When needed, you press a lever and the sight snaps upright and ready for use.

There is a solar panel on the sight that keeps the main battery charged, and it has a backup battery built in. The sight comes with a quick release mount and is backed by a lifetime warranty. This is similar to the FlipDot pistol sight that was announced at the 2017 SHOT Show.

Delta Lite Suppressor

Elite Iron announced it would introduce a new titanium sound suppressor at the SHOT Show. This direct thread suppressor is designed for rifle calibers from .223 Rem through the varied 6.5mm cartridges. It is relatively lightweight at 14 ounces and can provide up to 35 dB of noise attenuation. According to the company, it uses a redesigned back blast section that eliminates the need for timing.

The company states it can be used with semi-automatic and bolt-action guns, but is not designed for full-auto or hard semi-automatic use.

LaserMax GripSense for LCP II

LaserMax will formally introduce the CenterFire light and laser unit with GripSense for the Ruger LCP II. The company announced this line originally for the Smith & Wesson Shield and Ruger LC series. Since then it expanded to include the Glock 42 and Glock 43 pistols. Now the LCP II will get the benefit. No word yet on pricing, but existing models are $179 with a red laser and $199 with a green one.

Midland PPG100 Portable Power Station

Midland Radio announced it would show a new portable power source at the SHOT Show. The PPG100 is a lithium ion rechargeable battery pack that stores 950 Wh of energy. It has both AC and solar DC charging options along with an array of electrical outlets: AC, 12v DC and USB. The unit weighs about 25 pounds, which is significantly lighter than comparable lead acid options on the market. It has a suggested retail of $1,099.

Rumors of New Guns & Gear

Before the show starts, this is one of the most popular destinations on the web. In the past, I have broken stories about new guns from many companies and shared rumors of all things related to the gun industry.

The information in this section is not confirmed and should be taken as pure speculation only. If I have supporting information, I will let you know. Once something is confirmed, it will be shown in the appropriate section above.

Beretta APX RDO, Combat, FDE

I mentioned the possibility of a .45 ACP APX below. However, I’m getting information on three other 9mm guns that are red dot and suppressor ready. More details are here.

New Taurus Revolvers

I’ve gotten some solid information that Taurus will re-introduce two classic revolvers and add a new 9mm convertible to its catalog at this year’s show. Click here to read more about them.

Update: The rumors have been confirmed and the guns added to the handgun section above. You can read more about the Taurus Raging Hunter here, the Model 856 here and the Taurus Model 692 Multi-Caliber revolver here.

SRM Arms 28 Round Shotgun

SRM Arms already offers 16 round shotguns, but I hear the company may introduce a new model designed for the Aguila mini shotgun shells. It is said to hold 28 shells. Since the company’s 1216 model holds 16 12-gauge shells, I would guess that this new model would be the SRM Arms 1228, but that is purely speculative.

Walther PPQ M2 SubCompact

Dropping into the company’s lineup between the PPS and full size PPQ is the rumored Walther PPQ Subcompact. This new pistol is said to be available only in 9mm and has a 3.5″ barrel. No additional information is available yet, and it is not confirmed. This gun would fill a hole in the Walther defensive pistol lineup, so it makes sense to me.

Update: The gun is real. Read more on the Walther PPQ SC here.

Simple Sights

It seems that there is a new set of Glock sights that will be introduced at the SHOT Show. It is called Simple Sights. I don’t know much beyond that, but it appears the sights have half-circles on the rear notch that are supposed to align with other half-circles on the front post. I’m assuming the above photo is a prototype only.

Peterson Cartridge Loaded Ammunition

Update: I’ve been contacted by Peterson Cartridge and informed that the rumor of the company manufacturing ammunition is inaccurate. “We are not nor have we ever considered loading ammunition,” said Ben Preston the company marketing manager in an e-mail.  “All we do is make brass that’s it.”

I regret the error and again caution all readers that the information listed in the rumor section is unconfirmed.

New Defensive Ammunition from Winchester

Winchester Ammunition is supposed to be releasing a new line of defensive ammunition according to a Facebook post made by Rob Pincus. Pincus is a firearms trainer who has done work with Winchester Ammunition in the past, and someone I would consider a reliable source for this information. The photo provided by Pincus showed 9mm +P ammunition loaded in a 50-round tray.

Update: The ammunition is the Winchester Hybrid-X.

Beretta APX in .45 ACP

I received word from a friend that Beretta has been working on a .45 ACP version of its striker-fired APX pistol. I’ve not heard this anywhere else, but it would make sense for the company to expand its offerings for this line. So far, the APX seems like a solid platform and the .45 would open it up to more shooters. Chances are a new .45 would not fit the current generation of Beretta APX holsters on the market.

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0

There is a great deal of speculation regarding the next generation of Bodyguard pistols from Smith & Wesson. The entire M&P line, including the Shield, got a revamp in 2017. The Bodyguard is the one exception. However, Black Friday deals on these guns mirror the extreme markdown of the Shield pistol just before its update. Expect to see a new Bodyguard at the SHOT Show.

Taurus Spectrum 2.0

Taurus announced the Spectrum at the 2017 SHOT Show. However, the company failed to launch it. There are all sorts of rumors about why. However, I have been told there were a number of changes that the engineering team wanted to make prior to shipping. The latest info I have is that the “new” Spectrum will be shown at the 2018 SHOT Show. I suspect we will see it, but if it actually ships is anyone’s guess.

Update: The Taurus Spectrum is now shipping. I bought one of the first ones and will be reviewing it right after the SHOT Show.

Update 2: My review of the Taurus Spectrum is available here.

Remington Discontinuing Significant Product Lines

This is sort of a new gun announcement in reverse. I expect to see Remington announce a reduction in the number of guns offered at the show. Based on a number of reports I’ve heard about management changes (it hired the former Taurus CEO) and its junk bond status sinking even lower suggests the company is in financial trouble. Remington recently offered rebates that, when combined with retailer discounts, drop the price of some guns below that of Hi-Point. This suggests to me that the company is dumping inventory to try to get some liquidity. Some of these guns, once sold off, may not return to the company catalog in 2018.

New Pistol Light from Streamlight

Streamlight will definitely introduce some new light option for handguns. The only question is what. Above is the ad the company is running as a tease. I’ve used and reviewed Streamlight flashlights. I hope that this light performs as well as the better lights in the company’s lineup.

New Aguila Shotgun Ammo

I’ve heard from a nearby dealer that Aguila Ammunition will be offering .410 bore and 28 gauge shotshells in 2018. It sounded like there would be a number of loads for each including some 00-buck in the .410 bore. Perhaps that will be marketed as a Taurus Judge round.

Information on Attending the Show

Do you want to attend the show? You’re not alone. But getting in is not easy. Even harder is not being overwhelmed once you are in. I’ve got information and tips for anyone looking to attend the event.

What is the SHOT Show?

The SHOT Show is an annual exposition where manufacturers in the firearms industry meet with retailers and distributors to do business. It is at this event that many new guns and other gear is introduced for the coming year.

The 2018 show will be the 40th annual event. Started by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the event is open to industry members only. This is not a public event. If you are gun enthusiast, the National Rifle Association’s show is the best place to be.

SHOT Show Dates

In 2018, the SHOT Show will begin on January 23 and run through January 26. The show floor is accessible earlier for manufacturers that are setting up displays.

A pre-show range event happens on January 22. This is called Industry Day at the Range. This is a smaller event than the SHOT Show, and only a few members of the media are invited to this. Fortunately, GunsHolstersAndGear.com has been invited every year since 2008.

Registration

Advanced registration for the SHOT Show is always recommended. As the show is limited to retailers, distributors and government purchasers, you must show some affiliation with the industry beyond customer. Also, all attendees must be at least 16 years old.

You will need to provide documentation to the NSSF to complete your registration. Simple business cards will not be enough. Instead, you will need to prove that you manage a shooting related business or have a manager in your shooting related business verify you are an employee.

Additional information on registration can be found here.

SHOT Show Security

Unfortunately, there are people who would like to do harm to members of the shooting industry. The NSSF and the Sands Expo Center take security very seriously and provide a great atmosphere for people to conduct business.

In the years past, there has been a significant presence of uniformed and undercover security and law enforcement officers on hand. Security measures include limiting access to the Sands Expo Center, further checking IDs as people enter the show floor and other sensitive areas, the use of canine patrols and extensive use of security cameras.

Due to the number of firearms being handled on the expo floor, the NSSF respectfully requests that attendees not bring ammunition and guns into the show. This is not a Second Amendment issue, rather a safe handling one.

SHOT Show Tips

If this will be your first time attending the SHOT Show, I’d like to offer a few ideas that can make your experience easier.

• water – Vegas is in the desert. If you are not used to it, you will dehydrate quickly and not realize it. Even when you are indoors, the humidity is extremely low. Bring a bottle with you onto the floor and refill it in one of the fountains. Otherwise you’ll pay big money for a bottle of it in the Sands.
• hand sanitizer – Have some with you at all times. There are tens of thousands of people from around the world at the show. You stand a good chance of getting sick if you don’t take precautions.

• packs, bags, carts – Don’t bring a cart. They jam up the flow of people in the aisles. Instead, bring a backpack or shoulder bag if you plan on bringing or picking up samples or papers.
• food – Everything is expensive and busy. If possible, bring some food with you. Even if it is just some nuts, fruit or a granola bar, a light snack can help get you through a long afternoon. The food offered on the show floor is marginal. There are some good restaurants in the mall-like area surrounding the Sands, but the lines tend to be long and the prices are not cheap.
• hotels – Staying at the Venetian or the Palazzo are the best options when going to the show. Both are very nice hotels and are directly connected to the Sands. However, they are also very expensive. Less nice and slightly less expensive are Treasure Island and Harrahs. Neither of these are great hotels, but they are a short walk away. Of course, walking the strip for any distance is not a pleasant experience in the evening when the show ends. Strip club promoters, drunks and the smell of vomit don’t really do it for me.
• transportation – If you are going to any off site location for dinner, a meeting or a party, try using Uber or Lyft instead of the local cabs. The local cab services are more expensive and less friendly than any of the alternative ride sharing services I’ve used in Vegas. Also, I’ve had multiple cabbies try to run me the long way ’round when coming from the airport.

Photo Gallery

While the show is in progress, I will post general photos here. Photos of specific guns and gear will be seen in the appropriate section above.

Last Update: October 19, 2022