SHOT Show 2019 – New Guns, Rumors & News

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

Welcome to our SHOT Show 2019 news page!

Every year, we strive to provide you with the most comprehensive coverage of the SHOT Show with information about new guns for 2019, new ammo and all of the other shooting accessories that are introduced at this giant industry event. This year, we have some amazing coverage planned!

If you are reading this page before the show starts, the SHOT Show rumor section may be of greatest interest. However, some companies may make announcements prior to the show start. The publicly announced guns will go into the “confirmed” categories.

If I am able to confirm a rumored new gun prior to the show, these will also be listed in the confirmed categories.

If you are a website or news outlet that would like to use my photos in your coverage, you may be granted a limited license to do so. More information is in the photography section below.

New Handguns for 2019 – Confirmed

As we are able to gather information about new handguns at the show, we will post them here. Also, we will post new pistols and revolvers that we are able to confirm before the show starts.

Smith & Wesson Model 610 – 10mm Revolvers

Smith & Wesson kept this low-key, but the 10mm revolver is back. The company re-introduced the Model 610 with both 4″ and 6.5″ barrels. The new guns are a -3 iteration, which is the same as the models made in 2000 and 2008. I don’t know how long these will be in production, so get one now if you like them. Make sure to read my article Smith & Wesson Model 610 Review.

US-Made Walther PPK, PPK/s Pistols

Walther announced the PPK will be shipping to dealers following the SHOT Show. The slides are made in Germany while the frame and other parts are made in the United States. Assembly is also done in the US. Both the PPK and PPK/s will be available in black and stainless finishes. If you’ve wanted a new PPK, it seems like now might be the time to jump in and grab one.

Volquartsen Black Mamba

Volquartsen announced a new gun for 2019 called the Black Mamba. This .22 LR pistol is built on the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 frame and has a wealth of quality components and work baked into it.

To start with, the company adds its LLV Competition upper to the gun to provide excellent accuracy in a relatively light package. It has a stainless steel barrel that is available in two lengths: 4.5″ or 6″. It also has a single port compensator screwed onto the end of the barrel.

Volquartsen uses its own Competition Bolt and Accurizing Kit to ensure smooth operation and trigger pulls. Rounding out the package is the Tandemkross hiveGrip. The guns can be had in black, olive drag or flat dark earth. Made in the USA, the pistols have a base MSRP of $1,400.

Steyr A2 Modular Frame Pistol Line

Steyr Arms surprised a few people this year with the revamping of its pistol line. Gone are the -A1 guns and here now is the A2 MF. In the company’s own words, “the A2 MF series brings the Steyr pistol line into the modern world and beyond sporting new features and a redesigned frame.”

What are some of those features? Here are the highlights:

• new grip modules – The “frame” of the gun has been revamped with new contours and the addition of swappable side grip panels and an interchangeable backstrap. This should give the guns the potential to fit a large number of people very well. HK did something similar with the VP9 pistol, and it seems to have worked well. The grip panels have a new, more aggressive texture.
• flared magwell – Reloading under stress can be harder than many people realize. With a flare to the magazine well, this increases the ability of the shooter to properly insert and seat the magazine.
• forward slide serrations – If you like them, they are now on the A2 MF series of guns.

Steyr will maintain many of the same features of the original -A1 guns such as the trapezoidal sights. I extensively shot one of the S9-A1 pistols and found those sights to be remarkably fast and accurate. Combined with exceptional reliability and the high bore axis that helped reduce muzzle flip, I thoroughly enjoyed the gun. I look forward to seeing how the new -A2 guns perform.

CMMG Banshee 300 in 5.7×28

For 2019, CMMG changed many of the naming conventions the company uses to identify its products. The new system seems to do a better job of telling you what kind of gun you are looking at based on the name. For example, this gun is the Banshee 300. It tells me that it is a pistol or SBR (that’s the Banshee) with all the bells and whistles (the 300 part.)

What’s interesting about this gun is not the name, but the cartridge for which it is chambered: the 5.7x28mm. The 5.7 is the same pistol and PDW cartridge developed by FN Herstal for its P90 and Five seveN. There are relatively few guns being made for the cartridge, so the guns from CMMG will be welcomed by many 5.7 fans.

This specific gun is configured as a pistol with a Micro CQB RipBrace that has a 5-position receiver extension. The barrel is 5″ long with a thread protector only on the end. A short 4″ rail has M-LOK attachment points for a light or other accessory. It comes with a 20-round ProMag magazine and will accept any FN Five seveN magazine.

CMMG set the MSRP on this gun at $1,559.95 with the Cerakote finish. Personally, I’d love to see this with a slightly longer barrel in the 8-10″ range. I suspect we would see improved ammo performance with that barrel length.

Del-Ton Lima M-LOK Pistol

Del-Ton announced its new Lima M-LOK pistol at the show. The new AR-style handgun is chambered in 5.56 NATO with a 7.5″ barrel, A2 flash hider, forged 7075-T6 upper and lower, 6.5″ handguard with M-LOK attachment points and a pistol receiver extension with a foam cover. The MSRP is $876.71.

Mossberg 590 Shockwave Shock ‘n’ Saw

Another of the new firearms from Mossberg is the Shock ‘n’ Saw. Built on a 590 receiver, not-a-shotgun firearm uses the same kind of top grip that Mossberg debuted on its Saw shotgun about 10 years ago. This 12 gauge gun handles 2 3/4″ and 3″ shells from its 5 round tube. It has a barrel length of a little more than 14″ with a breacher-type end. Mossberg set the price at $560 for this one. (As with the other not-a-shotgun firearms, I have to stick them somewhere, and this one wound up in the handgun section.)

New Frontier Armory C-9 PDW Billet

New Frontier Armory is showing its C-9 PDW in the new products display at the SHOT Show. It is chambered for the 9mm cartridge and feeds from Glock pattern magazines. As with many pistol caliber carbines, it is a blowback design. It has a 5″ barrel and a billet 7075-T6 aluminum upper and lower. The rear of the gun has a Picatinny-type rail for adding a pistol brace or a rifle stock (if you first obtain an NFA tax stamp in the USA.) The suggested retail price is $749.99.

CZ P-10 SC

CZ has a new variant of its latest polymer pistol line: the P-10 SC. Known as the “semi-compact” on its European website, the CZ P-10 SC is a compact frame mated with a full-size barrel and slide. Think of it as a P-10 C grip with a P-10 F slide & barrel.

Shortened grips with full-size uppers have been popular with many professionals who carry concealed firearms. It allows for improved concealment but retains the increased sight radius and bullet velocity of a full-sized handgun. The 9mm handgun will take 15-round magazines standard with 17-round magazines also fitting in it. No word yet on availability in the USA. (Tip o’ the Fedora to reader Milan. Thanks!)

Smith & Wesson Updated Bodyguard 38 with CT Laser

Smith & Wesson continues to develop the polymer-gripped Bodyguard 38 revolver. New for this year is a model with a gray handle, redesigned cylinder release and integrated Crimson Trace red laser aiming unit. Though the naming convention is similar, these guns are not the same as the shrouded hammer J-frame revolvers that are also called Bodyguard. This gun features a “grip module” made of polymer and was seemingly developed in response to the Ruger LCR and first introduced at the 2010 SHOT Show. Originally, the guns sold with an Insight laser. This gun has an MSRP of $539.

Nighthawk Custom Firehawk Compensated 1911

Nighthawk Custom announced a new compensated pistol that is designed to reduce muzzle rise when shooting. The new Firehawk uses a single port compensator combined with a bull barrel and full length guide rod to help a shooter keep that front sight on target between shots.

The company states that it keeps the system running reliably by using a Government length slide that is cut down to 3.9″ and combining it with a Commander length spring with a reverse plug. According to Nighthawk this delivers the same recoil impulse to keep the gun running smoothly.

As with Nighthawk Custom’s other pistols, the Firehawk is a beautiful gun that will be available in both a stainless and nitride finish. While purists will likely opt for the .45 ACP version, the gun will also be offered in 9mm. The MSRP will be $4,199.

Citadel Tac Ultra 1911

For 2019, Citadel announced a new Government-sized 1911 called the Tac Ultra. The new gun is built from 4140 steel and hand fitted for both durability and precision. It has a number of features that many 1911 fans like including a full length guide rod, skeletonized hammer, skeletonized trigger with adjustable over travel stop, an extended beavertail safety, an ambidextrous thumb safety, a fiber optic front sight with an adjustable rear and G10 grips. Additionally, the gun has a full size accessory rail for a light or laser. These are available in either 9mm (10 round magazines) or in .45 ACP (8 round magazines). Both have a suggested retail price of $859.

Mossberg MC1sc Centennial

I’ve discussed the new MC1sc line from Mossberg farther down in this section, plus have done a separate article on the site. However, I did not have a decent photo of the Centennial version before now. The Centennial is a limited edition version of the gun to commemorate the company’s return to handgun manufacturing. Functionally, it is the same as the normal guns, but with 24k gold plating as shown. It has a suggested retail price of $686.

Mossberg 590 Shockwave with Crimson Trace Laser Saddle

For 2019, O.F. Mossberg & Sons expanded its line of Shockwave firearms. One of the more useful additions to the line is this 590 with a Crimson Trace Laser Saddle. Many people like to point shoot these guns, so adding an aiming laser that does not need a traditional sight alignment and picture can be a real benefit.

Other aspects of this gun I like is that it is based on the 590 platform – as solid shotgun platform as any other. It holds 5 shells in the tube and can chamber both 2 3/4″ and 3″ shells. The corn cob style forend on the pump has a hand strap to ensure a solid hold on the front of the gun during recoil and movement. The suggested retail price is $595.

(I know its not a handgun, but it’s not a rifle, shotgun or accessory either. So, I put it here.)

Tactical Solutions Pac-Lite TSS Integrally Suppressed Upper

For an amazingly quiet shooting experience, an integrally suppressed .22 LR gun is a great way to go. For 2019, the TacSol PAC-LITE TSS might be one of the best guns for teaching noise adverse shooters, introducing kids to shooting and for handling pests without disturbing the neighborhood.

The PAC-LITE TSS is an upper designed for the Ruger Mark I, II and III and the 22/45 pistols. With the integral suppressor, the unit weighs only 11 ounces. The upper has a 3.5″ barrel (bore length) with a 12.75″ overall length. The upper is made from aluminum while the interlocking baffles are made of titanium with a stainless steel split tube. Installation is easy and no gunsmithing is needed. Yes, the assembly can be disassembled for cleaning (tool included.)

TacSol includes a front fiber optic sight and a rear adjustable sight. It is also drilled and tapped for adding an optic rail. The MSRP is $599. You will, of course, need a tax stamp.

Smith & Wesson Performance Center Ported M&P Shield M2.0

Smith & Wesson announced new ported versions of its M&P Shield M2.0 from its Performance Center. In addition to the barrel porting for reduced muzzle flip, the guns will also receive an enhanced trigger from the Performance Center.

The new guns will be available in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP with either traditional tritium night sights or with Hi Viz fiber optic sights. Pricing will range from $539 with the fiber optic sights to $623 with the nuclear powered night sights. Street pricing is almost always cheaper.

Wilson Combat Beretta 92G Vertec/Centurion Tactical

Wilson Combat announced it was now making a custom 9mm Beretta 92G pistol that uses a Vertec grip frame conversion. This radically alters the grip of the gun to give it more of a 1911 feel while improving the trigger reach for people with small to medium-sized hands. Additional features of this gun include:

• shortened slide with a tight fit to the frame
• 4.3″ stainless steel barrel with recessed crown
• skeletonized hammer
• U-notch rear sight with an Ameriglo front sight that has a tritium vial with an orange ring
• G10 grips

The gun will ship with two 17-round Beretta magazines and one 20-round Beretta magazine. The price? $1,495.

Smith & Wesson M&P380 Shield EZ with CT Green Laserguard

Smith & Wesson announced it would now offer a version of the M&P380 Shield EZ that comes with a Crimson Trace Green Laserguard. Versions will be offered with and without the manual thumb safety. The suggested retail price on these will be $579.

Bersa’s New Threaded Barrel Pistols

Eagle Imports announced it would soon be shipping threaded barrel versions of several Bersa pistols. The new handgun options will include the BP9CC, Thunder .380, Thunder .22, TPR9 and TPR9C. The new guns should be available in the Spring of 2019.

Caracal CAR816 A2 Pistols

Caracal announced a pair of new AR-style pistols that are now available for the US market. These use the company’s short-stroke, adjustable gas system. One pistol has a 14.5″ barrel and the other has an 11.5″ barrel. Both use the SB Tactical arm brace, have M-LOK attachment points on the handguard, an ambidextrous safety and a lifetime warranty. Both carry a suggested retail price of $1,929.

Bersa BP9CC in Full FDE

Eagle Imports announced it would soon be importing a Bersa BP9CC with a flat dark earth (FDE) frame and slide. Currently, Bersa offers a version with an FDE frame and black slide. The guns should arrive in Spring. To differentiate the two models, the new gun is called “Full FDE.” <Insert ‘Never go full FDE’ joke here.>

Taurus TX22

Taurus announced a new .22 LR pistol for 2019: the TX22. The new Taurus TX22 is a full-size handgun with a polymer frame and striker-fired system. It is a single-action pistol with a frame-mounted, ambidextrous safety. Weighing 17.3 ounces (unloaded,) the gun has a 4.1″ barrel and comes with two 16-round magazines. The MSRP will be $349.

Update: It seems these guns are popular with a lot of people and tend to be reliable.

Maxim Defense PDX Pistol

Maxim Defense announced the pistol version of the new PDX chambered in 5.56 NATO and 7.62×39. Pre-orders begin on January 21st, with an anticipated shipping date of April 2019. The handgun version of the PDX will be very similar to the SBR gun listed in the rifle section below. Jump down there to read more of the specs and see a photo of the gun. Both guns have a MSRP of $2,299.

Springfield Armory XD-E 3.8″ and 4.5″ Pistols

Springfield Armory pushes its hammer-fired, single-stack pistol line forward with two new additions: one with a 3.8″ barrel and one with a 4.5″ barrel. These new guns are based on the original XD-E and have the same height of those guns. As the barrel/slide assembly of a pistol tends to be the easiest thing to conceal when carrying IWB, and offers the benefits of both increased bullet velocity and a longer sight radius for more precise shooting, the longer barrels should be a welcome addition to the line. Both of the new versions have a MSRP of $542.

Ed Brown/ZEV 2019 RMR

Ed Brown Products and ZEV Technologies teamed up for a pair of new pistols in 2019. One of them is this new gun called the FX1 ZEV19 RMR 9. Catchy. The gun is a limited edition run that will only be offered this year. It is a 1911-style pistol chambered in 9mm. It has a single stack Government frame with a 4.25″ Commander slide and barrel. It includes the Orion slide cut package from ZEV along with the Alien metal treatment and dimpled barrel. The barrel is threaded for a suppressor. On top is a Trijicon RMR with tall night sights for co-witnessing. Additional features include VZ Grips, an ambidextrous safety, accessory rail and an included thread protecting cap. Pricing starts at $4995.

FN 509 Midsize

FN America announced its new 509 Midsize pistol. Based on the full size 509 guns that have gotten positive reviews, the new gun offers a slightly more compact form for easier carry while maintaining enough size and capacity for duty use. The new 9mm handgun has a standard magazine capacity of 15 rounds with 10 round mags being optional for less free states. Full-size FN509 magazines will work in this gun with a spacer sleeve. FN equipped this gun with a 4″ barrel, a new trigger (it has a flatter face) and redesigned adjustable back straps (new texture for better feel and control.) Standard pistols ship with fixed 3-dot photoluminescent sights. Base price: $649.

Springfield Armory 911 Pistols in New Colors

Springfield Armory will show all of its new color combinations for the 911 .380 ACP pistol at the show.

Avidity Arms PD10

The Avidity Arms PD10 is a great idea, but I know some people have lost interest in it due to the perception of it being vaporware. While that may not be an entirely fair position – it takes years for new guns to develop – having a multi-year lead time between announcement and delivery isn’t necessarily a winning position. Especially when new competition like the Glock 48 comes to the market in the intervening time.

I am not claiming that the PD10 is now shipping, only that it will be shown at the SHOT Show. It has been shown before, and it will be shown again. Eagle Imports – the US based distributor for Bersa, Grand Power, Llama and others – is the distributor for the PD10. Expect to see it at that booth. The gun is given two full pages in the Eagle Imports 2019 catalog (see the photo above.)

Will we see the single stack 9mm pistol make its way onto dealer shelves in 2019? Only time will tell.

[2022 Update: No. The gun still hasn’t shipped. 2023 ain’t looking too good either.]

Standard Manufacturing S333 Thunderstruck

Standard Manufacturing announced a new revolver that looks very different, has two barrels and claims to fire “2 rounds simultaneously.” The new S333 (this is different from the Brownie-like S333 prototype the company showed at previous SHOT Shows) presumably doesn’t meet the US federal law definition of a machine gun. I’m not an NFA expert, so I’ll just give you the details on the gun as they are presented by the company.

The gun is a compact revolver chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge. It holds 8 rounds in the cylinder and has two barrels. Instead of a normal trigger guard, this weapon has a partial guard with a shallow W shaped trigger. Oddly, the trigger has Glock-like trigger safety on its face.

Both the 1.25″ barrels and cylinder are made of steel while the frame is crafted from 7075 anodized aluminum. Unloaded, the gun weighs 18 ounces. Both of the hammers are contained within the gun’s housing. The suggested retail price will be $369.

The company claims “THESE REVOLVERS ARE FAR MORE SUPERIOR TO ANY OTHER AUTOMATIC PISTOL WHICH ARE RENDERED USELESS WHEN THEY JAM OR MISFIRE.” Your mileage may vary.

Mossberg MC1sc 9mm Pistol

O.F. Mossberg & Sons announced an all-new handgun for 2019. The Mossberg MC1sc is a 9mm pistol designed for concealed carry and self-defense. It offers 6+1 rounds of 9mm in a flush-fitting magazine with a polymer frame and stainless steel slide and barrel. There are a number of interesting variations on this gun right out of the gate, and it has a very competitive price with an MSRP starting at $421.

More information on the gun can be had in this Mossberg MC1sc article. You should also check out our Mossberg MC1sc holster list for carry rigs.

Nighthawk Custom VIP Black

Nighthawk Custom announced a new 1911-style pistol called the VIP Black. As with many of this company’s pistols, the gun offers top end customization and a price tag to match. The $7,999 pistol is hand engraved by Bertram Edmonston and has a black diamond-like coating (DLC). It features a 14k solid gold front bead sight and grips made of giraffe bone. It comes in a walnut presentation case. And yes, it is chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge.

3″ Ruger LCRx in .357 Magnum

One of several new guns introduced by Ruger is the 3″ version of the Ruger LCRx in .357 Magnum. While the company already offers 3″ and .357 Magnum versions of this revolver, this is the first time it has offered the gun with both of those options. It is not a major new revolver announcement, but one that will likely please a number of wheelgun shooters.

Walther PPQ M2 Q5 Match Steel Frame

Walther continues to build on the PPQ line of pistols with a new competition gun. The new Q5 Match Steel Frame takes a hard turn away from the polymer frames used in much of the company’s current production. Walther uses all-steel construction with extended frame rails with a wrap-around grip panel. A Quick Defense Trigger is standard as is a fiber optic front sight, adjustable rear sights, a reversible magazine release, an optics mounting system, a ported slide and an accessory rail. The MSRP starts at $1,499.

Magnum Research BFR in .500 Linebaugh

Magnum Research will show a new version of its BFR revolver chambered for the .500 Linebaugh cartridge. Versions of the gun will be available with 5.5″ or 7.5″ barrels and with your choice of standard polymer grips or Bisley grips. Pricing runs from $1,399 – $1,482.

Glock 48

Glock formally announced the G48 pistol ahead of the SHOT Show. The new pistol for 2019 had been rumored for several weeks. Perhaps more importantly, the gun finally addresses the demand that many shooters have requested from Glock since the mid-1990s: a slim, single-stack G19 sized pistol.

Glock 43X

This is an interesting addition to the Glock family of handguns. The G43X will hold 10+1 rounds and use the same magazine as the G48 (above.) Although it has a longer grip, the new pistol will retain the short barrel and slide of the existing G43. Glock elected to use a silver nPVD finish on the slide instead of the traditional black.

While I don’t care for this design – short barrel with larger grip – I know that some consumers do. I expect that Glock will sell many of these.

In 2020, Glock released a 43x MOS. This pistol allows you to mount a red dot sight to the slide using the RMSc footprint. Check out my full list for the best Glock 43x optics.

Colt King Cobra

Colt will be showing the new King Cobra revolver at the SHOT Show. The new gun is an extension of the return of revolvers that began in 2017 with the Cobra. As expected, the new Colt King Cobra will be chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge and hold six rounds in the cylinder. It has an exposed hammer, polished stainless steel finish and fixed sights with a brass bead front. The barrel is 3″, and the grips are synthetic Hogue Overmolded. Colt lists these at about $900.

Kel-Tec CP33 Pistol

Leading up to the SHOT Show, there were some vague rumors about a new Kel-Tec pistol based on the existing PMR-30. Now, I have confirmed that the company will show a new gun called the CP33. However, details are still few on this gun.

The new Kel-Tec CP33 pistol is similar in appearance to the PMR-30, but it does have some significant differences. First, the CP33 is chambered for the .22 LR rimfire cartridge and feeds from 33 round magazines. Second, it has a non-reciprocating operating handle located at the rear of the extended portion of the upper.

Next, the new gun has a full-length optics mounting rail in addition to the adjustable fiber optic sights. Also, there is no under-barrel accessory rail. Instead, the barrel shroud has M-LOK attachment slots. As an added bonus the barrel is threaded for the addition of a sound suppressor or other muzzle device. The suggested retail price is $475.

Kel-Tec seems to be marketing these as competitive guns suitable for long-range targets. As I confirm additional information, I will post it here.

Stoeger STR-9 Pistol

Stoeger Industries will introduce a full size 9mm pistol at the SHOT Show. The new Stoeger STR-9 is a striker-fired, polymer-framed pistol that is similar in size to the Glock 19. However, the gun will be much more affordable than the Austrian offering. The Stoeger has a suggested retail price of only $329 with one magazine and backstrap. Three mags and backstraps will set you back $389.

Backstraps? Yes, the gun has swappable backstraps for a better hand fit. This is a feature that has become largely standard in the polymer pistol market. Frankly, I think that is a good thing. Another feature to better fit the gun to the user is the magazine release is reversible.

The STR-9 features 15 round magazines as standard capacity with a 4.17″ barrel. Unloaded, the gun weighs about 24 ounces. It has an accessory rail for adding a light. Other features include front slide serrations and a rear sight with a hard front edge that should work for one hand slide manipulation.

Three-dot sights are standard. However, the company is also offering a version of the pistol with tritium night sights. This gun comes with three magazines and three backstraps. It has a MSRP of $449.

Stoeger is known for making good quality shotguns. As the company’s Cougar pistols started life as Beretta handguns, I wonder what, if any, role the APX had in the development of the STR-9.

Note: The information on the STR-9 has been updated since the company’s official announcement. See my in-depth article here.

Iver Johnson Pocket Ace

Iver Johnson will be showing (again) its four-barrel pepperbox-style handgun this year. This seems to be a gun that is always shown at the SHOT Show, but never quite makes it into production. I’ve seen prototypes of this gun for years now. It used to be called the Frontier Four. Iver Johnson states the gun should begin shipping in January 2019. If true, the Pocket Ace pistols at the show should be actual production guns.

These guns are four-barrel handguns that weigh about half of one pound. They are chambered for .22 LR and are about 4″ total in length.

EMF Great Western II U.S. Marshal

Manufactured by Pietta and imported to the USA by EMF (Early & Modern Firearms Co.), the new U.S. Marshal is a single action revolver designed to honor the US Marshals Service. Available in both .357 Magnum and .45 Colt, these wheel guns are part of the Great Western II (GWII) line. Unlike the existing Californian in the same GWII line, these guns will have brass trigger guards and backstraps. Additionally, the one piece walnut stock will have a laser engraved US Marshals badge on both sides. This gun will have a 4.75″ barrel. The MSRP on this gun is $535.

Charles Daly PAK-9 w/ Glock, Arm Brace Adapters

Charles Daly will show a new PAK-9 kit at the SHOT Show. The kit includes adapters so you can run Glock pattern magazines and attach an arm brace to it. Neither Glock magazines nor an arm brace are included with the kit. The standard PAK-9 pistols use Beretta 92 pattern magazines. The kit will have a suggested retail price of $619. This gun was originally introduced at the 2016 SHOT Show and had a working name of AK-9 then.

Chiappa Nebula

Chiappa surprised a number of people with its Rhino revolver. I was one of them that was surprised at how little recoil these .357 Magnum guns had compared to traditional revolvers. For 2019, the company is offering a limited Neblua edition that uses a special PVD finish. The grips are a blue laminate. If you like the style, it will cost you. The MSRP is set at $1,509.

Side note – make sure you take a look at the new Chiappa CBR-9 Black Rhino pistol that is coming out.

More Color to the Taurus G2C Line

Taurus G2C pistols seem to be popular. In an attempt to expand the appeal of the line, Taurus will introduce a number of new color combinations in 2019 for the pistols. This piggybacks on the company’s history of offering color options for its handguns like the Spectrum.

Remington RM380 Executive

Remington’s RM380 has not been without its share of reported problems on the internet. Nevertheless, it appears to still be popular with many shooters. For 2019, the company is expanding the line to include an Executive version of the gun. Unlike the base model RM380, the Executive has a stainless finish on the slide and laminate grips. Remington lists the MSRP as $405, which is less than the price listed for the standard RM380. I wonder if we will see an overall price reduction on this line of pistols from the company in 2019.

The company will also offer another version of the gun that has light blue grips with a stainless finished slide. The general color scheme is similar to that used by Taurus on some of its firearms. Interestingly, when the light blue RM380 was being developed, Anthony Acitelli was still the CEO of Remington. Acitelli, who reportedly resigned from Remington in November, was the former boss at Taurus USA. While I find it unlikely he was involved in such a small thing, it appears to be an interesting coincidence.

Taurus 856 Ultra Light Revolver – Now in Full Color

For 2019, Taurus is introducing a number of new frame colors for the 856 Ultra Light revolver. I have confirmed this with a Taurus representative and seen advertising for the new guns.

Taurus will offer these in a number of “exclusive color combinations for added consumer appeal.” Taurus seems to be making a heavy push into color variation as a selling point for its new guns. Some of my readers have commented that they own three and four Spectrum pistols despite numerous reliability concerns posted about the guns around the internet.

According to the Taurus representative I spoke with, some of the guns have shipped at the time of this writing (December 2018). So, we may see some of these in the stores prior to the start of the show. However, Taurus has not yet made a formal announcement about them.

The new wheelguns are an extension of the Model 856 Ultra Lite revolvers that debuted in mid-2018. They are significantly lighter than the standard Taurus 856 revolver that was re-introduced at last year’s SHOT Show: 15.7 ounces vs. 22.1 ounces unloaded.

The 38 Special handguns have 6-shot cylinders instead of the five often associated with smaller revolvers. The downside is that they are not +P rated. So, your defensive ammunition choices are limited.

Legacy Sports Citadel 1911 Madagascar

Legacy Sports announced it will show the new Madagascar 1911 at the show in January. The new pistol will be available in both 9mm (10 rounds) and .45 ACP (7 rounds) with a Series 70 system. The guns will have 5″ barrels with full-length guide rods. While the slide looks like Damascus steel at first glance, it is not. Instead the company uses a gray Cerakote finish with laser etching to give it a Damascus-like appearance. While the real thing would likely look a lot better, I expect that it would be very expensive. This gun is still affordable with a projected MSRP of $959.

DoubleStar ARP7 Pistol

DoubleStar announced the ARP7 late in 2018, and it will show the new semi-automatic pistol in Las Vegas. The new gun is based on the direct impingement AR platform and appears to have a number of nice features standard. The guns will be available in 5.56 NATO, 300 BLK and 9mm allowing you to address a wide range of defensive and sporting needs. The 5.56 & 300 feed from standard 30-round AR magazines. The 9mm feeds from a Colt-style stick magazine. All of the calibers come with a 7.5″ barrel with a heavy profile and Big Timber brake. A billet StrongArm pistol brace suggests very solid support – and frankly, it looks good. The short accessory rail uses M-LOK attachment points. Pricing varies based on caliber selected: from $1,299 for the 5.56 to $1,599 for the 9mm.

New Rifles & Shotguns – Confirmed

When we find new long guns at the SHOT Show, we will list them here. If we are able to confirm new rifles and shotguns before the show starts, we will have them in this section also.

Brownells BRN-PROTO AR-15

Retro-styled AR rifles have been a hit for Brownells. For 2019, the company has a new one called the BRN-PROTO. This gun is based on the original prototype of the AR-15: serial number 1. Among its many features are:

• slick sided upper (no forward assist)
• hook or trigger shaped charging handle on top of the upper

• oversized AR-10 style handguard (accurate to the original prototype)
• brown polymer furniture that replicates the original fiberglass
• original style front sight base
• chambered for modern 5.56 NATO
• 20″ barrel with 1:12″ rifling, rifle length gas system and 3-prong duckbill flash hider
• 25-round magazine
• forged 7076-T6 upper and lower with anodized matte gray finish
• includes a reprint of “The M16A1 Rifle: Operation & Preventative Maintenance” US Army manual in comic book style issued in 1969

Update: Brownells discontinued its rifle line. When the gun was available, it was offered at $1,299.99.

Winchester Wildcat .22 LR

Winchester Repeating Arms rolled out a new rimfire rifle for 2019. The Wildcat is a brand new semi-automatic .22 LR. Winchester calls it “light, rugged, accurate and ultra-reliable.” Here are some of the details:

• feeds from Ruger 10/22 compatible magazines – it ships with one 10-rounder
• the lower receiver is removed by pressing a single button; no tools required

• the action can be locked open
• 18″ chromoly steel barrel with a target-style crown
• ghost ring rear sight, ramp post front
• Picatinny top rail for an optic
• concealed Picatinny rail on forend for bipod or other accessory
• skeletonized polymer stock
• MSRP: $249.99

Savage Arms B17 F Left Hand

Savage Arms offered a new option for left-handed shooters this year with the introduction of the B17 F Left-Hand rifle. This bolt action gun is chambered for the .17 HMR and sets it up for improved shooting from the other side of the body. Relatively few left-handed guns are being made, so it is nice to see Savage continuing to support this niche.

The gun has a 10-round rotary magazine, 21″ button rifled barrel, adjustable AccuTrigger and is drilled & tapped for a scope. The MSRP is $299.

IFC Bullpup 12 Gauge

International Firearm Corporation announced it would begin selling the Bullpup shotgun in the United States. The new 12 gauge shotguns have a 20″ barrel, an overall length of just 26″ and feed from a detachable box magazine. These semi-automatic guns run on a gas system and are supposed to be reliable with all kinds of loads. The chamber handles both 2 3/4″ and 3″ shells. Flip-up sights, a removable front grip and an adjustable cheekpiece are all standard features on this gun. The suggested retail price is $645. Shipping should begin in April 2019.

Remington 783 Varmint

Remington Arms expanded the Model 783 line to include a Varmint rifle. The guns feature a 26″ heavy barrel that is free-floated, a Picatinny rail on the receiver for a scope, an oversized bolt handle, a brown laminate stock with a SuperCell recoil pad and the company’s Crossfire adjustable trigger. The MSRP on these starts at $625. Initial models will be chambered for the .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win.

Umarex Hammer .50 Cal

Billed as the “most powerful .50 caliber production airgun on the planet,” the new Umarex Hammer was conceived, designed and is now being built in the United States. How powerful is the “most powerful?”

A 180 grain .50 caliber projectile exceeds 1,130 fps at the muzzle. That’s more than 510 ft-lbs of energy.

Like slow and heavy? Cool.

A 550 grain .50 caliber projectile will make 705 ft-lbs with its 760 fps.

I’ll have more on this air rifle in a separate article. However, here are a few of the basic features:

• natural air-powered (no special mixes required)
• special Lightspeed valve and regulator manage a 23 cubic inch tank that holds a 4,500 psi fill
• extensive use of Nymax, a polymer specially designed to handle rugged environments
• Magpul pistol grip
• button rifled barrel
• externally visible pressure gauge
• quick disconnect Foster fitting for filling the tank
• 8.5″ Picatinny rail for mounting an optic
• M-LOK attachment points on forearm for accessories
• full-length barrel shroud to dampen noise

Umarex expects the Hammer will begin shipping in March 2019. The MSRP will be $799.

Mossberg Patriot Predator in .450 Bushmaster

Mossberg expanded its Patriot Predator line to include the .450 Bushmaster cartridge. This bolt action gun is similar to the other Patriot Predator guns but is significantly shorter due to its barrel length (16.25″ vs 22″). Presumably, the .450 Bushmaster would not benefit from a full rifle-length barrel, so this allowed the company to make the gun more compact. For a field and truck gun, cutting nearly 6″ and a quarter-pound can make it much handier. It has a matte blued finish, FDE stock, threaded barrel and 4+1 capacity. The MSRP is $441.

Hatsan USA NovaStar PCP Air Rifle

Hatsan USA introduced the NovaStar PCP (Pre-Charged Pneumatic) air rifle at the SHOT Show. Based on the Nova platform, the new gun use the company’s Roto Index Magazine, has a larger and stiffer barrel shroud for the floating barrel, has a Turkish walnut stock and is lighter than the previous Nova rifles.

The Hatsan NovaStar is available in .177, .22 and .25 calibers with top velocities of 1,400 fps, 1,250 fps and 1,050 fps respectively. The 480cc carbon fiber bottle will hold 250 bar of air pressure and power more than 100 shots per fill. The suggested retail price is $899.99.

Howa Oryx Chassis Rifle

Howa announced the new Oryx Chassis Rifle for the US market at the SHOT Show. The new gun use the MDT Oryx rifle chassis with the Howa 1500 action to produce what appears to be a high-quality package at a reasonable price. The aluminum chassis is full length, allows the barrel to float, accepts AICS magazines and provides a great degree of adjustment for length of pull and comb height.

The barrels are threaded and the receiver has a rail for adding an optic. Packages including a NikkoStirling scope will also be available. Prices start at $1,059 and go up depending on the action and other options. At launch, the guns will be available in .223 Rem, 300 BLK, 7.62×39, 6.5 Grendel, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win and .300 Win Mag.

Escort DF12 Shotgun

Hatsan USA announced it would soon be selling the Escort DF12 semi-automatic shotgun in the United States. The DF12 is a gas-powered scattergun with a styling similar to that of the AR-15. It feeds from detachable magazines and can run both 2 3/4″ and 3″ shells. A 5-round magazine is included with the gun and 2-round magazines will also be available. The barrel is chrome lined and has an interchangeable choke system (F, IM, M, IC, Cyl) that is rated to handle steel shot. Although the DF12 has a tactical look, the company positions it as a sporting rifle and states that is it “ideal for close-range hunting applications.” This 8.9 gun will have a suggested retail price of $699.99.

Update: The DF12 was re-released at the 2020 SHOT Show with some minor modifications. Also, the company announced two new versions of the shotgun including a bullpup variant. See my Escort Versatile Tactical Shotgun article for more information.

Mossberg Patriot Night Train in 6.5 Creedmoor

It seems that every gun on the market is now being made for the 6.5 Creedmoor. The Night Train version of the Mossberg Patriot rifle is now part of that growing club. The gun is a bolt-action rifle that comes with a pre-sighted 6-24x 50 scope, bipod and synthetic flat dark earth stock. The metal is blued. A drop box magazine holds 5 rounds. The threaded barrel length is 24″ and it has a 1:8″ twist. Mossberg set the MSRP at $794.

Primary Weapon Systems Mk1 Pro

Primary Weapon Systems (PWS) announced a new line of AR-style rifles called the MK1 Pro. The new guns use the company’s long-stroke piston system but will be sold at a price that is more affordable to many shooters. The MSRP of a complete rifle will be $995.95. A complete Mk1 Pro pistol will also be $995.95. An upper you can drop onto your existing lower: $649.95.

These rifles will be available in .223 Wylde which is designed to shoot both 5.56 NATO and .223 Rem. The piston system has three settings that the shooter can adjust to tailor the system to the chosen ammunition. A 16″ 416 stainless steel barrel with a 1:8″ twist is standard as is the company’s own free floating 15″ handguard with M-LOK attachment points. Additional features include a Bravo Company pistol grip, Radian Raptor ambidextrous charging handle, A2-type flash hider and milspec enhanced trigger that is PTFE coated. The entire package weighs just under seven pounds unloaded and without an optic.

Desert Tech SRS-A2

Desert Tech announced it was replacing the original SRS bolt action rifle with a new version: the SRS-A2. The new gun is an evolution of the company’s flagship rifle that incorporates a number of changes including:

• weight reduction of 2.3 pounds – I’ve shot the original gun and was impressed by it. It was a beast, however, and I’m happy to see the company was able to shave this much weight off of it.
• M-LOK – The new gun has a new handguard and rail system that uses M-LOK attachment slots for the addition of accessories.
• separate monopod – The integral monopod has been removed and replaced by one that can be installed separately. This helps with the weight reduction if you don’t want or need it.
• new barrel clamping system – A new system relieves stress on the barrel and resulted in an improvement in accuracy of 36% when compared to an original SRS rifle.
• new trigger – Desert Tech reduced the adjustments possible on the tigger, but retains the ability to set the pull weight (1.5 – 7 pounds). The front of the trigger has a flat surface.
• redesigned muzzle brake – An improved muzzle brake helps to tame the increase in recoil felt from a lighter rifle.
• smoother action – The bolt action has additional clearance and fluting to improve the smoothness of operation.
• tripod attachment – Due to requests from customers, the company now has an integral tripod stud for the use of a tripod without the need of custom rigs.
• no more lefties – At this time, it looks like left handed guns are no more. The company stated that it will not offer them now, and may not offer them in the future. Fundamentally, there aren’t enough left handed shooters buying them to justify the cost.
• availability – Now. Right now.

Tactical Solutions X-Ring VR Rifle

TacSol seems very excited about its new X-Ring VR line of rifles. The company hopes to “empower shooting enthusiasts like never before” with these guns. Its versatile bolt, for example, allows for either right- or left-handed charging. The guns are chambered for the popular .22 LR cartridge and have a threaded 16.5″ barrel with an 11Ëš crown and 1:16 twist. Receivers are milled from 6061-T6 aluminum and allow for “through the back” cleaning. On top is an integrated Picatinny rail. TacSol uses the Ruger BX trigger in these. Finish and stock options are many with choices of traditional, thumbhole, laminated and overmolded being just a few.

Lancer L30 AIR

Lancer Systems announced a new sub-8 pound AR-10 style rifle at the SHOT Show called the L30 AIR. AIR is an acronym for Aerial Interdiction Rifle. The new gun derives its name from it’s design intent of being compact and light for helicopter duties. It has a 14.1″ barrel with a government profile and a carbine length gas system. The company’s Nitrous compensator is pinned and welded to meet the appropriate barrel length to avoid NFA classification. To help keep the weight down, the handguard is a carbon fiber model.  It has a SOPMOD stock in back with a BCM Gunfighter pistol grip and Geissele Hi-Speed National Match trigger.  It will be available in .308 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor.

LV Seven Rifles

LV Seven, a division of V Seven that caters just to women, has now been formed and is offering four AR-style rifles that will be marketed to women. According to LV Seven, these guns are “designed to be visually appealing, lightweightm and more comfortable to handle.” The rifles are called the Hummingbird, Swan, Quail and the Nightingale. Three cartridges are supported at launch: the 5.56 NATO, 300 BLK and the .224 Valkyrie.

While the company’s press information did not dig deeply into what these rifles offered, taking a look at the company’s website revealed more information. Consider the Nightingale rifle. This is a 300 BLK chambered AR with a total (unloaded) weight of only 5.25 pounds. To get to that weight, the company uses a variety of its own lightweight components like the LV7 lightweight charging handle, titanium bolt carrier group, magnesium handguard with M-LOK slots, fluted barrel and more.

Personally, I dig the CeraKote Kel-Tec Navy Blue finish. The use of quality components like the Geissele trigger is also a plus. I hope this new division of V Seven does well. The suggested retail prices of these guns starts at $2,179 and goes up depending on the model you are interested in.

United Defense Corp AKs

United Defense Corp is showing its new AK-pattern rifles at the Industry Day at the Range. More on these rifles coming soon.

TNW Firearms Aero Survival Rifle in 460 Rowland

TNW Firearms announced the company expanded its Aero Survival Rifle line to include the .460 Rowland cartridge. The new take down rifles continue to use Glock pattern, .45 ACP magazines and cartridge conversion kits will be available for existing Aero Survival Rifle owners.

The new guns will also be available in pistol versions with an arm brace and shorter barrel. Rifles will have a suggested retail price of $699. Pistols with the more expensive arm brace will run $799. Below is a video provided by the company that shows velocity testing with 8″, 16″ and 18″ barrels.

Daniel Defense Delta 5 Bolt Action Rifle

Leaked earlier in the month, the new Daniel Defense Delta 5 is a bolt action rifle that has now been officially announced. The company is positioning this new long gun as a “world class” rifle. While a full article describing the features and construction of these rifles will be needed, the summary is a lot of R&D seems to have gone into these guns. Some of the features include:

• Heavy Palma contour barrels – 95% of the accuracy of a top end bull barrel with only 64% of the weight
• Barrels are made of high grade stainless steel and cold hammer forged
• Stainless steel action and bolt
• Three lug bolt with 60? throw
• Initial offerings: 7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win
• Single stage, user-adjustable Timney Elite Hunter trigger
• Uses AICS pattern magazines, 5-round Magpul AICS magazine included
• M-LOK attachment points, QD sling points, Picatinny scope base, configurable buttstock and much more
• MSRP: $2,199

HatsanUSA Vectis

HatsanUSA announced a new PCP airgun called the Vectis. This air rifle is a “modern take on an old classic” with its unique lever action system. Barrels are rifled and have a special polymer QuietEnergy shroud that reduces noise by 50%. The guns are available in .177, .22 and .25 caliber. Velocities range from 1,150 fps (.177) to 900 fps (.25). You can fire up to 35 pellets on a single fill of its 165cc fixed air cylinder. The one piece receiver has an optics rail for adding a scope or other sights of your choosing. It comes with TruGlo fiber optic “flip up” sights standard. HatsanUSA uses a 2-stage trigger.

Inter Ordnance XP AK Shotgun

Inter Ordnance had its new 12 gauge XP AK Shotgun at the show. Finished in flat dark earth, the new gun is an AK-style scattergun that feeds from a detachable box magazine. It uses Saiga compatible magazines and ships with one 5-rounder. It has a 19″ threaded barrel. It has a last round hold open, fixed stock and a 4-position gas system for user tuning to the load. The company lists these for $660.

Inter Ordnance M215 ML-15 Rifles

Inter Ordnance (aka IO Inc) showed its new line of AR-style rifles at the SHOT Show. The new rifles use forged uppers and lowers with 16″ barrels, adjustable stocks and M-LOK compatible handguards. Variations exist in the line allowing you choices in stocks, etc. Three cartridges are supported at this time: 5.56 NATO, 300 BLK and 9mm (with Glock pattern magazines.) The company is also offering these with a Teflon ceramic dry film coating for a flat dark earth or OD green finish. Additionally, bright anodized colors (with a Cerakote clear coat) will be offered in purple, red, teal, blue and pink.

New Frontier Armory Side Folding Lowers

New Frontier Armory showed a prototype of a pistol caliber, AR-style lower that has an integral folding stock. Designed for Glock pattern magazines, the lower appears that it could be paired with a normal arm brace or shoulder stock as the folding hinge is part of the lower itself.

So far, there isn’t much for certain on these other than they will be offered as completed lowers initially, but 80% versions could follow on at a later date. The photos above come from New Frontier Armory with the Cerakote camo pattern finish provided by Weapon Works.

Noveske Space Invader – 9mm SBR & Rifle

Noveske Rifleworks announced a new 9mm SBR/rifle platform called the Space Invader. The company hasn’t released a lot of details yet, but the guns appear to be AR-style weapons using the Colt SMG stick mags. While Glock magazine ARs are popular, the Colt magazine fed 9mm ARs tend to be very reliable.

These should be available in the Spring of 2019. Also, the company mentioned it has not forgotten the 10mm version on its Facebook page.

Rise Armament Watchman

Rise Armament announced it started a new law enforcement division called Rise LE. The first new rifle from it is called the Watchman. Created with a goal of being “supremely accurate” and “highly dependable,” the Watchman is offered in .223 Wylde and 300 BLK. If you are not familiar with .223 Wylde, it is a chamber design developed to obtain excellent performance out of both .2223 Rem and 5.56 NATO rounds. The gun has a 416R barrel that is said to shoot sub-MOA with most factory ammunition. Other features include an M-LOK handguard, Magpul CTR stock, LE145 trigger with a 4.5 pound pull, 4 prong flash hider and a lifetime warranty.

Radical Firearms RX03

How does an AR-style rifle running on a SIG P320 fire control group grab you? That’s what is being offered by Radical Firearms in 2019. It will be called the RX03.

The new guns are projected to have the following features:

• striker-fired bolt carrier group
• AR compatible (STANAG) magazine well
• compatibility with milspec buffer tubes, stocks, barrels, handguards, etc.

Initially, it will be offered in 5.56 NATO. 9mm and 300 BLK versions would follow with additional cartridges being supported later.

The new chassis system was initially developed by Fire Control Group, the company that brought us the X01 PDW chassis last year. During development, this project was called the AR320. Through a partnership agreement, the RX03 project will be now led by Radical Firearms. The new X03 is projected for release in the summer of 2019.

Wilson Combat Protector Series

Wilson Combat began building AR-style rifles years ago. For 2019, the company is expanding its offerings with a more affordable AR line called the Protector Series. The new guns will offer many premium features while keeping the price under $2k. Among the features are:

• Wilson Combat match grade stainless steel barrel with Q-Comp muzzle device
• Wilson Combat 2-stage Tactical Trigger Unit
• free floating Wilson Combat, slim handguard with M-LOK attachment points
• Armor-Tuff finish on receiver and barrel
• BCM pistol grip & Rogers Super-Stoc

The guns will be available in 5.56 NATO, 300 BLK and 300 HAM’R. Both rifle and pistol versions will be available.

Thompson/Center Impact!SB Muzzleloader

Thompson/Center launched a new line of break open muzzle loaders. These entry level, .50 caliber guns are called the Impact!SB. These new guns have a hand removable triple lead threaded breech plug, fiber optic sights, the company’s Quick Load Accurizor and an aluminum ram rod. Composite stock finishes include black, Realtree Edge, Mossy Oak Bottom Land and Mossy Oak Break-Up Country. The metal is offered in both blued and Silver Weather Shield. Depending on your finish options, pricing will run from $263 – $324.

Retay Arms Tactical Masai Mara Warden Shotgun

Retay Arms Ltd. announced a new semi-automatic shotgun for the US market: the Tactical Masai Mara Warden. The shotgun uses the company’s Inertia Plus operating system with a rotating bolt to cycle everything from heavy hunting loads to lightweight loads with low recoil. Additional features include:

• removable aluminum trigger housing for easy cleaning
• 18.5″ barrel with screw in choke system
• adjustable ghost ring sights plus a Picatinny-style rail for a red dot or other optic
• oversized charging handle and paddle bolt release for easier operation with gloves

The features and styling of the gun suggest this will be in direct competition with the Beretta 1301 Tactical which uses the BLINK gas operated system. You can read my review of the Beretta 1301 Tactical here. The shotgun will carry a suggested retail price of $899.

Mauser M18 in 6.5 PRC

Mauser announced it would now offer the M18 in 6.5 PRC. It shares the same features with the rest of the M18 line including a polymer stock with soft inlays, a black finish, a 5-round magazine and a 24.4″ barrel.

As a relatively new, and niche, cartridge, the selection of rifles chambered for it has been limited. With the addition of the Mauser, this should give a bit of extra oomph to the cartridge’s staying power.

LMT MPR in .450 Bushmaster

Lewis Machine & Tool announced that it would now offer the .450 Bushmaster as an option in its Monolithic Rail Platform (MRP) guns. No word yet on pricing or when these will be available.

Iron Horse Sentry 12 Tactical Shotgun

With its second major introduction for 2019, Iron Horse Firearms announced the new Sentry 12 Tactical Shotgun. The Sentry 12 is a pump action scattergun that claims to be a “huge leap forward in terms of modularity, simplicity and ease of use.” As the name suggests, it is a 12 gauge shotgun and has a 3″ chamber.

The Sentry 12 has a single takedown pin for field stripping, and barrels can be swapped out with the removal of a single barrel nut. The stock can also be swapped out. From the factory, the forearm can be ordered with a light if desired. Detachable box magazines hold 5 rounds.

The gun will also have options to be built as a non-shotgun firearm with an arm brace.

I confirmed through an Iron Horse Firearms representative that all of the guns are made in the United States. Some of the details are still being ironed out such as what light will be offered in the fore end and what, if any, interchangeable choke system might be used. Interestingly, the company is also considering laser and IR options. There is still a lot to learn about this gun, but it looks interesting.

The company is accepting pre-orders if you are interested. The MSRP is $899.99 without a light, but the pre-order price is $629.30.

Remington 870 Side Folder

Few things are as time-tested as the Remington 870 shotgun. Even when the company hit road bumps in recent years, I heard few people complain about the 870. Capitalizing on the continued success of the gun, Remington announced a new pump gun with a folding stock.

Equipped with a Tapco AK-pattern SAW grip and right side folding stock, the new scattergun will be available in 12 and 20 gauge varieties. Both gauges will hold 6 shells in the magazine. Additional features include a soft cheekpiece on the stock, QD attachment points for a sling, a recoil pad, and a Remchoke compatible muzzle.

The forend has a positive handstop plus a handstrap. Also, it has M-LOK attachment points so you can easily add a light, laser or camera if you so desire. The MSRP is listed as $569.

Thompson/Center Arms Offers Camo T/CR22 Rifles

Camo pattern stocks are now an option on the Thompson/Center T/CR22 rifles. These .22 LR chambered guns are part of the company’s growing rimfire line that is compatible with most Ruger 10/22 parts. These specific rifles will be offered in Realtree EDGE and Mossy Oak Break Up Country patterns. Magpul provides the composite stocks. With a limited lifetime warranty, the guns have a MSRP of $419.

Maxim Defense PDX SBR

Based on the requirements of a SOCOM solicitation, Maxim Defense designed this SBR for close quarters combat. It is fitted with a new stock called the SCW that shortens the overall length of the stock by 4″. The stock system has an integrated bolt carrier group with interchangeable weights.

On its own, a 5.5″ barrel will virtually guarantee incredible noise levels when shot. However, the company designed a new muzzle device called the HateBrake. This shapes the escaping noise, pressure and gasses forward and away from the shooter. It does not reduce the sound levels, but merely redirects them away from the guy pulling the trigger. Speaking of triggers, this gun is fitted with the ALG Combat Trigger.

Unloaded, the guns weigh less than 6 pounds. Two chamberings will be offered: 5.56 NATO and 7.62×39. The guns are available for pre-order on January 21, and will ship in April 2019. The suggested retail price is $2,299.

Noreen Firearms ELR Bolt Action Rifle

Noreen Firearms announced a new rifle for 2019 called the ELR. Short for Extreme Long Range, the new ELR is a bolt-action, detachable magazine fed rifle that can be had in either the XLR or Cadex chassis. Noreen Firearms will offer the guns in the following chamberings:

• 338 Lapua
• 375 CheyTac
• 408 CheyTac
• 416 Barrett
• 50 DTC
• 50 BMG

Features of the ELR include 4140 steel receiver, one-piece fluted bolt, 34″ barrel with a Noreen muzzle brake and a Timney Remington 700 adjustable trigger. The rifles will have a maximum OAL of 60″ and weigh about 31 pounds unloaded. These guns will come with a 5-round magazine.

Iron Horse Firearms TOR (Thumb Activated Receiver)

Just when I didn’t think anything innovative would come out for the AR, Iron Horse Firearms drops the TOR. TOR, or Thumb Operated Receiver, is an AR lower that replaces the standard trigger system with an inline, thumb operated lever that has the potential of getting a lot of wounded vets back into the shooting game. Of course, it can also be a huge boon for anyone with finger problems. The company also touts its potential for increasing accuracy of the rest of us so-called normal folk. Read more about it in my Iron Horse Firearms TOR article.

Update – The company also announced two complete rifles: one in 5.56 NATO and the other in 300 BLK. Pricing starts at $1,350 for these.

Volquartsen Summit 17 Mach2 Rifle

Volquartsen Firearms announced a new version of its Summit bolt action rifle chambered for the 17 Mach2 cartridge. It uses a straight pull action and a carbon fiber barrel. The muzzle is threaded (1/2-28) for a suppressor or other muzzle device. As shown above, the rifle is equipped with a black Magpul stock. However, it can be had with an FDE, gray or OD green Magpul stock, a Hogue stock or a blue laminate TH Silhouette stock. Pricing starts at $1,135.

Savage 110 High Country

Based on the company’s 110 platform, the High Country rifle was designed with weight reduction and long range accuracy in mind according to the company. Available in a range of hunting calibers, the 22″-24″ barrels are threaded and spiral fluted. The synthetic stock uses the company’s AccuFit system to adjust both length of pull and comb height to fit the shooter. The barrel, bolt handle and action are all PVD coated, and the stock is finished in the TruTimber Strata Camo pattern. The suggested retail price for these rifles is $1,129 regardless of color.

Caliber choices:

• .243 Win
• 6.5 Creedmoor
• 6.5 PRC
• .270 Win
• .280 Ack Imp
• 7mm-08 Rem
• 7mm Rem Mag
• .308 Win
• .30-06 Sprg
• 300 Win Mag
• 300 WSM

Savage MSR10 Precision

Savage announced the new MSR 10 Precision rifle. The new AR-style rifle is a competition rifle designed for accuracy. Called “complete and ready to compete” by the company, the guns feature 22.5″ stainless steel barrels with 5R button rifling, an 18″ Arca handguard, Magpul PRS stock and an adjustable gas system. The two-stage trigger breaks at 4 pounds. Savage uses the TangoDown Battlegrip that has an adjustable grip angle. Available in three calibers (6mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm Creedmoor and .308 Win), the guns carry a MSRP of $2,499.

Rock Island VR-80 Shotgun

This might be the semi-automatic AR-style shotgun you’ve been looking for. New from Rock Island Imports (aka Rock Island Armory aka Armscor) is the VR-80. Among its many features are:

• buffer tube compatibility with most commercial AR stocks
• compatible with most AR pistol grips
• compatible with existing VR series shotgun magazines
• detachable 5-round magazines included with 9- and 19-round magazines available in the aftermarket
• reversible bolt handle and ambidextrous controls
• M-LOK attachment points
• folding sights included
• fluted barrel shroud

The MSRP is $699 and it will be offered exclusively through Gallery of Guns until March.

JP Enterprises JT-19 Precision Rifle

JP Enterprises is well known for making quality rifles and parts. One of the latest is the JT-19, a light weight AR-style precision rifle. It is chambered for the 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .260 Rem and .308 Win. Features include a JP Supermatch 416R cryogenically treated barrel with a black Teflon finish, JP Compensator, machined 7075-T6 billet upper and lower, Hogue pistol grip, adjustable gas system, JP Fire Control Package and your choice of a variety of stocks such as the Magpul CTR and LUTH-AR MBA-2. The base price is $2,999.

Henry Long Ranger in 6.5 Creedmoor

Henry Repeating Arms announced its Long Ranger rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. This cartridge continues to grow in popularity with more ammunition and firearms being made for its fans. This lever action gun has a free floating 22″ blued steel barrel, chromed steel bolt with 6 lug head, removable 4-round box magazine and a beautiful American walnut stock. The suggested retail price will be $1,066.

Performance Center T/CR22 Rifles

Smith & Wesson announced the Performance Center was now offering a pair of customized T/CR22 rifles. The collaboration between the Performance Center and Thompson/Center Arms resulted in a pair of .22 LR rifles that have a light trigger pull, heavy contour barrels with button rifling, a threaded muzzle and your choice of an Altamont Laminated Thumbhole stock or a Hogue Overmolded Thumbhole stock. The rifles are compatible with a wide range of Ruger 10/22 parts and accessories and come with lifetime warranties. The Hogue stocked version of the gun will have a MSRP of $497 while the laminate stock gun has a suggested retail price of $616.

Browning X-Bolt Max Long Range Hunter

Browning announced a new rifle in the X-Bolt line called the Max Long Range Hunter. As many shooters can guess, this is a bolt-action rifle that id designed for excellent accuracy at long ranges. The guns feature 26″ fluted & threaded barrels (5/8″-24 TPI) with both a brake and thread protector included. Other features include an adjustable composite stock, extended bolt handle and an optics mounting rail.

As one might expect, this gun is chambered for cartridges that are popular with many long range shooters:

• 6mm Creedmoor
• 6.5 Creedmoor
• 308 Win
• 300 WSM
• 26 Nosler
• 7mm Rem Mag
• 28 Nosler
• 300 Win Mag
• 300 RUM

American Tactical Nomad Shotgun

American Tactical is now offering a series of folding shotguns called Nomad. These single shot scatterguns will be offered in 12 gauge, 20 gauge and .410 bore. Both 18.5″ and 26″ barrel lengths will be available. The Turkish-made guns will have a suggested retail price of $109.95.

Browning BAR Mark III Hell’s Canyon Speed

Browning introduced two new rifles for 2019 in the BAR line. This one is the Mark III Hell’s Canyon Speed. It features the same functionality of the other third generation BAR guns, but with a burnt bronze Cerakote finish and a composite stock with an Inflex recoil pad and A-TACS AU camo pattern. The gun will be offered in a range of standard hunting calibers including:

• 243 Win
• 7mm-08
• 308 Win
• 270 WSM
• 300 WSM
• 270 Win
• 30-06 SPRG
• 7mm Rem Mag
• 300 Win Mag

Browning advises the MSRP will be $1,599 for the standard rifle and $1,699 for the magnum versions.

Ruger AR-556 Optics Carbine

As is the company’s tradition, Ruger released several new guns ahead of the SHOT Show in 2019. This rifle is not a major new gun, rather it is an extension of the company’s AR-556 rifle. It is an “optics ready” version of the AR-556 that comes without any sights or a front tower. Instead, it has a gas block with a Picatinny-type rail for adding your own sight. The MSRP is $789.

Kel-Tec KS7 Shotgun

Kel-Tec is offering a double whammy this year with both a new pistol and a new shotgun. Details are still scarce on the new Kel-Tec KS7, but this is what I’ve been able to determine so far. (Note: This has been updated since the original posting.)

The KS7 is a pump action shotgun chambered for the 12 gauge shotshell. Positioned as a personal defense gun, the KS7 is said to be lightweight and compact. It uses a bullpup style design that is similar in appearance to the company’s KSG shotgun. Unlike the KSG, this shotgun has a single ammunition tube that holds seven 2 3/4″ shells. Shells eject downward making it left-handed friendly.

The barrel is a full 18.5″ to avoid NFA concerns, but the company manages to keep it very compact with an overall length of just 26.1″. The carry handle on top conceals the fiber optic sights. The slots seen in the photo above are M-LOK attachment points. Pricing seems reasonable with a MSRP of $495.

As I confirm additional information, I will share it here.

Mossberg Retrograde 500/590A1 Shotguns

O.F. Mossberg & Sons announced the company would offer a pair of new shotguns in 2019. The new 500 and 590A1 shotguns are part of the new Retrograde line that uses an “old school” walnut stock and corn cob forend. One gun is a 500 Persuader with an 18.5″ barrel, brass bead sight and blued finish. My choice would be the 590A1 (shown above) with its 8+1 capacity, 20″ Parkerized barrel and ghost ring sights. The guns will have MSRPs of $504 and $902 respectively.

Steyr Monobloc

Steyr is a relatively small player in the US shooting market, which is unfortunate. I’ve found the company’s pistols to be very well made, reliable and easy shooting. While many shooters have heard of the AUG rifle, few people are familiar with the rest of the company’s products. Steyr looks to capture a portion of the precision shooting and hunting markets with its new Monobloc rifle.

The Monobloc has the stylings of a modern bolt action rifle but maintains enough of the traditional look to not alienate anyone. Steyr derives the name from how the gun is constructed – the barrel and action are all forged and milled from a single hunk of steel with the goal of providing a very accurate rifle. In 2019, the gun will be introduced in .308 Win and .30-06 Sprg. Steyr plans on introducing .270 Win, 7×64 and 8x57IS in 2020.

Some of the rifle’s features include a 4-round, detachable magazine, a synthetic stock with leather inlays and a removable trigger unit.

Savage Arms 110 High Country

This new series of rifles I reported previously in the SHOT Show rumors section below. I have now confirmed it through three sources and have seen pictures of it. It is a real product and will be on display at the show.

The Savage 110 High Country is a new line of rifles based on the existing 110 platform. Features of the new guns include an AccuFit synthetic stock finished in True Timber Strata, a detachable magazine, a free floating barrel with spiral fluting and a coyote finish on the barrel, receiver and bolt handle. The barrels will also be threaded for the addition of a suppressor or other muzzle device. A variety of calibers will be available from .243 Win to .300 WSM.

Steyr Scout in 6.5 Creedmoor

Steyr Arms announced it was expanding the established Scout Rifle line to include the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. This is the first new caliber in the Scout Rifle line in more than 10 years. These guns will be available in black, Mud and OD green. Steyr Arms set the MSRP at $1,735 for these.

Fims Manufacturing Small Frame AR10

Fims Manufacturing announced it would show a prototype of its Small Frame AR10 rifle at the SHOT Show. The new gun will use a 7075-T6 aluminum receiver set that weighs about 25.75 ounces. Prototype receiver images are shown above. Total weight of the gun is said to be about 7.25 pounds. For an AR-10, that is fairly light.

Charles Daly N4S Bullpup Shotgun

This 12 gauge bullpup is interesting for a number of reasons. First, I like the concept of bullpup guns. Second, this appears to be a rebranded version of the Adler J210 seen at last year’s SHOT Show. Regardless of the gun’s back story, this is a semi-automatic 12 gauge scattergun with a 19.75″ barrel and an OAL of less than 30″. It uses modified Beretta/Benelli chokes. The magazine holds 5-rounds. Charles Daly puts the suggested retail price at $649.

Charles Daly AR-12S Shotgun

The AR-15 is one of the most popular rifle platforms in firearms history. There have been a number of attempts to adopt the characteristics of the AR to shotguns, but not all of them have been successful. The latest attempt comes to us from Charles Daly in the form of the AR-12S.

This shotgun appears to be a variant of the shotguns made by Panzer Arms in Turkey. White labeling is something common in other industries and not unheard of in the firearms world, so it is possible that this gun is just a re-branded Panzer Arms gun.

It is a semi-automatic, 12 gauge shotgun that feeds from a detachable 5-round magazine. The gun uses modified Beretta chokes, has an adjustable comb on the stock and incorporates an M-16 style carry handle. The barrel length is 19.75″. Unloaded, the gun weighs in at 7.5 pounds. The MSRP is list as $517.

Remington Model Seven Scoped Scout Rifle

The Custom Shop at Remington will show off a scoped scout rifle built on the Model Seven at the world’s biggest gun show. The rifle will come equipped with a Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x 32 Scout scope in addition to the standard sights. A synthetic stock with an earthy camo pattern will be used on this gun. No word yet on pricing, calibers, etc.

Diamondback DB15224VB in .224 Valkyrie

Diamondback Firearms announced in late fall 2018 the new DB15224VB rifle that will show at the SHOT Show. The new gun is based on the company’s existing line of DB15 AR-style rifles and is chambered for the .224 Valkyrie cartridge. A photo of this new gun is above and the teaser video of the gun is below. The gun uses a DI-type, rifle length gas system, has a 20″ 4150 SS barrel with a 1:7 twist, 7075-T6 upper and lower and a 15″ M-LOK rail. The grip and stock are both from UTG. The magazine holds 28 rounds. Check out my DB15 review.

Browning BAR MK3 DBM Wood

Browning expands its BAR rifle line in 2019 with a wood furniture version of the MK3 DBM. The DBM, or Detachable Box Magazine, BAR is a semi-automatic rifle with integrated Picatinny rails on top for the easy addition of a scope. This version of the gun will have a Turkish walnut stock and forearm. The balance of the gun will have a dark, matte blue finish. With a suggested retail price of about $1,500, it will only be available in .308 Win this year. Depending on demand, other calibers will be possible.

Browning Buck Mark – Threaded & Fluted Barrel, Gray Laminate Grips

Browning makes a wide range of Buck Mark pistols. However, the company also makes a small line of Buck Mark rifles that are based on the same action as the pistols. New for 2019 is another version of the rimfire rifle. This one has a fluted 18.4″ bull barrel that is threaded for the addition of a muzzle brake or suppressor. Browning ships this gun with a brake. The stock and forearm are both made of a gray laminate wood. A Picatinny rail on the receiver allows for the addition of an optic without a lot of fuss. Chambered in .22 LR, the gun comes with a single 10-round magazine. It has a suggested retail price of $739.99.

Magnum Versions of Ruger Precision Rimfire Rifles

Sturm, Ruger & Co. announced the company will show new bolt action rifles chambered for two popular rimfire magnum cartridges. The new Ruger Precision Rimfire variants will be offered in .17 HMR and .22 WMR. In an effort to appease the governments of less free states, there will be 9-round versions of the guns available. However, the standard capacity of these rifles is 15-rounds. All versions of the new rimfire rifles come with 18″ threaded barrels and M-LOK accessory attachment points. Ruger did not add a “Magnum tax” to these guns as they retain the same price tag as the original .22 LR guns: $529.

Seekins Precision Havak Bravo

According to Seekins Precision, the new Havak Bravo was “painstakingly designed” and “meticulously optimized for precision engagement.” The bolt-action rifle is built on the Bravo Chassis from Kinetic Research Group with the Havak action and match grade barrel. A timney 510 trigger is standard. While the action is available only in black, the chassis will be available in black, green or FDE. Four calibers will be offered: 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC and .308 Win. The MSRP is $1,950.

New Ammunition & Accessories – Confirmed

There is always a wide range of new ammo and other shooting accessories announced at the SHOT Show. In this section, we will list what we are able to find.

Brownells BRN-180 (AR-18/AR-180) Upper Assembly

One of the more interesting offerings from Brownells this year is the BRN-180 upper assembly for your milspec AR-15 lower. The AR-180 was a semi-automatic version of the AR-18 that was developed as a gas piston alternative to the AR-15. It was an exceptionally influential design that was significant in the development of other rifles like the SA80 and G36.

This modernized AR-180 upper is chambered for .223 Wylde, allowing it to get top performance from both .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO. It has a 16″ barrel with 1:8″ rifling. The bolt carrier group rides on two guide rods and is buffered at the rear by a polymer and steel buffer. It does not need a receiver extension, so you can use a folding stock – and shoot with the stock folded.

Other features include M-LOK attachment points on a handguard that is dead simple to remove, a full length Picatinny rail on top and a replica 3-prong AR-180 flash hider.

Brownells 25-Round Straight Body AR-15 Magazines

In conjunction with the release of its retro-designed BRN-PROTO rifle (described above), Brownells is also offering 25-round, straight-body magazines for the AR-15 platform. These new mags are accurate reproductions of the original Armalite assembled magazines for the prototype AR-15.

They use a matte black Parkerized steel body and fit any modern, milspec AR-15 receiver. They hold 25 rounds of .223 Rem/5.56 NATO. Internally, Brownells is using a chrome silicon spring with a glass fiber reinforced follower. Body and floorplate stampings are period correct.

These are a limited run and carry a higher price that a typical mass-quantity AR magazine. The full retail is $59.99.

CRKT Gungho

Another of the new blades from Columbia River Knife & Tool is the Gungho folder. This is a spring assisted opening knife with a 2.78″ tanto-style blade made of 8Cr13MoV steel. It has a plain edge and black oxide finish. One one side the handle is made of G10 and stainless steel on the other. It weighs 4.7 ounces. The MSRP is $59.99.

Hi Viz Litewave H3 Sights

Hi Viz released a new sight series called the Litewave H3. The new sights combine a tritium vial with fiber optics for what it terms “24 hour illumination.” According to the company, it uses the brightest tritium available and offers a 12 year warranty on them against loss of illumination. When combined with the fiber optic rods, the shooter is able to get bright sights in daylight and no/low light situations.

Hi Viz uses all steel construction to help ensure the sights are not damaged. You can select your preferred color for the fiber optic rods. Additionally, the front sight has a bright circle around the fiber optic rod for further ease of picking it up under stress. You can have a white or orange ring.

The MSRP seems reasonable: $55 for the front sight alone or $135 for a full set.

Norma Monolithic Hollow Point Self Defense Ammunition

Norma announced a new line of personal protection ammunition for handguns and pistol caliber carbines called MHP. The Norma MHP uses an all copper hollow point bullet it calls the “monolithic hollow point.” According to the company, the bullet offers “massive expansion” consistently and from all barrel lengths. The company states the round reliably feeds in all firearms.

The initial load in the line is a 9mm cartridge that uses a 108 grain MHP bullet. It has a muzzle velocity of 1,312 fps. At 50 yards, the bullet has a velocity of 1,179 fps and retains about 333 ft-lbs of energy. A box of 20 carries an MSRP of $22.48.

Norma Envy Ammunition for PCC

Norma announced a new line of 9mm target ammo that is specifically designed for use in pistol caliber carbines (PCC). Called Envy, the new load uses a 124 grain FMJ bullet that is made with tight tolerances to ensure bullet uniformity. The goal is to “set a new standard of accuracy and performance from PCCs.” According to the company specs, this load should generate about 1,345 fps at the muzzle. A box of 50 carries a MSRP of $13.01.

Barnes Bullets – Components

Barnes Bullets added a number of options available to hand loaders in 2019. These include:

• Matchburner 6mm 112 gr OTM BT with a .624 G1 BC (same as used in its Precision Match load below)
• .224 cal 77 gr LRX BT
• 6mm 95 gr LRX BT
• .308 cal 190 gr LRX BT
• .224 cal 78 gr TSX BT that is optimized for the .224 Valkyrie

New Barnes Precision Match Loads

Barnes Bullets expanded it Precision Match line with a new load for the 6mm Creedmoor cartridge. The new round features a 112 OTM BT bullet. The company has not published velocity information for this new load yet.

New Barnes VOR-TX LR Loads

Barnes Bullets announced three new loads in its VOR-TX LR line:

• .30-06 Sprg with a 175 gr LRX BT bullet @ 2,800 fps
• 6mm Creedmoor with a 95 gr LRX BT bullet (velocities not yet published)
• .270 Win with a 129 gr LRX BT bullet @ 3,140 fps

The LRX BT bullet is the company’s Long Range X-Bullet that is all copper. It is designed for rapid expansion, significant weight retention and a long wound channel to humanely take game at all distances.

LaserMax Guide Rod for HK VP9

LaserMax is now offering a red laser aiming device built into a replacement guide rod for the Hecker & Koch VP9. LaserMax is well known for its laser guide rods, so this is a welcome addition to its catalog. One of the major benefits to this unit is that it doesn’t hurt your ability to find a holster that fits your gun. The guide rod has a MSRP of $349.99 and is shipping now.

Boyd’s At-One Adjustable Gunstock

Boyd’s Gunstocks announced a new line of rifle stocks called the At-One. The new stocks are designed for a number of user-adjustable customizations including a single push button adjustment of the cheek piece and length of pull. Users can also swap out the pistol grips and forends to match their needs. As with all of the other stocks Boyd’s offers, there a wide range of color options to give your rifle a custom look.

Benchmade 380 Aller

Benchmade collaborated with French knife makers Patrick Famin and Eric Demongivert to create this handy multi-tool. Called the 380 Aller, it serves travelers and EDC needs well. In addition to the wharncliffe style blade made of CPM-S30V steel, the tool has a screwfriver and pry tool, micro bit slot, bottle opener and the works as a money clip. It also has a lanyard or keyring hole. The handle is made of G10. The MSRP is $160.

Magpul Bipod

Magpul announced a new line of bipods at the SHOT Show. The Magpul Bipod is made of polymer and 6061-T6 aluminum with a milspec hard coat anodized finish. Magpul designed the unit to be low profile and easy to adjust with one hand. It weighs less than 11 ounces. Soft rubber covers the feet and locking knob cap. These are available in black or FDE and with connectors for M-LOK, Picatinny and ARMS 17S. Made in the United States, the units have a MSRP of $109.95.

Streamlight ProTac 90

Streamlight announced another new lighting product. This one is called the ProTac 90. Instead of being a straight tactical flashlight, the ProTac 90 strikes me more as a utilitarian work light that would serve many of the same customers. To start with, it is relatively compact and lightweight: less than 4″ long and only about 3 ounces.

The head is on a 90? angle, which I have come to appreciate in a work light. Streamlight’s made powering this 300 lumen light fairly easy as it can be run on a single CR123A or AA battery (alkaline or lithium). The light can be stepped down to lower outputs depending on your need. Depending on the battery used, the light can run for up to 5.5 hours on the high output.

The light is drop resistant, waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes and has a lifetime warranty. The MSRP is $68.

Pelican Air 1745 Long Case

Pelican is widely regarded as one of the best hard case manufacturers in the world. From photography gear to guns, many people trust Pelican to protect important equipment. For 2019, the company announced an expansion of the company’s catalog with the expansion of the existing Pelican Air case.

The new Air 1745 Long Case is a 44″ long hard, lockable case with 8″ of depth. This makes the gun the deepest of its long case options. It has built in wheels to make transporting through an airport terminal (or on the range) easier. Two versions are available: one empty and one with Pick ‘N Pluck foam. Pricing starts at $323.95.

SureFire XVL2 Weaponlight & Laser

According to SureFire the new XVL2 light and laser unit was “developed at the request of special operations customers” and is for use on handguns and PDWs. It has a 400 lumen white light, an IR illuminator and two aiming lasers: green and IR. The lasers are co-aligned in a way to only require a single zeroing. The unit runs on a single CR123A battery that is accessible from the front of the unit without the need to remove it from the gun. SureFire uses the X300-series switching system on the new XVL2 and adds a selector dial on the unit.

CRKT Provoke

Columbia River Knife & Tool is showing the new Provoke knife this year. It is a karambit-style knife with a futuristic appearance. Instead of being a folding or fixed blade knife, the knife has a system called Kinematic by CRKT. Instead of trying to explain it, just take a look at this short video:

The 2.4″ blade is made of D2 steel with a plain edge. CRKT uses 6061-T6 aluminum for the handle.

Designed by Joe Caswell, this is similar to the “Morphing Karambit” knife he had as a Kickstarter project. However, this one is made by CRKT and has a much more affordable price tag. Announced late in 2018, the knife is just now coming into the market. The suggested retail price is $200.

Magpul Radius Eye Pro

Magpul expanded it’s line of fashionable eye protection at the SHOT Show this year. One of the new offerings is the Radius model. This is a straightforward design with a matte black frame. The lenses can be had as either gray or silver mirror. They offer Z87+ protection and tested to MIL PRF 32432 ballistic standards. According to the company, these will fit a medium to large. MSRP: $125.

Adventure Medical Kits Trauma Pak III

A lot of people carry a gun for self-defense, which is great. Sadly, it seems few people carry life saving medical gear with them. In the grand scheme of things, you are more likely to need a tourniquet or other medical gear than a pistol. Adventure Medical Kits is one of several companies that is making basic medical supplies in an easy to grab kit available to the average person like me and you.

The Trauma Pak III is an evolution of the company’s prior products. This one is designed to stop massive bleeding as quickly as possible so someone can survive to get to professional medical help. Included are a tourniquet with windlass (similar to the SOF-T), a 4″ pressure dressing (aka Israeli bandage), a triangular bandage, EMT shears, a permanent marker and a pair of gloves. The bag itself can also be used for a chest wound, though you would still need tape to seal the edges.

The entire kit weighs only 8 ounces and has a MSRP of $39.99. This new version of the kit is expected to begin shipping at the end of summer. Your life is worth $40. So is the life of your spouse, kids and neighbor. Get one and keep it with you. Better yet, get a few and keep them in places where you are most likely to need them – the office desk, trunk of your car, diaper bag, etc.

Benchmade Bugout

Benchmade has a number of nice knives being introduced at the SHOT Show. One of them is the Bugout. The Benchmade Bugout is a plain edged folder with the blade made of Damasteel. It has a drop point and a blue anodized thumb stud made of titanium. The liners have a gray PVD finish. Benchmade designed this to be a tip up carry with the pocket clip allowing for deep carry. This one isn’t cheap, but it is pretty. MSRP: $750

Timney Elite Hunter Trigger for Remington M700

Timney Triggers is showing off its Elite Hunter drop in trigger for the Remington Model 700 line of rifles. The trigger is available in black or nickel plated with a set pull weight of 1.5 to 4 pounds (selected at purchase.) MSRP is $149.95.

Lancer L5AWM Safety Magazines

Lancer Systems added translucent blue magazines to the company’s line of Advanced Warfighter Magazines. The new L5AWM Safety Magazines are intended to be used to help trainers separate live ammo and mags from those used with Simunitions and other marking rounds.

Blue magazines like this can help someone quickly identify that the wrong magazine has been picked up for his or her self-defense or duty rifle that is being placed into service. In other words, if you see one, you should immediately know it is not for use with your live fire weapon.

On the other hand, the magazines can be part of a multi-layer approach to preventing training deaths. In scenario training, all parties should be able to stop an exercise if someone sees a non-blue magazine being used. However, all weapons and magazines – regardless of color – should still be checked before every exercise to ensure a live round has not made its way into a training magazine.

Sightmark Wraith Digital Rifle Scope

Texas based Sellmark announce a new digital rifle scope that provides up to 32x magnification and a 1080 HD sensor that allows for simultaneous hunting and video recording without needing any external gear. Here are the basics:

• 4-32x 50 – That’s optical (or glass only) magnification to 32x. The digital sensor can magnify up to another 8x, but you lose resolution.
• customizable reticles – Nine colors and 10 reticle style are available.
• 1920×1080 sensor resolution with full color in daylight conditions – This is the same resolution as most high definition televisions and computer monitors.
• 850 nm IR illuminator – In night mode, you select either a green mode or black and white. The illuminator is supposed to be good to 200 yards. The illuminator is removable if you live in an area where emitted light is prohibited while hunting.
• up to 64 GB of onboard storage using the memory card slot
• powered by AA batteries – According to the company, you can expect up to 4 hours of runtime with standard AA batteries. I presume the company means alkaline, but I’ve not been able to confirm this.
• MicroUSB power port – If you choose, you can use an external battery pack to power the unit through a MicroUSB port.

Lancer Modular Handguard

Lancer Systems announced a new AR handguard at the 2019 SHOT Show. The new Modular Handguard is a two-piece system that is designed specifically for short barrel rifles or pistols that have been fitted with a suppressor.

The rear portion of the handguard mounts to the rifle in a manner similar to other handguards. It is a single piece. The second piece acts as a suppressor cover with a quick detach mount to mate it to the main portion of the handguard. Since the suppressor is largely covered by this, the shooter has a larger gripping area and is much less likely to burn his or her hand on the can.

The handguard has M-LOK attachment points for the addition of other gear.

Timber Creek Enforcer Ambidextrous Charging Handle

New for 2019 is an ambidextrous charging handle from Timber Creek. The company will offer these in 9 different colors including black, red, purple, blue and more. It uses roller bearings in the design.

Aimpoint Acro P-1

Aimpoint announced a new reflex sight called the Acro P-1 that is claims is the “smallest enclosed system on the market.” The new red dot system is designed for handguns but can be used on other weapon systems. It is a closed emitter system that should provide excellent optical quality over many years.

According to the company, it is the only sight of its size that has been “fully tested for shock, vibration, temperature span and other environmental stresses.” Among the stress testing conducted was a 20,000 round test on a .40 S&W pistol slide. Additionally, the company says the optic can be submerged to 25 meters.

Aimpoint states that the battery has a runtime of one year in position #6 (of 10 brightness levels.) At NVD levels, the battery will run for years. A battery can be replaced without removing the optic from the gun. The sight was quietly announced last summer and is now making a big push into the US market.

Nikon Black Force100

Designed to be a close-to-medium range tactical scope for your AR or other rifle, the new Black Force100 is a 1-6x 24 scope that claims no magnification on the low end, has an etched reticle with an illuminated red dot and is both water- and shockproof. Additionally, the rifle scope has a 30mm main body tube, multi-coated optics, is argon purged for fogging resistance and low profile, capped turrets. Nikon set the MSRP at $649.95 for the Black Force100. Optional one piece cantilever mounts are also available for $139.95 each.

Kent Cartridge Fasteel 2.0 Shotshells

Kent Cartridge announced an upgrade to its steel shot ammo line for waterfowl hunting. The Fasteel 2.0 Precision Plated Steel line of shotshells combine a high performance base wad with zinc-plated shot and improved powder to create hunting ammunition that improves cycling in all semi-automatic shotguns and patterns in all climates. Recoil is kept manageable while maximizing velocity across the line. Eight 12-gauge loads and two 20-gauge loads are offered in the Fasteel 2.0 line with BBB to #6 payloads being offered.

Nighthawk Custom IOS

Nighthawk Custom announced a new optics system that would allow a shooter to quickly swap between rear sights and reflex sights on his or her pistol. Called the IOS, or Interchangeable Optics System, the slide has a tapered cut that allows you to slide a new sight into place after loosening a set screw and pushing out a pin.

The genius aspect of the tapered cut is that it returns the mounting plate to the same position. This would appear to allow a shooter to swap sights back and forth and keep zero. Of course, the question becomes how many people need to swap sights even semi-regularly to make this a worthwhile investment?

Nighthawk Custom states mounting plates will be available for the Trijicon RMR, Viper Vortex and RMSc Shield. New plates will be introduced as the optic market continues to grow and evolve. The system has a MSRP of $350 and includes the iron sight plate. Additional plates are sold for $150 each.

Danner 5th Gen Pronghorn

The Pronghorn name is not a stranger to fans of Danner boots. However, for 2019, the company announced it was rolling out a fifth generation of the classic footwear line. Updated with the latest technology, men and women taking to the field this fall will have another option when picking a boot.

The new boots are waterproof with a Gore-Tex lining, optional Primaloft insulation, rugged lacing hardware for years of service, Terra Force Next platform that combines an internal and external shank for torsion control and arch support, Vibram SPE midsole and an outsole that is supposed to provide “superior traction on rugged terrain.” The boots can be has in soli brown, Realtree Edge or Mossy Oak Break-Up Country. 400G, 800G and 1200G insulation levels are available. Pricing starts at $229.95.

Ghost Gunner P80 Jigs & Code

Defense Distributed announce that it was now offering jigs and code to Ghost Gunner CNC machine owners to complete Glock compatible handguns using the Polymer80 Compact frame. A “Jig Starter Kit” will cost you $200. That is in addition to purchasing an 80% frame from Polymer80 and assumes you already own a the Ghost Gunner 2 machine.

American Reserve Munitions Stealth – Flashless Gunpowder

American Reserve Munitions announced it would begin commercial sales of its near flashless gunpowder under the Stealth brand. Many armed encounters happen in low light conditions, and most defensive ammunition uses some form of low flash gunpowder. The idea is that a bright flash (1) can temporarily blind or disorient the shooter and (2) can give away his or her location to the armed attacker. The first is important to all good guys while the second is probably more important to law enforcement.

The Stealth powder, and ammunition loaded with it, will be available to consumers through the American Reserve Munitions website.

Tactical Solutions Aeris Suppressor

Sound suppressors are tools that just make sense for shooters. Not only do they help to protect your hearing, but they make you a better neighbor. For 2019, TacSol offers the Aeris rimfire can. The unit is designed for popular rimfire rounds including the .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 WSM. It’s only 3″ long and weighs 3 ounces. It is user-serviceable meaning you can take it apart with the included tool and clean the titanium baffles and stainless steel split tube. With a price of $297, it’s pretty darn affordable, though Uncle Sam will want his payoff for the tax stamp.

Lancer’s Colt Upgrade Kit

Lancer Systems announced a new kit to upgrade your Colt patrol rifle to “modern standards.” The kit includes a carbon fiber handguard with M-LOK attachment points, an Adaptive Magwell and two smoke colored L5 Advanced Warfighter magazines. Having worked at a police agency that downloaded its milsurp mags and taped things to the handguards, I can appreciate the kit’s usefulness.

Browning Trail Force Ammunition

Described as “pure lethality on pests,” the new Trail Force cartridge from Browning is a .38 Special load that replaces the normal projectile with a combination of #9 shot and two copper-plated lead disks. The total payload is 0.25 ounces. According to Browning, the new .38 Special cartridge is accurate to “common defense distances” and is great for handling a rattlesnake, rabid raccoon or other dangerous pest.

Winchester USA Ready Ammunition

Winchester Ammunition announced a new line of ammo called USA Ready. This new line is marketed as a “select grade” of ammo that is aimed at competitors and target shooters. As an additional step, Winchester stated it would publish an information page with factory testing results (pressure & velocity measurements) for each lot online.

Cartridges available at launch include:

• .223 Rem (62 gr OTHP @ 3,065 fps)
• 300 BLK (125 gr OTHP @ 2,185 fps)
• .308 Win (168 gr OTHP @ 2,680 fps)
• 6.5 Creedmoor (125 gr OTHP @ 2,850 fps)
• 9mm (115 gr FMJ-FN @ 1,190 fps)
• .40 S&W (165 gr FMJ-FN @ 1,060 fps)
• .45 ACP (230 gr FMJ-FN @ 880 fps)

Primary Arms GLx Scopes

Primary Arms will offer a new all-purpose rifle scope line in 2019. Called the GLx, Primary Arms claims these new optics feature “some of the most…advanced [technology] on the market today” while still offering a great value. These first focal plane scopes will be available with magnifications of 2.5-10x 44, 4-16x 50 and 6-24x 50.

According to Primary Arms, the new scopes will offer the following benefits/features:

• crisp view from edge to edge with no distortion or chromatic aberration
• “enormous” field of view
• AutoLive technology which turns of the illuminated reticle when there has been a lack of movement for at least 3 minutes; it also instantly turns back on
• customizable magnification ring
• low profile turrets that use stainless steel internals
• turrets use rotation indicators, an auto locking system, a return to zero elevation knob and more

Side note – Primary Arms decided to rename all of its scopes for a better understanding of where each optic is in the grand scheme of things. The GLx is the “gold” line with others being the PLx (platinum), SLx (silver) and CLx (classic.)

LaCrosse Navigator Series

LaCrosse announced a new line of hunting boots for men and women that will be out in time for the hunting season of Fall 2019. The new Navigator Series will feature Atlas and Windrose boots. The Atlas boots will be available in men’s sizing only. They feature a combination of leather, textiles and rubber to offer a durable hunting boot with good traction on a wide range of wet and dry surfaces, a waterproof lining, Primaloft insulation, a rubber toe cap and a DureFit molded rubber heel cup.

The LaCrosse Atlas boots will also be available without insulation. Buyers have a choice of solid brown, Realtree Edge and Mossy Oak Break-Up Country. The suggested retail pricing runs from $169.96 to $199.95.

Windrose boots offer a more athletic feel and are lightweight for both men and women. They also offer a waterproof lining and DuraFit heel cup. However, these use Thinsulate Ultra Insulation. There is not an option for non-insulated boots in this model. Color choices are the same as the Atlas. These start at $139.95 and go to $149.95.

Birchwood Casey Adjustable Target Stands

Birchwood Casey announced a new Adjustable Target Stand kit. The kit is made to be easy to set up and take down. It can be adjusted to handle targets with widths of 13″ – 25″. It looks like a handy contraption that you can toss into your trunk or truck bed and carry out to the range. The MSRP will be $53.40.

If you are looking for something you can make yourself, check out my DIY Target Stand plans.

LaserMax Lightning Universal Laser for Pistols

LaserMax announced a new laser aiming product called the Lightning. The LaserMax Lightning is a “universal fit” unit that mounts to any handgun rail that is at least 1″ in length and uses the company’s GripSense Activation technology. Features include 20-hour battery life, no-tool battery replacement, programmable laser (either steady on or pulsed beam), water resistance and a 5-year warranty. The new Lightning will be offered with a red laser ($169.99) or a daylight visible green laser ($229.99).

Browning Long Range Pro Ammunition

Browning announced a new line of ammo called the Long Range Pro. The name is suggestive of what it is: high performance loads that are optimized for long range accuracy and precision. The cartridge selections are not surprising: 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, .30-06 Sprg, 300 Win Mag and 300 WSM.

Browning selected the highly respected Sierra Tipped MatchKing bullet for these loads. Sierra bullets – both the original MatchKing and the Tipped versions – have garnered a lot of praise over the years for their performance. While there may not be anything earth shattering about this announcement, it doesn’t need to be. It looks like Browning is making some very good long range loads. It will be fun to see how they perform on the range.

2A Armament Builder Series of AR Components

2A Armament announced it would sell a cost-effective line of AR components in 2019. The new Builder Series parts will include receiver sets, handguards, safety selectors, gas blocks, gas tubes and buffer tubes. The company is also clear that these parts are not “poor man’s aftermarket components.” Rather, they are custom machined and manufactured in Idaho with US-sourced aluminum for quality and consistency.

New Cartridge: Winchester 350 Legend

Winchester Ammunition rolled out a new cartridge called the 350 Legend. Using a straightwalled .223 Rem case with a .357 caliber bullet, Winchester states this will produce more energy that the .30-30 Win, .223 Rem and 300 BLK for superior hunting – especially in areas with straight walled deer hunting. The company states it also produces less recoil than the .243 Win and 450 Bushmaster.

The new cartridge will be available in the company’s Deer Season XP, Super X, Hog Special, USA White Box, Power Max Bonded and Super Suppressed lines. Bullet weights range from 145-180 with the Super Suppressed line using a heavy 265 grain bullet. Here is an introductory video on the cartridge from Winchester:

Winchester Firearms will offer a bolt-action XPR rifle in this new cartridge. I look forward to seeing how this develops. Using a .223 case suggests it could be run in an AR platform, though I am still trying to gather details on this one.

Winchester Ammunition Ranger One

Winchester Ammunition announced a new line of ammo for law enforcement called Ranger One. The new ammo uses a bonded, jacketed hollow point bullet that has a rigid polymer plug seated in the cavity. Polymer plugs are designed to prevent external materials from hampering hollow point performance while actually contributing to expansion itself.

Polymer tips and plugs have been used successfully in rifle ammunition, and more recently in handgun ammunition like the Hornady Critical Duty line. Other efforts like the Gold Dot G2 line have not been as well received. It will be interesting to see what kind of performance Winchester is able to demonstrate with this load.

The new line starts with a single load – a 9mm with a 147 grain bonded JHP – but will likely expand in the future. As a nod to the law enforcement community for which the ammo was developed, the polymer plugs are blue.

Angstadt Arms Sub Compact Weapon (SCW) Stock

The quest for the shortest stock possible on an AR-style rifle may have been achieved by Angstadt Arms with its Sub Compact Weapon Stock. Developed for an US Army contract for ultra-concealable 9mm SMGs, Angstadt Arms will offer this stock in the Spring of 2019.

Collapsed, the stock is a mere 2.5″ long. Opening it requires the operator push a single button and pull back on the stock to lock it into place. It uses a single rail which is strong enough for full auto fire with a pistol caliber as well as 5.56 NATO and 300 BLK.

The company states it does not use a new bolt carrier group, but a shortened milspec BCG. An arm brace version is being developed as well.

Streamlight TLR-7, TLR-8, TLR-8G

Streamlight announced a trio of new weaponlights for compact pistols that it is showing at the 2019 SHOT Show. The new lights are called the TLR-7, TLR-8 and TLR-8G. All three units mount to a short accessory rail and have a 500 lumen LED to provide a broad area of illumination. The TLR-7 is a light only model while the TLR-8 adds a red aiming laser. The “G” model uses a green aiming laser that is daylight visible instead of the red. Red lasers tend to be less expensive, but are only useable in low light conditions.

All models have a stated runtime of 1.5 hours and run off of a single CR123A battery. Assuming Streamlight tested these in accordance with the PLATO FL1 standard, the runtime is measured to 10% of original output, so you cannot expect 500 lumens of output at one hour and 29 minutes. Nevertheless, in my flashlight testing, Streamlight tends to offer much better output over time performance than many other lights.

Meprolight Mepro Foresight

Meprolight USA announced a new optic called the Mepro Foresight. The new reflex sight claims to be the “first augmented weapon sight.” By augmented, the company means that data is displayed on the optical lens. This provides an experience similar to a heads up display.

Projected data includes battery level, sensor data and Bluetooth connectivity to your phone. In a future software upgrade, the company expects to provide a shot counter. The system allows for up to 10 zeroed weapons or user profiles. I suspect those may be controlled or selected through a phone app.

The Mepro Foresight has a rechargeable battery ad USB-C port. It weighs 9.9 ounces and should be available in April of 2019.

Kestrel 2700 Ballistics Weather Meter

Kestrel Instruments announced a new tool for long range shooters called the 2700 Ballistics Weather Meter. The unit provides a number of tools and features:

• measures altitude, wind speed, wind direction, temperature
• has a large library of bullet test data for its G1/G7 Ballistics Solver
• IP-67 rated for protection from particle and water intrusion
• MIL-STD-810 drop tested and comes with a protective cover and 5 year warranty

The price on this unit will be $179.

SIG SAUER M17 Ammunition

SIG got into the ammo game a few years back, and I think most people are familiar that a version of the company’s P320 pistol, the M17, is now an issued side arm in the US military. Looking to further the ammo line and capitalize on the M17 designation, SIG SAUER is now offering “military grade” ammunition. The new M17 9mm ammo will come in two loads: a 124 gr FMJ load and a 124 gr JHP load using the company’s V-Crown hollow point. Both loads are +P rated with a muzzle velocity of 1,198 fps.

Firefield Scarab Bipod

Designed for AR-style rifles, the new Scarab from Firefield is a two-piece bipod with an adjustable height of 9″-12″. It is being offered in two versions: one for KeyMod and one for M-LOK. No word yet on pricing or shipping date.

Safariland Shooters’ Range Backpack

Safariland is now offering a backpack designed specifically for range time. It appears to be aimed at the same market as the Hackett Equipment Range Bag I reviewed. The Safariland bag has a reinforced bottom for carrying heavy ammo, lockable zippers, a dual pistol sleeve, multiple zippered compartments and an all weather cover for keeping rain and snow out. The pack will be available in February for $195. It will be offered in black, tan and gray colors.

Optical Dynamics Exude OD-50 Illuminator

Optical Dynamics will release a new flashlight in 2019 called the Exude OD-50. Based on the system the company introduced several years ago, the new OD-50 uses different technology to produce a beam of light. Rather than using a traditional reflector to produce a beam, Optical Dynamic uses a process called Collimated Amplified Lens System to produce a crisp beam of light that is without dark spots from edge to edge. One way to visualize it is by thinking about using a rifle scope to magnify a light beam.

The upside is crisp lighting that can be projected long distances. While it wouldn’t make for a good room clearing flashlight, the OD-50 can throw a tight beam 400 yards and has a total light output of 2,000 lumens from its rechargeable battery. It is a long distance illumination tool, and for that it sounds impressive. It should ship in the summer of 2019. No MSRP yet.

Tactical Electronics Core K9 Camera

Law enforcement and military gear are a huge part of the SHOT Show, and this new Core K9 Camera from Tactical Electronics is an example of one of the things you can find there. This is a dog-mounted system that transmits HD and thermal video to the handler. This allows the handler to see much of what the dog is seeing, plus thermal imaging of what the dog may not perceive. It has a high output IR illuminator for improved low light performance. Additionally, it has a two way audio system that allows the handler listen to the environment and to give direction to the dog or other people that may be around the dog.

Stryka S3Red Dot Reflex Sight

Stryka announced a new red dot sight for handguns and rifles called the S3. This new reflex sight is non-magnifying and is offered with either a 3 MOA or 6 MOA red dot. The company uses a variety of techniques including a double lens system and lens coatings matched to the wavelength of the dot to “virtually [eliminate] parallax.” It has 10 brightness settings and 1 MOA adjustments.

Although the sight can be used on handguns, it is also ready for rifles. The company includes a riser with the sight so you can co-witness on an AR. The sight has a lifetime warranty and can be returned every year to the company for routine cleaning and adjustment. The sight has a MSRP of $289.95.

Winchester Ammunition World War II Series

Winchester Ammunition announced a new World War II commemorative series of ammo for 2019. At this time, it will include two loads: one in .30 Carbine and the second in 12 gauge.

The .30 Carbine will launch in June to correspond with the anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy. According to Winchester, this load will meet the same specs as the military issued ammo of that time.

Winchester Ammunition plans to release the 12 gauge load in November 2019. These shells will have full brass hulls, something that has not been available from Winchester for many years. Before plastic hulls, paper hulls were the standard for shotgun loads. As you might imagine, paper hull ammo didn’t survive very well in the rain and mud of combat. So, Winchester made full length brass cased buckshot during World War II to eliminate that concern.

Retail pricing should be about $25-$30 when they are released. The ammo will come in specially designed cartons and wooden boxes.

SenSight SSR400

New for 2019 is the SenSight SSR400. This is a digital, red dot style optic that is said to incorporate a camera and advanced graphic user interface (GUI). Based in Israel, the company appears to be new and is just now setting up operations in the USA. I’ll have more details on this as they become available.

Simmons ProTarget Rimfire Scopes

Simmons announced its new value line of scopes called the ProTarget Rimfire. These optics are designed for plinkers and budget hunters who need good glass without dipping too deep into the paycheck. Three models are available: 4×32, 2-7×32 and 3-9×40. All of the scopes used multicoated lenses, are waterproof and fogproof and come with Weaver-style rings. The suggested retail pricing on these is $59.99, $79.99 and $89.99 respectively.

Winchester Ammunition Xpert Snow Goose

Winchester Ammunition announced its new line of Xpert Snow Goose ammo for 12 gauge shotguns. The company is producing it in both 3″ and 3 1/2″ shells. The two 3″ loads offer either 1 1/4 oz of BB (@ 1,475 fps) or 1 1/4 oz of a #1 & #2 blend (also at 1,475 fps). For the 3 1/2″ shells, you get either 1 3/8 oz of BB or 1 3/8 oz of a #1 & #2 blend. Both of the longer shells are sending their loads at 1,550 fps. Winchester Ammunition states the loads are shipping now.

Browning TSS Tungsten Turkey Ammo

Browning Ammuniution announced a new shotshell load: the TSS Tungsten Turkey. Available to the public in the Spring of 2019, the new ammo line will offer a total of 7 new loads with something for 12 gauge, 20 gauge and .410 bore hunters.

The offerings for 12 gauges are:

• 3″ shell, 1 3/4 oz #7 tungsten shot
• 3″ shell, 1 3/4 oz #7 & #9 blend of tungsten shot
• 3 1/2″ shell, 2 1/4 oz #7 tungsten shot
• 3 1/2″ shell, 2 1/4 oz #7 & #9 blend of tungsten shot

In 20 gauge, the load choice comes down to one of two 3″ shells: 1 1/2 oz of #7 shot or 1 1/2 oz of a #7 & #9 blend.

If you are taking turkey with the .410, you have but a single load: a 3″ shell loaded with 13/16 oz of #9 shot.

Champion Vanquish Electronic Hearing Protection

Champion Traps & Targets announced a new line of ear pro called the Vanquish Electronic Hearing Protection. This line of muffs promises a “balance of all day comfort and noise reduction.” The muffs use sound compression to improve the quality of conversations when guns are being fired. When done right, this kind of audio processing can offer a significant improvement over typical electronic ear pro.

There are two variants in each of three different muffs in the Vanquish line. At the least expensive, you have a set of muffs with full range speakers and a pair of omnidirectional mics for good stereo reproduction of non-harmful noises. A set of included AAA batteries will power the muffs for about 200 hours of use. The noise reduction rating (NRR) on these is 22 db. These will be available in blue and grey colors. Both colors will carry the same MSRP: $69.95.

Stepping up one level, Champion adds Bluetooth technology that allows you to pair with your phone for calls or music. This set adds a microphone so you can talk when receiving calls. With Bluetooth active, the AAA batteries will run for about 60 hours. Blue and grey are the color options at the level as well. This set has a NRR of 24 db. The suggested retail price is $124.95.

At the top end is the Vanquish Elite. In addition to passively blocking harmful noise, this set uses active noise cancelation technology for an increased level of quiet. Champion also includes lithium ion rechargeable batteries with these muffs. Runtime is only 12 hours – but you get to use the same batteries over and over again, so it works out as a better long term deal. The Elite does not have an official NRR yet as they are still being lab tested. The price? $249.95.

RCBS .450 Bushmaster Dies

RCBS announced a new 2-die set for the .450 Bushmaster cartridge. The set includes a steel sizer die with decapping unit and a steel taper crimp seating die. The tamper crimp seating die will also be available separately. RCBS provides a limited lifetime warranty on these. For the full set, the MSRP is $80.95. For the single die, the suggested retail is $44.95.

Howard Leight Impact Sport – New Multicam Patterns

Howard Leight by Honeywell, a heckofa name, makes some very good options for hearing protection. I’ve previously reviewed the Impact Sport and Impact Pro and found both of them to be very good ear pro. For 2019, the company expanded the Impact Sport line to include three new Multicam patterns: original, black and alpine. The company already offers a fairly broad selection of colors in this line including OD green, black, purple, pink and teal. The camo patterns will likely be popular with many shooters.

Catalyst Arms Fast Track

Catalyst Arms announced a new handguard for the Ruger Precision Rifle that will also fit standard AR-15s. Called the Fast Track, this new 6061-T6 handguard that has an Arca Swiss style rail for attaching a bipod or other device, M-LOK attachment slots, a smooth top for increased scope clearance and flat sides and bottom.

Catalyst Arms expects to ship these starting in February 2019. They will have a MSRP of $219.95.

Hazard 4 Plan-B Hard

This is a hardshell version of the company’s Plan-B bag. The entire front side of this sling pack has a hard surface. For photographers and others transporting sensitive gear this may be just the bag you need. It has a photo bag type of divider system and a back padded compartment for a pistol or other gear. The MSRP is $199.99.

FAB Defense Cobra

FAB Defense will show its Cobra accessory at the SHOT Show. The Cobra is a quick mount shoulder stock for the Glock pistol. No details yet regarding a shipping date or MSRP for the US market.

FAB Defense KPOS Slingshot

Like the KPOS Scout, the KPOS Slingshot is a chassis-like accessory that is designed for Glock pistols. Instead of having a shoulder stock, this kit has an arm brace to help make one-handed shooting easier. It has the same easy assembly, is compatible with ported pistols and doesn’t hold the same NFA challenges the Scout has. A MSRP for the US market has not yet been announced.

Mossy Oak Gamextractor

If you are tired of dragging your deer through the woods and own an ATV, you might be interested in the new Gamextractor from Mossy Oak. This is essentially a game trailer that you can use to transport your harvested animal over long distances using your ATC or other sport vehicle. It’s not fancy, but it looks like it would work. For $89.99, it could save a lot of back and muscle pain (not to mention time) when going back to camp. Yes, you could weld your own, but most folks don’t weld and even those that do might rather have a prebuilt unit. It mates directly to a 1.25″ receiver or to a 2″ receiver with an adaptor.

Kent Cartridge TK7 Penetrator Turkey Load

Kent Cartridge announced a new load for 2019 called the TK7 Penetrator. Designed for hunting turkey, it uses #7 tungsten pellets, buffered shot and a special loading process to deliver tight patterns of dense shot with more pellets on target than similar #6 loads.

The company will offer both 12 and 20 gauge loads. Muzzle velocities are the same with either – 1,100 fps – with the 12 gauge sending a 1 5/8 oz load and the 20 gauge delivering a slightly lighter 1 3/8 oz load. These will be packaged 5 shells to a box. No word yet on pricing.

Slim Fit Safariland 575 GLS Pro-Fit IWB Concealment Holster

Safariland is one of the better holster companies, and I have personally relied on a number of their products get get me home safe. The latest holster offering, a slim fit version of the 575 IWB rig, uses the company’s GLS retention system to secure your pistol when carried. The 575 IWB is made of a proprietary polymer that is rigid yet doesn’t mar your gun’s finish as Kydex can do.

The new holster option is made for the Glock 43, Springfield Armory XDS and Smith & Wesson Shield series. It has a suggested retail price of $55.

Birchwood Casey’s New Targets

Birchwood Casey announced four new paper targets. The new targets are:

• 8″ 50 yard Small Bore (25/package)
• 12″ 25 yard pistol with reactive colors (12/package)
• 12″ 10m air rifle with reactive colors (12/package)
• 17.75″ 100 yard high power with reactive colors (5/package)

All of the targets have a MSRP of $12.99 per package. They are all printed in the USA.

Federal Ammunition Blended Heavyweight Tungsten Super Shot

Federal Ammunition will show its new Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) turkey loads at the 2019 SHOT Show. These shot shells are loaded with either a blend of #7 and #9 Tungsten Super Shot or #8 and #10 TSS.

In 12 gauge, the shells will be offered as a 2.5 oz #7/#9 mix and as a 2.5 oz #8/#10 mix with a 3.5″ shell. The #8/#10 blend will deliver more than 1,000 pellets downrange. A five shell box will set you back $63.95 at full retail. I imagine most shops will have it for less.

In 20 gauge, the same two mixes will be available with a lighter 1.625 oz load out of a 3″ shell. These will also be offered in boxes of five, though with a marginally more affordable MSRP of $46.95.

Buck Knives Sprint Ops Pro

Another new knife for 2019 is the Sprint Ops Pro from Buck Knives. The new folding knife uses ball bearings to provide a smooth and fast one handed opening. The S30V blade is 3 1/8″ long with a drop point. It is 0.120″ thick. Buck Knives uses a liner lock on this one to hold the blade securely open. The metal has a Graphite Black Cerakote finish while the G10 handles are blue and black. A pocket clip is attached to the very end of the knife to allow for deep carry in the pocket. It is made in the USA. I do not have a suggested retail price on this one yet.

Remington Side Folding Kit for 870 Shotgun

Remington Arms will offer a side folding stock kit fo the 870 line of pump shotguns in 2019. The kits will feature the same stock and Tapco pistol grip that comes on the 870 Side Folder mentioned farther up on this page. The kits will have a MSRP of $129.99.

Buck Knives 110 Slim Select

Buck has a number of new knives for 2019. One of these new blades is a simple folder called the 110 Slim Knife, Select. The new knife is based on the 110 Folding Hunter with a more modern look. The nylon handle, for example, will be available in red, blue, black and (heaven help us) chartreuse. Made in the United States, the knives have a 3.75″ long blade made of 420 HC stainless steel with a pocket clip and thumb stud for one handed opening. The MSRP is $42.

Axeon Second Zero

Axeon introduced an optics accessory to functionally give a rifle shooter a “second zero” distance when using a scope. The concept of the Axeon Second Zero is fairly simple: it is a folding optic modifier that mounts ahead of your scope. When flipped into place, it effectively shifts your zero distance to a second known distance. The goal is to reduce the math you have to do for longer shots where bullet drop becomes a serious thing.

In the example they use, you would have your rifle zeroed at 100 yards. With the Second Zero flipped into place it would effectively shift your zero distance to 330 yards. The MSRP is $79.99 and it should be available now.

Maxpedition CCW Packs & Bags

Maxpedition continues to fully support the concealed carry and tactical markets with its newest products. In its Entity line of covert carry bags & packs are nine new style and the addition of a new color called Ash. Ash is a medium gray color – perhaps perfect for the “gray man” concept. For more information on the new offerings, see my New Maxpedition Bags for 2019 article.

Buck Knives Nighthawk Hunter

Another of the new Buck Knives introductions for 2019 is the Nighthawk Hunter. A fixed blade knife, the Nighthawk Hunter is designed to be a tactical knife that can “withstand he rigors of extreme activities, harsh conditions and extended exposure to the elements.” It has a 7.5″ long 420HC steel blade with a spear point and a Cerakote finish in Sniper Grey. The handle is molded nylon with a Dynaflex rubber grip. Buck includes a polypropylene sheath with MOLLE type attachments for fastening to a harness, shoulder straps of a backpack or other gear. The MSRP is $150, and it is made in the USA.

Fix It Sticks Aimpoint Adjustment Bit

Fix It Sticks announced it was now offering a non-marring two-prong bit for adjusting Aimpoint sights. These bits are made of polymer and are designed to make windage and elevation adjustments easier while eliminating the risk of scratching the sight’s surface. Fix It Sticks expects to ship these in February. They will have a MSRP of $10.

Guard Dog Full-Body Bulletproof Backpack

Guard Dog announced a bullet resistant backpack that offers additional protective coverage compared to a normal Proshield bag. Called the “world’s first full-body bulletproof backpack,” the new bag appears to have a second panel that drapes below the bottom of the bag to approximately double the area of coverage. Of course, your body size is critical in determining if this truly offers “full-body” coverage. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Unique-ARs Slim Series Handguards

Unique-ARs announced a new line of slim handguards for the AR-style rifle. The new Slim Series is made of 6061 T6 aluminum and have an outside diameter of 1.8″. Along the top is a Picatinny-type rail and underneath are M-LOK attachment points in the 6 o’clock position. The company will offer these in 7.25″, 9″, 12″ and 15″ lengths. There will be 32 varieties in the Slim Series at launch. Pricing will start at $185.

Cutting Edge Bullets Lazers

Cutting Edge Bullets announced additions to its Lazers line of projectiles. The new bullets include .408 caliber (in 425, 450 and 475 grain varieties), .416 caliber (in 450, 475, 500, 525 and 550 gr), .458 caliber (in 575, 600 and 650 gr) and .510 caliber (in 750, 800 and 850 gr.) These bullets are a polymer tipped, expanding projectile that was developed for hunting. However, the company states they are also excellent for long range matches.

Copper Basin Gen3 Takedown Firearm Backpack

Copper Basin announced it would be showing its Gen3 Takedown Firearm Backpack in new colors at the SHOT Show. The bags are designed for discreet transportation of takedown guns, SBRs, AOW shotguns and AR/AK pistols. These bags do not look like a “gun bag” but more like a sporty backpack. New colors will include Vintage Green Waxed Canvas and Grey & Black.

Aguila 5.56 Bulk Ammo

Aguila announced it would now offer bulk packs of 5.56 NATO ammunition. The rounds will use a 55 gr FMJ-BT bullet and be optimized for a 24″ barrel. Shooters can expect velocities around 3,260 fps with than barrel length. The bulk packs will contain 300 rounds and retail for $119.99.

DeSantis Holsters for the MC1sc

DeSantis Gunhide announced the company would now offer a total of 18 holster fits for the new Mossberg MC1sc pistol. This expands the number of offerings for this gun at launch. I’ll have a full report on all of the rigs for this pistol shortly.

SIG SAUER PCB Pivoting Brace

SIG SAUER announced the PCB or Pivoting Contour Brace. The PCB is an arm brace for larger pistols like the MCX and MPX variants that folds to the left side when not needed. It will be available as an option on some SIG pistols and as a separate accessory. Color options will be black and tan. Both colors will carry the same suggested retail price: $199.

Viridian E-Series Red Laser for Mossberg MC1sc

In conjunction with Mossberg, Viridian developed a red laser aiming unit for the new MC1sc pistol. The new laser is part of the company’s affordable E Series. It mounts to the front of the Mossberg pistol’s trigger guard and is activated by touching a switch on the side of the unit. The MSRP will be $132.

Nightforce Optics ATACR 7-35x 56 F2 Second Focal Plane Scope

Nightforce Optics announced the company would offer a second focal plane version of its ATACR 7-35x 56 scope. The scope uses a 34mm tube and comes with either the MOAR-T or MIL-C illuminated reticles. For this scope, the suggested retail price will be $3,100.

BOG DeathGrip

BOG, one of the Battenfeld Technologies brands, will show a new clamping tripod for hunting and other rifle shooting. Called the DeathGrip, the new product allows you to clamp your rifle to a substantial-looking tripod for a stable shooting platform. The clamp is covered in rubber to prevent damage to your gun’s finish. According to the company’s marketing, it is “…designed to be the most stable platform on the market.” That remains to be seen, but the tripod legs do look beefy.

JARD Trigger System for Savage Arms A17, A22 Rifles

JARD announced the company’s new A17/A22 Trigger System. This drop in system is designed to offer an improved pull with five different weights of 1-3 pounds. The units carry a price tag of $247.50.

Aguila 5mm Ammunition

Several years ago, Aguila Ammunition started 5mm rimfire ammo production. However, the firearms industry went crazy and the company focused on making the far more popular .22 LR and .22 WMR loads. Since then, the company opened a new manufacturing facility in the Republic of Texas.

Gary T., a reader of the site, sent me a note shortly before Christmas that Aguila would be restarting production of 5mm ammunition. I was able to confirm the information today. The new loads will use a 30 grain semi-jacketed hollow point bullet (SJHP). Aguila rates the velocity of this load to be about 2,200 fps.

Aguila cautioned that this will be a limited production run, so I would encourage 5mm shooters to buy it whenever you see it. This is a round that isn’t made very often, and we don’t know if anyone will be making any more after this run.

Sierra Gamechanger Cartridges

Sierra is a company that has always been associated with top performing bullets. Now it seems the company has significantly added to its catalog by offering complete cartridges.

The new cartridge line is billed as a premium line that uses the company’s own Gamechanger bullets. There are limited details on the new cartridges at the time of this writing, but I will update the page with new information as I am able to gain it.

WMD Guns SlingStock

I dislike gadgets on weapons designed for self-defense, law enforcement or military purposes. Some, such as lights and red dots, have a proven usefulness. Slings are very important on long guns, and should be strongly considered by anyone with one.

I want to dislike the SlingStock because it appears to be just a gadget. But, the longer I watched the intro video (below), the more interested I was. I give the company credit – they answered a lot of questions I had about the product in the video and make me want to give it a try. It should be available for purchase in early 2019.

Fostech Echo AK-47 Binary Trigger

Fostech announced the Echo AK-47 binary trigger at the last SHOT Show. However, the units did not make it into production during 2018. The company announced the units would be on sale in the first quarter of 2019. I expect this company will be featuring the final version of this trigger system at the 2019 show.

Remington Hog Hammer Handgun Ammunition

I thought that Remington previously released handgun loads in the Hog Hammer line, yet I could find no reference to any in my archives. Regardless, it looks like the company will offer six loads for handgun hunting in 2019. They are:

	Bullet	Bullet Weight
357 Magnum	Barnes XPB	140 gr.
10mm Auto	Barnes XPB	155 gr.
41 Magnum	Barnes XPB	180 gr.
44 Magnum	Barnes XPB	225 gr.
45 Colt	Barnes XPB	200 gr.
454 Casull	Barnes XPB	250 gr.

Remington Expands Hog Hammer Rifle Offerings in 2019

In addition to the handgun loads above, Remington also announced it would offer three new Hog Hammer rifle loads in 2019:

	Bullet	Bullet Weight
6.5 Creedmoor	Barnes TSX	120 gr.
270 Winchester	Barnes TSX	130 gr.
45-70 Govt	Barnes TSX	300 gr.

Delta Kwik Tool

This new tool was introduced in the fall, but it is making its first big trade show appearance at this year’s SHOT Show. Even though it was released several months back, it was still new to me, so I figured I would share it with you.

The Delta Kwik is a handguard removal tool for AR-style rifles with a two-piece handguard. It indexes on the magazine well, slips over the delta ring, and with one turn, compresses the delta ring for easy hand guard removal. It is a slick little tool. Here’s a video that shows it in action:

SHOT Show Rumors

Rumors are already swirling around the 2019 SHOT Show. Some seem pretty outlandish, but I’ve seen some weird things pop up at the show. Here is the latest that I’ve heard.

Remington Model 700 PCR Pistol – This one is a little odd, but it is Remington, so who knows. I’ve come into some information that Remington may offer a pistol version of the bolt action Model 700 PCR at the SHOT Show. If you are not familiar, the 700 PCR is a 700 action in an aluminum chassis. Currently, that rifle is only available in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win and .260 Rem. I’m not sure what the use-case for a Model 700 PCR handgun would be, but then I’m not terribly imaginative. Maybe its a way around the SBR rules for someone who wants to shoot 6.5 Creedmoor from a 7.5″barrel? Somebody help me out!

Update: Disregard. After I published this, I realized this was the Model 700 CP the company introduced in November of 2018. It is a bolt action handgun that uses Accuracy International magazines. Guns are available chambered for the .223 Rem, 300 BLK and .308 Win cartridges. Other than handgun hunters who are able to get into the field ahead of rifle shooters, I’m not sure who the target market is. What are your thoughts?

Taurus “Boundary Breaker” – Taurus released a teaser video showing a new pistol that will be announced on January 18. Is it the TS9 that has been teased/promised/shown for at least two years now? Or will it be something new? I suppose we will have to wait and see. (Tip o’ the Fedora to Daniel for letting me know Taurus released this teaser video. For anyone that isn’t familiar with his work, you can see his timeline of the 5.56 cartridge development here or listen to him talk about the history of speedloaders on the Handgun Radio podcast. He is a fountain of firearms history.)

Update: This appears to be the new Taurus TX22. Although it appears to share some design cues with the TS-series, it is a .22 LR and not a centerfire pistol. The information is in the handgun section above.

New Pistol Caliber Carbine from JP Enterprises – The company teased to a new PCC that will be introduced at the SHOT Show. I’ve heard various rumors about what this gun may be but nothing concrete.

Binary Trigger for Glock Pistols – I have heard some rumors that there are at least two companies working on a binary trigger system for the Glock line of pistols. I don’t know if either of these companies are close to showing something, but we might see something from them (or someone else) at the show. I know that I would enjoy shooting a binary equipped G19.

Update: Nothing I’ve seen yet. So, either people are hesitant to develop these, or they are still in R&D.

Smith & Wesson Revamp of the Bodyguard 380 – The Bodyguard 380 is looking a little long in the tooth. Frankly, its not a great gun but it gets the job done at a reasonable price. I am hearing some unverified reports that a new version of the BG380 will be introduced in 2019. We may see this at the SHOT Show or at the NRA Annual Meetings & Expo later in the year.

Update: Nothing at SHOT, so maybe at the NRA show.

American Tactical MilSport .410 Shotgun – American Tactical launched a line of AR-style .410 bore shotguns using a polymer receiver several years ago. The American Rifleman has reported that the company will introduce a similar shotgun that uses a forged receiver at the SHOT Show. This is a pretty solid bet as I believe American Rifleman is unlikely to publish anything that isn’t approved by the manufacturer. However, I do not have independent verification of this.

Update: This has been confirmed. American Tactical released a video of the product on YouTube.

Charter Arms Pitbull in .380 ACP – Several local gun shops have a .380 ACP chambered Charter Arms Pitbull revolver listed on their websites. If you are not familiar with the Pitbull, the gun started development as the “CARR” or Charter Arms Rimless Revolver. Announced in 2008, it didn’t make it to market until 2012. The revolvers in this line chamber and shoot traditional auto-pistol cartridges – like the 9mm and .45 – without the need for moon clips. It was my understanding from Charter Arms that the 9mm revolvers would shoot .380 ACP rounds. It is curious that these sites are listing a .380 ACP Pitbull with specs that look the same as the 9mm gun. We’ll just have to see if this is real or some sort of communication error.

Update – I found a reference to this gun at American Rifleman. They state the gun is built on the company’s large frame, so it is larger than the other 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP Pitbulls. The benefit is that the cylinder will hold six cartridges. The downside would appear to be bulk and weight associated with a large frame. We’ll have to see what Charter Arms actually shows.

Savage Arms 110 High Country – I don’t have many details about this line other than it is based on the 110 platform and will come in many popular calibers including 7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmoor, 243 Win, 308 Win, 300 WSM, 270 Win, 280 Ack Improved, 30-06 and more. The synthetic stocks are the AccuFit models finished in a True Timber Strata camo pattern. The metal has a Coyote Brown PVD coating. The MSRP is said to be about $1,100.

Update: This has been confirmed. See the confirmed rifle section above for more details.

Savage MSR10 Precision Rifles – I’ve received information that Savage Arms will introduce a new line of MSR10 rifles called “MSR10 Precision.” The new rifles will have a MSRP of around $2,000. I have been told that the guns will initially be offered in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win.

Update: This has been confirmed. See the confirmed rifle section above for more details.

Trijicon “Something” – It is my understanding that Trijicon will announce a major new product at the show. Unfortunately, I do not have additional information on this, but my guess is that it will be pistol related. I’ll be sure to update this when I dig up more.

New Colors for the Taurus 856 Ultra Lite – Assuming what I am hearing is accurate, Taurus is set to release a plethora of new colros for the 856 Ultra Lite. It would seems that colors sell for the company, so it would make sense that the Spectrum like colors should expand to other product lines.

Update: This has been confirmed by Taurus. See the confirmed handgun section above.

New Subcompact, Single Stack Pistol – I can’t reveal too much about this one yet. However, I have it from a trusted source that a major American/European gun company (not named Glock) will introduce a new single-stack 9mm pistol that will go head to head with the very popular Smith & Wesson Shield. I haven’t seen it yet, but it is my understanding that the styling is very good. Even more importantly, it is supposed to shoot like a dream. I’m working on securing additional information and maybe even a photo for you guys.

Update: This is not the Glock 43X or Glock 48 pistols that have been announced. This is something else entirely.

Update:  It’s not at SHOT. I was told that it should be ready later this year. We are having to wait a little longer for it. I’m afraid I cannot divulge more without harming my source.

Attending the Show – Tips & Advice

The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show is an industry event sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF.) It brings together manufacturers, distributers and retailers to get a jump on what the new year has in store for the firearms market.

Perhaps the key aspect to the show that many people don’t realize is that this is a business trade show, not an open event. People come to the SHOT Show to talk shop – not meet the buying public. Every industry has trade shows that are closed to the public, and the SHOT Show just happens to be one of several in the shooting market.

That means that the show is not open to most of my readers. Unless you work for a manufacturer or retailer, or are an established member of the media, the SHOT Show is not accessible to you except through outlets like this one.

If you want to attend a huge gun show, but don’t have access to SHOT, I strongly encourage you to visit the National Rifle Association’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits. Nearly all of the gun makers attend that show as well, and they are well staffed to handle the huge numbers of gun owners and shooting enthusiasts.

If you are attending the show, I have a few bits of advice from my years there:

• Dress nicely, but don’t overdo it. You are going to be at a huge exhibition and will be walking miles (literally) of floor space. Unless you have a specific meeting that requires it, leave the three piece in the closet and stick to business casual. A sport coat is not unreasonable and communicates a better image in most circumstances than the latest 5.11/Blackhawk/whatever tac boy outfit. Of course, if Tactical Tommy is the schtick you are known for, go with that. It is a business environment, and people expect you to market your brand.
• Since I mentioned walking – wear comfortable shoes.
• Everyone at the show has handouts and product samples. You will need to collect some of these, so think ahead about how you wish to collect and carry these. I urge against getting a wheeled cart to drag around behind you. The show is very crowded and those carts amplify the problem with clogged lanes. Instead, pick up a backpack or shoulder bag that is both comfortable and easy to access.
• Food and water. Bring some man portable munchies with you. There are food and beverage vendors in the exhibition hall, but these are expensive and frequently crowded. Also, tables to eat a meal are few. There is a nearby food court, but that is also very crowded and about a 10-15 minute walk from the exhibition halls. I suggest bringing a bottle of water (you can refill this easily at the various water fountains) and some dry snacks. This will allow you to curb your hunger and grab a bite to eat at off-peak times.
• Hand sanitizer. You are meeting up to 70,000 people from all over the globe. They are filled with germs and will try to infect you. Don’t let them.
• Have a smile and positive attitude. The SHOT Show is crowded and expensive. You can’t change that, but you have complete control over your attitude, so adjust it toward sunny and have a great time. You are spending the week looking at guns after all.

A Brief Show History

The SHOT Show has been around since 1979. That first year saw less than 6,000 people attend the St. Louis event, but the show caught traction and began growing.

Since then, the exposition has been held in seven additional cities with Las Vegas being its home since 2010. The event has grown in size and now attracts about 65,000 people.

Contracts have extended the Las Vegas home of the show through at least 2020. I expect that Las Vegas will be the show’s permanent home.

Show Dates

The 2019 SHOT Show will start on Monday, January 21 and run through Friday, January 25. This includes the Industry Day at the Range event on Monday, the Supplier Showcase from Monday through Tuesday and the exposition on Tuesday through Friday.

In the past, the NSSF was not associated with Industry Day (formerly known as Media Day at the Range,) but it has been directly involved in the event for the past several years.

The Supplier Showcase is a new addition to the program. It provides an opportunity for manufacturing companies, box manufacturers, tooling businesses and other logistics type organizations to interface with gun companies. I think this is a great addition to the week and hope it is a success.

Industry Day at the Range

Industry Day at the Range is an event held one day prior to the opening of the show’s main exhibition hall. This event allows the media and other invited industry guest to come to a range where some of the manufacturers will showcase their new and existing products.

Industry Day used to be called Media Day at the Range. However, the name was changed to reflect the ability of exhibitors to invite other people as well.

Industry Day is an invitation-only event. This applies to media as well. If you are new to the industry, and are working independently, it may be difficult to get an invitation. Your best bet may be to work closely with an existing exhibitor and secure an invitation for the 2020 SHOT Show.

If you do have an invitation to Industry Day, make sure you log into the SHOT Show registration dashboard and complete the necessary information. Just because you have been approved for a SHOT Show press badge and an invitation to the Industry Day event doesn’t mean you are set; you still need to log in and confirm everything first.

If this will be your first Industry Day at the Range event, I have a few suggestions:

• Check the weather closely in the days leading up to the event. This is a desert shooting range, and the weather can vary widely from year to year. It is almost always cold in the morning with warming temperatures throughout the day. However, I have been there in the rain. Also, there are some years where the temps are bitter cold for the entire day.
• Wear comfortable boots. You will be on your feet all day, so treat your feet well. Also, there are sections of the range paved in crushed rock. These rocks easily shift underfoot and can give you a sprained ankle if you are not prepared. I’ve found good boots offer a balance of comfort and ankle support.
• Bring water. The event staff usually have ample water on hand. However, there was at least one year where there was a scarcity of potable water. You are in a desert – frequently in the sun – and dehydration is a thing. I recommend bringing your own water bottle to fall back on if the water supply is limited at the event.
• Bring your own ear and eye pro. Hearing and vision protection are provided at every event I’ve been to. However, the event organizers are trying to provide for hundreds of visitors. That means you will be getting good – but not perfect – ear and eye pro. If you bring your own, you will have what you want and are already comfortable with.
• Sunscreen and a hat. Did I mention that the range is in a desert?

Last Update: October 7, 2022