What’s Hot At SHOT 2010 Part 1 By Gary Howey
Last week, I attended the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Technology or (SHOT) Show as it’s called which was held in Las Vegas.
This is on huge show where every manufacturer of anything and everything that has to do with shooting and hunting introduces their new products to dealers and the media.
Over the last several years, because of what’s happening in the world, there have been a lot of paramilitary dealers he show with all types of body armor, weapons, special ammunition, scopes and equipment made especially for Special Forces and SWAT units.
Prior to the opening of the show, we were given the opportunity to test fire many of the newest pistols, shotguns and rifles using the latest and greatest types of ammunition.
There were several things that caught my eye at the show including several new guns. Listed below are some of those that really caught my attention.
Hornady
Ammunition
The Grand Island, NE. based ammunition manufacturer has done it again with their new Superformance ammunition.
Superformance ammunition is 100 to 200 fps faster than conventional ammunition available on the market today. It achieves this performance in every gun and doesn’t increase the felt recoil, muzzle blast, temperature sensitivity fouling or loss of accuracy.
Their new ultra progressive propellants take your favorite SST or GMX bullets to a level of performance that aren’t obtainable with conventional propellants.
Available in 243, 6mm Rem, 257 Roberts, 25-06 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor and 270 calibers.
For more information on this and other Hornady products go to www.hornady.com
Legacy Sports International
Weapons
The folks from Legacy Sports International, Reno, NV. have you covered when it comes to all types of hunting and shooting weapons.
Their Howa and Puma rifles, available in all calibers as well as in numerous stock and barrels has proven to be one of the most accurate rifles on the market.
Their new Howa Talon rifle which is available in most popular calibers. The Talon combines the best performance features of a thumbhole stock along with the Knox BLACKHAWK two stage recoil compensating system which reduces felt recoil up to 70%.
Another of their products, Escort Shotguns has proven to be one of the smoothest shooting and accurate shotguns on the market. Their unique Waterfowl and turkey comb0s are available in both 20 and 12 gauge. In Mossy Oak Obsession camo with two interchangeable multi-chokes, vented rib barrels in both 24” and 28”.
For more information on Legacy Sports International rifles, shotguns and pistols go to www.legacysports.com
Beavertail
Boats & Blinds
The Maple Lake, MN based company has did it again, with their new Beavertail line.
From their custom made waterfowl hunting boats, sneak boats to a complete line of blinds for every hunting situation.
Their blinds are constructed of the finest material, giving the hunter the ability to get into the filed, set up quickly and avoid being seen.
The Beavertail blinds give hunters a dry, comfortable and warm place to hunt waterfowl in all weather conditions along with the portability to move if hunting conditions change.
A couple of the blinds that I really liked were the Predator and Gunner.
The Predator is a portable 29-pound blind that allows the hunter to set up in all types of hunting conditions. It’s polyethylene base allows you to set up in the wettest fields and the spring loaded backrest allows the hunter to come up quickly with very little effort/
The Gunner is a lighter blind that can be backpacked into the field. It too has the spring loaded backrest that allows you to move up and down, giving you time to concentrate on the shot and less on getting into position when those birds are right in front of you.
If you’d like more information on these and other Beavertail products, check out www.explorebeavertail.com
Big Game
Treestands, Tripods, Box Blinds, Feeders & Accessories
Based out of Windom, MN. Big Game has everything the deer hunter would need to make your next deer hunt a success.
With numerous portable and ladder stands, Big Game have both single and double tree stand that will allow you to be where you want on opening day.
If you’re looking for a more permanent blind, they have several box blinds available with windows giving both the rifle and bow hunter plenty of room to take the shot.
Their new Boss Lite weighs only 15 pounds, it’s 20” wide X 27” deep fastening quickly to the tree with Cam-Lock action and one 2” nylon web-strap with a slide buckle.
The Boss Lite may be lite weight, but not when it comes to its weight rating as it will hold up to 300 pounds.
Their Stagger-Steps is a lightweight stackable packable ladder system that can be quickly in stalled on both uneven and slanted trees.
Weighing only 4 pounds per 31” section, Stagger Steps allow the hunter to quickly, quietly and safely get into their stand.
For information on these and other Big Game Products, check out their web site www.BigGameTreeStands.com
These are just a few of the new products that were introduced at the 2010 SHOT Show.
In the next column, we’ll look at other new innovations in shotguns, ammunition, camo and scent free clothing.