SHOOTING HUNTING OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW 1979–2013 NSSF DAY 1, JANUARY 15, 2013 NEW PRODUCT REPORTS The Daily News of the 2013 Las Vegas SHOT Show Brought to You by The Bonnier Corporation and the NSSF SHOT Daily hunts down the latest offerings in rifles P. 14, shotguns P. 26, handguns P. 36, and boots P. 48. Also, we check out the hot- test gear on the show floor P. 102. Industry Celebrates News *SHOT SHOW AUCTION 35 Years of SHOT Show Four historic firearms and a one- he industry visionaries who in 1979 created the first improved for everyone—attendees, exhibitors, media, and of-a-kind knife celebrate American SHOT Show would probably, if they stood in a center guests alike,” says NSSF president Steve Sanetti. “NSSF sporting traditions. SEE PAGE 4 Taisle of the show that is now marking its 35th year, senior vice president Chris Dolnack and his staff, working marvel at how large the show has closely with Reed and Freeman *BROWNING EXPANDS grown over the intervening time. exhibitions, have all worked very ITS TACTICAL LINE But they certainly understood the hard to enhance virtually every Black Label tactical line expands passion that is the foundation of aspect of the show, and we think from knives to clothing, gear bags, the shooting sports industry, and you’ll like what you see.” gun safes, and more. SEE PAGE 10 they certainly would beam with Tonight more than 1,200 pride to see their vision still going ticketholders will attend the *SWANSON RUssELL strong so many years later. The State of the Industry dinner CELEBRATES 50 YEARS 2013 SHOT Show will see more sponsored by Outdoor PR firm reaches half-century mark, than 60,000 industry profession- Channel. At the conclusion of remains key partner for many out- als who will use the next four days NSSF’s program, attendees will doors companies. SEE PAGE 12 to view the latest in new products be entertained by Terry Fator, and network with professional Las Vegas star and past winner *CRIMSON TRACe’S associates. of America’s Got Talent. As the 3-GUN NIGHT SHOOTS “While we expect to have headliner at The Mirage, Fator Nighttime shooting competition another record-breaking SHOT nightly captures the hearts and illuminated by the company’s laser Show, what’s more important is Terry Fator—ventriloquist, impressionist, and funny bones of America with sights. SEE PAGE 100 that the SHOT Show experi- comedian—will appear at NSSF’s State of the his special brand of ventrilo- ence will be significantly Industry dinner with his puppet entourage. quism. Federal Top Gun SOG Shotshells Support Enters Wounded Warriors Hunting ATK-Federal has always supported has been developed through Federal’s Market our nation’s military, whether Top Gun shotshells to support the through supplying cutting-edge Wounded Warrior Project and help SOG Specialty Knives ammunition or by providing funding provide much-needed funding & Tools comes to the for causes that support veterans. required to aid injured service mem- 2013 SHOT Show show- Most recently, a special promotion bers transition back to civilian life. casing a new line of FEATURES The 2¾-inch target loads are avail- knives designed spe- *GRANTS FOR STATES, able in 12-gauge and packed with cifically for big-game RANGES, SCOUTS No. 8 shot. The hulls are an assort- hunters. Growing out of NSSF sponsors heritage grants to ment of red, white, and blue colors, SOG’s well-established promote hunting and the shooting which are not only worthy of compe- military and tactical back- sports. SEE PAGE 66 tition on the range, but add patriotic ground, the new line repre- fun to a casual day of shooting. Top sents an expansion for *REMINGTon’S NEW Gun loads are economically priced, SOG, which began in 1986 783 CENTERFIRE yet still made to deliver reliable per- by making a replica The brand-new bolt-action formance. The on-box royalty pro- Bowie knife for military delivers accuracy, reliability, and gram delivers proceeds from every collectors. durability. SEE PAGE 74 sale of the ammunition directly to There are nine new support the Wounded Warrior SKUs in SOG’s 2013 hunt *BUSHNELL GLEANS Project, an organization that aids line, with a total of five THE DISTANCE individuals involved in service-related blades. Booth #425. A look at rangefinder history from Federal Premium is supporting the injuries on or after the tragedies of (425-771-6230; the company that introduced the Wounded Warrior Project through 9/11. Booth #14562. (800-322-2342; sogknives.com) category. SEE PAGE 82 sales of its Top Gun target loads. federalpremium.com) DAY 1, JANUARY 15, 2013 ■ SHOT BUSINEss DAILY ■ 1 NEWS Petzl Looks to Strix This year Petzl looks to cast a little illumi- nation via two tacti- cal headlamps that offer multiple carry- ing options. The Strix line follows Petzl’s mis- sion to offer practical solu- Clockwise from tions to common problems and top left: Highland to provide users with increased Skinner knife, access to otherwise inaccessible places designed by Oleh day or night. Both the VL and IR were creat- Stecyk from ed to meet the requirements of the military Canal Street during operations where stealth is absolute- Cutlery; Smith & ly crucial. Wesson 1911; and “We worked very closely with special a highly engraved operators and tactical teams on the design state-of-the-art of the Strix,” says marketing director John modern sporting Evans. “For example, they wanted a light rifle in .308 from that had really versatile mounting options; Turnbull the biaxial design of the Strix lets you Manufacturing. mount it on either side of a helmet, a load- bearing vest, or on a headband while direct- ing the beam exactly where it’s needed.” The headlamps provide hands-free opera- 2013 SHOT Show Auction tion for working efficiently, and both ver- sions can be mounted on a helmet with an he 2013 SHOT Show marks the 35th anniversary of the hunting and shoot- Ops Core ACH-ARC system via integrated ing sports industry’s phenomenally successful trade show and the 30th anni- rail, with no rail system using an APAPT Strix T versary of the exciting SHOT Show auction. This year’s auction is one of the plate, or on a vest with an integrated MOLLE most comprehensive and exciting in SHOT Show history, with one-of-a-kind fire- clip. In addition, both the Strix IR and VL fea- arms and knives celebrating firearms marketing landmarks and tributes to America’s ture a double-rotation system of the body sporting traditions. and head of the lamp for orienting the beam 180 degrees horizontally and 120 degrees vertically. The VL offers two lighting configu- The 2013 auction will again be a month-long Anniversary of its iconic Model 70, Winchester rations, including red, green, and blue for event on GunBroker.com, culminating on the announced the production of a very limited edi- close-range work, along with white lighting final day of the SHOT Show. It will feature five tion of Model 70 Jack O’Connor Tribute Rifles in three modes, including a low-intensity special items, including a unique pair of Smith to honor the incredible career of the outdoor beam for stealth and close-range vision & Wesson handguns, a historic Winchester writer. The limited run of 500 Jack O’Connor mode. The IR offers the added IR lighting Model 70 rifle, an innovative Doug Turnbull Tribute rifles sold out quickly, but Winchester with three modes, including close-range TAR-10 semi-automatic rifle, and a one-of-a- set aside the very last gun in the tribute series to vision, movement mode, and a flashing IFF kind knife in recognition of America’s hunting serve as this featured 2013 SHOT Show rifle. (Identification Friend or Foe) mode. heritage by Canal Street Cutlery. The rifle, hand-engraved at Baron Engraving, The constant lighting feature guarantees Smith & Wesson introduced its first semi- features a majestic whitetail buck on the butt- that performance of the headlamps does automatic handgun in 1913 with the Model plate, a rendition of the North American Sheep not decrease as the batteries are drained, 1913 .35 Automatic Pistol. The SHOT Show “Grand Slam” on the magazine floorplate, and and switches to reserve mode accordingly. A auction will commemorate Smith & Wesson’s O’Connor’s signature in gold on the trigger pulse control allows each mode to be 100 years of semi-automatic handgun produc- guard. The rifle can be viewed at the accessed and quickly turned off, while a tion by pairing a new-condition Model 1913 Winchester Booth. #15929. scan function instantly turns off when the with a modern-manufacture and appropriately As one of America’s premier builders of high- button is released. Both models are available engraved Smith & Wesson Model 1911. quality collectible rifles, the folks at Turnbull in camo and black, provide noiseless knob The Model 1913 selected to commemorate Manufacturing have undertaken the production manipulation, and have a charge indicator the beginning of the 100-year span is a pristine of a state-of-the-art carbon-steel .308 semi- that flashes when the battery is low so users example of the .35 auto, certified as being in automatic rifle—and they have pulled out all the won’t be caught in the dark. Booth #10167. “New Condition” by Smith & Wesson historian stops in presenting Serial #TAR-00001 of the The biaxial design of the Strix headlamp lets Roy Jinks. The historic handgun will include an new model as a 2013 SHOT Show rifle. The you direct the light wherever it needs to be original box and owner’s manual.