Sore feet, fast food, polished pitches for uninspired products: These were just some of the hazards your Military Times GearScout crew waded through in order to report on the best products to come out of 2015's Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show.
The world's premier expo for firearms and related products, this year's SHOT show saw more than 1,600 companies vying for the attention of 64,000 attendees. This is where buyers from retail shops, wholesalers and the government, along with the media, get to see what will hit the pipeline in the coming year.
While you might think the second-highest attendance ever would translate into a strong year for firearm sales, 2014 set the record but saw the industry (and particularly rifle manufacturers) overproduce based on the 2013's panic-fueled, post-Sandy Hook demand. This glut of firearms, combined with ammunition prices ever so slowly retreating from record highs, led to manufacturer rebates and plenty of inventory sitting on retailers' shelves. In all, the end of 2014 was a great time to get a good deal on an AR.
This year, manufacturers said they've adjusted production levels, tweaked their product lines and concentrated on innovation to attract attention in a market that now needs to pivot from drawing first-time gun owners to bringing back repeat customers.
The AK platform got a great deal of attention this year, as did precision rifles with Magpul, Mega Arms and others jumping in with brand-new stocks and chassis systems. New materials are hitting the market as Hodge Defense pioneers the use of aluminum-lithium in small-arms components, and Leupold is offering new concepts in optics. Thermal imagers have never been smaller or more affordable.
With help from GearScout contributors Matt Stagliano, Jason Marcella, Shawn Bickford, Kel Whelan and Roy Lin, we walked the 13 acres of product displays to find the goods that will get the blood flowing to your trigger finger. Check out all of our SHOT Show 2015 coverage on the blog at gearscout.militarytimes.com.
AK PARTS
ALG Defense Lightning Bow AK Trigger
ALG Defense had prototype AK triggers on the line at range day. Being the sister company of Geiselle Automatics, maker of perhaps the finest AR combat triggers in the world, our expectations were high. The trigger was impressively crisp. During our test, it felt like a two-stage trigger with an extremely light first stage and crisp second-stage break. It felt like a sub-3-pound pull weight, with a feel comparable to the break of the Geissele Super 3-Gun trigger (which costs $250). The trigger was too light using the stock AK trigger spring, with reps from ALG and Geissele acknowledging work that must be done to bring the pull weight of the first stage up without affecting the clean break. The shocker was the price; only $49 from ALG Defense for the base model; $75 for a nickel boron-enhanced variant. The triggers are expected to ship in late spring 2015.
Magpul Zhukov-S Stock
Magpul Zhukov-S Stock
Photo Credit: Courtesy
Magpul's polymer prowess might single-handedly make this the year of the AK in the U.S. The Zhukov-S folding stock ($99.95) gives the AK platform an entirely new buttstock, engineered for the unique ergonomics of the world's most reliable rifle. It's a right-side folder for stamped rifles with adjustable length of pull, optional cheek risers and an integrated quick-detach socket on the hinge. It allows use of side-mounted optics and firing from folded position without cheek risers installed. Its wedge block interface allows easy installation and requires no adapters. Aside from the Zhukov-S, Magpul is producing the aluminum Zhukov Hand Guard ($99.95); the MOE Stock Fixed, a no-frills AK Stock ($59.95); the MOE AK Hand Guard ($36.95) for stock AKs; the MOE AKM Hand Guard ($36.95) for AKM, AK-74 and AK-100 pattern rifles; and the PMAG30 AK/AKM GEN M3 ($26.95), a polymer 7.62x39 steel-reinforced AK magazine. All of Magpul's AK products will ship in spring 2015.
AR PARTS
Rise Armament RA-535 Advanced-Performance Trigger
Rise Armament RA-535 Advanced-Performance Trigger
Photo Credit: Courtesy
Rise Armament, a fairly new company, debuted the RA-535 Advanced-Performance Trigger or APT ($259) at SHOT Show this year. The RA-535 is a drop-in upgrade for AR rifles that is completely manufactured in-house at the company's Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, facility. The trigger is factory set at 3.5 pounds and combines flat and curved trigger styling for a comfortable feel. Its most noticeable feature is the extremely short but positive reset. The aluminum housing for the RA-535 is hardcoat anodized in bright red, and each unit ships with a set of KNS anti-walk trigger pins.
Unity Tactical T.A.P.S. Universal Pressure Switch
Up-and-coming design shop Unity Tactical displayed a unique pressure switch. Developed in partnership with TNVC, Unity's patent-pending T.A.P.S. comprises a rail-mounted, low-profile polymer body with two rubber buttons and interchangeable bases that can be swapped to mount to 1913 Picatinny, KeyMod or M-LOK rails. Its wire leads are removable/replaceable and can be set up to run SureFire, Steiner/LDI or L3/Insight lights and lasers. Finally, the buttons are programmable in modes such as momentary on, constant on, single-press on, double-press on, etc. The T.A.P.S. will be available this summer from Unity and TNVC as well as their dealers. It will come in black and flat dark earth. Price is currently TBD.
BLADES
Benchmade 6800 with Ambidextrous Push Button
Benchmade introduced a new opening mechanism in 2015 called the Ambidextrous Push Button, or APB ($275). It comes in two configurations, an automatic function and a spring-assist version, both currently available only on the 6800 model knife. The idea is to allow actuation with either hand. There are buttons on both sides of the knife, so regardless of whether you are using your strong or support-side hand, you can access your blade. The internals are beefy, and the 154CM stainless steel drop-point blade locks into place solidly.
Spyderco Reverse
Chocolate and peanut butter. Milk and cookies. Ripping and slashing. You can have all those things that go so well together. The Spyderco FB34GP Reverse ($149.95) is a unique fixed-blade design from the minds of renowned edged-weapon trainers Craig Douglas (a.k.a. "Southnarc") and Michael Janich. Although their approaches to defensive knife tactics differ significantly, they designed the Reverse to be adaptable to both of their fighting styles by virtue of its unique reversible handle.
The Reverse's ergonomic handle consists of two precision-machined textured G-10 scales that attach to the tang of the blade with stainless steel bolts. When the handle is attached so that the blade's cutting edge is oriented back toward the user, the knife is optimized for Douglas' preferred system of reverse-edge tactics. By flipping the scales, the grip is reversed and supports Janich's edge-out approach to knife skills. The Reverse's blade is full-flat ground from corrosion-resistant CTS BD1 stainless steel and features a slightly concave hawkbill profile for aggressive cutting performance. A specially-designed, custom-molded Boltaron sheath holds the Reverse securely in either configuration and includes a versatile G-Clip attachment that supports fully adjustable belt and inside-the-waistband carry.
RIFLES
War Sport rifles
Known for the enclosed-handguard LVOA rifle, War Sport has released three new rifles for 2015.
The GPR rifle ($1,650, stands for "general purpose rifle") is the entry level to the premium brand War Sport is developing. The GPR, shown, features a War Sport LVOA (low-visibility operation/applications) barrel that is guaranteed to be sub-minute of angle at 100 yards, as well as the company's GP Compensator, which also will be released as an individual part. The GP Comp provides even distribution of gasses during the firing cycle, which keeps the muzzle completely neutral during recoil. The GPR is a mid-length system at 14.7 inches and is outfitted with B5 Systems furniture. Everything on the rifle is manufactured in-house "minus all the famous parts." It comes standard with an ALG trigger, War Sport-branded Raptor charging handle and Magpul sights.
The mid-tier offering is the GPR Enhanced ($2,250). Its core is the 14.7-inch free-float LVOA barrel with the new GPR Rail allowing the gun to be run-suppressed. It comes standard with a Geissele SSA trigger, B5 grip, B5 SOPMOD stock, Magpul MBUS Pro sights, Battle Arms Development 90-degree selector, ambidextrous safety and a Seekins Precision mag release. The last new rifle in the group is the War Sport Pistol ($3,050), consisting of a short-barreled upper with nonadjustable pistol bracing device.
Salient Arms International GRY Rifle
Salient Arms International is known for high-end customization of firearms. The company promised an SAI rifle a couple of years back and has teased the market with glimpses of works in progress. As of SHOT 2015, the SAI AR now has a name, GRY ($2,995), a final component list, a late-March release date and line of people ready to buy it. We got behind GRY on the media day firing line and have to say the long list of exclusive features adds up to a very flat-shooting gun. It's tough to call out the most important improvements Salient has brought to the AR platform when there are so many present in GRY.
Starting at the muzzle is the unique Jailbreak muzzle system. It's a shroud that encloses the muzzle of the rifle, including any muzzle device, and attaches to GRY's handguard without tools. The system redirects and cools exhaust gasses whether they come from a brake, flash-hider or even a bare muzzle. The result is reduced flash, recoil, muzzle lift and concussion. The system can be completely removed if you want to use the native muzzle device or use a suppressor; SAI says it is working on a suppressor that's the same size as the Jailbreak muzzle module. The GRY handguard itself is a quick-release device that's locked in place with a lever and held in tight tolerance with no zero shift thanks to SAI's proprietary eight-point-of-contact barrel nut. GRY's barrel uses a unique flat, square-flute geometry for greater stiffness and heat dissipation than traditional barrel fluting. The rifle's coating is a Teflon-infused, Type III mil-spec hardcoat color anodized, low-signature gray finish developed specifically for SAI. GRY addresses the long-running criticism of the AR bolt carrier system by integrating the gas key, eliminating the staking debate altogether. SAI refined the gas system in GRY using an angled gas port to optimize gas flow, increase reliability and reduce recoil.
The entire gun is 7.5 pounds with an Aimpoint Micro T1 on top. SAI promises further weight reduction when the gun hits the market. When talking about innovation and refinement, the SAI GRY represents one of the biggest attractions at SHOT 2015.
AXTS MI-T556
AXTS honcho Josh Underwood walked us through the features of his first complete rifle offering, which he says is capable of sub-MOA accuracy, perhaps ½-MOA with 55-, 62-, and 77-grain ammunition. The Shilen-barreled rifle is chambered in .223 Wylde with a 1:8-inch twist rate, hand-polished crown and polished feed ramps. As we saw the rifle, it had a new two-stage AR Gold trigger with a throw and reset so short and crisp that it will leave three-gunners standing in a pool of their own drool. The lower and upper receiver and handguard are all made from 7075 series aluminum. The upper features a proprietary handguard interface that mates with AXTS's new handguard. Hung on a coated 7075 aluminum barrel nut, the handguard is secured with four vertical bolts. The barrel nut itself is vented to allow heat transfer away from the chamber, Underwood says. The handguard is sized 1 inch shorter than the barrel on each of the 10.5-inch, 14.5-inch and 16-inch rifles. The gun has AXTS's signature Raptor charging handle and the new Talon ambidextrous, user-selectable 45- and 90-degree safety selector, Knight's Armament folding sights and Magpul CTR buttstock, and will come in solid Cerakote finishes. The 14.5-inch model Underwood showed us lists for $2,895.
IWI Galil Ace rifles
One of the most popular weapons available for test fire at the SHOT Show range day was the new Galil Ace in 7.62x39mm. IWI US is releasing a lineup of 7.62x39mm Galil Ace rifles and pistols to the market this spring, with 7.62x51mm (a.k.a 7.62 NATO) to follow this fall. Based on the design of the Galil, which was based on the Kalashnikov and Valmet, the new Galil Ace uses the same trigger and operating system as the Kalashnikov but deviates greatly elsewhere. The reciprocating charging handle is now on the left side of the rifle. The rifle has an aluminum upper receiver and polymer lower receiver, similar to the SCAR. A top Picatinny rail allows for attachment of sights and accessories, and an ambidextrous safety aids in ergonomics. On the range, the long stroke gas piston and modern design of the rifle with a straight stock made it very controllable, and the left side charging handle was a slight upgrade over the AK-pattern rifle. Available in 16-inch rifle ($1,899); 8.3-inch pistol ($1,749); and the side-folding model with a pistol stabilizing brace, shown, ($1,848).
PRECISION RIFLES
KRG Habu precision rifle chassis
Kinetic Research Group Habu precision rifle chassis
Photo Credit: Eric Hsueh for Kinetic Research Group
Kinetic Research Group is already one of the most respected precision rifle chassis manufacturers in the business; its founders have a strong background in military/tactical precision rifle work. They've endeavored to produce a "no holds barred," ultra-high-end precision rifle chassis with absolutely no consideration given to cost and all considerations given to performance. Using the SR-71 Blackbird's familiar name in Korea, the "Habu" chassis has a carbon fiber fore-end, magnesium construction and titanium hinges to develop the strongest, lightest and most versatile tactical precision rifle chassis on the market. KRG is currently taking pre-orders, with the earliest delivery scheduled for July 1. Estimated pricing on the Habu chassis is between $3,000 and $4,000.
Magpul Hunter 700 Stock
The Hunter 700 marks Magpul's entry into the precision shooting realm. It's an adjustable, lightweight stock system with aluminum bedding block for the short-action Remington 700. It has an anodized aluminum bedding block, uses SGA cheek riser and LOP spacers, has M-LOK slots and dimples to add swivel studs and places to add quick-detach sockets. The stock weighs 2.9 pounds and works with factory Remington bottom metal as packaged. And it's only $259.95. That's dirt cheap for a stock with so many features. If you listen carefully, you can hear the whistling of Houge stocks in the wind as owners pitch their rubber stocks out the window. Magpul has a couple of accessories ready to go for the Hunter 700 stock platform. The first is the user-installable Bolt Action Magazine Well ($69.95) that allows AICS magazine compatibility with a 30-second install. Magpul is also releasing the PMAG5 7.62 AC, an affordable polymer AICS magazine ($34.95).
Mega Arms Precision Rifle Chassis
Mega Arms continues to come out of the gate strong with a new offering that shows attention to machining tolerances and quality as well as some of the best fit-and-finish in the industry. While Mega is known for AR-type platforms, the company has moved into new territory with this new precision rifle chassis system developed with another Washington state company, Killer Innovations. The chassis starts with a 7075-T651 billet block of aircraft-grade, American-made aluminum. The self-adjusting, patent-pending recoil lug locking system does not require bedding, and the barreled action will return to the same point of impact after it is removed and re-installed. Two variants (M-LOK or KeyMod) give users attachment points for accessories. The lightweight setup comes in at only 2.4 pounds. The short-action Remington 700 chassis will be released first, with a long-action version to follow. It is compatible with AI-pattern magazines, has an ambidextrous safety, and the removable rear trunnion is compatible with all AR-15-style buffer tubes and buttstocks. The chassis should be released by spring, listed at $808. It is shown with an optional night-vision mounting point that integrates onto the stock.
OPTICS AND IMAGING
IR Defense IR Patrol M300W
IR Defense IR PATROL M300W
Photo Credit: Courtesy
IR Defense addresses the demand for a thermal sight that does it all at a more affordable cost than is normally associated with thermal sights. The M300W is a compact thermal imaging device that can be used as a hand-held monocular but is flexible enough to use as a clip-on imager behind a day-optic; mounted to a helmet; or even as a dedicated weapon sight with its own fully adjustable reticle system. It can capture and store images internally for download and review later. The system is designed to be compatible with the Wilcox flip-to-side mount when used with day optics. It uses one simple joystick/button controller that precludes the need to fumble through buttons in the dark. The IR Patrol series was designed for military applications with a consumer-affordable price point. High-quality components such as a BAE long-range infrared (LWIR) uncooled, 60Hz thermal core, and an eMagin OLED 10,000:1 contrast VGA display are encased in a rugged housing made from 6160 aircraft aluminum that ensures the unit's durability. The made-in-the-USA M300W ($6,495) weighs 16 ounces and measures 6 inches long. Other models in the IR Patrol series start at $4,995.
Torrey Pines Logic T10 Thermal Imagers
Using a FLIR core, Torrey Pines Logic has developed an affordable thermal imager that is no larger than a mini red dot sight. The military model (T10-M/$699) refreshes at 30 Hz, versus 9 Hz for the standard model (T10-S/$499). The T10-M has a protective shroud (similar to EoTech weapon sights) and quick-detach mounting system. The T10-S weighs 50 grams without a battery, with the more rugged T10-M weighing 109 grams. Torrey Pines says the weapon-mountable T10-M is durable enough to be mounted on a .50-caliber machine gun. Both models use a single CR123 battery with 8 hours' expected life. The range of the thermal display is likely to be limited due to its small size. Both models of the Torrey Pines Logic T10 are expected to ship March 1.
Mohoc Elite Ops Camera
The Mohoc Elite Ops Camera is billed as the world's first military-optimized camera with a helmet-friendly contour. Sports cameras' awkward shape and high profile hinder movement in military operations, create snag hazards and are difficult to operate while wearing gloves. The CurveLock base of the Mohoc matches the helmet's curvature and mounts directly to the helmet or helmet cover with industrial-strength Velcro. This creates the lowest profile, snag-free solution for tactical operations. The Mohoc captures full HD 1080p/60fps video along with 12 mexapixel still images. In addition, its makers say it delivers military-grade durability with an IP68 rating; it is waterproof to 10 meters; and it exceeds the 2-meter drop test, all without the need for an external case. Vibration feedback, as opposed to blinking LEDs or audio feedback, along with dual power options combine for tactical optimization in training or during operations. The lithium-ion rechargeable battery is included and can be replaced with two CR123A batteries for extended missions. Wirelessly connect to the Mohoc App to live view or operate the camera through your smartphone. The Mohoc comes in a full-color, daylight version ($549/available May 2015) and an IR-enabled version ($749/available July 2015) that shoots only grayscale and requires some IR illumination.
Leupold LCO and D-EVO Optic
Leupold blew us away with the paradigm-shifting D-EVO inline, prismatic 6x magnifier. When combined with a non-magnified, red-dot optic, it creates a supercharged 1-6x20mm red-dot reflex optic with a CMR-W reticle. The D-EVO optical magnifier is a very clever optic that gives the user an almost instant switch between 1x and 6x views. With proper cheek weld, what you see is similar to a bifocal lens from your granddad's bifocal glasses. From top to bottom: a clear 1x view up top, then a blurry thin line, then a 6x magnified image. Without changing cheek weld, you can transition between 1x and 6x with just a slight nod of your head. The D-EVO has a zigzag shape when viewed from above and places the objective lens offset to the right side of the red-dot just above the ejection port. Through a series of prisms and lenses, the image gathered by the objective banks left and exits a small ocular lens that is below and directly behind the red-dot's window. It is completely self-contained and must be zeroed separately from the red-dot. The D-EVO ($1,874.99/available this spring) works with a wide variety of red-dot optics, and it can even be used on its own as a primary optic.
Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-6x24 Riflescope
Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-6x24 Riflescope
Photo Credit: Courtesy
For anyone looking for a quality variable optic who doesn't want to spend several mortgage payments to get it, the Strike Eagle ($429) is a 1-6x24mm scope with an expected street price in the mid-$300s range, according to reps in the SHOT Show booth. Let that sink in for a minute. Vortex is known for its higher-end Razor series as well as its red-dot competitor, the Sparc II, but the company has been working to provide very-high-quality optics at a more approachable price point than other comparable optics brands. The Strike Eagle is 10.5 inches long and weighs in at 17.6 ounces. The etched, illuminated bullet-drop-compensating reticle is on the second focal plane and is very bright, with no blooming or washout when we pointed it at the show lights and ran through the 11 brightness settings. Waterproof, shockproof and fogproof, the Strike Eagle comes with a 30mm tube and capped turrets providing 280 minute-of-angle adjustments for windage and elevation. Available early this spring.
Spuhr Dual Position Accessory Mount
Spuhr Dual Position Accessory Mount
Photo Credit: Rob Curtis/Staff
The Dual Position Accessory Mount swings an optical magnifier, night vision or even a thermal imager into place from above an optic or spotting scope. It's made to work with Aimpoint's MPS series of unmagnified .50-cal machine gun sights, but it can work with others. The idea is that a magnifier sits on top and can be easily swung down into place to magnify the view of the scope. When it's stowed in the up position, it can still be used as an in-line spotting scope. It's a simple device that has no buttons or controls. Tension holds the optic in place until you pull it into position. Shipping now for $495.
MATERIAL ADVANCES
PolyCase Ammo Inceptor ARX defense round
PolyCase Ammo's Inceptor ARX defense rounds are lead-free, injection-molded copper and polymer projectiles with a unique design that harnesses the rotational force of the bullet to assist in creating a greater temporary wound cavity in soft tissue. PolyCase claims the ARX "tumbles in a controlled, predictable fashion that delivers very consistent terminal performance that equals or exceeds conventional hollow point designs." The projectile weighs 70 percent as much as a lead projectile of the same size, so it travels at a higher velocity. The ARX round boasts a 99 percent weight retention and does not deform upon impact with soft tissue, but still breaks up against hard surfaces to minimize ricochets and over-penetration, and is safe for use with suppressors, according to the company. PolyCase also produces round and truncated nose polymer projectiles, as well as a short-range tracer polymer projectile. The Inceptor ARX is currently available in .380, 9mm, .40, .45 Auto, .357 SIG, and .458 SOCOM (around $29 per box of 25 or 20 rounds).
Hodge Defense AU Mod 2
Hodge Defense AU Mod 2
Photo Credit: Rob Curtis/Staff
While the Hodge Defense AU Mod 2 is a beautiful, reliable and accurate rifle, the story is more about what the gun is made of than the gun itself. Hodge Defense linked up with Alcoa Defense as Alcoa was developing a brand-new metal alloy called aluminum-lithium (Al-Li) that's lighter than 7075 aluminum and nearly as strong as titanium. The forged receivers are lighter and stronger than any other forged or billet AR receivers on the market. It's not going to take long for the rest of the small arms market to recognize the weight and strength advantages of Al-Li. The alloy is expensive, but as more manufacturers adopt it, the price will drop. As far as the AU Mod 2 rifle goes, both upper and lower receivers are made from high strength Al-Li forgings. The handguard, also made of Al-Li, is an M-LOK-compatible, single-bolt lock-up assembly that mates to a titanium barrel nut. The Mod 2 has ambidextrous controls, Magpul furniture, a cold-hammer-forged, 1:7-inch twist rate, mid-length gas system and chrome-lined barrel.
PISTOL ACCESSORIES
Bobcat Tactical Solutions One Arm Bandit
Andrew Bottrell is a former Navy explosive ordnance disposal technician and recipient of both the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He lost both legs and his left arm in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2011. After his recovery, he started Bobcat Tactical Solutions and developed this novel magazine carriage system that allows one-handed reloads. The One Arm Bandit holds the magazines in an upright (open-end-up) position, resting on a small bottom shelf and held in place by strong magnets in the rear. (The magnets are not in place in our photo.) To reload, the shooter simply drops the empty magazine and lowers the gun onto the new magazine. The One Arm Bandit holds the fresh magazine in place, allowing it to seat inside the pistol's grip. Raise the pistol back to shooting position and use your thumb to release the slide. After a little bit of practice, it is incredibly fast to operate. Bottrell is working with BladeTech to finalize the design and get it ready for release sometime this year. There's no release date or pricing available at this time.
Raven Concealment Eidolon
Talk about modular.
The new Raven Concealment Eidolon holster system is now the protean king of inside-the-waistband holsters. At its core, the Eidolon is an injection-molded (not Kydex) holster body backed up by a ton of screw-on accessories that make the system perhaps the most adaptable IWB carry system on the market. You can try different carry options and customize your holster for the perfect blend of concealment and comfort for any situation. Contracting officers will be pleased to know that the Eidolon will give them a "single SKU" solution for equipping large groups of personnel with concealment holsters. With one holster kit, they have an ideal concealment holster that fits the entire Glock 9/40/357 family, both left and right handed, regardless of whether the pistols have extended/threaded barrels, compensators, red-dot optics or suppressor sights. Among the Eidolon's unique features: its retention method. It holds the pistol with pressure on the trigger guard alone, which means a smoother draw. It is mini-red-dot-sight-compatible, comes in short open and long partially enclosed bodies, and has accessories that make it ideal for appendix carry. Look for the Eidolon to hit Raven dealers in mid-spring with kits ranging in price from $65 to $120.
Steiner eOptics SBAL-PL Pistol Light
Steiner eOptics (formerly Laser Devices) showed us the new 500-lumen, white-light/green laser combination weapon light. The light can be activated from either side, has windage and elevation adjustment screws for the aiming laser on the same side, and runs for a couple of hours on a single CR123 battery that can be changed without taking the light off the gun. The SBAL-PL's switchology is simple. A single press activates the light and laser together, and a slightly longer press-and-release activates just the laser. The activation function can be reversed, but only at the factory. While the SBAL-PL is clearly at home attached to the rail of a mid- to full-size pistol, Steiner says the 4-ounce, waterproof, aircraft-aluminum "6061-T6/MIL-SPEC Type III hardcoat anodized" light will work just fine on a rifle. The light is slated for release in a black finish only, but Steiner did have a tan light on hand that could be made if demand proves strong. The light will hit the street this summer with a price of $665.
SureFire XC1 Compact Pistol Light
The XC1 is SureFire's smallest pistol light. It features a powerful, recoil-proof LED that's focused by a multifaceted reflector to create a broad, 200-lumen beam perfect for illuminating and identifying threats and overwhelming their dark-adapted vision at close range. Measuring less than 2.5 inches long and weighing just over 4 ounces with its single AAA battery loaded, the XC1 won't weigh down your handgun, making it a crucial addition to concealed-carry pistols. Its compact body is constructed of lightweight aerospace aluminum that's hard anodized with a tough mil-spec finish, so the XC1 is rugged enough for everyday carry. Ambidextrous switching provides both momentary and constant-on activation for precision control. The XC1's unique combination of power, compactness, and use of the ubiquitous AAA battery make it a solid choice for duty and home-defense pistols alike. Price is still TBD, but we're told by SureFire that it will be around a couple hundred dollars.
SILENCERS
SIG Sauer Silencers 556Ti-QD
SIG Sauer has jumped into the silencer pool with both feet, releasing a full line of cans at this year's SHOT Show — everything from a small .22LR version up to a quick-detach .338LM beast. Led by Kevin Brittingham, formerly known as the founder and head of AAC, SIG Silencers is bringing a science- and engineering-based approach to the business of designing and manufacturing silencers, having rethought every aspect of the suppression process. One of the more interesting results is the new quick-detach mount system, which the company calls Taper-Lok. The patent-pending system uses a series of tapers to align and secure both the mounts to the gun and then the silencers to the mounts. The mount itself is a three-piece assembly consisting of the rear mount unit semi-permanently attached to the gun's muzzle, a crush washer and finally an interchangeable tip. This gives the user the ability to easily (and cheaply) switch between various muzzle brakes, flash hiders and compensators without needing to remove the mount from the host weapon.
The silencers are made from titanium or stainless steel, the former being almost comically light. The silencers remain lightweight while upping performance by using a tubeless construction. You can actually see how the body is made up of welded spacers and baffles. This drastically cuts weight while providing a greater internal volume for a given-size tube. SIG Silencers will become available throughout the year, beginning with the 5.56 and 7.62 cans in the next month. The rifle cans retail for between $545 (thread-on steel SRD556) and $995 (Titanium SRD338Ti-QD).
SilencerCo Omega
SilencerCo has quietly become a dominating force in the suppressor industry. The company's groundbreaking Osprey and Sparrow cans put it on the map, and products such as this year's Omega multicaliber silencer ($1,100) surely will keep SilencerCo at the forefront of the suppressor business. The name Omega implies that this is the last suppressor you'll need, and judging from the can's specs and performance at SHOT's range day, SilencerCo just may be correct. Stacking all the performance metrics, features and price into one matrix, the Omega could be the best-performing silencer for its price. It starts with a body that's about ¼-inch wider than the common 1½-inch suppressor tubes used by its competitors, resulting in a quieter can. More attributes include a Stellite blast baffle and end cap featuring the Anchor muzzle brake that can be replaced with a flush-mount end cap to reduce the length of the can when a compensator isn't needed. The result is a 5.7mm- to .300 Win Mag-capable suppressor that's full-auto rated, shorter, lighter, arguably stronger and just as quiet, or quieter, than the competition's caliber-specific offerings. The icing: The Omega comes with a direct thread mount, a quick-detach mount and a compatible muzzle brake. That's hundreds of dollars worth of adapters and muzzle devices you won't need to buy. It sounds hard to believe, but witnessing a single can tame 5.56mm, .300 AAC, 7.62x39mm and .308 Win. on the media day firing line with impressive noise reduction across the board gives credence to the name Omega.
WEARABLES
Beyond Clothing Stretch Alpha Jacket
Beyond Clothing Stretch Alpha Jacket
Photo Credit: Rob Curtis/Staff
Beyond Clothing's Stretch Alpha Jacket is a first-of-its-kind insulated jacket combining a brand-new stretching insulation from Polartec called Stretch Alpha with a soft-shell outer fabric and a fleecy inner face fabric. The jacket feels like the most comfortable, broken-in hooded sweatshirt you've ever owned, but is as warm as a mid-weight winter jacket. Further, the 80-gram insulation breathes, so you can get athletic without having to stop and remove layers to regulate your temperature. The fabrics are quite new, and Beyond is still working to establish pricing for the jackets, but expect to have them ready to go by this fall.
Oakley Tombstone eyewear
Tombstone eyewear is the sum of everything Oakley has learned working with the U.S. military on combat shooting eyewear, combined with brand-new performance and convenience features that add up to some of the most advanced shooting sports eyewear on the market. Oakley's experts fitted eye-tracking equipment to top competitive shooters to learn where the most important areas of vision are located. They found that the top of the lens was an area used quite a bit, which means most eyewear, especially eyewear with a frame extending across the top, would obstruct a shooter's vision. To expand the field of view upward, Oakley dropped the top frame and extended the lens. To change lenses, push the triggers on each of the stems and pull the stems out. Insert them into the new lens, and you're back to shooting without ever touching the lens.
Lens colors are traditional smoke, clear and two variations of Prizm, Oakley's proprietary target contrast-enhancing tint. The lenses are ANSI Z87.1-2010 and will protect against just about anything a dirty range can throw at you. However, they're not mil-spec rated and should not be used in combat. The specs will cost $180 for a set with a single lens and $285 for a multi-lens array. Look for Tombstone to hit authorized dealers in early April. Military members and eligible first responders can visit Oakley's Standard Issue Web store for industry pricing.
Combat Flip Flops Waxed Canvas Claymore
Combat Flip Flops Waxed Canvas Claymore
Photo Credit: Courtesy
The Claymore from Combat Flip Flops is a great way to carry your everyday man-needs. The original Claymore bag was a thoughtful update to the M7 bandoleer bag used to carry Claymore mines and their accessories. But the masses spoke and CFF listened, making a waxed cotton version of the Claymore that will sell for $89. (And, while they last, the original Claymore has dropped in price to $69.)
The waxed cotton Claymore will retain all the features of the original nylon version except the nylon weapon sling. The new version will have a waxed cotton sling, but still use Heckler & Koch-style sling hooks.
