rlauferblog

First Visit to the New Store!

Well Dean wasn’t kidding when he said the new space is 5 times the size of the old one… it is huge!

Gotta respect that social distancing

The store has everything to outfit the shooter from head to toe…including eyes

Ears…

I did pick up a pair of the Decibullz custom molded ear plugs and am anxious to try them out

And for your hands, Mechanix gloves

And Original footwear for your feet

For your firearms, a wall of Magpul, following their display at SHOT show

Magpul is moving away from plain brown boxes to ones with colour pics of the contents

More parts and accessories

Optics from Trijicon and Vortex…watch for big news about Vortex from Select soon

The best option to transport your guns, Nanuk cases

Although the Voodoo tactical soft cases were also nice

In fact, I regret that I didn’t buy this range bag as it was pretty spectacular

Gotta feed the beasts…some reloading equipment

Nice to see High Capacity (featuring my SHOT Show review)

Some other nice touches around the store…a live counter of Facebook likes

A rotating display (switched monthly) of historical arms from the Canadian Historical Arms Museum

Dean can control the lighting for all the display cases via a phone app…pretty cool!

Ok on to the guns! Mossberg

The new JM 940 hasn’t arrived yet….until then, the 930

Of course Jerry Miculek also endorses Smith & Wesson

More great revolvers from S&W

Glock…

including a rare cutaway (yes this has to be registered as a restricted)

Some high end options from CZ…an engraved Shadow and the Czechmate

Precision rifles

Including one of my grail guns, a consignment H-S Precision HTR

I have to admit, it was surreal to visit a gun store without seeing AR-15s, except for maybe 1

Or 2…

Last but not least, the new range! Still a work in progress, it will feature two ranges with 6 lanes each and everything up to 30-06 with some fancy retrieval systems and multiple membership options including a dual membership with a range in the US! Select will be posting more about that soon.

View from what will be the firing line

And for Select’s podcast

Congratulations once again to Select for the awesome expansion. I wish it could be a more positive time but we have to remain optimistic that the Conservatives will get in power and turn things around. Untilb then, keep supporting the industry and enjoying our sport.

Second Visit

It was great to be back at Select and see how things are progressing. Since my visit last month, the Vortex “store within a store” has been set up.

Lots of hats

I picked up that multi-cam one with glowing logo

Vortex is expanding their apparel line and I was surprised to see their new socks.

As I mentioned last time, the Canadian Historical Arms Museum has a rotating in-store display….my favourites were the Grease Gun

And FN Minimi

Of course those are not for sale but this Mauser C96 Broomhandle is…for $10,000!

I picked up a copy of the latest High Capacity but left it in the store…all the more reason for me to go back soon!

Third Visit

So I went to Bulls Eye North’s new store today (sorry no pics…I will be back in a few weeks for a review) and as I typically do, I like to visit multiple stores in one day. It was a great reason to go back to Select to pick up the magazine I forget there last week and also to check if that new product line (not sure it is public) came in yet. Plus of course it is always great to visit Dean and Tracey.

A few new things came in since last week, notably the Winchester Wildcat, which is their take on a 10/22 with some notable innovations.

Ambidextrous mag release…and there are a couple of options for everything

It uses the same mags as a 10/22

But the whole group is removable (cool how the bolt rotates out of the way), allowing you to clean the gun from the chamber end.

The Ruger American Ranch takes AR15 mags and these are flying off the shelves everywhere

The Vortex AMG red dot has been upgraded quite a bit…now compatible with night vision (and specialy coated so as not to be detectable by night vision from the other end), tool-less opening of the battery compartment and numerous other enhancements

Finally the Bog Deathgrip tripod…a great option for precision shooters at a very reasonable price.

You can never have too much fun at a gun store lol

Fourth Visit

I had a few objectives for today’s visit to Select…first and foremost was to see the new Canuck Engage semi-auto shotgun. I have seen a lot of coverage of it on social media, including lots of pics from O’Dell’s annual range day. It has a “straight line” recoil system, which I understand does not use any gas or springs but the reports from range day suggest it shoots softly.

It is interesting that the bolt release is on the other side…clearly that is something you would have to get used to …I guess that would help if you use a Match Saver as you wont run the extra round over the button.

BTW, my Avon C50 mask is designed to allow for shouldering of a firearm but I didn’t get a great sight picture with the Canuck while wearing it…

of course I also tried with my Benchmark FR flame resistant gaitor and had no issues there.

Next I wanted a second look at the CZ Custom Shop A01LD…I had seen one at another store before but wanted a closer examination

Wow this thing points so perfectly! A great sight picture that was fast and easy to acquire. The long dustcover does add weight but it still feels balanced. I would love to shoot one.

Select posted pics of their latest Historical Arms Display and I gotta say it is the best yet!

I have shot a full auto suppressed Mac10 and it is one of the least accurate guns I have ever shot but I still love the design.

The “silenced” Sterling is exactly that..silent. As I understand, it is lined with a special material that makes it even quieter than a modern suppressor, with the down side that the material wears away with each shot. As such, this specimen is unfired.

My last visit was about a week before the First Tactical section was set up…I have a pair of their gloves and was impressed with them so it was great to finally see their whole line-up

Their products are packed with features and small details like little protectors to prevent muzzles from protruding…all their bags have lockable zippers and the backpacks have a solid plate that can be removed and used as a multi-tool (and the backpack straps can also be removed to attach to the plate)..

Colour coded medic bags (medicine, trauma, respiratory etc.) fit into a larger case

I really liked these boots, which feature a “hinge” at the rear for those who may spend lots of time seated in a vehicle and a knife pocket on the side

The accompanying knife

I picked up one of Select’s great new shooting caps…they are designed to work with ear/eye pro as they have no seams or buttons that can get in the way.

Oh and I also had a look at the range build in process…looks great so far! (I didn’t take any pics)

Always great to visit with Dean and Tracey!

RANGE 519

And now introducing Range 519!

The members only range has an incredible electronic return system made by Action Target, and is the first of its kind in Canada actually. The system allows you to program a vast array of drills including “teasers” that spin the targets to show you the back side as a “good guy” and the front as the “bad guy” to shoot. They can be lit up in various colours, including strobe, and my favourite feature, have a built in camera that shows you the target and where your shots are landing!

All stalls are “bulletproof”

The holes on the tracks help the system measure distance

The backstop is made of recycled airplane tires

View from the backstop

Great job on the range Dean!

To put things in perspective…

The stalls in the public range are extra wide to allow a range officer to stand next to new shooters..and again, the stalls are bulletproof (a great feature with public shooters). Everything is super well thought out!

The classroom

In terms of firearms, I was most anxious to check out the new Maple Ridge Armoury straight pull semi auto. While some have described it as a “bolt action AR”, unlike a precision bolt action rifle, the bolt here is spring loaded so will spring forward on a new round after it is pulled back.

Sadly the range is not ready for live firing…but I was able to “shoot” some pics

Tom brought his recently acquired Dan Wesson Specialist LASF…what a beauty!

I love the heinie Straight 8 sights and rough textured VZ grips.

The biggest surprise gun-wise was the new Canuck Recon, hot off the presses. This is essentially a mag-fed version of existing Canuck designs although it does have some enhancements. I got the full rundown from Phil O’Dell and Ian from O’Dell Engineering (thanks gents)

I also had the chance to look at the Troy PAR…I saw these a couple of years ago when they first came out but of course AR15s were still an option back then. With the OIC ban, the PAR has become a much more serious option and I prefer it to the straight pull options because you don’t need to remove your hand from the fore-end to rack it and the muscle memory is there for pump shotgun shooters.

Some closeups

The slide release button is under the triggerguard

I am seriously considering one.

I picked up a Glock hat and a second set of Decibullz hearing protection