Given the government’s recent banning madness, I wanted to get something that has little chance of making it on the list (though you never know with this “so called” govt). I have always loved the FN PS90 so this one chambered in H20 was a no brainer!

While the 5.7 requires a PAL, as you can see on the box, this one is suitable for ages 8+, a perfect way to get new shooters into the sport.

The colour scheme is interesting, but I think it would be a disadvantage in a tactical situation.

Also, perhaps the Super Soaker marking is too aggressive….again, I am concerned that the government would consider this a “so called assault rifle”

Not sure what Fortnite is…perhaps some elite training academy like Blackwater or something?

Like its big brother, you load the ammo from the top however it is pump action rather then full or semi auto. Also, I have not taken it to the range yet so I don’t know how many shots you get from a full mag.

Compared to the 5.7, the H20 is MUCH smaller…

And as a result, very hard to get shouldered properly (at least for my frame).

Quite apart from the cost of entry (you could buy like 80 of these for the price of a 5.7), H20 is MUCH cheaper (and easier to find) than 5.7mm….stay tuned for a range report.

RL

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 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.

RL

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!

RL

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

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 another look at the CZ Custom Shop A01LD…I had seen one at another store but wanted a second look.

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!

RL

Covering SHOT Show 2020 a few weeks ago was a lot of fun although I left with some sadness knowing some of those great products will never make it to Canada.

No need to worry about that with the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association (CSAAA) 2020 National Trade Show as it is dedicated to showcasing the newest firearms, archery, ammunition and shooting accessories hitting the Canadian market this year.

By way of background, the CSAAA supports and promotes hunting and sport shooting both as socially beneficial sporting activities and as business contributors to our economy. Ultimately, they promote and protect the legal rights of manufacturers, importers, resellers and stakeholders in the Canadian shooting sports industry. You may have seen their foundational research last year on the economic impact of the shooting industry.

The CSAAA also hosts two trade shows annually, one in Calgary and one in Toronto. As trade shows, these events are not open to the public but I was fortunate to obtain a media pass. Thank you again to CSAAA.

Ok on to the show…some aerial shots

my first stop was to check in with my good friend Gilles at Mossberg.

I am pleased to report that the Jerry Miculek / Lena Miculek re-designed 940 Pro will be coming to Canada. The new model is a considerable re-design and intended for 3 gun competition right out of the box. For example, based on Lena’s input, both the forened and magwell have been completely redesigned to allow for quad reloads. The semi-auto shotgun also now has an adjustable length of pull and a cleaner running gas recoil management system that can go 1500 rounds before cleaning.

This is the previous generation model for comparison.

I also like the 500 with the ATI Tactical kit including 6 position adjustable stock, Halo free floating heatshield, and the Add-a-Shell system side saddle.

Love the Kuiu Camo on the 590 Thunder Ranch…btw, that “tri-rail” will be replaced with M-lock.

The Flex has a quick change system to easily swap out the stock

Removable panel reveals Velcro to attach a pressure switch

The 590A1 Retrograde is a real beauty

Shockwave with corn on the cob forend

Lots of novelties at Trigger Wholesale including Lithgow black powder rifles

And .22lr precision rifles

More variations of the mag fed Typhon F12 (I think there are now 40 colour options!)

As well as the bullpup FD12

The Benelli M4 clone is now available in an elite package with two stocks and extra chokes

This shotgun uses Saiga mags! (limited to 5 rounds). I would buy it for that alone lol

Trigger Wholesale is also expanding into archery with Martin bows.

Precision .22LR, mag fed, and bullpup shotguns were also the theme at O’Dell Engineering….including the incredibly popular Derya.

The Spectre..i remember seeing the prototype of this at the first TACCOM show in 2018

Bergera

Including the new .22

North Sylva’s display focused on non-restricteds such as the Kriss Vector (which is indeed coming to Canada in .22lr), the BCL, now in burnt bronze, M+M, CZ Skorpion EVO

The new Charles Daly bullpup shotgun

And my personal favourite, the Tavor, including the 7

For those who prefer the more traditional, the FN competition bolt action gun, Norinco tranch gun, Chiappa mare’s leg, and a North Sylva exclusive Marlin.

Two new versions of the Ruger PC-9 have arrived at Big Rock, one with floating handguard and a second that also has an adjustable stock

Shown here next to the Hi-Point PCC…the Hi-Point is much lighter but limited to 5 round mags.

Another beauty at Big Rock, the 125th Anniversary Savage Model 110

 
As I reported in my SHOT Show review, Cadex has A LOT of new introductions including an R7 for hunting, new finishes, new two stage trigger, new bi-pod, new shotgun accessories etc. etc. As a Canadian company, it should be no surprise that all of these will be available locally.

New CDX-R7 SPTR

Compared to the R7 Sheepdog

And next to the chassis systems for which Cadex is so well known

New finishes such as Robin’s egg blue

The Bell outdoors booth

Their new airguns immediately caught my eye…fyi, these are over the 450 fps limit so they do require a PAL

Hatsan Shotguns

The SD12 mag fed…comes with a complete kit including mags, extra chokes, etc.

New at the Stoger booth, the Benelli Lupo (Italian for wolf), the first bolt-action from the company. The design focuses on ergonomics and recoil reduction and features seven exclusive Benelli patents.

Also new from Benelli, the B.E.S.T. surface treatment, a new proprietary finishing technology developed by Benelli to coat and protect steel with a tough, impenetrable armor that stops rust and corrosion.

The latest swag

Canik TP8SFX with lightening cuts on slide to reduce muzzle rise

The Elite Combat variant with a threaded barrel designed by Salient Arms International

Next some great optics at the Vortex booth

Binoculars…the second from the left is the top of the line Razor UHD

Monoculars

Laser range finders, the top of which is now capable of ranging out to 4000 yards

And of course scopes

Including the new Razor HD Gen III 1-10×24 FFP…a first focal plane with an illuminated red dot at 1X that turns into a reticle at higher magnifications

Also at the Vortex booth, Kershaw knives

including the Natrix copper

The Kershaw Emerson CQC-11k based on the Emerson Rendezvous

And my favourite knife of the show, the Kershaw Emerson cqc-6k in small (3.25” blade) and large (3.9”)

Dividend with composite blade made of CPM D2 and Bohler N690

Camp knife

More knives from Ruko…

Now available with an ultra robust coating…in custom patterns or text

Ruko’s own camo pattern

Ruko also imports Muela from Spain

Hydra-X Outdoor Adventure set with exchangeable blade system

Back to guns…lightweight hunters seemed to be the theme…such as this very fine Weatherby Mark V Ti, which uses titanium to keep it below the 5 pound mark!

Available with three stock designs (two of which are shown here…the third has more adjustability)

The 3D HEX reoil reducing stock was designed by a former NASA engineer who works at the company

There are many built in safety features such as the gas venting ports in the bolt and the shroud on the back of the action that were developed 50 years ago!

More fine guns from Weatherby…note the Vanguard First Lite camo one in the front…it is used by the hosts of a popular hunting TV show.

Winchester is my favourite ammo maker…I especially like their Ranger and Defender lines. Now they have introduced the USA Ready series, every box of which includes a lot number that allows you to look up your ballistics data online, including velocity, pressure and accuracy ratings — all related to your box’s lot.

I would like to meet the gun that fits that round!

Not only do you have to feed guns, you need to keep them clean too and for that, Gunzilla is a great option. This organic cleaner is safe to use on all guns and based on testimonials, has dramatically reduced weapon malfunctions in theatre, especially in desert / sandy conditions.

And to feed yourself, Code of Arms Coffee!

Last but not least, AmChar, where I ran into Adam, who you all know formerly from FOC and TACCOM.

AmChar is the top distributor for Glock pistols

And gear

AmChar is also the distributor for American Tactical Omni polymer AR15s…these are lined with steel and fully compatible with AR15 uppers and parts.

As well as Mossberg

So to recap, the main themes around new firearms were lightweight hunters as well as mag fed and bullpup shotguns.

I should point out that there was lots of archery equipment again but I did not really cover those booths simply because I don’t know much about archery…although I would like to learn!

Ultimately as a trade show, it was great to connect with members of the firearms industry. I had long conversations about the current political climate and I am happy to report that retailers are enthusiastic. I know of a few store and product line expansions (some have already been made public), showing that the industry is optimistic….and so am I!

RL

Intro

Ahhhh it is so great to be back in Vegas…and even greater to be back at SHOT Show!!! I had such an amazing time at SHOT Show 2018 that it will be hard to beat but I am confident that I can do it!

As in the case of 2018, I have done an enormous amount of planning, even though I am more familiar with the layout. Why all the planning? Well, the main show is 690,000 square feet or 12 squares miles (the same as the base of the Grand Pyramid in Giza). It now extends to secondary venues and includes over 1,600 exhibitors on the show floor but that increases to over 2,400 if you include the Supplier Showcase and Pop-Up Preview. Access to SHOT is limited to 65,000 industry folk and 2,500 media members.

To put the size in perspective, consider that if you spend just 10 minutes at a booth (to take pics, handle guns, wait for your turn to handle them, talk to reps, get swag etc.), you could cover 6 per hour or 48 per 8 hour shift. That means in three days you would cover roughly 150 booths. But of course, you have to factor in walking time, breaks etc. so maybe 75 is more realistic. Per SHOT Show’s fact sheet, if you wanted to visit all booths, you could only spend 22 seconds at each!

Thankfully I have a co-author this year and collectively Tom and I plan to cover at least 100 booths. If we post just 10 pics per booth, that would result in a review with 1000 pics (our goal) that covers only 100/2400 or 4% of the show!!!! SHOT is BIG!

In preparation for SHOT, I picked up some cool gear such as this Otte Patrol Parka…thanks to Chris Costa for providing feedback on jacket options and to Parabellum Prime for the super speedy delivery!

I got some shirts made too…gotta look professional!

Along with a few other things that may show up during my review.

Monday Industry Day at the Range

Apart from being able to take pics, one of the greatest benefits of a Media Pass is that you get to attend Industry Day at the Range and shoot everything from super compacts to full auto to suppressed with no limits on ammo.

And the amount of ammo consumed is staggering! Consider that there are 2,500 media folks and if each one shoots 20 guns with 10 rounds each, that would be half a million rounds! I can’t remember the exact round count but from what I recall, it was even higher than that.

Here is an aerial view of the incredibly beautiful range, courtesy of SHOT. I will have more of my own range shots below.

Industry day was awesome! We shot a ton of guns and many exceeded our expectations. Tom and I took about 400 pics and shot lots of vids. I suspect you are anxious to see them so I will start with some of my pics and let Tom chime in with his.

We started at the Geissele booth expecting to see some AR15s fitted with their legendary triggers…we were half right! I was not aware that Geissele soft launched their own in-house made AR15 last year and is fully launching the lineup at this year’s SHOT show. Needless to say, the triggers on them were great.

Next, OSS suppressors…I opted for one mounted on an AK and it was one of my favourite guns of the day.

It was great to get an explanation of the internals of the OSS suppressors. I dare say that I enjoy shooting suppressed firearms more than full auto!

My absolute favourite of the day though was the B&T USW-A1 with its collapsible stock and platform specific Aimpoint site. It made such a difference to shoot it with the stock extended! I will definitely get one of these!

The Alien was certainly the most unique gun of the day…it has the lowest bore axis on the market with the fixed barrel and the interchangeable slide top allows you to swap optics in a breeze (with 90% zeroing)…it can also reliably fire any load of 9mm with its piston system. It is an expensive gun for sure but a lot of thought went into the unique features.

I was quite anxious to try the re-introduced Colt Python…it was available with 4” and 6” barrels and I opted for the longer while Tom shot both. It was nice but not something I would buy.

Another re-release high on our “must try” list was the HK SP5…available in several configurations, Tom and I opted for the traditional profile with iron sights….so satisfying to do that HK slap lol…and it shot great!

No surprise that the Glock booth was all about the new 44 in .22lr…now I have shot Glocks with .22 conversion kits so I kind of had an idea of what it would be like but I have to say the 44 exceeded my expectations! It was lighter than I expected while the trigger was better…I would not hesitate to buy one.

We also ran into Glock shooter Michelle Viscusi

I have read a lot of good things about the sub-compact Springfield Hellcat…it offers the largest mag capacity (13+1) in the smallest package. I tried variations with red-dot and iron sights and I actually shot better with the irons. I really like micro-compacts like the Glock 26 and the Hellcat felt just as good.

It was great to meet Rob Leatham at the Springfield booth

During the course of my research for SHOT, I came across the Rock Island Armory TCM22…a very intriguing round! It is essentially a .22 that moves at 2000 fps!

Here are some 1911s chambered in this round

It creates quite the fireball with no felt recoil!

Next we visited the long range section where I was happy to meet Rob Furlong, who has EXCELLENT taste in jackets lol

He must have given me some good luck as I hit both of my shots on target at 1090 yards out of a Cadex in 300 Norma Magnum…three times longer than I have ever shot before! That Cadex is quite something…and thanks to the Cadex team.

Tom and I were both impressed with Ruger’s latest offerings. First, the 5.7…it is much thinner and easier to hold / control than the FN

Next the Wrangler revolver…an aluminum (very light) frame .22 single action at a very affordable price (under $300 I believe)

Speaking of .22s, how about those long barrels!

More nice Rugers

By now you must have heard of the new Kriss Vector in .22LR…it does not use the Vector recoil mitigating system, rather a more conventional design. However, with a .22 you really don’t need it as there is no recoil anyway. Also, the quad rail allows a light to be mounted on top without obstructing the sight. It costs about a 1/3rd of a centre-fire Kriss.

Vs. the centre-fires in 9mm, 10mm, and 45acp

Just next to Kriss at Maxim Defense I ran into Kris “Tanto” Paronto

Pics of the spectacular range

Tuesday SHOT Show 2020 Day 1
OMG this is so incredibly frustrating! I have hundreds of pics to upload but this internet connection is not cooperating….i will share what I can for now…

The Media room is open an hour before the show so I hung out there for a bit and ran into none other than Hickock45!!!!

Per the SHOT Show 2019 fact sheet, the total weight of goods delivered for the show exceeded 7,000,000 pounds! This included more than 15,000 firearms, which were all inspected and tagged before being put on display. Did I mention that SHOT is big?

STI was the first booth that I visited in 2018 so I thought I would keep up the tradition, especially since there was a chance of seeing the actual movie gun from John Wick 3! Of course, I love my own JW3 gun but handling the real movie gun is still a special experience for me.

Sadly it was not there but I would get a related surprise later on in the day. In the meantime, STI briefed me on their totally new lineup of no less than 7 Staccato variants! Based on customer demand of people wanting to carry their competition guns, STI is moving more toward “tactical” as opposed to a pure competition gun. They have even brought back a single stack!

From a quality standpoint nothing will change as the guns will still be hand fitted and will retain features such as island barrels.

Next on my list, B&T, which was my favourite booth of the show so far. As I mentioned, I REALLY liked the USW-A1 at range day so I wanted to have a closer look.

I also REALLY liked this in SPR in 300 blackout with integrated suppressor!

As well as this grenade launcher.

Just great product from B&T.

I shot IWI’s T12 shotgun at 2018’s Range day but I missed their booth at the show to get better pics and to see a real UZI in person so I wanted to correct those issues.

And here is the micro Uzi!

The Tavor shotgun with rotating magazines.

Loved the cut-aways

I visited the Ed Brown booth to see two things in particular…first the new “Fueled by Ed Brown S&W M&P collaboration…while there are lots of custom Glocks out there, not as many people are doing custom M&Ps…this one has Ed Brown parts and is hand fit just like a custom…US$1999

And second, the Jeff Cooper re-release…the last time this model was available, I chose my Molon Labe over it…glad that I can have another chance

I got to meet / re-meet a lot of celebrities and industry icons today….such as Les Baer (he was not at the booth when I visited in 2018), who I also ended up seeing a second time in the hotel elevator later in the day lol.

I am holding the new American Handgunner

While he is holding this one

I also got to meet the founder of Freedom Arms…who had this very special set made in his honour

To me though, all of their great big caliber revolvers (and a single action) are works of art

I know a lot of people are into chassis systems, when I hear the words “precision rifle” I immediately think of the H-S Precision HTR. I especially like the take-down version.

H-S was showcasing many new, lighter hunting models in various finishes.

I especially liked this one.

That having been said, I’d be very happy with a Desert Tech lol…especially the Covert

Or for larger calibers…

The MDR is now available in multiple calibers.

I stopped at the Kel-Tec booth mainly to check out their KSG line of shotguns. Yes, they introduced some new handguns but the focus of my review is on things that I like not necessarily reporting on every new introduction lol.

I liked the ultra compact, which would be prohibited here I think but there is a version with an extended barrel that I handled recently at Bulls Eye London

Speaking of, look who I ran into at the booth! None other than Scott from Bulls Eye.

I knew that Tom was visiting Cadex so I wasn’t sure that I would but their booth sure caught my eye! (that happens at SHOT lol). LOT’S of great new products here.

The Sheepdog was introduced last year

…and now there is a lighter version for hunting.

The Kraken with interchangeable calibers…you can see the take down tools to make the switch in the second pic

And if you think that suppressor on the Kraken is big, check out the one on the .50BMG Tremor!

My personal favourite, the C.P.S with quick release stock

New colours

New two stage trigger (vs. single stage)

New rail mount

New bi-pod

And new shotgun accessories!

As you may know, I am just as much into knives as I am into guns, maybe even more so! I did visit several knife booths, such as Benchmade.

I took the opportunity to look at their latest Balisongs, since we don’t really see those here. The handles on these three are G10, steel, and titanium respectively. The magnetic latch on the titanium model was pretty cool (pretty much pops open when you squeeze the handles).

Apart from their Balisongs, my favourite Benchmade of all time is the Stryker designed by custom knifemaker Allen Elishewitz (who is at SHOT as he designs knives for Hogue), now only available as an auto.

I did like their new out the front auto a lot though

SHOT exclusive scales and S90V blade steel on this one

This gentlemen’s folder is expected to be their biggest new introduction…no pocket clip, it comes with a sheath

Continuing with knives…I was hoping to see Ernie Emerson and update our comparison picture but sadly he was not at the show.

I did get to see the new smaller Sheepdog, shown here next to the original size.

Other interesting knives at his booth…the Seax fixed blade neck knife

CQC-7 fixed next to the folding version

The P-SARK trainer

And my personal favourite, the Super Commander

Back to guns….I put myself on the “the list” for a Springfield FBI gun almost 2 years ago without ever having handled one in person…now I can say that my instincts were right because it is stunning in person

Next stop, Colt

Of course all the talk about Colt is around the re-released Python, but as I mentioned after shooting it at Range Day, it didn’t excite me enough to want to purchase one.

The cut-a-way was pretty neat though

The King Cobra

Or if you prefer your revolvers to be more dressy

To me the most interesting gun at Colt was the M16

Vs. the more modern M4

And M5

I started the day with a celebrity sighting and will end with a few more…Lou Ferrigno at Brownell’s booth

Taran Butler at Benelli with the actual John Wick movie guns!

On the way to dinner at Gordon Ramsey’s Steak (which I will cover later) I ran into Lovie Malespin in the parking lot!

Then at 11:30 at night I went down to the convenience store in the hotel lobby to get a drink and ran into Royce Gracie!!!

Quite a good start to the show!

 
Wednesday SHOT Show 2020 Day 2

First stop on Day 2, Silver Shadow to check in with Lovie and see the Gilboa double AR-15!

I liked it a lot more than the Arsenal double 1911

I knew about the Gilboa but a big surprise was that Silver Shadow also brought a Corner Shot, which I have always wanted to see in person so I was pretty happy about that!

Lovie doing some demos of how it works to shoot around corners

I always feel safer when Lovie Malespin provides cover

I have a Battle Blades Tops Wolfhawk mounted to my HK MR223 and there are a few disadvantages to the design. In my opinion, the Gripknife is a much better way to have a blade mounted to your gun. The intriguing design is a spring mounted blade that deploys out of a rail mounted fore-grip.

It comes in two sizes in multiple finishes

Thanks to Lovie for demonstrating as well

And thanks to the Gripknife team as well…great guys.

I love catching up with old friends at such shows…such as knife designer Liong Mah…I have a few of his older, more radical designs

His new lineup is geared more toward EDC and utility

For example, the Field Duty with drop point, flat ground blade and frame lock

It looks like an integral but is actually made of two pieces…either way, super solid

Next, the Lanny

KUF

Warrior 2

Forgot the names of these two

It was also great to see Michael Janich again…and update our comparison pic lol

Spyderco now offers an all black version of Michael’s Yojimbo 2…I really like how the lock-bar on the compression lock is coated black as well

Shown here with the Chinook 4

The Chinook 4 closer to James Keating’s original design (I have a Chinook 1 with box signed by James)

Another new interesting knife from Spyderco, the Nightstick single edged dagger

As I have reported in the past, F-1 Firearms are my favourite AR15s. I dare say I like them more than my HK MR223! They are known for feeling “light” when you shoot them and I had the same sensation whenever I have shot one.

They are also known for their wild finishes, although those have been toned down this year.

This finish changes colour depending on the angle of light

More examples

Proof carbon fiber barrel

PCC

Their newest model is more discrete and geared more toward law enforcement than competition

Shown here by Tom, who tests / tunes the guns that go out (thanks for all your time!)

My favourite is the Dynamis collaboration

Here was a big surprise for me…F-1 is getting into handguns! Right now they are based off Shadow Systems guns but they are gradually transitioning to completely in-house.

And suppressors!

A Cabot would be a good pairing with an F-1 lol…sadly they did not bring their $4.5 million meteorite guns of even the Trump gun they had at SHOT Show 2018. Fortunately they brought my personal favourite, the Ultimate Bedside gun

Of course, if you are going to buy a Cabot, you may as well buy a pair to benefit from their clone technology…their guns are made to the thousandths of an inch and unlike other custom guns that need to be hand fitted, you can interchange the parts on a cloned pair.

Some of you may know that I have a fetish for trainers, even going so far as to have custom knifemakers build training versions of their live blades for me. In the world of firearms trainers, Blue Guns is on top. There is a Blue Gun for EVERYTHING, and if not, they will custom make one for you! In fact, Blue Guns makes props for movies as well as mock ups of prototypes before they are launched. They do not use lasers, rather they make physical molds of products.

Love the 249

And the pipe wrench! Lol

Black Aces Tactical was not on my original list but thanks to online coverage of the show, I found out about their new lever action shotgun…it also caught my eye as I passed by their booth (I guess I am susceptible to shiny new things at SHOT show after all!)

While this bullpup looks similar to others on the market, it is actually 2 inches shorter

As I mentioned in my intro, I got an Otte Patrol Parka in anticipation of this show. I discovered this great piece of kit through some past SHOT show videos showing Todd explaining its various features so I wanted to stop by Otte and meet him in person. Todd gave me a similar rundown on the HT Insulated Parka that he is wearing.

Also in terms of tactical clothing, I am a big fan of Crye Precision…I have a G3 Combat Shirt and am waiting (for six + months!) for my G3 Combat Pants. It was great to see their Loft jacket in person and I have to say that G4 Field coat looks awesome (sadly I did not get a pic).

I left the show a bit early today in order to attend Doug Marcaida’s seminar on karambits…it was very educational! Once again, it was great to update a comparo pic lol

 
Thursday SHOT Show 2020 Day 3

Let me start today’s coverage with yet another gun that far exceeded my expectations…the Full Conceal Glock 19! My first impression is that it is far more “solid” than I anticipated…also the way it is designed, it is completely safe to carry with one in the chamber as it is impossible to fire when it is in the folded position. One of my favourites of the show.

Easily fits in the pocket

This year Full Conceal introduced a more economical model built off a proprietary frame instead of a Glock.

As I mentioned earlier, B&T has been my favourite booth of the show so far…I knew they had a second booth but I didn’t actively look for it so was pleasantly surprised to come across it. It was great to have another look at the USW and SPR 300…and to finally see VP9 pistol as well!

Team Wendy has a stellar reputation for helmets. In case you were not aware of the back-story of the company, it was founded after the owner’s daughter died from a head injury suffered while skiing. Their comfort and safety features were quickly noticed by law enforcement / military and the rest is history.

They had a set-up showing how some testing is done.

I tried on an Exfil Ballistic helmet…super comfortable and Level IIIA protection

The “Team Wendy” comfort can now be retrofitted to your other brand of helmet via their “cloud liner” system…note the strategically placed cushioning and ratchet tightening system

My timing for visiting the Winkler knives booth was great as both Daniel Winkler and James Williams were at the booth!

James puts his martial arts / combat training to good use designing application specific knives…

such as this one

More great Winkler knives

My personal favourites were the Tactical Cleaver

And weapon retention tool

For fans of Alien and Judge Dredd, digital round counters are now a real thing! The Radetec system requires changing three components of your Glock, the slide, backstrap, and one internal part of the trigger group as well as the follower on your mags.

They also offer a rail mounted “armourer’s tool” which is meant to keep track of shooting sessions…not only does it count the number of rounds fired over the life of the gun, it also keeps track of every shot to the 1/100th of a second…so you could check your splits etc. with the mobile app

Another cool piece of high tech gear, the new Trijicon Ventus …it uses Doppler LIDAR to measure headwind, tailwind, crosswind and vertical wind components at six different distances up to 5000M and includes a ballistic calculator as well

In case you were wondering what a $100,000 1911 looks like, Nighthawk has your answer!

Nighthawk is continuing their collaborations with Agency Arms

Their double-stack is much thinner than others on the market (such as STI) and features a full dust cover and compensator

Some new finishes such as this “triple black camo” with three shades of black…and nice stippling on the top of the slide (like the Bob Marvel model)

This is actually a Colt tuned by Nighthawk

Nice Officer sized gun, the Counsellor

Nighthawk Korth revolvers

Including this 8 shot .357

Ok ok HK HK….in my review of SHOT Show 2018, the HK booth seemed to get the most response so here
is another picture dump lol….

First some military hardware

my favourite was the M27, which is based on the 416

My favourite handgun, the Mark 23 SOCOM

And from the civilian line…

SP5

.22LR

.556

Last but certainly not least of my booth coverage, Kalashnikov!

The new Komrad semi-auto shotgun

Vs. the KS12

Lot’s of variations of KR-9s

And the new American made AK, the KR103 (on top)

Ok that’s it for my booth coverage. I will follow up later today with random cool things, more celebrity spottings, and yes, food pics.

Tom is also working on additional booth coverage and I will add that when ready as well.

Random Cool Stuff and More Celebrity Sightings

The Press Room for those with a media pass

The famous “back pack”

The Throne of Freedom

Mini-gun at Elite Defense, the Official Sponsor of the Good Guys

GPNVG-18

MTM watches, including my favourite, the RAD with its built in Geiger counter

Gun DMC

I ran into the Ballistic Ink guys at Cabot guns…LOVED that Gustav shirt so much that I already ordered
one lol…along with another hoodie…such great designs!

The 1 Millionth Sig P320

Bullpup Beretta

The Magnum Research BFR with 17” barrel!

Serious truck

I ran into a buddy and he got the prototype for the CRKT Provoke Stormtrooper edition! Let me know when you are ready to sell bro!

It was a real honour to meet Jerry Miculek and his family at the Mossberg booth..such nice people! And I am sure my shooting performance improved exponentially just by shaking his hand!

JM Edition Mossbergs

Glock’s new spokesperson, Chuck Norris!

All done with SHOT Show, we headed to PVK, an incredible knife store.

Thanks to PVK for letting me have a look at the Microtech John Wick special edition set

My second favourite was this Microtech OTF rescue hook prototype…with a $4800 price tag to reflect its
rarity

Finally the Microtech

I picked up a Strider SLCC by Warren Thomas in his signature carbon fiber laminated and bonded to titanium and impregnated with carbide lol

And a set of John Wick assassin coins!

The obligatory swag pic

Coming up, the food of SHOT!

Friday

Despite all my planning, Mother Nature threw a bit of a curve at us with the biggest snow storm of the season. As a pre-caution, we flew out two days early to beat the storm. That is ok as we wanted to get some “Vegas time” and this gave us two extra days of that and I will be covering some of that as part of this review (we will see if I have time to make it to the Adult Video Awards lol).

The first thing we did after arriving was to have our first Vegas meal at In-N-Out burger!

How fitting that I was customer #1 lol.

Saturday

Today we started with lunch at Jack in the Box, my first time eating here. I had the classic buttery burger, which is essentially like an egg Chalah bun.

Then we headed over to Boot Barn to pick up some Lucchese boots that I pre-ordered for delivery to the store. I have always wanted Lucchese cowboy boots and when I saw their new hybrid cowboy/work boot I had to pull the trigger. I love the concept! Although everyone raves about the Lucchese fit, I had never tried on a pair so was a bit worried and sure enough they were way too tight!

So I ended up buying these Dan Post boots in rough suede.

I also got a proper cowboy hat, a Rodeo King in “grizzly” style fur. It was an open crown

So I had them custom form it to a Gus crown with Rodeo brim…very cool to watch that being done!

I have to say Boot Barn has AMAZING customer service!!!

Next we went to the Shelby Museum. I had been to their old location and compared to that, I would say their museum is smaller and more focused on older cars while the factory and store are bigger.

We both signed the wall

Our nice tour guide

Lots of gear in the store including clothing, travel goods, signs, and even knives.

I got a few things.

Finally we went to watch the UFC bout between McGreggor and Cowboy at Tilted Kilt. It was quite surreal to watch it here knowing that the fight was going on live down the street! The crowd went bananas (I have some vids I may post later). We also ran into some guys headed to SHOT Show from OSS Suppressors, Sig, and a company that makes custom hearing protection.

Food at the Tilted Kilt….mozzarella sticks

Wings with Kilt Burner sauce (not very hot)

The Celtic Knot, a giant pretzel (the best part of the meal)

Our lovely server

$5 shots

Sunday
We didn’t do much today…just picked up my Media pass

And then went for dinner at Heart Attack Grill, which I will cover in the food section at the end.