From John Farnam:
11 Jan 07
First day of the 2007 SHOT Show in Orlando, FL:
I was told that the Orlando version of the SHOT Show (at Orlando, FL's
huge Convention Center) was going to be smaller that when it is held in
Las Vegas, NV as it was last year. If that is true, it isn't smaller by
much! I just finished a exhausting first day, seeing as much as I could
and visiting with as many of my friends and colleagues in this business
as was humanly possible!
Here is what caught my eye:
SIG's new 223 fighting rifle, the M556, is about to start shipping.
Copies I saw were very nice. Light, short, handy! The 229, 226, 220,
and 239 in the manually-decocking (DA/SA) version will soon be available
with SIG's new "short reset" trigger. It is a vast improvement over the
old system. Second shots are now available via a significantly
shortened reset, and the reset itself is distinct and crisp. This
represents an important product upgrade!
Glock had their new 21SF on display. Upper is the same as a G21, but
the grip is significantly smaller and slimmer. Basically, it's a G21
with a ROBAR grip-reduction and ambidextrous magazine release! The G21
has always been too big for my hand. The G21SF fits just fine! G21SF
magazines will work in the G21, but not the other way around. In the
entire Glock display, I didn't see any pistol with a manual safety. If
one exists, they're not showing it!
STI had on display their new "Escort," a Detonics-sized, aluminum-framed
1911carry pistol. Short and light, this is a nice piece!
Lasermax has a new, clamp-on, extremely compact "Uni-max" laser.
Clamps on any rail and switch and power source are all self-contained!
When you want to equip nearly any pistol, rifle, or shotgun with a
laser, thus unit will go right on, and you'll be up and running in a few
seconds! Lasermax's laser is pulsating and not solid. I think this is
a significant factor, as it is instantly distinguishable for the solid
laser commonly associated with pointers and Tasers.
The Taurus 24/7 is basically a Glock with a manual safety, but it is
compact, smooth, and light. Nice carry gun. The trigger has a long,
mushy take-up, but the reset is short and crisp. Perfectly useable!
When I carry it, I just leave the manual safety in the "off" position,
essentially pretending it's not there! Taurus is now also making a
nice, five-shot (38Spl), J-frame, scandium snubby. They make the same
thing in magnesium, but the scandium model is the more carryable.
S&W has greatly expanded the M&P pistol line, now including models in
357SIG and 45ACP. The M&P's interchangeable grip panels make this a
most adaptable pistol, and the feature is a great boon to law
enforcement, because nearly any hand size can be instantly
accommodated. The 45ACP model features an optional, manual safety an
also optional integral lock. Again, I would have no interest in either
option on my copy. The M&P is now clearly S&W's flagship pistol. I
love mine! Several Sigma pistols were still on display, but off in a
corner. No P99s were to be seen! S&W's new M1000 gas shotgun was on
display, but no law-enforcement version has yet been produced. All
copies on display were sporting guns.
Beretta's rotary-barrel PX4 series has been expanded, now including a
compact model that is very compact! Models in 9mm, 40S&W, and 45ACP
were on display, all with interchangeable grip panels. Trigger systems
available include the "F" (two-stage, manual decocking), "G"
(single-stage, manual decocking, "D" (self-decocking, but long and
heavy), and "C" (self-decocking, lighter and shorter). The copy that I
carry is the "C," system, and that is the one I recommend for serious
purposes. The RX4 223 rifle, available later this year, was also on
display. Like the CX4 Carbine, it is smooth, short, completely
ambidextrous, and extremely user-friendly. Same robust gas system as
on the Benelli M4 shotgun.
Benelli's Super-nova pump shotgun is now available in a law-enforcement
version. Nice gun and legitimate competition for the excellent
Remington 870 and Mossberg 590. Benelli's impulse/recoil M2 and
gas-operated M4 shotguns, also in law-enforcement versions, were
featured prominently. Unless, you're going to hang a lot of
accessories off your shotgun, the M2 runs just fine!
My friends at Cor-Bon tell me the DPX line, now available in nearly
every caliber I've ever heard of, had become their flagship round,
eclipsing Power-Ball. Winchester's SXT, Hornady's, Federal's, and Black
Hill expanding pistol bullets all work fine, but only DPX goes through
car doors and still expands on the other side. That is why I carry it!
FN's FNP40/DAO is an acceptable pistol, but it doesn't feature any
option like Beretta's "C" trigger. Useable gun, but its long, heavy
trigger pull and long reset make it basically a flat revolver. The FNP
does feature interchangeable grip panels, but only two options, not
three like S&W and Beretta.
Action target is making the first genuine improvement in the Pepper
Popper since its invention! Their "Fall-Forward Pepper Popper" features
a locking gate that holds the leaning-forward Popper upright. A bullet
striking the plate pushes it back just enough to release it to fall
forward. So, when hit, it falls forward, not backward. Ingenius!
Detonics' "Combat Master," a copy of which I personally carry every day
in my wonderful Lou Alessi shoulder holster, was on display as well as
their 9-11-01, full-sized 1911.
EOTech's new 553 model is a good way to go! Compact, rugged, and
reliable, the 553 represents the latest product improvement. I prefer
mine forward-mounted, as, when fighting, I don't like objects close to
my face.
Kahr displayed their TP45, P45, and the new PM45, the smallest 45ACP
pistol I've ever seen! For 45ACP fans, this is going to be a wonderful
carry gun! Their M1 Carbine, now with a flat bolt, is very smooth and
nicely finished.
DSA's wonderful FALs now feature an M-16, adjustable rear sight!
Rugged and well protected, this is a system familiar to all soldiers and
Marines. Also now available is Bob Weir's collapsible/extendable stock,
which greatly enhances compactness and adaptability to varying body sizes.
We saw Kel-Tec's new PF9, a single-column, compact 9mm pistol on the
Kel-Tec pattern. Flat and compact for concealed carry. Kel-Tec is also
shortly introducing a 308 caliber, bullpup rifle, the RFB. In order to
accommodate left-handed shooters, empties eject out the front! The
represents an exciting development!
Finally, Fobus now makes a locking, paddle holster. It features a
button on the inside that is pushed forward to release the pistol. The
pistol automatically locks in place as it is holstered, much as is the
case with Balckhawk's Serpa holster. I have concerns with Paddle
holsters staying in place, but this new Fobus design is interesting.
Tomorrow, I'll be exploring for a second day!
/John
("Self-decocking" is Farnamese for "double-action-only.")
12 Jan 07
Second Day at the 2007 Shot Show:
More things of note:
ATS (Advanced Training Systems) is now making a wonderful self-contained
shoot-house, using a composite rubber material to absorb bullet
spatter. Quite impressive!
John Ring at Ring's has the most complete line of prop guns available.
He has copies of guns I've never heard of! We use John's simulators all
the time.
My old friend, Lynn Thompson, at Cold Steel now makes a six-inch
Ti-Lite. Fits in the pocket and opens in a flash. The other new
product I like is the "Urban Dart," A neck-knife/dagger that is easy to
carry and fast into action. Lynn's product line is unequaled in the
industry!
A company called FlashFog makes a fog generator that can fill an entire
room with dense fog within a few seconds. I stepped into their test
booth, and the stuff is like pea soup! What a great way to "discourage"
people from entering a building!
RRA is currently offering a "two-stage" trigger on all their AR-15s.
The original, Stoner trigger has no take-up and breaks at six to eight
pounds. RRA's two-stage feature simply adds take-up to the trigger,
which now breaks a four to five pounds. Target competitors like the
feature. I don't! My preference is the standard, plain-vanilla,
original Stoner trigger system, for reason discussed at length in
previous Quips.
Earny Emerson is now making the "Snubby" folder. It has a full-length
handle, but only a 2 3/4 inch blade. It is designed for NY City
residents who are prohibited from carrying a knife with a blade longer
than three inches, yet who want the full control of a handle that
completely fits their hands. I never would have thought of it!
Friend, Wayne Novak, has added a notch into the face of his famous
wedge, rear, pistol sight. It's called the "X-Sight." The purpose is
to provide a perch that one may use to cycle the slide on clothing or
the heel of a shoe when the support hand is not available. With the
standard, wedge sight, successfully performing the maneuver is extremely
difficult.
Taser featured the new "C2," non-police version of their famous
product. The idea is to fire the weapon at an attacker, then pitch the
whole thing and run away. The famous "five-second ride," standard in
the law-enforcement version, has been expanded to thirty seconds with
the C2, to allow plenty of time to disengage completely. The unit costs
$350.00, but when it is actually used, all the owner need do is send a
copy of the police report to the company, and the entire unit will be
replaced at no additional charge! Other new products include a 12-ga
shotgun shell that fires a self-contained Taser unit a suspect (out to
fifty meters) and then discharges when it strikes. No wires! It is
called the "X-Rep." The "T-Rad," a Taser/Claymore mine is also to be
marketed shortly. The company is active!
Blackhawk is now making their own line of prop guns, gray and bright
orange. The SERPA holster is now available in a clever, level III
version and a shoulder holster! Blackhawk is also now making their own
weapon light, the XIPHOS, which features the same pullulating strobe as
the Gladius flashlight.
A company called CCF Raceframes is making an all-metal, replacement
frame for some models of Glock pistols. The resultant pistol is surely
stiff and robust, but heavy!
Several companies were on hand displaying gas-piston, conversion kits
for the AR-15 rifle, in a perpetual attempt to address the
crap-in-the-receiver issue inherent to the Stoner/gas system. The first
of these appeared thirty years ago, and it seems new ones come along
every SHOT Show. I surely sympathize with the issue, but all of them,
including the ones I saw today, are frail, tiny, and insubstantial. It
strikes me that the "cure" is worse than the disease!
More tomorrow!
/John
("RRA" is "Rock River Arms.")
Jan 07
Third Day as the 2007 SHOT Show:
A number of friends have asked me to find out if SIG's new "short-reset"
trigger will be retrofittable on existing SIG pistols. So, I asked my
friends at SIG this morning, and the answer is "Yes!" The short-reset
trigger can be installed at the factory, by SIG armorers, on existing
226s, 229s. And 220s. $100.00, and turn-around is thirty days.
Recommended!
SIG is also now producing Airsoft copies of all their pistols.
Everything works, including the decocking lever!
Remington has on display a copy of their new 870 Riot Shotgun in
twenty-gauge! Much better choice for small-statured shooters than any
twelve-gauge shotgun, even with wimpy ammunition.
Aimpoint introduced their new M4 "Micro." Only two inches long and
light! This is a vast improvement over anything they've produced up
until now. Same effect, but much less weight and bulk. I'll have a
copy on one of my rifles shortly!
Friend, John Klein, at Sage is now making a replacement chassis for not
only the M-14, but for the Ruger Mini-14 and the M1 Garand as well.
Pistol grip, telescoping stock, and rails. Brings both rifles right up
to speed!
Among the nicest AR-15s on display was Sabre's "Pro." It has everything
I want on a serious rifle and nothing I don't.
A resurrected Charter Arms has on display a left-handed revolver, called
the "Southpaw!" Cylinder release button is actually on the right side
of the frame. First of its kind that I know of. Charter Arms revolvers
look and feel as they always have.
ASP is producing a wonderful line of small flashlights, all employing
LEDs. Brightness is unbelievable! They're also producing
folding/lockable/hinged handcuffs! All hinged handcuffs keep both cuffs
continuously on the same plane, but these can also be locked apart.
Quite an innovation!
Friend, Alex Robinson, at Robinson Arms tells me the 6.8mm version of
his famous XCR will be available toward the end of this year. I'll have
one of the first copies! The 6.8mm is a vastly superior round to the
223, in every way. This iteration of the XCR will be a genuine, battle
rifle!
Steyr's famous AUG may soon be made and marketed in the USA! My friends
at Steyr tell me they are currently ready to go with domestic
production. Just awaiting a final decision from the head of Steyr-dom.
We've been hearing whispers about this for over a year now. Whoever
Steyr's president is needs to either paint or get off the ladder!
Magpull has on display a wonderful M-16 magazine, best example I've ever
seen, and reasonably priced. I'm going to get a supply!
I received details today from friends in the ammunition industry on a
recent ND that resulted in a serious, self-inflicted injury. A G19,
carried loose in a back, pants pocket, discharged when the owner
attempted to withdraw a handkerchief from the same pocket! The single
round, Cor-Bon DPX, struck the owner in the top of his right foot, and
performed as advertised! Not much of the foot was salvageable.
The lesson here is: when you carry a concealed pistol, particularly an
autoloader, carry it in a high-quality holster, not rattling around at
the bottom of a pocket or handbag! When pistols are carried, the
trigger and trigger guard need to be covered, and the pistol needs to be
held in position rigidly and securely. Exposed triggers and unsecured
pistols combine to set one up for disaster, as we see!
Tomorrow is the last day of the Show, and there are a few more folks I
need to talk with. More then!
/John
(Evan Marshall reports that S&W was showing "old-style" Centennials with
grip safeties and case-hardened frames; I don't believe that
case-hardened frames were ever offered on the original M40's and M42's.
No mention was made of whether these models are still equipped with
integral key locks or whether they are chambered in .38 Special or .357
Magnum. I suspect they may turn out to be a Performance Center model,
like the brief re-issue of the single-action, top-break Schofield
revolvers, a few years ago. Some shooters with large hands prefer the
slight increase in distance from back strap to trigger created by the
grip safety. A photo of an original M40, with grip safety and Tyler
T-Grip, appears on page 73 of my book.)
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
