SHOT show was excellent this year. I went as a manufacturers representative, and I’m now working in the gun industry, though I can’t really reveal what I’m doing yet, though it will be very cool.
There were many neat guns and products, let me see if I can remember the ones that stuck out the most. Don’t ask me any difficult questions, because I’m still tired, cranky, and I’ve got 400 lbs of literature packed into my bags. I’m a black gun kind of guy, so I probably did not really pay attention to any of the classical pretty type guns, though there were some gorgeous guns present.
The GOOD:
Robinson XCR. I still think this is the coolest new rifle out there, but as you know, I’m biased because I helped beta test it. There was much interest in this gun. I think it is going to kick butt.
Most folks have not heard of Sabre AR15s, but Sabre makes a ton of stuff for the military, and has done so for many years. They have a line of very nice AR rifles now. I was impressed, and I’m not normally an AR fan. As far as I could tell these were very well made, and are in the same class as the fancy AR rifles at a good price. They also have a line of suppressed AR rifles, including what is probably the coolest little suppressed AR I have ever seen.
The F2000 from FN is interesting. I got to field strip it, and also spent some time with some of their people in a meeting. The design is not nearly as complicated as I thought it would be from the pictures. I like this rifle. It is far comfier than expected. Depending on the civilian price, it should sell pretty good.
The PX4 Storm impressed the heck out of me. The pistol itself was pretty cool, but I went to an armorer’s demonstration, and then I could really see what the appeal was going to be. This gun is very unit armorer friendly, and is priced to go head to head with the Glock. I have not been the biggest Beretta fan, but for a PD gun, I thing Beretta is really onto something here.
The CZ SP01 was neat. It is just a big CZ75 with beavertail and light rail, but it is a very appealing gun. Probably going to be around $600. And just so you know, CZ is not insane, the bayonet attachment was a joke. Angus thought it was funny.
I’m a shotgun nut. Ithica has brought back a riot version of the 37. And you can get it with the disconnect removed so that you hold down the trigger and pump away. Very slick shotgun. It was going to be around $500-$600 if I recall correctly.
There was a prototype .50. Semi, 5 shot mag, side fed. About the size of the Serbu, invented by the same guy who did the Anzio and the Safety Harbor guns. It is similar in weight to the Serbu, and if this thing works it is going to be awesome. Should be around $3,500.
Rohrbaugh is still the coolest little gun out there. Nice folks too.
Bushmaster’s carbon fiber stuff seems to have worked out the bugs that plagued Pro Ord. I spoke with some LE folks who tested the heck out of one of them, and it worked great. The SBR carbon gun with the M4 stock would make an amazing entry gun. The one I played with had a Trijicon Tripower, and it just begged for a suppressor. This thing is one sweet handling little gun.
There was pile of neat gear, but I’ll go into more detail about that later, especially since I’m going to be selling a whole bunch of it in a few months. I’m talking about some amazing stuff, at really good prices. Yee haw!
The BAD:
Some companies really need to work on their customer service. I won’t say who, because I’m sure it would rile up their hard core fans, but if you are a company rep, and somebody comes up to you and makes a comment about how your gun could be made better, don’t treat the customer like he is stupid, and doesn’t know how to shoot. I watched this occur, and I knew the customer making the comment. He is a military officer, veteran of multiple wars, and current SWAT team leader. This guy has seen more action than 99.9% of the people there. Maybe just maybe you should get off of your Bavarian high horse, shut your stupid mouth, and listen to the guy’s valid comments for a second. Sorry, had to vent.
The UGLY:
The Israelis showed off their Corner Shot, shoot around corners, gun holder thingy. Wow… No, it does not play DVDs, and no they don’t appreciate it when you ask that. My theory is that it is for shooting Palestinian rioters with out getting hit by rocks.
I had a little fun with EAA. I told them I represented a chain of sporting goods stores across the Rocky Mountain west, and that I wanted to begin carrying some of their products. My initial order was for 500 Saiga shotguns, and 1000 Saiga rifles. I was able to do this in a totally deadpan manner. Had them going for a minute. That was fun. (in case you didn’t know, they quit importing them). Now for some good news for Saiga fans, Remington bought the rights to Baikal, not Saiga. According to EAA, the Saiga importation has gone to a company in Tennessee. They either really did not know who, or they weren’t allowed to say. So maybe we might be getting more Saigas.
That is what I can think of for now.
There were many neat guns and products, let me see if I can remember the ones that stuck out the most. Don’t ask me any difficult questions, because I’m still tired, cranky, and I’ve got 400 lbs of literature packed into my bags. I’m a black gun kind of guy, so I probably did not really pay attention to any of the classical pretty type guns, though there were some gorgeous guns present.
The GOOD:
Robinson XCR. I still think this is the coolest new rifle out there, but as you know, I’m biased because I helped beta test it. There was much interest in this gun. I think it is going to kick butt.
Most folks have not heard of Sabre AR15s, but Sabre makes a ton of stuff for the military, and has done so for many years. They have a line of very nice AR rifles now. I was impressed, and I’m not normally an AR fan. As far as I could tell these were very well made, and are in the same class as the fancy AR rifles at a good price. They also have a line of suppressed AR rifles, including what is probably the coolest little suppressed AR I have ever seen.
The F2000 from FN is interesting. I got to field strip it, and also spent some time with some of their people in a meeting. The design is not nearly as complicated as I thought it would be from the pictures. I like this rifle. It is far comfier than expected. Depending on the civilian price, it should sell pretty good.
The PX4 Storm impressed the heck out of me. The pistol itself was pretty cool, but I went to an armorer’s demonstration, and then I could really see what the appeal was going to be. This gun is very unit armorer friendly, and is priced to go head to head with the Glock. I have not been the biggest Beretta fan, but for a PD gun, I thing Beretta is really onto something here.
The CZ SP01 was neat. It is just a big CZ75 with beavertail and light rail, but it is a very appealing gun. Probably going to be around $600. And just so you know, CZ is not insane, the bayonet attachment was a joke. Angus thought it was funny.
I’m a shotgun nut. Ithica has brought back a riot version of the 37. And you can get it with the disconnect removed so that you hold down the trigger and pump away. Very slick shotgun. It was going to be around $500-$600 if I recall correctly.
There was a prototype .50. Semi, 5 shot mag, side fed. About the size of the Serbu, invented by the same guy who did the Anzio and the Safety Harbor guns. It is similar in weight to the Serbu, and if this thing works it is going to be awesome. Should be around $3,500.
Rohrbaugh is still the coolest little gun out there. Nice folks too.
Bushmaster’s carbon fiber stuff seems to have worked out the bugs that plagued Pro Ord. I spoke with some LE folks who tested the heck out of one of them, and it worked great. The SBR carbon gun with the M4 stock would make an amazing entry gun. The one I played with had a Trijicon Tripower, and it just begged for a suppressor. This thing is one sweet handling little gun.
There was pile of neat gear, but I’ll go into more detail about that later, especially since I’m going to be selling a whole bunch of it in a few months. I’m talking about some amazing stuff, at really good prices. Yee haw!
The BAD:
Some companies really need to work on their customer service. I won’t say who, because I’m sure it would rile up their hard core fans, but if you are a company rep, and somebody comes up to you and makes a comment about how your gun could be made better, don’t treat the customer like he is stupid, and doesn’t know how to shoot. I watched this occur, and I knew the customer making the comment. He is a military officer, veteran of multiple wars, and current SWAT team leader. This guy has seen more action than 99.9% of the people there. Maybe just maybe you should get off of your Bavarian high horse, shut your stupid mouth, and listen to the guy’s valid comments for a second. Sorry, had to vent.
The UGLY:
The Israelis showed off their Corner Shot, shoot around corners, gun holder thingy. Wow… No, it does not play DVDs, and no they don’t appreciate it when you ask that. My theory is that it is for shooting Palestinian rioters with out getting hit by rocks.
I had a little fun with EAA. I told them I represented a chain of sporting goods stores across the Rocky Mountain west, and that I wanted to begin carrying some of their products. My initial order was for 500 Saiga shotguns, and 1000 Saiga rifles. I was able to do this in a totally deadpan manner. Had them going for a minute. That was fun. (in case you didn’t know, they quit importing them). Now for some good news for Saiga fans, Remington bought the rights to Baikal, not Saiga. According to EAA, the Saiga importation has gone to a company in Tennessee. They either really did not know who, or they weren’t allowed to say. So maybe we might be getting more Saigas.
That is what I can think of for now.
What kind of gun writer are you? 
