This is probably the most memorable SHOT show that anyone who’s ever will attend for some time. I suppose that makes me somewhat lucky. The last SHOT show I attended was in 2016 when Trump was inaugurated and that was an interesting show because the Inauguration took place during the show, and everyone just seemed to stop to watch the whole thing. COVID made this show interesting, and it was interesting because a lot of people did not show up.
This had a bunch of benefits. The first was you could walk and get somewhere at your own pace. Usually, it is so busy that the aisles are so packed you are weaving, bobbing, and trying to get to a booth. Heaven forbid if you stop you might get run over. There was none of that this year. I covered the whole show in about three days and a little north of 50,000 steps. Now I did not stop at every booth, but I did stop at quite a few, especially the booths that caught my eye.
As with every SHOT show, there are some fun things to see. Stuff that is probably little more than novelties. There is stuff that is innovative and new and kind of gets you excited. I’m going to review some of that here. Some of it is reloading, some of it is shooting but all of it is kind of fun. As with everything you are likely to get my take on it, good, bad, or ugly. So let’s begin.
Honestly, this company has surprised me. I still think they are more of a budget brand of reloading tools but they have some stuff that is worth taking a look at. There were a few new things, some might be new to me, but I believe they are somewhat new to the market.
F-1 Single Stage Press
If you already have a single-stage press, this is not something I would run out and buy. However, if you are looking at a new press, this is one to consider. The F-1 press has an integrated LED and a linear bearing on the ram. Both features were nice additions to what I have found to be a somewhat stagnant category when it comes to reloading.
I found the feel of the press to be smooth. With that said, it was almost too easy, as if you wanted to have just a bit of resistance to keep that handle from crashing down. It’s hard to describe, but the press felt loose, almost like it was my Redding T7 that had loaded 10k rounds. I prefer a stiffer feel to my press, something that feels tight and pushes back a little. It’s hard to describe, but I am not sold on the linear bearing as the right way to go, and I would not have expected that.
Perfect Hand Primer Tool
This has been on the market for some time, but this was the first time I was able to pick it up and play with it. I honestly have to say it felt good. Better then any other hand primer I had felt to date. Now does it do all it claims it can? I don’t know but I think it is a good start. I hope to try one out soon.
Benchtop Powder Measure
like how this was built. The drum rides on a proper set of ball bearings. It seems like it was built with all-metal construction, though I did not pull it apart to inspect the internals. The drum does ride on ball bearings which I thought was a very nice touch. I am a firm lover of my Harrell’s powder thrower, but I am interested in this one as a more budget-friendly option. It’s something I’d like to try just to see how it compares.
8.6 Blackout
You know I am a sucker for unique cartridges. For some reason, I have had a passion for subsonic cartridges that can play a dual role. I.E it can launch light projectiles fast, while still stabilizing heavy slow-moving bullets. This started not with the 300 Blackout, but with the 338 Spectre. The 8.6 Blackout is the bigger brother of the 338 Spectre. Same concept, but applied to the AR-10 platform.
The cartridge is based on the 6.5 Creedmoor shortened a bit and necked up to .338 caliber. The rifle sports a crazy 1:3in twist rate, which is got to be the fastest I have seen on a rifle. My 338 Spectre is a 1:6.5in a twist. I am unsure why this rifle needs such a fast twist rate unless they plan on driving bullets that are significantly heavier than 300 grains. The downside of a fast twist rate is that it will spin the ever-living heck out of lighter bullets moving at higher velocities, this may pose a problem with thin-walled jacketed bullets.
The advantage of this cartridge over the 338 Spectre is not in the subsonic performance (unless they start loading heavier 350 or 400-grain pills), as 1050fps is 1050fps. It is how fast you can drive a lighter bullet such as a 210 or even lighter, (I would like to see a 125 to 150gr projectile.) This will never be a long-range rifle, the effective range will probably be between 250 to 500 yards when shooting supersonic and a sub 250 when shooting subsonic. For a lot of people, that is plenty particularly people who live on the east coast.
Still, even though I own a 338 Spectre, I am still kind of interested in this cartridge though I am not sold on building an AR-10 on it. I would rather do a Rem 700 build around it. Maybe a bullpup build using an MK Machine Chassis?
People are comparing it to the 338 Federal, and I think that is ok, but the twist rate on a 338 Federal is not suited for long heavy subsonic bullets. That’s where this cartridge has carved a bit of a niche. The only thing I am somewhat concerned about (besides maybe the fast rifling) is the amount of case volume. Even in a 338 Spectre, the case is not completely full on a subsonic charge with a 300gr SMK. The volume for this cartridge can’t be more than 80% with suitable powders.
As I said, I like seeing some different things, and I like to see dual-role cartridges that perform well with subsonic and supersonic ammunition. It’s just something a little different and can offer a bit of a challenge when doing load development that you don’t get with other cartridges on the market.
As of 1/24/2022 this cartridge has not been updated on the SAAMI website, so I do not know if it’s even been submitted for SAAMI standardization.
30 Super Carry
I just got done talking about one cartridge I was more or less enamored by to talk about another one that is interesting but my jury is still deliberating on how it feels about it. The 30 Super Carry is more or less the rimless version of the 327 Federal that was introduced six or seven years ago. Probably the most notable thing about this cartridge is the service pressure is around 50,000psi.
Since it was developed by Federal we can expect SAAMI standardization, but that has not been published as of yet (1/24/2022).
Federal is making some very bold claims about this cartridge comparing its performance to 9x19mm and allowing an additional two rounds in the magazine. Writers are describing the recoil to be very similar to that of a 9x19mm, however, I do wonder about the impulse. High-pressure cartridges in pistols tend to have a snappier recoil impulse and that can sometimes be a bit unpleasant to shoot.
Right now I am not convinced it is going to replace the old warhorse that is the 9x19mm. Especially since it has not been tested to the FBI protocol. Without widespread adoption of the cartridge by the military or LEO, there is a strong possibility that it becomes a “Flash in the pan” cartridge. This is despite Smith and Wesson chambering it in their M&P series of pistols.
It seems like everyone, and their dog is coming out with a chassis for bolt action. After looking at enough of them you begin to realize there is only so much you can do to whittle away a block of metal to fit a Rem 700 action and AI magazines. At some point, the differences become more of a stylized design choice rather than truly meaningful change.
With that said there were a few companies that I saw that had something that caught my attention. MK Machining and their MK2 Bullpup chassis seemed to catch my eye. I have like the idea of a compact rifle in a bullpup configuration. I have been a fan of Desert Tactical’s MDR for a long time and like the concept of some of their bullpup bolt actions.
My biggest problem tends to be that I am a left-handed shooter, and the idea of the bolt being right there next to my cheek is unappealing to me. So, to have a chassis system that allows me to use a left-handed action, and also allows me to use a quality trigger is appealing to me. I am not saying the MK2 is the only option out there or that it is entirely unique, but it is something that caught my eye. Unfortunately, the price tag puts it out of my budget for some time.
Alas, I get to admire from a distance. This would be a platform I would love to build an 8.6 Blackout on. A suppressed compact rifle just seems neat.
This is another chassis that caught my attention. Apparently, it is may out of an alloy that has an identical thermal expansion property as the receiver. They claim the negates zero shift due to temperature. I think that’s an interesting idea, and shows the company is thinking a little outside of the box. I do not know how big of a deal it is, as if you move your rifle from shooting high in the Colorado Rockies to Death Valley, you basically have zero optics not just because of thermal expansion but because the atmospheric conditions are so different.
However, the chassis itself looked and felt great. Besides the unique alloy, it incorporates a unique adjustment in the grip where it can be independently adjusted effectively fine-tuning your length of pull. Again, it was a demonstration that this company was thinking outside of the box, and adding an adjustment is usually fixed but makes you wonder if it could make your shooting position a touch more natural.
The Disruption Rifle Chassis System is not cheap, at an MSRP of $2,999
I know these guys have been around for a few years. I believe I saw them when I was at the SHOT show in 2016. So this is somewhat older news. However, I did take a closer look at them, and they had a really light AR-15 build with all carbon fiber furniture. The rifle itself was about 4.5lbs and sported a conventional upper.
I suspect we could make it into a nearly 4lbs rifle if it sported a slick side upper and a lightweight lower. However, we’re splitting hairs, 4.5lbs is dang light. I like things that are not vanilla, and this was more on the Rocky Road side of things, I thought it looked good and I like the concept. With as thin as the barrel was I wondered how fast you might get zero drift as the barrel heated up, but that is a compromise you make when you have lightweight barrels.
Probably the most distinctive feature is the skeletonized fore-end made from carbon fiber. It is just a wicked look. I would love to beat on one to see how much abuse it could take, at the same time if I was looking to make a lightweight build and just wanted something to hold on to without burning myself on an ultra-thin barrel this does fit the bill.
New Primers
There are at least three companies that are going to be introducing primers into the market.
Norma will be importing Ruag primers which are made in Germany under the Norma brand name.
Hornady is manufacturing their own primers, and once they have a surplus they are very likely to offer those as a general retail item (you better believe the Hornady Marketing machine is going to make them sound like a complete reinvention of the wheel)
Then there is a company in Carrolton Texas called Expansion Ammunition which looks to be recommissioned to the old Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant to produce ammunition, which includes primers.
I also encountered several people importing primers. The primer shortage may turn into an abundance of primers before we reach the end of 2022. Maybe not that fast, but I think we may be endangered by creating a bit of a bubble. This may not be a bad thing if we can get prices back down to $25 a brick of 1000.
Alliant Powder was the only powder manufacturer that I was able to talk much to. They are introducing Reloder 11 which is a touch slower than Reloder 10x. It is a Bofors powder coming out of Sweden and is supposed to be extremely temperature stable. It is a powder that is specifically targeting the Bench Rest community.
(With a new powder comes a new update to my Burn Rate Chart. There are a couple of importers of powders that I spoke to which are going to make it on the Burn Rate Chart as well.)
Henderson Precision has their new case trimmer out. It is the MK3 which I guess is a lot better than the MK2. It uses the Forester Stepped collet to hold the shell and features a motor that is quiet and a three-way trimmer. I thought the unit was quite smooth, quick, and easy to use. Not entirely convinced it is worth nearly $800, but it is a very nice unit.
As cool as it is, it really was not any bit faster than saw a Gracy or a Giraud Trimmer. In some cases, I suspect it is a bit more tedious. A great concept and a smooth operating machine but again I am not sold on the price tag.
This one is a fun one for me. Clear Ballistics offers the clear silicon-based gel in molds that are rabbit, giant gummy bear, and squirrel size. It is not a SHOT show unless you see something that is just neat and fun. This was one of those things for me.
Speaking of the neat, fun and totally impractical. Exothermic Technologies had their Pulsefire LRT and UBF on display. If you ever wanted an under-barrel flame thrower on your AR-15. You know for when weeding the garden gets serious. They make one. Cool, impractical, but cool.
If you thought I was done with the flamethrowers, I was not. There was one more out there that just made me smile. Not because I think it’s anything but just kind of cool. The Stoker Pyro-15, the AR build for your pyromantic. If you have an AR-15 and you want to convert it to a flame thrower they now make a kit for that. I believe you pretty much have to sacrifice the AR, but you know, sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater coolness factor.
Anyway, as I said, there is stuff that grabs your attention and you smile. It’s not something I would spend money on but I know there are people who will.
Ok, we’ve had a bit of fun, now back to the serious stuff. I know this is a more “New to me” thing but the MEC Marksman reloading press is not a bad single-stage press. I think it is a newcomer to the market but I do not think it is new to this SHOT show. It has a good fit, finish form and function. I preferred it over the Frankford Arsenal single stage.
I also think it competes well again and RCBS, Redding, or Lyman press. It’s just a solid press. Now that was from sizing one case and fiddling with it for about ten minutes but that was my first impression. If I get the chance to load 1,000 rounds with it, my thoughts might change.
Cutting Edge is producing solid copper bullets for 22LR. They offer the dies, and the primed shells to “Roll your own” 22LR which I think is excellent. This is targeting the 22 PRS shooters but really anyone who would like to dabble in something a little bit different. The bullets are long secant high b.c. bullets which undoubtedly outperform pretty much any factory 22 ammo out there especially when you start getting beyond 50 yards.
The downside to this is that you buy both the bullets and the shells. While possible, it’s still not practical to reprime a rimfire case. Reloading for rimfire is likely a bit of a challenge as you are working with very fast-burning powders and very small powder charges. It requires good and accurate scales to produce the kind of consistent loads that will really make these bullets shine.
I am a sucker for H&K pistols. Have been for a long time. May not be completely new but it was new to me. They had their HK45 tactical with Suppressor height sights and the lovely, contoured grips that just felt great in my hands. Of course, it was chambered in 45 ACP, which is my personal favorite pistol cartridge. (Not because of anything except I like the way 45 shoots and specifically the recoil impulse just feels right to me. I know it sounds silly, but it is a matter of personal preference, not terminal performance.)
If this gun shoots like my HK45CT and my Mark 23 shoot, it is probably the most fun you can have with full size suppressed pistol. The only thing that this pistol was missing that I wish it had was a place for an optic on the slide. Someday, I will have a Mark 23 with a mounted red dot, an HK pistol like it with a mounted red dot.
3D Metal Printers
There were a lot of different 3D metal printing companies at the supplier showcase which surprised me. It was not long ago (5 years?) that the first entirely functional metal 3D printed 1911 was made. Now it seems like there are production companies popping up everywhere. What they can do is pretty amazing. It remains to be seen if the parts produced as better than the MIM parts which have gotten a bad rap over the years (Ruger), or if they truly are a better and cheaper way to produce complex geometries.
Well, I think that is just about it. Hopefully, I have shed some light on some of the companies that might not get a huge spotlight at SHOT. When I go to SHOT I am typically on a mission to connect with other suppliers and vendors. However, I do try and take the time to kick the tires and see what other people are doing, even if it is not within my expertise or primary focus. There is huge law enforcement and military focus, and there is a lot of very cool tech that I will never be able to do much with other than wonder how much fun it would be to play with even for an afternoon.
Then of course there are a lot of firearms and weapons on display. Even for me where I have done a lot of shooting and I have handled a lot of firearms, it can still be neat to walk up to something that is a little more outside of what I normally handle and inspect it closer. It’s the little things that sometimes just make you smile.
I took lots of pictures and will be posting them over on the Instagram Page. If you haven’t already, go ahead and look up TheBallisticAssistant on Instagram. Thanks for reading!