MarkCO
01-26-2015, 12:02
I will give a brief review of my impressions of SHOT 2015...
I am not a fan of Vegas in general, so the night life appeal is lost on me. I even got punched by James when I walked by two booth babes wearing maybe 6 square inches of cloth without even noticing. 60K people, 320 football fields, 12 miles a day and 8 meetings a day. Seems like everytime a meeting ran over and I was late to the next meeting, Joe and Sue from Arkansas were strolling down the aisle in front of me...double wide does not even begin to describe it.
There was very little new and interesting to be honest. There were manufacturers that put a product in the "new product showcase" that had a new paint job, or different shaped holes in the handguard, or a new caliber, but were not really new. Easily the best new product from an innovation and engineering perspective was the Benelli 828U O/U. Pretty amazing. The MagPul new Glock mags, not so much. The MagPul new M700 chassis, I'll pass...but if the new AICS mags they are producing work, they will be a welcome addition. Remington is going to again produce the M7 (yes .260) in stainless, a welcome configuration for me. Also lots of new .308 pattern ARs. JP Rifles has the new Ultra Low mass aluminum carrier and a new roller trigger. Both are pretty cool. Leupold has the dual sight optic, cool...might have a place in PRS style matches, but I do not think in 3Gun. There were LOTS of pistol ARs, both in rifle and pistol calibers. Kel-Tec redesigned the SUB2000, and my name sits in the #1 position to run a T&E gun with M&P magazines when they are available.
Streamlight captured my attention with some cool products. Higher output WMLs, new mini-USB rechargeable flashlights AND a 5200 mAh battery pack to charge them (or your phone) that is rugged and has a backup LED. Maybe the only thing I saw that I WILL buy.
I got to meet several other members of Samson's Operation X and check out their new products. The RAM mount is pretty solid and my testing of same will be ongoing. Here is a review of the mount with the 3.5 multiplier: https://www.facebook.com/mark.passamaneck/posts/1393825327587125 If anyone wants to check it out, I will have it with me at the 3Gun match February 7 at CRC.
Down 20K people from last year, the dynamic was different. Gone were the desperate pleas for .22ammo, but it seemed that no-one had their budget done for 2015 and there were lots of Pro Shooters taking downgrades in sponsorship and endorsements. The selfie, with celebrities or gun poses got to an almost disgusting level. How can you pick up a gun, say how great it is when you have never fired it, dunno.
IF you have never been, you DO need to go once if you call yourself a gun enthusiast of any kind. A week long regimen of EmergenC and my own bottle of hand sanitizer apparently kept me from the SSC (Shot Show Crud).
I am not a fan of Vegas in general, so the night life appeal is lost on me. I even got punched by James when I walked by two booth babes wearing maybe 6 square inches of cloth without even noticing. 60K people, 320 football fields, 12 miles a day and 8 meetings a day. Seems like everytime a meeting ran over and I was late to the next meeting, Joe and Sue from Arkansas were strolling down the aisle in front of me...double wide does not even begin to describe it.
There was very little new and interesting to be honest. There were manufacturers that put a product in the "new product showcase" that had a new paint job, or different shaped holes in the handguard, or a new caliber, but were not really new. Easily the best new product from an innovation and engineering perspective was the Benelli 828U O/U. Pretty amazing. The MagPul new Glock mags, not so much. The MagPul new M700 chassis, I'll pass...but if the new AICS mags they are producing work, they will be a welcome addition. Remington is going to again produce the M7 (yes .260) in stainless, a welcome configuration for me. Also lots of new .308 pattern ARs. JP Rifles has the new Ultra Low mass aluminum carrier and a new roller trigger. Both are pretty cool. Leupold has the dual sight optic, cool...might have a place in PRS style matches, but I do not think in 3Gun. There were LOTS of pistol ARs, both in rifle and pistol calibers. Kel-Tec redesigned the SUB2000, and my name sits in the #1 position to run a T&E gun with M&P magazines when they are available.
Streamlight captured my attention with some cool products. Higher output WMLs, new mini-USB rechargeable flashlights AND a 5200 mAh battery pack to charge them (or your phone) that is rugged and has a backup LED. Maybe the only thing I saw that I WILL buy.
I got to meet several other members of Samson's Operation X and check out their new products. The RAM mount is pretty solid and my testing of same will be ongoing. Here is a review of the mount with the 3.5 multiplier: https://www.facebook.com/mark.passamaneck/posts/1393825327587125 If anyone wants to check it out, I will have it with me at the 3Gun match February 7 at CRC.
Down 20K people from last year, the dynamic was different. Gone were the desperate pleas for .22ammo, but it seemed that no-one had their budget done for 2015 and there were lots of Pro Shooters taking downgrades in sponsorship and endorsements. The selfie, with celebrities or gun poses got to an almost disgusting level. How can you pick up a gun, say how great it is when you have never fired it, dunno.
IF you have never been, you DO need to go once if you call yourself a gun enthusiast of any kind. A week long regimen of EmergenC and my own bottle of hand sanitizer apparently kept me from the SSC (Shot Show Crud).