Shot Show Update

The Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade show got underway yesterday with a bang! Also known as SHOT Show, it is the largest shooting and hunting show in the world and each January manufacturers, media and buyers converge on Las Vegas for a week of shooting, gawking and some drooling at the new offerings for the year.

Suffice it to say, it is quite the spectacle. Tens of thousands of people are rolling through the aisles looking, handling and inquiring about the newest firearms and accessories to hit the market. (All firearms have their firing pins removed prior to the show and each are inspected carefully)

If you are anyone on the industry you are here. If you want to be anyone in the industry you are here. All of the top brands, and most of the up and coming brands are represented. Every type of firearm, ammunition, holsters, slings, shooting rests, targets, clothing, boots, socks, backpacks, optics and anything else you can think of is here. It can be quite overwhelming for the first time visitor, and for someone like me who have been coming for years, it is still overwhelming.

The convention center is three full floors of gear. Today, I covered about 9/16 of one floor. That translates to slightly 9 miles of walking, and only seeing a small fraction of the gear available.

Some of the items I saw that I like so far include; Taurus handguns. Once again Taurus has made huge strides in engineering and received the Guns and Ammo handgun of the year award for their TX22.

In addition to the TX22. The Gen2 Concealed carry in 9MM is a great gun. Available in a variety of colors and configurations, its price point of under $400 makes it a great buy.

Lastly in the Taurus lineup, the much anticipated (at least by me) release of the Raging Hunter in .454 Casull is finally available. Perhaps one of the finest hunting revolvers ever produced, it is a joy to hunt with.

In addition to Taurus, Browning is once again leading the pack with fine guns for the discriminating sportsman. The X-Bolt is available in a variety of configurations and calibers. The new Hunter Long Range in 6.5 Creedmoor with an adjustable comb is a great gun. Complete with a threaded barrel protected by a muzzle brake, it will put a lot of smiles on peoples faces.

One piece I personally liked is the Limited X-Bolt in Maple stock. This is a true work of art and a beautiful rifle.

Outside of guns, I discovered Lowa boots. Long a staple in Europe and in segmented areas of the US. Lowa is a high quality boot that is coming into the hunting market with a bang. Their Renegade GTX is a great all around boot for hiking, trekking and everyday getting around. For the more serious hunter, look at their Hunter GTX with 200 gr insulation, it is just right for active hunting in even the toughest terrain.

One other item on day one was SSP Eyewear. This company has really thought of most of the issues shooters and hunters face. Their eyewear is unique and awesome. As someone who wears bi-focal prescription lenses, I need the magnification to see my sights. SSP has developed some protective lenses that have the magnification on the top of the lens. No more tilting your head to see the sights clearly. With interchangeable lenses, in yellow, clear and smoke, I can mix and match each lens to meet my need.

Day one is in the books. Who know what tomorrow may bring. But I know it will bring sore legs, for sure. Look for another post later this week.

Rock Island Armory 1911 in .22 Magnum - A Review

Admittedly, when I  first saw that the gun Rock Island Armory sent for me to test was a 1911 in .22 magnum I  was disappointed.

What would someone want with a 1911 in .22 magnum I  thought to myself.  But being true to the process. I went to the range, pulled the RIA A1 in .22 Magnum from the case and was blown away with its feel, accuracy and the quality with which it was made.

The weight of  2.5 lbs. it is a good fit for a rimfire. Being in the 1911 frame, it should be heavy and should be robust as it is. The top eject was not something I  preferred, but I  quickly dismissed it once I  began shooting and seeing the groups I  was able to obtain in short order.

Shooting with the top eject did take a minute to get used to. I  am not accustomed to seeing the cases eject from the top, so target acquisition took some getting used to, but was quickly obtained.

Not only was the RIA 1911 in .22 magnum accurate, it was plain fun to shoot. Like all .22 magnum pistols, they are loud and the energy generated from the rimfire is impressive.

For decades I have been a big fan of the .22 Remington Magnum cartridge. The energy this little bullet generates is so much more than the .22 LR that it makes it a fine all around rifle for small and medium game. Many feral hogs have met their demise to the .22 Magnum, as has a few alligators and other critters.

This version from Rock Island Armory is one of the finest .22 magnum pistols I  personally have tested. Solid frame, adjustable trigger (from 4-6 lbs.), balanced and a magazine that holds 15 rounds makes this an excellent pistol for small game hunting and for concealed carry. The rubberized grips prevent slipping with wet hands, and the parkerized finish is a breeze to keep clean.

In conclusion, I  found the RIA A! XT 22MRF pistol to be one of the more enjoyable pistols I have tested in a while. Easy to load, fun to shoot and the fiber optic sights are a blessing for aging eyes. This is definitely one 1911 you need in your collection.

Rock Island Armory A1 1911 - A Review

Honestly, I  have never been a fan of the 1911 framed semi-auto pistol. I am sure I  will get a lot of flack for that comment, but that is ok. There are a lot of fans who carry nothing else and that is great. But for me, I have always preferred a smaller framed pistol, especially for concealed carry.

But recently I  was fortunate enough to get a chance to test the Rock Island Armory A1 1911 in 9mm. And I  have to admit, I  may just be a convert!

First impression of the RIA 1911 in 9mm was impressive. It fits my hand beautifully and is balanced extremely well. Weighing 2.56 lbs. empty this 1911 is exactly the right weight for this full size framed pistol.

A single stacked magazine holds 9 rounds which is ample for the range or self defense. As a pistol owner of many styles and frames, I  have always been a fan of the Rock Island Armory quality. Made in the Philippines, these pistols are some of the finest you will find in this price point.

At the range, the A1 1911 handled excellent. Target acquisition was fast, recoil easily manageable with the weighted frame and target re-acquisition was a breeze. I  found it to be accurate right out of the box. Able to hit 8" steel targets at 20 yards with ease.

After a few hundred rounds through the RIA 1911, I  found nothing that it would not handle. Extreme rapid fire, slow fire, and using the Armscor 9mm ammunition, it cycled flawlessly and handled everything I  threw at it.

The parkerized finish is one that personally is preferred over a shiny finish. Disassembly was not as easy as some other brands, but was certainly not anything that was difficult either.

The Rock Island Armory A1 1911 in 9mm is in my estimation the perfect 1911 available. While I  know there are many who prefer the 1911 in either a .40 or .45 caliber. I  find the 9mm to be about right for what most people use and carry for.

In a defense situation, few human beings can withstand the impact of a 9mm. And with the rapid fire capabilities of the RIA 1911 in 9mm, they certainly cannot handle multiple shots.

When owning several handguns, pistols or revolvers, keeping ammunition straight is a big safety factor. By keeping your options limited, it lessens the chance for a mixup. For that reason alone, I  prefer to keep my carry guns in the same calibers, and not expanding beyond those two. The same is true for my hunting handguns. By limiting the caliber options to a few, I  lessen the chance for a mistake.

Without hesitation, if you are looking for a good solid 1911 for your personal carry gun, or just want one for target shooting. The Rock Island Armory A1 1911 in 9mm is one you should strongly consider.

Ten Point Titan M1 Crossbow - A review

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Ten Point Titan M1 Crossbow is Worth the Investment

In the fast-growing world of crossbows, one brand stands out above the rest. Ten Point Crossbows are the elite brand in the market. And with seven models to choose from, there is no shortage of options for the first time or experienced crossbow hunter.

Whether you are new to the thrill of hunting with a crossbow, or a veteran of many seasons. There is a style and model for you. Placed right in the middle of these models is the newest version of the all-time-best-selling model from Ten Point. The Titan M1 is completely redesigned and is now incredibly 9.5 inches narrower than the predecessor. Why is this important? Crossbow hunters know that one of the drawbacks of the weapon is its shape and maneuvering it in the woods and stands. The new narrow design makes the Titan M1 eliminates this issue all together. The more compact, easier to carry and maneuver design, is balanced in the hands which translates to better feel and accuracy when it matters most.

The Titan M1 crossbow is, in the opinion of many the perfect weapon to introduce new hunters to the lifestyle. Easy to use, accurate, and efficient. The Titan M1crossbow is ideal for young, small framed and even mature hunters who are new to the sport. The lack of recoil, absence of report, and accuracy make this the ideal introductory weapon for new hunters regardless of age.

Upon receiving my Titan M1, I couldn’t wait to get to the range and take some quick shots and see how it shot. To my surprise, the optics only needed minor tweaking to achieve precision shooting accuracy. Once dialed in, the shooting was so much fun and enjoyable to shoot.

Powered by the VX-5 inverted cams, The Titan M1 cams are designed to elongate the power stroke and increase rotation while achieving 30 feet per second more speed than the predecessor. Another advantage of the Titan M1 is that it comes with or without the ACUdraw cocking device, a must have in my opinion. The ACUdraw cocking device makes cocking the Titan M1 efficient and safe. The Titan M1 is the best value on the market today for crossbows.

For hunting the Titan M1 is capable of using a variety of broadheads designed for crossbows. Mechanical or fixed. Choose one that flies true from the start and you will not go wrong by taking the Titan M1 into the stand with you this or any season.

A complete package comes with

• Optics: TenPoint’s 3x Pro-View 3 Scope mounted on a machined aluminum 7/8-inch Fixed Dovetail Mount
• Cocking Device: ACUdraw or Rope-Sled
• Quiver: 3-Arrow Instant Detach Quiver; Ambidextrous Side-Mount Quiver Bracket
• Arrows: Three TenPoint Pro Elite carbon arrows with 100-grain practice points