FRI | MAY 20, 2022

MasterPiece Arms announced that Travis Tomasie, MasterPiece Arms Pistol Team Shooter, won High Overall in the Limited Division at the Double Tap Championship.
The 2022 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits is just around the corner, and Hornady Security and SnapSafe will be there. The Hornady team is easy to find on the main show floor, booth number 2715.
Lone Wolf Arms will exhibit at the upcoming 2022 NRA Annual Meetings in Houston. The company has also partnered with several key brands for an in-booth sweepstakes worth over $2000.

Berger will showcase their products during the National Rifle Association’s Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston.
CMC Triggers will release the CCT Hybrid Tiger Stripe and Southern Teal drop-in AR15/AR10 triggers at the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits in Houston.
Barnaul, a manufacturer of precision steel-case ammunition, will return as a sponsor of the 2022 Kalashni-Con VI. The event will be held at the Big Piney Sportsman’s Club in Houston, Missouri.

SK Ammunition will feature their complete .22 rimfire product line at the 2022 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, TX, May 27-29.
HeadHunters NW, an executive recruiting firm focused on talent acquisition for the shooting, hunting, and outdoor industry, is accepting in-person strategic planning appointments during the 2022 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits from May 27–29 in Houston, Texas.
Primary Arms Optics has announced their second annual Primary Arms Optics Range Day, which will take place at The Ranch in Eagle Lake, Texas on May 26th. Timed a day before the NRA Annual Meetings, the Primary Arms Optics Range Day will connect industry media and community figures with exhibiting manufacturers, showcasing their latest product releases.

Traditions® Performance Firearms will be exhibiting at the 2022 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits taking place at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Traditions® is located on the main show floor at Booth # 4041.
EasyExport announces the release of new features that allow EasyExport merchants to communicate with international customers in their preferred language.
Beretta is excited to announce that Lynda Turnbull, a renowned professional pistol shooter, has joined Team Beretta as a part of the pistol team segment.
Iron Valley Supply announces the hiring of Crystal Castaneda to serve as Customer Care Specialist.
The 2022 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits are just around the corner, and CZ-USA will be delivering multiple new product releases when the show opens May 27 - 29, 2022, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
The 2022 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits are just around the corner, and attendees can plan on HatsanUSA and Escort Shoguns being there in booth #317.

Olin Winchester, LLC, a leading ammunition manufacturer,?is seeking a National Accounts Sales Manager. This position will be located at the East Alton, IL facility.
Olin Winchester, LLC?is seeking a Manager for Winchester Brand Licensing. This position will be located at the East Alton, IL facility.
1791 Gunleather introduced its Ultra Custom Light Bearing Holster at SHOT Show, and they are now shipping to dealers nationwide.

Memorialize BLADE Show 2022 with the limited-edition dark beauty from Microtech — the BLADE Show Hera. Orders are open now and purchasers must collect their knives at the show.
REDARC, an authority in power management, adds to its off-grid power solutions with the launch of Pure Sine Wave Inverters to the North American Market.
Rosco Manufacturing, a manufacturer of gun barrels & accessories, announced the launch of their Sage Dynamics K9 12.5” barrel.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program named Catherine Green the North Range Coordinator – overseeing all competitions and events held at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center in Ohio. The CMP also welcomesRyan Hinson, as the Junior Rifle Camp Coordinator.
Walker’s, a brand of GSM Outdoors, has joined MidwayUSA Foundation’s growing list of sponsors. Walker’s products will be featured in MidwayUSA Foundation’s product grant program.
Lazy Day Archery hosted a Tennessee S3DA 3D Regional Qualifier at the Holly Fork Shooting Complex in Paris, Tennessee. Lazy Day Archery is an ASA club that has a long history of hosting events for Tennessee S3DA.
Alarming new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows 42,915 people were killed in traffic accidents last year, so the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today suggested a crackdown on automobiles.
Scholastic 3D Archery invites and encourages members to participate in the 2022 S3DA Spring Turkey Harvest Contest sponsored by Delta McKenzie. The contest consists of active S3DA members submitting information about their hunting experience, equipment used for the hunt and a picture with their harvest.
The Guns & Ammo Red Dot special interest publication is now available to firearms enthusiasts on newsstands. The annual publication will help readers find the perfect optic to mount atop their new optics-ready pistol.
This week, Gun Talk Radio discusses an upcoming decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, love for the 6mm Creedmoor, basics of a gun build, and more.
Mossberg International, Inc. has recently discovered a potential safety issue with certain Mossberg International Model SA-410 Shotguns which may lead to personal injury and/or damage to the shotgun: if a user prematurely releases a shotshell while loading or unloading, the unretained shotshell could potentially contact the Bolt Lock Button inside the loading port and detonate. Mossberg is initiating a product safety recall to protect the safety of its customers.
Representatives of the Samson Manufacturing company will be attending the upcoming National Rifle Association Annual Meeting and Exhibits in Houston TX, May 27-29. The Samson team will display a variety of recently-introduced products at Booth 1011, including the new Gen 2 Hannibal Rail.
 

If you think the market is hot with new guns, the rebound in revolvers and rimfires, perhaps a new caliber or two, then you need to take a look at upcoming accessories, tools and gear. The aftermarket parts innovations, modification to existing holster lines to accommodate optics – another growth field in handguns, and use of non-conventional materials in existing product designs have really moved the needle.

A great revolver, the current Colt Python (this one a 3") has short sights and a less-than-wide rear notch in the rear sight -- which can now be changed, by the user.

For example, there are HD Snake Sights – the HD for Harrison Design, a custom shop in Georgia that makes some of the nicest gun parts (and does interesting 1911 custom work). John Harrison examined the current Colt Python/Anaconda line and found the sights wanting.

Oh, they’re okay but they’re short – close to the top of the revolver – and comparatively narrow. Some of us need more light on either side of the front sight when gazing at it through the rear notch. John’s solution to the problem includes an increase in the height of the front and rear sights – as well as opening up the rear notch to let more daylight into the sight picture. The sights come as a set, for current production Colts -- both Anacondas in 6” & 8” as well as the Python in 3”, 4.25” & 6” lengths.

The Harrison Design rear sight slide is robust, with a wide notch. Just the thing for aging eyes, it makes sight alignment a bit quicker and more sure. Both images are from Harrison Design.

The rear sight has rounded corners to prevent snagging fabric or cutting skin. The set screw is the more commonly used 1/16” hex key and it has been moved to the center of the blade.

Image from Harrison Design.

The front side is an improved ramp, higher than original and wide enough to feature ‘color contrasting’ features like gold beads, fiber optic rods or tritium.

The sights should be available next month on John’s website, Harrison Design & Consulting, LLC.

Speaking of handguns, the issue of how to pack them around arises. There’s a newer innovator as a holster maker and there is a company which is a long-term solution to the problem of carry, there’s a classic holster maker; and they’re by no means the only holster providers out there.

They are all innovators, something we often see in the holster space.

 

The most recent maker I had considerable experience with is Massaro Holster Works. The first examples of Eddie’s work mirror my most typically carried setup, the American Purebred IWB. The holsters are kydex pouches formed with a 12° angle to prevent printing; they are .080 inch thick, the pouches molded and cut for red dot sights, suppressor height co-witness sights, grip style lasers – all while featuring full muzzle coverage for protection of the gun and clothing.

There’s a cut in the bottom corner of the holster. The shell flexes under the pressure of the belt and trousers to prevent hot spots, a concern when the holster is worn against the body.

The holster pouch, which is a complete shell not just a front section, is attached via military-grade velcro to a breathable neoprene backing pad. On the backing pad, at the leading and trailing edges, we have the belt clip assembly. Made from ATSM spring wire – very discreet – with a black zinc coating, it is extremely secure to the belt.

The backing pad has a high coefficient of body friction – so it closely adheres to the location you place it (keeping your shirt tucked in). There is 3.5” of tuck area in the full-size configuration. The thickness is less than .125 inches – as thin or thinner than leather backed hybrids.

 

Not content to rest on a single design, Eddie manufactured a holster inspired by Dave Spaulding, our correspondent and honcho of Handgun Combatives. I extensively carry the S&W M&P Shield (and Shield Plus) in the American Purebred IWB, as well as a Gen5 GLOCK 19 in the appropriate size holster – he has the Spaulding OWB design -- the S.P.E.E.D. (Spaulding Enhanced EDC Design) holster.

Featuring a “molded in” 12° cant, the gun is held close to the body. The flat holster back enhances comfort and “speed-ease” belt clips are quick “on-and-off,” while keeping the holster firmly attached to the belt. The holster furnished for the evaluation had a brown “leather-look” print, very fancy. Along with the “9mm retention adjustment screw,” it makes for a unique look.

From our friends at Galco, they continue to modernize their line – both with new models and with updating of existing lines. First, the KingTuk Cloud, another IWB hybrid, and consistent with my most usual daily wear. The innovation in this update of the KingTuk, is the backing material. It’s closed cell foam with a ballistic nylon cover. The back portion has Galco’s Comfort Cloth – “Adaptive Performance Mesh” that includes moisture wicking with comfort padding.

Galco image.

The rigid Kydex shell makes for quick, slick access with easy reholstering. Like the holsters referenced above, the KingTuk Cloud is cut to allow a full firing grip while the gun is holstered. The attachment is with Galco’s tuckable polymer “UniClips.” While stable on the belt, it makes for an easy-off capability should that become necessary.

 

Wanting to stay with real leather? Rob Leahy, of Simply Rugged Holsters, hasn’t been resting. They’re still producing solid holsters out there in the high desert. These include the Sourdough Pancake, for which Rob credits the inspiration from Roy Baker’s Pancake holster (from Magnolia, Ark.) – I have one for the 7-shot 357 Magnum Ruger GP100 – and the Simply Rugged DEFCON 3 holster, with its reinforced holster mouth and punched for IWB straps if you consider carrying it in a more discreet way.

 

Now, we get to parts. I’m careful about aftermarket parts on carry guns and that’s why one of my preferred vendors is Apex Tactical Specialties. With all the other parts they have now – and some that are forthcoming – they continue to provide improvements to factory-supplied guns.

Image from Apex Tactical Specialties.

The company recently announced their Apex Extended Magazine Release for the Springfield Hellcat model pistols. A direct replacement for the factory part, it makes for an easier reach to dump the depleted magazine. Made from bar stock steel, it is finished in black oxide and ships with a spare magazine release spring – though it works with the factory spring.

Another development from Apex is their Competition Trigger Kit for the Ruger MK IV line of pistols. Designed to ensure a clean break while reducing trigger pull weight and overtravel, it includes a safety plate to “maintain factory safety values” – a critical aspect when doing a ‘trigger job.’

It’s a great time to be a handgunner.

-- Rich Grassi

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