With two days of pre-SHOT Show activities and the peaceful gathering of thousands of gun-rights advocates in Virginia’s state capital ended- all uneventfully- the thousands of gun enthusiasts who make up the industry can take a deep, cleansing breath, and get down to the business of SHOT Show 2020.

With two long days walking shooting ranges packed with new equipment (no sympathy please), it’s safe to say the industry has responded to the slowdown by rolling out new product. Occasionally, we all lose sight of the fact that during times of high product demand, companies are actually disincentivized to introduce new product. After all, if your manufacturing is running near capacity and you can’t get orders filled, why add to consumer frustration by introducing product you know you can’t get to market.

That, essentially, is the only good news that comes from a slowdown. And for consumers, it looks like 2020’s going to be a very good year.

Range Day 2020 saw a more focused definition of “Media” thin crowds and make it possible for invited attendees to actually look at, and try new products. Good idea. Alex Miceli/OWDN photo.

The media herd, it seems, has been winnowed, eliminating long lines of people who seemed more intent at being photographed shooting than actually looking at or learning about new products. Granted, there appeared to be very few media types in attendance who weren’t shooting video or trying to livestream their presence, but it was a needed improvement.

At Sunday’s SIG SAUER event, I had the opportunity to get some limited trigger time on the company’s two splashiest new products for 2020: their new MG 338 machine gun and their CROSS bolt-action hunting rifle. They were, in a word, impressive. And SIG’s integration of their mil-spec experience into a lightweight and powerful hunting rifle, especially equipped with their newest Ballistic Data Exchange (BDX) riflescopes, rangefinders and accompany app makes a very impressive package.

Shooting SIG’s new 338 machine gun (top) gives instant insight into why the USSCOM is buying them. Lighter weight, variable feed options and reduced recoil seem to dispute the ballistic reality that their .338 Norma cartridge brings serious range and lethality improvements. Time on the CROSS bolt-action hunting rifle (below) makes you realize that the experience of military “hunting” crosses over to hunting with very little effort.

There’s not a lot I can say about it right now, but it seems the smart guys at SIG are focusing on some elements of the shooting world that sounded like science fiction not too-many years ago.

The considerably larger Media Day at the Range offered chances to see new products ranging from smoker grills, e-bikes and ridiculously well-equipped pickups to new guns and ammunition.

Ammunition is a pretty essential element, and the new ammunition options there included Ruger pro shooter Doug Koenig’s new line of Koenig Premium Ammunition. Talking with Koenig, he explained to me that the new ammunition was precisely the same loads in both 9mm and 38 Super that he uses in competition.

Pro Shooter Doug Koenig quietly showed his new Koenig Premium Ammo to me (top) explaining it was the same accuracy tuned loads he used in his domination of shooting events. While shooting shotguns (below), I discovered two products I really enjoyed. One was Fausti’s L4 shotgun (below). Never been a shotgun guy, but I may have to reconsider.

While taking a break and watching others take turns shooting at the shotgun stations, I saw Winchester’s newest AA Diamond Grade Competition load. After trying it, there’s not much doubt that the sport of shotgunning is definitely less punishing that I remember from a few years ago.

Having already spent considerable time on Mossberg’s new JM Pro practical competition shotgun, and having listened to several rave reviews of Savage’s newest shotgun, it may be time for all of us to re-consider shotguns.

Other topics included everything from politics (not going there, sorry), the breakthroughs in battery technology, and where the latest innovations in suppressors, ammunition and metallurgy might be taking us.

It’s going to be a fun week. And we’ll keep you posted.

—JIm Shepherd