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FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

- EDITOR'S NOTE -
 
No Wires on MLK Day
In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday, we will not be publishing any wires. Beginning on Tuesday, January 21, we will commence distribution of our SHOT Show 2020 Special Combined Editions of the Outdoor, Shooting, and Tactical Wires, along with our other services. We will conclude our SHOT Show special editions on Monday, January 27 and resume our normal distributions on Tuesday, January 28, 2020.
- ACQUISITIONS -
Safari Club International has announced it will acquire Texas Trophy Hunters Association. The action is expected to close at the SCI Convention in Reno, Nevada, next month.
- AIRGUNS -
HatsanUSA builds on its robust portable PCP compressor line with the addition of the new Volt Dual-Power Portable Compressor. Its dual-power design allows it to run on either a 12V power source or plugged directly into a wall outlet.

- AMMUNITION -
Federal Ammunition recently set out to design a new self-defense load that would provide excellent overall performance from popular carry guns. The result of this effort is an exciting new line of defensive loads - Federal’s new Punch ammo.
- EVENTS -
Visit Kalahari Sands at Booth # 609 at the 2020 Houston Safari Club Foundation Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention, January 24-26, 2020.
Visit Suppressed Weapon Systems at Booth # at the 2020 Houston Safari Club Foundation Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention, January 24-26, 2020.
Special guest, Justin Martin and John Godwin of Duck Commander® will be in the MOJO® booth #10574 on Wednesday January 22nd from 1-2 pm/pst.

Hosted by Dwight Van Brunt, President of Sportsman’s Legacy and Jeremy Hatch, Firearms Consultant for Morphy Auctions, this one-hour seminar will outline the steps necessary to ensure that both direct disposition and orderly monetization are handled in accordance with your wishes.
This year Silent Legion will have a major presence at SHOT show within the USIQ booth. You can find the team and all of the best suppressor models at Booth #20136.
GSM Outdoors looks forward to discussing with industry members the many new products entering the company's brand portfolio at the 2020 SHOT show in Las Vegas January 21-24. GSM and its family of brands will be displaying at booth #11217 on Level 2 of the Sands Expo Center.
Lucky Duck™ Premium Decoys is honored to return and exhibit at SHOT Show again this year. Lucky Duck™ will be at the same location as last year, booth #441.

Galati Gear will exhibit during the 2020 SHOT Show scheduled for January 21-24 in Las Vegas NV.
Irish Setter MudTrek rubber boots are the lightest rubber boots in the brand’s history, and they’re among the lightest on the market today. Hunters can choose options with a snug, athletic fit or a traditional, roomier full fit.
Spring Mill State Park will offer an event that explores the hardships winter presented for soldiers of the Civil War on Feb. 8-9.
Wildlife Research Center will be displaying at the 2020 SHOT Show in Las Vegas January 21-24. The company invites all industry members and media to stop by booth #1010 to see the latest in scent system management and game lures from Wildlife Research Center.

Primos Hunting, a pioneer in game calls and hunting accessories, will showcase multiple new products along with extensions to the brand’s popular lines of decoys, game calls and hunting blinds during the 2020 SHOT Show (Booth No 14551), January 21-24 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Visit DB Outfitting at Booth # 336 at the 2020 Houston Safari Club Foundation Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention, January 24-26, 2020.
Visit Sporting Internation at Booth #529 at the 2020 Houston Safari Club Foundation Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention, January 24-26, 2020.
Mississippi based artist, Garry Rone will be demonstrating his skills and showing artwork every day at 11:00 am during the 2020 SCI Hunters’ Convention in Concourse C of the Reno-Sparks Convention Center February 5-8, 2020.

Kent Cartridge is excited to announce it will be exhibiting at a new location, booth #11048, at SHOT show, January 21 – 24, held at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, NV.
After 12 years exhibiting in the lower-level of the SHOT Show venue, Viridian is eager to showcase leading weapon-mounted accessories in the main exhibit hall (Level 2), at booth 16424, this year.
Veil announces its first exhibition appearance at the 2020 SHOT show January 21-24 in Las Vegas. The company will display in booth #10219 on the main level of the Sands Expo Center.
After adding nearly 30 new dealers at the Archery Trade Association Show earlier this month, TenPoint Crossbow Technologies will feature three new high-performance crossbows at the 2020 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV, January 21-24, 2020.

 

TRUGLO, Inc. announces the introduction of several new products at this year's SHOT show in Las Vegas, January 21-24. Tactical and hunting-related products will be presented to dealers at this year's show.
Fiocchi merges the latest cartridge technology with its Old-World heritage craftsmanship to deliver the new Blue Guardian series defense and training ammo. Fiocchi will be in SHOT Show booth #11955
Rival Arms™, manufacturer of precision handgun components for do-it-yourself firearm enthusiasts, will be displaying at the 2020 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV, January 21-24.
frogg toggs® first introduced its all-new footwear collection at ICAST in July 2019 with its “Best in Show” Skipper drainage shoe but now, the brand will expand its shoe collection to include hunting, winter and work boots.
Fiocchi has much to be excited about this year, and the company looks forward to sharing it with dealers, distributors, and media attending the 2020 SHOT show, at booth #11955, in Las Vegas January 21-24.
Fiocchi will unveil several new products at the upcoming Try & Buy event near Las Vegas. The event will be held at Pro Gun Club Las Vegas in Boulder City, NV, January 19 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Firefield returns to the Great American Outdoor Show 2020 at booth 647 to display its practical and tactical firearm accessories made for gun owners who are passionate about hunting and shooting.
Visit Wanganui Safaris at Booth # 609 at the 2020 Houston Safari Club Foundation Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention, January 24-26, 2020.
- FIREARMS -
SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to introduce the P320 RXP Series pistols. The P320 Full-Size, Compact, XFULL, and XCOMPACT RXP pistols combine a factory installed ROMEO1PRO Reflex Optic from SIG SAUER Electro-Optics with the P320 pistol.
Springfield Armory announces expansion of the SAINT family with three new SAINT pistol variants set for a Spring 2020 release. These include the SAINT Edge PDW pistol (5.5” barrel 5.56mm), the SAINT Victor 308 pistol and the EVAC Pistol, a 5.56mm pistol with a storage bag.
Taurus has released the new Taurus Defender 856 revolver.The new 38 +P revolver features a factory-installed front sight post with an integrated tritium vial and has a six-round capacity.
Savage Arms’ Renegauge will cycle everything from magnum hunting loads to low-brass target shells due to Renegauge’s Dual Regulating Inline Valve (D.R.I.V.) gas system.
Walther explains key aspects of the Q4 Steel Frame pistol series. With its 40-ounce weight, ergonomic grip and controls, Quick Defense Trigger, it’s available in iron sight or optic-ready configurations.
- FISHERIES -
A new rule, which will take effect Jan. 19, permits a bag limit of six Sander species, the collective term for these fish, in aggregate per day, a possession limit of 12 Sander species in aggregate, and a minimum length limit of 14 inches.
Anglers and other interested parties can participate in two DNR public meetings, Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, to discuss the interim Lake Michigan fish stocking plan and provide input on future stocking plans.
- HUNTING -
The hunting of mountain lions in several Montana hunting districts in Regions 3 & 4 will close on Friday, January 17, 2020.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety internet-completion course in Jefferson County in January.
- INDUSTRY -
The new look for F.A.B. (formerly FAB Defense) is releasing alongside the major SHOT show event this month. The fresh branding for F.A.B. revolves around the Keeping it Real slogan, but the brand remains true to its roots with a major focus on heritage, quality, and advanced technology.
Base Camp Country Inc. announced that Eric Starost has joined the team in the newly created position of Chief Marketing Officer.
Non-Typical Outdoor Sales, founded in 2015 by industry veteran Larry Bahr, continues its hot streak of new lines with the announcement of Ammo Incorporated and Jagemann Munitions Components as new lines.
Kahr Firearms Group, leader in innovative firearms design and manufacturing, welcomes professional shooter Danyela D’Angelo as its brand ambassador for 2020.
Veil Camo is pleased to announce that the company's Wideland™ camo pattern will now be offered on CVA® Cascade™ centerfire bolt-action rifles.
Non-Typical Outdoor Sales continues its addition of new lines with the announcement of Ammo Incorporated and Jagemann Munitions Components.
Celerant Technology announced a partnership with MGE Wholesale. With Celerant’s integration with MGE, firearm dealers can import products and automatically drop ship orders.
Savage Arms is proud to announce a partnership with Kinsey’s Inc. As Kinsey’s begins expanding its product offering to include firearms, the company will now offer Savage and Stevens firearms to its network of more than 4,500 dealers nationwide.
The new Vertex® Nano Wireless Earbuds from Radians® won Best New Product in the shooting accessory category at the 2020 Big Rock Sports Outdoor Expo in Nashville, Tennessee.
MTC Holsters marks its 15th anniversary by introducing a new holster brand into its product lineup. Maker of the industry-leading Crossbreed holsters, MTC Holsters has recently added N82 Holsters and Magna-Arm Gun Mount to its growing brand portfolio.
O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. announced the appointment of Patricia Donahue as Vice President of Operations, effective immediately. As Vice President of Operations, Donahue will have responsibility over all the company’s manufacturing operations.
- LEGISLATION -
West Virginia SB 96 that would expand the state's firearms preemption statute to include "deadly weapons," including knives, has passed out of the Senate Government Organization Committee and will now go to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.
- NATIONAL PARKS -
In honor of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. no refuge will charge an admission fee on January 20, 2020.
- NEW PRODUCTS -
Following the MC1sc™, Mossberg’s first semi-auto pistol in the company’s 100-year history, Mossberg announces the next in its series of feature-rich handguns: the MC2c (compact) 9mm pistol. Five initial offerings will include two frame variants (standard and cross-bolt safety); choice of slide finishes (black DLC-finished or bead-blasted stainless steel); and optional TRUGLO® Tritium Pro™ Night sights. And all MC2c models come with 13-round flush and 15-round extended coated-steel magazines.
HatsanUSA builds on its robust portable PCP compressor line with the addition of the new Volt Dual-Power Portable Compressor. Its dual-power design allows it to run on either a 12V power source or plugged directly into a wall outlet.
Leupold & Stevens, Inc., has officially debuted its new line of Performance Eyewear, which will be available to consumers in early 2020. Five styles will be available at launch: the Katmai, Becnara, Packout, Switchback, and Tracer.
Traditions™ is excited to announce the introduction of the NitroFire™ muzzleloader at the 2020 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV. They’ve partnered with Federal Premium® and Hodgdon® Powder to make muzzleloading safer, more reliable, and more consistent.
Consisting of three inspiring new colorways – Real Blue, One Nation®, and Smoke – the nwe Howard LeightTM ImpactTM Sport Honor Collection pays homage to American heroes and is sure to be appreciated by anyone who values our unique, American freedoms.
Rossi, manufacturer of specialty rimfire rifles, break-action shotguns, and straight-wall cartridge lever-action and revolver rifles, brings back an American classic—the pump-action gallery gun—for 2020.
All new for 2020, Riton Optics is introducing a new line of optics complete with proprietary, high performance reticles and enhanced features all at the industry’s best value.
Burris® introduces the Eliminator IV 4-16x50 rifle scope with improved features to significantly increase a rifle’s range, accuracy and efficiency out to an impressive 2,000 yards.
The beginning of the new decade sees a number of exciting new products from HIVIZ Shooting Systems especially for personal defense, with S&W revolver shooters, shotguns for personal defense and competition, and shooters seeking maximum versatility from their rifle sights.
PepperBall announced the new Compact launcher for the consumer market. This single-shot launcher is ready to go right out of the package, preloaded with a Live SD PepperBall round and is disposable after use.
- OPTICS -
Trijicon is proud to introduce the new Tenmile and Tenmile HX series of riflescopes, optics built for the serious long-range enthusiast.
Meopta USA Sport Optics is pleased to introduce its newest premium binocular, the MeoPro Air. Elevating the MeoPro line to the next level in performance, the Air will be available in 8x42 and 10x42 models.
- ORGANIZATIONS -
Registration for the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s2020 Air Rifle Summer Camp lineup opens on January 21st. The vigorous 10-week schedule includes a mix of camps and clinics formatted to train high-school age (9-12 grade) junior athletes on intermediate and advanced marksmanship skills through various exercises and demonstrations.
- PEOPLE -
The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) announce the addition of Candice Horner as the organization’s digital communications manager. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, competitive shooter, social media expert, distinguished outdoor writer and avid hunter, Horner is also a proud labor union member and supporter, having served as a registered nurse and an executive board member for AFGE Local 408 with the Federal Bureau of Prisons
- PRODUCT NEWS -
This digital monocular will dramatically outperform any competing model in terms of power. Its zoom system is able to generate a tremendous 5x-40x magnification, which is unprecedented in the Night Vision industry.
The SAINT® family from Springfield Armory® is expanding this year, with three all-new SAINT® pistol variants slated for release during Spring 2020 and on display at SHOT Show 2020 in Las Vegas.
- RADIO -
This week Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Radio host Rob Keck is talking about fishing in places where the thermometer isn’t getting above freezing. Learn all about the fun and the challenge of ice fishing with two avid and accomplished anglers and award-winning radio and podcast hosts.
Live from Las Vegas at Sig Sauer’s range day, it’s new products for 2020, cloak-and-dagger financial reports from March for Our Lives, some movement on reciprocity in New Jersey, and more, this week on Tom Gresham's Gun Talk.
- RECREATION -
This spring, Arizona State Parks and Trails is helping more families experience the outdoors with its Family Campout Program. This fun learning experience teaches people of all ages about a variety of camping activities.
- SHOT SHOW -
TAC SHIELD invites all 2020 SHOT Show attendees to stop by booth #20636 in Las Vegas to celebrate their 10th anniversary in business.
HiViz announces a daily giveaway at SHOT Show. Drop off your business card at the SHOT Show booth #15522 and enter to win your very own LightWave H3.
Blackhawk and Eagle Industries announced that both brands will host multiple ambassadors along with other special celebrity appearances during the 2020 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.
Rock River Arms will debut several exciting new firearms at the 2020 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. These include a CAR A4 in 350 Legend, the RBG-1S precision bolt action rifle and more.
CrossBreed Holsters will present several new products at the 2020 SHOT show in Las Vegas. New items include the Micro Reckoning IWB holster, the expanded Reckoning holster line, limited-edition Kydex color/pattern options and more.
GSM and its family of brands will be displaying at SHOT Show this year. The FUSION by Stealth Cam is a product highlight. Also, Jesse Harrison, Eva Shockey, Doug Koenig and others will be making appearances at GSM during the show.
ZEISS invites media, buyers and trade professionals to visit ZEISS at the 2020 SHOT Show and SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range to see the full line of versatile and high-performance ZEISS Sports Optics.
RCBS will launch a variety of new products designed to simplify and improve reloading procedures during the 2020 SHOT Show. These include the Rebel Single Stage Press, Uniflow III Powder Measure and more.
Industry Day at the Range announces its inaugural First Shot to open up the 2020 media event. This year, Industry Day at the Range welcomes Dakota Meyer, the first living US Marine in 41 years to receive the Medal of Honor, to participate in the new event.
Beretta anticipates thousands of visitors next week at its redesigned SHOT Show booth. The booth has an open floor plan with several redesigned, designated product areas that showcases the new 92X pistol line, new releases for the APX and 92G Elite LTT series, and more.
Bushnell will introduce multiple new models to its already popular optics lines during the 2020 SHOT Show, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Product lines include Banner Riflescopes, Engage Optics, AR Optics and more.
- SHOWS -
MTM Case-Gard is looking forward to presenting its diverse product line to industry members at the 2020 SHOT Show in Las Vegas January 21-24. The company will display at booth #16120 on Level 2 of the Sands Expo Center.
- SPONSORSHIPS -
The Legends Ranch Team is excited to continue this partnership with Keith Warren, who supports all aspects of hunting and promotes the further education of our youth in the outdoors.
- STATES -
Anticipating an influx of snowmobilers, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers – joined by local, state and federal officers – will be conducting group patrols to help make sure snowmobilers “Ride Right.”
Elizabeth Grady, 42, of Underhill, Vermont is the lucky winner of the 2019 Vermont Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License Lottery.
The Private Land/Public Wildlife (PL/PW) Council will meet Jan. 27 and Jan. 28 at the Helena Holiday Inn Express. A time for public comment has been set for 1 p.m. on Jan. 28.
- TELEVISION -
On this week’s episode, Mike finds a hot spot late in the waterfowl season with Steve Biggers and Rocky Creek Retrievers. Along on the hunt is Garrett Walker of Quack Rack.
Travel the globe and explore unique fishing destinations on World Fishing Network with The Reel Life Sunday night block of programming beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
- YOUTH COMPETITIONS -
Briarwood Christian School’s Grayson Morris and Tucker Smith went wire-to-wire to bring home the 2019 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, becoming the first high school team to repeat as national champions. They’ll add another first to their resume as they become the first high school anglers to fish alongside the pros at the iconic Bassmaster Classic in March.
 

If you’ve scrolled your way down to the feature position this morning, you already know today’s edition is large. In fact, today’s edition has the largest number of news items we’ve ever had in a single day. There have been days with more major news stories, but never before have we seen an edition with this much industry news and information.

Without sounding like some sort of prognosticator, this is more than likely a positive sign for SHOT Show 2020. We’ve never seen so many new products announced in advance of the show. Hopefully, that will energize attendees (meaning buyers) to get busy and start passing out those purchase orders beginning on Tuesday.

Talking with one industry leader yesterday, he recounted the pep talk he used to give his sales staff before SHOT opened its doors. “Bring me lots of white papers with Purchase Order in the upper left-hand corner,” he said, “all those manufacturing machines at home run on POs. Without them, we have to feed them sales people.

OK, probably not a politically correct speech today, but even the dense salesperson got that message. No sales means no jobs.

And that’s what SHOT, ultimately, boils down to. It’s not at the optimal point of the sales cycle, but it’s the major event where you can find - and fill- your entire year’s catalog of new products. Not everyone will write gigantic numbers- that’s an impossibility- but the inference for the rest of your year can easily be extrapolated. If you can’t get a buyer’s attention in Las Vegas, you’re going to have to ramp up your discourse for the rest of the year.

Plenty of companies have already rolled out new products. Today’s news section lifts the covers off of Mossberg’s second pistol in the past 100 years. And like last year’s subcompact, this year’s MC2c is quite the shooter.

Mossberg’s MC2c (top) carries 13 or 15 rounds to put a lot of firepower into a compact package. Spending a couple of days testing them at Gunsite in December convinced everyone in attendance they’re accurate, reliable and fun to shoot (below).

There are a plethora of compact pistols out there today, and there’s absolutely not a bad shooter in the bunch. But the Mossberg’s Safe Takedown System is one that I’ve found especially appealing. It’s not only simple; it assures you that your gun is safe to clean and handle when disassembled. Drop the magazine, clear the chamber, lock the slide back, then remove the striker assembly. At that point, simply slide the slide off the gun and get busy cleaning. No need to touch the trigger.

Shooting alongside Chris Cerino during the initial tests, I realized that for an average shooter like me, the flat trigger and integrated blade safety with a 5-5.5 pound pull made it easy to shoot very solid groups. For a high-grade shooter like Chris, it was no big deal for him to shoot five shot groups he covered with his thumb -and a single piece of tape.

“Wow,” he said as we were taping targets, “Mossberg’s knocked another one out of the park. Good trigger, good sights, great results. Anytime I can take a brand-new pistol and shoot groups I can cover with my thumb, it’s a great gun.”

Hard to argue his results - or mine for that matter. As we got more familiar with the compact pistol, the Gunsite instructors did what they do to help us realize our shooting mistakes: they lengthened the distances.

We quickly moved back on the range to the point we were all the way out to 25 yards. I know everyone talks about being able to make head shots at distances with their carry pistols, but I don’t see many people doing it on a regular basis. I don’t even try. Instead, I concentrate on making center mass hits at those distances. Especially with small guns. After making three consecutive hits at 25 yards, I realized the gun could easily outshoot my abilities. Cerino confirmed it, making five consecutive hits at 50 yards.

Let me make something completely clear: shooting compact pistols at those distances is something writers do for sport. It’s not something I would practice for self defense. Getting familiar with a new pistol is actually tedious after a 100 or more rounds. Moving out to silly distances breaks the square range practice mindset- and certainly makes any bad habits easy-to-see.

Shooting is a sport that has to be approached in a very serious manner. But most of us hope it remains just that - a sport. Shooting small guns big distances isn’t just entertaining, it’s informative and makes shooting at personal defense distances far simpler.

Anyway, we’ll talk more about Mossberg’s new pistol later, but my impression at this point is it’s quite the shooter -and price friendly. That’s important, too.

We’re packing up and getting ready to head to Las Vegas for SHOT Show. It’s gotten to the point that SHOT has essentially become a week-long event. We arrive on Saturday, then begin the “pre-Show” events where we’re given the opportunity to look at, try and evaluate many of the new products buyers will see on the show floor beginning Tuesday.

Monday is a holiday for plenty of people, but we’ll be at the gigantic event that sprawls over nearly a mile of shooting lines outside Las Vegas. The Media Day at the Range has grown from a small event to a spectacle in itself. There, we’ll repeat the examination of new products and share them with everyone beginning in our Tuesday SHOT Show combined editions.

We’ll be busy; but we’ll keep you posted.

—Jim Shepherd

OUTDOOR WIRE
Event Calendar

JANUARY 21-24
SHOT SHOW

Las Vegas, NV

JANUARY 24-26
Houston Safari Club Foundation's Annual Worldwide Hunting Expo and Convention

George R Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas

https://hscfdn.org/convention/attendees/

FEBRUARY 1-9
Great American Outdoor Show

Harrisburg, PA

FEBRUARY 5-8
Safari Club International Convention

Reno/Sparks Convention Center, Reno Nevada

FEBRUARY 13-16
Western Hunting & Conservation Expo

Salt Palace Contention Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

 
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