With 19 acres of displays and 13.9 miles of aisles to cover, it’s really easy to overlook new and interesting items at SHOT Show.
No one person can cover the entire show floor—or floors, considering the various levels and unattached exhibit spaces scattered throughout the venue. The best you can hope for is an organized dash through SHOT Show with a target list and a map to help you get from point A to points B, C, D, and E as efficiently as possible.
Pro Tip: While the SHOT Show app is useful, it’s infinitely less useful than the printed paper map. Marking up those maps with the booths you need to hit—and then following the path you’ve laid out—works really well…ask me how I know.
In no particular order, here are some of the smaller, non-firearm products that caught my attention while helping me get in all my steps for the day.
XTech LDR 2000
XTech Tactical introduced its new LDR 2000 9mm pistol magazine loaders, available in four versions: the G1 for Glock 9mm double-stack mags, CZ75, P226, and VP9/P30/P2000; M1 for Sig Sauer P365, 43/43X, Hellcat, Taurus G2c, G3, GX4, Ruger Max 9, and Canik; D1 for Sig Sauer P320; and S1 for Walther PPS and many 9mm and 10mm single-stack magazines.
These patent-pending mag loaders are injection molded from glass-filled nylon and feature an ergonomic design. Using one takes a little practice, but once you’ve got it, loading mags becomes a much easier and faster process.
The four LDR 2000 models should be available now, with a fifth version—B1 for the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0—expected soon. MSRP is $15.95.
XTech X-Flare
While checking out the LDR 2000, I stumbled upon another new product from XTech—the X-Flare. This injection-molded polymer magwell is designed for AR-15 mil-spec 5.56/.223 platforms. The two-piece design slides onto the existing magwell, then tightens down using the included screws. Once installed, the X-Flare provides a reported 40% larger opening.
The X-Flare was on display at SHOT Show but has not yet been released. According to XTech, that should happen fairly soon. MSRP is $39.95.
Otis & Shooter’s Choice Muzzleloader Cleaning
Having fairly recently gone through the process of scrounging up muzzleloader shooting and cleaning accessories, I made sure to stop by the Otis Technology booth to check out their newly announced .50 cal Muzzleloader Cleaning Kit.
The kit retails for $39.99 and includes a brush, mop, jag, slotted tip, AP brush, gun cloth, and ample patches needed to clean .50 caliber. And—this is important—it’s designed for use with an OEM ramrod. The kit comes in a plastic case you can configure to best suit how you’ll use it.
A “sister product” for the muzzleloader is the Shooter’s Choice Muzzleloader Cleaning Accessory Pack (not shown). If the Otis kit provides the “hardware” for cleaning, Shooter’s Choice supplies the solvents and grease. The Accessory Pack includes a 4-oz tin of MC-7 Bore Cleaner, All-Weather Grease, pre-saturated CLP patches, and a Firearm Small Parts Soaker. The pack retails for $44.99.
Nite Ize Orange Screw
The Nite Ize Orange Screw is exactly as the name implies: a big plastic screw designed to be an anchor for anything from a tent to a 10x10 pop-up. I visited with Rich Case, CEO and founder of Nite Ize, again this year to see what he had new for SHOT.
Constructed of ultra-durable polycarbonate, the Orange Screw features continuous threads, an eyelet, and multiple attachment points on top. The eyelet fits the included clear acrylic sleeve—called the T-Grip Tool—for turning the screw into the ground.
The 4-pack of 9.5-inch screws retails for $24.99, as does the 2-pack of the larger 12.25-inch screws. While there are several uses for this lightweight (1.8 oz small, 3.9 oz large), easy-to-use product, one obvious application that totally escaped me is using them as ground anchors for holiday inflatables. For those thinking event setup applications, check out the ScrewDriver for use with a power drill.
Nite Ize Radiant Flex
The Nite Ize booth is quickly proving to be a must-visit exhibit at SHOT, if for no other reason than to check out the small, high-utility products with wide everyday applications.
One such product is the Radiant Flex, a 90-lumen USB-C rechargeable lamp with a magnetic base. The three modes—15, 50, and 90 lumens—offer runtimes from 30 to 5 hours in cool white. An amber mode offers the same runtimes at 9, 30, and 77 lumens. Another nice feature: it stays illuminated while charging.
The light features a flexible gooseneck that allows you to easily pack it up. It’s water-resistant (IPX4) and drop-tested at 1 meter. MSRP is $29.99, making it an ideal toolbox or truck accessory.
MTM Cases & Accessories
The new MTM Case-Gard Emergency Box Family consists of three sizes ranging in price from $16.42 to $23.15. Each case comes in high-visibility yellow-green for quick identification and features a water-resistant O-ring seal to lock out rain and moisture, along with padlock tabs on each latch.
The Garmin Xero has quickly become a must-have range accessory. But carrying it loose in your range bag isn’t the best game plan. That’s where the new MTM Chronograph Case comes in. With a hard-shell exterior and custom-fit foam inside to hold the Garmin Xero and accessories, the MTM Chronograph Case is purpose-built to protect your investment. MSRP is $14.50.
Finally, the ACDC MOLLE Panel System for the ACDC30 and ACDC50 crates provides expanded storage options on the inside of the lid, taking advantage of otherwise underutilized space.
These panels are compatible with standard MOLLE accessories. MSRP is $15.49 (ACDC30MP) and $16.69 (ACDC50MP).
ArmorySync
Last up is ArmorySync, a firearm management and training app available for both Android and iOS. The app keeps its data on your phone and isn’t cloud-dependent, allowing you to track your firearms, their locations, associated accessories, and proof of purchase.
The app also lets you track your training by logging round counts and uploading targets, so you don’t have to store endless paper copies. It’s designed for organizations and facilities with large firearm inventories, as well as individuals.
For individuals, pricing is $1.99 per month or $14.99 annually.
– Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network