SHOT Show 2022—Bigger Than Ever!

Greetings from SHOT Show 2022. The SHOT Show is alive and well, despite all of the reports to the contrary.

Leading up to the opening of SHOT Show 2022, many of us speculated whether there would be a SHOT Show at all. Some of the more prominent companies announced they would not be at SHOT weeks before, while others pulled out at the last minute. Many European attendees announced they were reluctant to attend because of the restrictions on international travel.

I pictured a sparsely attended show, with very few new releases. The truth is, the firearms and sporting goods industry is extremely resilient, despite all of the legal and media attacks. This year’s show was huge, and the companies that did attend benefited in a big way.

I got to shoot all kinds of guns and walked the floors for miles, looking at new products. I cannot possibly list all of the great products I saw, but you will likely see some of them throughout the coming year.

What were the trends? For one thing, few really shared the paranoia that the media accompanies with large crowds and COVID exposure. For example, we sat down for breakfast with several writers from around the world. One European writer said he was not concerned with COVID—that is, the disease itself. He was concerned with a positive COVID test, which would mean he could not make the British Shooting Show, because of the quarantine restrictions.

For the most part, attendees approached the SHOT Show as “business as usual,” donning masks only when told, and enjoying the comradery of the firearms trade.

Pepperball released their Patrol Pistol Carbine, which is a carbine sized launcher that can throw projectiles accurately to 150 feet.

Maxim Defense

Early in the day, we went to the Maxim Defense area where we ran into Kris “Tanto” Paranto. Besides being an amazing Patriot, he is a well-known firearms instructor, who brings personality to the range.

Maxim Defense, like the namesake, has fully compensated and integrally suppressed firearms, components, including handguards and stocks, and braces.

Maxim Defense had some outstanding suppressed firearms, including an integrally suppressed Ruger MK IV. This is a 22LR handgun with a 7075-T6 and 4140 steel 3.5 oz suppressor. The “can” had reduced the sound signature to a dramatically low level. This was probably the most fun gun to shoot on all of the ranges there that day.

Maxim Defense also brought out a suppressed M240, which they demo’ed at various intervals during the show. It was pretty amazing to see a belt fed gun with a suppressor. Suppressors get red hot after a little semi-automatic fire. This one could handle sustained full auto.

When they demo’ed the M240, all of us took videos, not still pictures. I have some great movies, but that doesn’t do our print readers much good, does it?

Para Ops

On the range, Para Ops (para-ops.com) introduced a non-lethal delivery system that does not use compressed air, or CO2 to send its payload up to 60 feet. They had a single shot mini launcher and a 5-shot flashlight style launcher, designed around a .67 caliber projectile. The system was designed by David Luxton, founder of Simunition.

Para Ops only had a prototype at SHOT, but they were able to show that their munitions were primer fired, with no powder. This makes them non-firearms, and the cartridges inert until they launch, increasing their reliability. I’m looking forward to extensive testing of this product.

Gun Foam

Gun Foam (gunfoam.com) is a company that does custom precision laser cuts for foam in gun cases. They do custom layouts for popular cases like Explorer and Pelican Cases. Customers can download pre-configured outlines, like “Remington 870” and place them on the case. There are shapes, and preconfigured layouts for specific cases. Cases can have custom tops, lettering, and colors.

Pepperball

Pepperball has released a higher potency projectile that contains a 5% PAVA. The VXR LIVE-X projectile isn’t only more potent. The formula has an engineering quality that delivers a higher effectiveness because of the physical properties of the way it vaporizes. The term is “bioavailability,” which somehow means the irritant properties are more readily accessed by the body. Those on the receiving end describe it as considerably more uncomfortable as the original formula, which will still be available.

Pepperball also released their Patrol Pistol Carbine, which is a carbine sized launcher that can throw projectiles accurately to 150 feet. The operation of the Patrol Pistol Carbine is glove friendly, and it uses magazines, rather than a hopper, which is the preferred configuration for this kind of launcher. Pepperball’s products can be considered NON-lethal, as opposed to other law enforcement products that are deemed less-lethal.

DRD Tactical

I got to shoot a DRD Tactical (drdtactical.com) Kivaari. DRD Tactical has several AR-style rifles in various configurations, but the long range capabilities of these rifles, coupled with their takedown ability, is unprecedented. The Kivaari I shot is in .338 Lapua Magnum, and I was shooting 250 grain rounds. This gun has the capability to reach into the next area code in calibers of confidence, and I found it to be an especially smooth shooter.

DRD Tactical rifles are full-featured AR-style rifles and carbines designed to carry discreetly in the field. They come in Black hard coat, Battleworn, or FDE. They are direct impinged semis made of billet aluminum. The Kivaari features a non-reciprocating left side charging handle. All of this breaks down into a backpack.

How did it shoot? With authority, of course. They had other models with other common calibers.

DRD Tactical also had a L7 .300 Blackout linear compensator at their range. This is a device that directs gases and sound forward of the shooter, making a more comfortable shooting experience. With gases and noise directed forward, the shooter gets reduced muzzle blast and muzzle rise.

Ammunition

Federal Premium had their new 30 Super Carry ammunition on the range. This is a 30 caliber (.312 diameter) cartridge, whose performance is between the .380 and the 9mm. Another veteran industry writer and I were joking about it being a “problem looking for a solution” before I headed to the range.

The truth is, there’s nothing wrong with a 9mm for duty or personal defense. I found that the 30 Super Carry does allow more rounds in the magazine, and more comfortable shooting.

The 30 Super Carry HST cartridge runs about 1250 fps for a 100 grain projectile. It delivers 15.5” penetration in gelatin, with .530 expansion. For a duty cartridge, this is pretty good, especially when it can add two more rounds in a magazine.

Federal Premium had a Nighthawk Custom 1911 President in 30 Super Carry on the range. This is one of the slickest 1911 guns on the market. Of course it shot well, especially with a generous 38 oz of frame. I shot the 30 in an M&P as well, which also felt outstanding.

Winchester USA Ready Defense

Winchester released some new ammunition for personal defense. The Ready Defense Ammo have Hex-Vent inserts in their hollow points, which are pre scored. Their 124 grain 9mm run 1200 fps, and deliver 396 FPE. They also had 40 S&W and 45 ACP new products.

I shot these rounds on their range, then told them I would return when they shoot them into ballistic gelatin. When I came back for the ballistic gelatin results, the cartridges delivered amazing performance.

Although the USA Ready Defense products are designed for personal defense, their commitment to the science of terminal performance reflects on their Defender Series of cartridges also. The USA Ready Defense cartridge is non-bonded. The Defender Series is bonded.

Knives

Spyderco has announced their own steel: CPM SPY27. I have always wondered what qualities Spyderco would put into their own proprietary steel. I wish I knew more about metallurgy, but I can tell you one thing: It is cobalt enriched, which tends to bring out the qualities of other alloys and improves strength and hardness. While only a few knives are being offered in CPM SPY27, I expect this innovation will be well received.

Popular among law enforcement officers, the Michael Janich-designed Yojimbo now has a big brother, the YoJumbo. The YoJumbo has a 3.98” blade and a compression lock. It deploys quickly, and was designed to facilitate shifting hand positions.

CRKT has released a series of knives called Forged by War. These are knives designed by veterans and produced by CRKT. Each knife is associated with a nonprofit that supports our servicemembers

Darrin William Sirois, designer of the Ramadi, a fixed blade full tang knife, chose Purple Heart Homes USA for his nonprofit. Purple Heart Homes USA provides housing solutions to veterans in need. Sales of the Sirois knives are a way of giving back to our veteran community.

Rapid Stop

One of the most interesting law enforcement products I tried at SHOT was the Rapid Stop Tourniquet. It uses a pull down strap to quickly cinch the tourniquet to the limb, and a ratcheting device that uses the powerful leverage of the ratcheting handle to quickly cause occlusion. Not only is the quickest tourniquet around, it also has a decoupler that allows a tourniquet to be placed on a pinned limb, rather than having to be slipped over the end of a limb. This is a feature that does not exist on most tourniquets. This is a one-handed setup, that is designed for self or First Responder rescue.

Mesa Tactical

Mesa Tactical has increased their offerings by adding AR-15 M-Lok fore ends in several different lengths. These will be under the MesaTac branding, ready for carbine use. They also have a Truckee Fore end for the Benelli M4

There are new guns, new ammunition and new products. The best part about it is the fact that SHOT Show is back, and it is better than ever.