Shot Show this year was, as usual, a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. Product-wise, there were a lot of things that I guess people want – rainbow metallic AR’s and muzzle breaks that look like they were forged in Mordor, but only a few companies were building things that people need. Notable exceptions include a basic, quality AR made by Lantac that is very practically configured. Leupold and Thunder Ranch have collaborated on a new 1-4X variable power urban rifle optic that looks really cool. I’m hoping to get my hands on one of them soon to put it through its paces.
As much as I like practically configured carbines, I’m a precision rifle guy, so I have picked a few products for special mention:
First and foremost, American Rifle Company’s innovation continues to challenge the status quo with brilliantly elegant engineering. Their new Archimedes action takes primary extraction out of the bolt lift, and through the use of a pivoting bolt handle, uses the leverage from the rearward motion of the bolt to pry cartridges out of the chamber. In the words of Archimedes: “Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand and I shall move the world.”
Like the Mausingfield and Nucleus, the Archimedes takes Remington 700 pattern triggers, fits in Remington 700 pattern stocks and takes Savage barrels. The Archimedes is a three-lug action and bolt heads are interchangeable with the Nucleus action.
Daniel Defense released their Delta 5 precision rifle:
Magpul released the long action version of their Pro 700 stock.
Last year, Geissele Automatics introduced their M700 two-stage (adjustable to one-stage) trigger. This year, they are actually available.
Zero Compromise Optics has some great new scopes:
Did I say I didn’t get excited about anything at SHOT Show this year? Well, maybe that’s not exactly true, there are still pockets of innovation in the firearms industry.
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