141st NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits Blog

Windicator Revolver by EAA

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

EAA Corp showed off some of its most popular models at the 2012 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in St. Louis, Mo., including the Windicator Revolver.

Available in .357 or .38 Special, the Windicator is the company's top revolver. Get a closer look at it in the video below.

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EAA Corp. SAR ST 10

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A complete package, EAA Corp's SAR ST 10 comes with its own holster and other accessories right out of the box—making it a popular topic at the 2012 NRA Annual Meetings.

The SAR ST 10 is available in .45, .40, 9 mm and 10 mm. Learn more about it in the video below:

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Tanfoglio Witness Match Pistol by EAA Corp.

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The most popular pistol in the EAA Corp. line, the Tanfoglio Match Pistol is ideal for both personal defense and recreational shooting. It comes with fully adjustable sites, a single-action trigger and can be purchased in 9 mm, .40, .45, .38 Super and 10 mm.

Get a closer look at the Tanfoglio Witness in the video below:

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Crimson Trace Green Lasers

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Crimson Trace Corp. announced that its first green laser will be available in the third quarter of 2012 and will be implemented with the existing Lightguard platform. In the second phase of the green-laser inroduction, which will occur in 2013, brand-new technology will be employed to shrink the diode and provide it in the same size package as the existing laser. Learn more in this video of Iain Harrison as he demonstrates the laser and explains why you should give it a try.

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Crimson Trace Rail Master Light

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Crimson Trace Corp. introduced the Rail Master laser at the 2012 SHOT Show, and now follows the success of that product with a new 100-lumen white light, which has a two-hour burn time and fits any gun that has a Picatinny rail. Watch video as Iain Harrison highlights the other features of this light, which will be available May 1, 2012.

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Benelli M2 3-Gun

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Attracting a lot of attention at the 2012 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits at St. Louis, Mo., is the Benelli M2 3-Gun, a performance 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun.

Watch the video below as Steve McKelvain talks about why this gun will be such a big hit with today's hottest firearm competition.

For more on this gun, go to BenelliUSA.

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Barrett Donates $69K to HAVA

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ronnie Barrett of Barrett Firearms presented a check for more than $69K to Tom Taylor, chairman of Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) during the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits on April 14, 2012. The donation was the proceeds from an auction in which Barrett Firearms gave away the 30th tribute M107A1, a nickel-Teflon coated .50-caliber rifle engraved with the 30th Anniversary logo and “Rifle 1 of 1”.

Watch video of the check presentation below.

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Stoeger Airguns X20 Suppressor

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Stoeger Airguns's latest innovation is the X20 Suppressor.

Its Air Flow Control (AFC) technology with Dual-Stage Noise Reduction System make it the quietest airgun in its class.

When tested, the X20 Suppressor was as much as 7.05 decibels quieter than its closest competition.

Learn more about the X20 Suppressor in the video below.

For more information, go to stoegerairguns.com.

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Stoeger Model 3000 Shotgun

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Stoeger's new Model 3000 is a 3-inch, 12-gauge, Inertia Driven semi-automatic shotgun that handles loads up to 3-inch Magnums without adjustment.

Drilled and tapped to accommodate Weaver-style scope bases, the shotgun is available in Realtree Max 4.

Learn more by watching the video below or go to Stoeger Industries.

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Franchi Instinct SL

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Franchi’s Instinct SL over-under combines Italian tradition and craftsmanship with innovation.

Available in both 12 and 20 gauge, the Instinct SL features an attractive polished aluminum alloy receiver and is available with either 26- or 28-inch barrels that are fitted with a red fiber-optic front sight for quick and positive target acquisition.

Learn more about this gun by watching the video below from the 2012 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in St. Louis, Mo.

For more information, franchiusa.com.

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Barrett MRAD

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Barrett's MRAD rifle won a 2012 NRA Golden Bullseye Award for Rifle of the Year, which it received during the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits at St. Louis. We visited with Chris Barrett at the show to learn more about the unique features of the rifle that make is so worthy of the honor. See what he had to say by watching the video below.

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Kel-Tec KSG Shotgun

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ryan Williams, design engineer for Kel-Tec, showcased the company's first entry into the shotgun market, the KSG shotgun, at the 2012 NRA Annual Meetings. Weighing in at 6.9 pounds, the KSG has an overall length of 26.1 inches and an 18.5-inch cylinder bore barrel. MSRP is $880.

See it up-close and check out all the details in the video below.

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Three New Guns for 2012 from SIG Sauer

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Three exciting new guns from SIG Sauer made an appearance at the 2012 NRA Annual Meetings: the P224 handgun, the P938 and the SIG 716 Patrol Rifle.

Vice President of Marketing Bud Fini walked us through the features of each of these, and you can see all the details in the video below.

SIG Sauer P938

SIG Sauer P224

SIG 716 Patrol rifles

For more information, go to sigsauer.com.

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Crossbreed Holsters Promotion & New Products

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Owner and founder of Crossbreed Holsters Mark Craighead revealed the company's Annual Meetings promotion of 15 percent off all orders made in the booth, and also online until midnight on Sunday, April 15.

Additionally, he showed off some of the company's new products for this year.

The SuperSlide 3 slot holster can be worn standard behind the hip with a slight forward cant setup—probably the most common carry position for CCW and off-duty carry—or it can be worn at a slight reverse cant for cross-draw wear.

MSRP for the SuperSlide is $52.50.

Get more details in the video below.

For more information, go to crossbreedholsters.com.

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"Magnificent Colts" by Yellowstone Press

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Co-authors Larry Wilson and Robert Lee were on hand at Annual Meetings to highlight the details of their 600-page, two volume book "Magnificent Colts."

This book is a celebration of firearms history and collecting, and was published by Yellowstone Press.

Check out the video below for a close-up look at this newly released collection.

For more information, go to yellowstonepress.com.

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ATI

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Advanced Technology International (ATI) is the premier manufacturer of leading-edge rifle stocks, shotgun stocks, and accessories for a wide variety of firearms, all made in Milwaukee, Wisc. We met up with Director of Business Development Jon Shaffer on the exhibit hall floor, who walked us through the features of ATI's new Halo Heatshield stock and Talon Tactical stock.

For more information, visit ATI.

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Kimber Debuts Custom USA Shooting Team Pistol

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

At the Kimber booth, Dwight Van Brunt showed off the highly custom Team Match II .45 that was presented to the team at the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nev, to commemorate the sale of 10,000 pistols to benefit the Team.

This pistol features scrimshawed ivory grips crafted by Dan Chesiak, a mirror-polished finish and bears the serial number “USA-10000." In preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games, the Team Match II will now be auctioned off on gunbroker.com.

Get a close-up of this one-of-a-kind pistol and all of its features in the video below.

For more information, go to KimberAmerica.com.

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Uberti Silverboy Lever-Action

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

With much focus these days tactical and high-capacity, faster firearms, it's refreshing when a manufacturer tempers the speed a bit with an old-fashioned lever gun. The Uberti Silverboy is a small-bore, all-original lever-action rifle chambered in .22 LR. In the video below, Steve McKelvain of BenelliUSA talks about the features of this rifle.

For more information, go to uberti.com.

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New Offerings from Fort Knox for 2012

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A trusted name in gun safes, Fort Knox showcased its new offerings at the 2012 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits.

New models feature a redundant lock system that is exclusive to Fort Knox safes—one lock with two ways to access it. In the event of electronic failures or other problems, this two-lock system ensures you always have a manual back-up so your belongings stay safe.

Also included on 2012 models is the new control access box, providing added security inside the safe.

All Fort Knox safes come standard with multiple door organizer options, corner bolts and pins running up and down the entire safe.

Check out the video below to get a sneak peak at what's new this year.

For more information, go to ftknox.com.

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New Nikon Riflescopes for 2012

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

NRA-Emedia stopped by the Nikon booth to talk to Senior Product Marketing Manager Jon LaCorte about the company's new riflescope offerings for 2012.

The 3-9x40 Nikon P-223 sports a BDC 600 reticle and was specifically designed for the AR platform and other sporting rifles.

The compact and lightweight 3x32 BDC carbine reticle scope was created for shorter, 16- to 18-inch barreled sporting rifles.

For a limted time, you can get a set of P-Series mounts (a $49 value) for free with the purchase of one of these scopes.

Find out more about these exciting new products in the video below.

For more information, go to NikonHunting.com.

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UTS-15 Polymer Tactical Shotgun

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Talk about cool. Five years in the making, originally at the request of a major U.S. gun manufacturer who wanted a lightweight, full-capacity polymer pump-action shotgun, the UTS-15 military and police combat shotgun is the first shotgun ever produced with a 100-percent polymer receiver. More than 80 percent of the gun is in fact fabricated from carbon-fiber reinforced injection-molded polymer. The UTS-15 is a close-quarters combat tactical gun with an overall length of 28.5 inches and a 15-round capacity. An optional built-in LED spotlight and laser night-sight provides point-and-shoot night-fighting capability. Weighing in at 6.9 pounds, the shotgun requires no tools for field stripping, which takes about 60 seconds.

Currently manufactured in Turkey and being sold to the civilian market outside the U.S., the shotgun will be available stateside in late spring once production in the U.S. is underway. MSRP is expected to be around $1,200. Look for a full review of this gun in an upcoming issue of American Rifleman.

Brainchild behind this revolutionary shotgun is Director of Product Development Ted Hatfield, who walked us through all of the features of this unique shotgun in the video below.

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Bore-tips by Swab-Its Gun & Bore Cleaning Swabs

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

What do you do when your company, which has operated for 65 years, sends its operations overseas? In the case of Bore-Tips by Swab-Its, the company simply reinvented itself and its product to meet the needs of an entirely different industry.

Bore-Tips, which once produced products for the medical and cosmetics industry, shifted its focus to gun-cleaning materials. Two years into its reinvention, Bore-Tips is making great headway with its swab-style cleaners. Who needs gun-cleaning patches anymore? Watch video of Super Brush General Manager Misty McGinnes as she shows us how the product works and tells for which caliber firearms the product is currently available and what will soon be available. Right now Bore-tips can be purchased through MidwayUSA and Brownells.

For more information, go to swab-its.com.

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Norma USA Professional Hunter American Ammo

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Launched in early 2012, the momentum continues for Norma USA's line of premium component ammunition. Long favored by European and African hunters, Americans now enjoy the same high quality of the Norma brass with the lighter weight and higher velocity American hunters seek.

Watch the video to learn more about the new American PH line of ammo, its component and much more from Norma’s Ron Petty. To learn the full Norma story, read A Century of Brass and Bullets on AmericanRifleman.org.

Norma USA Kalahari bullet in .270 Win.

For more information, go to norma-usa.com.

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Two Classics from Remington: One New, One Old

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Assistant Product Manager for Remington Arms Eric Lundgren walks us through the very versatile Versa Max shotgun, now available in the Versa Max Tactical model.

Read why this shotgun was the American Rifleman 2011 Golden Bullseye winner.

Check out all the details in the video below.

It's the 50th anniversary of one of the most popular and iconic shotguns of modern times, Remington Model 700. Remington Senior Product Manager John R. Fink reminds us why this firearm has stood the test of time. Check out the video below.

For more information, go to remington.com.

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Ruger Introduces the New 22/45 Lite Rimfire Pistol

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In the market for a lightweight pistol? Then listen up! Ruger has introduced the Ruger 22/45 Lite with an all new aluminum upper receiver and chambered in .22 LR.

Sporting a gold anodized finish, the upper receiver is made of aircraft-grade aluminum and features serrated cuts, making it more lightweight. An ideal lightweight rimfire pistol, the new Ruger is a great option for target shooting, plinking, small-game hunting or competitive shooting.

For more information, go to Ruger.com.

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Visit the Universal Coin & Bullion Booth

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Universal Coin & Bullion booth at the 2012 NRA Annual Meetings is showcasing a million-dollar portfolio of rare coins and more.

Many of these are gold coins from the 19th and early 20th century, as well as bullion coins from the U.S. Mint and the Royal Canadian Mint. The Royal Canadian Mint collection on display includes pieces from their popular wildlife series.

Mike Fuljenz, Official Bullion & Rare Coin Dealer of the NRA, invites 2012 NRA Annual Meetings attendees to visit and meet with the company's experts on coins and precious metals.

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Winchester PDX1 Defender Line

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

NRA E-Media tracked down Rob Pincus of the Personal Defense Network in the Winchester Ammo booth to discuss his choice for personal defense: the Winchester PDX1 Defender line.

The Defender line offers everything from .22 Winchester Mag., to rifle rounds and 12-gauge.

Check out the video below as Rob highlights the features of this line, and explains why it is his top pick.

For more information, go to winchester.com.

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Rock River Arms Fred Eichler Series Varmint Rifle

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

New for 2012 from Rock River Arms is the Fred Eichler Series Varmint Rifle featuring a chrome two-stage trigger, a free-floating handguard with full-length top rail and a cryogenically treated bead-blasted stainless steel barrel. The MSRP is $1,395.

Check out the full range of features on this predator rifle in the video below.

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Guns of Note from NRA Antique Guns & Gold Showcase

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

NRA Members and supporters streamed into the lobby of the America's Center Thursday afternoon in St. Louis, Mo., with their rare and potentially valuable firearms in tow for NRA's Antique Guns and Gold Showcase. From the historically significant to the unique and the just plain weird, all firearms were given a free appraisal by experts from the National Firearms Museum, NRA Gun Collectors Committee and Universal Coin & Bullion.

Check out some of the most interesting pieces we spotted while peeking into gun cases and backpacks across the lobby:

Japanese Model 1891 Mosin-Nagant Rifle
A Farmington, Mo., couple brought a Model 1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle manufactured by Remington in 1918. The gun has an incredible history: It was originally made in New York under a czarist Russian arms contract, then traveled to Russia where it may have been used in the Russian Revolution.

From there it likely went to Siberia and eventually on to Japan. Its box magazine was removed, and at some point it became a single-shot training rifle. Bearing a Japanese character on its buttstock (depicted in the photo below), this Model 1891 is still chambered in 7.62x54 mm R and the bore is in good condition. Acquired in Japan by an American serviceman at the end of World War II and brought home, this well-traveled, not commonly seen rifle is something the experts on hand had never seen before.

Model 1941 Johnson Rifle & Bayonet

A Marine Corps artifact collector and St. Louis native brought along a Johnson Model of 1941 rifle and what appeared to be the original bayonet in its scarce leather scabbard. Some Johnson rifles were used by Marine Paratroopers in World World II, and the bayonet adds a huge premium to the rifle's potential worth. Both items were purchased by the current owner from an M1 Carbine collector in the 1990s, and the two together were valued at around $8,000 based on condition.

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Cheaper Than Dirt

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Cheaper Than Dirt, one of the most popular catalog and online destinations to purchase thousands of brand-name firearm and outdoor industry products, was clearly one of the most popular booths at the 2012 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits as company representatives handed out free a free goodie bag and keychain to attendees. To learn more about Cheaper Than Dirt products and what they're gearing up for next, watch the video below or go to CheaperThanDirt.

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The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Smith & Wesson got the 2012 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits ball rolling with the unveiling of the much-hyped M&P Shield on Thursday.

A compact semi-auto that is available in both 9 mm Luger and .40 S&W, the Shield is designed to be ideal for concealed carry—while still packing a considerable punch.

The Shield is reliable, concealable and affordable—it's going to be shipping with an MSRP of $449. A bevy of compatible accessories are expected to launch alongside the Shield, providing firearms owners with plenty of customization options.

For more on the Shield, check out this recap from American Rifleman's Assistant Editor Joseph L. Kurtenbach, or check out the video below.

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North American Arms Sidewinder .22 Mag.

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

North American Arms' mini revolvers have long been a favorite for individuals in need of the most concealable handguns available. These ultra-compact, single-action wheel guns are available with a variety of barrel lengths, sight systems and grip sizes, but most of them have one feature in common. The cylinder pin has to be pulled free of the frame and the cylinder removed from the revolver in order to reload.

The new single-action Sidewinder Mini Revolver, scheduled for introduction at NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, features a swing-out cylinder connected to a frame-mounted crane arm. The cylinder falls to the right side of the revolver when the cylinder pin is pulled forward to release it from the frame. With the cylinder to the side, the cylinder pin actuates an ejector star to eject spent cartridges. The addition of these new features to the Sidewinder has increased the weight of the revolver by only a fraction of an ounce in comparison to the standard .22 Mag. mini, but reloading will be a much faster and simpler process.

The first Sidewinders off the line will be chambered for .22 Mag. only, but .22 Long Rifle conversion cylinder assemblies will not be far behind. The pre-production model shown here is fitted with a 1 5/8-inch barrel, but the development team is working to make a shorter barrel available. Other features include a stainless-steel frame, laminated rosewood grips, a bead front sight and a newly developed cylinder shroud for an estimated MSRP of $349 Look for the Sidewinder to arrive on your dealer's shelves mid-summer of 2012.

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Dangerous Game Rifles from Montana Rifle Co.

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Montana Rifle Co. has been known for its spectacular custom rifles for more than 20 years, but now the company is amping up production in order to bring the beauty and functionality of these firearms to a larger market at a more affordable price. Montana Rifle Co. Director of Sales and Marketing Jeff Sipe talks about their latest endeavors, which includes big-caliber dangerous game rifles as well as standard hunting calibers. For more information, go to Montana Rifle Co.

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2012 Preliminary Schedule of Events

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Temperatures are rising and plants are blooming, and that means one thing—it's time for the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings. The 141st NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits will make a triumphant return to St. Louis later this week, and the NRA Publications staff couldn't be more amped up.

Beginning Thursday, April 12, NRA staff and members alike will be on the floor at the America's Center in St. Louis for the first time since 2007. There they'll find a series of captivating speakers, engrossing seminars and industry product reveals waiting for them in an event that belongs on any gun owner's calendar.

Among the presentations will be "Sniper War Afghanistan," "U.S. M16: A Half-Century of America's Combat Rifle," and more. Be sure to join American Rifleman's Mark Keefe and Joseph L. Kurtenbach for each.

For a preliminary schedule of events, check out the online home of the NRA Annual Meetings. You can also follow along all week with this very blog, or by keeping an eye on the AmericanRifleman.org Facebook and Twitter pages.

Safe travels! We'll see you in St. Louis.

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