HOT @ SHOT March 2012

Here, in no particular order, are those products that made the final cut.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

While at SHOT Show 2012, I plied the floors looking for those interesting products that were more than just eye candy. To make the cut, they needed to solve a problem and not just be a solution looking for a problem.

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Streamlight’s Night Com UV

Streamlight’s Night Com UV features six UV LEDs to provide ultraviolet light for a variety of detection purposes. The versatile new light also provides a white LED for general and distance use.

Offering three separate lighting modes, the lithium battery-powered Night Com UV features a white C4 LED, and a total of six UV LEDs. A mode-selection switch lets users easily choose the desired lighting mode, including a high- or low-power white LED setting, or the UV LED setting. The light also features a “safety” mode that ensures the light can’t be turned on by mistake during transport.

The light’s C4 LED has a textured reflector that provides a widespread beam, along with a sharp hotspot for distance use. It boasts a 50,000-hour lifetime, and offers 115 lumens and 4,200-candela peak beam intensity on the high setting, and 50 lumens and 1,600 candela on the low setting. On the UV setting, the combined six UV LEDs provide 24 mW measured system output and feature a 100,000-hour lifetime.

It’s compact, light and durable—rated for water-resistant operation and impact-resistance tested to one meter—all at an MSRP of $90.00. The light comes with a high-strength wrist lanyard and Streamlight’s limited lifetime warranty.

www.Streamlight.com

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Artisan Arms’ Govnah

Artisan Arms’ Govnah is an adjustable gas block that’s a much-needed addition in a market flooded with crappy patrol rifles. Artisan Arms makes gun-related goodies for several big name manufacturers, and they’ve used their gun expertise to manufacture this ingenious gas block with a great name.

Without sufficient back pressure, your rifle will short stroke and fail to extract. With too much back pressure, your bolt will bounce violently and cause malfunctions from casings being extracted too fast and possibly even shorten the lifespan of your rifle. The Govnah, as its name implies, is a governor that regulates gas pressure or back pressure as it’s known in the industry.

This a great problem-solver for agencies with patrol rifles that don’t work correctly—a modular gas regulator that can be changed by the end user, for different barrel lengths/calibers. Operating it requires no special tools, just use a bullet to change the gas position. The Govnah comes in two or three gas position models. The two position is for suppressed/unsuppressed, the three position can be full, off, suppressed or standard, “overdrive” and suppressed. The Govnah uses standard unmodified gas tubes and works with gas piston conversion kits that replace standard gas tubes. It also works with most rail systems without modifications.

www.ArtisanArms.com

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Mechanix Wear’s M-PACT Coyote Glove

Mechanix Wear’s M-PACT Coyote Glove absorbs punishment so your hands don’t. Mechanix Wear is well known in the NASCAR pit rows for their superb quality. It’s no surprise that soldiers and SWAT operators are turning to these great gloves that are affordable and can be picked up at the local hardware store.

The M-Pact Glove has been redesigned with an anatomically engineered direct sonic welded rubber top and EVA foam palm pads for improved protection. For exceptional performance, the glove gives you tapered finger stretch side panels and a Spandex stretch panel at the thumb. The wrap-around rubber molded wrist closure adds additional protection. This glove is feature rich but easy on your wallet—with an MSRP of about $35.

www.Mechanix.com

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PCP Ammo’s Lightweight Polymer Ammunition

PCP Ammo’s Lightweight Polymer Ammunition is one of those products that makes you say, “I didn’t even know that you could do that.” Polymer-cased ammunition—what?!

That’s right, folks: PCP Ammo has engineered a lightweight, polymer-cased ammunition using a patent-pending process and design that will soon be available for purchase. Ongoing performance evaluation has produced comparable performance to brass cartridges with weight savings of over 50% for the case alone or 25–30% of loaded brass ammunition.

These state-of-the-art cartridges can be loaded using standard loading equipment using a wide range of bullets to meet the needs of ground and air tactical units. Early performance evaluation, both ballistic and environmental, has shown the potential for greater accuracy, reduced weapon wear and higher reliability over conventional brass ammunition. Weight is your enemy, and this ammo cuts weight dramatically. This in turn creates an ability to either travel faster, or, at the very least, to carry more ammo for the same amount of weight with standard ammo. PCP Ammo can be purchased through distributors like Cheaper than Dirt.

www.PCPAmmo.com

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Source Tactical Gear’s Tactical Vests

Source Tactical Gear’s Tactical Vests continue the latest trend in armor—to travel light and fast while only wearing a plate carrier. The plate carrier, while usually right along the ideal of a high-speed, low-drag protector, fails miserably at integrating hydration packs due to its small size.

Source Tactical Gear has a solution for this problem in their ILPS 2L/3L Horizontal Bladder QMT. This unique design allows the drinking tube to be routed out of the ballistic plate pouch, without kinking the tube. It’s like drinking out of a straw! A consistent thickness throughout the surface of the reservoir allows the system to maintain its shape even while being carried upright. Gravity isn’t an issue and doesn’t affect the bladder’s shape. It can be easily disassembled for cleaning, doesn’t taste like plastic, and inhibits the growth of bacteria with an FDA-approved and EPA-registered anti-microbial agent. You can also attach a filter to the tube.

www.Source-Military.com

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Action Targets’ Portable Target Systems

Action Targets’ Portable Target Systems is a product near and dear to my heart. I’m a shooter and love to shoot on steel: Nothing is better at giving the shooter instant feedback than hitting a reactive steel target. And no one makes steel targets better than Action Target. I’ve been using their target systems for several years now and have grown accustomed to the sound of steel registering a hit from hundreds of yards away. Of all of the products that Action Target makes, I find the dueling tree the most versatile. Not only does it offer an exhilarating speed challenge while shooting up close, it also offers a positive swinging action that can be easily seen from far away. Available in AR550 through hardened steel capable of absorbing rifle fire, the dueling tree offers years of training in an affordable target. Refacing these targets is as easy as spray painting the bullet hits away.

There’s no greater challenge than racing yourself against your best times. However, there’s no more exhilarating challenge than going head-to-head against a friend with a dueling tree.

www.ActionTarget.com

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First Spear’s Strandhögg MBAV Cut Plate Carrier

First Spear’s Strandhögg MBAV Cut Plate Carrier is the most cutting-edge plate carrier that I’ve ever seen. First Spear is a company that was formed by several former Eagle employees who wanted to take tactical gear to the next level. Case in point: The Strandhögg MBAV Cut Plate Carrier uses a time-proven ballistic footprint that affords the user more pocket attachment area compared to designs that are cut edge-to-edge. Taking its name from an Old Norse Viking term for a lightning raid, Strandhögg was one of the first formalized battle tactics to use covert infiltrators in advance of an actual raiding operation. Strandhögg was a tactical game-changer in its time. It can be worn with or without a soft armor panel, depending upon ballistic requirements, threat conditions and the type of plate used.

Maximizing the new lightweight technology and rapid closure systems, the carrier can be rapidly donned or doffed and is capable of accepting the integrated inflatable floatation cummerbund from the Maritime 6/12 Plate Carrier. Soft Armor Ballistic Inserts complying with NIJ Category IIIA.06 or military specification requirements are available for an additional fee. Using a streamlined fit throughout, along with state of the art materials and production technology, the carrier is easily tailored for comfort, ventilation and fit.

www.First-Spear.com

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Brite Strike’s All Purpose Adhesive Light Strip (APALS)

Brite Strike’s All Purpose Adhesive Light Strip (APALS) is such a needed product that I can’t believe someone hasn’t already done this. APALS was designed by military operators searching for a low-cost, reliable, long-lasting combat identifier. The system enhances your battlefield situational awareness, giving you the ability to safely monitor the movement of friendly forces in a dynamic environment. With visible light and true infrared capabilities, the APALS increases combat leader’s confidence in low- and no-light situations. Completely submersible and dust proof, the hermetically sealed APALS are intended for use in the worst possible conditions—from the searing heat of the desert to the frigid waters of the harshest seas—and they won’t activate accidentally, unlike glow sticks. Use them as a marker for searched rooms during an active shooter scenario or for marking yourself and your path while on a search-and-rescue trek in low light. With more than 35 hours of run time, the disposable APALS will meet the most stringent mission requirements, with an MSRP of $44 for a pack of 10.

www.Brite-Strike.com

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Browe’s Combat Optic

Browe’s Combat Optic isn’t an ACOG. I just figured I’d cover that right out of the gate. Browe, Inc., was founded in 2009 by Brian K. Browe, former director of operations of Trijicon. Mr. Browe has more than 15 years experience in manufacturing combat and tactical optics, with extensive experience in all aspects of the business. The company was founded with the idea of building the ultimate tactical combat optic.

Two years of extensive research and development resulted in the 4-x-32 Browe Combat Optic (BCO). This is a state-of-the-art tactical riflescope that combines high-quality optical glass with precision machining, all packaged into a military-rugged titanium housing. The mechanical design was benchmarked from the current fielded sighting systems use by the U.S. military. The unit features Schott glass—the finest quality optical glass available—precision ground and broadband anti-reflective coated for excellent light-gathering capabilities. The BCO reticle is etched into the mirror prism and can be custom designed to match any requirement. The exterior finish is a matte BioBlack anodize exclusively designed for titanium.

During the product development Browe, Inc., quickly realized the importance of having the ability add accessories to tactical optics and responded with a multitude of design improvements. For starters, the objective face was designed straight. This shortened the overall length by 18 mm, which conserves valuable rail space. The main housing includes a machined 30 mm eyepiece for an ocular dust cover and the objective housing is threaded to accept anti-reflection and dust cover devices. The BCO is also compatible with currently fielded InSight (night vision) and FLIR (thermal) devices. In addition, a 42 mm ring was machined into the objective bell housing for mounting or securing additional accessories. Mid-optic mounting bosses were added to the center of the optic for mounting accessories, such as the L3 Insight MRDS or a mini-red-dot sight. This location moves the mini sight forward on the optic and away from the operator’s helmet and helmet gear.

The Target Light Sensor Technology feature detects and measures the target light transmission through the optic and automatically adjusts the reticle illumination to the ideal intensity. This is a major advantage over the current fielded systems that rely on either ambient light or strictly manual illumination controls—no more riggers tape blocking light in bright conditions or using a single illumination setting in a dynamic light environment. Target Light Sensor Technology addresses lighting issues and instantaneously adjusts the reticle illumination to the appropriate target light, no matter what the ambient lighting conditions.

www.Browe-Inc.com

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WMD Guns’s Nickel Boron (NiB) Gun Coating

WMD Guns’s Nickel Boron (NiB) gun coating is hands down the toughest stuff I’ve ever seen for gun use. For many years, the individual gun owner who wanted to have their personal weapons coated with self-lubricating coatings had to either “know somebody” or cough up some serious money to get their weapons jumped into a coating cycle. Not anymore! Boys and girls let me introduce you to WMD Guns. These folks not only encourage you to send them your weapons, they also have drop-in ready upgrade kits and components for AR-15s and Glocks. They also sell refurbished weapons that are already NiB treated.

www.WMDGuns.com

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