I can’t believe that anyone doesn’t know what SHOT show is, but it is basically a huge industry trade show for guns and related materials. This is the venue where, every year, manufacturers trot out their latest and greatest to ys to show the public. (Although, to be fair, some vendors drop a new product with little fanfare and don’t wait until SHOT.)
The various firearms blogs cover SHOT because its a sweet way to find content without having to do any actual work. There’s dozens of new guns and accessories, so you can just pick something click-baitable and run with it.
I like looking at the SHOT show reviews because there’s usually something in there that appeals to my survivalist nature.
SHOT show this year has a slew of interesting stuff, but one thing I find interesting is the folks at Henry Arms, the guys who make the lever action guns, have a semi-auto 9mm rifle that, like Ruger, takes interchangeable magazine wells to allow all sorts of pistol/rifle combos. And, interrestingly, the gun looks very innocuous and innocent. No evil black rifle look, no pistol grip, no folding stock. In fact, it looks like a little Browning BAR. For those of you living behind enemy lines, this might be a handly little carbine. Naturally the argument will be “What good is a carbine that shoots 9mm”. I’ll leave that up to the short-sighted to discuss.
Savage, who make a fine .22 rifle, have a takedown .22 out but I think it’s going to appeal mostly to Savage fanboys since, in my opinion, the market for a takedown .22 semiauto has been thoroughly commandeeered by Ruger.
Smith and Wesson has a 22-shot 5.7mm version of the M&P pistol which is…interesting. I haven’tbeen sold on the 5.7mm cartridge but part f that is due to it being ridiculously expensive. But, that high price reflected that, at the time, there were basically just two guns on the market for it – the PS() and the FN57. Now with Ruger and KelTec having an offering, perhaps the prices will come down as more ammo is produced. Ruger doubled-down and introduced a carbing in 5.7 that takes their 5.7 pistol mags and if I were a 5.7 guy, that would probably be the direction I’d go just for the sake of logistics. But, for me, the 5.7 is right up there with 6.8SPC and .300 Blackout….a niche cartridge thats just too exotic to add to my TO&E. Your mileage, of course, may vary.
I’ve spent the last thirty years as some form of survivalist. By now I’ve pretty much gotten set in my ways regarding my preference for certain gear, but I do enjoy seeing the new stuff that the manufacturers bring out each year. I’m usre as SHOT continues there will be more “Hey, check this out” coming along. Did you see anything that got you excited?
when I still had my FFL went to the Shot show in the mid 80’s, got to meet Jeff Cooper and Bill Ruger at Ruger’s booth. Wayne LaPierre signed his book for me. Almost too much to see for one weekend and a lot of walking. Everyone should put this show on their bucket list.
Pro Tip: Take an empty rolling suitcase with you to carry all the catalogs and literature.
I’m reading that PSA is putting an STG44 reproduction into production.
Yes I saw the same thing with classic firearms doing the PSA guy interview. The model with just a few little updates with be available in the original 7.92mm Kurz loading, as well as 7.62 RS and .300 Blackout. I have to say it looks pretty cool.
Were any new developments made in ‘foraging firearms’ ? Firearms specifically for bringing meat back for the table which can be carried in a small package. The only new one I am aware of is the M6 line at TPS Arms. Combination o/u with upper barrels chambered in .22lr / .22 Magnum / .17 HMR / .22Hornet / .357 Magnum over .410 gauge.
Not glamorous or ornate, tools which bring home meat. Single shot shotguns, Savage 24 were staples of this class.
Zero- I also had major reservations on the 5.7mmx28 round based on the cost of each round but when I saw a special on the net where a company had a Ruger 57 for 499.00/free ship I jumped ( sort of like you on Ruger P85/89 or whatever series they are when you see a deal ) at it. It’s a cool pistol, very light fully loaded with 20 rounds. I personally like thumb safety handguns ( years of competition with a series 70 Colt .45 ) and the recoil is so minimal follow up shots are super fast on target.
I thought I could reload this caliber but there are so many subtle and onerous steps to doing so I decided against it. So yeah now that there are more platforms coming online maybe more ammo manufacturers will jump on producing it and the price will come down
I’ve noticed that a few new loads have come out for the 5.7 also.
Speer now has a Gold Dot load for it and Fiocchi has a load also.
I like 5.7 but agree that it has been a niche.
Ammo prices had been coming down in 2019 but went up with everything else, not surprisingly…
Yeah unfortunately the Speer load is probably excellent for your carry load, but not so great at range day where it comes in at over a buck a round. Cheapest I’ve found so far is the 40grain FMJ Federal at about .67/rd if bought on sale. But even at that price, me being a handloader for all my other varied calibers, I can barely shoot a box of 50 without serious financial angst. I remember 2-3 years ago before Covid I thought at at .50/rd this load was to expensive for my tastes. I long for that day again!
The Henry Homesteader looks sweet tho.