The Hog Blog

Wow. 

After almost four solid days of walking, fondling new guns and gear, and meeting the movers and shakers of the outdoor industry, I have to admit I really only saw a tiny fraction of all that was available at this year’s show.  It’s not for lack of trying, but simply because there’s so bloody much to see!

I dedicated my last full day at SHOT, Monday, to just wandering around looking for stuff that was cool, or different… or anything to inspire me to stop and have a look.  I did see a handful of goodies, but my notes and photos are all still in luggage limbo, somewhere between here and Las Vegas.  I mean, come on… it’s an hour and a half flight from Vegas, with a plane that was only about two-thirds full.  One bag made it, but the other didn’t?  How hard is it to get this baggage handling thing right?

Enough of that.  I’ll post some products and pictures as soon as I get a chance. 

Anyway, I’ve got a ton of great story notes and product reviews, and plan to be receiving some product testing samples over the year to take into the field.  Many of these new products have great possibilities for hog hunting, including a whole pile of new, lead-free ammunition.  What I don’t cover here will likely get press at Jesse’s Hunting and Outdoors Journal.  If all goes well, you may soon be seeing my byline in a couple of new locations as well.  We’ll just have to see how that all works out.

In the meantime, I’m shifting into recovery mode now.  Between the days on the floor and the nights at industry parties and events… I feel a bit like a zombie today. 

OK, so the fact is that my third day in Vegas didn’t really reveal anything too mind blowing.  I did see a lot of cool stuff, but there’s a saturation point at this show, where you’ve seen so much that anything else just kind of rolls off.  I mean, how many new camo patterns does it take to hide on this earth?  Seems to me that there are more new deer scents and “scent elimination” products than there are deer in the woods.  And how many different ways are there to cause a firing pin to impact a primer and send a projectile flying through the air?

OK, if I sound a little jaded it’s probably just because I’m tired.  There’s an awful lot of walking around involved here, and I have entire sections of the show I have yet to even visit.   I even broke down yesterday at the Kick-Eze/Sorbothane booth and bought a pair of new insoles for my boots to ease my poor feet.  And I have to say, they really do help!

There are some pretty nice new offerings from companies like Nikon who has released a new line of rangefinders that include the angle compensation.  The Archer’s Choice and the Rifle Hunter rangefinders calculate range over a full 180 degrees, and come in at a pretty reasonable price as well.  The Archer’s Choice will retail in the neighborhood of $249, while the Rifle Hunter will come in around $279. 

Nikon’s new EDG binocular is another new item that puts Nikon into the market with the likes of Zeiss and Leica.  Available in 7×42, 8×42, and 10×42, these new glasses offer extremely clear glass (as best I could tell inside the convention center), and a nice feel in the hands.  The price reflects the quality, as these binos will retail in the range of $1800 for the 7×42, to $2000 for the 10 power version.

And just in case anyone is tired of looking at conventional stuff, I even got some wonderful ideas for modifications on Petunia (my Samurai).   What do you think?  Is this a worthy pig hunting buggy or what? 

Here it is, Day Two of the SHOT Show and I realize I’ve been quite remiss in providing updates.  I’m afraid I’m still working pretty hard on getting more information regarding non-lead bullets and ammo, so that’s kind of kept me from seeing a lot of other stuff.

Speaking of unleaded ammo, I’ve got some good news as pertains to availability.  Options are coming!  I’ve got a ton of detail for later, but to summarize you’ll see non-lead ammunition in a small range of calibers from all of the major manufacturers this year.  Winchester, Remington, and Federal all have options… and they’re all different.  Winchester has the ETip, Remington will be loading the Lapua Naturalis, and Federal has been offering various flavors of the Barnes bullets for a couple of years now.

I’ve also been talking to the NRA-ILA (legal resources group) about possible responses to the lead ban.  I’ve got another conversation on tap with the Hunting Policy folks, but a brief chat this afternoon revealed that they are researching legal challenges.  In the meantime, the recommendation is if you’re not registered to vote, do it… then get to the polls and put it work.

I’m also planning to meet with some of the other large organizations.  But what I’m seeing so far is the exhortation to CA Sportsmen to get together and stand up.  I’m also being reminded to remind you folks in other states to follow suit, because it’s highly likely that this lead ban will  be coming to your state soon.

OK, on other topics… how about a few pictures?

The first day of the show is always a little mind-numbing.  It’s hard to describe just how much hunting and shooting stuff there is… and it’s almost all represented at SHOT.

It’s a dizzying sight to behold, with acres and acres of “toys”.  After six years of attending this event, I still get a little shaky in the knees and it’s pretty tough to keep a focus on what I’m supposed to be doing.  I just wanna walk around and pick up everything.

It’s really funny to watch the faces of first-timers, though.  Like my brother, Scott who managed to come out to see the spectacle.  Here he is playing with new toys, in this case, the bull-barrel slug gun from Marlin.

At the end of the day on Saturday, the SHOT Show organizers, the NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation) threw a big bash for the industry folks.  Not one to miss a party, I attended with a few members of our ProStaff from Jesse’s Hunting and Outdoors.   In the photo below you can see (from left to right),  Brad Swadley, Holly Heyser (AKA NorCal Cazadora), and Bryce Mann.

The entertainment for the evening was country music star, Randy Travis.

It’s always a great concert, especially because you’re able to just walk right up to the stage and really enjoy the show… like these folks.

Not so much partying tonight, but lots more to tell.  Stay tuned!

Just some random photos from today’s Media Day at the range(s) here in Vegas. 

I had an opportunity to spend a lot of time behind the trigger guard of some great rifles today.  Starting with the newly re-released Winchester Model 70s and the Browning X-bolt, I sent round after round down range, wrapping up with a great session of skeet shooting with one of Beretta’s new 20ga. SxS shotguns. 

One star of the Winchester/Browning shoot was this new offering from Beretta, an over/under Express rifle chambered in .458 Win Mag.  Talk about a hog killer!  Or elephants… or tyrannosaurs!  It’s a heck of a lot of gun, but it was fun to shoot… even if it did practically roll me back on my heels with each shot.

Here’s JHO ProStaffer Bryce Mann working with one of the Browning X-bolts.

More to come soon… and some video as well.