SHOT show

[Mad Mensch]

This is my first year going for my retailer and I was told to bring a rolling crate for all the demo and marketing stuff that you get. Is this true? I really would rather not be THAT guy unless it's common practice.

[Dump1567]

This is my first year going for my retailer and I was told to bring a rolling crate for all the demo and marketing stuff that you get. Is this true? I really would rather not be THAT guy unless it's common practice.

It's common practice to pick-up catalogs/ brochures/ marketing propaganda /etc.. They're also wholesalers there taking orders and offering SHOT show specials on some items.

As an end user, I usually just grab the latest catalogs & magazines of the items I'm interested in. Sometimes there's a free hat or two from products I actually use. Glock always has key chains, pens, patches, stickers, etc. I wear a back pack. This stuff starts to get heavy after a while, so I try to limit myself on what I grab.

Plenty of guys pulling rolling carts.

[CSACANNONEER]

This is my first year going for my retailer and I was told to bring a rolling crate for all the demo and marketing stuff that you get. Is this true? I really would rather not be THAT guy unless it's common practice.

A rolling crate is a common site and good idea. I normally take a backpack and a crate.

[micro911]

Backpack is not a very good idea. My coworker used the backpack, and it got too heavy. He had a strained neck muscles for it.

I have a specific request from my agency to check the companies who produce level III armor plates/panels that is good for 7.62 and 5,56 rounds for 2,500 patrol cars. I will be busy talking to them.

[Garand1911]

Rolling crates might be good for you, but for everyone around you they are a tripping hazard. A backpack or shoulder bag is better, condor gives out cheapy shoulder bags, these seem to work best. The key is to not load up on every single catalog, weighing yourself down. Most catalogs can be found online anyway.

The new promoters of SHOT are really trying to keep the looky loos out, even LEOs, which is weird because they have training seminars for them.

[NuGunner]

Aw I see, so being law enforcement personnel isn't enough by itself. I don't know why I was under that impression. Thank you for the info.

It is. I went in 2013.

[micro911]

Rolling crates might be good for you, but for everyone around you they are a tripping hazard. A backpack or shoulder bag is better, condor gives out cheapy shoulder bags, these seem to work best. The key is to not load up on every single catalog, weighing yourself down. Most catalogs can be found online anyway.

The new promoters of SHOT are really trying to keep the looky loos out, even LEOs, which is weird because they have training seminars for them.

I was using Condor bag today. It was a lot better than that cheap bag they hand out at the door.

I have been walking over 6 miles each day I believe. Feet are tired and back is hurting.. A LOT of black rifle stuff at the Show. I will probably get an MDT Tac 21 stock for my Remington 700 tomorrow. Maybe it is cheaper than buying the actual Remington factory MDT Tac21 rifle which retails at $2,900 and armorer price at about $1,600 + tax and shipping + FFL fee.

Met The Gunny today, and also met Team Glock ladies. They were very nice.

[micro911]

Oh, by the way, when I get home tomorrow, I will be ordering 5,000 rounds of SK Standard Plus 22 LR ammo. Maybe I will order 10,000 rounds.

[SoCalDep]

It was a good show... Got a lot done. Gonna buy a Dan Wesson CCO... Frigin' beautiful! Also really like the Magpul Rem 700 stock for a hobby gun. I'll probably eventually get one. I'm a big fan of the new Surefire XC-1 (I think that's the name) for what it is and for what I hope it will usher... We need more compact weapon lights!

Streamlight has jumped in the pool and is doing a great job of upgrading existing products and introducing new stuff. I aquired a laser unit for the S&W Shield from a smaller company and I really look forward to testing it out. The concept is wonderful and if the durability and practical application match it will be my choice for a compact laser system.

CTC slightly expanded the light guard series to the Ruger LC9, which is good..they have the best small light design out there in my opinion, but there is so much potential and they are (I think) resting on their laurels while other manufacturers (ummm....Surefire!!!) are going to stomp them and dominate the market.

There was probably more but those are the highlights for me... With the exception of "D"... Our taxi driver from the Hoffbrauhaus to the hotel... Best taxi ride EVER!!!!

[micro911]

I am definitely going to order an Alexander Arms 6.5 Grendel upper. I need to call them next week.

[Samuelx]

You lucky dogs. I've been too busy to go every year since I got to my unit. Once of these years...

[micro911]

You lucky dogs. I've been too busy to go every year since I got to my unit. Once of these years...

It is tiring, but worthwhile. I enjoyed it a lot. I may be able to get a 80% 1911 frame from a company, also.

[retired]

It was a good show... Got a lot done. Gonna buy a Dan Wesson CCO... Frigin' beautiful! Also really like the Magpul Rem 700 stock for a hobby gun. I'll probably eventually get one. I'm a big fan of the new Surefire XC-1 (I think that's the name) for what it is and for what I hope it will usher... We need more compact weapon lights!

Streamlight has jumped in the pool and is doing a great job of upgrading existing products and introducing new stuff. I aquired a laser unit for the S&W Shield from a smaller company and I really look forward to testing it out. The concept is wonderful and if the durability and practical application match it will be my choice for a compact laser system.

CTC slightly expanded the light guard series to the Ruger LC9, which is good..they have the best small light design out there in my opinion, but there is so much potential and they are (I think) resting on their laurels while other manufacturers (ummm....Surefire!!!) are going to stomp them and dominate the market.

There was probably more but those are the highlights for me... With the exception of "D"... Our taxi driver from the Hoffbrauhaus to the hotel... Best taxi ride EVER!!!!

Out of curiosity, was the laser unit from Armalaser, that is activated by human touch. It normally sells for $139, but they had a Show price of $75. There is a gold strip that you naturally touch when holding the gun and it activates the laser. I asked about it for my Shield.

This was my first Shot Show, but won't be my last. Range Day was great and even tho shooting the 12ga. with the suppressor was an experience, it certainly made for a heavy weapon. Now, a left handed Tavor was really nice. Nice not to have all that brass flying by my face for a change.

The walking at the Show itself was something else. My many operations caught up with me, but sitting for a few minutes every so often helped. I'll tell you one thing tho, trying to find the exit when deep in the largest hall could certainly be an effort in frustration. One of the vendors told me she had a hard time finding her booth even when using the map provided with the Shot Show app.

All in all, a great experience and I'm looking forward to the next one. Per the alerts they sent on the last day to my phone, they are already accepting hotel bookings for Shot Show 2016.

One fact you might not know is how expensive the booth space is. From talking with one of the Calguns vendors at the buffet EBR set up at the Mirage, a 5'x7' space was $10K. For those who went, can you imagine how much a space like the one Daniel Defense had goes for. We were guessing about $100K.

[SoCalDep]

Out of curiosity, was the laser unit from Armalaser, that is activated by human touch. It normally sells for $139, but they had a Show price of $75. There is a gold strip that you naturally touch when holding the gun and it activates the laser. I asked about it for my Shield.

Yep... That's the one. I was waiting for a buddy and happened to look at the Shield model. I really like their switching and their "tape" switch remote system is pretty cool too, though I wonder how durable it would be.

I threw the laser on my Shield yesterday and started playing with it. I'll be ordering a holster tomorrow and until it arrives I'll be doing a bunch of dry-fire practice and maybe a bit of sighting in/initial accuracy and zero confirmation.

I plan to run it hard for a few weeks to see how it holds zero. The biggest drawback I've found so far is placing the switch on the under-side of the trigger guard...It only takes touch (no mechanism to depress) but if your grip is slightly off it becomes intermittent. I think it might be a bit of a familiarization/training curve, so we'll see, but I'd definitely prefer the contacts to be on the grip below the trigger guard. We'll see how it goes.

[DrJCM020]

S&W M&P Shield Armalaser TR4 - the crimson trace killer (My review of each laser)

Detailed review and comparison, with pictures (from owner of both lasers) of Armalaser TR series and Crimson Trace LaserGuards (for any handgun).

Recently I decided I had had enough with CTC and decided to look and see if there was any new tech out there allowing me to switch lasers to a more reliable brand yet still with some sort of new instinctive activation which also offered a full grip on the firearm.

Finally, I found more than I thought was possible for a laser of this type in the Armalaser TR series (here a TR4 for my S&W M&P Shield).

The 7 Armalaser only features listed below, paired with the amazing customer service are totally unique for a small laser of this type. Simply put, the Armalaser TR series completely blows all of its competitors out of the water and stands alone at the top.

Reason to buy a Armalaser TR series over CTC (What the armalaser has which CTC can't match or simply doesn't offer.)

1.) Incredible caring customer service - they go out of their way just for you (from my experience, that was because they seemed to genuinely care). They'll 2 days stuff for ya!
-- you also get a class topping 5 year warranty (CTC only offers 3 year) AND
-- Armalaser offers and exchange program which is totally unique!

2.) Proximity technology instinctive/reactive touch activation of laser WITHOUT that silly unreliable button GRIP!!! Little gold strip on the rear part of the trigger guard. For me it works every time flawlessly and allows me what I had been looking for, A FULL GRIP ON THE FIREARM - spent 400 rounds last night and not one single hiccup! Goodbye CTC broken activation button FOREVER! I was far more accurate with this laser and a full grip on the firearm every shot!

3.) Mater on/off switch (seems quality made and durable) - this is great for range visits. Sometimes you want to work with just your sights and develop that skill without having to have to remove the laser because should you ever need to use your firearm in personal defense the laser will still be on there but it may be in daylight and using your sights might be a skill that saves you life. CTC have nothing like this... that pesky laser is always on when you are shooting (unless you remove it on and off which can lead to a disaster considering the silly screws that CTC offers that strip ALL the TIME) and ranges are dark places so you never really get to develop the sole skill of firing with just your sights... this is a skill everyone who carries should master. The Armalaser is the only reactive touch laser that offers you the option to develop this skill without removing the laser... HUGE!!!

4.) Two laser options which you can choose from easily! Pulsating (increases battery life to 12 hours MASSIVE) and steady (6 hours battery life). BUT YOU CAN CHOOSE!!!!!!!

5.) Brightness, while very very similar to the level of the CTC, I'd say to my eye the Armalaser is slightly brighter and especially brighter if the laser is aimed at human skin... It appears to almost glow on skin.

6.) Battery Door!!!!!!! FINALLY!!!!! Armalaser saw the problem with CTC battery changes and offered a genius solution. (maybe this one should go higher on the list....) no need to pull the whole thing off and mess with tiny allen screws that are prone to stripping and could mess with your sight alignment and overall accuracy - needing to be sighted in again. The batter door allows or extremely quick battery changes with only the SUPPLIED small philips head screwdriver... no more messing around with re-sighting after battery changes.

7.) Reliability and durability - made from some serious materials (Dupont Zytel) and the mount to the firearm is ROCK SOLID but MAINLY the best feature of the Armalasers is the use of proper philips head connecting screws and battery door screw. They are far far less likely to strip, increasing durability and never rendering your laser unsafe while firing it because you've been forced to use/carry it with just one connecting screw affixing the laser to the firearm. In the past with CTC, I have been forced to do this and it made me very uncomfortable. Eventually I just took it off completely while awaiting the replacement screws to arrive in the mail. Armalaser offers FREE REPLACEMENT SCREWS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, no waiting for replacements!!!!! You have already been given them in the original packaging. GENIUS and caring!
-- On this front, what comes in the box, you also get two allen wrenches, two screws, and a small philips head screwdriver!!!! Everything you need and them some, right out of the box!

A note on why I wanted to get away from CTC and find something better out there!!- I've had several CTC lasers in the past but only because they offered instinctive activation of the laser just by gripping the firearm (but with the loss of a full grip.... sort of, its still a full grip essentially but the button is activated by your middle finger and protrudes from the firearm grip by a good little amount. But, the CTC button breaks so often that you have to grip carefully and with relatively light pressure with you middle finger that is doing the activation or else it will fail and kill the laser completely. This leaves you to mainly hang on with your last two fingers which, I really dislike and hurts my accuracy). I've owned two CTC's for this model of firearm (the lg-489). But all of them, no matter which firearm, continuously get sent back to CTC for repair or replacement mainly of the activation button always going wrong,... ALWAYS (last lg-489 lasted just a single month before complete failure!!!), there is a 4 week minimum turn around time to get a CTC laser sent in, repaired or replaced, and mailed back to you, at best. This is completely UNACCEPTABLE, for people like me who terrible eyesight a laser on a carry firearm is 100% mandatory. Knock my glasses off, I can't even see the front sight, forget about hitting anything as I couldn't hit anything to save my life without them, literally!!!!! But, with a laser, even then I'm a crack shot!!! 4 weeks without a laser on my carry firearm, especially one that cost 200 dollars is unprofessional, uncaring, and inappropriate. Get a better policy CTC (i.e., it breaks get confirmed by a LGS or gunsmith and they send you the replacement overnight in the mail and include a return mail envelope for you to send the defective one in. For a 200 dollar laser, this as a consumer is what should be expected

PS - I have no connection to Armalaser nor are they paying me two write such a glowing review. I did this because people should know the best thats out there in order to protect themselves and their families in the best way that they can, with the best equipment available. The good guys out there need a reliable laser like this in their hands at all times.