45 Talk

Next up is our old friends from Caracal. This is the gun designer/manufacturer from the UAE that popped on to the scene pretty big time at SHOT a few years back. You might all recall the auto pistols that had the QuickSights. The following year pistol caliber carbines that used the same magazines were introduced. Then ATF and Government importation regulations forced them into a redesign cycle.

This year they are bringing us a familiar old friend, 1911s. Only a total of 4 variations. Actually two versions available in two styles. There is a fullsize and a bobtail commander. The difference is in the sights. The models with the brown grips come with an adjustable rear sight and a fiber optic front sight. The models with the grey grips have tritium sights. All models have checkered front and backstraps, lowered and flared ejection ports, beveled magazine wells, ambidextrous safeties and all the other features we have become accustomed to in a good 1911. right now they are only offering 45ACP

Caracal is also producing a new precision rifle. Chambered in 7.62×51 this is already being produce for various foreign countries special services. These are not for sale in the US at the moment only because there is no available production. Caracal’s current contracts are taking 100% of the production.

They brought two for us to play with. Superbly accurate.

Wind was only a few knots and our farthest targets were limited to the 100 yard berm. My first two shot rang the Silhouette on the 100 yard line. Moving to the small round gongs I rang two out of three hits. I knew it was a miss when I pulled the trigger, it was me. I need to go spend more time with the rifles

I was also told that everything required to bring the quick sight models back into the US is almost complete. Probably we will see these at thenext SHOT show

One of my first stops was the Ruger display.

Lots of new things here, some strange, some espected

It caught me eye. A Take Down version of the Charger. Why take down something that is half size to start, I have no idea, but here it is.

These are cute and probably a long time overdue. Bearcats with adjustable sights. Available in both stainless and blue steel.

The 3″ polymer framed LCR is here. It is 38 Special and I have been told that +P is not an issue for this firearm. A 357 Version is not in works at this time. The polymer frame is not going to handle it in it’s current configuration. However, they are still looking into it

Now we have the 9MM LCR. It requires moon clips to properly eject. Like many revolvers chambered for rimless cartridges, the cases will sit against the cylinder throats and fire without the moon clips. If you shoot it that way bring your pencil with you so the empties can be pushed out

The last of the new offerings that I had the chance to handle and shoot out at the range is a variation on the 22-45. It is colorful, suppressor ready, and milled for weight reduction.

OK, this should have been out decades ago. You can now buy a complete trigger group from Ruger that will give your 10/22 a 2 1/2-3 pound trigger. The best thing is the price, Under $75 for most all of the on-line vendors. I thought that I took a picture of this, I will do one from the show floor later in the week.

In addition to these new offerings, there will be distributor exclusives that I come across duringthe week. I will post them when I find them

As most of you know the Firearm Industry’s big trade show, S H O T, occurs each January.

I am here in Vegas and will give you guys info on what I find new and exciting. Realize the SHOT show is massive and there is no way that I will even visit 10% of the vendors here. However I am sure I will see something to interest you.

What most of you may not know is that every Monday before the SHOT show is “Media Day at the Range”

Most of the big boys bring some of their toys to the Bounder Pistol and Rifle Club for the Media to play with.

Located in Boulder City Nevada the BPRC is a HUGE shooting facility. There were roughly 70 vendors set up with live shooting displays and over 3000 Attendees. Here is infrared satellite image of the range facility

Range Map

SHOT busses everyone out to the facility starting at 7:45 in the morning. There are food trucks that come out for the event so coffee, drinks and food are available throughout the day. New as of last year is that Industry buyers get invited to the facility as well. However buyers can only shop up after Noon so the Media has a fairly good 4 hours in the morning to get through the displays

Short range

Stay tuned. I will be resizing pictures and posting more tidbits tonight.