Each year the law enforcement specific portion of the annual Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show grows larger. This year's show was no exception.
The SHOT Show is primarily about hunting, but this year law enforcement product vendors definitely had a major presence. Aisles in the law enforcement section of the show, held Feb. 12-15 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, were bustling with cops and civilians getting a look at the latest police weapons and gear. And throughout the show floor there were flashlights, communication systems, tools, and weapons that were suited to law enforcement use.
24-Hour Duty Pistol
One of the most talked about product launches at this year's SHOT Show was the Taurus 24/7 duty pistol. The 24/7 is a striker-fired, polymer-framed pistol available in 9mm and .40 caliber versions. Of course, that doesn't set the 24/7 apart from many of its competitors. What does is the feature set for the price. For an under $600 suggested retail price, the 24/7 offers an overmolded rubber Ribber Grip for comfort, user changeable sights, an integral security system (optional on duty guns), memory pads so the shooter's fingers almost automatically fall into the proper position when holding the gun, a Picatinny rail for accessories, an external safety, and a loaded chamber indicator. The advertising slogan for this lightweight (27.2 ounces) pistol is "fill your hand," and it does just that. It feels great in a shooter's hand.
www.taurususa.com
Rocking and Rolling
As mentioned, some products exhibited at SHOT Show are for law enforcement use only. And perhaps one of the biggest ripples on this side of the SHOT Show pond was caused by the DEA rifle from Rock River Arms. The DEA Rifle is an AR platform carbine in 5.56mm (.223 caliber) with a 14-inch barrel (16-inch for non-federal agencies). This is a loaded rifle in more ways than one. It comes complete with a Hogue pistol grip, a National Match trigger, GG&G flip-up rear sight, EOTech holographic sight, a SureFire M95 light, and more.
www.rockriverarms.com
Tactical Rifle
Beretta introduced a Tikka-branded tactical rifle for law enforcement applications. The Tikka T3 Tactical rifle features a 20-inch barrel with non-reflective black phosphate finish, a synthetic stock with an adjustable cheekpiece, and a five-round detachable magazine. With a built-in Picatinny rail, the bolt-action T3 Tactical can accept a variety of optics and accessories. Beretta says that all Sako- and Tikka-brand rifles must fire a 1-inch, three-shot group at 100 yards prior to shipping from the factory in Finland.
www.beretta.com
On the Dot
TRUGLO, best known for its night sights, is now offering a line of red-dot sights for pistols and shotguns. Each of the red-dot sights is waterproof, fog proof, and shock resistant up to .50 caliber. The sights come in open and tubeless styles and offer windage and elevation adjustment.
www.truglo.com
Making a Mark
With growing concern about accidents during force-on-force training sessions, more and more companies are offering simulated ammunition products. One of the newest players in this market is Ultimate Training Munitions (UTM). Like its competitors, the UTM system requires conversion of the user's weapons with special barrels and other parts that prevent the weapons from chambering live rounds. UTM offers marking rounds and blanks for pistols, sub-guns, and rifles. The company says its training munitions will all cycle properly in semi-auto and full-auto weapons.
Kicking Out the Jams
Para-Ordnance has added a new wrinkle to the classic Model 1911 design. The Para 1911 now features what Para calls the Power Extractor, an attempt to engineer away what the company calls the one glaring weakness in John Browning's classic .45 autopistol design, an extractor that can sometimes cause feeding problems. Para's internal Power Extractor is bigger and tougher inside the slide, but it doesn't alter the look or feel of the pistol.
www.paraord.com
Heat Signature
It's a universal truth that high-tech equipment gets smaller and better with each new generation. For law enforcement applications, the latest high-tech gear to get smaller and better is the thermal imaging system. These high-tech optics are now so small that they can be installed in gun sights, binoculars, even helmet-worn goggles. Nivisys showed its new Thermal Acquisition Goggle. The head-mounted TAG-7 system is ruggedized for police and military operations, runs on AA batteries, and can spot the bad guys regardless of time of day, camouflage, or natural cover.
www.nivisys.com
A Steel Trap
One of the more innovative products on display at this year's SHOT Show was Beretta's new Security Pack gun cases. The Security Pack system features eXomesh, a combination of fabric interwoven with a 1.5mm stainless steel cable. EXomesh says its system is slashproof and tamper proof and demonstrations showed how tough the Security Pack can be, as cutting though the fabric merely reveals the interwoven steel cable. The company says that law enforcement agencies are using the product to secure firearms in the field for evidence control.
www.beretta.com
Why Shoot Straight?
Clearly one of the most talked about Law Enforcement products at this year's SHOT Show was the Corner Shot. Part video camcorder, part weapon, the Corner Shot is a device that allows an operator to see around corners or into crawl spaces and attics, covering whatever he or she finds with a pistol that can be fired remotely. The pistol is mounted on a flexible platform just above a video camera and is fired by a trigger mounted at the rear of the device. The combination of camera and pistol quite literally allows the user to place aimed shots around a corner.
www.cornershot.com
Packing a Punch
Barrett Firearms debuted a new tactical weapon for agencies that need a powerful semi-auto rifle built on an AR platform. The Barrett M468 fires the new Remington 6.8mm SPC round for serious knockdown power and features all the rails that you could possibly need. Five- and 10-round magazines are available. Conversion kits and complete guns are available.
www.barrettrifles.com
Stocking Up
Agencies that want to replace the stocks on their tactical rifles with lighter fiberglass models may want to take a look at the new A-5 from McMillan. The hand-laid fiberglass stock fits Remington, Winchester, Sako, and Weatherby rifles and is impervious to rain, humidity, freezing, heat, and altitude. Designed with a Winchester Marksman-style beavertail forearm, the A-5 offers the trim pistol grip preferred by FBI sharpshooters. Also, a thumb shelf on top of the stock gives the shooter a choice of thumb position and a butt hook is provided for shooters who like to nestle the stock in the web of their non-trigger hand for more control.
www.mcmfamily.com
Snap-On Holster
Bianchi International has expanded its Auto Retention holsters to include a snap-on model. The new SnapLok is designed for plainclothes officers and others who need to affix their weapons to their belts in a hurry. As the name implies, it snaps on and features Bianchi's internal locking system. Available this summer, the SnapLok has a 16-degree forward rake and fits a variety of Glock, Beretta, SIG, and Colt pistols.
www.bianchi-intl.com[PAGEBREAK]
Tailor Made Lights
Glock has launched a new line of tactical lights for its pistols. The Glock GTL series comes in three models: the GTL 10, GTL 21, and GTL 51. A laser aiming system is built into the GTL 21 and GTL 51 with infrared capability built into the 51. All of the GTLs feature xenon bulbs that offer continuous operating time of a little more than an hour and an effective range of 30 feet.
www.glock.com
Assault Rifle
Heckler & Koch is angling to replace the U.S. Army's AR platform M4s with a new combat carbine. HK's XM8 prototype took a much-talked-about public bow at the SHOT Show. The 5.56mm NATO caliber carbine weighs as little as 6.2 pounds in its compact configuration and boasts a full-auto cyclic rate of 750 rounds per minute. Constructed of fiber-reinforced polymer materials, the XM8 can be molded in a number of colors, including OD green, desert tan, arctic white, blue, and black. It's also available in four variants and can be fitted with 12-gauge shotgun and 40mm grenade launcher modules. It probably won't be long before you see this weapon in the hands of SWAT operators.
www.hk-usa.com
Training Gloves
Simunition has expanded its line of protective force-on-force training gear with the FX 8000 gloves. The gloves, available in sizes from small to XX-large, join a line of protective gear that includes face masks, visors, vests, throat guards, pants, and arm guards. They are constructed of easily cleaned material and close with Velcro tabs for a near skintight fit.
www.simunition.com
Police LEDs
Emissive Energy, makers of the Inova brand of LED lights, announced the launch of a new line of Inova Tactical/Police LED flashlights. The lights come in three models: T1, T3, and T4 designations based on their power output, which ranges from 1 watt to 4 watts. Each of the lights features Inova's TIROS lens, which the company says delivers more than 90 percent of the LED's light on the target. The T1 is a 4.59-inch tactical model; the T3 is a 5.9-inch mid-size model, and the T4 is a full patrol-size 8-inch model. All of the Inova T-series lights offer two hours of continuous burn time. The T4 model is rechargeable and is ready for use after two-and-a-half hours of charging.
www.inova.com
Combat Holsters
BlackHawk has introduced a line of Close Quarters Concealment (CQC) Holsters. The holsters are available in leather and carbon fiber and paddle and belt loop models. Carbon fiber CQC holsters feature BlackHawk's SERPA Technology Active Retention system for securing the weapon against gun grabbers. To draw the pistol, the wearer merely has to press the release on the face of the holster, an operation that is easily and fluidly performed with a natural drawing motion. The leather CQC models have a thumb break or an adjustable retention device.
www.blackhawk.com
Goretex Boots
Danner is now selling a new line of Gore-Tex lined boots intended to give officers "happy feet." The Task Force GTX and Duty Oxford GTX are styled and constructed for comfort, but they are serious duty footwear. Breathable Gore-Tex linings keep the wearer's feet dry in rain and snow and polyurethane/EVA midsoles provide extra cushioning, traction, and support. The Duty Oxford GTX weighs just 36 ounces, while the slightly larger Task Force GTX tips the scales at 38 ounces.
www.danner.com
Monster Firepower
Named after the fictional beast Grendel from the epic poem "Beowulf," the new Overwatch 6.5mm Grendel rifle from Alexander Arms is a real monster fighter. Built on an AR platform, the semi-auto Grendel reportedly fires 95-grain and 130-grain bullets with accuracy to 1,000 yards with little wind drift. The Grendel features a 24-inch barrel and can be acquired by modifying your existing AR or buying the full weapon.
www.alexanderarms.com
Moisture Wicking
Under Armour has added cushioned boot socks and tactical hoods to its line of moisture-wicking apparel. The boot socks have full cushioned footbeds to absorb shocks and fully reciprocated toe construction with a flat toe seam for comfortable boot fit. They are available in white and black. The Under Armour tactical hood is made in the U.S.A. and provides form-fitting comfort under helmets and other headgear. It affords the wearer facial and throat protection and has a drop chin for full ventilation. One size fits all, and the hood is available in black, olive green, and army green.
www.uatactical.com
