The first day of the 2017 NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits in Atlanta, GA brought a host of brand-new guns and gear to the waiting crowds of NRA members. This year, more than 15 acres of guns and gear are exhibited. A host of exciting seminars and an appearance by President Donald Trump, the first sitting president since Ronald Reagan to address the NRAAM, made the day even more memorable. Here are some guns and gear we saw on the show floor:
Springfield Armory XDE Pistol
The latest pistol out from Springfield Armory is a departure from the company's striker-fired XD pistols. The new XDE features a hammer-fired system that uses a double-action/single-action trigger pull and incorporates an ambidextrous decocker. This new pistol provides an option for shooters who prefer hammer-fired systems, especially fans of appendix carry who prefer a pistol with a hammer that can be controlled during holstering. The suggested retail price on the new gun is $519.
Leupold Optics LTO-Quest
Leupold expanded its new-for-2017 thermal optics line with the introduction of the Quest. The new Quest thermal imager provides users with some added features over the company's Tracker. First, the Quest has the capability to discern heat differences up to 300 yards and has a sensor capable of providing users with exact temperatures within a specific target area. The Quest also provides users with a built-in 300-lumen flashlight, as well as the capability to take and store up to 2,000 images. The suggested retail price on the new Quest is $649.
American-Built Arms Keystone Performance Trainer Rifle
AB Arms teamed up with Keystone Sporting Arms to design a chassis that, when added to the Keystone 722 rifle, produced a great .22-caliber trainer for shooters of all ages and experience levels. The PT Rifle is designed and built in the USA and is aimed at giving young shooters an adjustable platform with which they can easily build skills. The bull barrel features a 1/2x28 TPI thread pitch, while the AB Arms stock features an adjustable length of pull from 10.5 to 13.75 inches. The rifle weighs 6 pounds and ships with a single seven-round magazine. The suggested retail price on the gun is $599.96.
Heckler & Koch VP9SK Pistol
H&K introduced a truncated version of its popular VP9 pistol at the 2017 NRAAM: the VP9SK. The new pistol features a shortened grip that facilitates easy carry and comes with a number of adjustable backstraps and replaceable grip panels that allow shooters to build a custom grip that fits their personal preferences. The new gun also comes with charging supports on the slide, meant to facilitate easier racking. Other features of the new gun include H&K's precision-strike trigger, ambidextrous controls and a paddle-style magazine release. The suggested retail price on the new pistol is $719.
N82 Tactical Ambassador Holster
N82 (pronounced Nate squared) Tactical launched a brand-new holster on the first day of the 2017 NRAAM. The new Ambassador holster is similar to the company's Professional line, except the firearm is retained through the use of 0.093-inch Kydex instead of the company's hard polycarbonate molds introduced in 2016. The new Kydex holster allows for passive friction retention instead of the twist-release active retention of the polycarbonate holsters. The new Ambassador holster is adjustable for ride height and cant and features a soft suede-leather backing and a moisture-proof neoprene core.
Colt Gold Cup Trophy 1911
Colt introduced its updated Gold Cup Trophy 1911 after deciding to incorporate a number of upgrades into the platform. Many of the included upgrades were custom touches customers were often putting on their competition guns through the use of custom gunsmiths. Colt decided to bake those upgrades into the pistol itself, saving shooters time and money. Several of the new upgrades include an upswept beavertail grip safety, dual-spring recoil system, 25-LPI checkering on the front and back strap of the grip and the company's blue G10 grips. The suggested retail price of the new gun is $1,699.
Browning Black Label 1911-380 Compact with Rail
Browning rolled out five new models of its 1911-380 pistol line in 2017, and one of the new offerings is the Black Label Compact. The new pistol features a 3.625-inch barrel and includes a Picatinny rail for shooters to add lights, lasers or other accessories. The gun also features combat sights and G10 composite grips to complete the tactical look. The company's 1911-380 line is sized at 75 percent of the size of a Government 1911, mimicking the size difference between the .45 ACP and the .380 ACP cartridges. The suggested retail price on the new pistol is $669.99.
Taurus T4SA AR-15
Taurus introduced its new T4SA AR-15 carbine at the show, and the company incorporated a number of desired features into its rifles. For starters, a number of the key components are Melonite-treated for durability and corrosion-resistance. The barrel, gas block, barrel nut, feed ramp and bolt-carrier group all feature Melonite treatments. The company offers 13-inch handguards in both M-Lok and KeyMod configurations and offers several different Cerakote finishes on the guns. At the show, Taurus displayed an example that has, to date, seen 7,500 malfunction-free rounds without cleaning or lubrication. The suggested retail price on the new gun is $1,199.
Ruger LCRx Revolver in .22 LR
Ruger's new addition to its LCRx line is chambered in .22 LR and features a 3-inch barrel with an 8-round cylinder, making it a great choice for a camp kit, training pistol or fun range plinker. The new gun features a DA/SA action, along with an adjustable rear sight and smooth Hogue Tamer grips. An aluminum frame, heavily fluted cylinder and polymer fire-control unit all contribute to a gun that weighs in at just 17.3 ounces. The gun measures in at 5.8 inches high and 7.5 inches in length. The suggested retail price of the new gun is $579.
Timney AR-15 Calvin Elite Trigger
Timney Triggers introduced a revolutionary new AR-15 trigger design, allowing shooters to customize their trigger pull in every imaginable way. The new trigger features a 5-pound hammer spring coupled with a 1.5-pound trigger pull. The new trigger allows end users to incorporate four separate trigger designs in the same unit, and all of the trigger shoes are included with every trigger. The designs include curved, flat, heeled and knurled triggers. Other adjustments available on this new trigger include the customization of length of pull, cast and height. The suggested retail price on the new trigger is $299.95.
Stay tuned for more of the latest in guns and gear from the NRA's annual 3-day show.
Springfield Armory XDE Pistol
The latest pistol out from Springfield Armory is a departure from the company's striker-fired XD pistols. The new XDE features a hammer-fired system that uses a double-action/single-action trigger pull and incorporates an ambidextrous decocker. This new pistol provides an option for shooters who prefer hammer-fired systems, especially fans of appendix carry who prefer a pistol with a hammer that can be controlled during holstering. The suggested retail price on the new gun is $519.
Leupold Optics LTO-Quest
Leupold expanded its new-for-2017 thermal optics line with the introduction of the Quest. The new Quest thermal imager provides users with some added features over the company's Tracker. First, the Quest has the capability to discern heat differences up to 300 yards and has a sensor capable of providing users with exact temperatures within a specific target area. The Quest also provides users with a built-in 300-lumen flashlight, as well as the capability to take and store up to 2,000 images. The suggested retail price on the new Quest is $649.
American-Built Arms Keystone Performance Trainer Rifle
AB Arms teamed up with Keystone Sporting Arms to design a chassis that, when added to the Keystone 722 rifle, produced a great .22-caliber trainer for shooters of all ages and experience levels. The PT Rifle is designed and built in the USA and is aimed at giving young shooters an adjustable platform with which they can easily build skills. The bull barrel features a 1/2x28 TPI thread pitch, while the AB Arms stock features an adjustable length of pull from 10.5 to 13.75 inches. The rifle weighs 6 pounds and ships with a single seven-round magazine. The suggested retail price on the gun is $599.96.
Heckler & Koch VP9SK Pistol
H&K introduced a truncated version of its popular VP9 pistol at the 2017 NRAAM: the VP9SK. The new pistol features a shortened grip that facilitates easy carry and comes with a number of adjustable backstraps and replaceable grip panels that allow shooters to build a custom grip that fits their personal preferences. The new gun also comes with charging supports on the slide, meant to facilitate easier racking. Other features of the new gun include H&K's precision-strike trigger, ambidextrous controls and a paddle-style magazine release. The suggested retail price on the new pistol is $719.
N82 Tactical Ambassador Holster
N82 (pronounced Nate squared) Tactical launched a brand-new holster on the first day of the 2017 NRAAM. The new Ambassador holster is similar to the company's Professional line, except the firearm is retained through the use of 0.093-inch Kydex instead of the company's hard polycarbonate molds introduced in 2016. The new Kydex holster allows for passive friction retention instead of the twist-release active retention of the polycarbonate holsters. The new Ambassador holster is adjustable for ride height and cant and features a soft suede-leather backing and a moisture-proof neoprene core.
Colt Gold Cup Trophy 1911
Colt introduced its updated Gold Cup Trophy 1911 after deciding to incorporate a number of upgrades into the platform. Many of the included upgrades were custom touches customers were often putting on their competition guns through the use of custom gunsmiths. Colt decided to bake those upgrades into the pistol itself, saving shooters time and money. Several of the new upgrades include an upswept beavertail grip safety, dual-spring recoil system, 25-LPI checkering on the front and back strap of the grip and the company's blue G10 grips. The suggested retail price of the new gun is $1,699.
Browning Black Label 1911-380 Compact with Rail
Browning rolled out five new models of its 1911-380 pistol line in 2017, and one of the new offerings is the Black Label Compact. The new pistol features a 3.625-inch barrel and includes a Picatinny rail for shooters to add lights, lasers or other accessories. The gun also features combat sights and G10 composite grips to complete the tactical look. The company's 1911-380 line is sized at 75 percent of the size of a Government 1911, mimicking the size difference between the .45 ACP and the .380 ACP cartridges. The suggested retail price on the new pistol is $669.99.
Taurus T4SA AR-15
Taurus introduced its new T4SA AR-15 carbine at the show, and the company incorporated a number of desired features into its rifles. For starters, a number of the key components are Melonite-treated for durability and corrosion-resistance. The barrel, gas block, barrel nut, feed ramp and bolt-carrier group all feature Melonite treatments. The company offers 13-inch handguards in both M-Lok and KeyMod configurations and offers several different Cerakote finishes on the guns. At the show, Taurus displayed an example that has, to date, seen 7,500 malfunction-free rounds without cleaning or lubrication. The suggested retail price on the new gun is $1,199.
Ruger LCRx Revolver in .22 LR
Ruger's new addition to its LCRx line is chambered in .22 LR and features a 3-inch barrel with an 8-round cylinder, making it a great choice for a camp kit, training pistol or fun range plinker. The new gun features a DA/SA action, along with an adjustable rear sight and smooth Hogue Tamer grips. An aluminum frame, heavily fluted cylinder and polymer fire-control unit all contribute to a gun that weighs in at just 17.3 ounces. The gun measures in at 5.8 inches high and 7.5 inches in length. The suggested retail price of the new gun is $579.
Timney AR-15 Calvin Elite Trigger
Timney Triggers introduced a revolutionary new AR-15 trigger design, allowing shooters to customize their trigger pull in every imaginable way. The new trigger features a 5-pound hammer spring coupled with a 1.5-pound trigger pull. The new trigger allows end users to incorporate four separate trigger designs in the same unit, and all of the trigger shoes are included with every trigger. The designs include curved, flat, heeled and knurled triggers. Other adjustments available on this new trigger include the customization of length of pull, cast and height. The suggested retail price on the new trigger is $299.95.
Stay tuned for more of the latest in guns and gear from the NRA's annual 3-day show.
