Shooting Illustrated traversed the SHOT Show floor in 2017, looking for the coolest new products from big and small names in the industry. On Day One, we found a number of great products to look forward to in 2017. Here are 10 highlights:
Shooting Illustrated covered the release of the new Taurus Spectrum in early January 2017 here, but the new gun was still a prominent introduction at SHOT Show. The Spectrum is a personal-defense pocket pistol chambered in .380 ACP and has a unique customization system. The gun features rubberized inserts in the grip and slide of the gun that can be changed out with different colors, allowing users to create a custom look for their firearm. The material also provides a gripping surface on the slide and frame, ensuring positive retention. The suggested retail price on the new Spectrum is $289.
Mission First Tactical made big waves late last year with the launch of the company's new holster line, which is covered here. However, the company has big things in the works for 2017, including a polymer handguard for the AR-15 platform. Previously, the company only offered metal handguards, but the popularity of polymer can't be denied. The sample shown above is pre-production, and MFT assures us that the final design will feature some refinements. Other big news out of the company includes the release of a polymer AK-47 magazine, which features reinforcements in the feed lips and floor plate for added durability.
Winchester made some waves with the exciting news that it would be entering the chassis-based precision rifle market with the new Winchester XPC. The XPC features a machined-alloy chassis frame with a Magpul PRS Gen 3 stock, a threaded muzzle with target crown, an M-LOK accessory rail and a full-length 20-MOA top Picatinny rail. The rifle is based on the company's proven XPR action, and the rifle retails at a suggested price of $1,599.99
Burris is offering 3-Gunners a great new optic that gives shooters all the features they need at an affordable price with the new RT-6 1-6x24 scope. The new optic features an illuminated reticle with 11 settings, an integrated throw lever and a main tube size of 30 mm. The retail price on the new scope is $419, but shooters can get a package that includes the scope, a one-piece P.E.P.R. mount and a Fastfire 3 optic for $659.
The new Remington RP9 full-size polymer pistol is one of the bigger introductions for 2017, and the gun contains some innovative features that make it an attractive choice for the consumer. First, the gun features a 4.5-inch barrel and is chambered in 9 mm +P and has an impressive magazine capacity of 18 rounds. The gun does this while maintaining one of the slimmest grip circumferences on the market. Other features include a single-action trigger with reset and a lowered bore axis. The suggested retail price on the new RP9 is $489.
Blue Force Gear is known for its line of tactical gear and packs, but the company is changing directions a bit with its first foray into the EDC and concealed-carry market: the ULTRAcomp Pocket Holster. This new holster is constructed with the company's proprietary high-performance ULTRAcomp laminate, which resists tearing and abrasion. The material is also thin and lightweight, leading to the company claim that the new pocket holster is the thinnest option on the market today. Reportedly, the company plans to offer this pocket holster for around $20, but the final MSRP is yet to be released.
Kimber expanded its revolver line for 2017, adding five new models to the K6s family. One of these models, pictured above, is a luxury option with a mirror-polished stainless-steel finish and Pao Ferro wood grips. Other options in the new lineup include the K6s Stainless with a choice of white three-dot sights or night sights. A brushed-stainless model with a Crimson Trace lasergrip is also available. The K6s First Edition pictured here sells at a suggested retail price of $2,039.
Magpul showcased its new Backpacker stock designed for the Ruger 10/22 Takedown at the show, displaying its expansion in the aftermarket stock product line. The new Backpacker stock features an ergonomic handguard with an optional QD mount, an integrated grip storage compartment and a hinged storage compartment in the stock that is designed to hold three 10-round magazines. The stock is available in black, flat dark earth, gray and olive drab and retails at a suggested price of $109.95.
Another newcomer to the chassis-based precision rifle market is Weatherby, with its Modular Chassis Rifle based on the proven Vanguard action. The rifle features a CNC-machined 6061 aluminum chassis that comes with a black hard-anodized finish. The chassis features M-LOK accessory rail slots and a bipod stud. The rifle comes with a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee and features an adjustable two-stage match trigger. The rifle is available in .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor and .223 Rem. The suggested retail price is $1,519.
Steiner added a serious red dot optic to its product lineup for 2017: the R1X Red Dot Tactical Series. This new optic is designed specifically for military and law enforcement markets and is a low-profile red-dot optic designed for the AR platform. The optic is designed to reduce tunnel vision, allowing for quicker target acquisition and improved accuracy, as well as greater situational awareness. The R1X features a single red dot reticle or a 3-dot stadia that is calibrated for 10, 7 and 5 meters. Both standard and QD mounts are available, and the suggested retail price is $630.99.
