Photos will be taken by Ken Lunde (lunde@adobe.com) using a Nikon D300 digital SLR with Nikkor 17-55mm DX Zoom lens (Some Common Settings: Auto White Balance, Aperture-Priority Mode, ISO 1600, No Tripod).
The 2008 SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show) was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from February 2nd through the 5th, 2008.
Links to my previous SHOT Show Photos & Reports: Ken Lunde's 2007 SHOT Show Photos & Report
Click on a photo to view a higher-resolution version.
Last updated on February 11th, 2008.
This page will be updated, before, during, and after the 2008 SHOT Show, with photos and commentary.
Below is a photo of the area between the North and Central halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, taken right before the 2008 SHOT Show opened for its second day, along with one of the Central Hall taken on the fourth day:
Here is the Sig-Sauer booth:
Sig-Sauer had a few new items, one of which is a honest-to-goodness .22LR conversion unit for the P226. It is a complete top-end. The slide is anodized aluminum. Sig-Sauer plans to make these for the P229 and P220, and the P229 should also work with the P228. But, the P226 one will be the first to be released. Here are a few snapshots:
I also had a chance to photograph a Two-Tone P250:
Below is a photo of a P250 with a clear frame, and a full-size one chambered in .45 Auto (I was shooting through glass):
The 2008 Sig-Sauer catalog has the specs for the P250, in all three sizes (Subcompact, Compact, and Full Size), and in 9mm, .40 Auto, .357 Sig, and .45 Auto. Of course, .40 Auto and .357 Sig capacity is the same. Here are the capacities:
And, here are some dimensions:
Pardon the poor photo, but the Sig 556 pistol was behind glass:
Finally, here is the hand-held Sig-Sauer STL-300J light that uses three LEDs:
There is also an STL-900L 300-lumen Weapon Light for 2008, but no sample was at the 2008 SHOT Show.
I met Flork, Bruce Gray, and others from Gray Guns at the Sig-Sauer booth, and was given an opportunity to photograph a Sig-Sauer P220ST that was converted to 10mm. Behold:
I own two P220STs, so I definitely see this in my future, perhaps very near future, given that 10mm is one of the cartridges that I enjoy shooting.
Speaking of Flork, here he is, holding what must be his favorite Sig-Sauer 556:
And, here are Michael Bane and Bruce Gray, most likely making plans to watch the Super Bowl:
Flork, in the foreground, is snoozing, because he obviously doesn't care about the Super Bowl. Neither do I.
I was also given the opportunity to photograph Aurora Industries' diopter sight for the Sig-Sauer 556 rifle. Below are photos of this sight attached to a 556, some of which compare it to the original Sig 55X diopter sight after which it was modeled:
Colt is making the Delta Elite again! It is using a bushing-less bull barrel. Note that the grips lack the Delta medallions of the original Delta Elites.
Cooper Arms held a reception on Saturday evening (02/02/2008), which I attended, and they also a booth this year. Several rifles were on display. Here are a couple photos of their booth, in which you can see Dan Cooper:
On display was their latest synthetic stock, called the Excalibur, which is similar to their successful Phoenix stock, but modeled after their Classic stock:
Another new option for their rifles are helical bolt flutes:
Here are some examples of the engraving work being done at Cooper Arms. The first two are magazine floorplates, and the last two are of a Model 52.
Although I don't need any of their exquisite engraving work, there is definitely an M52 Excalibur chambered in .30-06 with stainless steel barrel and helical-fluted bolt in my future. Near future. I already sent an email to Mark at First Stop Guns.
One new thing I found at the AlumaGrips booth were aluminum grips for the Rohrbaugh 9mm pistol. As usual with AlumaGrips, the quality and workmanship were top-notch.
Speaking of AlumaGrips, they are teaming up with TechWell USA to make magwells for 1911s, along with matching grips from AlumaGrips. One difficulty with 1911 magwells is to get grips that align with them. These align perfectly, because they are made to work and fit together!
Hogue now has aluminum grips for the Sig-Sauer P239 now, and they are thin! And, they have texture, unlike the factory grips. These are nice! These are a must-have for P239 owners. I asked Ken@Hogue to install a set onto the P239 that they had on display so that I could take the photos below:
There were three flavors of FNP45 at the FNH USA booth, all of which I was able to photograph. Note how the all-black one lacks front slide serrations.
Here is Glock's latest pistol, the G30SF (Glock 30 Short Frame), along with a comparison with the G30, in terms of its rear strap:
While there, I used the opportunity to stand in line, to give to The Gunny (R. Lee Ermey) a print of the photo of me and him taken at the 2007 SHOT Show. Below is a photo of him holding the photo, along with the actual photo from the 2007 SHOT Show:
Although Heckler & Koch debuted the HK45 and HK45C at the 2007 SHOT Show, the latter was just released, and is expected to be a hot item at the 2008 SHOT Show. Sadly, only the same Dark Earth HK45C is on display. No all-black ones are here. But, there was an HK45 LEM with bobbed hammer on display, along with what appears to be the same HK45C with Dark Earth frame, and a P30. Fondling the P30 made me question why I live in California.
Ed Brown is now offering the Special Forces Commander Bobtail as a standard model. I have one, which was a special order, and it is sweet! Another first for them this year is an accessory-rail frame for the Special Force. The accessory-rail frame is stainless steel, so if you want a blued one, you need to have it Gen III coated for a matte blued look. Of course, Gen III coating is standard for the Special Forces. Here are the photos:
Below are photos of an engraved Custom Classic, which is one of only twenty-five being made:
I was able to photograph a fully-engraved Les Baer TRS at their booth, with Les Baer himself watching me take the photos:
CZ USA had three new things that caught my eye: the CZ 97 BD, the CZ 75 P-06 (.40 Auto version of the CZ 75 P-01), and the CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical in .40 Auto. Here they are:
Walther America had P99s, P99 Compacts, PPKs, P22s, SP22s, and PPSes on display. Here is an all-black PPS (9mm):
I didn't spot any .40 Auto PPSes on Sunday, but found one on Monday. Here is the interesting side, which shows the caliber designation:
The Walther SP22 M4 caught my eye. Very nice grip on it.
Springfield Armory debuted the EMP in .40 Auto. I have one in 9mm, and love it. Two were on display, one with standard grips made of Cocobolo, and one with G-10 grips made by Larry Davidson for Springfield Armory:
Upon looking at the specs of the EMP in .40 Auto, its frame is carbon steel, not alloy, which is why it weighs six ounces more than the EMP chambered in 9mm (27 versus 33 ounces). Capacity is 8+1, versus 9+1 for the EMP 9mm.
Springfield Armory also introduced an XD with a manual (and ambidextrous) safety. When engages, it prevents the slide from moving rearward. In fact, the safety felt great. It actuated quite easily, in the fire and safe positions, and doesn't protrude too much. I was impressed.
I was keeping my fingers crossed that Smith & Wesson would introduce the M&P45c (M&P45 Compact) at the 2008 SHOT Show, and they did! The all-black one looked the best. The Dark Earth frame had a manual safety. There are now three sizes for the M&P45: Full Size, Mid Size, and Compact. Below are photos of the Mid-Size, whose capacity is the same as the Full Size, specifically 10 rounds, because the frames appear to be the same:
Below are photos of the Compact, whose capacity is 8 rounds:
Here is the M&P9L (long slide):
Smith & Wesson's new Night Guard line is impressive, with front tritium sights, fixed rear sight, and Scandium frame. Here are photos of the Model 396 Night Guard, which is chambered in .44 Special:
I managed to spot Crimson Trace LaserGrips for the M&P9c at the Smith & Wesson booth:
The GSG-5, a full-size replica of the HK MP5 chambered in .22LR and imported by American Tactical Imports, was on display. Its magazines hold 22 rounds. For those in California, the good news is that we can but then. Ten-round magazines are in the works, and will look like the magazines in the photos below.
Pearce Grip now offers magazine extensions for the XD45, called the PG-XD45. Here it is, on an XD45 Compact:
Ruger introduced a green-framed SR9:
Sadly, there is no SR45. Yet. But, Ruger introduced a small and light .380 Auto called the LCP, which holds 6+1 rounds of .380 Auto, weighs 9.4 ounces (unloaded, I presume), with an MSRP of only $330:
Taurus USA introduced the PT709, which is an 8+1 slim 9mm pistol that weighs 19 ounces (no plans for a .40 Auto version, and even the 9mm one is not expected to be ready until late this year):
Kel-Tec had a few things. First, the RFB, a bullpup 7.62mm rifle that ejects cartridges to the front (the third photo below shows the circular port through which the spent cases are ejected):
And, for those in California, their new SU-22 (.22LR), will be available:
Check out this diamond-encrusted Beretta 92FS, and its price!!!
MSAR (Microtech Small Arms Research) had their version of the AUG on display, called the STG and MSC. The former is chambered in 5.56mm or 6.8 SPC, and the latter is a Carbine version, that uses Glock magazines, and is chambered in 9mm, .40 Auto, 10mm, .45 GAP, and .45 Auto. They plan to do .357 Sig at some point. Nice stuff. Too bad I live in California.
Lewis Machine & Tool (aka, LMT) has an AR15 Piston Upper available:
Remington had a commemorative 870 shotgun on display, celebrating 100 years of production, with an engraved and gold-inlayed receiver:
I very much like the Buck Mark barrels and grips made by Tactical Solutions. This particular example caught my eye:
Here is the Kahr PM45 (I retook the photo on the fourth day):
My favorite LED flashlight, the Novatac 120P, is now available in black. This is an excellent LED flashlight. There are three models, and the 120P is the highest-end model with the ability to program (hence the "P" in its designation), and also has a recessed button that allows the flashlight to stand, pointing up.
Speaking of high-performance flashlights, check out Surefire's new Optimus (aka, U2A):
That is all for now.