SHOT Show 2012 review
The most significant observation made at the SHOT show in Sands Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada this year was the increase in hunting related vendors, which can only be a good sign that the economy has become a little better. The SHOT show is the largest firearm related show in the world, vendors coming from every country to sell firearms, hunting related products and tactical police armor, and technology. This show is not open to the public, but one sees buyers from every branch of every service, military and police from every country in the world. Notably were the increase in vendors from the previous "Eastern Block" countries, and those from China.
Not only were there the usual high flying Franchi shot guns, a plethora of Chinese air rifles and optics, European and North American munitions suppliers, but there were some much smaller and new vendors marketing hunting related products such as those offered by HuntingGPSmaps.com (Montana Mapping & GPS, LLC.), and a new South African company, Rudolph Optics, (www.rudolphoptics.com) whose products are designed in South Africa, but manufactured in Japan (more on these after a road test).
The product offered by Montana Mapping & GPS, LLC., is topo maps overlayed by land ownership data, which is a tremendous tool for hunters to prevent trespassing. It is the law that it is a huters responsibiluty to know where they are at all times, such that they do not commit trespass, so this tool which will have a full review here in the near future is as important as a GPS, map and compass. The data is overlayed onto maps in Garmin GPS's, such that the hunter can carry it with him at all times, and of course print maps from a computer, but much more on this later.
There were beautiful works of firearm art in the form of Mauser rifles (www.mauser.com) offered in exquisite wood and wonderful engraving on the metalwork, or with synthetic stocks. Another eye catching firearm manufacturer is Volquartsen (www.volquartsen.com). Knives of every kind, and for every purpose, including some other works of art, and antique sword copies. For the waterfowl hunters there were plenty of decoys, calls and other equipment offered by companies such as MOJO Outdoors, (www.mojooutdoors.com).
More optics than one can shake a stick at, including Rex, Fujinon, and March among the lesser well known. Reloading equipment and supplies from all the names one would expect, such as RCBS, LEE, Winchester, and less well known like Lapua, SmartReloader, and COP (Copper Only Projectiles made by Rare Ammo) who are making lead free projectiles, at the moment in handgun calibers only. Hearing protection was in abundance, with notable supplies from MACK'S and Peltor among the many.
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