It actually began the day before the SHOT Show, when we fortunate members of the outdoor media headed to the range to talk about - and fondle - and shoot - whatever stuff the displaying manufacturers had to show off.
One item I'd been wanting to try was Caldwell's Fire Control Full Length Rest, and there were a couple of them on the long-range firing line. Perched on one of these rests was a Blaser rifle, chambered for 300 Win Mag. This is a straight-pull bolt action rifle, and the action is very fast and smooth. You don't raise the bolt - just pull it back and push it forward to cycle the action.
On another Fire Control rest was a Savage M93 bolt-action rifle in 17 HMR. The rifle itself functioned well, but I was unable to detect any reaction from any of the small steel targets I shot, due to the BB-sized bullet it fired - and forget about finding the tiny holes in a paper target at long range.
As for the Fire Control Rest, it works pretty well for quickly acquiring multiple targets, but it does nothing whatsoever to help tame recoil. That was not a problem with the 17 HMR, of course, but the Blaser 300 Win Mag certainly kicked the snot out of me. For target repeatability and recoil reduction, you'd be much better off with Caldwell's Lead Sled DFT. I have used one of those extensively, and I like it - but it is quite heavy.
I fired both of these rifles from some very nice portable shooting benches by D.O.A. Tactical. These are good benches built here in the good ol' USA. I was fortunate enough to meet the company's owner and discuss these comfortable rests. The company concentrates on quality control and making a superior product, and it appears that they are doing well at that.
While in the long-range area, I gravitated towards the Savage table, where a demo version of the new Savage AccuStock was displayed. This interesting synthetic stock for their line of bolt-action centerfire rifles features a machined aluminum insert, into which the action is pulled when it's installed into the stock. It includes a clamp for the recoil lug.
In effect, the recoil lug is forced backwards against the proper portion of the aluminum stock insert via the clamp, and the vertical action screws pull the receiver down inside the insert, which squeezes it from both sides. This leaves you with a stable and stiffened action, which amounts to less movement when the gun is fired, which should naturally lead to more consistent accuracy.
Before you ask whether the AccuStock can be used on Savage rifles of earlier manufacture, the answer is no. Like the AccuTrigger, this feature will only be offered on new rifles. They have also removed the notches from the barrel locknut, and moved the bolt release. The reason for these changes? Unclear, although it was mentioned that they wanted to give buyers of the new (and more expensive) version of their rifles the impression that they are receiving more value.
Personally, I like the AccuStock concept, but I'm afraid that Savage may be pricing themselves out of the very market that built their current company into what it is today - and by continuing to introduce new features that can't be applied to their earlier rifles, they may alienate many Savage fans who have long loved the sheer practicality and value of Savage 10/110 bolt-action rifles.
Strolling through another area of the range, I came upon Sig Sauer's area, where I happily picked up and fired one of the new P250 semi-auto pistols. This interesting little popper is something new. The heart of it - and the serial-numbered portion - is simply the fire-control assembly. Basically, it's the guts of the gun... a steel frame containing trigger, hammer, etc. This can be fitted into polymer frames of varying sizes depending on a shooter's hand size and/or carry needs, while it also allows for easy caliber changes.
Available calibers include 9mm Luger, 357 SIG, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. Grip frames are available in Full Size, Compact, and Sub-Compact sizes, and while the subcompact grip is stumpier than the others, all of them are fairly thick. There are slimmer hard-hitting pistols out there that would probably be more suitable for concealed-carry use. But the modular system is nifty and flexible, and I watched as a Sig man demonstrated how to quickly take it apart and put it back together. Pretty slick idea.
In firing the P250 semi-auto, I was semi-pleased. It is a DAO (double-action only) pistol, which I dislike. And twice the pistol locked the slide back as if the magazine were empty, although ammo remained in the magazine. When asked, the Sig rep said it was a known problem only with that particular gun. I am a Sig fan, but I think I'm going to hold fire on running out to buy a new P250.
Farther down the line, I ran across a simple-but-effective gun cleaning tool that looked too good not to mention here. It's the Muzzle Mate. Simply put, it's a handy little clear plastic container that clips onto the muzzle of a rifle or shotgun. It helps contain the splatter of solvent that always happens when you run a wet brush through the bore, and it also works great at catching those patches that usually like to end up on the floor or somewhere else they shouldn't be.
On a nearby range, I nearly missed my chance to fire a Bushmaster bolt-action 50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) rifle. The ammo was nearly depleted, but I did get to fire the third-to-last round. Recoil was negligible, but the pressure wave made an impression - I felt it across my face & into my sinuses. With a 10-round removable box magazine, this is a nice rifle. I wish I had a dozen of 'em, and someone to bankroll my ammo needs. (Continued)
