well , i have just spent my first few hours at the SHOT show in vegas , first time here , - being used to and having attended countless DSC conventions , SCI conventions , HSC conventions , this was a real eye opener , several times the size of sci and all geared towards displaying manufacturers wares- every knifemaker , gunmaker , sharpening gadget and bullet proof vest is on display here with shop owners by the yundreds of thousands selevting what they will display this season -

one thing that struck me is how huge the tactical market is - two of those booths for every other and when one thinks about it , so much more reasearch and development money into those companies from big military contracts -

to that end i started to look closely at tactical gear "through hunters eyes" and its amazing , the night vision , the advances in flashlight technology, footwear etc etc

we have a lot in common , tactical freaks and military love gadgets and so do hunters and a lot of the tactical gadgets have a very useful application for us , we often don't look closely enough at them , but this show has ceratainly got me doing so !!!

OMG!!!!

Next season we are gonna see Ivan carrying a AR15 Double rifle with a 60 round drum magazine and a Laser sight while wearing a gillie suit on Elephant hunts!

What is the world coming to?

LOLOLOLOL..........

...and offering Lion and Leopard hunts with night vision goggles and full autos!

The ghillie suit yes, but I see him with a long range 34" barreled .600 Nitro Rocket Express using 1.000 ballistic coefficient bullets and a 56 power scope. I mean, why leave one country to hunt in another when you can get on a mountain top and hunt three in one day!

Ivan is spot on regarding tactical equipment development and its application to the hunting fields, particularly hunting remote destinations.

The past 12 years (since the advent of anti-terrorist actions) have seen unbelievable strides made in the development of field specific individual equipment, everything from clothing to optics to first-aid items has improved by leaps and bounds.

I have added some of these innovations to my hunting kit and will likely do so again.

Ivan is absolutely correct in the crossover of equipment applications. As he mentioned this Show is huge in comparison to the Outdoor/Hunting shows we are all familiar with. When I was in the manufactures represenative business I had the pleasure/job of working this Show on numerous occasions and it really is mind blowing the numbers of products available to us out there in todays market.

Entry is limited to Dealers and their guests or employees, so it's not a Public "walk in" Show. You must show some connection to the trade to attend.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

I'm not a big tactical fan - there is just no romance in a black plastic guns IMO...

That said, I welcome the surge. I like to see movements that gets more folks into the shooting sports - it helps us.

I live in the liberal stronghold of Seattle, and I try to get at least 1-2 new shooters out to a range (handgun/rifle/shotgun) per month. Without fail, everyone I have taken has REALLY enjoyed it. Several have taken classes, and gone on to purchase their own firearms. One gal I took had never seen a firearm in person before and actually shaking as she shouldered the 20 gauge I let her borrow.

I may need to finally build that AR platform that I have sitting in the safe to have one more "fishing lure" to help draw folks into our sport.

I love the Shot Show! Glad you could attend Ivan! Vegas is the place this year! (Shot Show, SCI, RMEF, etc. etc.)

quote:

Ivan is spot on regarding tactical equipment development and its application to the hunting fields, particularly hunting remote destinations.

I don't disagree at all and of course, nothing was meant in earnest, just a feeble attempt at humor.

.

Dang....TAA was one of the few shows I could watch without seeing an AR15 or the latest iteration of the 1911!!! I guess that takes care of that.

And dont get me wrong, I have nothing against them or those who use them, just tired of seeing them.

My kids bought me a gun for Christmas. It is designed for both self defense and turkey hunting.

About time and I am so sick of green. I know what I will be wearing this season.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
...and offering Lion and Leopard hunts with night vision goggles and full autos!

Do you think Searcy would build a full auto double in .500 NE? Set it up with a 50 round drum feeding each barrel. It could be mounted on a tripod in the back of the PHs 4WD. It would be pretty fast for a follow up shot! Now that's tacticool.

Fairgame,

If you get all kitted out like tactical timmy, you won't need to worry if your hunter chambers a round behind you!

funny posts people !!!!

quote:

I'm not a big tactical fan - there is just no romance in a black plastic guns IMO...

ever use a flashlight - ever seen how great the tactical flashlights are , - following wounded cats at night after a last light shot or getting intoi a blaind in the dark ,setting up decoys etc etc great applications and the "traditional" hunting market cannot come close to what the tactical flashlights can do , and we havent even started on backpacks, knife sharpeners,sleeping bags ,tents waterproof jackets, shoes, laser pointers, first aid kits , ropes etc etc - its incredible whats out there , tactical doesnt just mean guns

anyway the point is that with the big military contracts this creates budgets that the research and development arms of the se companies have access to that results in a lot of very good gear that is off the charts

I can’t believe I get to recommend a YouTube clip to Ivan Carter!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES9QxE3sUaw

Or, for example, the Texas Hunt Co products that so many of us use and enjoy . . . to my understanding THC is a spin off from Jeff's principal product line that is geared toward military / tactical use.

quote:

I can’t believe I get to recommend a YouTube clip to Ivan Carter!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES9QxE3sUaw

he is using my gun !!!

OK, that clip was outstanding. I love the tactical bottle opener. I wonder if they make one of those for my 505 Gibbs?

Rob H you are behind the times...tactical means "desert tan" now, not black!!

There is a great cross over potential in the entire market.

Whatever it takes to get someone interested in firearms is great news to me!

There already was a ton of crossover... Was not the mauser a military weapon prior to sporting use? I think a police type sniper rifle would be th ticket for culling operations. Etc.
aaron