Traveling
to SHOT Show 2009 |
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We stopped over for a calm
hour layover in Houston, TX |
We flew on 767 400 series
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The 767 is the largest plane our crew has flown in so far
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We arrived to rain, cold, clouds... |
and remodeling and crowds..
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And a few messages welcoming SHOT show attendees
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Orlando International is a large airport
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Setting
up SHOT Show 2009 |
We stopped to see how the SHOT show setup was doing, this year is our first
SHOT show in Orlando
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The Orange County Convention Center is big.. and has many features that
should make this years SHOT show a great success. we are impressed so
far
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We are told the Orange County Convention
Center is the largest convention center.. until they finish rebuilding
the Las Vegas Convention Center
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There is a lot of work going into making the 2009 SHOT show better than
ever
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Turning this LARGE empty space into a place for almost 2000 exhibitors
to display their shooting and hunting related products and services
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Crews will be working around the clock to bring the 2009 SHOT show to
life
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Media Day at the Range |
Our travel agent gave us the opportunity to use the shuttle busses provided
by Bass Pro for media day at the range. We saw some wild turkey and deer,
and had some interesting conversations with other media guys and gals
on our way to the range to shoot and see some of the newest guns and
gear |
The Orange County Sheriff's Shooting Range was the venue this year again.
This was our first visit to the range and we were more than impressed.
this is a great shooting facility |
Banners and media information packets were available. oh and we were able
to shoot MANY firearms . We couldn't have asked for better weather. We
enjoyed a pleasent Florida day in the outdoors |
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After
another smooth registration (like our first media shoot last year)
we were on our way
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The shoot required a map to see it all and with three of our crew in
attendance, we almost didn't get to see it all. But we did manage
to see and shoot many of the firearms we were interested in, and
many we had been asked to check out |
4H youth shooting sports.. as last year was a great help for this event
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A few people from the Central Florida Rife & Pistol club were on hand as
well as 4H and other volunteers
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A training tower is one of many interesting facilities at the police range
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An obstacle course at the entrance to the range
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The rifle ranges
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Vehicles used to train (we didn't get to shoot in or around these..)
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the Deputy Grady T. Braddock Memorial Pistol
Range |
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We were each given a set of Champion ear buds which worked well and were
soft and comfortable. however when shooting a short barreled full auto 5.56x45
Sig 556.. well I would have rather had my electronic ears (that were left
at home)
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Law enforcement
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Many media attend from small publications,
to large television shows |
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Steyr
/ Saber Defense AUG |
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Steyr AUG / A3 manufactured by Saber Defense
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This one has a Leupold Mark 4 CQ/T 3x14mm optic |
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Shooting theSteyr AUG with an Trijicon ACOG
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We
each took a turn shooting this interesting bullpup rifle
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XS Sights had a new AR15 rear sight developed
by Paul Howe we found this as easy to shoot as Paul has demonstrated. A clever
idea that can upgrade any standard AR rear sight. This example is set
in a LaRue Tactical BUIS (Back Up Iron Sight) base
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XS also was showing off an updated rifle rail
which uses existing scope mount holes in the receiver and the rear
sight dove tail |
Aimpoint |
Aimpoint brought a few new items to the media event including a new
Ruger 10/22 mount and a Glock mount
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The Aimpoint in an annodized black on a Ruger 10/22 with an aimpoint
mount
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The new Aimpoint mount for the Glock
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The Aimpoint Glock mount fits into the rear sight dovetail
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Shooting the Glock with Aimpoint optic
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The optic is solid and does not alter manipulations much since the
mount and optic can handle most any abuse
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Shooting the new handgun optic does not affect operation of the pistol
at all
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Aimpoints new mount for the Ruger .22 pistols
and the H1 optic.. a very nice combo
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Black
Powder |
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Colt |
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Colt Sub-Compact Weapon (SCW)
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The smaller receiver extension allows the stock
to be folded |
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Shooting the Colt SCW with Aimpoint T1 optic
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Colt also had some new pistols. A railed
1911 and a new version of the 10mm Delta Elite
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Sig
Sauer |
The Sig 556 Full Auto Military / Police short carbine |
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A very easy to control small full auto.. To bad many will never get
a chance to own or even shoot this one |
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A semi-auto version of the Sig 556 with
new handguards and a folding stock
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A close up of the folding stock of the
Sig556
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Crimson
Trace |
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The new Crimson Trace laser for the Glock
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Shooting the Crimson Trace Glock laser in daylight with just a bit
of shade is no problem at all |
Babes
with Bullets |
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A very popular booth for both gals and guys. Babes with Bullets
offers female only firearms training all over the country.
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"Every
woman in America should shoot a gun” says Debbie Ferns |
BabesWithBullets.com |
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When you
hear me make that statement, along with the title of the book, it gives
you a hint I’m pro-gun. What
it doesn’t tell you is that I shot a gun for the first
time on my 45th birthday. I admit to being scared
in the beginning, but I was determined to find a new adventure to share
with my husband. What I didn’t realize when I started shooting was
just how
much more than a new adventure I would find! |
| We filmed an interview with
Debbie Ferns (also from Tucson) |
 |
Stay Tuned for a lot more information on
this great organization
BabesWithBullets.com |
Beretta |
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Beretta plans to offer their full size .45acp in a Dark Earth color
option soon
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Another view of the Dark Earth Beretta in full sunlight
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Shotguns
at Media Day |
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A bay set up to shoot flying clay pigeons
was a great illustration of the firearms and the clay throwers |
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Civilian
Marksmanship Program |
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Crossman |
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Long
Range Shooting - media Day at the Range |
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The long range area had steel targets set up at great distance to challenge
the shooters and gear
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The optics used here to see targets was a great test of the optics as
well as the firearms
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Bushmaster |
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Bushmaster 50 cal
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Lever
Actions |
Lever
actions were well represented
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Shooting lever action rifles of various types
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The covered shooting ranges made for a comfortable environment for
our day at the range
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pump shotguns like this Remington scoped shotgun |
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DPMS |
DPMS
rifles ready to be shot
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There were a lot of guns to shoot here and we did not have a chance
to shoot all of them |
Dynamic
Research |
Dynamic Research demonstrated their ammo
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There were a few displays set up to demonstrate the effectiveness of the
ammo
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A
few other things worth mentioning |
Tritronics Dog Training gear from Tucson, AZ.. Stay tuned for a lot more
information on this interesting company with high quality dog training
gear
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European American Armory has an interesting new item on the way (we hope)
stay tuned
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Heading
back to the Hotel |
Carrying the heavy cameras, and support gear needed to document an event
like SHOT show is a lot lighter after a day at the range like today |
We learned Armadillos live in Florida.. We watched a pair have a great time
exploring one of the grassy fields at the range |
We all had a great time and friends were made. While the bus ride to the
range was fairly quiet. the ride back to town was full of conversation
and anticipation of the next four days |
