All Outdoor

A while back, LWRC scored a large contract with a (friendly) foreign military for about 40,000 guns. The military in question is moving from 5.56x45mm NATO to the 6.8 SPC round, but they want to stick with the AR platform. So LWRC will be making a ton of 6.8 ARs for them, and the civilian market will also get semi-auto version in the form of LWRC’s new Six8 line.

LWRC’s Six8 line is basically a premium, piston-driven AR in 6.8 SPC, but there’s one wrinkle that I know many of you will be disappointed to hear: it takes a proprietary magazine.

The military buyer had some concerns about reliable feeding with the 6.8 SPC round, so LWRC produced a version for them with an enlarged mag well that supposedly helps with feeding. Magpul will be making the proprietary mags, so there should be plenty of them available. I don’t know how much they’re going to cost, though.

Now that LWRC has a ton of inventory in 6.8 that they’re looking to sell this year, it makes sense that they’re touting the round as the wave of the future and insisting that .300 blackout (a round that many have said will drive 6.8 SPC into obsolescence) will remain a popular but niche caliber.

The LWRC rep claimed that the US military is currently taking another look at 6.8 SPC and that the

Bucks are going to lose their antlers, but I imagine they do not wish to lose them like this.

We stopped by the LWRC booth and were fortunate enough to get to handle and photograph two guns that you’ll probably be hearing a lot more about this coming year. The first gun is a special magazine-less AR that’s designed to be legal in ban states like CA. Take a look at the shots in the gallery below, and you can get a good idea of how this thing works.

You pull down the box at the bottom, insert bullets into the bullet-shaped hole, and then shove the whole thing back up. It’s basically a non-detachable, reloadable “magazine” that you can get in either 7 or 10 round configurations, depending on your local laws.

The LWRC rep told me that CA is the company’s largest civilian market, so it’s clear that they’re not going to just let it go without a fight. This seems like a great idea, and while it pains me that all of my shooter friends in CA will have to jump through hoops like this, at least they’ll still have options.

LWRC has a patent pending on this device, but they’re hoping to license it widely. So those of you in CA might see this design crop up in a number of ARs in the coming year or so.

A while back, LWRC scored a large contract with a (friendly) foreign military for about 40,000 guns. The military in question is moving from 5.56x45mm NATO to the 6.8 SPC round, but they want to stick with the AR platform. So LWRC will be making a ton of 6.8 ARs for them, and the civilian market will also get semi-auto version in the form of LWRC’s new Six8 line.

LWRC’s Six8 line is basically a premium, piston-driven AR in 6.8 SPC, but there’s one wrinkle that I know many of you will be disappointed to hear: it takes a proprietary magazine.

The military buyer had some concerns about reliable feeding with the 6.8 SPC round, so LWRC produced a version for them with an enlarged mag well that supposedly helps with feeding. Magpul will be making the proprietary mags, so there should be plenty of them available. I don’t know how much they’re going to cost, though.

Now that LWRC has a ton of inventory in 6.8 that they’re looking to sell this year, it makes sense that they’re touting the round as the wave of the future and insisting that .300 blackout (a round that many have said will drive 6.8 SPC into obsolescence) will remain a popular but niche caliber.

The LWRC rep claimed that the US military is currently t

LWRC is probably the biggest name in piston ARs, and in fact the company was founded specifically to provide high-quality, piston-driven AR designs to the worlds militaries. The direct gas impingement (DI) prototype gun that the LWRC rep showed me at the booth represents a major departure for the company.

As is typical of DI ARs, this gun will be lighter than its piston-driven counterparts, and having handled it, I can attest that it feels great in the hand. I introduced the LWRC rep to Major Pandemic, so look for some reviews of LWRC guns on AllOutdoor this year.

I didn’t manage to snap a picture of it, but it looks a lot like the M6A2 shown above.

Leatherman was showing off their LED Lenser flashlights at SHOT, and apparently the company has an exclusive for most of the year on an especially high-powered and efficient LED. The company’s entire line got a one-off major boost in lumens — it looks like around 20% to 30% — from this deal, and their supplier has agreed not to make the new LED technology available to anyone else for eight months.

To be honest, I didn’t even know that Leatherman was in the flashlight business, so when I got to pick up and try out most of their line in one session, it was all new to me. The company seems to have a great array of models in various sizes, from AA-powered keychain lights all the way up to Maglite-sized monstrosities. In regard to the latter, there were a pair of law enforcement officers at the booth who were basically asking the rep if the larger lights could, er, take a beating — as in “you take one of these lights out and it usually gets the point across.”

Of course the rep assured them that the lights would stand up to any amount of abuse just as well as a Maglite. This is something that we’ll have to test when we get our hands on some of these later this year.

We stopped by the LWRC booth and were fortunate enough to get to handle and photograph two guns that you’ll probably be hearing a lot more about this coming year. The first gun is a special magazine-less AR that’s designed to be legal in ban states like CA. Take a look at the shots in the gallery below, and you can get a good idea of how this thing works.

You pull down the box at the bottom, insert bullets into the bullet-shaped hole, and then shove the whole thing back up. It’s basically a non-detachable, reloadable “magazine” that you can get in either 7 or 10 round configurations, depending on your local laws.

The LWRC rep told me that CA is the company’s largest civilian market, so it’s clear that they’re not going to just let it go without a fight. This seems like a great idea, and while it pains me that all of my shooter friends in CA will have to jump through hoops like this, at least they’ll still have options.

LWRC has a patent pending on this device, but they’re hoping to license it widely. So those of you in CA might see this design crop up in a number of ARs in the coming year or so.

Traditionally, Kifaru International packs are intended for hunting or military use, but their new Urban Zippy pack is intended for urbanites and EDC pack enthusiasts. While the pack is still somewhat tactical in appearance, it’s been toned down to be a bit more everyday-friendly.

“We wanted to make it non-military looking,” says Kifaru rep Eric Bender. “So we’re getting more into EDC and diversifying our products.”

Making the pack less tactical meant switching out much of the MOLLE in favor of bungee. On each side of the pack, there’s a water bottle pouch. Made with 500d cordura, the Urban Zippy comes in several colors.

Bender says the urban line was developed after Kifaru customers expressed a desire for a simpler everyday pack with similar design features and

The motto of Montana-based apparel company Sitka is “turning clothing into gear.” The company, which shares its name with a formerly Russian-occupied city in Alaska, is in its ninth year of business, and it develops high-quality hunting gear for men and women.

It’s not just the standard standard hunting fare of bibs, jackets, and headwear. Sitka takes a threefold approach to gear: “environment, weather, terrain.” Techology is prevalent in everything made by Sitka, from the unique fiber blends to the digital camo.

Sitka calls this the “Sitka system,” and it’s separated into three lines, Big Game, Whitetail, and Waterfowl, which range in thickness and function. The newest products on display are part of the 2013 lookbook, which you can view online.

The apparel is much more striking in person, particularly the reboot of the 90% Series, which is part of the Big Game line. Outfitted with GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Concealment camo

There’s an interesting dynamic of female-centric gear here at SHOT Show. For the most part, there’s a nice balance between form and function, but there still seems to be a lot of, well, pink. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that color, one of the most important items a hunter can have is well-fitted camo apparel. That means more neutral colors and patterns, and less bubbly designs intended to appeal to women who usually just want practical options.

It’s refreshing to see companies like Prois, who really understand serious women hunters and shooters and make gear that works for them. It helps that Prois is a female-founded, female-staffed company. In its seventh year, Prois (pronounced pro-iss) makes technical hunting and field apparel for women.

“We believe that women hunt hard and they too need the gear to sustain their hunting and shooting endeavors,” says Prois founder Kirstie Pike.

While most gear isn’t gender-specific, it’s important that apparel is tailored specifically to those who wear it. According to a Prois company representative, many women wear downsized menswear or upsized children’s wear due to the

Craftsmanship is on display at the Benchmade booth–new knife purchases are primped and preened before being delivered to their new owners, and the process stops attendees in their tracks as they meander over to watch the process of blade grinding and finishing. It makes sense for a company called Benchmade to emphasize this process, and the company romanticizes the days of old when tools were made by hand.

Attendees watch Benchmade staff refine blades on the belt sander.

But Benchmade is all about progress, too, and has had no problem transitioning into 21st century artistry and design, reveling in the use of technology and manufacturing to produce their popular products.

And it’s working–the new items on display are all strikingly beautiful. Handles made from wood and patterned G10 abound, as do the signature Benchmade blade styles–some standard drop point, some tanto, others

KA-BAR knives are the quintessential zombie apocalypse defense weapons. The iconic design of the fighting knives has become a familiar tool among zombie hunters in popular media. This is certainly a reputation KA-BAR embraces, as their exhibit table is covered with the motif and signs that say “The Original Zombie Knife.” But beyond the appeal for apocalypse aficionados, KA-BAR makes serious knives for serious soldiers and adventurers.

“All the new knives are American made,” says KA-BAR spokesperson Joseph Bradley. “We have a few collaborations this year.” Collaborators for the 2014 products include Mike Snody, Steve Johnson, and Rick Hinderer.

New Snody designs are the Boss ($158) and the Big Boss ($217), two fixed blades with a unique choice in colored Zytel handles. The Boss comes in at just over 6″, while the Big Boss is considerably larger at 9″. Also new is the Snake Charmer ($115), a 6.5″ skeleton fixed blade that resembles its namesake. All Snody designs are made with S35V SS steel.

But it&

The bushcraft revival is in full swing, as it seems like every knifemaker is offering wood-handled products instead of the standard G10 and micarta that has come to dominate the scene in recent years. Yesterday, we mentioned CRKT’s new tactical tomahawk that comes with a Tennessee hickory handle, and today’s bushcraft selection is an OKC machete with an American walnut handle.

The machete, which is appropriately called the “Bushcraft Machete,” is made of 5160 steel that’s hardened to between 53 and 55 HRC. The blade is 16 inches, and the overall length is a bit over 21 and half inches. I didn’t get to handle it, since it was a prototype and was locked in the display case, so I can’t speak to its balance, feel, or its zombie skull splitting abilities. I will say that it’s a beautiful piece, and it’s expected to cost about $150 at launch later this spring.

There’s a companion to the machete that you can see in the background, and it’s called the Bushcraft Field Knife. This knife has a 5 inch blade and a 10-inch overall length. It’s made of the same 5160 steel and American walnut handle combo.

Both the machete and the field knife a

LMT is one of the premier names in hard-use, no-nonsense, ultra-reliable ARs. Unlike many AR makers who talk the military talk but only walk the civilian walk, LMT’s guns are actually standard-issue service guns for parts of a few of the world’s militaries, including the UK. In fact last year, when I was hanging out at the LMT booth trying to score an interview with the CEO, some US Special Forces guys dropped by and just started raving about LMT’s platform. So I bought one (a Defender 2000 piston gun). Then later, I, uh, kinda bought two more (an LM8 in direct impingement and an LM8MWS). God, I hope my wife doesn’t read this…

Anyway, I had decided not to buy any more AR-15s for a long while, but at this year’s SHOT show, LMT has severely tested that resolve with the launch of the SLK8, a brand new “race gun” aimed directly at 3-gun competitors.

Now, “race gun” and “LMT” are words that usually are not uttered in the same sentence. The LMT story is all about insane reliability, and their guns are tough as nails and gassed up to the point that they’ll cycle every time, no matter what. This means that softness of shooting, an attribute much prized by the 3-Gun crowed, isn’t really on LMT’s radar. So the SLK8 is a pretty signif

LMT is one of the premier names in hard-use, no-nonsense, ultra-reliable ARs. Unlike many AR makers who talk the military talk but only walk the civilian walk, LMT’s guns are actually standard-issue service guns for parts of a few of the world’s militaries, including the UK. In fact last year, when I was hanging out at the LMT booth trying to score an interview with the CEO, some US Special Forces guys dropped by and just started raving about LMT’s platform. So I bought one (a Defender 2000 piston gun). Then later, I, uh, kinda bought two more (an LM8 in direct impingement and an LM8MWS). God, I hope my wife doesn’t read this…

Anyway, I had decided not to buy any more AR-15s for a long while, but at this year’s SHOT show, LMT has severely tested that resolve with the launch of the SLK8, a brand new “race gun” aimed directly at 3-gun competitors.

Now, “race gun” and “LMT” are words that usually are not uttered in the same sentence. The LMT story is all about insane reliability, and their guns are tough as nails and gassed up to the point that they’ll cycle every time, no matter what. This means that softness of shooting, an attribute much prized by the 3-Gun crowed, isn’t really on LMT’s radar. So the SLK8 is a pretty significant departure for the LMT brand.

“We make our products to military specs. It’s no

For the first time SHOT Show attendee (like me), there’s a lot to take in at once. With thousands of new products coming to the market and an array of new gadgetry, it’s a bit overwhelming to wade through it all and find the best of the best. But after just a day on the floor, there are a few trends that seemed to have permeated the concepts and offerings of 2014.

Those who are passionate about gear often find themselves in a strange dichotomy–a desire to be connected with warriors and explorers from the days of old, while still embracing and experimenting with new innovative technology. It can be a harmonious balance when done right. Elk horn knives are on display with laser-cut goggles, and 3D printed handled-tools are paired with traditional leather sheaths. It’s an interesting mix from a design perspective. That’s the nature of the industry, and it ripples throughout the knife industry especially.

An abundance of fixed blades and outdoor wearables makes it apparent that bushcraft is back. Representatives at the Buck Knives and Kershaw Knives affirmed this, noting that they’ve received enthusiastic responses about upcoming machetes, fixed blades, tomahawks, and other survival gear. The past vs. future dynamic also comes i

Starting a successful and respected gear company able to weather the storm of trends, fluctuating economies, and incoming competition is no easy feat. It requires a keen eye for design and quality and a willingness to adapt with the times while still maintaining the features that long-time customers expect. This year at SHOT Show, three popular knife companies, Kershaw, Böker and Buck, are commemorating noteworthy anniversaries with new special edition knives.

Kershaw’s Ruby model 4040 is the anniversary model noting the company’s 40th anniversary, and the date is printed right on the handle. The Kershaw Ruby, currently only seen at SHOT or on Kershaw’s Facebook page, is somewhat flashy with a unique line pattern on the blade and handle. Given that it’s the anniversary design, it makes sense that it features the KVT (Kershaw Velocity Technology) ball bearing system. And although it looks like a speedsafe, it’s a manual folder with a titanium framelock. It was smart to pair the unconventional pattern with a streamlined blade and handle, and it’s a comfortable knife to hold.

On the handle, the new Kershaw logo is printed. It’s worth mentioning that this is the first time Kershaw’s l

The original AR design was never intended to support optics, and the flat top receivers were a nice AR modification. But some optics require mounts further forward than the flat top can accommodate. There is also the issue that the barrel nut was never designed to be a stress member supporting a cantilevered forend; many feel this stress can effect both overall accuracy and forend mounted optic zeroing.

The Aero Precision COP AR upper solves these problems by offering a purpose built Continuous Optics Platform from the front all the way to the back of the receiver.

The COP is an incredible piece of engineering and has been independently tested by the military to be the strongest monolithic upper available all while being extremely lightweight and completely modular. The innovative COP kit design is supplied with a varied array of ten full and partial picatinny rails and blanks of which some include QD sling mounts. The rails can be slide on and off the female dovetails by removing just the screws retaining that

Del-Ton Industries (DTI) is probably not the first name in the firearms industry that comes to your mind when shopping for an AR, but for those in the know, DTI has become one of the most respected builders and suppliers of high value AR rifles and products.

Del-Ton has a wide array of configurations, from $699 basic models to their top end $1,300 models, but a buyer can choose from their entire line of AR accessories to order the gun exactly how they want it. The version I chose was the 5.56 Nato Sierra 316/MOE, which is a standard 16” H-Bar barreled Mid-length gas system AR-15 rifle with a Magpul furniture package and a price of $863.

Unlike many name brand manufacturers, Del-ton DTI lists all the specs of the rifle so you know what you are getting and that the rifle is of goodquality and assembled with a high degree of attention to detail.

When it comes to picking options for a basic AR-15, I caution everyone not to go nuts. For the average shooter, some upgrades are not worth it in

By: Posted 12-24-2013 on OutdoorChannel.com in Story by Don Mulligan

Permitted use provided by: OutdoorChannel.com.

Among the ranks of deer hunters, there are a growing number of enthusiasts more than willing to end the season empty-handed. Many of them are even happy to string together several years without killing a deer.

Some call them trophy hunters, but they are usually much more than that. They wait on bucks that are 1 in 1000, or might not even exist.

And though they eat the game they kill, they define success much differently than the average meat hunter. For this patient set of hunters, filling a tag just for the sake of filling it is nonsensical, counterproductive and bad for the sport.

These are the men and women who don’t even raise their bow in October for a 160-inc