I’m still on the road and posting will continue to be light for another couple of days, but in the meantime here’s one of the cool things I checked out at SHOT last week:

Integrated Grip Rail System (IGRS) by Grauer Systems

It is made up of a unit covering the magazine well and a forearm rail system. It not only provides a better surface for those who use the “magazine hold,” it keeps them from putting pressure on the magazine itself. With so many AR malfunctions related to the magazine, this can only be a good thing.

Also, the unit features a “funnel” to make magazine changes quicker and more reliable, allowing the shooter to keep eyes on target.

The rail system incorporates a wire management system for rail attachments such as lights and lasers.

For more see the Grauer Systems website.

Another photo below:

IGRS by Grauer Systems

Charter Arms Rimless Revolver

I recently reported that writers were invited to ask about the Charter Arms Rimless Revolver at this year’s SHOT Show, so, well, I asked.

The answer: “It’s back on the front burner.”

The gun itself is completely finished. There are a few legal details to be ironed out, but production is expected to begin in June and they could be available by July.

I got a chance to look at a prototype model of the .40 S&W version, and it was pretty slick.

I am really looking forward to this, and I know a lot of others are also. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it comes to be.

Marlin 1895 GBL (center) at 2010 SHOT Show

Though the natural wood looks great on this .45-70 lever action, I still prefer the rail-top 1895 SBL with the Ghost Ring. This new model certainly looks more “authentic.”

This may interest some people.

Buy a SIG556 by March 8th and get a $300 rebate.

That’s some stimulus we can get behind.

Several technical issues have pretty much derailed my plan to post 1.3 bazillion photos from SHOT. Looks like I’ll be lucky to get 13.

Anyway, here are a couple of AUGs from Monday’s media day shoot.

Steyr AUG/A3 SA at 2010 SHOT Show

Murdoc was pinging targets left and right with one of these. Almost looked like he could shoot.

Via The Firearm Blog:

U.S. charges 22 with bribery in arms sting

An executive of Smith & Wesson (SWHC.O) and 21 others have been charged with violating U.S. bribery laws after an undercover sting in which federal agents posed as arms-buying representatives of an African defense minister.

The defendants, including a senior Smith & Wesson sales official Amaro Goncalves, were accused of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and conspiracy to commit money laundering tied to the sale of guns, body armor and other law enforcement equipment.

The FCPA prohibits the payment of bribes to foreign officials in order to secure business contracts.

Twenty-one of the men were arrested in Las Vegas, where they were attending the SHOT Show, a large shooting-sports and hunting convention. The 22nd defendant was arrested in Miami.

I didn’t see or hear anything about this while at the show today.

Beretta CX4 Storm and TX4 Storm

The new TX4 Storm tactical 12ga shotgun with the CX4 carbine at Monday’s Media Day.

I will be posting a lot more SHOT photos over the next few days.

NSSF:

Data released by the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) reported 1,407,155 checks in December 2009, ranking the month in the top five for most NICS checks of all time.

This figure, while being a 7.6 percent decrease from the 1,523,426 checks conducted in December 2008 — the beginning stage of an ongoing surge in firearms and ammunition sales — is an increase of 14.4 percent over checks in December 2007.

Year-to-date background checks for 2009 total 14,033,824, an increase of 10.4 percent over the same time period last year. The total number of background checks reported since the beginning of NICS is 110,017,832.

Amazing that it’s still nearly 15% above 2007 levels considering the economy and the fact that everyone has been buying guns practically non-stop for a year now.

Pics as the Firearm Blog.

Also: British adopting AR-10 style sharpshooter rifle by Lewis Machine & Tool.