The SHOT Show has adopted a new logo.

New SHOT Show Logo

The request for a new logo arose from input provided by NSSF members through SHOT Show surveys that are conducted each year.

“Times change and trade shows change, reflecting current buying and selling trends,” said Chris Dolnack, senior vice president of NSSF, which owns the SHOT Show. “When the SHOT Show began in 1979, hunting was the dominant activity in our industry and our logo reflected that. Today’s SHOT show requires a strong, clean logo that reminds all attendees, whether their business is shooting, hunting or law enforcement, that they are valued. The new SHOT Show logo does this.”

As a guy more in tune with the tactical side of the market, I was never really all that thrilled about the logo. Though it might take a while to grow on me, I do like the new logo’s simplicity and the fact that it doesn’t look hunting-centric.

An email update from the SHOT Show:

As the song says, “It never rains in Southern California,” but participants at the show discovered that it sure can shower in Las Vegas, as it did for much of the run of the show. In a few instances, that rain found its way inside the convention center.

“Our latest report from the Sands management is that roof-replacement construction is underway and should be completed in mid-May,” reported Diedra Cauley, NSSF director, exhibitions and conferences.

As those who attended the show in January know, the weather was less than perfect. And there were a lot of buckets on the show floor catching water. The Magpul booth, in particular, suffered.

The Sands Expo & Convention Center is a less-than-ideal spot for the show.

Go check out the story on some high-tech guns at Wired’s Danger Room by Aaron Rowe: Digital Revolvers, Koosh Bullets and Triple-Tasers. Photos by Bryan William Jones.

The lead product in the story is the Amratix Smart System .22 pistol which won’t fire unless it’s within a few inches of a special wristwatch. The idea is that you have to wear the watch on your shooting hand, and anyone not wearing it cannot fire the gun.

The cost: €7000, which converts to over $9700.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

(Sorry.)

At one-tenth that price, the gun would be the biggest rip-off I’ve ever heard of.

This site starts off

This seems like a really good idea.

and ends with

…definitely a niche item at first but perhaps the technology will become more widespread in the future, causing prices to decrease.

They decrease to one-thirty-fifth or one-fortieth, and you’d have a cool conversation piece.

Personally, if I was the cops in Germany, I’d be working on a jammer to use on people with these guns. And if I was a citizen of Germany and owned one, I’d just strap the watch to the grip.

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.”

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.