SHOT SHOW Day 2: Cruising for Awesome

Day 2 of SHOT SHOW 2009 was spent in search of things that are by definition “awesome”.  You know exactly what I’m talking about – it’s when you see a product or item on the rack and your immediate reaction is to say out loud “sweet/cool/rad/awesome”.  Luckily for me, “things that are awesome” are not in short supply at this year’s SHOT SHOW.  Honestly though, I’m going to start with the most awesome thing I saw all day: this AR15 receiver from DSA, Inc.

From SHOT SHOW 2009

That’s right, it says “Molon Labe” on the side of the gun.  You really can’t get much more awesome than that.  However, there was plenty of other really cool stuff to see as Greg Morris and I cruised the floors of SHOT.  For example, there was the STI booth, where I got to fondle molest dry fire the STI “USPSA” edition. One side of the slide is engraved with the logo, and the side towards the camera says “USPSA” on it.

From SHOT SHOW 2009

This next gun will probably only appeal to 1) Purdue fans, or 2) Steelers fans, but the coloring of the gun made me need to pick it up right away.  It’s from Charter Arms, who were by the way extremely nice and welcoming to new media types, and it’s anodized black and gold.  That’s right, it’s a Boilermaker .38 Special.

From SHOT SHOW 2009

For me, the coolest thing about walking the floor at SHOT SHOW is seeing the kinds of ideas that people come up with.  That’s why a trip to ATI is always in order, so you can see neet things like their 5.7×28 AR 15 upper, or their new guns in .50 GI (more on those later), a neat aftermarket Glock trigger safety (more on that later as well), but today the neatest thing was the .410 Shotgun.  The AR15 .410 shotgun.  I honestly didn’t know what to say about it, so instead of saying something, I just took pictures.

From SHOT SHOW 2009

Words fail me. 

But even with all of that, the most awesome thing I saw today wasn’t a gun.  John Snow, the shooting editor for Outdoor Life Magazine was kind enough to invite me to a reception they were having to honor the retirement of Jim Carmichael, who had been the previous shooting editor of Outdoor Life.  I had lots of Jim’s work when I was younger, and still enjoyed his columns to this day.  It was a great pleasure to be a fly on the way in that room – especially the part when in a gesture extremely fitting with the show, DPMS presented him with an AR15 pattern rifle chambered in a catridge Jim helped develop, the .260 Remington.

Day 2 was great – check here tomorrow for an “all black rifles” post.  And don’t worry, just because the show’s over on Sunday doesn’t mean that the goodies will stop.  I’ve got so many guns and pictures that you won’t believe it.

9 Comments

  1. “Boilermaker .38 Special”

    The blond in the background looks like she’s waiting for you to attempt to make off with it.

  2. I was thinking about making off with it. I tell you, a pair of wire cutters and a backpart, and a dude could make a fortune in parts.

  3. Dear Caleb,

    may I use two of your pictures – the “Molon Labe” receiver and the S&W .22lr AR-15 – in a post about the Shot Show on my weblog? Thanks in advance!

    Regards,

    Krenkel

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