News and notes from the 2020 SHOT Show ...

The 42nd Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas attracted a record 2,600 companies exhibiting products related to target shooting, hunting, outdoor recreation and law enforcement.

The SHOT Show attracts about 60,000 professionals representing 113 countries from the firearms and outdoor industry. The held in Las Vegas 22 times and has been at the Sands Expo continuously the last 11 years.

The show pumps more than $88 million in non-gaming revenue into the state and local economy. The record 2,600 exhibiting companies occupy more than 692,000 net square feet of exhibit space, completely filling the Sands Expo. To satisfy a huge waiting list of companies seeking to be part of the show, SHOT Show will expand in 2021 into exhibit space at the new Caesars Forum.

Industry Day at the Range, held at the Boulder City Rifle & Pistol Club the day before the show opens, includes more than 200 exhibitors offering hands-on experience with hundreds of firearms, ammunition, optics and vehicles to more than 1,600 invited outdoor media members and buyers. NSSF is the title sponsor of the event. More than 2,400 members of the trade press cover SHOT Show.

Miculek Signs With Hoppe's, Champion

Legendary shooter Jerry Miculek has chosen to serve as an ambassador for Hoppe's and Champion during the 2020 competitive shooting season

Miculek, widely acknowledged to be one of the best all-around shooters in the world, will serve as a representative of Hoppe’s gun care products and Champion Vanquish hearing protection as he prepares to compete in his 31st year of professional shooting.

“Entering into a partnership with Hoppe’s feels a lot like coming home,” he said. “It was the first firearms cleaning product I ever used and it’s a special feeling to once again be back with the brand.”

“As for Champion, I’ve been testing their new Vanquish hearing muffs for some time now and it’s certainly the best hearing protection I’ve ever used. To be able to add them along with Hoppe’s, makes it almost too good to be true.”

Throughout his historic career, Miculek has proven to be among the best in a variety of shooting disciplines, winning 52 national titles and 45 world titles, while setting numerous speed shooting records. Although best known for his amazing feats with a revolver, Miculek is also one of the top Multi-Gun competitors in the world and has demonstrated equal prowess with pistols, rifles and shotguns.

“To say that we are excited to have Jerry join our team is a huge understatement,” said Jason Slinkard, Director of Shooting Accessories for Vista Outdoor. “His decision to represent Hoppe’s and Champion is a huge validation of the products being developed by both brands and we look forward to using his numerous years of experience to bring even better products to market.”

R.A.W. Airguns Releases Air Rifle Chassis System

R.A.W. Airguns, in partnership with the design team of its parent company, AirForce Airguns, is bringing a new air rifle chassis system to market in 2020.

Designed around the growing air gun competition shooting scene, this rugged aluminum air rifle chassis takes its cues from similar systems used by PRS, .22 NRL, and tactical precision shooters. The R.A.W. air rifle chassis system is available as a complete rifle or a stand-alone chassis that owners of existing R.A.W. rifles can drop their barreled action into. Versions of the chassis system compatible with R.A.W. TM1000, TM1000x, HM1000 and HM1000x receivers allow this system to take any R.A.W. rifle to the next level of modularity and customizability.

The R.A.W. air rifle chassis system will accommodate any AR-15 compatible stock or pistol grip with no modification. It also features generous M-Lok mounting points allowing end-users to add a multitude of off the shelf M-Lok compatible accessories to their rifle. In addition, R.A.W. will also be releasing a number of M-Lok accessories throughout 2020 specific to popular airgun benchrest and field target shooting disciplines.    

R.A.W. has also partnered with American Built Arms of Glenn Rock, Pennsylvania, to provide the standard furniture for the R.A.W. chassis line of completed air rifles.

NASGW Launches Scope CLX Retail Database

The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) is launching SCOPE CLX, a comprehensive retail sales database to benefit shooting sports businesses, as part of its larger SCOPE data platform.

During the 2020 SHOT Show, NASGW announced it had acquired CustomerLink Exchange (CLX), a cloud-based, easy-to-use reporting solution that makes point-of-sale information available to partners in the supply chain. The technology was originally developed for AcuSport Corporation.

Complemented by NASGW’s current wholesale data program tracking shipments and inventory from more than 20 leading distributors, SCOPE CLX, powered by Florida-based eCom Systems, Inc., will become part of the current SCOPE system and provide a more robust and detail-driven look at market conditions.

“SCOPE CLX is an industry-led program backed by NASGW distributors,” said Kenyon Gleason, NASGW President. “At its peak with AcuSport, CLX captured data from roughly 400 dealers. We look forward to scaling the number of retailers contributing data to new heights and supporting our industry with data they can use each and every day to make better business decisions.”

GSM Outdoors Purchases TekMat

GSM Outdoors has purchased acquired TekMat, expanding GSM Outdoors' portfolio of gun care products and accessories.

TekMat's gun cleaning and gunsmithing mats feature soft, oil- and water-resistant surfaces and protective, no-slip rubber substrate. Designed to protect and keep small firearm components organized and to protect workbenches from scratches and damaging chemicals, TekMats include firearm-specific diagrams and parts listings to aid in takedown and reassembly.

"TekMat has been the leader in gun station mats since their introduction," said Eddie Castro, GSM Outdoors President and CEO, "offering hunters, shooters, and home gunsmiths the perfect, 'clean' solution for maintaining and modifying their firearms. All of us at GSM Outdoors are excited to bring this respected brand into our growing family of gun care products and accessories."

In addition to roll-up cleaning mats, the TekMat portfolio also includes caliber-specific rifle, handgun and shotgun cleaning kits. The TekMat product line ideally complements GMS Outdoors' Birchwood Casey brand of firearm maintenance tools and supplies to give the company a leading position in the gun care category.

"Home gunsmithing and do-it-yourself firearms projects have become increasingly popular in recent years," said Ben Smith, GSM Outdoors VP of Sales and Marketing. "TekMat is the trusted name in professional and home gun mats and is ideally aligned with GSM Outdoors' ever-expanding lineup of firearm accessories."