The first day of 2024 SHOT Show proved to me there’s too much to see in one day. In fact, I will be walking the exhibition floor for two days, and I’m convinced I won’t see everything I need to see. I’ve accepted this now but only after hiking a little over 8 miles of exhibition floor.
Sitting down to write this article provides some sweet and necessary rest for my tired feet and sore back. If you haven’t attended SHOT Show, it’s hard to imagine how big it is. At the 2023 show, exhibitors, buyers, media and other industry professionals hailed from all 50 states and more than 115 countries. The 2024 SHOT Show will have more than 2,500 exhibitors on the show floor. Total exhibit space for the 2024 show is more than 18 acres and boasts 13.9 miles of aisles.
However, at the end of the day, it’s hard to feel sorry for someone who got to meet some great new people, met up with some old friends, and got a few new connections in the industry. There’s much more to come in the next several months from those connections and some of the new things I’ve learned, but for today, here’s a quick recap of my first day on the exhibition floor at SHOT Show 2024. (Thanks to Gene Wisenand for the video recordings.)
5.11
Everyone knows about 5.11 since they are the pioneers of of purpose-built gear. For this year, 5.11 has developed a couple of new product lines that fill the needs of law enforcement officers.
The V.XI collection was designed in collaboration with some top-tier teams to produce a durable and versatile tactical uniform. To start with, the V.XI Sigurd shirt is a performance base layer loaded with features any SWAT officer will appreciate. This includes nylon and elastane knit mesh with Cryo-Tac technology providing enhanced moisture-wicking performance, underarm and side-body panels with flat lock seams for comfort, and a rugby style collar that can be worn up, folded down, or tucked in.
The XTU Rapid Shirt is specifically designed with mission-ready features to enhance performance and functionality including a ripstop stretch fabric that includes moisture-wicking and odor control technology. The gusseted construction and flat lock seams are designed for comfort under body armor and load-bearing gear.
To complete the uniform, 5.11 offers its XTU Pants featuring a patent-pending adjustable kneepad system with Ortholite, Force Foam and an external outer shell. The pants also feature a large top access cargo pocket with N6 inner mag pockets and zippered ventilation openings.
When it comes to great fitting and functional tactical gear, female officers are an underserved part of the thin blue line. I am pleased to say that 5.11 has worked hard to fill this need with a new tactical uniform specially designed for women. They worked with female SWAT officers and designers to fit the needs for tactical women. This line is very similar to the V.XI collection for men but with the needs and fit to make women more comfortable in their gear.
Learn more about 5.11’s V.XI collection by visiting https://www.511tactical.com/vxi-collection.
T.O.A.S.T Targets
As I was walking around, I came across a new product that brings sports science to firearms training.
Jordan Zumwalt is the founder of T.O.A.S.T Targets and a former NFL linebacker. He took his experiences as a top-level football player who made a living reading and reacting to a quick-changing environment to develop the T.O.A.S.T Target system. Jordan introduced me to T.O.A.S.T.’s Automated Targeting System, which is a game-changer designed to enhance shooting accuracy like never before.
Many firearm training afficionados are familiar with Bill Rogers and his reactive target system. The T.O.A.S.T Targets Automated Targeting System is similar in that it is designed to develop reactive shooting skills capable of quick, accurate shots. However, this is a next-level system that will sharpen your reaction time and build crucial procedural memory by consolidating shooting skills through repetition replicating real-world scenarios for comprehensive training. Some would call this muscle memory.
The T.O.A.S.T Targets Automated Targeting System is tablet-controlled with each unit paired with its own tablet. From a range of up to 100 ft, each unit can be controlled with immediate response recognition. The instructor can start a pre-programmed motion pattern or can manually control the movement based on training goals. It comes with three variable speed options, 20 pre-programed motion patterns and options for multiple target attachments. With an expected battery life of 3-4 hours of operation, the T.O.A.S.T Targets Automated Targeting System will get you and your students through a day’s worth of training. Maybe most importantly, the system is weather resistance and lightweight meaning it can be easily moved around the range and set up wherever you need to work.
Find out more about the T.O.A.S.T Targets Automated Targeting System at https://toasttargets.com/.
Olympus Arms
Olympus Arms is a firearms research and development company specializing in cutting-edge technology and advancements for the military, law enforcement and shooting sports. What sets Olympus Arms apart is the development of a rifle with familiar AR ergonomics, but a completely different operating system.
The Olympus Arms Vulcan rifle is a long-recoil, multi-caliber, modular firearm that can be configured in a variety of different ways. It is currently chambered in .308 Win/7.62x51mm but can be easily converted to fire other calibers with a 60-second, no-tool barrel change. The rifle features fully ambidextrous fire controls, a non-reciprocating ambidextrous forward charging handle, an adjustable muzzle brake for different firing rates, and full compatibility with AR-10 components such as stocks and grips.
Oh yeah, the coolest part of this rifle is that it is a nearly recoilless rifle. You read that right. Nearly recoilless. Olympus Arms accomplishes this by utilizing a reciprocating barrel that moves backward towards the shooter until the bullet has left the barrel and gas pressures have dropped enough to allow the bolt to unlock and safely extract and eject the spent cartridge. The barrel then moves forward back into firing position as the bolt chambers a fresh round and readies the rifle to fire again. When you fire the Olympus Arms Vulcan rifle for the first time, it’s shocking how little recoil is felt. A .223/5.56 doesn’t have a lot of felt recoil, but the Vulcajn .308 Win makes a .223/5.56 feel like a .300 Win Mag. Check them out at https://www.olympus-arms.com/.
Tomorrow’s a new day, and I plan on having my feet rested and recovered to discover more useful and innovative products.
