“That’s new!”: The Umarex H&K SL8
real-steel version, the airsoft SL8 comes with
a 35-round mag and can accept any standard
G36 mag (real-steel SL8s in the USA have
to be modified not to accept standard G36
20/30-round mags, only 10-round mags are
permitted). It comes complete with upper
and lower rails plus a bipod, and should be
available in the UK sometime around May.
Just before I wrap up this whiz-round of
SHOT 2012 I want to mention a company I
knew little about before the show: Bushnell.
Bushnell’s mission statement is “To
develop and market optical products that
enhance the experience of outdoor and
sports enthusiasts,” and it has been an
industry-leader in high-performance sports
optics for over 50 years – so Bushnell knows
what it’s talking about!
Of particular interest to me was its
range of scopes and sights – of which the
company markets a huge range and variety,
including night vision and red-dot – one of
which caught my eye (no pun intended): the
new First Strike sight.
The First Strike is a fully water and
shockproof, 5MOA (Minutes of angle),
compact, reflex red-dot sight that takes
just one CR2032 battery. Even under the
bright lights of the show the red-dot was
brilliantly illuminated, because the sight
features self-regulating brightness which
automatically adjusts according to available
light conditions (and powers the sight down
when the protective hood is in place).
The First Strike is part of Bushnell’s
‘Tactical’ range which has been developed in
conjunction with a panel of military and law
enforcement experts, as well as competitive
shooters. Another of its products, the Elite
Tactical Riflescope, is claimed to be ‘the
world’s most advanced tactical riflescope’,
used by the American military.
Bushnell doesn’t just market its own
products, it also supplies a wide range
of other brands, such as Uncle Mike’s
(holsters), Tasco, Millett and Butler Creek to
name a few.
These are just some of the companies
that I spent time with over the four days I
was at SHOT, many of whom are actively
considering airsoft as a potential outlet
for their products. This can only be good
news for us and will bring greater strength,
stability and choice to all of us – and bodes
well for the future of the sport in general.
Ultimate CQB primary: Magpul PTS PDR-C
The SHOT Show is huge and there are
already dates in the diary for the next two
years at least. It is probably the only place
in the world where you can get to see so
many guns in one place – but guns aren’t
the whole story. The number of support and
ancillary product suppliers far outnumbers
those that manufacture guns and there
were some amazing items on display. Airsoft
was well, if not overly represented, and I
expect future shows will see more airsoft
companies attending.
No one with an interest in any form
of shooting could fail to enjoy the Show,
and I was delighted at the reception and
compliments Airsoft Action received, not
only for its content and quality but also for
what we are doing with airsoft in the UK.
Las Vegas is an amazing place and SHOT
is an amazing Show – the two go well
together! ■
024
March 2012