I had a relatively demure SHOT 2025 experience, compared to some of you who I know are determined to recreate Fear and Loathing each January at the Venetian. I spent a cumulative total of one day there, walking around in a responsible fashion, fondling 1911s, and ogling handsome wood guns.
If you’ve ever been, you’ll know there’s way, way too much to take in there in just one day. At this point I am a little jaded to marketing hype, but there were some neat new (and less-new) products that grabbed my attention. Here were a few of my highlights.
Blue Force Gear Medical Products
As a whole, it sure seems that hunters fall on the less-prepared side of things when it comes to rendering first aid and stopping the bleed. I had a great discussion with Blue Force Gear on some of the solutions they’ve developed for the tactical community, which I think has real overlap with all of the new MOLLE-capable gear coming out. We’ll be taking a deeper dive into this in the very near future.
Cloud Defensive EPL
Cloud Defensive’s Enhanced Pistol Light has been three years in the making, and it looks like they hit it out of the park. Compatible with your existing X300 and TLR-1HL holsters, all made in America, and an affordable price point. I think this one will change the game and obviate every other full-sized pistol light. The MCH is also very impressive in person and exceedingly lightweight.
Benelli Ethos Field & Ethos Upland
I am a huge fan of the Ultralight and Montefeltro models when it comes to semi-automatic shotguns. The Ethos series apparently occupied a blind spot in my mind, which I aim to quickly rectify. Benelli’s BEST surface finish is gorgeous… hell, the entire gun is gorgeous as you’d expect from Benelli. There is an upland-specific model in the Ethos series, which I look forward to putting through its paces as soon as possible.
Winchester Model 70s
I’m a slut for Model 70s in any form. No real news here, I just wanted to let you all know that the Super Grade Maple with a gloss finish and flamed wood is a great looking gun in, case that was unclear.
Leupold VX 1.5-6x 24mm
This handsome gold ring was mounted atop a Winchester Model 70 Safari Express. I know iron sights will always be the quintessential look for safari guns… but this setup effs, as the kids say. I need to recreate this rifle.
Reptilia Designs RECC-E Stock
I’ve always been a plain jane Magul stock guy for my ARs, but I spent some time at the Reptilia booth and was able to check out their mounts and furniture in detail. This RECC-E stock was impressive; well made and with positive lockup with no wobble… this might be the next go-to carbine stock. You may also recognize Reptilia Designs from their OEM equipment that can be found on Q’s stuff.
Federal Cartridges – 7mm Backcountry
Impressive ballistics out of a 20″ barrel, hovering around 3,000fps with factory ammo and the wonderful Barnes LRX bullets. You could probably turn that up a bit with handloads, and while the entire point of this cartridge is to use a steel alloy case, the “brass” can be reloaded up to four times, apparently. I’ll probably be sticking with my 7mm Rem. Mag, but if you really need a 20″ barrel, this seems to be the best option on the market now.
