Hunting Gear

The Best New Knives of 2012

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:04:49 -0500

There were a staggering number of companies, big and small, showing off their newest knives at SHOT Show this year. We waded through the crowds and pulled out these selections as the best new knives of 2012.

The Best New Rifles of 2012

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:41:18 -0500

There were more exhibitors and more atendees at this year's SHOT Show than ever before. That means more guns than one could ever see, but we did our best to find the best. Here are David E. Petzal and John Snow's picks for the best rifles from the show floor.

Rocky L3 Gloves Let You Use a Touchscreen

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:37:32 -0500

Those long waits in the stand or the blind can be a little easier with these gloves that let you access your spartphones' features, like the Rut Reporter app...or, you know, Fruit Ninja.

SHOT Has Gone To The Zombies, and That May Not Be All Bad

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:42:51 -0500

by Phil Bourjaily

After two-and-a-half days of trudging the aisles of the Sands Convention and Visitor Center I’m still not sure what I have seen, other than lots and lots of people. Against all reasonable expectation, the show continues to be very well-attended. People are in a gun-buying mood and one vendor looked at the crowds in disbelief and said to me “I just wonder when it’s all going to end. I think people must give up their indulgences last.”

Whatever the case, I have seen some interesting shotguns, although not much new in shotgun ammunition. Hunting clothes keep getting better, lighter, thinner and warmer, which is a good thing. On the other hand, manufacturers are piling on the zombie bandwagon with zombie guns (Mossberg’s tactical Model 94, called the 464 SPX is the most egregious example); zombie ammunition and zombie targets.

Thompson Center’s New Multi-Caliber Rifle Platform: The Dimension

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:03:38 -0500

This isn’t a standard bolt action rifle, it’s a whole new concept in terms of how to have a multi-caliber platform in one system.

Rifle Milestone: The Remington Model 700 Celebrates Its 50th Birthday

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:09:21 -0500

The Remington Model 700 is one of the finest sporting rifles ever made. It debuted 50 years ago chambered for the then new 7 Remington magnum. Check out the commemorative anniversary edition here.

Browning Invector DS Choke Tube System

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:35:57 -0500

Check out the newest shotgun choke-tube system from Browning.

Trivia Question: What Bow Did Bo Duke Shoot?

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:36:21 -0500

by Dave Hurteau

We all have our embarrassing secrets. I’ll spare you mine, for the most part. But for the purposes of this blog, I will admit to one: As much as I would like to trace my interest in archery to the likes of Hill, Bear, Pope, or Young, the truth is that the real greats were all before my time. No, being a product of the television generation (an embarrassing admission itself), my initial fascination with archery was sparked by the exploding arrows of—cringe—Bo and Luke Duke.

Vibration and Hand Shock from Compound Bows in Super Slow Motion

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:39:01 -0500

by Dave Hurteau

If you saw David Maccar’s recent post “High-Speed Video: .308 vs. Soup Can” (if you didn’t you should) then you know that we recently had the use of some spectacularly sophisticated high-speed cameras.

For this video, we wanted to see something that is normally only felt: hand shock and vibration from a bow. At 19,300 frames per second, two things jump out at me:

Good Gear: Have You Any Wool?

Online Editors — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:06:29 -0500

by David E. Petzal

As synthetic hunting clothing gets lighter, thinner, and warmer, it’s tempting to regard wool as outmoded. However, sheep spent millions of years perfecting it for your benefit, and wool has a couple of qualities that I have yet to see any synthetic match—it’s really, truly quiet, and oh boy, is it tough. If you’re looking for something to wear while you creep through the peckerpole pines for the next 40 years, wool is what you want.

Which is why you should be aware of a new company called Silent Predator. This firm makes extremely high quality wool parkas, jackets, vests, and trousers, all in camo. The wool is milled for them by Pendleton and sewn to order in Canada. Here’s how it works: Go to silentpredator.ca and look for the name of the dealer nearest you. He is your contact. Give him a call and tell him what kind of hunting you do and he can suggest what you need. (While you’re on the website, click on Products and you can get a good idea of what’s available.)