British Shooting Show 2015

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Last updated: 02/12/2016

Review
Guns For Sale
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Neal Parnham at SRC always has something new and it seems he had a highly productive time at SHOT this year. Unfortunately much of this just missed the show, so I didn’t get to handle Walther’s new .22LR H&K G36 clone, or the ZK-22 10/22 stock from Akly’s Defense.

You may have seen a prototype version of the latter on the Sons of Guns TV show, but SRC’s are an all-new model with improvements that include a left-handed case deflector, closer tolerances and a higher standard of finish. You can have it in standard FDE, OD or BLACK, or your choice of Cerakote colours or dipped finishes too!

The Titan 22 (Victor Company USA) is an ambidextrous target/tactical stock for the Ruger 10/22. Packed with features it shows a straight comb, upright grip, widened mag-well to allow magazines to drop free, broad beavertail forearm with moulded stippling. A generous barrel channel handles up to 0.920” O.D and it has twin, QD ambidextrous sling attachment points on each side, and a butt hook. It’s made from an ‘ultra-rigid’, engineering-grade fibre glass composite with a hardened aluminium ‘Anchor Lock’ bedding system. The stock comes with 2 sling swivels, in a choice of black or FDE, and with an optional mini Picatinny rail. The Titan 22 has real presence, and priced at just £200 or so, it’s sure to be a big hit with 10/22 fans.

Other news from SRC is that they now carry the full range of LaRue stocks, grips, mounts and other rifle accessories. This is good news, as LaRue make top-quality gear, and it has previously been hard to source affordably in the UK.

MORE BLACK RIFLES

Also good for tactical mounts are Thomas Jacks – yes, the night-vision specialists! - now the UK distributor for Samson Manufacturing Corp.. Samson’s catalogue lists many great products, including some supremely-practical, precisely-machined and beautifully-finished alloy mounts at a great price.

Just along the row was another treat for black-rifle fans. Andrew Cooney of the East Midlands Regional Range (EMRR), who already sells CMMG’s .22LR semi-auto AR-type rifles, can now offer a centrefire straight-pull version, the Mk4 T. With prices starting at just £1,200 they should do well! EMRR has just struck a deal with Archangel Manufacturing to sell their range of polymer after-market rifle stocks in the UK. I’ve already got one on my Remington 597 and really like it! Models are also available for 10/22s, Ruger Mini 14s, Mosin Nagants, and most recently for Remington 700s. If that wasn’t enough, by the time you read this, Andy should also have taken delivery of his first consignment of tactical rifle stocks from Canadian firm Cadex Defence. These have been seen on RPA tactical rifles before, but EMRR’s adoption is sure to take their visibility and availability to another level. Watch out too for news of a new EMRR rifle range that will bring a fresh dimension to rifle shooting in the Midlands.

Moving along, I passed the Hera Arms stand. I know them as a maker of chassis systems that convert semi-auto pistols into carbines and I wondered what they were trying to sell here? The answer was, some rather nice straight-pull ARs. Most notable is their nifty charging handle design that uses the rod of the T-handle with a U-shaped forward extension with side handles. So doing away with the need to mill a slot in the action or to drill and tap the bolt carrier.

Aficionados of chassis systems should also check out MDT’s offerings – both the original TAC21 and the latest LSS models - for use with Howa, Remington, Savage, Tikka, and Weatherby actions. These are on offer from Low Mill Ranges and Riflecraft, but also from an outfit I’d not encountered before, the aptly-named Black Rifle Co. The TAC21 is a full-on system for popular bolt-action rifles that encloses the whole action in a rigid alloy shell complete with an integral free-floating, railed hand-guard. By contrast, the LSS (Light Sniper System) is a more minimalist solution, but both take AR-type stocks and grips and both let you run your rifle off AI or Accurate-Mag 9/10-round detachable magazines. There’s a new MDT multi adjustable stock on its way as well. Rifle craft had an example on their stand: and very nice it is too.

BURSTING WITH

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Staffordshire Synthetic Stocks (SSS) are always bursting with new ideas, Danny and his team are constantly developing everbetter methods of construction and offering new designs. One of the latest combining the fl air of a Lazzeroni-style thumbhole with the practicality of an adjustable cheek-piece. They showed me a couple of new aluminium stock inserts. A hybrid between bedding and chassis systems, these are designed to enhance rigidity and stability and enable the use of detachable AI/Accurate-Mag magazines. They can be specified in any stock build or supplied separately as required.

Joe West was brightening up the place as usual with a multi-hued display of laminate stocks in all styles and colours. There were colours of another kind on his chest too: as he is now a member of the GB F-Class rifle team. Congratulations, Joe!

Another rifle I’ve been keen to get my hands on is the new LA01 Crossover Rifle from Australian Lithgow Arms, on display on the Highland Outdoors stand. The polymer stock is as rugged as its styling; the barrelled action has a grey Cerakote finish; the barrel has a beefy medium-heavy profile and a threaded muzzle; the long bolt handle has a polymer knob; the bolt has a tough polymer bolt shroud, cocking indicator and 3-lug locking at the rear. This is a very different rifle and with a MSRP of £849 it’s evidently priced to do battle with the likes of Anschutz and Sako. Currently chambered in 22 LR versions in .22 WMR and .17 HMR are imminent.

AMMO UP

Eley have introduced two new rimfire loadings- Force and Contact - specially developed for semi-autos. Force is a high-velocity load with a striking black coating on the case (first seen in 2013 on Eley’s Edge load). The case isn’t just cosmetic: it actually increases friction between it and the bullet giving a more consistent release pressure for greater stability and consistency. Inside there’s a new propellant that gives a progressive burn producing a muzzle velocity of around 1,200 FPS whilst avoiding the sharp pressure peak that would otherwise result from Eley’s choice of a heavy 42-grain bullet.

The same projectile is at the heart of the new Contact sub-sonic load, and all new Eley ammo now comes coated in a specially formulated paraffin wax to minimize build-up in actions and magazines. The new loads clearly have a lot to offer the semi-auto shooter both on the range and in the field, and plenty will have tried them already, as Eley were giving away a box of each, free, to everyone with a suitably configured FAC who visited their stand!

FILL FRIENDLY

It’s all very well to have a brick of ammo on your shooting bench, but it can be a chore to fill up a stack of high-capacity magazines. Enter the Lightnin’ Grip 22LR magazine loader. All you have to do is tip a box of rounds into the top of this clever gadget, shake them down into a groove in the bottom, clip on a magazine (using one of the available adapters), and work its trigger. Each pull will load one round, so you can now enjoy this magazine while clicking away with your trigger finger to recharge yours! Adapters are available for after-market 10/22 magazines, plus S&W M&P 15-22, SiG 552, Colt M4, Beretta ARX160, CZ V22 and CMMG magazines, with more coming options soon. The Lightnin’ Grip costs £38 from the Black Rifle Co., complete with 1 adapter of your choice. Extra adapters cost £8 each.

MAUSER IN THE HOUSE

The new Mauser M98 Magnum will come in a choice of .375 H&H, .338 Lapua Magnum, .416 Rigby, .450 Dakota, .458 Lott and .500 Jeffrey chamberings. Magazine capacity will be four rounds, except for the .375 H&H (5 rounds) and the .500 Jeffrey (3 rounds.). All guns will have 24.4” barrels and an overall length of 46.7”, and weigh of 9.3 lbs empty. Mauser have selected those features most often requested by those specifying a custom big game rifle and have applied the most modern manufacturing methods to its production.

The result is a highly attractive and practical rifle that scores on price as well as performance. New features include an ergonomically improved, horizontal 3-position safety that acts directly on the firing pin, pillar bedding, a double square bridge compatible with swing-off mounts, and a windage-and-elevation-adjustable two-leaf Express sight with an improved sight picture. The stock is stylish and ergonomic, with a classic comb and cheek-piece, finely-crafted chequering that covers the entire forend and pistol grip, and a steel grip cap engraved with their logo. A genuine modern classic!

I’ll close with the good news that a phoenix has risen from the ashes of Border Barrels in the shape of Sassen Engineering. Lewis and Adam, both former Borders, have set up a new barrel-making business in Birmingham, offering button-rifled barrels in a variety of profiles. Their presence on the Brock & Norris stand speaks volumes, since Mike Norris knows the difference between a peach and a lemon! He’s a busy man and not one to waste time fitting anything but the best.