by John C. Krull
Gun Week Production Manager

As you all know by now the 2002 SHOT Show was held in Las Vegas once again. This was a really big improvement over New Orleans in 2001. Even the atmosphere was different. Maybe that was just because it was Vegas.

I think the venue made the whole show much more upbeat. I know that this year I got to spend far less time out of the Second Amendment Foundation booth then I did last year, but I did get to go around and see some old friends that I only get to visit once a year.

Each year I tend to gravitate back to manufacturers that I have dealt with in the past. One reason for this is just to say "Hi!" and to thank them for their help and support over the past year. What also seems to happen while visiting is that I get to see the new products that they have developed over the previous 12 months.

I have highlighted some of them in this issue of Gun Week because most of the companies will also be exhibiting at the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual meeting and exhibits in Reno.

New NAA Autos
I didn't think that North American Arms (NAA-2150 South 950 East, Dept. GWK, Provo, UT 84606; phone: 801-374-9990; on-line: www.naaminis.com) could come up with any new pocket gun ideas after their .32 and .380 pistols. They'd already taken their mini-revolvers to a peak of perfection, and then, a couple of years ago, they came out with their first Guardian pocket pistol; I've got the .32 ACP version. While I don't have a great love for any of the small calibers, you will always find me carrying one. This is because of their ease of concealment and their benefit as a hideout or back-up gun.

While I most always have a large-caliber handgun on my hip, I also have somewhere on me an NAA .22 Mag. Revolver, or depending how I'm dressed, the .32 ACP Guardian will be my companion.

Well, at a point when I didn't know what to expect from NAA next, they came up with a real innovation. With collaboration from ballistician Ed Sanow and Peter Pi of Cor-Bon-with additional assistance offered by J.B. Wood and Hornady-North American Arms has developed two new calibers. They are the .25NAA and the .32NAA.

According to the fact sheet I received from Ken Friel of NAA the .25NAA is a .25-caliber bullet seated in a "necked-down" .32 ACP case, designed to be fired from a slightly reconfigured .32 ACP Guardian. Similarly, the .32NAA stems from a "necked-down" .380 ACP cartridge, designed to be fired from a similarly reconfigured .380 ACP Guardian. It is their expectation that each of these cartridges-with certain bullets-will deliver superior, quantifiable ballistic results (velocity, transfer of energy, penetration, expansion, etc.) in comparison to the original cartridge from which they were spawned.

They further expect that the shooting characteristics of the firearm (felt recoil) will reflect the smaller caliber of the bullet being fired-in other words "better than" .380 results with "less than" .32 feedback.

The rounds are still experimental, but have substance in my opinion. The Guardian is an easy gun to carry, conceal, and shoot. To add better ballistics with improved handling would be a real plus for those of us who either carry a back-up or for those times when a full size gun isn't practical to carry.

Sandy Chisholm and Friel, good luck with this venture. It shows your continued ingenuity in the gun design field. I'm looking forward to a test gun to see the results.

Gamo 1000

Last year I was introduced to the Gamo (3911 SW 47th Ave., Suite 914, Dept. GWK, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314; phone: 954-581-5822; on-line: www.gamo.com) line of airguns by their PR person, Sherry Kerr. Not only is she a fun person to be around but she also knows her products, her customers and how to present them.

Last year I was very impressed with Gamo's youth hunter model (Gun Week, Sept. 20, 2001), and have been having fun with it ever since. This year while I was visiting Gamo, the answer to my question, "What's new?," turned out to be their Shadow 1000. The "1000" is the velocity with which a pellet leaves the barrel of this air rifle.

The Shadow 1000 is Gamo's newest break-barrel air rifle. This gun is designed for target shooting and plinking, and is great on small game. The Shadow is a single-shot and requires only one cock of the barrel to propel a .177 pellet at 1,000 feet-per-second (fps).

The stock is black synthetic with a dual cheekpiece for ambidextrous shooting. To enhance shooting comfort, it also has a ventilated rubber buttpad. The barrel is made of precision-rifled steel and has dovetail grooves to accommodate an airgun scope, along with a scope-arresting block.

The sights are equipped with Tru-Glo fiber optics with contrasting fiber colors in the front and the rear. The rear sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation. The trigger is two-stage and adjustable for added safety and precision. The manual safety is what I call a military safety-like you would find on an M-1 or an M-14-and is located inside the trigger guard the way I like it. The Shadow is 43.3 inches long and weights 6.6 pounds. The cocking effort is 38 pounds. It will digest a variety of pellets from a round ball to flat nose and is capable of shooting .2-inch groups at 30 yards.

The Shadow 1000 is offered with or without a scope, but I suggest you get the scope. Suggested retail without the scope is $189.95 and with a scope is $199.95.

We will be shooting our sample next weekend at a hunter safety course and will be reporting on the results later this summer.

Meyerco USA (4481 Exchange Service Dr., Dept. GWK, Dallas, TX 75236; phone: 214-467-8949; on-line: www.mey-ercousa.com)has a very extensive line of knives that are exclusively designed by Blackie Collins. I got to meet Collins last year in New Orleans, and did a review on one of his assisted-opening knives that I have carried faithfully ever since.

Buddy System
This year Tom Conrad presented me with a new little knife called the Buddy System. The Buddy System was designed by Collins to be a convenient, easy way to carry a knife. It has a unique locking mechanism that holds the knife securely in any position. The blade is released by a button mounted in the sheath. When replacing the knife, the button is automatically depressed when it makes contact with the guard area of the blade. The Buddy Knife includes a nylon lanyard for carrying around the neck or on a belt loop, and a stainless steel key ring.

The blade comes either straight-honed or serrated. The overall length is just
5-1/8 inches with the blade being 2-1/8 inches. It weighs just 1.6 ounces so you don't even know it's there until you need it. The suggested retail price is $19.95, making it affordable to everyone.

Meyerco also has a variety of leather products-jackets, gun cases, and range/tote bags. New for this year was a lambskin leather vest. I don't think that I have ever seen anything made of lambskin before, but this is some of the softest leather that I have ever handled. I'm just guessing again but lambs are sort of small critters with very small skins. I would think that this is why the vest is made up of multiple pieces sewn together, which gives it a really nice appearance. I would also think that this makes each and every vest unique unto itself. The vest is fully lined with a silk-type material-maybe it is silk-which prevents any harsh rubbing against the skin. There are five pockets in all. The two big side pockets have elastic loops in them for shotgun shells.

Shooting Vest
Now while they call this a shooting or hunting vest and the pockets are made for such, I had another need for it. I ride a motorcycle and belong to a couple of motorcycle clubs. I just got inducted into the Regent Riders in January after my year of probation. I needed a new vest to sew my club patches onto. Retail price is just $45. Whether or not you're a biker, you just might want to get one of these. They are available in fine hunting and sporting goods stores.

And I wouldn't be surprised if you'll see them at your local motorcycle dealer and western store.

Frog Tool
From reading my past articles, you might remember that I like tools and gadgets. I think I have a Sears hardware store in my basement.

Gatco (Great American Tool Company Inc., PO Box 600, Dept. GWK, Getzville, NY 14068; phone: 800-LIV-SHARP; on-line: www.greatamericantool.com) has a new gadget that's right down my alley.

They call it the Frog Tool. The Frog Tool is a 15 multi-function tool. It has both a straight and a #2 Phillips screwdriver, plus 9/16, 3/4, 7/16, 14mm, and 12mm wrenches. It also has drives for 1/2-inch hex, and 1/2-inch and 3/8-inch square socket drives. Additionally there are three gap tools, a valve core tool, and a #25 Torx bit. All this is included in a tool that is just 1.25 inches wide and 4.125 inches high. With the carrying case it weighs just 5 ounces. I'm always looking for small, lightweight tools to take to the range and to carry on my Harley. I always need tools at the range, but haven't yet on my bike. Here's a tool that could be a real lifesaver with a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Gatco has long been known for their knife sharpeners and their Timberline knives. Now they are really getting into the tool business.

Chamber Maid
Thank goodness for the Internet. That's because I can't find the literature that I brought home with me from Las Vegas on this company's products. They are CJ Weapons (23296 Lena St., Dept. GWK, Moreno Valley, CA 92553; phone: 909-653-3098; on-line: www.cjweapons.com) and they have some stuff you all really need.

What I liked best was their Chamber Maid. No, it won't clean your room or make your bed, but she will keep the chamber of your favorite caliber firearm nice and clean. To me this has always been a problem and I've found myself using whatever over-sized brush I had to clean the gunk out of the chamber. With the Chamber Maid that is no longer a problem. This is a tool made for the job.

It comes in three parts and I would imagine that the brushes are interchangeable for caliber. You get a handle, a flexible plastic-coated cable/cleaning rod and the brush. After unloading the gun-duh!-you assemble the Chamber Maid, dip the brush into your favorite solvent and insert the chamber brush using a rotating motion. You remove the brush by continuing the rotation and pulling the brush out. How simple! You then put a patch on the brush and repeat the insertions until the patches come out clean. Way to go CJ Weapons.

The suggested retail price for the Chamber Maid is $14.95 but they have them on sale right now for $12.50. You can order it on-line along with whatever other size brushes you need-.308, .223, .45 etc.

Seber Tools
I did a double take when I went by the SeberTech booth. I couldn't believe the size of these multi-tools.

SeberTech LLC (2438 Cades Way, Dept. GWK, Vista, CA 92083; phone: 888-806-8225; on-line: sebertech.com) has a variety of small, but very useful multi-tools. I have two versions-the M3 and the M4-which weigh less than 2 ounces each. The M4, which is slightly larger than the M3, measures just 2-1/16 inches high by 1 inches wide and 5/16 inch in thickness. Now you might understand my double take.

Now that I have had a chance to use them they do come in handy and are easy to carry. Just be sure you don't loose it. Both can be attached to your keychain.

The M3 features seven tools that include two micro screwdrivers, which are deployed from the smooth, ergonomically designed handles. Other tools are: pliers; wire cutters; small and large slotted screwdrivers, and small and large Phillips screwdrivers. The M3 retails for $24.95. You might be able to get by with this one on an airplane, but don't tell them I said so.

The M4 includes: a knife blade; tweezers; nail file; bottle opener; fine pliers; large pliers; wire cutters; small and large slotted screwdrivers, and a Phillips screwdriver. The retail price on the M4 is $34.95.

They come in a variety of finishes including stainless steel, grey Teflon™ and black Teflon.

Contender G2
For years I have been shooting my Thompson/Center Contender and have several barrels to match the game or target I'm aiming for that day. One feature that I have never liked is that when you cocked the gun but then decided not to shoot, you not only had to lower the hammer, but also had to open and close the breech before the hammer could be cocked again.

Solving that problem is just one of the improvements that have been designed into the G2 Contender. No more breaking the action to reactivate.

Thompson/Center (T/C-PO Box 5002, Dept. GWK, Rochester, NH 03866; phone: 603-332-2394; on-line: www.tcarms.com) has redesigned the Contender, the gun that started the company. The G2 Contender represents a second generation of this firearm.

Like previous generations, the G2 has the Contender break-open action and accepts both rimfire and centerfire barrels. Most importantly, new frames and barrels are interchangeable with present Contender frames and barrels without alteration.

The G2 is easier to open and offers the shooter the ability to re-cock the hammer without having to break open the gun. The internal mechanics have been further simplified with the incorporation of a patented automatic hammer block safety with a built-in interlock.

The grip of the G2 Contender has a more ergonomic design that handles comfortably and allows the gun to aim easily. Its slimmer shape features finger grooves that enhance the ease of gripping the handgun securely. The G2 design results in greater clearance between the grip and trigger guard. It is mated with a slightly longer, re-shaped forend. Stocks will originally be offered in walnut.

Barrels are offered in 10- and 14-inch lengths in blued and stainless steel finishes with nine calibers available. Most barrels have adjustable sights and all are drilled and tapped for mounting scopes.

Delivery of the G2 Contenders should begin by Fall. As always the G2 is covered by a lifetime warranty. Something that is nice is that all T/C guns are American-made. This is going to be a really big seller with all the improvements.

T/C Omega

I don't know what's in the water in Rochester, NH, but there must be something because T/C has not only redesigned the Contender but they have also come up with the greatest design change in muzzleloading since the in-line. They call it the Omega .50. The Omega has a unique swinging-block lever-action design that makes it the simplest to operate, lowest-maintenance muzzleloader ever made.

The Omega .50's patented pivoting action seals the 209 primer in the face of the breech plug, producing a gas-tight system that delivers 100% of the fire volume to the powder for failsafe ignition. The unique action operates by using the forward motion of the trigger guard lever to swing the breech block downward, allowing easy access to the 209 primer pocket. No capper or disc is needed-the pivoting action drops the breech clear for easy priming by hand.

Once primed, the lever is pulled rearward, raising the breech block and sealing the breech. This closed-breech design protects the primer from rain, snow or sleet. Its sealed breech plug is specifically designed to avoid the problem of crushing Pyrodex Pellets, which could cause a misfire.

Firing the rifle is accomplished by cocking the hammer and pulling the trigger.

The Omega .50 has magnum capabilities for long-range shooting. It can easily handle up to 150 grains of FFg black powder or Pyrodex equivalent, or three 50-grain Pyrodex Pellets. With its 28-inch barrel, the charge burns with maximum efficiency, producing higher velocities than standard length barrels. This means a flatter trajectory and increased down-range energy.

Cleaning is a cinch too. Just swing the breech block down, unscrew the breech plug, and clean.

The Omega wouldn't be a T/C without T/C's exclusive Quick Load Accurizer (QLA) muzzle system for easy loading of projectiles without a short-starter. The rifling is 1-in-28 for sabots and conical bullets.

The rear sight is fully adjustable with both the front and rear sight having Tru-Glo fiber optic inserts. For those who want to scope their Omega, the barrel comes drilled and tapped for scope mounting.

The Omega .50 is offered in both blued and stainless steel finishes with a choice of three stocks: black composite; Realtree Hardwood, and gray laminated wood and is based on the stock design of the .22 Classic rifle. All have a high comb buttstock for instant scope alignment, rubber recoil pad, pistol grip with cap, and sling swivel studs.

The solid aluminum ramrod features 1° inches of serration on the gripping end for non-slip handling. The working end accepts the standard 10x32 thread ramrod accessories offered by T/C.

Overall length is 42 inches with a weight of 7 pounds. Suggested retail price is from $405 to $517, depending on finish and stock.

What I like the best about this gun is that its design features make it so easy to care for and keep clean. This is something that can be a problem for a lot of muzzleloader shooters, including myself. More about this gun after I've had a chance to shoot a few rounds down range from it.

Otis Brushes
It's always hard to decide which product will be the last one that you include in an article such as this. You don't want the product manufacturer to think that they were the least important or that they were an afterthought. Well, neither is the case here, it's just that somebody had to be last.

My first experience with Otis Technology (PO Box 582, Dept. GWK, Lyons Falls, NY 13368; phone: 800-OTIS-GUN; on-line: www.otisgun.com) involved a little-but complete-pocket-size or packable cleaning kit called the Kit-N-Kaboodle. I still use it today. Since that time they have continued to expand their product line. A couple of years ago I got equipment from them to clean my .17 Rem. Last year it was the Nipple Pen.

This year they have multi- and variety-packs of cleaning brushes. Otis makes some really good brushes. The first brush variety pack we were given contains 10 brushes, all of common and required calibers. It includes one each of .25, .27, .35, .38, .41, and .45 calibers with two each of .22- and .30-caliber. The caliber is punched onto the side of each assembly so that you know what caliber it is-a really good idea. Their advance phosphor-bronze bristles have a much longer life than conventional bristles. Their advanced equipment allows a much deeper load of bristles, yielding a far greater number of cleaning tines. Each brush comes in its own protective carry case so its bristles won't get jammed full of whatever else is in the gun case.

We were also given a 6-pack of 12-gauge cleaning brushes also stamped with gauge and packaged in individual cases.

Something that makes the Otis system of cleaning so convenient is that you clean all your guns from the chamber to the muzzle. This is a real advantage with most semi-autos that won't allow a cleaning rod to be inserted from the chamber. Keep up the good work, Otis. I'll be interested to see what you have for us next year.

Well, that's it for now. Check out and try these products. I know that you'll like them. Remember when contacting any of the manufacturers in this article to tell them that John at Gun Week sent you.