Posted on by ORCA

SHOT Show 2008


Shotshow 2008
A very limited run through ;(

I had the good fortune that I was in Las Vegas this year and had passes to Shotshow 2008. Unfortunately I only had 4 hours to run through the show. It is estimated that the show covers over 25 miles if you walked each and every aisle. My main focus was on seeing the new Classic Army releases at the Spartan Imports booth. The buzzkill to all that was, U.S. Customs delayed releasing all the new CA items and they never made it to the Shotshow this year ;( But fortunately there was lots to see.

A quick preface. For those of you who do not know. Shotshow is the largest firearms trade show in the U.S. To attend you must be affiliated in the firearms industry. For more info on Shot, please go to their website. http://www.shotshow.com

I’ll be splitting up the news to Airsoft and Real Steel since in some cases there is crossover and it could get confusing. Please keep in mind, I only say a portion of the show, so if things are not reported on in this report, it doesn’t mean they didn’t exist at the show. Just means I didn’t have time to see.

Airsoft News

Spartan Imports / Classic Army – Let’s get the bad news out of the way. As mentioned above all anticipated new Classic Army items were held up by U.S. Customs and did not make it to the Shotshow in Las Vegas. But, hopefully will have products in hand sometime next week for pictures and brief reviews.

Magpul – Magpul made an impressive showing this year. I was able to speak 1 on 1 with Sam Lam, the head of Magpul airsoft, and was able to get a few interesting bits of news.

  • New Airsoft MIAD Grips
    The new airsoft MIAD grips will have changeable backstraps. Great news for SCAR owners (But still have to give props to Security Officer Allen for for being the first). Grip feels solid and will also include a newly designed floor plate that matches the PMAG floor plate in design.
  • PMAGs – Airsoft PMAGs (Magpul Polymer Magazines) are almost ready for production. These will be midcaps only.
  • Magpul MOE AEG
    Magpul’s real line will be pushing the MOE (Magpul Original Equipment) line in 2008. Magpul is planning on extending this to a fully built Magpul AEG. These will be totally different then the recently released PTS Experiment Kits/AEG’s. The new Magpul AEG’s will have the following:
    • Magpul Designed/Manufactured Lower (Notice the 1 piece design) See FDE Body Above AEG.
    • Systema Version 2 Mechbox and internals(Not split gearbox)
    • Magpul MOE Grip, Carbine Stock and possibly Handguards.
  • Magpul PDR AEG
    There are plans to create an AEG based on the Magpul PDR. Sam is currently looking into mechboxes for the project.
  • Magpul Masada/ACR AEG – Magpul is planning on releasing a Masada/ACR AEG towards the end of the year at this point. Internals will probably me based on the success/failure of the MOE AEG and the components used, that’s mentioned above.
  • Random Magpul Airsoft Stuff
    Look Whorify! A Magpul UBR stock on an M249 AEG! Someone may have an M249 to Armalite carbine stock adapter soon.

Real Steel News

Magpul – More Magpul goodies on the Real Steel Front! Lotsa eye candy in their booth!


  • FMG9 – Rich, Magpuls founder seen in the video here with FMG9. This is a Glock 17 Slide and magazine in a Magpul designed in a custom Magpul folding body.
  • PDR
    The Magpul PDR is a 5.56 SBR which was announced about a year ago has been refined a bit. Now it sports a Short 20 round PMAG. Still no official word on if/when it will go into production.
  • UBR Stock
    Almost ready for full production run. A real interesting related item was a UBR Stock mounted on an airsoft M249 (See above airsoft pic)
  • PMAGs – PMAGs will soon come in 20 rounders and Desert Digital Imaged. PMAGs will also be getting their own integrated Ranger Plates.
  • MOE (Magpul Original equipment) – MBUS BUIS (Set’s should MSRP for $130ish), XTM Rail Covers, MOE GRIP is a 1 piece MIAD style grip, ACS Stock, Carbine Stock and Replacement CAR handguards are all new for 2008.
  • Masada/ACR
    If you didn’t already know. Magpul partnered up with Bushmaster (Longtime civilian M16 manufacturer) to produces their Masada assault rifle, and it is now called the Bushmaster ACR. The ACR is a multi caliber weapons system utilizing a gas piston and tool less quick change design and the gives ability for the shooter to change calibers.

German Sports Guns

  • GSG-5 – The GSG-5 is releasing this year as an HK MP5 replica that shoot .22 caliber. While this is interesting due to the rising cost of ammo, the over all build was unimpressive. I’m not sure if it was the Germans just being German, or being the 3rd outta a 4th day show. But the GSG-5 was not as impressive in person as I was hoping. I’ve held airsoft Mp5’s that felt more realistic/robust then the GSG-5. And it really didn’t help the sales guys in their booth seemed to care less of who was inquiring about their product. Honestly it didn’t feel like it should cost $499.00.

Sig Sauer

LMT

  • MRP Piston Upper – For user Gun Nut. Unfortunately I was asked to not take pics (By Shotshow staff, but for unrelated to LMT reasons), but the entire LMT booth was all about the MRP piston upper. Scans of flier are here and here. Of course the rifles felt awesome in hand, but I didn’t get a chance to shoot so I can only go by others reviews in quality and durability.

FNH

  • FNP-45
    Finally got to handle the FNP45. FN is saying a March release now, but who knows. After holding 1 it is now definitely on the list of future acquisitions. In person they feel solid. Feels on par with an XD and M&P, but w/o firing it’ll be hard to say how it really stacks up. Will definitely wait to hear how it’s accepted by the public when released.

KRISS-TDI

  • KRISS Super V CRB/SO .45 ACP Civilian Carbine – Welp I can confirm, in person it is equally awesome as it is hideous. It’s about a 10lbs loaded. Unfortunately I didn’t get to fire it and at the “Special” pricing I was emailed of $2395 + $45 shipping to FFL, kinda keeping it out of my league.

Just ran across this video. Thought everything sounded familiar 😉

That is me and Emory from Spartan Imports, talking with Sam Lam who runs the Magpul Professional Training Systems (airsoft) division, on new upcoming products.

Shotshow 2008Videos

Some well shot videos of Shot 2008, by our pal the Milspec Monkey.