Escort Shotguns Releases Modern Sporting Shotgun – The DF12
A bold new design loaded with smart features, the Escort DF12 stands out in an ever-growing world of modern shotguns. This auto-loader is a sporting enthusiast’s dream and is ideal for close-range hunting applications. Using the modern sporting rifle design and capitalizing on adaptable features, the DF12 reaches beyond its potential as a mere shotgun. Its 5-piece multi-choke system accommodates heavy slugs as well as it does light bird shot, making it a great all-around option for a wide variety of game.
With an overall weight of 8.9 lbs., this shotgun is manufactured from tough aircraft grade alloy. The upper and lower receivers are overbuilt with a robust construction that is meant to take a beating. The semi-automatic DF12 runs on a gas-powered system, similar to those found in traditional autoloading shotguns, but without the added bulk of a tube below the barrel.
This 12-gauge magazine fed shotgun is chambered in 3″ magnum and will cycle both 3″ and 2 ¾” loads without hesitation. The DF12 comes outfitted with an Escort standard oxidation-proof, chrome plated, drilled steel barrel. To ensure the utmost strength, each barrel is proof tested at the factory. A muzzle cover protects the barrel and locks the forend into place, adding to the robustness and modularity of this shotgun platform.
The DF12 makes field-stripping and cleaning a breeze. The upper and lower receivers are detachable, much like their modern sporting rifle brethren, allowing enthusiasts to feel at home with this shotgun. Continue reading
SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range 2019
In the desert nearly an hour outside of Las Vegas, the cool air is filled with the smell of diesel exhaust and the sound of gunfire. Lots of gunfire. Like, really… a LOT of gunfire.
It isn’t some wild west shootout and, although there will be pistols at noon, they’ll be rattling off shots all day – along with rifles, shotguns, machine guns, and a whole lot more. Welcome to the 2019 SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range.
As they do every year on the day before the NSSF Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trades Show – the industry’s annual B2B expo – oficially opens its doors, nearly 200 vendors and exhibitors meet at shooting range in Boulder City to host invited media and industry buyers. Those in attendance braved the biting wind, easily 15mph all day long, to see industry leaders showcase the latest and greatest hardware that their companies have to offer. Not just to see new guns – but also to shoot them.
Given the political climate several years ago, it seemed as if a lot of firearms R&D had slowed down – perhaps for fear of increased regulation. The relentless attack on 2A rights has not let up in the latest election cycles and, when we saw that a couple familiar names were absent at Range Day, we worried that, instead of innovation, we might just find new lipstick on old pigs. While there was some of that – the same firearm lines with addition of new calibers or colors – we were treated to a few interesting items.
FN 509 Series of Striker-Fired Pistols Expands with New, Midsize Carry Model and Color Offerings
FN America, LLC is pleased to announce the release of the FN 509® Midsize, a new carry option in the FN 509 series of striker-fired pistols. Additionally, the FN 509 Tactical is now available in a matte black finish. These line extensions further FN’s commitment to offering a full line of options in the FN 509 series that meets all customer expectations.
“What truly sets FN products apart is the quality. When customers pick up the FN 509 in comparison to other striker-fired 9mm’s, they instantly notice the ergonomics, premium finishes and price point that is competitive,” noted Chris Cole, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for FN America, LLC. “With the FN 509 Midsize and FN 509 Tactical in black, customers will now have four additional FN options in the 9mm striker-fired category to choose from. We believe that options are always a good thing and we’re proud to provide them to our loyal customer base.”
The new FN 509 Midsize pistol is chambered in 9mm and features a four-inch slide and barrel, frame with shortened grip and 15- or 10-round magazine capacity, backward compatibility to higher capacity FN 509 magazines with use of a grip sleeve and fixed three-dot luminescent sights. From individuals seeking a do-it-all range, home defense and carry pistol to law enforcement use as a backup duty pistol or carry model for plainclothes officers, the FN 509 Midsize is the ideal solution.
The pistol also features various upgrades including new sculpting around the magazine release for easier activation, a flatter-faced trigger for a more controlled trigger press and improved slide stop lever and texturing. FN 509 Midsize MSRP $649.
The FN 509 Tactical, the industry’s leading optics-ready 9mm striker-fired pistol, is now available in a matte black finish. The pistol features the company’s patent-pending Low-Profile Optics Mounting System™ that enables the platform to accept more than ten commercially-available miniature red dot (MRD) optics that co-witness with the suppressor-height night sights and remain adaptable to future optics releases with no requirement of direct milling of the slide.
The slide cap, for use when not shooting with an optic, has raised sight wings that protect iron sight alignment if the pistol is dropped or jostled, and provides a textured ramp for racking the slide against a belt loop, pant pocket or boot. An FN-signature 4.5-inch, cold hammer-forged, stainless-steel barrel with target crown, ½” x 28 threads that accept the bulk of 9mm suppressors available and thread cap with integrated O-ring to prevent loosening during use.
Lastly, the 24-round magazines, nearly identical in length to the pistol’s slide, maximize ammunition capacity without impacting carry convenience. FN 509 Tactical Black MSRP $1049. These two new pistol offerings are available for purchase today through FN-authorized retailers and will be on display at the company’s 2019 SHOT Show® Booth, #13662, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jan. 22-25, 2019.
Mossberg Celebrates 100 Years with Launch of MC1sc Handgun
In celebration of the company’s 100th Anniversary, O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., is announcing the release of a full-featured, 9mm concealed carry handgun: the Mossberg MC1sc (subcompact). Coming full circle from the company’s first firearm design, called the Brownie, a 22 caliber, four-shot “pocket pistol,” Mossberg has incorporated 100 years of engineering expertise in developing this superb concealed carry handgun. The MC1sc is available in five initial 9mm offerings: the standard MC1sc and an optional cross-bolt safety version; two standard offerings with sighting systems, choose from TRUGLO Tritium Pro Night Sights or a Viridian E-Series Red Laser; and a Centennial Limited Edition with a production run limited to 1,000 commemorative models.
After 100 years in business, Mossberg has grown to be the 6th largest U.S. firearms manufacturer, and remains dedicated to innovation, with over 100 design and utility patents to its credit. The MC1sc reflects three years of development and new patent-pending ideas in combining the most highly-desired features in the subcompact market with Mossberg’s innovative approach to design. Important features in a subcompact handgun are size, weight, caliber and carryability; and the MC1sc delivers with its overall length of 6.45 inches; recoil-managing weight of 19 ounces (with empty magazine); and barrel length of 3.4 inches in the popular 9mm chambering. Other desired features include two single- stack magazines, a flush 6-round and 7-round extended; glass-reinforced polymer frame; and suggested retail price of $421 for the two standard models.
Innovation is what sets this subcompact apart from the competition. The MC1sc features Mossberg’s Clear-Count single-stack magazines. Constructed of a transparent, lubricious polymer compound, the magazines offer low friction and high wear-resistance, while providing quick at-a-glance assessment of the number and type of rounds loaded. The magazines also feature easy-to-remove floor plates and high-visibility followers. Each model comes with a flush 6-round and extended 7-round magazine. The MC1sc has the revolutionary, patent-pending Mossberg STS (Safe Takedown System), which unlike competitive products, does not require the user to pull the trigger to dissemble for routine cleaning or maintenance. Rounding out the innovative design is an aggressive patent-pending Mossberg signature grip texturing, added palm swell and grip angle (similar to a 1911) for a more confident, firm grip. Continue reading
Glock Introduces Two New Slimline Models – G43X and G48
G43X and G48 Officially Announced Just Ahead of SHOT Show
Several weeks after an online “leak” began creating buzz about the two new single-stack 9mm Glock pistols, the company officially announced the new additions today.
The rumor mill kicked off with word of the G43X, complete with rendered photos of what the new pistol – a G43’s 3.4″ barrel and 6″ slide atop a .75″ longer grip – would look like. This longer grip gives it a magazine capacity bump of four rounds from six to 10. As several totally-organic posters on social media pointed out that the “X” designation meant that it was crossed something, news of the G48 spread. This latest offering has a nearly identical footprint as the G19 but shaves off a tremendous 0.16″ at a loss of 5 rounds, matching the 43X’s 10 round capacity.
The GLOCK 43X and the GLOCK 48 feature the design of the Slimline series with a silver slide and are a perfect fit for everyday carry. Chambered in 9x19mm, both pistols feature a compact Slimline frame with silver nPVD finish.
“With the success of the Slimline series in the marketplace and over one million GLOCK 43 pistols sold in just three years, the Slimline series pistols have been tested, trusted and proven,” said Glock Vice President Josh Dorsey. “We listened to the consumers request for a GLOCK Slimline model with increased round capacity and both of these pistols deliver that flawlessly. GLOCK’s continued pursuit of perfection drives innovation while not straying from our promise of reliability and durability and that is demonstrated in the G43X and G48.”
Designed for comfort, the G43X and G48 combine a longer grip length with a minimal width around 1” for what the company describes as “a comfortably balanced, versatile grip that’s ideal for a variety of users.” While the two pistols share the same size frame, they have different slide lengths.
These pistols incorporate elements of the Slimline series such as the short trigger distance, a frame with a built-in beavertail, a reversible magazine catch and the match-grade GLOCK Marksman Barrel (GMB). The G43X and G48 also feature precision-milled front serrations. Both models are available in three sight configurations; standard, GLOCK Night Sights (GNS), and our personal favorite, Ameriglo BOLD.
The silver Slimline models G43X and G48 will be showcased at SHOT Show 2019 and will be available on dealer shelves beginning January 21st. The GunLink team will be sure to get some hands-on range time with the new pistols and share our experiences here and in the GunLink Forums SHOT Show board.
For more information about the new Slimline series G43X and G48, contact GLOCK, Inc. or go to https://us.glock.com/a-perfect-fit.
I.O. Inc. Mini Revolver Makes Progress for 2018
At last year’s SHOT Show 2017, we were excited to see Inter Ordnance venture into different territory than what they are known. In their booth, they had micro revolvers similar to what you have probably seen from the likes of North American Arms.
Until recently, I.O. Inc. was largely known (for better or for worse) for the AK platform rifles which they began producing in the mid-2000s – and which gained a less than stellar reputation for quality and reliability; something with which the GunLink team has had first hand experience as owners of one of their duds. A few years later, I.O. shut down their AK production, moved to a re-tooled production facility, and began cranking out higher quality AKs (and, later, ARs) and started work on rebuilding their sullied name.
So when we saw the diminutive .22LR revolvers, dubbed the Valkyrie, in their booth last year, our interest was piqued, despite the fact that they were, at that point, nothing more than rapid-prototyped titanium samples with 3D printed grips with an MSRP of $260 and an expected ship date of last spring. And then… crickets.
This year in the I.O. Inc. booth, they had what appeared to be (nearly) production models of the minuscule SAO revolver, now apparently named the Escort. Continue reading
