Sheriff Jim's Picks from SHOT Show 2018

Well, SHOT Show 2018 is in the bag. I suspect that folks are getting over the SHOT Show "Crud" and their feet have about quit hurting. The show was upbeat, and manufacturers were reporting better sales than last year. In no particular order, here a few of the new products that caught my eye.

The buzz at the Ruger booth was all about the new PC Carbine. This is a semi-automatic, take-down carbine in 9 mm. The gun features a 16-inch barrel, synthetic stock and is capable of using Glock magazines as well as Ruger mags. This should be a dandy carbine for folks wanting a home defense gun or one to keep in their vehicle (where legal).

The folks at SIG Sauer were displaying their SIG P365 9 mm pistol. It is a striker-fired semi-auto with a polymer frame and 10-round magazine capacity. With a 3-inch barrel and a weight of only 17.8 ounces, the P365 should give good service to those seeking a compact defensive handgun.

Nighthawk Custom debuted the Nighthawk Agent 2 pistol, chambered for 9 mm or .45 ACP. This 5-inch barreled 1911 service pistol features a Heinie rear sight and a fiber-optic front sight. It comes standard with a Nighthawk Smoke Cerakote finish and a faceted slide with side windows. It was quite the hit at the Tuesday night Agency shoot, with folks lined up for the opportunity to put some rounds downrange from the new gun.

Galco Gunleather was busy making sure that its extensive holster line had holsters that would fit the large number of new handguns that have been introduced. The particular Galco rig that caught my eye was the Galco Kingtuk Air. This is an inside-the-waistband holster that has a kydex body attached to leather backing. The Kingtuk Air is different in that it has numerous small ventilation holes all over the leather back for more comfortable carry during warm weather. A nice rig.

The hot item at Mossberg continues to be the shorty shotgun that they call the Model 590 Shockwave, available in 12 or 20 gauge. Another good choice for home defense, Mossberg has extended the 590 like to include several variations of the basic model, not the least of which is the detachable-mag fed 590M, giving the customer more choices.

Also from Mossberg are new models of the Maverick pump shotgun in 12 gauge. This is a conventional defensive shotgun with synthetic stocks and an 18-inch barrel. The most interesting thing about the Maverick Pump is that it comes in at a very affordable price point for budget-minded defensive shooters.

As the year progresses, we here at Shooting Illustrated will be wringing out these and other new products. So stay tuned, and we’ll give you the lowdown on the new guns, gear and ammo.