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Last Updated: Aug 28, 2009 - 10:45:21 AM |
Orangeburg, South Carolina - The Remington road-show continues on day two, with the tactical portions of the company taking the stage. In the first session, newest company Eotac clothing rolled out a new line of tactical and concealment clothing for "operators" and those of us who exercise our right to concealed carry, but are in no danger of being mistaken for Seal Team Seven. Eotac's goal is to give two lines of complementary, but different looking clothing that offers high performance for the working LE/military officers, but gives a fashionable alternative concealment clothing for those of us who don't really want our clothing to scream "GUN".
Immediately afterward, the black gun guys took the stage. Bushmaster rolled out their new lines, talked about their new calibers, and then allowed the writers on hand to go test their new calibers for themselves. On the range, writers who looked as if they'd never handled a semi-automatic rifle of this type were turned from skeptics to enthusiastic shooters with the offerings from .223 to 450 Bushmaster. It's obvious from the ringing of reactive steel targets that there is little as satisfying as that sound -especially when you're shooting in front of fellow writers.
Bushmaster offered a selection of their products for everyone to give a run...
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In the afternoon session, DPMS and its founder, Randy Luth continued building the momentum with the crowd, rolling out their new products, including their Panther "Sportical" rifle - a line designed to bridge the sporting and tactical market. With an MSRP of only $699, the Sportical might just be the catalyst that gets more shooters into the AR platform - especially in calibers from .204 Ruger through .338 Federal.
Last week, the National Shooting Sports Foundation was tipped by our friend J.R. Robbins to the fact the Obama for President campaign had apparently "purloined" portions of an NSSF attendees list from Shot Show 2008.
It kicked off a nasty-gram from NSSF to the Obama campaign, but it seems that this latest little transgression - like many other "irregularities" in that camp - was totally ignored by the mainstream. On Monday evening, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms called on that same campaign to reject Monday's endorsement from the Brady Campaign. That's the Brady campaign that has tirelessly campaigned to contain - and eliminate - handguns.
No one's immune from the sound of steel, including those who are supposedly to be "dispassionately observing." Photo courtesy Patrick Sweeney
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The CCRKBA logic was simple: if Obama supported the Second Amendment, his campaign couldn't reasonably accept an endorsement from an anti-gun group. No word from the Obama campaign as of our deadline -but we're not holding our breath for either an apology for the "repurposing" of the NSSF list, or a repudiation of the Brady endorsement.
We've been speaking with industry leaders regarding the state of the firearms industry. Quite honestly, the news isn't at all reassuring. Sales are lagging across all categories, including the black rifles that have been towing the rest of the industry for the past year. Having visited gun shops in seven states across the country over the past month, we're seeing that while NICS numbers may be up, new firearms are not flying off shelves. The recent layoffs and force reductions across the firearms and retail areas would seem to confirm that assessment. We learned last night that another gunmaker is preparing for layoffs.
If there is an area of good news, it's still the tactical segment. In the past week, storefront owners and catalog retailers are unequivocally saying that, with the exception of the tactical categories -from AR-style rifles to the polymer pistols increasingly found in the holsters of law enforcement across the country, sales are slow. Magazines, rails, optics and parts and pieces are now a large chunk of sales via catalogs. Storefronts are not very competitive in those areas, but report doing brisk trade in the used gun category. Used guns are coming in from multi-gun owners who seem to be selling off their lesser-used guns, either to raise capital or trade for - you guessed it - AR-style rifles.
Retailers who are reporting those sales have noticed a trend toward the lower-price firearms, even in the AR category.
If this slowdown in sales continues, one big box retailer already considering the elimination of guns and ammo for largely political reasons may have financial data that makes what a formerly political consideration a dispassionate business decision.
And we're continuing to hear that at least two other big-box companies are having "challenges" that threaten their survival. Not good news in a time when the wild swings in the financial markets are forcing even the least prudent consumers to consider any purchase very carefully. That means at least four big-box companies are having hard times with sales - and meeting financial obligations.
Shaky times, but in all times, we'll keep you posted.
--Jim Shepherd
http://www.shootingwire.com
http://www.theoutdoorwire.com
© Copyright 2008 by DOWN RANGE TV
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