Industry Day at the Range is replete with gun and gear manufacturers lining up their new products for attendees to try on the range. Following Part I of our favorite finds, check out a few more of our top picks from the event.
CZ 600+ American Rifle
Many new hunting rifles have been introduced this year, but one at Industry Day stood out for its fine craftsmanship and affordability. While CZ debuted the 600 in 2021, late last year the upgraded “Plus” version was introduced. The key feature of these new rifles is their ability to switch chambering by swapping out the barrel and bolt head. While the base-model polymer-stocked Alpha has an MSRP of $799, the walnut stocked American that I fired on the range retails for $999.
Grit Grips
Even though Glock just announced its next generation of pistols—Gen6—one company is providing an option to update an older Glock instead buying a new one.
If you are a Glock 19 (Gen3 only) or 43X/48 owner who wants to give your pistol a makeover without sanding, taping or melting your frame, you can go with Grit Grips. Grit Grips are Glock-compatible frames, so you can keep your original Glock frame original and swap it out for a different color and texture.
In the hand, a Grit Grips frame improves the grip capability with its rougher texture (the pattern resembles the company’s logo) and its slightly altered grip angle. Gen3 Glocks tend to have a smoother grip texture than newer pistols on the market, and while it may seem appealing, that lack of rougher texture can cause the pistol to slip around in your grip if your hands become sweaty. Other key features of Grit Grips are no-more Gen3 finger grooves; a larger Glock magazine release; and a flared magwell.
Grit Grips are available in a variety of colors—gray, green, flat dark earth, white and camo. They retail for $180 to $265 depending on the configuration of the internal components. Because the grip frames are serialized, they must be purchased through an FFL. With a completed Grit Grips frame, all you do is dissemble your Glock and move its complete slide over. Frames stripped of their internal components are also available for less than $100.
SIM-X Ammunition
Out on the range we had the opportunity to fire many different kinds of ammunition. SIM-X has engineered lines of range and defense ammunition using lighter bullets than most standard cartridges. While a 9 mm Luger cartridge typically has a 115-gr. or 124-gr. bullet, SIM-X’s RangeCore 9 mm has a bullet weight of 50 grains, while its DefenseCore hollow point comes in at 45 grains. The lighter bullet design comes from the fact that they do not use a lead core and are environmentally friendly.
With a lighter bullet, the company claims velocities up to twice as fast as typical loads. They also produce less recoil. A demonstration on the range with back-to-back shooting of 115-gr. ammo and the SIM-X RangeCore proved true to its claim. Rangecore 9mm retails for $46 for 100 rounds, while Defensecore is $130 for 100 rounds. SIM-X also produces .40 S&W and .45 ACP in their DefenseCore line.
Auto Ordnance Thompson 1927 A3 .22 LR
One of my favorite things to shoot at Industry Day was Auto Ordnance’s reproduction of a Thompson sub-machine gun, but instead of a full-auto .45 ACP, this new model is a semi-auto chambered in .22 LR.
The .22 Tommy Gun is a lightweight design, weighing only a fraction of the original Thompsons, which were upwards of 10 lbs. The stock and foregrip are polymer “walnut” and the polymer barrel has a steel liner. The rimfire Tommy Gun feeds from 10/22 rotary magazines and has an optics mount for adding a red dot sight. MSRP for the rifle is $934 and it will be available soon at Auto Ordnance.
Magna Lens
Have you ever had a lengthy range session and by the end of the day you feel the pressure of the arms of your safety or sunglasses being pressed into your head by your over-ear hearing protection? Or have you noticed that your shooting glasses don’t allow your muffs to completely seal off your ears from your gun’s noise? The remedy is an eye protection design that attaches to your ear pro via magnets introduced by Magna Lens.
Magna Lens makes shooting glasses that have truncated arms with strong magnets that integrate with either their own earmuffs or use magnetic adapters that fit on your personal ear protection. The company stresses the importance of “a complete ear seal, allowing earmuffs to deliver their intended noise reduction rating while significantly improving comfort.”
If you are interested in just a set of the shooting glasses and want to use your ear protection with a magnetic adapter, the package costs $150. A pair of Magna Lens eye and electronic ear pro sells for $250. A lens kit is also available with seven different colored lenses and longer arms to wear the glasses by themselves, which retails for $340.
GPS Range Bags and Backpacks
Of all the range tools that I have acquired for my work as an NRA instructor, the GPS Tactical Range Backpack has been one of the handiest, with three removable pistol cases and well-labeled pockets for all your range gear, from staplers to eye protection. When visiting the GPS booth at Range Day, it was nice to see that the company has updated and expanded its range backpack line, with a variety of sizes and styles.
The one that particularly caught my eye was the Handgunner Backpack, with a foam cradle that holds four handguns and can be easily pulled out with the backpack sitting on a shooting bench. The Handgunner retails for $259. For more details on this model or other GPS range backpacks and range bags, see their website.
Galco Brush Hog
Galco was out at Range Day offering a sampling of new holsters. The two that I found most interesting were the Auto Pistol Outdoorsman (APO) and Brush Hog. Carrying a handgun when active outside, whether hiking a trail or riding a horse, can be challenging. Both holsters are made of premium steerhide with a retention system that is released with a glove-friendly snap. In the case of the APO (MSRP $148), there is a retention strap and an adjustable retention system. The holster can be worn low on the strongside or in a cross-draw position.
With the Brush Hog (MSRP $179), a retention flap fully covers the pistol, including an optic, if you have one installed. This protects both gun and sight from not only the brush, but also rain. Both holsters are available for a wide variety of full-sized semi-automatic pistols, are available in either a black or tan finish, and are cut to accommodate an optic.
Franklin Armory F22-V: Integral Suppressor with Binary Trigger
Measured purely by giggle factor, the newly released Franklin Armory F22-V was a winner. The semi-automatic rifle features not only the company’s binary trigger system, but also a barrel with a built-in suppressor. Chambered in .22 LR, the F22’s suppressed bang was drowned out by the sound of the steel it was ringing. And that ringing had a fast tempo, with the F22’s trigger that fires a shot every time it is pulled and released (the trigger can also operate in normal semi-auto mode). The F22-V is priced at $1,250 and the rifle’s suppressor requires it to be registered under the provisions of the National Firearms Act. The F22 is also available in non-suppressed form ($730) and as a pistol with an arm brace ($1,090).
