22Apr
IWA and Outdoor Classics Exhibition 2012
Maria Gushchina
Over 36000 trade and industry visitors from 109 countries were able to view 1024 exhibitors in Nuremberg from 9th to the 12th March at IWA and Outdoor Classics, the leading exhibition for hunting, sports shooting, outdoor and security equipment in Europe. The premiere of Enforce Tac on 8th and 9th March marks the start of a separate accompanying exhibition solely for law enforcement agencies and military organisations.
Exhibition
IWA and Outdoor Classics Exhibition 2012Over 36000 trade and industry visitors from 109 countries were able to view 1024 exhibitors in Nuremberg from 9th to the 12th March at IWA and Outdoor Classics, the leading exhibition for hunting, sports shooting, outdoor and security equipment in Europe. The professional audience from trade and industry benefits from more space, an improved structure and new services in 2012. The premiere of Enforce Tac on 8th and 9th March marks the start of a separate accompanying exhibition solely for law enforcement agencies and military organisations.
The STI European Team were on hand at the STI International stand and will be competing on the IPSC European match circuit in 2012.
The exhibition concentrates innovations and trends in all product segments. In addition to firearms and ammunition, the exhibitors present all products for outdoor activities and especially for hunting and shooting sports, including archery. The exhibition also provides information about new kinds of sports, hobbies and the appropriate products, attractive set ideas and hunting gifts. Buyers from official agencies can look forward to a full range of service firearms and security accessories; from bullet proof vests, protective shields, functional clothing, holsters and ammunition to products for personal and body protection.
Enforce Tac Exhibition for SWAT Units and Special Forces
Enforce Tac was a development from of the highly specialised Law Enforcement segment that was held the day before IWA officially opened was formed as a separate segment for the first time. Over 1400 delegates from official law enforcement and military agencies enjoyed an extensive program of presentations at the European Police trainer Conference and the Police Management Academy Conference on 8th March 2012, plus a presentation of applicable products from the 62 exhibitors.
Frontier bullets are used world wide in IPSC shooting. Here Nico Economakis, who founded the company, mans their stand at IWA.
As Europe’s leading firearms trade fair, IWA and Outdoor Classics presents a variety of products made by manufacturers from throughout the world. The constantly growing program includes all areas of target sports and hunting. Everything comes together, from air soft guns to big game rifles. For this article I looked at the products are are applicable to IPSC.
CZ Shadow
CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow 2012
CZ has added an addition pistol to their IPSC line up. The CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow 2012 pistol ( www.czub.cz & www.cz-usa.com ) is different in new procedures and operations added as a part of the production process. These relate to the manual fitting of the barrel, the lateral definition of the free movement of the bolt and an improved trigger mechanism. The gun has a burnished barrel and its "Orange 2012" name is based principally on its aluminium grips and magazine base pads of that colour. This pistol is presented in the same carrying case as is used for the CZ 75 TS Czechmate Open Division pistol.CZ had their full range of IPSC Open, Production and Standard Division pistols on display. A new IPSC pistol addition is the CZ Shadow 2012, which its distinctive orange grips and magazine base pad.
CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow 2012 Features
- Improved barrel to slide fitting
- Improved trigger mechanism
- Polished barrel
- Metal polished recoil spring guide
- Recoil spring + recoil spring set (13 lbs. And 11 lbs.)
- Main spring + main spring set (13 lbs. And 16 lbs.)
- Buffer set (3 off thick & 2 off thin)
- Orange grips - thin, long (aluminium)
- Three magazines with orange aluminium magazine base pad
- Defender type rear sights and red fiber optic front sight 5,5 x 2,5 x 1 mm
- Newly designed sa/da hammer
- Cleaning oil, loader, CD, polymer case
Range Cart Pro
CED / DAA RangeCart Pro
If you have ever attended an IPSC match on a really large spread out range, you will appreciate how handy and helpful a cart can be. Most shooters do tend to lug around a lot of gear and ammunition to a big match.
The new CED/DAA Range Cart Pro ( www.CEDhk.com & www.doublealpha.biz ) was created from the ground up with the practical shooter in mind. It is designed to be the perfect companion product for the CED/DAA Range Pack Pro backpack, but can be ideally used with practically any range bag you own. Weighting in at 7.5 lb, it has a 17 inch wheel base and the handle height is 45 inches.
Charles Hardy the Director at CED has recently developed a new Range Cart Pro and Range Pack Pro.
Made of aluminum, with steel joints and hinges and wide inflatable all terrain tires, the RangeCart Pro can securely carry over 100 pounds of assorted gear anywhere that you will need to go on a range.
Quick release assembly pins allow the cart to fold down in seconds, making it possible to pack into any moderately sized suitcase or the smallest car trunk. Even the wheels can be removed, so you never need to leave it at home.
The 1680 Denier fabric custom panel is functional as the front top end features a fold down ammunition box shelf that is positioned high for easy access, and on which can be placed a 100 round ammunition box for loading magazines while standing comfortably. A great feature for use on the range when no table is either accessible or available. For added convenience, on each side of the fold-down shelf there is a magazine pocket, allowing two magazines to be loaded and stored while awaiting use.
An interesting feature of the Range Cart Pro is the two magazine holders and fold out platform on which you can place a 100 round ammunition box while loading your magazines.
On the back panel as below the rubberised grip handle is a generous sized insulated "lunch box" compartment, the perfect place for fruit, sandwiches or any other food items, while you are out on the range. Below this are two large one litre insulated bottle holders, which are ideal for drinks or personal items. The RangeCart Pro is also designed to allow a large golf umbrella to be attached in the closed position and then opened in a manner that will provide weather protection to the user and their equipment.
DAA Racer
DAA Racer HolsterIn 2010 DAA introduced its Race Master Holster, which became a success, bringing in countless match wins, including the European Steel Challenge and the IPSC World Championships. However, the aluminium construction and machining of the Race Master makes it an expensive holster. So seeing the need for a less expensive variant of this successful design, DAA ( www.doublealpha.biz ) set out to develop the Racer Holster.
The DAA Racer Holster uses the same mechanism as the Race Master but what the Race Master achieves with interchangeable Delrin inserts inside an aluminium housing, the Racer does with no housing at all. So you get the same performance without the high costs of machining.
Costs where further by eliminating the large external tension adjustment knob, which many deemed unnecessary and the tension is set to light. This can be adjusted internally for the user’s preference. The same locking system allows the DAA Racer holster to secure the gun by its trigger guard. The same spring loaded safety is positioned at the rear of the holster. The Racer is available in black, with a coloured side plate, available in black, blue, red and silver. Custom name and logo engraving is also available. The Race Master retails at €179 and the Racer is €120.
The DAA Racer Holster uses the same mechanism as the Race Master but what the Race Master achieves with interchangeable Delrin inserts inside an aluminium housing, the Racer does with no housing at all.
In 2011 DAA introduced the all aluminium Race Master magazine pouch. However, again their one shortcoming is their high price tag, especially when you consider that you need three or four of them on your belt. So DAA set out to develop and produce an injection molded version of this same design.
They took the very same body design, modified it to suite plastic molding requirements, while maintaining the exact same “pressure from the back” adjustable holding system and belt attachment system. Interchangeable inserts allow you to go from larger M2011 magazines to smaller CZ / Sphinx / Tanfoglio magazines. A M1911 single stack spacer is available as an accessory as well. Compared to the Race Master the Racer magazine pouch has a saving of €17.50 per pouch.
DAA took the very same body design, modified it to suite plastic molding requirements, while maintaining the exact same “pressure from the back” adjustable holding system and belt attachment system. Interchangeable inserts allow you to go from larger M2011 magazines to smaller CZ / Sphinx / Tanfoglio magazines.
Mr. Bullet Feeder
Double Alpha has distributed Mr. Bullet Feeder to go along with your progressive reloading press since 2006. The product has always been a little rough in appearance and finish. This has now changed as DAA has teamed up with Rak Systems and have redesigned Mr. Bullet Feeder and it is now lighter and more compact and now has a more production look and feel. The dropper head now works entirely by gravity and the system is easier to install and set up and comes at a more affordable price.
Saul Kirsch at Double Alpha Academy has recently made improvements to the Mr. Bullet bullet feeder.
Tanfoglio
Tanfoglio Production PistolsStopping by the Tanfoglio stand Eric Grauffel showed me the Tanfoglio Stock II and Stock III Production Division pistols ( www.tanfoglio.it ) that he will be using on the IPSC match circuit in 2012. Having been the IPSC Open Division European and World Champion since 1998, Eric will be giving his Open pistols a rest and will be competing in Production Division. This has lead to Eric developing of a series of accessories for these pistols. These include grips, ambidextrous safeties, sights and different hammers. Eric also showed me a new single action firing pin, red and green fibre front sights and a spurless hammer for Tanfoglio pistols. Eric has fitted this new front sight to his Stock II and III Production Division pistols.
Eric Grauffel, multiple IPSC European and World Champion in IPSC Open Division, in 2012 will be competing in Production Division with his Tanfoglio Stock II and Stock III pistols.
Tanfoglio have new versions and accessories for the IPSC Production versions of their
Stock II and Stock III pistols.
An area of shooting that is expanding in Europe and was very much in evidence at IWA was air soft and gas powered firearms. I was surprised at the amount of floor space at IWA that was occupied by these products. Basically you can now get an air soft or gas powered version of all the common types of pistols, rifles and also machineguns. Tanfoglio have air soft versions of their cartridge firing firearms and at a first glance it is difficult to tell both versions apart. Eric uses his air soft Tanfoglio extensively. It is a good way to practice at home when you cannot get to the range.
SIRT
SIRT Laser Training PistolNext Level Training introduced its dry fire training pistol the Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger pistol at the 2011 Shot Show. Founded by IPSC Grand Master Shooter Mike Hughes, Next Level Training ( www.nextleveltraining.com ) is revolutionising the way shooters train with its new Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger ( SIRT ) dry fire training pistol.
The S.I.R.T. currently comes in the shape of a Glock 17 and has a detachable magazine. The weight of the magazine can be easily changed to duplicate either a fully loaded or empty magazine.
Visual response from the laser provides immediate and accurate feedback on shot placement verification. With the SIRT pistol you can perform thousands of repetitions, with instantaneous feedback to correct trigger control issues immediately.
Unlike a live fire pistol the SIRT dry fire training pistol provides instantaneous performance feedback from the laser placement on the target. it also eliminates ongoing expenditures such as ammunition, targets and travelling costs. Because of its flexibility and cost effectiveness, the SIRT permits additional training and actually encourages you to do it.
An interesting training pistol was the S.I.R.T. laser training pistol. This can be used equally for developing your competition skills and also for law enforcement training.
Simple to use, the SIRT dry fire training pistol is applicable to a range of training exercises including shooting accuracy, sidearm handling, integrated cardio and live course programs, and even force-on-force training scenarios. Its use is not just limited to IPSC training, but can also be used in law enforcement and military training scenarios. As it does not discharge any type of projectile and instead uses laser feedback, the SIRT dry fire training pistol can be used safely in nearly every environment and situation.
Ghost International
As an addition to their current line up of IPSC competition holsters and accessories, Ghost
( www.ghostinternational.com ) has introduced a new magazine pouch for the new Classic Division. This uses three magazine pouches and two magnets on one belt hanger to allow you to carry five M1911 magazines close to each other.
Ghost International have developed a new magazine pouch specifically for the new IPSC Classic Division. It uses three magazine pouches and two magnets, with one belt attachment point to hold five M1911 magazines.
Guga Ribas was a world class competitor in the former IPSC Modified Division and is one of the major promoters of IPSC shooting in Brazil. As Modified Division no longer exists he has had to think about his future in IPSC. Guga also manufactures an IPSC competition holster.
Sphinx had the IPSC versions of their pistols available for exanimation. Sphinx have recently signed a sponsorship deal with top Brazilian IPSC competitor Guga Ribas.
Sphinx Systems, the Interlaken based Swiss pistol manufacturer has announced a sponsorship with Guga Ribas and the launch of a new line of accessories with Guga Ribas Company. Guga will be using Sphinx pistols ( www.sphinx-systems.ch ) in all tournaments in both IPSC Production and Open Divisions. Negotiations for the sponsorship of “Guga Ribas Junior Top Team” are also in progress. The project aims to join Guga’s coaching and training sessions to Sphinx’s pistols in order to develop new IPSC top competitors. IPSC competitors in Brazil will also be able to have access to Sphinx pistols through Guga Ribas, which will be its representative in their country.
Also at IWA and fresh from winning the Ladies Production World Championship at the 2011 IPSC World Shoot XVI, was Russia’s Maria Gushchina. She used the Grand Power X-Calibur pistol ( www.grandpower.eu ) to win her World Shoot title. She paid a visit to the Grand Power stand and met the company owner and the pistol designer Jaroslav Kuracina.
Fresh from her winning the Ladies Production World Championship at the 2011 IPSC World Shoot XVI, was Maria Gushchina. She is holding the Grand Power X-Calibur pistol, which is what she used to win her World Shoot title. Beside Maria is Grand Power owner and the pistol designer Jaroslav Kuracina.
IWA 40th Anniversary in 2013
IWA and Outdoor Classics will celebrate their 40th anniversary next year, again with many new products and innovations for hunting, shooting sports, outdoor activities law enforcement and military. The date and venue for its fortieth anniversary are 8–11 March 2013 in the Exhibition Centre in Nuremberg.
For Further Information
www.iwa.info