AOA Blog

This is an introduction to a product called the EyePal Peep Sight System.  It’s a simple little device that will help any shooter or bowyer see the target more clearly which should translate into better shooting and higher scores.  No training is involved and the unit is self-contained, ready to go as soon as it arrives.  So what is this amazing little device and how does it work?  It is a disc of a type of self-clinging plastic with a small aperture hole in the middle.  It affixes to your clean shooting glasses (or reading glasses under your shooting glasses if need be) directly in your sight picture.  It can easily be lifted off and repositioned as needed for the optimal sight picture, or for storing it back in its contact lens-style case.  Should it start to lose its ability to cling, simply rub it across some polyester clothing to build up static.  How it works is basic optical science: The human eye and brain have difficulty working together to focus on more than 2 things where near and far objects are involved.  Example: rear sight, front sight and a target.  The bad news is it gets worse as your eyes age.  Also, the eye can only focus on one image plane at a time and as it tries to range between the rear sight, front sight and target, eyestrain results.  The EyePal allows your eye and brain to work together to clearly see all 3.  In the consumer optical trade the EyePal is referred to as an “autorefractor” allowing many common vision challenges to be overcome by increasing the depth of field.  It transmits an undistorted small image through to the pupil.  Not exactly a new concept in that peep sights have been around for more than a hundred years.  However, with the EyePal the peep sight travels with you, the shooter, and is equally useful with iron sights, dot sights and even low power scopes.  You have the option of shooting with both eyes open as well, another method to help alleviate strain when holding on target.

Invented by Charlie Summers, an optical researcher with MIT, the EyePal can be beneficial to any shooter, young or old, excellent vision or not.  The EyePal comes in 3 configurations: one for handgunners or bowyers (has a slightly larger aperture), one for rifle and the Master Kit which contains one each of the rifle and pistol EyePal.  It has also been approved for use in CMP sanctioned matches.  The kits are available through their website at www.eyepalusa.com for $29.95 per set and come with a money back policy if you aren’t satisfied with the product. Our friends at www.airgunsofarizona.com would consider carrying the EyePal in stock if there is enough interest from the readership, so let them know.  It’s one of those “why didn’t I think of this” gadgets that you soon learn you can’t live without…

Until next time; remember to exercise and protect your freedoms or risk losing them.

Wow! Fantastic! That’s awesome! — Plus a few other superlatives could be used to describe this year’s show.  Before getting into specifics, I would like to acknowledge the folks in this industry.  For 4 days they have tons of people visiting their booths and the primary focus is on bringing in sales and writing up business as it should be.  However, these folks are always willing to take time to sit down and share their thoughts with us in the media.  It makes me proud to be a part of this great industry.  And, for those pundits going around saying the shooting part of the industry is drying up, a few statistics they need to be aware of:  SHOT Show is the 5^th largest trade show in Vegas and this year’s show had the second highest attendance with 64,000; second only to last year’s 67,000.  There were over 1600 exhibitors with 150 of them being new this year.  While firearms sales seemed to have peaked in 2013, ammunition sales were higher in 2014.  This is an $8 billion dollar a year industry and it is estimated that women now make about 25% of the purchases.  Hardly seems like an industry that is in decline…

Moving on, let me describe some of the great stuff seen in my travels around the approximately 13 acres of items on display.  The trend this year seemed to be in the direction of big bore PCP air rifles with several of the major names introducing a version.  Airforce came out with the Texan, a .45 caliber single-shot capable of delivering 500 foot pounds of energy.  Crosman introduced their Bulldog, a .357 rotary magazine fed bullpup design claiming 180 fpe.  Daystate has added the Bullpup utilizing electronic firing controls in multiple calibers that includes a .30 version. FX introduced the Bobcat Mk2 with an externally adjustable regulator allowing the user to custom tune the rifle and it is available in .30 as well.  Then there was Hatsan’s .35 caliber BT Carnivore, a rotary magazine fed model utilizing their QuietEnergy technology.  I understand Marksman introduced a large caliber model as well although I did not have an opportunity to check it out.  A new company out of Las Vegas was not exhibiting at the show, but I did have a chance to see their contribution to the big bore realm outside of the show venue.  Innovairtech has built a bolt action single shot .357 that uses stainless steel pressurized cartridges instead of having an on board HPA cylinder.  Just fill the cartridge to the desired pressure, drop a lead bullet into the nose of the cartridge and it is ready to insert into the rifle.  Designs are underway to produce a magazine fed version in the future.  Our friends here at Airguns of Arizona also have something exciting to unveil in the big bore arena and there will be more available on that soon.

There is so much more to cover that will have to come in other blogs, but I did want to mention a couple of stand-outs for me.  UmarexUSA introduced a Colt licensed Peacemaker replica in a blue or nickel finish.  This CO₂ BB pistol is beautifully done and I can hardly wait to get my hands on one.  Lastly, as I was passing the Wolf Ammunition booth some very good looking Russian-made PCPs with hand-checkered walnut stocks caught my eye. Very little information was available at the show and I’ll see what I can find out and report on later.

For my first contribution to this blog I thought I’d tell you a little about the annual trade show held in Las Vegas where new items related to the airgun industry are showcased.  Each January for 4 days, the National Shooting Sports Foundation sponsors a huge trade show known as the SHOT Show.  Over 60,000 exhibitors/vendors, buyers and media from around the world gather to celebrate all things related to the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trades. When I say “all things” I am not kidding.  We are talking everything from Anti-tank weapons (military sales only…) to Zippo (they own Case knives) and everything in between; including such diverse items as hiking boots, hunting dog training gear, ATVs and jerky spices/game processing supplies.  If you’ve seen it in a sporting goods or gun store, it can be ordered in quantity at this show.  Being a trade show it is not open to the public and no cash & carry sales happen on the show floor.

Manufacturers use this forum to introduce their newest creations that we consumers see on the store shelves later in the year.  All the major players (with the exception of Daisy) come to Vegas to show off their latest-and-greatest wares.  AofA exhibits every year and it is great to catch up with Robert and the gang.

As the biggest show of its type held in North America, literally thousands of firearms are on display and they must be rendered inoperable.  No live ammunition is allowed in the convention center and even though there is a large section of the show dedicated to law enforcement equipment, LEOs in attendance may not be armed.  Of course, there is a huge presence of local police and private security.  Even lowly pellets are not exempt from the rules.  My friend Dick over at Predator International wanted to display an open tin of his Polymags and the only way the promoters would allow it was if he poured a clear epoxy over the tin to turn the pellets into a solid mass.

Sometimes the products on display are so new that attendees are handling prototypes.  It is always interesting to see how the prototypes changed between SHOT and the store shelves.  Also, seeing the innovations taking place across every segment of the industry each year is amazing.

It is an exciting place to be in an exciting venue and I feel fortunate to be able to participate in it.  After a whole day of touching everything gun-related, and seeing what the manufacturing world has to offer in the way of things connected to this hobby/passion you can hang out at the casinos and win your fortune!  So far it hasn’t happened to me – but there is always next year!

Alright, so I’ll stick with a good thing and just concentrate on walking the million+ square foot show floor visiting as many of the 1600+ exhibitors as possible.  Look for a follow up blog after I return from the show for a sneak preview of what is on the airgunning horizon.

Remember to exercise and protect your freedoms or risk losing them…