2020 Dallas Safari Club Expo

A gorgeous, lightweight doublegun, built to be used and hunted. ’ve I been going to the annual SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) in Las Vegas religiously for several years now. Lots of stuff and lots of people. This year, I was looking for something different… a large show, but maybe not so large or crowded as SHOT. I decided on going to the Dallas Safari Club’s annual convention in Dallas, Texas and I’m glad I did. The DSC Expo is smaller but not "small".

It’s also family-friendly and open to the public. The 2020 show filled 800,000 square feet with 965 exhibitors and 1,835 booths featuring outfitted hunts, guns, gear, and vendors. Lots of famous gun makers like SIG SAUER, James Purdey & Sons, and E. J. Churchill, plus dozens of smaller custom outfits fill the scene. A great place if you like fine walnut and blued steel—black rifles and tactical gear weren’t on too many tables. It’s a different firearms crowd that’s attracted to the DSC.

Quite a few vendors were advertising expensive safaris to well-heeled clients willing to pay for a first-class hunting trip. In another part of the convention center, hand-made custom rifles and shotguns were displayed that someone on a high-end hunt Far

410 hammer gun that will be fitted, engraved, and finished upon return to England. Small gauges and hammer guns are very popular, and Purdey is selling as many as they can build. Nicely finished, a great trigger, and superbly accurate, the new gun is a credit to the original Swiss P210. would need to take a trophy with. Even though I’m not on a Bentley budget, I was a happy guy. I got to fondle one-of-a-kind firearms and discuss their building process with factory reps that shared my enthusiasm.

Here’s a very small sampling of the vendors I chatted with and their wares. Stay tuned for future in-depth articles on several DSC exhibitors. E. J. Churchill I love doubleguns, especially sideby-sides. There were plenty of them at the Dallas show. I stopped by the Churchill booth and spoke with Sean Scott, International Sporting Manager of Churchill (EJChurchill. com, +44(0)1494 883227). Churchill specializes in hand-made double shotguns, both over-under and side-by-side.

Churchill also builds bolt action and double rifles. All rifles are "bespoke" (hand-made), like their shotguns, in Churchill’s shop in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. I handled a gorgeous little 28 gauge double shotgun that Churchill was displaying; my only regret was having to hand it back to Sean. Churchill also offers shooting lessons for both clays and game at their own company-owned estate north of London.

While I probably won’t ever own a Churchill double, I could see myself taking a lesson or two at the Churchill shooting grounds during an English vacation. James Purdey & Sons Probably the most famous of English doublegun makers, Purdey (Purdey.com, +44(0) 20 7499 1801) had a great display of their shotguns. One that caught my eye was a .410 hammer gun that was still under construction.

Final fitting, engraving, and finish hadn’t been completed; a shotgun in this stage of completion gives the shooter/buyer an idea of how much work goes into one of these hand-made doubles—this one costs over $250,000 and is already sold, along with nine others just like it. A lovely little gun it will be—and according to the reps, it’ll be shot and hunted. Purdey sales staff said that they’re selling every small gauge gun they can build; delivery, if you order now, is a couple of years.

In addition to their iconic Beesley-actioned sidelock doublegun, Purdey also builds bespoke bolt-action sporting rifles and overunder shotguns. SIG SAUER I stopped by the SIG (SigSauer.com, booth to see what’s up and to speak with my old shooting buddy, Sammy Reese, who’s a trainer and rep with SIG. Too many things were on display to mention them all, but I did get to handle and photo SIG’s American-made P210 and the current-issue M17 pistol.

I’ve been really interested in the P210 American version, having shot several older Swiss and German P210s. Trigger on the sample was superb, fitting and finish was first class, and the price won’t cost you a couple of mortgage payments. It’s nice to see a legendary pistol that’s been brought back, better than ever, with a price tag that’s affordable to a serious shooter ($1,300 for the new carry model). Three versions are offered: target, standard, and carry.

Considered the most accurate service pistol ever made, the new US-produced SIG P210 will have a storied history to live up to. A few minor upgrades have been added, but the original 210 design is intact. Fit and finish is the equal of the originals I’ve shot. SIG has the contract for building the recently-adopted M17 9mm service pistol; M17 production is ahead of schedule and the Army is very satisfied with their new handgun.

Some minor issues were dealt with in pre-production testing and the military is on-target to re-equip most US forces with M17s. I liked the one I handled at the SIG booth; sights and trigger were what an experienced shooter would want, grip is comfortable (and user-adaptable), unlike the Beretta M9. No, it’s not a 1911, but I think it’ll turn out to be a great pistol in the coming years. Striker-fired, polymer pistols are the future; this is a good one.

Some very cool guns are coming out of Jesse’s shop in Austin, including several stunning 1911s that do what a legendary combat pistol should: function flawlessly. 338 Lapua rifles. HCR builds awesome custom rifles from .22s to African big game cannons. All will shoot tiny groups, tested and guaranteed by Hill Country Rifles.

Jesse James Firearms Unlimited After a couple of hours of looking at classics, I went in a different direction for a change of pace: Jesse James (yes, that Jesse James, the West Coast Choppers guy) had a REALLY neat booth with custom guns and choppers stuffed inside. Jesse was also there, having a great time taking selfies with fans and answering questions about his guns and bikes. Several 1911s were on display; beautiful, hand-made pistols that will shoot like a target gun.

Jesse’s shop (JJFU. com, is building some very interesting firearms that push the limit on what’s possible in the shooting world. If you’re looking for something different, Jesse James will build it for you. It might take awhile (nothing is fast in the custom gun world) but you’ll get a hand-made firearm that’ll be unique. Hill Country Rifles HCR (HillCountryRifles.com, has been around since 1996, producing exceptionally accurate bolt rifles that are handsome and 100% reliable.

HCR made their reputation on accuracy, guaranteeing three-shot groups of 1/2" at 100 yards with their rifles and factory ammo. That still holds true today; HCR spends a large chunk of their budget on premium factory ammo that’s used in testing. Every rifle is fired for accuracy and meets Hill Country standards or it doesn’t get out the door. They have their own underground 100 meter test range on-site and it’s in use daily.

Under the leadership of Matt Bettersworth, the HCR people are building some superb (and very accurate) rifles. You can have your factory rifle tuned for accuracy or order something new. HCR uses a variety of actions and will be glad to work with you on what you want. Matt and his gunsmiths have new, completed rifles ready to ship, as well as being able to build a one-ofa-kind rifle for you.

Super-accurate .22 caliber rifles are popular now, and HCR is crafting highly modified .22s that are fun, incredibly accurate and cheap to shoot. The best thing about HCR, though, is the people—my first visit to Hill Country Rifles was as an activeduty Soldier needing anew trigger on a 700 Remington. I was treated royally, even though I didn’t order a rifle. A great company that is passionate about rifles, accuracy, and customer service. Chris J.

Batha I spent a little time with Chris Batha (ChrisBathaShooting.com, who is one of the best shotgun instructors in the UK or US. He can also hook you up with a gorgeous Charles Boswell doublegun, hand-made to your specifications in England. What’s neat is that you can do the fitting here in the States (Chris is based in South Carolina) by a master instructor who happens to own the company. Mr.

Botha bought the rights and "good name" of the Charles Boswell brand; Boswell specializes in custom competition shotguns and small-bore game guns. Only six or seven guns a year are made, starting at $40,000. After getting your gun, you can have Chris teach you how to use it, using the British style of instinctive shooting. The website is a great read on British guns and shooting. If you’re looking for a really neat, short vacation, a trip to next year’s DSC convention in Dallas might be the trick.

It’s a great place to bring the spouse, too… it’s not all guns, shooting, and hunting. Clothes, jewelry, and other carriage trade items were also on display and for sale. Plus, you’re in downtown Dallas; lots of excellent restaurants and stuff to see. The 2021 DSC Expo is scheduled January 7-10 at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas. I’ll see you there next year. AG