There’s something comforting about walking through a crowded trade-show aisle and hearing yelping. When that happened this morning at the 2012 SHOT Show, I had to check it out.

Sure enough, it was my old friend Matt Morrett of Hunter’s Specialties, and he was playing with one of H.S. Strut’s brand-new Derringer friction calls. These little beauties — available in slate and glass — are compact pot calls that produce big sound. They come with a premium carbon striker. H.S. is also introducing Smokin’ Gun glass and slate calls, and Raspy Old Hen slate and glass pots.

A while later, I ran into the good folks at Environ-Metal. They’re extremely excited about the introduction of Hevi-Metal Turkey, a new shotshell that has a later of Hevi-shot atop a layer of steel shot. The new loads will provide maximum knockdown power and optimum patterns. They’re available in 3-inch 12-gauge, 3.5-inch 12-gauge and 3-inch 20-gauge.

More tomorrow!