Of all the cool guns and gadgets we got to see at SHOT Show 2016, one that stands out for us is an exciting new bolt action rifle from Grey Ghost Precision (@greyghostprecision) in 300 Blackout. No, it's not another AR variant, but rather a Remington style bolt gun in a custom chassis — one that tips the scale at just around 6 lbs.

With an over sized bolt knob, 16″ fluted barrel, AAC 51T Brakeout, AR style stock and a Magpul magazine the GGP 300 Blackout Bolt Gun looks to be a complete winner.

The 300 Blackout round is a true success story. Based on a Wildcat cartridge developed in the late 1980s as the 300 Whisper, it showed a lot of potential. Here was a round that would fit any AR15 with a simple barrel change and could be loaded in two very different variants: supersonic to mimic the 7.62×39 Russian round or a subsonic version that was particularly quiet with silencers and ballistically superior to a subsonic pistol round.

Unfortunately, the 1994 Federal Assault Weapon Ban prohibited threaded muzzles on rifles and pistols which lead to the decline of the round's popularity. By the time the ban sunsetted, the 300 Whisper seemed doomed to the annals of history as yet another “also ran” Wildcat cartridge cooked up by JD Jones.

Thankfully, the gurus at Advanced Armament Corporation saw the utility and versatility in this cartridge and revived it, standardized it through SAAMI and hit the ground running with a variety of platforms beyond the AR. Ten years later, you can pick a box of it up at almost any sporting goods counter in the US.

Grey Ghost Precision's take on it seems as if it is intended for use as more of a hunting rifle, despite the tactical exterior. Lighter than most .308 leadslingers, this would be a welcome addition on any hunt where you need to hike in and have to haul out over 200 pounds of meat. If you don't have the luxury of horses or four wheel drive on an elk or antelope hunt, you come to appreciate a light rifle that won't break your shoulder every time you squeeze off a shot.

The rifle balances well but it is still in the prototype stage so beyond barrel length of 16″ (and I am confident they will offer an SBR version) we are short on other specs, but seeing the genuine enthusiasm behind this piece on behalf of everyone at Grey ghost that we spoke with, we are sure that this will not be doomed as a vaporware ghost gun and are glad to see more than just another re-branded AR set up for the 300 Blackout.

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Follow us on Instagram, @RECOILmagazine and keep an eye out for these hashtags: ‪#‎recoilmagazine‬, ‪#‎recoil‬, ‪#‎shotshow2016‬, ‪#‎mediadayattherange‬ and especially ‪#‎recoilSHOT2016‬. Monitor this frequency for more SHOT Show related post in the coming days; there was way too much material to cover in just one week. Our “Constant Coverage” article can be found here — go look at a gallery of imagery from every kind of manufacturer. Likewise you should take a gander at our Media Day at the Range roundup here.

What is the NSSF SHOT Show?

The NSSF SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show) and Conference is an annual event held by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Typically attended by thousands of people from all 50 states and over a hundred countries, it is (quite rightfully) described as the “…world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, and related products and services.

Imagine the Worlds' Fair, but packed with everything from mini-guns and every breed of body armor, bows and boots; from eye pro and ear pro to optics and ordnance, socks to swords…you get the idea. If you'd like to see a sampling of the companies who will be showing at this year's SHOT, there's a live map right here, though it doesn't reflect the organizations set up elsewhere, in hotel suites, etc.

View imagery from our coverage of last year's SHOT Show right here.

SHOT Show is online here; check out the videos from SHOT Show TV right here.

2016 SHOT Show

January 18 — Media on the Range (numerous shooting facilities in and around Las Vegas)

January 19–22, 2016

Sands Expo and Convention Center

Las Vegas, Nevada

Hours:

Tuesday, January 19 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, January 20 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 21 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Friday, January 22 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.