Tony C. Zappia       Focus on the Outdoors

While attending the 2007 SHOT Show in Orlando, Fla., a few weeks ago, I had the good fortune to inspect and shoot a number of firearms prior to the four-day show, from full-auto tactical rifles able to fire a 20-shot blast within a snap of a finger, to marine sniper rifles capable of taking out rockets and vehicles at a mere distance of two miles, to magnum shotguns with less recoil than a .410 gauge.

It's the kind of day any gun enthusiast would have enjoyed. More than 50 firearms manufacturers assembled at one, very expansive, first-class shooting range.

Here are a handful of firearms I found interesting:

Smith & Wesson Autoloader: During the media breakout day, I had the opportunity to shoot a few clays with the new Smith & Wesson 1012, 12-gauge autoloader. The new addition to the Smith & Wesson family comes standard with five choke tubes, chromed-lined barrel, a uniquely durable recoil pad and a light-gathering TRUGLO front and brass mid-bead sights.

The 1012, fitted in both walnut and synthetic stocks, also comes equipped with a 4-piece shim kit which will enable the shooter to custom fit their stock for cast and pitch.

The 1000 series offers shooters a number of configurations, from their youth 1020 model to the new APG Realtree turkey gun drilled and tapped for optics, to the 3-inch 1012 and the 31/2-inch 1012 Super fitted with 24- to 30-inch barrels. All in all, nearly 30 models are available to meet your shotgunning needs.

Knight KP1 Combo rifle/muzzleloader: I had the opportunity to pull the trigger on high-powered sniper rifles, shotguns, handguns, full-auto tactical weapons, hunting rifles and the latest muzzleloaders. Each firearm had their own personality, but none so like the new Knight KP1 muzzleloader/centerfire.

This combo breakdown firearm package has placed their cross hairs on Thompson Center Arms combo guns. At the range I fired the KP1 .223 caliber. Without a doubt, the KP1 had the sweetest trigger of all the firearms I fired that day. Trigger pull was smooth and crisp with very little creep. It is superbly designed and built and it is perhaps the best and most exciting firearm in 2007.

The KP1 is a single-shot, break-action, exposed-hammer platform that places Knight Rifles into the centerfire and rimfire business. I shot the .223 at 8-ounce water bottles at 200 yards. Fitted with a 4-power Weaver scope, the KP1 made very quick work demolishing all targets. The KP1 was quick, responsive and a blast to shoot. The following barrels will be available: .17HMR, 22LR, .223Rem., .243Win., .270Win., 30-06 Sprg and .300 WinMag. And, the good news is, even though I didn't shoot the muzzleloader, I am supremely confident Knight's barrel will not disappoint.

T/C Arms Triumph Muzzleloader: The Triumph is the new magnum muzzleloader. From the moment you see the Triumph,. you'll see there is something special about it. Its artistic lines are sleek and polished while the finish is rugged and evokes the feeling of confidence. The all-alloy receiver reduces the weight and balances the rifle for natural handling while an advance metal coating for corrosion protection and durability, called Weather Shield, protects the Triumph from the elements.

The innovative design is centered around the new tip-up barrel with toggle-lock design boasting only four moving parts, making the Triumph simple to use and clean. The design means there is no need to remove the trigger to clean the rifle. The Speed Breech XT is Triumph's most innovative feature. This is a breech plug that can be removed by hand with only a 90-degree rotation with no tools required. The new Speed Breech XT is not only easy to extract but its design eliminates the need to clean the breech threading where fouling accumulates with standard breech plugs. Most breech plugs are recessed inside the barrel, which have unprotected threads, leaving an area for fouling and blow-back, which causes seizing and requires more cleaning. During testing, 250 rounds were shot through the Triumph, the Speed Breech XT was never cleaned, and never seized. Other muzzleloaders require a hunter to fire his rifle to unload his gun, then back at camp the hunter has to spend time to thoroughly clean his rifle to prevent corrosion from setting in. Still, another advantage of the Speed Breech XT design is it allows the hunter to quickly unload his rifle at the end of the day without firing and fouling his gun. Also, the Simms Vibration Laboratory specifically designed the Triumph's recoil pad, which reduces recoil by 25 percent.

Beretta Xtrema2: Are you bothered when shooting 3- or 31/2-inch magnum loads out of your shotgun? In the relentless pursuit of excellence, Beretta engineers have once again set the benchmark for a do-it-all shotgun in the form of the new Xtrema2. The Xtrema2 features soft shooting gas operation, an integrated spring-mass recoil reducer, Kick-Off recoil reduction and the new Aqua technology for extreme environmental protection. The Kick Off recoil is an option for the Xtrema2 that features two hydraulic recoil dampers that significantly reduce recoil. The new technology will set you back a few bucks, but for those who shoot Canadas and turkeys with magnum loads, the Beretta Xtrema2 is for you.