DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news.
By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com
All photos contained in this article were taken by DefenseReview.com, and are copyrighted. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these photos. The photos were shot with a Canon PowerShot S90 10-megapixel digital camera (still camera with video capability).
February 22, 2011
DefenseReview (DR) stopped by the Salient Arms International (SAI) booth at SHOT Show 2011 to check out the custom pistols, rifles, and shotguns that they’re building for competitive and tactical shooters, and we came away impressed with what we saw and handled. Every modification the SAI gunsmiths perform on the weapons has a purpose, the primary ones being improving ergonomics/usernomics, accuracy, and reliability.
Salient’s custom pistols primarily consist of custom Glock, 1911, and Smith & Wesson (S&W) M&P pistols that are modified/customized specifically to maximize their performance in competition and for tactical deployment, including concealed carry (CCW). The most visible modifications on the pistols are lightening cuts on the slides and custom stippling on the grip frames. SAI obviously also performs custom trigger jobs to lighten the trigger pull on the competition guns.
Defense Review already knew that Salient was doing custom work on Glock and 1911 pistols, but we were pleasantly surprised to discover that they’re also now customizing S&W M&P pistols, especially since one of DR’s contributors, Jeff Gurwitch, is a big M&P pistol proponent, now preferring it over the Glock.
SAI’s custom ARs (AR-15 rifles/carbines) and Benelli M2 Super 90 combat shotguns also looked pretty slick, with the most visible M2 shotgun mods involving the bolt carrier. It’s our understanding that the Salient team essentially converts the Benelli M2 to where it operates like a Benelli M1 Super 90, allowing the shooter/operator to load an extra round underneath the bolt carrier. They also polish and smoothen the weapon’s action.
No doubt, whatever custom modifications SAI makes to the weapons are specifically geared to assist both competition and tactical professionals, including champion 3-Gun shooter Taran Butler, who’s both a principal of the company and a user of its products. Taran being an SAI principal and user speaks to the quality of their products, and gives Defense Review a great deal of confidence them. Our confidence in the Salient weapons was further enhanced when we got a chance to run them at the range with Taran after shot show. We ran a Salient custom Glock 17 (G17), AR carbine (AR-15 carbine), and Benelli M2 Super 90 shotgun during a short course that Taran put on, and all the weapons ran great. All the weapons were set up specifically for Taran, so the triggers and actions on them were really good.
We’d recommend that our readers check out Salient Arms International (SAI) custom firearms at the SAI website, and at Velocity Shooter, SAI’s distributor.
We also recommend that you watch for Taran Taran on the show 3-Gun Nation on the Versus network. Not only is Taran a truly great competitive shooter, he’s also a highly entertaining character.
Not coincidentally, the 3-Gun Nation website has an article on the Salient Arms International custom Benelli M2 Super 90 shotgun that’s worth reading.
Company Contact Info:
Salient Arms International (SAI)
2364 E. Sturgis Rd. Unit B
Oxnard, CA 93030
Phone: 805-983-1200
Fax: 310-445-6476
Email: [email protected]
http://www.salientarmsinternational.com
Taran Butler: [email protected]
Tyler Grey: [email protected]
Aaron Chavez: [email protected]
Adrian Chavez: [email protected]
Velocity Shooter
Phone: 859-533-3612
Email Contact Form
https://www.velocityshooter.com
Taran Butler
3-Gun Shooter
Simi Valley, CA
Phone: 805-520-3624
Email Contact Form
Website: http://www.taranbutler.net
3-Gun Nation
424 Ridgehill Drive
Lexington, SC 29073
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.3gunnation.com/
Smith & Wesson (S&W)
2100 Roosevelt Avenue
Springfield, MA 01104
Toll Free: 800-331-0852 (USA)
Phone: 413-781-8300 (International)
Domestic Fax: 413-747-3317
International Fax: 413-731-8980
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.smith-wesson.com
Glock, Inc.
6000 Highlands Parkway
Smyrna, GA 30082
Phone: 770-432-1202
Fax: 770-433-8719
Website: http://www.glock.com
Glock Ges.m.b.H.
P.O. Box 9
A-2232 Deutsch Wagram
AUSTRIA
Tel.: +43 (0) 2247 – 90300-0
Fax: +43 (0) 2247 – 90300-300
Website: http://www.glock.com
Benelli USA
901 Eighth Street
Pocomoke, MD 21851
Toll Free Phone: 800-264-4962
Office Phone: 301-283-6981
Website: http://www.benelliusa.com
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