PMCI December 2015 | Page 40

pmcimagazine.com FOLD ‘EM GEAR FLXSHOT A By Trampas Swanson ll too often, I find the most useful devices are those so simple that I slap my head and say, “Why the hell didn’t I think of that?” This was the case when I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Sturm of Fold ‘Em Gear, LLC during the SHOT SHOW Industry Day at the Range this past January. It was the end of a long day of observing and shooting all the new guns set for upcoming release throughout 2015 (tough job, I know). Before boarding the bus to head back to the hotel, my wife and I made the final loop through the last section of shotgun booths. Between the Benelli and Browning booths, there was a huge sign with duck silhouettes which read FOLD ‘EM GEAR. Underneath, several men and women were shooting skeet with various shotguns while wearing these compact 3 shell devices on their forearm and belt. When I walked up and introduced myself as the “internationally famous” writer with PMCI Magazine, the gentleman that I first met was named Steve. Judging from my cheesy smile, Steve knew right off, I was just giving him my best friendly but tired greeting. As it turned out, Steve Sturm was the owner, operator and creator of this neat shell carrier that got my attention. As I was shown a Fold ‘Em Gear shell holder, I learned it was called the FlxSHOT. While holding one, a hundred different uses rushed to mind with Steve’s beloved ducks being the very last of them. I explained to Steve and his staff, while I did grow up shooting a duck or two, I do not consider myself an avid duck hunter. What I do enjoy is any good piece of handy gear 40 By Trampas Swanson for tactical and defence purposes. In the shotgun gear market, you will probably find much more hunting gear than tactical with no practical application to cross from one application to the other. In theory, the FlxSHOT device from Fold ‘Em Gear seems to be a good example of an exception to the norm, but time in the field would determine the final judgement. Molded in everyone’s favorite Flat Dark Earth, the FlxSHOT is a flexible polymer device designed to hold 3 standard shotgun shells ranging from .410 to 12 Gauge securely via rare earth magnets the company calls Shell-Loc technology. Removal of a stored shell for reloading is lightning fast and easy but if you are trying to make a shell purposely fall out, you will wear out long before this device does as I found out the hard way.