The Best New Guns and Gear

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The SHOT Show is the world’s largest gun show, and it’s going to be in Las Vegas for the foreseeable future, so if that combo is at all interesting to you, I suggest you try to make it someday. It’s not open to the public, so if you’re not in the industry you might have to finagle a badge from a friend of a friend, but it’s a great time. For those of us in the industry, not only is it perhaps the best place to get eyes and hands on cool new products, but every year there are surprises that you just don’t get anywhere other than a huge convention in Las Vegas filled with guns.

This year, I saw a surprising number of real dogs wearing tactical goggles. A demonstration of robot dogs that made me understand the Army’s interest in the armor-penetration capabilities of the new 6.8x51mm cartridge. My son, just home from the Army, accompanied me for part of the show, and he laughed at the sight of a surgically-enhanced booth babe. I had to explain to him that SHOT used to be full of them, resembling a Hooters with guns, but it was much tamer these days. Maybe Trump can Make Booth Babes Great Again. I ran into a veteran industry marketing guy who was bemoaning the fact that he’d been unemployed for a year and a half and couldn’t find a gig. I’m no expert, but I suspect his lunatic left-wing posts on his public social media account might have something to do with that. 2+2=poor. Reap, sow, FAFO, etc.

Some years, truthfully, sadly, I’ve struggled to find anything interesting at SHOT. This year, perhaps because of the election, I arrived at the show with an upbeat attitude and was not disappointed. I saw perhaps a record number of really cool and interesting things. Weirdly, though, few of them were actual firearms, instead they were everything else. Here, in no particular order, is a very quick and incomplete list of things you might want to watch out for:

EOTech Vudu 3-9

EOTech Vudu 3-9X scope—this was a shocker for me. 3-9X scopes for a long time were the most common variable-power rifle scopes in the country. What is shocking about this product is its size—the Vudu 3-9x32mm is just 6.8-inches long. A 3-9X that’s basically as long as your outstretched hand. That’s inches shorter than most of the other 3-9X scopes on the market. It’s so short it uses a mini-ACOG mount. At 16-ounces it’s not really lighter than the competition, but that shortness shows a definite breakthrough in lens tech, and I’m excited to see what they can do with a 1-4X LPVO, which I’ve now begged them to make. MSRP is $1,059.

Armament Technology SAI10

Armament Technology's SAI Optics SAI10—since we’re talking small scopes, I should give a shoutout to the SAI10, a 1-10X LPVO (low-power variable optic) that is the size and weight of the average 1-6X scope, with amazing clarity. I believe they said they expected an MSRP of $1,800, which will make this the 1-10X scope to beat. SAI is part of the Armament family of companies which includes ELCAN and Tangent Theta, and they make great stuff.

Meprolight MCO PRO

Mepro MCO PRO—Meprolight surprised me by debuting five new products at the show, including traditional variable-power riflescopes. The one which most caught my eye was the MCO (Mepro Carbine Optic) PRO. This is a compact but boxy enclosed optic—think of an oversized Aimpoint ACRO—that comes with a flattop AR mount that’s meant to cowitness at iron sight height. It uses a unique footprint, and Meprolight will also be selling a tall 1.93-inch mount as well if you like your optic a little higher. Circle/dot reticle, aluminum housing, great glass, 25,000 hours of battery life with a 24-hour sleep/shake awake feature, and a competitive price point.

Harrington & Richardson DOE

PSA H&R Retro DOE—Harrington & Richardson (part of Palmetto State Armory) has been killing it with their retro ARs that are cool even if you’re not into clones, and their newest is the DOE model. This is an uber-short barrel version of the 9mm AR Colt SMG originally made for the U.S. Department of Energy. It has an A1 carry handle upper, very distinctive truncated handguard, and folding front sight above a 7.5-inch barrel. This is a pistol with a brace designed to look like an old CAR stock. I love the historical aspect to this product. Personally, I think it’s perhaps the ugliest AR ever made, but I know PSA/H&R probably won’t be able to make them fast enough to keep up with demand.

PSA Mixtape                             

PSA Mixtape—since we’re at PSA, let’s talk about their Mixtape. PSA introduced a huge number of new products at the show, both intended for production and some prototypes meant to gauge public interest. One production gun is their Mixtape, built to look like the original Honey Badger. This pistol has an SB Tactical PDW brace and while they also plan to offer it in .300 AAC Blackout, the one on display had an eight-inch barrel and was chambered in .338 ARC using Magpul’s new ICAR magazines. These magazines are just a bit larger than standard AR magazines and follow the pattern of Magpul’s earlier 6.8 SPC magazines, and are now being built for the 6 ARC cartridge, which is hugely popular right now with our special forces. Both the 6 ARC and the .338 ARC have the same 6.5 Grendel parent case. The Mixtape has ambi controls, dual ejectors on the bolt, a Reptilia Corp handguard, stainless steel barrel, and a light tan Cerakote on the receivers meant to mimic the look of the original Honey Badger’s clear anodizing. They’re hoping to have these out before the end of 2025, and guess the MSRP will be around $1,000, which means they’ll sell 10 gazillion and single-handedly keep the .338 ARC alive if nothing else does.

KelTec PR57

KelTec PR57 —this pistol probably got the most attention of any gun at the show, interestingly enough. It’s chambered in 5.7x28mm, with a 4.64-inch barrel and a capacity of 20 rounds. It is the smallest and lightest 5.7 pistol on the market for a lot of reasons, including the fact that it does not have a detachable magazine but instead is fed by proprietary polymer stripper clips through the top when the slide is locked back. KelTec hopes this will make it legal in certain states with magazine capacity restrictions, as it has no magazine. To get the bore as low as possible (and thus reduce felt recoil/muzzle rise), the barrel rotates to lock up and has no real locking block on the bottom, and instead of one thicker recoil spring guide rod directly underneath the barrel there are two much narrower rods to either side. Because there’s no internal magazine, the grip is noticeably smaller, which has been an issue with 5.7 guns as the cartridge is so long. MSRP is $399.

Magpul and Blade HQ Bireslau

Magpul MIM knife—metal injection molding had a bad reputation when the parts made that way first became widespread, as the quality was inconsistent. These days, MIM parts are everywhere, including in space. At the show, Magpul announced their new Breslau folding knife with a 2.94-inch Wharncliffe MIM blade that is reportedly equal in quality/functionality to CPM S35VN, a traditional premium knife blade steel, which is fascinating, and opens up new avenues of the possible for MIM products. Expected MSRP is $199, and at the moment it is available exclusively through Blade HQ. Interestingly, I was told by someone else at the show that Kershaw already had a patent on MIM knife blades, and I wonder if Magpul’s product evades that patent or if cease & desist letters will soon be hitting mailboxes.

Recover Tactical Pistol Stabilizer

Recover Tactical Modular Compact Pistol Stabilizer—kits which keep pistols legally pistols, but make them much easier to shoot at distance are more popular than ever—you’ve probably heard of the CAA RONI/Micro RONI, and the FLUX Raider. Recover’s newest take on the concept is their S-PRO modular and scalable kits, which smaller than most of its competitors, and they’ve got versions meant for a number of different pistol models, from Glocks to the SIG P365 and others, with plans to offer versions for new pistols all through 2025. It doesn’t require any modification to your pistol, seems very well made, and truly hovers somewhere between smart and ingenious. Prices start at $100, but you’ll probably spend more than that once you add on some extras.

Eylar RAGAR Gun Case Insert

Eylar RAGAR customizable foam gun case inserts—I’d never heard of Eylar gun cases before, but their new RAGAR customizable foam inserts seem ingenious, and much cheaper than some other options on the market. They sell inserts cut to fit a lot of the popular cases on the market (Pelican, etc.) as well as their own cases with the RAGAR layer. The interlocking foam system allows you to pluck out the shape you need for your gun/camera/electronics. The foam is nicely stiff, and it’s reusable. A two-inch-thick insert big enough to fit the average rifle case is just $80.

Hi-Point Pistol Carbines

Hi-Point carbine pistols—honestly, I’m shocked it’s taken them so long to do this, although the fate of arm braces was up in the air for a while. Hi-Point is now offering pistol versions of their 9mm and .45 ACP carbines (the 995P and 4595P). They have 13¼-inch barrels and either come with a brace mounted on a standard AR buffer tube or sport a picatinny rail on the back. At the show, they had one with a shovel handle mounted as a brace/stock, in true Russian/Mad Max fashion. Because, why not? Prices start at $399.

Taylor Freelance  Canik MC9 Backstrap

Taylor Freelance Canik MC9 brass backstrap—trust me, this is one of those products that seems like a “Who cares?” until you get it in your hand. A lot of subcompact polymer guns are both oddly balanced (top heavy) due to their construction, and often have grips just a hair too short. Taylor Freelance has been making grip accessories for less common pistols (HKs, Caniks, etc.) for a while, and their blackened checkered brass backstrap for the subcompact Canik MC9 completely changes the feel of the gun in your hand. Not only does it make the gun a tiny bit longer, so it fits your hand properly, but the added weight balances it so that it feels so much better. It also includes a small magazine guide/funnel. I’m told the one for the CZ P10C does the same thing. MSRP is $54.99.

Infinite Product Solutions Adapters

Infinite Product Solutions—IPS has been making thread adapters for a while, and are most well-known for converting whatever you’ve got on your barrel to 13/16" threads. They had a lot of new products at the show and here are two—first, they’ve got a new golf ball launcher that threads onto their new Gen3 muzzle brakes/flash hiders (all nitrided stainless steel) that seems like it would be a heck of a lot of fun. Those muzzle devices have external 13/16 threads. Load a blank and start launching those Titleists. They also make thread adapters for various firearms that don’t have threaded barrels—their slip-on one for the Ruger 10/22 seems very well designed and attaches via set screws around the front sight (no permanent modification). All of their stuff is well made (I’m a long-time customer) and priced very affordably.

Century Arms AP53

Century Arms AP53—there were a lot of really neat products at the show, but I don’t think that any of them excite me more than this. Century will be importing MKE-made HK53 clones in pistol form as their AP53. Think of the HK53 as an MP5 chambered in 5.56 NATO (a shortened version of the HK93), and they really haven’t been available in this country with any barrel length in decades. MKE is a Turkish company making these on HK-licensed tooling, and their HK-pattern guns are excellent. Objectively the AP53 is inferior in controls/handling/recoil to a modern AR SBR/pistol, but it pretty much pegs the cool factor, and these days you can find a lot of accessories for them—stocks, optics mounts, etc. MSRP should be $1,799. Century is also offering an AP51 in .308 with an identical 8.3-inch barrel, which sounds like a concussion with a convenient handle.

Mec-Gar Glock Magazine

Mec-Gar Glock magazine—honestly, while it might not seem like it, this is a big deal. Mec-Gar has developed a steel 9mm magazine for the Glock 17, and it’s been in development for two years. This flush-fitting magazine (smartly and importantly) uses the standard factory magazine release 
in your pistol. There’s no sharp-edged hole in the magazine, just a rounded indent to keep from chewing up your polymer mag catch. It’s got a bright green follower, numbered index holes in the back, and INCREASED CAPACITY.  Eighteen in this magazine, and 16 in the planned flush Glock 19 magazine. At the show, Staccato introduced their new “budget” (starting at $2,500) 2011 which takes Glock-pattern magazines, and those guns are coming with these magazines. Mec-Gar is the king of OEM magazines and it’s a testament to their reputation that everyone I know in the business (and that includes me) just automatically assumes these mags will be 110% reliable. MSRP is $29.00.

There were a number of other cool items at the show I plan on covering in articles/columns later in the year (LTT’s Labyrinth rail covers, SIM-X ammo) simply because I ran out of space here. This year the underlying theme of the show seemed to be improving and emerging technologies. Metal 3D printing is all the rage in suppressor manufacture, Federal developing their “peak alloy” cartridge case which can take much higher pressures (the possibilities in 5.56 seem to promise carbine/rifle velocities out of SBR-length barrels), Magpul coming out with a MIM-blade knife, etc., etc. The ironic thing was Kel-Tec going completely old-school, introducing a new pistol fed by stripper clips, and yet it seemed to be one of the most talked-about guns at the show. Whatever you’re interested in, you can always find something at the SHOT Show...that makes you wish you made more money. 

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