SHOT Show 2025: Day 1 Roundup

0
SHOT Show 2025: Day 1 Roundup

Check out a few of our highlights from the first day of SHOT Show 2025!

Spandau S2 

spandau s2

This is a sweet little package waterfowlers will appreciate—the Spandau S2. Delivering all the features and performance of a high-end inertia-driven shotgun, the S2 comes with a price tag anyone can afford. Dressed in Realtree Max-7 or APX, the 12-gauge comes at a forgiving $499. It has a few tricks up its sleeves making it all the more useful in the duck marshes. Fluting makes the bolt lighter, thus less punishing for those heavy flights with a lot of shots. An oversized charging handle eliminates fumbling around to get or keep the gun in action. And most nuanced, but maybe the best asset, an enlarged and chamfered loading gate eliminates any pinch when topping off the magazine—plus makes it very friendly to gloved hands. Overall, it is a solid and economical option for duck or goose season. 

Diamondback SDR 3” 

diamondback

Oh yeah, size matters—particularly with the .357 Magnum. The legendary defensive round is fairly neutered coming out of a snubbie revolver, resulting in more muzzle blast and knuckle pain than velocity downrange. Diamondback Arms has cooked up a new addition to its concealable SDR line of revolvers, now offering a 3-inch barreled model. The wheelie remains highly concealable but gives the magnum enough bore to get the performance most look for out of the cartridge. To boot, it also has a bit more sight radius to improve its accuracy potential. What struck us at range day about the gun—and its predecessor 2-inch barreled model—is its silk and stageable trigger. It’s also a looker with a full integral lug. For $837, it’s a pretty tough little revolver to beat. 

KelTec PR57

keltec pr57

In typical KelTec fashion, the company’s latest design has been turning heads and forming long queues at its SHOT Show debut. Not because it’s the “best gun” out here, but one could certainly make the argument that it’s the most different and interesting. The stats already looked impressive on paper, but it’s hard to convey just how light and slim the PR57 is without holding one yourself. It feels like a toy in hand, but putting some 5.7x28mm through it quickly reminds one that it’s anything but. Despite the gun’s light weight, it’s a smooth shooter too. We’re definitely keeping this little stripper clip-fed pistol on our radar and will hopefully conduct a full review in the future.

Biofire Smart Gun

biofire smart gun

Sure to be a divisive product, Biofire is a biometrically locked smart gun that uses fingerprints and/or facial recognition to allow access only to a limited number of users. We first looked at the pistol in 2023, but this year the company is ready to start shipping units to backers, media, and customers.  

Getting first shots with it at SHOT Show Range Day 2025, the pistol isn’t what you probably expect. Bulky and strange looking, it actually shot remarkably well for the 15 or so rounds we shot it for. We’ll withhold judgment until we can get one in for a full and detailed review. MSRP: $1,499 

44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300

Next Step: Get your FREE Printable Target Pack

Enhance your shooting precision with our 62 MOA Targets, perfect for rifles and handguns. Crafted in collaboration with Storm Tactical for accuracy and versatility.

Subscribe to the Gun Digest email newsletter and get your downloadable target pack sent straight to your inbox. Stay updated with the latest firearms info in the industry.

Previous article First Look: Smith & Wesson No-Lock Classic Series Revolvers
<h2>About Gun Digest Editors</h2> <p>Gun Digest is the foremost firearms publisher in the world. Since 1944 we have made keeping shooters, firearms collectors, and plain old gun aficionados informed the target of our books, magazines, and websites. We build shooters’ firearms knowledge base, inspiring them to pursue and expand their shooting interests—from the range to the field and in competition. Gun Digest is part of the Caribou Media Group.<p> <h2>Editorial Standards</h2> <p>At Gun Digest, we uphold our commitment is to our audience and precedes all other considerations, including revenue. Editorial independence is at the core of our operations, forming the bedrock of trust with our readers. Consequently, editorial decisions are made autonomously by our team of editors, writers, video producers, freelance writers and social media managers, without any external interference. Our content has and will continue to remain free from influence from individuals outside of editorial and content management.<p> <h2>Staff</h2> <p><ul><li><b>Publisher:</b> Jim Schlender</li> <li><b>Editor-In-Chief:</b> Luke Hartle</li> <li><b>Managing Editor:</b> Laura Peltakain</li> <li><b>Digital Editor:</b> <a href="/author/elwood-shelton">Elwood Shelton</a></li> <li><b>Online Editor:</b> <a href="/author/adamborisenko">Adam Borisenko</a></li> <li><b>Senior Art Director:</b> Gene Coo</li> <li><b>Art Director:</b> Katia Sverdlova</li></ul> <p> <h2>Contributors</h2> <p><ul> <li><a href="/author/richard-a-mann">Richard Mann</a></li> <li><a href="/author/philip-massaro">Phil Massaro</a></li> <li><a href="/author/contributor-dave-workman">David Workman</a></li> <li><a href="/author/davidhart">David Hart</a></li> <li><a href="/author/dickjones">Dick Jones</a></li> <li><a href="/author/jon-r-sundra">Jon Sundra</a></li> <li><a href="/author/l-p-brezny">L.P. Brezny</a></li> <li><a href="/author/robert-sadowski">Robert Sadowski</a></li> <li><a href="/author/scott-wagner">Scott Wagner</a></li> <li><a href="/author/wayne-van-zwoll">Wayne Van Zwoll </a></li> <li>Patrick Sweeney</li> <li>Massad Ayoob</li> <li>Marty Hays </li> <li>Brad Fitzpatrick </li> <li>Walt Hampton</li> <li>Jerry Lee</li> <li>Josh Wayner</li> <li>Sam Hoober</li> <li>Tiger McKee</li> </ul>

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.