Staccato has just updated its HD line of 2011 pistols with the compact, integrally-compensated C4X.
With the goal of making an extremely versatile 2011 that was equally parts a compact defensive pistol and duty weapon, Staccato has just added the HD C4X to its lineup. Co-developed with an elite law enforcement tactical surveillance unit, the pistol feels just as good on the hip as it does in the hand putting shots down range. I had the chance to shoot one at Staccato’s Vegas range day this year, and to put it simply, this thing shoots flat.
The Staccato HD C4X features a 4-inch integrally-compensated barrel, a lightweight aluminum frame, an HD HOST optics-ready slide and a compact grip that provides a flush-fit capacity of 15 rounds of 9mm. Even better, it uses Glock-pattern magazines, and each gun ships with two steel 15-rounders. Other features of the C4X include its crisp 4- to 4.5-pound trigger, its 3.6-inch captive flat wire recoil system, fully ambidextrous controls, improved ergonomics and tall iron sights that sit forward of the red dot mount.
Paul Smith, Vice President of Product at Staccato, said this about the new 2011:
The Staccato HD line continues to evolve based on real-world use and direct feedback from professionals and customers … With the Staccato HD C4X, we set out to create a compact and extremely versatile pistol that can confidently be carried on duty, for personal protection, or both. This platform reflects our commitment to giving customers a high-performance option they can trust in any situation.
The C4X is a sweet little package; the only downside is that it has an MSRP of $3,500. It will start shipping to dealers on February 16th.
Shadow Systems has just announced the AXIO pistol line, designed around a steel chassis for enhanced controllability and recoil management.
As popular as Glock pistols are, many shooters have always felt that they’re lacking in certain departments. This gave rise to a huge industry entirely dedicated to improving them with aftermarket components and modifications. It also resulted in companies like Shadow Systems that iterated on the design to build their own pistols with improvements throughout the whole gun. The company's different models have garnered an excellent reputation among concealed carriers, duty users and even competitors over the years, but the latest addition to its catalog was designed from scratch to crank performance up to 11. Called the AXIO line, the new 9mm pistols are built around a steel chassis to reduce recoil and improve shootability.
The AXIO pistols’ precision-machined steel chassis was designed to add mass and efficiently distribute it to key areas for enhanced controllability, as well as improve balance, rigidity and slide-to-frame fitment. Another important feature is the new Overstroke Slide System that reduces recoil and ammo sensitivity by increasing slide travel and dwell time.
There will be two variants of the AXIO available, the standard and the PRO, and each of those will be available with a longer 4.4-inch barrel as well. All models feature interchangeable grip panels for improved ergonomics, but the standard version will ship with textured polymer panels and the PRO will ship with machined steel panels. Both versions will also feature Shadow Systems’ next-generation trigger system, but the standard model will have a 4-pound trigger while the PRO will have a 2.5-pound pull weight. Naturally, all AXIO pistols will be optics-ready as well.
Trevor Roe, CEO of Shadow Systems, said this about the new pistols:
AXIO wasn’t about adding features for the sake of differentiation … It was designed from first principles, with an uncompromising focus on recoil control, build quality, and a striker-fired trigger system engineered to set a new benchmark. Every design choice was made to elevate how the pistol shoots and how confident the shooter feels behind it.
Shadow Systems AXIO pistols will begin shipping in spring of this year, and each gun will come with two 18-round magazines. MSRP for standard models will start at $2,000 and $2,250 for AXIO Pro models.
The Midwest Industries Bounty Hunter Series of stocks and arm braces offer a bold new way to work with the big irons.
Unconventional? Absolutely.
Practical? Most definitely.
More fun than having to watch your kid’s first baritone recital while the Super Bowl is on? Just a little.
The Bounty Hunter Series is designed to deliver consistent stability across a wide range of revolver calibers, from small to large. Its multiple points of contact enhance shooting accuracy, giving every revolver shooter the confidence to center-punch targets every time. The stock and arm brace are properly aligned for seamless integration with iron sights and red-dot mounts, ensuring quick target acquisition and improved performance.
Each stock features five quick-detach sling sockets and holds six rounds of ammunition.
I’ve you’ve never before shouldered your revolver, you’re certainly missing out.
The heart of the Bounty Hunter Series beats around its robust construction. A big iron, after all, delivers a big payload at both fore and aft. The grip, stock and Z-beam are all made from 6061 hard-coat anodized aluminum, allowing this series to combine lightweight performance with exceptional durability. Plus, the hard-coat anodizing ensures resistance to wear and tear, making it a dependable companion in even the most demanding conditions.
Every revolver is a function work of art, and the Bounty Hunter is designed to match it.
For enhanced comfort, the Series features polymer textured grip panels, a polymer cheek piece and a rubber butt pad. These elements all work together to provide superior recoil management, facilitating complete control throughout the shot cycle, regardless of how many rounds you send downrange.
The Bounty Hunter stock attaches to the grip with a single thumbscrew for very fast takedown … or folding.
One of the standout features of the Bounty Hunter Series is its shell plate holder, which includes three universal shell holders. This innovative addition allows you to store up to six rounds of ammunition, compatible with any revolver caliber. Ammo, after all, is useless if you cannot access it quickly. Whether you’re at the range or in the field, this feature ensures quick access to your rounds without sacrificing mobility.
A hardened steel takedown thumbscrew allows for easy disassembly, making storage and transport a breeze. And, the design also incorporates five (yes, five) quick-detach sling sockets, offering customizable sling configurations to suit your preferences. Set it up exactly as you want it.
Proudly made in the USA, it’s also noteworthy that the Bounty Hunter Series comes with a lifetime warranty, nodding toward the confidence in quality upon which Midwest Industries has built its reputation.
In a way, the Bounty Hunter Series is more than just a stock or arm brace—it’s a symbol of innovation, quality and performance. It’s a statement that says, “There’s more than one way to shoot a revolver … and I’m here for all of them.”
There’s nothing conventional about the Bounty Hunter stock, but then again, there’s nothing conventional about shouldering a revolver, either.
Midwest Industries Bounty Hunter Series Specs
Available as a stock or arm brace, designed for enhanced stability and control across small and large revolver calibers.
Constructed from 6061 hard-coat anodized aluminum for the grip, stock and Z-beam, ensuring durability and lightweight performance.
Polymer textured grip panels, a polymer cheek piece and a rubber buttpad for superior comfort and recoil management on the stock version.
Properly aligned height for seamless use with iron sights and red-dot mounts.
Multiple points of contact improve shooting accuracy and control.
Ambidextrous design for right or left-hand shooters.
Includes a shell plate holder with three Midwest Industries universal shell holders, compatible with any revolver caliber and allowing six rounds of ammunition to be stored.
Hardened steel takedown thumbscrew enables easy disassembly for compact storage.
Equipped with five quick-detach sling sockets for customizable sling configurations.
Designed with lots of room for easy firearm handling and operation.
Made in USA with a lifetime warranty.
Weight: 1.75 pounds
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
I hit the range with Vortex’s new Relay system to see just how much easier advanced technology can make shooting.
Technology is one of those funny things in the shooting industry. For some reason, people have this notion that batteries don’t belong in guns, and the simpler the better when it comes to their chosen SHTF scenario. However, just because something is common does not mean it’s simple, and firearms are fairly high on the list when it comes to their maintenance, requirements and what it takes to make them in the first place.
The shooting public has always been a little bit slow to embrace change. I think a lot of this has to do with our culture being fairly traditional—certain things are cherished while others are shunned. Regardless of how you feel when the wings of change come swooping down, it’s impossible to at least admit that Vortex’s Relay system is a truly amazing advancement for the shooter.
Somebody Call the IT Department
When it comes to guns, I have a fairly wide range of interests. I enjoy pretty much all firearms and have an appreciation for history as well as new technologies. One of the things that interests me a lot is the fact that, at some point in time, the things we consider old or simple were on the cutting edge for their day.
What’s more interesting is that there have been many technologies that have existed separately for long periods of time before they were eventually integrated into one system—consider the first attempts to combine telescopes with guns. Optical equipment is so common on guns these days that we barely give it a second thought.
Likewise, the idea that these computerized systems are too fragile or complex is due to unfamiliarity. For example, a guy joked with me at the range that he’d “need an IT degree” to use the Relay system … but it’s really not difficult to use at all.
The Relay system comprises three units: the Impact 4000 gun-mounted rangefinder, Talon HD 10K 10x42mm binocular (includes five target modes and four ranging modes, and is tripod adaptable) and Ace ballistic weather meter. These can all be used as stand-alone units or as any combination of the three.
But here’s where things get interesting.
These devices can be tied to the Geoballistics app on your phone and provide real-time data to each other, and profiles can be carried over to each device. Yes, you read that right: Your binoculars can talk to your weather meter, and so on and so forth. The implications here are huge, as you can have real-time firing and spotting solutions updating live as you’re behind the gun.
I’ll get into more details on this in a moment, but I do want to do a bit of explaining here because this is a big concept, and it has far-reaching implications to our craft. In my time using this system, I’ve had some pushback, especially from those a bit set in their ways regarding technology at large. Not everyone wants a computer on their gun, but virtually all modern guns are the product of computerized manufacturing and design.
Don’t let enhanced capability get handicapped by sentiment—there are no simple guns.
The Tentative Marriage of Bullets and Batteries
Of course, guns and computers have a long history, and many early computers were developed to help track ballistics. However, the entire idea of putting computers onto your gun seems like a bridge too far for some.
The Relay system is inherently an electronics-based family (although you can still use the Talon as just a binocular). It has taken the shooting public decades to truly embrace electronic sights, and now they are so trusted and well established that they are on nearly every gun platform. The failure point of other systems is that they have typically been proprietary and did not have a communication feature.
I have six apps on my phone dedicated to a variety of products, and they don’t communicate with each other. This is an annoyance that has pushed people away from this type of electronic, not to mention limited product support and generational changes. If one failed, well, you were out of luck. That’s not so here, as each Relay product can carry the same data.
I can easily recall a time when electronic optic durability and reliability were in doubt. I found this to be interesting: The idea that a battery would fail when you need it most … when at any given time you’re only carrying a finite amount of ammunition. If you think of it this way, battery life is usually in the tens of thousands of hours for most electronic optics. During that run time, it’s the firearm that’s more likely to encounter a malfunction than the optic.
The anti-technology sentiment is, of course, based on a logical fallacy where people are comfortable with technology up to a certain line that is convenient for them. Everybody carries a cell phone these days, and you can be physically tracked using the Wi-Fi signal in your home, yet people are uncomfortable with their scopes having Bluetooth capability. If the government wants to spy on you, well, it’s not like you’ll know. In an era of electronic surveillance and deep saturation, you’re already being monitored, right down to your smartwatch and vehicle.
The Relay system is composed of technology elements that have existed separately for years. However, the way that it integrates them is quite novel and seamless. Obviously, handheld weather stations and rangefinders have been around for quite some time. The technology is well established and has become relatively inexpensive, to the point that they are commonly used for many types of recreation.
While I’m not a big-time golfer, my dad and all of his buddies have rangefinders—I’ve even heard of some using handheld weather stations. I will never be a good enough golfer to have a rangefinder or weather station matter for me, but it does make a difference for some of the people I’ve seen playing while I’m having a beer in the kart.
Shooting, on the other hand … well, there’s an area where I rely on these types of devices.
As time has passed, we’ve been migrating closer to what will eventually be something of a “peak” modern rifle, a large part of that modernization happening in the past five or so years. The modularity of both bolt action and AR platform rifles has created massive markets for each, and we are now seeing system integration with other existing technologies, such as the Arca Swiss rail interface, M-lok accessory attachment points, common chassis sizes, quick-detach suppressor capabilities and return-to-zero optic mounts.
On most of my rifles, I have some—if not all—of these elements. There will be a time in the very near future where off-the-shelf factory guns will have all of the features as my custom rifles currently do … for a fraction of retail cost. I believe that the Relay system is the foundation for a new generation of upgrades that will eventually migrate into being commonplace, and you’re hearing it here first.
The Relay System and Theory of Use
I’ve been using the Impact 4000 for a while, and it has caused some confusion as to why I’d want it. Some guys at the range are just comfortable with a handheld rangefinder and a printed out drop chart, and that’s fine. However, those shooters don’t see how far we’ve already come with different reticles alone. Remember: The mil dot was cutting-edge stuff.
The Impact 4000 is a very distinct piece of hardware that’s certainly noticeable on top of a rifle. The main comments I get about it are concerns with weight and ergonomics. I’ve also been asked about its durability and overall utility.
For me, the system has been working flawlessly; however, it should be noted that this technology is still in its infancy. What you are witnessing right now as you read these words on this page is the technology window shifting. What Vortex has achieved here is extremely impressive.
The Geoballistics app is the centerpiece of this system. You can build various gun and bullet profiles quickly and easily using the data you collect at the range or in the field. The app itself is easy to use and very fast. I’ve used some in the past that were good but clunky, and this one is truly understandable to any end user.
Let’s say you’ve got a few Vortex optics in ADM QD mounts, and a few rifles in different calibers. You have a .22 LR bolt gun for NRL, a lightweight 6GT you like for competition and coyote hunting, and a .300 Win. Mag. you take out West. Because Vortex is so consistent and the ADM mounts are well known for their return to zero abilities, you’re comfortable swapping your optics out from gun-to-gun.
I do it, because it’s plenty easy and repeatable.
In your profile, for each gun, you have your chosen loads and notes on the scopes where your zeros are per caliber. One of your scopes has the Impact 4000 mounted on it, the other two don’t.
Let’s say you’re going hunting for elk in the mountains, and there’s close tree cover in some areas. You start low and spot using the Talon HD. This has an impressive maximum ranging distance of 10,000 yards, or more than 5.5 miles. This feature can help in land navigation, as it can provide you with accurate readings on landmarks to help you to plot a route.
Now, let’s say you have your .300 Win. Mag. and have put your new Razor HD 4-24x on it. You reset your turrets to your established zero, and you’re good to go. You spot an elk herd and stalk up; the wind is nasty because it always is, so you pull out the Ace and get in position. As you line up on the elk, you get live drop and windage correction looking at him through the Talon; it even corrects for a number of factors as you look … and it gives you a solution right in the display.
Now, you’re out solo for coyotes. You have the 6GT, and you’re posted up calling. You have your scope with the Impact 4000 mounted on it because you’re traveling light, and your shots are going to be on fast movers inside 500 yards, so you don’t bother with the Ace or Talon; you just need the speed of the Impact 4000 to give you ballistic data. They come in, and you knock them down as fast as you can get your drop readouts.
After all that, you and your buddies decide to see how far you can stretch out the .22 LR cartridge. You take the scope with the Impact 4000 mounted off your 6GT and get your known zero and profiles switched over. It’s windy so you pull out the Ace and start getting to work. Well, your buddy thinks he knows better, and you let him get on the gun. He’s unfamiliar with the Impact, but luckily you can be watching though the Talon and give him real-time updates on wind as he’s shooting.
While you’re there, your other pal wants to see what his iron-sighted M14 can do. He’s got no idea what his muzzle velocity is, but he’s shooting 168-grain Hornady match and he’s got National Match sights, so his adjustments are known. You check out the Hornady site for general velocity, plug that all into your app and build him out a profile. He takes a shot at 100 yards to confirm zero, and now you give him dope for 500. He clicks it in and it’s off, so he adjusts to hit, you adjust the MV number to correspond with his known drop, and then he’s trued out.
You give him correction for 500 and 600 yards, and a rock at 864—he clicks in and smacks it. Now your other buddy wants to try to hit it with your .22, so you quickly switch profiles, range it with the Talon and he fires.
Terrific Tech
So as far as my speculation goes, this is an incredible system that is highly flexible. When I started using it, I immediately thought about all the apps I have to manage my gear and how easy it could be instead.
This is just three products … and imagine the possibilities that exist: This technology can be integrated into spotting scopes and even thermal optics. Imagine being able to communicate in real-time with guides, spotters and other hunters without any guessing. It’s already possible to remotely watch the view through the scope on many thermal optics with wireless capabilities. You could be in the field as a spotter not only watching through your own optic that’s communicating data as you watch, but you could also be watching through your partner’s scope as well.
Instead of hours of setup and testing at the range, you get a new device and connect it, and all of your data is available instantly.
The possibilities here are somewhat endless. As a night hunter, it’s especially exciting. We are within the timeframe where we could have a single thermal optic that integrates a rangefinder and weather station into it that could instantly correct the digital reticle to the bullet drop and drift as you point it at a given object in real-time. This is huge, and the most impressive part of it all is that all you’d have to do is zero it for your rifle and port your data to it instantly, meaning your time getting into the field would be minimal and your efficiency would be maximized like never before. Thanks to Vortex and the Relay system, the average shooter can take a serious step into the future.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A closer look at some of the latest developments in ammunition technology.
I know folks snort and complain every time a new bullet or cartridge is invented and offered for sale. Thank goodness this was not the trend in 1926 with the .270 Winchester, in 1948 when John Nosler created the Nosler Partition … or in the mid-1980s when Walt Berger pioneered the VLD bullet. All the new cartridges and bullets we’ve seen over the years get us one step closer to better cartridges and better bullets, but we must acknowledge that all along we have been taking baby steps in the search for perfection.
Here you can see how conventional cup and core and bonded bullets compare to the Nosler Partition, which has a partitioned core. (Left to right: Nosler Partition, Nosler Ballistic Tip, Nosler AccuBond.)
The modern rifle bullet started with a simple cup-and-core design that used a thin copper jacket over a pure lead core. This worked until velocities climbed to the point these bullets would not withstand impact with an animal. This led to bullets with tapered jackets, jackets that attempted to lock together with the core, partitioned jackets and jackets bonded to the bullet’s core.
What has always made the Nosler Partition special was its ability to damage large amounts of tissue and penetrate deeply. It’s the jacketed bullet forerunner of the mono-metal Controlled Chaos bullet.
Eventually, all this progress gave us the mono-metal X Bullet and the various iterations of that design and other lead-free projectiles. All these bullets were attempts to create an accurate bullet that would also deliver great terminal performance up close at high velocity and far away at much slower velocities.
We got pretty good at making those bullets until about 2010. The new 6.5 Creedmoor and the similar fast-twisted, long-range cartridges that followed are capable of flatter, more wind-defying trajectories at distances most shooters only dreamed of shooting at. Why? Because all these new cartridges utilized a fast rifling twist rate that could stabilize a more aerodynamic bullet. This really pleased target shooters because, like with the Berger VLD, manufacturers were good at making target bullets with a high ballistic coefficient (BC).
However, hunters wanted a bullet that would shoot the same, but that would also provide good terminal performance up close and at extreme distance. Hunters had the cartridges they wanted, but once again lacked the bullets they needed.
The Nosler Partition And The Berger VLD
You could argue that, when it comes to terminal performance and precision, the Nosler Partition and the Berger VLD are the gold standards. The Nosler Partition is designed to shed its front core to enhance wound cavity size and tissue damage through the dispersion of lead particles, and for the rear core—with the deformed frontal jacket increasing frontal diameter—to retain enough weight for deep penetration. Though not known for delivering extreme precision, the Nosler Partition performs well—terminally—over a wide velocity range.
The Berger VLD bullet will deliver good terminal performance at slow impact velocity and can also deliver one-hole accuracy. When impacting at extreme speeds, it can be explosive with limited penetration.
As for the Berger VLD, it combines an insanely streamlined profile with a thin copper J4 jacket surrounding a pure lead core. Using manufacturing techniques created by master benchrest shooter Walt Berger, this allowed the bullets to be made incredibly precise, which is what’s needed for extreme precision. Berger VLDs can deliver fine precision at extreme distance, and at distance they tend to deliver good terminal performance, though at a moderate depth. But when they impact at close range at high velocity, their terminal performance—though violent—is shallow.
Modern Attempts at Bullet Perfection
With the fast twist rates of modern rifle cartridges, you can shoot a longer more aerodynamic bullet with a higher BC. This is what target shooters and hunters want so they can get hits at distance easier.
But the struggle has been building long and slender high BC bullets that will deliver great precision and good terminal performance over a wide impact velocity range. Essentially, what’s needed is a bullet that flies like a Berger VLD but that performs—terminally—like a Nosler Partition.
Hornady’s new CX bullet is a fantastic mono-metal bullet that shoots accurately and provides good terminal performance. But the faster-twisted the barrel is, the better terminal performance it will provide.
One of the most successful attempts has been the Hornady ELD-X. By utilizing the combination of a tapered and high concentric AMP jacket, a lead core, streamlined design, and a heat shield tip that helps maintain ballistic coefficient, the ELD-X bullet shoots with great precision and delivers good terminal performance at slow impact velocities.
The Hornady ELD-X bullet with its original translucent tip. This is a great long-range hunting bullet, but with high velocity impacts, it can be overstressed.
However, at extreme high velocity impact—up-close shots with magnums—the ELD-X can shed its core and deliver limited penetration.
Hornady loads the ELD-X bullet in their Precision Hunter line of ammo. This ammo generally provides great precision and good terminal performance, especially at distance.
Barnes Bullets attempted the any-range bullet by increasing the hollow-point cavity size in their Triple Shock bullet and then adding a polymer tip to help instigate bullet upset at slow velocities. Their LRX bullet will flower open at slightly slower velocities than their TSX or TTSX bullets and retain—in most cases—100 percent of its weight for deep penetration.
The Barnes LRX bullet is a fine long-range hunting bullet, but at impact velocities below 2,000 fps it delivers less than optimal performance.
However, because this bullet does not shed material like the Nosler Partition, wound cavities tend to be narrow. As with a lot of recent modern bullet options, it seemed like we tend to have too much of one thing and not enough of the other.
The Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos bullet is a different take on the mono-metal bullet, and it’s a bullet that Hammer Bullets has tried to emulate. Instead of retaining its petals, it sheds them, almost immediately after impact. However, unlike the petals from most mono-metal bullets that, if they break off, tend to trail behind the main bullet path, the petals from the Controlled Chaos bullet push forward, radiating out from the path of the base of the bullet, creating their own paths of destruction.
A 102-grain Controlled Chaos bullet at 3,400 fps and twisted to one turn in 7.5 inches can be dime-splitting accurate and seriously deadly up close and at distance. With a higher BC, it would be near perfect for what modern hunters now want.
Also, most mono-metal bullets need to impact at around 2,000 fps to deliver meaningful bullet upset, but the Controlled Chaos bullet—especially when twisted fast—will work at impact speeds as slow as 1,600 fps. Essentially, it’s a mono-metal bullet that works similar to a Nosler Partition, and it’s available in several variations. Though Controlled Chaos bullets generally deliver excellent precision, even the polymer-tipped Controlled Chaos bullets have lower ballistic coefficients than most jacketed or other mono-metal bullets of the same caliber and weight.
The Controlled Chaos bullet might best be described as a more accurate mono-metal version of the time-proven Nosler Partition.
Enter, The Spin Doctor
In the past, we flattened trajectories with high velocity, which is why cartridges like the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum and all the Weatherby cartridges exist. However, with the modern cartridges and their fast twist rates, bullet engineers have more to work with.
The linear velocity of a bullet degrades swiftly after it exits the barrel because of gravity. At 400 yards, a bullet from a 6.5 Creedmoor will have lost nearly 25 percent of its velocity. However, the rotational velocity of a bullet hardly degrades at all over distance. This is, of course, what helps keep bullets stable in flight.
However, bullets that are spinning faster upset better on impact. The centrifugal force generated by the spin helps peel back the bullet’s jacket or petals. The faster a bullet is spinning the more rotational energy it has.
To get an idea of the difference in rotational velocities from a slow-twist rifle compared to a fast-twist rifle, we can compare a .308 Winchester with a 6.5 Creedmoor.
This Hornady ELD-X bullet was recovered from an elk that was shot at 318 yards with a .308 Winchester. Impact velocity was about 2,000 fps.
Most .308 Winchester rifles have a 1-in-10 twist, but the 6.5 Creedmoor has a 1-in-8 twist. If both rifles fire a bullet at 2,800 fps, the .308 Winchester bullet will have a rotational velocity of 201,600 rpm and the 6.5 Creedmoor bullet’s rotational velocity will be 25 percent faster at 252,000 rpm. The faster twist rate of the 6.5 Creedmoor allows it to shoot bullets with a higher ballistic coefficient and retain linear velocity better, but it also has more rotational velocity to help the bullet upset on impact.
This high rotational velocity is what allows the 8.6 Blackout cartridge, which has a crazy fast 1-in-3 twist, to deliver such violent wound cavities at supersonic velocities of around 2,000 fps and even at subsonic velocities. At subsonic velocity, the 8.6 Blackout has the same rotational velocity the 6.5 Creedmoor has at 2,800 fps. And at 2,000 fps, the 8.6 Blackout has an incredible rotational velocity of 480,000.
Because of its fast 1-in 3-twist rate, even at velocities between 1,000 and 2,000 fps, the 8.6 Blackout cartridge allows bullets like the Controlled Chaos to work exceptionally well.
High rotational velocities are also why bullets fired from a 9mm Luger, with a twist rate of 1-in-10 and a rotational velocity of around 82,000 rpm, will upset over a wider impact velocity range than bullets fired from a .40 S&W or .45 Auto, which will only have a rotational velocity of about 51,750 rpm.
The point of all this is that, going forward, we can expect the fast twists we’ve seen with modern cartridges—the Creedmoors, PRCs, ARCs, the 7mm Backcountry and the brand-new 25 RPW Weatherby—to be the new standard. These fast twist rates help us shoot bullets that fly flatter and resist the wind, but they also help bullets upset and damage more tissue.
In the Field and in the Future
To sort of summarize all this, let’s look at two deer shot with the new, 1-in-7.5-inch twisted, .25 RPM Weatherby last deer season.
This whitetail had been shot by another hunter and was put out of its misery with a 102-grain Controlled Chaos bullet from a .25 RPM Weatherby at 419 yards. Impacting at less than 2,400 fps, the bullet still had a rotational velocity of more than 300,000 rpm, and it created a nasty and lethal wound.
The bullet was a 102-grain Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos bullet that left the muzzle at 3,400 fps. One deer was shot at 300 yards and the other at 420 yards. Now, this bullet does not have a high BC, at 300 yards it impacted at about 2,650 fps, and at about 2,400 fps at 420 yards. However, the high spin rate helped the bullet shed its petals, allowing them to track through the deer, creating their own paths of destruction all the way to the rib cage on the other side. The bullet’s base exited and when the petals reached the offside of the rib cage, each had radiated out from the main bullet path by about 4 inches.
With a muzzle velocity of 3,400 fps, like is possible from the new .25 RPM Weatherby cartridge, tough mono-metal bullets make sense, especially ones that will still work at long range.
When those bullets impacted the deer, they had a rotational velocity of about 326,400 rpm. That’s 30 percent faster than a common 6.5 Creedmoor bullet.
Bullet engineers have just about exhausted all their options with both jacketed and mono-metal bullet designs. But an area they still have room to explore is how they can leverage faster twist rates with various bullet designs to not only make them fly flatter with less wind drift, but to also be more lethal.
I believe in the future we will be able to take bullets similar in design to the mono-metal Controlled Chaos and twist them fast enough to give us everything we need with regard to precision and external and terminal ballistics, up close and at distance.
You might say that, in more ways than just one, it’s a twisted new world we’re living in.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Kick up your SIG's performance with these P365 upgrades. We put them through the wringer so you don't have to.
The Sig Sauer P365 is the most popular concealed carry pistol as of the time of this writing. And with that comes a litany of aftermarket support. By Sig utilizing a modular FCU design an entire sub-market opened up. And as we’ve seen in multiple arenas, whenever a new market opens up, innovation rules the proverbial roost.
With all of the choices comes paralysis. Some companies literally have thousands of different configurations for their P365 setups. Couple that with the dozens and dozens of companies that make grip modules, slides, small parts, spring kits, striker assemblies, back plates, and more, and it becomes even more daunting.
Worry not, though, fellow shooter. We reviewed as many as we possibly could over the last six months, so you can make an informed choice for upgrading your P365. Let’s get into it.
How I Choose The Best P365 Upgrades
Every component was tested rigorously in a hands-on on head-to-head by the author, over the course of several months. The scoring criteria document gets into the details, criteria, and commentary of each component, and scores critical dimensions of each product. Items were scored on the following dimensions: Grip modules for comfort, shootability, modularity, concealability and a nod to holster compatibility. Slides for shootability, controlability, form factor/aesthetics, and porting/recoil impulse if applicable. Optics were scored on window size, footprint, battery size, clarity, durability, and brightness.
Best P365 Grip Modules: Sharps Bros MACRO
Grade
Overall Average: 4.4 Comfort: 5 Shootability: 5 Modularity: 4 Concealability: 3.5 Holster Compatibility: Holster choices are pretty slim but TXC has some phenomenal options.
At the risk of sounding preferential, the Sharps Bros MACRO grip module is probably one of my favorites, especially when paired with the matching slide. It has similar gas pedals as other offerings, but with the Brazilian Cherry hardwood grips. It just looks and feels sexy.
Fine checkering on the front and backstrap and a chunkier grip make this gun a pleasure to shoot with a full-size magazine. The magwell has a slight flare; you can make quick reloads, but still conceal essentially a full-size gun.
Texturing on the front strap and backstrap makes this a wonderful extension of your hand, with outstanding ergonomics and pointability. I can press out, eyes closed, and open up to a perfect sight picture. That’s the sweet spot of any pistol.
One detail I love about this grip module is the use of a screw instead of a pin to install the FCU. That detail, along with the elegant styling and exceptional ergs, make this one of my top picks.
Sharps Bros Deals
Optics Planet
$290
Midway USA
$300
Runner Up P365 Grip Module: Shalotek Macro Flex Frame
Grade
Overall Average: 4.3 Comfort: 4 Shootability: 5 Modularity: 5 Concealability: 3 Holster Compatibility: TXC and Four Bros make excellent holsters for this grip module. However, some of my slides did not fit in the Four Bros (Norsso for example).
Shalotek is in a class all its own with the modularity, innovation, comfort, and permutations of the slides/grip modules they offer. I tested several different types of setups, but its Macro Flex Frame tied for first. I do need to mention, and even the guys at Shalotek warned me, the tolerances here are tight. Putting in an FCU for the first time requires patience, a soft touch, and some gun oil. Same goes for all the other mechanical parts, they’re right, right, and lock up nice.
The Norsso Reptile is easily one of my favorite slide/barrel combos for a few reasons. A unique scale-like serrations, it truly lives up to its namesake. Furthermore, there are window/lightening cuts, but with the scalloped edges that look like eyes.
The N365XL Bull Barrel Reptile KP Set features: a RMSc/Holosun/EPS Carry footprint, and I’ve been testing it with the SCS Carry by Holosun. The sawtooth texturing on the top of the slide gives way to the porting, which is primo: the geo ports are outstanding. Moreover, the bull barrel itself is crazy accurate, stupid thick, with a target crown. Note: this slide only works with Bull Barrels.
The 3.7” barrel mates into the slide for a smooth buttery action, and is machined from 17-4 PH Stainless. The rear serrations are deep, aggressive and outstanding for maintaining a grip with wet or – worst case – bloody hands.
This combo is interesting for a variety of reasons, first and foremost, its futuristic styling. With ultra-modern styling—from the pinched rear of the slide to relief cuts on the top side—it just has a unique look. The barrel is both ported and compensated and the slide itself is integrally compensated, making this a very flat-shooting gun. Mine was tested with Angry Bear Arms sights and a Holosun 407K mounted.
True Precision got their name making barrels for every major pistol, to be sure, but also for every Sig P365 iteration and flavor.
Their proprietary broach cut has 5 grooves, with a 1/10 right hand twist, suitable for all ammo, even cast lead barrels. The barrels themselves are machined and cut from 416r stainless, and aren’t blanks. They take a solid bolt of metal and turn it into a barrel on site and in the US. The barrels come with either 1/2×28 threads or a target crown.
I tested an XL barrel with my True Precision slide. Of all the barrels and barrel companies, since this was how they started, True Precision has the most optionality, versatility, and breadth of choice. You can get one that’s nitrided, or one that is PVD coating in any of the whacky colors they make. You can truly build a unique one-of-a-kind gun with their parts.
True Precision Deals
Midwest Gun Works
$171
Best P365 Comp: Radian AfterBurner + RamJet
This is the gold standard for compensators against which all other comps should be compared. While pricey, and requiring a barrel/comp combo, this is by far the most accurate and reliable package of the bunch. With a novel and easy installation of just a hex screen and barrel/comp pair, the Radian Afterburner Ramjet combo is the pinnacle of compensation and concealability, in my humble opinion.
The barrel itself is made from 416R stainless, enhanced with their Radianite coating. This gives the slide a slick surface to ride over, low friction, high hardness, and corrosion resistance. The small comp doesn’t stick out too far, and on standard 365 barrels it’s rumored to fit into XL holsters with ease.
The Intra-Lok mourning system uses a taper lock, and angled v groove under the barrel to provide a tight and reliable fit. It’s a simple and repeatable process, and is easy to take off with just a screwdriver, unlike some integrated compensator designs that require special tools and a lot of elbow grease.
It performed as well if not better as testes, with a significant reduction in perceived recoil. No ammo issues were observed, and this thing cycles my competition powder-puff loads as well as carry loads. A clear frontrunner, the Radian RamJet is ideal for a CCW compensator.
The Defender CCW is my favorite open reflex sight that was tested. Even against a 407/507k, and a Trijicon RMRcc, I found the Vortex to be the best all around red dot. With the best warranty out there, and the texturing on the front of the lens housing, I also shamelessly racked it off everything, as I do with all my dots. This sight held up to the abuse, of course, and held zero.
Spec wise, it’s solid. With an aluminum housing, the 3 MOA dot runs on a common 1632 top load battery – unlike the RMRcc which requires you to take it off – and a shim plate. It has motion sensors that turn it on, and it auto shuts off after 10 mins of non-use. The red dot itself was crisp, small enough for precision shots (my preference) and performed beautifully on a Shalotek LC slide.
Overall, of all the dots I tested, this is the best reflex sight. It’s durable, reliable, has a great warranty, and even the design acknowledges dots are made for racking.
Vortex Defender Deals
Euro Optics
$250
Primary Arms
$300
Best P365 Enclosed Emitter Optic: Holosun SCS & EPS
These two sights are some of my favorites, and I have some that are much more expensive than these enclosed emitter red dots. Sleek, rugged and with crisp reticles, both of these Holosuns are outstanding choices.
The SCS Carry runs on a solar-rechargeable battery that gets up to 20,000 hours of life on a single charge. The window is rather large for an optic this size (0.9 in x .63 in), and within the window the reticle is green, bright, and crisp.
A 2 MOA dot and 32 MOA ring, the green reticle makes me get over my hatred for green dots, as they usually wash out. The bright reticle is capable of cycling between just the dot, dot and circle, or just the circle. I love this option and delivers it.
The aluminum housing is rugged, the aesthetics of it are pleasing, and she holds zero of course. The shakeawake tech is pretty standard, except for ironically Trijicon, and works well here.
Its brother – the EPS carry – also has a solar failsafe but runs a 1620 battery for 50,000 hours of life. Similar to the SCS, it has a 2 MOA dot, 32 MOA circle that can be run either with just the dot, dot and circle, or just the circle. The red reticle is my preference, and is plenty bright, with some NV settings as well. The window size is slightly smaller (0.58 x 0.77), but it sits lower so as to co-witness better. Both of these are in heavy rotation on my carry guns.
One of the gold standards of concealment and versatility, the Tier1 Concealed Axis Elite is top notch when it comes to the ability to carry an extra mag and keep everything concealed. For standard OEM grip modules, this is by far my favorite rig to carry with. Not only do I have an extra magazine on tap, but the p365 platform with a 12 rd grip module just disappears, even in summer. This isn’t my only T1C, I have about 4 others – but for the p365 in standard configuration, this is hard to beat, especially for the sidecar layout. Their Axis Elite setup just vanishes. Overall, the most comfortable and concealable holster out there.
Sharps Bros Deals
Tier1
$140
Other Holsters Tested
LAS Concealment: Grade–4 Hillker Holster: Grade–3.5 TXC: Grade–4.8 4Bros: Grade–4.3
Best P365 Chassis: Flux Raider
The Flux Raider is an interesting little toy, and yes, I view it as a nice to have, but not a need to have. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very cool little package, I tested with my True Precision slide, and the Flux 6” barrel.
It’s a solid piece of anodized aluminum as the chassis, which allows the user to carry 1 in the gun, 1 in the front as a backup. Clevery, the mag release to drop your backup mag also engages the magazine in the grip of the gun, making mag changes simple as the press of a button i.e. you will drop an empty when you grab a full magazine and press the button.
Furthermore, the brace can be actuated with your right index finger, and the weapon can be fired with the brace open or closed. I tested it running a few with it closed, opening it and shouldering it with no issues. It’s a very cool design and is intuitive, that is to say: easy to learn. I had good accuracy on a plate rack with this set up, for example, but I was still faster and more accurate with my pistol. Maybe with practice I could blow away my plate rack times with this since there are more contact points, but in testing, I would just go for a pistol and extra mags. With a side-car rig and a Macro size gun, you have the same ammo, and just have to reach a little further for a reload (hip vs using support hand).
Flux Raider Deals
FLUX Defense
$800
Best P365 Optics Plates: Maple Leaf Firearms
Imagine your chagrin if you spent close to $1,000 on a FCU, grip and slide milled, only to find out that the $600 RMRcc didn’t mount to anything. Maple Leaf heard your pain and created plates to allow you to mount pretty much anything to a P365. I tested out P365s with RMR footprint optics with the company’s adaptor and was pleased. Maple Leaf also makes they even make slides for direct mount RMRcc. It’s very innovative companyand they think in thousandths of an inch with all of their products. Best Trigger: MCarbo
Probably the gold standard of striker assemblies, MCarbo has a lot going for them. With its titanium striker assembly, it’s made OEM assemblies seem suboptimal. The titanium striker reduces lock time, in addition to being lighter—minimizing light strakes and primer drag. The downside is the strike assembly is both expensive and has a proprietary back plate. What’s more the geometry of the design reduces primer drag and is an instant upgrade for all Sig Models.
Its trigger shoe is a wonderful upgrade as well. It is adjustable and improves the reset and break angle by up to 33 percent. In the Mischief Machine grip module I tested with the MCarbo slide, I installed this trigger in the FCU and the combination of the trigger, titanium striker assembly, and Mcarbo slide gave me wonderful results. It dropped nearly 1 pound in pull weight to around 2lb 10oz, with minimal grit. The geometry of this trigger does lower the overall trigger pull.
Maple Leaf Plate Deals
Maple Leaf
$75
P365 FAQ
Is the Sig P365 the best carry gun?
There is no “best” carry gun. One handgun might be ideal for one person's risk profile, skill ability, budget and other factors, but not for another. However, the P365 certainly has been among the most popular concealed carry pistols to come out in recent years. This is due to a number of factors, in particular its small size, excellent capacity and accuracy.
Does the Sig Sauer P365 have a lot of recoil?
The pistol does not have considerably more or less recoil than other micro-compact 9mm options. For the caliber, this class of guns is considered to have a fair amount of recoil, particularly compared to duty- and full-sized 9mm handguns. That said, micro-compact 9mm do not have excessive recoil and, with practice, can be managed by even those new to handgun shooting.
What are the cons of the Sig P365?
Likely, the price tag of the P365 is the pistol's largest con, especially compared to other micro-compact 9mms. From there, the gun has a stiff recoil that beginners may have difficulties managing, the factory trigger is squishy and it has a short sight radius, which may affect the accuracy of those new to this class of gun.
How many bullets does a SIG P365 hold?
The P365 ships with a 10-round magazine, however, 12-round magazines are also available for the pistol.
I hit the range with a spread of different AK ammo to find the best 7.62×39 loads for plinking, hunting and self-defense.
Not that long ago, AKs were cheap, and the 7.62x39mm ammunition they fired made blasting trash in the woods an economically sound pastime. So economical, in fact, that AR-15s chambered for it were once a popular option for those looking to keep range time affordable.
Those days are, unfortunately, well behind us.
Now, AR-15s are far more affordable than the most budget-tier Kalashnikovs, and cheap 5.56 NATO can be found at nearly half the price of 7.62 Soviet.
Does the new, higher cost of 7.62×39 mean you should stop shooting your ComBloc guns? Of course not, you just have to be smarter about what you feed them.
Whether you’re looking to fill magazines for the range, maximize the defensive capabilities of a self-defense SBR or even take a deer this season, here I'm going to go over some of the top AK ammo options on the market.
How I Chose The Best AK Ammo
Armed with a variety of 7.62×39 loads, two rifles and a Caldwell Ballistic Precision G2 chronograph, I headed out to the range to do some testing.
I sent two 5-round groups of each load through the chrono, one group using a standard 16-inch WASR 10 and the other group with a 12.5-inch Romanian SBR.
Chronograph data isn’t everything, but it does help determine which of the ammo types are loaded consistently and if they generate the advertised velocity or not.
All tested loads functioned and cycled flawlessly through both rifles, so reliability isn’t a concern, although only one type of magazine was used throughout (a WBP 20-round polymer mag).
To scientifically test ammunition's accuracy, you need some method of removing the human element from the equation. I didn’t have that, so I merely confirmed practical accuracy with a 6-inch gong at 100 yards. Using iron sights from a bench, each load went five for five hits. It doesn’t show which ammo type was the most precise, but it does show that all the loads tested should be good enough for hunting or defensive purposes at normal ranges. AKs and 7.62×39 are more accurate than they get credit for, but if you’re looking to do long-range precision work, you should be looking at other cartridges.
After taking into account factors like chronograph data, price and the projectile qualities of each type of AK ammo, these are the top loads I’d recommend feeding your Kalashnikov with.
Bullet Weight: 124gr Projectile Style: Full Metal Jacket Case Material: Steel Country Of Origin: Russia
Bbl Length (in.)
Min. Vel.
Max. Vel.
Average Vel.
ES
SD
16
2,231
2,284
2,257
53
21.3
12.5
2,094
2,196
2,139
99
39.6
PROS:
Still some of the cheapest AK ammo available
The real Russian stuff, get it while you can
CONS:
Steel case, not reloadable
Despite a ban on Russian ammo importation going into effect in 2021, apparently, the stuff was stockpiled in massive quantities because ammo retailers still seem to have plenty available at the time of writing. The only difference is that it’s not as cheap as it once was, although it is still some of the cheapest. Once reserves dry up, we’ll have to turn to another source, but in the meantime, Russian-made AK ammo remains my go-to.
The chrono data showed it was relatively consistent and generated expected velocities, and that’s all you really need from standard range FMJ ammo. The only potential downside to some is that it’s steel-cased, so it can’t be reloaded, but who reloads AK ammo anyway? If you do, the rest of this list has plenty of brass-cased options to choose from.
Ammo To Go
1,000 Rounds – $585
Best Deer Ammo: Winchester Power-Point
Bullet Weight: 123gr Projectile Style: Traditional Soft-Point Case Material: Brass Country Of Origin: U.S.A.
Bbl Length (in.)
Min. Vel.
Max. Vel.
Average Vel.
ES
SD
16
2,325
2,374
2,351
49
17.9
12.5
2,152
2,226
2,200
74
25.3
PROS:
Classic Winchester soft-point load for deer
Consistently loaded with good average velocity
CONS:
A bit pricey
The classic American deer rifle is a lever-action in .30-30 Winchester, but the rifles and ammo can be pricey. There was a time when an SKS loaded with 7.62×39 could provide very similar effective performance for a lot less money. While prices have gone up across the board, 7.62×39 remains the cheaper cartridge and is still just as good at taking medium-sized game.
Winchester Power-Point in 7.62×39 is loaded with a traditional soft-point 123-grain projectile that offers great knock-down power and penetration. My chronograph testing shows that it has about 100 fps more velocity than the Wolf FMJ on average, too, so it should expand nicely on impact.
Ammo To Go
20 Rounds – $29
Best For Hog Hunting: Prvi Partizan PSP
Bullet Weight: 123gr Projectile Style: Pointed Soft-Point Case Material: Brass Country Of Origin: Serbia
Bbl Length (in.)
Min. Vel.
Max. Vel.
Average Vel.
ES
SD
16
2,138
2,357
2,280
219
78.6
12.5
2,098
2,214
2,173
116
39.8
PROS:
Affordable for soft point
Good balance between terminal performance and price
CONS:
Not loaded very consistently
Admittedly, PPU’s soft-point 7.62×39 isn’t quite as nice as the above load of Winchester, but that’s also reflected in its price. Culling hogs requires a lot more ammo than taking a deer or two, and that calls for less expensive ammo.
PPU’s PSP 123-grain soft-point load is the perfect balance between performance and price. It offers much better effect on target than standard cheap FMJ, but it’s also sold in 1000-round bricks for about half the per-round price of Winchester Power-Point. If you’re looking to load up several banana mags to help control the wild hog population, I think PPU’s soft-points are the ideal option.
Ammo To Go
1,000 Rounds – $750
Best Full-Size Defensive Round: Winchester Deer Season XP
Bullet Weight: 123gr Projectile Style: Polymer-Tipped Extreme Point Case Material: Brass Country Of Origin: U.S.A.
Bbl Length (in.)
Min. Vel.
Max. Vel.
Average Vel.
ES
SD
16
2,345
2,377
2,360
32
12.5
12.5
2,173
2,235
2,213
62
23.2
PROS:
Loaded very consistenly
XP projectile should provide excellent effect on target
CONS:
A bit pricey
Another Winchester load optimized for deer, ostensibly, is Deer Season XP. For the 16-inch WASR, however, chronograph testing revealed that it had the highest average velocity with very consistent results.
The Extreme Point (XP) projectile was designed to remain ballistically efficient while providing near instant, devastating expansion on impact. The rest of the jacketed bullet was designed to deliver excellent penetration through hide and muscle, but that same performance should have no issue translating to stopping a human attacker.
Ammo To Go
20 Rounds – $33
Best SBR Defensive Round: Hornady BLACK MonoFlex SBR
Bullet Weight: 111gr Projectile Style: MonoFlex Expanding Flex Tip Case Material: Brass Country Of Origin: U.S.A.
Bbl Length (in.)
Min. Vel.
Max. Vel.
Average Vel.
ES
SD
16
2,283
2,374
2,330
91
37.6
12.5
2,206
2,291
2,226
85
33.5
PROS:
Optimized for short barrels
MonoFlex projectile ideal for stopping human threats
CONS:
Expensive
No surprise, the Hornady BLACK load optimized for defensive use with short-barreled rifles proved to have the best performance when tested in the SBR. It’s the only load on the list that doesn’t have a standard 123- or 124-grain bullet weight, and the data reveals that the 111-grain MonoFlex bullet still has excellent velocity out of a shorter barrel.
Just as important is the projectile itself, and the Hornady MonoFlex is designed to penetrate deep, expand maximally and lose a minimal amount of weight in the process. When it comes to stopping attackers with a short-barreled AK, accept no substitute.
Ammo To Go
20 Rounds – $35
7.62×39 FAQ
Is 7.62×39 too much for home defense?
In terms of having enough stopping power to incapacitate an attacker, no, 7.62×39 is definitely not too much for home defense. If your living arrangement means you have to worry about overpenetration through walls, however, it might not be the best round for you. Either way, the use of good hollow point ammunition is a good idea, both for better effect on target and for reduced penetration through barriers.
Why is 7.62×39 so expensive now?
As the Cold War came to an end in the early 1990s, a lot of things changed for the American gun market. Not only were many once-Warsaw Pact nations transitioning to NATO equipment and calibers, resulting in a flood of surplus ammo and guns on the market, but new avenues for commercial trade opened with freshly capitalist Russia. One result of this was very cheap and available 7.62×39 ammo. Russia remained the main source of affordable 7.62×39 (and other calibers) until Russian-made ammo was banned from importation in 2021. This ban, combined with withering stocks of surplus ammo globally, has resulted in the price of 7.62×39 to skyrocket above what it once was. At the time of writing, the cheapest 7.62×39 is marginally more expensive than the cheapest .223 Remington.
What's a similar cartridge to compare 7.62×39 to?
In terms of ballistics, the most common American cartridge with similar performance to 7.62×39 is .30-30 Winchester. They're both roughly .30-caliber, have similar maximum chamber pressures, and, when loaded with bullets of similar weights, produce muzzle velocities in the same ballpark (.30-30 winning out slightly with higher fps and more energy). The most apparent distinction between the two cartridges is that .30-30 Win. was designed for use in lever-actions while 7.62×39 was designed for self-loading firearms.
From the lust worthy to the affordable to the extremely expensive, here’s a look at some of the latest guns announced this year!
Oh my, it’s that time of year when shooters and hunters wait, anxiously, to see if the gun they have been longing for might make it to production. We walked the floor at SHOT Show until our feet begged us for forgiveness and our knees threatened to never bend again, all to discover the newest and coolest new guns for 2026.
Here are our top 10 picks—priced from the least to the most expensive—that include everything from a clown-colored revolver, a pistol you’d expect Shaggy and Scooby to chase, a rifle named after a cross between a donkey and a horse, and what might be the lightest production bolt-action rifle ever made.
1: Bear Creek Arsenal Grizzly 102 Compact
Bear Creek Arsenal is well known for offering reliable guns at very affordable prices, and their new Grizzly 102 Compact Handgun is their latest. This 9mm pistol has front and rear slide serrations and bear fur stippling on the grip and frame just above the trigger guard. The slide has an RMR cut for optics, and there’s a M1913 Picatinny rail on the dust cover. It’s compatible with Glock Gen 3 aftermarket parts and the Gen 5 ambidextrous magazine release. The slide has window cuts just forward of the chamber, and there is a wide assortment of threaded or unthreaded barrel color options. The pistol ships with two 15-round magazines. MSRP: $295
2: Ruger RXM
Ruger has upgraded their RXM pistol with a threaded barrel to make it suppressor friendly. If you’re unfamiliar with the RXM, it’s a Glock-like polymer-framed pistol that utilizes a removable serialized stainless-steel fire control system and a Magpul EHG modular grip. The new suppressor-friendly RXM is chambered in 9mm Luger, and the muzzle is threaded at 1/2×28 and comes with a thread protector. However, in addition to the threaded muzzle, the pistol ships with an extra and heavier 18-pound guide rod/recoil spring assembly to help you tune the pistol to your chosen suppressor and ammo. The pistol ships with two 15-round P-Mags, and the slide has an optics cut. MSRP: $569
3: New Smith & Wesson Revolvers from Lipsey’s
Lipsey’s is always the place to turn for revolver aficionados looking for something a little off the beaten path. They are offering two new Smith & Wesson revolvers. The Model 386 is chambered for the .357 Magnum and is a lightweight Scandium 24-ounce, seven-shot wheel gun with a 3-inch barrel that’s built on the L-frame with titanium pins. It has no internal lock and is fitted with XS Sights. It also has chamfered charge holes, a front edge bevel on the cylinder, Hogue Bantam rubber grips and a narrow black oxide smooth trigger and hammer. The Model 396 might be the most exciting of the two because it’s chambered for the .44 Special. The specifications are the same except the 44 Special is a five-shot revolver that weighs 23 ounces. MSRP: $1,269
4: Franchi MULE
This rifle is part of the Franchi Momentum series, and the acronym MULE stands for “Momentum Utility Lite Elite.” Designed as a general-purpose rifle, the MULE is a perfect truck, UTV or everyday carry rifle. It has a 16.25-inch barrel with a threaded muzzle, weighs in at about 7 pounds and is only 38.35 inches long. Standard are flip-up adjustable sights, with the rear sight integrated into a long Picatinny rail. The rifle feeds from an 8+1 detachable magazine in .308 Winchester and a 10+1 detachable magazine in .223 Remington. The stock, with its VEIL TAC Black camo finish, quick-detach swivel connections and M-LOK rails, combined with the Graphite black Cerakote finish on the metal surfaces, makes for a serious look. For those wanting a modernized version of a Scout Rifle, the MULE checks a lot of boxes. MSRP: $1,549
5: Henry SPD PREDATOR
This is the lever gun no one was expecting. The SPD Predator is built on Henry’s new Lever Action Supreme platform, and it’s chambered in .223 Remington/5.56 NATO. Aside from the uniqueness of the basic platform Henry introduced last year, the Henry Special Products Division (SPD) designed this rifle, which they associate with another acronym—PREDATOR—which stands for “Precision Rifle Engineered for Dispatching Agile Targets Over Range.” To set it apart from the base Lever Action Supreme, the SPD PREDATOR has been fitted with a carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel and a laminated wood stock that has an adjustable comb. It feeds from AR-15 magazines, and it’s the only lever action rifle that comes with a sub-MOA guarantee. MSRP: $2,510
6: Wilson Combat DMR
Though mostly known for their exquisite 1911 pistols, Wilson Combat builds some of the best AR-style rifles you can buy. Their newest rifle is the DMR—Designated Marksman Rifle—which is purpose built for the most precision focused and demanding shooters. It’s crafted from a perfectly matched billet upper and lower receiver set and features a premium 18-inch fluted Recon barrel that comes with a Q-Comp muzzle device to mitigate recoil and muzzle rise. It has a lightweight 15-inch handguard, Wilson Combat’s rail covers, a crisp two-stage TTU trigger unit, Magpul MOE Stock and a corrosion-resistant Black Armor-Tuff finish. MSRP: $2,575
7: Weatherby Backcountry Capra
Fortunately for hunters, rifles just keep getting lighter. Starting at 4 pounds the new Backcountry Capra bolt action Mark V rifle from Weatherby might be as light as you can get. This rifle is built around a six-lug Titanium action and sports a deep bolt with a 54-degree bolt lift, a double-helix fluted barrel, TriggerTech trigger, Accubrake muzzle brake, removable bolt knob and a hand-painted Peak 44 carbon-fiber stock with a 3D Hex recoil reducer pad. All the metal surfaces have a Cerakote finish, and the rifle is available in .22 Creedmoor, .240 Weatherby Magnum, .25 Creedmoor, .25 Weatherby RPM, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Weatherby RPM, .270 Winchester, .280 Ackley Improved and .308 Winchester. The Capra also comes with a sub-MOA guarantee. MSRP: $3,499
8: Wilson Combat P1 Ghost
Some of you might have missed the pre-SHOT Show launch of this new pistol out of Wilson Combat’s Division 77 because every single one of them immediately sold to dealers. If you want one, that’s where you’ll have to look. The Ghost is the latest edition of the revolutionary P1 Pistol; it’s stainless-steel and chambered in 9mm Luger. It has an 18-round capacity, 5-inch barrel and weighs 33.8 ounces empty. That might not sound all that exciting but it’s all the other stuff that makes the Ghost special. The slide and barrel are ported, and with its 42 percent recoil reduction, this thing shoots so soft you’ll think you have a cheat code for Call of Duty. It has a fluted barrel, fluted chamber, and the slide is cut for optics, which you can mount with the exclusive Project 1 Pin Technology. If you prefer open sights, it comes with a Battlesight rear sight and a fiber-optic front. MSRP: $4,195; $4,510 with limited edition storage box and challenge coin
9: Blaser R8 Professional 2.0
Blaser has taken their R8 straight-pull bolt-action rifle to the next level with the Professional 2.0. This rifle features a new, ergonomically optimized vertical pistol grip with ambidextrous palm swells for left- and right-handed shooters. It also has new molded elastomer grip inserts with a better surface texture for an improved grip. The comb on the stock is height adjustable to help you achieve that perfect cheek weld and riflescope eye alignment, and the receiver is permanently embedded into the synthetic stock for enhanced protection, rigidity and precision. The stock’s forearm allows for the mounting of a Harris bipod or Picatinny rail, and the R8 Professional 2.0 is available in black, brown and dark olive, in three length of pulls, and it comes with a Blaser hard case. MSRP: $5,500
10: Chiappa Rhino Elite
I’m going to go out on a limb and guess you’ve never seen a revolver like the Rhino Elite 60DS-L Frame. This nearly 3-pound six-shot revolver is chambered in .44 Remington Magnum, and it has a 6-inch barrel. The frame is made from 7075-T6 aluminum, with a steel barrel and breech shield. Every one of these revolvers features an exclusive color combination and comes housed in a bespoke custom painted display case that has been meticulously created from a single solid block of aluminum, and it is finished inside with Italian black leather. Each of these revolvers also comes with a hand-signed certificate of authenticity, a special base for display, and a Rhino 44 Patch. MSRP: $5,775
And One More Thing …
All these new guns are cool, but my favorite new gun-related item for 2026 is a new rifle cartridge from Weatherby. Old timers will remember the .250 Savage—the first American Centerfire rifle cartridge to break the 3,000-fps mark. The 0.25-caliber .250 Savage did that with an 87-grain bullet, and the new .25 Creedmoor—a cartridge I wildcatted a decade ago—does it with a 115-grain bullet. But the new Weatherby RPM can exceed 3,000 fps with a 133-grain bullet. The cartridge is based on a lengthened version of the .284 Winchester case just like the other Weatherby RPM cartridges. It has a 1-in-7.5 twist rate and will be available in a variety of Weatherby rifles. Initial ammo offerings include a 107-grain Hammer bullet at 3,350 fps, 117-grain Hornady SST and Barnes LRX bullets at 3,150 fps and a 133-grain Berger Elite Hunter bullet at 3,000 fps.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Not everything cool we see at SHOT is a new product. Sometimes something is just cool because it exists. This cutaway from M+M Industries isn't for sale, but it's awesome to look at.
MDT New DRT Lightweight Magnesium Chassis
“Lightweight” might not be the perfect term, since MDT offers two chassis that are about half the weight of the DRT, but we're pretty excited about this chassis either way. Built to be extremely rigid while cutting a ton of weight off the chassis system, the DRT uses almost all magnesium to give hunters a rock-solid platform to get the job done. Perfect for night vision or thermal mounting!
Magnesium chassis body and buttstock
Weight: 3.2 lbs (51.2 oz)
Type III hard-anodized aluminum NV bridge and ARCA rail
Integrated adjustable friction folding mechanism
Tool-less LOP and adjustable cheek riser
Carbon fiber vertical grip
Full-length ARCA with RRS Lock + ARCALOCK
M-LOK forend with integrated thumb shelf
Adjustable magazine latch and magazine release lock
Bedding compound grooves
Compatible with Remington 700 clone actions only
Accessory compatible with MDT NV bridges, grips (excluding connector bar), LOP spacers, vertical buttpad base, MDT Elite Bag Rider
Colors: Black and FDE
Rozvelt Vektr Scent Elimination Mask
One of the more interesting new products found in the basement of SHOT Show was this scent elemeination mask built for bow hunters. According to Rozvelt, “80%” of your sent comes via breath. While other products have existed to help combat this, like scent gum, nothing has come close to the effectiveness and ease of use of their new Vektr mask.
A few of our favorites from the third day of SHOT Show 2026!
PSA Sabre-Key
Suppressors aren't the only new way to take advantage of the $0 tax stamp, and PSA is doing just that with its new Sabre-Key. It's a 10-inch 12-gauge SBS with a 3+1 capacity that attaches under the barrel like an M203 grenade launcher. The added weight to the front of your rifle means you won't want to be running drills with this thing installed, but it sure is cool! Perfect for LARPing as Billy from Predator!
KelTec PR-3AT
As usual, KelTec had something very interesting to reveal at the show. This time, it was bringing the stripper-clip pistol concept from the PR-5.7 to a more CCW-oriented option. This little rotary barrel .380 ACP carry pistol is incredibly lightweight at under 10 ounces unloaded and has a capacity of 10+1 for the short grip version and 13+1 for the long grip version.
The larger model is also available as a Defender variant that comes with a factory-installed Viridian RFX1 Green Dot, a belt clip, a Rounded Gear IWB holster and four 7-round stripper clips. When simple and light is all you need, this little KelTec is looking like it will be an excellent option for self-defense.
CZ 75 Legend
CZ is bringing back an absolute classic with the CZ 75 Legend. Last year marked the iconic and widely-copied pistol's 50th birthday, so it was a perfect time for CZ to make this gorgeous gun available again. The later models are still pretty easy to come by, but for those who have wanted to own one of the true original versions with the “slab side” and iconic grips, this is excellent news!
RECOIL Network gave out the first Top Brass Awards at SHOT Show 2026! Brands that brought new products, new ideas, and bold innovation to the market. Top Brass Awards come from all of the RECOIL Network brands, including RECOIL Magazine, Gun Digest, CONCEALMENT, CARNIVORE, OffGrid, and CANCON.
Here are just a few of our winners!
RECOIL Top Brass Phoenix Award: FN SCAR
Reborn from the ashes of the first generation of FN SCAR, the king lives on in the second generation. Improved in almost every way, this new version continues to impress us.
CONCEALMENT Top Brass Award For Best Accessory: TriggerTech ACE Trigger System
Building their name in the bolt-action and AR trigger space, TriggerTech now offers that high level of design with an unbeatable crisp, Zero Creep trigger for Glocks gen 1-5. Tunable by the user for a pull weight between 2.5 and 6 pounds, this is the most crisp, smoothest, and surprising trigger we’ve seen for the Glock platform.
CANCON Top Brass Giggle Maker Award: Maxim Defense PDX SD
We see lots of new and interesting things at every CANCON, but this year, the one that never failed to light up someone’s face was the Maxim Defense PDX SD! Less than 24” end to end, this ultra-short, ultra-compact little gun sounds and shoots like you can’t believe.
Built to be the ultimate in small gun technology, the Maxim PDX SD is more than the sum of its parts and delivers a tiny gun that everyone loves to shoot.
Gun Digest Top Brass Best New Precision Rifle Award: Seekins SIC
This absolute polearm of a rifle from Seekins left us incredibly impressed. It's available in 7 different calibers ranging from badass magnums down to 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester, but you don't have to choose just one. This modular rifle developed for U.S. Special Operations is hyper modular, allowing you to quickly and easily swap calibers for your mission on the fly using a just a T25 stored in the buttpad. All of this coolness doesn't come cheap, but if you can afford it, this is one hell of a precision rifle.
Recoil Top Brass Innovation Award: PSA Mixtape .338 ARC
The .338 ARC cartridge is super cool and potentially very quiet, and that calls for awesome guns chambered in it. PSA did that in spades with their announcement of a .338 ARC Sabre Mixtape! The original version in .300 BLK was already impressive, but we're excited to see what it can do in the new chambering.
It's the first day of SHOT Show 2026, and after spending the day walking the floor here are just a few of our top highlights for you.
Lyman SONICORE Suppressors
Lyman's announcement of the SONICORE suppressor line came as a surprise to most, but after finding out more about it, also a very welcome one. The main draw: their price. None will cost more than $300, and in this new age of $0 tax stamps, that's a very attractive thing. While the cans won't be best in class in any particular performance category, when all you need is a basic muffler for some of the guns in your safe, SONICORE suppressors sound like they're more than capable of doing the job.
The line so far includes the SKARV 22, the Valor 9, the Rekkr Direct Thread (.223 and .30), the Rekkr Overbarrel (.223 and .30), the Paradox Direct Thread (.223 and .30) and the Paradox Overbarrel. A suppressor series like this that balances performance and price is exactly what the market needs right now, both for helping shooters get into their first NFA item on a budget and helping shooters with large collections hush-up more of it.
SDS Arms Inglis 2035
This isn't the first attempt to modernize a Hi-Power, but to us, the SDS Arms Inglis 2035 looks the best take on the concept. Besides the modernized aesthetics like the two-tone Cerakote finish and slide cuts, it has a ton of practical tactical improvements up its sleeve.
Major features include an optics-ready slide with a direct-mount Delta Point Pro footprint, a uni-rail for lights, and a flat trigger. It also has a no-bite hammer, forward slide serrations, a checkered front strap, G10 grips and suppressor-height iron sights. Just like SDS Arms' marketing for the pistol says, this truly does look like the evolution of a legend.
Midwest Industries Bounty Hunter
Braces on pistols aren’t totally new anymore, but a brace system for revolvers is entirely awesome! Midwest Industries has options for a wide range of revolvers coming soon, and it’s a difference you need to feel to believe.
Priced around $350 per set, this adds a new level of precision and capability to existing revolvers, making them easier to shoot, more accurate, and just fun. Lots of options coming soon!
Palmetto State Armory Mixtape Vol. 3
Mostly announced last year, this finalized version of the Mixtape Vol. 3 is in .338 ARC and uses the improved lower, upper, and bolt for the Magpul ICAR pattern magazines. Built to be suppressed with high-quality components, this gun rocks.
We’ve been excited about .338 ARC since it was released, and the Mixtape goes a long way in getting the most out of the cartridge that you can get. Combined with subsonic ammo and a good suppressor, the Mixtape will sound amazing.
Franklin Armory Prevail
Push-feed Vs. controlled-round feed is a topic some people care deeply about. If you don’t know what we’re talking about, it’s okay. The good news is that the Prevail from Franklin Armory does the best of both in a new bolt-action rifle. R700 footprint action and trigger, and using Zermatt pattern barrels, the Prevail will be available in complete rifles, barreled actions, and stripped actions for custom builds.
The action we got to feel was smooth, 60-degree bolt, and the internal system for the Total Round Control feed design is interesting in a “I didn’t know I needed it, but I do” kind of way. We’re looking forward to doing a complete review soon!
Want to buy an AK-47? I brought in a few of the best AK rifles chambered for 7.62×39 and ran them through their paces to help you make your choice.
AK-47s are probably more popular in the U.S. now than they’ve ever been. Surprising, since the cost of the rifles and their ammunition is also at their zenith. Once viewed as the poor man’s alternative to the AR-15, that is no longer the case. Today, you can get an AR for $400, and the cheapest .223 Remington ammo is less expensive than the cheapest 7.62×39.
No, the AK is no longer the budget option it once was. The AK has become a rifle purchased by historical enthusiasts, collectors and shooters just interested in owning the exotic weapon of the enemy. Given their inflated prices, however, you want to spend your money wisely and choose the best AK that you can for your needs and desires. So, I brought some in for hands-on testing and evaluation to help you make that decision.
How I Made My Picks
The very first gun that I shot was an AK, and it’s the firearm that sparked a lifelong interest in this hobby and led to my eventual career. Consequently, I’ve spent more time researching Kalashnikovs than any other firearm platform and own more of them than I can shake a stick at. It’s fair to say that I had some preexisting notions before starting this project, but it didn’t stop me from testing and assessing the guns as objectively as possible. Many of my biases were confirmed, but there were a couple of surprises as well.
Ultimately, the goal of the testing was simply to identify any problems if they exist, ensure their reliability and juxtapose the shooting experiences of each AK side-by-side. Testing them like this allowed for some hair-splitting and revealed some nuanced differences between them. Based on criteria like their fit and finish, their cost, the feel of their recoil impulse and the included furniture, I determined what each model does best.
The AK-47 Review Process And Notes
First things first, I should clarify that this buyer’s guide is only discussing 7.62×39 AK rifles that are currently available new, colloquially referred to as AK-47s .
To test each AK, I headed to the range with a duffel bag full of loaded mags and a couple of additional cases of ammo to top them off. 2,000 rounds of Wolf Polyformance 123gr HP were provided by AmmoToGo and an additional 500 rounds of Grom 124gr FMJ were provided by Atlantic Firearms. That comes to a grand total of 2,500 rounds or 500 rounds per gun.
For an AK, or any rifle worth its salt for that matter, 500 rounds is not a lot. It is, however, enough that any possible issues should rear their head. The good, and unsurprising, news is that not a single malfunction occurred. That means for all intents and purposes, you should expect all of these rifles to be equally reliable out of the box.
A wide variety of magazines were used to see if any combinations of AK and mag didn’t like each other. Between my surplus steel mags, various polymer mags (Bulgarian, PMAG, Tapco, and US Palm) and the mags included with each rifle, I didn’t experience any issues, but that said AK mags sometimes require a bit of filing to properly fit. The AKs with tighter magwells needed some convincing to seat some polymer mags, but all worked fine.
As for accuracy, I tested out to 200 yards with a steel half-size silhouette. Every rifle hit the target with ease. At the very least, they’re all minute-of-man accurate.
The rest of the differences I gleaned from the testing process will be discussed in the buyer’s guide portion.
A WASR-10 sporting replacement wood furniture and a surplus sling.
Country of Origin: Romania Pattern: AKM Barrel: Cold Hammer Forged, Chrome-lined Weight: 7.5 Pounds Furniture: Wood or polymer Muzzle Device: Slant brake Muzzle Threads: 14×1 LH Side Scope Rail: Yes, AKM-pattern Bayonet Lug: Yes MSRP: $1,070
Pros
Rugged, reputation for excellent reliability
Chrome-lined hammer forged military barrel
AKM-pattern, good host for modifications
Enjoys being abused
Cons
Included furniture is garbage
Rough, grayish finish isn't attractive
No magwell dimples (purely aesthetic)
Comes With: One 30-round mag, no cleaning rod OtherAvailable Variants: WASR-10 UF (underfolder stock), WASR Paratrooper (side-folding stock, combo gas block/front sight)
The WASR-10 that was tested is my personal rifle, and I stand by my decision to put it at the top of my list. Why? It embodies the rough, rugged reliability that AKs are known for. In terms of provenance, it’s the closest to a “true military AKM” of anything on the list.
Long story short, these are made in Cugir, Romania, at the same factory that’s been pumping out AKs since the early 1960s. Millions of select-fire models have been exported and spread throughout the world since then, and starting in the late 90s, semi-auto variants became available on the U.S. civilian market. They quickly gained a reputation for being workhorses and offered some of the best value you could find at the time.
They’re not as cheap as they once were, but they’re not as expensive as many comparable models either. For someone looking for a basic, no-frills AK-47 at a middle-shelf price (it's frequently priced below MSRP), you couldn’t go wrong with a WASR.
As far as shooting one goes, it feels like an AK should. It’s such a standard, true-to-form AK in fact that it served as the baseline for which all the other test guns were compared.
The only real downsides in my mind are that WASRs sport a rough utilitarian finish on their metal parts and ship with low-quality polymer or wood furniture designed to be replaced (as has already been done on the example featured here).
The best parts of the WASR include its production at a legacy factory—initially set up by the Soviets—its use of quality military-grade parts like a cold hammer forged chrome-lined barrel and its widespread compatibility with all standard AKM components and accessories. It's roughness is also a quality in my eyes, because you'll never feel bad about throwing it around and scratching it up, and that's what AKs are meant for.
One final note is that the rifle featured in this review is an original WASR-10, but a few years ago Century Arms began importing a model called the WASR-10 V2. The only noteworthy difference is its gas block does not feature a bayonet lug. If having a bayo lug is important to you, just track down one of the plentiful original WASR-10s instead.
WASR-10 Deals
Midway USA
WASR-10
$930
Midway USA
WASR-10 Underfolder
$1,100
Best Budget AK: PSA GF3
The PSA GF3 and its included PSA magazine.
Country of Origin:U.S. Pattern:AKM Barrel: Gas Nitride 4150 steel treated Weight: 6.5 Pounds Furniture: Polymer Muzzle Device: Slant brake Muzzle Threads: 14X1 LH Side Scope Rail: Yes, AKM Bayonet Lug: Yes MSRP: $700
Pros
Very affordable
Impressively soft recoil
Nice finish
Enhanced safety lever
Cons
Barrel is not chrome-lined
Not overgassed, won't be as reliable in adverse conditions
Comes With: One 30-round PSA mag, cable lock, no cleaning rod OtherAvailable Variants: PSA offers the GF3 in dozens of configurations with polymer, wood and railed furniture in several colors
If you’re looking to get into AKs while spending little money, look at Palmetto State Armory.
The company’s first couple of generations of AK-47s had some kinks, but it’s widely accepted that the current-generation GF3 rifles are absolutely rock solid. Like every imported AK on the list, this domestically manufactured rifle features a hammer-forged bolt, carrier, and front trunnion. When it comes to those parts, you should accept no substitute.
Besides the attractive price tag, the GF3 has a lot going for it. In fact, it even does quite a few things better than some of the others. First off, it has a nice black finish and its polymer furniture is good enough quality to keep installed if you like the way it looks. It also ships with an enhanced safety lever installed that features a shelf for quicker actuation. Another note on the safety is that while most AKs feature rather tight levers that often need to be broken in a bit, the GF3’s was the smoothest, best AK safety I’ve ever felt right out of the box.
I was shocked by how soft-shooting PSA's AK is.
As for how it shot, the GF3 had the lowest recoil impulse of the standard AKM-pattern rifles tested (WASR, GF3 and WBP). PSA clearly dialed the gas on this gun very carefully to be just enough to keep it reliably cycling. While this made it a dream to shoot, it could also be considered a drawback depending on how you look at it. If you had to pick an AK to trust your life with on some muddy battlefield, the GF3 isn’t the one. Harsh conditions are why AKs were designed to be overgassed and it’s partly what made them so reliable—it keeps the gun running in the face of excessive fouling or debris in the action.
Another potential downside is the barrel is not chrome-lined, but unless you plan on shooting corrosive ammo through it that shouldn't be an issue.
That all said, thankfully, most of us aren’t planning on going to war and are simply buying an AK as a range toy. If that’s all you want it for, the PSA GF3 is an excellent option that shoots surprisingly softly and spits less gas in your face than anything else on this list.
PSA GF3 Deals
Palmetto State Armory
PSA GF3 Gray
$650
Palmetto State Armory
PSA GF3 FDE
$700
Best Looking AK: WBP 762SC Jack Classic
The WBP Jack wearing its included sling.
Country of Origin: Poland Pattern: AKM Barrel:FB Radom Hammer Forged, Chrome-lined Weight: 7.2 Pounds Furniture: Wood Muzzle Device: Slant brake Muzzle Threads: 14X1 LH Side Scope Rail: Yes, AKM Bayonet Lug: Yes MSRP: $1,100
Pros
Gorgeous finish
Handsome furniture
Barrel is chrome-lined and made by FB Radom
Reliable, faithful AKM clone
Cons
A bit pricey
Finish and wood look so nice, you'll be scared to properly abuse it
Comes With: One 30-round magazine, NcSTAR VISM 2-point sling, front sight adjustment tool, cable lock, cleaning rod OtherAvailable Variants: WBP offers its rifles with several colors of wood, polymer and tactical furniture, as well as a DIY configuration that includes no furniture
In many ways, the WBP 762SC Jack Classic is just a higher-end WASR. Like the WASR, it’s made in an ex-communist country with a history of producing excellent guns, it’s a very faithful copy of the AKM (including its hammer-forged chrome-lined barrel made by FB Radom) and its recoil impulse suggests its gas is tuned to military specifications, so it's plenty reliable. What it does better than a WASR are all aesthetic improvements—a gorgeous glossy black finish and handsome, original-looking laminate wood furniture. It may not come across through the photos, but the finish really looks better and of higher quality than any other rifle on this list.
That said, one angle to consider before you choose the best AK for you is how you plan on treating it. Yes, the WBP is a beautiful rifle, but that could easily result in you babying it and worrying about every ding and scratch like it's a new car. If you want to shoot your AK and treat it as roughly as it deserves, you won't feel nearly as bad about doing that to a WASR.
Unsurprisingly, shooting the WBP felt the same as the WASR since both are essentially AKM clones. There isn’t much more to say about it than that. Simply put, if you’re after classic AK aesthetics and are willing to pay a bit more for it to look beautiful right out of its box, the WBP Jack Classic is your ticket.
Milled receiver limits aftermarket parts compatibility
Subpar finish, prone to flaking
Comes With: One 10-round mag, Arsenal 2-point sling, buttstock cleaning kit, oiler bottle, cleaning rod OtherAvailable Variants: SAM7SF (side-folder stock), SAM7UF (underfolder stock) ; all offered in several colors of polymer furniture and with various muzzle device options
While most AK-producing countries completely abandoned milled receivers as soon as they had the technology to manufacture stamped receivers instead, Bulgaria is the exception. Once importation began, Arsenal became the gold standard for shooters in the U.S. who wanted a milled AK-47.
The question then is why does anyone want an AK with a milled receiver? The manufacturing process not only results in heavier guns, but more expensive ones too. Militaries don’t want to pay more for guns than they have to, and soldiers prefer lightweight rifles since they carry them far more than shoot them, but that doesn’t apply to those of us looking to have fun on the range.
The first thing you’ll notice when you pick up an Arsenal SAM7R-62 is its weight. While you wouldn’t want to hump it over a mountain, that weight also makes for one very nice shooter. Further aided by the included compensator and the wonderfully crisp flat trigger, the Arsenal was by far the best AK to shoot on this list. It really tames 7.62×39 and makes it feel more like a 5.56. Another benefit of the milled receiver is that the action feels much smoother than any of the stamped AKs.
So, why not go with an Arsenal if it shot and felt the best of them all? It mostly comes down to price and parts compatibility. Quality comes at a cost and Arsenal rifles have price tags significantly higher than any other AK on this list. Even if you have the money for it, a milled AK may not be the direction you want to go. The vast majority of aftermarket AK furniture is designed for stamped receiver AKs. This means that parts like buttstocks, handguards and some internal components won’t fit an Arsenal. If you plan on tricking your AK out, whether that be tactical or with classic wood, you’re going to have far fewer options to choose from.
It's also worth noting that for the price, Arsenals have a surprisingly rough-looking painted finish. This finish is also known to be prone to flaking, especially when cleaned with certain chemicals, although I didn't experience this on the test rifle.
That all said, if you just want the softest shooting AK out of the box that money can buy, Arsenal is undoubtedly the way to go.
Arsenal SAM7R-62 Deals
Atlantic Firearms
Arsenal SAM7R-62 Black
$1,840
Atlantic Firearms
Arsenal SAM7R-62 Green
$1,880
Wildcard Option: Zastava ZPAP M70
The ZPAP M70 with a TangoDown grip, aftermarket sling and “Serbian Red” wood furniture.
Country of Origin: Serbia Pattern: Yugo Barrel: Cold Hammer Forged, Chrome-lined Weight: 7.9 Pounds Furniture: Wood Muzzle Device: Slant brake Muzzle Threads: 14×1 LH Side Scope Rail: Yes, Yugo Bayonet Lug: Yes MSRP: $1,063
Pros
Soft shooter
Nice finish
Good hardwood furniture
Safety features bolt hold open notch
Cons
Heavy
Yugo-pattern design limits aftermarket parts compatibility
No cleaning kit trap door in buttstock
Comes With: One 30-round magazine, cleaning rod Available Variants: ZR7762UFSR (underfolder stock), ZR7762RTF (side-folder triangle stock), ZR7762RT (fixed triangle stock); other combinations of wood (various types), polymer and tactical furniture offered as well
Zastava’s ZPAP M70 has become one of the most popular AK options in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. The company is offering some very high-quality rifles at middle-of-the-road prices, and their fit, finish and hardwood furniture make them attractive to many.
What makes this the wildcard option is, like Arsenal's AKs, ZPAPs are not the standard AKM-pattern. They are Yugoslavian or “Yugo” pattern, and that means they use a thicker gauge of metal for their stamped steel receivers and have bulged front trunnions. These features were added by the Yugoslavians to ensure the guns were strong enough to handle firing rifle grenades, but that’s irrelevant in a civilian context. For us, the extra weight merely helps dampen the recoil and makes for a slightly more pleasant shooting experience than with the standard AKM-pattern rifles.
The downside of this difference is again similar to Arsenal’s—parts compatibility. Buttstocks, handguards and some internal parts will need to be specifically designed for Yugo-pattern AKs. The aftermarket for this has grown substantially, but it’s nowhere near as big as that for AKM parts. The optics rail is different as well, which further limits scope and mount options. The ZPAP also loses a point in my book for not having a trapdoor in its buttstock for a cleaning kit, but it earns the point back for coming with a safety lever that has a bolt hold-open notch.
If the parts' compatibility and higher weight don’t bother you, a ZPAP will make for a very nice shooter.
Zastava ZPAP M70 Deals
Battlehawk Armory
ZPAP M70 Dark Walnut
$1,063
Battlehawk Armory
ZPAP M70 Underfolder
$1,220
AK-47 FAQ:
What does the A and K stand for in AK-47?
The A and K stand for Автоматы and Калашникова, respectively, which translate to Automatic and Kalashnikov in English. Kalashnikov is the last name of the rifle's inventor.
What is an AK-47? What is an AKM?
Technically speaking, there has never been a rifle to ever be officially designated as AK-47. If anything can be called an AK-47 it's the first three patterns of Kalashnikov rifle developed in the Soviet Union between the late 1940s and mid-1950s. In the West, AK-47 is a catch-all colloquialism used to refer to any Kalashnikov rifle chambered for 7.62x39mm, even though the rifles in question are typically AKMs. The “M” in AKM stands for модернизированный meaning modernized. The primary difference is the AKM features a stamped steel receiver. This is the version that's been made in the tens of millions across the globe making it so prolific and well-known.
Why is the AK-47 so famous?
The exact production numbers are debated, but many believe that over 100 million Kalashnikov-type firearms have been manufactured since its invention. The rifles were (and in some cases still are) made in Russia, Romania, Yugoslavia/Serbia, Hungary, Poland, East Germany, Finland, Bulgaria, Albania, Iraq, North Korea and other nations. Many of these countries provided Kalashnikovs as military aid to politically friendly nations and non-state actors, resulting in massive global proliferation. The AK is almost certainly the most recognizable firearm in the world, and it's the only gun to be featured on a country's flag (Mozambique).
Should I get an AK-47 or AK-74?
This question is really asking whether one should get an AK chambered for 7.62×39 or for 5.45×39. Both are excellent cartridges, but which is best for you depends on what you want it for. If for some reason you really want your AK to have ballistics similar to 5.56x45mm NATO, then 5.45 offers comparable performance. However, 5.45×39 ammo and magazines are far less common in the United States than 7.62×39 ammo and mags. For most American shooters, the abundance and commonality of 7.62 AKs makes them the better option. A third path to consider is an AK chambered for .223/5.56. These have gained popularity in recent years and besides 5.56 AK mags not being as common as 7.62 ones, these are an excellent option as well.
We shot and carried a ton of concealed carry guns. Here are the handguns we find fit to cover your six.
Finding a handgun you can confidently use and comfortably carry every day is crucial. With countless options available, navigating through the various sizes, styles, calibers, and price points can be overwhelming. That's where I come in—to guide you through some of the top choices for concealed carry guns currently on the market.
How I Chose The Best Concealed Carry Guns
I’ll start by saying that selecting these concealed carry guns was a team effort. Each of these guns was shot, tested and carried by myself, Gun Digest staff or long-term and trusted freelancers. This avoids myopia, a one-person perspective on each of the firearms, and allows us to take into account different body types and backgrounds to give these guns a square day in court. Our experience ranges from certified handgun instructors to law enforcement and military. Oh yeah, there’s a master gunsmith in the mix too. Of all the pistols and revolvers carried, these were the ones that proved head and shoulders above the rest in the concealed-carry market when it came to reliability, comfort and accuracy.
Next to capacity, the real advantage of the P365 is carry comfort. It’s easily concealed and comfy to carry.
Pros
Great sights
Excellent Capacity
Optics-ready options
Cons
Ships with only one pinky extension
P365 Specs
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 10+1
Barrel Length: 3.1 inches
Overall Length: 5.8 inches
Overall Height: 4.3 inches
Overall Width: 1.1 inches
Weight: 17.8 ounces
Sights: XRAy3 Day/Night Sights; Optics Ready
MSRP: $600
Is it fair to say this is the pistol that changed the face of concealed carry? Honestly, it’s not too much of a stretch. The Sig P365 has proven among the most monumental handguns to hit the market in a spell, serving up what many consider the perfect on-person self-defense package. That is a tall boast, but one the demure 9mm more than fulfills.
Above all, what makes the P365 such a spectacular heater is its size. The 3.1-inch barreled pistol is a mere 1 inch in width and tips the scales at a scant 17 ounces or so, creating one of the most concealable and easy-to-carry pistols out there. Sure enough, there are concealed carry guns, but in nearly every case they’re a compromise in power or capacity. Not so with the P365. Shipping with two 10-round magazines, the mighty mite has a payload identical to many compact models that come in nearly twice its size. Not enough on tap? Simply solved, given there are 12- and 13 or 15-round extended magazines available to improve your firepower.
Shooting-wise, the micro-compact shocks for a pistol its size. An abbreviated sight radius provides a challenge for those unfamiliar with the touchiness of small guns, yet Sig arms shooters with the tools to keep it steady. In addition to aggressive grip texturing, the striker-fired’s respectable trigger ups the gun’s accuracy potential. To boot, the 9mm is also quite easy to manipulate—an often overlooked asset.
Another point that sets the P365 apart from the rest of the micro nines and concealed carry guns in general is its modularity. The gun's fire control unit is interchangeable, in turn, you can upsize or downsize the grip. Furthermore, this feature allows you to swap parts from other P365 models–of which there are many–to create your perfect pistol. However, we can promise the outcome will look good.
As for nits to pick, the gun is stout in recoil, but no more so than any other micro-compact. And Sig only includes one pinky extension with the pistol. Even with medium-sized hands, I find the P365's grips too short for comfort.
These points aside, there's little arguing Sig cooked up a game-changer with the P365.
As pointed out, the Sig P365 is a game-changer. The Springfield Armory Hellcat is proof. Quickly embracing the micro-compact concept, the Illinois concern cooked up a direct competitor to the popular Sig. In many respects, it produced a concealed carry gun option that runs neck and neck with the original.
No larger than a compact .380 ACP, the striker-fired is among the smallest 9mm options available today. By the tape, it measures 1 inch in width and 6 inches in length and weighs in at 18 ounces. Pretty dang concealable and easy to carry by anyone’s standards.
At the same tick, the Hellcat offers everything you’d expect out of a much larger concealed carry pistol—especially capacity. Out of the box, the 3-inch barreled pistol boasts more firepower than nearly anything in its class, shipping with an 11-round magazine. Invest in a 13-round extended-capacity magazine, well folks, you’ll holster an iron flirting with a full-sized pistol’s capacity.
Outfitted with adaptive grip texturing, the Hellcat offers a positive grip when you need it, yet the ability to reposition your hand when you need to. A flat-faced trigger combined with a featherweight break and short reset ups the pistol’s accuracy resume, as well as allows it to run when needed.
Breaking from the herd, Springfield opted for a slightly new sighting system, jettisoning the traditional three-dot sights for a U-notch. Similar in concept, the execution differs in that shooters place the fiber-optic front pipe in the white outlined U-notch. A fast and intuitive system, few will miss the old way of building a sight picture. Additionally, the OSP model offers a slide cut for mounting optics, if a red dot is more your cup of tea.
The Wilson Combat EDC X9 offers a great balance of features; this is indicative of a quality carry gun. It fits the author well, but if it doesn’t fit you, find a different gun.
Pros
Superior build quality
Sublime trigger
Factory customizable
Cons
Expensive
Heavy
EDC X9 Specs
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 15+1, 18+1
Barrel Length: 4 inches
Overall Length: 7.4 inches
Overall Height: 5.25 inches
Overall Width: 1.4 inches
Weight: 29.09 ounces
Sights: Tactical Adjustable Battlesight with fiber optic front sight
MSRP: $3,3210
If you were to build a race gun to a concealed carry pistol’s specs, you’d likely come out with the EDC X9. This is the most highly tuned and performing pistol of our picks—with a price tag to match. But for the uncompromising souls looking to protect their six, the pistol is a perfect match.
At its core, Wilson Combat’s 9mm is a 1911, but one upgraded for modern self-defense. To the traditional side of the design, the hammer-fired gun inherits the exceptional 1911 trigger, which is light and fast. Unlike the original, Wilson has stripped the grip safety—though, for obvious reasons, the gunmaker has kept the thumb safety.
The EDC X9’s ergonomics are impeccable with the gun fitting the hand perfectly and Wilson’s XTAC pattern grips further enhance the comfort while ensuring a firm hold. Its aluminum frame adds a bit of heft to the compact pistol, but it’s far from prohibitive—comparable to a Glock 17. And the weight is a blessing of sorts, making the X9 extremely mild-mannered.
Despite a terse 4-inch barrel, the pistol can accurately fire well past typical defensive ranges. At close quarters, it’s lights out. Not only does the trigger and heft of the gun aid with this but also its Wilson Combat Battlesight and fiber-optic front, which provide quick and clear target acquisition.
In testing, the EDC X9 proved highly reliable, handling a wide range of 9mm ammunition without issue—it chewed through everything from 115-grain ball to 147-grain hollow point without a hitch. Much of this is thanks to Wilson Combat’s Enhanced Reliability System, a proprietary system designed to optimize functioning with the varying power levels of 9mm ammunition.
We lay out a pretty good case in our EDC X9 review of why this pistol is money well spent.
EDC X9 Deals
Brownells
$3,358
Palmetto State Armory
$3,358
Gritr Sports
$3,210
Best Classic Carry: Glock 19
Proven in military and law enforcement use, the G19 has plenty of defensive credibility.
Pros
Accurate
Reliable
Aftermarket parts
Ease of maintenance
Cons
Grip angle
Plastic sights
Mushy trigger
Glock 19 Specs
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 15+1
Barrel Length: 4.02 inches
Overall Length: 7.36 inches
Overall Height: 5.04 inches
Overall Width: 1 inch
Weight: 21.16 ounces
Sights: Polymer white dot front, outline rear
MSRP: $600
It’s difficult to knock off the king. And certainly, the Glock 19 still has its place on the throne of best concealed carry guns.
While a larger option than many of the modern sub-compact options, I find it difficult not to love how this momma-bear option operates. It’s still very concealable, at the same tick, large enough to make it extremely manageable and accurate. Of the guns tested, this G19 provided some of the best groups at even longer engagement distances.
Not to mention, the pistol is almost boringly reliable. Perhaps this is one of the greatest achievements of the pistol, no matter what you feed it the gun will chew through it. Much of this is thanks to a painfully simplistic design that offers few opportunities for malfunctions to occur. The other bonus to this is facet, the gun is extremely simple to upgrade—if you happen to find what rolled out of the factory unsatisfactory.
Sights, I’d say are one of the areas many consider must-change—though the factory set isn’t unusable. Trigger is another one that can use some pepping up and upgrades are legion in this area. I’ll admit, I don’t hate the G19 trigger and it’s more than passible for a self-defense gun, but there are much better options out there.
One last point, while the Glock 19 is concealable—folks have been keeping it under wraps for decades—it is large by today’s standards. It’s 21 ounces unloaded and 1.26 inches in width and has a height of 5 inches. A bit of a load if you go jogging in your jorts.
On the affordable end of concealed carry guns, the Dagger Micro stands nearly alone.
Pros
Affordable
Glock 43 compatibility
Durable
Cons
Ships with one magazine
Few holster options
Dagger Micro Specs
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 15+1
Barrel Length: 3.41 inches
Overall Length: 6.5 inches
Overall Height: 4.7 inches
Overall Width: 1.1 inches
Weight: 15.9 ounces
Sights: Three-dot
MSRP: $300
A remarkable blend of affordability, compactness and practical features, the PSA Dagger Micro hits a lot of the right notes. Surprising, given it’s the South Carolina concern’s first foray into this end of the market.
First off, as a budget concealed carry gun—one with a sub $400 price tag—don’t expect any originality. The Dagger Micro is what it is and that’s a Glock clone. Still, there are advantages to playing copycat, such as compatibility with G43, G43X and G48 pistols. And for those who have shot Glocks, well, by golly, the PSA carry gun should prove very familiar.
Overall, the pistol is fairly refined for the price point, with nice ergonomics, beveled edges and aggressive cocking serrations for enhanced manipulation. The trigger leaves a little to be desired—especially given the hinged bottom—but is responsive. And the grip is just right, with a sandpapery texture that keeps the gun where it should be—your hand.
Nicely, the gun ships with 15 round magazine, a significant upgrade over many in the compact class. Yet, PSA only gives you one. I suppose they needed to save money somewhere. And anyone familiar with the 3-dot sight system will know what to do when they pick up a dagger. Additionally, the pistol has an optic cut that accommodates Shield RMSc footprint optics for those who prefer red dot sights on their carry gun.
Reliability is another strong point for the Micro Dagger, it digested everything we fed it in testing. When it comes to a concealed carry pistol—no matter the price—this facet is priority No. 1.
Dagger Micro Deals
Guns.com
$450
Palmetto State Armory
$300
Best Carry Revolver: Ruger LCR
The LCR made concealed carry revolvers relevant again.
Pros
Highly concealable
Reliable
Good double-action trigger
Cons
Integral sights
Double-action trigger not great for begginers
LCR Specs
Caliber: .327 Federal Magnum; other calibers .22LR, .38 Special, .357 Magnum
Capacity: 5-8 depending on caliber
Barrel Length: 1.87 inches
Overall Length: 6.5 inches
Overall Height: 4.5 inches
Overall Width: 1.28 inches
Weight: 13.5-17.1 ounces depending on caliber
Sights: Ramp front, integral rear
MSRP: $739-$859
Despite rumors otherwise, the self-defense revolver isn’t dead. Or it hasn’t been since Ruger introduced its LCR (Lightweight Compact Revolver).
The minute snub-nose nearly single-handedly breathed life back into the flagging defensive revolver market when it hit the scene in 2009. And why not? At 13 to 17 ounces in weight and 6.5 inches in overall length, it is among the most concealable guns on the market today. This, in some respects, also gives it a dual purpose—not only is it a capable primary concealed carry gun, but it’s also svelte enough to serve as a backup.
Aside from concealability, the Ruger has also enhanced one of the key drawbacks of the double-action-only revolvers—its trigger pull. The gun utilizes a friction-reducing cam that lightens the trigger pull considerably and makes it surprisingly smooth. Even so, it’s still a stout 8 pounds to trip the hammer, which might not prove ideal for those brand new to shooting. Also, the sights—an integral rear and blade front—aren’t the easiest to master for more precise shooting. But at defensive range in defensive scenarios are more than adequate.
Ruger offers a bevy of chambering options for the LCR, from .22 LR up to .38 Special and 9mm. Though it’s a bit of an oddball, we liked the gun in .327 Federal Magnum, a hard-hitting compromise that is forgiving in recoil.
Our Ruger LCR review show why this revolver is such a hot-shot (especially in .327 Fed Mag).
LCR Deals
Palmetto State Armory
$837
Bass Pro Shop
$569
Gritr Sports
$669
Best .357 Magnum: Ruger LCRx 3-Inch
While it doesn't quite get everything out of the .357 cartridge, it certainly makes it more of a magnum than terser concealed carry revolvers.
Pros
Good ballistics
Accurate
Cons
Limited capacity
Double-action trigger not for beginners
LCRx 3-Inch Specs
Caliber: .357 Magnum; other calibers 9mm, 22 WMR, 22LR, .38 Special
Capacity: 5-6 depending on caliber
Barrel Length: 3 inches
Overall Length: 7.5 inches
Overall Height: 5.8 inches
Overall Width: 1.28 inches
Weight: 17.3 ounces depending on caliber
Sights: Ramp front, adjustable rear
MSRP: $859
The LCRx is the absolute mamma bear magnum for concealed carry revolvers, offering shooters everything they want in a .357 Magnum—especially the power. The secret sauce here is the gun’s 3-inch barrel that milks the ballistic potential out of the magnum cartridge.
While the snub-nose .357s have more pop than a .38 Special, even a +P .38, it falls considerably short of the cartridge's normal performance standards. In return, you get more muzzle blast and pain. However, in my chronograph testing, the LCRx is just off a 6-inch .357 Magnum and dang near identical to a 4-inch model. All while being quite a bit more concealable.
The 5-round revolver is heavier than its little brother LCR, coming in at 21 ounces. This isn’t only due to the extra bore, but also the stainless steel frame—required for the more powerful cartridge. Despite this, it remains very concealable.
The trigger is similar to the LCR, making the gun manageable and accurate—though it still isn’t an option for those who haven’t mastered the double-action trigger pull. There are other aspects shooters should keep in mind with the revolver, as well. It has adjustable target rear sights, providing more accuracy. And its hammer has a spur. While I haven’t found either to pose a problem, each are a potential snag point and might prove uncomfortable for some, depending on how they carry. At 5 o’clock outside the waistband, it wasn’t an issue for me.
Does the extra inch matter? Check out our LCRx review to find out.
LCRx Deals
Sportsman's Warehouse
$718
Omaha Outdoors
$660
Gritr Sports
$669
Best .380 ACP: Ruger LCP Max
It has the chops to hold down primary and backup carry duties.
Pros
Extremely concealable
Capacity for size
Good holster selection
Cons
Short sight radius
Small grip
LCP Max Specs
Caliber: .380 ACP
Capacity: 10+1
Barrel Length: 2.8 inches
Overall Length: 5.17 inches
Overall Height: 3.6 inches
Overall Width: .82 inch
Weight: 10.6 ounces
Sights: Tritium front, u-notch rear
MSRP: $479
The third version of this iconic .380 pistol finally delivers what shooters have asked for, particularly its sights. I can't say enough how much I disliked the integral sights on the LCP II (now a .22 LR in Ruger’s catalog). Not only do I not care for fixed systems, but they provided only a rudimentary sight picture. On the other hand, the white outlined rear sight of the Max and tritium front creates a very usable and intuitive system.
One of the best features of the Max is its excellent capacity for what is certainly a pocket pistol. With 10+1 on board with its flush-fit mag and 12+1 with its extended, shooters should feel comfortable with its firepower. However, Ruger slightly widened the LCP’s grip to expand it to a double stack. Not that this is a bad thing. With a little more meat on the handle I found the pistol more comfortable in the hand; add the extended mag and even my medium-sized hand could fit almost completely on the grip.
I had no issues hitting center mass out to 10 yards with the Max, even so, I wouldn't classify the pistol as a tack driver. I don’t think this surprises anyone with a 2.8-inch barreled gun, weighing all of 12 ounces loaded. And while it's not a beast to shoot by any stretch of the imagination, it’s also not one I figure most folks will take to the range for fun.
All of that said, what the gun lacks in shootability it more than makes up for in concealability. I toted the Max around via a pocket holster and an IWB holster, both are more than feasible and comfortable. Short Speedos, you can carry the Max confident you won’t give yourself away.
LCP Max Deals
Sportsman's Warehouse
$409
Omaha Outdoors
$369
Gritr Sports
$365
Easy To Manipulate: Smith & Wesson Equalizer
Tailored to those who may not have as much hand strength, the Equalizer acquitted itself well enough as a concealed carry pistol that it's more than fit for those who don't need an easy-to-rack slide.
Pros
Easy racking slide
Optics ready
Low recoil
Cons
Grip Safety
Reset not very audible or tactile
Equalizer Specs
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 10+1, 13+1, 15+1
Barrel Length: 3.68 inches
Overall Length: 6.75 inches
Overall Height: 4.5 inches
Overall Width: 1.04 inch
Weight: 22.9 ounces
Sights: White dot, optics read
MSRP: $599
Easy-to-manipulate semi-auto concealed carry pistols have earned a much-needed niche in the firearms world. There are plenty of folks—through age, infirmity or just plain hand strength—who find semis difficult to manipulate. Smith & Wesson took a hard look at this class of pistol and developed the best example yet.
OK, so emblazing its name—Equalizer—across the slide is about as attractive as tailfins on a Corvette. That, however, is a rare chink in the 9mm pistol’s armor. Living up to its name, nearly anyone can operate the slide and get the gun into action.
While it appears just another striker-fired compact, the design point that makes the pistol so manipulatable is that it's hammer-fired. Essentially, it’s a Shield EZ—long-time S&W favorite—but a double stack, shipping with 10-, 13- and 15-round magazines. Aiding the pistol’s operation externally are large and aggressive cocking serrations and cocking tabs at the rear.
Honestly, I have to admit, the pistol is a shockingly nice one to shoot. Accuracy-wise, I found it on par with S&W's popular M&P line, but with a much crisper trigger—one of the benefits of a hammer. Certainly, the gun is on target enough for defensive action. The Equalizer also lives up to its billing with its highly manipulatable slide that able hands can run lighting fast.
A drawback I found to the system is holstering the pistol. Too much tension on your holster, the gun can rack when put away. I found counter pressure on the back of the slide with my thumb eliminated this issue.
It's a beast, but that's what you need for the backwoods.
Pros
Powerful chambering
Reliability
Versatile
Extended range
Cons
Large
Longer trigger reach
Recoil
Glock 20 Specs
Caliber: 10mm
Capacity: 15+1
Barrel Length: 4.61 inches
Overall Length: 8.07 inches
Overall Height: 5.51 inches
Overall Width: 1.12 inch
Weight: 39.86 ounces
Sights: White dot front, white outline rear
MSRP: $599
Most only consider two-legged predators when shopping for concealed-carry guns. Certain circumstances call for a pistol that can handle more than upright threats. For backwoods protection, the Glock 20 exceeds nearly all others.
A 10mm, the pistol provides enough punch to batter your way out of the tightest situations and take everything down short of coastal brown bears. Even there it’ll likely make them think twice. At the same time, it is feasibly concealable, particularly in garb you’d wear into the hinterlands. That said, it’s no lightweight by carry pistol standards—weighing in at a hefty 30 ounces unloaded. A good gun belt and perhaps an OWB holster go a long way in making the G20 a more manageable CCW gun.
Surprisingly, the G20 is a very manageable pistol, even with pitching hot loads. The weight does its part in taming the 10mm's jump, but so do the grip's ergonomics. Get past the Glock rake—of which I’m no fan of—and the standard model fits medium to large hands well and offers enough texturing, including the front and back straps—to keep the gun in place. I can take or leave the finger grooves.
It’s also lights-out accurate, particularly the MOS model outfitted with a red dot. With practice and a good trigger squeeze, the gun can consistently hit well past most defensive ranges. However, for many, tight and accurate splits may take some practice.
Hogs, cougars, two-legged threats—the G20 has you covered.
Above all, becoming an armed citizen is a lifestyle choice. By this we mean, your life will conform around your concealed carry gun. Don’t let this scare you off. It’s less daunting than it seems, yet it merits comment.
It takes more than a gun and a holster to become ready to carry.
After purchasing a concealed carry gun, plan on finding a reputable firearms instructor and enrolling in his or her classes. Generally, they’ll offer different levels of training, from basic pistol courses many states require to procure a concealed carry permit, to instruction on advanced concepts such as dynamic shooting, low-light engagements and mindset. Legal education is a must as well. America is a patchwork of self-defense laws, so be certain you find something tailored to where you live and travel so you have a well-formed idea of when, where and how you can justifiably use lethal force.
The greatest demand going armed makes is mastery of your firearm. Just like buying a guitar doesn’t make you a musician, purchasing a concealed carry gun doesn’t make you an expert in self-defense or the use of lethal force. You must educate yourself, practice and continue doing so. Essentially, it’s a lifetime undertaking. Don’t throw up your hands, because it’s the hardest work you’ll ever love with a side benefit of a lot of range time.
Once you have basic instruction under your belt, plan on refresher courses in the future. In the meantime, practice. We won’t prescribe a particular regimen here, because it will differ for each armed citizen. Your training should result in knowing your concealed carry gun inside and out, from muzzle to butt and all the quirks in between. Range time is the most obvious arena for learning and excelling with your pistol or revolver. But a solid routine of dry-fire drills at home works miracles on a learning curve and doesn’t cost a thing.
The other lifestyle aspect that comes with a concealed carry gun is clothing. Yup, that wardrobe is going to need updating … most likely. Unless you’re still mired in the baggy days of the grunge movement, it’s a safe bet much of your wardrobe won’t keep your gun concealed. Or, if it does, you’ll feel plum uncomfortable. Again, we won’t touch on the fine points here—there are loads of them. Just expect to make a clothing investment along with your concealed carry gun.
Concealed Carry Holsters
Hand-in-hand with clothing is a holster. You didn’t think you were going to tuck that baby in your waistband naked, did you? This is a vast topic, given the numerous types of concealed carry holsters on the market today:
IWB
OWB
Shoulder
Ankle
Belly Band
Pocket
Various Off The Body
Each has pros and cons and fit certain armed citizens, but not all of them. However, essentially all of them do the same job: retain the gun, cover the trigger (among the most important), protect you and the gun, enhance concealability, make carrying comfortable, and facilitate a smooth draw and re-holster. That’s a mouthful.
Get ready, because you'll try many holsters before you find the right system for you.
Stick with Kydex for your AIWB holster. Leather will become soft over time … which is a bad trait for an appendix rig.
Kydex is almost always a solid choice for holster material.
Unfortunately, we don’t have the magic bullet so that you hit the perfect holster your first time out. Nobody does. All we can say is, expect plenty of trial and error—and a closet shelf of rejects—before you find the ideal hanger for your concealed carry gun.
CCW Gun Fit
No two concealed carry guns are alike nor are two armed citizens. In turn, the pistol that works for you might be unwieldy to your friend. What this comes down to is fit, and there are two basic factors pertaining to concealed carry guns.
How the gun fits your hand
How the gun fits your style of carry
Most new shooters tend to think all guns are alike. They pick a trustworthy name and assume all is right with the world. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Concealed carry guns need to fit your hand properly, facilitating a fundamental high grip, otherwise, there can be control issues. Even the relatively mild-mannered 9mm is jumpy if oversized compared to a particular shooter. Gunmakers have engineered some wiggle room into their guns; most new polymer-framed pistols come with replaceable backstraps and palm swells of different sizes allowing for a level of customization. Take the time to find the make/model that fits you best. A good tactic is to go to a range that has a good selection of guns for rent, and give the ones you’re interested in a test drive. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.
Figuring out which one out of the many concealed carry guns to choose from takes a close examination of yourself and your lifestyle.
As to carry fit, the whole idea behind a concealed carry gun is to keep it concealed. Depending on who you are, how you carry and your particular lifestyle, not every gun will fit the bill. While a 250-pound trucker might easily keep a Government-size 1911 under wraps with no problem, a 98-pound lady business executive might find it more challenging. Think hard about your usual attire (yes, you’ll update some of it), daily routine and potential carry methods as you go through the buying process. These will provide guide marks steering you to the ideal choice out of all the concealed carry guns.
The Best Caliber For Concealed Carry
Hoo boy … here’s a can of worms. Ask 100 people the best caliber for a concealed carry gun and you’ll get 100 answers—probably including 8.5 Mars, .455 Webley and some other oddballs. The topic is so divisive friendships have been lost and gun forums burned to the ground arguing what’s top dog. Presently, the most popular concealed carry calibers are:
.380 ACP
.38 Special
9mm
.40 S&W
.45 ACP
10mm
.357 Magnum
So, which one is right? The dirty secret is, all of them.
Given ammunition advancements over the past 20 years, particularly bullet design, every one of the cartridges can save your life. The rub is, some of the smaller and lower velocity options—.380 ACP and .38 Special, we’re looking at you—require more homework to find acceptable self-defense loads. The big boys—10mm and .357 Magnum—require more skill to wield effectively. Don’t let either factor turn you off any of those if the particular concealed carry gun that fits you is chambered thusly. Just expect to spend more time making them work.
Is there a right choice?
That leaves us with 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. These are the most popular self-defense calibers on the market. Again, we can’t choose for you, only point out each that is an effective option, capable of neutralizing a threat, and are widely available. You need to find what you shoot best and that comes in a make/model that fits your lifestyle. A range that rents guns is invaluable for puzzling this out. Take each for a spin before you buy!
What about a .22 LR and other small fries? While inadvisable for most armed citizens, if that’s all you can get or effectively shoot, it’s better than nothing.
What Is The Best Length For A Concealed Carry Gun?
Compact pistols have a 4-inch barrel and micro compacts a 3- to 3.5-inch barrels. We find these lengths the easiest to carry. However, the longer the barrel of a gun the more accurate it is due to a longer sight radius. In turn, the best length for a pistol is one that facilitates the most accuracy, while being easy to conceal.
What Is The Best Caliber For A Concealed Carry Gun?
There is no consensus on which caliber is the best, though, the 9mm is the most popular. For the most part, .380 ACP is considered the minimum caliber for self-defense.
What Is The Best Concealed Carry Handgun Holster?
One that completely covers the trigger, for starters. Aside from a way to carry your concealed carry gun, a holster is a safety device. From there, much of it is a personal preference. I personally prefer inside the waistband (IWB) holsters, because they provide the most concealment. However, in the colder months, I will use an outside the waistband (OWB) holster for comfort.
What Is The Best Concealed Carry Gun For Women?
While many gun salesmen push small and light revolvers, my choice for most women would be a compact or micro compact pistol. The trigger pull is lighter and more predictable. For women concerned about being able to manipulate the slide, the Smith & Wesson Equalizer would be my first choice; for those looking for less recoil, the Springfield Hellcat with a compensator would be an excellent option.
Take a look at a few of the cool things we saw at the Staccato Vegas Range Day this year.
We decided to mix things up this year and check out Staccato's Vegas Range Day instead of the official SHOT Show one, as there were plenty of big companies in attendance worth checking out. Here's a quick look at a few of our highlights, but make sure to check back the rest of this week starting tomorrow to see our regular SHOT Show 2026 coverage!
Ambient Arms EXO Series Suppressors
One new company making waves in the suppressor industry this year is Ambient Arms, and it's easy to see why—these cans stay cool. Up to 75 percent cooler operating temperatures, in fact, according to Ambient. How did they achieve this? The company calls the technology behind it the Ambient Intake System, a design that uses intake ports and “strategic low-pressure zones” that draw cool air inside the suppressor.
More than that, Ambient Arms says the EXO suppressors are also up to 15 decibels quieter than flow-through cans while still reducing blowback, majorly limiting flash signature and managing the shock wave to improve precision. Of all the new suppressors recently announced, this one boasts some of the most radical improvements over the rest of the market, so we're very excited to see how they fare once in shooters' hands.
Barrett REC10 & Pixels On Target VooDoo-S Thermal
While it was on production hold for a period, the Barrett REC10 AR-10 in .308 & 6.5 Creedmoor is coming back this year. There are plenty of good AR-10s on the market, but Barrett's is purpose-built for precision. To help demonstrate that at Staccato's range day, Barrett partnered with Pixels On Target and equipped their rifle with one of their VooDoo-S clip-on thermal optics in conjunction with a Nightforce scope.
Set up on a tripod and pointed at a thermal target at 200 yards, Barrett's rifle and Pixels' thermal both did their job very well. Of course, 200 yards isn't much of a challenge for a setup like this, but Barrett says factory testing is showing sub-MOA 5-shot groups. Whether you need a serious DMR or a clip-on thermal, both the REC10 and Pixel On Target's VooDoo-S are worth a look.
STACCATO C4X
The highlight of Staccato’s offering was the brand new HD C4X pistol! Built off the HD C3.6, this new version adds an integrated compensator to the 3.6” barrel, making it 4” total. Combined with the Aluminium frame and Glock 19-sized grip, this might be the pinnacle of what a concealed everyday carry gun can be.
Extremely flat shooting with soft recoil, this was outstanding to shoot. Faster cycling than the Staccato XC, but almost as flat to shoot, getting follow-up hits was super simple.
MSRP is over $3,500. That is asking a lot for a carry gun, but the pistol is impressive.
RADIAN WEAPONS MODEL 1 RIFLE
An uber premium rifle with a price tag to match, the Radian Model 1 in 6 ARC is as pretty as it is awesome. Both 14.5” and 18” options were on the long range bay today, and getting to send 108gr rounds over 500 yards never gets old.
Being a huge fan of 6 ARC, it’s great to see more brands supporting it with factory rifle options like the Model 1. While expensive, the Model 1 has a lot going for it with an ambi receiver, fluted high precision barrel, and all the bells and whistles you can ask for in terms of mounting, handguard, and features.
What do you get when you cross a time-tested platform with the most popular centerfire handgun cartridge? The 9mm revolver. Here are five that are fit to cover your six.
Ah… the revolver. Timeless and still highly trusted. Why not? Outside the side-by-side shotgun, few firearms have more on-the-ground, behind-the-trigger practical testing backing up their prowess. Old West gunslinger Wyatt Earp and modern-day New York lawman Jim Cirillo bet their lives regularly on the wheelguns. Both came out winners.
Far from outdated, the revolver is tried-and-true. Even so, the handgun has remained relevant to modern shooters, evolving into more useful and convenient forms. Next to light alloy frames and hammerless designs, one adaptation gaining favor presently is the 9mm revolver. Though, truth be told, the concept is nothing new. Gun designers have squeezed in the 9mm and other semi-automatic pistol cartridges into wheelguns for decades creating classics along the way. The .45 ACP M1917, for instance.
If you aim to shoot a 9mm revolver get use to these. Moon clips are the standard for this caliber wheelgun.
While the 9mm doesn’t have as storied a model to its name, I've found gunmakers have cooked up some dandy revolvers for the cartridge in recent years. Competitive shooters have especially benefited from geeked-out, highly-tuned race guns hitting the scene. Smith & Wesson’s PC Pro 986 and Ruger GP100 Match Champion are a couple high-octane wheelguns that come to mind.
Concealed carry hasn’t been left out in the cold. While the selection pales to standby revolver chamberings—.357 Magnum and .38 Special—there are options. And as interest in 9mm revolvers continues to grow, it’s expanded. So, what’s available now? We’re going to take a look with five 9mm revolver options fit for concealed carry.
Optimized for carry, with all snag points eliminated
Cons
Light enough it proves a bit bucky
DAO trigger not the best choice for beginers
Honestly, the LCR has looks to rival a mud fence. Matte black all around and a cylinder profile reminiscent of a wasp nest, the lightweight 9mm revolver (it also comes in .38 Spc. and .357 Mag.) won’t win any beauty contests. It doesn’t have to. From my experience, its attractiveness comes from its reliability and convenience, making it among the most cherished modern-day defensive wheelguns.
The LCR’s greatest advantage is eminent concealability, which few other revolvers rival. Weighing in at a hair over 17 ounces unloaded, and boasting an 1.8-inch barrel and 6.5-inches in overall length, the gun is unassuming and anything but cumbersome. Having carried the LCR, I can attest it is likely the one revolver you'll carry every day.
Furthermore, the aircraft-grade aluminum-framed revolver is demure enough to fill a backup gun role, one you can dual-purpose ammo with a semi-auto pistol.
Light as the 5-round revolver is, those who are new to snubbies might find it bucky, but that’s nothing some practice won’t cure. Ruger gives you a leg up in this department with an excellent double-action trigger—a must on a DAO gun. Smooth as polished marble, the friction-reducing cam system doesn’t stack and makes the 9-pound pull weight much more manageable.
Optimized for concealed carry, Ruger removed every conceivable snag point, such as an exposed hammer and rear sight (it’s integral with the frame). Additionally, the LCR 9mm is fast on the reload—when you get the system down—utilizing full moon clips. Overall, it deserves its place among the best 9mm revolvers.
Its trigger–Performance Center tuned–is the best on the list
Proves a very shootable revolver, capable of delivering shot-to-shot accuracy quickly
Cons
By nearly any standard, the 986 is a boat anchor
It is almost strictly limited to OWB carry for most folks
Granted, the PC Pro 986 is a beast of a snub-nose and might not exactly fit every armed citizen’s definition of the ultimate clandestine 9mm revolver. But if overcoming the platform's main constraint—firepower—is your concern the handgun’s extra bulk pays you back 10 fold. Holding 7-rounds in its ample titanium cylinder, the 986 flirts with the capacity of many micro 9mm pistols that have become the hot ticket in recent years.
First off, I'll point out the obvious–the revolver is turned and designed for competition. Yet, this facet means the revolver is very responsive, particularly its trigger. I might say its the best I've felt on the list. In double-action it is smooth and lighter than most production modes, vastly improving the 986’s accuracy. At the same tick, shot-to-shot, the revolver is quick thanks to an overtravel stop that ensures efficiency in rapid-fire. Adding to this, the gun comes with an adjustable rear sight, which goes a long way in taking advantage of the other accuracy enhancements.
So, all of this is great, but the Performance Center marvel is still a 31-ounces L-frame revolver, with a William Taft-sized monolithic cylinder. Yes, this adds up to a milder shooter, thus better accuracy. But, it will take some consideration to puzzle out if it fits your carry profile. As do the sights and hammer spur, which all have the potential of hanging up on the draw if you’re not practiced. I'll be the first to admit, this option isn't for everyone–particularly those who aim to carry IWB. But I firmly believe for the right armed citizen, the 986 is an excellent 9mm revolver option that will perform well above many in its class.
Barrel is long enough to get a near full burn from most loads, thus good velocity
Novel ejectors do away with moon clips
Compatible with strip-style speedloaders
Cons
Trigger tends to be stiff and heavy
A bit heavy compared to other options
Sooner or later, nearly every wheel gunner has an inkling to toy around with a .44 Special. This inevitably leads to one gunmaker—Charter Arms. Its long-standing Bulldog has become legendary at this point, if for no other reason than it’s one of the only dedicated .44 rigs configured for carry. More recently, the company has shown a real knack with 9mm revolvers too.
Starting life a decade ago, the Pit Bull is an ingenious system doing away with moon clips—half or full—for spring-loaded ejectors. Just snap a round in the cylinder and there it stays until ejected, just like it was a rimmed cartridge. Anybody who’s dealt with moon clips, particularly well-used warped ones, get the advantage the ejectors offer. Additionally, the feature makes the gun compatible with strip speedloaders, which—while not the fastest—are among the most convenient.
About as plain Jane as a revolver gets, the Pit Bull won’t turn any head—aside from an icon of its namesake on the barrel. Matte blasted stainless-steel finish, ramp front sight and integral rear are the order of the day, and the trigger isn’t a polish job for sure. But the gun’s fit and finish are downright decent, and its tight cylinder lockup gives it an overall solid feel and dependable performance. I like that a hammer is part of the package, one with a somewhat muted spur. In turn, with a little familiarity, it can be drawn with little worry of getting tangled up.
Heavier than many would care to tote on a daily basis
Snag points on rear sight and spur
Most think fairly economical 1911 pistols when Rock Island Armory is the topic of discussion, but the gunmaker has proven a more than adept revolver-smith over the years. Added to the gunmaker’s lineup a few years back is a jack-of-all-trades 9mm revolver that certainly has the stuff to fill a defensive role. To this end, I find the AL9.0’s capacity an especially tantalizing aspect, holding 6 rounds of Parabellum and quickly reloading via full moon clips.
The tradeoff with the AL9.0 is its measurements. While its width–1.5 inches–and barrel length–3 inches–are more than manageable, the gun tips the scales at 32 ounces. That doesn't exactly make it a featherweight. But it does add up to a very comfortable shooter, especially digesting the already well-mannered 9mm. In shooting it, despite a somewhat heavy DA trigger, I've found the gun very responsive and have been able to clear plate racks quickly once in a rythem.
I like the rubberized grip and the adjustable rear target sight–though the latter does concern me as a snag point. But the my real nit to pick is with the AL9.0's hammer spur, which prominently sticks out. But, if you’re willing to put in the time with the heater, and learn its ways, the revolver should prove more than manageable.
Weight provides just the right balance between ease of carry and shootablity
Steller Clips makes reloads quicker
Cons
Concealed hammer not available on 2-inch barreled model
It comes as no surprise Taurus has had a 9mm revolver for some time. After all, the gunmaker has wheelguns chambered for nearly everything under the sun. The 905 has been a mainstay for many for the past decade or so and is a more than capable defensive gun, along with about anything else you’d want out of a 9mm.
Granted, the steel-framed handgun is on the lower end of capacity holding 5-rounds, but that’s fairly standard for a majority of concealed carry revolvers regardless of caliber. The 905 makes up for this by coming in lighter, 21 ounces, and slightly narrower, 1.4-inch width, than other 9mm revolvers. Plus, it’s fairly streamlined with a built-in rear sight (ramp front) and all its edges fairly smoothed down. The only hitch, at least for some, is the spur on the hammer, though it’s not a dealbreaker.
Handily, the 905 utilizes Taurus Stellar Clips (and moon) to hold the rounds in place, a neat bit of engineering that makes loading the clips easier than traditional moon clips. Like any 9mm revolver using clips, the gun itself is quick to reload with practice. The one hitch in the 905’s giddyap is a substantial double-action trigger pull, out-of-the-box flirting with 12 pounds.
I'll also pitch in one more thing. Taurus makes a concealed hammer model of the 905, however, it's only available with a 3-inch barrel. It's definitely still a carry option, but it's disappointing the company hasn't come out with a similar feature on its 2-inch barred model.
9mm Revolver FAQ
What's the point of a 9mm revolver?
There are several good reasons why one may prefer a 9mm revolver over other commonly available calibers. Firstly, 9mm defensive ammo outperforms .38 Special while producing similarly mild levels of recoil. Secondly, because 9mm is the most common handgun cartridge in the world today, most shooters are likely already invested in the cartridge. It therefore makes sense to get a revolver chambered for 9mm as well. Thirdly, some shooters may want to use moon clips, and they generally work better with rimless cartridges like 9mm than with rimmed cartridges like .38 SPL.
Is a .38 more powerful than a 9mm?
No. Despite the fact that .38 Special has a longer case than 9x19mm Parabellum, 9mm operates at higher pressures which results in more powerful projectiles coming out of the muzzle.
What are the disadvantages of a 9mm revolver?
There are a few reasons why one might not want a 9mm revolver. Namely, the higher pressure of 9mm requires a beefier cylinder than .38 Special does, and this results in heavier guns. A .38 Special revolver has the potential to be a few ounces lighter than a 9mm version of the same model. Also, most 9mm revolvers use moon clips, and some may prefer the simplicity of a traditional revolver.
Why carry a revolver instead of a pistol?
Shooters that prefer to carry a revolver over a semi-automatic pistol typically do so for a few key reasons. Firstly is the simplicity of operation. There are no safeties to worry about disengaging, chambers to worry about loading or magazines to worry about being properly inserted. Once the cylinder is loaded, a revolver is ready to be drawn and shot. Another reason is that revolvers, because they don't rely on a slide reciprocating to operate, can be shot from inside a pocket or with their muzzle pressed against a target without jamming. For close-quarters defense, that's a pretty big advantage. Many view revolvers as having greater inherent reliability as well, and others just prefer their ergonomics for shooting or their rounded profile for concealability. Any way you slice it, revolvers are just as valid of a carry gun choice as a semi-auto pistol.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
