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Welcome to CANCON A Fully Suppressed RECOIL Range Day!
Save the date and make your plans to come down on Veterans Day weekend, Nov. 11-13 to the 17 South Rod and Gun Club in Savannah, Georgia.
Hundreds of the newest and best suppressors, firearms, and optics will be on the firing line for you to get hands-on trigger time.
All ammo will be provided, just bring your trigger finger!
Veterans get in FREE Friday, so come spend your Veterans Day weekend with us at CANCON!
SATURDAY NIGHT VIPs will have the opportunity to shoot suppressed with night vision goggles, clip-on night vision optics, IR lasers, tracers, and more.
CANCON will even have activities for kids, making this a completely family-friendly event.
Expect to see hundreds of firearms and suppressors, every one of them available to shoot. Don’t forget your eyes and ears for safety!
Not every day you get to shoot cool stuff like this!
Great food will be available on-site for when you need to recharge between shooting bays.
More information and ticket pre-sales coming soon!
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Designed Machined and assembled in Leupold Optic's Oregon factory, the Mark 5HD scope keeps the company roots firmly planted in its home.
Crafted to redefine accuracy, precision, and optical performance for long-range shooters, Leupold’s award-winning Mark 5HD is a testament to domestic manufacturing. It’s proudly designed, machined, and assembled in the company’s Beaverton, Oregon factory, where Leupold employs over 650 hardworking Americans.
In designing the Mark 5HD line, Leupold’s product specialists asked elite shooters what they needed to put accurate fire downrange faster, and used that input to design a riflescope that provides all the tools necessary — in both quality and features — without the unnecessary extras that add weight and cost for consumers. Combining relentless optical performance, rugged reliability, and user-friendly features in a package that could only be produced by leveraging the 70-plus years of optics manufacturing Leupold possesses, the Mark 5HD has wowed end-users throughout the industry.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
Pick up a Mark 5HD and you’ll feel the difference; it’s up to 20 ounces lighter than other scopes in its class. Get behind one and you’ll see the difference, from its superior edge-to-edge clarity to its extreme low-light performance. With three revolutions of elevation adjustment, the Mark 5HD was built to max out the performance of the latest long-range rifles and ammo.
The heart of the Mark 5HD is in its ZeroLock adjustments, which provide precise, repeatable tracking with a dead-on return to zero. The M5C3 elevation dial delivers over 30-mils of adjustment in three turns. Visual and tactile revolution indicators are in place to ensure you don’t get lost in the travel, and the auto-lock at zero eliminates the risk of accidentally moving the dial. The windage adjustment is capped and the zero indicator mark has been relocated on the riflescope’s main tube so you can see it without moving your head off the stock of the rifle.
In short, it’s the most dominant long-range, precision riflescope on the market. Best yet, it’s backed by Leupold’s legendary lifetime guarantee, which guarantees performance where other companies warranty failure.
For more information on Leupold Optics, please visit leupold.com.
Top-tier, battle-proven products, Radian Weapons turns out rifles and accessories in which you can trust your life.
At Radian Weapons, we think American gun companies should make or source their parts from right here in the USA. That’s why 100-percent of the firearms products we sell are manufactured in America, by Americans.
We machine the majority of our rifle and accessory components in Redmond, Oregon, using state of the art CNC equipment. At Radian, we’ve prioritized vertical integration of our manufacturing processes over product development to ensure that whenever we deliver goods to the consumer, it’s of the highest quality and reliability standards.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
The temptation in most industries is to rush new products to market. At Radian, we actively choose not to release “me too” products or rely on sourcing major components for new products from third party vendors. This helps protect our brand integrity, and hopefully gives consumers peace of mind when they purchase Radian products.
Our flagship products are the Model 1 rifle and related receiver sets, Talon ambidextrous safeties, and Raptor charging handles. Featured here:
MODEL 1 – 17.5-INCH 223 WYLDE
Clandestine Desert™ Cerakote Finish (Cerakoted by our finishing business, High Desert Coatings—www.highdesertcoatings.com)
RAPTOR CHARGING HANDLE FOR A15/M4
The original all-billet design with Cerakoted FDE handles.
TALON 45/90 AMBIDEXTROUS SAFETY
The screwless safety design ensures your levers won’t come loose and gives you two throw degree options to choose from. Finished with FDE Cerakote.
Buy with confidence, as all Radian products are backed with a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.
For more information on Radian Weapons, please visit radianweapons.com.
Best known for body armor, Blue Force Gear also offers the everyday carry essential Micro Trauma Kit.
The Micro Trauma Kit NOW!, or Micro TKN, is our smallest version of the Trauma Kit NOW! yet. It was designed to hold essential lifesaving gear with minimal size in mind. The Micro TKNTM is designed to be worn horizontally with minimal bulk—perfect for everyday carry, for law enforcement professionals, prepared citizens, or in low-profile mission sets. The inner carrier can be deployed with one hand or one finger from either the left or right side by pulling the BLIP featured pull tabs. The Micro TKN consists of two main components – the outer MOLLE or Belt mounted pouch utilizing the Ten-Speed® technology, and a removable insert that keeps medical supplies organized.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
Supplies
Hemostatic dressing for wound packing/clotting (1 included)
4” Emergency Trauma Dressing (1 included)
9” Medical Grade Easy Tape (6 included)
Tourni-Kwik Compression Tourniquet (1 included)
Heavy Duty Medical Gloves (1 pair of Large sized gloves)
For more information on Blue Force Gear, please visit blueforcegear.com.
Unrelenting in design and execution, the new Berger Bullets Long Range Hybrid Target bullets are engineered for hair-splitting accuracy.
Berger’s new Long Range Hybrid Target bullets™ (LRHT) are 100% Made in the USA and feature a high Ballistic Coefficient (BC), jump-tolerant ogive profile that is Doppler verified with less than 1-percent BC variation.
Long-range target shooters and extreme accuracy enthusiasts endlessly seek a competitive advantage, using sophisticated ballistic solvers, custom drag models, complex optics, and twist-rate calculators, among others. All of these tools are rendered meaningless if the projectile exiting their favorite target, hunting, or Mil/LE tactical rifle is inconsistent and unpredictable. Using advanced proprietary manufacturing processes, Berger’s innovative Meplat Reduction Technology™ (MRT) applies controlled pressure along the nose of each LRHT bullet, producing a homogeneous and repeatable profile for the industry’s most consistent BCs. While a high BC is desirable, shot-to-shot BC consistency is most critical when engaging targets at 1,000 yards and beyond. When you absolutely need to maximize hit probability, never settle for a bullet other than Berger.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
The story behind the construction of Berger Bullets is simple. We start with virgin copper and lead wire products with the tightest specifications. Then, we manufacture our own signature J4 Berger bullet jackets to unmatched tolerances of less than 0.0003 inches of total indicated runout. What does this mean? A better bullet begins with a concentric jacket! Lastly, we merge the materials into finished projectiles — all within the confines of our Mesa, Arizona manufacturing facility.
Berger Bullets are highly sought after by the leading shooters in the world’s most demanding competitive shooting disciplines, such as PRS, F-Class, Fullbore, long range, and ELR to name a few. New Long Range Hybrid Target bullets are available in .22 caliber, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, and .30 caliber offerings.
New for NRA Show is our line of LRHT Ammunition offerings in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 300 Norma Magnum.
For more information on Berger Bullets, please visit bergerbullets.com.
Improving the safety, performance and comfort of soldiers and safety professionals, Oakley Standard Issue has become a trusted first line of defense.
For over 20 years, Oakley Standard Issue has manufactured all ballistic products at their factory in Foothill Ranch, California. Products are designed, materials are sourced, and products are tested right here in America.
The Oakley SI Ballistic M Frame Alpha is our latest flagship product. Alpha is an eco-system; the product contains a frame, goggle, and helo-gasket with a lens interchangeable between all three. No matter the mission, the user can configure the product to his or her needs. Range work, close quarters battle, mobility, and even freefall are many of the environments applicable. Oakley Prizm Technology within the lens brings high contrast and definition. Specifically, Prizm Shooting was developed with the Army Marksmanship Unit and gives greater clarity to targets in different light conditions.
Designed with extensive input from our military and first responder community, Alpha is now authorized for wear on the Special Operations Eyewear Program (SOEP). SOEP, regarded as the highest standard for protective eyewear, certifies that all components are made in the USA and offer the highest level of protection. Available in multiple lens and frame color configurations.
Oakley Standard Issue was formally established in 2000. Committed to serving our military and first responders, Oakley SI offers exclusive pricing for products for active-duty military, government, first responders, and veterans.
A passionate gun parts and accessories company, Overwatch Precision has the kit to make you pistol run like a top.
The OP TAC Trigger System is a patent-pending seven-piece upgrade for your Smith & Wesson MP 2.0 that reduces total travel and pre-travel by 50 percent. Engineered by us from the ground up, this kit provides the unmatched performance you have come to expect from all OP products.
Through state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, our trigger bar is held to industry-leading tolerances using a progressive die manufacturing process, a metal forming technique used in aerospace manufacturing that guarantees the most consistent performance and highest quality parts. This process, coupled with a space-age NP3 coating, provides the end user with the highest quality trigger bar ever offered.
TAC Trigger
Our proven TAC trigger is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with features immediately identifiable as Overwatch Precision’s intellectual property. The overall design has been the go-to for Glock pistols since we released it in 2016, and its overall shape and function have been refined to excel in this new platform. With pre-travel reduction and a flat face, this self-correcting contact point aids in a linear rearward pull and increases accuracy. The indexing lip helps the shooter consistently place their finger on the trigger in the exact same spot every time, helping muscle memory and overall consistency.
The Sear
At the heart of this system is our NP3 coated sear. With a proprietary sear angle and large radius, this sear allows for a light and consistent break that can be tuned to the shooter’s preference with the two trigger return springs provided.
The Plunger
This product has a proprietary radius that replaces the OEM chamfer and creates a measurable “hump” in the trigger pull. This Swiss CNC’d part, coupled with NP3, creates a smooth pull to the wall. The plunger spring provides constancy and safe operation of this part, as intended by S&W.
The Trigger Springs
We offer two different trigger return springs with this kit. Standing by our ethos of serious-use defensive weapon components, we include a 4.5-pound return spring for duty or carry use for a dependable, predictable break. With the growth of USPSA popularity and participation in and amongst firearm enthusiasts, we also offer a 3.2-pound spring. Please note, this spring is not suitable for carry.
North Carolina based G-Code produces solutions for ever gun and tactical carry situation under the sun.
At G-Code, we don’t have a flagship product; what we have is a flagship philosophy and an unyielding commitment to excellence in everything we do. We don’t see ourselves as a company of products — we’re far more than that. G-Code is a solutions company.
Our purpose has always been to solve problems for our customers. We do this with design and innovation, and although our efforts manifest in products, we never sit back and feel like “we have arrived.”
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
Likewise, execution in our workmanship is paramount in its importance to us and to our customers. Our fit, finish, and function must always be unquestionably second to none.
To this end, G-Code products have always been, and will always be, 100-percent American made using only U.S.-sourced raw materials and components. At G-Code, we count it our privilege to provide tactical carry solutions to the men and women who serve in our military, law enforcement, and the civilian concealed carry communities.
This is why when you buy G-Code, you buy American, you buy quality … because we simply will not sell anything else!
The bipod has long been a tool used by shooters to obtain a more steady firing position in the field or on the range. However, in its many years of use, the fundamental design and function of a lot of traditional “stiff” bipods have not changed all that much.
Swagger Bipods, a Nebraska-based manufacturer, has developed a couple of bipods that offer the shooter a ton of flexibility and functionality, all while remaining incredibly lightweight. Using what the company calls Crazy Legs Technology, these bipods afford the shooter a wide array of shooting positions. The flexible, hyper-extending Crazy Legs are shock-corded and are easily adjustable with a simple twist motion.
Gun Digest Editor in Chief Eric Conn had the opportunity to experiment with a Swagger bipod this winter while sighting in for an upcoming predator hunt and came away very impressed with the bipod's flexibility and ease of use.
For more information on these great shooting aids, check out the video above, or visit the Swagger Bipods website.
We address some of the downsides, and upsides, of carrying a revolver for self-defense.
The Western lawman. Cop movies set in the 1970s and ’80s. Detective pulp novels with dames and private investigators. Wyatt Earp. Roger Murtaugh getting too old for this sh*t. All these share two common traits: unironic mustaches and deadly wheel guns. But there’s more to the revolver than history, pop culture, and a throwback to ancient days.
Wyatt Earp.
There are people in the gun world who wonder why this far into the 21st century anyone would choose a revolver over a modern semi-auto pistol. Well, we’re glad you asked. We’re reminded of the late Pat Rogers and his old axiom: “The mission drives the gear train.” In short, for some people, and some situations, the revolver can be the dreaded “just as good as,” or an even better.
While it is true that the modern military-grade semi-auto service pistol has replaced the revolver for hard use in defensive carry, police and military service, this in no way means the revolver isn’t a capable handgun for defensive and sport use.
To start, let’s address what’s often perceived as an issue when revolvers are considered for defensive carry use: the deadly duo of low ammunition capacity and slow reload speed.
Ammunition Capacity
This is actually a non-issue for the concealed carry paradigm. We can learn quite a bit by examining what has happened in real-world incidents. To borrow a line from Tom Givens, when speaking of experiences from his students who’ve actually been in defensive shootings: “three shots in 3 seconds at 3 feet” is still what a typical defensive shooting looks like.
It’s here that it’s worthy to note Givens is also famous for saying, “The primary cause of needing to reload is missing.”
The gunfight a cop has is often very different than the one a concealed carrier has in the streets—and even then the wheel gun usually holds enough.
To pursue this idea further, we draw on the research of friend and mentor Keith Jones. Jones is a Vietnam combat vet, nearly 40-year police officer, multiple gunfight winner, very competent researcher and gun guy. Back in the days when coppers only carried revolvers, Jones looked at the experiences of the officers in his area. He found that in 199 incidents, from 1970 through 1988, there was only one (!) instance where the officer had to reload to prevail in the fight.
Everything else was settled with the five or six rounds available in the wheel gun.
The patrol officer shootout is often a very different fight than we see in the concealed carry/defensive pistol realm; suspects fight more aggressively to avoid arrest, multiple suspects are more likely to be involved, and there’s a duty to pursue. Yet in these 199 incidents, the revolver clearly had enough capacity to get the job done.
Claude Werner, a gifted instructor, noted researcher and generally the smartest guy in the room tells us the average number of shots fired in the defensive gunfight is 1.43.
Reliability
An underappreciated advantage of the revolver is the rate of malfunctions that occur in real-world fights. Although the military-grade semi-auto service pistol is clearly more tolerant of abuse and hard service than the revolver, all semi-auto pistols are subject to malfunction when the shooter uses a weak grip, is floating the gun one-handed, if the ammunition is underpowered and if the pistol is poorly lubed and/or full of dust bunnies.
While the “six for sure” mantra of revolver proponents is a myth, it’s a fact the revolver is vastly more tolerant of a poor grip and garbage ammunition.
While the “six for sure” mantra of revolver proponents is a myth, it’s a fact the revolver is vastly more tolerant of a poor grip and garbage ammunition.
Even though yours truly started in the defensive handgun world in the days when cops carried by-God-steel-framed-revolvers and leather gear, uses for the wheel gun nowadays include backup gun/lightweight carry gun, hunting/“kit gun,” general fun shooting and training gun.
Being an old cop, using the snubby as a backup gun was a natural thing. Over the years we have tried several semi-auto backup guns but have repeatedly come back to the snub due to some very concrete advantages that this platform gives versus the semi-auto pistol.
An airweight snub, such as an S&W 642 or a Ruger LCR, generally carries on an ankle or in a pocket better than any semi-auto pistol. It also draws more cleanly and consistently when pushing speed. The snub can be reliably fired with hard muzzle contact, clothing interference or even through a pocket. The shape of a snubby often makes it conceal better than a similarly sized semi-auto, and this shape also makes it easier to get a shooting grip on the gun when carried in deep concealment.
In extensive testing, shooting and training with various pocket pistols over the years, not one can equal the reliability of an S&W or Ruger snub. The perceived advantages of higher capacity and faster reload speed are siren songs, but the .38 snub still wins the reliability game—along with the aforementioned cleaner draw and speed to a first-shot hit.
Accuracy
It’s boringly common to find service-grade revolvers in .38 Special and .357 Magnum capable of 1- to 1½-inch groups off of a rest at the 25-yard line. The same cannot be said of service pistols. Groups as small as 6 inches at 100 yards with a 4- or 6-inch .357 Magnum revolver, fired in single action, from a rollover prone isn’t terribly difficult.
This level of accuracy starts to shade into carbine territory. For this reason, the midsized .357 Magnum revolver, such as an old Ruger Security Six or S&W model 66 or 681, can easily be a “go to the woods” gun.
Ease Of Training
An advantage of the double-action revolver over many of the modern striker-fired pistols so popular now is the revolver is easier to use for dry-fire practice and for “ball and dummy” training at the range.
The DA revolver can be dry-fired repeatedly without the need to reset the trigger, and when used in specific drills, the ball and dummy exercise can be done without the need to buy or load dummy rounds into the gun. Dry practice is typically underappreciated as a skill builder, but it’s critical to the development of trigger control. Trigger control is the toughest pistol skill to learn, and the most easily perishable when neglected.
The revolver has a simpler manual of arms and it’s impossible to “forget” that one has a round in the chamber after the magazine is removed, which can be a real advantage to the novice shooter.
While the snubby as a defensive firearm is often thought of as an “expert’s gun,” that idiom hasn’t panned with either officers or students.
Here’s a recent personal example: A gentleman decided he wanted to buy a defensive firearm but had no idea where to start. At the range he was able to handle and fire several semi-auto pistols and revolvers. He preferred the simplicity of the revolver and eventually bought a Ruger LCR in .38 Special. In follow-up sessions at the range, he went from having never fired a gun in his life to being able to keep 100 percent of his shots in the “down 0” zone of an IDPA target out to 10 yards.
He achieved this level of marksmanship in less than 100 rounds fired in conjunction with approximately four hours of practice.
Versatility
Revolvers still maintain a significant edge over semi-auto pistols for large game hunting or large animal defense. While big-assed semi-auto pistols such as the Desert Eagle exist, they’re far from being handy, easy to carry or quick into action. They look cool in movies though. Service-sized pistols such as the Glock 20 in 10mm simply pale in available power level when compared to even middle-of-the-road loadings for the .44 Magnum. Said .44 Mag is itself easily outclassed by things like a heavy-loaded .45 Colt, .454 Casull, and more. While you can hot rod a semi-auto, it can also bring its own issues such as stoppages due to excessive slide velocity.
From silver to black, irons to optics, 9mm to magnums—the 21st century still has a ton of revolvers around. Try one out.
A 4-inch .357 Mag has the ability to safely fire any .38 Special or .357 Magnum ammunition that will chamber in the gun. This includes defensive carry with JHPs, snake and rodent whacking with shot loads, plinking and small game with wadcutters, predator control with lightweight hollow points, deer hunting with heavier versions of the same and bear protection with high-penetration ammo.
For just plain fun that translates well to serious purposes, it’s hard to beat live fire with a good .22 revolver. For this reason, some favorite handguns are .22 wheel guns. Though we’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite, the Ruger LCR in .22 LR and the S&W 317 and 43c are currently seeing the most use for training and plinking. Each of these guns displays a high level of accuracy, with near zero recoil. Each is capable of reliably firing .22 CB, short, long, and long rifle ammunition, in either standard or high velocity loadings—not possible with a semi-auto pistol.
But What About Reload Speed?
To address the persistent issue of the worry about the need to reload in a defensive shooting scenario, note that revolver science has been well developed over the past 100-plus years.
For the snubs, ensure the chamber edges are chamfered or otherwise smoothed to avoid catching the bullets during the reload. This simple step in prepping the defensive revolver for carry is similar to making sure your semi-auto pistol has a flared magwell or mag funnel for speed reloading. In the revolver, it pays off in dividends.
There are a number of methods and accessories and doodads for revolver reloads that have been developed over the years, and most of them work well if you put in the work yourself.
For concealed carry, a Bianchi Speed Strip makes for a small package. Instead of completely filling these up, having four rounds instead of five or six significantly reduces your time to target. Getting that last round or two in the cylinder takes more time than the previous four. It may sound strange but do it on the shot clock for yourself.
If you can get away with a larger footprint, Jetloaders or Safariland Comp speedloaders can give you a reload of under 5 seconds with practice. USPSA reload speed this isn’t, but it’s certainly better than fumbling with loose rounds.
There’s also an old-school copper skill of reloading two with eyes down range, in case you need to close the cylinder and engage an aggressive bad guy (a hard won lesson from the Newhall fight …).
Carry The Damn Thing
It’s no small comfort that research has yet to find a case where a police officer was able to access a backup gun and didn’t survive the fight. The lesson here for cops is this: Carry a backup gun and quit worrying about things like magazine or ammo interchangeability with your primary pistol.
This same lesson translates to the concealed-carry world. “What gun?” and “How many rounds on board?” are vastly secondary to the ability of the carrier to have the gun with them at all times. And the ability to draw quickly from concealment. And place one to three effective hits on target at a car length or less.
If you can’t find an instructor who can teach you these skills, seek out a crusty old cop; he’ll know what to do.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
TALO Exclusive Girsan MC1911 Negotiator in .38 Super
It’s true that 1911s in .38 Super don’t get enough love these days, but it’s an excellent chambering option. It also pairs very well with gold accents, and that’s exactly what’s being offered with the new .38 Super TALO Exclusive Girsan/EAA Corp MC1911 Negotiator. This 5-inch barrel 1911 has a 9-round capacity, an adjustable rear sight, a fiber-optic front sight, a lightening cut slide and a skeletonized trigger. It features a hand-tuned action and Picatinny rail as well, and the cherry on top is its titanium nitrate “gold” finish on the barrel and accents on its barrel bushing, magazine release, hammer, safety and beavertail. MSRP: $1,060
Chiappa Rhino 60DS L-Frame in .44 Magnum
Finally, the Chiappa Rhino in .44 Magnum is here. The .44 Magnum is a big, powerful round with pretty stout recoil, so it’s the perfect match for the kick-taming nature of the Rhino’s low bore-axis, bottom-chamber firing design. The revolver’s weight and strength stay balanced despite the larger size thanks to its 7075-T6 aluminum frame, steel barrel and steel breech shield. The ergonomics have been improved as well thanks to the addition of twin finger stops and a revised interface for the Hogue rubber grip. Other details of the .44 Magnum Rhino are its 6-inch barrel, six-round capacity and fiber-optic sights. They’re available with either a black, white nickel or gold PVD finish, and each Rhino ships with a hard case and an owner’s kit. MSRP: $1,745
Sightron S6 10-60x56mm ED Field Target Scope
Airgun, small-caliber field target and benchrest shooters have reason to be excited following Sightron’s announcement of this rifle scope. Designed to withstand the recoil of everything from the heaviest big-bore airguns to .50 BMG rifles, the S6 10-60x56mm ED was tested and shock-rated to 1,000Gs for more than 10,000 cycles. That’s a pretty tough piece of glass. Speaking of glass, inside the scope, there are 15 Japanese optical-grade glass lenses, as well as two Extra-low Dispersion elements designed to massively boost optical resolution. Camera-grade multi-coatings also help to increase the scope’s light transmission, contrast and clarity while reducing color fringing, flare and chromatic aberrations. You have the choice between two new purpose-built reticle options—MOA-2FT and MH-FT—and it can be ordered with or without its 145mm diameter magnetic side-wheel for rapid adjustments. MSRP: $1,800 scope only // $2,000 wheel bundle
WOOX 1913 Compatible Stocks
A lot of new guns these days come with a segment of 1913 rail on the rear of their receivers for attaching a stock or a pistol brace. As this method of stock attachment has grown in popularity, so has the aftermarket of available stock options, giving shooters more choice than ever when deciding exactly how they want their gun to look and feel on the shoulder. WOOX has entered the fold with its new line of 1913 compatible stocks, and while the aesthetics won’t appeal to everyone, those who want to add a dash of wood and class to an otherwise black gun will find WOOX’s lineup an attractive new option. The family features two models currently—the 1913 Edge and the 1913 Woody—but both are available as either a fixed stock or a folding stock. MSRP: $230 fixed // $300 folding
Henry Repeating Arms SPD Predator
Henry is calling its new SPD Predator “the most accurate lever-action rifle ever built.” Chambered for .223/5.56, it’s built on the same architecture as Henry’s Lever Action Supreme Rifle … but with a few tricks up its sleeve to increase its accuracy potential. The most important one is a match-grade 416R stainless-steel barrel tension-wrapped in carbon fiber. Topped off with a 1/2×28 threaded muzzle, this barrel will provide shooters with better rigidity, faster cooling and less weight. The SPD Predator also features a forged carbon-fiber Picatinny rail for optic mounting, a gray laminate buttstock and forearm with an adjustable comb system, a crisp, user-adjustable trigger tuned at the factory to 4 pounds and compatibility with standard AR-15 magazines. Oh yeah: It ships with a Harris S-LM bipod, too. MSRP: $2,510
SIRT TruBreak
Trigger control is one of the most crucial aspects of handgun shooting, and dry fire is a great and cheap way to refine your skills at home. SIRT just released an interesting new gadget that takes trigger control practice to the next level. Called the TruBreak, the device will only break and reset the trigger if it’s pulled back perfectly straight. If your press drifts to either side, it will result in a dead trigger and require you to slap the bottom of the fake magazine well to reset it. Fair warning, SIRT says it’s extremely addictive to play with and that people are calling it a “fidget spinner for shooters.” For a toy that will improve your shooting skills, being addictive isn’t so bad. MSRP: $50
MDT STS Buttstock
Standing for Skeleton Traditional Stock, MDT’s new STS buttstock is the solution for shooters who want the accuracy and modularity of a modern precision chassis but with traditional rifle ergonomics. Designed for the LSS Gen3 Chassis System, the STS features an overmolded rubber grip, tool-less cheek riser adjustability, vertical buttpad adjustability, an integrated M-Lok rail for bag rider attachments and a QD sling mount. Length-of-pull is adjustable as well, and the package ships with four spacers. It’s offered with either a black or FDE finish. MSRP: $400
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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.
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!
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.
Taurus’ TX line has just gone 9mm, with three sizes of TX9 to choose from.
Based on the DNA of the TX22, Taurus has just announced the TX9 family of pistols in 9mm. Available in three sizes, Taurus is calling the TX9 the company’s “first purpose-built, duty-grade pistol platform.”
The TX9 is a polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol family that uses a serialized steel chassis called the Taurus Modular System. That means that future upgrades like grip modifications will be able to be utilized without any additional transfers. All three TX9 models are also optics-ready thanks to their T.O.R.O. (Taurus Optic Ready Option) slides. They also all share the same ergonomics, triggers and control layouts, as well as modular grips with interchangeable backstraps.
Depending on your needs, the TX9 is available as a full size, a compact and a subcompact. The full size features a 4.5-inch barrel and a 17-round capacity, the compact features a 4-inch barrel and a 15-round capacity and the subcompact has a 3.4-inch barrel and a 13-round capacity. Of course, each of those is also available with a 10-round mag for ban states.
Bret Vorhees, CEO of Taurus Holdings, Inc., said this about the new pistols:
The TX9 represents a defining moment for Taurus … It is our first dedicated duty pistol platform, built on the TX™ foundation shooters already trust and engineered from the ground up for professional-grade performance. By bringing that DNA into a 9mm duty system—and building it here in the USA—we've delivered a platform designed to perform across every role and every size.
All three models of the Taurus TX9 have an MSRP of $500.
We go hands-on with the latest generation of FN SCAR to see what's new in the iconic system.
In October 2025, FN announced they would be discontinuing commercial production of the SCAR after nearly two decades. But like the death of Superman in 1992, these proclamations to the end of an icon were premature. Just a few short months later we’re here to show you the newest generation of SCAR rifle — and the most significant changes FN has ever given to the system.
Ever since the advent of the SCAR in 2008 there have been plenty of fans but no small number of detractors. Though it never replaced the M4 in U.S. Army inventories, it found a home with Special Forces and is now an issued rifle for SOF units in two dozen nations. Though initially launched in two variants (a 5.56mm “light” and 7.62mm “heavy”), it would be the heavy SCAR 17S (also called the SCAR-H) that captured the most imaginations and garnered the most fans.
In 2018, FN would bring the Mk20 precision model, first chambered in 7.62mm followed by a 6.5 Creedmoor variant in 2020. In late 2022, the tiny 7.5-inch barreled 5.56mm SCAR 15P personal defense weapon (PDW) would be released, with a .300BLK model coming in 2024.
There were always downsides to SCARs, many which existed due to the combination of the timeframe of initial design and FN’s plodding response to demand. Paired with an enthusiastic user base, this led to both a dedicated aftermarket and countless competitors looking for market share (we even ran a whole article about so-called “SCAR-Killers”).
You can see how much shorter the handguard is on the Legacy SCAR (top) versus the Gen 3 (bottom). Also note the muzzle device swap. Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
Because FN isn’t a company that moves fast (those that deal with generational government contracts around the world rarely are), it took them some time for this new batch — all told they’ve been working on them for five years. After taking an insights-driven approach to development, they put it all together to upgrade and improve the entire SCAR family of arms. Let’s check out what they did.
Furniture & Controls
This is the easiest one to see outside. Gone are the Picatinny rails widening the profile and reminding you this is a rifle designed not just when quad rails were ironically cool — but nearly new. The forend is now longer for more space for both accessories and your hand, and features M-LOK slots across five angles. Speaking of longer, the top Picatinny rail now encloses the gas regulator, the old folding front sight shunned for a low-profile Magpul. The rear sight is also replaced (a shame, because the OG SCAR rear is the best iron sight ever made).
The handguard can be taken off by removing a few screws, which is good because attaching M-LOK can be a pain when more than one fastener is involved. Check out the removable cover for the gas regulator. Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
The gas regulator comes with a removable cover, the better to keep your hand from overheating, especially when shooting suppressed. And we do mean suppressed; this has been a sore point with SCARs (though we’ve never had a problem popping a can on them) — FN redesigned the barrel with more shoulder for increased muzzle device compatibility, specifically for silencers (both competitors and their own new line).
Legacy SCAR (top) versus Gen 3 (bottom): The already-good ambi selector is now even better due to modularity. Ergonomics of the magazine release have increased with the surface area, and the right-side bolt lock/release is well placed. The insides look much the same, but you can see the difference in the triggers by examining the hammer spring. Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
The buttstock of the SCAR is an oft-replaced item. A lot of people like to stick an ACR stock on there (the only part of that failed rifle that remains), but FN has stuck to the “Ugg” stock so long that the fuzzy footwear it was named after actually came back into style for a while. It’s been upgraded with the addition of a QD cup on the rear, and FN also has OEM options for AR-style stocks and Picatinny-railed rears.
QD cups are also now found on either side of the rear receiver plate, and each rifle comes with an additional M-LOK QD mount.
Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
Gone is the A2 grip, FN instead opting for a more-upright model. The new trigger module is designed to be compatible with aftermarket grips without modification. Speaking of the trigger module, it features a new set of controls.
The selector levers are more readily swappable (each gun comes with extras of different sizes and lengths), the magazine releases are more ergonomic, and there’s an excellent ambi bolt lock/release on the right side that’s easy to use.
The trigger itself has changed, for the better. It used to be a crapshoot what kind of trigger you’d get, but now FN tells us each rifle will be more refined right from the factory — precision rifle or not.
In terms of colorways, you still have the traditional unmatching FDE, lame black, and a great-looking gray.
Bolt Carriers
The heart and soul of the FN SCAR lie in the bolt carrier and wheelbase barrel cradle, and you can track generational changes by examining these parts. FN didn’t change anything about their barrel attachments with this latest, but they made significant shifts with the bolt carrier.
Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
The SCAR was originally designed with a reciprocating charging handle, one which moves back and forth with every shot, explicitly because U.S. Special Operations Command demanded one.
Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
The initial requirements for the SCAR were outlined way back in 2004, back when the Global War on Terror was new and modern warfighting was first getting figured out. The thinking at the time was that a reciprocating charging handle meant there would be no need for a forward assist, and that the potential downsides would be minimal.
USSOCOM requirement or not, that moving charging handle remained the most major complaint people had about the SCAR for many years. Some subpar non-reciprocating aftermarket options were offered, but most simply managed it with technique.
Then, in 2021, FN released the Gen 2 NRCH (Non-Reciprocating Charging Handle). The NRCH was accomplished with an internal sled that detached the charging handle from the bolt carrier. This also added the ability to run dual charging handles and to be truly ambidextrous. The bolts and small parts remained the same. Importantly, this was also a backward-compatible conversion; older SCARs would just need a new (or modified) receiver front plate to work with the internal sled.
The Gen 3 changes are even more significant. It shares the same internal sled and charging handles as the NRCH, but the carrier body is lightened, multi-piece, modular, and even has a hydraulic buffer pinned inside. The top arm of the carrier, called the bolt carrier front rail, keys in place so the same bolt carrier can be used across different systems and calibers. The hydraulic buffer arrests the movement of the carrier right at the peak of rearward recoil, making for a more-gentle curve despite the lighter weight of the unit and is designed to prevent damage to optics.
Like the SCAR you already know, but improved right out of the box. Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
Though the bolt itself is slightly shorter than the previous generations, the other small parts remain the same. And like the Gen 2, the Gen 3 is also backward compatible — you can drop a complete unit into a SCAR from 2007 if you change that front receiver plate.
Small Parts & Extras
The looks are the easiest to see, but outside the BCG what really got me going was seeing that all the small fasteners are now Torx. This makes maintenance ten times easier, because small hex screws are just so damned easy to strip out.
You’re still going to want to use heat to remove them (thread locker being what it is) but you’ll find that you’ll have a much better time.
The Mk20 shares the same improvements as the rest of the line. Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
In addition to the extra selectors and charging handle, FN ships the SCAR with an M-LOK vertical grip. Each SCAR now comes with a nice padded soft case you’ll actually use for the range, too. Sized just right to tuck into a Pelican for air travel.
You can really compare FN’s [lack of] color-matching skills here with the Legacy SCAR (top) versus the Gen 3 (bottom). Note the QD sockets and sights. Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
On The Range
Hydraulic buffers stuffed into rifles often have the scent of snake oil, largely because they’ve previously been sold by the unscrupulous as add-on solutions for problems that don’t exist. That said, we’ve seen them used to good effect by OEMs before (here’s looking at you, B+T), and this is FN, after all. So, when it came time to hit the range, we were cautiously optimistic. SCARs are already light shooters for their weight class, so even if they were exactly the same there wouldn’t be any complaints. [Cue drumroll] … And?
Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
The SCAR-H feels like a SCAR-H, but a touch lighter. We’re still talking about a 16-inch barreled 7.62 with polymer furniture here, but things get a bit more obvious when you shoot a Gen 3 and a Legacy side-by-side. Even when both guns are rocking longer handguards for more leverage, you can tell the Gen3 SCAR-H is better.
It’s a similar story for the Mk20. This is a very capable rifle, and we’ve previously shown you an example in 6.5 Creedmoor that printed .597 MOA groups. Hitting beyond 1,200 yards was more about reading wind and a ballistic calculator than improvements to the system itself. No one is crying about less recoil and a reticle that settles faster, however.
While the SCAR-L was the dark horse, there’s a reason why the Heavy is the one that captures imaginations and sees the most use. Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
The dark horse here is the SCAR-L. This is the one the U.S. Military liked the least, but still finds a fan with at least one RECOIL editor (and the editor of RECOIL OFFGRID, too). And, out of the box, the new Gen 3 SCAR 16S shoots like a custom tuned gun. Extremely pleasant shooting gun with fast follow-ups.
Nightforce Optics NX6 2-12
Gracing the top of the SCAR on the cover of this issue is the new Nightforce Optics NX6 2-12. As the name implies, each scope in the NX6 line has a 6x power factor covering the whole gamut (1-6, 2-12, 3-18, 4-24, 5-30, and 6-36). Many are available in both first and second focal plane, MOA and MRAD. The one you see here is first focal plane with MRAD adjustment — perfect for a 16-inch 7.62mm gun.
Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
The reticle is an FC-MRx, which is based on Nightforce’s FC-DMx LPVO reticle but with 20 MILS of holdover instead of 10. The center is illuminated in both red and green, and you cycle through illumination levels by pressing the button on the left side of the optic. There’s a parallax adjustment, but as it’s unmarked, you’ll have to check it for yourself when you get behind the rifle (which you should be doing anyway, because those markers are just a guideline anyhow).
Photos: Dave Merrill & Steven Kuo.
The new Fieldset turret system allows you to easily float your turrets after zeroing without requiring a special tool (though it does come with one). Simply twist the mechanism on the top of the to turret to unlock, pop it off to reposition, replace, and twist back to lock. It’s not like messing with small screws was especially difficult or anything, but this is easy.
Loose Rounds
It’s clear that FN took a lot of time with this generation. They addressed the furniture, suppressors, controls, and small parts while maintaining their advances with the non-reciprocating system and keeping everything backward compatible. The fact they added extras and did all this without increasing the MSRP is saying something — oh yeah, they didn’t increase the price; Gen 3 is priced the same as the last. Which ain’t cheap, of course, but we’re talking about FN, not the race to the bottom.
FN has just announced the 309 MRD, a 9mm FN pistol that’s more accessible than ever before.
It’s well known that FN makes some great firearms, but let’s be honest, most of them are priced above what many Americans can afford. With the goal of making an excellent 9mm pistol that’s more accessible to shooters on a budget, FN has just announced the 309 MRD.
The FN 309 MRD has everything one looks for in a defensive pistol—it’s lightweight, optics-ready, easy-to-use and comes with high-capacity magazines. For flush-fit mags, the 309 holds 16 rounds, and extended mags hold 20. However, 10-round mags are available as well for ban states. It has a crisp, 5-round single-action trigger, a neutral grip angle for a natural point of aim, a rounded rear U-notch sight and a green fiber-optic front sight. As for mounting optics, it will take any red dot with a Shield RMSc or Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprint.
Besides being more affordably priced, the FN 309 MRD is more accessible to shooters thanks to its slide that’s easier to rack, its magazines that are easier to load and a disassembly procedure that doesn’t require pulling the trigger.
Chris Johnson, Senior Product Manager for Pistols for FN America, said this about the new handgun:
Many gun buyers don’t see FN as an option, and we wanted to change that perception by making the brand accessible to people looking to spend $500 on a 9mm pistol … With the FN 309 MRD we now have a trustworthy, easy-to-use pistol perfect both for new gun buyers and those looking to purchase their first FN. For us, it’s not just a new product, it’s FN’s commitment to offering the everyday user peace of mind and FN performance.
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.
