In the 1960s, the Soviet Union sought to close the gap between conventional arms and the specialized requirements of clandestine warfare. Reconnaissance teams, Spetsnaz elements of the Soviet Army, and KGB operatives were expected to operate behind enemy lines or when silent work was required during any operation, and this placed a premium on weapons that were not only reliable and compact but also quiet. Out of that requirement came one of the first mass-produced Soviet handguns purpose-built for suppressed, covert work: the PB (GRAU index 6P9). Designed in the mid-1960s and formally adopted in 1967, the PB became the integral suppressed service pistol for Soviet special forces and state security services.

Today’s Photo of the Day takes us to Charlene’s Meadow, where Butch Fjoser set a remarkable new benchmark in the world of pure mechanical accuracy. On June 7th, 2025, Fjoser fired a .445-inch, 10-shot group at 300 yards in the Unlimited Class, surpassing the previous .512-inch record held by Larry Costa. While images of rifles clamped in a vise usually spark a predictable online debate, it is worth noting that Unlimited Class rail guns are purpose-built for equipment testing rather than traditional marksmanship. The goal here is to explore the absolute limits of consistency when recoil, ergonomics, and human input are removed.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, I talked about how to carry in the deep cold of winter. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I think it's important to look at when it's better to avoid situations entirely when carrying a concealed firearm versus what people do by carrying a heavier-than-normal loadout. Times are changing and it's really important to look at what situations are worth avoiding entirely and what ones should be approached with caution.

Most of the new rifles of the past couple of decades have fallen into the following classes: M4geries, long-range “backcountry” hunting rifleS, low-priced entry-level bolt guns or nostalgia-milking lever-actions. But another style of rifle is always lurking in the background, just waiting for a manufacturer to try it again. I’m talking about scout rifles, and this year at SHOT, the Ruger American Gen II Scout was on display in their booth.

Nosler launched its Whitetail Country ammunition line in October 2024 as factory-loaded ammo only, and at SHOT Show 2026 they're releasing the Solid Base and Straight-Wall bullets as reloading components. The company also expanded the loaded ammunition lineup to include .400 Legend, now shipping with a 215-grain Straight-Wall bullet for $40.95 per 20 rounds.

European American Armory was back at the SHOT Show for 2026 with a booth full of their usual mix of imported firearms—handguns, shotguns and rifles. And in one corner, they had a few firearms that were both shotguns and rifles at the same time. They’re bringing combination guns into the U.S. market soon, and they should be affordable—a hard thing to find these days.

Today, we’re joined by the minds behind Vortex Optics’ New Product Development team, Ben and Connor, some of the company’s brains behind Vortex’s own “Skunkworks.” This group is responsible for everything from Vortex’s affordable red dots and scopes to the top-secret XM157 Fire Control optic developed for the U.S. Army’s NGSW Program meant to work with the M7 and M250 platforms. Today, engineers Ben and Connor share insight into some of Vortex’s newest 2026 releases - at least the ones they can tell us about for now. Today we’ll be talking about the recently released civilian variant of the AMG 1-10x24 LPVO, the new Triumph 1-10x42 Relay-equipped rangefinding binoculars, and the Vortex Ace portable weather station. Together, these products expand the Vortex Relay ecosystem, giving shooters an integrated and highly capable ranging and weather data suite for more precise, confident shots in any setup. Please give Connor and Ben a warm welcome to the show, and be sure to check out the Vortex Nation Podcast for more insights into what’s going on at Vortex HQ.

TheFirearmBlog (TFB) was in attendance of SHOT Show 2026 and their Industry Day at the Range last week in Las Vegas, and we stumbled across an interesting find while at the Colt pistol bay: a blued Anaconda with enhanced grips and a factory optic. This is definitely not something on their website, and it is supremely rare to see factory-mounted red dots on revolvers. So, we tried to gather some more details for ya’ll!

1911s run the entire price gamut. Buyers can choose anything from an inexpensive Filipino gun up through a matched pair of Cabot pistols made of meteorite. In recent years, the new family of Turkish 1911s imported by SDS has started to earn a reputation as good values at a moderate price point. Of special note are the Tisas clone pistols like the Raider, which mimic the classic lines of the M45A1 CQBP. New for this year is a version of the Raider with an optics cut and threaded barrel. Join us as we put it through its paces.

Photo Of The Day: Panzergrenadier Battalion 122 in Oberviechtach has officially received the first G95 rifles, marking an important step in the Bundeswehr’s transition to a new standard service weapon. The G95 is a Bundeswehr-specific variant of the HK416 and retains the familiar AR-15 layout while using a primarily metal construction said to improve durability, stability, and overall precision. I’d love to do a comparison with Sweden’s Sako Ak 24 version, and a few others, of course.

Never ones to stay still Olympus Arms, the Montana company that brought you the long-stroke Vulcan rifle, have announced that they have developed not just a new carbine but also a new round for the carbine. Olympus have spent a year and a half working on the new project.

Barrett has long been a player in the US Army’s developing Precision Grenadier System program. They took part in some of the precursor competitions which helped refine the program requirements and engage with industry. Barrett previously worked with Mars Inc. who were successful in the xTech Soldier Lethality competition early in 2025. But now it appears they’ll have two horses in the race.

⁨@BallisticAviation stops by the curiously vacant FN booth to grab a quick, unsupervised look at the new FN 309 MRD. As staff rushed out ahead of Winter Storm Fern, Luke swooped in for one last peek at what could be a great contender for the best new budget compact 9mm pistol. This budget-friendly 9mm internal hammer-fired pistol delivers user-friendly features like an easy-rack slide (25% less effort), softer grip texture for better control, optics-ready direct mount for Shield RMS/DeltaPoint Pro patterns, and 16/20-round polymer magazines, all for a street price of around $450. Multiple passive safeties and a green fiber front sight make it approachable for new shooters while maintaining FN reliability for EDC carry.

Steyr’s long-awaited ATD and ATC hammer-fired 9mm pistols are finally making their way to the U.S. market, and this video covers what American shooters can expect from the new lineup. The ATD “defense” models are aimed at carry and duty use, and the ATC “competition” variants with longer barrels, heavier frames, and optics-ready slides, along with capacities up to 24 rounds. If you’ve been waiting for a metal-frame, DA/SA Steyr with modern features like compensators, 3D-printable grip modules, and red-dot readiness, this first look at the ATD and ATC shows why these pistols are one of the biggest handgun launches of SHOT Show 2026.

Hoplopfheil⁩ is stopping by the Trijicon Booth at SHOT Show 2026 to speak to Chris about the brand-new Trijicon AccuPoint 1-8x24 riflescope, a true 1x-to-8x LPVO perfect for hunters needing speed at close range and precision at longer engagement distances. This scope features Trijicon’s battery-free Hunter Holds MOA reticle that glows with ambient light for quick holds without electronics failing in the field, tool-less turrets, and a rugged build ready for recoil and weather. Chris breaks down why this AccuPoint brings legendary Trijicon reliability to the versatile LPVO category at SHOT Show 2026.

Hoplopfheil interviews the Streamlight team at SHOT Show 2026 about the new ProTac Rail Mount VIR Pro, a rail-mounted long gun light delivering 1,100-lumen white LED (high: 40,000 candela, 400m beam) plus selectable IR output (2,300mW high/600mW low). A possibly wallet-saving option for those who are craving night-vision shooting on a budget, the ProTac Rail Mount VIR is going to retail for around $300 street price.

BallisticAviation interviews Gerard Wayne Weber, CEO of Steyr Arms USA, about the brand-new SSG M1 A2 precision rifle, released in January 2026, just ahead of SHOT Show. This updated bolt-action beast now comes standard with an Arca-Swiss rail for tripod compatibility, an improved M-LOK handguard, expanded barrel options optimized for suppressors, and other user-requested upgrades like enhanced adjustability and an improved quick-change barrel system. Whether you're into long-range precision shooting in .308, 6.5 Creedmoor, or .338 Lapua, this deep dive reveals why the SSG M1 A2 sets a new standard for tactical precision rifles.

It was only a matter of time before someone tried to sell us plastic crack—and it finally happened when Hammy showed up at SHOT Show 2026. ⁨@BallisticAviation⁩ sits down with  ⁨@hammy3dprints to check out some of his latest and most thoughtful 3D-printed gun parts and accessories. A one-man show in the most literal sense of the word, Hammy3DPrints is a company that’s consistently updating its catalog, refining its designs, and keeping up with the latest trends in the firearm world.

Luke C. ( @BallisticAviation )is back at SHOT Show 2026 to have a quick sit-down with Surefire’s Andrew Wright to dig into the new SOCOM RC4 suppressor and what sets it apart from previous generations. They break down how the RC4’s updated unique design cuts back pressure, reduces gas to the face, and tames flash without adding unnecessary length or weight.

Some years SHOT Show becomes defined by a particular trend - in the past we’ve seen lever actions and 5.7mm pistols dominate. While SHOT Show 2026 was definitely the year of the suppressor with many new manufacturers entering the game following changes to the NFA, for me, SHOT 2026 was the year of the clone.

Double Tap launched their SnakeShot Magnum line at SHOT Show 2026, combining #9 shot with hardcast wadcutter projectiles in five magnum revolver calibers. These defensive loads ship February 2nd and deliver substantially deeper penetration than traditional snake shot by stacking a solid projectile behind the shot charge.

On my last trip to Vietnam, I decided to explore the country from the South to the North, from the chaotic, motorbike-packed streets of Saigon and Hanoi to the quieter stops in between. I ended up seeing a vast swath of the country, its lush river valleys, crowded markets, and small towns that felt like time capsules. Along the way, I kept noticing remnants of the war, old South Vietnamese and U.S. aircraft and weapons displayed in museums, which gave a glimpse of the past. There were also more guns and military relics scattered around than I’d expected, little reminders of a complicated past that still seems to linger in the landscape. The contrast between everyday life and those metal ghosts was striking; it turned the trip into something equal parts beautiful and thought-provoking. One of those thoughts was about the abundance of Miniguns I encountered.

Today’s images come from the Canadian Armed Forces Photo of the Year competition. Each year, military photographers submit some of their most compelling work, capturing everything from training and field exercises to daily life in uniform.

Colt brought two new AR pistol SKUs to SHOT 2026, both launching in 5.56 NATO with different lower receiver options. We stopped by the booth and got details on what separates these variants and what's coming down the pipeline for color options.

Night vision is the hot new ticket for preppers and other people who like serious tactical equipment, but sometimes you need a visible light too. And what if you’re running either option? The Princeton Tec Ghost X aims to please by offering something to both types of users.

CZ celebrated the 51st anniversary of their iconic CZ 75 at SHOT Show 2026 by announcing the CZ 75 Legend, a one-to-one reproduction of the original 1975 pistol built on modern machinery. The Legend replicates the pre-B model from before CZ added the firing pin block, and it's scheduled to ship late spring 2026 for $1,399 MSRP.

Seecamp is one of the nichest of niche firearms manufacturers in the U.S.; they make tiny hideout pistols, some of the smallest autoloaders on the market until recent years (it’s been the company’s specialty since its founding as a weapons customization shop). They still make their handguns in New England, when many of the region’s firearms manufacturers have moved away for greener pastures where there’s less trouble with the state government. And now, they’re back to making a .25 ACP pistol, right back where the company started, in an age where this old-school self-defense round is mostly forgotten.

⁨@BallisticAviation⁩  catches up with Paul Fletcher from Fletcher Rifle Works to check out some of the latest projects they’ve been working on for 2026. The highlight is a massive 3D printed .50 caliber can that pushes the limits of what’s possible with additive manufacturing. Paul also walks Luke through a new line of mounts that make Fletcher’s suppressors compatible with a wide range of popular attachment systems, plus a refined model that updates their current lineup of 3D printed suppressors, with a fully laser-welded suppressor.

Peter from Midwest Industries speaks with ⁨@BallisticAviation about the new Bounty Hunter revolver stock/brace system — easily one of the wildest revolver accessories we’ve seen in years. This non-destructive setup lets shooters turn their favorite wheelgun into a shoulderable platform without losing that old-school six-shooter charm. In this interview, Luke and Peter break down the design inspiration, fitment options, and what makes the Bounty Hunter a perfect blend of cowboy-inspired utility and modern engineering. These Stocks/Braces will retail for around $300 and will be made for a wide variety of revolver frames and styles.

The Nocpix Mate Ultra S60R is the flagship model in the company's new Mate series of thermal clip-on attachments, positioned as a high-end option for hunters seeking to convert their daytime riflescope into a thermal-capable system without permanent modifications. Released in 2025, the Mate Ultra stands out as one of the first thermal clip-ons to feature a 1280×1024 resolution sensor, combined with a large 60mm F1.0 objective lens and an integrated 1200m laser rangefinder (LRF). Let’s take a closer look at its performance.