Our SHOT Show 2026 visit with Zastava Arms includes the possible import of the legendary M84 PKM, surplus Yugoslav police pistols, and more.
Zastava M84 PKM
Introduced in 1984, the gun was heavily used in both the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s and globally. Zastava plans to import a semi-auto sporter version to the U.S. with ATF approval pending, while still maintaining its original aesthetics.
Known as “Ceca” after the famous (infamous?) Serbian singer, due to its distinctive sound, the M85 features a heavier, easily replaceable barrel than the Russian PKM. (Photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Some 46 inches long, it weighs 19 pounds, and is chambered in 7.62x54R. Goofy GDC guy not included.
Some 400 of these, formerly issued to police units, have been imported and approved by ATF without the slide safety often seen in such guns, replaced instead with a trigger-mounted tabbed safety.
These have been factory refurbished with the original accessories and will be offered for around $400.
And retain the original Yugoslav crest.
M85 in .300 Blackout
We just love the ZPAP M85, a 5.56 NATO caliber Yugo pattern AK, in both its carbine and pistol variants, and have reviewed it in a few different flavors.
The big news from SHOT is that the M85 is coming in .300 BLK, including a gas system that has been tweaked to run better while suppressed.
Zastava is developing a 300 Blackout rifle on the ZPAP 85 platform that is billed as working well with the ZVUK suppressor.
More Surplus parts in more places
Zastava is importing AB2 and AB1 part kits and rifles, including trench art-marked M70s.
The guns that the company had on display were striking as battlefield relics and showed some of the interesting possibilities available to collectors.
The kits have seen a variety of hard use, sometimes including very authentic “battlefield pickup” finish and trench art.
Look at the ersatz optics rail on this one.
Other items on the schedule for 2026 are a 16-inch barreled ZPAP M90 variant, something customers have been asking for.
Alabama-based Kimber has made a big move to dominate the double-stack 1911 pistol space by offering the new DS Warrior series.
Debuting at SHOT Show in Las Vegas last week, the Kimber DS 1911 Warrior–borrowing from the company’s classic old Warrior line– is offered in not just 9mm but also .45 ACP, 10mm, and .38 Super chamberings.
Further, besides the standard 5-inch Government barrel format, they are also producing a 6-inch longslide hunter style Warrior in 10mm.
The standard format Warrior is optics-ready, uses an RMR optics footprint, and runs a 5-inch barrel. (Photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com.)
The slides are tastefully blank, sans any huge rollmarks. (Thank you, Kimber)
The longslide is a beast, and will surely be a hit with backcountry folks and handgun hunters.
A conceptual design using custom Cerakote and a TLR-9, which looks small on the massive accessory rail of the 10mm longslide 1911 DS Warrior.
All models are optics-ready for RMR-pattern mounts under a TAG cover plate with a fixed rear sight. The pistols use Kimber’s internal 1911-style extractor, a bushing system barrel, mil-spec guide rod, and a match-grade trigger.
They use stainless Checkmate 2011-pattern mags with the 9mm and .38 Super variant shipping with a 17+1 flush and 20+1 extended, while the 10mm goes 11+1/13+1 and the .45 ACP 15+1/18+1
Best yet, they are made in Alabama– not imported– and have an MSRP that starts at $1,099 and tops out at $1,350 for the 6-inch 10mm model. That’s a good bit less than even the Springfield Prodigy and on par with Turkish-made guns without the baggage and QC issues.
Kimber also had the new compensated Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation DS 1911 Warrior on display, with a tasteful alpine motif. “Coming soon.”
As we have covered before, the current firearms works known and loved by collectors, hipsters, and savvy users alike dates to 1936 when its new factory was established to produce machine guns for the Czech Air Force. However, it became iconic in the West for its CZ 75 double-stack 9mm pistol.
We were fortunate enough to hold CZ 75 Serial Number 00001 when we visited the CZ factory in 2024, the gun that made the company a household name on this side of the pond.
Now, the new Legend repeats the same slab-sided Iron Curtain aesthetic while keeping the pistol’s internals and features modern, including a 16+1 round magazine, making it essentially a “post-B” gun in a “pre-B” body.
The new CZ Legend. Note the slab-sided frame and slide as well as the pebble-style grips. (Photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
The new Legend compared to SN 00001, which we saw in 2024 in the Czech Republic.
MSRP on the new CZ 75 Legend will be $1,399.
Bundeswehr Pistole 13
One of the big stories from late last year was that the German military (Bundeswehr) had selected the CZ P-10 pistol after it beat out a number of contenders to become the country’s new P13 sidearm.
Among the finalists bested were the Arex Delta and Glock G17 Gen5 for what could be an order of as many as 180,000 units. It will replace the HK-made P8A1, a version of the USP
CZ had the new P13 on hand at their booth last week.
In another shift from previous German service handguns, the new striker-fired P13 will arrive wearing an FDE finish instead of the traditional black.
CZ will work directly with its authorized German partner, POL-TEC GmbH & Co., to fulfill the order and provide the Bundeswehr with support for the new platform.
CZ 457 Target
CZ 457 rifles are known for their superb accuracy, but the new 457 Target, a fully adjustable, ISSF 3-Position competition-ready aluminum chassis co-developed with four-time American Olympic shooter Matt Emmons, raises that bar.
It includes a three-axis-adjustable pistol grip available in three different sizes, a side-tiltable buttstock with a five-axis-adjustable buttpad, along with a three-axis-adjustable, two-sided cheekpiece; and a forehand riser can be adjusted in three different axes. A 26-inch 12-groove .22 cold hammer-forged match barrel equipped with a diffuser is standard as is an adjustable 2-stage Flyweight trigger.
The MSRP for the CZ 457 Target rifle is expected to be around $3,600, which is still less than many European-made alternatives in the same class from folks like Anschutz and Walther.
I really dig AKs in 5.56, and they are seeing a lot more love these days, especially as 5.45 is growing harder and harder to get in quantity for cheap. I’ve been chasing this dream for well over a decade, going back to my original Century-imported Zastava-made, Krinkov-style M85NP pistol picked up in 2014 (serial number 81!), and even longer if you consider the Galil an AK.
My circa 2014 M85NP that accepts AR mags. It was long ago SBR’d– back when there was a tax for that. (Photos unless noted: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
While Century and Zastava long ago broke up, and the latter is running their own operations stateside now (albeit with on-again/off-again export issues) since 2019, the M85 is still around but without the option to run AR mags– which is what I love about my old M85 NP.
So why not run the new ZPAP M85– which has been extensively updated– for a bit and show how it stacks up.
My old M85NP SBR rifle from 2014 (top) with a more current ZPAP M85 pistol (bottom), the latter outfitted with a Midwest Industries M1913 brace and Vortex Crossfire dot.
Both are nice builds, as they have the same DNA, but I think I’m feeling the newer gun more.
For those interested in just running an M85 16-inch carbine in 5.56, Zastava makes those as well. (Photos: Zastava)
For full disclosure, Zastava provided this ZPAP M85 pistol for review purposes. All testing was done on this one gun, which has been under evaluation since December.
The Specs
Overall length (no brace): 19.3 inches Barrel length: 10.5-inch cold radial hammer forged, chrome lined threaded (26×1.5mm LH) Width: 2 inches across the forearm at the thickest, 1.5 across the receiver at the trunnion Height without magazine: 7.5 inches (no optics) Height with magazine inserted: 10.56 inches (no optics) Magazine capacity: 30 rounds 5.56 NATO; ships with one plastic Z-Mag Sights: Twin dual-aperture metal sights, 3.9-inch M1913 Picatinny top rail installed Sight radius: 13.5 inches Trigger pull: 6 pounds (10-pull average). Weight: 6.6 pounds, unloaded, sans optics Weight outfitted: 10.1 pounds with 30 rounds of 62-grain FMJ in loaded magazine, Vortex Crossfire red dot on a tall 1/3rd mount, Midwest Industries folding M1913 stabilizing brace, and Crimson Trace CMR-301 Rail Master Pro light/green laser.
Features
The basic ZPAP M85 we had in for testing is SKU ZP85556FDE (UPC: 685757098892), which is still a 5.56x45mm/.223 caliber semi-automatic pistol with a 10.5-inch cold hammer forged chrome-lined barrel.
As you may note, it is FDE Cerakote with a black quad forearm, safety lever, 1913 sections, angled foregrip, and muzzle device. The pistol grip is black plastic.
The dimpled receiver is 1.5mm stamped steel with a bulged RPK-style trunnion. Overbuilt, it’s as thick as an old shovel, and just as hard. tion here
Both M85s, old and new, use a hinged top cover, which is a snap for maintenance. The bolt carrier is hard nickel-moly (molybdenum) steel.
Our review model sports Zastava’s M85/92 M1913 Quad Rail in T6 6061 aluminum, which is anodized and has a matte black finish. It is 6 inches long, includes a removable UTG angled foregrip at the 6 o’clock position, and is great for cheese grating. Zastava sells these separatelyfor folks looking to upgrade their Yugo AK pistols.
The 3-inch-long removable Night Brake muzzle device weighs five ounces by itself and has a large, slanted port at the rear and a 3-prong design to help break up the flash as seen by the user. In practice, everyone else sees a ton of flash off this gun, no matter the time of day.
My other M85 has the more commonly seen Krinkov-style booster. The Night Brake is much more aggressive, in all senses of that word.
That oddball 26×1.5mm LH pitch is a bummer when it comes to utilizing suppressors if you don’t want to run a Zastava Vuk or Dead Air Wolverine, as it leaves you searching for something like a JMAC muzzle device (which are $100 ish) or some sort of funky thread converter that adds length and a bunch of tolerance stacking. It’s not impossible to run a can, just a bit of a pain.
The safety lever has a bolt hold-open notch. Speaking of holding that bolt, the Z-Mag sent with the M85 also holds open after the last round, something we did not experience on other mags.
It uses a Krinkov-style rear sight with two different apertures.
The front post sight is adjustable and also includes a flip-up aperture.
The 3-inch Pic rail atop the receiver cover is solid, and we mounted a Vortex Crossfire 2 MOA dot in FDE. Good for 50,000 hours on a single CR2032, it is only 2.5 inches long while offering 11 brightness settings (two night, nine day). Gas purged and O-ring sealed for fog-proof and waterproof performance in all conditions, the Crossfire is a tough little dot. We ran the higher mount, which enabled us to also use the irons in a pinch and see the dot via Nods.
Useable right out of the box (just add lube and bullets), the base M85 makes a good “ride along” that is very stowable for use around camp or in the field.
We decided to stretch the platform a bit with an FDE Midwest Industries M1913 side-folding stabilizing brace. Made from hard-coat anodized 6061 aluminum, it adds 9 inches to the length of the M85 when deployed (making the pistol some 31 inches long) and only 0.75 inches when folded. Weight is 14 ounces, so it adds some heft for sure, but makes the 5.56 pistol a lot easier to shoot at distance, and adds 5 QD sling attachments to the rear of the gun.
The ZPAP M85 with folded Midwest brace (not a stock) compared to the MP85NP SBR with a U.S. Machine Gun side-folding Galil style stock.
Even with the brace installed, the pistol easily fits inside a milsurp ($20) M60 spare barrel bag. Our old M85 (top) fits in a Russian paratrooper drop bag, but with the optic on our new one, we couldn’t make it work.
We also added an aluminum-bodied Crimson Trace CMR-301 Rail Master Pro light/green laser and switch to the rail, trying to fill the space.
The chunky CMR-301 just seemed to match the ZPAP’s concrete brutalist aesthetic.
Plus, with the option to run a 500 or 1,000-lumen light or green laser, or both, it provides hours of enjoyment for your cat.
Perhaps the strongest thing you can say is that the gun has a total Slav energy about it. At least if you die with a ZPAP M85, you went out looking cool.
Trigger
The double-hook Yugo-style trigger generally breaks at about 6.5 pounds, which isn’t terrible for an AK factory trigger.
Reliability
We ran the M85 on a ton of 5.56 rounds that we had around, pulling from over a dozen different loads. This leaned more toward bulk pack surplus ammo, primarily German 55-grain MEN loads. We only suffered two issues over the course of 1,000 rounds, one a misfire with a dimpled primer on some LC-stamped Winchester green tip, the other a FTE while running a box of old Tula green case.
Very short 10-inch 5.56 PDWs lose a lot of ballistic umpf, but with the right ammo choices, that can be mitigated. Rounds that are SBR-optimized and designed to tumble and expand at lower speeds, such as Barnes’ 70-grain TSX copper solids, Hornady’s Black-series 75-grain Interlock HD SBR, 77-grain Black Hills Mk262, et al., are widely available, though a bit expensive. Greentip ball is cheap and plentiful and is going to shoot through it, but if using the M85 in a “people with guns” gone wrong situation, it’s probably going to be good to have a few mags of really nice SBR-friendly self-defense rounds on tap.
The polymer ZPAP 30 magazine runs $25 and has a BHO (bolt hold open) and follower that are steel reinforced and run $25ish, while the ZPAP 5.56 steel mag, which gives strong Galil vibes, runs about $40.
On aftermarket rock-and-lock non-Zastava mags, we had an AC Unity 45 rounder that would not seat, but an AK19 style Gen 3 AC Unity 30 would and ran just fine. We also tried two $12 Bulgarian AK74-style fakelites and one worked while the other one didn’t, so that’s a 50/50 option in our experience.
The biggest problem we had was the fact that the gun was super stiff, with the magazine release in particular needing lots of actuation to smooth out.
Zastava-imported DRNCH lubricant was our friend during the T&E period. Direct from Belgrade.
Accuracy
The M85 is not a tack driver. I mean, you have a choice of a short sight radius and kinda funky irons when using fixed sights, or a dot mounted on a hinged top receiver cover. Add to this a 10.5 barrel, and you do not have a recipe for sub-MOA shooting. Still, the gun was very usable and able to achieve and maintain a 2–3-inch group at 50 yards while shooting off a barricade and utilizing the Midwest brace, roughly doubling that group at 100. When shooting offhand, standing, 25-yard A-zone groups are still overly simple, especially when using a dot. That is fun all day on a short range, with an obvious dual application in harvesting medium-sized game or controlling nuisance critters in brush, or in a close-in self-defense scenario.
Adding an LPVO and running it off a benchrest with match ammo could shrink that group, but why? Doing so misses the point of this one, Brate.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Overbuilt
Reliable
Chrome-lined barrel
Quad rail
Accurate for practical use
Lots of factory options
Magazines are available
Cons
Suppressor mounting is complicated due to the thread pattern
Furniture options are limited
Heavy at 6.3 pounds unloaded and over 10 outfitted.
Conclusion
I love my original M85 NP that I’ve had for over a decade, and the newest batch of M85 pistols continues that love affair. It’s a solid (and I do mean solid, at 6.3 pounds right out of the box) entry into the 5.56 AK pistol market. The old NP allowed use with an AR mag, but the newer models, sans magwell adapter, run the more traditional rock-and-lock setup, and AK556 mags are becoming better and more available than they were 10 years ago.
Whether you Form 1 it into an SBR or just roll with a brace and keep it in the pistol zone, the M85 has lots of options and provides joy.
Compared to Romanian-made Dracos, M85s have a lot of “ups,” including a barrel that is more likely to be concentric (important for use with cans and muzzle devices), a better fit and finish, and a lot of potential factory add-ons such as a quad rail, rear M1913 rail, and the giant Night Brake as shown. The other AK556 pistol on the market is the Polish WBP Rogow Mini Jack, which often doesn’t have a brace attachment on the rear but does allow users to add an under-folder AKSU-style stock to their SBR build and, like the Dracos, accepts AK furniture.
You are a bit more limited on furniture options on the M85, as pretty much just Zastava’s M92 pattern stuff interchanges. Even with their other guns, M70 (7.62×39), M77 (.308), and M90 (5.56) handguards and stocks interchange among themselves, but none will fit the M85. Nonetheless, there are some aftermarket options out there for the gun, and it can even accept an ALG AKT trigger (although with the use of an AK body, pin mods, and roll pin safety). Plus, Midwest Industries is marketing M-LOK drop-in handguards for the M85, so there is hope.
In the end, the Zastava ZPAP M85 line just seems to keep getting better. It’s an all-around “NATO AK” package that is getting lots of attention for all the right reasons.
Springfield Armory and Croatian firearms maker HS Produkt have been working together in the polymer-framed striker-fired handgun space for a quarter century, first on the divisive XD series, then the well-liked Hellcat, and, since 2023, the modular Echelon. We’ve reviewed the full-sized 4.5F, the 4.0C Compact, and the 4.0C Comp since then and have found few issues to complain about.
They run.
Going beyond that, Springfield has had some notable success with the Echelon on the LE market, as witnessed by the December 2024 adoption by the St. Louis County Police Department—with nearly 1,000 officers—as the agency’s duty pistol in a $2.1 million contract, adding some fire to the company’s smoke about the new pistol’s reliability and performance. There have been other significant LE contract awards as well.
Now, the newest addition to Springfield’s Echelon catalog is the 4.0FC. It is the same length and general specs as the Echelon 4.0C, save for the fact that the grip is more full-sized, which bumps the height up just 0.385 inches while providing better ergos and a higher magazine capacity (17+1 rounds flush fit and 20+ extended fit vs 15+1 and 18+1). It is also an ounce heavier.
The new Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC. Note the Compact length slide assembly with a Full-sized grip frame that uses a shorter dust cover to match the slide without an odd underbite. (All photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
The pistol uses a 4-inch barrel, which gives it an overall length of 7.25 inches. Its longer grip allows it to use a 17+1 round flush fit or a 20+1 round extended magazine.
Note how it stacks up to the G19X, which is fundamentally just a peanut butter G45. The specs are remarkably close to each other. Of note, the G19X and G45 have won numerous LE/mil contracts over the past several years.
Also see how the new Echelon 4.0FC compares to a 15+1 shot Hellcat Pro micro 9, a cousin to the pistol. The Echelon, slightly larger, has a better optics mounting system and superior ergonomics, not to mention a higher magazine capacity. Note the pistols share the same style of the U-Notch rear sight system and grip texture.
After sunsetting the legacy SCAR last year, FN has the new generation of its venerable modular rifle for 2026 – and they are softer recoiling, accept suppressors, and don’t eat scopes anymore.
First fielded in 2008 as sporter (semi-auto) variants of the USSOCOM SOF Combat Assault Rifle, the 16S, 17S, and 20S were a top-shelf option on the commercial market until FN closed that line late last year. Let’s be honest, the original SCAR series was cool but had some issues, and a few needed a significant redesign to fix.
That brings us to the new SCAR line.
The old SCAR, top, compared to a new SCAR, bottom. (All photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Among the new features is that the rifles are optimized for suppressors with a U.S.-standard muzzle profile and barrel shoulder. The platform’s short-stroke gas piston system uses a two-position adjustable gas regulator for improved reliability with cans and different ammo types. The adjustment is accessible via an access port in the heat shield. It works and is an upgrade from the old exposed gas block. Doubling down on the platform being suppressor-friendly as a selling point, FN even designed some new cans just for the SCAR, which we will get to in a separate article.
Another issue with the now-classic SCAR was the tendency to blow out scope crosshairs due to the, well, let’s just call it aggressive recoil. The new SCAR has a new (and lighter) hydraulically buffered modular two-piece bolt carrier that softens recoil. In testing last summer on the range between the old SCAR and the new ones, we could feel the chop decrease and the recoil impulse smooth out significantly.
We found the new SCARs to be much less choppy on the range in testing.
The new bolt carrier system helps with those tight repeatable groups on the 20S as well, which runs a heavy contour 20-inch barrel that now features 5R precision rifling with hammer-forged/chrome-lined durability. We were able to nail confirmed hits on target at 1,385 yards on a new gen SCAR 20 (6.5CM) in front of a crowd (no pressure) after just a few minutes of instruction.
FN realized that the handguard needed to be updated, so now the upper is a good bit longer with less exposed barrel and uses an integrated rail system, replacing the short M1913 rails with a ton of M-LOK accessory slots at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock position – even on the SCAR 20S precision rifle. Plus, the 16S and 17S rifles now ship with a colorway-matching vertical foregrip.
When it comes to the new SCAR 20S, it runs a rubber over-molded Ergo pistol with a generous palmswell and a fully-adjustable stock.
Triggers have been upgraded with the 20S using an improved FN-designed two-stage precision trigger for better control and feel, providing a 3.5 to 4.5-pound trigger pull. The 17S and 16S have a single-stage trigger that has likewise been updated.
For ergonomics, the pistol grip is now compatible with AR grips and, while the 16S and 17S still ship with the traditional “Ugg Boot” side folding adjustable stock, an AR stock and tube system can be installed.
Yessss.
The new SCARs will accept different stock options.
This is a thing now for the SCAR…
There is even the possibility of using the SCAR SC stock.
You also have more QD cups in more places, and all the guns are “Nerch” (Non-Reciprocating Charging Handle or NRCH) variants.
Whereas the old SCAR was kind of limited in the functionality for southpaws, the new ones are fully ambi when it comes to the bolt catch/release, mag release buttons, and safety levers. Even the selector switches are modular now.
When it comes to durability and serviceability, the old SCAR used Hex screws that could strip, whereas the new ones run Torx, among other changes. We were advised that the testing protocol on these guns was no joke, and the new generation SCAR is designed and built with feedback from nearly two decades of end users, many of whom are “tip of the spear” types.
The new SCARs will be available in 15 different variants across the 16S (5.56 in either FDE, Gray, and Black), 17S (6.5CM or 7.62 NATO in FDE, Gray, and Black), and 20S (6.5CM or 7.62 NATO in FDE, Gray, and Black) models.
You gotta love those Gray models. Cue Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg with “my favorite.”
As for those still hungering for the pistol variant, the SCAR 15P, it survived the great SCAR cull of 2025 but didn’t get any of the new updates and is available in 5.56 and .300BLK, with the latter just screaming for a now zero-dollar Form 1 SBR conversion.
Here comes the rough stuff.
While the new and old SCARs look very much the same – and that was done on purpose for continuity – very little is backward compatible between the discontinued traditional models and the new ones. About the only things that are shared/swappable between the two are the NRCH charging sled (if you had an NRCH model), barrels, magazines, the 9310 bolt and firing pin, and some small springs and pins.
If you have an older SCAR and love it, FN wants you to love it still, and they are supporting those guns for at least the foreseeable future. Remember, they are still making and supporting military/LE contract classic SCARs around the world.
MSRP on the new SCARs is comparable to that of the old guns, but they are still a more top-shelf price than, say, your average AR. The new FN SCAR 17S variants run $3,999, while the 16S is slightly cheaper at $3,799, and the long boy, the 20S, is $4,499. Of course, that is the MSRP, and you can bet that the reseller crowd is going to move into high gear with these, so watch out for the gouging. But if your heart is pure and you wish hard enough and look long enough, you could find one that fits the Ugg-sized hole in your gun safe.
Just in time for SHOT Show, FN has debuted its newest double-stack 9mm pistol: the feature-packed and more affordable FN 309 MRD.
The 309 takes cues from the company’s well-received Reflex series of micro 9s, using a DAO internal hammer operation and direct-mount Shield RMSc/Holosun K/Leupold DPP footprint with adapter plates available for other dots.
The unloaded weight is 18.4 ounces with an empty mag. We found the Reflex in its most svelte form, with 12 rounds of Federal’s Punch JHP 124-grain self-defense loads and no optic, to hit the scales at 23.4 ounces. Shown with a DeSantis Inside Heat, which, although made for the single-stack FN 503, fits it like a glove.
In fact, the FN 309 is basically a Reflex XL, but it is a little bigger, holds more bullets, is $150 cheaper, and uses easy-to-load and more affordable ($20 rather than $50) magazines. Plus, it is easier to rack and very slim, all good things for first-time pistol buyers: the demographic FN is pitching to for this one.
The FN 309 is new for 2026. (Photos: FN)
It has styling similar to the company’s other pistols, but make no mistake, the 309 is its own ecosystem, using proprietary (but inexpensive) 16 and 20-round polymer-bodied magazines. Plus – and this is a win for first-time gun owners and those with reduced hand strength – it requires lower racking force without a gimmick.
The pistol is carry-sized and leans more compact than sub-compact, with a 3.8-inch alloy steel, machine-gun grade, barrel with a recessed target crown. This gives it an overall length of 7.4 inches and a weight, due to its polymer frame, of 22 ounces. The guns ship standard with FN 509 pattern drift-adjustable sights, using an over-molded green fiber-optic front and rounded U-notch rear. Other features include an accessory rail, a reversible magazine release, and multiple safeties, including a firing pin block and trigger safety. Manual safety models will also be available.
The MSRP on the FN 309 is $549, which is likely to be closer to $450 at retailers once supply starts flowing.
We were able to travel to South Carolina last summer to check out the 309 “in progress,” shooting a table full of early production pistols along with a group of other gun media. (Photos unless noted: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Note the polymer magazines in 16 and 20-round variants, which FN advises will be inexpensive (think $25) at retail. Compare that to FN 509 mags, which run $50-$90 depending on the model.
The FN 309 is a simple design and field strips without pulling the trigger – a big deal for a lot of users.
Note the internal hammer-fired operation of the FN 309.
The gun shot well in initial testing, with the Guns.com crew putting about 500 rounds through a couple of pistols over the course of a couple of hours. A relay team ran 1,160 rounds on a very hot torture test gun without a serious issue, so there is definitely a potential for the 309 to be something FN is proud to have in its catalog.
The gun is pitched as a more entry-level pistol than the company’s duty-grade 509s, which start at $750 for basic vanilla models and run to $1,600 in the more bespoke Edge package guns. Even the 15+1 round FN Reflex XL MRD has a suggested ask of $719.
“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,” said Chris Johnson, Senior Product Manager for Pistols for FN America, LLC. “With the FN 309 MRD, we now have a trustworthy, easy-to-use pistol perfect 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.”
The FN 309 ships with a 16+1-round flush-fit and 20+1-round extended magazine, with options for 10-rounders in restricted states.
We have a review model inbound, so expect to see more on the 309 in the coming weeks.
Plus, if you like this, you are going to love what is announced later this morning.
As part of a restructure and streamlining of operations, the NRA-published magazine, Shooting Illustrated, ended its run this month.
The final issue, Vol. 25 No. 1, officially the January 2026 issue, is the last for Shooting Illustrated, capping a quarter-century run.
The end was not a total surprise as the NRA had announced last October that it was ending publication of both America’s 1st Freedom and Shooting Illustrated, along with halting the Shooting Sports USA digital magazine (but not the website), and trimming the publishing of print issues of its two remaining media titles, American Hunter and American Rifleman, to “premium monthly digital editions with quarterly print issues.”
The moves came, as NRA EVP & CEO Doug Hamlin explained, to “create a leaner NRA that allows us to fight harder for our members.”
Shooting Sports Illustrated was unique in a number of ways.
When it was first released in 2001, the NRA offered a choice from four magazines available for free to members (American Rifleman, American Hunter, America’s 1st Freedom, and Woman’s Outlook) while NRAinSights was available for junior members. Meanwhile, Shooting Sports USA and Shooting Illustrated were subscription-only (you had to pay extra for them), with the latter being the only magazine in the organization’s stable that was available on newsstands. This meant that even those who weren’t NRA members would see Shooting Illustrated on magazine racks down to the gas station level. There it was, mixed in with the big boys like Guns & Ammo, the Shotgun News, and American Handgunner.
It long featured Richard Mann’s Bullet column, which first appeared in 2007, and the most recent issues carried Sheriff Jim Wilson, Steve Adelmann, Tamara Keel, Jeff Johnson, Tatiana Whitlock, Guy Sagi, and others on its masthead.
The magazine was only offered to NRA members as a journal choice after 2016.
The most current circulation figures available for Shooting Illustrated, as compiled by the Alliance for Audited Media in 2023, stood at just over 600,000. Comparatively, America’s 1st Freedom had 560,000; American Hunter, some 780,000; and American Rifleman, 1.5 million. So the math makes sense if you were going to snuff out two of the four, which two should get the ax.
The two volumes will be treasured in the collections of firearms enthusiasts. They will join the likes of print issues of Soldier of Fortune, which switched to digital only in 2016, the myriad of titles printed by Paladin Press, which closed in 2017, and even the Guns.com print magazine, which was published in 2023-24. Last November, the news came that the print editions of GUNS Magazine and American Handgunner magazine are ending after 70 years, leaving only digital issues.
Other gun publications have come and gone, then made a resurgence, such as Field & Stream, which recently returned to newsstands, and assorted titles from Harris Publications, which were down and out in 2023, then found a new home with Athlon/Bleecker Street– at least for now.
In 2020, Field & Stream, the outdoor magazine that first appeared in 1871, ceased publication of its print edition but recently reemerged after a three-year hiatus under new ownership– so never say never! (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
So are print gun magazines dead?
Our friend Ian McCollum opines on that question, below.
Drill Receiver Reclamation Project: The Drill Receiver Reclamation Project is a landmark initiative designed to restore tens of thousands of previously deactivated M1 Garand and 1903A3 drill rifles into safe, functional firearms. With original receiver inventory nearly exhausted (note: CMP continues to work with the US Government to identify options for the return of US-provided M1s from foreign countries), CMP identified this project as a critical way to sustain future rifle production and preserve important historical assets. Extensive testing, engineering oversight, and transparent communication have positioned this program as a model for responsible firearm reclamation and safety assurance.
Scope and Inventory: Began with ~75,000 serialized drill rifles (M1 Garand and 1903A3)
10,000 M1s classified as ‘good’ (Category A)
26,000 M1s classified as ‘medium (Category B)
15,000 M1903/A3s in a condition supporting reclamation
24,000 as ‘scrap’ (Category C – deferred due to cost and condition)
Partnerships: CMP partnered with Heritage Arms (manufacturing) and Prospector Training of Florida (ballistic testing and validation).
Testing: A rigorous validation program included destructive testing and proof loads exceeding 80,000 psi—demonstrating exceptional strength and safety.
Production: CMP placed an initial purchase order for ~20,000 receivers across the recoverable categories.
Identification: All reclaimed rifles and receivers carry an “RC” item number prefix to clearly differentiate them from legacy products.
Customer Reception: Initial market skepticism was overcome through education, transparent documentation, and in-person demonstrations at the 2025 National Matches.
Sales Strategy: CMP introduced stripped and barreled receiver sales at low margins to build customer trust and demonstrate quality firsthand.
Sustainability: Sales velocity has stabilized, providing a multi-year supply of reclaimed receivers for production and sales.
The project inventory will support nearly 2-3 years of sales.
CMP 1903A3 Expert Rifle Program: A key component of the Drill Receiver Reclamation initiative is the development of the CMP 1903A3 Expert Rifle, CMP’s first bolt-action rifle to carry the Expert Grade designation. The project utilizes reclaimed 1903A3 receivers from the drill inventory, each carefully inspected and refurbished to CMP’s Expert standards. This launch expands CMP’s product line and appeals to collectors and shooters seeking historically accurate bolt-action rifles.
All supply chain inventory has been acquired, and the Armory is staged to begin assembly.
Production Start: Scheduled to begin in November 2025, with initial inventory and public release expected in January 2026.
Configuration: Each rifle features a new Criterion barrel, new Minelli walnut stock, refinished metal parts, and authentic GI-style hardware.
Grading and Finish: Rifles will meet the same cosmetic and performance criteria as CMP’s M1 Expert Grade rifles.
Variants: Plans include a scoped 1903A4 model using Hi-Lux M82 optics and potential chambering in .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield.
Strategic Impact: This expansion diversifies CMP’s product offerings and ensures efficient use of reclaimed assets while appealing to both historical and modern shooters.
New CMP M1 Rifle Project: The New CMP M1 Rifle Project represents a return to U.S.-based production of forged, USGI-spec M1 Garand receivers. This is CMP’s first move into commercial firearms manufacturing.
We have partnered to manufacture parts and components for several years, but never receivers. This program ensures the long-term viability of M1 rifle sales after the depletion of legacy and reclaimed receiver inventories while offering a quality product for those who do not wish to purchase a reclaimed offering.
For those more interested in performance over collectability, the newly manufactured CMP M1 is the clear choice. It delivers a product that is both faithful to the original design and built to modern manufacturing tolerances and materials standards.
Purpose: Ensure long-term rifle production continuity through a newly manufactured, USGI-spec forged receiver
Partnership: Multi-year R&D collaboration with Heritage Arms covering 3D scanning, CAD modeling, prototype machining, and validation
Prototypes cleared for test batch “T Lot” production in early 2025
Testing: Over 100 serialized T-prefix test rifles produced, fired through 16,000+ rounds during developmental validation
Numerous iterations and improvements between small lots within the “T” series
T Lot proving conclude mid-summer, and preorders were opened for eager customers
Founder Series: We received607 preorders placed in 2025 under the FNDR prefix (231 in .308 and 376 in .30-06), representing the first commercial batch
Production Status: Full production underway. Initial Founder Series shipments began in early November 2025. Standard production units will begin shipping early in 2026.
Specifications: Forged USGI Spec receiver, Criterion or Faxon barrel, forged reproduction stainless steel gas cylinder, and new walnut stock. MSRP: $1,950 for either caliber (.30-06 or .308 Win)
Future Models: Planned expansion to include M1D, and “Tanker” variants, as well as alternative calibers. Development is also underway on several other exciting variants that will be announced as we roll into the new year.
Strategic Value: Ensures a sustainable, U.S.-based manufacturing capability that preserves authenticity while meeting modern expectations for quality and precision
M1911 Pistols: Our inventory and sales of M1911 pistols remain strong. The limit of four pistols per person per lifetime remains in effect for 2026. We do intend to bring in-person sales to the Talladega Marksmanship Park store in the March/April timeframe and to the Camp Perry store in the June timeframe, and before the National Matches. More information on this will be forthcoming after the new year.
Featuring a built-in forward barrel port and matching compensated slide, the newKimber 2K11 Comp series offers a significant reduction in felt recoil while keeping the same popular features as the rest of the series.
Alabama-based Kimber went double-stack 1911 in 2024 after at least a 30-year run in the field of making single stacks. We have reviewed a couple of these excellent pistols since then, and are past the 3K round mark on our original test gun with no hiccups to report, leaving us more than happy to report on the new Comp series.
The guns, launching just in time for the upcoming SHOT Show, will all be chambered in 9mm and available in both 5-inch full-sized (Government) and 4.25-inch Pro (Commander) sizes, shipping with flush-fit 20 and 19-round magazines, respectively.
Each will also be offered in either a black DLC or matte stainless variant, giving Kimber four new 2K11 Comp models for 2026: 5-inch black (669278350783) and stainless (669278350806) and 4.25-inch black (669278350738) and stainless (669278350752) with an MSRP running between $2,345 and $2,499, with the DLC guns hitting the higher end, because of DLC.
A sampling, showing that big ol’ comp. (Photo: Kimber)
“The 2K11 Comp is the culmination of years of preparation and hundreds of thousands of rounds of testing to deliver the most fully featured comprehensive handgun we have ever produced,” said Pedi Gega, Director of product development, assembly, and finishing. “The new 2K11 family of compensated models creates the highest class of firearms for the discerning enthusiast and competitive shooter.”
Kimber sent us an SST (stainless) 2K11 Pro Comp model for testing.
The pistol looks great, which is no surprise as the 2K11 series is crafted with superb attention to detail, one at a time, by skilled technicians, not just slapped together. Being a Pro model, its 4.25-inch barrel gives an overall length of 7.79 inches. (All photos unless noted: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Note the external extractor, ambidextrous thumb safety, and bumped grip safety, which are standard across the line.
Weight is 33.4 ounces, even with a full-length rail on the dustcover of the frame. Note the lightening cuts to the slide, seen previously on Kimber’s top-shelf Rapide series, which provide faster lock-up.
The most noticeable enhancement to these guns over the standard 2K11 series is the massive 0.16 square inch integrated compensator forward of the front sight. This feature noticeably reduces muzzle rise and felt recoil, plus it creates an incredibly fun and controllable shooting experience.
The integral comp is big enough to double as an ashtray if needed.
The four new compensated models also feature Kimber’s brand-new carbon fiber grip infused grip module that is compatible with corresponding Stan Chen Magwells. We found the grip to be aggressive but not overly.
The Comp guns also share the current 2K11 features, such as Kimber’s in-house toolless guide rod, an external extractor, a bushing-less, crowned, and fluted barrel, a GT trigger, and more.
The Kimber 2K11 Pro Comp SST 4.25 compared to the standard full-sized Black DLC 2K11.
And compared with the non-comped Kimber 2K11 Pro SST, which sports a Kimpro Granite finish and Kevlar carbon fiber grips. Released last August, this gun hinted at what the Pro Comp would become.
Note the top ends of the Kimber 2K11 Pro SST and Pro Comp SST
The Kimber 2K11 Pro Comp features a cover plate with an adjustable rear sight. A TAG Precision FiberLok 2 front sight with additional red and black fiber-optic inserts is included. All models ship with a TAG Precision RMR adapter plate that takes the place of the rear sight.
Our test gun shipped with two 19+1-round Checkmate Double Stack Ultra-Hi Capacity 126mm mags. Full-length models ship with a flush 17+1, and two extended 20+1 round mags. The mags, reverse 2011-compatible, are all metal, including an aluminum base pad and steel retainer for maximum made-in-the-USA durability and longevity. Word of caution: they are a beast to fully load.
The Kimber 2K11 Pro Comp has an easy takedown without tools due to its toolless guide rod system, a feature it shares with the rest of the series.
The aluminum match-grade skeletonized GT trigger has an advertised 3-to-4-pound pull. We found it broke at 3.6, with a short take-up to the wall and a crisp break. Reset is similarly short and is both audible and tactile. Kimber advises that the shoe length has been reduced by 3/32 of an inch, making for a more comfortable overall length. IMHO, the GT is the best production factory 1911 trigger on the market.
Check out the trigger pull and reset here:
How’s it shoot?
Well, we’ve only had the gun for a couple of weeks and have about 200 rounds through it thus far, so it is a little early to say, but we have experienced no jams and smooth shooting, with less recoil.
Stay tuned for more feedback as we up the round count.
