Tag Archives: new handguns 2026

Reviewing Smith’s new entry-level J-frame

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Introduced in 1955, the original Bodyguard snub was a shrouded-hammer, alloy-framed Airweight .38 revolver that later became the Model 38, while its steel-framed counterpart was the Model 49.

The original Smith & Wesson Model 49 Bodyguard J-frame. Using a shrouded hammer with an accessible spur, it was DA/SA

Then, in 2014, the M&P Bodyguard .38 hit the scene with some significant changes, including a different internal lock work, an ambidextrous cylinder release, and a frame made lighter via the magic of polymer. Further, while the previous Bodyguard models were double-action/single-action with a humpback frame and shrouded hammer whose top spur could still be manually cocked, the new revolver was DAO with no access to the hammer.

In short, it was Smith’s answer to the Ruger LCR, which had entered the market as a DAO snub in 2009.

By 2026, the new Bodyguard 2.0 retains the core appeal of the original while adding several modern features, all in a 14.2-ounce package that carries five rounds of .38 SPL +P. You still have the ambi cylinder release and a lightweight uni-body design that comes from a mix of alloys and polymers, but you have several improvements from the circa 2014 design that we’ll cover below.

For now, let us meet the new Bodyguard 2.0 .38:

With a 1.875-inch stainless-steel barrel and a one-piece aluminum alloy upper frame ending in a polymer boot-style grip, the new Bodyguard 2.0 keeps the weight down to under a pound. Plus, it does not have an internal safety lock. (All photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

An ambidextrous, center-mounted cylinder release allows for straightforward operation with either hand, supporting intuitive use for both right and left-handed shooters.

The MSRP on the new S&W Bodyguard 2.0 is $449, while a Crimson Trace laser-equipped model runs $549, prices that are typically lower at retail.

Quick summary: An evolution of a design that has been chugging along for three quarters of a century, the newest Bodyguard model has better sights, trigger, and ergonomics than its predecessors while keeping just about everything that made it popular in the first place.

Meanwhile, Last Resort Tactical’s R.A.C. (Rapid Access Carrier) mimics the size of a medium-sized bifold wallet and keeps the speed loader (s) indexed for quick, consistent draws. Better than having a speed loader floating around in your pocket.

For the full review, head on over to my article at Guns.com.

Kuna Competition? Meet the Taurus RPC 9mm PDW

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Taurus on Tuesday announced its first entry into the dedicated PDW space, the fully ambidextrous 9mm RPC.

Billed as being built to NATO standards– keep in mind that the company competes for and wins military and police contracts all over the world– the new RPC is lightweight via alloy construction and runs from curved 32-round magazines.

And did we mention that it has a roller delayed operating system, which offers a flatter recoil impulse?

Taurus RPC 9mm PDW PCC
Note the case in the air and the muzzle still on target. (Photos: Taurus)
Taurus RPC 9mm PDW PCC
Controls are fully ambidextrous, with the bolt release/lock and magazine release easily reached from both sides, and a reversible, non-reciprocating charging handle. Note the rear vert Pic rail for braces. 
Taurus RPC 9mm PDW PCC
Using a 4.5-inch threaded barrel, the RPC features a single-stage flat-faced trigger, an AR-15 compatible soft rubber over-molded grip, and three integrated quick-detach sling attachment points in addition to fully ambi controls and a Picatinny top rail. 

A short M-LOK handguard is standard.

The RPC will be offered in two variants at launch, both with a rear vertical Picatinny rail, either with (MSRP $1098.99) or without ($939.99) a Strike Industries FSA folding brace. That puts it a couple of hundred bucks less than the roller-locked Springfield Armory Kuna and will likely come in under the cost of the Stribog SP9A3 as well.

Expect more on this interesting little guy from NRAAM this week, and know that we are eagerly trying to get one of these in for review.

Springfield’s Hi-Power Clone gets a Detective Model

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The 13+1-shot Browning Hi-Power, introduced in 1935, was the first “wonder nine” and a worldwide classic for generations until the company finally put it to bed in 2017. 

Then came a few companies to fill the void, with EAA offering a Turkish-made clone by Girsan and Springfield Armory, in 2021, debuting the SA-35. We evaluated the latter and found it a very faithful salute to the classic 1960s/70s C/T-series BHP in terms of aesthetics, but with the bonus of several subtle improvements to boost performance.

Now, Springfield has whittled down the gun by about an inch in length while keeping everything else, akin to the old Argentine FM Hi-Powers seen on the consumer market in the early 1990s

You know, these guys:

Both the standard and “Detective” FMs were readily available once upon a time, as noted by this circa 1992 SOG ad in The Shotgun News.

However, Springfield didn’t just redo the Detective concept, but did it better done with several notable changes and flush-fit 15+1 round magazines.

I just posted a review on the new gun today as the embargo lifted.

Springfield Armory SA-35 4-inch
The new Springfield Armory SA-35 4-inch runs a steel frame, slide, and barrel, hitting the scales at 29.8 ounces unloaded. (All photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Springfield Armory SA-35 4-inch
Overall length is 7.1 inches, while the height is 4.8 inches. 
Springfield Armory SA-35 4-inch
The SA-35 4-inch, left, compared to its 7.8-inch full-sized brother. 
Springfield Armory SA-35 4-inch
The difference in length is just under an inch, while the weight savings are about two ounces. 
Springfield Armory SA-35 4-inch
When compared to a 4.25-inch Commander-length 1911, in this case, Springfield Armory’s Operator AOS Commander, the SA-35 4-inch comes in both noticeably shorter and thinner. 
Springfield Armory SA-35 4-inch

We found the SA-35 4-inch to fit common Commander-sized holsters we had on hand, such as this Falco Langdon Timeless Open-Top IWB. 

More in my column at Guns.com.

New: KelTec KP50 and MP50 5.7 Platform with 100 Rounds of 5.7 On-Gun

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The company debuted the P50 pistol in 2021, which uses flat 5.7mm FN P90 pattern magazines in a top-loading format via a hinged receiver. Offered first in a pistol, then in a P50 carbine kit with a 16-inch barrel and a foldable stock, it performed well in our tests.

Updating the concept, KelTec has flipped the loading to a faster and drop-free format and ditched the pistol-style trigger on the P50 for a more AR-ish SU16 trigger group on the new KP50. Other features on the gun include a B5 Systems AR-pattern grip, a rear accessory mount, a top Pic rail, a rear non-reciprocating charging handle, and an optional “jungle mag” setup with dual 50-round magazines, allowing rapid switch-out following a drop and 180-degree rotation.

The KP50, seen in its SBR variant. (Photos: KelTec)

KelTec will be offering the KP50 in four flavors: an $899 MSRP’d pistol, a $1,099 pistol with a side-folding pistol stabilizing brace, a $1,349 Defender braced pistol with a Vortex Crossfire green dot optic and Magpul MBUS backup sights, and a $1,099 factory SBR that transfers on a $0 ATF Form 4.

There is also the price-available MP50, a select-fire variant (come on Hughes Amendment repeal) with a cyclic rate of fire of 850 rounds per minute until the mag holds out.

KelTec K50
The $899 pistol variant of the KP50. It is lightweight at 3.2 pounds loaded (4.3 with 50 rounds of 5.7x28mm loaded) while being 18.27 inches long overall with its 9.6-inch barrel. 
KelTec K50
The $1,099 braced KP50 pistol ups the unloaded weight to 4 pounds, and with the brace unfolded, extends the overall length to 28.3 inches. KelTec will also offer this gun in a Defender package with a Vortex Crossfire green dot optic and Magpul MBUS backup sights for $250 more. Note the 50+50 “jungle mag”
KelTec 50 SMG
The more tricked-out folding-stocked MP50 SBR machine gun, which is pitched to Mil/LE sales due to its giggle switch. Contact your Congressman, Senator, and President on scrapping the Hughes Amendment if you disagree with that post-86 restriction. 

The concept of the KP50/MP50 isn’t entirely new. The autists at Pennsylvania-based Stuff and Things have been marketing its $239 bottom-feeding ST50 FCG kit for the P50 for about a year, which uses AR trigger groups and allows users to swap P-90 pattern 5.7 mags via an AK/EVO 3-style mag release.

The ST50 FCG kit

Still, kudos to KelTec for keeping folks guessing. The MP50, in particular, sounds invigorating.

New: Beretta B22 Jaguar Rimfire Match Pistol

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Beretta has been quietly bringing one of the coolest .22LR semi-auto pistols to the market for the past couple of years, and we can finally talk about it.

But first, a little background.

The Jaguar name goes back to 1958 when Beretta introduced a series of gently larger rimfire semi-automatic pistols to complement its pocket .22s like the Model 418 Panther and tip-up barrel Minx. Like today’s Jaguar, the Beretta that carried the name last century was primarily intended for use as a plinker and target pistol, although it went on to be used by covert kinda folks in covert kinda operations.

Beretta Model 71 Jaguar
The original Beretta Jaguar series 70 pistols were introduced in 1958 and remained in production into the 1980s. They are old school cool, for sure. (All photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

Meet the new Jaguar B22

We first saw the pre-production Jaguar B22 at a Beretta range event in 2025, but were sworn to secrecy on it. Like the original, it was cool and sleek. However, where the old 71 was art deco and classic, the new Jag was a rimfire muscle car, dripping with factory standard go-fast accessories from Tandemkross and built to go fast and perform while doing it.

Jaguar B22
The pre-production Jag, spotted in January 2025. Almost ready to be let out of its cage and shown to the public. 

Fast forward to SHOT ’26 last month and the Jag was back at Beretta’s range event– but this time soft-launched and ready to purr.

The new platform, designed for plinking, target shooting, and training the next generation, will be offered in a Tac Metal (MSRP $749) and a Metal Competition (MSRP $969) model, with sub-variants in standard (15-round magazines) and state-compliant (10-round) versions of each, at the same price.

Both are built atop an innovative new modular chassis system and an M_LOK barrel shroud with a detachable accessory rail, making the B22 easy to disassemble, clean, and customize. Featuring dual-side ejection with a fixed barrel, it is designed to be reliable and accurate. They are internal hammer-fired (SAO) and blowback action.

Jaguar B22 Tac Metal
The Jaguar B22 Tac Metal runs a 5.25-inch barrel and is 8.85 inches overall. Weight is 33.6 ounces. Equipped with adjustable fiber-optic sights, an extended barrel, and a 1913 Picatinny rail, it is suppressor and optics-ready, as you can tell. 
Beretta Jaguar B22 Metal Competition
The Jaguar B22 Metal Competition has a 5.5-inch barrel, giving it an overall length of 9.8 inches and a weight of 36.4 ounces. It comes standard with all the features of the Tac Metal but also adds A Tandemkross fiber front fiber optic, Tandemkross Steam Demon single port compensator, Tandemkross Accelorator thumb ledge gas pedal, and an adjustable Tandemkross semi-flat faced trigger with pre- and post-travel adjustments. It looks fast just sitting on the table. 

Beretta says the Jaguar B22 Metal Competition is the first .22LR pistol explicitly developed in partnership with the largest educational shooting program in the world for youth, the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP), in a process that has taken four years.

More direct from Tandemkross and SASP on the background of the new generation of Jaguar:

We hope to have a review of these in the coming weeks.

Zastava Has M85 in 300 BLK, Surplus Toks, and a M84 PKM Planned

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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.

Zastava M85 PKM
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)
Zastava M85 PKM
Some 46 inches long, it weighs 19 pounds, and is chambered in 7.62x54R. Goofy GDC guy not included. 

Surplus Yugoslav M57 Police Pistols

Chambered in 7.62×25, this Cold War-era Yugo take on the Soviet era TT33 Tokarev has a slim design but allows for an extra round.

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.

Yugo M57
These have been factory refurbished with the original accessories and will be offered for around $400. 
Yugo M57
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 M85 300
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.

Yugo AB 1 and 2 parts kits
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.

New: Staccato Compact HD C3.6 Pistol (And it’s G19 Mag Compatible)

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Staccato this week took the features from its well-liked HD line and packed them into a more nimble and concealable package– the new HD C3.6.

The “C” in the Staccato HD C3.6 stands for compact, and they ship with 15-round Mec-Gar G19-pattern mags, much like the P4 HD ships with 18-round G17-pattern mags. The new gun also saves a bit of weight, running an alloy (7075-T6 aluminum) rather than a steel frame.

Other than that, you have the same HD features, such as ambi controls, Staccato’s HD HOST optic mounting system with decent backup sights, a crisp 4.5-pound single-action-only trigger, and a drop-safe active firing-pin block.

the Staccato HD C3.6
With an overall length of just over 7 inches due to its 3.6-inch bull barrel, coupled with its shorter grip, which gives it a 4.8-inch height, the new HD C3.6 is billed as easier to carry and bring into more spaces for more users. (Photos: Staccato)
the Staccato HD C3.6
Weight of the standard base model Staccato HD C3.6 with its alloy frame is 24 ounces unloaded. Compare this to the 32-ounce base weight of the only slightly larger P4 HD, and you realize a half-pound weight savings while offering much the same performance.
the Staccato HD C3.6
Note the 3.6-inch bull barrel and forward-set rear sight, which practically guarantees a lower-third co-witness with optics. Staccato will be offering these in both a more basic Ameriglo blacked-out front sight variant or one with a Trijicon tritium front.

“We built the HD line to deliver the most technologically advanced and thoroughly tested version of the 2011 platform to date,” said Paul Smith, VP of Product for Staccato. “After introducing full-sized models earlier this year, we set out to create a compact option that preserves duty-grade performance while expanding carrying options and user confidence. The HD C3.6 is the result.”

Staccato plans to offer the HD C3.6 series in three different grades, starting at $2,299. Because Staccato.