Tag Archives: new pistols 2026

New and Beautiful: Meet the Beretta 92G Elite Combat LTT

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Beretta and Ernest Langdon have teamed up on what could be the penultimate Model 92 series defensive pistol.

The new 92G Elite Combat LTT is just stacked with competition-grade features. Standard is an Elite LTT slide and frame, LTT G10 grips, and a chrome trigger with an ambidextrous G-series slide-mounted decocking lever. Then comes the Toni System improvements in the form of a single-port compensator and flared magwell, along with a trio of Toni System +4 magazine extensions to give the user three 22-round magazines out of the box.

But as the man says, “wait, there’s more.”

Additional features include a black threaded barrel, a fiber-optic front sight, an extended disassembly lever, and DLC-coated hammer and sear. Lots of attention is put to updated ergos, with enhanced frame beveling and front strap checkering, some very aggressive front slide serrations, an extended mag release, and an accessory rail.

Roll those images.

The overall length of the new Beretta 92G Elite Combat LTT is 9 inches with the Toni comp installed on the 5.1-inch barrel, giving it a sight radius of 6.1 inches.

Weight is 36.2 ounces, unloaded.

Grip width is 1.3 inches, while overall height is 6.45 inches.

The compensator and flared magwell work together with Toni System +4 magazine extensions to enhance recoil control and increase reload speed.

The Toni System comp is removable, leaving an extended threaded barrel that is suppressor-ready

The new Beretta 92G Elite Combat LTT ships in a clamshell plastic box with three magazines, each with TS +4 extensions.

So how much does all this functional beauty cost?

The MSRP on the new Beretta 92G Elite Combat LTT is $1,299, closer to $1,198 at dealers.

That’s actually a screaming deal when you consider the much more vanilla 92G Elite LTT II has an MSRP of $1,249 and does not come with the three Toni System mag extensions (which run $45 a pop), the TS comp runs another $100, and the magwell another $100.

Just saying.

Nice to see this as a factory option.

New (and more affordable): Echelon Alpha

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For 25 years, Springfield Armory and Croatia’s HS Produkt have partnered on polymer-framed, striker-fired handguns, starting with the XD series, followed by the popular Hellcat, and, since 2023, the modular Echelon. We’ve reviewed the full-sized 4.5F, 4.0C Compact, 4.0C Comp, and 4.0FC crossover, and we’ve had little to criticize.

They perform reliably.

We’ve put over 5K rounds through assorted Echelons during reviews since the pistol was released and never had a notable problem with these guns. They run. (All photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

Springfield has also gained meaningful traction for the Echelon in law enforcement. In December 2024, the St. Louis County Police Department, with nearly 1,000 officers, adopted it as its duty pistol under a $2.1 million contract, reinforcing the company’s claims about the pistol’s reliability and performance. The Echelon has secured other major law enforcement contracts as well, and abroad, the Spanish National Police have chosen it as their standard duty sidearm.

What do you get with the Alpha?

Based on the G19-sized Echelon 4.0C Compact, which is likely the company’s most popular offering in the series, the new Alpha is the same gun at its core.

The new Springfield Armory Echelon Alpha 4.0C is a 15+1 capacity 9mm with a 4-inch barrel. (Photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

Weight is 24 ounces unloaded. The Vortex Defender ST red dot shown installed is not included.

It utilizes the same Central Operating Group, a serialized stainless-steel chassis that can be easily swapped to different sized/styled polymer grip modules. The striker-fired pistol disassembles without having to pull the trigger.

It is optics-ready with Springfield’s Variable Interface System, which enables direct-mount capability for more than 30 optics directly to the slide without the use of adapter plates.

The MSRP on the Echelon Alpha is $599, which is a good bit less than the $710 ask on the standard Echelon models. Keep in mind “street price” at retailers will likely be even less.

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

Another volley in the 380 space…

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Featuring a removable chassis system for easy grip frame upgrades and a 14-shot capacity, Ruger has a new LCP Max on the block, powered by Magpul.

The two companies in 2024 brought the innovative RXM 9mm pistol to the market, which uses a serialized Fire Control Insert that is independent of its Enhanced Handgun Grip, or EHG, allowing the flexibility to be easily swapped into different grips. And by different we both size (full, compact, subcompact) and color, all inside the Glock Gen 3 9mm double stack ecosystem.

You can see much of the same potential modularity on the newest Ruger LCP Max. Debuted this week, it uses Magpul’s new EHG .380 grip frame with a Fire Control Insert chassis. It carries a new style slide that mimics the RXM’s aesthetic, and includes a S&W Bodyguard pattern Tritium front sight with a drift-adjustable rear.

And it weighs 11.2 ounces, unloaded, which is about half as much as the Walther PPK, which offers a 7-shot capacity.

the new Ruger LCP Max with the Magpul EHG RG380 grip
The new Ruger LCP Max. Note the Magpul EHG RG380 grip frame with 3/4-scale TSP texture. (Photos: Ruger/Magpul)
the new Ruger LCP Max with the Magpul EHG RG380 grip
Overall length is 5.35 inches with a 2.8-inch barrel. With the extended 13+1 round magazine – new to the platform – height is 4.78 inches. The pistol has a slim, 0.75-inch-wide slide assembly. 
the new Ruger LCP Max with the Magpul EHG RG380 grip
Compared to the standard 10+1 shot LCP Max, seen right, the new Max stands just 0.66 inches higher and is 0.18 inches longer. The weight is less than half an ounce different. 
the new Ruger LCP Max with the Magpul EHG RG380 grip
The newest LCP Max is the first that uses a serialized Fire Control Insert chassis, which can be removed by the user with basic tools. 
the new Ruger LCP Max with the Magpul EHG RG380 grip
At launch, Magpul plans at least three extra colors (black, FDE, olive drab) for the EHG380 grip in addition to Ruger’s standard Stealth Gray. Replacements, sold via Magpul, will be $39. You can bet that other aftermarket grips will also soon be in the works. 

Other standard features include a tabbed trigger safety and a manual safety. It ships with both a flush 10 rounder as well as the extended 13-shot magazine as shown above.

“This launch is just the beginning of what Ruger and Magpul have planned for the LCP Max, underscoring Ruger’s commitment to innovation and consumer choice,” says the company.

The MSRP on the new Ruger LCP Max with the Magpul EHG RG380 grip is $449, which is a $50 bump from the standard LCP Max. I would imagine the price at your local shop to be closer to $375.

We have one inbound for a review, so stay tuned for more on that subject.

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.

Springfield Armory Echelon, Now with Installed Aimpoint COA

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Springfield Armory and Croatia’s HS Produkt have collaborated on polymer-framed striker-fired handguns for 25 years, producing the XD series, Hellcat, and, since 2023, the modular Echelon. Our reviews of the Echelon 4.5F, 4.0C Compact, 4.0C Comp, and 4.0FC hybrid models found minimal issues – they perform reliably.

The guns are billed as “duty-grade,” a claim that has been supported by their adoption by several large U.S. law enforcement agencies, including those in Henderson and St. Louis County. Overseas, the Echelon just earned a Spanish National Police Corps (Cuerpo Nacional de Policía) contract for over 6,000 pistols to replace older HK USP Compacts, beating out several big-name contemporaries submitted for competitive evaluation.

Now, with the exclusive one-year relationship between Aimpoint and Glock over, the former’s excellent small-form COA enclosed red dot is available for use with the Echelon line – factory installed. Springfield this week debuted three new COA-equipped A-Cut footprint Echelon models: the full-sized 4.5F, hybrid 4.0FC, and compact 4.0C pistols.

The MSRP across the line is $1,119, which is a deal considering the published price for the COA direct from Aimpoint is $617, while the standard Echelon models start at $710, pointing to an easy $200 savings. Plus, keep in mind that the counter price we are seeing at launch is closer to $950, so…

Why the COA?

First off, let us talk about the Aimpoint COA and why it is a big deal. First introduced at SHOT ’25, the 3.5 MOA COA red dot eschews plate systems and direct mounts into its distinctive A-Cut via a wedge system that helps eliminate movement. With a 15×15 mm aperture, the ultra-compact 7075-T6 aluminum housing is fully sealed and rated as being submersible to 80 feet or so, and offers much the same performance as Aimpoint’s “bomb-proof” ACRO but in a smaller package with a deck low enough to allow most irons to co-witness. The optic is billed as surpassing a 40,000-round endurance standard.

The Aimpoint COA-equipped Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C
The A-Cut allows the COA optic to be mounted deeper into the slide, increasing stability. Note how the mount provides an iron sight index for the optic. (Photo: Springfield Armory)
The Aimpoint COA-equipped Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C
Note the tactile dot brightness adjustment with four night vision and eight daylight settings. 
The Aimpoint COA-equipped Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C
Note the side-accessible compartment for a single standard CR2032 3-volt battery, with a 50,000-hour (over five years) advertised lifespan. Weight is 1.4 ounces. 
The Aimpoint COA-equipped Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C
Here we see the Echelon COA stacked against a similar Echelon with a Vortex Defender-ST micro red dot. 
The Aimpoint COA-equipped Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C
Note the difference in how low the deck sits versus the overall height. For reference, our Echelon 4.0C COA, as reviewed, has an overall height of 5.8 inches from the bottom of the flush-fit magazine to the top of the optic housing. 

Glock and Aimpoint blazed a path for the COA – which we extensively reviewed– but soon all but pulled them from the market for one reason or another, discontinuing the Gen5s and not (as of 3/17/26) offering the package on the U.S. market for the Gen6.

Now we are seeing the COA in more places, which is good, and, when paired with the Echelon, is great.

Especially for the price.

About the only rocks we can toss at the gun is that the COA and its A-Cut, for now, is a double-edged sword, painting the owner into a corner without any other (as of 3/17/26) optics available for it. Of course, that could change in the coming months and years. Other than that, the only knocks we can give the gun are its $35 magazines and not amazing (but upgradable) trigger.

In closing, we’ve always found the Echelon to be a superior gun that is often overlooked in a crowded market. When paired with the Aimpoint COA, at a reasonable price, those sleeper days could be in the rear view.

Full review in my column at Guns.com.

The Aimpoint COA-equipped Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C
The MSRP on the new Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C with an installed Aimpoint COA is $1,119. 

New: Mossberg 590 Bliksem 12 ga in Brushstroke Camo

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Mossberg has teamed up with Christian Craighead to produce a new and visually striking Shockwave variant with both premium design elements and distinctive aesthetics.

Craighead, a former British SAS commando known as “Obi Wan Nairobi” for his one-man response in 2019 when Al-Shebab terrorists attacked the mall in Nairobi, Kenya, had direct input on the design of the new Mossberg 590 Bliksem.

Not technically a shotgun, the NFA-compliant Shockwave-gripped 12-gauge cylinder bore firearm features a 14.375-inch heavy-walled barrel, a 5+1 capacity with 2.75-inch shells, and bead sight with a top Picatinny rail for optics.

The aesthetics are off the charts with this one, as it runs a Rhodesian Brushstoke camo, an AfterShock grip with QD point, and a corn cob forend with a leather strap.

The Special Edition 590 Bliksem
Its compact size (26.37 inches overall) and maneuverability are complemented by a clean-out magazine tube, twin action bars, ambidextrous safety, anti-jam elevator, and positive steel-to-steel lockup, delivering the smooth, dependable operation expected from Mossy’s legendary 590 platform. (Photos: Mossberg) 
The Special Edition 590 Bliksem
The bird’s head AfterShock pistol grip is shaped to provide a firm grip and to help minimize felt recoil while the leather-strapped forend keeps the lead hand clear of the muzzle when cycling the action. 
The Special Edition 590 Bliksem
The firearm comes with an Esstac removable receiver-mounted 6-shell carrier card and a convenient clean-out magazine tube with screw-off cap for ease of maintenance.
The Special Edition 590 Bliksem
“Mossberg understands function over flash, and that’s why this collaboration worked,” commented Christian Craighead. “We designed the 590 Bliksem to be practical, durable, intuitive, and some might say most importantly, cool – qualities that matter far more than marketing lines. It’s a solid bit of hardware.”

The Special Edition 590 Bliksem has an MSRP of $728. The less cool standard Shockwave 590 runs about $200 less.

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.

CZ Brings 75 Legend & 457 Target to SHOT, Talks German Army P13

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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
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 CZ Legend
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.