Firearms 2018

Makers of long guns and handguns for law enforcement operations will be marketing a broad range of new and ongoing product lines this year.

David Griffith 2017 Headshot

The firearms industry tends to be pretty tight lipped about what it plans to bring to the Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show each year. The reasons for this are easy to understand: some don't want to leak information to their competitors; others are just not sure they will be ready to debut their newest designs at the big January show in Las Vegas and don't want to promise something they can't deliver.

But based on what was introduced in 2017, rumors in the gun press, and analysis drawn from our own experience covering the gun industry, here's a sneak peek at some of the guns you will be talking about and possibly buying for your personal or professional use this year.

Amchar

Amchar is a distributor of a variety of firearms and products for law enforcement operations, but the company also markets its own line of firearms under the American Tactical Imports (ATI) brand. ATI's product line includes handguns and rifles, including the ATI Omni Hybrid with Quad-Rail, an economically priced AR that features a hybrid metal and polymer lower receiver. Expect to see this interesting rifle in the ATI booth.

www.amchar.com

Daniel Defense

Photo: Daniel DefensePhoto: Daniel DefenseThe latest AR-variant firearm from Daniel Defense is the DDM4V7P (Law Tactical), a 10.3-inch-barrel 5.56mm NATO version of the company's flagship rifle. Daniel Defense says the feds classify this firearm as a pistol, not a short-barreled rifle, so it does not require ATF approval and a tax stamp for purchase. The pistol's features include a cold hammer forged barrel, SB Tactical SOB Pistol stabilizing brace with Law Tactical Gen 3-M AR folding stock, and a Daniel Defense flash suppressor.

www.danieldefense.com

FN America

Photo: FN AmericaPhoto: FN AmericaFN's new duty pistol, the striker-fired FN 509, is based on the company's entry in the Army's Modular Handgun System (MHS) competition. The pistol has since been enhanced to meet the needs of U.S. law enforcement, the company says. Built on the architecture of the FNS Compact, the FN 509's interior and exterior mechanics were designed to meet the requirements of the MHS competition. The company says the FN 509 was refined for reliability, ammunition compatibility, and durability in testing that involved firing 1 million rounds. Features of this 9mm duty pistol include a 4-inch barrel; non-manual, internal, passive safeties; fixed three-dot night sights (on the law enforcement version), and 17-round magazine. The FN 509 was launched in April at the NRA Show in Atlanta, so odds are FN will be showing some new variants of this pistol at SHOT.

www.fnamerica.com

Glock

Photo: GlockPhoto: GlockBack in August Glock announced the launch of the fifth generation of its handgun line with the debut of the G19 Gen5 and G17 Gen5. Glock says the Gen5 pistols are a variation of the M pistol the company produced for the FBI. Differences between the Gen5 models and the Gen4 include: the Glock Marksman Barrel (GMB), which utilizes new barrel rifling for improved accuracy; the finger grooves have been removed; an ambidextrous slide stop has been added; the mag well has been flared for easier mag exchanges under stress, and a proprietary finish has been applied to the guns.

https://us.glock.com/en

Kel-Tec

Photo: Kel-TecPhoto: Kel-TecBullpup rifles are the signature product of Kel-Tec, and the company continues to innovate in that platform. The latest Kel-Tec bullpup is the RDB Survival, which was designed for backpackers, survivalists, and other folks who want a lightweight, easy to carry, easy to manipulate 5.56mm NATO rifle. The RDB Survival has a 16.1-inch barrel and an overall length of 26.1 inches. It has an unloaded weight of five pounds. Features include Kel-Tec's patented downward shell ejection system, an adjustable stock, and an accessory rail.

www.keltecweapons.com

Remington

Remington was busy in 2017, launching its RP9 full-size polymer pistol, releasing a double-stack version of its 1911, and adding detachable magazines to its 870 DM shotguns. The RP9 full-size debuted at last year's SHOT and it's likely the company will show variants at this year's SHOT. The full-size features a 4.5-inch barrel, an 18-round magazine, a slim grip circumference, a weight-balanced slide that the company says minimizes muzzle rise, and a maximized slide profile for secure slide manipulation even with gloves. Remington's double-stack R1 1911 is available in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. Last month the company announced it was adding six-round detachable magazines to its 870 DM shotguns, including such law enforcement models as the standard 870 DM, the 870 DM Magpul with Magpul stock and forend, the 870 DM Tac-14 with 14-inch barrel, and the 870 DM Tactical with 18.5-inch barrel and pistol grip.

www.remington.com

Savage Arms

Photo: Savage ArmsPhoto: Savage ArmsLast month Savage Arms announced the new 110 Tactical rifle with Accufit system that lets shooters quickly adjust comb height and length of pull. Other features on this bolt-action precision rifle include: user adjustable AccuTrigger, accessory rail, 10-round Magpul magazine, synthetic stock, and soft grip forend. Available in .308 Winchester and 6.5mm Creedmoor.

www.savagearms.com

SIG Sauer

Photo: Sig SaurPhoto: Sig SaurSIG will likely be showing new variants of its P320 handgun at this year's SHOT. The company is still celebrating the Army's selection of the pistol as the winner of its Modular Handgun System competition. SIG is now delivering M17/M19 pistols to the Army. The M17/M19 variants of the P320 have an external safety, an integrated Picatinny rail, self-illuminating night sights, and a barrel capable of accepting a suppressor. In addition to taking a victory lap over the MHS competition, SIG will be showing its new MCX Virtus rifle. Unveiled in August, the MCX Virtus is available in 5.56 NATO and 300 BLK and it may be the world's most adaptable AR-style firearm platform. Between barrels, stocks, handguards, and colors, the MCX Virtus can be configured more than 500 different ways, SIG says. The MCX Virtus is available in Patrol, Pistol, and SBR variants with cold hammer-forged barrels, available in 9-inch, 11.5-inch, and 16-inch lengths that can be exchanged at the operator level. SIG says the Virtus is more accurate than the standard MCX because it has barrels with a heavier contour profile and the new SIG Matchlite Duo two-stage trigger. A new tapered bolt lug design results in smoother cycling and extends the bolt life.

www.sigsauer.com

Smith & Wesson

Photo: Smith & WessonPhoto: Smith & WessonThe big news from Smith & Wesson at last year's SHOT Show was the M&P 2.0 pistol. In the last few months, S&W has expanded the M&P 2.0 line with the new M&P Shield M2.0 pistol line. The new Shield features the new M&P 2.0 trigger, a 3.1-inch barrel in both 9mm and .40 S&W, choice of white-dot sights or tritium night sights, and one standard and one extended grip magazine. Options include integrated Crimson Trace laser sight. In addition to showing the new Shield line at this year's SHOT, S&W will also be showing the M&P 2.0 pistol with TruGlo TFX sights. There are also rumors that the company will be introducing a new version of the Bodyguard .380 ACP this year.

www.smith-wesson.com

Springfield Armory

The folks at Springfield Armory have been busy in recent months. The company has a broad range of new firearms that it will be bringing to SHOT. On the long gun side, Springfield has announced several new variations of the Saint AR, including a Saint with a proprietary free-float handguard that accepts almost unlimited M-Lok customization, the Saint Edge, and the Saint Pistol. The Saint Pistol features a 7.5-inch barrel, an overall length of 26.5 inches, and an SB Tactical SBX-K forearm brace to reduce size, stabilize recoil, and enhance accuracy. Springfield also expanded its M1A line with the introduction of a 6.5mm Creedmoor version of the rifle. On the handgun side, Springfield has introduced the XDE .45 compact. The new pistol has a 3.3-inch barrel and a six-round magazine. Features include: thumb safety with integrated decocker, forged steel Melonite finish slide, and fiber optic low-profile combat sights.

www.springfield-armory.com

Sturm, Ruger & Co.

Late last month Ruger announced it was launching a new economically priced 9mm concealed carry pistol, the EC9S. At first glance the EC9S looks exactly like the company's LC9S. Both pistols even take the same seven-round magazines, but the new pistol has a list price of $200 less ($299). One of the cost-saving measures on the EC9S is that the sights are integrated into the slide. Also, the new pistol comes with only one magazine. The EC9S has a 3.12-inch barrel, a height of 4.5 inches, and weighs approximately 17 ounces empty. The striker-fired pistol has a small thumb safety on the left side.

www.ruger.com

Walther Arms

In 2017 Walther Arms introduced the PPQ M2 Q4 Tac pistol. The new 9mm tactical pistol is optics and suppressor ready from the factory. Features include a 4.6-inch polygonal barrel with threaded muzzle. The gun comes with two recoil springs—one standard and the other specifically weighted for use with suppressors. The slide is designed to accommodate Trijicon, Leupold, and Doctor optics. Rumors in the gun press say that Walther may also be bringing a new PPQ subcompact to this year's SHOT.

www.waltherarms.com

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