We are finally back from SHOT Show 2026, and while I would say this was a less-than-stellar year for truly groundbreaking new products, it was absolutely a big year for suppressors. With the tax stamp changes continuing to drive interest, suppressors were everywhere, and that trend is not slowing down anytime soon.
Note: for some reason, I failed the important job of taking photos at the show. Stock images look better anyway…
I wanted to take some time to talk about what I saw that genuinely excited me, as well as give you a clearer picture of where Gears of Guns is headed for 2026.
First and foremost, we are fully committed to our customers who are shopping for suppressors. We plan to continue expanding our demo program with a significant number of new suppressors being added throughout the year. This has been one of the best ways for us to truly understand our customers and their needs by allowing them to come out to the ranch and demo suppressors before making a purchase.
If you are interested in setting up a demo before you buy, feel free to email us at sales@gearsofguns.com to schedule an opportunity.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of SHOT Show 2026
The Good
My main focus this year was looking at what was new across the firearms industry, not just suppressors. One of my favorite releases did not get nearly the press it deserved, and that is the polymer Tommy Gun from Auto-Ordnance chambered in 22 LR.
One of the coolest features of this rifle is that it uses Ruger 10/22 magazines that are designed to look like traditional .45 ACP Tommy Gun magazines. This gives the firearm correct proportions and an authentic appearance without the awkward design compromises seen in some rimfire replicas.
I do have some updated information on this platform, but unfortunately, I am not able to share it just yet. What I can say is that there are some very exciting developments coming down the pipeline for the 22 LR Tommy Gun.
Auto-Ordnance is also planning to release a tactical Tommy Gun featuring a Picatinny rail and a threaded barrel. As many of you know, I love the Tommy Gun platform, and I love suppressing everything I own. Since .45 ACP is one of my favorite calibers to suppress, I will absolutely be adding one of these to my collection.
The Bad
While I really want to see the industry continue to push forward, I was disappointed by the lack of new pistol caliber carbines in .45 ACP and 10mm. I was secretly hoping for more options in those calibers, but I also knew that expectation was probably optimistic.
Another area I was hoping to see more growth in was short-barreled bolt-action rifles, similar to the Savage 110 PCS. I would love to see more manufacturers offering compact, suppressor-ready bolt guns. Anything short-barreled and suppressor-ready is a win in my book, and I hope we see more of these hit the market soon.
The Ugly
This may not be ugly to everyone, but it immediately made me question its place in the US market. The G9HSP from Gestamen Arms, a Hungarian-based firearms manufacturer, is a modular 9mm pistol that allows the user to switch between striker-fired and hammer-fired operation by swapping components in both the slide and the grip module.
I personally do not see the need for a firearm with two separate firing systems that require careful assembly every time you switch configurations. My biggest concern is real-world use, especially considering this firearm was designed for duty use. The risk of incorrect assembly by less experienced users could lead to a non-functioning firearm when it matters most.
Several of my peers find this concept fascinating and are excited to see it enter the US market. I may simply be missing something here, but to me this feels like an attempt to make everyone happy while ultimately satisfying no one. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Palmetto State Armory AXR Line Overview
Moving past the good, bad, and ugly, one of the biggest conversations at SHOT Show was Palmetto State Armory and their new AXR line of firearms.
While not the most innovative lineup ever introduced, it is encouraging to see a company with PSA’s resources continuing to invest in new product development, even if the releases are not always in the order or timeline some consumers expect.
AXR SSP (Short Stroke Piston)
The AXR SSP (Replaces what was shown as the Jakl 2.0) is clearly an attempt to move away from being just another AR-15 variant and into something more distinct. PSA has been refining their upper receiver design, and I am very interested to see how this platform evolves over time.
I am a big fan of mission-adaptable firearms, not because they are going to see combat, but because they allow end users to configure a firearm specifically for how and where they plan to use it, whether that is at the range or out hunting.
AXR Shotgun
The AXR shotgun is essentially a rebranded version of PSA’s customizable shotgun project. It uses AR-style components to allow true end user customization.
While the design itself is not revolutionary, I love the idea of bringing AR-level modularity to the shotgun world. Instead of being locked into specific barrel lengths, users will be able to build a shotgun that fits their needs, without being forced into running a 26 inch barrel plus an additional 16 inches of suppressor.
After watching PSA content, it also appears that AAC, which is owned by Palmetto State Armory, will be releasing a shotgun suppressor in the near future. I did not see it at the show and do not have specs yet, but I am excited to see more manufacturers entering the shotgun suppressor space.
AXR Fire Control Group
The final AXR product is a modular fire control group system, similar to the Ruger RXM, Springfield Echelon, and SIG P365 platforms. This allows one serialized component to be used across multiple slides, grips, and configurations.
While I enjoy owning more guns, I understand the appeal of this system for shooters working within a budget. I am not fully sold on converting all my pistols to this format yet, but I do appreciate the value it offers.
PSA is also offering a chassis system similar to Flux Defense, giving users a wide range of options depending on how much or how little chassis they want. Speaking of Flux Defense, I am very tempted to buy a P365 solely to build out a Flux chassis setup.
Standout Firearms and Gear from SHOT Show 2026
One firearm that truly stood out was the updated integrally suppressed TAO50 from Auto-Ordnance. According to the owner of Kahr, during media day at the range, the rifle ran fully suppressed for approximately 200 rounds of .50 BMG without a single issue.
To put that into perspective, 200 rounds of .50 BMG through a bolt gun is comparable to running 5,000 to 6,000 rounds through an AR-15 in a single day. That is an incredible amount of stress on the system, and the fact that it ran flawlessly is a testament to its design and build quality.
This is a rifle I cannot wait to upgrade further so I can show you just how impressive it truly is. If this is your first introduction to the .50 BMG world, I honestly cannot think of a better platform.
Night Vision and Optics Highlights
I spent some time with my friends at Armasight, and while the external housings of their night vision units remain the same, the internals have been completely redesigned. These upgrades bring their products to the next level without the price increase you might expect.
We will be working with Armasight more this year, as night vision is something I genuinely enjoy, and they continue to be great partners.
I also had the opportunity to use Swarovski’s 115mm spotting scope with their BTX binocular viewing system. While I am not typically a spotting scope guy, this was hands down the clearest image I have ever seen through a spotting scope. If I had over $6,500 to spend, I would buy this setup without hesitation.
Suppressor Industry Highlights
Precision Armament introduced a unique suppressor design that uses an external ring as the serialized component rather than the suppressor body itself. In the event of a catastrophic failure, only the ring needs to be preserved and transferred to a new body, eliminating the need to register an entirely new suppressor.
Bersa is finally entering the striker-fired pistol and (as of 2025) suppressor market, which was not shocking, but surprising given how long it took them to do so.
One of the biggest surprises was Lyman releasing a new line of suppressors Sonicore at extremely affordable price points. These are clearly aimed at the budget-conscious market, especially now that buyers are saving $200 on tax stamps.
Hi-Point and Inland Manufacturing are also reentering the suppressor market with low-cost options. We plan to bring these in for testing, as having a wide range of suppressor price points available for demos helps consumers understand what they are paying for and why.
I also spent time with Boss Suppressors and got to know the founder. This is a company I am very excited to work with, offering high quality suppressors in the mid to high price range.
YHM is now selling their VICTRA-20 Modular Shotgun Suppressor, which is great to see. A smaller bore should offer improved sound suppression compared to 12-gauge options.
Another company worth highlighting is EchoCores Suppressors. Founded by my good friend Chris, his suppressors have already been winning awards, and it is great to see him building a company that is going to seriously disrupt the suppressor market.
Final Thoughts on SHOT Show 2026
SHOT Show 2026 was a lot of fun, but also exhausting. I am still processing everything I saw, and I know there are things I missed that I wish I could have included here.
If you saw something in other SHOT Show coverage that you want us to review or discuss, let us know in the comments below. We are excited to get back to what we do best, reviewing and bringing you the coolest products the firearms industry has to offer.
Stay tuned for the next article.