Firearms sales were down roughly 35 percent in 2025 when compared to the robust pace of 2020. With this in mind, gun makers are striving to invigorate the shooting sports market with new and improved models. On the handgun side of the aisle, keep an eye out for more affordably priced defensive options and mid-priced models loaded with features to compete with more expensive models. And, as always, there are a few dressed up, in-house custom guns to keep things interesting.
Landon Tactical Technologies Custom Beretta 80X .32 ACP
As readers of my posts know, I'm a fan of what is now the often overlooked .32 ACP cartridge. It was once an exceptionally popular law enforcement and self-defense caliber in Europe and the United States. One of my favorite guns in this caliber is Beretta’s now discontinued Model 81 Cheetah. These days it is rare to see any new or special semi-automatics chambered for this cartridge since .380 ACP and 9 mm rule the defensive pistol roost.
But this year, Landon Tactical Technologies (LTT) is showing off what it can do to upgrade a high quality .32 ACP pistol. The LT Beretta 80X starts out as a factory-configured 80X Cheetah made in Italy. LT then offers a handsome selection of services and upgrades. All models receive the company's in-house trigger job. Customers can then choose from black or bronze frames with either black threaded or flush-fit Inox barrels. The slide can ship with either the factory optics plates or a milled in direct mount for Holosun EPS optics. LTT will also bevel the frame and slide and treat the internals to an NP3 coating for an added charge. This LT custom package is also available chambered in .380 ACP. MSRP: $755 to $1,375
Century Arms CANiK Mete MC9 Prime Radian Pistol
Last year, I had an opportunity to work with a few of the series of polymer-framed, 9 mm concealed carry pistols. Imported from Turkey into the United States by Century Arms, the most tricked out model in the series at that time was the Prime version that sports a ported barrel, night sights, an upgraded trigger and 17-round magazines.
Century Arms and Canik have now teamed up with Radian Weapons to offer the Prime Radian configuration for 2026. This pistol keeps the popular features of the original Prime, including the original footprint, optics-ready slide, the CANik flat-faced trigger and grip texturing. The Radian upgrades will include a Ramject barrel, paired with an Afterburner dual-port compensator, along with Radian's backstrap and magazine well extension. Quite frankly, I can't wait to shoot it! The suggested retail price has yet to be announced.
Charter Arms New Pathfinder and Walker .22 LR Revolvers
Near the end of 2025, Charter Arms released two new 8-shot .22 LR revolvers. The Pathfinder II has a 3.5" vented rib barrel with a bright orange front sight and an adjustable square notch rear sight. The stainless steel barrel and cylinder are supported by an anodized aluminum frame for an unloaded weight of 20 ounces. The pebbled black rubber grip is just long enough to support all three fingers of the shooting hand. The finish options for this series include stainless steel (silver), matte black or black with an OD green frame (shown). MSRP $510.61
The other model is called the Walker Off Duty. This revolver blends the 8-shot .22 LR cylinder of the Pathfinders with the snubby 2-inch barrel, fixed sights, concealed hammer and double-action-only trigger of this company's popular Off Duty pocket models. Weighing in at 19 ounces, this model's bantam rubber grip supports two fingers of the shooting hand. The steel components will be available in either a matte black or a polished stainless steel finish with a choice of colors for the anodized aluminum frame including silver, black, pink (shown) or lavender. MSRP: $489.99
EAA Girsan Witness2311 CMXX 10 mm Auto Pistol
Near the end of 2025, I had an opportunity to evaluate European American Armory's (EAA) Girsan Witness2311 CMX pistol chambered in 9 mm. This Turkish-made 2011 pistol proved to be a pleasure to work with thanks to its 1911-style controls, optics ready slide, modern styling and a double-stack ammunition capacity. You can read the full review of that model here.
Looking over the CMX, I thought it would be a real boon to see this compact model chambered in a more potent caliber. This year, that wish has been granted! For 2026, EAA has launched the new Witness2311 CMXX. That extra X indicates that this model is outfitted with a 4.25" barrel outfitted with an integral large-port compensator. It is available chambered in 9 mm, .45 ACP or the caliber I was hoping for, 10 mm Auto with 17-, 11- and 15-round double-stack magazines respectively. Could the CMXX be the perfect ladies 10 mm Auto trail gun? Stay tuned to find out! MSRP: $1,229
KelTec PR-3AT Fixed Magazine Pocket Pistol
Last Year KelTec shook things up with the release of the rotary barrel PR-57 pistol chambered in FN 5.7. This polymer-framed semi-automatic is light weight, optics-ready and holds up to 21 rounds of ammunition. But its most notable feature is a fixed magazine inside of the grip which is fed through the top of the slide using 10-round stripper clips!
For 2026, KelTec is expanding the PR line-up to include the new PR-3AT. This model blends the small size and .380 ACP caliber of the company's popular P3AT pocket pistol with rotary barrel and fixed magazine of the PR-57. This pistol will be available in three configurations from the factory. The Standard models provide a 2.85" barrel, a 13+1 ammunition capacity and an unloaded weight of just 9.66 ounces. The Defender (shown) is the same gun as the standard but ships with a Viridian RFX1 green-dot optic and a belt clip. Last, but not least, the 10-round capacity version has a shorter grip frame for the most compact profile. This series includes black, green or tan polymer frames for all models. MSRP: $399.99 - $589.99
Live Free Armory Apollo 11 Compact
Live Free Armory (LFA), an American firearms manufacturer based in Palm Bay, Florida, has announced an exclusive distribution partnership with Century Arms aimed at expanding the availability of LFA’s milled-billet AR-15 and AR-10 rifles along with this company's series of Apollo double-stack 1911 pistols.
One of the LFA guns that caught my eye was the optics-ready 9 mm Apollo 11 Compact. Defensive 2011 pistols like this one are growing in popularity but can be fairly expensive with price tags in the $1,500 to $3,000 range. But the basic American-made Apollo starts at $999, which places it in the same price range as the Turkish imports. The Compact model shown here features a 4.15-inch barrel tucked into a heat-treated 416 stainless steel slide that rests atop a durable 4140 steel frame. The textured polymer grip module accepts 17-round double-stack magazines. This version is available in a variety of colors with a selection of factory upgrades including magazine well extensions and barrel porting services for an added fee. MSRP: Starting at $999
SDS Arms Inglis 2035 Optics-Ready Pistol
A classic semi-automatic that fits my hands like it was made for them is the Browning Hi-Power. Developed by John Browning in 1935, this double-stack 9 mm was favored by the British and Canadians during and after World War II. But despite many forward thinking features, the original version is not quite up to modern defensive-pistol standards.
SDS Arms has tackled the customer demands for a modernized Hi-Power with the launch of the new Inglis 2035. Manufactured in Turkey, this highly modernized P-35 clone ships with a black slide that has been milled and drilled for micro red dot optics and topped with a set of optics-height sights. The slide also features lightening cuts along with aggressive cocking serrations at the front and rear. The tan frame features a full-length dust cover with optics rail, a flat-faced trigger, a more ergonomic grip shape and a set of 3-color G10 textured grip panels. The suggested retail price has yet to be announced.
Lispeys Exclusive Smith & Wesson Night Guard Revolvers
In the late 2000s, Smith & Wesson launched what would be a fairly limited run of the Night Guard series of double-action revolvers. These defensive wheel guns featured lightweight scandium-alloy frames, tritium night sights and a matte black finish overall. Outfitted with 2.5" barrels, they were chambered in potent calibers including .357 Mag., .44 Mag., .45 ACP and .45 Colt. These light weight frame and caliber combinations were intended to provide an easier to carry alternative to all-steel big bores. Although production was relatively short-lived due to cost and other factors, the Night Guards have become popular collectors items.
For 2026, Smith & Wesson is teaming up with Lipseys to resurrect two exclusive L-Frame Night Guard models. They will include the Model 386, a 7-shot .357 Mag. and the Model 396, which is a 5-shot .44 Spec. Both guns will feature the signature lightweight scandium alloy frame for unloaded weights of 23.4 and 24.4 ounces respectively. The 2.5" barrels are fitted with night sights paired with an adjustable rear sight. Other features include a PVD treated stainless steel cylinder, a matte black finish and a bantam rubber grip. MSRP: $1269
Taurus Judge 20th Anniversary Model
Among the most controversial commercially produced handguns ever made, the Taurus Judge is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. This large format revolver shook things up back in the day because of its dual caliber capabilities. The extra long cylinder allows it to safely chamber and fire .45 Colt revolver rounds or .410-bore shotgun shells. This means the Judge can launch birdshot, buckshot, specialized payloads and a variety of .45 Colt bullets. But not everyone agrees that this mixed ammunition capability is worth the trade-off in gun size, recoil and performance potential.
Nevertheless, the Judge has thrived for two decades. It is currently available in 20 different configurations, including the just-released 20th Anniversary model shown here. Based on the Executive Grade model, the 20th Anniversary sports a 3" barrel, a tuned action, polished stainless steel finish, brass bead front sight and a hardwood grip. What sets this revolver apart from the line-up is extensive floral-pattern engraving around the cylinder and along both sides of the frame and barrel. MSRP: $681.99
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