SHOT Show, or SHOT for short, is the premier annual industry trade show for everything shooting and firearms related. The 2025 SHOT Show took place January 21 through January 24 at the Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Every year for the past few years, I get asked by blog sponsors and readers if I will be attending the next SHOT. And my answer to that question has remained consistent, “maybe next year”. This year was no different. I didn’t attend, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been listening to what those who did attend have been chatting about. After all, I still get excited by the new products. And there have been a few things that have piqued my interest or stirred my curiosity. And now I will tell you about them.
Staccato HD
A lot of folks have asked me what I think about the Staccato HD. I suspect this is because the same folks who asked are aware that I spent the vast majority of my range time last year shooting a Staccato C2 and a Staccato P almost exclusively (putting roughly about 10K rounds down range with them combined).
While I have no plans on getting my hand on either of the two announced Staccato HD models, I am intrigued by them. On the surface, the Staccato HDs are 2011 pattern pistols that accept Glock pattern magazines. Staccato isn’t the first to do this. That would have been Stealth Arms with their Platypus. However, unless I am mistaken, Staccato is the first one to do this while including a firing pin block (FSB) safety and fully ambidextrous controls.
The FSB is a pretty big deal. Staccato caught some heat on social media last year after some accounts with large audiences shared video of drop tests they conducted where Staccato pistols that are marketed for duty and self defense discharged the chambered round when dropped directly on the muzzle with the manual safety engaged. This was no surprise to those who are familiar with the Series 70 1911 mechanical design that 2011s, including Staccato pistols, are based on. However, many, who were (and probably still aren’t) familiar with the mechanical design were surprised to learn Staccato pistols were not “drop safe”. The FSB prevents this very specific drop test failure from happening.
The ambidextrous controls are neat and I suspect will increase the appeal of the Staccato HD to left handed folks. The lack of grip safety is also something that many folks have been asking for and looking forward to.
With these changes, I suspect the Staccato HD to sell very well and I predict it will increase Staccato’s share of the self defense and duty markets. While I expect to start seeing these pistols at competitions, I don’t expect the traditional Series 70 2011s to be displaced since pistols with FSBs generally don’t have as nice triggers. Needless to say, I’m excited to see how my suspicions and predictions hold up this year.
No More Hillary Hole, Maybe
Smith & Wesson announced the release of their “no lock classic” revolvers. The internal lock, colloquially called “Hillary Hole”, is a mechanism introduced back in 2001 designed to render the gun inoperable when engaged which was a result of pressure from the Clinton administration on manufacturers to increase firearm safety measures. This was not a well-received feature due to the bad aesthetics and functional concerns.
The “no lock classics” include the Model 10, Model 19, and Model 36. Like many others, I’m hoping this move marks the end of a feature that is unused by anyone I know and an eyesore. While this feature currently remains on the S&W revolver models I own, I would strongly entertain trading them in for a new generation of the same model without the internal lock.
Lipsey’s Smith & Wesson Mountain Gun
I’m not 100% sure Lipsey’s announced their two new S&W Mountain Gun exclusives at SHOT, but I think they were. At least, I didn’t hear about these before then. The Mountain Gun revolvers include S&W models 686 (7-shot 357 Magnum) and 629 (6-shot 44 Magnum) with one-piece tapered barrels, a brass bead front sight, adjustable rear sights, and fancy walnut grips from Tyler Gun Works. And these don’t have a Hillary hole!
Both the 686 and the 629 have been on my list to add to the collection for several years. The absence of the Hillary hole plus the factory upgrades has bumped both up to the short list. So if the stars align and wind is in my favor, these will be added to the collection. However, if these prove to be as popular as their Ultimate Carry J-Frames proved to be last year, then the likelihood of actually getting my hands on these is relatively low. And I suspect these will be just as popular even with a $1,200 MSRP price tag.
Palmetto State Armory Leaves It Up To You
In my humble opinion, Palmetto State Armory (PSA) has been the biggest disrupter in the industry for several years now. Some even say, PSA is doing the Lord’s work. They continue to manufacture firearms at very reasonable prices and put them in the hands of as many American citizens as they can. The best part is they listen to their customers. Case in point, PSA brought out a bunch of concept guns to SHOT and issued a survey to let you and me decide which of their concepts would continue on to production this year.
The three products I voted for were…
- Sabre Lancet – A .50 caliber rifle chambered for 50 BMG that accepts Barrett pattern magazines because an affordable .50 cal would increase this cartridge’s use and common use protects arms from legislation that would seek to ban it.
- Sabre 11 – A 2011 because I like 2011s and I’d like to see more affordable 2011 options available in the market.
- 570 Shotgun – A pump action 12 gauge because the only real name in town for affordable and reliable pump actions designed for defensive use after Remington’s bankruptcy and reorganization is the Mossberg 590 and that market space would benefit from some competition.
There were six other concept guns that one could vote on. They were:
- Jakl Precision – A Jakl rifle designed for precision shooting
- Jakl 9 – A 9mm Jakl variant for the pistol caliber carbine market
- Vuk 9 – A Jakl based pistol inspired b the AKV-521
- PA .22 – A modular .22 LR pistol
- Oclan – A Jakl-esque bullpup
- Thumper – A 37mm flare launcher
- X9 – A delayed blowback backpack pistol
It doesn’t really matter what the survey results end up being because whatever they are, we win.
Oh, KelTec, What Is You Doing?
Say what you will about KelTec, but their designs are constantly pushing boundaries and challenging norms. Even if their designs are inspired by heavy use of mind altering substances as many folks on social media appear to suspect. Right now, the PR57 appears to be the talk of the town.
The top-loading clip fled, 20 round, lightweight, double-action only pistol chambered for 5.7x28mm featuring a rotary barrel is everything a serious pistol shooter would not want. Yet, there may be a use case beyond meme generation that I am unable to imagine at this very moment.
Honestly, I don’t have a rational explanation for my curiosity towards this pistol. It’s so ugly, but I kinda love it. I can’t explain it. Still, I doubt I will spend the money on one. That said, I wouldn’t be mad if a KelTec employee, after reading this, sends me one. For test and evaluation purposes of course.
Biofire Smart Gun? Ew, Brother, Ew!
A lot of folks in the gun community turn up their nose at Biofire Smart Gun. I get it. Biometric features are failure points. Especially in the context of a chaotic fight for your life or the life of your loved ones. I also completely understand the concern around potential future legislation mandating this technology along with a remote law enforcement kill switch on all civilian firearms.
Still I am intrigued by the technological and engineering feats that have brought this product to market. Additionally, it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie to me and that speaks to my inner geek. Last but not least, I think this product could be the gateway drug, albeit an expensive gateway drug, for folks who would never consider gun ownership because they are scared to death about unauthorized firearm use to become gun owners and join our community.
No, I’m not buying one. But like the KelTec PR57, I would like to test and evaluate one.
Do the Industry Experts Know Something about Suppressors and the NFA that We Don’t Know?
I expect this to be nothing more than wishful thinking on my part, but when I read John Farnam’s SHOT Show range day summary, I got my hopes up. Farnam noted there were an amazing number of suppressors in use. He also noted the abundance of rumors regarding the future removal of suppressors from NFA during the current Trump administration. The combination of these got him wondering if they know something he doesn’t.
And now I’m wondering the same thing.
The NFA regulatory red tape, which involves a lengthy approval process and a $200 time stamp, is exactly why I haven’t done more with suppressors myself. I would most certainly welcome decreased regulation on muzzle mufflers, but I’m not going to hold my breath.
Maybe Next Year
Yeah, I know. I say it every year. Maybe next year. I really should go. At least once just to experience SHOT. And who knows? Maybe I really will go next year.
Regardless, these were the top things that piqued my interest from the 2025 SHOT Show that I heard about. What were yours?
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