This year's 50th National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) annual meetings and expo was held in Kansas City, Missouri. This show provides a glimpse into the new models manufacturers will be shipping soon. Among the new guns on display were several ideal models for small-framed shooters and those who are looking for low-recoil defensive options. Here are several to watch for in the next few months.
American Tactical Semi-Automatic .410 Bores
American Tactical is expanding their scattergun line up to include two new semi-automatics chambered for 2.5” .410-bore shot shells. The Bulldog SGA (top) employs bullpup combat rifle features to make it compact and light weight. The chamber and the removable 5-round box magazine are situated behind the trigger guard and pistol grip which allows it to have an 18.5” barrel with an overall length of just 29.75” Other features include a height-adjustable cheek rest, an integral optics rail and fully adjustable and removable sights for a listed price of $439.95.
This company’s Gen 3 Alpha Maxx .410 bore shotgun is based on the AR-15 carbine design and built around a light weight set of reinforced polymer receivers. New for 2025, the line-up will be expanded to include a non-NFA firearm configuration (bottom). In essence, it has the features and functions of an AR-15 pistol including flip-up sights, an AR charging handle, stainless steel barrel and AR controls. However, it has been assembled in such a way with external dimensions that allow it to be sold over the counter without the need for the NFA paperwork required to own a short-barrel shotgun, just like the Mossberg Shockwave series of pump actions. This model has an adjustable gas port, it accepts 5- or 15-round removable magazines and the price information is pending.
Canik Mete MC9L and MC9LS
Century Arms teamed up with Canik to get on board the 'micro 9' train last year with the release of the 9 mm Mete MC9 pistol. It's slimmer and trimmer than previous Canik subcompacts so as to compete with similar daily carry models. Sized to accept flush-fit 12-round or extended 15-round magazines, this little pistol proved to be feature rich and reliable when I had the opportunity to test drive it. This year Century Arms will be importing two new versions of this Mete pistol called the MC9L and MC9LS, both of which fall into the 'crossover' category of defensive handguns.
The MC9L maintains most of the same features of the original MC9, including the slim slide profile, 3.18" cold-hammer-forged barrel and an optics-ready slide. However, the grip frame has been extended and modified to accept Canik's standard duty-size 17-round magazines. Not only does this up the pistol's ammunition capacity but it also provides plenty of support for the shooting hand when practicing. The MC9LS will have a half inch longer barrel. These pistols will initially be offered in Black, FDE and 2-tone Black/FDE finishes with a suggested retail price of $499.99.
Charter Arms Coyote .380 ACP
Charter Arms tackles the low-recoil defensive revolver challenge with the new Coyote snub-nose series chambered in .380 ACP. Although .32-caliber revolvers used to fill the recoil niche in between the mild shooting .22-cal. rimfire models and the more stout .38-cal. center-fire guns, the .32s have fallen out of use, making the ammunition challenging to find and more expensive to purchase. The Coyote revolvers offer middle-ground levels of recoil but do so using a popular and readily available defensive pistol cartridge supported by full moon clips.
The 5-shot, double-action Coyote has a 2" long ported barrel with the cylinder, barrel and controls made of stainless steel. The receiver is aluminum with an anodized finish while the compact grip panels are made of checkered rosewood. The typical aluminum grip frame and trigger guard have been replaced with a gray polymer component to give these guns a feathery unloaded weight of 13.8-oz. Customers can choose from a matte silver finish, or, a pink receiver with a polished barrel and cylinder. Both versions are listed for $448.14. We've lined up one of these guns for a shooting range evaluation, so keep an eye out for the review.
Dark Mountain Arms Stowaway Takedown Carbine
Dark Mountain Arms is a new veteran-owned and-operated American gun maker that has launched one of the slimmest, lightest and easiest to use takedown survival guns I've seen so far. It's a single-shot carbine called the Stowaway and the first model out the door is chambered in the speedy little FN 5.7x28 mm center-fire cartridge.
Thanks to the judicious use of steel, aluminum and glass-filled nylon, the bolt-action Stowaway tips the scales at just 2 lbs. 14.8 oz. The 16" threaded barrel is supported by an extended threaded barrel nut. When this nut is loosened, the barrel can be separated from the receiver for an overall storage length of about 17". The AR-style pistol grip is interchangeable and the tubular stock is capped with a polymer butt plate. This compact carbine is caliber convertible (more barrel and bolt options are in the works) and the fixed factory stock can be traded out for a folding stock with an adapter. The Stowaway carbine is available for a suggested retail price of $399. A pistol configuration is also available for $379.
EAA Girsan MC 14T .380 ACP Pistol
European American Armory (EAA) is preparing to launch their new-for-2025 X Series pistols which include models that share certain finishes and features but are taken from different lines. Among them is the Girsan MC 14T X, which is the latest version of their compact semi-automatic chambered .380 ACP. Inspired by the Beretta Cheetah, these pistols have tip-up barrels so that it is not necessary to manually cycle the slide when loading or unloading the pistol.
The X Series version of this gun is distinguished from previous models by two features. First and foremost is the extended barrel threaded for popular muzzle accessories including sound suppressors. The other is a distinctive 2-tone finish consisting of a Tungsten Cerakote applied to the barrel and frame with a black slide and appointments. This particular model has a suggested retail price of $519. We plan to conduct a full review of one of the Girsan MC 14 series in the near future, so stay tuned!
HK-USA CC9 Pistol
Heckler & Koch is best known for their military-grade small arms made in Germany. However, the company has (finally) joined the “micro 9” market with the launch of its first ever civilian-specific 9 mm pistol. The new CC9 concealed-carry subcompact was designed here in America and is made by HK-USA located in Columbus, Georgia using American and German components. In development since 2018, the company says over 750,000 rounds of ammunition were fired through various iterations of this gun to ensure its durability and reliability.
The polymer-framed, striker-fired CC9 is fitted with a 3.32" cold hammer forged barrel and has an unloaded weight of 18.4 oz. The slide features front and rear cocking serrations with a green night sight up front and a drift adjustable square notch sight at the rear. The slide is optics-ready with a RMSc sized cut out. The slide stop and magazine release are both ambidextrous and the trigger is fitted with an integral blade safety. Other features include a short accessory rail, interchangeable grip backstraps, a grip long enough to support the little finger of the shooting hand and magazine capacities of 10- or 12-rounds. The CC9 has a suggested retail price of $699. Although this model is not quite a “low recoil” option, it deserved a mention here.
Kimber CDS9 9mm Pistol
Kimber has enjoyed steady sales of its slim-profile, 1911-pattern single-stack Micro 9 pocket pistol since it was originally released in 2015. Nevertheless, the company has listened to their customers and released a similarly sized model with an increased ammunition capacity. It's called the Covert Double Stack 9mm, or CDS9, and it accepts flush-fit 10-round magazines along with extended magazines with 13- or 15-round capacities.
Kimber was careful not to throw the Micro 9 baby out with the bath water. The CDS9 keeps the smooth cycling, single-action trigger and 1911 control layout of the original. But new features include front and rear cocking serrations, fiber-optic sights, an optics-ready slide, ambidextrous controls and VZ Grips textured G10 grip panels. This pistol will be available with either standard length 3.18" or extended threaded barrels with prices starting at $1,075.
Blue Line Solutions Mauser HSr .22 LR Pistol
Blue Line Solutions is the exclusive U.S. distributor of the new Mauser HSr .22 LR pistol. Manufactured by German Sport Guns (GSG), the retro design of the HSr is inspired by the Mauser HSc 7.65 mm pistol from WW2. But it also bears a striking resemblance to the SIG Sauer P232 chambered in .380 ACP. The result is a clean, sleek, classically styled compact rimfire semi-automatic which is easy on the eyes and comfortable to use.
The Mauser HSr is an all-metal, hammer-fired pistol with a cold hammer forged barrel and an old-school double-action/single-action trigger. The thumb safety lever can also be used to decock the hammer. These guns ship with two magazines, a pair of interchangeable rear sights and a plastic storage case. They will be available in black, silver and 2-tone finishes with polymer or hardwood grips with prices starting at $269.99.
Retay RXP22 .22 LR Pistol
Retay USA is best known as an importer of high quality Turkish sporting shotguns. But this year the company will be introducing a new compact-size .22 LR pistol dubbed the RXP22. This hammer fired semi-automatic's design is intended to mimic the handling, controls and weight of the polymer-framed 9 mm pistols favored for self defense. These features allow it to be used as a low-recoil and less expensive training pistol. But it looks to be an enjoyable to use rimfire pistol in its own right.
The RXP22 features an aero-space grade 7075 aluminum slide and internal chassis with a light weight textured polymer frame. The slide is optics ready with a cutout sized for RMR or RMRc size red dot optics. The chromed steel barrel will be available in a standard 4" length or with an extended threaded muzzle. The pistols will ship with two 13-round flush-fit magazines with extended 18-round magazines sold separately. Slide color options will include Black, OD Green, FDE and Burnt Bronze. This pistol is expected to start shipping by the end of the year with suggested retail prices yet to be listed.
Taylor's & Co. TC73 9 mm Lever-Action Rifle
Taylor's & Co. recently expanded their 9 mm pistol ammunition compatible Old West firearms catalog to include the handsomely crafted TC73 lever-action rifle. Although this company has offered a few 9 mm single-action revolvers for a while now, my understanding is this will be their first long gun chambered in this eminently popular semi-automatic pistol cartridge. Made here in the United States, the TC73 is an 1873 lever action built to Taylor's specifications to preserve the historic features and cosmetics of the platform while offering reliable operation.
The 18" long round-profile blued steel barrel has a 5/8x24 TPI threaded muzzle. The receiver, hammer, trigger and lever sport a true case-color finish. Along with the classically styled hardwood furniture, this rifle’s features include an improved carrier block, hardened screws and fully machined internal components. The suggested retail price for the TC73 is $1,999.
