2025 NRA Show, Atlanta, GA
I arrived here in Atlanta, GA yesterday in order to attend the 2025 NRA Show. My first time in downtown Atlanta!
I have to say that Atlanta is an extremely friendly town. Staff, vendors, and attendees all go out of their way to be welcoming and helpful. Convention Center hotels (where I’m staying) are all very nice!
No protestors this year! I’m told that leftist losers, who sometime show-up at organized protests of NRA events, these days have so many other DJT-era issues competing for their attention that elimination of private ownership on guns by Americans (while still core dogma for all leftists) has now slipped way down on their list of priorities.
This year’ Show is bigger than last year’s, and well attended, and while I have no inside track on NRA’s upper-level politics, I’m told things have “settled-down” among Board Members since the last several years of fireworks. In any event, the Show is well organized, well laid-out, and adequately staffed.
Of note:
Springfield Armory’s XD pistols have now taken second place to their new “Echelon” series. The Echelon features a removable trigger-control assembly, much like SIG’s 320, a feature that is attractive to institutional buyers. However, I’m told that the XD will not go out of production, as it is still perfectly useable and a good deal less expensive than the new Echelon.
The Daniel Defense H9 pistol has the best trigger of any in the genera, but it is all-steel and thus heavy. And at over $1k/copy, it’s on the pricy side.
FN’s 509 ($700.00/copy) is also a very satisfactory service pistol, but their smaller “Reflex” series is designed to compete with the SIG365, SA Hellcat, SAR9, and Kahr PM9 for the deep concealed-carry market.
Shadow Systems MR920 is another excellent service pistol, albeit more expensive than the G19 which it emulates.
Kimber’s version is the side-ejecting TFS Carbon Compact. Excellent choice, but also on the pricey side
Mossberg’s MC2c continues to enjoy my recommendation and is in the middle price range.
Yet, here comes CZ with their P10C pistol, a Glock-like double-column 9mm, which sells for $400.00! And, at that price, it is still perfectly acceptable as a service/carry pistol for serious purposes, and I have no compunction about recommending it, as I carried a copy for most of a year
So, while all pistols mentioned above (and some I neglected to mention) are eminently suitable and represent good choices for personal protection, prices range from $400.00 to over $1k/copy. For some consumers, the foregoing is not relevant, and they will get what that want, regardless of price.
Nothing wrong with that, but for $400.00 you can still get a perfectly good and acceptable defensive pistol that will render immaculate service for the rest of your lifetime, and well beyond.
Alex Robinson at Robinson Armament tells me that the current best-selling caliber for his wonderful XCR Rifle is 8.6 Blackout! I have several copies of the XCR in 223 and 308, but I had no idea the 8.6 Blackout was that popular!
Beretta’s 1301 and A300 autoloading shotguns are very similar. Both are in production, and both are recommended. Retail for the A300 is $1,100. For the 1301, its over $2k
Friends at PTR tell me their roller-delayed PTR63 rifle in 223 will (finally) be shipping sometime this year. The PTR91 in 308 has been around for a long time and continues to be popular, but the smaller and lighter PTR63 represents a welcome addition to their product line.
The popular Mantis graphic training system now comes with an inert training pistol, the “Titan.” With this system and its wonderful graphics, trainers can show students exactly what they’re doing that compromises accuracy. This is something I recommend for all trainers.
Diamondback’s SDR snubby revolver makes a very acceptable carry-gun, similar to S&W’s and Colt’s. Smooth and slick, but again, on the pricy side.
Finally, XS sights, makers of high-visibility iron sights, are now making a slim, sturdy M-Lock forend for Henry lever guns. Lever-gun aficionados will love it!
More tomorrow!
/John
