Best Of SHOT Show 2025: Top Pistols

Here we’ve gathered some of the best new pistols that our team found at SHOT Show 2025.

by
posted on March 12, 2025
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SHOT2025 Pistol Lede 1
From top to bottom, the new Beretta 92XI SAO Sabbia, Smith & Wesson M&P9 Metal HD Spec Series and Ruger RXM handguns. (Note: images not to scale.)
Manufacturer photos

Now in its 47th year, SHOT Show isn’t slowing down anytime soon. This year, the show attracted roughly 54,000 attendees to Las Vegas to see new guns, ammo and gear from more than 2,800 companies. Naturally, Shooting Sports USA’s team of experts was there, getting our steps in across 830,000 square-feet of exhibition space.

Here are the new pistols we’re most excited about from SHOT Show 2025. We’re looking forward to testing as much as we can get our hands on in the months ahead.

Beretta 92XI SAO Sabbia

Beretta 92XI Sabbia
Manufacturer photo

The Beretta 92XI SAO Sabbia is a feature-rich, single-action-only handgun chambered in 9 mm Luger designed for competition shooters. The X-treme S trigger provides a crisp single-action trigger pull, while DLC-coated components ensure a smooth action. More features include a skeletonized hammer, performance hammer spring, frame-mounted safety, flared magazine well and an optics-ready slide. Three 22-round Mec-Gar magazines are included. MSRP: $1,329, beretta.com


Colt Optics-Ready 1911 Competition

Colt Optics-Ready 1911 Competition
Manufacturer photo

Available chambered in either 9 mm Luger or .45 ACP, Colt’s latest 1911s include the company’s new optics plate system. These new 1911 Competition Pistols include a black nitride cover plate with a fixed, serrated rear sight mounted in a Glock dovetail on the stainless-steel slide. Barrel length is five inches. Capacity is 8+1 for the .45 ACP model and 9+1 for 9 mm Luger. Optics-mounting plates are available separately. Note that an optic is not included with purchase. MSRP: $1,399, colt.com


Ruger RXM

Ruger RXM
Manufacturer photo

Ruger’s new RXM handgun chambered in 9 mm Luger is the result of a collaboration between Ruger and Magpul. The stainless-steel slide is fitted with aggressive front and rear serrations, while the polymer frame from Magpul provides lightweight performance. Equipped with an optics-ready slide, the RXM will accept many popular red-dot sights. Two 15-round magazines are in the box and the RXM is also compatible with extended magazines. MSRP: $499, ruger.com


Smith & Wesson M&P9 Metal HD Spec Series

S&W M&P9 Metal HD Spec Series
Manufacturer photo

The fifth iteration of Smith & Wesson’s Spec Series family, the M&P9 Metal HD Spec Series V is built with superior performance in mind. A steel-framed, striker-fired pistol chambered in 9 mm Luger, the M&P9 Metal HD Spec Series boasts a 23-round capacity and sports a 4.8-inch threaded barrel with a compensator from Strike Industries, steel optics plate, steel magazine well, C.O.R.E. night sights and a new trigger. MSRP: $1,699, smith-wesson.com


Staccato HD Series

Staccato HD P4
Manufacturer photo

New from Staccato is the HD double-stack pistol lineup with four- and 4½-inch variants (P4 pictured above), both chambered in 9 mm Luger. These handguns include Glock-pattern steel magazines built by Mec-Gar and have no grip safety. Fully ambidextrous, Staccato HD pistols have the slide release located on both sides, along with a reversible magazine release. Plus, they can direct mount the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro and Trijicon RMR optic footprints. MSRP: $2,499, staccato2011.com

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