January’s SHOT Show 2026 in Las Vegas set the tone for the year ahead, with several of the 11 handguns below debuting on the show floor.
From competition-ready race guns to modular duty pistols, high-capacity 2011s, a modernized revolver and a few thoughtful nods to classic design, these releases sketch a clear picture of where handgun development is headed in 2026: more modular and unapologetically purpose-built.
Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P M2.0 Competitor HD
Built like a steel predator tuned for the stopwatch, the M&P M2.0 Competitor HD carries 34½ ounces of stainless mass, magazine well included, to keep recoil honest. The frame’s aggressive texturing—side stippling and a grippy front panel—locks the hand in place. Up top, a 5-inch, spiral-fluted barrel and optic-ready lightened slide with deep serrations run fast, guided by HiViz fiber-optic sights. A no-thumb-safety model is also available. MSRP: $1,299, smith-wesson.com
Beretta B22 Jaguar Metal Competition
The Beretta B22 Jaguar Metal Competition stalks steel with feline calm, a rimfire race gun shaped in part by Scholastic Action Shooting Program and Tandemkross pragmatic input. A Tandemkross Steam Demon compensator, flat-faced adjustable trigger and thumb ledge conspire to keep the dot (or irons) still. The chassis-style build invites tinkering without fuss, while ambidextrous controls and dual ejection ports welcome all comers. It shoots flatter than a .22 Long Rifle-chambered pistol has any right to, feeling less like a plinker and more like a purpose-built stopwatch slayer. MSRP: $969, beretta.com
Staccato HD C4X
The Staccato HD C4X distills the company's HD line into a carry-sized 2011 chambered in 9 mm Luger without cutting corners. A 4-inch barrel with an integral single-port compensator reduces muzzle flip, while the steel-framed grip is compact but controllable, feeding from 15-round Glock-pattern magazines. Staccato’s new optics-mounting system locks dots in place, while an active firing pin block and crisp 4½-pound single-action trigger round out a solid compact pistol. MSRP: $3,499, staccato2011.com
FN 309 MRD
The FN 309 MRD is a compact handgun chambered in 9 mm Luger built around efficiency rather than excess. Its internal hammer-fired, single-action system delivers a consistent 5-pound trigger, paired with a 3.8-inch barrel and recessed target crown. Weighing 22½ ounces, the slide racks with notably reduced resistance and mounts optics directly via DeltaPoint Pro or Shield RMS footprints. A refined grip texture, reversible controls, accessory rail and 16- or 20-round magazines round out a pistol engineered for practical use and everyday carry. MSRP: $549, fnamerica.com
Springfield Armory Polished Blued SA-35
Springfield Armory’s Polished Blued SA-35 leans into tradition while quietly modernizing John M. Browning’s classic P-35 formula. Built for longevity, a forged slide and frame add strength, paired with a cold hammer forged barrel. Ergonomics improve via a reshaped hammer to avoid bite and an extended thumb safety. Modern white-dot sights replace the originals, while capacity grows to 15 rounds. Checkered walnut grips and a subtly funneled magazine well complete a classic 9 mm pistol refined for 21st-century shooters. MSRP: $799, springfield-armory.com
Smith & Wesson Spec Series R Model 686 Plus
Smith & Wesson’s Spec Series R Model 686 Plus stands apart as the only revolver on this list—and the second entry from Big Blue—melding wheelgun heritage with modern hardware. Built on a stainless L-frame, it runs a 4⅛-inch PowerPort-equipped barrel in .357 Magnum, feeding a 7-round, moon-clip-cut cylinder. A factory-mounted Aimpoint ACRO P-2 optic, extended cylinder release, no internal lock and 42½-ounce weight make this a deliberately modern take on a classic revolver. MSRP: $1,999, smith-wesson.com
Stoeger STR-9 Thinline+
The Stoeger STR-9 Thinline+ handgun chambered in 9 mm Luger doubles down on function with a spec-forward take on everyday carry. A 1-inch-wide slide keeps the profile tight, while a full-size grip feeds 19- and 17-round magazines. (One 19-round and two 17-round mags are included.) The 3¼-inch ported barrel lowers the bore axis and tempers recoil and is paired with a lighter slide for easier manipulation. RMSc direct-mount optics compatibility, Tritium night sights and a Tungsten Cerakote slide finish round out this striker-fired pistol. MSRP: $699, stoegerindustries.com
Kimber 2K11 Comp
The Kimber 2K11 Comp is a double-stack 1911 chambered in 9 mm Luger built around recoil control. A 5-inch fluted, ramped barrel integrates a forward compensator with 0.16 square-inch of porting, backed by a 10-pound recoil spring and tool-less guide rod. The optics-ready slide and frame ride on a carbon-fiber-infused Matrix grip module. There are 17- and 20-round magazines included. A 3- to 4-pound GT trigger, external extractor and Stan Chen Customs magazine wells (select models) mark Kimber’s most technically ambitious 2K11 to date. Stainless steel variant pictured, black is also available. MSRP: $2,345, kimberamerica.com
Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC
Springfield Armory’s second handgun on the list, the new Echelon 4.0FC chambered in 9 mm Luger blends slide economy with full-size capacity by pairing a 4-inch compact upper to a full-length grip module. At its core is the stainless Central Operating Group, a serialized chassis that swaps between frames in seconds. Springfield’s Variable Interface System allows direct mounting of more than 30 optics without plates. Fully ambidextrous, this fast-handling handgun ships with 17- and 20-round magazines, delivering duty-grade capacity in a modular package. MSRP: $710, springfield-armory.com
Jacob Grey Hex Pro 2011
The Jacob Grey Hex Pro is a steel-frame 9 mm built around precision CNC machining and recoil control. A 4.6-inch stainless barrel and chunk-ported slide track flat, backed by a 9-pound recoil spring on a tool-less guide rod. The billet 4140 steel frame wears a DLC finish, mated to a 7075 aluminum grip. A 2½- to 3-pound one-piece, flat-faced trigger, ambidextrous safety, optic-ready slide (RMR-footprint mounting plate included with purchase) and dual 17-round magazines define a no-compromise double-stack pistol. MSRP: $4,800, jacobgreyfirearms.com
Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P M2.0 10 mm Carry Comp
Smith and Wesson’s third entry on this list closes things out with authority: the Performance Center M&P 10 mm M2.0 Carry Comp. Built to harness duty-grade power, it pairs a 4‑inch barrel with a twelve‑o’clock Power Port to vent gas and reduce recoil, plus a flat‑face trigger and modular grip inserts. Capacity sits at 15+1 rounds of 10 mm ammunition. An optics‑ready slide with a ClearSight cut keeps mounted dots unobstructed, while the Armornite finish and aggressive serrations underscore a compact 10 mm handgun built for hard use. MSRP: $799, smith-wesson.com
