Best Home-Defense & Concealed Carry Guns of SHOT Show 2025

Join us for a recap of the best home defense, concealed carry, and personal protection guns of SHOT Show 2025!

SHOT Show is the place to be for inside information from firearm industry leaders. The Pew Pew Tactical crew never misses a chance to rub elbows, chat up product designers, and get our hands on the latest and greatest guns, gear, gadgets, and more.

Let’s take a look at the best home defense and concealed carry guns of SHOT Show 2025. Over the course of five days and more miles than I could keep track of, I got a great view of what’s on the market and what’s on the way for the upcoming year.

Let’s explore together! 

Best Home Defense & Concealed Carry Guns of SHOT

1. Palmetto State Armory Sabre-11

PSA Sabre-11 Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Single-action semi-automatic
• Capacity: 17+1, 20+1
• Optic Ready: Yes
• MSRP: N/A

This was the year of expensive 2011s. If you’re itching to spend more than $3,500 on a match-grade race gun, you would have been in heaven walking around SHOT Show 2025.

But there was a more attainable option for us working-class shooters, too! Palmetto State Armory teased the prototype Sabre-11 double-stack 1911, and, at first blush, it looks fantastic.

The trigger is excellent – it won over the whole Pew Pew Tactical team with its short take-up, light pull, clean break, and strong reset.

PSA is still putting the finishing touches on the Sabre-11 so there was no word on release date or pricing, although I can’t imagine this pistol will stay out of public reach much longer. It’s going to be a smash hit if I had to guess.

What we do know is that if or when it does become available, we can expect it to come with one 17-round magazine and two 20-round magazines.

2. Glock / Aimpoint COA

Glock/Aimpoint Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Striker-fire semi-automatic
• Capacity: Varies by model
• Optic Ready: Yes (A-CUT)
• MSRP: N/A

A new pistol from Glock – could it be? Kind of (we’ll take it).

While Glock didn’t reveal any new models, we did get to see several existing models that have been milled to accept the brand-new Aimpoint COA enclosed emitter red dot without an adapter plate.

For now, the COA isn’t available for anything else, since Glock is the only manufacturer that currently supports the new A-CUT mounting footprint.

The optic looks great in person. It’s significantly smaller than the Aimpoint ACRO P-2 but offers the exact same 0.59” by 0.59” window. The glass is clear, the dot is crisp, the controls are tactile, and the housing feels solid.

This partnership is great news for people who want an enclosed optic for a legendary CCW pistol like the Glock 19, Glock 45, Glock 47, Glock 48, and Glock 43X.

And there’s more good news. Since the optic doesn’t rely on Glock’s MOS plate system, it can sit lower in the slide. That means you can still use factory sights as a backup – no suppressor-height sights are necessary.

3. Taurus GX2

Taurus GX2 Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Striker-fire semi-automatic
• Capacity: 13+1
• Optic Ready: No
• MSRP: $309.99

We love affordable pistols that make carrying concealed possible for everyone. Taurus stepped up this year with the new GX2.

This semi-automatic, striker-fire pistol offers 13+1 capacity, great ergonomics, and a thrilling MSRP of just $309.99. We’ve seen street prices as low as $239!

Would an optic-cut slide be nice? Sure. But that could bump this pistol’s price out of reach for some of its intended audience.

Everybody has the right to defend themselves. It’s awesome to see manufacturers deliver the goods with quality pistols that you can use for concealed carry and home defense without going into credit card debt.

4. Staccato HD P4

Staccato HD P4, HD P4.5 Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Single-action semi-automatic
• Capacity: 18+1
• Optic Ready: Yes (Host Mounting System)
• MSRP: $2,499 (HD P4), $2,699 (HD P4.5)

The new Staccato HD pistols were all the buzz going into SHOT Show 2025, and I didn’t see the Staccato booth without a crowd spilling into the walkway all week.

Both HD-series pistols carry over Staccato’s famous bull barrel, exquisite trigger, and craftsmanship. Unlike the original 2011s, These ditch the grip safety in favor of an active firing pin block.

And yes, it takes Glock magazines! The HD P4 and HD P4.5 ship with two 18-round steel magazines from Mec-Gar and will work with any standard 17-round Glock mags.

The new Host Mounting System eliminates the need for adapter plates, which will make adding the optic of your choice that much easier.

The HD P4.5 has a front sight block that reduces reciprocating mass and helps balance the pistol while firing to reduce felt recoil. 

Will the HD P4 and HD P4.5 rival the Staccato P as a premium duty pistol? We’ll have to find out for ourselves soon enough!

5. Springfield Armory Prodigy Compact

Springfield Prodigy Compact Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Single-action semi-automatic
• Capacity: 15+1
• Optic Ready: Yes
• MSRP: $1,549

With all the Springfield Echelon excitement lately, I was pleasantly surprised to see a new Prodigy on the menu.

The new compact frame is available with either a 4.25- or 3.5-inch bull barrel and comes with two 15-round magazines. The tritium front sight is a nice upgrade over the original fiber optic front sight.

A 3.5-inch barrel normally pushes the boundaries of what most people can shoot well, but I’m optimistic about this one. The Prodigy foundation is so thick and stable that I’d be perfectly comfortable mounting an optic on this one and making it an EDC carry pistol.

Both models are available now with an MSRP of $1,549 – just slightly less expensive than the full-size Prodigy. That puts it smack dab in the middle of striker-fire polymer guns and high-end 2011s. 

Is it the Goldilocks upscale CCW pistol? Stay tuned for a hands-on review!

6. Mossberg 590RM

Mossberg 590RM Specs

• Caliber: 12ga
• Action: Pump-action
• Capacity: 10+1
• Optic Ready: Yes (Picatinny)
• MSRP: $1,190

Debate this among yourselves in the comments section, but no home defense article would be complete without a scattergun.

If something were to go bump in the night and I had to reach for a shotgun from this year’s SHOT Show floor, it would be the Mossberg 590RM Standoff.

This twist on Mossberg’s popular pump shotgun feeds from a 10-round detachable magazine and incorporates an AR-style safety and pistol grip.

Other tactical features include a five-position adjustable buttstock, QD sling points, a Picatinny rail, a heat shield, and a flat-faced trigger. It’s a more natural crossover for shooters who spend most of their training time on the AR platform.

Do you need a standoff barrel to breach locked doors on your home defense gun? Maybe not, but I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. And it looks cool.

What do you think, is this the ultimate pump-action shotgun for home defense?

7. Nextorch ND30

Nextorch ND30 Specs

• Brightness: 11,000 lumens
• Volume: 130 dB
• Battery: Rechargeable (USB-C)
• Weight: 9 oz
• MSRP: $399.99

I’ve never been more excited about a non-lethal defense product than I am about the Nextorch ND30. It was one of the best things I saw at SHOT Show 2025!

This little gizmo is an electronic flashbang grenade. Instead of explosives, it uses 11,000-lumen LED strobes and a 130-decibel alarm so you can deploy it thousands of times before plugging in a USB-C cord and recharging it.

I got to experience the ND30 in a confined space at the show, and it was definitely effective.

You can program it to control the delay and length of activation using the device’s pin. The pin and spoon operate just like a concussion flashbang, and it fits inside a standard pouch.

A Nextorch rep told me that these are popular training tools for law enforcement agencies because they practically eliminate the cost of training with a flashbang. I say they’re a huge advantage for home defense that anyone can buy, train with, and deploy.

8. Palmetto State Armory Mixtape

PSA Mixtape Specs

• Caliber: .338 ARC
• Action: Semi-automatic
• Capacity: 25+1
• Optic Ready: Yes (Picatinny)
• MSRP: N/A (probably around $1,000)

When it comes to home defense, it’s hard to go wrong with an AR pistol. Palmetto State Armory showed us one at SHOT Show 2025 that might be the best one yet.

The PSA Mixtape is clearly inspired by the Q Boombox (more on that later). It’s chambered for .300 Blackout and .338 ARC, which makes it a superb suppressor host. The color scheme is a symphony in coyote brown. 

Best of all, it comes with a brace instead of a stock so you don’t have to jump through NFA hoops to buy one!

PSA partnered with Radian for the charging handle and safety, B5 Systems for the pistol grip, SB Tactical for the brace, and Magpul for the 25-round PMAG. All you have to do is pick a suppressor and an optic.

We didn’t get a release date, but the Mixtape is in the latter stages of development so the wait shouldn’t be too long. Expect pricing to be in the $1,000 range, just like the rest of PSA’s Sabre products.

It sounds almost impossible to pass up. Will you be on the waitlist for the new PSA Mixtape?

9. Q Boombox

Q Boombox Specs

• Caliber: 8.6 BLK
• Action: Semi-automatic
• Capacity: 20+1
• Optic Ready: Yes (Picatinny)
• MSRP: $4,399

Remember how much we loved the Palmetto State Armory Mixtape? This is the original album, friends.

As per the usual arrangement, Q cut no corners in building an AR that serves up top-shelf components, precision manufacturing, and maximum potential for suppression.

The 8.6 Blackout cartridge (another one of Kevin Brittingham’s brainchildren) is remarkably quiet and surprisingly soft-shooting. Running it through a short-barreled rifle like the Boombox is arguably the best way to defend your castle.

And a castle is probably where you live if you can afford the Boombox as a home defense gun because the MSRP is $4,399. Yeah, it’s super expensive. But we can dream, right?

Should we put the Boombox to the test with a hands-on review? Make some noise in the comments section.

10. Smith & Wesson Model 19 No Lock

Specs

• Caliber: .357 Mag / .38 Spl
• Action: Single-action/double-action revolver
• Capacity: 6
• Optic Ready: No
• MSRP: $1,099

Would a revolver be my first choice for home defense or concealed carry? No. Can I deny that Smith & Wesson’s revamped classic wheel guns are awesome? Again, no.

The new line of no-lock revolvers takes some of our favorite Smith & Wesson models back to a time before controversial internal locks came into the picture to satisfy legal requirements. 

I’m partial to the Model 19 but Smith & Wesson also had the new Model 10 and Model 36 on display. 

The medium-frame Model 19 is chambered for .357 Mag, which provides all the punch you could want for home defense or concealed carry with the ability to do most of your training with the lighter .38 Spl.

This revolver comes with a 4.25-inch barrel, a red front sight, and an adjustable rear sight. The combination of blued steel and checkered walnut grips is timeless.

While I didn’t get to shoot the Model 19, I can confirm that the ergonomics and trigger are excellent. It feels worthy of the $1,099 MSRP.

Should we get our hands on one of these revolvers for a “Dirty Harry”-style review? Go ahead — make our day by letting us know in the comments!

11. Mission First Tactical Pro-Series

Specs

• Material: Kydex
• Configuration: IWB
• Retention: Magnetic
• Optic Ready: Yes
• Weight: 16 oz
• MSRP: $89.99

Owning a great CCW pistol is only part of the battle. You’re going to need an equally capable holster, and I was impressed with the new Pro holsters from Mission First Tactical.

I covered these when they launched (read all about it in the new product highlight) but seeing them in person proved how good the concept is in real life.

The magnetic retention system works flawlessly. I tried gently pushing a training pistol into the holster to see how strong the magnet was, and it pulled it the last quarter-inch or so into place with a very satisfying “snap!”

These holsters come with single and double belt clips. You can wear them inside or outside the waistband. They’re even ambidextrous, and you can order holsters for light-bearing pistols, too.

Right now, Mission First Tactical only offers its Pro Series for select Glock, Sig Sauer, and Springfield Armory pistols. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for more options in 2025.

Final Thoughts

SHOT Show is a great way to revisit the guns and gear we love while peeking ahead at what’s on the horizon.

This year, we got some nice updates to existing home defense and CCW models. Manufacturers like Glock and Springfield Armory are fine-tuning guns with a solid track record. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! 

Others, like Palmetto State Armory and Holosun are opening the floodgates for all the new models and prototypes we can handle.

Which home defense and concealed carry guns and gear are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments. Want to see more big reveals from SHOT Show 2025? Head on over to the Best Guns of SHOT Show 2025!