Gun Industry Trends in 2026: What to Expect

There seems to be a distinct theme that runs through the gun industry every few years.

Trends come and go, and they often grip the gun industry hard until the next one comes back. With that in mind, what does 2026 hold for us?

That’s the question I asked, and now, a bit after SHOT, I’ve reflected on what I saw this year, what’s coming, and what hit the market in late 2025. I think this paints an interesting picture of what we’ll see in the coming year.

Follow along as I walk you through what to expect out of guns and gear in 2026!

Suppressed Everything

The most prominent trend of 2026 has to be suppressors. They are everywhere, and everyone is making one.

From Palmetto State Armory to Hi-Point to even Lyman, of all people, are churning out suppressors. There are a ton of affordable cans entering the market, and even some new technology.

The Ambient suppressor is a game-changer — pulling air from outside the suppressor into the suppressor to keep things cool.

The suppressor craze isn’t just confined to cans themselves; we’re even seeing more suppressor-friendly firearm designs. FN, for example, ensured the Gen 2 SCAR is capable of using suppressors. Suppressors on the previous generation violated the warranty.

We can thank the reduction of the NFA Tax Stamp for suppressors from $200 to $0 for this suppressor boom.

It’s a small cut in costs, but it has generated massive interest in NFA items, especially suppressors. Plus, eForm approvals dropped the wait times from months to days, so that doesn’t hurt either.

Shorter Barrels

Much like suppressors, long guns with short barrels are becoming quite popular.

Short-barreled rifles and shotguns are now also devoid of the $200 tax stamp. This has created a ton of factory-produced short-barreled rifles and shotguns.

Again, Palmetto State Armory jumped into the game with loads of short-barreled guns. The new AAC brand is producing factory-ready SBRs that can ship to your door via their partnership with Capitol Armory.

PSA also showed off the Sabre Key, a short-barreled, undermounted shotgun that looks interesting.

Mossberg unleashed a few short-barreled shotguns and even an AOW. This includes some magazine-fed variants of the 590 and the 990 Aftershock. (I’m excited for the 590RM Chisel with an 11.5-inch barrel and folding Chisel stock setup.)

Ruger has factory 10/22 SBRs and Ruger PC Carbine SBRs. HK is releasing SBRs, as is Daniel Defense. Short barrels, much like suppressors, are becoming quite hot in the current market.

Again, the lack of a $200 tax stamp and greater overall interest in NFA have led to a big change in firearms culture.

The 2011-Effect

Last year was a big year for 2011s, and that continues into 2026 in more ways than one. First, there are tons of new 2011 models ready for 2026.

Staccato launched two: the HD C4X and HD C3.6 aimed at the concealed carry market. Romulus announced big bore models of their budget worthy 2011 in 10mm and .45 ACP. Jacob Grey released the oh-so-fancy Nox 9. Meanwhile, Sig Sauer even showed off some new P211s.

The appeal of the 2011 is the light trigger, high degree of accuracy, ergonomics, and the general high-end feel many of them have.

We are seeing tuned guns like the Waltz 9, which is striker-fired, but built with an incredible trigger and grip design that hits those same marks as the 2011 series guns. SDS Imports showed off the Inglis 2035, which brings the 2011 treatment to a Hi-Power design.

Beyond the release of 2011's I saw what appears to be a 200-ification of the industry as a whole. People are taking established designs and making them 2011-like.

2011s are like a virus; it’s spreading, and it’s making the industry go back to hammer-fired guns.

What’s Old Is New

What do you do when you don’t have any ideas on what to bring to the industry? Bring something old back.

Colt is the king of that, showing off a beautiful blued Anaconda — which appears to be the first blued Anaconda ever, so what’s old is truly new.

FN released Gen 2 variants of the SCAR series. These new rifles are modern with M-LOK handguards, non-reciprocating charging handles, and even a hydraulic buffer. It’s quite the upgrade for a rifle series that now makes me feel old.

CZ announced the CZ 75 in a pre-B configuration. This Legend includes the same finish, grips, and short dust cover. It even ditches the firing pin block for smoother trigger pulls, which is utterly delightful.

Speaking of CZ, CZ Customs brings the CZ 92 built in America, while Ruger rereleased the Red Label series, and H&R continues to rule the retro rifle market.

The gun industry is embracing those old guns and offering them to new shooters.

Embracing New Cartridges

If suppressors are getting popular, we can expect subsonic ammo to do the same.

Federal unleashed 20 new centerfire rifle loads, including numerous subsonic loads in .30-30, .45-70, .308, and .300 Blackout. Those subsonics are aimed at equipping modern shooters and their suppressed guns.

We’re also seeing rounds released in 2024 and 2025, gaining some steam with new loadings for cartridges like the 6mm ARC and the .338 ARC. On top of new cartridges, new rifles to chamber them, my favorite being the PSA Kitty Kat in .338 ARC with wood furniture.

The AR-15 has gotten another new cartridge, as if it needed one.

The .30 Epic from Olympus Arms pushes a .30 cal projectile through an AR-15 at 2,800 feet per second. It seems promising, and at around $1.20 a round, it’s not exceptionally expensive.

People are always craving something different, and these various cartridges are, at the very least, interesting.

More Handgun Modularity

The idea behind a removable, serialized fire control unit isn’t new. In fact, it’s been around for over a decade at this point. What has changed is the downright embracement of it.

Companies like Flux lit the fire, but other manufacturers are seeing the value in designing various PDWs.

Tyrant CNC just released one, while PSA teased one in the AXR lineup of PDWs and FCUs.

Beyond PDWs, there are lots of companies spinning off into the custom grip module world.

Magpul is obviously invested in different-sized grips for the RXM, including a full-size and soon-to-launch subcompact option.

Sharp Brothers are producing some fantastic and downright beautiful grip modules made from metal. They are exquisite and extremely well-made.

Strike Industries, Icarus Precision, and more are going in on the custom grips market for a wide variety of FCU-enabled guns like the Ruger RXM, Sig Sauer P365, and the Springfield Echelon.

Modern gun owners love customizing firearms, and FCU-enhanced firearms are opening some extreme customization options.

Smart Optics

Optics are getting smart! Well, kind of.

Smart optic seems to be the term used to describe optics with some form of computer enhancement added.

Holosun has been showing off its integrated thermal and night vision red dots for a couple of years, but they aren’t the only ones doing something different.

The Burris Veracity PH integrates with your phone, and Burris Connect to upload custom ballistic profiles. You can input field conditions and environmental factors that might affect your shot. Burris also has the Eliminator 6 that pairs a rangefinder to your optic and a thermometer, barometer, and an inclinometer.

The DNT Optics TNC365R is a combination thermal and night vision scope that puts multispectral on the menu. It’s integrated with a laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator, and somehow, retails for less than $3,500.

Armasight is pushing the new Contractor Pro 640 that combines a thermal optic with a quad-core GPU and an integrated A.I. system to help decipher images in less than optimum environments.

Technology always shrinks, and as it shrinks, it becomes more accessible and easier to shove into an optics profile. I’m excited to embrace the cyberpunk era of optics!

Final Thoughts on the Gun Industry in 2026

We are in a slump at the moment. That’s a fact. A lot of normal guns simply aren’t selling.

I think this is why the NFA route has been widely embraced by users. Trying to improve the accessories we attach to firearms will also be a winning bet!

What have you noticed the industry moving towards? Let us know below! To get a recap on what we saw at SHOT, check out our articles on the hottest week in the gun industry: Best Guns of SHOT Show, Best Gear of SHOT Show, Best Home Defense & Concealed Carry Guns of SHOT Show.