New Handguns Coming in 2025: 10 Must-See Pistols for the New Year
Under the neon glow of SHOT Show’s grand halls, a quiet arms race is underway not of nations, but of innovation. The floor buzzes with anticipation, the kind only serious shooters, hobbyists, and firearms insiders can feel. Among the thousands of products unveiled, one category stands out above the rest: handguns.
This year, manufacturers are doing more than refining the past they’re reinventing the future of sidearms. From modular chassis systems to optics-integrated slides, 2025’s class of pistols is brimming with cutting-edge tech, performance, and personality.
Springfield Armory Steps Forward with the Echelon 4.5F Comp
Springfield Armory is making headlines with the Echelon 4.5F Comp, a gun that seems born from the feedback of tactical shooters and competitors alike. It’s not just the ported barrel and slide, which dramatically reduce recoil; it’s the modularity that raises eyebrows.
At its heart lies a serialized central chassis system, enabling owners to swap frames and customize to their mission. With the Variable Interface System (VIS) built-in, optics mounting becomes a direct, plate-free experience. As one industry insider put it, “This is Springfield’s answer to the SIG P320 but built for battle.”
Canik Doubles Down: Meet the Mete MC9 L and LS
Not to be outdone, Canik rolled out the red carpet for its Mete MC9 L and MC9 LS two striker-fired pistols boasting budget pricing and premium feel. The LS, with its extended slide and barrel, gives off competition vibes, while the L sticks to concealment-ready proportions.
What both models share is Canik’s now-renowned trigger, aggressive slide serrations, and optics-ready versatility features typically reserved for pistols nearly twice the price.
“These are sub-$500 guns that feel like $800 shooters,” remarked one SHOT attendee.
KelTec Redefines the 5.7 Game with the PR57
In a move that surprised even long-time fans, KelTec introduced the PR57 a radically different take on the emerging 5.7x28mm market.
This ultra-light, 14-ounce pistol doesn't use a typical magazine. Instead, it utilizes stripper clips and a top-loading rotary feed system, reminiscent of classic battle rifles but in a thoroughly modern format. It’s bold, unconventional, and screams KelTec.
If you're a prepper, minimalist, or early adopter, this one has your name written on it.
Custom Power: Finks Gunsmithing Unleashes the Hog Hammer
At the custom end of the spectrum, Finks Custom Guns unveiled the Hog Hammer, a 10mm masterpiece riding on a 1911 frame. It’s as much a tool as it is a work of art.
With a crisp 4.25-lb trigger pull, G-10 grips, and a slide pre-cut for optics, this pistol blends traditional craftsmanship with modern firepower. It’s built for hog hunting, 50-yard plate challenges, or just sheer admiration.
Priced at $2,499, it’s not for the faint of heart or light of wallet.
Compact Classics Reimagined: Girsan’s 2311 Brat
Meanwhile, Girsan, through EAA Corp, offered a fresh twist on the double-stack 1911 with the Witness 2311 Brat. It’s compact, chambered in either 9mm or .45 ACP, and blends the slim aesthetics of a commander-style 1911 with the capacity of a modern double-stack.
It’s a welcome hybrid for shooters who want both classic design and contemporary functionality in one tidy package.
Savage Arms Evolves the Stance: Meet the XR
Savage Arms continues to quietly gain ground in the pistol market. Their Stance XR takes last year’s compact Stance and dials it up: a more aggressive grip texture, 13+1 capacity, tool-free optics mounting, and tritium night sights.
Available with or without a manual safety, the XR proves that Savage is listening to concealed carriers and they’re responding with refinement.
Taurus Reinvents Affordability with the GX2
Taurus returns with the GX2, an overhaul of the fan-favorite G2C. Gone are the clunky lines and spongy trigger. In its place is a sleeker silhouette, improved grip ergonomics, and a crisper, more responsive trigger system.
Taurus also hints at a red-dot-ready model coming later this year, showing they’re playing catch-up and doing it fast.
Precision Perfected: Wilson Combat’s P1 D77
High-end 1911s are nothing new for Wilson Combat, but the P1 D77 feels like a new chapter. Tailored for either duty or competition use, the pistol boasts match-grade internals, a hand-fit slide-to-frame interface, and impeccable build quality.
It’s an elite-level handgun for those who demand total reliability, uncompromising performance, and timeless aesthetics.
Tisas Breaks Price Barriers with the PX-5.7
If 5.7x28mm pistols were once luxury novelties, Tisas just made them mainstream with the PX-5.7.
This Turkish-made pistol offers a delayed blowback system, 20-round capacity, and adjustable sights all for a price that makes it accessible to first-time buyers. It’s lightweight, low-recoil, and perfect for those curious about what the 5.7 fuss is all about.
FN’s 509 Compact MRD Comes With a Bonus
FN capped off its presence with a crowd-pleaser: the 509 Compact MRD, now bundled with a Vortex Venom red dot pre-mounted.
This small but mighty pistol brings red-dot performance to the EDC world without requiring a separate purchase or setup. Co-witnessed irons and FN’s reputation for reliability make this one of the most attractive carry guns on the 2025 market.
What defines 2025’s handguns? It's not just about firepower anymore. It’s about flexibility, modularity, optics-readiness, and giving shooters options that were once reserved for high-end builds.
From tactical rigs to budget blasters, from red-dot integrations to top-loading experimental pistols this year proves that innovation in the firearms world is alive and thriving.
One thing is clear: in 2025, shooters have never had it so good.