The National Rifle Association’s Annual Meeting has concluded. This event occurs yearly and is like its own mini SHOT Show, but it’s much more accessible than SHOT. NRA members are invited to attend, and they do, flocking to the city of choice to gawk, handle, and gleam at all the new guns. NRAAM is a great place for companies to show some mid-year launches, and this year in particular we’ve seen some fascinating new guns. We are all about concealed carry and handguns so let’s review the best new handguns of NRAAM 2024.
The Best New Handguns of NRAAM 2024
While most years bring a diverse range of gun releases, this year, NRAAM 2024 stood out with an abundance of handguns. The only rifle that managed to make a noticeable mark was a 9mm lever action rifle. Beyond that, NRAAM was a vibrant showcase of innovative and diverse handguns.
Colt Viper
The Colt Viper was produced in the 1970s as a very limited run of revolvers. It was a blend of Cobra and the Colt Police Positive Special. Colt intended to produce a more affordable snake gun, but they didn’t sell well and were quickly discontinued. This year, Colt is bringing the Viper back to give it a second chance at success.
Colt’s new snake guns have been massively successful, and the Viper aims to build on that success. The Viper aims to be a refined defensive revolver with a wonderful snake gun trigger and heavy-weight profile. The gun has a simpler look with less fancy features and ornaments. It’s a stripped-down but capable defensive revolver that keeps Colt’s classic style. This was my favorite gun of NRAAM.
Shadow Systems CR920X
Not to sound rude, but Shadow Systems makes high-end Glock clones. That’s the truth, and that’s fine with me. The new CR920X is their take on the Glock 43X. This pistol features a hand-filling grip but a short and sweet barrel for easy concealment. One big step up is the use of a 15-round magazine rather than a single-stack 10-round magazine.
Shadow Systems goes full hog with their guns, and the CR920X is no different. The gun features an optics-ready slide and a rail for accessories. It maintains a very slim profile with the 15-round magazine. I’s not just another Glock build kit. It’s an exciting option for concealed carry, and Shadow Systems plans to release both an elite and foundation version of the gun.
Walther PPK in .32 ACP
Walther is finally bringing back the best model of the PPK, the .32 ACP variant. Walther designed the PPK around the .32 ACP cartridge, which is a much better round for the gun. The .32 ACP generates fairly low recoil, which meshes well with the blowback nature of the PPK. It’s James Bond’s choice for a reason, and if he was at NRAAM he’d certainly approve.
The PPK is deliciously old school but delivers a capable concealed carry option. It’s small, thin, and offers a DA/SA action. I’m partial to DA/SA guns. The PPK in .32 ACP is super easy to handle and makes it easy to shoot rapidly and accurately. I’ll be pacing, waiting for my local gun stores to get a PPK in .32 ACP.
Heritage Manufacturing Roscoe
Heritage Manufacturing made their name with the single-action-only, rimfire Rough Rider series. They are breaking out of that mold with the Roscoe. This centerfire .38 Special revolver harkens back to the days of old. We are talking about times when ladies were dames and men wore fedoras. It’s purposefully designed as a throwback design.
This five-shot compact revolver is a Taurus Model 85 with old-school features. This includes tiny grips and an unshrouded ejection rod. It looks awesome, and while it’s old school, it’s still a viable defensive option. NRAAM had both a 2-inch model and a 3-inch model on display. With an MSRP of $299 the, Roscoe promises to keep things on the cheap side.
The Hi-Point Yeet Cannon .380 ACP
The internet is still proud of itself and how it voted to name Hi-Point’s double stack, optics, and light-ready handgun, the Yeet Cannon. I’m proud of Hi-Point for playing along. The Yeet Cannon 9mm has been followed up with the Yeet Cannon .380 ACP. NRAAM allows us to handle this smaller, more compact model and keeps the famed features of the Yeet Cannon.
It’s optics-ready, has a rail for a light, a double stack magazine, and even a threaded barrel. The new YC 380 promises to pack all those features with a price tag of $229. The release date seems to be unknown as Hi-Point has taken its time releasing the YC 9, but who knows, maybe they’ll hit store shelves this year.
NRAAM Is Over
That’s it. That’s a wrap. We can return from Texas and take a well-deserved break. NRAAM is always a blast, and I have to ask, did you see anything worth mentioning? Let us know below your favorite new handgun, rifle or shotgun.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine gunner who served with 2nd Bn 2nd Marines for 5 years. He deployed in 2009 to Afghanistan and again in 2011 with the 22nd MEU(SOC) during a record-setting 11 months at sea. Travis has trained with the Romanian Army, the Spanish Marines, the Emirate Marines, and the Afghan National Army.
He serves as an NRA-certified pistol instructor and pursues a variety of firearms-based hobbies.
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