Affordable 2011-Style Pistols and High-End Competition Guns Lead Handgun Wave

Kimber surprised the market with the DS Warrior, a U.S.-made double-stack 1911-style pistol starting at $1,100 MSRP for the 9mm version, available in four calibers including .38 Super, .45 ACP, and 10mm. Featuring a stainless steel slide and frame, 5-inch barrel, accessory rail, optic cut, and two magazines, it’s positioned as a ground-up rebuild of their classic Warrior. ‘For a US-made 2011 style pistol, this is basically unheard of,’ host John Patton noted. Bull Armory expanded its lineup with the single-stack SOF series ($1,950-$2,150), 1911 Trophy ($1,990), and open-class SAS2 Fireball race gun ($3,950), plus a swappable link trigger system for double-stack 1911s. FN introduced the budget-friendly 309 MRD pistol ($550) and upgraded SCAR Gen 2 rifles with 25+ improvements like suppressor readiness and ambi controls, though MSRPs range from $3,800-$4,500 drew criticism: ‘If you buy that gun, you are an idiot.’

Rifles, Shotguns, and Suppressors Tackle Value and Innovation

• Mossberg 990 SPX shotguns: 18.5-inch ($1,309) and NFA 14.75-inch versions with Magpul furniture.
• Savage Model 110 refreshes: Four models with AccuFit V2 adjustable stocks, $1,050-$1,950.
• Weatherby Backcountry Capra: Ultralight 4-pound titanium bolt gun, sub-MOA guaranteed, $3,500.
• Ruger .22 rifles: Ascend bolt gun ($400-$509) and RA 1522 semi-auto ($360).

Suppressors saw price extremes: Tyion slashed MSRPs by 4-29% (as low as $500 for rimfire), while Lyman entered with Sonic Core line at $200-$300, promising ‘unmatched value.’ Dead Air and AAC offerings hovered at $1,000-$1,200, prompting Patton’s remark: ‘Suppressor companies are going to have a lot of education to prove the value with some of these prices.’

Optics Surge and Viewer Questions on Affordability

Optics highlights included Holosun’s 507 Pro Max and ARO Evo Duel ($588), EOTech’s ultra-short Voodoo 4-12×36 ($1,219), Shield’s translucent MSX ($490), and Nightforce’s new NX6 line ($1,500-$2,200). Patton addressed viewer concerns on pricing: ‘Everyone is poor right now despite what Washington tells us. The economy is basically in the [expletive] for the middle class.’ He seeks input on GunCon exhibitors and teases channel giveaways at 500K subscribers.