After a shutdown and then a year marked by COVID mandates, this year, SHOT Show finally fully returned to Las Vegas to showcase some of the newest firearms and gear that are about to hit the market. Here are some of the top handguns to come out of this year’s show.
The Judge from Taurus
Last Year, Taurus launched the Executive Grade handgun line; this year, they took that success and introduced the latest Executive Line offering, The Judge. Taking their best-selling 38 Special 856 revolver, Taurus added custom upgrades that include presentation-grade grips, hand-fitted action, and practical enhancements for everyday carry. Like other Executive line handguns, The Judge is hand-assembled by Taurus gunsmiths.
The new Taurus Judge Executive Grade features the same hand-fitted action as the previous 856 but is capable of firing .410 bore shotgun shells as well as the .45 Colt round.
Oracle Arms 2311 Pistol
Several companies have tried to take the iconic 1911 and modernize it for today’s shooters. The latest attempt comes from Oracle Arms, who introduced the 2311 Pistol at this year’s SHOT Show. Oracle Arms says the 2311 combines the time-tested 1911 operating system with modern engineering and manufacturing processes to create a pistol that is on the leading edge of industry design.
“Our primary objective when designing the 2311 was to combine the fit, finish, speed, and trigger pull of a purpose- built single action match pistol with the versatility and reliability of a striker-fired polymer duty pistol. Not only did we accomplish that, but we did so while wrapping the platform around a magazine that is roughly 1/3 rd of the cost of the competition that doesn’t suffer from any of the common issues that current “double-stack 1911” magazines are notorious for. To make the barrier to entry even lower, we priced the 2311 in a range that makes it approachable for the average enthusiast and recreational competition shooters.”
The ORACLE ARMS 2311 is available in five 9mm configurations: Compact, Compact Elite, Combat, Combat Elite, and Competition. It’s SIG® P320 magazine compatible, includes four interchangeable slide plates, and patent pending debris clearance channels to prevent buildup and ensure performance in challenging environments.
Glock G47
Let’s face it; it’s a Glock! While there weren’t any real surprises, the most talked about release from Glock was their new G47. The new introduction is pretty close to the G17 Gen5 MOS; its popularity really comes from the fact that it wasn’t available to the public until now – it was developed for the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in 2019. So what’s new for Glock, guys? The G47 has the ability to also accept Glock 19 slides.
Springfield Armory DS Prodigy
Springfield Armory is another manufacturer sporting a modernized version of the 1911 with their DS Prodigy line.
The Prodigy from Springfield Armory takes the 1911 platform and enhances it with a double-stack magazine with a 17- or 20-round capacity — an optional 26-rounder is also available. Available in two lengths, the Prodigy™ is offered with either a 4.25” or 5” bull barrel made of forged stainless steel with an 11-degree crown.
The Springfield Armory Hellcat 3″ – Davidson Exclusive
In the lightweight and compact category, Springfield Armory was pushing the Hellcat line including the latest Hellcat 3″ Micro Compact – Davidson Exclusive. The Robin’s Egg Blue Hellcat is a Davidson’s distributor exclusive and features a stainless steel slide matched up with a Robin’s Egg Blue frame.
The Springfield Armory 3″ Hellcat offers an 11-Round or s 13-Round Extended 9mm magazine. Additionally, the Hellcat 3″ comes in various “exclusive” models, all designed to go after those who are looking for not only a firearm but something that fits their unique style – something we noticed a lot more of this year at the show.
