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Rock Island Armory, a company that has been delivering guns that are affordable and solid as a rock for three decades, has another great carry option in the Li380 in .380ACP. The Li380 is a part of the Baby Rock Series of weapons from Rock Island Armory.

While Rock Island Armory is more known for its extensive line of 1911 pistols, this Li380 definitely has some appeal, with some folks calling it a Poor Man’s PPK. The Li380 is an all-metal single-stack pistol with comfortable ergonomics and fixed sights.

The Li380, chambered in .380ACP, is a perfect semi-auto self-defense weapon for those that need something a little smaller with less recoil. The Li380 has a 3.55-inch barrel with a load indicator and an overall length of 6.53 inches. With a weight of 3.5 pounds, the size and weight make this pistol as easy to conceal as it is to shoot.

The black anodized finish with polymer grips helps to keep the pistol durable and light. The slide, small metal parts, and frame all have a parkerized finish to ensure the longevity of the parts.  The slide sports fixed-mounted sights on a dovetail cut, for ease of getting shots on target. The Li380, or Lightening 380ACP, comes from the factory with an 8-round magazine, meaning the user has an 8+1 round count for carrying.

According to the company, this is a compact powerhouse with stability and dependability you can count on in a concealed carry pistol. The double-action/single-action weapon has an adjustable 4–6-pound trigger pull weight for a clean shot.

The Rock Island Armory Li380 concealed carry pistol is available now with a price tag of $299. The Lightening 380ACP can be seen at SHOT Show at booth 13444.

With the prevalence of red dot sights in the defensive handgun market, gun owners are looking for more ways to protect their optics investment from damage. Until now, there weren’t really options available. Thanks to Radian Weapons, there’s now the Guardian Optic Guard, an aftermarket part designed specifically for the protection of your red dot sight. The Guardian is ruggedly built and made with an eye for detail, and it might be the greatest next addition to your handgunning kit.

Radian states the Guardian Optic Guard is a game-changing pistol product, and it certainly has incredible promise. The first Guardian model to launch is compatible with the popular Glock MOS platform and Trijicon RMR. The guard is machined from 7075 aluminum and 17-4 stainless, the former of which is known for strength and fatigue resistance while the latter is known for fantastic corrosion resistance and hardness. According to the manufacturer, the Guardian is a rock-solid mounting system that offers a level of protection for red dot sights never before offered on the market.

This product utilizes Tru-Seal, which uses o-rings to keep the plate snug and watertight against the mounting surface of the slide. The seal keeps out moisture and prevents corrosion in the threads of the guard. Using Tru-Seal also removes the need to use a separate sealing plate. A singular focal plane is used for the optional Stealth backup sights which deliver a clean, unobstructed sight picture. Radian knew what they were doing when they implemented these features.

Oversize Torx drive nuts, which deliver double the thread engagement of similarly designed standard plates, are used as part of the Guardian’s Stud-Lock interface. The product is secured by torquing the nuts into place, holding the optic to the rear for a rigid interface that still manages to be lighter than most factory-supplied plates. Because the mounting plate is locked rearward, the slide absorbs the stress of recoil and movement generated by live fire, protecting the screws.

Features of the Radian Guardian Optic Guard include:

• Machined from 7075 aluminum and 17-4 stainless steel for impressive durability.
• Utilizes Stud-Lock interface for a reliably firm mounting surface.
• Optional backup sights designed not to interfere with sight picture of red dot sight.
• Tru-Seal system helps maintain a watertight seal to the slide.
• Corrosion resistant.

MSRP for the Radian Guardian Optic Guard is set at $159.95.

Derringers have numerous applications including use as snake guns, backup pistols, and target guns. Their diminutive size makes them highly concealable, which is excellent for non-permissive environments, and their design makes them simple to operate. Bond Arms is one of the top derringer manufacturers in the country, and now they’ve expanded their line of high-quality pistols to include the Rawhide series. Rawhide derringers are made for functionality and ruggedness over all; these pistols are made to withstand hard use and keep going.

Bond Arms states the Rawhide line was specifically made for hard use. The derringers are durable and made to last, and all backed by Bond Arms known reputation for dedication to excellence. Rawhide derringers are available chambered in 357 Mag, 38 Special, and .22 LR, meaning you have your pick of big or small calibers. Because this line offers everything from rimfire to magnum cartridges, the derringers are versatile enough to fit a variety of applications. These guns have a 4.5-inch overall length and Bond Arms lists their possible uses as including everyday carry, use as a truck gun, and or use as a camp or ranch gun.

The Rawhide guns are made with a cowboy-style frame, so there is no trigger guard, and feature Bond Arm’s Rough & Tumble stainless-steel finished frame.  Guns are available with either rosewood or nylon grips depending on the gun owner’s preference, each of which offers sturdiness, durability, and a comfortable feel in the hands. Checkering on both grip options facilitates a firm hold during live fire. As is the derringer design, the Rawhide guns have two barrels that fire one at a time. These guns have a two-shot capacity.

Bond Arms takes care to ensure these are well-made guns. Every part of the Rawhide line is carefully machined to the highest tolerances according to a strict standard for quality. These are single-action guns with fixed sights that perform their best at close range.

Features of the Bond Arms Rawhide derringers include:

• 22 LR, 38 Special, and 357 Magnum chamberings
• 2 shot capacity
• Cowboy style, so there is no trigger guard
• Durable stainless steel frame and barrel
• Rough and Tumble finish to reduce glare and resist wear
• Rosewood or black nylon checkered grips
• Made in Texas
• 4.5-inch overall length, making them easy to conceal
• Compatible with all standard Bond Arms barrels

MSRP for the Bond Arms Roughneck starts at $269.00.

Canik, the Turkey-based firearms manufacturer with a stellar reputation for precision weapons, has expanded its offerings to include a 9mm micro-compact pistol with its Mete MC9. Canik states they have met the demand from consumers to give them the optimal performance level in a pistol.

According to Canik, the Mete MC9 has been through multiple internal and aesthetic changes over the past three years to come to this final product. The semi-auto 9mm Mete MC9 pistol has an overall length of 6.1 inches with a 3.18” barrel. The Mete MC9 has a polymer frame in the micro compact size that weighs just over 21 ounces unloaded.

“Being first to market was never the goal for us” said Canik USA National Marketing Director Adam Ruonala. “The MC9 is the perfect example of Canik’s commitment to take our time and do things the right way. We thought this out, we considered every option, we listened to what was really asked for, and we created a platform that meets all of the needs of a relatively new space in the handgun market. The Canik Mete MC9 truly was Prepared Superior.”

With a width of just 1.12 inches and a height of 4.5 inches with a magazine, the pistol fits squarely in the micro-compact group of pistols. The Mete MC9 comes from the factory optics ready in addition to the co-witness capability, featuring a blacked-out rear dot and white front dot sight.

Rounding out the package are two magazines (one 12-round, one 15+1-round), three different backstraps for adjusting grip, an inside the waistband holster, a tool kit with punch, a speed loader, pinky rest, and a cleaning kit. The pistol is available in black, flat dark earth (FDE), and two-tone black/FDE.

The Canik Mete MC9 micro-compact pistol has an MSRP of $439.99. The Mete MC9 pistol can be seen at SHOT Show 2023 at Canik USA’s booth 10527.

If you’re in the market for a new 1911 platform handgun, but want more capacity, you’re in luck. The EAA Witness 2311 by Girsan has arrived with double-stack capacity and a variety of chamberings. The Witness 2311 is made to do it all from range use to home defense to use as a carry gun. This handgun is designed with careful attention to detail and made to deliver excellent performance down range, all at a price point that’s more affordable than most double-stack 1911s on the market.

The EAA Witness 2311 by Girsan is a handgun designed to utilize standard double-stack 1911 magazines, increasing its versatility. The gun features the company’s traditional polymer grip and receiver. This model is available with four different slide and barrel lengths, including full size.

The Witness 2311 is currently being offered chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, 45 ACP, and 10mm Auto. Capacity varies by caliber with the 9mm being 17 +1, 45 ACP having 11 +1, and 10mm having 10 +1. Thanks to the caliber choices this gun is a great option for handgun hunters, home defenders, and gun owners looking for their next every day carry.

Chase Duffey, National Sales & Import Manager at EAA Corp. said, “The new Witness 2311 doesn’t just innovate a small market, it opens it up to a whole new consumer. The reliability of a Girsan 1911 now available with a much larger capacity and at a price point that everyone can afford, there really is no downside to this new handgun.”

Features of the EAA Witness 2311 by Girsan include:

• Chambered in 9mm, 45 ACP, or 10mm.
• Capacity depends on caliber.
• Angled serrations at the front and rear of the slide for easier manipulation.
• Red fiber optic front sight is available, meant to draw the eye and facilitate rapid target acquisition.
• A variety of sight and optic options are offered.
• Accessory rail in front of the trigger guard for the addition of weapon-mounted lights and lasers.
• Checkered grip, backstrap, and front strap for a secure hold during live fire.
• Grooved trigger face for improved trigger control.
• Skeletonized trigger.
• Extended beavertail to help shooters maintain a high, tight grip.
• Ambidextrous thumb safety.
• Skeletonized hammer.
• Rounded, smooth trigger guard to reduce risk of snags.
• Grooved magazine release for the smooth operation of controls.

MSRP for the EAA Witness 2311 by Girsan starts at $999.00.

Whether you’re in the market for rifle or handgun ammunition, one brand you’re likely familiar with is Remington. The centuries-old company produces a comprehensive line of ammunition for everything from hunting to self-defense and everything in between. This week, the company announced a trio of products, one of which is an entirely new cartridge: 360 Buckhammer, Remington Range training loads, and Premier Long Range for hunters. The newest additions to Big Green’s family of products promise to perform well and broaden your shooting horizons.

Remington Premier Long Range

First up is Remington Premier Long Range, which the manufacturer states is designed for match-grade accuracy and terminal performance at a variety of distances. Made with dedicated hunters in mind, Premier Long Range is being offered in a number of calibers. This load utilizes the proven Speer Impact bullet which offers bonded construction and high weight retention for ethical, one-shot kills on game of all sizes.

The bullet is designed with a tapered hybrid ogive, boat-tail, rear-adjusted center of gravity, and trademark SlipStream Tip. These details work together to deliver high ballistic coefficients. This is a flat-shooting bullet designed to perform even at long distances. Other components are made by Remington Premier. Available calibers include 6.5 Creedmoor, 270 Win, 7mm Rem Mag, 30-06 Springfield,  308 Win, 300 Win Mag, and 300 Rem Ultra Mag.

Remington Range

Next up is Remington Range, a new training ammunition designed for running drills and honing skills at the range. This ammunition has a full metal jacket bullet and utilizes the company’s Kleanbore primer for less fouling of your gun’s barrel. The propellant is temperature stable for consistent results. It’s currently being offered in 9x19mm Parabellum and 40 Smith & Wesson.

360 Buckhammer

Finally, we have 360 Buckhammer, an entirely new cartridge. The company states that 360 Buckhammer is a straight-walled cartridge designed for lever-action and single-shot rifles. It has a listed effective range on game of approximately 200 yards. The first two offerings of the round are in the company’s proven Core-Lokt line. Reportedly,  360 Buckhammer produces 35% more energy than 350 Legend and has a muzzle velocity between 2215 and 2400 feet per second. The bullet diameter is .358 inches.

MSRP varies by product and quantity.

File this under “Things we didn’t see coming”, especially in its first SHOT Show appearance. The Homesteader pistol-caliber carbine from Henry is a 9mm Luger-chambered system, all with the Henry flair.

The Homesteader has a unique design with Henry’s traditional styling along with Henry’s magazine design. Adapters are to be available for Glock, Smith & Wesson, and Sig Sauer magazines. The wood furniture and classic layout are equal parts simple and good. The American walnut stock is offset by the shine of the action.

The Henry Homesteader was a part of a Friend of the NRA giveaway in 2022, but it looks like little has been updated. It is built with a two-piece stock that is designed to be fully ambidextrous. This applies to the centrally mounted tang safety, the magazine release that is forward of the magazine, and the bolt hold-open mechanism that is found on either side. While the charging handle comes from the factory mounted on the right, there is a cutout on the left of the receiver to swap it over.

The 16” barrel comes threaded 1/2×28 from Henry, which allows for fast and accurate attachment of a suppressor. The top of the barrel has a ghost-ring sighting system, including a forward peep sight and an adjustable aperture rear sight. The Picatinny rail is also an option for those that prefer other optics.

Early reports of those testing the rifle state that either the rifle has a great recoil spring or some kind of tuning with the rifle’s blowback action, but without the recoil of said blowback system. Those same folks say that the rifle is fun and easy to shoot.

The Henry Homesteader 9mm pistol-caliber carbine has a price tag of $928. You can check it out yourself at SHOT Show in booth 43462.

If there’s one cartridge that’s gained significant ground for popularity in the last year, it’s the 5.7x28mm. In the past, this has been a boutique round used mostly by people who preferred to go a different way with their PDWs and defensive pistols, but now it’s gone mainstream. And if you doubted that truth, here’s your proof: the Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7x28mm. Yes, it’s here, and it’s everything you’d expect it to be. Perhaps best of all, this isn’t just a defensive pistol, it’s one with fantastic capacity.

Smith & Wesson officially launched the new full-size M&P 5.7 pistol at SHOT Show 2023, and it’s being met with the expected interest. This gun has all the features of the time-tested M&P line, only with a 22-round capacity. And considering the fact the 5.7x28mm was originally designed for PDWs and pistols to compete with the 9x19mm Parabellum, you could say the ballistics outdo many known handgun calibers on the market.

In order to get every bit of the 5.7×28 mm ballistic capabilities out of a polymer handgun, Smith & Wesson decided to create a new, innovative design capable of superior reliability, accuracy, and consistency. Part of that innovation is Smith & Wesson’s new gas-operated, locked-breech, rotating Tempo Barrel System, which is unique to the M&P 5.7. This system was specifically created for the purpose of harnessing the velocity of this cartridge. According to the gun maker, the 5-inch barrel used on this model facilitates faster extraction once the bullet passes the gas port, which they state creates a secure fireform effect. The implementation of this system results in superior precision and gives shooters the best possible results with the 5.7x28mm round.

Andrew Gore, Product Manager, Handguns, said, “The M&P 5.7 is an exciting new pistol from Smith & Wesson that incorporates a gas-operated Tempo Barrel System to effectively harness the 5.7x28mm round, creating a lighter recoil for an overall better shooting experience. Like all Smith & Wesson firearms, the M&P 5.7 is proudly made entirely in the USA and is backed by the Smith & Wesson Limited Lifetime Service Policy. Whatever your purpose, the M&P 5.7 is versatile, fun, and a must-have.”

This is an optics-ready handgun, so if you prefer red dots over irons, mounting them to this gun is a straightforward process. The gun also has a Picatinny-style rail for aftermarket accessories like lights and lasers. It even has a 1/2×28 threaded muzzle with thread protector, meaning it’s suppressor or other-muzzle-device ready. The trigger is a flat-face single action Smith & Wesson states has a crisp break.

Other features include forward and rearward slide serrations for easier manipulation, aggressively textured grips for a firm hold during live fire, and a rounded trigger guard profile. This gun is available with or without an external thumb safety.

MSRP for the Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7 is set at $699.00.