One of the things I like most about going to SHOT Show is all the new gear on display. From guns to lights, optics, training, and everything in between, you get to see it all. A lot of the new cool gear comes from the big industry manufacturers, but I also like looking for those smaller companies that like to think outside the box.
During my time at SHOT Show 2026, I found multiple products that were pretty cool, so I’m going to cover several of them. These are in no particular order, just some various products I thought were genuinely creative, cool, and innovative.
Ambient Arms EXO 5.56
If you own a silencer, then you know how hot they can get. I use an oven mitt to try to loosen my silencer from the rifle before it cools down. If not, then the carbon build-up will cause it to get stuck.
Just before I left for SHOT, I watched a video of someone shooting an AR-15 with the EXO 5.56 attached. After a 30-round mag, they grabbed the end of the silencer and held the gun up with it. To be honest, I thought it wasn’t real. But turns out, it really is a “cool running” silencer.
Ambient Arms uses a proprietary system of “intake channels” instead of a flow-through design. It basically sucks in cool air from the sides and mixes it with the hot air as it travels through the silencer and out the front. This process not only causes the silencer to stay cooler, but also contributes to a decrease in decibels and reduced felt recoil.
The only thing I didn’t like about this new silencer was the price. Currently, it retails for just under $1,350 on Silencer Shop. It’s not a bad price for what you get, but it’s still in that “make the wife mad” price range for me. Maybe some day…
X Ordnance AR-15
With a background in law enforcement, I tend to drift towards AR-15 rifles more than AKs or other platforms. But I’ll admit, I get a little bored looking at AR-15 rifles at SHOT. There are thousands of rifles that basically function the same, with different colors, handguards, materials, etc. But when I walked past the X Ordnance booth, their AR-15 caught my eye.
It was a lack of takedown pins that stood out. Who would make a lower receiver without any takedown pins? Turns out, it’s a new design that allows the upper and lower to quickly come apart and be put back together. This is done by a sliding piece on the outside portion of the mag-well.
Instead of popping out both takedown pins, you simply pull the lever down, and shazam, it comes apart. Basically, the back of the upper slides under a metal plate in the back of the receiver. When you close the upper receiver onto the lower, you push the sliding plate up, and it locks the upper onto the lower.
My first question was why would you want this? It’s faster, but what’s wrong with takedown pins? After more thought, however, I think there could be some benefits to using this design.
One would be storing or carrying the rifle in a smaller case or bag with the ability to get it out and running quickly. Second, there are people not as familiar with the AR-15 platform who need an easy way to break the rifle down for cleaning. Takedown pins are not complicated, but they can be stubborn at times, requiring a punch to knock them loose.
Either way, they earned a place on the innovative list. You will never develop a great gun or piece of gear if you don’t try something new.
SafariMesh Communications System
I talked about his new system in another article about new items from Safariland. But this thing is so cool, it needs to be on this list as well.
SafariMesh is a stand-alone communications system that allows users to talk at the same time over a military-grade, encrypted digital system. You can also plug your radio into it and use it as a PTT (push-to-talk), but it is intended to be used on its own for teams of up to 50 members.
Each unit acts as its own repeater by re-broadcasting all traffic and data (think of a wireless mesh router). This means its range can be extended as the team spreads out. When someone on one end talks, the data jumps to any units in range. Those units then send the signal to other units that are out of range from the first units. This is all done simultaneously for a smooth communications system.
These are sold as a “ready to go” unit. Simply plug it into your headset, and it will work with anyone else using it. And like I said in the beginning, you can still plug your portable radio into it and use it as a PTT along with the Mesh Communication system.
Safarialnd released this at SHOT, and the basic SafariMesh units will retail for under $800.
Recover Tactical P-IX: Modular AR Platform for Glock Pistols
Modular platforms for Glock pistols became popular years ago and then kind of fizzled off somewhat. But recently, they have been gaining in popularity again. This is in part because of advancements in modular platforms. Another reason, and maybe the bigger one, is people’s desire to have more than one option for self-defense.
I won’t get into the discussion today of why a rifle platform is always better for self-defense than a pistol, at least when you have time to access a rifle. The Recover Tactical P-IX allows you to transform your Glock pistol into a modular AR platform, which allows you to shoot more accurately and carry more ammo on the platform itself.
There are a lot of conversion kits, quick-attach braces, and other devices for Glock pistols, but this is the best one I’ve seen yet. It basically opens up and the Glock pistol sets inside the P-IX. When you close it, the mag-well on the pistol sits in front of the AR-style grip on the P-IX. This gives you that normal feel of having your magazine in front of the grip, like most sub-guns do.
The cool thing, however, is that you can still put an extra magazine in front of the mag-well, and one in the AR-style grip. That allows you to carry a total of three mags (including the one feeding the gun). This makes it perfect for home or vehicle defense but is also compact enough to fit in a backpack. If you have a Glock pistol and want a sub-gun style as well, just buy the P-IX.
Kel-Tec PR-3AT
Remember the Kel-Tec’s P-3AT? It’s a compact .380 pocket pistol introduced back in 2003. Well, now Ruger has sprinkled some magic, innovative dust over it and transformed it into the new PR-3AT.
Last year, the PR 5.7 was one of the coolest things I saw at SHOT. A top-loading handgun using a stripper clip in 5.7mm. There were a lot of mixed feelings about this gun because some insist you must carry an extra magazine for concealed carry. The idea however, is that both magazines are already in the gun! The PR 5.7 holds 20 rounds, about the same as two mags from an average compact handgun.
Kel-Tec has now used this design on the P-3AT for a .380 handgun that holds 13 rounds. For a pocket pistol, that’s a lot of ammo. The PR-3AT has a rotary barrel and, like its big brother, has a quick field strip process. Simply push the trigger forward, and the slide will come right off.
I think this design is perfect for those who are not comfortable with switching mags in the middle of an incident. You also do away with any issues caused by a faulty mag or a mag not seated all the way. Just push the ammo into the top of the gun using the clip, and it’s ready to go.
It comes with three stripper clips, a pocket clip, an IWB holster, and has a removable plate for an optic to mount.
Regardless of what you may think of the concept, you have to admit this design is different and should be acknowledged for its innovation.
Questions and Answers
How does the Ambient Arms EXO 5.56 silencer stay cool enough to touch after firing?
The EXO 5.56 uses a proprietary intake channel system. It pulls in cool ambient air from the sides and mixes it with hot gases as they travel through the unit. This process significantly lowers the external temperature, reduces felt recoil, and lowers the decibel level.
What makes the X Ordnance AR-15 different from standard rifle platforms?
The X Ordnance AR-15 eliminates traditional takedown pins. Instead, it uses a sliding lever on the outside of the mag-well and an internal rear metal plate to lock the upper and lower receivers together. This allows for a much faster breakdown, which is ideal for compact storage or for users who find traditional pins difficult to manipulate during cleaning.
How does the SafariMesh communication system extend its range?
SafariMesh functions like a wireless mesh router. Each unit acts as a repeater, re-broadcasting data and voice traffic to every other unit in the area. If a team member is out of range of the original speaker, the signal “jumps” through other team members’ units to reach them, allowing the network to expand as the team spreads out.
Can the Recover P-IX carry more than one magazine?
Yes. The P-IX allows you to carry a total of three magazines on the unit: one in the Glock pistol itself, one in the AR-style grip, and an extra magazine stored in front of the mag-well.
What is the benefit of the “stripper clip” design on the Kel-Tec PR-3AT?
The top-loading stripper clip design allows the PR-3AT to hold 13 rounds of .380 in a compact pocket-sized frame without the need for traditional external magazine swaps. This eliminates common malfunctions related to improperly seated magazines and is designed for users who want a high capacity ready to go in a single, simple-to-operate package.
