Semi-auto handguns dominate the firearms marketplace. There are so many options these days, it’s downright absurd. SHOT Show 2026 showed us a pile of new semi-auto handguns. I aimed to pick my five favorites from the show, but that just wasn’t possible, so instead, you get my top seven new semi-auto handguns from the show.
Staccato CX4
The Staccato HD C4X was designed with the needs of an elite law enforcement surveillance team in mind. We’ve previously seen models with a 4-inch barrel paired with a full-length grip, and models with a short barrel paired with a compact grip. The CX4 offers a compact slide and a compact grip.
More than that, it offers a compensator to help reduce muzzle rise. We still get the HOST optics mounting system and Glock 19 magazine compatibility. This is paired with the Series 80 trigger, which has a duty-type pull of 4.5 to 5 pounds.
I’ve heard gripes about the HD trigger, but it’s incredibly smooth and crisp. At Staccato Range Day, it was incredibly easy to hit targets both large and small at a multitude of ranges. The gun balances quite well, and the comp does seem to offer a hair less muzzle rise, but I’m probably not a good enough shooter to take advantage of it.
The C4X gives us that Glock 19-sized, duty-ready 2011 that’s well-suited for law enforcement, home defense, and even concealed carry. Although pack a good holster and belt.
SDS Inglis 2035
We’ve all seen the rise of the 2011-type firearm. These guns add a century of improvement to the 1911, with a double-stack magazine, an optic-ready design, and a rail. SDS Arms aims to do the same thing with the Hi-Power by making it the 2035.
The Hi-Power always had a double-stack magazine, so that doesn’t change. SDS Arms did make a few radical changes that you’ll love or hate. The SDS Inglis 2035 iconic Hi-Power swoops and curves are gone, replaced by a straight brick-like slide.
We get a rail for accessories, and the gun’s cut for an optic. The slide has been lightened to reduce felt recoil, and the sights are high enough to cowitness with the optic. The 2035 has an incredibly aggressive grip texture with G10 grips and back and front strap texturing.
The grip also seems to be redesigned with an increased palm swell that presses your hand upward and against the beavertail, for a nice high grip. Heck, the magazines even drop free and the magazine safety is long gone.
Gestamen G9HSP
The Gestamen Arms G9HSP was a show stopper for me. When I saw a handgun that is user configurable from hammer-fired to striker-fired I was a bit flabbergasted. I’ve never seen or heard of something like this.
What dark magic is this? I first saw it in the New Product Center and quickly made my way to the first floor to see it in person. There, I met a mix of nice Hungarian men who explained the pistol to me. Even more than that, they showed me how to do it.
In about 20 seconds, they converted the gun from striker to hammer fire without the use of any special tools. The gun is DA/SA in either format with a mounted safety decocker. Press it upward, and it’s on safe; press it down, and it decocks.
The trigger pull is smooth and clean in both configurations. It looks and feels a bit like a polymer frame CZ, like the P09 series. It even fits the P09 holster. Oh, and yeah, it takes Glock mags.
The gun is massively innovative, and according to the fellas at the booth, the future could include trigger systems with lighter or heavier trigger pulls for both the hammer and striker-fired variants. It can convert from duty to competition with ease. I’m incredibly excited for this firearm.
CZ 75 Legend
I’m a big CZ-75 fan, and all of my experience has been with the B series, which altered the dust cover and added a firing pin block. It’s the CZ 75 we’re most familiar with. The CZ 75 Legend undoes those changes, reverting to the classic design as it was first intended.
This includes removing the firing pin block, which makes for a much smoother trigger pull. The trigger and hammer are also redesigned to the classic look and feel. CZ did the little things, too, like a blued finish and the old school plastic grips.
At range day, it was one of my all-time favorites. The smooth trigger is delightful, with the same low recoil impulse of the lightweight slide, and the accuracy we are used to seeing with CZ pistols. It’s a fantastic little gun and an opportunity to own a classic gun that eludes most of us.
Taurus TX9
I love the TX22. It’s a fantastic rimfire pistol that’s perfect as a training firearm, plinker, or general utility firearm. I was pleasantly surprised that Taurus decided to upscale the gun into 9mm as the Taurus TX9.
The TX9 replicates the look and feel of the TX22 but makes a ton of changes. Obviously, it’s a 9mm, but it also uses a removable serialized fire control chassis, so you can swap grip modules. The TX9 is also coming in three sizes: full-sized, compact, and subcompact.
The TX9 is optics-ready, has a rail, and is built for duty purposes. It looks fantastic and feels nice. The duty style trigger isn’t the lightest, but for a production gun, it’s quite nice. I was a bit sad that Taurus didn’t come to range day; this might have been a sleeper hit.
Zermatt Arms Waltz 9
At first glance, the Zermatt Arms Waltz 9 may resemble a high-end Glock clone due to its striker-fired operation and use of Glock magazines. It’s also worthy of a second glance. The second glance shows a sophisticated metal-framed handgun designed to rival the 2011 platform.
The Waltz 9 uses a roller locking block within the Browning short-recoil system. This provides a more consistent, tighter barrel lockup than standard static systems. It reduces friction and wear for high-volume shooters while ensuring a predictable recoil impulse for easier red-dot tracking.
Beyond the internal mechanics, the Waltz 9 features a 1911-style straight-pull trigger with a remarkably light 2.25-pound pull. The ergonomics are modular, offering interchangeable grip panels and customizable magazine releases.
The use of 416R stainless steel Proof barrels, available in standard or compensated versions, will take accuracy to the next level. The gun uses a Beretta 92 recoil spring for easy tuning. At 42 ounces, this isn’t a carry gun. It’s purpose-built for action-shooting.
Rideout Arsenal Dragon
The Rideout Arsenal Dragon grabbed my eye because it looks like it stepped right out of Cyberpunk 2077. It made me snap my head as I walked by. The Dragon doesn’t just look futuristic; it is futuristic.
This is a 9mm, lever-delayed blowback pistol with an extremely low -3.3mm bore axis, placing the barrel below the grip spur to direct recoil rearward and not upward and rearward. Combine that with a lightweight, low-mass slide, and you get hardly any recoil or muzzle rise.
This gives shooters a fast-firing, easy-to-use semi-auto perfect for competition. The Dragon has a Non-Reciprocating Optics Carrier (N-ROC), which keeps the red dot stationary during cycling for faster tracking and doubles as a charging handle.
Ergonomically, the 33.9-ounce metal-framed pistol is fully ambidextrous and features integrated gas pedal thumb rests for enhanced control. While its 9.1-inch length and five-inch barrel make it more of a competition thoroughbred than a carry piece, its design is a fascinating push for innovation in a stale industry.
The Best Semi-Auto Pistols
This will be an exciting year for concealed carry, duty, and competition semi-auto handguns. We have something for everyone, and boy, was it tough to pick just seven, much less five. Shooters of all types will be well-served by this year’s releases.
