The Classic Firearms crew closes out the last day of the NRA 2025 show as they prepare to pack up their booth and wrap the M14 giveaway. They decide to recap the event by each picking a single favorite thing from the show, focusing on firearms or gear that were new to them or stood out in person. The conversation is structured as a casual roundtable, with each team member taking a turn to highlight one standout rifle, pistol, or platform, along with brief impressions on performance, features, and value.
Ryan’s top pick is the IWI Zion 25, which he describes as a more attainable, everyday shooter’s version of the SR-25. He notes that the SR-25 is excellent but around $6,000, while the Zion 25 brings similar engineering and technology at an MSRP of about $1,900, with the expectation of lower street prices. He likes the multiple barrel length options, including an assaultor or CQB-style configuration around 14.5 inches and a shorter 12.5-inch option. The rifle is chambered in 7.62 NATO / .308, with a 6.5 Creedmoor version and additional calibers planned, giving shooters flexibility in how they configure the platform.
Matt’s highlight is not a specific firearm but the visit from PSR to the Classic Firearms booth and the interaction with fans. He explains that this show was different for him because he spent most of his time working the booth instead of walking the floor and visiting manufacturers. PSR stopped by after previous meetups at the warehouse and in Las Vegas, and they took photos with visitors in front of the Classic Firearms backdrop. Matt emphasizes how much he appreciated meeting viewers who came by to say they enjoyed the content, even though that limited his ability to see more products on display around the show.
Josh’s pick centers on a tan Taran Tactical custom pistol and the Glock 43X. He mentions a Taran Tactical build based on a Glock 17 that features the company’s own compensator and a slide cut that allows the upper to be removed without taking off the comp. The team notes that this compensator design is proprietary to Taran Tactical. Josh also calls out the Glock 43X as another standout, with a separate, dedicated video planned to cover that pistol in more detail. The discussion briefly teases that the 43X is a notable new variant and jokes about Josh’s reputation as a Glock fan.
John, the camera operator, chooses another tan Taran Tactical pistol as his favorite: the Viper. He explains that this model is associated with John Wick and is essentially a 4.5-inch variation of the Pit Viper, with slightly shorter overall length and different slide cuts. He has always considered the Pit Viper an impressive handgun and is enthusiastic that Taran Tactical is offering a more compact 4.5-inch version. He highlights the excellent trigger and overall feel, consistent with Taran Tactical’s reputation. The group briefly discusses whether this model uses an island front sight attached to the barrel and references other Taran builds like the silver and black Combat Master tied to The Accountant, while noting some uncertainty on exact configurations.
The final pick is a Rossi single-shot brake barrel rifle chambered in 300 Blackout with a threaded barrel. The team describes it as a very quiet setup when paired with a suppressor, referencing a video where a shooter fires it and the report is barely audible before breaking the action to reload. They note that the rifle is simple, fun, and attractively priced at around $300, making it a budget-friendly 300 Blackout platform where the suppressor will likely cost more than the gun itself. In closing, they mention being impressed overall with Taran Tactical’s lineup, including collaborations with HuxWrx and promotional tie-ins for The Accountant 2, and direct viewers to other Classic Firearms videos and social posts covering earlier days of the show.
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