The video opens on the SHOT Show 2024 floor with the Classic Firearms crew joking about the heat, the chaos of the show, and finally all being together. They explain that this is Day 1 Part 2 of their coverage and that the goal is to find not only the big headline products but also the hidden gems and lesser-known companies. One host mentions wanting to see Z-Bolt lights and other illumination gear, while another is focused on anything AK-related and those “diamonds in the rough.” They talk about already having visited booths like Holosun, Cloud Defensive, and Colt earlier in the day, and they tease upcoming stops at Flux Defense to show off a motorized LPVO adjustment system. The tone is energetic and playful as they decide to stop talking in the hallway and get straight to the booths to start showing new gear on camera.
The team arrives at the Daniel Defense booth where Matt from Classic Firearms is joined by Matt and Jason from Daniel Defense in front of a wall of new products. They start with the new 9mm PCC, a direct blowback carbine that Daniel Defense has been developing for some time. To address the typical sharp recoil of simple blowback systems, they use a heavier mass bolt carrier group paired with a much lighter buffer, which Matt claims results in the softest-shooting PCC he has ever fired. The gun retains familiar AR-15 ergonomics with fully ambidextrous controls mirrored on both sides in the same locations, making it intuitive for both right- and left-handed shooters. It feeds from CZ Scorpion-pattern magazines, including the new Magpul Scorpion mags at an accessible price point and compatible drum magazines. On the wall they show an 8-inch SBR configuration and a 16-inch non-NFA version for shooters who want a carbine without extra paperwork, with the hope of offering a pistol configuration again if regulations allow. While the operating parts are proprietary, the platform accepts standard AR-15 furniture and rails, and Daniel Defense is targeting a mid-range MSRP with availability planned for later in the year.
Staying at the Daniel Defense booth, the hosts move to the H9 handgun, a modern evolution of the original Hudson concept. Matt explains that the H9 keeps the signature low bore axis by placing the recoil spring assembly low and forward, which helps reduce muzzle rise and makes the gun track very flat in recoil. The pistol has a slim, 1911-like profile that lends itself to both concealed carry and competition use. It ships optics-ready with an RMR-footprint mounting system that uses plates for different red dots, and it includes three 15-round magazines. Controls are familiar and ergonomic, with a crisp trigger and a focus on shootability. The slide and frame geometry are refined from the original Hudson design to improve reliability, serviceability, and holster compatibility. Daniel Defense positions the H9 as a premium pistol with a price point in the low four figures and notes that guns are already shipping, with range programs planned so shooters can try one before committing to a purchase.
The conversation returns briefly to the Daniel Defense PCC, where the reps emphasize that the heavier bolt and tuned system were specifically engineered to avoid the harsh recoil pulse that many shooters associate with straight blowback 9mm ARs. They want the gun to feel closer to more sophisticated delayed systems while keeping the mechanical simplicity of blowback. The hosts mention plans to get the PCC on the range for a full review. The coverage then shifts to Nemo Arms and the Mongoose 9mm platform. Instead of a traditional blowback, the Mongoose uses a tilt-barrel operating system that behaves more like a locked-breech pistol, reducing reciprocating mass and softening the recoil impulse. The gun is notably lightweight and is offered in both pistol and carbine-style configurations. It feeds from CZ Scorpion/AR-P pattern Magpul magazines, uses standard AR-style grips, and accepts drop-in AR triggers, with Geissele units installed in the show guns. The standard barrel-length Mongoose is positioned as a premium PCC with an MSRP just under two thousand dollars. The segment wraps as the crew heads toward the Aero Precision booth to look at new ambidextrous AR components.
At Aero Precision, the hosts are shown the new ambidextrous M4E1 Pro lower receiver. Aero staff explain that this is a ground-up ambi design rather than a retrofit of a standard lower. It features a mirrored bolt release system with a reverse paddle on the right side that functions like the traditional bolt catch on the left, plus a fenced magazine release to help prevent accidental mag drops. New ambidextrous safeties will ship with complete rifles and will also be sold separately. Aero then introduces the Mod 4 handguard, designed for hard use and night-vision-focused setups. It offers more M-LOK real estate than the Atlas handguard, with usable slots on seven sides, a full-length top rail, and steel-lined QD sockets. Installation is simplified with a non-timed barrel nut that can be installed using a standard AR-15 castle nut wrench. The discussion moves to the Solus long action, which expands the Solus line into magnum cartridges such as 300 Win Mag, 7 PRC, and 300 PRC. Aero highlights lightweight hunting builds using carbon fiber barrels that keep short actions around 8 pounds and long actions about a pound heavier, while maintaining Origin-shoulder pre-fit barrel compatibility, Remington 700 trigger compatibility, and interchangeable bolt heads for caliber flexibility.
Aero and sister company Stag Arms present their lever-action rifle concepts. Aero’s prototype lever gun, loosely inspired by the 1895 Marlin pattern, incorporates modern features such as an adjustable comb and length of pull, M-LOK slots in the stock, and a railed fore-end with Picatinny sections on three sides for optics and accessories. Threaded barrels in multiple lengths are planned, including a compact 16-inch trapper-style option, with initial chamberings in .45-70 and .30-30. Stag’s version leans more traditional, with classic wood furniture and finishes for shooters who prefer an old-school look. The focus then shifts to Aero’s TEA-22 rimfire suppressor, a user-serviceable can built with 17-4 stainless baffles. It is rated from .22 LR up through 5.7x28 and is designed to withstand ultrasonic cleaning. Aero is targeting a mid-$300 price point with availability expected later in the year. The hosts emphasize how suppressed .22 LR shooting is extremely quiet with minimal concussion, making it ideal for new shooters, youth training, and long steel-target sessions where comfort and low noise are priorities.
At AGM Global, the crew is introduced to the updated Rattler V2 thermal scope, described as a complete overhaul of the original Rattler line. The V2 features a 640-resolution, 12-micron sensor with sub-20 mK sensitivity, providing noticeably improved clarity and fine detail compared to earlier models. The housing is now a redesigned, rugged aluminum body with a new control layout. Larger, higher-profile top buttons make operation easier with gloves, and a shorter-throw focus knob speeds up image adjustment in the field. AGM debuts a proprietary rechargeable battery system that delivers roughly 9–12 hours per battery, and each unit ships with two batteries. Pricing ranges from the high teens for entry-level models to just under five thousand dollars for the 640×512 flagship, reinforcing AGM’s focus on more attainable thermal and night-vision options. AGM also unveils the Clarion thermal scope, which uses dual lenses to provide two base magnifications. On the 640 version, users can switch from roughly 2.5x with a 35 mm lens to 4x with a 60 mm lens, while the 384 model shifts from about 2x to 3x. Clarion pricing is expected to sit within a few hundred dollars of comparable Rattler units, giving hunters and night shooters more flexibility in one optic.
The hosts pause to invite viewers to comment with specific thermal and night-vision topics they want covered in future videos, hinting at more in-depth collaborations with AGM Global and Classic Firearms based on audience feedback. They then move to the Henry Repeating Arms booth to look at the new Lever Action Supreme. This modern lever gun uses a box magazine and accepts standard AR-15 PMAGs, blending classic lever-action ergonomics with AR-style reloads. It employs a rotating bolt and a free-floated barrel, giving it strong accuracy potential, with sub-MOA performance mentioned as a realistic goal. The rifle includes a match-grade adjustable trigger, an ambidextrous magazine release, and an ambidextrous tang safety. Initial chamberings include 300 Blackout with a 16-inch barrel and .223/5.56 with an 18-inch barrel, all with threaded muzzles ready for suppressors. The hosts talk about pairing the 300 Blackout version with cans from Dead Air, HuxWrx, or JK Armament for quiet, compact hunting and range setups. Competitive shooter Jade Struck joins the conversation and discusses some of her favorite Henry rifles, including a Golden Boy in .38 Special/.357 Magnum and a color case hardened .45-70 she often uses when introducing male shooters to lever guns.
The discussion continues with Jade and the hosts talking about why lever-action rifles are so appealing for women and youth shooters. They describe lever guns as engaging and hands-on, with a nostalgic connection to classic Westerns that helps new shooters feel excited rather than intimidated. Jade highlights the new .22 LR American Beauty lever action as a fun, low-recoil option she plans to use with kids and women, underscoring how accessible .22 lever guns are for training. The hosts praise Henry’s All-Weather .45-70 and the compact Mare’s Leg, joking about horseback shooting scenarios and referencing durability tests such as exposure to snow and rough conditions. Attention then returns briefly to the Lever Action Supreme, emphasizing its PMAG-fed design, AR-style rotating bolt, internal hammer, free-floated barrel, and threaded 16-inch 300 Blackout or 18-inch 5.56 options. An ambidextrous paddle magazine release supports fast, competition-style reloads. The segment transitions to Recover Tactical’s Pix AR-platform conversion kit for Glock pistols. The kit encloses the pistol in a chassis with rails and a stock interface, and a new folding stock adapter is shown. With the PFA add-on and a supplied 16-inch barrel, the setup becomes a non-SBR, rifle-length Glock-based carbine that remains easy to store and transport.
Recover Tactical demonstrates a non-SBR Glock carbine conversion built around a 16-inch IGB barrel made in Austria. The barrel swap is quick and requires no permanent modifications to the handgun. The system relies on specific timing and 124-grain ammunition so the projectile exits the barrel before the tilting barrel unlocks, ensuring reliable cycling with the extended barrel. Once installed in the chassis with a stock, the conversion provides three points of contact and additional rail space, significantly boosting accuracy and control compared to a bare pistol. Users are cautioned against mounting heavy devices directly on the threaded muzzle, as excess weight can disrupt the timing of the system. Recover Tactical then shows the MG9 angled magazine pouch, which doubles as a spare magazine carrier and a comfortable foregrip for carbines with accessory rails, including ARs that share magazines with Glock carry pistols. They revisit the original 2020 brace and stock versions for P80 and Smith & Wesson pistols, along with adapter pieces that let existing 2020 owners use Glock 43, 43X, and 48 models, with or without accessory rails. A lightweight front shroud with flip-up sights and M-LOK side rails, combined with the 16-inch barrel, turns the 2020 chassis into a very light, accurate Glock-based carbine platform.
The hosts talk more broadly about Glock carbine-style conversions, noting how a 16-inch barrel and a stock transform a standard pistol into a lightweight, accurate carbine that is easier for novice shooters, spouses, or kids to handle. Three points of contact, a longer 9mm barrel, and a red dot dramatically improve control and hit probability. They float ideas for future content comparing speed and accuracy between a bare handgun, a chassis-equipped pistol, and a dedicated PCC. At the Glock booth, they are shown the Glock 49, an exclusive configuration that pairs a Glock 47/17-length slide with a Glock 19-length frame. This combination maintains a 15+1 capacity while offering a longer sight radius and improved recoil control without sacrificing concealability. The slide remains modular and compatible with G47 and G19 Gen 5 components, allowing users to mix and match slides and frames. Glock also presents the updated Glock 19X MOS, now cut for optics using adapter plates and equipped with a threaded barrel and suppressor-height sights. This configuration delivers the tactical, suppressor-ready 19X variant many enthusiasts had wanted from the beginning, and the hosts comment on how well it suits duty, home defense, and suppressed range use.
A Glock 19X is shown configured with a threaded barrel, suppressor-height sights, and a two-tone aesthetic combining the coyote frame with a black MOS cover and black barrel, underscoring its suitability for suppressed use and its roots in US military handgun trials. The coverage then moves to LWRCI’s IC9 9mm PCC. This carbine features M-LOK handguards, an 8.5-inch barrel, and fully ambidextrous IC-line controls. It feeds from Glock magazines and uses a ring-delayed blowback system paired with a hydraulic buffer to reduce recoil and keep the gun flat, especially when suppressed. LWRCI staff clarify that the IC9 is an IC-style carbine developed for a specific contract and is not an SMG45 variant or a new SMG9; there is no SMG9 currently in development. The hosts mention plans to shoot the IC9 suppressed at a nearby ConEx box range to evaluate its recoil and sound characteristics. Finally, they visit Franklin Armory, where a complete 16-inch rifle is shown using the Osprey Defense low-profile gas piston system, previously seen in the F-17 rimfire platform. This self-regulating piston allows seamless switching between suppressed and unsuppressed fire without gas block adjustments and enables a nicely contoured handguard due to its compact profile under the rail.
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