The segment opens with the hosts feeling the strain of SHOT Show Day 3, joking about running low on fuel and still needing lunch while emphasizing how much of the show remains unexplored, including big-name booths and out-of-the-way sections. They tease an upcoming Classic Firearms podcast episode with Forgotten Weapons and mention plans to visit Flux Defense and other distant parts of the convention center, encouraging viewers to stay tuned for more coverage. The scene then shifts to the Rock Island Armory booth, where they meet Jason to discuss 2024 offerings. Jason introduces the RAIA 5.0e, Rock Island’s first pistol manufactured entirely in the United States at their Cedar City, Utah facility, with all remaining components sourced domestically. He explains that the RAIA 5.0e is a 9mm Luger, single-action pistol with an internal hammer and a standard magazine capacity of 17+1, with 10-round and 26-round magazines available through Advanced Tactical. The standout feature is its rectangular barrel and patented RAM valve lockup system from Arms Force. Unlike traditional Browning-style tilt-lock designs where the barrel tips during cycling and the muzzle tends to flip upward when the motion stops, this system keeps the barrel level as it moves straight back. Because the moving mass travels in a linear path, recoil forces are directed straight into the shooter’s arm, resulting in a very flat-shooting, stable pistol with a soft-feeling recoil impulse and low muzzle rise, making it attractive for fast, accurate shooting.
Continuing at the Rock Island booth, the hosts and Jason talk about the RAIA’s modular, two-piece frame that recalls the layout of double-stack competition pistols. While only a few grip options are initially available, the design is intended to support future interchangeable grip modules in various sizes, lengths, and materials, as well as enlarged controls tailored to competitive use. They touch on the potential for additional barrel lengths and other configurations down the road. The video then transitions to TriStar, where a compact youth-oriented shotgun is showcased. Built around a 12-inch length of pull and an 18.5-inch choked barrel, it is designed for smaller shooters, young hunters, or anyone who is recoil-sensitive, and it remains practical even when wearing bulky winter clothing. TriStar also presents a budget-friendly “working man’s” side-by-side shotgun with a case-color-hardened finish and glossy wood furniture. Offered in 12 and 20 gauge with extractors, it is aimed at buyers who appreciate classic western-style doubles but still want an affordable, hard-use field gun, with a typical street price under $700.
At the Agilite booth, the hosts are shown the Magnetics Battle Belt, created to solve common alignment problems between inner and outer belts. Strong magnets at the rear automatically pull the belt halves into the correct position, simplifying setup and ensuring consistent alignment each time it is worn. The belt uses a curved, skeletonized MOLLE section at the front, which preserves usable attachment space even for larger waist sizes where traditional belts often leave dead zones or blocked rows. The outer belt incorporates a 25 mm Cobra buckle with a D-ring rated to 15 kN and 1-inch tubular webbing. While the consumer version is strength-tested but not formally rated, fully rated variants are available on request. The front of the belt is stiffened to emulate a competition-style shooting belt, providing a solid platform for magazine draws and reindexing. The inner belt features a steel buckle, Velcro pass-through, and a flex section that improves comfort when sitting or bending, plus a stiffened front area that supports appendix carry and spare magazines. Dense foam padding along the back gradually molds to the wearer for improved comfort over time. Availability is estimated at roughly six weeks. The focus then shifts to an individual first aid kit that places a tourniquet pouch on top, has front slits for trauma shears, and uses four internal compartments plus a sleeve for items like a decompression needle or marker. The layout is designed so that when the kit is opened, contents stay organized and do not spill out.
Agilite next presents a compact, low-profile range bag that can be mounted on a belt or attached via MOLLE. It is intended to be slimmer and more comfortable than traditional bulky range bags, with an internal organizer that can be removed without dumping gear everywhere. The updated Pincer Placard is then highlighted. It now accepts 5.56, 7.62x39, and 5.45 magazines, covering common AK and similar platforms. A Velcro-backed insert allows the same placard to carry two Glock-pattern magazines or a single wider pistol-caliber carbine magazine. Design changes include a widened opening and an internal Squadron reinforcement layer to resist wear from sharp magazine tabs found on AK and Galil magazines. Durability testing has reached tens of thousands of magazine insertions without significant loss of elasticity. The Micro MAP back panel is also shown, attaching via MOLLE to carriers like the K0 and K19. It offers a compact hydration compartment sized for a small tactical bladder, admin pockets, a beaver tail that can expand to hold extra gear, and a drop-down flap for tools such as bolt cutters. The hosts reiterate their positive experience with Agilite plate carriers and accessories. The segment then moves to the Geissele booth, where the company’s history with ALG-branded AK triggers leads into a new two-stage AK trigger that effectively brings an SSA-style two-stage feel to AK-pattern rifles, demonstrated on an Arsenal gun with a light take-up, a defined wall, and a short reset.
Geissele provides more technical detail on the new two-stage trigger for AK rifles. The design offers a first stage of about 3 pounds leading into a crisp wall, with a total pull weight around 4.2 pounds and a short, positive reset. The company emphasizes broad compatibility across AK variants and targets an MSRP of roughly $350, giving AK users a premium two-stage option similar in quality to Geissele’s AR triggers. Attention then turns to the GFR rifle family, a line built specifically around the 6mm ARC cartridge rather than adapted from 5.56 platforms. Configurations include a 14.5-inch pin-and-weld that meets 16-inch overall barrel length requirements, an 18-inch Recce model, and a 20-inch Strata Match variant. Geissele partnered with HuxWrx on a dedicated Flow 6K 6mm sound moderator, and all GFRs except the bench-focused Strata Match ship with HuxWrx muzzle devices. The Strata Match stands out with a Mark 1-18 handguard, integrated Arca rail for tripod use, a Super Swavvy brake, a more vertical A17 grip, and additional accessories compared to the standard GFR. Internally, the rifles use a Phase 3 gas system with three symmetrical gas ports, a proprietary bolt carrier group with a steel-riveted cam race for a unidirectional cam pin, a Super 42 braided buffer spring, SSA X triggers, multiple sling mounting points, and in-house barrels—cut-rifled 18/20/22-inch tubes for Strata models and cold hammer forged chrome-lined barrels for the Recce, 14.5, and 16-inch versions—aimed at softer recoil, long service life, and strong long-range performance.
The commercial Project Joy rifle is introduced as a close relative of the Mark 1 Mod 0 from the MRG program. It features an in-house cold hammer forged chrome-lined barrel compatible with HuxWrx 7.62 Ti and 7.62 muzzle devices, plus an extended upper receiver for added rigidity. Multiple sling mounting points, including on the rear end plate, give users flexibility in how they carry the rifle. The lower is a reinforced billet ambidextrous design with a steel cam race, a shrouded magazine release to prevent accidental activation, and a maritime-style bolt catch. A distinctive feature is the dust-cover-based bolt lock: pressing the dust cover, which has a steel insert behind it, locks the bolt to the rear, reducing the number of small external controls. The forward assist is shifted slightly upward for better access when large optics are mounted. The Joy series is planned in several barrel lengths, including an 18-inch Recce, 14.5, and 16-inch versions, with a projected launch toward the end of summer and pricing still being finalized; viewers are encouraged to sign up for the newsletter for accurate updates. The scene then moves to SAR USA, where the SAR 9 Subcompact is presented as a new concealed-carry pistol. It includes an aluminum flat-faced trigger, tritium night sights, and an RMSC optic cut that allows co-witnessing with the irons. The pistol ships with two magazines, offering a choice between a pinky-extension or flush-fit baseplate, plus a 15-round SAR 9 full-size magazine with a sleeve. It comes in a hard case with a brass cleaning kit and carries an MSRP of $479.99.
SAR USA continues by showcasing the SAR 9 Compact, which uses three-piece removable grip panels in small, medium, and large sizes so shooters can tailor the grip contour to their hands. It has a 4-inch barrel, 15-round capacity, a steel optic cut, tritium night sights, and is offered in several colors including black, bronze, platinum, and OD green. The full-size SAR 9 Gen 3 is then highlighted with molded ergonomic grips, an aluminum flat-faced trigger, a 4.4-inch barrel, 17-round capacity, and an ambidextrous safety. A Sport model extends the barrel to 5.2 inches and includes both 17- and 19-round magazines, targeting range and competition use. The SOCOM-style SAR 9 variant is described as a very popular configuration, featuring a threaded barrel, deep-cut relief to co-witness with RMRcc or RMSC-style red dots, and a flared magwell that improves grip and recoil control. It ships with 17- and 21-round magazines, an all-brass cleaning kit, and a hard case, with an MSRP of $519.99. Weapon lights shown on the display guns are noted as aftermarket additions. The segment closes by hinting at SAR’s expansion into revolvers, setting up the introduction of the SR38 line.
SAR introduces its SR38 revolvers to the U.S. market, explaining that while these wheelguns have been produced for some time, they are newly available stateside. The SR38 is chambered in .357 Magnum and .38 Special, with 6-inch and 4-inch barrel options and a six-round capacity. Buyers can choose between stainless or black finishes. Large rubber grips are emphasized as being comfortable even with full-power .357 Magnum loads, making the revolvers suitable for both range use and defensive roles. The focus then shifts to Stealth Arms and the Platypus pistol, a double-stack 1911-style handgun that uniquely uses Glock-pattern magazines. The platform is built around an extensive online builder that lets customers control nearly every aesthetic and functional detail, down to options like hammer strut color. Stealth Arms highlights new grip texturing for improved control, bull barrels for accuracy and recoil management, and expanded caliber offerings including .357 SIG, .40, and .45 ACP in the Platypus 21. Customers can specify custom serial numbers, a wide range of optic and sight options, and numerous cosmetic choices. Pricing starts around $1,400, with most builds landing in the $1,500–$1,600 range depending on selected features.
The Platypus customization discussion continues with a focus on optics and sight configurations. The online builder allows users to choose various optic cuts, including footprints for SRO, DeltaPoint Pro, Acro, and Holosun patterns. Sight options range from different height iron sights to no sights at all, and there is a visual toggle to show the optic cut cap when no optic is mounted. Lead times for these custom pistols are addressed: black finishes typically ship faster, while custom colors are running about 12–14 weeks, potentially stretching to 14–16 weeks after SHOT Show due to demand. Stealth Arms stresses that they will not compromise quality to accelerate delivery. The video then moves to the Pelican booth, where PelicanFoam.com is introduced as a tool for designing custom foam inserts. Users can select predefined objects, such as a Glock pistol, add custom text or logos, and request laser engraving. The service supports a wide range of Pelican case lines and can be ordered bundled with a new case or as a replacement insert. Pelican also showcases vehicle-mounted cargo cases in multiple sizes, with mounting options including rooftop T-slot racks, bedside saddle mounts, and cross-bed mounts. All are made in the USA and backed by a lifetime warranty. A sneak peek is given of an upcoming roof-mount solution for legacy long-gun cases that locks to the case handles.
At the SureFire booth, Andrew presents the SOCOM RC3 5.56 sound moderator, emphasizing its durability and minimal, repeatable point-of-impact shift when used on SOCOM mounts. The RC3 delivers strong flash reduction and is engineered for roughly a 60% reduction in back pressure, significantly cutting gas blowback to the shooter and helping keep the rifle cleaner. New compact CSP (Picatinny) and CSM (M-LOK) dome switches are shown, designed to save rail space while providing reliable momentary and constant activation for weapon lights. The Scout Light Pro Turbo series is highlighted for its improved rail ergonomics and high-candela performance. The Stiletto Pro 2 EDC light is introduced with a dual-reflector, dual-LED design producing 1,500 lumens and 35,000 candela, USB-C charging, and a dual-direction pocket clip. Andrew explains the difference between lumens, which measure total light output, and candela, which measures beam intensity and throw. Finally, the XR1 and XR2 compact weapon lights are discussed, each offering 800 lumens and 15,000 candela in a package sized for pistols like the Glock 19. They feature ambidextrous controls and a removable rechargeable battery with a built-in fuel gauge, and they are framed as valuable tools for concealed carry and home defense in low-light conditions.
The conversation shifts to a discussion between PTR and Garand Thumb about modern sound moderator technology. They describe how design priorities have evolved from focusing solely on sound and flash reduction to emphasizing flow-through architectures and reduced back pressure to mitigate health risks from heavy particulate exposure. Various companies and products are mentioned, including SureFire’s RC2 and RC3, B&T, HuxWrx, Spectre, SIG, PTR’s porous metal designs, and a Disavowed Group model that reportedly reduces the audible signature of supersonic crack out to around 150 yards. The role of 3D-printed Inconel is highlighted for enabling complex internal gas-flow geometries that were not feasible with traditional manufacturing. The discussion then criticizes outdated NFA silencer regulations, noting that the $200 tax stamp dates back to an era when that amount roughly matched the cost of a Thompson-pattern gun, underscoring how archaic the law has become. Viewers, especially younger shooters, are encouraged to own sound moderators where legal and to support advocacy groups like Gun Owners of America. The scene then moves to the Sons of Liberty Gun Works booth, where Dave Mac introduces the MRAC (Modular Rail Attached Coupler) sound moderator shield. This quick-disconnect, free-floating carbon fiber shield uses rigid high-temperature resin and mounts via M-LOK slots at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions. It is designed to reduce heat mirage and prevent burns, with mention of different lengths and configurations to suit various setups.
The carbon fiber sound moderator shield’s performance is detailed, with claims of about a 60% reduction in surface temperature compared to a bare can. Even when the device reaches around 1,000 degrees, the shield remains safe against fabric, skin, and nearby objects or animals. This makes it particularly useful for precision and long-range rifles, vehicle-based operations, and dog handlers who need to avoid accidental burns. The shield is offered in multiple lengths from 5 to 9.5 inches, with a popular 6-inch model fitting cans like the Sandman K and Flow 5.56. It comes in a single "natural" clear-coat finish that showcases the carbon fiber weave. The discussion then turns to the MRAK (for M-LOK) and URAK (Universal Rail Attached Coupler) mounting systems. These attach to M-LOK slots or Picatinny rails on most free-floating AR-15 handguards and can support Unity Tactical Fusion flip-up sights. Using standard 20 mm M-LOK screw spacing, users can swap the included rail section for various light, sling, or accessory mounts without losing rail space. The video closes with the hosts reflecting on the massive scale of SHOT Show Day 3, teasing an upcoming Part 3, and encouraging viewers to subscribe, enable notifications, and follow the podcast channel, where episodes will be released on a spaced-out schedule so subscribers do not miss new content.
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