Video summary

Best Guns of 2026 So Far

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Key takeaways

Product Review

Product roundup: “Best Guns of 2026 So Far” (key picks + verdict)

This video is a “best firearms of 2026 so far” list featuring guns the reviewer personally shot on the channel. It covers carry pistols, competition/target pistols, home-defense rifles, and a couple “fastest” pistols. There are no formal star ratings, but the reviewer emphasizes price points and performance claims such as reliability, trigger feel, recoil, and accuracy.

1) HK VP9C (carry pistol)

Key features

  • Micro double-stack carry: 10 and 12-round capacity
  • 3-inch slide
  • Extremely low optics mounting; co-witnessing night sights
  • Cocking fins, front slide serrations
  • Really good trigger
  • European paddle magazine release (controversial)

Pros (as stated)

  • “Everything else is essentially excellent”
  • Some of the best sights and best optics mounting system
  • Subjective take: best trigger among the segment he compares
  • Strong carry gun despite small drawbacks

Cons (as stated)

  • Price got “lukewarm reception”
  • Paddle mag release is the main thing stopping him from carrying it more often
  • Mentions it lacks a bit in grip texture

Comparisons

  • Says it’s his second favorite Micro 9, behind the Shield Plus
  • Would not replace his Shield Plus as primary carry

2) Ross Martin RM1C (carry pistol, budget-leaning)

Key features

  • Price: “around $500”
  • Plate system option with Trijicon RMR
  • Single port comp
  • Steel sights
  • Front + rear serrations
  • Light rail
  • Comes with “a few magazines”
  • Very good/exceptional trigger

Pros

  • “Doesn’t skimp on features or accuracy”
  • Trigger described as “one of the best in the industry”
  • Reviewer claims similar quality to Canik (different texture/ergonomics)

Cons

  • No major drawbacks explicitly mentioned

Comparisons

  • Compared directly to Canik for build/feel
  • “Still better than Glock” under $500 (value claim)

3) Kimber DS Warrior (competition/plinking double-stack 1911)

Key features

  • Early US-made double-stack 1911 under $1,000
  • Front and rear serrations and optics mounting
  • Combat hammer, ambi safety
  • Polymer grip; beavertail safety
  • Single-action trigger around 6 lb
  • Magazine capacity “somewhere between 18 and 22”

Pros

  • “Best bang for the buck” in the double-stack 1911 world (reviewer view)
  • “Reliable, accurate, shootable enough, and looks pretty cool”

Cons

  • No explicit cons, but the framing suggests a budget-first option versus higher-end 2011s

Comparisons

  • Mentions another competitor (the “Paulo”/another model), but says Kimber DS Warrior is slightly better “for me.”
  • Positioned as a first pick if you don’t want to spend beyond $1,000

4) Mustang Armament Chesty (AR pistol / short-barreled rifle style)

Key features

  • 125 mid-length (reviewer says he hasn’t tried that personally before)
  • Homage to Chesty Puller
  • Described as unbelievably reliable
  • Performance: sub-MOA
  • Noted for very low recoil vs other AR pistols/ARs

Pros

  • “One of the best rifles I have literally ever shot”
  • Sub-MOA accuracy despite a short barrel
  • Lowest recoil he’s felt compared to other ARs

Cons

  • No specific drawbacks mentioned (fit positioned as “perfect”)

Comparisons

  • Benchmarked against “any AR pistol I’ve ever shot” and ARs generally (recoil/accuracy)

5) CMMG MK4 Resolute (budget home-defense rifle)

Key features

  • Price: “around $800 or so”
  • Comes with “five magazines,” plus a case
  • Reviewer says it may include a light and an optic
  • Described as high quality and feature-complete

Pros

  • “Best bangs for the buck” on the channel (reviewer claim)
  • “Super reliable, super accurate”
  • Worth quality he equates to a $1,500–$1,700 rifle
  • Attractive out-of-the-box home-defense package

Cons

  • No major cons given

Comparisons

  • Value/price comparison: $800 behaving like more expensive rifles

6) Canik Prime Radian (do-it-all pistol)

Key features

  • Positioned as the best “middle-of-the-road” option (not perfect for pure competition or pure concealed carry)
  • Radian single-port comp, shortened slide
  • Overall slide length about Glock 19 size, but thinner
  • 18-round capacity
  • Shield RMS pattern optics mount, optic included
  • HD front tritium sight glow; steel rear
  • Standout add-on components:
    • Side memory pads
    • Radiant backstrap
    • Radiant magwell, undercut trigger guard
    • Swappable magazine release
    • Ambi slide lock
    • Loaded chamber indicator and striker indicator
  • Reviewer claims it has the “best striker fired trigger in the industry” for a small gun

Pros

  • Extensive feature loadout
  • Extremely reliable (references a 1,000-round review that was 100% reliable except a mud test)
  • Trigger superiority claim: better than DS Warrior and many 2011s around similar price (subjective)
  • Strong optics/sight value

Cons

  • Not framed as ideal for extremes:
    • “not perfect competition”
    • “not perfect concealed carry”

Comparisons

  • Mentions PDP Pro Series Pro Trigger as close competitor
  • Claims it’s better than DS Warrior trigger and even some 2011s
  • Highlights being made in the United States

7) Smith & Wesson Spec Series (4-inch model)

Key features

  • 4-inch model
  • Aluminum frame
  • Their 2.0 competitor trigger
  • 15-round magazine
  • Strong texture/ergonomics
  • Mentions early setup interest involving an Acro optic

Pros

  • “Shot a lot better than I expected”
  • Texture and trigger praised

Cons

  • None explicitly stated

8) Smith & Wesson “Inline Port Series” (fast compact pistol)

Key features

  • Inline port design (reviewer says not many bigger companies do it)
  • Recoil claim: same or even a little less than an average comp
  • Versus large single/dual comps: bigger comps may be flatter
  • Framed as one of the fastest compact pistols you can buy

Pros

  • Very fast shooting
  • Recoil effectiveness comparable to comps; sometimes better

Cons

  • No explicit downside besides the argument that bigger comps might be “a little better” in some cases

Comparisons

  • Inline port vs single port comp: “inline port definitely wins” (example: Canik TTI series)
  • Discussion of S&W offering both inline port and dual-sided port, but reviewer is unsure which is better

9) Smith & Wesson competition pistol (limited optics / IPS / IDPA framing)

Key features

  • Competition-focused for limited optics / IPS / IDPA
  • “Most tricked out Smith” option
  • Price mentioned: “what, 1,200 bucks”
  • Many premium parts called out:
    • Spiral fluted barrel
    • Lightning cuts + slide cuts
    • Fiber optic front; blacked-out rear
    • S&W optics mounting system with deep slide serrations
    • Light rail
    • “Extremely textured grip”
    • Extended magazine release, competitor trigger, magwell
    • All-steel frame (explicitly not aluminum), described as “40 ounces of American muscle”
  • Framed as “ready-to-go” for competitors without needing aftermarket companies

Pros

  • Big value claim: tricked-out at ~$1,200
  • Out-of-the-box competition build
  • All-steel for range presence and recoil feel (reviewer says it “screams” on the range)

Cons

  • No explicit negatives; implied niche due to competition focus

Comparisons

  • Compared to needing aftermarket work from Agency Arms/ZEV on brands like Glock/CZ/typical striker guns
  • Reviewer claims S&W offers options directly

10) Sons of Liberty Gunworks Mark1 (most controversial pick)

Key features

  • Reviewer calls it divisive / popular to hate
  • Emphasizes independence: he’s paid for it/gave it away (no stake)
  • Tested performance:
    • “100% reliable”
    • “relatively smooth”
  • Mud/sand behavior:
    • “if you stick both of them in the mud or the sand, the Sons of Liberty Gunworks is going to blow more ____ out of it.”

Pros

  • Reliability
  • Smoothness for its type
  • Better performance clearing/handling in adverse conditions compared to at least one BCM reference
  • Looks “sick” with “cool rail”
  • Mentions adoption by SOCOM (with contract references; notes speculation exists but he believes his stainless version was excellent)

Cons

  • No hard cons given; the controversy is framed more as community drama than performance

Comparisons

  • Versus “competition gun”: more recoil than true competition guns, but still relatively smooth
  • Versus BCM: smoother and better in mud/sand
  • Approx parity with his Superduty 125 (similar shoot feel)

Honorable mentions (not full list items)

  • Kimber 2K11
    • “More expensive version of the DS Warrior”
    • Comped version described as “probably the best 2011 I’ve shot this year for the money.”
  • Sig P211 GT4
    • Liked a lot; one of SIG’s favorite pistols besides the 226
    • Also described as drop safe

Favorites / “most liked” expensive picks

Favorite rifle: HK MR762 A4 (approx. $4K)

Key points

The reviewer calls it a “guilty pleasure” due to caliber/platform mismatch for some use cases.

Claims

  • Very smooth recoil
  • “Probably the most reliable semi-auto 308” he’s shot
  • Adjustable gas block
  • M-LOK rail
  • Chrome line barrel with guaranteed 1 MOA or less (as stated)
  • “Very low recoil”

Price

  • About $4,000

Verdict stance

  • “Totally worth it” for him due to feel and reliability
  • Notes it’s not realistic for many home-defense buyers versus 5.56

Two fastest pistols

  1. Taran Tactical Pit Viper

    • “Phenomenal”
    • Polymer frame
    • “John Wick” style 2011 with optic
    • Very expensive and hard to find

  2. Dark Forge Covert Reaper

    • “Ported and comped 2011”
    • Described as the fastest pistol he’s shot to date
    • “Very loud” and like a “flashbang”
    • “Undeniably the flattest shooting handgun” he’s shot
    • Compared to the Pit Viper: “a little flatter,” but also louder and a little heavier

Main pros & cons theme across the list

Common pros praised

  • Reliability (multiple guns explicitly called reliable)
  • Accuracy / low recoil (notably Mustang Armament Chesty and MR762 A4, plus comps/ports and trigger emphasis)
  • Value-for-money in several categories:
    • RM1C (~$500)
    • CMMG (~$800)
    • Canik feature density
    • S&W competition package (~$1,200)

Common cons / cautions mentioned

  • Some are expensive (HK MR762 A4 ~ $4K, Pit Viper hard to find/expensive)
  • One carry pick’s biggest con is the controversial paddle magazine release (HK VP9C)
  • Category mismatch: Canik Prime Radian isn’t “perfect” for extreme competition or extreme concealed carry

Overall recommendation (concise verdict)

  • Best carry (micro 9, with caveat): HK VP9C is excellent, but the paddle mag release and price limit it; it’s his runner-up micro 9 behind the Shield Plus.
  • Best value carry: Ross Martin RM1C (~$500) for features, trigger quality, and performance.
  • Best all-around (do-it-all): Canik Prime Radian for an extremely feature-rich striker-fired pistol with standout trigger and reliability.
  • Best home-defense / AR-type value: CMMG MK4 Resolute (~$800) if you can find the bundle deal.
  • Best “wow” rifle: HK MR762 A4—excellent recoil/feel/reliability, but not for most budgets.

Speakers (and their contributions)

Only Chris is clearly speaking in the subtitles. A brief sponsor read occurs by a different voice segment, but the sponsor does not add product performance commentary.

  • Chris: all firearm selection, feature callouts, reliability/accuracy/recoil impressions, pricing/value comparisons, and overall verdicts.

Original video