Edited image courtesy of Phanatic
This year’s SHOT Show once again drew some of the biggest names in the firearms industry to show off their upcoming products for 2023. While there were literally hundreds of booths and even more new products that made their debut at this year’s show, some of them stood out above the rest. Here are some of our favorite revelations from SHOT Show 2023.
Glock G20 Gen 5
If you’re a member of the 10mm enthusiasts club, you’ve probably been chomping at the bit for a Gen 5 G20. The G20 is a full-size Glock chambered in the powerful 10mm cartridge, making it one of the most powerful Glock options out there. For years, Glock hadn’t updated the G20 to its 5th Generation (the same one that mainstays like the G19 and G17 currently exist in).
But now, things are different.
Glock has finally heard our collective cries into the metaphorical ether and have decided to grace us with an updated G20. Gen 5 Glocks offer a slew of updates over their Gen 4 counterparts, including a redesigned grip and lighter trigger pull. Keep an eye out for the G20 Gen 5, coming to your local gun store in 2023!
Midwest Industries’ Alpha AK Furniture
If you’re an AK platform enthusiast, chances are you’ve been weeping sorrowful tears since the escalation of the Russo-Ukraine War caused the availability of Zenitco furniture to dry up.
For the uninitiated, Zenitco is a Russian company that makes some of the best AK furniture out there. Their furniture can transform the venerable AK platform into a modern firearm, allowing a user to add optics and other accessories to the firearm. Some other companies currently do this, but Zenitco is indisputably the king. In fact, their furniture has been adopted by Russian special forces like the FSB for use on the AK-105 platform. This variant has earned the moniker “Alpha AK” in enthusiast circles.
Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to acquire Zenitco furniture in the U.S. because of trade sanctions. Fortunately, the folks over at Midwest Industries have stepped in to fill the void. They released their take on Zenitco furniture at SHOT Show, which has AK enthusiasts nationwide salivating. I personally can’t wait!
PSA’s STG-44 Replica
Last but certainly not least on our list, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention PSA’s newest offering. As one of the biggest splashes at SHOT Show in 2023, PSA’s STG-44 replica turned every head.
If you’re an historical firearms enthusiast, chances are you’ve heard of the STG-44 before. It’s the world’s first assault rifle—a supposed Nazi “wonder weapon” that only saw deployment late in the war. Now, PSA is reimagining the STG-44 with some modern updates. You can pick up PSA’s new firearm in multiple chambers: 8mm Kurtz (its original cartridge), 5.56/.223, .300 Blackout, and 7.62x39mm.
As if that wasn’t enough, here’s the best part. The STG-44 is just the first gun in PSA’s “Battlefield” series, which promises to bring recreations of classic firearms to the masses. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next!
Expand Your Firearms Knowledge with SDI
Do you love guns and want to know everything you possibly can about your favorite firearm platforms? We’ve got your back! At SDI, we can help you become an expert in the firearms tech field. To learn more, check out the programs and certifications we offer.
If you want to hear more about SHOT Show 2023, be sure to check out SDI’s official firearms podcast, “The Gun Rack,” for their takeaways from the event.
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