The Best Competition Guns Ready to Race!

This year’s SHOT Show felt like a whirlwind of an event. There were some pretty spicy new firearm drops from major manufacturers with a massive interest in the competitive shooting market. I saw new pistols, rifles, and shotguns geared towards 3-Gun, USPSA, PRS, ELR, Skeet and Trap, and more. The demand for firearms to be competition-ready out of the box has been there, and it’s great to see so many manufacturers take it even more seriously. No matter what type of shooting sports interests you, here are some of the best competition guns seen at SHOT Show 2024 to serve your competitive needs.

Best Competition Guns for 2024

Pistols

CANiK TTI Combat

The CANiK TTI Combat is built on a completely new polymer frame designed by Taran Butler himself. The TTI Combat pistol has a ported and fluted barrel, the first CANiK compensator, and a diamond-cut, flat-faced, 90-degree break trigger. This gun has a newly designed slide release, an optic cut for a low-profile optic, comes with TTI +3 magazine base pads, and ships in a travel hard case. Each pistol also comes with a collaboration coin.

MSRP: $949; (canikusa.com).

Walther PDP Match Pistols

Walther Arms released the PDP Match Steel Frame and PDP Match Polymer Frame pistols. The PDP Match is outfitted with Walther’s Dynamic Performance Trigger, which is flat-faced and has a clean break with a short reset. These pistols come optics-ready with one free optic plate from Walther upon request. These guns have an enhanced mag well already installed on them for easier and faster reloads. The Steel Frame features a wrap-around grip and ships with two 20-round magazines and one 18-round magazine. The polymer-framed pistol ships with 18-round magazines.

MSRP: Polymer: $1,099; Steel: $1,899; (waltherarms.com).

Laugo Arms Alien Creator Evolution

This pistol was designed specifically for the Limited Optics division of USPSA shooting sport. The “LO” kit features a special slide and top rail with a fully adjustable thumb rest, an XL competition magwell, and an extended capacity of 22 rounds. This gun has a reciprocating optic mount compatible with footprints such as the Trijicon RMR, Leupold Delta Point Pro, Shield RMS, and C-More RTS.

MSRP: $5,000; (laugoarmsusa.com),

Rock Island Armory 5.0E

If you’re familiar with the 5.0 Rock Island released last year, this is an upgrade to that firearm, so it was still worth mentioning in this round-up. The 5.0E front and rear sight was upgraded to host new optics cuts and plates. The pistol also features new aggressive serrations for easier and better gun handling. The grip features a diamond-like carbon coating designed for better durability and performance. The trigger is one of the best out-of-the-box triggers out there, with a 4-pound trigger pull with a very low bore axis, making it great for competition.

MSRP: $1,988; (armscor.com).

Daniel Defense H9

The best way to describe the Daniel Defense H9 is that it mixes a striker-fired handgun with a 1911. Like the Rock Island 5.0E, this gun also features a low bore axis for less recoil/muzzle flip and more accurate shots. The H9 also features a 1911 straight trigger pull, so if you’re used to a 1911, this will feel normal to you. The H9 has ambi controls and a reversible mag release button. The gun is optic-ready and compatible with the most popular red dot optics.

MSRP: $1,299; (danieldefense.com).

Watchtower Firearms Apache

I wasn’t surprised to see newly designed 9mm double-stack 1911 pistols hit the SHOT Show floor. The latest from Watchtower Firearms is the Apache, precision-machined in Spring, Texas. This pistol has a 4.25-inch tri-top cut slide with a 0.75-inch compensator. The slide is an RDS optic cut, and the barrel is a 4.6-inch Clark/Para ramped 416R threaded barrel with a compensator. The trigger is a flat, medium-length, 2.2-pound trigger pull with an ambidextrous thumb safety. The gun comes with or without a tactical magwell and ships with one 126mm, 17-round magazine and one 140mm, 20-round magazine.

MSRP: $3,990.00; (watchtowerfirearms.com).

Stealth Arms 1911 Platypus

The Stealth Arms 1911 Platypus comes in a variety of options, especially when it comes to the style and color of the gun. The most interesting part about this pistol is it is compatible with Glock 17-style magazines, while still maintaining the 1911 grip angle. The gun is made to order with options of iron sights or optic cut, magwell or no magwell, style of the trigger, and tactical or no tactical rail. They offer different lengths of barrels from 5-inch government to 4.25-inch commander.

MSRP: Starting at $1,400; (StealthArms.net).

Lone Wolf DUSK19

Lone Wolf knocked it out of the park with their DUSK19 pistol. Variations of this pistol include a threaded or non-threaded barrel, iron sights only or an optics-ready slide, suppressor height sights, and a variety of color combinations. The DUSK19 has interchangeable flat and rounded backstraps, customized grip and integrated grip panels, a stainless steel PVD coated barrel, a new enhanced flat trigger system, a reversible magazine release button, and an extended slide stop release and takedown lever.

MSRP: $529.95 – $699.95; (lonewolfdist.com).

SAR USA SAR9 SOCOM

The SAR9 SOCOM pistol is a striker-fired handgun with a capacity of 17+1 rounds. It is outfitted with a 5.2-inch threaded barrel with 1/2×28 RH threads. The pistol also has an expanded magwell, suppressor-height front and rear sights, a slide cut for optics mounting, and a tactical rail for mounting lasers or lights. The slide also features serrated cooling channels to allow the barrel to cool down faster.

MSRP: $519.99; (sarusa.com).

Rifles

Dark Storm Industries Modern Fighting Rifle

This rifle release from Dark Storm Industries is a game changer due to its completely ambidextrous design. The ambidextrous bolt catch locks back and drops the BCG with ease as the dual ejector pitches your spent brass in a consistent and repeatable pattern. The magazine release is also ambidextrous for both right-handed and left-handed shooters to enjoy. This rifle is outfitted with a two-stage trigger with a 4.5-pound total pull and short reset. The 16-inch sub-MOA SOCOM profile barrel is machined from MIL-Spec 4150CMV steel and features a black nitride heat treatment for durability and corrosion resistance.

MSRP: $1,995; (dark-storm.com).

Barrett MRAD ELR

The new 416 Barrett caliber MRAD ELR rifle was built for those long-range competitive shooters who compete in ELR competitions. The 36-inch barrel has a twist rate of 1:9, and the user-changeable barrel system allows the user to change the barrel and caliber configurations using only one tool while utilizing the quick-change firing pin and bolt head, which is a tool-less procedure. The 60-degree bolt throw allows for faster and more efficient cycling without interference with the scope. The barrel is topped off with a high-efficiency three-port muzzle brake and is also compatible with the QDL Muzzle Brake. Finally, the adjustable, single-stage trigger module can be removed without tools.

MSRP: $9,995; (barrett.net).

Accuracy International AT-XC

The Accuracy International AT-X platform has been out for a while, but the new release for SHOT Show is that the company will offer new versions in sporting and professional configurations. The AT-XC is set up for modern action with durability, safety, and ease of use, with an increased feature set for the competitive shooter. The new action provides greater breech strength, improved gas handling, bedding stability, durability, reduced operating effort, and lower weight. The gun comes in short action 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 WIN.

MSRP: TBD; (accuracyinternational.com).

Rock River Arms XM24

There are few options when it comes to competition-ready PRS gun builds. The XM24 is a precision bolt gun built for those who want to compete without the hassle of building a custom gun. This gun is designed around MDT’s ESS non-folding chassis and sports a 26-inch heavy-contour, stainless steel barrel. It comes in .308 and .338 Lapua. The gun is outfitted with a TriggerTech single-stage trigger. Rock River guarantees less than ½-MOA accuracy when paired with premium ammunition.

MSRP: $5,265; (rockriverarms.com).

Primary Weapon Systems UXR

The UXR from Primary Weapon Systems is one rifle to rule them all. Kidding, but their barrel Xchange system is pretty innovative. You can switch barrel lengths and calibers from .223 Wylde to .308 WIN and .300 BLK, with more coming soon. The UXR has a modified long-stroke piston system that makes the gun very soft shooting. The innovative bore evacuator ensures superior safety and performance by efficiently directing propellant gases away from the shooter and down the barrel. There is a three-position adjustable gas system, including a dedicated suppressor setting to tune the gun to your ammo and your chosen suppressor.

MSRP: $2,650; (primaryweapons.com).

CZ 600 MDT

The CZ 600 MDT is not available for purchase in the US, but it is a competition gun contender worth mentioning. This rifle is built on an MDT chassis system and is chambered in .308 WIN or 6mm Creedmoor. The barrel has a heavy profile and is 24 inches. This gun is outfitted with a single-stage, adjustable trigger and has a magazine capacity of 10 rounds. This specific rifle is approved for use in the PRS Production division and built to dominate. 

MSRP: None, not available in the US; (cz600.czub.cz/cz-600-mdt-deep-bronze).

Shotguns

Stevens 555 Sporting

This year, Stevens extends its lineup of lightweight, alloy-frame Over/Under shotguns with new sporting models of the 555. It is available in 20-gauge, .410 sporter, and compact 12- and 20-gauge and .410 models. All the sporting shotguns feature silver receivers, raised ribs, ported barrels, adjustable combs, and extended choke tubes. The compact models have 26-inch barrels and stocks cut to 13 ¼ inches.

MSRP: $989; (savagearms.com).

Fabarm L4S Allsport RS

The Italian-made Fabarm L4S was released in an Allsport version. This shotgun features an adjustable comb and two interchangeable ribs to swap from a 50/50 point of impact to a 65/35 point of impact. This allows the shotgun to go from skeet or sporting gun to trap gun instantly. The 12-gauge shotgun has a gas system tuned for target loads and softening the felt recoil.

MSRP: $2,750 for right-handed, $2,950 for left-handed; (FabarmUSA.com).

Franchi Affinity 3 Sport-Trap

The Affinity 3 Sport-Trap shotgun was designed as an entry-level shotgun for competitive sport and trap shooting. This shotgun sports Franchi’s Evolved Ergonom-X stock system which includes an adjustable drop, cast, and length of pull. The 30-inch barrel is chambered in 3-inch, 12 gauge and has barrel porting for reduced muzzle rise. The oversized bolt controls make for easy manipulations and it has a beveled loading port for smooth and efficient operation on the line.

MSRP: TBD; (franchiusa.com).

Genesis Arms Gen 12 18” Shotgun

3-Gunners rejoice! A new magazine-fed shotgun has entered the chat. The Genesis Arms 3-Gun model shotgun has an 18¾-inch barrel allowing external chokes to be mounted on the end. This shotgun is built on an AR-10 style lower with AR controls you know and love. There’s a right-side charging handle for easy gun manipulations and regular AR-style safety. The handguard is M-LOK compatible with a full Picatinny top rail. The gun comes outfitted with a 3.5-4.5-pound Hiperfire trigger.

MSRP: $2,889; (GenesisArms.com).

Beretta Ultraleggero KO

The Beretta Ultraleggero means “ultralight” in Italian, and the original shotgun had significant felt recoil when fired. The new KO version for 2024 sticks to the lightweight design but mitigates felt recoil thanks to the stock’s “Kick-Off System.” Three shock absorbers are inside the stock to mitigate the shooter’s felt recoil from the 12-gauge shotgun. There’s also now a shim system to allow the shooter to set the gun up to them properly.

MSRP: TBD; (beretta.com)

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