We’re reporting live from the 2025 NRA Annual Meetings, and we just stopped by the Dark Mountain Arms booth—and trust us, this little rifle is turning heads.
Dark Mountain Arms, a new company that’s been around for less than a year, is rolling out the Stowaway Rifle and Pistol platform. It’s unlike anything else here at the show.
The Stowaway is a single-shot, ultra-light survival rifle with a quick-detach barrel that lets it break down to under 17 inches in length. That means it can easily stash in a backpack, car kit, or just about anywhere else—and it’s optics-ready with a full-length Picatinny rail.
We handled both the pistol and rifle versions. The pistol version sports a folding brace, while the rifle is a 16″ barrel model threaded 1/2×28 for a suppressor. Both use a super smooth bolt action that can be run left-handed or right-handed.
Racking the bolt doesn’t cock the gun—you manually cock it with a simple rear pull, making it safe to carry with a round chambered.
SEE ALSO: BREAKING: Hi-Point’s First-Ever AR-15 — NRA 2025
It’s chambered initially in 9mm and 5.7×28, but swapping calibers is incredibly simple. All you need is a barrel and bolt face swap—no fancy tools required—and the conversion kits are affordable.
As for the action? It’s slick. Seriously slick. If you’re going to build a survival-style single-shot rifle, this is how you do it.
And the best part? It’s Made in the USA by a veteran-owned company. Price point is sitting at $419, which for what you’re getting, is extremely competitive.
We’re seeing a lot of great innovation here at NRAAM 2025, but Dark Mountain Arms’ Stowaway definitely stands out for creativity and execution. Whether you’d trick it out with a suppressor and red dot, or just keep it lightweight and simple, it’s one of the coolest survival-style rifles we’ve seen in a long time.
Stay tuned—GunsAmerica is bringing you more live coverage straight from the show floor!
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.
I don’t understand the concept of a 9mm or 5.7msingle shot survival rifle. Why would I put that in my backpack when I can stuff a Glock with 17 rds in each mag with a red dot so accuracy is increased. Or I can carry any handgun with way more power if needed on my hip or in a chest rig. Or if I just needed a rifle get the new folder from Keltec in 10mm. Now it may be different in a small rifle caliber like 5.56 or 300blk or 338 Arc.