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The new compact 9mm packs a 4-inch barrel, 15+1 capacity, optics-ready slide, and a $599 MSRP, putting it squarely into the increasingly crowded “do-everything carry gun” category.

The HK VP9CC brings the VP9 bloodline into a true micro-compact 9mm carry pistol, complete with German engineering, an ultra-low optic cut, and the kind of price tag that makes expectations very serious. After 800 trouble-free rounds, this little HK has plenty to brag about, even if a few sharp edges bite back.

The pistol market didn’t just show up at NRAAM 2026… it showed off.

The idea is simple: keep your support hand forward, maintain control, and cycle the action without shifting your grip.

If you’ve ever handled one of their pistols before, you already know the deal. Cabot Guns doesn’t really build guns for the average shooter. They build mechanical art pieces that just happen to go bang, and the Apocalypse MAX fits that mold perfectly.

The SIG Sauer M400 Forge looks like somebody accidentally stuffed a premium parts list into a $999 rifle and sent it out the door. With a hammer forged barrel, TriggerTech trigger, Romeo MSR Gen II, and thoughtful details most rifles in this class do not even flirt with, this one lands like a direct shot at the entire value AR-15 market.

Springfield’s 4-inch SA-35 keeps the soul of the Hi Power alive while making it faster, handier, and easier to carry. If you already like the full-size gun, this trimmed-down steel 9mm may be the one that really gets under your skin.

The American-made Charles Daly Honcho looks like a budget-minded 12-gauge bruiser built for tight spaces and rough work. But once the shooting starts, this compact pump reveals a split personality: smoother and better finished than expected, yet still saddled with reliability issues serious enough to kill the deal.

S&W’s Performance Center Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp is a tiny .380 that shoots flatter than it should, carries easier than most, and only needed one fix at the sights.