A lot of people forget that the real purpose of SHOT Show is to make sales. Sure, it’s a great place to show off new guns and gear, but that’s not the true purpose. People also forget that the military goes to the SHOT. Or at least members of the purchasing departments of military forces go to SHOT. Not just the U.S. Military, but I saw a number of uniforms and nationalities I didn’t recognize. With that in mind, let’s look at the best military weapons of SHOT Show 2025.
Barrett Squad Support Rifle System
Barrett teamed up with MARS Inc. to create the Squad Support Rifle System or the SSRS. This semi-automatic 30mm grenade launcher is magazine-fed and can fire a wide variety of munitions. Unlike other explosive launchers, the SSRS fires straight like a rifle and less like a lobbing grenade. The idea is to provide a longer-range squad support option for the military.
Explosive launchers in the hands of grunts would make them a near-unstoppable force. The SSRS provides a squad with a weapon capable of reaching out to 500 meters. This a precision grenadier tool that will eliminate cover and take away any sanctuary America’s enemies may use.
Barrett showed off the system at SHOT Show, and I immediately saw the potential in the weapon. The precision orientation will improve accuracy, eliminate the possibility of civilian casualties, and turn cover into concealment.
For more information, please visit Barrett.net.
The DTV Arms XR338
Have you ever looked at a minigun and thought, well, that thing just doesn’t cause enough chaos and doesn’t offer enough firepower? Well, so did DTV Arms when they designed the XR338. The XR338 is a minigun that fires the mighty powerful .338 Norma Magnum cartridge. This cartridge has an extremely long range and lots of penetration power.
Essentially, it can destroy vehicles, eliminate infantry behind cover, and even threaten light armored vehicles at extreme ranges. It fires at an extremely high rate of fire, delivering 800 to 2,500 rounds per minute. The barrels can even be fitted with a suppressor, but not to hide the gun, it’s to save the military on tinnitus claims.
This minigun is based on the classic M134 and can be quickly swapped to a variety of calibers. In .338 Norma Magnum, the number of barrels is reduced to five, but I’m sure it’s still plenty of firepower.
For more information, please visit DTVArms.com.
Ohio Ordnance REAPR
The Ohio Ordnance REAPR is currently submitted to meet a military requirement for a machine that sits between the M240 and the M2 but outperforms both of them. The REAPR provides a general-purpose machine gun that weighs less than an M240 but can reach out to 6,700 meters.
That’s assuming it’s using the .338 Norma Magnum, a powerful cartridge that excels in long-range performance. Users can swap the REAPR to easily chamber the 7.62 NATO cartridge for those times when logistics are a mess. The REAPR can be broken down into three pieces to be easily carried into the worst environments by a team.
The REAPR represents a new generation of general-purpose machine guns that are expanding their range and power without increasing their weight. The REAPR delivers a competent platform that might be arming the next generation of special forces soldiers.
For more information, please visit OOWInc.com.
C-MORE M26 PDW
As a dedicated shotgun fan, I saved just one for shotguns. However, I think the ATF would classify the C-MORE M26 PDW as an AOW since it lacks a stock. This might be the smallest repeating shotgun in the world. The M26 famously served as an under-barrel shotgun for the M4.
C-More produces a variety of configurations, but the coolest by far is the C-More M26 PDW. This micro-sized twelve gauge has a 3.25-inch barrel and weighs less than three pounds. It features a five-round detachable magazine and uses a straight pull bolt action design.
I’m not saying it would be particularly great at anything, and it’s likely a handful to shoot, but I want one, and I want it hard. Sadly, C-More only seems intent on selling these guns to military and police forces. Why they don’t want to print money or even do a limited run of any of the M26s is beyond me.
For more information, please visit CMoreComp.com.
Bren 3
If you want to annoy the folks at the CZ booth, ask them when the new Bren 3 will be making its debut on the civilian market. It was the question on everyone’s mind in the CZ booth. The Bren 3 was at the show, but only in select fire models aimed at LEO and Military contracts. The new Bren 3 isn’t a ton different than the old Bren 3.
It improves modularity with a removable and replaceable handguard. The bolt is much stronger, and the rifle now has three gas settings. There are several configurations for carbines, rifles, and PDWs. The Bren 3 felt like a solid rifle. It was light and ergonomic, with easy-to-reach controls that allowed you to manipulate the weapon with ease.
CZ isn’t afraid to release guns to the civilian market, but I imagine it takes time. I think we’ll see the Bren 3 in semi-auto rifle and pistol formats sooner rather than later, and of all the guns on this list, we can own this one.
For more information, please visit CZ-USA.com.
The Military and SHOT
Sadly, we can’t own most of these weapons, but we SHOT Show gives the opportunity to pick them up, handle them, and see what could arm the soldiers of next year. I for one, look forward to a military armed with direct-fire grenade launchers being the human A-10s of the battlefields.
