The 2022 National Rifle Association Annual Meeting, aka NRAAM, has wrapped up. Of course, plenty of protestors showed up, Wayne LaPierre unfortunately retained his position, and the NRA still needs a rather large reboot. All of that doesn’t mean that the NRA still doesn’t do a lot of good, though. The NRAAM show is like a mini SHOT Show, but more political, and it’s essentially open to the public as long as they are NRA members.
The Best Guns of NRAAM
Much like SHOT Show, you can just wander from booth to booth looking at all the shiny new guns. A good number of reveals come out at NRAAM, and I’ve been watching through them all. These are what I think are the best reveals—my picks for what’s most surprising, most innovative, and most interesting.
1. Beretta APX A1
The Beretta APX series didn’t quite make the splash Beretta wanted with their entry into the polymer frame striker-fired guns. That’s a shame because the APX shoots straight, functions reliably, and handles well. Beretta is giving it another go with the APX A1 series which is optics ready and compatible with all manner of optics.
Additionally, they redesigned the frame to improve ergonomics and apparently create less recoil. Does it feel better? Yes, and that’s what matters. Plus, the APX A1 series don’t look quite as goofy as the original APX—it’s more refined and deserving of the Beretta name.
2. FN DMR3
AR 15s have always been cool, and while the market demands the 16-inch carbine, I still prefer the longer rifle variants. FN’s new DMR3 is fn’ cool. It’s an 18-inch barrel rifle with a carbine collapsible stock, so it’s a gun that bangs automatically and fits in your AR15 case without issue. FN also went with a Geissele two-stage trigger and a Surefire ProComp muzzle brake.
The barrel features a hybrid profile that keeps things rigid with a focus on keeping things light. The FN DMR3 comes with a free-floating M-LOK handguard held in place by a Hodge Defense wedge lock. You can get your Recce-rifle-love on with the FN DMR3 and land very accurate shots on target. At the same time, it’s fairly light and easy to maneuver.
3. Maxim MD9
Maxim Defense is notorious for its super short, PDW-type rifles and AR pistols. These have always been rifle calibers, but this year Maxim went different and produced a pistol-caliber PDW-type AR pistol that they showed first at NRAAM. The MD9 comes from the factory as either an SBR or a braced pistol with Maxim braces or stocks.
It also retains the sexiness Maxim is known for. Predictably, they use Glock magazines. The gun comes with an ALG Combat trigger, a super short M-LOK handguard, and a Radian charging handle. It’s a premium-grade option, which is what you expect from Maxim.
4. IWI Masada Slim
The Masada is another underappreciated pistol in the striker-fired polymer pistol world. The latest from IWI is the Masada Slim. Sadly, for a gun called Slim, I can’t find its width officially, but it appears to be about 1.1 inches wide. It appears to be roughly P365 XL-sized and packs a 13-round, flush-fitting, double-stack magazine, and swings in with optics compatibility as well.
The little Slim might not quite be a micro-compact in size but seems to be its own thing size-wise. The IWI Masada Slim comes with a fire control unit-style trigger group, a flat trigger, and a very positive reset. It’s a good setup for roughly 450 dollars and it was nice to see it at NRAAM.
5. Taurus 856 Executive
Taurus has brought in some new people to innovate and improve their firearms, and I’m betting the Taurus 856 Executive is a product of these new folks. This DAO revolver features a 3-inch barrel, a six-round cylinder, and a new custom trigger system that results in a smooth and consistent DAO trigger.
On the outside, we have a satin finish, checked walnut grips, and a flat profile barrel. The gun looks good, that’s undeniable, and I think the Executive is a big step forward for Taurus. Inside we get chamfered cylinders for fast reloads. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Taurus if they keep this quality-first mindset.
6. Walther WMP
With competitors like Sig and FN releasing new .22LRs, Walther decided to take a bigger step forward and release a very modern, semi-automatic .22 Magnum. The Walther WMP or Walther Magnum Pistol hands you 15 rounds of .22 Magnum in a pistol reminiscent of the PPQ and PDP. Shooters can toss an optic on the WMP, and it comes with a standard Picatinny rail.
Also, it has four options for dropping the mag. Why? I don’t know, but hey, I’ll take it. The four points include two buttons and the trigger guard magazine release system. This full-sized automatic is an interesting pistol in the .22 Magnum space. Toss an optic on this bad boy, and shots at 50 yards will be easy.
7. Colt King Cobra
Last but not least is the near 1000-dollar rimfire revolver from Colt. The company didn’t cheap out on their Rimfire revolver, and they call it a King Cobra for a reason. It’s built on the King Cobra frame, uses the King Cobra trigger system, and features a one-piece barrel. It’s a high-quality rimfire revolver that oddly wears the King Cobra name. Traditionally the rimfire Colt snake gun is the Diamondback.
The new King Cobra target comes with either a 4.25 or 6-inch barrel and—get this—a ten-round cylinder. It’s pretty neat to see someone go hard on the rimfire revolver capacity. The King Cobra Target model is an expensive .22LR, but it’s also a made in USA Colt Snake gun, so it’s not what you expect. It was the stand-out rimfire gun at NRAAM to me.
NRAAM Is Over
The NRA Annual Meeting is over, people are home, and the world goes on. However, this mid-year preview is a nice lead-in to SHOT Show 2023. What did you see at NRAAM you thought that stood out? Share below!
