2024 Tactical Product Of The Year: Trailblazer Pivot

For the 22nd consecutive year, the editors of “The World’s Oldest And Largest Firearm Authority” have selected their top picks for the finest and most innovative products that the gun industry has to offer.

by
posted on May 22, 2024
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
2024 Tactical Product Of The Year: Trailblazer Pivot

The coveted Golden Bullseye Awards, now in their 22nd year, were created as a way for us to publicly recognize the firearm industry’s best-performing, highest-value and most innovative products from the previous year. Some years there are runaway standouts, but more often than not, there are numerous contenders worthy of accolade within a given category, and the selection process to nail down a slate of recipients can require no small amount of rigorous discussion on the part of the editors. This year we were blessed with a sizable crop of great new guns that could have won an award, but below you will find our consensus winners.

“Last year was one of massive new-product introductions from the recreational shooting sports industry,” said NRA Publications Executive Director Doug Hamlin. “As a result, the editorial staff had some tough decisions to make to identify the best all-new products.”


2024 Tactical Product Of The Year: Trailblazer Pivot
The members of the Golden Bullseye panel place a premium on innovation, so when a 9 mm pistol-caliber carbine was unveiled at SHOT Show with an upper receiver that could be rotated 180 degrees in either direction, allowing it to be stowed in a package as compact as 20.9" long, it got our attention.

AmericanRifleman.org screengrab of Editor's Choice Trailblazer Firearms Pivot

Later, when Field Editor B. Gil Horman got a chance to run the gun, the Pivot from Trailblazer Firearms, through its paces and confirm that it was a true performer and more than just a gimmick, it jumped to the front of the short list for this award. As he relayed in his story, “A New Twist On The PCC,” Horman’s testing revealed the blowback-operated and Glock-pattern-magazine-fed Pivot to be ruggedly built, utterly dependable in operation, sufficiently accurate, surprisingly intuitive to use despite its unorthodox manual of arms and quick to deploy from its folded state.

American Rifleman centerfold magazine article trailblazer firearms pivot rifle b. gil horman review text guns

He ultimately concluded, “So, if you’re looking for ‘something completely different,’ then the Pivot is well worth the investment.”

American Rifleman magazine article screenshot words centerfold

For thinking outside the box to create an eminently portable, lightweight tactical carbine that could be put to a variety of applications from home defense to small-game hunting, we bestow the title of Tactical Product Of The Year upon the Trailblazer Pivot. For more information, visit trailblazerfirearms.com.

Latest

Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1
Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Taurus Expedition

Taurus entered the bolt-action rifle market with its Expedition, a Remington 700-pattern design that's built to be versatile and affordable.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II

Charter Arms updated one of the oldest models in its lineup with the new Pathfinder II, which features a lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, making it more well-balanced and easier to carry.

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.