Each year, American Rifleman staff editors deliver the latest news on firearms and gear emerging out of SHOT Show. For 2025, there’s a few trends to follow, but what is most interesting in this year’s lineup is the diversity: from tactical lever guns to precision rimfires, bolt guns and survival rifles, the industry is rife with new offerings. Check out this year’s staff picks:
Bergara BMR-X Carbon
Bergara is known for a centerfire bolt-action lineup that ranges from precision competition rifles to lightweight hunters, and its rimfire family has the same depth. Newly added to the lightweight-hunter category is the BMR-X Carbon. By pairing the company’s magazine-fed, micro-rimfire bolt-action with one of its famous carbon-wrapped barrels, Bergara has made a carry-all-day precision small-game rifle that tips the scales at a mere 5 lbs., 11 ozs. Weight is the only thing minimal about this package. It boasts “big-rifle” features like a match chamber, precision adjustable trigger, 30-m.o.a. scope rail, a new adjustable “X Stock” patterned off the company’s centerfire “Hunting and Match Rifle” models, and is suppressor-ready. Available chamberings are .22 Long Rifle, .22 WMR and .17 HMR. —Jeremiah Knupp, Field Editor
Dark Mountain Arms Stowaway
Dark Mountain Arms offers a unique example of the ultra-simple survival rifle in its 5.7x28 mm FN-chambered Stowaway. The ultralight single-shot features a left-hand bolt-action and can be broken down quickly and easily by way of a spin-off barrel collar/fore-end, going from 31.75" assembled into a package measuring just 16.65" in length by 6.88" in height by less than 2" in width. The muzzle of its 16" barrel is threaded 1/2x28 TPI for use with a suppressor, and a section of Picatinny rail on the receiver allows for the mounting of an optic. Aluminum and glass-filled-nylon components help keep overall weight down to a mere 2 lbs., 12.8 ozs. A knob at the rear of the bolt features a half-cock position for safe handling, and the rifle is designed to permit future changes in chambering by way of swapping out its bolt face and barrel. —Brian C. Sheetz, Editor In Chief
Henry SPD Ultimate Suppressor Host
Henry launched its Special Products Division in 2025, with the intent to offer a slate of arms tailored to the specific needs of hunters and outdoorsmen. Its debut product is still a work in progress; informally called both “Prototype 1” and the “Ultimate Suppressor Host,” its official name is still under consideration, but the design is nearing completion. Henry engineers approached the construction of the gun strategically, removing weight in key areas to ensure that the balance of the rifle with a mounted Silencer Central Banish 46 suppressor remained similar to that of Henry’s traditional lever-action platforms. This was achieved largely through the use of a carbon-fiber-wrapped BSF barrel, a Tapco aluminum fore-end and a wood-laminate textured buttstock. Available chamberings will include .44 Mag. and .45-70 Gov’t. —Evan Brune, Executive Editor
Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber
Ruger has developed nearly 1,000 model variations of the 10/22 semi-automatic rimfire rifle—in a dizzying myriad of sizes, shapes, colors and themes—since its introduction more than six decades ago. But the 10/22 Carbon Fiber introduced this year stands out in a number of regards. Not only are the new Carbon Fiber models the first variants to employ an in-house carbon-fiber-wrapped, cold-hammer-forged barrel, but the Magpul X-22-stocked carbine (No. 31220) also has the distinction of being the lightest factory 10/22 ever, as it weighs in at a scant 3 lbs., 8 ozs. Other enhanced features include M-Lok slots incorporated into the bottom of the fore-end, a much-easier-to-use extended magazine-release lever, Ruger’s upgraded BX-Trigger, a one-piece Picatinny optics rail and a 1/2x28 TPI threaded muzzle. —Kelly Young, Senior Executive Editor
Savage 110 PPR
Savage Arms' new 110 PPR is designed with serious big-game hunters in mind. The time-tested 110 action is built around a lightweight stainless-steel receiver with a Magpul OD green Cerakote finish. A newly designed fluted bolt body is treated with Blackout Cerakote and outfitted with an upgraded bolt head sporting dual ejectors and an enhanced extractor. The 20"-long Proof Research barrel is carbon-fiber-wrapped stainless steel with a 5/8x24 TPI threaded muzzle that ships with an Omniport muzzle brake installed. The solid fiberglass epoxy matrix Grayboe Phoenix 2 stock is painted in an earth tone and black web camouflage. With an adjustable comb and length of pull, it sports an M-Lok bottom rail in the fore-end and QD sling mounts. This rifle’s features include an adjustable AccuTrigger, a 20-m.o.a. one-piece scope rail and a three-round AICS-style magazine. —B. Gil Horman, Field Editor
S&W 1854 Stealth Hunter
Smith & Wesson broadens its Model 1854 lever-action line with three chamberings in the new and feature-rich Stealth Hunter series. Available in .357 Mag., .44 Mag. and .45 Colt, the black-Armornite-finished rifles benefit from a compact form factor (33.3" overall), thanks to the 16.3" 410 stainless-steel barrel that is threaded for suppressor use, and they retain the company’s unique removable magazine tube for safe unloading without working rounds through the action. A 10.5" Picatinny rail with an integrated ghost-ring rear sight provides optic-mounting options, and a fiber-optic HIVIZ H3 front sight improves visibility in low light. A synthetic stock with textured grip panels makes for sure handling even in wet weather, and an aluminum fore-end with 15 M-Lok slots provides plenty of real estate for the attachment of accessories. The large-loop lever and flat-face trigger accommodate gloved hands and promote precise shooting, respectively. —Brian C. Sheetz, Editor In Chief
