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One of the most exciting products introduced at the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Atlanta, Ga., was Springfield’s XDE—a familiar, yet very different, polymer-framed semi-automatic pistol. Watch the video as American Rifleman’s Joe Kurtenbach gives the gun a once-over and offers his opinion about where the new entrant fits within the very lively personal-defense market.
Despite the incredible array of polymer-frame, striker-fired, semi-automatic handguns on the market, the classic revolver not only refuses to die, it has seen something of a resurgence in recent years.
For 2026, the semi-automatic shotgun market has seen even more growth, with some manufacturers expanding their current offerings and other makers entering the marketplace with novel designs.
For the past 100 years, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) has established the standards that ensure our safety when using modern shotshells, cartridges, firearms and more.