The micro red-dot (MRD) craze is in full-swing and, several years in, it shows no signs of slowing down—to the point that most new semi-automatic pistol introductions, and even some revolvers, now come from the factory ready to accept such an optic.
As multiple gunmakers hustled to produce 7 mm Backcountry prototypes in the weeks leading up to our hunt, it was lucky happenstance that Weatherby was first to the gate.
New for 2025, from Henry Repeating Arms is an entirely new division of the manufacturing company especially dedicated to advancing the design of firearms and technology to solve real-world problems. Enter the Special Products Division (SPD):
Designed for "any-range" big-game hunting, Federal’s new 7 mm Backcountry chambering relies on cutting-edge metallurgy and other advanced techniques in a surprising bid to change ammunition history.
Stoeger’s STR-9 series of striker-fired semi-automatic pistols have garnered much attention for its feature-rich designs and affordable price points. For 2025, the company is bringing an entirely new class of STR-9 to the U.S.