2025 GBGuns' Guns of the Year

Annually I recognize the guns that were most popular among our readers, those most fed by YouTube, and of course feel the need to share which were my favorites.

I do my best to either not show favoritism, or make it clear any potential bias I may have towards a firearm when reviewing, but the GBGuns Range Protocol helps ensure that the reviews you see are free from any efforts a creator might make to either fluff or degrade the image of any particular gun. This is part of why GBGuns videos are filmed unscripted and single-take, not a collection of beautifully edited B-roll which may have been collected to visualize a narrative of my choice.

With that clarified, it's also worth mentioning that between all of the training I've attended, and the experience of reviewing now over 500 handguns, I've developed a taste for, and nearly grown numb to some firearms "recipies". That doesn't mean that what I like is "the best" for you, and might not even be the best for me, it's just what I've come to like. Here are favorites reviewed between December 2024 and November 2025 in alphabetical order, links to full reviews at the end of each summary. Some of these were popular among viewers and readers, others not.

BUL Armory TAC PRO

I've been fortunate enough to get my hands on several models of BUL Armory, two of which have become my summer (Ultralight) and winter (EDC) carry pistols as they behave closely enough that I feel comfortable having a rotation to match the weather. The TAC PRO 5" is a definite range/competition-oriented pistol and the closest I've come yet to experiencing one of BUL Armory's full-on competition pistols. 5" 9mm pistols are almost always comfy shooters, then mix in the steel frame and V-8 porting on the TAC PRO and you've practically got a cheat code to quick and repeatable shooting. In general I focus on affordable tools meant solely for defense, but it's exciting and fun to try something a bit more exotic. Like the "daily driver" journalist who hops in a Porsche once in a while, it helps re-establish perceptions. See Full Review Here.

Derya DY9 Island

Another performance pistol, but this one is priced closer to a standard pistol. Derya Arms impressed me with their rapid response to the US market and rapid establishment of a manufacturing facility in the US. The DY9 Island is fun because it gives us an island barrel experience for the ubiquitous Glock platform at a very affordable price. I've made the personal choice to not carry a ported pistol, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the flash or, with the right ammunition, flatter shooting characteristics. When I reviewed my early-production model I felt the trigger might hold back some, but then I attended an event with a later-production sample with a trigger that quickly got so good people were asking what parts had been used to make it so good. The answer was, "all stock". See Full Review Here.

Genesis Arms Gen-12 PDS SBS

This shotgun has been years in the making and it's been fun to watch Genesis Arms advance and evolve since I first met them in 2018 (unfortunately YouTube has deleted many of those historical videos). From the beginning there were talks of making a compact semi-auto breaching gun. Tuning the short-recoil operation of the Genesis Arms platform to run smoothly on the variety of loads it does is a feat in itself, but when you consider that barrel mass plays a role in that it means each barrel length needs new enginering. Going from 18" down to 5" does more than just reduce mass, it also reduces time for the shot to be pushed by pressure and time for that pressure to safely dissipate. Now subtract about 2 3/4" from that 5" barrel for the shell and you can see things get really complicated. It was through codevelopment with Hxwrx that the Gen-12 PDS really got some legs as a suppressor was developed to not only keep that pressure release safe for shooters, but also one that could help shape the shot column in a way that defies conventional wisdom about shotgun barrel lengths and patterrns. See Full Review Here.

Henry Big Boy Revolver and Carbine

I'm not a "revolver guy" and haven't covered a lever rifle in several years, but this opportunity was a fun one both for learning the platforms better and getting to know more about .38 Special and .357 Magnum. These two guns are beautifully made and could be pride pieces in a collection, but as the testing showed are also quite capable. I was astounded at the differences in energies among the 13 loads tested. I do not have the rifle review completed at the time of writing this, but have spent enough time on the range with it to be excited about my next opportunity to shoot it. One quick note I do have about the carbine is the selection of a large or standard loop. I opted for the large loop for the aesthetics and so that I wouldn't have to worry about sliding my fingers in and out of the loop. What I've found in practice is that while the large loop makes it easy to get your hand in there, it also allows for the hand to travel more before smacking against the lever. This can be uncomfortable without either a glove or a pad on the loop. See Revolver Review Here.

Sig 1911X

My first handgun was a GI-style 1911 and I took that pistol to a 4-day, 1,200 round course which burned how to run a 1911 into my memory. Some may be tired of the 110+ year-old design, but the 1911X added some twists and updates that I think any shooter would appreciate. Although I tend to shoot mostly 9mm these days, the fact that the 1911X was in .45 ACP made it easier for my mind to reflect against a basic 1911 and really enjoy all of the updates made to this modern classic and really appreciate it. See Full Review Here.

Sig P226X Legion

Another classic modernized by Sig. My first range outing went so smoothly I didn't have much to say about the P226X Legion. It wasn't until I took it back out that it occured to me I hadn't developed strong feelings because the gun was simply so easy to shoot without requiring much engagement from the shooter. Like some of my other favorites of the year, I fear the price tag may prevent wider acceptance and use, but this is yet another that to me feels is not over-priced, even if that price tag is out of comfortable reach. See Full Review Here.

Star 30M

I don't think any of us saw this one coming. The glory days of high-quality, low-priced surplus guns seemed behind us until the Star 30M suddenly appeared. Imported by Century, and retailed by several, I took a chance and ordered one first-thing when I got the sales flyer. Star Firearms has been out of business for decades, and my first experience with a Star wasn't good, but the problem with surplus is you don't know how the firearm was treated before it landed in your hands. This time I either lucked out, or the 30M is just a better pistol, but I'm glad I got it. Aside from the sights holding me back a little, an all-steel and hammer-fired gun is almost always going to be fun on the range and the 30M was no exception. See Full Review Here.