2025 Viewer's Choice Awards

Every November I go back through the videos of the year, including December of the previous year, and find the most viewed videos of the year. I find this to be interesting as it does not always match what was most commented on, most requested, or most read here on the Depot. Often times a video of mine will publish to lackluster interest until one of the bigger channels reviews the same gun and folks go looking for more information.

2025 was not a great year for the channel. At the end of 2024 YouTube's AI censorship bot ran amuck and deleted 65 videos in one night, then continued to delete or restrict at least one per day for the next several months. As a result the channel's momentum (rolling average of views gained) was damaged, which in turn meant the algorithm suggested and showed new videos to fewer people. Several long-time subscribers also commented about not being notified or even able to find new videos. These events are a big part of why I renewed my use of Rumble as a safe place to post (though Rumble has issues of its own), and of course reinforced the existence of this website. Unfortunately as long as people use Google as their search engine, it's going to be Google's video player YouTube that shows up in their results.

Of the videos that survived the year, below are the top 5 guns as well as a few runners up who were just behind 5th place. Links to full reviews at the end of each summary

Runners-Up

Star 30M

I suspect the same reason I bought the Star 30M is the same reason it was popular: excitement over a quality surplus pistol at a reasonable price. In fact, while writing this piece I got another email ad for these, still available, and still at a great price. Keep in mind however that as with any surplus piece ordered online, conditions may vary. I bought mine without any special treatment and got a good one, but I was also early. All-steel hammer-fired guns cost a lot mroe to make than polymer-framed striker-fired pistols, and so especially in a time when people a cautious with their spending, we don't see many new offerings of this type on the market. The Star 30M may be long out of production and from a company out of business, but it was new to many of us. See full review here.

Sig P226X Legion SAO

The Sig P226X Legion SAO is a relative newcomer to the channel for the year, and is on track to keep growing. The classic and battle-proven P226 with character and feature updates from both the "X" and "Legion" lines was bound to be popular. I was sent an SAO model for review, and although I personally would have prefered the DA/SA, I was also curious what an SAO model would be like. On my first outing with it I couldn't come to a conclusion. I respected the gun, but didn't feel moved by it the way some other higher price tag guns have. On the second time out the range I was able to identify the "issue"; the P226X Legion was just so easy to shoot that I didn't feel as engaged as I have been with other guns. That is not a fault at all, and speaks to why the P226 line has served so many for so long. See full review here.

Bersa M2XI

Bersa USA is up and running and their first (to my knowledge) entirely US-made handgun was the double stack 1911 cleverly named, "M2XI". An entertaining difference between the reading audience and the viewing audience is the viewers didn't seem to absorb the fact as well as the readers that this is a US-made gun. I still get comments on the videos about Bersa being made in Argentina despite me both saying this is a US-made model and showing the markings on the receiver. I really enjoy the M2XI. It's handsome, very-well built, and luxurious on the range without asking for a couple month's mortgage payments all while...BEING MADE IN THE USA. This pistol also came to me at a time when I had forgotten how smooth the recoil impulse of a 5" 9mm is. When you add the nose weight of the M2XI's full-length steel dust cover the result is a real joy to shoot.See full review here.

The Top 5

#5 BUL Armory Ultralight PRO

The BUL Armory Ultralight PRO was also a winner among readers. It's not surprising as it combines the 2024 trend for doublestack 1911s, the 2025 trend for ports, and the reality check of needing a gun we can fit in our pants. I've now reviewed three versions of the BUL Armory Ultralight and love them for providing that double stack 1911 experience in a smaller, lighter package that somehow manages to not be too snappy or wild to enjoy on the range. I've taken these pistols with me to multiple social shooting events and time after time hear the same comments, that the pistol doesn't feel like a full size, but certainly doesn't try to jump out of your hand like so many others of this size. See full review here.

#4 Beretta PX4 Full Size G SD

The Beretta PX4 G SD was also a winner among readers. I'm not surprised as my take on a PX4 had been requested over and over for several years, in part because of my love for the rotating barrel action of Grand Power pistols. The G SD models are built similarly to those tuned by Langdon Tactical Technology, but without the trigger job and at a factory-produced price. The PX4 line has been around a long time, and some of the design shows that, but that doesn't make it a bad gun by any means. See full review here.

#3 Fusion Firearms / Ermox XP Pro

Readers got a sneak peak of this gun almost a year before it hit the market, but those who didn't were surprised. The third handgun from Ermox is one we saw at IWA and were really impressed with, hoping someone in the US would bring it in. Fusion Firearms was the one to make it happen as well as integrate some refinements 1911 makers like Fusion knew would be needed. What got everyone excited is the ability to run on Glock-pattern magazines, but that also means for a different feel in hand than a standard double stack 1911. The XP Pro is an interesting firearm that I've seen many enjoy. I ended up removing the factory magazine well as it pushed my hand into an awkward grip, fortunately Fusion includes the shorter mainspring housing pin to do so. See full review here.

2: Canik METE MC9 Prime

The Canik METE MC9 Prime was also a winner among viewers. Canik releases are always popular and this one took the existing MC9LS and gave it styling from the Rival, enhanced traction first seen on the TTI Combat, and some ports. Canik smartly back-bored to the ports which means users don't have to worry about avoiding plated bullets, but also means lower velocities. I'm not entirely sure what role this mini racer was made to fill, but it's a fun gun to shoot, especially if you're seeking performance in a slim form factor. Slip in a non-ported MC9LS barrel and you've got the makings of a performance carry gun. See full review here.

1: Walther PDP F PRO

The Walther PDP F series was misunderstood for a while at launch. The entire point of the series had been to offer a shorter reach to the trigger for smaller hands to also be able to enjoy the PDP series. I think initial marketing towards women made the chest-beating bravado-filled influencers dismiss the gun as something less than a PDP. "Hand" is the first part of "handgun" for a reason. Despite my ability to show that almost anyone can be proficient with almost any handgun, that's not a demonstration of how easy such a feat is or isn't. When a pistol fits the hand naturally it's easier to shoot well and more enjoyable. Walther's PDP F series is an enabler that is finally getting recognition thanks the the ironically over-used "PRO" naming that has been so popular over the last couple of years. The only appreciable difference between the "PRO" PDP F and regular models is the trigger and a magazine well. Regardless, it's good to see the PDP F line gain recognition thanks to that trend. See full review here.

Were any of these your favorites? Which ones were? Let us know in the comment section below which videos had an impact on your choices this year.