PDWs, or private protection weapons, have modified rather a lot since NATO dreamed of arming truck drivers with high-velocity SMGs. The fashionable civilian PDW is a braced pistol compact sufficient to be hid in a primary backpack.
Just a few had been available on the market final yr, however this yr, they’re seemingly in every single place at SHOT 2025. As I matched dutifully down the miles of aisles, I cataloged the assorted PDWs that grabbed my consideration.
The Flux Raider and P365 Raider
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Flux will get the highest spot as a result of it’s one of many O.G.s of the PDW recreation. Flux produces two PDW programs. You drop a chassis into each grip modules and fix a slide, barrel, and so on.
The unique is the Raider, which is designed for the SIG P320. It’s the unique, and the mannequin Flux has thrown its weight behind. It’s a crazy-capable platform that makes it simple to shoot far and quick. it has a brace that deploys with the press of a button, a ahead journal holder, and an optics rails.
The P365 Raider, aka the Panty Raider, makes use of the P365 chassis. This PDW makes use of a folding brace that may be deployed immediately. This method requires a P365 slide and a barely longer barrel than any P365 supplies. It’s tremendous compact and might even be hid carried.
PSA X9
On PSA’s idea wall, we noticed final yr’s winner, the X57, and their new idea, the X9. The X9 is a PDW-sized handgun that comes outfitted with a folding brace. Like each fashionable handgun and PDW, it’s optics-ready, and the barrel is threaded for a can.
It’s solely an idea at this level and may change, however the journal of alternative is the B&T APC9. Based on the PSA crew, Glock mags are a chance. The gun has a easy blowback design and jogs my memory of a high-tech MAC.
What I like most about that is that it’s a devoted firearm, not a chassis, attachable brace, or modification to an present weapon. As such, you get a set optic mount that doesn’t transfer if you shoot, extra room for equipment, and a system constructed to be a PDW.
Shalo Tek P365 PDW
Shalo Tek took the P365 and made it much more modular. They’re famed for his or her ultra-modular frames that may change play on the drop of a hat. They’ve taken the P365 to the following stage and put the chassis in weapons larger than full-sized.
The Shalo Tek PDW stays unnamed, however they approached it from the identical modular path. It’s not a devoted PDW grip module; it’s an attachment to the Shalo Tek P365 grip modules, as is the spare journal holder.
No worth has been introduced, but when you have already got a Shalo Tek body, it makes plenty of sense to go this route. I like this PDW’s modularity. The entire worth isn’t revealed, but it surely’s prone to be expensive in case you additionally need to buy the grip module.
Strike Industries Charlie SMC
Strike Industries has one thing known as the Strike Modular Chassis, which comes within the Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie codecs. Every layer provides a brand new stage of modularity and management. These are P320 grip modules. The Alpha and Bravo have been round for a minute; what’s new is the Charlie.
The Charlie seems to be like a House gun. It comes with a brace-ready grip module, a shroud that covers the highest of the gun, and supplies an optics rail to maintain the optic mounted, which presents quick follow-up pictures. We additionally get loads of rails for equipment and an enormous set off guard.
Total, it seems to be like a fantastic system that gives a PDW design. What I like most is the type. It seems to be like a micro Uzi from the longer term. Combine beauty with a compact design, and we now have a strong little PDW choice.
Tyrant CNC PDW
Tyrant CNC has dived headfirst into the PDW grip module recreation. They haven’t named it but, however they’d some early prototypes at SHOT to point out off the thought. These programs are grip modules that depend on detachable chassis programs. The Tyrant CNC PDW is the primary PDW grip module that goals to embrace the Echelons chassis. They’re additionally producing a P365 variant.
The goal is to make the Echelon mannequin from polymer with steel right here and there. They aren’t completely positive if it is going to work as a polymer choice, but when it does, it is going to retail for roughly 300 {dollars}. The P365 mannequin might be steel; if the Echelon mannequin finally ends up being steel, the worth level might be about 500 {dollars}.
I like that they’ve embraced the Echelon, and I just like the minimalist nature of those grip modules. They’re tremendous small and easy. Small and easy guidelines when concealment is the aim. The folding brace seems to be promising, and I hope they will get it out for round 300 {dollars}.
Meta Tactical MX1
We’ve talked rather a lot about SIGs and even the Echelon, however now let’s give the Glock some love. Meta Tactical famously produced the Apex Glock bullpup equipment, and it’s incredible. The MX1 is a PDW-like system that wraps across the entirety of your Glock.
The MX1 can accommodate nearly each Glock. This consists of the usual 9mm double-stack fashions, however who cares? Everybody does that. The MX1 can embrace Glocks as large because the 21 and as small because the Glock 43X. (With an included adapter.)
The MX1 PDW can accommodate 70 completely different Glock fashions. I like its simplicity and low worth level—at 250 {dollars}, it’s one of many most cost-effective PDW choices available on the market. I need this on my Glock 20 for family pest protection.
Recuperate Tactical S-Professional Conversion Equipment
Recuperate Tactical offers us our second dose of Glock PDW greatness. For years, Recuperate Tactical produced the RT20/20 brace system, and the brand new S-Professional guarantees to construct on that legacy. The primary programs launched are targeted on Glocks however Recuperate Tactical plans to launch the system for different platforms.
The S-Professional attaches to the entrance and rear of your firearm. Within the again finish, we get a fast deployable, spring-loaded brace system. Hit a button, and the brace or inventory deploys rapidly, permitting you to get after no matter wants getting after.
Up entrance, we get a shroud with some M-LOK slots for equipment and a spare journal holder or a clean rail for mounting lights. We additionally get a steel fixed-optic mount above the slide. It appears to be a slick 300-dollar choice for these in search of out a Glock PDW.
The PDW Sport
PDWs and 2011s appear to be the theme of SHOT 2025. Each had been in every single place, and I used to be excited to catalog each I bumped into. Do you purchase into the PDW fad? If that’s the case, tell us under.
About Travis Pike
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms fanatic, and now a daily man who likes to shoot, write, and discover methods to mix the 2. He holds an NRA certification as a Primary Pistol Teacher and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s teacher.
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