Pile of PDWs at SHOT 2025

PDWs, or personal defense weapons, have changed a lot since NATO dreamed of arming truck drivers with high-velocity SMGs. The modern civilian PDW is a braced pistol compact enough to be concealed in a basic backpack.

Only a few were on the market last year, but this year, they are seemingly everywhere at SHOT 2025. As I matched dutifully down the miles of aisles, I cataloged the various PDWs that grabbed my attention.

The Flux Raider and P365 Raider

Live Inventory Price Checker

	Sig Sauer P320 Flux Legion 9mm Pistol	Rainier Arms	$ 1499.99
	P320 Flux Legion 9mm Luger Semi-Auto Handgun - P320 Flux Legion 9mm Luger 3.9'''' Bbl (2)30rd Mags Legion Gray	Brownells.com	$ 1499.99
	Sig Sauer P226 Legion Series 9mm Pistol	Rainier Arms	$ 1299.99
	Sig Sauer P238 Legion .380 ACP 7-Round Magazine	GunMag Warehouse	$ 38.99

Flux gets the top spot because it’s one of the O.G.s of the PDW game. Flux produces two PDW systems. You drop a chassis into both grip modules and attach a slide, barrel, etc.

The original is the Raider, which is designed for the SIG P320. It’s the original, and the model Flux has thrown its weight behind. It’s a crazy-capable platform that makes it easy to shoot far and fast. it has a brace that deploys with the press of a button, a forward magazine holder, and an optics rails.

The P365 Raider, aka the Panty Raider, uses the P365 chassis. This PDW uses a folding brace that can be deployed instantly. This system requires a P365 slide and a slightly longer barrel than any P365 provides. It’s super compact and can even be concealed carried.

PSA X9

On PSA’s concept wall, we saw last year’s winner, the X57, and their new concept, the X9. The X9 is a PDW-sized handgun that comes equipped with a folding brace. Like every modern handgun and PDW, it’s optics-ready, and the barrel is threaded for a can.

It’s only a concept at this point and might change, but the magazine of choice is the B&T APC9. According to the PSA crew, Glock mags are a possibility. The gun has a simple blowback design and reminds me of a high-tech MAC.

What I like most about this is that it’s a dedicated firearm, not a chassis, attachable brace, or modification to an existing weapon. As such, you get a fixed optic mount that doesn’t move when you shoot, more room for accessories, and a system built to be a PDW.

Shalo Tek P365 PDW

Shalo Tek took the P365 and made it even more modular. They are famed for their ultra-modular frames that can change play at the drop of a hat. They have taken the P365 to the next level and put the chassis in guns bigger than full-sized.

The Shalo Tek PDW remains unnamed, but they approached it from the same modular direction. It’s not a dedicated PDW grip module; it’s an attachment to the Shalo Tek P365 grip modules, as is the spare magazine holder.

No price has been announced, but if you already have a Shalo Tek frame, it makes a lot of sense to go this route. I like this PDW’s modularity. The total price isn’t revealed, but it’s likely to be pricey if you also have to purchase the grip module.

Strike Industries Charlie SMC

Strike Industries has something called the Strike Modular Chassis, which comes in the Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie formats. Each layer adds a new level of modularity and control. These are P320 grip modules. The Alpha and Bravo have been around for a minute; what’s new is the Charlie.

The Charlie looks like a Space gun. It comes with a brace-ready grip module, a shroud that covers the top of the gun, and provides an optics rail to keep the optic fixed, which offers fast follow-up shots. We also get plenty of rails for accessories and a huge trigger guard.

Overall, it looks like a great system that provides a PDW design. What I like most is the style. It looks like a micro Uzi from the future. Mix good looks with a compact design, and we have a solid little PDW option.

Tyrant CNC PDW

Tyrant CNC has dived headfirst into the PDW grip module game. They haven’t named it yet, but they had some early prototypes at SHOT to show off the idea. These systems are grip modules that rely on removable chassis systems. The Tyrant CNC PDW is the first PDW grip module that aims to embrace the Echelons chassis. They are also producing a P365 variant.

The aim is to make the Echelon model from polymer with metal here and there. They aren’t totally sure if it will work as a polymer option, but if it does, it will retail for roughly 300 dollars. The P365 model will be metal; if the Echelon model ends up being metal, the price point will be about 500 dollars.

I like that they’ve embraced the Echelon, and I like the minimalist nature of these grip modules. They are super small and simple. Small and simple rules when concealment is the goal. The folding brace looks promising, and I hope they can get it out for around 300 dollars.

Meta Tactical MX1

We’ve talked a lot about SIGs and even the Echelon, but now let’s give the Glock some love. Meta Tactical famously produced the Apex Glock bullpup kit, and it’s fantastic. The MX1 is a PDW-like system that wraps around the entirety of your Glock.

The MX1 can accommodate almost every Glock. This includes the standard 9mm double-stack models, but who cares? Everyone does that. The MX1 can embrace Glocks as big as the 21 and as small as the Glock 43X. (With an included adapter.)

The MX1 PDW can accommodate 70 different Glock models. I like its simplicity and low price point—at 250 dollars, it’s one of the cheapest PDW options on the market. I want this on my Glock 20 for household pest defense.

Recover Tactical S-Pro Conversion Kit

Recover Tactical gives us our second dose of Glock PDW greatness. For years, Recover Tactical produced the RT20/20 brace system, and the new S-Pro promises to build on that legacy. The first systems launched are focused on Glocks but Recover Tactical plans to launch the system for other platforms.

The S-Pro attaches to the front and rear of your firearm. In the back end, we get a quick deployable, spring-loaded brace system. Hit a button, and the brace or stock deploys quickly, allowing you to get after whatever needs getting after.

Up front, we get a shroud with some M-LOK slots for accessories and a spare magazine holder or a blank rail for mounting lights. We also get a metal fixed-optic mount above the slide. It seems to be a slick 300-dollar option for those seeking out a Glock PDW.

The PDW Game

PDWs and 2011s seem to be the theme of SHOT 2025. Both were everywhere, and I was excited to catalog each one I ran into. Do you buy into the PDW fad? If so, let us know below.

About Travis Pike

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s instructor.