Guns & Ammo editors, contributors and staff announce the firearms, optic, ammunition, suppressor, and innovation award recipients for 2019. Only products made commercially available since the fourth quarter of 2018 (and were not considered for last year’s awards) qualified for nomination. Products were evaluated and discussed by G&A during the Outdoor Sportsman Group’s annual Roundtable and several individual events held throughout the country within the last 12 months.
Nominees developed from the ground up, as well as those possessing the greatest potential impact to the greatest number of readers were given additional value when scored. When having to decide between two otherwise equally important new products, the more affordable choice broke the ties in our voting. G&A acquired several samples of each nominee throughout 2019 to achieve a representative evaluation. Products that caused doubt in reliability or manufacturing methods were eliminated from the list of candidates.
The winner for each category resulted from a point system once three criteria were met: First, the product must have been new and available for purchase in 2019. A line extension of an existing product didn’t earn the points as one possessing innovative features and engineering. Second, it must have demonstrated quality and reliability to a degree that met or exceeded its design objective. Lastly, the winner must offer the greatest appeal to the masses. G&A’s staff awarded points in this third principle following a survey of in-store availability and retail pricing to ensure the product exists and offers great value.
To protect the credibility of the Guns & Ammo of the Year awards, no manufacturers, advertisers or sales representatives were informed during our selection process. What follows is a summary list of 2019’s best new products.
