2025 Guns & Ammo of the Year Awards

Guns & Ammo editors, contributors and staff have finalized the list of recipients for the firearm industry’s most prestigious annual award. Through extensive testing and evaluation, including field use, industry events and consumer input, G&A considered the merits of every new product. Nominations and voting were conducted at the conclusion of the annual Outdoor Sportsman Group (OSG) Roundtable in Grand Junction, Colorado. Only products commercially available as of the fourth quarter of 2025 — and products not eligible for the previous year’s awards — qualified for consideration.

When possible, G&A acquired multiple samples of each nominated product to achieve a representative evaluation. Products that warranted any doubt in reliability or durability were struck from the list of candidates. All-­new designs — as well as those demonstrating the most potential to benefit the broadest range of readers — were given additional merit when scored. In the circumstance of a split decision between comparable products, the more affordable option was favored during the voting process.

The winner of each category was determined by popular vote, but nominated products had to meet three criteria: First, the product must have been new and available for purchase in 2025. A line extension of an existing product did not earn full points as another possessing innovative features and engineering. Second, the product must have demonstrated quality and reliability to a degree that met or exceeded its design objectives. Lastly, the winner offered the greatest availability and interest to the largest audience. G&A’s staff awarded these points after surveying in-­store availability and confirming retail pricing to ensure that new products exist for sale and provided great value as described to consumers.

Voting concluded on August 12, 2025. Winners for each category can be found here.

*To maintain the credibility of the Guns & Ammo of the Year awards, no manufacturers, advertisers or sales representatives were consulted or involved with the selection process. What follows is the ultimate list of 2025’s best new products.

**The Air Gun of the Year award category was temporarily suspended for 2025.

---