Either SHOT Show 2025 didn’t present a lot of new AR-15-style rifles, or I was too busy looking at all the lever-action rifles and new 1911s and 2011s hitting the market. A few ARs did catch my eye, especially an odd one with a forward charging system that allows you to pump and clear malfunctions. Let’s dive into what’s new.

Best New AR-15s for 2025

PSA The Mixtape

Palmetto State Armory’s “The Mixtape” is a new suppressor-ready AR-15 released in 300 BLK and 338 ARC. The new ICAR magazines from Magpul ship with the 338 ARC version. The lower on The Mixtape will have an ambidextrous bolt release. This rifle will be built with an SB Tactical brace, Radian charging handle and safety, an upgraded E4 bolt with dual ejectors, an optimized buffer for suppressor use, and a Sabre 2-stage trigger. The barrel will be 8 inches long and have an adjustable gas block.

The MSRP is estimated to be similar to current Sabre AR-15 offerings. (PalmettoStateArmory.com)

PSA Sabre 10-K1

The Sabre 10-K1 will be built off the same ICAR lower as The Mixtape. This AR will be built with a 14.5-inch pin/weld barrel and eventually be offered in 16-inch and 18-inch offerings. The same E4 bolt with dual ejectors will be in the BCG. It will also feature an ambidextrous bolt catch, the Reptilia charging handle and safety, the Sabre 2-stage trigger, and a newly designed MLOK handguard.

The MSRP is estimated to be similar to current Sabre AR-15 offerings. (PalmettoStateArmory.com)

Desert Tech Quattro-15

The Desert Tech Quattro-15 offers 80% more capacity than standard 30-round magazines with its revolutionary QMAG-53 quad-stack magazine. This cuts down reload time, and the QMAG-53 fits standard pouches. The rifle is chambered in .223 Wylde to be compatible with .223 or 5.56 NATO ammunition. The 16-inch barrel features a mid-length gas system and nitride finish. The build comes with a 13.7-inch slimline MLOK handguard and fully ambidextrous controls.

MSRP: $1,899.99. (DesertTech.com)

HK MR556 MR-A4

The new MR-A4 is a short-stroke gas piston-operated AR-15. The benefit of piston-driven over direct impingement is there is no carbon fouling working back into the action of the gun, so it has less wear on internal components and requires less cleaning. The MR-A4 has an adjustable gas regulator, so if you mount a suppressor to the rifle, you can change how much gas you need to ensure the gun cycles. This rifle comes with fully ambidextrous controls.

MSRP: $3,999.00 (HK-USA.com)

Bilson Arms BA-15FC

This AR-15 definitely takes the award for the most unique design. The “FC” stands for forwarding charging, making this AR similar to a “pump-action” shotgun. The benefit of the forward charging AR is to clear malfunctions more quickly than having to drop the magazine out of the gun and pull the charging handle a few times to clear malfunctions in traditional ARs. You can stay aimed at your target while pushing forward and be ready to re-engage. It comes in 5.56 NATO, 300 BLK, 350 Legend, and 450 Bushmaster, each with a 16-inch barrel. Every part is made in the USA; you can choose your cerakote color and trigger.

MSRP: Starts at $1,750. (BilsonArms.com)

Two Grunts Inc. SHTF-15 Rifles

Two Grunts Inc. recently launched three lines of SHTF-15 Rifles (yes, for when SHTF). They have the Standard, Duty Optimized, and Suppressor Optimized rifles. The difference between the Duty and Suppressor models is an adjustable gas block and more customization for the Suppressor. All the rifles feature a .223 Wylde 14.5-inch nitride 1:8 twist-rate barrel with a mid-length gas system. Here are the builds:

Standard:

Midwest Industries M-LOK Combat Handguard 14-inches
HB1, 4.0 oz Buffer
Premium Complete Bolt Carrier Group
ALG Defense Quality Mil-Spec (QMS)
TGI MP 15-Degree Grip with Aggressive Stippling
B5 Systems Bravo Stock
Standard Mil-Spec Safety Selector
P&W A2 Birdcage
Mil-Spec Charging Handle

Duty Optimized

Midwest Industries Night Fighter M-LOK Handguard 13.5-inches
Choice of HB1, 4.0 oz or HB2, 4.5 oz. Buffer
Premium Sand-Cut Bolt Carrier Group
ALG Defense Advanced Combat Trigger (ACT)
Choice of TGI MP or TGI Grunt Grip (A2 Variant) 15-Degree Grip with Aggressive Stippling
Choice of B5 Systems Bravo or Magpul MOE SL Stock
SHTF45/90 Short/Full Throw Ambidextrous Safety Selector
Choice of P&W Muzzle Device
SHTF Ambidextrous Gas Buster Charging Handle

Suppressor Optimized

Midwest Industries Night Fighter M-LOK Handguard 13.5-inches
Choice of HB2, 4.5 oz, HB3, 5.5 oz, or HB4, 6.5 oz Buffer
Adjustable Gas Block
Choice of Premium Sand-Cut Bolt Carrier Group or Premium Complete Bolt Carrier Group
Choice of ALG Defense Advanced Combat Trigger (ACT) or ALG Defense Quality Mil-Spec (QMS)
Choice of TGI MP or TGI Grunt Grip (A2 Variant) 15-Degree Grip with Aggressive Stippling
Choice of B5 Systems Bravo or Magpul MOE SL Stock
SHTF45/90 Short/Full Throw Ambidextrous Safety Selector
Choice of P&W Muzzle Device
SHTF Ambidextrous Gas Buster Charging Handle

S&W M&P SBR 13623

Smith&Wesson has three new SBRs that are available to the public, which were previously available to law enforcement. Each comes with different parts but priced similarly. This SBR has an 11.5-inch barrel chambered in 5.56 NATO and a 10.5-inch MLOK handguard. It comes with the B5 grip and SOPMOD stock, folding iron sights, a flat face trigger, an ambidextrous Radian Raptor-LT charging handle, and an ambidextrous safety selector. Two Magpul QD sling attachments and two MLOK rail sections are included.

MSRP: $1,295. (Smith-Wesson.com)

S&W M&P SBR 556 13493

This SBR has an 11.5-inch barrel chambered in 5.56 NATO and a 9-inch MLOK handguard. S&W includes the folding sights, a flat face trigger, the Troy ambidextrous charging handle, and an ambidextrous safety selector. Just about everything else is Magpul:

MOE polymer grip
ASAP QD ambidextrous sling attachment point QD
M-LOK QD sling mount
MBUS® dual-aperture ﬂip-up adjustable rear sight and MBUS ﬂip-up front sight
2-inch M-LOK rail and QD Sling swivel included

MSRP: $1,279.00. (Smith-Wesson.com)

S&W M&P SBR 13622 – BCM Gunfighter Forend

This S&W SBR also features an 11.5-inch barrel chambered in 5.56 NATO, but with a BCM Gunfighter forend with MLOK. It has a rear folding sight and an A2 post front sight to differentiate it even more. This SBR still has a flat-face trigger, an ambidextrous safety selector, two Magpul QD sling attachments, and two MLOK rail sections. The hardware included on this gun is the B5 Systems SOPMOD stock and pistol grip.

MSRP: $1,279. (Smith-Wesson.com)

B&T 11.5-inch Enhanced SBR

B&T showed up to SHOT Show this year with some unique offerings. The first is their enhanced SBR with an 11.5-inch barrel chambered in 5.56 NATO. The 10.5-inch handguard is a B&T 3D printed titanium design to really cut down on the gun’s overall weight. The SBR has a Super Dynamic Combat trigger with a flat-shoe design. The pistol grip is B&T-designed and is comfortable to grip.

MSRP is unknown. (BT-USA.com)

B&T15 16-inch Enhanced Carbine

The new full-size rifle has a 16-inch barrel chambered in 5.56 NATO. The 13.5-inch handguard also features the new B&T 3D-printed titanium design. The new B&T-produced grip and the Super Dynamic Combat trigger with a flat-shoe design also come on this rifle.

MSRP is unknown. (BT-USA.com)

Sentis AMR

Sentis introduced a 3D-printed single-piece receiver rifle, which means fewer parts to maintain. This patented design simplifies the AR platform, reduces wear on components, and removes fitment issues of traditional upper and lower receiver compatibility.

MSRP is unknown. (sentis.io)

AKB-23

I don’t know whether this qualifies perfectly as an AR, but the new AKB-23 is compatible with the BRN180 upper from Brownells and other piston-operated AR-type uppers. The AKB-23 is a bufferless bullpup lower that fits STANAG standard magazines. It uses a Mil-Spec single-stage trigger, a Magpul SL-K buttpad, and an A2 pistol grip. It also has QD sockets on the front and rear of the gun.

MSRP: $850. (aandk.llc)

Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 Bolt Action Rifles

Bear Creek Arsenal’s new BC-15 bolt action style ARs are available in. .223 Wylde, 7.62×39, 5.56 NATO, 6.5 Grendel, 6mm ARC, 350 Legend, and .450 Legend. The upper fits any Mil-Spec AR-15 lower, so you can switch from a semi-auto upper to the Bear Creek Arsenal bolt-action upper in seconds. The right-side charger has a traditional bolt action knob to work the action.

MSRP: Starting at $529.98. (BearCreekArsenal.com)

Diamondback Firearms DB-15 with Knight’s Armament Cold Hammer Forged Barrel Blank

This Knight’s Armament and Diamondback Firearms collaboration begins with Knight’s Armament providing their proprietary chambered, rifled, and chrome-lined cold hammer forged barrel blank. Diamondback Firearms then finishes the profiling of the barrel and performs the final assembly. The 15-inch MLOK Anti-Rotation V2 S-Rail has a full Picatinny rail. The grip, stock, and sights are all Magpul, and the trigger is Mil-Spec.

MSRP: $1,547.00. (DiamondBackFirerams.com)

Faxon Firearms 338 ARC Rifles

Faxon Firearms hasn’t released photos or details on their new offerings of 338 ARC rifles, but they are coming soon! If you’re familiar with Faxon Firearms, you know their barrels will be built to shoot sub-MOA no matter the length. The barrels will come in 12.5, 14.5, 16 inches.

MSRP looks to start at $1,250. (FaxonFirearms.com)

Geissele Automatics GFW

Geissele Automatics’ new firearm is the GFW, an AR-style rifle with a unique dual-telescoping stock and a shorter barrel. It is available in 5.56 and 300 BLK. The GFW is outfitted with an 8-inch barrel, a reduced-length buffer, and a bolt system. The stock collapses in two stages to make it a super-small rifle.

MSRP: Starts at $2,800. (Geissele.com)

SIONICS Unnamed Rifle

SONICS has released a new rifle that, at the moment, is “unnamed.” The gun will have options for barrel lengths and, in turn, handguard lengths. The new ARCA pattern handguard will have a titanium barrel nut and be patterned in MLOK. One of the highlights of the rifle is the A5 system with reciprocated buffer and mid-length gas system. The second highlight is the NP3 bolt carrier group, which isn’t a finish, isn’t a coating, but is an impregnated part that is easy to clean and wipe carbon off without doing any extensive buffing or scraping. The rifle will have an enhanced mil-spec trigger with the same NP3 “coating” and SIONICS’ new muzzle brake/flash hider. This muzzle device will also be compatible with their new suppressor. Finally, they’ve partnered with Savior Equipment to create a branded bag with the rifle.

MSRP: $1569.95. (sionicsweaponsystems.com)

JP Enterprises Precision Rimfire AR

JP Enterprises announced a new semi-automatic rimfire rifle built off the AR-15 platform. It will be compatible with Smith&Wesson magazines that hold 10 or 25 rounds. It will be MOA capable, and it has been tested with ELEY Precision Benchrest ammunition shooting MOA groups. Finally, it will have an ARCA rail design, so this rifle can head straight to an NRL22 competition and compete.

MSRP is unknown. (JPRifles.com)