Yesterday was the final day of the SHOT Show 2016, closing what is the biggest small arms event in the world where gun enthusiasts, hunters, practical shooters, and airsoft players around the world converged in Las Vegas to see the latest in the small arms development.

As for us, we were on the lookout for stuff that we want to see made for the airsoft market as based on what bloggers, vloggers, airsoft and tactical news media reported. Nothing really ground breaking this year except that KeyMod is now the dominant handguard design for rifles, and many manufacturers, real steel and airsoft alike, are designing sleek and lightweight guns that use the KeyMod open source design.

In terms of airsoft gun technology development, nothing ground breaking has been announced. But what we will consider notable at the SHOT Show 2016 are the following:

1. KWA has finally released an AK ERG
2. ICS Airsoft is now making airsoft pistols (blowback and  non-blowback)
3. KRYTAC is making good on its promise of a KRISS Vector AEG that has a full, semi, and two-round burst fire modes as it unveiled a prototype at the show

As for something from the real steel world that we are interested in being made into an airsoft gun, we found another one --- the New Frontier Armory EXTAR EXP-9. New Frontier Armory are known for the lightest 5.56 AR pistols in the world the EXTAR EXP-556. The EXP-9 still follows the design philosophy of the EXP-556 but this time it uses the 9mm round. For airsofters looking for an AR-style rifle that uses a 9mm-style magazine, then they will just have to wish an airsoft manufacturer picks-up a license from New Frontier Armory.

The Gun Collective gives us a quick look of the EXTAR EXP-9 in this video:

Stampede Airsoft, together with Merlin’s Airsoft News are at the SHOT Show 2016 as well and here is their report of their visit to  G&G Armament, Jag Precision, ASG, Wolverine Airsoft and Merlin’s Day 1 report:

Still more videos from Airsoftology as Jonathan Higgs reports about the releases from Palco Sports, RWA, and Valken:

Larry Vickers of Vickers Tactical got some interesting stuff to also report from the show, visitng Raven Concealment, Colt, and Blue Force Gear to find out what they have on display:

Those wrap up the SHOT Show 2016, but expect a stream of news and video reports in the next few days as we are expecting more. And they will be posted in the news section.

The next big event similar to SHOT Show 2016 will be the IWA Outdoor Classics 2016 in Nuremberg, Germany in March. Popular Airsoft will there so expect first hand reports from us. See you there!