Shot Show 2026 The latest and Greatest from OA Defense

OA Defense at SHOT Show 2026: what stood out from the 2026 OA 2311 lineup

SHOT Show 2026 in Las Vegas (Jan 20–23 at the Venetian Expo + Caesars Forum) was the usual sensory overload: bright lights, big claims, and enough “next-level” buzzwords to power the whole convention center. So I kept it simple — ignore the sales pitch, look for smart design, and focus on what actually matters once the show-floor glow wears off.

OA Defense was a booth I wanted to hit because their 2311 platform isn’t trying to be “just another double-stack 1911.” They’re clearly positioning it as a modernized system built for hard use, with practical choices that reduce cost-of-ownership and increase compatibility. (OA Defense)

Quick show-floor context

OA Defense was at booth 70143. (GoExpo)

The big theme: one platform, multiple roles

What OA Defense pushed at SHOT wasn’t a random assortment of SKUs. It was a clean ladder of models designed to cover common use-cases:

• Full-size options for duty/range/competition overlap
• Compact options built around everyday carry realities
• “Elite” versions for people who want the top-end configuration without immediately going aftermarket (Action Gunner)

And SHOT 2026 was a big moment for the lineup because coverage from the floor highlighted a new model aimed at filling the “carry-sized, but Elite-spec” gap: the OA 2311 Compact Pro Elite. (Action Gunner)

What I focused on at the booth

I’m not here to read you a spec sheet like it’s bedtime stories. On the show floor I’m looking for:

• Fit and finish: consistency in machining and whether the gun feels intentional or “assembled with hope”
• Ergonomics and control: how it sits, how it indexes, whether the controls make sense under stress
• Practicality: optic readiness, co-witness solutions, and magazine compatibility that doesn’t punish your wallet
• Lineup logic: does the product family make sense, or is it just more SKUs for the sake of SKUs?

The “why this matters” details

OA Defense keeps hammering two practical advantages that jumped out at SHOT:

1) P320-pattern magazine compatibility
OA is building around P320-pattern magazines specifically to keep magazines “readily available” and lower cost-of-ownership — and that’s a smart play in a world where some platforms turn magazines into a monthly subscription. (OA Defense)

2) Optics setup designed to keep a rear sight in play
OA’s 2311 info emphasizes that their pistols ship with multiple co-witnessing slide plates so you can run common red dots without giving up a rear sight. That’s the kind of “adult supervision” design choice I like seeing. (OA Defense)

The 2026 lineup snapshot

From OA’s own storefront/categories, the lineup you’ll see across the 2311 family includes:

• OA 2311 (base/full-size)
• OA 2311 Compact
• OA 2311 Pro
• OA 2311 Compact Pro
• OA 2311 Pro Elite
• (And SHOT 2026 coverage adds) OA 2311 Compact Pro Elite (OA Defense)

Pricing reality check (aka: bring Scooby Snacks)

OA’s current product category pricing (as listed online) shows the platform spanning roughly the high-$1,800s up into the low-$3,000s depending on model/configuration. Translation: not “budget,” but they’re clearly trying to deliver a premium-ish, hard-use package without drifting into full custom pricing. (OA Defense)

No “how-to,” no hype — just a show-floor overview

Quick housekeeping: this is a SHOT Show overview. Everything here is observational and educational. I’m not providing instructions on building, modifying, or manufacturing anything. If you handle firearms, follow all safety rules and manufacturer guidance — always.

What’s next

SHOT Show is step one. The real story is always range time: reliability, recoil behavior, accuracy consistency, and how the gun runs when you’re not posing it for a camera.

So here’s what I’m doing next:

• Tracking which OA Defense models actually hit steady availability post-SHOT
• Prioritizing hands-on range time with the newer compact/Elite variants if I can get them in for a proper evaluation

If you want me to prioritize a specific OA Defense model for a deeper dive, tell me which one. “Because it looks cool” is still a valid answer. We’re allowed to enjoy things.

Follow / contact

YouTube: @RazorMP_Official
X: @RazorMP_actual
Instagram: @razor.mp