Gun Digest's August 2026 Gear Picks: Chiappa, CZ, Ruger, Proof Research, Q and More

A revived original-pattern CZ 75 and a .44 Magnum single-action revolver with an optics rail head Gun Digest's list of seven new products for August 2026. For anyone shopping for a handgun, optic, barrel, suppressor or carry ammo, the list spans $25 to $2,000.

The short version

The roundup, first printed in the August 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine, leads with Chiappa's 1873 Black Thunder, a Single Action Army-style .44 Magnum with a 5.5- or 7.5-inch barrel, a Picatinny rail on top, fiber-optic sights and a Hogue grip. Primary Arms' PLx 1.5-12x36 compact first-focal-plane scope uses ED glass and lists at $2,000. Proof Research's PXT barrels use a twist rate that changes along the bore, which Proof says extends barrel life and improves consistency.

Q's Tall Boy is a 10.25-inch, 19-ounce steel .30-caliber can tuned for subsonic .300 Blackout and priced at $950. CZ's 75 Legend copies the first-generation pistol and omits the later firing pin block, which Gun Digest credits for a crisp DA/SA trigger at $1,400. Ruger added a $130 battery-free ReadyDot for the LCP MAX, and Federal added a 115-grain JHP to its Punch line, which Gun Digest pitches as a match for common 115-grain practice ammo.

Key points

• Chiappa pricing: The Black Thunder lists at $1,135 with the 5.5-inch barrel and $1,155 with the 7.5-inch barrel.
• Scope adjustments: The PLx offers parallax from 10 yards to infinity, 100 MOA of elevation and 50 MOA of windage.
• PXT barrels: Bolt-action blanks list at $1,200, while AR and pre-fit versions list at $1,350.
• Suppressor mounting: The Tall Boy uses a Cherry Bomb mount, is full-auto rated and carries no barrel-length restrictions.
• ReadyDot limits: The fiber-lit sight will not work in total darkness and does not fit LCP MAX pistols with a loaded chamber indicator.
• Federal Punch: The new load is advertised at 1,180 fps and sells for $25 per 20-round box.

Bottom line

The most expensive item on the list is the $2,000 Primary Arms scope, and the cheapest is a $25 box of Federal Punch. LCP MAX owners in particular should check for a loaded chamber indicator before ordering Ruger's ReadyDot.

Summary by Firearm Discounts. Read the full story at Gun Digest.