LAS VEGAS, NV — Rideout Arsenal made a major impact at Industry Day at the Range during SHOT Show 2026 with the Dragon, a radically reimagined competition pistol. My video of the Dragon in action has since gone viral, racking up over 7.5 million views on Facebook alone, sparking massive interest in this innovative new platform. Designed entirely from the ground up, the Dragon is engineered to deliver what Rideout Arsenal calls the fastest follow-up shots on the market by attacking the biggest limiter in handgun speed: recoil-induced muzzle rise.
At the core of the Dragon’s performance is its industry-leading ultra-low bore axis, which places the barrel inline with the web of the shooter’s hand. Traditional handguns position the bore well above the grip, creating rotational torque during recoil. By aligning the bore directly with the grip, the Dragon dramatically reduces muzzle rise, allowing shooters to stay on target and reacquire their sight picture faster without ports or compensators.
The Dragon also departs from conventional handgun design with a patent-pending lever delayed blowback operating system. Instead of a traditional slide, the pistol uses a bolt and bolt carrier connected by a forward-mounted lever. This system delays rearward movement, allowing chamber pressure to safely drop before cycling while producing a smooth, gradual recoil impulse rather than a sharp snap. The result is a flat-shooting, highly controllable pistol that runs clean since it is entirely gas-less.
A fixed 5-inch bull barrel further contributes to inherent accuracy and enables the extremely low bore axis. The Dragon is chambered in 9x19mm, feeds from factory Springfield Echelon magazines in 17- or 20-round capacities, and weighs approximately 33.9 ounces. The trigger is rated at under 3 pounds, reinforcing the pistol’s competition focus.
Modularity is another defining feature. The Dragon is built around a self-contained Fire Control Group, which is the serialized component, while the grip module, backstrap, mag funnel, and nose can all be swapped tool-lessly. The quick-detach tri-lug nose allows rapid changes for accessories such as compensators, suppressors, or tunable weight modules. Ambidextrous controls and integrated thumb rests on both sides of the 7075-T651 aluminum chassis ensure consistent handling for right- or left-handed shooters.
The optics system is equally unconventional. The Dragon uses a Non-Reciprocating Optics Carrier (N-ROC), a patent-pending design that keeps the optic fixed to the chassis while the bolt cycles. This provides a stable sight picture while still allowing the optic to be used to charge the pistol. The system uses an RMR footprint and includes co-witnessed fiber optic backup sights, with a front sight mounted to the fixed barrel nose and an adjustable rear sight mounted behind the optic.
Rideout Arsenal has announced that all 100 First Edition Dragons are sold, and ordering for production models is now open, with extensive configuration available through their 3D configurator. Production Dragons will be offered in multiple color combinations with expanding modular accessories throughout 2026.
The Dragon is a clear example of American firearms innovation pushing performance forward. While designed for competition, advancements in recoil management, ergonomics, and modularity often shape the future of handgun design as a whole. Rideout Arsenal’s willingness to challenge traditional layouts reinforces the strength of a free market that rewards innovation and user-driven performance.
