Both DPMS and H&R have been on a retro kick, and the guns they had on display at SHOT Show 2026 should get any fan of the classics excited. Here are some highlights.
DPMS “Kitty Kat”
The shorty “Kitty Kat” from DPMS is one of the most eye-catching ARs on the market. Introduced in 2025, these compact guns come in both AR pistol and short-barreled rifle options. With the $0 NFA tax now in effect, those SBRs deserve a second look for the true AR aficionados out there.
While these guns offer modern build materials and features, it’s the retro looks that have us most excited. In a world awash with AR-15s, the “Kitty Kats” are in a dreamland of their own.
They come in various calibers, ranging from 5.56mm NATO and 9mm to .300 Blackout.
H&R T48 FAL
H&R’s intriguing T48 FAL-type rifle was introduced last year, but consumers are still waiting to get their hands on it in gun stores. The company plans to get these guns out to the market later this year.
The FAL has a dedicated fan base, and it once competed with the M14 to become the U.S. military’s new battle rifle.
H&R Lever-Action Rifles
These new lever-action rifles from H&R are just the beginning. H&R is all about bringing back old-school cool, and these levers will eventually lead to more classics, such as a revival of the Handi-Rifle.
What’s Next?
Classics, classics, classics – that’s what H&R excels at, and the company has many more retro pewpews in the pipeline. That apparently includes some “top secret” clones that H&R is working on right now.
The company’s goal is to redefine the retro market, and we’re all about that. We’ll have more on whatever comes next from the king of classics when it is available.
