At SHOT 2025 Arken Optics won the award for most innovative rifle with their Outlier Backdraft bolt-action rifle. Less well known was their new Atlas AR9 which they allowed guests to test at an indoor shooting range near their booth.
After I got a chance to shoot the integrally suppressed AR9, my wife and Audio Assistant (callsign “Vendetta”) wanted to try it. She is experienced at shooting revolvers, pistols, and our 10/22 but is a novice AR shooter. She was a bit cautious in handling the Atlas. To her credit, her inability to use the red dot was not her fault. The previous shooters in the booth had set the reflex to nearly its lowest brightness setting.
Anybody who mocks her skills should be cautious. What isn’t visible in the video is that her shots landed all in the X ring. And her callsign “Vendetta” is very descriptive.
