At SHOT Show 2025 Range Day, I was surprised to shoot the Biofire home-defense smart pistol. So-called smart pistols have been in development for a long time, but they were always adaptations of existing handguns with things attached.
This completely original 9mm pistol integrates cutting-edge biometric and facial recognition technology, designed to prevent unauthorized users from firing the weapon. Let’s dive into what sets this futuristic firearm apart.
High-Tech Security Features
The Biofire smart gun incorporates fingerprint and facial recognition sensors, ensuring that only authorized users can operate it. It has seven different sensors to know when you’ve got control of the gun.
The finger sensor near the trigger or the face sensor is required to activate the gun but once it is green the other sensors maintain awareness that you are in control. If you lose your grip it self-disables in less than 200 milliseconds and cannot be fired.
Setup is straightforward: using a USB connection, you link the gun to a digital module (included) to register your face and fingerprints. Multiple users can be added, making the system flexible for families or shared environments.
Once the gun is picked up, it senses movement and quickly scans for either a registered fingerprint or a face through its sensors. If it recognizes an authorized user, the system activates, and an indicator light turns from white to green to signal it’s ready to fire. The front sight is a green light that goes dark when it can’t be fired.
Design and Functionality
Despite its advanced technology, the Biofire smart gun retains familiar controls, including standard slide and magazine releases, and a limited short-action recoil system. It uses a steel 15-round magazine specifically designed by Mec-Gar for this firearm.
The grip sits at a comfortable 18°. The grip modules come in an array of colors with both left- and right-handed controls — no waiting for left-handed models.
The gun is striker-fired, but the trigger does not connect to the firing mechanism. It is fire-by-wire using a solid-state electronic fire control system.
Additionally, Biofire claims the gun is waterproof, and can function in temperatures from -40°C to plus 80°C (-40°F to 176°F). During testing, they fired more than one million rounds through the pistols. With a warranty covering 10,000 rounds, it’s clear durability was a key focus.
Performance Impressions
Shooting the Biofire smart gun was a unique experience. The gun felt larger and bulkier than a typical pistol, but its performance was smooth.
It’s got a similar weight to a 1911 with a flashlight. At 30 yards, it delivered consistent, soft-shooting accuracy. Although the trigger electronically controls the striker, it shoots like a regular striker-fired trigger.
The Biofire smart pistol is intended for home defense, so its size and bulk can be excused. It’s for leaving in the drawer by your bed or another convenient place.
Care should be taken with storing all firearms, and this one makes it even harder for an unintended user to shoot it. If close-quarters shooting becomes close-quarters fighting, at least you know your weapon can’t be used against you.
Battery and Docking Station
Its battery lasts a week under normal conditions, and it charges from the included digital display module. The module connects to the gun, but you still have to unlock its functions by allowing the gun to recognize you. The gun lacks any wifi or Bluetooth technology.
A Step Forward or a Slippery Slope?
Kai Koepfer, Biofire’s founder and CEO, began developing this gun when he was 16 years old. He says he was inspired by shootings near his home in Colorado. He secured venture capital in the tens of millions for this project. Now, these pistols are being made in Broomfield, CO.
The Biofire smart gun raises significant questions about technology and firearm use. For some, the added security features make it an attractive option, especially in households with children or shared living spaces.
However, critics may view the technology as a potential gateway to government overreach or hacking concerns.
The price for the pistol and dock is $1,500 and it is shipping now.
Final Thoughts
Biofire has undeniably created a conversation starter with their smart gun. It’s an ambitious blend of safety and technology, offering a glimpse at what the future of firearms could look like.
Is this the perfect solution for firearm safety, or does it come with too many risks? Share your thoughts, and let us know if you think the Biofire smart gun is a step in the right direction—or a step too far.
For more coverage on Biofire and other innovations from SHOT Show 2025, stay tuned!
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