It is no secret that braced pistols, personal defense weapons, and shorter, more manageable firearms are enjoying a resurgence. In that space there is always a strange overlap between what people call a truck gun, a kit gun, a pack gun or the technical term PDW (personal defense weapon). These terms get used frequently, sometimes loosely, and often without a clear picture of what the firearm is actually meant to do. In many cases, it takes handling and shooting the gun to understand exactly where it fits.
I set out to put together what I believe is an ideal kit gun, and the result is the Dark Mountain Stowaway pistol. It is compact, intentionally simple, and purpose-driven. It is not trying to be a replacement for a fighting rifle or a high-capacity defensive platform. Instead, it fills a niche that has existed for a long time, one that values portability, utility, and deliberate shooting over volume of fire.
The Concept
Dark Mountain Arms is a newer American manufacturer that has carved out a niche by focusing on ultra-compact, packable firearms designed around portability and simplicity rather than raw firepower. Their flagship Stowaway series reflects this philosophy clearly. The Stowaway is a lightweight, single-shot, bolt-action platform built around a quick-detach barrel and takedown system that allows the firearm to break down into an exceptionally small footprint for transport in a pack or vehicle.
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Offered in both rifle and pistol configurations, the Stowaway emphasizes modularity, suppressor compatibility, and minimalist design. It appeals to outdoorsmen, preparedness-minded shooters, and anyone looking for a compact utility gun rather than a traditional defensive rifle. The braced pistol configuration takes that idea a step further by maximizing control while maintaining a very small and manageable package.
Dark Mountain Braced Pistols Today
Any discussion of a braced pistol inevitably raises questions about legality. The regulatory landscape looks very different today than it did in 2023. After the ATF attempted to reclassify many braced pistols as short-barreled rifles under the National Firearms Act, multiple federal court rulings determined that the rule represented an overreach of agency authority. As of now, the pistol brace rule has been vacated and is not enforceable at the federal level, meaning pistols equipped with stabilizing braces are not automatically considered SBRs under federal law.
That said, this remains a politically and legally fluid space. Shooters must still account for state-level restrictions and remain attentive to future changes. Within that framework, the Stowaway’s design offers a practical advantage. Its single-shot, bolt-action configuration avoids many of the features that draw legislative scrutiny, making it easier to navigate compliance across restrictive jurisdictions.
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Single-Shot Weight
At first glance, a single-shot pistol may seem counterintuitive in a world obsessed with capacity. In practice, it brings real advantages. Size and weight are the most obvious. The braced Stowaway as configured here weighs just three pounds with an optic mounted. I carry revolvers and 1911s that weigh more than that on my hip.
That low weight changes how the gun can be used. I can hand this to my six-year-old and teach him how to shoot without worrying about fatigue after a few rounds. In 9mm, recoil is negligible in this configuration. In 5.7, it is even more manageable. At the same time, experienced shooters will immediately understand the appeal. This is a gun for people who already know how to shoot well, who understand that sometimes one well-placed shot is all that is required.
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The single-shot design also reinforces discipline. There is no rushing follow-up shots, no temptation to spray rounds. Every shot is deliberate. That philosophy aligns well with the Stowaway’s intended role as a utility and teaching tool rather than a defensive substitute.
Caliber & Performance Envelope
The Stowaway is currently offered in 9mm and 5.7, with Dark Mountain actively exploring additional chamberings. These two cartridges were well chosen. Both offer wide performance envelopes, and barrel length plays a significant role in how they behave.
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From a short bore, 9mm remains predictable and effective, while 5.7 shines with its flat trajectory and ease of shooting. Neither cartridge feels out of place in this platform. The balance between them allows shooters to choose familiarity and availability with 9mm or lean into the unique performance characteristics of 5.7.
Range Time
On the range, I engaged eight-inch Caldwell steel plates from close and fast distances at 50 feet out to more deliberate shots at 125 and 200 yards. For an optic, I chose the Atibal Solar 1x prism. It is an excellent match for this setup, offering a solar-powered etched reticle with adjustable focus and ample brightness settings. The fact that the reticle is etched means it remains visible even without power, which suits the Stowaway’s minimalist philosophy.
Zeroing was straightforward. The 5.7 required only a few small adjustments, while the 9mm needed a minor elevation correction that I addressed with a simple holdover. Both calibers proved accurate, but it is hard not to appreciate how effortless the 5.7 feels. With that cartridge, the Stowaway behaves like a laser beam. Place the reticle, press the trigger, and the steel rings.
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Suppressors & Modularity
Both barrels are threaded in 1/2×28, making suppressor mounting simple and straightforward. Suppressor compatibility is a core feature of this platform, not an afterthought. Combined with the bolt-action design, suppressed use is exceptionally quiet, free from action noise and gas blowback.
Barrel swaps are equally simple. Unscrew the locking collar, remove the barrel, open the action, and press the button on top to slide out the bolt. Changing calibers requires swapping both the barrel and the bolt, a process that takes only moments once familiar.
Action, Trigger & Handling
Cycling the action is more enjoyable than expected. With the bolt open, a cartridge is simply dropped into place. Closing the bolt feeds it into the chamber. When ready, cock the bolt and take the shot. The process feels deliberate and mechanical in a satisfying way also a little nostalgic from the single-shot .22’s of our youth.
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The trigger is long and somewhat squishy, which is best understood as a characteristic of the design rather than a flaw. Despite that feel, accuracy did not suffer. Even at 200 yards, I was able to make consistent hits on eight-inch steel with the five-inch barrel. The trigger breaks at three pounds six ounces, so while the travel is noticeable, the weight itself is reasonable.
Brace Setup
I paired the Stowaway with the Strike Industries Dual Folder brace. It is an intuitive design that seems purpose-built for a gun meant to be packed away. A press of the button allows the brace to fold, and a firm motion snaps it back into place. The system feels solid and free of the flex or awkwardness that can plague folding designs.
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The rear of the brace is polymer, while the shaft and hinge system are machined from 6061-T6 aluminum. With strap loops and a QD sling cup, it offers flexibility for a variety of setups. Strike Industries also offers a wide range of accessories including risers and struts, though I found the brace worked well on the Stowaway straight out of the box.
Short Barrel Ballistics
Bullet performance from a five-inch barrel was exactly what I expected. All data was recorded using a Garmin Xero chronograph.
• 9mm Blazer Brass 115gr FMJ: 1128.9 fps / 325.35 ft-lbs
• 9mm Lehigh Defense 90gr XD: 1333.0 fps / 355.02 ft-lbs
• 5.7 Hornady FTX 40gr: 1864.8 fps / 308.80 ft-lbs
• 5.7 Hornady VMAX 40gr: 1866.5 fps / 309.36 ft-lbs
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These numbers reinforce what the Stowaway is meant to be. It is not chasing maximum velocity. It is delivering consistent, usable performance from a very compact platform.
Final Shots
I genuinely like the Dark Mountain Stowaway. It will absolutely be coming with me on my next winter camping trip. Plinking in the woods feels like exactly what this gun was built for, and it excels in that role.
There is plenty of room for growth in the platform. Additional pistol calibers would be welcome, and even something like a 300 Blackout variant could be interesting. For the shorter pistolcalibers, I would love to see a fixed three-round magazine. It would add a small amount of capacity without fundamentally changing the character of the gun. Given the existing chamber geometry and feed path, it feels achievable.
At an MSRP of $409, the Stowaway is easy to understand. It is approachable, thoughtfully designed, and fills a niche that many shooters did not realize they were missing. I am not the first to review it, and I will not be the last, but it is exciting to see what Dark Mountain Arms has planned next.
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