What’s up Squat Squad, and welcome to Slav Guns. This one is a throwback to SHOT Show 2020, where I got hands-on with a pistol that honestly looks like it came from another planet: the Laugo Arms Alien in 9mm. It was brand new to the United States at the time, with Lancer Systems handling the import.
Quick note before we start: this is a first look from the show, not a range test and evaluation. I talked with the Laugo Arms rep, he walked me through the design, and I got a few shots on it. No groups, no chrono numbers, no long-term review here.
TL;DR
- Competition-focused 9mm with an ultra-low bore axis for a flat-shooting gun.
- Fixed barrel: the barrel is attached to the frame and doesn’t move.
- Gas-operated, working off the propellant gases, kind of like the HK P7.
- Takedown with a single pin attached to the frame.
- Only a trigger safety, because the firing pin is short and light.
- Swappable top section: iron sights or a red dot, changed in a few seconds.
- Imported to the US by Lancer Systems. Target audience: sport and IPSC shooters.
Why it looks so weird
The whole point of the Alien is getting your hand as close to the bore line as possible. The bore axis sits way lower than on a conventional pistol, and the barrel is fixed to the frame instead of tilting like a Browning-style design. Put those together and you get a gun that should track flat and come back on target fast, which is exactly what you want in competition.
It runs on gas, similar in concept to the HK P7, instead of a typical short-recoil action. The rep also showed me how it comes apart: a single pin attached to the frame, and that’s your takedown.
Safety and the firing pin
According to Laugo, the firing pin is short and light, so the only safety on the gun is the trigger safety. They didn’t see a need for any other safeties on it.
Irons or red dot, your choice
The top part with the rear sight comes off, so you can run open sights or swap to a red dot. It only takes a few seconds to switch back and forth.
I asked about something I’d seen online: when the gun first came out, some IPSC shooters complained that with the optic mounted to the frame (so it doesn’t move with the slide), it was almost cheating in the optics divisions. Laugo’s answer was to keep that original frame-mounted setup for the shooters who like it, and also build a new model they jokingly call the Retro. On the Retro the red dot moves with the slide, so it fits IPSC Production Optics rules without any problems. Basically, you pick: the better gun, or the gun that fits your division.
How it felt
I only got a few shots on it, but the trigger was excellent. The best way I can describe it: a CZ-type trigger with Glock ergonomics. And it shot just flat. Even from a short show-floor session, this was one of the most interesting pistols I handled.
Who it’s for
Laugo was clear that the Alien is aimed primarily at sport shooters and IPSC competitors right now. This isn’t trying to be your carry gun; it’s a purpose-built competition pistol.
Bottom line
The Laugo Arms Alien is about as different from a standard striker 9mm as you can get: fixed barrel, gas operation, ridiculously low bore axis, and a modular sight top. I’d love to get one out to the range for a full review, so let me know if you want to see that.
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Keep squatting.
Would you run a gas-operated, fixed-barrel competition pistol? Let me know.
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