If you’re planning to buy a firearm, there’s quite a lot to choose from for the best handguns in the market. What matters is how you’re gonna use the weapon, whether it’s for protection at home, a concealed carry gun, or just something to use at the shooting range. It’s not easy to find the perfect gun but you can look into the right features that incorporate reliability, safety, and the caliber that suits your preference. Like I’d go for a powerful weapon but I also wanna be comfortable with the grip and should easily put the gun to safety when not in use. Choosing the right handgun is not as easy as deciding what clothes to wear for the day.
Best Handguns For Gun Aficionados
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1. Springfield XDM
The Springfield XD is a neat handgun with a polymer frame and steel slide. It has a grip safety so the gun will not fire unless you get a proper grip on it. This handgun has a length of 8 inches and weighs 32 oz.
2. Beretta M9
Beretta M9 is the standard issue of the military sidearm and perhaps the most tested. It’s a semi-automatic handgun with a 4.9-inch barrel length. Also, it can be fired double or single action mode with a 15-round magazine.
3. Glock 17 Gen 4 9mm
The Glock 17 Gen 4 comes with 17 rounds standard capacity mags. This pistol measures 8 inches in overall length, 5 1/2 inches in height, and weighs 25 oz. unloaded. The Glock is one of the most bestselling handguns in America.
4. SIG Sauer P229 Elite
The SIG P229 Elite is made of all solid stainless steel. What makes it different from other SIG handguns is the frame and the slide are also made of stainless steel.
5. Walther PPQ
The Walther PPQ has one of the best striker-fired triggers in 9mm pistols. It’s designed with a polymer grip with a texture that makes it nice to hold and weighs about 20.8 oz.
6. Ruger SR9C
The Ruger SR9C is a concealable handgun that comes with the option to use a full-size 17-round magazine with an extended grip. This is suitable if you have large hands and want more firepower.
7. Kahr CM9
This concealable firearm is very reliable and accurate. The grip has texturing in the rear and the front to give you that nice firm feel of the gun. The Kahr CM9 is so light it only weighs 19 oz. fully loaded.
8. Taurus Tracker 627
The Taurus Tracker 627 has a manageable recoil for a full power 357 magnum. It’s a double action revolver and utilizes a hammer transfer bar safety. Talk about power, rugged and reliable, this is the handgun for you.
9. Springfield Range Officer
Out of the box, the Springfield Range Officer comes with two six-round stainless steel magazines. The 3 1/2 bull barrel is also made of stainless steel and one of the best quality handguns for concealed carry.
10. Ruger SP101
The Ruger SP101 has a very smooth and easy to use trigger. It’s made of stainless steel and a unique rubberized grip for a great shooting control. This handgun is one of the best revolvers in the market today.
11. Beretta Nano
This thing fits right in the palm of your hand and shoots really well for a pocket gun. It has an overall length of 5.63 inches and weighs 18 oz. The Beretta Nano has quite an attitude for a small handgun.
12. Smith & Wesson Model 642
The Smith & Wesson Model 642 is the ultimate concealed handgun. It’s a five-shot J frame revolver with a uniquely concealed hammer. A very interesting pistol for gun enthusiasts.
13. CZ-P01
This is a full-size forge alloy frame pistol from CZ with a 15-round magazine capacity. The P01 features an ambidextrous safety which also uncocks the pistol. The grips of this handgun have very nice texture and panels.
14. Smith & Wesson 625 JM
The 625 JM from Smith & Wesson’s Champion series is a large N-framed revolver. This gun has an overall length of 9.38 inches and weight of 40.3 oz. It’s a full stainless steel revolver with a six-round capacity of .45 ACP.
15. Baby Browning
No mouse gun collection is complete without the Baby Browning, an iconic piece that’s been around since the 1930’s. It comes with a six-round little steel magazine which is only 4 inches in overall length and weighs only 8.7 oz.
16. FNS
This pistol is also available in a smaller version specifically for concealed carry. FNS has pretty good traction on its grip with a magazine also available in 17 rounds. One of its cool features is the manual safety lever, slide stop lever, and magazine release buttons are all ambidextrous.
17. Kimber Micro Carry
Kimber Micro Carry is one of the best handguns for concealed carry. This handgun from Kimber weighs only 14 oz and has a magazine capacity of six to seven shots.
18. Rock Island 1911 Compact
The Rock Island 1911 Compact has a 3 1/2 inch barrel and a seven-round magazine capacity. This small handgun is made by ARMSCOR, a Filipino company.
19. Baby Desert Eagle II
The Baby Desert Eagle II is made by Israel Weapon Industries and is available in three calibers – 9mm, .40, .45ACP. IWI is known for manufacturing top quality guns. This Baby Eagle, which has excellent firepower, is one such example.
20. EAA Witness Elite Match
The EAA Witness Elite Match has a barrel length of 4.75 inches. This gun has adjustable rear sights, synthetic grips, and 33 oz. The magazine capacity is 10+1 rounds.
21. CZ 75 SP-01
The CZ 75 was not widely available in the United States until 1993. The quality steel frame of this gun makes it a bit heavy at 37.5 oz unloaded. It’s available in both 17 and 19 rounds of 9mm magazines.
22. Kimber Pro Carry II
The Kimber Pro Carry II weighs only 28 oz and has a barrel length of 4 inches. It features a synthetic rubber that feels really good in your hands. A lot of gun enthusiasts say that this gun is very accurate.
23. FNS Compact
The FNS compact has a completely ambidextrous slide stop and magazine release. It comes with two sets of back straps – the flat and the curved. The barrel of this gun is 3.6 inches in length. This handgun is available in 9mm and .40 caliber.
24. Ruger GP-100
The Ruger GP100 has a reputation for being tough as nails, which is well deserved. It can handle any factory-loaded .357 magnum ammunition on the market.
25. Rossi R462
This gun has a five-round cylinder and a full-size grip that feels really good in your hand. The Rossi R462 is included in Taurus unlimited lifetime repair so you can send it in if you need one.
26. FN FNX
The FNX series are hammer operated guns that have stainless steel slides and barrels. Out of the box, the FN FNX comes with three 17-round magazines and weighs only 21.9 oz. unloaded.
27. Taurus PT 92
The Taurus PT 92 is manufactured almost exactly like the Beretta 92. This pistol is very accurate so you can use it as a range gun or for home defense. It’s too big though for concealed carry.
28. Smith & Wesson Model 940
Smith & Wesson Model 940 is the ultimate concealed gun. It’s very lightweight weighing only 15 oz unloaded with an aluminum alloy frame. This revolver works double action only.
29. Colt Lightweight Commander
The Colt Lightweight Commander has front and rear Novak sights. This gun is engineered to have dual recoil spring for much less felt recoil. It’s a great entry level gun for new shooters.
30. Browning High Power
The Browning High Power is very well designed from a field maintenance point of view. This handgun has a superb reputation before and after the war.
31. Colt Diamondback
The Colt Diamond is part of the snake gun series and inspired by the Colt Python. This cool handgun is a collector’s item and is believed to be what John Wayne carried in one of his movies.
32. Smith & Wesson M28
This Smith & Wesson model has beautiful wood grips in Rosewood-type finish. It’s kind of a baby brother to the Dirty Harry .44 magnum version. Gun enthusiasts just love classic style revolvers like this one.
33. Colt Agent
The Colt Agent is a lightweight aluminum-framed handgun. It doesn’t have a shrouded ejector rod and simply hangs out underneath the barrel. This firearm is also suitable for concealed carry.
34. Springfield Armory XD9
The standard magazine capacity of the Springfield Armory XD9 is 16+1. This gun has a loaded chamber indicator which I think is very cool. Other features include a Glock-style trigger safety and a 1911-style grip safety.
35. Smith & Wesson Pro
This gun has a high visibility front sight post. It’s got a nice Apex trigger and interchangeable back straps which come in different sizes. The whole system of this gun is very rigid that is good for accuracy.
36. Heckler & Koch P30
The HK P30 incorporates removable back strap and side panel and fully ambidextrous control. Test samples of this gun have gone over 90,000 rounds without major part damage and replacement. HK is also a popular choice for law enforcers worldwide.
Watch this video by Tactiholics of the SIG Sauer P229 Elite handgun:
Obviously, the world of handguns has so much to offer from 9mm pistols to revolvers, all with loads of firepower. There’s no running out of weapon choices these days with all these quality firearms. But always remember to be responsible gun owners. Bear in mind that a single thoughtless action can change your life forever.
Do any of these sidearms fit your idea of a perfect handgun? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Up Next: The Best Handguns For Home Defense
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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published in January 2017 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
Feature Image Via – americanrifleman
