Find the perfect heater to add to your collection with our best pistol reviews, buyer's guides and videos from 2024.
Unless you’re cloistered in some far off monastery, you’ve probably caught wind about how hot the gun market has been. Record-breaking is an understatement, as Americans of all stripes have armed up over the past year and continue to do so. A mixture of global and domestic strife has proven a sobering tonic to the realities of the world. In particular, no one is coming to save you. Your personal safety is in your own hands.
Given this stark truth, it’s of little surprise handguns—semi-automatic pistols especially—have lead the way in gun sales. Which, if you’ve been shopping around for a new heater, has caused problems. Most of the year, they’ve been as scarce as well-watered lawns in Albuquerque. In turn, if you're girding the proverbial loin to join the firearms commerce fray, you’d better have a solid idea about the gun you’re going to shell out hard-earned money over. At present, there aren’t many second chances.
That said, we’re here to shed some light. We’ve gathered the best semi-auto pistol reviews, buyer's guides and videos from the past year to help you get a handle on what in the market. Be it a covert concealed carry piece, an overpowering home-defense option or an irresistible range toy, you’ll draw a bead on your next pistol.
Pistol Buyer's Guides
18 Top Picks For Concealed Carry Handguns
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 18 excellent concealed carry handgun options.
Best Concealed Carry Guns For Women
Thirty-two women rank seven subcompacts for the best choices in concealed carry handguns for women.
9 Best Single-Stack 9mm Pistol Options For Concealed Carry (2020)
The single-stack 9mm pistol has become among the top choice for personal defense. Here’s a look at some of the best offerings in the class.
6 Top Double-Stack 9mm Pistols For Concealed Carry (2020)
Double-stack 9mm pistols abound, find out the top options in this class of handgun for concealed carry.
6 Top Micro 9mm Handguns For Everyday Carry
These micro 9mm handguns are more than ready for everyday carry and backup-gun duty.
10 Top .45 Pistol Options For Any Budget
Looking for a .45 pistol? These 10 will get you on target.
A Perfect 10: Top 10mm Pistol Options (2020)
Since its introduction, the 10mm Auto has been putting magnum power into semi-auto pistols. In recent years, it's had a bit of a resurgence in popularity.
Top .380 Pistol Options For Deep Carry (2020)
With improvements in defensive ammunition, the .380 pistol has surged in popularity. What are the top picks in the small and concealable option?
Best 1911 Pistol Options For Concealed Carry (2020)
More than ever before the 1911 pistol is configured for concealed carry. Find the top models to protect your six.
Power On The Cheap: Best Affordable 10mm 1911 Options
The 10mm 1911 typically commands a king's ransom, but not the five we hunted out.
Go Small With These 8 Economical AR Pistol Options
Firepower, hitting power and nimbleness–there's a raft of reasons to consider the AR pistol. We give you eight affordable options if you're looking to go small.
Check Out Other Review Roundups:
- Best Revolver Reviews To Help Pick The Right Wheelgun
- Best Rifle Reviews To Help You Take Aim At A Top Iron
- Best Gun Gear Reviews To Find That Perfect Piece Of Kit
Best Pistol Reviews
Custom Glock G40: Bar-Sto Match Target Barrel Review
The author builds the ultimate custom Glock with a Bar-Sto Match Target barrel. Improved accuracy and spent cases that can be reloaded are among some of the benefits.
Gun Review: Inside The Sig Sauer P320X Compact
It's shrunk down, but the Sig Sauer P320X Compact is still large on features and performance.
Springfield Hellcat: The Future Of Concealed Carry
The 21st-Century concealed carry pistol has arrived. Shake hands with Springfield Armory Hellcat.
Colt Combat Elite Commander: Elite Looks, Elite Performance
BBQ-gun good looks with a fighter’s heart, the rebooted Colt Combat Elite Commander is the complete package.
Taurus G3: A New King Of The Hill?
The shooting world has been waiting for a gun that can stand up to Glock. With a bevy of performance-enhancing features, the Taurus G3 might just be that pistol.
Glock 44: Perfection In .22 LR?
Three years in the making, the new Glock 44 finally gets the gunmaker into the .22 LR market. Was it worth the wait?
FN 509 Compact: Living Up To Family Standards
The FN 509 Compact is the newest addition to the popular striker-fired pistol line, but not the least … well, in everything except size.
Sig P210: A Classic For The Ages, Made New
Slick lines and even slicker accuracy, the Sig P210 proves an enduring piece of Swiss engineering.
Pistol Review: Remington Ultralight Executive R1
The Remington UltraLight Executive R1 isn't only sized right for concealed carry, but just might be the best 1911 the company has turned out.
Going Old School: Carrying The Browning Hi Power
The world is not yet all polymer. Classics, such as the Browning Hi Power, have tried and true place in concealed carry.
The Peculiar Pioneer Arms PM-63C Pistol
The Cold War saw many interesting firearms designs, but few are as unique as the Polish PM-63, now available in the semi-auto Pioneer Arms PM-63C pistol.
Remington XP-100: The Successful Experiment
The unique 57-year-old bolt-action Remington XP-100 Long Range Pistol forever changed the pistol-shooting world for the better.
Magnificent Mite: Wilson Combat EDC X9S
Ideally adapted to every day carry, the revamped Wilson Combat EDC X9S is smaller but just as magnificent.
Video: Easy-To-Shoot Walther CCP M2 .380
Walther opens the semi-automatic pistol to the world with its easy-to-manipulate CCP M2 in .380 ACP.
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