The Best 9mm Pistols

There are many fantastic 9mm pistols on the market these days, but most important to find a gun that’s comfortable to shoot and one you can commit to shooting regularly.

I’ve highlighted some of my absolute favorite 9mm pistols below, across the key categories that most users will find their needs falling into.

Few handgun categories have the diversity and sheer number of options as the 9mm pistol. Focus on the following factors and you’ll be able to narrow down your search to a great 9mm handgun that works for you.

1. Name Recognition
2. Mature Design
3. Aftermarket Support
4. Fit with Your Purpose
5. Action
6. Grip Quality
7. Size & Weight

1. Name recognition

While the caliber started slow, typically just seen in German-made Lugers and Mauser C96 pistols across the first 30 years of the cartridge’s career, the 9mm today is the most popular chambering for modern semi-automatic pistols.

In 2018 alone, some 2 million 9mm pistols were made in the U.S., more than any other caliber– a figure that doesn’t include pallets of guns coming from overseas.

With so many horses in the race, it is always a better idea to bet on an experienced thoroughbred who knows the course instead of an untried newcomer or unsteady nag.

Dropping the horse metaphor for plain talk, the odds you will get a quality pistol from a company like Glock, Ruger, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, or FN– who have made thousands of them over the course of decades to near-universal acclaim– are much better than grabbing some oddball from who knows where.

There’s a reason why Glock Fanboys and HK Diehards exist — those brands have created some of the best firearms in the history of mankind.

Sure, the price difference between, say a Glock and a “Fly by Night 9” may be just $150 or $200, and they may look and feel mostly the same, but when it counts, is your life worth that extra cash?

2. Mature design

Everyone loves the newest thing. When a customer is offered a choice between a solid design with a good reputation that has been on the market for years, or the just-released gee-whiz carry gun that is an ounce lighter, has a cooler finish, and carries two extra rounds for the same price, it isn’t hard to forecast what will likely sell.

However, there has been a nasty trend among new handgun models to come out with issues that are only discovered after they have been in circulation for a few months.

Even top-notch companies are not immune to such problems in beta models. For instance, take the primer/striker drag issues with the early Sig P365 or the more recent recall on S&W Shield EZ, a gun that reportedly tended to go full-auto.

When evaluating choices for a 9mm handgun, or any firearms for that matter, it may be a wise idea to select something that has already gone through its teething problems.

3. Aftermarket support

One of the worst thorns an owner of a new (or at least new to them) handgun can run into is to find out that their new 9mm has very few holsters available to fit them, extra magazines cost $75, and there are no options to replace the kind of creepy trigger or sometimes hard-to-see sights.

To skirt problems such as these, either go with an established design that has been in production for several years or double-check to make sure the new model under consideration is supportable. If possible, quickly search for replacement magazines, triggers, extended mag and holster options to get an idea of life cycle costs before committing to a pistol.

Adjsutable sights will allow you to compensate for different variables, while and day/night sights which ensure the pistol will remain usable in a variety of lighting conditions. If these aren’t part of the factory package, knowing you can replace them to optimize your sight picture is a really helpful feature.

Consider whether you’ll need a 9mm pistol with a mounting rail. Some pistols allow you to slot attachments, like lights or laser/light combos to beneath the barrel on an abbreviated Picatinny rail — a perfect home for a pistol light — while others eschew this feature in exchange for affordability.

4. Pistol Type & Purpose Fit

While there’s no hard line between the main types of pistols and their fit with a given use case, getting the most out of your gun involves aligning its strengths with how you plan to use it. These generally fall into 3 categories: concealed carry, home defense, and range guns.

Concealed Carry

As the name implies, the goal of a concealed carry pistol is to be concealable. This means shorter (under 4 inch) barrels, smaller frames and lighter weight.

These shorter pistols, with their truncated barrel length, give up sight radius, making them inherently less accurate at distance, and can be less comfortable to shoot due to their tendency to have a snappier recoil and more pronounced muzzle rise as they have less mass to eat up that impulse.

You’ll also often take a hit on capacity — many of these pistols use single-stack magazines to reduce overall size — but given that most self-defense encounters are over in a matter seconds and happen well under 10 yards, capacity and sight radius are secondary considerations to ease of carry.

You’ll find descriptions such as compact, subcompact, and micro-compact in this category, and these pistols often make for some of the best concealed carry pistols available.

Home Defense

Duty/home defense guns are generally full-sized with a barrel length of 4-inches or longer — often with a double-stack magazine offering a capacity of 13 rounds or more. Their primary purpose is to support home defense, which often means simple systems with few extras, mostly focusing on optics support, underbarrel rails for lights, and big mags with lots of capacity.

These are larger pistols, which are heavier than CCW options, but that added weight offers more recoil control than smaller pistols.

Range Guns

These kinds of pistols can vary considerably, and can include everything from basic plinkers to super-modded competition pistols which big, extended magazines, built-in compensators, and very long barrels for as much sight radius as possible.

5. Customization

Many of the best 9mm pistols will have modular components that allow for the user to customize various aspects of the grip and frame to their preference. Some pistols have fantastic grips with textured surfaces or ergonomic shapes.

These textured surfaces are great since they make the pistol easier to hold, even if your palm is sweaty, but given the diversity of hand shapes and sizes, not every grip is perfect for every hand. A modular pistol enables almost anyone to get their fit right, which is critical for effective shooting.

1. Smith & Wesson M&P

Specifications:

• Weight: 18.3 oz
• 7+1, 8+1 capacity
• Length: 6.1”

• Sights: front and rear white dot
• Finish: stainless steel and armornite

Pros

• Very affordable with two magazines
• Good finish for most major parts
• Comfortable polymer grip
• Has good sights

Cons

• Stock trigger safety makes for a mushy feel

Smith & Wesson edged out their Reservoir Dogs-era metal-framed “wonder nines” in 2012 with the new Military & Police series of the now famous polymer pistol.

It’s no surprise that Smith & Wesson top this chart with a relatively new member of their M&P series: the M&P Shield 2.0 Compact. I have always found the pistols light, reliable, and easy-to-use, but the pistol has a lot to like, including a steel frame and stainless steel Armornite finish for both the barrel and the slide.

In a nutshell, the coating provides the weapon with a durable finish that has protected mine from corrosion and damage – and despite hundreds of range trips, countless cleanings, and thousands of rounds my M&P looks practically new.

Moving on from hammer-fired DA/SA pistols to striker-fired guns, the new M&Ps had to slog it out against Glock, which had already carved out a big part of the LE market, but the fact the M&P line has better triggers and sights while sporting the same level of reliability and a “made in USA” cache bought the Smiths lots of room to maneuver.

Today, the second generation M2.0 variants, particularly the Compact version, is about the closest thing to a “Glock killer” as one gets. Plus, the M&Ps of all generations have a take-down lever and sear deactivation system that allows for disassembly without pulling the trigger– something most other polymer guns lack.

For those looking for something in the M&P2.0 neighborhood, there’s also a single-stack subcompact companion to the M&P, the Shield, beating Glock’s 43 series gun by several years.

Today, the Shield M2.0 has a better trigger than the first-gen models, as well as aggressive grip texture and an optimal 18-degree grip angle for a natural point of aim.

Thin and lightweight, the Shield boasts a 7+1 and 8+1 capacity depending on what magazine you use and the new Shield Plus aims to take on the Sig 365 in the Micro 9 game.

Designed with performance and safety in mind

The M&P also offers a full-size frame and comes with an easy-to-access external safety, which I have found easier to use than a number of compact 9mms that mount safeties a bit too close to the slide for my comfort.

I find the factory front and rear white dot sights ease to use and plenty visible in a variety of lighting conditions, even brighter environments or when the sun is overhead.

You get a lot of value out of this striker-fired pistol as well, since it comes with two magazines out of the box. Ultimately, it’s a durable and serviceable metal-framed pistol that fires the reliable 9mm luger at works well for training, self-defense, and concealed carry.

We break the Shield 2.0 down even further in our hands-on review.

2. Glock 26

Glock is synonymous with 9mm pistols. The Glock 17 is a classic, and Glock 19 is the standard for law enforcement agencies. These polymer-framed pistols will outlast most pistols — even with consistent use.

Specifications:

• Weight: 21.69 oz
• Capacity: 10+1
• Length: 6.42”

• Sights: Front and rear iron
• Finish: nDLC (diamond-like carbon)

Pros

• Crisp trigger pull
• High capacity for a gun of this size
• More comfortable grip than competitors
• Easier to shoot than other options

Cons

• Small magazine release
• Some issues with inserting the magazine
• More expensive than other options

Takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’

Indeed, the Glock 26 pistol is perfectly representative of a Glock’s tendency to keep on trucking even after you put it through years of punishment, like I have.

My G26 has proven to be an extremely durable and safe weapon through and through, and I love its lightweight polymer frame, which allows the weapon to come in at a lightweight 21 ounces.

Nice touches throughout

In addition, the G26 overcomes its shorter sight radius thanks to the Glock polygon rifling and improved barrel crown. I’ve never felt like it was less than adequate for close-quarters work, but I wouldn’t want to stretch it out to longer distances.

It also comes with Glock’s ambidextrous slide, so it’s equally as useful for both left and right-handed users. Like all Glocks it lacks an external safety, so if that’s a requirement there are other options that include manual and external safeties.

I have never has an issue with my Glocks in the safety department, as their Safe Action system has proven more than adequate, but it’s worth noting.

3. Springfield XD

Springfield Armory’s XD 9mm pistol is an excellent example of a well-rounded 9mm pistol. It features a special melonite barrel finish that protects it from damage and corrosion.

But most importantly, the Springfield XD comes with a double and/or single-action system that allows you to swap between both styles of firing on the fly.

Want a lighter trigger pull, or do you want to ignore the need to pull back the hammer in between shots? It’s all up to you!

Specifications:

• Weight: 28 oz
• Capacity: 16+1
• Length: 7.7 inches

• Sights: Fiber optic front sight, white dot rear
• Finish: Melonite

Pros

• Excellent aesthetic
• Durable finish
• Effective front & rear sight combo
• Grip safety
• Works as a double and single-action pistol

Cons

• Capacity could be a little better
• Grip material texture is hit or miss

A beautiful example of Springfield craftsmanship

The Springfield Armory XD is also just a good looking pistol. The sleek frame is only 1 inch wide, so while it’s not the thinnest pistol on the marker you’d be hard-pressed to find handguns much thinner.

Low effort slide

It also comes with a low effort slide, requiring about 27% less effort on average to cycle compared to many other striker-fired 9mm pistols.

The XD-E pistol can also be carried “cocked and loaded” with the safety on, meaning you can have the hammer ready to go for quick-firing at the drop of a hat.

Even better, when you set the pistol to double-action, it requires a longer and more deliberate trigger pull to increase your safety if you plan to use this pistol for concealed carrying or just when walking around with it in your holster.

4. Heckler Koch P30K

The HK P30K 9mm pistol is impressively lightweight and easy to conceal, making it a great choice if you need a concealed carry self-defense pistol.

With a full length of only 6.42 inches and 24 ounces it’s one of the smallest 9mm pistols you can find – but it offers an impressive 10 round capacity, making it’s great for regular duty carrying as well.

Specifications:

• Weight: 23.99 ounces
• Capacity: 10+1
• Length: 6.42”

• Sights: Front and rear
• Finish: black nitride

Pros

• Loads of models available
• Great for ambidextrous or left-handed users
• Great for concealed carry
• Customiz able grip

Cons

• Pricey
• Trigger guard-mounted mag release

Adjustable grip for customization & control

It features a completely adjustable grip, including interchangeable backstraps and lateral grip panels. So you can customize the grip according to your hand shape and size.

Furthermore, the pistol is available in several trigger firing modes. You can even choose a special double-action “law enforcement modification”, which requires more finger weight for your initial trigger pull for added safety.

Double action or single action combo option

You can also choose a double action or single action combo pistol, plus a model with dual ambidextrous manual safeties on either side of the frame.

Additionally, different slide and magazine release levers are available depending on the exact model you choose. As you can see, this 9mm pistol is very customizable. The only downsides are its relatively high asking price and the trigger guard mag release, which will take some getting used to.

5. Sig Sauer P320

The Sig P320 9mm pistol is another great choice, particularly if you want great factory sights. The Sig Sauer P320 Compact has both front and rear sights, with the rear sights offering contrasting illumination so you can use the pistol even in low light or nighttime shooting situations.

Developed to both compete for the Army’s Modular Handgun System contract and offer a more forward-looking alternative to their P-200 series pistols, Sig Sauer introduced the P320 in 2014.

Ditching the common frame and slide format that almost every other semi-auto pistol used, the P320 instead uses a fire control unit that can be swapped out between different grip modules to quickly allow the user to move between full, carry, compact, and subcompact sizes.

The modularity of the design made it a shoo-in for the MHS program, and the military is currently fielding the gun as the M17 and M18 pistols, respectively. This is truly a 21st-century combat pistol.

Specifications:

• Weight: 25.3 oz
• Capacity: 15+1
• Length: 7”

• Sights: Front and rear (night)
• Finish: stainless steel and nitron

Pros

• Pretty durable overall
• Has a set of excellent sights
• Good size and weight
• Smooth, consistent trigger pull
• Good magazine capacity

Cons

• Grip could be a bit more comfortable
• A big gun relative to other options

15 round capacity

Furthermore, it puts many other pistols to shame in the capacity department, featuring an impressive 15-round capacity, so it’s great for squeezing-off multiple shots at the shooting range or taking down a threat with certainty.

Its striker trigger action ensures a crisp, light trigger pull and stability with every squeeze. You’ll also appreciate that the barrel material is durable but lightweight carbon steel, and its low bore axis help with recoil control.

A stainless steel finish for the frame and a Nitron finish for the slide protect the pistol from corrosive damage. It should last for a long time to come.

6. Beretta 92

Specifications:

• Weight: 33.3 oz
• Capacity: 15
• Length: 8.5”

• Sight radius: 6.1″
• Finish: Bruniton

Pros

• Incredibly proven performer
• Many varients to choose from
• Solid magazine capacity
• Tons of used 92s floating around

Cons

• Heavy
• Large pistol
• Tough to determine country of manufacture

One of the most venerable double-stack 9mm pistols on the market, the steel-framed Beretta 92 has been around for almost 50 years.

There is a reason for that: it just plain out works, and as I detailed in our historical look at the Beretta 9mm pistols, the 92 really was a watershed moment in handgun design. I went way deep on the 92 if you’re interested.

While they’re certainly one of the most recognizable handguns anywhere, they’re not the lightest, easiest to operate, nor do they offer the most firepower, but the 92 is a true classic that delivers on performance and looks.

Adopted by dozens of militaries worldwide, including the Pentagon who has used it for the past four decades, this “Back to Back Gulf War Champ” is a great pistol and still very relevant today in its third generation, the Vertec 92X series.

While originally a full-sized pistol with low recoil, the 92 is also produced in shorter Centurion and Compact variants.

7. Canik TP9SFX

Specifications:

• Weight: 29.28 oz.
• Capacity: 20+1
• Length: 8.27″

• Barrel Length: 6.2”
• Width: 1.38″

Pros

• Great balance
• Class-leading capacity
• Competition-grade trigger

Cons

• Canik not a household name
• Large
• Competition focused feel
• Turkish origin may concern some

The TP9SFX pistol packs an absurd amount of value into a pistol that can often be found for less than $500. Beyond the Warren Tactical sights and multiple adapter plates, the gun is completely ambidextrous, featuring a unique ambidextrous charging handle that sits on the rail and a customizable magazine catch button.

When you purchase a Canik TP9SFX pistol, it comes with a cleaning kit, a retention holster, two magazines, a speed loader, interchangeable backstrap options, four mounting plates, and additional sizes of magazine release buttons.

In addition to all the features on offer, the pistol also has a serious capacity. It’s a large pistol, at just over 8 inches in length, so you can count on higher capacity than a concealed carry gun or polymer pistols, but for home defense or the aspiring competition shooter there’s little to complain about with 20 rounds on tap.

The single-action trigger is a feature that stands out with the Canik TP9SFX (and really makes it competitive with other higher-end pistols). The short reset and consistent break make it a pleasure to shoot in any context, but it excels in competitive shooting.

If you’re focused on a pistol that offers a great deal (and aren’t someone who turns their nose up to Turkish firearms), the TP9SFX is a true needle in a haystack. For more details, check out our review of the TP9SFX.

8. FN 509

Specifications:

• Weight: 25.5 oz.
• Capacity: 15
• Length: 6.8″

• Barrel Length: 3.7″
• Width: 1.35″

Pros

• Optics ready
• FN quality
• Railed
• Adjustable palm swell

Cons

• Expensive

Designed to compete for the Army’s Modular Handgun System program, more than a million rounds were put into the development and testing of the pistol series that was introduced in 2017 as the FN 509.

A versatile polymer-framed striker-fired 9mm, it is available in a long slide (LS) Edge variant for practical/competition shooters, standard-length models, Tactical variants with extended magazines and threaded barrels, and Compact options ideal for concealed carry.

Don’t let the fact that it is kind of a sleeper on the market, those who know, know.

9. Canik SFx Rival

Specifications:

• Weight: 29 oz.
• Capacity: 18+1
• Length: 8.1 in
• Barrel Length: 5″

Pros

• IDPA, IPSC, and USPSA compliant
• Amazing value
• Adjustable fiber optic sights and optics-ready
• Superb 90-degree diamond-cut aluminum flat trigger
• Removable external mag-well

Cons

• Not for new shooters
• Trigger can be too light for some

If you’re on the lookout for a high-performing competitive pistol, you may have heard about the Canik Rival-S, but the Canik SFx Rival pistol is another incredible option from the Turkish brand. The Rival is an upgraded version of their SFx pistol, which packs a ton of advanced features right out of the box.

Designed to comply with all the relevant rules in IDPA, IPSC, and USPSA, the SFx Rival is legal to shoot (division pending) without modification. It boasts adjustable fiber optic sights and is optics-ready with plates included, so you can easily mount your favorite red dot optic on it.

My favorite upgrade is the trigger, which is a lightened 90-degree diamond-cut aluminum flat trigger — and it’s a joy to use. The trigger shoe texture gives you a nice contact patch that provides consistent trigger pull that helps me get on target. Additionally, the SFx Rival is fully ambidextrous, enabling you to swap both the magazine and slide releases.

The full-size Picatinny rail allows you to attach your preferred laser or light, and the double undercut trigger guard adds more to the mix by helping me get as high on the grip as possible and suppress recoil. The external mag-well is removable, making it both division compliant and easily customizable.

The SFx Rival pistol comes with two 18-round magazines, two magazine case plates, three different size back straps, and three different size magazine release extensions, so you can start customizing the gun the moment you open the box. Overall, it’s an excellent choice for shooting competitions and one of my personal favorites.

10. Glock 17

Specifications:

• Weight: 24.97 oz
• Capacity: 17
• Length: 7.95 in

• Barrel Length: 4.49″
• Width: 1.18 in

Pros

• Classic style
• Beginner friendly
• Easy to shoot
• Fantastic capacity

Cons

• Large
• Looks like every other Glock
• Limited slide serrations

One of the most legendary striker-fired 9mm Glock pistols, the G17 launched the Glock empire when it arrived on the market in the early 1980s. The first successful polymer-framed pistol, it overcame an initial uphill fight– nobody likes change– and has encouraged a crop of imitators.

Boasting a 17+1 shot capacity, this full-sized combat handgun has gone on to be the most adopted in Western military service worldwide, with countries ranging from Britain and France to South Korea and Singapore trusting it.

The latest variant, the Gen 5 model, includes upgrades such as the Glock Marksman Barrel, which is extremely accurate and easy to shoot. If you want all the details on the G17 check out our hands-on review.

11. Glock 19 Gen 5

Specifications:

• Weight: 23.63 oz
• Capacity: 15
• Length: 7.28 in

• Barrel Length: 4.02 in
• Width: 1.26 in

Pros

• Lengendary reliability
• Larger mag release button
• Ambidextrous slide stop
• Reversible magazine catch

Cons

• No finger grooves
• Only includes 2 backstraps

A more compact version of Gaston Glock’s G17 design, the Glock 19 for many, is the perfect multipurpose handgun.

With a standard 15+1 round capacity, the G19 stands ready for use in home defense, is enjoyable to shoot on the range (there are documented specimens still ticking with well over 100,000 rounds fired), has more aftermarket support than just about any other firearm ever produced shy of the AR-15, and, when using the right holster for the right person, is a great gun for concealed carry.

The simplicity and safety of the Glock platform also make the G19 an approachable option for novice shooters looking for a first gun that will be simple to maintain and easy to use.

There is a reason the G19 consistently tops the best-selling pistols list. Go for the Gen 5 model for the most current set of features — and for a deep dive, take a look at our review of the G19.

On the fence between the G19 and G17? I break down the differences in our comparison guide.

12. Glock 43

Specifications:

• Weight: 18.70 oz
• Capacity: 10
• Length: 6.5 in

• Barrel Length: 3.41 in
• Width: 1.1 in

Pros

• Smallest 9mm Glock
• Very light
• Available in 43 and 43x variants

Cons

• Limited capacity
• Small grip does not like big hands

The smallest 9mm handgun that Glock makes, the “slimline” Glock 43 was introduced in 2015 and was an instant hit.

Providing a 6+1 capacity pistol that was smaller than some of the most compact .380s and .32s on the market, the G43 soon became the choice of many for concealed carry, be they the average CCW holder or off-duty police.

Hitting the scales at just 20 ounces when fully loaded, the gun is one of the few 9mm pistols that can be ankle carried comfortably. I dove deep into the G43 in our review of Glock’s concealed carry masterpiece.

For those who would prefer a few more rounds, the Glock 43X still has a slim profile but offers a 10+1 capacity and is just three ounces heavier, making for an effective concealed carry weapon with a little more on tap.

13. Ruger EC9s

Specifications:

• Weight: 17.2 oz
• Capacity: 7
• Length: 6 in

• Barrel Length: 3.12 in
• Width: 0.9 in

Pros

• Super slim
• Very light
• Incredibly compact

Cons

• Very light trigger
• Snappy recoil
• Heavy slide for a small pistol

Ruger introduced their hammer-fired Lightweight Compact 9mm, or LC9, a decade ago and it had a lot to like. However, once the company switched to a striker-fired version with more economical fixed sights a few years later, the Essential Compact 9mm (striker-fired), or EC9s, brought a bit more to the party and for less cost.

Offering a 7+1 capacity in a compact frame just 6-inches long overall and 17-ounces in weight, making the small gun ideal for concealed carry, the EC9s has a few minor improvements over the Glock 43 while costing less.

On the downside, it doesn’t have the same aftermarket support, with fewer options for holsters and no options for upgrading the basic sights. It’s also short and light, meaning it’s snappier than larger pistols, which can make follow-up shots more challenging.

However, for a few dollars more one can get a Ruger Security 9 Compact model which is only a couple ounces heavier but offers 10- and 15-shot magazines and the ability to swap out sights.

14. Ruger Security 9

Specifications:

• Weight: 23.7 oz
• Capacity: 15+1
• Length: 7.24 in

• Barrel Length: 4.0 in
• Width: 1.02 in

Pros

• Great capacity
• Good grip for larger hands
• Good factory trigger

Cons

• Slide needs to be broken in
• Requires regular maintenance
• Non-reversable controls

A fundamental replacement for the company’s chunky old P-series pistols of the 1980s and 90s, the striker-fired polymer-framed Security 9 series is much more contemporary.

Lightweight but with a 4-inch barrel and 15+1 capacity, the gun is compact in the same way that the Glock 19 is, but costs less and offers a similarly high magazine capacity.

Using drift adjustable sights, the Security 9 is also offered in a Pro version that comes standard with Tritium night sights. For those wanting something smaller from the same line, there is the Security 9 Compact variant.

15. Sig Sauer P229

Specifications:

• Weight: 34.4 oz
• Capacity: 15
• Length: 7.1 in

• Barrel Length: 3.9 in
• Width: 1.5 in

Pros

• Incredibly stylish
• Hollywood’s Cop Gun
• Good factory trigger

Cons

• Heavy
• Surpassed by newer designs
• Only expensive Legion variants available new

Just as the Glock 19 is seen as a more perfected sequel to the preceding G17, Sig Sauer’s P229 was introduced in 1992 following almost 15 years of feedback on other Sig P-200 series pistols.

With a flush-fitting 13-round magazine in its 9mm variant– Sig retired the .40S&W option last year– the P229 has a smaller capacity than a lighter weight G19 but for fans of metal-framed double-action/single-action hammer-fired pistols with an exposed hammer, it is preferred over contemporaries such as the Beretta 92.

In short, the P229 is kind of like the gun version of a Cadillac: it may not be the fastest car on the road, but it will get you there in style.

16. Sig Sauer P365XL

Specifications:

• Weight: 17.8 oz
• Capacity: 12+1
• Length: 6.59 in
• Barrel Length: 3.7 in
• Width: 1.0 in

Pros

• Fantastically small
• Super concealable
• Decent capacity for a pistol this size

Cons

• Intermittent failure to return to battery
• Small grip a challenge for support hand

Sig kind of broke the carry gun market with their P365, the lead entry of a line of pistols that are now considered “Micro 9s” as they are very small, rivaling single-stack subcompacts such as the FN 503 or Glock 43, but have a modified double-stack magazine giving them a 10+1 or 12+1 capacity.

Since its initial introduction, Sig has expanded the P365 series with larger XL and XL Spectre models as well as a melted SAS model and the largest of the bunch, the XMacro.

They have also sparked a whole line of imitators that are trying to keep up; however, most of those other Micro 9s, for now at least, should probably still be in the beta-test first-generation stage.

I’ve been carrying a Sig P365XL with a RomeoZero Elite 3 MOA red dot for about a year. As one of my carry guns, I like the 12+1 rounds of capacity packed into a small compact gun.

The Romeo Zero is not my favorite red dot, but it is an easy option when it comes already outfitted on the gun. This pistol is striker fired with an XSeries straight trigger, and if you’re familiar with Sig’s triggers, it feels similar to those on the P320 and Legion model pistols.

Even with the red dot optic, it is set up with a front sight in case anything fails on the red dot optic.

What I love most about this pistol is the grip texture of the 365 XSeries grip module. Its subtle texture doesn’t rub your skin poorly when carrying but gives you a comfortable purchase of the gun to hold on to during recoil.

The magazine release button is shaped like a triangle and sits almost flush with the grip to ensure you don’t accidentally bump it and release your magazine unintentionally. The slide serrations are easy to grab onto and rack the slide, and depending on the light model, you can still mount a light to the pistol.

We took the P365 XMacro out for a spin, and while it’s a newer, larger take on the P365 series, it shares the same DNA as the previous models but still makes for a sweet concealed carry handgun.

17. Taurus G3C

Specifications:

• Weight: 22.0 oz
• Capacity: 12+1
• Length: 6.3 in

• Barrel Length: 3.2 in
• Width: 1.2 in

Pros

• Shockingly good value
• Great entry-level pistol
• Competitive capacity

Cons

• Less than stellar history
• Long trigger take-up
• Blocky slide design

Brazilian gunmaker Taurus has been working for the past quarter-century on its semi-auto 9mm game and the G3 series, as you may figure from its name, is the third generation of that effort.

A fun gun that’s affordable to the point of being eschewed by many of today’s more aristocratic gun shoppers as too cheap to be any good, it is almost impossible to find a negative review of these bad boys.

Plus, with a 12+1 capacity and a size just shy of the Micro 9 category, they check a lot of boxes for those looking for a good carry gun. I put the G3C through its paces in our hands-on review.

Introduced by Georg Luger around 1900 for use in the toggle-action semi-automatic military pistol that carries his name, the 9mm Parabellum– also seen as 9×19, 9mm Luger, and 9mm Para– became popular initially in Central Europe.

Then, by the early 1940s when handguns like the Astra 600, Browning Hi-Power, Poland’s Radom VIS, and the Finnish/Swedish Lahti were in circulation, it started to become a more worldwide cartridge. Shortly after World War II, it was the staple cartridge in use with Western military combat as well as law enforcement duty pistols, spreading to America by 1954 with the Smith & Wesson Model 39.

Within a few decades, the light-recoiling 9mm, which still provided effective ballistic performance with appropriate bullets, had largely replaced both lighter rounds such as the .380 and .32 ACP, as well as toppling the vaunted .45ACP in popularity.

In 2017, the FBI tapped it as its standard duty caliber for handguns, a move that cut the legs out from under the .40S&W which had long been billed as splitting the middle ground between 9mm and .45ACP.

In short, today’s 9mm now stands atop the mountain when it comes to modern pistol calibers as it is controllable for both novice and experienced shooters, is typically available in a diverse range of loadings — from target to defensive ammunition to hunting uses — and its short overall length allows it to performs as advertised in a full-sized or compact pistol.

First and foremost, the 9mm is a widely available cartridge. While things might get a little dicey depending on political panics here in the U.S., it is still one of the easiest cartridges to find.

You can likely get up from your desk right now and find 9mm for sale on a shelf right now within a 20 min drive of your current location. Since it is so easy to get when compared with, for example, .32 ACP, it stands to reason that people will keep using firearms in ammunition types that they can get access to quickly.

Secondly, 9mm is relatively affordable. Again, this will change with the times and ammunition has been creeping up in cost overall through the past several decades. With that said, companies have been making 9mm for a century at this point, and they have to compete with one another to some degree. Thus, it is still feasible for most people who want to get into the hobby of shooting to pick up a 9mm handgun and some ammunition for a cost that is at least somewhat palatable. Ideally, prices will come down in the future, but 9mm is still one of the more budget-friendly rounds.

These days, the most reliably handguns that you are likely to find are in 9mm.

Take Glocks, for example. With millions of units sold, military contracts, police use, and so on, the company has a lot of incentive to make their guns run well and a lot of user data to back up their research.

That’s why so many 9mm platforms have been iterated over several generations, and they tend to get more reliable over time. For us, that means guns that tend to go bang when you want them to and not to go bang when you drop them by accident.

Firearms in 9mm also tend to have more modern designs that allow for a lot of customization from the perspective of a relative handy user.

Today, it’s not awfully difficult to take a stock handgun from several manufacturers and make it exactly how you want it in terms of lights, magazine sie, slide length, optics, and so forth.

The ability to tailor a firearm to a specific user, in our view, is a great thing that will keep people shooting firearms in that caliber. Older designs are a lot harder to work on, and so new 9mms are likely to stay popular for the time being.

Finally, the 9mm has proven itself to be exceptionally adaptable in terms of its usage. You can fire them out of rifles, submachine guns, and several flavors of pistols. No matter what, they seem to work well, maintain decent accuracy, and can be loaded for everything from long-range to use with a suppressor.

This adaptability in terms of usage, format, and bullet type gives us, as shooters, many reasons to stick with the caliber, even if it would be possible to make others good at one or two things.

For under $200, it is still possible to get some used, quality 9mm handguns. Some of the sweeter deals in this space will be police trade-in Glocks and similar that you can sometimes find at local gun stores or through online gun deals. As it phases out, you might be able to get some surplus M9 pistols from the military as well, but that’s more of a pipe dream at this point. Some new models from budget-focused manufacturers can also be had at this price point.

At around $400, you can get a newly made, relatively stock 9mm pistol that is striker-fired, reliable, comes with available and affordable magazines, and possibly a stainless steel barrel. These are the bread and butter of the pistol world, and they work well for a wide variety of shooters.

At the $1000 mark, you’re into the territory of custom models of striker-fired guns, or newly made classics like the new FN Hi-Power that came out earlier this year. These are expensive, but often awesome guns that are either collector’s pieces or ready to head out to the competition. You’ll find options like a threaded barrel, suppressor-height irons, and optics support almost as standard at this price point.

At $2000 or more, you’re talking really special guns. Sometimes you’ll see gold-plated custom models, or, for those looking for something more practical, hand-tuned race guns that are tailor made for you as an individual.

Since 9mm is such a popular caliber, you can largely spend as much or as little as you like to get into the caliber. For us, starting cheap and used was the way to go, and a police trade in Glock is a great self-defense firearm if you can snag one at a local store or online.

The 9mm handguns of today represent the cutting edge of firearms development, with over a century of lessons learned coaching along that evolutionary process to its current pinnacle.

With so many designs offered, there is something to fit every need and personal preference for those looking for a quality pistol that can last a lifetime. Do your research and choose wisely, and the odds of being disappointed are slim.

1. Shooting Industry, Firearms Sales Report
2. Smith & Wesson, Shield EZ Recall
3. YouTube, Sig Issues
4. ATF, Firearms Commerce Report