When it comes to pistol calibers, 9mm is the most popular option for self-defense, concealed carry, and combat, while still being relatively affordable compared to other defensive rounds. In this guide, I’ll explain why a 9mm pistol is probably a great choice for your needs and give you our picks for the Best 9mm Pistols.

Why Choose a 9mm Pistol (Click here)

Biggest Glock Pros:

• Relative Affordability – Glock’s relatively simple designs and use of polymer has made it more easily mass produced, resulting in it being more affordable compared to traditional steel-framed pistols with alternative action types. While this led to Glock building a huge brand and market share, today there is admittedly no shortage of polymer-framed striker fired competitors.
• Reliability and Durability – Glock’s simple internal designs consist of very few parts. Fewer parts means fewer opportunities for something to break, meaning you can be nearly 100% certain when you pull the trigger it will fire. Glocks have been known to have tens of thousands of rounds go through them without any major issues.

Best Overall Pistol – Glock 19 (Gen 5)

If you’ve decided on a Glock pistol after reading our Glock pros and cons, but you’re not sure which to choose, the Glock G19 is probably the best choice. While not necessarily perfect for all uses, this compact pistol is small enough that it could be used for concealed carry, while still being large enough to fit comfortably in the hands of most shooters when having fun at the range.

Gen 5 Glocks, including the Gen 5 G19, removed the finger grooves of earlier models. They also improved the grip texture. Combined, this makes the Gen 5 G19 a more comfortable fit for a wider range of shooters, when compared to the Gen 4.

For those of you with specific needs, check out the Glock comparison table below. Individuals with a focus on recreational shooting or home defense may prefer the Glock G17. If you’re looking specifically for a concealed carry handgun, the Glock G26 or G43 may be better fit (literally).

Glock Pistol Comparison

Model	Caliber	Length/(Barrel Length)	Height	Width	Standard Capicity	Weight (Empty)
Glock G17 (Standard)	9mm	7.95 in / (4.49 in)	5.47 in	1.34 in	17 Rounds	25.08 oz
Glock G19 (Compact)	9mm	7.28 in / (4.02 in)	5.04 in	1.34 in	15 Rounds	23.99 oz
Glock G26 (Subcompact)	9mm	6.42 in / (3.43 in)	4.17 in	1.30 in	10 Rounds	21.69 oz
Glock G43 (Single Stack, Subcompact)	9mm	6.06 in / (3.41 in)	4.25 in	1.06 in	6	17.99 oz

Best 9mm Concealed Carry (CCW) Pistol – SIG Sauer P365

For those of you looking specifically for a concealed carry pistol, hold off on buying a Glock just yet.

In 2017, SIG Sauer produced a unicorn of a pistol in the P365. Shorter in length and thinner than the Glock 43, the P365 holds 10 rounds or 12 rounds with its extended magazine, compared to the G43’s 6 rounds. Despite having a double stack magazine, it’s some how thinner than nearly all single stack 9mm pistols.

In my opinion, this alone should be enough to convince you, so long as everything else checks out… which it now does!

As is the case with all SIGs I’ve shot and own, the ergonomics and feel of this gun are amazing. It has a crisp trigger with excellent-feeling travel.

The P365 also comes from the factory with 3-dot tritium night sights, saving you an upgrade I’d recommend all concealed carry pistols have.

This is my personal CCW and I’d highly recommend it to everyone looking for a concealed carry pistol. It fits perfectly into my shockingly average sized hands with the extended magazine, while also being easy to conceal in a holster.

SIG Sauer P320

The SIG Sauer P320 is the civilian version of the Army’s new modular M17 and M18 pistols.

Admittedly, the P320 has been subject to tremendous controversy after some of them sold to law enforcement agencies were reported to have safety defects. Notably, the firearm failed drop tests that took place after multiple police officers had been shot after dropping the pistol.

Following these reports, SIG announced its “Voluntary Upgrade Program.” Though SIG Sauer still maintains that all configurations of the P320 are safe, if you buy a new P320, it should be the upgraded version. There have been no reports of safety defects from the upgraded versions of the P320 that I’m aware of.

With that said, here are my thoughts on the SIG Sauer P320, as an owner of the “upgraded” full size P320 RX.

Best Overall Factory Pistol – SIG Sauer P320

SIG Sauer’s P320 is my choice for the best overall stock pistol. For roughly the same price as a Glock 17 or 19, you get a better trigger (in my opinion) and all models come with SIGLITE steel night sights or steel contrast sights. The ergonomics of the P320 also feel far better than Glocks or most of the other pistols on this list.

Though the P320 got off to a bit of a rocky start, the Army’s continued support of the pistol goes a long way for SIG Sauer’s reputation. New models of the P320 come with a lighter trigger and slide-disconnect notch, fixing the early issues of the handgun.

Unlike the competitors on this list, the P320’s modular design allows you to swap its frame assembly into a variety of modular kits. This lets you change the size and caliber of your pistol without dealing with an FFL.

All in all, this is a great-looking pistol that’s also great to shoot. See the table below for a comparison of different sizes and models.

Model	Caliber	Length/(Barrel Length)	Height	Width	Standard Capicity	Weight (Empty)
P320 Full Size	9mm	8.0 in / (4.7 in)	5.5 in	1.3 in	17 Rounds	29.5 oz
P320 Compact	9mm	7.2 in / (3.9 in)	5.3 in	1.3 in	15 Rounds	25.8 oz

IG Sauer P320 RX

The P320 RX includes all the features of the regular P320, while also coming with a ROMEO1 Reflex Sight. The P320 RX also includes elevated steel front and rear night sights for co-witnessing.

The ROMEO1 red dot sight comes pre-mounted and has its battery located at the top of the sight, meaning it’s easy to replace. Additional features of the ROMERO1 include:

• Adjustable for windage and elevation.
• Adjustable brightness settings.
• Motion activated for enhanced battery life.
• Very lightweight.
• Waterproof for immersion up to 1 meter (IPX-7 rated).
• Fog-proof

My full size P320 RX is one of my favorite guns to shoot.

Model	Caliber	Length/(Barrel Length)	Height	Width	Standard Capicity	Weight (Empty)
P320 RX Full Size	9mm	8in / (4.7 in)	6.3 in	1.4 in	17 Rounds	29.05 oz
P320 RX Compact	9mm	7.2 / (3.9)	6.1 in	1.4 in	15 Rounds	25.8 oz

SIG Sauer P320 X-Series Pistols

In addition to Sig Sauer’s P320 RX series, there’s one other variation of P320 pistols I want to cover – The X-Series.

X-Series P320s all have:

• Improved ergonomics and recoil control thanks to the XSeries grip, extended beavertail, and high undercut trigger guard.
• Flat X-Series trigger upgrade with a straight 90 degree break.
• Optics ready, with slide cuts.

SIG Sauer P320 X-Compact

Though a bit on the larger side, the P320 X-Compact is another excellent choice for concealed carry. In addition to having the same modular design as all P320 models, it has the X-Series features we just covered.

Unique to the X-Compact is a low profile internal magwell.

Though I personally prefer to carry a super slim pistol like the P365, I’m considering adding this to my concealed carry rotation. It’s a great choice for anyone looking for a compact pistol with the ability to easily mount a red dot sight to it.

• Length – 7″
• Barrel Length 3.6″
• Height – 5.3″
• Width 1.3″
• Standard Capacity – 15 Rounds
• Weight – 25.3 oz

Walther PPQ

I started this list with arguably the most popular choice among gun owners for best pistol, but now it’s time for one of my personal favorites that flies under the radar: Walther’s PPQ line of pistols.

Personally, I love the Walther PPQ lineup because of their fantastic triggers. Their grips also fit my hands perfectly.

Best Out of the Box Trigger – Walther PPQ M2

Of all the stock pistols I’ve shot, the Walther PPQ has my favorite trigger from the factory. This includes the PPQ M2 4″ (barrel) shown to the left, as well as the rest of the PPQ lineup.

I’d compare the 4″ barrel PPQ M2 to the Glock 19, in terms of being a good middle-ground pistol for those of you not entirely sure what you’re looking for. It’s similar in its size (see the comparison table below for exact dimensions), making it comfortable to shoot at the range, though approaching the upper limits of what most people could comfortably concealed carry.

Those intending to concealed carry, may instead prefer the PPQ Subcompact.

For home defense and recreational shooting, the PPQ M2 can also be found in a 5″ barrel version. We’ll also be covering the Q5 Match, which is another great option for these purposes.

Very Accurate and Best Looking Pistol for the Money- Walther Q5 Match

Looks aren’t the only thing the Q5 Match has going for it, but it’s a great place to start. The ported slide of the Q5 goes a long way in the coolness factor of this handgun. Personally, I think it’s one of the best-looking pistols for the money.

The Q5 Match comes standard with iron sights (including a fiber-optic front sight), but also includes three optic mounting plates for Trijicon, Leupold, and Docter optics. The one frustrating thing about the Q5 setup is that the rear sight will be removed when swapping out mounting plates.

Aside from this issue, you’d struggle to find anything negative about the Q5 match in online reviews. Instead, it’s often praised as being the most accurate polymer-framed stock pistol among competitors. This makes it great for the range and home defense. It’s also one of the best 9mm pistols out of the box for competitive shooting at a relatively affordable price.

Great 9mm for CCW – Walther PPQ Subcompact

The Walther PPQ Subcompact provides the benefits of the PPQ, like its incredible trigger and ergonomics, at a smaller size made for concealed carry.

The PPQ SC pictured to the left comes with both a flush 10-round magazine (shown left) and an extended 15-round magazine. The extended magazine fits perfectly with the grip (pictured here), making it nearly identical to a standard PPQ.

Regardless of which magazine you choose to use, the PPQ SC is shorter than the standard PPQ in both barrel (3.5″) and overall length, making it easy to be concealed carry for most people.

Walther PPQ Handgun Comparison

Model	Caliber	Length/(Barrel Length)	Height	Width	Standard Capicity	Weight (Empty)	Optic Ready?
Walther PPQ M2	9mm	7.1 in / (4 in)	5.3 in	1.3 in	15 Rounds	24.05 oz
Walther Q5 Match	9mm	8.1 in / (5 in)	5.3 in	1.3 in	15 Rounds	27.9 oz	✔
Walther PPQ Subcompact	9mm	6.6 in / (3.5 in)	4.4 in W/ Flush Mag	1.30 in	10 Rounds (flush)15 rounds (extended)	21.02 oz

Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0

Aside from Glock pistols, the S&W M&P 2.0 seems to frequently be the most recommended pistol to first time owners. Like Glock pistols, M&P’s aren’t really a favorite of mine, but they too are a great option for others.

On a positive note, I will say M&P 2.0 pistols are likely to be one of the most affordable lightweight pistols you can find, while also being highly confident in their reliability.

Affordable American Made Pistol – Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0

The Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 offers an American-made modern polymer pistol at a more affordable price than many competitors. I love the grip angle, as well as the texture.

Another great feature is that it comes stock with steel sights, unlike some of the other pistols on this list.

The biggest issue I have with this pistol is its odd trigger. With that said, its affordable price leaves more money left over for an aftermarket trigger. We recommend the Apex M&P Trigger Kit.

For each size and caliber, you can choose between pistols with or without a thumb safety.

Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Comparison

Model	Caliber	Length/(Barrel Length)	Height	Width	Standard Capicity	Weight (Empty)
S&W M&P 2.0 or w/ Safety	9mm	7.4 in / (4.25 in)	5.5 in	1.3 in	17 Rounds	24.7 oz
S&W M&P 2.0 Compact or w/ Safety	9mm	7.25 in / (4 in)	5 in	1.3 in	15 Rounds	24 oz

Springfield Pistols

If there’s a third-most-commonly-recommended line of 9mm pistols behind Glock and M&P, I feel that it’s likely Springfield Armory’s XD-S and XD-M pistols.

Of these three manufactures’ offerings, Springfield pistols are my favorite.

Springfield Armory XD-M Mod.2

I don’t know what it is about the Springfield XD-M, but they’ve always felt fantastic in my hands. Perhaps it’s that the grip angle is modeled after the 1911.

Speaking of 1911s, the XD-M also shares a grip safety in common with them. As always, not everyone is a fan of external safeties, particularly for concealed carry pistols. In my opinion, the biggest benefit of the grip safety is that it makes accidental discharges potentially less likely when holstering or unholstering.

I’ve found that I naturally shoot very well with the XDM, at least partially due to its trigger. Not the absolute best, but fairly short and crisp.

The 9mm XD-M is available in 3.8″ barrel, 4.5″, and 5.25″. They also have threaded barrel options at 4.5″.

Springfield Armory XD-S Mod.2

The XD-S is Springfield Armory’s 9mm single stack pistol offering. Like the XD-M, the XD-S also has a grip safety.

Compared to the Glock 43, it’s a little bit longer and taller, but it’s also 0.085″ thinner. This may not sound super significant, but any reduction in width can make concealed carry more comfortable.

Another plus to the XD-S over the Glock 43 is its capacity. The XD-S has 7-round and 9-round magazine options available, compared to just 6 rounds in the G43.

The 9mm Best Hammer Fired Pistols

As mentioned above, striker-fired pistols are the go-to firearms for most police and civilian concealed carry holders these days.

While they’re sometimes thought of as being old school, there’s no reason you can’t use a hammer fired 9mm pistol for the range, home defense, and even concealed carry.

Here are our picks for the best 9mm hammer fired pistols.

CZ 75

This Czech firearms manufacturer and their U.S. subsidiary CZ-USA have a cult following among firearms enthusiasts.

Those of you who play the video game Counter Striker: Global Offensive will also recognize the “CZ 75” name, as you’ve undoubtedly cursed the “broken” CZ75-Auto. We of course won’t be covering any full-auto versions on this list, but will be covering some semi-autos.

If you are familiar with CS:GO, you can tell I’m not a fan of the CZ75-Auto based off my “StatTrak” number. This is largely due to it’s terrible accuracy for anything more than a few feet away. In real life though, the CZ75 semi-automatic pistols we’ll be covering are quite the opposite—having even been used by competitive shooting champions.

CZ 75 B

The CZ 75 B is where it all started for CZ. From this original design, an entire line of pistols was created with a lot of unique variants.

Something notable about the CZ 75 B compared to the striker fried pistols covered above is its all-steel frame. The weight caused by this, combined with the size of the pistol, makes it an unlikely choice for concealed carry. It does, however, make it a lot easier to shoot, as heavier pistols reduce felt recoil. This combined with its 3-dot sights and crisp SA trigger make it incredibly easy to put rounds down range accurately.

I view the CZ 75 B as more of range gun, home defense gun, open carry gun, or combat pistol.

It’s considered one of the original “Wonder Nines,” 9mm pistols with a large magazine capacity. The CZ 75 B’s magazine holds 16 rounds.

The CZ-75 is also a double/single action hammer fired pistol, meaning you can choose to carry it with the safety off, instead relying on the DA trigger pull as a safety mechanism. That being said, it does come with a great, easy-to-use thumb safety so you could carry it in the fashion of a 1911—cocked and locked.

CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical

The CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical is an improved version of the CZ 75. As the “Tactical” in the names suggests, this 9mm pistol would be great for combat, as a “SHTF pistol,” or just as an incredibly accurate, easy-to-shoot range toy, home defense gun, or car gun.

It comes equipped with an ambidextrous de-cocker, improved ergonomics, rubber grip panels, 1913 Picatinny accessory rail, cold-hammer-forged (CHF) barrel, fixed tritium night sights, and an extended beavertail—all improvements over the original CZ 75 B.

Beretta

Beretta 92FS

The Italian made Beretta 92FS is good enough for the U.S. Military, so it’s good enough for you. As mentioned above in the history section of this guide, the 92 FS 9mm pistol, designated as the M9, was used by all branches of the U.S. Military since 1985. Just recently, the U.S. Army decided to adopt the SIG Sauer P320 as a replacement, but the 92FS is still more than capable of getting the job done.

Like the CZ-75, this all-metal Beretta is on the heavy side, though is a bit lighter than the CZ. With that said, its size and weight still make it best for combat, range shooting, and home defense. Its standard magazine holds 15 rounds, though extended magazines are available.

In addition to the benefits of just being heavier overall, the 92FS has a lightened slide weight and short-recoil delayed locking block system to further reduce recoil and make this gun incredibly easy to shoot.

Conclusion

There’s a lot of great options for those looking for 9mm pistols. These days, there’s easily at least 10 manufacturers making handguns I’d be confident to own for serious use like concealed carry or home defense.

If I had to narrow it down to one particular all around best 9mm pistol I’d choose the SIG Sauer P320.

The original article can be accessed at GunPros.

 

We are currently forming the American Conservative Movement. If you are interested in learning more, we will be sending out information in a few weeks.

Democratic presidential candidate Eric Swalwell wanted to make a statement. He’s against guns and wanted to leave his mark on the nation’s largest gun owners’ rights advocates, the National Rifle Association (NRA). So, he went to the the NRA’s headquarters in Fairfax, VA, to hold a massive rally condemning the organization’s defense of the 2nd Amendment.

The results were embarrassing and conservatives took notice.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Snort …

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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Deep breath…

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhttps://t.co/sTmffE7K6I

— Aaron Leuer (@realAaronLeuer) June 18, 2019

As most progressive news outlets pretended it didn’t happen despite the Congressman’s appeal to their desires of confiscating semi-automatic rifles and putting an end to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), conservative media sources honed in on the unpopular candidate and the tiny crowd he was able to draw.

But they weren’t the only ones who took notice. The NRA itself pounced on the opportunity to ridicule one of their most vocal yet powerless critics:

Look! All of presidential candidate Swalwell's supporters came out to our headquarters today. No wonder he is polling at 0%. pic.twitter.com/sFZAishEoC

— NRA (@NRA) June 17, 2019

The American people are waking up to two facts. First, the rhetoric of the left against gun ownership is antithetical to preventing gun violence because in the vast majority of cases, it is known criminals and not formerly law abiding citizens who are committing violence with firearms. Second, the instant reaction of the gun control advocates pushing for new gun laws following any highly publicized shooting almost never confronts the actual issue involved. Time and time again, new laws are proposed that would not have had an effect on the crimes committed had they been in effect before.

Crazy and evil people will do crazy and evil things. Punishing over a hundred million law abiding gun owners for the sins of the few is not a solution. The left knows this, but it’s a popular rallying cry so they stick to their story.

We are currently forming the American Conservative Movement. If you are interested in learning more, we will be sending out information in a few weeks.

Every time someone outside the FBI takes a look at Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server for her and her staff when she was Secretary of State, they see a situation that was dangerous to the security of the United States. The latest to come to this conclusion is the State Department itself, which has found 23 violations and seven infractions that were allegedly committed.

And that’s just the beginning. The investigation is likely going to continue until the beginning of September.

This information comes through a letter sent to Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) who leads the security review, according to Fox News.

“To this point, the Department has assessed culpability to 15 individuals, some of whom were culpable in multiple security incidents,” Mary Elizabeth Taylor, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, wrote to Grassley. “DS has issued 23 violations and 7 infractions incidents. … This number will likely change as the review progresses.”

Current and former staffers who committed violations or multiple infractions will have them noted in their permanent record. This record is used for many purposes, including determinations on current and future security clearances. The letter did not indicate if criminal charges were possible for anyone, nor did it reveal any names of those being scrutinized.

Opinion

The FBI successfully protected Hillary Clinton and her staff throughout the 2016 election. Though one can argue former FBI Director James Comey helped her lose the election by announcing a continuation into the investigation weeks before election day, the body of actions taken by the FBI demonstrate she was being shielded from prosecution and any investigation that went too deep into her potentially criminal activities.

Thy wanted her to win. They had no intentions of derailing that possibility by doing their jobs.

Now that the State Department is on the case, there may actually be some closure for over the whole scandal. It’s unlikely her detractors will see any real form of justice served as a result, but those involved are less likely now to get out of this unscathed.

Quote

“omg.” – Huma Abedin upon finding out someone was trying to hack the private servers

Final Thoughts

We may never see Hillary Clinton in jail. We may never see anyone truly punished for putting America’s security interests at risk. But at the very least it appears we’ll get confirmation of wrongdoing, which is better than nothing.

We are currently forming the American Conservative Movement. If you are interested in learning more, we will be sending out information in a few weeks.