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Ah, what more do you need on a long winter’s night than a crackling fire, a warm drink and a pistol that you can use to fight your way back to your rifle. That saying never seems to get old… however, without starting a full-on blizzard of angry comments, a pistol is an adequate defensive weapon in the majority of first-world scenarios. That’s not to say that I would try and dictate how others decide to protect themselves.
A proper pistol outfitted with a weapon light, suppressor, optic and spare magazines is a very capable loadout in trained hands. Besides, they are easier to conceal, carry and deploy in those “oh sh*t” moments that can interrupt everyday life.
But, being the Holiday Season and all, I picked out handguns that I’d like to wake up to under the tree on Christmas morning. Not only because they can be used to defend and protect, but because they are just plain fun to shoot.
Beretta m9a3 – $1100 (EST)
From Vertec-style thin grip to universal slide design convertible from safety-decocker to decocker-only, from a beveled magazine well to oversize mag-release button, from a 3-slot built-in Picatinny rail to high-capacity capability for maximum firepower, the M9A3 was designed to deliver the performance that military, law-enforcement and VIP-protection professionals demand. In short, this combat pistol was designed to be perfect for any tactical use, including home- and personal defense, tactical competitions as well as duty carry in any condition.
cz-USA p-10 C Suppressor ready – $520
Built for use with suppressors, the P-10 C Suppressor-Ready has an extended/threaded barrel with 1/2×28 threads. High night sights and extended magazine capacity round out the package.
Many years in the making, we’re pleased to announce the latest addition to the CZ line of handguns — the P-10 C. Much more than just our take on the striker-fired pistol, the P-10 is decidedly CZ, from the way it feels to the way it shoots.
First order of business, ergonomics. Anyone who’s picked up a CZ 75 for the first time gets it — it just has to feel right in the hand. With the CZ grip angle, the P-10 avoids that ‘brick-in-the-hand’ feeling that has plagued many in the striker-fired genre, allowing it to point naturally. A mild palm swell, deep beavertail and three interchangeable backstraps make the P-10 fit a wide variety of hands as if it were built for them. Because it was.
Next up, trigger. So many striker-fired pistols do many things right, falling short when it comes time to pull the trigger. Designed to minimize creep and stacking, the P-10’s trigger breaks at a clean 4-4.5 lbs and rebounds with a short, positive reset, meaning single shots can be meticulously placed while follow-ups are effortless.
Built to withstand the rigors of military use, its fiber-reinforced polymer frame and hardy nitride finish are made for the daily grind. A generous trigger guard allows use with gloved hands while being undercut to allow as high a grip as possible, and a set of metal tactical sights allow for one-handed manipulation of the slide on a belt.
Like all CZ pistols, the P-10 is built with our legendary cold hammer forged barrel. The ‘C’ in the name indicates that it is compact in both frame and slide size, and magazines are of the same family as the hammer-fired P-07, meaning the P-10 C holds 15+1 in 9mm in a flush-fitting mag with extended bases allowing 17+1.Take-down of the P-10 will be familiar to most fans of striker-fired guns, and even more pleasing will be holster compatibility with some of the most common guns on the market.
It may have taken a while to come to market, but we feel the wait has been worth it. With CZ reliability, engineered ergonomics and a bevy of features both familiar and new, the P-10 is the complete package.
Sig Sauer P320 TACOPS CARRY – $830
The P320 Carry offers a smooth, crisp trigger to make any shooter more accurate, an intuitive, 3-point takedown and unmatched modularity to fit any shooter and any situation. Its carry frame is ideal for target shooting and home defense, as well as some concealed carry scenarios. This modular, striker-fired pistol features a full-length grip, compact slide, tall SIGLITE Night Sights, a threaded barrel and (4) 21-round magazines. Available in 9mm. Safety features include a striker safety, disconnect safety and optional manual safety.
FN Five Seven – $1,350 (EST)
The FN Five-seveN® pistol was developed in the early 1990s and features a cold hammer-forged barrel that is chrome lined for extended service life. The polymer framed FN Five-seveN® offers single-action operation, low felt recoil, 20-round magazine capacity and is equipped with an ambidextrous, forward-mounted manual safety and an accessory rail that accepts tactical lights and lasers.
TACTICAL SOLUTIONS PAC-LITE .22LR Pistol – $1000 (EST)
H&K VP9 Tactical – $900 (EST)
Threaded barrel “Tactical”models have been added to the Heckler & Koch VP series. Except for their threaded barrels, these variants are identical to standard VP series pistols; only their weights and lengths differ due to the longer and slightly heavier threaded barrel.
The threaded barrels are manufactured at HK’s Oberndorf factory in southwest Germany, using the legendary Heckler & Koch cold-hammer forging process. HK cold hammer forged barrels —made from proprietary cannon grade steel —are well known for their long service life. Similar HK barrels on P30 models have fired more than 90,000 rounds in endurance tests.
The polygonal bore profile, with no traditional lands-and-grooves rifling, contributes to longer service life as well as a slight increase in muzzle velocity. Threaded barrels on the VP Tactical models do not use an O-ring assisted lockup as found on other HK Tactical handgun models.
In development for more than four years, the VP series debuted in 2014 and is Heckler & Koch’s latest handgun and the first striker fired HK since the renowned P7 series pistols were introduced in the 1980s.
Experience gained by HK engineers with the P30 pistol had a direct influence on the design of the VP line, but the VP series breaks new ground with its integration of a unique striker firing system with an enhanced HK “precise pull”trigger. The net result is trigger quality unequaled in any production striker fired handgun.
HK pioneered the first striker-fired handguns, producing both the VP70 and P7 series, designs that impacted several models by HK competitors. But a superior trigger has eluded most striker fired pistol designs.
The VP trigger surpasses those found on competitors. It has a short, light take-up with a solid, single action type break followed by a short positive reset. The VP uses HK’s ergonomic handgun grip design that includes three changeable backstraps and six side panels—accommodating all hand sizes.
Molded finger grooves in the front of the pistol’s grip also instinctively position an operator’s hand for optimal shooting. Only HK handguns have such a customized grip. Although influenced by other HK models, the VP has all the hallmarks of the latest, state-of-the-art handgun. All controls are completely ambidextrous. Slide releases are present on both sides of the frame and the magazine release can be easily activated by left- or right-handed shooters.
Taurus Judge Magnum – $1040 (EST)
If you thought the Taurus Judge line couldn’t get any better, you have to see this. The new Raging Judge Magnum shoots the .454 Casull round in addition to delivering the same popular combo revolver of the original Judge models, and packs a giant 6-round cylinder. Besides added capacity, the Raging Judge features the famous red “Raging Bull” backstrap for added cushioning and will be available in both 3-inch and 6-inch barrels.
