Pistol & Handgun

What Is the Best First Pistol for Beginners? The best first pistol for most beginners is a full-size or compact 9mm striker-fired handgun. The top recommendations ar… Glock 19 vs Sig P365 vs S&W M&P, Which Should I Buy? The Glock 19 is the best all-around choice with unmatched reliability and aftermarket support. The Sig P365 is the best … What Is the Difference Between Striker-Fired and Hammer-Fired Pistols? Striker-fired pistols (Glock, M&P, P320) use an internal spring-loaded striker to fire the cartridge, resulting in a con… What Is the Best Concealed Carry Gun for My Body Type? For larger-framed individuals, a compact pistol like the Glock 19 or M&P 2.0 Compact conceals easily at 3 to 5 o'clock o… What Is the Best Handgun for Home Defense? The best home defense handgun is a full-size or compact 9mm with a weapon-mounted light, night sights, and loaded with q… How Do I Choose a Holster? IWB vs OWB vs Appendix Carry Explained For concealed carry, an inside-the-waistband (IWB) Kydex holster at the appendix (AIWB) or 3 to 4 o'clock position is th… What Should I Look for When Buying a 1911? For a reliable 1911, prioritize a forged steel frame (not cast), a quality barrel with tight lockup, properly fitted ext… Revolver vs Semi-Auto, Which Is Better for a First-Time Gun Owner? For most first-time gun owners, a semi-automatic pistol in 9mm is the better choice. It offers higher capacity (15+ roun… Do I Need to Break In a New Pistol? How Many Rounds? Most modern polymer striker-fired pistols (Glock, M&P, Sig) do not require a formal break-in, they should run reliably f… What Are the Most Common Handgun Malfunctions and How Do I Fix Them? The three most common handgun malfunctions are: failure to feed (slide does not fully chamber a round, tap the magazine … What Are the Best Pistol Upgrades in Order of Priority? The best pistol upgrades in order of priority are: 1) Night sights or a red dot optic ($100 to $400), 2) Weapon-mounted … What Are the Best Concealed Carry Guns in 2026? The top concealed carry guns in 2026 are the Sig Sauer P365 X-Macro (best overall, 17+1 capacity in a compact frame), Gl… What Training Do I Need for Concealed Carry? At minimum, take a state-required concealed carry course, then invest in a defensive pistol course from a reputable inst… What Are the Specs of the P-10 C by CZ-USA? The CZ-USA P-10 C is a striker-fired 9x19mm compact pistol measuring 7.3" overall with a 4.02" barrel, 15-round standard… Is the P-10 C by CZ-USA Compatible with Standard CZ P-10 C / 9mm Compact Parts? Yes, the CZ-USA P-10 C is designed for the CZ P-10 C / 9mm Compact platform, so standard parts for this platform are com… What Are the Specs of the EXPS3-0 by EOTech? The EOTech EXPS3-0 is a 1x holographic sight with a 68 MOA ring and 1 MOA center dot reticle. It weighs 11.2 oz, runs 60… Is the EXPS3-0 by EOTech Compatible with Standard Holographic Sight Parts? No, the EXPS3-0 uses EOTech's proprietary integral base system and is not compatible with standard holographic sight mou… What Are the Specs of the G17 Gen5 by Glock? The Glock G17 Gen5 is a full-size 9x19mm service pistol measuring 7.95 inches overall with a 4.49-inch barrel, 17-round … Is the G17 Gen5 by Glock Compatible with Standard Glock 17 / 9mm Full-Size Parts? Yes, the G17 Gen5 maintains compatibility with standard Glock 17 / 9mm Full-Size platform parts. It uses the same basic … What Are the Specs of the G19 Gen5 by Glock? The Glock G19 Gen5 is a 9x19mm compact pistol measuring 7.28 inches overall length, 4.02-inch barrel, 5.04 inches height… Is the G19 Gen5 by Glock Compatible with Standard Glock 19 / 9mm Compact Parts? Yes, the G19 Gen5 maintains compatibility with standard Glock 19 / 9mm Compact parts. It uses the same platform designat… What Are the Specs of the G43X by Glock? The Glock G43X is a 9x19mm slimline pistol measuring 6.5 inches overall with a 3.41-inch barrel, 1.1-inch width, and wei… Is the G43X by Glock Compatible with Standard Glock 43X / 9mm Slimline Parts? Yes, the Glock G43X is built on the standard Glock 43X / 9mm Slimline platform, making it compatible with parts designed… What Are the Specs of the VP9 by Heckler & Koch? The HK VP9 is a striker-fired 9x19mm pistol measuring 7.34" overall with a 4.09" barrel, 17-round capacity, and 25.56 oz… Is the VP9 by Heckler & Koch Compatible with Standard VP9 / 9mm Full-Size Parts? Yes, the VP9 by Heckler & Koch is fully compatible with standard VP9 / 9mm Full-Size parts since it IS the standard VP9 … What Are the Specs of the LCP Max by Ruger? The Ruger LCP Max is a .380 ACP micro-compact pistol measuring 5.17" overall length, 4.12" height, 0.75" width, with a 2… Is the LCP Max by Ruger Compatible with Standard LCP Max / .380 ACP Micro Parts? Yes, the LCP Max is fully compatible with Standard LCP Max / .380 ACP Micro parts since it IS the standard LCP Max platf… What Are the Specs of the P320 Compact by Sig Sauer? The P320 Compact features a 3.9-inch barrel, 7.2-inch overall length, 5.3-inch height, 1.3-inch width, 15-round capacity… Is the P320 Compact by Sig Sauer Compatible with Standard P320 Compact / 9mm Parts? Yes, the P320 Compact is fully compatible with standard P320 Compact / 9mm parts since it IS the standard P320 Compact p… What Are the Specs of the P365 by Sig Sauer? The Sig Sauer P365 is a 9x19mm micro-compact pistol measuring 5.8 inches overall length with a 3.1-inch barrel, 4.3 inch… Is the P365 by Sig Sauer Compatible with Standard P365 / 9mm Micro-Compact Parts? Yes, the P365 is fully compatible with standard P365 / 9mm Micro-Compact parts since it IS the baseline platform. All af… What Are the Specs of the M&P 2.0 Compact 9mm by Smith & Wesson? The Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact 9mm measures 7.3" overall length with a 4" barrel, weighs 24.0 oz unloaded, holds 15 … Is the M&P 2.0 Compact 9mm by Smith & Wesson Compatible with Standard M&P 2.0 Compact Parts? Yes, the M&P 2.0 Compact 9mm uses standard M&P 2.0 Compact platform parts. It's built on the M&P 2.0 Compact platform, e… What Are the Specs of the Hellcat OSP by Springfield Armory? The Springfield Armory Hellcat OSP is a 9mm micro-compact with a 3-inch barrel, 6-inch overall length, 1-inch width, and… Is the Hellcat OSP by Springfield Armory Compatible with Standard Hellcat / 9mm Micro-Compact Parts? Yes, the Hellcat OSP shares the same Hellcat / 9mm Micro-Compact platform as standard Hellcat models, making parts gener… How to Install a Pistol Grip on an AR-15 Remove the safety selector, unscrew the old grip, disconnect the motor grip if present, install the new grip with suppli… How to Install Sights on a Glock Glock sights install via dovetail cuts on the slide. Rear sights drift out laterally, front sights typically require a s… Revolver vs Semi-Auto for Self Defense Both revolvers and semi-autos work for self defense, but semi-autos offer higher capacity and faster reloads while revol… AR-15 vs Shotgun vs Pistol for Home Defense AR-15s offer the best balance of stopping power, accuracy, and capacity. Shotguns deliver devastating close-range power … How to Set Up a Home Defense Firearm Mount a reliable light, keep the firearm loaded and ready, practice your draw and target acquisition regularly. Store it… What Choke Should I Use for Home Defense Cylinder or improved cylinder chokes provide the widest spread for close-range home defense. Modified choke offers a bal… Buckshot vs Birdshot vs Slugs for Home Defense Buckshot offers the best balance for home defense with effective stopping power and manageable penetration. Birdshot lac… Striker Fired vs Hammer Fired Pistols: Which Is Better Neither is inherently better. Striker fired pistols offer simplicity and consistent triggers, while hammer fired designs… How to Choose Between a Full Size, Compact, and Subcompact Pistol Choose full size for accuracy and capacity, compact for balanced carry and performance, or subcompact for maximum concea… How to Choose a Pistol for Competition Shooting Choose a pistol based on your competition division requirements, prioritizing trigger quality, sight radius, and grip er… How to Improve Your Pistol Accuracy Improve pistol accuracy through consistent grip, proper sight alignment, smooth trigger control, and regular practice wi… How to Choose a Weapon Light for Your Pistol Choose a weapon light based on your intended use: 300-1000 lumens for most applications, reliable activation method, and… How to Choose a Pistol Grip Size That Fits Your Hand Measure your hand from the web between thumb and index finger to the tip of your middle finger. Choose a grip where your… What Is a Compensator on a Pistol and Should You Use One A compensator is a muzzle device that redirects propellant gases upward to counteract muzzle rise. Most shooters benefit… How to Upgrade a Glock: Best Aftermarket Parts Best Glock upgrades include trigger components, sights, barrels, and grip modifications. Start with sights and trigger w… Polymer Frame vs Metal Frame Pistols Polymer frames are lighter and cheaper to manufacture, while metal frames offer better durability and heat dissipation. … How to Choose a Pistol Brace Choose a pistol brace based on your intended use, arm length, and compatibility with your pistol buffer tube. Consider a… What Is the Difference Between a Pistol and an SBR A pistol has no stock and is designed for one-handed operation, while an SBR is a rifle with a barrel under 16 inches or… How to Build an AR-15 Pistol Build an AR-15 pistol by assembling a lower receiver with pistol buffer tube, upper receiver with barrel under 16 inches… How to Choose a Pistol Grip for Your AR-15 Choose an AR-15 pistol grip based on your hand size, shooting style, and ergonomic preferences. The grip angle, texture,…