What Five 9mm Handguns Should Everyone Own?
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Best 9mm Handguns for Concealed Carry
While we all have our favorite everyday concealed carry pistol or revolver, almost every firearm owner knows the importance of maintaining a good full size or compact back-up chambered in 9mm. The 9x19mm round is versatile, comes in a lot of great options such as hollow point (HP) or over-pressurized (+P), and has a lot less recoil than the bigger S&W .40 round.
With that in mind, let's look at five different 9mm handguns that every gun owner should have in his safe.
Beretta PX4
The Beretta PX4 Storm is becoming increasingly popular amongst military and law enforcement. Sleek, well engineered, and ambidextrous controls make this a much sought after firearm. Because Beretta realizes one size doesn't fit all, they're made with customizable, interchangeable backstraps to give each shooter's hand his or her unique fit. Best of all, it's available in full size, compact, and even sub-compact.
Glock 17 or Glock 19
Every gun owner should have at least one Glock chambered in 9mm. Possibly one of the best striker-fire pistols to date, the Glock 19 Gen 4 is a slightly more compact version of the G17. Both are chambered in 9x19mm and have customized backstraps for different grips. The Glock 19 Gen 4 also has Glock's accessory rail for mounting a laser sight assembly or a flashlight.
Preferred as the standard issue amongst many law enforcement agencies across the country, the Glock 19 is a great step up from the more compact G26 and G43.
Ruger SR9 or Ruger LC9
It depends on whether or not you spend more time carrying a concealed firearm or wearing an , but Ruger can't be forgotten. Ruger makes a full-size SR9 and a smaller compact LC9 cousin that are staples of the 9mm handgun line-up. Dependable, striker-fired, and built with a lot of great safety options, Ruger really set the standard for other gun manufacturers out there.
M&P Shield 9mm
Cheap, reliable, and streamlined for concealed carry inside the waistband holsters, M&P Shield is front and center in any list of "who's who" for 9mm pistols. Shields are made with or without a thumb safety for the concealed carrier's preference. Compact and easy to shoot, it's a pleasant first time concealed carry pistol choice.
Sig Sauer P320
It's a compact pistol that every Sig Sauer fan has come to expect and love. It comes in three different sizes to fit any carry style - full-size, compact, and even sub compact. The Sig Sauer P320 Compact boasts a magazine capacity of 13-15 rounds and optional SIGLITE(r) Night Sights for great low-light performance.
What is the Best 9mm Handgun?
While there are certainly quite a few more 9mm handguns that are simply "must have", we had to limit our search to five we felt had the greatest impact in design, ergonomics, and defense. Most of these models all feature a concealed carry version made with the daily carrier in mind just like our .
If we left off a 9mm firearm that demands some attention - make sure to include it in the comments section below.
| About The Author James England (@sir_jim_england) is the contributing editor for Alien Gear Holsters. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and private defense contracting in Afghanistan. |