9mm handguns and pistols
The NICS reports nearly 900,000 people filled out a background check form to purchase a handgun in June 2015. As more people than ever are choosing to protect themselves, the more questions we receive on what gun is best for concealed carry. Many factors go in to choosing the right gun. This article compares the smallest of the smallest semiautomatic handguns.
Arex broke into the market in a big way with the introduction of the Rex Zero 1S. The pistol was not revolutionary and chock full of new features. Instead, many labeled its reliability as the ultimate SHTF gun—an improvement on current popular models all combined into one gun. The Zero 1 was followed by the Alpha, an out-of-the-box competition-ready pistol with an MSRP around $1,000. For 2019, Arex is set to release the Delta, a striker-fired polymer pistol, and The Shooter’s Log went to Slovenia to get a first look at the prototype.
The single stack 9mm market consists of the Glock 43 9mm, Springfield XD, and Smith and Wesson Shield, and similar pistols. A new player has introduced a pistol based on sound engineering that just might be the best pistol for your use. Mossberg isn’t a new maker, but it is a new maker in the compact 9mm market. This is Mossberg’s first handgun in nearly 100 years.
The SIG is a tactical-looking weapon because it has a military/LE weapon ancestry that is especially noticeable due to the magazine mounted in front of the trigger guard and not in the grip. Initially, there is an awkwardness shooting pistols such as the SIG MPX. It feels like an SBR (Short Barrel Rifle), yet it does not have a stock for a steady aim.
The Beretta APX is Beretta’s entry into the polymer-frame striker-fired field, and they added a modular design for good measure. The APX is going against stiff competition. While Beretta has brand loyalty, the piece must stand on its own merit.
A few years ago, Ruger introduced a well made and nicely finished Government Model 1911 .45 ACP. The SR1911 has earned a reputation as an excellent value for its modest price. But Ruger did not stop there.
Possibly, the most interesting Glock handgun introduced in some time is the Glock 19X. The pistol shows that Glock is thinking out of the box and may be the harbinger of a new line of handguns. The idea is simple enough. The 19X features a Glock 17 full size frame with the Glock 19 barrel. However, the worth of any pistol is proven at the range.
Before I begin singing the praises of the Springfield EMP 1911, I should say that I have never felt the 9mm 1911 made a lot of sense. It was like putting a six cylinder engine in a Corvette. The 10mm 1911 is like a 454 Chevelle by comparison. However, the Springfield EMP is not an average 1911 9mm.
The Security-9 is billed as an affordable personal defense handgun that offers a light weight for concealed carry. In simple terms the pistol is Glock 19 size. The Security-9 is not a scaled down Ruger American 9mm, which would seem to be everyone’s first guess when the pistol was announced. The Security-9, rather, is a scaled up LCP or LC9 in most regards.
I was fortunate to get my hands on one of the first 50 SAR 9 pistols imported from Turkey by SAR USA—the American division of Turkish gun and aerospace manufacturer Sarsilmaz. The Turks know a thing or two about making firearms—especially ones that are dependable and affordable. In my opinion, what Turkish producers do best is replicate the most useful features of existing models; most often cranking out products that mix traits of familiar American or western European brands to create a unique firearm that costs a bit less than their predecessors. The SAR 9 is an example of this approach to gun design.