The right gun is essential
Choosing a pistol is one of the most important decisions for any shooter. It's not just a matter of personal preference - your choice of gun can significantly affect your accuracy, safety and overall shooting enjoyment. Each pistol has specific characteristics that can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on its intended use. For sport shooting you will appreciate accuracy and reliability, for self-defense compact size and easy handling, and for duty use durability and versatility. The wrong choice of weapon can lead to inaccurate shooting, an uncomfortable grip and, in extreme cases, safety hazards.
The Best Pistols for Everyone
In the following review, we present five pistols that are rightfully among the absolute world's best. Each one represents the best in its category and offers specific advantages for different types of use.
You can try all of these models in person at our shooting range in Prague, where experienced instructors will help you choose the best gun for you. Under their guidance you will learn about handling, shooting and specifics of each model.
Best 9 mm pistol: Sig Sauer P226
The Sig Sauer P226 pistol was developed in 1983 for the U.S. Army's competition for a new service weapon. Although it narrowly lost out to the Beretta M9 at the time due to price, it gained the attention of the elite US Navy SEALs, who adopted it as their standard service weapon in 1985. The pistol is based on the proven Sig Sauer P220 design and was developed by the Swiss company SIG in cooperation with the German gunmaker J. P. Sauer & Sohn. During its service, it has proven extremely reliable in the harshest conditions, from desert storms to Arctic freezes. The P226 has gone on to become the standard weapon of many elite police and military units around the world, including the British SAS, US federal agencies and counter-terrorism units.
Technical features
- Calibre: 9 mm Luger
- Magazine capacity: 15 rounds
- Barrel length: 112 mm
- Overall length: 196 mm
- Weight: 964 g
- Trigger mechanism: DA/SA
- Safety features: decocker, firing pin lock
The Sig Sauer P226 is rightfully one of the best 9mm pistols and excels especially in professional use. It is the ideal choice for armed forces and advanced shooters who appreciate its accuracy and reliability in any conditions. It features excellent ergonomics, making it a popular weapon for sport shooting as well.
American Legend Colt 1911
The Colt 1911 is a living legend with over a century of history. It was designed by famed designer John Moses Browning in the early 20th century in response to the US Army's demand for a more powerful service pistol. The Army needed a weapon with more stopping power after the experience of the Philippine-American War, where existing .38 caliber revolvers were not effective enough. Browning developed a revolutionary design with a locked breech and .45 ACP caliber that passed the Army's rigorous 1911 tests (hence the 1911 designation). The pistol fired 6,000 rounds during the tests without a single malfunction, was submerged in acid, mud and sand, and still functioned flawlessly. It served as the standard service weapon of the U.S. Army for over 70 years and participated in every major conflict of the 20th century. It is still considered one of the most influential designs in firearms history, and its design has influenced the development of many modern pistols.
Technical features
- Rage: .45 ACP
- Magazine capacity: 7 rounds
- Barrel length: 127 mm
- Overall length: 216 mm
- Weight: 1100 g
- Trigger mechanism: single-acting
- Safety features: manual and automatic fuses
The Colt 1911 is perfect for sport shooting and collectors. Its massive caliber makes it an effective self-defense tool, although it is not the typical choice for concealed carry. Many shooters appreciate its natural ergonomics and excellent trigger, which is among the best among production guns.
The best Czech pistol: CZ 75
The CZ 75 is a masterpiece of Czech designer František Koucký, who worked on its development in secret during the Cold War. It was created in 1975 at the Czech Armoury in Uherský Brod and represented a revolutionary approach to the design of service pistols. Due to the political situation at the time, it could not be patented in the West, which ironically led to it becoming one of the most copied pistols in the world. The design of the CZ 75 was so groundbreaking that respected American expert Jeff Cooper called it "the best service pistol of the 20th century". Its unique design combines elements of the legendary Browning slide with a double-action trigger mechanism and an ergonomically perfect grip. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, the CZ 75 quickly established itself on world markets and began winning prestigious contracts from police and military units around the world. Today it is produced in dozens of variants and has become the basis for the entire family of modern CZ pistols.
Technical features
- Calibre: 9 mm Luger
- Magazine capacity: 16 rounds
- Barrel length: 114 mm
- Overall length: 206 mm
- Weight: 1000 g
- Trigger mechanism: DA/SA
- Safety features: manual fuse
It is a versatile weapon suitable for both service use and sport shooting. As the best Czech pistol it offers an excellent price/quality ratio. Its design has inspired many other manufacturers and has spawned many clones, which only confirms the quality of the original design.
Best pistol for a beginner: the Glock 17
The story of the Glock begins in 1980, when the Austrian army announced a tender for a new service pistol. Gaston Glock, who until then had no experience in weapons manufacturing and specialized in the production of military training grenades and knives, decided to develop a completely new type of pistol. He assembled a team of military and police experts and in just three months created a revolutionary concept. The Glock 17 (the company's seventeenth patent application) revolutionised pistol design by using polymers to make the frame. Many experts at the time predicted the failure of the "plastic gun", but Glock proved that its design was not only lighter and more durable, but also significantly cheaper to produce. The first major success came in 1982 when the Glock 17 won an Austrian military tender, and a series of successes followed around the world. Today, Glocks are used by more than 65% of police forces in the US and have become synonymous with the modern service pistol.
Technical features
- Calibre: 9 mm Luger
- Magazine capacity: 17 rounds
- Barrel length: 114 mm
- Overall length: 202 mm
- Weight: 625 g
- Trigger mechanism: Safe Action
- Safety features: three automatic fuses
Thanks to its reliability and ease of maintenance, the Glock 17 is a favorite among police forces around the world. It is also a great choice for self-defense and sport shooting. Its light weight and lack of external controls make it a practical weapon for everyday carry.
The best subcompact pistol: Smith & Wesson M&P
Smith & Wesson M&P (Military & Police) continues the more than 160-year tradition of manufacturing service weapons of this legendary American gunmaker. The modern M&P line was introduced in 2005 as a direct response to Glock's dominance of the service weapon market. S&W designers have used their extensive experience in revolver development and the previous Sigma pistol line to create a gun that combines modern materials with traditional brand values. The name M&P refers to the famous Model 10 Military & Police revolver line from 1899, which became the best-selling revolver in history. In developing the new M&P line, the company worked closely with police and military professionals to ensure that the gun would meet the most demanding requirements for duty use. The unique system of interchangeable grip backs was a revolutionary innovation that allowed unprecedented ergonomic adaptation to different users.
Technical features
- Calibre: 9 mm Luger
- Magazine capacity: 17 rounds (standard version)
- Barrel length: 108 mm
- Overall length: 194 mm
- Weight: 680 g
- Trigger mechanism: Striker Fired
- Adjustable handle inclination
As the best subcompact pistol, the Smith & Wesson M&P excels in ergonomics and modularity. It is popular with law enforcement officers and civilian shooters alike. The interchangeable grip back system allows the weapon to be adapted to different hand sizes.
There's nothing like personal experience or Try the gun first
Before you decide on a particular model, we recommend visiting our shooting range in Prague, where you can personally test all the above-mentioned weapons under professional supervision. Our instructors will help you with your choice and provide valuable advice on handling and maintenance. If you don't have a firearms license yet , you can take a firearms license course with us, which will make passing the exams a breeze.
Each of these five pistols represents the top of its category and has its own specific strengths. Choosing the right one depends on your specific needs and experience. Remember, the best gun isn't necessarily the most expensive or the newest - it's the one you feel safest with and shoot most accurately.
