The best pistols in the world today prove to be convenient, compact, durable, and trusted by many security forces around the world.
Today’s global firearms industry builds handguns that last with high accuracy. Many of these pistols have been around for hundreds of years, some of which have been in mass production in the past decade.
Here are the 5 best pistols in the world today, according to military expert Kyle Mizokami in National Interest magazine.
Colt M1911A1 pistol.
The history of the Colt M1911 pistol dates back to the early 1900s, when renowned designer John M. Browning developed a semi-automatic pistol for the Colt Company. The M1911 semi-automatic pistol model was named right at the time of its birth in 1911, replacing the popular revolver at that time.
The original M1911 model weighed about 1kg and used a 7-round magazine. An upgraded version was born in 1924 called M1911A1, aiming at user comfort.
After the patent expired, weapons manufacturers around the globe were allowed to build on the M1911 model to create their own version of the pistol. Millions of guns were manufactured in the United States during World War II under contract by the US government.
In 2012, the special forces of the US Marines were issued with a Colt M45A1 pistol, an upgraded version of the old M1911A1.
The Glock 17 pistol is famous for its ease of use and compactness.
Glock 17 is built around 3 main factors: Simplicity, convenience and high reliability.
Glock 17 has a simple design, few parts, so assembly is quick and easy. Most of the details are made of synthetic materials, only the barrel, the barrel is made of metal, which minimizes weight.
Glock pistols have passed the rigorous test of the Australian military with only one bullet stuck in a total of 10,000 consecutive shots.
Glock 17 uses a 9 x 19 mm ammunition, a 17-round base magazine, an effective range of about 50 m, a muzzle velocity of 360 m/s. This pistol model can even be modified to accommodate all ammunition for semi-automatic firearms.
The US Delta Force task force chose to use the Glock pistol instead of the legendary M1911A1 pistol model.
SIG Sauer P226 has been trusted by US SEALs for 28 years.
The P226 was developed in the 1980s in response to a request by the US Army to replace the legendary Colt M1911 pistol. The gun uses a 9 x 19 mm bullet size, loaded by jet. The P226 has an aluminum alloy version weighing 870g and a heavier stainless steel version, weighing about 1.1kg.
The gun is compatible with the 15-round base magazine, the muzzle velocity is 350 m/s, the effective range is about 50 meters. The P226 is widely seen among the military and gunsmiths in the US. As of 2015, the P226 is still manufactured in the US. Durability, high reliability are the outstanding advantages of this gun model.
The Sig Sauer P226 was trusted by US SEALs for 28 years, until it was replaced by the more compact Glock 17 and Glock 19 versions.
Smith & Wesson M&P 45 pistol model.
Produced in 2005 by the Smith & Wesson company, this pistol model does not have a specific designation but takes the name Army, Police (Military and Police) to describe its use.
This pistol is made in multiple versions compatible with 10 x 22 mm, 9 x 22 mm, 9 x 17 mm, 11.43 x 23 mm and 9 x 19 mm ammunition.
M&P has high reliability, compact size, easy to hide, uses 17-round magazine, effective range of about 50 m. Under the barrel there is a small picatiny rail to install tactical flashlights, laser lights.
The M&P pistol model is mainly used by the US police and many other security forces around the world.
Pistol CZ 75B.
This pistol model has been manufactured since 1976, as of 2007, more than 1 million guns have been shipped. The first impression of the CZ-75 is a very smooth, sleek design, easy to hold, highly reliable, accurate and easy to use.
The gun uses a 9 x 19 mm bullet, a 16-round magazine, a barrel speed of 360 m/s, an effective range of about 50 meters. CZ-75 is widely present in the army of the Czech Republic and exported to many other countries.