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Whether your a first-time buyer or a seasoned expert, choosing a new gun can be an intimidating task. There are always new guns entering the market with different gimmicks and bells and whistles. Sometimes, it can be difficult to cut through all the noise and find a handgun that’s actually effective and high-quality.
Luckily, your exhaustive search can finally end. We’ve done all of the research so you don’t have to. So continue reading and we’ll walk you through the best handguns for 2020.
1. Walther PPQ M2
If you’re looking for the best of the best when it comes to full-size handguns, then look no further. The Walther PPQ M2 has perhaps the most effective striker-fired trigger available at a reasonable price. Any handgun that fires better than this one is either aftermarket/custom, single-action, or extremely expensive.
When you go to pull that trigger, your hand will be comfortable holding the gun’s ergonomic grip. Plus, as an option, you can get three-dot night sights. And all of this comes on a gun that’s just a little larger than a Glock 19.
2. CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical
The CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical is another fantastic full-size handgun. With this firearm, you’ll get an under-barrel rail for a light on a DA/SA, steel-framed gun that comes with a manual de-cocker. There’s no safety on this gun.
Unloaded, this gun is a bit on the heavy side and weighs around 2.5 pounds. The weight may hinder it from being a great concealed carry choice but it’s excellent for open carry or protecting your home. The heaviness helps to absorb the recoil, though and makes for a very pleasant gun to shoot.
3. Glock 17
The Glock platform may be the most copied design for handguns in the world. And there’s a good reason for this. The Glock is an affordable, reliable, and effective firearm that comes in a variety of sizes and calibers.
This specific model is Glock’s original duty-sized pistol. It’s been a common gun for police officers to use since the 1980s. Glocks are used by militaries and police officers all over the world and the brand may be one of the most well-known when it comes to gun manufacturers.
The Glock 17 isn’t the most accurate gun and it’s not as comfortable to shoot as the other guns we listed earlier. It also doesn’t have the best grip, sights, or trigger. But at such an affordable price, many gun enthusiasts are willing to look past those faults.
4. Glock 19 GEN5
Now, let’s move onto compact handguns. This new model from Glock is based on military designs that weren’t available to the public previously. This generation of Glocks has abandoned the troublesome finger grooves that were on the Gen4 models.
This model also comes with a slide that’s tapered, a slide-stop that can be used in either hand and a variety of other additions that elevate the gun’s value and quality. With this gun, you’re also going to get an improved trigger and more accurate shooting.
Killer Innovations also makes some excellent velocity barrels for the Glock 19 which are worth checking out.
5. Glock 45 GEN5
Want all of the perks fo the Glock 19 GEN5 but with more ammunition capacity? Look no further than the Glock 45 GEN5. It also comes with a classy and low-profile matte black finish. With this model, you’ll get the Glock 17’s grip with the Glock 19’s slide length.
This combination of features makes it a great pick of concealed carry or open carry. And the shorter slides means that you’ll have an easier time concealing the firearm. Plus, you’ll be getting two extra rounds in the magazine.
6. Ruger Security 9
Stepping away from the Glocks for a second, let’s take a look at the very lovely Ruger Security 9. It has a design that’s reminiscent of the Glock 19 but with an even cheaper price tag.
The trigger, sights, and finish may not be as great as the Glock 19 but for a cheaper price, you still get the same size and capacity.
7. CZ P-10C Optics Ready (OR)
This gun from CZ is a similar size to the Glock 19 but with a much more comfortable angle for the grip. This gun also features an optics mounting plate so you can attach a red dot on top.
It also has one of the best triggers in the compact size category. It makes for a great purchase for home defense.
8. M&P Shield 2.0 Performance Center Edition
This sub-compact handgun is a member of the “pocket nines” group. Many gun enthusiasts swear by this firearm. They’re a perfect item for people who are looking for a handgun that has a sizeable capacity that’s also concealable and small.
This latest model comes with a cleaner break, ported barrel, and a new and improved trigger with a shorter reset. The grip is also well-textured so it will be easier for you to hold this small pistol more easily in your hand. You also get more slide, which helps to lower the reciprocating mass which will reduce some of the muzzle flip and recoil.
9. Ruger EC9S
The older Ruger LC9 was fairly popular among gun owners. This was in part thanks to the fact that it came out during the peak of the pocket gun craze. The only issue most people had was that the trigger didn’t seem to be of great quality.
Well, Ruger took the people’s issues to heart and released a new LC9 model. This time, there was no double-action arrangement and instead, they included a striker-fired component. They also improved the trigger greatly.
Soon after, they released the LC9 Pro which got rid of the annoying manual safety. And only recently, Ruger came out with their more affordable EC9 model. This gun is basically the LC9 Pro except they’ve replaced the adjustable sights with milled-in sights.
And it’s also $100 less. That means for less than $200 you can get an incredibly reliable pocket pistol.
Because the slide rails are only milled aluminum, it’s not going to last as long as other guns. And the finish could be nicer. But for the cost of a Glock, you can buy this gun, some ammo, and still have some money left to spend.
10. Glock 43X
The Glock 43X is arguably the best of the Glocks on the market today. This model is part of the brand’s slimline model series. Also in that series is the Glock 48, which is the same gun but with a longer slide and barrel.
This gun is a bit larger than the regular 43 models and it’s been newly designed so that it’s more ergonomic. It’s also still easy to conceal and you’ll get ten rounds in the mag.
The finish on this gun is factory matte gray/silver PVD. It’s a tougher finish than the nitride coating that you’ll find on the majority of Glocks. Other than those features, this is a standard Glock handgun. You get the same mag release, trigger, and everything else.
11. Ruger LCP II
This is a .380 ACP concealable gun that is quite popular among pocket gun fans. The Ruger LCP II sells for less than $250 and shoots great. The trigger is a lot easier to use than the one on the original model although the sights do leave something to be desired.
12. Ruger LCRX
The first revolver on our list, this is a great gun that’s also easy to conceal. It’s built with an aluminum frame. You’ll find the trigger in a polymer control housing so it’s extremely light.
But the best part of this gun is that it’s rated for +P ammunition. This means that you can use .38 Special self-defense ammo with ease. The barrel is also 3″ which is less common than the 2″ and 4″ barrels on many revolvers.
This barrel gives you better muzzle velocity and more precise shooting thanks to its longer sight radius. You also have the ability to get Crimson Trace laser grips which always makes the gun even better.
The Importance of Knowing the Best Handguns of 2020
As we can see, there are truly a variety of great handguns out there on the market today. But for every high-quality handgun out there, there are a bunch more that aren’t worth your time or money.
By knowing what the best handguns on the market are, you can more easily find the right one for you. Before you start buying though, you should take into consideration what your budget is and what you’re trying to get out of the handgun.
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