Handguns

Striker-fired pistols dominate today’s handgun market, but that does not automatically make them the best choice for every shooter. We put revolvers, single action, DA/SA, DAO, and striker-fired handgun actions under the microscope and on the range to see where each one shines.

The Colt Python 3 inch is already a gorgeous .357 Magnum, but two weaknesses kept it from perfection. Harrison Snake Sights and Hogue Monogrips changed that in a hurry.

KelTec completely reworked its original P50 concept with a drop-free 50-round magazine, machined receiver and smarter controls. We ran the KP50 hard, suppressed and unsuppressed, to see whether this 5.7x28mm oddball is genius or gimmick.

The Springfield Prodigy COA pairs double-stack 1911 performance with an Aimpoint optic that sits remarkably low and stayed locked on zero. After several hundred rounds, +P loads, mag dumps, quick-draw drills, and hits at 100 yards, the pistol finished with zero malfunctions.

The Chiappa Rhino 60 DS 10mm looks like a sci-fi prop, fires from the bottom chamber, and somehow makes full-power 10mm Auto feel far more civilized than it should. I ran it with defensive, hunting, and range ammo to see if the weird design is real engineering or just revolver theater.

The FN Reflex combines a surprisingly good trigger, .85-inch best-group accuracy, and flawless reliability in a palm-sized carry gun. This little 9mm ran clean, dirty, and gritty without giving us the first problem.

Five shots, one old-school cylinder, and 30+ years of carry experience make the CCW revolver harder to dismiss than the high-capacity crowd wants to admit. The J-Frame is not for everyone, but in the right role, this little wheel gun still has teeth.

The revived S&W 396 Night Guard in .44 Special promises the perfect middle ground between snubnose carry and full-size shootability. It starts strong, shoots well, and then delivers the kind of reliability failure that turns nostalgia into frustration fast.

The best micro compact pistols cram serious capacity, real shootability, and everyday carry comfort into guns that almost disappear under a shirt. From the SIG P365X to the Wilson Combat SFX9, these five tiny carry pistols prove small does not have to mean helpless.