In today’s climate, it is crucial for individuals to prioritize their personal safety. Numerous effective tools are available that empower you to protect not only yourself but also your loved ones. While some may not feel inclined towards carrying firearms, handguns for self-defense are among the most powerful and reliable options you can have.
The evolution of the handgun dates back to the 14th century, and modern designs are a far cry from those early models that utilized lit matches as ignition sources. The introduction of semi-automatic handguns in the early 20th century marked a significant advancement, as they employed the recoil from the previous shot to automatically eject the spent cartridge and chamber a new round. Since then, their popularity has only continued to grow.
Understanding the current landscape of firearm ownership reveals that it is not merely about self-defense; it reflects a deeper commitment to safeguarding those we cherish. This responsibility is profound, as it requires training and thoughtful consideration in our actions. It compels us to grapple with the moral and ethical dilemmas involved in the lawful use of a firearm to defend life and to acknowledge the inherent risks of carrying such a weapon in unpredictable situations.
Ultimately, this necessitates thorough research on the latest handgun models, leading to annual reviews of numerous firearms, assessing them based on various important criteria. From these evaluations, three handguns have emerged as standout choices for self-defense in contemporary society.
Criteria for Selecting the Top 3 Handguns
When looking at the best handgun for you, weigh these factors highly, from most important to less important.
Caliber: .380 or higher. 9mm and .45 ACP are the most common defensive calibers today.
Size: Pick a gun that will always be there. Regardless of whether it’s in a backpack, outside your pants, inside your pants, or hanging from your shoulder, it needs to be a size you consistently carry.
Weight: Guns that are too heavy, even if they’re small, may become a hassle. Points 2 and 3 relate to all-day carry. Ease of use: For those with less experience with firearms, double action might be too much of a learning curve in a time of need. More experienced users may be able to switch between safety on or not while adrenaline is rushing through their system. When they make a mistake, they overcome the normal safety mechanisms by not obeying them in the first place.
Reliability: Any gun ever made in the first six months produced has intermittent issues, which will require repair. Pick a proven brand and model. Features like trigger locks, drop safety, ambidextrous controls, and even chamber indicators can be important. If you still can’t decide after looking at the criteria, refer to the top three suggestions and make your pick.
Cost: While price-haggling, look at value. For example, a used gun might be a good enough gun for most people, but that same kind of money could also fetch you a used Glock. The cheapest option might not always be the best value. Inexpensive .380s and .38s have enjoyed relative commercial success. Take a look and see if it gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling when you hold one. Some people find the ergonomics and manual safeties of these popular guns make them work for their personal lifestyle.
Resale: Although used firearms are generally cheaper, certain people may not want the liability of a used gun if it turns out to be a lemon or was converted to full auto. You can also frequently pick one up from an individual haggling within a town like yours, just trying to get rid of it.
Bullet type: Hollow versus Round Nose. Some beginners will want .380 because it’s a bit weaker, but it doesn’t over-penetrate as often. Over-penetration may be a concern for Middle-of-Nowhere. .380 is much harder to find and may require reloading. Bullets with more kinetic energy have three to four times the recoil of lower-energy bullets.
Sig Sauer P322
Sig Sauer recently released the Sig Sauer P322, or simply “P322”. This 9 mm compact pistol possesses an innovative design concept that makes it both accessible to a wide variety of shooters and able to fulfill a wide range of duties.
The P322 has a threaded barrel, and the slide is cut for an open top profile, making it optics ready when the optic-ready plate is installed. The P322 also has high profile steel sights that provide a clear sight picture when a red dot isn’t available. These sights also ensure that other necessary devices, such as a weapon mounted light, co-witness properly.
The P322 has an overall length of 6.5 inches and a height of 4.3 inches with an extended 12-round steel magazine, which brings the gun’s total weight, fully loaded, to 25.3 ounces. The grip frame is made of polymer and has a 4-degree grip angle. The fire control unit is rated for a 20,000 round service life.
The P322 offers several features specifically designed to appeal to newer gun owners who may one day be in the market for self-defense handguns. Due to the P322’s revolutionary FCU design, it can be converted to a subcompact or full-size option with ease.
Overall, the gun, while certainly impressive, is intuitively and thoughtfully designed, perfect for new shooters interested in personal protection. The handgun has been evaluated for fit and function as it relates to personal protection.
In the evaluation, the P322 was tested over a four-month period involving several thousand rounds to see how well the gun holds up if it became an “always” or “in vehicle” personal protection weapon. The legendary reliability that Sig Sauer is known for was tested with many different loadings and while exposed to lots of sand, dust, and general lack of care.
One of my drills for a new carry gun includes just grabbing and pulling, assuming I might not get a full grip on the gun. This jerking of the gun has broken other optics off. So the review is about the balance of everything concerning the P322, and not about relying on the included optic. Just my opinion, but I believe all the best personal protection firearms should have iron sights.
There was also a unique safety feature that the factory P322 experienced, leading to its full-time grind-plate inclusion. It is there now, as it should be, to always be “on” as protection for me and anyone else the gun is left with. Simply put, the P322 “Tool-Less” technology features three components: Fire Control Unit, Barrel, Handguard.
Key Features and Specifications
The Sig Sauer P322 is a subcompact pistol offering for 2023 that can be a good option for those searching for a quality concealed carry option. Available in 9mm, the P322 has a magazine capacity of 15+1. This model measures in at 5.7 inches in overall length with a 3.10-inch barrel. The gun stands 4.2 inches in height and is 1.1 inches wide. The Sig P322 handgun weighs in at 17 ounces while the 9mm listing velocity is 1,000 fps.
This model offers only one chambering at this point. The barrel configuration on this model is fixed with a twist rate of 1:7. A coated stainless steel version is also available. The model boasts interchangeable components including grip frames, fire control unit, and sights. Inside, this pistol makes use of a striker-fired system. The model features XRAY3 Day/Night Sights.
The P322 is also compatible with suppressor, M17, and M18 threaded barrels. The model makes use of a textured polymer grip module frame with an integrated carry baseplate and a fire control unit featuring a curved match-grade trigger. On the slide end, the model shows off front and rear slide cocking serrations, a stainless steel slide and barrel that are both black finished, adjustable sights, and an optics-ready slide cut.
Safety features include a trigger safety, striker safety, disconnect safety, and optional manual safety. Maintenance is easy thanks to the accessory rail for mounting lights or lasers and the quick power-up takedown system.
For many, a gun for personal protection will be one of the most significant investments they can make because it can save your life in a dangerous situation. Each individual will have different answers to what features are most important to them in a self-defense gun, but there are a few factors that come up more frequently than any others.
Performance and Reliability
In high-stress situations, performance and reliability are the two most important considerations. Let’s discuss how the P322 deals with those two metrics in the real world.
First of all, the P322 proved to be a fast shooter that is almost frighteningly easy to handle. Recoil was minimal, meaning that rapid follow-ups were extremely easy to execute. Even as the tempo of our test firing increased, the P322 just kept on performing. We have heard reports of the P322 being picky with its ammo, but after blasting through nearly 1,000 rounds with ammo from six different manufacturers, we have yet to have a single failure of any kind with the P322.
It has done all that while maintaining an incredibly high level of accuracy. The P322 comes with either a 9mm or .40 S&W barrel, and while the 9mm is just a little bit more manageable due to the smaller caliber, we were able to put rounds exactly where we wanted them quickly and easily with both barrels.
The P322 is not entirely perfect, though. Users have reported that the magazine release can be accidentally activated if the P322 is used in close-combat scenarios while holding the shooter’s thumb in a large weaver grip. This issue is mostly mitigated by the P322’s included extended magazine release, however.
The most common issue is that the standard P322 is only set up for right-handed shooters out of the box, though left-hand magazine releases and left-hand safeties are both readily available upgrades in the shop.
Pros and Cons
The Sig Sauer P322 offers a very impressive capacity of up to 10 rounds, which makes it among the better self-defense options on this list when it comes to ammunition. Many users have praised Sig Sauer for creating an ergonomic and well-designed firearm.
The P322 is also known for its reliability, with no reports of misfeeds or jams after thousands of rounds. Other users recommended this option for beginners due to its easy-to-use functions and straightforward design. Some users wrote favorably about the long-distance accuracy.
The trigger pull from the factory is one of the easiest we have researched with this offering. This is a pro for new shooters but may be a con for users who prefer guns that require more intention to trigger a shot. The weight and perceived size may be a con for some users, as it is one of the heaviest options on this list.
Lastly, the P322 does not come with the same number of aftermarket parts as some other striker-fired options, so keep in mind that unless you really like how it comes out of the box, you may have a hard time personalizing it and making it your own. It should be mentioned that some of these pros and cons will be influenced by what you’re used to.
For example, someone using this weapon will now be more comfortable with a newer Sig Sauer striker-fired pistol than those who are new to handguns or those coming from an all-metal gun in double action and needing to adjust to a plastic striker-fired pistol. Each of these characteristics should be taken into account when selecting your next self-defense option.
Wilson Combat SFX9
The Wilson Combat SFX9 represents another top recommendation for anyone considering purchasing a handgun. This firearm has a number of features often found on custom-grade guns, although most of the guns’ features were specifically designed for the SFX9 as opposed to simply being inspired by custom features.
The custom grip and the sights are examples of these smartly designed features. The sights are a tactical rack U-notch rear sight with a spear front sight post. The front post is able to switch to a fiber optic, and both the front post and rear sight are drift adjustable. The sights are made specifically for the Wilson Combat SFX9.
The Wilson Combat EDC X9 draws some inspiration from the Wilson Combat SFX9. The SFX9 is a shortened adaptation of the company’s own WCP320 Carry – itself a branch-off from a P320X Compact Carry variation with a custom slide.
The SFX9 is among the lightest handguns for modern dual-zone reinforcements. It is manageable, accurate, and features a rapid fire rate that is extremely easy to track. It is so easy to shoot, in fact, that it actually bolsters a shooter’s confidence in close- and mid-range live fire scenarios and, if need be, serves as a legal means of protection.
When it comes down to it, the Wilson Combat SFX9 represents a top-of-the-line offering for someone looking for an exceptional handgun, provided one is willing to put down the high price for this weapon. The SFX9 does not misfire over long range, nor does it attempt to correct any loose aftertastes that would truly ruin your experience of having ever bought it.
Key Features and Specifications
The Wilson Combat SFX9 is a semi-automatic, striker-fired pistol that offers high-quality features uncommon in an off-the-shelf 9mm firearm. Users are able to select between chambering in the powerful and diverse caliber options of 9x19mm, .357 SIG, or .40 S&W. The Wilson Combat SFX9 boasts an overall length of 7.85 in. and a 4 in. stainless steel, match-grade, cone lock-up barrel.
Additionally, the pistol ships at a weight of 24.36 ounces, depending on the customer’s specifications. The Wilson Combat SFX9 offers a modular design in both slide and frame that allows for custom aesthetic and practical enhancements, such as a billeted rail or stippling texture.
The Wilson Combat SFX9 features an advanced safety system that includes both a frame-mounted thumb safety as well as a built-in power drop safety that operates in tandem with the pistol’s patented X-TAC trigger guard. The firearm ships standard with a black coating and a more aesthetically pleasing Armor-Tuff finish, which is designed to offer protection in the harshest of environmental conditions. The Armor-Tuff finish, found on the slide and frame, boasts a price premium of $75.
The SFX9 comes standard with an attractive, low-profile battle sight; however, the firearm can be optionally upgraded with fiber optic, gold bead, or match tritium sights. The Wilson Combat SFX9 has been designed so that nearly every possible built-to-order feature can be added to the firearm. Additionally, each component of the semi-automatic modular firearm can easily be swapped, making the Wilson Combat SFX9 adaptable to essentially any buyer.
Performance and Reliability
Ride-along field reports so far are confirming many of our initial hopes about SFX9 reliability and performance. They are cycling tightly, can chug out hundreds of rounds during 12-hour shifts without a hiccup, and owners on East and West Coast ranges are not finding them significantly lacking in accuracy or reliability when going through a first flush of lubrication on a factory-fresh gun.
Some user reports have various issues with reliability and accuracy that we’re still gathering information on or figuring out, but everyone seems to agree with us that it’s really easy for a duty-intent gun to hit with and handle nicely in the unique way that only a steel-framed gun tends to for some reason.
The 4-inch SFX frames its dot picture nicely, and the frame punches in close groups; those smaller ones definitely aren’t from me. So far, our favorite review of the show comes from a SFX9 owner who brought his new gun, first time on steel, to a class and reported that, “I do notice it more as a larger dot than a common dot trick there they are!” Well, that’s one heck of a tough sentence to diagram, for sure.
Pros and Cons
If you’re thinking about the SFX9 for your everyday carry or self-defense situation, it might help to hear more about the pros and cons of the pistol. The SFX9 is not a cheap handgun, which is a big deterrent for many readers after a budget self-defense option. But it also comes with so many pros that it will be hard to not splurge for this as your next handgun purchase.
From its exceptional craftsmanship to the spurless hammer and flat-faced trigger, the gun is built specifically for carry purposes. It’s also so accurate and reliable that you can count on it if the need arises for self-defense.
The upgraded sights and red dot sight options help with that, too. It’s hard to deny that the gun is enticing since customers can customize it based on what they plan on doing with it. The trigger can be customized to your personal preference since it’s tuned in a specialized center, which is a feature that’s popular among previous customers. There are some cons to the gun that should be mentioned, too. Not everyone will want to buy a pistol that’s so heavy.
The SFX9 is a heavier and larger carry option compared to smaller and lighter concealed carry guns that seem easier to walk around with. It’s also somewhat of a bummer that the SFX9 is so expensive because most people can’t spend hundreds of dollars on a handgun every time they want to buy one. Before you buy the SFX9, readers should think long and hard about how they will use a handgun for self-defense and if the SFX9 fits the bill.
Taurus GX4
The top three handguns for self-defense in 2024 represent some great, top-notch choices for addressing your personal defense needs. More than just “fun” guns, these three are all business with features applicable to serious self-defense scenarios. While one is more of a plinker, they can all be very capable afield, focused as reliable and easy to use. These are the guns of interest to students in our personal defense courses, always keeping in mind the cost-to-value equation.
Introduced in 2021, the Taurus GX4 is easily the smallest and lightest handgun in the company’s concealed carry firearm lineup. It’s also easily the most affordable Glock-style handgun on the market. Part of the appeal of the GX4 is simply its price. It’s an easy pick for someone who wants a glovebox or nightstand pistol that won’t break the bank but also offers everything the competition does.
At the range, the Taurus GX4 was dry and generally reliable. And, unlike some of its peers, it functions well with just about any ammunition. Taurus has chosen to throttle back on headline-grabbing features, focusing on practicality and economy that appeals to entry-level and more experienced shooters equally.
The emphasis is on economy without sacrificing reliability and practical accuracy, with features geared towards personal defense use. Numerous companies using a variety of testing protocols awarded the Taurus GX4 top marks for reliability.
Customers also report being highly satisfied with the compact handgun’s performance in daily shooting and self-defense roles, praising it for its accuracy and being one of the better 9mm carry guns on the market as a combination of price, features, and quality.
Key Features and Specifications
The Taurus GX4 is a 9mm subcompact or micro-compact firearm designed for concealed carry. It offers users the choice between two 10-round magazines or a combination of one 11-round and one 13-round magazine. The dimensions of the GX4 are 5.8 inches in length, 4.6 inches in height, and just 1 inch in width. Weighing in at a mere 18 ounces when unloaded, this pistol is lightweight and easy to handle.
Customers can select from a variety of finishes, sight configurations, safety options, and slide serration patterns, with prices beginning at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). All variants come equipped with a MIL-STD-D1913 Picatinny rail, allowing users to attach popular accessories such as lasers and tactical lights.
The Taurus GX4 utilizes a dual-action safety trigger system, eliminating any manual safety selection. This feature provides a long and consistent trigger pull with a distinct break. Additionally, it includes an integrated and streamlined spurred hammer to assist users in managing the 10+ pound trigger pull and reset, enhancing shooting accuracy.
The gun is fitted with Zytel-based grip inserts that provide a reliable, non-slip hold, complemented by an ergonomic grip design for improved comfort and natural aiming. Ambidextrous full-height manual thumb safeties are optional, with price points varying based on configurations. The pistol also includes finger extenders, which can help the compact grip feel more like that of a full-sized firearm, along with an extra magazine and a flush plate.
Performance and Reliability
At the shooting range, the Taurus GX4 is impressive in its lack of hubbub while blasting away at the ten-ring from seven yards. Folks who have experienced right out-of-the-box performance can affirm the efficacy of a carry pistol that performs on command.
So is the GX4 accurate? Well, 357 rounds at seven yards say that it is, at least. That’s where plenty of self-defense shooting happens anyway. A gun’s handling, which encompasses how it shoots, includes the feel in the hand, the behavior with recoil, how often it jams, choice in trigger, and so on.
At its inception, our Taurus GX4 had a couple of poor showings during testing early on, and the remedy of a good cleaning put the GX4 back into blast mode. A lack of maintenance can affect the gun’s shootability, but everyone is on a different maintenance schedule. Ease of maintenance is significant and worth mentioning, in case someone isn’t inclined to use a cleaning rod after each time at the range.
Does the GX4 really need a good cleaning once in a while?
It does, and no one could argue otherwise. Practical matters continue to work well in our favor when it comes to the GX4.
In the midst of a portable composition of firearm parts, the extravagant mixture of bullet grains and velocities still managed to produce a variable level overall of priming issues. But we dove into those weeds in the ammunition section. For less leverage and stance for quite a while, a 25-yard target fired with both pistols has its charm. The GX4 remains a very useful, combat-effective self-defense tool.
Pros and Cons
The Taurus GX4 has many customization options. Plus, it is small enough to be easily carried, yet big enough to be comfortable to use. In addition, the Taurus brand is known for making low-cost weapons, meaning that you can buy the Taurus GX4 for a reasonable price.
Overall, the Taurus GX4 is one of the best handguns for self-defense, as it appeals to a wide group of people and you don’t have to spend very much to get your hands on one. The Taurus GX4 is very easy to use and is reliable, frequently demonstrating great accuracy after the first few shots that wear off the novel parts of the gun.
The Taurus GX4 carries a maximum of 13 bullets, which is less than its two top competitors. Also, while expert users may find the gun aesthetically pleasing, more casual users may find the Taurus GX4’s finish and appearance somewhat lacking.
In summary, if you prioritize customization, simplicity, affordability, and reliability, you may benefit from the Taurus GX4. The Taurus GX4 has a small footprint, but is still big enough to be easy to use. With the option for customization and chambering 13 or 11 rounds, this is a budget-friendly option for those who want a high-quality carry gun.
Before you decide whether to buy the Taurus GX4, be sure to weigh its small magazine capacity, short barrel, lower magazine capacity, and lack of some more premium features. The Taurus GX4 for personal defense – suitable for the average casual user.
Concluding
Final thoughts on the pros and cons of the top three handguns for self-defense in 2024 reveal essential considerations that potential buyers must take into account.
Each of these firearms presents distinct advantages, such as impressive reliability, user-friendly operation, and accuracy, which can be crucial in high-stress situations. However, there are also significant drawbacks to consider, such as challenges related to recoil management, overall weight, and suitability for different hand sizes.
Ultimately, the most suitable choice will depend heavily on individual needs, personal preferences, and intended use cases, such as home defense or concealed carry. Taking the time to evaluate these factors thoroughly will help ensure a more informed decision.
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