

And it offers a reversible magazine release as well. There’s even a 1911-style thumb safety for those who want the extra level of security. There’s nothing missing from the G3 that you would find on standard pistols selling for much more. In fact, the average pull weight on my test gun was only 5.3 pounds. While we’re on that topic, the trigger pull itself feels a little like a double-action revolver’s, though it’s lighter and considerably better.

The slide does not have to be cycled for another trigger pull. This means that if a round doesn’t fire when you pull the trigger, you can pull the trigger a second time to try again. In addition to the texturing, the G3 also offers thumb shelves on both sides for increased control as well as memory pads on the frame, above the triggerguard, for the index finger.Īmong striker-fired pistols, the G3 is unusual in its restrike capability. The pistol is extremely comfortable to hold and shoot thanks to the skateboard-tape-style grip texturing. The G3 is dimensionally similar a Glock 19, though one variant ships with a 17-round magazine in addition to a 15-rounder.

#Top 10 9mm pistols full
Sights: White-dot front, white-outlined rearĭespite its “value” price point, the Taurus G3 offers a full complement of popular features, including front and rear cocking serrations, a beveled slide and a Picatinny rail for accessories.These were a bit undersized and tricky to manipulate at times, though with the two magazines, the Security-9 Compact is a fairly complete piece of kit for the price. A few corners were trimmed with the controls, including the slide lock and magazine release. The white-dot front sight is paired with a drift-adjustable, white-outlined rear sight.ĭespite its budget price point, the Security-9 Compact features front and rear cocking serrations for easy slide manipulations, a Picatinny rail and a reversible magazine release. The slide is also beveled all over for a snag-free draw and easy one-handed reholstering. This is decent but not quite as corrosion resistant as other finishes, such as Melonite or Cerakote.

The slide is made of through-hardened alloy steel and wears a blued finish. It also comes with a Hogue grip sleeve that adds some girth but provides excellent control and helps insulate the user from felt recoil. This particular model (3829) packs 10+1 rounds inside a fairly compact package. However, it uses Ruger’s hammer-fired “Secure Action.” Racking the slide partially cocks the hammer before the trigger pull finishes the cycle and fires a round. The Security-9 Compact is deceptive in its appearance, since it looks a lot like a striker-fired pistol, especially with its trigger safety. But each has its own strengths that makes it stand out from the rest. All five 9mm pistols in this review have polymer frames, and all but one are striker-fired. Without question, polymer grip frames have drastically altered the landscape of what’s available to American consumers, resulting in firearms that are cheaper to produce and purchase. I used a few criteria to create this list: The pistols had to have come out in the past year, their MSRPs are under $500, and their magazines hold at least 10 rounds. That’s why we’re going to look at five “value-priced” 9mm pistols that still offer plenty of features and performance without busting a budget. But pistols under $500 change the conversation. Whether it’s about keeping food on the table or prioritizing money for other activities, many folks can only spare so much cash for a quality defensive firearm. Not everyone’s lifestyle is defined by firearms. For some families, spending an extra $600 to $1,000 on a top-tier defensive pistol isn’t really a viable option.
