The 5 Best Full-Size Handguns

The firearm industry is completely different compared to 10 years ago. In the past when you went to pick up a full-size handgun you were limited to 2 or 3 good options on the market whereas nowadays there are excellent choices for people in every budget range. Today I will be going over 5 of what I consider the best full-size handguns in every budget range listing some of the pros of each and taking into consideration price and availability. I will be covering everything from budget polymer frame pistols to high-end 2011s and everything in between. Additionally, I will be taking into consideration the aftermarket part and holster support. During my time in the firearm industry, I have gotten my hands on a lot of different platforms. I hope that this article will help some of you first-time buyers or even some people just looking for something new and interesting make a decision on what to purchase.

Glock 17

What is there to say the Glock 17 is one of the best polymer pistols ever made. Proven in numerous conflicts and used by both the military and LE for decades. The aftermarket support is phenomenal with replacements for almost every part of the pistol offered by multiple third-party manufacturers. Holsters are also easy to come by as almost anyone who makes them makes one to fit a Glock. Whether you prefer Kydex, leather or a hybrid with both, there are plenty of options for you. 

Out of the box, the current Gen 5 17 offers a more than serviceable trigger, exceptional accuracy and options for both optic cuts and night sights. The MOS system is tried and true and has plates available for almost any optic pattern on the market. The Glock 17 is bombproof and dead nuts reliable, there is hardly any other pistol on the planet with the reputation and credentials of the Glock 17. You would be hard-pressed to find a better all-around solution for a duty pistol. Glock 17s can be found in almost every store in the mid-500 dollar range for new pistols and even cheaper if looking in the LEO trade-in market.

Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0

A fierce competitor to the Glock, the M&P 2.0 is also a phenomenal proven pistol platform. Used by numerous LE agencies it has proven itself to be durable and reliable in all conditions and superbly comfortable to shoot. The 2.0 offers a much more aggressive grip texture than other polymer offerings like the Glock and a nice crisp trigger. Additionally, they come optic-ready with a variety of iron sight offerings. The newer offerings also come in a full metal frame making for a much softer shooting platform. 

Aftermarket has grown massively for the M&Ps since the 1.0 and finding replacement parts and accessories has become as easy as any other popular platform rivaling Glock. Similarly due to its popularity with LEO, finding good holsters for the M&P is effortless. If you find yourself not liking the Glock grip angle or perhaps want a slightly nicer trigger then the M&P might be the right choice for you. At around 650 dollars street price they tend to be a little spendier than current Glock offerings but they do offer several notable upgrades compared to them in my opinion.

CZ P10F

There is always a need for a budget offering and the P10F hits above its weight class and price point. Coming in at a street price of about $380, it’s a solid $200 or less than most other polymer offerings on the market and has a feature set that rivals pistols at double its price. It comes from the factory with night sights and has a factory optics-ready model as well. Additionally, with its 19+1 capacity, it holds more than most other comparable pistols in its size class. The P10F also has in my experience been extremely reliable and accurate with my personal pistol going well over 1500 rounds without any major issues and hardly any cleaning. 

Aftermarket is fairly strong as the pistol has sold fairly well in the US and holsters are also fairly easy to find from multiple makers. The trigger on the P10F is solid and crisp hitting far above its price point. If you are balling on a budget the P10F is not only a solid reliable option from a well-known brand but also won’t break the bank.

Beretta 92

A classic, the Beretta 92 has seen multiple wars and has been proven in combat over the decades. With a DA/SA or double action single action trigger it offers an additional level of safety for those wanting some extra assurance the pistol will not go off without the deliberate pull of the trigger. While using a double action trigger requires more practice to be effective, it is one of the safest actions out there. The Beretta 92 comes with a variety of options ranging from night sights, optic cuts and competition triggers. 

The aftermarket for the 92 is massive as the platform has been popular in the shooting LEO and military community for over 40 years. Options for replacement barrel, grips and almost every part imaginable are both readily available and cheap. Similarly, with mags, you can find surplus mags for less than 10 dollars a pop regularly. The 92 platform offers something for everyone from people rocking a limited budget to people looking to splurge on a race-ready platform. You can find surplus Berettas very frequently for under 400 dollars. And offerings like the LTT Elite offer a race gun out of the box from Beretta if you have a little more cash. If you are in the market for a metal frame pistol the Beretta 92 is definitely not a gun to overlook despite its age.

Staccato P

Finally, we come to the choice for someone looking to spend top dollar for a premium factory pistol. For those with some extra disposable income, the Staccato P offers a top-shelf experience. The 2011 platform offers some solid upgrades to most other pistols on this list. Firstly, it has the phenomenal trigger of a 1911 with a crisp clean break and a fairly light 4.5 lb trigger pull. Additionally, with both the grip and thumb safety it is a very safe platform for running and gunning with. The Staccato has been adopted by numerous LEO agencies and the venerable USMS SOG and has been proven as both a reliable and extremely accurate platform. The Staccato P comes with options for both an optics cut but also a threaded barrel from the factory as well as various customization options like trigger weight and barrel finish. 

Holsters are readily available from vendors like Safariland as well as numerous aftermarket makers. With the metal frame and excellent trigger, the Staccato offers a shooting experience above most others. The Staccato P is incredibly soft shooting and a joy to shoot but you do pay for it. Compared to most other offerings on this list, the Staccato P is a cut above in price starting at around $2400. However if what you want is a premium pistol as equally ready to burn down a USPSA stage as it is to sit in a duty holster, then look no further than the Staccato P.

Pistol Suppressors

All of the pistols on this list offer either a factory-threaded barrel or have plentiful aftermarket options. Given how fast suppressor approval times are right now I feel like giving my choice for a pistol suppressor right now. There are a variety of holsters with suppressor compatibility on the market these days with options from well-known manufacturers like SureFire and also tons of options from smaller boutique makers like the HUSH holster. Running a pistol suppressed is a ton of fun and there is nothing like running subsonic 9mm through a well-built can and plinking away at steel. Given the wide variety of pistol suppressors on the market right now narrowing it down is somewhat difficult but I believe the Rugged Obsidian 9 is arguably one of the best pistol suppressors available.

The Rugged Obsidian 9 is one of the top options for a 9mm suppressor offering both modularity and superb performance in durability and in sound suppression. With the ability to be set up in both a long and short configuration, you don’t need to be stuck with an obscenely long pistol setup as is the case with other suppressors on the market but you can throw the extra length on when you want to maximize your sound suppression. The Obsidian 9 is a fairly lightweight can with an aluminum tube and 17-4 baffles. Additionally, while the Obsidian is extremely durable, Rugged offers an unconditional lifetime warranty no questions asked which on an expensive purchase like a suppressor is a Godsend. Rugged has replaced several suppressors that were completely destroyed due to user error on warranty so you can rest easy knowing they will take care of you. In addition, the serial number is purposefully engraved on the thickest part of the base of the suppressor to ensure that in the event of catastrophic damage such as a baffle strike the engraved portion is most likely to survive allowing Rugged to repair the suppressor without a new stamp. If you are interested, then you can pick up an Obsidian 9 from Silencer Shop through the following link:

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of options on the market these days for almost anyone in every budget range. There has never been a better time to pick up a pistol. Barring some really entry-level or niche options most are more than serviceable. The five I have listed here are my personal top 5 picks but you might want something with a different feature set. Thankfully there is almost certainly a pistol on the market with the exact features you are looking for. I am more than happy to answer questions in the comments below if you have some about any of the platforms listed or are looking for a different recommendation on a pistol.