Many people associate striker-fired handguns with Glocks, but in reality, there are a lot of other striker-fired models on the market. And whether you want a striker-fired gun for self-defense, hunting, or range use, there’s one out there that will fill your needs.
These are my top 5 striker-fired handgun picks to suit a wide range of uses. Check it out, then tell me what you think I missed in the comments section.
Best Concealed Carry: Mossberg MC2sc Optic Ready
When Mossberg first came out with the MC1sc in 2019, it was seen as the gun maker’s first foray into handgun design and production. However, they actually made their first handgun in 1919 with the Brownie, a .22 caliber, four-shot pistol. You’d be hard-pressed to find a Brownie today, but if you did, it’d be quite a collector’s item. Today the evolution of Mossberg’s handguns has led to the MC2sc, the next generation of the MC1sc. The Mossberg MC2sc Optic-Ready is a subcompact 9mm designed for superior concealed carry.
The MC2sc Optic Ready is relatively small. It has a 3.4-inch barrel, an overall length of 6.25 inches, and a height of 4.30 inches. The width is 1.10 inches, so yes, it’s definitely a slim pistol—and that comes with various pros and cons. The gun’s empty weight is 19.5 ounces. With a flush-fit magazine, it holds 10+1 rounds.
Angled serrations are placed at the front and back of the slide for easier manipulation and textured panels on the grip provide a firm hold for live fire. The gun ships with white dot iron sights but as an optics-ready model it also has a removable plate so you can easily add a red dot sight. The MC2sc Optic-Ready fits my hands well and is comfortable to shoot at significant length. It’s reliable, accurate, and well-made. This is a great option for concealed carry.
Best Home Defense: Walther PPQ M2
Walther doesn’t get nearly enough attention for its phenomenal guns. These are guns designed with reliable function and accuracy as the top priority, and that might mean they aren’t as sleek or pretty as some, but you can be confident they’ll perform well. The Walther PPQ M2 is said by some to have one of the best factory triggers on a striker-fired handgun, and it’s not inaccurate.
The PPQ M2 is a full-sized handgun, although it isn’t quite as large as some. It has a four-inch barrel, an overall length of 7.1 inches, and a height of 5.3 inches. Empty, it weighs in at 24.5 ounces, leaving it relatively lightweight. It’s 1.3 inches wide, giving it enough bulk to fit most hand sizes well without being so small it’s challenging to handle.
This 9mm handgun has a 15+1 capacity and serrations are at the front and back of the slide. The gun does have an accessory rail ahead of the trigger guard for lights and lasers. The grip is molded and textured for comfort and a solid grip during shooting, and it really does deliver. This is an excellent gun for home defense that’s incredibly accurate and reliable. Here’s the catch: Walther began phasing out the PPQ M2 in 2021 to focus on the PDP line, so if you want a PPQ M2 it might take a little more searching than usual (but as of now, it’s not that difficult to find one).
Best Affordable Model: Taurus GX4
The Taurus line of handguns has seen some significant improvements over the years, including the recent introduction of optics-ready handguns (and even revolvers, which is pretty great). The Taurus GX4 is a micro-compact chambered in 9mm. It’s a well-balanced handgun designed for reliable cycling and a good feel in the hand. This is a striker-fired pistol you can easily conceal or also use for home defense or at the range. It’s proven it will cycle well, which is of vital importance, and it delivers nice groups on paper at ten yards.
The Taurus GX4 has a 3.06-inch barrel, an overall length of 6.05 inches, and a height of 4.4 inches. The width is 1.08 inches, so it’s slim, but not too slim. It weighs 18.5 ounces unloaded and has a capacity of 11+1. This gun has wide, angled slide serrations at the front and back to make racking the slide simpler. The grip is aggressively textured which comes in handy if your hands are wet or sweaty and controls can be operated without overly adjusting your grip.
It has a safety blade trigger that does just fine out of the box, and ships with a drift adjustable rear sight and fixed front sight. Other features include a reversible magazine release, a takedown pin for fast disassembly, and a visual loaded chamber indicator.
Best Glock for Carry: Glock 48
The Glock 48 has been around for a few years and, as many shooters are quick to point out, the gun has the same dimensions as the Glock 43X aside from barrel length (the Glock 48 barrel is longer). Personally, I prefer the Glock 48 because it fits well in my hands. It is nicely balanced and ridiculously precise.
The Glock 48 is a compact 9mm handgun that’s great for concealed carry or just about whatever you want to do with it. It has a 10+1 capacity with a flush-fit magazine. This pistol has a 4.17-inch barrel—the 43X has a 3.41-inch barrel—and a Slimline frame. It has an overall length of 7.28 inches, a height of 5.04 inches, and a width of 1.10 inches. The gun weighs 18.48 ounces when empty. Slide serrations are placed at the front and back. As a Gen 5 model, the Glock 48 features the Marksman Barrel and a grip with no molded finger grooves. It’s a fantastic handgun. If you need a little size shaved off for carry, check out the Glock 43X.
Best Hunting Model: Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Thumb Safety Optics Ready
If you’re going to handgun hunt with a striker-fired gun, you need one chambered in a larger caliber like 10mm. The Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 in 10mm is a full-sized handgun that’s durable and reliable enough to withstand hunting. It has a rigid, embedded stainless steel chassis to reduce movement during live fire and an Armornite finish that’s corrosion-resistant. There’s also an accessory rail in front of the trigger guard which makes it possible to add a laser, which is great for hunting. Of course, there are a lot of other things that make it ideal for handgun hunting.
The M&P 2.0 in 10mm has a 4.0-inch barrel, which is a bit shorter than most guns you’d hunt with, but it’s still long enough to work well. It measures 7.2 inches in overall length and 5.6 inches in height. The width is 1.3 inches. The gun weighs 28.5 ounces empty. Now, with its 15 +1 capacity that weight does increase when it’s loaded, but that’s great for mitigating felt recoil and muzzle rise. It ships with white dot iron sights but is also optics-ready, making it a straightforward process to drop a red dot sight on the gun. Grips are very aggressively textured which is nice for hunting in the elements. This is a gun that’s flat-shooting and accurate, and if you add a red dot, it’s even better for your next hunt.
Conclusion
Well, that’s it. That’s my list of the top five striker-fired pistols currently on the market. There are a lot of great guns out there, but as we all know, not all guns are created equal. Do you agree with my list? Let us know below!
