Top 5 Semi-Auto Pistols
By: Dwayne Surgill
When one begins to talk about “the best” of anything, opinions begin to fly wild, tempers can flare, and everyone becomes an expert. I am by no means an expert but I have shot enough to have a pretty good feel for what is out there and how each of the current available options compare. The current pistol market is ripe with excellent options for the buyer interested in building on their collection or the new comer who is just picking up their first pistol. With all the options and all the opinions, it can be difficult to narrow down your choice.
In this article, I want to share not only my opinions but also facts about each of these top sellers as well as my in field experience with each of these pistols. No doubt, I am leaving out some excellent options. That is not because I am biased or because I am being paid to speak about certain pistols (I am definitely not being endorsed by any particular brand.)… Rather, it is because these pistols are the current top sellers and I feel they truly represent the best and most readily accessible pistols on the market at this time.
#1 – Glock 19 and 34
I am a Glock man. I own several, carry one almost every day, and shoot thousands of rounds a year through my Glocks while enjoying every minute of it. Glock “fanboys” catch a lot of crap for some reason but the truth is… Glock makes a quality weapon that just flat out performs! A quick online search will reveal plenty of articles with Glock taking the top spot in sales, specifically the Glock 19. Seldom will you find a list of the top semi-auto pistols that does not have a Glock high in the rankings! Having the majority of semi-auto pistols sales speaks loudly for the quality and reliability of a Glock.
The Glock 19 and 34 versions, specifically, are among the best-selling compact and full-size semi-autos. Glock offers a variety of grip ad-ons that help the shooter find the feel that is right for them and they just seem to be reliable regardless of what you put through them. I have fed every kind of factory ammo you can think of through my Glocks, as well as my own mass produced reloads, and Glock just eats anything you give them. To say that Glock is reliable is an understatement! Glock feels good, is well balanced and is a pleasure to shoot regardless of round count.
One of the main selling points for Glock is the abundance of readily available aftermarket parts. A Glock can be just about completely rebuilt by the owner with very little gunsmithing experience… though one should not try to do anything they are not competent enough to do safely! Triggers, slides, grips, sights, mags, springs… just about everything on the Glock can be replaced or upgraded by the user with little effort and those parts are typically easy to come by online. I have heard the Glock referred to as, “the AR of pistols”.
Glock’s fifth generation, affectionately referred to as, “Gen 5”, features improved ergonomics and reliability… as if the reliability needed improving! Gen 5 models come standard with ambidextrous slide stop levers, nDLC finish on barrel and slide, polygonal rifling, a deeper recessed barrel crown, and a flared mag well. The fifth generations Glocks have kept all the best features of previous models while adding on some improvements that were lacking previously (illuminated night sights are one example).
My one big frustration with Glock is the factory trigger. Springfield and Sig seem to have the factory trigger figured out but I have yet to buy a Glock that I didn’t upgrade the trigger. It seems to be much stiffer than the factory trigger in other current top selling options and the pull weight feels much more substantial. I can say that in my one Glock that didn’t get a trigger upgrade, it did really smooth out over time. I do hope Glock can get that small yet important detail lined out a little better though.
#2 – SIG P320
SIG Saur has been making firearms since 1976, and they have made some quality items, but SIG has come on strong over the past 10 years with not only firearms but also optics, rangefinders and the like. It seems fair to say that the SIG P320 has become the flagship for SIG. The P320 is an upgrade to their previous P250 model and was launched in the US market in 2014. The 320’s plethora or caliber options and configurations have made it one of the top pistols in the USA and, as of this writing, the 320 is giving the Glock 19 major competition not previously experienced.
The top seller in the 320 line is the SIG P320 XFIVE Legion, made available in mid 2019. The Legion is a striker-fired, carbon and stainless steel beauty with tungsten infused polymer grips, Henning group aluminum base pads, and a skeletonized trigger. The Legion also sports the very nice Dawson Precision adjustable sights and has a plate for optics if desired. The P320’s slide is beautifully cut and ported for balance and weight reduction. This bad boy is not only made to shoot great but it looks amazing while doing it!
Perhaps it’s a perception thing… a matter of opinion and nothing more… but I feel like the Sig offers a nice balance of in grip design. It is well rounded but not overly so. I didn’t feel as though it was as “blocky” as the Glock is accused of being. That may well fill a niche that appeals to some. If other pistol options have not felt right in your hand, there is a good chance the SIG may be what you are looking for!
I’m somewhat of a trigger snob but the SIG P320 trigger doesn’t disappoint. The Legion’s flat, skeletonized trigger has little travel and breaks easy and clean. SIG really has the trigger on all their pistols figured out. Even their tiny P238 .380 has an outstanding trigger straight from the factory! The entire 320 line-up offers just about any size and caliber option the shooter could ask for. If that isn’t enough info to impress, in 2017, SIG’s customized version of the P320 won the coveted US Army contract in the Modular Handgun Competition and has now become the standard carry model for all branches of the US military!
#3 – Springfield XDM Elite
Springfield is making some real quality firearms and their upgrade to the XDM line is a perfect example to that fact. Springfield introduced the XD line in 2001, followed by the XDM in 2008… and several other mods and upgrades until the most recent masterpiece was made available to the masses… the XDM Elite!
The Springfield XDM Elite was released in early 2020. They seem to be flying off the self, and for good reason. The first time I was able to hold a Springfield XDM Elite was in the field after a friend purchased one. I was just absolutely blown away with how great it felt. The curves and rounded grip edges just snug right into your hand leaving little to be desired. There is plenty of grip length for any size hand but it still doesn’t feel overly large or long. The flared mag well flows so nicely and just adds to the comfort of the pistol. The mag well is also removable and comes in standard or short options.
Looks are subjective but I think that the Springfield XDM is the best looking of the current pistols on the market. Most importantly, it shoots as good as it looks! Even with my grip accustomed to a Glock, I was able to shoot the XDM Elite very well. I shot it so well, it made me wonder if the design of the Springfield was a little bit better of a fit for me than my Glocks. To be able to just pick up a pistol for the first time and shoot it just as well as I had been shooting other pistols I had thousands of rounds through was impressive. That’s not always the case for me… but it was when I shot that XDM Elite.
The Springfield XDM Elite is well balanced and very manageable. It features improved slide serrations, ambidextrous slide stop, match grade barrel, and loaded chamber indicator. As if the balance and look were not enough… the trigger was just flat out awesome! No aftermarket or replacement trigger is needed in this bad boy. The pull was short, smooth, and light. It broke and reset clean and each Elite trigger comes standard with an over-travel stop. The XDM Elite is available in five models and all models offer an impressive 22+1 mag capacity or 20+1 with the short mag well! One slight inconvenience for some is that the XDM Elite is only available in 9mm. If that’s a problem, just go with one of the many other XD models!
#4 – Smith and Wesson M&P
Though I don’t have a whole lot of personal experience with the Smith and Wesson M&P lineup, the online search results for reviews and sales speaks for itself. The M&P lineup was introduced by Smith and Wesson in 2005 and was an instant success. Similar to the other top items on this list, the M&P is a polymer, short recoil operated, striker-fired semi-auto pistol available in various configurations and calibers. The newest model, M2.0, features improvements to the trigger, frame, finish and grip. It is also available in two colors – Black or Flat Dark Earth.
The Smith and Wesson M&P M2.0 also features a low barrel bore axis and an 18 degree grip angle for increased management of recoil. The M2.0 comes with four interchangeable grip options to accommodate small to extra-large hands. Smith boasts an improved trigger that is lighter and crisper than the previous M&P model and has a tactile, audible trigger reset. The frame is reinforced with stainless steel and features a corrosion resistant finish. Sights on the standard 2.0 are steel with white dot but the performance center version of the 2.0 offers fiber optic green sights.
The M&P M2.0 comes in a variety of calibers (9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 Auto), a variety of sizes from compact to full, and a few other options including performance center model, threaded barrel, TFX night sights). Mag capacity depends on make and caliber but maxes out with the full size 9mm at 17+1. A huge civilian following and the acceptance by various law enforcement agencies across the USA confirm the Smith and Wesson M&P M2.0’s status as a top pistol platform. Don’t be afraid to get one in your hand and try it out on the range… it may just be what you are looking for!
#5 – Beretta 92
The simple fact that Beretta has been around since 1526 should tell you that the company is doing something very right! Beretta began offering the model 92 in 1976 and it’s been a major success since then. The Beretta 92 held the US Army’s sidearm contact for 30 years until losing out recently to SIG (2017). So needless to say, I’m not sure it would be right to not include the Beretta 92 on any top five list of pistols!
The Beretta 92 is a little different from others on the list, as it is the only external hammer-fire, double/single action. The Beretta 92 is also limited to 9mm so that will be a bummer for some. The main thing is it can shoot and shoot well! The 92 is available in full size, compact, Performance, Centurion, and Elite. You can also get some smaller Beretta options in different models other than the 92 if you so desire… they just won’t be a 92!
The Beretta 92 line features traditional style textured wraparound grips, straight backstrap profile frame, combat sights, beveled magazine well, and extended magazine release. Additionally, the slide is convertible from safety-decocker to decocker-only. The Beretta 92 is a classic design that was built so well initially, little has had to change for it to continue to be a top runner for the best pistol available on the market today.