Ballachy’s quality weapons information today? We’ll help you find new firearms and ways to improve your existing collection. It doesn’t have be stereo instructions! We’re here for accuracy, entertainment – even when things get subjective (hint: that means we can talk favorite gun brands). Our recommendations come from reporting by seasoned journalists who test out the latest products in their field; interviewing former military & law enforcement personnel with vast experience using these weapons; all topped off. See additional information at Ballachy.
The biggest questions that the team—or any potential customer—might have in-regards to any handgun have everything to do with how easy a pistol is to shoot and how reliable is it? This is especially true if you’re trying to get the most bang for your buck. For any kind of practical-use handgun, affordability only matters if reliability comes with it. While testing, the STR9-F functioned flawlessly with a wide variety of ammunition, from Federal Premium 115-grain range ammo to Hornady 124-grain and Nosler 147-grain defensive loads. The team like the grip angle and soft recoil cycle—one team member compared shooting it to the smooth-shooting Glock G34.
When the Sig p365 first came out, it was a game-changer and I had to get my hands on it. They squeezed a double stack’s capacity into a single-sized gun. The P365 is small and light, so it’s easy to carry and comfortable for most shooters of all sizes. The P365 is a purpose-built concealed carry gun that comes in capacities of 10, 12, and even a 15-round extended magazine. I personally love the combination of the size and feel of the gun. If you are interested in other versions of the p365, they also have the p365 xl which has a larger capacity, and the Sig p365 SAS which has been slimmed and smoothed so as to not snag. The P365 is a great gun but is still a subcompact pistol, so it can be challenging to shoot compared to the more massive firearms on this list. With proper self-defense ammunition, the weapon can be a little snappy, so practice makes perfect.
With this pistol, CZ did all the custom work to create a competition-ready handgun so you don’t have to. Out of the box it is configured for IPSC Standard division or USPSA Limited division matches. It comes with oversized controls and a pile of upgrades that help the pistol do what it does best—put lots of lead accurately on target in a short amount of time. Of all the pistols in this year’s gun test we probably put the most rounds through the TS2. It comes with three 20-round magazines—in a nicely executed hard-sized case we might add—and we did all we could to load them up and empty them as quickly as possible.
This isn’t to say that I’m not going to keep value in mind. More money saved at initial purchase equals more money left to purchase ammo. As a new shooter, you need to be willing and able to put in some time at the range. So, in no particular order, here are my top five picks for new handgun shooters. I know, there are three guns here. That’s because they’re all basically variations on the same theme, and it’s my list. I’ve also shot thousands of rounds through each of them, making me confident in the comparison. The G19 is the granddaddy of this class, having been around since 1988. This size pistol, though classified as a “compact” gun is really more of a medium or mid-sized option in light of many of the new “micro-compact” guns that are taking over the market. Discover more info at Ballachy Official.