A big departure from past Beretta designs, the new APX is the company’s first full-sized, striker-fired pistol with a polymer frame.
The CZ P-09 Duty holds 19 rounds of 9mm ammo in its magazine, along with one in the chamber. That’s a lot of firepower.
FN Herstal’s Five-Seven Mk 2 was rumored for the Modular Handgun System, but apparently an unknown pistol has been submitted.
Glock 17: When it was introduced more than 30 years ago, the Glock 17 carried an unprecedented 17 rounds in its magazine. The Glock’s groundbreaking polymer frame reduced susceptibility to corrosion, water damage, severe temperatures and damage from impact. The Glock had another advantage with its then unique Safe Action trigger/safety mechanism. Today many of the Glock’s features are used by other arms-makers, but in the early 1980s this was groundbreaking technology. Glock changed the way handguns are made.
Glock 22: .40-Caliber Pro Favorite
Re-entering the field of striker-fired pistols this year is the HK VP9 in 9mm. This handgun’s most salient feature is its “light pull” trigger. Heckler & Koch has designed the trigger mechanism to have a short, light take-up with a positive single-action-type break, followed by a short reset. This provides less noticeable trigger creep prior to the break. The polymer frame features interchangeable backstraps and sidepanels to accommodate almost any hand size for optimal shooting. All controls, like the magazine catch and slide release, are ambidextrous and the frame has an integral accessory rail. The slide is serrated front and rear, and the rear area also has HK’s patented charging supports for better gripping leverage. (http://www.hk-usa.com; 706-568-1906)
Heckler & Koch’s VP40
Designed to fill multiple roles, the Sphinx SDP Compact Alpha with a threaded barrel is small enough to be carried covertly, yet still large enough to be used in tactical missions. The pistol features a double-action/single-action (DA/SA) trigger system; a hand-fitted slide that rides on rails within the frame; a large, squared triggerguard; a Picatinny rail for accessories; interchangeable polymer grips; snag-free sights; and ambidextrous controls. For more information, visit sphinxarms.com or call 855-574-7787.
Sig Sauer P320: The P320 is Sig’s first polymer-framed, striker-fired handgun. The striker-fired DAO design can be equipped with two different trigger systems (one with an integral trigger blade safety) and features a short, crisp trigger pull with a quick, pronounced reset. The entire firing mechanism, frame rails and slide release are contained in a removable module that can be inserted into different-sized frames, which in turn can be fitted with different slides and barrels for four different pistol chamberings: 9mm, .40 S&W, .357 SIG and .45 ACP.
Smith & Wesson M&P: The polymer-framed, striker-fired M&P series features a Picatinny rail, reversible magazine release, ambidextrous slide stop, optional thumb safety and a contoured slide and frame. The M&P is available in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP, making it an all-around carry gun for law enforcement, military and civilian use with a capacity of up to 17 rounds in 9mm, barrel lengths up to 5 inches (through the Performance Center) and a remarkable carry weight for the full-size 9mm version of 24 ounces.
A look at Springfield Armory’s suppressor-ready XDM pistol
A look at the STX from Detonics Defense
No longer in production is the Taurus 24/7 9MM OSS
The very latest of the semi-autos, Walther’s PPQ M2 has easy to operate elongated ambidextrous slide releases, adjustable white dot target sights and a large round button-style magazine release.
There is a lot of mystery surrounding the U.S. Military’s XM17 Modular Handgun System, which is eventually slated to replace the current Beretta M9 pistol as the U.S. Army and Air Force’s new sidearm.
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A dozen manufacturers have either been rumored or confirmed to be in the running for the Modular Handgun System. After the submission process was completed in February 2016, three finalists were expected to be announced in August followed by a nine-month production verification test (PVT) program. So far nothing has come of the original submissions.
The new XM17 handgun has to adhere to a number of requirements, according to a 351-page solicitation released in 2015.
Upon receipt of hardware submission, inspections will be conducted to ensure that the Modular Handgun System candidate has an integrated rail, an external safety mechanism, adjustability for ergonomics (by means of grip inserts, grip panels, front or back straps, different triggers, or other means) and be other than single action only. Submissions without these features will not be considered for evaluation.
… The Offerors system will be evaluated for how the proposed Special Purpose cartridge compares to the terminal performance of the M882 cartridge when fired from the M9, when observed from 0-14 inches in 20 [percent] ballistic gelatin at velocities simulating impact at ranges of up to 25 meters. The greater the tissue damage potential created by a candidate systems ammunition as compared to the M882 round, the more favorable the rating will be received. Projectiles that are evaluated as having a high risk of not exceeding the tissue damage potential of the M882 projectile will be considered as having not met the requirement.
There 14 pistols from 12 manufacturers rumored for the Modular Handgun System. They are as follows:
