
Pistols
- In StockRUGER RXM 9mm 4in 2x 15rd Mags Stealth Gray/Black Centerfire Pistol (19400)Removable serialized stainless steel Fire Control Insert (FCI) set inside an interchangeable Magpul Enhanced Handgun Grip (EHG) for maximum flexibility and customizationMost major components ...$379.99
- In StockCZ TS 2 9mm 20rd 5.28in Black Polycoat Steel Blue Aluminum Grips Pistol (91220)Aluminum gripsFront and rear cocking serrations make slide manipulation easySet of fixed target sights Known in the sport-shooting world for its crisp single action trigger and long sight radius, ...9% off$1,457.99$1,599.00★★★★★3 review(s)
- In StockTAURUS G3 9mm 4in 15rd Black/Gray Pistol (1-G3B941G-15)15 RoundsAdjustable SightsRe-Strike CapabilityManual Thumb Safety The G3 continues the proven polymer-frame profile now in a full-frame configuration with generous stippling patches across the ...$268.99
- In StockTAURUS TX22 Competition .22LR 5.25in 3x 16rd Mags Black Pistol with Soft Case (1-TX22C15UF-CK)Threaded BarrelFixed Front SightAdjustable Rear SightOptic (Red Dot) MountPicatinny RailManual SafetyStriker BlockTrigger SafetyIncludes (3) 16rd Magazines and a Soft Case The Taurus TX22 ...$484.99
- In StockBERSA Thunder 380 ACP 3.5in 8rd Semi-Automatic Pistol (T380NKL8)3-dot sight systemCombat style trigger guardExtended finger restMicro-polished bore with sharp, deep riflingExtended finger rest magazine bottomIntergral locking systemFired CaseNickel Finish$264.99★★★★★1 review(s)
- In StockSIG SAUER P320-M18 9mm 3.9in 17rd/2x 21rd Mag Coyote Tan Pistol (320CA-9-M18-MS)Optic-Ready Coyote PVD Slide with Removable Night Sight PlateCompatible with ROMEO1PRO and Deltapoint Pro OpticsCarry Length Coyote Grip ModuleAmbidextrous Manual SafetyStriker TriggerModular ...16% offClearance$559.99$669.99
- In StockEUROPEAN AMERICAN ARMORY Girsan MC 14T Tip-Up .380 ACP 3.81in 13rd Semi-Automatic Pistol (390850)3.81" Barrel.380 ACP CaliberTip-Up Barrel DesignAll-Steel Barrel & SlideAmbidextrous SafetyAmbidextrous Composite GripsAccessory Rail The EUROPEAN AMERICAN ARMORY Girsan MC 14T Tip-Up ...15% off$390.99$459.00★★★★★1 review(s)
- In StockBERETTA APX A1 Carry 9mm Luger 3in 1+8rd Flat Dark Earth Pistol (JAXN9258A1)9mm Luger caliberImproved Trigger Pull - With a shorter and lighter trigger than its predecessors, the enhanced ergonomic and sensory experience consists of a clean break with quick reset aiding ...1% off$305.99$309.00
- In StockATI Mil-Sport .300 AAC Blackout 8.5in 30rd Semi-Automatic AR Pistol (ATIG15MS300ML7BL)8.5" Barrel with a 1:8" TwistAluminum Lower ReceiverAluminum Upper ReceiverFlat Top Optics Ready Upper7" Freefloat M-LOK Handguard30 Round Magazine The ATI Mil-Sport Semi-Automatic ...$445.99
- In StockSHADOW SYSTEMS CR920XP Elite 9mm 3.65in Spiral Compensated Bronze Barrel 2x 15rd Mags Black Pistol (SS-5211)Subcompact CrossoverOptics ready Elite slideDirectional serrations on the front, rear, and topFeatures Shadow Systems' multi-footprint optic cutSpiral Bronze barrel with compensatorStainless ...$959.00
- In StockSMITH & WESSON M&P9 2.0 9mm 4in 15rd/2mags Optics Ready TS Semi-Automatic Pistol (13568)Slide cut for opticsM2.0 flat face trigger for consistent finger placement that allows for more accurate and repeatable shootingManual Thumb SafetyPicatinny-style railForward slide cocking ...$626.99
- In StockSPRINGFIELD ARMORY Echelon 4.0C 9mm 4in 2x 15rd Mags Compact Frame Black Pistol w/ Tritium U-Dot Sights (EC9409B-U-15)Shortened at the frame and muzzle, the Echelon 4.0C boasts full-size features in a concealable packageCentral Operating Group is self-contained and serialized, providing a robust housing for the ...17% off$559.00$670.99
- In StockTAURUS G2C 9mm 3.2in 12rd Semi-Automatic Pistol (1-G2C931-12)Ideal concealed carry handgunLightweight polymer frameThin profileAggressive, textured gripTwo 12-round magazinesBlack Finish9% off$249.99$275.00★★★★★3 review(s)
- In StockSMITH & WESSON M&P 2.0 9mm 5in Barrel Pistol with 2x 17rd Mags (11537)Flat Dark Earth FinishProven optimal 18-degree grip angle for natural point of aimFour interchangeable palmswell grip inserts for optimal hand fit and trigger reachTactile and audible trigger ...$541.99★★★★★4 review(s)
- In StockTAURUS Model 44 Large 44 Magnum 6.5in 6rd Stainless Revolver (2-440069)Taurus Security System (TSS)rsPorting - Referred to as factory tuned porting and gas expansion chamber for recoil and makes shooting comfort a realityRibber Grip - Exclusive Taurus ergonomic shock ...$588.99★★★★★1 review(s)
- In StockCENTURY ARMS Draco NAK9 9mm 12.25in 31rd Pistol (HG3736-N)1/2x28 RH threadStamped receiverFits Glock 17 and 19 magsPicatinny optics rail on top of the dust coverRear sling mountCompatibility with AKM handguardComes with one 31 round magazineMade in ...$591.99★★★★★1 review(s)
- In StockSPRINGFIELD ARMORY 1911 Loaded .45 ACP 5in 7rd Semi-Auto CA Approved Pistol (PX9105MLCA18)Delta Lightweight HammerLwt Speed TriggerHigh-Hand Beavertail Grip SafetyCA Approved17% offClearance$1,190.00$1,427.99
- In StockS&W M&P Shield 40 S&W 3.1in 6rd,7rd Black Semi-Automatic Pistol CA Compliant (187020)Striker Fire ActionPolymer FrameWhite Dot Front SightWhite 2-Dot Rear SightTactile Loaded Chamber Indicator.40 S&W CA CompliantMagazine SafetySingle Sided Thumb Safety The SMITH & WESSON M&P ...17% offClearance$369.99$443.99
- In StockMASTERPIECE ARMS Defender 9mm Luger 4.5in 30rd Black Parkerized Pistol (30SST)Side Cocker, Scope MountAdjustable Rear SightAluminum Lower ReceiverMachined Aluminum Grip MasterPiece Arms has taken the classic MAC Pistol design and modernized the platform. The MPA 30SST ...5% off$529.20$558.99★★★★★2 review(s)
- In StockGLOCK G26 Gen5 9mm 3.43in 10rd Semi-Automatic Pistol (UA265S201)Glock Marksman BarrelFlared MagwelNo Finger GroovesAmbidextrous Slide Stop LeversBlack Interchangeable BackstrapPolymer Frame Glock continues the evolution of perfection with the introduction of ...$539.00
Size isn’t everything, especially in the world of firearms. Even though some rocket launcher will naturally cause massive damage, a gun doesn’t need to be big to be effective. Handguns are indispensable if you cannot afford to walk with a heavyweight rifle over your shoulder. No other firearm is suitable for concealed carry and can be easily operated with one hand. While there are two major types of handguns, this page is dedicated to pistols in particular.
A pistol is a handgun in which the chamber is an integral part of the barrel. In the modern world, this word is mostly associated with semi-automatic handguns. Obsolete single-shot pistols usually make an appearance only during historical reenactments, lever-action pistols tend to be parts of classic gun collections, and automatic pistols are exclusive to law-enforcement and military officers. So, a semi-automatic pistol is the only type left. What does this ‘semi-automatic’ part mean? It implies that after the shot is made, this pistol will automatically insert another cartridge into the chamber but will need you to pull the trigger once again to discharge another shot. So, one pull, one shot. In contrast to semi-automatic pistols, automatic ones will keep discharging while the trigger is pulled. Since actual automatic pistols hardly ever appear on the market, the word ‘automatic’ became a synonym to semi-automatic and any self-loading pistol in colloquial speech, but we are all gun experts here and will use the proper terminology, right? Right..?
Anyway, pistols are as varied as people. They are distinguished by the type of action, caliber, cartridges, and triggers. They come in dozens of combinations, and it might be challenging to tell one from the other. We offer a brief guide to let you know what kind of pistols you can find on Gritr Sports.
Hammer-fired vs. Striker-fired
Hammer-fired pistols are older than strikers, and they haven’t changed much since the moment of their invention. Not because they are too obsolete and not even worth it, but because they don’t really need it. Hammer-fired pistols are as good today as they were several generations ago. What sets them apart is, unsurprisingly, a hammer. It’s a part of the triggering mechanism and is often visible at the rear of the slide. In such pistols, the hammer strikes the firing pin once released by the trigger. After that, the firing pin is driven into the cartridge primer, beginning the ignition process.
Striker-fired pistols lack the hammer part, so the firing pin is not stricken by any component. Instead, it is released when the trigger is fully pulled. Simply put, these pistols release the firing pin without any middleman, which makes pulling easier and the overall weight lighter.
Single-action vs. Double-action
Those are two types of hammer-fired pistols. In single-action handguns the trigger does one thing: drops the hammer. Single-action revolvers need to be cocked after every shot, but semi-automatic pistols are more convenient in that regard. The hammer needs to be manually cocked only before the first shot, after which recoil will let the slide recock the hammer for the next shot automatically.
Double-action pistols are different in that the trigger does two things: cocks the hammer and then drops it, all in one pull. Here, the hammer doesn’t need to be cocked manually, as the trigger does all the work. However, as the trigger does two actions at a time, the pull is heavier than in single-action pistols. To combine the best features of two action types, a Double-Action to Single-Action pistol was invented. That is the most common type of modern pistol. The first round fired is a double-action, which cocks and releases the hammer, but all follow-up shots are single-action, as the hammer is cocked by the slide, reciprocated by recoil.
There are double-action-only pistols, in which every single shot is a double-action, but they are relatively rare.
Rimfire vs. Centerfire
That is a division according to the cartridge type, which is closely connected with a caliber. Rimfire cartridges require a firing pin to crush their base to ignite the primer, whereas centerfire cartridges have an external primer at the base of the case. Rimfire cartridges are compatible with lower caliber firearms only, and due to their lightness are more suitable for training rather than for self-defense and long-distance shooting or hunting. Centerfire cartridges, on the other hand, are utilized in pistols of all calibers.
Caliber
.22 Long Rifle is the only type of rimfire caliber found in handguns. The 22 caliber pistols are an excellent option to introduce someone to firearms, and .22 ammo is by far the cheapest one. The most popular centerfire calibers include 9mm pistols, .45 Auto pistols, .40 S&W pistols, and .380 Auto pistols.
.380 Auto pistols are probably the lower margin of self-defense calibers. Of all mentioned calibers, this one utilizes the lightest bullets. 9mm pistols are by far the most popular choice among shooters. That is a standard of U.S. military and NATO forces. .40 S&W and .45 Auto produce more energy when fired but have heavier recoil.
That concludes our summary on types of pistols found on Gritr Sports. As you can see, the choice is pretty varied, not to mention all the brands whose products you can pick from. The renowned Glock pistols, Sig Sauer pistols, CZ pistols, Smith & Wesson pistols and many more. We have hundreds of pistols for sale.