
Pistols
- Out Of StockSAR USA K2 45C Compact 45 ACP 4.2in 13rd Stainless DA/SA Pistol (K245CST).45 ACP caliber with 4.20" steel barrel for accuracy and powerDurable steel frame with beavertail and Picatinny rail for accessory compatibilityAdjustable sights for precise ...$655.99
- Out Of StockSHADOW SYSTEMS MR920 Elite 9mm 4in 10rd Striker-Fired Pistol (SS-1052)Elite Slide Optic DLCSpiral Unthreaded barrel DLCFeatures directional serrations in front, rear, and topsideElite slides include a weight-optimizing window cutAll Elite models feature the ...$969.00
- Out Of StockSHADOW SYSTEMS DR920P Elite 9mm 4.6in 10rd Spiral Semi-Auto Pistol w/ Holosun (SS-2240-H)Elite Slide Optic BlackSpiral Compensated barrel blackFeatures directional serrations in front, rearElite slides include a weight-optimizing window cutAll Elite models feature the patent-pending ...11% off$1,228.99$1,379.00
- Out Of StockSHADOW SYSTEMS XR920 Foundation 9mm 4.5in 17rd Semi-Auto Pistol (SS-3309-1D)Full-size polymer frame with accessory railFoundation Optics Ready slide, blackLogo Threaded barrel bronzeSteel guide rod17-4 Stainless Steel slide materialWrap around texture and three ...$719.00
- Out Of StockSIG SAUER P320 XFull 9mm 4.7in XRay3 Sight 2x10rd CA Compliant Black Pistol (320XF-9-BXR3P-MS-CA)The P320-XFull rounds out the X series of pistols with an entry full-size modelStriker Fired with X Flat triggerOptic Ready slide with Pro Optic Footprint and mechanical loaded chamber ...$699.99
- Out Of StockSIG SAUER MCX Rattler LT 5.56 NATO 7.75in 30rd Black Semi-Auto Pistol (RSAR999-COR)Packaged in a premium Pelican hard case, ensuring maximum protectionDurable construction of the case provides resistance to impact, moisture, and harsh environmental conditionsCompact design ...$3,249.99
- Out Of StockCMMG Dissent Mk47 7.62x39 12.5in Armor Black Semi-Auto AR Pistol (86A9D0A-AB)12.5in 4140 Chrome Moly BarrelDISSENT Mk47/Mid-Size 7075 T6 Aluminum Upper ReceiverMk47 Billet 7075 T6 Aluminum Gen 2 Lower ReceiverCMMG ZEROED Pistol GripZEROED Drop-In Single Stage TriggerCMMG ...$2,018.99
- Out Of StockFN AMERICA FN Reflex 9mm 3.3in 11rd/15rd Flat Dark Earth Semi-Automatic Pistol (FN-66-101417)3.3-in cold hammer-forged barrelInternal hammer-operated with ~5lb single-action only trigger3-dot iron sights with high-visibility Tritium front sight insert1-inch width for comfort and ...$499.00
- Out Of StockROCK ISLAND ARMORY M1911 A1 .45 ACP 5in 8rd Mondial Light Grey Semi-Automatic Pistol (56735)5-inch BarrelDovetail Mounted Standard Front SightFixed Rear SightSkull Texture GripsMondial Light Grey Frame and Slide The ROCK ISLAND ARMORY M1911 A1 Pistol is built in traditional classic 70 ...$369.99
- Out Of StockROCK ISLAND ARMORY XT 22 Magnum .22 Mag 5in 14rd Titanium Blue Semi-Automatic Pistol (56793)5-inch BarrelSemi-Automatic, Recoil-Operated ActionFixed, Mounted on Dovetail Cut with Fiber Optic Front SightFixed Dovetail Mounted Rear SightPurpose: Recreational Shooting, Home Defense You ...$419.99
- Out Of StockRUGER SR22 US Flag 22LR 3.5in 2x 10rd Mags Semi-Auto Pistol (03642)Light double-action and crisp single-action trigger pulls. External hammer is designed with a rounded spur for easy cocking and single-action shootingPolymer frame and two interchangeable ...$443.99
- Out Of StockSDS MAC 9 DS-D Comp 9mm 5in 2x17rd Single Action Pistol (12500016)Forged steel frame and slideMachined internalsTarget crowned bull barrelSingle port integrated ported barrel and slideSkeletonized hammer and triggerExtended and oversized controlsAgency AOS plate ...$999.99
- Out Of StockSPRINGFIELD ARMORY Echelon 4.0C 9mm 15rd/18rd Mags Black Pistol with Extra 3 Mags, Crimson Trace RAD and Range Bag (EC9409B-U-CTL)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 ...$609.00
- Out Of StockSPRINGFIELD ARMORY Echelon 4.0C 9mm 2x 15rd Mags Black Pistol with Extra 3 Mags, Crimson Trace RAD and Range Bag (EC9409B15-U-CT)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 ...$609.00
- Out Of StockSPRINGFIELD ARMORY Kuna 9mm 6.125in 2x 30rd Mags No Brace Black Pistol (KN9069B)Roller-delayed blowback system with a single top rollerMachined lightweight alloy receiver and polymer gripFolding, non-reciprocating charging handleM-LOK handguard with Picatinny rail for optics ...$999.99
- Out Of StockATI Alpha Maxx 300 BLK 7.5in 60rd Semi-Auto Pistol (ATIGAX3007ML60)7.5" threaded barrel with a 5/8x24 thread pattern for compatibility with various muzzle devicesPolymer M-LOK handguard allowing for versatile accessory attachmentsBlack Picatinny rail ...$359.00
- Out Of StockCANIK Mete MC9 9mm 3.18in 12rd/15rd Semi-Auto Pistol (HG7620G-N)3.18-inch cold hammer forged barrel for superior accuracy and durabilityThree interchangeable backstraps for a customized fit to the shooter's hand size12-round and 15-round magazines with ...$404.99
- Out Of StockCMMG Banshee FE MkGs 9mm 8in 33rd Coyote Tan Semi-Auto Pistol (99A520F-CT)ZEROED Pistol GripZEROED Drop-In TriggerZEROED 60/90 Degree Ambi SafetyZEROED AR15 Ambi Charging HandleZEROED AR15 Bolt CatchZEROED AR15 Polymer Dust CoverZEROED Linear Compensator 9mm Following ...$1,549.99
- Out Of StockLONE WOLF DISTRIBUTORS Dusk19 9mm 4.6in Threaded Bronze Barrel 15rd Black/Brown Semi-Auto Pistol (LWD-DUSK19-BLK-ORB-TH)Striker Fired Semi-Automatic Pistol4.6" Threaded Bronze BarrelCompact Polymer FrameRMR Compatible Optic CutFront Night Sight / Black Rear SightEnhanced Flat Trigger SystemFront and Rear ...$599.95
- Out Of StockSHADOW SYSTEMS DR920 War Poet 9mm 5in 10rd Semi-Auto Pistol w/ Holosun 507C (SS-2081-H)9mm Luger caliberStriker fire actionFluted Unthreaded black barrelTextured polymer frameFront chevron separations; Aggressively angled serrations in front, rear, and topside, pairedA ...$1,279.00
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.