
Pistols
- In StockVECTOR SDP ENHANCED 10mm 6.5in 17rd Semi-Auto Pistol (KV10-PFD30)Super V Recoil Mitigation SystemGlock-style magazine compatibilityLow bore axisLow profile flip sightsFull length picatinny top railQuick detach sling swivel The KRISS Vector SDP Flat Dark Earth ...$1,163.99
- In StockRADICAL FIREARMS 5.56 NATO 10.5in 30rd Semi-Auto Pistol with 10in RPR M-LOK Handguard (FP10.5-5.56M4-10RPR)Barrel Length: 10.5"Gas System: Carbine LengthMuzzle Device: A2 Flash HiderHandguard Type: Free FloatHandguard Style: M-Lok Thin RailHandguard Length: 10"Charging Handle: MIL-STDSafety: ...37% off$399.00$631.57
- In StockTISAS PX-9 Gen 3 Duty 9mm 4.69in 20rd Semi-Automatic Pistol (PX-9DTHFDE)4.69" Threaded Barrel with Thread ProtectorSig 226-syle, 1 x 18RD & 1 x 20RD MagazinesFiber Optic Front Sight (Glock-style) and Drift Adjustable Rear Sight (Glock-style)RMR Cut with cover ...$329.99
- In StockTISAS 1911 A1 US Army 45 ACP 5in 2x 7rd Mags Manganese Phosphate Pistol with Turkish Walnut Grips (10100539)Accurate Reproduction of WWII Issued 1911Re-profiled Ejection PortType E HammerNone-Beveled Magazine WellArched Mainspring Housing, Type 5 (8 Vertical Ribs)US Property Marked (Right Side of ...$479.99
- In StockTAURUS PT92 9mm 5in 2x 17rd Mags FDE Pistol with Black Hogue Grips (1-92015AA-H)High contrast rear sight for rapid target acquisitionCerakoted slide is resistant to corrosionMIL-STD rail for accessoriesBlack Hogue gripsDual purpose decocker and manual safety The Taurus PT92 ...$536.99
- In StockSMITH & WESSON Response 9mm Luger 16.5in 23rd FLEXMAG Kits Black Rifle (13797)Lightweight Pistol Caliber CarbineOptic-ReadyFLEXMAG Magazine Well AdaptersCompact Design1/2-28 Threaded Muzzle with Thread ProtectorFlat-Face Trigger with Crisp Break M-LOK SlotsCompatible with ...$723.99
- In StockCZ 75 SHADOW 2 Compact 9mm Optics Ready Black and Gray Grips Pistol (91252)Suitable for a wide range of applicationsTwo 15-round magazinesUser-friendly ergonomicsDurableHigh-quality The CZ Shadow 2 Compact Pistol is a finely crafted firearm that combines innovative ...$1,299.99
- In StockEAA Girsan MC1911 Liberador II 9mm 5in 10rd Chrome/Gold Engraved Pistol (391053)Polished Stainless Steel Slide and FrameGold Accent PartsDeep Slide SerrationsCustom GripsAccessory RailAmbidextrous Safety The MC 1911 Liberador II features a polished stainless-steel slide and ...4% off$759.99$791.00
- In StockDANIEL DEFENSE DH9 9mm 4.28in 15rd Black Semi-automatic Pistol (50-179-10084-006)Low bore axis for less muzzle rise and faster, more accurate follow-up shotsStraight-pull trigger and trigger safety blade for precise control and improved safetyOne-piece-machined ambidextrous ...17% off$1,299.00$1,558.99
- In StockEUROPEAN AMERICAN ARMORY Girsan MC14G84 .380 ACP 3.8in 13rd Two-Tone Semi-Automatic Pistol (390827)3.8" Steel Barrel3-Dot SightsLightweight Forged Aluminum FrameSteel SlideAmbidextrous Frame Mounted SafetyComposite Grips Girsan has been bringing a variety of tested designs to the American ...12% off$322.99$369.00
- In StockSMITH & WESSON M&P M2.0 9mm 5in 17rd Semi-Automatic Pistol (13569)Slide cut for opticsManual thumb safetyAccurate 1 in 10" twist barrelTactile and audible trigger resetOptimal 18-degree grip angle for natural point of aimArmornite durable corrosion ...$585.00
- In StockEUROPEAN AMERICAN ARMORY Girsan MC1911S Influencer 45acp 5in 8rd Semi-Auto Pistol (391157)Long Hole HammerNovak Style SightsFully Adjustable Rear SightAmbidextrous Manuel SafetyExtended Beaver TailFront and Rear Cocking SerrationsOptics Ready Steel SlideRMS/RMSc optics Foot ...24% off$467.99$619.00
- In StockBERETTA APX-A1 Full Size 9mm 4.25in 17rd Semi-Automatic Pistol (JAXA1F917FO)360-degree extended grip texturesHigher undercut trigger guardEnhanced beavertail3 interchangeable back strapsAggressive cocking serrationsOptics-cut slideUpgraded trigger with lighter pull, a ...$451.99
- In StockSIG SAUER P320 Compact 9mm 3.9in Siglite Sight 2x15rd Black Pistol (320C-9-BSSP)9mm Luger caliberStriker trigger actionCompact frameThis modular, striker-fired pistol features a compact grip, compact slideSafety features include a striker safety and disconnect safetyFor ...13% off$434.99$499.99
- In StockSmith & Wesson M&P 2.0 9mm 4in 15rd 2mag Polymer Frame Flat Face Trigger w/ Safety Semi-Automatic Pistol (13563)Slide cut for opticsM2.0 flat face trigger for consistent finger placement that allows for more accurate and repeatable shootingPicatinny-style railForward slide cocking serrationsLow barrel bore ...$609.99
- In StockWILSON COMBAT ACP Full-Size 9mm 5in 2x 10rd Mags Ambi Safety Stainless Glass Bead Blast Pistol (ACP-FS-9A-SS)Full-Size Carbon Steel frame5" Stainless match grade barrel and bushing, flush cutEagle Claw frontstrap/mainspring housing treatmentHigh-grip Bullet Proof beavertail grip safetyTactical ...$2,743.99
- In StockBERETTA Px4 Compact Carry 2 9mm 3.2in 15rd Semi-Automatic Pistol (JXC9G15CC2)3.2in Heavy-profile rotating barrelType-G de-cockerOversized controlsImproved triggerBobbed hammer Introducing the latest evolution in the PX4 Family, the BERETTA Px4 Compact Carry 2 Pistol ...$819.00
- In StockEUROPEAN AMERICAN ARMORY Girsan Influencer MC1911s 38 Super 5in 9rd Semi-Automatic Pistol (391149)Steel machined slide and frameAmbidextrous thumb safety selectorsEnhanced usability for right and left handed shootersSerrations on the slide offers easier slide manipulationsEnhanced trigger ...14% off$557.99$649.00
- In StockGLOCK 21 Gen 5 MOS .45 ACP 4.61in 13rd Gray Semi-Automatic Pistol (UA215S203MOSGF)4.61in Cold Hammer Forged BarrelFixed SightsFront Slide SerrationsFlared Mag-WellModular Optics SystemMade in USA With the new inclusion of the .45 ACP in the Gen5 series, the GLOCK 21 Gen 5 MOS ...$620.00
- In StockSIG SAUER P320 9mm 3.9in 2x30rd Striker Fired Pistol With Rapid Deploy Stabilizing Brace (320FLUX-9-LEGION)Rapid Deploying Stabilizing BraceAmbidextrous Dual Magazine Release SystemLEGION Gray Slide With Integrated CompensatorNon-Reciprocating Picatinny Optic MountIntegrated Flared Magwell The LEGION ...$1,499.99
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.