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Best combat handguns

See the best handguns for personal protection or sport.

RUGER SR9, .40 &.45 - The Ruger SR-series are a line of semi-automatic pistols manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company. At 1.18 in thick through the grip, it is touted by Ruger as one of the thinnest double-stack pistols available. The SR-series has been marketed as a backup/concealment weapon for law enforcement as well as for civilian concealed carry. The Ruger SR9 chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge was introduced in October 2007, and the slightly smaller SR9c came out in January 2010. The Ruger SR40 chambered for the .40 S&W cartridge came out in October 2010, and the compact SR40c in June 2011. Starting in the early 2000s, the rapid growth of legislation and regulations allowing concealed carry by law-abiding citizens in various jurisdictions created a large market for handguns manufactured specifically for such use. Desirable characteristics for firearms of this type include: small size, thinness, high magazine capacity, lightweight construction (often achieved through the use of polymer frames), stealthy darkened stainless steel slides, high visibility and/or night sights, and large ergonomic ambidextrous manual thumb safeties and magazine releases. Ruger specifically designed the SR9 pistol to address the very active and profitable concealed-carry handgun market segment and it possesses the majority of the aforementioned attributes. The SR9 is the first large-caliber striker fired pistol designed and manufactured by Sturm Ruger. Similar to Glock's "safe action", the striker fired SR9 features a pre-set trigger. With this type of action, the striker is partially cocked when the slide is cycled, then is fully cocked and released when the trigger is pulled. Due to safety concerns, the moderately long and heavy trigger pull of this type is seen as ideal for law enforcement and self-defense applications.The SR9 and SR9c have an identical trigger group.
RUGER SR9, .40 &.45 - The Ruger SR-series are a line of semi-automatic pistols manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company. At 1.18 in thick through the grip, it is touted by Ruger as one of the thinnest double-stack pistols available. The SR-series has been marketed as a backup/concealment weapon for law enforcement as well as for civilian concealed carry. The Ruger SR9 chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge was introduced in October 2007, and the slightly smaller SR9c came out in January 2010. The Ruger SR40 chambered for the .40 S&W cartridge came out in October 2010, and the compact SR40c in June 2011. Starting in the early 2000s, the rapid growth of legislation and regulations allowing concealed carry by law-abiding citizens in various jurisdictions created a large market for handguns manufactured specifically for such use. Desirable characteristics for firearms of this type include: small size, thinness, high magazine capacity, lightweight construction (often achieved through the use of polymer frames), stealthy darkened stainless steel slides, high visibility and/or night sights, and large ergonomic ambidextrous manual thumb safeties and magazine releases. Ruger specifically designed the SR9 pistol to address the very active and profitable concealed-carry handgun market segment and it possesses the majority of the aforementioned attributes. The SR9 is the first large-caliber striker fired pistol designed and manufactured by Sturm Ruger. Similar to Glock's "safe action", the striker fired SR9 features a pre-set trigger. With this type of action, the striker is partially cocked when the slide is cycled, then is fully cocked and released when the trigger is pulled. Due to safety concerns, the moderately long and heavy trigger pull of this type is seen as ideal for law enforcement and self-defense applications.The SR9 and SR9c have an identical trigger group.

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Top 10 handguns in the U.S.

The most prolific makes of handguns manufactured in the U.S., based on production statistics provided to ATF.