With the advent of firearms in the world, everything changed. Representatives of its first copies were invented in the fifteenth century. Arquebuses and muskets then practically replaced the army of knights. The armor, which had considerable weight, protecting the warrior from bladed weapons during battle, could no longer save him from bullets, since the ammunition of that time was easily penetrated by them. Over the past centuries, equipment has gone through many different transformations. The article talks about the best pistols in the world.
Stechkin pistol
The ranking of the top ten hand-held firearms opens with the Soviet Stechkin automatic pistol. In the Soviet army, it began to be used simultaneously with the famous PM (Makarov pistol). However, as for the first copy, it is the most rarely used, and much less is known about it than about the second. It was produced in the Soviet Union in small quantities.
Having never even held this weapon in their hands, Europeans had a negative attitude towards it, and critics always scolded it, although the PS was not inferior in its combat characteristics to the most famous brands. It was developed for special-purpose units, where they are still successfully used to this day, despite the fact that the product has been out of production a long time ago, since 1958. There were reasons for this: its high cost and certain disadvantages: low power, heaviness, impressive size, and it is uncomfortable to wear.
Hot barrels: TOP 5 best pistols in the world
When starting our review of the best pistols in the world, we relied on the opinion of authoritative experts who claim that there cannot be a single view on this issue. “Any shooter who has tried at least 10 guns will tell you his personal TOP 5 pistols!” – Dmitry Yurov, a military observer and specialist in small arms and ammunition, told us. Well, OKHRANA.ru asked him to create his own rating, which in the end almost coincided with the editorial list. The result is the TOP, we would say, of the most legendary firearms, which it is simply impossible to ignore when writing such material. So…
5 - Beretta-92
Without exaggeration, one of the most famous pistols. The Beretta conglomerate generally has interests in all areas related to the production of firearms, and sells its products to all countries of the world where there is at least a remote semblance of an army.
The history of the creation of the 92nd model (and Beretta would subsequently have many modifications) goes back only 6 years: in 1970 it began to be designed, and in 1976 mass production was already established. A year later, the Italian police showed increased interest in the new weapon, thanks to which the Beretta-92FS model appeared, which has a safety lever that, when turned on, also performs a safe release of the trigger from the firing position.
The Beretta engineers based the ideology of the new pistol on the features of the Walter-P38 pistol, with which, in fact, the Germans ended the Second World War. Namely: short barrel stroke, mainspring in the handle, and not in the bolt itself, trigger action.
The 9-mm Beretta firearm became so popular that a pneumonic copy of it soon appeared, made almost exactly like the original. Experts note the high reliability of the Beretta, but at the same time they have complaints about the large size of the pistol and the thick handle, which is only comfortable for the shooter’s wide palms. On the other hand, it was this feature that became decisive in the choice of the prototype for the “RoboCop weapon” in the film of the same name.
EXPERT'S OPINION. Dmitry Yurov:
“One of the most recognizable and respected pistols in the world chambered for the 9x19 cartridge. I personally shot it 10 or 11 times and the impressions were always only the most positive. Minimal toss, comfortable handle for holding. Design is a separate topic. If you put a Glock, a Beretta and some Walter next to each other, then for some reason it is the Beretta that always attracts attention. American police officers used the modification of the Beretta pistol index 96 for a very long time. By the way, on the basis of the Beretta 93R pistol, they assembled the RoboCop pistol for the film of the same name, and the pistol did not undergo significant modifications, except that the design was changed. Beretta, by the way, is one of the most reliable pistols in the world. Still. That is why it is still in production and has modern modifications M9A1 and M9A3. The only downside of the pistol, in my opinion, is its weight. You can quickly grab it from an operational or belt holster only after training.”
4 - SR-1 Peter Serdyukov
The pistol, previously known as RG055, SR-1 “Vector” or “Gyurza”, and in 2003 officially adopted by the army and the Ministry of Internal Affairs under the designation SPS - Serdyukov Self-loading Pistol, was developed at the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (Klimovsk) by Peter Serdyukov and Igor Belyaev. The development was carried out as part of the army's "Rook" competition, but in the end, at first it was the military that was not interested. But the FSB and FSO showed great interest in the SR-1. In particular, because of the “Gyurza’s” ability to penetrate body armor and other obstacles in the form of the sides of a vehicle, for example. For these purposes, in the mid-90s, a 9x21mm SP-10 cartridge with an armor-piercing bullet was produced.
During production and operation, the Serdyukov SR1 pistol underwent a number of changes, and is currently produced under the symbol SR1M. This option has slightly improved ergonomics due to a change in the design of the magazine latch, an increase in the size of the automatic safety key on the handle and a number of other changes.
EXPERT'S OPINION. Dmitry Yurov:
“Pyotr Serdyukov’s SR-1 is unique in the world of pistols. Apparently, Pyotr Ivanovich’s experience in the development of special weapons had an effect. A real special forces pistol. A scalpel, if you like, for fine work. The 9x21mm armor-piercing cartridge for this pistol is available in several versions - SP11 and SP13. The first option is interesting in that it is a so-called small-ricochet ammunition, and the second, with the designation 7BTZ, is, as you might guess from the name, armor-piercing. This ammunition and the quality of the gun’s workmanship make up its most interesting property - at a distance of 50-60 meters, a shot penetrated body armor of the third class of protection even at the testing stage. Pistol misfires are extremely rare. Basically, as is the case with some domestically produced pistols, the problem lies in the quality of the ammunition. Personally, I was able to shoot from this pistol three times during official events, and I can say that for the needs of special forces it is a very good machine. SR1MP (the latest modification) is equipped with a silencer, but the level of shot sound reduction is mediocre, because the cartridge still remains supersonic: the bullet speed is 420-450 meters per second. It was once export-oriented, but did not cause much excitement abroad.”
3 - Glock-17
No matter how strange it may seem, this, one of the most famous pistols, was created by a company that sold knives and sapper blades. It’s hard to believe, but in 1980, when a competition was announced in Austria to create a new pistol, practically no one knew about it. Its ambitious director, Gaston Glock, gathered a group of engineers especially for this competition and invited them to come up with a new weapon “from scratch.” This is how perhaps the most popular firearm in the world appeared, which has gone through many transformations and is in service in dozens of countries.
The main advantages of Glock pistols are ease of design and use, high reliability, significant service life, and relatively low weight. The disadvantages of these pistols usually include the not very comfortable shape of the handle (corrected in the currently produced 4th generation of pistols) as well as the absence of any manual safeties, which, if users are insufficiently trained, periodically leads to accidental shots.
EXPERT'S OPINION. Dmitry Yurov:
“Gaston Glock is a damn genius. It seems to me that he knew from the very beginning that the pistol needed to not only be sold to law enforcement agencies, but also modified in such a way that everyone who was interested in small arms would want to buy it. If you don’t count the 30 countries that have adopted the pistol, there are still a hundred special forces around the world who love and use this pistol. Among them, by the way, are the Russian special services - TsSN FSB, special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSKN and others, recently merged into the Russian Guard.
It was with Glock that the world fashion for polymers in small arms began, because the Glock-17 actually became the first pistol whose body (with the exception of the bolt frame) was made of durable polymer. This material did not break, did not crumble and was not subject to corrosion, due to which the gun could be used in different temperature conditions - from the fierce African heat to the north of Sweden.
In general, manufacturers claim that this polymer was “baked” in a special oven and only at a temperature of +200 degrees did it begin to deform. This is very strong, considering that the maximum temperature regime on our planet is four times less.
I can’t say exactly how many I’ve shot from different versions of Glocks (I’ve lost count a long time ago), but the machine’s lifespan is exceptional. Something like 300 thousand shots. For all other pistols, the resource is limited to 30-50 thousand shots. The most modified pistol in the world - today, if my memory serves me correctly, there are about 40 (!!!) modifications of this pistol, for a variety of calibers, even such unusual ones as .40SW and .45GAP. The American police also love it, for whose employees the pistol has been purchased in large quantities for a long time.”
2 - M1911 - Colt Government
This is a self-loading pistol chambered for .45 ACP. designed to destroy manpower at short distances. Designed by John Moses Browning under the name Colt-Browning. This is the longest lasting military pistol. Was in service with the US Army from 1911 to 1985! Then it was replaced by Beretta, but is still approved for use. This is the most beloved and revered weapon of every generation of Americans. It is considered the symbol of the country. Everyone, from ordinary housewives to policemen and bandits, preferred it to other brands of weapons. Simple, reliable with excellent stopping power, it gives a feeling of security and confidence.
EXPERT'S OPINION. Dmitry Yurov:
“The Colt 1911 is a whole era. Story. The appearance of the pistol and its design have remained virtually unchanged since 1911, when the weapon was approved for use in the US Army. 1911 is Tokarev’s American Tula in terms of history and memory. The Browning self-loader chambered for .45ACP (11.43×23 mm) was not the first pistol of this type - before it was developed, there was a whole series of long-barreled guns, but it was the 1911 that turned out to be the most successful. Security forces stopped using it only in the mid-80s, when the military decided to opt for Beretta. The safety of these pistols, reliability and much more directly affected its commercial properties - weapons on this platform are still produced and sold by about 45 companies around the world. Even Brazilian arms companies assemble such pistols. And the demand for them has not decreased over the years.”
1 - TT - Tokarev pistol
The TT (Tula, Tokarev) pistol, as its name suggests, was developed at the Tula Arms Factory by the legendary Russian gunsmith Fedor Tokarev. By the way, the designer took the Colt1911 as the basis for the new weapon, considering its characteristics the most successful. Tokarev noted the extremely successful bolt locking system of this pistol, and, somewhat simplifying it, used not only this system, but also the entire layout diagram in the TT. Tokarev managed to create an unusually powerful and compact pistol. Tests have revealed the superiority of the TT pistol over many others in terms of weight, dimensions and power under various operating conditions.
In the USSR, production of the TT continued until 1952, when it was officially replaced in the arsenal of the Soviet Army by the PM pistol of the Makarov system. The TT remained in service with the troops until the 1960s, and to this day a significant number of these pistols are mothballed in army reserve warehouses. In total, approximately 1,700,000 TT pistols were produced in the USSR. In addition, in the late 1940s - 1950s, the USSR transferred documentation and licenses for the production of TT to a number of allied countries, namely Hungary, China, Romania, North Korea, Yugoslavia.
The teteshnik's automatic system uses recoil energy during a short barrel stroke; there are locking protrusions along its entire circumference, which simplifies its manufacture. The trigger mechanism is a trigger mechanism and, for the first time in the world, is made in the form of one easily removable module. The disadvantage of the TT is that it does not have any safety devices other than a half-cocked hammer, but if a weapon with a half-cocked hammer is dropped, an accidental shot may occur.
EXPERT'S OPINION. Dmitry Yurov:
TT is the first Soviet self-loader. It’s impossible to say that the pistol turned out to be lumpy like the first pancake. Tokarev, after all, was a man with straight arms and a bright head, so he approached the issue thoroughly. The safety of many TT pistols, which rise from the ground along with the remains of dead Soviet soldiers, is generally amazing - it will lie in the ground for 70 years, but you can wash it, clean it, and please, it’s like new.
The 7.62 mm cartridge made it possible to accurately hit any target at a distance of up to 30 meters (stories about 70 and even 100 are complete nonsense). Considering that normal SIBZ had not been invented and implemented at that time, the power of the ammunition at this distance was decent. Trench battles, by the way, often took place with the use of this pistol. In the famous photograph “Combat” - where a Soviet officer raises people to attack, it is the TT that is captured.
The pistol had a couple of interesting modifications in 1939 - with a magazine for 12 rounds and in 1942 with a two-row magazine for 14. In the post-war period, the TT was actively used by criminal elements, because no one has yet counted how many pistols were lost and where, and some craftsmen dug up or found a weapon, restored it to a usable condition and went to work. The situation has not changed even after several decades - former MUR detectives who worked in the 80s and early 90s say that out of 20 murders, the TT pistol was used in at least half of the cases. Separator mufflers, by the way, could be made “for a bubble” by even averagely qualified turners. TT still has great collectible value. I personally am the owner of a cooled pistol with a rare red slide.”
Desert Eagle
Product jointly produced by the USA and Israel. This is one of the most lethal and best pistols, specially designed with a large diameter table for hunting purposes and for protection against various types of attacks, for example, a criminal, an animal, etc. The large dimensions and frightening appearance of the model gave it popularity in cinema, as well as in shooting games on PC.
Walther P99
This sample was developed by the German company Carl Walther Sportwaffen. The company is characterized by the introduction of innovative ideas into its production for the manufacture of high-quality small arms. The P99 brand model is one of its best creations, which began to be produced in 1994.
The goal of the developer was the following: to create a weapon that would combine the latest technologies with its highest combat characteristics. As a result, “Walter” brand P99 exceeded all expectations, becoming a real sensation. Before him, this company could afford to produce exclusively classic weapons.
The advantages include the small dimensions and weight of the product, a comfortable handle, which is convenient to hold the gun in the palm of almost any size, thanks to removable elements. All these advantages allow us to classify it as one of the best pistols in the world. This small weapon has several types of execution.
CZ .75
The abbreviation CZ stands for Ceska Zbrojovka Uhersky Brod: it is still produced in the Czech Republic and is considered one of the best automatic pistols ever created. The lightweight barrel of the CZ .75 makes shooting very comfortable, and the double magazine allows you to fire quite a lot of shots before reloading.
Colt M1911
Colt is in sixth place in the list of the best pistols in the world. The weapon is one of the oldest, with a centuries-old history. It was used by the American army as military equipment for more than 70 years until it was replaced by the Italian Beretta 92 pistol, which is one of the most widely used pistols in the world, having a lot of modifications. Disadvantages include large size and weight, as well as a small magazine.
"Colt Python"
Colt Python
A powerful .357 Magnum weapon. Initially, they planned to create an elite revolver, and therefore the quality of the materials was very decent.
The unique and charismatic design may seem inconspicuous at first glance, but it is etched in the memory and attracts the eye.
Almost all powerful personal weapons began to have the same appearance. However, Colt Python is a pioneer in the field - a masterpiece whose glory cannot be eclipsed.
The revolver was released in 1955 and was produced for 44 years - until the fall of 1999. Small batches for special orders continued to be created until 2005, but then production was completely curtailed.
Soviet TT pistol
This model was developed in the Soviet Union in 1930. The pistol became famous for its ability to penetrate various obstacles, thanks to its great power. The weapon is endowed with excellent combat qualities and high performance characteristics. Its modest size and light weight allow you to carry the item with you without attracting prying eyes.
The TT is easy to use and reliable in combat. The pistol quickly became recognized in combat. Its main disadvantage is that the magazine is not secured securely enough, so a self-inflicted gunshot is possible, which has been noted more than once.
Heckler and Koch USP
This model was developed in Germany in 1993. It took ninth place in the ranking of the best pistols in the world, thanks to its reliability in combat, excellent quality and high level of accuracy in hitting the target. This type of small arms has nine options. Its disadvantages include its large size and impressive shutter.
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Glock 17
The Glock 17 opens the top three on the list of the best pistols. It is in service with several dozen countries with a huge number of modifications. The item is distinguished by its light weight, simple structure, which includes only 30 elements. It will take at least a minute to disassemble the gun, for example, using a nail.
It is one of the safest handguns. Its reserve for the number of shots is determined by a value from 300,000 to 400,000 times. Due to the absence of a safety catch and trigger on this example, the instrument is immediately brought into the firing position.
Glock goes beyond the conventional boundaries of how guns are presented in general. It is made of impact-resistant polymer material, has a black color, it is a real murder object, and, thanks to its lightness, it has become a favorite of law enforcement officials in many countries. In the USA, more than 40% of police officers choose to carry this particular brand.
FN Herstal FNP-9
A modern, powerful pistol with a polymer frame. The FN series is manufactured in the USA, specifically for home security. The pistol's barrel stroke is quite short, which makes the weapon very accurate. 16 rounds per clip, one per barrel.
Sig-Sauer P226
Second place in the top ranking of the best pistols in the world is deservedly occupied by the Sig-Sauer P226, since it is approved by intelligence services and many armies of the world. It is also called a weapon for elite units. This tool was developed in collaboration with the famous weapons companies SIG of Switzerland and Sauer of Germany. Their fruitful collaboration led to the creation of this unique equipment, which appeared in the 60s. of the past century, which led the development of a line of high-quality weapons.
The first thing that distinguishes this pistol from others of its kind is the highest level of manufacturing quality. It should be noted right away that if there is a need for a compact model, then this one is not suitable. The effect produced in photographs is deceiving. In reality, the product is large and heavy, with a large handle, and the cost is quite impressive. Therefore, not everyone can afford to buy it.
The pistol is valued all over the world for its combat performance. The model has excellent shooting accuracy data. Developed in 1981 as a competitive model, it took part in the recognition of the best weapon for the American army, losing first place to the Beretta 92 brand pistol, and only because the Italians offered a slightly lower price for their model. But, most likely, it is that the Americans made a choice in favor of the Italians based on political considerations. Disadvantages include heavy weight and high cost.
"Smith and Wesson Model 19"
Smith & Wesson Model 19
Few firearms can match the beauty of a traditional Smith & Wesson. This company has been producing a large number of excellent hand weapons throughout the last century. However, model 19 made it to the TOP.
This revolver appeared in 1957. The designers were assisted by the then famous shooter B. Jordan, a former border guard inspector.
Bill dreamed of owning a smaller, lighter version of the Model 27, the first gun ever chambered for the powerful .357 Magnum ammunition.
The pistol turned out to be stylish and intimidating in appearance. The model in question, having gone through a series of improvements, is still being produced. Model 19 is in great demand among shooters, despite the existence of newer analogues.
Beretta 92
The Beretta 92 is rightfully considered the best pistol in the world. Its manufacturer is considered the oldest in Europe. The Italian firearms company was founded in 1526. The Beretta 92 and its subsequent modifications are in service with a dozen countries. The disadvantages of the product include a thick handle, heavy weight, rapid contamination, and high cost.
