It is clear that in today’s gun market, not all manufacturers are content with rolling out new products for the sake of keeping things fresh.
Instead, some of them are pushing the envelope.
Even though micro-compacts are all the craze, there is also a healthy amount of development going toward pushing the capabilities of their full-size platforms.
Full-size doesn’t only mean “duty-gun” anymore. The lines have become blurred between full-blown competition guns and full-size pistols, and that is a good thing.
With that in mind, we filmed a video and put together a list (in no particular order) of some of our favorite full-size pistols.
So keep reading to see why we love these guns!
THE QUICK LIST
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Editor's Pick
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Best Value
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Best Striker-Fired
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Most Feature-Rich
Table of Contents
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Why You Should Trust Us
Input from this article came from our resident video content man, Sean Curtis, and one of our editors, Wyatt Sloan.
Sean had a law enforcement career of over two decades, where he received continued training for his roles in SWAT and as a POST-certified handgun instructor. He has been writing about guns since 2014, working for numerous outlets, including Police1.com, Guns.com, American Survival Guide, Gun World Magazine, and the Glock Annual.
Wyatt has been shooting for over two decades, and he is an avid hunter, competitor, recreational shooter, and an NRA-certified handgun instructor. He is also a bit of a collector, with over 200 firearms to his name.
Best Full-Sized Pistols
1. Staccato P
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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Staccato P Pros & Cons
Pros
- Accurate
- Reliable
- Fast shooting
- High capacity
Cons
- Expensive
- Large grip
Those versed in the 1911 know its qualities, as well as its shortcomings. The 2011 is an outstanding evolution of the platform that emphasizes those charms and addresses those flaws.
Staccato (previously STI) has had a lot of involvement in that development. Over the years, the Texas-based manufacturer has evolved from creating high-speed race guns to creating quality weapons for a wider market.
The Staccato P is the workhorse of that group. At its heart, it is a full-sized, hammer-fired, single-action, semi-auto with a 20+1 capacity.
Though apt, the description does little to convey the experience of shooting one. The P points naturally, shoots accurately, and recoils tamely in the right hands.
Shooters evolve with the gun, starting with creating tight groups and moving to rapid shooting quickly. The race lineage of the P shines through when you find yourself holding the dot through recoil.
Although the grip is large, and the price is high, the Staccato P absolutely runs.
Check out our full review of the Staccato P!
2. CZ Shadow 2
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Great trigger
- Low bore-axis
- Excellent ergonomics
- More affordable than competitors
Cons
- Smaller slide can be harder to manipulate
The CZ Shadow 2 changed the landscape of USPSA and competition shooting seemingly overnight.
Shooters were now able to get their hands on a relatively affordable gun that was legitimately competition-ready out of the box.
These pistols are known for their low bore axis slide-in-frame design, excellent ergonomics, and great inherent accuracy.
Couple that with a beefy 46.5-ounce overall weight, and you get an extremely flat shooting and soft-recoiling pistol.
We shot all the pistols on this list side by side, and the only gun that was a true match for it speed-wise, in my opinion (Wyatt), was the Staccato P, which had the benefit of an optic and a weapon light.
Despite being the oldest pistol on this list, the Shadow 2 is still my baseline to which I compare everything else. It is just that good. Not to mention, both the iron sight and optics-ready versions are cheaper than ever!
Be sure to check out our full review of the CZ Shadow 2!
3. Walther PDP Match Steel Frame
Walther PDP Match Steel Frame
Pros
- Flat shooting
- Wonderful ergonomics
- Accurate
- Reliable
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavy
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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If you were going to write a playbook on how to challenge Glock for striker-fired supremacy, the Walther PDP would be a great starting point.
So many of its features serve as improvements over previous models but also elevate the category of handguns at large.
One of the greatest attributes of the PDP is its ergonomics. They work with a wide array of hand shapes and sizes, maximizing contact with the gun.
This, in turn, improves recoil mitigation, allowing users quick follow-up shots. Accuracy is aided by the superb trigger, one of the best striker-fired triggers on the market today.
Finally, the Super Terrain Serrations, both front and rear, are extremely tactile and make the slide easy to manipulate. All of these features create a potent package, but then Walther turned it up a notch with the Match Steel Frame.
Imagine all those attributes with an even better trigger and heavy, steel frame. The flat recoil on this gun makes it a fast shooter, no doubt, though it may pull your pants down without a good belt!
Check out our full review of the Walther PDP Match Steel Frame.
4. Sig P226 XFive Legion
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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Pros
- Integrated compensator
- Fast-shooting
- Includes 3x 20-round magazines
Cons
- Very expensive
- Rear sight must be removed to mount optic
Despite a goofy naming scheme, the P226 XFive Legion definitely came to play.
Sig took their P226 Legion and tossed a healthy dollop of upgrades on an already high-trim gun.
These include an improved contoured frame, flat face AX3 adjustable trigger, Legion grips and flared magwell, suppressor-height x-ray night sight with a fully adjustable rear, integrated slide compensator, 3x 20-round magazines, and a massive gas pedal and extended safety for improved control.
Throughout our testing, this gun has proven to be accurate and extremely fast, thanks to the compensator. It was even quicker when equipped with an optic and weapon light.
I (Wyatt) found myself willingly pushing my targets out to further distances because I was getting excellent groupings for my ability, even at 25 yards.
While I personally struggled to really get the “feel” of this gun at first. I eventually warmed up to it once I got used to everything.
However, I did hand this gun off to three other people, all of whom had excellent results right off the bat.
What do you think of the Sig? Rate it below!
5. Beretta 92X Performance
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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Pros
- Extremely accurate
- Great trigger
- Excellent iron sights
Cons
- May be too heavy for some
- Only comes with 2x 15-round magazines
While this entry may not come as a surprise to some, when it boiled down to picking five, I was honestly shocked I found myself adding this one to the list.
At 47.6 ounces, this is the heaviest gun on this list — almost too heavy. The weight of the slide and the way it is sprung make this gun the slowest shooter on the list for me (Wyatt). So why did I add it?
In a nutshell, it still shoots fast, and while it may not be the easiest for me to shoot fast, it is one of the easiest to shoot accurately.
A superb DA/SA trigger helps things along greatly, and the added weight gives me stability when trying to keep the excellent iron sights aligned and stack shots on top of each other. As with most Beretta 92 models, the recoil impulse is pleasant.
I have a lot of handguns, and this is one of the most accurate guns I own — period. Hitting out to 100 yards is a breeze, and I can call shots on smaller targets at closer distances with extreme confidence.
Beretta makes optics-ready versions of this gun, as well as non-railed defensive models. They also accept standard Beretta 92 mags, so you can ditch those lame 15-rounders for flush-fit Mec-Gar 18-rounders and feel a bit more up to speed with the competitors.
Final Thoughts
Manufacturers have started to squeeze so much performance out of the platforms we all love and know that it is hard to pick only five and keep the list manageable.
If you didn’t see your favorite gun here, that doesn’t mean we don’t love it too. Be sure to check out our other articles, we might just have what you are looking for!
What’s your favorite full-sized handgun? Let us know in the comments below. Want to explore the world of pistols even more? Check out our recommendations for the Best Beginner & Home Defense Pistols and Best Concealed Carry Guns!
22 Leave a Reply
What does the “DPO” stand for on the link for the Staccato P?
DPO stands for Dawson Precision Optics mounting system. So DPO really just signifies it is an optics-ready model.
By all meaningful measures, the Beretta PX4 full size is superior to the Sig 226 Legion, the Beretta 92x, and, yes @Tom, the Glock 17. I am totally baffled why the rest of the Western world sees this, but North America cannot.
My PX4 storm compact is making it into an upcoming video on its merits. I love those guns, but the PX4 lacks features out of the gate to put it in the same category as some of the high-end models of the 92 and P226. Namely stuff like the trigger, optics cut, and grip texture. Langdon Tactical covers all of those bases, but I am pretty sure they didn't offer a full-size package out of the box until just last month after the SHOT announcement. We were trying to keep the list to current production guns. Hopefully we can get our hands on the new LTT PX4 G-SD that just dropped though!
I quit reading the article after I saw that the Glock 17 was not on the list.
Thanks for this article. Very well-written, as always! I'd love to get myself a Shadow 2 someday. CZ makes excellent firearms.
Corey, thanks for reading! It is definitely a buyer's market right now for the Shadow 2. If you get one, you won't be disappointed.
I believe it. I've never been disappointed in a CZ before!
Enjoyed the video guys. Nice job.
John, thanks for checking out the video, we are glad you like it!
Springfield Echelon!
Steve, the Echelon is shaping up to be a really solid pistol, it just isn't quite at that elite performance level of some of the stuff on the video. Sean did a review on the Echelon and had great things to say about it. You can check that review out here!
At some point I hope you'll give the Canik Mete SFX (and its little brothers, the SFT and SC) the attention it deserves. I've shot some of the guns on your list but would never trade them for my Canik. I promise you the SFX trigger is better, the balance is as good, and 1000-round reliability impeccable. Canik makes excellent handguns at reasonable prices that most of us average Joes can handle. I get that they may not be good for the same ad bucks as the bigger companies, but I sure wish you'd give them more air time. It'd benefit your reader/viewers.
Caniks are also made in Turkey, a country that supports Hamas. People need to realize where their money is going.
Thanks for that info. I did not realize that.
In case you weren't aware, half of America supports Hamas. Look at what's happening on college campuses, not to mention within the halls of congress. I'm not aware of any executive within Canik who has come out in support of Hamas. That can't be said about several of our elected officials.
James, we have a Canik Rival in hand and should have a review out sometime soon. We have a review on the TP9SFX, and I actually did a full review of the TP9 Elite SC already - which I loved. You can check it out here!
I’ll take my Les Baer concept VI over any on this list all day long. The dependability and accuracy is phenomenal. Not to say any of these are less than fine pistols, but I’ll take my Baer.
Norm, for people that love 1911s, it's hard to argue with a well-tuned Les Baer! That is a sweet gun you have there.
It would be nice to have a full sized handgun on the list that was affordable for most people. These are all great guns, but there is a lot of value that can be found for under $750. Some examples would include the regular full-sized PDP, the M&P 2.0 Optics Ready, the Glock 17, or the Beretta 92x. I personally have a M&P 2.0 OR with a 5” barrel. Great trigger and very reliable!
Patrick, we have a few articles on the best budget handguns that include some of the guns you mentioned. While we don't specifically have a budget full-sized gun article, that is a great idea. Thanks for the suggestion!
I don’t really think that Walther, Glock, Beretta, or S&W really fit in the “budget” category. They are all duty firearms used by police and military. They are more affordable (sub $1,000) but still are rock solid IMHO. Probably in a mid range between budget and top tier. There are some good “budget” full size guns around the $300 range, like a Taurus G3, or a Ruger Security 9. They don’t have the reputation of a Glock or Beretta, but have a ton of reviews as being dependable.