American Tactical BB6: Manufactured by BB Techs in Austria, the striker-fired, 9mm BB6 uses a polymer frame that allows shooters to swap the backstraps to find the best fit. The BB6 has a 4-inch barrel and an 18+1 capacity. The steel slide has an integrated optics mount that will accept a wide range of reflex sights.
American Tactical Mil-Sport: AR-style pistols chambered in 9mm have become quite popular in recent years. Responding to market demand, American Tactical is now making the Mil-Sport 9mm AR-style pistol. This pistol has a 5.5-inch barrel, a 2-inch flash suppressor and a 7-inch KeyMod handguard. The Mil-Sport uses Glock-pattern magazines and ships with a 17-round magazine.
Beretta Pico: Beretta has introduced an updated version of the Pico to make it easier to shoot with increased functionality. The updated .380 ACP pistol uses reworked internals that lighten the trigger pull and slide resistance without reducing its overall reliability. Additionally, new swappable frames add more color and the option of a LaserMax white light or laser aiming module.
Bersa Thunder 9 Pro XT: Designed with sport shooting in mind, the new Bersa Thunder 9 Pro XT has a 5-inch barrel. The 9mm pistol’s front sight has a fiber-optic insert for quick target acquisitions. Bersa uses an adjustable rear sight to allow the shooter to precisely dial in the ammo being used. Standard 17-round and limited-capacity 10-round magazines are both available.
Charter Arms Backpacker: Charter Arms is now offering a limited-edition version of its popular Bulldog revolver called the Backpacker. The new .44 Special wheelgun holds five rounds and has a 2.5-inch, ported barrel. The two-piece grips are made of walnut and are smooth in the hand. “Backpacker” is etched into the left side of the gun’s barrel. A satin stainless finish is standard. Charter Arms will distribute these guns exclusively through Lew Horton Distributing.
Excel Arms X-9P: Excel Arms recently debuted its new 9mm pistol, the X-9P. The X-9P is a blowback-operated design that uses standard Glock magazines. The pistol has a Picatinny rail on top for the addition of a red dot or other optic as well as a shorter rail on the bottom for lights and lasers. Excel Arms equips the pistol with an 8.5-inch barrel that can help improve bullet velocity and accuracy compared to standard duty-sized handguns.
Excel Arms X-22P: Excel Arms has updated its X-22P handgun to offer shooters greater flexibility. The top of the rimfire pistol has had its Picatinny rail extended several inches toward the muzzle for a longer sight radius. An accessory rail has been added to the underside of the pistol for a laser or light. The X-22P uses Ruger 10/22 magazines.
Honor Defense Honor Guard: At less than 1 inch thick, the new Honor Guard pistols will catch the attention of many shooters looking for a concealable pistol for everyday self-defense. Sporting a modular stainless steel chassis with a 3.2-inch barrel, the new 9mm handguns are compact and fully ambidextrous. A variant with a manual safety is also available. Each frame has a custom texture for a good grip, and the backstrap can be changed out.
Kahr CW380 Tungsten: Kahr Arms is now selling a limited-edition version of the CW380 with a Cerakote Tungsten finish. The popular CW380 pistol is ideally sized for concealed carry, as it is small enough to slip into a pocket or waistband without creating a bulky spot in your clothing. The new tungsten finish gives the slide and other metal parts a dark graphite gray color that is both distinctive and understated.
Llama Max I: The Llama name is back with the Max I pistol, a 1911-style handgun chambered in .45 ACP. The Government-sized pistol takes eight rounds in each magazine, has a matte blue finish and mil-spec-style sights. The grips are a custom hardwood. Each pistol features a grip and thumb safety and is backed by a lifetime service contract.
Llama Micromax: Another new gun from the classic Llama name, the Micromax is a diminutive pistol chambered for the popular .380 ACP. Essentially a scaled-down 1911, it is a single-action handgun with an ambidextrous manual safety and a lowered and flared ejection port. The Micromax weighs less than 23 ounces and still holds 7+1 rounds.
Schmeisser SLP-9: A new handgun from a storied name, the new Schmeisser SLP-9 is a striker-fired, 9mm pistol that offers shooters a second-strike capability in the event of a failed primer. The polymer frame has interchangeable backstraps and an ambidextrous magazine release. The gun’s metal parts are all machined and Tenifer treated. The standard metal magazines hold 17 rounds. What’s more, Schmeisser even built the gun’s disassembly tool into the frame for quick and easy access.
Sig Sauer Legion Series Pistols: Sig Sauer has introduced the Legion Series: part product line, part exclusive community, part lifestyle. Legion Series pistols are highly-enhanced Sig Sauer products from across all of the company’s wide-ranging business units. These masterful firearms have received a series of enhancements based on the needs and wants of professionals. Those who demand the best will now have something even better.
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Ported: There is little doubt that the M&P Shield is one of the most successful concealed-carry handguns on today’s market. Smith & Wesson expanded the line by adding a ported version of the gun from its Performance Center. In addition to the porting, the Performance Center adds Hi-Viz fiber-optic sights to the polymer-framed gun. Both 9mm and .40 S&W versions are available.
TNW Firearms Aero Survival: TNW Firearms is expanding its line of Aero Survival pistols with new variants in 10mm and .357 SIG (available in early 2016). These guns have AR styling and use standard Glock mags. As with the previous Aero Survival pistols, the new models can convert to other calibers — 9mm, .40, and .45 ACP — with the use of a conversion kit.
Tresna Defense JAG9G TP: Using the basic AR-pistol form, the Tresna JAG9G TP uses the company's billet lowers that are designed to use Glock's Gen4 magazines — every size from the tiny G26 to the 33-round G18 magazines. The barrels are 9.5 inches in length, and the guns have free-floated Odin Works KeyMod handguards for the addition of white lights or other accessories.
Troy P7A1 Pistol: The new Troy P7A1 pistol is an AR-style pistol with a standard spring and bolt carrier group. Folding BattleSights ship with the gun, while the Picatinny rail on the top of the receiver allows for the quick addition of a red-dot optic. Troy also introduced a PDW Holster for concealed carry that works perfectly with the P7A1 pistol.
Handguns can serve both practical and sporting purposes. From providing 24/7 self-defense to winning local matches, pistols of all kinds fill various roles for many people. Many new pistols are constantly being introduced to suit every shooter’s needs, and here is a sample of what is coming onto the market.
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For more information on the handguns in the gallery above, please visit the following websites:
American Tactical BB6: americantactical.us; 800-290-0065
American Tactical Mil-Sport: americantactical.us; 800-290-0065
Beretta Pico: beretta.com
Bersa Thunder 9 Pro XT: eagleimportsinc.com; 732-493-0333
Charter Arms Backpacker: charterfirearms.com; 203-922-1652
Excel Arms X-9P: excelarms.com; 909-947-4867
Excel Arms X-22P :excelarms.com; 909-947-4867
Honor Defense Honor Guard: honordefense.com; 678-943-8035
Kahr CW380 Tungsten: kahr.com; 508-795-3919
Llama Max I: eagleimportsinc.com; 732-493-0333
Llama Micromax: eagleimportsinc.com; 732-493-0333
Schmeisser SLP-9: schmeisser-germany.de
Sig Sauer Legion Series Pistols: legionseries.com; 866-619-1128
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Ported: smith-wesson.com; 800-331-0852
TNW Firearms Aero Survival: tnwfirearms.com; 503-429-5001
Tresna Defense JAG9G TP: tresnadefense.com; 678-540-3585
Troy P7A1 Pistol: worldoftroy.com; 866-788-6412
This article was published in the 2016 edition of the Complete Book of Handguns. For information on how to subscribe, please call 1-800-284-5668.
The post The Future Is Now: 17 Cutting-Edge Handguns appeared first on Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews.