Favorite Striker-Fired Pistols
- Graham Baates
- Sep 19
- 6 min read
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Continuing the series covering some of my favorites after reviewing more than 500 handguns. This piece will cover some of my favorite striker-fired pistols. Part one was my Favorite Fun Guns and part two covered Favorite Range Guns.
"Favorite" is a very subjective standard, but over the years I have been asked several times. Striker-fired pistols cost less to manufacture than hammer-fired guns and so are typically available at lower retail prices, making them the market dominators. While trigger feel isn't always the greatest, companies like Walther and Canik have perfect the pre-armed striker for those who need a more hammer-like feel, and several others have produced excelent triggers. This piece goes beyond triggers to include the overall shooting experience. Exclusion from this list doesn't mean a gun isn't great, just that it didn't come immediately to mind. I'd love to hear your favorites in the comment section below.
In No Particular Order, Linked to Original Reviews
Sig P365 Fuse Build: The photo shows it with the Maskas Preciscion slide, but that accomplishes the same thing as the Fuse Slide: Creating a "duty" sized P365 that retains the slimness of the P365 design while having good barrel length and a grip for an entire human hand. Adding in the DPM Systems recoil assembly made it a dream to shoot. What makes this build shine for me is the utility. It can be a carry gun, house gun, or training gun. Of course with the P365 modularity slide and grip size can be easily changed to fit specific applications without needing another "firearm". The build shown could be made with any Sig P365 FCU.
Pricing varies depending on build and parts chosen.
See the Modularity link for ideas.
Grand Power Q100 Mk23: My love for Grand Power has been made clear over the years. What's impressive is as I've collected months worth of training and reviewed more and more guns, I still love a Grand Power. When the Mk23 models finally made their way to the US among the tractiona nd optics-cuts upgrades came a change to the way the barel rotates. I don't feel any loss of that famous smooth recoil with the new operating system, but am blown away by the final version of a striker trigger employed by Grand Power.
Feeling more like a two-stage rifle trigger, the safety dingus holds most of the pull weight. Once that dingus is flush with the trigger shoe the very next bit of movement fires the gun. The end result is a striker trigger with a crispness and preciscion typically only experienced on a high-end 1911. Combine that with the great ergonomics, ambidextrous controls, and smooth recoil impulse and the Grand Power Q100 Mk23 is easily one of the best striker-fired pistols on the market.
Pricing as of 19SEP25
Check link for current pricing and availability
BUL Armory Axe C: Yes, the same BUL Armory that makes the incredible Ultralight and EDC pistols. When a company can do what BUL Armory does to 1911s, I was curious to see their take on the Glock design. I cut my teeth on Glocks over a decade ago and while I learned a lot tweaking and changing parts to try to make it the pistol I wanted, the end result was a credit card bill, but not a gun I could love. I wish BUL Armory had been making the Axe line in 15 years ago as it would have saved me a lot of time and money. I've been through the Glock multiverse and feel BUL Armory got it right. BUL Armory simplified the Axe line by eliminating the top and bottom tier and selling just the Hatchet line in the US. Unfortunately these have been of limited availability on the US market lately.
Pricing as of 19SEP25
Check link for current pricing and availability
SAR 9C Gen 3: Sarsilmaz is a massive defense contractor making just about everything, but a couple of years ago they decided they'd go after the US commercial market and created SAR USA. Somehow most of their line has gone misunderstood or under-represented on the US market so far. The SAR 9C Gen 3 is no exception. I've seen more people mistakingly think it's a Glock clone than truly appreciate the different design and construction that went into this serivce pistol tweaked for US commercial interest. During original testing the SAR 9C went 50,000 rounds of NATO ammunition (same pressure as US "+p" before needing part replacement.
Just holding the SAR 9C Gen 3 you can feel it's got more substance to it than the average gun. While holding you'll also appreciate the 27 different ways the grips can be configured for optimal hand fit. Barrel lock up feels like a bank vault and the spring is heavy. That may mean the gun requires a firmer grip, but also results in a very comfortable recoil impulse.
Pricing as of 19SEP25
Check link for current pricing and availability
Bersa BP9CC: Single-stack 9mm pistols don't get much attention anymore, but this is one worth looking into. Super slim in hand, and an ambidextrous magazine release as well as memory points on a model long before that became a trend might grab your attention, but the trigger is what I love most about the Bersa BP9CC. It retains a responsible-for-carry weight and total travel, but the rest must be one of the shortest and crispest on the market! Years ago, just for the fun of it I wanted to see how quickly I could run this otherwise unassuming little gun and I easily emptied the nine-round magazine in 1.5 seconds. I've been saying it for years, but will do it again here: I really hope Bersa puts this trigger mechanism into a full-size or at least double-stack gun someday.
Pricing as of 19SEP25
Check link for current pricing and availability
Canik METE SFx: The main features, and what I like about the Canik METE SFx could easily be found on any of the model sizes found in The Canik Guide, but for me the SFx stands apart a little. When we take all of the updates Canik made with the METE line and then also put a long slide on the gun the end result is a fun-to-shoot confidence builder. I argue it's a confidence builder because the METE SFx makes shooting easier; aiming, trigger press, and recoil management all easier thanks to the long slide. Yes, the SFx Rival has the same slide length and TTI Combat has a muzzle weight and lighter slide, but the METE SFx was the first of the series and so holds a place in my mind.
Pricing as of 19SEP25
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Walther P99AS: The Walther P99 AS was the gun that showed me a striker-fired pistol could be good. Excellent ergonics, a paddle magazine release, and three trigger modes to be right for any situation. Walther's now closing out the Final Edition of these guns after decades of service around the world both in and out of uniform. While the appearance may be telling of the gun design's age, it's still an excellent pistol that belongs in any collection. A Bond gun, the first pistol to have interchangeable back straps, and an incredible trigger system.
The Final Edition models come in a very nice kit
Pricing as of 19SEP25
Check link for current pricing and availability