Best Handguns For Target Shooting: Target shooting requires precision and consistency; your selected handgun can significantly impact your performance.
Target shooting is a popular sport and recreational activity enjoyed by shooting enthusiasts worldwide.
To excel in this discipline, choosing the suitable handgun that suits your needs and provides the necessary accuracy, ergonomics, and overall performance is essential.
A handgun that is too powerful, too complex, or expensive can ruin your shooting experience. That’s why you must find a handgun that is easy to use, accurate, and affordable for target shooting.
Whether you shoot at a range, in the woods, or in your backyard, you need a handgun suitable for target shooting.
Best Handguns for Target Shooting
Let’s look at some of the best handguns for target shooting today. Our top picks are based on their caliber, size, capacity, reliability, and ease of use.
CZ SP-01 Shadow 2
Our top pick for the best handgun for target shooting is the CZ SP-01 Shadow 2.
This is a full-size semi-automatic pistol that is chambered in 9mm Luger. It has a 4.89-inch barrel length with a 17-round magazine capacity.
Key Features of the CZ SP-01 Shadow 2
- Steel construction with black polycoat finish
- Sleek and ergonomic design for comfortable and stable shooting
- Aluminum grip with checkered panels for a secure hold
- Reliable and easy to use
- Single-action/double-action trigger with a short reset for smooth and consistent operation
- Ambidextrous manual safety and slide stop for convenience
- Fiber optic front sight and adjustable rear sight for easy aiming
- Excellent choice for target shooting with high accuracy, precision, and consistency
- Prevalent with many aftermarket options for customization and versatility
Glock 34 MOS Gen 4
Our runner-up for the best handgun for target shooting is the Glock 34 MOS Gen 4.
This full-size semi-automatic pistol is chambered in a 9mm Luger. It has a 5.31-inch barrel length with a 17-round magazine capacity.
Key Features of the Glock 34 MOS Gen 4
- Polymer frame with steel slide and barrel
- Simple and minimalist design for durability and lightweight
- Ergonomic grip with finger grooves for a comfortable hold
- Excellent option for target shooting, balancing size, capacity, and performance
- Affordable and widely available, easy to find and purchase
- MOS version allows for optic mounting on the slide, enhancing accuracy and target acquisition speed
Sig Sauer P320 X-Five
The Crosman 2240 Bolt Action CO2-Powered .22 Pistol is reliable and easy to use. It uses CO2 cartridges that provide consistent power and performance.
It also has a single-stage trigger with a light pull that makes it smooth and uniform.
Key Features of the Crosman 2240 Bolt Action CO2-Powered .22 Pistol:
- Fixed front sight and adjustable rear sight for easy aiming
- Ideal choice for target shooting with low cost and low noise
- Trendy with many aftermarket options for customization and versatility
Crosman 2240 Bolt Action CO2-Powered .22 Pistol.
Our best air pistol for target shooting is the Crosman 2240 Bolt Action CO2-Powered .22 Pistol.
This subcompact air pistol is chambered in .22 caliber pellets. It has a 7-inch barrel length with a single-shot capacity.
Key Features of the Colt Combat Elite Government
- Reliable and easy to use
- Single-action trigger with a short reset for smooth and consistent operation
- Ambidextrous thumb and grip safety for safety and versatility
- Novak front and rear sight with dots for easy aiming
- Excellent option for target shooting with a balance of power, accuracy, and recoil control
- Trendy with many aftermarket options for customization and versatility
Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0
The Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 is a versatile handgun suitable for self-defense and target shooting. Its compact size and lightweight frame make it easy to handle, especially for beginners.
This firearm delivers exceptional accuracy, equipped with a crisp trigger and adjustable sights. With a capacity of 17+1 rounds, the M&P9 M2.0 ensures you have enough ammunition for a satisfying target shooting session.
Key Features of the Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0
- Caliber: The M&P9 M2.0 is chambered in 9mm, a widely used and readily available ammunition caliber.
- Ergonomic Design: This pistol is designed with ergonomics, offering a comfortable grip and a textured surface for enhanced control and handling. The grip is interchangeable, allowing users to customize it to fit their hand size and preference.
- Enhanced Trigger: The M&P9 M2.0 features an improved trigger system compared to its predecessor. It has a crisp and lighter trigger pull with a tactile and audible reset, enabling quicker follow-up shots and improved accuracy.
- Ambidextrous Controls: The pistol is designed to accommodate both left-handed and right-handed shooters. It features ambidextrous slide stop and reversible magazine release, making it convenient for users with different dominant hands.
- Striker-Fired Action: The M&P9 M2.0 operates on a striker-fired action, providing a consistent trigger pull with each shot. This design eliminates needing an external hammer, resulting in a smooth and reliable shooting experience.
- Picatinny Rail: The pistol is equipped with a Picatinny rail on the frame, allowing users to attach various accessories such as lights, lasers, or other compatible tactical equipment.
- Low-Bore Axis: The M&P9 M2.0 has a low-bore axis, which means the barrel is positioned lower in the hand grip. This design helps reduce muzzle rise and felt recoil, allowing for faster and more accurate follow-up shots.
- Enhanced Slide Serrations: The slide of the M&P9 M2.0 features aggressive front and rear slide serrations, providing a firm grip for easy manipulation, slide racking, and press checks.
- Visual and Tactile Loaded Chamber Indicator: This pistol incorporates a visual and tactile loaded chamber indicator, allowing the user to quickly determine if a round is chambered without performing a physical check.
- High-Capacity Magazines: The M&P9 M2.0 comes with magazines that have a generous capacity, typically holding 15 rounds or more, depending on local regulations. This ensures ample firepower before the need for reloading.
Tips about Best Handguns For Target Shooting
To make the most of your chosen handgun, here are some tips to improve your target shooting skills:
Proper Grip: Maintain a firm and consistent grip on the gun, ensuring it fits snugly. An adequate grip helps mitigate recoil and enhances control over the firearm.
Sight Alignment: Correctly align the front and rear sights while focusing on the target. This ensures a proper sight picture and increases the likelihood of accurate shot placement.
Trigger Control: Mastering trigger control is crucial for precision shooting. Practice smooth and controlled trigger pulls to avoid disturbing your sight alignment during the shot.
Follow-through: Maintain focus on the target after firing the shot. This helps avoid flinching or anticipating recoil, allowing for consistent follow-up shots.
Selecting the best handgun for target shooting is a personal decision influenced by accuracy, ergonomics, calibre, recoil management, and trigger characteristics.
The Glock 17, Smith & Wesson M&P, Sig Sauer P320, CZ Shadow 2, and Walther PPQ are among the top choices that excel in target shooting scenarios.
By considering these factors and implementing the provided tips, you can enhance your target shooting skills and enjoy this exciting sport to the fullest.
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