161 Best Pistols

This list is going to be a grab bag of all the best pistols in the WORLD. Seems kind of daunting doesn't it? While there's obviously a huge element of this being a matter of personal opinion. At GunCritic we're confident that this list could easily be the most comprehensive list of the best pistols ever created. The history of the pistol is certainly incredible. The first pistol can be traced back to Europe circa 1550, referred to as a pistolet. The first pistols were typically just single shot weapons, which were all the rage during the flintlock and musket era. Incredibily, single shot pistols are still produced to this day. 

When the revolver came to prominence in the 19th century, the world was forever changed. Multiple rounds being able to be fired in quick succession was an incredible development. These weapons shot anywhere from five to eight rounds and were manufactured to make the cylinder rotate to ready the next round. Another huge breakthrough came with the invention of the semi automatic pistols, which will obviously be the majority of our list. The major advantage of this type of pistol was that each chamber did not need to reloaded individually. This was a gigantic breakthrough, as the pistol could fire much faster and reloading took seconds. 

Eventually machine pistols became available around 1916. This is also referred to as a sub machine gun. Rapid and burst fire became possible for the first time, shaking up the military landscape once again. So, without further ado, here's our list of the best pistols in the world. Don't agree with our list? Be sure to let us know in the comments below, we'd love to hear your feedback! Also, if you click any of the weapons below you'll find the best prices online we can find for each pistol.
1
Beretta PX4 Storm

From $636.65

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Beretta PX4 Storm

3

GunCritic Score

94%

User Rating

99%

2
CZ 75 B Stainless Steel

From $607.75

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CZ 75 B Stainless Steel

2

GunCritic Score

98%

User Rating

99%

3
EAA Tanfoglio Witness Hunter

From $1103.27

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EAA Tanfoglio Witness Hunter

1

GunCritic Score

100%

User Rating

99%

4
Beretta 92FS Fusion Exclusive

From $5616.80

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Beretta 92FS Fusion Exclusive

1

GunCritic Score

50%

User Rating

99%

5
Browning Buck Mark Hunter

From $475.99

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Browning Buck Mark Hunter

1

GunCritic Score

98%

User Rating

99%

6
Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded Operator

From $1004.99

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Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded Operator

1

GunCritic Score

100%

User Rating

99%

7
Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact

From $552.50

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Beretta PX4 Storm Sub-Compact

1

GunCritic Score

90%

User Rating

99%

8
Springfield Armory XD Sub-Compact

From $329.04

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Springfield Armory XD Sub-Compact

0

GunCritic Score

98%

User Rating

99%

9
EAA Tanfoglio Witness Elite 1911

From $472.59

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EAA Tanfoglio Witness Elite 1911

0

GunCritic Score

96%

User Rating

99%

10
EAA Tanfoglio Witness Polymer Carry

From $561.34

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EAA Tanfoglio Witness Polymer Carry

0

GunCritic Score

94%

User Rating

99%