COMBAT-READY PISTOL

Imagine a pistol, that can serve as a self-defense firearm and as a duty pistol for any environment. Well, there is such a thing, and I would call it the “combat-ready” pistol. Let us have a look what such a setup would entail.  

First and foremost, caliber selection is going to be the major step. My suggestion would be to get a 9x19mm or maybe .45ACP pistol. Due to the lower recoil of a 9mm and the extended mag capacity over a .45ACP pistol, the 9mm pistol is more recommended. Additionally, 9mm ammo is more common in the Western world and hence getting reloading supplies and restocking of ammo is easier (and cheaper).  

Now with the cartridge question out of the way, let us look at what else a modern combat-ready pistol would need.

The next important item is a flashlight. According to various studies, up to 70% of the gun fights happen in low- and no-light environments, therefore having a weapon mounted light (WML) attached to the pistol is essential for survival. Our suggestion is either a Surefire X300-series, Modlite PL350 or Streamlight TLR-1s. These 3 lights are known to be durable, have great aftermarket support, and a lot of holsters are compatible with said WMLs.  

With the light question out of the way, we have to think about optics. Yes, optics per-se don’t make you a better shot however, they can make target acquisition and follow-up shots easier. Today, the field of pistol optics is cluttered with cheap and inexpensive optics yet most of them don’t live up to standards. We recommend going with a well-known brand, and if possible, with a closed-emitter optic. Closed emitter optics seals the LED emitter on both ends with lenses and therefore reduces dust and other particles getting onto the emitter, and they also protect the emitter itself.

Now, is that all that is needed to bring your pistol up-to-date and make it both a self-defense pistol and a combat-ready pistol? Yes and no, you can add a compensator to reduce the muzzle climb or add a magazine extension to allow for more ammo to be carried. But essentially with the upgrade of a quality light and an optic you got your pistol ready for any emergency scenario.