In addition to plenty of new options for concealed carry, red-dot ready handguns and other new handguns, plenty of full-size pistols were released in 2020. Whether you're looking for a competition pistol, prefer a full-size handgun or are looking for a pistol for home defense, lots of new, full-size handguns were released for 2020.
Alchemy Custom Weaponry | Classic Carry
Reflecting vintage styling cues combined with modern firearm performance enhanced by state-of-the-art ergonomics, the Classic Carry is a 1911 build available with either traditional bluing or a hard-chrome finish. Additional chamberings include 9 mm and .38 Super.
▶ Ring hammer
▶ Tritium front sight
▶ Frontstrap and MSH Custom bordered checkering
▶ Hand beveled edges
Caliber: .45 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.25 inches
Overall Length: 7.75 inches
Weight: 36 ounces
MSRP: $2,795
(724) 676-1911 alchemy1911.com
The newest member of the Prime 1911 family, the Charcoal Blue adds a heritage-level finish, Nitre blue small parts and American Holly grips. It is also available in 9 mm and .38 Super.
▶ High grip ergonomics
▶ Flush cut and crowned barrel
Caliber: .45 ACP
Another collector-grade custom 1911, the Prime Color Case Hardened features Doug Turnbull’s Color Case Hardened Classic finish of the lower as well as satin polished flats and ball radius cuts and a gold-dot front sight. Caliber options also include 9 mm and .38 Super.
▶ Smooth ebony grip
American Classic Arms | Bobcut
A Commander-size 1911 intended for concealed carry, the Bobcut has an abbreviated heel to reduce the likelihood of printing under clothing.
▶ Hammer-forged steel slide
▶ Choice of blue or hard-chrome finish
▶ Custom hardwood grips
▶ Fully adjustable Novak-style sights
Caliber: .45 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.25 inches
Overall Length: 7.88 inches
Weight: 35 ounces
MSRP: $549
(732) 493-0333 eagleimportsinc.com
Cabot Guns | Nero
With features including 13-degree front and rear cocking serrations, a high undercut trigger guard, integrated frame rail and Black Diamond checkering, the Nero is one fancy firearm. Two barrel lengths are available, as well as a 9 mm option.
▶ Flat, serrated trigger
▶ Billet thumb safety and beavertail grip safety
▶ Extended mag well
▶ Fiber-optic front and ACW Ledge rear sight
Caliber: .45 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.25 inches
Overall Length: 7.75 inches
Weight: 36.5 ounces
MSRP: $4,500
(724) 524-1002 cabotguns.com
Designed to increase reliability and speed up the slide cycle, the Cabot Rebellion is a significant leap forward in the design and function of the 1911. It contains three innovative mechanical changes to the 1911 platform: a re-imagined internal extractor, a new rail design with a lower friction coefficient and a novel lugless bull barrel.
▶ Front, top and rear slide serrations
Caliber: 9 mm
The flagship model of CZ’s line, the company is celebrating the Model 75’s 45th anniversary this year with a special, limited edition (1,000 units).
▶ Engraved slide and grips
▶ Glossy, silver controls
▶ All-steel construction
▶ Slide-in-frame design
▶ Three-dot sights
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 16 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.6 inches
Overall Length: 8.1 inches
Weight: 35 ounces
MSRP: $1,720
(800) 955-4486 cz-usa.com
Dan Wesson | DWX Compact
Combining the single-action operation of a 1911 with the ergonomics and capacity of a
CZ 75 frame, the new Dan Wesson is a compact, capacious and comfortable carry gun that’s also relatively light weight.
▶ CZ-style takedown via the slide stop
▶ Bushingless, match-grade barrel
▶ Double-stack magazines
▶ Easily customizable sights
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 15 rounds
Barrel Length: 4 inches
Overall Length: 7.47 inches
Weight: 27.5 ounces
MSRP: $1,799
(607) 336-1174 danwessonfirearms.com
EAA | Regard MC Sport Gen 4
While it may resemble another certain Italian SA/DA pistol originally created for military use, the latest iteration of the Regard MC was designed with competitive shooting in mind.
▶ Accessory rail
▶ Slide-mounted ambidextrous decocking lever/safety
▶ Adjustable rear sight
▶ Front and rear cocking serrations
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 18 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.9 inches
Overall Length: 8.6 inches
Weight: 34.4 ounces
MSRP: $562
(321) 639-4842 eaacorp.com
Glock | G44
Glock’s first foray into the rimfire market is ingeniously sized like the company’s most popular centerfire pistol, the 9 mm G19. G19 owners can now purchase the G44 as a low-cost trainer that fits the gear they already own. Newbies who purchase a G44 to learn to shoot can naturally upgrade to the G19 when it’s time to move up in power.
▶ Safe Action trigger
▶ Hybrid steel-polymer slide
▶ Front and rear cocking serrations
▶ Interchangeable backstraps
Caliber: .22 LR
Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.02 inches
Overall Length: 7.28 inches
Weight: 14.64 ounces
MSRP: $430
(770) 432-1202 us.glock.com
Iver Johnson | Eagle XL CC
The all-steel Eagle XL CC offers enhanced sight radius and velocity, but limited muzzle rise, thanks to its 6-inch ported barrel. Its striking case-coloring makes it distinct and attractive. It’s also available in .45 ACP.
▶ Ported, extra-long barrel
▶ Case-colored frame
▶ Dymondwood grips
▶ Fully adjustable rear sights
Caliber: 10 mm
Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
Barrel Length: 6 inches
Overall Length: 9.75 inches
Weight: 44 ounces
MSRP: $1,700
(321) 636-3377 iverjohnsonarms.com
IWI US | Masada
Ergonomic, adaptable and affordable, the Masada is an excellent all-around handgun that’s loaded with features once limited to pistols twice its price. Our review in the April 2020 issue gave it high marks across the board.
▶ Interchangeable wraparound backstraps
▶ Ships with four different optic-mounting plates
▶ Low bore axis
▶ Ambidextrous controls
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 17 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.1 inches
Overall Length: 7.5 inches
Weight: 23.5 ounces
MSRP: $480
(717) 695-2081 iwi.us
Kimber | Rapide (Black Ice)
Truly unique, this 1911 with striking two-tone Kimpro finish and DLC coated barrel offers a variety of features and comes in two other chamberings including 9 mm and 10 mm.
▶ Stepped cocking serrations
▶ Slide lightening cuts
▶ TruGlo TFX Pro Day/Night sights
▶ High undercut trigger guard
Caliber: .45 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
Barrel Length: 5 inches
Overall Length: 8.7 inches
Weight: 38 ounces
MSRP: $1,490
(888) 243-4522 kimberamerica.com
Les Baer | 1911 Gunsite Pistol
Honoring the superior firearm training at Gunsite Academy, this 1911 is designed and built with real-world defensive features for personal protection and is designed for daily carry.
▶ 30 lpi checkered frontstrap
▶ National Match barrel
▶ Gunsite raven logo on single diamond deluxe wooden grips and rear of slide
▶ Front and rear cocking serrations
Caliber: .45 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
Barrel Length: 5 inches
Overall Length: 8.5 inches
Weight: 37 ounces
MSRP: $2,323
(563) 289-2126 lesbaer.com
Nighthawk Custom | Agent2 Commander
Nighthawk Custom has teamed up with Agency Arms, adding the latter’s precision-machined, highly detailed slide to the former’s vaunted frame and internals, creating a distinctive, Commander-size 1911 for concealed carry. It’s also available in 9 mm.
▶ Match bushing barrel
▶ Faceted slide with side windows
▶ Railscales G10 grips
▶ Nighthawk/Agency custom trigger
Caliber: .45 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.25 inches
Overall Length: 7.84 inches
Weight: 36 ounces
MSRP: $4,499
(870) 423-4867 nighthawkcustom.com
Palmetto State Armory | PS9 Dagger
It’s no secret that the PS9 Dagger is designed to look like, well, a certain Austrian model. With similar capacity, size and weight to another popular concealed-carry pistol, the PS9 differs primarily in the significantly lower price.
▶ Metal sights
▶ Red-dot-cut version available
▶ Threaded barrel available
▶ Accessory rail
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 15 rounds
Barrel Length: 3.9 inches
Overall Length: 7.15 inches
Weight: 22.4 ounces
MSRP: $299
(803) 724-6950 palmettostatearmory.com
Ruger | 57
From its short trigger reach to its reversible magazine release and generous slide stop, the new Ruger-57 has a lot going for it, but perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of it is its high-performance, low-recoiling and fun 5.7x28 mm chambering and equally impressive 20-round capacity.
▶ Picatinny-style accessory rail
▶ 1911-style ambidextrous thumb safety
▶ Adjustable rear sight
▶ Non-slip textured frame
Caliber: 5.7x28 mm
Magazine Capacity: 20 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.94 inches
Overall Length: 8.65 inches
Weight: 24.5 ounces
MSRP: $799
(336) 949-5200 ruger.com
SAR USA | SAR-9X Platinum
At the top of the line for SAR9 pistols is the Platinum. It features a Cerakote finish and weight-reducing slide serrations/cuts. The striker-fired, semi-automatic also includes the ergonomic grip frame, good trigger and other niceties for which the SAR9 is known.
▶ Cerakote finish
▶ Accessory rail
▶ Lightening slide cuts
▶ Ergonomic grip frame
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 19 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.4 inches
Overall Length: 7.6 inches
Weight: 27.5 ounces
MSRP: $555
(833) 727-4867 sarusa.com
SIG Sauer | P320X Full RXP
SIG Sauer’s P320 introduced the company’s first striker-fired in a modular grip frame. Now, the company improves upon its success by offering a model with a factory-installed SIG Romeo1Pro MRDS, so it’s ready to go right out of the box.
▶ XRay3 night sights
▶ Ambidextrous, extended slide-catch lever
▶ Front and rear cocking serrations
▶ Accessory rail
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 17 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.7 inches
Overall Length: 8 inches
Weight: 30 ounces
MSRP: $999.99
(603) 610-3000 sigsauer.com
Smith & Wesson | M&P9 Shield EZ
Another pistol building on the wild success of an award-winning sibling is the M&P9 Shield EZ, which brings a more powerful chambering to the EZ platform that won accolades last year. S&W read the market right on the need for easier to use pistols.
▶ Grip safety
▶ Disassembles without pulling trigger
▶ Armornite finish
▶ Accessory rail
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
Barrel Length: 3.675 inches
Overall Length: 6.8 inches
Weight: 23.2 ounces
MSRP: $479
(800) 331-0852 smith-wesson.com
Smith & Wesson | Performance Center M&P9 M2.0 C.O.R.E.
Finally! The M2.0 improvements Smith & Wesson brought to the M&P pistol in 2017 have made their way to the Performance Center line and optics-ready variant. The gun that gamers and red-dot fans alike have clamored for is finally available.
▶ Four backstraps
▶ P.C. cleaning kit included
▶ Trigger stop
▶ Seven optics-mounting plates
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 17 rounds
Barrel Length: 5 inches
Overall Length: 7.5 inches
Weight: 29 ounces
MSRP: $721
(800) 331-0852 smith-wesson.com
Springfield Armory | Ronin Operator
Featuring a forged-steel slide and frame as well as a hammer-forged barrel, this 1911 pistol sports a two-tone finish as well as a salt-bluing treatment. A 9 mm option is also available.
▶ Grip safety
▶ Fiber-optic front sight
▶ Crossed cannon laminate grips
▶ Gen 2 skeletonized speed trigger
Caliber: .45 ACP
Capacity: 8 rounds
Barrel Length: 5 inches
Overall Length: 8.6 inches
Weight: 40 ounces
MSRP: $849
(800) 680-6866 springfieldarmory.com
Springfield Armory | XD-M Elite 3.8
With a hammer-forged barrel at a mere 3.8 inches and a matching compact slide, the little 9 mm combines amazing capacity with compact dimensions perfectly suitable for concealed carry.
▶ U-Dot tactical rack rear sight and fiber-optic front
▶ Loaded-chamber indicator
▶ Interchangeable backstraps
▶ Removable mag well
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 20 rounds
Barrel Length: 3.8 inches
Overall Length: 7.2 inches
Weight: 28 ounces
MSRP: $559
(800) 680-6866 springfieldarmory.com
Stoeger | STR-9 Optics Ready
Giving credence to the incredible popularity of pistol-mounted red-dot sights, Stoeger released an optics-ready version of the affordable STR-9 for 2020. Coming in at less than $400 and offering more than just standard equipment, the STR-9 with mounting plates is a smart choice.
▶ Four optics-mounting plates
▶ Three backstraps
▶ Fiber-optic front sight
▶ Magazine loader included
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 15 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.17 inches
Overall Length: 7.44 inches
Weight: 24 ounces
MSRP: $399
(301) 283-6981 stoegerindustries.com
STD Manufacturing | Nickel Plated 1911
Not every pistol has to be utilitarian polymer. Standard Manufacturing took a page out of the Wayback machine and is offering a nickel-plated 1911 for fans of the 1911, zoot suits and Model A Fords. I mean, we are in the roaring ‘20s again, right?
▶ Lowered and flared ejection port
▶ Extended magazine release
▶ Match-grade trigger
▶ 4140 Carbon steel frame
Caliber: .45 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
Barrel Length: 5 inches
Overall Length: 8.6 inches
Weight: 30 ounces
MSRP: $1,499
(860) 225-6581 stdgun.com
Offered as a full build package, the Glock 19 LVL-1 comes with signature serrations with lightened barrel peep windows for extra weight reduction, slide manipulation and traction. Additionally, an included cover plate works for both the Trijicon RMR Type 2 or the Holosun 507c Reflex sight.
▶ Anodized battle trigger
Caliber: 9 mm
Wilson Combat ACP Compact
Offering all of the precision, craftsmanship and quality consumers expect from the Wilson Combat brand in a lower price point, the ACP Compact offers features such as Eagle Claw grip and slide treatment along with other select customer-selected options.
▶ G10 Eagle Claw grips with black medallions
▶ Contoured magazine well
▶ Battlesight with red fiber optic front sight
▶ Eagle Claw frontstrap/mainspring housing treatment
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
Barrel Length: 4 inches
Overall Length: 7.6 inches
Weight: 36.9 ounces
MSRP: $2,595
(800) 955-4856 wilsoncombat.com
Wilson Combat Experior Commander Double Stack
Available in full-, commander-length or compact sizes, the Wilson Combat Experior is for those who desire a more capacious 1911 to meet their concealed-carry needs. Chamberings include 9 mm and .45 ACP.
▶ Enhanced-capacity, compact-size aluminum frame
▶ Reversed-crowned muzzle
▶ Countersunk slide stop
▶ Fluted barrel hood
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 15 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.25 inches
Overall Length: 7.85 inches
Weight: 30.2 ounces
MSRP: $3,045
(800) 955-4856 wilsoncombat.com
Zev Technologies | O.Z9C Compact
This compact version of the modular O.Z9 is built around a steel receiver, which is the serialized part. The new compact is ideal for concealed carry, and multiple variations are available—or you can select Zev parts and build one yourself.
▶ Bronze match barrel
▶ Slimmed PRO magazine well
▶ Fiber-optic front sight
▶ PRO Flat Face Trigger
Caliber: 9 mm
Magazine Capacity: 15 rounds
Barrel Length: 4 inches
Overall Length: 7.3 inches
Weight: 26 ounces
MSRP: $1,679
(805) 486-5800 zevtechnologies.com
