When top-tier military and police units deploy, every bit of equipment must perform—period. And their sidearms are no exception. These aren’t secondary firearms; they’re lifelines in a lot of situations. Special operations units rely on handguns that must be reliable, adaptable, and combat-proven. Here are five pistols that have stood the test of time in the hands of the world’s best tacticians.
5. SIG-Sauer P226 – Accuracy Under Stress
Famous for its accuracy and reliability, the SIG-Sauer P226 has been a favorite among the US Navy SEALs and other law enforcement agencies for years. Designed specifically to compete with the XM9 pistol trials in the US military, it lost out to the Beretta 92 based on price, but won a permanent place in the special operations community.
Constructed ruggedly with a reputation for precise accuracy, the P226 excels in high-stress environments. It comes in several calibers and has seen its fair share of variants through the decades, solidifying its place as a workhorse sidearm of serious professionals.
4. Beretta 92 (M9) – The American Military Standard
The Beretta 92—more commonly known in US service as the M9—is a familiar figure to generations of American servicemen. Since its adoption in the mid-1980s, this pistol has been an international icon. Its double-column magazine capacity, strength, and reliability of the double-action/single-action trigger system made it the standard issue for the US Armed Forces for decades.
Outside of the military, it’s also used by police units all over the world. It’s perhaps a little too bulky by today’s standards, but few pistols have such a well-established and respected heritage.
3. CZ 75 – The Sleeper European Contender
Though not as well known by name in the US, the CZ 75 has established a legendary status in Europe without so much as a whisper.
A favorite among special forces and police units throughout the continent, this all-steel pistol boasts an ergonomic grip and extremely smooth trigger pull. Its reach has been broad—numerous contemporary pistols have borrowed from its design.
The CZ 75 family features many variants for various missions and user tastes, making it one of the most diverse handguns available.
2. Makarov PM – Reliable, Sturdy, and Surprisingly Capable
For decades, the Makarov PM was the ubiquitous standard-issue sidearm throughout the Soviet Union and much of the Eastern Bloc. It’s small, simple to use, and notoriously durable.
The blowback mechanism and steel frame of the Makarov enable it to function in circumstances that would put more finicky pistols out of action. Even now, it continues to serve with Russian special forces like the Spetsnaz, demonstrating that basic and reliable can be longer-lasting than brasher technology.
1. Glock 19 – The World’s Favorite
In contemporary sidearms, the Glock 19 is unbeatable. It’s employed by top units globally—U.S. Army Special Forces and Navy SEALs, British SAS, and intelligence agents.
It is a popular, compact, striker-fired pistol admired for its reliability, simplicity, and modularity. It’s short enough for hiding, but big enough for accurate, confident firing.
Add to that the unlimited aftermarket customizations available—lights, optics, extended mags, the works. That the core design of the Glock 19 hasn’t required radical alteration in more than 40 years speaks volumes about its reliability.
All of these pistols share one big thing: when lives are at stake, professionals have faith in them. From the classic Beretta, to the hard-bitten Makarov, to the infinitely customizable Glock 19, each of these pistols has gained its reputation through decades of service in the most extreme environments possible.
With reliability possibly being a matter of life and death, these sidearms have been tested and proven countless times.