It’s hard to believe, but the Cadre Dispatch writers and their editor, Stephanie Kimmell have published well north of 400 articles thus far! Ideally, if you’re reading this, then you’ve already been perusing Safariland’s blog. If not, then welcome. Please visit often! In the meantime, allow us to share 10 of Safariland’s top blog articles of 2024.
Then feel free to go check out the other 390+ available.
Before we start our countdown, let me preface it with something. We don’t expect you to agree with what we write.
What we hope to do is provide some information, a little education, and maybe some entertainment. While we’re always going to be honest in our appraisals, not everyone will agree with them. And that includes among our own crew! I can confidently say none of the lists, comparisons, or reviews you read here would be identical if it was written by a different staff writer, and that’s a Good Thing.
If we’re all thinking alike, ain’t nobody thinking.
Always keep that in mind as you read, and if you’re researching topics as potentially significant as a defensive handgun, always read more than one opinion!
Now, that out of the way, let’s proceed to the…
Top 10 Safariland blog articles of 2024
10. The Best Handguns for Women
At number 10, Patti Miller’s treatise is about how she views the best options for female shooters from the current crop of most popular concealed carry handguns.
“As a woman, mother, and shooter, I tend to gravitate toward a family of tried-and-true firearms. There’s a little bit for everyone out there, but as always, the best thing you can do for yourself and those you want to protect is to be familiar with your handgun and get training when needed.”
Although the image above features a SIG, Miller does not limit her focus to one brand or model.
“While I have the most experience with [these pistols], other options are on the market that work great for women shooters.” ~ Patti Miller
See if you agree with her description of the best handguns for women.
9. A Review of the Classic Glock Gen 3
At number nine is Travis Pike’s take on the classic Gen 3 Glock 19 pistol, or, as he puts it, “the Goldilocks Option.” And since it’s nearly 30 years old, it does qualify as a classic!
“The Glock 19 is a consummate performer. You can find any number of examples with thousands of rounds on them that still perform like they are brand new. There was no telling how many rounds went through mine before it made it to my hands, yet I’ve never had an issue with it working when I need it to. I’ll admit this isn’t my concealed carry firearm, but rather a beater pistol I keep packed away for a rainy day.”
“The Gen 3 wasn’t perfect, but it remains one of the classic fighting pistol options. While it’s easy to complain about now, in 1998, this was a high-tech firearm.” ~Travis Pike
Read up on the Glock 19 Gen 3 pistol.
8. Best Budget Competition Pistols
Number eight in our countdown is another of Pike’s opinion pieces. Happily for all of us, action pistol shooting sports continue to grow in popularity. In this particular article, Pike tops his notional budget out at one thousand dollars.
“Our budget is less than $1000. You might recoil from that. Yep, it’s a lot of money, but that’s cheap for a competition pistol. The typical average price is around $2,000, with models reaching well above $5,000. An out-of-the-box, budget competition pistol under a grand can be a great bargain.”
Pike is correct, by the way. Good guns cost a lot of money in the context of competition. You can pick up a number of different EDC guns for much less than that. Base your final selection of either kind of firearm on your specific need and a pragmatic budget — but remember to set some money back for ammunition! Training trumps gear almost every time!
What’s your opinion on the best budget competition gun?
7. New Handguns of SHOT 2024
So, this is starting to become a trend. I won’t tell you who wrote this one; I’ll just say he’s a fuzzy-faced, flannel-wearing, craft beer-drinking giant whose last name rhymes with tyke.
His choices represent “…a diverse and very modern take on duty and defensive-grade firearms. Each of these new guns comes from reputable companies with solid histories of success.”
Some of the choices in this list are a strange mix of old and new schools. Take a read, why don’t you? See how this article has aged since it was written nearly a year ago!
6. Accessories for your Echelon
In between working on his military history PhD and his work with a number of different pro-Second Amendment organizations, William “Bucky” Lawson somehow manages to find time to write some of the most popular articles in the Dispatch. This one is a list of potential accessories for your Springfield Armory Echelon.
“…the Echelon seemingly delivers on modern expectations. Modularity: check. Ergonomics: check. High-performance sights: check. Easy accessorizing: check. Not to mention it’s a good-looking pistol. If the Echelon’s performance and reliability measure up to its features, Springfield will have a landmark firearm on their hands.”
Now, read up on Springfield Echelon accessories.
5. Aftermarket Triggers for your P365
At number five, we have another one from the man who would be just as happy explaining the differences between a Sherman tank and the Sherman Firefly as he is writing about all sorts of guns: Bucky Lawson.
“Some folks are fine with stock triggers, but others love the upgrades. After all, a nice trigger can make a firearm. On the other hand, a just-okay trigger can make an otherwise great gun, well, just okay. The flat trigger came standard on my P365XL, so I got the best of both worlds.”
“[I]f you’re looking to trick out your P365, the trigger might not be a bad place to start. Or maybe you’ve already got the other bling but need to kick up your performance.” ~ Bucky Lawson
Read up on aftermarket triggers for the P365. Just remember, new options are constantly showing up!
4. The Best Pocket Pistols for Deep Concealment
Coming in at number four, Pike shares his top five picks for the best pocket pistols for deep concealment.
“The only thing less understood than pocket pistols is the posi-trac rear-end on a Plymouth. These little pocket rockets aren’t the best option in a gunfight, but they are better than harsh language. While they might lack Mike Tyson’s punch power, they are very convenient to carry and conceal better than Sephora’s expensive stuff.”
“Pocket Carry and pocket pistols aren’t for everyone. They require a good deal of training to use effectively, and even in the hands of a competent shooter, these guns are limited in their capability. But even with their downsides, the small size, ease of concealment, and convenience of carry make pocket pistols a valuable tool to keep in the box.” ~ some overachiever who writes a lot.
See how his lineup of pocket pistols matches up to what yours would be.
3. Glock 43x vs. SIG P365
“The Glock 43X and Glock 48 series are very different guns. The smaller Glock 43X tends to align more with the P365, and the Glock 48 tends to align more with the P365XL or even the Macro series. [In this article], we are looking at the differences between the P365 and the Glock 43X for concealed carry.”
(Another article by you-know-who.)
“The Glock 43X and SIG P365 are both winners and will serve you well. If you are having trouble picking one, do what I did and get both!” ~ Travis Pike
See if you agree: Glock 43X vs SIG P365
2. A Guide to Red Dot Sight Footprints
Red dot sights are all but ubiquitous these days, but unfortunately, they have a variety of mounting standards.
Read more in our second most-read article of 2024, A Guide to Red Dot Footprints by Jason Mosher.
“Most of the time, when a new red dot sight comes out, it lists the footprint. This can be confusing at times because there are so many different footprints out there. If you use a wide variety of red dots regularly, this isn’t a complicated subject. But if not, you’ll probably have to do a quick search to find out what footprint your handgun has.”
“One thing to keep in mind is the size of the optic will affect which holster can be used. Holster manufacturers make holsters specifically for different optics. For Safariland, the holster finder will ask you to select which optic is being used on the firearm to ensure the right fit.” ~ Jason Mosher
Learn more about red dot footprints.
1. Budget 2011 and Double Stack 1911 Pistols
And finally, at number one, Pike delivers his assessment of the best budget-friendly 2011 and double-stack 1911 pistols!
“[T]here is an important distinction between a double-stack M1911 and a true 2011 design. A 2011 features a two-piece grip and frame system, while a double-stack M1911 has a single-piece grip frame. The terms are often used interchangeably, so it’s understandable if the differences aren’t widely known. Today, we are highlighting the best budget 2011-style pistols as well as the best budget M1911s, but honestly, the double-stack M1911 really rules the roost as far as budget pistols go.” Travis Pike
“A budget 2011 or budget double stack M1911 allows you to save a little more money for what really matters — more ammo! Who doesn’t like to save a little cash?
Traditionally, the 2011 market has been dominated by pistols with price tags that reach into the thousands, demanding a serious investment from buyers. However, the emergence of budget-friendly 2011s and double-stack M1911s is changing the game.
This small but expanding category is making entry into the world of high-capacity, high-performance handguns far more accessible than ever before.”
Read more about budget 2011 and double-stack 1911 handguns in our most-read article of 2024!
You should be visiting the Safariland Cadre Dispatch every day. That’s what we think anyway!
