Special operations teams require their sidearm to be a lifeline, not merely a backup. They rely on their pistol to work flawlessly, anywhere, under the most severe conditions. Over time, special units have tested and pushed thousands of handguns to their limits, whittling down the options to a select group of pistols that never falter in reliability, accuracy, and durability. Here’s a rundown of the ten most trusted pistols among special operations troops, from the newer guns to the all-time classics.

10. Smith & Wesson M&P9

The M&P9 has become a respected name among top teams because of its modularity and trustworthiness. Coming out in 2005, it sports a 17-round magazine, swappable backstraps for a customized fit, and a tough polymer frame. Operators appreciate its ability to get the job done under difficult conditions and appreciate its simplicity of controls, making it an adaptable choice for anyone who likes the plain and serviceable.

9. Walther P99

A modern classic, the Walther P99 is appreciated for its ergonomic grip and the state-of-the-art anti-stress trigger system. It was released in 1997 with a 15-round magazine and striker operation, and it’s light and a joy to handle. It is favored by operators due to its flexibility to accommodate different hand sizes and its quick target acquisition. The anti-stress trigger offers security during high-pressure situations and avoids unwanted discharge.

8. CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow

The CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow has long been a favorite among special operations units due to its accuracy and ruggedness. With its 18-round magazine and DA/SA trigger system, it’s optimized for controlled, accurate shooting. Its extended beavertail and tactical rail allow attachments like lights and lasers, and the full-length dust cover and ergonomic contours maintain the pistol on target when firing at high speed—ideal for aggressive mission profiles.

7. Steyr M9-A1

The Steyr M9-A1 is lightweight, accurate, and increasingly favored by special operations troops. 9mm with a 17-round magazine, it’s praised for having a low bore axis that controls recoil and a grip angle that will naturally point the firearm. These alone make it especially well-suited for dynamic combat situations when speed and control are top priorities.

6. FN Herstal Five-seveN

The Five-seveN is the technologically advanced option on this list, shooting 5.7x28mm with a 20-round magazine. Its slender polymer frame and low recoil allow for rapid, precise shooting, and armor-piercing and increased range add tactical versatility. Operators appreciate the juxtaposition of firepower, ergonomics, and magazine size within a compact, mission-ready form.

5. Colt M1911

No accurate pistol roster would be complete without the iconic M1911. Served for more than a century, this single-action .45 ACP pistol continues to be a staple with special operations forces, particularly in the United States. Its 7- or 8-round magazine capacity can be termed small by today’s standards, yet its power to dominate, clean trigger, and durability continue to make it viable. Again and again, the 1911 has proven effective in close-quarters fighting.

4. Heckler & Koch USP

The USP is a universal, heavy-duty workhorse. Coming to the market in the early 1990s, it has been adopted by military and police forces around the world. Its modularity allows it to be delivered in various calibers and configurations, and its ruggedness in harsh conditions is well-earned. Shooters enjoy the ergonomic grip and recoil reduction system, which allows extended engagements to be more comfortable and easier.

3. Beretta M9

The Beretta M9 was the standard US military sidearm from 1985 until 2017. With its 15-round magazine, DA/SA trigger system, and open-slide configuration, it’s designed to reduce jamming and create a balanced shooting platform. Decades worth of operators have made it a staple tool, although newer models have increasingly displaced it within certain units.

2. SIG Sauer P226

The P226 is a veteran of special operations, prized for accuracy, durability, and an all-metal frame. “It never let me down,” said one retired Special Forces operator, its solid frame and high-capacity magazine making it both operational and suitable for home defense. The double-action/single-action trigger offers security, and SIGLITE night sights guarantee usage at night. Its reliability and low-maintenance nature make it a favorite sidearm among elite units like the U.S. Navy SEALs and Canada’s Joint Task Force 2.

1. Glock 19 / Glock 17

The Glock 19 ranks first, with the full-size Glock 17 in second place. Introduced in 1982, the Glock changed the game with its lightweight polymer frame and simple, yet reliable design. It’s become the go-to by special operations units all over the world, including Army Special Forces, Delta Force, Rangers, and intelligence agencies. Modular and highly adaptable, the Glock can be equipped with optics, suppressors, or high-capacity magazines. Its striker-fired trigger, minimized controls, and integrated safeties provide a safe and simple way of shooting and are also extremely durable. Small but powerful, it realizes concealment and shootability, gaining it recognition as a real multi-mission sidearm.

For shooters, choosing a pistol isn’t just about firepower—it’s about faith. These ten handguns have performed flawlessly in the most austere environments on the planet, delivering reliability, practicality, and comfort of mind when every shot counts.

Few military aircraft have captured the prolonged interest of military fanatics and the general public like the F-14 Tomcat has. Developed for the United States Navy, the Grumman F-14 first entered service in 1974 on the USS Enterprise to phase out the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II.

The Tomcat ultimately became a symbol of American airpower, symbolized by its melodramatic variable-sweep wings and its function as a fleet defense interceptor. It transcended being an airplane; it represented squadron pride, tradition, and the technological peak of flight.

Living aboard aircraft carriers has a way of inspiring creative forms of fostering morale, particularly during extended deployments. In December 1997, the VF-211 Fighting Checkmates aboard the USS Nimitz during Operation Southern Watch wished each other a joyous holiday season with a special tail scheme.

The squadron had Aviation Structural Mechanic Airman Michael Kreisher render “Santa Brutus,” their mascot, with a sack of treats and a Santa hat, on the tail of one of the Tomcats. Kreisher carefully drew the design with stencils and an overhead projector so it would be the correct size. The artwork endured flight duty and became a symbol of holiday spirit and camaraderie for the squadron. Events like these demonstrate the close bonds and sense of pride involved in naval aviation culture.

Technologically, the F-14 was decades ahead of its time. Its variable-sweep wings enabled the aircraft to be flown equally well at high or low speeds so that it could perform equally well at long-range interception or dogfighting in close combat. The Tomcat had sophisticated radar and heavy weaponry, with the AIM-54 Phoenix missile among them, capable of attacking multiple targets at far ranges.

Subsequent models, such as the F-14D Super Tomcat, added increased avionics and engines, with better performance and reliability. Double engines and a robust airframe enabled the Tomcat to rule carrier decks for over 30 years.

The Tomcat’s legacy did not die off with its decommissioning from combat duty in 2006. Squadrons like VF-211 swapped for the F/A-18F Super Hornet, but the Tomcat’s legacy continues on squadron patches, memorabilia, and scale aviation. Modelers can experience a taste of the Tomcat in models like the E-flite F-14 Tomcat Twin 40mm EDF.

Signified from the F-14D variant, the model includes operational variable-sweep wings, full-flying stabs, and factory-finish paying tribute to the VF-2 “Bounty Hunters” squadron. Equipped with flight stabilization technology including AS3X and SAFE Select, the models allow hobbyists of all skill levels to experience the legendary Tomcat.

The F-14’s pop culture status was solidified by its starring role in the original Top Gun movie and replicated in its 2022 sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. The latter brought naval aviation to a halt in a breathtakingly realistic manner. Director Joseph Kosinski and star-producer Tom Cruise demanded aerial photography shot from within the cockpits of real F/A-18 Super Hornets, fully immersing actors in conditions of full flight.

Naval pilots involved offered comment on the similarity between operating carriers and filmmaking, with hundreds of moving parts all synching together as one. Although the F-14 itself was out of commission, it was honored in visual effects and homage, introducing a new generation to the plane’s mythic history.

From its first day of service to its modern-day status as a presence in hobbyist aviation and popular culture, the F-14 Tomcat is a symbol of innovation, expertise, and pride. With its integration of technological innovation, squadron history, and Hollywood fame, the Tomcat’s legacy will be in awe of pilots, hobbyists, and enthusiasts for generations to come.

Few rifles have had as much impact on the military and civilian landscapes as the AR-15 and M16. Shared heritage, radical engineering, and popular culture put them at the epicenter of the evolution of guns in modern times and their continued impact on tactics, strategy, and society.

The story is related in the late 1950s with ex-Marine and aircraft mechanic Eugene Stoner, who set about rethinking what an infantry rifle would look like. ArmaLite’s Stoner broke all the rules, using aluminum and polymer instead of steel and wood.

What he came up with was the AR-15: a light, gas-operated, magazine-fed .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO carbine. Stock-stacked barrel and stock design kept recoil to a minimum, which made it much easier to maneuver than the heavier rifles soldiers were familiar with.

The US military initially resisted it. The Army held onto the M14, a rugged .30-caliber rifle that fired well on paper but was awkward to maneuver in Vietnam’s jungles. Finally, though, the AR-15’s light weight, heavier load of ammunition, and precise shooting won out. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara urged modernization, and the rifle was rechristened the M16.

Early use wasn’t trouble-free—war in Vietnam revealed reliability problems, which were aggravated by newer powder lots and poor maintenance training. GIs did the best they could, with some taping over a cleaning rod jammed onto the gun to jar out the stuck cases, a grim reminder of life’s hazards.

Its initial shortcomings gave birth to remedies. Chrome-lined chambers and barrels, better magazines, and superior soldier training corrected the majority of the initial shortcomings. The M16 evolved into a variety of models—A1, A2, A3, and A4—each more effective and better suited to keep pace with evolving demands on the battlefield. Its select-fire mode, which switches between semi-automatic and full automatic or burst fire, sets it apart from the civilian-only AR-15, legally semi-automatic alone.

The AR-15 didn’t stay with the military. When patents expired and Colt enjoyed sole rights, civilian use exploded. Modularity—”LEGO for adults”—made it possible to exchange barrels, stocks, triggers, and scopes. The rifle had sport shooting, home defense, and competitive uses, and over 10 million rifles in civilian possession. Its profitable aftermarket for components and accessories solidified its “America’s Rifle” moniker.

This notoriety came at a price. Political controversy and mass-profile shootings thrust the AR-15 to the center of gun rights battles. The Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 sought to regulate its appearance rather than its function, leaving loopholes and cementing its symbolic appeal to gun owners.

Strategically, the M16 and the AR-15 were a conceptual leap away from small arms design thinking. Modular and lighter rifles set the trend that dictated U.S. military procurement, and it also impacted allied militaries worldwide. The next generation of the M16, the M4 carbine, carried the concept further with a folding stock and reduced barrel, ideal for close quarters and carriage in vehicles.

Training of these rifles remains to be seen. Dependability under harsh conditions, maintenance as part of routine, and tactical flexibility of modularity remain as important to planners and combatants as ever. Grounds outside the battlefield perspective rifle symbolically, recalling speech about perseverance, freedom, and identity.

Questions are still left unanswered: How does modularity offer a modern tactical advantage? Which Vietnam lessons remain applicable to training and weapons development? And how does civilian popularity of the AR-15 impact public opinion and broader strategy? The response to these questions is key to achieving the full impact of America’s most symbolically identified rifles.