Top 5 Accessories for Your Handgun for Improved Performance

Accessories for Handgun - Boost Your Performance

Owning a handgun can significantly improve your shooting experience and safety.

Moreover, investing in aftermarket accessories can significantly boost your performance. Handgun accessories ensure the best use of your purchase.

Therefore, you can find high-quality accessories that enhance your shooting experience and improve posture, strength, confidence, and control over your surroundings. It also helps relieve stress.

Consequently, owning a handgun requires investing in essential accessories and attachments for the best experience.

This article will list five essential handgun accessories that will help you enhance the aesthetics and functionality of your possession.

Accessories to Consider for Handguns

Given below are some of the most important accessories that you must get for your handgun to enhance its performance and your confidence—

1. Optics: Aiming for Precision

Handgun Optics

The mini red dot sight (MRDS) is a popular handgun accessory that enhances speed, accuracy, and versatility. Manufacturers offer pre-milled and drilled/tapped guns for MRDS optics mounting.

The trend toward enclosed-emitter models is the most exciting development in handgun red dot optics.

Traditional “open emitter” designs have a single reflective screen vulnerable to debris.

Enclosed-emitter MRDSes are miniaturized and rugged versions of rifle-sized red dots featuring sturdy housing and glass screens that protect the emitter from debris.

However, these handgun designs have tradeoffs, such as weight, bulk, battery life, view window size, and cost.

The “boxy” design requires a thicker outer housing and more battery power, which initially disappointed initial offerings.

Recently, companies have introduced rugged enclosed-emitter MRDSes with satisfactory battery life.

2. Grips: Enhancing Control and Comfort

Pistol Grip

Pistol grips prevent firearms from slipping and enhance stability. They provide friction between the hand and the hilt, ensuring the firearm remains stable during firing and drawing.

However, you can remove or replace most of these grips, while some come with sleeves or adhesives that allow you to customize your handgun’s features.

Nevertheless, a proper grip aligns sights, maintains control during recoil, and returns the pistol to its original position.

Moreover, the foregrip provides additional stability and recoil control. An adjustable stock allows for a more vertical wrist position, distributing recoil forces more evenly and enabling quicker follow-up shots.

A pistol grip is a protruded handle underneath the main mechanism. It allows for better ergonomics and aligns the barrel with the shooter’s shoulder, allowing for better recoil control.

3. Trigger Upgrades: The Quest for Smooth Operation

Handgun Trigger Upgrades

Improving the accuracy, performance, and consistency of a handgun can be achieved through trigger upgrades.

Reducing the trigger weight can prevent misalignment, and the gun can be easier to control. A faster and cleaner action can also result in better sight alignment and less flinching.

Upgrades can lead to better performance in competitive shooting by enhancing the speed and consistency of trigger pulls. Understanding the basic parts of ammunition, such as primer, casing, powder, and bullet, can further enhance one’s comprehension of firearm mechanics and performance.

Key benefits of trigger upgrades include reduced pull weight, better fit, reduced pre-travel and over-travel, more defined break, and reduced reset distance.

It’s important to note that a good trigger should have a lightweight pull, ideally 2-3 pounds or less, as anything less than 4-5 pounds can be dangerous.

To ensure safety, it’s recommended to test the trigger on an unloaded gun or have it done by a gunsmith.

While upgrading the entire assembly may provide the most positive results, it comes at a higher cost. Remember, training is also crucial for overall accuracy.

4. Magazines: Extended Capacity and Reliability

Handgun Magazine

Firearms that have high-capacity magazines can hold over 10 rounds. It allows shooters to fire multiple bullets without reloading, increasing their ability to injure and kill large numbers of people quickly.

According to a 2018 study, guns equipped with high-capacity magazines account for 22 to 36% of crime guns in most places and up to 40% in serious violence cases.

Additionally, extended magazines are allowed in many competition shooting disciplines, enabling longer shooting periods before reloading and more opportunities to score points.

Ensuring high-quality magazines are available is crucial for firearm performance, and having spares ready for failure is essential for long-term performance.

While single-shot firearms require reloading after each shot, they inherently lack the rapid firing capability facilitated by high-capacity magazines, thus serving as a distinct contrast in the realm of firearm functionality.

5. Compensators: Managing Recoil and Muzzle Rise

Handgun Compensators

A compensator device redirects combustion gases to help reduce recoil and muzzle rise in a handgun. This results in a flatter shooting surface and more precise follow-up shots.

Compensators like the Canik Mete SFX pro compensator from places like 45 Blast are designed to pair with threaded barrels and are specific to certain calibers, such as 9mm, 5.56, 7.62,.22lr, and 50BMG.

Moreover, they can protect silencers. However, this accessory often adds noise and reduces night vision.

Nevertheless, compensators make it easier to settle sights back onto a target, shortening the firing sequence’s follow-through phase.

Therefore, a compensated gun can help the operator put more rounds on target in less time.

Conclusion

Equipping your pistol with the proper accessories is critical for improving your shooting experience and guaranteeing safety.

Moreover, holsters, sights, magazines, and lights are all important accessories for enhancing the performance of your pistol.

However, it is critical to prioritize safety, invest in quality items, and select appropriate accessories for your needs and shooting style. Ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations regarding the transportation and carrying of guns in your vehicle is paramount to both your safety and legal standing.

The accessories mentioned in this article are crucial for beginners and expert shooters. They help them maximize their handguns’ capabilities and improve their shooting experience.

Hence, choose the best gun attachments for your precious that can provide long-term dependability and longevity.