7 Best Hammer-Fired Guns: Our Picks for 2025

Let’s talk hammers, specifically about the devices that have hammers and drop hammers. Hammer-fired guns have been taking a backseat to the striker-fired dominance that started with Glock. Yet, somehow, some way, they’ve made quite the return. The breadcrumbs of the hammer-fired resurgence weren’t all that evident, and while the build-up was slow, it’s now evident that hammer-fired guns are making a slow, somewhat deliberate comeback. 

Hammer-fired guns can have some advantages depending on the type. While strikers offer us that same consistent trigger pull, there has been a paradigm shift regarding how much a trigger pull matters to accuracy and firearm capability. Does a light trigger matter for accuracy? It matters a lot less than we used to believe. 

Hammer-fired guns can help remove the human effect when it comes to safety; they. They can also make it easier to operate a firearm, provide visual reinforcement of the weapon’s condition, and provide the lightest trigger if that’s critical to you. With that in mind, today, we are going to dive into the world of hammer-fired semi-auto handguns. 

Specifically, we want to find the best modern hammer-fired guns. I’m not including older guns on the list, and I’m not including anythinganything that’s discontinued. I’m aiming at the guns that I think benefit from being hammer-firedhammer-fired and are widely available to youyou as the end user. 

The Types Of Hammer-Fired Guns 

There are several types of semi-automatic hammer-fired guns. We have three main types, each handled differently, and each has its pros and cons. 

Single Action Only

Single action only means the trigger does one thing. When you press the trigger, the hammer falls and fires the gun. Single-action-only semi-auto handguns have light trigger pulls and short resets. They tend to have manual safeties due to their light trigger pull. Single-action guns tend to be favored by competitors due to the light trigger and short reset. 

Double Action Only 

Double action-only guns utilize a trigger that both cocks the hammer and drops the hammer. They are typically known for their longer and heavier trigger pulls. Double action-only triggers can also often restrike capability. These are somewhat rare these days and are seemingly only offered in pocket pistol formats. 

DA/SA 

DA/SA stands for double action/single action. This combines a double-action trigger with a single-action trigger. The double-action trigger is the initial trigger pull, and after the first shot, the gun converts to a single-action. Most DA/SA guns have a decocker to allow the user to turn the gun back to double action on the fly. These are some of the more common hammer-fired weapon types, and depending on the opinion of the user, they are either the best option or the absolute worst. There isn’t much in between.

The Best Hammer-Fired Handguns 

We listed out our take on the best hammer-fired handguns, check the list below!

Best Hammer-Fired Handguns 

#1 CZ P09 Nocturne		DA/SA  Optics Ready  Polymer Frame	Lowest Price
#2 Staccato P		SAO  Double Stack Magazines Bull Barrel	Lowest Price
#3 S&W CSX E Series		SAO Optics Ready 3.1 and 3.6 inch barreled options	Lowest Price
#4 Beretta 80X Cheetah		DA/SA Optics Ready  Double Stack Magazine	Lowest Price
#5 FN America Reflex		SAO Internal Hammer Optics Ready	Lowest Price
#6 Beretta M9A4		DA/SA Optics Ready  Large Controls	Lowest Price
#7 KelTec P32		DAO Integrated Sights  Super Lightweight	Lowest Price

Best Hammer-Fired Guns Specs

What Are The Best Hammer-Fired Guns?

Quickly jump through out list for the best hammer-fired guns and see their individual reviews.

1. CZ P09 Nocturne
2. Staccato P 
3. S&W CSX E Series
4. Beretta 80X Cheetah
5. FN America Reflex
6. Beretta M9A4
7. KelTec P32

Individual Gun Reviews

As previously mentioned, hammer-fired guns provide clear visual cues regarding the firearm’s condition and often feature a lighter trigger pull, which can be a key advantage for certain users.

So, in the remainder of this article we are going to walk through the best and why they deserve to be on this list today.

CZ P09 Nocturne Review

I’m an unabashed CZ fanboy. I’ve long been under the CZ spell and proudly wear the title of tactical hipster. CZ makes great guns but has been a bit slow at upgrading legacy designs. The P09 series was their polymer frame, double stack, and 9mm handguns aimed at the modern market. I loved my P09, but it lacked an optics-ready design…until the Nocturne premiered. 

The Nocturne took CZ’s duty series and consolidated them into one series, the P09, in both full-sized and compact models. CZ’s slide design is irregular at best; the. The slide rides inside the frame rather than over the top, which creates a smaller slide with less room for optics. So you are limited to optics that use the compact RMSc footprint. That’s fine with me since optics like the CHWPS EDC Enclosed exist. 

The Nocturne also introduces a newer, more aggressive texture to the frame. It takes a dose of the P10’s ultra-aggressiveultra-aggressive design, which allows the gun to stick to your hand. CZ carved deeper serrations into the slide to make it easier to grip, which is nice since the slide is already quite small. The P09 Nocturne series offers the same excellent ergonomics as the original Duty series. 

Individuals can swap the safety for a decocker and vice versa. It’s quite easy to do. The magazine release is also super easy to reach, and the slide lock can’t be missed. The grip can be called svelte, but you’re still getting a double-stack magazine with 15 to 19 rounds. 

The Nocturne shoots softly and handles quite well. The build sights are nice, but an optic makes it easy to shoot out to 50 yards and potentially further depending on target size. Reliability has been perfect for me, but it’s critical you use proper-length screws when you attach optics. If not, you’ll run into issues with the extractor.

CZ P09 F Nocturne Pros and Cons

Staccato P Review

Staccato, formerly STI, is the king of the 2011. In the last couple of years, the 2011 platform has exploded. People have realized that seven to nine rounds in an M1911 just isn’t enough and doesn’t make sense in a full-sized gun. Integrating a double-stacked magazine and two-piece frame design has taken the 1911 into a new millennium. The Stcato design remains the most consistent 2011 producer with the best bang for your buck guns. 

A 2011 isn’t just a double-stack 1911. The frame design integrates a polymer portion, which gives you the flexibility of a polymer frame and can help reduce recoil. Staccato makes the majority of the gun from metal from metal, which gives you the recoil-reducing effect of weight. The combined design makes the Staccato P one of the softest shooters on the market. 

A single-action trigger, with its short pull, delivers an extremely crisp and short trigger pull. The shorter the trigger pull, the faster you can shoot. The Staccato P is designed to go fast—like a sports car. It wants to go fast, and if you have the skill, you’ll cut split times and transitions by fractions of a second. 

As you’d expect,, the guns are optics and light ready, and Staccato produces a variety of configurations with a few different sighting, color, and grip options. The Staccato P series is popular for a variety of roles. Competition shooters seem to love them, but so do duty users, with the P series landing on approved duty rosters across the country. I’m sure some hardcore guys carry them, but they are fairly large and heavy guns. 

Staccato guns score high by every measurable metric. They are accurate, reliable, and ergonomic. Some might find the grip a little large, but it’s not a major problem. The P series has a few issues, namely the price, which is quite high. It’s also worth noting that the P series aren’t drop-safedrop-safe since they stick with a Series 70 design.

Staccato P Pros and Cons

S&W CSX E Series Review

I really wanted to like the CSX when it premiered. S&W had broken the mold for micro compacts by making a single-action, hammer-fired model in the same vein as the 1911. The original CSX was an okay gun, but some odd quirks kept me from pulling the trigger, for lack of a better term. S&W seems to listen to criticism because the new E Series has fixed those flaws. 

S&W started the E series with their 1911s. E stands for enhanced. The CSX E series made a few big changes, including releasing a mid-size CSX with a slightly longer 3.6-inch barrel. Another big change is the optics-ready slides to accommodate RMSc pattern sights. S&W will ship both the 3.1 and 3.6 versions with 12, 15, and 17-round magazines. 

One of the biggest quality-of-life improvements is the trigger. Gone is the false reset feeling the old CSX had. They cleaned up the trigger, reduced its weight, and made it way more 1911-like. The CSX E Series provides a rock-solid micro-sized 1911 platform for concealed carry. We get a metal frame with polymer grip inserts for a great texture, thumb-mounted frame safety, and ambidextrous controls. 

A crisp and clean trigger combined with optics makes the gun easy to shoot accurately. It punches above its weight class with excellent accuracy out to 25 yards and repeatable accuracy out to 50 yards. The weighty design helps cut recoil, and polymer inserts can help you better cusotmize your grip. 

The CSX E Series has a little soul unlike most polymer frame striker-fired micro compacts. It’s fun and easy to shoot and costs a mere 80 dollars more than the standard CSX. Honestly, S&W might as well discontinue the original cause with the E series, but there doesn’t seem to be a point.

S&W CSX E Series Pros and Cons

Beretta 80X Cheetah Review

I have a collection of old Berettas, with some of my favorites being the 80 series, also known as the Cheetah series. Like many Beretta fans  , I was sad when they were discontinued and pleasantly surprised when they were revived in 2023 with the 80X. The 80X took the Cheetah series and didn’t just revive it; they reinvigorated it, refreshed it, and arguably perfected it. 

Most of the 80Xs out there are .380 ACPs, but Beretta released a .32 ACP version. I’m a fan of both and see their utility. The point of midsize .380 and .32 ACP pistols is to provide a modern, feature-filled handgun for shooters with weaker hands and less strength than the average person. These two calibers have minimal recoil while meeting the standards necessary to stop threats. Plus, you get 13 rounds with either caliber. 

The Beretta 80X Cheetah has an optics and light-ready design. The optics system uses a panel and positions the optics fairly high on the gun. It’s not as intuitive as other guns, but it’s a very functional design. The rail makes it easy to mount a light, which allows the gun to double as a home defense gun. 

This is a tack driver and an awesomely accurate gun. I’m a big fan of the fantastic Beretta DA/SA trigger system. Beretta went with a frame-mounted safety that doubles as a decocker. It’s super easy to use, but you can’t carry locked and cocked like the classic Cheetahs. 

Beretta used a direct blowback system,which typically means more recoil. However, some combination of the gun’s weight and grip width makes it super soft to shoot. I haven’t tried the .32 ACP variant, but the .380 handles more like a kitten than a Cheetah. I imagine the .32 ACP will feel more akin to a .22LR without the reliability issues.

Beretta 80X Cheetah Pros and Cons

FN America Reflex MRD Review

Suppose you took a passing glance at the FN Reflex. You’d likely think it was just another striker-fired, polymer frame, micro-compact pistol. You’d be mostly right. Except, it’s not striker fired. Rather, it features an internal single-action-only hammer. This gives you the benefits of the hammer fired design without the downsides of the hammer fired design. 

The benefits are a light and consistent trigger pull with a short reset. Hammers tend to beat strikers when it comes to the trigger pull argument. The downside of a hammer is that it snags, and for concealed carry, that can be a major pain. Enclosing the hammer prevents this, and it has been the norm with revolvers for decades. The FN Reflex gives the best of both worlds. 

With the Reflex, we get a crisp single-action trigger with roughly a five-pound pull. It’s surprisingly crisp and impressive. The FN Reflex handles quite well and is influenced by guns like the 509, namely its excellent ergonomics and grippy texture. A light trigger encourages fast shooting, and a solid grip makes that easy to do accurately and controllably. 

Another nice surprise is how easy the gun is to rack. You’re not compressing a striker spring, so it’s a bit lighter. You can pick between manual safety or no manual safety. I’m a no-manual safety person. I also want to point out that the location of the slide lock is perfect, and my thumbs don’t naturally fall on it with a thumbs-forward grip. 

The MRD model gives you an optics-ready design, and that’s the clear way to go. Toss a red dot n, and if you’re feeling frisky, add a light to a single slot rail at the bottom. As a micro-compact, it uses the stack and a half magazines, which gives it a capacity of 11 rounds with a flush-fitting magazine and an extended 15-round magazine. My main complaint is how hard it is to insert a loaded mag on a closed slide.

FN America Reflex MRD Pros and Cons

Beretta M9A4 Review

The Beretta M9 series is among the legends of hammer-fired semi-automatic pistols. It served the United States military for decades, and I even carried one as a machine gunner. The M9 has been replaced by the M17/M18 series, but Beretta has continued to improve the M9, which is now in its fourth generation. The M9A4 represents the top-tier variant of the Beretta M9. 

The M9A4 features a thinner, more vertical grip that addresses a big complaint the M9 received. It’s much easier for smaller shooters to handle and provides a more comfortable grip for any shooter. The slide allows users to swap between decocker and safety models, but the M9 controls remain largely the same. 

Removable sights are a nice touch, but the A4 model is also now optics-ready. The optic sits a bit higher than I prefer, but with some training, you can overcome its limitations. The A4 also features a standard light rail and a threaded barrel for accessories. 

The M9A4 features the Xtreme Trigger System, which offers a much smoother and shorter reset. It’s an excellent trigger all around. The gun is thoroughly modern and extremely well made. The difference between the M9 and M9A4 is night and day. They refined the gun, honed it even. It handles so much better and is so much easier than the standard M9. 

It’s a very modern pistol clearly designed for duty use. It’s a fighting pistol, but it would feel at home in a competitive environment as well. Beretta has long ruled the hammer-fired market, and it’s because of guns like the M9A4. A great pistol comes with a great price tag, making it a pricier option than other guns on the list.

Beretta M9A4 Pros and Cons

KelTec P32 Review

The KelTec P32 is one of my all-time favorite handguns, and that feels weird to say. What makes the humble P32 such an attractive hammer-fired pistol? There isn’t one feature that makes the gun stand out. Still, it’s the right combination of features creates an irresistible pocket pistol. The KelTec P32 is one of the smallest pistols and a perfect option for deep carry.

The P32 is technically a double-action-only design, but the hammer does not offer restrike capability. It’s technically a pre-cocked double-action-only trigger. The precocked design makes the trigger pull much lighter than a regular DAO design. It’s a long but not-so-heavy trigger. There is no safety or slide lock, just a trigger and magazine release. 

The P32’s strongest asset is its utilization of the .32 ACP cartridge. The .32 ACP provides a much lighter recoiling round than the typical .380 ACP but outperforms the .25 ACP and is more reliable than the .22LR. I’d argue it’s the best pocket pistol cartridge out there. This creates a soft, recoiling, easy-shooting gun that allows you to shoot quickly and accurately. 

The KelTec P32 performs like a champ. It uses a short recoil system, which helps provide a softer shooting gun. I can dump seven rounds of .32 ACP in less than two seconds from the draw. It’s that easy to shoot. For a pocket gun, that’s tough to beat, and the use of a hammer-fired design keeps things nice and small.

KelTec P32 Pros and Cons

Dropping Hammers 

Hammer-fired guns and their small comeback shouldn’t be ignored. Many shooters haven’t handled much outside of striker-fired guns, so the move back to hammer-fired guns is almost predictable. People like new things, and sometimes what’s new is just what was old last week. Hammer-fired guns most certainly have their benefits.

Are you a hammer-fired fan? If so, share below! 

Suggested Reading

If you are a new firearms owner you will want a few items so you can take care of your eyes and ears with personal protective equipment and some items to take care of your firearm.

• Our article going through our favorite Shooting Glasses
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• Our article discussing our favorite Gun Cleaning Kits