Ruger Security 9 - Sig Sauer P365 - Glock 19X - Smith & Wesson M&P M2.O

Check Out These Four Great New Pistols

It's January as I write this article , and that means it's time for the S.H.O.T. Show in Vegas. The Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trades Show is a huge deal that covers an incredible amount of square footage and lasts five days if you include the Industry Day at the Range.

Margie and I will be going again this year, and we'll have a lot of stuff to tell you about next month. The S.H.O.T. Show is for Industry and Media only – you can't just walk in because you want to see the new stuff. But never fear - we take copious notes and photos, and we'll have the highlights for you starting in February. But for now, here are four great new pistols for you to check out.

Ruger Security 9

This compact 9mm is easily concealable and it's designed to fit many different holsters and concealed-carry options. This little pistol is ideal for those who are uncomfortable carrying a gun like a Glock that doesn't have a manual safety.

This new Ruger has a bladed safety and a hammer catch to help prevent the hammer from contacting the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled. It has an easier slide racking than many striker-fired pistols (like a Glock), and it has great serrations on the front to give you more grab when you're operating the slide as well. It comes with two alloy steel mags and retails for less than $380.

The beauty of this gun is that it's a quality firearm at such a great price that you can buy one and trust your life to it instead of getting some cheap pistol. It's a double stack, so the magazine holds 15 rounds, and size-wise it's between a compact and a full size, making it ideal for average-sized guys like me to carry.

My kids are bigger than me and can easily conceal a Glock 19, but I'm just a squirt compared to them. This new Security 9 is perfect for me. The Security 9 weighs 23.7 oz and measures 5x7.24" overall. Slide width is 1.02". You should check this one out.

Sig Sauer P365

Even smaller than the Security 9 is the new Sig Sauer P365. This is a high-capacity micro-compact 9mm firearm that holds 10 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. It's rated for +P ammunition, and it's small enough to carry every day even for a small guy or gal.

The overall length is just 5.8 inches and the height is 4.3 inches. Width is 1.06". It weighs in at 17.8 oz. This pistol is a striker fire with a stainless steel slide and a polymer grip. You can get extended magazines that hold 12 rounds.

The retail price on this gun quite a bit higher than the new Ruger - the P365 retails for $599. It's got a great crisp trigger pull, SIGLITE night sights, and comes with a 10-round flush fit mag plus a 10-round extended mag to better fit a larger hand.

Margie really likes this gun because she's a big fan of striker fired pistols, and this is one 9mm that she would feel comfortable carrying.

Glock 19X

The 19X is a Glock's first "crossover" pistol, combining the best features of two of its most popular models. With the full-size frame and compact slide, the 19X is like a cross between the 17 and the 19. It comes in a coyote color with their first-ever factory-colored slide.

Standard are a 17-round mag and two 17+2-round extended mags and a coyote-colored pistol case. Overall length of the 19X is 7.44 inches and the height is 5.47 including the mag. The slide width is just one inch. The weight with a loaded magazine is 31.39 oz.

My son could concealed carry this gun easily. Me, not so much. As far as I can tell, the MSRP on the 19X is going to be $749. It's officially just coming out now, so keep your eyes peeled.

Smith & Wesson M&P M2.O

The M&P M2.0 is Smith & Wesson's latest home/personal protection pistol. It's available in three calibers, but I'll focus on the 9mm here. Capacity is 17+1 and the overall length is 7.4".

It's a striker fire pistol with what S&W says are innovative features in nearly every aspect of the pistol including trigger, grip, frame, and finish. They say the M2.0 has reduced muzzle rise and faster aim recovery, a crisper, lighter trigger pull, and a reset you can both feel and hear.

It comes in matte black or flat dark earth and includes two mags. It also has four interchangeable palmswell inserts to fit your hand perfectly. The new M2.0 retails for $599.

Bonus: What Is +P Ammunition?

Short answer: +P ammo has more pressure. Usually, factory ammo is loaded to standardized pressure levels, but +P ammo operates at 10 to 20 percent higher, resulting in more speed and muzzle energy. But, just because your handgun is a newer model doesn't mean it can handle these rounds.

So don't buy a box of ammo that says +P unless you see +P somewhere on the frame of your weapon. Normally, if the gun is designed to handle those higher pressures, it will say so right on the gun itself. To prevent damage to the gun or injury to yourself, don't try to use +P ammo unless your gun is designed for it. Read the box before you buy.