When we talk about the Pistols of Modern Warfare, we are usually talking about guns that rarely get used – especially in Warzone. The pistols in Modern Warfare are usually used as a last resort weapon if you are out of ammo in your primary weapon. Sometimes, though, you will see players pistol wielding just for fun (or to uphold their dominance). Just because they are not used as much, doesn’t mean they aren’t effective. We’ll cover them here.
The new Season of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is in full swing and usually introduces new guns to unlock and use during the duration of the season. It’s rare that the season brings new pistols to the lineup though. The only pistol as of now to be released in a season was the Renetti which was a huge hit. We’ll give the history of the pistols, give a tip or two on how they work in game, and finally show a video on how they work in real life. Take a look below!
X16
Glock 21
The real gun name of the X16 is the Glock 21. The Glock 21 is based off of the Glock 17 but chambered in .45 ACP rather than 9mm like the Glock 17 is. The Glock 17 is know to be one of the best 9mm pistols on the market since its introduction 1982. In 1990, Glock introduced the Glock 21 which is basically the same handgun just scaled up to handle .45 ACP.
RELATED: Learn how to shoot a Glock 21
Glocks are known for having plastic polymer frames which can make the gun feel more lightweight while still maintaining quality. Glocks are also striker fired which means the hammer seated internally so you will not see the hammer located on the back of the slide. The Glock 17 standard magazine can hold 17 rounds of 9mm but .45 ACP rounds are bigger so standard Glock 21 magazines hold 13 rounds.
X16 in game
For being the first pistol you have the option to choose from in game, it is a decent choice. With 13 rounds of .45 ACP which mean a good bit of stopping power, the X16 will cover all your sidearm needs. I know I maxed this gun out with most of the attachments pretty early on. This is the default sidearm so you will get access to the X16 right off the bat.
Glock 21 Video
Colion Noir gives a great review while he is shooting the Glock 21 at the range. He mentions that he carries the Glock 19 on a regular but he prefers shooting the Glock 21 for that extra power. Check out the video! Short, sweet, and right to the point.
1911
Colt 1911
The real gun name of the 1911 is still the 1911. The Colt 1911 or Colt M1911 is a semi-automatic single-action handgun. It was introduced just prior to the First World War and has been in just about every American war of the 20th century. The Colt M1911 really revolutionized the what the semi-automatic handgun is today.
The Colt M1911 was designed by John Browning in 1911 from a long history of development from self-loading pistols from the late 1800s to the beginning of the 1900s. It was adopted by the US Army as the standard service pistol and was in service from 1911 to 1986. It is chambered in .45 ACP and has a standard magazine of 7 rounds.
1911 in game
As one of the starter pistols, the 1911 is my choice out the gate. It is a very balanced pistol with high damage and accuracy accompanied with decent recoil and rate of fire. The only real downside is the small 7 round magazine size. You will be reloading plenty with only 7 rounds. A small magazine size also means a low ammo reserve.
How to Shoot a Colt 1911
We have a special on how to shoot a Colt 1911. Check out our tutorial on our Government issue Colt M1911. We are take it for a spin out on the range. We breakdown the the aspects of the Colt 1911 and go into detail on what everything is and how to operate the Colt 1911 in full. Take a look!
.357
S&W 586
The real name of the .357 is the Smith & Wesson (S&W) 586. Smith & Wesson is famous for their revolvers and the S&W 586 is one of their premier “six-shooter” revolvers that is chambered in super high powered .357 Magnum. The S&W 586 can also be compared with their stainless steel version, the S&W 686.
Both these revolvers have earned the name the “Distinguished Combat Magnum” due to their performance and power in the field with various law enforcement agencies. These revolvers also come in various barrel lengths at 4, 6, and 8 inch long barrels to suit the shooter’s needs. With being chambered at .357 Magnum, stopping power is not a concern. If you are the type of shooter who can handle this type of power, on a regular basis, the S&W 586 (and 686) is for you.
.357 in game
As with most other shooters that feature a revolver, this gun is pure power – accurate power at that. One well placed shot will end your opponent. That being said, this is where the fun ends. The .357 might have a ton of power but you only have six shots. Reloading time is not horrible, but it’s definitely not fast. Plus, recoil is crazy which hinders rate of fire considerably. Just make sure you are an accurate shot when using the .357.
S&W 586 Video
Check out this great video as the guys give a great overview of the Smith & Wesson 586 and test it out on the range. Once you get deeper in the video, they go over many manufactured details that you may not know about. A good watch!
.50 GS
Desert Eagle .50 AE
The real name of the .50 GS is the Desert Eagle .50 AE. The Desert Eagle is a Israeli semi-automatic handgun that holds the record for being chambered in the largest centerfire handgun cartridge in the world – the .50 Action Express (.50 AE). The Desert Eagle is also chambered in other powerful calibers like .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum.
The Desert Eagle is a beast of a handgun. The original purpose of the Desert Eagle was to develop a semi-automatic handgun that was able to use high-powered revolver rounds. They succeeded after series of versions and is primarily used for target shooting and hunting big game.
.50 GS in Game
I have a love-hate relationship with this gun. It’s super powerful and hit well placed shots, you can put down targets really easy. Is it better than the .357? Power wise? Maybe. Is it as accurate? Nope. Is the recoil better? Yea. It also has one more round than the .357 and it is magazine fed so the reload is faster. It is really up to your personal preference. When I go heavy, I run this.
Desert Eagle .50 AE Video
Hickok45 is at it again with his awesome reviews. This time he has a Desert Eagle and gives it a run on his range and the famous gong. From this video, you can really see how much the Desert Eagle really is a “hand cannon” and has some serious power. Great history and shooting from Hickok45.
M19
SIG Sauer P320 (M18)
The real name of the M19 is actually just the M18. The M18 is just the US Military’s designation for this pistol. The full name of the M18 is the SIG Sauer P320 (Compact). The M18’s full size brother is the M17, which is just the full sized SIG Sauer P320. Since 2017, this sidearm is now the US Army’s standard issue pistol which replaced the Beretta M9.
The XM17 Modular Handgun System competition was issued in 2014 and excepted numerous requests for a new service pistol for the US Army and US Air Force. The SIG Sauer P320 won the competition. It is a modular handgun which means it allows for the adaption of different attachments, pistol grips, and various types of magazines. Modular features also include full ambidextrous controls and male and female ergonomic design functionality.
M19 in Game
This is the most standard pistol in the game. But of course it’s meant to be. To be dead honest with you, the X16 is a better choice due to the higher caliber. I mean it functions just fine and it does a fine job but the X16 is this gun but better. If you like the M19 and it suits you, then by all means run with it. I just see better options in the lineup.
SIG Sauer P320 Compact Video
AZ Trigger here goes into great detail on the creation of the SIG Sauer P320 (M17/M18) from the competition. He also goes into detail on the contrast versus the Glock 19X which was the also part of the Modular Handgun System competition. Great video. Check it out.
Renetti
Beretta M9A3
The real gun name of the Renetti is the Beretta M9A3. The Beretta M9A3 is also a pistol that was submitted into the Modular Handgun System competition in 2014. It is basically an upgraded version of their M9 that was the standard US Army service pistol that has been in service for years to qualify for the Modular Handgun System competition.
The Beretta M9A3 is not a select-fire burst pistol as Modern Warfare presents as it is. The idea of where this came from is from the cousin of the M9A3 – The Beretta 93R. The Beretta 93R is a select-fire pistol designed to shoot three round bursts or semi-auto.
Renetti in Game
Out of all the pistols, this one is unique because of one reason – Burst fire. The problem is is that you get the Burst fire perk at the end of the attachment upgrade cycle. Before the burst fire perk, the Renetti performs just like the M19. But after the burst fire perk and with an extended magazine attachment, this gun is very dangerous up close. Don’t get me started on going akimbo.
Beretta 93R Video
Instead of showing off the boring Beretta M9A3, I’ll showcase the gun we all want to see in action – the Beretta 93R. Larry Vickers goes into great detail explaining how it works, the history, and the functionality of this rarely seen burst fire pistol. It is a rare treat to see this gun fire so take a look and enjoy the video!
As the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare season keep on coming, so will the reviews of the guns that keep getting released. Hopefully, they will release more pistols along the way to keep things fresh. There are many additional handguns that Modern Warfare could introduce. We look forward to seeing what they have in store down the road.
We’ll be back to cover the rest of them including Marksmanship and Sniper Rifles next. We might even throw in the Launchers as well so stay tuned. If you want to see our previous posts about the Assault Rifles, Submachine Guns, and Light Machine Guns feel free to check those out as well.
Remember – Practice Makes Proficient.
