Of the nine contenders, two pistols— the SAR USA SAR9X Platinum and the IWI Masada—had an MSRP under $500. Aside from being easy on the wallet, both packages offered strong value as well. The Masada’s standout features included excellent ergonomics, full ambidextrous controls for the slide stop and magazine release, and three interchangeable backstraps for a tailored fit. Like the Sig P320, the Masada integrates a serialized trigger chassis that can be removed from the frame. To sweeten the pot, IWI also includes an optics-ready slide along with four adapter plates to fit the most popular red-dot sights on the market.
Similar in form and purpose, the SAR9X Platinum, like the Masada, was built for rugged military use with its hammer-forged barrel and recessed crown. The polymer frame also comes with three inserts to change the grip size, and the slide is drilled and prepared for mounting an optic. The SAR9X Platinum also came with the most complete kit including a magazine carrier, holster, magazine loader and a weapon light, in addition to the interchangeable inserts.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
When it comes to a comfortable grip and excellent texturing, the SAR9X Platinum was no slouch either. Like the Masada, the grip was rounded very nicely and it included subtle finger grooves (similar to HK VP9) for extra control. Addison mentioned that for the money, the SAR9X would be a great budget starter pistol, especially considering all the extras that came in the kit. Though the trigger was a little gritty, it had a fairly crisp break, and the pistol was as reliable as anything else on the line. Accuracy was good, and the SAR9X shot relatively flat as well.
