The 5 Best Tactical Accessories for Your Pistol

Whether you just bought a new pistol or want to step up your tactical game, there are a lot of ways to customize your pistol to fit your style. From lighting and triggers to a new concealed carry holster, here are the best and most common pistol accessories for all gun owners.

Rail Mounted Light & Rail Mounted RDS

Many of the modern handgun manufacturers have at least some form of Picatinny rail on the top or underbarrel. Because of this, shooters usually gravitate toward a simple optic like a red dot sight for the top or a lighting attachment underneath the barrel.

Flashlights are pretty straightforward and can be used to blind an attacker or light the way, but they also give away your position in a bad situation. Skilled shooters sometimes prefer a laser sight for the stealth advantage and the options of color or the type of laser.

You can find laser sights that pulse intermittently or remain constant at the flick of a switch or the push of a button, but keep in mind that any kind of attachment to your pistol might require a new light-bearing holster or optics-ready holster.

Still, lighting attachments are a popular choice among handgun users because you never know what kind of shooting situation you’ll find yourself in. This is especially a tactical option for concealed carriers, and you can always choose both lights if your pistol has two rails.

Tritium Sights

If optics isn't your cup of tea, you might consider swapping out the type of sights on your pistol. When it comes to stock sights, a lot of modern handguns come with the traditional white dot that can be useful in well-lit scenarios.

Unfortunately, defensive situations do not happen only during the day. You might need true night sights that function well in low-light situations. Night sights could be the difference between life and death. Given, that if you have one of the above attachments, you might not have to worry, but it’s still a good idea to have a backup.

Swapping out the rear and/or front sights of your pistol with night sights or the more recent fiber optic sights can enable you to still be accurate at night. If you’re a concealed carrier or just own a gun for home defense, it’s comforting to know you can defend yourself at any time of the day.

New Grips

Grips are an accessory that generally separates beginners from veteran shooters because it’s a matter of preference. Feeling comfortable with your firearm is essential to precise shooting, so it’s always a good idea to find grips for your pistol that won’t slip and fit your hand.

Even if it’s just about a different texture because you don’t like how rough or smooth something is, it can affect your mental state when shooting and the slightest factor is worth improving. Not to mention that some grips are smaller which makes them better for concealed carry.

For example, if you know you’re going to be getting a lot of rain over the next week you might consider using grips that are textured to be non-slip. Or, if you go with a larger grip because of your hand size, it might help to have finger grooves. The point is that there are grip options for anyone and any situation.

Trustworthy Storage and Transportation

Something that’s constantly overlooked is the importance of a good holster and gun safe. Whether you’re law enforcement, military, concealed carrying, or new to shooting, finding a holster that sits comfortably on your hip for hours is a great accessory to invest in.

Holsters can be specific to a manufacturer or firearm, especially if it’s an odd design or you’re using an attachment as light or RDS. They can be hard-case or softer, outside the waistband or inside, canted or straight. Much like grips, your holster is all about preference and what you need it for.

Whatever the choice of the holster, at the end of the day you will need a place to store your firearms. If you have children or a collection of guns that you don’t want to be used against you by an intruder, a gun safe is another essential accessory for any serious shooter.

Tactical Trigger

Seeing as the main component of shooting boils down to pulling the trigger, a replacement system should always be considered. Becoming familiar with your handgun is important, but some shooters are more comfortable with a single- or double-action trigger.

On the other hand, you might like a different weight to your trigger pull. If it’s too heavy that it jerks when you fire, you might want something crisp with a quick reset, or vice versa. The spring can also affect the pull, so just think and find out whether you want it for competition shooting or you simply want it hard & safe.

Conclusion

Whatever the case, you’ve got decisions to make and a lot more customization options out there. Remember that safety comes first, so treat every gun like it’s loaded and make sure you have a safe place to store it.