United Gunworks UG-4 Phantom

The Phantom is United Gunworks' compact 9mm double stack, built for people who want to carry a smaller pistol without giving up how a full-size gun shoots. Like the rest of the line, it's machined, assembled and inspected in the company's Peoria, Arizona facility.

This is the base configuration in black. It uses a 3.8-inch match-grade bull barrel, available ported or non-ported. Under the barrel sits a dual recoil spring system that United Gunworks designed, made and tuned in house. The goal is softer recoil and quicker follow-up shots from a short gun.

The slide has deep front and rear serrations for a sure grip when you rack it. The grip is billet aluminum, which keeps it from getting bulky, and it pairs with a fully blended grip safety and ambidextrous thumb safeties. The trigger breaks at 2 to 3 pounds. A full-length dust cover carries an accessory rail for a light.

The optic plate system works the same way as on the Alpha. You pick an RMR, DPP, RMSc or ACRO plate, and it comes with an integrated co-witness rear sight at no charge. The front sight is a United Gunworks design.

The numbers suit carry. It's 7.5 inches long and weighs 33.5 ounces without a magazine. The box is well stocked too, with three 17-round Check-Mate magazines, a Vault hard case, a gun lock and two United Gunworks challenge coins. If you want a compact 2011-style pistol that still feels like a full-size gun in the hand, the Phantom is built for exactly that.