Pistol Review: Nighthawk Custom's BDS9 - A Competition-Grade Double-Stack Built for Dominance
- guns56
- Nov 20
- 2 min read
In the world of competition shooting, speed, precision, and reliability are non-negotiable, and the Nighthawk Custom BDS9 was engineered to excel in all three. Short for Boardroom Double Stack 9mm, the BDS9 represents Nighthawk’s pursuit of the ultimate competition-ready handgun, purpose-built for the alpha shooter who expects race-gun performance with the refinement of a hand-crafted 1911. From its optics-ready system to its performance-oriented slide geometry, every detail of the BDS9 is engineered to push competitive advantage to its limits.
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The foundation of the BDS9 is a forged government-size double-stack frame paired with a 5-inch, hand-fit match-grade bull barrel. Chambered exclusively in 9mm, the barrel is crowned and cut flush with the slide, ensuring exceptional precision and consistency shot-to-shot. The full-length monolithic recon rail adds valuable weight down low, stabilizing the pistol during fast transitions and helping shooters maintain sight tracking under rapid fire.
The slide design is equally performance-driven. Featuring heavy tri-cut angle machining and aggressive lightening ports, the slide cycles faster, stays flatter, and enables quicker follow-up shots, a clear advantage in USPSA, IPSC, and steel competition environments. The BDS9 is also equipped with Nighthawk’s Interchangeable Optics System (IOS), which allows shooters to switch between iron sights and a red dot while maintaining zero. This flexibility makes the BDS9 an easy fit for competitors who like to jump between divisions without changing platforms.
Aesthetically, the BDS9 stands out with a striking two-tone DLC finish: a silver DLC slide and frame contrasted with black DLC controls and barrel. The billet aluminum grip is anodized black and showcases a new, aggressively textured surface engineered for traction in any environment. Slick hands, humidity, sweat — none of it compromises the secure, locked-in feel of the BDS9’s grip. Combined with the pistol’s inherently low bore axis and tuned recoil system, it provides unmatched control over the gun’s movement in high-speed strings.
In terms of capacity and firepower, the BDS9 runs a 17+1 double-stack magazine, ensuring ample rounds for any stage layout without sacrificing the slim, ergonomic profile that Nighthawk’s double-stack design is known for. Target acquisition is fast and intuitive, thanks to a Heinie Black Ledge rear sight paired with a bright red fiber optic front sight, a competition-proven sight picture that remains crisp across lighting conditions.
One of the BDS9’s most unique features is its dual slide stop configuration. The primary slide stop operates traditionally, locking the slide open on an empty magazine. The second, disengaged slide stop is tailored for competition shooters who prefer the slide not to lock back, preventing premature lockback and allowing aggressive reloads without fear of over-insertion. It’s a thoughtful design element that reflects Nighthawk’s deep understanding of practical match shooting.
As with all Nighthawk pistols, the BDS9 is built on the company’s “One Gun, One Gunsmith” philosophy. Every component, from the tuned extractor to the hand-beveled edges and polished ignition parts, is hand-fitted for seamless function. The result is a pistol that delivers uncompromising reliability and a competition-grade shooting experience right out of the box.
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