Yet another single-stack 9mm thread....

I have an original Shield that I like a lot, and I think it and the 2.0 version are really tough to beat from a value standpoint considering how well built and reliable they are, and they're nice shooters too. That said they're not the latest and greatest anymore, and I tend to either go bigger if I'm carrying on my belt or down to a pocket pistol if I want something more discrete. The micro 9mm pistols have just become a little bit of a tweener size to me. Of the pistols you listed the two I'd pick first would be either the Shield or the 43x. Even though I'm not a Glock guy I may lean toward the latter given the 15 round flush mags that are supposed to be available soon for the 43x/48.

I have an original Shield. It shoots great, very accurate and easy to get back on target quickly. Recoil is no different to me than my Glock 17. Ever time I think of going with a P365 I take the Shield to the range and come home happy. With 8+1 carrying capacity I feel I have plenty of ammo. And 8 more rounds in an extra magazine. If you can try out any of the above guns at a local range you can make your decision then. The Glock 43X would be my second choice for a CCW gun. There is nothing wrong with the Walther. Go with the one you like best.

Ruger EC9 for balling on a budget.

Of your list though...

I hate the shield trigger, but I haven't tried 2.0.

As much as I hate Glock, I actually like the 43.

But I never shot a Walther I didn't like.

So I guess I vote Walther. Then M&P 2.0 if there trigger is fixed. Then Glock.

Of the ones on your list, I like the P365.

Have you considered the P938 Legion? I wear XL gloves and can get three fingers in the gun. Soft shooter too. Though a SAO is not a striker fired gun like the guns you’ve listed.

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I went through a similar search and ended up at the stupidly discontinued P290RS:

~3.0 barrrel
6+1 capacity
night sights
smooth, full-stroke DAO with restrike capability (much safer than a typical striker trigger)

So much of your decision is personal preference, and so much of what you’re going to hear in this thread is personal preference. So now that we got that out of the way...

—Kahr’s are going to have a longish but smooth double action pull, mimicking a revolver type trigger, they are built with quality, have lower capacity than most.

—The Walther CCP is a newer design on the action which would give me pause, and for me the only Walther’s I consider anymore are the PPQ or PPS lines since they are now owned by Umarex.

—The Shield 1.0/2.0 is a very safe bet, proven, reliable, good customer service, good aftermarket support, etc., price is better than some of the other newer offerings on your list.

—Sig P365/365xl newest innovation in capacity for its size. Early teething pains in its development, and I’ve heard a few reports on the XL of failure to go completely into battery (there are YouTube video reviews demonstrating). I do not and have not shot either a P365 or P365xl. There also are a lot of raving reviews on the P365/365xl so one has to consider the “I heard it on the internet” factor.

I was strongly considering and had placed a preorder on a P365xl but something in the back of my mind made me go with a Glock 48.

—Glock 43x like the Shield offerings a very safe bet, proven, reliable, good customer support, good aftermarket. A company Shield Arms has developed an aftermarket flush fit magazine for the Glock 43x/48 platform which allows 15+1 in a flush fit magazine. I preordered some of those for my 48 and will put them through their paces to ensure they are dependable first and foremost.

Some other options you should consider would be: Walther PPS/PPS M2, S&W M&P Compact.

But like I said at the start what one is going to hear is preferences in threads like this, which is ok. But one has to balance the preferences out with facts, knowledge with ones own personal experiences at a rental range being the top priority. So if you can find friends or a rental range with some of the options to try out and see which one feels and shoots the best for you that would be very advantageous.

One thing to note is that you said it would be a range gun most and carried a little, I would given that consider more of the longer barreled compacts as the barrel length is not hard to conceal but would be nicer for a range sessions. Those would be out of the list: Shield 2.0 with the longer barrel, Glock 48 (this is a 43x with a longer slide), or the P365xl.

I don't even know how many CCW handguns I have gone through in my life. In fact, I started a long thread on the subject. I have been using an original shield 9 for several years, and I am 100% satisfied with it.

You want a range toy ? Zastava M70A. Hideous, ugly; but a good range toy

cluttonfred said:

PS--Thanks for the suggestion of the P938, but it seems a little small for my needs and I am not enthusiastic about cocked-and-locked for CCW, plus at that price I may as was spend a couple hundred more to get the P225.

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It really is quite different than a striker fired gun. However it shoots as soft as a bigger gun. Like I said too, I wear XL gloves, so keep the scale in mind.

What's weird to me is I can only get 2 fingers comfortably on my XDs. I can get three on the P938, even though it's smaller. Seems odd to me.

Good luck. Let us know what you get.

If you're looking at the Kahr P9 I'd recommend taking a look at the K9. I have it's smaller sibling the MK9, and the weight makes it a dream to shoot compared to the PM9 I shot at a range before deciding on the MK.

I see you're already getting plenty of suggestions on the P938, and I'll agree it's easily my favorite subcompact gun. The MK9 comes close though.

I do not have a experience with the pistols on your list, but do have a suggestion to look at Bersa BP9 CC 9mm works for a carry piece and a decent range gun. At least it works for me.

"What's weird to me is I can only get 2 fingers comfortably on my XDs. I can get three on the P938, even though it's smaller. Seems odd to me."

That's similar to my Pico and LCP, which are exactly the same size. Finally I realized that the Pico has a larger trigger guard, which leaves less grip space for the fingers.

I have huge hands, but can get all of my fingers on the grip of my G43 if I put one of those $4.00 Amazon pinkie extension magazine bases on it.

I like my G43 a lot. I also recently got a Ruger LC9s pro, which has been discontinued and is probably still available for not much money as a result. I think I like it as much as my G43, but will have to shoot them side-by-side to know for sure. I got the Ruger for only $273 plus shipping and FFL a few weeks back.

Here are some pics, though the sizes are misleading, since the Ruger pic is more of a close-up. I think they are roughly the same size IRL.

p365, 12 rds, no waiting. Easily fits in even small-ish pockets.


Personally I would get the p365 SAS when available:


https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/09/07/sig-sauer-p365-sas/

I bought my original Kahr CW9 as an experiment... my first poly pistol. My expectations were that I would not like it, would hate the trigger pull, that it would be a jammomatic. Wrong on all 3 counts. It fits my hand like a mini-1911 (I can get all my fingers on the grip, and I have fairly big hands) and aims the same way. The longish trigger does take a bit to get used to, but once you understand it, and practice with it, it's a non-issue. Reliability? 100%... and this across the 6-odd CW9's I've owned. This also includes the CM9... it's smaller brother; the CM9 is a little different... you lose about .5" of barrel and one round... and your pinky. Yes, it only holds 7 rounds in the magazine, but I don't care. I have 2 8-round extended mags, I hate them.

"Dude! ...you own 5 CW9's???"

I've owned 6 CW9's. My original one was stolen out of my truck. #3 had a tendency to shoot left, so I traded it off. #5 was given to my brother as a birfday present (he wants to get his CCW... and all he had was a PPK/s.) #6 is out in NV (so when I fly out there, I have a carry piece.) #2 is my daily carry, #4 is in the desk drawer (I rotate them.) Every one of them has been 100% on feeding and function.

My first range session with the CW9...



CW9 in my standard carry holster... a High Noon...

I've got a thousand rounds through my P-365 XL already (well, with help of a couple buddies).

Phenomenal. On its way to becoming my new favorite carry pistol Almost unbelievable accuracy. Superb sights. Sublime trigger. Feels so good in the hand. Easily manages recoil of even the hottest plus P offerings. The kicker is the capacity and the sheer ease of concealment -- oh, and how comfortably this tiny package can be worn all day long.

I was less than impressed with the early examples of the P365 platform, personal examining two busted units. Hopefully, Sig has corrected these serious deficiencies.

cluttonfred said:

OK, I am looking at some options for a single-stack 9mm pistol for range practice and occasional CCW. My hands are average, so no special requriements in terms of the grip, I just want to be able to get all my fingers on the gun all of the time, so no short grip guns. Right now, some of the contenders are....

• Glock G43X
• Kahr CT9/TP9
• *Kahr CW9/P9
• Sig Sauer P365XL
• *Smith & Wesson M&P 9 2.0 Shield
• Walther CCP M2

*I would consider guns that offer a full grip with a permanently-installed pinky extension on the smallest magazine, whether factory or aftermarket (Pearce).

There are many more possibilities, but these are the ones I am actually considering right now. So far the CCP is actually at the top of my list despite its oddness and the "meh" sights just for the way it feels in my hand, but that could change. Who can speak to any of these guns from personal experience?

Cheers,

Matthew

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The SIG 365, whether standard or XL is not a single stack - which is why it made all of the others obsolete

Armybrat said:

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I have the CM-9; don't get me wrong, it is a nice gun, with a smooth LOOOOOONG trigger pull, but it only holds 6+1; my 365 is 12+1; it becomes a no-brainer, as the guns are the same size, thickness, height, and length

I would look seriously at the PPS vs CCP.

View attachment 862134 I almost bought the 43X until I read a thread here about the 48, same as the 43x but a slightly longer barrel that helps me get sighted in better. First gun I ever bought without buyers remorse and I have owned probably 50 in my lifetime. The only problem I have is that the 10 round mag is really a 9 round mag but 9+1 is still ok by me.