opinions on small 9mm pistols?
- Thread starter tuj
- Start date
- Status
In regard to small 9mm pistols I feel the same way about the PM9. I owned a PF9 and it had way more felt recoil than the PM9 and was not nearly as accurate.
I have shot the P938 and it does have a better trigger but also has more felt recoil.
cpt-t
Member
My Wife and I both carry a KHAR CW9, and we think they are just great. They are both very accurate and and very easy to shoot. They have great tirggers, and we carry them every day we are out of the house. I put a Crimson Trace Lazer Sights on both of them. We have never had even the slightest hint of a problem them. We think the CW9 is the best choice for us. Good Luck To You:
ken
ken
To discuss better or worse you have to first outline criteria. I personally think there are much better carry guns than the R9. I outlined most of my reasons in a previous post in this thread. I'll add here that the R9, in my experience and from what I have read repeatedly on a forum dedicated to that gun, is a picky eater. Add to that the need to frequently replace recoil springs. Any gun I carry as a primary carry gun I like to shoot a lot. The last time I was out training, I put 300 rounds through my gun working one particular skill.
It doesn't have a thing in the world to do with money to me. In absolute terms I think there are better guns. An R9 for example cost no more than some other handguns I own and is a fraction of my ARs and some shotguns I own. That said, I think it is fair to make statements about what one is getting for the money.
Take your R9 out and run some realistic scenarios with a shot timer and a means of accounting for accuracy. Use it an run a balance speed and accuracy drill. Take it to a multi day pistol course to develop your skills with your carry gun. The proof is in the pudding and these types of activities will show much more quickly than typing and theorizing how useful of a carry gun the R9 is vis-a-vis its competitors. It will also underscore the costs of a getting a smaller gun.
See my comments earlier in this thread about treating a gun as a talisman.
meanmrmustard
Member
Good point, I see what you mean.
If I'm carrying a certain weapon, I like being proficient with it. That means putting rounds down range, and I can't feasibly do that with a gun that requires a new part every two hundred rounds. If that's the price of pocket carry along with $1k tag...then keep it.
Me, personally, I'm favoring the Shield thus far. It runs HPs and FMJ well, standard and +P loads, and eats my reloads without question.
Glock 26 vs Kahr CW9 vs Ruger LC9 vs Kimber Ultra Carry II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt3jtMCyjP8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt3jtMCyjP8
3GunEric
Member
I went through much research when deciding on a carry 9mm. Went with Sig P239. Had SRT (Short Reset Trigger) added. Yes it is heavy but it is/was the right choice for me. Accurate, 100% reliable, shoots well! Have even used it in a 3 Gun match.
Choosing a gun for any purpose is a complicated process.
Choosing a gun for any purpose is a complicated process.
exdetsgt
Member
My two favorite small 9s are the Beretta Nano and - should come as no surprise - the venerable Glock 26. The Nano is a single stack and thus slightly more concealable than the double stack Glock, but they both fit in a Masters brand leather G26 OWB holster.
The Glock shoots only marginally better than the Nano. Its obvious main advantage is its ten round magazine vs. the Nano's 6 round magazine. However, the Nano's mag is so small it's quite easy to carry a second loaded mag in one of your trouser pockets.
Beretta also sells an 8 round magazine for the Nano. For the life of me, I really can't decide on which one is the better pistol.
The Glock shoots only marginally better than the Nano. Its obvious main advantage is its ten round magazine vs. the Nano's 6 round magazine. However, the Nano's mag is so small it's quite easy to carry a second loaded mag in one of your trouser pockets.
Beretta also sells an 8 round magazine for the Nano. For the life of me, I really can't decide on which one is the better pistol.
I'm new to the site, can someone steer me in the right direction and tell me if it is alright to shoot cast bullets out of my bersa thunder pro 9? I just got it used and can't wait to shoot it. It's snowing today, hopefully will get out this weekend.
JohnBT
Member
"The proof is in the pudding"
The actual saying is 'The proof of the pudding is in the eating.'
You say it's not about the money and then you complain about having to buy too many recoil springs? You suggest taking an R9 (or any tiny 9mm I assume?) to a 3-day handgun course. Oh there's a great idea, I don't doubt the R9 would survive, but my hand wouldn't. You've entirely missed the point of a tiny pistol; it's not the best gun for a one-gun person - it's an option.
After six years I recently found a brand of ammo my R9 didn't like - one round with a weak rim anyway. It was an old $6/box Remington from Dick's and I'd never shot any Rem ammo in my R9 until then. The other 4 boxes shot fine so maybe it was just a fluke.
I'd rather carry a shotgun everyday, but it's not practical. I tried carrying my FNP-45 with 16 rounds of .45, but it kept pulling my shorts down.
John
The actual saying is 'The proof of the pudding is in the eating.'
You say it's not about the money and then you complain about having to buy too many recoil springs? You suggest taking an R9 (or any tiny 9mm I assume?) to a 3-day handgun course. Oh there's a great idea, I don't doubt the R9 would survive, but my hand wouldn't. You've entirely missed the point of a tiny pistol; it's not the best gun for a one-gun person - it's an option.
After six years I recently found a brand of ammo my R9 didn't like - one round with a weak rim anyway. It was an old $6/box Remington from Dick's and I'd never shot any Rem ammo in my R9 until then. The other 4 boxes shot fine so maybe it was just a fluke.
I'd rather carry a shotgun everyday, but it's not practical. I tried carrying my FNP-45 with 16 rounds of .45, but it kept pulling my shorts down.
John
bikerbill
Member
Another vote for Kahr ... been carrying a PM9 for almost 10 years; it's light enough to pocket carry, easy to belt carry if that's your preference, mine has never failed since I took it out of the box, it's wonderfully accurate at SD distances, easy to shoot, easy to maintain ...
My experience
TUJ,
I have shot several really small 9m.m. and would not do it again.
The RUGER LC9 was unpleasant to shoot (for me) and after a dozen rounds, I did not want to shoot it again.
I owned a KAHR CW9 and after one box of ammo, sold it. The problem was still with the recoil. The 9m.m. is not a hard kicking round.
However, with a small grip area and a light weight gun, it can get unpleasant.
I also shot a 9m.m. WALTHER P99 Compact. While I love the full size P99, I would not want to carry the P99 Compact. It simply felt to light in my hand. RECOIL WAS NOT A PROBLEL WITH THIS GUN. It was simply that it felt too light to be steady.
The smallest 9m.m. pistols that I shoot now are the SIG 225 (WONDERFUL GRIP) and SPRINGFIELD ARMORY XD9 Sub Compact.
The funny thing is that the XD9 is similar in size to the WALTHER P99 Compact, but feels much more substantial. Probably the extra weight makes the difference.
That has been my experience.
Jim
TUJ,
I have shot several really small 9m.m. and would not do it again.
The RUGER LC9 was unpleasant to shoot (for me) and after a dozen rounds, I did not want to shoot it again.
I owned a KAHR CW9 and after one box of ammo, sold it. The problem was still with the recoil. The 9m.m. is not a hard kicking round.
However, with a small grip area and a light weight gun, it can get unpleasant.
I also shot a 9m.m. WALTHER P99 Compact. While I love the full size P99, I would not want to carry the P99 Compact. It simply felt to light in my hand. RECOIL WAS NOT A PROBLEL WITH THIS GUN. It was simply that it felt too light to be steady.
The smallest 9m.m. pistols that I shoot now are the SIG 225 (WONDERFUL GRIP) and SPRINGFIELD ARMORY XD9 Sub Compact.
The funny thing is that the XD9 is similar in size to the WALTHER P99 Compact, but feels much more substantial. Probably the extra weight makes the difference.
That has been my experience.
Jim
45crittergitter
Member
Rohrbaugh.
cajun executioner
Member
I live my Shield. It's slim compact design makes it a great CCW.
Jim NE
Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2011
- Messages
- 1,888
My P-11 Keltec is a common carry for me, and I like it, but with some caveats.
-It needs tweaking with aftermarket stuff.
-The long stiff trigger needs to smooth out with use, and to be acclimated to by the shooter.
-Reliability is very good, but durability isn't (for me.)
By 1000 rounds, three small parts and a couple of springs had failed. The factory fixed it for free, and the gun works flawlessly again. I trust it enough to carry it over some of my better quality guns, but it's proven that it's not a range gun. I shoot it at the range rarely and only to test function. If the round count ever gets close to 2000, I'll probably retire it. It has it's limitations, but it may be one of the best inexpensive options.
-It needs tweaking with aftermarket stuff.
-The long stiff trigger needs to smooth out with use, and to be acclimated to by the shooter.
-Reliability is very good, but durability isn't (for me.)
By 1000 rounds, three small parts and a couple of springs had failed. The factory fixed it for free, and the gun works flawlessly again. I trust it enough to carry it over some of my better quality guns, but it's proven that it's not a range gun. I shoot it at the range rarely and only to test function. If the round count ever gets close to 2000, I'll probably retire it. It has it's limitations, but it may be one of the best inexpensive options.
- Status
Similar threads
