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

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I went to the range and rented a bunch of compact 9s. My thoughts, (maybe helpful, maybe not):

Ruger LC9 - very concealable, but even with the extender, the grip was a bit too small to be fun to shoot (my hands are > average, but not huge).
Springfield XD - I couldn't get over the roughness of the grip (Zone).
Glock - fine, but I never have taken to that that blocky grip. Kind of pricey.
Shield - a complete surprise. I was just extremely accurate with it (for me), and with the grip extender, it was comfortable to shoot multiple magazines. The price was also right, so I went that way. No regrets. I take it shooting all the time and still enjoy putting a few magazine through.
 
Tallball said:
"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.
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Yep, that might be it, and in looking at my own picture, I think you are right. The pinky extension on the Sig also probably helps.

guyfromohio said:
I would look seriously at the PPS vs CCP.
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I agree. When we were looking for a gun for my last girlfriend, we looked heavily at the CCP because she really liked the feel and the easiness of the slide manipulation. When I started doing a lot of internet reading I read a lot of stories of problems. This was when the CCP was pretty new though. Those issues may have been resolved.

So I recommend doing a lot of research and noting the dates of the posts/stories.
 
Thanks, all. Like I said before, I went to the LGS looking to handle a PPS M2 and came out very impressed by the CCP M2 instead. Light and handy but with a generous grip that felt great in the hand. I would not have bought the original CCP just because of the takedown procedure, but that seems sorted with the CCP M2. The unsual mechanism does not bother me, and I like the relatively light trigger with a manual safety. The only thing that gave me pause was the sights...they are just not very clear or easy to pick up, small white dots in recessed holes. I would like something like the Ameriglo sights with the big, tritium + fluorescent dot front and a plain black notch rear. If I can find those, I'll probably go with a CCP M2.
 
Armybrat said:
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I triple that Armybrat. And, hey, I do not feel the trigger LOOOOOONG at all. All I feel is a nice clean, smooth, deliberate DAO. And I have not seen anything that beats it in size and weight. Smooth shooter as well. Personally do not want a double stack, do not need one etc. . In fact the more I read and learn of the race for more rounds, the less enthusiastic I am. Actually making me appreciate my Snubbies all the more.
 
I enjoy my Shield45s, my biggest issue is spare magazine prices, you can remove the trigger guts and polish to smooth out the trigger easily. I purchased mine when there was a rebate. Everyone that has shot it was impressed. The 9mm version handles good and is cheaper to shoot.
A friend just purchased a Taurus G2C and I liked it even though the trigger was looong but then broke clean, I could get used to it. It is a little narrower and shorter than my Shield45.
 
I laugh how gun manufactuers use the +1 in the descriptions of their Pistols. The gun itself is not plus +1. At least not when quickly loading a new magazine and you take the time to load +1. They do not even do that in Hollywood.
 
I found that my XDS (.45acp) shoots really nice at the range with the extended magazine and carries really well with the flush magazine and pinky extension. The XDS mod 1 grip is pretty brutal... the mod 2 has an infinitely better grip.

I love my Kahr CM9... the CW9 must be an excellent gun too! I have always wanted a Kahr MK9... but could never justify one. Too heavy to carry and for the weight I would just use a double stack.

Why do you want to limit your choice to a single stack... because of the width when carrying it?

My favorite single stack range 9mm is my P38... but it isn't really a concealed carry gun. My P08 is another fun single stack to shoot.
 
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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....
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Let me start by saying: (1) My hands are also average, maybe slightly smallish, but not tiny. (2) I think I've handled all of the pistols listed except for the P365XL; but (3) the only one I'm even close to having experience with is the Shield. So, take the rest of what I post for exactly what it's worth. Looking at your list, I think you're going to have a hard time going very wrong. While I don't have experience with many of them, my take on the posts I've seen over the years is that they're all solid choices.

Turning to the one that I do have experience with, the Shield.... I have a Shield 1.0 that I bought when prices fell right before 2.0 was released. The 2.0 looks good, but I haven't seen anything that would make me sell my 1.0 to fund one. The Shield is a great fit for my hand, and it's been 100% reliable so far. Like any mechanical device, at some point, it'll have a malfunction. But it hasn't yet. I will say that I always preferred the way it fits my hand with the 8-round magazines over the 7-round mag that came with it. So I bought a few magazines from Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore and I gave my 7-rounder to another Shield owner. I'm not affiliated with SOS, but I also haven't seen better Shield magazine prices anywhere. As of this writing, Shield 9mm, 8-round mags are at $15.99 on their website. As far as accuracy goes, the Shield holds up well when compared to my other pistols. I don't shoot it as well as my 1911, but then again, I don't shoot anything as well as I shoot my 1911.
 
rskent said:
Even using the little free Glock mag loader?
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Yep. I read somewhere that Glock produces both a 9 round mag and a 10 round mag for the 48/43X so I'm assuming I got a 9 round mag with 10 window holes. Maybe it's an issue with the spring, doesn't bother me enough to really do something about it but as a warning to others I suggest trying out mags at the store first.
 
IdaD said:
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.
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Ditto on the original Shield, I've got 2 with fiber optic night sights and Taran tactical mag extensions. Love them.
 
I think I liked the PPS M2 the most in the category. Its only downfall is that it's a little too tall in the slide. The second best is Shield.

However, the arrival of narrow double-stacks like P365 and G43X largely made everything else obsolete, even PPS and Shield.

If I just wanted a range toy, but didn't have the money, I'd look at a used Kahr T9.
 
I bought the early CCP. I didn't know of any problems with them at the time and have had none what-so-ever with mine. I really like the way it feels in my hand and have found it to be the most accurate of my 9mm's. The M2 version doesn't have the fiddley take-down of the original if that's a worry. I know it gets faint praise from most but I like what I like and I like the CCP.

As a side note, it isn't ammo picky at all. Cheap FMJ, better HP. mild cast handloads, it digests them all with ease.
 
Ex German police P6.....with the lighter DA hammer spring......

Unless (such) a slightly larger and heavier gun is too much of a burden.

Let’s put it this way: in an IWB Remora holster—the classic style with No Belt Clip—you can literally jog/run on wooded trails with it.
I’ve done so and weigh 180, 5’11”. “But...how about the warranty which comes with a new gun?” The highest quality guns require no warranty.
 
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The modern Sig P225A1 is a gun I'd love to own but I have not yet been willing to pony up the $800+. If you know of a source for a P6 at a reasonable price, I'd love to hear it, most seem to be going for $500+.
 
Of the single stack 9’s I own and enjoy:

Sig P239
Sig P225

But, the one that fits my dainty little girl hands and, is one of the greatest pistols ever designed to fit MY hand...

A Kahr T9

Simply a beautiful gun with a great trigger (if you can shoot a DA feeling trigger well) superb balance, fantastic ergonomics. Very reliable.

For the range, it’s awesome. For carry, it’s about the size of a Colt Commander.
 
cluttonfred: if you’re looking for the best-looking P6 examples, it’s very doubtful you will find a beauty for less than $500-550 ( ie Gunbroker), unless somehow on Armslist in your area.

My very nice P6 was a total fluke: it suddenly appeared in the Used 9mm. display case (included six mags) at ShootPointBlank, and I immed. traded my Sig P229 for it.
 
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