Recommendation? Single Stack for CCW

Kimber Compact. The 1911 is my favorite platform, it's a .45, and the reduced size and weight make it pleasant to carry IWB - in a Milt Sparks Watch Six in my case. Even with the Officer's frame, I get 7+1. While I also carry other pieces, depending upon how I need to dress, the Kimber is on my belt most of the time.

I will shortly be putting the inaugural rounds through my Shield (another choice if you can find one) and have tried the XDs. That one will likely find its way home with me some day. Seems like a good coat pocket option in the winter.

As of yesterday, the 40 Shield I picked up, with hornaday red tip ammo it will be the flavor of the month, But my 26 and 40 EMP work just as well. And the 1911 EMP is actually smaller with one more round. It used to be a gun that is an inch wide and weighs under 30 ozs, which eliminates everything that I like to shoot. But the weight is really not as big an issue as the balance of the handgun. Thin is in, if you can slide it into a holster "in or out", of waist, and pull a tee shirt over it without seeing it, then it works for me. I am able to do that even with an emp "which is a heavy little gun" without printing.
PS: I couldn't do it when I was out of shape and my gut was pushing it out. Dropping 40 lbs in a year made a huge difference.
the Stomach will push the grip out at an angle making it much easier to spot, than if it's close to the body with a belt over it.

Without any other requirements other than it being a single stack...

My newest favorite...
Colt TALO CCO
It's a 1911, slim, compact, easy to shoot, and chambered in .45ACP.

My two runner ups...

Colt New Agent
Also a 1911, slim and streamlined, even more compact then my CCO, chambered in .45ACP.

Springfield EMP
Again a 1911! Slim, low recoil, best out of the box trigger of all my 1911s.

Kahr CW9. Affordable, often found for less than $400. Virtually the same size as a PF9. Stainless slide. 3.6" bbl. 7 + 1 capacity (or 8 + 1 if one obtains an 8 round mag). No safety. Long but VERY smooth trigger which, IMO, acts as a safety. Can get a full grip on gun. Very manageable recoil even with +P loads. Eats everything I feed it. Very accurate. Very reliable. I own 2 and I haven't had a single malfunction from either through hundreds of rounds. Yes, I love my CW9s!

Many people will suggest the S&W Shield. They are obviously a great weapon as to the raves it gets and the scarcity of them right now. I just don't like the fact it has a safety.

If your question is what is your favorite, single stack or double stack, I go for single stack cause usually it has a thinner profile.

Otherwise, my favorite single stack is my LCP. Easiest handgun in the world to hide.

I like the HK P7. Compact, flat, thin, accurate, and reliable. Few guns sit lower in the hand than the P7, and this means there is very little muzzle flip in rapid fire. Heavy? Yes, it's heavier than the polymer guns, but it is beyond reliable. There is a HK training video out there which shows a guy removing the extractor from a P7, then firing a mag thru the gun. Try that with any other auto pistol design.

I no longer own a double-stack "anything". That is by choice.

My favorite is a 4-ish inch, alloy-framed 1911. A 3-ish inch alloy 1911 is even smaller and lighter, but a bit less easy to shoot well.

When we get to 9mm, the Kahr PM9 is now my only 9mm...and that may remain the case for a while.

Sig P220 Carry SAS made for CCW easy to conceal no plastic parts except for grips shoots great and is 45acp as God and John Browning intended.

BERETTA 92M and SIG 225

I shoot and sometimes carry the BERETTA 92M and the SIG 225. I find the smaller grips make these guns very easy to shoot and they handle well for me.

I know they are no longer made, but almost all of the single stack 9m.m. now made are mini-9m.m's and they kick to much to appeal to me.

Jim

Sig 239 is my edc. I do like it. Also, one of my favorites was my S&W CS9.... sold it years ago..... doh!

My new favorite is my Springfield XDs. It's just barely larger than my PF9, but more importantly, it's a .45.




Ps. I just ordered 2 - 7 round mags from Midway for it tonight.

I thought only California was restricted to ten rounds.

josephbw said:

My new favorite is my Springfield XDs. It's just barely larger than my PF9, but more importantly, it's a .45.

Click to expand...

+1! Amazing little gun.

My favorite is the Shield, which is my CCW. It's a good compromise of weight and capacity. With the 8 round mag and grip extension I can get my whole hand on the grip with no problem. The trigger is also pretty decent for a polymer pistol, with minimal take up and a short reset. I also like the option of a manual safety.

I have gone through several. I started with a Sig P232 in .380 because it was smaller and lighter than the G19 I had. Then I got rid of that and went to a Ruber LCR because it was even lighter. When I wanted more rounds, I went to a DB380. When it started having feeding issues that a gunsmith couldn't explain, I ditched it for a Ruger LC9. I thought that was the final choice until I held the S&W M&P Shield. I bought the Shield on the spot, and sold the LC9 to a buddy the next weekend. I may get a different single stack some day, probably a 1911 in .45, but I have no plans to part with my Shield. It shoots a well as any fullsize pistol, carries much smaller than the statistics on paper would leave you to believe, is the most ergonomic pistol I own, and an amazingly soft shooter. It has marvelous trigger (SO much better than the standard M&Ps) and very good 3-dot sights. In all, I don't think that I could ask for anything more in it, except maybe to do away with the safety, though it isn't all that cumbersom if just left in the off position and treated like all other strikerfires. If you can find one, I hear it is a little tricky in some parts, you will be hard pressed to do any better, and likely won't without spending considerabley more.

Sig p290. Basically the same size as the Beretta Nano and kahr pm9/cm9 but a little heavier. The added weight makes me more accurate, ESP with fallow up shots

Another vote for Kahr 9mm, but I actually prefer the increased heft of the K9. It really helps with recoil and makes it very easy to get back on target, even with some of the hotter +P rounds. The trigger is great, especially for those who came up on revolvers.

I love my subcompact Glock, and I don't intend to replace it, but if money wasn't an issue then a commander sized 1911 in 9mm would be a close second, especially in a Raven Concealment IWB

S&W 3913. Not particularly small in height and length, but is accurate, light, slim, has good trigger actions in both modes, and is attractive. In a virtual dead heat is the Kahr K9. Its "ergos" are superb and it also has an excellent (though different until you get used to it) trigger action.

Another vote for the Shield! Especially in 9mm. Small enough that anyone should be able to find a way to carry it. Very well designed and stilla pleasure to shoot at the range.

I'm a fan of the 1911, in case you hadn't noticed.

It's thin, easy to control due to weight and barrel length, shoots a large bore caliber, ammo is reliable and easily available, the controls are ergonomic and everybody and their uncle makes one so there's no shortsge of options available.

WACKI: My Wife and I carry a KAHR CW 9 every day. They are better for us than any thing we have tried. We have carred them for several years now and never a problem with either of them. Super accurate, Great Trigger, Point and shoot no other controls to worry about, Carry any way you want IWB, OWB, or in pocket holster. We even put Crimson Trace Lazers on both of them. You might give them a try befor you buy something else.
ken