Let's talk about 9mm pocket guns

[Adam5]

I have been carrying a 9mm 1911 or a CZ P07 9mm (The CZ was sold last week and HK P30sk is at my FFL awaiting pick up to replace it). there are times that I need to be very discrete, and drop a Kahr CW380 into a pocket holster or carry it IWB.

I love the way the CW380 disappears and is so easy to deep conceal, but am looking at replacing it with a 9mm to eliminate keeping separate ammo in the house that only goes with one pistol.

I need a good recommendation for a small, single stack, pocketable 9mm that is affordable. The S&W Shield is too big to fit in a pocket. Is an XDS or Beretta Nano pocketable? I know I can get a Kahr CM9 or KelTec PF9 for a reasonable price. I looked at a Sig P938, but they are a little high for my budget. Is a P290rs a good pocket size?

I'm going to see what my FFL has when I pick up my HK this weekend, but wanted to see what other people use for a pocket 9mm.

 

[viking499]

My buddy I work with pocket carries a 43 all the time. He really likes his.

I have pocket carried my LCR 9mm a few times.

 

[cc-hangfire]

I usually pocket carry the small .380's in dress pants, but my Khar CM9 in a kydex pocket holster is almost as small. It's smaller than the PF9 i believe (may not be lighter though); I know its smaller than my Ruger LC9 by a little bit.

 

[C0untZer0]

Rohrbaugh R9
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 2.9 in
Length: 5.2 in
Height: 3.7 in
Slide Width: .82 in
Width at thickest part of pistol: .95 in
Weight: 13.5 oz, magazine 1.6 oz
Capacity: 6+1 Rounds

But the Rohrbaugh is too expensive


The Boberg Shorty or Bond Bull Pup pistol and the Kahr MK9 are small but they are too heavy

Boberg XR9-S (Shorty)
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.35 in
Length: 5.1 in
Height: 4.2 in
Width: .96 in
Weight: 17.5 oz
Capacity: 7+1 Rounds

Kahr MK9
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.0 in
Length: 5.3 in
Height: 4.0 in
Slide Width: .90 in
Width at slide stop: 1.0 in
Weight: Pistol 22.1 oz, Magazine 1.9 oz
Capacity: 6+1

Kahr PM9 / CM9
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.1 in
Length: 5.42 in
Height: 4.0 in
Slide Width: .90 in
Width at slide stop: 1.0 in
Weight: Pistol 14 oz, Magazine 1.9 oz
Capacity: 6+1



Kimber Solo
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 2.7 in
Length: 5.5 in
Height: 3.9 in
Width: 1.2 in
Weight: 17 oz
Capacity: 6+1 Rounds

SIG SAUER P290
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 2.9 in
Length: 5.5 in
Height: 3.9 in
Width: 0.9 in - 1.1" w/slide catch (roughly the same width as MK9, Kahr lists the width of the slide only)
Weight: 20.5 oz w/magazine
Capacity: 6+1

I think the DB9 was built with 115gr ammo in mind, but technically can fire up to 124gr ammo - but doesn't do well with ammo heavier than 124gr.

Diamondback DB9
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.0 in
Length: 5.60 in
Height: 4.0 in
Width: 0.80 in
Weight: 11 oz
Capacity: 6+1 Rounds

Kel Tec PF-11
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.1 in
Length: 5.6 in
Height: 4.3 in
Width: 1.0 in
Weight: 14 oz
Capacity: 10+1 Rounds

Beretta Nano
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.07 in
Length: 5.63 in
Height: 4.17 in
Width: .90 in
Weight: 17.67 oz
Capacity: 6+1



Kel Tec PF-9
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.1 in
Length: 5.87 in
Height: 4.3 in
Width: .88 in
Weight: 12.7 oz
Capacity: 7+1 Rounds

SIG SAUER P938
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.0 in
Length: 5.9 in
Height: 3.9 in (not counting magazine w/extension)
Width: 1.1 in
Weight: 16.0 oz
Capacity: 6+1 Rounds

Ruger LC9
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.12 in
Length: 6.0 in
Height: 4.5 in
Slide Width: .90in
Weight: 17.10 oz
Capacity: 7+1

The R51 seems kind of big for pocket carry and it still seems to have issues...

Remington R-51
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.4 in
Length: 6.0 in
Height: 4.5 in
Width: .96in
Weight: 20.0 oz
Capacity: 7+1

 

[Zendude]

The LC9 and LC9s seem pretty popular for pocket carry.

 

[Eagle103]

Since you already have a Kahr I'm a little surprised you didn't just go with another. I've had great luck with my CM9 so far. Just picked it up last fall so I've been mostly carrying it IWB but I plan on doing more pocket carry with it as the weather warms up. Tried a kydex pocket holster but I don't really care for it. My favorite holster for my 642 was a Robert Mika. Ordered one today for the CM9 so we'll so how that works out.

 

[Eagle103]

This size chart is a little old but still useful.
http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.jpg

 

[bannockburn]

Adam5

I tried out a bunch of sub-compact 9mm.s and found the Kahr CM9 to be the most ergonomic and have the best trigger of the all the ones I looked at.

 

[C0untZer0]

In Illinois, there is a significant number of places where you cannot "carry" a loaded firearm, but you can transport an unloaded firearm in a case or container, or pack. I purchased a Kahr CM9 because I felt it was the next smallest 9mm to the Rohrbaugh R9 and had a similar DOA trigger. Instead of unloading my R9, when entering those places that are prohibited for carry, I usually put my R9 in the safe in my car and take the CM9 with me in a pack.

The CM9 is a little bit bigger than R9 but it is a pocket pistol and I can pocket carry in normal Levis jeans. I was also surprised with how easy it was to shoot and how accurately I shot with it. I'm happy with the CM9, to me, its a nice little gun...

 

[Plan2Live]

I suppose it comes down to what you are wearing and how big your pockets are and how far do you want to push the printing envelope. I sometimes carry a Ruger LCP in the factory pocket holster and it creates a noticeable bulge in my Wrangler jeans front pocket and no, they are not skin tight skinny jeans. I'm fairly certain anyone knowledgeable about guns would recognize the outline. I can drop the same gun in my business slacks and it is much less noticeable.

 

[MedWheeler]

I got my PF9 in 2010, and carry it as an EDC. The Ruger either hadn't come out yet, or had just and wasn't available; cannot remember.

Though I've had no negative issues with the KT, I'd likely go with the Ruger if I did it again a few years ago. The Kahr's price point was higher then than I wanted to pay, but it's very reasonable now, especially with the choices between the CM and CW models. Today? That's probably how I'd go.

For me, though, this is just on "subcompact" 9mm pistols. I don't pocket-carry the Kel-Tec, as I wear jeans and even this gun prints too readily in them. But it does disappear in the pockets of dress/casual pants, and cargoes.

 

[Tallball]

The tiny 380acp pistols are definitely pocketable. IMHO the 9mm's are not so much. With "normal" pants and "normal" pockets I never found my LC9 or G43 to be convenient or discreet for pants pocket carry. YMMV.

 

[usp9]

The reason 380 and .32 caliber guns are so popular is because they are so much more concealable in a pocket than just about any 9mm or larger caliber firearm. Size and weight matter a lot when carrying in a pocket. Doesn't mean you can't carry a 9mm, but don't expect it to be as discreet or to "disappear".

 

[340PD]

Kahr PM/CM9 is hard to beat for size and price. I just sold my Shield because it was substantially larger and not a pocket gun. A quality leather pocket holster will also help.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

The only 9mm "pocket gun" I've owned is this Kel Tec PF9. I like to carry it in a Sideguard pocket holster IF my pockets at the time are big enough for it. Fits nicely in back pocket of carpenter style jeans and bib overalls...excluding Carhartts with their crappy undersized pockets.

 

[everydefense]

Have you shot the Ruger LC9s? HUGE improvement over the old LC9. I love my Pro model. And this is coming from a guy that doesn't normally care for Rugers.

 

[Middletown]

Is a P290rs a good pocket size?

I also had to make the same choice a couple years ago and settled on the P290RS. I remember it being on sale at $350 out the door(Package I bought only had the 6 round magazine). I have had zero malfunctions or problems so far. My wife has a Shield so I was able to test that but it was larger than I wanted.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

[Adam5]

I'm looking at the LC9S Pro. It's only an inch longer than my CW380 and are in sale at CDNN for $299.99.

 

[SIGLBER]

LC9S all the way. Great trigger, "melted" from the factory, accurate, light, and reliable. Carry it in a pocket in a Nemesis holster. And it saved my butt! Makes one very fond of the gun.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

. I looked at a Sig P938, but they are a little high for my budget. Is a P290rs a good pocket size?

I'm going to see what my FFL has when I pick up my HK this weekend, but wanted to see what other people use for a pocket 9mm.[/QUOTE]

I would save up for the P938 you said you also carry a 1911 so i would stick with one platform

 

[MachIVshooter]

To me, only Rorbaugh R9, the Kahr PM9/CM9 and Diamondback DB9 really qualify as pocket guns. The others are a tad large and heavy for true pocket carry, unless one wears cargo pants and doesn't mind a mini brick in their pocket.

I have never shot the R9. The PM9 and CM9 are nice guns. I went with the DB9, which is the thinnest and lightest 9mm on the market, and very reasonably priced. It doesn't have the maintenance needs of the R9, but one would do well to consider it more as a .380 +P++ than a true 9mm, because they really can't handle hot or heavy loads. I tested my luck with 135 gr. Hornady Critical Duty and found out that DB was not merely being overly-cautious. They replaced the broken camming block at no charge. I have since stuck with 115 gr. ammo, and have had no issues for hundreds of rounds. It is my EDC.

If you do go with one of these true micro 9s, be sure to practice sufficiently with it. The PM9 and DB9 are a handful, and I've seen many limp-wrist induced failures with them, especially the 11 ounce DB9.

 

[TigerCreek]

Went through several 9mm/40 subcompacts - Glock, M&P Shield, Beretta Nano, Remington R51 (early MISTAKE!), Springfield XP. I finally tried the Sig P290RS and loved how compact it was and really liked the restrike feature. It ended up being my daily CC with appendix carry Versacarry. The Sig P938 is nice too, but agree with LUCKYDAWG13 on the $$.

 

[C0untZer0]

I love the little R9

 

[dwhite]

I just picked up a pre-owned, unfired,Taurus PT709 for $235. I wanted something single action with a safety. This was it.

Nice pistol. Broke it in with 100 rounds of Federal aluminum case 115gr FMJ's. Did not have one single problem. It's light. It's slender and easy to carry. Adjustable sights. It shoots like a much bigger gun. It's very accurate.

Did a LOT of research before buying this. It seems to be one of the better guns Taurus has made. They get VERY good reviews.

At least look at them and watch/read some reviews.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[Hokie_PhD]

My first pistol was a PF9. I got it because it was the smallest 9mm at the time. I usually carried it in an IWB holster but when wearing dress clothes carried it in a pocket.

This year I got an XDs 45 for Christmas. The XDs is bigger and heavier than the PF9. In fact I think it's too big to carry in a pocket unless you're a really big guy. (And just for the record the XDs 45 and 9mm are the same size)

So I've kept the PF9 for pocket carry.

One thing I don't like about the PF9 is the recoil. It kicks hard and "stingy". It's not too bad to practice with but I only shoot it enough to stay proficient with it.

The XDs 45 I enjoy shooting even though it recoils hard. I call it more of a thuddy hit. The 9mm from shat I hear us much more mild (but I can't verify as I've never shot one)