Lightest full-size service 9mm?

[cluttonfred]

While my interest is usually compact handguns, it would be nice to have a real sidearm for when the Canadians invade, or zombies, or whatever. If weight is the primary factor, what is the lightest pistol that could still be considered a full-size service 9mm?

 

[NMBrian]

Glock 19?

 

[1KPerDay]

Yep... at 21 oz. unloaded, the G19 is going to be hard to beat for low weight, IMO.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

Does it madder if it's plastic or metal?

 

[MidwestRookie]

G19 is NOT a full-size pistol..

The G17 is..

 

[cluttonfred]

Plastic or metal, new or old is fine, but it needs to be full-size, not a compact model. MidwestRookie is right that the G17 is the full-size model, the G19 is already a more compact version of the original.

I haven't specified a minimum number of rounds, either, so single-stacks would also qualify, but in full-size frames.

For comparison, let's use published empty weight to keep it simple.

 

[1KPerDay]

The point is that the G19 could certainly be considered a "full size service pistol", particularly if the 17 had never existed. 4-inch barrel, full fingered grip frame, 15 round capacity.

That meets every definition of service pistol. And it's larger than quite a few actual pistols that were considered "service pistols" in their day.

 

[Hk Dan]

Well, the G17 is HARDLY bigger, it's what? 1/2" one way and 3/4" the other. I'm guessing GLOCK has the honors for weight (unloaded)

 

[cluttonfred]

1KPerDay has a good point....

"Full-size" can mean different things to different people. In case of the Glock, I guess it's "how big we made the first one, then we made a smaller one."

So what should we use as the definition of a full-size pistol? Full-fingered grip even for large hands? Minimum barrel length? Minimum magazine capacity? I don't think it should be based on police or military issue as a sidearm, because anything from a J-Frame Smith & Wesson to a Beretta M1934 would end up in the mix.

Some might even consider something like the Kahr TP9 suitable as a small service pistol--4" barrel, full-fingered grip, though only 8+1 capacity. Can anyone see something like that issue as service sidearm today?

 

[19-3Ben]

I haven't specified a minimum number of rounds, either, so single-stacks would also qualify, but in full-size frames.

In that case, the Kahr TP9.

Edit to add:

Just a tad slow on my trigger finger!

 

[cluttonfred]

Hehe, great minds.... ;-) If I hadn't specifically started this thread about 9mm options, then I would have gone with the TP-45, just slightly bigger and heavier and only one less boom than the TP9, but they are bigger booms.

 

[Scimmia]

P99 is 22 oz, going to be tough to find a full size double stack that beats it.

 

[harmon rabb]

the FNX is 21oz as well, and is 17+1. it's closer to the g19 than the g17 in size, but i'd still call it a full size.

 

[Fishbed77]

Walther P99 is the lightest full-size I can think of.

21.2 oz.

 

[JohnBT]

Glock says the 19 is a compact and Glock is always right, right? Perfection, etc.

 

[Jed Carter]

G17C fullsize or the G19C compact, with the compensated barrels and slide cuts would be a little lighter. Stated weights for the G17 and G19, 22.04 oz and 20.99 oz, should be less in the "C" models. Wear both earplugs and muffs, they are loud.

 

[JDGray]

I vote G19, plenty of departments using G23s and G19s for the duty weapon so I'd classify them as service

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

Wilson Combat Spec Ops 9 = 29 oz. FNX is also a full size gun - my wife uses one for action pistol competition.

 

[catnphx]

You will always be lighter with the plastics so I'll only mention those. I kept the barrel lengths to at least 4". In no order:

• Glock 17 = 22 oz / 17 rounds
• Glock 34 = 22.9 oz / 17 rounds
• M&P 9 = 24 oz / 17 rounds
• Walther P99 = 21.2 oz / 15 rounds
• Ruger SR9 = 26.5 oz / 17 rounds
• Bersa Thunder 9 = 26 oz / 17 rounds
• Browning Pro = 24.7 oz / 16 rounds
• FNP-9 = 24.7 oz / 16 rounds
• CZ 75 SP-01 = 28.8 oz / 18 rounds

Good luck in your decision.

 

[catnphx]

Wilson Combat Spec Ops 9 = 29 oz. FNX is also a full size gun - my wife uses one for action pistol competition.

I agree about the FNX-9 being full-sized with a 4" barrel. It didn't make my list because I couldn't quickly access the weight.

Also, the Glock 19 has a 4" barrel and comes in at 21 oz with 15 rounds. It's the 5" height that usually puts it on the compact list.

 

[1KPerDay]

the Glock 19 has a 4" barrel and comes in at 21 oz with 15 rounds.

You probably weren't intentionally implying this, but just to be clear, the 21 oz figure is unloaded weight.

 

[Dave T]

Quite sure many will object/differ but to my thinking there are only 3 service 9mms to consider.

The original classic, Browning P-38 (HiPower). The best all steel design, the CZ-75. And finally the best modern/polymer full size, the Glock 17. YMMV!

Dave

 

[catnphx]

You probably weren't intentionally implying this, but just to be clear, the 21 oz figure is unloaded weight.

Correct.

Also, my list kept several off (just like the G19) because of the height issue. Most FS guns are taller than 5". I think the shortest I listed was 5.3". I agree that 4" + barrels are standard for FS guns but there are many good guns with 4" barrels that are 5" or less that end up falling into the compact range.

 

[snooperman]

The Glock 19 actually weighs 23 oz not 21 oz..

Unless you are not counting the weight of the magazine which weighs 2oz. I checked mine out on 2 scales and also checked several web sites and confirmed this to be true. Many gun companies, especially handguns, give the weight without the magazine in the gun. I found that Glock, Kahr, Keltec, as well as others do this to make there guns appear lighter than the competition, hence one has to do their homework to get the exact weight of the gun.

 

[snooperman]

The lightest full size 9mm with 4" barrel that I found...

was the Kahr TP9, which has a single stack magazine empty in the gun at only 20.2oz.