Opinions Welcome on a Sub-Compact 9mm

Which compact 9mm do you recommend?

  • HK USP Compact 9mm

    Votes: 19 9.1%
  • Springfield XD9 Sub-Compact 9mm

    Votes: 36 17.3%
  • Glock 26 9mm

    Votes: 68 32.7%
  • Walther PPS 9mm

    Votes: 23 11.1%
  • Walther PPK .380acp

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Ruger LCP .380acp

    Votes: 6 2.9%
  • Other (feel free to elaborate in the forum)

    Votes: 55 26.4%

  • Total voters
    208
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I guess a .380 technically is a 9mm. short.
In your header you say "sub-compact" But the poll is for "compact".

Assuming you're talking about small, and 9mm., I don't think you can better the PM-9.
 
I don't like DA/SA, I don't like .380 and I hear the Kahrs are sometimes unreliable, so I voted g26. I don't know anything about the springfield.
 
I've never understood the problem with Glocks. Some people either hate or fear them. Certainly the design is an answer to the question of how to efficiently and economically arm oneself, not the perfect answer that the ads or Glock-0-philes profess, but an answer nonetheless.
I'm happy with my Glock 26, although not as wedded to it as many of my police officer friends.
However, I prefer my Smith 908. With a fingertip mag, it's about 1/3 inch longer and taller than the similarly equipped 26 and being a single stack, it hides much better for me. I give up 2 or 4 rounds per magazine, but I honestly don't expect to get into many firefights.
 
When I purchased my Kahr K9, the K9 was new and I'd never heard of it. I had gone to the store to look at a G26.

The clerk handed me the Kahr and said feel this and you won't want to give it back.

He was right, it felt way better in my small hand than the G26 and I have been a Kahr man since.

My K9 in the many years I've had it has never failed in anyway and my PM9 though only 2 years old has also has been perfect.:D
 
None of the above, except maybe the Walther PPS or XD. The HK isn't a subcompact, anyway, of course. I'd look at:

CZ RAMI

Kahr MK9

Rohrbaugh R9

HK P7 (though it's not really a subcompact either)

Springfield EMP or other subcompact 1911

I have to ask though: "WHY a sub-compact?" Because a compact which is THIN is easier to conceal than a subcompact which is not thin. What's going to be the METHOD of carry for this gun?
 
P99C in 9mm.

Better feel then the PPS, better price then the HK, roughly the same size as the PPS & even the PPK/s (a bit wider of course). Ultra reliable, very shootable. Good capacity. Both style mags are comfortable enough (pinky extension or pinky tucked under) and better then the HK. 9mm.
 
I have to ask though: "WHY a sub-compact?" Because a compact which is THIN is easier to conceal than a subcompact which is not thin. What's going to be the METHOD of carry for this gun?
What compact pistol is as thin in 9mm and will conceal as well as a Rohrbaugh or PM9?
 
Springfield EMP. Nice and compact, single stack, conceals nicely. Accurate as heck, but usually needs a gunsmith (since Springfield has their chamber too tight).
 
For the ultimate CCW 9mm you can't look anywhere else than a PM9. If you had all the ones listed plus the PM9 in front of you, you'd know exactly what everyone's talking about. Having handled the G26 and the P2000SK, they're tactical bricks compared to the svelte PM9.
 
I just read this on another gun site and felt it needed a reprint for members of this board. For your perusual...not trying to stir up a hornets' nest:

The following was posted on Survival Blog a while back by a reader who is a firearms instructor. The two are rather long, though I edited for brevity, but are worth reading I think becuase your life may depend upon many of the things mentioned herein. Original here:SurvivalBlog.com

Observations on Real World Pistol Malfunctions and Failures, by PPPP

"I just returned from instructing a handgun course with 42 people on my range, and another 40 on my brother's range. (He is also an instructor). I wanted to pass along some information on handgun maintenance and note several observations from this weekend that are typical in the courses we teach (approximately 800 rounds fired [per student] over several days).
First., the [Model] 1911 model handguns took top honors in failures (defined as taking you out of the fight, not just a malfunction). Six of the approximately 25 [Model] 1911s had these problems. (includes both ranges). This is typical! While 1911s have their merits, they are consistently prone to failures. Some are stone cold reliable, but you really won't know until hundreds to thousands of rounds later. Often the most expensive finely-tuned 1911s have the most problems. Have spare parts on hand and know how to service your weapon.

A side note for all handgun users, but particularly the 1911 group: Be sure to check your handgun for sharp edges on the slide, controls and any other piece of the handgun and have these sharp edges removed professionally if possible... you'd be surprised at how many bloody hands we had over the weekend.

Second. The Springfield [Armory] XD grip safety needs to be fully depressed. Not fully gripping the firearm can prevent malfunction clearances and obviously prevent firing the weapon. It was unusual, but one grip safety actually broke, rendering the firearm inoperative.

Third. Recoil springs can get weak after high round-counts causing a failure to feed, so replace them occasionally (applies to all makes and models of handguns).

Fourth. There were a few malfunctions with Glocks, but no failures. Over the long haul the factory plastic sights should be replaced with the more durable iron sights.

Fifth. Use high quality magazines and have lots of them!

Sixth. SIG [brand pistol]s had no failures, but the heavy double action initial trigger pull, followed by the light single action second pull caused students to perform poorly. As a result of the two differing trigger pulls, many students [armed with SIGs] tried to "game it" by leaving the hammer cocked and re-holstering which is a big safety concern. One student narrowly missed shooting his leg when re-holstering because of this. A note on SIGs: While there is nothing wrong with SIG's quality or reliability, remember that due to the two differing trigger pulls this handgun will require three to four times the amount of practice to master compared with any other common handgun.

This is a follow up post by another instructor Also edited for brevity. Original Here: SurvivalBlog.com

I've mentioned to you before that I'm a affiliate instructor with another major firearms training school. The comments made [by correspondent PPPP] about pistol malfunctions are 100% in line with what we see on our firing lines, as well.

We advise our students to run away screaming from any weapon that has 'target', 'match', 'custom', or 'accurized' stamped on the side of them. . . . when you have something with moving parts, the parts need room to move! Most custom shop and high dollar pistols are temperamental beasts that react very poorly to heat and dirt. We see the $1,200+ [Model] 1911 choke and seize up all the time once the guns get hot. Most people buy guns and they never shoot them, in fact, last time I heard a statistic regarding firearms usage in the United States, the national average of rounds fired per gun was seven - and that is over the entire lifetime of the owner! Manufacturers sell guns that they bet will never see hard use, and usually they win that bet. And the tight, 'accurate' 1911s lead that pack. This is why it is imperative that every reader of your blog get out to the range and run their guns for real!

Standing in a booth at the local indoor range, picking your gun up off of a table, and firing when you choose to at a static piece of paper, is at best an exercise in marksmanship. You haven't been training for real until things start breaking. We announce at the beginning of every class, that it is our sincerest hope, that everything our students brought with them - every gun, every holster, every magazine - breaks! If it sucks, we want to find that out now, not when innocent life is on the line. We run the gear and the students hard because that is the only way to truly test things, and it's the best way to build the confidence of the operator.

Things that I would add to the list of bad ideas:

1.) 8-round magazines for the 1911. I've seen few that finish two days of training without blowing apart. Usually the floor plate dislodges from the base of the magazine, leaving the student standing there with a pistol gummed up with loose rounds, a follower and a spring clogging the ejection port, and a magazine body that they can't get out of the well.

2.) Recoil buffers - get these out of your life! Get them out of your pistols and get them out of your rifles! They never fail to disintegrate under heavy use, rendering the weapon useless until disassembled and cleaned out.

3.) Extended this, and enlarged that. Don't modify guns with oversized slide stops or extended mag release buttons, mercury guide rods or rubber grip sleeves, etc... There's one bit of wisdom that I learned the hard way years ago: There is nothing you can buy, bolt, glue or screw to a gun that will align your sights and press your trigger for you. You cannot spend money on things to make you shoot better, regardless of what our modern American mindset tells us. Marksmanship comes from proper technique and proper practice, and good old fashioned work. . . . Save your money and spend it on training"
 
I voted for the G26. Its not the smallest but its small enough and it is the most reliable for me. I moved up to the G19 though, it conceals as well and I shoot it alot better under pressure.

Though for small guns I'd have to go with the super ugly Walther PPS. The only thing that didn't work for me was the odd mag release lever.

I'd avoid the little Ruger and Keltec p32/ p3at. Tiny sight radius plus tiny sights make it hard to aim. And even if your close enough to not need the sights, (just point shoot) the stiff trigger makes that challenging to. My p32 is a BU only. I can thow it more accuratly than I can shoot it.
 
I don't know much about the other guns listed in your pole but my vote goes to a SA XD 9mm SC. I just purchased one and that thing is one heck of a gun. I shoot some very good groups with it and it never ever FTF or FTE.
 
I like my XDs and the Glocks I've shot are fine poly weapons too. I prefer 40s

But.... when the day comes that I cc the 9mm caliber I will want it in quality pocket sized shooter. I'm still looking for one that fills that criteria. .....that I can afford... :eek:
 
I am a little confused by your statement about wanting a sub-compact to carry in a shoulder holster for hot weather carry. It seems to me that if you are going to go the trouble of getting a shoulder holster, you can continue to carry your Kimber. Small, light, guns like the ones described are better suited for IWB, ankle, pocket, etc. carry, IMHO. Have you tried a shoulder holster? My limited experience, (I went through a similar process as you), a couple of years ago led me to the conclusion that, at least for me, the only way to wear a shoulder holster and not print was under a blazer or heavy shirt-jac. The straps, buckles, adjustments, just show through any kind of a light shirt. The only one I have seen that looks promising, though I do not have personal experience, is the K.L. Null series: http://www.klnullholsters.com/NewHolsters/ush-x.htm

I think if you are sold on a shoulder holster, why not consider the next size up? Say a Glock G19 instead of a G26? Not that much harder to conceal, but for most easier to shoot. Good luck with your search.
 
Not fully gripping the firearm can prevent malfunction clearances and obviously prevent firing the weapon.
What the heck is he saying?
I've seen few that finish two days of training without blowing apart. Usually the floor plate dislodges from the base of the magazine, leaving the student standing there with a pistol gummed up with loose rounds,
What are they doing? Throwing them against the wall?
 
Glock 26!

And don't look back or think twice about it.

If you want something really small to fit in a pocket, get a Kel-Tec 32, 3AT, Ruger LCP or a J-frame revolver. If you're going to carry it on a belt holster or a shoulder rig, the Glock should carry fine.

I have a Kel-Tec PF-9, which is my "bicycle gun," but I am seriously considering trading it for a J-frame .38. The Kel-Tec hurts me to shoot; the Glock is about the smallest, service-caliber semi-auto pistol I have 100% faith in and doesn't cause me pain. Also, the "baby" Glock gives up nothing to it's larger siblings in mechanical accuracy, durability and reliability. Both my Glocks are boringly reliable, and even my DA S&Ws have more hiccups than the Glocks.

Might I mention I can shoot the Glock well enough to put clays on the 25 yard berm in danger more often than not? And it will accept magazines from the 19, 17 AND 33-rounders?

(For future reference, a chunk of grit (unburned power, chunk of lead, bullet jacket, etc) under the ejector star of your S&W or Ruger revolver will drive you nuts until you get it out of there. They like the be clean in places.)

Oh, and I think the XD subs look kind of funky. But that's just one man's opinion. ;)
 
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