smallest lightest 9mm?

Status
Not open for further replies.

paradox998

Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2007
Messages
381
I am considering selling my Tomcat when it is replaced by Beretta for a cracked frame. I used the Beretta as a CCW. I would like something with a little more punch. There seem to be a number of new 380's but I would prefer a 9mm. What is the lighest and smallest 9mm carry gun available? I am looking for a pocket gun. Thanks
 
The Rohrbaugh. It is pricey though:

rohr_wkeys.jpg


http://www.impactguns.com/store/ROHR-R-9.html

There is a good review here:
http://www.gunblast.com/LT_Rohrbaugh.htm
 
P95Carry posted Bobo's comparison chart. If you look at the JPEG, make sure to magnify it (I figured that out after a little squinting, thank you!)

Looks like Rohrbaugh is the shortest and lightest but ... what's a Rohrbaugh? And Sccy??? I'll have to look them up.

Kel-Tec PF-9 is cheaper and narrower than Kahr ... each of them has its fierce partisans. (Remember back in the day when the Walther PP was really small? The new guys have it beat for size and power.)

Glock, Beretta, S&W, etc., also make some small nines but there in a larger size category than the aforementioned. Looks like AMT has gone away ... their Back Up series was also pretty small.

Of course, technically speaking I bet the smallest nine is an American Derringer Model 1 ... unless Downsizer is still making the World's Smallest Pistol. Neither of those is appropos of the autoloader forum though....
 
Look at Bobos pocket auto comparison pics. Its a "sticky" thread at the top of this forum.

It shows size and weight comparison of several 9mm autos. The Rohrbaugh is probly the smallest next to the Kel-tecs. The R9 also cost $1K+.
I just bought a Kahr PM9 this week. Its a small gun, esp compared to the 4" XD9 Im used to shooting. I took it apart and cleaned it up last night, finally fired it late this afternoon. I was a little skeptical at first. Id heard its got a tight chamber and action, which it does. Its definitely finicky on how I load it. Im used to Tap, Rack, Bang with the XD. Not so with the Kahr. I dont leave guns laying around fully loaded, so I keep the mags full and just rack the slide. I tried that with the Kahr(manual says dont) and it wouldnt chamber or wouldnt fully return to battery. Lock the slide, insert mag, hit the slide release it slams down tight. I only fired 12rds of Blazer Brass this afternoon, just had to shoot it. No probs at all. Slow fire or rapid, it spat em right out. These lil 9s do have some flip to em. Im still getting used to the DAO and recoil, but the PM9 should serve me well. I need to change the sites out and get a holster. I can front pocket carry in my jeans, but it sticks out of my back pocket. Havent tried dress pants yet.
The only other thing with this gun is, Im a lefty, and a couple times the brass hit me on the right shoulder. Not really a big deal, my XD has done it a couple times too. Just dont want to get down my shirt collar. LOL
 
the new contender for the smallest/lightest 9mm would be Walther PPS.

If trigger smoothess or there is adesire for the smallest
Single-Action trigger pull 9mm -- then the choices are much fewer...

In fact if the question
is the smallest Single Action 9mm
I would think it would be STI LS9 (which is 0.75 inchess wide )
 
I have owned both the Kahr PM9 and the Kel-Tec PF-9. I like the way the Kel-Tec fits in my hand and it my pocket better than the Kahr did. I even thin it shoots better.
 
THe Rorbaugh is the smallest, with the Kahr PM9 and Kel-Tec PF9 only slightly larger. (The PF9 is actually a tiny bit slimmer than the R9)

I found the PF9 to give the best combination of size, weight and firepower. It offers 7+1 capacity and a full grip for most people with the pinky baseplate installed. The PM9 is 6+1 and the R9 5+1.

That said, I decided that I'd sacrifice the super thin, super light dimensions of my PF9 to get .45 power and S&W durability/reliability. At 6.5" long and 23 ounces, the CS45 is still pretty small

PF9CS45.jpg

It is, however, much wider than the PF9:

PF9CS452.jpg


the new contender for the smallest/lightest 9mm would be Walther PPS.

Longer, wider, taller and heavier than the R9, PM9 and PF9.
 
In addition to being very expensive, the Rohrbaugh recoil spring has a 200 round lifespan. Fortunately the gun comes with a spare and they sell additional ones cheap.
 
kahr

kahr pm9 smaller than either kt, and IMO pocketable. also a very nice handgun.
 
The Rohrbaugh, Walther, KelTec and Kahr are very similar in specs.
I have handled and fired all of them, as you should.
This is very personal.
The Keltec fit me best and fits in my pocket.
The key is for YOU to see which one works for you.

CP in Bonanza
 
I have the Kel Tec P-11 and it suits me just fine. I have pocket carried it with no problems even though its probably a little thick for that it can be done, especially with dress pants that have deeper pockets.
Like has been said, its a personal thing, go with what you like. For under 3 bills you can't go wrong with a Kel Tec I don't think.
 
I have a PF9 and a PM9. If cost is a factor, the PF9 is OK, but IMO the Kahr PM9 is superior in every respect.
 
"the Rohrbaugh recoil spring has a 200 round lifespan"

When I ordered spares Maria said 250. It doesn't sound like a big difference, but 50 rounds is quite a bit of shooting (& recoil) in a small, light gun.

John
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top