Smallest/Thinnest/Lightest 9mm pistol?

[whatever]

I am looking for the smallest/thinnest/lightest 9mm on the market. I am not concerned about reliability (as this will be a fun gun/project gun).

The smallest I could find was the diamondback db9, but wanted to see what else was out there that I am missing.

 

[groundhog34]

Rohrbaugh is the smallest but not the cheapest.

 

[hammerklavier]

The Boberg is very small and also not cheap. There may be a waiting list also.

 

[MADDOG]

S&W CS9 is small

 

[MCgunner]

Kel Tec PF9 is 12 ounces and one of the thinnest.

 

[glove]

What MCgunner said.

 

[DeepSouth]

Rohrbaugh is the smallest but not the cheapest.

Winner!
Smallest one I know of.

 

[MICHAEL T]

PF-9 Keltec
Unloaded Weight 12 oz
Overall Length 5.87 in.
Barrel Length 3.11 in.
thickness 0.88 in
Height
4.3 in



Rohrbaugh
Weight
13.5 oz (380 g)

Length
5.2 in (130 mm)

Barrel length
2.9 in (73.7 mm)

Height
3.7 in (94.0 mm)



KelTec a whole lot cheaper and don't need spring changed every couple rounds. Wait Rohrbaugh sold out correct to Remington correct

 

[drband]

DoubleTap 9mm. Done.
Smallest, thinnest, lightest.
I don't recommend it.

 

[MedWheeler]

The DB9 is indeed smaller than the PF9, but gives up a round in capacity. The PF9 is as small and thin as I'd want to have a gun in this caliber if I actually intended to shoot it.

But, the OP has stated his intended use is not for defense, but for some other unspecified "project"...

 

[jpruitt]

This is a little out of date and doesn't have the newest, but:

http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.pdf

Also, while the Double Tap 9mm is the thinnest I know of at .665" thick, both the Keltec PF9 and the Diamondback DB9 are lighter.

 

[barnbwt]

Not the smallest (nor the best choice, obviously) but the R51 was actually remarkably narrow; about .95" right at the slide rails, and between .1" and .2" narrower everywhere else. Thoroughly rounded/de-horned, also.

TCB

 

[C0untZer0]

Excuse me while I whip this out...

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

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

Double Tap Defense Douple Tap
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.0 in
Length: 5.5 in
Height: 3.9 in
Width: 0.665 in
Weight: 15 oz Titanium, 13 0z Aluminum
Capacity: 2

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

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

SCCY CPX-2
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.1 in
Length: 5.7 in
Height: 4.0 in (without mag extensions)
Width: 1.0 in
Weight: 15.0 oz
Capacity: 10+1 Rounds

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

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

Smith & Wesson Shield
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.1 in
Length: 6.1 in
Height: 4.6 in
Width: .95in
Weight: 19.0 oz
Capacity: 7+1

Taurus 709FS
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.2 in
Length: 6.24 in
Height: 4.52 in (without mag extensions)
Width: 1.04 in
Weight: 19.0 oz
Capacity: 7+1 Rounds

Glock 43
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.39 in
Length: 6.26 in
Height: 4.25 in
Width: 1.02 in
Weight: 17.95 oz
Capacity: 6+1 Round

Glock 26
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.46 in
Length: 6.29 in
Height: 4.17 in
Width: 1.18 in
Weight: 19.75 oz w/o magazine
Capacity: 10+1 Rounds

Walther PPS
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.2 in
Length: 6.3 in
Height: 4.4 in
Width: .90 in
Weight: 20.0 oz
Capacity: 6+1

Springfield Armory XDs
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.3 in
Length: 6.3 in
Height: 4.4 in
Width: .90 in
Weight: 23.0 oz w/empty 7rd magazine
Capacity: 7+1

Bersa BP9CC
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.3 in
Length: 6.35 in
Height: 4.8 in
Width: .94 in
Weight: 21.5 oz
Capacity: 8+1

HK P2000SK
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.26 in
Length: 6.40 in
Height: 4.55 in
Width: 1.37 in
Weight: 24 oz
Capacity: 8+1

 

[C0untZer0]

KelTec a whole lot cheaper and don't need spring changed every couple rounds.

The spring on the Rohrbaugh is considerably shorter than the Kel-Tec.

I get a kick out of hearing people criticize the 200-round life of the spring as if it is a design flaw of the gun or the Rohrbaugh brothers purposely put inadequate springs in the guns.

The recoil spring in the R9 is made by Wolff Gunsprings - acknowledged to be one of the best, if not THE best gun spring manufacturers in the world.

The spring life is a function of the shortness of the spring / limited number of coils, low mass of the slide and the power of the 9mm Luger cartridge.

Yep, the laws of physics are still in effect...

 

[Bula]

As an experiment type pistol, my vote goes to Keltec. 12 miles of gravel road on the trigger, but cheap enough to determine the experiment a bust.

 

[barnbwt]

Apparently Remington rejiggered the springs from the Rohrbaugh for their new 380 (it's a dual spring nested affair, I believe), so perhaps something similar can be done to cheat their way into a better lifespan for a 9mm version they clearly have planned (there's apparently a spacer in the magazine )

TCB

 

[Manny]

The smallest, thinest, lightest 9mm I personally would own or shoot is the Glock G43. I have no desire to own any gun that I cannot shoot well, and I believe when factoring "shootability" into the equation the G43 is about as optimum as it currently gets.

 

[toivo]

The PF9 is as small and thin as I'd want to have a gun in this caliber if I actually intended to shoot it.

Smaller and thinner than I'd want to shoot. I describe it as being like a firecracker going off in your hand.

I sold mine and got a Beretta Nano. If I were doing it now, I'd get a Glock 43. I still might.

 

[C0untZer0]

The R380 had an outer spring that slipped over a sprung plunger:

Remington has two roughly equal length springs of different diameters riding a guide rod. Remington's way is cheaper, and with the 380 ACP it works. I'm not sure that same spring setup will work for 9mm.




.

 

[C0untZer0]

Here is a side by side comparison of the the Rohrbaugh R380 and the Remington RM380 showing the difference in the springs:

.

 

[george burns]

I found the Kahr PM9 to be the smallest manageable 9mm for me, and I have been down this road for 50 years, even the Seacamp "off topic" was too small to get a proper grip on. The PM9 is the smallest manageable gun, "with some grip tape" for me, it's been 5 years now, and it still shoots anything I put in it.
Don't get too hung up on "the smallest", the hand and fingers need a specific size to work with, and sometimes having the smallest doesn't equate to the best for you. It has to be able to come out of hiding fast and in position to fire rapidly every time. Having a slick small gun, could end up on the floor if you are nervous and your hand is sweating, "mine don't" but some guys do. So there is small and unmanageably small, are your follow up shots going to be there when the gun recoils and slides a fraction of an inch out of position, shoot some small guns and see which one works for you under simulated stress,. Even unload it and see if you can get it out and make a shot.

 

[C0untZer0]

I have the CM9. IMO the CM9/PM9 is the next step up from the Rohrbaugh as far as being the best mix of overall size and weight.

The Boberg is slightly shorter than the R9 in OAL but it weighs 17.5 ounces empty.

The Diamondback DB9 is only 11 ounces but it is longer than the R9.

The Double Tap Defense derringer in aluminum is only .5 ounces lighter than the R9 and it is longer. I can't help but think that they could have designed it differently to make it lighter and shorter - but oh well. The reports on it are that even firing light hand loads, the .665" backstrap on the Double Tap makes it feel like you're getting whacked across the palm with a piece of rebar.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The DB9 is the thinnest and lightest at present. The R9 is a touch shorter, but thicker and quite a bit heavier.

This is my DB9 shown with a PF9 and a P3AT:





I like my DB9, but do be aware that they don't like heavy bullets or +P loads. Does fine with standard pressure 115 or 124 gr. ammo.

 

[judgedelta]

PF9 is small and light, hardly notice you're carrying it. Not a range gun; recoil and blast are significant. Trigger is smooth, but loooong. Short range personal defense. What you get is what you got...

 

[jimbo555]

After trying or buying all the single stacks I've gone full circle back to a Glock 26. A little wider, but is as accurate as a full size and 10 +1 capacity with the ability to take 15 or 17 round mags.