Although I've handled & shot a fair number of them, I only own a small number of pistols I consider to be subcompacts ...
A CS45, CS9, G26 & G27.
The S&W Chief's Specials are my favorites when it comes to predictable, fast-handling, manageable, accurate little pistols. I've come to prefer the predictable TDA platform in the S&W line over the last 15 years, although I more or less started my shooting life as a SA shooter in both pistols & revolvers.
The CS45 shoots much better than it "feels" while simply holding it. That short, fat grip actually helps provide for good recoil recovery regarding bringing the muzzle back online with the target. The CS9 is my favorite of the two, for both the easier & quicker recoil impulse in a diminutive pistol, as well as the slightly smaller grip frame profile which just exactly fits my hand. The crisp & clean SA trigger break of both CS pistols makes for accurate shooting with follow-up shots. The TDA action generally takes more training & practice for some folks, though ... and that's a training & familiarization issue.
The Glock 26 was my first personally owned Glock, and I selected it after careful consideration and a lot of shooting with Glocks of all calibers over the years (except the newest .45 G.A.P.). While the unique grip angle of the Glock frame does take a bit of adjusting, after shooting most every other make, model & caliber of common defensive pistol ... and the standard trigger is less predictable and crisp than other designs ... that's more or less just a training issue, as well. The platform itself is fairly accurate, and the G26 has shown itself to be acceptably accurate for defensive use. True, I can't quite get it to consistently equal the potential accuracy of my 3913 or CS9 ... but I'm confident that a few more thousand rounds downrange will maximize
my ability to wring the most accuracy out of the little pistol. After all, I've only fired a little over 1700 rounds through it since I bought it.
I picked up the G27 for the simple reason that I enjoyed the performance of the G26 so far, and I've come to respect the .40 S&W as a decent defensive caliber. I already have a couple other .40 pistols, so the G27 isn't the only platform in this caliber for me.
The G27
does exhibit a bit more perceived recoil and muzzle blast, but again, this is a training issue in my case. I've only had the G27 long enough to have fired a little over 500 rounds through it, and already it's becoming almost as "easy" to run through the training & qualification scenarios with it as it is with the G26, even considering the 9mm pistol's advantage of less perceived recoil. Decent little pistol.
I don't particularly care for long-stroke DAO pistols. The Glock's "constant double action" Safe Action DA trigger is about as close I personally care to go in that direction. That's why I've never felt interested in owning a Kahr, although I've handled and shot a number of them which belong to other folks in my agency. I will say that my G27 is much easier ...
for me ... to shoot well than a MK40 I recently used.
The SW99 .40 compact I've fired a couple of times has a much better trigger than the G27, and it was VERY accurate ... but then I already said that I prefer the much shorter & faster SA reset of some TDA pistols, and the Walther & S&W 99 series is one of them. I may eventually own a SW99 Compact in 9mm, and perhaps .40 S&W ... someday. It certainly "feels" more compact and streamlined in my hands, but that's just a subjective user perception.
Don't care for the CZ line, so I don't have much to say about them.
Haven't handled and shot a new P2000, so I can't offer an informed opinion about it, yet.
While I've gained a little familiarity with the XD pistols, it was with the standard models, and I haven't tried one of the subcompacts, yet. Blocky, ugly little buggers, though. Makes me want to try one some time.
I'm not sure I'd pick up anyone's subcompact just as a range pistol, but that's just me at this stage in my shooting life. I certainly was attracted to little pistols as a younger shooter, just to experience them. Nowadays the smaller pistols (and revolvers, for that matter) are considered and carried more for their convenience in carrying size ... and everything else is sort of a compromise that's "acceptable", in order to achieve the desire of being able to carry a defensive weapon that's still reasonably powerful & accurate. Larger pistols (and revolvers) will always offer the advantages of increased sight radius, increased velocity, better "heft & balance", lessened muzzle blast, better recoil control & manageability, better overall ergonomics when it comes to filling my hand, etc., etc.
I don't carry a CS9, S&W 642, or even the new G26, because they're a "better" choice for a personal defensive pistol in "all" considerations ... I carry them because they're an "acceptable" compromise in "many" off duty situations when compared against carrying a large, "full size" service weapon. Not all of the time, mind you ... but most of the time.
Okay ... they're sort of fun & enjoyable at the range, too.
Just my thoughts.
But to each their own ... which is how it should be, right ?
