What is the best compact single stack 9mm for CCW?

Best CCW single stack 9mm

  • Kahr

    Votes: 44 30.6%

  • SIG 239

    Votes: 21 14.6%

  • H&K P-7

    Votes: 36 25.0%

  • S&W 3913 (CS-9 and others that are similar)

    Votes: 28 19.4%

  • Beretta M ( I think it is the M that is the single stack)

    Votes: 3 2.1%

  • Other, please list.

    Votes: 12 8.3%
  • Total voters
    144
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"In a gunfight situation, I doubt anyone would have the fine motor skills to partially rack the slide without jamming the gun or ejecting the dud. This could be a big deal if you only have one hand free or if split seconds count."

The Tap-Rack-Bang should probably be used in this situation and for most FTF's. There are one-handed drills for this as well.

That being said, I've owned or shot most of these, and my favorite is the 3913; but I agree with SOCOMCEN that the one that fits you best and that you shoot well should be the one you choose.

HTH
 
I voted for Kahr, but I need to qualify that. The poll says K & P series. I would go solely with the K series guns. Kahr's had far too much trouble with their polymer guns.
 
albanian said:
... The Kahr also sits much lower in my hand. There is about 1 1/8" between the top of the slide and the web of my hand. In the 3913, there is about 1 1/5". That may not sound like a lot but you can really tell when you hold them side by side ...
Click to expand...
Photo please :D
 
I don't understand why some call the P7M8 small. It is not. The grip is basically the same height as a full-size gun, as wide as a Glock 19 (which has twice the capacity).

The only part of the P7M8 that is compact is in the slide, which is theoretically nice for IWB carry but the short barrel/big butt balance is odd.

For a truly compact single-stack, the Kahr is hard to beat from a physical size perspective.

IIRC the Sig 225 is virtually the same thickness as the 228.

I've had several P7M8's, a P7M13, a MK9, a 228 and now have none of those. They each were unworkable for me for different reasons. (For me at least, I can see each being ideal for somebody else for different reasons.)

With the exception of the Kahr I think they're all much fatter than a compact 9mm single stack should be.
 
I'd love to see a Glock 19 next to an M8 for comparison. I would guess the M8 is thinner but I don't own a Glock to compare it to.
 
I had a Kahr P9 - make that a POS9. I really liked the neat, light package, it felt good in my hand, and was accurate, but it suffered from multiple problems affecting reliability, making it totally unsuitable for CCW. :barf:

S&Ws and most SIGs don't fit me very well. (I may be in the minority here.)

Lugers aren't really an option . . .

The only "single stack" 9mm I like is the Sig P210 . . . but that hardly qualifies as "compact."

Personally, I use a Glock 26, but it's not "single stack."
 
ok you got me so worked up i actually got up, went downstairs, out to the garage and got out my g19 and p7m8 to compare.

you're right, the grip of the g19 and the m8 are the same width. the frame of the m8 is narrower but the stocks make up the rest of the width (since the glock doesn't have any stocks).

the 19 just seems larger because it is blockier. the frame and triggerguard are deeper and the slide is square for its full depth. whereas the p7's slide tapers at the top and the stocks taper abouve the mag releases. the p7 slide is about .25" shorter and it's barrel about .5" longer
 
I can take some pictures and take caliper measurements of a P7 (PSP), Glock 19, BHP, and a 1911 Commander tonight.
Click to expand...


Everytime I throw on my BHP IWB, I am amazed at how easily it conceals and how good it feels. Granted it's no single stack but man, the other end is sure nice when carrying.
 
HK P7 PSP vs. 1911 Commander vs. Glock 19 vs. BHP

DIMENSIONS
Code: 
                  P7        CMDR        G19       BHP
slide width       0.969     0.912       1.005     0.883 (0.774 at muzzle)

slide length      6.5       6.75        6.875     7.25

top of slide     
to bottom of      4.875     5.313       4.5       5.0
grip

grip width        1.135     1.264       1.164     1.235

rear butt to 
of slide to       7.75      9.125       8.25      9.0
muzzle

The G19 feels blocky because the slide is the widest and the grip, although not the largest, stays at 1.164 all the way to the bottom.

The P7PSP feels slim beacuse its grips are the narrowest and the slide is reasonably narrow (middle of pack). It feels small because the "rear butt of slide to muzzle" diagonal distance is only 7.75".

The BHP is easier than it should be to carry because although it's a "full size" pistol with a long slide, the slide is the narrowest of the bunch, and gets over 1/10" narrower at the muzzle. Its grip-bottom to top of slide distance is shorter than a 1911, which contributes to its butt concealing nicely.


[ link to LARGER image ]
[ link to LARGER image ]
[ link to LARGER image ]
[ link to LARGER image ]
[ link to LARGER image ]
[ link to LARGER image ]
[ link to LARGER image ]


The rest are here: http://apollo.demigod.org/~zak/DigiCam/thr-carrypistols/
 
I've carried the Sig P239 9mm for a while now and really like the way it carries and shoots. It has had 0 malfunctions and feels good in my hand, I would say I have medium to just smaller than medium hands. It likes speer gold dots and winchester USA white box JHP's. I am sure the other guns are good as well but I am very happy with my Sig. I am however planning to buy a commander size 1911 in 45 flavor soon, I think I have been smitten by the 1911 Bug. good luck
 
Mauser P-08 Luger. I'll be taking my mandatory CCW course with it after 35 years of shooting, due to moving to Colorado and their CCW laws. Can't wait for the looks I get. Besides, my Mauser C-96 Broomhandle is double stack, but that may join me also.
 
Star BM 9mm or a Mak

Cheap and gets the job done, and the cops can have it if I ever have to use it.

Kinda hard to find leather for it thou
 
"Now if Glock made a single stack mini-9mm "

As much as I love Kahrs, the P-Series guns leave me cold. I have two K-9s and I plan on getting an Elite when I find a nice used one for a good price. The P-9 and PM9 seem like such good ideas but I can't warm up to them. If Glock would make a really thin 9mm single stack, I think it would sell very well. If Kahr would make an alloy or Titanium frame K-9 or MK9, it would sell like hot cakes and I would buy one for sure. That being said, the K-9 is a sweet little packge that feels just right even if it is a little heavy.
 
For a single stack, the Kahr wins my vote hands down. I've used and owned several and have never had a failure or anything short of astonishing accuracy for a pistol so small. With small as it's primary feature, I was a bit standoffish at first due to being a 6'2" 220 pounder. I was pleasantly surprised that ergonomics were so good. The only drawback being the sharp edge of the slide release. This can be easily remedied with a bit of time and some 900grit sand paper. My only failures with these guns came with trying to use reload ammo from a gunshow. The tolerances are cut so close due to the almost 100% CNC machining work, that they will not chamber anything but factory spec. ammo. If it is sized a little too large, it will lock it up like a bank vault and not eject the spent casing. I had to pry mine open with a screw driver. (the pucker factor was very high on that procedure.)
If you can tolerate something a bit bigger, go to the Browning Hi Power.
Doc
 
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