If I need to bump up the capacity, I'll go with the SIG P228:
Sig Sauer P228 Compact 9mm
Overall Length: 7.1 inches
Overall Height: 5.4 inches
Overall Width: 1.5 inches
Weight With Empty Magazine: 29.1oz
Barrel Length: 3.9 inches
Magazine Capacity: 13 rounds
Starting MSRP: $800
It's not that far off from the subcompacts listed above.
I'll have to try one out. I know a lot of folks love striker fire. If I can shoot it reasonably well, I'd consider one.I can hardly believe I am about to say this, but here goes . . . I love my West German P228 w/13 round standard (Sig) capacity, and 15 round MecGar capacity mags. However, I have been persuaded (through first hand experience) that my Springfield XDM 3.8, with standard 13 round, or optional 19 round mags (won't use them), is the better all round carry option. I know, I am going straight to Hell without passing Go, but I said it!
Seriously, the smooth consistent trigger in the striker fired XDM beats the DA/SA in the Sig - even with the Sig SRT installed. I will never sell the 228, and won't hesitate to rely on it, but for all around carry considering all of the factors the XDM wins out by a nose. Yes I own multiple Sigs that I love and I still said this!
I'll have to try one out. I know a lot of folks love striker fire. If I can shoot it reasonably well, I'd consider one.
Have you concealed carried a full sized pistol for more than 8 hours? There's a reason people want a smaller, easier to conceal pistol with a service round level caliber. Even compact pistols start to wear on you after a few hours. There's a lot of reasons why I'm carrying a PF9. It's small, narrow, and there's good SD 9mm ammo for it.
Why bother? Simple answer: ease of concealment.So we are all aware of the single stack 9mm craze that is currently going on. This will only be amplified by the release of the Glock 43.
However while considering these options, the thought popped into my head, why bother? Sure these firearms present an option for the smallest 9mm semi auto handguns on the market which has some appeal, but wouldn't most people in general be better served by some slightly larger alternatives?
So I did some research and found a few alternatives which mostly seem to be overlooked by many.
Now for the purpose of this thread I will be focusing on 9mm options due to their popularity, though feel free to discuss other caliber/firearm types (revolvers) in the thread.
Also I will be excluding the Glock 26 from this list since it falls a bit short with its 10 round magazine capacity compared to the 12/13 round magazine capacity of the options I am about to list.
Listed in no particular order: (unless otherwise noted, specifications are from the manufacturers website)
Sig Sauer P320 Subcompact 9mm
Overall Length: 6.7 inches
Overall Height: 4.7 inches
Overall Width: 1.1 inches
Weight With Empty Magazine: 24.9oz
Barrel Length: 3.6 inches
Magazine Capacity: 12 rounds
Starting MSRP: $628
FN FNS-9 Compact
Overall Length: 6.7 inches
Overall Height: 5.2 inches (from wikipedia)
Overall Width: 1.35 inches (from TTAG's review)
Weight Empty: 23.4oz
Barrel Length: 3.6 inches
Magazine Capacity: 12 rounds (17 rounds optional)
Starting MSRP: $599 (From TTAG's review)
Smith and Wesson M&P 9c
Overall Length: 6.7 inches
Overall Height: 4.3 inches (S&W archived product page)
Overall Width: 1.2 inches (S&W archived product page)
Weight Empty (no mag): 21.7oz
Barrel Length: 3.5 inches
Magazine Capacity: 12 rounds
Starting MSRP: $569
Springfield Armory XDM 3.8 Compact
Overall Length: 6.75 inches
Overall Height: 4.75 inches
Overall Width (Grip): 1.18 inches
Weight (With Empty Mag): 28oz
Barrel Length: 3.8 inches
Magazine Capacity: 13 rounds (19 optional)
Starting MSRP: $669 (From TTAG's review)
Chart comparing various single stack 9mm options:
Glock 43 Specifications
Overall Length: 6.26 inches
Overall Height: 4.25 inches
Overall Width: 1.02 inches
Weight Unloaded: 17.95oz
Barrel Length: 3.39 inches
Magazine Capacity: 6 rounds
Starting MSRP: $589 (From Guns.com article)
Thoughts?
No one perfect CCW pistol? Heresy I say, LOL. That is exactly what a G26 is!Everything I could say has already been said, key points:
Size is more important than weight when concealability matters most, and width is very important.
No external safety unless you are thoroughly trained with it.
Practice your draw from wherever you carry.
Carry and dress appropriately; printing a bit not as big an issue, depending on location of the bulge.
.380 can be effective enough, but do you have enough training to use it as effectively and manage the recoil?
Better to have a few options depending on weather, dress, threat/situation, no one CCW pistol is perfect. Those that are easiest to carry/conceal are the least fun and hardest to shoot well.
If I could only own one gun to train, carry, compete, and use for home defense... I think I'd go with an LCR 9mm revolver (yep, just 5 bullets and slow to reload, without training).
Oh a bunch of folks who likely rarely if ever carry debating about the best gun.
I see very little need for these "small" pistols.
You can easily and comfortably conceal a M&P Compact or Glock 26/7 all day long with the right holster and BELT. I have for 8 hours and at times for 12-16 hour days. I've carried 229 size pistol concealed without issues. No back pain, hip pain, side pain etc.
I wouldn't want to carry anything with 6 or 7 rounds...even with a spare magazine.
Regular jeans, right rear pocket, Desantis Superfly.Do you who pocket carry need baggy pants? What about the stuff you normally carry in your pockets?
Double-stacks are too thick for me to conceal that well - I can conceal my M&P9 as long as I am standing up straight and don't move
It definitely has a lot to do with body type (1) and wardrobe (2). Can't change the one, and don't want to change the other.
I currently carry my SP101 most often, but I could see going with a Shield or G43 or G42 sometime in the future.
The LC9s Pro is one of the best values on the market. Krazy accurate and Krazy cheap for the accuracy and reliability. Conceals nicely in most any attire.
Other items carried: wallet, comb, handkerchief, swiss army knife, flashlight, key case, folding knife, money clip, coin case, space pen, fitbit and cell phone.
Regular jeans, right rear pocket, Desantis Superfly.
...
... admittedly, my pockets are full. No man purse. It is all very organized and the swiss army knife is small, as well as the edc flashlight. I did forget to add, a spare loaded magazine to the list.You got a man purse to carry all that in?