Compact Carry 9mm?

[sanddiegoduner]

I have been looking for a carry pistol myself and rented a 43x and 48 during my last range trip. I was taking my new G19 gen6 along with my G17L gen5 so I had something to compare the rentals against. The groups I was shooting with the 43x were double the size of everything else so I am passing on it as an option. The 48 felt like my new 19 but they are the same size for the most part save for the width. So why get a G48 if I already have a 19. I need to do more research on the other options available to us in free states. I definitely need to test before buying anything.

 

[9Cal_OC]

I use Magguts +1 mag followers and springs, no problems dropping rounds plus one extra round, 7+1 flush or 8+1 extended.

And smaller than the Shield 1.0

 

[tomrkba]

I use Magguts +1 mag followers and springs, no problems dropping rounds plus one extra round, 7+1 flush or 8+1 extended.

I will get one!

 

[DJD100]

I will get one!

https://magguts.com/product-category/kahr/kahr-kahr/

 

[DJD100]

And smaller than the Shield 1.0

Smaller and 4oz lighter.

 

[Joker67]

For those of you who carry a compact 9 and have continued training with your CCW in Defensive or Competitive Pistol classes , how did it hold up? Did you shoot from concealment or with an OWB rig? What did you think of the subcompact after stress testing it and running drills/scenarios? Shooting on the move? Reloads?

 

[tomrkba]

For those of you who carry a compact 9 and have continued training with your CCW in Defensive or Competitive Pistol classes , how did it hold up? Did you shoot from concealment or with an OWB rig? What did you think of the subcompact after stress testing it and running drills/scenarios? Shooting on the move? Reloads?

My 26 and 43 have been fine. I haven't attended a course with the SIG P365, Glock 42, Ruger LCP (my friend did though), Springfield EMP or Glock 48. Small guns require the shooter pay attention to the front sight and your grip. The 26 handles the heat and round count a bit better than the 43. I took my Kahr CM9 to class as my BUG once. I fired a few strings with it, but mostly it just hung out in my pocket.

I almost always train how I carry. This means an IWB holster, usually a Milt Sparks Criterion or appendix carry holster if allowed. I draw from concealment.

The only exceptions are carbine classes or where the instructor insists on OWB. With rifle classes, I wear a battle belt with a Safariland ALS holster. I had to wear an OWB (Askin's Avenger type holster) for my last class.

Shooting on the move at a stationary target is hard with a duty weapon. It doubly stinks with a compact. It stinks even worse with target movement involved. Drop the capacity to six or seven rounds and sheesh....

 

[nakatomi]

Most of these guns are basically in the same size class. The difference is not as big as it looks on paper.

The bigger factor for concealment is grip length, not slide length. The grip is what prints. A longer slide usually just rides inside the pants.

Also worth thinking about whether switching platforms is actually solving anything. You already shoot the 43 and 365 well. Going sideways into another micro 9 is confusing to me.

At that point it becomes more about carry setup than the gun itself. Belt/holster/position will change concealment more than going from a 43 to say a Shield +.

If anything I would either stick w what you already shoot well and optimize the setup OR go slightly bigger (like a 48 / compact) if you want better shootability.

IMHO