-
If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership The benefits pay for the membership many times over.
-
Be sure to enter the NES/Pioneer Valley Arms February Giveaway ***Smith & Wesson SD9VE 9MM***
Suggestions wanted: Single stack 9mm for EDC
- Thread starter Sprocket
- Start date
boilermaker
NES Member
If you weren't out on the north shore I would say he could try my PPS and 3913 in Sturbridge. I have switched from the 3913 to the PPS due to size and just overall comfort with the pistol. However the PPS mag release is not something folks are use to and should be taken into consideration. Hard to go wrong with either. The 239 is also nice but was just too big for me. Glock was out due to double-stack. Shield is nice but I think the PPS is better made and just a nicer pistol. I haven't had the pleasure of trying the XDs yet, but I love their full size. Kahr's are nice but thought they were just too expensive. Good luck in his search.
mikelawtown
NES Member
Either one --->
In MA the shield or a p9/pm9 are the best options w good value. Also the sig p938 is badass....for me these 3 are such sweet guns.
i love my PPS but honestly its annoying to find night sights, mags, accessories, trigger kits, etc....also i love the german mag release system but i think its risky if one doesnt practice w it.
i love my PPS but honestly its annoying to find night sights, mags, accessories, trigger kits, etc....also i love the german mag release system but i think its risky if one doesnt practice w it.
P938 is my choice, I have the SAS version and I love it.
TBalls
NES Member
I would agree for the original version largely due to the trigger, but with the new striker-fired version I think it's a legitimate contender.
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2005
- Messages
- 57,044
- Likes
- 21,202
Since he specified 9mm single stack, OWB and free-state . . .
- 1st choice would be a 1911 in 9mm!
- 2nd choice would be M&P Shield WITH trigger job (standard M&P triggers, even free state, suck OOB)!
- 3rd choice would be PM9.
- 1st choice would be a 1911 in 9mm!
- 2nd choice would be M&P Shield WITH trigger job (standard M&P triggers, even free state, suck OOB)!
- 3rd choice would be PM9.
not mine, but there is a nice looking Kel-Tec PF9 for sale in the classifieds
If you are not going to pocket carry, why get a PM9 at all? If you are carrying OWB, a P9 is no harder to conceal and gives you a better grip and longer site radius.
i dont understand OWB + single stack.
IMO if im going OWB, then why does the .25" difference from single to double stack matter? the whole idea behind single stack is to IWB carry, at least for me. if im going OWB then im upscaling to .45, either my M&P 45c or a glock 30. just my 2c
IMO if im going OWB, then why does the .25" difference from single to double stack matter? the whole idea behind single stack is to IWB carry, at least for me. if im going OWB then im upscaling to .45, either my M&P 45c or a glock 30. just my 2c
A Kahr K9 is dramatically thinner than those and a lot easier to conceal. The 1/4" really does make a big difference if you are in a non-permissive environment.
Varmint
NES Member
The mass-compliant Kahr's have a 10 lb DA-only trigger, is that right?
dcmdon
NES Member
No. The mass compliant Kahrs have a manual safety, which removes the need for a heavy trigger.
By the way, I have not read this entire thread. But I consider the Kahr P9 to be the best single stack for IWB carry. Its thin, but long enough in the barrel and the grip so it is supremely shootable.
Everyone gets a hard-on over the PM9, which is inferior to the P9 in every way unless you plan to pocket carry it. Trust me, I've owned both, plus an interesting hybrid called the P9 Covert, which I never should have sold. It combines a P9 slide with a PM9 length grip.
Don
Varmint
NES Member
So it's basically a Glock with a safety? How heavy is the slide on the P9? Might still want a non-Mass version for my wife since she'll forget about the safety.
dcmdon
NES Member
The recoil spring is pretty stiff. You wouldn't want to get her one unless she was sure she could run it. Like I said in another recent thread, proper technique can make up for a lack of muscle strength.
Ive taught a lot of women to shoot and a couple of things really help. She should hold the gun up at shoulder height, not down low. She should grip the slide over the top, not slingshot.
And she should push out with her strong hand as she comes back with the slide. Its all large muscles at angles that give them lots of leverage.
If you ever want to meet me at Mass Rifle, I'd be happy to let you and her try mine. Mine is a free state version, but the slide would work the same. I really like the P9. Its my favorite carry gun.
Don
Ive taught a lot of women to shoot and a couple of things really help. She should hold the gun up at shoulder height, not down low. She should grip the slide over the top, not slingshot.
And she should push out with her strong hand as she comes back with the slide. Its all large muscles at angles that give them lots of leverage.
If you ever want to meet me at Mass Rifle, I'd be happy to let you and her try mine. Mine is a free state version, but the slide would work the same. I really like the P9. Its my favorite carry gun.
Don
No. The trigger is the same as the free state trigger. They have a small, unobtrusive safety that can be turned off and then ignored.
Also, free state used Kahr K9s can be easy found.
dcmdon
NES Member
Just to clarify for Varmint.
Kahr K(X) = Metal frame
Kahr P(x) = Polymer.
The K9 is a great shooting gun but its heavy. I used to have one that was tuned up by Wilson. But when the polymer guns came out I sold my steel Kahr.
The Polymer guns are lighter and slimmer. A K9 weighs 3 oz more than a Glock 19 and the grip is almost as fat. So for me the polymer Kahrs are the way to go for carry. But thats just me.
M1911 being a . . . 1911 kind of guy, probably prefers a steel frame.
I'm a wuss when it comes to carry weight. I don't really care about printing. So I don't care about the size of a gun. Its the weight that matters to me.
Don
p.s. Whenever I look at a carry gun, I always come back to the G19 for comparison. Often, when I am getting a desire to carry some kind of esoteric expensive gun, I come back to the G19, old faithful. Often the expensive exotic in question is heavier and carries much less ammunition than the G19.
For example, a couple of years ago, I was intrigued by the Springfield XDS. Then when looking at it, I realized that its empty weight was about the same as a G19. Yes, it is smaller than the glock.
But I already had the P9, which was thinner than the XDs and quite a bit lighter.
I guess what I'm trying to say is the P9 and a G19 (with a pre-ban mag) are a good combination. Ha.
Kahr K(X) = Metal frame
Kahr P(x) = Polymer.
The K9 is a great shooting gun but its heavy. I used to have one that was tuned up by Wilson. But when the polymer guns came out I sold my steel Kahr.
The Polymer guns are lighter and slimmer. A K9 weighs 3 oz more than a Glock 19 and the grip is almost as fat. So for me the polymer Kahrs are the way to go for carry. But thats just me.
M1911 being a . . . 1911 kind of guy, probably prefers a steel frame.
I'm a wuss when it comes to carry weight. I don't really care about printing. So I don't care about the size of a gun. Its the weight that matters to me.
Don
p.s. Whenever I look at a carry gun, I always come back to the G19 for comparison. Often, when I am getting a desire to carry some kind of esoteric expensive gun, I come back to the G19, old faithful. Often the expensive exotic in question is heavier and carries much less ammunition than the G19.
For example, a couple of years ago, I was intrigued by the Springfield XDS. Then when looking at it, I realized that its empty weight was about the same as a G19. Yes, it is smaller than the glock.
But I already had the P9, which was thinner than the XDs and quite a bit lighter.
I guess what I'm trying to say is the P9 and a G19 (with a pre-ban mag) are a good combination. Ha.
Last edited:
No, I bought the K9 before the P9 existed. The K9 isn't my usual carry gun, so I didn't see a need to get a P9. I did retire my MK9 in favor of a PM9 because I find the MK9 t be just too heavy for pocket carry. I regularly pocket carry my PM9. I occasionally carry my K9, but more usually a Glock 23 or 19.
