Are the Days of the 9mm Compact Numbered?

[rwsmith]

The only reason I'd shoot........

The only reason I'd shoot my sub compact is either in training, testing or in an emergency. It ain't no 'fun gun'. A model 9c would be one heck of a lot more comfortable to shoot than this little Kel Tec P 11.

 

[Nevada Ed]

They are a disappearing breed............

I took home a 3" Kahr.........
and a 3.5" C9.

 

[MOONDAWG]

As long as a model is making profits it will stay on the assembly line.

Case in point the ubiquitous .38 spl. S&W Model 10; it's been going strong since introduced as the HE in 1899.

 

[OldSquid]

I like full size and compact autos. The baby sized autos don't do it for me. My only "subcompacts" have cylinder thingies that go 'round.

My Glock 42 begs to differ, but my S&W 642 says "Preach on, brother"! (Then again, the 42 has an identity crisis, and chaffs when you call it a subcompact).

 

[Rick_A]

Yes, the official term for a gun of that size is "mousegun."

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Phil the XD[M] is almost identical is size to a G26 and it's 9+1 in .45 ACP. Great gun. XD Great too. 6+1 .45 ACP in an even smaller package.

I really like my XDs 45.

Maybe another question-- Are the days of the subcompact 9mm numbered when a 45ACP is comparable in size?

Shield 9mm vs XDs 45.
The guns are very comparable in size.

Length SW 6.1 / SA 6.3
Width SW .95 / SA .9
Hieght SW 4.6 / SA 4.4
Weight SW 19 / SA 21

 

[ATF]

I really like my XDs 45.

Maybe another question-- Are the days of the subcompact 9mm numbered when a 45ACP is comparable in size?

Shield 9mm vs XDs 45.
The guns are very comparable in size.

Length SW 6.1 / SA 6.3
Width SW .95 / SA .9
Hieght SW 4.6 / SA 4.4
Weight SW 19 / SA 21

I think that's probably a whole new thread but you're right the only difference is only a couple of rounds but you're packing a lot more horsepower in .45JHP.

 

[ClayCow]

Wait. Fully loaded there i believe there is a big difference in 45 vs 9 mm. Anywyaa. I heard glock is coming out with 9mm single stack. Kinda excited. Ill be selling off my g42 if this is true.

 

[ATF]

Wait. Fully loaded there i believe there is a big difference in 45 vs 9 mm. Anywyaa. I heard glock is coming out with 9mm single stack. Kinda excited. Ill be selling off my g42 if this is true.

This what Glock should have done in the first place. The G42 is bigger than most .380's and mini 9mm's and it's been less than perfection in the land of perfection. A single stack 9mm Glock will be a big hit whoever was responsible for the G42 definitely wasn't Austrian

 

[LostintheOzone]

ps You might be surprised how subcompact a 45 can be. My XDs 45 3.3 rivals some of the subcompact 9s.

This. Eventually I think the compact single stack 45 will cut a huge hole in the compact and SC 9 mm market. For me it's a perfect size, easy to conceal and easy to shoot. Never did like double stacked nines.

 

[ClayCow]

If the FBI goes with 9mm. Why do we feel the need to go with .45? Dont mean to start an argument as your caliber choice is your choice. But id rather save the weight and get more bullets

 

[Rastoff]

...id rather save the weight and get more bullets

How many bullets do you need?

The FBI is a government organization. Their caliber choice is driven by bureaucrats not self-defense or ballistics experts. The same goes for the military. Pick the caliber you feel you are able to be most effective with and become an expert with that.

 

[ClayCow]

How many bullets do you need?

The FBI is a government organization. Their caliber choice is driven by bureaucrats not self-defense or ballistics experts. The same goes for the military. Pick the caliber you feel you are able to be most effective with and become an expert with that.

How big of a bullet do you need? All tradeoff. I believe and im sure you know the 9mm decision was more scientifically based than bureaucratically, atleast from what i understand.

 

[Neumann]

I see continued interest in both compact and sub-compact pistols for the forseeable future, not to mention full-sized pistols or in between.

A typical "compact" or "sub-compact" pistol is about 4.5" tall at the grip, compared to about 5.5" for a full-sized pistol. A "compact" barrel is typically about 4", compared to about 3" for a "sub-compact". A shorter grip is somewhat easier to conceal in a belt holster than a full-sized pistol, regardless of barrel length. My personal favorite for easy concealment is a SIG P239, with a 3.9" barrel and a 5.1" grip height - in between.

A sub-compact pistol is more likely to be suitable for pocket carry. In my experience, a Springfield XDs (3.3") is about as large as practical for pocket carry. A Glock 36 is nearly 1/2" longer, and too big for pockets in casual or dress pants.

You must be careful selecting an holster for a sub-compact, so that the grip extends high enough above the belt to allow a quick, reliable grasp. You need about 2" clearance. The longer frame of a compact or larger pistol moots this particular objection.

A short grip is no harder to shoot, in general than a longer one. The main disadantage is lower capacity. Most of the recoil is taken up by the web of the thumb. The lower fingers help in recovery from muzzle flip, and in heavy calibers, torque control. In that regard, I can shoot a short handled (boot grip) .44 Magnum, but notice that the gun twists 30 degrees to left. A lesser effect occurs with .45 ACP (noticeably an XDs), and much less with .40 or 9mm, or even a .44 Magnum with a full-sized grip.