Carry Gun

[Frogwalking]

I have a S&W 642 that is wonderful to carry, but I shoot often and poorly. I would like a single stack 9mm semi with the following characteristics: 1) reliable, 2) double/single action 3) small, thin, 4) moderate to light weight, 5) reasonably accurate, 6) safe. Other than reliable, requirements are not necessarily in order. I don't much care for striker fired guns. I have a CZ RAMI that is too thick to reasonably conceal. (I am old and skinny.) Which brand is not a concern to me, but it must be reliable and double action needs to be tolerable. .

Thanks in advance.

Frog

 

[federali]

Glock 48

Take a strong look at the Glock 48. It meets all your criteria except that if uses what they call a safe action rather than double/single action. Every trigger pull is the same.

 

[18DAI]

Try a S&W CS9 or a slightly larger 3913. Meets all of your requirements. I love mine. Good luck with your search! Regard, 18DAI

 

[CB3]

Frog walking—how would you carry it? What caliber might you prefer? Does the weight of the pistol matter—all metal or polymer?

 

[bigggbbruce]

I would like a single stack 9mm semi with the following characteristics: 1) reliable, 2) double/single action
I don't much care for striker fired guns.but it must be reliable and double action needs to be tolerable. .

Thanks in advance.

Frog

Take a strong look at the Glock 48. It meets all your criteria

come on, really..

 

[ColbyBruce]

The two guns that pop into my head that meet your criteria are the Sig P239 and S&W 3913. Both are discontinued but can still be found. Prepare to spend around $500.00 or so.

Or, open your heart and mind. Embrace polymer framed, striker fired pistols. Look at the S&W Shield, Walther PPS and CCP, Springfield XD, Glock 43 and 48, and the new double stack Sig P365. Look around, try to rent and shoot what interests you to see if you like it before you buy it.

 

[bigggbbruce]

What caliber might you prefer? Does the weight of the pistol matter—all metal or polymer?

I believe if you read the OP you'll see the answers..

 

[Well Armed]

I believe if you read the OP you'll see the answers..

Doubt anyone reads the OP in these type of post... They also just come in and post what they personally like instead of sticking to the OP's criteria...

OP doesn't want a striker fired gun and wants a SA/DA trigger, but most post are strikerfired...

 

[Well Armed]

OP, I do not know of a DA/SA, small, lightweight, hammer fired, single stack 9mm. The best I can think of is a Sig P938 (which I own) that is 9mm, very small and lightweight, hammer fired, but it isn't DA/SA. The only other option that just about checks all your requirements s the Springfield XDe. It's 9mm, DA/SA, single stack, hammer fired, and it about the same size as a Shield and Walther PPS M2, but it's 25 oz unloaded. The XDe is 1" thick, and is 1 oz less than your Rami...

 

[JH1951]

I would put a 3913 or 3914 on the list......

 

[44specialfan]

Recommend that you check out the Walther P99 AS. A very reliable and often overlooked DA/SA semi-auto. Also available with S&W markings if that matters to you. Good luck with your search sir !!

 

[bigggbbruce]

I would put a 3913 or 3914 on the list......

or a 908..

 

[Well Armed]

Recommend that you check out the Walther P99 AS. A very reliable and often overlooked DA/SA semi-auto. Also available with S&W markings if that matters to you. Good luck with your search sir !!

I believe that those are double stack.

 

[max503]

My brother sold his Kel-tec 9mm because of the recoil. We're getting old too. Sure you want a little 9mm? Could be a handful.

 

[CB3]

I believe if you read the OP you'll see the answers..

Good point. I missed his 9mm statement and focused on my lack of knowledge of pistols meeting his other criteria. I like to get as much info as I can when someone is looking for help. What he gave us is not really enough, IMO. Without more info, we get 20 posts recommending things he may have no interest in. With accurate and more complete info from him, a couple of posts with a couple of suggestions each could get him headed where he really wants to go.

The single stack is his biggest limiting criteria in a DA/SA. Next is lightweight.

However, he did not mention how he intends to carry, and that can make a big difference in his choice. Weight may be less of an issue if he is not pocket carrying. If size is negotiable, that opens up other options.

The discontinued Sig P239 suggested is over 30oz loaded and is not small. Probably not good for pocket carry at almost twice the weight of his 642. The S&W 3913 is similar in size and weight. Both were dropped because they didn’t sell well. DA/SA steel framed guns fell out of popularity in the late 90’s as polymer striker fired pistols replaced them. That’s why it’s hard to meet the criteria he gave us. On what points is he willing to look at other options?

It might be good to know why he doesn’t shoot the 642 well. Perhaps physical limitations? How does that influence recommendations for other guns?

It is also helpful to find out why DA/SA is what he wants, since a 642 is DAO. How one carries often influences the decision to have DA as the first pull—safety while putting the gun away being one.

For instance, the Glock 43 with the addition of a “Gadget” for safe holstering might be an option.

Striker Control Device



– Tau Development Group

A Shield with a manual safety could be an alternative.

But really, suggesting all these alternatives not knowing why he thinks he wants what he described—that I’m not sure exists—wastes everyone’s time. Your criticisms without offering anything helpful are more snarky than helpful.

 

[Well Armed]

The first pistol that comes to mind is the Sig P225.

P225-A1 Nitron Compact

That's over 30 oz. Like CB3 has stated, single stack and lightweight will are the biggest hurtles to overcome. The one and only option that fit's the OP's requirements the closest is the XDE..

https://www.springfield-armory.com/products/xd-e-3-3-single-stack-9mm/

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew1BHwj9vT0[/ame]

 

[WCCPHD]

The S&W CS-9 fits the OP's requirements except, perhaps, for the "thin" variable. The gun itself it thin but the rubber grips are too "thick" (large) for the size of the gun (my opinion). I feel this way due to having short fingers and small hands. In my case the problem was improved upon by replacing the grips with KSG wood grips.

 

[kas9412]

"Try a S&W CS9 or a slightly larger 3913. Meets all of your requirements. I love mine. Good luck with your search! Regard, 18DAI"

18DAI nailed it!

Personally I like the 3913 best - the CS9 is just slightly small for my taste...

 

[haywood]

I would put Pachmayr Compacts or Hogue Tamers on the 642 and shoot it. It will make it easier to shoot.

 

[Jessie]

One that covers everything but the single action part is the original Ruger LC9. It’s double action only.

 

[18DAI]

Member TercGen makes chopped Factory Delrin grips for the CS9. His grips thin out the pistol. If not for his craftsmanship, I wouldn't carry the CS9 so much. Regards 18DAI

 

[Mister X]

I don't see why the 642 wouldn't be suitable. Many people have a skewed perspective when it comes to carry weapons that is based on static range shooting at relatively long range. I saw a guy complaining on another forum that he wasn't going to carry a snub anymore due to his poor accuracy with it at 15 and 20 yards. Sudden, close and short describe the vast majority of civilian encounters and that is where the focus should be.

Old Man's Gun | RECOIL

 

[Well Armed]

I don't see why the 642 wouldn't be suitable. Many people have a skewed perspective when it comes to carry weapons that is based on static range shooting at relatively long range. I saw a guy complaining on another forum that he wasn't going to carry a snub anymore due to his poor accuracy with it at 15 and 20 yards. Sudden, close and short describe the vast majority of civilian encounters and that is where the focus should be.

Old Man's Gun | RECOIL

So many options in today's market that no one has to settle I guess. If someone wants a carry gun they can shoot close up and at a distance, I'm pretty sure there's a something on the market that can fulfill that role.

 

[Well Armed]

Member TercGen makes chopped Factory Delrin grips for the CS9. His grips thin out the pistol. If not for his craftsmanship, I wouldn't carry the CS9 so much. Regards 18DAI

Never heard of those before. How much are they fetching nowadays, and are the grip width including the panels about the same as a dbl stack polymer pistol with TercGen's alteration?

 

[18DAI]

I think they are much narrower than the double stacks. The TercGen grips make the CS9 grip width the same as the 3913. Very narrow. Just right, IMO. Regards 18DAI

You can find member TercGen on my friends list and PM him for pricing info. I don't recall what I paid for them. But I can attest that they are worth every penny.

 

[Pef]

Springfield XD-E 9mm appears to best meet the criteria of the OP. 1" wide grip. (I have no experience with this particular gun)

 

[sigp220.45]

Unless you are set on a brand new gun, I'd look for a 3913 or 908. I got this 908 for $275 a month ago. You just have to look under a lot of rocks.

 

[oink]

Yep, the Springfield XD-E 9mm is the only currently manufactured gun that matches the OP's criteria. I don't like them but if that's the criteria then that's the gun.

 

[Wise_A]

Here, let me fix your request:

I would like a compact DA/SA in 9mm, with a trigger that doesn't suck.

with the following characteristics: 1) reliable, 2) double/single action 3) small, thin, 4) moderate to light weight, 5) reasonably accurate, 6) safe

I don't know how you'd buy a modern carry-size DA from a non-garbage manufacturer that wasn't all of those things.

Seriously, the only way you're going to get any useful information is to go out and try them. The majority of what makes a DA/SA's trigger good (or ruins it) is the location of the double-action break, especially relative to the backstrap. If the break occurs too late (close to the frame), the trigger requires far too much effort, either causing a tendency to dive or an inability to complete the DA pull.

This condition is sensitive to grip position--changing the backstrap's position against the web of your thumb can relieve or exacerbate this. In a range gun, that's fine. But a carry gun should be easy to use even with a less-than-perfect grip, so I'd suggest avoiding something that's only manageable with a particular grip.

Or you could just open up to a striker-fired pistol.

 

[Glockman4]

I have a S&W 642 that is wonderful to carry, but I shoot often and poorly. I would like a single stack 9mm semi with the following characteristics: 1) reliable, 2) double/single action 3) small, thin, 4) moderate to light weight, 5) reasonably accurate, 6) safe. Other than reliable, requirements are not necessarily in order. I don't much care for striker fired guns. I have a CZ RAMI that is too thick to reasonably conceal. (I am old and skinny.) Which brand is not a concern to me, but it must be reliable and double action needs to be tolerable. .

Thanks in advance.

Frog

The 3913. Still unsurpassed in my opinion for a DA/SA single stack 9.