What other single-stack 9mm?

[Jim PHL]

I have been "re-smitten" by shooting the 9mm lately after years of 1911 .45's being my only autos. I like the feel of the single-stack guns and am not concerned with loss of magazine capacity and not crazy about plastic so these 3rd gen guns are right in my wheel house.

I am lucky to own a 3913 and a pair of 3953's. I am aware of the CS9. Beyond that - please correct me if I'm wrong - are the "full-size" 3906 stainless/3903 blued. I have been keeping my eyes peeled for a good deal on one or both of these. Am I missing anything else I should be looking for?

Also, if you own a 3906/3 or another model I am missing, can you share your impressions of it? (There is no shortage of threads on the 39xx series or the CS9 but I haven't found much on the others - maybe becasue I don't know what to look for!)

 

[hiram2005]

There's the 39-2, imo one of the best single stacks going. I've had several, none at this time. My single stack right now is a Kimber Stainless II in 9mm.

 

[handgunner356]

Going with S&W full size 9mm 39, 39-2, 439, 539, 639, 3904 and 3906.

 

[jsbethel]

The 3904/3906 pistols were only made from 88-91 so they don't show up for sale that often. I feel lucky to have examples of both. The 3906 is the pistol I should have bought in the late 80's when I bought a 5906 but, like most everyone else, I was caught up in the wondernine craze and I didn't give it a second look. I eventually came to the conclusion that ergonomics take precedence over magazine capacity but found that the 3906 is a rather scarce pistol. I found one at Bud's a few years ago and snapped it up. A few months later, I got a 3904 off of Gunbroker and gave it to my girlfriend. After shooting it, I promptly took it back and gave her a 3913LS (of course after shooting the 3913LS, I found a 3913NL for myself!). Keep up the search - it will be worth it.

 

[max]

It is not a Smith, but the Sig P6's are pretty slick also.

 

[Jim PHL]

Thanks for the suggestion, max. A P225 was the first Sig I ever handled. I like them and even briefly considered a 239 a few years ago when looking for a carry gun but in the end just not to my taste. (No offense - just a chocolate/vanilla kinda thing!)

 

[RogueJSK]

As far as S&Ws go, there is also the amazing S&W Performance Center 952. Expect to pay around $1800-$2500, though.

Single action, 9 round single stack magazine, match barrel, titanium coated bushing, adjustable sights, and a hand fitted slide/frame. Many of the internal parts are coated with titanium as well. Available with a 5" or 6" barrel.

Product: Model 952 Long Slide
Product: Model 952 Pistol



Outside of S&W, and besides the Sigs that were already mentioned, Kahr makes some nice single stack DAO 9mms. They're available with both polymer frames (the TP, P, and PM series) and steel frames (the T, K, and MK series). And Springfield's microcompact 9mm 1911, the EMP, is a nice little single stack 9mm. Several other 1911 makers offer single stack 9mm versions as well.

 

[S&W247]

The 2nd gen's are my favorite because they are usually dirt cheap and the triggers usually feel a little better to me. I have a 639 that was $273 out the door. It had seen better days, but was not in horrible shape...can't go wrong with all stainless anyways as you can refinish that at home. A bit on the heavy side, so I go for a 439 if you want to pack it some.

 

[maggie]

Love PM Kahrs..

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

Don't forget the H&K P7 which I consider to be one of the all time great single stack 9s.

 

[browntown]

I like the 9mm too. Best single stack is a kahr k9

 

[sigarms229]

The holy grail of single stack 9mm's, the Sig 210.

Sig 239

Sig 220

Smith 908

Keltec PF9

 

[BAM-BAM]

Beretta

A really nice single stack 9 is the Beretta 92 Type M. It's an 8+1 with a Centurian's 4.25 inch barrel. Hard to find and mags are expensive. I was lucky to get mine in the 90's when you couldn't give them away. I think I paid something like $350 to a police supply dealer who had 5 or 6 in the warehouse for almost 10 years.

There is a real cult following as a carry gun on the Beretta Forum. I find it as easy to carry as my 3913/14s. With the same type safty. In fact with the extra 3/4 inch of barrel it can be used "mexican carry" butt forward on that quick trip to the corner market.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Not a single stack but the M&P feels like one to me. I've got small/medium hands and this series feels as good in the hand as any of the 10 or so single stack bottom feeding center fire pistols I've ever owned. You owe it to yourself to at least handle one. Made a believer out of me.

 

[wilshire1412]

I have an appreciation for older pistols, single stack 9mm are overlooked by so many who feel that half a box of ammo needs to fit into the gun to be useful for anything. I would like to find a nice and clean early model 39 sometime, S&W really got it right with the grip ergos on that one.

Here is a photo of one of my 9mm single stackers...

Heckler Koch P9s Target 9mm

 

[R. G. Amos]

Wilshire:
I presume that is an HK P9S target.

 

[rbishop]

Browning Hi-Power for me!

 

[trailblazer02]

The 2nd gen's are my favorite because they are usually dirt cheap and the triggers usually feel a little better to me. I have a 639 that was $273 out the door. It had seen better days, but was not in horrible shape...can't go wrong with all stainless anyways as you can refinish that at home. A bit on the heavy side, so I go for a 439 if you want to pack it some.

.

please tell me what models are 2nd gen's....are they 3 digit model numbers?

thank you
t'blazer

 

[prescobd]

Single Stack 3rd Generation S&W 9mm

I have one that I didn't see mentioned.

It is a Model 909, basically an economical version of the 3904.

 

[Combat_Diver]

Smith also makes the 908series, a M1911 Pro Series in 9mm. Other single stack 9s are the P08 Luger, Walther P38/P1/P4 series, Radom P35, Star BM-BKM, SIG 220 (found one in Iraq in 06)

CD