Compact 9mm

Ruger LC9s:

Loaded weight is just a shade over 21 oz. Pocket, waistband, ankle. Any way you want it. Smooth trigger, natural pointer, super thin. And for 350 bucks, very hard to beat.
 
I am switching from a Glock 19 to a CZ P07 if that tells you anything. Trigger and ergonomics. Only downside I can see is the scarceness of mags, accessories etc. Hopefully that will change.

My subcompact is a Kahr CM9 which is a fantastic pocket gun.
 
G43

I just got one of the new single stack 9mm model Glocks. It's model G43. I love it so far. I've put around 300 rounds through it with NO issues. It's accurate; we were hitting a 6" round steel at 30 yards consistently. The recoil is more than manageable; I could shoot it all day. And, it's small. I thought about the G26, but this model is much slimmer. Others have suggested a model G19. I bought one of those for carry, but it turned out to be much to big for me for concealed carry. The G26 is smaller than the G19, and is a great gun also. But I am thrilled with my G43. I suggest you look in to one.

My buddy and I both have/had Khar PM9s. His is great, but I had failure to feed issues with mine, regardless of the mags and ammo.

Also, I have two model G19...love them both to death, but they are NOT compact enough for concealed carry, in my OPINION.

Uncle Loodis
 
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Where he's going is:
The OP named two guns, and asked which one you prefer.
Neither of them was a Glock.
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Thanks for speaking for DA/SA Fan. I need to get myself a forum partner so he can speak for me when I'm not around.

It was a suggestion that the OP should also consider the Glock.

And you should too.
 
orionengr said:
Where he's going is:
The OP named two guns, and asked which one you prefer.
Neither of them was a Glock.
Click to expand...
and here is a direct quote from the original post;
Green egg said:
Hi all, I'm thinking about getting a compact 9mm, I was thinking about either a cz75 compact or a Springfield xdm3.8" compact. I realize they are 2 totally different guns, what do you guys think the better of the 2 is? Also I would love some other suggestions. Thanks all
Click to expand...
I think any suggestions are welcome according to that post, including Glock. ;)
 
Nonetheless, answers to the usual questions are lacking. Those answers could tell us whether either gun is appropriate or not, and whether any Glock would be.

First we need to know range and target, which with handguns is either self defense ranges out to 21 feet, or literally on a range. Second, human or paper. While the two guns seem different, it would be nice figure out which is incrementally a tad better at one or the other. It's the kind of stuff we like to chew on.

Budget, trigger type preferred, 100% daily carry or not, what kind of ammo might be preferred etc all have an impact. And the absence of details usually leads to exactly what we have here, a long list of alternates ignoring which of the two might be better.

We can't tell that yet, and if the OP doesn't come back to inform us, then it's generally going to be fanboys touting their latest gun with no real determination made.
 
I just picked up the CZ75 compact myself in BD. I have little time on it but so far I love it.perfect size IMO. The grip is a little short for my hand but they make an extended magazine that takes care of that if you can afford the longer grip. The gun is nice and compact and is a really nice shooter.
 
Green egg said:
Hi all, I'm thinking about getting a compact 9mm, I was thinking about either a cz75 compact or a Springfield xdm3.8" compact. I realize they are 2 totally different guns, what do you guys think the better of the 2 is? Also I would love some other suggestions. Thanks all
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To answer your original question, I would take the CZ 75 Compact but, more so in the lighter, alloy frame variation as the PCR/P-01 or even the poly frame P-07. Especially the P-07 (I'm a bit biased there haha)!

But, for other 9mm compact size suggestions you have a multitude of excellent choices available.

For current production hammer-fired models, there's the aforementioned multiple CZ's, Beretta PX4 Compact, Sig P250 Compact, Sig 2022, Sig P229, HK P2000 & USPc 9 amongst others.

For striker fire, Walther P99 AS & PPQ, Sig P320 Compact, Steyr M9-A1 & C9-A1, Glock 19, Ruger SR9C, M&P 9C, FNS 9C, XDm 3.8 Compact, etc.

It all boils down to what you are most comfortable with and what will suit your needs and wants best... FOR YOU!
 
OP, I'd be careful listening to the recommendations from folks on the various forums. I've made two recent purchases because folks convinced me they were great guns. Both are compacts; one is a HK p7, the other is a Sphinz Compact. The p7 is a single stack, very accurate. The Sphinz is a double stack, also very accurate. Glad I bought them.
 
Trying to force feed everyone a Glock, especially those that don't want one, is just like trying to tell everyone they should buy a Chevy pick up when everyone knows both Ford and Dodge build better trucks.
 
As mention on a different thread, I've been looking at 9mm Springfield XDm Compact myself.

My reasons:
1. I already have Crossbreed holster for my 4.5 XDm.
2. It's smaller than the 4.5 XDm which I sometimes carry.
3. I like the trigger.
4. The full size 19 round XDm magazines work in the compact and I already have seven full size magazines.
5. After thousands of rounds downrange, I've experienced no problems with either the 4.5 9mm or the 5.25 45 ACP.
6. The size is somewhat in the middle between my two most often carried pistols - XDm 4.5 or Kahr P9.
7. It would work in IDPA for compact carry division (an eighteen round stage forces TWO reloads with the Kahr)

If you are going to carry on a regular basis, you need to consider the weight of the firearm. I have a steel frame 40S&W Baby Eagle (IWI Jericho – which is based on the CZ) which simply seems too heavy to carry concealed. Love the pistol, lots of fun at the range but heavy to hang on the britches. You also need to consider the different trigger action between the XDm striker fired and the CZ DA/SA. I my opinion, the double action/single action takes more training to use as a defensive pistol (if that is in your mind).

Between the two original choices – pick the XDm if you will be carrying, pick the CZ if your just looking at range and home defense use.
 
Regular Joe

Your comparison falls apart when we consider that NO-ONE builds better guns.
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Opinions are like, well you know, everyone has one. I don't like Glocks and I am not alone in that opinion. You Glock worshippers remind me of the guys on a firefighting forum I belong to, any question about fire apparatus always has some Kool-Aid drinker come on and say you should have bought a Brand X. Well whether they should have or not is irrelevant to the problem or question asked about their Brand y fire apparatus.

Having said all that, I would never try to convince someone not to buy a Glock if they decided it was the right choice for them. Just be aware there are people that don't see Glock as their choice. Heck I know a guy that sells guns, is a Glock Armorer, was a Glock Kool-Aid drinker and just bought an HK VP9 and can't stop talking about what a great gun it is. So you might believe no one builds better guns, I beg to differ.
 
I'd like to hear more from the OP as well. Having said that....
..

Of the two choices I would lean towards the CZ, based on my experience with the full-size version.

But I too would suggest a look at the Glock 19. I think it is destined to be one of the most popular compact pistols ever. I love mine.

But since the waters of this thread have already been muddied with single-stacks and subcompacts, let us also be fair and complete by mentioning the S&W Shield. Also being rapidly recognized as a classic in its category.

Of course, this all hinges around the intent of the OP.
 
Regular Joe said:
Your comparison falls apart when we consider that NO-ONE builds better guns.
Click to expand...

As others have noted, not everbody shares your infatuation with Glo0cks. I've had a bunch of Glocks, and I like them a lot. (A Glock 38 is one of the best-shooting .45s (.45 GAP) I've ever owned, but... Your claim that NO-ONE builds better guns is easily challenged when you start specifying the CRITERIA by which that "BEST" will be judged.

  • Are GLOCKS the lowest priced guns, offering more value for the price?
  • Are GLOCKS the most ergonomic weapons available? (Many folks complain about the grip angle and it's only with the 4th gen. guns that Glock started to address that issue. Many, many folks complain about the triggers, the grip angle, and in the case of the large .45s (21), the grips that feel like 2"x4"s.
  • Are they the most accurate gun? They're pretty good, but they don't really stand out in that respect. Glock has nothing comparable to the SIG X-Five or X-Six line. Where where they do stand out is in IPSC/USPSA, where speed is seemingly more valued than accuracy. They're good at that -- but 1911-based guns seem to be even better.
  • Are their sights the best available for a stock service pistol?
  • Are they the most reliable? I know they're durable, but so are my CZs and S&W M&P and my FNs... (I've had a Glock 17 trigger return spring break during a match, so I know they're not absolutely durable.)
  • Are they the less prone to negligent discharges than other guns (due to their "safe action" design? We can debate that for ever and never resolve it.
Some people rave about the wide number of after-market parts available for Glock guns, but few of those people think to ask WHY so many after-market parts are available or needed.

Glocks are good, solid, reliable guns. But the best? That's open to debate. Some will say yes, and some will say no -- but the answer isn't clear.
 
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