It's a sad fact that hammer-fired DA/SA has largely been left out of the polymer single-stack revolution. There really isn't a single-stack analog to guns like the Shield, PPS, P365, etc. The XDE seems like the only option but it is notably taller, has a safety, and I'm not enchanted by the overall design like I am some of the double-stacks.
Yeah, it is sad there’s not a whole lot like that to choose from anymore. I actually considered the Sig 225 A1 I believe it is, and I think the 229- don’t quote me on that as exact, but it was another discontinued semi-auto by Sig that was very similar to the 225- that was hard to come by and came with quite the price tag.
But since it seems like more and more people prefer striker guns, there’s not a whole lot of call for hammer guns anymore. I’m just glad that Springfield overcame that and came out with their XDE line.
But yeah, with it’s fairly high bore axis and that it has a safety for different modes of carry, I can understand why someone wouldn’t be as enchanted by it. Me personally, as I’ve said, I just look past that because I can still carry it just as I would my storms because even though it still has a safety, it’s in my opinion that the safety/decocker lever is low enough profile that I don’t feel accidentally bumping the safety on will be of much concern. My storms- with those gawky F levers, stuck out like a sore thumb so, irregardless of what Beretta told me about advising carrying the type F model with the safety on, I still coulda carried it just like I do the XDE with the hammer decocked, safety off. But since they’ve been long converted to type G’s, it’s no longer a concern at all.
With the low-profile levers installed, the PX4 might be my favorite DA/SA gun on the current market. I don't know how much real estate the rotating barrel system needs but if they released a slim single-stack version, I'd be all over it. Heck, I'd be open to almost any decocker-only single-stack. It bugs me that the XDE is the only game in town.
My sentiments exactly. Lol. But like I said before, you take those bat-wing F levers off and replace with the G stealth levers- or even the new Langdon Tactical-inspired G levers, you’re really not even looking at that much wider of a profile than the XDE. Thats why I said also that if I would’ve put that into consideration, I could’ve just stuck with my compact PX4 in an actual holster that was made for it- instead of the beretta leather pancake holster I have that’s really made for the full-size 9 and 40 Storm, as my EDC, or possibly have just gone with the sub compact PX4 that’s even smaller than the compact PX4 I have.
I've been thinking about the Sphinx Subcompact, which gets pretty small for a double-stack, but I haven't been able to find one IRL and I'm wary of ordering something that expensive sight unseen.
Ain’t heard about that one.
As far as switching calibers, you might be overthinking it. My regular carry rotation includes .327 Federal, 9mm, and .40 S&W. I live in a place where weather and wardrobe are variable throughout the year so I've got different tools for different days. The difference between calibers isn't all that different than the difference between guns in terms of accurate shooting. Just practice with whatever is in your rotation.
I might be overthinking it as I do with a lot of things but in the midst of all, if you know your guns really well, it shouldn’t be that hard to switch mindsets between the two guns.
As far as individual calibers go, I do think there are advantages to 9mm over .45acp. For instance, you'd hopefully never need the extra rounds but by that same token, you'd hopefully never need to defend yourself at all. The PX4 compact in 9mm is what, twice the capacity as the XDE in .45?
Between these two guns, I’d probably feel better taking on an active shooter like in a Walmart with with the Storm over the Springfield- not so much because the Storm holds more rounds, but because the the Storm would be better at longer ranged shots because of the smaller caliber. That Springfield, the 3.3 inch barrel is rather short for an already slow 45; I would think that for a 45 to be accurate at longer than say, 30/40 yards, that you’d want at least a full-size pistol with at least a 4 inch barrel to maintain the velocity.
But either way, even if I was carrying my 5 inch hog leg 220 10mm with the hot V-crown hollow-points, I’d still be pretty leary taking one someone like that unless I could get a close enough effective shot.
But yeah, the PX4 compact 9 holds 15+1 whereas the XDE holds 6+1 or 7+1 with the extended magazine.
I'll be curious to hear how things go after you've spent some time shooting your 9mm PX4 compact back to back with the .45 XDE.
Oh yeah, I look forward to focusing on that. I like both pistols a lot. The 45 XDE is fairly snappy but it’s not hard to manage and put shots where you want them.
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