Small thin 9mm semiauto

Now that the Shield is available without a safety, it is the clear winner. This coming from a very strong proponent of the Walther PPS.

Didn't like the manual safety on it before. Don't like the grip safety on the XDs. And don't like the overall track record for Kahr, though if you get a good one and exercise it enough to confirm reliability, they are smaller and can serve as well if that small of a gun is needed.

I carried the PPS for a long time, but recently upgraded to the PPQ and find myself carrying it in the same shorts/t-shirt weather that I thought I needed a single stack for. Makes me question the whole idea of subcompact guns :)
 
You can go cheap... you can go light... tons of good options out there.

Mine is a Kahr K9 in this catagory. None better;).
 
I don't know about you, (OP), but I don't particularly care for plastic guns. Purely a prejudice, but none the less, I just don't like them. That leaves me with the Kahr MK9. I still may go with a Kimber Solo. I know they are ammo sensitive, but if it works, it's a very nice gun.
 
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I spent a lot of money, went through many pistols over the last 4 years and ended up with a Sig P938. Carries well in both my pocket and belt and is lighter than an XDs. With the extended grip that came with mine, I can fit my while hand on the grip. This extended grip is one of the best I have seen. It is much not longer than the width of a bullet and makes no difference in its concealability for me. Soft shooting and very accurate gun and comes with night sights, a $80-100 option for most guns.

I bought about 60 guns in the last 4 years. Did not keep most but the ones I did are best of breed for me. Of note are the Karh CM9, a best value in small single stack 9mms. For belt carry I always recommend a M&P Shield. Good shooting gun but a little too big for pocket carry. A Kahr P9 is also a good belt gun but the slide is hard to rack in my arthritic hands. I had the XDs but at 20 ounces its tiny difference in thinnest, it was not worth it. It is one of the heaviest single stack 9mms on the market and a too thin grip requires a very firm hold on the gun with the recoil concentrated in a small area of your hand.

I did not like the LC9 because the trigger pull was too long. Good value and reliable but just not a good trigger. I had a few others but the above are the ones I recommend to the new shooters I teach.
 
DB9
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AND easy to rack. After 100s if .380s she couldn't rack. We found this little 6+1 9mm
 
Unread Yesterday, 11:14 AM #11
CPO15
Senior Member


Join Date: June 6, 2010
Location: Near Fincastle, VA
Posts: 103

SIG 239; single stack, 8 + 1 in 9mm.

When you specified thin, I thought single stack
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^THIS^

It's one of my favorites.
 
Polymer-frame: S&W M&P Shield, SA XDs, Ruger LC9, Bersa BP9CC, Kahr PM9/CM9 or P9/CW9, Beretta Nano.

Aluminum-frame: Sig Sauer P938, Rohrbaugh R9S.

Steel-frame: Kahr MK9/K9, Sig Sauer P239

I'm probably missing a few choices.
 
If your budget can bear it you might consider the Boberg XR9-S. It's tiny, very tiny yet due to it's unique loading system it has a 3.35" barrel with a 7+1 9mm+P capacity.
The design allows for an extremely easy to rack slide and it's designer Arne Boberg claims it's impossible to create a limp wrist malfunction.
I love mine and it has become my favorite CCW.
I just ordered their newly released. 45ACP version called the XR45-S.
 
Quote:
Unread Yesterday, 11:14 AM #11
CPO15
Senior Member


Join Date: June 6, 2010
Location: Near Fincastle, VA
Posts: 103

SIG 239; single stack, 8 + 1 in 9mm.

When you specified thin, I thought single stack[/B]
^THIS^
Click to expand...

At 1.2 inches wide it is slightly wider than my XD40 Sub Compact which is a 9+1 round double stack 40 S&W that I don't particularly call "thin" as requested by the OP.
No mention has been made by the OP as to action type. In a hammer fired SAO I woud say tye Sig 938 might be a good choice at 1.1 inches in width. The Ruger LC9 would get my nod for a hammer fired DAO at .91" in width. But at .87" I would also take a look at the Kel-Tec PF9 is being the thinnest was my top priority. In a striker fired pistol I would still pick the KAHR CM9 also at .91"
The Walther is as thin as the Ruger, or KAHR, but about a half inch taller. Not much, but to me when I looked at them for CCW they just felt top heavy, and sort of clunky. Sorta like a Hi-Point(gasp, gasp, gasp!), that was left in the dryer, ans shrunk.:D
But this points out one very important fact. It is up to the OP to try as many of the suggestions here as he can, and find a pistol that fits his particular needs. One that feels right, and he can shoot well.
 
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I hope the OP returns with a little more information on what his preferences are. Action type, frame material, and price range could help narrow the choices significantly.:D
 
Tomac said: Kahr CM9 or CW9.
Click to expand...

First respondent Tomac stole my thunder.

I carry a Kahr CW9 on a regular basis. It is thin and easily conceals IWB with a single loosely fitting shirt. (I'm an average height/weight guy, with a little bit of a spare tire.)

Shoots like a champ. I am quite accurate with it. It has a looooong non-stacking trigger pull that is reasonably light and very smooth. Personally, I like the trigger and it was a snap to get used to. I consider the trigger to be a safety feature (maybe it is, by design, for all I know). It gives you plenty of "are you sure you want to do this" time.

It's also not a particularly expensive gun, so if something were to happen to it (theft, litigation, etc.) it's no huge loss.

But best of all: it has a tremendous appetite. My CW9 has eaten everything I have fed it - everything. I load my own ammo and have put every profile of bullet through it with no problem whatsoever. It has literally digested everything I have put through it. No failures to feed. No failures to eject. No failures to ignite. This is including during the break in period.

I can't say that about any other gun I've owned.
 
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