Smallest 9mm Pistols?

Ahhhh, I'm getting old. Any of you whippersnappers remember when the Rohrbaugh was the smallest 9mm? ;)
 
SIG P938 is the smallest I've handled.
Smaller than S&W Shield, Walther PPS, Glock 26; is the 43 essentially a single stack 26? Glock's bigger.
CM9 is much bigger than the SIG.

I'd expect the modern generation of plastic-frame, point-and-squirt shooters to not necessarily like the all-metal, cocked 'n' locked SIG, but it's a great pistol.
 
I bought the first Keltec P-11 that I saw. It is an early one so the trigger is heavy but very smooth. I was at the LGS for an Airweight .38 but this little guy changed my plans. I've deliberately kept the round count down on it but it has been 100% reliable.

There must be smaller 9mms after all these years but really it has to be a Speedo occasion before the P-11 becomes a burden.
 
The smallest 9mm Semi-auto pistols are:

Diamondback DB9
Boberg XR9-S
Rohrbaugh R9S

These are the absolute smallest 9mm semi-autos that I'm aware of. The Rohrbaugh is a good gun, but not meant to be a range toy, not rated for +p and you will need to have spare recoil springs.

The Diamondback DB9 is inexpensive, doesn't like +P, and prefers ball ammo over hollow points. Some say they have had problems with theirs; mine works fine with the right ammo.

The Boberg XR9S is a well made gun, handles +P and hollow points, but doesn't like certain ammo that is not crimped - Boberg/Bond Arms has a big list of ammo that will work and a short list of ammo that will not work. With the right ammo, it is very reliable.

The Kimber Micro 9 is a tad bigger than the 3 listed above. I don't include it because it is not "the smallest".
 
Shoot one

Go and rent one of the micro 9's and a box of 50 rounds of SD ammo. Shoot the entire box and then decide.
They can really be a handful. I like the P-11 Keltec, the width really helps distribute recoil.
 
Kahr CM-9 is the smallest I've held. I wouldn't want a 9 smaller than my Shield though. That or the G43 are about the smallest you can get that are still easily shootable IMO
 
Rohrbaugh is the smallest 9mm made. Unfortunately they are out of business but I believe Remington uses their patent to make a 380. The Rohrbaugh was stainless steel hand made of very high quality. They are occasionally seen on gunbroker for around $1200.
 
Go and rent one of the micro 9's and a box of 50 rounds of SD ammo. Shoot the entire box and then decide.
They can really be a handful.
Click to expand...
Good idea. You may then decide on a larger pistol, or on a .380.
 
OldMarksman I doubt it will take an entire box to make a man reconsider his options. 50 rounds through an LCP is more than enough.
 
I carry this one often in a pocket holster. She is made like a swiss watch and smooth as silk.




This one is not much larger

 
Boberg (no longer available) is the smallest. Have been acquired by Bond Arms.

XR9-XR45_0642.jpg
 
Kahr CM9 or if you want to spend almost twice the money on unnecessary "niceties", the PM9
Of course if you are in to $1500 status symbol guns there was the Rohrbaugh. That is until Remington bought the company, and kinda, sorta turned it in to a $300 380.
There also was the odd, backward working Boberg for a grand or so. Seems the odd system of chambering a round tended to rip bullets out of the case sometimes.https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/boberg-xr9-s/
I think Bond Arms bought the patent, maybe they can make it work for less$$$.
 
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