Unexpected Discovery

J

Jacket67

New member
Hey TFL,

So this weekend I was home for Thanksgiving and got together with some of my buddies for some handgun shooting. Between us all, there was my shield 9mm, a glock 19, 23, and 26, and two 1911's (colt and SA). Before I bought my shield, I had been leaning heavily towards getting a doublestack primarily because of capacity. I've shot plenty and they all felt great, and for the most part, still do.

However, during this rage trip I realized that I like single stack handguns more than double stacks now. Not out of bias for my shield, but they just felt better to shoot and I honestly got bored shooting the doube stacks. It seems weird complaining about having "too many rounds", but that's what it felt like. It got me thinking about what handgun I will buy next, and if I really saw a double stack being something I'd want. I never thought I'd be turned away from wanting a doublestack handgun, but it seems that has happened.

Does anyone else prefer single stacks over double stacks? If so, why?
 
Yes, I do.... / slimmer profile, easier to conceal than a wider gun ...and I don't care about capacity so much .../ the only double stacks I have out of 25 or so semi-autos are three of the Sig 226's ( they're ok as range guns / but I don't carry them ).

My preference in a single stack is a 1911...full sized, 5" gun ...in 9mm( 10 + 1 capacity ) is my primary carry gun. If I wanted to go a little smaller I have a pair of Sig 239's ( one in 9mm and one in .40 S&W)...or I would go to a revolver as a carry gun ( K or N frame S&W ).

Trigger style is another big reason I like the 1911's..can replicate the 1911 trigger in any of the double stacks, etc ...even if they are SAO.
 
Single stack. Why? Because I have dainty little girl hands. And I shot thousands of rounds in the IPSC days with a 1911.

A single stack gun indexes better for me.

I carried a 1911 as a duty gun for many years. The flat grip gives me better orientation of where the guns pointed. A double stack feels like a ball in my hand. I’ve made a bunch of revolver grips and, I flatten the sides to get that same feeling.

The other thing, for me, is weapon retention. The more I can close my hand into a fist, the tighter a grip I have on my gun while moving, running or fighting over it.
 
Here in California, a double stack does not offer the same benefits as in high capactiy states.
Since the limit is only ten, no matter double or single stack, a pistol like the shield with magguts might only be a one round difference, so the thinner single stack wins out.
As far as accuracy, I find no difference in the smaller gun vs. the larger guns.

I've converted over from a glock fan to a shield fan.

The glock 29 might be the only one I might make an exception for. Much more power for woods carry. If anyone makes a small single stack 10mm, I would be first in line!
 
I don't think about the double/single stack thing too often, but I do get bored firing the higher capacity magazines. And I shoot up the ammo I bought much sooner. Once I know the gun will function with a full mag, I pretty much limit myself to loading five at a time. I do the same thing with revolvers.
 
I like single stacks, that's why I ended up with a 220 instead of the 227. Why my 9c,26,229,&PT145 all went away as carry guns and my Shield took over for good.

I still have plenty of double stacks but my favorites are CZ.

When shooting at the range I normally shoot a mag maybe two. Look for brass, talk for a while, reload and then shoot some more.
 
I myself have never used a double stack. Single stacks load easily enough and there are enough rounds for my purposes (target shooting).

I would say that unless you are rapid shooting many rounds and specifically have a need for more rounds in 1 mag than a single stack will accomodate, then the debate between single and double disappears.

Single stacks are simpler mechanically also, aren't they?
Its a simple choice for me anyway.....
Hope these comments help...
 
I would say that unless you are rapid shooting many rounds and specifically have a need for more rounds in 1 mag than a single stack will accomodate, then the debate between single and double disappears.
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Since when has any firearm related debate disappeared???:D

The main advantage of single stack pistols is the smaller overall grip circumference and shorter trigger reach. Some double stack pistols are simple too large for those of us with smaller hands to properly use. That said, many pistols these days come with adjustable backstraps that are definitely more accommodating to smaller hands. Its nice to have options.

I would mention also that double stack magazines need not be loaded to full capacity.
 
On some models I also shoot single stack better.

I shot a Springfield XDS with the 4" barrel once. It shot like a full size gun and I had no trouble with accuracy on that guy! But it was thin and easy to hold!
 
Single stacks are simpler mechanically also, aren't they?
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Why would this be the case? Pistol magazines are single feed.

If a single stack works for you, awesome. I have double stacks in my collection that are smaller in my hand than a 1911 with standard thickness grips. I don't have big hands, I wear a medium glove. That said I find some single stacks like the Shield and 43 are almost too thin for me. I have to use the joint of my finger rather than my pad and it's unnatural to me. They also just feel odd in my hand. I find double stacks typically take up just the right amount of real estate in my hand to feel locked in. I still have single stacks I really enjoy, but I find there are those whose circumference is just slightly less than that of double stacks.
 
Depends on which firearm you're talking about. When I compared the S&W Shield alongside my Sig P6 and my Walther PPS-M2 at the range I shot my guns better than the Shield, but the Shield is still a good gun, and I'm fairly certain I could shoot it better if I practiced more often.with it.

If I had to have a Shield, I would definitely want one with a thumb-safety considering the relatively light triggers on the couple that I tried, but I really don't like thumb safeties on striker-fired pistols, that's strictly my opinion. My Walther has a cocking indicator so when I cover the back plane of the slide with my thumb when I (re)holster, there is no chance of snagging the trigger. And the P6 is hammer-fired with a long DA pull, so there is no chance of snagging the trigger when I cover the hammer on this one.
 
I've never been in a gun fight so I've never "needed" a double stack magazine.

For target shooting a single stack is just as enjoyable as a as a double stack. Often I'll only load 10 rounds even in 17 round magazines. Blasting through 17 rounds starts to almost get boring at times. Shooting 10 rounds, loading 10 rounds, shooting 10, loading 10 is a better pace for me.
 
I've previously owned double stacks and carry one as a duty weapon. That said, all of my personally owned semi-autos are single stack for the simple reason that they fit my hand best. I'm not concerned about the capacity limitation as a defensive weapon. I count on my improved accuracy under stress with the single stack to make up for the round count.
 
I carry only single-stacks (Kahrs or my Kimber 1911.) The idea of a concealed weapon is to be able to conceal it... I'm tall and skinny (sort of...) and I have a time trying to strap a double-stacker and keep it hidden. Even when I was carrying my 1911, I found the size was a challenge sometimes, and left it at home or in the truck console... which is stupid. Now I carry 9mm single-stack Kahrs... and I'm never without my sidearm.
 
I only prefer single stack magazine pistols for concealment. Obviously, you are going to tend to favor what feels best in your hand and what you shoot best.

I have moderately large hands and apart from an M&P Shield, all of my pistols take double stack magazines except for my model 1911s. And with a 1911 I need to fit thick grips and usually grip spacers or a grip sleeve, and use a trigger with a long shoe to make them comfortable. A double stack magazine affords a more comfortable grip and trigger reach for me, and distributes recoil force against a larger surface of my palm.

And yes, for recreational shooting I most often down-load my magazines.
 
I honestly got bored shooting the doube stacks. It seems weird complaining about having "too many rounds", but that's what it felt like.
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I find full capacity mags boring when I'm trying to "target shoot", slow fire, exclusively for accuracy.

However, if I'm trying to "combat shoot", going for multiple rounds into an acceptable circle as quickly as possible, the 15 rounds or so goes very quickly. Especially when shooting 6" or 8" steel gongs.


I've never been in a gun fight so I've never "needed" a double stack magazine.
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I've never been in a fire so I never "needed" a fire extinguisher. I've never been in a car accident, so I never "needed" a seat belt and airbag. You never know if you'll ever will need these things, until you do. I hope to God none of us ever do.
 
My concealed carry gun is a single stack for ease of concealment and comfort inside the waistband. My home defense pistol is a double stack.
 
"QUOTE"
The Glock 29 might be the only one I might make an exception for.

I carry & shoot one every day. Easy to conceal & LOTS of power.:D
 
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