Help me out! Polymer Framed Single Stack.

[OrangeAnimal]

Looking for a good replacement for the Springfield Armory EMP .40, I had too many issues with the gun starting to rust going back and worth to have the coating redone by SA keeping it oiled all the time etc. It was a tack driver extremely easy to shoot and if you were to miss with it you must be blindfolded or drunk. Needless to say I loved the gun other than it just wasn't the best option for conceal carry.

I am looking to stay in similar frame size or slight smaller in 9mm maybe .40 for a polymer framed gun. And before anyone mentions it not the Glock. They just don't fit my hands well and I do not care for the trigger. My wife has and loves a G26 and I had and sold a G27. I am currently carrying my bug a Sig P238. I love that gun too but want something I can get a better grip on. That said I don't have huge hands I just like a longer grip cause it's much easier to draw to action. I am a thin guy but tall.

Seems like single stack has been the best for me so far but with the latest recalls on the two front runners of my choice have been hard to obtain. The XD-s 9mm and the S&W Shield were top on the list then I started thinking about it some more. I started to consider the Ruger LC9 but the trigger is probably going to drive me crazy.

So my question to ya'll is what do you like and why. Also please keep it limited to guns that are actually easy to get that I won't wait a year for and hopefully under 600 dollars.

[Keith B]

Kahr PM9 or CM9. I carry the PM9 and love the gun. Fits well in pocket of Dockers as well as jeans (if not too tight) and has never failed me past he break-in period (first 200 rounds.)

Many like the M&P Shield as well, but watch if you buy a used one as there is a trigger recall.

[KinnyLee]

This is just a suggestion. You mentioned that you love this gun, so why not spend the $$ on the new gun on sending the gun out to be NP3 from Robar? You won't have a rust probably after this.

http://robarguns.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cedar Park Dad]

Also consider the Walther PPS. Its what Glock should have been...plus they feel like they are thinner than a credit card.

Shield is getting good reviews but has a minor recall so be aware if you go down that way to idetify if the one you're looking at needs work (unlikely but SW has a reputation for excellent service). XD has a recall of some sort out but I've never heard anyone actually complain about them.

One positive for the Shield. If its like the other M&P line, the barrel, slide, and much of the trigger assembly is stainless steel. I have an M&Pc for just that reason. if you have an environment conducive to sweating this is a factor to think about.

[gigag04]

Kahr /thread

[The Annoyed Man]

Kahr /thread

Kahrs are good, but there are other alternatives too: Sprinfield XDS in .45, .40, and 9mm (once the recall has been cleared up); M&P Shield in 9mm and .40; Beretta Nano in 9mm. I like Kahrs too, but they are not the only maker of polymer-framed single stack guns. If you want to stick with 9mm, here is a fairly comprehensive list:

http://www.gunsandammo.com/2012/11/05/8 ... l-defense/

• Beretta Nano
• Kahr CM9 (and PM9.....the CM9 is a "downgraded" PM9)
• Kel-Tec PF9
• Kimber Solo Carry
• Ruger LC9
• Sig P938
• M&P Shield 9
• Taurus PT709 Slim
  
  
  ...and don't forget...
• Springfield XDS-9

All of these are single-stack polymer framed 9mm, except the Kimber Solo which has an aluminum frame, but only weighs 17 oz with an empty mag, which puts it in the same ballpark as any of these other guns.

[LAYGO]

M&P Shield. 9 or 40.

My very first shot with mine was a bullseye at 5yds. They're crazy hard to find in stock because people love them. I found two at CTD, but they want $560 for it when MSRP is $400. I found one on GunBroker for $419 + $20 s/h (+ transfer). This seller has sold a bunch more for the same price.

Another option is the SA XDs9 (no 40, but do have 45). While shopping for the Shield, two different locations, 3 different salesmen mentioned the XDs9. Hitchcok45 on Youtube has a pretty good comparison video between the two.

[MoJo]

My favorite single stack compact is the alloy frame S&W 3913. One sweet gun.

[Sigsite]

My EDC is a S&W M&P Shield in .40 S&W. I recently made the mistake of letting my wife shoot it and she wanted it - so, with Shields being hard to find, I purchased a Taurus PT709 in 9mm for her. The PT709 is a very nice pistol and is very close in size to the Shield. The one problem is the availability of magazines right now. It only comes with one and they are very hard to find but all in all it is a nice pistol.

[tomtexan]

Go rent yourself a Shield and try it out. You won't be disappointed.

[Songbird]

I sure like my Walther PPS. I've had it for a little over a year. No problems with it at all-it's been around long enough that they've worked out the bugs. It has a pretty good trigger. Not as nice as its big brother, PPQ, but it feels better in my hand than all the rest listed (yep, I tried just about all of them before I bought my PPS).

[OrangeAnimal]

Well I would think again about sending out the gun EMP if I had it to do over again but I feel somewhat dumb now for selling it. Really anything in that size or close to it would fit the bill. As far as it being 9mm I would prefer as I already have a bevy of arms requiring that cartridge so it just makes since. I do really like and have always been impressed with the .40 cal cartridge so who knows. Maybe I will go that route but the ammo isn't cheap.

I really want to stick to polymer frames because I can live with it easier. My sweat should classified as downright corrosive I should get a diamond to wear while out and about. That said my aluminum frame Sig has shown no sign of wear other than a couple nicks from accidently dropping it :(.

Thanks so far for the responses keep it rolling! Also if you got a pick of the gun your recommending in your hand post it up cause the only dimension I am interested in is the one I can't find. The distance from the bottom of the trigger guard to the bottom of the grip. I have a fairly thin hand and really long fingers so the guns with exchangeable back straps kinda catch my interest.

[The Annoyed Man]

Well I would think again about sending out the gun EMP if I had it to do over again but I feel somewhat dumb now for selling it. Really anything in that size or close to it would fit the bill. As far as it being 9mm I would prefer as I already have a bevy of arms requiring that cartridge so it just makes since. I do really like and have always been impressed with the .40 cal cartridge so who knows. Maybe I will go that route but the ammo isn't cheap.

I really want to stick to polymer frames because I can live with it easier. My sweat should classified as downright corrosive I should get a diamond to wear while out and about. That said my aluminum frame Sig has shown no sign of wear other than a couple nicks from accidently dropping it :(.

Thanks so far for the responses keep it rolling! Also if you got a pick of the gun your recommending in your hand post it up cause the only dimension I am interested in is the one I can't find. The distance from the bottom of the trigger guard to the bottom of the grip. I have a fairly thin hand and really long fingers so the guns with exchangeable back straps kinda catch my interest.

On the left, a Kahr PM9. In the middle, a Springfield XDS-45. On the right, a Springfield XD(M)-45 Compact 3.8.


Same three guns underside, top to bottom the PM9, XDS-45, XD(M)-45 Compact 3.8


Same three guns, width and length and grip length:


The PM9 and XDS are both single stack. The XD(M) is double stack. The PM9 and XDS are both pocketable....easily. The XD(M) does not and really must be holster carried. Neither of the three guns is exceptionally large, the XD(M) being roughly the length and height of a Glock 30 but narrower across the slide, and my hand in the bottom picture is of average size. Between the XDS and the PM9, the former is .75" longer and .3" taller than the latter, and they are both the same width: .9" across the slide. The XDS, despite the disappointing recent recall, is a little gem of a pistol, and of the three, and it is my favorite. The PM9 is inky-dinky-doo tiny.

Hope that helps.

[OrangeAnimal]

Excellent! I noticed the XD-s has a nice notch in the guard to give you more room for your fingers.

I plan on trying to handle as many as I can get my palms on tomorrow. Big issue I have is that I cannot go online and just order a firearm at least not easily. My wife (therefore myself) is stationed outside our state of residence so without having state issued id I cannot purchase a handgun. I actually had wanted to get a XD-S while in Texas this past weekend but no one had one and then I found out about the recall. At the time I thought I had my heart set on one of those but now I am looking into other choices. It's a big pain to buy here though I have to bring copy of orders copy of her mil id and my DL, mil id, chl. Also I don't really feel comfortable putting copies of all of that in the mail to an unknown individual. I am still not even 100% they will sell directly to me here it may be that she will have to go in to make the purchase but that wasn't the impression I was given by the lgs clerk which seemed to have knowledge of how this work as he well should being less than 5 miles from Belle Chasse NAS JRB.

[The Annoyed Man]

Excellent! I noticed the XD-s has a nice notch in the guard to give you more room for your fingers.

It is a really neat pistol, no doubt, and that is why it is such a big disappointment that it has been recalled. Of all my carry guns, it is my favorite. When it comes back from the recall, I will carry it again. I just won't do it until I have had another range break-in session to make sure it is OK.