Small 9's Too Big?

[Rubb]

I'm seeing some posts here and elsewhere about the smaller 9's still being a bit big.
I get the weight is different and maybe less comfortable, but size?
Could a lot of it come down to holster selection??
It got me thinking and I snapped some quick pics for the heckofit.
Don't get me wrong..carry what you will, I carried a .380 for years.

[chrish]

Dunno how you could get them much smaller. I mean, 6-7 single stacked 9mm means the grip can only be so short. Period. How much capacity and grip are they willing to give up. 1 finger on the grip? Same for thickness. I suppose someone could come up with a carbon fiber frame that would yield the strengh of a poly/steel/alum frame w/ less thickness. But CF is kinda brittle, you can only do so much w/ it. I'd be concerned about the controlled explosion over time in a thin CF framed pistol. THen weight, we are already down to 13-16oz 9mm pistols. What are they gonna do w/ a lighter one? Fire it and then chase it across the parking lot for the follow-up shot?

[C0untZer0]

The Rohrbaugh R9 is smaller - maybe the smallest you can get a 9mm with it still being functional.


My CM9 is easier to shoot than the R9 and I am more accurate with my CM9 than I am with my R9, but the R9 is easier to carry in a pocket, and it has been flawless with Gold Dots and Winchester Ranger "T" RA9T.

[muggsy]

I'm not in the least concern about printing. I'm more concerned with stopping the perp. That why my primary carry is no smaller than a 9mm. I only carry the .380 as a back-up.

[garyb]

I'm seeing some posts here and elsewhere about the smaller 9's still being a bit big.
I get the weight is different and maybe less comfortable, but size?
Could a lot of it come down to holster selection??
It got me thinking and I snapped some quick pics for the heckofit.
Don't get me wrong..carry what you will, I carried a .380 for years.

"A bit big" for what? Pocket carry...maybe for me....although the PM9 is not my cal of preference it is the same size as my PM40. Just found it too uncomfortable for pocket carry vs the 380 which is much smaller and lighter. Weight being the big issue. I found that (for me) 14 oz was the limit for comfortable pocket carry. The 380 met the criteria perfectly. Don't get me wrong, I love my PM40 for carry, but for IWB. Again, not sure what you mean by "a bit big".

[Rubb]

Yes, pocket carry.
Folks have been pocket packing j-frames for years, most of which were much heavier.
Like I said...I have nothing against a .380..I carry it solo on occasion.
IMO small .380's have spoiled us.

[Bill K]

PM9 is about as large and heavy as I want to go for pocket carry. I've pocket carried a Glock 26 a number of times but only in cargo pants slash pocket. No, anything bigger and/or heavier and/or thicker than my PM9 and it is belt carry for me.

BTW, very nice comparison photos.

[garyb]

Yes, pocket carry.
Folks have been pocket packing j-frames for years, most of which were much heavier.
Like I said...I have nothing against a .380..I carry it solo on occasion.
IMO small .380's have spoiled us.

Agreed....for pocket. Now I see your point. Thanks for clarifying.

[jocko]

I think

The Rohrbaugh R9 is smaller - maybe the smallest you can get a 9mm with it still being functional.


My CM9 is easier to shoot than the R9 and I am more accurate with my CM9 than I am with my R9, but the R9 is easier to carry in a pocket, and it has been flawless with Gold Dots and Winchester Ranger "T" RA9T.

the R9 is u accept if for what it is desinged for and shoot the ammo they sopecify, is one excelent p9cket gun. Never had one, but I think I really want one, just nver came upon one or wante dto part with 1K to buy it asmy PMJ9 seems to do everything I want. Bt I think ur right with the R9. A HELL OF A GUN.iT IS WHAT IT IS A SMALL ASS 9 that will saveur life and meant to be used within hand shaking distance to..

[Rob K]

Recently got a CM9, mainly because of the size and concealability. I bought a Cook's Holters Kydek IWB holster which is the flattest and most concealable I could find.(around $50 bucks) 9mm is a respectable caliber used by many police departments. I'd rather carry my 1911 but it's just too big for me to carry. Practice, practice,practice, but in my opinion, don't go with a .380. It's kinda anemic for self defense. I used to , and still do, carry a J-frame but it does not lie as flat against the body. Just my opinion.

[happypuppy]

I agree on weight as the most important factor. Twenty ounces is my max.

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." -G.S. Patton

[DavidS]

I am a big ol' boy. I really do not have a problem with an MK40 in my pocket.

[JohnR]

The Sig P938 should work fine, it's no bigger than most pocket .380s.

It depends on the pocket - front pocket doesn't work for me. I can put it in a cargo pocket, but it swings as I walk and bumps my leg, and anything close by, with a clunk. I can do back pocket easily as long as there's something to prevent printing. A holster, or a piece of folded paper, anything.

[garyb]

The Sig P938 should work fine, it's no bigger than most pocket .380s.

It depends on the pocket - front pocket doesn't work for me. I can put it in a cargo pocket, but it swings as I walk and bumps my leg, and anything close by, with a clunk. I can do back pocket easily as long as there's something to prevent printing. A holster, or a piece of folded paper, anything.

I agree with cargo pocket...not working for me either for the same reasons. Back pocket was also a challenge...sitting on the gun was not comfortable and did not seem to make a whole lot of sense either. Front pocket or jacket pocket were the only two options that seemed to work. But weight in the front pocket was an issue. 14 oz max was comfortable to me...making the 380 a solution for pocket carry situations. Otherwise, it's the PM40 IWB (most of the time).

[berettabone]

I don't have any problem carrying my MK9 in my front pocket. I also carry it IWB in a High Noon holster. The weight is kind of an issue, but not enough to carry something else.