What is the best compact 9mm? And why?

Have you held/fired their compacts yet? I loved the USP so much that I jumped at the opportunity to grab a too good to be true USPC and I love that thing! If it wasnt for the weight, it would be my EDC. It is when I wear jeans and a jacket, otherwise i stick with the subs.

 

I have not; my buddies that had them were running the USP 45s, and that's what I tried... I could shoot the shit out of that thing after a little getting used to it, but it just never really felt right for me. One of these days I'm gonna have to get my hands on one of the ones XCummings was referencing and do a little plinking

 

43X for me, and oddly enough in rotation from time to time, a Ruger LC-9 with a Technica clip that I bought back from the ex (may have been some self-preservation there). Not necessarily a fanboy as I have other brands as well, but as a first responder, I can buy on Glock's Blue Line program at a local shop that is Mil/LEO/1st Resp. only; general public cannot buy guns there. I will say, though, that every Glock I have bought has been ready to go right out of the box, is reliable, and the aftermarket is loaded with products.

 

I took a CC class a few months back and the retired sheriff teaching said what has already been said about Glock. Apparently he had one for their range days that was called the 'dirt gun.' It shot whatever it was fed, and without being cleaned. As a non-gun guy (IE no bias either way/not a topic that gets me very intrigued), I found that interesting given his decades of experience.

Myself? I only have a 19 MOS with optic, light and Tenicor for appendix. Glove size is 2XL, and I just really like how it points, but it's not overly concealable. Fortunately, I'm in shape and it doesn't print since my chest lofts my shirts. Have had my eye on the 43X.

 

I carried a USP 40 compact for years, never had an issue with it. Work forced me to swap out to P2000, (basically same gun), it didn’t like sand so much, kept it dry, cleaned daily. I own one but it doesn’t get shot much.

Work switched us out to Glocks a few years ago and never had a malfunction, qualled quarterly. Now retired, own several Glocks, they just work. I have several other brands but carry Glock.

 

I’ve always felt that way about Glocks. I had an early Model 19, retired cop buddy's gun, got it for a song. Shot it well but could never get used to the grip angle, being a 1911 guy. Traded it for a Sig P228. Much better for me.

 

Glock = Remington 870. Something you could bury in your yard for a year and dig it up and shoot it fine.

Although duck hunting isn't quite life or death (except to my father), but it's nice to take a fall in the marsh, completely submerge the gun, and hop up and be able to drop birds while your dad is yelling at you to "quit screwing around! birds are flying!". I look at my Glocks that way.

I wouldn't dunk my Sigs in the mud, and expect them to shoot, but I hope to never have to either.

 

Sig P365 guy here.

 

Anyone interested in trading one of their 9’s for a knife?

 

P365, Sig installed a flat face trigger for me. The 10 round flush and 17 round extended magazine is awesome. Having a light is also a good treat. It’s a good do all pistol, small for ccw and the extended magazine is perfect when home.

 

Thank you.
Seems to be the same size as the P365 XL.


I gave up on XD pistols years ago.
I hated the spongy trigger, perhaps they've cleaned it up.

I had a few of them.
It was back in my super modifying days...
Fortunately, I got over that phase of my firearm life.

Hard chrome slide and controls


Polished controls, I was bored and needed something to do.


XDs was probably the best, but a bit snappy.
45ACP is a bit much for me for a subcompact.


I had a G30s as well.
That gun had the worst pinky pinch of any semi I've owned..




@gosolo if you want to go hard and single action, my EMP was awesome, but very finicky about ammo.
I had the Springfield custom shop mod that one up.


Carried it 2 years.


Sorry I turned your thread into a trip down memory lane for myself..
3 more weeks and I go back to work..

 

And one think about the Glock grip angle:
It is easy to draw high with a Glock if you are used to something else.
I carried a Sig P239 when I got into Glocks and the grip angle certainly takes some getting used to.

Fortunately most newer compact and full-size Glocks have 4 interchangeable backstraps (5 if you count not using one)..
Not sure about the 43X.

Also if you do end up with a Glock 43X, look into Shield 15-round magazines.
The only thing is, they want you to replace the stock plastic mag release with their metal one, and that metal release will eat up Glock stock plastic mags over time.
I ran them for the short time I had my 43X without issues.

S15 Magazine Gen 3 - 15 Round Magazine for Glock® 43X/48 | SHIELD ARMS

Standard S15 Mag Catch for Glock® 43X / 48 | SHIELD ARMS

 

Another vote for the P365.
I like the standard length barrel, and I go back and forth between the standard and XL grip. With more clothes on, the XL grip is great and you’ve got a flush-fit 12+1. In the summer, standard grip with a 10rd with the pinky extension is still perfectly useable and just a tad bit shorter for hiding. I’ll carry a 12-rd spare mag either way.

I’ve tried many times and just can’t get comfortable with the glock grip angle. My only “glock” is a P80 with a normal grip angle.

 

Anyone who knows anything about this cru expects a gun related thread to wander around a bit!

 

mad props to the 26, the OG of higher capacity subcompacts. But the rest of the market has moved forward and there's better options now. Everybody saw money in that segment and stepped it up a notch with what they brought to the table.

I shoot better with my 365xl. All fingers on the grip, can do an emergency reload without having to adjust my grip so the pinkie doesn't hold the empty magazine in in a high stress moment. 12+1 standard, 15+1 with an up sized magazine. My hands tend to want to rock the muzzle upward when shooting the 26 without extensions, throwing groups high. I stabilize and bear down on the 365xl with less effort.

We're told the dangling pinkie doesn't matter but I find it does. So if I'm gonna mostly shoot the G26 with extensions might as well shoot and carry my 19 if I want a Glock on me. The only compromise I feel I make with the 365 is the narrower grip just does not quite fill my hands out width wise as nicely as the 26 grip.

G26 sits in the safe now and gets shot a couple times per year. It's one I would trade or sell except I generally don't let guns go very often.

 

Own:
SW shield
Glock 43
Glock 26
Glock 19
Sig 365xl
Sig P938
Springfield hellcat

Carry:
365xl.


It’s got good capacity, flattest shooting of the bunch. But in the end, it’s all personal preference. Go to a range that has rentals and shoot them all

 

^ All good points.

I can't let my Gen 2.5 G26 go.
It's a hand down to the kids when it's time gun.
I'm partial to OG Glocks anyway..

Gen 2 G17 and G19


Although I did sell my Gen 1 G17..
Grip was a slick as a wet fish..

 

My 19 Gen5 is a sweet spot gun right now and I haven't been able to talk myself into a 17. Not sure what I'd do with it. The 19 is very concealable if I want to take it out but if I want to rotate it into hd duty just throw a 17 or 21-24 rounder in it.

 

Gen 2 G19 is a bit small for my grip, it will go to my daughter.

My Gen G45 is a sweet house gun, G19 slide with a G17 frame.
If you can carry and G19, you could carry a G45 and have a couple extra rounds..

Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 5, no finger grooves..

 

Well, I’m settled on the Glock 43X.

 

Probably should have kept mine.
If I don't warm up to my P365, I'll sell it and get another 43X.
I like 147gr ammo, but try whatever and see what is best for you..

That Glock should eat anything you run through it..

Good luck..

 

@1lowlife

I’ll probably add this or something similar, down the road

 

It's a snappy pistol but it's just so easy to carry.
I keep an extra mag in my offside pocket.



Ruger has made some upgrades since I bought mine.
Bought mine when the first came out..

 

I carry a Sig P239 in 9mm that I am very happy with.

 

Sig 938 w/TLR6. Fantastic little carry gun. So happy that the patent on the Colt Mustang ran out.

 

Another vote for the P365 (XL, actually).

I own a Glock 19X as well and I’m actually more accurate at the same range with the P365 XL.

 

Sig P365X-Macro 17rd mags. If you want a bit more bbl length and no compensator, the XL top end works on it.

 

+1 to the 43x.
Love mine!!

 

So much love for the 43x but still come with 10 rounds standard. Shield mags are on what gen and still have yet to solve their problems? I’ll take the IWI Masada Slim over the 43x any day. Even the MC9 over the 43x without question.
love me some Glock but sometimes have to put it down

 

The 12rd sig mags run fine in my 43x. I have no regrets or issues with this Glock.