A Discussion of Single Stack 9mm Utility and Applications

We talked about single stack 9mm’s not too long ago. I also did a decent, if brief, round up of different single stack 9mm options. After considerable deliberation I ended up purchasing a Kahr CW9.

Those experiences as well as several years of very consistent carry are the foundation from which I write this post.

I do have a bone to pick with the Everyday Carry Solutions post. The categorization used thereon is solely focused on barrel length which is unnecessarily simplistic and thus inaccurate. By the barrel length only method of categorization the enormous Ruger Alaska with it’s 2.5in barrel is a ‘Micro Pistol’. That example, while obviously intentionally picked to make a point, illustrates the weakness of this method. I would humbly submit that height (bottom of grip to top of gun) as well as width definitely matter and weight is a consideration also. Additionally since these guns tend to be carried inside the waistband an extra half inch of barrel is probably not an issue. Generally speaking height makes a gun print more and thickness (width) makes it harder to carry comfortably without purposefully buying clothes to do so.

The weakness of the method used by EDC Solutions is that some of the guns shown in the photo with the article are actually taller and thus by one dimension harder to conceal than the G26.

Personally I would say all the guns being discussed here are in the subcompact range. To me it breaks down about like this:
Full sized- Service pistols like the Glock 17 and S&W Model 19. 4-5in barrels and grips that extend below the average sized hand giving enough room to comfortably connect with the off hand in a normal grip.
Compact- Glock 19 and similarly sized weapons. Grip fills average sized hand though off hand probably does not have purchase. Roughly 3.5-4in barrels
Subcompact-The S&W Shield and my Kahr CW9 are pushing the top end of the size range pretty hard on the top end. Average sized hand will have partial pinky contact on this end. G26 and J frames are pretty standard.On the bottom end I arbitrarily cut off around the Kahr CM/ PM 9, and Sig P290. These guns are generally considered not small enough to pocket carry at the top end but work into it when we get to J frame and smaller. The Sig P238/938 is kind of on the fence for the bottom end of this category and the top of the next.
Tiny- These range from your little .380′s like the Kel Tech P3AT, Kahr P380 through the Beretta Mouse guns in .22-.32 all the way down to the uuber tiny NAA revolvers. These are guns you could put in a shirt pocket and forget about.

Anyway now that my slightly different take on the matter from that otherwise excellent article is covered let us get back to the topic of the single stack 9mm.

The combination of modern engineering/ materials with the rise of concealed carry laws across the US have made for an explosion of new guns in the subcompact to tiny range.

The most obvious application for the single stack 9mm in the subcompact size range is concealed carry. One must do their own risk assessment but I think an 8-9rd 9mm is going to be plenty for most scenarios.

I’m not in love with these for home defense weapons due to round capacity and the inability (except oddly the Kel Tech PF9) to mount a light. As such for the ‘one tool’ spiral I don’t favor these pistols. That being said one could make an argument for a handgun they WILL carry and the larger guns in this range like the Kahr CW9 and S&W Shield are large enough to manipulate in a reasonable manner.

For a back up type weapon there could be options, especially when we get to the J frame to Kahr PM/CM 9 size range. Personally I rarely carry 2 pistols but I guess the option could be useful for some.

Anyway I think that about wraps it up. Thoughts?