Single stack 9mm?

[Robert1234]

You're in California, your only actual choices generally speaking are Gen 3 Glock, XD, Beretta, or SP01. Those or a Springfield Armory or Kimber 9mm 1911.

Choose the most comfortable one and be done with it. The rest of this is just white noise.

[naz]

. You are right, I'm not looking up the roster every time someone suggests something new. Maybe I should.

For what it’s worth, if off roster prices are feasible, I think a p320 x5 legion would be super interesting for your friend.

40oz full size 9mm with a red dot is super easy for new shooters to use

Have you gotten them started on shotguns and ARs yet? I’m not rushing to experience lighting off 223 indoors without earpro but I do think long guns are super compelling as a primary for home defense vs a pistol

[static2126]

How much are P365 complete slides going for on here now? Reasonable price.

[JTROKS]

What happened to looking for “Single Stack”?

[Thrashard340]

There are not a lot of single stack on-roster options in California. The roster is unkind (and downright discriminatory) to those with smaller hands.

For roster choices, can't go wrong with a 1911. For double stack, P-01 would be my choice.

[BradleyAbrams]

I'm eyeing the CW9 or CT9. On paper, they seem like an obvious choice. My experience with Kahr just hasn't been the experience I want a new shooter to have. Maybe the larger frames in a 9 alleviates my concerns?

I wish revolvers did it for him. Sadly, they do not.

I like the CW9 because it is simple to operate. I did not know much about the Kahrs when I got mine, other than what I read. FWIW, I have PPK/s, BHP, Gen2 G19, SP2022.

The Kahr was a relatively unknown to me at the time. I had read about the 200 rounds "breaking in" cycle with a new pistol and to play it safe, I bought 400 rounds to the gun range.

My CW9 worked flawlessly. Not one issue. Slide operated perfectly on empty mag, and it closed into battery every time with either the slide release or by sling shot with a new, full mag.

I even tried all sorts of combinations to cause a malfunction, including I had brought 3 mags and I fed them into the CW9 as fast as possible, in sequence; many times over.. and nothing. It ate it all without a hiccup.

It fed perfectly with Ball and JHPs. I now have over 2000rds through it and it's been flawless.

I trust it enough that it is my EDC.

.

[jewie27]

for single stacks on the roster, can't really beat the M&P Shield. Only thing I don't like is that it comes with a thumb safety, LCI, and mag disconnect.

for Off roster: Shield Plus, Glock 43X, P365/XL, Hellcat.

[Gryff]

You're kidding, right? The X5 Legion is a beast (I have one) and really not the ideal first handgun. Especially for someone looking for something a touch smaller in the hand. I would direct them towards a thin-gripped CZ-75/SP-01 before the X5 Legion.

I'm also of the opinion that a new gun owner should become competent with traditional sights before they jump into an RDS.

for single stacks on the roster, can't really beat the M&P Shield. Only thing I don't like is that it comes with a thumb safety, LCI, and mag disconnect.

Have to tell you that the thumb safety is a nice feature to have for safe holstering in a CCW rig. Anything caught in the trigger guard when you seat the gun in the holster isn't going to cause it to go bang if the safety is applied. And once you know the gun is holstered safely, there's no reason you can't flip off the safety and run the gun Condition 0.

LCI is a non-issue on performance. Mag disconnect is pretty easy to disable.

[BillSmith]

Small handed?

Springfield Armory EMP 3" 9mm. 1911 style, single stack. On roster.

[beerman]

I’ve got a Star M43 Firestar that is really a nice little single stack 9. Have to find a used one though.

[green grunt]

not on roster... but if you find one you won't regret it ... S&W 3913 (908) 3913LS or NL ... all good

[Teachu2]

I have three roles for handguns: CCW, range, and HD. CCW favors small and light, at least as I aged. Range favors larger and a bit more weight. HD favors larger and higher capacity. One gun cannot win all 3 roles, but it can do two of them well. By eliminating CCW, the Shield drops way down.

My favorite 9mm range pistols are a RIA 1911 Tactical (off roster, but you can get one in 38Super and change barrel and sights), a CZ 75SA (discontinued 2018), Glock 34 (double stack and blocky, but accurate), a Glock 19 (same), and a Glock 26 (same).

BUT if I were only going to have ONE pistol to do range and HD duty and wanted a slim frame, I'd buy a Series 70 design 1911 in .45acp and a 22lr conversion kit. This would allow me to use my same grip and trigger with lots less recoil and expense. I started doing this about 20 years ago (been shooting handguns 40+), and found it excellent for both myself and new shooters. I have 22lr conversions for my Colt 1911, CZ 75SA, G34, and G19. I rarely shoot my 22/45 or my Buckmark any more.

Given the roster, it's something your friend might consider. There are many more 1911s in 45 on the roster than 9mm.

[gabe123]

Small hands? Here are my 2 cents. Instead of looking for single stack / thinner grip pistols, look for pistols with grip panels that can be changed. It will not make a double stack pistol any thinner, but the with the right panel, will work very well. There is only 1 gun like that on roster I can think of, HK p2k. Off roster hk vp9. You can tell Im a HK fan

[TomReloaded]

Getting a new shooter a single stack subcompact is setting them up for failure.

Just get a g19. There's no reason to intentionally get a single stack, it's much worse in pretty much every way.

[SandHill]

You're in California, your only actual choices generally speaking are Gen 3 Glock, XD, Beretta, or SP01. Those or a Springfield Armory or Kimber 9mm 1911.

Choose the most comfortable one and be done with it. The rest of this is just white noise.