What is the best compact 9mm? And why?

Are you using combat hold, center, or 6 o'clock?

 

When I was in the market for a CC, my trainer brought the glock 43, the P365 and P365XL, and I wound up buying both Sig models.

The Glock 43 was painful to fire, whether it was from incorrect grip, or simply because of the lack of a radius on the trigger guard, I don't know. All I can say is that when I switched from pistol, to pistol, to pistol, to pistol, when it all came down to it, the Sig models felt like they were supposed to be in my hands, and I didn't get that brusing on the inside of my middle finger, which rested against the trigger guard, and got wacked every time I pulled the 43's trigger. I could have radiused the guard with a dremmel, but why bother ?

I've since put several thousand rounds through both my P365 and my P365XL, and neither have caused any discomfort whatsoever. I get better / more precise hits on the XL, but carrying is nearly always the 365 itself, unless my wife is with me, and then she takes the 365, and I the XL.

I was immediately sold on the Sig platform, the first pull of that 43, as I knew it wasn't right for my hands.

 

I had the Springfield XD in .45 for about a year, then I tried the S&W Shield in 9 for about a year...then I picked up the Sig P365 and have had no reason to look further. It has been over 5 years now and it checks all the boxes for CC.

 

Why bother with the most outdated, lowest payload, worst fuel economy full size pickup on the market?

Because it works every single time. It is more dependable than anything else on the road.

The same is true of a Glock. They’re not as fun to shoot or as comfortable (sound familiar?), but they will work every single time. They are the most dependable when it counts.

 

I do love my Tundra and revolvers.

 

So "why bother" modifying a brand new gun's trigger guard, triggered you ? Well, that's not fun.

I would think that having to buy a new Toyota Tundra with the Turbo V6, and swapping another V8 into it right off the showroom floor, because it didn't come from the factory that way, doesn't ring a common sense approach. This being, at least to my ears. Maybe after driving it for a while, and realizing you didn't like the way it "felt", made more sense, but no not all freshy and new. That's inane, and I wasn't about to go that route.

I'm not, nor have I ever dismissed your precious Glock 43. I said it didn't work for me, it was uncomfortable, and I wasn't about to modify a brand new firearm, without at least putting several hundred, or several thousand rounds through it. Works for you, no for me.

I'm happy with my choice. By the way you came across so condescending of my thoughts on my choices, I guess you're not happy with my choice, but then again, it was mine.

 

Lol no triggering here. And no condescension intended. I am just surprised more Toyota drivers aren’t also Glock shooters for the very same reasons.

We all start with the most reliable platform even though it is deficient in other ways and mod it to our liking.

A gun is not precious to me. It’s a tool. I know it’s a contentious subject, but I can’t bring myself to buy anything from Sig with the way they handled the P320 debacle (they’re up to 100 lawsuits and 80 injuries from the 320 going off on its own). Too bad. I like their image stabilizing binos a lot.

 

Yep
I've seen people with a 5 shot revolver shoot reload and shoot again as smooth as a baby's bottom, their times between reloading were impressive. And all in the kill zone.
As much as I'm comfortable with any firearm, I'm slow when it comes to revolvers. I need to practice more.

 

Yeah, that's some shooting skill right there. No, to answer your question. I have however hit flies that landed at 15-25 yds. .22 LR cases at 20 yds. But that was awhile ago. I could probably get there again if I practiced it more. Now to catch more flies......ha ha ha jk

 

Yeah buddy!! I have an RIA 10MM "Big Rock" and as big and heavy as that gun is, the recoil is definitely noticeable. I love it though. Probably one of the most reliable handguns I've ever had. It's a 2011, 6" long slide double stack. 16 rnd magazine of 10MM goodness!! Love that gun. Currently at BarSto getting a barrel fitted for a suppressor.

 

The most painful gun I have ever shot was a Ruger SP101 in .357 Magnum. Had aftermarket Houge grips that actually cracked from the recoil. They were wood laminate and beautiful but I couldn't believe they cracked. Anyway, yeah, every time I shot it, it felt like getting hit in the hand with a hammer. Not fun. Ended up selling.

 

LOVE the .45 ACP and 1911s.

 

This is almost exactly my experience. I bought a Glock 43 mainly because I got it for like $250 new, which was a steal...but it was/is WAY too small for my hands - and I don't have the biggest hands. I got the same bruising on the middle finger. Meanwhile...I 'acquired a target' in the store I found the P365XL in, and I didn't even have to line up the front sights with the back sights. It was just....there. I was shocked. Did it like 5 times in a row and it just felt natural, so I bought it, and it's been fantastic.

 

Thanks for this.

I had no idea about the problem with the P320, but I'll keep that in mind.

See there. I loined something new today ! Woo Hoo !

EDIT: I read the case in GA regarding the guy who discharged the P320 into his thigh. Really messed up.

I had safeties installed on both my P365 and my P365XL, and I practice removing from my holster, and as I'm raising the pistol up, thumbing the safety down, so it becomes engrained into muscle memory. The P365 didn't have a safety on it, but now both do, and it instantly instilled a comfort level which I didn't have before, carrying chambered. Again, I frequently test to ensure the safety works, and I also do a complete teardown each month, cleaning all parts, and only lubricating where designed, and not on the trigger mechanism, as dictated by the factory manual.

Never knew about that lawsuit. I had my gun rep change both pistols to the 3-4lb spring, and it improved my range accuracy immensely.

 

You can Google 'Sig 320 news' and see all kinds of stuff about the 320 issues.
At first, I thought it was fingers on the trigger, but lately, I'm not so sure.

Group of 22 file suit over SIG Sauer's P320 pistol; company offers strong pushback | Courts | unionleader.com

"It Happened Again" Major Problems Continue with the SIG SAUER P320 - Survival World

The only Sig I have left is my 1988 WG P226..

And to @Corndog123 worst recoil comment.
I'd say mine is the S&W Model 29 44mag I had for a few months.
Not bad in 44 Special, but 44 mag was a range clearer.

Although my LCP is no joy to shoot either..

 

We don't have our own range locally and used to partner with another local PD and Fed Agency. The local PD terminated that partnership back in Jan 2023 because our issue pistol is the P320, previously was the P229.

We also had an AD a few months back that put a guy in the hospital for a few days (gun discharged into his thigh). I wasn't there and don't know the guy personally or have heard details from the source, so I won't speculate or give any more info.

As well and that's what I carry whenever I can: 9mm and 45.

 

FEI-
the fire control units of the P365s are different than those of the P320; The 365s return to striker spring akin to what Gaston designed (and the safety associated with it).

 

Iron sights on the P365X. My slide is an older one that removes the rear sight when mounting a RDO. Not against RDOs since I have them on my other pistols, just old school to want back up iron in case the RDO dies. Haven't decided whether to send in a non RDO ready 365 slide to a milling service or just buy a newer RDO ready slide that keeps the rear sight with the RDO mounted.