Over the years I've carried a LOT of different guns off-duty. From a full size Glock 17 to a S&W 642 and quite a bit inbetween. When single stack 9mm's came out I'll be honest and say I didn't give any of them a second (or first) look. That changed when I picked up a Ruger LC9 late last year. At the time I was carrying a Glock 26.4 (and still do occasionally). But that Ruger LC9 was just noticeably more comfortable, thinner and lighter. Found myself carrying it more often.
Later on I got into the Ruger LC9s and the S&W Shield and liked both of them as well. Finally, after figuring I'd never bother with one, I got the Glock 43. And now the G43 is pretty much what I carry 90% of the time since I got it. Although I use the LC9 as my 'around the house' gun.
And I've got to give props to the Taurus PT709. I bought one a couple of years ago give or take and it's shot everything I've put through it without a hiccup. Really can't ask for more. My only grip would be that I don't like the flat base plate on the 709 magazine from the stand point that it is very difficult to 'rip' the mag out when doing double feed malfunction drills. But replacement base plates that have more of a griping surface are available and inexpensive to it is an easily corrected 'issue'.
So yeah, I've changed the way I look at the single stack.
Some folks don't like the long DA trigger pull. For a gun that I could potentially pocket carry I prefer it. This one has a nice smooth pull that reminds me of a tuned up revolver. I like a manual safety on a firearm if it's available. Personal preference and I've trained that way as my first semi-auto was a single stack 9mm with thumb safety (Taurus PT908). I like the sights. bright in the day and bright at night. Easy to pick up. I installed the rubbery Talon Grips which are quite nice. And as you can see in the photos, if you don't know whether or not it's loaded....you're just not trying LOL.
Good little gun. Gotta say, I like the smooth lines on this one.
You guys liking the P-225 shouldn't forget the P-239, which I feel is perfect. Of all my autoloaders, I prefer my P-239 in .40 S & W, above all............
The Shield has a good feel to it. The one I gave my son has the Talon grips on it. I'll have to take another look at it to see if I like it well enough to put on this one. Plan to go shooting with it tomorrow.
Taurus PT709 Slim.
As I've mentioned elsewhere, the Slim is simply a nice gun. It has shot everything I've put through it. It's accurate. It's controllable. The trigger is an acquired taste since it breaks so far back but it isn't an issue if you've simply shot it a bit. Not a bad trigger at all, just breaks farther back than other guns. Only ding I've really said about it was the very flat, flush base plate. If you had to do a rip & work malfunction clearance due to a double feed you'd have a very hard time of it. It was hard for me to get enough positive purchase on the base plate to rip it out of the magwell...and I do fingertip push-ups! None of the females in my class could do it. It is an easy fix though in that you can by different base plates for it that are relatively inexpensive. Other than that, well, it goes bang every time with a lifetime warranty. Nothing to complain about there.
Don't know what the current price is on the Slim but not long ago they were around the $179 mark (and maybe even a tad lower IIRC). For sub-$200 you can't go wrong imo. It is a much better gun than it's price point suggests.
Of the four single stacks (G43 is the fourth), three have a manual thumb safety which I prefer. Personal preference.
I’ve had very good luck with my Taurus 709 slim. Group was fired at a fairly fast pace. Think I paid around $250. for the stainless model, I’ve seen the blued models go for around $180. I wouldn’t mind getting a Glock 43.
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I’ve had very good luck with my Taurus 709 slim. Group was fired at a fairly fast pace. Think I paid around $250. for the stainless model, I’ve seen the blued models go for around $180. I wouldn’t mind getting a Glock 43.
For some reason when I replied before I thought we were talking 9mm only. I’m a huge fan of single stack .45s, besides the mandatory 1911 my P220 and XD-S 4.0 are great.
I’ve always liked single stack 9s going back to the original era of S&W 39s. I’m one of the people that hopes Glock comes out with a single stack 4” 9, basically a 43 with the silhouette of a 19.
Agree 100%/ I had a S&W model 39 and it was a sweet shooting gun except that it was a DA/SA decocker. If it had been made so that it could be carried cocked and locked like a 1911 it would have been a much better gun.
Same thing with the single stack Sigs. What I like best about a single stack is it's flat profile for IWB carry. Anyone who has ever handled a TT33 Tokerev knows how narrow a single stack can be and still be chambered for a major cartridge.
I have a Norinco Tokerev and have an aftermarket 38 Super barrel for it. If that gun could be carried cocked and locked it would be a nice carry gun. But I like the idea of a single stack Glock 19 that would be the width of the G43. I carried a 1911 for a number of years and as much as I liked it in spite of it's size an weight, I've come to like the Glock mode of carry better once I learned how to become proficient with the trigger.
Excellent post, Dave. Considering that we carry for years and decades, and shoot bad people hopefully never, comfort and ease of carry should be paramount. They are for me. So yeah, I love the 42/43/PM9/P9/P365 genre. Rides tight against the belt under a t-shirt, is almost invisible, and 7/8 rounds of spicy 9mm is more than any of us will ever need.
What I would love to see is a 43 with a 7 or 8 round grip and commensurate slide increase to make it look pretty. Basically a Kahr P9 that says Glock on it.
Although I own a fair number of double stacks, it's my single stacks that are my most common preference for range work and carry use.
My CS45, with its 6rd mag, got the nod for my road trip LEOSA belt gun this last trip.
My 3913, 3913TSW, CS9 and 4513TSW are well used, too. I have others, but it's often those smaller single stacks, with their standard 6-8rd mags that see ago of use (and have seen much range use over the years).
Well, when I'm not just pocketing one of my many J's, that is ....
I spent enough years having to belt on larger work guns, many of which were double stacks.
Well, in the .45 dept., besides the duty-carry 1911, I really like my S&W 4516 "compact." While not exactly a pocket-carry design it is built like a tank and is a very soft shooter. Wish a few more magazines could be found for it.
Why I never picked up a 3913 I'll never understand, except maybe back in the day I was too busy with Sig P-228s (which are great handguns, at least the W. German ones) for anything 9mm, except for the Kahr K-9. The stupidity of youth....
The base plate on your spare mag is the kind I was talking about in a previous post. It would be much better using that for malfunction clearance than the flat base plate. Although the flat plate lends itself to better concealability of course, particularly in the pocket. Just an observation from after the CCW class I taught.
That is very true but I really need it to be concealed as much as possible. Besides, I have never had a malfunction with this gun and my wife's PT 709 has been 100% as well (and so have both of our millennium Pro G2s!).
Thanks, I appreciate the advice from someone who teaches CCW because I took my class in 1991. Have a great week!
Love my Shield 9 and carry that 99.9% of the time. I used to carry a G19 but since the Shield the 19 is just too heavy leading to uncomfortable. And, it's hot here all the time so t-shirt is it for me.
Edit: I look at G43 quite often but don't know if I need it. Maybe the p365 after I see how it weathers.
Once one gets accustomed to carrying a small light single stack it’s difficult to go back to trying to CC a double stack “compact “ sized gun such as a G19. The only gun that could replace my SS for daily carry would be the 365 and I’m in a holding pattern on buying it until teething issues are worked out. I’m confident they’ll be resolved soon.
I moved from a G26 to a G43. The G26 served me well and I couldn't believe how well it concealed when I got it. Then I tried the G43. The G43 just disappears it's so comfortable and light. Honestly, with reliable single stacks and quality holsters being as available as they are these days, there is very little reason to be unarmed, ever.
I have double stacks and yet carry single stacks unless I am on the road or in some place that I believe more rounds on tap would be best. I can easily carry 24 rounds in 3 mags for my 43 not counting the 6, 7, or 8+1 depending on how it is carried. Same with the 42 when I want smaller. The ported Shield 9mm is great for carry but prefer the G43 for pocket carry. Winter time carry is my Shield 45. My j-frames are now range guns as they have not been carried in quite some time.
If I carry a single stack, it won't be a nine. 45 works, I like my 1911, but. even with a small hand, a double stack is my choice. Next Glock will be a G30, gen 4.
LC9, XDS, G43. I don’t really need an XDS and G43 but they are both so good there is no reason to get rid of one. The LC9 while technically about the same size, carries better in my pocket.
I only have extensive experience with the Kahr K9, so here goes... Being thin, they're great for concealabilty (as compared to the Glock G26). But when it came to shootability, the one drawback was that the single stack grip was too thin and I could not get a solid grip where I didn't have to re-grip the gun after a few shots. To me, the gold standard for shootability is the thick grip of the G19.
Once one gets accustomed to carrying a small light single stack it’s difficult to go back to trying to CC a double stack “compact “ sized gun such as a G19. The only gun that could replace my SS for daily carry would be the 365 and I’m in a holding pattern on buying it until teething issues are worked out. I’m confident they’ll be resolved soon.
Being blessed / cursed with small hands, I've always been a fan of single stack 9's. Right now the concealed carry choices I have are a PM9, Shield 2.0 and PPS M2. The G42 and P365 also work their way into the mix from time to time.
I feel the same way. Had a couple of them and they shoot great. Very accurate. But for me, it made for a long day of carrying. Couldn't wait to get home and take it off. Again, great gun but it's thick and it's somewhat heavy.
The G43 or Ruger LC9 I can carry all day long and forget it's there. I like that.
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