[MrPeanut]

One thing I have noticed is the plethora of used small 9mm such as the G43, P365, hellcatt, etc flooding gun stores.

The common statement from LGS are the customers couldn't grip them properly or shoot them accurately.

I learned almost immediately, many years ago, if the hand fit is poor the pistol is a paperweight.

Why don't people rent before they by when possible?

 

[mac66]

Guns don't necessarily have to fit your hand. Humans are flexible and can adapt and adopt to a specific gun. That's what training and practice are for. The problem is people don't want to spend the time to learn how to shoot a specific gun.

 

[jr24]

Could be people wanting to up the size a smidge like the 43x/48, 365X/XL and hellcat pro. More to grip, they realized works better than the tiny little things that still don’t fit in (my) pockets.

Also, they sure aren’t flooding the gun stores around here. Rare to see any of those mentioned used locally.

 

[0311INF]

I have seen a slew of used single stack 9mm carry size pistols, such as the Shield, PPS, G43, etc.

Only a few of the newer types on the used market. Though the original 365 seems more common (used), which may just be because it has been around the longest. Or it is indeed too small for most people.

 

[Scorpion8]

The common statement from LGS are the customers couldn't grip them properly or shoot them accurately.

Because everybody asks at pistol classes "what is the best handgun for me" and when you tell them that it's the one that you can grip properly and shoot accurately they lose interest. If you're not recommending the latest, greatest plastic wonder-wiz-9-o'-banger that is in all the ads in magazines, they assume you are out-of-touch. I grip my 1950's era P35 HiPower better than any single other pistol, and am the most accurate with it because (for me) it points so naturally. But show them the "all-steel brick" and they walk away, looking for the LCP or Sig because they read a magazine article extrolling it's virtues as the end-all-be-all.

 

[Three blackbelts]

I don't know. I've seen a lot of used 1911's in the used cases lately. All kinds, even high end.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Micro 9 regrets

 

[fiasconva]

Makes you wonder how many were first time users who bought them before trying them out. First trip to the range was an unpleasant surprise and they couldn't handle the noise or the recoil.. "These are a lot louder than the guns on TV."

 

[DoctorStrange]

Guns don't necessarily have to fit your hand. Humans are flexible and can adapt and adopt to a specific gun. That's what training and practice are for. The problem is people don't want to spend the time to learn how to shoot a specific gun.

There's truth to that. Good example is that of J frames. It took me a good 300 minimum rounds to get decent with my first one.

 

[DoctorStrange]

Micro 9 regrets


View attachment 1053053

 

[Chief137]

I’m a Glock fan, but I gotta tell you, I love my S&W Shield 2.0. I do see a lot of the on the used racks. Lately I have seen a lot of Glock 19’s too. Maybe it all the pandemic buyers having buyers remorse.

 

[DoctorStrange]

I’m a Glock fan, but I gotta tell you, I love my S&W Shield 2.0. I do see a lot of the on the used racks. Lately I have seen a lot of Glock 19’s too. Maybe it all the pandemic buyers having buyers remorse.

For sure, at some point I'm going to buy a Shield Plus. Originally was going to upgrade to 2.0 from my 1.0, but now the Plus is out. I might get a .45 2.0 though. Tempting..

 

[peng]

I tried out bunch of Glocks at the range before I bought my 17.3.

Even the 19 felt like the grip was too short for my hand. I can't imagine how anyone can shoot a gun smaller than that but to be honest I have not tried.

I would have got the 21 but it felt like a box in my hand.

It felt like the 17 was custom made just for me. 1000+ flawless rounds later, I think I made a good choice.

 

[DoctorStrange]

One thing I have noticed is the plethora of used small 9mm such as the G43, P365, hellcatt, etc flooding gun stores.

The common statement from LGS are the customers couldn't grip them properly or shoot them accurately.

I learned almost immediately, many years ago, if the hand fit is poor the pistol is a paperweight.

Why don't people rent before they by when possible?

I've seen a lot of older single stacks like people mentioned (Shields, Glocks, etc). I think there is truth that a lot of people don't try a bunch of guns first (I didn't before I bought my first one, although i had fired a few handguns before). Also, as you all know many people think a smaller gun will be better, even just for comfort not necessarily concealed carry. My ex bought a Sig 365, and she's only fired it twice, once with me. A lot of casual, new shooters don't like the recoil even with micro 9's, or micro .380's. This focus on getting the smallest package for the most power (micro .380's, sub compact 9's) doesn't always translate to shooteability for new shooters. Then we have a lot of people still asserting (I know, this is a thread about 9mm's) that .380 is "low recoil." It only is in non-micro, larger .380's.

Because everybody asks at pistol classes "what is the best handgun for me" and when you tell them that it's the one that you can grip properly and shoot accurately they lose interest. If you're not recommending the latest, greatest plastic wonder-wiz-9-o'-banger that is in all the ads in magazines, they assume you are out-of-touch. I grip my 1950's era P35 HiPower better than any single other pistol, and am the most accurate with it because (for me) it points so naturally. But show them the "all-steel brick" and they walk away, looking for the LCP or Sig because they read a magazine article extrolling it's virtues as the end-all-be-all.

 

[Jackfish2021]

There was a definite learning curve in shooting micro 9’s. First time gun owners forget that to learn and be proficient with your gun costs time and money on top of the price of admission.

to put 500 rounds on your 9 is going to cost about you about 200 bucks plus and range costs. So that 400-500 micro pistol is really 700-800 IF you want to get the most mileage out of your gun. And don’t forget you gotta clean the damn thing!

 

[DonD]

One thing I have noticed is the plethora of used small 9mm such as the G43, P365, hellcatt, etc flooding gun stores.

The common statement from LGS are the customers couldn't grip them properly or shoot them accurately.

I learned almost immediately, many years ago, if the hand fit is poor the pistol is a paperweight.

Why don't people rent before they by when possible?

Because, in my experience, places that rent guns are rare. In my case, there is only one gun shop in San Antonio that rents guns and their prices are robbery, insane. You pay $20 or 25 for each gun you want to shoot, plus $25 range fee plus you must buy their overpriced shop ammo. You cannot even bring in factory ammo in a factory package. So, it's about $80 to try one gun. Very poor customer service.

Having had very good luck with Rugers for the past 40 yrs, I bought a MAX-9 sight unseen. I love everything about it and while I'm no Max Michel, I can shoot it more rapidly with similar accuracy to my larger 9mm semis. Don

 

[fastbolt]

There's truth to that. Good example is that of J frames. It took me a good 300 minimum rounds to get decent with my first one.

Yep. Even experienced and skilled med/lge revolver shooters often find acclimating to the smaller 5-shot snubs a new task to learn to master. Even more so if you're talking about the Airweights or Airlites (PD/SC/Ti snubs). The very attributes that make them so attractive and handy for lawful CCW also tends to make them harder to control and shoot accurately.

The same thing can be said for the diminutive pistols.

Several years after I'd transitioned from revolvers to many assorted pistols, I bought my first Airweight (642-1). I'd only been carrying and shooting all-steel 5-shot snubs (36, 649, CA Bulldogs, SP101), so the aluminum-framed Airweight was a new experience. Even as a longtime Magnum revolver owner/shooter and firearms instructor, I needed to refresh my DA revolvers skills to deal with the lighter DAO snub. It took me 2-3 cases of +P loads (158gr LSWCHP in those days), mixed with a case of some 110gr +P+ fired in an early 640 marked for +P+ ammo), to feel I was really acclimating to the demands of the lighter gun. Once I was able to run the little Airweight hard and fast I felt I'd finally found my groove and was able to do demanding qual scenarios and fast shot strings and drills as accurately as I desired.

Lesson learned, though. Even though I was still buying and using a lot of small compact and subcompact pistols during and after that time, I made sure I always included range time for drills, practice and quals with the Airweight. Then, I started buying more of them. (Another 642-1, a pair of M&P 340's and a nifty 37-2DAO.) I still include my all-steel snubs for occasional range time, but I spend the bulk of my range work drills & quals (retirement & LEOSA) running one or another of the lightweight snubs, to maintain things.

I've watched my fair share of shooters (as an instructor) bring their latest small, lightweight pistols to range sessions and experience discomfort and problems shooting them. Sometimes the larger and heavier pistols are the better choice for folks who can't easily, controllably and accurately run the ever increasingly smaller models (and heavier recoiling calibers) of pistols. It can quickly reach a point of diminishing returns.

 

[Rocks]

My hand size is small to medium and I shoot my larger Glocks as well as my P365's. Maybe my G26 a smidgen better.

 

[edcknives]

If you consider the unprecedented number of gun sales the last two years and the overwhelming production of new pistols of all capacities, shapes, sizes and customizations to me it's no wonder the market has been relatively restored to what you used to see used per pandemic. The P365's, S&w Shield's, Glock 26', Glock 43's, Glock 48's and variations there of aren't that prevalent in CT as it is 10 round only state so they are always in high demand. If anything it represents a normalization of the market IMO. Also many people may find they aren't going to carry but still want a SD and or range gun and a micro nine is definitely not going to fill that bill. For home protection I would much prefer higher capacity if it were an option which is the case for the majority of the country.

 

[DoctorStrange]

Yep. Even experienced and skilled med/lge revolver shooters often find acclimating to the smaller 5-shot snubs a new task to learn to master. Even more so if you're talking about the Airweights or Airlites (PD/SC/Ti snubs). The very attributes that make them so attractive and handy for lawful CCW also tends to make them harder to control and shoot accurately.

The same thing can be said for the diminutive pistols.

Several years after I'd transitioned from revolvers to many assorted pistols, I bought my first Airweight (642-1). I'd only been carrying and shooting all-steel 5-shot snubs (36, 649, CA Bulldogs, SP101), so the aluminum-framed Airweight was a new experience. Even as a longtime Magnum revolver owner/shooter and firearms instructor, I needed to refresh my DA revolvers skills to deal with the lighter DAO snub. It took me 2-3 cases of +P loads (158gr LSWCHP in those days), mixed with a case of some 110gr +P+ fired in an early 640 marked for +P+ ammo), to feel I was really acclimating to the demands of the lighter gun. Once I was able to run the little Airweight hard and fast I felt I'd finally found my groove and was able to do demanding qual scenarios and fast shot strings and drills as accurately as I desired.

Lesson learned, though. Even though I was still buying and using a lot of small compact and subcompact pistols during and after that time, I made sure I always included range time for drills, practice and quals with the Airweight. Then, I started buying more of them. (Another 642-1, a pair of M&P 340's and a nifty 37-2DAO.) I still include my all-steel snubs for occasional range time, but I spend the bulk of my range work drills & quals (retirement & LEOSA) running one or another of the lightweight snubs, to maintain things.

I've watched my fair share of shooters (as an instructor) bring their latest small, lightweight pistols to range sessions and experience discomfort and problems shooting them. Sometimes the larger and heavier pistols are the better choice for folks who can't easily, controllably and accurately run the ever increasingly smaller models (and heavier recoiling calibers) of pistols. It can quickly reach a point of diminishing returns.

Yes, especially for the Airweights. I have a 642 myself. I wish to a degree I had an old school all steel snubby, but if I'm going to get a nice steel revolver I'm going to get a larger .357 revolver. The airweights are nice for carry though.

Honestly, after putting 500 rounds through that thing to start to learn the way of the snubbie, from wadcutters to Buffalo Bore +P, shooting guns like micro .380's and sub compact 9mm's isn't bad at all. Any hot rounds out of a .38 airweight will be more felt recoil than let's say a S&W Shield in 9mm. Maybe even standard velocity.

I actually get now why many people advise semi autos over snubbies. Snubbies really are a longer learning curve. Having said that, however, micro 9's or other small handguns aren't easy to shoot for beginners either. The smaller guns get, the more perfect the technique needs to be, and the more practice needed, to become consistently accurate with them.