What is the best gun to conceal carry? Start with a sub-compact single stack 9mm. Take a look at their pros and cons, as well as why they’re so popular.
Single stack 9mm is still one of the most common carry options.
The single stack 9mm pistol is still an option in the subcompact market. We will explore the top ones today.
How we selected the best single-stack 9mm handguns
I have spent my entire life shooting. It all started with a family who hunted in every season that they could. After that, I spent five years in the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman. In the middle my Marine Corps career I started writing and never stopped.
I am a NRA-certified concealed carry instructor from Florida. I have tested a variety of concealed-carry handguns and accessories over the years for many publications, such as Pew Pew Tactical.
Best Single Stack 9mm Handguns
1. Glock 43X Aftermarket Parts – Best Quality
When I saw the Glock 43X for the first time, I thought it was a gun that had no home. The Glock 48 was a great looking gun for a thin medium-sized firearm, while the Glock 43 is already very small.
It made no sense until I carried one and shot one. The pistol is a great one that can be described as at its core. It’s what I call the central AC for handguns.
It is long enough for my entire hand to fit, which gives me complete control of the weapon. I can also fire ten rounds at a time. The grip is comfortable and there’s minimal recoil.
The shorter barrel allows for easy carrying in any configuration. The barrel is not too large to carry OWB, and it doesn’t poke or prod when worn IWB.
Glock has taken a few design cues from Gen 5 series. The controls are easy to reach and well placed. A slight overhang on the rear of gun helps prevent slide bites.
The accuracy is surprising good considering the small sight radius. And that extra grip helps when you want to mix speed with accuracy.
Glock 43X is available in several different configurations. One of these includes a MOS version that has a rail cut and an optic cut. As with all Glocks you’ll get the well respected Glock reliability.
See our complete reviews of the 43X Glock and MOS .
2. Editor’s Choice – CZ 10M
CZ’s P-10 series is a popular line. The P-10C, and P-10F have become well-known. However, the P-10M has been overlooked.
The P-10M, the smallest and thinnest of their P-10 models, is the P-10M. The 9mm version of this gun comes with a single-stack, seven-round magazine.
CZ has taken the best features from the P-10 and reduced them. The ultra aggressivegrip is one of the features. It’s very useful to hold a gun that has a small grip.
The grip may be excellent, but it can hurt when you rub it against your skin all day.
The P-10M is a slim gun with a thin grip. It’s only one inch wide. The barrel measures 3.9 inches, and the overall length is 6.3 inches. This makes it easy to store.
CZ has pushed the sights to the maximum distance possible, recognizing that small guns tend to have a limited sight radius.
The rail can be used to mount micro-sized light and other accessories. The trigger is my favorite feature. It is reliable and stands out from the rest. CZ has perfected the striker-fired, partially cocked trigger. It shows in this gun.
It retails at around $300 and is often less. This is a great deal on a high-quality handgun.
3. Walther PPS M2 – Most Ergonomic
Walther PPS was one of my first carry weapons. The PPS M1 was the original single-stack 9mm pistol. In 2016, the M2 was introduced.
I recall the M2 as the first micro-sized handgun that was not only optically-ready, but also included a Shield RMSc. It is still among the few subcompact single stack 9mm pistols that are optics-ready.
Walther PPS M2 replaced the M1 trigger-guard magazine release with a standard button. The corners were rounded and the grip texture was the next Walther.
A superb trigger was another notable upgrade. The trigger is super light, crisp and consistent. This makes it easy to achieve accuracy.
Walther has kept a wide range of magazine capacities in stock. The PPS M2 uses a six-, seven-, or eight round magazine.
The magazine is a great way to increase capacity, but you can also use it to shrink or expand the grip. By simply changing magazines, you can either increase control or make the concealment easier.
The Walther PPS M2 is a pistol that combines ergonomic comfort with high-performance performance. This is an easy-to-use, accurate weapon that’s also easy to control.
It’s a shame that these comfortable, reliable and accurate pistols never received the attention they deserve.
4. Runner-Up – Beretta APX A1 Carry
The APX Series seems to be forgotten by many. Recently, I have seen them being treated with the respect they are due.
The A1’s latest upgrades have changed the game for this little gun that could.
The magazines are either six or eight rounds. The six-round magazine fits flush, while the eight-round magazine provides a little grip extension.
The APX A1 Carry has many awesome features. My favorite is the optic cutout to accommodate RMSc foot print optics like the 507K Holosun.
The ergonomics of this grip is what stands out the most. The grip looks odd at first, but once you hold it in your hands that all changes. The beavertail allows you to get a high grip and control recoil.
This gun has a lower muzzle flip than others in its class. It is only.9 inches wide making it one the slimmest options.
The APX A1 Carry’s trigger is similar to a duty weapon, so it won’t be super lightweight or short. But it will be refined and smooth. The APX A1 Carry is a Beretta product that has a high level of reliability.
It’s not only thinner and lighter, but also very affordable. It’s hard to beat a Beretta for the price of a Taurus.
5. S&W Shield Ez is the best choice for weak hands
The Shield EZ is available in 9mm, ,.30 Super Carry and.380ACP. However, this article will focus on the 9mm version.
The Shield EZ is a 9mm single-stack handgun that’s aimed at shooters who have reduced hand strength.
The M&P Shield EZ, which is the most popular option on the market for this type of shooter, is a market underserved.
The slide can be a challenge for people with poor hand strength. The EZ is designed to help alleviate this issue as depressing the grip safety allows the slide to move easily.
S&W designed their magazines so that they are simple to load. You can manually lower the follower by pulling tabs along the side of the magazines. Then, you can insert each round one at a time.
The ergonomic grip is a little longer and wider than the standard grip, which allows recoil to spread over a larger surface area on your hands. The EZ has a longer grip that allows you to use your entire hand and provides better control.
It isn’t the smallest, slimmest or lightest single-stack 9mm but it is one of the easiest to use. The Performance Center model with optics is my personal favorite.
6. Lightest Option – Ruger EC9s
Ruger EC9s descends from the LC9 which was discontinued a few years ago.
Ruger’s EC9 replaces LC9’s long, double action-only hammer with a lighter, striker-fired shooter. It is a single-stack, classic 9mm handgun that keeps the same dimensions.
The EC9s is a great semi-auto gun for a low price. It is a cheap, readily available firearm that’s simple and robust for everyday carry.
It’s true that it lacks features such as a rail mount or an optics mount. It’s a simple 9mm handgun, with iron sights and a seven round magazine.
It might not appear to be different from other micro compacts, but it has a few unique features that set it apart.
It is super thin and light. It’s one 9mm you can carry in your pocket.
The EC9s are a reliable pistol that is worth the money if you have a limited budget.
7. Colt Defender – Lowest recoil
It’s impossible to talk about single stack guns without mentioning the world of 1911. The Colt Defender Series shrinks your 1911 down to subcompact dimensions.
The Defender is available in both.45 ACP (.45 caliber) and 9mm (9mm), but the 9mm version makes the most sense.
This little pistol is easy to use, smooth to hold, and easy to fire in 9mm. It’s also micro-sized, but it still has eight rounds.
The Defender is probably the easiest gun to use. The Defender’s weight of 24 ounces certainly helps reduce recoil . It also won’t hurt you. It won’t be difficult to keep the gun pointed at your target when you are doing those El Presidente drills that Jeff Cooper has approved.
Colt equipped the Defender’s Novak sights with easy-to-see optics, which is a huge deal for 1911 enthusiasts. You guys wear glasses, right? It’s not just about the big eyes.
Colt is sometimes criticized for their guns like the M5 or the All-American but 1911s are one of the best. This is important because 1911 reliability becomes an issue when we shrink.
The Defender is a great gun. It’s easy to use, but you will need to feed it with high-quality mags.
The 1911 is bigger, heavier, and wider than any of the plastic guns on this list. But you know exactly what you are getting with it. The real downside of the 1911 is its thousand dollar price tag.
Why the Single Stack 9mm?
You might find it difficult to understand why the 9mm single stack still exists in the midst of all the micro compacts.
Who wants to play eight rounds of a game when you can have 15 rounds? This is a good question, and it’s worth answering.
- Price Most single-stack pistols in 9mm are affordable. They can, though not always be, cheaper than many microcompacts.
- Size – A single stack 9mms may still be smaller than a micro compact. They are slimmer, lighter and easier to carry.
- Out-of-the-Box Designs – Because single stacks have been around for a longer time, they are more likely to have design features that are different – guns with hammers or DA/SA, guns designed for people with reduced hand strength etc.
- State restrictions — If you live in an area with magazine bans you can still buy the micro compacts that have ten rounds, but it defeats the purpose. Is it worth 200 dollars more for two additional rounds when you consider affordability?
Final Thoughts
Do you remember the first release of the S&W Shield? The S&W Shield was so popular that they couldn’t make enough and some stores charged nearly twice the MSRP.
Are single stacks 9mms worth it for you? What is your choice? Do you still have doubts about single stacks of ammunition? Check out our article on 9 Best Micro Compact 9mm handguns!
