As the name might infer, subcompacts tend to be handguns that are a little smaller than compacts, as a general rule.Compact firearms tend to be small enough to conceal but large enough to have room for accessories on a front rail.
This is a full half-inch shorter in terms of length and height than the full-size Glock 17. A great example is the Glock 19 - a compact pistol that has a length of 7.3”, 5” tall, 1.3” wide, with a 4” barrel, and 15-round capacity.Thus, these tend to be a little bit thinner overall than something like a service pistol (think Glock 17 or M1911 Government).A good rule of thumb is these pistols can easily be concealed in either an inside the waistband or outside the waistband (IWB or OWB) holster and offer 12 or more capacity. There is no one set standard for what makes a pistol a compact one.Thus, to get an idea of what, exactly, might count as a subcompact 9mm pistol, let’s walk through some categories of pistols with examples. When it comes to classifying pistols, context is the key. Every subcompact listed below strikes the right balance of diminutive size, performance, and concealability. While many of these weapons are excellent options from reputable manufacturers, not all of them are the best or most-reliable weapons. With every manufacturer getting in on the exploding interest in self-defense pistols, there has been a flood of new subcompact guns in recent years. I took 12 different single stack 9mm pistols out with 3 different handgun experts & certified concealed carry instructors to hone in on the cream of the crop.
Most folks believe a subcompact 9mm will certainly get the job done, we’ve tried to break through the noise of opinions and give you a series of no-fail recommendations. While the subcompact 9mm handgun is one of the most common concealed carry and self-defense pistols available, picking the right one is a truly subjective exercise – -there’s no best subcompact 9mm for everyone. In my opinion, the best subcompact 9mm pistol is one that allows you to carry it effectively, has an appropriate capacity, and can shoot effectively when required. If you ask 10 people to name the subcompact 9 you’ll likely get 10 different answers.