Owning a small handgun has come to be a necessity. It’s a dangerous world where innocents get hurt all the time.
That is why it’s smart to purchase a small (Micro + Sub Compact) 9mm handgun for self-defense. You can easily conceal and carry it while feeling protected against unforeseen threats.
If your views align with ours, you will learn what to look for in small 9mm pistols in this article.
You will also see some of the best micro compact 9mm and subcompact pistols on the market that we picked after a long and thorough research.
Choosing the Best Small (Micro + Sub Compact) 9mm Pistols
The difference between Micro and SubCompact 9mm handguns
When considering choosing between a Micro compact and a SubCompact pistol, you should first know the real difference between the two.
The only real difference is the width, which is shrunk down from a double stack magazine in the sub-compacts to a single stack pistol magazine in the micro compact pistols.
Factors to consider when choosing the best small 9mm pistols
Gun size
In terms of size, the micro compact 9mm and the subcompact 9mm are almost identical.
The grip length and the barrel length are often the same.
The only difference, as we’ve mentioned above, is the width.
Capacity
In a micro-compact handgun, the magazine is often 6-12 rounds and has a barrel length of 2.75 inches to 3.5 inches.
On the other hand, sub-compact handguns often have a magazine of 8-12 rounds. With an extension, a sub-compact can hold even more rounds.
Application
Concerning application, there are a few things you need to think about when choosing the best micro compact 9mm or sub-compact 9mm size handgun.
Micro-compact size handguns are ideal when you need a concealed carry pistol. They are narrower and a lot harder to detect.
Sub-compacts, on the other hand, are more of a backup for a larger, compact size firearm. They often have the same capacity and magazine pattern as their “big brother” counterparts.
Unfortunately, they are harder to conceal as the grip is thicker because of the double-stack capacity.
Reliability
In terms of reliability, both micro compact 9mm and sub-compact handguns are quite reliable.
The difference here is between the various manufacturers, models, and build quality of the firearms.
Each manufacturer offers a different design, firm grip comfort, magazine capacity, gun accuracy, etc.
This is why we’ve picked five of the best sub-compact and micro-compact pistols we will analyze in the following sections.
Price
The price of the best micro compact 9mm or sub-compact handgun can vary depending on the manufacturer, gun model, build quality, and several other factors.
Most firearms in these categories are priced between $300-$800.
Top Small (Micro + Sub Compact) 9mm Pistols
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus
The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus is a great micro-compact pistol to conceal carry daily.
Features
The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus is a comfortable everyday carry micro compact 9mm handgun with multiple features:
- An adaptive grip texture and 18-degree grip handle
- A sight radius of 5.3 inches for improved accuracy
- A flat face trigger pull for more stable finger placement
- A tactile trigger reset for a more controlled shooting experience.
Physical size, characteristics, and magazine capacity
- Overall length: 6.1 inches
- Barrel length: 3.1 inches
- Weight: 20 ounces
- Construction: Polymer frame, stainless steel slide, and barrel
- Magazine: 10+1 flush fit magazine or 13+1 extended magazine
Price
You can purchase the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield plus for a retail price of $399.
Overall impressions
The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus is an excellent small, reliable pistol with no downsides.
Features
The Sig Sauer P365 is one of the most lightweight concealed carry guns you can purchase. It packs the following features:
- A double-stack design with a flush fit magazine
- A Nitron slide with wide serrations for an improved pistol grip
- An enhanced polymer grip texture
- A smooth trigger pull with a striker fire design
- Day & night sights for improved visibility in low-light surroundings.
Physical size, characteristics, and magazine capacity
- Overall length: 5.8 inches
- Barrel length: 3.1 inches
- Weight: 17 ounces
- Construction: Polymer frame, alloy steel slide, and carbon steel barrel
- Magazine: 12+1 flush fit magazine
Price
You can purchase the Sig Sauer P365 for a retail price of $599.
Overall impressions
The Sig Sauer P365 is a great choice with advantages like light weight, extended mag, and excellent reliability.
It is, however, bulkier and more difficult to conceal.
Features
The Springfield Hellcat is a 9mm micro-compact handgun with multiple features like:
- Dual captive recoil spring and full-length guide rod for better recoil absorption
- An enhanced grip texture that makes the gun sit comfortably in the hand
- Lightweight polymer frame
- An accessory rail that allows mounting of a laser or flashlight
- Micro compact red dot sights and fiber optic sights ready(as accessories).
Physical size, characteristics, and magazine capacity
- Overall length: 6 inches
- Barrel length: 3 inches
- Weight: 18 ounces
- Construction: Polymer frame, Cerakote finished slide, hammer forged barrel with a Melonite finish
- Magazine: 11+1 (standard) or 13+1 (extended)
Price
You can purchase the Springfield Hellcat 9mm pistol for a retail price of $549.
Overall impressions
The Springfield Hellcat 9mm pistol offers an enhanced and precise shooting experience thanks to its ability to hold red dot sights and laser accessories.
Glock 43X 9mm
The Glock 43X is a subcompact 9mm semi-automatic pistol that combines the best of the G48 and the standard G43.
Features
The Glock 43X is a subcompact 9mm semi-automatic pistol that combines the Glock 48 and the standard Glock 43.
It is probably the best concealed-carry gun on the market, which has the following features:
- A slim frame with cocking serrations in the front and rear
- Improved Glock patented trigger safety to prevent accidental firing and eliminate the need for manual safety
- A high-quality aggressive grip texturing that sits perfectly in the hand
- Extended magazine of the standard Glock 43.
Physical size, characteristics, and magazine capacity
- Overall length: 6.5 inches
- Barrel length: 3.41 inches
- Weight: 19 ounces
- Construction: fiber reinforced polymer frame and stainless steel barrel
- Magazine: 10+1
Price
You can purchase the Glock 43X for a retail price of $499.
Overall impressions
The Glock 43X is among the best and most reliable sub-compact firearms on the market, without any downsides.
Features
The Taurus G3C falls in the sub-compact handgun category, even though it’s slightly bigger than a traditional Glock 26. It packs the following features:
- Comfortable and ergonomic, with a textured sandpaper-like firm grip
- It comes with a metal Glock cut front and rear sight
- A well-placed thumb safety that is easy to access
- A strike fire trigger with a double-single action and a soft trigger pull.
Physical size, characteristics, and magazine capacity
- Overall length: 6.3 inches
- Barrel length: 3.26 inches
- Weight: 21 ounces
- Construction: Polymer frame and stainless steel barrel
- Magazine: 12+1
Price
You can purchase the Taurus G3C for a retail price of $249.
Overall impressions
The Taurus G3C is the most budget-friendly option. Considering the price, it offers excellent quality and a good target-shooting experience.
Even though it is a sub-compact, it is a little larger, so you may have trouble concealing it properly.
Conclusion
As you can see, purchasing and carrying concealed firearms, even small ones, includes deep thinking.
You must consider all the factors, like magazine capacity, ergonomics, price, and additional accessories.
We hope you have found this article helpful and you will easily choose one of the small 9mm pistols for personal defense.
If you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
