Author Topic: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??  (Read 5183 times)

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Offline Vinny

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BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« on: November 20, 2019, 08:54:49 AM »
Maybe a SIG...... or maybe Smith & Wesson 3rd gen 3913 NL Compact 8+1 24.9oz... or S&W CS9 7+1 Sub-Compact 20.8oz??
Slimmer and Trimmer than a CZ RAMI.




Any other contenders?
« Last Edit: November 20, 2019, 09:03:34 AM by Vinny »
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Offline Grendel

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2019, 09:47:39 AM »
P225/P6
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Offline Vinny

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2019, 10:01:11 AM »
P225/P6
With all due respect...I'm just curious why? Almost 1/2 lb heavier than the Smiths with same capacity.
Interested in learning other's experience.
P.S. For anyone interested..I found this very thorough article about history, differences between P225 versions and updating a P6:
https://www.realgunreviews.com/sig-sauer-p6-west-german-bargain-now/ ;)


Thought someone might suggest SIG 239. Or maybe SIG P224??
« Last Edit: November 20, 2019, 10:13:21 AM by Vinny »
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Offline jurek

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2019, 10:21:41 AM »
I vote for P225 as well.
For me SIG has been always first choice for firearm. For compact, alloy, DA/SA, single stack - no better option than P225.
(the only reason I'm not using SIG -> none of their DA/SA pistols are lefty friendly  :()

Offline Hammer Time

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2019, 10:42:22 AM »
The P225-A1 is my favorite DA/SA single stack, hands-down. It's a truly excellent pistol.


Offline Vinny

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2019, 10:54:19 AM »
I vote for P225 as well.
For me SIG has been always first choice for firearm. For compact, alloy, DA/SA, single stack - no better option than P225.
(the only reason I'm not using SIG -> none of their DA/SA pistols are lefty friendly  :()

I like my SIG's as well. P229 RX, and pocket-sized P290rs, and P365.
For some reason I overlooked the 3rd Gen Smiths, although accurate and reliable; IMHO they don't compare to my CZ's or SIG229 in double-stacks.
But recently I began searching for a DA/SA a bit easier to carry than my RAMI BD, preferably pocket-sized; and these little S&W's came up on my radar. I'm most impressed with the light weight, and especially their smooth DA trigger and very short reset to SA. I had thought about a P239, but it's heavier than my RAMI BD. When the 3rd Gen Smith compacts first came out in 1989 they weren't Ambi; but in 1990 they started offering the Safety/decocker on both sides. Ditto on the CS9 intro'd in 1999 and Ambi after 2000. Mine are the early single-side versions.
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Offline Stuart

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2019, 11:09:55 AM »
I always liked the 92SB Type M compact. :)

Offline SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2019, 11:17:24 AM »
I still have an S&W 3913 in the safe but for a single stack 9mm alloy frame I'll take my Sig P225-A1 hands down anytime. The reliability of both is undeniable but the Sig is more accurate and with a set of added X-Ray 3 sights and the factory short reset trigger it's just a more refined platform than the S&W.
I started out with S&W 3rd gen guns when they were fairly new on the market and I even still have stoning fixtures for trigger work. Most guys discovering the S&W's now are late to the party since they have been out of production for about 14 years now and S&W discontinued parts production not long after that so should parts be needed they may not be readily available such as they are for guns still in production.

Offline RoverSig

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2019, 12:19:06 PM »
The P239 has its adherents too -- although it is heavy and a bit of a brick in shape, and has a low magazine capacity for its size.  Despite those drawbacks, P239s just shoot well and some people love them.  Unfortunately, it is now out of production and parts may be hard to find.  The P225 is a great pistol too, and for now has the benefit of still being in production. 

The 3913 and 3914 are wonderful, though, because they are a bit smaller and very svelte.  (Ditto for the 3953's, the DAO version, which was made in small numbers by S&W until fairly recently, for specific Law Enforcement customers, e.g., New York City).  These guns are roughly in the same size category as the Glock 43's and Shields -- but have the advantage of a little weight in their metal frames that makes them easier to shoot.  They supposedly became too expensive to manufacture in the polymer era, although I always wonder if modern CNC machining wouldn't bring the cost of such all-metal guns down low enough to make it worth it to S&W to reopen the line.  For the older S&Ws, parts may be hard to find, but there are enough of them out there, and enough old-school S&W gunsmiths and armorers still around, that you probably could find most of the parts you need by searching the internet and gun forums.  But the old 3913/3914s themselves are expensive and becoming harder to find.

There is just something about a slim pistol -- a single stack -- that makes it easier to carry concealed.  I currently have a XD-E, which is just pug-ugly -- but it works great and has the DA/SA features, and a decocker, which I want. 

Bottom line of my meandering post is that I would love to see a single stack RAMI, with a width of 1 inch or even a tad less.  It would rival the 3913/3914 Smiths in terms of size, handling, and shootability.  With states gradually moving to the 10 round magazine limit (Virginia is expected to pass such a law in January 2020) the single-stack 9mm pistol with a >10 round magazine has increased relevance and marketability. 
« Last Edit: November 20, 2019, 12:38:55 PM by RoverSig »

Offline Grendel

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2019, 12:20:31 PM »
P225/P6
With all due respect...I'm just curious why? Almost 1/2 lb heavier than the Smiths with same capacity.
Interested in learning other's experience.
P.S. For anyone interested..I found this very thorough article about history, differences between P225 versions and updating a P6:
https://www.realgunreviews.com/sig-sauer-p6-west-german-bargain-now/ ;)


Thought someone might suggest SIG 239. Or maybe SIG P224??

For me, I shoot it well. The 239, not so much for some reason. The others I have no experience with so I cannot comment on their attributes or drawbacks.
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Offline Vinny

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2019, 02:05:13 PM »
The P239 has its adherents too -- although it is heavy and a bit of a brick in shape, and has a low magazine capacity for its size.  Despite those drawbacks, P239s just shoot well and some people love them.  Unfortunately, it is now out of production and parts may be hard to find.  The P225 is a great pistol too, and for now has the benefit of still being in production. 

The 3913 and 3914 are wonderful, though, because they are a bit smaller and very svelte.  (Ditto for the 3953's, the DAO version, which was made in small numbers by S&W until fairly recently, for specific Law Enforcement customers, e.g., New York City).  These guns are roughly in the same size category as the Glock 43's and Shields -- but have the advantage of a little weight in their metal frames that makes them easier to shoot.  They supposedly became too expensive to manufacture in the polymer era, although I always wonder if modern CNC machining wouldn't bring the cost of such all-metal guns down low enough to make it worth it to S&W to reopen the line.  For the older S&Ws, parts may be hard to find, but there are enough of them out there, and enough old-school S&W gunsmiths and armorers still around, that you probably could find most of the parts you need by searching the internet and gun forums.  But the old 3913/3914s themselves are expensive and becoming harder to find.

There is just something about a slim pistol -- a single stack -- that makes it easier to carry concealed.  I currently have a XD-E, which is just pug-ugly -- but it works great and has the DA/SA features, and a decocker, which I want. 

Bottom line of my meandering post is that I would love to see a single stack RAMI, with a width of 1 inch or even a tad less.  It would rival the 3913/3914 Smiths in terms of size, handling, and shootability.  With states gradually moving to the 10 round magazine limit (Virginia is expected to pass such a law in January 2020) the single-stack 9mm pistol with a >10 round magazine has increased relevance and marketability.
Thankfully, I live in The South; but I too see the wave of states with 10 round limits moving too close for comfort. Which if I remember correctly; is what spawned the 10-round RAMI in the first place. I love mine and I've added an RMR to make it even better. It's not surprising 10-rounders like the Glock 43X and SIG P365 are gaining so much sales.

There are those times when something smaller/thinner/lighter for deep concealment/pocket-carry is just more practical; and many of us want the extra margin of safety of DA and shoot-ability of short reset SA, and a hammer re-strike too.  The XDe is close. The smaller and lighter 20.8oz S&W CS9 is perhaps even closer. Meld a RAMI BD with the size and capacity of a P365 and I'd buy one for sure!

Until then.....You can still find good alloy-framed 3913/14's and CS9's for the price of today's poly pistols. And normal wear parts still seem quite available. Midway still sells S&W Mags and Springs for 'em. Numrich also has many parts too.

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Offline Vinny

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2019, 03:13:23 PM »
P225/P6
With all due respect...I'm just curious why? Almost 1/2 lb heavier than the Smiths with same capacity.
Interested in learning other's experience.
P.S. For anyone interested..I found this very thorough article about history, differences between P225 versions and updating a P6:
https://www.realgunreviews.com/sig-sauer-p6-west-german-bargain-now/ ;)


Thought someone might suggest SIG 239. Or maybe SIG P224??

For me, I shoot it well. The 239, not so much for some reason. The others I have no experience with so I cannot comment on their attributes or drawbacks.
Certainly, when it comes to single-stack, alloy-framed, hammer-fired DA/SA pistols.....SIG is top on the list. The 225 A1 is very close in size and especially weight to my P229 Legion RX, so I can imagine it's a superb pistol to shoot.
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Offline Hammer Time

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2019, 04:12:56 PM »
Certainly, when it comes to single-stack, alloy-framed, hammer-fired DA/SA pistols.....SIG is top on the list. The 225 A1 is very close in size and especially weight to my P229 Legion RX, so I can imagine it's a superb pistol to shoot.

You know, it's funny - I own both, and I almost talked myself out of getting a P225A-1 because, on paper at least, it seems almost the same as the P229. But it's a good example of how subtle difference can add up. The P225A-1 certainly has everything that is also awesome about the P229, but being just slightly shorter and slightly slimmer is noticeable when I carry it IWB. I love them both, but for slightly different reasons.

Offline SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #13 on: November 20, 2019, 04:24:34 PM »
Certainly, when it comes to single-stack, alloy-framed, hammer-fired DA/SA pistols.....SIG is top on the list. The 225 A1 is very close in size and especially weight to my P229 Legion RX, so I can imagine it's a superb pistol to shoot.

You know, it's funny - I own both, and I almost talked myself out of getting a P225A-1 because, on paper at least, it seems almost the same as the P229. But it's a good example of how subtle difference can add up. The P225A-1 certainly has everything that is also awesome about the P229, but being just slightly shorter and slightly slimmer is noticeable when I carry it IWB. I love them both, but for slightly different reasons.
I own both as well and a pair of M11-A1's  and while the P225-A1 initially appears similar in size to the larger double stack guns upon carrying the difference is more than apparent. The 225 is by no means a pocket pistol and I know that's the rage with some today but for me it's simply as small as I would ever care to own and certainly has it's place in the rotation.

Offline burley

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Re: BEST Alloy DA/SA Hammer-fired Compact Single Stacks EVER??
« Reply #14 on: November 20, 2019, 04:32:21 PM »
I have a 3913 Lady and it is pretty sweet.
Light, flat, melted, accurate.
And the trigger reset? Amazing.
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