Best Compact 9MM

When it comes to handguns, there isn’t just one that does everything. There is no jack-of-all-trades handgun. The closest we get is the compact automatic. Compact semi-auto handguns are popular enough that companies often start an entire line of handguns by first introducing the compact variant. CZ first released the P10 series with the compact model. It’s undeniable that compact handguns are big sellers. If you’re a smart gun company, you’ll have a couple in your lineup. 

Today we plan to dissect the compact handgun platform and give you the best seven compact handgun options. This diverse list has some of the most legendary firearms of all time and any of them will serve you well. 

The Benefits of a Compact Platform

Why does the little compact pistol excel so well? It’s like the sedan of the gun world. It can just accomplish so many different tasks. It’s not a 4×4 truck or a motorcycle, but it can do 80% of what any other vehicle does. Compact handguns are small enough to be used for concealed carry but also large enough to excel in control. 

The gun’s size makes it well-suited for home defense. These guns can even be pretty decent competition pistols. It’s no race gun and not a pocket pistol, but it can be a pretty good stand-in for both. The modern compact utilizes a double-stack magazine with room for right around 15 cartridges and typically options for slightly longer magazines that often belong to the full-sized version of the compact pistol. 

The pistol’s size allows it to have a rail for lights, which is a must-have for self-defense. Another massively popular option is the ability to accept red dot sights, another very useful tool. Most compact pistol designs embrace the modern era of handguns. If I was shopping for one, I’d require a double-stack magazine, a rail, and optics ready design.

Best Compacts

1. Glock 19 Gen 5		Optics Ready Options Ambidextrous/Reversible Controls Magazine Capacities Up to 33 Rounds	Check Price
2. CZ P10C		Optics Ready Options Ambidextrous/Reversible Controls Aggressive Grip Texture	Check Price
3. SIG P365-XMACRO		Size Efficient Design Optics Ready Built In Compensator	Check Price
4. Arex Delta M		Ambidextrous Controls Optics Ready Options Removable Grip Panels	Check Price
5. SIG P229		Optics Ready Options DA/SA Design Metal Frame	Check Price
6. HK P30		Modular Grip  DA/SA Hammer Fired Sleek Decocker Design	Check Price
7. Walther PDP Compact		Optics Ready Female Specific Model Available  Ambidextrous Controls	Check Price

Best Compact 9MM Reviews

Glock 19 Gen 5

The Glock 19 is the king of compacts. It’s the gun that more or less made the compact a popular option. It’s not the only OG of compact pistols, but it is one of the most notable. The Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS model is still one of the premier compact firearms. It offers you all the modular options a compact should, as well as the unbeatable reliability of Glock. The Gen 5 delivers modern ergonomics and is Glock’s best Glock ever built. 

The Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS model offers an optics-ready platform that allows you to mount various optics. The plate system makes it easy to change optics or to find the right footprint. Admittedly, Glock’s plates aren’t the best, and I’d replace them with a more precisely made C&H plate. A small light rail is present, allowing you to establish the necessary PID for defensive use. 

Glocks are the choice of countless police forces around the world. While SIG got the big Army contract, most of the Special Operations community is clinging to the Glock, specifically the Glock 19. The gun’s reliability remains unmatched. Everything about the Glock adds up to a stellar gun. 

It’s lightweight and sized just right for the average shooter’s hand. The trigger isn’t special, but it works just fine. The ambidextrous slide and reversible magazine releases allow lefties to get some love. On top of that, the gun got rid of those darned finger grooves. The Glock 19 Gen 5 series tuned up the compact series and delivered a worthy new generation of Glock 19.

Glock 19 Gen 5 Pros and Cons

CZ P10C 

The CZ P10C series was a welcome surprise. Historically, CZ occupied the DA/SA hammer-fired handgun genre, so a polymer-frame striker-fired pistol was out of the realm of normal. CZ did it right and worked towards creating a refined pistol that could outpace the competition. Their focus on small changes created a noticeable difference in the small elements of the P10C and how it performs. 

Starting with ergonomics, the P10C series offers you a grip that is thinner than average without a loss of capacity. Depending on the magazine base plate, the weapon still holds 15 to 17 rounds. The grip wears one of the most aggressive textures I’ve seen from a factory handgun. This texture grips the hand and doesn’t let the gun move. The downside is that it makes the gun rough to carry in an IWB holster because it rubs against the body. 

Ergonomically, the gun greets left-handed shooters as friendlies. Early models had a completely ambidextrous magazine release, but some shooters found it too hard to press. Later models now have a reversible magazine release. The slide provides an ambidextrous slide lock and release. It’s one of the few that my thumb doesn’t pin down when I assume a high, thumbs-forward grip on the gun. 

When it comes time to throw lead, the P10C handles quite well. The durable metal sights provide a nice sight picture with a thin front sight that doesn’t obscure the target too much at longer ranges. The recoil remains low, and the gun doesn’t seem to buck. Since the gun encourages an excellent high grip, you get a solid degree of control. 

CZ didn’t do anything revolutionary, but they created an excellent and well-made gun. It comes with a light rail, and the modern OR models have red dot capability. It’s modern, ergonomic, capable, and perfect for a wide variety of tasks.

CZ P10C Pros and Cons

SIG P365-XMACRO 

S&W is still counting the stacks they made off the original Shield. The Shield jumped off the 9mm single-stack market. They were everywhere and provided a great gun for a fair cost. Fast-forward to the era of the P365, and the Shield got a facelift and became the Shield Plus. The Shield Plus kept the same basic layout but adopted the 1.5-stack magazine. 

This pushed the capacity to 10 rounds with the flush-fitting option and up to 13 and 15 with slightly longer guns. That’s the 9mm variant anyway. If you’re a fan of the new .30 Super Carry, the Shield Plus delivers the most modern .30 Super Carry firearm. With the .30 Super Carry, you’re getting an additional two rounds in each magazine without any trade-off in recoil, expansion, or penetration. 

The Shield Plus comes in an optics-ready, standard configuration, and even a California-compliant model, but you’re stuck with ten rounds. The Shield Plus offers nearly identical ergonomics to the original Shield, but man, they cleaned that trigger. We get that same awesome reliability that the original Shield became known for. S&W turned out a wonderful self-defense package with the Shield Plus. 

The downsides come down to the gun’s thickness. It’s 1.1 inches wide. Arguably, .1 inches isn’t much, but it’s also a 10 percent increase over the competition. Micro and compact both mean small, and the Shield Plus is a plus-size micro-compact. It’s up to the end user if whether that’s a big deal.

SIG P365-XMACRO  Pros and Cons

Arex Delta M 

I love it when a gun is underrated and affordable. The Arex Delta M, a part of the Gen 2 Delta series, checks both those marks. These guns are coming in hot right out of Slovenia. These compact-sized pistols don’t get the respect they deserve. They come in a few configurations and a multitude of colors and, for the most part, are optics-ready guns. They do everything every other compact does, but they do it at a lower price, and sometimes they do it better. 

The guns wear rails for lights and optics cuts that utilize a plate-based system to allow you to mount a variety of optics to the gun. The plates are polymer but work surprisingly well. I have had no issues on either of my Arex Delta Gen 2 guns, with optics holding zero or tolerance stacking issues. 

What really surprised me was how thin and nice the grips of these guns are. They are super thin and allow for a nice high grip on the gun. At the top of the grip the guns gets quite thin, which is surpsingly comfortable and not something I ever knew I needed. The backstraps are replaceable and it’s easy to customize the grip to fit your hand. 

The Arex Delta M has both ambidextrous slide stops and an ambidextrous magazine release. These controls are placed so they can be reached easily; however, the slide release is definitely dinky. Arex made up for it with a nice flat-faced trigger that gives you easy reach and full control over your trigger pull. 

Since the gun isn’t super popular it’s not got the best aftermarket support. My Arex Delta M fits holsters made for the Glock 19. The Safariland Incog X for example works perfectly with the Arex Delta M. The Slovenians have provided us with a solid little gun that is surpsingly robust and reliable. Plus, it’s very affordable. 

Arex Delta M  Pros and Cons

SIG P229

The SIG P229 is the direct descendant of one of the original compacts, the SIG P228. The P229 was introduced to replace the P228 to provide a more stout gun to accommodate 9mm, as well as .40 S&W, and .357 SIG. This compact pistol is unlike every other option on the list because it wears a metal frame instead of a polymer frame. That’s not the only highlight. It’s one of the most well-put-together pistols ever made. 

SIG conquered the pistol market with the P22X series of handguns in the 1980s. They’ve stuck around and still remain a favorite. The SIG P229’s durability is tough to beat. It’s one of those guns that will last forever and eat its way through thousands upon thousands of rounds. It’s a gun you’ll pass down to your kids. 

As a big fan of DA/SA series pistols, the P229 will always be one of my favorites. The long double pull is remarkably smooth, and the single action is almost 1911-like. Almost. SIG has made dozens of P229 variations over the years, and current production models include both classic models and railed options and guns with optics cuts. 

SIG wins heavily in the ergonomics department. They hands down have the best decocker design. The magazine release is accessible, and the grip allows for a high grip on the gun. The recoil is minimal in 9mm, and the stout, heavy gun creates low recoil. The downside is the slide lock, which I always pin down with my thumbs. 

Some shooters might feel the old all metal, DA.SA gun is out of date, but I can’t help but adore this gun. Polymer might be cool, efficient, and affordable, but it’s tough to replace metal. The P229 is more than old school, it’s proven. 

SIG P229 Pros and Cons

HK P30 

The HK P30 is an interesting weapon. HK doesn’t classify the gun as compact, but a look at the height and barrel length reveals a gun that’s right on par with the Glock 19 in terms of size. Sadly, the HK P30 is one of HK’s underrated firearms. Guns like the older USP and newer VP9 outshine the weapon, and that’s a real shame. Remember, I’m a fan of the DA/SA design, and the P30 packs a DA/SA design on a polymer frame for a delicious mix of old and new school pistol designs. 

HK’s ergonomics are almost always on point, and this gun is no different. One of the more interesting features is the decocker. It’s not as ergonomic as SIG’s, but it’s clever. It’s just a small button near the hammer. It’s out of the way and keeps the weapon thin and snag-free. 

Do you know how a lot of guns have replaceable backstraps? The P30 has that, too, but it’s evolved. You can also swap the side panels to achieve a new level of fit. The three panels allow the user to get a high level of customization on this unique compact pistol. Ergonomically, the pistol is sound, and my thumbs will certainly never hold down that big slide release. 

Sadly, HK never made an optics-ready model, but you do get a rail for lights. The gun handles well, with low recoil and a very nice trigger. The double action isn’t the best, but the single action makes up for it. The P30 isn’t for everyone, but it gives you a unique set of features to make one awesome pistol.

HK P30 Pros and Cons

Walther PDP Compact (F Series) 

Let’s end it with one of the newest Walthers and one of their most successful pistols. The PDP is the first handgun to gain some serious momentum in the United States. It’s even been adopted by numerous police forces. The PDPD Compact is a slightly smaller model, and the PDP itself is designed to allow the user to mix and match slides and frames. One thing that separates the PDP from the pack is the fact it was made with red dots in mind from the ground up. 

The ergonomics and grip were designed around using an optic. In my first experience with the PDP, I noted how naturally I could find the dot. The slide is cut for an optics plate, and it doesn’t come with a plate, but Walther will send you a free one. If you’re like me, you’re impatient and just wish they’d include a few. Both Holosun and C&H produce direct mount optics for the PDP slide, so you can take that route as well. 

The PDP maintains what Walther does best: ergonomics and excellent triggers. The grip feels absolutely wonderful. It’s contoured by people who have seen a human hand, which is often rare in the gun world. It looks odd but fits just right. Walther even made the F Series, a grip module designed with women in mind. 

The trigger comes right out of the PPQ and is remarkably smooth and light. It’s easily the best trigger on this list. I shot one for an intense two-day pistol course, and I was absolutely in love with the trigger. The PDP series proved themselves to be quite reliable. My biggest complaint was that they seemed somewhat snappy for a 9mm pistol. 

It’s not terrible, but noticeable. Did it stop me from performing at a high level for my skills? Nope, not at all. The PDP Compact is an awesome pistol, and Walther might finally get the respect they deserve. 

Walther PDP Compact Pros and Cons

Keeping It Compact 

The compact handgun genre has only grown. Ever since the Glock 19 and SIG P228 helped spawn the genre, it’s yet to slow down. Even in an era of 2011s, micro-compacts, and other popular pistols, the compact remains the best viable option for someone who just wants one pistol. One gun for concealed carry, for home defense, and to take to the range. That’s where the compact shines and why it’s perfect for the majority of shooters.