Peruse a gun store and you will find lots of guns in lots of calibers. There are so many options that many gun stores even display their guns by caliber. For the most part, ammunition is sorted into three groups: handgun, rifle, and shotgun. Over the years, PCCs (Pistol Caliber Carbines) have become popular, making it possible to have a rifle platform that shoots the same cartridge as your handgun. This is why I have become a big fan of 9mm guns.
It can be fun to have a variety of guns in different calibers. Some people like owning all types of weapons from .22 to 500 magnum. But if you want to have several guns from small to large, handgun to rifle, that all shoot the same ammunition, 9mm is the way to go. It’s the most popular handgun round on the market and it’s nearly the cheapest as well. We will go over some of the options in firearms that are available in 9mm for those who want to stock up on one caliber.
Pocket / Compact 9mm Guns
If your goal is to pick one caliber and then find a gun in several different sizes, here are some options in the compact category. A small gun is not ideal in a self-defense situation, but sometimes that’s all we can carry because of our clothes, job, or some other circumstance. If you do need a compact, here are my favorites:
Glock 43 or 43X
Any type of Glock pistol is reliable because Glock doesn’t build anything else. The 43 is a 9mm compact version of well, every other gun Glock makes. The standard mag in a Glock 43 holds 6 rounds because it’s a single-stack magazine. If you opt for the 43X, you get a larger handle that holds 10 rounds instead. MOS models are available if you want an optic-mounted sight.
Springfield Armory Hellcat
The Hellcat is SA’s version of the Glock 43. It’s about the same size but utilizes a double stack 11-round magazine. The Springfield Hellcat is a top-notch gun that can hold its own to any other handgun in the compact category. They are a little more expensive than the Glock 43, but they are nice shooting guns.
IWI Masada Slim 9
The Masada Slim is one of my favorite guns. It’s thin and compact, but just large enough to keep a good grip on it when firing. It comes with a removable plate if you want to mount an optic. The double-stack metal magazine holds 12 rounds, giving you lots of firepower for a compact gun.
Other Options
If you want something cheaper but don’t want to give up reliability, the Taurus GX4 is a great little gun that holds 13rounds. The Ruger Max 9 is about the same size but comes with a removable plate and a little better finish on the gun (in my opinion). If you want to go more expensive, Kimber makes a whole line of Micro-9 1911 pistols. This is a great option if you are used to carrying a 1911.
Full-Size Handguns in 9mm
Shopping for a full-size handgun in 9mm is overwhelming because there are so many options, but that’s a good problem to have. When you start looking at full-size handguns, consider the type of magazine you want to use. If you just want it to shoot 9mm, there are some cool options. But if you are consolidating all your weapons to shoot the same caliber, consider switching to Glock mags as well. This allows you to use the same magazine in multiple guns, which makes sense if all your guns are going to be 9mm. But, if you want something other than Glock, here are some of my favorites.
Bull Armory Government 1911 in 9mm
Switching to 9mm doesn’t mean you have to give up the classic weapons you are used to carrying. The Bull Armory Government 1911 is a full-size gun chambered in 9mm. It’s one of the best-made 1911s I have used and one of the most accurate. It’s on the heavy side, but it is comfortable and fun to shoot. Ammo capacity is limited however because of the single stack mags.
Walther PDP
Walther makes good guns, and the PDP is one of my favorites. It balances well in your hand, and it is light. Walther makes several models with different barrel and grip lengths so you can find one that works best for you. The compact size grip with the 5-inch barrel is my favorite, but you can also get a 4-inch barrel if you prefer. It holds 15 rounds in a double-stack steel magazine.
Glock 17
Okay, so everyone knows there are a ton of Glock models in 9mm to pick from so I won’t list them all here. The reason I mention G17 specifically is because if you decide to consolidate magazines in your range of weapons, the Glock 17 is the magazine that most sub-gun and PCC guns are compatible with. If you want an even higher-capacity magazine, there are lots of options for 30+ round mags out there.
9mm Sub-Guns
These are what I call the “fun guns.” They are compact weapons that look like machine guns and they’re easy to conceal and store. These are my favorite for vehicle protection. A lot of the companies that make sub-gun style weapons use proprietary mags, but also offer Glock conversion kits. Others just make the gun work with Glock mags, to begin with. Here are my favorite sub-gun weapons.
B&T GHM9
B&T is known for making some durable and reliable weapons. After winning a US Military contract, they became more popular, and they have continued to produce new models. I have one of the older models, but the GHM9 is so cool I don’t plan to get rid of it. They are on the pricy side but they’re worth it if you want to buy a quality gun.
Stribog SP9A1
The Stribog gets a bad rap from some of the name-brand junkies out there. But my experience with it has been positive. I have had a few malfunctions over the years, but I believe that is from older magazines getting worn out. The Stribog is a little larger than the B&T but it’s a lot cheaper too.
CZ Scorpion EVO
CZ has produced some of the best sub-guns on the market. The Scorpion EVO series offers multiple configurations that use one of the best magazines you can buy. They’re not Glock mags, but they are awesome. I would say they are even better than Glock mags, they just aren’t as compatible as Glock mags. They are a double feed magazine for a 9mm bullet, which makes them reliable when shooting full-auto or pulling the trigger really fast.
Rifle Platform in 9mm
A 9mm bullet in a rifle platform will not replace a rifle round. I would never pick a 9mm rifle over a 5.56 if I knew there was going to be a gun battle. But they are handy to use if you want a self-defense weapon that uses the same ammo as all your other guns. If you are going with Glock-mag-compatible guns, they are even more common. Here are some great options.
AR-9 (AR-15 in 9mm)
I’m not going to list a specific brand for this one because there are so many options when you get into the AR-15 world. Just about every company that makes AR-15 rifles, makes a 9mm AR-9 version and most use Glock mags. If you want a 9mm AR-15, decide what price range you want to be in and go shopping because you will probably find one in any price range.
Ruger PC Carbine
Ruger has been blowing it out of the water over the past few years. Their handguns are improving, and their latest center-fire carbines are awesome. The Ruger PC can be configured in several ways and one of my favorites is the optional Magpul handguard and Glock mag-well adapter. This allows for the use of a Magpul drum and gives the rifle a PPSH look.
Henry Homesteader
If you want a more traditional-looking rifle that is chambered in 9mm but is still magazine-fed, the Henry Homesteader is a great choice. This rifle was just released this year and it’s getting great reviews. The high quality isn’t surprising coming from Henry, but a mag-fed semi-auto rifle is. This gun sells for about the same amount as the Ruger PC Carbine and looks to me like the little brother to Browning’s BAR.
Want to go 9mm across the board?
Not everyone wants the same caliber of guns. But having a wide range of weapons that all use the same ammo and even the same magazine is just handy. I have lots of other calibers, but I’ll admit I don’t shoot them as much because of the cost.
Buying 9mm is easier on the wallet, and it allows me to train with different weapons platforms while using the same box of ammo. You can even find lever action rifles, revolvers, and derringers that are all chambered in 9mm. If you want to stock up on a single cartridge, I recommend 9mm. It’s easy to find, there are plenty of 9mm guns out there, and it works for multiple purposes.
