which one is more practical for me?

Full size or Sub-compact?

  • Full size

    Votes: 31 60.8%

  • Sub-compact

    Votes: 20 39.2%
  • Total voters
    51
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Dksimon

Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2008
Messages
525
Location
South Dakota
Ok, i'll start out by saying that this is my first pistol and it will serve a double purpose. It will be a Springfield XD9 but i am not sure wether to get the full size or the sub-compact.

I am currently a student and also work for a large box store. So this makes daily carry almost impossible for the time being.

I would like to be able to carry the gun if I wanted to and I feel like the sub-compact would be the choice to carry.

But for the most part this pistol will just be for HD and plinking, so the full size would be more appealing for that aspect.

Which would you choose and could you also elaborate on your choice?

Thank you in advance!
 
How are we to know? what fits you better? what can you shoot better? I am a full size kinda guy so thats what I would go with but I am a large person and can hide larger guns easier. This is a up to you kind of thing.
 
yea and that is where im having the trouble.

Im 6'2'' and weight 205 so im not a little guy but i dont think i could hide a full size as comfortably as a sub-compact.

Im just looking for some advice because I really overthink these things to the point where i just decide not to buy one at all.
Hopefully someone can sway me!
 
Depends on a lot of stuff. When you do carry it will depend on your build/clothing, etc.
For HD you might want the higher capacity of the full size version.

Go rent some different guns at the range and go from there. There are plenty of weapons that fit both roles just fine (G19,23, and so on).
 
I'd get both because each is better for different things as your post states. But if only one is possible for the time, I would go for the sub-compact due to it being easier to carry.
 
yea and that is where im having the trouble.

Im 6'2'' and weight 205 so im not a little guy but i dont think i could hide a full size as comfortably as a sub-compact.

Im just looking for some advice because I really overthink these things to the point where i just decide not to buy one at all.
Hopefully someone can sway me!
Click to expand...

If you really plan on using it for plinking and home defense first I would get the full size. BTW I am 6ft and about 240lbs, and I have carried full size rigs in the past with little trouble, until the weather gets warm and the shorts and T's come out.
 
I'm a fullsize fan. 6' and 190, I've checked to see how easily a full-size PT99 goes poof and it works pretty well. Also IMO more accurate than a sub-compact 9mm. Do you have a any friends with a full/subcompact XD? Maybe you can CC one of those for a few days...

Anyway my vote is for Full-Size
 
Bigger guns are easier to shoot, smaller guns are easy to carry. Since you will mostly be shooting this one and not daily carry, for a first gun you'll enjoy the larger gun more I do believe.

--wally.
 
Full Size First

I would buy the full size first if you are not going to be carrying on a daily basis.

I currently rotate between an M&P .40 full size and a J-Frame 442 depending on how I dress. I much prefer the .40 to the J-Frame but if I am wearing a pair of shorts and a white t-shirt, it's J-Frame in either pocket holster or Smart Carry holster all the way. When I am wearing an untucked shirt or sweatshirt, the .40 comes out.

I too started with the full size and added the J-Frame recently. It's a good progression in my opinion.
 
Because of your height,I would say a full size would probably do you better.You should go 'try out' both to see if you like how they handle.I have an XD9 SubCompact,I use it for a BUG,yet for some reason being an average height I prefer the full size gun (my XD Tacticals,etc).

Its really up to you...
 
The subcompact 3" could pretty much pull double duty. You certainly could conceal the full size if you wanted to though - I do. But it'd certainly be easier with the compact.

You can buy full size magazines that have a spacer around them which, when inserted in a subcompact, give you the full size grip. To me, the grip is more important than barrel length. Springfield Armory link.
 
the subcompact model that i was looking at had the extended mag. i was pretty impressed by 16rd capacity in a subcompact.

Is $468 a decent price?
 
theres one XD model, i dont remember the exact type, that is essentially a full sized gun (in terms of slide and barrel length) but has the grip length of the compact. Then it comes with a second magazine that has an extension, basically making the gun a full sized grip. Like having two guns in one, and plus like the other guy a few posts back said, grip length is a bigger factor than barrel length when it comes to concealment. Youll also have a better plinker. Try one out, seems like this might be the best of both worlds.
 
I don't know much about XD's but if they're like Glock then they should have a full size, compact size, and then subcompact size model. Glock has the 17, 19 and 26 (i think the 26 is the sub-9). So if possible, get the 19 equivalent of the XD. If I'm wrong in assuming that there's a compact line of XDs, well then I say get the full size.
 
I voted full size. Little guns are a bit uncomfortable for me to shoot. As a side note, I'll offer this.

XD's come in 3 different flavors.

Subcompact = 3" barrel
Compact/service = 4" barrel
Tactical = 5" barrel

Give that 5" is considered full size and 3" is sub compact, why not go for the middle and get the 4"?
 
the gunshop i was at didnt have the 4'' model but i will definitely see if there is another shop around that has one because that sounds better.

I am having a real tough time with this because im starting to believe that the full size would be the better choice but the sub-compact with the extended mag feels perfect in my hands.

I dont know what im going to do yet.

Thanks for all the advice
 
there is no best gun,
but for a first one get a full size, and do not limit your choise pending what anybody says.
get one that fits your hand,
and you will shoot.

a revolver is a good start, chamberd in .357, 8in tube, you can shoot .38 all day long and then load up heavy hitters for the "fun" of it.
very wide choise of loadings, better than any other cal on the market.

stay away from anything larger till you like to shoot and get good at it. aka stay away from the 50 cal desert eagle it can hurt at times. (sample only)
.
 
Full size would be better until you are fully proficient with it, and understand the particularities of shooting a handgun accurately and safely.

Then get a compact for carry.

But, then again, you might just like the full sized XD for daily carry also.

PR
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top