Plastic pistols are nothing new—the primary was made by Heckler & Koch within the Seventies—and also you’d be proper to say there’s a glut of them available on the market. Simply because there are numerous choices doesn’t imply they’re all the identical, although. It’s even grow to be more and more frequent for polymer pistols to be sub-$500 weapons—new. Even among the many wallet-friendly plastic fantastics all issues aren’t equal, although. So which is finest? We ran just a few fashionable polymer pistols in a shoot-off to seek out out which could finest fit your wants. It’s the battle of the plastics: the Anderson Kiger 9c versus the Glock 48 versus the Savage Stance. First, let’s try the fundamentals.
What’s the Anderson Kiger 9c?
The Anderson Kiger 9c is the pistol that marked the producer’s foray into the handgun realm. It’s chambered in 9mm, compact, and—after all—has a polymer body. The Kiger 9c is a striker-fired pistol Anderson payments as being designed for distinctive worth, type, and accuracy. It is available in with an MSRP of $429.99.
What’s the Glock 48?
This one you doubtless know, partly as a result of the Glock 48’s the gun on this face-off that’s been across the longest. When folks assume plastic pistol, they have a tendency to assume Glock. The G48 is a Slimline, which means it’s not a cumbersome double-stack like traditional Glocks. As with all Glocks, it’s striker-fired, polymer-framed, and made for perform over kind. That is one other 9mm. The G48’s MSRP is $538, so it’s nicely underneath $500 at your native gun retailer (or by your on-line retailer).
What’s the Savage Stance?
Persevering with the theme of producers and first-time handguns we’ve the Savage Stance. The Stance is the primary handgun Savage put into manufacturing since 1907. It isn’t the corporate’s very first pistol, nevertheless it does qualify as being the primary in additional than a century (that and the primary one wasn’t polymer). Sure, it’s striker-fired, and sure, it’s chambered in 9mm. The Stance has an MSRP of $548, placing it underneath $500 model new, off the shelf.
Which plastic pistol is finest for hid carry?
Selecting a great hid carry gun is subjective as a result of it depends on so many private particulars. Nevertheless, let’s give it a shot selecting a winner, beginning with dimension.
Regardless of being in the identical class of firearms size-wise, the three pistols every have completely different dimensions. The barrel lengths vary from 4.17-inches for the Glock 48 to three.2-inches on the Stance and three.91-inches on the Kiger 9c. That’s fairly a distinction when you think about concealment. Right here’s a fast breakdown of specs and dimensions:
*Savage lists general width as 0.96-inches, nonetheless, the Stance’s slide width is visibly better than that of the G48. Whereas the Stance’s general width may be barely narrower, the slide is bulkier.
A fast comparability of dimensions provides some attention-grabbing outcomes. The Savage Stance is technically smaller than the opposite weapons—at the least for dimensions—nevertheless it’s heavier. Due to the shorter barrel the Stance boasts its general peak is a full inch lower than the Kiger 9c and G48, and which means it must be simpler to hide. Nevertheless, the burden makes extra of a distinction than you’d assume. The Stance feels markedly heavier within the hand in comparison with the opposite two weapons, and that’s price interested by for carry. Even so, the Stance wins for general dimensions—it’s the smallest.
In fact, there’s extra to concealment than dimension. Holster availability is vital, and there’s no debating which gun has extra holsters on the market: the G48. After that, it’s the Savage Stance that has better holster choices than the Anderson Kiger 9c, which is fairly restricted. In the event you take into account holsters and the truth that all of us have completely different carry wants—which means choices matter—the G48 wins.
Consolation’s subjective, however that doesn’t imply it may possibly’t be estimated. The blocky slide and deep, angled serrations on the Kiger 9c can reduce into your pores and skin throughout carry. Even with backplate on the holster that further steel and the sharper edges might be noticeable. Each the Stance and the G48 have extra rounded edges and curves that make them extra snug for carry. The Stance’s extra compact dimension is sweet for concealment, although, so it wins the battle of which pistol is probably going most snug for hid carry.
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Does all this imply the Savage Stance wins for hid carry? It’s actually probably the most compact, though not the lightest. However sure, for sheer dimension, the Stance is the best to hide. Selecting the very best gun for hid carry entails greater than dimension, although, which brings us to our subsequent level.
Which plastic pistol is probably the most dependable?
The only strategy to take a look at reliability is through the use of the identical ammunition in every plastic pistol. It’d be nice if there was additionally a precise amount match, however with the G48 being an older mannequin it’s merely had extra rounds fired by it. Ammunition used for reliability included Hornady American Handgunner 9mm 115 grain JHP, Winchester USA Prepared 9mm 115 grain FMJ, Sellier & Bellot 9mm 124 grain FMJ, and Federal American Eagle 9mm 147 grain FMJ.
All three weapons cycled ammo reliably—none skilled any failures of any form throughout testing. I did take care to maintain all of them lubed and used completely different magazines as nicely. This one’s a draw as a result of they’ve all been dependable to this point (I admit it’s the G48 I belief probably the most).
Which gun’s probably the most correct?
Accuracy testing was completed taking pictures offhand as a result of though taking pictures from the bench is good, it isn’t sensible. You’re not prone to end up combating to your life whereas sitting snug at a desk taking gradual, measured photographs. Operating the taking part in card drill with 5 photographs in 5 seconds at 5 yards, just one gun nailed it—the G48. At 10 yards, the G48 additionally delivered the tightest teams in addition to the best repeatability.
Ignoring barrel and construct high quality, take into account different options of those weapons. The Stance’s considerably shorter barrel may make it simpler to hide, however it may possibly additionally take away some accuracy—particularly throughout rapid-fire. As for the Kiger 9c, the final fitment of elements isn’t fairly as tight on the G48 or the Stance, and that additionally negatively impacts accuracy. Nevertheless, all three weapons are technically correct sufficient for self-defense use. There aren’t any wild fliers or issues going down.
Accuracy and precision are two various things. With that in thoughts, it’s straightforward to declare which pistol is most exact. The G48 delivers single-hole, five-shot teams on taking part in playing cards which are stunning to see. Proper behind it’s the Stance, which manages good precision with extra measured photographs.
Which plastic pistol is finest—the Anderson Kiger 9c, Savage Stance, or Glock 48?
You doubtless knew the winner of this could be the Glock, not as a result of any bias however as a result of it’s the model that’s had extra time to refine its polymer pistols. The G48 is a Gen 5 gun whereas the Kiger 9c is the primary and the Stance is the primary trendy polymer pistol. Watching how weapons carry out over time and having the chance to tweak and regulate options as wanted does matter. The Glock flat-out has extra analysis backing it and that’s resulted within the G48 being an superior carry gun.
All that stated, right here’s the factor in regards to the battle of the plastics. It’s important to select your personal plastic pistol winner. All three weapons delivered for reliability and all are usually correct. The G48 and Stance have probably the most holsters available on the market. For shootability, the G48 is the smoothest whereas the a lot smaller Stance comes second—sure, the Kiger 9c is a little bit of a rougher shooter for felt recoil and muzzle rise. The Stance is the best to hide.
What this comes all the way down to is that all of us have completely different hand sizes, skillsets, and physique shapes. The gun that’s supreme for me may not work as nicely for you. Taking the time to check out completely different weapons—even when all you are able to do is grip and dry hearth on the gun counter—is at all times the correct alternative.
Which gun do you favor, the Kiger 9c, Stance, or G48?
Check out the Glock 48 right here, the Anderson Kiger 9c right here, and the Savage Stance right here.
Kat Ainsworth Stevens is a prolific outside author primarily based in North Texas. Her love and delight of firearms extends to each self-defense and looking, and he or she’s pushed to show protected gun dealing with. Kat’s the writer of a number of books and hundreds of articles in addition to a profitable editor with greater than a decade of expertise in advertising. With expertise in all the things from defensive handgun use to subject dressing a deer, Kat’s background is diversified and intensive. She firmly believes within the significance of defending the Second Modification in addition to the First.
When she’s not behind a gun or processing her personal recreation meat, Kat might be discovered trapping, boating, doing yoga, and mudding. The outside and the Lone Star State are the place she belongs.
Expertise
Writer:
Handgun Searching and anthologies together with The Deer Shot Again: And Different Searching Tales and How To not Shoot Fish and Different Deer That Bought Away.
Devoted Outdoorsman:
12 months-round fanatic of looking, trapping, and fishing.
Superior Coaching:
Greater than 1000 hours of coaching in defensive handguns, lengthy weapons, edged weapons, self-defense regulation, force-on-force, handgun retention, and associated matters.
Centered Specialty Abilities:
Professional witness. Massad Ayoob Group licensed Lethal Drive Teacher and graduate of Lively Self Safety The Apply & Preparation of Being an Professional Witness.
