Via Insty, I see this trend, and I’m not happy about it:
While data from 2019 to date shows the compact category has consistently had the greatest sales performance, hovering around 40%, the biggest changes have occurred in the micro-compact category. From 2019 to date, the micro-compact market has grown from an 18% to 25% share, making them a quarter of the 9mm semi-automatic handguns sold. Also notable is the fact that micro-compacts have taken a majority share in the combined sub-compact/micro segment.
Almost all, of course, in the 9mm Europellet chambering.
I’ve tried quite a few of these belly guns in the past, and never found one that suits me — unless in a smaller caliber like .32 ACP. And frankly, if you’re going to use a belly gun (thus named because its use is to stick it into your target’s belly before pulling the trigger), I think the actual difference between calibers is irrelevant because a 1.5″ barrel develops no muzzle velocity past that created by the powder charge itself.
I understand that some people may find a large frame carry pistol to be too heavy and cumbersome and all that. While I don’t have a problem carrying a 1911 myself, I can see that someone else might want something smaller but still retaining more oomph than a 1.5″ barrel throwing out [sic] a 9mm bullet.
Allow me, then, to suggest something like Colt’s excellent Combat Commander, which differs from the full sized 1911 only insofar as it has a 4.5″ barrel, an inch or so shorter.
Longtime Readers will know that I dislike the “extended” grip safety which seems to be what all the cool kids are asking for these days:
…but which is easily swapped out for a normal one, the only irritant being to add about $50 to the cost of ownership.
The Commander-sized 1911 is pretty much the only compromise I’d be willing to make in the “ease of carry” argument, so forget those teeny lil’ pocket guns. Especially in 9mmP.
If I wanted a real belly gun, I’d get a Bond Arms Derringer in .45 Colt / .410ga:
Now that’s going to leave a mark in some goblin’s belly, you betcha. And it fits nicely into a pocket, too.
