We recently tested four new or newish 9mm polymer-frame pistols that use mostly proven designs and come in at affordable prices. The first member of our new group is the Savage Stance, $408; followed by the SCCY-DVG-1, $255, a new optics-ready model that we covered on the Gun Tests YouTube page in January 2022; the very new Mossberg MC2c, $380; and the latest introduction, a SAR USA SAR9 Compact X, $631, which was announced in April 2022. How well do these affordable pistols work in an everyday-carry environment? Well, when we shot them head to head, we found some were more accurate than others, and even more important, some were more dependable.

Your eyes do not deceive you about the maker of the first pistol, the Savage Stance. Savage! Savage, you say! What does Savage, the maker of great rifles for more than 100 years know about pistols? Quite a lot, actually. Savage was one of the two finalists in the military trials that eventually accepted the Colt 1911 submission as the winner. A scaled-down version of that pistol was produced from 1907 until 1920. It featured a 10-round double-stack magazine almost 30 years before the famous Browning Hi-Power. Now, a mere century later, Savage is back in the pocket-handgun market with a fascinating entry.

SCCY (pronounced sky, as best we can determine) is out of Florida, and the company has a reputation for producing relatively simple, affordable, and effective firearms. We tried out their new optics-ready DVG-1 model to find out for ourselves. The DVG-1 departs from previous models in that it is striker fired, where previous versions were hammer fired. The required changes in leverage and springs can increase the effort needed to retract the slide, but ours did not show that to be a material factor. The other three pistols in this test averaged in the sub 19-pound category where the SCCY required 20.3 pounds of muscle to retract the slide. We did not feel the 7% increase was noticeable.

Next is Mossberg’s MC2c, a modern 9mm semi-auto with a 14-round magazine, which is a great compromise for most small or big hands. It is very similar in size to a Glock 48. There are many very good reasons why different firearms are shaped differently, primarily because people are as well. About the only assumption that can be made on the potential user of a new firearm is that five out of six will be right-handed. For example, one member of this group of testers has long, slim fingers. The rest of us tend to have bigger hands and shorter digits. That means that pistols of a size that work well for him don’t necessarily work for us at all. The Mossberg MC2c handgun seeks to strike a balance that most users will like.

SAR USA is the exclusive U.S. importer for all firearms and ammunition products produced by Sarsilmaz Silah Sanayi of Istanbul, Turkey. Sarsilmaz is one of the oldest firearms manufacturers in the world, being founded in 1880. It would appear that the “X” in the SAR USA SAR9 Compact X name stands for “extras.” Our sample included a nice hard case along with an inexpensive, but functional, mag pouch and holster. The package included a second 15-round magazine with weighted base pad perfect for those of us still practicing El Presidente–type reloads. Also included was a nice, Picatinny rail-mounted LED light. But intentionally, apparently, SAR did not include the battery. Curious. All told, a very nice collection of gear.

How We Tested

We shot the pistols at American Shooting Centers in Houston, firing accuracy groups at 15 yards. We posted multiple five-shot groups from a well-sandbagged Caldwell Pistolero shooting rest, assisted by a Mini DRC Fortune Cookie from Wiebad.com. We obtained velocities in one session using a LabRadar chronograph.

We tested using three different types of ammunition. First was 115-grain Remington Range ammo, along with Winchester White Box 115-grain FMJs. We also tried our standard match reload in the form of 147-grain FMJ bullets from Precision Delta, powered by Hodgdon Tite Group powder and CCI small pistol primers. On a pistol-by-pistol basis, here’s what we learned during our testing:

Gun Tests Grade: A (OUR PICK)

$632

This SAR9cx reminds us of a Glock 19. Arguably one of the most successful mid-size pistols, the G19 is worthy competition, and we think SAR USA engineers did their homework well. Length of the 9cx is almost exactly as long as the G19, as is the height. Width closely mimics that of the Glock, and weight is only about 2 ounces heavier.

Our comparisons were made between a current SAR9cx and a Gen 3 Glock 19. Giving full credit, Glock has improved its offerings, and we see modern features on the SAR as well. The SAR 9cx starts with lightening cuts on the slide. This reduces the reciprocating mass and thereby also reduces muzzle movement. Additional milling around the lightening cuts serves well as forward grasping grooves. When we looked inside, we noticed even the recoil coil spring assembly was heavier than normal. The rear of the slide has seven more grooves on each side, making it very easy to grasp forward or aft. The two-dot rear sight is metal and has a set screw to help hold it in place. Mounted in a dovetail, the rear sight is adjustable for windage. Located just forward of the rear sight are two holes where the slide has been drilled and tapped for optics mounts. The slide is not milled; rather, the red dot would sit directly on top. Our examination suggests that the 9cx uses Docter pattern holes. We also noted that the rear sight would have to be removed for a red dot such as a Crimson Trace CTS 1250 to be mounted correctly. An external extractor that pivots out to provide a tactile loaded-chamber indicator rounds out the top end.

The polymer frame provides almost 360-degree stippling and does so in a way that is easy to customize, though we think it needs to be a bit more aggressive in texture. The backstrap and both side grip panels are removable via driving out a roll pin at the base of the grip. By the way, SAR USA provides a nice punch. Small, medium, and large grip panels and backstraps are provided, allowing shooters to make the 9cx fit their hands.

The front strap has multiple finger grooves which, frankly, we wish manufacturers would do away with. A straight grip fits a lot more hands. The trigger guard is oversized for gloved hands, and the rear is cut up, allowing a higher grip. The magazine release is single-sided though, once again, reversible. The trigger is gently curved and uses the customary Glock-style blade. It is set far to the rear, making it easier for shorter fingers. If yours are longer, change out the backstrap to lengthen the trigger span. The trigger provides indication of a cocked striker. Red triangles are visible at the rear of the trigger just below where it protrudes from the frame. But only if the striker is cocked. With the striker at rest, the trigger sits further to the rear, and the triangles are concealed inside the frame.

To take down the SAR 9cx, use the twin tabs in front of the trigger a la Glock, but the sequence is different. Make sure the pistol is empty, push down on the tabs and ease the slide off. Wonderful!

Our Team Said: The SAR 9cx was the heaviest pistol in the group and had the least recoil. That’s the way it generally works. Among other things, the good recoil mitigation helped make the SAR the fastest in our speed trials, by a couple of tenths of a second. It was also the most accurate in this test, averaging under 2.25 inches per five-shot group.

9mm Luger Range Data

Drill Data (5x5x5)

Drill Data (5x8)

Value Guide: Smaller 9mm Luger Handgun Rankings