Savage Stance 67001 9mm Luger

We realize that this is a concealment pistol and, as such, its groups are acceptable. We would still like to see them tighter. The B grade reflects average accuracy.

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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.

The Savage Stance doesn’t (yet) have an optics cut.

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: B

$408

We thought the Stance had just about the perfect amount of grip texture.

This test group lives near the Texas Gulf Coast, where most of the year, describing the temperature as hot and humid is a ludicrous understatement. Harry Callahan may be able to carry a 6.5-inch 44 Magnum in a shoulder holster, underneath the coat he always wears, but we can’t. Size and concealability are important factors in whether or not we will carry a pistol. We think Savage got those elements right with this design. Overall length is just over 6 inches, height is less than 4.5 inches, and width is barely an inch, making this pistol a great specimen for pocket carry, if so desired. The nose of the slide is beveled, and all the edges on the slide are rounded, also making it easier to conceal and carry. The slide has five lightening cuts on each side, once again making it easier to carry and lessening the muzzle flip a bit. The rear sight has the squared-off front edge now de rigueur for one-handed slide manipulation. The two-dot rear blade has an opening wide enough to easily find the front sight and uses a rounded bottom. The fairly wide front sight has a single large, orange dot. We would vote for a simple black rear sight blade. Grasping grooves are angled slightly forward and are located on both sides of the slide at the front and the rear.

Action TypeSemi-auto
Overall Length6.2 in.
Overall Height4.4 in.
Maximum Width1.01 in.
Weight Unloaded1.66 lbs.
Weight Loaded (8+1)1.66 lbs.
Capacity7+1 or 8+1
Slide MaterialCarbon steel
Slide Retraction Effort19.2 lbs.
Receiver MaterialGlass-filled nylon
FinishBlack nitride
Front Strap Height1.6 in.
Back Strap Height2.75 in.
Barrel Length3.2 in.
Grip Thickness (Maximum)0.97 in.
Grip Circumference5.0 in.
MagazinesOne 7-round, one 8-round
Rear Sight2 Dots, drift adjustable
Front Sight1 Dot, fixed
Sight Radius5.1 in.
Trigger Pull Weight5.5 lbs.
Trigger Span2.8 in.
SafetyStriker
Warranty1 year limited, original owner
Telephone(800) 370-0708
WebsiteSavageArms.com
Made InUSA

The grip frame is just wide enough to contain a magazine that is not quite single or double stack. Carrying seven or eight rounds (depending on the base pad) in more of a staggered configuration, the magazines are trim, easy to eject, and have a scallop on the base pad, allowing a bit more purchase in the case that it needs to be forcibly removed from the magwell. We commonly comment that texture on polymer frames is too slick or not aggressive enough. We think that Savage got it just right. The pistol stayed securely in our firing grip without causing discomfort. The back of the grip can be changed to fit the shooter’s hand via removal of a single pin. Flat and medium swell panels are included.

The slide stop on the Stance (arrow) is hard to activate with the thumb.

The polymer trigger does not utilize a Glock-style blade safety, and we were fine with that. Trigger profile was somewhat rounded, with smooth edges leaving the Stance very comfortable to shoot. Required trigger compression broke cleanly right at 5.5 pounds. The Stance has a molded-in overtravel stop just behind the trigger, limiting the amount of trigger movement remaining after trigger break. The checkered magazine release is ambidextrous and easily reached from either side. The slide stop — not so much. It is also ambidextrous, but it is recessed to the point where activation with the thumbs is problematic. The simple solution is to grab the top of the slide with the support hand and execute a “grab the rear and reach for your ear” movement. Takedown is simple. Make sure the pistol is empty. Lock the slide to the rear, roll the takedown lever 90 degrees clockwise, pull back on the slide, and ease the slide forward.

The feel, looks, and size of the Stance remind us of the S&W Shield, which is great company to be in. We found it comfortable to shoot with no sharp edges that bit us. Reliability was 100%, but accuracy was not. The 147-grain reloads (our customary match load) worked well, posting a 2.6-inch average. Both of the 115-grain offerings averaged more than 4 inches for five shots at 15 yards.

Our Team Said: This pistol offered many nice features in a small package at a great price. We knocked it down a grade for its just-fair accuracy.

9mm Luger Range Data

Testing was done at American Shooting Centers in Houston. Muzzle velocities were determined via a LabRadar chronograph. All shots for group were done from a well-sandbagged Caldwell Pistol Rest from MidwayUSA and aided by a mini-DRC Fortune Cookie bag from Wiebad. Averages were taken for 5-shot groups shot at 15 yards.
Remington 115-grain FMJSavage StanceSCCY DVG-1Mossberg MC2cSAR USA 9CX
Average Velocity1056 fps1063 fps1123 fps1131 fps
Muzzle Energy285 ft.-lbs.289 ft.-lbs.322 ft.-lbs.327 ft.-lbs.
Average Group4.10 in.3.07 in.2.43 in.2.06 in.
Best Group4.07 in.1.82 in.1.93 in.1.81 in.
Winchester 115-grain FMJSavage StanceSCCY DVG-1Mossberg MC2cSAR USA 9CX
Average Velocity1083 fps1090 fps1157 fps1140 fps
Muzzle Energy300 ft.-lbs.304 ft.-lbs.342 ft.-lbs.322 ft.-lbs.
Average Group4.56 in.2.70 in.3.06 in.2.00 in.
Best Group3.35 in.1.93 in.2.59 in.1.72 in.
Precision DeltaSavageSCCYMossbergSAR USA
147-grain FMJStanceDVG-1MC2c9CX
Average Velocity852 fps856 fps889 fps899 fps
Muzzle Energy237 ft.-lbs.239 ft.-lbs.258 ft.-lbs.264 ft.-lbs.
Average Group2.62 in.2.96 in.2.59 in.2.58 in.
Best Group2.12 in.2.28 in.2.44 in.2.44 in.

Drill Data (5x5x5)

Process: Fire five shots from low ready at a 5-inch circle placed at 5 yards. Numbers are averages for two repetitions.
PistolTime to First Shot (seconds) Split Average (seconds) Total Time (seconds)
Mossberg MC2c0.9450.2481.935
SAR 9cx0.9350.2281.845
Savage Stance0.9150.271.995
SCCY DVG-10.880.2681.95

Drill Data (5x8)

Process: Fire five shots from low ready at a 6-inch by 11-inch A Zone placed at 8 yards. Numbers are averages for three repetitions.
PistolTime to First Shot (seconds) Split Average (seconds) Total Time (seconds)
Mossberg MC2c1.050.2782.16
SAR 9cx0.9650.2441.94
Savage Stance0.9850.3152.245
SCCY DVG-10.990.2832.12

Value Guide: Smaller 9mm Luger Handgun Rankings

Gun NameIssueGradeComments
Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield EZ M2.0 12436 9mm Luger, $4992022-07-01 00:00:00AOur Pick. We liked the way this pistol handles and operates. Racking the slide is easy enough.
Kahr K9 K9093A 9mm Luger, $750Mar. 2022AAn excellent option for EDC. Metal frame mitigates recoil for faster follow-ups. The grip angle is comfortable.
SIG Sauer P365 365-9-BXR3 9mm Luger, $599Dec. 2021AOur Pick. Small enough to fit in a pants pocket. Carries 10+1 rounds of 9mm. Felt recoil is less than with a 38.
Ruger MAX-9 No. 3500 9mm Luger, $544Sep. 2021AOur Pick. This is a sophisticated pistol. No fault with the magazines, capacity, or general accuracy.
Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield Plus 13246 9mm Luger, $553Sep. 2021AA step up from the previously tested 9mm Shield. The new pistol has an improved trigger and greater capacity.
Taurus GX4 1-GX4M931 9mm Luger, $398Sep. 2021A-Best Buy. The Taurus is the most compact, and the Taurus is the only pistol with a changeable backstrap.
Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield EZ 12437 9mm Luger, $479Feb. 2021A-The Shield EZ9 was easy to manipulate and soft to shoot, but the sights needed to be calibrated better.
KelTec PF9 Blued-Black 9mm Luger, $358Feb. 2021B+An inexpensive pistol that functioned flawlessly. It reminded us of a good 38 Special snubbie.
Taurus G3C 1-G3C931 9mm Luger, $306Feb. 2021B+Best Buy. The Taurus G3C pistol is an inexpensive offering that functioned flawlessly and shot well.
Springfield Armory Hellcat HC9319BOSP 9mm Luger, $550Mar. 2020AOur Pick. An 11+1 pistol, this small Springfield might be the most versatile pistol in the group.
Walther PPS M2 2805961 9mm Luger, $649Mar. 2020ABest Buy. A smaller pistol with grips that will not abrade tender hands.
Ruger Security-9 Compact Model 3818 9mm Luger, $309Feb. 2020BThe pistol is adequate for the task of self defense and will not break the bank.
SIG P365 Nitron Micro-Compact 9mm Luger, $465Feb. 2020BThe SIG costs more than the Ruger Security-9 without overwhelming advantages.
Springfield Hellcat Micro-Compact 9mm Luger, $500Jan. 2020F/AHellcat #1 failed when the trigger wouldn’t reset (F). Hellcat #2 worked perfectly (A). Best accuracy.
Glock 43X Ameriglo Night Sights PX435SL301AB 9mm Luger, $542Jul. 2019AOur Pick. Firing grip is superior to the G43 and allows better shooting with little compromise.
Mossberg MC1sc 890019mm Luger, $365Jul. 2019A-Best Buy. The Mossberg 9mm gave up little to the Glock designs. Reliability was never a question.
Taurus G2S 1-G2S931 9mm Luger, $204Nov. 2018ABest Buy. The Taurus pistol was reliable and controllable in rapid fire.
Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield SW180021BW 9mm Luger, $400Nov. 2018AThe Battleworn Shield is reliable, accurate enough, and compact enough for EDC.
Bersa BP9MCC 9mm Luger, $295Nov. 2018A-Reliable, feels good in the hand, and offers excellent handling in fast-paced drills.
Honor Defense Honor Guard HG9SCF FIST 9mm Luger, $400Nov. 2018A-The FIST option is viable. We tested it against barricades with excellent results.
Ruger EC9s 3283 9mm Luger, $231Nov. 2018B-Most accurate handgun of the test, despite its light weight.

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