In 2022, Savage Arms stepped into the “micro nine” defensive pistol market. The model it released was the polymer-framed, striker-fired Stance 9 mm which uses a single-stack magazine. I had the opportunity to work with that version and found it to be well-made, reliable and surprisingly shootable for a sub-subcompact pistol in this caliber. But time marches on and the features preferred for daily carry pistols continue to evolve. These days folks are looking for small 9s with double-stack magazine ammunition capacities and optics-ready slides. Thankfully, Savage opted to bring the Stance up to speed with the new Stance XR model. Let's look at what it has to offer.
The Stance XR is Savage Arms’ latest concealed-carry pistol
Just Right Updates
A common mistake in the commercial marketplace, with many different types of products, is that the higher-ups become over focused on offering “all new” options when customers are looking for just a few tweaks to the existing line up (does anybody else remember “New Coke”?). Fortunately, Savage did not throw the baby out with the bath water when revamping this platform.
This version uses double-stack 10- and 13-round magazines.
The black nitrated slide is still just 0.97" wide with a useful sight set, effective front and rear cocking serrations and a 3.2" stainless steel barrel. They kept the effective frame and grip texturing and the top-notch tear-drop shaped ambidextrous magazine release button. The pistol still arrives in a lockable hard case with two interchangeable backstraps and two magazines. This series also includes a choice of three polymer frame colors, including black (shown), gray and flat-dark earth.
The aluminum trigger has been traded out for a polymer trigger with an integral safety.
One notable change worth mentioning here is the trigger. The previous model was fitted with an aluminum trigger that did not have an integral safety. The XR version ships with a curved polymer trigger with a wide, smooth integral safety lever. It forms most of the trigger's face which in turn makes it comfortable to work with. The XR's trigger was on the smooth side for a striker-fired pistol with a trigger pull of 5 lbs. 5 oz.
Double-Stack Capacity
Among the most notable design advancements to come out of the micro-nine movement are the modified double-stack magazines that allow for a slimmer grip profile. It is a best-of-both solution that allows for a double-stack capacity in a pistol this size without turning the grip frame into a brick! In fact, the grip of the Stance XR is not chubby at all. It's 0.97" wide, which is the same width as the slide.
Two interchangeable backstraps are provided with the pistol.
It's become a common industry practice to ship pistols in this class with two different magazine sizes, one to maximize concealment and the other to boost ammunition capacity and to extend the grip. This model ships with one 10-round magazine, which is flush fit to the base of the grip frame, along with a 13-round magazine that extends 0.60" past the bottom of the grip. This allows customers to try out both, then purchase additional magazines in the size they prefer. But some folks just stick with what they get and use the shorter magazine in the holstered pistol with the longer magazine carried as the spare.
Features include a 3-slot accessory rail, an oversized takedown lever, a no-snag slide stop and an ambidextrous magazine release.
For some reason, the early production pistol I received for evaluation had two 13-round magazines in the box, which was fine by me. Personally, I'm a fan of consistency over variety when it comes to pistol magazines. The longer version provides a rest for the little finger of the shooting hand which contributes to added control when the gun recoils. As with the previous Stance evaluation, the XR magazines proved to be utterly reliable throughout the course of testing.
Just below the left side of the rear sight is the QRO release plunger.
New QRO System for Micro Red Dot Optics
Over the last half a decade or so, the practice of mounting micro red dot optics to concealed-carry pistols has evolved from a pistol specialization into a standard practice. In that same period, the number of optics has proliferated while the industry has narrowed down the number of footprints to make it easier for customers to sort out their mounting hardware. That being said, the gun makers are still working out their own optics mounting systems in order for their pistols to stand out from the crowd.
Shown here is the QRO system with the filler plate removed.
The Stance XR's slide is outfitted with an in-house set-up called the QRO System, which stands for Quick Release Optic, and it's unlike any configuration I've seen before. Most pistols employ a relatively simple slide cutout. The top of the slide is milled with a flat slot that is then drilled and tapped for screws. The company then works out a set of adapter plates which fit in between the slide cutout and the optic. These plates come in different configurations to fit various optic makes and models. A set of screws is used to mount the plate to the slide and then a second set of screws is used to mount the optic to the plate. Overall this system works well enough, but that's a lot of screws to keep track of.
The Stance XR is easily disassembled for routine cleaning.
The QRO system is configured to eliminate the slide-to-plate set of screws and to allow optics to be removed or traded out without having to drive any screws into or out of the slide. The key to the system is a plunger set into the rear of the slide just under the left side of the rear sight. With the slide removed from the polymer frame, the plunger is depressed, or pressed toward the muzzle end of the slide, using a small pin punch or similar tool. While holding the plunger in place, the filler plate or optics plate can be shifted sideways out of the slide and then replaced with either the filler plate or the optics mounting plate of your choice.
Like its predecessor, the Stance XR is one of the more comfortable micro nines to practice with at the shooting range.
This optics system looks quite promising since it seems sturdy and simple to use based on what I could learn from working with the gear on hand. I would have liked to put it to the test with an optic but Savage did not provide the necessary plates and hardware. My understanding is that the pistols will arrive with a filler plate only. Folks will need to purchase the optic-specific mounting kits separately from the company's online store as add-ons. As of this writing, I could not find any kits listed yet. So, hopefully, Savage will get this sorted out sooner than later. In the meantime, the range testing was conducted using the factory installed 3-dot sights.
A Positive Shooting Experience
My time at the range with the XR version of the Stance was similar to that of the original, which is to say, it was an enjoyable shooting session with positive results. The XR weighs in at 21.7 oz. unloaded, which is slightly heavier than some micro nines. But the pistol's action design, the all-steel recoil assembly and grip shape all work together effectively to manage what could easily be more snappy levels of felt recoil. In fact, I went ahead and rolled in a 9 mm +P load for the formal testing even though I usually stick to the standard pressure loads when working with micros like this one.
The best 5-shot group of 1.06” was fired using the Barnes Tac-XPD load.
The Stance XR proved to be a reliable little workhorse that fed, fired and ejected all the ammunition tested which ranged from fairly slow, soft-shooting practice loads up to +P defense-grade hollow points. The formal bench-rested accuracy testing was conducted at 7-yards by firing five 5-shot groups into paper targets using three loads from Barnes Bullets, Hornady and some rounds I had left over from Sovereign Ammo. The average bullet velocities were measured for 10-shot strings using a Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph. Here are the results:
When Savage Arms, a company best known for budget-priced bolt-action rifles, first released a polymer-framed pistol, I wanted to see it before I would believe in it. The Stance turned out to be a rock solid little defensive 9 mm pistol. I'm happy to report that the Stance XR is following in the footsteps of its predecessor. It exhibited the same level of quality and reliability as the original with welcome updates to its ammunition capacity and optics-ready status. Considering the breadth of the micro nine pistol market today, the Stance XR does a good job of keeping up with the times without just following the crowd. For more information, visit savagearms.com.
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Savage Arms
Model: Stance XR; 3.2" Barrel; 9 mm; Black (67052)
Features: Ported Slide, Orange Dot Front Sight, Polymer Trigger, Two Backstraps, Two Magazines, Storage Case, Lock, Manual
Overall Length: 6.2"
Height: 4.6" with Flush-Fit Magazine
Slide Width: 0.97"
Weight: 21.7 oz. (Unloaded with 13-Round Magazine)
Trigger Pull: 5 lbs. 5 oz.
MSRP: $469
