I shot a bunch of handguns at SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range, but only a few stood out for me. The Savage Stance XR, a micro pistol with a 3.2” barrel, was one of them.
Features of the Savage Stance XR
The Stance XR has a removable chassis that allows for interchangeable grips. The base model, which has a manual safety, is small, especially if you use the flush-fitting 10-round grip. There is a 13-round grip that gives the hand just a little more purchase. The gun isn’t as fat as some micro guns on the market, and there is great texturing where the launching tool meets the hand. It has a ported slide with aggressive serrations. The slide is beveled in the front, a thoughtfully designed feature for IWB and AIWB users. The Stance XR is available with night sights, and there are optic options. It has a trigger safety.
For a micro gun, the one thing that most of us will like is the field strip. It doesn’t take a pull of the trigger to disassemble. It uses a simple takedown lever.
Savage checked all the boxes here, including sturdy metal magazines, front rails (yes — rails on a micro gun!) and snag-free sights. It also has a Quick Release Optics (QRO) plate for mini optic users.
Shooting the Savage Stance XR
For a micro 9mm, the Stance XR proved easy to shoot. By the time I got to shooting, my teeth were chattering, my hearing protection wasn’t blocking the howling wind and everyone on the range was wearing the same color clothing: Boulder City dust. The simple act of shooting was now challenging.
Fortunately, my hands were well protected because Ironclad was one of the range sponsors, and the tactical gloves they provided outfitted me perfectly. I rarely test a gun wearing gloves, but this was a great opportunity to test a backup gun with gloved hands. After all, I was NOT going to take off my gloves.
The Stance XR shot well. It has ideal ergonomics, allowing it to fit a wide range of hand sizes.
I tell every officer I get to train that they should have three guns: one that they carry everywhere every day, a micro gun that runs as well as their duty gun and the best duty gun money can buy.
The Savage Stance XR is the micro gun.
I’m sure you are wondering about the gun for carrying everywhere, every day. I shot one of those at Range Day too. It is a North American Arms 22 magnum. I have several. If you have a badge and the ID that goes with it, you should be a member of the NAA club.
