History
Some of you may remember the debut of the Hudson H9 9mm pistol at the 2017 SHOT Show. It was a compact, high-capacity pistol that combined the pointability of a Colt 1911 with a striker-fired action. It also had an unusually low bore axis. Sadly, Hudson Manufacturing went out of business in 2019, leaving the interesting H9 pistol unfulfilled and unavailable for years.
Now, Daniel Defense, a company known for its AR-15 rifles, uppers, and bolt actions, has purchased the patent rights to the Hudson H9 and is producing it as its first handgun offering. It announced and displayed its new version of the pistol, now called the Daniel H9, at the 2024 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Everyone wanted to see what the revised pistol looked and felt like. Would it equal the original? Let’s find out.
MY IMPRESSIONS
The new Daniel H9 is compact and thin. This pistol is all metal, giving it a well-balanced, solid feel. The aircraft-grade aluminum frame and G-10 grips somehow feel better to me than polymer.
The steel slide has serrations on front and back to allow easy gripping, while fine serrations on the top of the slide reduce glare. There are no sharp corners on this pistol to snag clothing. I like the extended beavertail grip. It protects my hand from slide bite, an important consideration for a small handgun.
The included iron sights are simple. The front sight is a green fiber-optic insert that catches my eye easily. When positioned in the rear notch, it aligns naturally. I like iron sights! They are simple and foolproof. The slide will also accommodate a red dot optic.
Where is the safety? There is no safety lever, grip safety, or hammer. These departures from the 1911 platform are welcome on a concealable defense pistol. Note that there is no hammer; it is striker-fired. Less is better in a defensive handgun.
More Features
The trigger is unique. Although somewhat like a Glock trigger, it differs in operation. The front face of the bladed trigger is serrated and bottom-hinged. This safety feature prevents accidental discharge.
When I first attempted to fire the H9, I could not squeeze the trigger. I was squeezing the bottom of the trigger near its hinge point, thus not pulling the blade straight back. Engaging the trigger higher and pulling straight back allows the gun to discharge normally. It takes a bit of practice but becomes natural.
The H9 is user-friendly. The slide release is ambidextrous, and the safety is reversible. The 2-inch Picatinny rail forward of the trigger guard allows for flashlight or laser attachment. Daniel Defense has engineered the H9 magazine to be ultra-thin and compact, which explains the gun’s thin grip.
The high-quality magazine is double-stacked and holds 15 rounds of 9mm ammo. Each gun comes supplied with three magazines. The magazine well is slightly beveled to aid in reloading, and the magazines drop clear freely when released.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Overall Length: 7 inches
- Height: 4.5 inches
- Width: Less than 1 inch
- Weight: 1 pound, 12 ounces
- Barrel: 4 inches, cold hammer-forged stainless steel
- Trigger: 9 pounds, 13 ounces; straight-pull bottom-hinged
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, notch rear, drift-adjustable, optic-ready
- Magazine: Steel, 15-round capacity, three provided
- Material: Frame – 7075 aluminum, slide – steel
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Slide Release: Ambidextrous
SHOOTING TIME
Area 54 in Arizona is ready and loaded with steel and alien root beer jugs. Target distance is 7 yards, as this is a defensive pistol not intended to shoot 100 yards. My ammunition today is PMC 9mm 124-grain FMJ. Each magazine is loaded with 15 rounds to test function and ejection.
Engaging the steel plate, I notice the slide absorbs recoil well. The low bore placement aids in accuracy and pointing. Although a small gun weighing barely 2 pounds loaded, it does not climb when fired rapidly.
This pistol is accurate. I hit center on the steel when I follow through. Shots to the 2-liter root beer jugs are mostly centered. The FMJ slugs penetrate without much expansion, causing many “spurters.” Two root beer jugs on the cliff face at about 15 yards are a challenge but are hit cleanly with careful trigger control.
My only gripe with the H9 is that heavy trigger. I am in love with my 1911 trigger that breaks at 2 pounds, but the Daniel H9 breaks at over 9 pounds. It is a safety trigger meant for concealed carry and is well-designed. I find that I can learn the trigger by practicing and simply squeezing straight back.
The gun balances well and recoils straight back. The low-mounted barrel aids in accuracy. It somewhat resembles a Colt 1911 in the grip and straight trigger. No jams or failures to feed or eject were encountered in today’s test, despite rapid firing and magazine dumps.
PROS & CONS
Pros:
- High quality
- Accurate and reliable
- Simple design with ambidextrous controls
- Light – under 2 pounds empty
- All metal construction
- Straight-pull trigger
- Optic-ready and adequate open iron sights
- Extended beavertail grip
- 2-inch Picatinny rail
- High quality 15-round steel magazines
Cons:
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Trigger is heavy and requires practice
FINAL THOUGHTS
Like the Phoenix, Daniel Defense H9 has risen from the ashes of a prior designer to become a better defensive handgun. Now readily available, it is a good concealed carry choice.
Simple in design, reliable, accurate, safe, and with a high ammo capacity, the Daniel H9 holds up to its maker’s reputation for quality. The H9 is Daniel Defense’s only handgun offering (for now), because the company values quality over quantity. Check out the Daniel H9 and you will feel the compact quality.
