NRA Gun Of The Week: Savage Arms Stance

by
posted on October 28, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

The Stance from Savage Arms entered the concealed-carry market in 2022, making it the company’s first pistol introduction since the 1920s. This line of purpose-built compact pistols comes from the factory with several unique design elements and customizable options. Watch the video above to the Stance in use on the NRA Tech Range.

Man on shooting range with Savage Stance pistol 9 mm

On the range, the Savage Arms Stance, unsurprisingly, has more pronounced recoil than larger compact handguns in the same caliber, but the 18-degree grip angle, along with the aggressive texturing on the grip, helps to reduce the impact on the user’s hands. The grip frame of the stance, regardless of safety or color option, features aggressive stippled texturing on the grip portion for increased purchase on the small 9 mm. It also comes with two interchangeable backstraps.

Left-side view handgun pistol gray frame black slide Savage Arms Stance 9 mm

Instead of using a serialized frame, the Stance uses a detachable, serialized metal chassis housed within a glass-nylon frame. This chassis can be removed from the frame and swapped into another Stance frame. This allows the user to change out the polymer for other color options offered by Savage, which include black, flat dark earth, and gray.

three guns side by side color comparison Savage Arms stance

Savage provides a treated steel slide, which houses a 3.2" stainless steel  barrel, and features cocking serrations front and back. Each Stance pistol comes with two magazines, one seven-round flush fit and one eight-round extended magazine. A larger 10-round magazine is also available. Bilateral controls are provided, too, including the magazine release and slide catch, which are designed for snag-free and easy-to-manipulate use.

two silver stainless steel magazines side by side for savage arms stance pistol

While the standard Stance comes with a white dot front and “U” notch rear iron sights dovetailed into the top of the slide, it is also offered with TruGlo tritium night sight sets, which are featured on the version tested here. The Stance is also available as a package deal with a Viridian E-series red laser installed at the Savage Arms factory.

Specifications
Manufacturer: Savage Arms
Action Type: recoil-operated, semi-automatic centerfire pistol
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Barrel: 3.2" stainless steel
Frame: stainless steel chassis, gray polymer grip frame
Sights: TruGlo Tritium, three-dot; drift-adjustable rear, fixed front
Magazine: seven- and eight-round detachable box
Height: 4.6"
Overall Length: 6.2"
Width: 0.96"
Weight: 22 ozs.
MSRP: $548

Latest

Chuck Yeager’s Beretta Model 1935 pistol
Chuck Yeager’s Beretta Model 1935 pistol

Take a Safe Queen to the Range

With few exceptions, there’s no reason not to shoot your classic firearm periodically.

9 New 1911s & 2011s for 2026

There is a host of new 1911s and 2011s available to today's handgun enthusiasts, with each design bringing a unique feature set to the table.

Wyoming Breaks Ground on State Shooting Sports Complex

Wyoming state officials were on hand at the groundbreaking ceremony for the state's new shooting complex, which is expected to open in mid-2027.

Beretta Holding and Ruger Agree to Partnership

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. and Beretta Holding S.A. have announced that both companies are entering into a strategic cooperation agreement.

Return of the Encore: T/C Arms Brings Back Its Iconic Single-Shot

In 2024, former owner Gregg Ritz purchased Thompson/Center Arms. Now the company has introduced a modern take on its classic Contender/Encore concept: the ENCORE PROHunter.

7 New ARs for 2026

While it's certainly a saturated marketplace these days, the AR-15 has never been more popular with American firearm enthusiasts, and many manufacturers are continuing to feed the need with new options loaded with new features.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.