Best Concealed Carry Pistols

The 1911 series of pistols in .45 ACP are definitely large handguns but they are also very slim in comparison to other handguns as well. As a result, they are surprisingly easy to conceal carry on your person. That’s also not to mention that they have a very natural point of aim, are easy to shoot, and have excellent triggers thanks to being single action only. The standard barrel length is five inches, but the Commander style of 1911s have a 4.25 inch trigger, which should be significantly easier to conceal.

Smith & Wesson has sold over one million units of the Shield since its release in 2012, and it’s easy to see why. The Shield is essentially the full size M&P pistol that has been shrunk down into a single stack configuration. The Shield is available in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. It also is currently available in the 2.0 configuration, with greatly improved ergonomics and better stippling on the grip. Standard capacity is seven rounds, but extended eight round magazines are also routinely available.

The Glock 19 is the best selling handgun not only in the United States but also in the entire world. This is a compact pistol with a large magazine capacity that many other handguns try to emulate. For example, the CZ P10C and S&W M&P 2.0 Compact and Walther PPQ are all designed to compete specifically with the Glock 19. The main advantage to the Glock 19 is the fact that it is small enough to conceal carry inside the waistband and large enough to fight with, and 15 rounds is plenty of firepower for self-defense. It also has a low bore axis and is very customizable as well.

The Walther PPK and PPK/S pistols are certainly older guns, but they remain viable concealed carry options in today’s market. The reasons why are because these guns are all-metal and thus have much lower recoil, have a very smooth single action trigger, and a very slim and easy to conceal profile. Yes, they are chambered in and fire .380 ACP, but with the right ammunition selection the .380 round will be suitable for self-defensive use.

The Colt Mustang is essentially a shrunk down 1911 designed to fit in your pocket and also fire the .380 ACP round. It’s a single action only trigger pull, which means that it will be very light and crisp like the 1911. The fact that it is an all metal gun also helps to greatly reduce recoil in contrast to other .380 pocket pistols. Besides the original Colt Mustang, the Colt Mustang XSP is also available with a polymer frame. Clones of the Colt Mustang include the Kimber Micro, Springfield 1911, and the SIG Sauer P238.

The Smith & Wesson 642 in .38 Special is actually Smith & Wesson’s best selling pistol. Also known as the Airweight model, it weighs just fifteen ounces and has a two inch barrel, and a concealed hammer to help prevent snagging. Small enough to fit in your pocket, the silver 642 and its black cousin the 442 carry 5 shots and can handle .38 Special Plus-P rounds. These are probably the epitome of the classic snubnosed revolve for concealed carry. Take note that these guns do have heavy triggers and significant recoil as they are lightweight, so get plenty of practice in on the range.

If you are looking for a budget concealed carry option, you’ll want to give the Bersa Thunder 380 a close look. This is a clone of the Walther PPK and utilizes the same double action single action trigger system, safety and decocking lever, and blowback action. Standard capacity is either seven or eight rounds depending on the magazine. As an all metal gun, recoil is greatly reduced as well.

Another carry option to consider is the Glock 26. This is a shrunk down Glock 19 with a shorter barrel and frame, and holds 10 rounds rather than 15. It’s definitely easier to conceal, but it also will accept the longer Glock magazines as well. Many people like to conceal carry a Glock 26 with the 10 round magazine installed for ease of concealment, but then also have either a 15 or 17 round magazine on their person as a reload for added firepower.

When the original Ruger LCP hit the shelves in 2008, it sold like crazy. It was a pocket sized pistol in .380 ACP that was very similar to the Kel-Tec P-3AT, and was easily one of the most concealable handguns on the market. That being said, the LCP also suffered from a few faults, with the most notable being the heavy and gritty trigger pull and the fact that the slide would not lock back on an empty round to signal to you that it was empty. Ruger solved these issues with the LCP II, which has a single action only trigger to make it much lighter and crisper than the original, in addition to greatly enhanced ergonomics and a slide open on the last round feature as well. Standard capacity is six rounds.

The Ruger LCR is a popular snubnose revolver that competes with the Smith & Wesson J-Frame. The main difference between the LCR and the J-Frame is that the LCR utilizes a different style of grip and has a polymer frame rather than a metal frame. It also features a shrouded hammer, but a version of the LCR called the LCRx has an exposed hammer so your first shot can be single action if you so desire.

There was a lot of hype for the Glock 43 when it was released, and it hasn’t disappointed. This is one of the best selling 9mm single stack pistols today, with a capacity of six rounds from the factory, but increased magazine capacities are also available from third party manufacturers. The Glock 43 is a little bit smaller than the competitors like the Walther PPS and the Smith & Wesson Shield, so as a result some people will find it a little bit easier to conceal.

The Taurus 85 is a snubnose revolver that is essentially a clone of the Smith & Wesson J-Frame. It’s a five shot snubnose revolver that is very easy to conceal, but one major selling point to it is the fact that the hammer can be removed if you so desire, so you can have it in either a hammered or hammerless version on the same gun, which is definitely neat.

The Walther PPS M2 is a refinement of the original PPS pistol in 9mm. The improvements include excellent ergonomics and the lack of a backstrap on the grip that previously would render the gun inoperable if it was damaged or remove. Walther is known for making some of the most comfortable guns on the market and the PPS is no exception, with the grip texturing being incredibly similar to the renowned grip texture on the PPQ. The PPS is also available with six round, seven round, and eight round magazines.

The Taurus G2C is a budget pistol chambered in 9mm. It’s roughly the same size as a Glock 26, and holds 12 rounds of 9mm or 10 rounds of .40 depending on the model that you choose. This is a low cost handgun for only around $200 or less, and it has a myriad of features that you would expect on a much higher priced handgun, such as a safety lever on the side of the frame, restrike capability, a loaded chamber indicator, a Glock-style bladed safety, a loaded chamber indicator, stippling on the grip, and so on. The G2C also has a reputation for being reliable as well. The previous version called the PT111 G2 has a safety lock system that is a trademark feature of Taurus.