Gallery: 10 Great Concealed Carry Handguns
By Robert Sadowski
Street-proven concealed carry handguns for everyday defense.
Taking on the responsibility of concealed carry, personal protection means choosing the right handgun. That can be a daunting task. You need to factor in the type of handgun, the caliber, and how you will carry the pistol on your person. Include training time, too, since you need to be proficient with your chosen handgun. Handle as many models as you can to find the one you can operate and shoot the best.
Remember the trade off is this: Smaller pistols are easier to conceal but are harder to shoot accurately and operate. You might find a slightly larger pistol easier to control and fire more efficiently but is bulkier on your hip.
The 10 concealed carry handguns listed here are on my short list of safe, concealed carry pistols. All are proven performers, and all have the ability to blend in with your everyday life so you will be ready if you should need it.
Beretta 92 Compact
| The Beretta 92 needs no introduction. As our Military's sidearm, the full-size Model 92 performs its duty. The 92 Compact takes the combat and street-proven Model 92 pistol and reconfigures it in a smaller package using a 4.25-inch barrel and a shortened grip for improved concealment. Using a traditional DA/SA trigger, the 92 Compact is good to go on the draw with no need to flip off a safety. It also holds 13+1 rounds of 9mm ammo in its all-metal frame and weighs only 31.6 ounces unloaded. The 92 Compact has a small footprint; only 7.75 inches long and 1.5 inches thick. The Inox finish is a matte stainless steel that is impervious to sweat, humidity and corrosion. Plus, it uses any Model 92 style magazine. ($800) | Bersa Thunder 380 CC
| The Thunder 380 Conceal Carry offers .380 ACP firepower in a package that weighs only 16.4 ounces and is only 6 inches long. The exterior of the Thunder 380 CC is smooth and snag free, so nothing will interfere with your draw from deep cover. Even the minimal sights and bobbed hammer aid concealment and enhance the draw. The finger groove front grip strap helps make this pistol a natural pointer when grasped. The Bersa Thunder 380 CC pocket pistol has a reputation for reliability with an 8+1 round capacity of .380 ACP ammo and features a traditional DA/SA trigger. ($345) | Charter Arms Off Duty
| When you need to draw the Off Duty, it won't snag on concealment garments since the hammer is enclosed in the heat-treated aluminum frame. In fact, the entire frame has a smooth, snag-free exterior that was specifically designed for deep concealed carry. Sure, it is an old school snub nose with a 2-inch barrel, but this five-shot revolver is chambered in .38 Special +P so it can unleash defensive firepower rapidly with a press of the DAO trigger. At only 12 ounces and equipped with a small ribbed rubber boot grip, it offers comfortable, all-day carry in a holster, pant pocket or purse. ($404) | Colt Defender
| The Colt Defender is a benchmark for small, concealed carry 1911-style pistols. The newest model in 9mm offers all the compactness of the originals-3-inch barrel, 6.75 inches in length, and weighs only 24 ounces empty-plus, it features G10 grips and a carry cut on the front of the slide for ease of concealment. The Defender has a blued carbon steel slide and black Cerakote coated aluminum receiver, a Tritium front night sight and blacked-out Novak low mount carry rear sight. Plus, it has the crisp single-action trigger 1911s are renown for. ($949) | Glock G43
| The G43 is Glock's smallest 9mm pistol weighing less than 22.36 ounces loaded, 6.26 inches long, and about 1 inch thick. Even concealed carry holders with slight statures can easily hide this 6+1 round, single-stack semi-automatic on their person. The grip size is also friendly to shooters with smaller hands. The aggressive grip texture and beavertail grip design allows the user to get a high hold on the pistol for better recoil management and faster follow up shots. The striker-fire trigger pull is a consistent 5.5 pounds. ($580) | Kahr CW380
| The Kahr CW380 is small but very manageable. With a 6+1 capacity in .380 ACP, this small pistol offers plenty of defensive firepower in just 4.9 inches in length and is .75 inches thick. This pistol also has less bulk, weighing only 10.2 ounces unloaded. The exceptional handling can be attributed to the textured polymer frame and smooth DAO trigger press. Small in size but offering plenty of bite, the CW380 is a safe and user-friendly concealed carry choice. ($419) | Kimber Micro 9
| The Micro 9 is a beefed up Kimber Micro platform chambered for 9mm. The controls are set up similar to the 1911 platform, so ramp-up time on the Micro 9 is short. Plenty of texture on the front and rear grip straps gives the user a sure grip for better control. At 5.6 inches long and weighing only 13.4 ounces unloaded, the Micro 9 is extremely comfortable when you carry all day. The slide has a matte stainless finish, while the frame has a satin aluminum finish. Grips are checkered rosewood. Carry it cocked-and-locked. ($654) | SIG P320 Subcompact
| The P320 is as much a subcompact pistol as it is a full-size pistol. SIG designed the P320 around a modular polymer framed pistol that can be configured into a variety of pistol sizes just by swapping grip frames. The P320 Subcompact offers 12+1 rounds of 9mm ammo in a package that is 6.7 inches long, 4.7 inches high and weighs 25 ounces. With nearly double the firepower of a single-stack concealed carry pistol, the P320 also offers a crisp striker-fire trigger and short reset for enhanced shooting. ($628) | Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield
| The S&W M&P9 Shield is slim, concealable, and lightweight. This striker-fire pistol is constructed with a polymer frame and sculpted steel slide and has a total weight of only 18.2 ounces unloaded. The trigger pull is a consistent 6.5 pounds with a predictable break. The Shield features 3-dot sights, which are bold and fast to aim. Offering a 7+1 capacity in a flush-fit magazine or an 8+1 capacity with an extended magazine, the Shield is as versatile as it is easy to carry. ($449) | Springfield Armory XD-S 3.3"
| If you demand .45 ACP firepower in a concealed carry configuration, then the XD Mod.2 3.3" offers a compact pistol with plenty of textured surface area to grip when unleashing those .45-caliber rounds. In fact, this pistol has three different types of textured surfaces, so the grip is sure without abrading your skin. The XD Mod.2 3.3" features a 3.3-inch hammer forged barrel, forged steel slide, and black polymer frame. Two magazines come with the pistol: a flush-fit magazine that holds 9+1 rounds and an extended magazine that packs 13+1 rounds. With the flush-fit magazine, the XD Mod.2 3.3" weighs only 26 ounces. Equipped with a fiber optic front sight that soaks up available light, it offers a good sight picture in dimly lit areas. The striker-fire trigger is very crisp. ($629) | | |
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