23 Best Concealed Carry Handguns – Feb 2024

The best concealed carry guns for sale in 2019. Get the best carry pistols from Sig Sauer, Glock, Springfield Armory and more.

Your concealed carry gun really could be the difference between life and something much worse. It is, then, the most important gun in your collection.

We took a look at the best options for CCW guns out there, and read around for your verdicts.

Here is a list of the best concealed carry handguns for  sale  right now, based on our findings, and yours.

Some people start with the caliber and then choose the best concealed carry handguns. That’s fine, too, so if you’re looking for specific calibers then we have separate lists here.


Always Check The Sales Before You Buy Guns

The best concealed carry handguns could be 50% off on another gunbroker site. But it takes time to search and you can easily miss out on a bargain because you didn’t have the right search terms on the best online gun store. So we have done them for you.

Just look here for constant online gun discounts from the best gunbrokers for the best concealed carry handguns. Neat idea huh? We have saved hundreds of dollars using these lists. Now you can too.

The Best Online Gun Stores

Check out our favorite online gun stores, and find savings on low-budget firearms and the absolute best guns on the market at big discounts, too.

See for yourself and feel free to save the page. These are live links to the handgun sales section and they should always lead somewhere good…


The Best Concealed Carry Handguns of 2024


The Glock 43X, a new concealed carry pistol that refines the Glock recipe for personal defense.

 

1. Glock G43x

  • Price: $448.99
  • Total Length: 6.5 inch
  • Height: 4.5 inch
  • Weight: 1lb
  • Barrel length: 3.39
  • Capacity: 10+1

The Glock 43x might be the best Glock for sale in 2024. Every Glock before it did nothing wrong, but this gun does everything right.

Honestly the Glock 43x, which comes with a little extra grip compared to the G43, is just about the perfect concealed carry. If you like Glocks, this is the frickin one. And if you don’t, well we didn’t either. Get ready to change your mind..

The G43x is comfortable to carry, reliable and just does everything well. It might just be the right EDC for 90% of the population. More even.

It is 6.29″ long and if you dig Glock ergonomics then it’s easily a match for anything here.

Glock Reliability and Consistency Matter for CCW

The Glock 43x isn’t exciting, but it does nothing wrong. It’s one of the best concealed carry guns for small hands and there are a wealth of night sights and other third party Glock modifications to tailor your weapon.

Glock parts & accessories is a cottage industry all on its own.

Glock the Safest EDC?

So if you don’t want your CCW to surprise and delight you, and you just want it to work every time and be easy to conceal, then a striker fired Glock is the safest bet we have.

That’s why law enforcement and government agencies love the Glock, well that and the subsidized deals for LEO. It does the job, every single time. So if you’ve just got your CCW permit, then this can be a good starting point as a concealed carry pistol for all the obvious reasons.

Glock took the exceptional G43 and simply made it wider and longer to accommodate more rounds. The slide gets the same compound of coating that the G19X received, and this time it gets a silver two-tone finish. You can get a black-on-black, or some other funky color Glock 43x on sale now though.

Glock Gen 5 Trigger is Better

More importantly, Glock triggers are getting better, like much better. This latest generation are the first guns that might not even need a new connector plate or Glock drop-in trigger system.

The grip angle and beavertail is subtly evolving to allow for a higher grip on the gun. The magwell is flared, there are front serrations on the slide and the stippling is a subtle improvement.

These were all things that the tuners were doing with Glock’s wares for too long, but they got the message and the new generation of Glocks really are contenders once again.

A Good Glock, Out the Box. Finally…

I could carry this gun or the Glock 45 without hesitation, and those are the first unmodified Glocks to earn that simple seal of approval. This is a concealed carry handgun that works as a pocket pistol, back-up gun or your best concealed carry handguns for EDC. It’s that good.

The Austrian company rested on its laurels for a while, created an aftermarket it couldn’t control and then had to simply respond with better guns. It has. The Glock G43x is one of the best concealed carry guns in 2024.


Sig Sauer P365 Nitron with thumb safety, the best concealed carry gun in the world? Buy guns online now at the USA Gun Shop.


2. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

  • Price: $499.99
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Total Length (Inches): 5.8
  • Height (Inches): 4.3
  • Weight: 1.1lb (Unloaded)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 3.1
  • Capacity: 10+1 / 12+1 with Mag extension

The P365 Nitron pushes the very boundaries of packaging. It is just 5.8″ long, it’s an inch thick and it’s basically it’s the new benchmark for conceal carry pistols everywhere.

It essentially created the now hotly contested micro compact 9mm pistol class.

Best Micro Compact Pistol For Small Hands

The little Sig is easily the best concealed carry gun for small hands and arguably the best concealed carry 9mm for women.

With a Kydex holster taking care of the trigger guard duties, this was a concealed carry revolution.

The Sig P365 is an unbelievably small gun that somehow fills the hand just right. It’s a packaging and ergonomic masterclass that redefines personal defense while dealing with State gun laws concerning mag size. You can get more rounds of 9mm ammo in there with the extended mags.

The Sig P365 Nitron is the best CCW in the world. It’s the gun that concealed carry permits should basically come with as standard. It’s really that simple.

A Gun Designed For Concealed Carry

The Sig P365 is just perfectly designed for concealment. It is just enough gun, and it’s both minimalist and brilliant.


There’s a compromise here, but 10+1 rounds, and a spare mag, should be all that any self-defense situation could ever require. You can also get 12+1 with the extended magazine.

Of course local gun laws will dictate how many rounds you have in your best concealed carry pistols. Get to know them well before you carry a concealed weapon. Then make sure it is this one. Or one of these variants…


Colt Defender Combat Elite 1911. The best subcompact 45 ACP 1911 in the world. Buy yours now.

3. Colt Defender

  • Price: $999.99
  • Caliber: 45 ACP Auto
  • Barrel Length: 3 inch
  • Total Length: 6.75 inch
  • Weight: 1.5lb
  • Capacity 7+1

Some people don’t want to hear about high-capacity 9mm double stack magazines and only feel comfortable when they’ve got cold steel, a single action trigger and 230gr hollow points cuddling their appendix.

You can say stopping power. We won’t…

But you guys are alright, too. And while you’re fairly well catered for here, you might also want to check out our list of 45 ACP CCW handguns for more left-field options and our new list of the best subcompact 45 ACP carry guns for a more in-depth guide.

But the too long didn’t read version is that the Colt Defender is the best sub-compact 1911 for sale in 2024, and that has been the case for almost two decades now.

Why so few concealed carry 1911 Handguns?

It might seem like an expensive handgun, but you can’t cheap out on a subcompact 1911. Cheap and reliable rarely go together in this class and the engineering required to make a subcompact 1911 cycle reliably shouldn’t be underestimated.

That compact guns conundrum has given major companies sleepless nights. The Colt Defender is one of the few to enjoy a stellar reputation for spitting hot lead every time you press the bangswitch.

Colt struggled to make the 4 inch version of its full size 1911 pistols work, and held the Colt Defender back until the year 2000.

Save Money on the Fit & Finish

You can get significantly cheaper versions of this gun by the way, and prices start from just North of $900 for a more somber finish.

You will still get to carry a concealed handgun that is stunning. And you can choose from functional wraparound Hogue grips, ornate rosewood grips, matte black, blued finishes and more.

Sportsman’s Warehouse has the best selection that we know of. Check out the full range of Colt Defender handguns here.


The Colt Defender gives a little ground to the modern firearms in terms of magazine capacity and weight. Even with these dimensions, it isn’t as easy to conceal either.


If you’re happy to pay that price for good old fashioned steel on your hip, then this is quite simply one of the best 45 ACP handguns money can buy.


The Colt Defender Combat Elite comes with a beveled slide for a quicker draw. It gets a Dual Spring Recoil System for reduced felt recoil, too, which is a big deal in a snappy, subcompact 45 ACP.


The dual-tone PVD finish looks good and also provides corrosion resistance. It’s a Series 80 handgun, too, so it comes with the internal passive firing pin safety.


1911 Carry Guns Don’t Get Better


This is the traditional metal 1911 concealed carry weapon for those that just can’t stand the thought of a polymer handgun. There are plenty of you out there that love a bit of forged steel and that’s why the good old 1911 is still with us and going strong.


The weight obviously counts against the Colt Defender as a pocket pistol. But it is a great concealed carry handgun and may just be one of the best guns on the market.


Taurus G2C - The best cheap CCW on sale in 2019. Buy your Taurus G2C at the best price now at the USA Gun Shop. Just $219.99

 

 

4. Taurus G2C


  • Price: $237.99
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Total Length (Inches): 6.2
  • Height (Inches): 5.13
  • Weight: 1.37lb (Unloaded)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 3.2
  • Capacity: 12+1

Taurus had already smashed it out the park with the G2C, then this price cut turned it into an absolute winner.

Apart from a Hi-Point, this is the cheapest way to carry a concealed handgun. And it’s good.

You can spend more than this in a restaurant, easily, and Foie Gras will probably never save your life. I mean it possibly could. I just don’t see how. Answers in the comments I guess…

At this price, you could dot these handguns round your home for the perfect tactical self-defense set up. Put them in small gun vaults, or concealed gun safes, and you could cover the weak spots in your home for a few hundred dollars.

Upgrade when you can, if you want. Because this isn’t just one of the best concealed carry guns per buck spent. It’s actually one of the best on pure merit.

The Best Cheap CCW For Sale in America

Hands down, this is the best cheap CCW on sale in 2024 by a long way. At this price anyway. At the RRP of $280 then it becomes a more complex deal, but at this price it’s a no-brainer.

The badge snob inside us doesn’t want to put it so high up the list, but it’s less than half the price of the Sig and Springfield Armory right now.

User reviews online are absolutely stellar. The general public loves this gun that was with us long before the P365 Nitron that now rules the roost.

The Taurus G2C is reliable, easy to conceal, packs in a lot of bullets and its cheap. That’s a good recipe for a best-selling handgun in the USA right now and an awesome carry pistol.


Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol for sale. A new 9mm subcompact

5. Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm


  • Price: $499.99
  • Caliber: 9mm Luger
  • Barrel Length: 3 inch
  • Total Length: 6 inch
  • Weight: 1.15lb
  • Capacity: 11+1/13+1 with extended mag.

Click for Lowest Price![/su_button

Springfield Armory has joined the micro-compact 9mm pistol race with the provocatively named Springfield Armory Hellcat.


This is clearly the first salvo in response to the Sig P365 Nitron. We can expect more from the leading manufacturers as they scramble to produce a Sig Sauer rival. So is the Springfield Armory Hellcat one of the best concealed carry handguns out there?


The Sig is winning the war of public opinion from what we can see. There are complaints about a relatively mushy trigger on the Springfield Armory and it simply doesn’t have the same upgrade potential.


You can buy a lot of parts & accessories for the P365. not so much with the Springfield plastic pistols.


No Dual Safeties on Springfield Hellcat


The dual safeties that Springfield Armory is known for aren’t here. The grip safety is gone and you’re left with just a trigger safety thanks to packaging constraints.


You can order your Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm with a plate for a micro red dot, or the standard sights. We think standard U-dot rear sight and luminescent Tritium front sight work better for concealed carry. But you do you…



Glock 29 Gen 5

6. Glock G29

  • Price: $573.99
  • Caliber: 10mm Auto
  • Barrel: 3.78 inch
  • Total: 6.97 inch
  • Weight: 1.55lb
  • Capacity: 10+1

Click for Lowest Price!

10mm Auto is a whole different animal to 9mm. It’s a hunting round for increasingly big game, it’s taking over as the preferred bear defense round in a larger Glock 20 or Glock 40, and here it is packed into a compact concealed carry frame.

Intriguing huh?

Here’s a not so bold prediction. As gun laws focus on capacity, contrarians will compensate with caliber. 10 rounds of 10mm? Yeah that will do a lot of damage.

Is 10mm Too Much For Self Defense?

10mm sits above the .357 Magnum round in terms of blowing the shit out of stuff. So if you have 10 rounds packed into a relatively innocuous looking polymer pistol, well you’ve bought a cannon to a gunfight.

There’s a lot more recoil with a 10mm handgun and the Glock 29 is seriously snappy. But if you can tame the beast then this is a devastating close range defensive pistol that will give you a hidden, but definite advantage.

Spoiler alert. Most can’t handle the recoil and settle on 45 ACP subcompact handguns if they want a bigger bullet their wrists can handle.


ReX Zero CP for sale - the concealed carry version of the brilliant Slovenian 9mm handgun for sale.

7. ReX Zero 1CP


  • Price: $618.00
  • Caliber 9mm Luger
  • Overall Length: 7.1 inch
  • Barrel Length: 3.85 inch
  • Height: 5.1 inch
  • Width: 1.1 inch
  • Weight: 1.56lb
  • Capacity: 15+1 Rounds


This is the conceal carry version of the ReX Zero 1S, and it’s brilliant.

FIME Group is importing this Slovenian take on the CZ 75 action that has been with us since the 1970s. The full line up includes the Glock 19 rivalling ReX Zero 1S and the full-size ReX Alpha that starred in our post on the best full-size 9mm handguns.

Only the CZ Rami is keeping this gun from second place in the standings. In terms of design, style, fit and finish, more or less everything, this might actually be my left-field pick. If you like the CZ 75 B, you need to try the ReX Alpha. It’s like a CZ brought into the modern age.

You can carry the ReX Zero 1CP cocked and locked, with a Single Action Only firing mechanism. Alternatively you can use the long throw of the trigger as its own safety and go with the DA/SA approach. There’s a manual safety mounted on the frame and you choose the condition you carry in.


Springfield XD-M Elite

8. Springfield Armory XD-M Elite


  • Price: $539.99
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Total Length (Inches): 7
  • Height (Inches): 4.75
  • Weight: 1.625lb (26oz Unloaded)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 3.8
  • Capacity: 13+1 / 16+1 With Xtension Clip

The Springfield Armory XD MOD Elite Compact is like a tuned up Glock, and it’s the gun you want to go for if you like a little more control than a micro-compact can offer. With greater accuracy at range, an optics ready slide and other features, this is a more complete handgun than the Hellcat. It’s just more cumbersome to carry, slightly.

The 9mm and the 3.8″ barrel version is the one you want for concealed carry purposes. You can opt for a 45 ACP or 10mm version, though, if either one suits you more.

Personally, I prefer to load one of these up with the best 9mm ammunition.


Ruger LCP380 II. A cheaper version of the Sig Sauer

9. Ruger LCP380 II


  • Price: $269.99
  • Caliber: 380 ACP
  • Total Length (Inches): 5.17
  • Height (Inches): 3.71
  • Weight: 0.66lb (Unloaded)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 2.75
  • Capacity: 6+1


The Ruger LCP is affordable, reliable, accurate and truly compact. It isn’t one of the best concealed carry handguns in the world in terms of technical ability, just price. But it is a basic, simple, unpretentious gun.

It was the best carry gun you can buy online at this price point and it really is a subcompact handgun in the true sense of the word.

The gun was so good people were prepared to keep using 380 ACP long after 9mm left it behind and it’s still a popular concealed carry today. Now the LCP380’s time might really have come, courtesy of the Taurus G2C and the new breed of 9mm subcompact pistols.

But it had a good run and it’s still going to sell big in countries with weird gun laws where 380 ACP is as serious as legal guns get. There, this is still one of the best concealed carry handguns money can buy.

Ruger LCP: One of the Best Concealed Carry Handguns Ever

The original Ruger LCP consistently comes near the top of user reviews, it’s comfortable to shoot and everybody loves it. It’s fair to say that the Ruger LCP is one of the best concealed carry handguns of all time.

You can still buy them for less than $200 and that is an almighty back-up or ankle gun.

So, if you have just filed your CCW Application and you are looking for a starter gun that does everything and doesn’t cost much, take a look at the Ruger LCP II.


.380 ammo isn’t the best, but if you stick to P Loads or something even more serious then the Ruger LCP will be an effective self-defense handgun. It is also super easy to conceal.


Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 2.0 in 9mm for sale. Just $199.99 with a $50 rebate. Get your gun online now.

 

10. Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus


  • Price: $399.99
  • Total Length (Inches): 6.1
  • Height (Inches): 3.71
  • Weight: 0.625lb (Unloaded)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 3
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Capacity:10+1



This is one of our personal favorites. The Smith and Wesson is a multi caliber icon and this single stack polymer frame handgun is a legend in 9mm pistol, 40S&W and 45 ACP form.

You get a polymer frame, a stainless steel barrel, a black Melonite finish and textured palmswell grip. This is the ‘no safety’ version, but you can get the little Smith and Wesson with a proper thumb safety. That can be a big selling point with a concealed carry pistol.

Kydex holsters keep pressure off a striker-fired pistol’s trigger safety, but accidents can and do happen. So additional safeties in the frame or grip can be a good thing. Learn to look for them.

It’s a slightly bigger gun, which you will like or you won’t. That’s the reason some people love the Smith & Wesson, because it is slim and yet packs out the hand nicely and gives you a solid grip to help your shooting technique.

Smith and Wesson has worked its magic with defensive firearms since 1852. It should come as no surprise that the Smith and Wesson M&P9 Shield m2.0 is a great firearm.


Walther PPS is a single stack CCW with a sweet trigger. Discount gun stores online here.

11. Walther PPS M2


  • Price: $375.99
  • Caliber: 9mm Luger
  • Total Length (Inches): 6.25
  • Height (Inches): 5.00
  • Weight: 1.22lb (Unloaded with mag)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 3.2
  • Caliber: 9mm Luger
  • Capacity: 7+1

At 6.25 inches overall, it is bigger than the traditional sub-compacts. It’s also better, but the Walther PPS M2 was right down the list until a price drop.

That has put the Walther right back in the mix and we could easily justify this much money on this single-stack stealth weapon.

Money Matters With This Single Stack

This single stack handgun used to be more than $400 and that meant it just could not compete with the latest generation of double-stack polymer pistols.

At the lower price though, the Walther goes to war with lesser weapons. There, the name, heritage and premium finish of the black plastic Walther give it a fighting chance.

Some people love the Walther PPS trigger and the way it sits in the hand. It got blown off the road by the overall winners, but it does conceal well and the slimline single stack pistol is light as well.

The 3.2-inch barrel means it’s compact enough, the pronounced grip and undercut trigger guard means you can get a secure hold and the mags and integral grip extensions are easy to switch out in a hurry.

You get a back-up safety in the trigger set and it really looks like a more ornate and finished Glock G43. For a polymer frame gun that costs this much, that’s high praise indeed.


Nighthawk Custom Carry Feather-Light 9mm pistol. Get a Nighthawk Custom gun at a discount, now.

12. Nighthawk Custom Carry Feather-Light

  • Price: $3,719
  • Caliber: 9mm Luger
  • Barrel Length: 3.8 inch
  • Weight: 1.8lb


Nighthawk Custom guns are right at the top, price wise, but do they live up to their reputation? Owners seem to think so and you can see that every Nighthawk Custom gun is a precision work that seems to live at that point where art meets engineering.

Every one of the Nighthawk Guns off the line are built by one master gunsmith and they are peerless in terms of the fit and finish. There’s nothing particularly fancy about this black anodized, single stack Nighthawk Custom Carry Ultra-Light, but then that’s kind of the point.

This is a minimalist carry 1911, chambered in 9mm, and the devil is in the details.

Awesome Touches on This CCW Pistol

The 3.8 inch barrel is match-grade, semi-crowned and flush fitting with the bushing. You get a one-piece magwell/main spring housing, an ultra Hi-Cut front strap and 40 lines per inch cocking serrations on the slide. dehorned to make it a more comfortable handgun for CCW, and the designer handgun touches just keep coming.

Heine Slant Pro Straight Eight sights at the rear pair perfectly with a Tritium front sight. As 1911 parts & accessories go, these night sights are not bad things to have. But the parts on this 1911 aren’t really important when it comes to the final price.

Nighthawk Custom is a designer label in the firearms world. Customers tend to be the same people that don’t mind paying a price premium for a Swiss watch, a Mont Blanc pen or a Porsche. They appreciate the finer points of engineering and want the best of the best.

Right now, that’s a Nighthawk Custom gun.


HK VP9 SK, a brilliant concealed pistol, but is it worth the extra money?

13. HK VP9 SK

  • Price: $629.99
  • Total Length (Inches): 6.61
  • Height (Inches): 4.57
  • Weight: 1.44lb (Unloaded with mag)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 3.39
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Capacity: 10+1

The miniature HK VP9 is only this far down because of the price and the hefty dimensions, which put it into the heavyweight class next to the diminutive Sig P365 that has the same capacity.

Still, some people won’t trust anything but a HK with their lives. Law Enforcement and some agency officers swear by these shrunken HKs. For them, another $100 really isn’t a dealbreaker and the extra weight is just a sign of solidity.

This gun doesn’t quite have the fearsome reputation of previous HK handguns for sale and there is a fair bit of Youtube criticism out there.

That wasn’t the case with the likes of the HK P30 Long Slide that even got John Wick’s seal of approval.

HK vs Glock vs Sig vs Springfield

HK has lost its air of invincibility right now. Some of the niche guns are still revered, especially the legendary HK SP5K, but the striker-fired polymer frame pistols just aren’t that much better than the Glock 45, Sig P320 and Springfield XDMOD 2. We look at the price premium and just struggle to justify it.

Some of the internals are metal and that does count. But this gun is right at the top of the price band and we can’t find enough reasons for that.

The SK is a smaller version of the VP9, so you get a 10+1 striker-fired pistol. It’s reliable, the ergonomics work and it’s a solid gun. The HK also more fun to look at than some others on this list.

A Premium Firearm for Premium Money

I am a big believer in two-gun kits. If you go for the full sub-compact CCW, then you should have the full-sized, full-fat, 5-inch barrel handgun for home defense. That consistency means you’ll always know where the controls are, even under duress, and you’ll have a natural affinity with both weapons.

So if you’re buying one, get yourself a box set as a gift. That makes the Heckler & Koch premium price tag even more difficult to swallow.

That said, the HK is a hugely competent, accurate and reliable gun. It does nothing wrong, and it is well designed. So don’t think we’re ragging on the HK quality here at all. You get real metal internals and way less plastic here.

The slide is heavily serrated and the stippling is aggressive. Some people think it’s not the most comfortable plastic fantastic to wear. But then it’s not a Glock, and it’s designed for when you need it most.

Get a concealed carry holster that covers it well and you’ll have absolutely no issues with the polymer frame HK VP9. It matches well if you’ve got the larger pistol, too, and some people just like to stay consistent.


Kimber Ultra CDP II - The Custom Defense Package from Kimber that is one of the finest micro 9mm 1911 handguns for sale.

14. Kimber Ultra CDP II

  • Price: $1,249.99
  • Total Length (Inches): 6.1
  • Height (Inches): 4.5
  • Weight: 0.98lb (Unloaded with mag)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 3.15
  • Caliber: 9mm Luger
  • Capacity: 6+1

Some people simply want to carry a 1911, but they’re prepared to compromise on the size and the rounds it spits. The Kimber Micro 9 Custom Defense Package might just be the best concealed carry handgun in the world for those particular folks.

This is a Kimber Custom gun, which means it is a cut above the production handguns in terms of fit and finish. The general feeling is it pays off in terms of reliability too. Kimber Custom guns are a different animal to the standard fare.

Gun Porn, Not Just a Gun

It’s limited in terms of capacity and we would love a double-stack magazine, but that’s not what we have here. Instead we have a beautifully ornate gun that is a work of art, as well as an EDC that you can pretty much trust with your life.

Some people have this single stack 1911 as a carry pistol and won’t have anything else.

Personally, I’d take the added capacity of the Sig P365 or Springfield Armory all day long, but not everybody thinks the same way. For some their gun is jewelry, as well as a lifesaving CCW.

Smith & Wesson 642 Airweight revolver - Chambered in 38 Special.  It's a great lightweight revolver that is simple and effective.

 

15. Smith & Wesson 642 .38 SP

 

  • Price: $499.99
  • Total Length (Inches): 6.38
  • Height (Inches): 5
  • Weight: 0.937 (Unloaded)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 1.87
  • Caliber: 38 SP
  • Capacity: 5


This gun is small, compact and basic. It’s for those that probably don’t spend their time online reading gun articles, if we’re honest.

But, if you stumbled your way here and this is all helping you make sense of the firearms world, then this basic revolver is a pretty good starting point for you.

Still, if you are going to carry concealed then you need to get some firearms training. That’s the lecture out the way, you’re an adult…

A Fail-Safe Concealed Carry Revolver

Give this gift as a gun for those that need fail-safe protection, though. The snag-free hammer action is enclosed, which makes this a double action only gun. You just point and squirt.

It might just be the best concealed carry revolver you can buy.

It’s a 21st Century revolver, with five chambers. The barrel length is just two inches and the whole gun weighs 0.95lb. So, you can conceal this more or less anywhere.

Use P+ Ammo and You’ll Be Fine

38SP isn’t all that, but the gun can take +P loads, so it should be fine if you use the right ammo.

The Smith & Wesson is a pretty little thing, too, which counts for something. We think…

Personally, I wouldn’t recommend a revolver these days. Even with a speedloader, it’s limited. Some people love them, though, I know.

Bersa Thunder 380 Plus For Sale. A great concealed carry handgun if you want to shoot 380 Auto,.

16. Bersa Thunder 380 Plus


  • Price: $349.99
  • Caliber: .380 ACP
  • Capacity: 15+1
  • Barrel Length: 3.5 inch
  • Total Length: 6.6 inches
  • Weight: 1.29lb

Some folks have made their peace with the reduced impact of the .380 ACP round and like the reduced weight, low recoil or something else about this semi-forgotten personal defense caliber.

Well if you love .380, then this might actually be the best carry pistol on the market right now. The Ruger LCP is a bigger name, and the volume-seller. In terms of capacity, though, the Bersa Thunder blows it away. There’s a Bersa Thunder Concealed Carry, too, but we like the Plus model of this 380 Auto pistol.

You get an aluminum frame, a proper hammer and in some ways this is a shrunken down, CCW version of the Beretta 92 or CZ 75 B type guns that we think are some of the best full-size pistols you can buy.

Bersa Gun Reviews Online are Stellar

The user reviews on the gunbroker websites rave about this little gun’s accuracy and repeatability. On Sportsman’s Guide, it has a 4.8 out of 5 stars rating. On Brownells, the first reviewer has the Bersa Thunder down as a five star handgun.

Modern ballistics tech has trickled down to the 380 Auto and you can get some serious stopping power for this compact and lightweight CCW. Check out some of the best 380 Auto ammunition for sale right here.


Mossberg MC1SC For sale - the new 9mm concealed carry pistol from Mossberg. Discount guns online.

17. Mossberg MC2sc


  • Price: $469.99
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Barrel: 3.4 inch
  • Total Length:
  • Weight: 1.18lb
  • Capacity: 7+1


Mossberg slipped into the polymer striker-fired pistol market without a massive fanfare. But there’s a lot to like about the Mossberg MC1SC sub-compact 9mm handgun for sale.

The smallest gun in the Mossberg line-up that is embodied by its big-bore shotguns, AR-15s for sale and polymer hunting rifles, could well turn into a star. If it does and the user reviews all turn out positive, we’ll be happy to push it up towards the top 6 or 7, which we think will be its final placing if we’re honest.

The Diamond Like Carbon coating on the stainless steel slide is a premium touch for mid-range money and we love the serrations on the slide. Pay attention Glock and rivals, this is how you make an easy to manipulate gun slide that shouldn’t slip, ever.

Mossberg Does the Basics Well

Those white three-dot sights are basic, but they slide right out and it wouldn’t take a minute to slot some aftermarket night sights into this gun.

All the stock equipment is beautifully snag-free, though, and you can see some pretty smart design touches and smooth surfaces where they help you with the draw.

Upmarket Taurus, Or Cheap Sig…

This is a simple single-stack carry weapon and Mossberg has done what it does best: deliver on the basics. It ends up looking like an upmarket Taurus, or a cut price Sig, which is pretty much exactly where it fits price wise.

Mossberg has produced a solid striker-fired pistol that should enhance its reputation. Is Mossberg on the verge of an all-out assault on the handgun market dominated by the likes of Glock? It probably depends on the fortunes of the Mossberg MC1SC.

We will watch its fortunes with interest, but the early Mossberg MC1sc reviews have been positive in the extreme.


Sig P320 Compact, one of the best concealed carry handguns on the market. Buy yours now, just $449.99

18. Sig Sauer P320 Compact


  • Price: $429.99
  • Total Length (Inches): 7.2
  • Height (Inches): 5.5
  • Weight: 1.6lb (Unloaded)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 3.9
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Capacity: 15+1 / 17+1 with Extended Clip.


The Sig P320 Compact is an interesting handgun that might not technically belong in this company, but it’s a better everyday carry that most here.

It’s not quite a CCW in the conventional sense and you do have to make compromises to carry concealed with a compact handgun. It isn’t as easy to carry.

But, if you want one handgun for EDC, home defense, range time and just about everything else, then the Sig P320 Compact is one of the best handguns in the world right now.

Military Sidearm For Personal Defense

It was designed for the US military and it’s really a service pistol, with all the attachment points you could want. If you want something more serious, check out the Sig Sauer X-FIVE in our full-size 9mm pistols list.

It sits right in the hand and you can actually change between several different calibers if you get the $400 caliber X-Change kit. Don’t bother with that, it’s almost as much money as buying another gun in a seperate caliber. Leave caliber switching to the military.


Taurus Protector Polymer Magnum for sale. This polymer revolver is a breakthrough. Buy handguns here at the USA Gun Shop.

19. Taurus 605 Protector Polymer .357 Magnum


  • Price: $349.99
  • Total Length (Inches): 6.7
  • Height (Inches): 4.5
  • Weight: 1.26lb (Unloaded)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 2
  • Caliber: .357 Magnum/ .38 SP
  • Capacity: 5


It’s another snubnose pistol with a 2 inch barrel, but it’s a beautifully designed handgun at the right price.

We are still not into CCW revolvers, but we do have a soft spot for this one and we kind of get it if you just want to own one and fire it at the range sometimes.

Polymer Revolver Firing .357 Magnum

You get five .357 Magnum rounds in a lightweight polymer frame and that means its a potent force for self defence. If you’re not sure of your grouping, a simple revolver like this can give you the confidence you need to get started carrying concealed.

It’s a beautifully simple gun with tried  and trusted technology. It’s a good pocket gun if you don’t want to take a holster for any reason.

This is a flexible gun that is ideal for new CCW permit holders who want a simple gun for home defense.

But don’t get the Taurus Judge, the pistol shotgun that frankly just sucks a little.


Kel-Tec PF-9. A small, lightweight and easy to conceal back-up gun, popular with LEO.

20. Kel-Tec PF-9

  • Price: $210.10
  • Total Length (Inches): 5.85
  • Height (Inches): 4.3
  • Weight: 0.9lb (Unloaded)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 3.1
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Capacity: 10+1


The lightweight PF-9 is an evolution of the hugely successful Kel-Tec P-11. That 9mm pistol gained an outsized reputation for the perceived recoil and practical accuracy of a much bigger gun.

The 3-inch barrel and slide are made from SAE 4140, heat-treated steel. The aluminum frame keeps the gun lightweight and the trigger is linked to the hammer with a transfer bar.

A free-floating extension spring drives the hammer and it’s a mechanism that has won the Kel-Tec legions of fans around the world.

You get a 10-round magazine, which is pretty good in this company too.

It’s a favorite back-up for law enforcement, which at this price says a lot. It’s also a great gun for your first attempt to carry concealed. It’s a pretty forgiving gun all round and it’s easy to carry.

Kel-Tec Reputation Not Deserved

People rag on Kel-Tec and it’s understandable, but if you get a good one then you honestly can laugh at them and point to the money you saved.

Of course if you go that route then the elephant in the room is the Taurus G2C, which is the gun you should have bought if money was the main factor.


Rock Island Armory revolver - M206 parkerized  revolver for sale, 2 inch barrel and .38 Special ammo.

21. Rock Island Armory M206


  • Price: $266.99
  • Total Length (Inches): 6.75
  • Height (Inches): 4.09
  • Weight: 0.8lb (Unloaded)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 1.75
  • Caliber: 38 SP
  • Capacity: 5


This small-scale revolver looks like it got shrunk in the wash, but then that’s what you want when you’re talking the best concealed carry handguns.

The barrel length is just two inches and yet it packs in six .38 caliber rounds. All the controls fall easily to hand and you even get an extended hammer that’s disproportionately big.

It might be a clone of the classic Colt Detective Snub Nose, but then it’s an affordable gun that does the job. It’s also a weirdly satisfying piece of engineering.

The Rock Island Armory M206 is available in a range of finishes and the matte nickel handgun in particular is a thing of beauty that you could have on display. That costs around $300, but if you want to love your wheel gun then you might want to splash out a little.

Rock Island Armory M206 revolver for sale - A beautiful and cheap gun that will make you happy you own it.

Sig Sauer P938 for sale - one of the best compact 1911 style CCW handguns on sale in 2019.

22. Sig Sauer P938


  • Price: $524-$779
  • Total Length (Inches): 5.9
  • Height (Inches): 4.25
  • Weight: 1lb (Unloaded with mag)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 3
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Capacity: 6+1


This is a real compact weapon that stays true to the spirit of the best concealed carry guns.

You get six rounds in the magazine, which isn’t that much in this company, and the Sig P938 is expensive.

But it does give you the classic Sig reliability, a lightweight gun and it will fit snugly in a concealed holster. You also get a proper, hammer-fired 1911 frame than has been shrunk down.

Pocket Gun, Purse Gun, Anywhere Gun

It’s a micro-compact, which means you can slot it into your pocket if you want and nobody else will know it’s there. And it is a pretty little  gun that almost qualifies as jewelry.

Inevitably, there’s a range of guns for sale, including the Sig P938 Blackwood and the awesome Sig P938 We The People. Add the gorgeous Sig P938 Legion and the P938 SAS and more to that list.


Glock 19 5th Gen,
the greatest all round compact pistol just got a little better. Buy guns online at the USA Gun Shop.

23. Glock 19


  • Price: $539.99
  • Total Length (Inches): 7.2
  • Height (Inches): 5.04
  • Weight: 1.5lb (Unloaded with mag)
  • Barrel length (Inches): 4
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Capacity: 15+1 /17+1 with Grip Extension


Have you ever considered that you don’t need a CCW weapon at all? Some people just need a better way to carry their regular pistol.

A Glock 19 is almost a concealed carry in my book. It’s close, just a little too big when you consider there are other, smaller tools for the job.

County Sheriffs carry a Glock, soldiers who spend their own money often have one strapped to their thigh and a lot of cops have a Glock as their primary or back-up. It’s snag-free, it’s smooth by design and you can carry concealed with a Glock 19 if you put some thought into it.

The barrel is 4 inches long and the whole gun is 6.85 inches. It is also designed to be snag free, and when you consider that the Springfield Armory XDMOD.2 measures 6.25 inches, we’re talking half an inch here.

One Gun to Rule Them All

So, if you don’t want to spend big on a new CCW pistol, you could just get clever about the way you carry your Glock 19 and get a CCW permit if you need one.

A more comfortable holster, in leather or Kydex, could mean that the slab sided Glock doesn’t foul or snag. Do that and you just saved hundreds of dollars, and you get to carry the pistol you have shot thousands of rounds through.

That counts for something too, so check out a range of holsters and make sure you get the best before you switch out your CCW.



 


Author

  • Nick Hall

    Nick is a lifelong gun enthusiast who has a simple mission. He wants to find the best deals for guns online and help you make the best choices with weapons your life may depend on one day.Nick won a minor league shooting competition at the age of 11 and it all went from there. Now he runs one of the biggest firearms websites on the net and his work has featured in Playboy US, Tatler Asia, Forbes and a whole host of national magazines and websites.

50 thoughts on “23 Best Concealed Carry Handguns – Feb 2024”

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  38. Why no mention of the Ruger EC9s? It’s reliable, very easy to conceal, has a great trigger, and is sub-$250. More importantly, it’s a 9mm, which puts it well ahead of the LCP.

    1. I was going to include it as a footnote, I still might. You’re right, but the LCP is a legend and the EC9 is basically a slightly worse Taurus G2C or M&P Shield. The LCP is unique, the EC9 less so, was my thinking. But you’re right, it’s a valid entry on its own.

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  43. I just want to point out the absurdity of calling California a “communist corner of the United States” in a description of a gun based off of the CZ 75 which was invented by ACTUAL communists in Czechoslovakia. Also, before you label me a degenerate liberal, I’d like to point out that I own and carry several firearms and very much support the constitutional right to carry a firearm.

    1. I don’t need to call you a degenerate libtard. I would just point this out. You have literally novels worth of free content, in quantity if possibly not in quality. Me and other people are scouring links to make sure people can actually find guns. We’re pretty proud of ourselves over the last couple of weeks. You just don’t know…

      You have scoured all this and the only comment you felt you had to make was this one. I don’t like that… Honestly, that’s pretty degenerate, and kinda libtard.

        1. I’m a terrible person… You know sometimes I write weird stuff. And some of it is total edgelord stuff. And if I didn’t do that, you might not have enjoyed any of it. So it is what it is. I’m not going to get dragged over the coals for one fairly minor comment in more than 1 million words of something approaching prose.

          Thanks for enjoying it until that point anyway. I do try and look at the positives!

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  45. iam not sure if this more of a comment or questions or weather ill get an answer back .i once awhile back had a concealed permit and now after years iam getting another , but the weapons have changed alot . there are so many and alot of differnt caliburs to choose from . there is so much to read that you get completely lost as to what you read by the time you get a few read . deciding on calibur of pistol is a demanding to figure out. been thinking between 9 mm and a 45 . dont know for sure the knock down power between the two or one better. as far as maybe the recoil and such. it is really confusing espicaly when you get involed with the prices.i was tryng to stay around 400- 500 price range and still get quality there. is there some way to choose on calibur and in a compact weapon with a decent payment ? iam totaly loss in the search for myself and my wife to be satisfied . help?

    1. Comment, question, it’s all good! We’ll try and help. As for 9mm vs 45, without being sexist get your wife, and yourself, to shoot one first. A CCW 45 is quite the animal and a 9mm might be way better for her confidence, and yours if you haven’t shot in a while. Seriously if it’s your first gun, or your first gun back for a while, I’m hard pressed to recommend anything other than a Glock 19. It’s about your price range, it’s low maintenance, it’s accessible and should fit you both pretty well. It isn’t exciting, but it does the job.

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