15 Best SubCompact 9mm Handguns – 2024

Last updated February 6th 2024

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Winners at a Glance

The Glock G43x is the best subcompact 9mm pistol on sale, but there are lots of alternatives these days. Here are our top picks.

Introduction

This is the hottest sector in the firearms industry. Firearms manufacturers sweat real blood and tears over the course of the year to secure these honors.

This is the first gun that most of us own and, in many it’s the last. This is the personal defense volume seller, the high-street name and the halo brand, all in one.

What is the definition of a sub-compact?

e are going with a maximum of a ” barrel and 6.75 inches long so you can actually conceal it. That gives us room to include a couple of options you might not have considered, without just rehashing our list of the best compact carry for EDC in 9mm Luger.

Now the technicalities are out the way, what are the best subcompact 9mm handguns in 2024? We think it’s the Glock G43x, and here are our reasons why…

1. Glock 43x

• Price: $448.00
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel Length: 3.39 inches
• Total: 6.5
• Weight: 1lb
• Magazine capacity: 10+1

Overall Winner

Price	Performance	Reliability	Concealability	Prestige
4/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	4/5

Glock was slowly turning into Apple, relying on the name and marketing, rather than true innovation, to keep pushing its products on the American public. With Gen 5, that has changed. 

Glocks outsell everything because they’re reliable, accurate, simple and basically the white goods of the firearms world. But while all Glocks before did nothing really wrong, this striker-fired pistol does every little thing absolutely right.

In terms of personality, soul and pleasure, that’s bad. In terms of keeping you alive in an emergency, it’s good.

You can of course get the optics ready Glock G43x MOS and add a micro red dot sights and a choice of extended magazines. That makes it one of the top subcompact 9mm pistols on sale, easily.

It may lack soul. But the Glock 43x Gen 5 is near perfect engineering and arguably the best 9mm handgun in 2024 for your gun safes.

2. Sig Sauer P365

• Price: $579.99
• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel: 3.1 inches
• Overall: 5.8
• Weight: 1.1lb
• Capacity: 10+1

Best for concealment

Price	Performance	Reliability	Concealability	Prestige
3/5	4/5	4/5	5/5	3.5/5

The Sig P365 Nitron semi-automatic pistol changed the game and is pretty much everyone’s favorite if they don’t like Glock 9mm handguns.

Now the Sig P365 has evolved into a model line, with the X-Series, the P365XL compact size handgun and the X Macro with a longer sight picture, compensator and flat faced trigger.

But this is the classic, the pistol that changed the world with its double stack capacity and packaging brilliance. Although these are the smallest subcompact 9mm pistols you could reasonably use and they might be too small for big hands.

If you want to deep conceal your high capacity micro-compact pistol, or just save some money, get the original Sig Sauer P365. Plenty still say it’s the best micro compact pistols in the world.

3. Springfield Armory Hellcat

• Price: $549.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 3 inch
• Total Length: 6 inch
• Weight: 1.15lb
• Capacity: 11+1/13+1 with extended mag.

Best for Capacity

Price	Performance	Reliability	Concealability	Prestige
3/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	3/5

Springfield has fired metaphorical shots at the Sig and Glock with the new Hellcat 9mm high capacity 9mm micro-compact.

Yes technically it’s a micro-compact, but it’s right on the cusp and sort of belongs here too, and it’s easier to conceal than most others.

The Springfield Hellcat has taken the fight to the P365 and you can get an optics ready Springfield Armory Hellcat or a larger frame Hellcat Pro compact pistols that meet the P365XL head-on.

The optics ready Hellcat OSP is a complete handgun in the palm of your hand. Just a few years ago, it would have sounded like madness, but here we are looking at arguably the best microcompacts on sale…

You can level up with the Springfield Hellcat RDP Rapid Defense Package, too, which comes with a red dot sight and compensator. As well as the same Adaptive Grip Texture, captive full length guide rod, together with the Melonite finish on the slide.

4. Taurus GX4

• Price: $279.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 3.0 inch
• Total Length: 5.8 inch
• Weight: 1.16lb
• Capacity: 12+1

Best Cheap Gun

Price	Performance	Reliability	Concealability	Prestige
5/5	3/5	3/5	4/5	2.5/5

Taurus threw a real spanner in the works for the big guns with its budget offerings that started with the Taurus G2C and then evolved into a full line.

Saving money on your EDC carry pistol really isn’t smart, but the Taurus GX4 isn’t just cheap. It is one of the best semi automatic pistols here. As long as you get a good one. Taurus Quality Control has turned into a meme, but the plastic pistols tend to be better on that front.

The stock black finish on the Taurus subcompact 9mm concealed carry gun isn’t as pretty as the German competition, but of it isn’t. It does offer a reliable, accurate and solid handgun for less money, though, and that matters.

Now the Taurus G2C is even cheaper, as is the single stack 9mm Taurus G2S, but both come with the old cheap and quirky trigger pull. That was the glaring weakness in the first round of cheap guns.

The Taurus GX4 is a step up from that single stack 9mm Taurus G2S and the G2C. It’s a cmplete handgun that just happens to be significantly cheaper than the competition.

What About the Taurus GX4XL?

Now the Taurus GX4 walks the line between a subcompact pistol and a micro-compact pistol with that 3″ barrel. That gave the Brazilian company the chance to bring us the Taurus GX4XL.

With a 3.7 inch barrel, the Taurus GX4XL walks the next line between subcompact and a good old fashioned compact. It is also a great gun, but we’ll keep the Taurus GX4L for another day.

5. Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus

• Price: $399.99+
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel length: 3.1 inch
• Total Length: 6.1 inch
• Weight: 1.44lb
• Magazine capacity: 10+1

Best Old Favorite

Price	Performance	Reliability	Concealability	Prestige
4/5	3.5/5	3/5	3.5/5	3/5

The Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield Plus is something of a legend in full size and compact forms.

Law enforcement officers love the full size duty pistols and as a small carry handgun. A lot of people swear the S&W M&P is the best sub compact 9mm handgun and a step up from a Glock in more or less every department that matters.

Truthfully the palm swell of the Smith and Wesson M&P9 Shield subcompact 9mm concealed carry gun simply fits some people better. One brand seems to get you with a comfortable grip angle, while another makes you look like a clown.

There are plenty of solid reasons to call the S&W M&P the best gun here. It does feel slightly dated. But it is still one of the best-selling subcompact 9mm handguns in the world for good reason and Law Enforcement is falling in love with the M&P line all over again.

You can also go for Performance Center models with bright fiber optic front sight, slide porting and other features in the parts & accessories store.

6. Heckler & Koch VP9SK

• Price: $689.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel Length: 3.39 inch
• Total: 6.6 inch
• Weight: 1.45lb
• Capacity: 13+1

Best High End Polymer Pistol

Price	Performance	Reliability	Concealability	Prestige
2/5	4/5	5/5	4/5	5/5

If you don’t care about the cost, then you’re one of the elite few that can justify the additional bucks that goes into the Heckler & Koch VP9SK semi auto pistol. THey’re our money no object top picks.

The fit and finish are near perfect on this 9mm subcompact carry gun. An enhanced Tritium fiber optic front sight is already in place, there’s an accessory rail for lights & lasers, and you just know this polymer framed subcompact 9mm is going to look good for years.

The double stack magazine HK VP9SK is undoubtedly one of the great subcompact 9mm handguns. But if is a thing in your life, there are cheaper options that are arguably the best 9mm pistols.

7. Kimber R7 Mako

• Price: $499.99
• Barrel length: 3.37 inch
• Total: 7 inch
• Weight: 1.2lb
• Capacity: 11+1

A New Contender

The optics-ready Kimber R7 Mako is the company’s first attempt at a striker fired polymer frame 9mm. And it’s a good one…

These new 9mm handguns are easy to carry and pack either 11+1 or 13+1 rounds in to the large capacity double stack magazine for more follow up shots. And the Kimber R7 Mako also comes with a slightly longer barrel, like the Glock 43.

With a few tweaks, parts & accessories, this 9mm subcompact pistol could at least be a threat to the top subcompact 9mm pistols on this list.

8. Smith & Wesson CSX

• Price: $549.99
• Barrel: 3 inch
• Total: 7 inch
• Weight: 1.2lb
• Capacity: 10+1

Best 1911 Hybrid Pistol

The Smith & Wesson CSX is an intriguing idea to create the best 9mm handgun from a 1911 and a modern CCW.

It is wilfully different, looks great and comes with an external safety, a hammer and a squared off stainless steel slide. So if you like those things, this borderline microcompact could work…

You get high capacity from the double stack magazine, the light weight from the polymer grip module and the traditional values with the 1911 features in the S&W CSX.

The only real problem the Smith & Wesson CSX has is the modern polymer frame S&W M&P Shield Plus 9mm handgun is so damned good that you have to be deliberately quirky to look past it and go this route.

9. Sig Sauer P938

• Price: $749.99
• Barrel: 3 inch
• Overall : 5.9
• Weight: 1.06lb
• Magazine Capacity: 7+1

Classic 9mm 1911 CCW

This classic 9mm pistol from Sig walks the line between a functional firearm and jewelry, but it does fill a niche even here.

The single action Sig P938 is surrounded on all sides by massively competent polymer framed pistol options, and yet the hammer fired Sig refuses to fade away. Some people just want the best concealed carry 9mm handgun with a thumb safety and hammer, as well as high quality and tactical magazine release.

And that’s OK, too.

The Sig Sauer P938 with a flat-profile trigger now comes in a bewildering range of materials and finishes.

We can talk about the P938 We The People, Emperor Scorpion, Legion or the $850 rose gold engraved special edition. But it’s best just to see the single action, hammer-fired goodness for yourself.

You can find one or two examples of this designer 9mm limited edition machine at most online gunbrokers in the United States. But finding the whole line-up is a chore.

This online firearms retailer has the biggest selection of Sig P938 handguns. Check the full line-up here.

10. Mossberg MC2SC

• Price: $464.99
• Barrel: 3.4
• Total: 6.25 inch
• Weight: 1.19lb
• Capacity: 6+1

Solid Entry Level Pistol From Shotgun Masters

Mossberg is better known for its shotguns and long rifles, but the Mossberg MC1SC is a credible first attempt at a striker fired pistol.

There are elements of Glock, Taurus and more to this polymer framed special. So it does beg the question: do we need it at all?

Probably not, is the cold hard truth. But the user reviews and the gun reviews online have been massively complimentary about this new entry.

The Mossberg MC2SC is comfortable to hold and it’s easy to carry concealed. The flat-profile trigger and integral blade safety neat, the stippling is exceptional, it has an accessory rail and it has so far proved reliable and accurate.

The simple 3 dot sights kind of sum up the gun. It’s good, it just isn’t in the best sub compact 9mm pistol class.

11. Ruger LC9s Pro

• Price: $407.99
• Barrel: 3.1″
• Capacity: 7+1

The Ruger LC9s Pro is old school in its appearance and functionality, but it is still a popular choice.

It is good for deep concealment, but the Ruger LC9s Pro has been left behind in most areas.

Now we think there are better options, but the Ruger LC9s Pro is here if you want it.

The Ruger Max 9 is a better gun, but it’s still not a contender here, so he decided to leave the Ruger Max 9 for another time and keep this for variety.

12. Walther PPS M2

• Price: $375.99
• Barrel: 3.18 inch
• Total: 6.18 inch
• Weight: 1.32lb
• Capacity: 7+1

Baby Walther is Good

These 9mm sub compact handguns have a small, but devoted following that loves the trigger pull. Seriously, the OEM Walther PPS trigger set is that good.

The smaller single stack 9mm subcompact pistols never quite grabbed the same market share as the bigger PPQ. But then the Walther PPS is an ageing gun going against the true industry giants.

Simple white dot front sight optics are an easy upgrade, but you won’t be mounting any reflex sights on this gun without machining the stainless steel slide.

Walther PPS is a Niche Choice Pistol Now

So the polymer frame Walther PPS might simply be up against a crowd that has decided on the Sig and the Glock in advance. But if you dig single stack magazines then this is an option. Extended magazines are also available.

The single stack 9mm Walther shoots great. And the single stack 9mm subcompact pistols are easy to conceal as a pocket pistol And that matters with an everyday carry personal defense handgun.

For home defense you should look at the larger Walther PDP handguns and an extended mag.

13. Kimber Micro 9

• Price: $600-$1100+
• Barrel length: 3.15 inch
• Total: 6.1 inch
• Weight: 1.19lb
• Capacity: 7+1

Baby 1911 is stylish designer pistol

The new Kimber Micro 9 is controversial. Not everybody loves this single stack pistol, but they are finding a place in the market and turning into a fashion label that’s hard to ignore.

Now these are simplified almost 1911 pistols with a lot of premium features. There’s no grip safety, which could be a good thing for a lot of you, but there is a thumb safety, extended magazine release and night sights.

It’s a cold hammer forged barrel, too, and the fit and finish on the aluminum alloy frame and steel slide is near perfect.

They also come in just about any finish you can imagine. The price point varies massively and the single stack magazine is lacking in this company, but then some of these custom carry pistols just look the part.

14. Palmetto State Armory Micro Dagger

• Price: $399.99
• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel length: 3.41 inch
• Length: 6.5 inch
• Weight: 0.97lb
• Capacity: 15+1

Still Waiting For This One…

A Palmetto State Armory highest capacity 9mm with 15 rounds of 9mm in the magazine sounds amazing. And it’s just starting to hit the market.

Palmetto State Armory does this, though, and it’s nothing to worry about. The company is basically reworking the Glock 4x, the best concealed carry weapon here, and its active patents. That takes time, effort and money.

And, when the new small pistol gets here, it will have a similar disruptive effect on the subcompact 9mm pistol sector as all the other Palmetto State Armory firearms. They are riding high in other lists for home defense, concealed carry handgun choices, the best AR-15 and more.

The Palmetto State Armory Freedom rifle and Palmetto State Armory Jackl are both winners elsewhere on the site. And this may be too, soon.

But for now, this 9mm sub compact pistol is here for information only…

Where to Buy Ammo

Ammunition prices are going up and it is increasingly smart business to shop around and buy plenty of ammo when you see the right big deal.

Our favorite suppliers are Sportsman’s Guide, Firearms Depot and Lucky Gunner at the moment.

• Palmetto State Armory – Great deals and daily discounts.

The Best Gun Gift Card Programs

Gift cards are a great way to show folks you love them, so what are the best gift cards program for gun stores, range gear & accessories?

We like the PSA program, but the Sportsman’s Guide Member’s club offers constant discounts and it’s a nice gift card program. But that’s about all we have to say on gift cards.