Best Pistol for Concealed Carry

Picking the best concealed carry pistol for yourself can be like finding the right house or vehicle. There are endless choices and features to consider when looking at all the models and manufacturers available today. Choosing to take your personal protection into your own hands is a significant choice. This article aims to find some of the best-rated concealed carry pistols on the market in terms of features, reliability, price, and other factors to consider when purchasing your first firearm.

Glock introduced the original 43 back in 2015 when the initial round of single-stack carry guns came onto the market. Four years later, Glock came out with the updated 43X and 48 models in 2019 with an extended frame to accommodate more rounds and updated features as well. The 43X and 48 models come with a 10+1 capacity from the factory which was an update from the previous Glock 43. The Glock 43X and Glock 48 offer a thin profile that makes them easier to carry than the larger Glock 19 model.

The aftermarket community has a huge amount of upgrades and parts for the 43X and 48 which makes it truly turn it into the gun you want to carry every day. The other big positive for the 43X and 48 is upgrading the magazines with a Shield Arms magazine taking the capacity from 10+1 to 15+1 making it the same capacity as the Glock 19.

Having the same amount of capacity while having half the width and being lighter is a huge plus. Add in the fact there are MOS models available to install a red dot optic along with a small flashlight and you have a complete system. It’s easy to find holsters for these models so you can do as much or as little with this pistol as you want. MSRP on the Glock 43X and 48 starts at $538.99

How We Picked

When it comes to the overall best choice, this is a hard one that even I can't definitively answer for every single person in one article. Different folks have various preferences. I have carried and owned all of the guns on this list. I have owned several others that aren't on the list and I always come back to two of them. For years I have carried the Glock 19, and it was always a fantastic option but the bulk can get to be a little much when it's 95 degrees outside and you're uncomfortable carrying a concealed firearm. The Smith & Wesson, as well as the Ruger, are both great guns but the capacity is just unimpressive by today's standards with other guns having double or even triple the capacity without adding a ton of bulk.

So that leaves the  Glock 43X and 48 as well as the SIG P365 which are my absolute favorite carry guns across the board. The SIG is great for being able to quickly change out grips and slides to create the perfect-sized carry gun for the day. The modularity and overall feel of the grips are a strong selling point. Being able to switch out a smaller polymer grip for something like a full-size metal grip makes the P365 a jack-of-all-trade pistol.

But I would say I carry my Glock 48 roughly 55% of the time all year. The reliability of a Glock cannot be ignored and they just work no matter the condition or lack of regular maintenance. For most people though, the shorter Glock 43X is the absolute ticket with a slighter smaller barrel and the ability to accept 15-round magazines from Shield Arms, It’s truly a hard choice to beat making it my absolute best pistol on this list for anyone looking for a handgun to carry concealed.

Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Carry Gun

Size and Weight

One of the most crucial categories when considering a concealed firearm is the overall size and weight. Depending on your height and weight, it can be incredibly tricky to find a handgun that not only fits your hand but can be concealed with little to no effort. Everyone is built differently and based on body type, clothing choices, and overall lifestyle will be big factors in finding the perfect carry pistol.

Caliber 

Another big factor when finding a carry gun is figuring out the right caliber that works for you. By far the most popular caliber for carry guns is the 9mm Luger but there are certainly other options. Those of you who live out west have to worry about larger wild animals over human threats so something a bit larger in caliber is a necessity. It is not uncommon for some people living in western rural areas to carry 10mm Auto or even 44 Magnum handguns over something smaller and easier to carry. Some individuals have weakened grip strength and need options where the slide is easier to pull back and 380 ACP pistols are the way to go. Since the most common caliber to conceal carry is the 9mm, we will be focusing on those models for this article but we may do a follow-up article down the road to look at popular carry guns in other calibers.

Ergonomics and Comfort 

When looking for your perfect concealed carry pistol, it’s important to be able to comfortably grip and fire your carry gun, especially under stress. People have different-sized hands and what works for one person may be completely uncomfortable for another. This is perfectly normal and the reason why there are so many different models available today. Many of the models we take a look at in this article have various grip panels to help find the perfect grip for them. Finding the right fitting gun will not only help with your confidence but will allow you to become more comfortable with your carry gun at a faster rate than if you’re fighting the grip. It may seem like an obvious point but having a comfortable grip and finding a pistol with good ergonomics for your hands will make shooting your pistol much easier.

Reliability and Safety Features

When it comes to having a pistol you can depend on to save your life day in and day out, finding a reliable handgun that can work in any condition is another very important consideration. When it comes to reliability with modern firearms, almost all of the options available are made with modern machining processes and will be 100% reliable under normal conditions. If you happen to go with more budget options, you may run into malfunctions and reliability problems but any of the guns on this list will be known for their reliability and solid options for daily use.

In terms of safety features, most firearms will have several internal safeties to ensure they are drop-safe and will not fire under any circumstance on their own. A few pistols have options for manual safeties as well. Having a manual safety is a personal choice but usually, experienced shooters tend to prefer to carry guns without manual safeties because it’s one less thing to worry about if you ever have to draw your firearm. Most prefer manual safety as a feature that makes them feel more comfortable while carrying the handgun on their body. In reality, the gun will not fire and with experience, you will realize how much faster it is to draw and fire without having a manual safety.

Glock 19

The Glock 19 is one of those legendary pistols in the market known for its reliability and simple design. The Glock line of pistols has been known for their ability to fire and function under almost any circumstance which has made them very popular with law enforcement agencies and militaries around the world. The Glock 19 is the midsize variant chambered in 9mm with a 15+1 capacity. Since the Glock 19 is such a well-known model when it comes to the firearm community, there is huge aftermarket support for these pistols with replacement and upgrade parts for almost every generation.

The Glock 19 has two internal safeties and a trigger safety but does not have a manual safety. In terms of ergonomics, the Glock line of pistols comes with different backstraps that allow the user to make the perfect grip size depending on the size of their hand. Glock also sells the MOS (Modular Optic System) version of the Glock 19 which allows users to install a red dot onto their pistol straight from the factory. The MSRP of the Glock 19 is $745.99 but often times you can find it much cheaper in stores.

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Series

The Smith & Wesson Shield is one of the original small carry pistols that took the market by storm when it came out in 2012. The Shield 1.0 was one of the fastest-selling pistols for years and according to Shooting Illustrated, over the 9 years of production, the original model sold over 3 million copies which is a huge number. These models had a single stack magazine with the flush one holding 7+1 rounds and the slightly extended magazine having an 8+1 capacity. This section also covers the  2.0 variant with its updated grip texture and the performance of certain variants.

In the spring of 2021, Smith & Wesson came out with the Shield Plus which is Smith & Wesson’s answer to the numerous small double-stack variants on the market which allows people to have a Shield profile but double the capacity of the original model. With a 13+1, the Shield Plus variants are available with both manual safety and non-safety versions. The ergonomics on the Shield Plus have also improved with a wider palm swell allowing for a more comfortable shooting experience. Both the original Shield and Shield Plus are some of the more affordable options on the list with the Shield Plus having an MSRP of $499.99 and actual in-store prices being typically less.

SIG Sauer P365 Series 

When the SIG Sauer P365 came onto the market back in 2018, it was one of the smallest micro carry guns with the highest capacity available. To have such a small package hold 10+1 rounds with a fairly small footprint was truly an innovation. Fast forward to the present day and there are a number of variants of the P365 with a variety of capacity options. The special party trick of the P365 is its modularity. Switching out a grip size or slide is as easy as disassembling the pistol and punching out a pin. The fire control unit comes out just like a P320 and the user can switch out to an XL grip that holds 12 rounds or even the Macro grip that holds 17 rounds.

In a matter of a couple of minutes, you can switch out a P365 from a small 10+1 configuration to a larger 17+1 Macro. This allows shooters to change out grips if they want to train with the same sights and trigger at the range with higher capacity and then switch back to a smaller grip for carrying concealed. Weight on the P365 is 17.8 ounces with the Macro coming in slightly heavier at 22 ounces. Since SIG released the P365, there are more than a dozen variants that range in size, capacity, price, and features. One of the disadvantages of the P365 is the higher-end models can start to get really expensive.

The P365 comes standard with 2 magazines, and night sights with most models being already cut for an optic as well. It is slightly more expensive than other models on this list but the number of features that come standard makes the extra price justified in my opinion. SIG makes all models available with manual safety as well as non-safety variants with a number of internal safeties in the pistol to ensure the P365 is an extremely safe carry gun. MSRP on the P365 is $579.99 with the larger XL and Macro models being slightly more expensive.

Ruger EC9S 

One of the original single-stack models to come out is the Ruger LC9s. Ruger released the LC9s back in 2014 to compete with the Smith & Wesson Shield. It's an affordable option for people who want a concealed carry gun but can’t necessarily afford an expensive option. The LC9S is a single-stack lightweight pistol with a capacity of 7+1 and a manual thumb safety. Ruger also put a number of internal safeties like a trigger shoe safety to ensure even with the manual safety off, the LC9S will not fire accidentally.

Ruger discontinued the LC9S model name from their line up but the EC9S is the same exact pistol. When it comes to ergonomics, the LC9s and EC9s have a thin single-stack grip which makes it an easy pistol to conceal and carry for long periods. This thin grip can be rather tricky to shoot if you have bigger hands and this gun is very lightweight. This lack of weight when shooting does make the gun have quite a bit of muzzle flip which can make fast follow-up shots tricky. With a bit of practice and range time though you can certainly become accustomed to the recoil impulses and overall feel when firing the Ruger LC9S/EC9S. Although The LC9S was discontinued, there are still used examples on the market that can be picked up for an affordable rate. Ruger still makes the EC9S for the concealed carry market with an MSRP of $349.99.

Other Considerations

Having a reliable carry gun that you shoot well isn't enough though. There are plenty of other considerations to look at when deciding to carry a concealed firearm. One of the most important aspects is getting out and training with the equipment you have. Hitting the range 1-2 times a month is a great way to stay sharp and ensure you are confident with your carry gun. Even if you have a strict budget, being able to go to the range and fire 100 rounds a month will do amazing things with your ability to effectively shoot your carry gun.

Training is incredibly important but having the ability to see potentially dangerous situations ahead of time will almost always be the difference between finding yourself in a dangerous altercation and going home safe. Being able to spot dangerous situations before you are in them and avoiding the situation entirely is the best way to go home safe and sound every day. It may seem like a silly argument but having good situational awareness is even more important than training in some cases because you can avoid confrontation before the need to defend yourself ever presents itself.

The final thing to consider is the idea of having some sort of legal protection in the event you ever have to defend yourself. Companies like USCCA offer liability insurance and will help cover the cost of attorney and legal fees you encounter after protecting yourself in a self-defense situation. The USCCA has a number of fantastic training videos to not only help educate yourself on what to do in various situations but also the legal outlook on given situations to help you better understand what you should do in a dangerous situation. It's an incredibly important aspect when thinking about carrying a concealed firearm and starting down the journey.

Overall Thoughts

What do you guys think about the picks? Is there something you wish was included in the list or do you carry something other than what's on the list? Let me know in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying a concealed handgun or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will you guys in the next article.