The Best Concealed Carry Guns of 2023

A concealed-carry handgun is an important tool. You need something that you can use effectively and, more importantly, carry every day comfortably. Go to any gun store and you’ll see that the options can be staggering. There is a wide variety of sizes, styles, calibers, and price points, so I’m here to help you sort through a few of the best concealed carry guns you can buy today. 

• Staccato CS
• Sig Sauer P365 XMacro Tacops
• Glock G19
• Colt Python 3-inch
• Sig Sauer P365
• Ruger LCP Max
• Taurus GX4 XL T.O.R.O.
• Kimber R7 Mako
• Glock G43X
• Smith & Wesson Shield Plus
• Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro
• Ruger LCR .22

How I Chose the Best Concealed Carry Guns

I selected a dozen concealed carry guns that either I or the Outdoor Life staff have shot or tested strenuously. I carry every day, and spend a lot of time shooting various handguns. I’ve fired over 10,000 rounds of pistol ammunition in 2023 (as of April), and I’ve gotten an in-depth look at how a lot of these pistols stack up. I made my picks based not only on what the highest performers are, but also on reliable guns at a good value. This provides a spectrum of options from which just about anybody can find something they will like and can afford. 

Best Concealed Carry Guns: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Compact: Staccato CS

Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 16+1
• Barrel length: 3.5 inches
• Weight: 27 ounces
• Dawson Precision optics mounting system
• Dual rod and spring recoil system
• Price: $2500

Pros

• High-quality parts and fit
• Very accurate
• Great trigger
• Soft recoil

Cons

• Expensive
• Bulkier grip than some other compact striker-fired pistols

Staccato 2011 (formerly STI) introduced the CS for 2023, and after putting a collective 2,500-3,000 rounds through two of them,  I’m sold. I’ve found them to be very reliable with every type of ammunition I could find—from 115-grain ball through 147-grain hollowpoints. easy to shoot, and incredibly accurate. The average of 10 groups I fired from a supported position at 50 yards with three different types of ammunition was .676 inches. Read a full review of the Staccato CS here.

At around the size of a Glock 19, just slightly slimmer, the Staccato CS is a downsized 2011 pistol. It has some key differences from larger 2011’s and 2011-style pistols like the Staccato P and Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy. The grip and frame are smaller, and the CS uses a re-designed magazine that’s similar in shape and size to the Sig P365’s magazines. It still uses the 1911’s controls and trigger, but the recoil system has been updated to a dual guide rod system that makes the CS the flattest-shooting compact 9mm I’ve fired. 

The Staccato CS is an expensive gun, and the supply bottleneck is resulting in some being scalped for pretty wild prices. Ordered from Staccato, the pistol will cost $2,500, but we’ve seen the tangible benefits you’re getting for the money—both in the build quality and on-target performance.

Sig Sauer P365 XMacro Tacops

Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 17+1
• Barrel Length: 3.7 inches
• Weight: 23 ounces
• Three-dot night sights
• Optics-ready
• Price: $800

Pros

• Great ergonomics
• Best in-class capacity
• Low recoil impulse
• Modular fire control unit

Cons

• Trigger is a little mushy

Sig Sauer has been busy over the past few years, producing an array of variations of their front-running models. The Sig Sauer P365 XMacro Tacops is the second iteration of the P365 XMacro, which is an up-sized version of the micro-compact P365 that features a compensator-cut slide. If the XMacro Tacops seems a little redundant, it is, but it is one of the best compact concealed carry guns right now. It’s ultra slim, with unmatched capacity in its class.

The biggest difference between the Tacops and standard XMacro is a slight simplification. The Tacops is the same overall size, but has a longer barrel because it lacks the integral slide compensator. The XMacro Tacops also features a small magwell that’s effective, but unobtrusive. Compared to the smaller standard P365, the XMacro Tacops has a larger grip and longer slide. The 17-round magazines are the same, and they fit in the P365, they’re just longer. The XMacro Tacops has a similar footprint to the Glock G19 and Staccato CS, but it’s a little more comfortable to carry inside the waistband because it’s thinner. 

I’ve expended about 1,800 rounds between two of these pistols, and aside from a couple failures to feed in the first 100-round break-in period, they’ve run great. The P365 XMacro Tacops is an incredibly soft-shooting pistol, and points intuitively. The trigger isn’t too heavy, but it doesn’t have a firm wall. At our 2023 gun test, we did some slow-mo video analysis of rapid fire strings between the Tacops and ported XMacro, and found that the more affordable Tacops showed only slightly more muzzle flip. I couldn’t tell the difference while shooting them. You can read a full review of the Sig P365 XMacro Tacops here.

Glock G19 

Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 15+1
• Barrel Length: 4.02 inches
• Weight: 21 ounces
• Gen 5 MOS version is optic-ready
• Ambidextrous slide stop and reversible mag-catch
• Price: $570

Pros

• Time proven and reliable
• Good capacity
• Many aftermarket upgrades available
• Commonly available holsters

Cons

• Iron sights aren’t great
• Grip angle is different than most other pistols

Glock’s 19th model, the Glock G19, is one of the most prolific and effective concealed carry guns in the world. Glock was an original innovator and is still a superpower in the world of polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols, and the G19 is one of many successful Glock models. It’s one of the original compact, 9mm poly pistols, and still one of the best concealed carry guns on the market today. 

The Glock G19’s beauty is in its simplicity. Let’s face it, it’s not beautiful in any other way. The G19 is effective though. It’s relatively easy to conceal, easy to shoot, and very simple to operate. Glock’s built a reputation of reliability over the decades, and the G19 has managed to stay at the front of the pack since the late 80s. Not many similar-sized pistols have bested its 15+1-round capacity, and it’s available in just about every gun store. 

Despite their motto of “perfection,” there are some things that shooters commonly modify on their Glock G19’s. The factory sights must go immediately. Really they aren’t terrible, but they could be much better, and there is an entire industry of aftermarket Glock-compatible parts, sights, and accessories that has grown up alongside the G19. Companies like Shadow Systems and Palmetto State Armory even offer G19 clone pistols. If you get the Gen 5 MOS version of the G19, you’ll see some updates to the grip, an ambidextrous slide stop, and an optics-ready slide. Even after 35 years, the G19 is one of the best carry guns you can buy.

Colt Python 3-inch

Key Features

• Caliber: .357 Magnum
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel Length: 3 inches
• Weight: 38 ounces
• Polished stainless steel
• Interchangeable front ramp sight
• Price: $1,472

Pros

• Excellent fit and quality
• Smooth double- and single-action trigger
• Improved frame strength from older Pythons
• Adjustable sights

Cons

• Full-size grip isn’t the easiest to conceal

There are some folks who subscribe to the theory that real guns are wheel guns, and they’d trust their life to nothing but a revolver. There are some great revolvers to choose from, but one of my favorites has been the Colt Python 3-inch model. In recent years, Colt has breathed new life into its classic Python line, and the 3-inch model is one of their most recent. The short .357 Mag revolver might be a little stubby, but it’s all Python. For a revolver fan that wants to carry under a jacket, it’s one of the best concealed carry guns you can choose. 

Everything about the Colt Python 3-inch is Python, just with a shorter barrel. It features the same quality wood grips, same frame and cylinder, and the contemporary Pythons have a bit of reinforcement added to the frame under the rear sight. They hold six rounds and use a transfer bar firing system so that you can safely carry it with a round under the lowered hammer. 

The Cold Python 3-inch is as much about nostalgia as performance, and it performs very well. Operation is butter-smooth, and the full-size grip makes full-power defensive loads quite manageable. This revolver isn’t the most concealable, but for OWB carry under a jacket, or even IWB under a loose shirt, you don’t find too many options better—or cooler—than the Python. You can read a full review of the Colt Python 3-inch here.

Sig Sauer P365

Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 10+1
• Barrel Length: 3.1 inches
• Weight: 22 ounces
• Beveled slide for concealed carry
• Modular fire control unit and grip design
• Price: $499

Pros

• Ultra-concealable
• Great grip texture
• Points naturally
• Cross-compatible with other OEM and aftermarket P365 parts

Cons

• Triggers are a little mushy

The ember that seemingly lit the blazing hot micro 9mm pistol market is the Sig P365. There have been many other micro-compact 9mm pistols, but the Sig P365 was one of the first to maximize capacity of the tiny platforms. The Standard P365 holds 10 rounds in its small double-stack magazine, while keeping its ultra-discreet size. 

Many other tiny nines have hit the market in recent years, but the P365 is well thought out and still holding its own. The standard black nitron model comes with three-dot Xray tritium night sights and two magazines. Both mags hold 10 rounds of 9mm, but one has a slightly extended baseplate to give the pinky finger some real estate to grip.  The ergonomics and grip shape of the P365 are excellent, and the pistol points well. Recoil is a little snappy, but in line with what most micro 9mm pistols feel like. 

There are many P365 models, but the standard is still one of the best concealed carry guns on the market. The strength of the P365 is not just in its performance, but its modularity. The fire control units (FCU’s) of every 9mm P365 are compatible, and you can get upgraded FCU’s, grips, and other parts. You can even swap some parts, such as carrying the P365 XL/P365 XMacro Tacops slide assembly installed on your standard P365 for a longer sight radius and softer recoil while keeping the short grip. You can read a full review of the Sig Sauer P365 here.

Ruger LCP Max

Key Features

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Capacity: 10+1, 12+1
• Barrel Length: 2.8 inches
• Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Cocking ears on slide
• Tritium front sight
• Price: $329

Pros

• Tiny footprint
• Great cocking serrations
• Excellent capacity for size
• Very affordable

Cons

• Not very accurate at longer distances

Although small, the .380 ACP cartridge is still popular among the best guns for concealed carry. Ruger saw great success with their single-stack LCP pistol, but recognized room for improvement. As the micro-compact pistol market has surged, and manufacturers have boosted the capacity of these tiny guns, Ruger followed suit. 

With the slightly extended magazine, the LCP Max holds 13 rounds of ammunition, and is only slightly thicker than the original single-stack design. It’s easy to shoot, reliable, and small enough to stick in a pocket. With the high-performance projectiles we have today, a high-capacity .380 pocket pistol is still a formidable defensive concealed carry gun. 

The Ruger LCP Max is reasonably accurate out to 15 yards or so, but it’s most effective at very close range. The slide cycles fast, and the recoil feels a bit snappy, but there isn’t much muzzle flip and the pistol is very easy to control. You can read a full review of the Ruger LCP Max here.

Taurus GX4 XL T.O.R.O.

Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 11+1, 13+1
• Barrel Length: 3.71 inches
• Weight: 20 ounces
• Beveled slide for easy holstering
• Interchangeable backstraps
• Price: $400

Pros

• Very concealable
• Good optic-mounting system
• Soft-shooting
• Very affordable

Cons

• Some pistols have reliability issues during break-in

Taurus is known for affordable pistols, and their GX4 and GX4XL have turned out to be excellent values in the market of concealed carry guns. The GX4XL is a sub-compact 9mm with a slightly longer barrel (3.7 in.) than its predecessor, the GX4 (3.06 in.). It comes with an 11- and 13-round magazine, and the T.O.R.O. model comes optics-ready with an RMS pattern and removable rear pillars.

The GX4 and GX4XL are built in a similar fashion as the Sig P365 Line. Rather than slide rails molded into the frame, the trigger assembly and slide rails are in a removable stainless steel chassis that sits in the grip module. Like the P365, this allows modularity between models, and the GX4XL is similar to the P365 XL in size. With the longer slide and recoil system, the GX4XL is surprisingly soft shooting. It has a good trigger that isn’t light, but it is crisp. 

In putting more than 1,000 rounds through two different GX4XL T.O.R.O. pistols, I noted that one of them had some reliability issues at first. When chambering, the slide would stop about ¼-inch out of battery. After about 250 rounds fired, the gun broke in and I didn’t encounter any more function issues. The second pistol never malfunctioned. These pistols can be found for between $350 and $400. Considering the feature set, shootability, and price, this is a great value among the best concealed carry guns. You can read the full review of the GX4XL T.O.R.O. here.

Kimber R7 Mako

Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 11+1, 13+1
• Barrel Length: 3.37 inches
• Weight: 23 ounces
• Enclosed slide with ejection port
• Optics-ready
• Price: $400

Pros

• Ultra compact
• Great grip texture
• Good sights and optic mount
• Affordable price

Cons

• Unique design that isn’t modular

The R7 Mako was new territory for Kimber when they introduced it a short time ago. They’re better known for fine 1911-style handguns. This polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol performs as a heavy-hitter in the micro-compact 9mm market. It features a delightfully contoured and textured frame and, notably, a top-covered ejection port. It’s designed from the ground up as a concealed carry pistol. 

Looks aren’t the pistol’s strengths, and it isn’t one that I’d normally pick off the shelf. I had the chance to put quite a few rounds through it at our 2022 gun test, and I was quickly won over. It’s a tiny-but-effective 9mm pistol that’s really pleasant to shoot.  

The Kimber R7 is available both in optics-ready format and outfitted with a Crimson Trace CTS-1500 reflex sight. It comes with two high-quality magazines with capacities 11+1 and 13+1 rounds of 9mm. The extended magazine features a nice base plate rather than a magazine grip sleeve that many other manufacturers use. Recoil feels a little snappy, but all-in-all, it’s a great micro nine and a top contender among the best concealed carry guns. See the full Kimber R7 Mako review here.

Glock G43X

Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 10+1
• Barrel Length: 3.41 inches
• Weight: 23.1 ounces
• MOS model is Optics-ready
• Front and rear cocking serrations
• Price: $448

Pros

• Very reliable
• Improved grip
• Increased capacity from G43
• Comfortable to shoot

Cons

• Not best-in-class capacity

The G43X is the pistol that keeps Glock’s sub-compact line in the running with other pistols like the P365. The Glock G43 has long been one of the best concealed carry guns, but the single-stack format has fallen out-of-favor with many shooters. 

Adding capacity to the Glock 43, the 43X incorporates a 3.41-inch barrel, and slim frame with front and rear cocking serrations. It uses a 10-round magazine, a significant boost over the standard G43’s 6 rounds. You won’t find a lot of frills, but if you’re a fan of Glocks, you know what you’re getting—a reliable pistol that’s ultra-comfortable to carry and shoot.

The MOS version of the G43X is optics ready, and you can find G43X and optic packages at an affordable price. The newer G48 has generated lots of interest too—it’s slimmer and has the same capacity. However, several shooters I’ve talked to weren’t pleased with the feel of the G48 when shooting and still prefer the G43X.

Smith & Wesson Shield Plus

Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 10+1, 13+1
• Barrel Length: 3.1 inches
• Weight: 20 ounces
• Stainless steel slide and barrel
• Orange-ring tritium night sights
• Price: $399

Pros

• Excellent grip
• Good sights
• Streamlined shape
• Flush and extended magazine

Cons

• No accessory rail

The M&P Shield Plus from Smith & Wesson is an updated version of the Shield and Shield 2.0, with increased capacity. Although it doesn’t include a light rail, the grip texture, handling, and ergonomics of the Shield Plus are excellent. For folks who are fond of the Smith & Wesson M&P line and shoot them well, this is one of the best carry guns out there.

In the rapidly developing field of micro-compact pistols, capacity is important, and the 9mm Shield Plus comes with flush and extended magazines with 10+1 and 13+1 capacity respectively. 

The M&P Shield Plus really shines in its early adoption of the new .30 Super Carry cartridge from Federal. The smaller-diameter cartridge produces similar ballistic performance as the 9mm but with increased capacity. The .30 Super Carry Shield Plus will hold an impressive 13+1 and 16+1 rounds in its flush and extended magazines, while delivering 9mm performance. 

Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro OSP

Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 15+1
• Barrel Length: 3.7 inches
• Weight: 20.7 ounces
• Tritium front sight, U-notch rear sight
• Price: $599

Pros

• Excellent grip and grip texture
• Good sights
• Optic-ready
• Flush magazine with great capacity

Cons

• Recoil is notably snappy

Like many of its peers, the Springfield Hellcat Pro seeks to strike a perfect balance between concealability and magazine capacity. In that regard, it does a good job. It is a hair smaller than a Glock 19 and a hair larger than the Micro-9s but has a 15+1 capacity with flush-mounted magazines. It is also trimmer than a G19 and has low-profile controls for snag-free carry.

Like other Springfield pistols, it is spec-ed out with a solid list of features. It has a reversible magazine catch, a loaded-chamber indicator on the top of the slide, it comes with two quality magazines, has a tough Melonite finish, a generously-sized accessory rail, and cocking serrations on the front and rear of the slide.

The Hellcat Pro OSP is a heavy-hitter in the sub-compact market, and it’s a reliable, solid choice among the best concealed carry guns. Although the muzzle flip isn’t bad, the Hellcat pistols tend to have slightly snappier recoil than other similar-sized guns, but they still aren’t bad to shoot. They are one of the best at packing a lot of ammunition into a slim, small package. 

Ruger LCR .22LR

Key Features

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Capacity: 8
• Barrel Length: 1.87 inches
• Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Low-profile sights
• Price: $627

Pros

• Convenient and compact
• Good ergonomics
• Great trainer
• Good capacity

Cons

• Aesthetics aren’t exceptional.

Everyone has different needs and preferences when it comes to  a carry gun, and some folks find that a compact .22 LR revolver suits them fine. The Ruger LCR .22 holds 8 rounds of ammo, and features a comfortable Hogue grip. The revolver is easily concealed, and can be constantly on-duty for pests or threats. The .22 is arguably underpowered for general self-defense applications, but the gun you have on you is better than the one you don’t. One way to resolve that issue is to go with .22 LR ammo that is purpose-build for self defense. 

This revolver isn’t as handsome as many others on the market, but it’s fun to shoot, easy to maintain, and can be carried as an EDC option, or used as a trainer for larger-caliber revolvers. OL Shooting Editor John B. Snow tested the Ruger LCR hard and you can read his full review here.

Read Next: The Best Concealed Carry Holsters of 2023

How to Choose the Best Concealed Carry Gun

If you’re wondering, What’s the best concealed carry gun?, well, the answer depends. Choosing the best concealed carry gun for you means considering several factors:

• Carry position and where you prefer to carry your gun
• Your clothing style and how well it conceals a gun
• How well the concealed carry gun fits your hand
• Your budget

Picking a concealed carry gun is a personal matter, and everyone will have different preferences based on their individual needs. However, there are excellent starting points, and our team has been able to thoroughly test and vet every gun on this list. Whether the feature set, size, or budget is most important to you, you’ll likely find a concealed carry gun on this list that will fit your needs. Most importantly, get some qualified training before you start carrying. 

Read Next: Best 9mm Ammo

Best Concealed Carry Guns FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Concealed Carry Guns

Choosing which gun to carry every day is an important decision, and the best concealed carry gun will be different for many people. There’s lots of things to consider when picking one, but a fortunate certainty is that you have a lot of options to choose from. Pick something that you can shoot well, and that you’ll carry every day. An EDC pistol won’t do you any good sitting in the gun safe at home.

The post The Best Concealed Carry Guns of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Source: https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/best-concealed-carry-guns/