Concealed Carry Guide: Guns, Holsters, Ammo, and Accessories

Top Pick

Staccato CS

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Best New Micro 9mm

H&K CC9

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Best Glock Clone

Ruger RXM

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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 and my top recommendations on holsters, ammo, lights, belts, and red dots based on my extensive gear tests. 

Compacts↓

Sub-Compacts↓

Revolvers↓

Best Concealed Carry Accessories: Holsters, Lights, Belts, Ammo, and Red Dots↓

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Best Compact Concealed Carry Guns: Reviews & Recommendations

Staccato CS

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.

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. You can also get a 1-to-1 trainer for the G19, chambered in .22 LR — the Glock G44.

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.

Ruger RXM

In the highly competitive Glock clone market, the RXM, a collaboration between Ruger and Magpull, caught a lot of people by surprise. It’s a clone of Glock’s legendary G19 Gen 3, but several hundred dollars cheaper. It’s available for $400, or sometimes less.

Externally, the RXM incorporates some changes that many shooters have paid extra to attain. It’s got a nicely contoured slide with attractive and functional slanted forward and rear slide serrations, and is cut for an optic. Rather than Glock’s MOS plate system, the RXM is adaptable to a few footprints including Delta Point Pro, RMR, and RMSc, with the help of pins that can be installed to adapt to particular optics. This allows a low mount and co-witnessed iron sights.

Magpul’s contribution to the collaboration is the interchangeable grip module. Unlike Glocks or other Glock clones, this module houses a removable fire control group or chassis. The grips are crafted with great ergonomics and a grippy stipple texture. Essentially, these are similar to what many shooters have been transforming their OEM Glocks into for years. What’s even better is that the removable chassis design is still compatible with aftermarket Gen 3 Glock trigger parts, allowing for further upgrades.

On the range, this gun performed as well as any pistol we’ve seen at this price point, and several members of our annual gun test team preferred it over a stock Glock. It’s accurate, handles well, and has a pleasingly soft recoil impulse. We don’t think that there’s currently a better value for a concealed carry gun than the RXM.

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Pros

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

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Key Features

• 
  Caliber:

  
  9mm

• 
  Capacity:

  
  15+1

• 
  Barrel Length:

  
  3.7 inches

• 
  Weight:

  
  20.7 ounces

• 
  Optic Compatibility

  
  Fits most micro red dots

• 
  Price:

  
  $599

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. 

Best Sub-Compact Concealed Carry Guns

Sig Sauer P365 XMacro Tacops

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Pros

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

Cons

• Trigger is a little mushy

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Key Features

• 
  Caliber:

  
  9mm

• 
  Capacity:

  
  17+1

• 
  Barrel Length:

  
  3.7 inches

• 
  Weight:

  
  23 ounces

• 
  Optic Compatibility

  
  Direct mount, Shield RMSc

• 
  Price:

  
  $800

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. 

Read Next: How to Hold a Pistol

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.

H&K CC9

In early 2025, H&K launched their all-new CC9. It’s a pistol that’s designed specifically to meet the demands of American shooters looking for an EDC pistol. The CC9 is a wonderfully executed micro-compact 9mm that ships with both 10- and 12-round magazines. It’s not dramatic or flashy, and that’s what we like about it. We recently tested the CC9 at our annual gun test at Gunsite Academy, and everyone on the test team commented on the pistol’s good ergonomics and subtle feature set.

The CC9’s frame has a grippy stipple-type texture in all the right places, and there aren’t any snaggy corners or surfaces anywhere on the gun. The slide is nicely rounded but offers good purchase with it’s front and rear slide serrations. It comes fitted with low-profile dovetail-fit night sights, and is cut for and RMSc- or 407k-pattern red dot optic. Fitted with a low-profile red dot, it’s still conveniently concealable and quick to get on target. It handles well both two- and one-handed, and is lefty friendly with low-profile slide stop levers and magazine catch buttons.

Most micro-compact 9mm pistols are snappy or flippy under recoil due to their small size and short, light slides. We found the CC9 to be quite easy to control, placing rounds on target quickly and accurately. We were even able to score regular hits on vital-sized steel plates from 50 yards. Even skeptical members of the test team were convinced that they might just need a new CC9 for themselves.

Walther PDP-F 3.5-Inch

Walther’s PDP-F series is designed with female shooters in mind, but this is a concealed carry gun that just about anyone will like. It’s got what we like about the PDP platform, but with a slender grip and shorter trigger reach. Compared to the chunky full-sized PDP, the PDP-F is more comfortable to carry inside the waistband, but still offers excellent ergonomics.

Like the standard PDP pistols, this Walther features three-dot white sights with a rear sight that’s adjustable for windage and elevation. The slide also features a removable cover plate and can be fitted with one of Walther’s optic adapter plates and fitted with a red dot. I tested one with the Trijicon RMR and it was a wonderful-shooting pistol. You can read a full review here.

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Pros

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

Cons

• Not very accurate at longer distances

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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

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. 

Read Next: 30 Super Carry vs 9mm: Which is the Better Self-Defense Cartridge?

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.

Beretta PX4 Storm Compact Carry 2

Beretta’s PX4 Storm has been a popular carry gun, and the new PX4 Storm Concealed Carry 2 is further optimized for the task at hand. Like the regular PX4, it features a rotating barrel design, but the CC2 version has a heavier barrel that adds mass and mitigates recoil. Notably, it also has an improved decocker and bobbed, snag-free hammer and improved double-action trigger pull. 

The whole test team found the PX4 to be a soft, manageable shooter, and some really liked it. We had mixed feelings though. Some of us plainly thought it would be smaller than it is, and it certainly does have a thick, chunky feel to it. That thickness does help the shooter get more purchase on the gun, but considering the abundant number of manageable pistols that are more compact with equal or greater capacity, we had a hard time falling in love with this one. 

The double-action/single-action operation isn’t what most shooters will choose, but if you’re already a Beretta 92 fan or comfortable with those pistols, you will probably like the PX4 Storm.

Best Revolvers for Concealed Carry

Colt Python 3-inch

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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

---

Key Features

• 
  Caliber:

  
  .357 Magnum

• 
  Capacity:

  
  6

• 
  Barrel Length:

  
  3 inches

• 
  Weight:

  
  38 ounces

• 
  Price:

  
  $1,472

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.

Smith & Wesson 351 PD .22 WMR

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Pros

• Light and compact
• Easy to shoot
• Good ammunition capacity
• Useful for more than just self defense

Cons

• Expensive for a rimfire
• Not very accurate beyond 15 yards
• Not as potent as larger cartridges

---

Key Features

• 
  Caliber:

  
  .22 WMR

• 
  Capacity:

  
  7

• 
  Barrel length:

  
  1.88 inches

• 
  Weight:

  
  11.4 ounces

• 
  Sights

  
  Fiber-optic front sight

• 
  Price:

  
  $810

The Smith & Wesson 351 PD is an AirLite series J-frame revolver that’s chambered in .22 Magnum. It’s light even when loaded, and boasts an impressive 7 round capacity. Other J-frames chambered in .38 Special and .357 Magnum are certainly more potent, but they are also much more difficult to shoot with speed and precision — even at close range. The .22 Mag. chambered 351 PD offers the same concealable size and feel, but it’s much easier, and more fun, to shoot.

This is a great option for a practice gun for someone who carries a larger cartridge in a J-frame regularly, and is well-suited for anyone who might struggle to control the sharp, flippy recoil of a .38 or .357. Though .22 Magnum might not be the most potent self-defense cartridge, it’s performance has been elevated by defense-specific loads like Federal’s Punch and Speer Gold Dot.

More than just a dedicated EDC revolver, the 351 PD would be quite useful as a carry gun for a trapper or backwoods hunter. It’s not especially accurate, but would be useful for small game under 15 yards, and is generally a fun and affordable revolver to shoot. You’re guaranteed to shoot it much more than the same platform chambered in .357 Mag., and for a tool you might have to use in the most stressful of situations, that counts for a lot. You can read our full review of the Smith & Wesson 351 PD here.

How We Test and Choose the Best Concealed Carry Guns

There are many great concealed carry guns to choose from, and lots that aren’t so great. Rest assured that any guns in this or other buyer’s guides have been hands-on tested by our staff. I shoot about 20,000 rounds through handguns annually, and each gun — whether tested by me or another staff or test team member — gets both accuracy and reliability testing. We fire a minimum of several hundred rounds through each pistol, running drills, drawing from holsters, and, in this case, carrying concealed. We test for accuracy by firing from a standing position at 15 yards, supported on a sandbag-topped tripod as described in this story on how to shoot a pistol accurately.

In this story, we have chosen our favorite concealed-carry pistols across a wide variety of categories, sizes, and applications.

Read Next: The Best Concealed Carry Holsters of 2025

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. 

Best Concealed Carry Guns FAQs

The Best Concealed-Carry Accessories

Picking a pistol or revolver is just the first step in setting yourself up for safe, effective concealed carry. Gearing up with good accessories like these can make your EDC setup more comfortable and practical.

Recommended Holsters

Read Next: Best Concealed Carry Holsters

Belts

Read Next: Best Gun Belts

Mag Carriers

Lights

Read our full Best Pistol Lights review for more info.

Red Dots

Read Next: Best Pistol Red Dots

Ammo

Read Next: Best 9mm Ammo

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.