The 13 Best Concealed Carry Handguns of 2024

For those looking to update your concealed carry arsenal, here's a rundown of the top concealed carry guns for 2024.

February 12, 2024

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The 13 Best Concealed Carry Handguns of 2024

As we enter 2024, the concealed carry landscape is evolving with an impressive array of handguns designed to meet the diverse needs of gun enthusiasts and self-defense advocates. From sleek subcompacts to versatile compacts, manufacturers push the envelope with innovative features, improved ergonomics, and enhanced performance. For those looking to update your carry arsenal or step into the world of concealed carry for the first time, here's a rundown of the top concealed carry guns for 2024 that will make an impression. And the best part? You can find these gems on Sportsman's Guide, ensuring you easily get your hands on these top picks.

What We Look For

Gun owners choose concealed and carry firearms for many different reasons. While priority may change from person to person, these are the main factors to consider.

Size and Weight: The primary purpose of a concealed carry handgun is that it can be easily concealed. Look for a size that fits well with your daily attire and carry method without printing (being visible through clothing).
Caliber: Balance the need for a caliber with sufficient stopping power (e.g., 9mm is a popular choice) against manageability. Higher calibers may offer more stopping power but can also increase recoil, making them harder to control.
Capacity: Evaluate how many rounds the handgun can carry. More rounds offer more opportunities to stop a threat but can also add to the size and weight of the firearm.
Ergonomics and Fit: Make sure the handgun fits well in your hand. A good grip is crucial for effective shooting, especially under stress.
Reliability: Look for a handgun known for its reliability. Research and reviews can help you find models that perform well consistently, even under different conditions.
Sights: Opt for sights that are easy to see and align, even in low-light conditions. Night sights or fiber-optic sights can be advantageous.
Safety Features: Depending on your preference, consider the safety features available, such as thumb safeties, grip safeties, or trigger safeties.
Price and Availability: Determine your budget for the handgun and potential accessories (holsters, extra magazines). Remember, the most expensive option isn't always.

We highly recommend testing a handgun at a range before buying it to ensure you get a feel for the size, weight, sight line, and recoil to ensure it is the right fit.

Top Concealed Carry Firearms of 2024

Shadow Systems CR920

The Shadow Systems CR920 has quickly become a favorite among concealed carry enthusiasts. This compact powerhouse offers a perfect blend of concealability and firepower. With a capacity that rivals much larger pistols and an ergonomic design that fits various hand sizes, the CR920 is a versatile choice for everyday carry. Its optics-ready slide and crisp trigger pull make it a top contender for those who demand performance and precision.

Key Features:

Compact frame: Makes it an ideal choice for everyday carry. Its size is optimized to provide a balance between comfort and capability,
Optics-ready slide: Allows shooters to mount their preferred micro red dot sights easily without custom machining.
Textured grip: For improved control and comfort and a frame design that promotes a high, tight grip for better recoil management.
Match-grade, spiral-fluted barrel: Precision engineering of the barrel ensures consistent bullet velocity and improved shooting performance.

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Glock 43X

The Glock 43X brings together the best of both worlds by offering the slim profile of the Glock 43 with an enhanced grip length for better control and a higher-capacity magazine. This model holds 10 rounds of 9mm, providing a solid balance between firepower and the compact size needed for discreet carry.

Key Features:

Compact size: The Glock 43X offers an increased magazine capacity of 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, providing a good balance between firepower and concealability.
Extended grip length: Compared to the original Glock 43, it allows for a more comfortable and secure hold.
Build Quality: Like all Glock models, the 43X is built with high-strength polymer and steel components, ensuring durability, reliability, and long service life even with regular use and carry.
User-friendly: Suitable for experienced shooters and those new to carrying concealed firearms.

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Kimber KD9Sc

The Kimber KD9Sc is a testament to Kimber's commitment to quality and precision in a subcompact package. This pistol is engineered for those who demand reliability and accuracy in a size ideal for concealed carry. The KD9Sc, part of Kimber's impressive lineup, is designed with the user in mind, offering features that enhance its usability and performance in self-defense situations.

Key Features:

Ultra-compact design: For superior concealability and comfort in the hand.
9mm caliber: For a balance of power and control.
Advanced ergonomics: For comfortable carry and handling
Optic-ready slides: For red dot sights, enhancing accuracy and target acquisition

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Taurus GX4

The Taurus GX4 stands out as a game-changer in the subcompact category, offering an unprecedented capacity without compromising on the slim profile and ergonomics essential for concealed carry. This pistol is engineered to balance firepower and concealability, making it an excellent choice for everyday carry.

Key Features:

Exceptional capacity: A double-stack magazine in a subcompact frame, offering up to 13 rounds of 9mm.
Ergonomic design: A grip accommodating a wide range of hand sizes for a secure and comfortable hold.
Optics-ready options: Allow easy customization with red dot sights to enhance shooting accuracy and confidence.
Striker-fired action: A crisp, clean trigger pull for improved shot-to-shot consistency.

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Springfield Hellcat Pro

The Springfield Hellcat Pro takes the innovative design of the original Hellcat and enhances it for those who demand more from their concealed carry firearm. With a focus on providing maximum capacity without sacrificing the slim profile essential for discreet carry, the Hellcat Pro is engineered to be the perfect companion for everyday defense.

Key Features:

High-capacity magazine: In a compact frame, offering an impressive 15+1 rounds of 9mm, making it one of the leaders in its class for firepower.
A refined grip texture: Ergonomics designed to fit a broad spectrum of hand sizes, ensuring a secure and comfortable hold for precision shooting.
Optics-ready slide: Allowing for easily adding red dot sights to enhance target acquisition and shooting accuracy.
3.7-inch barrel: Balances concealability with ballistic performance, providing a compact size that doesn't compromise effectiveness.

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Sig Sauer P365

The Sig Sauer P365 has garnered acclaim for its innovative design, effectively bridging the gap between micro-compact convenience and surprising 9mm capacity. This pistol is a testament to Sig Sauer's commitment to excellence and understanding of concealed carry needs, providing an exceptional choice for everyday carry.

Key Features:

Remarkable Capacity: Despite its slim, micro-compact size, the P365 offers a standard 10+1 capacity, with 12+1 and 15+1 extended magazine options.
Advanced Ergonomics: A fully textured grip and a clean, crisp trigger ensure a secure hold and smooth operation in various conditions.
Optics-Ready Variants: Sig Sauer offers optics-ready slides to accommodate micro red dot sights, enhancing accuracy and target acquisition.
Night Sights: Equipped with XRAY3 Day/Night sights, the P365 provides exceptional visibility in low-light conditions.

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Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus

The M&P Shield Plus represents a significant evolution in the Shield line, addressing the modern concealed carrier's demands for higher capacity without sacrificing the slim profile that makes the Shield so easy to carry.

Key Features:

Enhanced Capacity: A standard magazine carrying 10+1 rounds and an extended magazine option for 13+1 rounds, all in 9mm.
Improved Trigger: Smith & Wesson has upgraded the trigger mechanism in the Shield Plus, providing a crisp, tactile feel with a shorter reset.
Ergonomic Design: Retaining the slim, ergonomic design of the original Shield, the Plus model ensures comfort and control, making it an ideal choice for all-day carry.
Optics-Ready Options: Responding to the growing demand for red dot sights on concealed carry handguns, Smith & Wesson offers optics-ready versions of the Shield Plus, allowing for easy customization.

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Glock 19

A quintessential choice for concealed carry, the Glock 19 is celebrated for its compact design that does not compromise firepower or performance. This makes it an excellent option for those seeking a dependable firearm that balances ease of carry with the effectiveness needed in critical situations.

Key Features:

Optimal Size and Capacity: With a magazine capacity of 15+1 rounds of 9mm, the Glock 19 offers an excellent balance of size and capacity.
Versatility: The Glock 19's design makes it versatile for various shooting disciplines from personal defense to competitive shooting.
Durability and Reliability: Glocks are known for their ruggedness, and the Glock 19 is no exception.
Ergonomics: Recent generations of the Glock 19 have improved ergonomics, including grip texture and finger grooves (in some models).

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Walther PDP

The Walther PDP stands out in the crowded field of compact handguns, focusing on performance, adaptability, and user-centric design. It embodies Walther's long-standing tradition of excellence in engineering and ergonomics, offering features that cater to the needs of both professional and civilian shooters.

Key Features:

SuperTerrain Slide Serrations: Providing superior grip and manipulation efficiency without snagging on clothing or holsters.
Performance Duty Trigger: Offering a crisp break and a short, tactile reset.
Red Dot Ergonomics: Integrating seamlessly with red dot optics for a lower profile and optimal sight alignment.
Modular Grip System: This feature ensures a perfect hand-to-firearm connection, enhancing overall shooting performance.

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Ruger SR1911

The Ruger SR1911 is a modern interpretation of the classic 1911 pistol, maintaining the heritage of one of the most respected and recognized handgun designs in firearm history, while incorporating Ruger's renowned manufacturing quality and reliability. Here's what makes the Ruger SR1911 stand out as a top choice for concealed carry in 2024:

Key Features:

CNC-Controlled Machining: Ruger uses state-of-the-art CNC machinery to produce tight, consistent tolerances on the SR1911.
Classic Operation with Modern Refinements: The SR1911 retains the original 1911 single-action operation but includes modern refinements such as a skeletonized trigger and hammer, improved safety features, and precision-fit parts.
Lightweight Commander and Officer Models: For those interested in concealed carry, Ruger offers SR1911 models in the more compact and lightweight Commander and Officer sizes.
Ergonomic Grips and Controls: Featuring thin hardwood grips and an upswept beavertail grip safety, the SR1911 offers a comfortable, secure hold.

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Beretta 92FS

The Beretta 92FS has earned its reputation as a reliable, accurate, and durable sidearm. Its adoption by the United States Military as the M9 pistol is a testament to its quality and reliability. For those considering the Beretta 92FS for concealed carry in 2024, here are some key features that contribute to its enduring popularity:

Key Features:

Open Slide Design: The 92FS features an open slide design that helps reduce the chance of jamming or stovepiping.
Ambidextrous Safety/Decocker: Making it suitable for both right and left-handed shooters.
Alloy Frame with Accessory Rail: The alloy frame reduces the overall weight of the 92FS without compromising its durability, and some variants come with an integral accessory rail for mounting lights or lasers.
Proven Track Record: The 92FS's extensive use by military and law enforcement personnel worldwide is a testament to its reliability, accuracy, and durability.

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war poet by shadow systems concealed carry

The War Poet Subcompact by Shadow Systems

Developed in collaboration with John Lovell, a respected firearms instructor, former Army Ranger, and the founder of Warrior Poet Society, the War Poet Subcompact is designed with both practicality and performance in mind. It caters to the needs of modern concealed carriers who demand a firearm that excels in defensive scenarios and everyday carry comfort.

Key Features:

Optimized Size for Concealment: Superior concealability without sacrificing grip comfort or control, making it an excellent choice for all-day carry.
High-Performance Barrel: Equipped with a match-grade, precision barrel, this pistol promises exceptional accuracy.
Enhanced Ergonomics: The frame and grip accommodate various hand sizes while providing a secure, comfortable hold.
Tactical Features: Enhanced slide serrations for improved manipulation and a threaded barrel option for suppressor attachment.

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Canik TP9 Elite

The Canik TP9 Elite SC is designed for shooters who demand versatility and reliability in a subcompact form factor. Offering advanced features at a competitive price point, this pistol is tailored to meet the needs of both novice and experienced concealed carriers who seek a high-capacity, feature-rich handgun without breaking the bank.

Key Features:

Optics-Ready Slide: Featuring a mounting plate system that accommodates most micro red-dot optics.
High-Capacity Magazine: Offering a 12+1 standard magazine and an extended 15+1 option.
Enhanced Trigger System: Known for its smooth trigger pull and short reset providing a crisp and responsive shooting experience.
Match-Grade Barrel: The pistol features a match-grade, nitride-coated barrel, ensuring superior accuracy and longevity.

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Each model brings something unique to the table, whether in terms of design, capacity, ergonomics, or price point. When choosing your concealed carry weapon for 2024, consider the firearm's specifications and how it fits your lifestyle, carry preferences, and comfort level. Remember, the best gun for you is the one you will carry consistently and can operate confidently. For more detailed reviews and specifications, I recommend visiting the sources directly to ensure you make an informed decision tailored to your needs.

Shop Sportsman's Guide for a great selection of Concealed and Carry Handguns and Ammunition

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