If you’re considering getting a concealed carry gun, the good news is that you have plenty of great options. I’ve shot, and reviewed, these compact pistols and revolvers over the years, but my list of top picks looks a little different than the guns I’ve actually spent the most time carrying. Here’s what they are, why I love them, and what they’re great for.
staccato cs 9mm
Over the past three years, I have carried and shot my Staccato CS more than all other pistols combined. Having tested and reviewed it since it was introduced, it has been my main squeeze and daily carry gun. While I have enough trigger time to accurately evaluate other potential contenders – and there are some great ones out there – there is no substitute for carrying the same gun every day and shooting it regularly.
Staccato CS is everything we love about 2011. It’s very smooth, has a pleasant crisp trigger, and is extremely accurate. With a red dot sight with a halo-style reticle, sight acquisition is very fast, as are the before and after shots. Throughout this time, it has proven to be very reliable, and I have fielded it with a variety of defensive hollow point ammunition, such as Federal’s 124-grain Punch, Hornady’s Critical Duty, and solid defensive bullets like Lehigh Defense’s 90-grain Extreme Defense.
The CS is about the same size as the Glock G19, and carries well in a variety of situations – I prefer appendix carry. Before discontinuation, it was sold with a 16-round magazine, but later models use a 15-round magazine to improve spring life. The new HD series, specifically C3.6, has replaced CS, and its improvements are well worth it. The optic mounting system sits lower and works better for co-witness sights, has fully ambidextrous controls, and uses Glock-pattern magazines. For the new gun buyer, the C3.6 is a better choice, but there’s still nothing wrong with my CS.
Springfield XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm
Living in Alaska, I have a lot of use for backwoods/bear defense handguns. For a long time, my Springfield XD-M Compact 10mm pulled double duty – also serving as my EDC pistol. This pistol brings a lot to the table. It has a 3.8-inch barrel and is roughly the same size as the Glock G29, but is a little easier to manage. The polymer frame comes with a magwell installed – which I removed almost immediately. The magwell interfered with my grip, while the wide baseplate of the compact 11-round magazines allows a comfortable full-hand grip.
Although a bit heavy, this pistol runs smoothly and is easy to control with the Gogan gas pedal takedown lever. To carry wood, I typically use an Invader Concept chest holster and pair the pistol with a sleeve with a full-size 15-round magazine that effectively expands the grip to full size.
I’ve fired every type of 10mm ammo imaginable through this gun and I don’t think I’ve ever had a malfunction. While I have looked at the various hollow point and solid ammunition offered, I decided on the 115-grain Lehigh Defense Extreme Defense bullet in the Black Hills Honey Badger line. It is barrier blind, creates large wound cavities, and kicks out at approximately 1,600 fps. Because the projectile is lighter, it has significantly less recoil than 200- or 220-grain hard cast options.
The only feature I don’t really like about this is the optic mounting system, with the sight sitting high on the slide. In light of new designs, it is obsolete.
Smith & Wesson 351 PD 22 WMR
The Smith & Wesson J-Frame series of revolvers is the leader among concealed carry guns. They are simple, reliable and ultra convenient to carry in both normal and deep concealment applications. While the .38 Special and .357 Magnum options are the most popular, I fell in love with the seven-shot Air Light 351 PD in .22 Magnum.
The J-Frame is not intended to be a distance weapon, and the combination of capacity, shootability, and concealability makes me a fan of the 22 Mag. Like other compact wheel guns, this one fits well in a pocket, bag, fanny pack or purse.
There are a few reasons I spent a lot of time with this gun. First of all, as a grab-and-go option it’s hard to beat. I’ll keep it in the pouch of my PFD when I’m on the boat, slip it in a coat pocket for running errands, and it fits wonderfully in some bino harnesses or the handlebar bag on a Sno-Go (snowmobile for you non-Alaskans out there). It will serve well for anyone who is not expecting to encounter bears, and makes an excellent dispatch handgun for trappers.
The gun you have is better than the gun you don’t have, and many times I choose this quick, useful little Stinger. I’ve tested both the Spear Gold Dot 40-grain HP load and the Hornady 45-grain Critical Defense FTX, designed for shorter barrels, and both perform very well in ballistic gel.
Read Next: Best Concealed Carry Guns, Tests and Reviews
final thoughts
Choosing the right concealed carry gun for you may seem daunting, especially if you suffer from analysis paralysis, but the important thing is to choose a gun that fits well into your carry style and is comfortable for you to operate and shoot. You don’t have to have the ultimate concealed carry pistol, you just need a pistol that is comfortable and convenient for you to carry, and that you enjoy shooting and practicing with.
