For personal defense and concealed carry, arming yourself with a dependable handgun doesn't have to be expensive. You can acquire high-quality, name-brand concealed carry revolvers and pistols with the dependability, accuracy, and stopping power you require even if your budget is tight. If you're looking for a concealed carry gun, take a look at these seven excellent choices.

 

1. Glock 42

Being on a tight budget does not preclude you from purchasing goods from the most well-known handgun producer in America. The Glock 42 might be the finest option if you just must have a new concealed carry Glock for less than $500.

Although the MSRP of this handgun is $480, it is normal for well-known Glock pistols to be offered for sale brand-new for costs much below this suggested amount. The G42 also stands apart thanks to a variety of features that the majority of shooters will find appealing.

The Glock 42's renowned reliability is the first and most evident benefit. Nearly any may be accepted, fired, and cycled by the G42. It is fed 380 ACP ammo.

Additionally, it is the smallest and lightest pistol offered by Glock at the moment. The Glock 42 is the most concealable Glock handgun with an overall length of just under 6 inches, a 0.98-inch broad frame, and a 3.25-inch barrel, especially when used with a high-quality holster.

Additionally, there is a sizable third-party accessory market available to Glock 42 users. There are numerous parts available for the G42 that shooters can choose from, including extended magazine baseplates, sights, laser designators, trigger kits, and more.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Caliber: .380 ACP

• Category: Semi-automatic pistol

• Action: Glock Safe-Action, striker-fired

• Overall length: 5.94”

• Barrel length: 3.25”

• Weight: 13.76 oz.

• Capacity: 6+1 (standard magazine)

• MSRP: $480

 

2. Taurus 327

 

The difficulties of carrying a snub-nose revolver in one of the traditional Magnum calibers may already be known to you if you have any experience in carrying revolvers. When fired from short-barreled platforms, cartridges like the.357 Magnum or the.44 Magnum encounter significant recoil, making the shooting experience uncomfortable and frequently incorrect.

Thankfully, shooters have a choice in the Taurus 327, which offers stopping power comparable to that of a Magnum at an affordable price. A very long variant of the.32 H&R Magnum and.32 S&W, the.327 Federal Magnum is the caliber of this distinctive concealed carry revolver.

Despite having the same proportions as an equal, the Taurus 327. 38 snub-nose revolvers, its chambering provides it three indisputable benefits: a 6-shot cylinder instead of 5, Magnum-equivalent stopping power without the painful amount of recoil, and the ability to employ the shorter, outmoded. 32 cartridges to practice with or for pleasure.

The Taurus 327 is a highly effective concealed carry revolver, even though.327 Federal Magnum ammunition isn't as widely available as revolver cartridge staples like.38 Special,.357 Magnum, or.44 Magnum. Few revolvers have the power, concealment, and cost-effectiveness that this type provides.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Caliber: .327 Federal Magnum

• Category: Revolver

• Action: DA/SA

• Overall length: 6.55”

• Barrel length: 2” 

• Weight: 22 oz.

• Capacity: 6

• MSRP: $371.05

 

3. RUGER SECURITY-9 COMPACT

The 2019 introduction of the Ruger Security-9 Compact (catalog model number 3818), a smaller variant of the full-sized Security-9 designed for concealed carry. The name of the gun calls to mind vintage Ruger Security Six revolvers from the 1970s.

The Security 9 provides American shooters with an inexpensive option to more expensive versions without sacrificing dependability, concealability, or stopping capability, just like its wheel-gun predecessor did.

A high-quality polymer-framed handgun with a double stack 10-round magazine, an accessory rail, and a trigger safety device that can be removed by just squeezing the trigger is available for less than $500.

The Security-9 is not a striker-fired pistol, unlike Glocks and other polymer-framed firearms in the same class. In its place, Ruger uses a specialized internal hammer system called the Secure-Action system, which is also used in the Ruger-57, LCP II, and EC9.

A lightweight firing pin spring and contemporary Glock-style controls and safety are combined in the Secure-Action mechanism. Shooters who find it difficult to rack this sort of handgun may benefit from this system because it needs less force to pull the slide back than standard striker-fired systems.

The Security-9 Compact also includes a second, frame-mounted thumb safety, unlike its Austrian-made rivals, providing shooters who prefer manual safeties with the security they require.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Caliber: 9x19mm

• Category: Semi-automatic pistol

• Action: Ruger Secure-Action internal hammer

• Overall length: 6.52”

• Barrel length: 3.42”

• Weight: 21.9 oz.

• Capacity: 10+1

• MSRP: $459.00

 

4. SCCY CPX-2 GEN 3

Despite just having started producing guns in 2003, Florida-based SCCY Industries (pronounced "sky") has developed a name for itself as a manufacturer of 100% American-made concealed-carry handguns that are highly reliable, affordable, and reliable.

One of SCCY's most well-known pistols is the CPX-2 from the previous generation, which was released in 2013. The majority of publications and enthusiasts compliment its affordability and dependability while criticizing its somewhat long trigger pull and comparatively poor accuracy.

The CPX-2 GEN3 was unveiled at SHOT Show 2022 and represents a significant advancement over the previous model. A short Picatinny rail has been added to the modified polymer frame to accommodate micro-sized LEDs and laser sights. The CPX-2 is compatible with a variety of attachments, including Glock 43-compatible night sights, micro red dots, etc., thanks to the steel slide's Glock 43 iron sights and a red dot sight cut.

The hammer-fired double-action-only (DAO) action of the CPX-2 is still present in this revised model, with a trigger pull weight of 9 lb.

The internals of the CPX-2 has also been modified by SCCY and now include the brand-new Roebuck Quad-Lock mechanism. This high-reliability system, which is named after SCCY founder Joe Roebuck, ensures slide and barrel lock in four different positions, preventing lateral movement and guaranteeing constant barrel position while the action cycles.

With these upgrades, barrel stability is greatly improved, making the third-generation CPX-2 both accurate and concealable.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Caliber: 9x19mm

• Category: Semi-automatic pistol

• Action: Hammer-fired, DAO

• Overall length: 6”

• Barrel length: 3.1”

• Weight: 15 oz.

• Capacity: 10+1

• MSRP: $309.99

 

5. TAURUS G3C / G3C TORO

The G3c is the tiny variant of the G3, one of an increasing number of affordably priced semi-automatic polymer-framed handguns offered by Taurus. The G3c is a nonstandard size for a concealed carry weapon, smaller than normal mid-size handguns like the Glock 19 and the CZ P-10 but larger than subcompacts like the Glock 26 or the SIG P320 Subcompact.

The Taurus G3c delivers every feature a shooter would want in a contemporary concealed carry pistol, including a striker-fired single action system with re-strike capabilities, a large capacity for its class (12+1 rounds), and concealable proportions (1.2 inches wide and 6.3 inches long).

With the re-strike option, a shooter who is having trouble firing can pull the trigger again and make one more attempt to strike the primer before making any additional corrective moves.

Although the Taurus suggested MSRP is $339.65, the box offers outstanding value because it comes with a pistol lock, a chamber flag, and three magazines—one for the gun and two spares. If you require more capacity, the G3c is also compatible with the full-size G3's magazines, which function as extended magazines in a similar fashion to as a G17 magazine would in a G19 or G26.

Taurus furthermore provides the G3c TORO, a version of the same handgun with a slide cut that is red-dot ready, in addition to the original model. The TORO version is more expensive, but it's still around $500, making it a very attractive choice for shooters on a tight budget who want to carry a carry gun with a red dot.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Caliber: 9x19mm

• Category: Semi-automatic pistol

• Action: Striker-fired single-action, re-strike capable

• Overall length: 6.3”

• Barrel length: 3.2”

• Weight: 22 oz.

• Capacity: 12+1 (standard), 15+1 (extended baseplate), 17+1 (with full-size G2/G3 magazine)

• MSRP: $339.65 (standard), $449.65 (TORO version)

 

6. SMITH & WESSON M&P 380 SHIELD EZ

 

The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ was created to be as simple to use and maintain as possible, as suggested by its name. Despite the fact that this family of handguns comes in a variety of configurations, including 9x19mm and. The.380 EZ is the smallest, lightest, and most cheap variant, and it is available in 30 Super Carry chamberings as well as Performance Center versions with additional bells and whistles.

Three crucial features make the Shield EZ easy to use: a lightweight slide that is simple to rack even for shooters with weaker grips; a single-stack magazine that is simple to load; a large magazine release button; and a straightforward takedown and maintenance procedure.

Additionally, the EZ has a tactile loaded chamber indicator that enables the shooter to immediately determine whether a cartridge is chambered without having to rack the slide and risk loosing it.

The M&P 380 Shield EZ emphasizes safety in numerous ways as a concealed carry pistol. Every model has a huge grip safety that must be used properly by the shooter before they can pull the trigger. The Shield EZ also offers an optional frame-mounted manual safety lever, which gives the controls a 1911-style handgun appearance.

Although the.380 ACP cartridge is less effective and less common than the 9x19mm cartridge, it is nevertheless a tried-and-true self-defense round with high-quality ammo. Recoil-sensitive shooters could think about keeping the Shield EZ in.380 caliber in their concealed holsters, particularly if more potent choices are not an option.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Caliber: .380 ACP

• Category: Semi-automatic pistol

• Action: Single-action, internal hammer

• Overall length: 6.7”

• Barrel length: 3.675”

• Weight: 18.5 oz.

• Capacity: 8+1

• MSRP: $454.00

 

7.SMITH & WESSON BODYGUARD 38

Even though semi-automatic handguns are the most widely used type of concealed carry weapon, not all shooters find them to be appropriate. The Bodyguard 38 from Smith & Wesson is the best value wheel gun for covert carry if you feel more at ease with a traditional snub-nose revolver than a semi-automatic.

With this compact, light-weight J-Frame revolver's.38 Special chambering and +P rating, you can carry a variety of tested self-defense rounds, from contemporary 125-grain JHP +Ps to traditional 158-grain FBI loads. The Bodyguard 38 is one of the lightest and easiest to conceal revolvers on the market right now, weighing only 14.2 oz.

The Bodyguard 38 should be easy to sight and shoot if you've ever used a vintage S&W revolver with a snub nose. The frame has a U-notch for a rear sight, the 1.875" barrel is tipped with a conventional front sight ramp, and the DAO trigger is heavy (12 lbs.) yet smooth and reliable.

This revolver is all black and has a synthetic grip, an aluminum alloy frame, and stainless steel barrel and cylinder. Additionally, the cylinder has a PVD coating to increase its resistance against corrosion.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Caliber: .38 Special +P

• Category: Revolver

• Action: Double-action only (DAO)

• Overall length: 6.6”

• Barrel length: 1.875”

• Weight: 14.2 oz.

• Capacity: 5

• MSRP: $440