“The Smith & Wesson Shield EZ is a great gun for those that need a little help in the racking department. The slide rides smoothly on the rails, making it easy to load a round in the chamber. Ergonomics are pretty good, except for the slide release which is just okay. Overall, it’s a soft and smooth shooter — perfect for those with hand difficulties, new shooters, or older shooters.”
The Ruger LCP is a .380 chambered semi-auto pistol that offers a convenient concealed carry gun to those looking for a slim pistol. Perfect for pocket carry, this tiny pistol also works well as a backup gun. It can hold 6+1 rounds in a standard mag and 7+1 in the extended mag.
The FNX 45T is admittedly a pretty niche gun. It really only makes sense if you plan on-duty use or range fun. Other than that, it’s too large to conceal for most and not the best suited for competition. Long story short, it’s duty-sized and heavy weighing in at 33 ounces unloaded. It features a stainless-steel slide assembly and measures 8.6-inches in total length! Furthermore, it stands 6.5-inches tall with a width of 1.5-inches. “The FNX 45 Tactical was built for duty, and it excels in just that. Whether suppressed or unsuppressed, it shoots like a 9mm with all the cool factor of .45 ACP in just as many rounds. It’s completely modern by 2021 standards, making it all the more impressive when considering it launched in 2012. If you’re looking for a full-size, heavy gun that you can run a red dot and suppressor with all in .45 ACP…this is a decent option.” – Justin Chang
Usually coming in at under $400, the Mossberg 500 Field/Security pump-action shotgun is one of the most versatile guns you can buy for the money. This gun comes with two barrels, a 28-inch field barrel with interchangeable choke tubes and an 18.5-inch security barrel with a fixed choke. Having both barrels allows you to have a do-all gun that can cover anything from hunting to sporting to home defense. Mossberg makes the barrel change process simple and easy, with a single screw making the barrel swap a 60-second affair that takes no tools. The ambidextrous tang safety makes this gun intuitive for most users, but the rest of the gun is pretty standard fare when it comes to ergonomics. The Mossberg 500 has been the gold standard for basic shotguns since the 60s, and it has the aftermarket to prove that. If you need a shotgun to cover all the bases, this is it.
The Glock 23 is a compact version and is a popular handgun for police and government agencies who prefer .40 S&W. One of the big selling points is a large capacity yet lightweight feel. This one is great if you want a compact concealed carry weapon or if you have smaller hands.
“As a gun frequently touted as a defensive option where revolvers are concerned, the Taurus Judge offers up an option for those looking to work around their farm or carry while out on hikes. With a few options in terms of calibers (.410, anyone?), this revolver is a good option for when there are critters around. Its trigger pull isn’t terrible for a revolver, and its large size helps mitigate that big recoil. Downside? Those will small hands or who are petite in size might struggle with some of the heavier models and large grips. And there are not a lot of aftermarket options here.” – Aden Tate
“This is a great CCW pistol for the price point. It’s incredibly reliable and has very few flaws. Taurus has been around for a while, and its reputation is…spotty. But the G2C is designed from the ground up to be a highly affordable compact CCW pistol – and it nails it.”
The Sig P365XL has quickly established itself as one of the most popular concealed carry pistols on the market today. Excellent ergonomics, great capacity for the size, factory night sights, and an optics-ready slide make this a feature-rich gun at an affordable price point.
Glocks do a lot of things right and G43x is one of them. This gun is very comfortable to conceal carry, easy to shoot, and great for defensive shooting. With its straightforward Glock platform and thin profile, this gun is a great choice for CCW. The Glock 43x has a short slide with a barrel length of 3.41 inches and a total length of 6.5 inches. It weighs only 18.7oz, is 5.04 inches tall, and is 1.06 inches wide. It has a trigger pull weight of approximately 5.5 lbs, consistent with other Glock models. Out of the box, this gun comes with standard 10-round mags which isn’t as efficient when compared to a similar-sized Sig P365.
The Sig P238 is a 1911 inspired .380 ACP micro-compact handgun that’s lightweight and gorgeous. It’s key feature is it’s micro-compact size which makes this gun a great CCW choice. The P238 resembles a 1911, especially the Springfield 1911 in that it’s classic in design. “It’s a soft shooting .380 ACP with a nice aesthetic and reliable nature — the perfect companion when it comes to situations that require ultra-concealment.” – Jacki Billings, Editor
The Kimber Warrior is an outstanding gun from the looks department. If you are a buyer who is strictly into guns for self-defense and can only purchase one gun, I’d steer clear of this shooter as it’s not the most reliable. Our reviewer experienced some issues while testing and performed well only with the right mags and ammo.
