| Gun | Caliber | Capacity | Concealability | Pro's | Con's |
| S&W M&P Shield | 9mm/.40 S&W | 9mm:
7+1 .40 S&W: 6+1 |
3 | This is a relatively new gun produced by S&W. The general consensus is that it's a great gun. It's small, reliable and comes in more desirable calibers than most guns its size. | As will be the case for most guns in this list, in order to be Mass compliant (and I'm pretty sure the same goes for anyone hailing from California), you will be stuck with a less than desirable trigger pull (looong and gritty). This means that if you decide to get this gun (in MA or CA) please anticipate spending an additional $125 or so on having a new trigger installed. See the last link for info on the most popular replacement trigger for these guns. |
| Beretta Nano | 9mm | 6+1 OR 7+1 (w/ extended mag) |
4 | Boy do I love this gun! Great size, very reliable, fairly easy to conceal, takes just about any ammo I feed it. Super comfortable to hold and shoot. Trigger is smooth. It's a 9mm which is what I prefer in a carry gun. Good capacity with an option of an even better capacity. All around great gun. | Like all guns, the Nano has it's faults. The trigger pull, though smooth, is long. I personally don't mind this, but a long trigger pull CAN affect your accuracy. A longer pull means more time for user error. Also it has no external slide lock, which isn't a very big deal, just a bit unorthodox. |
| Glock 26/Glock 27 | 9mm/.40 S&W | 9mm:
10+1 .40 S&W: 9+1 |
2 | Glocks are notorious for being fantastically reliable guns. I can't say enough about their reliability. Also, look at that capacity! | The Glock 26/27 is on the slightly larger size of the guns listed here. It's going to take a bit more work if you're planning on wearing skinny jeans most days. But it is up to you if the reliability and capacity are worth the trade-off. |
| Kahr PM9 | 9mm | 6+1 OR 7+1 (w/ extended mag) |
4 | Kahrs are right up there on the reliability scale, they are really an all around awesome gun. Very similar in style to the Glock except slimmed down quite a bit. Great size and fantastic gun. | Biggest issue - the price tag. Kahrs carry a fairly heavy price because of their quality. |
| Ruger LC9 | 9mm | 7+1 | 4 | I'm not terribly familiar with this gun, I've never shot one, but have spoken with others who have. It's size is a great feature. It's slim and comfortable to hold. | Biggest issue seems to be inconsistent reliability. There are some who say they've never had an issue with it and others who have had nothing but issues. And again, we Massachusetts folks and the Californians will suffer icky triggers. |
| Ruger LCP | .380 ACP | 6+1 | 5 | Great size for concealment. From what I've heard is pretty reliable with not too many issues. Has a much more user friendly laser option with the button for the laser being placed directly below the trigger guard where your hand naturally grips the gun. Also the laser is an OPTION, which I think is great. | Again, not a huge fan of the .380, but some people have no problem with it, like my dad, he regularly carries a P230 which fires a .380 round. The difference? He's an avid shooter and competitor. He has the confidence that his first shot will land where it needs to and the caliber won't be much of an issue at that point. |
| Ruger LCR | .22
LR .38 Special .357 Mag |
5* | 4 | This is a revolver. Revolvers are notoriously reliable and super easy to operate, a true point and shoot. Big pro is the AWESOME caliber option of .357 Mag. Now THAT'S some stopping power! Also this gun comes with the same more desirable laser grip option as it's cousin, the LCP. | My issues with this gun, and really any revolver, is the limited capacity, the double action only action, and the lack of a quick reload. Yes, speed loaders are available, but they don't match the ease of a magazine change on a semi-auto pistol. Again, these are just my issues with revolvers - it's not the LCR's fault. |
| S&W Bodyguard | .380 ACP | 6+1 | 5 | In my opinion about the only thing this gun has going for it is its size. | And
the con's list begins: First, it is a .380, not my favorite round. Not a lot
of stopping power. Combine that with a not terribly impressive capacity, and
you're not off to a great start. Also, it has a particularly terribly trigger
pull. Finally is the seemingly "pro" feature, which is the laser
sight that is built it. This is a bit gimmicky to me. Take a look at the
manufacturer link and observe where the button is located for the laser
sight. In a high stress situation, you will never have the time or composure
to activate the laser. It's just not practical. That is one BIG gap in the
"pro" column <<<<<<<<< |
(Picture shown is with horsehide, mine is cowhide and black not tan)
