Carry Gun Size Guide: Best Concealed Choices and Why

Over the last decade or so shooters have come to rely on the terms compact, sub-compact, and micro-compact to describe semiauto handgun size classes, but this jargon can be confusing to new shooters. We’re going to break down each of these terms, offer generalized qualification for each, and take a closer look at what each size class of pistols has to offer shooters.

Compact

To immediately complicate the topic on handgun size, compact guns are the largest pistols on this list. The term “compact” was originally a designation that separated pistols in this class from duty/full-sized guns. In the 1980s Gaston Glock introduced the U.S. shooters to the G17 9mm, which had a 4.5-inch barrel and 17-round magazine, and that became (and remains) a popular duty gun for law enforcement professionals.

This was followed shortly by the G19 which had a 4-inch barrel and 15-round capacity, and since it was slightly smaller that gun became the archetypal “compact” double-stack 9mm pistol.

Today several other manufacturers offer compact pistols that fit this size category. CZ’s P-10 C is a double-stack holding 15-rounds and it comes with a 4-inch barrel. Rost Martin’s new RM1C has a 4-inch barrel, too, and is offered with both 15 and 17-round magazines, SIG’s P320 Compact comes with a 3.9-inch barrel and a capacity of 15-rounds. Though the compact designation is generally applied to polymer-frame pistols, the new class of 1911 double-stack pistols like Wilson Combat’s EDC X9 2.0 4” fit in the same size category.

Compact guns—and specially polymer-frame, striker-fired compacts—are generally very close in size and weight. Most weigh a bit over 20 ounces unloaded, measure just a hair over 7-inches long, and measure between 1.1 and 1.25-inches wide. They’re generally double-stack pistols, and many—but not all—are chambered in 9mm Luger.

Compacts are slightly larger than the other guns on the list, but that offers them some advantages. First, they have higher capacities. Today’s 9mm subcompacts are edging up toward 15-rounds, but the compact pistols offer the highest capacity in the class.

Compacts also shoot like big guns, and that’s an advantage. Larger grips offer better control and the added weight—though not really burdensome while carrying—helps mitigate recoil. Most shooters can fire a compact more comfortably longer than they can a smaller, lighter sub-compact. Also, the growing popularity of modular pistol designs means compact guns offer added versatility. By removing the serialized fire control unit on a gun like SIG’s P320 you can swap slide and grip sizes as you like, offering more versatility.

The downside with compacts is—ironically—they’re pretty large for concealed carry. They aren’t impossible to carry, and that’s especially true when wearing more layers of clothing.

Sub-Compact

The growing class of sub-compact pistols are almost invariably chambered in 9mm and are slightly smaller than true compacts. Most have barrels ranging from 3 to 4-inches and are around an inch wide, so they’re easier to conceal than true compacts. Weight is generally 18-ounces or so, and overall length for most of these guns is at or below six-inches, which is about an inch smaller than most compacts.

Examples of popular sub-compact pistols include SIG’s P365 (the best-selling semiauto handgun in the nation), Springfield’s Hellcat, The Taurus GX4, and Ruger’s MAX-9. All these guns have double-digit capacities, so they aren’t far off the compact pistols (the Springfield Hellcat Pro is actually available with both 15 and 17-round mags), yet they’re slightly smaller and easier to conceal. Interestingly, many subcompact guns are available as special models with slightly longer barrels, examples being Springfield’s Hellcat Pro (3.7-inch barrel), SIG P365 XL (3.7-inch barrel) and the MAX-9 4-inch, and there are a few single-stack subcompacts like Springfield’s XD-S and Glock’s G43X.

Sub-compacts are slightly lighter and smaller and are therefore easier to carry concealed, but they offer substantial capacities and a sight radius that is nearly as long as a compact. The smallest, lightest sub-compacts are very easy to carry concealed, but that minimalist design makes shooting them for long periods more of a chore as felt recoil and muzzle rise increase. The larger sub-compacts like the Hellcat Pro are similar to compact guns but are trimmer, lighter, and easier to carry. Subcompacts generally don’t offer the modularity found on compact guns with serialized fire control units, but most accept red dot optics.

For most shooters who carry every day a subcompact is an excellent option. These guns are designed for EDC and most are small enough so that they don’t print under light clothing. These guns are not so small and light that recoil is vicious, and some offer accuracy that is on-par with larger guns. It’s easy to see why sub-compacts have become so popular.

Micro-Compacts

Micro-compact pistols are designed to be very small and light, favoring portability over shootability. A few are chambered in 9mm, but really small 9mms can be a handful to shoot. For that reason, you’ll find many micro-compact pistols chambered in for the lower-recoiling .380 Auto cartridge. Ruger’s LCP, Kahr’s P380, and Remington’s out-of-production RM380 are all examples of micro-compact pistols. Kel-tec’s P32, which is chambered in .32 Auto, is another example.

These guns truly are tiny. Barrel lengths range from 2.5 to 2.7-inches, and weights are generally under 10-ounces. None of the guns on this list measure an inch wide, so if you’re looking for a gun that offers maximum concealment they’re a great option.

That minimalist size has drawbacks, though. Magazine capacities for the above guns are 6 rounds (7 for the P32) and none of these guns is equipped for optic mounting. The included iron sights are generally quite basic, and none of these guns has a long sight radius so accuracy isn’t on-par with most compacts and sub-compacts, especially at distances over 7 yards. Recoil and muzzle blast can also be off-putting for some, and many new shooters learn that they’re actually more comfortable shooting a slightly larger gun.

Smith & Wesson broke the micro-compact mold a bit with their new Bodyguard 2.0. The barrel length is slightly longer (2.75-inches) and the grip size and overall capacity are increased. This gun qualifies as a micro in terms of size but it feels more like a sub-compact, and that makes it a standout in the class.

Micro pistols offer one big advantage: they’re extremely easy to carry and conceal. Every one makes a solid option as a back-up gun, and they are all accurate enough for close range self-defense applications. I carry a micro-compact .380 when I’m running in a marathon pack because the gun is light and compact and doesn’t interfere with my runs. If you’re looking for a pocket pistol these guns are also a solid option.

Give and Take

Which gun is right for you? That depends on the features that are most important to you and what you’re willing to sacrifice to get them. For daily carry I prefer the new crop of sub-compacts, but if I’m shooting all day or wanted a bedside pistol I’d choose a compact for the reduced recoil and increased capacity. If I want the smallest, lightest defensive pistol available and I am willing to sacrifice capacity and recoil management then a micro-compact would be the ideal option. However, you’ll have to choose which gun works best for you. Of course, you could buy one of each and have a self-defense gun for every occasion.

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