7 Best Concealed Carry Handguns For Restrictive States

I’ve held a concealed carry permit in New York State since around 2011. Here, we’re limited to 10 rounds in a magazine, and that limits my options a bit on carry guns. There are around 10 other states that have similar magazine capacity restrictions or some kind of pistol roster, and if you live in one, you know what I’m talking about.

Whatever you think of these restrictions, they are a reality for a lot of CCW permit holders in the country. Given the limitations, you might want to consider a different kind of concealed carry handgun than you would in another state.

I like to look at limited-capacity handguns in two ways. One, any thought of packing more rounds into a magazine is gone, so I don’t worry about sacrificing magazine space for larger calibers. Two, most of the smaller pocket guns are still a go with capacities like 7+1, wheelguns are a non-issue, and single-stack magazines (which are easier to carry anyway) are mostly fine. No matter what, don’t let handgun restrictions get you down. There are still a lot of good handguns to choose from.

1) Commander and Officer Frame 1911s

My first pistol was a full-size 1911, and after carrying it inside the waistband for about a week, I regretted what I’d just bought. I liked shooting the .45 ACP, though, and I really liked the manual safety and crisp single-stage trigger. Commander-sized 1911s give you all of that in a smaller, easier-to-carry package. And as long as they have features like a loaded chamber indicator, they’re usually allowed in states with handgun rosters.

Commander-frame 1911s aren’t the lightest or most concealable guns out there. But if you love a 1911, or you’re looking for something to carry while wearing more clothing, it might be a good fit. Lightweight models like the alloy-framed Colt Lightweight Commander shave more ounces off. An Officer-sized frame is even more compact—even though it can be a handful in 45 ACP. If you choose a lighter, scaled-down 1911, opt for a 9mm and go with a pistol from a more premium maker like Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, or NIghthawk to avoid feeding issues.

2) Glock G43X - (NOT GOOD FOR CALI)

Double-stack Glocks have proven themselves as carry guns around the country. But there’s no need to carry the extra bulk of a Glock 19 when you’re restricted to 10 rounds. Instead, check out the G43X. From the factory, it comes with a 10-round magazine, which is perfect for restricted-state carry. And at 1-inch thick, it’s way more concealable than the G19. (The only issue with a G43 and some of the other late-generation slimline Glocks is that they may not be on the handgun roster for states like California, Maryland, or Massachusetts.)

Glock offers a couple of versions of this pistol, with the G43XMOS being compatible with a red-dot sight and a flashlight mounted to the frame. There’s also the G43 which has a shorter grip, for even more concealability. And if you ever decide to move to a free state, you can pick up 15-round metal magazines for the G43X from Shield Arms, which are easy to use with an upgraded metal magazine release.

3) Smith & Wesson 632 and 432

The ideal cartridge for a Smith & Wesson J-Frame is the 32 H&R Magnum. It has less recoil and allows you to also shoot 32 S&W Long and 32 S&W. But the really cool thing about it is that it gives you a sixth round as opposed to a 38 Special J-Frame that only holds five shots.

Lipseys teamed up with Smith & Wesson recently to release two 32 H&R Magnum revolvers that they’ve dubbed the ultimate carry revolvers. Both the 632 and 432 have been optimized from the ground up, with an adjustable tritium front sight and u-notch rear, a G10 grip that has more meat on the backstrap, and an enhanced trigger. They also chamfered the cylinder chambers for easy loading and beveled the edges of the cylinder for a smooth draw. As a wheelgun for deep concealed carry, it’s hard to beat.

4) Glock G29 Gen 3

If you’re in a state with a handgun roster, you may be limited to Gen 3 Glocks—and there are still a lot of good pistols to choose from. I’m including the G29 here for a couple of reasons, but you’d be well served with other subcompact Gen 3 Glocks like the G26.

G29s—no matter if it’s gen 3 or gen 5—are one of the most compact packages for a 10mm. As such, it’s a handful to shoot. But it’s a breeze to carry on the trail, making it a great choice for hiking in bear country.

The G29 fits easily into a fanny pack or waistbelt on a backpack, and it still gives you 10+1 rounds for four-legged and two-legged predators. Best of all, you can easily conceal this handgun should you need to go from the trail to town or vice-versa. It’s a highly versatile gun if you can get used to shooting it.

5) SIG P365

The P365 is one of the best-selling handguns in the country. And when it was first released, it made a huge splash. Essentially, it’s the size of a 6+1 or 7+1 micro-compact pistol with a 10+1 capacity of 9mm. It’s extremely concealable and affordable and makes the list on several state rosters.

There are a lot of P365s to choose from. I personally like the P365X, which is very close to the original version, and the optic-ready version with a manual safety. On Sig’s website, there are state compliance tabs, which makes it really easy to find a pistol that’s legal where you live. The P365 Macro and XL are nice, but one of their main selling points is higher magazine capacity, which is a no-go in most restricted states, so I’d stick with the smallest version of the P365.

6) Walther PPK

With guns like the P365 and Glock G43X out there, a single-stack, steel 380 ACP like the Walther PPK seems obsolete. And it kind of is. But there’s something I like about a PPK, which is why I sometimes carry one. PPKs got a bad rap because some of the early U.S.-made versions had quality issues. The newer ones coming out of Arkansas work just fine, and I’ve experienced zero issues with a variety of carry and ball ammo.

Getting a PPK is a bit like getting a 1911. There’s a cool factor if you’re into guns like this. While that won’t help you win any gunfights, it makes classic guns like these fun to own. Designs like the PPK and 1911 aren’t any less lethal than they were 20, 30, 75, or even 100 years ago. Hand one to someone who knows how to shoot, and you’d be pretty impressed.

Cool factor aside, the PPK still has some great features anyone would appreciate, even though it’s around 80 years old. Its smooth lines and rounded corners make it great for pocket and concealed carry. The grip and pinky extension make the pistol extremely comfortable to shoot. The double-action single-action trigger with a manual safety is probably the main selling point, as it gives you a lot of peace of mind and a really nice crisp trigger on single action. And with modern 380 ammo, this pistol will still pack a punch.

7) Springfield XD-S Mod.2 OSP

The XD-S Mod.2 OSP is a single-stack version of the popular XD series pistols, and it’s available in either 9mm or 45 ACP. The gun comes optics-ready with a factory-milled slide and has a highly textured frame for a good grip. The gun is also extremely safe with a passive grip safety and an additional drop safety in the striker block.

XDs are easy to shoot, and the Mod.2 OSP puts that into a slim easy-to-conceal package. Like Sig, Springfield has a tab on their website where you can select your state to see if the gun is compliant. This takes some of the guesswork out of picking the right XD-S for you.

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