Five Great Low-Recoil Handgun Alternatives to Your 9mm for Self-Defense

At one time it was en vogue to bash the 9mm’s capabilities as a self-defense cartridge. Much of the 9mm bashing that occurred in the late twentieth century (and spawned cartridges like the .40 S&W) was directed at the cartridge itself even though real culprit because the 9mm’s perceived shortcomings was, in fact, poor bullet design.

Today, however, we have far more sophisticated bullets and the 9mm is once again widely regarded as an optimal self-defense cartridge because it combines substantial stopping power with ample magazine capacity. But the bullet design revolution that helped restore the 9mm’s image did not just benefit the 9mm itself. Better bullet design means that allo cartridges are more capable than ever before.

While the 9mm currently wears the crown as the most popular personal defense cartridge it certainly isn’t the only option. The .380 Auto, .32 H&R Magnum, and even the .22 WMR have proven to be effective defensive cartridges when firing modern projectiles, and this means there are worthwhile alternatives to the 9mm. Best of all, these guns produce less felt recoil than a very light 9mm semiauto carry pistol, and that that makes them more manageable to shoot. If you’re looking for an effective self-defense handgun with reduced recoil check out these five alternatives to the subcompact 9mm.

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0

The new Bodyguard 2.0 has been a runaway hit and is a far better pistol than the original Bodyguard that it replaces. The new version looks and feels like a scaled-down M&P9. It measures just .88-inches wide which makes it easy to conceal while wearing light clothing and the gun weighs under 10-ounces unloaded.

However, through clever engineering the team at Smith & Wesson makes the Bodyguard 2.0 feel like a larger pistol. The grip is sufficiently large to accommodate big hands yet it doesn’t make the pistol hard to conceal. There’s enough room for 10 and 12-round magazines, which is roughly double the number of rounds you can stuff in most .380 pistols. There’s no optics cut on this gun simply because there isn’t room, but the included iron sights are sufficient for most applications. The trigger is a vast improvement over the original Bodyguard and the aggressive slide serrations make it easy to manipulate the pistol. Smith & Wesson scores bonus points for offering this pistol with or without a thumb safety and the Armornite finish is durable enough to stand up to years of daily carry. We’ve been testing the Bodyguard on the current season of Handguns TV and it has certainly become a fan favorite among the hosts because of its small size, class-leading ergonomics, outstanding trigger and prodigious capacity. Smith & Wesson certainly earns the most improved award this year for their second-gen Bodyguard.
MSRP: $449 | smith-wesson.com

Ruger LCR/LCRx

The LCR, or Lightweight Compact Revolver, was first released in .38 Special and .357 Magnum, but it’s currently available in .22 LR and .327 Federal Magnum as well. The LCRx version which comes with an exposed hammer is chambered in .22 Win Mag so that’s yet another option for anyone looking for modest recoil. All three are available with 1.87-inch barrels and all three models weigh between 14.9 and 17-ounces, making them easy to carry. The most powerful of the sub-9mm versions is the .327 Federal Magnum, but that is not the cartridge you’re looking for if you want modest recoil. The good news, however, is that the .327 Federal version also shoots much more mild .32 H&R magnum loads which are a great choice in that gun. Both of the .22s are certainly at the lower end of the self-defense power spectrum, but now that CCI and Federal offer dedicated .22 LR defensive ammunition and Hornady, Federal and other brands sell defensive .22 WMR ammo the rimfire revolver is a more potent self-defense weapon than ever before. Revolvers are simple to operate and the weight savings come thanks to a monolithic frame made of aerospace grade aluminum and a patented polymer fire control housing, but the Hogue grip does a great job keeping this little revolver planted in the shooter’s hand. MSRP: $739 | ruger.com

Smith & Wesson Ultimate Carry

In 1984 Federal and Harrington & Richardson teamed up to release the .32 H&R Magnum, and while the cartridge didn’t gain much traction in its early years it has recently found favor with some shooters who appreciate its low recoil and performance. Smith & Wesson decided to offer their new 632 Ultimate Carry revolver chambered in .32 H&R Mag. These guns hold one more round than a similar-size .38 Special revolver (usually 6 for the former, 5 for the latter) and recoil and muzzle blast from the .32 H&R are manageable for most any shooter. The 632 is available with a steel or titanium cylinder and both come with very good low-profile, snag-free sights that are better than the standard gutter sights on most defensive revolvers. Cylinders are beveled to make it easier to holster the gun and the chamfered charging holes speed reloading. Double-action trigger pull is smooth and quite clean, and that helps improve accuracy potential. I tested the 632 Titanium version which weighs just 13-ounces, but even with modern .32 H&R defensive loads it was very comfortable to shoot thanks in large part to the textured rubber grip. With a 1.88-inch barrel the Smith & Wesson’s overall length is a mere 6.3-inches, so these guns are very easy to conceal. MSRP: $759-$825 | smith-wesson.com

Taurus 380

Taurus isn’t afraid to think outside the box , and their 380 revolver is an example of the company’s willingness to defy convention. This is a lightweight five-shot double action-only revolver with an aluminum frame and beefy rubber grips and, as the name suggests, it’s chambered in .380 Auto. To simplify loading and unloading with .380 rounds the Taurus utilizes Stellar Clips which act as speed loaders. This is an ideal gun for new shooters who want a reliable, simple-to-operate revolver for personal protection, but the Taurus is also a good choice for those who want to carry a back-up weapon. Weight is right at 16-ounces, and while the sights are rudimentary they are on-par with most other deep concealment revolvers. The 380 is available with either a matte black or matte silver finish. The 380 is a great self-defense round that has improved with bullet and propellant technology, so the Taurus is a solid option when you’re searching for a self-defense revolver with mild recoil. MSRP: $561 to $580 | taurususa.com

SIG Sauer P238

The P238 is a micro pistol that’s based on one of the greatest defensive pistols ever developed—John Browning’s 1911. This little single-action semiauto weighs just 14.7-ounces and measures around an inch wide, and that means you can conceal these guns under anything more modest than swimwear. The slab-sided design rides close to the body and is very comfortable, and the single-action trigger is better than those in most competing .380s. Magazine capacity is 6+1, which isn’t as good as the Bodyguard 2.0 but as good or better than most revolvers. On the current season of Handguns TV we’ve been testing the Titanium Rainbow version and that gun has proven reliable, easy to shoot, and very easy to conceal. I’ve also been impressed with its accuracy. Even though it’s too compact to carry a red dot optic it comes with very good sights and a 3.7-inch sight radius, and everyone that shot the pistol this year was impressed by the small group sizes. It also proved to be a very reliable pistol, which is of course a major consideration when choosing a carry gun. The black polymer grips are simple, but when combined with the front and rear checkering the gun stays planted in the hand. These guns should certainly be on your short list when shopping for a new carry pistol. MSRP: $749.99 | sigsauer.com

---