Choosing a handgun for concealed carry is not an easy task. There are several factors you need to weigh and all of them will have an impact on handling, performance, and ultimately, your personal protection.
Ideally, you want a handgun that balances overall size and weight, caliber, stopping power, capacity, recoil management, ergonomics, reliability, durability, and price, among others. Some prefer expandability; accessory rails give you the ability to mount optics, lights, lasers, and other attachments. A handgun should be more than compact and easy to carry. You also want a concealed carry pistol that is easy to shoot.
Different shooters have different needs, and “practice makes proficient.” This page contains some of our top entries for concealed carry handguns, with popular models from Rock Island Armory, Glock, and Smith & Wesson represented.