Concealed Carry Corner: Rating Various Carry Guns
Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at Firepower vs Mobility vs Capacity. That was the foundational article for this week, so if you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, we sit down and look at various handguns to rate their overall rankings for all three categories. Some may not agree, but this system of ranking firearms is one of the best ways to give a comprehensive look at and compare firearms in various categories.
The Ranking System
Just as a quick run down, each category will be ranked from 1 to 10. If a pistol scores a 1 out of 10, that means it's the worst possible option, whereas if a handgun scores a 10 on the scale, it's the best possible score a handgun could have. Each handgun will get scored on a 10-point scale for each category for a total score of 30 points. I know it's a fairly straightforward concept, but I wanted to give a quick rundown so we are all on the same page before beginning each model rundown.
Glock 43X/48
To kick off our list, I wanted to go with one of the most common models on the market today. The Glock 48 is almost identical to its bigger brother Glock 19 in length, but is much thinner. Combine this handgun with a Shield Arms magazine and this compact, easy-to-carry handgun has a 15+1 capacity right out of the gate.
The Glock 48 and its smaller 43X variant are great options to have higher capacity while keeping everything in a concealed package. Add in the fact they are chambered in 9mm and these pistols offer pretty impressive firepower for their overall size, with the ability to easily shoot these handguns quickly under stress. Final score for the Glock 43X/48 would be a 22 out of 30.
Firepower: 7/10
Mobility: 7/10
Capacity: 8/10
Smith & Wesson 340 PD
When it comes to a pocket rocket, nothing is quite like the newer lightweight variants of the J-frame revolvers from Smith & Wesson. The 340 PD especially is aggressive because of its lightweight construction as well as being chambered in 357 Magnum. There's no question these revolvers are one of the easiest to throw into a jacket and just go on with your day.
In terms of mobility, the 340 PD is one of the easiest handguns to carry comfortably, but its capacity of only 5 rounds really does hurt it in the capacity category. I have carried mine as a backup ankle gun or thrown the gun in my pocket for an easy carry when heading to the gas station or gym. In short, this little hand cannon is a powerful pocket pistol that's easy to carry and packs a wallop, but its limited capacity is where the gun falls short. Total points for the Smith & Wesson 340 PD are 19/30 across all categories.
Firepower: 9/10
Mobility: 8/10
Capacity: 2/10
Glock 43
One of the original carry handguns was the Glock 43 introduced back in 2015. With a very small footprint and chambered in 9mm, the Glock 43 ranks high among mobility and fairly well with firepower as well. These were some of the easiest single-stack pistols around to simply throw in your pocket and just go on with your day. It was one of the easiest small pocket pistols that came out in the 2010s since it was slightly thinner and smaller than the Shield.
The biggest downmark on the Glock 43 would have to be the capacity: 6+1 as standard, with an extended magazine offering a little more. Despite even the extended magazine, it's still slightly less than what is standard from something like the Glock 43X or the 48 we've talked about earlier. Even with the limited capacity, it's still a lightweight, easy to carry option for everyday use. The overall score for the Glock 43 is 19/30 points.
Firepower: 7/10
Mobility: 8/10
Capacity: 4/10
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard
One of the smallest handguns on the market to carry on a daily basis is the original Bodyguard from Smith & Wesson. This little pocket pistol is chambered in 380 Auto instead of the other pistols that are chambered in 9mm. With a capacity of 6+1, it's not the best in terms of rounds on your person and the firepower is less than to be desired, but this is all in the pursuit of being as compact as possible. This is one of the easiest handguns to carry, where you can just throw it in a jean pocket with a pocket holster and go on with your day.
If you struggle to figure out how to confidently conceal a firearm on your body, these are by far the easiest options to start with, but they come with a cost to overall capacity and firepower for a carry gun. It's widely known that 380 Auto is the absolute lowest you go for a self-defense gun, and I would much prefer something in 9mm. For these reasons, the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 1.0 takes a hit on both capacity and firepower. Total points earned are 17/30.
Firepower: 3/10
Mobility: 10/10
Capacity: 4/10
Colt 1911
To finish off the list, I had to include an American classic. The Colt 1911 is the victor of two world wars and is known for being a powerhouse chambered in 45 ACP. These have been favorites in the concealed carry world amongst the older crowds and for good reason. There are Commander and Officer variants that are easier to conceal, but today, we will be talking about the full-size 5” Government model.
While these models are known to have a harder hitting round, this comes with a lack of capacity, with my Colt coming standard with 8+1 magazines, with extended magazines available. The full-size variant comes in heavier on the scales compared to other models as well, with an empty weight of 40o,z which does hurt the overall mobility score. While this does score fairly high on the firepower scale, it does take a hit on both mobility and capacity. Overall score for the Colt 1911 is a 19/30.
Firepower: 8/10
Mobility 5/10
Capacity: 6/10
Overall Thoughts
These are some of the most common options on the market, but this certainly isn't a comprehensive list. I will probably do a second edition of this article down the road. Be sure to let me know some models that are good options in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.
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I'm an avid shooter and love educating whether it's at my job or in the shooting community. I'm an average joe that really loves talking with other people about firearms and other passions.I'm active on Instagram on @fridgeoperator.
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When I was in school, after dodging the dinosaurs to get to class, a passing grade in anything was 70 percent. Only one of the guns here gets a passing grade, and that's only 73 percent. (Okay, 73.333, etc., but who's counting?) So what gun would get a 100 percent score? Judging from Matt's scoring system, it would have to be a gun in a caliber larger than .45 ACP, that carries more than 15+1, and is as small and light as a .380 Bodyguard.
This only shows that everything in life is a tradeoff, and perfection is an impossible dream (sorry, Gaston). In fact, any one of these guns would probably save your life if you found yourself in a position to use it. (I'd use .38+Ps in the scandium J-frame, though. I'd also get grips that cover the backstrap.) Decide what you like, learn to handle and shoot it well, always carry it, and you'll be fine.
Smith & Wesson Shield 9 should get honorable mention. I believe it out ranks several in this comparison.