Common Conceal Carry Weapons by Weight and Size

Concealed Carry Weapon Laws Vary by State

Before you buy a concealed carry gun from the following list, make sure it complies with your state’s regulations. California and Massachusetts tend to have the strictest laws. The states can disqualify a gun because it’s too small or carries too many rounds.

If you visit a local gun dealer, they should only have CCWs that meet your state’s requirements. Many companies also post state restrictions on their websites. For example, when you visit Ruger’s website, each model’s description will tell you whether the gun is available in California or Massachusetts.

Best Conceal Carry Weapons, Ranked by Weight and Size

If you want a small, lightweight gun for concealed carry, focus on the following three models.

Sig Sauer P938 Nitron Micro-Compact

The Sig Sauer P938 Nitron Micro-Compact might be the best concealed carry weapon when you focus on weight and size. The 9mm Luger weighs just 454 grams (16 ounces). Even someone with a small frame could carry such a lightweight CCW all day.

The P938 also has a small size that makes it comfortable and easy to conceal. The dimensions include:

• Overall length: 105 mm (5.9 inches).
• Overall width: 28 mm (1.1 inches).
• Height: 99 mm (3.9 inches).
• Barrel length: 76 mm (3 inches).

A couple of things stand out about the Sig Sauer P938 Nitron Micro-Compact. The short barrel makes it extremely easy to conceal. Most people won’t even notice it after carrying the weapon for a few days. The extremely short height also makes it an appealing CCW.

Pair the Sig Sauer P938 Nitron Micro-Compact with a tuckable IWB Kydex holster from Concealment Express for even more comfort. We build the holster to match the gun’s exact dimensions, so it will not bounce around even when you run at a full sprint.

Pros of the Sig Sauer P938 Nitron Micro-Compact include:

• Steel 3-dot Contrast Sights
• Stainless steel slide
• Alloy frame material that helps lower the gun’s weight
• Polymer grip

Cons of the Sig Sauer P938 Nitron Micro-Compact include:

• Only has a 6+1 carrying capacity
• No accessory rail makes it hard to add lights and lasers

When you want an incredibly small, lightweight CCW, you can’t beat the Sig Sauer P938 Nitron Micro-Compact. It’s a great addition to any collection.

Glock 43

The Glock 43 weighs:

• 460 grams (16.23 ounces) without a magazine.
• 510 grams (17.99 ounces) with an empty magazine.
• 585 grams (20.66 ounces) with a fully loaded magazine.

Even with six rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, the Glock 43 barely weighs over 1.25 pounds.

The Glock 43 also has a compact size that makes it a convenient everyday carry. The dimensions include:

• Overall length: 159 mm (6.26 inches).
• Slide length: 154 mm (6.06 inches).
• Overall width: 27 mm (1.06 inches).
• Slide width: 22 mm (0.87 inches).
• Height: 108 mm (4.25 inches).

Perhaps most importantly for people who want to conceal their weapons, the Glock 43 has an 86.5-mm (3.41-inch) barrel length that doesn’t get in the way whether you carry it in an OWB or IWB holster. Concealment Express typically recommends the tuckable IWB holster, but you should always choose the design that fits your body and intended use best.

Pros of the Glock 43 include:

• Safe Action system
• Carries lightweight 9mm rounds
• Texture grip surface
• Accurate for practically all owners, regardless of hand size

Cons of the Glock 43 include:

• Only carries 6+1 rounds

If you don’t feel that 6+1 9mm rounds offers enough protection, you can carry an extra magazine with a Kydex magazine holster from Concealment Express. You can carry the magazine holster inside or outside of your waistband.

Ruger EC9s

The Ruger EC9s feels similar to the Glock 43. It is a slighter larger gun in some ways, but you also get some benefits that the Glock 43 misses.

The dimensions of the Ruger EC9s are:

• Overall length: (6 inches)
• Width: 22.86 mm (0.9 inches).
• Height: 114 (4.5 inches)
• Barrel length: 79.25 mm (3.12 inches)

The Ruger EC9s’s minuscule width makes it a very attractive CCW. The short barrel length and 4.5-inch also help. It’s hard to imagine someone not putting this on their list of best concealed carry weapons.

Concealment Express makes an OWB paddle holster that pairs perfectly with the Ruger EC9s.

Pros of the Ruger EC9s include:

• 7+1 9mm carrying capacity gives you one round more than the other CCWs on this list.
• Integral sights.
• Comes with finger grip extension floorplate.

Cons of the Ruger EC9s include:

• Lacks an accessory rail.

Explore Your CCW and Holster Options With Concealment Express

Many people find lightweight, compact CCWs easier to carry during long days on their feet. If you want a small gun because you think you can conceal it more easily, though, you may not need to choose from the firearms on our list.

At Concealment Express, we sell a holster claw kit that significantly reduces imprinting on your clothes. The claw kit angles your gun’s grip inward to prevent it from pushing against your shirt or pants. Some people also find that moving the trip toward their bodies makes it easier for them to draw their weapons during tense situations. It might take a little practice, but it feels natural once you get used to the position.

If you already own a CCW that you want to conceal in public, browse our growing selection of Kydex holsters. We manufacturer all of our products in the U.S. We even give you a lifetime warranty because we know our Kydex holsters last a lifetime. Order before 3 p.m. Standard Time and we will get your order processed and in the mail before the end of the day!