Ladies! Choosing a concealed carry pistol should be a personalized experience to ensure proper caliber selection, ergonomics, and fit. We don’t need a hot pink 1911 or a leopard-print micro-compact pea shooter (unless that’s what your heart desires, of course). We need a gun that we can conceal in both leggings and a dress, a smooth-racking slide, and a comfortable amount of recoil.

And let’s face it –– most of us aren’t pro-shooters or experts in firearm lingo. In self-defense situations, it’s often a point-and-shoot situation. So, let’s nix the expensive red dot sights, the 17-round extendo mag, and pic rail flashlight (all of these things add bulk and little advantage for concealment). Aim for a subcompact carry gun that fits well in your hand, is easy to rack, is lightweight (holds between 6 and 10+1 rounds) and is made by a reputable and reliable manufacturer. Skip the $200 gun –– and $1,000 gun. There’s a sweet spot in the middle that will provide exactly what you need, with some spare cash leftover for ammo.

CALIBERS

• 22LR – Sometimes, bigger isn’t always better. 22LR offers convenient self-defense in a smaller than average frame. You’re not going to impress anyone with velocity but they’re small, lightweight, and very easy to carry. A revolver in 22LR will be your best option if you have any sort of health limitations that may prevent you from easily racking a slide or managing recoil. Good news: 22LR will be the most affordable option out of the 4 most popular carry calibers.

(Pictured: Loading a 22LR magazine)

• .380 Auto – If recoil is a concern, consider .380 Auto. Afterall, it was designed as a low-recoil, easy to manage load. A shorter version of 9mm Luger provides less felt-recoil, although slightly more expensive. If you opt for a .380, ensure you are using the proper self-defense ammunition (JHP) for maximum stopping power. A 9mm is going to have more stopping power, but that means nothing if you can’t comfortably, safely, and accurately shoot your firearm.
• 30 Super Carry – These award-winning rounds provide more magazine capacity than 9mm Luger but deliver the same muzzle energy and performance. A few extra rounds can make all the difference in a real-world self-defense situation. For more in 30 Super Carry, click here.
• 9mm Luger – The most popular CCW round, affordable, and readily available in various options like FMJ (Full Metal Jacket), JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point), +P (Overpressure Ammo) and FNEB (Flat Nose Enclosed Base). You can pick up practice rounds for less than $0.50/piece or a box of carry ammunition for slightly more. These rounds pack the biggest punch out of all 4 calibers.

MODELS

• Springfield Armory’s Hellcat is one of the best-selling handguns for a reason. Available in 9mm with slide serrations for easy racking. You’ll get up to 13+1 rounds, high visibility sights, with a 3” barrel, weighing less than 18 ounces, measuring 6” and only 1” wide. Plus, it’s one good lookin’ gun.
• Ruger’s LCP is a slim, compact, single-stack .380 Auto. Perfect for those small-framed ladies who want to carry with ease of concealability. Ringing in at just under $350, the LCP is a powerful and affordable choice.
• The Glock 19 has withstood the test of time (circa 1988) for a good reason. It’s small enough to conceal and large enough that it’s easily managed by new shooters. The Gen 4 model has a dual recoil spring system that actually reduces the amount of felt recoil. BONUS: You can customize the grip to fit your hands.

(Pictured: Gen4 Glock 19)

• Smith & Wesson’s Shield EZ .380 semi-auto is a great option for those who have difficulty racking slides and prefer light recoil. .380’s traditionally have a lighter recoil spring providing less recoil but providing nearly the same performance as a 9mm. Another great option? Check out the same S&W Shield EZ, chambered in 30 Super Carry. You’ll get nearly identical performance as a 9mm but with less felt recoil and a few more rounds in your mag for about the same price as .380.
• If racking a slide isn’t on the table, consider a classic revolver. You can pick up a Ruger Wrangler chambered in 22LR for under 3 Benjamins. Even better than the affordable price of the gun? 22LR is notoriously affordable. Hard to beat 50 rounds for $5. Perfect for plinking, target shooting, and personal protection. Another great 22LR revolver? Taurus 942. The downside? The trigger pull on a revolver can be much longer and heavier than a semi-automatic pistol – prohibiting any kind of rapid fire.

RESOURCES

• Looking for additional resources? Check out Armed & Feminine, NRA Women, The Well-Armed Woman, Armed Women of America, A Girl & A Gun, Women Gun Owners Association of America, and DC Project. These organizations provide education, work to protect gun rights, and are an excellent resource for every level of gun ownership, whether you’re thinking about buying a gun or are an experienced gun owner. Many even have local chapters you can join.

QUICK TIPS

• Rent a few handguns from your local range, fire a few mags through each and see what you’re more accurate and comfortable with. Take those bad boys for a test drive before you take the leap.
• Full-size handguns with longer barrels are going to have less recoil but they will be harder to conceal. Consider where you will be carrying – on your person or in a handbag. The recommendation is to always carry on your person, but clothing choices do not always permit.
• Revolvers don’t include any kind of quick-reload option. Semi-automatics carry ammunition in a removable magazine, allowing you to carry loaded back-up mags where revolvers do not.
• While shot placement trumps all, consider grain weight when purchasing ammunition. Heavier projectiles will travel a bit slower and lighter grain weights will result in less recoil and flatter trajectory, but can feel a bit ‘snappy’ depending on your barrel length. For a defensive situation, opt for the higher grain weight. You’ll get better expansion and penetration on impact.