HERE ARE THE BEST 9MM PISTOLS FOR EVERY SITUATION!

If the gun owners’ road to hell is paved with good intentions, “what is the best concealed carry handgun” was probably the first question to get tossed into the cement mixer, likely to be followed by more specific charges like “what is the best 9mm pistol.”

Good questions to ask, hard ones to answer.

• Best Reliability: Glock 19
• Best Glock-Clone: Shadow Systems
• Best Military Clone: SIG P320
• Best CCW: SIG P365
• Best For Weak Hands: S&W M&P 9 EZ
• Best European: FN 509 Mid
• Best Trigger: Walther PDP Pro-X
• Best 43x Clone: PSA Micro Dagger

On the surface, it’s well-meaning enough. Everyone wants the most reliable, accurate product at the best price. Under the skin, it’s a tragically manipulated thought experiment that has spawned a digital mass grave of Top 5’s, Listicles, Click-quizzes, and message board brawls.

But we hope to give you knowledge instead of a short but opinionated answer. We're RECOIL, not CNN. We also hope, by the end of this, you’ll appreciate the difference between the two.

If we frame the problem as if it were a simple internet search, “the best concealed carry gun” should be one that appears highly in multiple searches. We say this because what goes into your mental search bar should be a series of other questions that lead you to the end result of a “best” choice.

And, for that matter, the result you really want is “what is the best concealed carry handgun for me.” This means lifestyle, environment, and, yes, personality, come into play.

First things first, though, is caliber. Generally speaking, the debate over caliber is mostly closed off, as 9mm, and its many names are widely accepted as the most common, and ideal choice in that it balances the trifecta of capacity, power, and cost.

So we're looking now for the best 9mm pistol, for personal protection.

CARRY LIFESTYLE

Selecting a best concealed carry pistol, really, is about choosing a handgun that best fits your daily routine.

Ideal handguns are ones established enough in the market that you can find good holsters for them at a reasonable price. This means being able to sort through how one intends to carry it. Since no two people are alike, having options when it comes to carrying is ideal.

The best 9mm pistol, for your scenario, will then be determined by lifestyle considerations, combined with the environment. Mechanically speaking, putting the same engine (caliber) in a smaller frame (size of the gun) will translate into more felt recoil.

So, starting with the fine-tuned engine of 9mm, a larger frame will generally shoot smoother and fit more ammunition, but be more noticeable. In contrast, given good holsters are available, a smaller gun will be easier to conceal across multiple clothing wardrobes, but be less enjoyable to practice with. For most of us, balance is key.

In states that have seasons, one will occasionally hear chatter of having a “summer gun” and a “winter gun” where the larger one conceals well under flannel, the smaller choice is more fit for board shorts.

A similar strategy is to have an every day carry handgun of choice optimized for balancing size and capacity, and later add a smaller, more concealable option like a SIG SAUER P365 for circumstances like summer tank tops or fitted suits.

The intended use and the design match best when the buyer has some time to be proactive about their purchase. Below we've laid out a list of the best 9mm pistols common in 2020 into two categories: the balanced “Carry” label, and the smaller “Deep Concealment” options.

CARRY GUN NEEDS

At the top of the list of needs is cost. Defending one's self is a right, and manufacturers recognize this. In past years, the development of handguns has generally clustered most great carry guns around an achievable price point.

Coincidentally, most higher-cost pistols are either produced for a hyper-focused purpose, like competition shooting where one does not need to consider concealment, or they are catering more to collectors. A classic recreation of a Schofield revolver is rewarding to hold in one's hand, but not practical at over $1000.

Each of the choices in this list has been selected within a price range that allows the buyer to secure the pistol, ammunition, and a good holster for under a grand.

At the opposite end, is performance. While higher price does not always translate into better accuracy or reliability, we've lost track of the times that something “just as good” simply wasn't.

Necessary features of the best 9mm pistol are reliable construction, holster options, can be easily disassembled and reassembled with confidence, and comes with a trusted suite of expected features.

When it comes to things like triggers, we recognize that while there is room for preference, most can be sorted between the “in” of a reliable handgun, and the “out” of either being too specialized or hindering enough to warrant another choice.

BEST 9MM PISTOL SPECS

BEST 9MM PISTOL FOR DEFENSE

GLOCK 19

The industry standard for a reason. It's hard to argue that the Glock 19 is one of the most influencal pistols every designed. It is unbeatable reliable, unbeatable durable, and has problably been used in more duty and civilian shootings than most other types of pistols combined.

SPECS:

Gen 3 has the largest aftermarket due to patents and laws in restricted states like California. This is also the genreation that most of the Glock-clones copy. But Glock didn't stop at Gen 3 with the current generation being Gen 5.

Gen 5 offers some nice upgrades like interchanble backstrap, better trigger, better barrel, and a re-designed grip that removes the finger-grooves found on Gen 3. Overall, the Gen 5 is just a better pistol and a no-brainer if you want something simple. Think of it like the Toyota Crolla. Pretty? No. High speed? No.

But you can treat it like a rented mule for 300,000 miles and it will keep on ticking.

Palmetto State Armory	$500
Guns.com	$500
Sportsman's Warehouse	$500

Shadow Systems

There are untold zillion Glock-clones on the market with a new one (or dozen) being “invented” every year. And while Glock claims “Perfection” in their marketing, that isn’t entirely true since many of the Glock-clones have some proven improvements. Glock might still be king for durability, but the good clones are not far off. A testament to just how good the Glock design really is.

SPECS:

Shadow Systems builds a pistol that is a bit of a mix between Gens 3, 4, and 5 Glock. Throw in some of their own flair and you have probably the best Glock-clone on the market. Shadow Systems is more expensive, but it includes a lot of features and changes that most Glock owners do anyway so the money actually evens out a bit more than it first seems.

My favorite Shadow System is the XR029P. A G17-sized pistol with a flush compensator. A close second is the CR920X that is Shadow System’s take on the G43x, but with 15-round magazines instead of Glock’s wimpy 10-round mags. 

If you want something more affordable, Shadow Systems offers their Foundation Series for most of their models. These have almost all of the features, with less of the aesthetic styling, to cut down on the price in a big way.For our friends behind the line, Shadow System now has several offerings on the California roster as of 1/1/2025.

Palmetto State Armory	$575
Guns.com	$605
Sportsman's Warehouse	$650

SIG SAUER P320

Sig Sauer's P320 has challenged the hegemony of the ubiquitous Glock 19, and emboldened by a victory securing multiple military contracts, the pistol's aftermarket support is set in stone. Second only in size and scope to the Glock Gen 3, a SIG P320 can be had in every size, flavor, and color you can think of.

SPECS:

The company's propensity to release their firearms in many different colors and themes did not get lost on the P320, catering to those who like having options.

SIG hasn't been resting on its laurels with the P320, as they launched the FCU program where you get to custom build your own handgun. We got a chance to review the intense aftermarket support here.

Palmetto State Armory	$509
Guns.com	$470
Sportsman's Warehouse	$530

SMITH & WESSON M&P 9 SHIELD EZ

Available in a wide range of models with a host of features including with or without a thumb safety, the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 EZ is specially designed for those of us with weaker hands or compromised grips.

SPECS:

The “EZ” means the slide is incredibly easy to rack back to chamber a round. If you or someone you know has ever struggled with racking a semi-auto pistol, this is a perfect solution.

S&W takes several more steps to make this the most accessible firearm it can be including having larger than normal sights. While this reduces your potential precision, it makes getting a good sight picture much easier if you have weaker eyes.

Additionally, the magazine is a simple single stack 8+1 that uses a weaker than normal spring to make it nearly effortless to load.

While grip safeties are entirely normal on 1911s and many other older designs, they are rather rare in modern polymer pistols. The EZ 9 brings this feature back to give a layer of safety and comfort in using the pistol without requiring extra manipulation or strength.

Palmetto State Armory	$473
Guns.com	$335
Sportsman's Warehouse	$400

FN 509

Fabrique Nationale's 509 carries with it the features of their full-size contender for military applications. Known for their contributions to military armaments, FN's latest take on the polymer handle, striker-fired pistol looks like it will hang around for a while. For a Full Review on the FN 509 Series, read here. (Published in RECOIL #50)

SPECS:

Palmetto State Armory	$500
Guns.com	$490
Sportsman's Warehouse	$630

Walther PDP

Available in a host of different sizes and flavors, the Walther PDP is one of the most criminally underappreciated pistols on the modern market. From a 4” Compact to a 5” full-size, polymer or metal frame, to a ton of options like a threaded barrel, PMM compensator, magazine well, and more — the PDP offers a model for just about everyone. 

SPECS PDP Pro-X:

Topped off with an interchangeable backstrap to make the grip easy to customize, super aggressive slide serrations, and the best trigger found in any striker-fired pistol period. 

We’ve done hands-on testing with several versions of the PDP and every RECOIL member that has written on the PDP agrees: this is one amazing pistol. 

• Walther PDP Pro-X [HANDS-ON REVIEW]
• Walther PDP Match SF: Upgraded Heavy Metal Hitters [REVIEW]
• Walther PDP Pro SD Full-Size: American-Made, German DNA
• Walther PDP: Match-Grade Performance and Bar Brawl Toughness

Best of all, the MSRP is extremely reasonable. Between $500 and $1,000.

Palmetto State Armory	$600
Guns.com	$532
Sportsman's Warehouse	$600

SIG SAUER P365

As featured in Jack Carr's thriller series, the SIG P365 has made a heavy, recognizable impact on the micro-pistol scene. Though it doesn't have any single distinguishing feature that makes people jump, it checks each of the necessary feature boxes very well.

SPECS:

With a 10+1 capacity out of the box, and the SIG P365 XL variation accepting optics with no aftermarket milling, it is a solid choice amongst the growing category of micro-compact handguns.

Like Training Wheels for a Red Dot? SIG SAUER released a special version, the SIG P365 SAS.

Palmetto State Armory	$500
Guns.com	$500
Sportsman's Warehouse	$500

Palmetto State Armory Micro Dagger

Inexpensive CCW pistols have exploded on the market in the last few years with a number of great options. But for the lowest price that still has rock-solid performance that we’d trust life to, the Palmetto State Armory Micro Dagger is extremely hard to beat. 

SPECS:

Available in a range of styles and colors you can go with a classic CCW that is optics-ready for around $330 or get a complete package that comes with pistol, 5 mags, and a case for less than $480.

PSA Micro Dagger magazines are G43x pattern but hold 15-rounds per mag. Unlike the Shadow System magazines, the Micro Dagger mags are compatible with Glock G43x pistols if you just want to use the magazine to upgrade your Glock’s capacity. 

The Micro Dagger is thin, less than 1” thick, lightweight, and designed for maximum concealability without compromising too much on shootability. You can enhance that with a compensated Micro Dagger for the same price as the standard model.

Fitting most G43x holsters, the Micro Dagger is built to be an easy choice when you need something inexpensive and reliable. While this isn’t my EDC, I do keep a few as extras or to loan to out-of-state family when they visit and don’t want to fly with their own CCW.

Base model	$360
Pistol + 5 Mags	$480
Pistol + Holosun 407k	$540

LOOSE ROUNDS

At the end of the day, it is the responsibility of each person to choose for themselves what they think is the best 9mm pistol for their circumstances.

This is why there will never be a definitive best choice across the board. Still, there are certainly better options as far as situationally ideal choices, or better manufacturing. While the options will eventually change, these choices are dominating what's available in 2020 and a good place to start.

When looking at other options, one should consider what holsters are available and if desired, what aftermarket add-ons can be found.

Choosing a handgun can be contentious, and opinions do show their teeth, but a well-informed buyer is a protected buyer, and choosing what is best for your scenario is easier when you have evaluation criteria. It is never good to buy without first starting proactively with the best weapon: knowledge.

MORE CONCEALED CARRY CONTENT

• Rethinking Concealed Carry
• Wheelchair Concealed Carry Considerations For People With Disabilities
• Finding Mister Right (Now), Pt 1: A Methodological Approach To Women’s Concealed Carry
• 10 Best Micro 9mm Handguns For Everyday Carry

F.A.Q.

What is the best 9mm for self-defense?

This will depend on the user but two common answers are Glock 19 or SIG Sauer P365.

What is the highest quality 9mm pistol?

For pure durability and longevity, Glock 17.

What 9mm do Navy SEALs use?

While SEALs have access to a range of 9mm pistols, the SIG Sauer P226 Mk25 is the “official” pistol of the US Navy SEALs.

What is the most reliable handgun?

The Glock 19 and Glock 17 are commonly considered the two most reliable handgun ever made.

What 9mm does John Wick use?

• John Wick, Heckler & Koch P30L
• John Wick: Chapter 2, Glock 34 (TTI Combat Master Package)
• John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, TTI STI 2011 Combat Master
• John Wick: Chapter 4, TTI Pit Viper

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Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products.

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