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Concealed Carry

Carrying is a legal decision before it is a product decision. This page covers the practical factors people weigh — size, comfort, holster, and consistency — and is explicit about where you need to look somewhere other than a retailer for answers.

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Staff Picks for Concealed Carry

Every concealed-carry firearm trades something for its size. Thinner and lighter conceals better and gets carried more; larger and heavier shoots better. These are options our team thinks are worth comparing across that tradeoff. We do not make any statement about what is lawful to carry in your circumstances.

About Our Staff Picks

Faith First Firearms Staff Picks reflect our team’s opinions, formed from research, product characteristics, experience, reputation, value, and the intended use of each firearm. They are starting points for comparison, not a claim that one firearm is the right choice for everyone.

Every firearm involves tradeoffs. The right choice depends on your intended use, your experience, how the firearm fits your hands, what you find comfortable, and your budget. If you are not sure what fits your needs, book a consultation and we will help you compare your options, understand the differences, and identify firearms worth considering for your situation.

Availability changes constantly, and not every firearm we recommend can be ordered directly through this website. Where a pick shows "Ask FFF About This Pick" instead of pricing, contact us and we will tell you honestly what is possible for that firearm right now.

Staff Pick 1

Canik

METE MC9 3.18" barrel, optics-ready slide, two-tone FDE and black, 12-round and 15-round magazines

Best for Everyday concealed carry without giving up capacity.

  • 9mm Luger
  • 3.18" barrel
  • 12+1 and 15+1 magazines included

$399.99 In Stock

View Product - Canik METE MC9

Why We Picked It - Canik METE MC9

It carries like a micro-compact but does not make you give up capacity to do it, and the trigger is good enough that an owner will practice with it rather than avoid it. A holster and an optics cut are included rather than sold separately.

Also worth knowing

  • Striker-fired
  • Optics-ready slide
  • Ships with holster and accessories

What it does well

  • It carries like a micro-compact but the included 15-round magazine gives capacity closer to a compact pistol.
  • The trigger is consistently rated among the better factory striker triggers in this class.
  • An optics cut, sights and a holster are included rather than sold separately.
  • It is priced well below most pistols with comparable features.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • Aftermarket holster and accessory support is smaller than the Glock, Smith & Wesson and Sig ecosystems.
  • There is no factory manual thumb safety option in this configuration.
  • A short barrel and light frame mean more felt recoil than a full-size pistol, so practice matters.

Talk It Through With Us - Canik METE MC9

Staff Pick 2

Sig Sauer

P365XL 3.7" barrel, black, optics-ready with plate cover, two 12-round magazines

Best for A carry pistol you can also shoot well at the range.

  • 9mm Luger
  • 3.7" barrel
  • 12+1 capacity, two magazines

$629.99 In Stock

View Product - Sig Sauer P365XL

Why We Picked It - Sig Sauer P365XL

A slightly larger grip and barrel make a real difference to how well most people shoot under pressure, and this still conceals for the majority of body types. Day and night sights are standard, and holster support is as broad as it gets.

Also worth knowing

  • Striker-fired
  • Optics-ready slide with plate cover
  • XRAY3 day/night sights

What it does well

  • The longer grip and barrel make it markedly easier to shoot accurately than a true micro-compact, while still concealing well for most people.
  • Day/night sights and a factory optics cut are standard rather than upgrades.
  • Holster, magazine and accessory support for the P365 family is among the broadest available.
  • Higher-capacity magazines are widely available if the owner wants them.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • It is larger than a micro-compact and demands a proper belt and holster to carry comfortably.
  • It costs more than several capable alternatives in this category.
  • No optic is included, so a red dot is a separate purchase.

Talk It Through With Us - Sig Sauer P365XL

Staff Pick 3

Taurus

GX4 T.O.R.O. 3" barrel, optic-ready, black

Best for Carrying every single day on a modest budget.

  • 9mm Luger
  • 3.06" barrel
  • 11+1 capacity

$284.99 In Stock

View Product - Taurus GX4 T.O.R.O.

Why We Picked It - Taurus GX4 T.O.R.O.

Carrying a firearm every day is a habit, and habits fail when the firearm is uncomfortable or the budget is already spent. This is a genuinely small, optic-ready 9mm at a price that leaves room for a good holster, a belt and training.

Also worth knowing

  • Striker-fired
  • Factory optic cut with cover plate
  • Approx 1.08" width

What it does well

  • Substantially less expensive than the rest of this group while independent 500-round tests report no malfunctions.
  • Recoil is more manageable than most reviewers expect from a micro 9mm.
  • A factory optic cut and cover plate at this price is unusual.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • The trigger is adequate rather than good, with a shallow reset.
  • The short grip means many shooters will want an extended magazine for full hand purchase.
  • Aftermarket holster and accessory support is thinner than Glock, Sig, or Smith & Wesson.

Talk It Through With Us - Taurus GX4 T.O.R.O.

Staff Pick 4

Sig Sauer

P365-380 3.1" barrel, black, manual thumb safety, 10-round magazine

Best for An owner who wants lighter recoil or an easier slide to rack.

  • .380 Auto
  • 3.1" barrel
  • 10+1 capacity

$428.99 In Stock

View Product - Sig Sauer P365-380

Why We Picked It - Sig Sauer P365-380

Not everyone can comfortably manage 9mm recoil or rack a stiff slide, and pretending otherwise leads to a firearm that never gets practiced with. This is a full-featured carry pistol built around an easier slide and a lighter-recoiling cartridge, with a manual safety for owners who want that extra deliberate step.

Also worth knowing

  • Manual thumb safety
  • Reduced-effort slide
  • XRAY3 day/night sights

What it does well

  • .380 Auto recoils noticeably less than 9mm, which helps owners who struggle with muzzle rise or grip strength.
  • The slide is deliberately easier to rack than a comparable 9mm, which matters for arthritic or smaller hands.
  • A factory manual thumb safety is available for owners who want that additional deliberate step.
  • It is a full-featured carry pistol rather than a stripped-down pocket gun.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • .380 Auto is a less capable defensive cartridge than 9mm; shot placement matters even more.
  • .380 ammunition is usually more expensive and less widely stocked than 9mm.
  • It is heavier and larger than a true pocket .380, so it needs a proper holster.

Talk It Through With Us - Sig Sauer P365-380

Staff Pick 5

Colt

Cobra 2" barrel, matte stainless, fiber optic front sight

Best for A steel revolver that carries small and shoots better than a snub.

  • .38 Special +P
  • 2.1" barrel
  • 6 rounds

$771.99 In Stock

View Product - Colt Cobra

Why We Picked It - Colt Cobra

A steel-framed small revolver is heavier than an alloy snub, and that weight is exactly why it is easier to shoot well. For an owner who wants revolver simplicity without the punishing recoil of a lightweight, this is a considered choice.

Also worth knowing

  • Double/single action
  • Stainless steel
  • Fiber optic front sight

What it does well

  • Six rounds rather than the five most small-frame competitors carry.
  • Both the single-action and double-action pulls are repeatedly described as unusually smooth for a production snub revolver.
  • The enlarged trigger guard gives better purchase for larger or gloved hands.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • Recoil from the short barrel with +P ammunition is sharp.
  • Priced above the comparable Smith & Wesson and Taurus options.
  • Owner forums report a recurring minority of timing and lockup issues on some Cobra-family production — worth a function check before it leaves the shop.

Talk It Through With Us - Colt Cobra

Staff Pick 6

Taurus

856 2" barrel, matte black, concealed hammer, 6-round cylinder

Best for Pocket or purse carry with nothing to snag and no slide to rack.

  • .38 Special
  • 2" barrel
  • 6-round cylinder

$345.99 In Stock

View Product - Taurus 856

Why We Picked It - Taurus 856

Some owners need a firearm with nothing to snag and nothing to rack. A concealed-hammer revolver draws cleanly from a pocket or a bag, works for people with limited hand strength, and is the least expensive way onto this page - which leaves budget for the holster, ammunition and instruction that actually matter.

Also worth knowing

  • Concealed hammer, double action only
  • Fixed sights
  • Matte black finish

What it does well

  • A concealed hammer will not catch on clothing when drawing from a pocket or a bag.
  • There is no slide to rack and no magazine to seat, which suits owners with limited hand strength.
  • Six rounds is one more than most five-shot small-frame revolvers.
  • It is the least expensive way onto this page and leaves budget for a holster, ammunition and training.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • A short barrel and fixed sights make precise shooting at distance genuinely difficult.
  • The double-action-only trigger is long and heavy by design and takes real practice to master.
  • Six rounds is limited, and reloading a revolver under stress is a learned skill.

Talk It Through With Us - Taurus 856

Not sure which option fits you best?

That is normal. Choosing a firearm involves more than comparing specifications — intended use, size, controls, recoil, caliber, features, budget, and personal comfort all matter. Book a consultation with Faith First Firearms and we will walk through the tradeoffs with you.

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Where pricing and availability are shown, they change frequently and are current at the moment this page loaded. Picks marked "Ask FFF About This Pick" show no pricing or availability, because we will not state either until we have confirmed it with you.

Start with the law, not the firearm

Whether you may carry, where you may carry, and what documentation you need are questions of federal, state, and local law, and they change. Faith First Firearms does not make legal determinations and cannot tell you whether carrying is lawful for you. Verify current requirements yourself, and speak with a qualified attorney if your situation is not straightforward.

For Texas License to Carry education, our related brand First Shot Training handles classroom instruction. Faith First Firearms does not provide firearm training.

Nothing on this page is legal advice, and no product listing implies that carrying is lawful for you.

What to think about

  • The holster is not an accessory. It is part of the system. It must cover the trigger guard completely, retain the firearm securely, and allow a consistent draw. Budget for a good one.
  • Consistency beats optimisation. A firearm and position you will actually carry every day is more useful than a theoretically better setup you leave at home.
  • How you dress. Carry method has to survive your actual wardrobe, your commute, and how you sit.
  • Size against shootability. The smallest options are the easiest to conceal and the hardest to shoot accurately.
  • Weight, all day. A firearm that feels fine in the hand can feel very different after eight hours on a belt.
  • Practice and retention. Drawing safely from concealment is a learned skill. Seek qualified instruction.
  • Storage in transit. Vehicles, workplaces, and premises with their own rules all need a plan.

Important tradeoffs

Concealability against capacity. Slimmer and shorter conceals better and holds less. This is the central tension of the category and it has no solution, only a preference.

Comfort against accessibility. The most comfortable positions are often the slowest, and the reverse.

Lightweight against recoil. Reducing weight makes carrying easier and shooting harder.

Optics and lights against bulk. Useful additions that make the package larger and narrow your holster options.

Explore relevant categories

Browsing starting points from our live catalogue. Note that our Concealed Carry catalogue category contains holsters and carry accessories rather than firearms.

Concealed Carry Holsters
Handguns

Get the holster right

More carry setups fail on the holster than on the firearm. We are glad to talk through fit, retention, and trigger coverage before you buy either one.

Read our holster guidance

Safety Is Non-Negotiable

Safety guides everything we do. Whether you are new to firearms or experienced, these fundamentals always apply.

Safety first. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire, and store firearms securely away from children and prohibited persons. For complete guidance, see our firearm safety and storage page.

Educational & Legal Notice
This is general educational information and is not legal advice. Firearm laws and regulations may change and can vary by jurisdiction. Customers remain responsible for verifying current federal, state, and local requirements. Faith First Firearms may require additional documentation or decline a transaction when necessary for safety, compliance, or business-policy reasons.

Not sure what fits?

Bring us the constraints — how you dress, how you sit, what you are comfortable with — and we will help you narrow the field honestly.

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