It’s never been a better time to own guns. Well, maybe before the National Firearms Act, you could own SBRs, SBSs, suppressors, and machine guns with ease. But aside from that, it’s a great time for the gun industry. If you conceal carry, you have dozens, if not hundreds, of options. Not only are there tons of guns out there, but there are tons of holsters, belts, and beyond that make carrying easy. With so many awesome guns on the market, some will get overlooked, and we have more than a few underrated carry guns.
It can be tough to stand out when guns like the SIG P365 dominate the market. It’s easy to fall between the cracks. Today, we want to shine a light on the underrated carry guns. We want to pull them out of the darkness and place them firmly in the spotlight of the Crossbreed Blog. Strap in, and let’s look at some guns you might be ignoring.
Underrated Carry Guns That Deserve a Second Look
Mossberg MC2Sc
People kind of forget that Mossberg makes more than shotguns. They did their first pistol since the original Brownie a few years ago. The MC1sc, but since then, they’ve evolved their platform and introduced the MC2 series, and the MC2sc is the micro-sized, micro-compact handgun designed for concealed carry. It competes directly with guns like the p365.
The MC2sc features a flush ten-round magazine and keeps things small. It’s a hair wider than most at 1.1 inches, but other than that, it’s the micro compact you expat. The gun has an awesome flat-faced trigger and excellent ergonomics. We get an optic-ready design that’s smartly configured. Mossberg positioned the cut quite low, which allows you to co-witness with the factory iron sights. It’s reliable, easy to shoot, and smartly thought out. It’s also affordable!
Walther PPS M1 and M2
The single stack 9mm craze was an interesting one. While many might have thought it started with the S&W Shield, they’d be wrong. One of the first true single-stack 9mm carry guns was the Walther PPS. They’ve always been an underrated carry gun. The PPS are compact pistols that more or less replace the older PPK series. The original PPS was ultra thin and featured the Walther-style trigger guard release. The more modern PPS M2 featured a more ergonomic grip and push button magazine release.
The PPS M2 was one of the first micro guns to come from the factory with an optic, which set the standard for the guns to come. The Walthers PPS series has amazing triggers and excellent accuracy. They are very well made and a ton of fun to shoot. They tend to be quite affordable these days just because the single stack 9mm has slowly faded away.
Seecamp .32 ACP
The term pocket pistol gets tossed around a lot these days, and if you want something that works easily for deep concealment, then the Seecamp is for you. The Seecamp series are the smallest semi-auto pistols on the market. They are incredibly small and decently lightweight. These guns are incredibly small, and they slide into pockets with ease. There are no sights, no corners, and nothing to snag on the draw.
They use a unique chamber ring delay system to maintain a locked-breech system. This results in a very soft shooting gun. It’s tough to shoot accurately beyond contact distances, but if you need something this small, you aren’t likely going to get into a situation that turns into an extended gunfight. This underrated carry gun isn’t for everyone but is so small that it’s natural for deep concealment.
Taurus 856 Defender
When I say carry revolver, you likely picture a five-shot J-frame snub nose revolver. They work and are excellent guns, but the somewhat new 856 Defender does things differently. Taurus stretched the barrel to 3 inches and added a sixth round to the chamber. Oh, and don’t forget the full-length ejection rod. It’s much more capable and easy to shoot than your standard snub nose revolver.
Revolvers, in general, are underrated carry guns, but this particular model isn’t getting the love it deserves. The longer barrel equates to less recoil, a longer sight radius, and more velocity, and you get the full-length ejector rod for easier reloads. The Taurus 856 Defender packs a nice trigger and an even nicer price point.
CZ P10S
Everyone knows about the P10C, but what about the P10S? The P10S is the subcompact version of the P10. It’s not your normal subcompact like a Glock 26. It’s a bit larger than the Glock 26 but smaller than the P10C model. It’s almost a Goldilocks of 9mm, double stack handguns. The p10S also has an OR model, which means it’s optics-ready.
The P10S series handgun packs 12 rounds of 9mm and fits the hand quite well. It keeps the excellent trigger and great ergonomics simply packed into an easier-to-conceal platform. The P10S might be too big for some, but if you have meaty hands, you’ll certainly appreciate it. CZ has a history of underrated carry guns, so don’t let this one slip by.
Carry On
Carry guns come in all shapes and sizes. Factory made, 3D printed, and even 80 percent lowers. Most are pretty solid guns, and we live in an era when even cheap guns can be affordable. With that said, there are a few guns that likely slip between the cracks, and with that in mind, take a look at some of our underrated carry guns.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine gunner who served with 2nd Bn 2nd Marines for 5 years. He deployed in 2009 to Afghanistan and again in 2011 with the 22nd MEU(SOC) during a record-setting 11 months at sea. Travis has trained with the Romanian Army, the Spanish Marines, the Emirate Marines, and the Afghan National Army.
He serves as an NRA-certified pistol instructor and pursues a variety of firearms-based hobbies.
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