Here’s a gun with features and firepower you’d not expect on a handgun this size. Like its bigger brothers, you get interchangeable backstraps, an accessory rail, a reversible magazine release, an ambidextrous safety, a black Bruniton finish and a DA/SA trigger. Its polymer frame keeps its weight down to 26.1 ounces, yet in 9mm it has a 13+1 capacity. (http://www.beretta.com)
Most compact .380 ACP pistols have a reduced magazine capacity, but not the Bersa Thunder 380 Combat Plus. It has the same features and many of the same dimensions as the Thunder 380 Combat, but instead of an 8+1 capacity, it carries a full 15+1 capacity. The Combat versions have distinctive green, rubber, wraparound grips; larger slide serrations; a redesigned slide with a lower profile; a more rounded triggerguard; and a smaller beavertail for better concealment. (http://www.eagleimports.com; 732-493-0333)
The Patriot from Bond Arms features a stainless steel double-barrel assembly and frame. The derringer is chambered for .45 LC/.410 rounds, and the 3-inch barrels are interchangeable with Bond Arms’ other barrels. The Patriot features Bond’s patented rebounding hammer, retracting firing pins and a crossbolt safety. It weighs 21.5 ounces unloaded and has rosewood grip panels. A driving holster is included. (http://www.bondarms.com; 817-573-4445)
A compact version of Charter’s classic .44 Bulldog, the Boomer is designed specifically for concealed carry. It features a DAO hammer, full rubber combat grips and is available with a nitride or matte stainless finish. The Boomer’s 2-inch, tapered barrel is ported to reduce kick, and it has no front sight to snag and hinder a quick draw. (http://www.charterarms.com; 203-922-1652)
If you’re requirements are small and thin, look no further—the Heizer PKO 45 is only 0.8 inches wide and 5 inches long. It’s all steel, so despite its size it weighs in at a hefty 28 ounces. But, then again, it’s chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge, and it has a 5+1 capacity while an extended magazine ups it to 7+1. Controls like the ambidextrous safety and magazine release are flush-fit and the three-dot sights are affixed in dovetails. The rear slide serrations sit in a dished-out area. The barrel is under the recoil spring/guide rod, which lowers the bore axis to reduce recoil. This little pistol is truly in a class of its own. (http://www.heizerdefense.com; 888-965-0972)
One of the “new kids on the block,” Honor Defense makes its pistols in the U.S.A., with all-American components. The company’s Honor Guard in 9mm is one on the slimmest made at 0.96 inches, with a weight of 22 ounces and an overall length of 6.2 inches. This small pistol has several unique features like front and rear serrations that go over the slide, a rear sight that is flat in the front should it be needed to help retract the slide one-handed, an ambidextrous slide catch and magazine release, backstraps in two sizes, and seven- and eight-round magazine. There’s also a version with a manual safety and a FIST frame to provide blunt force. (http://www.honordefense.com; 678-943-8035)
Harkening back to days of green-felt-topped card tables and riverboat gamblers, the Pocket Ace is based on the Sharps four-shot Pepperbox pistol first introduced in 1859. Like the original, this Iver Johnson “derringer” is chambered in .22 rimfire and has a rotating hammer nose that changes position each time it’s cocked to fire the cartridges in all four chambers. The Pocket Ace has a satin stainless steel finish and walnut grips. (http://www.iverjohnsonarms.com; 321-636-3377)
One of the most talked about handguns to hit the scene, the Kimber K6s is a stainless steel, six-shot, .357 Magnum revolver that is about the same size as the old Detective Special. It has a concealed hammer with a smooth double-action-only mechanism, and it weighs just 23 ounces. Unique for a wheelgun, the rear sight is set in a dovetail and the front sight pinned. The cylinder has flats instead of flutes, the cylinder release is the push-button type, and the grips are ergonomically shaped polymer.
Many firearms aficionados will be familiar with the name Llama, once associated with fine Spanish-made firearms. Well, the name and quality is back, but the guns are now crafted in the Philippines. One of the more well-known models is the Micromax in .380 ACP. Features include contoured wood grips, a rounded butt with a flat mainspring housing, an extended beavertail grip safety, a skeletonized combat hammer and trigger, a lowered and flared ejection port, and a throated barrel. Novak-style sights and a matte blue finish complete the package. (http://www.eagleimportsinc.com; 732-493-0333)
North American Arms’ .22 WMR Sidewinder earned its name because, like most modern double-action revolvers, it has a cylinder that swings out to the side for loading. The Sidewinder has a 1.5-inch barrel, stainless steel construction, an overall length of 5 inches, a height of 2.87 inches and a width of 1.06 inches. It’s a single-action design, which means it has to be cocked for each shot, but the hammer spur is easily accessible and serrated, and it has a serrated spur trigger. A version with a LaserLyte Mighty Mouse laser installed (shown) is also available. (http://www.northamericanarms.com; 800-821-5783)
This diminutive pistol is a mating of steel and aluminum alloy. It weighs a scant 12.2 ounces unloaded while offering a 6+1 capacity of .380 ACP ammo. It has a smooth, 10-pound DAO trigger; a fully functional slide stop; an ambidextrous magazine release; and glass-filled nylon grips that are checkered like the frontstrap. It can also be had with a Crimson Trace laser sight mounted on the triggerguard, which adds little weight or bulk. (http://www.remington.com; 800-243-9700)
Rock Island Armory is continuing to grow its TCM pistol series, and recently unveiled its new TCM Rock Ultra CCO and TCM Rock Ultra CS-L. The TCM series features Rock Island’s signature cartridge, the .22 TCM9R. In addition, the price tag for this series of pistols has remained low to ensure American shooters can try the new high-velocity cartridge for themselves. The new CCO is available alongside the new left-handed version of the TCM Rock Ultra CS. (http://www.armscor.com; 775-537-1444)
While the Ruger LC9 captivated shooters years ago when it was introduced, the new striker-fired LC9s features a short, light, crisp trigger pull for faster, more accurate shooting. It uses all existing LC9 accessories, including lasers, holsters and extended 9-round magazines, and like previous models, the LC9s features a through-hardened alloy steel slide and a one-piece, high-performance, glass-filled nylon grip frame. The checkered grip frame provides a secure and comfortable grip. (http://www.ruger.com)
Compact at just 5.16 inches long and 3.8 inches tall, the LCP Custom is designed to fit a variety of holsters and provide concealed carry options. It features a steel slide and a black, one-piece, high-performance, glass-filled nylon grip frame. More notable features include the wide, red-anodized, skeletonized aluminum trigger; polished stainless steel guide rod; and photoluminescent front and rear sights. (http://www.ruger.com)
SCCY makes some of the smallest subcompacts in 9mm, and now the company has entered the .380 ACP market with its new CPX-3, which has a unique feature the company calls the “Roebuck Quad Lock” system. The barrel locks to the slide in four distinct areas, making the barrel and slide almost a solid piece for enhanced accuracy. With a polymer frame and stainless steel slide, the CPX-3 weighs just 15 ounces unloaded. The top of the slide is laser etched to reduce glare and is finished in black nitride or a natural matte finish. The DAO trigger is set at the factory for a pull weight of 8 pounds. (http://www.sccy.com; 866-729-7599)
One of the more popular 9mm concealment pistols has just become even better. The M&P Shield in 9mm has been given the Performance Center treatment, which includes a ported barrel and slide to help tame recoil; an enhanced trigger with a 6.5-pound pull and shorter reset; a HiViz green fiber-optic front sight; and a HiVis red fiber-optic rear sight. You also get a flush-fit, seven-round mag and an extended, eight-round mag with the pistol. (http://www.smith-wesson.com; 800-331-0852)
With a steel slide and an aluminum alloy frame, the Sphinx SDP Subcompact Alpha is precision machined and hand fitted to provide maximum accuracy while remaining highly concealable. Weight just 25 ounces, this pistol has a 3.13-inch barrel, full-length guide rails, a match-grade trigger and a 13+1 capacity in 9mm. More features include front and rear slide serrations, fixed sights, an ambidextrous safety/decocker, a reversible magazine catch and an enlarged, undercut triggerguard.
The popular Springfield XD-S 3.3” has been enhanced in 2016 with the addition of a version in .40 S&W. Single-column magazines with a flush-fit base carry six rounds, and a seven-round magazine comes with the Mid-Mag X-Tension base. This steel and polymer pistol weighs only 22 ounces with an empty magazine, and the integral grip is knurled for good hand purchase. A red fiber-optic front sight is mated with a fixed dovetail rear sight. (http://www.springfield-armory.com; 800-680-6866)
If you’re looking for a classic, Old West-style sixgun that’s still compact, Taylor’s & Company Firearms has you covered. While the company offers dozens of Cattleman single-action revolvers, the models with 3.5-inch barrels are the smallest of the bunch, and they can be ordered with a checkered bird’s-head grip for an even more compact profile. These SAA-style sixguns are available in .357 Magnum or .45 Long Colt. (http://www.taylorsfirearms.com; 540-722-2017)
The Taurus Millennium G2 is not really new, but the recently redesigned Gen 2 enhancements have made it even more useful as a concealment handgun. Its polymer and steel construction and thin profile keep the weight down to 22 ounces, plus the 3.2-inch barrel gives it an overall length of just 6.24 inches. This 12+1 capacity 9mm now features an accessory rail, high-profile sights, aggressively textured integral grips and “melted” edges that add comfort and won’t catch on a holster or clothing. Standard features include the Taurus Security System and a loaded-chamber indicator. (http://www.taurususa.com; 800-327-3776)
For 2016, Walther has made some changes to the PPS, which is already a highly popular, compact handgun for concealed carry. With its 21-ounce weight, the PPS M2’s grip texture has been redesigned and made more “aggressive” to help tame recoil and muzzle flip. By request, the original paddle-style magazine release has been replaced with a conventional and reversible button release. Striker-fired, the PPS M2 has a 6.1-pound trigger and is only 1-inch wide. (http://www.waltherarms.com; 479-242-8500)
With concealed carry at its most popular, gun manufacturers are stepping up to create dozens of pocket-sized pistols and wheelguns for personal protection. These guns are extremely compact with aluminum alloy and polymer frames while other components help reduce weight while still offering plenty of firepower. Here are a number of new models hitting the market in early 2016.
