If you’re considering a concealed-carry handgun, micro 9mm handguns are worth exploring. These compact firearms are smaller than traditional subcompacts, offering easier concealment and comfort for everyday carry. They have become increasingly popular, driving innovations in magazine capacity and ergonomic design.
These pistols are ideal for personal defense and are increasingly used by hunters and outdoor enthusiasts for protection in the wild. With options like high-penetration rounds for larger animals, micro 9mm handguns provide a versatile, effective choice for safety and security.
Smith & Wesson CSX
The Smith & Wesson CSX is a hammer-fired pistol with an aluminum frame. It is the tiniest pistol in the current field of 9mm micro-compact pistols. It comes with two interchangeable textured backstraps, and the otherwise smooth frame has abrasive texturing on the front of the grip as well.
Plus, it features ambidextrous controls and safety, and although the safety is low-profile, it’s easily disengaged. It comes with flush and extended magazines with capacity of 10+1 and 12+1 respectively. The CSX has a short-take-up, crisp trigger, and is very comfortable to shoot, even for shooters with larger hands.
Sig Sauer P365
The Sig Sauer P365 is a striker-fired semi-auto pistol, known for setting the standard in the modern micro 9mm category. It features a polymer grip, stainless frame, and a Nitron-coated slide and barrel, boasting 10+1 capacity in 9mm Luger caliber. Equipped with three-dot X-Ray night sights, it ensures visibility in dim lighting.
While initially coming with two 10-round magazines, the P365 supports 12- and 17-round magazines as well. Highly modular, it offers various models and customization options. The XL and P365 XMacro Tacops provide larger alternatives, but the original P365 remains a strong contender in the micro 9mm pistol market.
FN Reflex
The FN Reflex is a polymer-framed, semi-automatic pistol with an internal hammer firing system. It offers 11- and 15-round magazines and features a good trigger and a reversible magazine release, though it lacks an ambidextrous slide stop.
The frame combines stippled, and coarser texturing for a secure grip, and the rounded slide prevents snagging. It includes three-dot iron sights and a tritium front sight. The MRD version of the Reflex is optics-ready, equipped with an RMSc optic cut.
Kimber R7 Mako
The Kimber R7 Mako, a new micro-compact 9mm pistol in Kimber’s high-quality lineup, is designed for concealed carry. It features a polymer frame, stainless steel slide, and is available in both optics-ready versions or with a Crimson Trace CTS-1500 reflex sight.
It offers a 13+1 round capacity and orange-ring tritium pro night sights for better low-light accuracy. The frame is contoured for comfort, and it includes a unique top-covered ejection port for safety. While recoil may be snappy, the R7 Mako remains a strong choice in its category.
Taurus GX4XL TORO
The Taurus GX4 is a semi-automatic, striker-fired pistol with a polymer frame, featuring 11- and 13-round magazines. It boasts a heavy yet clean-breaking trigger. The pistol includes an alloy steel slide, stainless barrel, and a durable DLC finish.
The “TORO” stands for Taurus Optics Ready Option, offering a pre-installed cover plate and RMSc-compatible optics mounting. The GX4XL, similar in design, uses the same frame and fire control but has a longer slide and recoil system for smoother shooting.
Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield Plus
The Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield Plus is a micro-compact pistol that stands out for its high capacity. It offers a 13+1 round capacity for 9mm and an even higher 16+1 for .30 Super Carry. This pistol combines a stainless steel slide and barrel with a polymer frame, and is optics ready.
It features orange-ring tritium night sights for better visibility in low light. Notably, it supports the .30 Super Carry cartridge, providing similar ballistic performance to 9mm with a higher capacity. While it lacks a light rail, the M&P 9 Shield Plus excels in grip texture, handling, and ergonomics, making it an ideal choice for concealed carry.
CZ P-10M
The CZ P-10M is a micro 9mm pistol aimed at the competitive micro nine market, offering a scaled-down version of the P-10 with a slim, streamlined design. It combines a steel frame and barrel with a fiber-reinforced polymer frame, sporting a 7+1 capacity. Its slide is beveled with low-profile luminescent sights, and it lacks external controls, featuring an internal slide stop that disengages by racking the slide.
Additionally, it has a single-slot accessory rail. The slim grip is suitable for AIWB or ankle holsters, though its aggressive texture may require sanding for comfort. The P-10M is notable for its concealability, accuracy, and simplified disassembly process despite a relatively low magazine capacity.
Kimber Micro 9 Triari
The Kimber Micro 9 Triari is an ideal choice for those seeking a small, concealable handgun. It is a recent addition to the Micro 9 series, distinguished by its unique stacked cube textured grip and slide. The Triari, chambered in 9mm Luger, holds 7+1 rounds. It features a stainless steel slide and barrel, an aluminum frame, classic 1911-type controls, and a thumb safety.
Equipped with green/red fiber optic sights for a clear sight picture, it measures just over an inch in thickness and 6 inches in length, facilitating easy concealment and carrying. The ergonomic design and grip texturing ensure a comfortable shooting experience and controlled recoil, even with heavy 147-grain loads.
Springfield Armory Hellcat RDP
The Springfield Armory Hellcat RDP is a compact 9mm Luger pistol with a 13+1 round capacity. It features a polymer frame and a durable, hammer-forged barrel. A key feature is the Hex Wasp red dot optic, which aligns with the regular sights for quick target acquisition and precise shooting at longer ranges.
The pistol includes a self-indexing compensator and a threaded barrel to reduce muzzle flip for steadier shots. The grip texture ensures a firm hold without catching on clothes. The Hellcat RDP comes with two magazines, holding 11 and 13 rounds, respectively. For a larger size, the Hellcat Pro with a threaded muzzle is also available.
Ruger Max-9
The Ruger Max-9 is a compact, micro pistol with a 3.2-inch barrel and a slim profile under an inch wide, making it excellent for concealed carry. It holds 12+1 rounds and is chambered in 9mm Luger. The pistol combines an alloy steel slide and barrel with a polymer frame, ensuring durability while keeping it lightweight.
A key feature of the Max-9 is its optics readiness, including a removable plate that supports Shield-pattern or JPoint micro red dot sights, able to co-witness with the iron sights. It also sports a Tritium fiber optic front sight for superior visibility in low-light settings.
Glock G43X
The Glock G43X is a reliable and comfortable-to-carry pistol, offering an upgrade from the standard G43 with its increased capacity of 10+1 rounds in 9mm Luger caliber.
This model enhances handling with a slim frame design that includes front and rear cocking serrations coupled with a durable steel slide and barrel on a polymer frame. It features standard Glock sights with a white dot front and rear square “U” for clear visibility. Additionally, there is an optics-ready version, the G43X MOS, which expands its versatility for users who prefer to mount optics.
Mossberg MC2sc
The Mossberg MC2sc, a 9mm Luger caliber pistol, features a 14+1 capacity, a 416 stainless steel slide and barrel, and a polymer frame. It is optics ready, equipped with a cover plate, and includes steel white-dot sights for quick target acquisition. The pistol’s grip design and flat-faced trigger enhance comfort and control, making it suitable for concealed carry.
Its unique takedown method, which involves removing the striker assembly before the slide, adds a safety layer by preventing accidental discharges and facilitating easy cleaning. With its higher capacity and accessory rail, the MC2sc offers considerable value as a versatile micro-carry gun, though it doesn’t lead in any specific area.
