With the military action in Iran raging and concerns about staying safe stateside ongoing, we thought it would be helpful to put together a list of five concealed carry guns that first-time buyers should consider.

All the guns, with the exception of the revolver, are chambered in 9mm, a round with proven stopping power yet manageable recoil. The revolver is chambered in .38 Special +P, which also brings stopping power without uncomfortable recoil. The goal is to present five guns that people of all statures — large, medium, small — can accurately shoot and control.

We have put at least hundreds of rounds through all the firearms listed below and, in some cases, thousands of rounds.

Here, in no particular order, are five proven concealed carry guns:

1. Sig Sauer P365: The P365 is a proven, ultra-reliable 9mm pistol in a micro compact package. It is a striker fired pistol that is 4.3 inches tall and 5.8 inches long. It weighs in at 17.8 ounces. It ships with two ten-round magazines, comes from the factory with XRay3 Day/Night Sights and a SIG rail to allow the pistol to be accessorized with a flashlight. The P365 is wildly popular and there are myriad holsters and aftermarket accessories available to go with it. The P365 is readily available at various gun stores for around $600-$620.
2. Glock 43X: The Glock 43X is one of the most popular pistols in America, if not the most popular. It is a single stack 9mm pistol, which means it is very thin and concealable, yet still maintains the renowned functionality and dependability we have come to expect from the Glock name. Aftermarket holsters and accessories galore are available for the 43X, including magazines from Shield Arms that expand the 43X’s ten-round magazine capacity to 15, 20, or even 25 rounds. A Glock 43X is 6.5 inches long, 1.1 inches wide, and 5.04 inches tall. It weighs in at 18.7 ounces with an unloaded magazine. The prices on a Glock 43X vary from about $480 to $520, based on whether one is optics ready or not.
3. The CZ P-10 C Ported: The P-10 C Ported pistol is a 9mm striker fired pistol that delivers tremendous accuracy and reliability. Perhaps the best proof of these things is the fact that the German Army adopted the pistol model as its new sidearm. The P-10 C Ported is a full-sized pistol that ships optics ready. We put a Holosun 507K X2 red/green dot on the P-10 C Ported we reviewed and achieved repeatable, tight groups on target at the range. The porting on the P-10 C Ported keeps the pistol flatter during shooting and this, combined with the trigger and ergonomics, make the gun a great concealed carry option. Holsters and aftermarket products are readily available for the P-10 line of pistols. The P-10 C Ported is available at gun stores for around $600.
4. Palmetto State Armory Dagger full size: The Dagger is a striker fired 9mm pistol that provides a great option for people who are more budget conscious, but it is important to note that the lower price tag does not mean lower quality. We put hundreds of rounds through the Dagger we reviewed, then added a suppressor and literally put hundreds more rounds through it. The gun ate up round after round in both scenarios and delivered dependable accuracy. For those of you somewhat familiar with the Glock 19, a Dagger is similar in size to a 19 with a barrel that is 0.12-of-an-inch shorter than the Glock 19’s barrel. Aftermarket accessories and holsters are readily available for the Dagger, and the pistol can be acquired in various configurations from Palmetto State Armory for around $330-$350.
5. Ruger LCR Polymer Revolver: The LCR is available in numerous chamberings, but the .38 Special +P is the one on which we focused. As a revolver, it brings simplicity to the table via five rounds of ‘point and click’ operation. The LCR has a concealed hammer, which means less ways to snag it if you have drawn it under duress. Moreover, the LCR is only 4.5 inches tall and weighs in at 13.5 ounces (empty). The recoil of a .38 Special +P is already less than, say, a .357 Magnum, yet Ruger also ships it with a Hogue Tamer Monogrip to add to felt recoil reduction. In the end, this all means the concealed carrier can maintain better control of the handgun when it is time to use it. Ruger’s MSRP on the LCR .38 Special +P is $759.

In summary, we should note that the P365, Glock 43X and LCR, are best fits for people with smaller hands or of smaller statures, although all three guns are viable options for people of all sizes. The P-10 C Ported and Dagger pistols are better suited for people with medium to larger hands.

Regardless of which handgun one choses, it is crucial to learn your state’s laws regarding concealed carry and justifiable use of force, especially lethal force. And it is extremely important to take the gun to the range and shoot it until you have mastered it. Such mastery will contribute to confidence if, God forbid, the gun ever has to be drawn in a life-or-death situation.