There is a certain expectation one has when considering the purchase of a handgun classified as a “pocket pistol.” The idea itself is more than 200 years old.
Of course, pockets were bigger back in the day when petite, single-shot flintlock pistols could be hidden in one’s waistcoat to discourage highwaymen and other miscreants bent on mischief. Interestingly, today’s pocket pistols are no larger. Most are actually smaller, can carry from six to 10 rounds, and disappear seamlessly into a pants pocket with a proper holster. Calibers back in the days of the flintlock and caplock pistol were anywhere from a lead ball no greater in dimension than a pea to the robust .454 (roughly a .45 caliber round ball). Fast-forward almost 200 years and the choices are pretty much the same, .25 ACP all the way up to .45 ACP. The means of operation and the capacity of handguns have changed significantly.
Modern Pocket Pistols
To qualify as a 21st-century pocket pistol, a subcompact revolver or semi-auto must not exceed an overall length of 6.5 inches. It must be no greater than 1.25-inches (or less) in width, and be under 5 inches in height. None of these pocket-sized dimensions have any bearing on caliber today, with modern pocket pistols ranging all the way up to .45 ACP. With semi-autos, average capacity for pocket carry is six or seven rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. Revolvers generally are limited to five-round cylinders. This category also includes two-round over/under pocket pistols in comparable calibers, while many of the latest pocket-sized semi-autos offer the same large-caliber defensive firepower once reserved for compact and subcompact holster carry models.
While pocket pistols are, by design, intended for close-quarters personal defense situations, the same handgun kept bedside is no less of a deterrent to an intruder who would violate the sanctity of one’s home. Today’s pocket pistols are by far the most universal of all handguns, a verity that would no doubt amuse a 19th-century Philadelphia gunmaker named Henry Deringer.
Meet the Best Pocket Pistols That Make the Grade:
Bond Arms Backup
- Cartridge/Action: .45 ACP/9mm
- Weight: 19.00 ounces
- Length: 4.50 inches
- Capacity: 2
“Small but mighty” is our take on the Bond Arms Backup. The Backup features a low-profile black crinkle powdercoat finish on the frame paired with a smooth matte finish on the twin barrels. With its low weight and ultra-compact design, the Backup is your best-kept secret. As with all Bond Arms designs, there are 20 different barrels (including the .410 gauge/.45 LC) that can be swapped on the Backup’s frame.
Charter Arms Undercover Lite
- Cartridge/Action: .38 Spl/Rev.
- Weight: 12.00 ounces
- Length: 6.50 inches
- Capacity: 5
The Charter Arms Undercover Lite manages to offer plenty of power and fortitude despite its light weight. Its aircraft-grade aluminum and steel construction offers a high-functioning and dependable sidearm. The Undercover Lite is available with a traditional spurred or a double-action-only hammer to suit revolver enthusiasts of both types.
Chiappa Rhino 200DS
- Cartridge/Action: 9mm/.357 Mag/.40 S&W/Rev.
- Weight: 21.00 ounces
- Length: 6.50 inches
- Capacity: 6
The Chiappa Rhino 200DS revolver was engineered with a lower bore axis. This means the barrel remains in line with a shooter’s hand, wrist, and arm. This design cancels out almost all muzzle rise and felt recoil. The Chiappa Rhino 200DS is ideal for new shooters who may be skittish about guns or for those who need plenty of power without the punch.
Diamondback DB380
- Cartridge/Action: .380 ACP/Semi-Auto
- Weight: 8.80 ounces
- Length: 5.26 inches
- Capacity: 6+1
For a no-frills, ultra-slim pocket pistol that won’t break the bank, the Diamondback DB380 is an optimal choice. The lightweight frame is a mere 5.26 inches long, 3.75 inches tall, and just 0.75 inches wide. Don’t be fooled by the DB380’s size and weight, the slide and barrel enlist a Finite Element Analysis-designed slide and barrel to deliver a stronger and longer-lasting performance.
Glock 42
- Cartridge/Action: .380 ACP/Semi-Auto
- Weight: 12.17 ounces
- Length: 5.94 inches
- Capacity: 6+1
This list simply wouldn’t be complete without the Glock 42. As the company’s first .380 ACP pocket pistol available on the civilian market, the Glock 42 was an instant hit due to its diminutive size, low recoil, and dead-on reliability. The nearly full-sized sights offer efficient target acquisition while the assertive grip texture is fierce without feeling abrasive.
Heckler & Koch P30SK
- Cartridge/Action: 9mm/Semi-Auto
- Weight: 23.99 ounces
- Length: 6.42 inches
- Capacity: 10+1
Fans of Heckler & Koch‘s HK P30 duty pistol will appreciate its compact sibling, the HK P30SK. This 9mm, polymer-framed, hammer-fired, double-action/single-action (also available as a DAO) pocket pistol retains all of the features that made the P30 a hit. Shooters will appreciate the fully adjustable grip with different-sized side panels and backstraps, a de-cocker mounted at the rear of the slide, an optional ambidextrous manual safety, and standard ambidextrous slide and magazine releases to accommodate left- and right-handed shooters. If you’re feeling like adding a few accessories, the abbreviated Picatinny rail is here to add compatible tactical lights and/or lasers.
North American Arms Guardian
- Cartridge/Action: .380 ACP/Semi-Auto
- Weight: 20.40 ounces
- Length: 4.81 inches
- Capacity: 6+1
The North American Arms Guardian has a meatier feel thanks to its durable, stainless steel construction and hard rubber grips for a superior hold. Despite its small size, the Guardian offers ample stopping power. It feels right at home in a holster or the side pocket of a purse. Standard Guardians include fixed sights, satin-polished flats on the slide, and a matte finish on the top of the barrel and frame. While this pocket pistol harkens back to a design that can be described as “vintage”, the performance is made to please the modern shooter.
Remington RM380
- Cartridge/Action: .380 ACP/Semi-Auto
- Weight: 12.20 ounces
- Length: 5.27 inches
- Capacity: 6+1
Little but fierce, the Remington RM380 is a show-stopper all on its own thanks to its fine-tuned performance and reliability. The RM380 pocket pistol delivers steadfast function with unparalleled accuracy and control no matter the situation. At just 12.2 ounces and just a little over 5 inches in length, you have the perfect go-to for a concealed carry pistol.
Ruger EC9s
- Cartridge/Action: 9mm/Semi-Auto
- Weight: 17.20 ounces
- Length: 6.00 inches
- Capacity: 7+1
Ruger’s EC9s offers a rugged choice in pocket pistols. This is thanks to its durable glass-filled nylon frame, a polymer grip, and sights milled into the steel slide. The slide and barrel are both finished in corrosion-resistant black oxide to withstand years of hard use.
SCCY CPX-2 Gen3
- Cartridge/Action: 9mm/Semi-Auto
- Weight: 15.00 ounces
- Length: 6.00 inches
- Capacity: 10+1
For those in need of an ergonomic 9mm, the SCCY CPX-2 Gen3 is a great choice for a pocket pistol. The compact, hammer-fired, DAO pistol is part of the third generation of the CPX series. It brings a wide variety of new features to the CPX-2 including Picatinny rail for accessories and upgraded sights for improved target acquisition.
Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .380 Crimson Trace
- Cartridge/Action: .380 ACP/Semi-Auto
- Weight: 19.00 ounces
- Length: 5.30 inches
- Capacity: 6+1
We’d be remiss not to include a member of the M&P lineup in this list of pocket pistols. The Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .380 Crimson Trace packs the best of the M&P engineering into a concealable semiautomatic handgun. The lightweight Bodyguard was made with a strong polymer frame with a black, matte-finished stainless-steel slide and barrel. The integrated Crimson Trace laser sights provide rapid target acquisition for when you barely have seconds to respond to the action.
Walther CCP M2+
- Cartridge/Action: 9mm/Semi-Auto
- Weight: 20.00 ounces
- Length: 6.41 inches
- Capacity: 8
Walther CCP M2+ boasts a precision-machined slide that raises the bar on both durability and performance. The precision-machined slide has a sight cut that is compatible with any Glock 19/17 series sights. The CCP (which stands for Concealed Carry Pistol) is the first polymer pistol engineered with Soft-coil gas technology. This technology reduces felt recoil and makes racking the slide less of a hassle. The CCP M2+ is also the most ergonomic handgun in Walther’s concealed carry catalog, making it a perfect pocket pistol for a new shooter.
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