There are so many handguns on the market that it can be a difficult and expensive search to find the right handgun for you, at the right price. I took 5 pistols that I believe will give you everything you need at an affordable price. I chose the Walther CCP, Glock 42, Glock 43, CZ P-10C, and the Mossberg MC1SC because they’re all under $500 and give you the most versatility. Each one of these pistols can be used as an open-carry or concealed carry weapon (CCW) and they all have the option of attaching a laser or light underneath the barrel.

Walther CCP SS

The Walther CCP SS is a very unique gun with a 3.54″ barrel, 6.41″ overall length, and a 1.18″ width at the grip. It’s built with the Walther gas block system, called the “soft coil”, which reduces the felt recoil by delaying the blowback operation. Personally, I think the recoil is a little heavy compared to the Glock 42 or 43, but the accuracy of this pistol is unmatched for a single-stack CCW. the pistol feels a little heavy, but the grip is great and it fits into my hand like a glove. You don’t even notice the 5.5 lbs trigger pull because the initial travel is so smooth and short. However, the trigger rest feels like it has to completely go all the way back in order for it to work. This may seem like a negative to many, but this is an enhanced safety feature that helps you reset your sightline and prevents accidental trigger pulls. the CCP SS is built with a fixed barrel to keep the cleaning and operation easy, but I can’t take the weapon apart without a screwdriver or tool.

Specs

Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Length: 3.54″
Trigger Pull: 5.5 LBS
Trigger Travel: 0.27″
Capacity: 8
Overall Length: 6.41″
Height: 5.12″
Safety: 1 Manual + 1 Auto
Width: 1.18″
Weight Empty: 20 oz (1.25 lbs)

MSRP: $469

Pros

  • Super lightweight
  • Front Picatinny Rail underneath to install light or laser
  • It’s heavy, but it feels better in my hand than any other pistol on the list
  • It’s incredibly accurate shot after shot
  • The slide is one of the smoothest I’ve ever used on a CCW

 

Cons

  • The  trigger reset is abnormally long
  • The takedown of the CCP is clunky and annoying
  • Putting the gun back together takes a lot more effort and time than any other pistol
  • Thicker and heavier than the most other CCWs
  • Sights are solid black and not great for target identification at the range

Why Should I Buy The Walther CCP SS?

This is the pistol that I bought for my brother as his first concealed carry pistol because it’s so incredibly accurate and easy to shoot. It has some negatives, but I think people are overthinking this gun. It comes with manual safety and a super smooth slide and most importantly, it’s accurate every time and never jams. I understand its difficult to take down and put back together, but it’s durable, reliable, accurate, affordable, and easily concealed in any CCW holster.

 

 

Where Can I Buy The Walther CCP SS?

  1. Palmetto State Armory
  2. RK Guns
  3. Gun Broker
  4. Armslist

 

 

Mossberg MC1SC

The Mossberg MC1SC is one of the newer pistols on the market, specifically designed as a CCW. This is one of the most unique pistols on the market with its unprecedented safety features, specifically the Safe Takedown System. This feature ensures the gun owner that they don’t have to pull the trigger to take the gun apart and put it back together. I know of no other gun in the world that has this safety feature. It’s incredibly short at 6.25″ and is built with snag-free dovetail sights for an easy and quick draw. The trigger pull is a little heavier than what I traditionally like at 6 lbs, but the trigger reset is much cleaner and shorter than the Walther CCP. The flat trigger is great and makes the pull weight feel less than it is and has a blade safety lever integrated inside the trigger for an additional safety feature.

Specs

Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Length: 3.4″
Trigger Pull: 5.5 LBS
Trigger Travel: 0.5″
Capacity: 6-7
Overall Length: 6.41″
Height: 4.3″
Safety: Integrated Trigger Blade Safety
Width: 1.03″
Weight Empty: 19 oz

MSRP: $349


Why Should I Buy The Mossberg MC1SC?

You can buy the Mossberg Mc1SC at Bass Pro Shops for under $350 brand new! I recommend changing the factory sights to the TruGlo Night Sights for better accuracy and target identification. The ergonomics of this pistol are really solid and comfortable with a nice grip swell to fit inside your hand better, especially in wet or humid environments. The flat trigger can’t be overstated enough because it increases the accuracy by ensuring a uniform pull every time. If this is your 1st gun, you can put your mind at ease with all the safety features added to keep you cognizant of the dangers of guns. The pistol is made from military-grade polymer, which reduces the weight without sacrificing the durability of the gun. Either way, for $350, you can’t go wrong with Mossberg.

Where Can I Buy The Mossberg MC1SC?

  1. Palmetto State Armory
  2. Gun Broker
  3. Gearfire
  4. The Shooting Store
  5. Gallery of Guns
  6. Bass Pro Shops
  7. RK Guns

Mossberg MC1sc 9mm Pistol, No Manual Safety - 89001

 

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Glock 43

The Glock 43 is one of the most sought after CCWs because it’s concealable in any holster, purse, or pocket. It’s a single stack 9mm that only weighs 1 pound and 6″ long, making it one of the most compact pistols in the world. The Glock 43 is very thin and designed for shooters like me with smaller hands to be able to control much easier than every other CCW (besides the Glock 42 and the PM9). The Glock 43 has one of the softest trigger pulls of any concealed carry pistol, which increases the overall accuracy by preventing trigger pull inconsistencies. The Safe Action system is great for experienced shooters with a 3-step safety mechanism, but as everyone knows, I prefer a manual safety.

Specs

Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Length: 3.41″
Trigger Pull: 5.5 LBS
Capacity: 6
Overall Length: 6.2″
Height: 4.2″
Safety: Safe Action
Width: 1.06″
Weight Empty: 16 oz (1 lb)

MSRP: $450

Pros

  • easily concealed
  • affordable
  • durable
  • lightweight

Cons

  • Capacity is only 6 rounds
  • Heavier felt-recoil than most other CCWs

 

Why Should I Buy The Glock 43?

The Glock 43 is great as a secondary carry pistol for police officers to carry on their ankle holster. It only comes with 6 rounds, but the reliability and accuracy ensure you will only need 6 rounds. You can get this gun for about $450 at any of the locations listed below and under $400 if you want to buy used at Gun Broker. The Glock 43 is considered a “pocket gun” because you can carry this gun in your pockets as a CCW. It can be carried in any style of holster you could imagine and is as reliable as any other Glock on the market.

 

Where Can I Buy The Glock 43?

  1. Palmetto State Armory
  2. Gun Broker
  3. RK Guns
  4. Bass Pro Shops

 

Glock G43 9mm Silver Aluminum Cerakote and Robin Egg Blue Subcompact Pistol - UI4350204RESA

 

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Glock 42

The Glock 42 is one of the most affordable Glocks on the market and chambered in .380 Auto versus the 9mm. The .380 is a weaker cartridge than the 9mm and requires the shooter to be closer to their target. The Glock 42 is incredibly accurate and has virtually no recoil at all, which makes this gun really fun and easy to shoot. I love the fact that Glock was able to create a pistol that could still be effective and have no felt-recoil. I would stick to less than 30 yards if I were going to use this gun as a CCW because the .380 is just too soft.

Specs

Barrel Length: 3.25″
Caliber: .380 Auto
Trigger Pull: 5.4 LBS
Trigger Travel: 0.27″
Capacity: 6
Overall Length: 5.94″
Height: 4.13″
Safety: Safe Action
Width: .98″
Weight Empty: 12 ozMSRP: $399

 

Pros

  • The easiest pistol to conceal out of any other pistol on the list
  • Clean and crisp 5.4 lb trigger pull increases your accuracy
  • Very affordable at under $4000
  • Durable
  • Incredibly easy to take down and put back together
  • Softer recoil due to weaker bullet

Cons

  • More for women and smaller men due to compact size
  • .380 Auto is not as accurate at ranges above 30-40 yards
  • The grip is very thin
  • The slide is harder to rack due to the lack of serrations on the slide

Why Should I Buy The Glock 42?

This is the best starter gun for either your teenagers or wife to teach them how to shoot. The soft recoil, overall lightweight and shorter height allow you to conceal carry this pistol anywhere you could think of. I love the Glock 42 because you can shoot hundreds of rounds at a lower price than you would the .45 Auto or the 9mm bullet. Personally, I would never carry this as my primary CCW because it’s just not enough power for me. The Glock 42 would still be great as a home-defense pistol because your distance would be close and your adrenaline shouldn’t impact the soft trigger pull as much.

Where Can I Buy The Glock 42?

  1. Palmetto State Armory
  2. Gun Broker
  3. RK Guns
  4. Bass Pro Shops

 

Glock 42 .380acp (Made in USA) UI4250201

 

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CZ P-10C

The CZ-P10C is built to compete with the Glock 19 in design, simplicity, ergonomics, and trigger pull. The CZ P-10 comes with 3 interchangeable backstraps to fit different hand sizes for smaller or larger shooters. The 4.5 lb trigger is incredibly smooth and crisp with a very short positive reset, which ensures follow up shots are easier and the 1st shot is much more precise than any other gun on the list. For me, the CZ P-10C is more accurate than the Glock 19 and feels better in my hand than any other Glock I’ve shot with. The 1st thing you’ll notice with the P-10C is how similar it is the Glock, which really helps with adjusting to the new gun if you’re a Glock lover.

Specs

Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Length: 4.02″
Trigger Pull: 5.5 LBS
Capacity: 15+1
Overall Length: 7.3″
Height: 5.2″
Safety: Firing Pin Block Safety, Trigger Safety
Width: 1.26″
Weight Empty: 26 oz (1.63 lbs)

MSRP: $499

Pros

  • Ambidextrous safety
  • Ambidextrous mag release
  • Very accurate
  • Best ammo capacity of any on this list
  • Very easy takedown

Cons

  • Heavier than all other pistols on the list
  • The slide release is very heavy and takes more pressure than you’d expect

Why Should I Buy The CZ P-10C?

People refer to this gun as the “Glock-Killer” because CZ essentially copied everything great about Glock and tried to make it better. I believe this pistol is incredible and worth your money. It’s a little heavy, but the accuracy of this pistol is much better than you’d expect and I believe it’s more consistent than the Glock 42 and 43 at any range over 30 yards. I highly recommend this pistol as a CCW because it’s powerful enough, has a short trigger travel distance and a phenomenal reset.

 

Where Can I Buy The CZ P-10C?

  1. Palmetto State Armory
  2. Gun Broker
  3. RK Guns

CZ P-10 C 9mm Pistol, Black - 91520

 

 

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