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While some defense-minded handgun carriers are more than happy to pack medium- to large-sized pistols and revolvers for their everyday carry (EDC) guns, in my estimation it is the smaller compact and subcompact pistols and revolvers that predominate. Certainly, there could be seasonal considerations—it’s easier to conceal a large handgun under a winter coat. But you will carry what you will carry and, in most cases, size matters. So, we take a look at the top 15 EDC pistols for 2022.
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15 Top EDC Pistols for 2022
Weight matters, too. One must also consider extra ammunition, a tactical light and/or a practical knife. As a retired law enforcement officer (LEO), I am going to carry a concealed handgun, no doubt about it. However, as I age, I’m less inclined to carry 5 pounds of gun and gear in close proximity to my waistline. I want something effective, but at the same time, I don’t want to come home following an outing and have to rub on pain-soothing ointment or pop several acetaminophen tablets. The most important rule is to have a gun. So, here are some that I’ve found for 2022 that fill the bill.
Beretta APX A1 Carry
- Overall Length: 5.63″
- Barrel Length: 3″
- Weight (unloaded): 19.8 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 6/8
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $499
The Beretta APX A1 Carry continues to uphold the reputation of reliability and quality engineering that the APX group is known for. The striker-fired action allows for a trigger pull that is shorter and lighter, the slide readily welcomes red-dot optics, and the modularity is enhanced to allow shooters to make the APX A-1 Carry truly their own.
CZ P-01
- Overall Length: 7.2″
- Barrel Length: 3.75″
- Weight (unloaded): 28.1 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 10
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $779
The CZ P-01 was originally designed for military and law enforcement but thanks to its compact aluminum frame, its an excellent choice for concealed carry. The P-01 offers a decocker for shooters who opt for hammer-down carry. While the first round has a hefty trigger pull, the remaining shots are released with a light but sharp single action. CZ enthusiasts will appreciate that the components of the P-01/P-06 are fully interchangeable with every other P-01/P-06, with no individual fitting required. Thanks to an integral accessory rail on its dust cover, the P-01 welcomes industry-standard lights and lasers.
FN 509 Compact
- Overall Length: 6.8″
- Barrel Length: 3.7″
- Weight (unloaded): 25.5 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 10/12/15
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $719
This FN 509 Compact model features a design around deep concealment. A low-profile blackout rear sight mates with a high-visibility dot front sight. This striker-fired, double-action (DA) includes a flush-fit magazine and can support a 15-round extended magazine. There are also two interchangeable backstraps and advanced grip texturing, plus an integral accessory rail on the dust cover. The slide stop and magazine catch are ambidextrous.
HK VP9SK
- Overall Length: 6.61″
- Barrel Length: 3.39″
- Weight (unloaded): 23.07 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 10/13/15
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $726.83
This version of the VP9SK has a push-button magazine catch (in place of a paddle catch) that’s also reversible, an adjustable grip frame, and an interchangeable backstrap, allowing up to 27 configurations. Sights are fixed with optional night sights. There’s also an accessory rail, and the striker-fired trigger is the best in its class. Slide finish is Black HE with a textured polymer frame.
Kimber Micro 9 Rapide (Black Ice)
- Overall Length: 6.4″
- Barrel Length: 3.15″
- Weight (unloaded): 15.6 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 7+1
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $899.99
The Micro 9 is hammer-fired with a single-action (SA) mechanism, plus ambidextrous manual safeties. The steel slide has stepped cocking serrations and cuts to reduce weight. It’s mated to an aluminum frame, with both in a two-tone KimPro finish. Tru-Glo TFX night sights are standard, as are black textured G10 grips. The stainless match barrel allows for reliable operation round after round.
Magnum Research Baby Eagle III
- Overall Length: 7.825″
- Barrel Length: 4.43” (Full Size), 3.85” (Semi-Compact)
- Weight (unloaded): 35.52 ounces, 33.6 ounces, 32 ounces, 30.4 ounces, 28.16 ounces, 26.4 ounces, 25.92 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 10/12/15
- Caliber: .45 ACP, .40 S&W, 9mm
- MSRP: $739/$840
The Baby III comes in both steel and polymer frames with a black oxide finish. The polymer version has a slim, textured grip frame, with a finger groove frontstrap and accessory rail, plus three-dot fixed sights. This is a double-action/single-action (DA/SA), hammer-fired pistol, with a slide-mounted manual safety/decocker.
Ruger LCP II Lite Rack .22
- Overall Length: 5.20″
- Barrel Length: 2.75″
- Weight (unloaded): 11.4 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 10+1
- Caliber: .22LR
- MSRP: $369
Not everyone can manage difficult gun manipulation and recoil. Now, Ruger has the LCP II Lite Rack chambered in .22 Long Rifle. With a steel slide and polymer frame, this striker-fired DA has the Lite Rack System, with refined serrations and ears on the slide, a push-forward safety option, plus a Hogue HandALL grip sleeve. While set up for high-velocity .22 ammo, it has low recoil.
SAR 9C
- Overall Length: 7.5″
- Barrel Length: 4.4″
- Weight (unloaded): 27.8 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 17+1
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $429
Made by Sarsilmaz of Turkey, the SAR 9C is a striker-fired, safety-trigger-equipped, polymer-framed pistol with a steel slide and fixed-dot sights. Good hand fit is assured with interchangeable backstraps and side panels. The grip frame has textured panels, and there’s an accessory rail on the dust cover. Recoil is tamed with a low bore axis and 20-degree grip angle.
SCCY CPX-2 GEN3
- Overall Length: 6″
- Barrel Length: 3.1″
- Weight (unloaded): 15 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 10+1
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $309.95 (red-dot-ready version is $339.95)
The SCCY CPX-2 GEN3 is perfect for new and advanced shooters alike thanks to its ergonomic and easy-to-use design. This compact, hammer-fired, DAO pistol includes a Picatinny rail to support accessories, upgraded sights for rapid target acquisition, and an enhanced grip system for an optimal hold. The SCCY CPX-2 GEN3 is available in a variety of colors to suit just about any preference.
Sig Sauer P365 Nitron
- Overall Length: 5.8″
- Barrel Length: 3.1″
- Weight (unloaded): 17.8 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 10
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $499.99
SIG’s P365 Nitron offers all the reliability and quality that SIG firearms are known for in a compact EDC pistol. One shot of this striker-fired handgun will show how its smooth, consistent trigger and quick, controlled firing can be counted on in any shooting situation. Even more so is the presence of the ergonomic textured grip on the durable polymer frame for a secure and dependable hold. SIG’s own X-RAY3, high-visibility, 3-dot tritium sights aid shooters in rapid target acquisition. Frame includes an integral slim-line rail that is compatible with SIG Sauer light or laser accessories. A corrosion-resistant, Nitron
coated stainless steel slide features front and rear serrations to a shooter’s ability to effortlessly rack the slide back for loading and clearing the action.
Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro
- Overall Length: 6.6″
- Barrel Length: 3.7″
- Weight (unloaded): 21 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 15+1
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $634
The Springfield Hellcat Pro packs all the punch of a large handgun into an ultra-concealable compact pistol thanks to its intimidating 15+1 capacity plus a bevy of other game-changing features. This EDC pistol is optics-ready with its OSP (Optical Sight Pistol) configuration and the slide is milled with the Springfield Micro footprint which accommodates the smallest micro red dots on the market. To add to this, the Hellcat Pro includes a high-visibility tritium and luminescent front sight paired with a Tactical Rack U-Dot rear sight to aid shooters in any lighting situation. The inclusion of a Picatinny rail allows for the addition of a light or laser. Slide and barrel are coated in an ultradurable Melonite® finish to withstand years of hard use. For ease of mind, the engineers at Springfield included a loaded chamber indicator to showcase the condition of the pistol.
Stoeger STR-9S Combat Pistol
- Overall Length: 7.9″
- Barrel Length: 4.7″
- Weight (unloaded): 28 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 20+1
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $549
Some folks don’t mind extra bulk in their EDC. If this is the case, you might like the STR-9S Combat Pistol. It’s set up with co-witness/suppressor fiber-optic sights, threaded barrel with cap, flared mag well, three interchangeable backstraps, and optics-ready slide. This striker-fired pistol has a polymer frame, a textured, finger-groove grip, and an accessory rail. The steel slide features front and rear serrations and has a Black Nitride finish.
Smith & Wesson M&P 9 M2.0 Metal
- Overall Length: 7.4″
- Barrel Length: 4.25″
- Weight (unloaded): 30 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 17+1
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $899
The M&P 9 M2.0 Metal manages to offer a lightweight and high-performing firearm despite its rigid metal frame. Built with all shooters in mind, the M&P 9 M2.0 Metal possesses an 18-degree grip angle for a natural point of aim, four interchangeable palmswell grip inserts to suit all hand sizes, a textured polymer front strap, an M2.0 flat face trigger for more spot-on shooting, a Picatinny-style accessory rail for lights and optics, and a low barrel bore axis to reduce muzzle rise and maintaining target engagement.
Taurus GX4XL
- Overall Length: 6.43″
- Barrel Length: 3.71″
- Weight (unloaded): 20 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 10/11/13
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $429 ($459 for the T.O.R.O. optics-ready version)
The Taurus GX4XL makes for quite the workhorse thanks to its increased muzzle velocity and sight radius. While it has grown slightly from its predecessor, the GX4, by 20mm, it still remains an excellent choice for a compact EDC pistol. The GX4XL’s standard backstrap features a slight palm swell for improved grip. The DLC-coated stainless steel barrel resists corrosion to withstand demanding environments while the carbon steel slide is gas-nitride coated for added protection. The GX4XL’s sight system consists of a blackout steel serrated drift adjustable rear sight and fixed front sight for rapid target acquisition. The flat-face trigger has a responsive sear break with a short and tactile reset. Like the Springfield Hellcat Pro, there is a visual loaded chamber indicator for safer operation.
Walther PDP Compact 4-inch
- Overall Length: 7.5″
- Barrel Length: 4″
- Weight (unloaded): 24.4 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 15+1
- Caliber: 9mm
- MSRP: $699
This Performance Duty Pistol has Super Terrain slide serrations and a distinctive Performance Duty trigger action with a 5.6-pound pull. The steel slide has a white-dot adjustable rear sight and post front sight and is optics-ready. The polymer grip frame has a Performance texture, and there’s an accessory rail for mounting lights or lasers.
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