Whereas the time period “woman weapons” isn’t an actual factor, it’s the easiest way to explain the firearms which can be advisable to ladies. I can assure that a picture of a small, 6- or 7-round-capacity pistol with a brief barrel and possibly a thumb or grip security (or each) has already popped into your thoughts. I’m right here to let you know that smaller isn’t higher for anybody, however particularly for ladies. Smaller weapons can have extra felt recoil, and most ladies don’t have as sturdy a grip as males do, making it uncomfortable and depressing to shoot.
I’ve taught tons of of ladies find out how to shoot and have instructed many who’ve obtained their hid carry allow after taking certainly one of my courses. Virtually each single certainly one of these girls confirmed up with a tiny, micro-compact, tremendous low-capacity handgun that was disagreeable to shoot. I don’t suppose I’ve had any girl carry a gun with a barrel longer than 3 inches. I ask each single certainly one of my feminine college students what prompted her to personal such a small gun, and the solutions have been virtually unanimous.
Most mentioned their husband, partner, important different, boyfriend, or member of the family bought it for them. Nearly all of girls who bought the gun independently reported that the gun retailer worker advisable the pistol, saying that its small dimension and tiny barrel are good for ladies to hold. With that mentioned, it’s time that girls begin to discover greater carry weapons and make their very own choice on what gun works greatest for them.
Woman Weapons Manufactured and Designed for Ladies
In the previous few years, there was a surge within the gun manufacturing world to deal with ladies, as this demographic has surged in gun possession over the past a number of years. In response to the NSSF First-Time Gun Consumers Report 2024 Version, ladies comprised practically three-quarters (70.5%) of first-time gun patrons sampled, as in comparison with 2020, when ladies have been barely lower than half (47.1%) of the pattern. These days, there are dozens of firearms designed deliberately for ladies, some with enter instantly from ladies. Beneath are my favourite hid carry handguns suggestions for ladies that I’ve carried myself, loved taking pictures, and would belief my life with.
Striker Fired or Prepare Typically
Striker-fired handguns are what I like to recommend to anybody who plans to hold a gun, however doesn’t have the time to coach or observe as usually as they need to. The rationale I like to recommend striker-fired handguns for carry is that every one it’s important to do is level the gun and pull the set off for it to fireside. Most striker-fired handguns don’t have exterior thumb or grip safeties, however are nonetheless designed with inside and trigger-shoe safeties. I don’t suggest hammer-fired weapons with grip safeties or 1911-style handguns with grip and thumb safeties to individuals who don’t dry fireplace, reside fireplace, and prepare with these platforms usually. I particularly don’t suggest striker-fired handguns with exterior safeties, as that defeats the aim of getting this kind of motion, for my part.
I’ve seen far too many ladies and men come to certainly one of my courses or attend a coaching class with me and neglect to disable a security or each safeties resulting from a poor grip. In a real-world state of affairs, that second of forgetting to disable a security can value you your life. So be sincere with your self on whether or not or not you’ll dedicate time and ammunition to dry fireplace, reside fireplace, and prepare together with your carry gun of selection. That may decide the best choice for you.
My High 5 Beneficial Woman Weapons for Hid Carry
1. IWI Masada Slim Commander Elite
The unique Masada Slim pistol was my carry gun for nearly two years. I nonetheless have that gun as a backup possibility, however the brand new and improved Commander Elite is what I carry now. The Masada Slim Commander Elite contains a new grip module from Mischief Machine that provides an aluminum body and G10 grips, making it heavier (which you need for much less felt recoil) and extra comfy to carry. This up to date mannequin additionally options an up to date barrel with an extended feed ramp to maximise feeding reliability throughout ammo sorts. As a result of there are tons of of a great deal of hollow-point ammunition, every with various total lengths and bullet profiles, it’s necessary to have a feed ramp appropriate with a variety of ammunition.
The capability of this pistol is 13+1 rounds or 17+1 rounds, relying on what journal you select to make use of. The 17-round journal may be more durable to hide, which is why the gun ships with each journal choices. The barrel is 3.4 inches, and the body is “slim” to make it straightforward for ladies to grip and conceal. The Picatinny rail on the grip module permits for a light-weight to be connected. The slide is already reduce from the manufacturing facility with the RMSc Protect footprint, so you should utilize tritium evening sights and a purple dot optic.
I might be remiss if I didn’t point out how straightforward it’s to switch a pistol with aftermarket slide cuts, barrel porting, and inside components to make a gun shoot flatter. The Commander Elite shot nice as is, however I needed a extra customized firearm, so I despatched my gun to Professional 2 Customs for cerakote, barrel porting, and slide cuts. Whereas weapons come anodized or cerakoted from the manufacturing facility, it by no means hurts to have an expert cerakote your gun. This protects the gun from rusting and any end marring.
Professional 2 affords totally different choices of slide cuts and barrel ports, so I selected what I favor. Barrel porting permits gases to flee upward out of the barrel, which drives the gun down throughout recoil, considerably lowering muzzle flip. Anytime you possibly can add a barrel compensator or barrel ports, it makes a drastic distinction in lowering muzzle rise.
2. Walther PDP-F
The Walther PDP-F Sequence of handguns are Woman Weapons by means of and thru. The “F” stands for “Feminine” as Walther designed this sequence of weapons round ladies with smaller palms. It’s supplied in a number of variations, together with Professional, Professional-E, and Professional-X PMM, however I personal the Normal 4-inch and three.5-inch barrel weapons. These supply 15+1 rounds of capability, which is superb in comparison with related firearms.
The primary advantages of the PDP-F sequence are the reduced-circumference grip, which inserts smaller palms, and the diminished set off attain, which optimizes finger placement. I’ve seen loads of weapons that girls can grip, however can’t attain the set off, which can also be a consider deciding on the suitable carry gun. Walther was intentional about designing a gun that will enable ladies to do each.
I’m not an excellent instance of retaining weapons of their inventory configuration. I really like the aftermarket, love cerakoting weapons, and respect some shade. For my favourite PDP-F, I added an aluminum magwell and an aluminum backstrap from LOK Grips. I even swapped the manufacturing facility journal basepad for a purple basepad to match the backstrap. I used aluminum to maintain the gun mild, however the brass choices from LOK Grips can add weight, which helps cut back felt recoil.
3. Taurus GX4 Carry or TX9
My favourite carry gun that Taurus makes is the GX4 Carry. There are over a dozen choices, however because the title of this text implies, smaller isn’t higher. I just like the GX4 Carry T.O.R.O. Compact as a result of it’s optics-ready, has a 3.7-inch barrel, is 5.16 inches in top, and holds 15+1 rounds. As compared, the Micro-Compact T.O.R.O. has a 3.06-inch barrel, is 4.4 inches in top, and holds 13+1 rounds.
The Compact pistol has a Picatinny rail for mounting a light-weight, whereas the Micro-Compact doesn’t. Each weapons have an total width of 1.08 inches, making them even thinner than the Walther PDP-F. The GX4 Carry additionally comes with three backstrap choices, so you possibly can swap to the smallest dimension if want be to succeed in the set off correctly.
I needed to point out the brand new TX9 line of firearms from Taurus, launched earlier this yr, and proven at SHOT Present. I used to be capable of get my palms on all three sizes: Full, Compact, and Sub Compact. I shot all three variations and decided the Compact is the right dimension for hid carry. The total-size shot nice, but it surely was means too massive, and the Sub Compact would often malfunction and not using a actually sturdy grip.
To dive in, these pistols nonetheless function the T.O.R.O. System, so you possibly can mount a purple dot optic proper out of the field. The Compact model has a 4-inch barrel and a capability of 15+1 rounds. There are 4 interchangeable backstraps with these weapons, so you possibly can inform Taurus has been listening to buyer suggestions to enhance the match for everybody.
4. Heckler & Koch CC9
I’ve had the HK CC9 pistol for a couple of yr now and have used it as my main and backup hid carry pistol. After I say “backup,” I’ll carry it in a CrossBreed Holsters Modular Holster, velcroed into my Gun Tote’n Mamas purse, as an off-body possibility. With a width of lower than 1 inch, that is on the prime of my suggestions listing of woman weapons for hid carry.
The CC9 comes with a 10-round journal (pictured under) that matches flush with the pistol, but it surely additionally ships with a 12-round journal that I favor, because it provides slightly extra size to the gun for a greater grip for my hand dimension. This pistol additionally options mirrored ambidextrous controls, together with an ambi slide cease and journal launch. You’ll be able to connect a light-weight through the Picatinny rail.
The Heckler & Koch CC9 comes with a Excessive-Vis tritium entrance sight and blacked-out serrated rear sight. It comes optic-ready from the manufacturing facility with the RMSc footprint. My go-to carry optic is the Holosun EPS Carry. There are such a lot of variations to select from, together with totally different reticles, varied dimension MOA dots, and your selection of purple or inexperienced.
The EPS Carry is an enclosed emitter, which implies mud and particles can construct up on the optic (and they’ll) with out blocking the reticle. On open emitter dots, particles, filth, mud, and even rain can block the emitter, distorting the reticle or stopping it from projecting in any respect. Total, that is certainly one of my favourite carry gun setups.
5. CANiK METE MC9 Prime
Final, however not least, on my “Woman Weapons” listing is the CANiK METE MC9 Prime pistol. CANiK makes a few of my all-time favourite handguns. I’ve personally shot the CANiK SFx, Rival, and Rival-S in taking pictures sports activities competitions, they usually all served me properly. The worth CANiK affords with every of its firearms is what blows me away.
I’ve seen their handguns ship in laborious instances, with molded IWB holsters, cleansing kits, spare fiber-optics, different-size backstraps, a number of magazine-release buttons, and extra. They hardly ever skimp on iron sights, they usually have been among the many first manufacturers to make their pistols optic-ready from the manufacturing facility, earlier than that turned the usual.
As I discussed earlier, a compensated barrel or barrel porting can cut back the felt recoil of a handgun. The METE MC9 Prime has a compensated barrel and slide with an built-in enlargement chamber, lowering the muzzle rise. The flat-face set off that comes customary on the Prime is certainly one of my favourite manufacturing facility triggers. I’m a fan of flat triggers over curved, and the 90-degree break on the Prime set off is superb.
There’s a low-profile beavertail and a low-profile magwell, which are perfect for hid carry, lowering the possibility of printing. The Night time Fision sights come put in on the gun together with an optic-ready slide. I can’t suggest CANiK pistols sufficient to people for carry, competitors, obligation, or dwelling protection.
Let’s Advocate Correct Woman Weapons to Ladies
Now that it’s 2026 and gun producers are making extra female-friendly firearms than there have ever been in the marketplace, let’s come collectively as a group to suggest woman weapons which have extra capability, aren’t micro-compact, and are extra nice to shoot.
Let’s advocate for giving girls choices slightly than selecting a gun for them. Encourage ladies to attend public vary occasions reminiscent of The Gathering, CanCon, Gal’s Day on the Vary, and different occasions the place ladies can strive tons of of weapons, optics, and suppressors. Test together with your native vary to see if any producers host demo days. In case your native vary rents weapons, have the women in your life check fireplace a bunch of weapons in order that they will strive earlier than they purchase. And bear in mind, what works for you may not work for them.
The one one that ought to select the suitable gun to hold is the one that plans to hold it.
