Which pistol should I pick for concealed carry?

For concealed carry, consider compact or subcompact pistols that weigh under 28oz. Popular choices include striker-fired 9mm pistols with polymer frames for lightweight daily carry. Use our selector to find options matching your hand size and experience level.

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Beginners should look for pistols with manageable recoil, simple operation, and proven reliability. 9mm striker-fired pistols with polymer frames offer the best balance of ease-of-use, affordability, and training cost. Avoid high-recoil calibers and complex manual-of-arms.

Should I choose a polymer or metal frame pistol?

Polymer frames are lighter and better for carry, while metal frames (steel/aluminum) absorb recoil better and provide more stability for shooting. Choose based on your primary use case: carry weight vs shooting comfort.

What caliber should I choose: 9mm, .45 ACP, or 10mm?

9mm offers the best balance of manageable recoil, capacity, and affordable training ammo. .45 ACP and 10mm provide more stopping power but with increased recoil and cost. For most users, especially beginners, 9mm is the optimal choice.

What new guns were released at SHOT Show 2026?

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volquartsen

Volquartsen Black Mamba

$1459 MSRP

CompetitionPremiumSuppressor Ready

Volquartsen Black Mamba - 22 LR hammer handgun by volquartsen

Specifications

Caliber 22 LR

Capacity 10+1

Weight 29 oz

Barrel Length 4.5"

Overall Length 8.5"

Height 5.5"

Width 1.3"

Frame polymer

Action hammer

Size Class full

Trigger Reach 2.85"

Optic Ready Yes

Release Year 2019

Country of Origin USA

Carry Analysis

Comfort Index

Good

0.48

Weight-to-size ratio measures how heavy the gun feels for its dimensions. Lower values indicate a lighter carry experience.

Pocket Index

Large

10.12"

Diagonal footprint measures concealability. Lower values mean easier pocket or IWB carry.

Overview

Built on the Ruger MK IV 22/45 frame with a Volquartsen LLV Competition Upper and Accurizing Kit.

Similar Handguns

Compare the Volquartsen Black Mamba to these similar 22 LR pistols:

Beretta M9 22LR

22 LR | 15+1 | 26.1oz

$449

Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite

22 LR | 10+1 | 25oz

$739

Browning Buck Mark Camper

22 LR | 10+1 | 34oz

$479

Ruger Mark IV Target

22 LR | 10+1 | 35.6oz

$689

S&W SW22 Victory

22 LR | 10+1 | 36oz

$459

FN 502 Tactical

22 LR | 15+1 | 23.7oz

$519

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