What is the best Sig Sauer for concealed carry?

What is the best Sig Sauer for concealed carry?

Written by Mark Buff , GunZee founder and CEO.

Sig Sauer, one of the leaders in the world of concealed carry handguns, offers models such as the P365 (one of the best-selling guns in the US according to Gun Genius). The brand is renowned for its high quality, reliable products, making it an excellent choice for those seeking quality and value.

Quick links:

P365

P938

P290RS

P238

P224

P320 subcompact

How do I choose?

Let’s go through the best concealed carry Sig Sauers in different calibers to find the right one for your needs! 

If you carry your Sig Sauer in an IWB KYDEX holster, apply our amazing holster padding! It is so comfy, you’ll forget it is there.

Sig Sauer P365

Sig Sauer P365

Sig Sauer P365

Features

Details

Caliber

9mm

Capacity

10+1 rounds

Barrel length

3.1”

Overall length

5.8”

Width 

1.0”

Weight (unloaded)

17.8 oz


The Sig Sauer P365 is a 9mm striker-fired gun that features a Nitron compact frame made from polymer with a stainless steel slide and barrel. The P365 is a micro-compact pistol, with an overall length of just 5.8 inches, a height of 4.3 inches, and a width of 1 inch. 

Despite the diminutive size, the standard P365 still packs a 10+1 round 9mm magazine. This is made possible partially due to the double-stack magazine configuration. The flush-fitting 10-round mag helps keep the gun slim for concealed carry. The longer, extended magazines are also available for added grip and capacity. 

The P365 utilizes a carbon steel barrel with a nitride finish. The pistol is equipped with XRAY3 Day/Night sights, providing a clear sight picture in both daylight and low-light conditions.

The slim, snag-free design, high capacity, and reputable Sig quality have made the P365 one of the most popular choices for concealed carry on the market today.  It is also available with the ROMEOZero reflex optic installed and zeroed right out of the box, enhancing its capability as a micro-compact firearm.

“Even after being on the market for nearly two years with several manufacturers trying to match the magazine capacity and replicate the outstanding features of the P365, it continues to be one of the top selling subcompact pistols on the market and the pistol that I choose to defend my life and the lives of my family on a daily basis.” —Eileen Kerlin, Women & Guns

Sig Sauer P938

Sig Sauer P938

Sig Sauer P938.

Features

Details

Caliber

9mm

Capacity

6+1 rounds

Barrel length

3.0”

Overall length

5.9”

Width 

1.1”

Weight (unloaded)

16 oz


The Sig Sauer P938 is a micro-compact, single-action semi-automatic pistol chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge. It is built on the trusted P238 platform, delivering accuracy and reliability with duty-caliber performance. It has an aluminum alloy frame and stainless steel slide. 

The P938 comes with two magazines: a flush 6-round magazine and a 7-round magazine with an extended finger grip. The frame and slide of the P938 are made of metal, providing durability and a solid feel. The grip panels are available in three kinds of wood, Hogue G-10 Extreme composite, or rubber wrap-around in the "Sport" model.

The P938 is often compared to a mini 1911 due to its design and operation. It has been praised for its accuracy, reliability, and ease of concealment.

Other notable features include SigLite night sights, checkered grip panels, and a beveled magazine well for smooth reloads. Despite the all-metal construction, the P938 maintains a relatively lightweight, slender profile at 1.1 inches in width, making it a great CCW option. 

Sig Sauer P290RS

Sig Sauer P290RS

Sig Sauer P290RS.

Features

Details

Caliber

9mm

Capacity

6+1 rounds

Barrel length

2.9”

Overall length

5.5”

Width 

1.1”

Weight (unloaded)

20.5 oz


The Sig Sauer P290RS is a 9mm semi-automatic pistol. It has a black polymer frame with an ergonomic grip texture and a Nitron stainless steel slide and barrel. 

The double-action-only trigger provides a smooth, consistent trigger pull every time. Though compact, the pistol’s capacity is respectable thanks to the double-stack magazine design. It ships with one 6+1 round flush-fitting magazine, plus an extended magazine. The flush magazine keeps the unloaded weight at 20.5 ounces and width slim at 1.1 inches. 

Despite compact dimensions, the P290RS includes full-size Siglite night sights for low-light shooting. The slide is optic-ready from the factory as well. Operation is enhanced by grasping grooves at the front and rear of the slide. The decocking lever allows the hammer to be lowered safely and quickly when desired.

“So far, I love it. I love the way it looks, I love the way it feels, and I love the way it shoots. I don’t have my CCP yet, but have taken the class. I won’t carry until I am comfortable with that. I tried putting it in the holster that came with my gun, but it still feels bulky to me.” —Beverly, Well Armed Women

Sig Sauer P238

Features

Details

Caliber

.380 ACP

Capacity

6+1 rounds

Barrel length

2.7”

Overall length

5.5”

Width 

1.1”

Weight (unloaded)

15.2 oz


The Sig Sauer P238 is a slim, lightweight .380 ACP semi-automatic handgun that features all-metal construction with an aluminum alloy frame and stainless steel slide and barrel. 

Despite compact dimensions, the P238 still manages 6+1 rounds in the flush-fitting magazine. Weighing only 15.2 ounces unloaded, the P238 is the lightest handgun on our list, making it extra easy to carry and operate. The smooth, consistent single-action trigger provides excellent accuracy for a small pistol. 

Other features aiding shootability include classic SigLite night sights, checkered gun metal gray grips, and a beveled magazine well for fast reloads. Though light, the all-metal construction gives the P238 heft and durability that inspires confidence. 

For safe carry, the P238 has an external safety and hammer decocking lever. With simple operation, renowned reliability, and concealable size, the P238 is an exceptional backup gun or deep concealment piece.

Sig Sauer P224

Features

Details

Caliber

9mm

Capacity

12+1 rounds

Barrel length

3.5”

Overall length

6.7”

Width 

1.5”

Weight (unloaded)

29 oz


The Sig Sauer P224 is a subcompact, double-action/single-action (DA/SA) semi-automatic pistol that is chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge, although it is also available in .357 SIG and .40 S&W. 

The P224 is lightweight and easy to conceal. It features a DA/SA trigger with a consistent pull weight, providing a reliable and predictable trigger pull. The pistol is equipped with SIGLITE Night Sights, offering a clear sight picture in low-light conditions.

The P224 comes with a 12-round magazine for the 9mm version, and it can accept larger magazines from the P226 and P229 pistols. The frame and slide of the P224 are made of metal, providing durability and a solid feel. The excellent grip is made of black polymer, providing a comfortable and secure hold.

Additional features include SigLite night sights, short reach trigger, and front strap checkering for a secure grip. The P224 includes an accessory rail for adding lights or lasers. 

Sig Sauer P320 Subcompact

Features

Details

Caliber

9mm

Capacity

12+1 rounds

Barrel length

3.6”

Overall length

6.7”

Width 

1.1”

Weight (unloaded)

24 oz


The Sig Sauer P320 subcompact is a double-action, striker-fired semi-automatic pistol. It is part of the P320 series, which is known for its adaptability, modularity, and reliability. It is one of the larger Sigs on our list, with a barrel length of 3.6 inches, which is important to note for those who are prioritizing concealability.

The P320 subcompact is lightweight and easy to conceal. It features a consistent trigger pull, providing a reliable and predictable trigger pull. The pistol is equipped with SIGLITE Night Sights that offer a clear sight picture in low-light conditions.

The P320 subcompact has a magazine capacity of 12 rounds. Its frame and slide are made of stainless steel, providing durability and a solid feel. The grip is made of black polymer, providing a comfortable and secure hold.

The P320 subcompact is built with a robust safety system, including both a striker safety and a disconnect safety. It also features a unique 3-point takedown safety system, eliminating the need to pull the trigger to disassemble the pistol.

If you wear your P320 in an IWB KYDEX holster, check out our memory foam pad. You will appreciate the extra level of comfort!

How do I choose the right Sig Sauer concealed carry pistol?

With so many great Sig Sauers to choose from, it's tough to narrow the list down to just one. What's right for one person may not be best for you. 

To determine the best Sig for you, consider the following factors:

  • Body type. Larger pistols can be harder to conceal on petite or slender frames. Full-size grips may print obviously through clothing. But very small pistols sacrifice controllability and ammo capacity. 
  • Hand size. A compact pistol grip that fits snugly in a smaller hand may feel cramped and awkward for someone with thicker fingers or larger palms. Conversely, generously sized grips can feel loose and unwieldy in smaller hands. 
  • Hand strength. Polymer frames help reduce fatigue compared to all-steel builds since they weigh less. This allows you to carry comfortably for longer. However, felt recoil may be sharper. Those with weaker hand strength may prefer calibers with softer recoil like 9mm over .40 S&W or .45 ACP.
  • Carry position. Guns carried in an appendix holster require a shorter barrel and grip to avoid discomfort and printing issues when sitting. But positioning a handgun at 4-5 o'clock on the hip can conceal full-size models well, especially for larger people with bigger backs.
  • Priorities. Increased ammunition capacity requires physically larger magazines, but guns with high round counts tend to be less concealable. If power is important alongside concealability, larger calibers like .45 ACP offer enhanced stopping power but come with more punishing recoil compared to smaller rounds.
  • Accessories. While lights, lasers, and red dot sights can enhance a pistol's capabilities, they also add bulk that is detrimental to concealed carry. Only add accessories that align with your intended use and balance their utility against concealability needs.
  • Handedness. Left-handed shooters will benefit most from ambidextrous magazine and slide releases. Though not necessary, they do provide more flexibility.

Sig Sauer FAQ

Can you conceal carry a P226?

The Sig Sauer P226 can be concealed carried but is better suited to open carry or home defense roles. Weighing 34 ounces with a 4.4-inch barrel and 7.2-inch overall length, the full-size P226 requires a large IWB holster and loose cover garments to hide the handgun from view.

What Sig Sauer do Navy SEALs use?

The Navy SEALs utilize the Sig Sauer P226 handgun as their standard sidearm. Known as the Mk25, the pistol features a corrosion-resistant coating with date of manufacture stamped on top, rough textured grips, and other enhancements tailor-made for maritime operations.

Why are Sig Sauers so popular?

Sig Sauer pistols are hugely popular for military, law enforcement, and civilian use due to their exceptional accuracy, high degree of reliability even with hollow points or hot loads, and superior ergonomics like a natural grip angle and pointability that aid control during rapid-fire scenarios.

What is the difference between the P226 and P229?

The Sig P229 is essentially a more compact version of the full-size P226 service pistol. The P229 sports a shorter barrel, overall length, height, and slide to offer a pistol that is better balanced for concealed carry while maintaining P226 levels of accuracy and performance.

What does the P stand for in Sig Sauer P365?

The "P" in Sig pistol models like the P365 stands for "pistol"—it is used to designate a handgun platform rather than say an SBR, rifle, shotgun, or firearm accessory also made by Sig Sauer. This nomenclature system of using "P" originated with Sig handguns decades ago.

Which is more accurate: the Glock 19 or the Sig P320?

The Sig P320 semi-automatic pistol has better accuracy over the Glock 19. This is primarily attributed to differences such as Sig's superior trigger design versus Glock's Safe Action trigger system, a better grip angle for natural pointing, and slides machined to tighter tolerances in the P320 platform.

What safety features should a good CCW handgun have?

Multiple internal and external safeties provide security against accidental firing while easy operation builds confidence for both experienced and beginner shooters. Here are key gun safety features a good CCW handgun should have:

  • Manual safety to block firing mechanism
  • Grip safety requires firm hold to fire
  • Drop safety to prevent discharge if dropped
  • Loaded chamber indicator to visually check status
  • Internal safeties like firing pin blocks
  • High-quality components for reliability
  • Secure the concealed carry holster covering the trigger guard

Should I choose the P365 or P320 compact for concealed carry?

The P365 offers a slimmer profile, enhancing concealability. However, the P320 compact handgun allows greater ammunition capacity and recoil control for follow-up shots. Evaluate your needs for deep concealment versus recoil control and capacity to determine the best option.

What holster works best for EDC with a P238?

Due to its micro-compact size, the P238 can fit a variety of holsters for concealed carry. The form-fitting KYDEX holster helps with retention while soft leather backers improve comfort. Try both IWB and pocket holsters to see which allows the fastest draw from concealment.

Should I add accessories to my P320 carry weapon?

While lights and optics can aid defensive use, they also add bulk that is detrimental to concealed carry. Only add accessories if you can still comfortably carry the pistol without printing. More grip or sight options may improve one-handed control without a major increase in size.

About the Author

Mark Buff is the founder and CEO of GunZee. He is an ardent firearms enthusiast and has been carrying concealed for more than 15 years. He created GunZee to solve his own problem: that of uncomfortable KYDEX holsters. His patented GunZee memory foam holster pad makes inside-the-waistband carry super comfortable.

Further reading

What are the best concealed carry guns for seniors?

What is the most comfortable CCW holster?

What is the easiest pistol to conceal?

What is the best IWB holster for women?

What is the best EDC holster?

What is the best compact pistol for appendix carry?

Concealed carry revolver vs semi-auto

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