About Guns

The Top 10 Women’s Concealed Carry Guns In 2021

There is always a lot of buzz over the guns that women are buying each year, but what guns do women carry concealed? Of course, The Well Armed Woman data on guns that women buy each year is not only helpful to other women who are trying to tackle the big decision of which gun they should buy, but also to the industry as they make important decisions about developing new guns or making improvements to their existing models.

But…As more and more women come into gun ownership, which recent data documents, are a huge number, and, as more of them become experienced, long-time carriers who are buying multiple guns, there is another key question that needs to be answered. Which gun is it that women actually carry?

What gun is the one that women feel most comfortable carrying on their body or in their CC purse? Which one is it that they actually walk out of the door each day counting on to be the ONE partner to protect themselves and their loved ones? This is a HUGE question. One, that I believe is perhaps even more revealing than which gun they purchase year after year.

This is the second year The Well Armed Woman has asked this specific question in its annual survey. So let’s look at the data from this year, 2021, and find out which guns women carry and then see if there are any important things to glean when comparing it to 2020. So let’s get to it.

The Top 10 Guns American Women Concealed Carry 2021

1. Sig Sauer P365 9mm

sig-p365-guns-women-carry

Of the women who carry the Sig P365, the below chart shows the most common holsters they use.

2. Sig Sauer P238 .380

Of the women who carry the Sig P238, the below chart shows the most common holsters they use.

3. It’s A Tie!

Smith &Wesson Shield EZ .380

S&W M&P Shield EZ

Of the women who carry the S&W M&P Shield 380 EZ, the below chart shows the most common holsters they use.

Glock 43

Glock 43 Gun Review

Of the women who carry the Glock 43, the below chart shows the most common holsters they use.

4.Β Smith & Wesson Shield EZ 9mm

Shield EZ

Of the women who carry the S&W M&P Shield 9 EZ, the below chart shows the most common holsters they use.

5. Smith &Wesson Shield 9mm

smith and wesson M&P shield

Of the women who carry the S&W M&P Shield 9mm, the below chart shows the most common holsters they use.

6. Glock 19 9mm

glock 19

Of the women who carry the Glock 19, the below chart shows the most common holsters they use.

7. Ruger LCP. .380

Ruger LCP

Of the women who carry the Ruger LCP .380, the below chart shows the most common holsters they use.

8. Springfield Hellcat 9mm

Of the women who carry the Springfield Hellcat, the below chart shows the most common holsters they use.

9. Glock 43X 9mm

glock 43x

Of the women who carry the Glock 43X, the below chart shows the most common holsters they use.

10. Smith &Wesson 642 .38 Revolver

Of the women who carry the S&W 642 .38 Revolver, the below chart shows the most common holsters they use.

Because there are so many great guns out there, I think it’s important to highlight the models that fall in from #11-#20.

  1. Glock 42 .380
  2. Sig P938 9mm AND Ruger LC9 or LC9s 9mm
  3. S&W Bodyguard .38
  4. Kimber Micro 9mm AND the Ruger LCR. .38
  5. Ruger LC .380 AND Glock 26 9mm
  6. Ruger SR22 .22LR
  7. Springfield XDS Mod 2. 9mm
  8. Sig P320. 9mm
  9. S&W M&P 9mm
  10. S&W Shield 2.0 9mm

Some takeaways from the rankings above.

  • There are three .380’s in the top 10Β  ranked 2,3 and 7
  • The top 4 models are all β€œknown” as guns with easier slides to rack
  • There is a revolver in the top 10
  • There are 2 revolvers in those ranked from 11-20
  • A larger gun, the Glock 19 ranks very high at #6

Important Note on the Guns Women Carry

It is really important to note that women are buying and owning multiple guns. Simply purchasing a gun in 2021 doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the gun these women carry. The average number of guns women own reported in our survey is 4.5. That’s A LOT of guns!

Now let’s briefly compare to last years data. Many of the top 10 are the same as last year – 8 of them in fact. But, two of 2020 top ten have fallen into the 11-20 range. With the Springfield Hellcat and the S&W 642 Revolver joining the Top 10 list.

To me, what stands out probably the most, is that revolvers have a prominent place in the choices women are making in their concealed carry guns. My hunch is this is likely directly connected to the prominence and preference of women for guns that have slides that are easy to rack. Hand strength is a very common issue for most women, so the choice toward them and revolvers seem to reflect that.

A long-standing myth of the female gun owner is BUSTED! All women are not buying ultra-small guns.Β  Clearly, function outweighs form. The female gun owner/buyer is way more sophisticated and knowledgeable than I think many give her credit for.

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13 thoughts on “The Top 10 Women’s Concealed Carry Guns In 2021

  1. Kendra says:

    I have never owned a gun, but I’m in my 50s now and live alone, so I would like the extra protection. I also enjoy hiking and walking greenways, which isn’t always safe when you are alone. I wanted something small and safe enough, to carry in a jacket pocket or in a holster. Does anyone have any suggestions that may be better than the Sig Sauer P365, for me? Thanks.

    1. Linda Silk says:

      Sig P238, best gun ever for women!

  2. Sharon Day says:

    Since the Sig P365XL is not grouped with the P365 has the XL fallen out of favor? I purchased the P365XL yesterday with laser. I like a waist holster, can you recommend one?

    1. Carrie Lightfoot says:

      Hi Sharon,

      It is all personal preference πŸ™‚ Take a look at the Multi-fit Holster, this may work for you.

  3. Mindy says:

    I love them all, but I keep a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver on the night stand, so even if I am half asleep, I won’t miss.and my 120 pound blue nose pit can get the rest. Due to where I live, there is a gun in every room. I am wanting a new one small enough to carry and not be seen, and of course….made in America.

  4. TotingKhepera says:

    Was the p365XL grouped in with the p365? Was the Shield Plus grouped in with the regular Shield? I have both.

    1. Carrie Lightfoot says:

      All the models were separate πŸ™‚

  5. Jana says:

    I would love to own and carry a lot of these guns ,especially the top three, however the state I live in won’t allow it.

    1. Vickie says:

      I would move. Great reason to live in Florida!

  6. GomeznSA says:

    Gee, i never realized that I had gotten in touch with my ‘feminine side’ over the decades since I have SEVEN of the top ten πŸ˜‰ * FWIW – I have carried a variety of issued weapons and/or personally owned sidearms (when the outfits I was with allowed such) over the past 40+ years so I have a ‘bit’ of experience in gun choices. Some of them were better than others.
    Seriously, the shooters gender is (for the most part) irrelevant – what can they shoot well and carry effectively should be the primary criteria.

    *obviously YMMV will vary based on your body conformation. For example I have large palms and relatively short fingers – those factors tend to dictate what guns work best for me.

  7. Richard Parrish says:

    I want a 9mm no larger than a Shield, but a double action/single action, with a decker. As a plus, cuts for a red dot, and for a flashlight, and a threaded barrel. Does this exist yet? Maybe even an easy slide.

    1. Carrie Lightfoot says:

      The Sig P224, Beretta PX4 Storm SC, and the CZ 2075 Rami are a few to look at.I am not sure about the other features and what their capabilities are but they might be a good place to start.

  8. Terry says:

    I love my Springfield 911 in 380acp. But I’m partial to the 1911 type pistols.

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