Quick answer
A pocket pistol has one job: to be small and light enough that you carry it in situations where a belt gun is impractical — gym shorts, dress pants, a quick trip to the store. That job forces trade-offs. Pocket guns have short grips, small sights and snappy recoil, so they reward practice more than larger guns do.
Below are the pocket-size guns we would actually put in a pocket holster in 2026, with the specs that matter for pocket carry. For full-size comparisons, see our main list of the best concealed carry guns of 2026.
Pocket pistols compared
| Gun | Caliber | Capacity | L × H (in) | Width (in) | Weight (oz) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruger LCP MAX | .380 ACP | 10/12 | 5.17 × 4.12 | — | 10.6 | $399 MSRP |
| Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 | .380 ACP | 10/12 | 5.5 × 4.0 | 0.875 | 9.8 | $449 MSRP |
| Ruger LCR .38 Special +P | .38 Special +P | 5 | 6.5 × 4.5 | — | 13.5 | $759 MSRP |
| Smith & Wesson Model 642 | .38 Special +P | 5 | 6.31 × 4.3 | 1.3 | 14.4 | $569 MSRP |
| Glock G42 | .380 ACP | 6 | 5.94 × 4.13 | 0.98 | 13.76 | $399 street |
| SIG Sauer P365 | 9mm | 10 | 5.8 × 4.3 | 1.1 | 17.8 | $500 MSRP |
Manufacturer specifications and prices, checked October 2026. Glock prices are typical retail (Glock publishes no MSRP).
The best pocket pistols
Ruger LCP MAX
| Caliber | .380 ACP |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 10/12 rounds |
| Barrel | 2.8 in |
| Length × height | 5.17 × 4.12 in |
| Width | not listed |
| Weight | 10.6 oz |
| Manual safety | Optional |
| Optics-ready | Some models |
| Price | $399 MSRP |
The LCP MAX is the benchmark because it fixed the classic pocket .380 weakness — capacity. Ruger put a 10-round magazine into a gun that keeps essentially the LCP II footprint, at 10.6 ounces and 5.17 inches long. Twelve-round magazines are available, and a Pro model carries 13+1.
In a pocket, length and height matter more than width, and the MAX stays small in both. Its sights are better than older pocket .380s, though still small. If you buy a manual-safety model, check Ruger’s site for the safety bulletin it lists for certain LCP MAX manual-safety guns.
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0
| Caliber | .380 ACP |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 10/12 rounds |
| Barrel | 2.75 in |
| Length × height | 5.5 × 4.0 in |
| Width | 0.875 in |
| Weight | 9.8 oz |
| Manual safety | Optional |
| Optics-ready | No |
| Price | $449 MSRP |
At 9.8 ounces and 7/8 inch wide, the Bodyguard 2.0 is the lightest gun we recommend. S&W rebuilt it as a striker-fired pistol with 10+1 flush and 12+1 extended capacity and a tritium front sight.
Choose between it and the LCP MAX by how each grip fits your hand — the specs are close enough that ergonomics should decide.
Ruger LCR (.38 Special +P)
| Caliber | .38 Special +P |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Barrel | 1.87 in |
| Length × height | 6.5 × 4.5 in |
| Width | not listed |
| Weight | 13.5 oz |
| Manual safety | No |
| Optics-ready | No |
| Price | $759 MSRP |
Revolvers excel in pockets: there is no slide to snag, and a hammerless revolver can be drawn cleanly from a pocket holster. The LCR weighs 13.5 ounces and has one of the smoothest double-action triggers in its class thanks to Ruger’s friction-reducing cam.
You get five rounds of .38 Special +P and slow reloads. Availability varies by model; check Ruger’s listing before you shop.
Smith & Wesson Model 642
| Caliber | .38 Special +P |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Barrel | 1.88 in |
| Length × height | 6.31 × 4.3 in |
| Width | 1.3 in |
| Weight | 14.4 oz |
| Manual safety | No |
| Optics-ready | No |
| Price | $569 MSRP |
The enclosed-hammer 642 Airweight has been a pocket staple for decades. It weighs about 14.4 ounces, holds five rounds of .38 Special +P and is sold without the internal lock. Its trigger is heavier than the LCR’s, which some carriers like for pocket carry.
Glock 42
| Caliber | .380 ACP |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Barrel | 3.25 in |
| Length × height | 5.94 × 4.13 in |
| Width | 0.98 in |
| Weight | 13.76 oz |
| Manual safety | No |
| Optics-ready | No |
| Price | $399 street |
The Glock 42 is on the large side for a pocket — 5.94 inches long — and holds only 6+1. In exchange it is one of the softest-shooting .380s and uses Glock’s simple action. It fits loose jacket and cargo pockets better than slim jeans.
SIG Sauer P365
| Caliber | 9mm |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Barrel | 3.1 in |
| Length × height | 5.8 × 4.3 in |
| Width | 1.1 in |
| Weight | 17.8 oz |
| Manual safety | Optional |
| Optics-ready | Some models |
| Price | $500 MSRP |
The P365 is not a true pocket pistol, but at 5.8 × 4.3 inches it fits a cargo pocket or jacket pocket in a quality pocket holster and gives you 10+1 rounds of 9mm. If your clothes allow it, that is a meaningful step up in capability from a .380.
Pocket carry rules that keep you safe
- Always use a pocket holster. It must cover the trigger guard completely, stay in the pocket when you draw, and keep the gun upright so the grip is always in the same place.
- Nothing else goes in that pocket. Keys, coins or a phone can get into the trigger guard or block your grip.
- Front pocket, strong side. Back-pocket carry is hard to draw from while seated and easy to sit on.
- Get your hand on the gun early. Pocket draws are slower. If you sense trouble, a hand already in the pocket (on the gun, finger off the trigger) saves time.
- Practice the draw seated and standing with an unloaded gun, and in the clothes you actually wear.
More on pocket, ankle and other deep-concealment options in our sister site’s guide to pocket, ankle, shoulder and belly band holsters.
Pocket pistol or micro-compact?
A micro-compact 9mm like the P365 or Hellcat is only about half an inch longer and taller than a pocket .380, but carries more powerful ammunition and is easier to shoot well. If you can carry inside the waistband, a micro-compact is usually the better primary gun; keep the pocket pistol for times you can’t. Compare them in our best micro-compact 9mm guide and 9mm vs .380 breakdown.
FAQ
What is the best pocket pistol?
For most people, the Ruger LCP MAX: 10+1 rounds of .380 ACP in a 10.6-ounce gun about 5.2 inches long. The S&W Bodyguard 2.0 is lighter (9.8 oz), and the Ruger LCR is the best pocket revolver.
Is a pocket pistol good for self-defense?
A pocket pistol is far better than no gun, and it is the right tool when your clothing rules out a belt holster. Because pocket guns are harder to shoot accurately, they demand more practice than a larger 9mm.
Can you pocket carry a 9mm?
Yes, if your pockets are big enough. Micro-compacts like the SIG P365 fit cargo and jacket pockets in a pocket holster, but most slim jeans work better with a .380 like the LCP MAX or Bodyguard 2.0.
Do I need a holster for pocket carry?
Yes. A pocket holster covers the trigger, keeps the gun oriented the same way every time and prevents other objects from getting into the trigger guard.
Keep reading
- The 20 best concealed carry guns of 2026 (full list)
- Smallest 9mm pistols
- Best .380 pistols for concealed carry
- Best concealed carry revolvers
- Best micro-compact 9mm pistols
Chris Raper
Chris Raper is the founder and lead reviewer of Conceal & Carry Network. A retired North Carolina law-enforcement officer with more than 40 years of service and a U.S. Air Force Security Police veteran, he founded Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. in Elm City, NC in 2006 and has taught the state-approved NC Concealed Handgun Carry class there ever since. He is an NC Department of Justice certified Firearms Safety Instructor, an NRA Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun Instructor, an NRA Range Safety Officer and a graduate of Massad Ayoob's Lethal Force Institute. He reviews the carry guns, holsters, safes and sight tools his students ask about every week.