Choosing the right firearm for concealed carry should require a lot of thought. Think of the hours you will spend training at the range, maintaining your weapon, and carrying it throughout the days. More importantly, consider those precious seconds when you might need to use them to defend yourself. A few classic 22 caliber options worth consideration are presented below.

22 SNUB NOSE REVOLVERS

1. Smith and Wesson 43 C (8 rds)
2. Ruger LCR 22 (8 rds)

You will be hard-pressed to find a better 22 pistol for concealed carry than the Smith and Wesson 43 C or Ruger LCR 22. These snub nose revolvers are known for quality, reliability, and discretion allowing you to carry confidently.

The most obvious benefit of a 22 snub nose revolver is its ease of concealability. These guns are light, small, and have a lot of rounded edges. It reduces the risk of printing less and there are plenty of options in terms of concealment.

Revolvers in general are also a favorite of many 22 pistol concealed carriers for their legendary reliability. Revolvers allow you to continue using your weapon even in the event of a failure to feed or a failure to fire event. 

22 COMPACT SEMI-AUTOS

1. Walther P22  (10rds)
2. Ruger LCP II 22LR (10rds)

These two compact semi-autos make the list for their reliability, size, and magazine capacity.  The Walther P22 and the Ruger LCP II have been around for enough time to gain a reputation for reliability and an extended design process to work out any kinks.

However, a failure to fire in a semi-auto can be catastrophic in a self-defense situation. This is why it’s crucial that no matter what weapon you decide to carry, you test your defense ammunition thoroughly at the range.

SEMI-AUTO OR SNUB NOSE REVOLVER?

Although both the semi-auto and the snub nose revolver are great options for concealed carry, you’ll find people who swear by both options. Here is what you should think about when choosing between the two.

When it comes to reliability, most people would say that the revolver is the best option. When you have a failure to fire in a semi-auto, it also results in a failure to feed, meaning you need to rack the slide. With a revolver, you only need to pull the trigger again.

However, the benefit of using a semi-auto is that you can carry more ammunition and reload magazines quicker. If you have to fire multiple shots in a defensive situation, spare magazines could be a necessity. 

The best process is to test out both options at a range to see what feels the best for you. See how it feels to shoot, rack the slide, and reload the magazine. You’ll have a better idea about which firearm fits you best after you have a chance to try out some different options.

CONCEAL YOUR 22 THE EASY WAY

Once you find the perfect 22 pistol for concealed carry, it’s time to think about how you’re going to conceal it. Concealment Clothes has a variety of comfortable and reliable options for concealed holsters and clothing. Whether semi-automatic or snub nose revolver, Concealment Clothes has great concealment options for your 22 pistol.