Smith & Wesson has been in the business of self-defense and carry guns since the company was founded back in 1852. Over the years, some would say that S&W has perfected the carry gun, and certainly, few companies offer as vast a collection as Smith & Wesson. That said, there is often confusion as to what are some of the more popular or sought-after carry guns from S&W. 

We gathered the feedback and listened to our audience to come up with a comprehensive list of the most popular and deserving concealed carry guns today. Smith & Wesson offers a style and budget for nearly all buyers, so let’s jump in and find out which guns from the firearms juggernaut are most popular and best for concealed carry.

Full-Sized/Duty Guns

S&W has been in the business of supplying military and police since 1899 when its first M&P revolver hit the market, and some of the nation’s best still depend on S&W guns every day. The M&P 2.0 became one of those guns for many law enforcement agents when the upgraded lineup debuted a handful of years ago. In typical S&W fashion, the company has refined it in the years since. For fans of something a bit more robust, S&W now offers the M&P 2.0 Metal. The metal version also adds a bit more style while adding only an ounce of weight.
 

Related: Complete Guide to Modern Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols

There are more budget-friendly carry options, too, as in the SD9 2.0, which was just released in December. It retails in the sub-$400 range and offers lots of great features, including a 16+1 capacity – good news for those on a budget.

For full-sized revolvers, we went with the 686 Plus and 69 Combat. This combo would give a wide range of options and provide everything from .38 Spl to .44 Magnum, giving you a self-defense handgun apt for the city streets or the wild beyond.

Over the past few years, 5.7x28mm guns have been the all the rage, and S&W jumped on that bandwagon with the M&P 5.7. There is great debate about 5.7x28mm as an EDC defensive round, but there are also some great points to be made for doing just that. So, we decided it had to find a place on the list.

Of course, S&W is an iconic American brand, so we couldn’t leave off one of its signature guns: the 1911. We’ve reviewed this gun before, and it sings with class while remaining relatively affordable in the world of 1911s. 

Finally, we added the S&W Model 59 for a little vintage flair. We’ve talked about our love for police trade-in pistols in the past, but the 5906 always pulled a special heartstring for its involvement in so many early '90s cinema classics. 

Compact/Sub-Compact

One of the best ways to carry these days is with a sub-compact. It’s comfortable, and there have been huge strides in both capacity and ergonomics in recent years. When you look at the best-selling handguns, there are always a few compact or sub-compact options. S&W struck a great note with the release of the Shield Plus. We found this upgraded gun featured a much better trigger and ergonomics than the original lineup, and it’s made many fans happy and become an EDC.
 

Related: Comparing the S&W M&P 9 Shield and Shield Plus

If you’re lacking some hand strength or want a gun that is a bit simpler to operate, than perhaps the M&P 9 Shield EZ would be a good choice for you. It features a slide that's easier to operate and a magazine with a loading tab for easier loading.

We had to keep a revolver on the list, and for this one we chose the 642 Airweight. The hammerless design makes it easy to conceal and draw, while the alloy frame keeps the weight way down.

Back on the semi-auto trail, we find another newer gun in the CSX. This hammer-fired alloy-framed gun brings a large 12+1 capacity in a small package. Finally, we round out the list with one of S&W’s newest guns to market: the Equalizer. This gun blends the best of the M&P 2.0 series with the EZ series. It features an easier-to-rack slide with deeper slide serrations, and there are multiple safeties available. 
 

Related Review: The Equalizer – Smith & Wesson’s Top CCW Pistol

Pocket Carry

When you need an ultra-discreet pocket carry gun at the ready, S&W still has you covered. Let’s start this one off with a revolver in the Model 43C Airlite. This revolver is chambered in .22 LR and has an eight-round capacity. The Airlite tag is no joke, with it weighing in at only 11.45 ounces. 

The M&P Bodyguard 380 series offers a big punch in a little package. Chambered in .380 ACP with a six-round magazine, this gun has some up-close defensive chops. The little pistol sports a heavy double-action trigger with a thumb safety, making it a very safe gun to carry. 

For a vintage throwback, we decided to add a S&W 61 Escort to the list. This tiny gun can fit in the palm of most folks’ hands and is rather comical to hold, no matter the size of your hands. That said, chambered in .22 LR with a five-round magazine, this could conceivably be carried as a backup or backup-to-a-backup type of gun. We get them through our certified used vault every now and then, or you can always find some on our dealer network as well.

Finally, if you have big pockets, the M&P 380 Shield EZ would be a great pistol to own. It takes all that’s great about the EZ lineup and chambers it in .380 ACP. While this gun technically isn’t that much smaller than the EZ 9 listed above, it is lighter, weighing 6 ounces less than its 9mm counterpart. 
 

Related Review: Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ .380 – Is My Grandma’s Gun Better Than Yours?

Truck Gun/Backpack

If we can expand our idea of what constitutes concealed carry, we think this works. Plus, we had to end on a fun category, and S&W makes some fun truck/backpack guns. The most notable is the S&W FPC, which folds down to just 16.5 inches and takes the already popular M2.0 magazines. 

It was very well received when it was first announced and spent several months on top of our best-selling guns list. Combine all of this with the fact you can keep your optic attached when folded, and it’s easy to see why it’s been such a top seller. Our review turned out to be some of the best times we had on the range in 2023, proving there was validity to the hype.

The Governor had to make this list because after all, this is the fun category. With a gun named the Governor, you can of course then refer to yourself as the “Governator,” and maybe even form an accent at times to display the prowess of the gun and the self-made title. It’s not just fun and games with the Governor, though, as it’s able to fire .45 ACP, .45 Colt, and .410 2.5-inch shotshells. That is a unique combo that can cover a lot of ground. 

Finally, if you have a big backpack, there is the S&W Response. This new PCC platform has a lot to like, especially for those who already train on ARs a lot. It would make an easy switch to the PCC platform while offering the durability and quality of Smith & Wesson.