The Best Springfield Handguns For Concealed Carry
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The Best Springfield Handguns For Carry
Some of the most popular carry guns out there are Springfield handguns, and for good reason. They make something for almost everyone, handgun-wise, and the guns they make are known for being accurate, reliable, and for also delivering quite a good amount of value for money.
In other words, you get a lot for what you pay.
Granted, some are more suited to some purposes than others, including for use as a concealed carry pistol. If Springfield Armory is what you're after, here are the best Springfield handguns for concealed carry.
XD 3-Inch Subcompact
The Springfield XD series are some of the most popular and most widely available handguns on the market right now, and one of the best CCW guns of the lot is the first one - the XD 3-in subcompact. It was one of the first XD pistols available outside of the full-size model and it is certainly one of the best CCW pistols by Springfield.
There's nothing too fancy - it's a compact poly striker gun with a 3-inch barrel, available in 9mm or .40 S&W. There's a rail on the dust cover, capacity is 13 (plus 1) rounds of 9mm or 9 (plus 1) of .40 S&W, or you can use an extended magazine. It's got a grip safety (an unusual touch for a poly striker gun) plus the trigger safety lever and a drop safety.
Lots of these out in gun stores at very reasonable prices (expect to pay $500 or less; $400 or less is not unheard of) lots of aftermarket support, and plenty of Springfield XD Subcompact holsters out there too. It may not be the fanciest pistol out there...but it's tough to find a better working CCW pistol.
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XD(M) 3.8-In Compact
If you want a compact XD but you demand ALL the bells and whistles, the XD(M) Compact is the model for you.The XD series has four trim levels, with the XD(M) series being the fully loaded ones. The 3-dot sights of the XD gives way to low profile ramp rear and fiber optic front sights, the grip is upgraded to accept one of 3 textured backstraps and a match-grade barrel. Choose black Melonite or two-tone stainless steel slide on black polymer frame. Accessory rail comes standard.
Chamberings are 9mm, .40 and .45 ACP. You get flush-fit magazine (holding 13/11/9) but can opt for the cleverly titled X-Tension magazine (holds 19/16/13) for a full grip and capacity. Some carry the X-Tension as a larger backup, and they're also good for range use as well. The extra accoutrements come at a price - expect at least a $100 bump, if not $150 - but it's still acquired for a very reasonable amount.
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Springfield Range Officer Champion 1911
The XD series is all the rage lately but Springfield made their name on 1911s, and the Range Officer Champion is their Commander frame. It has a full-size grip with a shortened (4-inch) barrel, about .25 inches shorter than most Commander frames. It comes chambered in 9mm or .45 ACP.
Price-wise, Springfield's 1911s start to creep up a bit. This model can be found in-store for around the $750 to $850 range, but expect also to get what you pay for. Cocobolo wood grips, beavertail grip safety, skeletonized hammer and trigger, ramp combat rear sights and fiber optic front sight, anodized alloy frame and parkerized black steel slide. Springfield's 1911 pistols, though, are known for shooting well above their weight. If you were looking for a compact 1911 pistol, this and other compact Springfield 1911 pistols are well worth looking at.
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XD(S) 3.3-Inch
The XD(S) 3.3 is one of the most popular concealed carry pistols on the market right now, and for good reason: the XD(S) series is single-stack, and is only offered in compact grip length. (Overall height for the 3.3-inch and 4-inch model is 4.4 inches with the flush-fit magazine.) However, extended magazines are available too.
You get more bells and whistles than the standard XD - low-profile ramp rear sight, fiber optic front, and your choice of black or stainless slide on black frame or black slide on FDE frame - and the choice of 9mm, .40 or .45 ACP. Magazine capacity is 7/6/5, but there are mid-length and full-length extensions that increase carrying capacity. The single-stack capacity results in .3 inches being shaved off the width, making it far easier to conceal. In fact, it could fit in a large pocket.
The XD(S) also happens to be very reasonably priced. You can find them often enough for $500 or less, sometimes for less than $400. Aftermarket support is incredible, so if you're looking for an easy-concealing single-stack 9...this is one of the ones to look at.
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Springfield EMP
The Springfield EMP, or Enhanced Micro Pistol, is Springfield's uber-compact Officer frame, standing only 5 inches tall, 1.12 inches wide and 6.6 inches long with only a 3-inch barrel. They don't offer .45 ACP with this model, so big-bore fanatics must look elsewhere. That aside, it's an old-school single-stack compact and happens to be one of the best.
Choose two-tone with stainless or black parkerized slide, and from 9mm or .40 S&W. It comes well-adorned, with cocobolo wood grips, extended beavertail grip safety, skeletonized trigger and hammer, low-profile combat tritium sights, ambidextrous extended safeties and a match-grade barrel. Carrying capacity is 9+1 in 9mm and 8+1 in .40 S&W.
This compact 1911 has almost all the bells and whistles. That comes at a cost, however; street prices are close to $1,000, though you may find it for less. However, a compact 1911 with all the same appointments from other large names in 1911 pistols will demand much more.
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Springfield EMP Lightweight Champion
Take the EMP, add a 4-inch barrel for even greater accuracy and recoil mitigation. It may be not quite as good for deep concealment and certainly won't be a pocket carry gun (the standard EMP is hardly a pocket gun...unless you wear cargo pants) but it's still a fantastic choice for a Springfield concealed carry gun.
Range Officer Compact Model
The Range Officer Compact is basically the same as the Range Officer Champion, but it has an Officer frame instead of a Commander frame, meaning it's 5 inches tall instead of 5.5 inches. 9mm or .45 ACP, all the same bells and whistles - same everything, just slightly shorter. Which means slightly easier to conceal.
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XD Mod.2 3-inch Compact and 3.3-inch Compact
If the XD just doesn't have enough bells and whistles, but the XD(M) costs too much, then look you to the XD Mod.2 series, and the concealed carry models are the XD Mod.2 3-inch and 3.3-inch compacts. Why the difference in barrel length? The 3.3-inch model is chambered in .45 ACP, the 3-inch in 9 and .40. Capacity is the same as the standard XD, and extended magazines (with extended grips) are available for the Mod.2 just like the XD.
The Mod.2 is optimized for better ergonomics, with a slightly narrower grip profile and three different grip textures for better grip. Low-profile ramp combat sights are on the rear and fiber optic sights are on the front. Finishes are black steel or stainless over black polymer, or black steel over FDE polymer. Prices fit between the very reasonable XD and the less reasonable XD(M). If you like your car with sat nav and the Bluetooth package, but don't need the leather seats, the XD Mod.2 is the gun for you.
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Range Officer Operator Lightweight
The Range Officer line clearly is the compact 1911 by Springfield that actually comes in .45 ACP; the Range Officer Operator Lightweight is much like the Range Officer Champion, just with a three-quarter length railed dust cover. Railed government frame, Commander slide, all the bells and whistles...and for less than what other 1911 makers would charge for the same package.
Springfield Handguns Have A Lot To Offer For Concealed Carry
Springfield handguns are popular for concealed carry for a reason. Few other companies offer as many features, or as good of function, accuracy and reliability for the price point. Yes, there are other poly striker guns but few with the same features. Yes, there are other 1911s out there, but the other big names in 1911 pistols charge up to twice as much (or more) and don't really deliver twice the pistol in any sense. In short, Springfield is a go-to for a good working gun. Most shooters would be hard-pressed to do much better.