Concealed carry gear, reviewed by people who carry
Carry guns, holsters, gun safes and sight tools — picked and explained by instructors and lawmen. Every product we recommend is handpicked by our writers. When you buy through our links we may earn a commission. Why trust us?
The instructor behind every review
Chris Raper
Owner & Lead Instructor · NRA Pistol Instructor
Chris Raper is a retired North Carolina lawman with more than 40 years in law enforcement. He founded Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. in Elm City, NC and has taught the state-approved North Carolina Concealed Handgun Carry class since January 2006, with his wife Dianne Raper as assistant instructor. He writes about the carry guns, holsters, safes and training gear his students ask about every week.
Experience
- Law enforcement officer, North Carolina — 40+ years
- USAF Security Police — 4 years
- Founder & lead instructor, Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. (Elm City, NC) — since January 2006
- Defensive shooting, handgun skills, AR-15 carbine, shotgun home-defense and women's handgun classes
Certifications
- NC Department of Justice certified Firearms Safety Instructor
- NRA Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun Instructor
- NRA Range Safety Officer
- Graduate, Massad Ayoob's Lethal Force Institute
All of Chris's articles · Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. · Instructor qualifications · How we review
Concealed Carry Guns
The best concealed carry guns for beginners in 2026: easy to rack, easy to shoot and easy to learn — S&W Shield…
Best concealed carry guns for women in 2026, chosen for fit, slide effort and recoil — plus manual-safety picks, small-hands advice and…
The best micro-compact 9mm pistols of 2026 compared: SIG P365, Springfield Hellcat, S&W Shield Plus, Glock 43X, Shadow CR920, Canik METE MC9…
The best pocket pistols of 2026: Ruger LCP MAX, S&W Bodyguard 2.0, Glock 42, Ruger LCR and more — sizes, weights, capacity…
The best concealed carry guns of 2026, compared: SIG P365, Hellcat, Shield Plus, Glock 43X and 16 more — specs, sizes, prices,…
Ruger MAX-9 review for 2026: specs (12+1, 18.4 oz, optics-ready), pros and cons, P365 and Shield Plus comparison, and what “Limited Availability”…
Gun Safes
The best nightstand gun safe and bedside gun safe picks of 2026: biometric, RFID, mechanical and hidden-drawer options compared by lock, capacity…
Compare 8 small gun safes for apartments, bedrooms and cars by lock type, interior height, backups and mounting, plus which brands to…
Compare 8 quick access gun safes for bedside, desk and car: RFID, fingerprint, keypad and no-battery options, with backups, fit and mounting…
Compare the best RFID gun safes for 2026: wristband and fob entry, key backups, interior fit, cables and bolt-down options, with honest…
Compare the best rifle safes of 2026, from slim KAER cabinets to fire-rated Kodiak and Wasatch safes, with fit tips for scoped…
Compare the best in wall gun safes for 2026: between-stud long gun cabinets, biometric picks and wall-mounted pistol safes, with fit tips…
Gun Safe Reviews
XEGIS palm vein gun safe review: contactless palm scan, keypad and key backup, rechargeable battery, small interior, and what to verify before…
Vrothkain 3-5 gun biometric safe review: fingerprint, keypad and key access, handgun pockets, a lockout alarm, and the gaps in the listing…
Wolfwake Voice-Unlock Smart Safe review: six access methods, 15W wireless charging, 3.1L capacity and the fit questions to settle before you buy.
XDeer biometric slider safe review: fingerprint, PIN and key access in a slim one-handgun drawer. See fit limits, mounting and what to…
XDeer Wireless Charging Biometric Safe review: fingerprint, code and key access, a charging pad, interior fit and power questions to settle before…
Younion Portable Pistol Safe review: 16 gauge steel claim, key-only access, steel cable, removable foam, fit limits and who should pick something…
Holsters & Carry
Every holster question we get in class, answered: how to choose, IWB vs OWB, appendix, Kydex vs leather, retention, fit, belts, printing…
Holster fit and sizing guide: why universal holsters fail, generations, lights and optics, threaded barrels, cant and ride, and testing fit at…
Leather holster break-in and care: the plastic-bag method, what never to do (oil, soaking, heat), sweat and salt, and when a holster…
How to stop printing when carrying concealed: what printing is, where NC law stands for permit holders, the five causes and the…
Pocket, ankle, shoulder and belly band holsters: how each works, its real weaknesses, and when each is a reasonable choice or a…
Concealed carry holsters for women: why standard setups print or dig in, on-body options that work, and when purse carry is acceptable…
Sights & Sight Pushers
Wheeler Armorer's Handgun Sight Tool review: full slide capture, steel push block, angled and flat shoes. Which pistols it fits, the two…
TRUGLO's steel rear and front sight installation tool reviewed: all-steel construction, front and rear capability, which pistols it fits, the shoe limitation,…
Pridefend Sight Pusher for Glock Square Slides reviewed: which Glock models and generations it fits, the angled shoe, Gen 5 and slimline…
Real Avid Universal Glock Sight Pusher reviewed: front and rear dovetail capability, which Glocks and non-Glocks it fits, how it compares to…
NcSTAR VISM VTUFNR universal pistol front and rear sight tool reviewed: what it fits, the aluminum limitation, owner complaints, and how it…
Review of the Patch Heavy Duty Universal Dovetail Rear Sight Pusher, Amazon's bestselling sight pusher. What it fits, why threads strip, the…
Concealed Carry Law
The NC pistol purchase permit repeal (SB 41, March 29, 2023): what changed for dealer and private handgun sales, and why the…
Open carry vs concealed carry in North Carolina: one needs no permit, one does. How they differ legally, where each gets you…
Concealed carry in your car in North Carolina: rules for permit holders and non-permit holders, traffic stops, passengers, glove boxes and long…
What North Carolina's Castle Doctrine (G.S. 14-51.2) and stand-your-ground law say about defending your home, car and workplace, and where they stop.
NC concealed handgun permit renewal step by step: the 90-day window, the $75 fee, what to bring, what happens if it expires,…
Where you cannot carry concealed in North Carolina, statute by statute: schools, courthouses, state and federal buildings, posted property and parades.
Meet the Team
Chris Raper is a retired North Carolina lawman with more than 40 years in law enforcement. He founded Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. in Elm City, NC and has…
Massad Ayoob is one of the most recognized names in armed self-defense education in the United States. He founded the Lethal Force Institute in 1981 and the Massad…
Clint Smith is the founder of Thunder Ranch, one of the most respected shooting schools in the United States. A USMC veteran and former law enforcement officer, he…
Tom Givens is the founder of Rangemaster, a nationally recognized training program focused on practical concealed carry and personal protection. With a 25-year law enforcement career and decades…
Bill Wilson is the founder of Wilson Combat, one of the most respected names in custom 1911 pistols and AR-15 rifles. He opened his first gunsmithing shop in…
All reviews on this site are written or reviewed by qualified instructors and firearms professionals.