With over 19 million Americans holding concealed handgun permits and millions more carrying in constitutional carry states, the pocket pistol has emerged as one of the most popular concealed carry options. But what exactly qualifies as a “pocket pistol,” and when does it make sense to carry one?
Author: Michael Crites
Michael Crites has served as executive editor of AmericanFirearms.org since 2016 and previously held positions as associate editor and range correspondent dating back to 2000. He discovered his passion for precision shooting at age 12 during his first visit to his grandfather's shooting range, eventually earning an Expert classification in three different shooting disciplines before age 18.
During his studies at University of Wyoming, he earned four varsity letters on the collegiate rifle and pistol teams, serving as team captain for three consecutive years. He became the first UW student to complete the NRA Range Safety Officer certification while maintaining full-time student status. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Communications.
His diverse career has included roles as Range Safety Coordinator for the National Rifle Championships in Camp Perry 2001; editor-in-chief, Precision Shooter Quarterly; series editor, Modern Firearms Handbook collection; managing editor, National Shooting Sports Foundation Newsletter; editor, Competitive Shooter Magazine; operations director for Western Arms & Ammunition Co.; senior editor for the Shooter's Reference Annual (Cheyenne); content director for The Firearms Report, published by the American Shooting Coalition in Billings, MT; firearms correspondent for Hunting & Shooting, produced by Outdoor Sports Media Group in Jackson, WY; and publisher for Wyoming Shooting Sports Journal in Casper. He has contributed as a regular columnist for American Rifleman (NRA Publications), technical editor for Precision, a publication of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association (Phoenix, AZ); and as firearms specialist for the Gun Owner's Annual.
As a digital content creator, he has written more than 400 articles on AmericanFirearms.org, developed shooting technique coverage for the Brownells Shooting Blog (Montezuma, IA) and Federal Premium "Range Notes" platform (Anoka, MN), and served as lead content strategist for International Defensive Pistol Association (Berryville, AR). Beyond Tactical Firearms, his current endeavors include content development for the Wyoming State Rifle Association (Cheyenne, WY) and technical manual production for High Plains Publishing of Laramie, WY.
He has contributed to the 12th, 13th, and 14th editions of Modern Sporting Rifles Guide and edited The Complete Guide to Tactical Shooting and Competitive Shooter's Reference Manual (Gun Digest Books).
The Best Single-Shot Shotguns
Our hunger for the latest and greatest in firearms innovation — replete with technical performance details and cutting-edge technology — is insatiable. And, while we love a kitted-out AR as much as the next guy, firearms — like any other tool — can be even more interesting when designed for specific purposes. If you’re looking… Continue reading The Best Single-Shot Shotguns
Best 9mm Ammo: Hollow Point, Range & Self-Defense Rounds
Possibly the most popular centerfire ammunition made today, and almost certainly one of the most prolific, landing on the right 9mm ammo load for home defense, plinking, or carry ammo can sometimes get a little overwhelming. We dive deep into the world of Herr Luger to point you in the right direction for the ever-popular… Continue reading Best 9mm Ammo: Hollow Point, Range & Self-Defense Rounds
Rimfire vs. Centerfire Ammo: A Comparison
For some people in the shooting community, choosing ammunition can be a little daunting. There are a lot of bullets out there – which makes for a steep learning curve, especially when it comes to teasing out the relative strengths of different calibers and ammunition types. At first glance, all ammunition might look pretty similar… Continue reading Rimfire vs. Centerfire Ammo: A Comparison
The Best Taurus Revolvers
Based in São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil – Forjas Taurus is a manufacturing conglomerate founded in 1939. Originally focused on tool and die forging, the company now consists of a variety of divisions that specialize in metals manufacturing, plastics, body armors, helmets, and civil construction – as well as Taurus Armas, its firearm… Continue reading The Best Taurus Revolvers
The Best 10mm Pistols: Top Choices and Essential Buying Tips
The 10mm Auto isn’t for everyone, and that’s exactly why it’s perfect for some of us. While the shooting world keeps rehashing the same 9mm-versus-.45-ACP debates, the 10mm has quietly carved out a niche no other semi-automatic cartridge can touch — it’s not the most popular, the easiest to shoot, or the cheapest to feed,… Continue reading The Best 10mm Pistols: Top Choices and Essential Buying Tips
The Best AR-12 Shotguns: Modern Firepower From Tactical to Sport
Bottom Line Up Front: The Typhoon Defense X12 is the best AR12 shotgun for most people. It pairs a familiar AR layout with a twin gas piston setup, helping with reliability and creating a smoother operation than other AR12s. It’s also got a surprisingly good trigger, giving you a reliable home defense or competition shotgun… Continue reading The Best AR-12 Shotguns: Modern Firepower From Tactical to Sport
The Best Thermal Scope for Coyote Hunting
If you want to put down a lot of coyotes, chances are you’ll have to do it at night. To do that, you need the best thermal scope you can get. It is not uncommon to put shots on coyotes at over 100 yards, so a good thermal scope is a must if you want… Continue reading The Best Thermal Scope for Coyote Hunting
The Best .224 Valkyrie Uppers: Get Some Longer Distance Pew
The AR-15 platform in its standard caliber, the 5.56mm NATO, is an excellent rifle, but at 500 yards or so, the round’s limitations become pretty apparent. It was, after all, intended as a multi-role combat rifle and not a long-range tack driver. That’s why, in recent years, people have been going with bigger pills and,… Continue reading The Best .224 Valkyrie Uppers: Get Some Longer Distance Pew
9mm Revolver Evolution: The Best on the Market
For more than a century, wheel guns have been a staple in the world of concealed carry. Throughout this vast expanse of time, handheld firearms have seen tremendous innovation, leading many to gravitate towards the efficiency and convenience of semi-automatic firearms, especially in sought-after calibers like the .45 ACP and 9mm. However, it’s an oversimplification… Continue reading 9mm Revolver Evolution: The Best on the Market