Five hundred bucks is a relative bargain for a self-defense handgun, but there are some outstanding options in this price category. Here are five of the best.
by Brad Fitzpatrick
In the last five years, there have been record numbers of new gun owners, and many of them are searching for a semi-auto pistol for recreational shooting and self-defense. Not surprisingly, there are lots of options when choosing a semi-auto pistol. There are so many, in fact, that it sometimes can be difficult to choose which gun best suits your needs.
We’ve compiled a list of what we believe to be the very best semi-auto pistols under $500. These guns offer reliable, dependable operation and lots of features, but they’re also a great value.
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0
The original Smith & Wesson Bodyguard was a lightweight .380 pocket pistol with a 6-round magazine that was suitable for deep concealment, but the new 2.0 model is a complete redesign and a much-improved gun. Despite being the smallest autoloader on our list (.88-inches wide, 5.5-inches long, and weighing just 9.8-ounces unloaded) Smith & Wesson has done a masterful job of designing the Bodyguard 2.0 so that it doesn’t shoot like most other micro pistols. The grip is large enough to manage the gun under recoil and accuracy is best-in-class. Capacity has increased dramatically, and these guns come with 10- and 12-round magazines. Aggressive front and rear slide serrations make the gun quite manageable, and this is one of the few .380s that allow for easy press checks if you are so inclined. Despite its diminutive size and concealability, this striker-fired pistol is built using premium components like a stainless-steel slide and barrel with Armornite finish and a flat-face bladed trigger. The U-notch rear and tritium post front sights are outstanding, and the grip design and angle are far better than what you’ll find on most competing micro .380 pistols. Models are available with or without a manual safety, and there’s also a compliant model for areas with magazine capacity restrictions.
I’ve tested the Bodyguard 2.0 extensively and I can clearly see why it has quickly racked up so many awards and won over shooters across the country. This is a game-changer in the micro-pistol market — a well-built .380 autoloader with a substantial magazine capacity and unquestioned build quality. MSRP: $449
Taurus GX2
The Taurus GX2 is a 9mm workhorse, a surprisingly well-built and robust semi-auto that’s priced well below the competition. It lacks a few of the features found on other guns on the list, like an optics cut, interchangeable backstraps, and night sights, but the GX2 boasts a 13+1 capacity and is a striker-fired pistol that operates reliably and is backed by a lifetime warranty. The rear sight is drift adjustable and the white dot front sight is suitable for shooting in most lighting conditions. The accessory rail allows owners to mount lights or other accessories. Two magazines come standard, and the grip design is comfortable even when shooting without gloves, offering excellent control over the firearm. With its 3.38-inch barrel, the Taurus has an overall length of just under 6.2 inches and a width of 1.18 inches. Weight is a manageable 19.04 ounces unloaded. That means this gun is compact enough to carry yet large enough that you can comfortably shoot it at the range without fatigue. The frame is polymer and the slide is made from alloy steel with a durable black finish that combats the abuses of daily carry. This is one of the few pistols on the list that comes standard with a manual safety. There’s also a blade-style trigger safety.
Although it’s a bit more austere than some of the other guns on this list, the Taurus GX2 is a great value and a reliable, hardworking 9mm semi-auto suitable for concealed carry, recreational shooting, and home defense. MSRP: $309.99
Stoeger STR-9 Thinline
You may ask why there’s a gun listed here that’s above the $500 price point. Well, there are two reasons. First, with an MSRP of $529, you’re very likely to see this pistol advertised at gun stores at or perhaps even slightly below the magical $500 mark. Second, and perhaps most importantly, this pistol offers a lot of bang for the buck. The STR-9 Thinline is the same width as Stoeger’s STR-9MC — just about an inch. But the Thinline comes with a larger grip to comfortably accommodate big hands and 14- or 16-round magazines. That makes this one of the year’s most versatile 9mm pistols. Need a thin gun for daily carry? The Thinline will suit your needs. But it also offers a large enough grip (with new, improved stippling patches) that it is manageable to shoot.
Three magazines come standard (two 14-round mags, one 16-round), which is at least one more than most of the other pistols listed here, plus tritium sights and an RMSc optics cut come standard on this gun. Front and rear slide serrations also allow for improved control while the trigger is among the best in this price class of pistols. Daily carry can be rough on a pistol, but the Stoeger’s nitride-hardened black matte finish will stand up well to the rigors of regular use. I had an opportunity to examine the Stoeger STR-9 Thinline at the 2025 SHOT Show and found it to be extremely comfortable to hold yet thin enough to conceal under light clothing. It certainly deserves a spot on this list and it’s a gun you should consider when purchasing your next carry pistol. MSRP: $529
Ruger RXM
The RXM is a new collaboration between Ruger and Magpul, and this compact 9mm handgun has a lot to offer. It comes with a direct-mount slide cut that fits popular optic footprints like the DeltaPoint Pro, RMR, and RMSc, so there’s no need to order an optics plate. These pistols come with front and rear slide serrations, a black nitride finish, and sights that co-witness with most optics. The front tritium night sight is quick to pick up if you’re running the pistols sans optic, and these guns offer Gen 3 compatibility so they’re easy to customize. A removable stainless-steel Fire Control Insert (FCI) sits inside the Magpul Enhanced Handgun Grip, giving these pistols a level of modularity not seen on other guns in this price range. The Enhanced handgun grip (EHG) offers excellent control over the gun thanks to ample microtexturing on the grip surface, a generous trigger undercut, and a grip angle that promotes a high handhold on the pistol. The unloaded weight of the pistol is around 23 ounces, and the slide measures just an inch wide, making this a gun that’s concealable yet comfortable to shoot all day at the range. It also offers a 15+1 capacity.
I tested this pistol on two separate occasions and found it to be extremely reliable and the grip design does a good job moderating recoil. The trigger is also excellent, and accuracy was among the best of any compact 9mm pistol I’ve tested. MSRP: $499
Rost Martin RM1C
Rost Martin may not be as well-known as some of the other brands listed here simply because the company is only a few years old; however, their first firearm model — the RM1C — is a well-built pistol that’s an outstanding value. The action is smooth, the trigger is outstanding, and reliability has proven to be excellent. These striker-fired 9mm pistols come with 4-inch hammer-forged barrels and feature polymer frames in your choice of four different colors (black, green, gray, and FDE). The front and rear sights are dovetailed into the slide while the slide is cut to accept optics (an RMR plate comes standard, but plates for other optics are available on the Rost Martin website). Capacity is 15-rounds with the included flush-fit magazine or 17-rounds with the extended magazine, and at around an inch wide, this gun is easy to conceal. In fact, I believe it’s easier to conceal under light clothing because it lacks the sharp edges found on some other compact pistols. Rost Martin’s Responsive Grip Texturing helps make the gun comfortable and manageable to shoot and the trigger is superb, breaking at around five pounds.
Rost Martin may not be a household name everywhere yet, but the quality of these guns is so good that they won’t fly under the radar for long. It’s been some time since a new gun company has succeeded so well with their freshman firearm model. MSRP: $469
- Top Semi-Auto Self-Defense Handguns Under $500 - February 14, 2025
- Benelli’s Tactical and Self-Defense Shotgun Lineup - December 16, 2024
- FIRST TEST: Springfield Echelon 4.0C 9MM - December 3, 2024
