Last updated: Nov 3, 2026
Short answer: Six 9mm carry pistols list under $500 on their makers’ own sites as of Nov 3, 2026: the Taurus GX4, Ruger Max-9, Beretta APX A1 Carry, Canik Mete MC9, Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield Plus and Taurus TX9 Sub Compact. The GX4 has the lowest MSRP. The Mete MC9, APX A1 Carry and TX9 Sub come ready for a red dot.
How we picked these six
Every gun here had to clear one bar: a manufacturer’s suggested retail price under $500, read off the maker’s own website as of Nov 3, 2026. Not a sale price, not a retailer’s “compare at” number. Street prices move around, so we stuck to MSRP and linked each maker’s page so you can check it yourself.
All six are 9mm and built for concealed carry. A few popular carry guns didn’t make it because the maker lists them at $500 or more, or doesn’t publish an MSRP at all. The optics-ready versions of the Shield Plus, for example, list above $500 on Smith & Wesson’s site, so only the plain-slide models count here.
The six at a glance
Specs and prices below come from each maker’s product page, except the APX A1 Carry dimensions, which come from Firearms News because Beretta’s spec sheet didn’t load for us. Weight is unloaded.
| Pistol (maker page) | Maker’s MSRP | Barrel | Weight (unloaded) | Width | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taurus GX4 | $359.99 | 3.06 in. | 18.7 oz | 1.08 in. | 11+1 |
| Ruger Max-9 | $299 to $469 by model | 3.2 in. | 18.4 to 19.2 oz | 0.95 in. (slide) | 10+1 or 12+1 |
| Beretta APX A1 Carry | from $409 | 3 in. | 19.8 oz | 0.9 in. | 6+1 or 8+1 |
| Canik Mete MC9 | $439.99 (no optic) | 3.18 in. | 21.27 oz | 1.16 in. | 12 or 15 rd mags |
| S&W M&P9 Shield Plus | $499 (non-optic models) | 3.1 in. | 17.9 oz | 1.1 in. | 10+1 or 13+1 |
| Taurus TX9 Sub Compact | $499.99 | 3.4 in. | 21.7 oz | 1.28 in. | 13+1 |
Taurus GX4: the lowest MSRP on the list
The Taurus GX4 lists at $359.99 for the black 11-round model (1-GX4M931), the lowest sticker in this group. Taurus puts it at 3.06 inches of barrel, 6.05 inches long, 4.40 inches tall, 1.08 inches wide and 18.7 ounces empty, with two 11-round magazines in the box (Taurus).
It has a flat-face serrated trigger, a reversible magazine release and a Picatinny rail. If you’re after a dot on a GX4, check the exact model number on Taurus’s site before you buy a plate or optic, since not every GX4 slide is the same.
Taurus GX4 safety notice: check your serial number
Taurus has posted a safety notice that says some GX4 pistols assembled and sold only in the United States “may, under certain circumstances, discharge when dropped.” This isn’t something to shrug off. If you own a GX4, Taurus says to safely unload it and stop using it right away (Taurus GX4 safety notice).
Next, enter your pistol’s serial number on that same Taurus page. The serial number is on the rear of the pistol, and the site tells you whether your gun is covered. If it is, Taurus says it will inspect it, repair it if needed and send it back free of charge. If it isn’t covered, Taurus says you can disregard the notice.
Buying a GX4 now? Run the serial number check the day you pick it up from your dealer, before it ever rides in a holster.
Ruger Max-9: optics ready with a manual safety
Ruger’s current Max-9 lineup runs from $299 to $449 MSRP depending on the model (Ruger Max-9 models). Every version has a manual safety, a 3.2-inch barrel and a slide that’s 0.95 inches wide.
The model we link, the Ruger Max-9 3502, is optics ready. Ruger’s spec sheet lists it at $469 suggested retail, 10+1 with two 10-round magazines, 19.2 ounces, 6 inches long and 4.52 inches tall. It has a tritium fiber optic front sight, a Hogue grip sleeve, and a slide cut for direct mounting of JPoint and Shield-pattern micro red dots (Ruger 3502 spec sheet, archived June 2025). The 3502 isn’t on Ruger’s current model list, so that price comes from Ruger’s archived sheet.
Ruger’s current 3514 lists at $299 with 12+1 capacity and the same JPoint and Shield RMSc cut (Ruger 3514 spec sheet), and the 3523 comes with a ReadyDot installed (Ruger 3523 spec sheet). Need a California-compliant Max-9? The Max-9 3518 lists at $449, but Ruger says it can’t accept a mounted optic (Ruger 3518 spec sheet).
Beretta APX A1 Carry: slimmest of the bunch
Beretta lists the APX A1 Carry starting at $409 (Beretta). Firearms News puts it at a 3-inch barrel, 5.63 inches long, 4.17 inches tall, 0.9 inches wide and 19.8 ounces, with 6- and 8-round magazines and an optic-ready slide (Firearms News).
That 0.9-inch width is the slimmest figure on our list. The tradeoff is capacity, since it holds fewer rounds than anything else here.
APX A1 Carry manufacturer rebate through Nov 30
Beretta is running a manufacturer rebate on the APX A1 Carry. Buy a new one between Aug 1 and Nov 30, 2026, and claim by Dec 31, 2026. You choose either a $75 digital prepaid card or a $150 Beretta gift card, and Beretta gift cards can only be spent on Beretta.com (Beretta rebates).
Beretta’s terms say the gun has to be new and bought at full retail price in the United States. To claim, you upload a dated receipt that shows the serial number, a clear photo of the serial number on the gun and a copy of your completed Form 4473. The rebate comes from Beretta, not from us, and you file it with Beretta directly.
Canik Mete MC9: a 15-round magazine in the box
Canik lists the Mete MC9 at $439.99 without an optic (Canik USA). It comes with a 12-round and a 15-round magazine, and Canik lists a 3.18-inch barrel, 6.1 inches overall, 4.52 inches tall, 1.16 inches wide and 21.27 ounces. It’s optic ready out of the box, with a white dot front sight and a blacked-out rear.
We link the Mete MC9 in black with gold accents, and there’s also a 10-round Mete MC9 for folks in states with magazine limits. The version that ships with Canik’s MO1 optic lists above $500, so it isn’t counted here.
If you’ve been cross-shopping the MC9 against a Sig P365X, the main thing to know for this list is price: we couldn’t confirm a P365X MSRP under $500 on Sig’s site, so it stays off.
Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield Plus: right at $499
The non-optic Shield Plus lists at $499 on Smith & Wesson’s site, right at the top of our budget. S&W lists a 3.1-inch barrel, 6.1 inches long, 4.6 inches tall, 1.1 inches wide and 17.9 ounces, with 10- and 13-round magazines, a flat-face trigger and an 18-degree grip angle.
We link the Shield Plus without a thumb safety (13248). If you’d rather have a manual safety, the thumb safety version (13246) also lists at $499. These plain slides aren’t cut for an optic.
Taurus TX9 Sub Compact: modular and optics ready
The Taurus TX9 Sub Compact lists at $499.99 and comes with two 13-round magazines (Taurus). Taurus gives it a 3.4-inch barrel, 6.62 inches overall, 4.5 inches tall, 1.28 inches wide and 21.7 ounces.
It’s the biggest gun on this list, and the most adjustable. It uses the Taurus Modular System, a serialized chassis that Taurus says lets you swap between full size, compact and subcompact frames. It’s optics ready, has dovetailed iron sights, an ambidextrous slide release, a reversible mag catch and four backstraps. If you want a little more gun for the same MSRP, Taurus lists the TX9 Compact at $499.99 too, and we carry the TX9 Compact as well.
Planning to add a red dot
Optics ready doesn’t tell you which red dot fits. Each maker cuts its slides for a specific footprint, or ships plates. Before you buy an optic for any of these, read our guide on which red dot fits your pistol and check the gun maker’s own fit list.
Buying one as a gift
A carry pistol can make a fine Christmas present, but the rules for gifting a gun are their own thing. Our post on buying a gun as a gift walks through how it works when you order online and ship to a dealer.
FAQ
What is the best carry pistol under $500?
There isn’t one right answer for every hand. On maker MSRP alone, the Taurus GX4 is the lowest of our six at $359.99. If you want a factory optic cut under $500, look at the Canik Mete MC9, the Beretta APX A1 Carry or the Taurus TX9 Sub Compact. Hold a few and pick the one you shoot best. See Taurus for GX4 pricing.
Is the Taurus GX4 safe to carry after the drop safety notice?
Taurus says some GX4 pistols assembled and sold only in the United States may discharge when dropped. If you own one, Taurus says to safely unload it, stop using it, and enter the serial number from the rear of the pistol on its notice page. Covered guns get inspected and repaired free. Check the Taurus GX4 safety notice.
How does the Beretta APX A1 Carry manufacturer rebate work?
Buy a new APX A1 Carry between Aug 1 and Nov 30, 2026, then claim with Beretta by Dec 31, 2026. You pick a $75 digital prepaid card or a $150 Beretta gift card. Beretta asks for a dated receipt with the serial number, a photo of the serial number and a copy of your Form 4473. Details are on Beretta rebates.
Ready to look closer? Browse our semi-auto handguns, or open any of the six product pages above.
