Choosing a gun for concealed carry can be a bit challenging (okay, it can suck actually). You can’t just choose whatever works for a friend or instructor, either—what works perfectly for them might be an awful choice for you. Finding the right carry gun for you means considering a number of different handguns.
When you’re choosing your carry gun, don’t overlook used models. A used pistol is an easier lift and one that you should definitely consider is the Mossberg single stack MC1sc. (And if you want to go with a new gun, Mossberg’s double stack MC2sc should also be on your list.
What’s the Mossberg MC1sc?
When the Mossberg MC1sc made its debut, it was excitedly proclaimed by many as the company’s first handgun. It wasn’t. The MC1sc was Mossberg’s first modern handgun.
The first pistol from the gun maker was the Mossberg Brownie, a pint-sized .22 LR that was briefly produced early in the last century. Mossberg announced the MC1sc in 2019, exactly 100 years after the Brownie was introduced. And the new pistol had nothing at all in common with the Brownie. The MC1sc is a striker-fired pistol chambered in 9mm and designed for the super-hot concealed carry market.
What are the specifications of the Mossberg MC1sc?
The MC1sc is a subcompact handgun, hence the he “sc” in the model name. Of course, size designations tend to vary by manufacturer. Basically, the MC1sc is smaller than a compact but bigger than most micro compacts. The MC1sc has a 3.4-inch barrel, an overall length of 6.25-inches, a height of 4.3-inches, and a 1.0-inch width. It weighs 19 ounces empty. Capacity is 6+1 which really doesn’t add much weight to the gun. The pistol is a great option for deep concealment or whenever you want to carry a small, slim pistol.
The MC1sc has polymer frame that keeps the carry weight down. One of the great things about polymer pistols is they’re durable and can handle the bumps and scrapes of regular daily use without making you cry because the finish is ruined. This is no safe queen, this is a gun that’s meant to be carried on a daily basis.
Angled serrations at both the front and the back of the slide facilitate sure, easy racking. Textured sections of the grip are both purpose-driven for a secure grip and aesthetically designed. The trigger guard is rounded as are the edges of the slide for reduced risk of snagging. There’s a safety blade trigger and the gun is available with or without an external thumb safety (I prefer it without).
If you get a Mossberg pistol with a manual safety it’s not a traditional frame safety. Mossberg uses a crossbolt safety in its handguns placed just behind the trigger, so you push it to engage or disengage it rather than flipping a lever up or down.

How does the Mossberg MC1sc shoot?
Smaller guns can present some challenges depending on your hand size and experience. Fortunately, the MC1sc isn’t so tiny you can’t grip it well, but it is short enough you’ll probably have a dangling pinkie. An extended magazine is included and that solves the pinkie problem. Using that mag doesn’t make it hard to conceal, either, so I recommend it.
Over time a few thousand rounds have gone through this gun, and it hasn’t had any failures. That’s a must for any handgun you want to use for self-defense—it’s got to be consistently reliable. The ammo used has mostly been a combination of Hornady and Federal with some FMJ from Aguila thrown in.
Thanks to the beavertail of the grip, a good, high hold on the pistol can be managed without issue. The textured panels work well to keep your hands from slipping. It’s a slim gun, and that always has pros and cons. If you’re expecting a subcompact that precisely fits your hands, you’re probably going to be disappointed with every model on the market unless your hands are small to begin with. It’s mostly a matter of practice and getting accustomed to smaller guns.
Felt recoil and muzzle rise on the MC1sc isn’t extreme but it is a little snappy which isn’t surprising considering its length and weight. Even so, rapid target acquisition is doable, but it might take practice.
At closer distances this is an accurate gun which fits with its size and defensive use. If you’re a fan of playing card drills, which I am, you’ll be happy you can nail single-hole, five-shot groups consistently. Moving out to ten yards you can maintain a tight group shooting offhand, and once you move out to 25 yards you’re closer to minute-of-dinner-plate if you’re firing offhand (you could get smaller groups, it’s just a far greater challenge). Switch it up by shooting from the bench and the groups close back up, hovering under 4.0 inches at 25 yards. Granted, you’re unlikely to be shooting from a bench in a fight for your life.
One of my favorite things about this gun is the trigger. It’s a flat-faced safety blade design and it delivers a smooth pull and clean break. Reset is also short which is useful for rapid fire. It’s not uncommon to find excessively stiff triggers or designs that stack ahead of the break, or are mushy, on factory polymer pistols. The trigger in this gun is nice as-is, and that’s a pleasant surprise.
The gun comes with either standard three-dot sights or an option to upgrade to tritium night sights. Both work well although the tritium option is definitely better. It’s been awhile since three-dot white iron sights were considered the end-all, be-all of pistol sights. Go for the upgraded sights.
An interesting feature of this gun is the Safe Takedown System. Mossberg designed it so you can simply remove the firing pin assembly from the back of the slide without pressing the trigger. To do it, you drop the mag on an empty gun and remove the end plate. That’s a nice safety feature for cleaning and maintenance and remains unique.
Should you get a Mossberg MC1sc?
If you want a slim polymer subcompact for carry, the MC1sc is a decent choice. It’s reliable, accurate, and durable. You can easily conceal it, which is a big plus, and it’s large enough to be relatively simple for most gun owners to run well. If you want a bigger or next gen Mossberg pistol, there’s always the MC2sc or the larger MC2c. The biggest downside is the capacity, because there are a lot of compacts out there with greater capacity. As someone who’s always skeptical of new pistols, I was pleasantly surprised that I truly like this one (and the others that have followed from Mossberg). It checks the necessary boxes for a good carry gun, it’s reasonably priced, and the quality and accuracy outdo the price point.
Specifications: Mossberg MC1sc
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity 6-Round Flush-Fit / 7-Round Extended
Barrel Length 3.4″
Weight: 19 oz (Unloaded), 22 oz (Loaded)
Length: 6.25″
Height: 4.3″
Width: 1.03″
MSRP: $421
Mrs. Stevens, my name is Cole Weaver, and I have a holster design I would like to share with you. There is a prototype and It has been shared with multiple manufacturers after the they signed a Non Disclosure Agreement. If you are willing to sign a NDA I can share this concept with you and send you a prototype for you to review.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Cole Weaver