Choosing a Concealed Carry Purse

If you’re a female shooter who carries concealed, odds are you’ve put your gun in your purse at some point in time. And if you do it on a regular basis, you’ve probably learned the hard way what a firearm does to the interior of your purse. Whether you have a $30 purse you got on sale or a $250 designer purse, the result is always the same: shredded liners, torn zippers, and slow-but-steady wear to the bottom of the purse. So what’s a stylish shooter to do? Concealed carry purses, of course.

Considerations When Opting for a Concealed Carry Purse

Designers of concealed carry purses have quite a few things to consider. The best purses will firmly hold your gun in place while keeping it fully concealed – and without letting casual observers notice the purse has a gun compartment. Also, they should Concealed Carry Pursebe designed for close-to-the-body wear and be able to be completely closed for the obvious reasons.

Good designs don’t hinder drawing your gun and provide easy access, but again without drawing attention to the compartment. They should also be customizable, because guns come in different sizes and won’t be truly secure in a one-size-fits-all holster or compartment.

And let’s not forget appearance. Although they don’t need to be cute pink bags studded with rhinestones – and, let’s face it, the majority of firearms owners won’t be after that kind of purse, anyway – they should be nice-looking bags, and without sacrificing durability. If all this seems like it’s asking an awful lot of designers, it both is and is not, after all, how many thousands of holster designs are out there?

There are a few important things to keep in mind if you plan to carry a gun in your purse. Off-body carry isn’t always ideal, although if it’s the only way you can or will carry your gun, by all means, do it. It’s also a good method for carrying a backup gun (BUG). When using a purse to carry your gun, take care – and use a concealed carry purse for greater security, safety, and accessibility. If you’re going to carry a gun in your purse, there are specific issues to keep in mind.

 

The Best Concealed Weapon Purse

As long as you take the time to practice with your new concealed carry method, take care to be aware of your surroundings – as you should be, regardless – and keep your purse with you at all times, a concealed weapon purse could be a great fit for your personal needs. And if you want to use a concealed carry purse, also termed a concealed carry handbag, we have a few suggestions.

 

1. Roma F.C. Concealed Carry Purse/Locking CCW Gun Bag

Concealed Carry Purse - Genuine Leather Locking CCW Gun Bag - Left and Right-hand Draw, Tan
  • Genuine Leather
  • Left or Right hand Draw
  • LOCKING CCW compartment with removable/adjustable holst
  • Fits Gun Size/s: Pocket autos up to Glock; REINFORCED SLASH-RESISTANT STRAPS
  • 11" x 9" x 3" overall size

For: Right and left-handed draw with size: 11” x 9” x 3”

Colors: Black, Olive, Tan, and Wine

The Roma F.C. Concealed Carry Purse is a quality option made of genuine leather. It’s a casual bag with fixed-length shoulder straps, a main compartment, zippered front pocket, zippered slash pocket Roma F.C. Concealed Carry Purseabove the front pocket, and an open pouch on the back.

There are two buckled straps across the purse’s front for aesthetic purposes and stitching is done in contrasting colors. The shoulder straps are designed to be cut-resistant, making the purse more resistant to theft, and they’re short enough to stop the purse from hanging too low on your body.

Access to the dedicated gun compartment is through a side zipper, which can be opened with a firm pull. The concealed carry compartment locks for added security and comes with four keys. It’s sized to fit guns from the size of pocket pistols to full-size Glocks.

And to keep your gun secure, there is an adjustable holster inside the compartment that can also be removed. It’s possible to use your own holster with this bag if you so desire. This is a medium-size concealed carry purse that’s good for daily, casual use and offers added security with its key lock and locking zipper.

Also comes in an Olive and Tan color.

Cons: Larger handguns are unlikely to fit in the compartment but it’s a good fit for small and medium handguns.

 

2. Goson Concealed Weapon Purse/Leather CCW Locking Gun Bag

Goson Front Buckle Concealed Gun Handbag Bundle with Stylish Sunglasses
  • Goson women's PU leather concealed carry purse bundle with a pair of stylish sunglasses
  • Functional design made with high quality pebble faux leather. Roomy front compartment with hand polished front buckle
  • Right-hand and Left-hand access to weapon compartment and dedicated locking CCW compartment with universal holster with 4 keys; CCW zipper opening is 6" inches and will conceal most full-sized autos such as S&W .38 or Ruger LCP
  • Non-wire slash resistant shoulder strap adjusts from a secure, under-arm carry of 14 inches to a full cross-body carry of approximately 26 inches
  • Dedicated YKK locking CCW compartment with velcro gun holster; CCW zipper opening is 6" inches and will conceal most full-sized autos such as S&W .38 or Ruger LCP

For: Right and left-handed draw with size: 11” x 9” x 3”

Colors: Black, Wine, and Brown

This Goson Concealed Handgun Purse is made of top grain cowhide and is soft yet sturdy. It’s a medium-sized purse made in a casual style. It has fixed-length shoulder straps that are just long enough to keep the purse at a comfortable level so you can Goson Concealed Weapon Pursekeep one hand on it and has multiple pockets for extra storage space.

In addition to its main compartment, which is separate from the dedicated gun compartment, it has a zipper pocket on the front of the bag with a zippered slash pocket right above it. You could easily store your smart phone or a small makeup bag in that front pocket.

The front pocket has two buckled straps for purely aesthetic purposes. On the back is an open-mouth pocket just the right size for slipping a tablet inside. The gun compartment is sized for pocket pistols all the way up to guns the size of Glocks and comes with an adjustable holster.

If you’d rather use your own holster, you can remove the one the purse comes with. For security purposes the gun compartment, which is accessed through a side zipper, has a locking zipper and also locks fully; it comes with four keys. This is a nice looking purse that will hold all your basics, and it’s casual enough for daily use.

Cons: Some users mention the gun compartment’s side zipper can be difficult to open, but that isn’t really a con. It simply takes a firm downward pull to access the compartment, and it’s far better for the zipper to be solidly closed than easily opened by just anyone.

This is an additional ccw purse by Goson, a nice secondary concealed carry handbag option to the Goson listed above: Goson® Concealed Carry Handbag.

 

3. Gun Tote’n Mamas Concealed Handgun Purse

Concealed Carry Purse - Leather Tooled American Cowhide Crossbody by GTM (Tan)
  • This concealed carry leather shoulder bag from Gun Tote'n Mama's is a beautiful vintage wearable art! A hand carved mold creates this embossed understated rose leaf pattern on American cowhide leather. Hand rubbed color creates graceful multi-tone highlights. This bag will age to a darker patina that becomes softer with use.
  • The gun compartment was designed for either left or right handed use and measures 10" Wide x 4" Deep x 8". This pocket opens on 3 sides and includes a holster that is adjustable to your most comfortable draw angle. It fits small to medium framed handguns.
  • The adjustable strap (shortest -12", longest- 25") has the wire-reinforced SLASH RESISTANT shoulder strap. A detachable leather tassel adds a touch of bling.
  • The top zippered main compartment holds daily necessities (wallet, phone, etc) and includes a side pocket and a zippered privacy pocket.
  • The outside, magnetic flap covers an organizer that side zippers for easier access to the card slots and slot pockets. Purses Dimensions: 11" Wide x 8" Tall x 3.5" Deep

For: Right or left-handed draw and size: 11” x 8” x 3.5”

Colors: Tan and Cherry

The Gun Tote’n Mamas Holster Purse is made of quality cowhide with a beautifully tooled leaf and flower pattern. The pattern is created using a hand carved mold depicting an elaborate rose leaf pattern for a stylish embossed finish, and the color is hand-rubbed for varied highlights. With use the leather will soften and the leather will darken.

This bag has an adjustable shoulder strap and is the wire-reinforced slash-resistant style; it can be adjusted between 12” and 25”. There’s a detachable leather tassel for an extra bit of style. In addition to the dedicated gun compartment this ccw purse has a zippered main compartment with an internal snap-closure side pocket that has a zippered privacy pocket within it.

A magnetic flap covers a large side pocket for easy access to card and slot pockets. The gun compartment measures 10”x4”x8” and has a zipper that allows it to be opened on three sides. Within that compartment is a removable holster that adheres to the side of the bag with Velcro; Velcro also allows the holster to be adjusted for your preferred draw angle.

It’s sized for small-to-medium frame pistols such as the Ruger SR40 and SIG P238. If you’re looking for a stylish, moderately-sized concealed carry purse, this carefully crafted bag is a good option. Gun Tote’n Mamas is known for quality all the way around.

Cons: The gun compartment doesn’t lock, although it is located at the back of the purse so it should stay up against your body when in use.

 

The Best Purse Holster

Rather than a purse made with specific internal compartments to carry a gun, a purse holster is a separate removable holster contraption that you can place your firearm inside to include inside a regular purse so as not to ruin the interior of your everyday purse. This Ace Case holster purse is our favorite among all the options out there.

 

Ace Case Concealed Carry Removable Purse Holster

Ace Case Concealed Carry Removable Purse Holster (Pink Camo)
  • Inside the purse or on belt, ladies holster
  • For very small pocket guns, i.e. 380 and 32 caliber
  • Outside Dimensions: 7.5" x 6" Inside Dimensions: 6.5" x 5" with 3/4" Thick Padding.
  • Velcro closure, metal holster clip
  • Made in the USA

For: Holster for use inside purse or bag and size: 7.5” x 6”

Colors: Black, Giraffe, Leopard, Pink Camo, Zebra, Candy Camo, Red Lipstick

This Ace Case Purse Holster is specifically made to keep your gun covered while it’s being carried in your purse. It’s made of a nylon and polyester blend and comes in a variety of fashionable colors. There is a narrow metal clip on the rear of the holster. This holster is soft and made with ¾” thick padding to keep your gun well protected. A flap with a Velcro closure keeps your gun contained.

It’s sized for pocket pistols such as .380 ACP and .32 caliber Derringers and Berettas; the holster’s interior is approximately 6.5”x 5” at its broadest points. If you want a well-padded holster to keep your gun enclosed while it’s being carried in your purse – preferably your concealed-carry holster purse – this will absolutely keep your gun protected.

Cons: The metal clip is not really suitable for belt carry but could be used to secure the holster to a loop or pocket inside your purse.

 

How to Carry a CCW Purse the Right Way

Purse snatchers are a serious problem when you have a gun in your purse; you absolutely must keep it on your body and your hand on your purse when there’s a gun in it. All too often, women set it in a shopping cart at the grocery store and walk away to get something off a shelf or to read a product label, and when they turn back, their purse is gone.

Of course, thieves can also take it off your body, which is why it’s vital to be constantly aware of your surroundings and to keep one hand on your purse rather than allowing it to swing and hang unchecked.

Now you’ve lost something far more serious than your debit card and driver’s license, you’ve lost a deadly weapon. But thieves aren’t the only risk, either. Children – and other adults – often have open access to your purse, and it’s pretty obvious why that cannot happen when there’s a gun inside. And then there’s the time factor.

In a life-or-death situation, seconds count. Drawing a gun from the average purse isn’t quick; it takes extra time. Too many woman pile things on top of their gun or allow it to slide around at random, making it impossible to draw with anything near real speed. You can remedy both accessibility and presentation time by using a ccw purse.

Of course, just as with any holster or method of on-body carry, you need to practice. Take the time to practice drawing your gun from your concealed carry purse’s compartment; with time, you’ll get faster. Just as with any method of carry you need to work at it to make it work for you.

The Bottom Line

If you’re in the market for a CCW purse, make sure you get one that can stand up to regular use. Although it’s nice if a purse looks good, the security of your gun should come first, so take a look at the gun compartment first. A good concealed handgun purse will keep your gun secure and allow for quick access; remember, all methods of carry require practice. If carrying your gun on your body isn’t possible or you simply prefer off-body carry, try one of these concealed carry purses. It is far better to be armed than unarmed.