Small pistols don’t have much mass to soak up heat. Short barrels, fast cycling, and tight little slides warm up quickly. If you shoot a carry pistol hard—strings, drills, reload practice—you’ll notice heat fast, especially with micro 9s and blowback-style .22s.
This list is for the pistols that tend to get noticeably hot during normal practice sessions, even without doing anything extreme. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it can change how you train.
SIG Sauer P365
The P365 is a top-tier carry gun, but it heats up quick because it’s compact and people tend to shoot it fast. Run a few magazines back-to-back and you’ll feel the slide and frame warm up faster than a mid-size pistol.
That matters during drills when you’re doing reloads and manipulations. It’s not “dangerous,” but it’s noticeable, and it’s one reason some shooters prefer a slightly larger compact for high-volume range days.
Springfield Hellcat
The Hellcat sits in the same micro 9 category: tight package, lots of performance, quick heat buildup. The small slide and frame don’t have much room to spread heat out, so it concentrates where you’re grabbing the gun.
If you do repeated draw-and-fire drills or longer strings, you’ll feel it. It’s a carry gun first. It can train hard, but it’s more comfortable if you pace your shooting.
Glock 43X
The 43X is simple and reliable, but it’s still a slim, compact pistol that warms up quickly when you’re running it at speed. The slim frame also means your hands are closer to the hot parts than on a thicker compact.
You notice it most when you’re doing repeated slide work and reloads. For normal carry and occasional practice it’s fine, but long training sessions are where the heat becomes obvious.
Glock 48
The 48 has a little more slide length, but it’s still part of the slimline family. When you’re moving through drills, the slide gets warm and stays warm because there’s not a ton of mass to absorb and disperse that heat.
The upside is shootability is usually better than the 43. The downside is it still behaves like a slim carry gun during longer, faster sessions—warm hands and warm slide.
Ruger LCP Max
Micro .380s can get hot surprisingly fast because the gun is so small. The LCP Max is a solid pocket option, but if you shoot it like a “regular pistol,” it’ll remind you quickly that it’s a tiny machine.
Heat, recoil, and grip pressure all stack up. You can still train with it, but it’s more pleasant when you keep your strings short and let it cool between runs.
Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield Plus
The Shield Plus is more shootable than many micro guns, but it still heats up faster than a duty-size pistol. A lot of people run the Shield hard because it feels good, and that’s when you notice heat.
It’s most noticeable during repeated reloads and when you’re doing a lot of slide manipulations. If it’s your only pistol, you can still train hard—just plan for the reality of a smaller platform.
Taurus GX4
The GX4 is compact and light, and like other micro 9s it will warm up quickly under drills. Faster cadence equals faster heat, and there’s less metal to spread it out.
If you’re shooting defensive loads or hotter +P range ammo, it’s even more noticeable. It can do the job, but long sessions will feel different than training with a compact/duty gun.
Kimber Micro 9
The Micro 9 is small, metal-framed, and snappy for its size. When you run it fast, the slide and frame heat up quickly, and you feel it because your support hand is close to everything.
These are often carried more than they’re shot hard. If you decide to train heavily with it, the heat and recoil combo will make you appreciate why many people practice with a larger gun.
Walther PPK/S (.380 ACP)
Blowback .380s are famous for snappy recoil and a “busy” feel when you shoot them. Heat shows up fast because the action and slide are doing a lot of work and the gun is compact.
It’s a classic design, and it can be fun, but it’s not a high-volume comfort pistol. Run multiple magazines fast and you’ll feel the slide temperature climb.
Bersa Thunder .380
The Thunder is another blowback .380 that can warm up quickly, especially if you’re doing repeated strings. The slide is easy to grab, but that also means you feel the heat more directly during manipulations.
For carry or occasional range time it’s fine. For long, fast training blocks, it’s a pistol that makes you pace yourself.
CZ 82 (9×18 Makarov)
The CZ 82 is a cool surplus pistol, but it’s still in that blowback-ish, compact category where you feel heat and recoil more than you expect. Shoot it briskly and the gun warms up quick.
Ammo availability and variety can also influence how people shoot it—sometimes it gets fed hotter surplus stuff. Combine that with a compact platform and heat becomes noticeable.
Makarov PM (9×18)
The Makarov is famously tough, but it’s also a small pistol with a simple system and not much mass. When you shoot it fast, the slide gets hot and stays hot for a while.
It’s a great “working gun” in its lane. It’s also a pistol that reminds you it was built for durability and simplicity, not comfort during long training sessions.
Ruger Mark IV (rapid-fire strings)
A .22 doesn’t seem like it should heat up much, but run a Mark IV hard and you’ll be surprised how warm the barrel and receiver area get. .22 ammo is dirty, and heat plus fouling is part of the rimfire world.
If you do steel or plinking at speed, you’ll notice it. It’s not a problem gun—just a reminder that even rimfires get hot when you actually shoot them a lot.
Walther P22
The P22 can warm up quickly during fast strings, and it’s also a pistol where heat and fouling can make reliability worse if you’re pushing it. Rimfire + compact gun + fast shooting equals “let it cool and clean it” pretty fast.
If you use it for casual plinking, it’s okay. If you try to run it like a serious trainer, heat and grime show up early.
Beretta 21A Bobcat
Tiny tip-up barrel .22s are fun, but they get warm fast because everything is close together and you’re usually gripping right near the hot parts. Run a couple mags and you’ll notice it.
It’s a deep-carry / kit gun style pistol, not a high-volume trainer. Heat is just part of the reality of that size.
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