Choosing a handgun is a very personal matter. Regardless of what may be cool or trending, the gun must fit the individual in a variety of ways. First off, it needs to feel good in their hands. Second, it needs to have a natural point of aim, and third, it needs to meet their specific needs, i.e., personal defense. While many guns can meet one or more of these criteria, there is a gun on the market that I believe will check all the boxes for a huge number of people.  A fantastic gun that seems to fly under the radar. The Mossberg MC2c Optics Ready.

Mossberg MC2c Optic Ready – Ready to Carry Right Out of The Box

The MC2c Optics Ready is the new big brother to the MC1sc. It has the same DNA but in a larger format design. The gun is a feature-rich compact shooter that gives us a double-stack magazine and a host of ergonomic and performance features. The new model follows the MC1sc and is chambered in 9mm.

Overall capacity has been increased, however, and can be as high as 15+1 with the extended magazine option. Standard capacity is 13+1, which makes it a serious player in the concealed carry market. The package included a mag with an extended base plate that increases the magazine capacity to 15 rounds.

Like the MC1sc, the MC2 Optics Ready has a very carry-friendly finish. There are no harsh, sharp edges to grab clothes and ultimately dig into your flesh. It is really a comfortable carry.

Serious Design

The gun is once again the product of a very serious and thoughtful engineering team. First up, the slides are stainless steel, with black DLC or matte stainless finish, depending on the version you choose. It also features angled serrations for positive slide manipulation. This is more than just some cuts on the slide and actually have an additional cut going back at the opposite angle to improve purchase on the slide.

Like the MC1sc, the gun has the Mossberg STS—Safe Takedown System. This system has the user unload the firearm, remove the magazine, then clear and lock the action open. Then they remove the striker back plate where they can then remove the striker assembly. Unlike competitive products, an MC2c Optics Ready user is not required to pull the trigger in order to disassemble the handgun for routine cleaning and maintenance.

The sights are dovetail mounted, and come standard in a low-profile, snag-free white 3-Dot configuration. TRUGLO Tritium Pro Night Sights are available as a factory option. The frame is made of glass-reinforced polymer and has Mossberg’s signature aggressive texturing. It provides us with a very solid grip surface without destroying our hands. This is especially noticeable on the front and back straps.

It has a very comfortable palm swell as well as an oversized trigger guard to support shooting with gloves on. Most notable is the fact that they have chosen to go with a grip angle closer to a 1911. I’ve found that while other angles can be acceptable, most people shoot better with this approximately 18-degree angle. This provides great ergonomics as well as improved point ability. MC2c grip was designed to be incredibly narrow for its capacity and is the result of using slim-profile double-stack steel magazines.

Trigger Time

The trigger on the gun is a flat profile design that has an integrated blade safety, a short, tactile reset and reduced overtravel. It features a crisp, clean break and smooth take-up. The gun I ran had a pull in the five-pound range making it comparable with the competition. All models have a reversible magazine release behind the trigger guard and a front rail to mount a light or laser. 

All those features put together give the gun a solid base to perform from, and perform it did. While I genuinely like the MC1sc, the MC2c Optics Ready is a tack driver for me. The additional sight radius and extra real estate on the gun made it a natural shooter for me.

In the two full days we ran the guns I did not experience any issues at all, other than simply having to adjust the sights slightly. It was comfortable to carry and ran the 9mm round well. Even as a compact gun, the recoil and muzzle flip were minimal.

Home on the Range

We ran the gun through a modified Gunsight class, and it shined at every turn. From close contact drills, to hitting steel at 50 yards the gun performed well. The slightly longer sight radius really worked well for me, and I was able to produce exceptional groups. The trigger broke clean, and the fairly short reset allowed me to get follow-up shots quickly.

The obvious comparison with this gun is going to be with the Glock 19. While I am not a fan of doing comparisons, this is the space that the gun fits in. It is difficult to quantify, but I really shot the gun well and it felt good in my hands. This comes full circle back to my opening point that handguns are a personal thing and some simply feel better in the hand than others.

Unlike some new handguns hitting the market that don’t really have a defined place, the MC2c Optics Ready, in my opinion, would make a great defensive handgun. Lightweight, easy to carry, accurate, and priced right.

Right now, Mossberg offers the new MC2c in four versions; a standard model with 3-dot sights, a standard model with a cross-bolt safety, a model with TRUGLO Tritium Pro Night Sights, and a two-tone model with cross-bolt safety and 3-dot sights. In short, there is a lot to choose from.

Mossberg entered the firearms industry with a pistol, and I think it is only fitting that they continue that legacy. The MC2c Optics Ready is a great option for anyone looking for a performance-based defensive pistol.

For more information, please visit Mossberg.com.

Mossberg MC2c Optics Ready Specs