NRA Gun of the Week: Mossberg MC1sc

by
posted on April 24, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

After its first handgun, O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. followed along the bolt-action rifle and shotgun path for a full century, but it was in 2019 that the legacy brand expanded on its first, four-barreled rimfire Brownie pistol with a modern design, and it did so in the form of a polymer-frame striker-fired option: the MC1sc.

Left-side view on white background of a black Mossberg MC1sc with text calling out make and model/


The Mossberg Carry 1 Subcompact—or MC1sc—enters the field of subcompact defensive pistols swinging a button-rifled, 3.4” barrel built of 416 stainless steel and measures 4.3”-tall and 6.25”-long.

Disassembled, left-side view of Mossberg pistol on white background.

Unloaded, the 9 mm Luger-chambered MC1sc weights a svelte 19 ozs. Mossberg provides a six- and seven-round translucent magazines with this pistol. Additionally, G43 magazines from Glock reliably function in the MC1sc.

Mossberg pistol in hand being loaded on shooting range.

From the top down, Mossberg provides standout ergonomic and necessary components for every-day carry. The gun’s well-textured grip frame houses a flat-faced trigger with included passive trigger safety. The magazine release is universal and can be manipulated for left- or right-handed shooters.

Mossberg pistol in hand with shooter removing orange-colored striker assembly from rear of the slide.

The trigger’s guard mates with the grip with a relieved undercut and an upswept beavertail at the rear combine to create attributes conducive for instinctive shooting and recoil management. The slide of the MC1sc was treated with a DLC finish for extreme corrosion protection and all of the edges, except for the two sections of cocking serrations, have been dehorned, or beveled, to eliminate the potential for snagging.

Man in protective shooting gear and wearing a ballcap shooting a black pistol on shooting range.


Putting rounds on target is aided by Mossberg’s three-dot sight configuration set in dovetails. Disassembly of the MC1sc incorporates a system unique to Mossberg—the stainless steel slide’s back plate utilizes a push-button feature that grants access to the gun’s orange-shrouded striker assembly. Once removed, the slide can be removed from the frame.

To learn more about the single-stack, striker-fired Mossberg MC1sc, watch our NRA Gun of the Week video above.

Mossberg MC1sc Specifications
Manufacturer: O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.
Model: MC1sc
Action Type: recoil-operated, semi-automatic center-fire pistol
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Barrel: 3.4” stainless steel
Frame: black polymer
Trigger: striker-fired; 5-lb. pull
Magazine: six- and seven-round detachable box
Sights: low-profile, three white dot; dovetailed
Height: 4.3” w/ flush-fit magazine
Length: 6.25”
Width: 1.07”
MSRP: $425

Further Reading:
Tested: Mossberg’s MC1sc Pistol

Exploded View: Mossberg Brownie Pistol
This Old Gun: Mossberg 142K
The Keefe Report: The Mossberg That Never Was
Range Review: Mossberg 940 JM Pro
Mossberg .410 Shotguns for Home Defense



Extras
:
NRA Gun of the Week: Mossberg 590M Shotgun


NRA Gun of the Week - Mossberg Patriot Vortex Series


NRA Gun of the Week: Mossberg 500 ATI Scorpion


NRA Gun of the Week: Mossberg 590 Shockwave


NRA Gun of the Week: Mossberg MVP LR Tactical Bolt-Action Rifle

First Look: Mossberg MC1sc Pistol

Latest

Icarry DD H9 1
Icarry DD H9 1

I Carry: Daniel Defense H9 in an ANR Designs Holster

In our latest “I Carry” segment above, we’re taking a closer look at the Daniel Defense H9, a unique, striker-fired design that borrows popular features from several different handguns. 

A Surprising Conversation on Just How Far an Anti-Gun State Can Go

In Massachusetts this fall, ballot question 9 is an effort to repeal 2024 legislation known as “An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws,” a complex package of fees, red tape, training requirements, and other burdens placed on law-abiding gun owners. 

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 2, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Are Snub-Nose Revolvers Still Relevant?

In a world of micro-compact handguns, does the venerable snub-nose revolver still have a place? Here are four reasons why you might still consider carrying a snubby.

Behind Federal's 7 mm Backcountry Cartridge

In 2025, Federal Ammunition introduced its new 7 mm Backcountry cartridge, which operates at higher pressures than any previous commercial ammunition offering.

New for 2026: Beretta 94X Performance

The latest step in the evolution of Beretta's 90 series of handguns is the 94X Performance, a handgun that the company calls “the ultimate evolution of the Beretta competition pistol for IPSC and USPSA.”

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.