Deciding on the next gun: 45acp

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cackalak

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Joined
Nov 11, 2010
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I’m looking for my next gun. I want it in 45acp. I’ve narrowed it down to these 3:
(No order of preference)
- Colt Commander 1911 ($1k ish?)
- Sig 1911 Fastback Emperor Scorpion Carry ($1300 at my local shop)
- Smith M&P 2.0 compact w Thumb Safety ($460 at my local shop)

They all feel good in my hands (except I haven’t had a chance to hold a Colt yet).

This will be primarily used for occasional carry, home defense, and some camping trips. I have other guns in multiple calibers, so no need to go into what caliber is better for the above 🙂

I wonder if I’ll get the value of 2-3x the price of the Sig and Colt vs going with the M&P.
They sure look good though!!

My list of priorities:
1) Reliability
2) Ease of maintenance
3) Looks
 
Smith M&P 2.0 compact is your best deal for sure. Sig is overpriced. Colts are nice but maybe too nice for EDC.
My opinion only.
 
M&P is probably the most practical, if you are ok with the hinged trigger (I don’t like ‘em).

My heart will always go for a 1911, but I wouldn’t go with either of those choices. I’d save a few $ on a Ruger or Springfield, or pay more for a Dan Wesson.

Remember for your occasional carry and woods, a steel 1911 is 40+ oz on the hip loaded, and the Smith is much lighter, which can make a huge difference depending on what your doing.
 
The problem with the 1911's are their loaded carry weight.

My EDC is a Glock slimline G36 .45 ACP - carry weight 27.5 oz., loaded 6+1 with 230 gr. ammo.

Also have a Springfield 1911-A1 in the desk drawer.

Together they were around $1,000.
 
cackalak said:
I wonder if I’ll get the value of 2-3x the price of the Sig and Colt vs going with the M&P.
Click to expand...
If the price of the 1911's is going to bother you before the purchase, it's going to bother you down the road.

You should buy a 1911 because it has the features you want. While price is worth considering if you're choosing between two 1911's, it probably shouldn't be that big of a consideration between a 1911 and something else. Non-1911's will have different features and strengths than a 1911.
 
It's a selection-rich environment.

Given you priority list, please, please look at the TISAS. They call their Commander-size "the Tanker" (among other names, depending on the options selected).
Bare bones, no frills, pricing starts at US$400, and peaks about $600 with all the bells and whistles.

This is what mine looked like out of the box:
All bits.jpg
And after I gussied it up with an arched MSH and cocobolo Hogue grips
Newer Port.jpg
As reliable as the sunrise, and dependable, too. In fairness I have not "wrung it out" with a huge variety of JHP--I have other 1911 for that. That it could easily run JHP I'm pretty confident.
I think the looks are great--that varies.
I have more than four decades of 1911 experience, so my judgement on "ease of maintenance" is biased as a result.

Armscor/RIA have some similar versions in similar price ranges.

Your Mileage May Vary.
 
I'm a big fan of 1911s, but not necessarily for concealed carry and home defense. I would say go with the S&W M&P 2.0 as it weighs considerably less than the Colt and the Dan Wesson and gives you two more rounds in the magazine. It also is almost half the price of either of the two other .45s you're looking at.
 
The Sig is a fine gun - but unfortunately they use the 80 series safety, which I don't like. On the plus side, their ambi safeties don't require cutouts in the grips, which is nice.

As @CapnMac said, Tisas has some nice offerings. I picked up a GI model to tinker with and probably spent more getting the slide cut for sights than I did on the gun! They are solid pieces if you are looking for a 1911.

Otherwise I would go with the M&P -- given your stated use, no sense overpaying for something too "nice".
 
bannockburn said:
I'm a big fan of 1911s, but not necessarily for concealed carry and home defense. I would say go with the S&W M&P 2.0 as it weighs considerably less than the Colt and the Dan Wesson and gives you two more rounds in the magazine. It also is almost half the price of either of the two other .45s you're looking at.
Click to expand...

I am also a big fan of 1911's (but only own 5) and I also would never choose one for carry or home defense. I too would choose the M&P from that list.

My favorite .45 acp for defense is, hands down, my XD mod 2 subcompact. With the 9 round magazine it is a pretty small, light weight and easily carriable package. I really like that I can slip it into a jacket pocket when taking the garbage cans to the curb and not distress my neighbors.


index.php


With the 13 round magazine the grip and magazine extension merge to become like one making it feel like you are shooting a full sized pistol.

index.php


It also has an excellent trigger that puts a Glock to SHAME!!! I have shot M&P's before and easily favored my XD mod 2 (so did my buddy who owned the M&P) but that was a good while ago so I can't really meaningfully contrast the two pistols.
 
Last edited:
CapnMac said:
It's a selection-rich environment.

Given you priority list, please, please look at the TISAS. They call their Commander-size "the Tanker" (among other names, depending on the options selected).
Bare bones, no frills, pricing starts at US$400, and peaks about $600 with all the bells and whistles.

This is what mine looked like out of the box:
View attachment 1173621
And after I gussied it up with an arched MSH and cocobolo Hogue grips
View attachment 1173622
As reliable as the sunrise, and dependable, too. In fairness I have not "wrung it out" with a huge variety of JHP--I have other 1911 for that. That it could easily run JHP I'm pretty confident.
I think the looks are great--that varies.
I have more than four decades of 1911 experience, so my judgement on "ease of maintenance" is biased as a result.

Armscor/RIA have some similar versions in similar price ranges.

Your Mileage May Vary.
Click to expand...
Tisas has lot's of different models to offer. They have another they call Tank Commander which has a rowel hammer instead of the spur hammer and has better sights on it. They also offer lighter versions with a alloy frame/steel slide. I just got one of their other models called a Stakeout and the fitting of the slide to frame, fitting of the thumb safety and the trigger pull are all better than my 1993 made Springfield Armory 1911A-1.
 
Kind of apples vs oranges comparing the 1911 to the M&P IMHO and depends on your priorities.

www.springfield-armory.com

1911 Series Handguns - Springfield Armory

www.springfield-armory.com www.springfield-armory.com

Might also want to take a look at the Springfield Armory Garrison and Mil Spec too if you might want to spend less on a more basic quality 1911. I like my classic P series SIGs but if I was going to get a new 1911 I would also look hard at the Springfield Armory line. Good luck! It's a good time to be shopping foe new firearms price wise and availability for sure but who knows what the future will bring especially with 2024 being an election year.
 
among the ones listed I would pick the shield 45 because of weight and size. My carry 45 is a Kahr CW45 with the magazine modified to hold 7 rounds, but the kahr trigger is not for everyone.
 
Can't go wrong with a Sig 1911, they run good. I have two, a standard GSR and a C3.
The C3 was my EDC for about 15 years, until I got my Wilson Combat EDC X9 Experior

The M&P wouldn't be a bad choice as well.
Pm me if you choose that I'll send you a 14 round magazine I found in my junk
 
Since s&w calls a 4" compact I'd go with it! I want a 2.0 45acp "pc" version as I have a 2.0 10mm in their "pc" version already (5.6" ported w/brake). Their 4" 10mm is a little snappy and needs a recoil spring for a better tune. Other than that, I'd go Glock21 or smaller if you prefer?
 
My 1911's are amazing and I shoot them often. OTOH, the S&W is more practical for SD. I don't use my SA handguns for that.
 
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