Should I buy another 45?

[Offhand McFlan]

My first and only 45ACP was/is a Bersa Thunder Ultra Carry. It was actually my first handgun which I carried concealed for about 2 years before switching to various 9x19's and even 9x18's. These days I switch back and forth between a Shield with a belt clip in summer and a Makarov in winter, and occasionally carry a 357Mag when hiking. By generally switching to smaller guns and calibers for EDC I have found it easier to stay armed nearly ALL the time and keep much more ammo at hand.

Through my range time with my 45ACP Bersa I probably shot up upwards of 3000 rounds before going to the 9x19, however the change had everything to do with the Bersa and nothing to do with the 45ACP cartridge. The Bersa has an abbreviated beaver-tail and frequently would bite the web of my hand on recoil. By the end of most range sessions I'd have a little trickle of blood there, unpleasant but semi-tolerable since I WAS having oodles of fun, after all...

Anyhoo, these days the Bersa just doesnt make it out of the safe. I'm thinking of selling or trading up anytime. And I have like 400 rounds of 45ACP gathering dust as well. I have nothing against the round at all, but now I'm faced with either selling the ammo if I sell the gun...or keeping it to use with something new! And that's the thesis of my post. I'm curious what people's thoughts are regarding this. I'm not interested in a 45vs9mm showdown. With good ammo 45 has a slight edge but you get less capacity. I wont debate it beyond that generality. One of the reasons I like 45ACP is its so much easier to load magazines and fumble with loose rounds in the dark or under pressure.

So I am considering another 45 in some form, just because I do kind of like them and I happen to have a good start on a stash of ammo. But then again, if I sell the Bersa I could grab a new CZ or Browning Hi-Power.

In 45 I'm thinking of a Beretta, an M&P, maybe even a 1911, maybe a Camp Carbine, a Ruger PC carbine, a Charter Arms Pitbull...and others still.

Thoughts?

 

[stillquietvoice]

You might look into para ordnance p 12, 13, or 14. P 14-45 is 13 + 1 45 auto double stack the grip is a little fat, but was a pretty good pistol.

 

[magyars4]

Every MAN should own a 1911. Takes plenty of practice but it is well worth it.

 

[Offhand McFlan]

Every MAN should own a 1911. Takes plenty of practice but it is well worth it.

One thing for sure is if I do, it won't be a short-barreled one. I'll want it in excess of 4" no doubt. That 3..6" Bersa was smoky as hell with an occasional impressive fireball because of unburnt powder. If I have to buy special "short barrel" ammo to avoid that I dont want it. That's another issue on my mind regarding 45ACP. That wouldnt stop me from getting a Charter Pitbull as a glovebox gun though. I'd love to try one out just for poops and giggles, or as a backup to a 1911 or other full sized auto or a carbine even.

 

[armedwalleye]

magyars4 is correct. Every man should own a 1911. Say what you will, but nothing so historical, so functional, and so uniquely American as a 1911.

 

[Tommygunn]

"SHOULD I BUY ANOTHER 45?"


If you have to ask, the answer is YES.

 

[Offhand McFlan]

You might look into para ordnance p 12, 13, or 14. P 14-45 is 13 + 1 45 auto double stack the grip is a little fat, but was a pretty good pistol.

I might! And you just made me remember the Llama Max with double stack too. My uncle had a 9mm Llama 1911 for years that never had a serious issue.

 

[Offhand McFlan]

magyars4 is correct. Every man should own a 1911. Say what you will, but nothing so historical, so functional, and so uniquely American as a 1911.

There's just too much wonderful variety out there for me to be so idealistic.
I like 1911's though and I WOULD probably buy one.
Image plays only a small role in my purchases and I'm not really a fanboy of any particular design or make over another. I have some preferences, and there are certain countries I would avoid making direct purchases from because I dont want to help them.

I worship JMB just about as much as you probably do, and with that said I will also add that no firearm I have EVER held feels better in my hand than a Hi-Power, with the CZ75 and some close cousins coming in second. But I still wouldnt buy a gun based on that alone.

 

[Charlie98]

Should I buy another 45?

The real answer is... when shouldn't you buy another .45? Anytime is a good time to buy a .45...

 

[Offhand McFlan]

"SHOULD I BUY ANOTHER 45?"


If you have to ask, the answer is YES.

I knew it would come sooner or later. Congrats on being 1st!

 

[Charlie98]

I like 1911's though and I WOULD probably buy one.

and with that said I will also add that no firearm I have EVER held feels better in my hand than a Hi-Power

For many years I said the only 9mm I'd ever own was a BHP, it's a fantastic pistol. Having said that, so is a proper 1911 in .45ACP.

 

[Offhand McFlan]

For many years I said the only 9mm I'd ever own was a BHP, it's a fantastic pistol. Having said that, so is a proper 1911 in .45ACP.

If the right deal came along I'd get one. To tell the truth I would prefer something with higher capacity but is still hammer fired with some good steel parts. That's why Ive kept the 45 Beretta PX high on my list. It doesnt have the capacity that some "hicap" 45's have, but I think maybe thats a good thing. The more you have to design an already large round into a high capacity platform the more youre likely to be breeding awkwardness into your design in some way. I think Beretta got it right with that. One major reason I was considering a full sized M&P is because I'm so used to my Shield. There's alot to consider when buying a gun, and as I said in another post image and nostagia dont play a huge role with me. Its more like the icing on top of the cake. "Classic" is nice, and sometimes when going classic you can have your cake and eat it too...kind of.

 

[Offhand McFlan]

Hats off to you 1911 boys who know what you like and stick by it...but I really wanted to discuss the 45ACP round more. So far I'm the only one who really talked about its true merits apart from nostalgia!

For one, I have never come across a 45 magazine that was difficult to load.
Cant say that about 9mm.
I do actually own a Bulgarian Hi-Power clone (my nightstand gun) which is very well made, tough as nails, handles like the original...but loading mags is more tedious than loading 45's into my Bersa mags, the gun I want to sell for other reasons.

And 9mm Shield mags, under pressure or in the dark without leverage? Fugeddaboudit!
When they run out you are DONE if without a New York reload.

 

[bassjam]

Why was this moved from the General Gun forum? Seems like that's the correct place for it since OP is considering carbines as well.

The mods are so trigger happy to interfere with anything and everything on this site. Heck, this will probably get the thread shut down for saying something off-topic. Sorry OP.

 

[call1911]

No, you shouldn't by another one.
You really should by another two (or three).
1) Colt Gold Cup National Match Series 70 MkIV
2) CZ 97 (a very underestimated gun)
3) SIG Sauer P220 X-SIX II

 

[Offhand McFlan]

No, you shouldn't by another one.
You really should by another two (or three).
1) Colt Gold Cup National Match Series 70 MkIV
2) CZ 97 (a very underestimated gun)
3) SIG Sauer P220 X-SIX II

1. I really kind of prefer a veteran war horse with a battlescar or two to that.
2. I think theyre nice but Ive heard theyre bulky. My hands are neither huge nor tiny. I had a 1st Gen S&W 59 that really was just too bulky in the grip to be good for me. I had to stretch my hand to release the mag! Even the guy at the LGS where i traded it for a Dan Wesson revolver, who was like 6'2" himself, said the same. So if the CZ97 is in that category its not for me.
3. Youre right. I should look at Sigs a little more closely. In fact, the last 1911 I held WAS a Sig...and I really dug it.

 

[P5 Guy]

Hard pass.

 

[Charlie98]

but I really wanted to discuss the 45ACP round more. So far I'm the only one who really talked about its true merits apart from nostalgia!

What's to talk about? The .45 stands on it's own merits, but part of the equation is what pistol it goes into. I don't like double-stack .45's, in fact, my carry piece is a single-stack 9mm. I don't like double-stack 9's... except the HiPower.

 

[jmorris]

The only question I read was “Thoughts?”, except for the title “Should I buy another 45?”

So I would ask why should you not buy another 45? We all have personal preferences or we couldn’t ever sell something we don’t want because no one else would either. Sell the bersa to someone that wants it and try again. If you don’t like your new toy by the time you’ve ran through your remaining supply of 45, sell it.

Of double stack 45’s my favorites are SV’s and STI’s.

 

[P5 Guy]

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/glock-45acp-models/

At least get a somewhat modern 45ACP.

 

[nofendertom]

You mention loading magazines under pressure or in the dark---easy solution is get more magazines and keep them loaded. For SD or HD I don't think anybody
wants to be in the position to have to reload a magazine. Spare mags are your friend.

 

[Offhand McFlan]

What's to talk about? The .45 stands on it's own merits, but part of the equation is what pistol it goes into. I don't like double-stack .45's, in fact, my carry piece is a single-stack 9mm. I don't like double-stack 9's... except the HiPower.

This brings me back to some old prepper threads where people asked how many calibers should you hoard, and how many calibers is too many. I'm largely a serious person. I buy guns for their practicality first. When that is satisfied I allow myself to enjoy nostalgia, classic taste, "cool-factor", etc. I dont want to hoard a ridiculous amount of guns and calibers that I dont have time for nor the funds to maintain and support. I do like options. Options are important. I have 9mm's and like you Ive settled on a single stack 9 as my EDC. How many calibers do militaries and police keep around? Maybe a couple but not a plethora by any means. Of course budget plays a role for them , and it does with me too...but not entirely. I'm not really a 40S&W said-and-done guy, either. I could probably have all my needs served by 9mm and 357Mag, the latter of which trumps the 45 in one-shot stops AND in protection against dangerous animals. Of course most calibers have their merits. But in my position why should I have a 45? I haven't brought my only 45 out of the safe except for cleaning anf inventory in about 4 years!

Most of the people answering those "how many calibers" threads seemed to more or less find concensus on about 6, rifle and pistol cakibers combined. I say there's always room for experimentation and ddball things simply because you like them...but as for "working calibers", ones that you use or carry for practical reasons...?...I generally agree with a number like 6 or maybe less. So maybe I should repackage my original post a little. I'm wondering how 45 fits in here, other than "I like it because Iove 1911's" which basically has been the sentiment among the bulk of the replies I've gotten. respect those people's opinions just fine...but it doesn't really answer what I'm asking.

 

[CDW4ME]

 

[Offhand McFlan]

You mention loading magazines under pressure or in the dark---easy solution is get more magazines and keep them loaded. For SD or HD I don't think anybody
wants to be in the position to have to reload a magazine. Spare mags are your friend.

I have 6 for my Shield, 6 for my Hi-Power and 6 for my Makarov. I have 8 speedloaders for my Bulldog too .But I always think outside the box. Occasionaly guns and magazines have problems. I don't usually carry 6 magazines with me every day....however I DO carry a box of 9mm ammo and a box of 38sp in my car...so IF I found myself having to sneak home through thr woods instead of drive through streets with riots happening, I can throw the reserve box of ammo in my pocket and reload in the woods if have to fire back at people chasing me.When I take overnight trips or longer, you can bet I'll have all magazines,the reserve box of ammo AND maybe even another gun. On an ordinary condition green or yellow day, I take one or two spare mags with me out of the house. There is also always aspare Shield magazine in the car. Why do we choose calibers? I choose them because of all their combined practical value, not because they're just cheap or because they're the most powerful round I can handle.

 

[Rockrivr1]

This is a trick question, right?

Seriously though, don't shy away from the CZ 97B. I have medium to large sized hand and the 97B fits perfectly with all the controls reachable by my fingers. It's a great gun as well.