The best NON-1911 .45 ACP $650 or less...?

[Troy26]

Ok, I know some of you may not agree with me on this, but I've basically decided against a 1911 for my first .45 ACP The main issue for me is I can't see myself plopping down a good little chunk of cash for an autoloader with less than a 10 rd. capacity.

That being said, what do you think my best options are at $650 or less? I've gotten alot of support for the XD on my other thread and it's a strong contender becasue I really enjoy my Sub-Compact 9mm, but I'd like to stay open to something different.

This will primarily be for home defense, but I want to be able to carry it concealed when I take a notion.

 

[kentucky_smith]

There are "other" .45 ACPs???

 

[Buck Nekkid]

CZ 97!!

Pardner if you've not looked at a CZ 97 then you are really missing out on one of the finest .45 acp's in the world!

It holds 10 cartridges and is strong as a bank vault! There ain't no plastic in this one! All steel and probably the most accurate .45 acp you'll ever shoot.

Check out the CZ Forum, there's a whole "club" for the CZ 97!

Buck Nekkid

 

[BsChoy]

Glock 20 if you like full size or 30 if you want compact...Glocks are GOOOOOOD!

 

[doublebarrel]

I like high cap, double stackers, so Taurus will be another choice for you. 24/7 Pro(SA/DA), 24/7 and Mil Pro(both DAO). Also CZ-97(SA/DA) is near the top of your price limit. The CZ clones, namely EAA Witness(metal or polymer), and Magnum Research's Baby Eagle or SP-21. For single stackers, Ruger P90/97/345 is a good choice for the money...(P97 is discontinued but you might still find some new ones)

 

[doublebarrel]

Pardner if you've not looked at a CZ 97 then you are really missing out on one of the finest .45 acp's in the world!

It holds 10 cartridges and is strong as a bank vault! There ain't no plastic in this one! All steel and probably the most accurate .45 acp you'll ever shoot.

Check out the CZ Forum, there's a whole "club" for the CZ 97!

Buck Nekkid

The guide rod on a CZ-97 is half length, made of PLASTIC. Learned this from the CZ forum...

 

[GunnySkox]

Glock 20 if you like full size or 30 if you want compact...Glocks are GOOOOOOD!

I think you mean the G21; the G20 is a 10mm.

Troy, you might look at IMI (imported by "Magnum Research") Baby Eagle models in .45, or maybe EAA "Witness" .45s.

~GnSx

 

[shepsan]

Troy26
if you are determined not to buy what you consider to be a low capacity gun, and
if you want reliabiity
if you want durabiity
if you want high caliber
if you want high capacity
if you want consistent accuracy
and if you want this in a small package easy to conceal
then buy a Glock 30.

I have never thought that carrying a 1911 Commander with eight in the magazine and one in the pipe left me under protected.

The determing factor for me has always been, what gun I shoot the best not which gun holds the most rounds.

 

[distra]

XD 45 ACP is a good choice (I'm not a Glock-o-phile ), but what's wrong with picking up a used 1911 for under $650? 8+1 is plenty especially with an extra mag for CCW. I carry a S&W 1911 Sc (new $800) commander with an 8rd extra mag and feel comfortable with that. You can get a 10rd mag for backup to give you 19 total rounds. Remember most situations are over without a shot being fired. That doesn't mean you should not be prepared...

 

[Troy26]

Hey everybody...thanks for so many replies in such a short amount of time! I'm writing them all down so that I can go over all the specs of each. By all means...keep 'em coin'!
Thanks again
-Troy

 

[Troy26]

"comin'" that is...damned typos

 

[trueblue1776]

SIG 220

I have seen new 220's for less than $650

also HK USP's

 

[shooter.45]

Another vote for the G21 or the Xd.45 I have them both and love both of them. They both are accurate and not a problem.

 

[TheEgg]

G21/G30 -- hard to beat in that price range. (actually, you would save about $200 to go toward a good holster and some ammunition for practice.)

G30 is easier to carry concealed, if you care about that, and give up little in shootability.

 

[fastbolt]

Reliable, robust, durable and proven? Easy ...

S&W M457 or 457S (if you prefer a stainless slide).

Lightweight, 3.75" barrel, traditional double action (DA/SA), 7+1 capacity ... and covered by a Lifetime Warranty that's becoming acknowledged as the best in the industry, which also offers free shipping to & from the factory in the event the pistol requires a warranty repair. Not a bad deal.

This is a real sleeper in the .45 pistol market. Sells really well without a lot of fanfare and advertising ... for a reason. The S&W Value Line .45 can be found for decent deals, too.

 

[dmftoy1]

XD .45 ACP & 6 boxes of the load you intend to use for CCW.

Plus you get a free holster, a free mag carrier and a free mag loader tool. (I just picked mine up today so I'm a little biased. )

Have a goodo one,
Dave

 

[mainmech48]

D-barrel: So what? It's one part and nobody on the CZ list has mentioned actually breaking or even wearing one out that I recall. The major reason that some of the folks there replace them with a stainless FL custom part is to fascilitate the use of much heavier-than-standard recoil springs for +P loads. The new Ruger 345's frame is "plastic" and doesn't even have metal inserts for the slide to ride on. Jeez! If modern 'plastics" can hold up to that kind of stress (and you can bet that Ruger did a bunch of testing before they put it out there) then they can surely handle a spring. "Gotcha" for its own sake ain't "The High Road", IMO.

That said, the 97-B is perhaps the least known and most under appreciated bargain in a full sized .45 "service" pistol out there. I got mine for well under $500 NIB and OTD, and it shoots every bit as tightly as a Big Name custom 1911 I paid more than 3X as much for. Toughness, reliability, "soft" shooting characteristics, exceptional accuracy, Condition 1 carry capability and great ergos all in one package for under $500. That's my idea of a bargain, anyway.

 

[Gary G23]

XD-45ACP

 

[Braden]

Glock 21
Glock 30
Glock 36

Any one of the above...or all three. Get the gun and two mags for $500 and you'll have $150 left for practice ammo.

Of course, I must admit that I'm biased.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

Look up a CPO P220.

 

[Ala Dan]

I would go with the XD-45 ACP, over the Glock model 21; but either would
make an excellent choice. Its just that the Springer XD has a lot more
features that I prefer~!

 

[bigmike45]

Please don't over look the Taurus PT-145 & PT-745 Millennium Pros. Great guns for less than $400.00. I have a PT-145. It's 10+1 .45acp capacity, shoot to point of aim, great accuracy and easy handling makes it a great buy. Mine has fired over 3000 rounds without even a hiccup. It is my constant pocket companion and is my BUG to all my 1911's.

 

[Edgeofthewoods]

G21.

Chuck

 

[bakert]

A Ruger P97 rides on my belt most every day. More accurate than I can shoot, fairly light and it works every time.

 

[dmallind]

Since you like your subcompact 9mm perhaps a Glock 30 would be a good choice rather than a 21. Either would be a great reliable weapon with the 21 having 3 more rounds capacity at the expense of a couple more inches in length and a bit in height too. Probably would marginally increase bullet velocity over the shorter barreled G30 too.

The XD45 looks nice but I am one of those people who find Glocks fit better than Springfields. I prefer fit and finish and (anecdotally and subjectively) trust the reliability a hair more too - they just *feel* better made for one IMO.

Best advice bears repeating - try out anything before you buy - some guns are great for some people but lousy for others. Glocks, CZs, XDs are definitely among them. My responses to those brands, for my hands and wants only, are "good" "ack" and "meh" in that order. You will no doubt find people who have those responses in every possible combination. You alone will know which combination yours is!