Which CCW handgun in .45 ACP?

[pendentive]

Which .45 ACP handgun will have the following:
(in no particular order)

- highly reliable/dependable
- lowest recoil
- most ammo - spare ammo included (within reason)
- easy reloading




Stuff I don't care about:
(not an obstacle)

- cost
- weight
- revolver vs. autoloader (both are fine)
- ease of concealing
- readiness to fire (I don't mind chambering or disengaging a safety, etc.)


Dan


p.s. I reserve the right to clarify any of the above that might be misleading.

 

[Jimmie]

Glock 21, Sig 220, H&K USP, 1911, Ruger P90. Did I miss any?

 

[average_shooter]

Glock 21

I keep hearing good and bad about the G36 and generally good things about the G30 (though, admittedly, no personal experience with any of them... yet)

ETA: Ooops, you're looking for higher capacity, so yeah the 21.

Or the SA XD-45 or a double stack 1911A1.

 

[ndolson]

I have a kimber pro carry II with a 4" barrel. It's not as small as a sub compact glock, but it's slim and has pretty low recoil for being a .45 ACP. It won't be a summer carry gun for me, that's what the Glock 26 is for, but in the winter it will.

Plus 1911's are damn sexy.

 

[scubie02]

xd though a 1911 would be my choice and have low recoil

 

[dpesec]

I have both a Springer 1911 and a G21. I carry the G21. I have had sever FTF on the 1911, and 0 on the Glock. Case closed

 

[Buzz]

I have owned most of the popular .45 variants. I have a high opinion of the new XD 45 Compact. I've owned a Glock 21, 30, and 36. For me the XD just fits me better and I like the grip angle better.

 

[Ala Dan]

My vote goes to the SIG-Sauer .45 caliber P220A~!

But, there are other good ones out there.

 

[Joe Leland]

Positive experiences with S&W 645 and 4506. Carried a Glock 30 for years. My brother carries either the Glock 21 or 30. You can't go wrong with a quality 1911A1. It depends on the action you are most comfortable with.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Taurus Millennium PT145. Or Springfield XD.

 

[Mikhail Konovalov]

A Para Ordnance P14-45 or CZ-97B would serve you well, methinks.

All-steel is good for the recoil, double stack mags are good for the capacity, they go bang when you pull the trigger, and I know the 97B is spooky accurate. The Para can be customized more, though.

 

[orionengnr]

if you don't care about size, weight, or external safeties

I would recommend the Para P-14... 14+1 rounds of 45 acp, available in either conventional 1911 single action or Para's very user-friendly LDA.
It is my choice for nightstand gun.

For CCW, I have other priorities, while retaining the same choice of caliber. If you want to discuss those, that is for another post.

 

[rantingredneck]

Ruger P345

Let's do the rundown on the important stuff:


- highly reliable/dependable
Legendary Ruger Reliability
- lowest recoil
Has a recoil dampening double spring system. This is the absolute softest shooting .45 I've ever shot. More so even than the P90 which is much heavier.
- most ammo - spare ammo included (within reason)
8+1 capacity. Extra mags aren't expensive and are easy to carry (nice and flat)
- easy reloading
Easy as any bottomfeeder


As to the stuff that isn't a dealbreaker for you:

- cost
About 425.00 around here.
- weight
29 oz unloaded and slim to boot-
revolver vs. autoloader (both are fine)
Self explanatory
- ease of concealing
I carry mine under an untucked shirt with no problems whatsoever. Nice and thin
- readiness to fire (I don't mind chambering or disengaging a safety, etc.)
Available in manual safety or decock only versions (for now)

 

[Vanzpp]

Glock 36

 

[Guido2006]

XD45 Compact

Second the XD45 compact.

Carry the 10-round mags if you want to conceal, 13-round mags if you need the extra capacity. I find the longer mags slightly more comfortable to shoot at the range though I practice with the 10 also.

I carry IWB with an Uncle Mikes Neoprene Holster ($15 at Sports Authority). Relatively easy to conceal with a loose tshirt or polo shirt when carried at at the 5 o'clock position with the grip angle flush with my back. The Blackhawk Serpa CQC holster is also very nice and secure if you carry OWB.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

rantingredneck, I own a P345, and carried as my CCW for a number of months before I got my MilPro. The P345 is a great choice for CCW.

 

[3006mv]

Bersa 45, SW 325PD

 

[markk]

Glock 30

 

[Hunter0924]

Colt New Agent.

 

[bakert]

For concealed carry, the Ruger P97 fit's my need pretty well. Reliable and more accurate than I can shoot.

 

[whitebb]

Smith CS45. Light weight, accurate, reliable, small and easily carried. Only flaw is it kicks alittle more than others because of its light weight and 3" barrel.
I would post other side pic but need to remove serial number from shot.

 

[18DAI]

S&W 457. Fits all the listed criteria. I love mine. Light weight, reliable, concealable, accurate, and can be found used for cheap.

 

[Tom Krein]

I would vote for a Glock 21, based on what you specified....

I would send it to Bowie Tactical and have the grip frame reduced and have it worked over...


IF you don't care for the polymer framed guns and want HIGH capacity I would vote for the Para P14. In 1911's

I personally prefer single stack 1911's and I would recommend the Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special.

Tom

 

[Deanimator]

Springfield MicroCompact. Great gun, especially with the Aguila 117gr. IQs.

 

[springmom]

XD-45, Kimber Ultra Carry II. Springfield full sized 1911's. The only trick with the 1911 is learning to reassemble it. Once you learn how to hold your teeth right at just the right moment, though, it's easy (says the woman who was on line a dozen times whining about this when she first got her Kimber )

Springmom