[Zedicus]

What would you guys say are the Worlds Alltime Best Ever .45 ACP Pistols?
(If you mention glock or 1911 i'll kill ya! j/k;))

No Only US or Italian made ones, but ones from all over the planet.

[sgt127]

Geez...open question. Ok..MY best .45 is an older (1986+/-) , hand fitted Series 70 Wilson Master Grade 130...

[TrapperReady]

I'm a big fan of the SIG P220.

[Karate]

Sig 220

Wish this had been a pole

[Cawdor]

Sig 220.

[Andrew Wyatt]

the 1911. it has a decent trigger, can be made to fit my hand, and has replaceable parts at all the critical wear points.

[gbelleh]

I like the USP series of .45s.

[Black Snowman]

The best is quite subjective. How do you weigh accuracy, reliability, history, usability, appearence, weight, ect . . .

I have a distinct feeling the best PERFORMING .45 is a very expensive, very custom IPSC gun floating around somewhere. The best SELLING is certainly the Colt Government Model family of guns hands down. Best value out of box in my book is the CZ-97B. Most accurate out of box the general concensous is the Sig. Best looking? Probably a commemerative 1911 somewehere. Most forgiving to bad conditions my vote would be a Glock, most durable would be the HKs. What other criteria would we be looking at?

[WvaBill]

Sig 220

That said, would the .45 ACP be the caliber it is if it had not been for the 1911?

[E=MC^2]

Colt's original Series 70 models.
1911, of course.

See, now I have 2 posts.:)

[New_comer]

In my list, top three would be:

HK USP in all variants
SIG 220
My Peters Stahl Standard 1911, of course (though I haven't shot it yet ;))

[tlhelmer]

Glock 37!

No really, It is the Glock 21 with 13 + 1.

[RON in PA]

Ruger P90 and P97

[Whit]

My vote is for the SIG 220. ....Whit

[Pilot]

Any tuned 1911. Best trigger period. Double actions just can't touch it.

[Benjamin]

Smith 625 - 4" Yes, I know it's the wrong side of the tracks. Sorry.

Sig 220.

Possibly also the UZI .45 acp

[jercamp45]

A nicely tuned Government model..........take your pick as to maker and 'smith. The other various models of the 1911..Commander, etc are in the bunch too. But the classic Gov't in battle trim is the one to beat.
Prettiest....the Clark Damascus Meltdown. Followed by some tastefully engraved models.
Must give an honorable mention to the Sig P220 though...been around for decades, graceful, nice trigger, reliable, and accurate.....
Ahh, the UMP, though not a pistol...it is where .45 cal subguns needed to go.....accurate, light, reliable thump!
The other's are interesting, and useful, if ya want 'em, get 'em. As long as they are reliable, .45's and you can hit with it.......then it is a GREAT defensive and general purpose tool!
Jercamp45

[Gordon]

All the top Pistolsmiths sell what is called their "best" grade 1911. These suckers start at $2500 and go to $4000 pretty quick. You aren't supposed to find ANY faults in these guns, and they are usually pretty simple-but PERFECT in execution.;)

[CZF]

Interesting that someone mentioned the CZ97B. Big and smooth. Very
accurate. Probably as accurate @ 25 yards as a SIG, but few people
have tested them for gun magazines.

I'm not sure what modern .45 acp load is the most accurate. My
SIG .45 always gave good accuracy with Hydra-Shoks.

[MaterDei]

The best .45 ACP? Easy, I would guess that there are thousands of war veterans who owe their lives to their issue .45 ACP pistol. I'd say that those are the best, as a group.

[valnar]

Somebody beat me to the S&W 625. Oh well. :D
Count me in for the Performance Center model in 4".

While I love my SIG P220 and 1911, there's nothing like that 625 Miculek gun.

-Robert

[Kitt]

Colt 70 series Lightweight Commander...........

[boots]

p220 ST

[HogRider]

Smith and Wesson 4506-2. My personal favorite. Wouldn't trade it for anything. :D

[Dr.Rob]

Pre-War Colt Gov't Model, before people started adding doo-dads and fins and only Colt made them.

HK P9S, lord its BIG but man is it slick. Probably one of the coolest looking pistols ever made.

Sig 220. I never liked the looks of them but everyone I've talked to that has shot one says wow. If the 220 is anything like shooting the 226, get one.

Colt/SW 1917 Model revolvers were tough, rugged no-nonsense revolvers made to handle the short and Ugly auto pistol round, and they did it darn well. My 1917 Colt revovlever will outshoot any of my Colt autos.

[10-Ring]

The USP 45's rank pretty high on my list ;)

[longeyes]

Glock 30.

Sue me!:D

[denfoote]

1911A1!!!! :neener:
Glock 30!!!! :D

[Ian11]

The Awesome

SIG Sauer P220ST!!! :D

[Kevinch]

Well, it has to be a well tuned 1911!!

And one that is metal, not plastic. I mean, really...... :cool:

[PCRCCW]

ROUGH THREAD....god! :scrutiny:

My STI Trojan 1911, tuned CZ 97 and Sig 220 ST are all in the most accurate guns Ive shot that are so shooter friendly that they make me sick.

If I had to choose one....I couldnt do it.

For the money...CZ97...simple.
For the mechanical beauty..the Sig 220 ST.
For overall beauty..the STI Trojan.

Shoot well...............:D

[Black Snowman]

Who tuned your CZ and what did it "need"? I'm interested in getting one but will likely keep it box stock. Just curious what you had improved :)

[PCRCCW]

The 97 I had was a Box stock shooter. It really didnt need anything and shot as well as any gun Ive had......great great trigger.

The best advice I can give any CZ owner is get Wolff springs for your gun.
CZ still doesnt use the greatest springs..but CZUB is looking at using Wolff for the OEM spring supplier now...very cool. Other than that just shoot it and enjoy it.

Ive shot a tuned 97 of my gunsmiths..he did the work on all of my CZ's. It had Novaks, trigger job and checkering on the front strap...it was a nice nice gun. He did the work on my PCR, SA and other sorted CZ's of days gone by.

As far as issues the 97's have had...they are not many at all. The only thing some people have to worry about with the guns is the feedramp is pretty steep and may argue with some square'ish profile JHP's.

Each gun is different and you just have to see what your gun does...most work great with all ammo. Mine did. Id find a gun you like and get it. I doubt highly you wont like it for any reason.

Id still have mine but I sold it for another purchase that I HAD TO HAVE worse at the time. More of my "stupid people tricks". :D

Shoot well.

[cslinger]

SIG P220ST.

I wish all life's questions were that easy. :D

[ninjalawyer]

SIG 220, especially the ST. After that, Colt LW Commander.

[JNewell]

Surprised by the results, someone must not have alerted the 1911 crowd? :eek: My vote is also the P220. Very boring...runs anything under any conditions. The forthcoming K-trigger is likely to bring the P22x pistols back to shooters' attention and probably sell a lot of the new pistols, making a great pistol better.

J.

[Black Majik]

Lots of Sig fans!

First vote goes to a tuned 1911. Nothing feels better in my hand and a better trigger than a 1911.

2nd vote goes, well.... to the Sig Sauer P220 :o Absolutely a blast to shoot, also comfortable compared to the other tupperware guns. Great gun.


Glocks, & USP's feels like :barf:

[MaterDei]

:D

[Hot brass]

1911A1:cool:
Simply the BEST!

[Zedicus]

The forthcoming K-trigger is likely to bring the P22x pistols back to shooters' attention and probably sell a lot of the new pistols, making a great pistol better.
Ok you caught my Curiosity, What is the K-Trigger?

[George Hill]

SIG P220 or the P245 is what I would spend my own money on right now... Probably leaning to the more compact P245.
Close second would be a polished blue CZ-97B. This is a fine handgun, and remains the single most accurate handgun I have ever fired. Selling it was a mistake, but I needed the cash. I would LOVE a CZ-97B"C"... a compact version... not really compact persay... just a but shorter in length in both directions. Give it a 4 inch barrel and knock 3/4 an inch off the grip, and a decocker... (What's up with a DA/SA without a decocker these days?)and they would have one heck of a service pistol. Perhaps the finest.
Like this:
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=527228

Coming in close to the 97 is the Beretta Cougar. Very smooth, good accuracy and great reliability. This is perhaps one of the most under-rated guns on the market.

The 1911A1 pattern gun is always a favorite. If I had the money to spend, I'd have Terry Tussy build me up an Officer's Model. That man is an artist with the 1911... more so in my opinion than Ed Brown or Les Baer or the rest of the well knowns. A Tussy Custom Officers - my dream gun.

[Brian Williams]

Colt model P
























produced around 1873 in 45 Colt better known as the Single Action Army.

But since this is the Auto category


!(!!A!





USE YOUR SHIFT KEY

1911A1

[cookie]

Glock 21.

[MaterDei]

My current favorite is a Kimber Stainless II

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=529046

[Ala Dan]

But, my vote goes to the

Standard SIG-SAUER P220A


Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[bones]

Worlds Best >> SIG 220:D

[Tamara]

My best .45?

The Springfield Pro is hands down and walking away the best .45 ACP pistol I've ever spent serious trigger time with.

[El Tejon]

Les Baer TRS 1911.

Man, look at all the ZIGZAUER fans!:eek: You guys are a lot better with the crunchentickers than me (but who isn't).:D

[GSB]

I don't know what the best .45 is, but I'm confident I can't afford it.

That said, I like my P220 a lot. I also like 1911s a lot. Heck, it's all good.

[Hal]

Tell ya what. You give me this one.
http://www.lugerforum.com/images/45Luger.jpg

I try it, then sell it and buy an example of the worlds second best through the worlds 100th best and let 'cha know :)

[Rob96]

My best 45acp is my only 45acp. a stainless Colt Gov't Model Series 80.

[RTFM]

SIG 220ST

RTFM

[socomcen]

Definately a SIG 220, here's a pic of Ernest Langdon from the IDPA Nationals, he used his SIG P220ST to win the Custom Defense Pistol class at the IDPA Nationals beating Rob Leatham who came in 2nd place and used a 1911.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/063468.jpg

[Dorian]

HK USP .45

or

HK USP Tactical

or

HK USP Match

or

HK USP Expert

Take your pick :)

[marvl]

Okay, who's the bozo who cross-posted this thread on SigForum? :neener:

[GSB]

Definately a SIG 220, here's a pic of Ernest Langdon from the IDPA Nationals, he used his SIG P220ST to win the Custom Defense Pistol class at the IDPA Nationals beating Rob Leatham who came in 2nd place and used a 1911.

Why would a SIG 220 be running in CDP? I thought that was for SA only guns, or do I have my wires crossed? (a not unusual phenomenon)

[Tamara]

Lotta good publicity for SIGarms if Langdon did well. Which he did.

(Don't forget that this is a guy who drove Berettas at the top of the pack, too. He could probably clean up with a Llama, but it ain't gonna make me run out and buy one. ;) )

[cslinger]

Funny I was just thinking the same thing. Joe Super Shooter could probably kick butt with any ole' thing as long as it went bang and he had a chance to get a feel for it.

Sure it sells guns but let's face facts. If you drink Budweiser you are not going to wake up with the Swedish bikini team and just because you buy the finest .45 auto on the planet (another shameless 220 plug :D ), doesn't mean you will be able to shoot like the pros. It takes time and money to be able to do that, quite a bit of both.

Wouldn't it be great to see one of these pros run through some high profile match with something like old beat up Smith 59 series or a Ruger P97 or an old STAR. It would be classic.

[BigG]

Did anyone mention Colts? ;)

[Mike Irwin]

I really have to say the Smith & Wesson Model of 1955 Target Revolver...

Wonderful, wonderful guns...

I don't care if it's a revolver, and this is the semi-auto forum... :D

[dhoomonyou]

Glock Model 30.

[clint1911a1]

I've fired them all and owned several and I've narrowed it down to two:

1911-A1 (yea, yea, I know. Go figure)

Glock 21

The Glock has got to be the most rugged and reliable sidearm on the planet. As a friend of mine put it, "they're the Kalashnikov of sidearms."

Like I said, I've fired nearly every type of auto in existence and have found nothing to be more ergonomic and user friendly as the 1911, bar-none.

[Gordon]

I have a Browning sig 220 .45 and I don't think it compares to a good 1911. I would rate it somewhere around my CZ97 . The most EXPENSIVE(if that is the 'best') is , of course, the .45 Luger which is made pretty well too!

[Mute]

Tried the rest. Stayed with the best. 1911.

[care-less]

HK USPc

[BigG]

Here's a good one.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=537759

[BWC]

The HK USP45 (full size, compact, expert, match & tactical)

The Sig P220

The HK Mk 23 Mod 0/Mark 23 SOCOM OHG

'nuff said

[VG]

The Glock has got to be the most rugged and reliable sidearm on the planet. As a friend of mine put it, "they're the Kalashnikov of sidearms."

From the Glock website:
As GLOCK achieves further penetration in the marketplace, GLOCK pistols can frequently be seen in movies, on TV and in books.

I won't touch the 2nd part of your statement - I asuem he meant it as a compliment, right?

USGI M1911's made nearly 100 years ago can still be used safely and reliably. Completely ignoring collector appeal, we'll see how people feel about shooting 100 year old polymer pistols in 80 years or so. But they will ive on in movies, on TV, and in books.....

[clint1911a1]

I must not watch as much television as VG because my opinions aren't based on what I see on TV. I base them on my experiences in the field.
Tell 'ya what. Run over a Glock in an M-37 Dodge Power Wagon on solid rock after it fell out of the truck, pick it up, fire 100 rounds through it flawlessly, and then tell me what you think about the weapon. Do a little shootin' with your Glock after a long day of working on the farm getting in hay. After a flawless shoot at some paper targets, go home, take your Glock apart, and get enough hay out of the inside to start a small fire, and think, man, how did the thing even cycle. Then tell me what you think about the weapon. :neener:

[Tamara]

If I see one more ad about how the BlastOMatic 2000 was thrown off a cliff into a volcanic caldera and then run over by an M1 Abrams full of Navy SEALS, yet still shot 10,000 rounds into 1" at 1000 yards without a single jam, I'm gonna hurl. ;)

[clint1911a1]

Thanks Tamara...Yet another testament to its sound design.:D

[Sarge]

Light as Commander, reliable as a revolver, shoots like a Gold Cup. Nothing to turn on or off; just "Front sight- press."

[45R]

Sig 220ST

[Spieler]

SIG P220!

[surfinUSA]

SIG 220

[duckfoot]

usp 45

[amprecon]

Tried a 1911, can't say I liked it much, tried to, but just couldn't shoot with it. In .45acp? For me it's the Glock 21 all the way.

[vanfunk]

Best .45ACP?
That's easy! Whatever 1911 I happen to be holding in my hand. In this case, it's a minty Series 70 Government Model, just as it left the factory in 1973...collet bushing and all...;)
vanfunk

[McCall911]

I was a fool for Dornaus & Dixon's (or "Bren Ten") Marksman Special. I thought it was far and away the best .45 ACP I'd ever shot/owned (but I haven't yet owned a 1911 in .45, so my experience is somewhat limited.)
I know it's similar to EAA's Witness, somewhat, in appearance, but--HA!--don't make me laugh! There's no comparison!
However, in terms of durability, I have to admit the D&D was a big question mark. Since so few were ever made, finding replacement parts would have been a real problem!

[soonerjh]

Sig p220

[Inline_6]

Para-Ordnance line of hi-caps... P14, P13, P12

[pete f]

Colt, when they were made by people who cared what they sold. pre series 70 then add a grip safety and a medium or long trigger, those two mods make it the best ever in my opinion. (maybe add little higher profile sights as i now have post 45 yo eyes)

[Working Man]

For me, right now the best .45 ACP I have is a H&K USP. Never FTF, never
jammed, and never made me look bad... can't always say the reverse though. :uhoh:

[jrpeterman]

What, no Ruger P-90? Seriously, out of the 45 acps that I have shot, the best are in no particulat order: Colt Gold Cup, Kimber Classic, Sig P220, CZ-97b, S&W 645, Glock 21, 30, & 36.

[bigmike45]

i've tried others but i keep going back to the old tried & true, john moses browning.....1911.:D

[BryanP]

Enough with the necroposting already. This thread is over 2 years old.

Oh, and SIG P220, thank youverymuch. But the new XD-45 looks very interesting.

[thorazine]

What would you guys say are the Worlds Alltime Best Ever .45 ACP Pistols?
(If you mention glock or 1911 i'll kill ya! j/k;))

No Only US or Italian made ones, but ones from all over the planet.

P220ST

-and-

Fullsize or compact HK.

[old4x4]

HK USP...period

[WarMachine]

SIG 220
HK USP .45
Any 1911 from the big name 'Smiths...

[Dorian]

HK USP

[MCgunner]

Ruger P90 and P97
+1

[Grunt]

Well, currently I own a USP-45F, Glock 21, Sig P220, Ruger P90, EAA Witness, S&W SW99 and a three 1911s (Auto Ordnanace 1911A1, Springfield WWII USGI, and a Kimber Royal Carry)in my .45 Auto collection. I have to say that my favorite out of all of them at this time would be the USP-45. As soon as Springfield releases the 5" version of the new XD45, I'll be looking to add that one as well and see how it stacks up against the others but for now, it's still the HK leading the pack.

[CypherNinja]

Auto Ordnance Model 1928 Thompson Submachinegun :evil:

[Richard.Howe]

P220 for me.

Fancy 1911's (Ed Brown, Baer, Nighthawk, etc.) are my favorite range guns, but if things ever head south, it's the 220 I'm grabbing.

Of all the 45's I've owned, the 220 is the only one I have more than one of -- a 220, 220ST, and 245.

FWIW,
Rich

[Denmark116]

33969

USP .45

[progunner1957]

In no particular order:

Ed Brown Kobra Carry -or-
Ed Brown Custom Classic -or-
Ted Yost 1* Elite built on a Series 80 Colt 1911.

Wilson, Nighthawk Tactical and Les Baer also make some damn fine 1911s.

Aside from the 1911, SIG P220.:D

[SwampWolf]

Can't believe I'm the only one to nominate Smith's 945. Second choice would be a stock Series 70 Colt Gold Cup. And for those picking Smith's Model of 1955 Target-you're comparing apples and watermelons :) !

[Black Majik]

Oh my, welcome to 2003! :what: :neener:

I might as well make my post useful and vote, the 1911 :)