Looking at getting a sub-compact 45acp

[starling]

dodo bird is a Jokester bringing up the Semmerling but...... I always wanted one too so its OK.

Thomas 45 is a little bigger (makarov-ish size) but you dont have to sell a kidney at least. My oddball 45s (yes I carry it sometimes) are the Patriot 45 but you have to handle a pretty stiff DAO trigger. You also need to know how to make them work most of the time. Intratec cat 45 is very similar.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Thomas 45 is a little bigger (makarov-ish size) but you dont have to sell a kidney at least.

In the hand, the Thomas feels substantially bigger. It also recoils more and the one I shot wasn't as accurate

 

[starling]

How about a Star Firestar 45acp?

 

[MedWheeler]

N555 writes:

It was a polymer frame and striker fired.
Non-glock people call those glock knockoffs.

So.. "Glockoffs"?

 

[The_Quartermaster]

N555 writes:



So.. "Glockoffs"?

Impossible.

 

[Buckeye63]

My XDM E Compact in 10mm definitely isn’t Glockish ( dang good pistol’e)

as compared to my 30S

 

[9mmepiphany]

It was a polymer frame and striker fired.
Non-glock people call those glock knockoffs.

If that were the nessary criteria to label a "knock off," I guess Glocks would be a knock off of the H&K VP70

 

[starling]

If that were the nessary criteria to label a "knock off," I guess Glocks would be a knock off of the H&K VP70

Back in the day they most likely were talked about that way...."oh look...another silly toy gun" etc. etc. Glock was just a trendsetter... Keltec is the same. History is full of these types. Personally I hate what Glock did to the industry but thats just me. I dont hate Glock really...just the trend it created. The pistols themselves are fine. As for the slang useage..it doesnt really bother me. Clip..Mag...Glock Knockoff etc. I can usually tell what people mean and that all that really matters. In an ideal world we should refer to them by who the designer was not the brand anyway... Ruger LCP becomes the Kellgren LCP. Gives the creator/designer the respect they deserve. Gets a little hard when there are multiple designers working in conjunction though.

This thread has kind of hightened my awareness. There really isnt that many subcompact style 45acps. This 9mm obsession needs to stop. Been thinking of other small 45s... there really are not that many. Maybe I should pick one up too. There doesnt seem to be anyone making a tue DAO mini pistol. If the patriot 45 didnt have the serial number at the bottom of the magwell/grip I could cut it down but Im not going the whole..remove the serial number route. Maybe its time someone brought back the AMT backup 45 and do a modern take on it.

 

[Tallball]

LoL! I thought we just had a small 45 thread.

I really like my M&P a lot, but mine is full-sized.

I was going to get one of the Kahrs or the small Springfield so that I would have at least one small 45acp to carry OWB.

Then I saw this PT145. Somebody let the stainless steel slide rust enough to get pitted, so I got it for next to nothing.

It goes bang every time and the trigger is mediocre instead of terrible.

The stainless Kahrs are the nicest 40/45 pocket pistols, IMHO. If I see a stainless Kahr 45acp and happen to have a pocket full of money, I will buy it.

The Taurus gives me something to that works until that magical day arrives.

Taurus PT145 45acp

• Tallball
• Mar 16, 2022
• 3

 

[KansasTrapper77]

I technically own two M&P Shield 45s but one is currently not in my possession.

The first one is an M&P Shield Performance Center. It isn’t a 2.0 but it was released after M&P tweaked their original shield so I called it an M&P 1.5. But I loved it, it had a fair trigger in that kind of gun, never had a single failure to feed or fire, had fiber optic sights which really glowed if any light was present. I installed a hogue band around the grip because I personally thought the grip too narrow and the stippling very aggressive for IWB carry. The one downside. It had a ported barrel. If I was ever required to fire it at night I had better get the job done in the first round or two because I was going to be blinded at night. But due to the ported barrel it shot very nice on the range. Very manageable.

My second M&P 45 was identical except for the 2.0 stamped on the slide. It feels and shoots the exact same. I did have a few failure to feed but this one was brand new when I bought it so it’s probably not broken in yet.

I love my shield and I love the “firepower” it affords me. I wouldn’t mind more capacity but the FBI statistics say most conceal carry engagements are like 3.2 rounds fired. So “statistically” I’m good. It is the largest handgun I’d try concealing though. In fact when in light summer clothing I’m reaching for the LCP II more often.

 

[Buckeye63]

@Tallball
Do you have a G2C or G3C ?
Id like to see a size comparison vs the PT-145
If and when u are able .. it would be interesting

 

[Mauser lover]

I’ve got the Shield .45, no 2.0 stamped on the slide, but I think it’s really a 2.0. Certainly much closer to the 2.0 than the original 9mm version. It has the tritium S&W sights.

It’s been my (basically) edc for a few years. Split unequally between this and a bigger CZ75 Compact. There is absolutely nothing I would change about this handgun for a .45 carry gun.

I like the frame texture. The slide serrations are great. The trigger is good enough, better than any stock Glock I’ve tried. The grip is just long enough for me to get all my dominant fingers firmly on it with the shorter mags. With the extended mag I can get all my support hand fingers firmly on it. The finish is durable, but it’s also almost entirely stainless, so salty sweat really doesn’t do much quickly. All the safeties present in a Glock are in the Shield. Again, there’s nothing I’d change, and there’s nothing the Glock offers over the Shield except a bigger price tag. I’m not as familiar with the others on the list, but the XD I’ve shot was a little flippier than expected due (I think) to the taller slide.

So, if I had to buy again, I’d buy the Shield again.

 

[Buckeye63]

https://www.taurusarmed.net/threads/pt-145-vs-g2c-or-g3c-size.442091/#post-5825670

Comparison G2C vs PT-145

 

[Mauser lover]

The Taurus G2c is actually quite large, just a thought. It’s a full size duty pistol with pieces chopped off. It retains quite a bit of bulk, even though the barrel and grip have been shortened. I had a 9mm version, but got rid of it because it just didn’t fit any holes for me. I didn’t keep it long enough to find any problems.

In addition to being designed as a single stack, I like that the Shield lacks a rail, because it would be just extra bulk for me.

 

[Navy87Guy]

Don’t discount small 1911’s. I EDC a Bul Ultra Carry. It’s smaller than any of the polymer guns discussed.

 

[Buckeye63]

The Taurus G2c is actually quite large, just a thought. It’s a full size duty pistol with pieces chopped off. It retains quite a bit of bulk, even though the barrel and grip have been shortened. I had a 9mm version, but got rid of it because it just didn’t fit any holes for me. I didn’t keep it long enough to find any problems.

In addition to being designed as a single stack, I like that the Shield lacks a rail, because it would be just extra bulk for me.

The G3C is just a hair bigger than the Shield Plus
actually close enough for me to do a pass on the Shield plus , being I own a G2C


But the Shield 45acp seems to be a winner !!!

 

[The_Quartermaster]

Don’t discount small 1911’s. I EDC a Bul Ultra Carry. It’s smaller than any of the polymer guns discussed.

View attachment 1109833

No, it is not and according to the link provided it's still longer than a Shield 45. You used the wrong S&W polymer to compare to as the OP said Shield and not an M&P 2.0.

https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/bul-armory-1911-ultra-vs-smith-wesson-m-p-45-shield-m2-0

 

[Yo Mama]

To anyone recommending or praising the Taurus pt145, they don't have a warranty, Taurus will not give you back your gun, they are recalled and there is no fix for the pt145, you will get a different gun if they offer you anything. These are not good to recommend for someone that wants a gun with an actual warranty and that will be able to repair any future issues.

 

[Yo Mama]

Op, if you want a decent capacity the Springfield xd mod 2 sub compact .45 is really light and easy to ccw. Compared to a hellcat it's a brick, but that happens with a .45, they only get so small.

 

[starling]

To anyone recommending or praising the Taurus pt145, they don't have a warranty, Taurus will not give you back your gun, they are recalled and there is no fix for the pt145, you will get a different gun if they offer you anything. These are not good to recommend for someone that wants a gun with an actual warranty and that will be able to repair any future issues.

They also crack frames but I think the railed version were suppose to be a little better about that. Great feel in the hand but Taurus fell a little short on the durability side. Its too bad Taurus has not put the G3C out in 45acp. PT145 has a pretty solid following. A 45acp G3c would be a good seller IMO for Taurus.

 

[Navy87Guy]

No, it is not and according to the link provided it's still longer than a Shield 45. You used the wrong S&W polymer to compare to as the OP said Shield and not an M&P 2.0.

https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/bul-armory-1911-ultra-vs-smith-wesson-m-p-45-shield-m2-0

Fair enough…

 

[Tallball]

IIRC, the recall only affected earlier versions of PT145's and certain other Taurus pistols. The problem was fixed after a certain serial number. A friend mentioned it after I bought the one in the picture. It turns out mine is a later one not affected by the recall.

I'm not singing its praises or anything. It goes bang. The trigger is meh. The other pistol I have in the series is a PT132. It also goes bang and the trigger is meh. But I have a 45acp pistol and a 32acp pistol in a handy size that is not easy to find in those calibers.

I've owned four pistols in this series. My stepfather bought one of the early ones and it was doo-doo. It malfunctions a lot. He gave it to me in disgust and I haven't even gotten around to sending it to Taurus. I had a G2C that was a nice pistol. It was dimensionally identical to my Glock26, but the Glock had a better trigger, so I traded the Taurus. I still have the 45 and the 32. They are in the middle somewhere: significantly nicer trigger and finish compared to the early PT111, but not as improved as the G2C.

Taurus Model PT132

• Tallball
• Sep 20, 2018

 

[bnolsen]

The G3C is just a hair bigger than the Shield Plus
actually close enough for me to do a pass on the Shield plus , being I own a G2C
View attachment 1109834

But the Shield 45acp seems to be a winner !!!

The superior finish on the shield does it for me. Having just the sights rust on a carry pistol (shield) is better than the whole slide (g2c).

 

[Bennj]

As I may have mentioned in that other sub compact 45 thread, I'm very pleased with my Shield 45. Had an early issue with a few of the mag followers that I replaced with the new version but no other issues at all. It's the only polymer frame I own, and is almost as comfortable to carry iwb as my 642. I'm in NJ and do not have a carry permit yet, but have worn it around the house and property all day when I can.

 

[Buckeye63]

The superior finish on the shield does it for me. Having just the sights rust on a carry pistol (shield) is better than the whole slide (g2c).

As of yet no rust on my G2C, G3X, GX4 or TCP
But I can say the same with all my carry handguns
( alot)
Not saying.. it ain’t gonna happen
The Shield is definitely a great pistol !!!