Which Polymer 45 ACP are you enjoying for target shooting

If you act fast, there are used M&P 45's available at bargain prices http://www.summitgunbroker.com/?redirect=false

Beretta PX 4

I enjoy shooting the G21 Gen4. Bone stock with TFX Pro sights. Of course, it's my only polymer .45, so I guess it has to be my favorite.

I have an ol' Ruger P345 that I like taking out to the range. I haven't yet this year, as I have been working on a M&P40. But soon, I have the loads waiting for it.

I recently picked up an FNX 45, I finally got the chance to shoot it a week ago. It seems accurate enough, and I think I like it more than the USP 45 I had a few years ago.

Although this isn't a dedicated target gun, it'll likely replace my CZ75b as my nightstand gun.

few years ago I started looking for a new 45 auto. I wanted a polymer frame with a double stack mag. After looking at many I settled on the S&W M&P45. The grip fit my had the best and it shoots great.
You should put your hands on a few to see which fits better.

There might be "better" or at least more expensive choices out there, but I enjoy shooting my stock Gen 4 G21 with Trijicon HDs more than my lone 1911, possibly because I had many more rounds through my G21 before I got a 1911. Less recoil, (much) faster follow-up shots, and less reloading. I recently passed 4k rounds in mine...a lot of steel case and my own reloads mixed in, and have only had one malfunction with Freedom Munitions remanufactured ammo...I don't buy that stuff anymore. I find it to be quite an accurate and very enjoyable shooting pistol.

I like HKs. Both the USP 45 (which I have now) and the HK45 are super accurate guns.
The HK45 has the added benefit of having 1911-like ergonomics designed into the gun. Trigger reach (in SA), grip angle and circumference are identical to a 1911. I know they're not cheap, but you would not be disappointed by the HK45.
If you're on a budget like me, look for a used USP 45. I found one for $499. Plenty of used ones on Gunbroker in the same price range, and you'll never wear out a USP. The USP is the only 45 I'm aware of that is rated for +p+ ammo.
Both guns also feed SWC's if you're into target loads, many brands don't.

My friend picked up a Gen 3 G21 and for some reason I can shoot it better than any other .45 including my own Ruger Commander 1911.

I am sorry, but I never could love the USP 45. And the Px4 seemed no better at recoil than any other .45, although its 9mm version is definitely better than ordinary 9mm guns. My XDm in .45 is great shooting and I like it a lot. That said, it has some issues. First, although it seems amazingly accurate against other garden variety guns, it's not at all better than the USP, maybe worse (well, I can't shoot either of them to tell the difference). I just like its sights better, but nobody shoots with irons anymore. Second, the rounds rattle in the magazines. Third, the grip texture takes getting used to. When I just got it, it left a deep imprints (please pardon the pun). I used to go to forums and write that Chroats probably wanted you to shoot in gloves like a real competitor. Fourth, it eats magazine springs. They literally wear against the magazine body and you can see flat spots developing. Once a spring gets damaged like that, it loses power and rounds start to nose-dive at feeding. I never shot USP enough for that to happen, but it's hard to imagine H&K designing magazines like that. Other than that, XDm is quite a gun, for a plastic service pistol. P.S. My wife used to have trouble racking the XDm because if its "house roof" slide design. You have to hold onto the gun with your strong hand while racking, because if you let the barrel tip up, the support hand slides off the slide.

zaitcev said:

P.S. My wife used to have trouble racking the XDm because if its "house roof" slide design. You have to hold onto the gun with your strong hand while racking, because if you let the barrel tip up, the support hand slides off the slide.

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Don't you also have to keep the grip safety depressed to rack the slide?

John G C 1 said:

I have read a few things about the EAA P witness 45 and I might even take a chance on it despite the poor reviews regarding warranty support, but I must admit I am surprised at how widely varied the reports are on the SA trigger. Some reviewers gush about the 3.5 lb SA trigger and others say it is a nice 5.5 in SA. I would have thought there would have been more consistency than that.

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Nope, that's Tanfoglio (the actual manufacturer - EAA is just the importer) for you. You have to understand that, unlike a lot of gun companies you're used to dealing with, their real core market these days is competitive shooters. Competitive shooters are going to tinker and polish and do things to their guns no matter what. They aren't focused on getting big government contracts. They're making guns for gamers, and then making de-featured versions of those things as sort of "diffusion brand" stuff for a lower price point.

If this approach hacks you off, then they are not the manufacturer for you.

zaitcev said:

Third, the grip texture takes getting used to. When I just got it, it left a deep imprints (please pardon the pun). I used to go to forums and write that Chroats probably wanted you to shoot in gloves like a real competitor.

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Virtually no competitive pistol shooters (in anything an XD might be used for, anyway) uses gloves. I think you meant "operator."

Another "Out of the Box to the Match" review, the Grand Power P45

JTQ said:

Don't you also have to keep the grip safety depressed to rack the slide?

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Yes, and the grip safety presents no difficulty, at least in my experience.

Had a S&W M&P 45 a few years back that was good.

zaitcev said:

Yes, and the grip safety presents no difficulty, at least in my experience.

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Regarding your wife's issues with slide racking - I would have guessed keeping the grip safety depressed was a bigger issue for your wife rather than the shape of the slide.

I've seen several comments over the years about the grip safety causing slide racking issues. Yours is the first I've seen regarding the shape of the slide as an issue.

I hadn't taken my FNX-45 (with a Streamlight TLR-4 it's one of my nightstand guns) to the range for over a year or so. Just reminded that it's an easy pistol to shoot that delivers excellent accuracy, really, really accurate gun … DA trigger pull is … not great, but in SA it's a tad creepy, but manageable and better than many. Honkin' big white dot on front sight. Like the HK (and Taurus) frame-mounted safety/de-cocker. And … 15 plus 1 rounds of .45 ACP.

For the base model (not the tactical), I think retail is somewhat north of $600, but under 700.

The FNX is a powder-puff as far as recoil is concerned, just an easy shooter, and because it's so accurate, it's a really fun gun for shooting paper or ringing steel. Some might find the size of the grip a bit much, but with the arched backstrap it fits my hand perfectly; most would probably use the straight backstrap.

Was once upon a time issued the USP, but for me, the ergonomics simply sucked. Not a bad pistol, built like a tank, durable and reliable … but I like the Made-in-USA FNX much better.

The HK-45 is a pistol I've fired only a couple mags through, but seems lightyears better than the USP. Its price is considerably above OP's range, though.

One other plastic .45 that I'd like to try is P320. However, I suspect it's always going to remain a red-headed stepchild of SIG. They didn't even issue an optic ready version for it. But the grip is quite nice on it. Of course it all depends on the shape of one's hands.

I had a Walter PPQ .45 that was crazy accurate and shot very nice. Great gun!

But I have been shooting Glocks so long I couldn’t stand the very crisp, light trigger, and after a couple unintended double taps on some cold and wet range days, I sold it for a Glock 21 G4. The Glock is plenty accurate but certainly not the same light trigger.

I could have trained myself to get more comfortable with it, but really didn’t see the need.

zaitcev said:

One other plastic .45 that I'd like to try is P320. However, I suspect it's always going to remain a red-headed stepchild of SIG. They didn't even issue an optic ready version for it. But the grip is quite nice on it. Of course it all depends on the shape of one's hands.

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Same here. I've got two 9mm 320s (a full-size RX and a Carry in FDE) and have a hankering to try one in .45, but it'll definitely be a try before buy deal. I've been disappointed before buying guns I like in one caliber but found they just didn't work for me in another caliber (although usually .40 S&W was involved) ...

I recently bought a total of three polymer .45 pistols and all will be used for target shooting (although one might get sold). They are: P250 full size, P320 compact and M&P45. They are all nice guns, but I don't need them all.

Of the three, I was very surprised by the P250. My accuracy with that gun on the only occasion I shot it was astounding. It only came with one mag which proved to be problematic, so I ordered a few spares which should be here any day now. Target below (10 yards if I'm remembering correctly).


My P320 was also only fired by me on the same outing. It shoots great but I failed to capture any pictures of how it did. The only real downside to it is that the compact frame only holds 9 rounds. Being that this is a range toy that's not the end of the world, but it does look and feel like it could hold at least 10.

I’ve been shooting an HK45 for 4 or 5 years. It’s a great gun and the revised prices makes it affordable now.

Also had an FNP45. When it fed properly it was a joy to shoot.

HPCadm17 said:

I enjoy shooting the G21 Gen4. Bone stock with TFX Pro sights. Of course, it's my only polymer .45, so I guess it has to be my favorite.

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Pretty much the same story with me. I like my 21 fine but shoot it less now that I have a double stack 1911.

M&P 45 2.0!

For about $400 it's a great gun. Has a grip that's not a 2x4 and so easy to shoot. I say this as someone that is much more of a 9mm guy.