Small 45acp Pistol Recommendations

Been pretty pleased with my Kahr CW45. It has enough grip to control the recoil. I don’t find it objectionable to shoot.

I’ll agree 40 can get a bit snappy in small guns. Even in a larger format SR40C, it is snappier than I’d prefer. Should have stuck with my SR9C.

Well, you have the PM45 and CM45. And also the XDS, the M&P Shield .45. Not sure what else?

I carry a Springfield XDS mod 2 in .45 ACP. It's a single stack so it's super thin, which is why I chose it-- for the concealability. It's got a 3.3 inch barrel and it's a .45 so it's pretty darn snappy. It's not a gun I want to go to the range with and shoot 100 rounds, but it is a gun that has performed flawlessly and which I am confident carrying.

For me when it comes to .45 acp, 1911 will always be my choice. Very slim, easy to conceal and definitely no snappy recoil. Don't know how recoil would be in a smaller lighter pistol. I'm sure it will be snappier than the 1911 with a 230 grain bullet.

I had a CW45 that I cut the grip to take PM45 mags and it actually worked pretty good as a pocket gun, excellent gun, accurate and reliable. At the time I also had a LC9s pro 9mm and a Walther PPS 40 and still mostly carried my LCR. I wanted something else and I decided it was expendable.
I still have a Colt 1991a1 officers model 45 not much bigger and way heavier, definitely not a pocket gun, but fills my desire for a small 45.

Colt Officers ACP. It barks but controllable w critical defense ammo. Kimber has some pretty nice looking sub compact 1911 pistols. The .45 Shield looks interesting and affordable as well.

SW MP Shield ?
Glock (Block)

My son has a S&W Shield in 45 ACP that he really likes. Very slim and concealable.
I've been carrying a Colt Commander lately myself, but it is obviously heavier than a compact plastic frame.

My smallest 1911/45 is a Sig Ultra Compact with a 3-3/8" barrel, basically an Officers. It always amazes me how accurate it is when I shoot it, easily matching the commander & full size 1911 for group size. Fully loaded it's still a 32oz handgun that makes it very controllable & is perfect for carry in my opinion-it's been my companion on many long distance motorcycle tours.

only photo I have of it

d'zaster said:

Colt Officers ACP. It barks but controllable w critical defense ammo. Kimber has some pretty nice looking sub compact 1911 pistols. The .45 Shield looks interesting and affordable as well.

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I would recommend sticking with the Original Officers ACP 3.5", the 3" Kimbers and Defenders shorter recoil system makes it a smidge more difficult to turn that fat 45 into the chamber.
And unless you're appendix carrying that 1/2" isn't much of an issue.

Kahr PM45
Cobra Patriot .45
Smith 4516

I don’t think the PM45 bucks as much as the PM40. Cobra Patriot.45 are no longer made, but I personally really like mine, and it takes 1911 mags which is nice. The smith is the heaviest of the three, and most expensive.

Springfield XDE. Softer shooting than the XDS. Also a little softer shooting than the Shield in 45. I have owned those 3.
It would be hard to argue against the Sig mentioned in post 10.

Another vote for the Colt Officer's Model ACP. With 185 gr. and 200 gr. ammo it's bark is worse than it's bite.

I’m with the 1911 boys, but I would just make it a Commander model. Maybe a Sig Emperor Scorpion Fastback with a bobtail.

Small as I like to go is my HK45c. Size of a Glock 19, light and conceals well and doesn’t hurt my back like a steel 1911 does.

Speaking of:

ms6852 said:

For me when it comes to .45 acp, 1911 will always be my choice. Very slim, easy to conceal and definitely no snappy recoil. Don't how recoil would be in a smaller lighter pistol. I'm sure it will be snappier than the 1911 with a 230 grain bullet.

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I was fairly shocked when I picked up the HK45c that it’s both less snappy, and more comfortable to shoot compared to my DW VBob, I was expecting more snap and punch.

I have owned both a Kahr P45, and a CW45... both have moved on down the trail... in fact, the CW45 just this week. I have been tempted to look at a PM45, but my experience with the Kahr 45's has not been stellar... they just don't fit me well. Having said that, my daily carry is a CW9... I LOVE that pistol (I have 3 CW9's...) and it fits me very well.

The PM40 isn't much bigger than the CM9/PM9 (which I also own...) but the jump to a Kahr .45 is a considerable one. Before you plunk down the money, make sure you look at it and, if possible, fire it. Same with the other suggestions. Honestly, I don't carry my C/PM9's much anymore... they do not fit my hand as well as the CW9, so that's what I carry.

I would look at the compact 1911's if I were shopping for a .45 to conceal, personally... but there is obviously a weight penalty there.

I am really happy with my Kimber ultra carry II. I got lucky and stumbled into a gently used one a few months ago for $600. My primary carry is a shield 9. I know they make it in 45 ACP too, and I was considering getting one, but I lucked out on the Kimber, which is secreted away at the ready for emergencies.

Tallball said:

If anyone has comments/suggestions for a small 45acp pistol for CC, I'm listening. Did you own one that you definitely liked or didn't like? What did you like and/or not like about it?

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I used to have a P45, which was about the size of Colt Lightweight Commander, and a complete dumpster fire. Kahrs in general tend to be either excellent or garbage, and mine had continuing, nagging issues. Factory magazines, Likeline followers, new springs all around - nothing worked. It was nice to shoot, but in the end it's the only handgun that I ever sold. Just could not take it anymore.

Another gun I have is a Charger Arms Pitbull in .45 ACP. It's a novelty revolver that uses rimless ammunition without moon clips. Not recommended for your requirements. Its recoil is stiff, even though it's not light: 23 oz or exactly the same as Glock 30S.

Finally, I have a Shield 45. Its reliability is impeccable, but it's not as comfy as Kahr was. The narrow grip concentrates the recoil.

Sorry, it's mostly negatives. You might be able to fix Shield with some kind of Hogue grip.

P.S. I tried XD-S 45 on several occasions. Its extremely long (front-to-back) and narrow grip never felt good to me. It kicked as much as my revolver with the same ammunition.

Tallball said:

I own carry handguns in every common caliber, but none of them is a 45acp semiautomatic pistol.

My Kahr PM40 is a nice pistol, if a bit snappy. I thought that maybe a small pistol like that in 45acp would have slightly less recoil.

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Have a CM40, picked it up last year for cheap. Quite "barky".

If anyone has comments/suggestions for a small 45acp pistol for CC, I'm listening. Did you own one that you definitely liked or didn't like? What did you like and/or not like about it?

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Have and have carried an XDS45. The 9mm version is kinder on the hands, but the .45 is still quite manageable.

Ive had a number of the smaller 45 acp's over the years. The only two I had the best luck with function-wise were the SIG P245/P220 Compact and the Glock 30S, which were basically 100%. They were also good shooters, easily controlled, and comfortable to shoot.

All the 1911's shorter than a Commander length gun were just aggravation, and the shorter you went, the worse they got. I wouldn't go shorter than a Commander there.

I'm about 150 rounds into the 200 round break-in period for my new Kahr CW45. So far, not a single malfunction and that's using range ammo and four different brands of hollow points. It seems accurate enough. I'm considering making it a pocket-carry gun to replace my Smith hammerless .38 but so far I haven't found a suitable pocket holster for it. Anyone have any recommendations?

I love the glock 30, it's not super small though. It is very shootable however, a fair trade off. Better capacity than a 1911 with a shorter grip and it's tough as nails. Been carrying a g30 since 2012 and not changing any time soon