Looking at getting a sub-compact 45acp

https://www.guns.com/news/2020/07/27/super-rare-early-semmerling-lm-4-45acp-pistol-surfaces


I know you won’t bite. But this is my lure I’m throwing out. Always wanted on of these since I was a kid.

Buckeye63 said:

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I will admit. Those are not a bargain.

Discounting the Semmerling... there is always the AMT DAO .45ACP pistol, if you can find one.

I would recommend the Kahr CM45... if you can find a good example. I have had a P45, and a CW45, and I found both wanting. The CM may be the sweet spot.

I'm not really partial to Glock, mostly because of the ergos. But I have to admit that the G30 ain't bad. If there is any Glock that I might actually just cave and buy someday that would be it. Personally I'd be most interested in the Kahr. Back when I was shopping for my first handgun I ended up with a Bersa Thunder UC45. I'd still have it if it didn't bite my hand so much. One of the other 45s that I strongly considered was a Kahr. I almost think it would have been a better choice although at the time I wanted a hammer action.

Kahr is known for having very tight specs
on their brand new guns. Supposedly it sometimes takes a few hundred rounds to loosen them up and then they work great. It may require a little patience but that sure beats having some third world rattle trap with poor QC.

I have the Kahr PM 45. Its about as small as I could imagine a .45 to be. After a break in, their surprisingly accurate and reliable. It's a great bug.

I like the DA revolver like trigger but that 5 round magazine causes me to leave it in the safe in favor of a p365 with mag guts pulling back up and warm weather primary.

Moving into cooler weather now. I've been wringing out a new Wilson Xtac .45 as primary carry.

I may move that Kahr back into bug mode. I like having primary and bug with common ammo/magazines.

I don't own one but I have shot an M&P Shield 2.0 in .45 ACP and it's impressive for it's size. As much as I prefer Glocks the M&P would be my pick for a carry subcompact in .45 ACP.

I like my .45acp Shield - right up to the point where I have to load the magazine - especially when I rack one in the chamber, eject the magazine and struggle to top it off.
Does the 9mm Shield require 8.7 tons of pressure to load the magazine?

(yes - I have an UpLULA - but you can't drag that thing around in your pocket with a handful of cartridges.)

If you replace the springs and followers with the newer Mag Guts for them, the problem goes away. Just make sure you're buying the newer model or you'll have the same problem as the OEM that you already have.

I like a manual thumb safety so chose the Shield 2.0 45acp.



And the Magula speed loader makes thumbs happy.

I shot one of the PC Shields in 45 and it made.me think long and hard about ditching a 1911 and going with that for carry. It's a real nice gun.

The ones listed in the OP all seem like quality guns. What would put me off is the weight of them when loaded with 6 or more heavy 45 ACP rounds and hiding them.

I got to try out a Springfield armory compact 5rd capacity 45acp glock knock off I'm not sure exactly which one it was. I couldn't hit anything. I had trouble hitting a B27 target at 7yd. I was shooting my full power 230gr fmj range fodder reload for my 1911 as that's all I had. (6.5gr of cbi and armscore 230gr fmj)
If you want one like that I would say get a smorgasbord of factory ammo to try, that way you have some of everything and something is bound to shoot decent. +p 230gr is probably not what you want.

I have a PT145, but I took a real good look at the Kahr PM 45 and CT 45. I didn't like the triggers on my dad's M&P 45 & 45C. I almost got a G30, when I bought, the difference in price between the G30 and the PT145 was a lot of money to me.

N555 said:

I got to try out a Springfield armory compact 5rd capacity 45acp glock knock off I'm not sure exactly which one it was. I couldn't hit anything. I had trouble hitting a B27 target at 7yd. I was shooting my full power 230gr fmj range fodder reload for my 1911 as that's all I had. (6.5gr of cbi and armscore 230gr fmj)
If you want one like that I would say get a smorgasbord of factory ammo to try, that way you have some of everything and something is bound to shoot decent. +p 230gr is probably not what you want.

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I don't see anything that's a Glock knock off with the Xd line. About the only thing they have in common is both are polymer frames and that both use a striker. That's not Glock being copied here at all.

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

N555 said:

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

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Still doesn't make it a Glock knock off. Glock wasn't the first striker fired pistol. Glock wasn't even the first polymer 9 and striker fired.

Misinformation is still misinformation. Not digging on you, but this is the same mistake as ignorantly calling a magazine a clip.

sheesh you fellas...

OK to the OP. On you list I would go with the XDS. Strong pistols and you alredy know you like it. Kahrs ... I like the triggers for carry but they can be finicky SOBs. Shields are nice but you already know you will like the XDS so it seems pretty simple. No need to overthink things. I assume this is for CCW.

Buckeye63 said:

I have been looking a bit for a sub-compact 45acp …
I own a Glock 30S .. great pistol.. but looking for smaller,,,
Springfield XDS 45acp
Shield 45 acp
Kahr CM 45

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My shooting partner has carried a Shield 45acp (Gen 1) since it first came out. We replaced the crappy stock guide rod with a steel guide rod a few years ago and it greatly improved the gun. Its actually a fairly enjoyable subcompact to shoot, unlike most other polymer 45s I've tried.

I replaced my Glock 36 a few months ago with a 4" Springfield 1911 which I like much better. It might not be small enough for what you are looking for, though. There's also a few good 3.5" officer models out there.

Buckeye63 said:

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Maybe at $2-300. Not remotely interested as a carry gun.

The PM is only 5/8 bigger in both directions with one less bullet. But that’s a lot more horse power. The 45 seem to have less mag issues. I haven’t been able to run my CW yet but I want to soon.