Need help choosing a .45acp carry gun

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handloader357

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I'm in the market for a .45 concealed carry pistol. I'm a fairly short guy and in some cases I have issues keeping a full sized 1911 comfortably concealed and have similar issues with my 686. I've been reading up on the Rock Island Officers size guns and Citadel Compact 1911 which seem like alot of gun for a low price. I'm very familiar with the operation and care of the 1911 platform so it's my 1st choice, but the XDm's seem like a nice piece as well. I'd need to go try one on to see how well I can carry it. Going up in price but still on my list are the Colt Defender and that little Kimber Pro Carry II, but I dislike aluminum frames and the series 80 type firing systems. Overall weight doesn't really bother me, its the length of the barrel/slide on the full sized 1911 that gives me trouble - digging into my legs and other important parts when sitting down. If anyone carries any of these pistols I'd love to hear what you have to say about them and how well you trust them. Obviously the cheaper the better, but I need something I can trust.
 
I would have you check out the third generation Taurus Mil Pro PT145. It's a 10 round double-stack compact 45 with SA/DA trigger and frame safety.

It is very compact as the slide is actually shorter than my Glock 27 and comparable in width. Grip length is close to G23 with very good ergonomics. It uses the same Fobus holster as the SA XD.

I have shot several thousand rounds of mixed factory and reloads with no FTF/FTE. It particularly feeds/chambers 200 gr SWC very well.

It is priced around $350 (blue) to less than $400 (Stainless).

Only thing to watch out for is the older Gen1/2 magazines won't work well in the new Gen3 (How do you tell? There is no italic "Pro" to the right of Millennium on the slide and other side of the slide says "PT 145 PRO") and you may get some flak from other shooters that you bought a Taurus. Instead of arguing, I just let them shoot the PT145 and let them form their own opinions - they usually change them after shooting the PT145.
 
^^^ I agree with bds. Also take a look at the Taurus 24/7 DS Pro Compact in .45ACP. It's approximately the same size as the MilPro (and uses the same magazine) but has a couple of extra features. It's what I carry when I carry IWB rather than pocket. DA trigger pull is well weighted if a bit long, the SA is very nice. It weighs about 30 ounces loaded 10+1.
 
After reading up on the FN's I'm kinda in heat too, but they're not much shorter than my 1911's so it probably wont help much...

On the Taurus topic - My 1st pistol was the old model 94 .22 wheel gun. I picked up a Model 82 at a gun show just because it looked identical to the .22, only bigger :) I love my Taurus wheel guns. On the downside, a buddy has a 9mm Taurus Millennium that looks very similar to the 45 mentioned which has been very reliable, but one day at the range it started shooting way low and to the left out of nowhere. We didn't spend much time on it, but couldn't figure out why...

Also on that PT145 - aren't they DA only? Not the end of the world for a carry gun, but I'm just confused... Thanks to you both for your input, it's greatly appreciated!
 
S&W M&P compact.

8+1 capacity, changeable grips, either no external safety or thumb safety.
And right now, you can get them with 2 extra magazines from S&W
 
Glock 36/30
SIG P245/P220 Compact

Those would be the only smaller .45s I would choose from. I don't trust any 1911 that isn't a full size. I've tried 3 small 1911s, all 3 of them were a gigantic pain in the ass
 
I have a Kimber Ultra Carry II, the gun functions flawlessly, is accurate as hell at SD ranges and carries quite well. Worth every penny I paid for it.
 
Handloader, gen3 PT145 has SA/DA trigger but shoots SA all the time. I used to hate the DAO trigger but the new SA/DA is like night and day in comparison.

I think shooting one is really the only way you can appreciate the change.
 
HK 45c or uspc 45.

Mine is easy to carry even in shorts and a tee shirt. has been 100 percent reliable, and you can carry it cocked and locked, just like a 1911.
 
Taurus PT145 is a great low priced ccw, But a pain to shoot at the range.
Kahr CW45- Ive never owned one but i see no drawbacks and a nice low price also.
Glock 30- Thick and higher priced, But you get what you pay for and this gun delivers.
The small 3" low priced 1911's scare me, Even the higher priced $1000 3" ones do also. Due to the fact of reliability. It can be perfect or a lemon. If i had to take my chances id take the Colt Defender as im sure Colt would make it work right if it was fussy.
Small Kimbers in 3" i would avoid.
3" Springfields id rank highly with the Colts.

Im a .45 guy also myself. I carry a 5" 1911 80% of the time, And a XD SC .40 when i need a small gun for better concealment.
Imo id look at non 1911's unless you are a patient person and can tweak things yourself.
The first 3 i mentioned hide as well as most compact 9mm's, Just keep a spare mag on you if you choose anything but the PT145 as it has a large capacity for its size. And a well proven gun at that.
 
A buddy of mine bought a Taurus 1911 for his wife 5 weeks ago. Nice fit and finish for the money, almost as good as his Citadel. Just got a text that the Taurus slide cracked today at less than 1000 rounds. In all fairness his Citadel had problems feeding from the get go and had to be polished and I believe reamed but now functions flawlessly.

If it must be .45 and it must be compact, I would suggest a nice used Colt, S&W or DW 1911. For non-1911s i would look at a 3rd Gen S&W. I have an M&P 9c for now but may upgrade when money allows.

Good luck and stay safe.
 
I had a Taurus 24/7 .45. It was very picky with ammo. Had all kinds of feed problems with it. Mostly problems with Winchester white-box, but also had problems with other brands of ball ammo. Taurus makes great guns--don't get me wrong. But I just didn't have much luck with the 24/7. I have a PT145 that is a great little compact .45.

Ended up trading in the 24/7 for a Springfield XD .40. I have been VERY impressed with the Springfield XD. It fits my hand perfectly (even with Crimson Trace laser grips). I've shot over 1,500 rounds through it--everything from high-quality personal defense rounds to cheap reloads from the gun range, and I haven't had a single misfire or misfeed. If you're looking for a solid, well made, inexpensive pistol, you can't go wrong with the Springfield XD. Easy to shoot, easy to clean. All around, my favorite pistol.

I like the .40 because I get a few extra rounds in the mag. Don't get me wrong--.45 is awesome (I own two). The .40 is my primary carry gun, but I have carried the .45 as well (and still do on occasion).

My advice---go with what feels the best in your hand. How the gun fits your hand is more important than the name (to an extent). Sig, Glock, Ruger, and Springfield are all quality pistols. Stay away from the cheaper ones (like Hi-Point) if it's going to be a personal protection/carry gun. Remember, if you life depends on it, it must work, 100% of the time.
 
Hard to go wrong with a compact 1911, Glock, M&P, or a XD. Those would be my top pics with the M&P or XD getting first pic.
 
I have the XD45T, and +1 on "I have been VERY impressed with the Springfield XD. It fits my hand perfectly. I've shot over 1,500 rounds through it--everything from high-quality personal defense rounds to cheap reloads from the gun range, and I haven't had a single misfire or misfeed. If you're looking for a solid, well made, inexpensive pistol, you can't go wrong with the Springfield XD. Easy to shoot, easy to clean. All around, my favorite pistol."

Thought about getting the XDm45, but why?
 
The PT-145 Mil Pro 3rd Gen is my compact 45ACP. Shooting it at the range is good fun. Not nearly as accurate as the PT1911 but still plenty good for SD. Hard to argue with 10+1 45ACP that reliably feeds, is comfortable to carry and points naturally. The SA/DA trigger is a really nice bonus. Only thing I'd like to change would be to get some night sights for it.
 
The PT-145 Mil Pro 3rd Gen is my compact 45ACP. Shooting it at the range is good fun
Granted i had the PT745 single stack version, I never once remember saying "This is Fun". It was a great gun imo and about as small of a .45 as you can get, And very well priced.

I normally carry a PT1911 80% of the time except when i need a smaller gun and the XD SC .40 is an amazing gun when you cant get a .45 small enough.
I use Winchester Talon series .40 ammo and i have as much confidence in it as i do my .45 with the same ammo. I just cant get the .40 back on target as fast as the 1911 yet. But im still practicing.
 
I can echo the several suggestions for the Taurus PT145 Millennium Pro 3rd gen. Mine is still pretty new, with only two trips to the range. But each trip I put over 200 rounds (several brands) through it with no malfunctions of any kind. I don't find it uncomfortable to shoot at all. I will be taking the concealed carry course soon. I was planning to use a full sized 1911 that is match quality for the qualification, but the PT145 has shot so well I am not concerned about qualifying with it in the least.
 
Well im a wuss then :)
The 745 is a thinner gripped gun so maybe thats why i need a diaper change.
Im a .45acp guy all the way, But the recoil was very hard to overcome and bring back down on target. It reminded me of what a .40 +P would feel like shooting in a small gun if they ever made it.
But i still highly recommend the PT745 tho as a ccw.
 
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