.45 ACP decision...

That sig 220 carry with the Sao trigger, melt treatment and night sights rocks!

XDs with Pearce extensions, surprisingly pleasant to shoot at the range and perfectly suited for carry.

Sig C3 or RCS?

I bought a Sig P220 Equinox...it was love at first site. I've had a P220 before but this was much more better to carry. It has a shortened barrel and I don't believe there are 2 alike. It loves to shoot. Was a bit pricey though.

I'll throw another vote for a 1911...It doesnt have to be Kimber etc either to be accurate and reliable, I have 3 Norinco's that I can, have and will again trust my life to...

Would it be feasible to CCW the SR45

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I've carried a full-size M1911 for more years than I care to remember. For the last 15-20 years, it's been a Kimber Custom Classic -- their basic M1911 at the time I bought it.

Yes, you can carry the SR45, but my experience is that the M1911 is the best carry gun you can get (and Ruger makes a superb M1911) because it's so flat and easy to conceal.

How about one that has a 15+1 capacity?

Picked up a FN FNX .45ACP Tactical model, very, very nice. Here is the video I made showing what it comes with and how it comes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arnpbCF72C4

The Ruger SR series is a flat, thin design that conceals very well.

I vote for the XDS thin, crazy accurate, and strong. Has no problems eaten .45 super 1300fps 185gr and 1100fps 230gr I have shot both of them through the XDS and it's not something you would want to shoot all day long but great for carry tho standard 230gr ammo is pleasant to shoot all day and with the grip extension it fells like a full sized gun.

Left to right:Glock 36, XDS, Kahr p45

I had a Kahr CW45 for a minute. I personally was not impressed. I loved the cm9 I had for a while and figured the 45 would fall right in line but it didnt. It ejected nearly every round directly back into my face, and it was not nearly as small as I thought it would be, although definitely light enough for concealed carry. I've heard a lot of other people have the same problem with the rounds ejecting into their face. Kahr seems to have some quality control issues. the Glock 36 is about the same size as a g19, which imo is too big to carry every day, but that's just me.

My opinion on the 1911....it's a hundred year old design and it shows. I wanted a 1911 since I was a kid, and I finally purchased my first one last year after having a long love affair with Glock and more recently the XDm. With the exception of a sweet trigger, the 1911 brings nothing to the table that the polymer pistols mentioned dont bring. The polymer pistols bring something that the 1911 does not, and thats RELIABILITY. If you do some research into the modern 1911's, especially ones with a barrel shorter than 4", you will find that they are inherently unreliable. I'm sure many here will disagree with me, but that's just been my research and experience. But I'm not talking about taking a clean gun to the range kind of reliable. Defensive situations do not always take place in a clean environment. It's likely that you may be involved in a scuffle and your gun end up in a mud puddle or a pile of sand. No 1911 will ever compare to a glock for that kind of reliability. Those 1911's that are able to withstand that are the exception, not the rule. Plus, they are a pain in the butt to take down and put back together as compared to glock, and considering how often you have to clean them thats something to think about.

I liked the Glock 30SF after renting one and shootinng 50 rnds of Fed 230 RN at 30 ft. But now I would consider the Ruger SR45 because I have and like the Ruger SR40C or the new Ruger SR1911CMD. The 30SF is slightly smaller than the 36. (Tenth of an inch.) I found the 30 easy to hold and fire. It felt like my 357 Sig. The Glock 30 was close to my Ruger SR40C in length and shorter in height which would make it easier to get in and out of an IWB holster. I would consider the safety on the Rugers an advantage.

I've got several smaller 1911's. Both the Colt Defender and a Kimber Ultra Crry 2, that I recently bought from my brother. I have to admit I've been a colt guy for most of my life, but this Kimber is as good as the defender, and I trust the defender completely. Neither cost me more than $700. Although they both were used when I got them.

I also have sig 220 and Taurus pt145, that are good shooters, but not as good as the Colt or Kimber.

Good Luck

I recommend the XD 45

...just looking for some "buddy" advice and maybe someone can bring something up that I hadn't thought about.....thanks for the reply.

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You indicated the pistol should be able to function as a range gun and also for CCW. Have you considered the Springfield XD45 compact? 4" barrel and the option to use two different sized magazines....the shorter for CCW and the full sized for range use. And if you like the finger extension, that will fit on the short magazine too. I carried mine for about a year until I switched over to a 9mm for economic reasons.

This is one of those suggestions that I'll go ahead and say doesn't work for everybody - but it works for a friend of mine and I've worn his rig once, and it worked for me when I did. A commander 1911 (full-size frame 1911 with 4.25" slide) with a bobbed grip can truly disappear in the right IWB holster. Depending on how big you are (I've got some extra padding for sure) and depending on how high your IWB rides/angle of cant, you can even get a 5" in there if you don't mind being reminded it's there every now and then.

Getting a 1911 bobbed (I'm speaking not from experience but only from speaking with gunsmiths and reading others' posts) is a good bit cheaper than I was expecting, and fairly easy for any competent gunsmith to do. Plus IMHO it just looks sharp, and fits in the hand really well.

If you go the 1911 route, are you prepared to dedicate to the cocked and locked system?

G36 great for carry and range. That XD - XDs looks mighty interesting. Have an XD full size 45 and love it.

If you go the 1911 route, are you prepared to dedicate to the cocked and locked system?

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Well of course, that's the way JMB himself set it out. As it is written so shall it be.

I've only recently gotten back in to a 1911 platform, a S&W 1911 SC, bobtail commander size gun, very light scandium frame, tritium night sights, and I've been very happy with how it shoots. I also don't think you can go wrong with the XD series, I have one XD Tactical and two XDM's in 4.5 and 5.25" (all in 9mm though) and they are very decent shooting pistols.



For a lightweight commander size gun recoil is very easily controlled, the grip pattern, besides being cool, actually seems to work.

I have 2 Springfield Armory 1911's

4" Champion

5" GI-45

While the Champion has better sights, the GI-45 has that certain 'something' feel to it.

foghornl said:

While the Champion has better sights, the GI-45 has that certain 'something' feel to it.

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Mainly that "something" needs to be improved....

It's a process but should be mentioned on this thread. Glock 21 full-size with a Bowie Tactical or Cold Bore Customs Grip reduction and "Cut-Down" to accept the little mags as well as full-size mags. You get a full-size glock that accepts multiple mags with the backstrap being removed, front fingers being removed, and the grip itself cut down -- win win situation. Have a blast at the range and can blast as a CCW in the unfortunate event you may ever need it.

OR.....if .45acp is a want rather than a forced need....

9mm with a 124gr USA made HP is a game stopper. And at the range they are more pleasant and cheaper to shoot. A Kahr PM-9 shoots like a dream. accurate enough for the range, recoil is extremely pleasant, super well made, and tiny. Although mine is finicky with ammo. My keltec PF-9 eats anything...but it kicks like a donkey and don't recommend it to anyone who wants a range blend.

OR....

Glock 22 (.40 cal) full size LEO turn in is awesome -- have the grip cut-down to accept peewee mags, buy a cheaper lone wolf 9mm barrel and shoot 9mm out of it at the range and have the .40cal for SD.

I'm all about the polymer pistols that have 1 frame/slide and can shoot multi-calibers.

Out of my Glocks I can shoot a .45acp, .357 Sig, 10mm, .40, 9mm, .22, and guess u can say the .50GI, and .45Super too but i dont have it. And probably some other calibers that aren't mentioned.

If u were my bff I would tell you get a .40cal that has a 9mm conversion barrel... depending on your patience, time, money -- I'd say either the Glock full-size with a grip cut down, compact glock, or sub-compact glock, or a Kahr PM-9.

2 Calibers -- 1 gun. That's my motto. I'm not a bullseye hole puncher so I don't care if I lose a tiny bit of accuracy out of a drop in conversion barrel... I just like the sound of Ting when i shoot steel.

A month ago it would be a no brainer to get the Glock .40 and the 9mm conversion barrel, at any size you wanted whether it be full-size or compact or sub compact (they make conversion barrels for all sizes) b\c there were ample of 9mm magazines.

Now not so much -- so maybe in today's times if you dont want to wait for restocking and etc I'd go with the Kahr PM-9. I love taking it to the range.

This is controversal so don't go off on this post -- but I do not recommend a 1911 for SD. That's my opinion and it's ok to disagree and think something else.

XDM are phenominal but the beavertail safety in a SD situation where you may not can have a full-grip is just one extra thing i dont want to worry about. Glocks are point and shoot. They may be inferior to the XDM build but again i'm not a bullseye shooter. I like to have fun more so than be cool with a .000012" groups at 1,000 yards.

p.s. -- If you get a glock .45acp in a non generation 4 get the SF unless u are sending it off for a grip reduction then it doesnt matter. Gen4 and SF is same size unless u change it up. And I don't drink the Glock cool-aid -- it's just it's a good value in the Gen3...espeically a LEO turned in. If you pay more for a firearm it's because you want to not b\c you have to. When people are instructed on how to grip a Glock high then their accuracy greatly improves. Get up high on that gun if you get the glock!

Don't be scared of a used HK or Sig. if you have the cash and dont mine paying it they are phenominal guns... anyone who says differently is letting opinions get in the way of facts. I buy Glocks b\c i dont want to pay more.

Don't be scared of the Glock 34/35 for CCW!

Also we need to face it... Illinois will never be a CCW state. Sorry -- republicans will never out number the Democrats. Is what it is... so keep that in mind. Don't tie up abunch of cash in a CCW gun that you'll never get to legally carry.

If you don't own a 9mm then scrap the .45acp and get you a 9mm. Everyone needs a 9mm. My advice is to get a .40cal that has a 9mm conversion. You get 2 of the most popular cartridges on this planet. More economical to shoot. or just go with a 9mm alone since mags seem to be an issue.


I won't harp on it anymore -- just trying to give u some alternate input.