"Carry" .45's: single or double stack, slim, light, etc.

Col. Plink

I have always been a big fan of the Colt Commander/Combat Commander size in an M1911. Small hands means a single stack mag design works best for me and the shorter slide assembly just feels right in terms of handling and balance.

Right now I am, once again, carrying one of my Star PDs (ancient lightweight alloy-frame .45ACP) while I wait for a replacement PF9 ejector to arrive and my new Springfield Armory XDs45 to undergo "Recall Upgrade".

In the short time that I have had my XDs (single-stack w/5 in standard mag and a 7rd extended mag available), I am really impressed. It is not as snappy as I expected and it is very accurate & relatively controllable.

Consider a commander-sized 1911. 1911's are so thin that the are pretty easy to carry once you drop an inch off the slide. You can get lighter, for sure, but it's hard to get thinner.

I have one friend who loves his Kimber Ultra Carry, and another who likes (not loves) his Taurus PT145. I like both in theory, but neither would be my preference.

If I were in the market for a carry .45, I'd gravitate towards the Glock 30. Off the top of my head (from memory), I'd say that the Glock is a tad bigger than the other two. I would also look into the Kahr P45/CW45 for a single-stack option.

In my opinion, the 1911 is fat, even in a single stack. My hands are pretty small, though. I have held one of those Para Ordnance big hawgs or whatever they're called, the double stack 1911 carry gun, and it was ridiculously big to me.

For a few years in the latter half of the '70s one of my carry guns was a Colt Combat Commander (brushed nickel finish ... sweet). An excellent pistol; accurate, concealable, reliable, controllable and, like all 1911s, comfortable in the hand.

The main thing that caused me to choose one of my other pistols on any given day was the Colt's weight. I was just a hair shy of 6' tall and a lean 160 pounds and even in a Roy's pancake holster, it was a bit of a load on the old suit belt, y'know?

I sold it in 1980 ... and have been kicking myself for doing that ever since.

Why have Xds's been recalled?

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A couple/few XDses have shown a propensity to double ... or worst. Also, at least one has fired while being racked to load a round.

Apparently, Springfield Armory thinks that they have IDed the cause(s) and are retrofitting the pistols with one or more modded components.

Oh, btw, I have read Good Things about the Taurus Millennium Pro PT-145(?), often reported by people who seemed a bit surprised at how nice a handgun it turned out to be.

I also had that one in mind when I stumbled across the XDs Super Deal and jumped on it.

1911s are excellent carry guns, being slim, powerful, and controllable, as well as having the potential, when properly set up, of having the best trigger in handgunning.

They have, however, two drawbacks. The first is that they are heavy as sin. Its own weight isn't that terrible, but it does make for an off balance belt. That's annoying as heck, at least to me. If you try to balance it by adding weight to the other side, such as three mags, (tried it,) a mag, a light, and a multi-tool, (tried it,) or a second 1911, (tried that, too,) what you get is a ridiculously heavy load.

The second great drawback is its length. Especially IWB, but even OWB to an extent, the 5" barrel causes it to pinch the cheek about like Aunt Rose. For these reasons, I'm happiest with a Gov't Model on a proper gunbelt, like a duty or garrison rig, not hidden inside my britches.

The solution for CCW is the Lightweight Commander. Chopping 3/4"-1" off the end doesn't seem like much, but it's enough to cure the pinching. Shaving nearly a pound off the weight is a considerable help as well. It's the Mama Bear of 1911s, just right.

There are some good choices out there. I'd get one that fits your hand comfortably and points well for you.

Also keep in mind the extra weight if you start carrying 15+ rounds of 45 in a double stack. That's the reason I don't carry an FNP45 anymore. It was just too much.

I'm a fan of the XD-S 45 as others have said. I find the single stack grip very comfortable (if not a little abrasive), and the recoil is quite manageable. The shorter magazine lets me pocket carry it, but the extended magazine makes for a little better control. That said, I'm not sure how easy they are to find with the recall going on.

I had an old Taurus 24/7 that would probably be my carry gun if it was more reliable. I heard they've fixed the jamming issues with the newer ones.

If I were in the market for a carry .45, I'd gravitate towards the Glock 30. Off the top of my head (from memory), I'd say that the Glock is a tad bigger than the other two. I would also look into the Kahr P45/CW45 for a single-stack option.

In my opinion, the 1911 is fat, even in a single stack.

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Odd that your choices are actually thicker than a 1911

0.91 1911
1.01 CW/P45
1.27 G30

1911s are what I have the most experience with in .45, I own several and I've carried everything from the tiny 3 inchers to a full sized steel framed 1911. Lately I've become a big fan of CCOs ever since I bought my TALO edition Colt CCO.

A CCO is a Commander slide/barrel on top of the slightly shorter Officers model frame, the slightly shorter frame gives you 1 less round over a traditional Commander but makes it slightly easier to conceal. Every little bit helps, and I can still get my whole hand comfortably on the frame (unlike some cutdown grips on other guns).

Don't think Colt is currently producing CCOs (unless you can find an older one, like my TALO CCO), but I'm pretty sure Sig and Dan Wesson currently do. Sig calls theirs the RCS and C3 I think, DW just calls them the CCO. You're looking at over $1K for a Sig or DW CCO.

Sig p220 compact. Might fit your needs. Very small single stack 45.

If you are a bigger guy you probably have the same probem I had. Bigger hands. I always carried revolvers in order to get a large enough trigger reach, because all the small semiautos I had looked at were too small. My trigger finger would hit my thumb, and I hate that.

Then I handled an XDs. I bought it that day, because it fit in my hand well, and the trigger reach is long enough for me to accomodate my hand if I keep the wider backstrap in. Once the recal is all taken care of, I recommend you check it out. I love mine, and it is actually fun on the range. It is pretty darn accurate for a 3.3"bbl. With the extended magazine, it becomes very versitile given the situation and what youa re willing to carry. It is also very comfortable to carry IWB.

Hope this helps.

Very happy carrying either of these .45s.

Springfield XDm 3.8 and a Glock G30SF.

col.plink Always better to look at a site your self . kahr has to many choices.
Largest kahr 45-
http://www.kahr.com/Pistols/Kahr-TP45.asp

Mid size45-
http://www.kahr.com/Pistols/Kahr-P45.asp
OR
http://www.kahr.com/Pistols/Kahr-CW45.asp

And there still smaller kahrs but harder to control and hold on to for many. The PM45 and future CM45.

Glock G36. Single stack tiny, youll love it.

glock 21

I like my glock 21. 14 shots of 45acp. size wise it is the same as a colt or clone. the thicker grip does not bother me. works well in my king tuck holster.

I occasionally carry a full size 1911, but always carry a second mag. I was going to change to the m&p 45c for weight savings, but ended up going with a Glock 19 for capacity.
I still may get a polymer .45 because I love the round, however the 1911 isn't my first choice for a defective weapon. I'd look at the Glock 30, m&p 45c (same size as a g19), then maybe a kahr cw 45 because it takes 1911 mags.

I am one of those persons with pt145 mill pro picked it up on the cheap have been really impressed with it I really like the trigger and the double stack feels good in my big hands

Big fan of the PM45. It fits in most of my pockets and I shoot it well.

I carry a 5" 1911 with an extra mag, unless I'm carrying a 4" 1911 with an extra mag. They really do conceal nicely, being so slim. I used to carry a SIG P228 (a damn fine carry weapon) and the full size 1911 conceals every bit as well.