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So get a 1911, IWB Holster, and put a short-sleeve hot weather shirt over the top of it. Columbia makes some nice shirts with prints that help hide the outline of the gun.

Atleast 6+1 capacity

Easily concealable,

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No experience with either, but the Ruger P345 and Taurus PT145 come right to mind.

Just get the 1911.

Have you considered a .40 S&W or a high cap gun?

There's both the 1911 and P220 to look into. They're both single stack, both have a capacity over 6 rounds, and both are great guns. I put the recommendation for the P220 since it's aluminum frame can probably save you on some weight. The 1911 is damn heavy to carry, and you'll notice it by the end of the day. It's always recommended to use a good quality holster and belt, I did with Milt Sparks belt and holster and I still felt worn out by the end of the day. I switched to a polymer 9mm and it was a huge improvement in weight savings. Something to consider. Otherwise, the 1911 conceals superbly, even the fullsize versions.

How bout' a P220 carry? I don't know for sure the capacity, but I'm pretty sure it's over 6 rds in the magazine?

There's also the Colt Defender, which is a officers size 1911, but again, I'm not too sure of the capacity of this pistol.

Lastly, the USP compact .45 and Glock 30 or G36. Someone else will have to fill in the magazine capacity for these pistols, but something else to look into.

Good luck

IIRC, G30 is 10 rounds in the mag, G36 is 6 in the mag. The G30 can take compact and full size mags, though.

I vote Glock 36, 6+1. Runners up are the Taurus PT 145 and 745.

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The Colt 3" Defender holds 7 rounds per mag fyi, and are tack drivers IMO.

Great gun once you work out the right formula for them..

You might want to take a look at a Springfield Armory 4" 45.. very nice, especially in the weight and balance, point to aim area.. Lifetime Warranty, if ever needed.


Just keep-em clean, including interior of magazines, and keep the rails and guides wet, well lubed, as timing is the key to any 1911..


Ls

I've been where you are.

Save yourself some time and money. find a used or LNIB S&W 4513TSW without the rail under the dustcover.

It fits all your requirements, and can be found in the $475 to $550 range.

Buy it, shoot it, love it. Good luck. TJ

Kahr P45. Now there's a concealable .45. Lightweight, incredible DAO trigger, and accurate while having very small dimensions and being very comfortable to shoot due to the great ergonomics.

I would say a 3" 1911, but I don't like the 1911 design in anything less than a Commander size myself. The 3" barrel and the .45 don't seem like they were made for eachother and neither does a 3" barrel and a 1911. The 3.5" barrel on the P45 seems like a better bet than the 1911. I also like my guns ready to shoot as soon as I draw it, so I like a DAO type trigger on my carry guns. Kahr has an amazing DAO trigger if you ask me. Buttery smooth pull and breaks clean for an accurate shot..doesn't get any better.

There are also other options, including a smaller PM45, a Taurus MilPro, Cobra Patriot, Glock 36, etc. I still think the Kahr P45 is the ultimate carry .45acp

My current carry piece is a Kimber Ultra CDP-II. It is easily concealable and has been 100% reliable thus far. The "baby 1911" has proven to be very accurate and easy to shoot, in spite of its small size.

Either a Colt CCO or a Sig P220 Compact or P245. All are 6+1, all are extremely reliable, and I conceal all of them with just a t-shirt on most occasions.

The Sig P220 Carry is an 8+1 using the frame off of the regular P220. Try the P220 Compact out. It has a much shorter butt than the P220 Carry.

+1 on the Ruger P345 -- light and concealable enough, but not too small to shoot comfortably.

For conceal carry self defense, J-frame 38 Special: S&W 642/442, great hammerless pocket gun, load with Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 38 Special 135grn+p JHP or Remington 38 Special 158grn+p LSWCHP..

For conceal carry self defense, 45 ACP: Glock 36 Slimline 6+1, load with 230 grain hard ball or JHP, WWB will work just fine...

STI Tac 4.15 - specify "less magwell".

If the PT145 is anything like the PT111 (9mm version) I owned, I recommend it! Very small pistol (slightly larger than a Keltec P11) and very soft shooter for its size.

You don't specify weight. If you don't mind a solid chunk of steel, I would add the S&W 4516 (it would have to be used) to the list. The 457 (same general size -- in fact the two guns use the same magazines -- but alloy frame) is still catalogued.

Easily concealable, at least 6 +1, I'd give the Kahr 45 a good solid look.

.357 magnum out of a short barrel is about the same as .40 S&W from a gun the same overall size. I shot some rounds over someone else's chronograph many moons ago. Ruger SP-101 with 2.25" barrel and factory 158 gr JHPs (rated at 1235 fps from a 4" barrel), vs. a Glock 23 with 165 gr factory FMJs (rated at 1150 fps through a 4" barrel). Those two guns are very similar in overall size.





IIRC, the SP-101 was getting about 1050-1100 fps. Glock 23 was pushing out 7 grain heavier pills at the same speed, with less felt recoil and over double the capacity.

That said, the SP-101 is a fine carry piece. But you should know what you're considering. .357 magnum and .40 S&W are in the same league as far as power is concerned, if you use factory ammo (or limit your handloads to stuff that won't burn all the hair off your knuckles). So if .40 isn't enough, neither is .357 magnum.