Need help choosing the right 45acp

I handled a Springfield Armory XDm 5.25 competition in .45 ACP recently. I'm really wanting one of them.

If high capacity is a selling point you may consider the FNP-45. The safety / decocker is ambi.

I am sorry when I think .45 ACP I can't help but to think 1911. But I understand many people want more rounds. XD and Glock are both great guns and very close to one another, pick which one fits your hand better. Personally I don't care for Kahr, a good handgun but feel for what they are they are over priced. Can't really go wrong with SIG P220 if that is more to your liking. Mainly I think you need to decide what type of action you like, being a revolver fan I would think you would be most at home with a DAO pistol but maybe not.

I do have to ask one think however... 1911 holds more than a revolver and for most of us reloads quicker so why not 1911 if you can't carry a revolver as you stated that you would like?

Just my 2cents worth, hopefully I atleast gave you something to ponder on.

The only pistol I'd purchase chambered for .45 ACP, besides a 1911, would be an XDm.

Everything else I've tried is just too big for my hands.

I'd like to see a Sig P220. It's a single stack .45 ACP, so it might not be too bad. Never handled one, so I don't know.

Well, if you like wheelguns, the 625 would fit the bill if you can carry it, revolvers I mean. Moon clips make it nice too. I'd have to agree with your dept. that the 629 V-Comp is a bad carry choice and I wouldn't want the cops around here carrying them.

Stay away from Glock's ambi mag release, it doesn't work reliably. I've already sent one back. Other than that, I like Glocks, but I'm a righty.

I hear good about the Springfield and the M&P pistols, and FN makes a good .45 too, and I think it is ambi. If I get another .45 besides a 1911, it would be an FN. 15rd. capacity too. Sig is known for high quality and a superb DA trigger. That Kahr is better suited as a carry piece.

The G21 though is the softest and most reliable I've fired, it is kind of a mainstay in my collection. As for ammo, any quality manufacture 200-230gr. JHP +P loading is great. I like the Gold Dot 200gr. +P and the Winchester Ranger T-Series 230gr. +P.

i am a huge revolver fan

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Any reason you're not considering the S&W 625 or 325, 325TR?

I'd like to see a Sig P220. It's a single stack .45 ACP, so it might not be too bad. Never handled one, so I don't know.

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The P220 is about the same size as an XDM grip (with the medium sized backstrap on it), based on my perception when comparing them. Difference is the P220 is much more rounded. I prefer the P220 grip, and I'm extremely picky when it comes to grips.

I'd say just get your 1911, OP. Since you're a lefty, it limits your choices to guns that either have ambi safety/decocker, or no safety/decocker at all. That rules out the P220, which is the best choice for me.

I'm a giant 1911 fan. They make models that are high capacity as well, 1911A1's are single stack, while the 1911A2 is double stack. I know Rock Island Armory sells both of those models, as well as their "tactical" ambi-control guns. I have a standard GI style RIA that I've modified pretty extensively, it's picky about ammo (round nose, or frangible only), but it's reliable when you feed proper ammo and use a nice magazine.

I carry a M&P in 45 for work as armed security and love it. It shoots like a dream for me and I've never had a single FTF, FTE or anything resembling an issue. Some people cry about the trigger, but I've got not issues shooting great groupings with it.

Id go for a Sig or the FNP 45, if your not wanting a 1911 anyway

TheRyno865 said:

would like an additional 45 for the range and to carry off duty that holds more rounds than the 1911 ... i am a lefty

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A friend who is left handed just went through 45 pistol evaluation for Range/HD use and I had him shoot my full size M&P45 with a trigger job. It has double stack capacity of 10.

After shooting various pistol models, he ended up buying the M&P45 for lefty friendly ambi safety and slide release with reversible mag release along with comfortable grip (adjustable grip straps), ergonomics (much better than Glock), softer recoil than most models and extreme accuracy (with the trigger job, it's been the most accurate striker fired pistol I have shot - if you are not inclined to the trigger job, I recommend APEX trigger replacement).

I would suggest you range test one if you can and compare with other pistol models.

I have an XD45c. I like it and it fits my hand good. Just too much to carry every day (for me).

I do like the compact grip frame, so I can carry the 10 round flush mag or the 13 round extended mag. Now that it's winter I might start carrying it more with a good OWB holster.

Ive fired a glock 21,XD45 and smith M&P45.Ended up getting the XD45 d/t it felt good for me.Not sure on the prices of the XDm but i know the XD45's are going NIB for under $500 currently.

I have only two .45's a 1911 custom that I built and a CZ97B. Don't care for the polymer frame .45's, nothing against polymer as I own a Ruger LCR and used to own a Glock 21, I just don't like the feel of those in a .45 ACP.

Another vote for the FNP-45 here, too.

Glock 30 or 30SF. Same system as your duty pistol, may even take the same mags (although not sure on the SF model).

I'm a big fan of the M&P line, many people say it's the softest shooting gun.

Maybe the new XDM compact.

Sigs are great, but now you're getting into a different system and you have same mag capacity as a 1911.

I have the XDm 4.5 in .45 ACP. When I bought mine I considered three different pistols. The G-21, the FNP-USG and the XDm. The G-21 doesn't have a relieved ejection port and scars brass on ejection. Plus, I am a handloader and didn't really want to buy an additional barrel to shoot my cast reloads through. Many G-21 owners shoot cast lead through the polygonal bored Glock with no problems except that accuracy will be better from conventional rifling. The FNP had a few reports of feed problems that I read about at the FN Forum and it is a rather large pistol. It ended up being my second place choice. One of the things I knew I wanted to do was get the best trigger possible and after checking out reports at XDTalk I learned about the Powder River Precision trigger kits. I bought the XDm along with the Powder River Precision "Match Easy" target trigger kit as well as a solid stainless steel guide rod. My trigger is now a very crisp 4# with little to no overtravel and in general the pistol is a tackdriver. Another worthwhile feature is that you do not have to pull the trigger to disassemble the pistol and the three interchangeable backstraps allow you to fit the pistol to a variety of hand sizes. The Match Grade barrel is also a bonus and the XDm is designed to shoot SWC bullets and that's where it differs from the standard XD. The current on-line price for an XDm is about $599 and the FNP-USG sells for around $650. Price wasn't a factor for me in regard to the three different pistols. I wanted the best one to fit my needs and that has turned out to be the XDm.

You can't go wrong with a SIG P250 in .45 only about $365.00 and it is convertible to .40, 9mm, .357sig

to me:
.45 ACP = 1911

But if you want more rounds, I hear the HK USP45 is a popular choice. I don't know what your budget is, but every 1911 fan I know has or wants an HK USP45.

The S&W M&P45c seems to be the perfect balance between weight, size, caliber, and capacity.

I prefer the "traditional" da configuration of the SIG 220 and the single-stack mag grip fits my hand perfectly. My SIG Carry model, with the internal extractor that some complain about, has been completely reliable. I recommend this pistol highly.

+ 5 on the M&P

I have the 45C and love it

My FNP 45 USG is big and heavy and shoots like a dream. Like CZ57 mentioned there are feed issues with it, but it has only happened with Winchester White Box ammo. I have shot just about every other type of ammo through it and only had problems with WWB. This is due to the cartridge's OAL I believe, not anything wrong with the gun...it just has a tighter tolerance than most others. When I first got it I bought a few hundred rounds of WWB and after having a couple dozen FTFs I was about to send the gun in to FN to be fixed when I read about the WWB issue. Now I haven't had an issue in over a thousand rounds.