Suggestions for a .45 ACP Striker fired handgun

M&P 45 Midsize.

Choices ....

In the $800.00 & under category you have a few picks;
The Ruger SR45, the PX4 Storm C(constant action), the XDm, the XD mod 2, Glock 21 gen 04, Glock 30S, M&P mid size or full size(with or w/o ambi safety, no magazine safety), SIG Sauer P320 or P220R DAK, P227R C3, Kahr.

To add night sights like TruGlo FTX or Trijicon HD is worth it.
As for defense or carry .45acp loads; I'd look at Corbon DPX, Hornady Critical Duty, Federal HST 230gr +P JHP, Ranger T T series 230gr JHP +P, Liberty Ammunition Civil Defense, DRT, Winchester PDX1.
I use Ranger T/T series 230gr +P JHP and Liberty Ammunition .45acp in my Glock 21 gen 04. I had MagSafe SWAT for home security but I shot it up & got the potent Civil Defense .45acp. I like it so far. It's light but fast with a high KE level. I use the Ranger T/T series for security work & CCW. It works well for things like auto glass/metal or common barriers(wood, clothing, plastic, etc).

If you're looking for a seriously accurate range shooter a used Sig P220 might be a really good choice for you. I used mine for everything you describe. I've been known to draw a crowd at the range to watch how that pistol works. Mine is very accurate.

There are also various 1911's to choose from around that cover all the functions you mention well. And as mentioned the XDm is an excellent choice. I carry one in .40 S&W. It isn't as accurate as my Sig but it holds way more rounds. It holds double what I can get in my Sig.

If I didn't have a P220.....nice and thin feeling for a fullsize gun (there are carry/compact versions) I'd pick up an M&P "midsize" (4" barrel, long grip) for sure.

I love my XDM 45. I have the full size. If you want to carry it I would suggest the compact model or the getting the XD Mod 2.

Although it wouldn't rank high as a concealed carry piece, the Gen4 Glock 21 fits the bill otherwise. Absolutely one of my favorites

G30 or G36. The 21 is bigger than I like for cc

Hi-Point JHP (which I think means "Jumbo Hi-Point".) Easily concealed under a trench coat.

You could get five of 'em..

The XD MOD2 3.3" model would get my vote. The Glocks in .45 just feel too uncomfortable and awkward in my hand.

I've had good luck with my Kahr P45. Its relatively compact, about 22oz empty, and easy to carry. Handles a variety of factory and my reloads. Has a long but incredibly smooth trigger. You can get the CW45 much cheaper with the same good results; basically the same gun with a regular barrel instead of polygonal.

bannockburn said:

The XD MOD2 3.3" model would get my vote. The Glocks in .45 just feel too uncomfortable and awkward in my hand.

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Recently bought this same XD and LOVE IT.

I highly recommend the S&W M&P45. Great ergonomics and reliability.

ATN082268 said:

.45 ACP Striker fired handgun ... for home defense, at the range and as a concealed carry handgun ... around 800 dollars.

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RustyShackelford gave you good choices but you will find that many fullsize pistols will be too big for comfortable carry and compact pistols won't be satisfying if you want accuracy at the range.

I initially went with Glock 21/G30 but after I got married, wife found the grips too big/bulky and G30 (around G19/G23 size) felt too fat to carry comfortably for me.

Then I went to M&P45 with a trigger job for range/home defense and PT145 SA/DA for carry (G26/G27 barrel length G19/G23 grip length). M&P45 with medium grip insert will accommodate my wife's smaller hands and PT145 has the smallest doublestack 10 round grip I have shot that she enjoys shooting. M&P45 is a pleasure to shoot at the range and both M&P45 and PT145 point naturally for me to point shoot for fast defensive shooting drills - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9859706#post9859706

In recent years, railed Sig 1911 XO replaced the M&P45 as the range gun because it was more accurate for load development testing - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9415802#post9415802

If you want a gun that's much easier to carry concealed you might want to consider a Taurus PT-145 Millennium Pro Gen 3. I kid you not it is an amazingly good carry pistol. It holds 10 rounds and can be covered by the palm of my hand. Mine is super accurate and has never failed even once through about 5000 rounds. The grip is only 1.25" thick and it's a double stack .45. That right there is amazing enough. But then there's the accuracy. I set up 2 empty shell cases at 20 yards and a third at 25 yards. I nailed the 2 at 20 yards on the first shot each. I'm not talking some deal where the air knocks over the empties. I'm talking knocked completely out of sight never to be seen again. I missed the one at 25 yards by about half an inch. So the range is slightly limited but we're talking about a pistol with a 3 1/4" barrel. It only weighs 22.6 oz. and is 6" long. It's just 4 3/4" tall. For a gun that size to hold 10+1 rounds is a minor miracle. And to do it so well is just amazing. I had my doubts when I bought that pistol. A LGS owner talked me into it saying he would give me 30 days to try it out where I could bring it back no questions asked. He knew I wouldn't be bringing it back. That little .45 is amazing IMO.

Oh then there's the price. I paid a whopping $320 for mine with an extra mag. Lifetime warranty too. There is just nothing to dislike about the pistol. Well I didn't like the sights sso I changed mind. Some people like the Heinie Straight Eight sights. And some pistols come with different sights.

The only concern is to make sure you get the right model because there were some issues with the first 2 generations. The frame sometimes cracked on the first generation models. The 2nd gen. model had a touchy mag release button so that you might end up dropping your mag at a bad time. But the gen. 3 model is a gem for the price of cubic zirconia. I had every intention of buying a Glock when I bought that Taurus but I couldn't find a Glock that felt good in my hand. The Taurus fit me like a glove.

I highly recommend this pistol.

I shot PT145s with DAO (Gen1/2) and SA/DA (Gen3) trigger.

The difference is day and night for me. Once chambered, all shots are SA unless the round doesn't go off then the trigger becomes DA (Taurus calls it "Multi Strike" trigger).

While I am not a fan of Taurus DAO trigger pistols, exceptions are the PT145 SA/DA and TCP 738 with smoothest DAO trigger I have shot.

M&P Shield .45acp ...

It's a long shot, but Smith & Wesson may put out a compact Shield in the .45acp caliber. That might get the market or gun owners who want a .45acp in the Shield platform.
Like S-A XDs or the Glock 36.
I'd choose a S-A XD mod 2 over a XDs design because you can quickly use XD pistol mags in the XD mod 2(larger capacity). A .45acp could be great for personal defense or vehicle carry with either XD magazine.

A Glock 30 or 30S with some 13 round G21 spare magazines is about as "all around" as it gets. If concealability is a higher priority, I would consider a single stack like the XDs. If it will be carried IWB, I would take the 4 inch model over the 3.3.

True!

True!


If you like the single stack format there are some decent picks & if you are interested in the double column or larger cap style there are choices too.
My friend has a M&P Compact with 8rd magazines but he dislikes the larger S&W .45acp 10rd mags. I owned and CCW-open carry a M&P Compact .45acp. I liked the 10rd option & kept it in a Mirage magazine holder when I used the M&P Compact.

SA XDM .45acp with 4.5" barrel

Again my Taurus PT-145 Millennium Pro manages 10 rounds in a grip that's only 1/8" thicker than most single stack pistols. That small difference isn't going to matter in concealing the gun. It's not particularly tall either. I don't know how they did it but they did. It's actually thinner than some single stack pistols.

Xd mod 2

Gen4 Glock 30 or Glock 30S!

Since Ruger refuses to produce a compact SR45, my next choice would be the M&P 45c. I might even consider the Glock 30S (GREAT ZEUS, did I really just recommend a Glock??).

Another choice that hasn't been mentioned and might be worth considering is the Bersa Thunder UC in .45 ACP. Can't really recommend it because I've never handled or fired it, but looks great on paper and gets good reviews.

(OK, my bad. The OP said striker fired)

I just bought an M&P 45 (full size) on sale for $425. It came with 2 mags + a coupon from S&W for 3 more mags! I shot it today and I was very impressed with it! I usually buy used, but I felt this was a good enough deal.