.45 Choices Poll

[JCook5003]

Ok guys I need to come down to a few choices of a .45 to carry, I have narrowed the 1911 side down to a Kimber Ultra Carry or a Dan Wesson Bobtail Commander.

But I want to find out what you guys think the best non 1911 .45 is, I dont like Glocks so I excluded them from the poll.....

So what do you guys carry or like and why? How do you carry it? How much did it cost? Pics of the gun and holster are also helpful.

Do you have other suggestions?

Thanks
Josh

 

[jeepmor]

PT145 - accurate and reliable. But I carry it for the 10+1 capacity and I've spent a lot of time looking down its sights. I've seen it outpace many higher dollar guns and this fact has tainted my view of the "pay more because of the label" types of pistols.

However, my S&W experience has been flawless also and I have a CS40 Auto that runs like a champ. However, the PT145 carries 10+1 with the same bulk as opposed to 6+1.

 

[JCook5003]

Well since most people seem to like to recommend glocks I would consider a Glock 30 or 36 if enough people recommend it........but I would have to have a strong arguement to want to carry a Glock IWB

 

[Dallas Jack]

The PT145 makes a good carry gun. Small, light, and 10 round capacity. It's what I carry.
Dallas Jack

 

[tinygnat219]

Of the two Taurus choices up there, get the 745. It's a better gun than the PT 145 which has had LOTS of problems getting into battery.

Personally, I'd avoid the Taurus option altogether, too many issues with QC. I'd go with the XD 45 Compact. It's a better gun by far simply for being able to handle +P ammo, which the Taurus cannot do.

 

[LSCurrier]

I don't have any of the guns in your poll, but when I do carry (where my FL CCW allows) I carry my Dan Wesson CBOB.

The only guns in your poll I am seeking to get is the Sig220 and the Springfield XD.

Luke

 

[Walkalong]

Check my signature.

 

[muscles]

i carry the xd 45 compact.

it took me a couple years to get to it, but in the end im glad i did. i owned a taurus 745...mag kept dropping mid fire. i owned a taurus 145...didnt like heinie sights, but was otherwise good for such a cheap gun. own a sig p220, reliable and accurate but big for only holding 8 rounds. owned 2 usp compact 45's. both wouldnt feed my reloads reliably, and big for only holding 8 rounds.

then i found the xd 45 compact...perfect compromise of capacity and size. extended 13 rd mags are a plus. reliable, accurate, decent trigger and great ergonomics. im done with my 45 ccw search.

 

[Flame Red]

I would vote for the Dan Wesson Bobtail Commander. I personally have a Colt and it is my favorite of all the above.

 

[elkhuntingfool]

Of the two Taurus choices up there, get the 745. It's a better gun than the PT 145 which has had LOTS of problems getting into battery.

They are the same gun - 7 rounds vs 10 rounds.

 

[crazed_ss]

Sig P220.. It's a classic for a reason.

 

[MJZZZ]

I don't have any of the listed guns, but I do have a Kimber Ultra CDP II and love it. It's definitely the the prize of my collection. I really like the look of the bobtail, I wish my Kimber was a bobtail. Mike

 

[Ala Dan]

Absolutely The Best Is

West German SIG-SAUER P220A in .45 ACP~!

 

[usp_fan]

I've been carrying my SIG 220R in favor of my 1911 lately. It is lighter to carry and the capacity is the same. Reliability has been fantastic (in all fairness my Springer 1911 has been great too). The accuracy, as is rumored, is very good as well. Once I get my slim grips for it, I think it'll be my favorite carry package in .45 acp.

 

[Soulless]

I carry a XD-45 Compact for CC. I have carried 3" 1911s from Kimber, and a 4" 1911 from springfield, as well as a USP compact.

IMHO, the XD is the ultimate 45 CC weapon. More that accurate enough, and with the trigger jobs available for it, it turns into quite the sweet shooter. It isn't the smallest or lightest, but the ability to easily conceal it and use the full size 13rd mags from the XD Tactical that I carry from time to time (depending on the state I'm working in), makes it a no brainer.

I've been more than impressed with the XD series, however have only shot the smaller calibers a few times, and never have owned one. All together, with my 3 45 XDs, they've seen well over 15,000 rounds with only a few issues with handloads that weren't crimped on the neck of the round and some horrible accuracy with the bottom of the barrel CCI ammo. Otherwise, for the price, they can't be beat.

I own Glocks, and grew up shooting the Austrian pistol, but am in no ways a fanboi of them. They work, and that is about it for me. I've never been incredibly accurate with them (due to user/weapon incompatibility) and have seen my share of malfunctions and issues with them. They are just another weapon on the market IMHO.

So, if you are looking at a 45 you can hide, I'd go with the XD if it fits your hand, and you can properly conceal it. I like my SkyOPS holster from Galco personally for it.

 

[32 Magnum]

.45 Choices

I've had an EAA/Tanfoglio Witness - full size .45ACP (CZ-75 variant) for about 10 years, it has a little over 1000 rounds through it. After break in and feed ramp polishing - it has proven very reliable and the accuracy is way better than average. These are still available new and used for under $400 with the "Wonder" hard chrome finish. An excellent gun at a low price - much under appreciated and not talked about much.
Here's mine pictured with my CZ-75B for comparison:
http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/9c407f0fnhDr6iHXIX*AWfggu*6n*byv5SAKv4xQp5Fd3Ig=_l.jpg

 

[obxned]

Ruger KP345DPL: Similar size/weight as LW Colt Commander, very accurate, reliably eats any ammo I have found, and the polymer frame and stainless slide limit the danger of corrosion. Sights and controls are all low-profile for ease of draw, and it comes with an ambidextrous decock lever. This gun also seems to suck up some of the recoil, and I can shoot +P ammo and still be back on target quickly and easily.

I particularly like the double action from hammer down for the first shot - no carrying cocked and locked which always made me nervous (yes, I know it is perfectly safe). The double action pull on mine is every bit as good as on many big name revolvers. Also, because it is a 'decock only' model, there is never any need to disengage a safety to get'r done.

While I could easily have spent more on a CC .45, and did look at numerous other pistols, I chose this pistol for cool weather carry (I prefer a P3AT when it's HOT). I do not have any regrets, and highly recommend this gun to anyone looking for a Commander-size pistol for carry.

 

[tegemu]

A 1911!!!

 

[1man]

For me, the USP45 compact is more versatile than the rest listed.

 

[rantingredneck]

Ruger P345

+1 to everything obxned said. Mine is a manual safety model, but otherwise the same gun. I'm starting to gravitate toward the DC models after picking up a P97DC a couple months ago.

Slim, lightweight, low recoil, excellent accuracy, what's not to like?

Got it for $425.00

My daily carry outfit:

Targets from my first range trip with it:

7 yds 8 rounds Weaver unsupported:

25 yds 8 rounds Weaver unsupported:

Edited to add: Also have a P90 that is scary accurate. It's doing HD duty for my Father in law now though. It's a bit heavy for EDC, but I've done it and that Bianchi Minimalist holster in the pic works nicely for it.

Edited again to add: A Ruger P97 is also not a bad choice for EDC. Slightly thicker than the P345 but much lighter than the P90. Sadly, though out of production so the used market is likely your only option.

 

[Papaster]

PT145. It's unbeatably small for the capacity. Also quite ergonomic for my hand. The trigger takes some getting used to, so definitely get some practice in before carrying this one, but it's a good, inexpensive (mine was well under $350 incl tax), and reliable. I am quite pleased with mine. I don't have pics, but I have a couple of holsters I use. My fav. is a leather pancake holster OWB, very similar to the minimalist rantingredneck shows; second is my Bianchi 100 IWB, which I wear to work and it's never noticed even with only a light dress shirt over top; and third, mostly for when I'm doing projects and outdoor work I'll use my KNJ Nylon holster.

 

[JMag]

None of the above...

 

[76shuvlinoff]

my .02,
if you end up choosing a short 45... don't get a ported short .45

I have a Springfield Ultracompact V10 kinda sorta really dislike it just because it's ported. I'd like to find non ported barrel for it but until then it hangs in the locker.

 

[jpwilly]

PT145 10+1 light, compact etc etc. Reliable but like short bbl autos limp wristing will make it short cycle. Otherwise 100% reliable and accurate. I don't love the trigger but am very comfortable with it plusthe DA/SA is a nice advantage. I love my PT1911's trigger!

 

[10-Ring]

I really like the size, weight & functionality of the HK USPc 45...great guns!