Best .45 for HD

[el Godfather]

Since you have smaller hands, 1911 grip might suit you, not the double stack polymer grip. I am sure at you lgs you can find plenty in your range. Go and handle a few. Shoot some at range and it will be fun and useful event.

 

[Dave P.]

Maybe look at a Glock 30SF, little smaller grip and if you want to
you can use 13 round mags.
Just a thought....
Dave

 

[JDR]

I am looking to pick up a .45 for HD. Ideally I would like reliability to the primary characteristic..... ($700) price point.....I don't mind if it is heavy as I don't intend on carrying it. Any ideas from the well informed?

You just described a Smith & Wesson 625 Revolver!

 

[Inebriated]

The Gen 4 G21 is very friendly to smaller hands, with the larger mag release and smaller grip. 14 rounds, 15 with a +1 baseplate, of .45 ACP is tough to beat.

 

[Steve C]

For home defense you don't need anything fancy, a standard Government model shoots fine if you want an 1911. Just about any 1911 will be reliable with the ammo it likes and can put rounds into the bad guy IF the shooter does his/her part. There are some good .45's around for that $700 price range.

Look at Ruger's 1911 as well as Springfield, Taurus, Norinco (used).

Nothing wrong with the plastic guns either. A good option would be a Ruger P90.

 

[PabloJ]

TIMC- What do think about the FN for someone with smallish hands?

No go on that one.

I would look at S&W 45xx series guns that show up on used market. Some are steel/alloy some all steel and late production one that admirers call Gen 3+ even come with rails. I had 457 and 457s they did not jam and recoil was manageable even when shot one-handed. There is also .45 version of 1026 I own called 4506 which is THE BEAST. Just stay away from Hogue grips and they will fit smallish hands well.

 

[PabloJ]

PS. I you want state of the art just go with Gen 3 G21SF or Gen 4 G21. The SF fits smaller hand just a tad better then Gen 4 with no rear grip panels installed.

 

[private snowball]

Hi All, Thanks so much for the help and suggestions. I now have a list that I can go down to my lgs and start working through them. Two of which, that I have not previously considered, are the Ruger 1911 and XDM .45

Thanks again all!

 

[jimbo555]

I go with the ones I carry every day and are the most familiar,glock 36,springfield xds.

 

[OregonJohnny]

Try handling a Sig 220 Elite. The Elite series come with thinner aluminum grips, and they make a big difference. I have a 220 Carry Elite dark, with the aluminum grips, and it feels almost exactly the same as my 1911 in the hand. Nice and slim, very comfortable, and all the controls are very easy to reach.

You mentioned possibly wanting a heavy gun. Sig 220's come in stainless steel variants, as well, making them about the same weight as an all-steel full-size 1911. That would help with felt recoil.

When I was deciding on an upgrade to my HD pistol, these were the criteria:

1. Semi-auto
2. .45 ACP
3. DA/SA with no manual safety (I am very comfortable with this setup, many gun enthusiasts are not - it does take quite a bit of practice to master the transition)
4. Night sights
5. Accessory rail to mount a weapon light
6. Proven track record of ultra reliability

The Sig Sauer P220 stood out to me and met all these criteria. They are not cheap, however.

 

[Glocktogo]

For HD in the price range you gave, you could get a G21 SF or gen 4, or an M&P 45 with night sights and if you shop carefully, a TLR1 light to hang on the frame rail. For the size, price and capability, that's a pretty unbeatable combination. You'd struggle to get into an entry level 1911 with a frame rail & light at that price.

This is my HD gun. Glock 21 SF with night sights and a grip reduction. I use a Surefire X300 with DG switch and Arrendondo +4 mag upgrade. This gives me 17+1 230gr Gold Dots on tap with the ability to operate both gun and light one handed, leaving the other free to dial 911, close doors, etc. Obviously I have more than $700 invested, but not all at once.

 

[BlindJustice]

Since your a new member - less than a month, welcome
uhm, how much experience do you have with handguns?
do you have a nearby range to go shoot at, and/or rent guns?

All Steel guns will be the heaviest and absorb recoil better
than lighter ones, simple physics.

Full size 1911s Steel frames run 40 oz ore or less
Commander Size, 4.25" barrel aren't that
much lighter being 36 + oz.

I'd take a look at;

SR1911 CMD all steel, so 36.5 oz empty nice features
with Novak sights, skeleton trigger/hammer and beavertail
grip safety & stainless steel for the price point

whichever 1911 or other yah get, shoot it on a rgular basis
at a range - practice practice practice


S&W M&P 45 and 45C are lighter and the initial
trigger pull is a longer length of pull.

Happy shopping!

Randall

 

[TimboKhan]

If you have smallish hands a Ruger P90 is not a good choice. Excellent (albeit ugly) pistol, but it is big. I shot one for many, many years and can't speak highly enough about the p series as a whole, but the P90 is a big gun.

 

[dickydalton]

A 1911-A1 with an 8 round mag and one in the pipe should be enough in a medium sized bedroom. If you need more capacity, grab the 870 that's leaning against the wall.

 

[weblance]

Consider a Ruger P345 if you can find one. Better for smaller hands than the Ruger P90 or P97(they are all excellent pistols).

 

[private snowball]

After a suggestion was made to look at Rugers, I find myself extremely close to buying the commander sized Ruger 1911. Not really what I was looking for but man it is a pretty little thing. Hopefully I can let this impulse subside and go back to more pragmatic thinking.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

blondes or brunettes....you got to pick yourself.

 

[BlindJustice]

I suggested the Commander size 1911 because of the small hands,
the 4.25" Bbl/SLide may handle better than a full size 5" and
both having steel frames it's 36.5 oz vs approx. 40 oz so
the Commander size is as big as many other Service pistols in
9mm Luger. and it takes standard 1911 8 rd mags.

The Budget is $700

Doesn't Springfield Armory have a base model the GI that
does have raised sights and enlarged ejection port for a bit less?

Exactly what is it the O.P. wants? something with a Black finish?

R-

 

[Bentonville]

Without a doubt, the HK45C is my favorite .45 that I have owned. It has a grip that fits my smallish hand comfortably. It shoots softer than any other .45 I have handled. It is completely reliable. It is accurate. It is durable. It is easy to clean and maintain. I have 8 and ten round mags for it. It's more than $700 new but used ones come up on the HKPro.com forum. The HK USP compact has a slightly larger grip than the HK45C and it is priced less. Good luck on your decision. Handle and fire as many different .45s as you can get your hands on. Try the HK for sure.

 

[HKGuns]

Best .45 for HD

The one you shoot best. There are a lot of options and only you know which one you shoot the best.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Nobody has asked you what you shoot well, or what you like.
That is, to say the least, a consideration.

The chances of you meeting 30 bad guys at once is remote; the chance of you surviving such an encounter is negligible.

You may extrapolate the scenario as required...and make your decisions accordingly. There is no such thing as too much ammo, but on the other hand...there is no reason to carry 100 rounds into battle against six (or 16) aggressors. If you are Bruce Willis, you will prevail. But reality is not a movie.

So...make your decisions based on reality. It becomes less a matter of what holds mega rounds, as what you can shoot well in extremis.

Actually, I'd take this advice and add that find one that fits you well and you like the way it's shoots. Glocks, Sigs, XDs, M&P, H&k, Ruger all make excellent reliable pistols. I'd focus on what fits well and you find feels good when you shoot it.

 

[BlindJustice]

Privatesnowball wants a heavy .45

Besides being overbudget the HK45C is 1.58 lbs so it must be an alloy frame and doesn't meet the weight requirement which will absorb recoil better with a steel frame

R-

 

[private snowball]

I am liking more and more the commander 1911. Also, OregonJohnny made a strong case for a Sig p220 Elite. Heading out right now to shop at lgs,

 

[OregonJohnny]

Through some PM's with private snowball, I was reminded that Sig also offers 2 different triggers on the 220. They have the standard trigger, and they offer a "short" trigger (not to be confused with Sig's SRT or Short Reset Trigger) - that offers a trigger reach a few millimeters shorter than the standard trigger. This short trigger, combined with the ultra-thin aluminum grips, make the Sig P220 Elite line one of the thinnest and most ergonomically comfortable full-size .45 semi-autos out there, IMO. They feel "just right" to me compared to a standard 220, and MUCH more comfortable for smaller hands than the double-stack 226 or 229.

 

[Quentin]

After a suggestion was made to look at Rugers, I find myself extremely close to buying the commander sized Ruger 1911. Not really what I was looking for but man it is a pretty little thing. Hopefully I can let this impulse subside and go back to more pragmatic thinking.

The Commander size 1911 would be a good choice for what you've described you want. A Government Model size too since it's flat, single stack and fits smaller hands. Definitely handle as many 45s as you can and choose what fits best and has good reviews for reliability.

I've had a Colt Series '70 Government Model for 37 years and still trust that it will function reliably in a bad situation. Definitely have reliability at the top of your list.

BTW, I thought you were great in Full Metal Jacket, Private Snowball!!!