between these three .45s, which would be best and why

Which of these .45s as an "all-arounder"?

  • Ruger 345

    Votes: 16 15.4%

  • FNP-45

    Votes: 31 29.8%

  • S&W M&P .45

    Votes: 57 54.8%
  • Total voters
    104
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burnse

burnse

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I would be using them for carry, HD, and mostly, fun at the range.
Explain why you picked what you did
 
Have you handled all three? If not, I'd recommend trying to locate them and do so. One of them may feel like you're shooting a gun designed for gorilla hands, and one may have the controls out of reach for you, or too close and cramped depending on your hands. Gun fit, especially with double-stack, big bore autoloaders, is a big deal to me. They tend to have compromised somewhere in order to get a dozen or so .45 ACP cartridges into a "grip".

Also, decide on which trigger/safety setup you like. I may be wrong, but I think eack pistol here is different. None of them are "wrong", and none of them are the "best". They're just different.

Ruger = Slide-mounted Manual Safety

FNP = Double-Action/Single-Action w/ dual-purpose Manual Safety/Decocking Lever

M&P = Double-Action Only. No Manual Safety.

Think about what that means in regard to carry, HD, and the range. If you're not sure, say so, and I'm sure somebody could give an opinion on the safeties & triggers.
 
i would say the m&p, the ruger p345 that i use to own was the most accurate handgun that i have ever owned, but with the limited mag capacity, i would go with the m&p, actually i would go with an xd but of the list you have, i would go with the m&p. as well i am not a fan of da/sa triggers. however the da and sa on my p345 was much better than any other da/sa gun that i had shot before.
 
I'll echo possum's comments. Of those listed, the M&P but I prefer the XD myself. I'm not a real fan of DA/SA guns even though I have a couple...
 
The M&P 45 all the way.

* 1997 Shooting Industry gun of the year
* Over 370 LE departments have made the M&P their issue weapon since 1996 (no other manufacturer comes close to this adoption rate)
* Interchangeable grip back straps to get the feel you want
* Lifetime warranty with superb CS

M&P = Double-Action Only. No Manual Safety.
Click to expand...

As a striker fired pistol, the M&P has technically neither a DA or SA trigger. It is listed as DA for one good reason... Government contract and LE department requirements. The M&P line does indeed offer a manual safety on certain models. If a safety is required, simply order it with one. (You just have to love the way forums offer the free exchange of misinformation.)

Link to M&P 45 with the thumb safety:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=109107&x=9&y=15
 
gglass,

I think you got your dates a little mixed up. The M&P hasn't been out for that many years.



As for choices, the M&P is a great pistol and would be at the top of the list of what you are looking at.
 
Kind of Blued, I chose these three because they were the ones that felt best in my hand (could not fire any), but i did not quite get the trigger on the m&p.

I have also handled a USP and I don't really like them. The one I tried felt odd in my hand which was just enough to keep it off of the list. Same for the XD.
 
I'd say whichever one feels most comfortable in your hand, and which you shoot the best. I have an FNP-45 as after trying 7 or 8 different polymer hi-cap .45acps, that was the one I liked the best in my hand. And I just personally do not like striker fired pistols - all mine are hammer fired.

Note that only the newer "USG" model FNP-45 has the dual decocker/safety for condition-1 carry. The others have a decocker-only lever.
 
I votes S&W because I have one are really like it. Great ergonomics, very simple to take down (the internal takedown lever is not a big deal at all...some people hate that thing but it is nothing), very low felt recoil, easily replaceable slide rails, modular interior design (trigger bar assembly, sear assembly), mine has no lock and a thumb safety...best of all worlds in my opinion. Finally...really great customer service for the life of the firearm.

The only downside is the 10 round mag...which I could not possibly care less about on way or another.

The FNP, I must say, is a really neat looking pistol...and I want one...but I have never actually seen one. It is a very large gun, much bigger than the S&W but does have I think a 14 round magazine...couple of different safety options (safety and decocker or decocker only I believe)...it's a hammer fired pistol.

Know nothing about Ruger semi-autos at all.

I like the S&W man...go for it...probably the mid priced of the three you are looking at.
 
I would not say the FNP-45 is "much bigger than the S&W". It's grip is larger, and the slide wider, but to say it is much larger, to my mind, is overstatement. I've had a bunch of polymer .45acps out on the counter at once (XD, M&P, HK, Taurus 24/7, Glock, FN) and they are all large pistols. In my hand, I would say that if you find the FNP-45 to be way to large for your comfort, you may well not like any of the others either.

The biggest difference is the balance, and most important is differences in the grip shape and dimensions (mainly width to depth, but also shape of the back strap). You ideally want to get the candidates out side by side and compare the hand fit and feel of each.
 
gwnorth

That is good to know. As I said, I want an FNP-45 based soley on what I've read about it...which includes frequent comments about size. That would not bother me at all. I like my .45s big and, if needing a compact, would go with a 9mm.

That is good info about the FNP-45...I just wish I could see one for myself somewhere. Cabela's in Hammond IN=nope, Gander Mountain=nope, big Indy 1500 gunshow=not as far as I could tell, local shops in Indianapolis=not so far.
 
gglass said:
(You just have to love the way forums offer the free exchange of misinformation.)
Click to expand...

You pointed out that I was correct earlier in the post, which I was. Regardless, I posted this disclaimer originally.

I may be wrong, but I think eack pistol here is different.
Click to expand...

Which was also correct.

I also stated that the M&P had no manual safety, although I didn't mention that it is an option. Given that the vast majority of them don't have that option, I was, again, correct.

Being polite is free and utilitarian. I'd highly recommend it.
 
Had a P345, and it was scary accurate. Fit my hand like a glove, but was kinda chunky for carry. Of all the 45s I have shot in my life, the P345 is by far the softest shooter. Havn't shot the others, but the M&P feels good in my hand also.

Have fun pickin!:)
 
FN
I am not a gun snob, I will own any gun that fits my hand and shoots reliably and accurately.

The FN fit the best and IMO is a good looking pistol.
3 mags standard, nice carry case, different features and colors to choose from, excellent customer support. bla bla bla.

Holster makers are now catching up with it so there are a few more choices now.
Ameriglo will have night sights for it in a few weeks.
 
From my experience, Ruger pistols seem to have jamming problems, and I've heard about the FNP pistols cracking the trigger packs on empty-chamber DA dry-firing.

That, and my roommates' M&P has been flawless.....well, okay, there was a hiccup once when he tried to run someone else's LRN reloads through it, but I don't think anyone's going to fault the pistol that.

The M&P got my vote from the ones listed.
 
and I've heard about the FNP pistols cracking the trigger packs on empty-chamber DA dry-firing.
Click to expand...

If ya heard it on da innernet it must be true.
:rolleyes:

It was the early FNP9's that had issues with the trigger pack and it was not due to dry firing.

I have not heard of one single FNP45 having any sort of problem.
Of course I talk to people that actually own one and shoot it on a regular basis.

My sisters boyfriend, boss's ex mother in law, hairdresser read about it on da innernet don't amount much to me.
 
I have an FNP 45 and love it. You mention carry as one of your criteria for purchase. The FNP is a very chunky pistol with quite a long grip, and I find it almost impossible to conceal with anything other than a coat. Its still relatively new on market, so holster options are also limited. Bladetech offers and OWB model (which I have, very nice) and an IWB model, and Safariland makes one, maybe two as well, and that was all I was able to find.

But for HD and fun at the range, the role's my FNP fulfills, its hard to beat it.

Have you handled all these guns yet? The FNP has a love it or hate it grip, and the M&Ps have a bizarre segmented trigger that bothers me to no end.
 
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