Compact 45 acp help?

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Crayfish

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I have decided to get a compact size 45 acp. I currently CC a Rossi 2" 38spl most times and really like how easy it is to conceal and how fast I can get it on target. I also sometimes carry (winter) my S&W 4506, love the caliber and the gun (was my duty weapon in the sheriffs dept) but, not all that easy to conceal in light clothing and close to 3 pounds loaded, my house gun mostly. My woods gun is a 5" 357 with 180 gr hard cast so I have that covered as well. I don't want to get into any caliber debates as my mind is set on 45 for this purchase.
So, home and carry 45? I am currently considering XD service compact ($512), Sig P250c ($420), Glock 30s. ($545), M&Pc ($490) I have no experience with striker fired or polymer guns. I can't test fire any but, I have handled them and tested trigger pull. The DAO trigger is not bad for me on the Sig as I have been a revolver guy for a long time. The XD "feels" slightly better in hand than the others.
Any reliability issues or shooting experience on these? Customer support,etc? I wish I never sold my 4513 as I think I would be done looking.:banghead:
 
I carry an XDs in 45. It's a fantastic carry gun. If you want more ammo than that or want a bigger gun, the 3.8 XDm is what I'd buy.

The Ruger SR45 is supposed to be a nice gun too, and I liked the trigger on it. It didn't fut in my hand that well though.

I really like XD series for small 45's.
 
Thank you 460Kodiak. Do you have the 4" or 3.3" XDs? I looked at that gun (4") as well as it seems so thin and easy to carry. A bit more money but, not bad. I was thinking of going for more capacity but, I carry five 38spl now and the reload would be faster plus 7 rounds. I would not feel under gunned with 6 45 in the gun plus a reload. The only other single stack I handled was a Kahr CT45. Not as nice as that XD to me.
 
How about a Ruger SR1911 Commander Length? Or a lightly used H&K USP 45 Compact? I own & shoot the Ruger and recommend it highly. The next lightly used H&K USP 45 Compact I find is coming home with me!
 
I have both the 30S and XDS 3.3 45. You won't go wrong with either of them. The 30S weighs only 23 ounces and gives you 10 + 1 rounds. I've never had a malfunction with mine. The XDS is thinner, obviously has less capacity and is easier to carry. I had to send it in for repair a number of times as I was having too many failure to feed issues. When hand racking the slide, you need to rack it hard or it may jam. I'm happy I stuck with it, as it's functioning correctly now, with hundreds of trouble free rounds.

Recoil can be a subjective thing, and the felt recoil of the 30s to me is much less than the XDS. If recoil is an issue for you, try the XDS before you buy it, as while it's manageable, you'll feel it.
 
I have the 3.3 inch. I've been carrying it since November of 2012. I've never had a malfunction. The 4.0 was not out when I bought mine, but chances are I'd probably still go with the smaller gun for ease of carry.

It's extremelly acurate and surprisingly easy to shoot. I find the recoil more pleasant than the recoil of 38's out of a 642 Airweight.
 
I have the 4.0" XDS, gave the 3.3" to my son, Crimson Trace, extended Mags. IWB from Arkansas. I am a Happy Camper. The 4.0 XDS is Very Comfortable, Light, makes me feel good. It has a Confident Feel.

Gave my Son the Glock, Don't like a Trigger Only Safety... Now that I think about it, Don't like Glock anything, just me......

I also have a 4.25 XDM, 45 Colt Agent, and 45 Sig SS-1911, I primarily carry the 4.0 XDS.
 
I have the 30S and the 21 SF. Love both, plus the mags interchange...well, not interchange I guess, but you can use the larger 13 round mag of the 21 in the 30 series pistols.

Russellc
 
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Other than 1911, my favorite .45ACP is the Glock 36. Never had an issue with one, and I own my 3rd one now.
 
Since you liked the feel of the XD Service Compact, you might want to take a look at the subcompact model. Not much bigger (just a little wider) than the XDS 45 but with 9+1 with the flush magazine. Put on the extended magazine and you've got the grip size of a service pistol and 13+1 rounds. They are running under $450 now since the new XD Mod 2 45 has just come out and that's under $500. Those are online prices with holster, mag holder, flush and extended mag, case, lock, etc. plus you'll need to add postage and transfer fees.
 
I am partial to Glock and M&P.

Both are solid guns but the grip on the Glock is much larger than I prefer and I don't have small hands. I am currently carrying an M&P .45c when I carry a 45.
 
I am currently considering XD service compact ($512), Sig P250c ($420), Glock 30s. ($545), M&Pc ($490) I have no experience with striker fired or polymer guns.
I have the Glock 36 (single stack version of the Glock 30) and I've had no issues with reliability or accuracy. Several of my friends have shot the gun, too, and loved it. It seems to be very soft-shooting for such a large caliber and such a small, light gun. Some people have experienced problems with pinching of their fingers between the grip and magazine base plate, but neither I nor my friends had that problem.

When I bought it I carefully compared the 30 and 36 before deciding on the latter. The decision was close enough that if the 30s had been available at the time, I'm sure I would have gone with that gun.
 
I have owned the SIG 250 45C could not get usde to the trigger pull. Sold it. I currently own the M&P45C. It had a really good trigger but I put a APEX tactical Duty/Carry kit in it. The APEX kit did not make a great improvement in the pull it just lightened it by a couple of pounds.

I did shoot the XD and M&P before I decided on the M&P.
 
Xd 45 mod 2

They just started shipping the last couple weeks. Already own an older xd 9 sc that I have a couple thousand rounds through without a single hiccup. My lgs got one in last week and I immediately put one on layaway. I too was in the market for a small double stack 45 for carry.

This is a completely new design same size as xds with the exception of width.
They're not much bigger than the subcompact xd in 9/40 or glock 26/27. They're pretty similar in size to a 30s but the grip is much better Imo. Ymmv.

9+1 and 13+1 =:D
 
I've got the p250 in 9mm and am thinking about getting a full size kit in .45 as I am down one in that caliber.

That said, the siren song of the g30 is calling to me. I had a 21 years ago that I foolishly traded away toward a budget 1911 that jammed frequently.

I recently found a couple 13 round mags I had forgotten I had for the 21, and a 30 would be easier to pack. My first glock was a 36. Great gun but wanted more capacity. A 30 would give me an easily carried gun that would take my 21 mags in a pinch.

Might have to poke around at the lgs tomorrow.
 
I also have both the XDS and 30S, I had a 30 from day 1 when they were released, but recently traded up to the S, It is just easier to shoot than the 30 was. The 30 stock gun was very thick, even for a Glock, and I have large hands. I found the S to be easier to shoot accurately fast. It just is a slight but thinner and you can feel it right away if you are used to the 30.
I have a front night sight on it like I had on my 30, and no skate board tape on this one, it doesn't need it.
The xds can be pocket carried, and that's the role I use it for. It is a good back up gun for the Glock. It works every time and I have had no problems pre or post recall.
It depends on how you expect to carry, if you only can have one, then get the 30S, but if possible get them both.
Also the term SF is sometimes used as Short Frame and other times Slim Frame, even here,http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=419853,
there seems to be a difference of opinion.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282978
I assumed it meant short frame, but the S does have a slimmer slide and the barrel from an 30, will not be interchangeable with a 30S, the slide is machined with a smaller hole, but the barrel has the same 45 cal diameter, "it would have to" in order to fire a 45acp. The walls of the barrel are thinner thus allowing for a thinner slide. So in this case, it is slimmer and shorter, lol, but it feels like the grip is slimmer, because of the shorter overall size.
If you read both posts it's really pretty funny, because it has to be both slimmer and shorter, I think that is the answer, but could be wrong, all I know is it feels slimmer.
 
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Sub Compact choices....

For a .45acp compact or CCW pistol, Id look at; Glock 30S .45acp, Glock 36, X-D mod 2 .45acp, SIG P320, Kahr PM45.
I'm left handed and might get the new S-A XD mod 2 .45acp. It's well made and can take the larger(13rd S-A XD) magazines in a pinch. ;)
I'm not a fan of fiber optic front sights on combat pistols but they are popular with many cops/gun owners/CCW holders.
The Glock 30S is very popular. It was T&Eed by the elite SIS detectives in the LAPD. They needed a compact Glock for undercover/plain clothes details & a back up for the big 21 .45acp models.

The SIG Sauer 320 could work well if you want a modular striker fired .45acp you can switch quickly. SIG is a great brand and the 320 is now very popular too.
 
I carry a 1911 but one of my children, his wife, their son and his wife all carry a Glock 30 or a 19. I have shot the Glock and they shoot well for me but I still like the 1911,
 
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