conceal/carry gun

[ProCharger]

I have been looking around for a conceal and carry gun and so far I have came down to a kimber ultra carry stainless http://www.impactguns.com/store/product990.html My question is what are some other pistols that are .45 cal, compact, and easy to conceal. I have held the Kimber and really like the way it felt, looks quite the right size to "hide" when going out as well. Let me know some other options, as of right now the Kimber is my choice.

Brett

 

[wally]

As far as I've been able to find the only .45 that can equal the Ultra Carry in size is the Taurus PT145 "Millenium". Advantage is its about half the cost, and is 10+1 vs 6+1 or (7+1 if you trust the "shooting star" followers, I do). Disadvantage is the Millenium is DAO and has a very different trigger than the 1911. I think the Millenium I have has a better trigger than either of my Glocks, but it still sucks compared to any of my 1911s.

Springfield makes a Micro Compact model that seems the same size as the Ultra Carry. The trigger on my Ultra Carry is better than the Micro I looked at, but its worth taking a look at, especially since individual guns are what you are buying and they do vary.

--wally.

 

[ProCharger]

Ahh you added 2 things I wanted but just did not mention. I would like to have a hammer for double or single action use, and also I am not very fond of polymer either. So way its lookin to me the Kimber is the ticket. I saw a few springfields that were attractive as well and now that you bring that up i might go check some of them out as well. Springfield seems to make some nice pistols as well, but I am really liking this Kimber as of right now.

Brett

 

[fnforme]

I have no experience with sub-compact 1911's so take my advice for what it's worth. But I've heard too many bad things about the reliability of short barreled 1911s to ever trust my life to one.

My recommendation would be the SIG Sauer P245. It's blackened stainless steel, 6+1 capacity (but can take the larger P220 mags), has DA/SA for safer carry, great ergonomics, and like all SIGs they're very reliable without any tweaking.

I love fullsize 1911s but I prefer SIGs for compact carry options.

A lot of it is just preference, carry whatever you trust your life too. If it's a compact 1911 then great, more power to you and I wish you the best .

 

[George Hill]

There is also the:

Beretta Mini Cougar .45
Sig P245
EAA Witness .45 Compact
Charles Daly DDA
Taurus PT145
Para Companion
Detonics Combat Master
Springfield Ultra Compacts
Glock has a few of them

Take your picks, place your bets, roll your dice.

 

[Josey]

I DO have experience with sub compact 1911s. I will not have one. They are unreliable. Make another choice.

 

[digitalpaladin10]

You'd do yourself a great service to check out the Glock 36. It's the only .45 I'd carry besides the Kimber RCP.

Call you're local range to see if they rent the 36 and go for a test drive, you'll thank me later.

 

[wally]

Absolutely no reliability issues with my Kimber Ultra Carry.

I've shot plenty of my H&G 68 hard cast lead SWC reloads ("standard" IPSC load, but probably one of the toughest rounds to feed, my Taurus PT945 won't feed 'em) Wolf FMJ, Win "white box" FMJ, 230 gr Hydrashoks, and 230 gr Golden Sabers. I also had a few of the old CCI Lawman 200gr JHP "flying ashtray" that is also considered a tough to feed round. No problems.

I did change the extractor to a mil spec spring steel one, soon after I got the gun because what came with it had very little tension, and I had an extra sitting around. The original gave no problems but I though it was a cast or MIM part. Someone here claims Kimber only uses machined, in any case it was obviously weak and not the best quality part in the gun. Too much tension will lead to feed failures, too little makes for extraction/ejection problems, but its not hard to adjust a properly made mil spec extractor if it needs it. Just made me feel better to swap it, not sure it was really necessary.

--wally.

 

[ProCharger]

george thanks for the choices.....

The beretta mini cougar I am sure is a great gun, but I am really wanting to add some diversity to my guns as I already have a beretta 96 brigadier.

Sig is very nice as well but I cant seem to find it in stainless steel.

The EAA Witness, do they make that in a steel as well?

Charles Daly DDA while I have never heard of it before has definately caught my attention and I will have to look further into this pistol.

Taurus.....just not a fan of polymer.

Para.....I was under the impression they had no hammer on them and were cocked and locked at all times....seems you have brought the light to me on that one.

The Detonics Combat Master is another I am not famaliar with but they do look attractive from a few pictures. I am gonna have to track one down and see if it has a good feel to it.

As I said before the Sprinfgields are very nice looking but they damn near look identical to the Kimber....whats the difference besides the name?

Glock.....this may upset a few of you.....but I am not a Glock fan.

Bottom line is I have some researching to do now.
_____________________________________________________

fnforme I hear what you are saying.....the compact will be a summertime carry gun when the clothes are not so baggy. When permitted I will carry the beretta 96 brig. and use the compact "when the time calls for it."


Keep the replies coming!!

Brett

 

[fnforme]

ProCharger,

The beauty about the SIG P245 is that it has a stainless slide and aluminum frame, but they have a proprietary finish known as Nitron over the stainless. So even though the gun is black it is really made of stainless steel. Hope this helps.

I hear ya about the fullsize and compact options. I dont have my CCW yet but when I do I plan on alternating like you're thinking about doing. Either my SIG P220 or CZ 75 when I can or a SIG P239 or CZ P-01 when I can't conceal their bigger brothers.

-FN

 

[George Hill]

The subcompact 1911's can be very reliable. My Detonics was perfectly reliable. And those are not the best examples of the breed... just the original of the breed.
Terry Tussy and Cylinder and Slide both custom make sub compacts that are perfectly reliable as far as any other 1911 on the top levels.

 

[cratz2]

Honestly, I'm a 1911 guy and though I carry a 9mm, I'm a 45ACP guy at heart. The full-size all steel guns are too heavy for me to carry... maybe because I'm lazy or not as committed as I should be, but I have no desire to conceal a 50 Oz (when loaded) gun. The lighter weight Kimbers are nice and I've had positive experience with two Kimbers, both full size. I also was really wanting a Springfield Compact or a Colt CCO for carry but haven't gone that route yet. Personally, I wouldn't want any shorter than a 4" barrel in a 1911 platform gun.

If I were set on the 45ACP cartridge for concealed carry, I'd very strongly look at either the Glock 30 or 36. And would probably lean towards the 30. Even though the grip is a bit blockier on the 30, I like the higher capacity and I think that would win out over the arguable ergonomics (both in the hand and on the hip) of the 36.

 

[Smoke]

I DO have experience with sub compact 1911s. I have one. They are reliable. Don't make another choice.





I have a Kimber Ultra Carry CDP. Great little gun. Never hiccuped. Eats everything. 100% reliable. Never had any work done to it.

Smoke

 

[KahrKarrier]

Don't forget the Smith and Wesson Chief's Special Model CS45, it's light, thin, carries 7 rounds, is Traditional Dual Action. It has a bobbed hammer but with very little practice you can learn how to manually cock it. It is very accurate and of a proven S&W design, not a 1911 clone. Great little gun worthy of consideration. Them what own's 'em really likes 'em.

 

[tiberius]

I have and often carry a Colt's Light weight Officer's Model. It is completely reliable. Those who say that compact 1911's cannot be reliable simply do NOT know what they are talking about. Compact 1911's may be more likely to have reliability problems than 5 inchers, but that is why you must personally verify the reliability yourself.

The Kimber is most likely an excellent choice.

 

[PCRCCW]

Smoke states "I DO have experience with sub compact 1911s. I have one. They are reliable. Don't make another choice."

Ill second the motion........

Ive had, shot, carried and owned plenty of 45's..........here are the reliable list from my own experience.

Kimber Compact/Ultra...........very reliable.
Sig P245..............you cant make this gun fail.
EAA Witness Poly and Steel framed Compacts........Timex time.
Para Companion...........another goodie.
Glock has a few of them............the 36 is like a Brick.
STI Ranger............Again...try and make it not work.

Look at what you want and go from there.......................Shoot well.

 

[denfoote]

How 'bout a Colt Commander??

 

[Car Knocker]

Another positive report on the Kimber UC. My daily carry piece. Couple of thousand rounds through it without a hiccup. I use Wilson mags only. Once ran a 500-round test over several weeks without cleaning using lead bullets and old Unique powder (dirty). No malfunctions whatsoever. My wife also loves this pistol and would steal it in a heartbeat.

 

[YammyMonkey]

Might want to look at the Kimber Compact series (4"bbl and officer's grip). You'll get an extra inch of bbl and the grip is just as easy to conceal as the regular Occifer's size gun. The problem with concealing the 1911 is typically the length of grip, not the length of the bbl, especially with an IWB holster.

Some have said that the 3"bbl guns are actually harder to conceal than the 4" bbl guns because there's not as much below the beltline that can help keep the gun stable and in place.

 

[Dorian]

Sig P245

I second that.

 

[JitsuGuy]

Not having my CCW yet, I don't know what it's like to carry so I have a question... To me, it would seem that a bobbed beavertail would be better for CCW? Is that true? Would a normal beavertail just get in the way and just be flat out more uncomfortable? What about the snag issue if you ever have to draw?

My options are going to be the Kimber Ultra Carry or the Para Companion with the carry option...

Thanks!
J

 

[PCRCCW]

IMO, and I Play an expert on the TV screen in my head.......well, thats what the voices tell me anyway

The beavertail is the least of your problems when it comes to getting "made".....at an FBI Cant/angle the very bottom of the MSH is what is gonna draw attention to you and print.

90% of the benefit found from the reduction you speak of is for pocket carry. Thats on the little tiny guns.

For IWB/OWB carry.....the beavertail really isnt a problem for most at all.

Shoot well.

 

[tiberius]

I concur with PCRCCW re printing. I'm an averaged sized guy (5'10" 170#) and carry my Colt LWOACP at 3:30-4:00 IWB FBI cant. This is easy to conceal with an untucked shirt, but it is the MSH prints when I lean forward, the beavertail is NEVER an issue. Below shows my medium sized "enhanced" beavertail.