Concealed Carry 45

[Turk]

I'm looking for a 45 for a CCW I want compactness plus light weight. I'm down to two. The Smith CS45 and the Glock 36 can't believe I'm considering a Glock but that's another story.

Your thoughts please.

Have a good day and remember to pray for our troops.

Turk

 

[steelhead]

It was down between the CS45 and the MilPro PT145 and I went with the Taurus and have not regretted it. I liked the sights on the Taurus more and having 10+1 over 6+1 was very appealing. However, the CS45 may end up in my safe one day as well. I have shot a CS45 and is not bad on recoil and is very controllable.

Glocks don't appeal to me so I would go with the Smith but I have not heard any bad things about the G36.

Sorry I couldn't give more but both of those choices are sound and it really comes down to just trigger and look preferences.

 

[denfoote]

I'm an ex PT-145 owner who sold his upon it's return for a cracked frame, bought a Glock 36, and has not looked back since!!

 

[Marko Kloos]

The Glock 36 is probably the most reliable subcompact .45 you can buy. It's lightweight, very slim, tough as nails, and easy to tote. The trigger pull is consistent, and it's more accurate than the Smith as well. I'd take it over the CS45 any day of the week.

 

[Baba Louie]

Way back when I too was on a quest for the "just right" compact .45, pre CS-45 and G-36, I bought both the S&W 457 and a Glock 30.
Hmmmm.
Consistent spongieness/crick or Long pull/short pull?
Thick grip, narrow grip?
11 v. 8 rds?
Accuracy?
I'm a better shot with the G-30 for quick point shooting as the 457 points low in my hand forcing me to bring the front sight up a tad each time (I know, you're supposed to use the sights all the time)... but the G-30 is like my 1911's w/ arched mainspring housing in that it points closer to P.O.A./P.O.I. in my hand. From a rested position, both are equally adept at keeping the group about the same (fist size at 10 yds).
YMMV
If I were a-questing today I'd probably end up with both the CS45 and the G-36 in my possession.
So I'd say shoot them both, then buy whichever one of them you like better before buying the other
Before I bought the 457 and 30, my compact .45 was either a Colt Commander or a PT945. Something about cocked and locked that's just so... right.
I love a good quest.

 

[RWK]

Turk,

I do not like Glocks very much; despite their renowned quality, durability and reliability, the two I own -- a G36 and a G23C -- simply do not measure up to MY accuracy standards in MY hands.

That said, the Glock 36 is an excellent .45 ACP concealed carry weapon. It provides 6+1 loading, handles +Ps with no problem, and EASILY conceals (I even use an ankle holster with excellent success, when I am unable carry “strong sideâ€). My “bottom line†is simple: the G36 is a great deal like other Glocks in terms of trigger feel, accuracy, durability, reliability, and so forth. Further, it is EXTREMELY concealable -- especially for a “non-mouse gun†accommodating seven rounds of a proven, potent cartridge.

 

[Jammer Six]

I do not like Glocks very much; despite their renowned quality, durability and reliability, the two I own -- a G36 and a G23C -- simply do not measure up to MY accuracy standards in MY hands.

I agree.

The Glocks are lighter, and that lightweight comes at a price.

The price is that it's easier to "limp wrist" a Glock than it is a 1911- they need a firmer grip to function.

Since being shot can result in a limp wrist, if that happens to me, I want the weapon in my hand to function whether my wrist is limp or strong.

Milspecs do, Glocks don't.

Your millage may vary.

 

[telewinz]

Star PD..........Just got one to go along with my Colt officers model. I love them both but at 24oz and 6 rounds the PD is a great choice for CCW. Used excellent they can be had for $250-350. Magazines can still be had but other parts are hard to come by.

 

[cerberus]

My choice

The Kimber Ultra Carry II The Ultra Carry is the bottom one

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2376830

 

[jc2]

The local gunshops seem to get back a lot of barely used G36. A lot of folks buy it, shoot it and decide it's not for them. YMMV, but you might to shoot a couple of hundred rounds of ammo before you commit your money. They definitely don't seem to be for everybody (and FWIW, watching several boards, the G36 overall seems to have more functioning/reliability than Glocks in general--it just doesn't seem to consistently meet the standards most people have set for Glocks).

 

[borodin]

I just sold a Glock 36

only because I wanted another pistol and my wife would kill me if I didnt sell one. The G36 was a GREAT package for me. I could carry it in the waistband, on the hip or in an ankle rig, even with jeans. No probs and the finish is VERY hard to beat.


I have also owned the PT-145 Taurus which was mentioned before. The frame cracks were LONG ago and they have a new polymer formula now. It was an excellent gun as well and easy to field strip ( as easy as a Glock ) and I had the stainless slide so it looked great. The ONLY negative was the long DAO trigger but many Keltec owners would probably like that or at least be used to it.

I looked at the CS45 also, but i never liked the look of it and S&W seems overpriced to me.

My two cents.

 

[halvey]

I see a lot of used ones as well. I'm not really into Glocks, but they seem nice.

 

[twowheel]

I purchased a Kimber Compact Stainless. I had a Colt Officer's model that I liked but not as much as the Kimber. The Kimber has a 4" barrel but it has the shorter, Officer's length, grip. The grip is the hardest part to conceal, anyway. Basically, the Kimber Compact Stainless is an Officer's model with a 4" barrel and substantially better recoil spring mechanism. Among the holsters I have for it is a Grip Clip to tuck the gun into my pants without the need for the space taken by a holster. Oh, the Kimber has a MUCH better trigger and groups much better than the Officer's model ever did.

 

[Doug S]

Please forgive me for what I’m about to say, but I just can’t help myself. Recently I decided that I wanted my first 45acp. I had pretty much decided on a Springfield GI model, but none of the local shops had one. I did find one shop that had a few on back order & I am still waiting for them to give me a call. In the meantime I went to a local hardware store a few miles from my home that has a nice gun section. Sitting in their case was a “cheap†Bersa Thunder 45 Ultra Compact. Not ones usual first choice in pistols I’m sure. Being a bit impulsive & having had a previous good experience with a Bersa 380 I decided to give it a try for only $299. I took it to the range over the weekend, & put 100 rounds (230 & 185 grain fmj) & the pistol was 100%. Recoil was mild, & the pistol was quite accurate at 25 yards. I know this isn’t on your short list, but I just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to express my satisfaction with this economical & so far reliable little CCW pistol.

 

[hnm201]

I can heartily agree with Doug S's assessment of the Bersa Thunder 45. You simply can't wrong with it if you like the DA/SA action. Bersa makes good products. Unfortunately I wouldn't like the sights for a carry gun, and aftermarket sight options and holster options are at best limited.

My carry 45, which my mostly my daily carry these days, is a Glock 36.

It weighs 29.5oz loaded.

I can carry it on my ankle.
I can carry it in my pocket.
I can carry it in my dorkpack.
I can easily carry it in in my waistband all day.

I don't worry about scratching it up or it getting rusty. It's simply an appliance and I've found it to be very reliable with everything that i've fed it. I'm more accurate with it than I am with any other pistol that I own, save the Glock 30.

If you have a trouble with limpwristng pistols I recommend that you buy an exercise ball or two and keep them in your car and by the couch for when you're watching TV. Use them consistently for two weeks and you will be amazed at the difference.

 

[Jammer Six]

If you have a trouble with limpwristng pistols I recommend that you buy an exercise ball or two and keep them in your car and by the couch for when you're watching TV.

Just out of curiosity, how does one use an exercise ball to patch a bullet wound?

I prefer a weapon that will function regardless of my condition, because no one can predict the condition you'll be in when you need it.

 

[hnm201]

Jammer Six, despite your experience to the contrary, I've yet to fire 1911 milspec 1911 that won't jam if limpwristed. If limpwristing followup shots were my concern, I'd get a revolver. YMMV.

 

[Jammer Six]

Jammer Six, despite your experience to the contrary, I've yet to fire 1911 milspec 1911 that won't jam if limpwristed.

I have yet to fire a milspec that will.

I have trouble with Glocks, and small 1911's, but not milspecs. I can intentionally limp wrist both my 1911's, and fire round after round. It's why I chose a milspec, and why I stick to government models.

How does working out with a ball help a revolver?

 

[hnm201]

How does working out with a ball help a revolver?

I didn't say that working out with a exercise ball helped with a revolver, though I don't see how it could hurt. Maybe it would help you control recoil enough to improve your followup shots under rapid fire. Exercising your grip is also good for your heart, per American Heart Association. There are worse things you could with time spent sitting in traffic or watching TV.

I own a Springfield Milspec that shoots 100% for me but will have feeding problems if shot by someone who doesn't have a firm grip. Ditto for my Colt 70 series (granted, it's not a milspec, but it's closer than most modern non-colt 1911s).

When next I'm at the range I am going to intentionally limpwrist my G36 and see what kind of results I get. I'd expect there to be some failtures but now that the gun is well broken in it might be more tolerant than one would expect.

 

[mini14jac]

I had a S&W 457 for a while and really liked the accuracy.
My wife was surprised at how easy it was to shoot.
Just too bulky for IWB carry for me.

Then I tried a Colt Defender.
Much easier to conceal.
But, it had more recoil, and I've never gotten used to cocked-n-locked carry.

I would have loved a Glock 30 but the grip felt too wide in my hand, I thought it would be more difficult to conceal.

I'm working with a Glock 36 now.
Easier to shoot than the Defender, and possibly more accurate.
I'm waiting on my Watch Six holster to show up, but I think it will make a decent carry gun.
I've been a fan of Glock triggers for years, and it's nice to have another one.

My only gripe was the mag base pinching my finger.
Glock could fix this if they wanted.
For $10 each, Glockmeister can fix you up with Plus 0 extensions that look cooler, and take care of the pinching problem.

 

[wildehond]

45 ACP CCW

Small, light, accurate, spares and ammo everywhere and RELIABLE! I shall choose the the G36 evertime. I use a Gov model myself, but will have no problems carrying a G36. \

wildehond

 

[rcm]

I have a nice SS Colt officers .45 I would like to sell for $500.00. This comes with Milt Sparks IWB holster.

 

[sctman800]

I almost bought the S&W CS45 myself but then I saw a 4513TSW and found it fit my hand better. Wonderful gun, and my first auto. After I quit limpwristing and polished the feed ramp a little it has never missed a beat. Jim.

 

[hnm201]

You mean that lightweight .45s other than Glocks are subject to malfunctions caused by limp wristing?

 

[R.H. Lee]

Opinions. My opinion is that effective CCW is more a function of width/bulkiness of the pistol than of barrel length. A 1911A1 Milspec is narrower than a G36, no?

Nothing, nothing points better than a full size 1911, IMHO