Double Action 45 ACP thoughts?

I chose .45ACP as my caliber of choice. I got my CCP the day after Thanksgiving in 2008 and tried various calibers but felt most comfortable with .45. I was on a budget that could barely afford a used Glock since my job ended in 2009. What I found was a LNIB Ruger P345 and we have been friends since then. My glove size is XL so I guess I have large hands and they are very comfortable with both DA and SA. I've shot 1911s but never fell in love with them and could only afford the lower end of the scale. I shoot Glocks well but they don't fit my hand like the Ruger. I recently got a Kahr DAO .45 and shoot it better than the Ruger at 7-15 yards.

 

I love my Bersa DA/SA 45 UC SS. Of course the SS is no longer available but there's Nickel or Blue. Conceals great and the recoil is just a push. Ergonomically very comfortable.

 

Blueduck, if you carry a Glock at work you should carry a Glock of duty, even your 'range gun' should be the same as your duty gun. Different cal. is acceptable but handling needs to be the same. From 1991 thru 2014 I carried the same Sig P220 always concealed. Over 10,000 training rounds fired. Last year I went to a lighter smaller gun that is easier to conceal and lighter to carry.

 

Nonsense. He already said he wants something different than a Glock.

It's not that hard to develope sound shooting skills with more than one gun. It just takes practice and time.

 

I would like to give a third vote to the Stoeger Couger 8045 which has already been mentioned by KYamateur and stu1ritter.

I have the Stoeger version and I also have 2 Beretta mini-Cougars. I have disassembled the Stoeger pretty thoroughly and its quality seems to be equivalent to the Beretta versions except that the finish may be slightly less glossy. The Stoeger 8045 also has a Picatinny rail, which the Beretta version lacked.

The Stoeger is a traditional DA/SA pistol with a frame mounted safety/decocker. The safety can be easily converted to a decocker only, if you wish to do that, and the folks at berettaforum will show you how in detail.

The 8045 is remarkably soft-shooting for a 45 ACP and quite accurate as well. I bought mine for right around $400 delivered.

 

honestly, i dont think youre going to beat the CZ97 or the EAA witness full size for a quality made double action pistol thats going to last forever

 

When you read what I said, my Glock comment is my opinion. If you want to say that the Glock grip is like a 2 X 4 then it's your prerogative to render your opinion. But it sounds like your opinion is based on just a touchy-feely at the LGS counter, when you haven't taken the time to practice shooting the gun. It's certainly no statement of fact either. I'm not the world greatest Glock fanboy, I have 2 that work for me and with these I have taken the time to practice with them, and I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I can shoot these to my own satisfaction. I'm not preoccupied with how the Glock fits my hand, and the handfit probably isn't the greatest. But you can't tell me that the guns don't do what they are designed to do if you take the time and effort to practice with them.

 

Springfield XDM

I am a Springfield XDM man and with the 3.8" compact (9+1 or 13+1 w/extension) or full size (13+1) 4.5" barrel. Excellent customer service!

 

Colonial Shooting Academy in Richmond has S&W 645 with two magazines and leather holster for $500. The gun is in nice shape and judging from barrel wear about 300 rounds through it. It does have slide stop lever mark from careless reassembly process. That is about as nice a .45ACP one is likely to get for $500. The 645 was replaced by "more advanced" (cheaper to make) model 4506. Current rendition is Glockish M&P with cheap to manufacture plastic frame.

 

I'm not a fan of D/A autos, so I'd get the CZ97 (assuming that I could even hold it one handed) because it can be carried cocked and locked.

 

"Originally Posted by Paul24 View Post
Blueduck, if you carry a Glock at work you should carry a Glock of duty, even your 'range gun' should be the same as your duty gun. Different cal. is acceptable but handling needs to be the same. From 1991 thru 2014 I carried the same Sig P220 always concealed. Over 10,000 training rounds fired. Last year I went to a lighter smaller gun that is easier to conceal and lighter to carry."

(Sorry I can't do double quotes, so had improvise)

I believe you are both firmly and completely 100% correct

If I were a Street cop or Government Ninja I would absolutely preach Paul's view, but as I'm a relatively low risk, sit behind a desk and email a lot, Administrator for Parole not as big an issue. Even low risk a situation could come up, and I agree being on the same system for everything would be optimal. However I've loved pistols since I was 8 reading Skeeter Skelton when my classmates were all about the capes. Only real hobby I have left so I accept I might be technically disadvantaging myself a bit, in exchange for quality of life so to speak.

 

Thanks again all! some great suggestions I never would have thought of. Uhhh.... To be honest I'm feeling kind of the fool here with all the help and great ideas..because I went out Saturday and this sort of happened..









Now my 45 DA quest is not over (just delayed). Ran into the SR1911 that had been purchased but barely used at a great price from a guy I really like, and could not pass it up.

Took it out for two short range trips Sunday and at lunch today. Very very nice. I'm thinking I must have become a better shot playing with Glocks all these years between the 1911's I had some time back, because I recall not being very impressed with them, but that was before I got reloading and actually had the money and time to shoot a lot, so maybe that was it.

Anyway Sig and HK battle will have to wait till I play with this a bit

 

You could have done a lot worse. That's a nicely made gun that you'll enjoy for a while! Like I said above my P345 is a different approach but Ruger saw room for both. Enjoy!

 

I admit the "Made in USA" had a little impact on me...

Can always get my money back easily if the love fails, can't likely say same for some of the other stuff I was looking at. Love to find used guns

 

I have the Ruger SR1911 Commander and I think you're going to like your SR1911, its a terrific shooting and great looking pistol at a very reasonable price, although that trigger may spoil you when it's time to start looking for a DA/SA .45ACP!

 

4563
I have several 3rd gen S&W pistols, but if I had to pick ONE in .45 ACP, it would be the 4563. Fantastic pistol.
I like the 220, but I ride the slide stop with my thumb when I fire it right handed, ala 1911. No such issue with the 4563, as the slide stop is further forward, ala 1911.

 

I wish I had my German SIG 220 back.

The SW MP45c makes for a nice carry gun, especially if you travel to states with restrictive magazine capacity laws. It's almost exactly the same size as a G19.

Not DA but you can get it with a thumb safety.

 

I guess I'm the only one who will mention Taurus without standing behind a tree to dodge the eggs.

I have a Taurus PT 24/7 Pro C DS that has been flawless in function, acceptable in accuracy, and is double strike capable. I find it perfectly acceptable as a .45 DA gun and find no need to look at others.

Although the German built Sig 220 my brother has is a fine example of a well built pistol .

 

I've never cared for DA .45's because it takes a power take-off winch to pull the trigger DA. Never tried a Sig...are they any better?

 

If you can't pull the trigger on a Para LDA, you are a sissy!

 

I'm not particularly fond of anyting DA. I shoot all my DA revolvers SA too. But I do have two DA .45 acps. Both EAA Witness One the old first ones to be imported, Great gun, I've got the .40S&W kit for it too. I also have the Witness Race gun. Outstanding handgun! I don't care for Glock, no doubt they are good for what they were designed for but not for me. I have a friend who is a retired State Trooper and probably the top gun ever in the force. He is sort of a legend among most everybody that has gone through the accadmy. He is a big Glock fan. He shot my old Witness and was amazed with it. First time in his hand he shoot it better than his Glock. Wish I could shoot half that good! I've got 3 more .45 ACPs, 2 1911s, an AMT Government and a Taurus 1911 and a Springfield XDs. The XDs has it's features, but it has it's problems too. If DA is a requirement, at least give the Witness a serious look.. It's a CZ 75 Clone, that's not a bad thing!

PD

 

45ACP belongs in a 1911 . No others need apply .

RIP J.M.BROWNING
On November 26, 1926, while working at the bench on a self-loading pistol design for Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN) in Liège, he died of heart failure in the design shop of his son Val A. Browning.

 

The Stoeger Cougar in .45acp ! VERY underrated pistol ! I have one and its a monster how well it works and it east ALL .45 ammo . Very well priced and just an incredible buy

 

The Colt Commanders we always my favorites when it came to .45's, but you did say DA.

In that case, the plain Jane, box stock P220's with factory night sights were my favorite there. If you want to go a "little" smaller, my P245, which was DAO, was also a great gun, and I actually preferd the DAO (not DAK) trigger to the DA.

Wow! Havent heard of or seen one of those in quite awhile. Your dating yourself there roadrod.